Play Testers Wanted Pt. 24

"We have an entire week," Bambi said.

"Yeah, take your time," Titania added. 'It is him. He's back.'

'I know," Bambi sent silently. 'This is going to be the best week ever.'

I pulled out and walked away from the bed. The area became a nature trail with the roar of rushing water ahead, urging me on. Bushes and trees lined the path, and a sense of familiarity arose as I spied the rushing stream and the towering waterfall feeding it. This place had been a glacier once, but seismic activity had split the region forming the falls and valley beyond.

"Cloudfall Valley," I said as I looked up to see the celestial spillway of rainbow-hued fog.

I remembered discovering the falls atop the glacier's edge--the sight of the clouds billowing over the edge and giving the site its name. I wiped the tears from my eyes and blinked. How long ago was it? The rush of the ghost lines coursed through my veins back then, as it is beginning to do now. I survived the interregnum and the sleeping dragon. The world will change now that it is stirring, but it will take a long time. I need to make preparations quickly.

"Surfer, can you contact Wraith from here?"

"I can now that we have left Iram. How can I be of service?"

"Here is a list of locations and properties I need to be purchased as soon as possible. Those at the top are crucial and less important near the bottom. Transmit them to Wraith and use what wealth I have to buy them, pay taxes, and whatever else is needed. Sell the Numenor if you have to, but get those sites."

"Yes, Booker," Surfer said with a laugh.

"What is so damn funny?"

"When you acquired the mansion, Wraith placed a ninety-five percent probability that you would want similar investments for the future. Let me crosscheck the two lists and see if we missed any. As he suspected, you are the proud owner of quite some acreage."

"Remind me to give you two a raise."

"You don't pay us now, but if something comes up in the future, we'll call in your marker."

"Funny. On a serious note, I still have assassins hunting my sorry ass," I said. "At least it won't be boring. Plans, I need to create a strategy instead of running into them willy-nilly."

I walked the serpentine path upward, and the sense of being followed grew with each step. If the terrain remained true, there was a perfect spot to ambush my pursuer. I quickened my pace, fearing one of the remaining Decade assassins might be behind me. The location for my ambush was as I remembered it. I slid into position and waited. When I spotted movement, my hand shot out and grabbed her.

"What the hell?" I said as I lifted the wildcat to eye level. "You scared the hell out of me."

"Is that any way to manhandle a female," the cat replied. Her form became indistinct before taking on the shape of a short, curvy woman. "This is how you manhandle one." Her hands placed my palms on her ass cheeks. "That's better."

"Who are you?" I asked as her arms slid around my neck just before kissing me. "You," I said when she broke the embrace. The jolt of memory reawakened old remembrances.

"Just little old me," she giggled. "I had heard a rumor that you were back. Goddamn, it is good to see you. If you need my help, ask, and I will do anything in my power to aid you."

"A Black Decade is hunting me. You trained me before for survival. Can you remind me of what I may have forgotten?"

"You wound me...."

"Booker, my name is Booker now."

"Follow me. There is a perfect place to remind you just how much you've forgotten."

Three Days Later, Give or Take:

"You remember that time when you got drunk and challenged Druin to an arm wrestling contest?" Titi said as she refilled my cup.

"Hey, I won, didn't I? Sure, it took four and a half days, but I won."

"Paris," Bambi tittered as she rode me slowly. "All those lovely restaurants."

"Damn, I could go for some," I said as the door opened and two women entered the room. One was Freki carrying a large platter of assorted food. The other was the green-haired Rachel pushing a trolly of wine, beer, and miscellaneous bread products, all freshly out of the oven.

"What is the she-wolf doing here?" Bambi asked as she looked over her shoulder.

"I promised her a few rounds before the Ravens threw me to four fucking assassins."

"I work for the Ravens, and I am here to make amends," Freki replied.

"She did bring food," Titi purred. "Come on, let's eat, drink, and let me watch you bury the hatchet in the wolf and green over there."

"I concur. Let's eat." Bambi said.

The succubus dismounted, and Freki and Rachel got their first eyeful of my demonic gift. Freki just grinned while Green took longer to get over it.

"Two, he's got two goddamn cocks," Rachel exclaimed.

"Yep, one for me and one for you."

"Hells yes, eat up. I need to get laid. No wonder he is prone. Look at all those bruises. Do you mistreat all of your lovers so succubus?" Rachel asked.

"I wish," Bambi laughed. "A better female than I leveled those aches deep in his muscles and bone. Booker dearest took up arms under the fiercest sergeant, the Cat Lord herself."

"Is that true?" Freki asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Assassins still hunt me, and it would be foolish to remain idle and not prepare for their next appearance. An old friend came to my aid and taught me the agony of being complacent. Though she did have kind words for my sword arm and footwork."

"For her to teach someone outside her kind is unheard of, but if anyone could woo the feline demigod, it would be Booker," Titi chuckled. "Eat up, half the week is gone, and I mean to milk every last ounce from him before I must return to my duties."

Freki took a seat next to me, but her fingers probed my bruises instead of eating. I didn't complain, and her assessment of my injuries was close to the mark. This is where reality and CGI took two different paths. I wasn't going to heal overnight after the brutal training I had received. Kat had nothing like what I had experienced in her virtual library. No one but a complete masochist would accept the pain I had endured. But, looking back on it from this side, my friend had been lenient on me. I winced when the she-wolf's touch found an incredibly tender area.

"That's going to take weeks to recover from: I hope it was worth it."

"Don't worry, Freki, you'll get the same level of attention as the others. I promise."

"I will keep you to that promise."

As we snacked, I learned that not only had the Raven recovered from Nightshade's curse but so had Geri. I felt a measure of joy knowing I had helped them despite facing the assassins. There was no little sense of peace after reclaiming some of my older memories to know my moral compass remained intact. I had cheated death again, and beyond hope, I remained myself and well grounded. There had been a shadow of fear that the more significant portion of my soul might be a complete prick and drown out my good guy aspect.

"What a relief," I said.

"Hmm?" Titi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't think I am being stupid, but I was scared shitless of discovering I was a James Bond-level villain. Am I making sense?"

"Perfectly, I think that boyish disposition is what seduced me when we crossed swords the first time."

"Yeah, Bambi is right. Your charm is ageless and endures no matter what."

"I don't understand," Rachel said. She tossed me a warm seed bun and continued. "Did something happen I should understand?"

"Not really," I replied. "I am adjusting to life in the Maze."

"Tell me about it. I returned to earth after a few years here, and decades had passed. Everyone I knew and loved was either old or dead. Talk about a kick upside the head. I found my way back here and never looked back."

"Relax, Akira is still in Iram, so her proximity to the Maze is fixed. The time differential shouldn't be no more than a few hours to a few days."

"I have a great idea," Rachel said and then lowered her head and fell silent.

"I know that look all too well," Bambi stated. "An intelligent, free-spirited female who second guesses herself after being humbled one time too often. Speak your mind, here, young human; you are among friends."

"You got my curiosity going."

"Well, I thought a nice cool dip in a pool might be nice," Rachel said, making eye contact and smiling weakly.

"A wonderful idea. I'm sure the suite can provide just what we require," I said.

Sure enough, I strolled towards a moonlit patch of downy earth, and just beyond that point, a large stone pool big enough to allow us to sit or soak if we wished. Those already naked entered the water, and those clothed removed them and joined us. Rachel and Freki were just as I expected. Freki, warrior and protector of the Ravens, was solidly built with a slim physique and muscles on display. Rachel was in great shape, but her power came from her hips, long dancer-like legs, and a disciplined workout routine. I set aside a place next to me for Rachel and one opposite for Freki. It seemed to me the same magic or technology the shifters used to create their liquid glass may be at play here within Rick's.

"What can you tell me about the Ravens?" I asked.

"They are the eyes and ears for the All-Father," Freki said. "Their vision is second only to Heimdall, and in times past, they traveled the nine realms watching the other cultures grow, change, and evolve."

"The twins never leave the tower, but I have seen them on rare occasions standing on one of the balconies looking out over the Maze. I won't lie; when they look at you, it is more like they are looking through you or into your soul," Rachel added.

"That's not true," Freki said. "When the mood strikes, such as anniversaries, they depart the tower and dine at Rick's. Those outings have become rare lately."

I remember when I met the Ravens for the first time. Their dark gaze felt like an intrusion into my thoughts, but they never delved more than the surface. They never did answer my question, though.

"Where is Odin?"

"He is vacationing on the Earth," Freki said. "He is fascinated by a secret society there and watches over its younger members." I felt a chill and wondered if Odin knew about the Order of Chthon. "Have no fear; your secret is safe with me. I recognized your ring the minute you entered the aerie."

Rachel gripped my hand and lifted it. She touched the signet and nodded. "I remember a ring just like this; what was it ten years ago? An older gentleman came and spoke with the twins half a dozen times before returning to earth. The twins had me follow him around to see who he spoke to and his movements. He had a ring like yours, but it was gold with a diamond where the eyeball would be."

"Do you remember his name?"

"Let me think. It was a decade ago. That reminds me of something one of the twins said, using the word decade. No, it was a black decade. That man ordered a black decade, and I thought it was a piece of art or maybe even a fancy drink. What was his name? Solome, his last name was Solome. He was Middle Eastern, I believe. If I remember right, he was upset about the clean energy technology Mr. Shaw had developed. It was going to ruin a lot of people's lives. Sorry, I can't remember anything else."

"You did great."

'I am already on it,' Surfer declared silently. 'Solome is the name of an agent of a fossil fuel cartel with members from the US, the Middle East, and Russia. The cartel doesn't know he is a high-ranking member of the Order. I put my money on the uncle of the current crowned prince. They are heavily invested in oil and natural gas and have only recently turned to renewable energy sources. They missed out on the chance to invest when Master Nick bought the formulae for Zero Point Energy from a professor teaching at Miskatonic University. Strange. That same young man was reported killed in a car crash and recently reappeared under the watchful eye of Kat Shaw. Oh my god.'

'Surfer?'

'Steven Osborn is believed to have caused the worldwide shutdown shortly after his reappearance. Kat was there at ground zero when the event unfolded. Her private journals blame him for everything.'

'How in the hell can one man trigger that kind of power?'

'Her journal doesn't say. She believes Steven Osborn is a credible threat to the world, and after he disappeared from a cryo cell, Kat has spent millions trying to track him down, but without success.'

'I have a lot to think about.'

"Is there room for two more?" A sensual female voice asked.

"Don't break your neck turning around," Titania chuckled.

"Holy shit, it is you," I exclaimed, seeing the half-naked form of none other than Jarael and her blue-skinned companion Naia. My first question was whether she could be the same Jarael I had encountered at the charity event. In that case, I interacted with a Jarael avatar.

"Join us, you blue-tongued devil," Bambi said. "Booker said the thought of that tongue pleasuring him kept him going within the arena."

"I see. Come on, Naia, I'm sure the Keeper won't mind a short dalliance."

"He never does."

I watched them undress, and the pool's capacity appeared to have reached its limits. The ladies dominated the conversation as they rehashed prior meetings and movements within something they referred to as the skein. That gave me time to compare my memory of the Jarael avatar to the woman in front of me.

'Bambi was right,' Left sent. 'Her labia are blue. How sweet is that?'

'I...." I began when all conversation ended abruptly. Did I project my thoughts somehow?

"I told Booker about your exotic coloring," Bambi said. "I suppose I am to blame for his fascination."

"I suspect the Keeper also finds my skin tones quite pleasing. Booker, I am not offended."

Jarael played her cards close to her chest if she was the same female. There was no mention of Turquoise and the rambling about the Order of Chthon or her observation of me being a Duskwalker. My paranoid side felt that Jarael was here for a reason but would she share her motivation with me? Naia seemed nonplus regarding her unusual coloring and red within red eyes. When I asked about details about the Keeper, they changed the subject, and just like that, the ladies shared their varied techniques for oral sex. Bambi began and used me as a test subject. That didn't just break the ice; it melted the glacier named Naia.

A Short Jaunt:

The sprawl of female bodies lay over the bed, and the soft loam surrounded it. Despite the intense love play hours before, I woke earlier than they and proudly counted the number of orgasms given as one of my highest for a single evening. The winner of that title belonged to the time I snuck into a sheik's harem and bedded every last one of them as a challenge from a long-time friend and companion. Lucky for me, the sheik was away at war, and I had several nights to complete the deed. My pride was on the line, and I collected the wager and added to my notoriety in one fell swoop.

I emptied my bladder, washed up, and sat with my back to one of the colossal cherry trees. I had time while they slept to hop into the game for a quick side quest or two. I would have Surfer alert me if anyone woke. She also found a circuitous route to tap into earth's satellite system and get me online. I got comfortable, closed my eyes, and logged in.

The White Room:

"Welcome back, Booker; Kat Shaw greets you with a personalized gift for your upcoming birthday. Would you like to create a new character or continue as Ghost Fire?"

"No need to change now; besides, I put a lot of work into him."

"Understood. I will grant you a unique reward if you can escape the challenge in the allotted time. Good luck. Starting puzzle pack in three, two, one...."

My new surroundings were the cargo hold of a vehicle of some kind. The containers were futuristic, so my first guess was a starship or bullet train. The timer began, so I searched the area and found that none of my powers worked, and not a single clue was obvious. The only markings were the odd block-style lettering that marked the individual crates and packages. When I consulted my linguistic library, the symbols belonged to the Shi'ar Empire. The boxes were sealed tight and could not open. Frustrated, I punched one of the crates, and one of the symbols shifted. I dug my fingers under the small crescent-shaped marker and pried it loose.

"It is the only thing I have going for me," I said.

I attacked the boxes and tore off anything I could. As I piled them in one spot, the display showed me how many clues I had found and yet to discover. With just two minutes left in the countdown, I had collected all the clues, but what did they do? I sorted them into piles and came up with seven long straight pieces, six short straight ones, one large crescent, four smaller ones, and two circles. What in the hell? I did notice that one of the long linear things had an angled cut on one end. Ninety seconds to go, and I wasn't sure what to do. Maybe they spelled out something. I took the oddball straight piece, and it lined up perfectly with one of the others, and it hit me; this was part of the letter R. It did spell out something. The small crescents fit the straight pieces as well. I frantically raced to create characters and solved the puzzle with only seconds to spare.

"D. B. Cooper."

Two of the containers opened. One was a modified environmental suit, and the other a backpack filled with loot. Was I supposed to put on the gear and escape the craft midflight just like D.B. Cooper? Ha, why the hell not? The suit sealed itself with a loud hiss of oxygen released into it. I attached the pack as crimson warning lights lit and began spinning. A second countdown appeared, and I placed my back to the exit and held my breath. A loud, dull beep sounded in my ears until the clock reached zero. The hatch opened, and the pressurized environment began equalizing with the vacuum of space. My body was hurled backward as a forcefield formed around my body as it shrunk into a fetal position. Streamers of light surrounded me as I fell into the FTL wake of the starship while it crossed the galaxy. I cried triumphantly as I drifted away from the ship and approached the light shear or the edge of the superluminal envelope surrounding the Shi'ar freighter. If my body made contact with the border, the forces would scatter my remains into the void.

My earpiece crackled, and a familiar voice whispered my name. Then other members of my crew sounded off as the Wraith appeared. They lined up the front of their FTL field with the back of the freighter and rescued me from certain death. The front hatch, customarily used for raiding purposes, opened, and I entered the airlock. With the same precision, my crew backed away and altered course for earth. Our reward for pulling off the heist of the century was the title of legendary pirates and a ton of coin and technological goodies.

"That is one hell of an entrance, boss."

"Go big or go home," I said.

"Speaking of home, it'll take a few days to reach the earth. What are we going to do?"

"Check the listings and see how many ships are between us and our destination. Why stop now when we can show the galaxy what we are capable of."

We found another freighter full of goodies and corrected our course to intercept it. The anticipation on my crew's faces reminded me how much I missed playing this game. Ten minutes later, the thrum of the engines faded into silence. The ever-present vibration from the deck plates ceased, and the others froze in place.

"Kat?"

"No," a male voice addressed me. I turned to face the transparent image.

"Hey, I don't know who you are, but you got the wrong game. What the fuck do you want?"

"I can't do this for long. How can you process so much information so quickly? I need your help. Kat hired my company to help raise revenue, and since you are the top earner and influencer, others will follow if you lead."