Sacrificial Pieces Read online




  The Gam3 Book Three – Sacrificial Pieces

  Cosimo Yap

  Edited by Josiah Davis.

  Cover design by Kit Foster.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2019 by Cosimo Yap. All Rights Reserved.

  Table of Contents

  Arc 1: The Abyss

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Arc 2: The Empire

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Arc 1: The Abyss

  Prologue

  “I only care what you believe,” Alan said. “Screw what everyone else says, the hack would have happened whether or not I was there. They would have found another scapegoat. I was just in the right place at the wrong time.”

  “I know I sound crazy, but you can’t believe everything you hear. Matters are complicated.”

  Even Alan was beginning to get lost in the threads that were being woven. Aliens had invaded, and Earth had been introduced to the Game, a virtual reality massively multiplayer online role-playing game simulation that replaced all war. The borders of the Game were enforced by a robotic fleet, thus if you captured a city or world in-game, you would control it in real life too.

  Earth was caught in the middle of two semi-hostile factions, the Haxlards and the Empire, both of which were interested in expanding. Earth had a brief period of protection, less than two in-game years, to prepare their defenses. The Empire was winning on the diplomatic front, as the United World Government had effectively denounced the Haxlards as enemies of the state a few days earlier.

  “But it was you,” Alan’s father said. “You were the one who hacked Wall Street and caused the greatest financial crisis of our time. I don’t care if you say you were tricked or ordered. You pulled the trigger. I thought your mother and I raised you better than that.”

  “You don’t understand.” Alan looked away from the screen.

  He’d been following orders of Icewolf, his ex-mentor who had turned out to be a double agent for the United World Government. Icewolf, along with Kitana and a group of other human players, had managed to deliver a devastating blow to the Legion of Man, a faction that had risen to combat the United World Government.

  Alan had been commanded to join the UWG and sign an enslavement contract. He had refused, then been killed in-game for it.

  Now, Alan was in his apartment on Khersath, the alien city-planet that was purported to host the main servers of the Game. Khersath was many light-years away from Earth.

  Moving across galaxies to decrease any potential lag might have been extreme, but Alan had done it. He was wholeheartedly devoted to the Game. According to the Black Rose guild—the only real allies Alan had left—Khersath was safer too. The building he was in belonged to them.

  “Have you and mother begun playing the Game? Did you get the capsules I ordered?” Alan asked.

  “We tried them, but it just isn’t for us,” Alan’s father said. “The knowledge that it’s all a simulation makes it feel fake. Do you understand?”

  “No, I don’t,” Alan said.

  “Well, your mother and I have decided to board a colony ship with some of our friends. It will be an adventure, though God knows I’m too old to travel even halfway across a continent much less a galaxy. We’ll escape the media while we’re at it.”

  “A colony ship? How were you chosen?”

  “We volunteered; it seems they are accepting all comers, even the parents of wanted terrorists. Promise me that you’ll do what you think is right, and remain safe. I’ve heard of more than a few threats on your life, the rules be damned.”

  “I will, Dad. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Son, despite anything you might do. And remember, if you ever have any doubts, any further trouble, you can call.”

  “Goodbye.”

  The call ended.

  Alan got up from his chair. Time spent outside virtual reality felt wasted—lifeless. The Game had a sense of realness to it that Alan could never quite put his finger on.

  The room was spartan, holding no furniture other than a plain wooden desk, a computer console, and a grey metal capsule. The capsule was the device that connected players to the Game. It was ovular in shape, similar to a sensory deprivation tank.

  Alan climbed inside. Silver liquid engulfed him, and his consciousness faded.

  Chapter 1

  There were three layers to reality, as far as Alan was aware. The first layer was real life, the second layer the Game. The third layer was Cyberspace, a virtual dimension within virtual reality. You first appeared in a safe space, called Home, when you entered a capsule. Home lay in Cyberspace.

  Most players decorated their Home, but Alan’s was spartan, a mostly empty white space. Alan sent a command to the waiting Administrator and re-entered the Game.

  Alan climbed out of the capsule in Phantom’s lair. It was a mess of circuitry and wires. Unfinished projects lay next to a Foundry, an advanced 3D printer.

  Phantom, a brown-haired Erudite with blue eyes, waited by the omnidirectional elevator that led out of his laboratory and quarters. He wore his lab coat, which had a new, large burn across the chest.

  Mason also stood there, the guild’s Arms Master. He was a bald, hulking giant with grey skin and held a war-axe in his hands. Mason handed over a few small metal cubes to Phantom when he saw Alan step out of the capsule—platinum marks.

  Unlike the credits that were the Game’s main currency, marks did not drop upon death and were worth twice their market value, as they could be traded for items and ability points to the Administrators, the enforcers of rules in-game. They also tried to balance the Game, though Alan wasn’t sure what that meant.

  Phantom smiled. “Welcome back, Alan! Mason didn’t think you’d return.”

  Mason pursed his lips. “It’s a pity Kitana didn’t. She had talent. Come on, the Council is waiting.”

  It was easy to assume the main keep, hangar, and other assorted buildings on the surface made up the majority of the base, but there were also many underground facilities, most of which Alan didn’t have access to.

  Mason, Phantom, and Alan stepped into the elevator, which began a downwards, slanted descent.

  “The Council?” Alan asked.

  “The guild Council,” Phantom said, “to confirm your position as my squire.”

  Neither seems to be very angry with you. They appear pleased, Lambda sent. Due to an implant that had been installed he was one of two AI’s that now lived in Alan’s head in-game. Phantom did not trust AIs, and his lair had a field that disabled Alan’s AIs from functioning.

  Don’t mention the failed quest, Eve sent. She was Alan’s other AI and had been personally coded by Alan. Or at least that’s what he’d thought. It turned out much of her base code had been provided by the Administrators, in an effort to help balance the Game and strengthen humanity.

  Alan tilted his head. “I thought I was already your squire.”


  Phantom looked up at the ceiling of the elevator. “There were those that questioned your loyalty.”

  Alan stared at Phantom. “The mission for the United World Government was a test. I hacked into Earth’s financial system, caused massive destruction, and am now hated by my own species because you wanted to test my loyalty?”

  “And you passed,” Phantom said, “unlike some.”

  Mason grunted. “You’re not a real man unless you’re wanted in at least three major systems.”

  “But—” Alan began.

  “But, what?” Phantom asked. “It’s hard to tell where one’s loyalties lie until they take action. Even though you failed it doesn’t hurt our reputation—we can simply say we weren’t allowed to interfere due to the Administrator’s coddling of societies new to the Game.”

  “The Legion of Man is trying to get back their payment, since Kitana did betray them,” Mason said.

  “Yes, we’ll have to deal with that and your would-be guildmate, but all in good time,” Phantom said. “For now, the Council awaits.”

  The elevator doors opened. A long, dimly lit hallway made of dark metal extended into darkness. Making use of his bionic eye, an implant that allowed Alan to zoom in his vision and examine different electromagnetic spectra, he saw that there was a doorway fifty feet away.

  Alan walked forward, flanked by Mason and Phantom on either side. The door seemed unnecessarily far away, but burning golden globes of energy fluttered to life one by one as Alan approached it.

  A command table and four figures sat inside the doorway, facing Alan. Alan recognized them as high-ranking officers in the guild.

  Elissandra, the guild leader, sat in the center. She was pretty, with an ageless face, and wore her usual golden robes. To her right was Void, the Mad Priest, a young man with black eyes. He was rumored to be a shapeshifter. Alan wasn’t sure what he did for the guild.

  To Elissandra’s left sat Admiral Thrag, who was in charge of the guild’s fleet. He was thin, to the point that Alan could almost see his skeletal structure underneath his tight-fitting space uniform. A platinum medal with a rose was pinned to his chest.

  To Thrag’s left was Enigma, the quartermaster and lead research officer of the guild— Phantom’s boss. He wore Advanced Revenant Power Armor, including the helmet, his face obscured.

  Phantom and Mason took seats at the table, Phantom by Enigma’s side, Mason by Void’s.

  Alan remained standing. He wasn’t quite sure where he was supposed to look, finally settling on the command table. It was a fairly standard piece of equipment, capable of showing holograms on its surface with a multitude of functions.

  “The Council has gathered here today at Phantom’s request to officially appoint the earthling Alan as his squire,” Elissandra said. “Let the meeting begin.”

  Alan looked over at Phantom. “Is this another test?”

  “That is to be determined,” Elissandra said. “A full squire of the Black Rose guild must have the unanimous support of this Council. The position is both an honor and a responsibility that would catapult you forward in the guild’s power structure.”

  “I am best able to determine who my squire and potential successor should be,” Phantom said. “And Alan meets all my criteria.”

  “And how did you reach this conclusion?” Elissandra asked. “You’ve known him for, what, a week?”

  “I have carefully examined his actions and abilities,” Phantom said. “The Council has seen my full report and attached vid files.”

  “Doesn’t seem like much in a fight. He was killed by, what, sub-500 players?” Mason said. He motioned and a video played above the command table.

  Alan recognized it as his last death in-game, seen from his point of view. He had been in a space elevator, and a player named Merlin had hurtled through space, self-destructing to blow up the elevator.

  Phantom had said that he would be able to see what Alan saw when he installed the cybernetic eye implant, monitoring his progress from afar. It looked like that was the truth, and then some.

  Phantom waved the hologram away. “He was without his weapon and items. Many of us sitting here are defenseless when unarmed and unarmored.”

  “Then he should not have been separated from his equipment in the first place,” Mason said.

  “Perhaps, but he is to be my squire, not yours. He doesn’t need to kill everyone he meets.” Phantom leaned back in his seat. “Besides, he’s earned a rank-A combat ranking with a potential of S+.”

  “What? S+?” Elissandra leaned forward, staring at Alan. “Is this true? How—what ability do you possess?”

  “Now now, Elissandra, we all have our secrets,” Phantom said. “You can’t expect him to reveal his abilities without recompense. That is his prerogative as a full guild member.”

  “Fine. Fifty platinum marks for full access to your character screen,” Elissandra said.

  Don’t, Lambda sent. They can’t know I’m here. I’m an escaped program, on the run from the Administrators, remember?

  They might not sell you out, Eve sent. 50 platinum marks would be useful, though at the same time we are uncertain of this Council’s motives and how they might use the information.

  “It is odd,” Void suddenly said. “We sit here, discussing the child’s future. He should speak…but the child doesn’t speak. He listens, and waits, and watches. He has gained another birdie. Does he listen to the Council or the voices in his head? Or does he serve a greater god? A greater good? A child should never have too many masters.”

  Alan looked at Ellisandra. “I respectfully decline the offer.”

  “Ah, so he chooses the greatest good of all, the self. That is fitting, I think, for this guild.” Void rested his hands on his lap and closed his eyes.

  That guy’s weird, Lambda sent. How the hell did he even know I was here?

  “Back to the matter at hand,” Phantom said. “That answers your concerns, Mason, does it not?”

  “It does,” Mason said.

  Enigma, who had been silent up until now, spoke in a steady monotone. “He is a risk. Too brash. His actions have shown that he is reckless. Now is the time for a steady hand and known variables.”

  “I would disagree, saying that now is the time for both the greatest risk and thus the greatest rewards, but that is another discussion,” Phantom said. “Instead, watch this.”

  Another hologram sprang to life. Alan recognized this one too—it was part of his foray into the Abyss Labyrinth, an underground dungeon that spread out beneath all of Khersath. In the dungeon, Alan had slain a Predecessor, a superhuman alien, at the Predecessor’s request. The clip showed Alan slitting the Lord of the Abyss’s throat, then ended.

  “Was that a soulsteel knife? He has a soulsteel knife?” Mason asked.

  “I do,” Alan said. “Safe in the Vault.”

  “Thus showing that all of Alan’s so-called risks have been nothing but small bets,” Phantom said, looking at Enigma. “He has prudence when it matters and holds onto a weapon that could upset the balance of entire solar systems.”

  Enigma shrugged. “Your mind seems made up. I will not oppose you, just simply warn you that two daredevils aren’t always better than one.”

  “Was that a control point?” Elissandra asked. “Why was there a Predecessor in the Abyss Labyrinth? How did Alan kill it?”

  “It is Alan’s quest, not mine, thus it is his place to tell us the details and approach the guild if he wants our help,” Phantom said. “Appointing him as my squire wouldn’t hurt.”

  “Very well, I’ll agree,” Elissandra said. “Thrag, any last words?”

  “Hmm?” Thrag looked over at Elissandra as if unsure what was going on. “As I’ve said before, you don’t tell me how to run my ship and I won’t tell you how to run your guild. Although, that does remind me of a good story, of a pilot that tried to teach a rancher how to—”

  Elissandra raised her hand. “That’s enough. We are all in agreement, then, Alan shal
l be Phantom’s squire?”

  Everyone nodded. They all raised their hands and pressed an option on an in-game menu only they could see.

  A series of messages appeared before Alan:

  Black Rose Mission Complete! Title Change!

  You are now officially Phantom’s second-in-command, granted the title Phantom’s Squire. Guild reputation changed to Respected. You have been granted the ability to purchase up to a 0.1% stake in the Black Rose guild. Estimated cost: 1.2 billion credits, based on a total valuation of the Black Rose guild at 1.2 trillion credits.

  As a stakeholder in the guild, you may vote on critical decisions as per the guild’s charter. Please read the charter for further information.

  You have been granted Lieutenant status in the Black Rose guild. Increased access to the Black Rose archives, dining hall, simulation zone, training rooms, and equipment vault.

  You are now able to give grunts orders, and set basic guild missions.

  x70 Level up!

  +70 ability points for gaining 70 levels with one action.

  I gained 70 levels? But I didn’t do anything, Alan thought. He was now level 571.

  It’s like how an electezd official suddenly grows in power when they’re elected, Lambda sent. The Game recognizes many increases in power and awards XP accordingly. Looks like the decision to leave the UWG high and dry was the right one.

  This still feels too easy, Alan sent.

  Phantom wants something. We’ll see what soon, Lambda sent.

  Eve accessed the new files available in the Black Rose guild archives, scanning them with all the glee of a kid in a candy store.

  “Now, when are we going to discuss the security breach?” Mason asked. “The files on the empirenet—”

  “This can be covered later,” Enigma said. “I have already reported on the matter.”

  “Yes, this isn’t the time or place,” Elissandra said. “Everyone is dismissed.”

  Phantom stood up. “Come, Alan, we have much to talk about.”

  Alan followed Phantom back to his lair.

  Whatever he asks, don’t promise anything without consulting me, Eve sent.