Know Thy Enemy Read online

  “No.” Drei placed a hand on his shoulder. “You okay to go in?”

  Curiosity niggled at the back of his mind. Almost enticing, yet nervously, he nodded. “I’m good.”

  Torin went through first. Drei followed close behind, almost falling when her foot caught on a lip. Drayk paused, leaned down to inspect the doorway.

  “This was sealed. Sealed tight.”

  Torin and Drei stared at him, with blank faces.

  “It means nothing passes through. No bugs in or out. A totally sterile area.”

  “Weird,” Drei said, looking down the corridor. “What do you think could be in here?”

  “No idea, but they wanted to keep it clean. Bet we just let the bugs in.”

  There has to be something down here worth finding.

  The corridor seemed darker than the stairwell, but when Torin held out a hand, a faint glow emanated from his palm. The team had more going for them than Drayk first thought if they’d already amassed these kinds of abilities. If only he could see their character sheets. But, as a close team, he doubted that was possible unless they invited him into their group. Mascot he’d be for a while, no doubt. Until they get fed up with me, ship me back to face the guild for a decision.

  Drayk shoved that thought to the back of his mind as he followed. Hopeful.

  Torin wielded his hands like he carried a torch, the darkness taking on an eerie, bluish, cold glow. Drayk shivered. They’d reached the corridor’s farthest edge. Torin stopped, glancing back. “Which way? Left or right?”

  Drei pushed Drayk from behind. “Take a look, see what you think. You’ve gotten us this far.”

  Drayk’s heart pounded. Relying on me? Why?

  Dummy! His brother’s voice sounded in his mind. Because you’re not in their group. If they lose you now, they lose nothing of value.

  He was expendable. Nice.

  She nudged him again. “Go on. We’re right here.”

  Drayk took a few tentative steps ahead. Be brave! With a deep breath, eyes closed, he edged into the open junction.

  Drayk braced for something, such as a shot out of the darkness, to take him down.

  Nothing happened.

  “What do you see?” Torin whispered.

  Drayk opened his eyes, glancing from left to right. “Nothing.” The corridors were almost the same, empty shells.

  Then he heard it.

  A raspy breathing.

  Torin stepped out behind him, pointed in the opposite direction from where the breathing emitted. “This way.”

  The sounds faded as the trio edged on. The corridors narrowed and the material they were constructed of changed. Drayk bent down. “It’s almost like the building was built over this.”

  But what is it?

  Drayk could only surmise, just like his father might have. He mused, “A dungeon system? I guess the entrance wasn’t something used often. Like a back door.”

  Taking a breath, repeating what he’d heard of his father’s voice in his mind, he spoke more clearly to the others. “It’s been closed a long time, see? There’s no evidence anyone ever used this as an exit or entrance.”

  “Torin, I think we should get the others before we go any farther,” Drei said, her voice cracking. Was she scared?

  “Let’s just see what’s around the next corner,” Torin said. “We can go back then.”

  “If this is a dungeon, there could be hidden loot, but that’d mean a Boss, might mean some desperate fighting.”

  “We need the others. We can’t take on a Boss by ourselves, not with a Mascot.”

  “Drayk can go ahead.” Torin nodded. “No offence, but we can afford to lose you now. Let’s see if there’s anything else. Then we’ll head back, tell the others.”

  Drayk didn’t want to take offence, but he did. He shivered, feeling dispensable. But not wanting to be the cause of the group’s demise. Exploring the building they’d already checked for information was one thing. But to actively take on a Boss? Heck, he wasn’t even past the beginner stage. It might help him level up quicker being with an experienced raid group, but not like this. He’d more than likely die. Then he’d be tagged as useless. The guild would have no purpose for him.

  He hated it, but moved away from Torin and Drei, expendable once again.

  He fought his breathing from rising too fast, clenched his fingers around the gun, kept walking. The floor dipped, its texture changing the farther down Drayk went. They couldn’t be much deeper from the building’s main section, but the air changed temperature, grew warmer, not quite what he’d expected. The breathing Drayk heard seemed to grow in intensity.

  This Boss could be huge, a monster like nothing we’ve seen. Maybe like the thing earlier that ate the humanoid. Drayk’s gun shook in his hands. Even though he’d be against a larger opponent, he hoped he’d stand a chance. The breathing stopped. He glanced back over his shoulder. He’d travelled farther than he thought. Torin and Drei mere pinpricks in the dim light.

  The doorway ahead emitted a cool breeze, Drayk rubbed his arm, feeling comfort from where the old break in his bone was, the dull ache of its healing still taking place.

  Then with a step, he edged into the space ahead. Not sure if he was stepping into a room or a corridor. But no, his gut instinct was correct, before him was a room.

  The first thing Drayk noticed from his position in the shadows was a large circular cut-out, rimmed with monitors, and within that circle…one singular creature. One creature with a hundred different heads. Drayk’s hand shot to his mouth, stifling a sob, scream, or moan… any number of sounds could have echoed around the room.

  Did it hear me?

  The creature continued moving about, but a head seemed focused on just one screen. With a grunt, several heads spun toward that one monitor. Then more turned. Drayk struggled to make out what was so fascinating.

  Then he saw. A camera shot: the building’s interior. Two personnel. Familiar somehow—

  The corridor behind him—Oh. No. Torin and Drei.

  The creature watched as they gazed into the darkness watching for him.

  With a whirl, the creature’s one hundred heads turned to Drayk. Thousands of eyes twinkled, casting a rainbow of colours in his direction, yet there was silence. It didn’t scream, lunge, or do anything. It just stared.

  From the centre head, one giant mouth appeared.

  Drayk’s thoughts of being eaten alive surfaced and he took a step back, catching his foot. He stumbled, falling sideways onto his hip, his face hitting the deck. Sparks of light flashed before him. This is it. This is the end.

  Then nothing. Blackness engulfed him.

  A voice. How?

  Then another. Impossible!

  Then many voices.

  He must not remember.

  Wipe his memory.

  Get him out of here—now!

  Chapter Six

  Pierce

  Pierce sat in the hotel’s biggest suite: one with a well-provided bar, a bathtub big enough for swimming around—at least a little—yet, he’d spent the past hour staring out the giant corner window. It had been a long time since he’d seen such a wide view of the world. The horizon was taken by skyscrapers, with a small portion of green sky appearing here and there.

  People could spend their whole lives inside one of these buildings, eating crap, getting fat.

  Pierce was the last of a dying breed. A warrior. His place wasn’t in a big hotel, but down in the mud, a rifle in his hand. It’d always been his goal to serve his country. There were always wars to be fought; someone somewhere always needs a soldier. He was born to fight and die for his country. Now they wouldn’t take him.

  It still hurt.

  The Virtual Reality world was his only hope of doing anything worthwhile. To serve his planet the best way he could, as a warrior.

  He stared at his watch. Time ticked by slower and slower. The new game system was not coming. Pierce’s request had been ignored, which was a small price to pay fo
r having bailed on a date with the president. He wouldn’t complain though. He had bigger things on his mind.

  Someone knocked at the door. “Come in!” he yelled, hoping it wasn’t Lynette.

  “Hello, Tiger!” said Lynette in the same monotonous tone she’d tried earlier. Pierce guessed robots had one tone—boring. Her hair was up, and she was wearing a short black dress showing her human, yet robotic, curves. “Roy thought you might need some rest.”

  “Who’s pressing the button?” Pierce asked. He was an invalid, alone in a room with a sentient machine, one that didn’t seem fully developed yet. “Is Roy hiding behind the door?”

  Lynette swayed in his direction, loosening her hair. Her stilettos were sharp enough to leave imprints on the hardwood floor.

  “Roy thought you might need some rest.”

  Pierce thought about it for a second. She was probably programmed to provide an answer to what he said but was not programmed to answer a lot of different questions. “Are you gonna be a bad girl?”

  “I’m gonna be so naughty!” said Lynette, leaning in front of him.

  “You’re a dirty kitty, aren’t you?” he asked, trying not to stare into those creepy plastic eyes.

  “I’m gonna be so naughty!” she answered. Her rubbery hands touched Pierce’s chest, started to unbutton his shirt.

  Pierce tried a different one. “Who painted the Mona Lisa?”

  “I’m gonna be so naughty!”

  “Are you going to do what I tell you to do?”

  “Anything,” said Lynette through her full, red lips.

  “Stand on one foot.”

  She obeyed immediately, leaving Pierce’s shirt alone. “Is this how you like it?” She didn’t even wobble; most humans would be impressed.

  “Now, straighter,” ordered Pierce, buttoning his shirt. She did so. “Open this window and jump down there.”

  Lynette smiled, then opened the window. Suffocating heat poured in. Pierce squinted, looked down, not wanting to face the sunlight without his glasses. He peeked to see if Lynette was doing as she was told. “Is this how you like it?” she asked in the same sexy voice. She leaned out, put one leg over the window’s ledge.

  Without knocking, Wilkinson barged in. “What are you doing? Have you any idea how much she costs?”

  “Just playing around,” said Pierce, somewhat amused. “You were watching the whole thing, weren’t you? Were you going to watch everything else?”

  Wilkinson pulled Lynette inside with a curse and a command. Lynette shut the window and smiled at Pierce. “You can expect to be sued after all this is over.” Wilkinson’s face was covered in sweat, mostly from the heat. Lynette smiled. Apart from her hair, which was a bit messy, she looked fine.

  “We should start worrying about what’s important,” said Pierce. “What about that simulation you told me about?”

  “It’s coming,” said Wilkinson, adjusting Lynette’s clothes. “I hope you’re as good as they say you are, Pierce. You could have killed Lynette, you know. I’m never leaving her on automatic with a creep like you again.”

  Lynette smiled her sexy smile, but still wasn’t breathing. Pierce felt uncomfortable staring at her. “Automatic?”

  Wilkinson whispered. “You can be sure if our scientists had developed a fully-functional AI, we wouldn’t need people like you. Models like Lynette need a supervisor by their side, unless—”

  “Unless they’re in a predictable scenario,” said Pierce, squirming in his chair. “Like having sex.”

  “I love it!” said Lynette, like that was her cue.

  Wilkinson shrugged. “We need sponsors. This whole thing isn’t cheap.”

  “For you, it’s free,” Lynette cooed.

  “Could you turn her off? This is far too creepy.”

  Wilkinson pulled the device from his hand and held a button for five seconds. Lynette closed her eyes, remaining still. “Can we talk about the rest of our schedule? Or do you plan to skip the simulation as well?”

  “I’m looking forward to it. When are we going?”

  “The scientists from J-Corp are coming to us. They’re moving the equipment into this room.”

  “Really?”

  “There’s not that much stuff.” His eyes wandered. “Why are you so lucky with accommodations? The tub will really come in handy. The scientists only request is you should be in water up to your neck.”

  Pierce smiled. “So, what are we waiting for?”

  “You need to eat something first—their orders. They also said you should be relaxed. I thought Lynette could help …”

  “Forget Lynette,” Pierce snapped, even though his eyes roamed over Lynette’s curves. “I’m not interested in sex with a robot!”

  Wilkinson’s face flushed. “We’re think—”

  “You’re not thinking of me.” Pierce wheeled around the room, agitated. “You’re only thinking of yourselves, the developers. Order me some lunch then send the scientists up. Immediately.”

  Wilkinson glared. “I’m no servant.”

  “Do it, or I’m wheeling my ass outta here. See where that gets your AI and your tubs!”

  “Yes, sir.” Defeated, he turned Lynette back on, grabbed an arm, pushed her toward the door. “Should be with you in a few minutes.”

  Pierce scowled at Wilkinson’s back, Wilkinson totally oblivious to the hatred Pierce felt for both man and robot alike.

  Ten minutes later, Pierce finished his sandwich while two male scientists installed his helmet. It felt very light on his head, warm against his skin. The scientists looked a bit too young for their job, and reminded Pierce of the kids he used to beat up in school. That thought made him nauseated. He left the rest of the sandwich on the platter.

  “You can take your clothes off, and get into the tub now,” said the shorter scientist. “Do you need any help?”

  Pierce sighed. One thing he hated was needing assistance for something as simple as undressing. He could do that by himself, but the act of taking his pants off demanded time, effort. And, he’d feel even more pathetic doing it in front of a couple of strangers. Still, it had to be done.

  “The first part will be easy,” said Pierce, taking off his jacket and tie. “You’ll have to help me with the pants and shoes, though.”

  It took some effort, but when he had stripped to his underwear and the brackets around his legs, the scientists placed Pierce inside the warm water. “You need to relax as much as possible,” the taller one instructed. “Close your eyes. Breathe slowly. This’ll feel funny at first.”

  Pierce took a final look at the ceiling before shutting his eyes. There wasn’t darkness in front of him, like he expected, but instead a bright green colour. He resisted the temptation to open his eyes. He just surrendered.

  The green turned purple, then blue, finally fading slowly into a dark orange. His body numbed little by little, like falling asleep. All sensation vanished, except for one. The pain. It intensified, travelled from Pierce’s limbs to the rest of his body. He thought it would become weaker, like a portion of jelly spreading over a piece of toast, but no. It grew stronger, meaner. He fought against it, using all the techniques he’d learned in years past.

  Pierce thought he knew pain, had made friends with it. But this wasn’t confined to his legs or even his body. There were no legs anymore, no arms, no head. He was wholly made of pain. His body dissolved into the agony, becoming something else.

  When it seemed his consciousness was about to vanish, it felt like Pierce was falling. His body was there again, every piece of it—it felt great. He opened his eyes. He wasn’t in the hotel anymore.

  A forest. Trees were the size of skyscrapers. Small bushes, waist high, and underneath, stones covered in lime sediment. More plants than he had seen in his whole life. They weren’t natural—they weren’t even real—but it was nice to be surrounded by them.

  Pierce stood up, feeling the grass on his palms. The pain was gone, all of it. His legs felt strong enough for him to walk,
he wore full body armour with grey camouflage. Pierce checked his guns. A standard M-16 rifle with enough bullets to cut an enemy platoon in half. A couple of grenades, a knife. He put the rifle aside, examined the knife. The blade shone under the sun, inspiring Pierce to look at the blue sky. It was beautiful.

  Red numbers appeared in front of him.

  He read through them.

  Character Name

  Pierce Hunt

  Age

  21

  Level

  1

  XP -

  800 - XP to next level - 2500

  Talents - Empathy

  2/20

  Talents - Trained Soldier

  30/100

  Health

  95/100

  Mana—No magic detected

  0/0

  Focus

  100/100

  Stamina

  10/100

  Armour

  5/100

  Strength

  5/100

  Intelligence

  30/100

  Wisdom

  10/100

  Constitution

  10/100

  Agility

  5/100

  Luck

  1/100

  Charisma

  10/100

  Not much for starters. He took comfort in the knowledge every player started with similar numbers. This simulation was also just to see how his body reacted to the new technology.

  Pierce took his first steps with confidence. This was more like riding a bicycle, and less like learning to walk again. The environment felt real. He took a deep breath; an odour of green leaves infiltrated his nostrils. The air was cold. Still.

  Something moved in the bush. Pierce grabbed his rifle and pointed. A small, red animal, thick-skinned, with four flat paws and five tails. One big eye stared at Pierce with an air of curiosity and it flicked out a double tongue.

  Pierce smiled. Target practice. The little creature blinked. Stick still. It stood there looking at him, like a puppy dog too stupid to realize he faced danger.