Coulomb held a gun in his hands. His eye on the target in front of him.
He heard the nostalgic sound of an assault rifle firing.
He'd been practicing all day in a shooting range on the 2nd Level. Almost everything here was for sale, he just happened to find a weapon store while touring with Laplace. Then he decided that it might be a good idea to hold on to something reliable since his Interference Strength didn't increase as he leveled up.
He watched Laplace switch the battered target for a new one. He switched to a handgun he bought. He targeted Laplace.
I can just pull the trigger and she'd be gone.
He moved his hands a few millimeters to the left, blue lightning bolts shot out of his skin and surrounded his arms.
Laplace was stunned when she heard the bullet to her right. Her right ear was devastated by the sound. It was probably going to be impossible to hear anything with it for a while. She didn't complain about it. She merely switched the target with a hole in the center for another.
"I'm done for now, let's go somewhere else."
"I can hear you clearly with my left ear, no need to shout."
"You're ...."
He was going to tell her she was also shouting but he decided against it. He brought out his panel and deposited his weapons in his item storage. By the time he was done, Laplace was beside him. He noticed she was staring at the floor.
He followed her gaze. It was the bullet casings.
He was puzzled for a while then realized that 6 were smaller. She was probably expecting only one.
"The Playground must be augmenting targeting skills, that explains why the twins made that shot easily. I've only been here for 4 hours and my accuracy is perfect."
Laplace took the hint and ignored the anomaly.
"I'm hungry, let's find somewhere to eat."
"I want to check out one last thing, go on without me."
"No, I'll follow you, or is it something you don't want me to see?".
"Nothing like that."
He looked around and steadily headed in the direction that seemed likely to be closest to the edge of the city.
Beyond the city was a desert wasteland. On the outskirts were small residential buildings. The kind that would have been expected in a small town. However with the background of high-rise buildings, it was almost comical.
But Coulomb came here because he expected to find them here. As expected, they were for sale. He bought one close to the desert.
He obtained a key as he got the house. The key disappeared and he received a notification that he had a new item. He took it out walked towards the fence, then he realized it didn't have a lock. He walked in and went to the door. It didn't have a keyhole.
Then what's the key for?
"Hey, I can't get in."
He turned and saw Laplace trying to force her way through the fence even though the gate was open.
He tossed the key at her, she caught it and entered.
"Can't you duplicate it?"
"I'd rather not."
"What if I said I'd pay for it?"
"Why are you trying so hard to get me to trust you?"
He didn't wait for her to respond, he took the key from her and opened the door. The house was completely empty. He went up the stairs, confirmed that nothing was there and then he went to the attic.
It was depressing to walk through the empty house, so he went out to the roof. Laplace followed him.
"You probably believe that I think you are hiding or lying about something, don't you?".
"I'm not sure what I believe."
"You're the only one in the Playground that I trust right now."
"Where did that come from?"
"You came to me and offered everything you had, a risky gamble, I can't imagine ever doing anything similar but that's why I decided that I would trust you."
"How are you sure that I'm not hiding something?".
"I don't have any proof, plus you're really good at lying so I can't say my trust is based on your words...."
While he spoke, she stopped staring at the clouds and moved closer to him.
"But?"
"Hmmn ?"
"I hate you."
She turned away as he feigned indifference, annoyed at herself for getting worked up over him.
"I guess it's just a feeling...."
He whispered.
"I thought you only made rational and logical decisions."
She unconsciously lowered her voice too.
"Me too."
He coughed.
"You better not let me regret this."
His eyes flashed as he saw that she was hooked on the words without caution.
Apparently, dealing with her was going to be easier than he thought.
She turned back to face him and her left hand reflexively moved to grab the object moving towards her.
She opened her clenched fists and saw a key. She watched him store his key and did the same.
"Let's go back."
She jumped off the roof with him.
==========================================
"You guys are finally awake... Got this for you."
Coulomb said as he threw leather holsters at the twins.
"Don't tell me you got a gun.", Stein said as he stored it.
"It's a good idea isn't it?", Laplace supported him, "It's...."
"When did she become your girlfriend?".
"What the....?".
"Last night".
Coulomb was interrupted by her bold declaration. He decided to pretend like nothing happened and sat beside Ein who had been silently eating.
"I was thinking we should go find Edison, what do you think?".
Ein continued eating unaware that he was being spoken to.
"Ein?.... Are you okay?".
"Golden, why did you ask?".
"Coulomb, Remember what I said at the beginning.", Stein said exasperated.
"Then what do you think?".
"I'm just imagining the disappointment I hear, right?".
"I won't allow you to do anything that reckless.", Newton appeared with Schrodinger behind her.
Ein left the table and went to his room. They were all shocked speechless by his behavior and didn't think to stop him till he left.
Coulomb recovered first.
"Stein, can you get him?".
"He's not any use when he's like that."
"Say, how do you think this Level is maintained?", Schrodinger said.
"What does that have to do with this?".
Newton stared at Schrodinger like she was an idiot.
"We got time to kill so we might as well.",Stein agreed.
"I guess everything that isn't owned by a Savant is reset frequently.", Coulomb answered Schrodinger.
"You guys are forgetting something, how do you intend to find them?", Laplace asked.
"Yeah, but what about the weird rules here, you're not as free as the last Level".
"I get that, it's almost like this place was designed for Savants to feel safe."
"Well, Stein's not too far from the truth... Its definitely designed to be a home base."
"Stop ignoring me!".
"Oh?...and how do you know this?".
"He probably bought a house."
"I doubt he'd do anything that stupid".
Newton, Stein and Schrodinger continued ignoring Laplace.
"Why is it stupid?.... I thought it would be better if we didn't have to waste more Credits on..."
Newton's golden eyes silenced him and he returned to his meal.
"Did you really not notice?", Stein asked. There was unveiled disappointment in his voice.
"The next test is in a Casino, odds are we're probably using our money there",Schrodinger explained like she was speaking to a child.
"I thought of that too".
"Then you should have said something!".
"Sorry, I thought that you had a good reason to believe that it wouldn't be so".
Laplace apologized when he snapped. He realized that he was being irrational and he stood up. He was going to leave the room then he did a 180.
"Coulomb, are you okay?",Stein asked. He sounded genuinely worried.
"He's been acting strangely since he woke up".
"You were with him.....".
"Take us to Edison", he interrupted them when they were starting to get on his nerves. He was talking to Laplace, his tone left no room for argument.
"I'll get Ein".
"Didn't you say he's useless?".
He flinched when he heard Newton repeat the adjective he used previously.
"I'm not leaving him alone."
"So I'm just a compass to you guys.", Laplace complained.
"If you want to be useful, then unlock a precognition ability.".
"Says the girl who relies too much on her team, you didn't do anything in the last test."
"Your petty words can't infuriate me."
"Who are you calling petty?".
"I'm sure your ears are not as useless as your ability, or perhaps it's just your head, I said petty words."
"My hearing is currently impaired."
Her chest puffed out.
She fell from the chair and was steadily moving out of the room. Coulomb asked with his back to the team and Laplace's collar in his hand.
"Aren't you coming?".
Stein disappeared and returned with Ein.
"Let's go".
==========================================
Laplace led them to another hotel teeming with Savants. Which brought up the question of why theirs was deserted. The answer came easily.
Someone was forming an alliance and in one day they had 0.01% of the Savants in their palm.
The Leader and his direct subordinates were unknown, naturally. They used the names of planets and their satellites. They avoided the people canvassing for followers and dashed through the lobby to the elevator.
"Where's Ein?".
Stein blinked, a dumb smile on his face.
"Huh?".
"He was right behind you, but he's not here now.", Newton continued, pointing at the empty space behind him.
Stein teleported just as the elevator stopped at the 17th floor. They followed Laplace to the 3rd room. She raised her hand to knock but before her knuckles touched the door, the door was on the floor.
"Hey, are you going to pay for that?", A bored voice came from the darkness.
The entire room was dark, the only lights were the dim lights illuminating the faces of the triplets as the furiously mashed buttons on a handheld console.
The triplets dropped their consoles and finally took a look at their intruders. Stein appeared with a disheveled Ein and they stared at Ein for a while, briefly looked at Stein and then the one in the centre spoke, he was pointing at Ein.
"Are you a guy or a girl?.... It's like you're trying to look like both...plus your hairstyle.... It makes you look even more like a child, as if you weren't short enough... ".
His hand moved to Coulomb
"And you, are you even alive?.... You look like a freaking zombie".
"You trying to make a statement with your dressing?... That's way too much red"
His next target was Stein.
"And why are you so violent?..... the harmless looking beserker is so clichéd".
"Why did...".
"We kill Babbage?", the one on the left interrupted.
"He was weak.", The one on the right answered.
".... You leave Laplace?", Coulomb continued unfazed.
"Is that what she told you?", Another voice came from the darkness.
"Didn't we say you shouldn't show yourself?".
The air behind the triplets shimmered and distorted. A girl with auburn hair and pale crimson eyes appeared.
"I'm Joule, her former teammate. Sorry boys, but I can't stand this liar".
"She sold out your sisters and her friends, the Maxwell twins to Edison. She told them about the item and when to attack. You made a deal with the triplets and they decided to save you since you might be useful and because they wanted to get back at Laplace for her betrayal like you".
Ein, Stein, Schrodinger and Newton were surprised by his revelation. Newton noticed that Laplace was also shocked by it.
Joule was also slightly surprised, then she applauded Coulomb's deduction.
"Brilliant, you've proven why you were chosen, however you're wrong about one thing, I survived by myself."
"A lie... If you did, you won't be here, they saved you."
"Then, why did you accept her if you knew she betrayed her last team?".
"Because she betrayed her last team only to get on a stronger team, As long as we're the strongest, there's no problem."
"Strongest team?.... How can you be so arrogant?".
The temperature dropped severely. The floor around her was covered in a thin layer of frost.
One of the triplets threw a pillow at her.
"Stop it, you're going to spoil everything."
"Take it somewhere else.", Another chimed.
"I'll show you how weak you are, if you have the guts to repeat that then follow me."
"I'm not interested."
"Do you want to hide your abilities that badly?".
"Hardly, just don't want to get involved with someone whose head is full of hot air."
She moved closer and whispered to him.
"If you don't follow me, I'll reveal what I know about you."
"And I'll reveal all I know about you."
He parried easily.
"So you do know everything.... ".
"Then can you stop acting like an idiot, it's not fooling anyone."
".... We are cut of the same cloth afterall, I'll be watching you, Coulomb."
"Can you stop whispering?", Stein asked.
"Schrodinger, join us.", Joule said with her arm stretched out to her.
"What makes you think that they'd....".
"You can have her".
"Thanks for the save".
"We don't have any use for her".
"Good, I don't have to see her ugly face ever again".
She turned to Coulomb who was silent, but he turned away.
Just when I thought I wasn't being treated like baggage.
"Even though I made myself look like a villain in the last Level.", She muttered.
"Well, we can help you bring out the best of your ability".
"I'm leaving then."
"Sorry, Schrodinger, but I won't let you go."
"Coulomb.....", She was pleased that someone thought she was useful.
"I'd rather kill you than let you go spilling all our secrets."
"Coulomb....", She repeated sadly.
Laplace laughed.
"What did you expect?".
"Well, the offer is always valid.... Whenever you feel like, we would protect you so don't worry about them."
"Your Conception ability, it's just like Babbage said but you fooled almost all the Savants into thinking there's more to it. ", He paused to watch their faces but they didn't seem bothered by him. "You can only create machines that you are familiar with, a pathetic replica of Edison's greatness.", Ein spoke to the triplets.
They ignored him and continued playing.
Seriously?
"You really had me fooled for a while though, so I'll give you credit for it."
Still nothing?
"Then, Let me predict your future, one of you will die, betrayed by the others."
They simultaneously raised their heads. But they had different expressions. One smiled faintly while another looked unconvinced and the third was a little scared.
"Alpha.".
"..... Beta.".
"G... Gamma."
They introduced themselves to Ein.
"Feel free to try your luck in telling who's who", Beta said.
"Stein, I'm tired".
"Mmmn, I'll take you back".
Stein held Ein and teleported.
"Let's have fun in the next game", Joule said as they left.
===================================
"Did you get anything, Stein?".
"No, not until the last bit."
"They're the real thing, alright."
"But I really hate those types, acting like a single entity, talking in sync and the like."
Aren't we similar?
Ein didn't say anything about it, then he remembered Stein would hear him anyway. He turned away, feeling guilty for unknown reasons.
"It's okay."
Ein felt sandbagged. His eyebrows went up. His brother knew even though he wasn't facing him.
"I always thought that it'd be weird for someone to read my thoughts, but I don't feel that way about you reading my thoughts."
I think everybody feels like that. But I guess I understand how you feel now.
"What happened when we were separated?"
"I was just distracted by the Planetary System."
"Is that what they're calling it?",Stein laughed, "I think I want to rename the pistols now."
"Well, it appears fishy no matter how you look at it, hidden leaders, unknown motives, free aid.... It's perfect... I would have joined."
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean...".
"There's no way that they can really force you to do anything here, the reason why I didn't want to get involved is because I want us to be the best here, with our own power."
"I still don't understand, we can't be sure about that."
"They're going to grow big, and they're going to get in our way."
"So we take them out of the equation now?".
"That's boring".
"Yes, in the end, it's just a game."
"Go to sleep, you need to watch me tonight."
"Do I have any....."
Ein waited for him to finish his question but he didn't, he pondered a bit on it and then turned pink when he realized that he was asking about his dreams.
"Sorry, I'm not as good as you, I need to concentrate to read your thoughts.... That's not what I wanted to say....Your dreams are useless.... No, not useless either... They're..... "
Stein knew what he was trying to say but watched him make a fool of himself. He smiled and closed his eyes.
Free equipment and a literal panic button. Could Edison be involved, I'll need to study them to know their true characters.
Ein watched Stein's chest rise and fall regularly. He waved his left hand above his eyes and once he confirmed his brother was asleep, he left the room.
====================================
After being abandoned by the twins, the rest of the team leisurely walked back to their hotel. There was an awkward silence throughout the journey and once they arrived, they scattered immediately.
And so the day passed without any event and another day arrived and departed without much happening. Stein saw nothing worthwhile in Ein's dreams. Newton decided that spying was a waste of time after she was "advised" by Schrodinger. Coulomb and Laplace continued their training and the day of the test arrived.
====================================
"What's the ruckus, Coco?".
The binoculars in the hands of the blue haired girl dropped. The person who asked the question dashed to save it.
"Be more careful, these things are expensive. "
"It's your fault, we agreed on stars and you took a constellation, quit calling me by the name of your pet."
"It's hopeless, Zu, She's never going to change her mind. ", Copernicus said as she lowered the binoculars she held then she pulled Galilei's cheek, "And you, you can see without the binoculars and you've got super hearing too, we can't hear what's happening from that far away, so why are you asking?".
Brahe giggled, "Stop it C, you're revealing her abilities, remember we're outside."
They were outside, but they were still technically indoors, so there was no need for caution. They were on a balcony with a clear view of the Casino. A lot of teams arrived and camped in the area, waiting for someone to go in.
"It's them, isn't it?", Brahe asked.
"Yup, those fools strolled in without a care in the world..... And they made sure to let everyone know that they knew we were watching."
"How?".
"...".
"Actually, I'd rather not know."
She hastily retreated when she saw Galilei's face darken.
"We'll move after 11 minutes, that gives us 10 minutes to spare before times up."
=======================================
"Spineless wimps, how long do they intend to sit down and watch?", Newton said as they followed the arrows of light on the walls.
"It's actually better, I heard that someone found another test arena, so this is probably an event."
"But that person could be lying, it could be just a rumor and no one has seen such a place."
"But if it isn't, then there's a chance that this could be an unnecessary waste of time...or worse....".
"Ein is back to normal, yay...", Schrodinger said, raising her arms with poorly faked glee.
They reached the room and in a few minutes, they were joined by Edison, Joule and a child who looked too young to be in the playground.
"Ed, Edd and Eddy's here", Schrodinger said still maintaining her previous tone, "Lots of joy to go around today."
Newton didn't understand why that statement threatened to destroy the serenity of the room. She watched the twins, Laplace, Joule and Coulomb fighting to hold back laughter. Then she felt Schrodinger's hand on her shoulder.
Why is she looking at me with pity?
What just happened?
The triplets pretended not to care.
"Who's the kid?", Newton said trying to get rid of the loneliness she felt.
"You're just a child too, you can't call me a kid.", he replied pouting.
Another team entered and the conversation died. Soon the room was filled and the door was shut. They were approximately 70 to 80 Savants in the room.
The wall rotated and a screen appeared . It flared to life and a cartoon style skull with an eyepatch appeared on screen.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Creator isn't around, for now, I'll be in control of the Playground... I'm One-Eyed Jolly".
Jolly sounded like a bored child reading a report. He coughed and surveyed the room.
"This is going to be a simple betting game, anyone who's interested and has the amount stipulated below me in credits should enter the door that will appear on the left soon, the rest can scram."
"Coulomb, you can't...".
"Don't worry Laplace, I'll wait outside."
In a few minutes, the Savants were set. Nobody left the room.
"No one, eh?".
The wall to their right rotated and a door appeared. The Savants entered and Coulomb was left alone.
====================================
The door led to a giant room with a massive screen.
Jolly appeared once again after the room was filled with Savants from other rooms.
"The game is Imaginary Poker, the entire deck is filled with blanks. During your turn, you can decide to make one of your blank cards any card you want or change it to another. The facedown cards are decided by betting when revealed, in the case of a tie, one of the values is randomly chosen. When all cards are revealed, the person with the best hand wins, however, if two of the same card exists any player holding onto it will be... eliminated! ,..... evicted! ,...exterminated!".
Jolly gesticulated wildly during his speech. He paused dramatically before declaring his last three words. He finally seemed to be having fun.
"You'll form groups of 10, anyone without up to 10 in 20 minutes after I'm done talking will be.... eliminated! . If you lose all your chips, you'll be..... evicted! .If you try to run away, you'll be..... exterminated!".
The atmosphere suddenly changed. Jolly was clearly trying to get rid of as many Savants as possible. There was a slight panic as Savants attempted to form teams ahead of time.
"Don't worry, I'll provide enough time.", he was barely heard.
The Savant's fear was infectious, everyone scurried afraid to be left behind.
After a few minutes, the din was silenced by the screams of three Savants.
"Time's up."
He sounded bored again.
"Allright, 850, good enough... Move to the doors on the side. 10 to each".
Ein and Stein, Schrodinger, Newton and Laplace joined different teams at Ein's command, so they were separated.
In their rooms, another screen was waiting. There was a large round table with 10 chairs around it. Chips and cards were also set around the table at each chair.
"To declare your card, just tap it, fingerskate and pick whatever you want..... The bid's starting at 5/10, the game ends in three ways, last man standing, best in 10 turns or when a player accumulates 5000 credits. By the way, you start with a thousand each."
Everyone took their seats.
"Now, the first dealer would be randomly selected."
Ein and Stein had to share a chair, but the only source of discomfort was that the Edison triplets sat directly opposite them.
"Before we begin, there's one last thing..... Among all of you, one is a traitor..... When the game ends, if you're still alive, you have the chance to declare a name... If you're right, you get the same reward as the winners, if you're wrong... Eliminated!.... Evicted!!... Ex.. terminated!!! ".
He appeared to be smiling, even though he was just a skull. Then he suddenly stopped as if he remembered something.
"I forgot to tell you the reward, if you win.... You'll be sent up 10 Levels....Now, Savants prove your worth".
____________________________________________________