CHAPTER 123: Get up
The room was dark when Adam opened one eye. He glanced towards the clock on his wall. It was only one o’clock, still time to sleep. With a small yawn, Adam squirmed into a comfortable position to go back to sleep.
“Oh, Adam. Isn’t it time to get up yet?” asked Abbey, pressed into his back under the covers.
“It’s only one, still time to sleep,” muttered Adam. A playful hit struck his shoulder.
“1 P! M! Afternoon,” said Abbey. “How can someone both do the most for the city and still be the laziest person in it?”
“It took a lot of practice to be this lazy,” joked Adam as he rolled on his back to look at her. “Besides, if it’s the afternoon, why is it so dark, smart girl?”
Abbey rolled her eyes at the question. “You control the environment and keep it dark in your room.”
Adam frowned but went into the rift menu and changed it from night to daytime within his bedroom. He still wanted to sleep, but now that he thought about it, his stomach reminded him that he had several meals he needed to catch up on.
“I don’t think you realize how boring it can be laying here for this long,” sighed Abbey.
“Oh, I didn’t realize I was keeping you from something more important,” quipped Adam sarcastically.
“There is a lot for us to do out in the city. It’s also good for people to get to know us by sight. Though, I don’t really mind some of this alone time.” To show sincerity, Abbey wrapped her arms around Adam and cuddled closer. He smiled.
“Besides, I was at a really exciting part of this book. Brittney recommended several fantasy series, and I can’t say I hate them,” Abbey added in an exaggerated snobbish way.
Adam looked around but didn’t see a book.
“What were you reading on?” he asked.
Abbey sighed and sat up.
“We can read on the rift menu displays. Jordan hacked web services and downloaded from all the entertainment sites with it before the invasions, so we wouldn’t lose as much. We have quite a lot of shows, books, and games available. Don’t you know that?” she lectured.
“Really?”
“Did you think your TVs are playing from your Xbox and Blu-ray players? Jordan set them up to use the rift menu and just emulate the controls.”
“Whoa! So, I could play every game?” asked Adam excitedly.
Abbey slapped his shoulder again. “No. If you have that much extra time spend it with us.”
Adam rolled over her on the bed, holding himself in a pushup position so he could see her face. He gave her a kiss.
“Then while I’m sleeping you read?”
“Well, yes. We don’t need as much sleep as you. I doubt any adult on the base needs as much as you.”
“What? Why don’t others need as much sleep?” asked Adam with confusion.
“You don’t know? Seriously, Adam, you need to pay a bit more attention to things other than raiding bases. The higher your vitality, the less sleep you need. Brittney barely gets an hour per night.”
“Wow. That must be really boring having all that extra time and not being able to sleep. I love sleeping,” exclaimed Adam, then gave her another kiss.
“I’ve noticed,” giggled Abbey.
“Then Brittney must be reading a lot too.”
“Sometimes. She does go through a lot of books, but she also watches shows and movies, plays games using mental controllers to not disturb you, and sometimes she finds it meditative to just watch you sleep.”
“She watches me sleep?” asked Adam with a conflicted look on his face. Abbey laughed at the feelings flowing in through their connection. “Isn’t that creepy?”
“It isn’t creepy when Brittney does it. Only when Tom does.”
“Tom watches me sleep?!” shouted Adam, sitting up.
“No one has caught him doing it, but Marge told me she thinks he does based on some of his nighttime muttering. I had Jordan set snooping restrictions on our bedrooms just in case.”
“That’s a bit much to take in when the day first begins,” complained Adam.
“The day isn’t beginning for anyone but you! It’s already the afternoon,” said Abbey flatly.
“Exactly!” said Adam who tried to climb back under the covers.
“I guess this means you really don’t have a vitality stat,” pondered Abbey.
“Yeah, my status still says it’s ‘not available’,” added Adam.
“Anyway, I think you’ve slept long enough. Time to [Get Up!],” Abbey announced her skill, and Adam felt a force pulling him to stand on the spot. He knew he could have broken it, but instead sighed and stood. Putting on sweatpants and a tank top made Adam laugh at the classy clothes for the leader of humanity’s resistance. At least they were clean.
It had been almost a week since Nick had left. The city had been working overtime trying to fit more people in, prepare them for post-invasion life, and help those who had suffered trauma. More weapons and armor, hunting locations, and transportation had required quite the logistics.
Due to being pestered to build the city outside of the walls, Adam had been keeping to himself. He avoided meetings. The emotions regarding Nick leaving also took him time to recover from. Well, time and demolishing three more minor invader bases along with his group. His friends would gather in Adam’s penthouse and then teleport to another rift base at night to sneak out, getting their own leveling in.
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Abbey had notified the cooks that Adam was getting up, so when he finally left his bedroom, the smell of food cooking was there. Adam ate for around half an hour, with Abbey only nibbling on a few pancakes, then thought about what he would do during the rest of the day. He probably should do some practice fighting. Maybe check in with Garrett. He could look in on their various other rifts to see what he could or should do with them.
As Adam pondered all that, a voice suddenly spoke to him in a bit of a rush.
“Sorry, Adam, but I’ve got some bad news,” said Jordan as a display showing him and Lashtam appeared. “It seems the Red Clan speaker is taking action. She has just ordered no less than 20 other factions to collect all available warriors and to attack a large group of humans.”
Adam stood excitedly. Bad news? This was great news! Her coming after him would finally allow them to face this problem directly while also weakening the invaders in the area. He knew it would be a difficult battle, but if he and his group took on any Tier 3s then the rest of Jackson and the Sentinel Army should be able to manage to handle the enemies, even in a defensive battle.
The weight of stress fell from Adam’s shoulders, and he felt himself standing taller. His river began flowing and he could feel his soul crying out to conquer! This is how it should be, no sneaking in the shadows. The voice in his soul wanted battle to be taken head on.
“How long before they get here? I assume there will be time for us to evacuate the non-combatants into your underground city, right?” asked Adam, the display followed him as he went to the room with his armor stand. Abbey had already rushed to her condo for her gear and to notify the others to get ready.
“You misunderstand, your excellency,” said Lashtam hesitantly. “They are not attacking here. The attack will be at a place called Martin.”
“What?!” exclaimed Adam, freezing. “There is another group of humans there?”
“Not yet, Adam,” corrected Jordan. “It seems a large group of US Military has been collecting other people and they’re making their way here. They’re going to be in a fight for their lives based on the number of invaders heading towards them.”
“The military? Do we know who is leading them?”
“Your excellency, we believe they are being led by one with a title similar to your own,” said Lashtam. Jordan nodded. “It seems those of your kind have grown strong as they faced other invaders, following the paths similar to your own people.”
“No way! General Gervin made it through? Elouise is going to be ecstatic!” announced Adam.
“Adam, we don’t know it’s him,” warned Jordan.
“Who else could it be? He was the only one who took me seriously, and that was even after I essentially threatened him. Can we make it in time if we mobilize?” asked Adam.
“Only if we hurry, and even then, it’s going to take a huge amount of our people.”
“Any change this is a trick to get our fighters out of the way?” asked Adam.
“That is certainly possible, your excellency,” answered Lashtam.
Adam thought for a few moments. “How about this…let’s evacuate Jackson to the underground city using the side tunnels so no one goes through the base proper. That way we’ll reduce the chance of infiltration. Lucas will lead three fourths of our forces up route 45 east.
“I’ll take Tom and the General’s Guard through a portal to Brownsville. Those nut cases can make the trip to Martin faster than the usual army, even from the increased distance. We’ll take the smaller vehicles. Scouts roam outside Jackson and if they find anyone approaching, then we can pincer them, otherwise we’ll head to the main fight.”
Jordan shrugged while also looking nervous. “Without more intel it’s as good a plan as any.”
“Isn’t that rather casual for the amount of death this could lead to?” asked Adam, while fastening his armor.
The metal pieces that used to be testudinate metal in his armor had been replaced by reforging some of what they had gotten from the Scyrric base. Not all the metal had been workable though. Still, it was a good upgrade for Adam. He had also gotten new weapons that wouldn’t break under his strength, even if they felt unbalanced for a human. A few adjustments had been made until Adam was comfortable enough. His brute force didn’t usually require a perfect setup.
“Yes,” agreed Jordan as he squirmed in his seat. “But I’m not a strategist, only in games. I like the low stress of building games. Plus, I can’t wrap my head around all this. I-I’m just an IT guy.”
“Sorry to spring it on you. We do what we need to,” said Adam, finally dressed.
“I know. I’m sure you don’t want to be in this position either,” accepted Jordan with down turned eyes.
“Of course not. But we are. Now sound the defensive alarms and we’ll see if people know how to follow directions. Gather the leaders in front of the statues. It’s time for war!”
***
“There are tens of thousands of our fellow humans, our brothers and sisters heading here,” announced Colonel Davian to the gathered soldiers while standing next to Adam on the wall of heroes. His voice was projected everywhere, so while he spoke strongly, he didn’t need to yell.
“We have defended this region, taking bases from them. The invaders want to weaken us, but we haven’t let them. Our strength has been found together, forged in battle as we’ve fought against the tides rolling in. Now we need to use that strength to safeguard our fellow men. To strike back against those who would take from us!”
Cheers rose. Adam didn’t think he could get the soldiers pumped up like this. While Davian continued to speak and give orders, Adam sent a discreet message to Tom to bring the Guard to a specific warehouse where their vehicles would be waiting.
Colonel Davian would continue to see to the base operations and defense, along with the Demo Men, Mr. Fenton’s unit. The Leputi warriors were also hidden, ready to respond to threats to the base. Many of them gained a few levels from the raids since they joined.
Evacuations had been going on for some time, with plenty of guards to keep those unauthorized out of the way. Adam also frequently checked both his soul map and the rift menu for hostile intentions or infiltrators. He wouldn’t put it past the mind witch to use this moment, but he wasn’t sure what she could do without being found. It was a constant source of stress, and he fully expected her to try something. Unfortunately, he didn’t know what he didn’t know, even with Lashtam’s tutoring. There must be equipment or skills out there that could harm them, even if he didn’t know what.
“…ride forth with fortitude and determination. You are this world’s protectors. This will be a battle that will show the universe that we will keep what is ours!”
After the speech there was a flurry of activity. Everyone went to their units. Orders for vehicles were given out. Everyone moved quickly, having drilled for this time after time. This fight would be the biggest yet.
***
“Boss, you expecting some treachery from the she-witch? What am I asking? Of course you are!” said Tom as the General’s Guard stood at attention in front of him and Adam.
Once more Adam checked his loyalty tab against the people in the room to make sure none had been influenced by the mind witch. He also checked his soul map for intention and some of the rift menu searches just to be thorough.
Confirming as much as possible, he turned to the assembled soldiers.
“We aren’t going with the others. Half of us will be going to Brownsville by portal. The other half will go to Lexington. Don’t let anyone know we can do this, though after today it’ll probably be obvious,” Adam rambled a bit. “From there we’ll need to move fast. We’ll approach Jackson from the sides to make sure no invaders are attacking here, then we’ll go north as reinforcements.”
“Sir!” yelled the group. They had some armored and enhanced pickup trucks, as well as motorcycles.
The trucks weren’t a problem with people staying in the back at those speeds due to the high stats and some skills. Being in the open while driving also allowed them to use their own skills easier to see in the distance or fight back if they got attacked. Each truck would also have a barrier caster, or someone who could mitigate the wind for speed and defensive purposes.
These vehicles should allow them to get back to Jackson within 15 minutes of arriving. They were going to wait a bit in their rifts, while getting updates from Jackson. While in network rifts, their communications and observation were infinitely better than the inconsistent radios they had to use when outside their main base.
Once everyone was in their vehicles, Adam opened two portals large enough for them. People drove through into the confined spaces of the Dimensional Convergence Rifts until only Tom and Adam were left.
Adam put a hand on Tom’s shoulder. “Let’s get this done cleanly.”
Tom gave Adam a mockery of a salute. “Right-io, boss!”
Then they were off.