Chapter 22
“Serves him right,” Fel said coolly, as the words settled in the room. Matt and Rachel said nothing, their faces unreadable masks. “He pushed the government too far. His arrogance was his own downfall.” She picked at her fingers, “and you won’t see me feeling sorry for him after all the problems he created.”
“Fel,” James said, surprised by her callous nature. “Read the room.”
She looked around and shrugged. “In my line of work, things like this happen. We don’t have the luxury of happy fantasies. And” she nodded towards the siblings, “I’m pretty sure they had already figured it was a possible outcome. Unlike you James, they’re not naïve.”
He turned to look at Matt. Sure enough, the older boy nodded, though his face was still an unreadable mask. Rachel seemed to be a little more animated, her eyes shining ever so slightly. But beyond that, she didn’t let any emotion show.
“Thank you for telling us,” Matt said as he looked back at Steve. “I can’t imagine that was easy on you.”
“It,” Steve’s voice cracked, “thank you Matt.” He heaved a heavy sigh. “Thank you.”
“Our father’s fate aside,” Matt cleared his throat, “why have we been called here? Not to understate the gravity of that news,” he lightly touched Rachel’s hand, and the two siblings shared a comforting moment, “I cannot assume that was the only reason we were called here.” He looked towards Fel, “especially since Fel’s here as well.”
She offered him a smile, “sorry to hear about your dad Matt,” she said with a small shrug, “it sucks.”
Matt’s lip curled up slightly at that, “you always sucked at dealing with people’s emotions you know.”
“Guess that’s why our fling didn’t last long.” Fel said with a chuckle.
“Uh huh,” Matt left it at that, and James couldn’t help but do a double take. The two of them had been together. He knew the siblings had known Fel personally. They were the ones who’d hired her to protect James during the Cyb3ru5 situation after all. But he hadn’t realized they’d actually been a ‘thing.’ How would Alex take it, if he knew his current girlfriend had once been with the guy who was currently running DCO?
“Don’t even think of mentioning it to him,” Fel said, as if she could read James’s mind. “It was just two kids having fun in the past.”
“Really,” Rachel cut in, before Matt or Fel could add more, “now isn’t the time.” She shot Fel a look, and then her own brother. “Even if it’s helping cope with the news.” Her tone was gentler this time. “But really, we can’t stay away for too long.” She looked back at Steve. “So, what’s going on?”
“That’s not my story to tell,” Steve directed everyone’s attention, immediately to James. The weight of their gazes made him squirm. He’d enjoyed not being the center of attention for once. Especially given who all he was around. It was hard to feel like the most important person in the room, hell, to even feel like you mattered, when you were surrounded by people of their caliber. The literal wonder kids of the developer of DCO, who now ran it. One of, if not the, best developers of DCO itself. A secret agent whose skills would make a movie spy jealous. And of course, Rue.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Get to it then James,” Fel said, making a motion with her hand as if encouraging him to start talking, “like I said, it better be good for what you’re making me miss.”
James cleared his throat, immediately seeking eye contact elsewhere. He focused on Rachel, who smiled gently at him, and offered him a small nod.
“Whatever it is, James,” she said softly, “we’re ready to hear it.”
James took a deep breath and grabbed hold of Rue’s hand for comfort. She squeezed it gently, a simple reminder that he wasn’t alone. They were in this together. From now, until whatever the outcome was that they reached, she’d be by his side.
“As everyone here knows,” James began slowly, “Dungeon Core Online is a project that has large ties with the government.”
Fel snorted, “understatement of the year,” she said under her breath.
James ignored her, and continued, “however, I have learned the reasons for the governments involvement in the project, and, what’s more, that their endgame is well, upon us.”
He looked at Fel this time, speaking slowly. “Hades has informed me that the government intends to trap everyone’s minds within DCO, while simultaneously killing their bodies.”
Fel’s mood immediately changed, and she sat straight up in her chair. Her complexion paled as she looked at him. “Say what now?”
James looked at Rachel and Matthew, both of whom were looking at him intently.
“How,” Rachel began, before Matthew cut her off.
“The Sleeping Beauty Pod tech?” The male portion of BLANK asked.
James nodded in confirmation.
“Apparently, everything is in place for their plan. They intend to trap all of the players within DCO and are using the upcoming 48 hour Dungeon War event as a way to ensure everyone is immersed to put their plan into motion. Meaning we have less than three days, before the real world is no more for us. If we do nothing,” James looked at everyone, pausing to take in their serious expressions, one by one, before he continued, “then we will be forever trapped within DCO, our minds digitally uploaded, without bodies to return to.”
“Are you certain about this?” Matthew asked.
“Considering his source is Hades, I hate to say it’s probably all true.” Fel responded on behalf of James. “Anyone else, I’d question. But Hades…”
“It makes sense too,” Steve said to add to the argument. “With everything going on in the background, everything I know from a developer standpoint, and all I’ve seen of their facilities. All the pieces paint a pretty damning picture, once you know what the end goal is.”
“And if I had to guess,” Fel added, looking at James, “knowing your parents are involved in this as well, means the rich fucks are going to make themselves immortal bodies, aren’t they?” She let out a low whistle, “that robo dog of yours is impressive, I can only imagine what the human bodies your parents have created are like.”
“That’s what Hades said,” James confirmed. “The end state of the government, apparently, is to confine most of the world to the DCO servers, while the members of the government inhabit immortal bodies and get free reign of the Earth.”
“And that means,” Rachel was looking around now, her eyes thoughtful, “with everyone gathered here, there’s a plan, at the very least, to try and stop the government’s goal from becoming a reality?”
“Well,” James shifted slightly on the couch, “that’s why everyone’s been called here. Hades has given me some details, but I need everyone’s thoughts, and their plans, if we are going to make this a reality.” He paused, and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “You’re the only ones I can trust. And if we can’t do it,” he shrugged, “then I don’t think anyone could.”
“And to think,” Steve said with a forced chuckle, keeping the weight of James’s words from settling in the room, “this was supposed to be my swan song before retirement.” James felt himself grin, ever so slightly, at the dark humor.
Damnit Steve.