《The Unwilling Game Tester》


 Prologue

    The never ending humanity''s thirst for the best gaming experience gave birth to the success of In-Game Reality. The benchmark product of our company, ESM Corporation, which boasted millions of users World Wide. It struck gold, where its gaming predecessors had failed before and that was by hypnosis to its games; a huge step in making the gamers fantasies into a reality.


    ESM Corporation''s ultimate business creed is to give humanity the best gaming experience. Whatever the cost may be.


    And to weed out the disruptions out of its way. Like now. Business as usual. Dr. Leiv ''s fleeting thought while the Holographic Gaming Contact lenses or HGC Lenses'' flashed the loading screen containing the ESM''s top management''s credo. Reminding him of work, nothing but work.


    It would have disappoint him if today''s wasn''t a good day.


    They have a new Alpha Tester which, in some magical way, was brought to him at their very own doors. ''Who was he to not open the gift that had been given to him?'' His very own words on his trusted subordinate who had reported it to him.


    He always worked really hard and wanted to eat his cake too. And so, he shall.


    Especially a strong challenger gaming company came into play recently. Their company must make a swift set of actions to continually stand on their position being top gaming company. He observed that the market challenger had a good marketing ploys that their corporation must trump upon. The game research that they have been doing for years had been instructed to speed up by the upper management for next years'' gaming convention.


    "The rewiring has been successful, Doctor." A female voice informed him.


    He can smell the familiar powdery rose scent of Marissa meaning she was near him. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "What character was he loaded into?" He remained still on his chair, eyes forward; not even giving her a glance. He can imagine the prim and proper secretary gazing at him while clutching a holographic pen and writing on thin air.


    "Jack-the-Ripper, Doctor." She answered in her usual calm voice.


    "Excellent choice. Please tell that to the CHD Team." He said pertaining to the Character Design (CHD) Team. He smiled while navigating through their shared business cloud through his HGC lenses.


    "Will do...Doctor." She said his title in a honeyed melody. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"


    He recognized the tumultuous accent. In fact, heard it dozens of times from different women; from the board of directors, to the receptionist, and the list went on


    He knew his effect to women. Knew it so much that he didn''t hesitate to capitalized on it to break through the cutthroat business world numerous times. At the age of 40, the height of his virility still gets him to places. He was called fuckdaddy behind his back by his colleagues. Some of his colleagues knew his strategy, but chose to enjoyed the show at the front seat.


    If he had a choice, he''d rather called the women connoisseur of business world. And in the near future, the face of the future technology. One step at a time. But first, he need to make sure that the last Game is polished before the launch.


    "None, Melissa. You may go home now. It''s getting quite late." His smile remained charming as always; he never fancied the woman if only her body had been six feet under. Cold under his hands and gives off with contrast the coolness while their souls can do nothing to stop him. Then, he would have appreciated her gesture.


    He was getting excited. His breath got heavier with his thoughts. He tried to suppress his body''s budding excitement.


    "Okay Doctor. Goodbye." Her honeyed voice didn''t change.


    He only nodded to her. Not wanting to show any sign of his growing desires.


    He gazed to the secretary''s back. It doesn''t mean he doesn''t anticipate that time. He couldn''t hardly wait. Her efficiency on her work was the only stopping him from disposing of her.


    "Now, let the games begin." He said as the loading screen completed.

 Chapter 1

    Detective Nova was never an early riser, but his client was.


    In this world of 22nd century where everyone''s awake during night time, he almost didn''t believe it at first. It was bizarre but when he heard his clients'' address. He could only say a dumb ''Ah''.


    She was what you call an almost forgotten term; an Early Bird.


    Or was it an Early worm?  he thought as he trying to remember the term was used. Well, it didn''t really matter now. It didn''t contribute anything now.


    Not for the lack of persuasion on his part:He did try to compromise. Well, his client won because sometimes a struggling person must make adjustments to make his ends meet.


    So, here he was, in his client''s porch and had been knocking the door for good ten minutes. His lungs welcomed the chilling cold air of February and exhaling a good chunk of puffs as gratitude.


    It''s true that the fresh air in this side of the country side was always good.


    He tried to knock again but his folders fell from his chilled grasp. Some of the research clippings fell down the floor. The gusty winds hushed some of the papers from him. The dark haired woman with spectacles came to his view. The subject of his investigations.


    He picked the papers one by one. The cup of coffee he had wasn''t good enough to improve his morning mood. His patience was already on the verge of thinning.


    If only the commercial devices never register any of his digital footprint, he would have bought a Power Watch a long time ago. And if he didn''t know what hackers could do these days, he would have been bought two. Thanks to the nature of his work.


    The budding irritation was immediately deflated when he heard the door knob turned. His eyes a little surprised to see his client. Compared to the last time he saw her a week ago, she the well put together.


    "Mrs. Smith?" He asked hesitantly.


    The woman in her fiftties was in front of him has a very drooping dark eyebags. Sloppily dressed in a cashmere. Her hair sticking together shiny like it had been doused with oil. But based on her face structure, it was indeed Mrs. Smith.


    He had hoped that his client didn''t misunderstood his face.


    Maybe I was way too early? He thought.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    He slyly looked at his watch while pretending to be looking at his disheveled folder. It was a quarter to 10:00 AM. Thought it was a respectable time to arrive in this part of the country.


    He should have made his research more as he didn''t venture much here.


    All he knew was this part of the country that he was freezed in time. It has no official name, but current generation was calling it The Old City. A remnant of yesterday''s war. The people of this city in the previous century did a mass suicide rather being under of the Super Global Power. And since then, people come here because they want normality from any technological.


    "Good morning, Detective." Mrs. Smith said in a short while after rubbing her tired looking eyes. The sudden heavy smell of coffee came from the door found his nostrils.


    "Sorry for the wait, I fell asleep while for my daughter to contact me this evening." She opened the door wide for him. "Please come in."


    "Did she madeattempt any contact since last week?" He said looking the personal assistant watch of the elderly female.


    "No, s-she he didn''t." She shook her head while she closed the door. He noticed how she stuttered. It''s a bad case of over drinking of coffee.


    "Would you like some coffee?" She offered him while clutching the coffee jar. Putting a coffee to the transparent mug. He could see.


    "Thank you, but I already had coffee, Mrs. Smith." He smiled at her gently declining her offer.


    He sat on the leather chair and looked at the expanse of the living room. The coffee maker is on the table and charging smart watch at the center indicating that she had been drinking coffee throughout the night.


    "I insist. One coffee is not enough to keep oneself alert."


    She''s like an addict offering him fabricated drugs.


    She didn''t wait for his answer and hurried went through a door. The coffee induced energy Mrs. Smith displaying was imminent. He heard clacking of porcelain wares. And she came back with a mug.


    When she tried to pour the jar, her hands visibly twitched as her hand took on the weight of the coffee maker. He stood up and gently got the jar from her hands. Poured the coffee himself.


    "You need to get sleep, Mrs. Smith." He started. "We can reschedule. We can do this tomorrow or this noon."


    "No, we need to do this. Just give me a second." She quickly went to a room and before he can stop her. He heard the loud slam of the


    Not five minutes had passed the woman was now in front of him. She was wearing a hat effectively hiding her oily hair. He proceeded to look at her face. No hint of her sleep deprivation shows on her face. He surmised she used the Age Masking skin mask, like one of his exes used.


    The search for beauty will always trump the fear of technology.


    When he first knew about it, he felt cheated. He knew that the technology backed by human want is somewhat end up with products like these. Sometimes, it scares him what more humans can make.


    He had first hand experiences on what it could do.


    "I''ve already called the Research Facility yesterday. They are ready for us at any time this day." She informed him. "I hope you understand. I need this Detective."


    "Of course. We can use my car to get there." His rented old electric car outside to be precise. He was sure if she can drive well with her hand twitching like that.


    The drive had been smooth. But he was distracted by Ms. Smith sharp snoring every now and then while he drove on the way to the Research Center.


    She must''ve been really tired.

 Chapter 2

    "Mrs. Smith, we''re here."


    She sharply like someone kicked her. It took a second for her to realize where they were. She apologized and started composing herself.


    "I''ve been circling around the facility, but I can''t find the entrance." He pointed at the high walls.


    "Okay." She opened the side window. And looked down. "Do you see those vertical marks down there."


    He opened the window beside him to have a better view.


    "Ah... yes. Got it." He said a little bit ashamed. "I thought there are..." He dragged his sentence trying to find the word.


    "Manned Gate?" She supplied to him.


    "Yes. Manned Gate." He confirmed as he drive towards the marks. "I wasn''t expecting an automatic gate in this part."


    "It''s understandable." She smiled wistfully. "When my daughter and I first went in here, we also don''t know what to do. We had to call the hotline." She chuckled.


    He smiled at her story as he maneuvered towards the wall.


    As soon as the car stopped before hitting the wall, a small device came out from the wall. A green scanner took a searched their car.


    IDENTITY SEARCHED AND CONFIRMED


    A portion of the wall went background and slowly revealed a building inside.


    He thought something was not right with the Facility. It was built quite far from the Technological Hub in the City of Zuickerbro where the premier Researchers were at.


    Maybe, the competition was tough? He thought to himself.


    Mrs. Smith had taken the lead and approached the receptionist.


    "I''m Dara Smith." She informed the dark haired receptionist. "I have scheduled a visit for Sara Smith."


    "Welcome Mrs. Smith. Please give me a moment as we search our database." The receptionist replied to her. The eyes looked lifeless for a moment and resumed to life a second later.


    "Thank you for waiting. We''ve confirmed your visit. Please proceed to room #204 ." The receptionist told them. "A facility nurse will lead the way for your convenience."


    He looked behind him and saw a male in immaculate white uniform. It had an unnerving perfect smile fixed on its perfect face. He looked around and saw no one else besides them.


    A nurse robot. He thought looking at the wrinkle free uniform. His gaze went to the its shining arms which like it has been bathe in lotion for days. Too silky smooth.


    "I''m Jack. Please let me guide you." The nurse robot informed them while its hands extended towards a hallway.


    The nurse stopped at the with a door number #204 and opened it. He sense Mrs. Smith reluctance. He waited for her to be ready.


    "Let''s go in." She beckoned after a while.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Her shoulders stiffened. Her attention at the table across them. It was their confirmation that her daughter was still in the Research Facility. It was their small confirmation that it was a doing of a prankster.


    Mrs. Smith stifled a soft cry.


    He inspected at the body. It had been perfectly preserved for being here for two months already. It hadn''t been dissected yet. There were no incision marks on the middle of the body. He tried to move around the body to look for any indications.


    An unnatural bumps on the hair follicles made him stop to look more closely. He looked at the robotic nurse.


    "May we have a report on what had been done?"


    "I''m sorry but it''s confidential. The Facility has an agreement with the lead researcher and had been approved by the kin.. I''m sorry." The robotic nurse replied with a professional smile at him. "But I assure you that the body has been well taken care of."


    "Can we inspect the body?" He asked the Nurse.


    "Yes... By the family of course."


    He was no family. But, he was sure the robot doesn''t know that. He raised his hand and proceed to the hair part of the body.


    It was fast. He didn''t see it well. Now, he was facing the nurse robot.


    "I said by the family." The robot warned him. He felt no air coming from its mouth while it spoken those words. It''s eyes were now quickly becoming bloodshot red. A red light coming from the eye scanned his face. "Searching for criminal history. No History. Searching for Low I.Q. Database. Not found. Searching for Mentally Challenged Database. Not found."


    Definitely a robot.


    The nurse robot eyes resumed to green color. "You are in capacity to heed instructions. A Visitor, a sane one at that, must play by the rules set by the Facility. Please don''t do it again. Or you''ll be thrown out."


    "Okay. You may your arms out of me now." He . "This is very creepy." He pertains to how the robot kept him from moving. It''s arms were around his body. It''s legs are like snakes coiled each of his legs. "Unless, you like me."


    The robot gave a visibly confused look, but let him go nonetheless.


    Detective Nova looked at Mrs. Smith.


    "Can you check this part of the hair of your daughter?" He pointed at the parted hair with white thin spots.


    She looked at him and went near the body. No questions asked. She gently felt the part he pointed out and stopped.


    "There is something." She gently touch the hair of her daughter revealing a white line from the near her hairline to end of her nape. "There''s something in here."


    "It looks like laser scars." He remarked. "Minimally done."


    They have taken her brain it seems. Something amiss. There was no indication of any brain related condition that has been revealed by Ms. Smith. Maybe, was it for a dissection?


    "Why get her brain?" He asked further.


    "I can''t divulge any information as it might risk the research." The robotic nurse replied promptly.


    "We did have a contract Detective." Mrs. Smith said regretfully. "My daughter agreed to it herself. So, I have no right to rescind it myself."


    She might''ve signed a contract clause about it. He reasoned to himself. Moreover, that''s already invasion of privacy. Client-wise. She asked me to find the legitimacy of the call, not to pry.


    But it doesn''t mean I can''t find in other ways. He had a good idea where to start.


    Now, they confirmed that the body was indeed inside the Facility. It could be mean that the call was a prank. Though, the thing that was bothering him was that the prankster didn''t get any money from the call. Other than that scaring his client.


    He needed to know the pranksters operating method that might lead to his clients'' safety.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    "I''m sorry if I had to drag you in here, Detective. I can''t shake the feeling the call was real. She felt so real. I know her voice. She doesn''t call me Mummy. It was always Dara."


    "I understand, Mrs. Smith."


    "Please find my daughter''s prankster." Mrs. Smith pleaded as they were on the way to the car. "My daughter believed in technology. Please don''t let the thing she loved destroy what she had believed in this world, Detective."


    She opened her purse.


    "Please have this." She gave him her watch. "It has the log."


    "Don''t worry, Mrs. Smith. I''ll find the prankster." He promised her.

 Chapter 3

    He tapped his cigarette on the floor and looked at the cigar ashes at his feet. Waiting for a large blue bottle cap shaped robot to sort his mess.


    Not long, a red lettered hologram NO LITTERING message appeared on the top of the city-sweeper. He looked it vacuum the cigarette waste off the floor. He threw the remaining cigarette on the floor.


    SMOKE DETECTED appeared on the robot and sprayed a deodorizer at him. The sudden assult of rose prompted him to cough. He wasn''t used to it and afraid he won''t be.


    Beyond this point was the Zuickerbro City; also called the Futuristic City and the others called it the City of Nos. No Smoking. No Littering. No Loitering. No Hacking. No Virus. No Bacteria. No breaking the law.


    For him, it was one of the World''s Greatest Cities of Post 21st Century War.


    But of course, no city is perfect. It had its own dose of corruption, hidden in plain sight. And where that corruption is- is where he exactly needs to be.


    The bullet train only took 30 minutes to reach his destination. His eyes took a full minute to adjust on the monochromatic feature of the city. The sudden influx of the deodorizer made him cough. A lot of its cy-tizens had OCD and germaphobia.


    One of the policies; no germs.


    He thought while inspecting the state of the art bullet train anti-germ deodorizer spurting everywhere; airborne or not from spreading. Not to mention to stop the radiation dust coming from the Forsaken Cities outside the country. The deadliest threat that the Cyber City combats everyday.


    "Arrived at Gask Station. Please put your valuables in the clearing box. Thank you."


    He grabbed his satchel and put the fedora on while heading towards the Clearing Bay.


    "Please step in the Clearing Area."


    He stepped into the area, it sprayed a liquid over his body which made his clothes to turn into mush and dripped off his body. Then, he was showered with water to completely get the liquefied clothes out of him.


    Next, A white spray had been sprayed to him. His body was in a cotton like fibre.


    Cleared. Please get your valuables. Thank you.


    A Cleared Text was in front of the box where his things were held.


    He took his satchel and he touched his head and forgot that it already disintegrated.


    What a waste. He proceed to get out of the station.Stolen story; please report.


    Despite its appearance the shiny chromatic grey floors were not slippery. His walk was fast compared to the people around him. He kept on walking turned left on an alleyway; he kept walking until the floors were noticeably not so shiny and the buildings came tad shorter as he went. The smell became less candy citrus and more like a peppermint smoke.


    He stepped in Barracuda Bar. He went upstairs unto to the 5th floor not sparing a glance at the center.


    He knocked twice. And waited for the response. The door began to lost its color.


    His eyebrows shot up. This was new. His friend''s door upgraded into a chameleon one. He had no idea how the piece of technology works, but he knew how expensive piece of glass it was.


    "Nice." He commented. "You''ve upgrade without telling me."


    "Yeah. Thanks to you I had to upgrade. " His friend snarky reply.


    He''s still angry.


    "Is this the way you greet an old friend?"


    "A friend doesn''t let others destroy his door."


    "And a friend sacrifices his door for a friends'' safety." he reasoned.


    "It was Mahogany from a Ruined Castle from the 19th Century. Imbecile. " Malcolm sighed. "What do you want?"


    Detective Nova smiled.


    "I want you to track a smart phone chip." he said. Malcolm kept looking at him. Expecting. When he realized he won''t talk.


    "It was one of my cases." He revealed.


    "No." The glass returned to its door image.


    "Come on. Open up." He opened his satchel and shown to him the city-sweeper in his bag. "I think the Government won''t forgive you if they tracked this in here. Too bad they knew you want it."


    The City-Sweeper holographic image changed to : SET ME FREE. I''M A PUBLIC PROPERTY


    "Why did you get that?"


    "For you. With my new satchel." He showed it more." The oldest model of the City Sweeper series from the outskirts of the Old City. Older than your Grandfather''s first fart."


    Malcolm seemed to recognize the insides of his bag. He gave a deep sigh and pushed the buttons.


    The Door seemed to disappear. He tried to touch it using his fingers and it was really gone.


    "Nice but scary."


    "Doors don''t bite, Cass." He retorted. "You are also using those scary technology."


    "Touche."


    He got his Alien Mask off of his face revealing a more younger one. The same age as his friend Malcolm- at middle twenties. He put it down the table near the typing mechanical hands. He massaged his face.


    Like its name suggests, the mask felt like your face was being sucked by a alien facehugger. It''s the price that you need to pay by using a morphological changing mask.


    Even now, using it for how many years. He can still feel the drawbacks even using it for how many years now.


    He handed the City Sweeper to Malcolm.


    "Let''s make you untraceable, Baby." Malcolm gently turned gently. He started to unscrew its protective cover.


    Detective Nova noticed he was using a different I.P. this time. Another fake one.


    He waited for him to finish messing with the City Sweeper.


    "Here''s the watch. The prankster''s signal came through at last week at 1am." Detective Nova said as soon as he was done.


    "Let me make a quick check." Malcolm quickly connected the Watch to his. "The signal''s weak. It didn''t came from any cell sites. It will take a day to trace the call."


    "Then, I''ll wait. The lunch and dinner''s on me."

 Chapter 4

    The soft clicking of keyboard keys can be heard within the dark room. The robotic arms near him were writing the code while they eat their favorite Express Food. The spicy smell of curry was all over the place.


    His stomach began to rumble. Malcolms'' stomach followed suit not long after. They looked each other, sizing up one other on who''s going to go first.


    "I only have one comfort room." Malcolm said. Effectively asserted the bathroom privilege over him.


    Damn. It''s his unit anyways. He wiped the sweat on his forehead. Can two people share a single toilet? His brain tried tackle on the possibility. His mind made a mental picture of the two of them sitting on the toilet. Opposite to one another. Shitting at the same time.


    No. Absolutely no. He shook his sickening thoughts out of his head. He made a mental note to buy a portable toilet and leave it here.


    "My stomach can withstand this. Unlike yours, your highness." He gave a strained laugh. Rearraged himself in the chair for more comfortable position. "Well. Just in case. Do...do you have a recycling bag?"


    Malcolm looked at him with disgust, then looked back at the large monitor. His eyes glancing at the lines of code being written by his .


    That''s a no then. His eyes scan throughout the room to see if there''s something that he could use if the inevitable happens. There''s a good looking vase near him.


    "What''s with your case this time? With the use of an unregistered satellite. I must say its is a high profile one." The sudden interrupted his evil thoughts towards the vase. He looked at the monitor.


    "It could be a high ranking prank caller. Or like you," he replied. "Who uses somebody else''s satellite."


    Malcolm cocked an eyebrow at him. "If that''s the case, why not go to them?" Daring him.


    He''s at it again.


    "Of course. I go to you because you''re a friend." His lame reply in his chirpiest tone.


    "Right." His friend only reply. Not believing any of his words.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    "And because you''re cheaper than the others." He told him the truth.


    Malcolm stopped eating. "I''m not cheaper. You''re the one who''s paying me cheaply." He pointed his fork to him. "My service pay is significantly higher than what you pay for."


    Cass looked at down his food.


    "I give you food. The others do not?"


    "Whatever." His friend resignation never fail to amuse him.


    "When will be the time your subordinates will see this side of you I wonder?"


    "Got a hit." He didn''t answer him. "The name''s Mark. He is living in- huh near here."


    Malcolm kept on typing on the keyboard.


    "Can you dig me enough dirt on him?"


    "On it. I''ll try to pull out his records. Clean."


    "Conversations?" He asked.


    Malcolm typed fast at the keyboard and read the findings.


    "His parents are of Asian Descent and he is currently enrolled in Radiation Science. Checking his grades. Yep, he failed 3 subjects and not going to school anymore." He stopped typing, massaging his neck. "His parents will dishonor his ass with these grades."


    Malcolm continued to blabbered about the life of the prankster. His fiend''s Asian ways was coming through. His friend''s adoptive parents influence was so strong.


    "Maybe he needs money. But, I didn''t remember Mrs. Smith saying he was requiring money though. Like just played the recording." He think. "Maybe, this is a new Modus Operandi?"


    He thought more about the motive. There must be something that would a college student on having to do this. Money related - Debt?


    There are cases in the past that it came just a hobby.


    Malcolm hunched his back. And eyes like a hawk on the monitor. It''s Malcolm''s little quirk anytime Malcolm sees something interesting.


    "By the way, can you also dig something about the only Research Facility in the Old City?"


    "There''s one in the Old City? Not near here?"


    "No."


    "That''s weird."


    "Yeah." He agreed. "I did a little bit of research. Aside from the website, it has almost internet footprint on the web. No testimonials. No mission statements on what the research facility was about. No -."


    He didn''t finish his sentence. The hot liquid was knocking on his anus. He bolted to the toilet.


    "After you''re finished with this case. Don''t forget we have to visit Big Boss G." His friends muffled voice. Then, he heard the closing of a door.


    "Sorry!" He shouted. But no reply was heard.


    He buried his head in his hands in embarrassment.

 Chapter 5

    "So, Defec- Detective, what do you want to talk again?" Mark Cho asked him, almost pronouncing his occupation wrong again while opening a can of energy drink.


    It was easier for Cass to find the young man in front of him, rather than explaining what he does for a living. It took 15 minutes just explaining his almost extinct occupation compared on finding him on the neighborhood for only 5 minutes. At the end, the guy misunderstood him and thought he was part of the government.


    Overall, it was still a good thing he agreed to talk to him.


    According to Malcolm''s research, the younger man had zero activities for the past month and the only thing that this person do was to stay indoors. That and always ordered a take-out. Looking at the younger person''s brown hood stained with moss colored messy lines and dots all over. His friend''s report was indeed correct.


    "It was about these two." He got the two pieces of pictures from his satchel and put it on the coffee table between them. "Do you recognize them?"


    Mark put down the energy drink on the table and took the picture. He inspected them carefully. "No. I don''t know them." He answered.


    "One of them is dead." Detective Nova stated looking at him straight in the eye.


    It''s technically the truth. He was not lying to this poor young man.


    Mark''s eyes immediately masked a face of mixture of fear and uncertainty. "I-I didn''t kill anyone."


    "I didn''t say you kill one of them." He clarified. "Well, let''s say one day, an asshole started calling one of them and pretending to be the dead person. Do you know how it hard for a person to hear from the dead again?"


    "No! I didn''t do anything wrong! Believe me!"


    He took out a cigar and an old lighter from his satchel. Lit the cigar and took a long smoke. "That statement is wrong. You and I both know that..." He said, daring him. "You see. I found something interesting about you."


    He opened his satchel and pulled out pieces of paper. He picked one of those and put it down to the coffee table in front of them. It was a printed copy of the grades. A lot of red marks were shining off on the paper with a Failed written on it.


    Mark immediately grasped the paper, his hands crumpling it in the process. "Where did you get this?"


    "A trade secret." Detective Nova muttered, avoiding the question.


    "Well. That''s not mine." Mark stoop up completely crumpling the paper and threw it away.


    His eyebrows shot up with the younger man''s words. He needed to get a better lie than that.


    "It has your name in it." He pointed out to him. "Unless, there are other Mark Cho''s in this City?"


    "Please get out of here." The younger guy stood up.


    The watch in Mark''s left wrist started to vibrate.


    "Answer it." He said with a puff of smoke coming from his mouth. "That must be your mother."


    "Did you tell them?" Mark demanded, his eyes looked furious.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Answer it and you''ll know."


    Mark flicked the watch and a woman started to talk.


    "Mark dearie! How are you? By the way, a scholarship student from your school came here looking for you. He said he was amazed by your study skills as you always at the top of your class. Don''t you know how proud I was! I gave him your address. He was going to discuss studying with you."


    "Yeah, Mom. I think I met him already." Mark replied back sweetly while his eyes shooting daggers at him.


    "Isn''t him a nice kid?"


    "Yeah. He is." His voice was strained. "Yes, Mom. Yes- Yes- okay. Goodbye. Love you."


    "You haven''t told them." Mark stated, sitting down.


    "Told them what? This?" He pulled another paper of from his satchel and put it on the table.


    It was the letter of warning addressed for Mark Cho. This time the young guy didn''t react.


    "No, I haven''t." He continued. "Well, you know. It''s not the end of the world if your parents knew you have a...have bad grades." Corrected himself.


    "You don''t know my parents but for me I''m dead for sure." Mark retorted back to him.


    Bingo. Now he has a good blackmail material. Younger generations were rather easier to blackmail- errr- manipulate.


    "All right. I understand. A friend-" He stopped like he was remembering something. "Two friends who have the same kind of parents as yours. One of them had a perfect so his parents were in cloud nine. Another friend had a 3 bad grades like yours and they kicked him out when he was 14."


    "What happened to him?"


    "He became successful Black Marketer." He smiled. "And the other one with the perfect grades is now a failure in his parents eyes. Trying to make ends meet."


    Mark didn''t answer. His face more relaxed.


    "Anyways, you''ll never know what tomorrow will bring." Cass coaxed at him. He looked at him as he took deep breaths on the greenish smoke he exhaled . "Are you now ready to answer my questions?"


    "Yes. As long as you don''t tell my parents." Mark voice agreed in a calm and slower manner. "Is it me or the room is tilting."


    "No, it''s not." He reassured. "Now, we traced the call came from your I.P. address."


    "I hadn''t call anyone recently." Mark tried to look at him straight in the eyes, but it keeps on drooping. "Well except for that. Of course."


    "What were you doing last week, Friday night?"


    "I was playing uhmm Hologames."


    "Hologames?" He asked. "The one that you play using gestures?"


    "When was the last time you played a game?" Mark looked at him incredulously. "That was phased out ,like- 2 years ago, Man."


    "Was it?" He''s getting old. "We''re you making calls in-game?"


    "No, not really."


    "Can you show me?"


    "I can show you the save time history of the game. But, please don''t call my parents."


    "Okay we got a deal. What game is that?"


    "It was un-published game. Only a few can play it all over the world." Mark explained. He took a black watch from his hood pocket. Flicking it, a black menu appeared. "These are my logging views."


    Time and the Chapter title was displayed.


    "You weren''t streaming it online?" He asked inspecting the logging times.


    "No we are not allowed to do so." Mark explained. "It''s part of the agreement."


    "Now that you saw it. Please get out."


    "I want to see what you were doing at the time."


    He pointed on the 3:00 AM. The exact time Mrs. Smith answered the prank call.


    "Hmm.. There was a ghost that was trying to catch me that time."


    He looked at the young man.


    "Reload it and let me see it."


    "Man! It was hard to get out of that level." Mark said, exasperated.


    He put down another piece of paper on the table. This time; an expulsion letter.


    "I''m getting expelled?" Mark voice higher, getting out of the trance he made.


    Damn. They have really dug deeper this time. Malcolm, you idiot.


    "I can make this data disappear from your college record if you let me see the game. Do we have a deal?" He offered.


    The young man looked at him hard, not blinking. He smirked fully knowing what his answer will be.

 Chapter 6

    "What?" He asked puzzled, looking at his extended arm.


    "Give me money. I''ll order food." He answered. "It has no pausing function until you get to the next level. So, eating before playing the game is a must."


    Cass opened his satchel. He will just charge it to his client.


    "All right. Order me too." Handing him 10 Cros cash.


    "Thanks!"


    "You okay with Old Asian?"


    Mark proceeded to call using his watch.


    "Yeah."


    "2 Ramen please. 2 Mixed Vegetable Mixed Stir Fry. And 10 energy drinks." He ordered hurriedly. "And a bottle of water. Thanks!"


    Mark flicked the watch again. Call Ended appeared.


    "That''s too much of energy drink, Kid." Cass remarked when he heard the amount he was ordering.


    "A player needs a lot of energy." Mark said. "You never knew until what time is the next level. And you can''t abandon it halfway."


    "You never told me what was the Game title was." He asked while waiting for the food to arrive.


    "I didn''t because there''s no title." Mark answered. "It just say''s unknown on the title screen."


    "Who produce this game?"


    "It''s Unknown because it''s Underground Gaming?" He said, like everyone knew about it. "The perk is that you are playing a unreleased game. You play something that few have been played before."


    "Underground Gaming? Such thing exist?" He asked, shaking his head in disbelief.


    "Yeah." Mark confirmed while nodding at him.


    He should ask Malcolm to check on this. Especially, he was the one who was in touch in anything underground. The kid''s answers were too vague.


    "Play it now."


    "Like I said. You have to ready to play this." He said with conviction. "Mind and body."


    "What?" He looked at him, confused. The young man said it in a very business like tone. He thought at first he was joking. But then, he started doing sit ups in front of him.


    "This was not your usual game. It needs stamina. I need to be ready." Mark explained. "Perfectly."


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    "You can watch here on the monitor. I''ll connected it with my Occular Lenses" Mark pointed to the wall monitor in front of them. "You can hear everything though the Environment Sound System."


    They are currently in what Mark''s calls his "Game Room". Cass thought it was just an empty room with a single gaming equipment. It pales in comparison with Malcolm''s Game Room.


    Or Malcolm set the bar too high? Maybe this is the real Gaming Room. There was nothing normal whenever Malcolm is involved afterall.


    In the middle of the room, there was a 3 meter wide octagon shaped stage with black rectangular at each side. He guessed it was the sound system that Mark was talking about.


    "The speakers had the built-in Environment Function. It gives off environment smell in game, sometimes I turn it off if the environment is at the sewers. The Game Master send this 5 bottles per week." He rambled. "Isn''t it the best?!"


    "Yes." he responded quite amused on the energy of the person. It was like the kid was selling him the piece of gaming equipment instead of plain demonstrating. He noticed that the after effects drugs puffed from his cigar had taken its side effect. Plus the energy drink this guy gulped a while ago also contributed to the surge of energy that Mark was exhibiting.


    "You should''ve just taken up Game Design or any game related instead."


    "I would''ve. But my parents thinks it wasn''t that prestigious enough you know." He went to door and open it. Still, explaining to him. "They wanted me to be Radiation Scientist."


    "So this is where your parent''s money goes, eh." He stated, remembering the guy''s strict parents.


    "Nope. This is all free! Including the equipment. I tried to search it online, but it''s unavailable." he argued. "The Game Master can only provide these."


    "Game Master?" He asked.


    "He owns the Underground Gaming... I think." Mark said in a more uncertain tone.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "How did you know all of this "Underground Gaming thing" by the way?"


    "Through rumors really." Mark admitted, ashamed.


    "After hearing these rumors, you just signed in a website? Then, they give you the game- that''s it?" He said, his tone extremely doubtful.


    "No. You need the game master to send you the full equipment to play this." Mark explained. "I don''t how they select the players. One day they send me off these device and let me play game that hadn''t been in the market. It only has the sign of - The Game Master."


    When the kid came back from the comfort room. He had black silver suit on. "There is a rule passing around. Well more like a unwritten one. You tell the public, you disappear."


    People disappear? He thought. No wonder people are calling it the Underground Gaming.


    Cass looked at Mark. His eyebrows knotted at the sight of him.


    "What are you wearing?" He asked pertaining to the black track suit with silver embellish all over that the student was wearing. He can''t take the guy seriously seeing him with his ridiculous clothing.


    "Dude!" Mark exclaimed. "This is the best gaming equipment available compared to others out there."


    By the sound of his voice, it sounds like Cass lost his mind.


    "This look like a body suit and the silver embellish is useful for any sensory feeling in-game. If you touch something, the threads will react to it. Taking on the shape of the thing you touch" He said, pointing out the silver threads. "If you tried to sit in game in any chair, the silver will react to it and the needed to sit outright making you sit like in the game."


    Cass only nodded, impressed with the equipment.


    The technological advancement was quite different compared to his teens. He was thankful it wasn''t developed during his time or else he would have been one himself.


    "I think you''re just being used as a type of tester for these." He deduced. The equipment was all good, but too good.


    "Yes. I thought about that. But, not everyone had the opportunity to play this." He confessed. "Now, Detective, you will see how an underground game works."


    Mark stepped in the middle of the black octagon stage. "Game On."


    It started whirling. Then, there was a clasping sound that he heard. Cass looked at Mark''s feet where the sound came from.


    "That''s the sound of the boots. It has mini- hooks that clasps on the stage. Look at this." Mark started to walk. The black ground started to move with every step.


    "It looks like a big thread mill."


    "Good observation. It''s like that. " Mark praised his sharp remark. "That''s why I told you; you need food- stamina to play this game. You never know if you will keep on standing in-game."


    A blue menu appeared.


    WELCOME TO UNKNOWN


    Continue            Load Game


    "It''s name is really unknown." Cass remarked.


    "Load Game. Slot 12." Mark commanded.


    The surround of Mark was by different kind of lights. It''s hard to look at him. Cass looked at the monitor and started to see what Mark was seeing.


    "Nice. Where are you right now?"


    "A moonlit Forrest." Mark answered. He continued to walk through the dark path.


    Cass smelled a sweet smelling incense. A gurgling sound was heard.


    "The Ghost is near." Mark stated.


    A girl with a white appeared before Mark.


    "Ghrrrghh!"


    "Shit!" He started running. The ghost was chasing him.


    He tried to jump over a log, but the ghost grabbed his clothes.


    "Get off." Mark tried to punch the ghost, but it just went through it. It kept on grasping his trousers. He tried tore off his clothes using his knife.


    "I think it''s gone. He said, relieved.


    "It got something from you." Cass observed. "A rectangular thing."


    "Really?" Mark looked around the forest. "It might got one of my tools."


    There was a sudden ringing.


    "Hey. Someone''s calling you." Cass said to Mark.


    "That''s not mine. My ringtone''s different." Mark replied. "Hey Ghost where are you?"


    Cass opened his satchel. It''s Mrs. Smith''s watch. He didn''t know he had it with him. An unknown number was displayed. He flicked it.


    "Hello?"


    "Dara?" The feminine voice asked. "Thank God you answered!"


    "Sara?" He asked, his voice uncertain.


    It''s the prankster.


    "You''re not Dara. Who are you?" The voice got deeper.


    "I''m Detective Nova. Your Mother hired me. Where are you?" He flicked the watch connecting it to a video call.


    A box appeared before him. "CONNECTING" message appeared.


    An image appeared. But no one is in there only a muddy road was seen.


    "I can''t see you." He said.


    "Wait." The camera changed and a woman appeared.


    He was surprised. Her eyes were red and were darkened around. Her cheeks hollowed with different kinds of wound all over her face.


    There was a guy sneaking behind her with a knife.


    "Behind you!" He shouted. The woman ran.


    "Behind you!" Cass heard his voice, like a feedback, but not from the watch. He looked at the monitor. Mark was currently catching the ghost.


    "Mark stop." He instructed. "Can I look at your character?"


    "Why?"


    "Just do it."


    "Inspect." Mark commanded. The view came in 180 degrees, his character came into the view.


    "Where was the ghost?" He asked.


    "It got away. Why?"


    "Sneak behind her."


    "Hello!" The feminine voice came back again, this time out of breath . Cass looked at the watch.


    "Please, tell my mother. I''m stuck in a game! Please-Please tell-." There was static noise in the background. The woman disappeared.


    Then, a sound of something fell.


    The game character of Mark picked up the phone.


    "Hey, why are you in this box?" Mark asked, the same question echoed by the watch.


    "That''s not a box." He stated. "That''s a smartphone."

 Chapter 7

    What in the world was happening?


    The girl''s body was still in the Facility. It''s impossible for her to be playing the game.


    Was it a data collection agency? Artificial Intelligence gone rouge? But that''s impossible. He reasoned out to himself. She lived in the Old City where the people can only track a few data to make a functioning one as the person did.


    Good thing he was recording the whole thing with his secret camera in his satchel. He can easily cross check the with the videos in the watch by Mrs. Smith to rule out if the woman was really her or not. He also needed a voice detector test to check if the person on the video game was really her.


    This case is taking on a different way. His former cases always end up when he traced where the prank callers were.


    "Hey! Detective. You sure this big thing was a smartphone?" He shifted his attention to Mark when he heard him.


    "Yes, it''s a smartphone. A 21st century one." He replied to Mark who was fixated to the device.


    "Seriously? These are too big. People in the past are weird." Mark commented.


    The younger man was still looking at the rectangular phone. He doesn''t blame him for being fascinated. All of the phones from that century was recycled and turned into weaponry used in the last war. The ones in the museum were either. He was lucky he have a history maniac friend that introduces antique to him.


    Cass looked at the gaming equipment as Mark kept on walking and still looking him on the phone.


    Should he seize the gaming equipment? He put his fingers on his chin. It might put Mark in danger. After all, he looks like he had no business with Mrs. Smith''s case.


    The gaming equipment screams shady in different levels. One, the Game Master who ships these as "free". Two, missing people because they told the public and Three, dead people playing inside the Game.


    He flicked the watch and turned it off. He looked at the monitor where Mark .


    "Oh, you disappeared." Mark wondered. "But, I didn''t turned it off."


    Today onward he needed to carefully thread towards on how to investigate it. He told his name after-all. There might be someone saw the footage of him speaking with the dead Ms. Sara Smith.


    " I need to go now. I already saw the game." He told the young man. "If you can tell me anything more about the game, go here. Or you simply need some help."


    He hand him a business card.


    "Dial this number and swipe it with your watch. Then, tell your address." He instructed.  "People will help you right away."


    "Thank you! I will." Mark said, smiling with his eyes full of hope. "I hope you uphold the end of our bargain?" The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Yes." He said solemnly.


    -------------


    "What''s this?" Cass asked Malcolm on the striking red thing next to the vase. It''s the first thing that his eyes set on the dark room. His fingers traced the outline of the weird thing. This one Bigger than the 21st century phone.


    "A rotary phone. 19th century one." Malcolm answered while clicking his fingers over the keyboard. "By the way, are you already finished with your case?"


    Do people put this on their bags? He looked at Malcolm. He was dressed in his bathrobe while working.


    "No, not yet." He replied.  "By the way, have you ever heard this thing called "Underground Gaming?"


    Malcolm hand stopped moving over the keyboard. His hands went to side of the robotic arms and his finger finding something over the corner. He stopped. The corner shined against his fingers, the robotic hands started to move over the keyboard. The soft clicking sound can be heard.


    He grabbed his mug from his desk and rotated the chair on his way.  His eyes on the coffee and gently sipped it. "Yes, I do. Is this why you haven''t finished your case?"


    "Yes. The college student was a dead end. On the good side, he showed me the game itself." He smiled as he remember goofy kid.


    "Bold move." Malcolm stated, impressed. "There''s a possibility he could die."


    Cass nodded gently in full understanding of the consequence of his actions. "He''ll be fine. I gave him the I.P. address ." He crooked his head to side looking at his friend intently. "How did you know about it?"


    "By playing it. Of course."


    "Without me?" Cass voice raised a little, accusatory. This is one of the days he asks himself if Malcolm really considers him as a friend. They''ve been friend since Big Boss G found them and mold them into what they are now.


    "You didn''t know? I didn''t stop with gaming." He replied nonchalantly.


    "I asked you for the last 5 years, you know." Whenever Cass visits him, he never saw him touched any games. He always work with his codes; his eyes always on the monitor. "I''ve never see you play a game."


    "I play whenever you''re not here. Obviously." Malcolm replied blandly. "Why? Would playing the game will solve your case?"


    He doesn''t have any antique this time. He doesn''t know how to lure his friend on having him play the game.


    "Want a Coop, like before?" He didn''t answer his question. It''s been awhile, but he knew he could play like him.


    "No, thanks. I''m doing well. Game wise." He said.  "And also, you''re a horrible gamer."


    "That''s true, but we are older now. Older means better right?" Cass admitted, smiling but his eyes glint in defiance.


    Malcolm''s eyes was hard and no emotion can be seen. "Right." He enunciated the word slowly.


    "Right?" Cass asked with much hope in his voice.


    "Right." Malcolm replied in the same and his expression was same.


    Well, he was but he needed to be good for this case. He needed to understand the game more.


    Cass shook his head in defeat. "How did you became this ''Underground Gamer''?"


    He don''t really know the scope of work of Malcolm. His friend never truly share what he does. Whenever he came here, their talk was all about his new antique collections and his cases. And, Big Boss G.


    "Like the rest, they sent me a gaming equipment and a note." Malcolm started. "Then, I just plug it in and played it."


    "And, you just played it like that?" He asked surprised by his friend''s decision. "Without thinking; what a very ."


    That was quite different for a guy who had always prioritize security.


    "Of course. I thought about that." Malcolm raised one of his eyebrows at his remark. "As Big Boss G said: we operate anything underground. This one just came out of nowhere."


    "So, did you play the latest one? The horror game?"


    "Yes."


    "Did you find something weird while playing?"


    "Wait." Malcolm put down his mug on the desk. His eyes surprised. "Are you investigating me?"


    "Well, you don''t want me to play with you and I don''t have access to the game. So..." He pointed out. "Yeah."


    Malcolm looked upward and sighed. "Nothing." He replied. " I''ve already finished it. It''s just a simple game really.." Malcolm said non-nonchalantly like that the sky is blue.


    He knot his eyebrows. He saw Mark''s saved time. He knew he didn''t finish it yet. Mark was clearly having a hard time beating the game. And this game monster had already beat it.


    "Ah." He muttered. He raised his satchel. "I will show you something."

 Chapter 8

    Cass played the video.


    "What am I seeing?" Malcolm asked, looking at Mark drinking his energy drink flashed on the screen.


    "Sorry. That''s not it. Wait." Cass adjusted the video where the ghost appeared and paused. "This is the person that I am investigating."


    He took out the watch and searched for the pictures of his client''s daughter. Her smiling holographic image came into their view.


    "And here she is."


    "Okay." Malcolm acknowledged. He tilted his head to the side. "So, she''s playing the underground games."


    "Yeah. I hope it was that easy." Cass replied. "But it''s not. She''s dead. Her body is in a Research Facility outside the City."


    Malcolm chuckled. "So, a dead person playing games that''s what you''re telling me?"


    Cass didn''t reply. He just kept on looking at him. His face devoid of any emotions.


    "You''re serious?" Malcolm said in disbelief.


    "That''s what I thought too. I even suspected the college student to be a prankster, but when I was investigating. That ''ghost'' revealed itself."


    Cass played the video. "Look."


    Malcolm glanced between the monitor and watch. The ghostly version of the woman on the watch had eyes brimmed in red glaring at the monitor. Despite her sunken features didn''t stop them to identify it as her.


    "I need to cross check her voice with the her other videos confirm if it was really her." He said.


    "That''s why you showed me this?"


    "Yes." Cass replied. "Will you ask David?"


    He pertained to his assistant.


    Malcolm gave a long sigh. "What would happen to you if I''m not here?"


    "I won''t solve any case." He admitted. "Or I''m working with you guys."


    "No, thanks." Malcolm quickly said back. "I''ll contact him right now."


    The monitor changed to another person. A man with sharp intimidating features.


    "Answer." Malcolm instructed. The man started to move.


    "Boss, you have a meeting with -" The person stopped talking when he saw Cass inside the room. "With someone."


    "Stay here, Cass." Malcolm told him. "I''m just going to the antique room."


    Malcolm was still in the room. His eyes fixated on him. Waiting.


    "Don''t touch anything. I know." Cass said in resignation.


    His friend walked towards a wooden door and left the room.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Cass was already bored with his mind. He had been watching the robotic arms to continuous write lines of codes for the past hour.


    His throat began to run dry.


    He got up from the and walked towards the kitchen.


    Malcolm''s collection of different glasses were lined up. He took one that looks newer than the rest and filled it up with water.


    "Find him." A male voice said alerted him.


    He immediately went down the floor and concealed himself behind the counter.


    Intruders. He slowly peeked to see who they were. He can''t seem to identify them. They were all dressed in black armor suits. There were no sound, nor warning from the security of the bar.


    They might have used the backdoor. He thought while examining the unwanted guests. He don''t know them but one things for sure; they are part of the Underground. Only few knew the hiding place of Malcolm.


    His gaze went to the person in the middle. He wasn''t sure if it was Malcolm or his enemies at the office right now.


    There must be a mole on their organization to infiltrate Malcolm''s room. He thought of his friend.


    Malcolm might come out any minute now. He knew his friend was never great with these kind surprises. But to him, these situations were hardly a surprise. He decided to have them trail him instead.


    His gaze went to his hands.


    He only have a glass of water as a weapon. He''s sure it was antique


    He looked around him, searching for more weapons. The knives were beyond his reach. The intruders might already killed him before he reach one of those.


    There was no choice, but to use the glass. He needed to time it right for him bolt out of the door.


    And do the usual.


    The clicking sounds stopped as he hear their steps getting closer.


    His grasp on the glass tightened.


    1...2...3...


    He stood up behind the counter and aim to the person near him. He threw the glass hard and ran out of the door.


    The people in armor was distracted momentarily by their comrades sudden collapsing on the floor and shoot at him.


    "It''s him! Get him!"


    Think Cass! Think!


    He ran across the corridor and looked at the main lobby.


    No choice.


    He dashed towards the moving robots at the center. He ripped off his clothes and threw it away on the pile. He approached one of the e-hookers on the line and grasped its head towards the lower part of his body.


    He can feel the tip of the soft-hard lips approaching his nether part.


    The steps and shouting of people pursuing him got nearer. His tried to control his breathing into a silent manner.


    It should activate by now.


    There were growls near him. The sound made his tiny hairs stood up. He glanced behind him to confirm his guess to what it was.


    Robotic dogs. He was right. One bite on his neck or shoulders will be the end of him.


    "Find him." The person with pieces of glass on his head commanded.


    His eyes came down at the e-hooker. The robot''s mouth was halfway with his junk when the feeling of vibration was suddenly gone. The e-hookers'' eyes suddenly lost it light and became lifeless.


    It wasn''t moving anymore.


    He slowly tried to slowly get the head from his lower part, but the e-hookers mouth was attached firmly to his junk. It was stuck; he didn''t dare move from his position any further.


    He looked at his left through the corner of his eyes. Around him the e-hookers around him stopped moving one by one.


    Diffuser. The immediate answer that came to his mind. Everything goes dark within its range.


    Damn.


    With the device, the inside security of the Bar will stop. He was now in deep utter shit. No wonder the security was not working until now. No one can help him now.


    <div>


    The steps came farther away from him. It''s do or die. He slowly took a breath; trying to gain his momentum.


    1....2....3...


    He clutched the robotic head and snapped it from its body. His hands hold on to the severed head and bolted towards the exit.


    "It''s him! Get him!"


    "Go! Go! Go!"


    He looked where his pursuers are as he ran past the exit.


    "AAAAAAhhhh!."


    The people kept shouting and covering their eyes as he ran past them.


    "Someone call the police!"


    "Ew! A flasher!"


    A sharp object latched on his back.


    "No!" He yelled. Grabbing the thing behind his back.


    He felt a sharp pain on his groins. He grasped the robotic head again. Easing the pain on his nether parts.


    He repeated kicked the thing behind him. It was no use. The dog started to alter its body. Effectively binding his arms. It latched on his body; attaching itself on his flesh.


    He cried out in pain.


    Another robotic hold bared its fangs in front of him. It bit his chest and started to transfer also.


    "No! No! Help!"


    Darkness surrounded him.


    "Coffin Complete." A effeminate voice declared. "Sleeping air activated."


    "We already catch the hacker. Will now transfer him in the agreed place." was the last thing he heard as his vision turned cloudy and turned to darkness.