Chapter 73


    The end, as with most all things, came too quickly. Before he knew it, James found himself sitting in Rue’s tent, at a table, with Steve, Fel, Rachel, and Matthew, and of course, Rue. Everyone wore grim expressions, and somehow, even though this was immersion, the air felt thick with the weight of what they were preparing to do.


    “Does anyone need any refreshers on the plan?” Steve asked as he stood at the head of the table. He looked first at Rachel and Matthew. “Everything good on your end?”


    “We weren’t able to find a way to stop the implementation of the government’s plan,” Matthew said, “it’s all out of our hands. If there’s one thing about our dad that we all knew to be true, it’s that he was good at what he did. There’s no backdoor we could gain access to.”


    “Not even with Steve’s help?” James asked, looking at the developer in question. He had, after all, done just that when he got into DCO behind Xander’s back, after being removed from the team.


    “I’m good,” Steve said, “but I’m not a miracle worker. Only reason I was able to weasel my way in before, was on account of having physical access to the server shortly before I was let go. And that access point was a one-time thing, and all it did was let me in, I didn’t get my full access back until after Xander was removed, and Rachel and Matt got me my privileges reinstated.”


    “There’s a good chance dad had you in mind when he was putting all of his additional security in place.” Rachel conceded. “His paranoia, stemming from just how skilled you are, likely made this harder on all of us.”


    Steve shrugged sheepishly, “not my fault I’m a god at what I do.”


    “You just,” James started, but Steve held up a hand, grinning.


    “Now now, more important things to discuss.” He looked back at the duo that made up BLANK. “That aside, everything is set up on your end for the Dungeon Wars?”


    “Even without our nudging,” Rachel looked at James, “the Candy Dungeon players were practically salivating at the chance to get revenge on the Random Dungeon. Probably doesn’t help that the top player in our dungeon has declared a literal crusade against the Random Dungeon. He’s offered a bounty, you know, on anyone that can kill and grief your top players.”


    “Oh, make sure you let Z know he’s got a fan,” Fel piped up. “He’ll love that fact. And it’s going to be extremely funny watching SoulDemon go try hard mode against players that aren’t even immersed.”


    “We saw his latest downfall in your dungeon,” Matthew added, looking back to James, “nicely done.”This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    “I had no idea it would end that way,” James offered, “and it was Rue’s idea, not mine.”


    James grabbed Rue’s hand with a smile. Rachel looked at it, and for a moment a slight frown crossed Rachel’s face, but it faded almost instantly.


    “I do wish we could game together, properly some more,” Rachel said with a sigh. “When all of this is said and done, we need to get some game nights going. If I remember correctly,” she flashed James a smile, “your current record against me isn’t the greatest.”


    “I’m always up for a challenge,” James replied, “when this is all said and done, just name the game, time, and place, and I’ll be there.”


    “Deal.”


    “All that’s fine and dandy,” Fel leaned back, her arms crossed, “but first you have to succeed, before any of that future stuff can come to pass.” She eyed James, “we’re all counting on you, you know that right?”


    James felt the weight intensify on his shoulders, as his smile, his moment of humor and happiness, mellowed out.


    “We’ll succeed.” James said forcefully, as if trying to convince not just the others, but himself. “There’s no other option.”


    Fel tilted her head, eying Steve. Steve shook his head, and she looked back at James, something unspoken having passed between the two. “I hope so,” she said softly, “for your sake. For all our sakes.”


    “Once you log out,” Steve began, drawing everyone’s attention back to him as he spoke to James, “make sure Dagr downloads the packet of data I’ve encrypted into your pod. It has the AI personalities you requested. From there,”


    “I’ll take them to terminal in my parent’s lab, and activate the robots.” James finished.


    “During the time it takes to upload the AI, and run the diagnostics on the robotic bodies and for everything to settle in, the Knights will be grouping up, and gathering what they need. After that, they’ll be at your house to pick up you and your little gang, before you make your way to the mountain.”


    “It’s about a thirty-minute drive straight from your house to the mountain entrance,” Fel said. “Hades will keep the cameras and surveillance from giving you away. It’s up to Z’s group, and you, to ensure any other obstacles are dealt with in a way that won’t jeopardize the mission.”


    She pointed at James. “That means don’t bring any unsecure tech. Meaning you don’t get to wear your glasses you’re so proud of. Even with Dagger’s capabilities, it’s not worth the risk.”


    “But how will I be able to contact you guys,” James asked, feeling panic rise in his chest. His AR glasses were his lifeline. He could communicate with everyone through them. More importantly, he could communicate with Rue through them.


    “You won’t,” Fel said with a shrug. “Once this mission begins, you and the others need to be as dark as possible. Take that as more motivation to be successful.” Her tone was harsh, but her eyes held a look of understanding. “Use the need to come back to us,” she nodded to Rue, “to her, to further push you forward. Your goal isn’t just to save the world,” she said softly, “it’s to get back to the one you love.”


    The room went silent as everyone looked around the table. That was it, really. There wasn’t anything left to say. They’d done all the preparation they could. All that remained, everything from here on out, would be on James’s shoulders. It was up to him, and the Knights Who Go Ni, to save the world. No, that wasn’t all. He squeezed Rue’s hand tighter, smiling at her, as he steadied himself. There were four more people that would be joining him on this adventure. It was time to introduce the government to the Jenkins family.