Yvvaros: The Clash of Worlds (8 page)

“Of course,” he said. “I’d like to talk with you and the other leaders of your group, if that’s alright.”

Luke, Silverstrike, Tess, Katrina, and Kaoru stood in the main guildhall, the doors and windows shut for privacy. Kaoru was pulling something out of his satchel, and as Luke looked more closely, he realized that it was a detailed map of the continent.

“It goes without saying that all of what we’re about to discuss needs to stay between us.” Kaoru set the map on the table, standing behind it, slowly making eye contact with each of them.

Luke and the others nodded. Kaoru ran his hand through his hair, taking a moment before continuing.

“Yvvaros isn’t just a game. I’m sure the four of you have realized it as well, by now.” Kaoru set his hand down on the map and smoothed out a few of its wrinkles. “It’s much more than a simple game. The Arbiters… The United Nations… has also come to that same conclusion.”

“Kaoru, we agree with you on all of this,” said Luke. “I’m not looking for the why. I need the how.”

Kaoru nodded.

“I won’t mince words. I want to overthrow the Arbiters and take this world back from them, back from the developers, and put it into the hands of the players.”

He makes it sound so simple…

Kaoru was examining their faces, taking stock of the doubt in their eyes.

“What’s the matter?” He smiled. “I thought you all knew that was why I came here. I certainly figured that killing the Arbiter would open your eyes to the possibility, if only a little.”

“It took all of us to kill it,” said Silverstrike. “And even then… we lucked out. We should be dead right now.”

“No!” Kaoru slapped the table with his hand. “No, see, that’s where you’re wrong. We should be developing this world right now, turning all of the claimable zones into thriving towns. We should be free to do what we want in Yvvaros without having to worry about paying taxes or succumbing to permadeath. We shouldn’t have to live under the same restrictions as people in the real world.”

“I don’t disagree with any of that, Kaoru,” said Luke. “Look, I get that you’re an idealist, but get to the point. How? What do you have planned?”

Kaoru was still smiling, as if he enjoyed having all of them waiting on his every word.

He knows how to lead, and how to inspire. Why can’t I do that?

“The Arbiters aren’t invincible,” he said. “You all know that, after what we just did. But there is something else that I think you should know.”

Kaoru pulled a small charcoal pencil out of his satchel and began drawing stick figures along the bottom edge of the map. He drew ten of them in total, and then turned back to the group.

“The Arbiters can die.” He crossed one of them out. “And more importantly, when they do, they don’t respawn, just like us.”

One of Katrina’s guild mates had brought the Arbiter’s armor into the guild hall, and Kaoru turned his attention to it.

“They don’t respawn?” asked Luke. “How do you know that for a fact?”

“Most of the Arbiter patrols run on regular paths, like clockwork,” said Kaoru. “I’ve been having friends of mine keep tabs on the patrol the Arbiter I killed came from. They still haven’t replaced him, and it’s been days.”

Luke shook his head.

“How can you be sure, though?” he asked. “This feels like an awfully big thing to put a bet on.”

“You aren’t the only one with a connection to the developers, Kato. I heard it directly from someone on the former Gamesoft development team.” Kaoru smiled. “The Arbiters may seem like they’re all powerful in-game, but it’s become clear to me that they’re not. They play by the same rules that we do. They don’t have access to the dev tools.”

“That doesn’t make any sense…” Katrina was shaking her head and frowning.

“On the surface, no, it doesn’t,” said Kaoru. “I’ve heard rumors that the person in charge of the Arbiter program, the one directing these raids, is actually a former member of the core development team.”

“Maybe they just haven’t decided to take control over the game rules yet?”

“Maybe,” said Kaoru. “Or maybe, they’re locked out. I can imagine a scenario where one of the ousted developers, forced to help a UN enforcement crew, might lock the game in its current state out of spite. If that’s the case, we’re in the tiny window of time where something can still be done to take this world back.”

This… is a lot to take in.

“Doing this, even just planning to do this, probably violates at least a few international laws.” Katrina folded her arms. “What’s to stop the UN from coming after us in the real world?”

“Honestly... nothing. Look, my plan isn’t exactly straightforward, but I know it can work.” Kaoru stood up and made eye contact with each of them again. “We’re all going to have to play an essential role.”

Luke nodded, and glanced at Tess. She looked resolute, but a little frightened. He reached his hand over and squeezed hers.

This is for her. This is so she can live without fear, and so I don’t have to worry. So I can start thinking about joining her.

“Tell us the details, Kaoru,” said Luke.

“First, we’re going to need an alliance between the major guilds.” Kaoru ran his finger over the map. “Silverstrike, can you begin negotiations with some of the other leaders? We want to get them on board, but we also can’t tell them too much about the actual details of the plan.”

Silverstrike nodded.

“I can… but how will it be of any help?” Silverstrike shrugged. “There are too many Arbiters and not enough high level players. We wouldn’t stand a chance in an all-out attack, regardless of whether they can respawn.”

“That’s where the next part of the plan comes in,” said Kaoru. “We’re going to have something that evens the odds between us and our enemies. Kato, this is where your help is going to be essential as the Hero of Kantor.”

The Hero of Kantor… It’s just a name.

“What do you need me to do?”

Kaoru tapped his fingers on the map. He looked a little hesitant, as though expecting his request to be too much for Luke to accept.

“I need you to track down the three Elemental Wells and claim them for your guild,” said Kaoru. “And I think you’re going to need to bring Tess with you in order to do it.”

That’s not going to happen.

Luke shook his head, and Kaoru clasped his hands together in desperation.

“Just listen!” He made eye contact with Tess and then looked back at Luke. “She’s the highest level player in your guild. The only reason we were even able to take down the Arbiter in the first place was because of her magic.”

“Absolutely not,” said Luke. Tess reached over and put her hand on his arm.

“Luke…” Her voice was little more than a whisper. “You can’t protect me forever.”

Tess…

“There is another part to the plan that I’m going to need your help for Kato,” said Kaoru. “We can talk about the Elemental Wells later, but I need to make sure you’re committed to this final task.”

“What is it?”

“I need you… to get your father to join with us.”

Luke laughed and then shook his head.

This plan is insane. I should have known that it would be ridiculous going into it.

“Hear me out!” Kaoru was shouting, not in an angry tone of voice, but like a moderator trying to calm an unruly crowd. “All of the other facets of the plan I’ve had worked out for days. When you found me, the final piece, how we’re actually going to break free from the UN’s physical control, clicked in my head.”

“I don’t even know where my dad is,” said Luke. “I haven’t seen him in over a week.”

“Please, try to find him,” said Kaoru. “We need access to the server and he can give it to us. If we can get to the main server, and transfer the world state to a server that’s under our control, then we can win.”

Nobody said anything for a moment. Luke let Kaoru’s words settle on the air, unsure of whether or not to object or to take them into consideration.

The sun was beginning to set outside. Several of Katrina’s guild members were waiting in the courtyard, back from disposing of the Arbiter’s body. Luke sighed, and then stood up from his chair at the table.

“Let’s finish this meeting later,” he said. “It’s been a long day.”

Kaoru looked a little surprised, but he nodded politely.

Am I really tired, or am I just sick of taking on responsibility?

As if response, Tess walked over to him and curled her arm through his.

“I’m tired, too,” she said. “Thanks, Kato.”

“I’ll have some of my players setup the bonfire, and we can eat dinner around it,” said Katrina. “To celebrate the fact that we’re all still alive and in control of Dunidan’s Rest. Who knows how long that’s going to continue to be the case…”

“Kato.” Kaoru was standing in the back of the guild hall, calm and composed. “Thank you for listening. Regardless of what you and your friends decide to do in the end, I appreciate what you’ve already done for me.”

Luke didn’t say anything.

There’s no easy way forward. We’re screwed if we do, and fucked if we don’t.

Tess walked with him as he left the building. There was a light breeze in the air, and the palm trees by the oasis slowly wavered as the wind moved through the compound. A flock of birds circled overhead, as if debating whether to land or keep going.  Luke empathized with their dilemma as he debated what to do next.

“Come on,” said Tess. “Let’s head up to the wall and get our minds off all of this.”

“Yeah,” said Luke. “Thanks.”

She’s always been able to sense my emotions, even back before she started playing Yvvaros. Back when she was just Emily, and I was just Luke.

From the wall, they had a clear view of the horizon. The clouds were a brilliant mixture of reds and purples, glowing on either side of the sun like an ethereal cloak of armor. Luke could see a group of small creatures running across the dunes in the zone next to them. And in the zone beyond that, a Dunidan swam through the sand with elegant, sweeping dives.

“I know you have a lot on your mind, Luke,” whispered Tess. “I just want you to know, if you don’t like how Kaoru’s plan sounds, then you don’t have to go along with it. Don’t feel pressured to do it for my sake.”

“It’s not like I can just ignore the facts, Tess,” said Luke. “You’ve gone all in. And I…”

I love you. I have to protect you.

Tess shook her head. There was a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. Luke had it seen before but still didn’t fully understand it.

“We still haven’t talked about it, Luke,” said Tess. “Me going all in, it’s just hanging over us. Pushing us away from each other.”

“Tess…”

“I live in this game now.” Tess smiled at him solemnly. “And you still live in the outside world.”

“I tried to go all in!” Luke couldn’t stop his emotions from creeping into his voice. “I still have stitches in my stomach to prove it.”

“I know, I know, that’s not what I meant…” Tess sighed. “You need to be in both worlds. If you decide to go along with Kaoru’s plan, it’s essential.”

What am I supposed to say to her?

“Do you resent me for what I did, Luke?” Tess locked eyes with him as she asked the question.

“Resent you? How could I ever resent you, Tess?”

“Why have you been so distant, then?” Tess blinked and looked away from him, back out over the horizon. “Why does it seem like you and Ben are just… phoning our conversations in?”

All of Silverstrike’s words on the boat suddenly began to echo in Luke’s head. He moved closer to Tess and put an arm around her.

“Tess, I’m not phoning anything in.” Luke leaned his head against hers. “I love you.”

The two shared a soft kiss. Tess leaned her head against his chest and sighed.

“I’m sorry, I know I’m being ridiculous,” she said. “It’s my brother, too. Ben… he barely even talks to me anymore. I’m not sure what he thinks about who I am… about what I am.”

“He’s just confused,” said Luke. “And a bit of an idiot. I’ll talk to him about it some more, in the real world instead of in-game.”

“Thank you, Luke.”

A cheer came from the other side of the courtyard as Katrina and Silverstrike brought the bonfire roaring to life.

Luke cupped Tess’s cheek in his hand and met her gaze.

“I’m still not sure about you being a part of Kaoru’s plan,” he said. “There is one thing that’s changed since you’ve gone all in, and that’s the danger. I worry about how vulnerable and open it leaves you.”

“We’re all vulnerable, Luke,” whispered Tess. “Every time you log out, I worry that you’re going to get hit by a car, or slip in the shower and bust your head open, or… something.”

Luke hugged her against him.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“We can’t change it, the danger, unless we do something about it,” Tess continued, “and now is the time. So stop worrying, okay? I’m starving, let’s go eat.”

The group reconvened around the fire as the night sky came into view. Katrina and the general store merchant brought out food to cook, and Silverstrike set up a cask of ale nearby. For a moment, Luke was able to pretend like they were having a party, and not in the midst of plotting a rebellion.

“We should all go skinny dipping in the oasis after this!” yelled Silverstrike. Most of the group mumbled good nature rebukes. Luke just smiled and poured himself a mug of ale.

The food was simple, but tasty, a roasted slab of beef along with potatoes and vegetables from Tess’s garden. Luke took his plate gratefully, noting that his stamina bar was almost empty.

“Kato…” Kaoru sat down next to him, setting his own plate on his lap. “I just wanted to thank you again. All of the planning I’ve done, everything I’ve said tonight, it’s all for the sake of Yvvaros as much as it is for me, the wanted rebel.”

Luke nodded.

“You’re welcome, though at this point I still haven’t done much beyond hear you out.”

“I’m thanking you for what you’ve already done,” said Kaoru. “For saving me. For saving us all during the Battle of Kantor.”

Luke resisted the urge to roll his eyes.