“I had, had a special show planned for today’s stream but, well, I suppose I could bump it if…” He trailed off, then waved his hand. “If, you know…”
“If I run the labyrinth,” Zelda said.
He smiled at that.
“I thought I might see your little, uh, group again,” he said, then frowned in the least genuine way Kaiden had ever seen. “After what happened with the... the…” He paused, then looked back to his ever-present companion, the turenoid Whenstone. “What are they calling themselves these days?”
“The Syndicate, sir.”
“Yeah! That’s it.” He turned back to them and resumed his fake frown. “After what happened with The Syndicate.”
Kaiden felt his cheeks grow hot at the memory of the embarrassment. It was so recent he could still feel every bit of its sting. It reminded him all the more why they needed a win here today.
“I’d be willing to bet you were there,” Thorne said, giving Odditor a sharp look. “Officially, you’re not affiliated with any faction, but we all know that’s just on paper.”
Odditor just gave her a smile with his mouth half open by way of a response. Thorne didn’t seem to know how to respond to that and Kaiden didn’t blame her. Zelda cut back to the chase, though, mind on the goal as always.
“You offered the piece of the database Bernstein lost to you. If I complete the labyrinth, I want that piece and to have a reasonable discussion about your support of our efforts. We don’t know the extent of your resources, but adding them to our growing alliance is a chance I don’t think you want to miss. It’d be a shame to watch from the sidelines as we make history without you.”
Odditor giggled at that.
“My dear,” he said to Zelda. “Watching from the sidelines is, uh, exactly what I do.” He gestured down to the labyrinth, then lowered his voice and leaned in close. “And I think we, think we all know the only reason those,” he waved his hand as if tossing away something disgusting, “those Maximus brutes are on board is for the chance to bust some warden heads. You haven’t convinced them of the, the, what it’s called? The worthiness, yes! The worthiness of your cause.”
Nando might disagree with you on that account. Kaiden stepped forward, commanding Odditor’s attention. The man turned to him, eyes still a bit distant as if he was on the verge of being lost in thought.
“Are you in or not?” Kaiden gestured back to Zelda. “She’s ready to kick your labyrinth’s ass.”
“Ha, heh. Well.” Odditor shrugged but seemed pleased at the thought. “Many have tried. Maybe you’ll join the few who, who actually have.” He looked to the holotable that seemingly controlled the labyrinth and began interfacing with it, flipping through screens and menus at an impressive speed.
“Whenstone will serve as the middleman for our antes.” He tossed the padlock he’d shown them last time – the piece of Bernstein’s database he’d had all this time – over his shoulder with a casualness that pained Kaiden.
The turenoid caught it without looking, then extended a hand toward them.
For the database. For their sole leverage over the Party. The best chance they had at changing the world.
Kaiden looked to Zelda, but as he did, he felt no concern. ‘Trust me,’ she’d asked, and trust her he did.
“I can’t offer the database,” she said.
He had his back turned, but even still, it was impossible not to see Odditor’s shoulders slump and hear his sigh. When he faced them again, he was pinching the bridge of his nose and there was a pained expression plastered across his face.
“I have something else to offer,” Zelda said before the man could protest. She drew in a breath, hesitated for the slightest of moments, then spoke. “My account,” she said and swallowed hard. But her eyes were determined. There was no doubt in her mind.
There was plenty in Kaiden’s, however.
What? Her account? That’s... He trailed off in thought, considering the implications of the offer.
“Why would I want your account?” Odditor asked.
Zelda gestured to the hallway they’d come from.
“You have many trophy accounts out there. Players who were first to explore new systems. Players who reigned supreme in PVP tournaments. Players who were acclaimed pirates and criminals. But your collection is incomplete.” She let the end of the sentence hang in the air for a long moment. “You see, my friends and I recently completed a Nova first.” She changed something in a menu, and then all at once, the title they’d been awarded for what had happened at the Grinder appeared above her head.
Zelda
Free Warden
Class: Blast Warden
Faction: Unaffiliated
Level: 50
Title: Destroyer of Worlds (record holder for most opposing players killed in a single battle)
“Now, not only is my account among the most-wanted in-game, but it’s tied to a game-wide first and has a unique title to show for it. But…” Zelda paused, and it was clear she had Odditor’s interest now. He was leaning forward slightly and, for once, staring intently. “But this isn’t just about that, is it? You have pretty much everything you could want in-game. My account may make a unique and rare trophy, but having it doesn’t actually mean all that much to you. No, I’ve been thinking about this, and I think you ask for ante for a different reason. What has value to someone who already has everything?” She smirked, then answered her own question. “Taking value from others. You know the database is important to us and that’s why you want it. You don’t need it. You don’t have interest in it. You desire it only insofar as it hurts us to lose it.”
She’s right. Holy crap, she’s right. Kaiden’s mind reeled as Zelda spoke, but everything she said made sense. Odditor had everything he could possibly want in-game, so why make people ante up? Because he enjoyed taking the things they valued.
“You don’t want the
