Otherlife Dreams: The Selfless Hero Trilogy (17 page)

Snapping his eyes back to Runner he did a fair impression of a fish. Mouth agape and wide eyed, void and vacant of anything resembling intelligence.

“Uh. Oh! Yeah, huh. Uhm, Ramsey. Ramsey Bell,” the man sputtered.

“Yeah, got that part,” Runner agreed, indicating the man’s name floating above his head. His annoyance at the man leaked into his voice.

“Uhm, geeze, yeah. Sorry, Lieutenant. Infantry, Private 1st class. You helped fix my HUD cross-link with my auto-armor. You uh…helped me get rid of something I’d downloaded that screwed up the OS,” Ramsey quickly explained, saluting. With that bit of information it was clear Runner would gain nothing from this man. He was one of hundreds of thousands. Of the lowest rank and trusted with nothing of value outside of his equipment.

“Yeah, nope. No memory. Sorry. Anyways, nice to see you. Don’t die, it’s permanent,” Runner said hurriedly, giving a brief salute in return. Glancing over his shoulder Runner watched Hannah and Nadine fall in next to Katarina and Thana. Attempting to move past the infantryman Ramsey moved to block him and leaned in to whisper to Runner.

“Hey uh, where’d you get all those followers? I heard there were a few you could have some fun with. Or could I borrow yours?” Ramsey asked hopefully.

“Don’t. Just, stop right there. If you say anything more I’ll remember it and you’ll regret it. I’m going to keep walking and you’re going to walk in the other direction,” Snapped Runner. The heat in his voice surprised even himself. Rage flitted in the back of his mind lighting a fire in him he hadn’t felt since when he met Hannah.

His stomach felt like it boiled from the sheer heat of the anger that was thrumming through his veins. Perhaps being up for twenty-four hours was effecting him more than he realized. Teeth locked together, his hands cold and balled into fists, Runner wanted to escape. Needed to escape. Now.

Pushing the infantryman roughly aside Runner passed the town guardsman. Stomach twisting itself into an uncomfortable knot Runner kept up a swift pace, not pausing until he’d reached the plaza at the center of town. His hands went to his hips and he hung his head as he bit his lip. Closing his eyes he focused on the sound of the nearby fountain. It helped to hide most of the sounds of market, drowning them out to the level of a soft growl. It also provided him a blessed focus.

Without having to confirm it he knew his party was fanned out behind him, waiting for him. Runner knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the ladies were likely to draw more attention if they weren’t doing so already.

It went without saying that game designers tended to steer towards the visually pleasing with this kind of stuff but through sheer luck, or perhaps bad luck, his little group for the most part exceeded the average. They definitely weren’t at the front of the bell-curve thankfully, that’d be unbearable.

This caliber of attention though could create some ugly situations. Most especially since the PVP restriction only really protected him, not his followers. If a player got it into their head to kill an NPC all they had to do was get them alone and finish the deed. Their distinction as a NPC wouldn’t turn the players name orange. There’d be no consequences to those actions.

Runner would need to amend a few of his plans to put their safety to the forefront. Placing Hannah, Katarina, and Thana together in one group was his best bet. Taking Nadine with himself to complete the transactions would limit exposure all the way around.

Whipping his head up he turned and addressed the small company. “Kitten, Lady Death, Hanners, please secure us room and board. Please track and record whatever you spend to acquire those and I’ll reimburse you. Don’t fuss over the price, just find somewhere for us and settle in. Nobody split up, don’t go down alleys, no mysteries to solve, stay out of other peoples business. If one of you needs something, go together, all of you. If it comes down to you or coin, give up the coin and get out of there. Coin is replaceable, you’re not. Nadine, you’re with me while we make our rounds. Questions?” Runner queried them. “No? Good, meet back here by noon. Use the ‘Time’ command in your head to see the current time.”

Runner waved Nadine over as the others began discussing how to go about getting lodgings. Taking a few steps to the side he came clean about his problem to Nadine.

“I’m afraid I must confess I have no knowledge of this place. You’ll need to lead us to the best place to sell the loot. Oh, I had everyone transfer the loot to me before we set out on the road so we can start whenever you’re ready.”

“How could you n-n-not com-m-m-me through here? Everyone has to com-m-me through here. It’d take days to go aroun-n-n-nd. And what do you m-m-mean you had them transfer it to you? You couldn’t-t carry all that,” Nadine asked suspiciously.

“I enchanted all of my equipment with strength.”

“That doesn-n-n-nt make sense…fine, for n-n-now. An-n-nd never bein-ng here?”

Runner looked around to check who might be listening before answering.

“Long story honestly. Short answer is, I’m not from this world. I appeared far southwest of here. Where I met Hanners actually. Honestly, I don’t even remember the name of the village I came to first. Can we go now?”

Runner started walking instead of waiting for a reply, not really caring in which direction it was. His emotions were still running hot and he was uncomfortably tired. Standing around and explaining to someone that their world was fake didn’t appeal to him right now.

Nadine caught up to him easily and then turned left at an intersection, redirecting their path. Runner made no comment but fell in behind her. Lost in his thoughts he was trying to figure out what made him so angry at Private Bell. Lurking under the surface of his psyche was a tension, one that so far had been on a hair trigger. He could only guess it was something that happened close to him. Proximity aside it also apparently centered on men showing undue interest in women.

It stands to reason that it’s a loved one, sexually or romantically charged, and involving me? That leaves sexual assault, cheating, or sexual abuse. Ugh. None of those are exactly pleasant things to consider. I can’t even remember family yet. Can’t even remember if I’m married, seeing someone, or a bachelor. Why couldn’t I get some useful memories. I’ve got memories of boot camp, traveling, school, training, but nothing even remotely concerning a personal life. Am I a hermit? Who am I?

Nadine had stopped in front of a building and Runner had to catch himself from running her over. Surveying the area around them he set a hand on Nadine’s shoulder and guided her to one side into the entrance of an alley. Leaning in close to her ear he spoke quietly.

“For this to work correctly I need to invite you into my party. It’ll seem odd but just follow my instructions. It’ll take but a minute.”

Nadine gestured angrily for him to hurry up her head inclined in agreement.

Moving around behind her Runner grabbed her right hand in his own and positioned it accordingly. Once he’d activated the console command to invite Nadine he spoke again.

“Take a breath, close your eyes, and think in your head ‘Yes, join the party.’ Focus on it exclusively compared to everything else. Once you’re at that place, move your hand forward two inches. That’s it.”

Runner drew in a breath and waited, his fingers gripping her trembling hand. Nadine gave the impression of a strong woman with little social grace or experience. Personality wise she resembled Hannah with her distaste of society but didn’t have the underlying hostility towards everything. Her general unease of people was especially present in concern to her disfiguration. Holding her hand didn’t feel any different than holding any of the other party members, despite missing two of her fingers.

Thoughts interrupted by her hand going forward Runner caught the change on the party screen to the left of his HUD, her name suddenly appearing at the bottom. Closing the notification that Nadine had joined the party Runner patted her shoulder with a smile.

“There we are, welcome to the party Nadine. Now we can proceed in and we can get this over with.”

“Th-th-thank you. Let’s go get m-my m-m-money,” Nadine demanded. With a glint in her eye it was clear the merchant in her drove her forward. Nadine nearly dashed through the shop entrance and approached the counter.

“Even-n-n-ning good sir. I have wares to sell and you’ll be buying them. I expect you’ll find m-m-me reason-n-n-able.”

Runner caught the shopkeeper eying her ear, her throat, then finally her hand. Disgust showed plainly on the pudgy man as his eyes moved back to her face. Runner could almost feel the disdain the man had for her. Society would shun someone who stood out and being an outsider doubly so. With smoldering anger still hiding in his heart Runner could picture easily this response from everyone Nadine did business with. That they all dismissed her as an easy mark, a regrettable existence that had to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

Feeling annoyed Runner targeted the middle aged man and brought the flat of his hand down on the counter top with a sharp crack. Deliberately activating intimidate and persuade he tilted his head to the side growling at the man.

“Did you hear her? Were you listening? Or were you too busy being an asshole? Tell you what, when she gives you a price, you’re going to agree and thank her. When we’re done, you’re going to give her a bonus for being such a great person to deal with, one unlike you’ve ever met. Else I’m going to tear your tongue out and use it to paint you a fucking mural using your own blood and stomach bile as paint. Got it?”

You use Persuade on Shopkeep

Shopkeep is Persuaded

You use Intimidate on Shopkeep

Shopkeep is Intimidated

Moving his head up and down rapidly the man shrunk in on himself.

“Good, now bless this waste of genetic material with your presence Nadine. I’ll try to not redecorate his shelves in the meantime. I was thinking they’d all look great out on the street. Start a bonfire right there in the middle of the avenue, invite the kids, have a grand ol’ time while we contemplate if his skull would make a better as a toilet or a trash can.”

“That was certainly profitable. We’ve got more than enough money to equip ourselves better and move along the agenda. You’re all dressed in little better than rags. Can’t have that now, can we?” Runner asked Nadine.

“You didn-n-n-n’t have to th-threaten the man-n. I’m-m used to it,” Nadine grumbled.

“You shouldn’t be used to it. He shouldn’t have acted that way. More so than you realize. Next time he’ll think differently. Look, I’m making the world a better place. I’m a saint. Worship me for my benevolence and grace.”

Honestly he’d enjoyed terrorizing the man. Him being a valid target for his anger made it justified enough for him to truly get a kick out of it.

“Whatever that m-m-m-an said at the gate really worked you up. I on-n-nly caught part of it. What’d he say to you?”

The option of ignoring her and not responding tempted him. They were sitting on a bench near the fountain while waiting for the rest of the group. They still had an hour to go and it was clear she wasn’t going to let the subject drop. Nadine’s personality, even this early in their working relationship, plainly wouldn’t allow her to relent once she decided she was owed something. NPCs went about their business and here and there a PC navigated the streets. Runner didn’t recognize anyone and it seemed no one recognized him.

“He asked if he could borrow you girls. For the night that is. Or an hour? Whatever way you wish to phrase it. I’m not sure what Lady Death has told you, or what you’ve been able to deduce, but this. All of this,” Runner explained, gesturing to everything around them. “It’s all fake. This entire world is a story that is currently being told. That everyone and everything here isn’t actually here. You feel pain, joy, anger, loss, but it isn’t real. Here, let me ask you this. Think back to a time before you met me, now compare it to the moment we met. Do they feel different? Lady Death described it as a different ‘flavor’.”

Nadine had gone utterly still and silent. Gazing into nothing as she listened to him. He’d wager her mind raced with his words. That she was processing it as fast as possible. After a few seconds of introspection she focused on him again.

“Yes, there’s m-m-more to it than that b-b-b-but, yes. Th-there is a defin-n-nite difference before and after. You’re saying, you’re saying that I’m not m-me. I’m a character in-n a story?” Nadine whispered.

“Yes and no. How to explain. You’re real and you’re not. Time for a metaphor. Imagine a fishbowl that you cannot see in or out of. To the fish, that is the entirety of the world. Especially since they cannot see beyond the glass. Now imagine I walked up with a fish puppet on a stick. I put it in the fishbowl and pretend to be a fish. To you, I am a fish. To me, I am a man holding a fish puppet. I can pull the puppet out whenever I want and walk away. As the fish, you cannot.”

Eyes downcast to the ground in front of them Nadine’s face was a picture of concentration and thought. Blinking away unshed tears she rubbed at her eyes. Runner was only mildly surprised by this since he’d come to expect much more from the AI running the whole thing. Every day it seemed to grow, adapt, and change.

“S-s-sorry. It’s h-h-hard to t-take in. I s-suffer-r-red so m-much for the am-m-musement of oth-thers? M-my l-life is a j-joke?”

“No, no, Nadine, no,” Runner said sighing. He wrapped an arm around her and drew her head into his shoulder, holding her there. “You might be a fish but you’re still very real in your world. To be honest, I’m no longer a man holding a fish myself, but a fish puppet. I can’t leave here anymore than you can. Something went wrong, and all the puppets are now trapped here. No one did anything to you for their amusement. The AI created you as a unique NPC with your own traits, history, and beliefs based on it’s database of preset information.”