DCO- Dungeon Core Online

Chapter 41

“Everything I’m about to tell you, is the truth,” James said, his words somber. Compared to the upbeat concert being played around them, it seemed so out of place. And yet, the Knights could tell he was serious, and gave him their full attention. The sudden shift in his tone, his attitude, was a clear indicator of just how dire this was.

“First, and most importantly, I’m not a developer.” He motioned to himself, and then Rue. “In fact, we’re players, just like you. Only,” he looked at Rue, and took a deep breath, “our roles in the game are different.”

“How so?” Z asked, while the others inched closer, trying their hardest to hear his words past the vocals of the J-Kappas.

“In short,” James offered Z a wry smile, “I’m really the Dungeon Core for the game. The Mad Mage Glyax, if you would.”

“Then that means Rue here is,” Z trailed off, and Rue finished his statement for him.

“The White Beast of Chaos.” She declared proudly. She shot them all a toothy grin, and licked her lips ominously. Her Dungeon Fairy Avatar form was well known and loved by the adventurers in his instance of DCO, but her bloodthirsty nature was also, well feared and respected.

“So the dungeons in DCO are run by players,” Z mused aloud, “and not some magical AI.” He rubbed his chin, thoughtful. “That’s definitely interesting. And that means you’re someone from the same town as us, right?” He looked James up and down, as if trying to puzzle out who James was.

“It does,” James said slowly, preparing himself for what was to come next. “And you already know who I am, Zach.” James said Z’s name, trying to keep his voice from shaking. “Sorry I could never game with you before, but, well, I wasn’t lying about playing the game with Rue here.”

Z’s eyes went wide as he looked from James, to Rue, back to James. The rest of the Knights just glanced at everyone, not quite following the latest development, but still invested in the story.

“James?” Z said softly, “is that really you?”

“In the flesh,” James said, the revelation lifting a part of the weight off his shoulders. That was the first part of this task. Telling Z who he truly was. A secret he’d been wanting to share with the man ever since they’d begun interacting. And even more so as Z continued to care for him and share more about his life with James.

“You poor kid,” Z shook his head, “this whole time you’ve been stuck playing as the Dungeon Core? You,” he motioned all around, “you’ve been isolated, creating the dungeon, making all of this, unable to play with everyone else?” He shook his head. “That’s not fair. How could they put so much on a kid? How could the P.L.O.T. allow this?”

James cleared his throat, “that’s, that’s not all I have to share with you guys.”

Z looked at him, and nodded, “continue then.”

“This information, I’m sure you can understand, is an extremely well-kept game secret. I had to sign an NDA before I was able to take on my role, and I can assure you, it’s not been easy. But that’s a story for a different time,” he wasn’t about to tell Z he’d been targeted by a hacking group. The old man didn’t need to know all of James’s hardships. He had no doubt if Z did know about that, the caring nurse would immediately go into caretaker mode.

“But if you’re telling us this,” Faust interjected, “doesn’t it mean you’re breaking your NDA?”

“It does,” James let out a heavy sigh, “but honestly, and I wouldn’t be unless it was a matter of utmost importance.”

“Such as?” Z asked, encouraging him to continue.

“Life or death.” James said ominously. The weight of the words couldn’t be dismissed, even as the Idol continued to sing what sounded like a pop love song. “And not just for me, or Rue. But everyone.”

“Everyone… here?” Oak asked, looking around. “Or everyone in town, or…”

“Everyone in the world.” James said. “Within the next two days, if I can’t stop it, the entire world, will end.”

There was silence from the group, as the music continued. James let the moment sink in, let them process his words. He could see disbelief on a few faces. Though, Z, and Faust, looked determined and solemn. James knew Z’s history with the government. And he had no doubt Z completely believed what he was saying.

“Hold on,” Faust eyed him, seeming to really try and bore into him. “You’re the kid I drove home the other night, aren’t you.”

“I, uh…what?” James hadn’t expected that question.

“From the raid on Cyb3ru5.” Faust said. “You’re the kid we found there. I drove you home.”

It hit him then. The driver who’d spoken briefly with him when he’d been rescued. The man who’d been humming the tune James had found oddly familiar, as he’d drifted off to sleep. It all made sense then. That tune, that song, had been the one Z and the others had used to try and figure out if the mimic was a mimic. That driver, had been Faust?

“Wait, that was you?” James started. He felt a chill run down his spine. That driver had worked for the government. “You,” he stammered, “you work for the government.” He felt sick. The world seemed to begin to crush on him. Had he messed up? If Faust worked for the government, then he could ruin everything. He could report James before James even got the chance to try and thwart their plan.

A strong hand pressed against his shoulder, the pressure pulling him from his panic. “James,” Z spoke softly, pulling James’s focus to him, “look into my eyes, and just breathe.” James did as he was instructed, taking slow, steady breaths, trying to match Z’s own breathing. The whole while he held Z’s gaze, finding comfort in those calm, reassuring eyes. After a few moments, James’s mind stopped reeling.

“Faust here works for the government, yeah, but only because they pay his bills.” Z said with a chuckle. “Do you really think I’d surround myself with someone that actually had allegiance to the government, after what they put me through?”

“I, well,” James looked from Faust, to Z, and shook his head. “No.”

“Exactly.” Z looked back at Faust and smiled, “you’d be surprised how lucrative government jobs can be.” Z continued, “and with a security clearance, it’s pretty easy to get a pretty basic job.”

“Consider me a lifetime grifter.” Faust said with a chuckle. “I went with the simplest path for easy money when I got out of the military. So, as it stands, I’m technically employed by the Government, yeah, and actually happen to work at the Enforcer facility housed near the town. I’m not an Enforcer, of course, but handle pretty much all the other tasks that are needed to keep the Enforcers, well, working.”

“So, what you’re saying,” Rue cut in, giving James a moment to process everything, “is if we needed a man on the inside, you’d be able to help.”

Faust looked at Z, and the leader of the Knights Who Go Ni gave him a nod. Faust then looked back at Z and answered. “Depends on the job, but if its what you’re saying, and everyone’s life is on the line,” he shrugged, “then yeah, I’d risk my comfortable job for that.”

James felt his lips brush against his tusks as he smiled, the whiplash from his panic attack fading. He felt a new bit of confidence flow into him, thanks in no small part from Z’s comforting actions, and took another breath.

“Alright, that’s good to hear.” He looked at the others, all of whom were intently watching him. “Because unless we can reach the DCO servers inside the governments mountain facility, everyone in the world, save for the top elites and chosen few, will die.”

“Why do you need to reach the DCO servers, for that?” Faust interjected.

“Because the government isn’t planning to just kill everyone. They’re planning to kill our bodies, but trap our minds, forever, within the DCO server. So that, well, I guess, they don’t have the guilt of actually murdering everyone? Since we wouldn’t technically be dead…” James trailed off. Why was he trying to explain their actions? This was pretty black and white. The government was bad and needed to be stopped.

“How very Matrix of them,” Z said with a dark chuckle, “so, what other details do you have, and I’m assuming since you’re telling us, you’ve got a plan.” He offered James a smile. “What can we do to help?”