one succeeds, the others will not repeat the actions.”
“So I won’t get robbed five times when I’m 40? I’m glad.” Zack said.
“You might get robbed twenty times when you’re 40,” Brandon chuckled. “But one of those robberies will be done correctly, and no more will follow after that.”
“Then here’s hoping the first one gets it right.”
“All kidding aside, Zack, this is by far the most elaborate play I’ve ever helped orchestrate. That’s saying a lot, because I’ve been involved in many.”
“I’m nervous,” Zack admitted. “Despite so many others joining to help me, I’ve spent everything on this one. I hope you’re right, Brandon. I hope what we want to do is possible.”
“It’s possible. We just have to get your avatar to believe it’s possible. We do that, and you retire number one.”
“I wish you had let me see Alex,” Zack said. He’d been so happy and surprised to hear that she was going to get another chance to play the game. His life had come to a horrible low point when she had failed out. He’d searched for her for weeks, but wasn’t able to find her. Brandon had assured him she was fine and in one of the best public schools, but losing her had been hard. If Zack had found her, he would have proposed marriage. They had fallen deeply in love, and the rules allowed player spouses to avoid having to attend old-style school. It would have cost Zach most of his credits, and it was rare for one player to save another in such a manner. But Zach had loved Alex fiercely; it had crushed him when all of Brandon’s best efforts to find her had turned up nothing.
“There wasn’t enough time, you know that. After this play we’ll make sure you see her immediately,” Brandon assured him.
Zack nodded fiercely. “When does she go in? Will she be close to me at all on Earth?”
Brandon shrugged. “I’m not sure what she can afford or when she goes in. You can ask her all about it when you retire. I’m sure she’ll play conservatively to build as many credits as she can before she has to retire later this year.”
“It’s strange that she was awarded this free play, don’t you think? I hate to ask this, Brandon, but you didn’t pull strings to get her back in, did you?”
Brandon shook his head negatively. “You know I would have done that long ago if such a thing were possible, my boy. But I can’t affect the Game like that. It’s too secure.”
“Yeah. I guess. But look at…”
Brandon hissed sharply, motioning for Zack to be silent. They both knew there were eyes and ears on them right now. Zack bowed his head quickly in apology. Brandon stood up. It was time for Zack to get into the Game.
Zack stood up as well, and the two hugged briefly. “Good luck, Zack. Tradition allows you to keep your first name on your last play in the Game at no cost to you in credits. I look forward to watching Zack on Earth solidly capture the first place position for Zack in real life.”
“The name doesn’t fit the goal. I’ve always had good luck with firsts, so I’ll be using a name I’ve never had before — Trew Radfield.”
“I like it,” Brandon said. “Give ‘em hell, Zack. I’ll see you in a few weeks and I promise to give you a victory tour that no one will forget.”
Zack nodded enthusiastically and lay down on his cushioned table.
Less than ten minutes later, Zack was in a deep coma.
Trew Radfield was heading from the light towards his young avatar.
Earth would never be the same.
Chapter 12
We modelled the Game world after our own planet, Tygon. Our goal was to make Earth an exact reflection of Tygon, and we succeeded perfectly. The sheer volume of operations required to simulate an identical virtual existence to our authentic one called for a powerful supercomputer to be designed. We named this supercomputer Mainframe. Mainframe was responsible for everything, minor and
“So I won’t get robbed five times when I’m 40? I’m glad.” Zack said.
“You might get robbed twenty times when you’re 40,” Brandon chuckled. “But one of those robberies will be done correctly, and no more will follow after that.”
“Then here’s hoping the first one gets it right.”
“All kidding aside, Zack, this is by far the most elaborate play I’ve ever helped orchestrate. That’s saying a lot, because I’ve been involved in many.”
“I’m nervous,” Zack admitted. “Despite so many others joining to help me, I’ve spent everything on this one. I hope you’re right, Brandon. I hope what we want to do is possible.”
“It’s possible. We just have to get your avatar to believe it’s possible. We do that, and you retire number one.”
“I wish you had let me see Alex,” Zack said. He’d been so happy and surprised to hear that she was going to get another chance to play the game. His life had come to a horrible low point when she had failed out. He’d searched for her for weeks, but wasn’t able to find her. Brandon had assured him she was fine and in one of the best public schools, but losing her had been hard. If Zack had found her, he would have proposed marriage. They had fallen deeply in love, and the rules allowed player spouses to avoid having to attend old-style school. It would have cost Zach most of his credits, and it was rare for one player to save another in such a manner. But Zach had loved Alex fiercely; it had crushed him when all of Brandon’s best efforts to find her had turned up nothing.
“There wasn’t enough time, you know that. After this play we’ll make sure you see her immediately,” Brandon assured him.
Zack nodded fiercely. “When does she go in? Will she be close to me at all on Earth?”
Brandon shrugged. “I’m not sure what she can afford or when she goes in. You can ask her all about it when you retire. I’m sure she’ll play conservatively to build as many credits as she can before she has to retire later this year.”
“It’s strange that she was awarded this free play, don’t you think? I hate to ask this, Brandon, but you didn’t pull strings to get her back in, did you?”
Brandon shook his head negatively. “You know I would have done that long ago if such a thing were possible, my boy. But I can’t affect the Game like that. It’s too secure.”
“Yeah. I guess. But look at…”
Brandon hissed sharply, motioning for Zack to be silent. They both knew there were eyes and ears on them right now. Zack bowed his head quickly in apology. Brandon stood up. It was time for Zack to get into the Game.
Zack stood up as well, and the two hugged briefly. “Good luck, Zack. Tradition allows you to keep your first name on your last play in the Game at no cost to you in credits. I look forward to watching Zack on Earth solidly capture the first place position for Zack in real life.”
“The name doesn’t fit the goal. I’ve always had good luck with firsts, so I’ll be using a name I’ve never had before — Trew Radfield.”
“I like it,” Brandon said. “Give ‘em hell, Zack. I’ll see you in a few weeks and I promise to give you a victory tour that no one will forget.”
Zack nodded enthusiastically and lay down on his cushioned table.
Less than ten minutes later, Zack was in a deep coma.
Trew Radfield was heading from the light towards his young avatar.
Earth would never be the same.
Chapter 12
We modelled the Game world after our own planet, Tygon. Our goal was to make Earth an exact reflection of Tygon, and we succeeded perfectly. The sheer volume of operations required to simulate an identical virtual existence to our authentic one called for a powerful supercomputer to be designed. We named this supercomputer Mainframe. Mainframe was responsible for everything, minor and
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