Friday night was laundry night. Amelia had just pulled out her last load from the wash when her watch chimed. It was an older model, and she could have gotten a better one but she had decided that as long as it could tell her the time and take calls when she didn't have her phone on her it was fine. The caller was Centra Holdings, LTD., an 'unknown' extension.
"Yes?" Amelia asked, putting her arm over the basket of clothes as she carried it so she could talk and move.
"Hello Amelia, this is Catherine Waide. How are you?" Catherine sounded like she was getting ready to sell her something. "Oh, it's Amelia. I'm sorry. I have to go Mr. Prime Minister."
"Did you just use me to hang up on a Prime Minister?" Amelia demanded, her face flushing. "Does he know who I am?"
"Of course not, but I said it like you're somebody incredibly important, which of course you are." Catherine gushed sweetly. She was really starting to remind Amelia of the Queen Catherine of the Silf. It probably wasn't a push to say that the personality of that city leader, foul and idiotic as it was, wasn't that far from this person. Or was it?
"Did you need something Catherine?" Amelia asked, flashing her wrist quickly at her door so she could get in. "I'd like to say I'm busy but I'm not. I'm just trying really hard not to be annoyed because my mother does the same thing to me when she doesn't want to be in a meeting."
"Oh, that was a fringe benefit, my dear," Catherine said quickly.
"Then what do you need?" Amelia asked. She set her clothes down on the bed individually and began watching them slowly curl into shape by themselves that would make them easier to fold. Memory clothes were awesome. While you were wearing them they formed and moved with your body, and when they came out of the dryer really hot they began to form to their original factory folded state.
"Two things. The first is good news! Tell those people they can log out tomorrow."
"They… they're ready? That's a little sudden, isn't it? I thought you'd give me a date or something. I'm just supposed to say, oh, by the way, you can log out when I see them tomorrow?" Amelia said, face pinching in consternation.
"I didn't want to give you a date. It might have been wrong." Catherine said.
"Not even a timeline?" Amelia said crossly.
"Amelia my dear, you're overreacting. Do you know anything about electro-muscular rehabilitation?" Catherine asked.
"No," she answered grudgingly.
"The effect on lung tissue after long periods of stasis when pumped with oxygen for the first time in decades?" Catherine persisted.
"No," Amelia said, sourly.
"How about the…" Catherine continued.
"I get it. You wanted to be safe. It's complicated. You didn't know. Got it." Amelia said.
"I am just as impatient. I am just repeating a very angry team of physicians when I expressed my displeasure at their timeline of 'soon' when I asked them." Catherine soothed.
"Does that mean you overreacted too?" Amelia asked, grinning suddenly.
"Don't be ridiculous," Catherine said generously making Amelia think that was exactly what happened. "There was another matter I wished to speak to you about as well."
"Dodging my question," Amelia noted. "What else?"
"You're a rather unpleasant girl sometimes Amelia." A pause, and then Catherine continued, "...I know this is a difficult time for you, being so busy and all. I have been watching Hunter's stream. Gilduirn's too. Quite impressive both of them."
"Yes?" Amelia wasn't hearing anything she could help with.
"Well, there's this young man who I have been persistently pursuing to join my company for quite some time. He runs a local net media company exclusively covering AA. A Mr. Thompkins I believe."
"Uh huh?"
"Yes. I have really loved his stories on the intricacy of the Residents." Amelia was starting to gather that whenever Catherine was selling something she started this long drawn out story. Maybe it was a strategy. Talk until people would give anything for you to shut up.
"Yeah. He sounds nice. I'm not looking for a boyfriend." Amelia said, smirking.
"That's fantastic, he is engaged I believe. At any rate, I have been watching streams and perusing the forums and while I see them sparingly, I would be ever so grateful if I could see the others more frequently. Yourself too. I am positively delighted that you both uncovered information regarding high-level dungeons under the castles, and also managed to unblock them." Catherine was positively beaming over the line.
"Saw that huh?" Amelia was disquieted. She supposed it made sense. Hunter was a streamer. It was weird though, almost like Catherine didn't know about the dungeons below the castles. "Was that a surprise to you?"
"Yes, well I am not privy to everything the gaming core designs. Some of it is based on player innovation you know? Anyway, Hunter's ratings are now in the top 5 of all viewed players you know?" Catherine commented sweetly.
"Top 5?" People in the top 5 could quit their jobs with those kinds of ratings. Presidents and Prime Ministers even would kill for that kind of audience viewership.
"Anyway, I have suggested to Mr. Thompkins that if he isn't interested in running his company for my company than perhaps he would be interested in streaming one of my employees…" Catherine's voice trailed off, waiting patiently.
"You can't get him so you're, what, hiring me to get him?" Amelia asked, shock evident in her voice.
"Oh, I don't really care about him. He's a wonderful man and he's pursuing his company and I'm sure he'll do a great many things with or without my help. You Amelia, on the other hand, I care for a great deal. I have grown quite fond of your appearances." Catherine was hesitating again.
"And if Forsythe, Aidan, and Raven just happened to be around…" Amelia said stonily trying not to be pissed off.
"This is why I am not pleased to be asking this Amelia. You are far too smart for your age. You're overthinking this, thinking of this as me using you. I am genuinely just a fan who wants to see her favorites more. If you were an author, or an artist, or any number of professions where your work could be admired, would you really be upset that a fan was requesting more viewing possibilities?" Catherine pressed.
"You, are the piece of work." Amelia said, still a little irked. Her gut-check response was to say no and hang up. Her brain and not her gut was telling her that Catherine was telling her a large amount of truth and that she wouldn't be able to avoid the screens with those three lunatics, and now Hunter, so she might as well get paid for it.
"Thank you, dear. I can hear the struggle in your voice. You are quite a suspicious person aren't you?" Catherine wondered aloud.
"I can't guarantee that there will be anything worth watching, or that your Mr. Thompkins will even think it's worth broadcasting. If he and his team don't think it's worth watching they're not going to run it you know." Amelia pointed out.
"Amelia. Trust me when I say I am prepared for the disappointment if that proves to be true. I, however, doubt very sincerely that MKC Online led by Mr. Thompkins will find you or your companions droll enough not to broadcast."
"MKC Online?" Amelia brightened somewhat. "They're… kind of cool." She hadn't known the head was a guy named Thompkins, but hey. MKC Online was a media group that catered to an audience who wanted to see new things. They showed top-level crafter's producing goods, gatherer's crawling into deep mines, diver's that went into the Warm Sea for pearls. They did repeats on certain areas, but only if they thought it was cool enough to show.
"Splendid. Someone will make deposits to your account on the 15th of every month. I am having them send e-checks to your bank, so there is no need to bore me or you with your account details. Oh, and I'll have the piece that attaches to your helmet that activates streaming sent to you in an hour." Catherine said sweetly.
"An hour?" Amelia rolled her eyes. "You already sent it." She guessed.
"Yes, I did. If nothing else you would have had a new toy and an old woman would have had the pleasure of gifting something to someone they have the pleasure of knowing." Catherine said smoothly.
"Hey, do you want to be President?" Amelia asked. "I'd vote for you. Seriously. You are so schemey that you'd have this country whipped into shape in no time."
"It would be Prime Minister or Queen Catherine. I have come to love London at all times of the year, and have no desire to dabble in other country's politics. Be well Amelia! I'll call and let you know how it goes tomorrow. Or maybe they will call!" Catherine hung up.
Well, that was a hell of a thing, Amelia decided. She started putting her clothes in drawers, and her scowl deepened. She could feel her life of normalcy slipping through her fingers. "There's already a Queen Catherine anyway," Amelia muttered.
"Wow," Raven remarked at last.
"Today's the day." Forsythe, unreadable as always.
"I'm going to have a bottle of wine," Aidan said, also pausing before announcing.
"I don't know if wine is on the menu. Catherine made it sound like you'd be able to log out and then you'd go through quick tests. I'm not sure alcohol is on the menu for freshly awakened coma patients." Amelia said slowly before asking. "Seriously though, what's the first thing you're going to do?"
The silence that met her over the party communication gave her pause, especially when it continued. Amelia was sitting in a small study inside the Castle of Brack, going through some books half-heartedly. So distracted she couldn't have told you anything about what she had been reading.
"Too personal I guess." Amelia finally said, breaking up the silence with her apology.
"Well, we… were okay with our families not being there. I mean, we gave up on that a long time ago you know?" Raven hedged uncertainly. "The last boss of Last Sojourn was a one-way deal."
"They lived long lives, they just… uhh…" Amelia was at a loss. This wasn't really the outcome she had been expecting when she announced that they could log out.
"Died," Forsythe answered. He didn't sound angry, just like he was finishing her thought for her since she had stumbled over the last part.
"I don't remember what it's like." Aidan finally admitted softly.
"What what's like?" Amelia asked.
"Pain. Oxygen. Touch. You get that sort of stuff in the game in a roundabout way. When you're in pain your vision clouds, simulating damage. The servers send olfactory information to your brain and you're left to decide what you're smelling, but you're not really smelling. You can touch things, interact with them but…" Aidan trailed off, astounding Amelia even further with saying and explaining exactly what he was thinking.
"Where do we even go?" Raven asked.
"Anywhere," Amelia replied.
"Where are you, Amelia?" Forsythe asked suddenly.
"Yeah. Let's go to Amelia." Raven said, suddenly brightening.
"She's an American," Aidan said, sounding suddenly on board.
Amelia sat back in her chair in total shock. The library in the castle was quiet and roomy and also empty so no one was around to see her almost fall out of her chair while she spoke to them over the party channel. She put the book down and stared out the window, trying to imagine having those three tornado's show up at her door. Her heart began to hurt in a way she had experienced before, and finally, she realized that she couldn't have asked for anything more flattering. "Yeah. Okay."
"Really?" Forsythe sounded shocked. Amelia hadn't thought she'd ever heard him sound surprised by anything.
"Yeah," Amelia finally said again, strangely comfortable with the idea. "If that's what you want. I don't want you there if you're not healthy though. Pass whatever tests you have to, and Forsythe you can try cooking us real dinner when you get here. Oh, and you can't touch my stuff, and you definitely can't stay in my apartment. Raven, you can't sleepover, you need your own place and I need my space. Aidan…"
"I understand," Aidan said solemnly. "I won't judge you on your weird decorations."
"I appreciate that," Amelia muttered. "Oh! I'm going to start streaming live for a company soon. Catherine wants to do it and frankly, I've been thinking I should have said no, but, the more I think of declining the more I think that woman would have just made other arrangements. Nefarious, plotty, arrangements."
"Would you like me to irritate her when I decant?" Aidan asked.
"Please," Amelia said with feeling.
"Oooh. Me too, me too." Raven said, laughing.
"Is it okay if I make sure they don't go too far and get our organs harvested out of spite?" Forsythe inquired.
"I think your organs are fine. Which is incredible in its own right." Amelia replied dryly.
"Understood." He sounded relieved.
"How was your ride?" Amelia asked suddenly, remembering the carried conversations from last evening.
"I don't want to talk about it," Forsythe replied.
"C'mon Fours." Raven whined. "You sounded like a huge wimp."
"I had a bad experience," Forsythe said quietly.
"What about it was bad?" Raven inquired.
"I HAD a bad experience," Forsythe repeated forcefully. Making it seem as if there was no more room to speak on the issue.
"Did you make it to the Underground Castle? I'll head there shortly." Amelia said, standing up. She had been kind of dawdling since she didn't want to tell them about logging out while she traveled.
"Unnecessary. The Tomb of the Hard Slide is available." Forsythe reported.
"Really? You didn't have to move a statue?" Amelia asked, honestly surprised. "What kind of creature was it."
"It was a large beetle. His name was Rhinlos. He apparently just aged and stayed down there covering the hole. Prince Orekin knew about him. They hang out I guess." Forsythe reported, trying to be concise and instead inviting a number of other questions.
"What does it eat if it just stays there all the time?" Aidan said, sounding baffled.
"I asked. The Prince doesn't know. They never feed it." Forsythe sighed. "I would guess the Beetle eats what's on the other side of the hole."
That was a disturbing thought. The doorways that had been sealed could be used by the monsters within to get out. More disturbing was the idea of a Giant Beetle turning around and eating them when they hazarded the trip.
"It looks like the Beetle went into the tomb on a regular basis. The Prince doesn't believe the monsters will come up." Forsythe continued.
"Rhinlos," Raven said.
"What?" Aidan asked.
"He keeps calling it 'the Beetle,' but it has a name." Raven pointed out.
"The Beetle 'Rhinlos,'" Forsythe continued ignoring Raven masterfully, "moved out of the way when the Prince asked him to since they're friends. The Prince has asked me to help some of the other Transients lead the Dwarven Immortals in there tomorrow. So I will stay." There was a brief pause. "It feels pretty normal."
"Ah." Amelia was kind of disappointed despite the fact that Forsythe drolly saying it was normal was anything but. She had never been down the chasm nor the underground city territory of the Dwarven Kingdom.
"Amelia and I will help King Elairdrin tomorrow then, and Hunter can take care of the Silf." Aidan proposed.
"What is Raven doing while we work?" Forsythe wanted to know, sounding suspicious.
"Raven is amassing a Pirate fleet." Raven retorted tartly. "I have 5 ships under my command now you know! The crews are even loyal. Mostly loyal. About 72% loyal." She finished.
"Amass." Forsythe repeated the word with a great deal of suspicion.
"OH shut up Forsythe!" Raven said.
"How did you get to the figure of 72%?" Aidan asked, sounding baffled.
"I'm guesstimating," Raven said. "Look. I can send my pirates on their way if you don't want the extra manpower. I know I won't be the one that misses the smell of weird pirate stink or having salt flake off everything I wear."
"I don't believe you," Forsythe answered immediately, calling her bluff. "Give up the pirates then, we'll have you back."
"No! They're mine!" Raven cried out angrily.
"I see you're all animated as usual." Hunter chimed in suddenly. A quick look said that she and Elisha had just logged on.
"Oh! Good timing," Aidan said. Amelia could almost see him grinning that slow smile he had when he was giving orders he knew people would obey. The problem was he was the one giving the orders so they really kinda wanted to disobey them. "We're leaving the Silf to you tomorrow. We're all split up. That won't be a problem?"
"No. To be honest it'll be nice to be down in a dungeon. Straightforward, challenging, and away from the Queen and her new puppy." Hunter replied dryly.
"Ah, it appeared," Forsythe interjected.
"Sooner than expected," Aidan replied.
"Can I really hit this?" Raven demanded.
"What?" Hunter asked, suddenly confused.
"...we just got a calendar reminder. We're supposed to group up in the real world." Aidan replied slowly. His voice was shaky and hardly believable.
"Ah. Well, it'll take time for the troops of the respective kingdoms to come back from their dungeon spelunking. That and the real world always takes priority right?" Hunter asked. She hadn't missed the shakiness in their voices and didn't know what to make of it. "What kind of gathering are you having? You all sound a little freaked."
"Hunter," Forsythe said suddenly.
"Yes?" Hunter said, hesitation creeping through her voice.
"What kind of food do you like?" Forsythe asked, forcefully even.
"Uhh. I uhh… haven't really thought about it. I guess I've been craving a really good avocado lately?" She answered.
"Understood. I'll make you the best avocado dish in the world." Forsythe said, moments before his player pane reported he had logged out.
"Hey, Elisha! I'm really looking forward to seeing that show you were talking about! I hope we can talk about it!" Raven said.
"Sure!" Elisha said after a pause. "Hey Raven, hurry back and we'll talk about it. Stick with it. The first season is totally the worst but it gets so much better."
"Yeah." Raven's pane went dark as well, indicating a disconnect.
"Amelia," Aidan said into the silence. Hunter and Elisha had apparently been shocked by the abrupt disconnects and were silent. Amelia had some sympathy since she knew that they hadn't ever seen them log out, literally.
"Yeah, I'll wait for you tomorrow." Amelia acknowledged, guessing that the log out pane had been added to their options and that was the reason they were all ditching.
"No. In case I don't get to say it. Thank you for everything." Aidan said slowly.
"I don't remember doing anything other than getting pulled around by a bunch of unreasonable people," Amelia admitted. "Why wouldn't you get to say it?"
"No. Amelia, as I have always said, is the strongest. You once asked me why you got to join us? We just knew you were one of us. All of us. We recognized you." Aidan said.
Amelia was speechless and remained so even when his pane went dark. She didn't know what to say, and no amount of time could have fixed that. She felt that same hurt in the pit of her stomach that she felt when she saw their faces when she was talking about the AA Finals. "What an idiot," Amelia said softly. How had these people become so dear to her?
"What was that about?" Hunter demanded. "Are they okay?"
Amelia made a decision then. Later she would have described it as instinctual, or guttural. Somehow Hunter and Elisha had become close to her just as she was close to Raven, Aidan, and Forsythe.
"Hunter." Amelia finally managed to say. "I'm going to tell you and Elisha something, and you have to keep it to yourselves. It sounds… crazy, and impossible, but to my knowledge all of it's true."
"Uh huh. Sounds pretty secretive. Why are you telling me?" Hunter asked.
"Why you?" Amelia smiled, finally, and said. "Because… I just know that I have to tell you because you're one of us. Are you streaming?"
"Not now." She replied. "Is this an adult conversation? Should I boot Elisha for a bit?"
"Mom..?" Elisha sounded annoyed.
"Elisha, you pay special attention," Amelia said slowly. "You like that story about heroes? You and Raven talk about that show right?"
"Yeah. It's pretty popular." Elisha supplied.
Amelia let out a long sigh, and with a slow start, told Elisha and Hunter everything she knew about Aidan, Forsythe, Raven, Catherine Waide, and the death game - Last Sojourn.