Sliding Reality: Chapter 9 Part 2 of 5 (Patreon)

“We know a few things and we can assume a few more. Sphere World’s main products aren’t greenhouses and air filters, its warships, bots and weapons. Which means that it is meant for war of some kind. Sally knows of the alien race that attacked the Federation Cruiser. Looking at the facts, the alien ship came out and started firing on the Cruiser as soon as it could and it sent a message.”

“Okay, and?”

“I can think of two reasons the primary thing Sphere World builds are weapons. One she was sent to stir the pot and create rife within our groups to fight one another until there was one remaining victor, two.” Brad drew in a breath. “That there is a threat coming and we need to arm ourselves to face it.”

Brad's phone buzzed. “One sec, its from Jynx.”

>We have your daughters, your son-in-law and Mary Martin. Meet with Aramand Bashir. [Jynx]

Brad's body went cold.

"Brad what is it?"

"Someone used Jynx's phone to message me, they say that they have the girls, Philip and Mary." He turned his screen to show Stuart.

"They say that they want us to meet with Aramand Bashir."

Stuart hit the armrest of his chair, snagging it before it threw him out, his face twisting together.

"What the fuck? Who the hell do they think they are?"

Brad turned the screen back around and started to tap through his messages.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm setting up a meeting with Aramand Bashir, Sol must be behind this."

"Why the hell would they kidnap our families?"

"Leverage. We are the only administrators out there, we control Sphere World she listened to our orders and fired on those warships."

"Not like I would really go against that order, they were threatening me as well," Sally grumbled through the speakers.

"Is there anything you can do?" Stuart asked.

Here holographic form appeared in the room.

"I can search through the information, but to be honest I don't really know what I am looking for. You lot use codes and ciphers in your everyday language, I'm still trying to figure it out. More than that I'm not much use. You saw how well I could control those bots."

"But you could use all of the weapon systems across Sphere World to attack the fleets?" Stuart asked.

Sally looked at him. "Stuart, I am a sledgehammer. With the weapon systems I was running pre-programmed firing solutions, the missiles were also similarly programmed. I can use all of the tech that I can create, but in very broad terms. If you want me to destroy a fleet or lead a kinetic strike on a planet then I am your gal." She turned to Brad. "And I don't think a rescue mission would want that kind of fallout."

"No, it would not." Brad's screen vibrated.

>We shall meet in the morning. Make no statements about events today. We will work out a way for humanity to step forward together. [Aramand]

"That asshole," Brad tossed his screen to Stuart.

Stuart fought to catch it, fumbling with the inertia, he reeled it back, half standing, reading it. Brad tensed his jaw, glaring at the wall, Stuart’s hands gripping the screen ever tighter, handing it back stiffly. "Brad, you were right."

Brad took the screen as Stuart paced the room.

"I should have listened to you. I should have waited and got more information before we brought the factions in on this."

"Stuart-" Brad was cut off by a look from Stuart.

"This is on me," Stuart's eyes glanced to his side and then to the floor, his voice dipping into a whisper. "All of this." He cleared his throat. "We need to rescue our family. We need to figure out how to work with Sally and get the hell out of this mess."

"We're going to need help.” Brad said. “We’re going to need the Legion.”

"Get gamers to help us rescue our family? I know they saved us here, but Brad they’re gamers."

"In this day and age, factions generals, admirals and soldiers have planned for battles their entire lives, few of them have seen real action. Gamers have been fighting one another over most of their lives. They have died thousands of times, learned from it and fought again. They have been soldiers on the front lines, generals and admirals. They have been miners and crafters and pilots. With the net suits, the division between real and game combat has been blurred. If you gave a gamer a rifle in real life, they'd know how to use it." Sally said. “I didn’t just connect to the net because it was the greatest gathering of humanity. It was the greatest gathering of builders and fighters.”

"Aramand just told us to not do anything."

"Well can he see all of what Sally is building, can he see all the messages and the rumors that crop up among the gamers? The factions are all working in the dark, why can't we?"

"What if he catches on?"

"Stuart, we are just pawns to them, two men that are way out of their depth struggling with this all."

"Brad, I don't want to burst your bubble, but I'm pretty sure we're in the deep end without a damn life jacket."

"We are, but we've been here before, dealing with the pressure of those over us and then trying to serve the gamers as well. We were the ones doing those anonymous posts of how to get around the different traps that Ella and the shareholders were putting into the game. Stuart, you ran game development on Orion's Belt for nearly a decade, you did so with people breathing down your neck. You were the wizard behind the curtain. We dealt with millions of gamers. Sally just talked about how the gamers have more real experience than the fighting forces of our time. We have a great deal of expertise in dealing with massive games, people of all backgrounds and people without their best interests at heart breathing down our necks."

"Brad, but this is real, our family's lives hang in the balance."

"d they do, which is why we need to fight for this harder. If we can get Legion to agree to help us, once we start this ball rolling, we won't be able to stop it."

"Sally do you have any idea of where our families even are?"

"I have some information, it looks like they are still within the system, but I can't get much more than that."

Stuart held his chin, his brows pinching together. “Okay, so make sure people know that Orion System is a safe harbor to get away from the faction’s restrictions. Work with the Legion to launch a rescue for our family.”

Brad shifted forward in his seat, there's the Stuart I know.

"Okay, okay, so we need to stall first. I can think of a few ways to get the information out to the gamers about Sphere World having the capacity to hold people. We play off the mistrust between he factions about people removing gear, get them focused on one another hording stuff. " Stuart tilted his head from side to side. "That way it looks like we are not doing anything, we're just in the eye of the storm. You play up your wounds more, that can keep you out of the meetings and working."

"Are you going to be okay in there." Brad said.

Stuart pressed his lips together and looked at Brad. "One of them tried to kill us and steal Sphere World for their own gain. Another is holding our families lives over our heads. I was scared of them at first. They represent billions of humans. Now? I see that they represent their own interests over the people's. They are just blood suckers and I've dealt with those before. I'm not scared of them anymore. I'm angry."

"At least the corporations are open about their greed," Brad rubbed his face.

"You should call Foster, we have a lot to plan before tomorrow." Stuart said.

Brad looked at his friend his expression focused, grim, that old fire burning bright.

“Alright.”

>Foster, I think its time we talked, I’m hoping to get your assistance on a delicate matter. [Brad]

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