Codename: Freedom: Survive Week One Read online

  I didn’t dare to make any unnecessary movements. Waves of shallow burning from each breath joined the throb from each heartbeat in an accompaniment of unceasing torture.

  Why wasn’t I dead? I wanted to be dead. Then the pain would be over and I could sleep. Looking to my health gauge, it was still sitting at a 36 out of 100 HP remaining. Death would not come.

  Time passed. How much I had no idea. Violent spasmic fits came and went.

  Then pain started to escalate regardless of how still I stayed. With every heartbeat, it started to increase. With every breath.

  When I was convinced it was about to get even worse, I passed out.

  Chapter 7 – Aftermath

  “Should we move him?” a young lady asked.

  Destiny, is that you?

  My eyes opened and were met by a pulsating agony that reminded me of a dream.

  “No,” a deep male voice insisted.

  I knew that voice. Kline?

  As if my tormentor realized I was awake and he had opportunity to continue his profession, my back arched, sending a new wave down my spine. Embarrassed, I tried to fight it, causing a chain reaction throughout my nervous system. I screamed. Did I?

  “What can we do?” Sobs followed. It wasn’t Destiny, but a familiar kindness.

  Everything went black.

  ***

  My head shifted.

  “Drink.”

  A finger on my chin forced my mouth open, and burning liquid flowed down my throat. The pressure on my chin incited a riot of a billion atomic protesters, shaking my body back and forth as if to tip over the bus they all had squeezed into. The liquid kept coming. Someone held my head firm, and something heavy held me upright.

  “That should be enough.”

  Choking continued after the liquid stopped coming. The firm hold on my body was warm, but a fight they couldn’t win.

  Kill me.

  ***

  When I came to the next time, my eyes had trouble focusing. Things seemed unclear. An annoying ache was throbbing in my back.

  It didn’t matter. My nurse was lovely.

  “He’s awake,” she said.

  Her skin was chocolate, but a light chocolate, much lighter than even milk chocolate with no imperfections. I wanted to curl up against her and sleep. She will destroy you! How did a gamer chick get into my group anyways? So pretty though.

  Swimming to the surface of the groggy swamp that I was in, I remembered protecting her from something. I would have reached out and touched her dampened cheek, but when I tried to move my arm the throbbing grew stronger. Instead, I looked at her as she looked at me.

  She shared a smile, but there was no missing her downtrodden gaze.

  “He’s looking better,” she insisted. Someone was sitting across from her.

  “He. Wants to lick you,” I said.

  “Sleep,” she insisted. “He's delirious.”

  What’s wrong with licking?

  I wanted to turn my head but it would have taken too much effort. It wasn’t worth it. Instead, I thought I would take a nap.

  ***

  Light shone brightly. My eyelids couldn’t hold it back. Blinking, I turned my head to the side, repositioning away from the sun. I froze. The memory of ongoing agony came back to me. Had I just moved? There was no pain?

  Stiff muscles in my neck and back begged me to change position. A pounding vibrated from my temples and behind my eyes, making the muscle stiffness a secondary problem.

  It must have been alcohol they had given me last night to try and numb my pain. The fact I had slept meant that it had probably worked. I welcomed my first hangover if it was all over.

  209/221 HP

  I didn’t dare to fully believe that I had really healed. It was the most intense pain I had ever experienced. Starting with my hands, I moved my fingers, then fists. My toes came next. I grimaced remembering vividly how it had felt. My fear remained unfounded. Daring to sit up, I found the strength. I had really healed. I tried to reach around and feel the spot where I had been hit, but my fingertip just barely reached the middle of my back.

  Where the pain had been was now only tense muscle and exhaustion.

  Victoria lay at arm’s length, curled up facing me covered in blankets up to her chin. Kline slept to my other side and the rest were gathered close in a cluster asleep.

  “Morning. It’s a relief you’re doing better,” Peter said. His hands hung from the collar of his newly acquired hard leather vest. He gave me a grin despite his obvious exhaustion.

  He sat cross-legged near a huge pile of items at his feet. Above his head now hovered his name and level.

  Peter

  Level 11

  “You had us worried. It was foolish what you did, but thank you for saving Victoria. I owe you.”

  He threw me a hard biscuit.

  I timidly returned his smile, still afraid the pain would come back at any moment.

  “You’re right, I was foolish. This isn’t like any virtual game I’ve ever played. It isn’t really a game at all.”

  “I’m sorry you had to learn it the hard way.”

  Taking a bite, I washed it down with some water from a jug I fished out of my inventory.

  Pointing above my head, he knew my question before I asked.

  “The name and level indicators appeared after we reached level ten. I have no idea why we could see the indicator above the boss’s name last night unless it was because he was a boss. There is another surprise waiting for you in your notifications.”

  “That sounds reasonable.”

  It was then that I noticed I had reached level 12. I gave myself over to examining the windows. It was a good distraction. I didn’t want to think about what happened last night. Not yet.

  Level 8

  You have reached Level 8!

  Ability Point +1!

  Your Creature Indicator range has increased by 2 to 22 meters!

  Level 9

  You have reached Level 9!

  Your Creature Indicator range has increased by 2 to 24 meters!

  Level 10

  You have reached Level 10!

  You are now able to see more information through Creature Indicator.

  Ability Points +1!

  Advancement Points +1!

  Your Creature Indicator range has increased by 2 to 26 meters!

  You have unlocked your Pet!

  A Pet is ranked in three areas. Sight, hearing, and smell.

  Each also has special abilities depending on its nature.

  Pets do not participate in combat at any time and are only visible if you command them to be.

  Note: All other tools and game abilities are directly and indirectly affected by your pet.

  Sight - The further your pet can see the further your Creature Indicator, Local Map and World Map can monitor. Also as you become close to your pet, your own eyesight will improve to match that of your pet. Example: Night vision.

  Best used to for scouting long distances. You will be able to see things that are hidden to lesser creatures.

  Hearing - The better you can hear the more aware you will be of your surrounding all times of the day. You will notice things on your Creature Indicator and Local Map that aren’t visible to the eye and are coming at you from a direction you aren’t looking. This will also better your own hearing as you grow closer to your pet.

  Example: General awareness and to discover stealth attacks.

  Smell - The better your smell, the more likely you will be able to track down something that is no longer there. Creatures’ scent trails become visible to the eye through your Creature Indicator and Local Map. All creatures leave scents and the best of trackers can track down their scent hours or even days later. Hiding becomes extremely difficult when you have a highly ranked sniffer on your trail. As you grow close to your pet, your own sense of smell will improve.

  Example: Tracking down someone or something after the fact.

  Choose Wisely!

>   1 Advancement Point will be spent in selecting your Pet.

  Pets

  Wolf

  Sight - Rank C

  Hearing - Rank B +

  Smell - Rank A

  Special abilities - Night vision, doubles carry weight, able to mask scent partially.

  Mountain Lion

  Sight - Rank C

  Hearing - Rank A

  Smell - Rank B

  Special abilities - Night vision, doubles carry weight, decreases the amount of noise made when walking.

  Falcon

  Sight - Rank S

  Hearing - Rank D

  Smell - Rank D

  Special abilities - Only pet without Night Vision, Day Vision is superior to all other creatures, greatly extends Local and World Maps

  Owl

  Sight - Rank A

  Hearing - Rank B

  Smell - Rank C

  Special abilities - Superior night vision, greatly extends Local and World Maps.

  Which Pet do you choose?

  Note: You can reselect your Pet at any time, but you must regain the experience necessary to train the new pet.

  I read everything slowly trying to take it all in. There was no reason to spend my first Advancement Point on anything else. It seemed all other systems would benefit from having a pet. The pet’s ability excused the system that gave us abilities possible through mixed reality hardware. Still, why would the government decide on a Pet system of all things?

  “Pets?”

  He shrugged. “They’re kind of cute though. Be sure to pick quickly or Victoria will try and pick for you.”

  There was no way she would have any say in my pet which would directly affect my play style. I looked down at her sleeping and the memories of how she had stood by my side last night came flooding back. Perhaps my resolve wasn’t as sound as I thought. She really had tried to help. I had been wrong about her and owed her more than making silly assumptions that she was trying to ruin my career. I better choose quickly.

  After a few words whispered under his breath, a young lion appeared at Peter’s feet. It ignored me.

  According to its size, I guessed it was little more than a cub.

  “Does it get bigger as you level?”

  “It sounds like it. As you level its abilities get stronger.”

  The falcon and owl Pets I quickly ruled out. They were far too specialized for my taste even if they would be useful abilities to have. It would be hard to live without the additional 100 lbs. of carry weight the lion and wolf gave. Earning money through hunting, later on, would take twice the time.

  What was more important, the ability to hear or smell? Almost immediately I was leaning towards sound. The ability to sense something before it could sneak up behind me was almost priceless, but the special abilities made me pause and not pick the Lion immediately.

  Not being heard would be very helpful if I found myself hiding or sneaking. Not having a scent would make it harder for someone to find me as long as I managed to get away. If my scent really stayed there for days, that was frightening. Both seemed overpowered and I wanted them both.

  It came down to my fear of not being able to disguise my scent as easily as I could learn to stay quiet. Since the wolf and lion were both above average with sound and smell, I wouldn’t completely lose super hearing either.

  With nothing left to consider, especially since they would never join me in combat, I choose the wolf.

  A coal faced pup with a white patch over one eye appeared at my feet. Without even looking up at me it started sniffing my boots to get acquainted.

  Reaching over to it, I sat forward and scratched behind its ears. At first, it cuddled up to me, but suddenly turned its head and nibbled on my finger. Baring its teeth, it began playfully attacking me.

  At the least, I liked dogs, so we’d have some fun together.

  The popup that came next explained exactly what Peter had said. As I leveled my Pet would as well. If I neglected or abused it, then its growth and abilities would diminish.

  After toggling where other players could see, my pup started terrorizing Peter’s lion cub. It wasn’t long before the cub snapped out of its lazy cat funk and started pawing at my wolf’s nose.

  What would you like to name your wolf?

  Eh. I hated naming things. Should the name sound interesting, or mean something important? Even harder to pull off would be to try and make the name interesting and important. All the wolf and werewolf names I knew I started sorting in my head. It was futile. The name was staring me in the face.

  “Wink.”

  Your Pet has been named!

  Check the menu for options.

  Level 11

  You have reached Level 11!

  Your Creature Indicator range has increased by 2 to 28 meters!

  Level 12

  You have reached Level 12!

  Ability Point +1!

  Your Creature Indicator range has increased by 2 to 30 meters!

  I would save my 3 ability points for later.

  Toggling Wink to be invisible to other players, she immediately stopped playing with Peter’s lion and stared up at me.

  “It seems we are going to be spending a lot of time together. Are you hungry? Do I have to feed you?”

  Looking to Peter, he replied. “No clue.”

  I tore off some of my biscuit and offered it to her. She sniffed it and declined. Picky, aren’t you?

  “Thanks, Peter. What’s with the pile of stuff?” I asked.

  “Over fifty players died last night. We gathered their stuff so they could get it after the gates open. Everyone who could still walk pitched in.”

  There were still over two hundred players bunked down, most of them only starting to stir.

  Normally such a gesture might be something you did for your guild or group, but never for strangers in a game. After last night though I understood why everyone would do it. We fought together and virtually bled together. Before last night that would have been a joke. No longer.

  Wink sat her head on my lap and whimpered. She didn’t want me to feel bad.

  Pet AI had advanced extremely far in the last few centuries, just as had all NPC AI. Her actions weren’t abnormal.

  “Good. So we are going to wait for them to come?” I asked.

  “That’s the idea, but once the gates open we are going to send you and Victoria to the inn to sleep. She stayed up all night taking care of you.”

  “Are you sure you don’t need to come with us?”

  “Thank you, but I’m fine.”

  I had no doubt he got less sleep than anyone, but I wasn’t going to force the issue.

  Looking down at her, she seemed rather small and delicate compared to the stature she had last night.

  “You sound like you know her well.”

  “I’m a friend of her mother's.” There was sternness to his reply. Perhaps a warning. “She’s taking this really hard. In her culture, she is a healer. Normally wounds like yours are easy for her. Not being able to help took a toll on her I didn’t expect.”

  “Forgive me if I’m being too forward, but how old is she? She seems a little young to be a doctor.”

  “She’s 18. It is common for girls her age to undergo an apprenticeship where she’s from. She would be what you might consider a nurse.”

  “Oh. Is there anything I can do? I feel like I owe her.”

  He was quiet for a moment as he watched me. “Get some rest. I doubt last night was the last time we will see those creatures. You need to focus on recovering. I’m sure you will be needed soon enough.”

  I sighed, nodding to myself.

  That was odd. How were they able to end up in the same town together? Wasn’t the place you spawned and who you spawned with completely random for everyone? When I had asked that question during my briefing before entering Freedom, they insisted Chewme and I couldn’t start at the same location. Did Peter or Victoria’s mother have some special connections?

&nb
sp; A player’s body disappears after they die, so thankfully there weren’t bodies lying around the battlefield. It was still depressing to looking around the makeshift camp at the other groups who were mostly sleeping knowing there were less of them than before.

  When the gates started to open, there was a large creak from the rusty hinges. Standing behind the gate were dozens of players that had been waiting to head out into the forest. Everyone that had been sleeping on the damp grass slowly got their stuff together.

  Sitting up quickly while clutching the neck of an iron knife, Kline's eyes were stern and his jaw was clenched. The veins at his temples were at it again, bulging and proud of it. Just as quickly, his arms fell to his side. His shoulders slouched. Then he saw me sitting up.

  “Man! Good to see that you are back in the world of the living.”

  “I almost wish I would have died,” I replied.

  He grunted apologetically leaving a long moment of silence.

  “Sorry. That was supposed to come out as a joke,” I said.

  “No worries.”

  He patted me on the shoulder and stood to stretch.

  Before the moment became too uncomfortable, Oliver and Victoria also started to stir.

  After sitting up Oliver acknowledged me with a slight bow of his head.

  In contrast, Victoria shot to her knees and was immediately sticking her face a few inches from mine.

  “How do you feel?”

  Opening my mouth to answer, I was stopped short. She brought her hand to my face and forced my eyes open wide with her thumb and index finger. After both eyes were inspected, she jumped to her feet and stepped behind me to examine my back.

  “Your armor is ruined. Take it off,” she commanded.

  I would normally have hesitated, but Peter had said she was a nurse.

  Glancing at him, he wasn’t looking my way. Well, if he had no qualms.

  Removing the leather vest, I managed to pull it over my head without help. There was no pain, only stiffness. Anticipating the next demand, I turned my head and looked up at her.