[THE HAVEN]

“Please Shae,” said Bez. “Let me join the Feather Birds!”

“No,” said Shae.

Bez looked positively stunned.

“But you have to!” said Bez. “You don’t have an eighth!”

“I don’t have to do anything,” said Shae. “There’s plenty of Feather Birds. We’ll grab a random one.”

Lanzer leaned across the wooden table with a mouth full of food.

“Shae Shae Shae,” said Lanzer. “A Deadly Skull could be a valuable asset. He might have dirt on the other Deadly Skulls!”

“Or he could be a spy,” said Asira. “We can’t trust him.”

Asira cringed at her own hypocrisy.

“Yeah, the timing's suspicious,” said Shae. “You’re probably gonna sabotage us.”

“They wouldn’t send a healer for that!” yelled Bez.

Several Feather Birds murmured in silent agreement.

“We’ve worked together great before,” said Bez. “Please Shae, I really want to be a Feather Bird. It will be great for my Haven Cast too. The Feather Birds are really popular!”

Shae pondered it for a moment, scratching his chin with his pistol.

“No,” said Shae.

“What?” yelled Bez. “Why?”

“I just think you’re annoying,” said Shae.

“That’s a stupid reason!” yelled Bez. “You’re being petty!”

“We do need another healer, jerk,” said Bander. “I’m not doing the whole raid alone.”

“I love hanging out with Bez!” shouted Umi. “Ledgess says we can trust him!”

“Hell no,” said Dalli. “We don’t work with Deadly Skulls!”

“We could vote,” said Dane.

“Holy snap, yeah!” yelled Bez. “That’s what Master Valdi would do!”

“No!” Shae yelled. “I’m not like your stupid master. We do things my way.”

Shae spun both pistols in his hands.

“Bez, you’re coming with us,” said Shae. “Not because everyone voted. Just because I said so.”

“I don’t get you sometimes,” said Asira.

Shae shrugged, pressing a few buttons on his palm interface:

Bez joined the Feather Birds!

“Head to Dragon Castle,” said Shae. “I’ll meet you all there.”

“Where the hell are you going?” asked Dalli.

“I’ll catch up,” said Shae. “I gotta take care of something real quick.”

The Feather BIrds released a synchronized groan.

***

Shae Abilities – Path of Xieter ABILITY NAME ABILITY DESCRIPTION CURRENT LEVEL Piercing Shot A shot that can penetrate surfaces and objects. 2 Ricochet Shot A shot that can bounce off surfaces and objects. 2 Poison Shot A shot that does damage over time. 1 Rapid Shot Shoot many bullets quickly. 2 Pause Shot Take your time and aim a powerful shot. 2

Shae acquired two materials on the Dragon Shield raid: a level one from murdering Asira, and a level two from the Dragon Shield itself. Both went into Rapid Shot. Now he could be just like Cleaver Craig, sans the whole assassin-thing.

“That’s a very fine power you’ve got there,” said Smith. “Anyway, you’re going to need that against the Dragon. He’s one very tough customer!”

Smith’s back office was nearly pitch black, but Shae didn’t mind. As long as Smith’s four brutoid arms continued to massage his shoulders, Shae didn’t need silly things like sight.

“Any tips for the dragon?” asked Shae.

“The dragon’s not such a bad guy,” said Smith. “I bet he’d enjoy a very good conversation with you!”

Shae blinked.

“Did you actually just give me a tip?” asked Shae “Or are you messing with me?”

“I’m just trying to help my Dragon NPC buddy,” said Smith. “He gets very lonely all day in that castle.”

“Don’t think the dragon’s gonna give us a chance to talk,” said Shae.

“It might be the only chance you have!” said Smith. “Something’s happened to the Dragon; he’s had a change of heart. No pun intended!”

“I don’t get the pun,” said Shae.

“You’ll get it later,” said Smith. “It was a very good pun!”

Shae shrugged.

“Anyway, think about what I said,” said Smith. “Not every encounter in Zero Space needs to end in violence!”

[THE HAVEN]

DD patrolled a labyrinth of darkened cubicles, shivering in his black suit. Why did it have to be so damn dark and cold in here? It was likely Zydan’s doing. Just another subtle way Zydan had tormented the dev team all these years.

He wandered inside Zydan’s empty cubicle, perusing abandoned documents and figurines that piled around a glowing green computer. It smelled like something died in here. Knowing Zydan, there may be some truth to that. DD shuddered to think what lower-floor cleaners might uncover.

Maybe DD could delay those lower-floor cleaners a couple days. After all, this cubicle was all DD had left of Zydan. Was Zydan a tyrant? Certainly. But he was also family - one last remnant of a happier time, before the Static. Now even that was gone. And at DD’s own hands. How could DD protect the Haven, when he couldn’t even save his own son?

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“Hi Dad,” said a voice from DD’s side.

DD froze solid. No, it couldn’t be. The Cleavers never failed.

But there was Zydan, sitting in a dark cubicle corner. His gray suit flowed in an air vent’s draft, brass rings tapping against tile.

“Time for my daily check in?” asked Zydan.

“No,” said DD, shaking his head. “T-This can’t be.”

“Why’s that Dad?” asked Zydan. “Is there some reason I shouldn’t be at work today?”

DD fell backwards, crawling out of the cubicle as Zydan approached him. Surrounding devs lowered their headphone volumes to eavesdrop.

“This isn’t possible,” said DD. “H-How did you even get in here? The Dev Floor is guarded by enforcers.”

“You underestimate me, as usual,” said Zydan. “You act like you’re king of the Haven. But I am the king of Zero Space. I know more about it than you ever will.”

DD’s eyes widened.

“Y-You’re one of them,” said DD.

“A premium?” asked Zydan. “Indeed. And I presume you’re not?”

DD reached for a walkie-talkie at his side.

“I suggest you don’t do that,” said Zydan. “You wouldn’t want the Haven to fall, would you?”

DD paused.

“What are you talking about?” asked DD.

“I wrote a fun little script,” said Zydan. “The moment I go idle, my script submits a local changelist. A change I’m sure you’re familiar with.”

Zydan grinned.

“Imagine what would happen if Zero Space reset again,” said Zydan. “I bet we’d lose a lot of players. Maybe all at once!”

“Zydan, you wouldn’t!” yelled DD.

“Indeed I would,” said Zydan. “The instant you summon an enforcer or Cleaver, everyone goes down with me.”

The dev floor fell silent.

“It pains me to go over your head like this,” said Zydan. “But I’m tired of project management interfering with design. I know what’s best for Zero Space. And the world!”

Zydan stepped face to face with DD.

“Looks like we’ll be working together just a while longer,” said Zydan. “Let’s try and keep it professional.”

Sweat dripped from DD’s balding head. Zydan was a monster; worse than anything in the Static.

And DD let this monster in.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me Dad,” said Zydan. “You really shouldn’t keep me from my work!”

[ZERO SPACE]

Shae and his Feather Bird companions stood before a tremendous castle. Wind howled through limestone parapets. Winding towers spiraled into churning storm clouds. Hard rain crashed against a thrashing moat.

“Holy snap,” said Bez. “Dragon Castle is even bigger up close!”

“Just wait until we get inside,” Dalli grumbled.

“I love Dragon Castle!” shouted Umi. “We should ask Ledgess for safe passage!”

“There’s no time for one of your long-ass prayers, idiot,” said Bander. “The Deadly Skulls are already in there.”

Raindrops burst against Shae’s sunglasses as he surveyed the castle.

“Asira, take point,” said Shae. “You’ve done this raid more times than anyone else.”

“R-Right,” said Asira.

Asira stepped forward.

“We’ll start seeing the dragon about halfway through,” said Asira. “But we really don’t want to aggro him until the very end.”

Asira approached the castle, rain dampening her fur.

“This dungeon starts with a soldier ambush,” said Asira. “They’re easy enemies, but in numbers, they can be --”

CREAK

Chains unfurled from castle walls, sending the drawbridge crashing down. Hundreds of humanoids emerged - uniformed soldiers, stomping across the wooden walkway.

“Asira, what the hell did you do?” snarled Dalli.

“Well well well,” said Lanzer. “Looks like you kinda hit the encounter trigger early.”

“Good one, dummy,” said Bander.

“I-I didn’t mean to,” said Asira. “T-That trigger must have moved!”

The soldiers aligned themselves in a disciplined formation, rusty swords held high.

“Bander, Bez, stay back,” said Shae. “Asira, you’re with me. Everyone else, charge --”

Dane pointed towards the sky.

“What’s that?” asked Dane.

A flash of lightning revealed a thick shifting silhouette, rapidly expanding in size.

“N-No,” said Asira. “I-It can’t be!”

The dragon erupted from storm clouds, gray fog sifting across its massive blue wings. Fiery red eyes burned at the end of it’s needle-like snout.

Flames leaked from the dragon’s scales, crawling like maggots across its body before gathering in its gaping jaw.

“Scatter!” yelled Shae.

A massive flume of flame doused the battlefield. Every Feather Bird dove and dashed away, except Bander. The magicoid’s flesh boiled, charring into an adorable black skelton. His robe wisped away into ashen flakes, bones collapsing into powder.

“What the hell, Bander?” shouted Dalli. “Stop dying first!”

“Holy snap, are you seeing this Bez-fans?” Bez said to his golden microphone.

The dragon’s meteor fist streaked towards Bez.

“SUBTLE SLASH!”

Lanzer teleported to the dragon’s flank, cradling Bez in both arms as impacted soil burst behind him.

“GRAVITY SMASH!!”

Umi’s level two gravity dome yanked the dragon down, perhaps too effectively. The dragon shifted with the momentum, flattening Umi with it’s massive body.

“T-This isn’t supposed to happen!” whimpered Asira. “This isn’t supposed to happen!”

“Shae --” said Dane.

Dane gestured towards the advancing soldier swarm.

“CLEAVER SHOT!!”

A new combination - Rapid Shot plus Piercing Shot. Named after Cleaver Craig, even though he didn’t deserve such an honor.

Thousands of bullets sprayed from Shae’s weapons, puncturing holes in soft soldier vests and softer flesh. In an instant, the soldier threat was neutralized. Six SP well-spent.

“SHADOW STAB!!”

“FURY STRIKES!!”

Dalli’s spears and Dane’s fists smashed against dragon scales, drawing aggro from Shae.

“I don’t see the dragon’s health bar,” said Dane.

“H-He doesn’t have one!” shouted Asira. “We can’t kill him until the final arena. We have to get out of here!”

But there was no escape; not for Dalli and Dane at least. A sweeping jet of dragon fire erased their existence.

“We’re screwed screwed screwed!” yelled Lanzer.

Shae couldn’t help but agree. Retreat was impossible, and so was fighting.

Smith’s words echoed in his head: talk to the dragon. Could that really work? Nothing else was working.

This was the only chance they had.

“Yo dragon!” shouted Shae. “What’s up?”

The dragon’s fierce eyes glared at Shae.

“Shae Shae Shae,” said Lanzer. “What are you doing?”

“How’s your dragon day going?” said Shae.

“LIGHT BEAM!!”

Asira’s level two laser light flashed at the dragon’s eyes.

“Run Shae!” shouted Asira. “Get to the final arena so we can --”

The dragon’s tail hit a homerun with Asira’s head.

“There’s no point in fighting,” said Shae. “You’re gonna kick our ass.”

The dragon stared at Shae perplexed, stomping on Lanzer who just happened to be sneaking up on it.

“You having a bad day?” asked Shae. “You wanna talk about it?”

The dragon sat back on its haunches.

“My day’s been fine,” said the Dragon. “Just boring. Most days are boring. People come. I kill them. Every day is more killing.”

Bez’s dragonoid jaw dropped. The dragon was talking. An impossible event, and Bez was the only other person around to witness it. Him and his six viewers.

“That sucks,” said Shae. “Hope we’re not bothering you.”

“You’re not bothering me,” said the Dragon. “I’m tired of waiting at the final arena. I’m vulnerable there. It’s easier to kill you now when I’m invulnerable.”

Shae nodded, hiding his terror behind his sunglasses.

“Yeah, makes sense,” said Shae. “With strats like that, you could be a raid captain.”

“Me, a raid captain?” asked the Dragon. “NPCs don’t have the freedom to be raid captains. Imagine me, an NPC, raiding my own castle. What a humorous raid that would be!”

Shae made a sound that could pass as a laugh.

“Yeah, hey, is it cool if we check out your castle?” asked Shae. “Maybe you could just show us around?”

“Like a tour?” asked the Dragon. “I can do tours. Giving tours is one of my favorite hobbies.”

“Dope,” said Shae. “Can my friends come?”

“I like friends,” said the Dragon. “I want friends of my own someday.”

“Cool,” said Shae. “Bez, do your thing.”

Bez stood petrified. Shae flicked his snout.

“Ow, hey!” said Bez. “Oh, I mean, CARE STARE!!”

Bez glanced around the battlefield with bulging eyes. Three Feather Birds arose. Another three remained MIA.

“That’s not everyone,” said Shae.

“Oh, um, I can only bring back people I can see part of,” said Bez. “If they were burned up, they might be gone.”

Shae audited his team. Bander, Dane and Dalli were all reduced to ashes. Only five Feather Birds remained. Down to one healer already.

“Come,” said the Dragon. “I have much to show you.”

Lanzer skittered to Shae’s side.

“I kinda stand by my statement,” said Lanzer. “We’re screwed screwed screwed.”

“W-We might still be able to do it,” said Asira. “We’ve made it to the end with less than eight people before.”

“I love the dragon’s new attitude!” shouted Umi. “And we’ve still got Ledgess at our side!”

Shae spun his pistols into his holsters; hopefully he wouldn’t need them for a while.

An intelligent dragon could make things way easier.

Or way harder.