Party Interruptions

"Okay, everyone. I have a special surprise in store for the evening. While much looting went on in the city during the initial System integration, I was able to have a team who hit a liquor store and found a large supply of spirits. I held them back for an occasion just like this. So we are going to be opening the bar up for drinks in celebration of our first big victory!" Brain spoke into the microphone after the memorial ceremony.

Cheers erupted from the guild at having something to take their focus away from the somber moment.

"Please head to the stations around the courtyard to get drinks and let's begin the real celebration!" Brian concluded and turned to the music machine hooked up to the speakers and began playing some upbeat music.

First up on the list was Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. The iconic song began and everyone in the courtyard began to sing along, their voices rising in excitement at the familiar tune. As they continued to cry out the lyrics, the mood changed to one of comradery and joy at being in a moment of celebration and peace. People danced, and Tom could feel the electricity in the air.

"Nothing brings people together quite like a sing-along," Tom thought to himself, smiling despite the earlier somber moment.

Following Journey, came Sweet Caroline, by Neil Diamond. Again, the courtyard was filled with voices singing along to the familiar tune, everyone shouting the "bah, bah, bah" in unison. People threw their arms over each other's shoulders and swayed back and forth to the rhythm of the song as if they were in a bar on karaoke night and had been friends for years.

Alcohol continued to flow, though Tom and a team of security were abstaining in case of an attack. Song after song continued to play out and the party continued late into the night. Songs such as I'm Sexy and I Know It, Up Town Funk, and Party Rock Anthem got people out into a central area dancing as their inhibitions lowered.

Switching over to some group dances once the crowd got in the mood, The Electric Slide and the Cha-Cha Slide played and nearly everyone joined in the dances. When Garth Brooks' I've Got Friends in Low Places came on, the guild stood in long lines of people with their arms over shoulders singing the chorus at the tops of their lungs.

Tom stood back and watched as people from all walks of life and different cities came together and forgot their worries for a short time. His heart filled with pride as he witnessed people experiencing a moment of true joy in a world now fraught with danger. Though he couldn't find the ability to celebrate so completely with the looming secondary threat, he wouldn't take this away from the others. He caught sight of James near the dance floor singing his heart out, a drink in one hand as he swayed with the others to the beat, and smiled again.

"He does a pretty good job with parties doesn't he?" Derek asked as he walked up and leaned against the wall next to Tom.

"You're not partaking?" Tom asked him, giving him a questioning look.

"Nah. I gave up alcohol a long time ago. And I figured you could use the company." Derek replied.

"I'm trying to enjoy this, but it's hard, you know? Feeling like we accomplished something great, but then thinking about the next challenge. I have no idea how we will deal with Shandra." Tom admitted as they stood together.

"I actually do know. The fight never ends really. When you are in a dangerous place where the normal rules of society have been thrown out the window, you try to remember the highlights, but there's always the threat of something else happening. I went through it when I was deployed in Iraq." Derek said, pausing as he remembered some of the horrors he had seen.

"What did you do to keep going?" Tom asked, turning to look at Derek.

"Mostly what you see here. We had drinks on base or went to bars in safe cities and tried to keep morale high when we had moments of victory. It keeps the human spirit going. A man can suffer through almost anything if he knows there's hope. They have hope now." As Derek spoke he gestured with a nod at the people enjoying the party.

"I wish I could feel the same level of excitement they do," Tom hung his head slightly as he thought of all the other things that still needed to be done.

"So did the commanding officers. They had to be the realists always looking ahead. It's a heavy burden, but if we keep morale high, then we can overcome just about anything. Just remember to not lose sight of what we have accomplished. These people all have a safe place to live and grow. That's no small thing when you consider what happened." Derek encouraged Tom.

"That's true. It's nice to be reminded of the lengths we've come already when dark clouds loom ahead." Tom replied, remembering their first day in this new world and the terrors they faced.

He and James had panicked as it happened, jumping in his car and running over anything green and moving. He chuckled thinking about how scared he had been and how weak those monsters seemed now in comparison. He hated to think what would have happened if they had run into some of the larger monsters they had fought in the beginning.

"We will get past this. We are so much stronger now." Derek said in the lull of the conversation.

"Then we have the space pirates to look forward to," Tom commented offhandedly.

"That right there. That's what I'm talking about. You are focused on that when you should be focused on now. Worry about that tomorrow. Be present in this moment." Derek chided him with a grin on his face.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just can't stop thinking about it." Tom replied as he smiled as well at the thought of always being doom and gloom.

"Just remember that life is always a balancing act. You can't lose sight of that bigger picture, but if it's all you focus on then you lose sight of the present and you'll spiral. " Derek said as he looked out over the crowd of people enjoying themselves.

The sun had set a while ago and Brian had a team set up strings of lights over the courtyard that shone down on the party bathing the area with warm light. Shadows danced along the ground as people moved about and celebrated, making the courtyard feel like a late-night backyard gathering in the summertime.

"Thanks for checking in with me. I feel like we are so busy all the time I forget to stop and smell the roses." Tom admitted, breaking the silence that had hung in the air as he took in the scene around him.

"Anytime. And don't keep your feelings bottled up. Let us help share in the burden. We're all here for you." Derek reassured him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to check the walls."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Derek walked off toward the perimeter and Tom continued leaning against the wall as he watched the party continue. Pausing and putting a finger to his ear, Derek listened then turned to Tom with a slightly worried look on his face.

"Teams on the wall have spotted movement outside. Let's go investigate, but be cool. We don't want to panic anyone here just yet." Derek said, motioning for Tom to follow.

Pushing off the wall, Tom walked as casually as he could to join Derek. When they reached the walls, they climbed the stairs to meet with one of the security guards.

"Report," Derek said firmly as he began to scan the area outside the walls.

"We spotted someone moving in the shadows. Probably just Stormcrusher spies keeping an eye on things, but with everyone distracted we don't want to take chances." The guard said to Derek.

"Good call. Where did you last see them?" Derek asked as he continued staring out into the darkness that now swallowed the city since the power went down.

"Just to the right of that building there. In the alley." The man pointed in the direction of a building across the street.

"I'll check it out," Tom offered, moving forward and hopping down off the wall.

"No, Tom....nevermind." Derek gave up after Tom moved faster than he could stop him.

"He always like that?" The guard asked after Tom had jumped down.

"Yup. A man of action. Good leadership quality, bad strategy." Derek said smirking slightly at thinking of how Tom had been when they worked together.

Landing in a crouch to absorb the momentum of his fall, Tom crept across the street to investigate. Not expecting to find anyone, Tom jumped slightly when a man stepped out of the shadows in the alley.

"Hello, Tom," The man said.

He was garbed in black from head to toe with a mask covering all of his face except his eyes.

"And exactly who might you be?" Tom asked, muscles tensing in preparation for a fight.

"Now, now, calm down. I'm not here for a fight." The man said calmly, showing his hands to ensure Tom he didn't mean any harm. "My name is Sean and I have a message from Shandra."

Tom was taken aback by the civility that this man showed as opposed to Shandra's normal brash interactions.

"Go on," Tom said curious what this might be about.

"She wishes to send her congratulations on eliminating The Master and his forces. She also wishes to extend one more invitation to join Stormcrushers before it's too late." Sean said in a voice that showed he was well-educated.

"Now, why would I go and do a thing like that? We just took out a guild with minimal casualties and she wants us to submit to her tyrannical rule?" Tom asked sarcastically.

"Shandra just wishes to avoid any further bloodshed. She will offer you a position at her side, leading your people to a more peaceful time." Sean continued. "Don't you wish to end all this fighting? To work together to rid this city of the plague that has fallen over it?"

"And how exactly does she plan to rid the city of whatever plague she believes will so easily be gotten rid of? The System is the one that created our current predicament. We can't undo that." Tom replied, crossing his arms over his chest in a symbol he was far from convinced.

"With your people working alongside ours, we will be able to push the monsters out of the city," Sean replied simply.

"It's like none of you actually read the tutorial. Monsters are random spawns because of the mana concentration in the area. Even if you kill every monster here, there will be more in the morning." Tom replied derisively.

Sean paused, furrowing his brow at the thought.

"I see you don't have anyone looking into the phenomenon or a real solution other than 'me kill things' and maybe, she's looking for a patsy to give her someone that will have answers." Tom guessed, prodding the man to think harder about the situation.

"How about I make you an offer? Join us and leave Shandra. We have far more creature comforts here. You could finally be able to join a team thinking about the repercussions of their actions and working together to create lasting solutions." Tom offered, expecting an immediate rejection.

To his surprise, Sean seemed to consider the option. He paused far longer than Tom thought and his eyes shifted back and forth. Tom decided to press his luck.

"It can't be easy to live without power and probably hunting for food or living off rations all this time. We even have a rogue team that you would be a welcome addition to." Tom continued, trying to sweeten the deal.

"I'll need time to think about it," Sean finally said. "Shandra would put out an immediate hit on me if I left."

"So far, everyone's attacks on our base have failed. Stay here, and we will keep you safe. Did I mention we have mattresses for everyone?" Tom added smiling at the last bit.

Sean looked up at him with surprise at this.

"What about everything I've done? How could they accept me after I've helped Shandra?" Sean asked, seeming to genuinely consider the offer.

"We've all made mistakes. You just have to swear that your efforts will be guided by the principle of making this a better place for everyone here." Tom replied.

Another long pause as Sean looked down at his feet.

"It's been hell since this whole thing started. Fighting for everything we have. People are getting upset with Shandra and her continued reliance on strength of arms to get us by. She isn't looking at the bigger picture." Sean finally admitted.

Tom was taken aback by this outburst. He hadn't expected this man to reveal anything about their guild. Tom was shocked at the interaction. Then it hit him. His Charisma.

"Sean, we care about people here. We want that for everyone. Why not leave that cesspool and join us in making this city better in a sustainable way?" Tom added one more enticing offer. "You'll even get your own room and personal training."

Sean finally looked back up at him, a determined look on his face.

"Deal,"