We come to a large tech room that is bustling with people on computers. There are screens all over the walls and on tables accordingly, displaying charts of different analytical data, information from graphs and modules. Sounds of computers churning, and some silent and efficient. Tones ringing through the air. Finally, the clash of fingers on keyboards, from a team of developers. “Come on, How are we unable to get control of Peppermint!” A voice would call out to members in the room. It surpassed all of the others in a distinct voice, which even the sound of breathing would fall to its authority. It was the Lead Developer, Ashton Wilder.
“Sir!” one of the members in the room said. “There seems to be a breach in Coordinance 5e.”
As there were many employees of Asper Online, the developers were mainly in control of in-game activities and game mechanics. Coordinances were codes that dealt with the framework of the game. Coordinance 1, dealt with the general layout of the game, meaning, if there were issues in this section, it was game breaking. Coordinance two layered on Coordinance one, and it dealt with graphical effects, such as weather. Coordinance 3, dealt with any sound that could be made in the game. Coordinance 4, handled the playerbase, and managed all player’s actions. And Coordinance 5 managed each server. Each server was designated a letter, with Peppermint as e.
“Pull it up, Now!” Wilder would yell. The developer was quick to bring up the information on a central screen. It was a pie chart, sectioned to show a flashing red pie-block flashing. Wilder wipes his face. “He wouldn’t”
Wilder would head towards the doors and turn slightly. “I’ll be back. We need control of Peppermint stat!”
He would leave the room entering a short hall to an elevator. As he entered, an AI voice would begin speaking to him. “Sir, you know who was in control of Coordinance 5.”
His face grew grim, as he simply acknowledged its words. As the elevator doors opened, he walked into a room of a pure white lobby. There were several people working, but as he passed they all acknowledged him nodding their heads. “Sir!” each would say. When Wilder reached the doors, a car met him and the door opened on its own. “Where are we going, Sir?”
He then closed the door, walking to the drivers side. “Gloria, I’m taking the wheel on this one.”
He sat in the driver seat, touching a button. “Sir,” the AI said. “If you turn off this Gamesglaide won’t know where we’re going?”
There was no second before he would press the button, disabling location tracking for the vehicle. The engine roared and he was off. He drove for an hour until he reached a secluded house. As he exited the car his AI would continue to harp. “Sir, what are you thinking? There’s no way that he’s awake.”
Wilder continued to the door. It was an average sized-suburban wooden door, with a doorbell that Wilder pressed. Suddenly a laser emitted from the door, scanning Wilders eyes. “Entry Granted.” a digital voice said, and the door opened. Inside was a large living space. “Sir! This is against protocol!” The AI yelled.
“I need to know,” he said.
He then walked in and a woman met him. She was startled, but then calm. “When I heard the security scanner start I wondered who it could be, but then I knew only one person would use that thing!” She laughed.
“How is he…?” He asked.
Rather than answering his question she prompted him to follow her. They walked up a set of stairs until finally they met another door. As she turned the door open, a large light would seem out and on a bed laid a young man with the Neuropatch 2 over his head. Around him were 3 screens, each showing his in game footage from Asper Online. “My boy.” He said softly. He then went to his bedside. He placed his hand on his forehead. “Just hold on a bit longer. We’re going to take care of this. I promise.”
On the screen the perspective of a player would emerge from the tower of Dydas. “Father, have no worries. I can handle myself.”
Wilder shook his head. “You are still my son. I will worry.”
Wilder then took a chip from his pocket. “Please take this.” Wilder takes the hand of the man and places the chip in it. “I know you are stubborn, but we are facing unknown threats and.”
“Father!” the voice yelled. “Adrian may have placed his tricks in the game but your mechanics will trump his.”
It was hard, but Wilder smiled. “Gloria, activate Coordinance 6.” Wilder then placed his hand onto the man’s Neuropatch.
“Father, what are you doing!” the man yelled. “I don’t want your handouts!”
“Think of this as your inheritance.”
“Honey what are you doing!” The woman yelled.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Worry not,” he replied. “We cannot let Adrian have his way with everything we worked for. Alec will defeat him. I’ll make sure of it…”
Wilder then got up, quickly leaving the room. “Where are you going!” the woman yelled.
“To see an old friend…”
He left the house, entering the car and driving off to another location. This time it was several hours away, but it was a poor and run down, bustling city. “Sir, will you be safe here” Gloria whispered. Again he ignored her words and walked through. As he passed through the villagers looked at him, not in awe but of disgust. There seemed to be a variety of cultures in one stable village.
“Gaijin…” Another person would emerge and spit on the floor. “Paradeshee.” The reception would continue until finally he reached his destination. It wasn’t because of his race that he was receiving this treatment but because the villagers knew who he was and knew he was up to no good. Instead of knocking he simply turned the handle and entered the house. There were no people in sight, but as he looked straight he could see a man, hooked up to IVs with a Neuropatch 2 over his head. “You piece of work.”
The man laid in the bed, weak and skin with no energy. He would be considered dead by many standards, but was kept living by the bits of nutrients from the IV and life support. Wilder walked to his IVs and saw a plug behind it. “Sir, this would be murder!” Gloria remarked.
“It would solve everything!”
“Sir I would have to report you to authorities upon this action!”
He quickly grabbed the plug. “So be it.” He was about to tug when a hand held him tightly.
“What do you think you’re doing?” It was a young woman with a Neuropatch 2 hanging around her neck.
“Your father is putting many lives at risk because of his shenanigans!” Wilder said.
The young woman smirked. “So are you.”
Wilder didn’t understand, but then a group of villagers came from outside with bats and machetes. She placed her hand out to tell the men to not attack. Over the bedridden man was a smaller screen but it showed footage of Asper Online. From the player’s perspective, it seemed to be in a space that was inaccessible. There were two players. One was a Woman with blonde hair and black attire, and the other, the man seemed to be hovering around. In the game, the player would begin to speak. “I have company. Someone is here to say some sweet words.”
“You’re lucky your daughter here stopped me. I will give you what you deserve!”
The perspective would then adjust, and show the face of a shadowy beast. “Deserve? After everything you’ve done, I think I am giving back exactly what you deserve.” The beast in the screen would move around increasing in size. “You did this. This is all your fault. The lives of everyone in our game is at risk and it's all your fault. Not mine.”
“You should’ve perished when you had the chance.”
“I survived.” The beast said, smiling with all of its teeth sparkling white. “Olivia, get him out of here. We have work to do.”
The girl then signaled for the villagers to remove him and then quickly came grabbing him and tossing him outside.
“You think I can’t stop you in your piece of shit village. Do you know who I am! I can own your village. All of you. All of you are just trash!” He yelled at the house, but the villages were not happy about his actions. They quickly grabbed him up. Amongst the villagers a lone voice would yell. “Well I guess it's garbage day!” They threw him at his car as if he was an artist at a concert crowd surfing. ”Ow” he grunted.
“Serves you right!” Gloria yelled. “Are you okay Sir?” Anyone could have noticed the split of personality from Gloria, but Gloria was an advanced AI able to understand and read situations appropriately.
“We’re heading back.” As he entered the driver's seat, he sat down in pain. “Gloria…”
“Yes Sir…” she replied.
“Drive.”
Back in the villager home with the man, the young woman would go up her stairs and enter a room with another young woman laying down. She too had a Neuropatch 2 on, but she was calm breathing slightly at intervals. “Alright I’m on my way big sis.” She headed to her room and lied down. She turned on her Neuropatch 2, entering the Asper Online onto the Peppermint Server. Gladys online.
“What was that? Where were you?” A player yelled. “We were just about to enter Dydas.”
“Gladys, you're ready to start talks with Aluxan.” another questioned.
“I don’t know how Alec would feel about seeing me.” She said, “But we'll find out.”
As they adjourned, three Guildless players would enter Dydas. As they entered through the portal they were met with a barrage of attacks. From arrows, to beams, rockets and lasers, all rained upon the 3 Guildless players.
“Of course they were waiting," one of the players noted.
“Were just here to ta-” Before the player could finish his words all of the attacks hit the 3 Guildless players. From afar, players in Dydas stood atop rooftops of buildings firing from afar. Hundreds of players stood upon the ground. These players were amongst the previous guilds, now disbanded and merged into Humanity. These included players from, Dragonedge, Engine, Wave, and Jungle. Not all players from Mainland fell in Juwin as well as those from Ash-Nation and Matrice. Lastly, As Dydas was home to the Golden Cross. While each of the leaders held their own in their respective cities. Aluxan, stood atop the Tower of Dydas.
“Father, I will not let you down.” a voice whispered from a far.”
As the barrages would go on for several minutes, finally they stopped. A moment of silence occurred as the dust settled into the entrance of Dydas and out it, a yawn.
“I mean,” One of the Guildless players remarked. “I would do the same.”
They began to walk closer and closer to the city. The players on ground held their weapons tightly as did the range players atop the rooftops. One of them was about to charge when suddenly a voice commanded otherwise. “Halt!”
It was Gaston, from Samedi. Behind him was none other than Aethera. Since she had become stronger, dawning a level of 347. She had been training since with Gaston and the guild, and was no longer a Spartan but a Legionnaire. Gaston on the other hand was a Level 672, Hero class. Although one would think he would look like a superhero from a comic, but he looked more like an ancient Greek hero, especially Heracles. So instead, his muscles definition glistened in the reflection of the light with simply a loin cloth around his waist covering his lower half. His hair was long and brown, with a sword holstered to his back, seamlessly.
“Oh we have a Hero here,” one of the Guildless players yelled. From nowhere the player pulled a cape, unraveling a costume of their own. This time the player transformed, wore a dark cape, with a metal mask.
“A villain?”
“Heroes and Villans, Villain and Heroes.” The Villain player said. “The ancient battle of love and war.”
As Gaston went to inspect the player, the Villain quickly stopped him. “You don’t want to do that…” He warned, but it was too late. Gaston had inspected the Villain player, and found out his name. “Respawn. Why was his name a game mechanic?”
“Bye now.” Respawn said.
In an instant, Gaston was teleported away. “I told him not to read my name. “Now then, where is Aluxan? Aluxan! Sweetie! Alunxan! Where are you!” the player yelled.
Suddenly from the sky a player emerged, landing into the ground.
Even Aethera was amazed. "His respawn was 4 maps portals away." she noted.
“The Guildless players turned.to face the crater and emerged Gaston. “I see. That must be a PBE Skill, Aluxan was talking about. Childplay.”
“Now that I know you cannot be targeted, I guess I’ll just have to hit you with area of effect attacks.” He slammed his hands together, rubbing them with grit.
A new battle begins in Dydas.; Gaston, Aethera and the Hundreds take on the Three Guildless Players.