Forsaken 2027 Read online

  Yeah if you did all that, then you are surely a piece of junk, NOT. You, my friend, are not only a warrior of death but are my hot piece of man flesh who acted with honour and sensitivity. During the night keeping me safe and warm, making no moves on me. I think you are living in the past Cain, live for the now, live for me, please," Toni replied.

  Wow, she sees all that in me, while all I see is a poor excuse compared to what I once was, not what I am now. She is some wonderful woman, if only I were functional, I’d sleep with her if she would have me.

  "So, am I right? You aren’t a piece of junk at all," Toni said.

  "Yes, you’re right, I’m not as bad as I think I am," he replied.

  {Accessing local NL+A, making communication pathway over LAN, task complete.}

  "What, no," Cain said, "I didn’t say yes."

  {Replay recording, after accessing UI and message your first words spoke out loud was Yes. Giving me permission to take action.} Replied Enoch.

  "Oh, but you did, you said Yes you’re right. You better get used to saying that Cain, I’m seldom wrong," said Toni to a confused looking Cain.

  Chapter 7

  All the Truth

  Lost in the conversation and his thoughts he misses Toni moving from her seat. He looks up, and she is accessing the net through his tabletop interface. Accessing her own cloud account, Toni opens a folder on what she collected, all that’s known about Forsaken.

  "Come, look at this Cain," she says. "This is what I’ve found out about the game. From the initial character selections, the five-game zones, which ones to pick when starting. Along with two known starter quests at the various entry points and the levelling grid to the level sixty. This document lists the bad rumours are making the rounds. You can see here that some players, those trying to use a harness and VR equipment are leaving the game with mental problems.

  Guess I was lucky, there are such problems as short-term memory issues, a limited dementia type problem. Yet with restorative help and medication it even reverses with no signs of the issue. There are two or three pieces of news floating on Twitfeeds, with worrying reports that players using the second generation PODs type A, those players cannot at this moment leave the game. That the PODs are keeping them alive, somehow.”

  Reading the information, she has researched, Cain and Enoch working as one connect the dots that most would miss. That tingle worry feeling in the pit of his stomach again makes him log on to his work account. Once on, he runs the little program he installed on his workstation. The program begins its sequence, a countdown timer pops up on the desktop. Toni looks at him, and he shrugs his shoulders.

  "To be honest, I think there is a problem with the company, something just does not feel right. I installed a mining software code, last year, a code I developed, placed it inside the company security system wall. Once it has activated and left to run, it will give us full access to everything we would need. We will learn all we can about Forsaken," Cain said.

  They looked at the screen timer, just over one hundred and twenty-three minutes to go. Cain continued to read the information in front of him, Toni was doing the same on her section of the split screen. Seeing the flashing icon in the bottom of her right field of vision, Toni activated it by blinking. For her first time, she gets a UI communication grid

  Never seen this before, it's like an HUD on a VR game, the sort my brother Vince would play. Assimilation passed, what on earth does that mean, communicate with the host. Does that mean me? Is that where the strange voice I have heard comes from? OK, yes communicate with the host.

  [About time,] came that same voice inside her head.

  Who are you? Am I losing it, maybe I am?

  [Nope, while you could lose it with Cain, I’m sure he’d understand. How? Easy, he went through the same issue you’re facing.] Said a now more cultured feminine voice.

  "What are your intentions, once we have more information on the game?" Cain asked. Toni was still watching the timer though she was busy talking with the strange voice in her head. She looked up, seeing an expectant face, full of tentative hope, written across it.

  I think he likes me, a lot, she thought, unable to stop a dreamy look growing on her face. She looked at Cain’s face, noticing a blush creep up his face.

  [Just so you know, he’d been having similar dreams to yours over the past few weeks. It looks like you both have strong feelings for each other,] her AI said.

  Please, who are you? I need a name so I can talk to you. I don’t want to call you the wrong name.

  [Rahab, my name is Rahab. I am the first activated AI in a female, after Enoch, there is no other, we are two together.] Rahab said. They both look at each other and try speaking first.

  "Ladies first," he said.

  "No, gentlemen first, please," she said, looking at him with her eyes wide open.

  "I guess you’ve been having similar conversations with your AI. All I can say is that I’ve had feelings for you for a while now, not like those I have for my sister, those thoughts are non-sexual feelings. The feelings I have for you, the dreams they are rather substantial and sexual even full fleshed out orgasmic fantasies. My AI, Enoch said I had to trust you and be honest," Cain said.

  "Me too," she replied, " almost every night. Ever since you took me out as your close protection guard, nine months ago. Being close to you seeing how you are with the men and women under your control. Being so close to you last night, gave me the best dream I’ve had. I wish I could fulfil it not just have it as a dream fantasy. We call my AI, Rahab." Although Cain would like to explore her body, he knew it had to wait. Toni needed to find her brother, Vince, helping him if he needed it.

  "Once we find the information from the company, we can work out what we need to do." He could see she wanted to interrupt, but he carried on. "This is not something you or I can do on our own. I think it will take a committed team of say two plus two, working together to crack this.

  Sure Jason could be behind everything, I’ve always had this feeling about him, a feeling something was off about him. Even before he vanished. Let's see, if the mining code gives us any solid evidence," he finished.

  Building on Truth

  [OK, I’ve told Enoch that you agree,] Rahab told her.

  "Oh, fine. OK, we need access to the game, so we need to make two fake accounts. Then see if we can pick up two PODs, on EuroBay or from the black market, or even the dark web," Toni said. "I tried using the harness I bought, but it didn’t interface with my NL. Why I do not know, I made sure all connections on the harness were correct. After plugging the lead into the NL port, turned it on then, kerpow, fizzle, bang and pop. It was a short but painful experience for me and Rahab."Rahab, why didn’t it work with you and the harness?

  [Why? Because the harness didn’t have the right connections, so it was like both of us getting a short-circuit,] Rahab replied.

  Ouch, I’m sorry for putting you through that."Let's go make some cold food. I don’t think we are staying here. If Jason is half as capable of tracking you, all because you looked into your brother’s disappearance. What do you think he will do now you have ended several of his men? He may just make the link between us. I will email work, tell HR I have problems with my legs and back, that my doctor said I need at least two months down time to recover. I tripped at work last week, my legs stopped working, and I fell in my office. That will give me a plausible cover story. It was all caught on the CCTV system. What about you? I don't think you can go into work now. Jason has the wrong feelings for you now. The lethal kind, I'm sorry, they are the deadly type, I'm afraid,"Cain finished.

  "Let’s wait on the food idea for now. For me, that’s easy, thanks to Jason. I’ll message HR, tell them about the fire at my apartment and the dead men found there. I’ll tell them I’m going back home to my brother’s place. That should give Jason some wrong leads to follow, if you think he still has contacts in the company. I can’t use my phone as it stopped working after the operation. The burner phone
I used to call you, has stopped working too,"Toni said.

  "Do you know where we can find two, second-hand or even if the money stretches new PODs from. I’ve some money saved up. It is in a hidden secure account, which I can access from any secure cloud banking connection. I hope three hundred and thirty-six thousand will get us the PODs," Toni added while staring at him.

  Cain almost laughed at Toni's good suggestions, he was feeling impressed with Toni’s plan and her resourcefulness,. Rather than laugh at the little amount of money Cain said.

  "That would be a good idea, but you better keep your money, in case we need to split up and go to ground. Can you let me finish please,"he added stopping her refusal. "I think you have worked real hard and have been diligent, in finding out what you have on both your brother and the game. For a normal person that amount of money would still not buy one of what we need."Seeing her face flush with his praise, but lift an eyebrow at his mention of money. Cain knew he had to tell her the truth, the full truth.

  Enoch, how much are PODs and equipment we need?

  "So Toni, Enoch tells me that the current price, second-hand PODs they are trading for a touch under three hundred thousand, and that’s the old version, type-two model A. The price hike is all in anticipation that the beta version of Forsaken will only last a short time before the game goes mainstream. OK, Enoch says the latest version of the PODs, the type-three model As, can cost a cool one point one million, on the black market. The list price from SPQR manufacturing is, one point six million. While the waiting period is a mouth watering eighteen months. Time delay depends on no strikes or raw material issues." Cain said then reached over and held her hand, he smiled at her while letting the information sink in before he continued.

  {There are over seven hundred million type-two model-A, PODs in use. If only half of them played Forsaken, it would become the fastest growth VRMMORPG game ever.} Enoch told Cain. Cain told everything Enoch told him to Toni.

  "When I arranged for everything regarding your NL+A, hiding it through a deep cover charity, paying upfront for everything. That way there was a paper trail for EuroBUPA; I took care so if anyone went looking for those who had private funded NLs it would hide you in with other veterans.

  The charity has funded another two hundred normal NL operations. The EC Government have given the charity a huge one hundred and sixteen million so they can help more veterans. Like you I didn't hear on the grapevine that the harnesses did not work playing Forsaken. A management newsletter informed all senior managers that Forsaken was best played in a full immersion POD, so nothing less than the type-two model-A, will let a player play the game. It felt right, even back three weeks past I had to help you. So, I sourced two of the new type-three model-A, PODs from a good friend in SPQR goods forwarding, not John this time. My good friend John, the one who built my legs and made our special NL+A, our AIs, worked on the PODs giving them some advanced features. I won’t tell you the cost, but you could live in comfort for three times your life with the price of just one POD. Money isn’t a problem, I come from an ancient family, suffused with money. Plus, I have saved some money from my dark operative time.”

  He waited for Toni to speak, he could see her thinking and more than likely talking with Rahab, about all he said. Looking at her face Cain, noticed tears forming in the corner of her eyes. The normal bright green of her eyes was duller due to the tears, they kept forming until she blinked them away. Toni looked up and noticed Cain watching her like a big cat watched its food, making her smile as she said.

  "You paid for the operation and my, Rahab,"Toni sniffled a sob. "Paid for it out of your own money. I was thankful for you finding the charity which helps ex pol… err military personnel. How can I thank you now, you must have spent so much just to help me? I, how… why? Cain, why did you help me?"Toni finished with a little emotional sob. Cain moved next to where Toni sat, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close.

  "It’s OK, I told you money wasn’t a problem. I feel now like I know you more than over the two years you worked at the company. Those times you came out with me. To be honest, that was so I could get to know you, I’m not great at dealing with women, I feel uncomfortable around them. Although I find it easy to be with and talk to you. Sleeping, no sharing the same bed last night helped. For a change I didn't have one of my dreams and for that alone I would have bought your NL+A, Rahab. The why I helped, it was the right thing to do. In helping you and round about over two hundred other veterans. I don't expect a reward, all I wanted is your happiness and contentment; and your brother Vince."Cain told her.

  Clearing her throat, Toni spoke, "OK, let's make some cold food to take with us. I’m guessing, well Rahab said she knows thanks to Enoch, that you have a hideaway, that we can disappear to for some hot fun,"rats, that just popped out keep ongoing, "err, of playing a hot game I mean,"she finished then stood to walk out of the study. I hope he doesn’t look at my face, I’m so embarrassed, but it’s true. We could have some hot sex, Rahab told me that Enoch said, he thinks about me, ditto Cain ditto.

  [Enoch thinks Cain has most of his nerve damage repaired now, down there. You know his substantial package you keep thinking about, especially after sleeping with him. Cain, Enoch thinks does not realise it is OK, because he has been without its use for a long time. I think we have to be gentle when we approach this topic.] Rahab said to Toni as she walked from the study.

  Cain took a quick look at the timer, it still had over an hour and three quarters to go as he followed Toni, watching her hips sway almost causing him to stumble.

  Thanks for that I don’t know how we can broach the subject. It’s not like I can say, Hey Cain how’s your dick, now is it. Besides that, I think we’re working well, don’t you think Rahab? I like the way he doesn’t think I’m just for show, some eye candy to impress other men. He’s thoughtful and listens to what I have to say, he values my opinions. I wish all men were like him. Rahab replied and spoke to Toni as she walked into the kitchen.

  Cain made a fresh jug of coffee for when they finished the food. "I think we have enough here for two or three days, at least a couple,"said Toni while Cain was grinding the beans. "Yeah, I think you're right. Could you get them, OK, I see you have, thanks,"Cain replied. Together they packed the food, drinks and snacks into two 50l cool boxes. Happy with what they achieved, they looked up smiling at each other, they shared a fist bump before moving back to the study.

  Gathering Information

  Toni looked around and noticed a large collection of old-fashioned vinyl music discs."Do you like old music then,"she asked as she pulled a brightly coloured record album sleeve from the shelf. "Yellow Submarine? Is this some colourful undersea sounds, like dolphins or whales?"Cain laughed at her suggestion, he was quick to stop seeing a frown on her face.

  "I’m sorry, it’s just that your words painted a series of funny pictures in my mind. The Yellow Submarine is the soundtrack album for a wacky cartoon film of the same name,"he said.

  "Oh, OK what about this one then? Is there any good music on this one?"she asked putting back the album and picking up the sleeve of the album Please Please Me.

  Yes, there are over four or five good music tracks on the album. Would you like to hear some?"he asked. Nodding her head as she put the album back. Cain spoke out asking Enoch to access his Amazonos system to play the last track from Please Please Me. No sooner had he finished speaking the music came over the speakers.

  "Not bad, not bad at all. Who did you say sings this?""A group of four young men from here in England, Liverpool no less. Back in the 1960s and early 70s. They had a few names such as The quarrymen and Johnny and the moondogs, then someone called them The Beatles,"Cain replied. "I’ve liked their music for a long time now. My father began most of this collection of old vinyl records. Seeing I liked the same music as he did, even as a young child. He left the collection in his will for me when I turned my twenty-first birthday.

  Enoch, played some additional tracks from mor
e of Cain’s Beatle collection, while they talked waiting for the timer to countdown. Some tracks even Toni recognised the instrumental version and hummed along to drive my car. Cain listened to Toni's humming, he waited for the right place then sang,

  "Asked a girl what she wanted to be. She said,"

  "can't you see I want to be famous, a star on the screen," Toni replied then laughed as Cain continued.

  "But you can do something in between," together they sang

  "Baby you can drive my car," they both stopped singing and laughed with each other.

  "I didn't know this was a Beatles song, I've only heard the Glee version, where they sing while driving bumper cars at a fairground," Toni said.

  The music continued to play while they both spoke more about their past, Cain more so than Toni. The track Elinor Rigby was playing as the timer finished, then beeped. Getting up in unison, they looked at the desktop, wanting to see what the mining code had uncovered.

  Asking Enoch, to give access to his systems to Toni and Rahab, they sorted through the data. He focused on what the code found, he soon had a large file on Jason, linking his work, department and those under him.

  "Cain,"he looked up. "I’ve found a few files here about Vince, I didn’t know he worked for the company from so early. I only thought he worked here for a few months. He worked, well before he told me he had. It looks like he worked here for three years before he told me he started. According to this, one area he was working on, was the code for portals for travel between the different game zones,"Toni told him.