Even after a night of sleep and being discharged from the hospital, Oliver''s mind was in turmoil over the mysterious system screen. Was it real? Or was it a hallucination caused by brain trauma? He shook his head at the thought. The doctor''s found nothing wrong with him, and everything around him still seemed normal.
Exiting the hospital, a chorus of cheers broke him from his spiraling thoughts. Oliver looked up to find his three roommates hanging out the windows of Gary''s old junker of a car, waving at him. An amused smile crept onto his face. They were a bit of an odd group; despite their very different personalities, they were great friends, often mistaken for siblings because of their closeness. The fact that they were all dark haired and almost six feet tall with similar builds just reinforced the image. Oliver didn''t really understand how they all became friends, but knew he wouldn''t change it even if he could. Oliver climbed into the car, offering each of them a fist bump. ¡°Thanks for the pickup guys.¡±
¡°Like we would leave you hanging.¡± Gary scoffed as he pulled out of the parking lot. ¡° But we''ve got to get you home and settled quick. Some of us still have class today.¡± Gary struggled to give his friend a look of mock severity with Ed and Marty laughing behind them.
Marty leaned up between the seats, patting Oliver on the shoulder. ¡°Don''t worry about anything man. I already picked up the notes you missed from your morning classes. Don''t want our honor student falling behind. Your mother and I are so proud of you.¡± Marty wiped a pretend tear from his eyes before ducking back to avoid Oliver''s swipe at his head, the group exploding with laughter. Oliver let himself relax in the seat, his friend''s jokes pushed back his worries.
His mind cleared, Oliver knew how to resolve the mystery of the system.
He just needed to test a few things.
With his friends gone off to class, Oliver stood in their apartments and worked through his plan. All it took was a thought and the system screen appeared before his eyes. He waved his hand through it, just as he had done last night, but again felt nothing. With a glance he could see that nothing had changed with this screen, though he had yet to open the tabs it presented.
Multi-Dimensional Merchant System
- Attributes
- Commissions Board
- Currency Exchange
- Locked-(Costs 1,000 credits to unlock)
- Locked-(Costs 10,000 credits to unlock)
- Locked-(Costs 25,000 credits to unlock)
Oliver found navigating the system to be easy and intuitive, being able to open or close the window and its tabs with just a focused thought. In a blink, he had the Attributes page open.
Attributes
Merchant Reputation: 0
- Strength 10
- Agility 13
- Vitality 11
- Intelligence 16
- Willpower 15
- Spirit 12
- Luck 8
Oliver had played enough video and tabletop games to have a decent idea of what most of the attributes meant, though he was a bit stumped at spirit. Not being a religious or spiritual person, he could only assume it referred to some other ethereal quality, perhaps the soul? Or was it something entirely different? He had no way of knowing, as the system didn''t offer any explanation.
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He frowned at his luck being 8. He didn''t really consider himself unlucky, but it did, at times, feel like things just didn''t go his way. Nodding to himself, Oliver spoke his thoughts aloud in an effort to organize them. ¡°If it''s like some tabletop RPGs, then 10 is probably average. It makes sense; I''m not really an athlete, but I am pretty quick on my feet. And intelligence is definitely my highest stat. But my luck...¡±
He shrugged it off with a sigh. Luck wasn''t something he could change, only deal with it. Never one to rely on luck, he knew hard work and a sharp mind were far more valuable.
With a thought, he switched back to the main system window and moved on to the next tab, the Commissions Board. Looking it over carefully, he saw a jumbled mess of posts like a message board, but without any semblance of organization and no options for sorting it or even a search bar.
Commissions Board
- Gold! Gold! Gold!- Our technomancers need gold for their circuitry. Offering 200 credits per ounce! Must be at least 24k gold! Minimum of 20 ounces.
- To Arms!- Requesting swords. 24 inch length, 18 inch blade, 2 inch width single or double-edged. 2000 credits for 100 swords.
- The Spice of Life- We desire new spices for our meals. 5 credits per ounce. 20 credit bonus for new and unusual spices.(Repeatable)
- Fertilizer- Our agriculture is suffering in this new land. We desperately need some form of compost or fertilizer to aid us in growing food. We are offering 10 credits per pound. Please, someone help me feed my people.(Repeatable)
- Hauntingly Familiar- I am the great Necromancer Xra''Dravet the Vile. I require a powerful ghost or similar spirit for my apprentice''s first familiar binding. You will be rewarded with 666 credits upon completion.(Time Limit: 48 hours)
5 of 1,187,912 shown.
Despite his worry over the possible insanity of the situation, and himself, the commission board made sense to Oliver. People needed things and offered to buy them. He froze in place for a moment, mind racing to connect the dots. It was called the Multi-Dimensional Merchant System. Did that mean that all these posts were from people in other dimensions? We some of them in the same dimension, just on different worlds?
Were some of them in the same universe as Oliver, just on different worlds? And were there any others here on Earth?
Oliver shook off the thought. He hadn''t yet decided this system was real, and even if it was, did it really matter where the people were? He knew enough about the multi-verse theory to know that, if this was all real, there were likely an infinite number of universes. It was practically impossible for him to ever meet one of these people, even if he wanted to.
Oliver moved on to the last unlocked tab, wanting as much information as possible to work with before he moved on. Opening the Currency Exchange, he was surprised to see the first explanation for anything that the system had offered.
Currency Exchange
- 1 Credit = $10 USD
- Account Balance - 0 Credits
*Non-Unified world detected. Alternative local currencies provided by request only.
*Credits can be exchange for the users local currency. Funds are deposited directly into the users bank account. All deposits are secure and discreet, listed as pay from an employer(MDMS Inc). All deposits are listed as in compliance with local tax laws. Required documentation will be provided on request.
Oliver dropped onto the couch, stunned. If this was real... Could he just complete that ridiculous spice commission a couple times and make his rent for the month? With five dollars he could get and ounce or two of some spice and trade it for ten times his investment or more?
His mind spun with the impossibility of it. A crazy system was one thing, but multiplying his money so easily just didn''t make sense to him. Unless... He thought back to his freshman economics class. Price was dictated by supply and demand. These commissions represented people with a demand that no one was supplying. Everything clicked into place for him. He could make a fortune. The system showed him what they wanted.
He was the merchant that could provide it for them.
Chapter 3 – Making a Big Deal out of Nothing
Oliver felt like he hit every red light on his way to the super store across town, each delay increasing the anticipation he felt at trying out the system for the first time. The ten minute drive felt like an eternity had passed when he pulled his truck into a parking spot.
He took several deep breaths to calm himself, knowing his current agitation served know purpose; if anything, it would just distract him when he knew he needed to focus. The thought of his friends making jokes at him for finally getting wound up over something made him chuckle and drove off all the tension he had felt.
With confident steps, Oliver strode into the store, making a bee-line for the aisle with all the spices on it. Clove, garlic, sage... Fajita mix, taco mix... Dozens of seasonings, mixes, and blends made Oliver hesitate. Should he get them all? Small doubts about the system crept into his mind. If it didn''t work, he would easily be out a decent chunk of money.
Holding one of the jars in his hand, he wondered how the whole thing worked anyway. Did he need to speak aloud what he wanted, or just focus on The Spice of Life post-
Processing Commission...
The Spice of Life
Garlic-3 ounces
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 15 credits.
Buyer authorized bonus: 20 credits.
The jar disappeared from his hand in an instant, nearly causing him to jerk back in shock. Suppressing his reaction, Oliver looked around to make sure he was still alone in the aisle. Seeing no one, he let out a small sigh of relief before he dove back into the system. With his success in completing a commission, there was only one more test he needed to carry out. He opened the Currency Exchange tab and started his first deposit.
Currency Exchange Initiated. The requested funds have been deposited into your account.
Oliver pulled out his phone and eagerly logged in to his bank app. His face lit up with a bright smile when he saw the total balance had gone up by $350. One commission nearly covered his rent for the month. For a second, he could feel the greed welling up inside him as he looked over the wall of spices before him. How much could he make...
He shook his head once, forcefully resisting the sudden impulse. ¡°Don''t overdo it, Oli. Flooding the market is good for short-term gain but bad in the long-term. They may just withdraw the commission if they get too much at once.¡± He whispered to himself, focused once more.
Oliver considered his approach carefully before he made up his mind. Grabbing one of each of the pure spices and dropped them in his shopping basket, avoiding any spice blends for now. He wanted to keep it slow and simple at first to build their interest, maybe just two new spices a week and in small quantities.
With one commission down, he headed towards the garden section of the store, wanting to hit another in the same shopping trip. With the idea of organizing his plans for the commissions, as well as keeping them secret, he made a quick detour to grab new notebook and a fireproof lock-box just big enough to hold it. Entering the garden section, the small selection of fertilizers made it easy to find an all-purpose fertilizer for gardens.
Oliver gave the cashier a distracted smile as he swiped his debit card to pay, his mind already racing down his plans for making the most out of this system, when bad luck struck again. Purchases in hand, he turned to leave only to find an older woman blocking his way with a frown. The name tag pinned to the dull brown suit proclaimed her to be the manager, Karen. He let out a small sigh, knowing immediately that her name was probably accurate.
¡°Come with me.¡± She demanded and turned to walk away without waiting for a response. Oliver stood in place, watching he march away until she realized he wasn''t following. Storming back up to him with gritted teeth, she practically growled at him. ¡°Did you not hear me, or are you stupid? I said come with me!¡±
His blue eyes drilled into her as he stared back calmly for a moment before responding. ¡°It''s usually polite to introduce yourself when talking to someone you don''t know. Thankfully, Karen, you have a name tag, so that doesn''t really matter. So, how about we start with why you expect me to follow you? Maybe throw in why you have an attitude with a customer for no reason?¡±
With every word, her eyebrows rose higher and higher, her anger mounting as he dared to talk back. Finally she snapped at him. ¡°You know why! I have no patience for criminals like you. And don''t try to run, I''ve already called the police. An officer will be here any second.¡±
Bewilderment ran through Oliver at her words. Why would she be calling him a criminal. Before he could find an answer to that, he saw her anger shift to a warm, ingratiating smile, though the hint of smugness in her eyes when she glanced at him made him worry.
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Turning to look where she was directing her smile, Oliver saw a female police officer approaching them from the entrance doors. She was nearly as tall as him and obviously well-built, despite the uniform mostly hiding her figure. With tanned skin, jet black hair and deep hazel eyes, he could imagine most guys being stunned just at the sight of her, though the way she carried herself suggested she took her job seriously.
¡°You must be the manager, Mrs. Mills. I''m Officer Ramirez. What can I do for you?¡± He voice a deeper than Oliver expected, but decidedly feminine. The warm and welcoming tone of her voice sounded like it fit more to a late-night radio host than an officer of the law.
¡°Hello Officer. I''m very glad you are here. I need this shoplifter arrested immediately. I saw him stealing a jar of spices on our security cameras. I will, of course, be pressing charges. It''s the least someone like him deserves.¡± The manager waved her hand to indicate Oliver, scorn an condescension dripping from every word.
Oliver stood stone-faced at her accusation, though his mind was in turmoil as he understood what had happened. She must have glimpsed something happening when he accidentally completed that first commission and the jar he was holding disappeared. He almost felt relieved that she had jumped at the thought he was stealing, rather than see it for what it really was.
Before he could formulate a response, the officer turned to face him with a carefully neutral look. ¡°Sir, I''m going to ask to check your bags, please. And if you wouldn''t mind emptying your pockets, that would be great. And I need to see your ID, please.¡±
With a small nod, Oliver set down his bags and started emptying his pockets onto the counter, but couldn''t help speaking up. ¡°Ignoring the fact that I have nothing on me... Even if I did, it wouldn''t be illegal. It wouldn''t actually be considered stolen until after I left. But please, feel free to check. I don''t mind.¡±
Karen scoffed loudly as Officer Ramirez answered him with a nod. ¡°Technically he''s correct Mrs. Mills.¡±
It took less than a minute for her to check his items against the receipt, the contents of his pockets being just a cellphone, wallet, and keys took even less time. She glanced at his driver''s license before returning it to him. ¡°Thank you for cooperating, Mr. Silk. I apologize for the inconvenience, but would you mind staying for just a few more minutes while we double check the security footage? Just to clear up this misunderstanding.¡±
Karen, visibly angrier at nothing being found, quickly returned to looking smug at the mention of the security footage. ¡°Yes, that would be best. You''ll see what this thief has done!¡± With that declaration, she turned and strode away briskly.
Barely suppressing a groan of frustration, Oliver gathered up his things and followed alongside the officer. With the manager some distance ahead, Officer Ramirez gave him an apologetic look before speaking. ¡°I''m sorry about this. This particular Karen has a history of calling in a lot of theft reports,, most of them being...inaccurate. Though please don''t mention that I said that.¡± She finished with a small wince, having said too much.
Oliver just shrugged, his small smile returned as he met her eyes. ¡°No worries, its just my bad luck striking again. This isn''t even the worst thing to happen to me this week. Though it is pretty dumb. I just bought a couple dozen spices, why would steal another just to save a few dollars? I would probably pay for another just to shut her up if I didn''t think she would latch on to that as me admitting guilt or something.¡±
Officer Ramirez chuckled softly, but refrained from responding as they approached the office. The two stepped inside to find that Karen waiting impatiently with a clip already pulled up and paused on Oliver standing in front of the spices with a jar in hand. With a dramatic flourish, Karen his play.
Oliver forced himself to breath calmly as they watched. Right when the jar disappeared, the video seemed to jump a frame. Officer Ramirez frowned, but replayed it twice before speaking. ¡°Mrs. Mills, it appears your camera glitched. Perhaps you should have your security system updated?¡±
Karen''s indignant screech was deafening in the small room, making both people present wince. ¡°That isn''t the point! He obviously stole it! It''s not like it just disappeared into thin air.¡± Oliver chuckled inside, as that was exactly what happened.
Officer Ramirez spoke soothingly, trying to defuse the situation. ¡°Ma''am, I checked his bags and pockets. If he had stolen something, we would have found it. This is clearly just a misunderstanding. If you could please calm down...¡±
¡°I don''t need to calm down! I need you to arrest this thief. He probably just stuck it down his pants or something!¡±
Before either of them could say anything else, Oliver let out a disgusted sigh and dropped his bags, drawing their attention back to him. Without hesitation, he pulled off his shirt and dropped his pants around his ankles, leaving himself standing there in just a pair of plain boxer shorts. Glaring at the now flustered Karen, scorn dripped with every word as he spoke. ¡°As you can see, the only thing in my pants is me. And if you ever want to see a man undress again, try not being a bitch.¡±
As he pulled his pants back up, he turned to look at Officer Ramirez to see her eyes trailing down his body. When she realized she had been caught staring, she blushed and looked away. She quickly cleared her throat before speaking. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Silk, though that was...unnecessary. I apologize for troubling you. You''re free to go.¡±
Oliver made his exit as the officer started in to a lecture, silently thankfully that his earlier mistake hadn''t exploded in his face. Within minutes, he had everything loaded into his truck and just sat there, reflecting on how things could have gone worse. Much worse. Unable to imagine the consequences of the system being discovered by someone else, he lost track of how long he sat before he resolved to be more careful in the future.
Pulling out of the parking space, he started towards the exit. Seeing Officer Ramirez leaning against her patrol car, frustration written across her face and the tension in her shoulders, a sudden impulse made him change his mind. Pulling up next to her, he rolled down his window. ¡°Don''t let people like her get to you. You have a tough job, but you''re doing great.¡±
She jerked back in surprise for a second when he started talking, then gave him an awkward smile. ¡°Thanks, but I feel bad about letting her embarrass you like that. She''s just a bi... Er, an unpleasant person. Things shouldn''t have gotten out of hand like that.¡±
Oliver gave her a reassuring smile as he leaned out of the truck window. ¡°Just between you and me, I''m not embarrassed. Boxers cover just as much as swim trunks, so it''s not like I was indecent. No more free shows though. You''ve got to buy me dinner first.¡±
He mentally kicked himself for teasing her. Not even two weeks after a bad breakup and here he was, flirting with a woman he barely knew. Though a part of him decided it really liked how her blush soften her features and made her look more innocent.
She fidgeted for a moment as her blush deepened. Pulling a card from her pocket, she held it out to him. ¡°Here. If Karen causes any more problems when you''re shopping, just give me a call.¡± As he took the card, she squirmed for a second before clasping her hands together. ¡°And... my private number is at the bottom, in case you want to call me for...ah, unofficial reasons.¡± She cleared her throat and straightened her back before giving him a bright smile. ¡°I hope you have a good day, Mr. Silk.¡±
Without waiting for a response, she climbed into her patrol car and left. Oliver stared at the card in his hands, stunned. With a quiet laugh, he stuck the card in his pocket. ¡°I can''t believe she gave me her number. The guys are going to give me hell over this.¡±
Chapter 4 – Homework
Oliver pulled in next to his friends'' cars at the house they rented together and put his truck in park. Checking the time, he knew they would all be back from class by now. Glancing around cautiously and not seeing anyone nearby, he grabbed the two 40lb bags of fertilizer from the passenger floorboard and activated the commission. Within seconds the bags disappeared and 800 credits were added to his funds. He gave a silent cheer for himself at the thought of adding $8000 to his bank account.
Just as he was about to make the transfer, he paused in thought. ¡°The system said it is secure, but two sudden windfalls in a day would still look a little suspicious... But a weekly paycheck won''t raise any red flags as long as I keep the amount reasonable.¡±
With a firm nod, he closed the system again and grabbed his bags, heading inside. Opening the door, he saw his friends right where he expected them to be: Gary playing on his phone, Marty doing homework at the table, and Ed playing his favorite video game. At the sound of the door opening, they all stopped what they were doing and started talking over each other, wanting to know where he went and worried about him.
With a warm feeling in his heart at their worry, he waved them all down before dropping his purchases in his room and joining them. ¡°I feel fine, guys. I just needed to run out for a few things real quick. Nothing to worry about. Well, except me almost getting arrested.¡± He couldn''t help but laugh at the comically shocked looks on their face.
The three nearly exploded with curiosity, demanding to know what happened. Giving them a brief rundown on his little excursion, he left out any mention of the system, painting the experience as just a stupid misunderstanding and bad luck with a computer glitch.
When he mentioned Officer Ramirez, Gary interrupted his story for more details about her and whistled softly at her description. ¡°Did you get her badge number Oli? If she''s as hot as you say, you should definitely look her up. Maybe she likes younger guys, right?¡±
Oliver, knowing his friends would just keep giving him hell if he didn''t fire back at them, waited for his friends to finish teasing him before he gave them a mysterious smile. ¡°No, I didn''t get her badge number, just her phone number. Her private number.¡±
His friends sat there speechless and exchanging looks as he finished his story. They sat there for a moment, just staring at him until Ed spoke up. ¡°You are going to call her, right? I mean, this is some shit right out of a movie or something. I mean, you''re not still hung up on Jess or anything, right?¡±
Oliver gazed off at nothing as he gave his answer some serious thought. The cheating, and the breakup, had hit him pretty hard. Jess was his first serious girlfriend since high-school, after all. But after all he had already been through in his life already, processing it was surprisingly manageable. Despite him being ''zen'' as his friends always described it, he wasn''t one to forget or forgive betrayal, so any mixed feelings had been quickly purged. ¡°No, I''m not hung up or anything. She made her choice. I''m not going to beat myself up over someone like that. As for Officer Ramirez...¡± Oliver shrugged as he focused back on his friends. ¡°I don''t really know her that well other than to say she seemed... Nice maybe? Compassionate and serious about her work, for sure. Physical attraction and being nice isn''t really much to go on, though.¡±
As the other two booed at him, Marty just chided him gently. ¡°How are you going to know her better if you don''t ask her out? It''s pretty obvious to us that you''re interested in her, so why not go for it man?¡±
Oliver nodded his head side to side noncommittally. ¡°Maybe. But we''re also in very different social circles. It''s not like I can invite her to a college party. Even if she was interested, everybody would freak out if they found out I brought a cop. And could you imagine her introducing me to people she knows? She would probably catch a lot of flak over dating a ''college kid'', as most of them are likely to see me.¡±
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¡°Just think about it, bro. It''s not like you''ve got to decide right this second, but I think, deep down, you already know what you want to do.¡± Marty''s words echoed in his mind long after they had all split off to do their own thing for the evening.
Homework sucks, especially homework in a subject Oliver had little interest in. It wasn''t that he was bad at science, just that he didn''t enjoy it. But it was a core requirement, even for a music major like him. Music was his passion, and even as he sat down at his desk with his chemistry book, he longed to pick up his violin. The temptation of the system rested in the back of his mind, further distracting him.
He forced himself to power through chemical equations and notations. Every time his mind drifted towards he system, he resolutely pulled it back on task. As amazing as the system was, he wouldn''t allow himself to give up on his dreams, even for the admittedly crazy amount of money he could make.
Oliver sighed in relief the instant he was done and dropped his pencil. See it was still early enough, he decided to practice the performance piece he had chosen for the violin. La Cadenza by Henryk Wieniawski was a complicated piece, just at the edge of what Oliver could play even with his decade of violin practice. His fingers flew up and down the string, eyes blazing with joy that he was able to create something so beautiful. All thoughts of the system flew from his mind, born away on the musical notes as Oliver''s spirits soared. Deep down he knew he hadn''t perfected the piece, but in that moment everything felt right.
He let the last notes hang in the air for a moment before he played it again and again, correcting small flaws and just flowing with the music. When silence finally fell, Oliver just sat basking in the feeling of freedom music always brought him. Slowly putting away his violin, he took his time turning his attention to the homework he had assigned himself: digging through the mess of commissions to find those suitable for him to complete.
With the fresh notebook in front of him, Oliver scrolled through page after page. Hours passed as he read entries, writing down all the ones he knew he could finish as well as a few he thought possible with some work and worth the effort. Like the commission requesting a powerful ghost or spirit, there were many he couldn''t see a way of doing. As midnight rolled around, he had gone through hundreds and compiled a long list. Well, long to him, he amended in his mind. He had just barely scratched the surface of the commissions offered.
His plan centered around simple, repeatable commissions. The Spice of Life and Fertilizer were still on the list, and Oliver high-lighted several others he could easily handle with his next visit to the store to pick up fertilizer.
-
Sew Unfortunate ¨C I am a tailor by trade. Bandits have disrupted trade from the Helma Province, resulting in a shortage of cloth. I am offering 10 credits per yard of cloth so I may continue my trade. (Repeatable)
-
Noteworthy- Paper has become far too rare! How can a government operate without proper paperwork? I can offer 1 credit per page of decent quality paper. No scraps or damages! (Repeatable)
-
Siege Supplies ¨C With our city about to come under siege, we are laying in additional supplies. We can offer 1 credit per pound of edible foodstuffs. Any medical supplies for treating our soldiers will also be suitably rewarded, depending both on their quantity and usefulness. (Repeatable)
-
Soap ¨C I shall spare you the unnecessary details. I require soap for bathing. 1 credit per ounce. (Repeatable)
Looking through the list he had made, an interesting pattern emerged before his eyes. At first, he thought some posts had been repeated several times. As he read them over again, he took in the subtle differences. Different wording to the post, different credit amounts offered, different quantities... His eyes narrowed as the answer hit him. ¡°Even on a college campus there is an overlap in needs and wants. Paper, pencils, books, clothes, food... Across the entire multiverse, there should be more than just a million commissions just asking for food or something. Theoretically, the number should be infinite... But not everyone can post commissions. Or even see them.¡±
Oliver nodded slowly at his one words, before laughing softly to himself. ¡°That should have been obvious from the start, or else I would have seen some story online of a crazy guy ranting about it. I bet some people that can post commissions never actually do, for whatever reason.¡±
After a moment, he shook off his musing. As curious as he was about the mysterious workings of the system, it wasn''t that important right now.
Turning back to his notes, he opened his laptop and brought up the pages for a few online retailers. ¡°I can spread things out further by buying somethings online and having them shipped here. Though sooner or later my friends will get curious... Unless I tell them I''m sending care packages to people in need. It''s believable and still mostly truthful. That should work.¡±
With his computer open, he checked his bank balance and started ordering. It was time to really get this rolling.
Chapter 5 – Getting Back to (Mostly) Normal
Oliver woke up early the next morning to shower and eat before class. As tempting as it was to dive completely into the system and make a fortune, he saw the system as a supplement to his life, meant to enhance but not take over. He was happy with his life, though having more money certainly didn''t upset him. As he got ready for a full day of class and then work, he paused at the thought of his job. Did he really need it anymore? Long hours at minimum wage was a lot less interesting now that he knew for sure he could make money with the system.
He rolled the thought around in his head as he walked to class. He didn''t hate his job, but neither did he love it. It was easy, and paid the bills. That was it. He knew the place wouldn''t be affected by him leaving. In a college town like this, most places had hundreds or thousands of applications on file from students looking to earn some spending money. Just as he walked into his first class of the day, he made up his mind to talk to his boss.
Using the system to pay his bills instead would free up a lot of time for studying and music practice. It was a win all around, as far as he could see.
Oliver was glad time seemed to fly by as he sat through his foreign language class. He chose Italian because of its connection with Opera, and it was a fascinating language to him, but, much like his chemistry class that came next, ultimately it was just to get the required course credits.
Unfortunately, chemistry felt like it plodded along, the professors monotone voice nearly lulling the entire class into a daze.
As he eagerly fled from the chemistry classroom, one of his classmates fell into step with him and clapped him on the shoulder. Glancing up at the dark skinned giant towering over him, Oliver gave a cheeky smile. ¡°Thanks for waking me up, Sweet Tea. I don''t need to be sleepwalking through campus after a class like that.¡±
Tyrone Biggs, or Sweet Tea as most people called him, was one of the biggest guys on campus and a member of the football team. What most didn''t know was that he was also an honor student, and a hell of a chess player- which Oliver found out the hard way on the first day of class. And, as long as it wasn''t game time, he was also one of the nicest people around.
A deep, rumbling laugh erupted from the gentle giant as they walked side by side. ¡°Yeah, it was kinda dry again in there. You wanna grab lunch man?¡± At Oliver''s nod, they walked along in silence for a minute before Tyrone spoke again. ¡°I heard about the shit that went down man. You should party with me and the guys next time. Nobody starts shit like that around us. Plus, we got a big Halloween party in the works.¡± Tyrone gave him a sly look. ¡°You and the Three Stooges are invited. Well, pretty much everyone is invited. But I wanted to make sure to tell you about it myself. We even got some of your fellow band geeks set up for some live music, dueling pianos kinda thing like that awesome bar you told me about.¡±
Oliver chuckled as he shoved at his friend, only managing to push himself away as the big guy stayed as stable as a rock. ¡°You guys want me to play for the party, is that it?¡±
¡°Hey, don''t be like that man. I want my bro to come hangout. If you don''t want to play, no biggie. And if you do, they''re planning a rotation so nobody is stuck with it all night. Already got like a dozen people wanting to show off. Plus,¡± Tyrone gave him a conspiratorial wink as he lowered his voice. ¡°We''re gonna set up a tip jar for people to request songs. All the people that play will get a split. So, what do you think?¡±
Oliver thought about it as they entered the cafeteria and grabbed food. He didn''t need the money, but honestly it sounded fun. He knew his roommates would be ready to drag him to the party either way, so why not? ¡°Yeah, I''m in man. Tell whoever is organizing us ''band geeks'' to message me about it. Unless its Beth; I''m not interested if she''s just going to go on another power trip.¡±
Tyrone gave him an amused smile as he shook his head. ¡°Nah man, Dave is running it so it''s all good. Just don''t forget to get a costume. I''m going to try an organize a costume contest. Maybe give out goofy prizes, you know? Best costumes, worst costume, sexiest costume... Gotta motivate the ladies to show off,right?¡±
Oliver just smiled and ate his food as his friend rambled on about the party. He was honestly starting to look forward to it.
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Walking into the small donut shop where he worked, Oliver headed straight for the manager''s office. Usually the owner was getting ready to head home right now, so he wanted to catch him before he left. Rounding the corner before the office, he saw the door standing open with the owner, Mr. Patel, sitting inside looking over somethings on the computer. Mr. Patel was a short, older Indian man with a gentle smile. He was the kind of boss that was easy to work for, and typically worked just as hard as he expected of everyone else. All-in-all, a good boss, and one Oliver respected.
¡°Hey Mr. Patel. Can I talk to you for a minute?¡±
Mr. Patel glanced at Oliver and waved at the other seat in the room, a knowing smile on his face when he looked back at the computer to shut things down. ¡°It''s about that time, isn''t Oliver?¡± His voice was lightly accented and carried a tone of understanding.
At Oliver''s confused look, Mr. Patel slapped his knee and laughed. ¡°Oliver, do you know how long most of you college kids stay at a job like this?¡± Before Oliver could respond, he spun his chair to face him and clasped his hands together. ¡°One or two semesters. They make a little spending money, then leave right around finals time. Well, those that don''t come in hung-over all the time and make me fire them.¡±
Mr. Patel leaned forward, his eyes meeting Oliver''s. ¡°You''ve been here, what, a year and a half? And always been a good worker. Never missed a day until that little mess a couple days ago.¡± Seeing the slightly stunned look on Oliver''s face, he laughed softly. ¡°I always get a feeling when it''s time for one of you to move on. And you''re a good kid, Oli. I''ve been wondering for a while how I managed to keep someone as smart as you for so long. So, got a better offer or just wanting to focus on school more?¡±
Oliver gave his boss an amused smile. The man was incredibly insightful, and he understood his employees- sometimes better than they understood themselves. ¡°I wouldn''t really call it a better offer, sir. Working here has actually been good. But it probably is better for me right now.¡±
Mr. Patel gazed off into the distance for a moment as he though, then clapped his hands together and gave Oliver a nod. ¡°Well, I can understand that. You can work the usual two weeks notice things, or just give me a couple days to hire and train somebody new.¡± He waved Oliver off before he could speak. ¡°Ah, you know how it is in a college town. I got about a hundred new applications last week. I''ll probably hire three or four tomorrow and start them training. I''ve been needing to hire a few more anyway, just to make sure all my shifts are covered..¡±
Climbing to his feet, Mr. Patel headed for the door, clapping Oliver on the shoulder as he passed. ¡°I''ll text you when I get them trained. You can let me know then what you want to do.¡± Pausing at the door, he glanced back at the young man that had done good work for him. ¡°After that music you''re studying makes you rich and famous, be sure to send me tickets to your concert. I''ve got this feeling that you''ll do big things in the future, Oli. Big things.¡±
With a smile on his face, he walked out the door, leaving Oliver to think over what he said.
Making coffee, selling donuts, cleaning the store... The occasional lull in business gave Oliver time to work on homework. With the day winding down, he found himself with more time to think about the system and his future. Just from the numbers he had already run in his head, he could see the system paying for his next semester of college. With a little work, maybe he could pay off his loans while still in school. Starting out after college with no debt would be huge for him.
The chime from the door opening broke him from his thoughts. ¡°Welcome to... uh, hey, Officer Ramirez.¡± Oliver stumbled slightly when he realized who had come in to the shop. What were the odds of seeing her again so soon, he thought. ¡°What can I get for you?¡±
Officer Ramirez had been staring at a small notepad when she walked in. Her eyes snapped up to meet his at the friendly welcome, a small blush creeping up her cheeks. ¡°Oh, Mr. Silk, hello. It''s nice to see you again.¡±
¡°Call me Oliver, please. Or Oli. Most of my friends call me Oli.¡±
She froze in place for a second before erupting in giggles. A brief look of confusion crossed Oliver''s face and she laughed harder. Waving her hands in apology, she shook her head and tried to get control of her laughter. ¡°Sorry, sorry. I wasn''t laughing at you... I mean... It''s just... Ironic.¡± Taking a deep breath as her laughter faded. Running a hand over her dark hair, she gave him a bright smiled and explained. ¡°My name is Polina, but my friends call me Poli. I can just imagine my mom saying...¡± Trailing off, her blush returned, much brighter than before. Looking at Oliver, she saw a hint of a blush on his cheeks.
They looked at each other silently, tension building, until Oliver cleared his throat and spoke. ¡°Yeah, I can already imagine my friends teasing me, calling us ''Oli and Poli''.¡± Realizing what he had just said, his eyes went wide and he searched for what to say to not make the conversation turn awkward.
Polina glanced away, a shy smile on her face. ¡°Well, to use your own words against you, you''ve got to buy me dinner first.¡±
As he words sank in, his worry fled and they both laughed. As awkward as he felt, Oliver realized he liked talking to her. It was exciting, yet comfortable. Taking a deep breath, he made up his mind. ¡°Well, Poli, I suppose I should ask you two questions. What can I get for you this evening?¡± As her smile dimmed slightly, he gave her a wink. ¡°And, more importantly, are you free this weekend?¡±
Chapter 6 – New Developments
Oliver exited his last class of the week, his usual calm being slowly overtaken by an unexpected nervous energy. Between classes and work, his week had gone by quickly, though thankfully quietly as well. Needing a distraction for his racing mind, he hopped in his truck and headed straight for the store again with the intention of padding his bank account by completing a few more commissions. Checking his notes one more time, he grabbed a shopping cart and started collecting items.
It was a bit of an odd assortment. Two more bags of fertilizer would net him another 800 credits, by far the most profitable transaction on his list. He knew he needed to diversify, just in case that particular commission was taken down in the future. With that in mind, he settled on the Siege Supplies and Soap commissions. While less profitable, they were easy to do, and similar commissions were much more common than the fertilizer one.
Grabbing four 50lb bags of rice, he loaded them on top of the fertilizer and carefully maneuvered the now cumbersome cart over to the first aid section. Unsure of what exactly the person that posted it would want, or could even use, he picked out what he thought to be a good assortment. Rolls of gauze, antibiotic ointments, antiseptic liquids, rolls of adhesive bandages, alcohol swabs... Just when he thought he had grabbed enough, he spotted the prepackaged first aid kits. With a shrug, he picked five rather comprehensive looking kits and tossed them in as well.
The Soap commission was far simpler in Oli''s mind. On his way to checkout, he just grabbed a couple large packs, thinking that dozens of bars would be more than enough for the person''s request. On a whim, he grabbed one pack of unscented soap and the rest of different scents. Who knows, maybe they would like the variety?
He was thankful the cashier didn''t offer any unnecessary conversation, eager to get home and finish the deal. His arms burned slightly at having to load so much into the bed of his truck, but he just shook them out quickly and drove home.
Climbing out of his truck, he checked to make sure no one was around before he sent off the commissions.
Processing Commissions...
Fertilizer
Fertilizer-80lbs
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 800 credits.
Soap
Soap-102.4oz
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 102 credits.
Siege Supplies
Foodstuffs-200lbs
Medical Supplies-assorted
Calculating value...
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 2781 credits.
Oliver froze in place as he read and then re-read the system prompts. 3683 credits, plus the 800 credits he already had, with one credit equaling ten dollars... He nearly stopped breathing at the thought of nearly $45,000 at his fingertips. He could easily pay for college. Or get a new truck. Or...
With a crisp smack, Oliver slapped himself across the face, driving off the spiraling thoughts. ¡°You''re better than this Oli. Losing your mind over money? What would mom say?¡± He growled at himself and considered his next moves. Drumming his fingers on the side of his truck, he looked over the system windows as he thought. ¡°There''s also these locked pages. What else is there to this thing? And how useful are they?¡±
With a thought, he clicked on the first locked page and received a new prompt.
Unlock new feature?(Costs 1,000 credits)
Yes/No
Oliver considered it for a moment. As long as this new feature didn''t take away the commissions page, he knew he could easily make more credits. But were the benefits it offered worth $10,000? There was only one way to find out. Mentally clicking yes, he gasped as he read the new page.
Developments tab unlocked!
Development
-
Increase Strength to 11 ¨C 1,000 credits
-
Increase Agility to 14 ¨C 4,000 credits
-
Increase Vitality to 12 ¨C 2,000 credits
-
Increase Intelligence to 17 - 7,000 credits
-
Increase Willpower to 16 ¨C 6,000 credits
-
Increase Spirit to 13 ¨C 3,000 credits
-
Increase Luck to 9 ¨C 900 credits
Oliver stood in place for several minutes, dazed at the implications. Could he really make himself stronger or smarter just by spending? Though the cost... Finally rousing himself from his stupor, he glanced at his credit balance. With 3683 credits, he was limited in what he could do, but knew he had to test it out. Selecting to increase his strength, he hoped the change would be noticeable, only to ask himself if this was safe a second to late to change his mind.
All of his muscles trembled in unison as a warm current ran through his body. Slowly ramping up in intensity, within a minute it felt like an intense full-body workout before it suddenly stopped. Instead of the pain he expected from working out, he felt refreshed. Looking at his arms, he saw the muscles were a bit more defined. Though not a drastic change, he was aware of the difference. His eyes shined with excitement at the possibilities this offered.
With only a brief hesitation, Oliver chose to increase his luck. The effect was less obvious, and for a moment he thought nothing had happened. Then he felt the warm current again, though this time it was less obvious. It felt... ethereal somehow as it interacted with something beyond his perception. When the feeling faded, he checked the Development page again.
¡°Raising Luck from 9 to 10 costs the same as raising Strength to 11 did? Is there no difference between 10 and 11 for an attribute? That doesn''t make sense; I can feel the difference. Then why...¡±
Shaking off the thought, he increased his Luck again, the random spots of bad luck hopefully behind him. Almost 3,000 credits gone in an instant, but he felt it was worth it. And now he had even more reason to earn more credits. Though it made him curious; if 1,000 credits unlocked this page, how good was the 10,000 credit page? Or the 25,000 credit page?
A bright smile on his face, Oliver walked into the house. Waving at his friends as he passed, he dropped his things in his room before going back out to join them. Plopping himself down on the couch near them, he realized they were all staring at him.
The three of them shared a look, coming to some sort of silent agreement. Ed set down his game controller before turning to face Oliver directly. ¡°OK, whats going on Oli? You''ve been smiling all week, practically floating around campus. I don''t think we''ve ever seen you this happy, and I know most people have never seen this much expression out of you. So, either that blow to the head did more damage than we thought, or something good happened.¡±
¡°I bet he called the hot police chick!¡± Gary threw out with a laugh.
Oliver just chuckled as he shook his head, surprised he had kept it secret from them for even a few days. ¡°No, I didn''t call her. And before you ask, I didn''t text her either.¡±
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Gary and Ed looked at each other, both trying to figure out what had their friend in such a good mood. When they looked at Marty, however, he gave them a Cheshire grin. ¡°Is that old clich¨¦ about cops and donuts true?¡± His friends started whooping and laughing at Oliver''s simple nod.
¡°You actually asked her out!?¡±
¡°You sly dog Oli!¡±
¡°When''s the big date?¡±
Oliver patted the air with his hand, finally getting them to settle down. ¡°Yeah, we''re going out tonight. We''re meeting up at the Mexican place downtown, then maybe going to Bill''s pool-hall after dinner. Poli feels like the laid-back and low-key type, so I thought this was a solid date idea.¡±
As cheeky grins spread across his friends faces, he realized what he had done and cut them off before they could start. ¡°Her name is Polina, but her friends call her Poli. And yes, I know you guys will be giving me hell over ''Oli and Poli'' for months. Just keep one thing in mind.¡± Oliver glared at them mock sternly until their smiles vanished. ¡°She can probably kick all your asses at once.¡±
His friends sat stunned for a second before they erupted in laughter and teasing comments. He leaned back into the couch and let it wash over him, enjoying the moment.
Oliver, dressed in his favorite ''nice'' outfit-black slacks and a blood red button down shirt, nervously waited outside the restaurant. He had never felt this sort of nervousness with any of his ex-girlfriends, but something about Poli felt different to him. Maybe it was something special? Or maybe it was just because she was a little older and more mature? Or...
¡°Oli!¡± The shout broke his train of thought, and he turned in the direction it cam from. His breath caught in his throat when he saw Polina. She had let her hair down to fall like dark waves around her face, just brushing the straps of the emerald green sundress that fell just past her knees, showing off her well-toned calves. Her toes peaked out of a pair of strappy sandals, and Oliver noticed the pink polish that matched her fingernails.
Small purse in hand, she stopped in front of him and smiled when he met her eyes. ¡°I guess I clean-up good, don''t I?¡± She said with a giggle.
Slowly gathering his wits, Oliver said the first thing that came to mind. ¡°You are so out of my league.¡± Clearing his throat, he hurriedly spoke again. ¡°I mean, you''re gorgeous. Just... Wow! I...¡± He trailed off, at a loss. His mind raced for what to say.
With a laugh, she took his arm and steered him towards the restaurant door. ¡°Thank you for the compliment, but I don''t think I''m out of your league out all. You look... really good. And that outfit just screams confident and sexy.¡± She blushed brightly at her own words and leaned into him a little more. ¡°Honestly, when I saw you there waiting, I was thinking maybe you were a little out of my league, too. It made me nervous as hell.¡±
As they waited to for a table, Oliver thought about what she said. She was just as wound up as he was, and he felt like he should do something to keep the whole date from turning into a nervous train wreck. He smiled softly as he took her hand. ¡°Maybe we''re just in a league of our own then.¡±
Her deep, throaty laughter sent tingle down his spine. Some of the nearby diners turned at the sound, and he could see flashes of jealousy from some of them. Oliver subconsciously stood taller when he realized it wasn''t just the men, but some of the woman too.
Seated at their table, they both quietly glanced over the menu. Oliver''s mind blanked on what to say next, his only real experience with dating since high school being his last relationship. The brief reminder of how it ended derailing his thoughts even further. Looking across the table at his date, he could see Poli was struggling just as much. ¡°We''re acting like awkward teenagers, aren''t we?¡±
Poli startled slightly at his words for a second before laughing. Brushing her hair back behind an ear, she offered a shy smile. ¡°I guess we are. I can''t remember ever being this nervous on a date, though its been a while since I actually dated anyone.¡± Shaking her head at the whole situation, she folded her hands on the table. ¡°It is kinda silly. We don''t have to do the weird ''what do you do for work'' questions, and I''ve already seen you in just your underwear...¡±
Oliver enjoyed seeing her blush, her face seemed to glow every time. ¡°Well, I guess the work question is still sort of valid, since I just left mine. You seeing me like that...ah, I don''t regret it, but I really have no idea what I was thinking.¡± He chuckled in embarrassment, his own cheeks pinking.
Seeing the opening, she leaned closer to him. ¡°You left the donut place? What happened? I mean, you seemed pretty happy there, from what little I saw.¡±
The concern in her haze eyes pulled him in, and he saw small golden flecks in her irises that seemed to sparkle in the light. Drowning in her gaze, it took him a minute to register her question. Reluctantly looking away, he shrugged. ¡°It was a pretty decent job, but I got an offer that pays better and is more flexible. Having more time to study for my classes is important to me.¡±
Poli clearing her throat brought his attention back to her. Seeing her suddenly stiff posture confused and worried him. ¡°You''re in college?¡± At his nod, she groaned and covered her face, mumbling to herself.
He could barely make out the phrase ''robbing the cradle'' from her, eliciting a small snicker from him. At her glare, he held up his hands in surrender. ¡°I''m not laughing at you, I promise. But you can''t be much older-¡±
¡°I''m 29, Oli. Probably almost a decade older than you.¡±
Oliver shook his head quickly before she could beat herself up more at their perceived age difference. ¡°4 years. You''re only 4 years older than me.¡± Seeing her curious look, he explained. ¡°I took a few years off after high school, so I got a late start.¡±
She sighed in relief. ¡°Ok, that''s not so bad. And there''s nothing wrong with going to college a little later.¡± She sipped her drink, taking a second to collect herself. ¡°Was there a reason you took time in between? Like travel or something?¡±
Her eyes widened as grief flashed across his face. Staring down at the table, he spoke slowly. ¡°It''s kind of a difficult subject.¡± For a second, she thought he wasn''t going to say anymore. His voice was soft, barely above a whisper as he continued. ¡°I was taking care of my mom for a while. When the doctors discovered she had cancer, it was already too late. After losing her... I needed time.¡±
She reached across the table and took his hand gently in hers. ¡°I''m sorry Oli. I didn''t mean to bring up something so painful, even by accident. I can''t imagine how difficult that must have been for you.¡±
Oliver gave her hand a soft squeeze as his smile slowly returned. ¡°Thank you. Maybe we should skip that topic?¡±
With a reassuring smile, she gently interlaced their fingers. ¡°Of course Oli. Why don''t we talk about your classes? Or the new job you mentioned?¡±
''She''s perfect.'' Oli thought to himself. Not only had she managed to pull their date back awkward ledge it teetered on, she also somehow brought him out of his usual reserved self. As a bit of an introvert, he had never really liked talking about himself. Most of his friends were just extroverts that seemed to attach themselves to him until the friendship stuck, a fact he was often glad about.
But talking with Polina just flowed naturally for him. She was enthusiastic about his music major, happily talking about their mutual love for jazz and swing. They swapped stories of friends, talked about their dreams... They lost themselves in their own little world until an employee with a broom passed them, the restaurant closing around them. With an apologetic wave at the staff, they quickly paid and headed out the door.
¡°I really enjoyed dinner, Oli. I can''t imagine a better first date than that.¡± Polina said as they walked arm in arm.
Oliver smiled warmly at her. Not ready yet to see the night in, he tried for a casual tone as he spoke, even though his heart was hammering in his chest. ¡°Dinner was amazing. But our date doesn''t have to end here. We could head over to Bill''s, grab a drink and play some pool.¡±
With a smug grin, she eyes him for a moment. ¡°You don''t know what you just got yourself into. I hope you can handle a girl kicking your butt at pool.¡± She glanced around the nearly empty parking lot for a moment. ¡°I also hope you drove here. I came in a ride share.¡±
Oliver thanked his newly increased luck that they found an empty pool table so quickly. While Poli racked the balls for their first game, he grabbed a pitcher of beer for the two of them. Though the game was close, he was quick to see that she really was better than him.
The second game became even more lopsided as he found himself being distracted. It was obviously not intentional, but the small, casual touches as they passed each other, the lingering looks, and the way she stood close to him whenever they paused for a drink all combined to ruin any chance he had making a comeback.
After destroying him in the third game, Poli leaned in close to him. ¡°What''s wrong, can''t keep up with an old lady?¡±
Her smile and teasing tone made it clear to be a joke, and Oliver wrapped his arm around her without thinking as he laughed. ¡°First, you''re not old. Second... OK, yeah, you''re better than me. And you''re distracting as hell. I guess I''ll have to bring my A-game if I don''t want to embarrass myself so much. I''ll probably still lose though. ¡°
He winked and threw a cheeky smile at her as he moved over to rack the next set. As he gathered the balls up, someone walking over caught his attention. Just as Oliver looked up, a muscular man in a tight fitting t-shirt stopped next to Poli and, grabbing her by the waist, pulled her up against his side. A flash of anger surged through Oliver at the sight, but it eased a bit as he reminded himself that Polina could handle herself. As a cop, she had likely handled worse situations after all. Just to be safe, Oliver stepped closer as the idiot spoke.
¡°Hey beautiful, why don''t you let a man teach you how to really play pool instead of fucking around with this loser?¡±
''Are assholes somehow drawn to cause me problems? Maybe I should raise my luck a little more.'' The thought ran through Oliver''s mind as his fists clenched in anger. He wasn''t bothered by the idiot insulting him, but the guy just rudely grabbing at Poli set him on edge.
Poli reacted quickly, pushing the guy back as she stepped away, her face twisted in disgust. ¡°Not interested, and don''t touch me again. Understand?¡±
The man ignored the stern authority in her tone and swaggered up to her again. ¡°Come on, baby, don''t be like that. Don''t you want a real man to take care of you?¡± Stepping into her personal space, the man stared into her eyes as he placed his hands on her hips, a cocky grin on his face.
Anger flared in Polina''s eyes as she glanced down at the hands. Her head lifted slowly to glare at the man. ¡°Are you aware that what you''re doing is considered sexual assault? Remove your hands or I will defend myself.¡±
The man seemed oblivious to the warning as he tried to pull her closer. Without hesitation, Polina grabbed one of his arms and twisted, slamming him face first into the pool table behind her. Her toned arms flexed as she wrenched the arm up, pinning him in place easily even as he started to struggle and curse at her.
¡°Hey! Get off him, you crazy bitch!¡± While everyone else stood stunned, one of the man''s friends broke away from his group, stomping straight towards the altercation.
While Poli had the one idiot under control, Oliver knew having another jump in could be dangerous for her. Putting himself in the path of the new guy, he realized this one was even larger, close to a head taller and probably 50lbs heavier. Normally a peaceful person, Oli tried to defuse the situation quickly. ¡°Listen man, your friend started it and she warned him to back off. Do you really want to make this worse than it is?¡±
¡°You think I''m gonna listen to some bullshit from a pussy that lets his girlfriend fight for him?¡± The man''s fist looked massive as he punched at Oliver''s head, forcing him to skip to the side to avoid it. Oliver was grateful for his above average agility as he was forced to constantly weave away from the barrage thrown at him. An idea popped into his head, and Oliver darted over to put his back to the pool table.
Thinking he finally had Oliver cornered, the large man put everything into a powerful haymaker only to howl in pain as Oli slammed the 8-ball into the side of the man''s hand to deflect the punch. Before the man could recover, Oli struck again, slugging him across the jaw with the ball. Oliver grimaced at the sight of a tooth flying loose as the man crumpled to the floor.
Chapter 7 – Change of Plans
The pool hall cleared out in a hurry after the fight, leaving just the couple, their attackers, and a few old hands who seemed unconcerned about the whole thing. Oliver, knowing it was likely someone had called the police, took a seat on a stool to wait for them while he kept his eyes on the man still writhing in pain on the floor. Out of the corner of his eye he could see that Poli still had her guy under control, and Oliver chuckled at how easy she made it look.
It was only a matter of a few minutes before a pair of officers charged through the door, looking ready for the worst. The rather calm and controlled situation surprised them, and they exchanged a few quiet words before splitting apart. Oliver watched as the older officer, his uniform straining to contain his girth, checked the one on the floor before using his radio to call for an ambulance.
Glad he didn''t have to worry about that one anymore, Oliver turned to where Poli was talking casually the other officer. Tall, broad shoulders, a square jaw, and incredibly handsome... A small pang of jealousy ran through Oliver as he saw Poli laugh at something the Officer said. Walking their way, Oli caught just the end of their conversation.
¡°...if you had told me you liked to play pool, I would have invited you out a while ago, Ramirez.¡± Seeing Oliver approaching, the Officer voice turned gruff and short. ¡°Maybe keep you out of a fight, too. So, this guy managed to drag my girl into trouble?¡±
Oliver stopped in place, his mind racing at the words. Was there something between them? Did this guy have a thing for Poli too? Already frustrated from assholes messing up a good date, he struggled with how to respond.
Poli let out a groan and shook her head, cutting in before Oliver could respond. ¡°Come on, Franklin. Dealing with these idiots was enough; I don''t need you giving my boyfriend a hard time too.¡±
Oliver''s concerns washed away instantly. With a bright smile, he stepped over and took Poli''s hand in his. ¡°To be honest, I would have preferred to avoid trouble like this. I just didn''t expect someone would actually be that stupid.¡±
Franklin snorted in laughter before giving them both a smile. ¡°When dealing with people, you should always expect an idiot or two. Its like a rule of life or something. Now, are you going to introduce us Ramirez? Or should I just call him ''the boyfriend''?¡±
With an amused smile, she offered a quick introduction. ¡°Oli, this is Officer Franklin Pierce. Franklin, this is my boyfriend Oliver. Oliver Silk, since I know you need it for the report.¡±
Franklin covered his face to hide a smirk, suppressed laughter in his voice. ¡°Oli and Poli? Really?¡±
Oli and Poli shared a look, knowing this would be all too common an occurrence in the future. They wouldn''t show it, but both were secretly pleased.
After talking with Franklin and his partner, who Oli learned was Officer Blunt(and greatly appreciated the irony of Pierce and Blunt being partners), the questions and paperwork over the incident only took a few minutes. Sitting in his truck together, Oli relaxed into the seat for a moment. ¡°I really enjoyed our date, Poli. I wish it didn''t have to end.¡±
Poli stared at their hands, fingers interlaced, for a minute. ¡°I... I don''t really want it to end either. How about we go to my place? I know we''re both trying for something serious, and I definitely appreciate that about you, but it doesn''t mean we can''t cuddle and watch a movie... Or whatever else we decided to do.¡±
Brushing a hand across her cheek, Oliver leaned in and kissed her. Her soft, full lips made him want to devour her, but he kept the kiss gentle, almost chaste. ¡°As you wish.¡±
Poli erupted with laughter as he started the truck. ¡°Did you really just quote The Princess Bride on our first date? After our first kiss!¡±
Oliver woke to a dark mass of hair tickling his face, Polina''s face pressed into his chest like she was trying to hide from the world in his embrace. Wrapping his arms around her gently, he just lay there until he felt her begin to stir. ¡°Morning sleepyhead.¡±
Poli grumbled as she snuggled closer to him. ¡°Can''t we just stay in bed all day?¡±
He chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head. ¡°We can. Or we can get up and I''ll make breakfast.¡± Glancing at the clock, he corrected himself with a laugh. ¡°Lunch. I can make lunch. It''s up to you, though.¡±
With a sigh, she pushed away from him. ¡°Lunch does sound good. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen; I''ll join you after I go to the bathroom..¡±
As they climbed out of bed, Oli snagged her for a quick kiss before heading for the kitchen. Her house was a nice two-bedroom with a modest yard that felt comfortable to him. The kitchen was modest, with a little breakfast nook overlooking the backyard. With a quick look through the pantry, he started pulling things out for their meal.
Poli joined him just as he started cooking, his cell phone in her hand. ¡°Someone texted you while I was coming out of the bathroom. I think you''ve got like 20 unread messages or something.¡±
¡°You mind checking those for me? My pass-code is 0729.¡±
Oliver, focused as he was on the food, barely heard her amused snort before she spoke. ¡°You know, most guys wouldn''t dare give their new girlfriend access to their phone like that. Gary, Ed and Marty are your roommates,right? Looks like you got a bunch of texts in a group chat from each of them, all pretty much along the same theme of assuming you came home with me and congratulating you on ''hooking up with the hot cop''. And a bunch of hearts and kissy faces with our names in the middle.¡± Oliver could hear the smile in her voice as she scrolled further. ¡°Marty says you had a package come in. Asked if you ordered bricks or something because it was heavy. And... Ed and Gary want to know if you''re going to a party with them tonight.¡±
Oliver nodded along as she read it off to him, excitement blooming in his chest at the mention of a package. Shaking his head at Marty''s description, he started pulling out plates for their food. ¡°It''s mostly just printer paper I ordered for work, it shouldn''t be that heavy. Well, I guess it is a lot of paper...¡±
¡°Do you want me to answer them about the party?¡±
Despite her simple, curious tone, he hesitated. Would she want to go to a college party with him? Despite how much he would enjoy that, he had already considered the possible complications. Just like he explained to his friends, there were a lot of ways it could go wrong. Assuming she was even interested.
Her arms wrapping around him from behind drew him from his pondering, and he couldn''t help but lean back into her. ¡°It''s ok if you don''t want to invite me along, Oli. I can imagine that a lot of college kids would have a problem with a cop showing up to their wild party.¡±
¡°I''ve thought about that, but I do actually want to bring you. I''m not really worried about their what any of them think, I just don''t want to put you in the difficult spot. Though usually nothing illegal happens beyond a little underage drinking. Most of them aren''t dumb enough to bring drugs to a big party, or if they do, I''ve never seen it.¡±
Kissing the back of his neck as she disengaged from the hug, she took a seat in the breakfast nook. ¡°Well, it''s up to you. But if you really want me to go, I promise to only step in if I see something seriously illegal or dangerous. No checking IDs or waving my badge around, just going to a party with my boyfriend.¡±
Oliver''s heart fluttered at being called her boyfriend again. Setting a plate in front of her, he took his seat across from her with a bright smile. ¡°I guess we''re going to a party tonight. I''ll need to run home for a change of clothes and to get some work done today, but I can come back for dinner before the party if you want.¡±
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¡°It''s a date, Oli.¡±
Climbing into his truck, Oliver opened the Commissions tab and froze in shock- the list had changed! Scrolling through page after page, he searched his memory for anything for any connection to what he was seeing. After more than a dozen pages, he resorted to skipping ten pages at a time. After more than a hundred pages he stopped, having finally saw something familiar.
Paging back slowly, he found the first set of commissions he had ever read. As he processed what he was seeing, he groaned at the realization. ¡°It''s sorted newest to oldest. Wait...I got the system last Sunday, and this is Saturday... Does it update the Commissions page on the last day of the week? I guess it could just update on this day each month, but that doesn''t feel right. There''s nothing special about today...¡±
Brow furrowed in thought, Oliver started driving slowly. He already had a plan today, though the new commissions meant he could potentially expand on that. By the time he reached he reached his destination, a single idea was forefront in his mind. ¡°Multi-Dimensional... With all the variables that can factor into the development of other dimensions, couldn''t time itself be one? Then would the day or time of the new commissions popping up even matter?¡±
Shrugging off the question, he knew it didn''t matter. It wasn''t like the system was going to suddenly answer him. And finding answers to something like that would likely drive the greatest scientific minds to madness.
With another mystery set aside, Oliver quickly looked through the new commissions for any he could easily fulfill at the hardware store he was sitting in front of. Not wanting what he was doing to be too visible, he discarded any that required bulky materials before finally finding one that looked perfect.
-
Nails. And Tools- Damned goblins winged our blacksmith in a raid, and we''re in a rough spot until he can work again. We''re running out of nails, and some of our tools are wearing down or breaking. 1 credit per nail-we''ll take as many as we can get. 50 for a pair of sturdy hammers. 40 for a pair of handsaws. 40 for a good wood ax.
Adding that commission to the one for fertilizer, and this could be a profitable day. Grabbing a large cart, he started through the store, reading the signs to find the right aisles. Turning down the right aisle, he debated how many nails to buy. Looking at the prices, he quickly checked his bank account, frowning at how little money was left. Pulling up his current credit total, he muttered to himself. ¡°You''ve got to spend money to make money, right? It''s been almost a week since my last transfer, and the system did say that its secure...¡±
With just 783 credits to his name, Oliver exchanged 500, hoping that $5000 in his bank account would be enough, at least for now. He quickly loaded up 8 of the big 50lb boxes of nails, each holding 500 nails. ''They did say they''ll take as many as they can get'', he rationalized. Marching further into the store, he collected the pairs of hammers and handsaws, the ax, and finally swung around to grab four more bags of fertilizer to round out his shopping trip. Making his way towards the checkout, he spotted a section with a bunch of first aid kits and supplies. Remembering how well the Siege Supplies commission paid, he quickly loaded up on some more just to pad out his payday.
The cashier gave him a strange look as he was checking out. Scanning the bags of fertilizer, the older man tried for a casual tone as he spoke. ¡°A bit late in the year for a garden, isn''t it?¡±
Oliver shrugged as he swiped his card, catching a hint of suspicion from the man. ¡°I wouldn''t know really. I''m just the errand boy, picking up what is needed for different jobs. Today it''s tools and fertilizer, tomorrow I could be running out for burgers and barbed wire, or a load of dirt, or who knows what. Kinda boring, but easy work for a college kid like me.¡± Oliver gave the man a friendly smile on the way out, trying to ignore the feeling of eyes on his back.
Pulling up at his house, he was relieved to see his roommates were out, likely grabbing lunch. Checking his phone, he saw a text confirming this and asking if he was joining them. Firing off a quick apology for missing it, he put away his phone and sent off the two commissions sitting in the truck bed.
Siege Supplies
Foodstuffs-0lbs
Medical Supplies-assorted
Calculating value...
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 1985 credits.
Nails and Tools
Nails-4000
Hammer-2
Handsaws-2
Wood Ax-1
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 4130 credits.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer-160lbs
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 1600 credits.
Oliver restrained himself from fist pumping in excitement. 7715 credits in one day. Plus the bit that he had left from the transfer earlier, and he had almost 8000 credits. Before he could consider what to do with them, he remembered the package inside filled with paper for another commission. Hurrying inside, he found the package in his room where his friends had left it for him. As he opened the package, he searched through the tab for the right commission and read it again.
-
Noteworthy- Paper has become far too rare! How can a government operate without proper paperwork? I can offer 1 credit per page of decent quality paper. No scraps or damages! (Repeatable)
Double checking that nothing was missing, he quickly sent off the last commission for the day.
Noteworthy
Paper-5000 sheets
Transferring...
Transaction complete.
Commission reward: 5000 credits.
His breath caught in his throat. He had already calculated the amount, but actually seeing it... ¡°It was listed as repeatable, so maybe...¡± Pondering to himself, he quickly opened the Commissions tab and skipped pages to where he had just seen it listed. Not seeing it where he knew it should be, he scanned a few more pages before closing the window. ¡°Like I figured, they list it as repeatable expecting multiple exchanges to complete it but pull it once they get enough. I guess there is a limit on how much I can milk the easy jobs.¡±
Brushing off the stray thoughts, Oliver focused on his total credits. With nearly 13,000 available, he went over his options for how to spend them. Upgrading his attributes more was already a strong option, but the next locked tab presented a serious temptation. It''s 10,000 credit price tag, while manageable, would limit what else he could do if he wanted to keep some credits in reserve for emergencies.
Oliver leaned back at his desk, taking his time to consider the pros and cons to both choices. The locked tab was a complete unknown, and a fairly large gamble at this point. Only the benefits he had gained from unlocking the previous tab seemed to imply how useful each new tab could be. Though, he reminded himself, those benefits had additional costs as well. If this one followed similar logic, spending most of his credits just to unlock it wouldn''t provide any immediate gains, but maybe in the long term...
Increasing his attributes, though... He could see the possibility of increasing Intelligence, and perhaps Willpower. Maybe they would help him with his college classes. Luck was another option, but its effects were less obvious. Vitality to be healthier, maybe? Spirit was another mystery, and he wasn''t sure how it would help him. Strength and Agility likely wouldn''t matter either. Its not like he played any sports or worked in manual labor.
Something tickled at the back of his mind when he started to dismiss Strength and Agility. Wracking his mind to track down the errant thought, Oliver scratched the back of his head and froze when it hit him-not unlike a recent blow to the head. He huffed out a laugh as he stared up at the ceiling. ¡°Yeah, I''ve had assholes attack me twice in a week. So, either Luck to try and avoid it-which didn''t seem to make much difference before, but who knows?- or Strength and Agility to be able to fight back. I''m starting to wish I had taken those martial arts classes like mom suggested when I was little.¡±
The possible benefits from the locked tab versus the guaranteed benefits of increasing attributes... When he took into account the recent conflicts, especially the likelihood of Carl causing more issues, it became an easy choice. As to what attributes to raise... Oliver delved into his experiences with both video games and tabletop role playing games, and pointedly reminded himself that this was his life. There were no re-spawns, no extra lives. No second chances.
So Oliver asked himself, what do you do when you have no knowledge of what enemies or challenges are coming, no idea about possible builds or strats, limited information on what your attributes even do, and you''re playing on hardcore difficulty with a single life? A balanced build, prioritizing survival, until you can gather more information.
With his approach ready, he did some quick mental math. Increasing Strength and Vitality from 11 up to 13 to match his Agility would cost a total of 10,000 credits, leaving him with a healthy credit reserve. On a whim, he spent another 1,000 credits to increase Luck to 11, leaving him with just 2,000 credits for emergencies, which he found acceptable.
Finalizing his choice, he felt the warm current running through his body again, this time more intensely. His entire body vibrated in place, he immediately regretted purchasing all of the upgrades at once as what felt like a full-body workout the first time ramped up to a higher level. When it finally ended, he collapsed into his seat, a deep ache running through his body before slowly fading away after a few minutes.
¡°Note to self: Only increase one stat by one point at a time. I should write that down.¡±
Chapter 8 – Party Favor
¡°Not bad.¡± Oliver checked himself out in the mirror after his attribute increases. While still on the slim side, his more toned muscles gave him something of an athletic build. Looking closer at his reflection, his skin had more of a healthy glow to it, the few spots of acne that use to dot his body now mostly cleared up. And, after recovering from the sudden change to his body, he felt incredible.
Hearing the front door open and his friends return, he threw on a shirt. Just as they started to call out for him, he left his room to join them. ¡°Hey guys. Sorry I didn''t join you for lunch, but I ate already.¡±
Ed gave the others a sly wink and grinned at Oliver. ¡°Ah, no worries man. I''m sure your girl Poli gave you plenty to eat. We''re just surprised you didn''t come back last night. You finally decide to let loose and really enjoy yourself? Did she break out the handcuffs for you?¡± Ed waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Marty rolled his eyes at their friend''s antics and offered Oliver and apologetic look. ¡°I think what Ed means to say is, how did your date go? We''re guessing it went well, but we have to look after our bro.¡±
Seeing his friends focus on him, Oliver considered how to respond. Thinking about his date with Poli, a bright smile spread across his face without him realizing it and his friends shared a knowing look. ¡°It went really well, I think. I mean, aside from the drunk idiots that tried to mess with us while we played pool.¡±
Under his friends barrage of questions, he caved and told them about the date, though leaving out anything after they left the pool hall- He wasn''t one to kiss and tell, after all. He expected the teasing, but their reaction to the fight surprised him.
¡°She dropped that guy like it was nothing? Damn man, she sounds like a bad-ass. You better treat her right, or we all know how that will end!¡± Gary chimed in with a laugh, sounding impressed.
¡°And she kicked Oli''s ass in pool!¡± Ed added with a snicker.
¡°Yeah, I don''t even know how to describe it. She''s kind, funny, beautiful... Perfect.¡± Oliver replied with a soft sigh.
Marty watched his friend with a small smile, picking out all the clues and analyzing them. Oliver was always so calm and restrained, but talking about his date... He was animated and smiling more than ever. Every word was filled with joy and excitement. With Oli''s previous girlfriend, the reaction was never this strong. While it was clear Oli had liked Jess, it was equally clear-at least to Marty- that his friend was falling for Poli. Maybe he already had.
¡°So, when is your next date?¡± Marty asked casually.
Oliver gave them a sheepish smile as he blushed in embarrassment. ¡°Ah... Dinner. Tonight, I mean. And yes, I''ll meet you at the party after.¡±
Oliver broke off from his friends to shower and change before heading back to Poli''s for dinner. Ignoring their wolf-whistles and jeers, he rushed out the door and drove off. Dinner was an entirely new experience for him. Not only was the table already set and food ready when he arrived, but they talked about his day while they ate. Even before his parents'' divorce he rarely saw such a classic domestic scene, let alone experienced it himself. It quickly became something he would want to do again.
Cleaning up after their meal didn''t take long with the two of them working together. While Oliver finished drying and putting away the dishes, Polina took that time to finish getting ready. When she came back out, Oliver took a moment to appreciate her outfit. While simple, the jeans and t-shirt hugged her curves perfectly, showing off her athletic build. With her hair pulled back, she looked like any number of college girls, if a bit more beautiful- though, Oli admitted to himself, he may be a little biased.
¡°So, think I''ll be able to blend in at the party?¡± She asked, amused at Oli''s ogling.
Shaking his head, Oliver couldn''t resist teasing her. ¡°You''re too pretty to blend in, but you got the ''college party'' look right at least.¡±
Blushing girlfriend in tow, Oliver hopped in his truck and headed towards the party. A touch of nervous energy built in him as they got closer. It had been more than half a year since the last time he took someone to a party like this, and he knew how fast the gossip would start up once they arrived.
Seeing the tension rising in Oliver, Polina took his hand and gave him a warm smile. ¡°Worried about introducing me to your friends?¡±
Feeling her hand in his, Oliver calmed slightly and gave her a small smile. ¡°A bit, I guess. And I''m a bit worried about how everything will go. As long as there''s no trip to the hospital involved, I''ll call it a success.¡±
With a worried look, Polina asked hesitantly, ¡°Is it common for people to end up in the hospital after these parties?¡±
Oliver cursed himself for speaking without thinking and quickly explained about the last party and his day in the hospital. When questioned more about why it happened, he hesitated before answering truthfully. ¡°Back during spring semester, I dated Jess for a while until she dumped me for Carl. I dealt with the whole thing pretty well, I think, but I guess she didn''t like it that I got over her because the next time I saw them at a party she was happily telling everyone that she had been cheating on me with Carl for a while. Since then, he''s been shit talking me and causing problems every chance he gets.¡±
Holding his hand tightly, Polina leaned into him a little more. ¡°It looks like it doesn''t bother you anymore, but are you ok? I know how much a betrayal like that can hurt.¡±
Raising their entwined hands up to his lips, Oliver kiss her fingers gently before smiling. ¡°I''m good Poli, I promise. Some people call me cold, but that''s just because they don''t understand.¡± Seeing her curious look, he explained. ¡°Only things that I care about can hurt me. After everything she did, I saw who she really was. And that person isn''t someone I can really bring myself to care about. Same for Carl; I thought he was a friend, but he showed otherwise. So, I just don''t care about either of them anymore.¡±
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With a shrug, he added in a grumble. ¡°Though I do wish that asshole would leave me alone.¡±
Polina laughed softly at his response, hugging his arm. ¡°Oli, dear, its pretty obvious why he does it. He''s insecure and afraid she''ll do the same to him. With you not reacting to them, he sees you as an easy target to make himself feel better. Maybe he even thinks if he acts tough, somehow it makes him a ''real man'' or some other bullshit like that. Typical toxic masculinity.¡± She added with a shrug. ¡°Either he will give up after a while, or he''ll try to start a fight with you. Though I would bet on him trying to start a fight, so be careful if you see him.¡±
¡°What makes you say that?¡±
Ticking points off on her fingers, Polina spoke. ¡°He''s insecure. Obsessed with proving himself to be strong or manly. He''s in what is clearly a toxic relationship. And, most importantly, ¡°Polina held up one finger, pointing it at Oliver. ¡°Even though he attacked you from behind, you had to go to the hospital. He probably convinced himself that he beat you, but knows other people won''t count it because of how he jumped you. He wants to prove to them that he''s better. So you better be careful, and don''t turn your back on him.¡±
¡°And if they show up at the party, point them out to me so I can be on guard against their bullshit too. Understand?¡± Her last words held the tone of a command, and she suddenly felt awkward and embarrassed at basically ordering her boyfriend around. ¡°Sorry. I''m not trying to be bossy, I just don''t want anything to happen to you."
Oliver winked at her and squeezed her hand. ¡°I don''t mind. You''re kinda sexy when you get bossy.¡±
Walking in to the party, the couple drew a number of looks. Oliver was familiar with many of the people present, and on relatively good terms with them, so their surprised expressions was more funny than anything else. He understood the reaction though, it had been six months since he dated anyone and people had gotten use to seeing him alone or just with his roommates.
The very same roommates who started shouting the instant they saw them, much to everyone''s amusement.
¡°Holy shit man! She really is out of your league!¡±
¡°Damn! Does she have a sister?¡±
Marty shook his head at the other two''s jeering and just waved at the couple. When they walked over to join up, he offered Polina an apologetic look. ¡°Ignore these idiots, it will only get worse when they start drinking. But they''re harmless. Mostly.¡±
After a quick introduction, the group settled in with a couple beers to hang out. Oliver wasn''t too surprised that Polina got along with the group, all of them being rather open and friendly people to begin with. If anything, Oliver''s naturally reserved demeanor made him look like the odd one out. Not that they would let him sit out of the conversation for long, as they kept pulling hims back in with questions and jokes about his new relationship status- Though they all seemed to silently agree not to bring up Polina''s job, as no one mentioned it a single time.
Others at the party stopped by their group from time to time, mostly to chat and ask about his date. Word spreading that they were a couple earned Oliver a number if impressed looks. With Polina being a complete unknown, he knew it was only a matter of time before people started digging for more details. Of course, he doubted many would be found without them being asked directly. Most of the people there rarely encountered the local police, and the likelihood of them having run into her- or recognizing her out of uniform if they had- was fairly small.
¡°You want another drink Poli?¡± Oliver asked as he stood. It was closing in on midnight, and he felt the need to stretch his legs and hit the bathroom. He wasn''t surprised when Polina refused and offered to drive home. Neither were heavy drinkers to begin with, so he figured having one more before he called it a night would be fine.
It was when he was in line to grab a drink that trouble found him.
¡°Oli! I''m surprised you''re not still laid up in a hospital bed. Or hiding at home, afraid of getting your ass beat again.¡±
Oliver turned at the approaching voice, his expression gone cold and voice tinged with disgust. ¡°Carl. I''m surprised you''re not still in jail. Did Daddy bail you out of trouble again? ¡° Waving off his own question before he got a response, he spoke firmly. ¡°Never mind, I don''t really care. Just fuck off. And don''t call me Oli. Only my friends call me that, which I doubt you ever were.¡±
Carl''s nostrils flared in anger and he puffed out his chest. Jabbing a finger at Oliver, he practically hissed at him. ¡°You better watch how you talk to me Oli. Or did you already forget what I did to you last week?¡±
A crowd had started to form around them, though everyone kept well back from the brewing conflict. A few angry mutters went through the group, and even more hostile glances directed at Carl. Out of the corner of his eye, Oliver saw his roommates and Polina pushing through the crowd. Polina waved the others back as she cautiously approached to stand beside him. ¡°I take it this must be Carl?¡±
¡°Looks like little Oli finally got him a new girlfriend. I hope you aren''t expecting any actual warmth from the Ice Man. He''s notoriously cold, even when you''re dating him. Trust me on that.¡± A snide, feminine voice chimed in from behind Carl.
Oliver''s eyes went flat as the short, curvy woman stepped into view. ¡°Is this all you do Jess? You and Carl come looking for me just to cause problems and start shit? It''s like you two are obsessed with me.¡±
Stepping into Oliver''s personal space, Carl pointed a finger right at his face and snarled. ¡°You might talk to your whore like that, but don''t think you can speak to my girl like that!¡±
¡°Excuse me?¡±
Carl ignore the anger glinting in Oliver''s eyes, his tone dripping with condescension. ¡°The rest of us don''t pay for our dates, Oli. Though you must have cleaned out your bank account to afford this sexy bitch. Tell you what, I''ll pay her double and show her what a real man ca-¡±
The first crashing into his face cut Carl''s rant off short. Before he could recover, a second punch slammed into his jaw and sent him tumbling to the floor. In an instant, Oliver was on top of him, raining down punch after punch. Blood splashed from a broken nose, then a blow clipped his temple, leaving Carl in a daze.
Leaning in close, Oliver spoke softly so only Carl could hear him with a voice that sent chills down his spine with its promise of violence. ¡°I''m tired of dealing with your shit, Carl. From now on, you cause problems for me and I cause pain for you. And if I hear so much as a rumor that you''re talking bad about my girlfriend or trying to cause problems for her... I''ll kill you Carl. Try me if you want; It''s your funeral.¡±
Leaving Carl groaning in pain, Oliver stood slowly, Jess''s screeching finally registering in his mind. Looking to where Polina had his ex restrained, he smirked at her threat to have him arrested. Looking around at the stunned crowd, he spoke over her tantrum. ¡°Wow, Carl really can''t handle his liquor. Just a couple drinks and he manages to fall down and hurt himself. Repeatedly. I mean, that''s what everyone saw, right?¡±
While he saw some concern among everyone, he also heard a few laughs. As most of the crowd turned away, talking excitedly about the fight, Carl''s lackeys dragged him away while glaring at Oliver.
Polina whispered something to Jess before shoving her away, sending her chasing after the beaten man. At Oliver''s approach, she pulled him into a hug. ¡°I really prefer you not get into fights like that babe, but you did good. It''s probably the only way to get him to back off anyway; Some people just can''t be reasoned with.. Though, I don''t know how you ever dated a bitch like that girl.¡±
Chapter 9 – System Update
Oliver felt like he had had enough excitement for one night, and Polina readily agreed. After a quick goodbye to his friends, they were out the door and heading back to her house. Adrenaline still coursing through him, Oliver tried his best to relax in the passenger seat. Eyes closed, he took one deep, slow breathe after another- Until a ding sounded from the system, snapping his eyes wide open.
Hidden Criteria met.
Initializing System Update.
Oliver sagged in his seat as all the adrenaline in him seemed to disappear and a sudden lethargy set in. Feeling like the system was sucking the energy from him, he could barely keep his eyes open as they pulled into the driveway and Polina put the truck in park. It took him a moment to realize she was talking to him. ¡°Hmm?¡±
¡°Are you ok Oli? You look like you''re about to pass out.¡±
The concern in her voice helped him shrug off some of the drowsiness that was pulling him down. ¡°Yeah. Just... adrenaline crash, I guess. I never really fight...¡± A massive yawn cut off his words.
Before he could continue, Polina was already out of the truck and opening his door. Getting her arm around him, she helped him out and towards the door. ¡°Yeah, if you''re not used to it then you''ll crash pretty hard. Let''s get you to bed first though, OK?¡±
Oliver stumbled along, letting her lead him to the bedroom. Without him even noticing, she managed to strip him down and get him into the bed. The moment his head hit the pillow, he was fast asleep.
Oliver clawed his way awake, desperate to escape dreams filled with twisted creatures rampaging through a burning city. As his eyes opened, the memory of the nightmare quickly grew hazy and indistinct. Staring up at the ceiling, his arms involuntarily tightened around Polina, pulling her close.
Seeing her still asleep next to him, he took a few minutes gather himself and quickly discarded the idea that the events of last night may have caused the nightmare. Though violence wasn''t his usual solution to his problems, he wasn''t particularly bothered by it. He was confident he didn''t possess some form of personality disorder-and had, in fact, sought therapy on several occasions, especially after his mother''s death. Even so, he knew his way of thinking wasn''t entirely normal, but that was something he could live with.
With his mind finally settled, Oliver felt it was time to check what changed with the system update. Glancing at Polina still sleeping peacefully next to him, he opened the system to check it out.
Multi-Dimensional Merchant System
-
Attributes
-
Commissions Board
-
Currency Exchange
-
Development
-
Locked-(Costs 10,000 credits to unlock)
-
Locked-(Costs 25,000 credits to unlock)
-
Bounty Board
Oliver paused at the new addition. A bounty board? How did that fit in to a merchant system? Unless... He sighed as a possible explanation arose in his mind. Arms dealers and hitmen were often called merchants of death, so maybe this Bounty Board was just a hit list, filled with people the system wanted dead? While he had a few reservations about the idea, it felt all too possible for him to ignore. Hoping he was wrong in his assumption, he opened the page.
Bounty Board
All penalties and punishments are at the sole discretion of the System Host.
All reward calculations based on (Proximity x Threat) + Punishment modifier.
Judge Wisely.
Jameson Eugene Ball ¨C White male. Age 43. Height: 5''10¡±. Weight: 190lbs. Blonde hair. Blue Eyes. Distinctive Features: none.
Proximity - 1
Threat Level - 2
Crimes - Child Molestation, Statutory Rape, Creation and Distribution of Child Pornography, Murder.
Posted by: System Posted
Jackson Roberts ¨C Black male. Age 22. Height: 6''1¡±. Weight: 200lbs. Black hair. Brown eyes. Distinctive Features: missing left index finger.
Proximity ¨C 2
Threat Level ¨C 2
Crimes ¨C Theft, Possession of Marijuana, Drug use(Marijuana).
Posted by: System Posted.
Min Hu ¨C Asian female. Age 29. Height: 5''2¡±. Weight: 100lbs. Black hair. Brown eyes. Distinctive features: Green Eastern Dragon tattoo, left bicep.
Proximity ¨C 2
Threat Level- 3
Crimes ¨C Domestic Violence, Assault, Battery
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Posted by: System Posted.
Each entry came with a picture showing the face of the target, he assumed to make identifying the target easier. The list went on, page after page, and Oliver closed it without delving much further. It was a lot to take in, and even more questions arose from it. He assumed that he was the System Host it mentioned, as it made the most sense, and from the very first sentence it was clear he was expected to be Judge, Jury and Executioner for these bounties. How was he not only expected to find these people, but to determine suitable punishments for them? Was it even his place to do so? Who was he to judge these people?
Though, looking at some of the crimes listed, he was very tempted. Anyone who could hurt children like that deserved to be judged. Harshly.
There were too many unknowns for him to decide easily. What sort of distance were close or low proximity? Did it mean they were in the same city? Same country? The same universe? How did a multi-dimensional system determine it?
And what was the criteria the system needed to unlock the Bounty Board? Was it him getting into a fight? Or something else from last night? Try as he might, he couldn''t recall anything else it could have been. But, then again, he had no idea how the system operated, let alone how it determined these things. Was it sentient in some way?
Oliver pushed aside both his thoughts on the system and his questions about the Bounty Board in particular. He knew he wouldn''t find answers easily, and he didn''t feel like he was ready to start hunting criminals. Even if some of them deserved it.
Even if he wanted to, he admitted to himself.
After having lunch together, Oliver gave Polina a quick kiss and left her to get ready for her shift at work that evening. While there was a bit of homework he needed to catch up on, he knew it would only take an hour or two, leaving him plenty of time to work on building up his credits again with a few commissions. Scanning through the commissions tab, he saw some of his favorites still listed, as well as a few variations on the ones he had already completed. Fertilizer, Siege Supplies, Soap, The Spice of Life... He even found a variation of the one for paper, though the pay for it was only half as much. There were also a few new commissions that caught his eye.
-
Think of the Children ¨C This is our second year with a poor harvest. With the lack of trade through our area, We are growing concerned with the effects a lack of fruits and vegetables will have on the children. The tales of our grandparents paint a terrible picture of what could happen, and none of us wish to see our sons and daughters suffer so. We will happily offer 1 credit per pound of vegetables and 2 credits per pound of fruits. As well, we have heard stories... of strange lands and mystical solutions. If there is any other way to help our children, we would welcome it and reward you well.
-
Bouquets for the Wedding ¨C The wedding of Lord Suvrel and Lady Alimna is nearing, and the Lady requests flowers. In abundance. With the local flora being out of bloom, we have resorted to purchasing them. The Lady prefers brightly colored flowers, and shades of red, white, and purple in particular. We will pay 1 credit per stem, or 20 credits per bouquet. Minimum of 100 flowers, maximum of 2000.
With a list of commissions to fill Oliver decided to visit the wholesale store in the next county over. Though a bit of a drive, he felt it was worth it to both to maximize the scale of this deal as well as to avoid frequenting the same stores- the system may be secure, but sooner or later his unusual purchasing habits would draw attention if he wasn''t careful.
The long drive gave him ample time to organize a list of what to get, and he made use of that as he descended on the store with zeal. Breezing through the aisles, Oliver soon discovered he need a second cart... and then a third. By the time he was ready to check out, he was almost questioning whether he had gone overboard or not. Thankfully, one of the associates there was on hand to help him load everything into his truck. With his thanks, and a generous tip, they waved and wished him a good day as he drove off.
Knowing all the questions his roommates would have if they saw his truck loaded down like this, Oliver pulled off on a side road to send off all his commissions. With no cars or buildings anywhere nearby, he figured this to be a perfect spot. Ignoring the completion prompts, he rapidly fired of one commission after another, watching in awe as each disappeared right before his eyes. With the last one sent, he checked his credit balance on the Currency Exchange tab.
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Account Balance ¨C 35,317 Credits
Oliver stood there beside his truck stunned at the total until a passing driver stopped to ask if he was ok. With a friendly smile and a quick excuse about checking his tires after running over something in the road, he climbed back into his truck. Quickly going back to check the completion prompts, it only took him a second to find why he had made so much more than he expected.
Think of the Children. He knew he was thinking outside the box a little when he picked up a whole case of children''s multivitamins for that commission, but he certainly didn''t expect to make 25,000 credits from it. An unexpected, but pleasant, windfall to say the least.
Taking his time on the return trip, he mulled over how to best spend it all. Increasing attributes was a solid option, as far as he was concerned. But he was also curious about the two remaining locked tabs; their combined total to unlock being just within his means. Though that would leave him nearly broke, he was very tempted by the idea. Maybe there was another way for him to make even more credits with them unlocked? Preferably something a bit less potentially dangerous and violent than the Bounty Board, though he was still debating whether to make use of that feature as well.
Finally home, Oliver waved to his friends in passing and headed straight for his room. After locking the door, he settled in at his desk. While not fully committed to spending all of his newly earned credits, he had firmly decided on unlocking the next tab. Holding his breath, he clicked the unlock button and watched as 10,000 credits disappeared before a new prompt flooded his vision.
Warehouse tab unlocked!
Warehouse
The warehouse is a temporally locked sub-dimension linked to the Host.
Current Warehouse dimensions: 10ft x 10ft x 10ft
Warehouse Inventory:
Warehouse Expansion Cost: 10,000 credits
Reading through the new information, he let out an excited laugh. He had seen variations of this in so many games, everything ranging from classic inventory slots popular in video games to a bag of holding in Dungeons and Dragons, and now he had one in real life! While slightly smaller than his bedroom, it wasn''t by much- and he could expand it to be bigger. Though the system didn''t give any indication of how big it could get, just the ability to safely store things and have easy access to them was well worth the credits he spent.
Even better, it was temporally locked. Anything he put inside it would effectively be outside of time and completely immune to its effects. And apple stored today would remain completely unchanged. Even if he pulled it out after a few years it would still be fresh and juicy like no time at all had passed.
Because for the apple no time had passed.
Oliver was almost overwhelmed by thoughts of how cool it was. He had to remind himself, as useful as the Warehouse would be, it was pure utility and offered no new ways to make credits. Once again he was left with a dilemma: Unlock the last tab or increase his attributes and attempt to hunt a few bounties. Both were filled with unknowns. The last tab could almost anything and the bounties didn''t expressly state their rewards, not to mention the potential dangers of going after criminals and the question of what to do with them. And the uncertain morality of it all, though Oliver wasn''t sure he really care about that, at least for some of the bounties he read.
With the unknowns threatening to drive him crazy, he took a break to try to distract himself by catching up on homework. Thoughts about the system fought for his attention as he worked his way through the assigned reading for English Literature. Twice he had to start a chemistry equation over again as he got sidetracked by comparing his credit total with possible attribute increases. By the time he made it through the last of his homework, Oliver was frustrated with himself. Never had he struggled so much to focus on class assignments.
Pushing aside his textbooks, he had to admit there were some benefits to his wandering thoughts. Now, at least, he knew what direction he was going with his credits. Pulling up the Development tab, Oliver started spending. One by one he increased his attributes, giving himself ten minutes between each so as not to overload his body again. First Strength to 14, then Agility and Vitality to match. Raise Luck to 12, then again to 13. And finally increasing Spirit to 13 as, despite him still not knowing what it did. The rapid vibration of his muscles and the warm currents running through his body brought a smile to his face. He felt stronger, tougher.
He felt alive!
His smile dimmed slightly as he saw his credit total drop by 20,000 in just an hour, leaving him with just a little over 5,000. But he knew it was worth it, and necessary if he was going to follow through on his plan. Bounty hunting wouldn''t be easy, after all.
Chapter 10 – (Re)Search
With just a couple hours before he had to call it a night, Oliver wanted to get some prep-work done for his first target. He had a plan in mind, rough though it was. First was locating them, as the system was fairly vague in that regard. Then investigating to confirm what the post said. Assuming everything the system told him was true... Well, he wasn''t quite sure what he would do about it, just that he would have to do something.
Oliver already knew which one he would be looking for; there was no way he could ignore a child predator. The fact that this Jameson Ball was listed as being close solidified the choice in his mind. And he knew exactly where to start...
So many people loved to post their entire lives on social media, after all.
With the website open in front of him, Oliver clicked to limit the search to his city and typed in the name- and laughed when the second entry turned out to be his target. It looked like the system just pulled the man''s profile picture when it made the post. Not one to turn down an easy win, he opened the profile and started reading.
¡°Well, he wasn''t dumb enough to put his home address on his page... But he did mention he''s a photographer, and even what company he works for? Seriously? That''s why I keep my profile on private...¡±
Oliver muttered to himself as he made notes about the man. Place of work, the restaurant he tagged himself at twice a week, family and friends, any comments he made that seemed important... He had to stop for a moment, a flash of rage running through him as one post forged a connection in his mind- Jameson Ball was the one that did school pictures for the district. Middle School, specifically.
He couldn''t help but curse. How had this man committed such terrible acts without anyone noticing? Were the parents and teachers just blind to what happened to their children? Or was he smart enough to avoid suspicion? And, if he was covering his tracks that well, what could Oliver do about it? Trying to find evidence or entrap would be enough of challenge even if Oliver was willing to risk exposing himself, but he knew he couldn''t afford the sort of questions that would bring.
Pushing away his anger and frustration, Oliver shut down his laptop and tossed the page of notes into the newly unlocked warehouse- no sense in leaving evidence laying around in the event he did something drastic.
A good nights sleep did wonders for Oliver, leaving him calm and refreshed even as class seemed to drag on forever. As eager as he was to push forward with the system and all it could do, he wouldn''t just abandon the life he was working towards; for all he knew, the system could disappear as quickly as it arrived. Better safe than sorry was his way of thinking.
Done with classes for the day, he hurried home to put his plan into motion. Grabbing his truck, he first grabbed some cash from an ATM and hit up stores to knock out a some quick commissions, adding another couple thousand credits to his balance. Taking a little inspiration from spy movies, he picked up a few things he thought would be useful, mainly a pair of pre-paid cell phones in case he needed to make calls that he wouldn''t want traced back to him easily. After activating the phones and making sure they were charged up, he stored them and his old phone in his warehouse, figuring it would be a good habit to start since he doubted there was anyone in the world that could track a cell signal in another dimension.
With his preparations out of the way, Oliver drove downtown. Passing the studio that Jameson mentioned working at, he inspected the place carefully. It was a small place, set just a couple blocks off the main road. Even though it was an older brick building, it was well obviously maintained and clean. Glass front doors with the studio name on them, well manicured shrubbery out front, and a little parking lot off to the side with freshly painted lines and just a handful of cars gave the impression of a welcoming and successful small business.
Parking in a spot down the street a short distance where he could watch both the front door and their little parking lot, Oliver pulled out one of the burner phones he got. Checking his notes, he punched in the number to the studio. The phone rang only once before someone picked up.
¡°East Photography, how can I help you today?¡± A very friendly woman''s voice answered the phone.
Oliver smiled as he spoke, trying to keep his tone warm and friendly. ¡°Hi there. One of my friends had some pictures done, I believe she said the photographer was a James Ball? That''s not quite right. Umm...¡±
¡°Oh, you mean Jameson? He''s an excellent photographer and has been with us for several years.¡±
¡°Ah, that''s the name. I apologize, I was in a bit of a rush and must have misheard her. Does Mr. Ball do events? And if I could ask about the rates...¡± Confirming that the man did indeed work there, Oliver chatted with the receptionist for a bit before hanging up. Settling in to wait for him to leave work, Oliver went over his plans in his head again.
Oliver perked up as a handful of people left the studio, locking the doors behind themselves. Scanning the group, he spotted Jameson as the man turned to wave goodbye and climbed into his car. It was a newer model SUV in silver, and obviously kept clean and maintained. As the SUV pulled out of the parking lot, Oliver started his truck and followed. The evening traffic downtown was busy enough that he wasn''t worried about standing out, but kept a distance just to be sure.
It was only a few minutes later when he saw the SUV turn into a more residential area. Taking the same turn, Oliver hesitated when he didn''t see it ahead of him still. Pulling up to a stop sign, he checked both ways before moving on, hoping to catch sight of him again. A flash of silver to his left caught his attention as the SUV pulled in to a driveway. He watched as Jameson climbed out the car and unlocked the front door of the home. Noting down the address, Oliver drove off heading home. As much as he wanted to be done with this, he knew it wasn''t a one day ordeal- Better to take his time and avoid any mistakes.
The next day Oliver borrowed one of his roommates'' cars to continue his surveillance efforts. It being early afternoon, he figure Jameson would still be at work while he scoped out the house. Driving by slowly, he looked the place over. A plain looking split-level house complete with basement and fenced in backyard, it was clean but modest. Neither the largest or the smallest house on the street, it was just another in a long line of similar homes. Oliver noted the absence of the usual signs and stickers people with home security systems put up everywhere to warn off criminals, but knew that didn''t guarantee one wasn''t present.
Oliver also made sure to take note of the neighboring houses as he knew that could impact his plans. One was clearly a retired couple, the two of them puttering around doing yard work as he passed- though he was glad they paid no attention to another car driving through the neighborhood. The house on the other side looked empty at the moment, but obviously lived in, making him think they were at work for the day as well. Spying a child''s bike around the side of the house, he guessed it was the home of a young working couple with an elementary school age kid.
That meant both neighbors likely had early bed times. Maybe he wouldn''t have to worry about any late night witnesses.
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For two more days Oliver continued to watch, borrowing his other roommates cars to avoid the suspicion having the same car lurk around constantly could cause- and varying the time and locations to not create any sort of pattern. Finally he decided it was the night to take his plans to the next level, though he was still cautious of the risks this whole thing presented. Waiting until his roommates all crashed for the night, he checked the time as he gathered his things. One in the morning was still earlier than he wanted to go, but he needed the extra time if he wanted to be gone before people started waking up in the morning. Though he wasn''t looking forward to a long day of classes with no sleep.
Getting into his truck he drove downtown, parking several blocks away from Jameson''s house on a side road where he was confident there weren''t any cameras. He knew a lone figure walking through a residential neighborhood in the middle of the night would be suspicious if he was seen, but didn''t want to risk his truck being spotted and identified. It wasn''t a terribly uncommon make and model, but it being older certainly limited the pool.
Following his planned route, he took his time while cutting through back yards and avoided streetlights. He kept his distance from the houses he knew had dogs, and even those he simply suspected of having them.
It took Oliver almost an hour to cover a distance of less than a half mile, his nerves climbing steadily with every step, random stray sounds and the occasional dog barking in the distance had him freezing in place. Arriving in Jameson''s back yard almost made him sigh in relief, but he knew the next part would be even harder.
Knowing the bedrooms of a split-level like this were usually on the end above the basement, Oliver started at the opposite end. One by one he checked the windows, and even the backdoor, to see if one was unlocked. He would break one if necessary, but was hoping to get lucky and avoid the extra risk that involved. Oliver was thinking he may just have to resort to that when he got lucky with one of the basement windows.
They were small hopper windows, a couple feet wide and maybe a foot and a half tall- just barely big enough for him the squeeze through. Making sure his gloves and cheap balaclava were firmly in place, he silently thanked the loose latch as he pushed open the window and shimmied his way in- and promptly froze at the sight of a soft light coming from around a shelf full of old photography equipment.
When nothing happened after several long moments, he quietly inched his way along to the end of the shelves. Peeking around slowly, he saw the light was coming from a computer set on an old desk in the corner. Apparently the owner either forgot to shut it down or simply never bothered to. Checking around to make sure the man wasn''t down there and that the basement door was closed, he approached the computer. He figured it would be pretty sloppy if there was anything incriminating just sitting around on an unsecured computer, but, then again, people didn''t typically hide things in their own homes. Especially if they lived alone.
Gently jiggling the mouse, he was amused when the monitor lit up showing the desktop, no password required. Seeing nothing more than some editing programs on the desktop, he started clicking through menus and checking folders. Just as he was starting to worry about taking too long, he found something.
And had to restrain himself from marching straight to the bedroom to beat Jameson Ball to death.
It was a large folder, filled with pictures and videos- all of them of girls that may have been 10 or 11 years old at best. Just a glimpse of the horrors committed by this man- No, this Monster, Oliver corrected himself- was enough to make him sick with disgust and rage. So caught up in his anger, it took him a minute to focus on the file names.
Each file name was a girl''s name.
Pulling up the web browser, he searched name after name. Articles, some going back more than a decade, flooded his vision. Missing girls, bodies found, unsolved crimes... Most were from neighboring counties, with a few from further away... And a few from right here in town. One stood out in particular, as it mentioned the parent''s address- right next door. The neighbors didn''t have a kid in school, they had lost her a year ago. The sick bastard had watched and then preyed on an innocent girl, then likely offered her parents his sympathies when she was found dead.
If Oliver had any reservations about doing these bounties before, they were all gone now.
Oliver crept up stairs and eased open the basement door. Seeing the living room dark and empty, he quickly checked the kitchen and dining room before heading up the short set of stairs towards the bedrooms. He checked each of them just to be safe, the first turned out to be a small office while the second was clearly used as storage.
Making his way past the open bathroom door, he stopped in front of the master bedroom door and took a deep breath before easing it open to be greeted by the sound of his target snoring in the bed. Oliver didn''t think of himself as a saint or anything, he was planning to kill this man after all. But he couldn''t help but wonder how a man that had done such terrible things could still sleep soundly. He didn''t deserve to rest peacefully when the families of his victims couldn''t.
Oliver wasn''t sure what he deserved, other than to be punished. Harshly.
Killing him seemed to quick and simple. Torture? Oliver didn''t have the time or a place for that, and found the entire idea repulsive regardless of how much he may deserve it- not to mention that he couldn''t do it here when it was likely some coworker would try to check up on him when he didn''t show up for work later. And it''s not like Oliver could take him somewhere else anyway, as trying to carry a sleeping man out would definitely be suspicious.
Unless...
Creeping over to the bed, Oliver tried something he was uncertain would work. He hadn''t tried to put anything living into his warehouse yet, after all. Placing his hand gently on the sleeping man, he opened his warehouse and smiled at the new entry as Jameson disappeared from the bed.
Warehouse Inventory:
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Jameson Ball ¨C Human Male(Living)
A few minutes search found Jameson''s wallet, keys, and cellphone. Grabbing them and a half empty liquor bottle he spotted when checking the kitchen, a plan took shape in his mind. Dropping the wallet on the desk in the basement, Oliver made sure the incriminating folder was pulled up and hit play on one of the videos. Quickly moving back upstairs, he used Jameson''s phone to call the local police. Covering his mouth to muffle his voice, he spoke over the officer that answered.
¡°I...I''ve done things. Terrible things... Huh? My name? Jameson Ball. 527 Willow Road. I... No... I can''t... I can''t go to jail...¡±
Dropping the phone with a clatter, he marched out the front door and climbed into Jameson''s SUV, driving away. Passing through the now familiar neighborhoods, he stuck to side roads to avoid any other car, and kept a close watch for any police cruisers. The last thing he wanted was to fumble so close to the goal.
Pulling into the elementary school parking lot, he shut the car off and hopped out. Reclining the driver seat, he tried to carefully will Jameson out of the warehouse and onto the seat. As the man appeared laying in the seat, he shifted suddenly with a snort, causing Oliver to freeze in place. A long moment passed before the snoring resumed and Oliver breathed a sigh of relief. Eager to be done, he set the pilfered bottle of liquor in the center console and pushed the keys a little under the driver seat where it looked like they could have just been kicked.
As soon as he was well away from the SUV, Oliver peeled off the gloves and balaclava and stuffed them into the warehouse. Fortunately for him, his truck was actually parked between the house and the school, so his walk wouldn''t be any longer.
After another hour of walking, he still didn''t relax after reaching his truck. Though still a bit early, there was some traffic moving about finally as people headed off to work. Swinging by the neighborhood, he could easily see the lights of multiple cop cars in front of Jameson''s house. With one part down, he immediately turned away and drove towards the school.
Seeing the SUV still in the same place, he pulled out one of the burner phones and made another call to the police, this time anonymously reporting a drunk man passed out in a silver SUV. In just his underwear.
In the elementary school parking lot.
Pulling into a fast-food drive-thru, Oliver took his time ordering a breakfast sandwich and coffee. As he was leaving, he saw a police car pull up near the SUV. He knew his plan wasn''t perfect, but he hoped it had been enough. And, if it wasn''t, he would just have to try something different.
Probably something worse, though he was ok with that.
Chapter 11 – Just Rewards
Oliver, like many college students, was no stranger to late nights and early mornings. Staying awake through class wasn''t a problem, as he was excited to see what the reward for the bounty would be. But as the hours went by with no notifications from the system, his focus began to waver as worry set in.
Escaping his last class for the day just before his fraying nerves gave out, Oliver hurried home in a race against his own frantic thoughts. Did something go wrong? The police were already involved, so how could he check up on things without risking drawing attention? It''s not like he could just call and ask. Maybe he could just drive by? How much would he learn by doing that?
Oliver groaned as he flopped down onto his bed. He couldn''t see a way to find out what went wrong. His mind being sluggish from a lack of sleep certainly didn''t help. Accepting that he wasn''t really in any condition to figure things out until he got some sleep, he made himself comfortable on the bed. Before he could even start to drift off, his phone buzzed in his pocket. For a second, he considered ignoring it until it went off twice more in quick succession. Pulling it out, he checked his texts.
(Poli) Are you free tonight?
(Poli) I could use some company. I feel bad for asking out of the blue, but it''s been a really rough day.
(Poli) Please?
(Oli) OMW. Be there in 10.
(Poli) ? Ty hon
Previous worries instantly replaced by concern for Polina, Oliver rolled out of bed and was out the door in seconds. He knew how tough his girlfriend was, so anything that could leave her so obviously upset had to be pretty bad.
Oliver barely managed to close the door before Polina pulled him onto the couch and wrapped her arms around him. When she buried her face in his chest his worry spiked. He gently rubbed her back as he held her, silently offer his support for whenever she was ready to talk. When she finally spoke her words were heavy with a mixture of exhaustion, disgust and anger.
¡°Today sucked.¡±
Hugging her tightly, Oliver kissed the top of her head. ¡°Tell me what happened?¡± He asked softly.
Polina practically growled as she clung to him. ¡°I can''t really say a lot since it''s all still ongoing, but... I got called in early, an all hands sort of thing. I don''t know all the details, and I really don''t want to know. What that sick bastard had on his computer...¡±
Polina sagged against his chest before turning over to lay with her head in his lap. For just a second he saw the tears in her eyes before she could wipe them away. ¡°Little girls, Oli! He... He did things to them! Then he killed them! He... He...¡±
Her sobs nearly broke Oliver''s heart, making him wish he could go back and just kill the guy in his sleep. Or make him disappear. Just... do something different. Anything different, if it meant Polina wouldn''t have to see what she did and suffer like this.
Oliver did his best to suppress the self-reproach he felt and focus on comforting Polina. It wasn''t long before exhaustion caught up to her as she cried herself to sleep. Gently brushing her hair as she slept, questioning how he had handled things. He didn''t doubt that he was right to do something, especially about a monster like that man. But maybe his methods... He had thought his approach to be restrained, almost elegant. Letting the justice system handle it just seemed right.
But doing it that way hurt someone he cared about.
Reflecting on the whole experience, he realized how flawed it really was. It was pure luck that everything worked out. The officer sent to the house could have missed the computer. Or Jameson could have woke up and made it home before they found anything. Polina being hurt by what she saw was just one of the many problems. He needed to do better. The system said it was up to him how these people would be punished; He would make sure they were punished properly. And he would do it without other people being involved.
He lost track of time sitting there, his mind wandering from what he could have done better to what he could do to help Polina. He knew she was tough, but having to face something like that would be difficult for most people. Only being a cop for a few years, she likely had never dealt with anything similar. Oliver still hadn''t figured out what to say to her when she woke up.
Putting a single finger over her lips, Oliver cut off her apology. ¡°No apologies hun. You had a rough day and wanted me here, so I''m here. I just wish there was some way for me to help, and I''m sorry you had to...¡±
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¡°No, Oli.¡± Pulling his hand away, she quickly cut him off in return. ¡°No apologies from you either. You are helping me by being here. Neither of us can control what some monster did, we just have to deal with it and try to stop it from happening again. Well, I have to try and prevent it since that''s my job.¡±
Oliver went back to brushing her hair, coaxing a small smile out of her. ¡°That guy... He''s going to prison, right?¡±
Closing her eyes and leaning into his hand, she gave a small nod. ¡°Yeah. One of the detectives hit him with all the evidence and the guy crumbled in a heartbeat and confessed everything. His lawyer may try to get things reduced a little, but he''s already looking at a couple life sentences. Considering what a lot of other prisoners do to guys like him, I would say he''ll get what he deserves.¡±
Hearing the anger in her voice, Oliver considered telling her what he did. But how would he explain it? Some magical system told him about the guys? Even if he left the system out of it, what would be her reaction to him basically stalking the guy? Or him breaking into the guys home to find the evidence? He wasn''t sure...
But he really didn''t like hiding things from her. Or lying to her.
He was right about Polina''s resilience, as she bounced back quickly. She knew she couldn''t change what had happened, but was determined to work hard and do her job to try and make things better as much as she could. Even so, Oliver spent several nights at her place just to show her he supported her and that he cared. Part of him was tempted to talk to her about them living together, but he felt it was still too early in their relationship. And his lease didn''t end for months, though he could probably afford to break it if doing so wouldn''t screw over his friends.
Back in his own room, Oliver realized he hadn''t earned any credits all week. He was so focused on his girlfriend, he hadn''t even bothered to check the system at all! Pulling up the system window, he was surprised when a notification popped up that he had never seen before. The surprise faded into a brief moment of satisfaction as he read it.
Bounty Complete ¨C Jameson Eugene Ball
Proximity ¨C 1
Threat Level ¨C 2
Punishment Modifier ¨C 8
Calculating Reward...
Bounty Reward: 10000 Credits, Scarper Charm(3 charges)
Scarper Charm has been deposited in Host''s Warehouse. (This effect can be disabled or re-enabled by Host command. Effect disabled upon transfer if insufficient space is detected. Items will be destroyed if both Warehouse and Host''s current location are unable to accommodate transfer.)
Seeing the reward, Oliver was unimpressed by the 10000 credits. With the amount of time invested in completing the bounty, he could have easily made just as many credits from doing commissions- without any of the risks. The Scarper Charm... He had no idea what it was, or what it did. But considering how good the system had been for him so far, he expected it to be something good. Pulling the charm- a small aqua colored butterfly speckled with black stars- out of the Warehouse, he was surprised when a small screen like a system prompt appeared above it.
Scarper Charm ¨C On activation, creates a temporary portal to a safe location within 1 mile. Portal remains active for 5 seconds. 1 charge is consumed on each activation. Charm is destroyed when no charges remain. (3 charges)
Reading the description, Oliver was shocked. It opened a portal! Despite having the system, the ability to instantly travel from one place to another was something he had yet to even think of as possible. Now here it was, right in front of him.
He took a minute to calm himself down and focus on the pros and cons of the charm. Clearly it was designed to allow him to escape dangerous situations, as the description stated that the portal led to a safe location. The 1 mile range was also pretty good, as it would take time for whatever he was escaping to catch up to him. The location not being set, but rather just somewhere safe, meant that other''s couldn''t easily anticipate where he was going and have to search for him.
But that element of randomness was also where the cons started. Without knowing exactly where it would take him, he couldn''t make specific plans or preparations it. For all he knew, the safe location could end up being a bank vault or someone''s backyard! That by itself was enough to make him wary of using it, the he wouldn''t hesitate if it was an emergency. Only being able to use it a few times was a problem, but he had played enough video games in his life to understand resource management.
All-in-all, he felt it was worth far more than the credit reward.
Putting the charm away, he turned his attention back to the credits he received. With almost 20000 available, he couldn''t unlock the last tab. But with how challenging even the easiest bounty proved itself to be, he wasn''t sure he was ready for it if it turned out to be similar- and he certainly wasn''t prepared to tackle something harder. That brought another idea to mind, which he made note of and decided to circle back to after spending his credits.
Opening the Developments tab, Oliver considered his options. He had enough credits to increase two or three attributes, or he could increase Luck and Spirit twice each. He quickly reminded himself of his plan for a balance approach, prioritizing survival. While he figured those stats would have some role to play in things, his physical stats had a more obvious and immediate benefit to his continued safety. Internal debate resolved, he spent a total of 15000 credits to raise his Strength, Agility, and Vitality to 15 each. The quaking muscles and warm currents running though his body left him feeling energized and refreshed.
With just a couple thousand credits left, he turned his mind back to the idea that had occurred to him. While normally a peaceful person, Oliver had found himself forced to fight too many times recently. He wasn''t a bad fighter as, like most guys, he had been in a few scraps as a teenager. But he also knew he wasn''t the best in a fight. Increased stats or not, Polina had shown him in the pool hall what someone with training could actually do.
Thinking of his girlfriend made him pause. Why not ask her to teach him? He obviously needed to learn, and she was definitely capable. Plus, it would give them something new to do together. He knew most guys'' ego couldn''t handle having their girlfriend kick their ass, but he wasn''t really bothered by it. Mostly he just thought it was sexy as hell. Grabbing his phone, he fired off a quick text to ask her about it.
Chapter 12 – Love is a Battlefield
The breath was slammed out of Oliver when his back hit the mat. He laid there, staring at the ceiling, as he gasped for air. Polina''s face, grin stretching from ear to ear, filled his vision as she bent over him. She pat his cheek gently as she spoke, voice laced with humor. ¡°You''re not down for the count, are you?¡±
Getting his breathing under control, he managed to answer without grasping too much. ¡°Nah, just... enjoying the view.¡±
Polina blushed as his eyes lingered on her. Even though she was wearing exercise shorts and a loose t-shirt, sweating, and not even a hint of makeup, he found her captivating. She helped him to his feet, hands lingering on him for a few extra seconds. They both grabbed a drink of water as she took a moment to coach him.
¡°You''re actually pretty good Oli. Better at grappling than I expected, and you''re picking up throws and disarms well. You just need to work on not hesitating when you strike. I know you don''t like hurting people, especially me. But when it becomes necessary to drop someone, you do it fast and hard. Don''t give them a chance to hurt you, ok?¡±
Oliver smirked and waggled his eyebrows at her, his voice dropped into a whisper meant just for her. ¡°Not exactly the situation I was hoping for when you encourage me to do something fast and hard, but it''s still good advice.¡±
Her blush deepened and she playfully pushed him away. ¡°If you''re recovered enough to talk dirty, then you''re recovered enough to go again. Though,¡± Her voice dropped into a sultry tone. ¡°If you can pin me this time, maybe you''ll get that ''encouragement'' later.¡±
Walking back onto the mat, Oliver''s heart raced at the implication. Distracted by the thought, he was slow to react when she attacked. Finding himself on his back once again, he could only laugh at Polina''s smug grin.
¡°Stay focused Oli. You''re in for long, rough ride.¡±
Oliver had to admit to himself that asking Polina to teach him was a good idea. Tough and a little painful, but a good idea. She was a much better fighter, and had a way of explaining things that made it easy for him to understand. It being fun and allowing them to spend time together were nice bonuses. It was definitely something he wanted to do again.
It also gave him a better understanding of his increased attributes. His Agility being two points higher was already noticeable, but his Strength... The five point increase for it was incredibly obvious to him. He knew that before the system he wouldn''t have been able to carry Polina very far. But after all the practice in grappling and throwing her he could see just how drastic the change was.
Her shoulder bumped into his, pulling him from his musing. ¡°That was a lot of fun, Oli. I was kind of surprised when you asked, but, considering how that Carl guy is always messing with you, it makes sense. I doubt that you would really have any trouble dealing with him, but it''s always a good idea to be prepared.¡±
Oliver smiled and pulled her close while they walked. ¡°I wasn''t really thinking about him when I asked. I just don''t want to be caught unprepared if anything happens in the future. Plus,¡± He squeezed her gently and kissed her cheek. ¡°I got to spend time with you. That by itself is a good enough reason for me.¡±
Polina leaned into him, smiling brightly. ¡°Thank you hon. I hope I didn''t hurt you too much. Especially your ego!¡± Giggling, she skipped ahead of him to the truck. ¡°So, what are we doing next? An early dinner?¡±
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Oliver shook his head, smiling fondly at her. ¡°I was actually thinking we should check out the local Scadians. It''s been a while since I attended their practice, and I bet you''ll enjoy it.¡±
Oliver chuckled at her puzzled look as she asked, ¡°What the hell is a Scadian?¡±
¡°Is this what you meant by Scadians? Guys running around in armor, hitting each other with sticks?¡± Polina snorted in amusement. ¡°I think one of the guys in the department mentioned people doing this every week.¡±
Oliver nodded as he led his girlfriend towards the group. ¡°The Society for Creative Anachronism, or S.C.A. It''s a little more complicated than ''guys in armor fighting with sticks''. They do medieval reenactments, though some prefer to call it a recreation. The fighting, clothes, chivalry, arts and crafts, even the food! It''s really complex and detailed. Of course, they use rattan swords instead of metal to avoid hurting each other, and there are a lot of rules and safety guidelines. Especially for the armor; I think the minimum required includes protection for the head, neck, joints, hands, kidneys, and groin.¡±
They watched as two men faced off. Both wore a layers of padding underneath armor that had seen a lot of use, many of the pieces obviously made of thick plastic. Though both used a rattan sword and shield, one was a round shield nearly three feet across while the other a well-made heater shield. Eyes peaking over the tops of their shields, they watched each other carefully as they circled step by step. In a flurry of motion they attacked, swords swinging rapidly. The thumps of sword meeting shield rang out. The exchange ended suddenly when the round shield came up just a bit too slow and the sword slipped over the top to clip his helm.
The surrounding watchers applauded the fight, a few even shouting encouragements and jokes. Oliver turned to Polina and almost laughed at the eager look in her eyes. ¡°They are usually pretty open to teaching, if you''re interested. And I know a couple people keep some loaner gear around; It helps them get people interested and involved. So-¡±
¡°Hell yes, Oli!¡± Polina interrupted him. ¡°If I had known about this before... You said they do the whole reenactment thing, right? Including clothes and stuff?¡±
Chuckling, he kissed her cheek. ¡°Yes hon. We''ll have to see about getting some stuff together so you can check out an event some time. Maybe the Crown Tournament or something.¡± Her eyes blazed with excitement, so he tugged her towards the group. ¡°Come on, I''ll introduce you to the people I know. I''m sure they will be happy to tell you all about it. And show you how the fighting works.¡±
Oliver sighed in relief as he sat in his truck. His whole body ached from all the intense exercise, and he knew it was likely several bruises were forming- especially on his leg where Polina had tagged him with a rattan sword. He didn''t even need to look to know there was a smug smile on her face. Chuckling softly, he started the truck. ¡°Smile all you want hon, I''m counting this as a win for me.¡±
¡°Oh? I could have sworn they called it my win. Three times. In a row.¡±
Beneath her friendly teasing, he could hear a kernel of worry. He had always been receptive of how tough and capable she was, but how many guys could spend an entire day getting beat up by their girlfriend and not be upset. Especially in front of a crowd. Even if it was just training, she was worried about his reaction.
Taking her hand gently, he kissed her knuckles as he drove. ¡°You may have had the upper-hand in the fights, but I got the nerd victory. Not only is my girlfriend a bad ass, I got her to wear armor. That''s a win in my book.¡±
Her musical laughter made all the pain and bruises worth it in his mind. While the day had started as simply wanting to train while spending time with her, it had quickly turned into the best date he had ever had. And it was clear she had enjoyed it as well, making it even better.
She gave him a quick kiss as he dropped her off. Neither wanted the date to end, but she still had work to do- which was mostly just paperwork, she explained after he worried about her being tired for work. He smiled when she paused at the door to wave at him, wondering how he got so lucky.
On his drive home, Oliver let his mind wander over the events of the past few weeks. The system had offered him a lot of opportunities and benefits. He was stronger, faster, tougher... and richer than he was before. And he wasn''t done with it yet, not by a long shot.
Because, despite all of it''s benefits, it wasn''t the best thing in his life any more. But that wouldn''t stop him from using it to make things even better. And he still had a lot of unanswered questions about the system.
It was time to get back to work.
Chapter 13 – Playing Catch-up
Oliver sat in the dining hall on campus, absently chewing on his early lunch as he thought about his plans for the week. He didn''t regret spending so much time with Polina, especially when she needed him, but doing so had put him behind on homework and drastically reduced how many credits he earned. He knew he wanted to get things back on track, he just needed to organize and make a schedule.
The thump of someone dropping into the seat next to him startled Oliver out of his thoughts. Looking up, he saw the grinning face of Tyrone peering down at him. ¡°Hey Sweet Tea. How''s it going?¡±
¡°You know me, man. It''s all good.¡± Starting in on his own food, Tyrone gave Oliver a concerned look. ¡°What about you man? When I sat down, you looked like your mind was off in space. You ain''t usually that distracted.¡±
Giving his friend a reassuring smile, Oliver shrugged it off. ¡°I''m good man. Just trying to figure out how to catch up on stuff with my job and homework. Nothing I can''t handle.¡±
Tyrone''s concern disappeared as he grinned at his friend. ¡°Yeah, you can handle a little homework. How''d you get behind though? Getting ready for the party this weekend?¡± A look of confusion crossed Oliver''s face, surprising Tyrone. ¡°Damn man, you forgot about the party and you''re behind on shit? Is everything ok? What happened?¡±
Seeing the worry on his friend''s face, Oliver was quick to reassure him. ¡°I''m all right man. My girlfriend was dealing with some pretty bad stuff, so I spent a couple days helping her out. She''s ok now, it was just rough there for a bit.¡±
¡°As long as everything is cool, man.¡± Tyrone''s smile quickly returned, patting Oliver on the back. ¡°And you got a new girl? Hell yeah man. Tell me about her.¡±
Just from chatting for a bit, it was clear to Tyrone how much Oliver cared about his girlfriend. He smiled slightly, glad to see his friend was happy.
Oliver had three objectives for the week, and just enough time to do it all. Maybe.
First, he needed to catch up on homework, as school was still a high priority for him. Second, earn more credits. That one was a much lower priority; As much as he wanted to keep improving his attributes and make money, it wasn''t a time sensitive as classes could be. And third... Figure out a Halloween costume for the party.
While it would be nice to have one and really get into the spirit of the party, it wasn''t all that important.
With a rough outline of what he needed to do, he decided to start with a few quick commissions just to get things rolling. Grabbing his truck, he hit a few stores in quick succession, grabbing things for his go-to commissions. Food and first aid kits for Siege Supplies- he was a little surprised at first that it was still available, but realized they probably wouldn''t take it down until the siege was through or they ran out of credits. Some paper for another scribe, though this one was a bit stingy and only offered 1 credits per 3 pages. Looking at the posts again, he swung into the local crafts store as he spotted a couple that would be easy to accomplish together. He had even seen one of them before, though this would be the first time completing it.
-
Sew Unfortunate ¨C I am a tailor by trade. Bandits have disrupted trade from the Helma Province, resulting in a shortage of cloth. I am offering 10 credits per yard of cloth so I may continue my trade. (Repeatable)
-
Tools of my Trade ¨C Leather working has been good lately, but I''m in need of some tools and supplies. Some are hard to get, and others... Well, there''s some other problems that mean I can''t get them. 7 credits for each ounce of Beeswax. 15 credits for each stitching needle. May as well get as much of those as I can. And some of my tools are wearing out. Pear shaders, veiner, beveler, hole punch... 100 credits each.
Oliver was amused that the woman working at the craft store didn''t even bat an eye at him asking for 50 yards of cloth. Sticking mainly to natural fibers, he selected a a couple of different colors, with one that was covered in a pattern of small hearts simply because it made him smile- and he hoped the tailor would appreciate a little variety. There wasn''t much to the leather working section, but it covered what he wanted to grab. Pack of the needles, several ounces of beeswax, a basic kit that had most of the tools listed (plus a few the poster didn''t ask for, but Oliver looked at it as a small bonus for them), and a nice rotary punch that he thought would be rather convenient for them.
He took a minute to wonder at the differences in profit for some items. The beeswax earned the fewest credits, yet an ounce of it cost him more than a pack of ten stitching needles. And the tools had a massive return compared to their cost. Was it simply a matter of supply and demand? Or were there production variables that affected it? Or some other factor he had no idea about?
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Quickly shaking off the idle thoughts, he headed home and sent off the completed commissions. He smiled at earning almost 2000 credits for such a quick bit of work, but didn''t let himself dwell on it for long. It wasn''t enough for him to do much with other than increasing Luck or Spirit by one, so he held on to the credits for now. Besides, he still had homework to do.
Oliver never understood why so many classes assigned mountains of reading or equations for homework. Sure, the intention was to help the student assimilate and internalize the lessons, to help them remember them... But, unless it was a part of their major, most just chose to forget it as soon as the semester ended. He wished he could forget it as easily, but too often he found things just stuck in his mind, even when he had no real use for it. Though, perhaps that was his higher Intelligence attribute at play.
Shaking off the distracting thoughts, he focused on getting through the homework. It didn''t matter if he never used any of it past the semester, as long as he passed the classes.
Closing in on midnight, Oliver pushed his books aside. After several hours he still wasn''t caught up, but felt like he had made good progress. Now, for a few minutes to relax and brainstorm Halloween costumes before bed...
Oliver always loved the Music Department''s building. It wasn''t the biggest or newest building on campus, and it''s central location on campus made it difficult to get in or out through the passing mobs of students. But he felt comfortable there, especially in the foyer. It was a huge, open room that stretched along two sides of the building. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows towered thirty feet hall all the way around, allowing the warm morning light to fall across the carpeted floor and benches where students met to study or hangout. In one corner sat a baby grand piano, meticulously tuned and maintained by the department, for the students to practice on- and often the music students would just congregate around while they talked with one of them tinkling away on the keys.
Much like Oliver found himself doing.
He knew he could practice just as easily on his keyboard at him, and with fewer distractions. But, as convenient as that was, it just didn''t have the same depth or resonant sound. It lacked the charm and character of a real piano.
So, in a moment of whimsy, he found himself sitting at the piano with his eyes closed, the sun shining across his face as his fingers danced across the keys. Playing whatever song popped into his head at a given moment, he lost track of time. He heard soft footsteps approaching as a shadow stretched up and across him. He kept on playing quietly even as he opened his to see who it was.
¡°Hey Dave. How''s it going? You finish that jazz piece for your composition class?¡±
Dave was practically a fixture of the music department; it was nearly impossible to spend any time in the building without seeing him. A year younger then Oliver, he was already working towards a Masters in Music Education. Despite that, and his incredible talent, he was always a very down to earth and approachable person. Though that made sense, seeing as his goal was to be a high school band director, Oliver reminded himself.
¡°I''m doing great Oli. Still working out some of the sax licks, but it''s almost there.¡± Dave smiled brightly as he leaned against the wall nearby. ¡°You practicing for the party? Sounds like you''ve got a nice rounded set. You know someone''s going to try and throw you a curve ball; think you can handle some drunk guy jokingly requesting Free Bird or Master of Puppets?¡±
Oliver chuckled for a second before hammering away at the keys, and Dave laughed with him at the sound of him playing Master of Puppets. ¡°I actually watched a video just the other night of someone playing it on piano. It looked cool, so...¡± Oliver shrugged as his playing tapered off.
Dave clapped him on the shoulder enthusiastically. ¡°Awesome man! I''ve got you set for nine to ten, if that''s cool. Jen will be with you for the first half hour, then me for the second half.¡±
¡°Yeah, that''s...¡± Oliver trailed off as someone on the walkway outside caught his eye. Carl, heading down the path, turned his head as he passed and their eyes met. Despite having two black eyes and some fading bruises, he gave Oliver a nasty smirk before walking away. Oliver''s attention shifted to the person following right behind. His youthful features, jeans and t-shirt fit in perfectly on campus, but something about him set Oliver on edge. Watching the man walk away, it suddenly clicked in Oliver''s mind- his eyes. Hard eyes constantly roamed across the crowd, never lingering in one spot for long but always watching. It looked like Carl''s dad had gotten him a bodyguard, one that had seen trouble and violence before. Maybe ex-military?
¡°Carl still causing trouble Oli? Word had already got around about the last couple of parties...¡±
Oliver pushed the thoughts aside for later, turning his gaze back to his friend who was looking on with concern. ¡°Nothing I can''t handle man, though it looks like him getting his ass beat didn''t have the effect I was hoping for. I''ll have to keep my eyes open, especially if he tries to sick his guard dog on me.¡± Shrugging his shoulders, he rattled off a quick ditty and smiled. ¡°Anyway, it sounds like you''ve got everything set for the party. I''m looking forward to it.¡±
Dave clapped him on the back with a grin. ¡°Awesome man! And don''t worry about him trying anything at the party. Some of the football team decided to do a group costume as old school mobsters, they''re handling security for the night.¡± Dave lowered his voice and leaned in, as though sharing a secret. ¡°I''m going as Elton John from The Kingsman movie, that outfit is wild! What about you?¡±
Oliver just gave him an enigmatic smile as he started playing again, making his friend laugh.
The week seemed to fly by, Oliver''s days packed full trying to catch up on everything he had neglected. Class, homework, commissions, putting together a Halloween costume... and a few side preparations for emergencies.
Chapter 14 – Party Crasher
Arriving at the party, Oliver wasn''t surprised when Dave was the first person to spot him- Dave''s rainbow colored costume likely distracting everyone from his own entrance. Oliver''s costume, though much more subtle, suited him well. A patterned doublet, blue and brown striped pants, knee high leather boots, and an actual lute thrown over his shoulder perfectly blended his love for music and gaming.
Dave grinned broadly as he clapped Oliver on the back. ¡°I should have expected you would be a Bard! The lute is a nice touch. I''ll come find you again before your set. Try not to drink too much before then!¡± Like a whirlwind, Dave had come and gone before Oli could even respond, leaving him to chuckle to himself.
Oliver grabbed a drink and settled in to enjoy the party. He was sad that Poli couldn''t join him for it, but understood that her job was important to her and sometimes took her away from things like this- especially around holidays when the police tended to be extra busy.
He was amused at the variety of costumes, and watched a parade of monsters and action heroes passed by in a near constant stream with the occasional sexy nurse or fantasy character thrown in. His roommates showing up as the Three Stooges sent a ripple of laughter through the entire party, and Oliver smiled as he waved them over to join him.
As more people filtered in to the party, the atmosphere gradually grew rowdier until the music started. A quick progressive scale ringing out drew everyone''s attention to the pair of pianos set in a corner. Oliver marveled for a moment that someone on the football team not only had access to this massive mansion out in the countryside, but that they brought in two grand pianos for the night. The sheer excess of the party would have likely intimidated the pre-system him.
With the party in full swing, he relaxed with his friends and waited for his turn to play. While some would get nervous and anxious at the prospect of playing for so many people, Oliver just looked forward to it with a smile. Stage fright wasn''t something he had ever considered, much less worried about.
As the time for him to perform drew closer, Oliver excused himself from his friends and made his way closer to the pianos. When the song ended, a music student he only knew in passing excused himself with a wave and Oliver took his spot, smiling across at his partner for the next half hour, Jen. While she looked like the shy next-door neighbor type, he knew she had the voice of an angel and could really belt it out.
Just as Oliver wrapped up his quick warm up, someone dropped money in the jar for song requests. Glancing up at them to ask what they wanted to hear, he hesitated with a frown at the sight of Carl looming over him with a sinister smirk.
¡°Hey Oli, how about you play something nice for my girlfriend. You know, the ex that you couldn''t satisfy?¡± With a malevolent chuckle, Carl walked away before Oliver could respond.
Shaking his head, Oliver waved off Jen''s worried look. Wracking his head for what to play, a vicious smile crossed his face that nearly made Jen flinch. ¡°I''ve got this one Jen, but feel free to jump in if you want.¡±
Setting his fingers on the keys, he flew straight into the song. The party quieted for a brief moment at the sound, and several people frowned as they tried to identify it- and Jen''s shocked look told him she knew exactly what he was playing. Locking his gaze onto Carl and Jess across the room, Oliver made sure to project so the whole party could hear.
¡°Oh, well imagine
As I''m pacing the pews in a church corridor
And I can''t help but to hear
No, I can''t help but to hear an exchanging of words
"What a beautiful wedding
What a beautiful wedding", says a bridesmaid to a waiter
"And, yes, but what a shame
What a shame the poor groom''s bride is a whore"
Oliver couldn''t help the moment of satisfaction he got at seeing the angry and embarrassed looks on the faces. When others joined in on the chorus, the room nearly thundered with the sound of the popular song. He watched as, emotions getting the better of them, Carl and Jess stormed out of the room, shoving people out of their way as they went.
The performance, and the party, went well in Oliver''s opinion. He was slightly concerned when he heard that Carl had left the party entirely, but shrugged it off as another of the jerk''s tantrums. Hours flew by with him mostly hanging out with his roommates, though he also took time for his other friends, especially Dave and Tyrone.
When the party started winding down, he volunteered to help clean up, wanting to be helpful and figuring it would give him a chance for the little bit of alcohol in his system to pass so he could drive home safely. Before he knew it, it was closing in on 3am and he was one of the last people to leave. Waving goodbye to the people that would be crashing there, he climbed into his truck and started the long drive home.
Oliver was part way home and driving slower as he did his best to stay focused, the long night weighing on him. A loud bang and the steering wheel jerking in his hands snapped him fully awake in an instant. He eased off the gas pedal slowly as he struggled to keep the truck straight. Just when he though he had it under control, a second bang, sounding like a gun shot, rang out. His truck jerked hard again, and started spinning out of his control.
For several long moments, he fought to correct the truck and pull it out of the spin as it steadily lost speed. Just as the last of its momentum bled off, the truck slid off the side of the road and into the ditch. With the vehicle finally stopped, he put it in park and slumped in his seat, the tension and anxiety slowly ebbing as he breathed deeply.
Turning it off, he hopped out to check what had happened. Pulling a flashlight out of his warehouse, he frowned when he shined the light across the truck. Two tired blown... What were the odds of that happening? Especially since they weren''t that old.
A metallic glint caught his attention, and he leaned closer to one of the intact tires only to find a nail sticking out of it. Quickly checking the other, he cursed quietly when he found another nail. Someone had spiked all of his tires at the party and nearly killed him!
And he had a strong suspicion of who it could have been.
Pulling out his phone, Oliver cursed again when he saw he had no signal here. Looking around, all he could see was forest. No driveways or houselights at all along this stretch... But there was a pair of headlights heading his way.
Before he could raise his arms to wave the person down, some instinct tickled the back of his mind. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw another car coming up from behind him. Squinting through the glare of the lights, his breathe caught in his throat for a second at what he saw before he threw himself into a sprint straight for the nearby woods. He recognized the SUV, and knew exactly who owned it.
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Carl.
The pair of SUVs screeched to a halt and a dozen people piled out quickly, each of them clutching some form of weapon- baseball bats, tire irons, knives... and the bodyguard had a pistol comfortably holstered on his hip. Most of them hesitated for a moment, watching as Oliver ran into the woods. Until Carl stepped forward and shouted.
¡°That''s right, run you little bitch!¡± Chuckling to himself, he turned to the group with a sneer. ¡°Not that it will do him any good. Come on, lets get this asshole.¡±
Carl waved casually for them to follow him as he marched off. Before he made it two steps, his bodyguard was beside him, speaking in a low voice only the two of them could hear. ¡°This is a bad idea, Mr. Harden.¡±
Carl glanced at the man and scoffed. ¡°Seriously Rodney? He''s practically pissing himself in fear. There''s nothing he can do with this many of us, even if he wants to. Little Oli needs to learn his place.¡±
Rodney hesitated for a second before he spoke. ¡°I don''t think he''s afraid, Mr. Harden.¡± Seeing Carl''s condescending look he pressed on, trying to voice the strange feeling he had. ¡°It''s hard to explain, sir, but something about this... The way he moved, the look of him... It''s not fear. It''s anger. And that man, Oliver,¡± He waved his hand in the direction Oliver had run, ignoring the frown forming on Carl''s face. ¡°He''s dangerous. I can feel it. It''s the same feeling I got before being ambushed in Afghanistan. We-¡±
Carl cut him off with a contemptuous sneer. ¡°I thought you were a soldier, not a chicken.¡± Waving off his guards concerns, his voice filled with stern arrogance as he spoke. ¡°He''s a band geek. I bet him sucker punching me is the closest to a fight he''s ever been in. Now, either get your shit together or wait with the car. We need to catch up to him and fuck him up!¡±
Rodney watched as Carl started jogging, the rest of the group quick to follow his lead, scowling at the level of foolishness his charge was showing. And the casual disrespect being thrown at him for trying to protect the spoiled brat. His scowl only deepened when Carl''s useless girlfriend passed him, already struggling to keep up. Why that girl wanted to come along, and why she hated her ex so much, he couldn''t figure out. Not that Carl would listen if he brought up concerns about her.
Just like his concerns about tonight were instantly insulted and ignored.
With a sigh, he started jogging to catch up. He was already starting to regret taking this job.
The mob ran through the woods for several minutes before slowing in confusion, not having caught even a glimpse of their target. Milling around, their flashlights waving about as they searched for any sign of them, a few soft mutters sounded out as Carl cursed. ¡°Where the fuck did that asshole go?¡±
Rodney offered them an exasperated look as he caught up, shining his flashlight on a line in front of them. ¡°He''s running straight ahead; you can tell by how the leaves are kicked up.¡± He frowned slightly in worry, shaking his head. ¡°There''s no effort to hide his trail or, hell, just for him to hide period. It''s just a straight run leading us on.¡±
Carl started marching forward almost instantly at his words, waving the group to follow. ¡°Let''s go th-¡±
His words cut off as his bodyguard grabbed his arm and spun him around. Rodney cut off his angry exclamation before it even started, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. ¡°He wants us to follow him. This guy isn''t running afraid, he''s planning something.¡± Seeing the mulish look on Carl''s face, he lowered his voice to a whisper. ¡°I''m telling you, Mr. Harden, this is going to get ugly.¡±
Carl roughly shrugged off the hand grabbing him. ¡°He''s unarmed and running like the chicken shit he is, so, yeah, its about to get ugly. For him. Now come on.¡± He waved the group forward and started on the trail again. Rodney''s only relief being that he had some of the others take the lead this time. Maybe his words had finally gotten through to the hot-headed young man.
Ten minutes of following the obvious trail and Rodney could feel the tension and anxiety building with each step. His head turned left and right constantly, and he glanced over his shoulder periodically just to be careful. He knew he had to be extra alert as most of these... kids wouldn''t see trouble until it jumped up and bit them. Because he realized that''s what they were: Spoiled, ignorant children.
He was almost relieved when something finally happened.
He had no real warning. Just a small click and one of the guys in the lead was suddenly on the ground, coughing and sputtering even as he tried to scream. Shining his light on him, Rodney could see blood streaming from a busted nose and some sort of powder covering his face. As the other''s milled about and shouted in confusion, he quickly stepped closer and scanned the scene. Grabbing the still swinging tree branch that was roughly at head height, he saw a pair of plastic tubes tied to it. Reading the labels on them, he almost wanted to laugh but knew how serious this really was.
Garlic salt and onion powder.
Spinning back to the group, his voice crackled with authority as he snapped at them. ¡°Anyone have bottled water? Hand it over. Now!¡± He practically yelled at the hesitating group before snatching away the bottle one of them offered. Grabbing the injured man, he quickly began flushing his eyes with the water.
¡°What the hell is it? Some sort of poison or something?¡± Carl''s voice wavered with fear.
¡°It''s garlic salt and onion powder.¡± A hint of irritation wormed its way into Rodney''s tone, despite his efforts to suppress it.
Carl chuckled with disdain, quickly regaining his arrogant attitude. ¡°What? Is Oli trying to season us to death? How dumb-¡±
¡°Shut up Carl.¡± Rodney snapped at him and ignored the indignant squawk from his charge. He glared at the group as their amused expressions rapidly faded. ¡°This isn''t a joke. Ignoring the fact that getting this shit in your eyes can potentially blind someone, this was obviously a warning. A pointed, yet fairly tame, warning.¡±
Jumping to his feet before any of them could stupidly respond, he gestured at the offending tree limb. ¡°This is a variant of a spring spike trap. Instead of using a couple jars of seasoning, he could have easily sharpened a few stakes and tied them on there. Then, instead of worrying about maybe going blind, your friend would have a hole or two in his face.¡±
Sweeping his gaze across the now worried looking group, he hoped they had finally understood the seriousness of the situation. Carl''s obstinate look nearly made him curse, but he pressed on, hoping to convince the man he was quickly realizing was a spiteful fool. ¡°Whatever your grudge with this Oliver guy is, you need to drop it and we need to leave. He''s not playing, and if we keep after him... Someone''s going to get hurt.¡± Waving his hand at the man still on the ground, he corrected himself. ¡°Someone else is going to get hurt.¡±
Carl''s face wavered between fear, concern, and anger for a long moment, and Rodney thought he might have gotten through to him finally. When his expression suddenly shifted, filled with hate and venom, Rodney knew he had failed.
¡°That asshole may have trick or two up his sleeve, but we all saw his outfit at the party. He''s barely carrying anything! I don''t know why that freak had fucking spices on him, but he can''t be carrying much else. We are not giving up just because he pulled this stupid shit out of his ass. We are going to find him and break his fucking legs and make him CRAWL BACK TO THE ROAD!¡± Carl was practically shouting by the end of his little speech, spittle flying from his lips as he quivered in rage.
Rodney resisted the impulse to punch Carl in the middle of his tantrum. His shoulders slumped as he resigned himself. As much as he hated this idiocy, it was his job protect this man-child. Even from himself, apparently. He gestured to the injured man as he spoke. ¡°Fine. You and your girlfriend take this guy back to the car. I''ll come get you when we catch Oliver.¡± Seeing Carl start to argue, he cut him off with an icy tone. ¡°Don''t argue, just do it. Or I''ll drag you back myself. Understand?¡±
Carl flinched at the look in his bodyguard''s eyes and looked away, silently nodding his head. As Rodney led the rest off into the woods, he reluctantly did as he was ordered, pouting like a scolded child.
Neither group noticed the cold eyes watching them from the tree above. Or the vicious smile that briefly appeared.
Chapter 15 – Now What do I do with you?
Oliver struggled not to laugh as he watched the group split up. It almost felt too easy, but he knew it could have just as easily gone differently... Especially if any of them actually had the sense to listen to the bodyguard, Rodney. His entire analysis of the situation was spot on. He honestly wasn''t sure he had a way to deal with the ex-soldier. Though, Oliver''s respect for the man would have been a touch higher if he hadn''t just broken one of the cardinal rules in both gaming and horror movies(which, considering they were in some spooky woods, in the middle of nowhere, on Halloween, was extra amusing).
Never split the party.
He watched as the group gradually marched further and further away, his ears easily picking up Carl''s furious mutters and Jess''s attempts to placate her boyfriend. The unfortunate recipient of his trap sat quietly on the ground, a damp cloth pressed to his eyes. Oliver was honestly surprised the trap had worked so well, and could only imagine the chaos the few other traps he made further along the path would cause.
Once the larger group was too far away to see, he carefully sneaked closer to within just a few yards of the antagonizing duo. Watching from behind a nearby tree, he soon saw his opportunity. Carl brushed off his girlfriend and began angrily pacing, staring deeper into the woods the entire time. Jess, pouting at being ignored, stomped away from him to lean against a tree- the very tree Oliver hid behind.
He nearly breathed a sigh of relief when she failed to notice him. The moment Carl''s back was turned, Oliver struck. Reaching out, he clamped a hand over Jess''s mouth and yanked her behind the tree. Before she even realized what was happening, he had already applied a simple choke hold. Remembering what Poli had taught him, he carefully applied pressure to both sides of Jess''s neck, limiting the blood flow to the brain. What felt like and eternity, but was really less than 30 seconds, passed before Jess slumped unconscious. With a thought, he tossed her unceremoniously into the system warehouse.
Peeking out from behind the tree again, he was relieved to see that neither of the two men had noticed anything. His mind raced through ideas and plans for how to deal with Carl without further involving his injured companion. As angry as he was about the group coming to attack him, he knew that Carl and Jess were the real problem. The rest were just idiots who got pulled into their grudge.
A small smile cross Oliver''s face when he settled on a plan. Why go and attack Carl when it would be so much easier to bait the hot-headed fool into attacking him? Silently circling the pair, Oliver moved a good distance to the side to put himself on the same line Carl was pacing. Holding the small rock he picked up, he took aim and threw it as hard as he could. It had been some time since Oliver last played baseball, but with his target directly in front of him and his increased attributes he felt confident.
And when Oliver saw the result, he immediately thanked his improved Luck.
Just as Carl turned in his pacing, the rock struck his hand holding the flashlight. With a loud curse, Carl dropped the flashlight, his head snapping up to look in the direction the rock had come from. Seeing Oliver wave casually before disappearing behind a tree, he charged over directly, waving a baseball bat while shouting. ¡°You fucking chicken shit! When I catch you I''m going to kill you!¡±
Oliver darted away, moving at an angle back toward the road. Every time he started to lose his pursuer, he paused to throw another rock and wave, stoking Carl''s anger to near berserk levels. Once he was sure he had led him far enough, Oliver ducked around several trees in rapid succession before dropping quietly behind some dense bushes. Taking slow, deep breaths, he listened as the stomping and shouted curses drew closer and closer. Reaching into the system warehouse once more, he pulled out one of the emergency preparations he made just for dealing with Carl: a stun gun. Simple, non-lethal, but effective.
Oliver stuck a foot out just as Carl went charging past, sending the man face first into the dirt and grass. Before his opponent could recover, he slammed the stun gun into his back and triggered it, sending electricity coursing through his body. Carl grunted as his whole body locked up from the shock, and Oliver didn''t hesitate to trigger it again.
Putting away the stun gun, Oliver watched him writhe in pain for a moment before dropping his full weight onto the center of Carl''s back. Wrapping an arm around Carl''s throat, he slowly applied pressure as he leaned in and spoke in a patronizing tone. ¡°You know Carl, I never really messed with you. Jess cheated on me with you, then dumped me for you. It sucked, but that''s life.¡±
¡°But me letting go of it and moving on wasn''t good enough for you two. You wanted me to be hurt and miserable. For some reason, you wanted me to suffer. I never understood that.¡± A swift punch to the side of Carl''s head stopped his struggles, and Oliver carried on as if nothing happened. ¡°So, the two of you have spent months harassing me, spreading rumors, and just generally being shitty people. I tried to warn you. I told you to leave me alone. But you didn''t listen.¡±
¡°Now, what do I do with you?¡±
Oliver voice turned cold and venomous. ¡°I could just kill you. It would be pretty easy at this point, and would definitely stop your bullshit. But if you die here, I''m the obvious suspect. Yeah, I could probably get a good lawyer and plead self defense. But that''s not guaranteed to work. To many variables. And honestly, you aren''t worth that much of a headache.¡±
Oliver suddenly clamped down with his arm around Carl''s neck, cutting off the flow of blood to his brain. ¡°It''s better if you just quietly disappear, lost in the woods and never to be found. I''m sure it will still cause me problems, but with no body and no evidence...¡±
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Oliver suppressed a sigh of relief when he threw Carl into the warehouse. He knew there was still too much to do, and the danger was far from over. With almost a dozen people still hunting for him, he needed to get moving. And that meant more running. He hadn''t run so much in years. But, with his improved Vitality, it didn''t feel nearly as strenuous as it once did.
It was almost fun.
Jogging along the side of the road, Oliver nearly dove into the woods again when headlights rounded the corner ahead of him. When the car suddenly braked and flashed its lights, he hesitated just long enough for it to pull up beside him. As the window rolled down, he nearly laughed out loud in relief when he saw who was driving.
¡°Yo, Oli!¡± Concern was written clearly on Tyrone''s face as he spoke from behind the wheel. ¡°You okay man? Your truck break down or something?¡±
Oliver leaned on the passenger road to catch his breath. The running may have started out fun, but he quickly realized that his body still had its limits. After a moment to collect himself, he shook his head and spoke quickly. ¡°Shit, am I glad to see you man. Think you can drive me somewhere with cell signal? I need to call the cops... and my girlfriend, so she doesn''t kill me.¡±
Tyrone didn''t hesitate to unlock the door and wave Oliver in. Spinning the car around quickly, he started driving even as he spoke. ¡°Bro, what the hell happened that you need the cops?¡±
Oliver sank into the seat gratefully, keeping an eye on the mirrors to watch behind them. ¡°Fucking Carl. Him and his goons spiked my tires, then chased me into the woods. With bats and tire irons and stuff.¡± He grimaced slightly. ¡°Carl''s bodyguard even had a pistol. That asshole Carl was yelling shit about breaking my legs and killing me.¡±
Tyrone''s eyes widened in alarm as they darted up to check the mirrors as well. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and carefully sped up just a little more. ¡°Holy shit Oli! He really went off the deep end like that?¡± One glance at Oliver''s grim expression answered the question better than words ever could. ¡°Fucking hell man! Seriously, are you okay? How did you get away from them?¡±
Oliver''s cold chuckle sent shivers down his friend''s back. For a moment, Tyrone wondered if he really knew Oliver as well as he thought he did. Those thoughts quickly disappeared when Oliver spoke calmly. ¡°I just used a few small tricks to distract them and sent them chasing after a false trail. Then I doubled back to the road and started running.¡± He shrugged slightly, a touch of humor entering his voice. ¡°It''s possible they could get lost in the woods for a while though. Maybe long enough for the cops to show up and deal with them. At least, I hope they do.¡±
They drove in silence for a few minutes, Oliver watching his phone for even a single bar of signal. The moment he had it, he made the call.
¡°I''ve already explained this several time, Officer.¡± Oliver barely restrained the boiling fury in his tone as he glared at the look of condescension and disbelief on the officer''s face. ¡°This isn''t just some good ol'' boys getting rowdy after a few drinks. They chased me. Into the woods. With weapons.¡±
He threw up his hands in disgust, resisting the urge to tear out his own hair at this stupidity. ¡°One of them had a gun for fucks sake! They were yelling about killing me! And you''re acting like its just some harmless mischief? That is the dumbest fucking-¡±
¡°Oli!¡±
The fire of Oliver''s anger was snuffed out in an instant at the sound of the familiar voice filled with love and concern. A bright smile lit up his face as he turned to see Polina jogging his way from the police car that had just pulled up. He couldn''t help glancing at her uniform, appreciating the way it fit her. And equally appreciating the blush his look caused. When she stopped a few feet from him, he resisted the urge to hug her, knowing she wanted to maintain at least a semblance of professionalism.
¡°I''m so glad you''re here Poli. Can you please help me explain to Officer Mayberry here-¡±
¡°Its Officer Mayfield. And I-¡±
Oliver spoke over him without hesitating, a tinge of anger returning to his voice. ¡°-that a dozen men, armed with baseball bats and a gun and chasing me into the woods, is not just some rowdy boys getting up to a little mischief. It''s a lethal fucking threat! Especially when they are yelling about killing me!¡±
Polina''s hand on his shoulder stopped him cold. He could practically feel both fear and anger radiating from her when her hand trembled slightly, though not a scrap of it was heard in her voice. ¡°We already have officers down at the vehicles, checking everything out. Franklin is handling it, and he''s already seen where someone tampered with your tires.¡± Turning to face Officer Mayfield, she quickly tried to smooth things over. ¡°I get why you would lean towards college kids just getting into a little trouble, but we still need to approach this without any sort assumptions. If what Mr. Silk has said is the truth, the investigation will reflect that.¡±
Pulling Oliver away from the other officer before another argument could start, she leaned closer to him, clearly struggling not to hug him. ¡°Are you okay Oli? I''ve only heard bits about whats going on.¡± She grimaced slightly, shaking her head in frustration. ¡°I had to excused myself from being part of the investigation as soon as I heard you were involved.¡±
¡°I''m okay, hon. I lost them in the woods pretty quick, so they didn''t really get a chance to do anything to me.¡±
She shook her head with a smile. ¡°I can see you''re fine, at least physically. But something like this... It can mess with you in other ways. You know I''m here for you if it does, right?¡± Seeing the gratitude and affection in Oliver''s eyes, she knew he understood. They simply shared a look for a moment before she spoke again. ¡°So, what happened?¡±
¡°Carl.¡±
His one word answer was enough to elicit a frustrated groan from her. ¡°Of course it was him.¡± She stared at the ground, hands planted on her hips. ¡°I did some looking after you told me about him. The reason he got off so easy before, even though he put you in the hospital... His family has connections in the state government. A few phone calls, and all he got was a slap on the wrist.¡±
Oliver could hear the disgust and anger in her tone. As someone wholeheartedly dedicated to helping people, Polina hated this kind of corruption. Letting someone so violent go just because of family connections went completely counter to what she believed.
Oliver''s hand on her shoulder stopped her spiraling thoughts, and his reassuring smile calmed her easily. ¡°It''s okay Poli. I have faith that the system will deal with him soon enough.¡±
Chapter 16 – Dream a Little Dream
Oliver was exhausted. It took the police nearly an hour to locate the wayward idiots. The search for Carl and Jess, however, was still going on despite the sun starting to rise. He felt a little bad when search and rescue were called in, knowing that there was nothing for them to find now that those two were safely stored in the warehouse. He didn''t regret doing it, just that many of these good people would upset when they failed to find them.
He was nearly asleep on his feet when Polina got word that they could leave, him having been detained while the ''investigation'' was still going. Apparently, one of Carl''s goons cracked the instant someone started questioning him ¨C though why they still took hours to release him, he couldn''t understand. Even Polina was confused by the unnecessary delay.
Slumped in the passenger seat, his eyes drooped on the drive back as he struggled to stay awake. He stared blankly at the house in front of him as Polina shut the car off. ¡°I thought you would want to stay with me today, especially after last night. If you don''t want to-¡±
He cut her off with a tired smile. ¡°No,this is good. I sleep better with you anyway.¡±
After the insanity of the night before, the radiant smile on her face was a welcome sight. Dragging himself inside, he quickly discarded his costume and climbed into her bed. Pulling his girlfriend close, he was asleep in an instant.
Howls rang out behind him as Oliver ducked into a doorway. He flinched in pain when jagged shards of wood stabbed into his bare feet, the remnants of a shattered door scattered across the stone room. Darting around broken furniture, he raced through the building and out another door. His heart pounded in his chest, fear and adrenaline fueling him.
Movement in the corner of his eye , there and gone again before he could turn, drove him on faster than before. Fire raged through the center of this strange medieval looking town,causing shadows to shift and flicker, seeming to reach out towards him as he sprinted past. Oliver turned down an alley, trying to distance himself from the inferno that seared his skin even at such a distance. He made it barely a block before something again moved just in his peripheral vision, a blurry figure there and gone in an instant. Something... Twisted. Wrong.
He turned and ran like his life depended on it.
And found himself running straight towards the fire once again.
Oliver turned down another road leading away, only for the same thing to happen again.
Movement on the edge of his vision.
Turn.
Run.
INFERNO.
Like something was herding him, driving him towards the flames.
He could feel the panic rising in his chest as he stood frozen in the street. Smoke drifted all around as he gasped for air, and it felt like a great weight was pressing down on him. His legs trembled and his body sank lower under the pressure. Just before his knees fully touched the rough stones of the road, he surged back to his feet with gritted teeth. His face contorted as he pushed down the panic, he imagined locking the feeling away in an iron chest, wrapping it in chains, and dropping it into the depths of his soul.
Fear was healthy. It could keep you alive and caution against disaster. But blind panic wasn''t just useless, it was dangerous.
Turning away from the fire, Oliver squared his shoulders and marched down the road. A flicker of motion to the side cause his fear to spike and made him want to turn and run again, but he ruthlessly squashed that feeling. Instead, he turned to face where the movement occurred, fists clenched. And charged towards it.
Reaching the spot where he thought the thing had been, he was almost relieved that he didn''t see anything... Until something slammed into him from the side. The thrashing, indistinct thing wrapped around him with many flailing limbs ¨C far too many to be natural. He felt one wrap around and pin his left arm, then another his right arm. Then both legs.
Yet more wrapped around his throat to strangle him even as others clawed at his eyes. He screamed in agony as his eyes were plucked from his face and the world went dark.
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But, as he struggled to fight the thing that was slowly killing him, a warm and gentle breeze carried whispered words to him.
¡°It''s ok Oli. I''m here.¡±
Oliver clung to the lifeline of comforting words as they pulled him from the depths of the nightmare, his racing heart slowed as a hand gently brushed through his hair. He opened his eyes to find his head in Polina''s lap, her forehead creased with worry.
Seeing him awake, she visibly relaxed, though her hand never stopped caressing him softly. ¡°Hey Oli. I was starting to worry; you were really freaking out in your sleep. I kept trying to wake you up, but...¡±
He exhaled roughly as he clasped her hand tightly. ¡°Yeah, I think so. Just...a nightmare, I guess. Kinda freaked me out.¡± Seeing her worried frown, he tried to explain his dream to her. Not just what happened, but how real it felt... And the pain and fear the seemed to permeate the entire atmosphere of the strange city.
She listened attentively, nodding along with his explanation. After he had finished, she sat quietly for moment before speaking hesitantly. ¡°I''m not an expert or anything Oli, but it could definitely be some sort of trauma response. Like your mind is trying to process what happened last night. Other than it being a city instead of a forest it''s pretty similar, don''t you think?¡±
Pondering it for a moment, Oliver shrugged mentally. It was pretty similar, though something about it still felt off. Still, it was the only explanation he had. ¡°Yeah, I guess I can see that. I didn''t think it had really bothered me that much, but its not like I''ve ever dealt with that sort of situation before. Not really a fan of being chased through the woods. Its exhausting.¡±
Seeing his cheeky smirk, she shoved him playfully with a laugh. ¡°Yeah, try not to make a habit of it, ok? Even if it did practically get me out of work for the night.¡± Climbing out of bed, she stretched with a groan. ¡°Come on, it''s almost dinner time. And you need a shower.¡±
Oliver levered himself up carefully, expecting to be sore after all that had happened. The lack of pain surprised him for a moment, but he attributed it to his higher Vitality, once again thankful for all the benefits the system had brought him. ¡°I''ll need to run back to my place for clothes.¡±
Oliver regretted lying to her, knowing he had several changes of clothes tucked away safely in the warehouse. But an outfit appearing out of thin air was a conversation he wasn''t quite ready to have with her.
She spoke over her shoulder to him as she headed towards the shower. ¡°Check the top right drawer of my dresser. I think you left some clothes here last week.¡±
Oliver froze when he opened the drawer she mentioned, seeing that it all it contained were his clothes. ¡°I... have my own drawer here? Isn''t that like one of those relationship steps people say comes just before moving in together or something?¡±
¡°Did you say something Oli?¡± Polina''s voice echoed out from the bathroom.
Smiling to himself, he closed the drawer. They may not be at that stage yet, but he found that the idea didn''t really bother him. If anything, he kinda liked it. ¡°Just talking to myself hon. I found my clothes right where you said!¡±
Oliver smiled across the table at Polina, enjoying the sight of her in her uniform again. The night before had been far too hectic for him to truly appreciate it, and he was reminded of just how lucky he was to have met her.
¡°Eyes up here, handsome.¡± He could hear the humor in her voice, a small smirk on her lips. ¡°You really like me in uniform that much?¡± She asked, taking a small bite of her salad.
Oliver nodded seriously and quickly chewed his food. ¡°You''re beautiful all the time, but the uniform really highlights your strength and confidence.¡± Returning her smirk, he lowered his voice just for her. ¡°I think that is extremely attractive. It''s just one of the many things I like about you.¡±
The light tinge of pink in her cheeks as he took her hand warmed his heart and helped wash away the lingering worries from both the night before and his strange dream. He sat for a moment, just enjoying holding her hand.
Squeezing his hand in return, she gently disengaged it before pointing at his food. ¡°As much as I like your flirting, Oli, we really need to eat. I still need to drop you off at home before I head to work.¡± Pointedly taking another bite to emphasize what she said, they hurried to finish their meal.
Exiting the restaurant, she leaned into him, enjoying the last moments of their impromptu mini-date. ¡°I know you said your job pays pretty well, but are you sure you don''t need a little help replacing your tires? Once the investigation wraps up, whoever did it will have to pay for it... But that could drag out for a while, depending on their financial situation. Especially since most of them are just college kids...¡± Shaking her head at the idiocy of that group, she pressed on. ¡°I really don''t mind giving you a hand if you need it. Not that I''m saying you need it. I mean...¡±
Oliver chuckled softly as she struggled to frame her offer and hugged her tighter. ¡°I''m good on money, I promise. And I''m not saying that just because of some male ego thing; You definitely beat the ego out of me at the gym. Remember?¡± Her throaty laugh at the memory of them training together sent shivers down his spine, though he wasn''t sure if it was from excitement or fear at the idea of it happening again.
He stopped her just before they climbed into her car. Holding her hand and looking deep into her eyes, he spoke without thinking. ¡°It means a lot to me that you had my back last night, Poli. You mean a lot to me.¡± Blushing slightly, he glanced down at the ground to collect his thoughts. ¡°I''m not the best at this sort of thing, but I don''t want to be an idiot that messes up something good like this. So you don''t have to worry so much about what you say or how you say it. I trust you Poli.¡±
She sighed softly, resting her head on his shoulder. ¡°That... means a lot to me, Oli. I know you''re not going to bullshit me because of ego or anything like that. And I trust you too.¡± Kissing his cheek softly, she patted his chest with a smirk. ¡°But I''ve also seen how much trouble you manage to get into when I''m not around, so don''t blame me for worrying a little. Considering all the trouble that seems to chase you,¡± They both chuckled at that little joke. ¡°we''re doing another gym date soon. You better make sure you''re ready.¡±
Chapter 17 – Rumor Has It
After Polina dropped him off at his house, Oliver sat down at his desk, deep in contemplation. By all accounts, the weekend should have been a complete success. The party went mostly well, despite a few barbed words being exchanged, and he even made a little money in the process ¨C not that he really needed the extra cash, but it didn''t hurt. He had even managed to thoroughly remove the recurring problems that were Carl and Jess... Though he still wasn''t sure what to do with them exactly, but leaving them safely stored in the warehouse should work for now. But, in his mind, the weekend wasn''t a success.
It was a near disaster, saved more by luck than anything else.
He snorted in amusement at the thought. Perhaps his 13 Luck really did help, maybe by nudging the tires to blow in a spot he could more easily evade his pursuers. But Oliver didn''t like the idea of surviving just off luck. He knew that without the head-start he had, things could have easily gone wrong for him despite his improved attributes. Strength, agility, vitality... Against one or two of his attackers, he was confident to win or at least survive and escape. Against a dozen... Even Poli teaching him how to fight better wouldn''t have matter against that many people. And, unlike Poli, Carl wouldn''t have stopped at just a few bruises.
¡°Is it likely I''ll end up in another situation that bad?¡± Oli mused to himself.
Shaking his head with a chuckle, he pushed that thought aside. A week ago, he would have said it wasn''t likely to happen even once. But now he knew better, and knew he needed to be better prepared.
Pulling up the system screen, he quickly revised his plans again. The temptation to unlock the last tab was strong, but survival trumped curiosity easily in his mind. Looking at his available credits and the costs for raising his attributes, a pleased expression flickered across his features briefly. Just over 18,000 credits and raising his physical stats to 16 costing just 6,000 a piece? It lined up neatly with his intentions.
Laying across his bed, he didn''t hesitate to spend his hard earned credits. His safety was too important; No amount of credits mattered if he died and couldn''t spend them. The warm currents of energy running through his body and trembling muscles that signified his attributes increasing and his body being reshaped relaxed him nearly as much as the greater sense of security did. Within minutes, he was sound asleep.
A worried frown marred Oliver''s features as he left his last class on Monday morning. At first, the strange looks and people hurriedly stepping out of his way hadn''t registered, his mind still focused on his development plan using the system. But when the he sat down for class and everyone near him quickly moved away, he finally realized that something was wrong. When casual acquaintances avoided talking to him after class, it only confirmed his feeling that something was seriously off.
¡°Yo, Oli!¡± Oliver nearly sighed in relief at hearing Tyrone''s voice. Turning to great his friend, Oliver hesitated seeing the barely contained fury on the large man''s face. ¡°Man, I can''t believe this bullshit! Those assholes! Come on, we need to get ahead of this shit.¡±
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Before Oliver could respond, Tyrone was already pulling him along towards the administration building. Confusion was clear on his face as he walked briskly to keep up with the larger man''s stride. ¡°What''s going on Sweet T? I''ve never seen you this angry... Actually, I''ve never seen you angry at all...¡±
Tyrone''s hands clenched tightly before he forced them to relax, a disgusted look flashing briefly across his face. ¡°I''m good man. Just... Pissed at what they''re trying to do to you.¡± At Oliver''s alarmed look, Tyrone clapped him on the shoulder and quickly explained. ¡°Some of those assholes that tried to fuck you up got out on bail or something and now they''re running around campus telling everyone that you did something to Carl and Jess. I''ve already heard rumors ranging from you murdered them to you kidnapped them and have them hidden away someone so you can do God knows what to them. Its fucked up, man.¡±
¡°Shit.¡± Oliver couldn''t think of anything else to say. He had hoped that with the main instigator gone the others would back off.
Tyrone pulled him from his thoughts as he spoke decisively. ¡°Something like this can easily spiral out of control and cause you all kinds of hell. We need to get to admin and file a harassment complaint before it all blows up. The school will probably contact the Police or something to confirm things.¡± Shrugging his massive shoulders, He gave Oliver a reassuring smile. ¡°I''ve never actually dealt with this kind of thing, so I don''t really know how it all works. But I''m sure it will be better if you''re the one that starts the official process rather than waiting for them to eventually realize something like this is happening. I''m sure it will work out man. Kinda makes me want to punch those idiots though.¡±
Oliver chuckled softly, a nervous edge to the sound. As bad as the situation was, he was glad not to be the one to piss off the massive football player.
Two hours wait, just to fill out a small complaint form and talk to an administrator and explain the situation- an explanation that took less than ten minutes total. After leaving the contact information for the Police Officers that were handling the case, and receiving some vague promises that the school will ''look into'' the rumors, Oliver and Tyrone were quickly ushered out of the office.
¡°Why does it feel like that accomplished nothing?¡± Oliver mused aloud.
Tyrone shook his head with a laugh. ¡°They probably won''t really do much, but that''s not what matters and you know it man. This was just about making sure you had a paper trail, you know? That way the school can''t claim they didn''t know about it. Or if one of those idiots tries to get the school to do something to you, your complaint will already be on file. Though, I doubt that will actually happen. They can''t be that stupid, right?¡±
Oliver sighed as he shook his head, though an amused smile peeked through for a moment. ¡°I don''t know, man. They have already shown that they can be pretty dumb. At this point, I don''t think we should underestimate it.¡±
¡°True, man. Too true. I''ll get some of my buddies to help spread the word of what''s really happening. Try and counter the bullshit, you know?¡±
The week seemed to drag by, Oliver attending classes in the morning and working on homework in the evening, with the occasional commission thrown in to regain the credits he had recently spent. Some of his classmates still avoided him, though it seemed to be not as severe as it was. Despite that, Oliver couldn''t shake the bad feeling that was slowly building inside him like a storm brewing on the horizon.
And the storm came crashing down on him in the seemingly innocuous form of an e-mail.
¡°What the FUCK do they mean I''m being expelled!¡±
Interlude – No Good Deed...
¡°Now explain it to me again, Private Simins. And don''t leave out a single detail.¡±
The young soldier straightened his uniform, his black furred tail lashing nervously behind him as the General loomed over his shoulder. Wiping the sweat quickly from his palms, his place his hands on the console and typed out a quick command. In an instant, what looked like a simple requisition appeared before them, though one the General was entirely unfamiliar with.
¡°Sir, I was taking a walk a after dinner... I think it was a month ago. I... Well, sir, I was a little lost in my thoughts about the the approaching enemy and I got turned around. When I saw the console here, I intended to access the local map and find my way back when this popped up. I, uh...¡± Private Simins cleared his throat before pressing on quickly. ¡°I had never seen anything like it, and I know how our supply situation is looking, so I kind of... Filled in the form and requested food and medical supplies for our people. It seemed to automatically link my bank account, so I used my own money to post the Commission.¡±
The General grunted in response as he pushed the Private aside. Placing his own hands on the console, intending to investigate it personally, he frowned in confusion when the screen flickered and the form disappeared, leaving him staring at a blank command prompt. ¡°What the... What did you type to pull up that page?¡±
¡°Commissions, sir. It was the command that was already on the screen the first time I was here.¡±
The General quickly typed the command, his frown growing in intensity when nothing happened. Trying it once more, he huffed in annoyance at the still blank screen. After a moment, he tried different commands, easily accessing parts of the city''s maps and systems. Stepping back quickly, he waved Private Simins at the screen, nearly growling when the form appeared again under the young man''s prompting hands. ¡°These peripheral consoles are not supposed to have any of the new bio-metric locks. We''ve barely implemented them in critical areas.¡±
Irritably waving away the issues, he folded his arms and glared at the screen. ¡°Show me this Commission you posted. And tell me what happened after that?¡±
With a stroke of his finger, Private Simins was quick to do as the General said.
-
Siege Supplies ¨C With our city about to come under siege, we are laying in additional supplies. We can offer 1 credit per pound of edible foodstuffs. Any medical supplies for treating our soldiers will also be suitably rewarded, depending both on their quantity and usefulness. (Repeatable)
¡°Sir, the console required me to convert my Zathra into these things it calls Credits, which I guess is some other form of money...¡± Private Simins withered under the intense glare the General directed at him. ¡°Then it allowed me to post the Commission. I waited to see if there was some sort of a response, but nothing happened. So, I made my way back to my bunk and pretty much forgot about it.¡±
¡°You forgot about it?¡±
Private Simins nearly flinched at the scathing tone. ¡°Y-yes, sir. I thought maybe it was just a bug in the console or something. But, about a week later, I received a notification on my call unit telling me the Commission was filled and that I could retrieve my delivery. It directed me back here, where I found the bags of food and medical supplies. I then asked Jinx... Uh, I mean, Private Jinkans, to help me move it all to the depot.¡±
¡°And you said more supplies were delivered a week later?¡±
Private Simins relaxed slightly as the General''s tone softened. Suppressing a smile, he nodded quickly. ¡°Yes sir. I set the Commission to be repeatable as long as I had enough Credits. Every time I''ve gotten paid, I converted my extra Zathra to Credits to make keep it going.¡±
The General stood, deep in thought for several long minutes. The silence grew heavy before the older man broke it, his tone wavering between hope and fear as he struggled to control it. ¡°Do you know how these supplies are being brought in? City security has been tripled over the past month, and we''ve had no reports of breaches.¡±
Private Simins nodded quickly before shaking his head. At the General''s arched eyebrow, he hurriedly explained. ¡°I was concerned as well, sir. The deliveries have been fairly regular, so I requested two days leave and came down here to watch for it.¡± Gesturing to a damaged building nearby, his voice held a note of awe. ¡°I watched from over there... and, in the blink of an eye, the supplies just appeared here, all neatly bundled up.¡±
¡°They just appeared?¡±
Hearing the doubt in the General''s voice, Simins hesitated for a second. Lowering his voice despite no one else being around, he spoke with conviction, though an edge of pleading bled into his words. ¡°I swear Uncle Bok. I was watching the exact spot. Nothing was there, then I blinked and suddenly there''s bags and boxes full of stuff. I even tried recording it and it shows the same thing. One second there''s nothing, the next there''s stuff. Like a magic trick or something.¡±
General Bok Apsin''s tail drooped at his nephew''s tone, his mind racing over thoughts of their relationship. Had he been too tough on the boy? He sounded terrified that he wouldn''t be believed. Perhaps he should work on fixing things with his family, especially the nephew that was named after him...
Patting his nephew on the shoulder, he gave him an encouraging nod. ¡°Its okay Bokka. I know you wouldn''t lie about something this important. You can show me the recording later.¡± Looking around with a critical eye, Bok came to a decision. ¡°You said the deliveries are regular? When do you think the next one will be here? I want your squad here to monitor it and look out for any security issues.¡±
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Bokka''s tail waved in joy and excitement at the implied approval. His hard-case uncle wasn''t mad at him! It took a moment for the questions to register, and he rushed to answer. ¡°That''s why I brought you down here now, Uncle. If this Merchant Silk keeps to roughly the same schedule, the supplies should be here tonight or tomorrow. I was honestly hoping they would appear while you were here. I was worried... I mean, I wanted to be able to show you...¡± He trailed off lamely, struggling to find the words he needed to express.
General Bok turned back to his nephew, but his words died on his lips as his eyes widened in surprise. Sitting there, in the previously empty spot next to the console, were bags of food and bandages. ¡°Spirits above! When? How?¡± He sputtered for a moment as he hesitantly touch the strange looking food. It was so different from their own, but his people assured him it was safe to eat. The council was still on the fence, but if it came to eating strange food or starving, he knew what his soldiers would choose.
Pulling his straying thoughts back into line, an excited smile stretched across his face. ¡°Good. Good! I need to start things moving, get funds transferred so you can maintain the Commission. This won''t win the war, but damned if it won''t help us survive! We''ll need security on this square, just in case. And someone to move the supplies...¡± Trailing off in thought, he eventually clapped his nephew on the back. ¡°Since this thing seems to work for you, I''ll get you bumped up to lead the squad posted here. I know you won''t let me down.¡±
Turning and marching away, he tried to ignore the tears of joy and relief in his nephews eyes. Pausing just before he rounded the corner, he knew he couldn''t leave just like that. Looking back at the young man, The General was suddenly nervous. ¡°And... Tell your mother I''ll come by soon? Its been too long since I''ve visited.¡±
Casandra quietly entered the Shaman''s hut to find him praying before the Altar of Spirits once again. Kneeling to the side with a bowed head, she examined him out of the corner of her eye. His hair had gone completely white in just the last year, and dense wrinkles lined his face. Once gray skin had turned sickly pale, and two of his four arms no longer worked- one hung limp at his side, while the other ended at the elbow, the result of a bandit attack in his youth. His back was perpetually hunched, as though the burden of his role as their spiritual leader carried a physical weight. Despite all of that, he was always smiling. Always hopeful...
¡°Ah, my young disciple has returned. Did you have any problems performing the ritual?¡± The Shaman croaked, his voice hoarse and smokey as he struggled to pull himself to his feet.
¡°No, Shaman Elisha. I... I could feel the Spirits, working through me. The soil is more fertile and, come spring, will be easier to work. But...¡± Casandra sighed, her normally musical voice sounding discordant to her own ears and heavy with weariness and fear. ¡°I don''t think it will be enough. Even if we manage to grow enough food next year, I fear the damage will already be done. The children...¡±
Her voice hitched as tears welled in her eyes. Shaman Elisha clasped her shoulders gently with his gnarled hands. ¡°I know child. Things will be difficult going forward, for the village but especially for you. But the Spirits provide, Casandra. The spirits provide.¡±
Confusion spiked in her heart as she watched him pull the necklace from his own neck and run his wizened hands over it lovingly. Wooden charms hung from the necklace in intervals, each one made by a previous Shaman of their tribe and added to the necklace before they passed it, and the responsibility it represented, on to the next in line. Having seen the necklace everyday of the five years of her apprenticeship, she gasped in shock when she saw the new token that had been added. A simple wooden token with an apple carved into it.
Shaman Elisha chose the apple to represent his failing the tribe and his hope for salvation.
Not for himself, but for the tribe. Everything for the tribe.
¡°Shaman, you can''t! You still have many years to..¡±
Elisha carefully pulling the necklace over her head to hang around her neck cut her words off cleanly, and only choked sobs could be heard for a moment as he patted her hair tenderly. ¡°The Spirits provide, Casandra, though sometimes that means sacrifice. Remember this as you guide the tribe into a better future. I know you will do well, and I''m proud to be the first to call you Shaman.¡±
Elisha pulling her to her feet surprised her, his arms showing a strength the withered limbs should no longer possess. ¡°Now, Shaman Casandra, I ask you to bear witness to my last act in service of our tribe.¡±
Elisha''s back straightened as though he had finally put down a great weight as he strode confidently to the altar at the center of the hut. Without hesitation, he climbed up onto the altar and lay himself across it, staring up with wide eyes as though he saw something others could not.
For a brief moment, golden flames arose from the altar and surrounded the old man, consuming him. In an instant, they were gone.
And so was the former Shaman.
In their place sat a large brown box, the likes of which Cassandra had never seen. Approaching it cautiously, she poked the side experimentally. When nothing happened, she touched it again, finding the strange material to be softer than she expected as it flexed under her grasping hands. Seeing a pair of flaps being held down some sort of clear stripe, she held down the box with one hand and gripped a flap tightly, preparing to pry it open. With a flex of her strong arms, she yanked on the flap- only to tumbled back as she ripped a large chunk of cardboard free.
Eyeing the box warily, she discarded the chunk she had pulled free. The steep cost of this gift from the Spirits flickered through her mind and strengthened her resolve. Grabbing the box once more, she methodically tore sections away from the top until she could see inside.
A dozen smaller boxes greeted her, as well as a note written on some strange, white parchment.
Her brow furrowed as she picked up the parchment. While most of the tribe could not read, Elisha had insisted that she learn. Though he always complimented her progress with reading, she felt awkward and stupid as she sounded out what was written on the page. ¡°Chil-dren''s multi vi... vi-ta-mins?¡±
She paused for a moment at the strange word. What, exactly, was a vitamin? ¡°Inside the bott-les are multi vita... vitamin pills-¡± Her breath caught in her throat at the word. Did the Spirits send them magical pills to save their tribe? Quickly returning her focus to the note, she read on. ¡°-for children. Two pills a day will help sup-supple-¡±
Casandra groaned in frustration, wishing she had focused more on the reading lessons even as she pressed on. ¡°Sup-ple-ment their nu-tri-tion-al needs.¡± She stood, frozen in awe as she stared at the word. She remembered that word- sort of. Nutrition was a word Elisha used when talking about food. Did the Spirits truly send them magical food pills for the children?
Quickly reading the rest of the note, it explained that regular food was still needed, the magical pills simply helped the children when things like fruit and vegetables were in short supply. Tears of joy and relief flooded her eyes as she dropped to her knees in fervent prayer.
The Spirits provide. And, perhaps, the children would not suffer from stunted growth.
In his last moments as the golden fire consumed him, Elisha''s prayers were answered as he saw a message from the Spirits. He smiled with joy as he read it, knowing that the tribe would survive.
-
Think of the Children ¨C Transaction complete.
Chapter 18 - ...Goes Unpunished
The heavy oak chair groaned a complaint as the rotund man shifted his weight in agitation, the pair of men across the desk sweating in their expensive suits as he glared at them. His words seemed to have physical weight as they slammed into the two, nearly making them flinch. ¡°My son disappears in the middle of the woods, and you want me to believe that no one has a fucking clue as to where he went or what happened? Where the Hell was that useless bodyguard of his? Or those stupid sycophants that followed Carl around like dogs? Why don''t I see any of them here? I want answers, Damn it! What was he even doing in the fucking forest last night anyway!?¡±
The pair of men exchanged nervous glances before one stepped forward. Fixing his tie, he spoke quickly, hoping to deflect his employers anger. ¡°Mr. Hardeman, I''ve already made sure my firm has people down at the Police Station, ostensibly to defend post bail for your son''s bodyguard and... sycophants.¡± The man cringed internally saying that. Who actually used words like sycophant anymore? See his boss''s growing frown, he pressed on. ¡°From what we have gathered, Carl had them sabotage a car, belonging to someone named Oliver Silk, in the hopes of it breaking down. They then chased him into the woods, again under Carl''s instruction.¡±
¡°Apparently, Mr. Silk use to have a relationship with Carl''s girlfriend, Jess, and some sort of conflict arose between them because of that. All of the young men involve have expressed that it was Carl''s intention to hurt him, though some have mentioned that Carl had repeatedly declared that he ''wanted to kill Oliver''.¡±
The man could clearly see the fury mounting in Mr. Hardeman''s face. ¡°All of them have stated that they left Carl, Jess, and one of their number, who had been injured in the pursuit, behind as they searched the woods. That particular young man, I believe his name is Lewis, was nearly blinded by a trap Oliver set, and claims he was unable to see what happen. Though he did admit that he heard Carl shouting at Oliver and running off alone into the woods.¡±
He sighed in relief as he stepped back, folding his hands in front of himself. ¡°That is all the information I''ve been able to gather so far, sir.¡±
Mr. Hardeman glanced at the other of the pair, who spoke hurriedly. ¡°The Police, as well as search and rescue, have been combing the woods since roughly 4am. So far they haven''t found any sign of Carl, or of any evidence of wrong doing. It''s... It''s honestly like he just disappeared into thin air.¡±
Both men jumped in place when Mr. Hardeman suddenly slammed his hand onto the desk. ¡°People don''t just disappear! What about this Oliver asshole? Could he have done something to my son?¡±
The men exchanged a quick glance before the lawyer reluctantly spoke again. ¡°It was actually Oliver that called the Police to report him being attacked. After investigating, as well as interviewing Oliver, the detectives determined that he had only defended himself and had no part in Carl''s disappearance. They already let him go.¡± Clearing his throat, he hesitated before adding. ¡°Though, as far as I know, they have yet to find anyone else that could be involved.¡±
For several long minutes, the only sound in the office was fingers drumming heavily on the desk as Mr. Hardeman was deep in thought. Nodding to himself, he barked out his orders for the two. ¡°Keep looking into this, it''s your top priority until I say otherwise. And find me everything you can about this Oliver kid!¡±
The two men returned just as Mr. Hardeman finished his dinner that evening, who pushed his plate away and carefully wiped his hands clean on a napkin before acknowledging their presence. He looked at them expectantly as he spoke. ¡°What have you found?¡±
The lawyer stepped forward first, scanning several papers in his hands. ¡°The police haven''t found any suspicious vehicles or tire tracks. As far as they can tell, no one else was present in those woods besides Carl''s group and Oliver. Still no evidence that Oliver did anything to Carl, though the Detective I spoke to mentioned that their dogs followed Carl''s scent to what looked like the scene of a struggle. Scattered leaves, kicked up dirt...¡± Shrugging his shoulders, the man didn''t pretend to understand how they could determine a fight happened just by some leaves and dirt being tossed around. ¡°From there, Carl''s scent just disappeared. They have some CSI guys trying to figure out what was used to erase the trail, but they have yet to find anything.¡±
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Seeing his employer quickly growing angry again, he hurried to add, ¡°They did, however, confirm that the other person present at that scene was Oliver. And that, after whatever fight happened there, Oliver returned to the road where he was picked up by a friend of his, a Mr. Tyrone Biggs. He''s a football player at the University.¡±
Mr. Hardeman''s eyes narrowed in suspicion. ¡°If Oliver went back to the road, how do they know he didn''t have an accomplice waiting and just carried my son out? Could this Tyrone have been involved?¡±
The lawyer quickly shook his head. ¡°After all their questioning, they determined there couldn''t have been an accomplice. Not enough time, no evidence of anyone else being nearby.¡± He shrugged helplessly. ¡°And Mr. Biggs cooperated with them fully, gave a full account of his night, and even allowed them to search his vehicle. Again, nothing there. Other than the coincidence of him being there to pick Oliver up, he wasn''t involved at all.¡±
Grinding his teeth as the lawyer stepped back, Mr. Hardeman shifted his fierce gaze to his assistant. Stepping forward, the man laid a small packet of papers on the table for his boss. ¡°Sir, this is everything we found about Oliver. I-I can give you the highlights, if you would like?¡± He swallowed nervously as Mr. Hardeman slowly picked up the papers.
At his boss''s nod, he spoke hurriedly but clearly. ¡°Oliver Silk, twenty-five years old. His mother is deceased, his father abandoned them when Oliver was thirteen. He''s a student of the Music Department at the University. Currently employed by MDMS Inc, a small, older company that is privately owned. Very little information is available about the company.¡±
Clearing his throat, the man ordered his thoughts before continuing. ¡°Oliver has no close relatives. He lives with three other young men, friends of his. He is typically well liked by his classmates, though he is often described as quiet and reserved. Oliver has been dating someone named Polina for roughly the last month, though I haven''t found-¡±
¡°I can help with that, Isaac.¡± The lawyer interjected suddenly, an apologetic look on his face. ¡°My contacts down at the station mentioned that Oliver is dating one of their Officers, Polina Ramirez.¡±
The man flinched under Mr. Hardeman''s glare. ¡°Why didn''t you mention that earlier? Could she have been involved?¡±
Suddenly sweating, the lawyer shook his head rapidly. ¡°I-I''m sorry sir. It slipped my mind, since I was focused on the police''s findings. She couldn''t have been involved, sir. She was working at the time, and there is a clear log of her activities and locations.¡±
With an angry snort, Mr. Hardeman shifted his gaze back to Isaac and waved for his assistant to continue. ¡°Ah, yes, sir. By all appearances, Oliver is just a college student. Hard working, excellent grades, no criminal record.¡± Shrugging his shoulders helplessly, Isaac finished with much less confidence. ¡°There''s nothing to suggest he could, or even would, kidnap Carl. There''s barely even mention of him getting into fights before, and all of those were allegedly started by Carl.¡±
The duo shifted uncomfortably as they could feel the mounting fury in their boss at the lack of answers. Just before Mr. Hardeman could erupt with anger, something clicked in the mind of the lawyer and he rushed to speak up. ¡°Sir! There...There is one thing...¡± Seeing the rotund man restrain his anger, the lawyer pressed on. ¡°Something Rodney, your son''s bodyguard, mentioned-¡±
¡°And what does that useless asshole think he knows!?¡± Mr. Hardeman roared.
The lawyer swallowed audibly, but forced himself to answer while patting the air as though to physically push back his boss''s anger. ¡°Ah, well, sir... Rodney was a soldier... I mention that because, according to Rodney, Oliver felt dangerous. He likened chasing Oliver into the words to his unit walking into an ambush in Afghanistan. I know it''s not much to go on, but...¡±
Seeing Mr. Hardeman nodding along with a thoughtful look, he trailed off slowly and waited for his boss''s judgment. Long minutes passed, the duo sweating anxiously, before a response came.
¡°This Oliver kid... No evidence of anyone else and he has a grudge with my son? It has to be him. If he''s managed all this without the police finding anything, then he must have something or someone to rely on or help him.¡± His fingers drummed on the table as he thought, a vicious smile growing on his face. ¡°Lets put some pressure on him. Pull some strings to get him expelled and push the police investigation in his direction. Buy the company he works for, or, if they won''t sell, do what you can to suppress them. And his girlfriend, I know we have some pull with the department. Get her fired or put on leave or something. Make sure he knows that we have his balls in a vice.¡±
¡°I will make him beg to answer my questions. Now get to it.¡±
Chapter 19 – No Such Thing as Coincidence
Oliver had never felt such a powerful urge to pull his own hair out in his entire life. Even as problematic as Jess and Carl had been, they had never frustrated him nearly as much as the hellish abomination that was the bureaucratic run-around. Two hours spent on the phone, calling the University to try and get answers as to why he was expelled, constantly being transferred from one person to another. Always with the same ''You''ll have to talk to someone in another department'' or ''We don''t have that information available, please wait while I transfer you to someone that does''. Finally, he decided to head to campus to ask in person.
And frustration quickly turned to anger. After being run around for another hour he ended up in front of the Dean himself, and was promptly shut down.
¡°Mr. Silk, I understand you are upset over this situation, but my hands are tied. The Board determined that, for the well being of students and faculty alike, this was the best course of action. Concerns about the presence of someone being investigated for kidnapping on campus-¡±
¡°Wait.¡± Oliver interjected, surprised written clear on his face. ¡°I''m not being investigated for anything, the Detectives already determined that.¡±
The Dean shrugged awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with what was happening. ¡°Again, my hands are tied. The Board made the decision to expel you. I''ve reached out to the Police in an attempt to confirm things, but they won''t discuss active investigations.¡±
Oliver forced his fist to open and relax, knowing anger wouldn''t serve him here. Especially when the Dean actually seemed sympathetic to him. ¡°If the Police won''t discuss an active investigation, then how would the Board even know if I was being investigated or not? For that matter, some of the guys that chased me into those woods with the intent to hurt me are still wandering around campus without issue... And they are already facing charges. For violent crimes. Why have I been expelled, but not them?¡±
The Dean shifted uncomfortably in his seat before sighing. ¡°Mr Silk... Oliver. I honestly don''t know what to tell you. I actually questioned the Board about this decision and was shut down. Hard. You understand?¡± He gave Oliver a disheartened look, and his meaning was clear: For whatever reason, the Board threatened his job if he pushed back on this decision.
At Oliver''s reluctant nod, the Dean stood from his chair and patted the young man on the shoulder. ¡°I''m sorry about this, Oliver. And I''m sorry for what is about to happen as well, but I''m not in a position to stop it.¡± At Oliver''s questioning look, the Dean''s shoulders slumped further.
¡°You''ve also been banned from campus. I was... Instructed... to have campus security escort you off. Again, for the ''well-being'' of everyone.¡±
Oliver could hear the skepticism in the Dean''s voice. The man was clearly aware that Oliver was a model student, even going as far back as middle school. But, just as clearly, he didn''t have much of a choice in the situation.
So Oliver endured the humiliation of being escorted of campus. Past people he knew with questioning looks in their eyes. Past a couple of the guys that were with Carl in the failed attack on him, undisguised glee on their faces. Past some of his teachers who all looked concerned for him.
Oliver stoically endured being treated like a criminal, but he didn''t accept it.
He knew, deep down inside, that he was in the right.
The security officers stopped at the edge of campus and watched as he walked away.
Oliver walked slowly as he headed for home, his mind running through what was happening and what he could do to fix it. Appealing to the school didn''t seem to be an option, especially since he was banned from campus. Why was this even happening? He had already been cleared by the Police, so why-
He roughly pushed aside those thoughts. As important as they were, they wouldn''t help him right now. He needed to be objective. Barring that, he needed someone that could be objective- or at least more so than he was. Without thinking, he pulled out his phone and called the first person he thought of, a small smile crossing his lips when it was picked up after the first ring.
¡°Hey Poli.¡±
¡°Oli! I was just about to call you!¡±
Oliver frowned at the obvious distress in her voice. Had she somehow already heard about him being expelled? But they hadn''t spoken since he got the news, so how could she? ¡°What''s wrong hon?¡±
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He could clearly hear her sigh and plop down on the couch before she spoke hesitantly. ¡°It''s... bad news, Oli. And incredibly stupid.¡± For a moment she was silent, and Oliver almost thought she wouldn''t continue. ¡°For whatever reason, the State Police have gotten involved with the Carl bullshit. They pushed for the investigation into you to be re-opened. And, since we''re dating, I''ve been put on paid leave until it is resolved. No fucking idea why, seeing as I''m just a beat cop. I have no part in investigating the case anyway.¡±
Oliver stopped walking, his emotions rioting as he stared down at the ground and mumbled to himself. ¡°It can''t be a coincidence.¡±
¡°What was that Oli?¡±
Like flipping a switch, Oliver''s gaze went cold, his emotions freezing in place even as his mind raced. ¡°I got expelled today. For ''the well-being of students and faculty'', according to the Board. They don''t want someone that is being investigated for kidnapping to be on campus. They also didn''t do anything about the guys that are actually being charged for attacking me.¡±
The ice around his emotions threatened to crack as his fury swelled, but he squashed it instantly as his words continued. ¡°Add in the investigation being re-opened and you being put on leave, and it can''t be a coincidence. There''s no reason for any of it...¡±
The line went silent again as they both worked to process the whole thing. Suddenly Polina spoke, an idea having occurred to her. ¡°Oli, you said Carl''s family is rich, right? Do you know how rich exactly?¡±
Oliver grunted in annoyance as the obvious slapped him in the face. ¡°I don''t know exactly, but millions at least. They own some sort of agriculture distribution company, is what I think Carl said.¡± Oliver chuckled, though without humor. ¡°Though I doubt that asshole knew much more about it than how to spend the money.¡±
He could hear Poli growl softly on the other end of the line, the adorably fierce sound somewhat soothing him- Though her next words caused his worry to spike. ¡°You need to contact a lawyer, Oli. Companies like that always have connections, and if Carl''s family are assholes like him... It wouldn''t surprise me if they started calling in favors or bribing people. And you''re not just the obvious target for them, you''re basically the only target. The Department has no other leads.¡±
¡°So get a lawyer, Oli, before shit blows up. And come over to my place tonight, we''ll figure this out together. Ok?¡±
Oliver was pleased to discover that acquiring a lawyer was much easier, and quicker, than he would have originally thought. A phone call, digital contract, and a direct transfer for payment and the whole thing was settled before he finished walking home.
And, on arriving home, he was instantly glad for it.
He could feel the vein throbbing in his temple from the quickly returning frustration at the sight of a Police car waiting in his drive way. Already anticipating the trouble this visit was likely to bring, Oliver had his phone ready with his new lawyer''s number pulled up. The moment he set foot in his yard, two officers exited the vehicle and quickly approached him with stern looks on their faces.
¡°Oliver Silk?¡±
Suppressing a sigh, Oliver nodded slightly. ¡°That''s me.¡±
¡°We need you to come with us to answer some questions about the incident last Saturday night.¡±
Putting on his friendliest smile, Oliver glanced between to two of them. ¡°I already answer the Detective''s questions before he released me that very night. As far as I know, I''ve already been cleared of any sort of wrong doing.¡±
The two men shared a look before glaring at Oliver. ¡°Be that as it may, we still need you to-¡±
¡°Am I under arrest?¡± Oliver smoothly cut him off, his friendly smile never wavering. ¡°Or being detained for something?¡±
He could see the irritation flash through the officer''s eyes at being interrupted, but the man suppressed it quickly before he spoke. ¡°You are not under arrest, but we do have reason to detain you-¡±
¡°No, you don''t.¡± Oliver immediately cut him, struggling to stop the brief flash of amusement he got out of their angry look. ¡°To detain me, you would need both reasonable suspicion that I had committed a crime as well as at least some evidence to support that suspicion. As there is no evidence of me having committed a crime, there really isn''t anything there for you to detain me.¡±
A cunning light flashed through the officer''s eyes, and he smiled like he had caught something. ¡°And how would you be so sure there isn''t any evidence? Unless you managed to remove it before-¡±
Oliver''s sudden laughter cut him off once again, eliciting an infuriated grunt from the man. Shaking his head slowly, Oliver smirked at the duo. ¡°Trying to twist things to give yourself reason probably isn''t the best idea. You want to talk to me, contact my lawyer. And if you want to detain me without cause, well, I''m sure my lawyer would just love that. So, are we done here? Or should I call my lawyer so he can get started?¡±
¡°This isn''t a game, Mr. Silk.¡± The officer took an aggressive step forward. ¡°Two people are missing, and no matter how well you managed to hide things-¡±
Quickly growing tired of the pointless exchange, Oliver hit dial on his cell phone. Placing the phone to his ear, he spoke while ignoring the officer. ¡°Hi Mrs. Betty, this is Oliver again. I need to talk to Mr. Barton real quick; a couple of Officers showed up at my house and are insisting that I have to go answer some more questions.¡±
Oliver was grateful that involving his lawyer effectively chased off the clearly antagonistic officers. While it didn''t settle the issue, he knew without a doubt that it was the right move to get things going in his favor.
Now he just needed to figure out how to thank Polina for suggesting it.
Chapter 20 – Hungry for Payback
Two weeks, all too short and yet feeling like an eternity. Spending two weeks with Polina, talking, playing games, and just going on dates. It could have easily been the best two weeks of his life.
If not for the problems eating at him, always in the back of his mind.
Two weeks of wondering who was trying to ruin his life. Two weeks of waiting for answers from his lawyer. Two weeks of no Commissions because he was being followed by a patrol car anytime he left the house- not to mention his stalkers, though they never realized he was aware of their presence.
Though a part of him was glad for them being there, as it led him to more than a few ideas.
Mainly about his attributes.
At first, Oliver only knew of the police officers following him as they were quite obvious. But, in the back of his mind, was always this little itch. Like something was missing. It felt like he was searching his mind for a word he knew that constantly eluded him, only to surprise him when it finally clicked.
He was picking up groceries, planning to cook a nice meal for Polina to show her his appreciation, when it clicked. Standing in the meat department, carefully considering whether to cook a pork loin or steaks, movement to the side caught his attention just as the itch in the back of his mind reared up.
Glancing at the person casually perusing the other end of the store, a single thought rose in his mind: ''Have I seen them before?'' He stared blankly at the meats in front of him as he let his mind wander until he found the answer- he had, several times. Just a few days after his expulsion, when he took Polina to the movies. Then again at the garden center when he was picking up mulch. The park, a burger place, when he met with his lawyer...
The same person kept showing up, over and over. And they were watching him. Oliver could feel it, deep down inside. This person was following him, and they didn''t mean him well. He didn''t know how he knew, at least not at first, but an idea was building.
Spirit.
Oliver had always had a decent sense for trouble. A strong gut instinct, some would say. It''s how he had avoided going out with his high school friends the night they all got arrested for trespassing. How he figured out that Jess was cheating. It even warned him the approaching cars were trouble when his tires blew the night of the party. And, since getting the system and realizing there was more out there than he had ever known, he was more in-tune with the feeling than ever.
And the only explanation he could come up with was Spirit.
It made sense, even if it felt in-complete to him. The word spirit related to the non-physical and even the soul. Some even connected it to the supernatural, and, considering the system in his possession, Oliver wasn''t one to doubt the possibility. So, perhaps his Spirit Attribute- his soul- picked up on something from this person, and the itch in the back of his mind was just a subconscious warning of the danger they may represent.
Oliver couldn''t help but be pissed.
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It wasn''t enough for someone to try to ruin his life. It wasn''t enough that they went after his girlfriend. They just had to go even further and intrude of nearly every aspect of his life. Going for a walk, grocery shopping, date nights with Poli! It was too much.
And he had no intentions of just hiding away at home until it was over.
Which is why, after asking a few simple and harmless questions, Oliver was taking an unexpected phone call. From the county jail.
After a warning that the line was being recorded and a short wait, the other person came on the line with a slightly confused and disgruntled tone. ¡°Why the hell would you have your lawyer contact me and ask me to call you? Especially after that shit a couple weeks ago...¡±
¡°Hey Rodney.¡± Oliver hid the anger he was feeling, both at the situation and this man''s involvement. He knew it wouldn''t help, and he already had an approach in mind. ¡°I''m not going to beat around the bush, I have a question for you.¡±
¡°And why the hell do you think I''m going to answer?¡±
Oliver chuckled softly, shaking his head. Rodney already knew, thanks to Oliver''s lawyer, but clearly wanted confirmation. ¡°Because a good word from me could be the difference between prison and probation.¡±
Seconds ticked by, Oliver waiting calmly, until a quiet sigh echoed across the phone line. ¡°I''m actually surprised you don''t know, seeing as you and Carl use to be buddies-¡±
¡°We were never that close.¡± Oliver cut him off, harsher than he intended. Taking a deep breath, he pulled back on his emotions. ¡°Sorry, I''m still a little upset over the whole thing.¡±
He could hear the laughter in Rodney''s voice as the man spoke. ¡°Oh, man was I right. I told them to leave you alone. Something about you is just...¡±
¡°Who?¡±
Rodney actually laughed aloud this time, though there was no malice in the sound. ¡°It''s kinda funny, man. All that shit between you two and somehow you never knew that your buddy''s name was Carl Hardeman Jr.?¡±
Oliver actually facepalmed at the realization. How had that fact never come out? ¡°Thanks Rodney. For what it''s worth, I''m aware that you were pushed into that shit by Carl. And my lawyer will be sending yours a certified statement to that effect, including my request for leniency. I hope it helps.¡±
With a name and direction to work with, Oliver started his search. Not wanting to leave a digital footprint, he used one of the cheap smart phones with a prepaid card. It made digging for information online a little more tedious, but distancing himself from what was to come was well worth it.
Because he knew the blow-back would be of epic proportions.
He knew that someone willing to use underhanded methods to get at him would definitely protect themselves thoroughly. Guards, security systems, cameras... Going straight at someone like that would only end in tragedy. He needed an angle, something that would be distant from the man himself but still hurt him.
Unfortunately, Oliver could see no way to avoid collateral damage. Not and still be able to hit back.
Oliver watched the distribution warehouse through his binoculars, bright lights along the fence driving back the darkness of the night. Sneaking out after dark helped him avoid his ever present tails, but jogging across half the city ate away at his schedule- he needed to be done and home before dawn. The similarities with his last vigilante excursion didn''t escape him, and he smiled at the thought.
While security around Mr. Hardeman was undoubtedly tight, security for his business was a joke. Two security guards, alternating one in the guard post at the gate while the other walks a short patrol- and likely an alarm on the building itself. Of course, who would try to rob a distribution warehouse full of vegetables? And even if someone was desperate enough to try, how would they take enough for it to even matter?
Naturally, Oliver had no plans of actually taking anything out of the building.
Chapter 21 – The (Almost) Perfect Crime
Oliver watched for thirty minutes before he found his opening. The patrolling guard had just turned the third corner on his patrol inside the fence, and it would be nearly ten minutes before the other guard would reach Oliver''s entry point on his walk of the grounds. The nearby camera had just panned away, and Oliver broke into a near silent sprint. As he easily vaulted the ten foot fence, completely unhindered by the barb wire at the top, he marveled at the effects of his increased agility.
But testing his new limits would have to wait for later.
Angling to the right, he stayed just ahead of the turning of another camera in his mad dash to the wall. Launching himself up the wall, he scrabbled for a moment before managing to latch on to the window frame. Taking a firm grip, he pulled himself up just enough to look through the window. Luck, it seemed, was on his side once again.
On the front side of the building, opposite Oliver''s entry point, were the loading bays. Large doors, perfect for trucks to back up to and take on or drop off the goods they carried. The concrete lot out front occasionally lit up with the flickering light from the flashlight carried by the guard still on patrol.
But the side near him is what truly drew his attention.
Row after row of tall racks stood before him, with an incredible number of boxes arranged neatly on pallets and ready to be shipped. He knew from the little bit of research he had done that most of the vegetables in the building would be shipped out the next day- and near instantly replaced with more in a near endless cycle. It was all rather impressive, Oliver admitted to himself.
Seeing the place empty of any people thanks to the late hour, he stopped hesitating and got to work. Pulling himself up fully, he balanced precariously on the window frame and pulled a heavy hammer from the system warehouse. Taking a deep breath, he turned his head away as he slammed the hammer into the tempered glass- then repeated his strike when it failed to fully shatter.
Glass rained down onto the floor beneath him, and Oliver quickly followed it.
Landing carefully among the shattered glass, he knew his time was limited. And alarm was likely already going off in the security room, not to mention an alert being sent to the police. Glancing at his watch, he started his five minute timer- average police response was estimated at eight minutes, but he wanted time to get clear of the building before they arrived.
He didn''t bother to read the details of the Commissions he filled, any request for food was instantly completed as he walked down the rows. Briefly grabbing a loaded pallet with each step, he triggered the Commissions and kept moving as mountains of food disappeared behind him. The credits per pound of foodstuffs didn''t matter in the moment, simply completing them as quickly as possible- 1 Credit per pound, per 5 pounds, 10 pounds... It didn''t matter. Others needed the food, and he would gladly send them Mr. Hardeman''s ''donation''.
Though he wondered, would insurance compensate them for food that literally just disappeared? He doubted they would, but it was something to consider.
When the five minute timer, Oliver glanced at the remaining shelves and sighed in regret. He had managed to get about 25% of what was there, but it felt like he had hardly made any progress in his effort to strike back at the man causing him so many issues. Even if everything he took was worth more money than he had made in his entire life before the system, it was still hardly worth mentioning to the millionaire that owned the business.
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Jogging back to the window, he was quick to climb up to the window- and just as quick to drop back down. Sitting directly out from the broken window was a Police car with two people talking beside it, one of the security guys and a Police Officer that Oliver recognized- Officer Franklin Pierce, Polina''s friend.
Oliver''s mind was racing through the possibilities and options as he ran to the front of the building. One glance outside confirmed his fears: the other security guard was out front alongside another Police Officer. Suddenly feeling trapped, he paced along the rows again, absently filling Commissions as he muttered to himself trying to work things out.
¡°They must have been nearby when the alarm went off to respond so quickly. But what are they waiting for?¡± Brushing his hand across pallets that quickly disappeared, the answer came to him easily. ¡°Backup. They''re waiting for backup. Trying to clear a place this size with just two of them is too risky. That means I have time to figure something out. But what?¡±
¡°Break a window on the side and run? Too loud, they''ll come running the instant I do... and I damn sure don''t want to get shot.¡±
Time seemed to race as fast as his thumping heart with Oliver wracking his mind for a way out. He doubted hiding would work; he didn''t know the warehouse well enough to be confident in evading the search of even two Officers, let alone however many were coming. Running wasn''t an option. Even with his now higher Attributes he certainly didn''t feel super-human. And most police chases ended in an arrest; it was simply too hard for a person to escape an organized team of pursuers. And he definitely wouldn''t fight them. Even if there was a chance of winning, he couldn''t bring himself to hurt Officers that were just trying to do their job.
So what was left? Just give up and get arrested? With everything sent off by the System, they at least couldn''t convict him of theft. But breaking and entering was already bad enough, especially with everything else already stacked against him thanks to Mr. Hardeman.
With time quickly running out, Oliver began to grow frustrated. He had this incredible, magical System helping him do things he never imagined and yet here he was, trapped. As the thought crossed his mind, he paused in place and his soft laughter echoed across the nearly empty warehouse around him. Magical. System.
Of course magic was the answer. He just needed to-
The crash of a door being slammed open cut off Oliver''s laughter in an instant. Ducking behind one of the remaining pallets, he reached into the System Warehouse and pulled out his last option: the Scarper Charm.
Scarper Charm ¨C On activation, creates a temporary portal to a safe location within 1 mile. Portal remains active for 5 seconds. 1 charge is consumed on each activation. Charm is destroyed when no charges remain. (3 charges)
Quickly focusing his will on activating the charm, he stared in awe blue pinprick of light appeared in front of him before rapidly spiraling open into a glowing blue hole in reality. It instantly made him think of a specific science fiction TV show about a group traveling through a similar-though much larger- gate to distant worlds. Shaking off the unnecessary musings, he hesitated only for a second before he jumped through.
He wasn''t sure what he expected when traveling through the strange portal, but he definitely expected more than what he got.
Which was nothing.
One second he was in a warehouse with cops charging in, ready to apprehend the person that broke in. The next second, he was standing in an empty bathroom. A brief moment of panic flashed through him at the uncertainty of where he was before the portal disappeared, taking the little light it gave off with it. And leaving him in total darkness.
Oliver carefully cracked the door open to peek out at an empty hallway. Slowly he eased the door open, checking both ways before he inched his way out. A glance to his left showed a pair of open doorways leading to equally empty room, while to his right the hall ended at what appeared to be a living room- though one without furnishings. He had already figured the place to be unoccupied from the lack the usual toiletries in the bathroom, but felt it was better not to assume anything.
This night had already had enough surprises for him.
Quickly passing through the empty room, he looked through curtain-less windows until he found what he was looking for: the distant lights of police cars, and a street sign.
Now he just needed to make it home without getting arrested.
Chapter 22 – A Major Key Change to Unlock a New Future
The sun was just starting to rise as Oliver let himself back into Polina''s house. The sound of her soft snores carried through the otherwise silent home, and Oliver let out a relieved sigh that she was still asleep. He quickly started a a fresh pot of coffee brewing before hopping in the shower, eager to scrub off the accumulated sweat and grime from his night time adventure.
Oliver had just started on a simple breakfast when his girlfriend joined him, wrapping her arms around him from behind. ¡°You know, I could almost get use to this...¡± She sighed softly in his ear and buried her face in his back.
¡°I know you miss your job, hon. I''m sorry I caused-¡±
¡°No, Oli.¡± She cut him off gently yet forcefully. ¡°You didn''t cause anything. Carl was an asshole that caused you problems. Now that he''s disappeared, its obvious where he gets it from. I still can''t believe this shit. It''s stupid.¡±
Oliver pecked her lips tenderly before turning back to the cooking food. ¡°People are people, and that means some of them are assholes. Hopefully my lawyer is making some headway on this mess. It''s getting more than a little annoying.¡±
Polina just shook her head, a soft snort of amusement escaping her as she turned to fix herself a cup of coffee. ¡°You''re a bit too nice sometimes Oli. You know that, right?¡±
¡°For the people I care about? Always.¡±
His soft, distant tone drew her attention back to him instantly. Seeing the far away look in his eyes, she touched his shoulder gently. ¡°Everything ok hon?¡±
Oliver visibly shook off whatever thoughts that had been going through his mind and smiled brightly at Polina. ¡°Yeah, everything fine. Just some old memories...¡±
¡°Do you want to talk about it? If it''s unpleasant, I understand.¡±
Oliver shrugged his shoulders before carrying the plates to the table. ¡°Thinking about the lawyer reminded me of my dad...¡±
Polina gently took Oliver''s hand. ¡°I''m sorry, Oli. I can''t even imagine...¡± Shaking her head sadly, her sympathy was obvious. After a moment, she asked the first thing that came to mind, hoping to help him push past the memory of another lost family member. ¡°So, your father was a lawyer?¡±
The question jarred Oliver out of his wandering memories, and he stared blankly at her for a moment before chuckling softly. ¡°Ah, no love. It actually reminded me that my mom''s lawyer was getting ready to serve the divorce papers- right after we moved out. Not that any of that ended up happening the way we expected, since my father abandoned us first.¡±
Polina rocked back in surprise at the explanation, not expecting it at all. ¡°I''m sorry Oli. I guess I read too much into that...¡± Seeing Oliver''s understanding smile, she pushed off the embarrassing moment quickly. ¡°So, do you want to talk about your father?¡±
Oliver shook his head without hesitation. ¡°Not really. He... wasn''t a good person. An abusive alcoholic hell bent on ''making me a man''. Honestly, I would rather forget him.¡±
Polina''s reassuring smile pushed away the unwanted memories as the two enjoyed their quiet breakfast together.
Oliver had just finished washing the dishes from their breakfast when a knock came at the front door, which was quickly answered by Polina who had been reading in the living room. Putting away the last plate, he dried his hands before he headed that way to see who was there. At the door was a familiar detective, one he had seen before but wasn''t familiar with.
His arrival didn''t go unnoticed as he caught the end of Polina''s heated response.
¡°-considering we share a bed, I''m pretty damn sure! What''s next Brown? IS the department planning to blame him for every random crime that pops up?¡±
Oliver slowed his approach to examine the detective, already certain what he was here for. He was an older black man, hair going gray at the temples and sprinkled throughout his well groomed beard. His eyes gleamed with intelligence, though the apologetic look he threw at Polina showed his feelings clearly.
¡°Come on, Ramirez, don''t bust my balls over this. You know how it is.¡± Shaking his head sadly, he glanced at Oliver for a second before looking back at the agitated woman. ¡°I was told to come and ask, so that''s what I have to do. My... opinions... about those orders don''t matter. It''s the job.¡±
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Polina relaxed slowly, a sympathetic look replacing her anger. ¡°Yeah... Sorry Paul. I''m just getting frustrated with this crap. Them harassing Oli, putting me on leave... It''s stupid. And it pisses me off.¡± After another second to compose herself, she turned to Oliver with a smile. ¡°Oli, this is Detective Paul Brown. He has a couple questions for you.¡±
Hesitating for a second, she quickly added on. ¡°He''s one of the good ones, but you may still want to call your lawyer.¡±
The detective kept his expression carefully neutral, though he did offer an almost imperceptible nod when their eyes met. After a moments thought, Oliver pulled out his phone and quickly connected with his lawyer. After a brief exchange, his lawyer agreed to advise him over the phone.
Detective Brown''s questions came as no real surprise to Oliver, though he was careful not to let that slip.
¡°Mr Silk, where were you last night between the hours of midnight and three AM?¡±
Oliver frowned as if to puzzle out why he was being asked. ¡°I''m pretty sure the guys you have watching me could tell you, but we went to bed around 10PM. I think I got up and went to the bathroom around midnight.¡±
¡°And you didn''t leave the house at any point?¡±
Oliver''s lawyer took that opportunity to jump in. ¡°Detective, I have to wonder why you''re pressing this matter. Both Mr. Silk and Ms. Ramirez have already stated where he was. Is he being suspected of something? Perhaps I should be physically present for this...¡±
Detective Brown shook his head after a moment, a brief smile crossing his face. ¡°That won''t be necessary Mr. Barton. I''ll note that he cooperated with my questions. Thank you all for your time.¡±
With the detective gone, Oliver thanked his lawyer before hanging up. When Polina leaned against the door with a tired sigh, he hugged her gently. ¡°Don''t let it get to you hon. Everything will all work out, ok?¡± At her nod, he kissed her forehead gently. ¡°I think you need a break. That''s why I booked you a little spa day, down at that place you like. The full package...whatever that is.¡±
He smiled softly at her laugh, as they both understood he genuinely had no idea what a spa package involved. ¡°Go get ready love. Your appointment is in an hour.¡±
¡°What are you going to do while I''m gone?¡±
He chuckled softly as he nudged her towards the bedroom. ¡°I''ll watch some TV. Maybe even take a nap. Just a nice, relaxing day.¡±
With his girlfriend out of the house, Oliver settled on to the couch to finally check his gains from the night before. Pulling up his system window, his eyes twitched at how much he had made.
Currency Exchange
-
1 Credit = $10 USD
-
Account Balance ¨C 64,397 Credits
*Non-Unified world detected. Alternative local currencies provided by request only.
*Credits can be exchange for the users local currency. Funds are deposited directly into the users bank account. All deposits are secure and discreet, listed as pay from an employer(MDMS Inc). All deposits are listed as in compliance with local tax laws. Required documentation will be provided on request.
Oliver couldn''t restrain the small smile that crossed his face. He knew his approach had been inefficient for earning credits, but the extra time he took before escaping had clearly boosted his balance nicely. Doing some quick mental math, his smile only grew broader as he realized he could easily raise the rest of his Attributed to 16 and still afford the last locked tab.
He reclined on the couch, enjoying the pleasant warm currents running through his body with each attribute increase. Eventually, his attention turned to a prompt he was both dreading and looking forward to.
Unlock new feature?(Costs 25,000 credits)
Yes/No
With a flex of his Will, Oliver selected Yes. His body grew heavy, and his mind sluggish as exhaustion quickly pulled him under. Just before sleep took him, he was surprised by another prompt.
Hidden criteria met. System Evolution Triggered.
He was unable to react before darkness and dreams took him.
Chapter 23 – Past the Pain
Pain blurred the frail looking boy''s vision as he hit the muddy ground, reflexively curling into a ball to shield himself. Though a second blow never came, the shouting that followed made him flinch.
¡°You don''t listen for shit, do ya boy? You snapped the damn line and let the fish go. For fucks sake...¡± A sharp kick to his side made the boy flinch again, though he never made a sound. ¡°Get up, boy, and fix your pole. Dinner tonight is whatever you catch... If your dumb ass catches anything.¡±
¡°Jim, honey.¡± The boy''s mother chimed in hesitantly, a tremor of fear running through her voice. ¡°He''s only eight. I''m sure Oli didn''t mean to-¡±
A sharp smack sounded, and Oliver looked up to see his mother forcing back tears as she held her already reddening cheek. The man- his father, as the man hated to be called ''Dad''- took a sip of his beer without even looking at the family he so casually brutalized.
¡°Don''t matter what age he is. The boy needs to learn how to do shit right if he ever wants to be a man. And you need to stop fucking coddling the little shit.¡±
His mother fell silent, though she sent worried looks at Oliver as he picked himself up. Hands awkward with inexperience, Oliver silently begin trying to tie a new hook on his fishing line. Thankfully, he was completely ignore by his father as the man continued fishing- and drinking, though that was such a common occurrence that Oliver wasn''t sure he had ever seen the man without a beer in his hand.
Even at such a young age, he knew that things weren''t right in their family. While his father did all the same things with him that he saw other father a son duos doing, it wasn''t really the same at all. No matter what he did, it wasn''t right. No matter how hard he tried, it wasn''t good enough. And every failure ended in yelling and insults. Or being beaten.
Or worse, his mother being hurt because she protected him.
He had tried crying, yelling begging... Anything to stop him from being hurt. Anything to stop his mother from being hurt. But that only made things worse, so he learned to be silent. Eventually, even that wasn''t enough and just the look in his eyes was enough to set his father off.
The man called it disrespectful, and that was enough to deserve a swift backhand.
Oliver''s stomach rumbled as they drove home. He avoided the disgusted look in his father''s eyes, knowing that he wouldn''t get any of the dozen fish in the cooler beside him. His father said he wouldn''t get dinner if he didn''t catch it, and the man always followed through on threats like that- as long as he didn''t pass out drunk first.
Though maybe mom would sneak something to him later, like she always tried to do.
Oliver was out of bed and scrambling before the sound fully registered. Yelling and sobbing cries crashed over him in waves as he yanked open the closet door. Silently closing the door behind him, he shifted a box over and slithered through the opening behind it. Carefully sliding the box back in front of the hole, he slide backwards in the darkness until he reached the wall. The crawl space was narrow and uncomfortable, but it was the one place in the house his father didn''t know about and couldn''t easily get to.
It was Oliver''s safe place, and the place his mother told him to hide on nights when things got bad. Nights just like this one.
Fumbling around in the dark, he desperately tried to ignore the muffled shouts coming from the house until he found the closed plastic container he kept here just for nights like this. Opening the container, he hurriedly pulled out the headphones stored inside. Hitting play, music flooded his ears and masked the sounds of violence and pain.
He lost track of time as the music flowed over him. Jazz, blues, symphonies, rock, pop... The style of music didn''t matter. Music was emotions given form and substance, and Oliver drowned himself in those feelings so that he wouldn''t drown in his own.
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His mind kept drifting to his parent''s fight, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it. He knew the cause of the fight, and the reason his mother would be wearing a long sleeve shirt on a hot day tomorrow- his birthday. He had asked for a saxophone for his tenth birthday. He wanted to make beautiful music to bring hope and joy and happiness to other people.
His father didn''t approve. He rarely approved of anything Oliver wanted, but this time especially. Oliver knew his mom must have tried to convince him again. It didn''t take much to set his father off, and ''questioning his decisions'' was definitely one of the quickest.
Oliver''s legs grew numb as he hid in the dark, listening to music. When the battery died and his music stopped, he cautiously pulled himself out of the crawl space. Relieved at finding the house silent, he cracked open the closet door and peeked out to see his mom laying on his bed.
Despite the bruises dotting her arms and face, she smiled brightly at him before whispering softly. ¡°Happy birthday Oli.¡±
Oliver stared numbly at the lump of metal sitting at his feet. What had once been a beautiful musical instrument, his most prized possession, was now just a crumpled ruin. His joy at being picked as section leader for the saxophones in his middle school concert band broke as his drunk father stomped on the instrument once again.
¡°Fucking waste of time, I told you. Don''t know how many times I have to say it before you understand, but you need to grow the fuck up and learn that music ain''t gonna take you anywhere in life.¡±
¡°And you wanted him to play football? You think that would take him anywhere? At least Oliver likes music! You-¡±
His father may have missed it, but Oliver thought he heard a tinge of anger in her words towards the end before a sharp slap cut her off. After years of constant abuse, anger surged in Oliver for a brief moment and he spoke before he could restrain it. ¡°Why are you always such an asshole!?¡±
His father struck before he even realized it. It wasn''t an open handed slap like he had grown use to, but a heavy closed fist slamming into the side of his face that sent him crashing into the wall. He collapsed to the floor with the second blow, and the screaming started. ¡°You better watch how you fucking talk to me boy! Disrespecting me in my own God damn house?¡±
Oliver''s vision swam as blow after blow rained down on him. Slaps to his face, punches and kicks to his body. Blood spilled from his split lips and busted nose, though somehow he remained silent throughout. He wouldn''t give his father the satisfaction of hearing him scream or seeing him cry. With a loud crack the blows suddenly stopped. Oliver hesitated for a moment before lowering his arms from where they were protecting his face. With one eyes already swollen shut, the other widened in shock at what he saw.
Blood dripped from the broken lump of metal that use to be his saxophone, splattering across the white tiled floor. His mother, chest heaving with fury and adrenaline, held it loosely in her hand. When their eyes met, she quickly dropped it and rushed over to check on him, deliberately blocking his view before he could truly process more. ¡°Oli! Are you ok baby?¡±
Oliver nodded dumbly as she checked him from head to toe, fussing over every bruise and pain. After a minute, he finally gathered himself to speak. ¡°Mom... Is he...¡±
She flinched, and the look of fear and anguish on her face said it all. Her voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I''m sorry Oli... He was killing you... I couldn''t... I didn''t mean to...¡± She breathed in raggedly, as her emotions ran wild. ¡°I couldn''t let him keep hurting you, even if... Even if it means me going to prison for the rest of my life. Even if they decided its self defense, I don''t know if they will let me keep you...¡±
Her words had grown so soft that Oliver barely heard them, though it was clear she didn''t mean for him to hear the last bit. Straightening her shoulders, she smiled lovingly at him. ¡°At least you''ll be safe now. Ok? You can make music and do whatever you want... It will be ok, understand? It will all be ok.¡±
Oliver''s mind raced over what she said and all the implications. He knew he was different. He never really understood why; maybe it was because of how his father treated them, or maybe he was just born different. But finally, Oliver accepted it and understood something important:
Sometimes being different was useful.
¡°Uncle Willie has pigs.¡±
Oliver''s cold, detached voice cut off his mother''s tears. Leaning back to meet her son''s eyes, she stared into them in confusion. ¡°Yes? But... Why? What does that-¡±
¡°Pigs will eat everything but the teeth and hair. It''s better than he deserves anyway.¡± Oliver took her hand gently, a touch of warmth seeping into his voice even as he winced from the pain of his bruised ribs. ¡°I don''t want to lose you, mom. Not because of him, not for any reason. Ok? We can just tell people that he ran out on us. It happens to people all the time, right?¡±
Silence stretched between them as his mother sat, stunned and uncertain. Looking into her son''s eyes, her heart swelled with the love she held for her precious baby boy. Firming up her will, she nodded decisively.
She would do anything to protect her son.
Chapter 24 – An Evolving Future
Burn in Hell, you abusive bastard.
The thought flitted through Oliver''s mind as he levered himself upright on the couch. He quickly shrugged off the old memories brought up by his dream. He hadn''t thought about the asshole that fathered him in a long time, and didn''t feel there was much of a need to. He was gone, and Oliver''s life was better for it.
So was his mom''s, until the end, and that''s what really mattered to him.
Seeing that he was still alone in the house, he checked the time to see that only an hour had passed since Polina left for her spa day. ¡°What is it about these system updates that fuck with my dreams?¡± He muttered to himself before his eyes brightened with excitement. Quickly pulling up his system window, his eyes widened at the notification he received.
System Evolution Completed.
Bounty Board has been updated.
Auction House has been unlocked.
Oliver sat staring at the window for a minute, unsure where to begin. With no idea if there were other benefits to the system evolution than what was listed, he really only had two choices on what to check out. The Auction House was clearly the new tab he had unlocked, but how exactly was the Bounty Board updated?
Eventually, he settled on checking the Bounty Board first. Having used it just once before, he had at least some idea of how it operated and could likely pick out what changes were made. Immediately upon opening the tab, he saw the difference.
Bounty Board
-
View Listings
-
Post Bounty
Instead of the list of available bounties he saw before, he was now presented with two sub-tabs. The first seemed obvious, but he was surprised to see another change when he mentally clicked on it.
Available Bounties
-
Local
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Universal ¨C Complete 5 Local Bounties to unlock (1/5 completed)
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Extraversal ¨C Complete 5 Universal Bounties to unlock (0/5 completed)
Oliver almost couldn''t believe what he was seeing. Local. Universal. Extraversal. Did that mean that there were bounties in other universes that he would be able to do? Could he actually travel to not just another world, but another universe entirely? His mind boggled at the thought... Until a new, terrifying thought occurred to him.
Did that mean there were alien bounty hunters out there, traveling from universe to universe and hunting things?
Or hunting people?
Had Earth even been visited my a Mutiversal Bounty Hunter before?
Slowly composing himself, Oliver pushed away the worrying idea. Regardless of the answers to his questions, there was nothing he could do about it. No point in stressing over something he wasn''t even sure of, and could do nothing about. Yet.
Refocusing himself on the screen in front of him, he pressed on to try and understand everything that was available to him. That meant finishing his inspection of the updated Bounty Board. Quickly backing out of the current sub-tab, he mentally clicked on the next.
Post Bounty
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Local, Universal, or Extraversal? (Please select one)
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Target:
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Please provide all relevant information on selected target:
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(Target may be an individual, item, or objective of host''s choosing. Specific targets may incur a higher cost, depending on difficulty. Host may select more general targets- for example, a magical sword as opposed to Excalibur. General targets incur lower costs, but may have some variance. Bounty range, target and relevant information are used to determine difficulty and price.)
Oliver was surprised by the extra information provided by the system. Mostly he had been forced to rely on his own exploration and experimentation to figure out how to use the system. For it to suddenly explain so much... Could it be because of the evolution?
Pondering the implications, he spent a minuted fiddling with the form for posting a bounty. As a test, he entered all the information he knew off the top of his head for a ridiculous bounty- just to see what the response would be.
Calculating Bounty...
Spend 109,217,400 Credits to post Bounty: Excalibur? (Yes/No)
Oliver nearly choked at the price listed. Over a hundred million credits, or a billion dollars, to hire a bounty hunter to find Excalibur? It was an insane amount... Though he wasn''t sure if it was insane to spend so much, or insane for a weapon literally out of a legend to only cost that much. Glancing forlornly at the few thousand credits in his possession, he quickly hit no and backed out of the window.
The whole prospect was more than a little intimidating. Though it did answer one of his questions... and add several more.
There were system approved bounty hunters either on Earth or able to come to Earth.
But were they Human? Or were all the conspiracies about alien visitors truer than people believed?
He reminded himself again that it wasn''t something he could answer or do anything about. Not yet, at least.
Quickly grabbing a drink, Oliver sipped at it as he worked to force away all the intruding thoughts and questions. There was a lot of potential and options for the Bounty Board available to him, but right now he need to focus on checking out everything new with the system.
And that meant checking out the Auction House.
Auction House
Auction slots: 5/week (5/5 available)
Open Auction? (Yes/No)
(Here, the Host may place things up for auction to be purchased by entities from across the Multiverse. Entities may bid using System Credits or trade. Host may determine what bids are accepted or rejected. Anything placed for auction must be in Host''s possession at the start of the auction. The System collects a 10% tax from Host on all Auction House transactions. In the case of a trade bid being accepted, System tax is based on the calculated value of the goods received by Host.)
Oliver was stunned by the information he was provided. Again it was more than he expected. But, more than that, the sheer potential of what he read made him re-read it several times. Sure, he could earn even more credits. But the option of trading for things from other planets and Universes?
His mind was blown by the possibilities.
Magical items? New technologies? Exotic foods or spices?
Not to mention things that may well be beyond his imagination.
Oliver had jumped to his feet, but slowly he sank back on to the couch as he calmed his racing heart. Before he could even think about what he may get out of the auction, he first had to consider what he would sell. Auctions usually implied the wealthy and influential; what would such people, especially ones from completely different planets and universe, want from an auction?
Would the delicacies of Earth be exotic enough for them? Would they want jewelry? Fancy clothes? Weapons or technology? He had no idea what they would want.
And what if they already had things similar to what he could provide? Were their universes different enough for them to still be interested?
Oliver lost track of time as he sat there, deep in thought. His mind constantly questioning what he could offer to being he had absolutely no concept of... Until Polina plopping down in his lap pulled a startled grunt from him.
She chuckled softly at his surprised as she hugged him. ¡°Thank you for the spa day hon.¡± Planting a quick kiss on his lips, he caught the soft scent of lavender on her skin as she snuggled in close to him. ¡°It''s a bit unlike you to be so unaware. So, what had you so focused you didn''t even hear me come in?¡±
Oliver gave her a warm hug as he chuckled in embarrassment. ¡°Umm... Multiverse theory?¡± Seeing the glint of amusement in her eyes, a thought popped into his head to fish for some ideas from his girlfriend. ¡°I know you know what that is... I was just thinking, what do we have here on Earth that people from another Universe would consider exotic or valuable? What would they be willing to trade for?¡±
Seeing the thoughtful look on her face, he waited as patiently as he could for her response. After a moment, she smirked at him and spoke confidently. ¡°Tequila.¡±
Oliver was gobsmacked for a moment before he started laughing. ¡°Seriously? Tequila? Why would they want that?¡±
His laughter cut off when she smacked him on the shoulder, giving him a mock glare. ¡°What? It''s a good answer. For all we know, the universe you''re talking about could be ruled by dinosaurs or sentient bugs. Maybe they never created tequila. Just about anything could be exotic or valuable, given their circumstances. Just about anything could be valuable to them. Cola, chalk, silk, peanuts... Hell, for all we know they could be they could be on the brink of extinction and just be desperate for people to help them repopulate or something.¡±
¡°You''re working for some trading business, right? You know that the value of something isn''t set. Its supply and demand, right? Now come on, lets go grab dinner. We can talk Multiverse theory while eating if you want, you big nerd.¡± Chuckling, she bumped his shoulder with her own before hopping up. Oliver trailed after her, a thoughtful look on his face before he quickly refocused on his girlfriend.
He would have to figure out another way to thank her later. She had helped him way more than she would ever realize.
Chapter 25 – Bid Farewell
Lady Indria Moonthistle, heir of Clan Moonthistle and Diplomatic Envoy for the Kingdom of Nisse, calmly sipped her tea as she stared into the milky white eyes across the table. Though she would never let it show, the sight of her companion always pained her. Like a twisted reflection, she couldn''t help but marvel at how similar, yet how different, they were. The same graceful and lithe build, the same porcelain pale skin, the same earthy brown hair color... Though her hair was always impeccably styled and brushed, her companion''s was a tangled mess that looked to have never been graced by comb or brush. That and their eyes, hers being emerald flecked with gold, were the only real differences.
Of course, it made sense for twins to be so similar.
Indria wished, once again, that her sister would let her take care of her like she did when they were younger. But her sister always refused, insisting that a ''Lady'' of her standing shouldn''t lower herself to groom one of their aides... And often claiming that she should maintain the image of physical decline to mirror the deterioration of her mind.
Though Indria was sure her sister''s mind was as sharp as ever, and that the myth of Seers slowly descending into madness was exactly that, she allowed the fiction to persist if for no other reason than to protect her sister from those who would try to take advantage of her.
¡°You are always so patient with me sister.¡±
Indria smiled softly at her sister, setting down her teacup and reaching out to take her hand. ¡°And I always will be, Alana.¡± Indria''s smile quickly shifted to a knowing smirk as she tossed her hair back, revealing a sharply pointed ear with multiple jeweled piercings dotting it. She reach up and lightly brushed the tip of her finger across an emerald stud. ¡°You can stop being dramatic now, the room is warded. What do you have to tell me?¡±
Alana chuckled softly and grinned at her sister. ¡°Very well. An auction is starting soon. I will channel my vision to allow you to join it, as there is something there that will benefit your negotiations with the dwarves of Zwer. Though you will have to face down that human Prince and his... advances... on your own.¡±
Indria grimaced slightly, shaking her head with a sigh. ¡°I can handle Prince Adevar. I am curious about this auction. What sort of auction requires a Seer to channel her vision just for me to participate? What is being offered for sale? How will we pay and receive our purchases? And-¡±
¡°Always one for questioning.¡± Alana interrupted her sister with a snicker. ¡°You will see, sister. It is about to begin.¡±
Lonomia, Queen of the Eternal Swarm, shivered in anticipation as she sat upon her throne. Behind her, drones are quick to remove the remains of the chrysalis from her fifth transformation in pursuit of perfection. While this small humanoid form lacked the power and breeding capabilities of her previous forms, it offered other advantages that she was eager to explore. Besides, if she needed power she had soldiers for that. And the thousands of sub-queens that served her were more than capable of breeding more when needed.
Her daughters would serve as the Swarm needed. They would serve as their queen commanded.
Lonomia put aside these thoughts as the moment was upon her. A new presence intruded on the hive mind that connected her people. It felt... old, ancient beyond her comprehension. And incredibly powerful, enough to send fear coursing through even her. She instantly raised a partition within the hive mind, something she rarely did but was necessary to protect her people.
And prevent the chaos that such a presence would inevitably cause.
The knowledge of what she needed to do had somehow simply appeared in her mind, and she hesitated only for a second before reaching out to connect to the new presence.
Welcome to the MDMS Auction House!
Hosted by: Silk
Lady Moonthistle has joined the auction.
Unit E4250B1131 has joined the auction.
Anonymous has joined the auction.
Ves of the Ascendant Pride has joined the auction.
Regent Dustbrin has joined the auction.
Greengrass of the Verdant Vale has joined the auction.
Queen Lonomia has joined the auction.
Kingsler has joined the auction.
Anonymous has joined the auction.
Steve Stevenson has joined the auction.
The Bloodgorger of Myrn has joined the auction.
Uthus the Bold has joined the auction.
Abbott Kavin has joined the auction.
The list went on and on, until Lonomia had lost count of exactly how many had joined the auction. Thousands at least, perhaps tens of thousands. Or more.
She frowned momentarily at the realization that there may be much more competition than she expected, though she was uncertain there would even be items she desired. Time would tell, and the auction would be starting soon.
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Oliver ignored the seemingly never ending stream of system prompts announcing people joining the auction, his full focus set on marveling over the Auction House itself. It looked much like a number of websites he had seen, its layout simple and clean. On one side of his vision was a small frame, clearly where the item up for sale would be displayed, and below it was what would be the log of bids received. The other half of his vision was taken up by what appeared to be a basic chat window, though no one had yet to start a conversation in it.
He quickly made note that the Auction House almost fully blocked his vision. While not a problem with him being settled in safely at home, he would need to be carefully of where and when he used it. Better safe than dead, after all.
Seeing the number of individuals slowing, he decided it was time to kick things off. Focusing on the chat window, Oliver chuckled when a virtual keyboard appeared under his hands, seemingly in response to his desire to type rather than simply Will his words into it. He could almost imagine a stir going through the crowd as he typed.
Silk(Host): Thank you for attending my auction. I''m not one for long and unnecessary speeches, so let''s dive straight into the first lot.
With a thought, Oliver moved the first item from his Warehouse into the auction frame: a single chocolate bar he had picked up as one of his test items. This first auction would be used to gauge the reaction, and profit margins, for a variety of items.
Silk(Host): First up, we have a chocolate bar. For those of you unfamiliar with this item, it is a sweet treat that is much loved by my people- and one of my personal favorites. A rich and creamy snack or dessert, this simple looking treat is only the first glimpse of the confectionery wonders I have to offer. We will start the bidding at 1 credit.
Steve Stevenson: A chocolate bar? Does this idiot think that we can''t find something like that at the corner shop?
Oliver frown slightly as several more disparaging comments entered the chat. He wasn''t really surprised that others had access to something like chocolate, but surely there were some out there in the Multiverse that had never tried it before. Would these comments put off those that were initially curious? Before his worry could gain any momentum, the first bid came in. Though it was only a single credit, it was already more than he had paid for the chocolate.
And quickly more bids came flooding in.
From one credit to two, then four. The bid, and his excitement, swiftly climbed. Double digits flew by in seconds as the bids rocketed into the triple digits. Within a minute, it reached 500 where it slowed to a crawl before finally closing out at 527 as Oliver pumped his fist in the air with joy. The thrill of the auction had caught him by surprise.
Silk(Host): Congratulations Orvak the Gluttonous for winning the chocolate bar! I hope you enjoy!
Orvak the Gluttonous: By the Syv! It''s SO good!
Oliver laughed out loud as a wave of excitement ran through the chat. The unexpected endorsement from his first buyer raised the mood of the auction noticeably, and he could feel the tension building as he put up his next items.
He wasn''t surprised when the bolt of silk clothe went for nearly a thousand credits. Aside from being a fantastic material that he made sure to hype up- he couldn''t disappoint his namesake, after all- it easily appealed to people of wealth and influence that would use it for clothes to show their status, as well as those random craftsman in attendance eager to work with a new and exotic material. He couldn''t help but snicker to himself that Silk was a hit, in more ways than one.
He was, however, very surprised at the success of the Lego set. Apparently, alien parents were more than willing to dish out over a thousand credits to get new toys for their kids. Definitely something to keep in mind there.
With each item the tension continued to rise. Everyone was aware of the limited nature of this auction, and many were eager to get their own piece of it. And Oliver''s next item brought sheer pandemonium to the crowd... and a rueful chuckle escaped his lips. He absolutely had to find a way to thank Polina after this.
Silk(Host): Our fourth item of the auction is a luxury among my people. This sweet and fruity alcohol, made from the blue agave plant, is known as Tequila. But don''t be fooled, this liquor certainly has a kick to it! It has inspired songs about love, regret, and partying, as well as humorous phrases like ''Tequila makes my clothes fall off''. Its unique flavor is sure to surprise you! Bidding starts at 100 credits.
Barely had Oliver finished his explanation when the chat exploded and the bids came tumbling one after another. Before a bid could even fully register in his eyes it had already been replaced, the number quickly climbing into the thousands. The love of a good drink clearly surpassed being a Universal truth and established itself as a Multiversal constant.
The bids began to slow as it neared ten thousand, and Oliver was urging it to continue higher until a single chat message caught his attention and caused him to tremble in excitement.
Lady Moonthistle: Lord Silk, I was given to believe that we are able to bid valuable items in place of currency? And that the only requirement was your acceptance of such a transaction?
Silk(Host): Yes, that is correct. Is there something you wish to offer?
Lady Moonthistle: Indeed. This liquor you offer would greatly benefit me in coming days, and I wish to offer a rare treasure in trade.
Oliver blinked in surprise when a system prompt appeared before his eyes.
Lady Monthistle wishes to bid (Amulet of Second Chance).
Amulet of Second Chance: When worn, prevents all damage and ill effects from a single lethal attack. Amulet crumbles to dust after effect is triggered.
Estimated value: 32,000 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Oliver''s breath caught in his throat. This wasn''t just a magical trinket; it was a life saving item. What if Rodney had tried to shoot him back in the forest? He would have died... but having an item like this literally means a second chance.
Though getting shot twice would be a bad idea. He knew instantly that he had to have it.
But as much as he wanted it for himself, he already knew he wouldn''t wear it. He had a system to help him get stronger and survive. Polina was a cop, an already dangerous job, and she didn''t have a system boosting her.
Silk(Host): Congratulations Lady Moonthistle! And I hope this bottle of Tequila serves you well.
The amulet suddenly appearing in his hands nearly made him shout from joy and excitement. Not only was it able to save a life in a desperate situation, but it was a beautiful piece of jewelry. A delicately braided gold chain with a glimmering platinum pendant that vaguely reminded him of a Celtic knot, though not one he recognized from his limited experience.
It was perfect for Poli.
Quickly tucking the amulet away, he shifted his attention back to the auction. There was one more sale to be made, and this was the one he was most hesitant about. While it would likely make him a good amount, and it neatly eliminated a couple of his problems, he had agonized over the moral implications for a while before resolving himself to it.
But only this one time, and never again. Even he had limits.
Abbott Kavin: Merchant Silk, I beg of you... For the sake of your Eternal Spirit, please never engage in such deals again. Trading in people... is a horrible things! I know you said these two are trouble makers, but surely they deserve better!
Despite the Abbott''s pleas, the bids continued... Though Oliver found his disgust rising alongside them. Just as he moved to retract the auction, the Abbot made one last attempt... And the accompanying system prompt was enough for him to accept.
Abbott Kavin: For the sake of this poor couple, and the Eternal Spirit of our Host, I will take action this time. I offer this blessing from my Order. I beg of you, Merchant Silk, please accept and allow me to grant them a chance at a new life to repent for their misdeeds.
Abbott Kavin wishes to bid (Blessing of the Order of Eternal Dusk).
Blessing of the Order of Eternal Dusk: Provides permanent immunity to all diseases.
Estimated value: 41,000 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Oliver sighed in relief. He thought he had prepared himself mentally for whatever fate Carl and Jess would face, but some of the comments in the chat... He wasn''t sure he could condemn anyone to such a tragic end.
But why was immunity to disease estimated at that amount? More than the amulet that could save a life, but never having to worry about getting sick or dying from disease had a long lasting impact... So why wasn''t it even higher? Something to think on later, he told himself.
Chapter 26 – What is a Bounty?
Oliver couldn''t help but be amused by the little idiosyncrasies of the system. The term Bounty Board implied hunting for particular people or things, but, after digging in to it deeper, the scope of the ''bounties'' was much broader than her originally thought. The variety of listings was impressive: item retrieval, killing or capturing people, bodyguard work... He even saw one requesting help renovating someone''s home. It would be more accurate to call it a Mission Board or something like that.
Though, he supposed that was a bit to close to the Commission Board. Maybe the system wanted to clearly delineate the boundary between the two...
He quickly shook off the idle musings to focus on his drive. While he would consider the auction a success, it actually ended up costing him credits. The tax on the two trades he made even made a bit of a dent into his credit reserves, though it was an exchange well worth it in his mind. Even if Polina hadn''t been thrilled by his gift- which she certainly was, her safety was more than enough for him
More than three weeks with little progress from his lawyer or from filling commissions- aside from his little adventure almost a week ago- and Oliver was ready to get something done. With his every move around town being watched, he decided a ''work trip'' was in order.
Thankfully, his ever present stalkers turned back once he was a couple hours out of town. With no one actually knowing where he was going, he was hopeful about avoiding picking up more along the way. Especially since he detoured several hours in the wrong direction, just to throw off Mr. Hardeman''s people.
Three days of driving had nearly take Oliver to the other side of the country, and, despite missing his girlfriend, he relished the experience. Traveling was something he had always wanted to do. And, with the System, he was sure he would get to do a lot more of it in the future. Maybe even to other worlds...
He quickly pushed away the thought before it could suck him into more idle dreams. His future with the system was just starting, but he had to go one step at a time if he ever wanted to get there. And he had a job already lined up in front of him, likely the first of many.
Local Bounty: Safeguarding Sophia
Objective: Protect Sophia Hall for 2 weeks
Details: My daughter, Sophia, has been threatened in an attempt to leverage my position as a lobbyist. Regardless of their motives, I need extra security for her while my people look in to this and find a resolution. Nothing is more important to me than her. This job will, in large part, take place on the campus of Dormer College, so the ability to blend in appropriately would be of benefit as we don''t want to alarm anyone.
Compensation: 10,000 credits or Relic(?)
Bounty accepted. Within one week, please report to location...
Oliver closed the system screen, the address he was given already entered into the map app on one of his burner phones. His relaxing drive neared its end, and palatial mansions lined the road he drove along. His old truck stood out a bit among the luxury cars of the rich neighborhood, though he was thankful he maintained it well enough that most would just ignore it rather than take some sort of offense at its presence.
He did get a bit of a chuckle when he realized that the maintenance and lawn care workers drove similar trucks.
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¡°I''m here to speak with Mr. Hall.¡±
Oliver sat in front of the large, ornate gate to what he could only describe as an estate. Immaculately cut grass, perfectly sculpted shrubbery, and a long front drive that ended in a circle around an impressive marble fountain in front of a mansion ten times the size of any place he had ever lived in... Estate seemed like the right word for the place, though perhaps a bit of an understatement.
Of course, he didn''t miss the tight security around the place.
It was what he had imagined would surround Mr. Hardeman, though perhaps taken up a notch. Security cameras regularly dotted the ten foot brick fence, and even from this distance he could pick out small dots along the walls of the home itself, likely even more cameras covering every approach. Armed men patrolled the grounds, with more than a few focused on his old truck sitting at the gate. And the gate itself, despite being beautifully crafted, was more than just decoration.
Definitely not a place he would want to take a run at.
¡°My apologies, sir, but anyone that wishes to meet with Mr. Hall needs to make an appointment ahead of time.¡± The voice, though polite, was stern and deep. Unyielding. Likely someone in charge of security, Oliver figured.
Oliver smiled as he replied tactfully, remembering the extra instructions from the system. ¡°I have a delivery for Mr. Hall, a new dress for his daughter.¡±
The pause was longer this time. Oliver kept the same relaxed smile on his face until a small buzz sounded and the gates slowly swung open. The security people that had been watching him turned back to their patrols, clearly having been informed of the situation. Once the gate had opened fully, he pulled the truck through without hesitation.
Pulling up near the front steps, a older gentleman in a suit was waiting for him as he climbed out. The man opened the door and gestured inside with a welcoming smile. ¡°Mr. Silk, thank you for coming. My name is Benjamin, I''m Mr. Hall''s aide. I hope you don''t mind, but security insists on checking you before I can take you to his office.¡±
Oliver returned the smile before giving the four imposing looking security men a quick nod. ¡°Understandable, and I don''t mind.¡±
The largest, and oldest, of the men stepped forward. With the ease someone who had done it an uncountable number of times, the pat down was quick and professional. A small frown flickered across his features as he stared into Oliver''s eyes afterwards. ¡°He''s clean. Nothing on him... Not even keys or a wallet.¡±
Oliver quirked an eyebrow up at the man''s aggressive tone, though his smile never changed. ¡°Is that a problem?¡±
The man scowled at the almost flippant response, his eyes narrowing dangerously before he smirked. ¡°Without an I.D., we can''t confirm who you are. So yes, it''s a problem. Though we could always search your vehicle, seeing as you left it unlocked with the keys in it. Awfully trusting, just leaving your truck like that.¡±
Benjamin stepped in before Oliver could respond, a placating smile on his face. ¡°It''s fine, Henley. Mr. Hall has already vouched for our visitor. He''s here to assist us, after all.¡±
Henley gave a sharp nod, grudgingly accepting his employers wishes before waving them on.
The walk through the house was an eye opener for Oliver. Judging by the outside appearance, he expected opulent decorations: expensive paintings with gold frames, crystal vases, maybe even something as ridiculous as a hanging tapestry... Instead, it was tastefully understated with the main decorations in sight being family photos.
Especially pictures of Sophia. The hall he was lead down was practically a collage of her life, all the way from birth to her high school graduation. It was clear how much Mr. Hall loved his daughter.
Oliver noted, however, the presence of Mrs. Hall stopped about halfway down the hall where a small table was set against the wall. A single photo of the woman sat on the table, flanked by a pair of old, chipped vases with fresh flowers- almost like a shrine to her.
¡°Mr. Silk?¡±
When Oliver stopped at the small shrine, head bowed respectfully, Benjamin paused with a questioning look. After a moment, Oliver started walking again, his face solemn as he answered the unasked question. ¡°Losing a mother is difficult and painful. And it''s always best respect the lady of the house, even if she''s gone.¡±
The two walked silently the rest of the way to the office, though a glimmer of respect and understanding lingered in Benjamin''s eyes the entire way.
¡°Mr. Hall, your guest is here.¡±
Oliver got his first look of Mr. Hall as the man turned from the window he had been staring out off. Tall and fit, with his hair just going gray at the temples, he cut in impressive figure in his tailored suit. Even with the shadow of worry hanging around him, he smiled warmly at Oliver in welcome. ¡°Thank you for coming Mr. Silk. Please, have a seat. We have a lot to talk about.¡±
Chapter 27 – Changing the Game
Oliver was mulling over the details of the job when the door behind him opened. Despite Mr. Hall talking with him for over an hour, it was fairly straightforward. With security already established around Sophia''s apartment, he just needed to accompany her whenever she left. An experienced team of security people were on standby around the clock, ready to respond to problems within minutes. Both he and Sophia were now carrying GPS trackers and panic alarms, disguised as a car''s key fob, to alert the security team to trouble.
Oliver just had to keep her safe until they could arrive. Simple.
Simple, but not easy Oliver reminded himself as he turned to the opening door. Seeing the young woman entering the room, he immediately identified her as Sophie. She looked a near mirror to the woman from the photo on the shrine in the hallway, her mother. Tall and graceful, her cheeks dimpled when she smiled at her father and hurried over to give him a hug.
¡°Dad! Why did you call me over in the middle of the afternoon? You know I have club meeting tonight.¡±
Mr. Hall hugged his daughter with a gentle smile on his face before sitting her down beside him. ¡°I know pumpkin, I know. But this is important. I told you some people had made threats, so I wanted some extra security around you. This is Mr. Silk, he will be accompanying when you go out for the next couple weeks.¡±
Sophia gave an exaggerated sigh that all teenage girls seem to have mastered, shaking her head at her father. ¡°Really dad, this again? I''m on campus most of the time; who is going to mess with me there with so many people around? It''s not like it would be the first time someone made empty threats...¡±
¡°These people sound serious, Soph. It''s better to take extra precautions.¡±
Seeing the reluctant look on Sophia''s face, Oliver decided it was time to jump into the conversation to reinforce the point. ¡°It''s better to take precautions and not need them than need them and not have them. And you have to consider, it''s not just about what they may or may not do to you, or about what they may make your father do to ensure you safety... How would your father feel if something happened to you and he didn''t do absolutely everything in his power to prevent it? Knowing that his inaction hurt you? It''s not worth the risk.¡±
Oliver hated pulling the family card on people that obviously cared for each other, especially considering the loss they had felt before. But, at first glance, Sophia was clearly the type to respond more readily to an emotional argument rather than the logical one, especially when it concerned her father.
Despite the heavy handed manipulation, Sophia''s features softened as she glanced at her father. Patting his hand gently, she nodded her acceptance quickly. ¡°You''re right. Better safe than sorry, as they say.¡±
Giving her father another quick hug, she bounced to her feet and headed towards the door. ¡°I need to run if I''m going to make the meeting! I''ll be back for dinner on Sunday, Dad!¡±
With a nod from Mr. Hall, Oliver followed her out of the room, quickly catching up. They walked side by side for a moment before Sophia glanced at him and chuckled. ¡°So, you''re gonna be my shadow for a little while? Kinda young to be a bodyguard; you''re what? Twenty? Twenty-one maybe?¡±
Oliver shrugged with a chuckle. ¡°Twenty-five, actually. But your dad wanted someone that could blend in on campus and not draw attention.¡±
Sophia nodded in understanding. ¡°Yeah, that makes sense. How long have you been doing security?¡±
¡°This is actually my first time.¡±
Seeing Sophia''s bewildered look, he smiled awkwardly. ¡°I''ve had a bit of training from a cop. But honestly, if it wasn''t for how much security your dad already has in place, I probably wouldn''t have taken the job. Being a bodyguard is a lot more complicated than most people realize.¡±
¡°You''ve never done it before, but you think you can still keep me safe? Seriously?¡±
Oliver carefully considered his answer, knowing it was important to reassure her but not wanting to overstate his abilities. Glancing at the security station ahead of them in the hall, he nodded at the people stationed there. ¡°I''m not going to claim to be an expert, but I do have a couple of advantages that matter. First, it''s nearly impossible to rattle me. I don''t mean just that I''m calm. I''ve seen some terrible things and been in some bad situations, and the only thing that has made me panic was trying to ask a woman out.¡±
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He gave her a cheeky smirk when she snorted a laugh, but continued speaking evenly. ¡°Second, I always plan ahead, but I also adapt quickly to the unexpected. I was taught that is pretty critical to being a bodyguard. Make plans for every scenario, then adjust those plans when things go wrong... And I definitely have experience adapting to the unexpected.¡±
¡°And third... I''m just as strong and tough as any of the security guys here. I just lack the experience with the job. Granted, experience is pretty important for something like this.¡±
Sophia glanced across Oliver''s body quickly, frowning. While he was clearly fit, he lacked the muscular build many of the security team sported. ¡°No offense, but you really think you could match up to someone like Henley?¡±
Seeing her skeptical look, Oliver couldn''t help but chuckle. ¡°Nah, Henley would kick my ass. I could probably match him for strength and speed, but he probably has a decade of fighting experience on me. Or more. That counts for a lot... I definitely don''t want to mess with him. Maybe one of the rookies on the team, but not him.¡±
Sophia''s peels of laughter drew the attention of the security team they were approaching, especially Henley. At their confused and questioning looks she waved it off while trying to control her laughter. ¡°It''s nothing... Just... Mr. Silk telling me he really doesn''t want to get his ass kicked by you, Henley.¡±
Henley smirked at Oliver, humor dancing in his eyes, and Oliver could only shrug and nod in acknowledgment. No point in denying the truth.
Oliver breathed in the atmosphere of a college campus again as they walked towards the Student Union Building where the meeting was being held. It hadn''t been that long since he was a student himself, and a part of him still desperately missed it.
¡°So, what do we tell people about you following me around all the time?¡±
Sophia''s words broke him out of his musing, and he quickly refocused on their surroundings. He had a job to do, and letting himself get distracted by memories wouldn''t help. Already having considered such a question on his drive over, he was quick to answer. ¡°Tell them I''m your cousin, Olaf. I''m the black sheep of the family, dropped out of college to be a traveling musician. I was in the area, and decided to stop in for a few weeks so we could catch up.¡±
Sophia nodded slowly, thinking through the idea. ¡°Yeah, that would probably work. I don''t really talk about my family much, but most of them are into either business or politics. So you being a musician would definitely make you the black sheep. Do you actually play though? Some of my friends are really in to music festivals and will probably ask you to play something.¡±
Oliver shrugged casually, but couldn''t suppress the proud smile on his face. ¡°I can play about a dozen instruments, though I prefer the violin, piano, saxophone, and guitar. Those are my best instruments, too.¡±
Seeing such a strong reaction from him when talking about instruments, Sophia couldn''t help but question him gently. ¡°Why take a bodyguard job? It''s obvious how much you love music, why not get a music degree or start a band? I guess the pay is probably better as a bodyguard, but still...¡±
Oliver''s smile remained, though it dimmed slightly at the question. A minute passed as his eyes constantly scanned everything around them before he answered slowly with a small chuckle. ¡°I was pursuing music, and even had a side job that payed much better than this does.¡±
Seeing her look of confusion, he went on to explain. ¡°It was a combination of things. Some people were causing me problems, so I decided to get out of town for a bit until things settled down. Plus, some of my future plans require doing some odd jobs like this one before they will become available. There are steps to my system, but I''m working on it.¡±
Sophia didn''t really understand the humor she saw dancing in his eyes, but his explanation at least somewhat made sense to her. Letting what had unexpectedly become a heavy conversation drop, they hurried in to the Student Union for her club meeting.
Reaching the meeting room, Oliver didn''t know whether to laugh or curse when he saw what club Sophia was participating in. Quickly pulling her to the side before she could enter the room, he spoke in a low voice so they couldn''t be easily overheard. ¡°I hate to say this, Sophia, but I strongly recommend you step away from this club. At least for the next couple weeks so your dad can get a handle on things.¡±
¡°What? Why!? It''s just Humans vs. Zombies, it''s a game. What''s the big deal?¡±
Oliver struggled not to roll his eyes at her missing the obvious. ¡°This game involves people pretending to be zombies, chasing and trying to grab the humans.¡±
Sophia stared blankly for a moment until it clicked, her eyes going wide. ¡°You really think someone would act like they''re a part of the game just to get to me?¡±
Oliver sighed softly as he nodded. ¡°Something like this is just handing them opportunities. With how often people yell and scream while playing, no one will look twice when one girl starts yelling ''Help''. It will be ten times harder to keep you safe if you''re playing. Or more. There''s just too much chaos involved.¡±
Sophia nodded slowly, a thoughtful look in her eyes. ¡°Yeah, ok. I can see that. Do you think me helping set up and run scenarios would still be ok? I wouldn''t be an active part in the game, but still participating. I really don''t want to just drop from the club.¡±
Oliver thought it over carefully. It wasn''t ideal, but Mr. Hall clearly didn''t want to completely disrupt his daughter''s life over threats that may never be carried out... He didn''t like it, but he could work with it. With limitations. ¡°Yeah, that can work. But no playing the role of an NPC either, that would still leave you too vulnerable. Organization and supervision should be fine, though.¡±
Sophia smiled brightly, nearly bouncing in excitement. ¡°Awesome! I was already talking with Mark, the club president, about maybe helping out with that. We should go let him know!¡±
Oliver couldn''t help the sinking feeling in his gut as the girl merrily lead him into the room. He was already imagining the headaches this club would cause him over the next few weeks.
Chapter 28 – Man Plans...
Campus life was just as Oliver remembered it. Of course, it had been less than a month since he was a student himself, but sometimes it felt a lot longer.
Talking to Mark about shifting Sophia''s role was surprisingly easy. Oliver was amused at the glare the man directed at him when the duo walked in, and nearly laughed aloud when he instantly mellowed at the introduction of Sophia''s ''cousin''. It was obvious that he had a thing for her, though she seemed completely unaware of it.
Not that it was any of Oliver''s business. He had no desire to get caught up in any drama, especially when he had a job to do.
On the other hand, being introduced to everyone Sophia knew was much more challenging. Clearly she was a bit of a social butterfly, flitting from group to group to chat with everyone. Oliver, while not much of an extrovert, faked it well enough that meeting them wasn''t really the challenge.
Getting a proper read on them was.
After years on a college campus himself, Oliver had gotten a decent grasp on how to read people. Interpreting their expressions, listening to the subtext of what they say, and inferring what they don''t say... He wasn''t a psychologist or expert on behavioral science, but reading college kids? He could manage that, for the most part.
And anyone he couldn''t read would be put on his own version of a watch list, just to be safe.
Focused as he was on the people, the hour long meeting practically flew by. Aside from the expected drama that comes with any group of people, Oliver hadn''t picked up on any trouble spots by the time they left.
Seeing Sophia rapidly typing away on her phone, barely aware of her surroundings, he kept his eyes moving and waved his hand for her attention. ¡°We need to work on your awareness.¡±
¡°What?¡±
Seeing her confused frown out of the corner of his eyes, he figured this was a good time to work on her mentality- though carefully. He didn''t want to make her paranoid. ¡°How many guys have walked past us since we left the club meeting?¡±
Slowly she looked around and behind herself with a bewildered look. ¡°Umm... I don''t know? Five maybe?¡±
Oliver chuckled softly as he shook his head. ¡°Twelve.¡±
Seeing her look turn from confusion to worry, he was quick to reassure her. ¡°It isn''t really an issue right now. Most of them were paying about as much attention as you. But developing peripheral awareness will help you avoid trouble, and a lot more besides. It''s just about training yourself to pull back from what you''re doing, not getting so engrossed in one thing that you miss others.¡±
¡°Just something for you to think about and work on now, in case you need it in the future. Trust me, it''s not a lesson to learn the hard way.¡±
Putting away her phone, Sophia gave an understanding nod. His wry grin told her there was a story to his lesson. ¡°I''m guessing you learned it the hard way?¡±
¡°You could say that. Taking a solid sucker punch will end a fight before it even starts, especially if you''ve been drinking. Trust me on that.¡±
Waving off his own past mistakes, he quickly changed the subject. ¡°So what had you typing away in a frenzy? Anything I need to prepare for?¡±
Her whole demeanor brightened at the question, though Oliver noticed her eyes kept moving as she obviously worked on staying aware of her surroundings. ¡°Nothing like that. My girlfriends were just letting me know they were waiting for me at the dining hall. We try to grab dinner together. They''re pretty awesome; I''m sure you will like them!¡±
When it came to Sophia''s friends, Oliver didn''t really care. It wasn''t that there was anything wrong with them, but the difference in perspective was jarring to him. Rich kids from rich parents, their biggest concerns all seemed to revolve around who was popular and what parties were coming up. They were naive and sheltered, though he didn''t really blame them for it. It wasn''t their fault he had a rougher lot in life.
He didn''t dislike them; They were all friendly and welcoming. He just didn''t see the point in getting too attached to what would only be casual acquaintances, even if they were decent people. It was just too unlikely he would see any of them once the two weeks were over.
Thankfully, none of them seemed to have a hidden agenda, at least as far as he could tell. So he smiled, and played his part.
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Most of the week passed without any issues. Walking to class, grabbing lunch, more classes, dinner with Sophia''s friends... The mundane week of a college kid that Oliver found so familiar he had to fight off the complacency that threatened to set in. But even with the ease with which the week had passed, Oliver felt his tension ratcheting up to this moment.
The first Humans vs. Zombies scenario that Sophia would be overseeing personally.
With it being a night time scenario starting at 8pm, he had already weighed the pros and cons. The normal crushing crowd of students would be substantially thinned, making it easier to spot anyone trying to approach his charge. On the other hand, that meant she would be more exposed without the cover of a crowd- and fewer witnesses if something did happen. Add in the chaos of a bunch of running around their mock apocalypse, and he knew he needed to be on his toes.
While Sophia was running through the last few bits of prep in the meeting room, Oliver made sure he settled the Bluetooth headset in his ear securely and tucked his phone in his jacket pocket. Standing behind the woman, he spoke low so her fellow organizers wouldn''t hear. ¡°Are the cars in place like I requested H?¡±
Henley''s gravely voice came across with all the confidence the experienced man carried. ¡°In place and ready. Rev is in place for the Union building and the dining hall. He can reach either in ten seconds when you give the word. Irish has the music building. Teams 1 and 2 are ready to roll. It''s a decent plan, kid. You sure this is your first job?¡±
Oliver suppressed a chuckle at the hint of respect from the grizzled veteran. ¡°Unless you want to count video games, yeah. But planning and preparing is easy. Any last second advice?¡±
¡°Stay focused, keep this line open the entire time, and if things go down don''t hesitate to call it. We''ve got your back.¡±
The plan was simple, all things considered. Sophia and a handful of her fellow club members would be running a scenario involving the human ''survivors'' escorting a ''scientist'' from the Student Union building to the biology building halfway across campus and back, ''recovering'' some samples that only he could identify. Sophia''s part, thankfully, kept her stationed at the rotunda near the Union building with her ''cousin'' assisting her.
From there, Oliver''s plans spiraled with contingencies.
If an attack on his charge actually took place, he had three evacuation plans laid out. The quickest and most direct route was through the Union building itself, which stood only a couple dozen feet from the rotunda. Once on the other side of it, they would be picked up by a member of Henley''s security teams, Michael Sams- better known by his call-sign ''Revolution'', or Rev for short. Oliver''s main concern was that, as the quickest escape option, it was the most obvious and the most likely to be covered by a smart attacker.
But that is what alternative routes were for.
With Oliver''s backup plans, Rev was playing double duty on their pickups to cover the dining hall as well. With their parking lots being connected and adjacent, he could reach either building quickly. Neither Oliver nor Henley were very fond of this route, as it required covering more open ground. Combined with the large glass windows taking up the entire front of the building, they would be exposed for far longer until they could reach the kitchens and make their way towards the back doors where their ride would be waiting.
The path through the music building was only moderately better. While trees and shrubberies would help them break line of sight, the distance to the building was more than three times that of the dining hall. As an older building, it was more solidly constructed and lacked the massive windows of its more modern counterparts. Once inside, there were several alternative paths the pair could take to the loading bay in the back where, hopefully, their ride would be waiting. Though Oliver was a bit leery of riding with Jacky Sanders -Irish-, as she was only politely described as the craziest driver Henley had.
A damn good driver, but still Oliver thought it best to be wary. People like Henley don''t use the word crazy lightly.
And, if things went completely sideways, Oliver had drawn up multiple ''desperation'' routes through the campus itself. The reason he called them desperation routes... They took the duo deeper into campus and further away from car access until they passed through almost the entire campus, effectively cutting them off from all the vehicles and a quick escape.
It was a solid, if somewhat paranoid, plan.
¡°Man plans and God laughs.¡±
¡°What was that Olaf?¡±
Oliver smiled at his cover name, glad that he would only be using it temporarily. Seeing that Sophia was done with the final prep work and ready to go, he gave her a small shake of his head. ¡°Just reminding myself of a few things. Let''s go kick things off.¡±
The scenario started off simply enough. Oliver was amused to see Mark playing the scientist, but found it fitting since the man was a Biology major anyway. The Human side sent out small teams to scout and work on clearing the way, and Oliver wished he had had the time and people to seed a few scouts of his own into the group just to keep an eye out. After ten minutes, the remaining cluster of people set off with the ''scientist'' surrounded by his protectors. The rotunda quickly emptied aside from a couple of the organizers and the few students passing by on their own business.
¡°Why are you walking in circles around me?¡±
Sophia''s questioned snapped his attention to her for a brief moment and he smiled. ¡°Just waiting for you to finish doing your thing and talk to me.¡±
Pausing in front of her and scanning the buildings again, he dropped his voice to a whisper. ¡°And if I look like I''m bored and pacing, I can watch all the approaches. Really wishing I had someone to watch our backs right about now.¡±
Despite the hint of worry in her eyes, Sophia nodded firmly and responded just as softly. ¡°I''ll try to help keep an eye out, just in case.¡±
Oliver resumed his pacing, only to stop again when he glanced into the Union building as something struck him as off, and it took him a moment to understand what was bothering him.
A group of guys walking through the Union Building in their general direction, talking and joking round... They looked like any of the dozens of similar groups he had seen throughout the week. Oliver almost thought it was their constant glances at Sophia that set him on edge, but dismissed it. As an attractive woman, most of the groups they had passed before had done similarly. Then it clicked for him.
While some college guys carried themselves confidently or with a cocky swagger, this group felt different. They had an edge to them that reminded him of Henley''s people.
They felt like professionals.
Oliver glanced at the dining hall and immediately cursed aloud when he spotted a second group hanging out in front of it. Beneath their casual appearance, he got the same feeling from them as the first group... And their frequent looks in Sophia''s direction settled it in his mind.
With the feeling of things about to go to hell weighing on him, Oliver''s voice was tense as he sidled up to Sophia. ¡°Tell Irish to start it up.¡±
Almost immediately, the sound of gunfire could be heard coming from behind the Music Department. Grabbing Sophia''s arm, he pulled her into a sprint heading deeper into the campus.
Chapter 29 - … and God laughs
Panic and chaos spread across the campus sporadically. Some students, mostly those from poorer or rougher backgrounds, reacted instantly and scattered for cover the moment the sound of gunfire rang out. Those fortunate enough to have avoided experiencing gun violence hesitated in confusion, only reacting when their friends and classmates screamed desperate warnings at them.
Oliver well understood their fear and desperation.
¡°We''ve got twelve on our ass, H! Moving to route D-2. Where the hell are your guys!?¡±
Sophia''s labored breathes rang in loudly in his ears. Ten seconds may seem like nothing on an ordinary day, but when running for your life it could feel like an eternity... And clearly her slim build was due more to genetics than exercise. Glancing behind, he was relieved to see that their pursuers were not gaining on them... But neither was the distance growing.
Knowing Sophia couldn''t keep this up for long, he made a snap decision. None of the men had shot at them yet, so clearly they wanted her alive... Oliver grabbed Sophia and swung her up onto his back, startling a yelp out of the woman.
¡°Hold on tight!¡±
With her secure on his back, he poured on as much speed as he could manage. Part of his mind marveled at the effects of his improved stats as he slowly gained some distance. While he was sure some of the men could match, or even surpass, him in various ways, keeping his stats balanced meant only their fastest could catch him... And only if they separated from their team to do so, which they were clearly hesitant to do.
Henley''s voice, crackling with tension, sent chills down Oliver''s spine.
¡°Teams 1 and 2 are being delayed. Irish''s vehicle is disabled. Rev is on the move to D-2, two minutes. With your count... The estimate is thirty plus hostiles. This isn''t just a small threat. We''re scrambling Teams 3, 4, and 5. ETA is 7 minutes. Local P. D. has been alerted, ETA 10 minutes.¡±
Oliver swore under his breath. The situation was far worse than any of them had expected. No idea who was attacking them, or how many there were... And Oliver was on his own, dealing with men that had no problem with shooting him if he got in their way.
Around the Student Activities building, between a pair of administration buildings, then across the ¡°Big Green¡±- a perfectly maintained lawn dotted with old growth trees that had been part of the campus since its founding- and they would reach the pick up point. Oliver had walked every route several times in preparation for the worst case scenario, and even debated with himself small variations for each. As he drew closer to the Student Activities building, he had to quickly decided whether to circle it to the right or left. The right would be faster, as they were approaching that side at an angle. But the left would help break line of sight with their pursuers.
Just as he made his choice, motion among the plants and bushes in front of the building caught his attention. Someone was there, cowering among the leafless branches. Without hesitation, Oliver veered farther left and away from the building.
Only an idiot would take cover there... Or someone in place to cut them off.
A surprised exclamation, and the man jumping up to join his companions in pursuit, confirmed it.
¡°D-2 is a no go. Rerouting to D-4.¡±
Muffled curses, then seconds of silence, answered Oliver as he ran on. Despite it being a cool November evening, sweat poured down his face from running so hard while carrying someone. If Sophia wasn''t so slim and light, he doubted he would have been able to keep this up for long. As it was, he knew he was limited on time.
¡°Rev is rerouting. His ETA is now two minutes.¡±
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A softly muttered ''again'' barely registered on Oliver''s mind as he barreled down the wide brick pathway that was now devoid of students. While his eyes roamed across the grounds searching for more people waiting to ambush them, his mind raced ahead along the route. D-4 was actually his favorite among the ''desperation'' routes. While the early parts were too open for his liking as it necessitated running down the open walkways, the latter half of it was near perfect in his mind.
Ahead on the right, he saw the next step on this route: the Liam J. Smithson Library. Seeing no one lurking nearby, he glanced back for a second to take stock of the situation. Thirteen men still chased them. But, with the initial gap from the start of the chase and the little bit of extra distance he created with his mad sprint, roughly a hundred yards separated them.
Slamming the doors open, he darted inside. Rounding the abandoned service desk at the front, he immediately turned right. Dashing past rows of shelves filled with books, he skidded to a stop in front of the door to a stairwell. This was one of the reasons he liked this route. Four stairwells, one on each corner of the building, and two separate elevator banks near the center. Multiple exits on the first floor, and multiple exits on the third floor thanks to the hill the building was set against. Combined with plenty of study rooms, computer labs, and storage closets as hiding places, this building would be a nightmare for their attackers.
¡°We need to-¡±
Raising his hand, Oliver cut off Sophia''s panicked exclamation. Checking around them, he whispered quick instructions to her. ¡°We need to be careful here. They''ve already tried to cut us off before, and we don''t know if they have anyone in the building. I need my hands free if we run into anyone, so follow close and stay quiet unless it''s an emergency or you spot something I miss. We''ll move as fast as we can, ok?¡±
Sophia nodded jerkily, and he gave her a quick reassuring smile. Oliver peeked through the window in the door to the stairwell before cracking it open, moving inside. The soft click of the door behind them and Sophia''s ragged breathing were the only sounds as he made his way cautiously up the stairs.
The duo paused on the second floor landing and Oliver inched open the door. Not wanting more attackers to suddenly appear behind them, he glanced around quickly to confirm they were still clear. Seeing no one nearby, he closed the door again and waved for her to follow him up again.
One more floor, then a winding through the History section and out the fire exit would get them to the parking lot for pickup. Hopefully.
Hand out stretched, Oliver was ready to check the third floor when the door opened in front of him. The man that appeared in the doorway looked shocked at seeing them, and, with only a glance, Oliver knew he was another of their pursuers. One that he hadn''t seen yet. The man, while moving cautiously, didn''t carry himself with the fear or panic the students were obviously feeling in this situation. He didn''t even flinch at finding himself suddenly face-to-face with them.
And Oliver spotted the bulge under his armpit that was likely a gun.
Surprise slowed the man''s reaction for a split second, and Oliver was quick to capitalize. As his hand rose towards the bulge under his jacket, Oliver grabbed his wrist and pulled hard, yanking him into the stairwell. The door clicked shut as the man stumbled past them from the unexpected move. Before the man could stabilize himself, Oliver slammed into him, shoving the man hard into the handrail.
Teetering over a three story drop, the man frantically grabbed for the railing to save himself. Not giving him a chance to recover, Oliver snapped a vicious kick between the man''s legs. Groaning and doubling over in pain, he clutched at his wounded pride only for Oliver to grab the back of his head and slam him face first into the handrail.
Oliver refused to let up, even when the man crumpled to the floor in a daze. Slamming his foot down onto his opponents neck, the sound of snapping bones signaled the end.
¡°Is...Is h-he...?¡±
¡°No.¡± Not yet, at least. Oliver added in his head.
¡°Sophia, stay focused. I need you to watch the door so no one sneaks up on me, ok?¡±
With a shaky nod, she turned to stare through the small window on the door and keep watch like Oliver asked. Seeing her distracted, at least momentarily, he focused on his own task. Turning his dying opponent over, Oliver relieved him of the gun under his arm. After a quick search, he also took the spare magazine, wallet, keys, and cellphone, effectively emptying the man''s pockets. Tossing it all in the System Warehouse, he checked to make sure Sophia was still looking away before picking the body up and storing it away as well.
No sense leaving a trail for the attackers to follow.
Peeking over Sophia''s shoulder and not seeing anyone, Oliver was quick to lead her through before she could glance back at where their attacker had been. Motioning for her to stay quiet, he lead her into the rows of shelves, his ears straining for the slightest sound. Whimpers of fear and muttered prayers of students hiding in study rooms followed their winding path through the building. It was clear the school had sent warning to all the students of an active shooter on campus.
The lack of people moving around, while ultimately better for the students, made his job harder. The pair of them, and their attackers, were the only ones still moving around campus.
Finally passing through the floor and reaching the fire exit, Oliver refused to sigh in relief. He knew they were not yet in the clear. He wouldn''t consider the attack over until the moment they returned to Mr. Hall''s estate, surrounded by the multiple layers of security.
Motioning for Sophia to wait, he crept cautiously to the fire exit door. Inching over slowly, he finally peeked through the window. With a curse, he spun and grabbed Sophia before rushing back among the towering bookshelves. Sitting in an SUV in the parking lot was another team of attackers.
They were cut off. And, with the attackers that were chasing them most likely already inside the building, things were just going to get worse.
Chapter 30 – Desperation
Crouched between rows of bookshelves, Oliver cursed internally at the situation. This was supposed to be a milk run; Just watch out for a college girl for a few weeks and be on his way. And with the amount of security already in place, it really should have been. But things were far more complicated than he expected. He doubted Mr. Hall or Henley expected it either, but that was no comfort with the position he was in.
¡°H, we need-¡±
¡°Put Sophia on.¡±
Henley''s tone, stern and unyielding, caught Oliver by surprise. Were things worse than he thought? What was going on? ¡°We don''t have time for that, H. We-¡±
¡°Put her on. Now. That''s an order!¡±
Oliver''s head snapped back at the anger he heard in the man''s voice. Plucking the earpiece off, he dropped it into Sophia''s hands and turned back to watch their surroundings. He ignored her speaking softly behind him for a moment as his mind raced. Less than a minute passed before she tapped him on the shoulder, handing the earpiece back, but everything had clicked together. Slipping it back in his ear, he spoke softly but with certainty.
¡°You have a leak.¡±
The words hung in the air for long seconds before a frustrated grunt answered him. Henley''s voice was tight with anger and worry. ¡°That is my assumption as well. Sorry I snapped at you, but I had to confirm that Sophia was still free and not under duress.¡±
Oliver nodded slowly in understanding. Of course he was the first suspect; He showed up out of nowhere, hired directly by their boss and completely bypassing their normal protocols...
¡°How bad is it, H?¡±
For a second, Oliver could hear teeth grinding on the other end of the line. ¡°Rev is sidelined. The other teams I sent out are facing constant harassment, hit and run attackers on motorcycles. They show up, pop off a few shots, and then bolt. Team 4 lost a tire and is out, the rest are being delayed hard. I''m trying to get something moving quietly, but...¡±
Oliver was shocked to stillness by the defeated sigh from the imposing man. ¡°Until I find the leak, we''re being cut off at every turn. You''re on your own, Silk.¡±
Oliver''s shoulders sunk under the grim weight of the statement. He knew he could get out of this easy enough. All it required was him to abandon Sophia and hide himself away in a study room. Once they got her, they would leave and he would be safe...
Glancing at the woman behind him, clinging to the back of his jacket like a lost and frightened child, he immediately discarded the idea. He would never call himself a hero, or even really a good person, but he had promised to keep her safe.
And he did still have a trump card hidden away, though he was loathe to use it unless absolutely necessary. As much as he liked Sophia, there were some secrets he didn''t want to reveal.
¡°I''m ditching the phone, H. Can''t risk them tracking it. I''ll contact you once we''re clear.¡±
¡°You-¡±
Oliver didn''t wait to hear Henley''s response. Pulling the phone out of his pocket, he ended the call. Turning to Sophia, he held out his hand. ¡°Give me your phone, too. Just in case.¡±
She hesitated only for a second before digging her phone out of her pocket and passing it to him. Reaching between the books on the shelf, he pretending to hide the phones there as he surreptitiously dropped them both into the System Warehouse and a thought flashed through his mind- ''I really need to upgrade the warehouse. It''s just too damn useful.''
Waving Sophia to follow, they padded cautiously away from the spot. His head swung left and right, constantly on alert. Reaching the front of the building, he edged up to the window and peaked out and down to see a team of their attackers watching the front doors. With all the exits covered, he knew it was likely they had men inside searching the building already.
He needed a plan, and he needed it now.
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With Sophia in tow, he hurried back to the stairwell. After a quick glance through the window on the door, he motioned for her to wait as he eased it open and slid through silently. His ears perked up at the quiet words echoing up the stairs.
¡°-in position now.¡±
Edging cautiously over to the stairs, he crept down just enough to see the landing below. A pair of the attackers stood together, one watching the door leading into the second floor and the other watching the stairs leading up to where Oliver hid. Nearly holding his breath, he shuffled back to the door and through it, an idea already forming.
Leading Sophia away from the stairs, he quickly checked the study rooms along the wall until he found one with a long couch in it that was perfect for his plan. Cheap and plain looking- as he doubted the college was willing to spend much on a couch it would replace in a few years at most, its frame sat flush with the floor and was at least two feet deep.
Tossing the cushions off the couch, Oliver pulled out his pocket knife and cut open the fabric beneath, exposing the frame and springs. A small, grim smile flashed across his face when he saw the simple hooks holding the springs in place before he started rapidly unhooking them. Feeling the tension on the springs, he knew the old him would have struggled. But with his now higher strength, he was able to remove a spring in just seconds before tossing it aside and grabbing the next.
With most of the springs removed, he eyes the supports running across the middle of the couch. It would be a tight fit, but maybe...
¡°Think you can shimmy your way in there?¡±
¡°What!?¡± Sophia nearly hissed at him, her eyes wide with fear.
Laying a hand reassuringly on her shoulder, he gazed into her eyes for a moment before giving her a confident smile. ¡°I can get you out of here safe, Sophia, but it won''t be easy. I''m going to have to deal with at least a couple of those guys before we can move, and I can''t do that if you''re in danger. I need you to hide here until I can clear the way. I doubt they will be checking under couch cushions for you.¡±
He chuckled at the silly image, which seemed to relax Sophia a bit more. Patting her shoulder once, he let her go and watched as she awkwardly twisted around and under the supports until she was fully inside the couch. Quickly replacing the cushions, he hesitated with the last one in hand.
¡°Ignore everything you hear, and don''t come out until you hear me say the code word we agreed on... And, if things go wrong, stay there as long as you can. These guys can''t keep this up forever; Eventually the police or Henley will show up and they''ll bolt. Ok?¡±
With her reluctant nod, he gently set the last cushion in place. Sweeping all the springs into the System Warehouse, he rushed out of the study room and back to the stairwell. Relieved to see that the attackers hadn''t made it to this floor yet. Inhaling deeply, he held it for a second to clear his mind before letting his breathe out with a whoosh. Quickly donning the balaclava he hadn''t worn in weeks, he reached out and pulled the fire alarm.
The blaring alarm shattered the silence of the library.
Mark flinched at the sudden blaring of the fire alarm, nearly missing his next step. Catching himself with the handrail, he glanced at his partner, Andy, who had covered his ears and was trying to say something. Shaking his head, Mark pointed at his ears and yelled to be heard.
¡°I can''t hear shit you''re saying over this alarm!¡±
¡°What the hell happened!?¡± Andy shouted in response.
¡°Someone pulled the fire alarm!¡± Obviously, you idiot. Mark added mentally.
Both men winced at the clamor as they reached the third floor landing. Mark quickly took up position to watch up the stairs, but Andy hesitated before moving to the door. ¡°Mark! What the hell are we supposed to do now?¡±
Mark sighed. He hated being stuck with the new guy, but someone had to show him the ropes- especially on a jump this crazy. And, seeing as Mark was one of the more experienced guys, it was only natural he got stuck with the idiot.
Or it could have been because he was the one that last pissed off the boss. He wasn''t entirely sure which it was, not that it mattered at this point.
¡°Do the job, kid. We watch while they sweep, just like the last two floors!¡±
Mark huffed to himself and turned back to watch the stairs. The door behind him slamming open caused him to start and spin in place just in time to see Andy get clocked across the jaw by a baseball bat. A fucking baseball bat!
Andy crumpled to the floor like a marionette with its strings cut.
Mark reacted quickly, reaching for the gun under his arm even as his eyes widened in recognition at the person wielding the bat. It was the same guy that had somehow outrun them while carrying their target, and the asshole was coming for him next.
Oliver turned a feral grin on his second target as the first fell. Seeing the hand dipping under a jacket, he knew this one carried a gun just like the other and swung the bat again. The distinctive crack of breaking bones rang out as the bat slammed into the man''s wrist. His howl of pain cut off with a grunt when Oliver shoulder checked him into the wall.
Still, the man was a fighter and quick to retaliate.
The fist slammed into Oliver''s chest, eliciting a small grunt of pain. Instead of resisting it hard, Oliver allowed the punch to push him back a step. With more room to work, he raised the bat and faked swinging it at the man''s head. Arm''s came up to protect the head, one hand hanging limp where it was broken, but the expected impact never came.
Instead, Oliver''s booted foot stomped down on the side of the man''s knee and he went down cursing. With his opponent on the ground, Oliver struck methodically. Threatening swings at the head left the man open to a stomp on his stomach, knocking the breath from him.
Thirty seconds to take out both men, and most of that was spent on the second one.
But Oliver wasn''t done yet.
Chapter 31 – Retaliation
Oliver quickly stripped the radio and earpiece from one of them, he thought the guys name was Mark based on their conversation, before tossing everything else straight into the warehouse. A touch of nervousness escaped him as he tucked the radio in his pocket. He grimaced as he quickly wiped down the earpiece before settling it in place. Two men down, but he knew there were a lot more in the building- not to mention the ones waiting outside.
He pushed aside thoughts of the men watching the exits, knowing he had to deal with what was in front of him first. With half his mind focused on the precise chatter coming across their radios and mentally tracking their movements, he dashed down the stairs as fast as he dared.
Bursting out into the first floor, he avoided the front entry and raced for the back of the building. Skidding to a stop in front of the Utilities Room, Oliver glanced at the deadbolt on the door before pulling a crowbar out of the System Warehouse. Completely ignoring the deadbolt, he wedged the crowbar on the opposite side, roughly where the top door hinge should be before throwing his weight against it.
A small grin split his face at the loud crack that rang out.
The door crashing in and down was louder than he would have liked, but, in his mind, it should have been barely noticeable to anyone nearby thanks to the blaring fire alarm. A small grin flashed across Oliver''s face as he tapped the crowbar against the reinforced strike plate in the door frame. ¡°Figures they would reinforce the lock but forget the hinges. Everyone does.¡±
Tossing the crowbar back in the warehouse, he strode across the small room to the electric panel on the wall. Flipping its door open, he scanned down the neatly labeled switches before finding what he wanted. With a few quick flips, the lights went out on every floor. The strobe of emergency lights and the blaring of the alarm punctuated the new level of chaos he had brought to the night.
Listening to the suddenly increased chatter on the radio, Oliver sighed in relief when whoever was calling the shots ordered them to continue their search for Sophia rather than try to fix the lights- whether limited on time or numbers, he couldn''t be sure. But it worked in his favor, and he would take any advantage he could.
Rushing back up the stairs, Oliver re-entered the third floor.
Prowling around the looming shelves, he skirted wide around the team of four that was searching the floor. Reaching the other stairwell on the front of the building, he eased up beside the door and risked a quick glance through its window. The pair guarding this stairwell, in contrast to the two Oliver had already taken out, looked focused and ready despite the chaos in the building. Though they looked relaxed, their was a tension in their shoulders that suggested they were ready to act in an instant.
He knew these two would be trouble. But maybe a new favorite trick would swing things around...
Taking a couple seconds to prepare, Oliver threw open the door and charged out. Swinging his bat one handed at the man watching up the stairs, he flung his other hand in the face of the other man nearby, releasing his secret weapon: a blend of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. The man, caught inhaling to shout a warning, began coughing and heaving instantly.
With his back turned to the door, the other man was unprepared for the bat that slammed into the side of his head. Staggering to the side, he had barely managed to right himself from the blow before Oliver''s kick caught him in the groin. The follow up two-handed swing connected solidly with his jaw.
One opponent down, Oliver pivoted on the one remaining. With one hand wiping ineffectually at his eyes to try to clear them and the other pawing for his radio, the man was practically defenseless and went down easily.
Four down, eight to go... To clear the building, at least.
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Taking out the next stairwell team went almost identically, boosting Oliver''s confidence in his plan- only to have the bubble burst when things went wrong with the last one. Just as he turned from dropping one man unconscious on the floor, the other somehow shouted through the coughing and wheezing and his voice echoed down the stairs... And across the radio.
¡°S-2... attacked-¡±
Oliver jabbed the bat into the man''s stomach, knocking the breath out of him and cutting off his words. But the damage had been done, as someone immediately started shouting over the radio for the teams to check in. The silence after only the team sweeping the floor responded lay heavy for only a moment.
¡°What the hell is happening up there?¡±
Adjusting his plan on the fly, Oliver responded with a dark chuckle. ¡°Sorry, your men can''t answer you right now. Would you like me to take a message?¡±
Creeping through the bookshelves once again, Oliver was closing with the sweeper team when the voice came back over the radio. Tight with anger, the man practically growled out every word. ¡°Radios are compromised. Everyone go silent.¡±
Oliver moved among the towering bookshelves like a wraith, pulling radios from the warehouse and hiding them among the books in the general area of the team, all while never taking his eyes off of them. He watched as they conferred quietly, likely discussing their next move.
¡°Hey...¡±
Just as it looked like they made a decision he spoke, voice echoing out from all the places he had stashed the radios to wash over the group. One of them, gun already in hand and looking nervous, squeezed off a shot out of panicked reflex, causing Oliver to chuckle. ¡°Don''t stop on my account. Your boys are looking a little nervous, friend. And uncertain, now that daddy''s not coaching them. Is that your call sign?¡±
Shifting around the group, Oliver searched for an opening or weakness he could exploit while he continue chatting almost casually, hoping to provoke a response from them. ¡°Nah, you seem like the sort to take offense at the homoerotic connotations of that. You probably go by something simple but sinister sounding. Like Edge or Grim. Hey! Maybe I can help you with call signs for your goons!¡±
¡°The one with dreads kinda feels like he goes by Spider, all lithe and nimble. Bet he''s quick, too.¡±
Surprised mutters came from the group as their eyes searched among the shelves, trying to find the man stalking them. But Oliver was careful, sticking mostly to the side with the one that fired off the panic shot whose eyes darted around almost without seeing. ¡°Maybe Twitch for the one that just shot a harmless wall? What did the wall ever do to you? You know the maintenance guys are going to have to fix that tomorrow; You''re just adding more work to them. Quite rude of you, don''t you think.¡±
Oliver paused his monologue to consider his move. Despite the fear and worry the team was obviously feeling at being stalked by someone that had taken out eight of their comrades, they still maintained their vigilance and organization. He was surprised when the angry growl came back across the radio.
¡°Who the hell are you?¡±
¡°Who am I? Ah, you want to discuss philosophy. That is one of the classic questions, and difficult to answer. It requires a deep understanding of oneself that few people ever truly achieve. I''m really unable to answer as, in many ways, I am still finding myself.¡±
Oliver wanted to laugh, as he could imagine the man on the other end grinding his teeth at the taunting rebuttal. After a few seconds, the man spoke again. ¡°Ok, smart-ass. You want to play games, then I''ll play along. Is this the point where you think you''ve intimidated us and tell us to run?¡±
Oliver''s dark laughter sent shivers down the backs of the team he was watching. ¡°Why would I want you to run? I''m just starting to enjoy myself. I know you''ve got more guys. Call them over and send them in.¡±
¡°You guys caught me off guard and under prepared, but that''s on me for getting cocky. But if you want to keep playing, then I''m game. Because I''m not done with you yet.¡±
The radio went silent in his hands, and Red stared at it in consternation. A tendril of fear tried to worm its way into him, but he crushed it ruthlessly as he weighed his options carefully. This man, whoever he was, had wreaked havoc on Red''s plan. It was supposed to be simple. Attack unexpectedly and with overwhelming force, grab the girl, and get paid. Then get the hell out before the something like the FBI could even get a whiff of them.
Then this asshole fucks everything up. By himself.
Red had done everything he could think of to gather information on Sophia''s ''secret'' protector. Background checks, bribes, even the mole he managed to put in Mr. Hall''s people... All came back with nothing. This guy was completely unknown. A ghost.
And possibly insane, if Red had read him right. Which he was fairly confident about.
Eight men down, with four more being hunted like animals, and Red was growing more and more certain that this job was a failure. At this point, his thoughts turned quickly to mitigating the fallout. With a grimace, he lifted the radio to his lips once again.
¡°Everyone move to exfil. The mission is scrubbed. Keep it tight and avoid the smart-ass. We''re done here.¡±
Chapter 32 - Evacuation
Padding along parallel to the team, Oliver watched as they moved cautiously back to the stairs. While he was sure this wasn''t a trick and that they were actually leaving, he refused to lower his guard until they were long gone As he had already expected, the group immediately cursed and reported on the radio the moment they opened the door to the stairwell.
¡°S-2 is MIA. Smart-ass must have done something with them.¡±
¡°Check on S-3, double time!¡±
The tension in their commander''s voice fell on the team like a ton of bricks, but they gritted their teeth and moved on quickly. Jogging their way along the wall, Oliver was forced to move faster than he liked to keep sight of them. Just as the man he assumed lead the team put his hand on the door handle, a shot rang out and startled the group. Spinning in place, sweat glistened on on his shaven head as he warily scanned the room.
Fury and fear warred across his face as he turned to towards the one Oliver aptly nicknamed Twitch. ¡°You need to get your shit together. What the hell was that!?¡±
Twitch nervously adjusted his grip on the gun. ¡°I swear I saw something! It was over there, moving through the shelves. Might have been that guy.
The remaining two scanned the shelves alongside their leader before sharing a glance and Spider spoke. ¡°Should we check it out?¡±
Without a seconds hesitation, the leader shook his head. ¡°No. It could be him, but he could just be fucking with us still.¡±
Turning around, he opened the door to the stairwell and stepped through. With a sigh, he grabbed his radio once more. ¡°S-3 is gone as well.¡±
Red was silent for several seconds after receiving the news that at least two of his teams were unaccounted for. At this point, he was fairly confident the situation would be the same for the other two stairwell teams. Gritting his teeth, he barely managed to grind out his question into the radio.
¡°Where the hell are my men you asshole!?¡±
Oliver almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the situation... If it wasn''t for the searing pain, he probably would have. Pulling a first aid kit from the warehouse, he was quick to dab antiseptic on the wound before slapping a bandage across it. It may have only been a graze, but it still hurt like hell.
He silently cursed himself for getting complacent. Taking the job too lightly, not preparing enough, and now underestimating Twitch. The little bastard may be close to panicking, but somehow he was still the most observant of the group.
''I need to do better. Over powered system or not, it doesn''t help me if I don''t use it.'' Oliver scolded himself mentally.
Oliver ignored the demanding question for a moment as he went over the area around him, cleaning up any spots of his blood. Seeing a book on the shelf behind him with the bullet deeply embedded in it, he tossed it into the warehouse along with his cleaning supplies, figuring it would make a good reminder of his stupid mistakes.
With a deep breath, he cleared his mind before once again letting himself slip into the smart-ass persona he used when talking to the leader of the attackers.
¡°Now where did I put them? It''s been such a busy night, I seem to have lost track of my toys. Will you help me find them? I''m not done playing with them yet?¡±
Taunting laughter echoed in Red''s head as he forced himself to unclench his fist before he broke the radio he held. ¡°I swear, if you don''t return my men right this instant I''ll-¡±
¡°You''ll what? Send more men in? Maybe come after me yourself? Really, how many bad action movie cliches are you going to throw out tonight? I mean, I''m no John McClane or anything, but you did send a bunch of armed goons into a large building they had no hope of effectively covering. Maybe I should call you Hans? Honestly, Alan Rickman was brilliant in-¡±
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Red finally snapped at the taunting humor of his opponent, his face flushed as brightly as his call sign. ¡°I don''t give a fuck about your movie trivia bullshit! When I find out who you are...¡±
Dark laughter and an amused voice made his men flinch, and Red gritted his teeth to keep from lashing out further.
¡°Another cliche response. Seriously man, watch a movie sometime. Or at least read that evil overlord list. Lots of good advice on that one. You''re starting to bore me.¡±
Bore me.
Red silently mouthed those words with a stunned look on his face. This madman took out so many of his men... And was getting bored? He wanted to believe that it was a bluff. Needed to believe it.
But it wasn''t worth the risk.
¡°Teams S-1 through S-4 are MIA. Everyone pull out. NOW!¡±
Oliver sighed in relief as the team he was watching bolted down the stairs and away. But despite the relief he was feeling, he knew he wasn''t done yet. Quickly double checking that he wasn''t leaving any trace behind of him being shot, he swapped the bloody gloves he was wearing for a fresh pair from the warehouse.
He definitely needed to expand the warehouse. And stock up on more supplies.
Hustling over to the closest window, he stared down at the milling group in front of the entrance. Moments later, the team he had been stalking came rushing out to join them. Just as they were about to leave, on of them turned and glance up at the third floor window, his eyes instantly locked with Oliver''s. He wasn''t the biggest or most impressive of the group. If anything, he was on the smaller side. Short and lean.
But there was an air about him, something the rest fell well short of.
When the man brushed back his shockingly white hair, Oliver could see a twisted scar running along his cheek and jawline. The scar twitched with barely restrained fury as Red glared daggers at Oliver.
Without another word, Red turned and lead the group away at a run.
¡°I could really go for a pineapple and jalapeno pizza right now.¡±
The couch cushion flew across the room as Sophia quickly wiggled her way out. Her relief and excitement at being out of her hiding place faded the instant she laid eyes on her protector. Dirty, bruised, and bloody; Oliver looked a mess.
¡°Oh my god! Are you ok?¡±
Rushing to his side, she started checking him over, worry and regret radiating off her in palpable waves. He could easily tell that she blamed herself for the state he was in. Waving her off, he smiled easily. ¡°Ah, I''m fine. Just not a fan of the Joker act. It feels a little too comfortable sometimes, even if it isn''t really me.¡±
He watched, bemused, as she stood there flabbergasted. It took her several seconds before she could formulate a response. ¡°Joker act? What are you talking about? You look like you got the shit kicked out of you! Is everything ok? Will you be all right?¡±
Oliver cut off his chuckle quickly, as it made his wound flash and throb with pain. Seeing the mounting panic in her eyes, he shrugged before waving for her to follow him. ¡°Yeah, I''m fine. This isn''t the worst beating I''ve had. Not even top ten, really.¡±
Hurrying to keep pace with him, she shot him a skeptical look. ¡°Not even top ten? I thought this was your first job. And is everything really ok now? Or are we running again?¡±
Thinking over what to say for a second, he shrugged. Hiding the grimace of pain the shrug caused, he answered her carefully. ¡°Short answers before we need to get a move on. I took a lot of beatings when I was younger, please don''t ask me more about it. And we''re not running, but we are leaving quickly. I''m pretty sure they''re gone, but I also don''t want us to get caught up with the cops.¡±
¡°They strike me as the sort that would happily bribe a cop if it got the job done.¡±
Quickly peeking out the window in the door leading to the parking lot, Oliver confirmed no one was left nearby before leading Sophia out. Darting between the few cars and trees present, he double checked before moving each time as he lead her towards the edge of campus.
Sophia followed silently, though he could see the questions in her eyes as they cross the nearly empty street and into the commercial area closest to campus. They bypassed multiple fast food place, all of them locked down because of the chaos on campus, as well as small storefronts that were closed for the night.
Despite it being her hometown, Sophia was started to feel lost as he lead her on a winding path through empty parking lots, dark alleys, and small open parks. Breathing hard and struggling to keep up, she nearly slammed into his back when he came to an abrupt stop. Finally taking a moment to look around, she was surprised to recognize the cheap motel he had lead her to, though only because she had seen the sign numerous times in passing. Never having actually stayed there, her lip curled in distaste as she took in the faded exterior and poorly maintained parking lot.
¡°What are we doing here?¡±
With a smile, he lead her straight to room number 42. Surreptitiously pulling a key card from the warehouse, he unlocked the door and waved her in.
¡°We''re hiding out until things settle down.¡±
Chapter 33 – Shadow Games
¡°Shouldn''t we go to a hospital or something? I''m not an expert, but getting shot seems like a good reason to see a doctor.¡±
Oliver shook his head in amusement as he passed a small box to Sophia. She stared blankly at the words ''Emergency Laceration Kit'' before frowning at him. ¡°You can''t be serious! I have no idea what to do about a bullet wound!¡±
With a small chuckle, he tapped the box in her hands. ¡°Just follow the direction. Use the alcohol to clean the wound, the little adhesive pad to pull the wound closed and keep it there. Then you cover and wrap it to keep it clean. Easy enough a child could do it.¡±
Oliver was thankful the graze wasn''t deep, though it position on his right side toward his back made it difficult for him to do more than he had done in the library without being forced to contort himself awkwardly... Which likely would have pulled on the wound and made the task even more difficult. And painful.
Sophia gently cleaned the wound, ignoring Oliver''s hiss of discomfort at her liberal use of the alcohol pads as she grumbled to herself. ¡°So easy a child could do it! What kid ever has to patch up a damn gun shot wound?¡±
Distracted by the burning pain, Oliver spoke without thinking to distract himself. ¡°It''s more likely than you would think. Hell, I think I patched up a dozen similar to that before I turned twelve.¡±
Skepticism and concern were written across Sophia''s face in equal measure as she searched his face for any hint as to the truth of his words. After a moment, she continued to bandage his wound with regular glances at the directions to make sure she was doing it right. ¡°Please tell me you were an accident prone kid, because that sounds like one of those domestic violence horror stories I read about in psychology.¡±
Oliver restrained the urge to shrug, knowing that movement would mess up her attempt to help him. ¡°Eh, my father was a bastard. But that''s all ancient history at this point, seeing as he''s been gone for more than half my life.. Aside from some lingering psychological issues, which I got counseling to help process, I think I''m doing all right.¡±
With the bandage securely in place, Sophia quickly got up and walked to the bathroom to wash her hands. When she spoke over the sound of running water, he could hear the disbelief in her voice. ¡°And that''s it? Your father was so abusive you had to patch up huge gashes like that and, what? You just processed it and moved on? Simple as that?¡±
¡°I wouldn''t call it simple, as I was in therapy for a while, but yeah. Like the old saying, ''If you''re going through Hell, just keep going''.¡±
Sophia dried her hands slowly, glancing around the small room uncomfortably before she bluntly tried to change the subject. ¡°So, what''s the deal with the hotel room? A room, near the campus, with a bag of clothes and a first aid kit... Did you expect something to happen tonight? What if we had to run out the opposite side of campus?¡±
Swapping places with her so he could finish cleaning the blood and dirt off himself, Oliver smirked over his shoulder at her. ¡°If we had run out the opposite side of campus, I would have taken us to one of the other bolt holes I set up.¡±
¡°One of the other... How many hotel rooms did you setup?¡±
Oliver shrugged as he dried his face. ¡°Five hotel rooms.¡±
Seeing her slack-jawed look, he laughed out loud as he hung the towel back on the rack as he continued. ¡°Plus three storage units, though I added sleeping bags and pillows to those.¡±
Sophia shook her head as she plopped down on the edge of one of the beds. ¡°Seriously? I never imagined you were so prepared. It''s no wonder you were able to keep me safe if this is how you do things.¡±
Oliver sat on the opposite bed and glared sullenly off into space. Shaking his head in frustration, he let out a deep breath and tried to push away the feelings of self-recrimination. ¡°I wasn''t half as prepared as I could have been. I thought this was going to be an easy job, and I got cocky. But that''s something I''m going to work on fixing. Starting tomorrow.¡±
Oliver wasn''t a fan of leaving Sophia alone in the hotel room. Even if no one should know where she was, it was a risk. Minimal risk, but still a risk. But to accomplish all his goals for the day, it was a risk he was forced to take.
And, as long as she listened to his instructions and stayed out of sight, it should work out fine.
Strolling down the aisles of the supercenter store, the pair shopping carts he pulled along were being filled quickly. The events of the previous night, as well as the preceding weeks, had forced him to re-evaluate his plans. His future as a music teacher was ruined, and problems were coming at him left and right...
Some of them because of his own actions. And inaction.
While Oliver wasn''t willing to give up on his dreams, he knew he had to change how he did things if he was to have any chance of achieving them. If he wanted to survive to reach those dreams, he needed to be better prepared.
And that started with filling a few more commissions.
-
Winter Winds ¨C The winter is proving harsher than any anticipated, and the raids on my tribe have taken a horrible toll, making our migration all the more treacherous. We are in dire need of protection from the biting Northern winds. Especially the children. 50 credits per durable tent, 20 credits per blanket, 10 credits for each winter coat(or other cold weather clothing).
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Parched ¨C The worst wasteland summer since the collapse has fallen upon us, and the known oases are no longer the refuge my people need. Though trying, this would all be survivable...were it not for our dwindling water stores. My people grow desperate as the oldest and weakest succumb. Please help us. 50 credits per gallon of drinkable water.
Oliver''s first shopping cart filled quickly with multiple thick blankets and an assortment of winter jackets. Tossing a variety of sizes of thermal socks and winter gloves onto the pile, a small grin spread across his face as he turned down another aisle. Once he found what he was looking for, he knew he had struck upon the right idea.
Mylar emergency blankets.
Waterproof, windproof, and capable of retaining the majority of one''s body heat; they were the perfect solution for the people struggling through their winter migration. The fact that they were cheap for him was certainly an added benefits.
With each packages containing ten of the emergency blankets, he was tempted to clear the shelves of the stock. After a moments consideration, he restrained himself to only half what was available. With winter coming, it was very possible that others would find a need for them, and he had no idea how quickly they would restock. Even if it was likely only a day or two.
Topping the cart off with a pair of ten person tents, he moved on to his second objective: 5 gallon jugs of water. A small chuckle escaped him at how easily his improved strength handled the large, unwieldy bottles to fill the second cart. Within minutes, he had rushed through checkout and was out the door.
What he had thought would be the trickiest part of filling the commissions turned out to be incredibly simple. After only a minute of searching, he found the perfect spot between a pair of large SUVs that blocked line of sight to the parking lot cameras. With a casual glance around, he confirmed that no one was nearby before firing off both commissions in succession.
Seconds later, and just over 5,000 credits richer, he was ready for phase two of his day.
With both shopping carts returned to the store, Oliver stood in the shade of the building and reached into the warehouse to pull out the phone he had used to communicate with Henley. With a few quick taps, and even fewer rings, the man picked up.
¡°It''s not safe for you to be calling right now, Silk. They could be trying to track your phone.¡±
Oliver chuckled into the phone. ¡°I already figured that was a possibility. I take it you haven''t dug up your mole yet? Also, I notice you aren''t asking about Sophia. Not worried I may have screwed up?¡±
Henley grunted, annoyed at Oliver''s almost flippant tone. Ultimately, he restrained the urge to rebuke the younger man. ¡°If they had gotten Miss Sophia, I doubt they would wait to issue their demands. And I doubt you would be so casual when talking to me, considering how pissed I would be.¡±
¡°As to the mole... I''ve narrowed it down to two suspects. I''ve got someone... discussing the situation with them now, but, until I find out what those assholes know, you need to lay low. And get the hell off the phone they may be tracking! I''m guessing you popped the battery out last night or something, so do it again and grab a pre-paid phone or something. And leave wherever you are right now, just to be safe. Contact me again in 24 hours, if you can safely.¡±
¡°Will do. Also, do you think having a little more information could help you dig through things faster?¡±
Demetrius Jackson, the man Oliver had nicknamed ''Spider'' just the night before, strolled with forced casualness down the stores aisles. His team and another were spread around the store, each with a basket or shopping cart with a handful of items in them. By all appearances, they were normal shoppers, grabbing groceries or other necessities.
A simple cover for their search, but after the unmitigated disaster last night, simple was best.
''Spider isn''t a bad name, really, even if that guy was fucking nuts.'' He mused to himself, the nickname somehow having stuck. As he reached the end of the aisle, he glanced at his squad leader for a second as he perused the items on the end-cap.
¡°I agree with Red, this is pointless. Seriously Ash, no way would that guy be dumb enough to think we weren''t tracking the phone. Why did the client insist on this wild goose chase anyway?¡±
Ash suppressed a sigh and shrugged. ¡°Client''s desperate and being stupid. My money says Red pulls out and we leave town, probably tonight. Job is busted anyway, staying here would just be more trouble. Come on, we''re almost done here anyway.¡±
Spider groaned to himself, but moved on quickly. He would be glad to leave this city and get far away from all this trouble. Especially the asshole from last night.
Emiko Saito approached the storage unit cautiously, her team trailed behind her as they scanned the surroundings. Most would be surprised at the petite Asian woman leading a security team. Even more would be surprised that her call sign was Irish, though she attributed it to her mother''s ancestry.
Her team would swear it was because she could out drink all of them. Combined.
Angry and frustrated at being side lined early in the attack the night before, she jumped at the first opportunity to help fix this crazy mess. And with the unquestionable loyalty her team had displayed, each having been saved from almost certain death by Henley in the past, he didn''t hesitate to send them out.
Her team in position, Emiko gave the signal and one of her guys quickly rolled up the door to the storage unit. Her gazed swept across the for threats before she stopped to gawk at the sight before her. Laid out on the bare concrete floor of the cheap storage unit were eight men, supposedly some of the attackers from the night before. While some were clearly unconscious, others writhed and groaned in pain as they grasped at injuries or clawed at their faces.
She had no idea what that Silk guy had done to them, and she wasn''t sure she wanted to know.
But one question weighed on her mind, so ridiculous she couldn''t help but blurt it out even as she waved her men to see to the attackers.
¡°How the hell did that guy drag eight of them all the way here? I thought he was alone!¡±
Oliver put away his binoculars, having been watching from a distance. He had barely enough time to drop off the attackers he caught and leave before Henley''s team arrived, but thought it was worth the quick trip. Having no experience in interrogation, he figured Henley could get more information from them than he could.
Now he just needed to get back to the hotel room, check on Sophia, and move on to phase 3 of his day.
''No rest for the wicked.'' He mused to himself.
Chapter 34 – Arms Dealer?
''Never imagined I would turn to into an arms dealer.'' Oliver mused to himself with a chuckle.
The day had gone more or less as he had hoped. With Sophia safely sleeping away, the attackers he had captured handed off to Henley, and the commissions nicely padding his account, it was time to execute the final step- at least it would be the final step for the day, as he knew this was just the beginning.
Opening Auction House...
Initiating Virtual Space...
Distributing Invitations...
The MDMS Auction House is now open for business!
Anonymous has joined the auction.
The Iron Lion has joined the auction.
King Durnin Stonebeard has joined the auction.
John Smith has joined the auction.
Mad_Smile has joined the auction.
Lady Moonthistle has joined the auction.
Admiral Thk-Thk has joined the auction.
Rothko has joined the auction.
The Bloodgorger of Myrn has joined the auction.
S!n6u1@r!+y has joined the auction.
Viscous Prime has joined the auction.
The list of people that joined flew by faster than he could keep track of, an almost impossibly long list of names. Like the last auction, he expected many of them to act only as silent observers. Whether they were uninterested in the items for sale, had no use for them, or were simply there to gather information mattered little to him. All that mattered were his own gains.
Though like last time, there was a bit of an ethical dilemma.
Oliver pushed aside those thoughts. What others did with the items he sold was on them, not him. It was impossible for him to know all the consequences that could arise, but, again, those consequences were on them.
At least that''s what he tried to convince himself.
Small conversations popped up in the chat, and he smiled at some of the names he recognized. The number of people that joined slowed to a trickle, then stopped. With a deep breath to clear his mind and prepare himself, Oliver jumped straight in.
Silk(Host): Welcome once again! I know everyone is excited for another auction, but the focus this time will be a little different.
He could practically feel the curiosity running through the virtual crowd as he paused to build a bit of tension.
Silk(Host): While credits are always welcome, I would like to encourage everyone to consider the barter option as I will be placing a higher emphasis on them. Particularly items useful for protection and self-defense. The life of a merchant can be dangerous at times, as I''m sure many of you know.
Oliver gave them a moment to consider his words and ready themselves before he launched the first auction.
Silk(Host): All five of our items this time are the same, and I''m sure some of you will be very interested. It is a type of weapon referred to as a pistol, a handheld weapon that is capable of launching a projectile faster than the speed of sound. In the right hands, it is an incredibly effective weapon. It comes already loaded with 18 rounds. As a bonus, I have included a guide for basic handling and maintenance of the weapon.
Silk(Host): Please keep in mind, this is a dangerous weapon, able to cause severe injury or death. It is your responsibility to ensure proper handling to avoid any accidents. This is also a complex device, making use of both chemistry and physics that I am unable to fully explain as that is not my area of expertise. As the seller, I take no responsibility for the pistol failing to operate due environmental factors beyond my control.
Oliver suppressed a grin as a furor swept through the chat. He knew this would be a popular auction. Not only did the pistols appeal to those in need of a weapon to defend themselves, but also collectors... And potentially even curious minded individuals of other worlds, interested in unraveling its secrets.
He just hoped his warning about the risks was enough to keep them from accidentally killing themselves.
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Silk(Host): We will start the bidding at 100 credits.
Oliver was prepared for the uproar he caused, but the near instant barter offer he received was a shock. Both for the speed at which it arrived... And its uniqueness.
The Bloodgorger of Myrn wishes to bid (Athame of bloodletting).
Athame of Bloodletting: A ritual dagger that has been used in a hundred blood sacrifices, wounds from this weapon cause increased blood loss and are more difficult to heal.
Estimated value: 3,300 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
As interesting as the dagger was, Oliver was quick to decline the bid. Moral issues aside, it was difficult for him to see its benefits when he had access to guns.
Silk(Host): Apologies to The Bloodgorger of Myrn, but your offer doesn''t quite fit my needs at the moment. Though you do have my thanks for bringing such an interesting item to my attention.
Arch-mage Soo wishes to bid (Tome of Lesser Lunar Lance).
Tome of Lesser Lunar Lance: A grimoire used to teach the reader the spell Lesser Lunar Lance. Single use. Requires Intelligence 15+ to use. (Lesser Lunar Lance is a Rank 1 spell) Unlocks the ''Mana'' sub-attribute upon use.
Estimated value: 7,000 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Oliver slapped a hand over his own mouth to keep from crying out in surprise and awe. Someone offered a magical tome! A literal magic tome that would teach him a spell... His mind reeled at the possibility. What exactly does it do? How does it work? Would magic even work on Earth? What other spells could he possibly find and learn?
Excitement rippled through Oliver as he mentally clicked to accept the bid, only for another prompt to instantly replace it and complicate his feelings.
Viscous Prime wishes to bid (Adaptive Stealth Armor, ''Lita'' variant).
Adaptive Stealth Armor, ''Lita'' variant: Bio-engineered body armor, offers minor protection against most forms of physical harm. When exposed to damage in excess of the protection offered, or new forms of damaged not protected against, the armor evolves, increasing the protection offered against that type of damage by a small amount. Capable of mimicking numerous forms of mundane clothing. Note ¨C Though it lacks sentience, this armor is classified as a living entity, and sustains itself by absorbing blood. Exposure to new and unknown lifeforms may cause unexpected evolutions. Caution is advised. Requires Vitality 15+ to use.
Estimated value: 25,000 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
For a moment, Oliver was stumped. Bio-engineered armor? Someone literally made a living armor that adapts to protect its wearer more every time they get hurt. It was absolutely mind blowing in both concept and usefulness. Assuming he survived whatever damaged made it past the armor, he would likely never need to change it for something better as it would just grow to be better armor.
But he could also see a number of issues with accepting the bid. For starters, it drank blood. He had no idea how much, how it would affect him, or even if the process hurt. And unexpected evolutions? Could the armor suddenly turn into a blood thirsty monster that eats people? And if the race that made it wasn''t human, would he be considered a new and unknown life form to the armor and thus cause such an evolution?
And to top it off... If he accepted the bid, he would potentially miss out on acquiring his first magic spell. And who knew how long it would take for someone to offer him another.
Oliver only debated with himself for a moment before accepting the bid. As much as he wanted to experience magic, Lesser Lunar Lance was clear both low level and offensive in nature. While it would undoubtedly be useful, he already had access to guns. While he wasn''t an expert with firearms, he knew what to expect from them. And he could always ask Polina to teach him...
He ignored the armor being deposited in the warehouse for the moment and continued with the auction.
Silk(Host): As I mentioned at the beginning, all the items are the same. Virtually identical, in fact, and so no real introduction is needed. Let''s start the bidding on the second pistol!
With the second pistol up for sale, the buyers erupted into a frenzy as none wished to miss out. He wasn''t surprised when the bids started out with a bang.
S!n6u1@r!+y wishes to bid ( S!n6u1@r!+y''s Enneahedron).
S!n6u1@r!+y''s Enneahedron: A 9-sided die created by the entity known as S!n6u1@r!+y. When rolled, this die produces a random beneficial effect for the user depending on which symbol it lands on. Note ¨C Only the entity known as S!n6u1@r!+y knows what effects the die may produce, and its definition of beneficial may differ radically from that of the Host. Caution is advised. Requires Willpower 47+ to use without suffering side-effect ''Insanity''. Caution is HIGHLY advised.
Estimated value: 11,235 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Prototype Buyer E117925 wishes to bid (Tactical Personal Drone).
Tactical Personal Drone: This is a personal drone developed for small scale urban reconnaissance. Possesses flight and stealth capabilities. Stealth mode renders the drone virtually imperceptible visually, though sufficiently advance radar or magical detection may detect it. Internal battery is capable of sustaining up to four hours of flight, or up to thirty minutes of flight if the stealth drive is engaged, before recharging is required. Note ¨C TPD can be linked to Host''s cell phone for operational convenience, or linked to an integrated neural up-link(not included).
Estimated value: 15,000 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Admiral Thk-Thk wishes to bid (Psi Blade Manifestation Technique).
Psi Blade Manifestation Technique: This technique will teach the user how to gather their psychic energies to manifest a Psi Blade. Psi Blades typically take the form of the bladed weapon the user is most familiar with, though individuals with sufficiently high Willpower are capable of modifying the blade when manifesting. Requires Intelligence 15+ and Willpower 15+ to use. (Psi Blade Manifestation is a Rank 2 psi ability) Unlocks the ''Psi'' sub-attribute upon use.
Estimated value: 18,000 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Oliver''s eyes gleamed with excitement at the bids rolling in. And there were still three more pistols up for sale after this one! Now all he needed to do was decide which bids to accept... Though he definitely wasn''t interested in rolling the crazy dice, both literally and figuratively.
What would help him the most, both now and in the future?
Chapter 35 – New Toys
Psi Blade.
It was impractical. While manifesting a blade made from pure psychic energy sounded cool, Oliver knew it wasn''t a logical choice. Realistically, keeping a sword or other weapon in the warehouse just made more sense. He could easily pull the weapon out when needed and store it away again afterwards. The odds that something locked his access to the system warehouse was small and if something did manage to block it, he was probably screwed anyway. And rejecting this bid would allow him to pick up something else with more practical use.
But it sounded cool, and he wanted it.
He didn''t bother to rationalize it to himself. While it would unlock the Psi sub-attribute, he knew that wasn''t why he took it. It was a selfish choice, pure and simple, and he knew it. As much as he knew he needed to be serious and prepare for when things go wrong again, he also acknowledged a fact deep in his heart: If he wasn''t enjoying life and happy, what was the point in doing any of this?
So he accepted the bid, and traded a pistol for a cool new Psi Blade ability.
Oliver pushed away the eager impulse to learn Psi Blade Manifestation that instant and quickly appraised the other trades he had made.
Tactical Personal Drone: This is a personal drone developed for small scale urban reconnaissance. Possesses flight and stealth capabilities. Stealth mode renders the drone virtually imperceptible visually, though sufficiently advance radar or magical detection may detect it. Internal battery is capable of sustaining up to four hours of flight, or up to thirty minutes of flight if the stealth drive is engaged, before recharging is required. Note ¨C TPD can be linked to Host''s cell phone for operational convenience, or linked to an integrated neural up-link(not included).
He was a little surprised when the buyer persisted in bidding again, but was ultimately glad they did. Even with the limited flight time, the drone looked to be incredibly useful. Oliver could easily imagine how much of a difference it could have made when they were attacked. Of course, it''s possible it wouldn''t have changed anything, but active intelligence should never be discounted.
Pinion Feather Pin: A small, black and gray pin in the shape of a feather. Enchanted to grant the wearer Slow Fall upon activation. 4 charges. This item draws in ambient mana passively, regained 1 charge per 24 hours(variable, based on mana density of current environment).
Slow Fall ¨C Reduces falling speed drastically for 1 minute, allowing the user to land safely.
While not the most impressive item, Oliver couldn''t pass it by. Aside from its rival bids being lackluster, there was potential to this item he didn''t want to ignore. Increased Vitality or not, falling to death was still a real danger. Especially with magic, and other incredible things, quickly becoming his new reality. For all he knew, he could encounter some flying beast that would try to kill him by dropping him from an incredible height.
Or some asshole would try to throw him off a building. Neither option sounded very appealing to him.
Blood Aura Spell Tome: A grimoire used to teach the reader the spell Blood Aura. Single use. Requires Intelligence 18+ to use. (Blood Aura is a Rank 2 spell)
Blood Aura: An aura of blood surrounds the caster, draining health from all living creatures hostile to the caster within fifteen feet to heal the caster. Minor damage. Minor healing. Mana cost ¨C 10/second while active. Note ¨C Blood aura is invisible to those unable to perceive mana flows. May still be detected by individuals sensitive to natural auras.
Oliver nearly couldn''t contain the excitement, and the frustration, he felt at receiving this tome. The potential for magic was right at the tips of his fingers... But still out of reach. As eager as he was to use it, he was still two points of Intelligence short. Thinking about all of his previous attribute increases, it was an easy bit of math.
15,000 credits to raise Intelligence from 16 to 18.
He grimaced as he looked over his remaining credit balance. The system tax on all these trades took most of his remaining credits, leaving him with less than a thousand to work with. And even if he wanted to run out to fill commissions that instant, he knew he couldn''t. It was the middle of the night, and he was supposed to be protecting Sophia. Leaving her alone once may have been a calculated risk, but doing it again would just be foolish. Especially when the job should be over soon. He hoped.
Oliver banished those thoughts as he slipped quietly out of bed and into the small bathroom, locking the door behind himself. With a thought, he pulled the Psi Blade Manifestation Technique out of the system warehouse. The weight of the book caught him by surprise, and he understood why the system would refer to them as tomes or grimoires. Easily twice the size of even the heftiest book his college classes had required, its presence seemed to weigh on his mind as heavily as it did his hands.
His eyes were drawn to the intricately detailed cover. Made of a thick slab of wood he couldn''t identify, it appeared to be hand carved. Complex swirls and ridges of different height and lengths curved along the surface, reminding him vaguely of an image from his old anatomy book of the human brain. Running his hand across the cover, he jerked it back suddenly with a hiss of pain.
His eyes widened at the sight of thin gashes, almost like paper cuts, running across his palm and fingers.
Turning his gaze back to the cover, it took him only a second to understand. Sharp edges lined each ridge, and many of them ended in a sharp point that was difficult to see without a closer inspection. The cover was literally designed to look like a mind made of blades.
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¡°Fucking awesome.¡± Oliver whispered to himself.
Unwilling to wait any longer, he opened the tome to its first page... And froze in place at the sight of a new system prompt.
Psi Blade Manifestation Technique
Estimated Independent study time required to learn ¨C 6 months
Activate System Assisted Integration? (Cost: 4,000 credits)
Estimated time required for System Assisted Integration ¨C 2 hours
(Yes/No)
Oliver let out a disappointed sigh as he tossed the tome back in to the warehouse. Why couldn''t it be like a video game? Just click on the tome and instantly learn a new spell or ability... It would have been too easy. While the assisted integration was similar, the fact that it cost more credits... Slowly, he pushed away the frustration at being stone-walled. While he wouldn''t be able to try out the Psi Blade immediately, earning the credits required would just be another small goal he could accomplish quickly.
Though it did raise the question, would Blood Aura have a similar prompt? A similar time or cost to learn? Earning more credits suddenly had an even higher priority.
With those thoughts in the back of his mind, he moved on to his other new items. The Pinion Feather Pin didn''t require much investigation. Similar to the Scarper Charm in activation, and a straight forward effect, it was easy to understand. He admired its elegant appearance for a moment before moving on.
The Tactical Personal Drone, or TPD for short, was not what he expected. Instead of the quad-copter, remote controlled image he had in mind... It was a silver sphere, roughly the size of a grapefruit. Its smooth, polished surface ran all the way around without a hint of an opening for a camera. Or a charging port. Oliver glanced blankly between the drone in one hand and his phone in the other.
¡°How the hell do I link the drone to my phone?¡±
The moment he muttered the words, the drone rotated in his hand and the phone screen lit up briefly with the words ''TPD Linked''. Seeing the new app simple labeled ''TPD'' in the screen, he tapped on it. A grin spread across his face when the drone started hovering and the image of himself sitting in the bathroom appeared on his phone screen. With a quick examination, the drone controls seemed to function similar to a few flight sim phone games he had tried in the past, including a display for remaining battery life and a wire outline of the drone to display damage taken ¨C which was thankfully still in the green, denoting it as undamaged.
And a small glowing button labeled ''Stealth Mode''. Oliver stared in amazement when the drone completely disappeared, right in front of his eyes. Only the crystal clear image display on his phone reassured him that the drone was still there. After a moment to marvel at the incredible drone, he turned off stealth and exited the app, plucking the drone from the air.
¡°Now how do I charge you?¡±
He almost laughed aloud when a small section of the sphere slid aside, revealing what looked like a standard USB charger cable.
¡°Seriously? Aliens use the same cables we do? Or is there some adaptive component to your design? Or... You know what, never mind. It doesn''t matter. Why the hell am I talking to a drone anyway?¡± With a shake of his head, he made a mental note to keep the drone charged before storing it for later.
Only one item left, though he was a bit wary of this one.
Adaptive Stealth Armor, ''Lita'' variant.
Nervous tension ran through Oliver as he considered this one. A strange and unknown living armor... What would happen? Would it morph into a bloodthirsty monster and devour all of humanity? Or would it simply protect him like the description said? He couldn''t be sure, but some instinct deep inside told him it would be fine.
Probably.
With a deep breath to clear away his worries, he pulled it from the warehouse only to stare in confusion. It didn''t look like armor at all. If anything, it just looked like a blob of black slime, slowly oozing through his fingers.
Until it moved.
The blob suddenly clung to his hand and started to flow up his arm. Oliver suppressed the panic that flashed through him and quickly removed his shirt as it draped across his shoulders and began to spread across his chest and back. In just seconds it covered his torso like a tight fitting black undershirt.
Then the pain hit him.
He ground his teeth as what felt like a large gauge nail was driven into his chest. A sense of weakness swept across him as he felt blood flowing out of him... and into the armor. Even getting shot hadn''t hurt as much. But before he knew it, it was already over and the pain stopped. Though the way the armor shifted and writhed left him feeling unsettled.
It seemed... content, or perhaps pleased, with the taste of his blood.
Taking a moment to gather himself, Oliver examined it carefully. By all appearances, it was just a normal black shirt, nothing special to it.
¡°I don''t know if you can understand me, Lita, but lets give this a go. Show me what you can do?¡±
The armor sat on his body, completely unresponsive. Oliver wracked his brain as he re-read the description. Not sentient... Maybe it could follow simple commands?
¡°Can you change your color to blue?¡±
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as if suddenly understanding what he wanted, its color rapidly faded from black to midnight blue.
¡°Ok, not bad. How about a brighter shade, like teal?¡±
As Lita shifted colors once again, Oliver knew he would need to experiment with commands for a while tonight. Knowing the full abilities and potential of his new armor would be critical if he found himself in more dangerous situation.
And, with his track record, he fully expected it.
Chapter 36 – Resolution
The end of the bounty was, at least in Oliver''s mind, a bit anticlimactic.
¡°What''s the word, H?¡±
Oliver sat in a small cafe just a block from the hotel he and Sophia had hidden away at for several days. Even as he sipped at a plain black coffee, his eyes swept the area for anything out of the ordinary. Until the job was done, he was still on high alert and ready to act.
¡°Show is over, Silk. I''ve got teams waiting to bring you both back as soon as you tell me where to send them.¡±
It took a moment for the words to fully register. Oliver exhaled slowly as some of the tension left him. ¡°You got the mole and wrapped everything up already?¡±
Henley grunted, a note of annoyance slipping into his voice. ¡°Yeah, we got the mole. Even found out who was behind the whole thing. The short version... Corporate greed and bullshit. I''ve been told I''m not to say much more about it. In part because of the lawsuit that will be launched, and in part because this whole mess is now part of a FBI investigation.¡±
Oliver''s breath caught in his throat. The last thing he wanted was to end up under scrutiny from a government agency.
¡°I don''t know how he did it, but Mr. Hall managed to keep you out of their cross hairs. I guess mostly they''re concerned with chasing the idiot mercs that decide a college campus made for a good war zone. But, seeing as they already skipped town, most of the attention went with them.¡±
¡°Now, where the hell are you so I can get my people moving?¡±
It didn''t really surprise Oliver when a small army rolled up to the hotel. Even with their attackers on the run and the threat gone with them, Henley wasn''t taking any chances. With two dozen security people focused intently on their job, the trip across town was as quick as it was peaceful.
Oliver nearly chuckled at the audible sigh of relief from Sophia when they reached her father''s estate.
The pair were quickly ushered inside and down to Mr. Hall''s office. The moment they cleared the door Mr. Hall was there to embrace his daughter, tears of joy streaming down his face.
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¡°I''m so glad you''re ok, pumpkin. I was terrified something would happen to you...¡±
His words cut off as Sophia hugged him fiercely. The two held each other silently for a moment before she leaned back slightly and gaze him a bright smile. ¡°I know, dad. I was worried too.¡±
A small smirk crossed her face as she nodded at Oliver. ¡°But you insisted on extra security, remember? He didn''t let anything bad happen to me.¡±
Her smile faded into a glare directed solely at Oliver. ¡°Unless you count making me patch up a gun shot wound. Definitely not something I ever expected to do. Or would ever want to do again.¡±
Oliver waved off the stunned look on Mr. Hall''s face, an easy smile hanging on his lips. ¡°It was barely a graze. A small one. I would have tended to it myself if it wasn''t so hard to reach.¡±
Mr. Hall slowly let go of his daughter and extended his hand. As the two men shook hands, he spoke with a voice heavy with gratitude. ¡°I can''t thank you enough. You kept my little girl safe, and even got shot protecting her. How can I ever repay you?¡±
¡°I just did what you hired me for, sir. And I''m glad I did. Sophia is a good person.¡±
Oliver let the father-daughter duo heap gratitude on him for a while longer, figuring they needed to let out some of the emotions that had built over the course of the stressful week. As the two started to wind down, it was actually Mr. Hall that broached the subject of payment. Slowly pulling a small wooden box out of his desk, he glanced at Oliver as he set it on the desk.
¡°I really am very grateful for all that you''ve done, but... I''m curious, why did you ask for this as payment instead of money? Not that I have a problem with it, as it doesn''t mean much to me. It''s just an interesting collector''s item, after all.¡±
With a flick of his wrist, Mr. Hall opened the box to reveal a six inch dull iron spike. Holding the box out for Oliver to inspect, he spoke with a smile. ¡°It is an interesting piece, though. One of the original spikes from the Transcontinental Railroad! Maybe not as glamorous, or valuable, as the four special spikes, it''s still an incredible piece of history...¡±
¡°Well, one of thousands of such pieces really.¡± He added with a chuckle.
Oliver smiled politely as his attention was pulled away from the conversation to a pair of surprising system prompts.
Transcontinental Railroad Spike(Relic): This plain looking spike was part of the original construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Steeped in the aura of decades of industry and progress, this Relic provides a small boost to the durability of any construction within which it is incorporated. Estimated durability increase ¨C 10%
Local Bounty: Safeguarding Sophia completed.
Processing reward...
Claim Relic( Transcontinental Railroad Spike)? Or Exchange Relic for 10,000 credits?
(Claim/Exchange)
Oliver ignored the prompts for the moment as he closed the box. With a small smile, he shrugged off Mr. Hall''s question. ¡°I just have a bit of an interest in things like this. And I''m sure finding a buyer wouldn''t be too difficult if I decide I need the money.¡±
Mr. Hall nodded in understanding before a contemplative look flashed across his eyes. ¡°Well, it''s all yours. I was wondering though... Would you be interested in more work? I''m sure we could find a spot for a man of your talents.¡±
While Oliver appreciated the offer, staying here conflicted with his plans... And would make his relationship with Polina even more difficult. For a moment, he humored the idea of moving her across the country to settle down doing security work. Shrugging off the flight of fancy, he knew it was time to leave.
There was still a lot of work to do. He needed to decide which reward to take from the bounty, not to mention another long cross country drive. Maybe there was a Bounty he could complete on the way? He could fill commissions while he traveled, at least.
Interlude – The Power of Prayer
Hope Jackson rushed down the stark white hallway, ignoring the harsh chemical smell of whatever cleaning agent the hospital used. Fear and anxiety were etched into her features as she strode up to the desk and addressed the first nurse she saw.
¡°Excuse me, I''m looking for the room of Marla Jones? She''s my mother, and my dad forgot to mention the room number...¡±
Nurse''s offered her a reassuring smile as she quickly looked the name up on the computer. A hint of concern swept across her face as she pulled the information up. ¡°Ok, I have that room number here, but while your mother is stable right now, I should warn you... Your mother is in the burn unit. There are some protocols you''ll be asked to follow while visiting. I can walk you through it, if you want?¡±
Hope looked down at the yellow hospital gown she had to wear with a frown. While yellow was normally one of her favorite colors to wear, as it complimented her chocolate brown skin wonderfully, today... today she hated it. It looked sickly or diseased to her. Though, she admitted to herself, that was more due to the circumstances than the color itself.
With a deep breath to prepare herself, she pushed into the room to find her father waiting for her. Even as he stood to meet her, he eyes were drawn to the hospital bed. Or, more accurately, to the person that lay motionless on it. Dozens of wires and tubes connected her mother to a bunch of machines she couldn''t identify.
And if not for the presence of her father, she likely would have struggled to identify the body under so many layers of bandages as her mother.
Hope stared in horror, her mind unable to process what she was seeing. Her mother was always an extremely active person, happy to volunteer in the community or just help out at the church. She would welcome everyone with a bright smile, filled with happiness to help and joy for life.
Now that same woman lay there, horribly burned and desperately clinging to life.
¡°What happened?¡±
Hope didn''t even realize she spoke aloud until her father lay a hand on her shoulder, gently guiding her to a chair. As her father gingerly lowered himself into the seat beside her, she turned a shocked gaze on the bandages he bore.
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¡°You''re hurt too!? Are you ok? Oh, God... I''m sorry I didn''t-¡±
John cut off his daughter with a small wave, smiling gently at her before speaking in his usual bass rumble. ¡°I''m ok, mostly just some scrapes and bruises. I''m just glad you decided to come home early for Christmas this year.¡±
¡°But... How? What happened? Is mama going to be ok?¡±
John held her hand to calm her. While the business world may see his daughter as a shark, he only ever saw the sweet little girl they had raised. Even as a grown woman worth a fortune, it was always ''mama'' and not ''mother''. ¡°Your mama is stronger than this; Hell, she''s stronger than me when she wants to be. She''ll get through this and come out the other side smiling, just wait and see.¡±
Hope''s brow furrowed in concern. Her father wasn''t answering her question about what happened. He only deflected like that when he was trying to protect her... But he also never lied to her, so she knew he meant what he said about her mother.
¡°What happened dad? Tell me how you and mama got hurt, please? I need to know.¡±
John hung his head with a sigh as tears slowly slid down his face. ¡°I know I shouldn''t try to protect you from stuff like this any more. You''re a grown woman, but it''s hard not to. You''ll always be my baby girl.¡±
He wiped away the tears before turning to face his daughter fully, his usually smiling face turned serious, almost angry. ¡°We were at the church... I was helping set up the Nativity Scene out front, while your mother was inside... Well, I''m not quite sure what she was helping with, but that doesn''t matter. A whole bunch of us were there, probably thirty or forty...¡±
He trailed off for a moment, just staring at his wife laying there hurt. Shaking his head sadly, he pushed on in a rush, a trace of pain and disgust lacing his words. ¡°Our church had gotten some threats recently from some hate group. Apparently they have a problem with a ''Black Church'' being in ''their'' community.¡±
¡°The police said it was a fire bomb, but all I can remember is the explosion, the screaming and crying... I don''t remember pulling your mama out of it, but they said that''s how I got hurt...¡±
His voice faded into a hoarse whisper by the end, and Hope held him tight when the sobbing started. Her family, and their church, had never done anything to hurt anyone. They followed God''s word, and believed in helping others. Why would anyone do something so terrible to them?
Tears welled in her own eyes... even as anger grew in her heart.
John fell into a fitful sleep in the chair, having refused to leave his wife''s side even when the nurse suggested he needed to rest.
Left alone with her fears, anxiety and anger, Hope turned to the only solace she could find: Prayer. Kneeling beside her mother''s hospital bed, she bowed her head and clasped her hands even as her tears rained down.
¡°God, I know I don''t speak with you often enough. I get too caught up in life and my business, and sometimes I forget what is really important... But I''ll never forget my parents. How important they are to me, how much I love them... How much they have done for me. Please, God, help my mama. Help her to heal and get past this hurt and the hate that caused it.¡±
¡°And please forgive me God, because my heart burns for more than just her survival.¡±
¡°I want justice for those that were hurt and died.¡±
¡°And, God forgive me, but I want the men that did this to pay. I want vengeance for mama.¡±
Her phone chiming interrupted the dark and painful thoughts, and Hope almost ignored it. A strange urging filled her chest, causing her to pull it out of her pocket to check.
Submit Bounty: Justice for the lost... and Vengeance for mama? (Yes/No)
Chapter 37 – A Small Detour
Oliver felt his nervousness rise as he drove through the suburbs. He knew this bounty was a bad idea for him. Arson, hate crime, domestic terrorism... Even if all the news channels weren''t talking about the FBI getting involved, it only made sense to him that they would. If he wanted to avoid the possibility of coming to their attention, the smart thing to do would be just to drive on by and forget the whole mess. They were the professionals, after all.
But he knew he couldn''t just ignore it.
It hit a little to close to home. He knew from the stories she had shared that Polina, being from a predominantly Hispanic family, had faced more than a little bigotry and racism in her life. Add in that the person posted the bounty because their mother had been caught in the attack... Oliver knew exactly how far he would have gone to help his mother, and the terrible things he would have done to keep her safe.
He had even done some of them, just as his mother had done to protect him.
As bad of an idea as taking the bounty was, he couldn''t imagine just ignoring it. Seven people had died, with another twenty injured, some seriously. The assholes that did it deserved to be punished... and one of the cops involved had already leaked the news that they didn''t have a single lead, the perpetrators either being smart or lucky enough to not leave any evidence. The officer was already suspended for it, but that was poor comfort for the victims and their families.
So Oliver took the bounty.
He drove by where the drove had been, staying roughly a block away to avoid the police presence as well as the long line of mourners... and the crowd of morbid individuals that were always drawn to the site of a tragedy. With it being so close to dark, he quickly found a gas station a couple blocks away to park his truck. The lack of useful information from the bounty post meant he need to gather some information.
And it was the perfect time to try out his new drone.
With a quick glance around to be sure no one was watching, he rolled down his window and released the drone. The drone rapidly gained altitude before he turned it towards the church and sent it zipping off. Already pleased with how easy the drone was to use, its speed raised his impression of it by another notch as it only took seconds to arrive high above the crowd around the ruins of the church.
With the scene itself already searched by the police and FBI- and he doubted he would find something that they missed- Oliver ignored the ravaged structure, turning the drone to focus on the people gathered below, as well as those just passing by. With the statistics he had read about arsonists returning to the scene, there was a chance he could spot something there. Of course, it was likely the officers below were doing the same thing.
He circled the drone at a distance to begin with, just to get a feel for the crowd while making notes of the groups spread throughout it. The police keeping the scene secure, the mourners nearby, some of which were laying out wreaths and flowers for those they lost, people expressing their sympathies... and those that obviously only showed up for the spectacle, which Oliver labeled as ''vultures'' in his own mind.
He understood that some people were drawn to tragedies like this, either for their own entertainment or from a sense of relief that it didn''t happen to them. He didn''t really understand those feelings, he just knew that they existed.
¡°People are weird.¡± He lamented to himself, fully aware of the irony of someone as odd as him saying it.
With a sigh, Oliver engaged the drone''s stealth mode and flew it closer.
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Despite recharging and sending the drone out twice more, Oliver didn''t find anything that stood out. But he hadn''t really expected to, at least not so soon. If it was that easy to catch the culprit, the police would have done it already.
But he did discover one thing that could be helpful: Screen capture. With the drone linked to a phone, he could easily use it to take screenshots and even record everything he saw through the drone. While not immediately useful, he knew there was potential for it. Especially with the phone printer he picked up from the 24 hour store.
Which is how Oliver found himself in a cheap hotel room, printing pictures of dozens of people. From the vultures to the police officers, he had snapped pictures of each of them. And any distinguishing marks he had spotted on them, like tattoos.
Any detail could be important.
With the photos printed and organized, he grabbed the new laptop he had picked up as well and started the next phase of his investigation. In just a few minutes, he had made nicely fleshed out fake profiles for several social media platforms. Fake name, fake profile picture, fake everything- with the hometown of Sparrow. This city. Just like most of his suspects, he expected.
But before he could start his social media deep dive, his phone rang.
Seeing who was calling, a small smile flashed across his lips before disappearing with a sigh. He knew this conversation couldn''t be put off, but he was worried about what sort of response he would get. After a second of hesitation, he scooped up the phone and answered. ¡°Hey Poli. I''ve missed you.¡±
¡°You ok, hon? You sound like your worried about something.¡±
Oliver chuckled softly. Polina knew him too well already. While he knew he could still hide some things from her, especially the more unusual aspects of his life, she had a knack for reading him. Where most people struggled to know what he was truly feeling, she seemed to instinctively pick up on the slightest shift in his emotions. Especially when it came to their relationship.
¡°I''m ok, I promise. But, uh... I think I messed up.¡± He winced, realizing how that sounded, and pressed on quickly. ¡°I think I should have talked to you before I agreed to take on another side job, and I feel bad about it. Someone''s mom got hurt, so they asked for help.. And, well, I kinda impulsively agreed to help.¡±
He was just as relieved to hear the smile in her voice as he was at the response itself. ¡°Of course you did, Oli, and it''s ok. You have a good heart. And you have a bit of a soft spot for moms.¡±
¡°Speaking of which, when do you think you''ll be back? My mom wants to meet you.¡±
Despite the teasing tone of her voice, Oliver froze for a moment. He had never been asked to meet someone''s parents- though he also hadn''t really dated enough for that to matter. What would Poli''s mom think of him? Kicked out of college, being hounded by the police, and with a job that had him away for unknown amounts of time... He couldn''t imagine her approving of their relationship...
¡°I freaked you out, didn''t I? I''m sorry Oli, if you''re not comfortable with meeting-¡±
¡°No, its fine. I want to meet her, I''m just a little worried that she won''t like me. With everything that''s going on, me being kicked out of school and-¡±
Polina took her turn at interrupting, her tone warm and reassuring. ¡°Its ok Oli, I promise. My mom already knows what is going on. She agrees that it''s all bullshit. And, in her own words, she is ''Super excited to meet her future son''. Ah... Just... Don''t pay too much attention to that ''future son'' part. She''s just really optimistic and supportive. Not that I''m saying I don''t want... I mean, that''s a conversation for in person. In the future. I''m nervously rambling, aren''t I?¡±
Oliver couldn''t help but laugh. He didn''t really know how she did it, but Poli always brought a smile to his face. He also couldn''t help but tease her back. ¡°Yes. Yes you are. But it''s ok. We can worry about that in person, future conversation... in the future. Preferably in person.¡±
Polina''s warm, rich laughter echoed across the line. ¡°Ok, maybe I deserved that one. But I would still like to know when you will be back. And- Yes, mom, I''m talking to Oliver.¡±
¡°He got pulled into another job and was just about to tell me how long...¡±
¡°Ok, ok. I''ll tell him. Just give me a second.¡±
Imagining the other half of the conversation, and Polina''s mom chattering away, amused Oliver to no end. He decided to tease her just a bit more before she could switch back to talking to him. ¡°Tell your mom I said hi, and that I''m looking forward to meeting her.¡±
When Polina huffed at him, he devolved into a very unexpected fit of giggles. Unexpected because he couldn''t remember actually giggling before. Ever.
It took a few minutes for Polina to placate her mother and return to the call. Despite her attempt to sound annoyed by the whole thing, he could hear the happiness in her voice. ¡°Thanks for that. My mom says hi as well. Now, if you''re done messing with me?¡±
¡°Sorry hon, I couldn''t resist. Hopefully this job only takes a couple weeks, but it''s possible it may run long. I''m still gathering all the information I need to properly execute the contract.¡±
Chapter 38 – Seek
The process of reducing his suspect pool turned out to be just as complicated as Oliver expected. Three days of intense digging through social media, and joining a handful of memorial groups and pages created because of the church burning, had crossed a number of people off the list.
Unfortunately, his regular fly-byes whenever the drone recharged managed to add a few more people each time.
The first people marked off the list were those too old or disabled that were physically unable to have done it, though some of those he had expected just from watching them through the drone for a few minutes. With the easy eliminations taken care of, the level of work he had to put in for each grew noticeably, often requiring him to cross reference posts on different sites or make phone calls for confirmation. Like the construction worker that spent three days at the hospital on the other side of town because her daughter was sick, or the the truck driver that just got back from a long haul.
The people he didn''t have names for took the longest. Oliver spent hours searching through public profiles and the different groups had joined just to find them. Those he could actually find, that is, as there were a few that either kept their profiles private or simply didn''t have one.
And reading through countless number of posts and comments... Oliver, not being all that interested in social media himself, was amazed at just how much of their lives people liked to post online. Major life events, complaints about their boss, and even posts and pictures about what they had for lunch! He really didn''t understand why people thought everyone wanted to know about the terrible traffic they got stuck in, or the new puppy they just adopted. Though it was a really cute puppy, he admitted to himself.
He was beginning to question his thought that ''any detail could be important''. But enough of them were, so he could only press on.
''Next step is the leg work.'' Oliver thought to himself and immediately winced at the horrible accidental pun he made.
Oliver felt a bit like a creep when he started to stalk people at their jobs or spy on them in their homes. The conspiracy theories about government surveillance didn''t seem quite as ridiculous as he watched people from afar using the drone. But, as much of an invasion of privacy as it was, he didn''t hesitate to do it. He had a goal, a mission, and he intended to see it through. And, thankfully, the police hadn''t beaten him to it. Yet.
It was a race, one he intended to win. And he could almost sense the finish line just ahead.
After two weeks, his list had shrunk to just a handful of names... Or rather, just a handful of faces. No matter how hard he searched through social media, he came up with nothing. No posts or comments, not even a hint of a private profile. Other than the pictures he had taken using the drone, he had nothing on these last five people.
And if they turned out to be a dead end... He wasn''t sure what he would do. Trying to find the arsonist with nothing to go on would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. He really wasn''t surprised the police were still stumped.
¡°Break it down logically, Oli.¡± He muttered to himself while pacing in the cheap hotel room. ¡°All you''ve got is a couple pictures. How do you find these people so you can investigate them?¡±
With a sigh, he grabbed a soda from the cooler and stared out the window. Lost in thought, he sipped it slowly and just let his gaze wander. Across the nearly empty parking lot, past the burger place nearby, across the grocery story, the corner gas station...
A smile slowly grew on his face as he pulled the binoculars out of the warehouse and looked through them, sweeping his gaze slowly from the gas station to the grocery store.
¡°Everybody needs groceries, and almost everybody drives.¡±
One suspect found... And another bust. A high school kid. Apparently he had been grounded for a month, all because his mom found his stash of weed. He hadn''t been anywhere besides his home and school since well before the church was burned... Given the mother''s very strict, no-nonsense attitude, Oliver believed it. A little overbearing, but she seemed like a mom that really cared.
Failure after failure at finding the arsonist, combined with the feeling of melancholy Oliver got from being reminded of his own mother, had him sitting in a sports bar as the sun started to set. Perched on a stool at the end of the bar, he ignored the slightly run-down surroundings as he bit into a surprisingly good bacon cheeseburger. The place didn''t look like much, but at least the guy running it knew how to make a burger.
Plus, a burger and a beer was a decent distraction from his own memories. At least for the moment.
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More surprising was the group that came in before he finished eating. He didn''t expect the place to get much business on a Tuesday night, but it was apparently a local hangout for at least one group of people. With a glance over his shoulder, his idle curiosity instantly morphed into pointed interest. Almost suspicion.
Early twenties, white guys. One was bald, another had a fairly impressive beard. A fairly average looking group of guys, just hanging out and grabbing a couple beers while they play pool. But their tattoos...
A viking axe, the viking compass, even a skaldenmet... Maybe these guys were just proud of their viking ancestry. Or maybe they were another group of white supremacists that misappropriated Norse mythology.
Oliver couldn''t really be sure either way, but it warranted looking in to.
He kept an eye on their reflection in the mirror behind the bar while pretending to watch the sports highlights played on the tv. Despite the suspicion he felt, everything appeared completely mundane. They played pool, drank some beers, and snacked on some hot wings. Even their conversations were normal. What happened at work, how their favorite sports team was doing, trash talking each other... Just another group of guys.
Until another one joined them. A face Oliver recognized. One of his four remaining suspects.
Black hair, blue eyes, medium height and average build. In the picture Oliver took of him, the guy was wearing a polo shirt and a nice pair of jeans. He looked like a college kid, just checking things out. But when he walked in to the bar wearing a tank top, Oliver could see tattoos across his chest and upper arms similar to the rest of the group.
Oliver paid his tab as he considered what to do next. Follow his suspect to gather more information on him? Maybe take pictures of his friends first to try and dig up info on them. He had learned their first names while sitting there, but if they were staying off social media like their friend-
¡°Hey buddy! You wanna play some pool?¡±
Realizing there was no one else they could be talking to, Oliver turned to face the group. Most of them just looked like they were waiting for his answer... But baldy, who Oliver had learned was named Lewis, glared at him with what was obviously distrust.
Oliver thought about it for a second. He hadn''t planned to actually approach anyone. It increased the level of risk and, if they weren''t the culprit, would raise a lot of questions when he inevitably disappeared. But it was also an opportunity.
An acceptable risk, he decided. Offering the group a friendly smile, he hopped off the stool. ¡°Loser buys the next round?¡±
Three games, three losses, and three rounds of beer. Part of Oliver felt like he should have gotten some pointers from Polina on one of their dates. But, since the games were close, he shrugged it off. He wasn''t the type to get a woman drunk and take advantage, but getting these assholes drunk to dig for information? He could definitely do that.
And they were definitely assholes.
With enough alcohol in their system, the group loosened up enough for his suspicions to grow. It started slow, with a few racist comments slipping out when they talked about certain people they worked with or knew. But as the night wore on, he had to resist the urge to do something violent. They were clearly racists... but that didn''t necessarily mean they had done anything wrong.
¡°Man, we been shooting the shit half the night and you ain''t said a lot Oscar. What brought you to Sparrow? What kinda work do you do?¡±
¡°Ah, lay off him. Don''t mind Lewis. He''s always an ass!¡±
Oliver chuckled as he took his shot. ¡°It''s cool, man. It doesn''t really bother me. A large part of why I came here was because of work anyway. I work in distribution, though what that really means is that I spend most of my time packing up shit before it gets sent off to wherever the fuck it goes.¡±
Peyton, the guy Oliver was investigating originally, leaned casually against the pool table as they spoke. ¡°If that''s the large part, what''s the small part? It ain''t in your pants, is it?¡±
Oliver laughed along with the group at the childish humor. ¡°Nah, my last job went kinda sideways and I figure it was time to relocate.¡±
¡°Went sideways how?¡±
He watched as his opponent took his shot and thought about how he wanted to respond for a moment. With a shrug, he gave them a slightly altered version of the truth. ¡°I got jumped by a group of thugs and they beat the hell out of me. One of them even shot me.¡±
At their surprised looks, Oliver turned and pulled up his shirt to show off the partially healed graze wound. ¡°He was the bitch of the group, trying to prove himself or something. His hands were shaking so bad he nearly dropped the gun. I was kinda lucky that it wasn''t worse, and that they took off right after. I figured that was a good time for me to get out of dodge, you know?¡±
¡°Shit, man. That''s crazy. And fuck those guys. Fucking low life-¡±
Oliver struggled not to grit his teeth at slurs being spewed and nodded along in pretend agreement.
¡°That''s why you need to be packing, man. Somebody comes at you like that, you drop them.¡±
Oliver turned to Peyton and shrugged, his brow furrowed in mock frustration. ¡°Would if I could man. I got caught with a little weed when I was fifteen. The judge was bumping for some position and decided he needed a boost to his numbers or something. They tried me as an adult and hit me with a felony charge. Seriously fucked up my life, you know?¡±
A thoughtful look flashed across Peyton''s face before he responded cautiously. ¡°Maybe we could help-¡±
As Lewis cut him off with a hushed argument, Oliver smiled internally. He couldn''t be completely sure these were the culprits, but he was definitely leaning that way.
And if they weren''t, it wouldn''t hurt to see what sort of guns he could get from them and then move on. Being better armed and prepared was still on of his goals, after all.
Chapter 39 - … and Destroy
After just a couple days hanging out with his new ''friends'', Oliver was more and more certain that these were the assholes that firebombed the church. While none of them had mentioned the attack directly, the subtle comments, and not so subtle racist vitriol, had nearly convinced him.
But without confirmation, he wouldn''t make a move. As unlikely as it seemed, there was still the chance they were innocent. Well, innocent in regards to the attack. They were definitely scumbags.
He was almost confused by the conflicting impressions he got from the group. On the one hand, they were smart enough to keep clear of social media. The fact that they managed not to leave any evidence behind when committing the arson was almost impressive.
On the other hand, they were complete idiots, loudly- and publicly- spouting off with racist and derogatory comments about almost anyone and anything they despised. He had expected them to brag a little if they had done it, or at least make a few comments about it. The fact that they hadn''t mentioned the church at all was a bit suspicious, at least to Oliver. It was simply to big of a topic to avoid without it being obvious, especially for hate mongering fools like them.
But it made sense when he realized that the bald asshole, Lewis, was riding herd on the lot of them. Any time the conversation drifted towards dangerous territory, he would quickly redirect it, though not as subtly as he thought. All while directing pointed looks at his friends behind Oliver''s back that he would have missed if he hadn''t been looking for them. But every group has a weak point, and Oliver found it.
Peyton.
As tightly knit as the group was, Peyton and Lewis constantly butted heads. Lewis kept everyone on a tight leash, often bullying them into place when they stepped out of line or spoke out of turn... and Peyton chaffed under the restrictions. Two self proclaimed alphas who thought that they knew better than the other.
Oliver had to admit that, if they had done it, Lewis had done a decent job of keeping them in line. And that Peyton was the idiot who would likely screw it up for them.
So, when the group invited him around for a couple beers and to shoot some guns, he accepted readily. Hopefully it would make a good opportunity to dig for more information.
Oliver looked at the ranch style home a little ways outside of town with a smile, hopeful that today would get him what he needed and wrap up this bounty. Three weeks wasn''t all that long, but he was ready to move on and get away from this group of idiots. One more night of playing pool while listening to their vile commentary and he was tempted to just kill them and hope for the best.
¡°Yo, Oscar! Glad you made it. Why the hell did you ride a bike all the way out here?¡±
Pulled from his thoughts, Oliver turned to where Peyton was rounding the corner of the house. With a glance down at the bicycle he had been riding for the past few weeks to keep his truck out of sight, he shrugged casually. ¡°Hey, it''s what I''ve got man. If I knew you were this far out, I would have weaseled a ride out of one of the guys.¡±
Peyton chuckled and waved him to follow. ¡°Well, come on man. We''ve got a cooler full of drinks and some targets set up. Nothing fancy though, we''re just shooting cans as we empty them.¡±
¡°Don''t need fancy when simple works, right?¡±
Oliver listened to Peyton''s usual boisterous bullshit as they rounded the corner to find the rest of the group hanging out in the backyard with beers already in hand. His eyes scanned the yard as one of them walked over to a table twenty feet away that was absolutely loaded down with guns. Pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns... At least a dozen of each, and more for the pistols. A small smile flitted across his face as he eyed them, considering what he could get from them at auction.
¡°Nice little collection ain''t it?¡±
Oliver nodded appreciatively at the guns, ignoring Peyton''s smug look. ¡°Hell yeah. I recognize some of them, but not all. Is that seriously an AK?¡±
The conversation paused as Billy finished loading a pistol and started popping off shots at the beer cans lining the back of the property. The group cheered with each hit, and teased him mercilessly with every miss. With his shooting done, he returned the gun to the table and grabbed a drink before rejoining the group.
¡°You''re up newbie. Or do we need to teach you how to hold a gun?¡± Lewis growled, his suspicious glare still present.
¡°Ah, fuck you Lew. Come on Oscar, let''s see what you got.¡± Peyton responded for him before leading the way to the table. When the got close to the table, he lowered his voice so the others wouldn''t overhear.
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¡°You have shot before, right?¡±
¡°Dude, my dad first took me shooting when I was nine. I can manage.¡±
Peyton held up his hands in surrender even as he laughed. ¡°I hear ya man. But you said you didn''t recognize all of them, so I can give to a run down if you want. And yeah, it''s an AK-47. Modified for full auto, if you want to give that a go. We even got a couple MP5s.¡±
He dropped a hand on Oliver''s shoulder and leaned in conspiratorially. ¡°I got a cousin in the army that hooks us up with a lot of good shit. If you want, we can make a deal a get you hooked up too.¡±
Oliver''s eyebrows rose in surprise. He wasn''t sure how this cousin got his hands on the guns, or got them out without getting caught. But he also wasn''t sure it was his business. He wasn''t here to investigate every crime that popped up, after all. Even if it was a bit alarming.
Oliver looked over the guns carefully. While he had some experience shooting, he actually recognized more of them thanks to first person shooter video games rather than real life. He quickly locked on to one, his personal favorite from a number of games. ¡°How the hell did you get your hands on a FN FAL?¡±
Peyton shrugged awkwardly. ¡°No idea where my cousin got it. It''s not full auto, though. Single shot only. I don''t know much about it otherwise.¡±
Oliver ran his hand over the gun for a moment before picking it up and began to load it eagerly. ¡°Its use by more than ninety countries around the world earned it the title of ''the right arm of the free world''. Belgian made, it fires 7.62 NATO rounds. Accurate, reliable... Yeah, I''m a fan.¡±
Oliver shot an excited grin at Peyton, who flinched at the almost feral look. ¡°Never fired it in real life though. Just on Call of Duty and stuff.¡±
Stepping up to the line, he shoulder the rifle and took aim. His first shot missed, but within seconds he corrected and started hammering beer can after beer can. While not the most trained shooter, his higher coordination thanks to increasing his agility so much made the whole thing feel smooth as he tagged a dozen cans in succession.
He stared lovingly at the gun after emptying the magazine. It was everything he had hoped it would be. Peyton clearing his throat brought Oliver back to reality, and he ambled back to the table.
¡°I guess you like it, man. That was some serious John Wick shit!¡± Peyton laughed as he clapped Oliver on the back. ¡°If you want, I can sell you that one. No one else seems to care for it.¡±
Oliver suppressed the rioting emotions shooting his favorite gun had brought about and smiled at the other man. ¡°Definitely. I don''t think I could let this thing go. I wanted to ask you something, though.¡±
¡°We''re buddies, man. You want to know something, just ask.¡±
Oliver glanced back at the rest of the group drinking and lowered his voice. ¡°What''s the deal with the church? The whole town has been going crazy over it for weeks, but you guys never talk about it. Maybe I''m reading too much into it, but that strikes me as odd. You know?¡±
Seeing the look of hesitation on Peyton''s face, Oliver quickly waved the question away. ¡°Never mind man. I''m probably just jumping at shadows, you know? I just don''t want to get fucked over by cops or something. And I sure as shit don''t want to end up face to face with some FBI asshole.¡±
Several emotions flashed across Peyton''s face for a moment as the man wavered, then nodded. ¡°Yeah, I feel you on that. I''m not suppose to say shit or Lewis will fucking freak. Dude is kind of an asshole, you know?¡±
While not direct confirmation, Oliver felt that it was enough and started reloading even as Peyton leaned I closer with a vicious smile on his face.
¡°But your cool, so I''ll let you in. It was mostly my plan, though Lewis had to jump in and dictate shit. Said he didn''t want us to fuck it up and bring the cops down on our heads.¡±
¡°But man, the party we had after we burned those fucks! Maybe that will teach those damn-¡±
Oliver''s face went cold at the confession, and at the slurs that spewed forth in a stream of filth from Peyton''s mouth.
But the asshole didn''t seem to notice the change. Until Oliver took a couple steps away, turned, and shot him in the chest.
The others sat stunned for a moment as there friend collapsed with a hole in his chest, and that was all the time Oliver needed. Pivoting quickly to face them, he started with the ringleader, Lewis, and double tapped him. He made sure to aim for center of mass, even though he was unlikely to miss from just twenty feet away.
The moment broke as the others scrambled out of their chairs and tried to run, but Oliver didn''t hesitate. He switched fluidly from one target to the next, double tapping each of them in turn. The last to fall, Billy, made it to the corner of the house before a pair of bullets ripped through him.
With all of them down, Oliver took his time to put an extra shot into each just to be sure. Except for Peyton, who was trying to drag himself away on his hands and knees. He strolled casually over to the wounded man, gun still in hand, before kicking him roughly in the side to roll him over.
Staring up at his killer, Peyton struggled to speak even as blood bubbled on his lips. ¡°W-why man? Wha-¡±
He flinched at the raw fury directed his way before Oliver spoke.
¡°All that bullshit you''ve said, and you ask why? My girlfriend is Hispanic. She''s kind, intelligent, beautiful... A good person. And a cop. She would have just arrested you assholes and trusted the justice system to punish you properly.¡±
¡°But, as much as I love her... I''m not a good person. And I wasn''t just hired to get justice here.¡±
A devilish smile played across Oliver''s features as he pulled the trigger one more time.
Bounty: Justice for the lost... and Vengeance for mama ¨C Completed.
Chapter 40 – Brain Freeze and Heartburn
With the Bounty done, Oliver decided it was time to leave. Having already checked out of the cheap motel and stored everything in the warehouse for easy transport, the ride back to his truck was almost peaceful... Except for his concerns over the anger he had felt. Even when dealing with the bullshit from Carl(both senior and junior), Oliver hadn''t felt such anger. The last time he could remember being so pissed off at someone... was from all of his father''s abuse.
Not the abuse Oliver himself had taken, but from everything his mother had suffered through.
It wasn''t until he climbed into his truck and started it that the source of that anger finally occurred to him: Polina.
Not anything she had done or said. Truthfully, it wasn''t her fault at all. It was his own feelings for her, combined with the casual disregard those asshole racist''s had for anyone they deemed ''lesser'', that had set him off. It wasn''t until he put the truck in gear and started driving that what he said to Peyton fully registered.
¡°I love her...¡± Oliver muttered to himself as he drove away from the town.
His mind wandered over those words. He had never even thought them when he dated Jess. Several times throughout his time in therapy he had questioned if he was even capable of love... and his therapist''s response to that rang through his head as clear as a bell.
¡°Oliver, while it is true that there may be people out there who are truly incapable of love, and there is nothing wrong with that... I don''t believe you are one of them. Yes, you may feel things differently than other people, but that doesn''t mean you can''t feel love. You love your mother, that much is obvious. You care about your friends, and that is just a different form of love. And, someday, you''ll find your heart reaching out to someone in ways you don''t expect or don''t understand. And that is ok too. When that time comes, I hope you embrace it and see where it takes you.¡±
His thoughts raced around the subject as he drove for hours. It''s true he had said it without thinking, but he couldn''t deny that it had felt right. That it still felt right. Polina had grown to be important in his life, almost like a part of him he hadn''t realized he was missing until he found her.
He pulled out his phone, pausing to stare at the lock screen. He had set it as a picture of the two of them, right after one of their training sessions at the gym. Both of them were covered in dirt and sweat... and had bright smiles on their faces as they posed together in front of a mirror. Without another thought, he dialed her number and put his phone on speaker while he drove.
¡°Oli! Your calling early today, is everything all right?¡±
¡°Yeah, everything is fine. I''m actually on my way back finally, and I was thinking about you...¡±
He trailed off as he struggled with the words that bounced around inside as if trying to escape. He could hear the smile in her voice when she spoke in return.
¡°I miss you too. So, I should expect you in the next couple days? We can spend a few days just relaxing together before dinner with my mom if you want.¡±
A small smile played across his face as he thought about being at home again... Then he chuckled softly at the realization that he though of Polina''s house as home.
¡°What''s got you laughing hon? Not getting cold feet about meeting my mom, are you?¡±
¡°No, it''s not that. I was just thinking that I''ll be glad to get home... and it hit me that, when I picture home, it''s your house. That home is where you are...¡±
Before she could respond, the proverbial dam broke and Oliver blurted out the thoughts that kept rampaging through his mind. ¡°I''m not good at this Poli, and I know if I wait until I get back I''ll probably chicken out or get side tracked or just be an idiot and push it all away... I love you. I don''t really know what else to say or do, but I needed to tell you that. I love you, and I can''t wait to meet your mom. And now I''m trying not to freak out because this is completely new to me... And I''m rambling...¡±
Oliver pulled into a gas station and collapsed back into his seat, suddenly feeling drained. Panic threatened to overwhelm him in the brief moment of silence before she responded.
¡°I love you too, Oli. And you don''t have to say or do anything, hon. This is a big deal for both of us, and trust that I''m freaking out a little too, but I think everyone freaks out a little the first time they say it out loud. There''s nothing wrong with that. And now I''m even more excited for you to get home! I mean, we shouldn''t put pressure on each other over it or anything. Just be us and take out relationship one step at a time... And we both tend to ramble, don''t we? I''m pretty sure I''m rambling too.¡±
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Oliver couldn''t help but chuckle at her rambling response, which quickly devolved to laughter when she admitted to rambling just as much as he did. After a second, Polina''s laughter joined his.
And he ignored the strange looks he got from the other people pumping gas. He loved his girlfriend, and that was all that mattered to him in that moment.
Oliver reclined on the comfortable bed, this time in a decent hotel room instead of the horrible cheap ones he had been using for weeks. As eager as he was to get home, he knew driving through the night just to arrive a little earlier wasn''t the smartest idea.
And he had a few more things to take care anyway.
With a thought, he pulled up his system window and smiled at his gains. The Bounty itself had earned him 25,000 credits, easily one of the best paying he had seen on the local board. Add in that he had been able to fill some commissions each day, and the two small auctions he had held for credits only just to pad out his balance a little more, found him sitting on almost 80,000 credits.
Though he still regretted not having found some better things for auction. Snacks and alcohol were popular enough, but didn''t seem to pull in the higher bids quite like the guns did. Or it could have just been a slow week, he wasn''t sure. With only a handful of auctions behind him, he was still figuring out the trends and tastes of his buyers.
With so much available, he knew it was time to push forward a little more. A mental click, and he sighed in pleasure as surging waves of warmth washed through his skull as he raised his Intelligence. When the feelings slowly subsided, he clicked again to repeat the process.
Blood Aura required at least 18 Intelligence, and he had finally reached that number. After just a moments hesitation for some quick math, he decided to raise Willpower to 18 as well. Even though he already had enough of both attributes for the abilities he had acquired, the description said that a higher Willpower would let him shape his Psi Blade. That sounded useful... and kinda cool, he had to admit.
With bother attributes increased twice, he suddenly felt a bit more clear headed and focused than he had moments before. Not that he had felt dull or distracted, just that things seemed... Sharper. Smoother. It was almost like when he upgraded the processor in his laptop, everything just seemed to work a little faster and better.
After a minute to fully appreciate the noticeable improvement, he pulled two books from the warehouse and set them side by side in front of him. Psi Blade on the left, Blood Aura on the right. He glanced back and forth between the two as he considered which to learn first. After a moment, he picked up the Psi Blade Manifestation Technique.
¡°Blood Aura requires a hostile living creature for it to have any effect, so I can''t really practice it here... And I don''t want to accidentally hurt some innocent person just sleeping in there hotel room. So, Psi Blade first.¡±
He read the prompt again as it popped up. 4,000 credits for the system to help him integrate the technique in two hours didn''t seem like too bad of a deal now that he was flush with credits, though he did still grump to himself over the cost for a moment before he hit Yes to start the process.
System Alert: Please prepare. Unlocking the ''Psi'' sub-attribute may cause discomfort or pain.
Oliver only had a moment to be startled by the warning before the pain hit and he was forced to choke back a scream as it felt like ice picks being jammed into his skull one after another. His body went rigid, and he grit his teeth as a chill sensation swept through his mind like frost spreading across glass. His thoughts grew sluggish as it felt like his mind had turned it a chunk of ice.
''This is why I hate frozen drinks. Fucking brain freeze.'' Was his last thought before everything went dark.
Oliver groaned as he came to, thankful that he had blacked out and didn''t have to deal with that odd freezing pain for longer than he had. Slowly he pulled himself back upright, wary of any lingering after affects. When nothing happened, he sighed in relief before glancing at his system window. A grin slowly stretched across his face at the new entries.
Sub-attributes
Abilities
Quickly hopping off the bed, Oliver focused on the ability and wondered how to use it and the knowledge seemed to rush forth from the depths of his mind... Knowledge that, just a few hours ago, he had never even imagined... And was somehow implanted into his mind by the System.
Which reminded him of previous worrying thoughts. The System could change his body and even implant new knowledge directly into his mind. Was it doing other things to change him? Or possibly control him? How would he even know if it was? He didn''t feel any different, but would he really feel a change if it didn''t want him to? He had no idea...
But he still felt like himself. Nothing he had done was forced on him. He had made his choices and wouldn''t regret them. If anything, he felt like the System allowed him to be more. Not just stronger and tougher, but just... more himself.
''Thoughts for another time maybe.'' He mentally chided himself before focusing on the ability again.
Following the new knowledge, he pulled a thread of Psi from within his mind down his arm to his hand. He watched in wide-eyed fascination as the illusory thread emerged from his palm and seemed to weaved itself together under his urging. First a hilt and pommel formed in his grasping hand, then a cruciform hilt, before a glowing purple blade erupted from it. The entire sword was roughly three feet long from pommel to the tip of the blade, and reminded him strongly of the arming swords common among images of European knights in history books.
Though the purple glow reminded him of something else...
¡°Its like a fucking lightsaber!¡± Oliver laughed to himself as he carefully experimented with a few thrusts and slashes.
After a few minutes testing out his new ability, Oliver mentally dismissed the Psi Blade. He was pleased to discover that it would remain as long as he held it in his hand, and that it only required four of his available Psi to manifest it. Now he just needed to figure out how long it took for his Psi to recover...
With a shrug, he climbed back on to the bed and picked up the other book. It was time for some magic! Though secretly he hoped it wouldn''t be as unpleasant.
Blood Aura Spell Tome
Estimated Independent study time required to learn ¨C 8 months
Activate System Assisted Integration? (Cost: 5,000 credits)
Estimated time required for System Assisted Integration ¨C 3 hours
(Yes/No)
Mentally preparing himself, Oliver clicked ''Yes''.
System Alert: Please prepare. Unlocking the ''Mana'' sub-attribute may cause discomfort or pain.
A raging fire swept through Oliver''s chest and settled near his heart. He grimaced at the pain, and wanted to face-palm at his own mental joke about ''killer heartburn''.
Thankfully, the system message implied that this only happened because it had to unlock the sub-attribute. He couldn''t imagine enduring this sort of pain every time. And, for a second time that night, everything went dark.
Chapter 41 – Good News
Oliver stared at the mostly empty closet with a lost look on his face. Three pairs of jeans, five t-shirts, dress pants, a nice button down shirt that he rarely wore, and a light jacket barely took up any space at all. Even with his spare shoes in a line on the closet floor, it held barely anything at all. And, aside from the spare clothes he kept in the system warehouse, it was basically all he owned.
Though, he supposed that meant he could easily store his instruments in the closet too.
¡°Does having your own closet here really throw you off that much? You already have a drawer in the dresser... Though I did offer you another if you need it. Is that really all of your clothes?¡±
He could here the hint of teasing laughter in her words and shook his head slowly. A small smile played across his face before he pulled her into a hug. ¡°I''m... adapting. I know we were basically living together before I left for work, but... It just feels more real now, you know? I''ve never really done the cohabitation thing, so it''s all new and... confusing, kinda. Not bad confusing, just that I don''t really know what to do or anything.¡±
One shoulder lifted in a half shrug before he kissed her quickly. ¡°And yes, that is almost all of my clothes. I still have some scatter about, like at my apartment and at my mom''s house, but most of them are right here.¡±
Polina shook her head in mock sadness at his answer. ¡°You poor thing. So handsome, but with no sense of fashion. We really need to take you shopping for some new clothes. Maybe a nice suit for when your working?¡±
Oliver plopped down on the bed even as he nodded his head. ¡°Yeah, that sounds good. We can hit the thrift store tomorrow before dinner with your mom, if you want.¡±
Polina took his hand and sat down beside him, arching a single eyebrow in his direction. ¡°Oli, you don''t have to tell me if you don''t want to, but you said your job pays well... How much are you making each week?¡±
Oliver''s head titled in confusion, not understanding where the question came from. After a moment, he shrugged. ¡°I don''t mind telling you. I make something like a couple thousand a week, though I get a little more as a bonus when I pick up one of those side jobs like I just did. Why?¡±
Polina pondered for a moment as she quickly did the math in her head before turning to him with a stunned look on her face. ¡°Hon... You''re making over a hundred thousand a year? You have a six-figure job?¡±
He considered it for a moment, not having really thought to deeply about it before. While he regularly converted credits to dollars in order to buy things for the commissions, he still made sure to leave a thousand or two in his bank account each week to account for his ''paycheck''. And to have money on hand in case he needed it without having to do an emergency transfer from the system. Though most of that was just to maintain the appearance that he was a paid employee, and keep the existence of the system better hidden.
¡°Yeah, I guess that sounds about right.¡±A thought hit him suddenly, and he shook his head with a frown. ¡°I can help with bills and stuff, hon. I should help with them, and I should have thought of that a month ago with how much I''ve been staying here. I don''t know why it never occurred to me.¡±
Polina snorted in laughter before kissing his cheek. ¡°Oli, you sweet goof. You can certainly help with the bills, but that isn''t what I was thinking about. Part of it was that I''m surprised at how much you''re making, and part of it is that you shop at Goodwill. There''s nothing wrong with that, my mom and I use to buy our clothes there when I was growing up too. But it wouldn''t hurt for you to buy something actually new.¡±
He nodded along with her as he thought about it. ¡°That''s a fair point. I''m just used to being on a budget, and haven''t really adjusted to having money to spend.¡±
Oliver got a faraway look in his eyes for a moment before he turned to face Polina. ¡°Why don''t we make a day of it tomorrow? We can shop for some new clothes for me, and some stuff for you if you want. Maybe invite your mom along and spend the whole day with her?¡±
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Polina''s wicked smile almost worried him... and her words deepened that worry. ¡°You poor, sweet man. You have no idea the trouble you just got yourself into.¡±
Oliver smiled awkwardly in an attempt to hide the bewilderment he felt. While Polina''s mother, Rosalita, looked very similar to her daughter, if a bit older and shorter... Her whirlwind of energy swept him away faster than he could follow. Where Polina was calm and reserved, Rosalita was enthusiastic and unrestrained as she led him from store to store, intent on helping find the perfect clothes for him. All while she chattered away without pause.
¡°Poli told me of how you met.¡± She said while eyeing him from the side, a knowing smile on her face. ¡°Confident. Bold. And no hesitation at shutting down that nasty woman. Your suit should match that. Something powerful, maybe black on red?¡±
A thoughtful look crossed her face as she glanced around at the well tailored suits on display. ¡°Or maybe something soft and gentle, like your love for my baby girl? Powder blue and gray?¡±
She turned suddenly to look him up and down. ¡°Both would look very handsome... Maybe gold and black? No, too gaudy and vulgar. You''re not the type to show off like that. More reserved...¡±
Muttering to herself, she continued to browse through the option even as Oliver turned a wide eyed glare towards his girlfriend... Who struggled to hide the laughter that danced in her eyes. Polina leaned in close to whisper to him. ¡°I warned you, hon. I just hope she doesn''t scare you off.¡±
Oliver glanced over at Rosalita bustled about the store, his face slowly relaxing into a gentle smile. ¡°No, she''s wonderful. Just... a bit excitable?¡±
Oliver didn''t argue when Rosalita selected a dozen suits for him to try on, or when she picked the three that she thought were best and asked which one he liked. He just smiled and bought all three. ¡°Why choose when they are all perfect?¡±
Though when the focus finally shifted to new clothes for Polina, he heaved a silent sigh of relief. He liked her mother, as she truly was a sweet and kind person, but he was easily overwhelmed by her unfaltering energy. The woman was nearly a force of nature, sweeping them both along without a hope of resisting.
She reminded him a bit of his own mother.
Though very different women, they were alike in their love for their family. Both carried a strength of their own, driven to care for their children and give them the best life possible. It may have taken his mom time to get him away from his father, but it was a goal she had worked towards for years even as she protected him from the worst.
He knew his mother would be happy to see Rosalita accept him so readily, even treating him almost like a son. Or son-in-law.
Lost in his own thoughts, he missed most of the question directed at him. His mind still on memories of his mother, he spoke without really thinking. ¡°Whatever you want mom. All I care about today is us spending time together.¡±
Realizing what he had said a second later, he shifted awkwardly in place. His mouth opened and closed twice, worried he may have upset her and unsure of how to fix it. Before he could come up with anything, Rosalita smiled brightly and patted his cheek tenderly. ¡°I''m so glad my Poli found a good man.¡±
A small smirk flashed across her face as she glanced at Polina. ¡°Just as long as you''re married before you give me grand-babies.¡±
Spinning around quickly, she ignored the panicked looks Oliver and Polina exchange and focused on their shopping trip. A single thought flashed through her mind. ''Maybe I won''t have to wait too long for them!''
Thankful to have avoided anymore talks about marriage or children, Oliver was waiting patiently while the duo tried on some outfits when his cell phone rang. Pulling the phone from his pocket, he glanced at the screen and quickly picked up. When the duo exited the changing room, he was just hanging up again.
¡°Everything ok Oli?¡±
A victorious grin stretched across his face and he pulled Poli into a tight hug. ¡°My lawyer called. He finally got the police to back off.¡±
Placing a quick peck on on her cheek, he leaned back, a concerned look briefly crossing his face. ¡°He''s also encouraging me to sue them for harassment, and the university for wrongful dismissal. I''m not sure what all that entails though. And I don''t want to cause problems for you with your job.¡±
Polina shook her head slightly as she leaned in to his embrace. ¡°It may cause a few minor issues, but I doubt they would retaliate for fear of facing another lawsuit. And they did go overboard with how they were treating you. Not sure if you would get anything from it, but its a good idea to sit down with your lawyer and discuss it.¡±
Oliver hugged Polina again. After a moment, he reached over and pulled Rosalita into the hug as well, much to her surprise and obvious joy. Maybe he could get his life back on track...
Glancing between the mother and daughter pair, he considered for a moment that maybe it would be even better now.
Chapter 42 – Bad News
While Oliver thought of himself as a pretty good cook, Rosalita''s food blew him away. After such a incredible and relaxing day getting to know here, he couldn''t imagine a better way to cap it all off... Until she insisted they take some leftovers home as well. It was almost like he was a part of the family, and he realized that was likely her intention to begin with.
She wanted him to feel like a welcome part of the family. Her daughter loved him, and that was good enough for her.
With no other obligations to worry over, Oliver decided that spending a couple days to just relax with Polina was in order. Snuggled up with her on the couch the next day, he planned to do exactly that... Until his phone rang again.
Silently cursing the disruption of his peaceful day, he considered ignoring it before snatching it up off the table. While he didn''t expect it to be important, likely just his friends checking up on him, it was still possible his lawyer needed something from him.
Eager to get back to his relaxed day, he answered, fully prepared to brush off whatever it was until later. Within seconds, his expression shifted from annoyed to frustrated, then to angry. Oliver hopped off the couch and quickly gathered his wallet and keys before slipping on his shoes.
¡°Oli? What''s wrong?¡±
Oliver turned to see Polina right behind him, a worried frown etched on her face. With a regretful sigh, he gave her a quick hug. ¡°Sorry hon, I''ve got to go. Someone broke in to my mom''s house and tore up the place.¡±
¡°I''ll come with you.¡±
¡°You don''t have to-¡±
Before he could finish his sentence, Polina rushed out of the room to get dressed. In less than a minute, she was ready to go. A warm smile flashed across his face as they headed out to his truck. ¡°Thank you.¡±
They had been driving for a few minutes when Polina took his hand gently in her own. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly to broach what she knew would be a difficult subject. ¡°Your mom''s house? I know you mentioned her before, and that she was gone...¡±
Oliver nodded slowly. Losing his mom was something he still struggled to deal with, but he felt that Polina deserved know more. And that she would understand. ¡°Yeah. She died of cancer a couple years ago. Left everything to me, including her house down in Gooseneck. She had already payed it off and everything, so all I''ve had to do was keep up with the property tax and stuff. I go down there once or twice a year to keep the place maintained... Honestly, I just can''t bear to sell it, even if that''s what she told me to do. We didn''t have a lot really, so it''s one of the few things of hers that I have left.¡±
Polina nodded in sympathy. ¡°I understand that. I can''t imagine how I would feel if I lost my mom.¡± She squeezed his hand and offered a gentle smile. ¡°Will you tell me about her? I know she was important to you...¡±
¡°Yeah. I think she would have liked you.¡±
The house wasn''t anything impressive. A small, two bedroom cottage style home on a plot of land just outside the unincorporated community. Despite being clean and well maintained, it had an unlived in air about it.
The front door being kicked in, and windows broken, didn''t help.
Pulling up near the pair of police cars out front, Oliver stared in shock at the visible damage. For such a small community, he knew that things like this were pretty rare. Usually it was just small things; petty theft, minor vandalism, and sometimes high school kids getting up to some mischief. Never anything like this. Polina''s nudge broke him from his shock as one of the officers started their way, and Oliver climbed out of the truck to meet them.
¡°Can I help you folks?¡±
It took him a moment, but Oliver recognized the older officer. Officer Jordan had been a part of the community, and one of their few police officers, for longer than he could remember... And longer than his mother could remember, or so he had been told. ¡°Officer Jordan, it''s been a while.¡±
¡°I know you son?¡± Jordan responding while squinting in his direction.
¡°Yes, sir. I use to live here with my mom.¡±
The officer stared for a moment longer before he nodded in recognition and patted Oliver on the shoulder sympathetically. ¡°You''re the Silk boy. Oliver, right? It was a shame when your mama passed. She was a damn good woman. Made the best buttermilk pies in the county, too.¡±
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Oliver appreciated the kindness, and the attempt to lighten things a bit. His mom really had made some good pies. ¡°Thank you, sir. She was always proud of those pies.¡± Clearing his throat, he awkwardly changed the conversation. ¡°Can you tell me what happened? I''ve never seen or heard of anything like this happening around here.¡±
Officer Jordan sighed as he shook his head. ¡°Not a lot I can tell you there. Everyone was at work or school, so no witnesses. My boys spent a while checking for finger prints and such, but didn''t really find anything. Who did you piss off, son?¡±
Oliver was surprised by the question. While he knew he had upset some people, he had no idea how the police in a small place like this knew about it. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
Jordan grunted and waved for them to follow him into the house. As soon as he walked into the living room, Oliver froze in shock at what he saw. Couch cushions were ripped open, with stuffing strewn around the room. The coffee table lay in pieces. His family pictures were ripped off the wall and tossed about haphazardly.
And, painted red in bold letters across the wall, was the phrase ''Welcome Home''.
Oliver missed whatever the officers said as Polina pulled them aside to talk. All he could do was tremble with barely restrained fury at the words that defaced his mother''s home.
Someone was going to pay, and Oliver had an idea of who. It wasn''t enough that they tried to ruin his life. It wasn''t enough that they caused problems for Polina. He could move past that, and fix the damage they had done. He knew he could fix his mother''s house too. But that wasn''t the point.
They had desecrated her home, and stomped on her memory. And now he was pissed.
¡°How did that bastard even know about this place?¡±
¡°Public records, probably.¡±
Polina''s answer snapped him out of the haze he had been under, though it did little to suppress the anger he felt boiling inside. ¡°What?¡±
Polina took his hand gently, he gaze filled with concern as their eyes met. ¡°If you know where to look, it''s pretty easy to find. I''m sorry, Oli. I can probably guess who did this, and I''m sure you can too. Well, he probably didn''t do it himself. Just sent someone to do it... With the news from your lawyer yesterday, I really thought this shit was over. I can''t believe how petty this asshole is...¡±
Oliver let out a low growl of frustration. ¡°And with no proof, there isn''t anything the police can do. I can''t believe this bullshit!¡±
Polina hugged him tightly. She had never seen Oliver so angry before, not even when dealing with Carl and Jess. ¡°Don''t let them get to you, Oli. That''s how they win. They want you to get so angry you do something crazy, then they''ll use it against you. We''ll figure something out, ok? And I''ll help you fix everything we can. We won''t leave your mom''s home like this.¡±
Oliver took a moment to let Polina''s comforting presence push back on his anger. Closing his eyes, he laid his head on her shoulder and just held her.
It took two days to clean up his mom''s house, and Oliver was more than grateful for Polina''s help. He had no clue how to replace the broken windows, but her father had worked in construction and taught her more than enough to manage it. Replacing the door, and cleaning up the mess that was left, was simple in comparison. Though replacing the broken and damaged furniture would have to wait, and wasn''t as much of a priority since no one actually lived there.
Repainting the walls after scraping off the message that was left would have to wait, as he wanted to match the original color as closely as possible... And he was emotionally exhausted after dealing with the whole thing.
With two long days of work, and the hour drive back to Polina''s house, Oliver''s anger had cooled... into an icy fury as he coldly calculated what he would do to them. Not just for his mother''s house, but everything they had done to try and hurt him.
While Polina hopped into the shower to clean up, Oliver sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of tea in the early morning sunlight. With enough time to consider it, he had an idea of how he wanted to pay them back. With a thought, he pulled up the Bounty Board and started filling out the form to post his own bounty.
And the damn phone rang again.
Oliver paused what he was doing, a sense of dread filling him at the thought of something else he cared about being messed with. Did they go after his mother''s house again right after he left? Or did they mess with the apartment he shared with his friends?
Suppressing a frustrated snarl, he snatched up his phone and answered. ¡°What!?¡±
A soft giggle echoed across the line, followed by a sultry whisper. ¡°Did I catch you at a bad time, Oliver? Do you mind if I call you Oli? I''m told that is what you prefer.¡±
Oliver hesitated in confusion. He didn''t recognize the voice or the number they were calling from. ¡°Who is this? Only my friends call me Oli.¡±
The voiced tsked at him, and he could almost feel the mock friendliness through the phone. ¡°Perhaps we could be friends, then? And call me Eve, please. Obviously that''s not my real name, but it will do until our business is concluded.¡±
Oliver tried not to grind his teeth. He had no idea who this ''Eve'' person was, but he was quickly getting the feeling that this wasn''t just some prank call. ¡°Ok, Eve, why don''t you tell me what that business is before I hang up on you. I have a lot on my mind, and whatever your playing at isn''t exactly endearing you to me. I really doubt we will be friends.¡±
He could hear the pout in her voice clearly as she spoke. ¡°That''s a shame, really. But you don''t want to hang up on me. In fact, I think you''ll want to meet me. Tomorrow night. How about around midnight? I''ll text you the location.¡±
Oliver wanted to scream at the clich¨¦ villain setup. ¡°Let me guess, I''m supposed to come alone and not talk to the police or you''ll threaten to go after someone I care about?¡±
He nearly flinched at the smokey laughter when she responded. ¡°Oh, you are a smart one. But I won''t go after anyone... Though you really should check in with your friends more often. One of them could have just disappeared off the face of the earth and you wouldn''t have a clue.¡±
¡°Until someone called you.¡±
Chapter 43 – Preparation
Oliver maintained a calm exterior despite the urge to roar in anger at someone going after his friends. Internally, he raged. He raged at this mysterious woman that was threatening people just to get at him. He raged at Carl Hardeman Sr, because he was sure that unscrupulous asshole was the real source of these threats.
And he raged at himself for not seeing what these people were capable of before now.
Oliver was so damn sure that Hardeman wouldn''t cross lines like that. Bribery, intimidation, and political maneuvering? Sure. But kidnapping and possibly worse?
He should have known better. Carl Jr. didn''t hesitate with violence when he thought he could get away with it... Or when he thought his father could get him out of it. And where else would the bastard son have learned it from if not his father?
So Oliver blamed himself for not seeing this coming... And not dealing with the man before things could get so bad.
It didn''t take him long to figure out who was taken. Oliver''s friend group was small, and a few calls and text messages were more than enough. Simple, innocuous messages ''just checking in'', and most of them responded quickly, happy to chat with their friend. Everyone responded quickly... Except for Tyrone.
And dropping by Tyrone''s apartment just confirmed it, as his roommates hadn''t seen him in a couple days. He wasn''t the sort to just run off for a few days; he took his classes, and his place on the football team, too serious to just disappear without a good reason. And he always let people know when he would be gone, so they didn''t worry.
His roommates were just starting to worry.
And so was Oliver.
With just a little over a day before the ''meeting'' with Eve, which just screamed ''It''s a trap!'', he knew he needed to prepare. He was walking in blind, no idea who would be there or how many he would have to deal with. Or if they were armed.
He knew they expected him to just give himself up, just as he knew that was the worst option. People that went this far couldn''t be trusted to hold up their end of the deal. They are just as likely to kill Tyrone to remove any possible witnesses. If he wanted to save his friend, he would have to do it himself. He need to prepare for the worst.
If his friend wasn''t in danger, Oliver would almost be looking forward to it.
Oliver slipped out of the house after telling Polina he was going to run a few errands. He couldn''t risk her getting involved, both for her sake and for Tyrone''s. Climbing into his truck, he quickly searched through commissions as he drove, picking out some of the best paying ones he could easily accomplish in a day. Between the commissions and the auction he was thankfully able to hold in just a few more hours, he thought there was a good chance he could pull off a rescue... Assuming more problems didn''t pop up to surprise him.
Considering the situation he was in, he wouldn''t rule that out until everything was already over.
Rushing from store to store, Oliver loaded his truck down with everything he could send off for credits. When his truck was full, he found a secluded spot and, after being completely sure there were no cameras, he rapidly fired off commission after commission. 500 credits here, 800 there... Bit by bit, he added more and more credits to his balance.
He knew if anyone was paying close attention to him, they would surely find it a bit suspicious. But a bit of suspicion was worth it if it saved his friend. And it was only suspicion, after all. He was careful to make sure no one saw anything.
With daylight running out, he finished a few more commissions and grabbed some stuff for the auction before turning towards home. In just eight hours, he had more than doubled his credit total. With almost 90,000 credits, and an auction still to come, his odds were looking better and better.
Hopefully.
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¡°Hey hon! I thought you were just running a few errands?¡±
Oliver smiled apologetically at Polina before he hugged her. ¡°Sorry love. I was filling some orders for work and I got a little carried away. I know that''s not a good excuse, but I just felt a little pressured to get as much done today as I could.¡±
Polina leaned back from him, a concerned frown marring her features. ¡°Your boss isn''t riding you too hard, are they?¡±
Oliver chuckled softly and waved it off. ¡°Nah, nothing like that. It''s more that... I guess you could say that I''m putting pressure on myself. Wanting to make sure I can take care of the people I care about.¡±
Pulling him down on to the couch, Polina snuggled up close to him with a tender smile on her face. ¡°You don''t need to push yourself Oli. But thank you for wanting to take care of me. And my mom. Just take it easy and don''t stress about it. You''re already doing great.¡±
¡°You''ve already worked so hard lately, why don''t you just relax tonight? I can cuddle with you while you play a video game or something.¡±
Picking up the game controller, he kissed her softly before starting up the game. While he doubted he would truly relax, he needed to at least bleed off some of the tension he was carrying. He knew he couldn''t run into this filled with anger and worry as that would just make it that much harder.
Maybe playing a game would distract him for a bit. At least until Polina was asleep and he could open up the auction house.
Silk(Host): I would like to thank everyone for attending. This auction is going to be a big one, so I hope you all are prepared!
Silk(Host): First up is a dessert package that I put together myself! It includes an assortment of cakes, cookies, pastries, and other sweets! Enough for twenty people, more if you are willing to share. Or less, if you prefer. How you enjoy it is up to you. Lets start the bidding at 100 credits.
Oliver gently brushed Polina''s hair, he having fallen asleep on him as he played games, and watched as the bids climbed. This was just the opening item, and the one he expected to do the worst. When the crowd wound down and the bid sat comfortably just over 11,000, he called it and quickly moved on to the next.
Silk(Host): Congratulations to Orvak the Gluttonous for winning the Dessert package! I hope you enjoy it.
Silk(Host): With our warm up auction out of the way, let''s move on to something a little more exciting. Our next item is a relic steeped in history and possessing a useful power to increase the durability of any construction it is incorporated into.
Transcontinental Railroad Spike(Relic): This plain looking spike was part of the original construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Steeped in the aura of decades of industry and progress, this Relic provides a small boost to the durability of any construction within which it is incorporated. Estimated durability increase ¨C 10%
Silk(Host): I imagine more than a few of you will find a use for such an item! Bidding starts at 5,000 credits!
As the bids climbed once again, Oliver briefly skimmed and ignore most of the barter offers he was sent. While some of them could clearly be useful in the future, his immediate priority was rescuing Tyrone. Anything that didn''t help with that could wait... Plus, he already had a plan for the credits he earned.
Silk(Host): Congratulations to The Architect! I hope this relic serves you well.
Silk(Host): The remaining lots will be a return to a popular previous auction ¨C Guns! All three lots will be comprised of an assortment of guns.
Silk(Host): First up we have a small collection. A single rifle, a single shotgun, two revolvers, and four pistols. With appropriate ammunition, of course, and a guide for proper maintenance of each. Bidding starts at 7,000 credits.
Silk(Host): And, of course, the seller bears no responsibility for any actions or misuse of these weapons by the buyer.
Oliver smiled grimly at the frenzy this lot had caused, and knew the next two lots, both with increasing numbers of guns and ammo, would causing an even greater reaction. He knew selling so many guns would have a large impact on whatever world they ended up, but that was on them in the end. People would find a way to do what they wanted, his auctions just made it a little easier.
And he had his own worries to focus on rather than the possible repercussions on another world. That''s why he kept a few of his favorite guns, just in case.
Wrapping up the final auction, Oliver sighed in relief at having it done. Checking his credit balance, he nearly whistled aloud when he saw his total. After all the commissions and work he had done, 180,000 credits looked like a small fortune. If it wasn''t for wanting to progress to the higher bounties, he couldn''t image actually doing them. Auctions and commissions payed so much better, at least for know. He had no idea how much the bounties could pay in the future, especially when he consider his previous tinkering with the system.
He doubted he would ever take on a bounty like the Excalibur one he played around with when trying out the Post function for bounties. And a hundred million for a bounty seemed a bit excessive anyway. Better to focus on what was actually possible for him.
Oliver let out a disappointed sigh. His current balance looked like a fortune, but wasn''t really much for what he was trying to do. Just raising all of his attributes to 18 to match his Intelligence and Willpower would cost him a good chunk of it. With just a little mental math, he calculated the total cost to be 75,000 credits, leaving him with just a little over 100,000 once he was done.
And raising all of his attributes to 19 would add another 63,000 on to the cost.
138,000 credits gone in a night, all so he would be strong enough, fast enough, and maybe even lucky enough to save his friend.
And if it worked, he would consider it money well spent.
Chapter 44 – Unhuman
-
Increase Strength to 20 ¨C 20,000 credits
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Increase Agility to 20 ¨C 20,000 credits
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Increase Vitality to 20 ¨C 20,000 credits
-
Increase Intelligence to 20 - 20,000 credits
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Increase Willpower to 20 ¨C 20,000 credits
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Increase Spirit to 20 ¨C 20,000 credits
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Increase Luck to 20 ¨C 20,000 credits
With just hours to go until his ''meeting'' with Eve, Oliver was quickly growing annoyed and impatient. With a little over 40,000 credits, he had expected to be able to increase four attributes. All of the increases before had gone up by increments, 10 to 11 being just 1,000 credits, all the way up to 18 to 19 costing 9,000... But the price suddenly doubled, like raising an attribute to 20 was some kind of threshold. How he had missed it last night, he had no idea.
He blamed his impatience, and his anger, for overlooking something major like that.
His plan to raise four attributes to 20 was shot. He had wanted to raise all of the physical attributes, hoping that would give him an edge against whatever group of thugs or mercenaries Eve led, and his luck, thinking that could very well be the edge that saved him. Instead, he was forced to choose just two of them.
With a sigh Oliver selected Agility and, after a moments hesitation, Spirit. Some instinct drew him to raise his Spirit, though he didn''t really understand why. He just hoped it was the right choice.
Increase Agility to 20? (Yes/No)
Increase Spirit to 20? (Yes/No)
Oliver refused to second guess the feeling, and quickly hit yes. His eyes widened in alarm at the system alert that followed.
Warning: Attribute increase exceeding local human limits may cause discomfort or pain during the initial integration process. Would you like to proceed? (Yes/No)
Oliver stared in shock at the message. He had seen some of the effects of increasing his attributes, as having his physical attributes at 16 was a noticeable improvements all around... But he had never really pushed his limits to test just how much stronger or tougher he really was. And now the system was telling him he was about to exceed human limits? What were his limits now, and what were they about to become?
He didn''t want to jump to any conclusions, but his mind was definitely drifting in the direction of comic books and movies. But he didn''t think of himself as a superhero... And he definitely wouldn''t be wearing spandex.
He shrugged off the distracting thoughts and focused on the prompt in front of him. With a mental click, he selected ''Yes''... And the pain hit him like a truck.
Oliver ground his teeth as he stared at the screen of his phone. Before he would show up to the ''meeting'', he had demanded proof of life... And gotten it in the form of a video call. While Eve never appeared on the screen, it was obvious she was the one holding the phone as she coached Tyrone on what to say. His friend sat in an empty gray room, blindfolded and tied to a chair with the day''s newspaper propped up so the date was clearly on display, though he appeared unharmed.
¡°I''m alive and unharmed, and will remain so as long as you turn yourself over like a good boy... Seriously lady? That''s condescending and stupid. Like, movie clich¨¦ stupid-¡±
¡°No going off script, Tyrone. You''ll ruin the atmosphere I''m trying to cultivate here.¡± Eve''s smokey voice echoed out from behind the phone she was holding, a hint of laughter in her tone.
With a resigned sigh, Tyrone continued. ¡°You have one hour. Come to the address that will be texted to you, and come alone. If you''re an idiot. Seriously, movie clich¨¦ trap. I don''t know who this bitch has a grudge against, but it ain''t worth it man. Don''t trade your life for mine-¡±
¡°I think that is more than enough, thank you. And my, isn''t he such a selfless young man, willing to sacrifice himself to protect the person that got him in this situation. All without even knowing who to blame!¡±
Eve let out a soft, almost mocking, sigh. ¡°You''ll be receiving your instructions soon. Don''t keep me waiting!¡±
Oliver nearly facepalmed when arrive at the location that was sent to him. ¡°Does Eve take all her cues from bad action movies?¡±
He didn''t recognize the address at first, not having thought about the place much since his last visit. But it made sense, in a weird sort of way. It was his fault that the warehouse closed. After all, if he hadn''t stolen literally tons of food then the place wouldn''t have been the subject of an investigation... And Hardeman wouldn''t have faced allegations of fraud. Though Oliver doubted anything came of those allegations, as Hardeman hadn''t actually done anything.
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He had no idea why the place was still closed. Maybe they were still looking into it?
And now things had come back around. This was were he had first really gone against Carl Hardeman Senior, and now he was back. Was this part of Hardeman''s scheme? Or was it Eve''s doing?
He had no way of knowing, nor did he care. He was here for his friend and nothing else. But still, better to be cautious.
Oliver settled in to the same spot he had watched the warehouse from before and scanned the property through his binoculars. He frowned in confusion as he swept his gaze across twice more. Other than a few lights inside, he saw nothing. No patrols. No guards. Nothing except an open door, inviting him inside.
It had to be a trap.
Oliver pulled the Tactical Personal Drone out of the warehouse, glad that he had fully charged it earlier, and sent it off for an aerial view. He stared intently at the feed it broadcast to his phone as he flew it in a spiral around the property, slowly closing in on the building. Still nothing to be seen, even after carefully combing the entire exterior.
With a soft grunt of frustration, he engaged the drone''s stealth mode and flew it through the open doorway.
The warehouse was exactly as he remembered it, just without any of the fresh produce. Row after row of towering shelves lined the building from one end to the other. With a gentle touch, Oliver directed the drone along the width of the building, scanning each row as it passed.
Still. Nothing.
Oliver skillfully pivoted the drone around and flew it towards the offices on the end. While the walls here were the same gray as the room that held Tyrone, it was far to open. From his years as a music student, he had easily picked up on the way their voice rang out over the video call. The difference between a large, open room like this and a small office was clear in the way their voices would echo.
If Tyrone was here, he would be in one of the offices.
He cursed quietly when the drone reached the offices. The lights were on in all of them, but the doors were closed. He had no way to get the drone inside, and he couldn''t get a look from the outside with the blinds closed. He had no way to confirm where his friend actually was.
Oliver sighed, resigned to having to search the offices himself, and spun the drone around to scan the interior one more time... When he finally saw her. Stalking between the rows of shelves, her head turning from side to side as if searching for someone, was Eve.
He didn''t know what to think of her. With the way she talked, he expected someone more intimidating or dangerous. Instead, she just looked... Cute?
He guess that she was roughly five feet tall and petite, with platinum blonde hair and porcelain white skin. Instead of tactical gear and weapons, she wore a floral patterned peasant blouse, ripped jeans, and those odd fur boots that all the sorority girls seemed to own.
Was this really the woman that was happily threatening him on the phone?
Oliver quickly broke out of the daze her appearance caused and started to fly the drone back, only to pause when she turned as if to follow it. With a flick of his fingers, he turned the drone and flew it to the opposite end of the warehouse. His jaw dropped in surprise when she turned to follow it again. He could clearly see that the drone was in stealth, so how was she following it?
He watched for a moment as she stalked in the direction his drone had flown, her head turning from side to side as if searching, when it finally struck him and he glanced at part of the drone''s description from the system.
Stealth mode renders the drone virtually imperceptible visually, though sufficiently advance radar or magical detection may detect it.
Somehow she was tracking the drone. Since she clearly wasn''t carrying some sort of super radar... The only possibility was magical. She was magically tracking his drone... But... Who the fuck was this woman? And how the hell did she have some sort of tracking magic?
Oliver quickly put away the drone. He had hoped to find an easier way, but had expected not to. With a deep breath to clear his mind of any distractions, he stepped into the warehouse.
¡°Hello Oli, I''m so glad we finally get to meet face-to-face.¡±
Eve looked the same in person as she had through the drone, though now that she was smiling, he could see the dimples in her cheeks... But something felt off. More off than the situation already was, at least to him. Was it some sort of sixth sense from his Spirit attribute being raised to 20? What did it mean?
While she stood still in front of him, he could read the tension in her body and see the predatory gleam in her eyes. Like a hunting cat, ready to pounce on her prey.
And Oliver had no interest in being preyed upon.
He wanted to dissuade her of that notion, so why not try something new?
Blood Aura: An aura of blood surrounds the caster, draining health from all living creatures hostile to the caster within fifteen feet to heal the caster. Minor damage. Minor healing. Mana cost ¨C 10/second while active. Note ¨C Blood aura is invisible to those unable to perceive mana flows. May still be detected by individuals sensitive to natural auras.
Oliver felt the mana flowing through his body like blood as he followed the knowledge of how to use the spell. After a second, it started to surge and boil as it rose to the surface of his skin. Then it drifted off in a red, misty haze that he could barely see... and did nothing.
Eve''s eyes closed to slits as she seemed to bask in the Blood Aura. With a deep inhale, she spoke with a tone of longing. ¡°Mmm... I don''t know what you did, but it is wonderful. It reminds me of killing Nazis back during the War.¡±
Then she smiled at him.
Oliver stared at her as his mind raced, trying to understand why the spell didn''t work. It was supposed to hurt her while it healed him, so why didn''t it do anything to her...
The feeling that something was seriously off rose inside him like a tidal wave, and he flinched in shock and took a half step back as it clicked. Blood Aura affected living creatures.
The pale skin.
The fact that she was only breathing when she needed to speak.
And the sharp fangs that peeked out when she smiled at him.
¡°Fucking hell... Vampires are real.¡±
Chapter 45 – Villainous Monologue?
¡°What the hell is a vampire doing here?¡± Oliver asked both out of curiosity and surprise.
Eve chuckled as she paced slowly around him in a circle, like a cat toying with a mouse. ¡°I''m doing a job, obviously. I basically said that the first time we spoke. I''m even fairly sure you have a decent idea as to what that job is, don''t you?¡±
The glare Oliver directed at her was equal parts frustrated and bewildered. ¡°Yeah, but... Why? You just implied that you''ve been around since at least World War 2, so why the hell do you need money?¡±
Eve arched a single eyebrow at him as she frowned. ¡°What is that supposed to mean? Of course I need money. A girl has needs, after all. A home, a car, clothes; basically everything you need except food. I get that by other means, of course. Is this some weird stalling tactic or do you genuinely not understand?¡±
Oliver smirked, then chuckled, before devolving into full blown laughter.
¡°What the hell is so funny?¡± Eve frowned at him.
Oliver raised his hands in an apologetic gesture as his laughter slowly tapered off. ¡°Ah, come on, it''s obvious why that is funny. You''re working to pay bills!¡±
Seeing her frown deepen to a scowl, he smirked at her. ¡°Seriously, there''s a reason for the vampire stereotype of them living in this huge old mansions! You''ve been alive for at least a century, you should be rich by now!¡±
Eve stomped her feet petulantly, which Oliver found to be amusing and almost cute, as she snapped at him. ¡°Stereotypes are stupid! And you shouldn''t believe the shit in movies anyway!¡±
After a moment of fuming, Eve turned her glare full force on him. ¡°Why would you think a vampire should be rich anyway? It''s not like wealth comes alongside the immortality!¡±
Oliver struggle to restrain his humor. Despite the vampires age, she was incredibly easy to string along while he considered how best to handle her. After a moment just to smirk at her while he thought, he shrugged a shoulder and answered her simply. ¡°Interest. Why else?¡±
The confusion in her eyes nearly started him laughing again as she pondered his answer. ¡°What do you mean by interest? Are you talking about how obsessed you mortals are with vampires or something?¡±
He could see her fists clench at the teasing smirk on his face. ¡°No. Interest as in returns from an investment. I mean, really, it wouldn''t take much to set up some investments. Engage a lawyer or something that you control so that everything gets ''passed down'' to a relative after thirty years or so... A relative that is just a new identity for you, of course. After almost a hundred years you should be fairly well off. And that''s assuming you didn''t hire accountants or brokers to handle it for you. Hell, real estate or collectibles would have worked too.¡±
¡°I mean, honestly! If I was in your shoes, I would save up some money and jump on every new trend that came up. Most wouldn''t pay off, sure, but it only takes one for you to be set for... Well, pretty much forever. You could have easily thrown a couple hundred bucks at cryptocurrencies when they first started. What''s the worst that would have happened? It''s not like you would starve, right?¡±
Eve looked thoughtful, and embarrassed, for a moment before shaking her head. ¡°Whatever! Business isn''t really my specialty, anyway. I''m more the hunt and kill stuff type. Not like it''s all about the money anyway.¡±
Seeing that he had her off balance, Oliver started pacing around her like she was the mouse now. A small smirk played across his face, just to annoy her. ¡°Oh? Then what is about? The action? I doubt you still feel adrenaline, though it could be psychological. What is it that drives you to do this and risk exposure? It''s not like every job can go perfectly, I know that from experience. So why risk it?¡±
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Eve waved off his question as she tried to regain her bearing. ¡°Eh, you wouldn''t believe me even if I told you. Not like it matters, seeing as all I''ve got to do is grab you and the job is basically done.¡±
Oliver shrugged indifferently to the implied threat. ¡°Well, if it doesn''t matter, then why not tell me? It''s not like I''ll get the chance to tell someone, right? With all the drama you''ve thrown into this, I''m surprised you''re not jumping at the chance to do a proper villainous monologue.¡±
¡°Besides, maybe I will believe you. You never know.¡±
Eve thought about it for a moment before she shrugged, a small smile flashing across her face. ¡°Eh, why not? I''ve always wanted to do the monologue thing. Just don''t think you can pull some hero shit and take advantage of it. You may be cute, but you''re not really the dashing hero type.¡±
With a small chuckle, she lightly drummed the tips of her fingers against each other as she put on her most wicked look- which Oliver found to be quite adorable, really. After a moment to set the scene, she spoke slowly. ¡°There are many magical things in this world, which, you being clearly a bit magical yourself, I''m sure you know. Some are easy to understand, but some are strange and mysterious in ways that are beyond human comprehension.¡±
¡°And some simply look mundane while being truly exceptional!¡±
She let out a sinister cackle... that sounded slightly less sinister than she obviously intended, considering her high pitched voice and youthful looks. ¡°And, as I''m sure you can tell by that delightful build up, I found something of the sort.¡±
¡°A simple app on my phone! It looks normal, like a game or something, but it is so much more! It''s like a job board, with posts ranging from retrieving a lost item to exterminating a warlord and his army!¡±
¡°And the payments for doing the jobs! I really questioned if it was real... Until I tried it. And damn if it didn''t pay off!¡±
Oliver was laser focused on her monologue, forgetting to even plan for how to deal with her. So much of it sounded familiar, if a little different. He quickly schooled his features to just a mild interest. ¡°So, the money is good? Is that it?¡±
Eve smirked condescendingly at him. ¡°Not just money. Power.¡±
¡°The first I did was just money, but a lot of it. After the money actually came through, I tried another one. But that one offered an even better reward. It promised to make me stronger. And it did!¡±
Seeing Oliver''s skeptical look, she pressed on. ¡°Is it really so hard to believe? Especially considering you''re talking to an actual vampire.¡±
¡°When I felt the power flowing through me, I knew I had found something truly special. So, I looked at it more deeply... And even I couldn''t believe what I saw!¡±
As Oliver showed a look of curiosity, she leaned closer and lowered her voice. ¡°Not only will it grant me greater strength, speed, and toughness... But special powers! Once I turn you in, I''ll get the ability to turn into a swarm of bats! How badass is that?¡±
¡°And getting the chance to visit other worlds and do all sorts of crazy shit-¡±
Oliver was nodding along unconsciously in agreement. He definitely saw the appeal; it was the same as what he felt when looking at the system. When Eve mentioned other worlds, his eyes snapped to hers as he gaped in amazement. ¡°Other worlds? Seriously?¡±
Eve smiled smugly as she nodded. ¡°Yep!¡±
¡°What''s the app called, if you don''t mind me asking?¡±
She chuckled in amusement as she shrugged. ¡°That''s actually why I thought it was a game at first. The name is fucking ridiculous! ''The Multi-Dimensional Mercenary System''. What sort of name is that? Even for a game that would be lame, let alone some sort of crazy mystical whatever the fuck it is! Not that I''m complaining, considering how much I''m gaining from it.¡±
Meeting Oliver''s gaze, she took in the shock and amazement she saw in his eyes. ¡°Wait, you believe me, don''t you?¡±
Oliver sighed softly as he nodded. ¡°Yeah, actually, I do believe you Eve. It kinda makes me sad that we''re enemies.¡±
¡°Well, that and you are just adorable. Even though you''re a blood drinking monster, I feel kinda bad about having to kill you.¡±
A shotgun appeared in Oliver''s hands, a lovely semi-automatic with a microdot sight mounted on it that he had taken a liking to after liberating it from the hate group he killed. He quickly shouldered the weapon and fired, sending a load of buckshot straight into Eve''s chest.
And all hell broke loose.
Chapter 46 – Sanguine Solutions
Even as the first shot sent Eve staggering backwards, Oliver didn''t hesitate to pull the trigger again and again. All he had to go on when it came to vampires were movies and myths... And all of those agreed that vampires were supernaturally tough. While he figured destroying the brain with a solid head shot may be enough to put her down for good, he wasn''t willing to bet it all on getting lucky. Especially since her arms were raised to protect her head from exactly that.
So he went with a simpler plan: Catastrophic, irreparable damage. Regardless of how tough or strong a vampire was, it was still based around a human body. If he could do enough damage to at least temporarily incapacitate her, there was a chance he could put her down permanently.
''Probably by setting her on fire.'' He thought as he fired the last round in the shotgun. With a thought, he tossed it back in the warehouse and pulled out the FAL he favored. A flick of his thumb on the safety as he tucked the rifle against his shoulder, and he was firing again almost without pause. The heavy crack of the gun echoed through the large open room.
Oliver took the time to aim more carefully with the rifle, now that he had driven her back and opened up some space between them. The first couple of shots slammed into her torso, continuing to keep her on the back foot. Then he began to alternate his shots between her chest and different joints, hoping to impair her in some way.
A shot to the hip, then one to the chest. One to her shoulder as she staggered, then another to her stomach.
He cursed silently as the shot aimed at her knee only grazed her before ricocheting off the concrete floor and disappearing into the depths of the building. He would have to be carefully he didn''t accidentally hurt himself with an unlucky bounce.
Oliver nearly growled in frustration when he ran all thirty-one rounds loaded into the FAL and Eve was still standing. He clothes were practically shredded, with holes and gouges ripped through her flesh. But still she stood.
The mocking smile he could see plastered across her face caused a thread of worry to worm its way into his heart, but Oliver ruthlessly suppressed it. He quickly threw the FAL back into the warehouse and retrieved the AK he had held on to.
But as he went to shoulder it, she made her move.
Eve was fast, almost ridiculously so. As her figure flashed across the open space between them, a thought flashed across Oliver''s mind: ''She makes Olympic sprinters look slow!''
Oliver''s fingers went numb for a second as she slapped the gun from his hands, and he started to hurriedly back pedal away. Before he made it two steps, she seized him by the throat and, in a clear display of her strength, lifted him off the ground.
As his feet dangled several inches off the floor and he clawed at her hand, trying to get loose, he could see the wounds he had caused slowly closing one-by-one. While it wasn''t instant, it was obvious that it wouldn''t take long for her fully recover. A half hour, maybe an hour tops, and it would be like he had never even touched her.
¡°I have to say, Oli, no one has managed to surprise me like that in a while. I''m a little impressed, honestly. How did you make those guns just appear and disappear? Some sort of gun magic? That would be a first for me; I''ve never heard of a Gun Mage before.¡±
Her hand tightened slowly around his neck, cutting off the blood flow. Oliver could feel panic trying to rise in him as he struggled against her grip. For a moment, he felt almost helpless. What did it take to put her down? His hardest hitting guns did some damage, sure, but she just shrugged it off and came right back at him. He still had a few pistols, but didn''t see the point of trying them after what he had just thrown at her.
At least she was close enough for him to try his backup plan... Or, as he had more aptly named it, his ''Oh shit'' plan.
Thanks to the practice he had put into it, the whole process went faster than his first attempt. Oliver pulled a thread of Psi from his mind and wounded it down his arm, then out through his palm. The vaguely purple energy wove a hilt, a cross guard, then the blade of his Psi Blade. In a blink, he held a glowing purple arming sword in his hand.
And immediately swung it at her neck.
Eve was almost a foot shorter than him and, with him being held up off the ground by her extended arm, that put her too close to dodge.
Or so he thought.
Somehow, despite the lack of warning and the close proximity, she leapt back more than a dozen feet, and the blade completely missed her neck.
But it didn''t completely miss her.
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Oliver felt the blade bite into her flesh, and a vicious grin spread across his face as he saw the results. It was clear from how much damage the bullets had done that she wasn''t invulnerable, just resilient and possessing an incredible ability to recover. But he hadn''t had a decent chance to test how effective the Psi Blade really was.
So he was pleasantly surprised when it cleaved through her elbow and out the other side of her arm, sending the offending limb tumbling through the air.
¡°What the fuck is that!?¡± Eve screeched as she cradled the stump of her left arm against her chest and backed away from him.
Oliver took an experimental step towards her and smiled as she took a hurried step back. The guns hadn''t put her off at all... But this? Something completely unknown to her that could cause serious damage? She wasn''t quite afraid... But it clearly worried her.
With two quick steps, Oliver reached the lost limb and plucked it up off the ground, never taking his eyes off of his opponent. A small smirk flashed across his face as he waved her own hand at her before tossing it into the system warehouse.
¡°I wonder... Can you regrow an arm? Or a leg, for that matter...¡±
Fury raged in Eve''s eyes, nearly overriding her worry after the damage he had done. ¡°Give. It. Back. Now!¡±
Oliver chuckled softly as they circled each other, the point of his blade aimed at her chest. ¡°Does that mean you can''t?¡±
She remained silent for a moment before snarling at him. ¡°Give it back now or I''ll kill your friend.¡±
Oliver''s smile faded instantly, his whole demeanor going cold. ¡°He''s in the office, isn''t he?¡±
After all their banter, he could read her expression well enough to confirm it. Before she could answer, he stopped the wary circling they had been doing and started to advance on her. ¡°You can try it, but then you''ll have to decide if you want to fight me in that tiny office or if you want to jump out the window and run.¡±
¡°And those windows are small enough that even you will have trouble getting through one before I can cut off another piece of you.¡±
He ignored the shocked look on her face and lunged at her. She side stepped his thrust and tried to close on him, only to immediately jump back as the blade cut across at her. A swift chop at her head drove her back again, only for him to shift it into a stab that nicked her shoulder.
Despite her greater speed, Eve found herself being pushed back and chased across the warehouse floor step by step. Several times she found herself pushed back into shelves or tables, forcing her take small cuts as she desperately dove out of the way to avoid worse wounds.
Surprised was written across her face at the simple, yet brutal and efficient, attacks aimed at her.
Who the hell actually fought with swords anymore?
As if reading her mind, Oliver spoke softly, his words hammering on her growing fear. ¡°I''m actually better with a sword than a gun. Comes from being a geek, really. Practicing with the SCA people, going to LARPs, and just generally screwing around... Because swords are cool, though honestly I prefer something with a little reach. Like a halberd.¡±
Eve''s mind raced. She knew she could kill him. She was faster, stronger, and could take a lot more damage... But she wasn''t so certain she could still take him alive and complete the job. Not with that weird sword he was swinging at her.
And it was possible he would do a lot of damage to her before she could finish it, which was a major concern for her.
He was right that she couldn''t regrow the arm. At least not yet. The next job she planned to take would give her a power to regrow limbs... But, until then, the best she could do would be to reattach the lost arm and spend a couple days recovering. And that was assuming he didn''t cut anything else off as the fight goes on.
With a growl of both reluctance and frustration, Eve leapt straight up. Grabbing a nearby shelf, she awkwardly clambered up while cursing her lost arm. Once securely perched out of his reach, she turned to glare at him... Only for her eyes to go wide as he started hacking at the metal frame supporting her. Even though the steel was holding up, she could see that he wouldn''t stop until he brought it-and her- down.
¡°Wait! Just... Wait a second and lets talk, ok?¡±
He barely glanced at her as he continued to hack at the shelf, though he did respond after a second. ¡°You better talk quick.¡±
Throwing her remaining hand in the air in frustration, she suppressed a curse. ¡°Look, maybe we can make a deal.¡±
Oliver paused for a second to glare up at her. ¡°I''m not a fan of leaving enemies alive to fuck with me again in the future. The last time I made that mistake... The asshole hired a vampire to kidnap one of my friends.¡±
Eve growled loudly, her fangs flashing in the dim warehouse. ¡°Don''t think I can''t kill you, Oliver. The only reason I''m offering a deal is because doing so would cost me too much. And I would still fail the job. If the job is fucked no matter what, there''s no point. You know?¡±
Oliver slowly stepped back from the shelf, staring up at her. When the sword suddenly disappeared, she let out a small sigh of relief... Only to curse quietly as a gun appeared in his hands again, which he quickly reloaded.
¡°Seriously? Haven''t you shot me enough already? Fucked up my clothes so much I''m half naked as it is...¡±
His eyes raked across her body for an instant before he smirked up at her. ¡°Well, you''re cute at least. But, unlike you, my girlfriend is fucking terrifying when she wants to be. Now, what sort of deal are you offering? And it better be good.¡±
Eve grumbled to herself at the implication she wasn''t scary. She was a vampire! How the hell wasn''t that scary?
¡°Fine. I''ll keep it simple. You give me back my arm and I''ll leave and report the job as a failure. The fucker undersold this damn job anyway. They said you were just some college brat! ''Kid wants to be a music teacher or something. No military experience, nothing to even worry about. How hard can it be?'' Fucking idiots had no clue...¡±
¡°So, how about it Oli?¡±
Chapter 47 – Undesirable Outcomes
Oliver watched through the feed from his drone as Eve disappeared into the distance, a scowl of frustration marring his features. While he recognized that this was likely the best outcome, he couldn''t help but regret letting her go. He had already been blindsided once by ignoring someone that had already caused him problems, and he was fairly certain that Eve could do far more damage than Hardeman had if she wanted to. Maybe not in the same way, but she was far more likely to go for the kill rather than just try to pressure him.
Admittedly, he liked Eve a lot more than he liked the entire Hardeman family. She, at least, was straightforward in her approach and didn''t play any of the annoying games. Though he wouldn''t overlook the actual lethal threat she posed.
After recalling the drone, he quickly recovered the AK he had lost during the fight. With a sigh, he stored it in the system warehouse, knowing he would need to check it over later for damage. Considering how numb his fingers were after she hit it, he wouldn''t be surprised if it needed some repairs.
Oliver grabbed the balaclava he always kept in the warehouse and tugged it down over his head. While he had worn it over his hair the entire night, he hadn''t seen the point of hiding his face from someone who already knew who he was... But, since Tyrone likely didn''t know who he was being used to leverage, he thought it best to keep his identity hidden. He had already complicated his friend''s life just by associating with him, the last thing he wanted was to make it worse.
And he was still cautious of his secrets getting out, even though he doubted his friend would figure any of them out. Especially when there were plenty of mundane reasons to explain away even this extreme of a situation.
Opening the door to the office, he saw Tyrone sitting in the middle of the room. Just as he was during the video call, he was tied to the chair and blindfolded, though his head turned towards the door as it opened.
¡°What now?¡± Tyrone sighed, clearly more annoyed than afraid. ¡°Another proof of life video? Or do you need to hurt me to make a point or something?¡±
Leaning on all the vocal training he had done, Oliver deepened his voice and spoke in a neutral, but calm, tone. ¡°Nope, the bitch is gone. So lets get you out of here before she comes back.¡±
Oliver quickly cut the zip ties that were used to restrain his friend, then stepped back as Tyrone yanked off the blindfold and glanced around.
Tyrone took in the small room he had been held in and dismissed the blank, gray walls. When his gaze landed on his rescuer, he eyed him up and down once before their eyes met. For a silent moment, they just stared at each other before he spoke. ¡°You don''t look like whoever the hell the police would actually send to rescue a hostage. SWAT, I guess? Yeah, you don''t look like a cop at all.¡±
Oliver shrugged as he waved for Tyrone to follow him. ¡°I''m not. Not that it matters.¡±
He quickly noticed the lack of footsteps following him, and turned to see Tyrone still standing in the room. ¡°Well? What are you waiting for? We need to go.¡±
Tyrone remained in place almost defiantly as he crossed his arms. ¡°And how do I know this ain''t just some game that crazy bitch is playing to mess with me? You still haven''t explained who you are.¡±
Oliver huffed in annoyance, unsure how to convince his friend to leave, only to curse aloud when he heard the sound of sirens in the distance. ¡°Look, do you want to stay here and explain to the cops that some five foot tall woman managed to kidnap and hold you here for a couple days? Then try to tell them that some weird masked guy busted in and saved you?¡±
¡°I''m sure they would just love to hear that. Maybe they would even believe you?¡± His tone positively dripped with sarcasm as he turned and started walking away.
¡°Ah, come on, don''t be like that Oli! That girl was a hell of a lot stronger than she looked.¡±
Oliver froze in place for a split second before he spun to glare at the knowing smirk on his friend''s face. He sighed in defeat, seeing that Tyrone already knew, and his shoulders slumped. ¡°How?¡±
Tyrone chuckled. ¡°Come on, man! I''ve heard you sing enough times to know your range. Plus, I know that look in your eyes when you''re trying to hide something. You''re my best friend, man. Of course I would figure it out!¡±
Oliver smiled weakly as he pulled the balaclava off. ¡°Seriously? That''s all it took to figure me out?¡±
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Tyrone''s booming laugh startled him for a second. ¡°Nah, I''m mostly fucking with you. That bitch wasn''t as slick as she thought, and I overheard her talking to you. Since you''re the only ''Oli'' that I know, it had to be you.¡±
Oliver groaned and shook his head. ¡°This is really not the time to be messing with me man. And we do need to leave before the cops show up. At least I do, seeing as this warehouse belongs to- FUCK!¡±
He took off at a run towards the door, cursing under his breath the entire way. Sliding to a stop in front of it, he peeked out, only to recoil in alarm. Police cars were already pulling up, with some of them circling around to the other side of the building as he watched.
¡°What''s the problem bro?¡±
Oliver turned to find Tyrone had followed him. ¡°This warehouse belongs to Hardeman. I''m pretty certain he sent Eve to grab you just to put pressure on me, so of course he knew this was the meeting spot... And he probably called the cops as a backup plan.¡±
Tyrone snorted in disbelief. ¡°You seriously think he planned it this way? Maybe someone heard the gun shots and-¡±
¡°No.¡± Oliver quickly cut him off. ¡°It''s been like two minutes since the shooting started. Police response time is over ten minutes, especially for the numbers that are showing up. The only way they got here so quick is if they got the call before shit went down.¡±
Tyrone stared at his friend, bewildered. ¡°How the hell do you know the police response time?¡±
Oliver shook his head and hurried off without answering. It only took him a few seconds to check the other side of the building and confirm that the police were setting up outside. ¡°Shit.¡±
¡°What''s the big deal?¡± Tyrone huffed as he followed along. ¡°We can just talk to the cops-¡±
¡°Damn it, Sweet Tea! That''s not going to work!¡±
Oliver could feel his friend glaring at his back even before the man spoke. ¡°Oli, bro, you need to talk to me. Because I really don''t like being yelled at by my friend unless there is a damn good reason.¡±
He sighed and leaned against the wall for a second. ¡°Hardeman owns this warehouse. Last month, this place was robbed and he pointed the finger at me. I was cleared of it, obviously, but the asshole still manage to get the police to fuck with me for a while.¡±
¡°How the hell did he manage that?¡±
Oliver shrugged. ¡°He has friends in high places, including the State Police and shit like that. If they bust in here and find me, that just gives them an excuse to start shit up again. And gives that asshole more ways to fuck with my life. Because, apparently, getting me kicked out of college, my girlfriend suspended from her job, and one of my friends kidnapped and threatened isn''t enough for that bastard.¡±
Tyrone exhaled roughly and clapped Oliver on the shoulder. ¡°Yeah, I get it man. If he did all that, he''ll definitely keep fucking with you.¡±
¡°So how do we get out of here? I don''t really see a way we can sneak past all those cops, man.¡±
For a moment, Oliver froze with indecision. Of course there was a way out. One that was quick, easy, and, most importantly, safe. But it would also mean revealing a few things to his friend... Which would inevitably lead to questions.
But, aside from Polina, was there anyone else he trusted more to keep his secret?
And did he have a better option?
With a reluctant sigh, Oliver led the way back to the office his friend had been held in. Closing the door behind them, he stared Tyrone in the eye for a long second, his whole bearing turned deadly serious. ¡°Ok, Sweet Tea. You''re about to see something I haven''t shared with anyone...¡±
¡°Not even your girl?¡±
He could hear the surprise in his friends voice and quickly waved it off. ¡°Not even her, though I''ve considered it... a bit... But that''s not the point. While I trust you not run your mouth, this is a big deal to me, man. And if it gets out... I can''t even imagine how much trouble it would cause me. Seriously, this is the kinda shit people would want for themselves. And would probably be willing to kill me to get it.¡±
Oliver could see the shocked look on his friends face, but quickly shrugged it off. Before Tyrone could speak, he pressed on, knowing any explanation he gave would only result in even more questions. ¡°This is how it''s gonna work: When I saw ''go'', you run through as quick as you can. We''ve only got five seconds, so you can''t hesitate at all. Understand?¡±
¡°What-¡±
¡°We don''t have time for twenty questions, man. The cops are probably about to bust in the front door. You with me?¡±
¡°Yeah, Oli. I got it.¡±
With a deep breath to clear his mind, Oliver reached into the system warehouse and pulled out the Scarper Charm. With a flex of his will, he activated it. The second the swirling blue portal opened, he slapped his dumbstruck friend on the back and shouted. ¡°Go!¡±
Tyrone jumped in surprise before he lunged forward and through... whatever it was that had just appeared in front of him. In an instant, he tumbled out of it again... Somewhere else, in a room littered with dusty furniture. After a second, he felt something slam into his back and knock him stumbling forward. When he turned to see that it was just Oliver that had run into him, the glowing blue hole in reality winked out of existence, leaving them standing in a pitch black room.
¡°What the HELL was that!?¡±
Chapter 48 - Questions
¡°What the HELL was that!?¡±
Oliver sighed. He knew that, after tonight, Tyrone''s life would be forever changed... And the more he told his friend, the greater the impact would be. But, after everything he had been through, the man deserved answers. At least, some answer.
¡°That was a portal. One that is both temporary and fairly short range, so we need to get moving before the cops search the area.¡±
Oliver recognized the house as the same one his Scarper Charm had taken him to the last time he used it... Escaping from cops... From the same warehouse. He almost wanted to laugh at the similarities, but shrugged it off as he headed for the door. Glancing back, he shook his head when he saw Tyrone still staring wide-eyed at where the portal had been.
¡°You like waffles, right?¡±
Tyrone shook his head slowly before turning with a confused look on his face. ¡°What? Waffles? Why would you ask me about waffles after-¡± He waved his hands vaguely. ¡°-after all of whatever just happened?¡±
A small smile played across Oliver''s face. ¡°Because a question like that is so at odds with the situation that it would shock you out of the stupor you were stuck in. And because I would rather try to explain things over food. Apparently, fighting for my life works up an appetite.¡±
¡°So, come on. We can hit the Waffle House across town since it''s open all night.¡±
Tyrone hesitated for a second before following his friend to the door, though the slightly confused look remained plastered across his face. ¡°Ok... But why Waffle House?¡±
¡°Because all the weirdos show up there after midnight, and no one will pay any attention to how crazy our conversation sounds.¡±
Oliver was already cutting into his waffle by the time the questions started. His friend looked more uncertain than he had ever seen him, but that was to be expected after everything that had happened to him.
¡°So... A portal? Like, a magic portal?¡±
Oliver chewed carefully as he considered how to respond. ¡°Well, first off, I need to know... Do you really want answers? Because I gotta be honest Sweet Tea, I can''t predict how knowing will change your life. Maybe you''ll be able to live with it and move on. Or maybe it will bring more questions.¡±
¡°Or maybe... It will open your eyes to things you never wanted to see. Just being my friend nearly got you killed, man. I''m honestly not sure if answering your questions will put you in more danger or not. ¡°
¡°I can guarantee that, if some of this stuff got out, it would be more dangerous for me. But I owe you some answers after all of this. So, if you want to know, I''ll try to explain things.¡±
Tyrone ate slowly, clearly thinking over what Oliver had said. The last thing he wanted was to cause problems for his friends, but he couldn''t imagine just pretending like tonight never happened. After a moment, he looked up from his food. ¡°You said if things got out that it would be bad for you... So... Things will be fine as long as I keep my mouth shut, right?¡±
Oliver chuckled softly and shrugged. ¡°I mean, I wouldn''t say things will be fine. I''m sure some other shit will pop up before I know it. But yeah, as long as you keep it just between us, things shouldn''t get worse. It''s more just that I''m worried about drawing extra attention, though Hardeman has done a lot to make that happen anyway.¡±
After a moment to consider, Tyrone nodded. ¡°My lips are sealed. And I''ve got your back if you need it, bro. Not sure how I could help, but you know what I mean.¡±
¡°So... Portal?¡±
Oliver finished the piece of bacon he was chewing on before he spoke. ¡°Yeah, it was a magic portal.¡±
¡°Fucking hell man!¡± Tyrone exclaimed, only to look embarrassed at the looks they received from the few other diners. He lowered his voice and leaned in. ¡°Magic is real? Like, how real? Did you make the portal? Could I learn magic?¡±
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Oliver smiled in amusement as his friend struggled to contain his excitement. With everything that had been going on, he had almost forgot that one important fact: Magic was cool as hell. ¡°Ok, chill man. Yeah, magic is real. And yeah, I made the portal.. Sort of.¡±
Seeing the questioning look, he hesitated before deciding to go with the truth. ¡°It wasn''t really my magic that made it, but a magic item, one that is very limited on uses. And yes, magic items are real.¡±
Tyrone seemed to mull over his words for a minute before holding up two fingers. ¡°Two things. One, if magic and magic items are real, then why hasn''t it shown up on the news or the internet?¡±
¡°It hasn''t shown up on the news because most people, at least I think it''s most people, can''t really see magic. As for the internet... People talk about magic on the internet all the time, but most people don''t really believe it, you know?¡±
He nodded, clearly accepting the answer as he lowered one of his fingers. ¡°Ok, that''s fair. But point number two... You said the portal wasn''t your magic. Does that mean that you can do magic?¡±
Oliver struggled to suppress the smug smile that was growing on his face. As much as he was worried about his secrets getting out, it felt good to finally have someone to talk to about it... And to show off a bit in front of his friend. ¡°Yeah, I have one spell I can do right now. I can''t really show you though; Not just because it could cause a scene, but because it''s dangerous for anyone nearby.¡±
Tyrone was nearly vibrating with excitement. ¡°Holy shit man! This is crazy! If I hadn''t seen that portal, I wouldn''t believe any of this.¡±
¡°So, can I learn magic?¡±
Oliver hated to rain on his friends enthusiasm, but he could only shrug apologetically as he answered. ¡°Honestly, I have no idea if you can learn or not. It''s not exactly something I know how to check. Plus, the, I guess you could call them ''training materials'', aren''t easy to get a hold of.¡±
Tyrone nodded, clearly disappointed by the answer. ¡°Yeah, I guess that makes sense. How did you get yours?¡±
Oliver hesitated. He didn''t want to lie to his friend, but answering that question meant revealing the existence of the system. ¡°Sorry man, but answering that one opens up a whole other layer of stuff... One that would be a lot more dangerous for me.¡±
Tyrone leaned back, his eyes wide at the heavy tone in Oliver''s voice. ¡°Ok, my bad man. You''ve already made it clear how serious this shit is, so I ain''t gonna push you on any of this. But what about that bitch from earlier? Why did all this shit happen?¡±
Oliver sighed in relief that his friend wasn''t pressing things. ¡°Well, I''m pretty sure she was hired by Hardeman to get a hold of me because of Carl disappearing. I mean, I doubt he actually hired her himself. He probably had someone else do it so he could keep his own hands clean.¡±
¡°Ok, I can understand that part... But man, you''ve got magic! Even if she was freakishly strong, why were you worried about her coming back? Hell, how did she get away from you anyway? Or did you let her go?¡±
¡°You sure you want me to answer that? I promise it will fuck with your head if I do.¡±
Tyrone nodded quickly. ¡°Yeah, I''m sure. I need to know what to expect if she tries to fuck with me again.¡±
¡°She won''t try again, T. I made some very explicit threats about what would happen if she did.¡± Seeing his friends unwavering gaze, Oliver sighed again. ¡°Ok, but try not to freak out.¡±
¡°I was worried about her coming back because she could probably kill me in a fair fight. I only won our little showdown because I surprised her and cut off one of her arms.¡±
Tyrone nearly choked on his eggs when he heard that. After a moment of coughing to clear the wayward food from his throat, he glared at Oliver. ¡°You cut off her arm... And you were still worried she would be a problem? How the hell does that work!?¡±
With deep breath, Oliver decided to just lay it out there and show his friend that the world was much scarier than he had every realized. ¡°Even with everything I''ve already told you this is going to be hard to believe, but... She''s a vampire. She''s stronger, faster, and tougher than me, drinks blood, and has been around since World War 2 at least. So, yeah, she could have still been a problem.¡±
¡°The only reason she left was because we made a deal. I give her arm back and stop trying to kill her, she fucks off and leaves me and the people I care about alone.¡±
Tyrone sat there, slack jawed, as Oliver finished eating. He had thought things were crazy enough as it was, but hearing what was just said... ¡°Vampires are real? Does that mean things like werewolves and shit are real too?¡±
Oliver shrugged lightly. ¡°Probably. I haven''t seen any, but it wouldn''t surprise me at this point.¡±
¡°What happened man? A couple months ago, you were as vanilla as it got. You went to class, hit the occasional party, and had relationship problems just like everyone else... And now you''re fighting vampires? Or have you always had this secret life of magic and danger?¡±
¡°It''s complicated, man. Like I said, there''s a whole other layer-¡±
¡°That would be more dangerous for you.¡± Tyrone interrupted. ¡°Yeah, I got that man. But there are two things you need to think about, bro. For one, no one would believe me if I actually tried to tell them this shit.¡±
Seeing Oliver actually consider that point, Tyrone pressed on. ¡°And two... I don''t call you ''bro'' for nothing. I''ve got your back, even if it means dealing with a literal vampire bitch. I ain''t gonna tell anyone shit. And maybe, with all the shit you''re getting hit by, you need some help. Even if I can''t actually help you deal with any of it because it''s all crazy, magical bullshit, I can still try to help come up with ideas. You know, brainstorm the problems and offer a different perspective. Or at least listen when you need it, bro. This is some heavy shit you''re carrying. You ain''t got to face it alone.¡±
Oliver sipped at his coffee as he thought about what his friend said. He made a good point. Several of them in fact. But that thread of worry that he would somehow draw the wrong attention and end up dead... Or worse, locked up by some government agency and experimented on...
Chapter 49 – And Answers
While he was reluctant to be exposed, Oliver ultimately decided to trust his friend. Despite their drastic differences, the two had been great friends since the day they met. And, like Tyrone said, it was pretty unlikely anyone would believe him if he did talk about anything.
And, if they did, Oliver could just deny it. It would mean throwing his friend under the bus by calling him crazy. Then again, if his friend betrayed his trust like that, were they really friends?
By the time Oliver finished his tale, the sun was just peaking over the horizon. He sipped slowly on his fourth cup of coffee as he watched the riot of emotions flash across Tyrone''s face. ¡°Yeah, sounds crazy, doesn''t it?¡±
After a long minute, Tyrone leaned forward and sighed. ¡°I saw the news about that church being firebombed. You really killed those guys?¡± When Oliver just nodded in response, he couldn''t help but shake his head. ¡°That... Bro, how are you ok? My uncle was a soldier, and he said that nothing fucks you up worse than the first time you kill someone. I mean, dealing with all the crazy magical shit? Yeah, I can see you just rolling with it. But that? And selling off Carl and Jess like that? That''s pretty fucked, Bro.¡±
¡°Honestly, I felt kinda bad about selling them the second I did it. Selling people is just... wrong.¡±
Tyrone stared into his eyes for several seconds in confusion. ¡°Selling people is wrong... But you''re ok with killing them? Bro...¡±
Oliver shrugged slightly. ¡°I''m not going to lie to you man. I''m... off, I guess you could say. I was diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder when I was a teenager.¡± Seeing the lack of comprehension on his friend''s face, he chuckled slightly. ¡°Most people would call me a sociopath. I don''t really care about other people. Well, most other people. I think the years of counseling have helped me to at least care about a few people, like close friends and family... Not that I really have any family anymore.¡±
Tyrone sat up straight as understanding dawned on him. ¡°That makes so much sense. People started calling you shit like ''Iceman'' because it always looked like you didn''t give a fuck about anything... Because you really didn''t give a fuck!¡±
Tyrone chuckled at the uncomfortable look on Oliver''s face. ¡°Ah, don''t worry about that shit man. And seriously, I don''t blame you for how you handled those assholes. I mean, I''m not saying I approve of you killing people, but... I''m not really sure I would have done any different if I was in there in your place.¡±
¡°Thanks man. Honestly, that was the part I was most worried telling you.¡± In a rare moment of vulnerability, Oliver glanced away awkwardly. ¡°I just... I guess I was afraid I would lose one of the few people I actually care about, you know?¡±
Tyrone reached across the table and patted his friend reassuringly on the shoulder, a gentle smile on his face. ¡°I get it man. And we''re still cool, I promise. Is that why you haven''t told Polina?¡±
Seeing the hint of panic flare up in Oliver''s eyes, he shook his head sadly. ¡°I know what you''re thinking. She''s a cop. How would she react if she found out her boyfriend had killed some dudes, even if they deserved it.¡±
Oliver froze like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming truck, and Tyrone felt bad about pushing at this particular point. But he also knew that it was something his friend would have to face. ¡°You really care about her, don''t you?¡±
Oliver''s head thudded against the wall behind him as he sagged in his seat, and he stared blindly at the ceiling. ¡°I... I love her. I don''t know how or when it happened, but... Yeah...¡±
Tyrone nodded sagely. He saw how the two felt about each other back at the Halloween party. Pretty much everyone at the party could see it, as Oliver had never looked so alive as he did when Polina was around. ¡°Does she love you?¡±
Oliver fidgeted, looking and feeling like an awkward teenager again. ¡°I think so? I mean, she said she does...¡±
¡°Has she shown you that she loves you?¡±
Oliver stared down at his coffee, uncertainty clear in his features. ¡°I... I don''t know. I mean... Yes? My counselor always use to say that people show there love in different way. Called them the ''Five Love Languages''...¡±
Oliver trailed off for a moment, deep in thought. ¡°She often tells me that she cares, so that''s ''Words of Affirmation''... She likes to cuddle and spent time together doing stuff, so that''s both ''physical touch'' and ''quality time''...¡±
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He smiled sheepishly as he shrugged. ¡°So... Yeah, I think she does. Oh! And she introduced me to her mom. That''s a pretty big sign, right?¡±
Tyrone chuckled softly, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, I would say that is a big sign. Man, looking back at things, it''s pretty obvious now that you were just going through the motions with Jess. Which is probably a good things, considering how two-faced she turned out to be.¡±
With a sigh, Tyrone leaned in again. ¡°You really need to consider telling her, man. Keeping a secret this big from the person closest to you is a bad idea for a lot of reasons. And it''s definitely not good for your relationship. It''s bound to drive a wedge between you further down the line.¡±
¡°I read somewhere that trust, honesty, and communication are the pillars of any relationship. And, if you don''t think you can be honest with her and trust her to have your back on this... I hate to be the one to drop this bomb on you, but it''s probably better to end the relationship.¡±
Oliver''s coffee grew cold as he sat there, stunned by Tyrone''s words. Tell Polina? The idea of telling her about the crazy magical stuff had already occurred to him, but... Admit to his cop girlfriend that he was a killer?
Or break up with her.
His stomach twisted up into a knot at the very idea of it. He had always expected to just go through the motions. Finish college, get a job, get married, have kids. Act normal and lead a normal life, or at least as normal as he could manage.
But, while he may never be normal... His relationship with her wasn''t an act. She brought light and joy to his life in a way he never expected. Her and the system were the two best things that had happened to him...
And, he was quick to realize, he couldn''t imagine what his life would be like without either of them.
Seeing his friend just watching him with a worried frown, Oliver smiled reassuringly. ¡°You''ve given me a lot to think about, Sweet Tea. Thanks man.¡±
Tyrone nodded, relieved both that his friend had taken his advice, and that he wasn''t upset by it. As much as he wanted to help his friend, he knew that this was something Oliver would have to handle himself... Though there was something else he could help with; It just meant another rude awakening. ¡°No problem man. You know I''m here for you... Though, I do have some more advice for you, if you''re ready to hear it.¡±
¡°Hit me with it.¡±
Taking a deep breath, Tyrone didn''t pull any punches. ¡°You mentioned that you felt like you were half-assing the whole system thing before... And you still are.¡±
Oliver''s head rocked back as if he was slapped, a surprised look on his face. ¡°What does that mean?¡±
Tyrone shook his head in disappointment. ¡°You''re smart Oli. Hell, sometimes I''m sure you''re a fucking genius... But sometimes you out think yourself.¡±
¡°You need these ''credits'' for all the system shit, right? Those bounties are cool, and they pay pretty well, but the commissions are your bread and butter.¡± Seeing Oliver about to speak, he held up a hand for him to wait. ¡°You''re worried about over doing it and drawing attention, I know. But there are ways to get around that, bro. Hell, I''ve already thought of a good one for you.¡±
¡°A charity.¡±
Tyrone leaned forward in excitement. ¡°Think about it, man! You start a little charity organization, then hire people to gather all the food and medical stuff you''ve been sending off for commissions. Some of the stuff you trade off as usual, and some of it gets sent out for actual humanitarian stuff. Part of the money from filling commissions goes to paying your workers and maintaining the charity, and the rest goes to in your pocket.¡±
¡°And you can write the whole thing off on your taxes... I think. I don''t really know tax stuff.¡±
Oliver shook his head slowly. He liked the idea, but he had already considered some of the downsides. ¡°It still risks drawing attention. Charities like that still get audited and inspected out of fear of things like smuggling or money laundering. Sooner or later, I would have to explain everything that went missing.¡±
Tyrone''s enthusiasm dimmed slightly before an idea hit him. ¡°Bro, a lot of what you trade is food, right?¡± At Oliver''s nod, he laughed softly. ¡°Like I said, you out think yourself. Food goes bad, man! A lot of the other stuff can either be written off as damaged, or excused as like work supplies or something.¡±
¡°I don''t know, man...¡±
Tyrone waved off his objection, a bright smile on his face. ¡°Look, how about we both take a couple days to research the possibility? Yeah, there may be a little risk. But there''s also the potential for a major payoff, right? Plus, I''ve been looking for a part-time job anyway, so it''s kind of a win-win!¡±
Oliver couldn''t help but smile. While he wasn''t sold on the idea, it felt good to have someone willing to back him like this. ¡°Ok, ok. You win. We''ll look into it.¡±
Tyrone slapped the table in excitement. ¡°Awesome! Now, time for me to finish my one-two punch on your ego... You said you can post bounties for people to retrieve things for you. Why the hell aren''t you exploiting the hell out of that man?¡±
Oliver chuckled awkwardly. While he had considered the possibility, he was embarrassed at not having taken full advantage of it... But, again, it mostly came down to him trying to keep a low profile. ¡°Credits. It all comes down to needing more credits.¡±
¡°Why are you laughing at me?¡±
¡°...At least try not to look so smug!¡±
Interlude – Sold Out
Eve cursed to herself as she fled the warehouse, her pride in tatters as surely as her thoroughly ruined clothes. ¡°Easy job my ass! Fuckers said he was just some clueless college brat, not a fucking expert swordsman! With magic! Fucking tenacious bastard too...¡±
Groaning in frustration, she clutched her severed arm tightly as she leapt over fences and darted through backyards with superhuman grace. While it wasn''t the first time she had lost a fight, though she hardly counted it as a loss since she likely could have killed him, it was the first time she had lost against something that wasn''t blatantly supernatural. Sure, she had lost a few fights. Other vampires? Werewolves, banshees, demons... Hell, even a fucking naagloshii! But humans, even witches and warlocks, had never given her too many problems. They were just too weak and slow.
But not Oliver.
Sure, he wasn''t really a match for her, even with his guns and magical tricks. But, despite being at a disadvantage the entire time, he had managed to find leverage against her: Either give up and fail the job or he would fight to the death... Which would still count as failing the job.
¡°Hard-headed, frustrating bastard...¡± Eve muttered to herself as she crossed another empty intersection, before darting around a run down looking house. As she approached the back door, she awkwardly fished the keys out of her pocket before unlocking the door and letting herself into the Airbnb she had booked specifically for this job. While the place was a shit hole, the owners never bothered to check in on her... And it had a decently furnished basement, perfect for her to escape the ball of hate people liked to call a Sun.
Locking the door behind herself, she trudged down to the basement, only pausing to grab a roll of duct tape from the storage closet as she passed. Plopping down onto the couch, she began to carefully align the severed appendage. While it would still reattach itself and heal up as good as new regardless, getting it as close to right as possible meant less time and energy spent on it. Once it was in place as best she could manage, she quickly wound the tape around the impressively clean cut to hold it securely.
¡°And where the hell did he get a magic sword like that!¡± She huffed in annoyance. ¡°Maybe I should call my Sire and ask him about it. He claims to have seen some incredible weapons back when he was being hunted by the Inquisition, so maybe he would know?¡±
With a sigh, she shrugged off the thought and opened her laptop. With just a few clicks of the mouse, she opened up the file she had made that contained all the information she could find for the job... Including several pictures and videos of her target, Oliver. With a quick tap, she opened on video in particular and watched as the band began to play. Oliver sat in the front row, dressed in a simple button down shirt and slacks, and played the violin with and impressive amount of skill and passion.
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It didn''t hurt that the violin was one of her favorite instruments, and the piece they were playing was particularly good.
After a minute of listening, she leaned back and shook her head with an annoyed huff. ¡°No, calling my Sire would just arouse his attention and set him to hunting Oli.¡±
Throwing her hands up in frustration, she scowled at the damaged arm as it shifted despite the tape wrapped firmly around it. Quickly realigning it, she doubled up on the tape again as she grumbled to herself. ¡°Don''t know why I care, anyway. Fucking failed job. Fucking stubborn sheep should have just given up after he shot me fifty times. But no! Of course he didn''t...¡±
¡°...but damn if he isn''t sexy when he''s being vicious and threatening.¡±
¡°Not like it matters, since he said he would kill me if he ever saw me again.¡±
Eve wallowed in frustration for only a moment before sitting up straight, a bright and cunning smile stretched across her face. ¡°Get on his good side and get back at those fuckers for underselling this job? Well, I doubt it would change much with someone as jaded as Oli, but...¡±
Pulling out her phone, Eve fired off a quick text to the employer.
(Eve) Your package is ready. Estimated delivery time is 10pm today.
(???) Why the hell can''t you bring it now!?
(Eve) Because it''s almost dawn and I work the night shift? Also because the whole thing annoyed the fuck out of me and, if I show up now, I''m likely to rip someone''s head off. So, deal with it. Or I can just keep the package for myself?
(???) Fine, whatever. I''ll text you the location.
(Eve) How about I text you the location? It''s not that I don''t trust you... But I don''t trust anyone.
She smiled as she watched her phone, waiting for the response. She knew they would cave. These people may have money and power, but they were out of their depths on this one... And, with all that money and power came the ego to match. While she wasn''t sure if they would try to double-cross her, she knew they hadn''t even considered the possibility that she would do it.
After all, she was just a dumb merc. All she cared about was the money, right?
And there''s no way she could get one up on such smart and powerful men... She nearly cackled at the thought. Fucking idiots, the lot of them.
When the text came in, agreeing to her terms, she dropped her phone onto the small table beside the laptop. Picking out another video of Oliver performing, she smiled as the music started up.
¡°I''m not done with you yet, Oli. Not by a long-shot.¡±
Chapter 50 – Trust and Communication
Oliver sighed in regret as he reluctantly sent a text to Polina apologizing for being gone all night. She had left early to spend the day with her mom, and he was grateful for the chance to catch up on the sleep he missed.
And it had nothing to do with wanting to avoid the looming conversation. Or so he lied to himself unconvincingly.
(Eve) 10pm, at the abandoned storage place on North Sherman. You''ll find the fucker that hired me there.
Oliver''s eyes were still bleary from sleep as he read, and it took a moment for his sluggish mind to process the contents of the text. Sitting up slowly in the bed, he read it again as suspicion and annoyance warred with his eagerness at the opportunity. After a few seconds of hesitation, he fired off a return text.
(Oliver) And how can I be sure this isn''t another setup? What possible reason do you have to help me?
(Eve) Because I want to, why else?
He wasn''t really surprised by the prompt response. She had to have expected him to question it-or to just ignore her entirely, considering they weren''t exactly on good terms after she kidnapped on of his friends.
(Oliver) That answer won''t work with me. I was already planning to block your number, so thanks for reminding me.
(Eve) No point in blocking this number, since I can just get a new one!
Oliver just sighed in annoyance. Considering how many burner phones he had already gone through himself, he knew how easy it was to do. And it wouldn''t surprise him if this chaotic gremlin of a vampire did it just to continue pestering him. Unless he changed numbers himself, he was unlikely to stop her. And that would be annoying all on its own.
It also wouldn''t surprise him if she found some way to get his new number, as her plan to lure him in had shown she was at least somewhat intelligent.
(Oliver) I still don''t have a reason to trust anything you tell me.
(Eve) Fine, fine. Those assholes gave me shit information. They said you were just some mundane college kid. If I had known you had some magic and shit, I would have taken precautions against it. And beaten you, obviously. Faulty intel sucks.
(Eve) So, it''s their fault the job was fucked.
(Eve) Also, those guys are assholes.
(Eve) Also also... If I help you, you''ll owe me and maybe decide not to try and kill me in the future.
(Eve) I mean, I doubt you could kill me, but you trying would definitely put a damper on our relationship.
Oliver mulled over what she said as he hopped in the shower. While it may have sounded like she was making excuses for losing, he knew that things could have easily gone differently if she actually had been prepared... Which is one of the reasons he had made so much of a point of keeping his secrets.
Shaking off the recurring dilemma of maintaining his secrets, he shifted his thoughts back to what she said. It wasn''t her employers fault that they gave her faulty intel, as that was all they had themselves. But her holding a grudge over it... Yeah, that tracked, especially since she almost lost an arm because of it.
But her last text...
Stepping out of the shower, Oliver dried off quickly before firing off another text.
(Oliver) We don''t have a relationship. And if this IS a trap...
(Eve) That''s just because I haven''t had a chance to woo you properly. Just give it time.
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(Eve) And this is definitely not a trap, I swear. Vampire''s honor!
Oliver stared at the phone, shock written across his face. While he was typically oblivious to things of this nature, even he could see that Eve was trying to flirt with him... He just didn''t understand why. Their one real interaction ended with him cutting off her arm!
(Oliver) You can''t woo me, Eve. I have a girlfriend. And all of my previous threats would be minor compared to what I''ll do if you try to mess with her.
(Oliver) Assuming she didn''t kill you first.
(Eve) I don''t mind sharing ;)
Oliver just sighed as he tucked his phone in his pocket. It was clear that Eve had to be crazy. There was just no other explanation he could think of. And, if threats wouldn''t stop her, maybe ignoring her would get her to just forget about him and move on.
He could hope, at least.
Opening the bedroom door, his stomach rumbled as he was hit by the scent of food being cook. He headed swiftly down the short hall to the kitchen, a small smile crossing his face at the sight of his girlfriend cooking dinner. In just a few quick steps, he cross the kitchen to wrap his arms around her from behind. ¡°Hey hon. That smells amazing.¡±
Polina turned her head to give him a kiss before shooing him off. ¡°I can''t cook with you hanging off me, sleepy-head. You don''t want me to burn it, do you?¡±
He reluctantly released her from his grasp and poured drinks for them before taking a seat at the table nearby. Caught up in the simple domestic moment, he almost missed her question.
¡°Is everything ok with Tyrone? I know you said he was in trouble and needed help, but I got a little worried when I woke up this morning and you weren''t home.¡±
Oliver silently cursed his own stupidity for not at least texting her to let her know everything was ok. ¡°I''m sorry about that, hon. It was a little crazier than I expected, and we decided to grab some food afterwards. I guess I lost track of time as we were talking.¡±
¡°I feel like an ass for not thinking to let you know everything was fine.¡±
Setting the plate down in front of him, Polina gave him a hug and a gentle smile. ¡°It''s ok, Oli. I know that happens sometimes. Just try to keep me in the loop if anything like this happens again, ok?¡±
Oliver shifted awkwardly in his seat for a moment before meeting her gaze. ¡°About that...¡± Clearing his throat, he reluctantly pressed on. ¡°I''ve got some stuff to handle again tonight. For work, I mean.¡±
¡°Your boss wants you to work tonight? I thought you set your own hours?¡±
Oliver sighed internally. Tyrone had made a good point about him needing to talk to Poli about things, but... He was struggling with the idea. What if telling her ruined their relationship? What if she hated him for the things he had done?
What if not telling her strained their relationship and messed things up anyway?
That thought hit him like runaway truck. He knew lies and secrets could damage or even destroy a relationship. He had experienced it himself with Jess. Was he sabotaging his own relationship by not being honest with her?
And could he really say that he loved her if he kept lying to her?
¡°This is more of an unexpected opportunity with a limited time frame. But... Once I wrap this up, we should probably sit down and talk about my job. I think...¡±
Staring at his food, Oliver let out a deep breath. ¡°I think that, if I want this relationship to work, you deserve to know what it is I do. And who I am when I''m working, because that is a very different version of me than you have ever seen.¡±
¡°And because... I really want this relationship to work.¡±
¡°I love you Polina. I can''t imagine not loving you.¡±
Oliver''s heart was in turmoil. The prospect of opening up and showing Polina everything, even the darker side of himself... Scared him in ways he never knew anything could. Twice already his life had been thrown into chaos. First when his mother died and left him feeling lost and adrift, then again Hardeman did his best to destroy Oliver''s dreams. And now he faced the possibility of things being upended once again, all of which hinged on the conversation they would inevitably have.
The fact that she was so open and eager for the conversation, even happy about the idea, just weighed on him more.
And now he was about to walk into what may be a trap. Again.
Because of a text from Eve. Again.
But this was the path he chose, and he wasn''t planning to second guess it too much.
With a deep breath to try and calm his inner turmoil, he set off.
He had a problem to solve. Or a trap to spring and then destroy.
Either would take his mind off of thing for at least a little while.
Chapter 51 – Confirmation
Oliver skillfully piloted the drone to sweep the area surrounding the abandoned self storage business. The place looked much like any other of its kind: a dozen long blocks of gray concrete, faded and cracked with age. Each was divided into numerous storage units, a few of which were missing their rolling doors and yawned open like dark caves. Wide strips of gravel, overgrown with weeds and grass, ran between the buildings.
The luxury sedan idling in the central lane, and the trio of men wearing suits that waited nearby, stood out from the rundown surroundings.
He scoffed in disbelief when his reconnaissance turned up nothing else. Four men, as the driver had stayed in the car, had shown up... To meet a dangerous mercenary. At night. In an isolated location.
They were either too arrogant to think they could possibly be in danger, or too stupid to see it.
''Or a combination of the two.'' Oliver thought to himself.
Quickly putting away the drone, he pulled his balaclava down over his head as he made his way towards the lot. Skirting the few small shops in the area, all of which were already closed at this hour, Oliver ran through his approach in his head.
On of the men standing outside the car was likely to be Eve''s employer. That meant the other two were either lackeys or bodyguards. He hadn''t seen any weapons on each of them, but it was definitely possible they had guns concealed under their suit jackets. And, considering two of the men were significantly larger than the third, he had a good idea of their roles.
But his first target was probably the driver, or at least the car. He didn''t want any of them getting away.
Pausing near the first storage building, a thought occurred to him and Oliver spoke in the softest whisper he could manage. ¡°Lita, please cover as much of me as you can, just in case. But not my eyes, ears, nostrils or mouth. And probably not my hands. Not sure if that would get in the way or not.¡±
After a moment, Oliver felt the bio-engineered armor that he wore like an undershirt start to shift. The sensation was slightly disconcerting, as the armor literally oozed across his skin. Slowly it spread up his neck, slithering under the balaclava to hug his head all around- though, as he requested, several places were left uncover.
The slime like feeling dripping down his pants until it covered his legs and feet was much more awkward, but Oliver chose to ignore it as best he could.
Feeling at least slightly more protected, while also kicking himself for not remembering the armor when he faced Eve, he continued forward. Sticking close to the buildings where the gravel was thinner to avoid it crunching and clattering with each step, he was careful to check each lane when he reached a corner in case he missed someone with his initial sweeps.
Peeking around the corner once he reached the center lane, he watched the trio for a moment. While the boss appeared to be waiting patiently, the guards were talking to each other. Though he couldn''t make out what they were saying over the low rumble of the car''s engine, their body language hinted that the conversation was casual. Relaxed.
The pair, either confident in their own abilities or secure in the belief that nothing would happen, didn''t expect any problems. And they weren''t looking for them either.
''Perfect.'' Oliver thought, a wolfish grin stretched across his face.
Oliver prowled down the lane, his steps slow and measured. He knew rushing would just make more noise and alert them, and he was happy to prey on their inattentive confidence. He ducked into one of the units that was missing its door and paused to watch them again. Seeing no change from the group, he pulled his trusty FAL out of the warehouse and slipped the sling over his head. Settling his grip on the gun, he flipped the safety off.
With the same slow and cautious steps, he drew closer and closer, his targets still blissfully unaware. He was momentarily surprised, and almost laughed aloud, when he realized the driver was sitting there with his window down. He had expected the car to be a problem; anyone dragging around guards like that while riding in a luxury car likely had bullet proof glass windows.
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But what was the point in all that protection if you didn''t use it?
Watching the trio out of the corner of his eye, Oliver slid up next to the driver''s door, gun pointed straight at the man''s head. It took the man a few seconds to notice that a dark figure had snuck up on him, and he jumped in surprise. As his mouth opened, Oliver softly tapped the side of the gun and shook his head.
Getting the point, the man quickly closed his mouth without making a sound.
Motioning the man out of the vehicle, Oliver backed away slightly, not wanting to be close enough for the man to try something and ruin his surprise. Pointing vaguely towards the front of the car, he whispered softly. ¡°Face down, hands on your head. Or you''re dead.¡±
As soon as the man''s back was turned, Oliver plucked the keys from the ignition and tossed them into the warehouse- but he left the headlights on. A few seconds passed before the lack of noise from the engine registered on the group, and Oliver already had his gun braced on the top of the car. Their eyes all turned first to the man who was just then laying down and lacing his hands together on top of his head.
And Oliver growled at them in his most menacing tone, the edge of violence lingering on every word. ¡°I suggest you all drop your weapons and lay down-¡±
Before he could even finish, one of the bodyguards reached into his jacket. Oliver didn''t hesitate, immediately double-tapping the man in the chest. The others flinched at the deafening crack of the rifle, and the man that was clearly the boss actually fell to the ground in shock.
He raised his voice so they could still hear him over the ringing in their ears. ¡°The next shot goes through his head. Not like I can miss at this distance.¡± Hearing the man he shot groan, he chuckled softly to himself. ¡°Just be thankful he wasn''t a complete idiot. That vest just saved his life.¡±
Another gunshot rang out, this one a bit quieter, and Oliver hissed as a line of pain was drawn across his arm. The asshole clearly didn''t learn his lesson by being shot and actually tried to shoot back. Without needing to adjust his aim, as he had kept his gun trained on the man''s head despite the pain, Oliver pulled the trigger again.
Blood and brain matter sprayed across the gravel and concrete, and the man''s gun clattered to the ground.
Growling now in pain as well as anger, Oliver barked at the remaining men as he shifted his aim to the other bodyguard. ¡°Last fucking warning! Drop your weapons and get down! Or you can join your friend in hell.¡±
Slowly, the guard opened his jacket wide to show the gun in a shoulder holster. Using just two fingers, he carefully pulled it out and set it on the ground before backing away several feet and laying down on the ground.
Oliver ignored the boss who still sat trembling on the ground. Turning his attention to the driver, he nudged the man''s foot slightly. ¡°You armed too?¡±
¡°N-no. I''m just the driver.¡±
Pulling a couple pairs of zip tie cuffs from the warehouse, he dropped them near the driver. ¡°Here''s what you''re going to do. First, cuff the bodyguard. With his hands behind his back, obviously. Then use another pair for his feet. And he damn well better be secure. Oh, and don''t try anything stupid. Two bodies aren''t much harder to dispose of than one. Understand?¡±
The driver nodded quickly and, gathering up the cuffs, scrambling over to the guard- and keeping a healthy distance from the guns, out of fear of a misunderstanding. Oliver chuckled darkly when the man apologized for tightening them too much and eliciting a grunt of pain from the guard.
As soon as the guards hands and feet were secure, the man glance his way and Oliver spoke. ¡°The other pairs are for your boss their. Same deal. Once you''re done with him, lay back down like you were.¡±
As soon as the driver did as he was told, Oliver gathered up the pistols dropped by both guards and stored them away. Then he approached where the driver was laying. ¡°Now, I''m going to cuff you just like them. You may think to yourself ''He''ll need his hands to do it, so this is my chance''. Well, it is your chance. Just not in the way you think. Because, if you try anything, I won''t shoot you. But I will still kill you.¡±
¡°Slowly. And painfully.¡±
¡°Understand?¡±
Oliver grimaced as the man pissed his pants while he frantically agreed. Quickly slipping the cuffs over the man''s hands, he tightened them down and repeated the process for his ankles.
Stepping away from the unpleasant smell of urine, he approached the boss with unhurried steps. Crouching down next to the man that was quivering in fear, Oliver gave him a predatory smile. ¡°Now, this part is simple. You answer a few questions for me-and remember, honesty is important. If you do, I won''t have to torture the information out of you.¡±
¡°Actually, I think we need a change of scenery first. After all, I just murdered one of your men and I really don''t want the police interrupting my fun. You don''t mind, do you?¡±
Ignoring whatever response the man gave, Oliver grabbed the keys to the sedan and opened the truck. As an afterthought, he pulled a roll of duct tape from the warehouse as well.
¡°I can''t have you fellows screaming for help, now can I?¡±
Chapter 52 – Its all in the Execution
Oliver massaged his temples slowly, trying to ease his headache. Even with Ashton- the man that hired Eve- answering all of his questions without hesitation, unraveling the tangled knot to find who was actually behind it was a pain.
Ashton, despite working for an investment company, actually received the order from their parent company and a man named Robert... But the order didn''t start with him, of course. He got his order from their parent company.
And that order came from one of their financial officers... Who got the order from someone he owed a favor to and was a fellow member of the board for a local charity...
And that man received the order from the senior partner at the law firm where he worked, a man by the name of Norton Graham... Who actually earned his position thanks primarily to being personally contracted to Carl Hardeman Sr.
While Oliver already had an idea of the origin, having detailed confirmation helped him to finalize his plans... And he had to thank Ashton for doing most of the work for him... And giving him new information about the system, though perhaps it was a different system? He couldn''t, and now wasn''t the time to dwell on it.
¡°You know, Ash- Do you mind if I call you Ash?¡± Oliver said, his masked form looming over the cowardly man. ¡°You saved me quite a lot of time and effort. I have to ask, though, why go through the effort of digging through all that bureaucratic bullshit? You were already doing what they wanted and getting things in motion, so why bother?¡±
Ashton licked his lips nervously. ¡°W-well... Worst case, it was to cover my own ass. You know, in case things went wrong... Like it did... And... Best case? I could use it to blackmail them later. I don''t want to mess with the Hardeman estate, but... Using it for some other benefits was definitely possible...¡±
¡°I... I''ve told you everything. Please, just don''t kill me! I swear, I won''t tell anyone about this...¡±
Oliver chuckled and clapped the man on the shoulder. ¡°Ash... How can I trust you? You hired a mercenary, admitted to planning to blackmail your bosses... And, at this point, you''ve probably guessed who I am. I''m not exactly a forgiving person...¡±
Slapping a piece of duct tape over the man''s mouth before he could start begging or crying, Oliver turned and walked away. It was almost midnight already, and if he wanted to deal with these idiots and still have time to tackle his bigger problems... With a sigh, he pulled out his phone to start planning things out.
¡°Looks like you''ve had a busy night.¡±
Oliver froze, instantly recognizing the voice. His trusty FAL appeared in his hands as he turned to scan the area around the abandoned house he had used for the ''interrogation''. ¡°I remember making some very specific threats about what would happen if I saw you again, Eve.¡±
Soft laughter from the roof behind him caused Oliver to spin in place and raise his gun to his shoulder, but he saw no sign of the woman.
¡°But you haven''t seen me, Oli. Besides, I thought we were already past that little misunderstanding?¡±
Oliver grumbled to himself and shook his head, the gun disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared. ¡°Let''s skip the flirty banter, ok? Like you said, I''ve had a busy night. And it''s only going to get busier. So, tell me what you want and I can get moving.¡±
He could practically hear the pout in Eve''s voice when she spoke. ¡°Fine, just take all the fun out of this.¡±
¡°Mostly, I was just following along to watch. I''m not usually the voyeuristic type, but you are just deliciously vicious...¡±
¡°Get to the point, Eve.¡±
Quiet giggled echoed behind him, but Oliver refused to continue going in circles with her. After a moment without a response from him, Eve huffed and spoke again. ¡°Fine, fine. I imagine you plan to go deal with some other assholes, so how about I clean things up for you here? I doubt these assholes will really be missed... And I could use a good meal or two.¡±
¡°Free food is the best food, after all. I''m pretty sure that''s a motto for college kids or something.¡±
Oliver shook his head slowly. Yeah, he could be vicious... But Eve was literally a monster.
Then again, letting her clean up would help a little. While it wouldn''t really save him that much time, it still meant one less thing. And that he could get moving immediately. Except...
¡°And give you leverage to use against me? I doubt you''re above using them to blackmail me later.¡±
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The night grew silent for a moment as his words landed. Just as he was about to head back in to finish things, Eve finally spoke up. ¡°What if I promise not to do that?¡±
Oliver chuckled softly. ¡°Like I asked Ash in there... How can I trust you? Especially since you''re already pushing our agreement by showing up here.¡±
¡°Come on, Oli! If I was trying to cause you problems, there are easier ways than that! Besides, maybe I just want to be friends with someone as fun and vicious as I am for once. You know, it''s really hard to make friends with other vampires. Nasty bastards that they are, you can''t really trust any of them. Except me, of course.¡±
For a moment, Oliver felt her directly behind him, nearly pressed against his back. ¡°Maybe if I do this for you... You can talk to your girlfriend about sharing?¡±
He spun around suddenly, but Eve was already gone. Soft, snickering laughter echoed from the house. ¡°I''ll just go ahead and handle things here. You go take care of your other business.¡±
¡°And text me if she agrees!¡±
Throwing his hands up in the air, Oliver stomped away. Eve was going to do whatever she wanted anyway, and he doubted he could stop her. ¡°Don''t forget to get rid of the car!¡± He shouted back at her as he left.
Oliver had thought through how he would deal with Hardeman. Posting a bounty was an option, but he immediately discarded it. Even if he had the credits necessary-which he discovered would cost him only about 10,000, a surprisingly reasonable amount- who knew how long it would sit there before someone took the job? He had already let this particular problem fester for too long; it was best to deal with it now.
And a part of him simply wanted to do it himself.
He hated going in blind. While he had Hardeman''s address... That was it. No layout to work from, no idea about the security the man had in place... If not for his drone, he would hesitate to even consider moving on the man so soon.
Oliver was constantly glad he had grabbed the drone when he could. It had paid off several times already, and he expected it to continue to do so for some time.
His earlier use of the drone had take roughly a quarter of its charge, but he figured that he had more than enough left to get this done. From his hiding place several blocks away, he piloted the drone as it zipped along the road to the house in question, and Oliver''s eyebrows rose minutely in surprise.
The house was surprisingly understated. While it sat on a sizable corner lot, it was a simple two-story affair. While larger than its neighbors, it wasn''t excessive in its size or decoration. Oliver''s best guess was a dozen rooms on each floor, including the addition over the garage.
Still a lot of space for him to search alone when looking for his target, but definitely not as bad as he had expected. He wasn''t sure if it was because Hardeman refused to pay for a larger place, or if he just wanted to appear more down to earth than he really was... But that didn''t matter anyway.
More surprising was the lack of security guards. He didn''t spot a single one patrolling outside and, considering the general lack of lights on inside, he doubted many were there either.
At such a late hour, only two rooms had lights on in the entire house: One on the first floor, and another on the second. Flying the drone closer to the lit room on the first floor, Oliver listened carefully for a moment.
A small smile crossed his face when he heard hushed conversation.
¡°-about time for your walk through, isn''t it?¡±
¡°Yeah. I hate when Mr. Hardeman decides to work late. He always yells at me when I peak my head in to check on him.¡±
¡°Just don''t do it then. What, you think someone is going to climb the building just to fuck with him?¡±
Soft laughter echoed from the room, before the other man growled a response. ¡°How do you think you got this job, Mickey? The last guy thought the same thing and got fired for not checking in like he was told to do. I''m sure as hell not going to throw away such an easy job just because I get yelled at once or twice...¡±
Oliver continued to listen to the mostly silent room until the man returned from his walk through. Then he made his move.
Just as the idiot guard had predicted, Oliver chose to climb the side of the house, his improved attributes making it feel nearly effortless. With the lack of handholds on the well maintained building, he got a running start and leapt up, catching the edge of the garage roof. Pulling himself up quickly, he edged around the addition that took up a good chunk of the space. Leaning around the corner of the house, he stretched out enough to grab the closest windowsill.
And then just swung out to hang from it by his fingertips.
The feeling of power and grace was almost intoxicating, but he hurriedly suppressed it. Being confident was fine, he reminded himself, but growing arrogant could get him killed. The slight twinge from his earlier gun shot wound reminded him of that clearly- though it also reminded him of the subtly disquieting feeling of Lita, his armor, sealing the wound and feasting on the small amount of blood that had flowed from it.
Something else to think about later... Or ignore, as he knew he would likely do. He already knew she fed on his blood, anyway.
Shimmying across the windowsill, he didn''t hesitate to swing straight to the next one. And then the next. In less than a minute, he reached the only lit window on the second floor- Hardeman''s office. Pulling himself up carefully, Oliver perched on the narrow sill and gently pressed his ear to the window. He could barely make out the soft rustling of papers and the creak of a chair.
He couldn''t be completely sure it was Hardeman... But he also seriously doubted it was anyone else.
Pulling a hammer from the system warehouse, Oliver knew he had to be quick. As soon as he broke the window, the guards would likely come running... And, judging by the sign on the lawn and the stickers on some of the windows, the security system would probably send an alert to the police.
With a deep breath to steady himself, Oliver swung the hammer. Glass shattered, spraying the room beyond, and he dove through the flying glass and swinging curtains.
The moment his feet touched down again, he turned to the large man sitting behind the heavy oak desk... And had no doubts that he had found his target. The family resemblance was obvious, the man looking exactly like an older- and admittedly fatter- version of Carl.
Hardeman immediately reached for the cell phone sitting on his desk, but Oliver closed the distance in two swift steps, his Psi Blade appearing in his hand instantly... And, as Hardeman''s head tumbled to the lushly carpeted floor, Oliver couldn''t help but mutter to himself.
¡°Honestly, I thought that this would be a lot harder.¡±
Chapter 53 – Emergency?
Escaping the Hardeman residence went just as well as the entry had: Oliver simply slipped out the window and dropped to the ground before disappearing into the night. He took the most direct route back to his truck, and, from there, the long way around town in order to avoid any police that were dispatched to his break-in.
He could only chuckle weakly at the situation. His own mind had hyped up dealing with Hardeman, and the whole thing turned out to be little more than a minor annoyance.
Maybe next time he would remember to deal with these minor annoyances before they turn into major problems.
Pulling into Polina''s driveway-his driveway, he reminded himself, seeing as he basically lived here- Oliver put his truck in park and sighed. He wasn''t looking forward to explaining everything to her, but knew he couldn''t just put it off. His secrets had inadvertently caused problems for one of his friends, and the last thing he wanted was for something to happen to Poli... And he was tired of lying and hiding things from her.
Climbing out of the vehicle, Oliver headed towards the side door he liked to use when the piercing wail of a siren blared through his skull. He jumped in surprise, turning to try and pinpoint where the sound came from... When he realized it had all been in his head.
Or, more accurately, it was the system.
Emergency Bounty Issued!
System Issued Local Bounty: Incursion
Objective: Eliminate Hostile Element(s) and secure the Rift
Details:A Rift in reality has been detected, allowing hostile entities from -REDACTED- to enter your reality. These entities are hostile to all known forms of life, and pose an extreme danger to this world. The weakest of these entities possess strength and speed superior to that of most humans and are resistant to physical damage. If left unchecked, an entity will actively hunt and consume living creatures. Once a threshold is reached, the entity will convert all consumed biomass to produce more of its kind. WARNING: The presence of these entities creates a destabilizing effect on reality itself. Once the number of entities present exceeds a critical level, reality will collapse and -REDACTED- will occur, effectively ending all life on the planet. (You really don''t want this to happen, Oli!)
Eliminate hostile entities, secure the rift, and prevent further incursions.
Compensation: 25,000 credits, Pulse Rings(2)
(This Bounty counts towards the number of Local Bounties required to unlock access to Universal Bounties.)
Emergency Bounties cannot be declined.
Host will be transported to the nearest safe location in proximity to the Rift.
Transport will be initiated in 5 seconds.
5...
Oliver blinked dumbly at the system alert. An Emergency Bounty? He had no idea such a thing existed, though that wasn''t really a surprise considering how little he actually knew about the system. And the entities it mentioned... Stronger than a human, faster, tougher... More dangerous, clearly. And they fucked with reality... And could potentially end the world.
4...
Fucking great.
And why the hell were parts of the system message redacted? While the system didn''t always give him clear information, he had never thought it would actively restrict the information he received. Why was the information redacted? Was it really so dangerous that the system didn''t even want him to know about it? What else was the system keeping from him?
3...
But one line stood out from all the others.
(You really don''t want this to happen, Oli!)
It was a direct and personal message... From the system.
2...
It addressed him by name, no less
1...
Was the system sentient? Was it alive?
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Transport initiated.
What the hell was going on? Oliver could only curse softly to himself as space seemed to warp around him.
He would much rather face the difficult conversation with Polina than be thrown head first into trying to prevent the apocalypse.
Oliver staggered as he arrived... Somewhere. Despite the transition being completely smooth and near instantaneous, he was still mildly disoriented. He had no idea where the system had taken him, other than that he was still on Earth. And that he was still in the same hemisphere, considering it was still night wherever he had landed.
He looked around carefully, taking in the older but well maintained gazebo he found himself standing in. A small brick pathway led through a manicured lawn, decorated with several small trees, to the back side of an average looking brick building. A street light on the other side of the building dimly illuminated the area, and allowed Oliver to make out the small plaque displayed prominently just a few feet away.
Pulling his flashlight from the warehouse, he stepped over to the plaque and read it quickly.
¡°Library Park dedicated to... Fuck! Libraries are usually in residential areas.¡±
Turning in a slow circle, Oliver scanned the trees surrounding the library ground. He could barely make out a few houses nearby, thanks only to the lack of leaves from it being winter.
¡°Ok, Oli, think! This is the closest the system could get you... And you need to find these entities, whatever they are, before they start eating people... In a residential neighborhood. Fuck me...¡±
Oliver marched around the library, all of his senses on alert as he searched for any indication on where to go. Aside from a quick scan for any threats, he ignored the well-lit parking lot in front of the building as he hurried past it to the side walk. Turning in a slow circle, he was stumped as to where to go.
The entities, and the Rift, could easily be in the neighborhood behind the library. Or down this road, which a sign helpfully labeled as Main Street, in either direction. Or even somewhere along the road that ran straight ahead, Norris Avenue.
¡°What I wouldn''t give for a quest HUD with a nice little arrow pointing me towards my objective...¡± Oliver muttered quietly. ¡°And why the hell does it smell like shit here!?¡±
Oliver''s nose wrinkled in disgust as he involuntarily took a step back. The putrid scent diminished slightly after a couple steps, and he glanced around for the source. Instead of finding a dead animal or overflowing trashcan, he found... nothing.
Nothing nearby that could possibly cause such a smell.
With a look of deep contemplation, he pinched his nose closed and took a step forward again. Despite being unable to smell, the scent grew stronger again... And, he realized, it wasn''t really a smell at all. It was a feeling. It felt... Oily. Disgusting.
Wrong. And Unnatural.
And another line from the Bounty came to mind.
The presence of these entities creates a destabilizing effect on reality itself.
It seemed obvious, now that he considered it. Raising his Spirit to 20 had allowed him a small glimpse of intuition when he was facing Eve. While it didn''t tell him what she was, somehow he just knew that she wasn''t human.
And this wrongness he ''smelled'' now... was likely one of the entities he was sent here to eliminate. It made sense... And it was basically all he had to go on.
And it was down the street ahead of him.
Knowing it was just a matter of time until the thing started to kill and devour people, Oliver started to jog down the road. As much as he wanted to rush, he had no idea how far away it really was. The last thing he wanted was to arrive too worn down to kill it. Or worse, so worn down that it killed him.
He followed the strange feeling of wrongness as it lead him down the road. He couldn''t pinpoint an exact location, or how far away it was, just that it was ahead of him still. He ignored a side street he passed and was continuing forward when a sense of urgency hit him.
He didn''t know how or why... He just knew he needed to hurry.
Oliver broke into a sprint that could rival nearly any Olympic athlete. His feet pounded across the cracked pavement, the neighborhood completely silent save for his footfalls.
Until a piercing scream from up ahead broke the silence.
He could hear the absolute fear and desperation the feminine voice carried as it echoed down the desolate street to reach him, and Oliver pushed himself even harder. Arms pumping for all he was worth, he reached deep to squeeze out every last drop of speed he could manage.
He may not really care about people most of the time, but a woman''s life was being threatened by a creature beyond her comprehension... And it was his job to deal with it.
Reaching the next corner, Oliver skidded to a stop when another scream echoed out, this time to his left and much closer. As he turned and started running in that direction, the scream turned sharp with pain before it cut off suddenly.
As he ran, Oliver scanned both sides of the street. The strange sixth sense given by his Spirit attribute was going haywire. The feeling of wrongness that he had been following seemed to emanate from a sprawling complex of buildings to his right.
A large parking lot sat out front of the buildings, all of which were a single story and connected to each other by covered walkways. The worn down exterior hinted at the buildings being long abandoned, but none of the regularly spaced glass windows appeared to be broke. Large panes of glass flanked a door that led to a lobby or office area, though the lack of furniture made it difficult to tell.
But, above that front lobby area where a sign would have been, there was the faded outline of letters. Oliver could barely make some of them out, but once he figured those out it became clear: the place use to be a High School.
But, despite the overwhelming sense of wrongness coming from the school, he ignored it in favor of the small echo of the sensation that was coming from across the street- likely one of the entities, if he had to guess.
Turning his head in that direction, he quickly scanned the houses lining the street, searching for an indication of where the creature would be... And found it. While two of the houses appeared to be just as abandoned as the old high school, one was obviously occupied. An older model car parked out front, the well maintained flower bed, painted handrails leading up a couple of steps...
To the broken in front door.
Oliver rushed up the walkway, up the stairs, and leapt over the shattered remains of the door... Into a living room filled with chaos and destruction...
And... Something... standing over the body of an elderly black woman.
Chapter 54 – Living Nightmare
Memories of a dream, half forgotten after more than a month, surged in Oliver''s mind. Images of a burning city, of fleeing for his life as something hunted him. The feelings of fear and panic as he ran through the searing heat... Facing his fear, and the ensuing ambush by a twisted creature.
As the memory of that dream overlaid itself with reality, Oliver recognized this thing, this entity. It wasn''t just similar to the creature from his dream. It was the same. The same twisted features that seemed out of sync with reality. The same palpable aura of wrongness.
The same desire to kill and consume... Not just him, but everything.
The entity was roughly the same size and shape of a man, yet it also wasn''t. While his mind insisted that it was, he could sense a weight to its presence. Like part of it existed beyond what his eyes could see.
Pale white skin shone in the dim light of the ruined home. It was completely nude, though that hardly mattered as the thing was obviously sexless- it reminded Oliver vaguely of some sort of alien action figure. Long, razor sharp claws extended from its fingers and toes and black, needle like teeth glinted wickedly in its gaping maw.
But it was the lack of eyes- the lack of ears or any apparent sensory organ- that disturbed him more... Especially when its head immediately snapped around to focus on him, somehow sensing his presence without any obvious means.
Oliver could feel his adrenaline spike as his fight-or-flight response kicked in... and he charged at the creature.
Manifesting his Psi Blade, he slashed at the creature, only for it to dart back with alarming speed. The light flashed on its claws as it lunged at him, instantly pushing Oliver on the defensive. When the first claw passed, he wanted to counter, only quickly shift his attack to a block as the second clawed hand swung wildly at his head... And the impact shocked him in more than one way.
The creature was strong, definitely stronger than him... But, worse yet... His Psi Blade, which had so easily cut through Hardeman''s spine, was stopped dead by the claws like it struck steel.
Leaping back before the creature could overpower his block, Oliver switched up his strategy. While the creature was clearly stronger and faster, his blade gave him much greater reach. He kept his movements small and controlled, punishing the creatures aggression with a number of stabs and cuts, but never leaving himself open for a sudden lunge from the creature... But, while that brought the fight back to even, it wasn''t a winning move.
All the wounds he had managed to leave on the thing were shallow... And, as they fought, he saw them slowly closing over as the creature healed.
And, when Oliver''s back slammed into a wall, he realized he had fucked up. He was too unfamiliar with the space they were fighting in, and being constantly pushed back made it harder to watch were he was going.
The creature, sensing the opening, lunged at him in a frenzy. Oliver brought up blade, leveling the point at the thing''s chest, and let its own moment drive the blade straight through... Only for it to ignore the hole being punched through it, driving itself further onto the sword as it lashed out at him.
Releasing his hold on the Psi Blade, Oliver barely managed to avoid having his head taken off by dropping to a knee. As the blade dissipated into motes of mental energy, he lunged to his feet, driving a fist into the stomach of the monster... And winced when it felt like punching a brick wall.
A backhand slap caught Oliver in the side, launching him across the room with a grunt of pain. Tumbling across the shattered furniture, he could feel it as his armor, Lita, warded off dozens shards and splinters that would have left him bloody. Before he could regain his feet, the creature was nearly on him as it actually leapt clear across the room.
Rolling frantically aside, Oliver winced at the grinding pain in his chest even as he hurriedly pushed himself to his feet to square off with the creature again.
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¡°Fucking asshole cracked a rib...¡±
The creature ignored his words, likely not understanding them at all. Its purpose was to hunt, to kill. It had no need for words.
Stalking closer, the creature hesitated for a moment as Oliver reformed his Psi Blade, the wound on its chest leaking a black, tar like blood. And, he was relieved to see, the creature moved a little slower now.
He was even more relieved by the fact that its flesh wasn''t nearly as tough as its claws.
¡°Strong... Fast... But smart enough to recognize a threat...¡± Oliver mutter to himself. Shaking his head minutely, he smirked as he corrected himself. ¡°Not smart... More like animal cunning, right? You recognize what hurt you, but don''t have deeper thoughts than that.¡±
The creature continued to stalk closer as a plan form in Oliver''s mind. He watched as its muscles tense, readying to pounce... But Oliver acted first.
Before it could jump, Oliver dropped his blade and pulled the shotgun from his warehouse as he cast the only spell he knew- Blood Aura. He was surprised when the creature flinched, though he imagined having part of your blood and life ripped from you would do that. He suppressed a grimace, as the life pulled from the thing still carried that same oily wrongness.
Pulling the gun tight to his shoulder, he aimed for center mass and squeezed the trigger. Chunks of skin and flesh were carved from the things torso, and Oliver frowned at how little damage it really did... Until he remembered that the thing was resistant to physical damage.
With a grunt of annoyance, he fired again and again, driving the creature back even as he marched towards it. Mirroring when it was pushing him around, it''s back slammed into a wall, and Oliver fired a shot point-blank into its chest, stunning it.
Dropping the gun, he hurriedly formed the Psi Blade once more and struck. The creature''s clawed hands came up, instinctively protecting its head... But Oliver aimed lower. Much lower.
A vicious grin spread across his face as the blade sheared through the creatures knee, sending it toppling to the floor. It quickly tried to scramble up on three limbs, but Oliver didn''t relent. Powerful swings of the blade rained down on the creature, carving chunks from it over and over until he managed to lop off a hand.
Then the other leg. And, just to be safe, the remaining hand.
With the creature laying helpless before him, Oliver didn''t hesitate to cut off its head. Then, to be extra sure, he rammed his blade through the open mouth and up to where its brain should be... He hoped.
¡°Fuck... Do these things have a brain like people do? And is it even in their head? I... ah, fuck it.¡±
With a hiss of displeasure, he proceeded to dismantle the thing piece by piece, cutting it into more than a dozen parts. When his sword suddenly became stuck while cutting through the torso again, he cursed while violently yanking it free... Only to scowl in confusion when it came free coated in a disgusting tar-like substance. When he returned his focus to the creature''s corpse, he understood why...
It was rapidly dissolving right before his eyes. Bit by bit, the creature slowly melted until nothing but a black stain was left spread across the beige carpet.
Dismissing his Psi Blade and deactivating the Blood Aura, Oliver sagged in relief. The system had told him this thing would be dangerous, and he now understood exactly how bad it was... And, if he was interpreting the message correctly, this creature was considered the weakest of what could come through one of these rifts.
Shaking his head, he knew he wasn''t done yet. He still needed to find the rift and make sure nothing else came out of it.
But there was one more thing before he went in search of the rift.
Standing over the body of the elderly home owner, Oliver bowed his head to her.
¡°I know it''s not my fault you died. And, honestly, I''m not really bothered by it.¡±
¡°But you didn''t deserve to die like this. Filled with horror and fear as a creature not of this world tried to eat you... It''s fucked up.¡±
¡°And I''m sorry you had to face something like that.¡±
With a sigh, Oliver grumbled to himself. ¡°Maybe if I wasn''t forced to grope blindly for answers... Or if the system gave me a little more information... I could have gotten here quicker.¡±
¡°Maybe whoever slipped that little message into the bounty is listening and will cough up a couple of fucking answers?¡± He mused, not knowing if there even was a person behind it, or if they were listening... Or if they would answer.
Not fucking knowing was starting to annoy him.
Chapter 55 – Does that make me crazy?
Standing outside the abandoned high school, Oliver could feel the rift somewhere inside. Rather than emanating from a specific point, the sense of wrongness seemed to blanket the area like a fog of corruption. His ''sixth sense'', being new and strange to him still, was thrown into chaos the moment he set foot on the property.
¡°I guess I have to search the hard way...¡± Oliver sighed, only to wince at the stabbing pain in his chest. ¡°I am not looking forward to fighting another of those things, especially with a cracked rib.¡±
He hesitated only for a second before stepping through the broken window-likely the exit point of the creature he killed- and into the front entry of the school. There wasn''t much he could do about the injury, anyway. And he could deal with the pain... As long as he was careful to protect his injured side. The last thing he wanted was punctured lung. Or worse.
Mentally shaking off the stray thought, Oliver focused on his surroundings. The entry was laid out much as he expected. A desk arced out from the wall to his left, likely where a secretary or some sort of administrator sat to welcome people. Behind it was a row of offices- though they lacked any nameplates, he imaged they were for the Principal and other administrators.
Oliver eased open the door to the first office, tense and ready to react in an instant. His eyes scanned the empty room quickly before he closed the door. Pulling a black marker from the warehouse,
he drew a quick ''X'' on the door to help him track what rooms he had cleared before moving on to the next office.
Zigzagging his way down the hall, Oliver checked and marked every door he came to. Most were completely barren, having been cleaned out when the school closed. A few had remnants left from more recent visitors- beer bottles, discarded needles, a tattered sleeping bag, and even a lone shoe... Things discarded or lost by transients, or teenagers that just wanted a place to party.
Reaching the center of the building where the hall he was in intersected another, Oliver glanced in each direction as he considered which way to go. Nothing stood out in particular, so he turned left without hesitation.
¡°Always go left in the dungeon... I hope video game logic helps me out here...¡± He muttered to himself.
Oliver was on the last pair of rooms along this stretch of hall, near where another set of doors led out to a walkway between buildings, when an ear piercing shriek cut through the air. His vision wavered for a moment as the unnatural sound seemed to strike directly at his soul. Pushing away the sensation with a shake of his head, Oliver turned to face back down the hall where the sound had come from.
Past the intersection he was at just a few minutes before, all the way at the end of the hall, another entity rounded a corner.
Staring at the creature from a couple hundred feet, Oliver was surprised- not by the presence of another creature, but by the shriek it had let loose. The one he had fought before hadn''t made a single sound, not even when he drove his blade through it''s chest or shot it. Was this a different type of creature? It looked nearly identical to the other one, so maybe they just have some small variances in their behavior?
The creature opened its mouth to shriek again, but Oliver was prepared this time. A small shudder ran down his spine as the sound crashed down on him, but he was otherwise unaffected... And, when its scream didn''t seem to bother him, the creature charged.
Expecting the incredible speed of the creature, Oliver reacted instantly. His favorite gun, the FAL, appeared in his hands as he dropped to a knee to help steady his shot... And more easily line up his target. As the gap between them closed, he held his breath for a split second and gently squeezed the trigger.
A victorious smirk flashed across his face at the shot, his bullet catching the creature in its leading leg mid-step. The damage was obviously less than it would have been on a person... But even these ridiculously strong creatures couldn''t ignore physics. This one couldn''t, at least.
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The impact managed to drive the leg out from under it, sending the creature tumbling head over heels. Somehow, the thing''s ridiculous agility and speed allowed it to turn the tumble into a roll.
Still off balance from the unexpected acrobatics, it wasn''t prepared for Oliver''s assault. The rifle disappeared and was immediately replaced by the Psi Blade. Seeing the creature unable to mount a proper defense, he lunged forward. Despite the grinding pain in his side, it was a textbook thrust. His blade pierced through where the eyes should have been on the creature, and it instantly collapsed.
Still, he dismembered the corpse to be safe.
¡°Sorry, I''ve watched too many zombie movies not to double tap... Err, not really a double tap, since I''m using a sword.¡±
¡°Why the hell am I talking to a monster corpse?¡±
Oliver paused at the sheer ridiculousness of the moment before shrugging it off. He knew it was likely just the stress and tension of the situation bleeding off, but it didn''t really matter.
At least he had a bit more direction now. He really doubted the creature had just been wandering aimlessly around the abandoned building. The first one didn''t have a problem getting out and finding someone to prey on, after all. Maybe they sense people the way he had sensed them? That felt right, as they clearly didn''t have eyes or ears...
A worrying thought came to his mind... The persistent aura of wrongness was messing with his sense of things... but he doubted it hindered them at all.
They could sense him, but he couldn''t sense them.
After the shrieks of the last creature, and the ensuing fight, the silence felt oppressive. Psi Blade in hand, Oliver cautiously made his way to the corner the creature had come from. Rounding the corner, he saw more of the same: rows of classroom doors on either side of the hall, all of them closed.
He nearly cursed aloud when a thought hit him: the creatures didn''t know how to open doors.
The door to the home where he fought the first one was broken in, but that could be excused as it having been locked. But the broken window at the front entry? The doors may have been locked, but they weren''t chained... And school doors could always be opened from the inside because of fire codes.
Just to be sure, Oliver hurried back to one of the exterior doors. With a single push on the bar, he heard the click of the lock disengaging and the door swung open. Hurriedly pulling the door closed again, he glanced around to make sure another creature wasn''t sneaking up on him.
¡°Ok, so closed doors probably don''t hide the Rift. This lack of information is killing me... Hopefully not literally, though. That would suck.¡±
With a shake of his head, Oliver marched down the hall again. Without having to check every door he came across, it only took a few minutes to find the Rift- the shattered doors were a clear sign he was in the right place.
His eyes were immediately drawn to the jagged tear in reality itself. Eerie purplish light seemed to leak from the edges of the hole in space. It hovered just above the floor, and was only about four feet tall. Perhaps two feet at its widest, it narrowed to ragged points at the top and bottom. It seemed to pulse rhythmically, like a heartbeat... Or blood pumping through a festering wound.
Oliver''s vision began to dim, and he could hear whispers in the distance that didn''t make sense. Crazed rants and manic chants, nonsensical words strung together into the gibbering clamor of insanity...
Tearing his gaze away from the Rift, he heaved a deep breath and let the pain from his broken rib ground him firmly in reality once more.
¡°If you gaze for long into an abyss...¡±
Oliver trembled with fear for a moment. The crazy fight in the library to protect Sophia, facing off against a vampire, even dealing with the entities for this Bounty... None of it had truly gotten to him like seeing the Rift.
Worse yet, he couldn''t even truly call it madness. It was destruction. It wanted to destroy and consume everything, even his mind.
Even his soul.
And it was sitting smack in the middle of a high school gym.
He would have laughed if it hadn''t shaken him so badly.
Chapter 56 – Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Oliver was on edge. Nothing had come out of the Rift in over an hour... But just being near the Rift left him with a feeling of unease. The fact that he could only watch it out of the corner of his eye, out of fear of the effect it had on his mind when he looked at it directly, only magnified the sensation.
Several times he thought he saw motion out of the corner of his eye, only for it to be a trick of the shifting internal light of the Rift... And, for a moment, he wondered if there was some intelligence behind it. Did the Rift''s light move and change deliberately to attract the gaze? It was almost like a psychic attack every time he looked at it...
Or was it just a side effect of the unnatural aperture?
He wasn''t sure that he was ready for answers to those questions... Or that he even wanted them...
Oliver shook off the stray thoughts to refocus on what mattered- getting the job done. He was here to secure the Rift and keep the creatures from coming through, and that''s what he intended to do. And while he could accomplish that by just waiting here and killing anything that came out... He wanted a better way. An easier way.
He was just struggling to find one.
Oliver stood near the doorway he came in through, and looked around the gym as he considered the problem. His eyes skittered uneasily past the Rift which sat directly in front of him, dead center of the basketball court with nothing but open floor for dozens of feet around it. To his left and right were rows of bleachers littered with dust from years of disuse. On the wall opposite, he saw a pair of doors, one at each end of the gym, with faded sides clearly labeling them as locker rooms.
None of which helped him with his task. Even the offices and classrooms he had passed lacked any sort of furniture.
¡°A couple of desks would have been nice... Just set them up as a crude barricade around the Rift to slow the fuckers down some...Maybe I should start carrying cinder blocks in the warehouse. Or, better yet, lumber. I''ve already got tools, and some nails left from commissions, so I could have just built something to-¡± He muttered to himself in frustration before pausing, and idea quickly forming.
With one more glance at the Rift, he hurried out of the gym and back down the hall. Pulling his tool kit out of the warehouse, he grinned as he snatched up the screwdriver and got to work.
The doors may be old, but they were still solid.
It was the work of only a minute before he had the first door off its hinges and was hustling it back to the gym. His gaze swept across the room quickly to be sure nothing had come through in his short absence, and he dropped the door near the Rift before hurrying back for another. Back and forth he went, always double checking that the gym was still empty between trips, until he had eight doors laid out before the twisted portal.
Pulling the hammer and nails from the warehouse, he froze in place as a sound echoed down the hall to him. Ears straining to make out what had caught his attention, he cursed softly when realization struck him-voices!
Someone was coming, and he could just barely hear them talking softly.
Hastily tossing his tools back in the warehouse, he scurried over to the bleachers. Moving carefully, he clambered up them, every squeak and groan of the aged wood making him grimace. He had no idea who would be here, especially this late at night, but he definitely didn''t want to draw their attention.
Perched at the top of the bleachers, near the door but out of direct line of sight, Oliver took slow, controlled breaths as he listened to the voices draw closer.
¡°-probably just teenagers.¡±
¡°If it was teenagers, why did they break the window out instead of in? And they would have used a brick or something to break it, but there wasn''t one there.¡±
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¡°Maybe they used a bat and took it with them?¡±
¡°I mean... Yeah, maybe. Still doesn''t look right. We were told to check it out, so that''s what we''re doing. And don''t forget that someone reported gunshots, so keep an eye out Ry.¡±
¡°Yeah, I hear you. But Lou already found shell casings at that house, so we know where the shooting happened. I wonder why that tar was all over everything... Man, it smelled like shit in there.¡±
Oliver cursed silently to himself. How could he forget to clean up after himself like that? Yeah, he was more than a little thrown off after fighting a monster that easily qualified as nightmare fuel. But that was just sloppy and he knew it.
At least he always wore gloves when handling his guns and ammo so he wouldn''t leave any fingerprints... Though, now that he thought about it, he had gotten the ammo from those racist assholes he had killed... And he doubted they had worn gloves when handling anything. The thought of all this being linked to some dead hate group multiple states away was almost funny... But it would definitely raise a lot of questions.
At least none of it would lead to him, he consoled himself.
The voices trailed off, and their footsteps stopped, outside the gym door. Oliver imagined they were looking over the shattered remains of the door-which was quickly confirmed by the talkative one of the pair.
¡°What the hell? I don''t think some kids did this, Beau. Maybe some junkie, high out of his mind...¡±
The crunch of boots on the broken wood signaled the pairs cautious advance. Oliver leaned out just enough to watch as two uniformed men crossed the threshold into the room. He couldn''t make out much about them in the dim light of the gym aside from them both being a bit older. The closer of the two was a heavier white man with a slight hunch to his back, while the his partner was a thin black man. Oliver immediately pegged the black officer as the serious one, Beau, as he was the one with his gun already in hand and ready.
But, after taking just one step into the room, both men froze and stared in horror.
Oliver knew it was because of the Rift, but still it confused him. The gym was at the end of the hall. They should have seen the glowing purple hole in reality from much further back... But, he quickly realized, he hadn''t noticed the Rift until after he entered the gym himself...
He cursed quietly, knowing the effect it was having on them. He knew that if he did nothing, the cops would suffer-and possibly go insane. Or die, for all he really knew about the situation.
And, while he didn''t want to get mixed up with the police- especially when he had no idea how long this job would take, he knew he couldn''t just leave them to whatever torment this unnatural thing was causing.
Plus, if they just went missing then other police would come searching for them.
Jumping down from the bleachers, Oliver didn''t hesitate. With a single hand to each of their chest, he roughly shoved them back out the door. While the one he thought was ''Ry'' tumbled to the floor where he curled up and began to sob, Beau simply staggered back several steps before steadying himself against the wall.
Oliver was actually impressed with how quickly the man recovered as, after shaking his head roughly, the officer''s eyes cleared and his gun snapped up to point at Oliver.
¡°H-hands where I can see them!¡± Beau exclaimed with only a slight tremor in his voice.
''Pretty impressive Willpower.'' Oliver thought to himself, before an idle thought flitted through his mind. ''Is it Willpower that helps resist it? Or does Spirit play into it somewhere?''
Pushing those questions to the back of his mind, Oliver slowly raised his hands and refocused on his current problem. He couldn''t allow the officers to come back in, as that likely wouldn''t end well for them. But he also doubted he could easily put them off, especially after what they had just seen... And, while one of them had clearly been taken out by the effects of the Rift, the other was most likely going to be a problem...
What the hell could he say to regain control of the situation? Not only had this officer just seen something straight out of a nightmare, but now he was facing down a masked man in black clothing... But a masked man was something he had been trained for, and something he could focus on rather than thinking about the thing he had just seen...
¡°Get down on the ground. Now! Do it slowly!¡± Beau huffed out between panted breaths.
Hands still raised, Oliver sighed softly at the mess he was in. ¡°Sorry Officer. I know you''ve got a job to do, but so do I. And that-¡± He hooked a thumb over his shoulder slowly. ¡°-is my job.¡±
Beau''s flinch and shaking hands made Oliver tense, worried he was about to be shot again. Slowly the officer''s hands steadied, but Oliver spoke on before the man could try to reassert his authority. ¡°No, don''t argue. You saw it; It''s real. And it''s not something you, or your department, can handle. What you need to do-¡±
His words were interrupted by a hellish screech, one which Oliver instantly recognized.
Another creature was coming through the Rift, and the timing couldn''t be worse. He hadn''t finished his little improvised barrier and he still had the cops to deal with.
''And protect.'' He amended to himself with a glance at the one sobbing on the floor.
¡°Fuck me...¡±
Chapter 57 – Tis but a Scratch!
¡°Grab your partner and get the hell out of here!¡±
Oliver didn''t take the time to see if the officer listened, as he immediately turned and rushed back into the gym. With one of them badly shaken and the other near senseless on the floor, they were easy prey for the creature. Even if he was willing to let them die, which he wasn''t particularly inclined towards as they were just doing their job, doing so could cause more problems- the system prompt specifically said that these creatures eat people to produce more of their kind.
And he definitely didn''t want to try to fight two at once.
His face twisted in disgust and horror at the sight that greeted him on crossing the threshold into the gym. Purple glowing light flashed as the Rift pulsed and contracted. With each contraction, the creature within was pushed closer and closer to the nightmarish aperture until it fell to the floor with a wet sounding ''plop'', despite the lack of moisture anywhere nearby. It reminded Oliver of a birthing video he had watched for an anatomy class, but twisted and wrong.
An image Oliver instantly wish he could scrub from his mind.
The creature flopped awkwardly on the floor in an uncoordinated heap, and Oliver saw the opportunity for what it was. He had no idea what things were like on the other side of the Rift, but it was clear the creatures needed a moment to adjust to this reality before they could function. Oliver practically flew over the gym floor, his Psi Blade appearing in his hands as he closed the distance. Every second, the creature adapted and grew more coordinated.
Twenty feet: the creature rolled over onto its side.
Fifteen feet: it flopped onto its stomach.
Ten feet: it managed to get its arms and legs underneath it.
Five feet: the creature pushed itself up to a crouch.
Oliver lunged forward, wind whistling from the speed of his blade passing as he sought to end the fight before it even began. Black, tar like blood splattered across the floor. With a small thud the severed hand hit the floor as the creature rolled away from the nearly lethal strike.
Chasing after the creature as it awkwardly rolled to its feet, he swung again and again. The ungainly creature was forced to dodge and tumble, constantly being pushed back. Cut after cut marred its pale flesh, and, for a moment, Oliver was thrilled at finally being the aggressor in the cat-and-mouse game he had been forced into with these creatures...
Then he saw his advantage slowly slipping away.
With every bumbling roll or graceless dodge, the wounds he was causing were shallower. The creature was adapting far more rapidly than he had expected. It had already reached the point where the loss of a hand was the only thing truly keeping their fight even. ''I need to change things up and regain the upper hand before-''
¡°What the hell is that!?¡±
Oliver''s thought was interrupted by the shout, and his head snapped over to the gym door where it came from... And he immediately knew that he had fucked up. That brief moment of distraction was too much, as the creature went on the offensive. Its remaining clawed hand lashed out at his chest, and Oliver pivoted in an attempt to avoid it. He could feel as his armor, Lita, resisted the razor sharp claws, slowing them just enough that the attack skittered across his ribs and left three deep gouges.
Instead of ripping out his heart, like the monster intended.
Backing away from the creature, he shot a glare over its shoulder at Officer Beau before snapping at the man. ¡°Get the fuck out of here you IDIOT!¡±
With the creature lunging and swiping at him, he couldn''t afford to split his attention anymore. Left hand pressed hard against the bleeding wounds, he wove a frantic defense against the creatures attacks. The clang and clash of blade against claws rang out a discordant symphony...
''Or a dirge.'' Oliver thought to himself grimly.
He didn''t expect the accompanying percussion, though he hardly considered a pistol to be a musical instrument.
A gunshot rang out, and barely staggered the creature. But it was enough. Oliver feinted at the creature, causing it to skip back and giving him a chance to stabilize himself. It hunched forward as though preparing to pounce, not even flinching when the next shot shaved a chunk off its back.
''And why should it?'' Oliver mused. ''Those bullets are doing less to it than my Psi Blade.''
The sudden impact and piercing pain in his shoulder sent him stumbling back, and he lost his grip on the blade in surprise.
Sensing weakness, the creature pounced.
Teeth gritted in pain and frustration, Oliver found the situation reversed once again as he took the creature''s place awkwardly tumbling around the gym floor just to stay alive. Panic and desperation grew in his heart along side the number of cuts across his body. All the while, gunshots continued to ring out.
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Oliver cursed aloud when he realized that the cop was reloading!
And cursed again when the idiot actually helped him.
A shot to the head must have temporarily disoriented the creature, as its next pounce was off a couple feet to the side-right into the concrete wall. Rolling to his feet, Oliver pulled the shotgun from the system warehouse, raised it to his shoulder, and pulled the trigger. He roared in anger and pain as the gun kicked against his wounded shoulder. Then he shot it again. And again. When the creature opened its mouth to shriek at him, he jammed the barrel into its mouth and pulled the trigger.
The back of its head being blown out surprised him enough that he almost dropped the gun.
¡°So your insides aren''t quite as durable, eh? Good to know.¡± He nearly groaned.
Reforming the Psi Blade, Oliver grimaced. He had burned through more than half his Psi already, and had no idea how long this job would last... And he wasn''t sure exactly how fast his Psi would recover. A night of sleep would recover all of it, but he doubted he would get much sleep for now.
¡°A couple points an hour, I think? It was something like that when I tested it... So, something like six hours, give or take. Fuck, why didn''t I keep notes?¡± He muttered to himself as he decapitated the creature.
Dismissing the Psi Blade, he reloaded the shotgun and stored it away again. It had already saved his ass twice, and possibly would again, so he didn''t want to take the chance of forgetting his shot count if things turned rough once more.
Now that the creature was dead, he needed to take stock of his injuries... And figure out what happened to his shoulder, though he already had a guess.
Lita peeled back from the wound slowly, and Oliver could see it wasn''t very deep. He could even make out, just barely, the deformed bullet buried in his flesh. With a glance at the dissolving creature, he could easily imagine what happened- the cop either shot him by mistake, or an unlucky ricochet. Probably a ricochet, and Lita had managed to slow it down more so it wasn''t as bad.
It sucked either way. And it hurt, but the pain he could mostly ignore.
Looking around, he easily found the cop. Wide eyed and gun still shaking, Oliver was amazed that the man had managed to hit anything... And thankful that he hadn''t been shot more.
¡°You mind putting the gun away? I really don''t want to get shot again.¡±
Oliver''s voice was soft, almost sympathetic. While he didn''t really mind facing off against a monster straight out of a nightmare, he could only imagine the effect it had on someone else- after all, he was pretty messed up in the head and knew it, but other people didn''t have that particular advantage... Or disadvantage, depending on the situation.
He felt it was definitely an advantage in this situation.
Beau twitched but didn''t fire again. Slowly he lowered the gun, his mouth working soundlessly as he struggled to find the words. After a moment, he blurted out, ¡°What the hell was that?¡±
¡°Let''s step out in the hall to talk, ok? No! Don''t look over there!¡± Oliver brought the officer up short as the man had started to turn towards the Rift again in his shock. ¡°That thing will fuck with your head, and I think you''ve had enough of that already, right? So lets just calmly step out and talk.¡±
''I don''t think you''ll like this conversation, though.'' Oliver thought to himself.
Oliver leaned against the wall, gently smearing antiseptic cream into the numerous cuts he had gained during the fight, while Officer beau checked on his partner. The man wasn''t sobbing anymore, but it was clear it would take a while for him to recover.
At least he thought the man would recover. He couldn''t really be sure.
¡°What the hell was that? What is going on? And who the hell are you?¡±
Oliver sighed and turned his attention to the officer who was simultaneously a huge pain in the ass and actually fairly impressive- his resolve was impressive, that is. His help... Less so, though he did manage to help, Oliver begrudgingly admitted. A little.
¡°You''re not going to like the answers-¡±
¡°Don''t tell me what-¡±
¡°Don''t interrupt. Just listen.¡± The officer flinched at the cold tone of his voice and closed his mouth, though the glare he directed at him was intense. Oliver sighed and softened his tone a bit. ¡°Look, I get it. You take your job seriously. But you just got slapped in the face with something crazy. Something you don''t understand.¡±
¡°Then you look at the masked guy in front of you that looks like a criminal and think ''I know how to handle this, at least''... But, I hate to tell you, this whole night is beyond you. Sorry, but fighting monsters is kinda beyond most people.¡±
¡°Monsters aren''t real.¡± Officer Beau scoffed weakly. When Oliver just waved vaguely at the gym behind him, the man flinched before seeming to rally himself. ¡°Then... Then we need to call for backup. Or the army or something!¡±
Oliver smacked away the hand reaching for a radio and shook his head sternly. ¡°Stop and think about it for a second. First off, do you really think anyone will believe this shit? You get on the radio to tell your boss that there are monsters here and you''ll be out of a job in seconds.¡±
¡°Maybe they will say its drugs, or a nervous breakdown.¡±
¡°Second... Even if someone believed you, how long would it take for the army to get here? Or even enough reinforcements to matter? Your pistol barely annoyed the thing. A rifle or shotgun hurts it-a little- but those things are hard to put down. And, as you saw, those things are faster and stronger than most people can handle. How many of your people do you think it would go through before you manage to stop it? If you managed to stop it at all.¡±
The officer seemed to deflate as fear and confusion set in. ¡°Then... Then what...¡±
Oliver awkwardly patted the man on the shoulder to console him. ¡°Like I said, I get it. You became a cop to help people, to protect them from the bad guys. But in this situation... The only thing you can do is take your partner, get out of here, and tell them that it was just some random vandalism. Maybe post up outside to keep people away until the broken window can be covered.¡±
¡°Then you try to forget everything that happened here.¡±
¡°Just forget all of this?¡± Beau asked, bewildered.
Oliver shrugged. ¡°What else can you do? At least you know there are people that actually can fight these monsters... And hopefully you''ll take me at my word when I say that I don''t think shit like this is very common. That''s not much comfort, I''m sure, but it''s all you''ve got.¡±
Beau nodded in resignation. As he stood to gather up his partner, he glanced at the multitude of wounds the masked man was just starting to bandage. ¡°Could you even fight another of those things right now?¡±
Oliver waved dismissively. ¡°I''ve had worse... I think...¡±
Chapter 58 – Waiting
Four doors, laid on their sides and nailed together to form a simple box around the Rift, wasn''t a very impressive barrier. Even after Oliver nailed an extra door on each side to double the thickness and used 50lb bags of rice to anchor the corners, he doubted it would stand up to much... And since it was only three feet tall, it wouldn''t be difficult for one of the creatures to simply jump over it.
But with them coming out weak and disoriented, it proved to be enough.
Several hours passed before another of the entities was ejected from the Rift. Before it could even stagger to its feet, it was promptly beheaded. An hour later, Oliver repeated the process once more as another creature came out.
When another flopped awkwardly out of the Rift just minutes later, Oliver was take by surprise. With how spread out there arrivals had been before, he had taken a moment to rest and grab a snack... But when the creature stumbled to its feet and immediately tripped over the barrier, he was there to kill it before it recovered.
¡°I guess they can just pop out whenever...¡± He grumbled under his breath.
He eyed the Rift for a moment, confirming his growing suspicion: it was shrinking. It hadn''t been obvious at first as the process had been too slow to notice. But after almost eight hours, the difference was clear- especially with his improvised barrier nearby for reference.
¡°Now I just need to measure... And calculate... Without touching the damn thing. Or looking at it too closely, or for too long.¡± He sighed.
It had already been a long day-a long couple of days, really- and a long night when he was suddenly whisked away for this Emergency Bounty. Grabbing Hardeman''s goons, dealing with Hardeman himself, and then fighting several of these creatures... He was tired. And now he was trying to figure out a way to track how quickly an evil inter-dimensional portal was closing.
Or how slowly it was closing, which seemed more accurate to him at the moment.
Grabbing another door and standing it upright inside his barrier before nailing it in place was an ugly solution, but he could live with ugly if it worked. With the door set side by side with the Rift, it was easy to draw a pair of lines using the marker he carried: One at the top of the Rift and one at the bottom.
An uneventful hour later came the second set of marks. Then the third set after another quiet hour.
¡°Roughly an inch an hour... And the damn thing is still three feet tall. I''ve been here ten hours and I''m stuck baby sitting it for another day and a half!¡± He swore to himself before pausing, a thought flashed across his mind.
¡°Those things are roughly my size, so they shouldn''t be able to squeeze through once it is under two feet... Unless there is some magic fuckery.¡± He sighed while shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, better expect some bullshit magic.¡±
Oliver waited, expecting more creatures to come through... Or for more idiots to show up and complicate things. But no more creatures showed up, and neither did the officers he dealt with earlier. Or any of their law enforcement buddies. Not even a curious teenager.
Just silence. And waiting.
The constant tension of waiting for the other shoe to drop wore on him. After a few hours of nothing happening, Oliver grabbed two more doors from down the hall and replaced the shattered gym doors. Then he boarded them up from the inside, just in case.
He waited.
The Rift shrank.
And he waited more.
Oliver resisted the temptation to play a game on his phone to pass the time, not wanting to be distracted if something happened. As time wore on and he grew more exhausted, he pulled an energy drink from the system warehouse and sipped on it slowly.
Twelve hours... Sixteen... Twenty... A full day passed. Still nothing.
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¡°Half a day. Just twelve hours. And I''ll be done here.¡± He huffed tiredly. ¡°Fuck, this is boring. Better than fighting for my life, I guess.¡±
Oliver paced sluggishly around the gym, glancing occasionally in the direction of the Rift. By this point, it had shrunk to the point he doubted a beach ball could pass through it... Assuming there wasn''t any sort of magic involved. Not an assumption he was willing to risk making after everything he had seen and experienced.
He paused to lean against the doors with a sigh. The fear and tension had kept him going at first, but he had quickly reached the point where all of that had washed away due to sheer boredom- and, perhaps, a touch of exhaustion. Sheer willpower, and a touch of stubbornness, kept him going as the hours dragged on.
With another glance at the Rift, fear and adrenaline surged through his body as he saw something new.
An eye.
Staring unblinkingly through the Rift was an eye, massive beyond his comprehension.
Staring at him.
Oliver forced down the horror and revulsion the eye evoked within him as he tore his gaze away. Collapsing onto the bleachers nearby, he gasped for breath as he struggled to focus. Shaky hands pulled the FAL from the warehouse, and he aimed it vaguely in the direction of the eye without looking.
And he waited for something to come out and attack him again.
And waited.
And waited.
Oliver heaved a sigh of relief when the Rift finally disappeared. Fighting with creatures from nightmare was bad enough, he had no desire to face the massive eye-or whatever it belonged to. He was just glad the whole thing was over.
A small smile crossed his face as the system chimed.
Emergency Local Bounty: Incursion completed.
Processing reward...
25,000 credits have been deposited.
Pulse Rings(2) have been placed in the System Warehouse.
(Thank you, Oli. We will talk soon. Hopefully.)
Return transportation will be initiated in 5 seconds.
Oliver grunted softly at the completion message, unsure of how he felt. Aside from the early troubles against the creatures, the job had been fairly easy. And boring. But after fighting the creatures, dealing with the strange mental impact of the Rift, and whatever the eye had been... He wasn''t sure if he thought the reward too little or too much.
And the strange message, tacked on to the end like an afterthought... It was obvious that someone was communicating with him through the system. Or some thing, he supposed. He couldn''t rule out the possibility it was some weird alien or hyper advanced artificial intelligence.
Still, they were talking to him. Sort of. And now he had even more questions.
And he had a feeling he would be waiting a while for answers.
Quickly putting away his gun, he ignored the rewards from the Bounty and the countdown to be transported in favor of one more quick scan of the area- He didn''t want to leave so much as a hammer or shell casing behind if he could help it.
¡°Fuck this place.¡±
As the countdown ended, his tired smile was wiped away in an instant.
He still had a conversation with Polina ahead of him... And he was still dirty, bloody, cut, bruised... With a bullet hole in his shoulder and a cracked rib. Suddenly, he wasn''t so eager to leave.
For once, Oliver was thankful for the weird timing of the Bounty. While it had sucked to be snatched up in the middle of the night, sent off to fight literal monsters, then guarding a freaky hell portal for two days... Being returned in the middle of the night at least gave him hope that he could sneak in and clean up before anyone noticed his current state. Especially Polina.
A hope that was instantly dashed when he came face-to-face with his girlfriend upon easing open the side door.
¡°Oli, Thank God! I''ve worried sick waiting for you; why haven''t you been responding to my texts or calls?¡± She exclaimed as she rushed up to hug him, the fear and worry that lined her face melted away at the sight of him.
When he grunted in pain at the tight embraced, she quickly pushed him back to arms length. Her eyes went wide in alarm as she finally took a moment to look him over.
¡°What happened to you Oli? Wait, are those bandages!? Is that BLOOD!?¡±
Oliver would have slumped in dismay if it wasn''t for his aching ribs. He should have expected her to be waiting- and worried. It was in her nature to worry when it came to the people she cared about.
That, or the Universe decided to throw him another curve ball.
¡°I guess our conversation is happening tonight, Isn''t it?¡±
Postlude – Raise a Little Hell
¡°Mr. Mittens! Where are you baby?¡±
The little old lady shuffled through her house carefully, her fuzzy slippers never more than an inch from the floor, as she searched for her cat. All of his usual spots- the back of the couch, the kitchen rug warmed by the afternoon sun, and the mantle where her husband''s urn rested- sat empty.
An uncommon occurrence, but not entirely unexpected. Mr. Mittens liked to ramble, after all.
Before she could resort to the rather drastic measure of checking under the bed or behind other furniture, the doorbell rang.
¡°Just a second!¡± She huffed as she abandoned the search for the errant feline.
Swinging the door open slowly, she adjusted her glasses and squinted through the thick lenses at the stranger on her front step. Tall, dark haired, and well dressed- the man cut an impressive figure.
¡°Can I help you?¡±
A broad smile crossed the man''s face, warm and friendly. A predatory gleam flashed across his eyes, there and gone before the woman''s poor vision could even register it.
¡°Mrs. Miranda Walters?¡± At the woman''s nod, he reached out and shook her hand gently. ¡°My name is Cam Bean Berith. I''m here to offer you a wonderful opportunity, if you have a moment to hear me out?¡±
¡°Oh, well...¡± Miranda hesitated. She had heard so many horror stories of people being swindled by con artists, and his opening spiel certainly seemed along those lines... But some weird feeling made her want to trust this stranger. ¡°I''m sorry. I don''t know what you are selling, but I don''t really need anything and-¡±
¡°Oh it''s not a product I''m selling Mrs. Walters, but an investment opportunity.¡± He smiled reassuringly as he checked something on the small tablet he held. ¡°Specifically an opportunity to invest for your grandchildren''s college education. My records say you have three grandchildren, all of them in high school. Correct?¡±
¡°Well, yes...¡±
Cam tucked away the tablet for a moment, raising his hands in an apologetic wave. ¡°I understand. I came on a little too strong with my opening pitch, ma''am. If you would like, I can just leave some papers explaining the details. You can take your time to look them over and call me back. If you''re interested that is.¡±
Leaning in slightly, he whispered almost conspiratorially to her. ¡°Between you and me, that''s probably a good idea. Get your kids to look over it with you and take your time to work out all the details. Really make sure it''s the right investment for you.¡±
Miranda wavered for a moment before a grandmotherly smile crossed her face. That''s very kind of you. Maybe you could take just a few minutes to explain it to me? Oh! Where are my manners? Please, come in. Would you like something to drink?¡±
As she turned to lead him into the house, a wolfish smile crossed Cam''s face. ¡°Thank you, ma''am. Some water would be great-¡±
He froze mid-step, eyes going wide. An orange tabby cat sat in the middle of the hall, staring unblinkingly at him as his foot hovered over the threshold. Slowly it raised a single, bone white paw and began to groom it.
A dainty claw peaked out with every pass of its tongue... And the cat never broke eye contact with him.
¡°Mr. Mittens! I''ve been looking all over for you!. Come say hello to the nice man... You said your name is Cam, right?¡±
Cam was silent for several seconds before lowering his foot and hurriedly taking two steps back. ¡°Ah, y-yes. Yes ma''am.¡± He roughly cleared his throat as he shifted awkwardly in place. ¡°I apologize, but I should probably be going. I... I''m deathly allergic to cats, you see.¡±
He laughed awkwardly for a second before turning around and rushing off, not even waiting for a response.
¡°What...? My, that was odd. What do you think Mr. Mittens?¡±
¡°Mr. Mittens? Now where did you get off to this time?¡±
Cam left the neighborhood quickly, cutting across a small park in his haste. The gently meandering path let out into a small clearing with picnic table, and he drew up short... As the orange tabby was sitting there, waiting for him.
¡°L-look... I didn''t know someone was already working the old lady, ok? I wouldn''t have tried it otherwise. No harm, no foul. Right?¡±
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When the cat took a single step in his direction, Cam turned to run... Only to find the way blocked. By a large, black and white Pit Bull.
That immediately growled at him.
¡°Now what is some trash Cambion doing trolling around this sleepy town? And preying on a little old lady? Kinda sad, honestly. You can drop the illusion, by the way. There''s no one nearby, and I''m sure its a strain for someone so... weak.¡±
Cam turned towards the cultured, and surprisingly deep, sounding voice. The cat had moved to sit on one of the picnic tables, and it waved vaguely to the bench near it before it spoke again. ¡°And please, do sit. I hate having to stare up so far.¡±
Cam hesitated for a second before he shrugged with a sigh- and dropped the illusion he had been maintaining. In an instant, the creamy white skin turned ashen gray and a single horn sprouted from his left temple. ¡°It''s just my luck that I go for what should be an easy soul... and run into a fucking Hellcat.¡±
He threw a glance at the dog, which had thankfully stopped growling. Slumping onto the wooden bench, he shook his head slowly. ¡°And a fucking Hellhound... I thought you two didn''t get along?¡±
The cat glanced at the dog before giving a very human shrug. ¡°Most of us don''t. But Spot and I have... history, shall we say?¡±
With a shake of its feline head, the cat waved off the demon sitting in front of it. ¡°And him showing up suddenly means we have business to attend to. So, off with you then. Just don''t let me catch you sniffing around here anymore, understand?¡±
¡°Oh, and warn you friends as well. I would hate to have to kill them.¡± It warned with a hiss, baring its tiny, yet sharp, fangs.
Cam took the warning to heart as he fled.
¡°Spot? Seriously?¡±
The duo walked side by side, a smug smile stretched across the feline face as it glanced at its companion. ¡°Well, I certainly wouldn''t give your True Name to the likes of that one. Would you prefer ''Fido'' next time?¡±
The cat chuffed a laugh before being promptly swatted off the path, causing ''Spot'' to bark in laughter of his own. ¡°Eh, whatever works... Mr. Mittens. I can''t believe you would actually cozy up to an old lady like that.¡±
Mittens shook a leaf from his head and glared at Spot for a moment. ¡°It is a perfectly acceptable cover for my presence here... And, admittedly, I quite like being pampered and petted. Not all of us enjoy roaming the streets like a flea bitten stray.¡±
Waving a paw with all the dignity he could muster, he brushed away the subject. ¡°Shall we move on to more pressing matters? What job do you need my help with?¡±
Spot glanced at him from the corner of his eye. ¡°Who said there''s a job?¡± An annoyed huff was the only response, and he shrugged. ¡°Fine, fine. This is a good one, though. Sent straight from a Prince, no less!¡±
Mittens stopped walking suddenly and turned to face his companion. ¡°Straight from a Prince? But they only do that when Angels are involved... Or...¡±
¡°Or when they want us to deal with a Hole!¡± Spot nearly pranced in excitement.
Mittens sighed theatrically and swatted his friend''s nose. ¡°Settle down, you buffoon. This is serious! And its not a ''hole''. Well, I supposed technically it is a hole, just one in reality itself. The correct term would be ''Portal'' or ''Rift'', depending on a number of factors. Primarily what is on the other side, or what comes through-¡±
¡°It''s those freaky monsters! You remember last time we got to kill those?¡±
¡°You mean the only time? That was around four hundred years ago... But yes, I do remember. It was a mess... Though I suppose I did enjoy it. Nothing like a challenge, eh?¡±
The pair stared openly at the glowing purple Rift, mostly ignoring the mad whispers and feelings of dread.
¡°I''m surprised we were assigned to this. These Rifts are fairly rare, after all, and the Legions of Wrath like to claim them whenever they can.¡±
Spot snorted in amusement at his friend. ¡°Yeah, we got lucky. The Legion is off fighting or something... And we almost didn''t get this one.¡±
Mittens'' ear twitched in surprised, and he cocked his head in curiosity. ¡°Oh?¡±
¡°Yeah. Some human was slated to handle the next Hole-er, I mean Rift. Whatever. Anyway, this was supposed to go to the human... But two of these things popped up! So he got the first one and we got this one!¡±
Mittens turned to stare in shock. ¡°A human is supposed to handle a Rift?¡±
¡°That''s the rumor. I asked around, but no one can confirm it. And nobody knows who this human is supposed to be. But, if he ain''t a complete badass, then he''s probably dead.¡±
Spot turned a toothy grin at his friend. ¡°Then maybe we can go clean up the other one!¡±
Before Mittens could respond, a wet plopped jerked his attention back to the Rift where a creature was struggling to gain its feet. ¡°Well, would you like to go first? It is only fair; after all, you did help me corner that foolish Cambion.¡±
Spot pranced in place for a moment. ¡°Thanks, bud! Though I''m sure you could have handled him by yourself, I''m glad to help my partner.¡±
And Spot changed.
Shedding the mundane pretense he normally wore when on Earth, he assumed his true form. The white parts of his fur darkened to black, then the black darkened further until it seemed to draw in and absorb the light nearby. His frame shifted and cracked as he grew until he was nearly as tall as a man, even while still on four legs. Sharp fangs, wicked claws, and a mass of muscle that easily weighed five hundred pounds...
And his eyes, previously calm black pools, now burned with crackling flames.
¡°Guess its time to ''raise a little Hell'', eh?¡± Spot laughed uproariously.
Mittens covered his feline face with a paw, more at the embarrassment of such a bad pun than to avoid witnessing the carnage about to be unleashed.
¡°Why are we friends?¡±
Epilogue
Clean, manicured nails tapped away at the keyboard, putting the finishing touches on a report before sending it off to be reviewed. A glance at the clock showed it was almost the end of the day; not enough time to start on anything new, but too much time to sit idle.
Just as the hand shifted to pull up another file, a knock came at the office door.
Straightening in her seat, the woman smoothed an errant wrinkle in her otherwise immaculate suit before answering the knock. ¡°Come in!¡±
When she saw the man walk in and swing the door shut behind him, she nearly sighed aloud. John may have been handsome, arguably the best looking man in their department, if not the entire agency, but tales of his ''conquests'' had already made the rounds... And, for some reason, he had set his sights on her.
His constant excuses to ''talk about work'' with her were already starting to annoy her.
¡°Got a hot one for you, Janie!¡±
She ignored his excited tone and directed a scowl at him. ¡°It''s Jane. As I''ve told you several times.¡± She nearly growled at him. ¡°The rules in our department may be a bit more relaxed than others, but I expect a certain level of respect when addressing me. Specifically when it comes to my name.¡±
¡°Don''t make me complain to the Director. Nobody wants him to start enforcing the use of our titles again.¡±
John raised his hands apologetically, though his smile never wavered. ¡°Ok, ok. I apologize... Senior Agent Doe.¡± His mischievous tone made her eye twitch, but he quickly moved on rather than tease her further. ¡°But seriously Jane, I think I hit on something here. I was hoping you would hear me out before I try to run it up the chain.¡±
When her only response was a single raised eyebrow, his smile turned awkward. He actually looked embarrassed for a moment. ¡°Look... I''m still the new guy, so not everyone takes me seriously yet-¡±
¡°You''re reputation certainly isn''t helping with that, you know.¡± She gritted out, then nearly groaned at his reaction. Instead of knocking him down like she had hoped, he actually seemed more confident.
Maybe even proud of his reputation.
¡°That, at least, I deserve.¡± He chuckled smugly. ¡°I just figured that if I got your input, and you agreed with me, that it would lend a little weight to it with our boss.¡±
Seeing his hopeful look, she finally relented. ¡°Fine. I''ve got a few minutes. What is it you want my input on?¡±
John leaned forward eagerly, opening the folder he carried as he spoke. ¡°It actually caught my attention because of something Marley, my friend from my old department, mentioned when we were grabbing lunch yesterday. He got a request from the C.I. A. for-¡±
¡°I don''t need the full story just yet, John. Just give me the highlights and we can delve deeper if there really is something there, ok?¡± She sighed, already growing tired of the unnecessarily long winded explanation. ¡°What did the C.I.A. want, and why did they need us for it?¡±
"Ah... Ok. Well, they wanted information about a guy and the business he worked for. They found plenty on the guy, but nothing on the business. Private business, not a lot to go on with it. They think it could be a shell for something shady. But!¡± He paused dramatically, making Jane want to hit him just to get to the point. ¡°It''s not really the guy or the business they''re interested in, but someone he''s been talking to.¡±
When he paused again, Jane leaned back in her seat, knowing there was nothing she could do to actually get him to the point. She would just have to wait. Impatiently.
When she waved for him to continue, he grinned broadly. ¡°I checked into it a little, since the person they are looking at is listed as an American citizen and is currently back here after time overseas.¡±
John pulled a picture from his folder and laid it on her desk. It showed a cute girl, a teenager if Jane had to guess, dressed in a fashion she knew was called ''pastel goth''- a general mix of goth style with bright colors. ¡°This is the person they''re looking at? She''s what? Fifteen? Sixteen maybe?¡±
John just shrugged as he glanced at his notes. ¡°According to her records she is almost forty... And she''s wanted by Interpol!¡±
Despite his smug declaration, Jane barely reacted. Sure, the girl-woman, she corrected herself- looked young and innocent. But Jane knew better than to judge based solely off looks. She was a young and attractive woman herself, but no one in the department would doubt her abilities.
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She had a reputation of her own, after all. Though hers was more...violent... than John''s.
¡°So what is she wanted for? And how does it connect to... the man whose name you still haven''t mentioned?¡±
Opening his folder once again, John scanned the page and whistled softly. ¡°It''s a little crazy, Jane. Apparently, Miss ''Sweet and Innocent'' there-¡± he tapped the picture. ¡°-is called Evelyn Hart. She''s wanted in over a dozen countries for... a lot. Theft, kidnapping, arson, assassination... War crimes, terrorism...¡±
Shaking his head, he glanced at Jan for a second. ¡°She''s a straight up mercenary, willing to do just about anything if someone pays her.¡±
Flipping to the next page in his folder, his voice rose in excitement. ¡°But here is where it get interesting.¡± John slid two more pictures across the desk to her, both significantly older. Each showed a similar looking woman, though the fashion worn was different in each.
¡°The first one is from about thirty years ago, taken in Chicago. The subject is supposedly Ms. Hart''s mother... A forty year old woman who was also named Evelyn Hart. The second picture is even older, though I don''t have an exact date due to some records being lost. But it is about sixty years old...¡±
¡°The woman in the picture was identified as a Ms. Evelyn Hart, roughly thirty years old.¡±
¡°And the best part... Both of them were also wanted in multiple countries. Theft, kidnapping, arson, war crimes... You see the picture I''m painting here?¡±
Jane nodded slowly. The pictures were old, but of decent enough quality. Despite the different clothing and hair styles, the women looked very similar... ¡°So, either there is a family line of women that all look incredibly similar, pass down the same name repeatedly, and are raised into a life of violence... Or it''s the same woman creating chaos across six decades and she just doesn''t age. Some sort of immortal or something?¡±
John nodded enthusiastically. ¡°My current theory is that she''s a vampire. All of the pictures were taken at night, all sightings of her were reported as having been at night, same for all the incidents and attacks she was reported as involved in... Vampire is the only thing I know of that fits.¡±
Jane nodded firmly. ¡°This is probably worth looking into, John. Good catch. We should take this straight to Evans...¡±
Just as she stood to follow her own words, John waved her back into her seat. She gave him a quizzical look, but sat as he directed. ¡°There''s more?¡±
While he still looked smug, any hint of mischief had been wiped from his expression.
¡°Yeah, there''s more. And I think you''ll agree that it''s a pretty big deal too.¡±
Without waiting for her to respond, he started laying out more papers. ¡°The guys over at the C.I.A. believe she came back into the country for a job. They''re not sure what the job is, but it somehow connects to this man.¡±
He tapped a picture showing a young man in his twenties. Short, dark hair, blue eyes, and maybe six foot tall, he looked like any other college aged guy. Perhaps a bit more handsome, but that was just her personal opinion. ¡°Ok, what''s the connection?¡±
John shrugged. ¡°I''m not really sure, other than some texts and calls have been exchanged. But when I started digging into this guy... Thing got interesting.¡±
¡°You remember that attack on the college over in California?¡± At her nod, John tapped one of the papers. ¡°His cell phone pinged a couple times near there, both in the days before and after the attack.¡±
¡°You think he was there for the attack? Is there any surveillance-¡±
John shook his head quickly, cutting her off. ¡°The cameras on campus cut off just before the attack, and none of the places his phone pinged have any footage. It was either erased weeks ago, or they don''t have cameras.¡±
¡°But, considering he arrived just over a week before the attack and left shortly after, I have a feeling he was there for it.¡±
Jane quirked an eyebrow at his statement. ¡°How soon after did he leave? And how sure are you?¡±
John''s chest puffed up with pride as he tapped the next page. ¡°We got another hit on his phone about a week later, halfway across the country. And this one is pretty interesting too!¡±
When Jane didn''t take the bait and simply stared impassively at him, John coughed awkwardly and pressed on. ¡°The data shows that his phone pinged about an hour from a city called Sparrow... Where a group of alleged white supremacists were murdered on the same day.¡±
He tapped on another series of reports with a wide smile. ¡°Add to that his connection to the disappearance of some rich kid, then the recent murder of said rich kid''s father- who, I should add, had pulled strings to get the guy investigated by the State Police despite there being no evidence of foul play- and this Oliver guy looks pretty suspicious. What do you think?¡±
Jane nodded once, before shaking her head. ¡°Yes, it looks suspicious. But I''m not sure this man...¡± She glanced quickly at the paper in front of her. ¡°Oliver Silk? I''m not sure he''s our responsibility. Nothing about this screams ''paranormal'' to me, except maybe the tenuous connection he has to Ms. Hart.¡±
She sighed softly as she stared at the picture. For a young, handsome man like him to be in the middle of some very nasty business...
¡°I suppose if we''re going to look into this ''Evelyn Hart'', we may as well dig up what we can about him while we''re at it. If he''s a mundane, we can just pass it off to the right people and let them handle it. Let''s go ahead and run this by our boss before he leaves for the day.¡±
¡°Oh, and go ahead and tell your C.I.A. contact that, seeing as Ms. Hart is an American citizen on American soil, this is now a matter for us to handle.¡±
¡°I don''t think they''ll like that, Janie.¡±
¡°It doesn''t matter if they like it. We''re the F.B.I. This is our job.¡±
¡°And don''t call me Janie!¡±
Book 2 - Prologue – About Time
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Book 2 - Chapter 1 - Theatrics
perceive and use the name certainly has an impact. In a way, it can affect who you are as a person. But ultimately it is you who defines the name. ''A rose by any other name would smell as sweet'' is a favorite quote of mine.¡±
does matter is another name: The Duke. I know that is not his real name, but it is quite an inspired one. Did he choose it himself? Or did he merely accept it when others started to call him that?¡±
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before I showed up. Have you considered implementing regular patrols of the surrounding area? It would increase security by a decent margin... And someone like me wouldn''t surprise you as much.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 2 – A Matter of Nobility
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The Duke nodded. ¡°Of course. And please, call me Duke. I much prefer it over my given name.¡± When Devil nodded in acceptance, The Duke continued. ¡°As I was saying, what brings you to my not so humble home? I''m sure it''s for more than just to advise us of security concerns.¡±
ruling.¡±
all of them. Because you know that loyalty is important, and nothing is better to build loyalty than making sure people are safe, well fed, and happy.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 3 – You Dont Believe in Monsters?
My men are... a bit superstitious... but I do no believe such a thing exists. Chupacabras are a myth, nothing more.¡±
''They look like the bastard spawn of an iguana that fucked a kangaroo.'' He thought, struggling to suppress a snort of amusement...and disgust.
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''Don''t get bit...'' Oliver reminded himself unnecessarily.
Chupacabras.¡± Oliver marveled again at the fact that the name for the creatures wasn''t translated in either direction by the system. Perhaps proper names weren''t translated? Or maybe they were only translated in specific circumstances... He would have to experiment and see.
Book 2 - Chapter 4 – Back in Business
¡°
Opening Auction House...
Initiating Virtual Space...
Distributing Invitations...
The MDMS Auction House is now open for business!
Mercenary Grok has joined the auction.
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The Bloodgorger of Myrn has joined the auction.
Anonymous has joined the auction.
Anonymous has joined the auction.
Luminatira has joined the auction.
Lady Moonthistle has joined the auction.
The Ash Lord has joined the auction.
The Silence has joined the auction.
Pack Master has joined the auction.
Oliver pushed aside the fear and worry brought about by his relationship problems just as the last few attendees trickled in. He still felt that keeping the system a secret was of the utmost importance, but, after all the trouble that had festered because of his hesitation, he was done with half measures.
It was time to see exactly how much he could exploit his unique position.
Silk(Host): Welcome, everyone! Tonight''s auction features some new items, including something so rare it is thought to be a myth in some places! Of course, I''ll be saving that particular surprise for last...
Silk(Host): But enough of me teasing you. All of you came here to buy something, so lets get right to it!
Silk(Host): For our first lot, we have one kilogram of Vintage. This drug, which is illegal or banned in a large number of places that I am familiar with, is a highly addictive stimulant. It is an incredibly potent narcotic, typically mixed with less potent drugs or a non-toxic base before use to reduce its intensity. Fair warning to all, consuming this drug in its pure form- or excessive consumption of it in general- can cause a number of health issues, including death.
Silk(Host): And those with a discerning eye can tell by the tell-tale silver gleam that this is Vintage in an exceptionally pure form. As the seller, I take no responsibility for your use-or misuse- of this substance. Nor do I condone the use drugs. Your decisions are your own.
Silk(Host): Of course, I am sure there are some who are likely to see this as an opportunity to examine a drug that you have never seen before. Are there some scientific breakthroughs to be found here? Who knows!
Silk(Host): Lets start the bidding at 5,000 credits. Any takers?
Oliver leaned back in his seat, a small frown creased his face. He wasn''t sure if selling drugs across the Multiverse was the right thing to do, or ethical in any way. He didn''t particularly care if people decided to do drugs. That was their business, not his... But he also didn''t care for facilitating other people in such a way, either. Of course, he felt similar about selling the guns...
¡°Fuck... Arms dealer, drug dealer... I guess I am an asshole.¡± He muttered to himself as the bids started to roll in.
The Decadent bid 6,000 credits.
The Council of Woe wishes to bid (Scroll of Minor Misery).
Scroll of Minor Misery: When used, curses the target to suffer minor joint pain for a duration dependent on their Spirit attribute(maximum one month). This pain is purely a result of the curse and causes no actual damage to the target. Scroll is destroyed on use.
Estimated value: 5,100 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Joe Blow bids 8,000 credits.
Oliver directly ignored most of the items being bid, especially the ones he considered useless... Like that scroll. Inflicting mild suffering on someone like that just seemed petty and pointless... Though he couldn''t help but imagine a few people that deserved it, acquiring a scroll like that was a waste of his valuable auction slot.
¡°A couple lots of this... Then the big one. Let''s see how many credits I''ll have to work with later.¡± He mused to himself as the bids flew by.
Oliver was surprised, though he felt he shouldn''t have been. Selling Vintage turned out to be just as profitable as selling guns had been, though it made sense. The only thing more common than violence were people looking for an escape from their problems. While he had no interest in drugs himself, he understood wanting an escape... And understood it all too well.
Forcing aside distracting thoughts, he focused again on the gains. Over a hundred thousand credits for the four lots he had already gone through was a decent payout, and would definitely make his next steps easier.
But before that, he had one last lot.
Silk(Host): Well, I must admit that I was a bit surprised by everyone''s enthusiasm for Vintage, and I thank you all for your participation. But, before we end things tonight, we have one final lot... And I know you are all curious as to what sort of myth or legend I am offering to you, and whether or not it will live up to my hype.
Silk(Host): So, I present to you... Five Chupacabras!
Silk(Host): Chupacabra. The name literally means ¡°Goat sucker¡±. These creatures do, in fact, drink blood... Though typically they prey on livestock, they won''t hesitate to attack people as well- a fact I can personally attest to, as they certainly had no reservations towards attacking me! Thought by many to be myths, these creatures are rarely seen by people... At least that is the case in many places that I have visited.
Silk(Host): And I have for you here five of them! Two males and three females, all sold as a single lot to one lucky bidder!
The Bloodgorger of Myrn: A vampiric creature?How interesting! And they are quite adorable, too. I must have them!
Warlord Ketrim: Can these beasts be trained for war?
Star Dancer: Adorable? How can anyone call these things adorable!
Oliver chuckled at the sudden surge of questions and comments. It seems that selling mythical creatures may be a hot ticket item after all... Maybe he would be able to post more bounties than he had originally thought...
Silk(Host): I see we have some interest already. So how about we start the bidding at 50,000 credits?
Book 2 - Chapter 5 – Buyers everywhere
His Lord... And best friend. A creature so feared that none but Hemrin would dare even stand near him... A creature that had slaughtered millions and waded through an ocean of blood... And not in a metaphorical sense.
Kalen nodded absently as he stared into the crystal embedded in the arm of his throne, focused on the reactions of others in the auction. ¡°They are. Strange, is it not? In all the world, we have yet to find another like me... And, suddenly, this merchant has not one but five creatures that drink blood! And their appearance is so different from mine... Where did he find them? Are there more like them elsewhere?¡±
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The Bloodgorger of Myrn bids 50,000 credits.
Warlord Ketrim bids 50,000 credits and (Tome of Stone Song).
The Bloodgorger of Myrn bids 50,000 credits.
Warlord Ketrim bids 50,000 credits and (Tome of Stone Song).
Pack Master bids 60,000 credits.
Mad Scientist Imogen bids 75,000 credits and (Potion of Genetic Awakening).
The Bloodgorger of Myrn bids 100,000 credits.
Book 2 - Chapter 6 – Micro-transactions
Multiversal Bounty: Healing on Demand
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 2(minimum) healing Spell Tome
Details: I require a Tome in order to learn a healing spell. The Tome must be at least Tier 2 and capable of working on most organic life forms. A single target spell that can be cast on myself as well as other is preferable. The spell should focus on repairing the physical body of cuts, bruises, abrasions... Mending broken bones is optional, but preferred. With no adverse effects(this is absolutely required).
Compensation: 50,000 credits
Post Bounty? (Yes/No)
Multiversal Bounties, due to logistical difficulties, incur a 100% price increase over the items estimated value.
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Universal Bounties incur a 40% price increase.
(Power conversion, Oli. A portion goes to facilitate the transport of the goods... And what is leftover comes to me... Because I desperately need it.)
Multiversal Bounty: Offense is the best defense
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 single target offensive Spell Tome
Details: I require a Spell Tome for an offensive spell. The spell should take the form of a projectile, single target, with a range of at least 50ft. The nature or element of the projectile does not matter, though its primary focus should be on damage. Secondary effects inflicted upon the target are optional. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.
Compensation: 100,000 credits
Post Bounty? (Yes/No)
Multiversal Bounty: Bombardment
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 area of effect offensive Spell Tome
Details: I require a Spell Tome for an offensive, area of effect spell. The spell should have a cast range of at least 50 ft and cover an area with a diameter of at least 20 ft. Cast range must exceed area of effect. The nature or element of the spell does not matter, but its primary focus should be on damage. Secondary effects inflicted upon the targets is optional- if present, effects that slow, stun, or immobilize are preferred. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.
Compensation: 120,000 credits
Post Bounty? (Yes/No)
Multiversal Bounty: Control the flow
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 area of effect control Spell Tome
Details: I require a Spell Tome for an area of effect control spell. The spell should have a cast range of at least 50 ft and cover an area with a diameter of at least 20 ft. Cast range must exceed area of effect. The nature or elements of the spell does not matter, but its primary focus should be on inhibiting the targets. Effects that slow, stun, immobilize, paralyze, or incapacitate are preferred. The spell must affect living, organic targets, but the ability to also affect non-organic or non-living targets is preferred. Damage is secondary and not required. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.
Compensation: 125,000 credits
Post Bounty? (Yes/No)
mostly fit my requirements. That way they will not only be completed, but hopefully completed quickly.¡±
¡°
Book 2 - Chapter 7 – Side Jobs
Andras leaned against the tree, crystal ball in hand, as he waited for his brother to return from picking up their next job. ''Our next regular job'', he amended in his mind as his eyes were drawn into the swirl of mystical energies within the softly glowing sphere. With a bright smile on his face, he quickly tucked the crystal ball into his pack and turned face his disgruntled cousin that stood nearby.
¡°Peace, Rafan. Their words mean nothing... And growing angry over them only feeds their sense of superiority.¡±
Rafan irritably stamped a hoof before turning to look away from the travelers on the road, muttering under his breath. ¡°Damn pointy-eared bastards, treating us like beasts...¡±
¡°Rafan!¡±
Rafan shrugged off the restraining hand on his shoulder. ¡°I know. I know!¡± He huffed before slowly loosening his clenched fists. ¡°One of those... Elves... asked if I would pull their plow! I''m ten times the warrior of even their best, yet they insult me! I''m a Centaur, not a damn draft animal!¡±
Andras sighed and patted his cousins shoulder. ¡°I know, cousin. But we bear with it... Because even if each of us is more capable than even their best, they outnumber us by too much. If our ancestors hadn''t fought so fiercely for the peace...¡±
He shook his head slowly before quickly shifting the topic. ¡°It doesn''t matter. Once Leklan returns, we will be off to Mage Weaver''s Hold for our next jobs. The Humans there are much more pleasant to deal with-¡±
¡°Wait.¡± Rafan interrupted as the words registered. ¡°You said jobs. I thought we only had one... The Ancestor''s spirit showed you something?¡±
Andras laughed loudly as he waved down the exuberant younger Centaur. ¡°Calm, cousin. I will explain it once Leklan rejoins us.¡±
The pair only waited for a few minutes before the last of their trio rejoined them, bearing a heavy bag slung across his back. Leklan hid his emotions well, far better than their young cousin, but Andras could see the annoyance in the set of his shoulders and the swish of his tail.
Without even uttering a word, Leklan waved for the pair to join him as he quickly trotted away from the Elven city of Cedar Spring.
The trio moved without speaking for only a moment before Rafan couldn''t contain himself further, his voice laced with excitement and impatience. ¡°Well? Are you going to tell us about the jobs or not?¡±
Andras shrugged apologetically at his brother, as he was the one that had insisted the trip would be good experience for the young Rafan. ¡°I was going to wait until Leklan had put behind him whatever insults the Elven Lord had heaped upon him...¡±
¡°It is fine, Shaman. It is already behind me... Though now I find myself curious about what other ''jobs'' we suddenly have before us.¡± Leklan rumbled, his deep voice filling the air around them.
¡°Must you always address me so? We are brothers, are we not? Besides, I am only an apprentice until we complete our Spirit Journey and return with wealth and treasure enough to honor our Ancestors...¡± Seeing the resolute look in his brother''s eyes, he waved it off with a chuckle. ¡°Fine, fine. Have it your way as usual... War Chief...¡±
Seeing the hint of amusement in Leklan''s eyes, Andras smiled. ¡°Very well, I shall explain. While we awaited your return, I gazed into the Orb of Wisdom, seeking guidance from our Honored Ancestor-¡±
¡°This isn''t going to be like the last time, is it? When we did all that work only for our offering to be passed over for another''s?¡± Leklan interrupted, skeptical.
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Andras shrugged, though his smile didn''t waver. ¡°Who knows the ways of those beyond? But!¡± Knowing his brother''s frustration over their last failure, he cut off any argument with a raised hand. ¡°But I have a plan.¡±
Leklan snorted at his brother''s antics, but waved for him to continue. ¡°Please, do tell us your plan... Brother.¡±
Andras practically beamed at the response. ¡°Thank you, brother... As to my plan, it is quite simple. The Ancestor''s spirit has connected with a man from far distant lands. This man wishes to acquire Spell Tomes, and is paying quite well for them.¡±
¡°And Mage Weaver''s Hold is likely to give us a decent price for them, this I can see the logic in... But what if our offering is not selected? Our funds cannot sustain such a loss.¡± Leklan rumbled as he considered the possibility. While he was clearly still skeptical, they all knew he would ultimately do whatever his brother asked of him. He always had.
¡°That is the beauty of my plan, brother!¡± Andras cheered, nearly prancing along the road. ¡°Even if our offering is not selected, the Ancestor showed me that there are others that desire these Spell Tomes! Though, they are not paying quite as well... And, even if none of them select our offerings, the people of Demon Crag will certainly buy the Spell Tomes. We would simply have to hold on to them for a few months of our journey.¡±
¡°Are you certain we would be able to sell them at Demon Crag? For a profit?¡± At his brother''s emphatic nod, Andras smiled and gently ruffled his younger brother''s hair. ¡°Well, then what are we waiting for? It is only a few days to Mage Weaver''s from here...¡±
Rafan was stunned by the series of rapid revelations. A man from Beyond? Buying and selling Spell Tomes? And their journey was going to take them to the legendary Demon Crag! It took him a moment to realize the other two had picked up their pace and, with a whoop of excitement, he raced to catch up.
Maybe this Spirit Journey would be more interesting than he thought... As long as he could stay far away from those damn arrogant Elves...
Words flashed rapidly across the digital display of Breaker''s cybernetic eye. Breaker wasn''t her real name, of course. Simply the name everyone knew her by, as she had long since buried her real name... And most of the people that knew it.
¡°Damned traitors!¡± She hissed before once again suppressing the painful memories. Should couldn''t dwell on that, not anymore. And especially not when she was searching for a new job. Preferably something dangerous and exciting, but she would settle for one that payed well.
A girl''s gotta eat, after all.
Breaker leaned back against the neon billboard, idly watching the passing hover cars that filled the night sky. She didn''t envy these people, locked in the drudgery that was a life working for a Mega-Corporation as they were. They may have had nice cars, elegant houses, and more money than they knew what to do with... But could they really do anything with it? Every day was work, home, eat bland food from whatever ''top of the line'' food processor they had bought, then sleep... And wake up the next day to do it all again.
¡°Capitalist slaves, the lot of them. They call me a criminal, but THAT is the real crime... Fucking stupid...¡± She scoffed softly.
¡°And why the hell are all these jobs so boring? Fucking fetch quests, I swear. Where are the assassinations? The chaos? The fucking mayhem!¡± She screamed into the night, a manic glint in her eyes as she tightly gripped the hilt of her katana. Her hands itched to draw the plasma pistol from her other hip and fire upon the corporate fools above...
Before she gave in to her violent urges, a number caught her attention as it flashed by in her display. ¡°Pause. Scroll up slowly. Stop!¡±
She carefully scanned the job description, a sneer stretching at her scar lined face. ¡°Fucking Spell Tomes? I mean, the pay is decent... But that''s so fucking boring! I could buy a couple from Mama Schmee to pass off to this jack-hole...¡±
She trailed off slowly as an idea formed. ¡°Wait... Why buy a couple... When I can hit Spellman''s? Bust in to their research and development department, steal a couple of their cutting edge Spell Tomes... Maybe wreck the place a bit while I''m at it?¡±
A feral smile flashed across her face. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like fun. And those ass-hats deserve it! Fucking experimenting on people in the slums with their spells... Using us like fucking lab rats... Fuck ''em.¡±
Standing suddenly, breaker howled into the night, nearly causing a pair of hover cars to crash into each other. ¡°Yeah! Fuck ''em! Fuck those sick fucks! And fuck you Violet City!¡±
Breaker leapt down to the fire escape below, eager to begin preparations for her heist.
¡°This is going to be fun!¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 8 – One Small Step
¡°Do I wait or not?¡±
Leaned back in a beach chair, Oliver stared at the night sky over the Pacific Ocean as he mused to himself. ¡°Waiting is likely the smart choice. Just healing magic alone will make everything a good bit safer. And the offensive spells... My guns have done well, and I''m pretty stocked on ammo... But ammo runs out, while mana regenerates. And having more offensive options wouldn''t hurt, anyway...¡±
¡°But how long would I have to wait? How long will the bounties be up before someone even looks at them? And how long would it take them to complete any? A day? A week? Months?¡±
¡°Or longer?¡±
¡°I should definitely keep track of how long it takes. Start building a baseline so I can better organize and prepare in the future...¡±
Oliver stood slowly and stretched, his hands reaching towards the sky as he yawned. ¡°It will be a couple weeks at least before Tyrone has things set up. I''ll wait a day before I start looking through bounties myself. I... I can''t just sit around and wait... I''ll go crazy...¡±
¡°Well, crazier..¡±
A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he headed towards the room he had rented.
Lounging in the same beach chair, Oliver nodded to himself. ¡°Well, I didn''t really expect results in less than a day anyway... May as well get to work.¡±
With a thought, he opened the system window and quickly flipped to the Universal Bounties page. His eyebrows rose involuntarily at the number available. For a long time, Humanity had wondered if there was other intelligent life in the Universe. And, based on what the system was showing him, Oliver was certain that there really was intelligent life out there.
Far more than even he had expected, and he was much more open minded about such things since he gained the System.
With page after page of bounties in front of him, Oliver quickly shook of the sense of awe it had inspired and focused his mind on his objectives.
¡°Ok. For my first Universal Bounty... If I want to be safe, should focus on something that at least sounds less dangerous... But if I want to be safe, I should wait until I get the healing spell.¡±
He chuckled darkly to himself. ¡°Yeah... I guess I''ll be somewhat reasonable. A little danger is fine. Getting killed because I''m emotionally unstable would just be stupid...¡±
He nodded slowly, a general plan taking shape in his mind. ¡°The reward doesn''t really matter for this one. It''s my first step out into the Universe, so it''s really more to test the waters and learn how things work...¡±
With a general plan in mind, Oliver started to read through the bounties.
Note: All Universal Bounties currently offered are in environments capable of sustaining the life of the Host.
Universal Bounty: Slave Rebellion
Objective: Assist in putting down the rebels/killing the rebel leader
Duration: Until the rebellion is ended or their leader is dead
Details: The damn Habin slaves are rebelling... ''Freedom fighters''? Ha! They have been our property for a millennia! They wouldn''t even know what to do with freedom. But, small and weak as they are in body, there are far too many of them to put down easily. I guess our breeding program was a little too efficient. Whatever. We just need someone to come help us cull the little bastards... Or assassinate their leader, Moza! The cowards will surely yield without his rabble-rousing!
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Compensation: 100 credits per rebel killed, 20,000 credits for Moza
Posted by: Bal Orokin, Grand Chieftain of the Oro
Universal Bounty: Revolution!
Objective: Assist the Habin people in gaining freedom
Duration: Unknown
Details: My people have been oppressed by the Oro for too long... We were once a peaceful people, welcoming to all... Until the Oro arrived. Never having known war or conflict, we were easy prey for these vicious creatures. Or so say the tales of our elders, passed down from generation to generation. I never wished to fight... Until my daughter was born. And now... Now, I would rather die fighting for her than see her suffer under the cruel hand of these beasts! But this is a struggle I know we cannot win on our own. I need warriors, skilled and fierce, to help me. Knowledge and experience with strategy would be a plus. For the sake of our children, I beg you... Please, help us!
Compensation: 15,000 credits, plus whatever loot you take from the Oro
Posted by: Moza
Universal Bounty: Salvage Security
Objective: Protect salvage team 3
Duration: 3 weeks
Details: Since the fall of our home, my people have been forced into a nomadic existence. Our ship has sustained damage, and our food supply dwindles. We have been forced to engage in salvage operations as a result. While this endeavor has been mostly safe, incidents have occurred that resulted in injuries, my own included- though no fatalities, thankfully. As I was one of the individuals that protected the team, I am in need of a substitute while I recover. The three week duration will be divided between days for salvage and days for travel between potential sites, so you will not be actively engaged the entire time. I know the compensation offered is low, but our situation is strained as it is. You are, of course, free to whatever salvage you wish to retrieve for yourself. If that is not sufficient, I am authorize to trade items from among the non-critical supplies and contraband storage. Hell, you can take all of the contraband, for all I care. The idiots were told not to bring it on the ship anyway...
Compensation: 10,000 credits, salvage rights, other items(negotiable)
Posted by: Omi of the Rach
Universal Bounty: Harvest Season
Objective: Help harvest our crops
Duration: Until all of our fields have been harvested or Winter comes
Details: The war was bad enough, but losing so many of our young men... Even with the returning peace, it will be a challenge for us to harvest all of our fields before winter. There just aren''t enough people fit to work the fields right now... That is why the twelve of us pooled our funds into this attempt to find assistance. Not only is this our livelihood, but people will starve without this food! And at least it isn''t dangerous, now that the war is over... Well, aside from the occasional vulp or grevvle, but we can handle that- and most of them steer clear of the farms anyway. This will be hard work, don''t doubt it. But it''s simple and honest.
Compensation: 7,000 credits, an assortment of fresh produce
Posted by: Grandpa Joe (with the agreement of The Jonin Village Farmers)
Page after page of bounties left Oliver deep in thought. He had expected some of the more violent ones- rebellions and war were a Universal truth, so it seemed. But a surprising number of the bounties were surprisingly... Mundane. Miners asking for help in transporting stone and ore? A fledgling City State asking for help with construction? And farmers just trying to harvest their fields while they recover from a war...
The list of bounties was interesting, to say the least.
¡°That''s life, I guess...¡± He mused to himself. ¡°Not everything will be about fighting. Some things are simple. Though, I guess even simple things can be life or death in their own way. A lack of people able to do farm work after a war is something that has happened even in human history...¡±
He sighed softly and shook his head. ¡°I can kinda sympathize with them, but I have little interest in doing back-breaking farm work. Especially for so little... Though I am kinda curious what their food is like...¡±
Speculation aside, Oliver immediately eliminated all of the simple manual labor bounties. Even if they would be exceptionally safe, the credits offered were lackluster... And he would rather have to fight a little than dig up vegetables.
¡°Man, I wish this thing had some sort of filter... Whatever. I can manage.¡± He chuckled slightly. ¡°Ok. So, no to the manual labor... Getting pulled into a war? No thank you; the level of danger is higher than what I want right now. Let''s eliminate those as well.¡±
¡°A happy middle ground... Salvage Security? Relatively safe, but potential for a little danger... The compensation isn''t great, but being able to salvage stuff from an alien world sounds fun. And there is no telling what they consider contraband...¡±
¡°Besides, I like the water, so sailing sounds pretty good. I wonder what an alien ocean is like?¡±
Oliver double checked his warehouse to ensure he was well supplied for the trip. Then, with a smile on his face, he clicked to accept the Bounty.
And instantly found himself somewhere else.
Book 2 - Chapter 9 – Bug Problems
¡°Huh.¡±
Arriving in a completely new place, somewhere out in the Universe, in an instant was mildly disorienting. Finding himself not on the deck of some wooden sailing vessel but in a small, metal room is what really surprised him.
That, and the five foot tall... roach... person?... standing just a few feet away.
Standing upright on two legs, its brown exoskeleton stood out starkly against the gleaming metal walls. It''s body was broad and flat, with two pairs of arms hanging from its segmented body. No different than a roach from Earth, really, just on a much larger scale.
That, and it was wearing what looked like overalls, white bandages covered on of its eyes, and had a pistol looking weapon strapped to its hip.
And it talked, which Oliver discovered as it opened its mandibles and spoke.
¡°Ah, hello friend. I''m very pleased to meet you!¡± It gushed as both pairs of hands clapped in excitement. ¡°I was so very excited when I was informed that someone had accepted our request!¡±
¡°Oh! Where are my manners?¡± It rambled on without pause. ¡°My name is Omi, and welcome to our ship, Star''s Hope.¡±
Omi gestured grandly around himself, only to realize belatedly he was waving at a nothing more than silvery walls. ¡°Oh, er... I assure you, she is one of the finest ships my people have ever built. This little storage closet doesn''t do it justice.¡±
¡°Huh.¡± Oliver blinked dumbly before shaking his head. ¡°Just for clarification, what sort of ship is this? And you can call me Silk, by the way.¡±
Omi froze momentarily, his one eye blinking rapidly. ¡°Silk? The merchant named Silk who has provided a great deal of supplies to us through the ''Commissions'' function?¡±
Oliver shrugged at the question. ¡°Well, if those supplies are things like food or medical supplies... Then probably.¡±
Oliver wasn''t sure of his ability to read the expressions of an insect, and being stared at intensely by a giant roach was a bit creepy... But the awe, bordering on worship, in Omi''s tone made him incredibly uncomfortable. ¡°THE Merchant Silk...¡±
Omi bowed humbly, and his voice nearly broke with emotion. ¡°Thank you! It is because of you that our situation is not nearly as dire as we had initially predicted. When we received literal tons of those strange vegetables two months ago-¡±
Oliver almost laughed at suddenly being remind of his ''heist''. Breaking into Hardeman''s warehouse and emptying it of all that produce... He didn''t make a lot of credits from it, considering the incredible quantity, but he hadn''t had time to search for better paying Commissions in the moment... And screwing the bastard over was still worth it.
¡°-it bought us more time for repairing our grow chambers... And, considering the difficulties we have face since then, it has likely saved some of our lives as well.¡±
Oliver simply nodded as he tried to keep up with the excitable and enthusiastic creatures rambling. ¡°Well, I''m glad it had worked out for you... And there is really no need to thank me. You paid for the food. I simply delivered it.¡±
¡°Of course. A man of such kindness and character must have no desire for flattery- No matter how well deserved.¡± Omi nodded, and Oliver chose to ignore the uncomfortable sensation of being put on a pedestal. He wasn''t a hero, and he would never pretend to be.
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Hopefully they would just quickly move past it, he hoped.
¡°Ah, you''re question about the ship... Please follow me, friend Silk.¡± Omi said as he waved for Oliver along.
Exiting the storage closet, Oliver could see a metal hallway stretching a hundred feet in either direction. Small doorways dotted either side of the hall, with each doorway filled by a heavy-looking sheet of metal. A small hiss from behind caused him to glance over his shoulder to see an identical metal sheet sliding out of the wall to fill the doorway behind, answering the unasked question even as it formed in his mind. Next to each doorway was what looked like a keypad, though he didn''t have a chance to puzzle out how they worked before something else caught his attention.
At each end of the hallway was a bulkhead door, similar to what he had seen when touring a submarine when he was younger... Or what some sci-fi shows had used on spaceships.
Oliver froze in place as his mind raced, connecting the dots. ¡°Bulkhead doors... Grow chambers? I''m guessing those are for growing food... Is this some sort of huge ass spaceship, Omi?¡±
Omi blinked blankly at him for a moment, before a small chuckle escaped him. ¡°I suppose I wasn''t clear about that when I asked for help. Yes, this ship travels through space. Though spaceship is a rather simplified explanation...¡±
He started walking slowly as he spoke, his voice tinged with sadness and regret. ¡°This ship, Star''s Hope, is just one of the Arks we built during The Fall...¡±
Oliver waved to stop the strange man, though he spoke gently, aware that this was a painful subject for these people- the ''Rach'', he remembered as he thought about the bounty post again. ¡°I don''t mean to be rude, Omi, but it is probably best if you explain things as if I am a complete stranger that has never even heard of your people or what they have been through.¡±
Omi paused in place, head tilted quizzically, before a raspy laugh escaped him. ¡°That is fair, friend Silk. It is clear that you are different from us just by your appearance... Let me see... I suppose I should start at The Fall...¡±
Oliver could feel the emphasis put on those words. He clearly wasn''t talking about the season, but a major event in his people''s history.
¡°A thousand years ago, back when I was still a young man and had just joined our army-¡± Oliver''s mind boggled at the fact that Omi had lived for so long, but, not wanting to interrupt again, he restrained his surprised outburst. ¡°-things were simple. We had just began to explore the nearby planets in our system. My country, Avli, was not the strongest... But our technology was the best, though only by a small margin. At least, that is what everyone believed.¡±
He chuckled softly at the memory. ¡°I was just a soldier, so what do I know? Anyway, things were good. We hadn''t been at war with anyone in several years, food was plentiful... We worked, spent time with our families... Things were good...¡±
A soft sigh escaped him as he continued. ¡°Then the creatures showed up. No one knows where they came from. They just suddenly appeared, ripping people apart with their claws... And eating them...¡±
¡°Fuck...¡± The word slipped out of Oliver''s mouth before he knew it, a feeling of dread building in his heart. When Omi paused to look at him, Oliver asked-though he was sure he already knew the answer. ¡°These creatures... About my height, white all over... Sharp claws and teeth, but no eyes? And hard as hell to kill?¡±
Omi''s eye widened in alarm. ¡°You have encountered these creatures?¡±
¡°Yeah. Had to kill some to stop them from invading my home... Which I''m guessing is what happened to you.¡±
Omi nodded sadly as he drooped in place. ¡°Yes...¡±
¡°We did not learn of the creatures until too late. They had wiped out an entire town without anyone even knowing it had happened...¡±
¡°Some people grew concerned because they were unable to contact their relatives. They went to see them... And died as well...¡±
¡°It was only though luck that the creatures were discovered.¡±
¡°Mimi Vasler... Everyone knows her name. It is because of her that we found out about the creatures... She went to check on her grandfather and, because she was on a video call wit her husband, the first images of the creature was captured... Though she did not survive...¡±
Omi sighed again, shaking his head. ¡°There is a great deal of confusion surrounding the exact details after that. All we know for certain is that our response was to slow and too limited. A few people were sent to investigate. When none returned, a larger force was sent... And, by the time we realized our mistake, it was too late.¡±
Omi''s hands shook as he struggled with the memory. ¡°By the time we mobilized the full force of our military, the creatures numbered in the thousands... And they had spread out to several other towns and cities.¡±
¡°We failed to contain them... And, somehow, they spread to other countries...¡±
¡°Then the order was given... and our nuclear arsenal was engaged...¡±
¡°And our world did not survive.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 10 – Refugees
¡°Buy it.¡± Oliver nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°Which would further strain your resources... That is why you started salvaging? Trying to get materials to repair the ship and hopefully get your sensors back?¡±
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Book 2 - Chapter 11 – Double Check
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Omi didn''t even glance at his boss before answering with a shake of his head. ¡°I apologize, friend Silk, but I cannot tell you that. It is classified information... And, truthfully, even I do not know all the details. All I know, and can say, is that it is powered by what is called a ''microfusion cell'', and that it concentrates light into a damaging beam. None of that is really a secret, though... Do your people not use laser weapons?¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 12 – Procedures
¡°
has happened... And sooner or later things will go wrong, Omi. When it does, it won''t matter if the others are armed.¡±
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fly on it?
Book 2 - Chapter 13 – First Flight
feel the differences between the ones he had spoken to.
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''Bug eyes...'' He joked to himself, suppressing a laugh.
just the shuttle and its pilots would be the best case scenario. I hope we never encounter a planet that terrible... Most of my people don''t even know we have a protocol for those.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 14 – Brave New World
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all such signals. There are many unknowns in the Universe, after all...¡±
is better that he is on our side... Though, hopefully it won''t be needed...¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 15 – The Lay of the Land
why these particular mushrooms were that color, or why they glowed. Especially since they were otherwise identical to all the rest of the mushrooms they had passed.
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Book 2 - Chapter 16 – Out for a Stroll
An hour passed as they all carefully examined the area. The complete lack of movement left everyone on edge... Except for Oliver, as he was quickly developing a theory: either everyone that lived in the village had packed up and moved, which would imply there was some cause for the mass migration...
Or everyone had died.
He couldn''t come up with any other reasonable explanation for three buildings being left in such a state of collapse. Surely someone would have at least cleaned them up, if not repaired them. Right?
Worse yet, there were no indications as to which scenario had taken place... Though the lack of life signs in any other location was a troubling sign of its own. If the people here had moved on, where did they go?
¡°Good news and bad news, friend Silk.¡± Vadrin spoke up suddenly. ¡°The good news is that we have found a suitable landing sight. The bad news... We still have not found any life signs that indicate that there are inhabitants. Unless they are exceptionally small creatures... Or perhaps they have found some manner of masking their presence?¡±
¡°We are not sure...¡±
Oliver shrugged indifferently. ¡°That''s fine, Vadrin. I''ll figure it out once we get down there. Just make sure everyone stays focused while I''m out scouting.¡±
The ship settled slowly on the stretch of stable ground that Vadrin had found, and the exit ramp lowered. Helmet firmly in place, Oliver led the security people down for their first look.
¡°Ok. You three stay here and keep an eye out for trouble. Aside from the regular check-ins, I want everyone to stay off the radio unless there is an emergency.¡± Oliver said, eyes steadily scanning the mushroom filled marshland ahead of him in the direction of the village. A small smile tugged at his lips. ¡°I''m just gonna take a little stroll around the swamp.¡±
Despite his casual comment, Oliver moved forward carefully. Once he was far enough in among the towering fungi that he could barely see the shuttle, he paused next to one of the mushrooms. Pulling a knife from his warehouse, he carefully carved a large arrow pointing back the way he came into the broad stalk- big enough that it he would be able to spot it from a distance. Especially since the flesh of the mushroom was a pale white beneath its muddy exterior.
He damn sure didn''t want to get lost on an alien planet.
With his simple trail marker in place, he turned and started to circle their landing site. Keeping the shuttle just in sight as he moved clockwise around, he wanted to be sure there wasn''t anything dangerous or threatening nearby.
While he had no desire to get into any sort of confrontation, he knew that he was much better prepared for that than the others were.
Slowly he spiraled out away from the shuttle, leaving more markers behind him as he investigated a larger area, his tension grew and he encounter... Nothing. Mushrooms, grass, even strange looking flowers and a few odd growths that he couldn''t identify... Even some insects, though he had to search a bit to find them hidden among the brush or under rocks... But no animals.
At least not at first...
Oliver paused near another mushroom stalk, prepared to leave another marker... When he noticed small indentations trailing down it. Squatting down, he ran his eyes, then his hands, over the marks as he pondered what they were. The marks were smaller than his little finger and, leaning in close, he saw the edges were actually torn.
¡°Not indentations... Punctures...¡± He muttered to himself as it clicked.
Standing slowly, he turned his head up toward the mushroom cap looming high above... And saw...
A squirrel?
A bright green squirrel?
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With scales instead of fur...
And six legs...
The creature scurried down the stalk to investigate the stranger in its domain, cautious, but with no real fear... And Oliver got a closer look at it in return.
His first impression had been a bit off, he noticed. While the scales on the squirrel''s back were more of a blue-green, the skin on its underbelly was actually a light purple color ¨C lavender, he thought. The nose, and inside the ears, were pink... And its eyes were pools of inky blackness that stood out from its otherwise colorful body. It was only about six inches long, not counting the tail- though the tail was longer than the rest of its body. And, he noticed as it got closer, the tail had a bit of downy pink fur running down its length.
¡°You''re kinda cute, aren''t you little -FUCKER!¡± Oliver screeched in alarm as, with a hiss, the squirrel lunged at him... And he noticed the sharp, pink claws on each of its toes.
Even as he flinched back from the sudden attack, his hand shot up and snatched the squirrel out of the air... Only for him to curse at it began to viciously scratch and bite at his arm. Without think, Oliver tossed it into the system warehouse, feeling only a moment''s resistance before the squirrel disappeared.
He nearly jumped again when Vadrin spoke over the radio.
¡°Friend Silk, the small life signs we detected earlier... Near your position-¡± Oliver grimaced, already having an idea of what he was about to hear. ¡°-there appear to be a large number of them gathering. Is everything all right?¡±
Turning his gaze back up to the caps above, he saw more squirrels leaping from cap to cap and descending the stalks... All heading right towards him. A couple dozen of them, at least.
And none of them looked particularly friendly anymore.
Keying his radio, he spoke slowly. ¡°I''ll let you know after I deal with it, but I should be fine.¡±
Oliver didn''t think trying to scrap it out with a couple dozen angry squirrels was a good idea... But he had an idea, and wanted to test it before he beat a strategic retreat- which is certainly how he would phrase it, as ''running the hell away from a bunch of squirrels'' just sounded like a bad joke... Even if it was the smart move.
As the first of the squirrels came within range, he cast the only spell he currently possessed and waited to see the effect.
And he was not disappointed.
Blood Aura: An aura of blood surrounds the caster, draining health from all living creatures hostile to the caster within fifteen feet to heal the caster. Minor damage. Minor healing. Mana cost ¨C 10/second while active. Note ¨C Blood aura is invisible to those unable to perceive mana flows. May still be detected by individuals sensitive to natural auras.
The scent of blood wafted off of his body as the surrounding air became tinged with the red aura... And, screeching in pain, the nearby squirrels all lost their grips and plummeted to the muddy ground. Several others, either ignoring what happened to their brethren or too stupid to even consider it, continue their charge. The moment they entered the aura, more screeches rang out as they too fell.
Scaled squirrels rained down around Oliver, one of them even bouncing off his shoulder, as the remaining group chattered angrily at him and each other before turning and retreating just as quickly as they had arrived.
Not wanting to waste mana, Oliver immediately cut off the spell. ¡°That worked out better than I had hoped.¡±
Turning his eyes away from the fleeing group of squirrels- he chuckled softly as he remember that a group of squirrels was called a ''Scurry'', and they certainly did scurry away- he looked down at all the fallen squirrels, his laughter cutting off. He felt a momentary pang at having to kill the adorable critters, but he wasn''t willing to get clawed and bit by all of them in an attempt to spare the cute little things.
Though his smile returned when he saw that some of them were still moving, trying to weakly crawl away.
Moving carefully through the fallen squirrels, he checked each for signs of life. The ones he found that were still alive he quickly placed in the system warehouse- though he made sure to keep them separate from the first one he had caught.
That squirrel he had a plan for. The rest he could sell.
After a moments thought, he collect all but one of the dead as well and stored them, figuring that someone would be interested... Maybe that ''Mad Scientist'' that was at the last auction? He would have to wait and see...
Picking up the last dead squirrel, he started back towards the shuttle even as he spoke over the radio again. ¡°I''m good Vadrin, though warn everyone to keep their eyes open for brightly colored squirrels. The damn things are aggressive.¡±
¡°Friend Silk... What is a ''squirrel''.¡±
Oliver just shook his head, suppressing a laugh. ¡°I''m bringing one back for you to check out. Don''t worry, it''s dead. So it should be safe... Well, safe as in it can''t attack anyone. You''ll have to figure out if it is actually safe... You know what I mean.¡±
¡°I do indeed, friend Silk. We shall prepare to receive the sample.¡±
Oliver silently nodded, expecting that sort of response from the tech... Though he couldn''t help but wonder... While things hadn''t been that bad so far, he was still sweeping the marsh area and hadn''t reached the village yet.
What was waiting for him there?
Surprise Bonus Art! (Not a Chapter)
First up, we have Polina!
Next, we have Eve! Fun facts about Eve, she was 18 when she was turned into a vampire back during World War 2. She was actually held in a concentration camp for a time because she was of Romani decent! (The Romani people were frequently oppressed throughout European history. Thanks to some genealogy research, it is likely that some of my ancestors were Romani-though I can''t be completely certain.)
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And one of my favorites... The Bloodgorger of Myrn! Isn''t he cute?
And the last one(for now)... The "squirrel" from the most recent chapter. Its not exactly as I had described or imagined, but I loved the image!
Book 2 - Chapter 17 – Bugged by the Mystery
¡°If you would, please place the sample within the first container... And, if it isn''t a problem, would you mind taking the other containers for samples from the local flora?¡±
¡°It would be very beneficial to us if we could closely test and examine them now, so as to better direct the crew in their efforts.¡±
Oliver chuckled less from Vadrin''s request, and more from the scene in front of him. Multiple plastic containers of various sizes were spread out on a tarp at the foot of the ramp while Vadrin stood at the top, the rest of the crew peering curiously over his shoulder. The remaining three security people had moved well away from the spot, even as they maintained their watch.
¡°Want to gather a little more info before you risk exposing anyone else?¡± He chuckled softly as he approached, carefully placing the squirrel ''sample'' in the box clearly labeled ''Sample Number 1''.
¡°I... would not wish to phrase it as such, friend Silk... But, as you volunteered to take additional risk on our behalf-¡±
¡°It''s fine, Vadrin. I''m just messing with you. I''ll grab a sample from the mushrooms, and some other plants I saw, before I move to check out that village we spotted.¡± He paused for a moment as he thought back to the tests he had agreed to on the Ark. ¡°Do you have the data that Cici''s people collected on me?¡±
Consulting his tablet briefly, Vadrin nodded excitedly. ¡°Indeed! Our leaders wished for me to be able to ensure your safety as well. I assure you that I will do my best to warn you of any potential dangers you may encounter... Or have already encountered... Perhaps I should assign Bolus to our normal safety checks while I focus on the simulation testing your biology''s reaction to the samples...¡±
Shaking his head, Oliver left Vadrin muttering to himself excitedly. ¡°I''ll just grab those samples real quick and head out...¡±
Once he had dropped of samples from several mushrooms, grass, flowers, and mosses, Oliver quickly moved off towards the village they had found. While they had put the ship down in the closest safe spot they could find, it was still more than a mile away.
From time to time as he walked, he spotted the aggressive little squirrels watching... Though none attacked him, and it seemed they were keeping their distance from the shuttle as well. That didn''t really surprise him, as killing so many of them had shown he was a threat. And, if they were anything like squirrels on Earth, they were smart enough to avoid people once they realized the danger.
But, as he moved further away from the location of his ''squirrel massacre'' and all of the critters continued to avoid him, he began to wonder... Why were all of them avoiding him? Maybe they had some way to communicate the danger to each other?
¡°Yeah, I''m no zoologist... Wait...¡± He paused, gazing up at the creature high up among the mushroom caps. ¡°The system didn''t translate their chattering... So, I guess it only translates for... intelligent beings? People?¡±
He sighed softly, shrugging off his pondering of the System''s abilities. ¡°Eh, something else to consider later... Like when I''m not running around alone on an alien planet... I need to start writing all this shit down.¡±
Snorting in amusement at himself, Oliver hurried on through the marsh, alert to any threat that may present itself... And was once again surprised to find nothing beyond the squirrels. Could the adorable little ankle-biters really be the apex predators here? How would that even work?
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Well, considering the numbers he saw, Oliver figured it was possible... It just seemed a little strange to him. Surely there had to be bigger creatures somewhere...
Oliver nearly stumbled in surprise when the edge of the village came into view... Though perhaps it was better to call it a city, now that he could truly see the scope of the place.
The small collapsed buildings were clearly not a proper representation of the place.
At first glance it hadn''t even registered in his mind as a building, as it looked like nothing more than an exceptionally thick and stout mushroom- perhaps a mutation, or just a more robust variant, but not all that different. It took his mind a second to process what he had seen, and he quickly did double-take.
Square, carved openings, trailing up the sides of the mushroom- the building, he corrected himself quickly. They were roughly three feet wide and tall, if he had to guess, and scattered about almost haphazardly on the stalk.
Though there were no lights, or and sort of movement, that he could see, Oliver approached cautiously. His body tensed to run or fight at a moments notice, he circled around the building, looking for the door so he could take a look inside...
And didn''t find one.
Filled with disbelief, Oliver dropped his knife to mark a spot before pacing around the building once again... Only to return to the same spot without seeing a single opening lower than ten feet off the ground. ¡°Huh...¡±
Shaking his head slowly, he collected his knife. Moving back around to the side with the lowest window, he stared up at it for a minute as he considered the situation he found himself in.
With no sign of movement, and unable to see much of the darkened interior, Oliver quickly came to a decision. Getting a running start, he leapt up at the dark opening, easily grasping the edge and pulling himself up.
Crouched on the lip of the small opening, Oliver pulled a flashlight from the system warehouse and clicked it on. Shining it around the interior of the building, he was both shocked and confused by what he saw: Despite the numerous windows, there were no real floors or levels to the building. The entire inside of it was hollow, though he could see what looked like furniture scattered about... Some on the ground level below him, and some carved into the buildings walls above him.
Some simple chairs, tables, alcoves and small platforms... But no stairs. Or ladders, ropes... Or any other method that he could see that would allow someone to move up and down in the building.
And no people, either. Though he was a bit grateful for that, as he wasn''t really prepared to explain barging into their home as he had done.
¡°How the hell did they move about up there? I mean... I guess if this place was abandoned long enough ago, something like ropes wouldn''t have lasted... But how am I going to even begin to search this place to figure it out?¡± He muttered, a touch of annoyance in his voice.
Glancing down again, he took in the part of the building that he could see, and access, easily. His nose wrinkled in disgust at the murky water fooled at the bottom and algae growing along the walls. The only furniture below were a pair of the oddly shaped chairs, carved into the wall just above the algae.
The chairs, if that''s what they really were, looked more like stools stuck on limbs extending out from the wall. There were no real backs to the chairs, and no arm rests, though the fact that they still had four legs danging beneath them puzzled Oliver. Running his eyes over the legs of the chairs, the only curious thing he could find about them were small blocks stick straight out at the bottom of each one... On all four legs... Almost like footrests, so that the person sitting there wouldn''t have to just let their feet hang loosely...
Oliver''s mind raced as he turned his eyes upwards once again. No stairs, ropes, or ladders... A bunch of windows, but no doors... Unless those were the doors...
¡°Maybe they used ropes and ladders, and all that stuff decomposed or was taken with them... Or maybe they could fly?¡±
With a sigh, Oliver turned his mind to his options: Try to climb up and search this building for more clues, or try the next building?
But would the next building be any different? Maybe the short ones, like the couple that had collapsed, would be easier to search...
Book 2 - Chapter 18 – The Corpse of a Dead Civilization
Climbing the towering fungus building turned out to be easier than Oliver had expected, thanks in part to how much he had increased his attributes already... And the fact that, despite how resilient as the giant mushrooms were, it was actually quite easy to carve out simple handholds- the tough flesh of the stalk parted cleanly under the edge of his sharp knife.
Thankfully, he had tossed a headlamp in the system warehouse for situations where he needed a light while keeping both hands free.
Moving carefully the higher he went, Oliver made his way to the lowest platform. Only a few feet wide, with a small alcove carved out behind it, he found the platform surprisingly sturdy as he tested it repeatedly before slowly settling his full weight on it... and found... something... tucked away in the alcove.
Pulling the baseball bat from the system warehouse as he crept forward, it only took a moment of poking and prodding, carefully shifting the lump around, before he realized what it was: a simple blanket that had grown moldy over time, as it had been left in a bundled up heap.
¡°Vadrin... There use to be people living here. Make sure everyone stays alert in case any are still around.¡±
¡°Did you find something friend Silk?¡±
Just as he was about to respond, he felt something different under the prodding tip of his bat as it impacted something small but solid. Taking hold of the corner of the blanket, he cautiously spread it out, bat at the ready... But his caution was unneeded as, after being jostled free, a pale gray object the size of his fist sat before him.
Which, he immediately realized, was a carved figurine in the likeness of one of the squirrels he had recently dealt with.
Gingerly he picked up the figurine and, turning it over in his hands, he took in the incredible amount of detail. It was a near perfect representation, right down to the scales and the big adorable eyes. The only real difference was in the claws, as the one''s on the figuring were blunted rather than sharp. He wasn''t sure what it was made of exactly, but it looked like stone of some sort.
Though he had no idea how it was free of mold after being wrapped up in the nasty blanket... Of course, he wasn''t an expert on mold anyway, so he really didn''t know what it would grow on...
¡°I''m checking an empty building right now... And I found a blanket and a carved figurine. It looks like one of the squirrels I brought you, just smaller. Maybe hand made, though I''m not an really an expert on that sort of thing... It kinda reminds me of a child''s toy or something. No idea what it is made from.¡±
¡°I''m going to keep looking.¡±
Oliver made his way higher up the building, checking each platform and alcove as he went, and carefully collected an assortment of items that were left behind.
He ignored the moldy blankets, other than to make sure they hid nothing else of interest... But, even so, there were several items for him to ponder over. Scraps of leather, a few of which looked to have once been belts or some sort of pouch for carrying things... Shards of clay that may have once been pottery, perhaps for cooking or storing things?
A pair of dice, carve out of the same material the figuring was...
Something that looked like a wax candle...
An opaque glass jar, carefully tucked away in an alcove...
Finding a handsaw and a knife made of some metal he couldn''t identify caught Oliver''s interest immediately. He had been to enough of the medieval reenactments and watched people hand forge tools to recognize them on sight.
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¡°I think we''re looking at a pre-industrial civilization, Vadrin. I found some hand forged tools, and everything else looks hand made... Some clay and glass, as well...¡±
Oliver paused, having found something else to important to ignore.
Near where he had found the knife, he spotted a shelf tucked away with a decent size block of the gray stone... But, behind the block of stone, were more of the carved figurines. Almost a dozen of them, in fact.
But all of them were of different animals.
There were some similarities among the animals, namely the fact that all of them seemed to have scales of some sort...
Though that made sense for the ones that looked like a snake or a lizard...
It was the others that he focused on.
Particularly the ones that looked kind of like a buffalo, a bear, and a large cat.
He had no frame of reference for them, other than the carvings themselves being done slightly larger than the rest, but still the creatures looked fierce. Heavily muscled, with large scales covering most of their bodies... The buffalo had massive horns and clawed feet instead of hooves... And the cat had a jagged, pointed mane ¡
¡°...And, if these figurines are anything to go by, they are a lot more animals than what we''ve seen so far. So definitely make sure everyone is careful.¡±
Oliver felt the hair on the back of his neck rise as he moved on to the next building...
And the one after that...
Building after building, some as short as only two or three stories tall, others perhaps seven or eight... Every one of them empty, save for the remnants left behind by whoever had occupied them. He found more of the metal tools, discarded scraps of what may have been clothing and other articles he had no clue about...
But no people... And no bodies.
Bypassing the collapsed buildings- though he paused to collect the dropped tools and metal he had seen glinting from above- Oliver continued his search... Until he saw what had to have been the biggest mushroom building of any he had seen.
It was huge, easily as wide as Polina''s house, and twice the height of any of the other buildings around. The cap sitting high above nearly blotting out the sky... He had no idea how they hadn''t picked it out easily from above.
Though, he supposed, a huge mushroom among other giant mushrooms didn''t really stand out all that much...
And, for whatever reason, this building had one of its windows just a few feet above the ground.
Carefully approaching the opening, Oliver swept his light around the interior... and froze. While the open interior continued all the way up, just as the others had, this building had something new. Something he hadn''t seen in any of the others.
Stairs. Going down. Underground.
Which, despite him only knowing a little about construction and architecture, didn''t make a lot of sense. Given the wetlands surrounding the place, a basement would be horribly impractical even with modern construction. It would inevitably be damp, and prone to flooding...
Of course, he was quick to remind himself that he was on an alien planet, looking at alien architecture. For all he knew, they had some solution to the problem... That, and considering he had magic, it wasn''t impossible for the people that had lived here to also have had it...
Oliver quickly swept his light above once more as he considered where to check first, above or below? The last thing he wanted was to have something surprise him from above, but whatever was underground was a complete unknown... Of course, he was also hesitant to try and climb a hundred feet up with no safety gear. Improved attributes were great, but he doubted they would save him from falling to death.
With no movement, or any other indication of something still being present in the building above, curiosity won out. He hurried over to the stairs leading down and, shining his light on them, he saw they spiraled clockwise roughly the full width of the building. Unable to see beyond the curve of the stairs, he eased his way down one step at a time.
Laser pistol in hand, Oliver cautiously placed one foot after the other, always careful to test that the next step would support his weight. The path circled the building what felt like twice, though he wasn''t certain of that guess, when it finally opened up into a massive hall, extending hundreds of feet into the distance... Far enough that he could barely make out the far wall under the illumination of the small headlamp.
And, in the center of the hall, stood an unmoving figure.
And surrounding the figure... the floor of the hall was practically carpeted by bones of all different sizes and shapes, so deep he couldn''t see the actual floor beneath them...
Book 2 - Chapter 19 – Relics of the Past
''Silent as the grave.'' He thought, suppressing the nervous laugh that bubbled up within.
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Statue of Osquin Primarch (1 of 5) Collected.
Statue of Osquin Primarch(Relic): Under the weight of their own hubris and hunger, the history of the Osquin has been forever lost. Little remains of their people save remnants... and the statues of their Primarchs, scattered throughout the world. This statue bears the aura of a predator, and wards off the intrusion of lesser beasts. (May have reduced effects on more powerful creatures. May draw the ire of apex predators, inciting an attack. Ineffective against intelligent races.)
Book 2 - Chapter 20 – Side Quest, and Dealing on the Side
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Book 2 - Chapter 21 – Done Deal
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you have to offer? Personally, I prefer weapons... Or useful bits of technology. Maybe you have some other interesting things?¡±
Multiple Bounty Claims have been submitted.
View Bounty Claims? (Yes/No)
Book 2 - Chapter 22 – Gathering the Magic(s)
With the deal completed, Oliver ignored the dumbfounded looks the Rach threw his way as he quickly stored the Scrambler in the system warehouse. Waving over his shoulder, he rushed out without bothering to say goodbye.
The few minutes it took to get back to his room felt like forever, he was so eager to check the Bounty Claims.
With the door secured behind him, Oliver dropped on to his inflatable mattress, already opening the system window. Flipping straight to the Bounty Board, he eyed the blinking icon of a new tab for a second before mentally clicking on it.
Bounty Claims
Healing on Demand (2)
Offense is the best defense (7)
Bombardment (4)
Control the flow (3)
Oliver stared at the screen in uncertainty for a moment. What did the numbers mean? Were they the number of claims submitted? While that was the first, and most likely, thought that popped into his head, he couldn''t be completely sure. At least, not without checking each of them.
Which he promptly did, starting with his highest priority: healing.
Multiversal Bounty: Healing on Demand
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 2(minimum) healing Spell Tome
Details: I require a Tome in order to learn a healing spell. The Tome must be at least Tier 2 and capable of working on most organic life forms. A single target spell that can be cast on myself as well as other is preferable. The spell should focus on repairing the physical body of cuts, bruises, abrasions... Mending broken bones is optional, but preferred. With no adverse effects(this is absolutely required).
Healing on Demand claims:
Andras, Seventh Shaman of the Sea of Grass, submitted (Lesser Rejuvenation Spell Tome ¨C Tier 2).
(Accept/Reject)
Abbot Kavin submitted (Prayer of the Fading Light Spell Tome ¨C Tier 2).
(Accept/Reject)
Oliver wasn''t sure what to make of the display. A number of thoughts flitted through his mind as he looked it over... Why didn''t the system give him any more information on the spells? When spell tomes had been used for bids during his auctions, it had always presented him with a detailed explanation of the spell. Or were the descriptions provided by the people bidding? Did the people submitting the Bounties not include descriptions?
He could see the logic going a number of ways. Maybe they thought he had a better grasp of magic than he really did, and thus did not need an explanation? But a description would help to sell him on selecting their bounty, wouldn''t it? Did he have to choose based only on their names?
He was lost as to how to choose...
Part of him was inclined towards Prayer of the Fading Light, but that was more due to who submitted it, rather than the spell name itself. While he had only seen Abbot Kavin attend a few auctions, the man -and he couldn''t even be sure it was a man- had left an impression of kindness and morality that Oliver respected. And admired, to a degree.
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Though the very religious sounding name of the spell made him hesitate. Faith wasn''t really something Oliver aligned with on a personal level, and he wasn''t sure he wanted one of his spells to be a prayer.
He already knew there were entities beyond him, so what if gods were real too? Did he want to risk drawing the attention of one? And, from the impression Abbot Kavin left... he wasn''t sure whatever god the man followed would approve of Oliver''s less than benevolent nature...
A small voice in his mind had to wonder... What had happened to Carl and Jess? He imagined the Abbot had been kind to them, even if he wasn''t sure they deserved it... But did they really deserve some of the nastier outcomes they could have faced?
Shaking his head, Oliver brushed aside the thoughts about his former associates. It was beyond his control, anyway... And did he really care? Probably not.
Focusing back on the decision at hand, he knew he should probably pick one. While the salvage job had gone smoothly so far, the next run could easily go bad... And he had been injured enough on these bounties to not want to risk going out without some form of healing again.
Without more information to work with, Oliver made his selection. While he was a bit disappointed that he couldn''t send some credits Abbot Kavin''s way, the religious connotations of the spell were the deciding factor. With a flex of his Will, Oliver accepted the other claim.
Bounty Claim accept.
Lesser Rejuvenation Spell Tome has be deposited in the Systems Warehouse.
Grinning from ear to ear, Oliver struggled to restrain himself from immediately grabbing the tome to study. He still had a number of claims to go through, and learning the spell would knock him out for at least a couple hours.
Then he noticed something a bit surprising. And exciting.
The other Bounty Claim was still there, waiting for him to accept or reject it.
Oliver stared at the screen for a moment as he considered what that meant. Could he accept multiple claims for the same Bounty? And would that mean that mean he had to pay more credits for each claim? He was fairly sure that the second part was a ''yes'', as there was no such thing as a free lunch when it came to the system... And the claim still being there certainly implied that he could accept it.
A moment of searching brought him another surprise when he tried to exit the claim window.
Would you like to close the Bounty?
(Yes/No)
Warning: Bounties cannot be closed while a Claim is still active.
Selecting ''No'', Oliver pumped his fist in excitement when it exited the Claim window. The Healing on Demand claim was still on the list, though the number behind it had change to (1)... That meant he could come back to it later if he still wanted the spell!
After a moment, his excitement dimmed as he thought through the possibility more carefully. Sure, he could just hold on to it until he wanted the spell, if he ever did... But was that a good idea? He could imagine the people that submitted the Bounties waiting for a response... And waiting... Only for nothing to happen?
Would the tome they submitted be held in limbo while he dithered about? Would they get frustrated or annoyed at the lack of response? After working in retail and food service for long enough, he could imagine how they would feel- waiting for a deal to go through or be rejected, not knowing if they would get paid? It would definitely piss him off...
And if he made them angry with his indecision and lack of response, would they be willing to take on other bounties that he posted?
It all came down to the choice: Was a spell potentially worth losing their future services? If not, then it would be better to just reject the Claim and hope that that action doesn''t offend them either.
But that was the nature of business. And, if they couldn''t handle one rejection, did he really care if they fucked off?
And that led to another question... To keep the Bounty open? If he left it open, he would inevitably get more submissions. That meant more spell options... But how many Tier 2 healing spells did he need?
And, of course, leaving it open meant he may have to reject more Claims. That had complications all on its own...
¡°Better to take it down and just re-post it later if I need another spell. Hell, it only took a couple days to get two submissions as it is... Though higher tier spells would probably take longer...¡± Oliver muttered to himself as he reluctantly rejected the Abbot''s claim and closed the Bounty.
He still had a lot of Claims to go through... And then... Spells to learn.
Book 2 - Chapter 23 – Explosive Potential
Multiversal Bounty: Offense is the best defense
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 single target offensive Spell Tome
Details: I require a Spell Tome for an offensive spell. The spell should take the form of a projectile, single target, with a range of at least 50ft. The nature or element of the projectile does not matter, though its primary focus should be on damage. Secondary effects inflicted upon the target are optional. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.
Offense is the best defense claims.
Breaker submitted (Eye of the Tiger Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Breaker submitted (Sludge Bolt Spell Tome ).
(Accept/Reject)
Renos the Righteous submitted (Searing Light Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Shadow Maker submitted (Shadow Bolt Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
The Mentalist of Avrendale submitted (Mind Bullets Manifestation Technique).
(Accept/Reject)
Adaraxis the Betrayer submitted (Wind Blade Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
The Mage Council of Westermont City submitted (Lightning Bolt Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
(Four submissions automatically rejected for failure to meet stated objective/requirements.)
behind the System that was helping him out? He had no idea.
Multiversal Bounty: Bombardment
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 area of effect offensive Spell Tome
Details: I require a Spell Tome for an offensive, area of effect spell. The spell should have a cast range of at least 50 ft and cover an area with a diameter of at least 20 ft. Cast range must exceed area of effect. The nature or element of the spell does not matter, but its primary focus should be on damage. Secondary effects inflicted upon the targets is optional- if present, effects that slow, stun, or immobilize are preferred. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.
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Bombardment claims.
Breaker submitted (Chaos Bomb Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Magus Ursinda submitted (Fireball Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Stonehammer the Unyielding submitted (Stone Call Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Anonymous submitted (Silent Scream Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Multiversal Bounty: Control the flow
Objective: Acquire and Deliver a Tier 3 area of effect control Spell Tome
Details: I require a Spell Tome for an area of effect control spell. The spell should have a cast range of at least 50 ft and cover an area with a diameter of at least 20 ft. Cast range must exceed area of effect. The nature or elements of the spell does not matter, but its primary focus should be on inhibiting the targets. Effects that slow, stun, immobilize, paralyze, or incapacitate are preferred. The spell must affect living, organic targets, but the ability to also affect non-organic or non-living targets is preferred. Damage is secondary and not required. This spell should have no adverse effects on the caster.
Control the flow claims.
Samwin the Simian submitted (Mad Monkeys Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Necromancer Xra''Dravet the Vile submitted (Haunted Mist Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
Queen Lonomia of the Eternal Swarm submitted (Web Spell Tome).
(Accept/Reject)
make a decision...¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 24 – A Nice Nap, then Back to Work
Fireball Spell Tome: A grimoire used to teach the reader the spell Fireball. Single use. Requires Intelligence 20+ to use.
Fireball: Condense threads of fire attuned mana into a sphere before launching it towards the target where it explodes, dealing damage in an area. Range= 5 feet per point of Intelligence(95 feet). Area of Effect= 1 foot per point of Intelligence(19 feet) diameter sphere around the point of impact(walls and other obstructions my limit the affected area). Deals fire based damage to everything within the area, and has a small chance to set them on fire. Mana Cost= 40
make him smarter. It was more like it raised the potential of his mind.
Fireball Spell Tome
Estimated Independent study time required to learn ¨C 2 years
Activate System Assisted Integration? (Cost: 10,000 credits)
Estimated time required for System Assisted Integration ¨C 8 hours
(Yes/No)
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Web Tome: A grimoire used to teach the reader the spell Web. Single use. Requires Intelligence 20+ to use.
Web: Weave mana into threads of sticky web to cover an area, entangling everything within. Range= 5 feet per point of Intelligence(100 feet). Area of Effect= 1 foot per point of Intelligence(20 feet) diameter sphere around the point of impact(walls and other obstructions my limit the affected area). Entangles people and objects caught within the area. Web strength is determined by the caster''s Intelligence. Targets with a higher Strength have a chance to break Web''s entangling effect. Targets with a higher Agility have a chance to evade Web''s entangling effect. As the Web is a solid construct, it can be target by attacks and damaged or destroyed. (WARNING: Web is highly flammable!) Mana cost= 40
too perfect, which raised a number of questions in his mind. Were the game elements inspired by other Multiverse hopping mages? He knew it wasn''t likely he would find the answer to that, but it was curious...
Mind Bullets Manifestation Technique: This technique will teach the reader Mind Bullets Manifestation. Single Use. Requires Willpower 18+ to use.
Mind Bullets Manifestation: Form and launch solid projectiles composed of pure psychic energy, dealing physical damage to the target. Has a small chance of causing a psychic shock to the target, resulting in disorientation or unconsciousness(based on target''s Willpower). Range= 5 feet per point of Willpower(95 feet).
Book 2 - Chapter 25 – Wheres the Action?
Opening Auction House...
Initiating Virtual Space...
Distributing Invitations...
The MDMS Auction House is now open for business!
Mislandor has joined the auction.
Grill Master Rusty has joined the auction.
Anonymous has joined the auction.
Anonymous has joined the auction.
High Shaman Priya Valde Umrona has joined the auction.
Lady Moonthistle has joined the auction.
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Brismo has joined the auction.
The Sacred has joined the auction.
Mad Scientist Imogen has joined the auction.
Unit E4250B1131 has joined the auction.
Anonymous has joined the auction.
Ves of the Ascendant Pride has joined the auction.
Regent Dustbrin has joined the auction.
Silk(Host): Welcome, everyone! I am back with more wonderful items and delightful deals! I hope you are all prepared for another fun auction!
Mad Scientist Imogen: An auction! Excellent! Do you have more of that wonderful substance... I believe you called it Vintage? It had shown great promise in my experiments... I''m quite certain that it is a key ingredient in my attempts to reverse the zombification process...
Mad Scientist Imogen: ...though all of my tests have resulted in unstable mutations. Perhaps if I swap out the Star Lotus in favor of Sleep Root? Sleep Root is a depressant, after all. Would it help to counteract the portion of Vintage that acts as a stimulant?
Mad Scientist Imogen: Also, do you have a less addictive stimulant for sale? I would prefer not to indulge in my limited supply of Vintage . It is far too precious to be wasted on me staying up for three more days to experiment...
Silk(Host): While I am glad to see such enthusiasm, I do not currently have more Vintage available for sale. Perhaps in a few weeks, as I must reach out to my source first.
Silk(Host): Though I do not have some of my earlier items available for this auction, I have brought a whole new selection for everyone!
Silk(Host): Tonight''s auction covers a variety of items. Strange plants that I have encountered in my travels, a small but aggressive animal- one of them attempted to rip my face off, though they are quite adorable in my opinion... Adorable and vicious...
Silk(Host): A new weapon as well. Unfortunately, I only have one for sale... And access to them is quite a challenge, so don''t miss out!
Silk(Host): And our last item of the night will be a Relic left behind by a fallen civilization!
Silk(Host): I hope you all came prepared, as I''m sure these items will garner quite some attention. But enough of me talking! I''m here to sell; You''re here to buy. So let''s get started!
Silk(Host): First up, we have this odd predatory plant! Capable of independent motion, I first found this bundle of roots creeping along a forest floor in search of rodents for it to devour...
Mad Scientist Imogen: ...and if I combined it with Sleep Root and Dream Dust, it should induce astral projection. Maybe now I can finally punch that annoying ghost in the mouth and shut him up!
Book 2 - Chapter 26 – Auction Action
Silk(Host): Next up, we have a lot that is honestly my favorite for the night! These squirrel like creatures are as vicious as they are beautiful to look at. Their lavender colored skin, blue-green scales... All the way down to their razor sharp pink claws!
Silk(Host): These aggressive critters also seem to cooperate with each other, as I discovered when I captured them. From what I have gathered, they are omnivorous. And quite territorial. They are also smart enough to recognize a significant threat to themselves, and will actively avoid such confrontations.
Silk(Host): It is currently unknown if these creatures can be trained or not, though I intend to find out myself- I specifically captured the first that attacked me for just such a purpose... I quite admire the scrappy critter!
Silk(Host): This lot is for seven, a mix of males and females. Whether you want them as a pet, or to train them for something more... This is likely to be the only time I offer these creatures, as I have already left their home behind and currently have no plans to return!
Silk(Host): With that in mind, let''s start the bidding at 30,000 credits!
Grill Master Rusty: I bet those critters would be good barbecued... I''ll bid 30,000!
Star Dancer: You want to eat these poor cuties! How could you be so heartless! 35,000!
Pack Master: 40,000.
Hunts Master Adrian: You people... want to eat them? Or keep them as pets? Foolish! 45,000!
Arch-mage Soo: I believe these... squirrels... will make excellent familiars for my young apprentices...
Arch-mage Soo wishes to bid (Spell Tome of Bind Familiar) and 30,000 credits.
Spell Tome of Bind Familiar: A grimoire used to teach the reader the spell Bind Familiar. Single use. Requires Intelligence 16+ to use. (Bind Familiar is a Rank 2 spell)
Estimated value: 22,000 credits.
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Silk(Host): Arch-mage Soo, I must admit that I am certainly partial to such a bid... But, considering the interest being shown by others, I am afraid that it is not enough to sway me. I apologize for having to reject your bid.
Arch-mage Soo wishes to bid (Spell Tome of Bind Familiar), Ring of Mana Regeneration(Least), Minor Mana Potions(5), and 30,000 credits.
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Ring of Mana Regeneration(Least): A ring designed to gather ambient mana and assist in its absorption, increasing the speed at which the wearer recovers their mana.
Estimated value: 14,000 credits
Minor Mana Potion: Crafted by an apprentice level alchemist using common ingredients, this Potion will instantly recover 40 mana when consumed. Single use. Caution: Repeated consumption of Potions in a short time span may cause Potion Sickness(nausea, vomiting, and loss of Potion effect). It is recommended to only consume one(1) Potion per hour.
Estimated value: 200 credits(each)
Accept Bid? (Yes/No)
Silk(Host): My apologies, everyone, but it seems we have quite an interesting bid here! Unless someone can offer better, this cute little critters will be going to the Arch-mage...
Silk(Host): Well, that was certainly exciting! But we aren''t done yet!
Silk(Host): Our fourth lot is a Laser Pistol! This is a technological weapon that focuses light into a deadly beam of energy. It is most effective against flesh and blood targets, though it is still capable of damaging things like wood and stone, just to a lesser extent. It has an effective range of several hundred feet, dependent upon the user''s accuracy. It''s power is reduced at greater ranges, though it may still be capable of causing damage.
Silk(Host): Do note, as a technological weapon, it may not work in all environments... Or even on some worlds. This is a fully functional weapon, already loaded with the required fuel cell to power it, and the seller takes no responsibility for environmental factors that may limit its use for the buyer. The seller also takes no responsibility for any damage caused by the buyers use(or misuse) of the weapon.
Silk(Host): Now, shall we start the bidding at 10,000 credits?
Silk(Host): Now, the final lot for the night! I''m sure many of you are curious about it.
Silk(Host): Do you have a place that you want to protect from aggressive beasts? Perhaps a city or village, filled with people, and out on the edge of wild lands?
Silk(Host): What I have here are two relics, part of a set, that ward off lesser beasts. These statues are practically all that remains of a fallen civilization... So perhaps they are of interest to collectors as well?
Silk(Host): Though out of concern for everyone''s well being, I will offer this bit of caution... The aura of the statues, which wards off beast, may incite aggression from truly powerful predators. So don''t expect them to scare off a Dragon... And, again, I take no responsibility for your use or misuse, or the consequences of your mismanagement of the Relic.
Silk(Host): And, with the warnings out of the way, I present to everyone two Statues of Osquin Primarch! Bidding starts at 40,000 credits. Do I have any takers?
Primarch Belus: This...! How!? I must have these statues! 50,000 credits!
Book 2 - Chapter 27 – All About the Gains
In Oliver''s opinion, the auction couldn''t have been more of a success. The statues alone netted him nearly 250,000 credits. Practically a fortune, as it was.
Not that it would last very long, as he wouldn''t hesitate to spend it. Especially when all these credits counted towards his long term success... and survival.
With nearly 450,000 credits to work with, his first priority was obvious enough: raising the rest of his attributes to 20. As unpleasant as the experience could be, even a small increase could make a difference if problems popped up... Not that breaking through his ''human limits'' was really a small increase, as far as he was concerned.
Raising his strength was pure agony, as it felt like all of his muscles bugled and tore simultaneously... And Vitality wasn''t much better, as it felt like his entire body went locked up in a single, massive muscle cramp...
Willpower felt like electricity running through his brain, so much so that he could barely think for several minutes afterwards. It wasn''t until he finally focused on pushing the sensation away that awareness fully returned...
Luck... was the odd one. For whatever reason, there was no pain at all when he increased that attribute. Only an odd, ephemeral tingle... And, unlike the others, no notification from the system that he was exceeding the ''local human limits'' for the attribute.
Definitely curious, but not something he would likely find an answer to any time soon...
Of course, increasing his Attributes wasn''t without cost- that cost being 80,000 credits. But, considering he felt stronger, tougher... better... than he ever had, it was a price worth paying. For a brief moment, Oliver considering raising all of his attributes again... before immediately discarding the thought.
As tempting as it was, and he definitely wanted to keep boosting his stats, the 154,000 credits it would cost was a bit over his budget at the moment. There were still other things he had planned for his credits, not to mention that he wanted to keep a small buffer for emergencies.
Speaking of plans for his credits...
Opening the Bounty Board, Oliver immediately started placing bounties. While he didn''t have any hard evidence that they existed, he could easily infer that if mana potions were a thing, so were any number of others.
So he naturally wanted some. For emergencies, of course.
¡°Let''s see... a Bounty for five-no, ten. Ten low level healing potions... Only five thousand credits to post the bounty? Yes, please!¡± Oliver practically crowed. ¡°Now, lets take a stab at a few others...¡±
¡°Fuck! Thirty thousand for a single invisibility potion! Seventy-five thousand for a potion of flight!? Damn... that Multiversal mark-up is killing me...¡±
Oliver paused as that statement rang in his head like a gong. At some point, his Bounties would allow him to travel to other Universes... What if he was in a Universe where these potions could be created? The price would be a lot lower to post the bounties... Not to mention, if he went to a planet where they were actually made, he could just pop around to a store and buy them without any extra charge from the system...
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Nodding to himself, he muttered idly as he organized his thoughts. ¡°Once I can actually travel to those places, the Bounties will be more for getting what I need in an emergency... But, right now, I can''t avoid paying out the ass for even small things from other Universes... I''ll definitely have to stock up in the future...¡±
Shaking off the future possibilities, he refocused on his present dilemma. He had planned to grab both Shadow Bolt and Sludge Bolt, just to give him a few more options for elements with his spells... But he couldn''t afford to grab both Spell Tomes as well as the potions. Not if he wanted to keep a decent sized emergency fund.
¡°Ok... 100,000 credits for the emergency fund... That leaves me with just a little over 260,000 to play with right now. A hundred-K each for the spells...I could get both spells and the invisibility potion, leaving me with a little for other potions- if I can figure out a wording for the bounties that will get me something useful... Or I can drop one spell for the flight potion, leaving me with 60,000 to play around with...¡±
Sighing softly, Oliver shook his head. ¡°Potions are single use, though. It''s possible flight could save my ass... Once. Then I would have to decide if I wanted to spend a good sized chunk of credits again... Or...¡±
Oliver''s eyes flashed with greed and excitement as he quickly started on the form for another Bounty... Only for his hopes to be quickly dashed as he nearly choked in outrage. ¡°Fucking hell! 250,000 credits! I barely have that much to spend! Why the hell is the Spell Tome for flight so expensive?¡±
Shaking his head, he knew the answer. Demand dictated the price... And plenty of people would want the ability to fly. Not only was it cool- at least he thought so- but it was a very advantageous ability. Especially for a mage.
Guy with a sword comes charging at you? Fly away. Need to get up a cliff? Fly. The plane you''re in decides to crash? No problem, just fly.
Looking at it objectively, it was almost worth spending all of his free credits. While it wasn''t a spell that could directly end a fight, the pure utility and mobility it offered was a game changer.
He was sorely tempted, even if it meant giving up on everything else he had planned for his credits.
¡°One big, but extremely useful, expenditure... Or a bunch of smaller purchases, whose uses would be more limited and sometimes situational...¡±
Oliver leaned back and stared up at the ceiling, his mind sorting though the options. ¡°Flight is useful, no doubt, but its not an instant win button. What if I''m inside a building? Sure I could probably fly out a window, but what if that isn''t an option? Like on this Ark; flight could help, but it wouldn''t really get me anywhere. There are plenty of situations where flight won''t necessarily help... And, since I don''t really know what I will have to deal with next, maybe its better to go for a spread of options?¡±
¡°I don''t always need the perfect answer to a situation, as long as I have an option that at least works...¡±
¡°Plus, I can always try to buy a flight spell later... Or trade for one through the auction. Definitely going to get it at some point, though.¡±
¡°And maybe there are some cheaper options...¡±
With the thought in mind to experiment with the Bounties and see what he could find, Oliver did exactly that. It seemed almost like an exploit to him: Fill in the Bounty with what he was looking for, check what the system would charge him for posting the bounty, then decide if it was worth it or not.
He even made notes on the possible Bounties... And he knew he wasn''t done with the notes, as he had already filled up several pages and was no where near done with the magic tropes he knew of from games.
¡°40,000 for a Slow Fall Spell Tome? Or 13,000 for a potion? Potions that can double a person''s size temporarily? Potions that can shrink someone... Protection from cold weather? Hot weather? Changing your appearance... Oh, wow! Potions that can conjure a ghostly mount to ride? Huh, I wasn''t sure if that was actually possible... And I''m not really sure why I was even checking for that...¡±
Oliver chuckled to himself. He actually found it quite exciting, discovering the possibilities. He knew he couldn''t buy all of them, but knowing what his options were was a good idea if he wanted to prepare to the best of his abilities.
¡°Ok, I think that settles it. Both Spell Tomes, the healing potions, an invisibility potion... A slow fall potion, just in case... And a potion of night vision, for if I need to sneak around and can''t risk using my flashlight.¡±
¡°Why do I feel like I''m forgetting something?¡±
¡°Ah! I need to learn Bind Familiar! I''ve got a squirrel to tame...¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 28 – HALO
after.¡±
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Book 2 - Chapter 29 – Free Fallin
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Book 2 - Chapter 30 – Scarpered off?
good option left...
Scarper Charm ¨C On activation, creates a temporary portal to a safe location within 1 mile. Portal remains active for 5 seconds. 1 charge is consumed on each activation. Charm is destroyed when no charges remain. (1 charge)
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Book 2 - Chapter 31 – Familiar Abilities
Lesser Rejuvenation: Infuses the target with a seed of life attuned mana. This seed pulses a small amount of healing energy throughout the target every two seconds for ten second, mending wounds, promoting increased production of blood, and attempting to knit broken bones back together. Mana cost=20 (Caution: This spell only functions as described on living, organic targets. Life attuned mana conflicts with necrotic mana. If used on an Undead target, this spell will instead cause damage.)
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
Aspect of the Familiar: Take on the aspect of your familiar, gaining limited physical properties based on the Familiar chosen.
Familiar : Adrova Squirrel(Henrietta)
Benefits : Minor increase to Agility, climbing, balance, and hearing.
Physical manifestation : ears, prehensile tail, retractable claws.
Book 2 - Chapter 32 - Spelunking
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Warehouse Expansion Cost: 10,000 credits
could expand the warehouse.
Book 2 - Chapter 33 – Alien
need information.''
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carves into their heart and takes to the grave with them.¡± Oliver crooned, his voice softly sinister.
anything, just to stop the pain.¡±
want to hurt you.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 34 – Just a Little (Self)Sabotage
towards the cave mouth. Apparently, there was a slight incline to the massive cavern. That was a welcome benefit though, as it meant more fuel would be pooled around the planes before he finally kicked things off.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
trying to talk first...
Book 2 - Chapter 35 – Inflamed and in Flames
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
eager to hurt them.
Book 2 - Chapter 36 – If Looks Could Kill
appeared in the aliens off-hand.
and maim the person with the weapon. Understand?¡±
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looked sad.
Book 2 - Chapter 37 – A (not so) Well Thought Out Plan
¡°
and the Commander.
and avoided your soldiers as they searched for me."
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
how you did it though.¡±
peaceful exploration.¡±
Book 2 - Polina: Friendly Advice
¡°
really going on.
technically being paid to kill people, she knew that wasn''t why he did it. His morals were definitely not normal, but still clearly defined in a way.
had actually made Carl Jr. disappear... But that didn''t make it right for some asshole to try to ruin their lives, her life, based solely on suspicion. She nearly lost her job! And, while it would be easy to blame it all on Oliver... He had no control over the corruption in the system. He may have been the initial catalyst...
weird stuff was added in.
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protect people... And now she knows that there are things even the cops can''t protect people from.
together. From what you''ve told me, that man would do anything for you. Including working on whatever the issue is. So just talk to him!¡±
did want to fix things... ¡°I''ll think about it Lyn.¡±
Book 2 - Southern Style Sweet T
¡°
not appreciate, given my busy schedule.¡± She huffed disdainfully, pointedly ignoring the offered handshake.
his desk, a fact that he was still getting used to. While he was pursuing a business degree, suddenly being the ''man in charge'' rather than working his way up through a company was a surprise. A pleasant surprise, and a huge challenge, but definitely exciting.
after running a million dollar organization? Even if he didn''t work for Oli long term, his future success was practically guaranteed- as long as he didn''t fuck it up.
hour?¡±
currently have a Board. Most of those responsibilities are being delegated out to the people that will eventually form the Board, as we are still fleshing out the structure of the organization. Sort of as a working test: they show what they bring to the table and their ability, and they will likely end up as one of the people managing everything.¡±
my boss. We actually have no intention of receiving any form of grants or subsidies from the government.¡±
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Book 2 - Chapter 38 – Reunions and Farewells
¡°
very hostile. Like, kill us on sight levels of hostile. The truck, and all the stuff loaded into it, are pretty much ''spoils of war''... I mean, it wasn''t really a war, but whatever. So, no, negotiation likely isn''t possible. And I strongly discourage the attempt, especially since they speak a different language from you.¡±
frozen? But I don''t even feel cold!¡±
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give us those supplies?¡± She asked, a hint of disbelief creeping into her voice. From his story, this man was a cold killer... But he was just giving them vital supplies? Because he liked them?
Book 2 - Chapter 39 – Eyes Like Fire
him to give in. To toss away the life he knew at the whims of a spoiled asshole... And he wasn''t willing to do that.
Had.
fucked? Was it some stupid anime logic? Because he got some weird ass system, was he now some ''fated hero''- or some other equally bullshit trope?
good. She was so upright and honest and decent...
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Permanently dealt with him... The asshole wouldn''t have stopped. Every bit of trouble the guy stirred up was always smoothed over by his family. Bad grades? The school wouldn''t kick him out; his family''s donations were too large to risk offending them. When he got arrested for assault? He was out the next day...
her any more...
Book 2 - Chapter 40 – Mistakes
Indifferent, to almost any situation... Except for the brief moment of rage directed at Carl.
good, like her... and not a monster like me.¡±
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all of you. And could she accept that you would do what you feel is right even when the world says that your actions are wrong?¡±
either of you.¡±
both of you to make it work.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 41 – Difficult to Deal With
him. He hadn''t even thought of it from that perspective- though he knew he couldn''t blame himself too much for that; Not only was he distracted by his own emotional turmoil and all the things he was doing, but the simple fact was that he had never been one that really asked for support from anyone. Even going through therapy before had been a bit out of character for him; he had mostly done it because his mother had asked him to before she passed... Though, he had to admit, it definitely helped.
understand it!?¡±
her. Henrietta is a girl, and calling her an ''it'' upset her. More importantly, she said there are people heading this way.¡±
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from another planet... Bro! Did... Did you meet aliens!?¡±
not friendly...¡±
shit...¡± Tyrone breathed in a shocked whisper. ¡°Bro, you''ve got to tell me about it! I mean... Fuck! I don''t even know what to say or ask!¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 42 – Just Like Old Times... Kinda
normal reunion?¡±
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definitely kick your ass over it. I''m not trying to be a dick, but this ain''t the time for joking around.¡± Tyrone threatened, glaring sternly at the three- mostly at Ed and Gary. He knew Marty likely wouldn''t be a problem, but those two... If he didn''t know how loyal they were, and how good at keeping secrets they could be, he wouldn''t have hired them. Or even really trusted them, friends or not.
you started the charity?¡± Marty blurted out, a stunned look on his face. ¡°That... How!? Starting something like that had to have cost a ton! Like, what? A couple hundred thousand at least? A half-million?¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 43 – Nuts
he was ready to know about those things, though the system seemed to disagree. Or the person behind it, if there was one...
love that I get to point out you guys being dumb... Remember the vampire part? Where Oli was trying to save someone? And by that I mean saving me?¡±
real?¡± Gary said as he sat up, then quickly turned his gaze to Oliver. ¡°Ok, prove it then. Do the portal thing again.¡±
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every game night. You think we don''t pay attention?¡± Gary scoffed even as he pulled out a bag of chips for himself.
fuck is that!?¡±
I have to do to get magic? Because I''m not so sure we can trust these two not to blow shit up.¡±
only.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 44 – Not a Game
before you need it.¡±
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never be close to done; this little exercise has just proven that without a doubt.¡±
cost.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 45 – Time... To Talk
hurt you...¡±
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him... So why didn''t she just ask?
would do anything for you.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 46 - Eccentric
sleep in your office? I''m sure you must trust them, otherwise I doubt you would allow it... But this is hardly appropriate for the work place!¡±
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owner! And you didn''t warn me!?¡± Mary''s scandalized tone stifled any humor he felt. ¡°I nearly- Oh, we are going to have words about this, Mr. Biggs! I can''t believe... Should I send Alice to get coffee for them? Or breakfast? I am severely under-prepared for this, and it is because you-¡±
him. ¡°I know, Oli. I feel the same... But we weren''t supposed to sleep here last night! And I definitely need a shower. And some coffee. And we can easily have both at... home...¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 47 – Different Jobs
¡°
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mostly true- in a way, it would actually help the two of them; they needed a cover for when they ''left town'' for extended periods, and his ''job'' was the best answer.. ¡°Like my last job... I went out to help some people that had suffered damage to their agriculture due to a natural disaster. We were trying to pick up some supplies and ran into some problems...¡±
changed.
Paranormal Investigations Division.
Book 2 - Chapter 48 – A Picture is Worth... At Least a Few Words
¡°Mr. Silk?¡±
Reaching out slowly, she tapped a single manicured nail on the picture as she continued. ¡°This woman, Evelyn Hart, is wanted in multiple countries for a variety of reasons- just about everything you could imagine, from assassinations to war crimes. She is extremely dangerous. So, I hope you can understand why we are taking this very seriously. If you would prefer to have your lawyer present, I understand. But we would appreciate any information that you could provide.¡±
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''Fucking FBI... and Fuck Eve for fucking things up. Again.''
But why, of all the agents available, was he the one that she got stuck with? She knew it was because he was the one that brought Evelyn Hart to their attention, but still...
¡°You disagree, Agent Smith? What would you have us do?¡±
Jane sighed, shaking her head. While that was an option, she didn''t have confidence in it working. ¡°The evidence is all circumstantial; his lawyer would rip it apart in seconds. Plus, you have to consider that he probably wouldn''t crack.¡±
Jane scoffed, turning a stern eye in his direction. ¡°Yes, but the cards of Senior Agents have additional temporary enchantments. Specifically one-way voice transmission. Everything Mr. Silk says for the next two weeks will be sent directly to us and recorded, just in case.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 49 – Logic, not Divination
¡°
was similar to the Spell Tomes: the magic itself seemed to be embedded in the object. His best guess was some form of enchantment... Though, that raised the question of why they used a card and not something more durable...
listen to a remote location.
Genius!'' Oliver thought as his mouth snapped shut and he focused on driving.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
their house, she amended in her mind with a brief surge of joy- she watched as he waved for her to wait their before he ran into the house, only to return seconds later.
Book 2 - Chapter 50 – Geeky References
¡°the most fun I have had in a while!¡± Marty exclaimed with a laugh. ¡°Seriously, your life is better than any game I''ve played lately. Aliens, magic, and now the FBI!? I swear, this is practically a gamer wet dream!¡±
how his spells created such effects, he could at least see a bit of logic to it. The mana was the base, shaped by his Will, and it created an effect of some sort...
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actually hurt him, but she was surprisingly scary at times... Though, she was dating Oliver, so it kind of fit... ¡°Ah, it''s actually a good thing! I promise! A gun bunny is usually just the character with an obscene number of weapons and a willingness to use them...¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 51 – Polinas (Alternative) Arms
¡°
Poli...
bows?
and you''ve made steps to cover your gaps using magic. That''s already a pretty damn good, if you ask me.¡±
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If you do manage to actually pull it, don''t just let it go. Ease it back gently. Seriously, I don''t want to get chewed out because of an injured customer.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 52 – Streamlined Process
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did take business classes? I''ve already got spreadsheets set up with your expenditures; now we''ve just got to plug in the earnings, and allocate what percentage you want for your savings, and we can easily figure out your budget!¡±
Blighted Crops- Our harvest was been ruined by a foul pestilence, and the village faces starvation if more supplies are not brought in... But the passes are blocked thanks to this damnable snow! The caravans can''t even get through to us! I warned them this could happen... But now isn''t the time for bringing up old arguments. By my calculations, we need at least 400lbs of food to see everyone through this safely. I can offer 500 of these... credits... to the person who assists us in this time of need.
Book 2 - Chapter 53 – Accounting and Analysis
¡°
two hundred million dollars. He couldn''t even imagine such a sum! ¡°Ok... Damn... That is... crazy, man!¡± He said with a gasp.
every bullet, but stopping even one may just save your life.¡±
too overboard, Oli.¡± Polina said as she hugged him, a small chuckle escaping her. ¡°I know you want me safe, but I''m still capable of taking care of myself. Especially since I''m already armed to the teeth!¡±
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bit overboard... But maybe it would all be useful...
hundreds of thousands. So, it''s easy to find and fill them quickly... But they also don''t pay that well.¡±
would have to deal with them again?
is a Multidimensional auction. Even if you lose some of your attendees, you''ll probably just get new ones...¡±
Global market? Trying to figure out one that spans multiple Universes is just... I can''t; Hell, I don''t think anyone short of God could!¡±
the fuck- what? The answer is obvious, right?¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 54 – Try not to go Overboard
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literally to the ends of every Universe with you.¡±
might happen to us.¡±
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Book 2 - Chapter 55 – Push it to the Limit
flexed under the amount of weight hung on it.
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did add more weight to it, you would definitely break the record. That was about 950lbs, bro...¡±
wouldn''t if we didn''t know the whole story.¡±
my mana. Or Psi, for that matter. Neither of them have been affected. And I didn''t really feel any mana moving or being used... Though I don''t really have a lot of experience with that, anyway.¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 56 – The Cookout
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wanted to be here. People he valued and cared about. It was something he knew his mom would have loved, and that he wished she could have seen...
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beautiful! How could you not invite your mother to the wedding!? More important, when am I getting grand-babies!¡±
Pulse Ring: Part of a two ring set, these rings are magically linked- even across dimensional membranes. The gemstone of each pulses in time with the heartbeat of the person wearing its twin, and changes color when they are under the effect of various status ailments.
Book 2 - Chapter 57 – I Told You...
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Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
told you it would work out! How is that going? Is there anything I can do to help?¡±
could work out, and quickly at that.
Book 2 - Chapter 58 – Drive to the Point
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furious at just the sight of her.
didn''t befriend my girlfriend just to get close to me?¡± He shot back with a sarcastic snarl. ¡°You know, exactly what I warned you not to do with threats of death and dismemberment?¡±
Eve, she corrected herself mentally, as she was now sure that was her real name. Her mind spun with uncertainty- she doubted she could really stop this from being an issue, so how could she go about changing it so as to bring fewer problems down on all of them?
hear a disturbance and decide to call the Police, ok?¡± She added, hoping he would understand.
Lyn.¡± Polina scowled. ¡°If you just leave like this, it will only make things worse. At this point, you''ve already screwed up... and Oli isn''t going to forget it.¡±
me pissed off as well, you should shut up and get in the car!¡±
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and threatened to kill him!¡±
all of them. My sire tends to avoid others and do his own thing because he hates the stupid politics and power struggles, too... Because that''s what it is all about to most of them: Power, pure and simple. Power over mundanes like you. Power over each other... Hell, some of the older vamps like to mess around with the government types because of the power involved- I''m pretty sure some of them had a hand in causing the Civil War; some because they like the chaos of war, and some just because they like controlling people, so slavery is right in their wheel house...¡±
and I drink blood to survive!'' Yeah, I''m sure that would go over well! They would try to lock me up for shit like that!¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 59 – Eyes and Ears (Almost) Everywhere
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be uncomfortable. And truthfully it wasn''t... Most of the time.
least of your worries!¡±
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Ears.¡±
think she would follow through, but it wasn''t worth the risk. Waggling his hand in an ambiguous motion, he shrugged. ¡°It wasn''t so much something we could use as it was something kinda... fishy.¡±
after the cookout that got Ears a little suspicious.¡±
more suspicious. Especially if you pair it with how little we''ve picked up otherwise. If I didn''t know any better, I would think they knew we were listening in...¡±
is wearing a couple pieces of magical jewelry. No idea where she got them from.¡±
and be seen doing it, it''s going to be a challenge to get close enough to scan him.¡±
was surprised. ¡°I wasn''t expecting a call from you, especially this late on a Saturday. What can I do for you?¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 60 – A Fine Mess
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really try to get you in bed?¡±
is kinda cute.¡±
both of us.¡± Poli responded with a shrug. ¡°She did say that she''s willing to share...¡±
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
had killed Eve, things would still have ended up complicated. ¡°What a mess this has turned in to...¡±
is Evelyn Hart!¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 61 – Dont be Suspicious
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was a Police Officer.¡± Poli corrected gently, her smile returning as she led them towards the kitchen. ¡°Can I get either of you something to drink?¡±
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and flirting with me, even after I shut her down.¡± Oliver grumbled, looking down in embarrassment. ¡°So... I may have threatened her... A little...¡±
wanted terrorist in our home!¡± Polina nearly snarled, directing a sharp glare at the agent. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she continued-though her words still had a bite to them. ¡°A wanted terrorist, clearly obsessed with my fiance for some reason... Yeah, I didn''t call you immediately. What if that set her off? What if she had a weapon on her?¡±
could have gone wrong actually did?¡±
Decades? And you want us to give up our lives- and my job- for that long... just in case she really is obsessed with me and comes back?¡±
fucking cologne, I couldn''t scent them properly!¡±
was a werewolf, after all.
do believe them?¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 62 – Paranoia and a Work Meeting
different. Oliver didn''t fully understand the extra sense he had developed since increasing his Spirit to 20, but he at least knew that it was ''tuned in'' to magic in some way. Similar to how he perceived his magic when casting one of the spells he knew, he could feel a difference in her from how other people felt. Different from his friends and Poli... She definitely possessed something ''extra'', somewhat similar to Eve- though she definitely wasn''t a vampire.
and bringing the FBI down on you two? That''s... pretty dumb. Especially with her acting all hot for Oli.¡±
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does it... Oh, and for the purpose of this analogy, she also doesn''t really know the rules of the game.¡±
planning a vacation...¡± He snickered, even as the others all groaned at the bad joke. ¡°So, where do we start?¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 63 – Like Planning a Vacation...
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Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
being a Devil?¡±
Book 2 - Chapter 64 - ...but with More Guns
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¡°That''s true.¡± Poli nodded, not bothered by his question. ¡°But, as far as they know, we''re just regular people that have no idea what Eve really is... and the only way for them to push the safety angle too far would be to admit she''s more than just a crazy terrorist- and I went through the terror response training that was offered last year, so I''m at least somewhat qualified to help keep Oli safe.¡±
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you know that?¡±