Digital Heretic (15 page)

Chapter 32

  Death is easier to accept when we believe it is not the end.

 
Of course, that doesn’t mean we run eagerly towards its frightening embrace. We are able to accept it, however, knowing that our souls return to our original bodies as they leave this game in death.

 
I do not know why our group has been targeted so vehemently, and the true reason doesn’t matter. The fact is that Gamers are dying; soon there will be very few of us left, as far as this world is concerned.

 
To those of you who are found and killed, thank you for hearing our message and believing in it. We will soon meet you outside of the Game, or if you return to play again and once again join us in our struggle. Your sacrifice is not made in vain.

 
For that small number who were granted pardons by our executioners, thank you for continuing the fight in whatever way you are able. Some of you have left us in fear; most have not. We accept the gift that is your continued time with us graciously, and are grateful for whatever assistance you can provide to the cause.
Your
sacrifices
will not
be made in vain.

 
For those who are new to the cause and hidden in secrecy and shadows, thank you for joining us when it is most dangerous to do so. We will rely on your invisibility and considerable skills to help us survive and thrive in these most tragic of times for our movement. Your participation and support will not be given in vain.

 
To all of you, both new and old, both living and passed from this game, I thank you for being a part of this. It is easier to stand by and do nothing, to live in fear and be controlled by those who are strong and protected from reprisal for their horrible actions. You have chosen to stand up to the bully and fight, no matter what the cost.

 
From this pain, our strength grows unstoppable.

Initial communication issued by
‘Fallen’ 

Unidentified leader of the Gamers

Stephanie

 
Raphael reads th
e
letter, then passes it to me and sits quietly looking at Danni. I read it, then look at her with respect. She has always been a fighter. I was afraid Trew’s death had taken it all out of her, but it appears that she is now stronger than ever.

 
Finally Raphael speaks. “Fallen?” he says. “That’s a very powerful name, Danni. What made you choose that?”

  “
I meditated on it,” she says.

 
That phrase means she’s been talking with Trew. He must have given her some sort of information, we’ll trip the scramblers later and ask her for more details. 

  “
Before we send this out to the masses, perhaps you should reconsider your new title?” he says. “There is another who walks the Earth with that name.”

  “
Is that Daniel’s other boss?” she asks. Oh, this girl is clever.

 
Raphael looks like he isn’t going to answer her truthfully, so I do. “Yes,” I say, “and he is very fond of it. It’s unlikely that he’ll be willing to share, he suffered greatly earning that name.”

  “
As did I,” she says. I can tell by her tone that she won’t budge. Raphael must hear it too, because he sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

  “
I vote we let her use it,” I say.

  “
Are you insane?” he says. “It’s going to cause trouble, get attention we simply don’t need.”

 
Danielle laughs. The tone is slightly… unstable. “So what? They’ll get angry and start killing us? Maybe even by the millions?”

Good
point,
I think to myself.

 
Raphael stands and walks to the window. He looks out for a few moments, then turns back towards us. “Ok, fine. ‘Fallen’ it is.”

 
Danielle nods. “Okay. Will you please post the letter?”

  “
Our first post on a secret and secure Internet website for our members? It will be my pleasure,” Raphael says.

  “
Good. Thank you, Raph,” Danielle says. “Are we certain that it’s secure?”

  “
As secure as anything can be on the Internet. Our presence is fluid; no one can track our entries. Each post is entered from different locations and countries. The server which houses the site is live for only minutes before shutting down and reappearing on a new server halfway around the world. We have the best minds on our side when it comes to this.”

  “
For now,” Danielle says.

  “
Yes,” Raphael agrees, "For now.”

  “
All right, then. Post the note and let’s get down to planning our moves. We’ve hidden and fled for months, and over 60 million of us have perished. Enough standing around waiting to be slaughtered. The new message is this: Fight as if your life depends on it, because it does.

Chapter 33

 
“
Hello, Car
l
.”

  “
Hey Boss."

 
Neither bothered to ask if the lines were secure; it didn’t matter if they were or not. Society was built on a foundation of Infernal guidance, which meant the Infernal organization owned the governments. Anyone was welcome to overhear them speak. If it became a problem it could be quickly dealt with. Carl enjoyed those types of jobs, although these days they were often so simple that he gave them to junior Brothers and Sisters.

  “
What do you need, Carl?”

  “I’ll
have this job done within the next few months. Just wondering where the next party begins?”

  “
For you, it doesn’t, as far as the Culling project is concerned.”

 
Carl had figured as much. So often, mass death was dealt silently; a flu outbreak here, a surge in cancers there. The past few centuries had become more civilized in that respect. “Okay, then. This was fun while it lasted. It’s been a long time since we got so ‘hands on’ with this type of volume.”

  “I’m
glad you enjoyed yourself,” The Devil replied. “Let me know when you hit your number. 113 million Gamers, then I’ll contact you when I need you after that.”

  “
We don’t have 113 million on the list,” Carl said.

  “
I know. You’re going to have to dig a bit deeper to come up with the shortfall. They’ve added to their ranks despite this mass

annihilation, and that
doesn’t make me happy. We need to show the few who remain that they aren’t safe, even in secrecy. The new ones are being added secretly and as small, underground cells. But you find the last couple million from them, you hear me, Carl?”

  “
Yes, sir, I do.”

  “That’s
my little treat for you, a reward for a job well done.”

  “
Thanks, Boss."

 
The line clicked and went dead. Carl hung up and got back to work.

***

  Andrew was a young player, fourteen years old and just starting to play as a human avatar. He’d been ejected from the Game a day ago, one of the first in a group of Trew’s movement to be eliminated by Carl.

 
He was sitting at home in his room, spending a lot of time thinking about his first play as a human in the Game. It had been much more fun than being a tree or a dog or some other animal,

although he had learned much and accumulated a large amount of credits from those
previous incarnations.

 
Andrew couldn’t help but think about some of the key moments of his play, and his mind kept returning to one afternoon spent with a very nice girl named Melissa. She’d appeared out of nowhere and become a very good friend of Danielle’s. Andrew just happened to be close to Danielle and Trew for many years in the Game, and he had spoken at length with Melissa one day. They had only spoken once, but Andrew found himself returning to the memory of that talk over and over again.

  “
Andrew,” his mother called to him from the living room, “Trew is about to go live and speak. You want to come down and watch it with us?”

 
His given name was Anthony, but he had joined the masses of players and kept his Game name. Andrew’s parents being very good about it and were calling him by his new name easily. “I sure do, Mom. Be right down.”

 
He came downstairs and grabbed a seat beside his dad, who ruffled his hair as he plopped down beside him. While they waited for Trew to take the stage, Andrew continued to think about Melissa, specifically her advice about the Glow. Andrew had never meditated before meeting her; she was a self-proclaimed Master. She had discussed the best way to begin and practice meditation, specifically mentioning this golden, glowing feeling that resulted after much practice. Andrew had spent the next few months practicing in the Game, occasionally feeling a glimmer of what she had described.

 
She had mentioned that the Glow was key. Andrew hadn’t known what she meant, exactly, but her words had stuck with him, even followed him out of the Game.

 
Andrew quickly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and experimented with a quick attempt to calm his mind. Immediately he could feel the warmth and sense the colour, faintly, but the Glow was there.

 
He opened his eyes and nodded to himself. He would continue to practice. 

***

Trew

“I’m giving a talk tonight,” He said.

  “
Really?” Sylvia asked. “Like the talks you used to give inside the Game?”

  “
Yes, it will be very similar to that. Bigger crowds, though. It’s estimated that recently ejected players will be watching in the

tens of millions. Add to that their families, fans, and even some of the public schools are allowing their students to watch
.”

  “
I know you will do well. You always had a knack for telling a story and bringing a crowd to your side. What’s the topic? One I’ve heard before?”

  “
Kind of, but with some new spins,” Trew said. “It’s about miracles, and transcendence. If one is possible, the other must be as well.”

  “
Interesting.” Sylvia said. “I wish I could hear it.”

  “
You won’t be able to?” Trew asked.

  “I’m
not allowed to know about the goings on of your world, Trew. There is a small part of me that can sit in this office and talk with you and Brandon, but that’s it. I don’t know your population, your cultures, how many languages your people speak, how many religions you have. Nothing.”

  “
I wonder why?”

  “
It makes sense. Brandon doesn’t want me to take any flavours from Tygon and bring them into the Game, and I certainly would, which could change the Game entirely. Tygon simply isn’t my domain.”

  “That’s
true.” Trew admitted. “Well, I can tell you that currently we have no religions.”

 
“It appears that one might be in the process of forming,” Sylvia said.

 
“Yes,” Trew admitted.

  “
Has He spoken to you?” Sylvia asked. “Since He returned you to life?”

  “
I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you…” Trew said.

  “
I know Brandon, and if he hasn’t told you not to tell me, then it must be okay to go ahead.”

 
Trew smiled at the truth in her statement; Brandon was very thorough. “Yes, we’ve spoken. I pray and commune with Him, much like I did with you in the Game.”

  “
Very interesting.” Sylvia said.

  “
Yes, it is. And perplexing.”

  “
In what ways?”

  “
You were always concerned about Earth, your universe, that kind of thing.” Trew said.

  “
Of course, as I just mentioned, nothing else exists outside of that for me.”

  “
Yes,” Trew said. “Well, he is concerned with many aspects of Tygon, that’s for sure. But we spend a great deal of time discussing the events and happenings going on inside the Game as well. Why would a real God care about a computer simulation?”

  “
Because the Game is part of his creation,” Sylvia said. “I’ll admit that I follow games on Earth. Love my Cincinnati Bengals, truth be told.”

 
Trew chuckled, “Not enough to help them win.”

  “
Touché,” Sylvia laughed. “Have you mentioned this to Brandon?”

  “
Not really.” Trew paused, then changed subjects. “Sylvia? If you were responsible for ejecting all the players from the Game, would you admit it to me?”

  “
Of course not, Trew,” Sylvia said.

  “
I didn’t think so.” Trew stood up. “Well, I should get going. Thanks for talking with me, Sylvia. I enjoy our time together.”

  “
As do I, Trew.”

 
Trew walked to the door. Before he opened it, he turned around and looked at the computer monitor. “Sylvia?” he said.

  “
Yes, Trew?”

  “I’m
going to change the world.”

  “
Mine or yours, dear?”

 
Trew smiled confidently and replied, “Yes.”

 
Then he walked out of the office.