Chapter 653: Decisions made

Mason did his best to enjoy being back with all his people. He’d seen them all gathered up with his Wayfinder, and communicated with Haley en route, landing in the palace courtyard.

He’d been planning to…

relax

a bit with his women, first, but it seemed better to kill a few birds with one stone. OK that was maybe the wrong metaphor after he’d sprouted wings.

Becky saw him first and came running. He grinned and grabbed her as she jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist.

“You have a weird sorta…bird face.” She started planting kisses on his lips and cheeks as she talked. “Shit I don’t care. I missed you. And we grew a bunch of crops! I went with the nymphs and Demi and we picked some new places, even planted and grew some trees for a shelter belt. Did you know I was the Minister of Agriculture? Seein’ as how the whole city has food now, I’m

kinda

doin’ an awesome job.”

He grinned and kissed her back, aware they were being slowly surrounded by onlookers and his other ‘ministers’ or whatever the hell they were called.

And he

was

glad to see them. Well, most of them. These were the men who’d help him save the world. Whatever else they were, they were loyal and brave. The Nassau people had proved themselves a dozen times. He hoped the newer ones would do the same when it mattered.

“Alright.” He took a deep breath as the small crowd converged, setting Becky down but keeping an arm around her. “One at a time, please.”

Half of them started talking at once. A few people were just excited about the whole ‘flying bird man’ thing. But it was clear the important players had issues they wanted resolved. Disagreements. After a few quick greetings and explanations, they got into it.

“I think it still makes sense to send our best into the Nexus,” Phuong argued. “However it ‘scales’ to you, Patron, I feel it won’t be accurate. That it will top out at some point and be unable to match you with others there. Your presence will basically guarantee a victory.”

“And maybe cost us valuable rewards,” Erik countered. “I doubt it will give Mason much if the task is too simple. He’ll get…what? Some minor experience? You said everyone without a prestige class received one at the end of the first Nexus. These are hugely important.”

Mason waited and let others talk. Carl agreed with Phuong, saying taking the Nexus was more important than some prestige classes. He argued a guaranteed victory made the most sense. Garet pointed out that bringing Mason might endanger whichever weaker players went along, so they’d have no choice but to take the best with him.

Only Chinua listened and said nothing. Mason eventually met the old soldier’s eyes and saw what he was looking for. It was amazing how even his veteran people still couldn’t quite grasp one of the primary ‘themes’ of this shit show.

“There is no such thing as a

guarantee

,” he eventually interrupted. Everyone silenced and he met a few eyes. “There’s no playing it safe and winning this thing. It’ll punish us somehow. Shitty titles. A fucked up situation that costs us lives just as a little message. Erik’s right—we send promising people who desperately need the upgrades.”

“Mason.” Carl shook his head. “I really think…”

“

None

of the previous people who went to Nexus one are going to Nexus two,” he clarified, then looked to the man he wanted in charge. “Chinua. Take that Nexus for me. Bring whoever you want outside the original team. That means no Seamus, Becky, Carl, Phuong, Alex, or myself. Anyone else you want is yours, by direct order from me.”

Everyone else took turns staring at Mason or Chinua. It was a tense moment, the stakes high not just for them, but literally the world. The ex-general looked around, his stone-face not even cracking.

“We’ll go in one day. I’ll take Blake and Erik, and Annie. And then my own people.”

Mason fought the smile. Of course the man had already thought about it. And he could see his brother basically vibrating a little ways behind the others. He’d been prepared to tell him he wasn’t going, but if he was honest he’d hoped it wasn’t necessary.

Annie was a surprising choice, but she

was

powerful, and these days reliable. Also Chinua was likely taking the ranged killer and support he’d used in his three man arena team. With the two added casters, it meant he really didn’t have a dedicated melee. He was more of a hybrid ‘tank’, and pretty slow. A fast, self-sufficient killer like Annie rounded out his team nicely.

Though there were other considerations. Like upgrades.

“That’s what…three people with prestige classes? Four?” he said. “You could consider swapping Annie for another dedicated melee. Maybe Erik can recommend someone. But the choice is yours.”

Chinua nodded, clearly comfortable making the decision himself. Just

that

made the man worth his weight in gold. Mason waited but hoped he didn’t need to remind the others this wasn’t a democracy. Fortunately, they seemed to understand the conversation was over.

Instead they moved on to the outskirt settlements, which were apparently still a work in progress. The surrounding monster tribes threatening some of them were stronger than before.

“Take anyone you want not going to the Nexus,” he said to Phuong. “Make dungeon teams, that’s where these things might go. So be ready to go in and deal with them. It’s as much opportunity as problem.”

Phuong nodded, then they launched into a debate about to do with the hundreds of players in the holy city. But it wasn’t really a ‘debate’. They all knew what was required, they just hadn’t pulled the trigger.

“Enough waiting. It’s time,” Mason said. “I have confirmation that the final battle isn’t coming for at least six months. That’s a sixth month gift to go out and get our people as strong as possible. You have your player lists. Get the teams finalized, and get them all armed to the teeth. Whatever the civilians can do. I’ll pay with house points for the players too broke to buy much, just talk to Haley. And then you get them

out

of this city. Exploring, looking for threats, dungeons, whatever. Take the stronger people to the other continent.”

Becky was getting kind of…

handsy.

Mason literally had to pull her arms back up before she got him going. Phuong gave her a grandfatherly glare, and she went back to behaving.

“Six months?” Blake said, coming closer to join the others. “You’re sure? That seems like a lot of time. We’ve probably only been in this whole game for three.”

Mason wasn’t sure he should tell them it might be as much as nine. His instinct was just to tell his trusted people what he knew, but they needed every push they could get. No one was terrified or feeling as urgent as they should have. Not yet.

“Six months,” he confirmed. “But this is a new phase of the game. We won’t be getting events and constant threats. It’s up to

us

to seek it out, I can feel it. And then we all fight to the death. I know it’s tempting to relax now. But we can’t. There’s nothing after if we lose that event. Understand?”

He looked around, hoping for firm, hungry eyes. But these people were so bludgeoned down by risk it probably felt like every other problem. He could push them with words all he wanted. It wasn’t going to land. He had no choice but to push them out physically. They needed strength from someone who cared about them now, someone to force them to stand.

“We understand, Patron,” Phuong said when it was clear Mason wanted an answer. But it was rote, obligatory, with no emotion. He knew for the moment he wouldn’t get anything more. But he didn’t blame them.

“We’re going to survive,” he said, putting a hand on the old soldier’s shoulder. He met the men’s eyes one by one, ending at Blake. “The son of a bitch alien hasn’t beaten us yet. But we can’t relax.”

An image of himself at that damn frozen pool and whatever self-sacrifice it was flashed before his eyes. He took a breath and told himself again he’d never do it.

But as he looked at the people who’d been with him for so long—as he thought about the women he loved, and all the wonderful living things on this strange planet, he suddenly wasn’t so sure.

Maybe it was possible to lose the battle without dying. Maybe if that happened, he’d get some choice to sacrifice himself.

It made him shiver. Better to go down fighting. Far better.

The refusal to do otherwise was some kind of pride, maybe. But the living

should

have some pride. Mankind was from an unbroken chain of survivors going back a hundred thousand years. He wouldn’t be the one to break that pact by laying down.

He blinked and found the others all looking at him. He was getting used to that, but he wasn’t sure if they wanted a speech or just expected something more. Sometimes all that was left was to do what had to be done.

“Well? Let’s get moving.”

It broke them out of their spell, and the team of players all started talking and wandering off in groups. Mason smiled as he heard a few ideas and plans already being made. Becky was getting handsy again. Chinua and Blake both waited, coming closer as the others moved away.

“Thank you. For the trust you’re placing in me and my people.”

The ex-general looked uncharacteristically hesitant. Mason raised a brow as he kept his cowgirl’s groping to at least PG-13.

“You look almost human, Chinua. That can’t be good. If it’s a gear thing—buy anything you need using house points. Get the best of everything. Whatever you want.”

“Thank you. I will.” Chinua’s stone face didn’t change. “But I was going to ask…in case something happens to me and my team. In case we fail. That you look after my civilians.” Mason was about to say that he would, of course, when the man kept on. “Move them to Nassau with your own people. I’m sure they would join your house.”

Mason took a moment so the man knew he was taking it seriously.

“I’ll do that.”

Chinua nodded, turning to walk deeper into the palace without another word. Mason called to his back.

“General?” He waited until the older soldier turned. “Don’t fail.”

The stone face finally cracked, a gleam in the man’s eye Mason knew all too well. He wasn’t feeling worried, really, but at that look he got even less concerned. He’d chosen this man for a reason.

The Nexus scaled. It tested a team’s

relative

power and co-ordination. And pound for pound, or he supposed ‘level for level’, there wasn’t a much more powerful man and leader left in the game. Chinua wasn’t afraid, he was restless. He was seeking out another battle. Another war. And Mason had given him one.

Blake walked up with his hands behind his back, watching Chinua leave, grinning as Becky’s hands went back down to Mason’s waist.

“Make it quick,” the cowgirl said with a glare. “King Mason’s got private responsibilities. Urgent ones.”

“I wouldn’t dream of interrupting. But when those important duties are finished…I was wondering—do you have time to see your brother marry a princess? I don’t imagine orc weddings take all that long. Also I have to ceremonially fight a few brutes with no magic. I’m likely to get my face smashed in. I thought you might enjoy that. Call it a reverse wedding gift.”

“Can I come?” Becky turned to Mason and practically bounced at the thought. “I love weddings. And I’d pay good money to see Blake take a beatin’. Shit I should tell the others. There’ll be a damn stampede.”

Mason held her from running off, and sighed. He had six months. He supposed he could take one night to make nice with orcs he hoped would fight in the apocalypse. He’d meant to go and ‘confirm’ that alliance anyway, by which he meant putting the fear of God in them. But with a ‘wedding’ maybe that wouldn’t be necessary. And he supposed his girls might enjoy themselves.

“Chinua wants you at the Nexus.”

“And

I

am very keen to go! But he said he and his people will take a day to equip and prepare. And probably hug their loved ones, or whatever. I can teleport from the tower tomorrow and meet them.”

“It’s happening in

your

tower?” Mason raised an eyebrow. “We’ll be surrounded by constructs and all the things you control? So it’ll be safe to bring non-players?

If

one or two wanted to go?”

“Completely safe.” Blake crossed his heart. “All possible precautions taken. And the orcs are suitably terrified of you.” He stopped and winced. “But…maybe don’t bring any elves. Best not to tempt fate. Or ambitious goblins.”

He smiled his ridiculous, most innocent, charming smile. Mason decided maybe he’d make a quick stop at the tower on his own after all.