The XP: Chapter 19

The tournament started with two million nine hundred ninety four thousand six hundred and eight players making up five hundred twenty four thousand two hundred and eighty eight teams. With each team fighting a match a day the first week of fights saw the field reduced to thirty two thousand seven hundred sixty eight teams. Each member of each team got five thousand gold per victory.

So by Friday Trart had more money than he had ever seen in game, and he went a little nuts.

The rest of The Almost Entirely Awesome Adventures of the End of the World Club were at the closest bar to the area celebrating the return of Torcano. He had maxed out his Gunslinger and was going to take The Matriarch’s place in the rest of the matches.

The Matriarch raised her glass in a toast “To Torcano, for what has to be the slowest ‘quick’ grind of a toon I’ve ever seen.” She said with a smile as everyone else raised their glasses.

Torcano raised his glass as he answered. “What can I say, I was not prepared for the number of adoring fans I made while I was a GM that would be dedicated to finding and expressing their joy to me that I am now a regular player.” He explained.

Blackout pointed at Torcano, waving his finger sarcastically. “That’s code for laziness, pure and simple.” He accused with a smile on his face.

Torcano nodded swallowing another drink. “You got me. I had three squares a day, slept eight hours a night, and took long luxurious bubble baths every night. It was glorious.” He said unable to keep from laughing at himself.

Trart blew into the bar in a whirlwind, grabbed an empty seat from a different table and sat with the group at their table. “Hey Toracano, glad your back. What’s on my mind? Glad you asked, who wants to lend me six thousand gold? A thousand from each of you? That’s far to kind, I really appreciate this, you won’t regret it, in fact this is going to be one of the best things you or anyone else will ever see in game. I’ll take that money now.” He held out his hand and looked around the table. He got nothing but blank stares in response.

Bob was the first to reply out loud. “You have at least thirty five thousand in your own account, what could you possibly be buying that you need an extra six?” She asked in shock.

Trart couldn’t contain the smile on his face. “There’s a junk dealer that has four hundred full stacks of Winter Man Detector Bombs for sale for forty two thousand gold. I’m six short.” He was practically vibrating and the sentence came out less like normal speech and more like a single word.

There was silence around the table until Blackout shrugged. “Ok that is pretty cool. You owe me.” He replied transferring a thousand gold into Trart’s account.

The Matriarch did some quick math in her head. “What do you need a hundred thousand bombs for?” She asked.

Trart looked around the room and seeing no other players closed still leaned in. “Blackout did this thing at Christmas where he mined the front entrance to a dungeon with these bombs and then used the remote control car toy to pull agro on everything in the dungeon to effortlessly collect an entire dungeon worth of loot.” He explained

The matriarch shook her head. “Yeah but the car doesn’t pull agro anymore they fixed that the day after Christmas.” She said.

Trart nodded. “Right but the Hall of the Gods doesn’t fill with mobs until you activate the summoning stone. So we can mine the entire hall with just enough mines to do lethal damage to everything the second they get summoned in.” He countered.

Bob’s eyes lit up. “Jesus Trart a full clear of the Hall of the Gods would net easily five hundred thousand gold in loot.” She was sold now.

Trart nodded. “Yeah, I did the damage math. A hundred thousand bombs placed correctly is enough to complete FOUR full clears of the hall.” He sat back with a cocky smile on his face.

Everyone else scrambled to transfer the money into his account.

University of Console Heroics: Chapter 19

Tuesday was not normally an active night for the boys of Rho Sigma Gamma house. Which is how Clay and Porter were able to use the hundred and one inch big screen TV in the main living room. They had started an “I’d Steal it” marathon earlier in the afternoon and were now half a pizza and a dozen beers into arguing over which cars they thought were more valuable as the over produced British car show droned on about the latest batch of cars.

The ad for the high priced luxury car finished and Porter leaned forward and grabbed the remote. “Look Clay, as much as I’ve been missing you this semester and everything, you’ve been crashing at the house for the last four days. Don’t you have classes this week?” He asked gently, turning the audio down.

Clay grabbed a now cool slice of pizza and dropped the skinny end into his mouth. “Don’t care.” He decreed with a mouthful of cheese.

Porter put the remote down. “Excuse me? Who are you and what have you done with Clay?” He asked opening another beer.

Clay laid himself out on the couch. “Seriously, I don’t care. C’s get degrees right?” He shoved the rest of his pizza in his mouth.

Porter shook his head. “Look, I’m all about respecting your wishes but is this girl really worth pissing away all the work you did this semester?” He asked. Clay Glared at Porter until Porter threw up his hands. “My bad, forget I ever said anything.” Clay grabbed another slice and a beer from the coffee table. Porter sighed heavily and got up from his chair and went out into the back yard.  Clay listened as the door to the backyard shut. He looked at the slice of pizza in his hand, sighed heavily and set it back in the box and went out to the backyard.

Porter was taking shots at the basketball hoop close to the small swimming pool. The ball rebounded wildly after a shot and Clay picked it up, bouncing it a few times. “I’m sorry, it’s just, a crappy situation.” He held the ball up. “You up for a little one on one?” He asked as he tossed the ball to porter.

Porter caught the ball and bounced it a few times. “First to 11?” He asked.

Clay nodded. “Every point is half a beer.” He said.

Porter shook his head. “You can barely stand up as it is, maybe we should just relax a bit on the drinking.

Clay shook his head. “This coming from the guy who carries a flask with him at all times.”

Porter bounced the ball to Clay. “All right, but when I win, you’re telling me what the hell happened with you this semester. Horse blinders and all.”

The game didn’t last long. Porter scored the first four points in less than a minute. The more he moved the more Clay realized just how drunk he really was. He had stopped the game to finish off his second beer. He put the empty can on the ground, went to smash it flat with his foot and missed completely, lost his balance and fell flat on his back laughing hysterically.

Porter set the ball down and sat next to Clay. “I win.”

Clay nodded. “Just because I can’t stand up right now doesn’t mean you won the game.” Clay waved a hand in Porters face.

Porter held the ball out for Clay to take. “Prove it.”

Clay took the ball and leaned his head back until he could see the basket upside down. He threw the ball which flew wild and went through a window in the house. Clay relaxed and looked up at the sky “Fine, you win.” He said. “Hey what did you mean when you said ‘horse blinders and all?’” He asked.

Porter leaned back on his hands. “It’s the way you get into stuff. When you pledged the fraternity you were 110% in. Everything else fell by the wayside. When you found out that you had to take a psych class two weeks before the semester started you bought the books and started studying like crazy and not just for that class either, You’re life became academics. Then you met this girl and you disappeared, which I can’t blame you, she’s fine. But she became the thing you defined your life by. You hyper focus on whatever you’re doing. Like you got horse blinders on.” He explained.

Clay thought about this for a moment in the silence of the backyard. “I met her in the Library, a few weeks into the semester, but that wasn’t the first time I saw her. I saw her the first day of school and that’s when I, got horse blinders, I guess.” He started. Porter nodded and listened as Clay laid out every detail of his semester.

Shades of Justice: Chapter 23

Dante appeared in the rundown dead end arm of a T intersection hallway. There were dim flickering lights built into the ceiling and he could see and smell the trash and random junk strewn about the dead end. Around the corner of the T intersection he heard voices of two or more people having an argument. He moved up to the closest corner and peaked around to see two aliens in a confrontation that was quickly escalating from an argument to a full blown fight. They were standing in front of a bar, the sign above them was welded and advertised the name of the bar, “The Fly By”

Dante ducked back around the corner and realized that he hadn’t put much through into this plan and was now stuck inside an asteroid in deep space, where it was almost virtually certain that he was the only human. He looked back at the garbage and junk strewn on the floor of the dead and began to sift through it looking for anything he might be able to disguise himself with. It didn’t take long for him to realize there was nothing among the junk that would make a suitable disguise. He looked down at his hoodie and realized the logo of his high school was plastered all over the front, and the hood wasn’t large enough to cover his face any way. What he did know was that if the two aliens arguing out in front of the bar were any indication, a human would stand out like a sore thumb.

He had no clue how much time he had to try and find a lead but he was determined to not waste this opportunity. He decided to flip his hoodie inside out as the school logo was only printed on the outside. He also took his shirt off and used it to fashion a makeshift face mask using the neck hole for his eyes which he covered with his sunglasses. He took another look around the corner at the bar and saw that the aliens had either gone their separate ways or back into the bar to drink more.

Dante had been so focused on being discovered that he hadn’t really considered what he expected to see in the bar once he walked in. He realized quickly that he had automatically assumed that he was walking into the Cantina scene from Star Wars. What he actually walked into was much less impressive. There were several tables set away from the door. Each table was lit by a single dim yellow bulb hanging low and creating ominous shadows out of overly private and overly depressing drinkers. The quiet sullen shadows seemed somehow even more dangerous than he had expected. Not a single on he could see looked up when he entered the bar. The largest source of light was over the center of the bar, where a purple cyclops was wiping glasses clean with a green cloth. Dante moved over to the bar  assuming that it was the best place to start his hunt for information.

The second he sat down the cyclops looked at him and gave a short grunting laugh. “First time off world?” It asked with a big smiles on its face. Dante nodded and The cyclops laughed again. “I’m sorry , I don’t mean to be rude but your coat is on inside out and you’re wearing your shirt on your head, clearly you were worried about being noticed.” The cyclops leaned in “But you’re wearing your Shades of Justice. You may as well have walked in here in full uniform.” The cyclops finished.

Dante scrambled to take his sunglasses off his face and pulled his shirt off his head as well.

The cyclops nodded. “Better, now, how can I help you?” The cyclops asked.

Blood and Profit: Chapter 46

Eamon, Mew, and several Starseeds were at the edge of the forest to meet the official delegation from the colony capital. Kepi had worked  her into the group and as soon as she had exited the ship Eamon pulled her aside as the rest of the delegation speechified its way through 'first contact'.

"I'm glad you came" he started.

"I know I'm just your aid," She interrupted. "But I wasn't about to miss out on meeting aliens."

Eamon nodded "About that." He held out his tablet with the transfer contract he had written up. there was a place for her thumb print. "Sign this and you're no longer my aid." He smiled.

She looked worried for a second. 'You're seriously going to fire me just for not asking permission to be on the first contact committee?" She asked glancing over the document. Then her eyes went wide as she realized what the document said.

He shook his head. "The exact opposite actually. I've always been a problem solver Kepi and your problem is that you have an incredible skill set, one that requires a certain level of power for it to reach its full potential. So, as soon as you sign this, your problem is solved."

She looked up from the contract to his smiling face. "You're giving me your seat?" She asked in total shock.

He shook his head. "No, you are setting me free." He clarified as she read through the contract.

She looked up again. "You've left 'compensation for transfer' empty." She pointed out.

He nodded. "It's not really 'my' seat Kepi, and it's not your's either. That seat belongs to the people of the twenty second precinct. It's in their best intrest for you to be in that seat and me to be here." He gestured to the Starseed's forest. She signed the paperwork and pressed her thumb on the screen letting it scan properly.

She handed the tablet back with huge smile on her face. "I really appreciate you giving me a chance." She said before she gave him a hug.

He hugged her back as he replied. "I didn't give you anything, mostly because you almost always had already taken it for yourself." He said with a huge smile as they separated.

Kepi looked over at the continuing pomp and circumstance of 'first contact'. "What are they like?" She asked.

Eamon shrugged his shoulders. "They are interesting and weird. Brilliant and sad." He replied.

Kepi raised and eyebrow. "Brilliant and sad?" She asked for further clarification.

Eamon nodded. "Just wait until one of them asks what your name is." he said without further explanation, as they rejoined the rest of the group.

Lidarion Chapter 18

Trent and Lisa split had split off from Brooke and Alex having promised to meet up with them later in the afternoon for lunch. They made their way to the military district. It had been years since she and her late husband had packed their things into the storage unit. She knew she needed to at least get the keys for it and let the military liaison know she was in town but the closer they got to the storage halls the heavier her feet felt, the heavier her heart became. She stopped Trent half a block before the front gate of the storage quarter. She stopped walking and called out after Trent. “I can’t do this.” She said.

Trent stopped walking and they moved to the side of the street. “There’s nothing to be worried about Lisa. There is no shame in needing more time. I can’t say I’m going to be super available all the time but when I am back in town whenever you are ready I will gladly help you –“

She interrupted him. “Excuse me?” She said in shock. “Why are you talking about this Sigil quest like you are going it alone?” She asked.

Trent shook his head. “Because this isn’t your burden to bear Lisa.”

She shook her head. “I’m a full grown adult and last time I checked that means I got to choose what burdens I bore, for how long, and why.” She glared at him.

He threw his hands up in defeat. “I just don’t want everyone thinking they are bound to a promise I made. I want you to go live your new life.” He said.

She shook her head again. “And you need to understand that all this stuff that’s happening right now, this is my new life. That storage unit will still be there when we’ve saved the council members lives and gotten the sigils. Besides I know you, you’re going to need a healer on this trip.” She stated flatly leaving no room to argue.

Trent looked in the direction of the Storage quarter. “So are we leaving your stuff till later then?” He asked.

Lisa looked off in the same direction and sighed heavily and then nodded. “One thing at a time. You can’t help me process anything if you’re dead, so it’s up to me to keep you alive.” She turned to him with a sad smile.

He nodded. “Whatever you need Lisa.” He said as they turned around and headed for Alex’s place.

The XP: Chapter 18

The Stadium surrounding the tournament grounds was filled with screaming spectators. The scoreboard on the wall of the arena was divided into two halves. ‘The End of the World Club’ had five boxes on their half and ‘Not the Clan you’re looking for’ Had five on their half. In the overseers private box Volnado got up out of his chair and stepped forward to the edge of the balcony. “Welcome to the tenth match of round one!” His voice echoed throughout the stadium. “This fight is between The End Of The World Club and Not The Clan You’re Looking For!”

The stadium goes crazy cheering. Wainwright leans over to Shizaboom and whispers. “You can go about your business.” He joked.

Shizaboom laughed. “Move along, Move along.” Was his reply.

Volnado glances over his shoulder at them. “I hate you both.” He growled before turning back to the crowd as ‘Not The Clan You’re Looking For entered the arena from gate on their side. Volnado looked to the gate on the other side and saw no one there. He smiled. “The End Of The World Club is called to the arena.” His voice boomed out across the entire zone now. The spectators went silent, everyone was staring at the open, empty gate. “The End Of the World Club must present themselves in the arena or be disqualified!” His voice echoed again across the entire zone. A predatory smile on his face. “Five.” The audience was on the edge of their seats. “Four” Shizaboom leaned over the railing to get a better look at the gate entrance. “Three.” Volnado gripped the railing hard enough to turn his knuckles white. “Two”

The End of The World Club practically exploded into the arena they were running so fast. “We’re here!” Stygian shouted, his voice echoing throughout the arena.

Blackout looked at the countdown timer under their clan name. He pointed at the ‘2’. “And we made it a whole second earlier than we planned.” He said with a smile.

Bob shook her head. “That’s not possible! Everything always stops at one second! We screwed up guys!” She threw her hands in the air in mock frustration.

The Matriarch shrugged her shoulders. “We could always go out and come back in.”she said.

Bob shook her head. “Noooo, what’s done is done.”

“ENOUGH!” Volnado shouted. The spectators and both teams looked up at Volnado in his private box. “This is a simple death match.” He growled. His voice echoing through the stadium only now. Last team with a living member moves on to round two. When the bell rings, the match begins.” He finished his speech and dropped angrily into his chair.

The two clans face off. All five members of Not the Clan You’re Looking For are staring at The Matriarch in disbelief. The bell rings out through the arena. No one moves, The Matriarch is single handedly staring the other clan down in a standoff. She glares down the line keeping each player frozen in fear, None of them wanting to be the first to die to the legendary warrior. The stands are dead silent as well, no one wants to miss the first move. Which happens to be Trart Mowing down the other team from right to left in one sweeping motion.

He lets the trigger go and the smoke clears he sees the rest of his team looking at him. “What?” He asks.

The signs all over the arena flash “THE END OF THE WORLD CLUB WINS!!!” in big block letters with colorful backgrounds.

Stygian points at the line of dead opposing players. “What the hell Trart!?” He nearly shouts.

Trart shrugged. “Volnado said ‘when the bell rings’. The bell rang, what’s the problem?” He asked.

Stygian shook his head. “That wasn’t exactly fair.” He chastised. As the group walked out of the arena.

“Fair?” Trart asked in confusion. “I don’t remember anything about ‘fair’ in the rules. All I remember was ‘everyone tries to kill each other like civilized people after the ding noise. Bob laughed. “Did a bell make a ding noise? Did everyone except me stand around like a brain dead moron? Did I win the match?” Trart asked. The Matriarch coughed suggestively. “With assistance from the Matriarch of course.” He amended his statement.

“Hey it’s our first win and that’s all that matters to me.” Bob said as they reached the end of the tunnel.

The University of Console Heroics: Chapter 18

Sanders was slowly but surely hammering his way through an essay final for one of his other classes. He had headphones on and had fairly effectively shut out the rest of the world, so it was no surprise that he didn't hear the knock at the door. The knock came again, louder this time and he pulled his headphones off his head just in time to hear the third knock. He scrambled to his feet and opened the door to reveal his father, Sanders was nearly a carbon copy of his father, except that William was three decades older. Sanders moved out of the way, still in shock. "Dad! What are you doing here?" He asked.

William moved into the dorm room. "I came to see you, obviously. The last time we talked it sounded like you could use some parental guidance." He explained.

Sanders shook his head. "We haven't talked in almost two months Dad" he replied.

William sighed heavily and sat in one of the empty chairs. "Rodger Bannister called me." He admitted.

Sanders looked a little disappointed. "Professor Bannister called you?" He asked.

William nodded. "He was worried about you. Apparently you are having more trouble with the divorce than you admitted to your mother and I." William explained.

Sanders threw his hands up. "Of course I am Dad!" He snapped. "What were you expecting? Did you really think you could just let me know a relationship older than me was just 'over', I'd nod, smile, go 'ho-hum' and be on about my day?" He almost shouted.

William looked concerned. "Not at all. We told you so you could ask us any questions you had or say anything you felt like you needed to say. Apparently we needed to give you more time to process and that's our fault." He admitted.

Sanders shook his head. "No it's really not. Regardless of me being your kid, your relationship status is between the two of you. I'm grown and out of the house, I appreciate the courtesy and I'm sorry I acted like a child." Sanders apologized.

William shook his head. "No one is ever ready for something like their parents splitting up. It doesn't matter how old you are." He said.

Sanders nodded. "So there's no chance the two of you are going to get back together?" He asked.

William shook his head. "There are a number of reasons that won't be happening, the least of which is that your mother's boyfriend would be very disappointed." William said with a smile.

Sanders was stunned. "Mom's dating someone already?" He asked in shock.

William nodded. "Oh yes, she met him st work and they seem to have hit it off quite nicely. We've had dinner a few times, I think you'll like him." He explained.

Sanders shook his head. "I think it will take me a while to get used to the idea of mom having a boyfriend." He started. "While we're on the subject though, what about you and professor Bannister?" He asked.

William smiled sadly. "Both of us are far too old to go digging up feelings that have been buried for so long." He said.

Sanders rolled his eyes. "Well that's bullshit." He spat.

William looked shocked. "Language son." He chided.

Sanders shook his head. "I'm an adult now, get used to it." He decreed.

William nodded. "All right then why is it 'bullshit?" He asked.

Sanders smiled. "Loving someone liberates the lover as well as the beloved. And that kind of love comes with age." He quipped.

William smiled. "Excuse me?" He asked again.

Sanders shook his head. "You freed yourself, and in a roundabout weird way, freed the love of your life. We are so rarely free to be who we are, don't turn your back on that freedom over something stupid like the fact that you were young and attractive a really long time ago."

"Hey!" William snapped. "It wasn't that long ago." He protested.

Sanders smiled. "That's the idea." He said.