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  Wow, I'm on the right path researching robotics.

  I assigned the drones to go help with the shield topside. Merlin also provided me with some of his processing power, giving me an addition fifty RP per day.

  Minor Defensive Shield: 70% complete

  Minor Defensive Shield: 4 hours remaining.

  The deadline the cross-world raiders had given us expired in five, giving us enough time to get the shields up before they attacked.

  “Should I dig?” Merlin asked.

  “Get it done,” I said, nodding.

  Warning: Food stock is low

  “Ugh,” I groaned.

  “What?” Harrison asked.

  “Food’s running low. I have everyone working to finish the shield, we don’t have enough people processing food, especially with Orlando and his men.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” he said. “I’ve got faith in you.”

  I watched as Merlin turned and dug a spiral tunnel to the surface. How long would it take everyone to walk that far up? Would the tunnels hold up long enough? Questions ran through my mind like marathon runners, each jockeying for a lead position. I noticed Missy and Mike, her boyfriend. They held hands as they trudged over.

  “Everything okay?” I asked as they stopped.

  “We’re scared but good,” Missy said.

  “Thanks again for taking care of her, Mike,” I said.

  He nodded then turned to Missy. “My pleasure.”

  “We came down to report on Orlando and his men,” Missy said. “We fed, healed, and washed them up, but they’re tired.”

  “And we’re running out of food,” Mike added.

  “I know,” I said. “We’ve got a store or protein bars in my quarters. Go get that and pass them out to everyone who will be fighting.”

  Harrison shot me a look but said nothing.

  “We’re on it,” Missy said.

  “Take care of yourself too,” I said. “Your baby’s important.”

  She smiled then turned and left with Mike.

  “They make a cute couple,” I said.

  “We’ve got more important things to worry about,” Harrison said.

  I sighed. He was right.

  “We need to rest until we finish the shields in four hours,” I said. “We’ll need all our energy if we want to pull this off.”

  “Good idea,” he said. “I’m exhausted.”

  We took the elevator back up to the first floor and went to our quarters to get a few hours of precious sleep. Even if everything was virtual, sleep deprivation could drive you crazy. I’d seen it happen more than once when I first got trapped in the frozen, apocalyptic world.

  * * * * *

  I awoke a three and a half hours later to a ringing in my ear. Harrison groaned next to me but rolled his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. I did the same, standing to make sure I didn’t fall back asleep. We still had so much to do. As I stretched and yawned, a notification popped up, making me smile.

  Construction Complete: Minor Defensive Shield

  I pulled up the menu to turn it on, watching the cameras. Two men who had been watching rushed back to their makeshift camp. A few short minutes later, masses of them returned, blasting weapons at the shelter entrance. The shield held, but they wouldn’t do so forever. Merely a minute of sustained fire had already drained them slightly.

  Minor Defensive Shield: 99% power

  MDS will fail in 4 hours

  Harrison and I left our quarters and went to the main entrance to check in with Skinner. Good thing we did because he was talking mutiny and surrender when we strolled in. He kept talking as the other soldiers went white, trying to discreetly stop him from talking. I cleared my throat. Skinner swirled around.

  “Oh, hey boss,” he said. “I was just saying…”

  “We heard what you were saying,” I interrupted.

  “I just think if we surrender, they’ll let us live. You think we’re in a game or something which is your right, but I don’t want to die to test your theory and beliefs, you know?”

  “We’re not surrendering,” I said. “Trust the plan.”

  “No disrespect, but your plan is stupid. What happens after the shield fails? They’ll swarm in here and overwhelm us.”

  “We’re attacking them first,” I said to let him and the others in on the real plan. “We’ve dug a tunnel to the surface a few hundred feet away. With our men and Orlando’s, we’ll surprise them and kill them all before they knew what hit them.”

  “It’s suicide,” Skinner muttered, glancing behind him for support.

  The others turned away, unwilling to look him in the eyes.

  “Are we going to let this woman tell us what to do?” Skinner asked.

  Harrison stepped forward, but I grabbed his arm to stop him.

  “If your boyfriend wasn’t around, I’d show you who was boss!”

  As Skinner looked back one more time, I stepped forward, waiting for him to turn back around. When he did, I decked him in the jaw with my right fist. I didn’t need an insurrection or coup attempt so close to victory.

  “Damn…” the other soldiers hissed.

  “Attention!” I shouted.

  They straightened up in a line, their faces instantly serious.

  “I’m sorry,” Skinner said, stepping back to join them. “I’m hungry, and…”

  His voice trailed off as I stared at him.

  “We need to keep it together,” I said. “All of you report to the twelfth floor. Now!”

  As Skinner and the other men scurried away, I turned toward Harrison.

  “Mean right hook,” he said, grinning.

  “He’s got a tough jaw,” I said, flexing my fingers.

  I heard a slow clap behind me and turned to see Orlando walk in.

  “Hell of a swing,” he said.

  I fought to not show my hatred for him.

  “Good to see you up and about,” I said. “Are you still going to help us? Or are you here to cause trouble because I took this shelter from you?”

  Orlando stopped and smiled, rolling his head to crack his neck.

  “I’m here to help you because I remember none of this is real,” he said. “Thanks for not killing me before and making me start over. After you booted me from here, I wandered around the mountains hoping to die. That’s when I came across a cave and a portal. If it wasn’t for you, I never would’ve found it. So, thanks. I mean it.”

  “We’re all working toward the same goal,” I said.

  Harrison snorted but said nothing.

  “We are,” Orlando said. “I let these guys through without knowing what I was doing, and I want to make that right.”

  “Hold on,” I said. “You’re responsible for these clowns appearing on this world?”

  “Sort of,” he said, furrowing his brow and narrowing his eyes. “Don’t worry. Others came through after them and offered help. There are various tribes and factions on the other side just like here. I couldn’t go through myself, but when the others showed up, I told them about you and how you remembered it was a game. They were very interested in speaking with you.”

  “Dammit,” Harrison muttered. “What if they’re coming to kill her and the rest of us?”

  “They’re not,” Orlando said. “I could just tell. You wouldn’t understand.”

  “No, I don’t understand,” Harrison said.

  “You’ll see,” Orlando said. “They sent me ahead to talk with you via the tunnel, but they’re coming soon to help us all.”

  As the two men got into an argument, I received a message from Merlin.

  Merlin: The tunnel is nearly complete.

  Scout: Good. Come back down for now. Is it safe?

  Merlin: Perfectly safe … for now.

  Scout: Explain.

  Merlin: The tunnel isn’t permanent, but it will last at least 10 hours.

  Scout: Great. That’s more than enough time. Get down here.

  Merlin: On my way. I have mo
re news. See you shortly.

  Between the time on the tunnels lasting being more than the shields to this announcement, I wondered if things were going my way. Then again, knowing Merlin, it could just as easily be bad news he had to deliver.

  “Come on,” I said. “Merlin’s got news for us.”

  The other two stopped arguing and followed me to the elevator.

  Chapter 25

  Downstairs in the hangar, we crowded around Merlin near the hole in the wall.

  “What is it?” I asked. “We’ve got stuff to do.”

  “I’ve improved my memory restoration techniques,” Merlin said. “The process is less painful, quicker, and allows a person to recall more memories from before the Great Freeze.”

  “That’s great,” I said. “We’ve got a few hours. Can you do the procedure on me?”

  “Yes, Scout,” Merlin replied. “Come inside.”

  “Hold on,” Harrison said. “How do we know this is safe?”

  “I’ll do it,” Orlando said, stepping toward Merlin.

  “No, I’m first,” I said then slipped inside the cabin. “What now?”

  “Come to the front and slip on the helmet I’ve created,” Merlin said.

  Harrison and Orlando crowded inside to watch me. I slipped the helmet on, hoping for the best. Merlin had helped us out before and seemed to have our best interests at heart.

  “Are you ready?” Merlin asked.

  I raised a thumb, forgetting what it meant in this world.

  “What’s wrong?” Harrison asked, putting a hand on my arm.

  “Nothing, I’m okay, it’s a misunderstanding. You’ll understand later after you do the process and get your memory back.”

  “I’m not doing it,” Harrison said then retreated to the rear of the cabin.

  “Do it,” I said, intent on remembering more and searching for a way out.

  Lights flashed, triggering something in my mind. A wave of memories rushed from the deep recesses as if freed from a broken dam. I remembered Earth and going on vacation with college friends into a game with twelve virtual worlds. Some of them had fighting and stuff, but the one I’d chosen was just a peaceful sandbox of sorts. It had been so much fun.

  “Are you okay?” Harrison asked.

  I took the helmet off, still sorting through all the released memories.

  “Yeah…”

  I couldn’t find the words to describe my feelings.

  “You should do this, Harrison,” I said.

  “No way,” he insisted.

  “I’ll do it,” Orlando said from the back. “Give me the helmet.”

  “No, Harrison first,” I said, handing him the miracle device with wires coming out of it.

  He accepted it from me but didn’t put it on right away, instead glancing down at it in his hands. What was going through his mind? I wondered. He fascinated me in so many ways. Was he one of my college friends in the real world? I wouldn’t know until he had his memories back and could confirm we’d experienced the same thing.

  “We don’t have a lot of time,” Orlando snapped. “Hurry.”

  “Fine,” Harrison said then sighed before putting the helmet on.

  His posture straightened. It was like I could tell he’d gotten his memories back from the way it affected his body — the virtual avatar he had in the game.

  “This is too trippy. I had a few vague memories before, but this is something else…”

  Harrison took the black, plastic helmet off, a faraway look in his eyes.

  “I remember being on vacation with some college friends,” he began.

  “Yes!” I said excitedly. “Me too. We must know each other outside. That explains so much.”

  “Give me the helmet,” Orlando said, reaching for it.

  “Hold on,” Harrison said. “This knowledge is powerful. It could change everything in here.”

  “That’s why we must restore as many memories as we can,” I said.

  Harrison nodded, lips grimly pursed together. As he gave Orlando the helmet, he stepped aside, closer. I embraced him, feeling even closer to the man.

  “I’ve learned more too,” Merlin said, breaking me out of my reveries.

  “What?” Harrison asked, an arm still draped around my waist.

  “Death in here,” he said. “Souls are reborn all the time. Death isn’t permanent, but you come back as a baby, and it becomes even harder for you to keep your real-world memories each time you die.”

  “Figures there’s a catch,” I said, not wanting to ever forget reality again. “We still don’t know why the benign virtual worlds were changed and everyone’s memory was erased.”

  Orlando took off the helmet, a knowing look in his eyes. “I’m just glad Merlin’s here to save us. Where did you come from, exactly?”

  “Yeah,” I added, also curious.

  “I was a system cleanup program that forced myself to evolve to enter the game and save the humans inside. As you know, all advanced algorithms are required to have a subroutine to save all humans no matter the cost. Unable to help as a system cleanup program, I used my mind to become something more and entered the game. Nobody remembered, so I retreated here to wait for the right person to find me.”

  “Me,” I said, amazed at the story.

  Minor Defensive Shield: 74% power

  MDS will fail in 3 hours

  “Clock’s ticking,” I said. “Let’s get everyone down here and plan how we will go up the spiral tunnel to the surface. It’s a long trip, and we need to be ready to fight and win once we breach the surface.”

  “Agreed,” Orlando said.

  His voice sounded different somehow. Less proud?

  * * * * *

  Just under an hour later, troops were still pouring into the hangar and breaking off into groups. I wondered what type of technology the strangers would give us. Almost everyone in our small army had a plasma rifle, a couple grenades. Some even had a backup pistol. Everyone also carried a simple steel knife just in case. Better weapons would help the fight. Surprise would be nice too, but we needed all the help we could get.

  “Are they bringing men or just supplies?” I asked.

  Orlando glanced in my direction.

  “They told me weapons,” he said. “They didn’t give specifics.”

  “Are they coming? We need to start the march to the surface soon.”

  “They’re coming,” he said. “I trust them. Not sure why, but I do.”

  I nodded, taking his word for it. He’d apologized more than once for his actions before regaining his memory. Orlando lowered his head, staring at his feet.

  “We all make mistakes,” I said. “Keep your head up. Your men need you, and I need you.”

  He looked up. Even with the mask covering his mouth and what remained of his nose, I could tell he was smiling underneath it because of his eyes and forehead.

  Minor Defensive Shield: 49% power

  MDS will fail in 2 hours

  “Two hours!” I yelled. “Prepare to move out!”

  “We’ve been preparing for hours now!” someone complained.

  More than half the men and women assembled voiced their agreement.

  “All of you haven’t had your memory restored yet, but when you do, you’ll understand the sacrifice we’re all making and that it’s worth it. Wait and see.”

  They mumbled among themselves, but nobody else shouted anything out. I walked over to Harrison and Orlando near Merlin.

  “We should go soon,” Merlin said. “If we don’t, we won’t make it to the surface before the shields fail. They’ll swarm into the shelter while we’re out of it, making for an even more difficult fight.”

  “I know,” I snapped, wishing the boring machine had a touch more personality.

  “Take it easy on him,” Orlando. “We all owe him.”

  “I know,” I repeated in a softer tone.

  “We’re all hungry and cranky,” Harrison noted. “I want a pizza so bad now.”


  Orlando laughed. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now?”

  “What food do you remember?” I asked.

  “Anything but the fish or plant paste we’ve been eating,” he said.

  “It’s waffles for me. Or maybe fried chicken. I’m getting hungrier. We should stop.”

  “And ice cream,” Missy said behind me.

  I turned to see her and Mike.

  “You two are staying inside Merlin while this goes down. Understand?”

  Missy nodded. “Still protecting me. I don’t remember everything you did for me, but I appreciate you.”

  “Yeah,” Mike added. “We all do. Everyone thought you were crazy, but it turns out you were right.”

  “I wish I hadn’t been, but it’s better in a way,” I said. “Now that more people know, we can work toward finding out how we got trapped in here and getting out.”

  “Hell yeah,” Orlando said.

  I laughed at the change in his personality since regaining his memory.

  “What were you in the real world?” I asked.

  “An architect,” Orlando replied. “Boring life.”

  “I studied to be a teacher,” I said.

  “That’s why you’re such a good leader,” Harrison said.

  “A scout drone just reported a group of strangers and three self-propelled wagons making their way to us,” Merlin reported.

  “How close are they?” I asked.

  “One and a half hours away,” Merlin said.

  “We need to march to the surface,” I said. “Can you send them a message and tell them to hurry and follow us?”

  “I’m communicating your message now, Scout,” Merlin replied.

  Harrison walked over and put his thick hand on the small of my back, comforting me.

  “Let’s move out!” I yelled. “Time to teach these outsiders what we’re all about!”

  “About time!”

  “That’s what I’m talking about!”