Otherlife Dreams: The Selfless Hero Trilogy (32 page)

“Good enough. Alright, Kitten, you’re up first. You’ll need the most room with those long legs of yours.”

With a smug look Katarina clambered up beside him on the drivers box and stepped into the tiny alcove.

“Sit there,” Runner gestured to one where two low crates sat side by side that were acting as a bench. Doing as she was instructed Katarina took a seat and found she couldn’t extend her legs at all. Her knees were nearly pointing straight up.

“Not going to work.”

“Uhm, try putting your legs in the other corner over there. Yeah, just like that. I’ll just-I dunno, wedge my feet under yours I guess.”

“Looking like an idiot plan here, Idiot.”

“Totally not my fault, Nadine purchased like a hoarder with no credit chip limit,” complained Runner. He sat down next to Katarina and shifted on the bench. Putting his mind to the game of twister this was becoming, he actually got his feet positioned so that he wasn’t completely tied up with Katarina.

“Err, sorry” shifting around one more time he managed to get the somewhat comfortable. He’d wedged his shoulder into the crate on his left. Lamentably this also forced his right shoulder up into Katarina’s arm. Giving up on that endeavor he rested his head on the crate behind him. “Fuck it. Sorry Kitten, this is as good as it gets.”

“I understand. You cannot control everything.”

Biting off a dark chuckle he smiled.

“Thanks Kitten. Alright, Nadine, you’re up next. I’m afraid you’ll need to pick a lap though. Less room than I was expecting.”

Nadine’s head appeared at the front of the wagon and she peered in. “Do we have t-t-to do this? Why can’t I just-t-t-t walk?”

“Nadine, get in. Pick a lap, sit down. Neither of us bite and time is wasting.”

Face pinched in an angry scowl Nadine picked her way over their feet and sat down in Katarina’s lap.

“See? Thana, your turn. Hanners, once she’s in, you’re on the fly. If you even think for a minute that you’re going to get spotted by a thieves guild member, or the guards look a bit too closely, Stealth. I’d rather a ghost wagon drift by than you driving a wagon. Really need to be gone and on the North Road before dawn.”

Thana came through the opening, looking from Runner to Nadine. Face contorting in a grimace at Nadine Thana stepped lightly through the crosshatch of legs and lightly set herself down on Runner’s lap.

“This is so undignified, shameful, base even. I expect more appropriate arrangements in the future Runner,” Thana protested. Before her weight was fully settled Hannah had them moving. Caught off guard as the wagon lurched forward, Thana squeaked as her temple struck Runner’s forehead.

Mild pain and discomfort spread from his face to the back of his head. Runner could barely get his hand up to check his forehead with Thana so close.

“Hannah, was that truly necessary?” asked Thana.

“Sorry Princess, boss said go, we go. Hang on next time?” Unmistakable snickering floated back from Hannah as they rolled along.

Growling, Thana’s eyes flashed dangerously at Hannah’s back. Glancing at Runner as if daring him to say anything she slowly but resolutely leaned her shoulder into his chest. Folding her hands into her lap she remained silent. Her fingers started to manipulate an interface only she could see.

Letting his hand fall from his head Runner realized there really wasn’t anywhere he could put it. Not anywhere that wouldn’t be “Thana” at least. That course of action would lead to him being killed in his sleep. Hesitating for a moment he finally lowered his hand between Katarina and himself hoping there’d be enough room there. It wasn’t like her hand could not be anywhere else either.

He was expecting to feel the cold hard backing of Katarina’s gauntlets but found only the warmth of flesh. Glancing down at his hand he found it was resting on the back of Katarina’s. Looking to Katarina he found she was steadfastly avoiding his eye.

He was thankful for the one person who seemed to understand this wasn’t a cocked up plan straight out of a terrible Romantic Comedy to get close to them. That this decidedly inconvenient lack of space wasn’t his plan. Though he couldn’t deny that Thana certainly felt gr-

no no nonONONO! We’re not going down that road. Just NPCS, just NPCS, just NPCS. They’re still just NPCS
.

Forcing his eyes to slide shut and his brain to turn off Runner rested the back of his head on the crate.

Katarina roughly squeezed his hand in her own. Runner blinked twice and looked to her just as a voice called out from the pre-dawn darkness ahead of them.

“Hey there lady. Watcha got for us in the wagon?”

Chapter 16 - The Prelude -

3:03am Sovereign Earth time

10/12/43

“Respond to them, confirm their number,” Runner whispered the command to Hannah. Letting go of Katarina’s hand he started maneuvering Thana up and toward the front of the wagon. “You can see better than I Lady Death, help me.”

His plea caught her attention as she struggled to get free of his forceful hands in an attempt to reseat herself. Looking at him with an unreadable look she ceased her resistance and cautiously peered into the dark ahead of them over Hannah’s shoulder.

“What the hell are you five fuck heads up to at this hour?”

“Oh, she can talk!”

“Does that mean she’s flagged good?”

“I call dibs on the first turn if she is. You broke the last one, you shit. Heh, poor little infantry rat, he wanted to take her with him everywhere.”

The voices were nearly indistinguishable from each other. Guttural, brutish, uneducated. From their comments it would seem they wished nothing but ill intent on all who would cross them. Runner wasn’t going to bother with attempting to speak with them. It’d only serve to ruin the element of surprise.

He couldn’t just execute them though, even if he had proof they were player killers. A court martial, actual evidence, a trial counsel, and a handful of officers would be needed, none of which he had in his back pocket.

“Close enough to AOE with a center penetration?” Runner asked both Hannah and Thana. His left hand was pressed into Thana’s side and his right rested on the back of the drivers box. He could pull Thana from harm or leap into action in either situation. He couldn’t risk casting Night Sight, it’d give away the game that the wagon wasn’t empty.

Thana tilted her head and nodded even as Hannah responded to whatever the men had been saying next.

“Yes. Every one of these bastards are,” Hannah confirmed.

“Uh, wha’? She bust already? Damn.”

Looking back he motioned Nadine to where he had just been sitting and Katarina to rise. Before they could finish rearranging themselves he’d pulled three flasks from his inventory with his right hand. He handed one to Katarina and then handed the other two into Thana’s hands as she turned to face him.

“Prepare to engage. Five to six, expect one to ambush. My Lady, on five, Blink to achieve center penetration, AOE, Vanish potion, Blink potion to new position at right side of wagon, targets of opportunity or runners. Kitten, take position right side of wagon, wait for Thana. Blink potion to engage center, I’ll be there. AOE taunt and hold. Hanners, sheep dog them in close unless a target of opportunity presents itself. Nadine, overwatch, low health bars or runners. Good?” Runner waited a beat. “Good. Five seconds to go.”

Turning back to Thana he patted her on the shoulder and pressed himself to the side of a crate. Katarina was suddenly there, filling the void he’d vacated for her. He started counting down with his fingers.

“Gotcha’self a filthy mouth ya cunt. I’ll make it real filthy. So filthy ya gag,” said a soon to be corpse.

As he reached the five count, Thana Blinked. Katarina leapt up from the wagon bed and dropped to the side, out of sight. Targeting Thana’s nameplate as she reappeared he oriented on her and waited. Ice nova burst out from her without a word of warning or gesture. Everything around her turned into a brilliant white spray of mist and blades of ice. Spinning as the deadly missiles went, they whipped through the air and exploded as they tore into enemies.

He’d wondered just how much of an increase the gear would give and he now got his answer. All five had a quarter of their life bar or more removed in an instant.

Tests are in, marked improvement.

Nadine pressed in up next to his side, bracing her crossbow on the top of the drivers box. A split second after sighting the group she fired.

Activating Blink he appeared almost on top of Thana. A moment later she vanished after downing the Stealth potion. Mentally flipping an ability activation he used Challenging Roar, holding up his arms and daring them to attack him.

Being so much closer now he could easily see the five men spread around him. They were barely in their twenties and looking exactly like the type of filth the government would send to die in the front line. They all stood and stared at him, dumbstruck by the situation.

Assigning them numbers instead of even trying to figure out their names he focused on the closest one. Throwing out his left hand at Uno an arc of lightning leaped from his fingers into the man. Dropping nearly in place he started convulsing on the ground. Taking a step forward towards Dos he whipped his sword around in a Slash followed by an Impale when the timer refreshed.

Dos’ health flashed to the forty percent range while Uno was much closer to fifty percent Runner pivoted on the balls of his feet, whipping his blade up into a block. Having gotten his blade into position he was expecting to find Tres and Cuatro close behind him.

Instead, Katarina stood with her back to him in all her Barbarian glory. Her shield up and sword whipping around in a Slice into Cuatro’s arm.

Pivoting again he pressed himself up to Katarina’s backplate and planted himself there. Uno was struggling to his feet even as Dos slumped to his knees and keeled over to fall face first in the dirt, his health bar at zero and flashing an ugly yellow and black color. Runner wasn’t sure who dropped him, but he was thankful all the same.

Cinco was rushed over and took Dos’ place. A sharp crack preceded a crossbow bolt driving itself into Uno’s side. Unable to recover quickly from the attack he staggered to the side. An I-beam sized rod of Ice barreled into his chest and tumbled him to the ground, his health bar emptying completely and going bumblebee.

Casting a quick Regeneration on Katarina Runner launched an Impale towards Cinco. He’d turned his head to watch Uno fall in disbelief. Piercing the mans exposed throat Runner disengaged and immediately threw a Slash at the mans sword arm to disarm him.

Catching him in the wrist the long sword spun away to land in the road. Realizing how bad the situation was Cinco turned and made to sprint. His dash to freedom was cut short when a quarrel lodged in his spine and he was thrown to the dirt.

Three empty, two to go.

Dislodging himself from Katarina’s back he moved out to her left. Cuatro was trying to get around her shield and didn’t notice Runner until he was on him. Holding up his hand an inch from Cuatro’s eyes he let loose with a Fireblast. Screams, the smell of burnt hair, and fried bacon filled the morning. Almost as if the mute button was hit, Cuatro folded in on himself and collapsed into the grass. Hannah was already turning to Tres after having silenced Cuatro and worked at carving out his kidney.

Katarina’s sword caught him in the temple when Hannah got his attention. With a critical image flashing on his head Cuatro spun like a top. Just like that the field was clear, all hostiles were down, and nothing needed to be done immediately.

Police the bodies, confirm numbers, gather loot, get the hell out.

Hanners, was there a sixth?” Runner asked, immediately looking to her after having visually checked the five neutralized men.

“Yeah, got the little fucker. He’s over near the wagon. Same as the rest, that weird yellow and black bar.”

“It’s the neutralization bar. If a player is downed by a sentient creature, anything that can say it’s own name really, you go into this state rather than death. Which is honestly what I was counting on. Really not looking to rack up six murder charges.”

“What? You’re a fucking idiot. These are monsters, horrible people. I’ve no doubt in my mind they’re murdering, raping, bastards. This is that moment in horror stories that bards tell of. That these shit heads will come back at a later time to attack us again or worse. What are you going to do? Ask them nicely to behave? Did you hear what they’re doing to naturals? To other people from your ship?”

“I did, yes, I did. Ok? I did. It doesn’t change the fact that I can’t just kill them.””

“I could, if you want,” Katarina offered, sheathing her sword and lifting her visor.

“I can do it if you don’t have the balls,” Hannah cursed at him.

“No, just, let’s loot what they dropped and go. I’ll make sure I use the log to get their names and investigate them. After. I’m sure they’ll be executed after a brief trial.”

“Then do it now, fool! Do you not understand? This is how a Hero gets his companions killed! Right here, this very moment.”

“He can-n-n-n’t Hannah! It’s wrong to just kill them out-t-t-t of han-nd anyways, naturals or players.”