Interlude- Brandon (12 page)

Chapter 33

Brandon’s Hand huddled together to stay warm while they waited for the game to begin.

It was cold, they were outside, and the ground was covered with deep snow all around them. Tall stone cliffs were on both sides of the area, and a single path wound its way through a dark pine forest.

Both groups had entered the field at midpoint through the silvery white doorway that opened and closed as they traveled inside the Sim.

They had been told this game would be cold, but they really had no idea what cold meant. Life in the Centres hadn’t exposed them to the harsh temperature fluctuations of either hot or cold. They’d also been sheltered from rainstorms and winds and all other types of weather that regular people took for granted. Centre children began to experience outside weather conditions at the age of fourteen through field trips. The older kids in the Sim would have a distinct advantage because of their experience with temperature in this game.

“I feel like my face is going to fall off,” Alan said.

“I can barely move wearing all these clothes,” Tony complained.

“It’s not that bad,” Easton said, although his lips were blue and his teeth chattered when he thought no one was paying attention to him.

Brandon said nothing. His eyes scanned the cliffs to either side for a few moments before stepping off the path to explore. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the cold; he took off his outer jacket to allow for better movement.

“What are you doing?” Alan asked. “You’re gonna freeze.”

Brandon glanced at Alan with an annoyed look. “Be quiet and help me figure out a strategy.” He said.

“But —” Alan said.

“No,” Brandon hissed. He gave the group a serious look. “What’s this game about?” he asked them.

“We need to capture the flag at their start point without being shot by the other team and immobilized.” Easton said.

“Wrong,” Brandon shook his head. “What’s this game about?”

“It’s not wrong,” Kay said. “That’s the game Wesley explained to us.”

Brandon looked slowly at each of them and then returned to scanning the surrounding area. He took four steps away from the path and sank down into the snow up to his knees. “Tony, come here, please.” He said.

Tony took a breath to complain about the cold, but Brandon’s body language and facial expression commanded silent obedience. With a sigh he walked towards Brandon, sinking down to his waist as he reached the younger boy’s side.

Brandon nodded and helped Tony out of the snow. The two moved back to the path with the others. Brandon tapped Easton  lightly on the shoulder and they walked away from the centre of the path in the opposite direction from before. The same thing happened; Brandon sunk down to his knees and the heavier Easton sank to just above his waist.

Brandon chuckled as they came back to join the others. “My small size really does give me the advantage sometimes.” He said. “Kay you should be almost as light as I am, so you and I can go off the path farther than the others.”

Kay nodded.

Brandon’s expression changed from concentration to a more relaxed look.

“Here’s what this game is really about,” he said. He reached down and grabbed a handful of snow and made it into a ball. “It’s about how we deal with the cold, and the snow, and the different ground conditions.”

He unslung the plastic rifle from behind his back. It looked like a real weapon, but instead of bullets they fired small plastic balls. When one of the balls hit the target pad located on either the front or back of a player’s uniform, a thin layer of material underneath their clothes stiffened, causing that player to become frozen in place until the game was over and the instructor unfroze them.

“If we’re cold and buried, then we can’t shoot as well as we normally do,” Brandon said. “The other team is full of kids our age or a bit older. I don’t think any of us have played in snow before. Our fight isn’t with the other team, it’s with the cold. If we beat the cold, then we win.”

“It’s so cold,” Tony complained. “If we wait much longer I don’t think I’ll be able to move at all.”

Brandon sighed and removed another layer of clothes, carefully sliding off his coat but allowing the target harness to remain in place. “It’s not cold,” he said. “Right now we’re lying on a bed in a warm room; only these avatars are feeling the cold.”

“Yes, but these bodies we're in are feeling it as if it’s real,” Easton said. “These avatars are exactly like real bodies in here, Brandon. We can’t control what cold does to our bodies in the Sim any more than we can in the Dream.”

Brandon laughed and nodded his head with excitement. “You’re exactly right, Easton! Which is so exciting, don’t you think?”

Easton shook his head. “I don’t see what you mean,” he said.

“Okay, that’s it,” Brandon shook his head. “We start meditating during our down time. We can control how the cold affects us, both here and also in the Dream. If I don’t accept the cold, then my body will produce more heat and I’ll be okay. I’ll make my glow warmer and it’ll keep me warm.”

“Well, it does seem to be working for you,” Alan said. “You haven’t frozen yet, and you’re barely wearing anything.”

“Thank you,” Brandon said.

“I’m not sure it will work the same way in the Dream,” Kay said.

Brandon smiled. He thought it was great that they were all referring to real life as a dream. He knew what could be achieved in dreams better than most, thanks to the sloth and owl.

A loud blast of sound erupted from both nowhere and everywhere simultaneously, indicating that the game had begun. Immediately the ground they were standing on became soft and they all sank down to the point where the snow was chest deep. Thanks to Brandon’s exploring before the game started, they knew to move toward the sides. Each found the proper distance where they were barely submerged in snow at all, with Brandon closest to the outside.

“Don’t worry about the Dream right now,” he said. “Just worry about this game. Now take off your outer coats and let’s move into the woods. There’s less snow in there for us to have to deal with. I’ll tell you the plan as we go.”

Chapter 34

The plan was simple, yet it turned out to be very effective.

Because they had figured out how the snow depth worked, Brandon’s team was able to race to the woods and secure positions ahead of the other group. Kay and Brandon climbed into the trees while Alan, Tony, and Easton secured positions on the ground.

Ten minutes later three figures app
eared, crawling and stumbling toward the woods. They'd figured out how to walk on the snow, but looked tired, as if the learning cycle and the cold had sapped their energy. As they got within firing distance, they instinctively sank low and aimed at the trees.

At Brandon’s signal, Tony and Alan fired their weapons, and plastic bullets flew at their opponents with sharp crisp spitting sounds.

Tony hit his target after just six shots. He grinned and stopped firing once he realized he’d been successful. Alan fired a couple more shots and tagged his target as well, stopping to watch the third target run for cover while the first two remained frozen in place.

With a spit from his weapon, Easton fired a single bullet. His target was moving and should have been impossible to hit, but as the plastic bullet started its flight, Easton squinted his eyes and began to concentrate. The team collectively held their breath as the bullet altered course as if by magic and streaked at an impossible angle, directly towards the girl on the run. With a distinctive click, the pellet tapped the centre of her back target, freezing her suit in mid-stride and sending her sprawling into the snow.

The team waited another few minutes, but no one else appeared. Brandon and Kay dropped from their perches in the trees and the group gathered in a tight huddle.

“Ideas?” Brandon asked.

“Two of us move left and two move right, hugging the outer edges of the path,” Kay suggested. “It looks like there’s some tree coverage on the left. Fifth person hugs the trees and moves ahead of the others on point.”

Brandon nodded and scanned the group. “Any other suggestions?”

“It’s a good plan,” Alan said. The others nodded.

“Okay,” Brandon nodded. “Whose turn for point?”

Tony made a sour face. “Mine, but that’s not gonna work for this map. I’m gonna pass, if you all agree.”

Most groups consisted of players who didn’t like taking point, but not Brandon’s Hand. They all wanted to play point; it was where the best moves, stories, and wins came from. The group looked at Tony proudly; it was smart teamwork to know your limitations and let someone else step forward. They would remember his call and reward him for it later.

Everyone else’s hand shot out in unison, each showing a different combination of fingers splayed and clenched. They’d developed a quick hand game to decide votes and sudden role changes during play. Kay smiled victoriously; she would be point this time.

===

Two on one side, two on the other, and Kay somewhere hiding in the tree line. It appeared that even with proper focus and attention the cold could eventually affect everyone’s avatar, even Brandon’s. The others had put their jackets on before they left the trees. They were almost in sight of the enemy start point, and Brandon was just now beginning to feel the gnawing tickle of the cold against his skin.

Eve
ryone moved purposefully and in formation until the enemy start point came into view. A flag was planted in the ground and waved slightly in the breeze. Brandon had hoped to see the remaining two enemies huddled together against the cold or stuck up to their waists in the snow, but they were nowhere in sight.

Brandon  raised a hand to indicate caution, and at that very moment they heard the sound of bullets spitting from rifles to their left. Brandon hit the ground as a spray of plastic bullets sped past him;
a second slower and he would've been tagged.

The bullets stopped firing. It wasn’t possible to hit the chest or back targets when an opponent was lying on the ground, so there was
no point in firing. It was also against the rules for anyone to fire if their target plate was covered. Their opponents were waiting for them to stand, walking slowly toward them in order to get a closer shot. The enemy had the advantage.

Brandon looked up to see the two figures walking towards them with weapons drawn. Both were grinning confidently, no doubt thinking that they were about to win the game.

Brandon smiled back, waving his hand as they approached. From the corner of his eye he saw Kay make her way out of her hiding place in the trees and toward the flag. She was safely behind the enemy, and out of their view.

To draw their attention, Brandon jumped up and began to run. The enemy immediately started firing, but Brandon zigzagged as he ran to present a difficult target. He’d run only about twenty steps when the siren blared, indicating that the game was over. He turned back to face his opponents.

Their expressions had changed from triumph to confusion as they looked first at Brandon, and then back towards their flag. Kay waved at them with a big smile on her face, the enemy flag resting on her shoulder.

Tony, Alan, and Easton were dusting the snow off themselves as they approached.

“They didn’t manage to get even one of you?” one of their opponents asked with disappointment.

“Next time for sure,” Brandon said encouragingly.

“How are you not cold?” the other kid asked, shivering.

Brandon looked at his team and smiled. “Long story,” he said, “and not
very interesting.”

Chapter 35

“How many dead?” Thorn asked.

Cooper flipped through the papers in front of him. “Fifteen,” he replied.

“Decent figures.”

“Acceptable numbers,” Cooper agreed, “considering the complexity of the exercise. The first three times it was a total wipe, killing all forty people.”

“Avatars,” Thorn corrected him. “When you call them people it makes their deaths sound more… tragic.”

“Yeah, well they are tragic, Doc,” Cooper said. “I’ve died twice in here, and although I haven’t experienced the real thing, Sim death is extremely painful and traumatic.”

“Yes, it is,” Thorn said.

Cooper looked at him seriously for a moment. “Why?” he asked. “Couldn’t you have made the process a bit less… realistic?”

Thorn grinned. “Everything has a price, Cooper. If it cost you nothing to be ejected from the Sim, then individuals would play an entirely different way, wouldn’t they?”

“I suppose they would, yes,” Cooper said.

“Of course they would,” Thorn said. “When a child touches fire, they learn very quickly not to do so again. Sometimes the price for self-sacrifice is worth it, but the pain built into the process makes a player think about the consequences. I think it’s a brilliant addition to the program.”

If Cooper had an opinion he chose to keep it to himself. He flipped through the rest of his notes and pushed them towards Thorn. “All the statistics are here, Doc. I think that’s everything I have for you today.”

Thorn nodded and took the
sheets. He would have the documents scanned and filed later by an NPC secretary. Cooper stood up and walked toward the door, pausing before he opened it.

“If you have a minute, I’d like to talk about the General and what you showed me a few days ago.”

Inwardly Thorn smiled. Keeping his outward appearance calm and expressionless, he nodded. “Of course.” He gestured to the couches at one side of the office where less formal discussions took place. Cooper took a seat while Thorn went to the refrigerator and grabbed two bottles of water. He handed one to Cooper, then sat down across from him. Thorn took a drink and waited for Cooper to speak.

“I’ve done some asking around,” Cooper said. “No one can confirm the details surrounding the death of my parents.”

Thorn nodded. “I’m not surprised. There would have been no video or record of foul play. No news stations would have reported any suspicion of murder. The General’s control is comprehensive.”

Cooper made a wry face. No one understood the General’s control over media and other sources better than him. Many times he’d used it to his advantage when performing covert operations. It was one of the main reasons that he was leaning towards believing Thorn. The entire operation sounded exactly like the General.

“One of my closest friends is a psychotherapist,” Cooper said.

Thorn froze with the bottle raised to his lips. Slowly he lowered the drink and looked at Cooper. His expression was as flat as his voice. “Do not tell me you’ve mentioned this to someone else.”

Cooper shook his head quickly. “Of course not,” he said. “That’s why I’m talking to you now. I want to get your permission to have them hypnotize me. If what you showed me came from my mind, then his process will confirm the truth.”

Thorn leaned back and considered Cooper’s request. He thought long and hard about how crucial Cooper was to his cause. This was a deadly and intricate game he was playing; one small misstep or a bad moment of luck could end it all. Thorn sighed and nodded. He’d risked much by showing Cooper the truth, and he would see it through to the end.

“Fine, you may approach this… friend, but it must be done in the most clandestine and secure way possible. They tell me you’re the best at this sort of thing, which is the only reason I’m willing to give you the opportunity to do it. But that’s it, Cooper. When this has been done you must decide one way or the other where your true loyalties lie. I need to begin the next phase of my plan, and if you aren’t going to be a part of it, I have to know.”

Cooper nodded and stood up. “Thanks, Doc. If my friend confirms what you showed me, then I’m yours. If not, then I forget it happened and remain the General’s man.”

Thorn nodded grimly. Both of them knew what would happen if Cooper didn’t join him. One of them would die, and each was confident it would be the other.

“Bring your friend to my facility to do the hypnosis, please,” Thorn said.

Cooper hesitated, but Thorn held his hand up placatingly. “I assure you I won’t interfere, Cooper, but my building is one of the few places that is safe from the General’s ears and eyes.” Thorn got up and went to his desk. He wrote a name on a piece of paper and held it up for Cooper to see. “This is the friend you’re talking about, right?” he asked.

“Yes…” Cooper
nodded grimly, not happy that Thorn knew the name of his friend.

“He’s
on my list of people to interview for possible recruitment to the Sim project,” Thorn explained. “There will be no suspicion if he comes to my facility for a few hours. It’s the only way I will permit it.”

Cooper was silent for a few moments, then nodded. “How does later today work for you?” he asked.

Thorn smiled. “It sounds perfect.”

Cooper left the room and Thorn walked to his desk, leaned back in his chair, and disconnected from the Sim. In his real world office, he removed his headset and put it on its pedestal. He sat at his desk for the next fifteen minutes, reviewing the discussion with Cooper in his mind. Finally he nodded and picked up the phone and dialed a number. There were arrangements to be made before Cooper’s friend arrived. No matter how the hypnosis turned out for Cooper, his friend would not be leaving the facility alive; Thorn simply couldn’t leave a loose end like that in the wind.

Cooper had unwittingly signed his friend’s death warrant.