Chapter 73: Trip Advisor

OldCampaigner: There’s been a change of plans.

Lena and I sat side-by-side at our computer desks. Well, I sat; she perched on her chair like a gargoyle.

We each had Discord open on our PCs. I couldn’t speak for her but I had browser tabs open for the notes we’d already taken, the Third Eye Wiki, the Invasion Report, and Imagined Worlds, plus the secret tournament rules page Omar had linked us. Finally, I had a blank document open in Notepad++ to record anything new that cropped up.

Cups of coffee steamed on each of our desks. Our phones lay beside them, open to duplicate Discord instances in case we needed a convenient way to check a DM in the middle of the conversation. I had a pad of paper and a pen for extra note-taking. Lena had a mini donut for sugar-intaking.

We were basically ready for anything.

ShakeProtocol: A change, huh? I’d hope so, since you asked us all to make it here at once.

ShakeProtocol: The last time you hosted one of these town hall meetings, it was certainly dramatic.

Joon Woo was the only remote member of the wiki team Erin had included in our initial reveal, and the one who’d taken it the worst.

Since then, though, I knew he’d thrown himself into studying all aspects of Third Eye. His discoveries of new techniques filled the Discord. I’d read them a lot more intensely the moment Lena or I got access to Earth. He didn’t seem to have shared his project to decode the Third Eye runes with the team yet, maybe because it was still in beta. From what Miguel had demonstrated, it seemed to be developing fast.

OldCampaigner: I don’t think we’re going to top revealing the existence of magic.

LikeItsNinetyNine: If you were about to, would you have invited all of us?

I grimaced.

LikeItsNinetyNine was one of the mods on the Third Eye subreddit. She’d filmed one of the very first videos of the game we’d seen, and helped us out with Lena’s first video, too.

As PVP had loomed larger in the game, however, she’d backed off. She didn’t want her husband and kids getting caught up in a fight. Understandable.

Because of her misgivings, because she’d started playing less, she hadn’t been included in our initial reveal. Erin had eventually decided to share the news with the entire wiki team, but she’d done it in DMs. LikeItsNinetyNine had never brought it up with Lena or I, and it only now occurred to me that it might have bothered her.

OldCampaigner: Yeah. Do you wish you’d known from the start?

LikeItsNinetyNine: No, you’re right to be cautious about who you tell.

LikeItsNinetyNine: Sometimes I wish I still didn’t know.

Salamancer: I am unbothered, but make no mistake. I hope for even more spectacular revelations!

Salamancer was one of the few people on the wiki team who wasn’t an admin for some Third Eye community. Along with Joon Woo, he’d been an especially busy poster on the game’s official Discord, which was where he’d made contact with Erin.

In theory, he provided us with insights into what was up with the Third Eye playerbase outside North America. In practice, he mostly lightened the mood, since he refused to be forced to take the game seriously. In chat, anyway; it was a lot easier to force cheer in text.

ShakeProtocol: What would be more spectacular than Third Eye affecting the real world?

Salamancer: I have no idea. That is why I’m so eager to learn!

Ashbird: tbh, if we found out something that huge, we’d probably talk through it with NugsFan first and let her send the invites.

OldCampaigner: I’m not sure how much this one will affect all of you directly. What we’re talking about doing will be good for the Third Eye community, but it’s not for the Third Eye community, if you know what I mean.

NugsFan15: I think so.

OldCampaigner: It’s very important to Ashbird and I, though. And we’re going to need your help.

NugsFan15: We’ll do whatever we can, of course!

ShakeProtocol: What are friends for, right?

NugsFan15: Mmhm!

Lena and I exchanged glances. I think we both read more sarcasm into Joon Woo’s line then Erin seemed to.

I’m sure Miguel perceived it the same way we did, which was probably why he decided to play peacemaker.

GMiguel88: Why don’t you start with what you’ve learned. From there, we’ll better understand what help you’ll need, and we should offer.

OldCampaigner: It’s about OdysseyZZ.

LikeItsNinetyNine: The guy hosting the big tournament down in Florida? It’s all folks are talking about on the subreddit these days.

OldCampaigner: Ashbird and I happened to find out some of the other stuff he’s been up to, and it doesn’t exactly paint him in the best light.

NugsFan15: Is this about the lawsuit against his financial company?

Lena stretched. “Welp. So much for our big reveal.”

“I don’t know why I ever thought we’d be the only people to notice,” I said.

“The perils of working with statheads, am I right?” She was, even if I was the one who’d had to convince her of it. Before we’d met Erin, Lena’s first impulse had been to dismiss her as a Third Eye rival because she was a sports fan. “I mean, it wasn’t completely crazy. We had way more reason to look into Omar’s business than most Third Eye players would.”

“Maybe, but you missed one crucial detail.”

She cocked her head.

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I grinned. “You should’ve known Erin would be happy to dig up dirt on somebody who was pushing PVP.”

I was rewarded with a laugh.

Buoyed by it, I copied a series of lines from my notes into the Discord.

They summarized most of what Lena and I – and Benji – had discovered, from Omar’s apparent early access to Third Eye, to the way he’d closed his park to visitors but kept his whole staff on, to the sneak peek at the tournament rules he’d offered Lena, and, finally, to how he’d stopped letting his investors withdraw money from Odyssey Futures. I’d cut all direct mentions of my family, in case they didn’t want their financials splashed around, but left in that I personally knew someone who’d been ripped off by Omar.

NugsFan15: Just awful. If there’s anything we can do to make sure their lawsuit is a success, please, let us know.

OldCampaigner: It’s not so much the legal side we might be able to do something about.

ShakeProtocol: What exactly is it you’re planning to do?

Ashbird: We’re going to Florida!

OldCampaigner: Specifically, we’re going early.

OldCampaigner: Our original plan was to head down there and arrive in time for the preliminaries.

Ashbird: So I could boss them like I’m gonna the tournament, obvs.

ShakeProtocol: And now?

OldCampaigner: We’re heading out – I’d love to say right away, but realistically, there’s no way we can get going this weekend. As soon as possible. By the end of next week, at the latest.

ShakeProtocol: From what you said of OdysseyZZ, why are you so eager to put yourselves in his power?

OldCampaigner: I wouldn’t say we’re eager. We’re also not going to take the fastest possible route. Recently, we realized just how many more Materials and Reactants we can get outside of well-traveled areas. I’m not sure how much there would be on major highways, but I am sure it would be a pain to try to pull off and collect them.

OldCampaigner: We’re going to take the most scenic route we can. If we’re lucky, OdysseyZZ won’t realize we’re in town until we’ve already found out what he’s up to. And either way, by the time we arrive, we expect to be a hell of a lot stronger than when we leave.

Ashbird: Plus, the route will be super scenic!

OldCampaigner: Once we get to places with scenery, anyway.

ShakeProtocol: But you do still intend to arrive early?

OldCampaigner: Yes.

ShakeProtocol: Why?

OldCampaigner: Because we need to figure out what OdysseyZZ is up to before he actually pulls it off. The tournament has to be a key part of it. Otherwise, there’s no way he would risk doing something so public.

ShakeProtocol: So instead, you’ll risk doing something in secret?

OldCampaigner: That’s why one of the main things we need from all of you is to keep track of us. We’re not asking for backup in Florida, but we do want to make sure that everything we discover is spread to multiple people right away, so there’s no point in trying to silence us.

ShakeProtocol: Sensible.

Salamancer: Personally, I’d love to back you up! As soon as you’ve set the date for your arrival, I’ll wing my way down there to meet you.

I raised an eyebrow. Actual, physical backup – Third Eye backup, no less – was more than I’d dared to hope for.

OldCampaigner: That would be awesome.

Salamancer: Of course, if the tournament does go ahead, we will have to be rivals as well as allies.

OldCampaigner: You and Ashbird can sort that out between yourselves. I’m even less inclined to compete than I was before I knew OdysseyZZ was a scammer, which is saying a lot.

Ashbird: The more the merrier. To be the best, I’ve got to beat the best!

Salamancer: Fantastic!

Salamancer: There is just one other tiny, little, insignificant thing. You’ll have to buy my plane tickets.

“I knew it was too good to be true,” Lena muttered.

“The backup,” I asked, “or the rivalry?”

In response, she just widened her grin.

I didn’t know why I’d bothered to ask. Of course the answer would be both.

OldCampaigner: I’m afraid that’s not something we can handle. Actually, it brings up the other way we need help.

ShakeProtocol: You’re also trying to scam plane tickets out of us?

Salamancer: That is unfair. I did not scam, I merely asked.

OldCampaigner: Plane tickets wouldn’t do us any good. The area we want to scout along the way is literally what people call flyover country.

ShakeProtocol: What is it you need, then?

OldCampaigner: I know it’s a lot to ask, but we’re going to need wheels.

NugsFan15: I’d love to go with you, but somehow, I don’t think @CannibalHalfling will be able to persuade the rest of the DU faculty that it’s a good use of my semester. Any more than he’ll be able to go himself.

NugsFan15: I suppose I can ask him Monday, assuming he’s back.

DU_Goldie: yeah. would be cool trip, but cant do it till spring break.

OffGrid: Maybe for the tournament itself, but we can’t go early.

DU_Goldie: if oc + ash dont get it canceled lol.

LikeItsNinetyNine: If this Odyssey guy is doing something sinister with Third Eye, or if folks can get their money back from his scam, surely that’s worth canceling the tournament.

DU_Goldie: yeah

DU_Goldie: not going to fl then tho. id rather ski.

LikeItsNinetyNine: Ha! Fair.

LikeItsNinetyNine: I can’t come out to Denver to pick you up, but promise you’ll swing by Atlanta on your way and I can at least put you up for a spell.

I’d have accepted that invitation in a heartbeat, but it sounded like a lot of forced socializing for Lena. I glanced at her.

I needn’t have. Her fingers were already clacking away at her mechanical keyboard.

Ashbird: Awesome! It will be super cool to meet you and your family.

DeepingShadows: And you’re going to get there how, exactly?

DeepingShadows: Even if I were able to get free, which I’m not, and inclined to join you on a road trip, which, see above, I’m in no condition to drive.

I sighed. Donica wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t helping, either. Unless pointing out that our plan was hopeless was helpful, since it would force us to make a new one?

OldCampaigner: We’re not trying to get someone to drive us. We’re hoping to borrow a car.

If we couldn’t, we’d have to rent one. How much would a month-long rental cost us? More than bus or even plane tickets.

It seemed like every time we had to change our plans, it led to us spending more and more of the money we didn’t have.

DeepingShadows: Out of curiosity, when was the last time you or Ashbird drove?

Ashbird: It’s been a while, but it’s just like riding a bike. I’m sure it’ll come right back to us.

DeepingShadows: On interstates, two-lane highways, and maybe dirt and gravel back country roads? Truly, the best places to practice.

GMiguel88: I hate to admit it, but you have a point.

Miguel knew better than anyone how out of practice I was behind the wheel. We’d poked along at five miles per hour the night I’d had to drive him from the runoff tunnel to Swedish Medical Center.

OldCampaigner: I told you I was being cautious the other night, since you were hurt.

GMiguel88: Very much so.

Lena bent over her keyboard.

Ashbird: Is that you offering to drive us? Or are you just running Cam down for no reason?

GMiguel88: I wish I could go with you. Alas, my work isn’t going to send me on a month-long ramble across the country.

Ashbird: Then what’s even the point of bringing it up? You think we should let Omar get away with whatever because we can’t get a freaking driver?

I worried that was exactly what Miguel was saying. Either because he genuinely didn’t think it was safe for us to drive to Florida, or because he knew it wouldn’t be safe when we got there.

He wasn’t the one who answered, though. Zhizhi did.

CubSoda: He’s saying that you need to ride with me.