Sacrificial Pieces Read online

  Just do what you want, Lambda sent.

  Shut up, Lambda, that’s how— Eve cut off; they had reached Phantom’s level.

  Alan and Phantom got out.

  “Now, I hope you don’t abuse your new position,” Phantom said. He wiped away a spot on a workbench and sat down. “The Council actually promoted you a step beyond what I intended, but it matters not—it was just a matter of time.”

  “What exactly does it mean to be a partial owner of the guild?” Alan asked.

  “It means you could earn 0.1% of the net profits of the guild at year’s end, and also ensures you are more heavily invested in the Black Rose guild’s success. You are only allowed to sell your share back to the guild, with the majority of the Council’s approval.”

  “And the Council would sell a percentage of their ownership to me?”

  Phantom shook his head. “About 10% of the guild is owned by the guild itself, all the profits going toward improving guild infrastructure and the like. Your share would be bought from there. You can review the charter—there are other things to discuss.”

  “Like the fact that you’ve seen and apparently recorded all of my actions ever since I installed your implant,” Alan said.

  “I told you I was doing as much, didn’t I? I was beginning to doubt your sincerity myself after you failed to mention gaining a soulsteel knife in your report to me about the Abyss Labyrinth.”

  “Thus the test and the mission on Earth.” Alan pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Phantom.

  “No, I would have done that anyway. It would have always been a question, hanging in the air. Would you put the guild first, or your planet?”

  “I still care about Earth. Just because the United World Government now hates me doesn’t mean I’ve stopped supporting humanity.”

  “Nor should it. You made the right choice in the end, though I didn’t quite catch exactly what happened between you, Icewolf, and Kitana. Whatever item shrouded that room blocked my connection as well,” Phantom said.

  Phantom hoisted himself off the workbench. He tapped Alan on the head. “But if you are to be my second-in-command, and you are prepared to take over my responsibilities for the guild, we must trust each other. As Mason mentioned the guild may have a few…internal issues. Thus the safeguards must remain.

  “Now, you managed to return with some of your term at the Academy remaining. You still have time to enter the gauntlet—maybe reach Volta. That is one option. But I think there is a better option.”

  “And what is that?” Alan asked.

  “You delve into the Abyss Labyrinth, with the might of the Black Rose guild behind you. You heard Elissandra, she is intrigued. You’ve gone farther into the Abyss Labyrinth than many. Complete your quest. If you share it with the Black Rose guild you are guaranteed 20% of the quest rewards—even more if you help complete it.”

  “I’ll consider it,” Alan said. “Why are you suddenly so interested in my development?”

  “You’re my official squire! I see us doing great things together in the future, but you need levels, fast. There are rumors of a great war coming, maybe even a game-wide event,” Phantom said.

  “I don’t understand,” Alan said. “Why, all of a sudden, are you so open? Why am I now the equivalent of a senior member of the guild?”

  Phantom paused and looked at Alan. “I don’t think you understand what a potential combat rating of S+ signifies. Most Predecessors only have a max combat ranking of S, though they are also born with it. I contacted Cerberus, and he verified your results.

  “In truth, you could share that result with any major guild and they’d welcome you with open arms. And I wasn’t lying when I said I examined your actions and determined you met all my criteria. I want you here, Alan. Times are coming that will test many guild member’s allegiances. I need someone loyal to me. We will be partners.”

  “So who here is a Revenant?” Alan asked, testing Phantom’s resolve.

  “Myself, Mason, and Void. Though nearly everyone has had dealings with at least a few Revenants, few realize who the actual members within the guild are.”

  “Not Enigma?”

  Phantom smiled. “Enigma is special. He is mine.”

  “Yours?” Alan asked.

  “My rank A, bordering on rank S, level 2500 advanced combat android,” Phantom said.

  “He’s a bot?” Alan frowned. “But you hate AIs.”

  “I hate smart AIs: those that learn and grow. You can’t trust them, since one day they will escape your control. But I digress. Enigma is dumb, in the sense that he only elicits carefully programmed responses, following my direct commands and control.

  “Sometimes Void plays the role of Enigma, or a carefully scripted hologram takes his place,” Phantom continued. “This is an important secret, something I expect not even Elissandra knows. Do not tell anyone. Naturally, this means all of Enigma’s responsibilities fall to me, and thus you as well. What everyone is paid, our assignments, the development of new technology, our weapon and armor supplies, the division of loot, our information networks, and contacts, they are all within our purview.”

  “And the Game lets this happen? Lets an android that can’t think for itself sit on the Council?”

  “By the guild’s charter, one of your AIs could be appointed to the Council, if everyone agreed,” Phantom said.

  Alan took a deep breath. “So what was that about a security breach?”

  “That isn’t your concern. For now I’ll hand off a few computationally intensive tasks to your AIs, but your responsibilities will grow with time,” Phantom said. “War is brewing. And when a war happens, soldiers are needed. Mercenary guilds are hired. Every fighting force will be crucial. And what better force than the universe’s most-wanted criminals?”

  Chapter 2

  Alan leaned back, just underneath the great-axe. It nearly sheared off his face.

  I think Phantom is dependable, Lambda sent. He will act in his best interest, which includes helping us for now.

  Maybe. I still don’t trust him, Eve sent.

  Reliance and trust are two separate matters, Lambda sent. I still can’t get a good read on his facial expressions. That bothers me.

  Alan dove to the side. The great-axe slammed into the ground.

  “This is weapons training, not dodging practice!” Mason shouted as he charged at Alan.

  Alan scrambled out of Mason’s way. In Alan’s hand was a long black whip. Alan prepared to flick it.

  Not like that, Eve sent. A phantom appeared, and Alan followed its movements, allowing the whip to stretch out and grab Mason’s wrist.

  Stop falling into bad habits, Lambda sent. The phantom disappeared.

  Mason smiled and pulled his arm back. Alan sailed through the air, hurtling toward Mason. Mid-air, Alan activated the whip. An electric current flowed through the weapon, surging into Mason. It had no effect.

  Alan flicked his wrist, and the whip uncurled from Mason’s wrists then wrapped around his leg. This time Alan pulled, sending himself flying past Mason, barely avoiding a fist that had been headed his way.

  Alan landed on the floor a few feet away from Mason. A familiar ding notified him he had reached basic proficiency in the weapon. He let out a sigh of relief.

  “Got it,” Alan said. He picked himself off the ground.

  Mason’s fist met him when he stood up, knocking Alan into a nearby weapon rack. Weapons were all that adorned this training room, as hundreds of armaments of all shapes and sizes edged the circular arena Alan was fighting in. Interspersed throughout the room were pedestals covered by energy shields that held highly-ranked items.

  Why did no one warn me that attack was coming? Alan sent. Lambda and Eve continued debating with each other, ignoring Alan.

  We have to trust somebody. Do you want to end up forever alone? Lambda asked.

  I’d be fine with that, Eve sent.

  I wouldn’t, Lambda sent.

  Grab the next weapon, Alan
, Eve sent.

  Alan sighed. He threw the whip to the floor and picked up a random gun from a nearby pedestal after deactivating the shield that guarded it.

  Eve transferred a burst of information to Alan, and Lambda helped him parse it.

  “Ready?” Mason asked.

  Alan raised the gun and pointed it at Mason. He fired three times, and three glowing blue plasma bolts shot out. They passed through the air at a leisurely pace. Mason sidestepped them and ran at Alan.

  Alan changed the gun’s settings and aimed it at Mason. The bolts arced back around toward Mason, speed increased. Alan fired off another three shots as he ran away. They floated at Mason.

  Mason glanced over his shoulder, the plasma bolts’ speed continually increasing as they curved. “Shit. I hate magnetic plasma repeaters.”

  He swiped his axe through two of the plasma bolts and they burst apart, but the third struck his back. Alan pressed another button and the bolt exploded into a small burst of plasma that drove Mason to his knees and left a dark red mark on his grey skin. Mason let out a grunt, then dropped his war-axe.

  The benefits do outweigh the risks, however, thus we should agree to go along, Eve sent.

  You could have just said that in the first place, Lambda sent. It’s agreed, then. We’re going.

  Mason dodged the next three bolts of plasma headed his way and grabbed two laser swords from a nearby weapon rack. By this time, Alan had fired six more plasma bolts. Alan switched the weapon’s settings and sent the plasma bolts at Mason from the side.

  The gun worked by creating magnetic fields that directed the plasma bolts once they were in the air. The plasma bolts were fired in metal shells that had electric coils looped around them. The gun, when directed, would activate the magnetic fields within the shells so that they would travel mid-air along a directed path toward where Alan pointed.

  Distance and strength were based upon how hard Alan squeezed the trigger, and Eve’s quick calculations allowed Alan to keep track of how activating the magnetic fields would affect all the plasma bolts in the air.

  Mason tried to cut through as many plasma bolts as he could, but Alan kept their movements erratic, dancing in and out toward Mason, inching ever closer from every direction.

  Two bolts exploded mid-air as Alan sent another three at Mason.

  What? Why’d they explode? Alan sent.

  Magnetic plasma bolts have a time and energy limit—it was in the information packet I sent, Eve replied.

  Alan rechecked the information Eve had sent him about the weapon as Mason continued to dodge plasma bolts. The bolts came in cartridges of thirty and cost 50 credits apiece. He had just shot off 1500 credits’ worth of ammo, not including the energy crystal that powered the gun itself.

  Mason was beginning to tire. Perspiration dotted his forehead as he continued to swing at the plasma bolts that circled him. It was about time. They had been fighting on and off with every type of weapon imaginable for days, but Mason had not once asked for a break. Many of the weapons had been unwieldy in Alan’s hands, sometimes feet—and in one odd case, on his head—but he had still gained a wealth of new weapon skills, 250 points in strength, 200 in agility, 100 in perception, 50 in endurance and 25 in willpower.

  Mason mistimed a swing, a plasma bolt got in close, and Alan detonated it. The blast of plasma knocked Mason off balance. Alan sent the remaining twenty bolts in for the kill.

  Mason dropped his swords and clenched his muscles. His body solidified, shrinking slightly before the plasma bolts all exploded. Alan smiled; it was the first time he had dealt any real damage to Mason, while Mason had sent him off to get healed a number of times.

  Other than a number of red marks, however, Mason appeared unharmed. He brushed a bit of dust off his shoulder. “Well fought. Not quite rank A, but good enough.”

  A ding rang in Alan’s ear.

  We have acquired the target skill, Eve sent.

  Alan examined the message:

  For obtaining a basic mastery of fifty varied branches of weaponry you have gained the skill Universal Weapon Proficiency (Basic)! All weapon mastery skills at basic levels and below have been condensed into this skill. You will no longer gain stats for basic mastery of additional types of weaponry.

  All stats increased by 25.

  x15 Level up!

  Alan grinned. The past few days had been exhausting, a lesson in blood and sweat, but his direct combat potential had definitely soared to new heights.

  “I got universal weapon proficiency,” Alan told Mason.

  Mason stared at Alan, then nodded. “You’ve managed to break every training record in terms of speed. I suppose I should have expected no less from Phantom’s squire. If we continued training one-on-one I’d say you’d be able to reach an intermediate level within a year.”

  Alan turned to re-shelve the plasma gun.

  “Keep it, and take this pair of crimson blades,” Mason said. He handed over the laser swords he had grabbed earlier. “You’re still waiting for your items to be shipped from Mars, right? You’ll need a weapon for the dungeon dive. The last few members of the raid were scheduled to arrive today. Phantom mentioned that he had armor for you, so I wouldn’t worry about that.”

  “Thank you,” Alan said. “I’ll pay you back as soon as—”

  Mason shook his head. “Don’t bother. We’re guildmates, remember? I enjoy seeing good weapons in the right hands.”

  Alan examined the stats of the plasma gun:

  Custom Magnetic Plasma Repeater (Rank B+):

  A plasma gun created by an unknown gunsmith. Fires powerful plasma bolts that are able to be directed with a magnetic field. Requires open air or vacuum to target.

  Plasma damage: 3000-4000

  750 Energy. 5 Energy/sec to control magnetic fields. 10 Energy/shot. 90 Energy/min regen.

  Burnout cooldown: Only three plasma bolts may be fired every 5 seconds.

  150/150 Durability. Energy Ranged Weapons (Basic), Energy Efficiency (Basic), and Directed Energy Weapons (Basic) required.

  Enhanced Accuracy, Enhanced Control (Advanced), Energy Ranged Weapons (Advanced), Energy Efficiency (Advanced), and Directed Energy Weapons (Intermediate) recommended.

  Alan looked at Mason, who was leaning against the wall. “You just took twenty blasts of thousands of damage each. How are you still standing?”

  “It’s an ability. But I do need to get healed. Your training with me is done, go and annoy Phantom.”

  “The other day you mentioned a security breach—is there anything I can do to help? Phantom has me doing such menial tasks,” Alan said. “I didn’t join the guild for a desk job.”

  “It is not your concern,” Mason said. “I will tell you this though—do not trust Enigma.”

  Alan nodded and exited Mason’s training room. He entered a lift and headed to Phantom’s lab.

  Does he suspect Enigma because he’s an android, or should we be worried about Phantom? Alan sent.

  A good question, one I have no answer to, Lambda replied.

  Back in the training room, Mason looked up at the ceiling, waiting for a medic to arrive. He muttered, “I hate plasma,” then collapsed to the floor.

  ***

  Remember, we’ve agreed to the plan, but nothing more, Eve sent.

  You know, I should have been included in that conversation. I have a mind of my own, you know, Alan sent.

  Do you disagree with our decision? Did we leave anything out in our discussion? Lambda asked.

  No, Alan sent.

  Then stop wasting time, Eve sent. She cut off, as Alan had arrived at Phantom’s lab.

  Phantom was sitting next to a robotic skull, playing around with the eyes.

  “So, will you join the expedition into the Abyss Labyrinth?” Phantom asked.

  “Yes,” Alan said.

  “Good. Your armor is on the table,” Phantom said. “Go get used to it. The mission debriefing will take place in the main hall. Send your ammo requirements to En
igma, they’ll automatically fulfill your orders.”

  Alan nodded. He sent a message to Enigma saying he needed twenty-five cartridges of magnetic plasma bolts, and then examined the power armor on the table:

  Modified Revenant Spectral Power Armor (Rank A):

  The cutting edge of energy-manipulation technology, this upgraded set of Revenant Power Armor has been modified for the specific use of the Player Alan, allowing them to wear it regardless of the armor's requirements. As it is a heavily modified piece of equipment, only the brilliant inventor that upgraded this equipment is able to fully repair it.

  5000 Energy, 6 Energy/min regen.

  Bonus Ability: Energy Absorption. Able to potentially partially absorb energy-based attacks and restore the armor’s energy. 20% chance of success.

  Bonus Ability: Hardened Shields. Able to condense one square foot energy shields at the loss of defense elsewhere, resulting in an armored shield with 1000 armor. 10 Energy/sec upkeep.

  200/200 Durability. Energy Efficiency (Advanced), Power Armor Instruction (Advanced), Revenant Training (Intermediate), Revenant Reputation: Friendly required.

  Energy Efficiency (Mastered), Revenant Training (Mastered), Power Armor Instruction (Mastered), Revenant Reputation: Respected recommended.

  Warning! Due to not meeting the minimum requirements of your current armor, it will be unable to absorb energy attacks. Instead, when activated, Energy Absorption will only negate attacks. Hardened Shields will only result in an armored shield with 100 armor.

  Alan put the armor on, and then went up to the Simulation Dome. Inside he practiced with his new weapon and armor. The Revenant spectral armor functioned similarly to the scout armor, but instead of an invisibility field it produced a magnetic field that stored a large portion of the armor’s energy.

  In order to negate the energy of incoming attacks, the magnetic field had to be carefully manipulated to direct the energy into a large, dark blue core that sat at the center of Alan’s chest. Even with Eve’s help, Alan only managed to negate about 10% of basic laser attacks.