[Player Log Start!]
[Player: Verity Monroe]
[Level: 0]
“Are you telling me that some guy approached you in the desert, disappeared into pixels, and you just didn’t question it?!” Michael asked, waving his arms in outrage, “What is wrong with you?”
“Listen, I’ve seen some pretty wild stuff.” Verity felt the need to defend herself, “And the guy could’ve just been messing with me. There wasn’t any point in making you think we were going to find some occult tome or something.”
Michael stared at her and held up the laptop. So maybe they did find an occult tome that had cursed them. Whatever.
Behind them, the boy with the tail was stalking along, drooping from the heat. Of course, he was wearing a fur waistcoat thicker than anything Verity owned, so he’d feel better if he just ditched it. She wasn’t going to suggest, though. Poor kid had been uprooted from his entire life and world, he deserved the choice to suffer from heatstroke.
“How far away are we?” He asked, voice swimming hazily.
“Too far away.” Verity replied, squinting into the sky. The sun was glaring directly into her eyes, and there weren’t any stars to help her navigate, so she wasn’t sure what she was hoping to achieve by this. Asadullah groaned, his stomach gurgling. Something chimed in response, and another green box popped up.
[Party Member Suffering from Status Effect: Extreme Hunger]
[! If left untreated, this could affect the Mission !]
Huh. That’s new. And unexpected.
“We really need to figure out the specifics of this thing.” Michael sighed, tapping the trackpad of the laptop.
“Your job, man.” Verity reminded him primly, turning to offer Asadullah some sustenance, “Think you can stomach possum?”
Asadullah looked unsure, but he still took the smoked meat package from her. There was a pile of rocks nearby that provided respite from the sun, and they all crowded into the shadowed crevice while working through their food.
“Mishlin should be southwest from here.” Verity guessed, poring over one of her self-made weapons, “They’ve got one of the biggest pure water sources in Wayside, and could top us up if we ask nicely. Think we should go for it?”
“Worth a shot.” Michael nodded in agreement, angling the laptop’s solar charger into the sun as he continued typing, “Oh, hey, this is fun.” He commented on whatever was on screen.
“What?” Verity asked, leaning over to look at the screen. Asadullah followed suit, though his eyes roved slightly off the screen where she assumed the translations were being displayed. It was displaying the [Party(Main)] statistics, with profile pictures of all three of them, complete with names, ages, power levels, and the first Ability. All other details were locked behind the Character Profile page.
Her first ability was [Sharpshooting], which was… flattering. Less flattering was the status effect bar, which had an eye with a red iris. Her sickness was being classified as a status effect, just like the green wavy lines of hunger. So, why wasn’t it going away? Why had she been living with it for five years without a hint of reprieve?
“I think the Console is running the Game.” Michael explained, “It has access to all the assets in the world, apparently. Might even be a database available, judging by this.”
“Any info on the number of dimensions?” Asadullah asked, skimming quickly through the page.
“There isn’t any search engine.” Michael replied, “I think we’ll just have to click through random pages like a rabbit hole.”
“Great, get to it, then.” Verity told him, patting him on the back, “Make sure to write down every fact that seems important.” Michael grumbled but pulled out a yellowed notebook anyway and a stub of graphite.
They relaxed for a little while in the shade. Asadullah ended up stuffing his fur coat into the small bag he carried, leaving him only in a soft blue kameez shalwar. In the loose clothing, it was easy to notice the sleeve of crimson glass bangles that rattled on his arm.
“Your bangles.” She noted then immediately regretted speaking. The other two were looking at her, though, so she had to power through it and continue, “They won’t break, will they?”
“Oh, nah.” Asadullah shook his head, grinning a little, “No way these things could contain a djinn if they shattered by a little bump.”
“Djinn?”
“Shapeshifting trickster people. Usually harmless and solitary but once one tried to destroy an entire mountain range so a couple magicians stuck it inside the bangles I wear.”
She had concerns and questions but decided she’d rather not sit through the lecture for it all. The idea of magic and Games were startling enough without the existential crisis Asadullah threatened to wreak with his appearance. Instead, she turned her attention to a slight screech on the edge of her hearing. Buzzards were circling overhead.
“C’mon, let’s go.” She decided, tucking her snacks back into various pockets. Her customary knife was replaced with the shotgun just in case any of the beasts tried anything. Michael took stock of the scavenger situation and began packing hurriedly, too.
“They’re just buzzards. Won’t try anything if we’re alive.” Asadullah pointed out, confused.
“Maybe back in your world, but trust me, you don’t want to tempt them.” Verity warned him. Asadullah blinked for a second, before writhing, shifting in front of their eyes into a tawny lion with a magnificent mane.
The lion shook its mane out and growled, translations still appearing loyally underneath.
“Think this is un-tempting enough?”
“I bet you’re enjoying scaring people who don’t already know your powers.” Verity mumbled, trying to ignore the migraine slowly building up in her head. She wished the world would just go back to being over. It was simpler when they had thought that things couldn’t get better than this. Now, all she could think about was what else she might be doing, in a world where anything was possible.
They traversed through the desert, trailed closely by the buzzards, until finally the things let up a few miles near Mishlin.
Outside of the gates, Verity shoved his cap over his ears, “Keep your ears covered and try not to move your tail.” She instructed, “Maybe they’ll think you’re just a little weird.”
“I don’t want to be seen as weird!” Asadullah replied, crossing his arms indignantly.
“Stop talking, too.” Michael advised, wincing as green letters etched themselves into the air, “We’ll just say you’re mute. It’s either that or everyone flips out when the floating letters translate for you.”
Asadullah looked a little downtrodden but nodded in agreement, “Yeah, okay. I’ll try my best.”
The gates screeched open and two guards peeked out, spears at the ready. Michael waved timidly, and they relaxed. Jared spent a lot of time here, so they should be able to recognize the guy’s closest friends. Verity ushered them through the narrow gap in the gate, and the guards backed away sharply.
“Anything we can help you with?” A guard asked, hounding them, “Who’s your friend?”
“Water would be nice.” She croaked, playing up the dryness in her mouth, “You guys still got your car platoon?”
“Yes. Only for prescheduled scouting trips.” The guy nodded, “But we’ve got a convoy heading to the Epicenter, if you’re heading back there.”
“Yes. That. Please.” She agreed, trying to keep calm. Her palms were sweaty. Breath was getting shorter. Vision was tinged with red at the corners. Any longer, and she would snap.
They were bundled into a tiny, cramped car, and three hours later, it and three other cars set off onto the open road. A representative was sitting in the shotgun seat, holding a firearm ready for any supposed attack. Still, he turned around to ask them questions while the driver gunned it.
“You moving anything important?” He probed.
“Nope.” Michael brushed off, tightly gripping onto the folded-up laptop, “Just some scavenging. Might’ve seen something radioactive out there, though.”
“Damn.” He swore, shaking his head, “Just what we need right now.”
Asadullah twitched sharply, as if he wanted to say something, but remembered at the last second that he couldn’t. The rest of the drive was silent, stewing in the brain-numbingly humid car. She realized that the things were barely running on methane as it was, but would it kill them to turn on the air conditioner?
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
When the world ended, the temperature had risen everywhere. Whether it was raining, cloudy, or dry, it almost felt like a hundred degrees. Air conditioners felt like a daydream that might’ve never existed at all.
The car came to a stop so harshly that Verity nearly slammed into the back of the front seat. She put a hand in front of her and steadied herself at the last second, though. She meant to pretend that it didn’t happen, but Asadullah was smirking at her with a bright gleam in his eyes, so he had noticed at least.
Doors were snapped open, and wind flowed in to help with the heat, at least marginally. Michael rushed out first, shaking his feet feverishly to wake them up. Verity stretched her legs out and walked purposefully towards the Wayside sign.
She needn’t have bothered, as it turned out, because Jared was already sprinting towards them. Verity reached out to talk to him, but he walked past with barely more than a greeting pat on the shoulder.
“Hey, Henry, Mannings.” He greeted, waving to the people who had been sitting in the car with them, “How have you guys been? I didn’t realize Mishlin was up for another visit?”
“We wanted to see the operation you’re running here.” The driver, Mannings, explained, rubbing his neck, “It’s impressive.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jared went so far as to sketch a bow, “Means a lot to me that someone like you can see the potential of what we’re building.”
Verity and Michael turned to look at each other in bewilderment. This guy had a reputation? They didn’t even know his name before now. Oops.
“And who’s this? A rookie?” Jared simpered over to Asadullah. Ah, crap, did he think that Asadullah was with the Mishlin? This could throw off their entire story. She stared at him, hoping to beam the context into his head. Somehow, with less than a glance between them, Jared seemed to get the gist and course correct, “Oh, wait! You’re the straggler Vera and Mick found in the desert! Good for you, kid, you made it out here alive!”
“We had a close call with some buzzards.” Michael hurried to explain, “So we decided to just mooch off Mishlin’s cars.”
“Good call.” Jared nodded seriously, “Get to the newcomer’s tent and give the kid the regular rundown, will you? I just need to tie up some loose ends with our fine allies.”
Laying it on a bit thick, wasn’t he? Verity snorted to herself and led the others into the camp.
Wayside had grown since its establishment. It had already been underway before Jared had officially named it that, so not much had changed in its layout since three weeks ago, but there were more people. Better security. More resources. Even the beginnings of a proper farming biome being built in the background. Still, she ignored it all, weaving through it with her head down, as she barged into a tent at the edge of camp. It was a small affair, carefully crafted to give an air of humbleness, while still decorated with tidbits that screamed luxury.
“This is the newcomer’s tent?” Asadullah asked dubiously, taking a careful seat on a leather chair with wheels that could spin around. It was a prize she had gotten from an office building three steps away from collapse. She should know, those three steps had been hers. It was surprising that the chair had come out of that in such good condition.
“No, this is Jared’s tent.” Michael corrected, glaring at her accusingly, “Verity led us the wrong way.”
“He just told us to do that to be confusing.” Verity replied, “He’s expecting us to be here.”
Right on cue to defend her honor, Jared burst in through the tent, “Oh, thank God.” He sighed, taking them all in, “I almost thought you’d actually go to the newcomer’s tent.” He snorted at that. Michael tittered nervously. Jared made a beeline towards Asadullah, “Hey, okay, so what’s really your deal?”
Asadullah hesitated, tail curling up behind him, “I’m from another plane of reality and together we’re going to fix the apocalypse.” He rattled off.
Jared didn’t reply, frozen on the spot. Verity buried her head into her hands and screamed.
“What? We might as well be upfront about it!” Asadullah defended. Jared only then snapped out of his funk, to pull the guy into a hug.
“Please say you’re an angel.” He whispered into the boy’s shoulder.
“Half-djinn. Very different. But those are the ones who actually interfere with human affairs, so-”
“He can turn into a lion.” Verity interjected.
Jared let out a deranged little giggle, “Oh, this just keeps getting better and better! Tell me everything.”
The entire story came out in bits and pieces as the three talked over each other and corrected bits of information they decided was incorrect. At some point, Asadullah went on a long tangent about a friend of his who ran away to the army that derailed the whole thing for ten minutes, but they managed to get to the end of it eventually.
Through it all, Jared listened, and his quiet mystification gave way to sharp eyes and meaningful hums. His analytical mind was whirring itself into a frenzy, compounding every bit of added information into a plan of action, until he nodded and sat down, “Okay, show me this Console of yours.” The device was dutifully handed over to him, and he opened it reverently. Tense silence hung in the air as he clicked around a few times and took in the information. Above him, a bright green notification appeared.
[Jared Caliber has entered The Game!]
[Jared Caliber has accepted the Long-Term Mission!]
[Jared Caliber has joined Party(Main)!]
“We should rename this, just by the way. [Party(Main)] is so uninspired.” He added, midway through his search.
“How about let’s not.” Verity replied drily, “You figure out anything that we haven’t yet?”
“Yes, actually.” Jared nodded, “Have you guys ever played a video game? Because this thing is like- I don’t know how to explain it. The inventory. The control bar. The settings page. It’s everything. Which makes sense, considering that it’s the Console, but I just don’t think you’ve realized that yet?”
“We have an inventory?” Verity asked, her interest piqued, “Is there anything there?”
“Yeah, I think. Looks like a lot of food. I wonder if…” He clicked something.
[Extracting Asset…]
A flurry of green pixels burst out, and then reformed into a wooden crate. A crate filled past the brim with glossy, luscious red fruit bursting with life. It had been so long since Verity had seen apples that she barely recognized them. Silence hung in the air as everyone stared at the crate. Asadullah didn’t look as shocked as the rest of them, simply glancing around nonplussed.
“So, apples aren’t common here?” He guessed.
“Completely extinct, more like.” Jared replied, a hysterical giggle building under his breath.
“I hate this place more and more.” He mumbled, ears laying flat as he slumped over the desk, “This can’t happen to Mira.”
“And it won’t.” Jared assured him, “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Careful, you’re not much better than us.” Verity warned him, smile tugging at the edge of her mouth. Jared talked a big game, and he did his best to walk it as well, but he was only the brains in the operation. Verity and Michael could each beat him in a fistfight easily.
The Console chimed, and a slew of green notifications began flitting through the air.
[Jared Caliber is Invited to Party(Main)!]
[Jared Caliber has Accepted the Invite!]
[Current Members of Party(Main): Asadullah Khan, Jared Caliber, Michael Kapok, Verity Monroe]
[Minimum 4 Party Member Requirement has been Fulfilled!]
[Loading First Objective…]
The entire room held its breath as the laptop’s screen shifted into a loading screen. The progress bar went across the screen, until it finally loaded entirely. On the screen, there was only a single blue line that spun around the screen, until settling into one specific spot.
Helpful instructions jumped up above the laptop.
[Objective: Enter Level One By Reaching Spawn Points]
“This… isn’t level one?” Michael asked, looking utterly exhausted.
“Oh, so I got to be teleported all the way here, but now we walk?” Asadullah sounded outraged.
“We’ll just have to walk.” Verity decided, shoving her hands into her pocket to take stock of her nutrient bars, “You guys up for it?”
Jared looked startled, “I’ve got stuff going on!” He protested, “Don’t have the time to risk it with whatever this Level One is. Probably going to take us to another dimension if your info is right.”
There was silence as everyone considered this factor. It was Asadullah who reached a conclusion first.
“If we’re going to be taken to another world, doesn’t that mean that they’re in trouble, too?” He asked somberly, “Why shouldn’t we try to help them, if we’re hedging our bets on this Game to help us too?”
Jared spluttered, unsurely.
Verity delivered the final blow, “Oh, wow. Jared Caliber’s a coward, who would’ve guessed?”
“Fine.” He sat up quickly, “I’ll do it.”
“Your motivations concern me.”
“None of that, now.” Jared sang, rebuilding his unshakeable image, “We need to make arrangements. How long do you think this will take?”
It took them half an hour to gather all the things they would need. The food problem had been solved, so Verity had ditched all her emergency snack foods and stored them in the larder for someone else to use. Asadullah had fallen asleep, while Michael and Jared went off to iron out some wrinkles in the Wayside bureaucracy.
With all of them out of the way, the laptop was left completely undefended, sitting on the top of Jared’s desk when Verity returned. She cast a look around, only to see Asadullah’s head lolling on the chair’s armrest.
Verity hesitated for a few seconds before reaching forward to turn the laptop on. The compass was still taking up the entire screen, but she managed to shrink down the window to see behind it, where the [Party(Main)] page was still displayed.
[Overall Level: 24]
[Game Immersion: 75%]
[Inventory Slots: 86/114]
[Overall Threat Level: B]
In the Members section of the page, her name was there. Verity clicked on it, and immediately got transported to her character profile.
[Name: Verity Monroe]
[Age: 16]
[Class: Armageddon-Harbinger]
[Level: 8]
[Active Powerup: None]
[Extend Character Profile↓]
[Display Abilities Menu↓]
Armageddon-Harbinger. She really was one of the people keeping the world in the state it was. Her and her redsight sickness.
Her hands were shaking as she dragged the mouse over and clicked on the [Display Abilities Menu↓] button. In front of her, through the screen, a large panel of text appeared.
[Loading Abilities from Previous Save File…]
[Abilities Recovered!]
[Deception Lv. 10]
[Sharpshooting Lv. 8]
[Resource Conservation Lv. 8]
[Hand-to-hand Combat Lv. 8]
[Tracking Lv. 7]
[Killer Instinct Lv. 9]
Verity stared at the ability at the top. [Deception] blared back at her, instead of the [Sharpshooting] Jared had seen. They hadn’t seen her [Class] yet, but it was only a matter of time. She wasn’t going to be welcome here anymore, even though she wanted the world to come back just as much as all of them. Even if she had adapted better to this world, devolved to the savagery around her, she didn’t want this.
She wanted to be better.
[Applying Deception…]
[Are you sure you wish to Deceive Party Members?]
[{x} Yes { } No]
[Deception Successful!]
The screen on the laptop shifted, changing her profile to now display…
[Class: Human]
Good. Crisis averted. Nobody needed to know.
“Come on, Vera, you ready to go?” Jared asked, poking his head through the flap in the tent. He looked completely unchanged since he had left. Didn’t even think to grab a bag. She switched back to the [Party(Main)] page.
“Oh, thank God.” Asadullah sighed, snapping awake. Had he even been asleep at all? Verity cringed at the idea of him seeing what she’d done on the computer.
It didn’t matter, though. Their journey was finally beginning.
[Player Log End!]