[Player Log Start!]

[Log Holder: Benedict Carrey]

[Level: 1 – Boss Stage]

After Jared had talked Verity down from whatever cold cliff she had gotten onto, they had given the Console back over to Asadullah and Ben, ready for them to finish up the Sub-Levels.

“How about we just… don’t.” Asadullah suggested, “We’re in the boss level already, whatever that is. I don’t see why we need to still bother with all that.”

The panels, always so silent in regards to anything else, popped up again, ready to fight in defense of the Game.

[Sub-Levels are required to be completed before the Boss Fight commences]

[No Boss Fight will mean that you cannot end the Apocalypse in this Realm]

“Well, that answers that question.” Ben sighed, continuing to walk in the direction of one of the Compass’ needles.

“It’s bullshit it what it is.” Asadullah growled, “Michael was pretty clear that their world isn’t actually suffering from an Apocalypse. They just fucked up real bad.”

“What about the Harbingers Verity found there?” Ben pointed out, “They were clearly going to start an Apocalypse, if not to perpetuate one.”

Asadullah grumbled but offered no argument. She had a feeling that he was feeling the same thing she was. Doubts about their new mission. A bone-deep weariness that was already tired of the journey that awaited them.

There were only so many things the human mind could take before it starts questioning things. Maybe finding out that the world you were living in was simply a Game, and that multiple dimensions existed was simply too late to pump the brakes and start asking questions, but hey, better late than never, huh?

But it doesn't matter what questions were being asked, the rollercoaster was off already, and they couldn’t stop right now. A job had to be done.

[Warp Point in Range!]

“Already?” Ben blinked, as if she could misread the three-inch-long letters hovering in front of her face, “We haven’t even left Hygeia!”

They were at the one open spot in the village, where they could have access to the river. And given where they were standing, the Warp Point could only be directly above the rushing water, frothed so thick it appeared completely white.

“But this is a good thing, right?” Asadullah pointed out, “We don’t even have to leave- oh, wait, no, this is going to have to go to either Terry or Tench, isn’t it?”

“Yup. We keep looking.” Ben agreed, turning around and fixing her attention on another needle.

This one led them to a solid boundary wall. One glance to the side, and it turned out to be ten feet away from the Western Gate.

“Hey!” She grinned, marching over to the nearest guard, “When’s the next scavenging run from here?”

The guard frowned, taking them both in as if trying to place who they were.

“Do I know you?” He asked.

“We’re new.” She explained shortly, “Trying to contribute to the cause. I’m Ben Carrey, and this is Asad. What about you?”

“Luke.” He introduced, holding a hand to his chest, “It’s… nice to meet you. We haven’t had new people in a while.”

“Oh?” She asked, “When was the last time someone new came?”

He made to answer, but then paused, trying to think, “I don’t… know. That’s strange. Hey, Marc, when did you get here? You were the last one to come here, right?”

The lookout on the top of the wall turned around to look at them, brushing dark hair out of his eyes, “Um, I think so, yeah. I don’t remember.”

Ben was already getting the heebie jeebies from this interaction, but Luke wasn’t going to let it go, he stared at his shaking hands, “When did I get here?”

“Alright, we’ll be going now, thank you.” Ben burst out, dragging Asadullah away. Not that he needed to be dragged, all too glad to be steered out of that situation.

“But I wasn’t able to help you!” He called after them.

“We don’t want to disturb your existential crisis too much!” She replied over her shoulder.

Once they were out of earshot, Asadullah began to whisper to her hurriedly, “Who else could we ask to get this information?”

“I don’t know! Anyone but that guy! You didn’t think he sounded weird?”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“This whole place is weird!” Asadullah pointed out, “No one talks to us, or even interacts with us, and there are people everywhere.”

Ben froze, considering that factoid. He was right, as begrudging she was to admit it. How come no one spoke to them unless they actively sought out that interaction? It just wasn’t normal.

No, she couldn’t start thinking about that. The rollercoaster was going, and it wasn’t stopping. Just needed to get this over with, and she could rebuild from there.

“Maybe it’s because we’re on probation.” She offered, a weak defense, but when one wants to bury themselves in ignorance, a blanket could be woven out of the flimsiest thread.

Asadullah seemed to be one of the people wishing for ignorance, for he sniffed angrily but didn’t debate it further. Going to get the info they needed was a nightmare and a half now that they had left the guards, but at least the people were happy to point them in the right direction.

Why were all these people constantly walking around? Where would they be walking to? Stop thinking about that, Ben.

She didn’t pull off blissfully ignorant very well.

“Can you put us on the list for the Western hunting party?” She asked, leaning perhaps a bit too intensely towards one of the guides working the timetables.

“Uh… We don’t have lists for that?” She replied, hiding behind her clipboard, “You just say you’re going along and we know to keep an eye out for you. Why?”

“Well then, we’re going.” Ben told her, “Found a lead for perhaps the biggest treasure trove you’ll ever see. When does the party leave?”

“Well, this sundown’s is the North scavenge, so the west would be… At sunrise tomorrow.”

“Great!” Ben clapped her hands, “I really appreciate it.”

“What kind of supplies do you think you’ll find?” The woman asked, tilting her head with genuine interest, “What was the lead?”

“Some guy I’ve heard of through radio broadcasts.” Ben explained, thinking quick on her feet, “Apparently he’s been living in a grocery store for the last two years and amassed a giant hoard, but died a month ago? That’s when his last broadcast was, anyway.”

“Oh, that’s great news!” The woman grinned, before covering her mouth, “I mean, bad for him. Sorry about his fate. He went too early from what he deserved. But, you know… supplies.”

Asadullah nodded and smiled, a smidge too tight.

“I’m sure the guy doesn’t mind.” Ben laughed, not too uproariously, in case that tipped the woman in on the fact that she had made that entire story up, “But, while I have you here, do you know where Terry is? We want to be able to check up on him during the day. Not exactly the most socialized, that one.”

“They’re either in Hygeia Hall, or one of the many research facilities.” She replied, “Neither of which are places you are allowed into without an escort. Or even with one. It’s a very stringent system.”

“A research facility?” Ben gaped, “There aren’t enough buildings for that. Where would a facility like that be?”

“Almost every structurally sound building here is a facility of some sort.” The woman explained, gesturing wildly at the concrete jungle of a town surrounding them, “That one with the red roof? It’s all hollowed out to act as a granary. I was there to help with the work! Only some of the lower floors of the West side building are reserved for domestic living. That’s why we have the temporary housing!”

“Clever.” Ben nodded along. Asadullah sighed next to her, and she barely even heard his soft padding footsteps walking away, “Sorry, I gotta keep an eye on the kid.” The woman smiled and waved her away, letting her jog to catch up with the spiteful child, “Hey, you know you shouldn’t do that?”

“Gave you a good reason to not continue that never ending conversation, didn’t you?” He replied.

“Oh, screw you, maybe I wanted to hear about her granary building exploits. You don’t know.”

“Don’t I?”

“Okay, it was boring as shit.”

“I thought the little extra details were informative, but it was dying. You could tell.”

“Alright, smartass, ya made your point!” She shoved him, lightly, so he didn’t even shift, the supernatural wall of muscle. He smirked when he realized how irrationally angry that made her.

They only met up with Terry at the end of the day, when he stumbled into their caravan, hands pink from the excessive scrubbing and hair greasy from being shoved into a hairnet. He was so emotionally exhausted, he could only summon up the energy to sign as he lay on the bunks.

“We think we’ve got a solid understanding of it based on the way it grafts itself onto animal brains.” Terry explained, “Running a few more tests to see how consistent this is, but a vaccine doesn’t seem off the books.”

“Good job!” Ben grinned, feeling excitement bubbled inside her. With the way this was going, she could get him back to her town to fix Gerard. Would he have wandered off by now? Or still remain inside town limits, shuffling from street to street in that never-changing cycle? It made her sad to think about, but better that than being lost forever.

“Any luck with the Warp Points?” Verity added.

“There’s one inside Hygeia limits. In the river.” Asadullah reported, “Terry should get that one.”

“Love how you didn’t even consider letting me have it.” Tench shook his head, “Guess I’m just expendable then.”

“Not true.” Terry made sure to turn his whole body towards Tench when he signed this, even though the translation panels didn’t make it necessary anyway. Then he weaved on the spot once, and then fell backwards into a dead man’s sleep.

Nervous laughter traveled through the room.

“Alright, you guys, he called it. Lights out now.” Ben clapped her hands.

“I can’t believe we have a bedtime now.” Verity grumbled, grabbing her pillow to go lie down on the couch. Something about not getting comfortable because she was edge like that.

“I can’t believe we have a bedtime!” Jared gushed, looking much happier about the situation.

“Yeah!” Michael nodded, practically glowing. Ben’s heart shattered as she turned off the lights and tried to keep silent composure. God, they were just babies. She needed to get under the covers and scream into the pillow because in these conditions it was the only outlet she had.

But she had only settled onto her bed before Asadullah ambled over to her. He would have been completely invisible, if it weren’t for the shining eyes that nearly made her jump out of her skin.

“Hey, I know you want to go first.” He whispered, so soft that she had to strain to listen, “But can I… can I… Will you let me do this one instead?”

“Who told you that?” She asked, “I do not want to do it any faster than I have to.”

“Because… everyone does.” Asadullah thought aloud, “Aren’t you curious?”

“Not anymore than I have to be. I like to think I can keep my curiosity safely inside the cart.” She told him stiffly.

“What?”

“What? Never mind that. Sure, go ahead. But sleep, otherwise you won’t be in any condition to fight the horrible smoke monsters which plague them.” She advised.

A flash of teeth shone in the slight rays of fluorescent light that peeked through the shutters on the windows.

“You think I ever give it anything but my all?”

“Alright, kitty cat.” She rolled her eyes, “Do that, then, and stop bothering me.”

[Player Log End!]