Lord of innis torr, p.20
Lord of Innis Torr, page 20
part #3 of Bridge Quest Series
“Kevin didn’t trust him,” Ross replied with an indifferent shrug. “Thought he’d try and sneak out to connect up with you.”
“Unlike you, who he could trust,” Caryn retorted.
“It is what it is,” Ross replied, returning her gaze with equal force.
Karl glanced up at the sky that was beginning to brighten with dawn’s light. Turning to Maddoc, he said, “Release all the Avnoch soldiers and return their weapons.”
“Sire?” Maddoc replied, raising a concerned eyebrow.
“We’re not enemies,” Karl reminded him. “We’ve accomplished what we set out to do.” Glancing around, he realized that Cambul was missing. “Find Cambul, the man who was pushed out the doors. Send someone to fetch Chet from the gaol then send out joint patrols to track down where Kevin, Charles and Gerard are.”
“Yes, Sire,” Maddoc crisply said.
“What’re we gonna do?” Caryn asked.
“We’re going to go inside and set up shop,” Karl said with a satisfied smile.
Felix walked down the empty hallway, his footsteps echoing as he passed vacant offices and cubicles. Knowing they couldn’t take it with them, the former occupants left their personalities imprinted in each space – pictures, photos, and baubles of memories, the debris of former lives.
Two weeks ago, the last employee had immersed, leaving Felix the sole proprietor and caretaker of Immersion Technologies. For the past two weeks Felix arrived at his usual time, parked in his usual spot, paused to survey the empty parking garage before plodding up the front steps to activate the palm scanner to open the front doors. For two weeks he had settled into his office, like he always did, the comfort of routine giving him a sort of grounding. Yet scarcely had thirty minutes elapsed before he took to prowling the corridors, yearning for human interaction.
And here he was again today, ambling the same corridors, his boredom sinking to ennui. His traveling had taken him to the bowels of the building to places he never would have visited before. What impressed him was the efficiency of the place, computers synchronizing the lighting, room temperatures, humidity, and even the ambient music.
Retracing his steps led him back to his office where he would stare out the window at the empty golf course across the river, the fairways overgrown as nature reclaimed the former pristine place.
His distracted thoughts startled when his ear phone buzzed. He was even more startled when he heard Mister Landon’s voice.
“Good Morning, Felix. I’m at your front door. I’d appreciate you coming down to let me in.”
“Yes, Sir. I’ll be there shortly.”
Surprised that Landon had actually left his lair, though thankful for the company, Felix impatiently waited for the elevator to settle on the first floor and the doors open. Bursting through, he strode across the wide foyer floor and pressed the inside palm scanner, allowing the rotating door to slowly arc forward. Mister Landon stepped in and was inside the building before Felix had a chance for an appropriate greeting.
“What a pleasant surprise,” he said with a smile.
“Yes,” Landon replied, taking in the tall ceilings and windows of the foyer, “I suppose it is. It’s been a long time since I was last here.” Turning around, he gazed out through the windows overlooking part of the parking lot next to the river. “And that’s the golf course across the river that you and Alyson play on. Must have been a nice view from your office.”
“It was, though now Alyson and I don’t play much there as the fairways and greens are overgrown.”
Landon silently stared for a moment. “Alyson says you are quite the golfer.”
“I used to be,” Felix allowed, “I suppose, though don’t really play much these days.” He had tried, along with Alyson, but after the third time of playing an 18-hole round on an otherwise empty golf course overgrown with kudzu and other weeds, it wasn’t quite the same.
Landon shifted a knowing glance at him. “I imagine you’re ready to pick up the game again.”
“I’ve thought about it,” he confessed.
“That’s why I’m here,” Landon stated. “It’s time.”
“Already?” Felix blurted.
“Yes,” Landon soothed. “We’re a few of the last ones remaining who have not immersed. Once we immerse, I believe there are perhaps a hundred worldwide who have yet to… take the plunge.” He grinned at his own joke.
“I’ve heard there are thousands of holdouts who had fled to the hills to avoid immersing.”
“Not really our problem,” Landon dismissively replied. “Drones will find them soon enough. Besides, given time, they’ll eventually die off. What game have you decided?”
“PGA Grandmaster,” Felix said with a sheepish smile.
“You enjoy the game that much,” Landon said, cocking an eyebrow, “to spend the rest of eternity playing golf? What is there to it other than the game itself?”
Felix chuckled. “That’s just it. There’s far more to it than that. The game is designed so that you progress from one course to the next based upon skill level. But all the variables are in the game from wind speed and direction to sand traps, water holes, chip shots and anything else you can think of. Then there’s over 10,000 courses, from Saint Andrews to Augusta to Royal County Down to so many others.”
“I get the picture,” Landon, said with a sympathetic smile. “And Alyson is going with you?”
“Yes,” he replied with a sheepish smile. “Though to be honest, I’d go wherever she wanted and we might look at other games after a while. What about you? What game are you going into?”
“Rarities and Collectibles.” Noting Felix’s puzzled look, he explained, “It’s a game based upon the acquisition and exchange of rarities and collectibles. Things like the T208 Honus Wagner baseball card, which sold for $5.2 million the last time. Or Gustav Klimt’s first Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, which recently sold for $274 million. It’s a quest to collect and own the most desirable of man’s history. The pity of it all is that they’re not real.”
“And Meghan is going with you?”
“We share a passion for the finer things in life,” Landon replied with a pleased smile. He starred out across the river. “Anyway. I wanted to give you a head’s up and I wanted to do it in person. Let’s shoot for the day after tomorrow. That way we can all enjoy our last meals together and prepare for our futures.”
Two days later, Landon stood by Felix at the control console in ITL’s immersion room, his arms folded. “Your thoughts?”
“Part of me wants to leave him there,” Felix replied with an impish grin. “The problem is that he serves no purpose other than being an irritant. Now that Kevin has escaped, I think it’s time we retrieve him and exile him from the gaming world all together. That will leave Kevin as a continued threat in the game while effectively condemning Gerard to the real life.”
“He can always immerse into a rogue game,” Landon mused, “though the protocols and safety nets are suspect.”
“As long as he is prevented from accessing global games, it really doesn’t matter what happens to him. Besides, we’re making effective progress in finding rogue games and spiking them. It would just be a matter of time before his rogue game was discovered and wormed.”
Landon nodded agreement. “Go ahead and bring him back while I go get the girls.”
“Yes, Sir,” Felix answered, tapping the keyboard.
Gerard awoke to a headache and thick tongue, causing him to wonder if he had too much to drink the night before until awareness settled and he realized he was back in real life, in the immersion room. His head throbbed and he snarled that he was getting damned tired of playing this silly-ass game of messenger boy.
Pushing himself to sitting, he blinked at the brightness of the room, turning his head when the door opened and Felix walked in.
“How’re we feeling?” Felix greeted him.
Instead of replying with what he wanted to tell him, Gerard glared at him. “When are you going to stop this nonsense and leave me alone?”
“You’re in luck,” Felix said with a smile. “That was the last time. Looks like you’re good to go from now on.”
“So Karl has finally dealt with Kevin?” Gerard said, scooting to the edge of the table.
“Not quite,” Felix replied, “but it’s just a matter of time.”
The door opened and Meghan and Alyson walked in, followed by Landon who remained in the doorway
“What’s going on?” Gerard asked, frowning.
“Time for us to move on,” Felix cheerfully replied.
“Looks like you’ll be the last man standing,” Landon said, “but you won’t be alone.”
“Pardon?” Gerard’s frown deepened.
Landon stepped aside and another woman entered, though from the awkward gait Gerard knew it to be a robot.
“Meet R-237,” Landon said with a smile. “She and hundreds of other robots will be manning the Landon empire while we’re gone. They will assist you when you are ready to depart.”
Gerard’s mouth gaped open. “When did this all happen?”
“We’ve been working on it for some time,” Landon breezily replied. “Anyway, enough chitchat. It’s time for us to get going.” He turned to Felix. “It has been a distinct pleasure having you by my side. I shall miss our discussions and your companionship.”
“I was honored to have had the opportunity to share your time,” Felix replied with humble gravitas.
Landon turned to Alyson. “He is a lucky man to have your devotion and affection. For a brief time, I was blessed to have that same devotion, protecting me and organizing my life. I can’t imagine what my life would have been without you. I now wish you both a bounteous future.”
There were tears in Alyson’s eyes and all she could muster to say was, “I shall miss you.” She stepped to him and hugged him followed by a hug for Meghan.
Felix shook Landon’s hand and gave Meghan a hug one would give to a not so close relative.
Landon turned to Gerard. “It’s going to be rather quiet very soon. While the robots are pleasant company, I’m sure you’ll be wanting to re-immerse rather quickly. Good luck to you.”
Gerard started to extend a hand but Landon ignored him and headed to an immersion table, the others following and settling themselves. R-237 breezed past him and went to each table and adjusted the electrodes before heading to the center console.
Landon sighed with contentment turning his head to Felix one last time. “By the way, our friend here is in for a big surprise. Well done.”
A look of abject terror encased Felix’s face just as R-237 flipped the switch. “But I thought you –”
Though having no clue to Landon’s cryptic statement Gerard sat mesmerized as he watched the exalted Landon and the others immerse as the life energy in the four bodies departed and what remained were lifeless corpses, limp and settled as in death.
“Would you like to immerse?” R-237 asked him.
“Not yet,” he replied with a yawn. “Think I might like to wander around for a bit before I go.”
“As you wish.” She flipped the switch turning off the power and closed the destination screen on the computer. “The transfer staff will be here momentarily.” She then stiffly ambled to the door.
Once alone, Gerard waited briefly then scooted to the door, silently opening it and poking his head out. With the hallways clear, he strode over to the console and flicked the power switchback on and powered up the computer. Waiting for the restricted access prompt, he typed in his personal code then typed ‘Bridge Quest’ in the ‘Game Selection’ box. Scrolling through the player names, he clicked on ‘Kevin Bristow.’ A pop-up window opened with various options and he clicked on ‘Return to Real Life.’ Clicking the ‘Are you sure?’ box, the ‘Select a bed’ Option appeared.’
Gerard surveyed the four possibilities before him and snickered thinking of Kevin’s reaction if he awoke in a woman’s body. Deciding that despite the humor in Kevin’s shock, there were smarter ways of accomplishing what he wanted and there was one body on the table who was perfect. Making his choice, he clicked the bed number.
The response was instantaneous as life and breath returned to Felix’s body. Gerard moved over to the side of the bed, watching as Kevin/Felix’s eyes blinked open.
“Who the hell are you?” he gruffly demanded, his voice hoarse.
“Gerard,” came the reply. “You’re back in real life.”
“About damned time,” Kevin snapped. Pushing himself to siting, he frowned when he saw the other bodies. “Who are they?”
“Just some folks who recently immersed.”
Kevin rubbed his face and sucked in a deep breath. “Glad to be out of that abomination. I was getting damned tired of having to watch my back.” He placed a hand at his jaw and twisted his head, cracking his neck. “So what’s the plan? What other games are available?”
“Do you want revenge first?” Gerard tempted.
“Damned straight,” Kevin huffed, pushing himself to standing.
The door opened and four robots, identical to R-237, entered, each one pushing a gurney. They paused when they realized there were only three bodies to remove.
“There are three of us, not four,” Gerard haughtily stated, hoping to confuse them.
“But we were told there were four,” one robot meekly replied.
“Well as you can see, there are three here, are there not?” Gerard said with arrogant authority. “Two of us are obviously not quite ready yet.” Flipping a hand at them, he added, “Take these others and be done with it. I will let you know when he and I are ready.”
“Yes, sir,” the robot respectfully answered.
In short order, the bodies of the three dearly departed were loaded onto the gurneys and pushed out and down to the cryogenic freezers in the vast underground storage floor where thousands upon thousands of freezers stacked ten high in long rows that stretched the entire length of the storage floor. Gerard knew from experience, only the wealthy or connected or the physically beautiful and healthy made it to the freezers. The rest were dumped into the recycle chambers to be cast upon the winds.
“You were saying?” Kevin remarked as the door closed.
“You want revenge, right?” Gerard half-lidded his eyes and curled his lips in a smug smile.
“I’ve already said I do,” Kevin retorted. “Get to the point.”
Gerard grinned and leaned in. “We’re gonna kill Karl.”
Kevin’s first demand was make a detour to the bathroom. His, “I gotta take a piss” was followed by a loud “What the hell,” when he didn’t recognize himself in the mirror. Forgetting his immediate need to urinate, he whirled around to face Gerard. “What the hell did you do to me? Who is this?” He spread his arms in anger.
“I didn’t have time to get your own body,” Gerard retorted. “I had to make the most of an opportunity.”
“Opportunity?” Kevin snapped. “You could have just trotted down and retrieved me. It would’ve taken all of ten minutes.”
“On what excuse?” Gerard demanded. “Nobody knows you’re back… at least not yet. And there’s one other little point you’ve forgotten. I can’t retrieve a body from the freezer without proper authorization.”
“Well get it,” Kevin bristled.
“I can’t. What you don’t know,” Gerard calmly replied, “is that you and I are the last ones alive in this company. I need someone higher up for authorization.”
“What?” Kevin exploded. “You mean I’m stuck in this guy’s body?”
“Think of it as a loaner,” Gerard chuckled. “Besides, does it really matter what body you’re in now, especially since we’re going to immerse in a little while?”
“It matters to me,” Kevin fumed.
“Relax,” Gerard said with a sly grin. “When I said that I can’t, I didn’t say that you couldn’t.”
Kevin gave him a hard stare. “Cut the bullshit and get to the point.”
“The body you are in happens to be Felix Hubach, the CEO of Immersion Technology, the very man who can give us access to the freezer zone.”
Kevin turned to look at himself in the mirror. He looked to be in his early 40’s, short wavy auburn hair, brown eyes, and somewhat trim and fit. He wore slacks and an open collar, short-sleeve shirt.
“At least the guy’s not out of shape,” he commented with a resigned sigh.
“Hurry up and do your business,’ Gerard urged. “We got work to do.”
Once finished and heading down the hallways, Kevin followed Gerard to the elevators down to the cryogenic floor, passing several robots along the way who gave deferential nods to Kevin/Felix. Entering the elevator, Kevin waited, expecting Gerard to press the button for the freezer floor.
“This elevator will only go down as far as the lobby floor unless you give the authorization,” Gerard explained. “See that screen there?” He pointed to a small touch screen above the floor buttons. “That’s the authorization screen. Press your thumb against it and tell it to descend. The access is both thumb print and voice activated.”
“What’s it called”” Kevin asked.
Gerard frowned at him. “A security screen.”
“No, the floor we’re going to. What’s the proper name?”
“Oh,” Gerard replied. “It’s called the Cryogenic Zone.”
Kevin pressed his thumb against the screen and said, “Cryogenic Zone.”
“Good day, Mister Hubach,” a female voice crooned inside the elevator as it began its slow descent then picked up speed. “I’m surprised that you are still with us. Latest data states that you were immersed not more than twenty-six minutes ago.”
When Kevin didn’t respond, Gerard nudged him. “Why are you back, Mister Hubach?” he said in slow emphatic words. “Isn’t it because there were a few last minute details to attend to?”
“Uh… yes, yes,” Kevin chimed in. “Just some last minute things I wanted to check on before I depart.”
“I imagine Miss Whitmar will be disappointed you are not with her,” the voice said.
