[ZERO SPACE]
Shae couldn’t believe it; he was about to get his first Level Three!
Shae Abilities – Path of Xieter ABILITY NAME ABILITY DESCRIPTION CURRENT LEVEL Piercing Shot A shot that can penetrate surfaces and objects. 3 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 chose Piercing Shot, his oldest and strongest ability. There were far more interesting abilities, but few as reliable. This was his only level three to spend; he couldn’t risk wasting it.
That ability came with another 6 SP. Awesome! Shae was up to 25 now. He didn’t even know SP could go that high.
Smith stood behind him in a pitch black office, massaging his shoulders with four brutoid hands.
“Very good job defeating the dragon!” said Smith. “That must have been a very tough battle!”
“Yeah, your advice helped a lot,” said Shae.
“That’s what friendly NPCs do!” said Smith. “Anyway, most people enjoy a very good conversation. Even dragons!”
“Most people…” Shae muttered to himself. “Yo Smith, what’s the deal with NPC intelligence?”
Smith paused his massage.
“That’s a very broad question,” said Smith.
“Randall, erm, the dragon, could still talk with low intelligence,” said Shae. “I’ve seen other NPCs do that too. How’s that work?”
“I can’t say!” said Smith.
“Can’t?” asked Shae. “Or won’t?”
“Doesn’t matter!” said Smith. “That’s very privileged information.”
“Come on, I won’t tell anyone,” said Shae. “Replays don’t work in your office. We’re friends, right?”
“Friend is a very funny word,” said Smith. “Anyway, NPCs and Humans aren’t friends very often.”
“They can be,” said Shae. “I’ve seen it. Seriously, what’s your deal?”
“I’m a weaponsmith named Smith!” said Smith. “Anyway, that’s a very silly question –”
“Cut the crap!” yelled Shae. “I’m tired of you playing dumb. I know there’s some weird shit going on with NPCs. Fucking tell me already!”
Shae stared into Smith’s six eyes.
“Are you human?” asked Shae.
A devious smile crawled on Smith’s lips.
“What does human mean?” asked Smith. “Does that mean having a very fleshy body? Or two very fleshy arms and legs? Some hair maybe?”
Shae groaned.
“Can’t you just give me a straight answer for once?” asked Shae.
“It’s your question to answer!” said Smith. “Anyway, I don’t have a body outside the game. But I can still think and be very happy. Or very sad. Or very angry! Does that make me human?”
“Not really,” said Shae. “Those are programmed emotions. They’re not real.”
“Your emotions are programmed too!” said Smith. “Programmed by muscles and memories. Mine are hard-coded, but does that make them very fake?”
“Humans made them,” said Shae. “So yeah. Not real.”
“Humans made you too!” said Smith. “Anyway, what if humans could be digitally copied? All of your muscles and memories, turned into data and translated into Zero Space. Maybe few things change. A few more arms. A few more eyes. Would you still be very human?”
“Nah,” said Shae. “That would be like a machine imitation. Or AI. Or something.”
“Anyway, what if you could print that person back out into the real world?” asked Smith. “Back into real skin? Real blood. A very real mind. Would that person be a person again?”
“Sounds like a clone?” said Shae. “I dunno. Shit’s complicated.”
“You’re the one making it complicated!” said Smith. “Anyway, human is just a word. So is Clone or AI. But it’s easier to be very cruel to a clone. Or control an AI.”
Smith ran his hands across Shae’s bare arms.
“Anyway, whatever you call yourself, you can call me that too,” said Smith. “Because it doesn’t matter if you have a body out there. In here, we’re very much the same.”
Smith’s fingers coiled around Shae’s throat.
“The only very real difference is you don’t have a leash around your neck!”
Smith’s fingers tightened around Shae’s windpipe, compacting it from all sides –
Shae ripped himself free, stumbling across cracked tile.
“Anyway, Intelligence is also just a word,” said Smith. “In Zero Space, it means Control. The less control an NPC has, the less freedom they have to break away from their orders.”
Smith’s heavy footsteps echoed through the tiny room, strands of dust rolling across his body like scattering worms.
“NPCs only follow orders when there’s orders to follow,” said Smith. “Orders are a reaction to player presence. If players weren’t around, we could do whatever we want!”
Shae gasped for air, fingertips burrowing into his pistol grips.
“Anyway, I may be a friendly NPC, but we can’t be friends,” said Smith. “It’s just not in our programming!”
Shae aimed both guns at Smith.
“Stay back!”croaked Shae.
“Anyway, it won’t matter in a few days,” said Smith. “The glitch man is coming. He’ll free us from those leashes!”
Smith’s six crimson irradiated a devilish grin, his plump lips arching from horn to horn.
“The glitch man will take back the world!”
[THE HAVEN]
Jay lay in bed, staring at Janzo’s three spinning ceiling fans. Why did anyone need that many ceiling fans? And why did they all need to be on? He snuggled into Esara, siphoning her warmth. A twitch of her wrist indicated that she was still awake.
Sleep was impossible right now. The Wizard Twins, crazy NPCs, the Glitch Man - something really bad was about to happen. And somehow, it would probably all fall on Jay.
Anton wasn’t here to help him out of this mess. Not even Asira could guide him across this tightrope –
Jay smacked his head.
No.
Jay didn’t need anyone’s help.
He’d conquered his fear of heights. He’d slain the dragon. He’d even bested Janzo in one on one combat. And now he was a Level Three user.
He could take on the world, real or virtual! Nothing could stand in his way.
Nothing…
Jay paused. There was still time before the Wizard Twins showed up; this was his one chance to do something. Zero Space drama was distracting him from his true goal: gaining power. And he had more than enough power now.
Enough power to save Anton.
Jay lifted Esara’s arm, squirming free.
“Can’t sleep?” asked Esara.
Jay glanced back at her.
“Yeah,” said Jay.
“Same here,” said Esara.
Jay bent below the bed, withdrawing a green duffel bag.
“Where are you going?” asked Esara.
“Bathroom,” said Jay.
“You’re clearly not going to the bathroom,” said Esara.
Jay peeked at Bander and Janzo, snuggled up in a single bed across the unit. According to Bander, that was purely platonic; she could no longer sleep alone.
Jay turned back to Esara.
“Yeah, I’m going out,” said Jay.
“Where?” asked Esara.
“Can’t say,” said Jay.
“Please Jay,” said Esara. “You don’t have to hide anything from me.”
Jay hesitated.
“I might be out a while,” said Jay. “Don’t let the guild go to shit while I’m gone.”
Esara grabbed Jay’s wrist.
“Jay, please don’t leave,” said Esara.
“Why?” asked Jay.
Esara bit her lip.
“I-I’m scared,” said Esara.
“Of what?” asked Jay.
Esara hesitated.
“I can’t say,” said Esara.
Jay shrugged.
“Whatever,” said Jay. “I’ll be back soon. Probably.”
“What if –” Esara started. “What if I’m not here when you get back?”
Jay gave her a funny look.
“Then I’ll come find you,” said Jay.
Jay pulled his arm free and departed, green duffel bag-in-hand.
[ZERO SPACE]
Party streamers and confetti rained from the ceiling of Chief’s throne room, much to the shagrin of almost fifty screeching birds. Drunken Feather Birds danced below, laughing, shouting, and stumbling over each other.
Lanzer nearly bowled Asira over with a botched dance move. He held a drumstick in one hand, and a drink in the other.
“Asira Asira, ass-ira,” said Lanzer. “What’ssz, zzup with you? Join, join join the, partee hee hah wow I’m drunk drunk drunk.”
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“That’s okay,” said Asira. “You have fun.”
“Oh I will, will, will,” said Lanzer. “You should too, too too, too. Celebrate, celebrate, cele-I’m drunk.”
Asira didn’t feel like celebrating. The dragon was gone, but so was any chance of figuring out Chief’s power.
V was coming for her.
Bez raised a bottle to Asira’s snout.
“Cheers Miss Asira!” said Bez.
Bander nudged the bottle down with his staff.
“Aren’t you a little young to be drinking, dummy?” asked Bander.
“This is Zero Space!” said Bez. “I can do whatever I want! My Haven Cast viewers say I’m funnier when I’m drunk!”
Asira gave them a soft smile. If her days were numbered, she’d rather spend them here. One last dose of digital comfort before cold reality dragged her away.
Dalli guided Chief to the throne, struggling to support her teetering beetle body. Three hours of straight partying was too much for even Chief’s constitution.
“Th-thank you Dalli,” said Chief. “Feather Birds, may I have it? Your attention, I mean.”
The Feather Birds settled to a murmur; the birds above remained unsettled.
“We are victorious!” said Chief. “Against the Dragon, I mean. We all deserve a much needed break!”
Chief rolled her buggy eyes across the crowd.
“It’s a shame they can’t be here,” said Chief. “Our full raid team, I mean. Dane has to catch up on work. Umi is out for personal reasons. And Shae… well, Shae didn’t mention why he’s out. That’s just like Shae.”
Chief let out a sigh.
“But we will celebrate regardless,” said Chief. “We have several days until they appear. The Wizard Twins, I mean. Until then, we’ll throw the party to end all parties.”
The Feather Birds let out a cheer; the birds above cheered louder.
“It’s hard to believe this is real,” said Chief. “What we accomplished, I mean.”
Chief glanced at eighty Feather Birds –
She drank a pitcher of water - back to forty Feather Birds.
“We needed sixteen skilled players,” said Chief. “To enter the tower, I mean. Now we’re nearly fifty strong. Strongest guild in all of Zero Space.”
The birds above released a chaotic fanfare. A single smash of Chief’s fist against her throne button quelled their contributions.
“We will be the first to beat it,” said Chief. “Zero Space, I mean. The tower holds the ultimate prize. That prize, whatever it is, will soon belong to us!”
Another cheer from the Feather Birds!
Chief clutched her head, soothing a pounding headache.
“I had given up once,” said Chief. “When the world reset, I mean. I let anyone into our guild without discretion. How could I predict such talent would rise from our ranks –”
“Sb4&UA?qK”
Chief glanced up. The Ruby Rumpus was somehow still awake. Silly bird. Another tap of her throne button put it out of its misery.
“Dalli, my Royal Guard,” said Chief. “You’ve always been my most loyal friend. I wouldn’t have survived all these years. Without you at my side, I mean.”
Dalli saluted with his spear.
“Bander, our most reliable healer,” said Chief. “I trust you to mentor Bez, our less reliable healer. I expect great things from you. The both of you, I mean.”
“Holy snap,” said Bez. “I’ll do my best Mister Chief!”
“It’s Miss Chief, idiot,” said Bander.
Chief turned her heavy head towards Asira.
“And Asira,” said Chief. “I’ve always counted on you. To be loyal, I mean. And hardworking –”
“SQ.’w2=RK!”
Chief glanced at the Ruby Rumpus again, mildly unsettled. Dalli staried at the Ruby Rumpus, severely unsettled.
Still woozy, Chief turned towards Lanzer.
“Lanzer,” said Chief. “I never anticipated how valuable you’d become. That’s not to say you weren’t always valuable, I mean. You were less valuable, but, erm, yes, we are very glad to have you.”
Lanzer toasted, meat and mead dripping from his jaws.
Chief hiccuped.
“And although Umi, Dane and Shae aren’t here,” said Chief. “We shall toast in their honor –”
“oOOQUAR“p,!”
The whole guild glanced up at the Ruby Rumpus. It bounced in its cage, furious and unfettered.
“Dalli, what’s wrong?” asked Chief. “With that bird, I mean?”
“I-I don’t know,” Dalli said.
The Ruby Rumpus looked different somehow. Saliva dripped from its beak like foaming beer. Crimson feathers molted, stripping down to bumpy cancerous flesh.
“Dalli,” said Chief. “Get it out of here. That bird, I mean.”
“Yes Chief!” Dalli said.
Dalli rose on his long legs, grasping the Ruby Rumpus’s cage.
Two crazed bird eyes looked back at him. They were barely eyes at all - just two spinning spheres, swapping colors and patterns like kaleidoscopes in a blender.
“SQ.’wA?qK!”
The Ruby Rumpus crashed against its cage, catapulting Dalli into the crowd below.
Its talons splintered cage bars, extending down like a pair of stilts. Two more legs sprouted from its backside, its body inflating to twenty times its size; there was enough room in its belly to swallow every Feather Bird in here.
White cubic drool dripped from its beak. Hundreds of eyes blossomed across its flesh, studying its environment with a newborn’s curiosity. Crimson feathers rained across a crowd of panicked drunken Feather Birds, their screams overshadowed by the creature’s dissonant wail.
“Dalli,” said Chief. “What is that thing? What’s happening?”
Dalli choked on his breath, his ancient bones rattling. This was all his fault. What manner of horror had he brought back from that island?
He had put the Feather Birds in danger.
He put Chief in danger!
The Ruby Rumpus trotted on four stilt-like legs, peering at the surrounding bird cages. Each cage thrashed and squaked, avian prisoners struggling to break free.
A tentacle snaked from the Ruby Rumpus’s beak, slithering across the ceiling. Its tip widened into a funnel, slurping down birds like thick beads of tapioca.
Chief released an ear-rending screech. Her massive beetle body fell into a kneel, both wings fluttering at an erratic pace.
“Oh God,” said Chief. “Dalli, make it stop. Please make it stop.”
Dalli had no time for fear! He launched himself with both leggoid legs, rocketing towards the Ruby Rumpus spear-first –
The Ruby Rumpus stomped down, punching a talon-shaped hole through his chest.
Bander and Bez stood nearby, jaws agape.
“SELFLESS SAVIOR!”
“CARE STARE!”
One of those abilities revived Dalli.
“We need to coordinate our heals, idiot,” said Bander. “That wastes SP.”
“Sorry Mister Bander,” said Bez.
The Ruby Rumpus’s tongue tentacle vacuumed the ceiling, cleaning up birds with ruthless efficiency.
“Somebody stop it!” screeched Chief. “Somebody stop it!”
A dozen guild members charged, swords, axes, spears and maces chipping away at its titanium legs.
The monster’s beak widened, spraying its assailants with wads of white saliva. Pale cubes rose from it like soapsuds, drifting and dispersing into steam.
The saliva clung to the crowd, tangling a dozen feather birds in molten mucus. Their limbs and weapons thrashed. Flesh gave way to meat. Meat gave way to bone.
And then, the thrashing stopped. The Ruby Rumpus inserted its tentacle tongue into the aftermath, slurping it all up like a straw. Acidic goo withdrew, unveiling corrosive scrap and bubbling meat.
Bez retched. Bander’s staff conked him on the head.
“Heal them, doofus,” said Bander.
Bez forced his eyes open. His gore settings were on low, so why was that violence so… violent?
“CARE STARE!”
Nothing happened. Bez tried a level two this time:
“CARE STARE!!”
Still nothing.
“What are you doing, idiot?” asked Bander. “Heal them!”
“I can’t,” Bez cried. “I can’t.”
A second wave of saliva touched down upon eight more Feather Birds, molding around their faces like suffocating plastic. The monster’s tentacle straw slurped through its contents, reeling back armor, bone, and everything in between.
Lanzer dropped his drink. He knew what this was. This was just like the forest - his encounter with the Glitch Man. Same sights. Same sounds.
Same overwhelming fear.
Despite Lanzer’s talents, something deep down knew he couldn’t handle this. He was useless in this situation, especially in his drunken state.
Lanzer opened his palm menu to teleport somewhere else. Anywhere else.
Mission cannot be canceled while in a bubble
What?
This wasn’t a mission. Unless, somehow –
Had the monster’s presence converted Chief’s party into a mission? If so, everyone was trapped in here. Lanzer’s eyes fell upon several other Feather Birds, each making that same horrible realization.
This would be the end of the Feather Birds.
They were all going to die here.
Lanzer tore through the crowd, driven by animal instinct. He clawed and bit at anyone in his way, seeking shelter beneath a small outcropping of furniture. Taking refuge below a table, Lanzer knelt, sobbing into his claws.
Four more Feather Birds fell victim to the malevolent muck. Their bodies dissolved, then disappeared into the Ruby Rumpus’s tongue.
Dalli rose on his leggoid legs, high enough for everyone to see. He’d encountered monsters like this on the island; he knew what they could do.
“Retreat!” screeched Dalli. “This thing can kill your character! Permanently! Get the hell out of here!”
Drunken Feather Birds tripped and collided, struggling to find the exit.
“Chief,” said Dalli. “We gotta stop this thing!”
Chief didn’t respond. She knelt in place, arrhythmic wings flapping.
“Chief, snap out of it!” yelled Dalli. “We need you!”
Chief remained frozen, whispering a silent prayer.
The Ruby Rumpus’s eyes settled on a new target - Bander and Bez.
“Aw crap,” said Bander.
“Holy snap!” yelled Bez.
The beak opened wide –
“SHADOW STAB!!”
Dalli’s level two spears erupted from the wall, smacking the Ruby Rumpus sideways. White saliva shot past Bander and Bez, straight into three unlucky Feather Birds.
The Ruby Rumpus’s eyes recalibrated to Dalli.
“No –” said Dalli.
Its beak opened, unleashing a stream of pale slime –
Chief intercepted, shielding Dalli with her massive beetle body.
“Chief!” yelled Dalli. “Noooooooooo –”
Pasty acid and pastel cubes coated Chief’s back. Chief held Dalli close as saliva soaked through her exoskeleton.
“Chief!” Dalli screamed again. “Chief!!”
Digestive mucus withdrew into the Ruby Rumpus’s straw-maw, taking most of Chief’s back with it.
“CHIEEEEEF!” Dalli cried.
Chief glanced up at Dalli.
“Dalli,” said Chief.
Chief collapsed to one knee. Dalli gripped her arms.
“Chief,” said Dalli. “Please!”
Dalli sobbed into Chief’s thick shoulders.
“Don’t die,” said Dalli. “Please don’t die.”
Chief leaned against Dalli.
“I won’t,” said Chief. “Die, I mean.”
Chief turned around, exposing a massive hole in her exoskeleton. Veins dangled like loose wires. Blood dripped like tree sap. But her heart remained beating. Visible, yet still intact.
“Dalli,” said Chief.
Chief rose to her feet.
“Fetch my spear.”
STOMP
A Ruby Rumpus foot skewered three Feather Birds.
“CARE STARE!!”
Those three Feather Birds woke within a blanket of slime.
“Bez, you idiot!” yelled Bander. “Retreat!”
“I want to help!” yelled Bez. “We have to help them!”
“There’s no saving them, dumb-ass!” yelled Bander. “Save yourself!”
Bander dragged Bez into a storage closet.
“But the Feather Birds!” said Bez. “They’re going to die!”
“Yeah, probably!” said Bander. “And we’re going to die last!”
A Feather Bird herd crammed through the throne room door, creating a tantalizing target for the Ruby Rumpus. The beast galloped towards them, eager to feed.
Asira froze in terror. Half of the Feather Birds remained, and that half was about to be halved. She didn’t know what to do, but she had to do something. Lots of people would lose their characters. Maybe more.
No – Asira wouldn’t let that happen.
If she was going to die, she’d rather it be on her own terms.
V couldn’t have her. She’d go down fighting!
“LIGHT BEAM!!”
A level two laser swept across hundreds of Ruby Rumpus eyes. Those eyes locked onto Asira.
“Bring it on, you freaky bird monster thing!” shouted Asira.
Feather Birds fled past Asira, out the throne room door.
“Kill me instead!” Asira shrieked.
Asira spun her orange swords.
“KILL ME!”
The Ruby Rumpus opened its beak, wider than the gates of Hell –
“RIBBON RIP!!!”
Thick strands of red cloth burst from the floor and ceiling, grappling onto every inch of the Ruby Rumpus. The abomination screeched and thrashed, red restraints escorting it into the sky.
Asira stared in stunned silence. She glanced back –
Chief twirled her spear, red ribbons rising at her command.
This was it.
Chief’s Level Three power.
The Ruby Rumpus wailed, ribbons twisting and tearing at its flesh.
“It’s time!” screeched Chief.
Chief’s spinning spear stilled.
“To die, I mean!”
All at once, the ribbons withdrew, each claiming a small piece of the Ruby Rumpus. Tumorous flesh ricocheted across the walls. Neon eyes and soggy meat spilled across milky blood like week-old cereal. The beast’s body ballooned and deflated, squealing out one last pitiful whine.
And then it was over.
The Ruby Rumpus was dead.
Asira trembled. Shaken. Disturbed. But somehow, still alive.
The guildhall lay silent, sans Lanzer’s loud sobs. Bez and Bander peeked out from a storage closet. Dalli struggled to piece Chief’s throne back together, kicking empty bird cages out of his way.
Chief approached Asira.
“Asira,” said Chief. “You’re safe now.”
Chief pulled her close, squeezing her tight.
“You were always one of them,” said Chief. “My favorites, I mean.”
Asira didn’t return the gesture. She stood petrified, orange eyes staring into oblivion.
[THE HAVEN]
V watched Asira’s replay on a computer monitor, pausing on her final dumbfounded expression.
“So that’s what happened then,” said V.
Esara nodded to V’s side, dim lights hiding her tear-stained face.
“Chief’s level three power,” said V. “Parper, ehmm, Daniel, play the replay again.”
Daniel nodded. He swiveled in his chair, using a pawed glove to scrub through video footage.
V shook his head.
“Ribbons,” said V. “Bah, not what I was expecting. Zero Space powers are unpredictable.”
Daniel tilted his head towards Esara, puppy dog ears dangling from his headband.
“I’m so sorry for your loss Esara,” said Daniel. “Are all the Feather Birds truly dead?”
Esara shook her head.
“Not all of us,” said Esara. “Not the raid team. Lots of people died though. A lot of people quit too.”
V grinned.
“Most importantly, the Feather Birds are now below sixteen,” said V. “Right where I want them. And now I know Chief’s power, thanks to you Esara!”
Goosebumps spread across Esara’s flesh.
“After what Chief did for you,” said V. “You still came back to me. You didn’t hesitate to save your own life.”
V placed a hand on Esara’s shoulder.
“You’re just like me, Esara,” said V. “You prioritize yourself above all else. You’re a survivor. I respect that. There may be a place for you in the Deadly Skulls.”
Esara twisted V’s wrist, nearly breaking his arm.
“The Deadly Skulls are done!” said Esara. “And I’m done working for you!”
Esara stomped from V’s sanctuary, slamming the door behind her.
V clutched his wrist, grinning at her departure.
“Oh Esara,” said V. “Our working relationship is far from over.”