Ronin sighed as he relaxed into the heavily padded and reinforced wooden chair. He’d taken Elyria’s advice and gotten some sleep, but that had been days ago, and he hadn’t rested since. Taking the time to look each of his people in the eyes, it looked like it wasn’t only Harken who needed to get some rest.

“Yes, let’s get this over with.” He said at last, “but once this meeting ends, I want everyone here to get a few hours’ sleep.” He raised his hand to forestall any complaints before he continued, “I plan on getting a few hours of sleep myself. We need to be fresh for the march… now does anyone have anything to say before we get started?”

He paused to give his advisers the chance to speak up. They hadn’t had many of these meetings since he had yelled at Owl two and Benjamin, but since he’d been reading their daily updates, they hadn’t needed to gather as often. If he had questions about what they were doing, he would just address them individually. The one-on-one time had helped develop their interpersonal communication as well.

“I think we are all set boss,” Guts answered for everyone after a long beat of silence. “We already have a pretty good idea what’s required of us, anyway, so just lay it on us and we’ll let you know if there are any problems.” Ronin smiled internally as the others nodded their agreement. Guts might not be the best fighter or tactician in the room, but he had a way with words that helped lighten anyone’s mood. The white chef’s hat that clashed so horribly with his crimson hair was always amusing to see too.

“Very well,” Ronin said taking a deep breath. He’d still not gotten used to public speaking. Even in a setting like this, and on days like this one, he knew he’d have never managed to bring all these people together if they were still in the real world. He’d only managed it because this was his world, and the people he created were predisposed to following him. At least, that’s how he thought it worked. It gave him mixed feelings; on the one side he felt like a real leader, on the other he felt like a kid playing pretend with real people’s lives.

“Actually, my lord,” Owl two cut in before Ronin had a chance to continue. “I just received new information from a drone I sent down for reconnaissance.” The android stood from his seat and moved to the door where a panting K2 was waiting with a large roll of papers.

“Thank you,” he said accepting the papers before returning to the table. “The feed came back just as you entered, and I sent a message to K2 asking him to grab the prints from the fabricator.” He explained as he moved figures to make room on the large map table.

“It must be important if…” Lily started before her words were cut off by the android’s monotone.

“If I am interrupting the meeting? Yes Lilly, it is very important.” Owl Two finished for her as he stepped back. Ronin leaned forward to get a better look at the series of pictures that covered the large page. From left to right they showed a view of the mushroom forest, then the deep ravine filled with trogs and flowing water. The next picture showed a close up of the waterfall, and the one after that showed a much darker image of a tunnel. He frowned looking at the image before he realized due to context clues that the drone must have passed through the waterfall.

The following picture showed a tunnel filled with shallow water and several troglodytes wading through it at knee height. The one after that showed a cave about the size of the one, they were now in. that must be the spawning grounds for the mass of trogs. The next picture in line was a surprise, causing him to ramp up the magnification in his eyes to see it more clearly.

It was a giant steel gate. Large enough to allow flight one to fly through, covering a tunnel just as large. The next picture was much closer, and showed the bars of the gate were too thick and close together for even the trogs to pass through. The drone didn’t have that problem, and the next picture showed another long corridor. That was the last picture on the page, and Ronin looked up at Owl two questioningly.

“The drone only managed to send back one more picture before the connection was cut.” The android said as he slowly laid down and unfurled the paper still held in his hands. It only held one picture but this one took up the whole page and showed the tunnel, ending in a massive drop off. A drop off that opened into a cave so big Ronin couldn’t see the entire thing from the picture angle.

Ronin blinked, this wasn’t a cave, it was a bunker. Made of worked stone with lights shining overhead from the ceiling… or maybe hanger would be a better term, thanks to the giant spaceship that was parked right in the middle of it.

“How big is that thing?” He couldn’t help but ask, since he couldn’t even see the far edge of it from his vantage point. “And… What manner of ship is that? I don’t recognize it at all.” He furrowed his brow in concentration. He’d paid a high price, much too high a price in hindsight, for every ship he’d had brought into existence and this ship wasn’t on that list.

“The ship isn’t in my database,” Owl two said. “But as for size, it is every bit as large as the kaldarr or moon elves’ ships that are currently orbiting this planet. Larger, depending on the shape and proportions of the vessel.”

“That’s not possible.” A shocked Elyria said, dropping her book and advancing on the table. “Ships of that size can carry thousands of passengers and are far, far too large to enter or leave an atmosphere…” she trailed off, looking at the pictures. “I don’t recognize the design either.” She breathed, looking more shocked than Ronin had ever seen her when she turned to him and said, “we have to get down there.”

“Agreed,” K3 said. Ronin looked up to see him standing over the table as well. When he raised his brows in question the giant hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “K2 relieved me so I could see the ship,” he explained. “I don’t recognize the ship either. I agree with Elyria, we have to get down there.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Alright, then…” Ronin started to say before a flashing blip on the interface screen he normally did his best to forget existed, flashed a priority call. “… Excuse me guys, I need to step out for a moment.” He said, ignoring the concerned expressions on his friend’s faces as he made a beeline for the exit, knowing K3 was following him, but not paying him any mind as he rushed back to his tent.

“How did you get through to me here?” He asked without preamble once the tent flap had closed behind him. Looking at a holographic projection of Leo Dawson that he hoped only he could see.

“It’s nice to see you too… son.” The grey suited man said with a crooked smile. He looked the same as he had twenty years ago when Ronin was a child. Running his gold lion ringed hand over his slicked back hair and holding a glass of wine. The very definition of charismatic charm.

“Are we being overheard?” Ronin asked, glancing around his room, and knowing as he did, he wouldn’t see anything if there were spies in the system software.

“Not from my end.” Leo said with a shake of his head. “I just want to keep it fresh in your mind who you’re supposed to be from now until our goal is reached.” He said with a slight frown, as if to remind Ronin the reason they were here was because Ronin had killed Alex, Leo’s actual son.

“From now?” Ronin asked with confusion, “but I still have at least two weeks in here… I can’t leave yet. I need to…” Ronin said franticly before getting cut off with a sharp glare.

“Not anymore you don’t,” Leo said dispassionately. “I just found out about a party being thrown for the contestants and it starts in an hour. Attendance is mandatory. And since I know you don’t have any clothes for the occasion, I had to pay a tidy sum to break in here to get you and your escorts early.”

“But… I can’t… what do you mean escorts?” Ronin said, mind floundering under the new deadline and grasping onto anything he could to keep afloat.

“It’s a party for the contestants to meet and show off to each other, not to mention make connections that could have far reaching implications to our future dealings. Each contestant will bring two of their favorite girls… or boys… from their worlds to show off at the party. They will act as the waitstaff while we meet and greet and will join our team during the trial itself… and before you ask, No I didn’t know about this beforehand… so hurry up son, settle your business, grab two girls you trust to have your back and will look good in a dress and let’s go. You have five minutes, then I’m bringing you and the two people closest to you out of here and into your apartment…. Oh, and don’t bother with weapons or gear. They will let us know what we can use, and I’ll be providing your attire for the party.” Having said his piece, the hologram disappeared, leaving Ronin alone with his thoughts roiling in turmoil.

“What am I gunna do?” He said out loud as he paced franticly back and forth in the tent, pulling at his finger length hair like a mad man. “If I don’t take over the undercity soon then Markus is going to die. But Leo Dawson isn’t going to give an inch. In five minutes, he’s going to pull me out of here and then what do I do? I could pause the simulation, pick up where I left off when the competition is over but then I’ll not get the credits I need to save Markus… but if I let it play… I won’t be here to aid in the battle… gahh.” He grunted out his frustration as he turned again, only to find a glaring elf standing in his tent, hands wrapped tightly around the haft of her bow with an arrow resting gently on the string.

“Who was that man?” She asked through gritted teeth. Ronin was surprised to see a trace of fear on her normally placid face. He glanced down at her bow, hoping against hope that today wasn’t the day she made good on her promise to kill him.

“Elyria, listen I don’t have time to explain right now but…” he said, raising his arms before him in a calming gesture when she snapped.

“I Know, I heard and saw everything. What I am asking you White flame is who that man was?” she nearly shrieked the last four words, and Ronin was sure was going to be the end for him.

“Settle down, please.” He said, looking again at her bow. She only then seemed to notice she was holding it and put it away, much to Ronin’s relief. Once he was sure she wasn’t going to kill him, he explained. “He used to be the leader of the village I came from when I was a kid. He…went away when I was young. Now, I… owe him a favor… and he has come to collect, but… I don’t know what to do…” he explained as best he could without revealing secrets that would take too long to explain.

“That man is dangerous,” she said. Her hands reaching, unconsciously it seemed, towards her bow again. “A monster in man’s clothing… we have to be careful around him.” After she finished speaking, she settled down. Drawing her dagger, she spun it between her fingers, going from one hand to the other in seamless grace.

“I know I… wait, we?” Ronin asked with some confusion.

“Of course, fool.” Elyria said with a scoff that somehow set Ronin at ease. “I am here to watch you, can’t very well do that if you go traipsing off out of my sight now can I?”

“But… I need…” he was floundering again, and he knew it. Elyria had given him something to hold onto for a moment, but he was starting to remember the predicament he was in.

“I know,” she said cutting him off again. “You know Owl two has this whole cave bugged right? By this point he already knows exactly what’s going on and is sending Brie over here as we…”

“My lord,” Owl five said as she walked through the tent flap K3 was holding open for her. She had donned her helmet again and could have been mistaken for another android for the lack of expression her helmet displayed. “I’m ready to go.” She looked it to; her mark V was held in both hands and she was scanning the tent as carefully as she did the cave walls during the trip they’d taken together into the dark.

“…Ok, I’m confused… what is…” Ronin tried to say again before Elyria once again cut him off.

“Isn’t it obvious, White flame?” She asked flippantly, “Owl two isn’t a fool. He heard that monster tell you he’d take whoever was closest to you in five minutes. Since we don’t know how long we’ll be gone, you can’t take Lily or Unyielding oak, they are too important to the war effort. You could have taken Hunter or one of her scouts but she’s more than five minutes away. That leaves Sam, Brie, and a handful of goblin workers… Do the math.”

“Oh… right…” he said still not caught up to current events.

“Wait,” he thought. “Owl two has been spying on me. I thought I told him to… oh never mind.” He had to keep the bitter thoughts at bay, he was running out of time here.

“Owl two, listen up.” He called out into empty air, though he was looking at K3 who was still holding the tent flap, while he spoke. “Lily is in charge while I’m gone. Her and K3. Differ to them on all things unless you are sure it goes against my wishes. Then take it to the council to decide…. What else…” he muttered while he thought furiously. “You know the plan, move fast, and take over that city. Once it’s secured, I want you to look into that ship, but don’t risk the city to do it. Secure the people first.” After that he addressed his words to K3.

“I’d feel a lot more comfortable if you were coming with me big guy.” He said with a less than confident smile. “Look out for everyone will ya?” He asked, but before the kaldarr could respond, the world went dark.