Freelance Saga: Learning Curves

Freelance Saga: Learning
Curves

By Scottie Futch

Copyright 2014 Scottie
Futch

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License
Notes

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Chapter I: The
Job

Insanity, this conversation could only be the product
of insanity. Scott Hunter, former soldier and currently unemployed
job-seeker, was certain that everything that the man had just said
was a lie. The idea that such a thing could be true was
ludicrous.

“So, you aren’t interested?” asked Michael
Jameson, a supposed talent scout for what had to be the most
dedicated game creation company in history. It was strange that he
had never heard of Alterra International before. Even start-up game
companies with technology like the man claimed would be big
news.

“I’m interested, but what you’re saying
sounds crazy. You do know that, right?”

Jameson smiled a toothy shark-like smile.
“That’s to be expected. No one believes it when we first discuss
the matter.”

“Of course they wouldn’t. You’re trying to
convince me that your game company has made a deal with god-like
alien intelligences, and that deal entails sending people from our
world to be players in a reality they created based on our games
and pop-culture.”

“Well, certainly when you say it like that it
does sound insane.” Jameson laughed in a good-natured way.

Scott could not help but be confused by the
situation. He had received a query letter to be a beta-tester for a
new full-immersion role playing experience. He had assumed that had
meant a new game, not an alien world that operated like one!

Still, even if the guy was off his nut, so to
speak, he could not pass up the possibility that this was on the
level. It was insane, but he wasn’t stupid. He firmly believed that
the guy was just trying to hype him up for some new advancement in
virtual reality software. “If I accept this gig, what do I have to
do, and how much will I be paid?”

“Ah, all you have to do is interact in the
other world for a minimum of forty-eight hours each week. As far as
payment, you will be able to access the Alterra International
auction database and will be able to sell items that you don’t
need.”

“I wouldn’t receive any direct pay?” That
could be a deal breaker for Scott. He needed a job, not a promise
of potential pay if he found something cool to sell to other random
players.

“No, but if it helps, we do provide a
one-time sign-on bonus of four thousand dollars. This is to cover
main expenses while you adjust to the environment. Also, the
average player can earn roughly that much on a weekly basis just
using the auction. We take a ten percent cut, so we like to make
sure you make money so that we can make money.”

Scott stared at the man blankly. He honestly
expected him to believe that he could make four grand a week just
playing a game?

Jameson waved his disbelief away. “You’ll
understand things better once you have visited the other world. Are
you interested?”

“Sure, I’m interested. I’m not sure why you
are so insistent that this game is a real world, but that’s fine.
What I don’t understand is why you queried me for this job in the
first place.”

“We queried you because of your background.
You are someone who has extensive knowledge of role playing games.
You served in the US military field artillery for four years, and
spent one of those years deployed. You don’t have a criminal
record, but you do need employment. You are also single with no
children.”

Scott was uncertain about how to react to his
admission. They hired him because of those reasons? This job
sounded more like para-military security work selection than a game
company sign-up. “Ok…”

Jameson smiled that toothy smile once more.
“So, do you want the job?”

“I have to admit, you’ve got my interest
peaked. When can I start?”

The agent pulled out a contract and they went
over the finer points. The thing that really got to Scott was the
non-intervention clause. Alterra International refused to provide
any in-world help no matter how many times you died even if you
were stuck in an endless death loop. Essentially, whatever happened
to a signed player was their business.

Scott signed the contract and the hiring
agent looked it over. When he was done, he nodded and said,
“Alright, that’s all we needed. When is the most convenient date
for you to do your test run?”

“Test run?”

“Yes, the quantum transfer protocol requires
that you spend twenty-four hours in-world before you can return
here. Once here you have to remain here twenty-four hours before
you can go there.”

“Uh, right. I’m fine any time, but if you
expect me to play a game for twenty-four hours straight I’m
probably going to at least need to get lunch first.”

Jameson laughed at his pragmatism. “Don’t
worry about that. I’ll set you up for test insertion tomorrow at….
ten in the morning, alright?”

“That’s fine. When do I get paid?”

The shark-like smile returned. “See the desk
clerk on the way out. We make all of our transactions in cash due
to legal reasons.”

Yeah, that did not sound shady at all. Scott
chose not to say anything about it, though. He stood up and said
goodbye to the obviously insane individual then left the
office.

Jameson smiled once more then pressed the
intercom button. “Ms. Havers, please see to the new applicant’s
starting funds, then send in the next applicant.”

“Yes, sir.” The voice on the other end of the
line was professional, yet excited. They were having a hard time
acquiring qualified applicants.

The agent looked at the contract and smiled.
“Finally. I was beginning to wonder if the people of this world
were too complacent to want to live a life of adventure. Despite
the nature of their fantasies and popular culture they don’t seem
to want to take chances that often.”

A knock at his door heralded the arrival of
another potential candidate. Jameson called out, “Come in, it’s
open.”

Chapter 2: The Life
Tutorial

The next morning came quickly for Scott. He
could not believe it when he had been handed a thick stack of
twenty dollar bills the previous day. The company might be staffed
by whack-jobs but they definitely paid!

“Scott Hunter?” A young man in a lab coat
approached him in the waiting area. Strangely, he looked like a
younger version of Mr. Jameson.

“Yes.”

“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Jameson
Michaels.” The lab technician, as that is the only thing Scott
could feel right calling him, raised his hand and pressed it
forward.

Scott awkwardly shook hands with the man who
greeted him then followed him to another room. The mystery of his
appearance and suspiciously similar name were allowed to sit idle.
It would be rude to ask personal questions anyway.

“This is the quantum translation chamber. You
will only need to come here once. After your testing phase, you’ll
be able to freely transition to the other world and back from
anywhere in either world.”

“Right.” Scott decided that he would just go
along with whatever they said. It seemed easier.

Michaels gestured for him to stand in the
center of an intricate geometric design engraved into the floor.
Scott took notice of the gemstones placed in key locations and
could not help but smile at the extravagance. Obviously they were
cut glass. Even a company this out of touch with reality would not
cut and fit diamonds and rubies the size of his fist just to show
off their new game system.

“The system is ready. There will be a slight
electrical feeling and a sudden jolt when the transition takes
place for the first time. When you arrive at your destination just
follow the message prompts. This time you will automatically return
to this location after twenty-four hours. We will provide an
evaluation of your efforts at that time.”

“Sure thing, I’m ready whenever you are.”
Scott smirked at the lab technician and then waited for the dog and
pony show to end. This was interesting, and they’d paid him a lot.
Still, how long could the farce go on?

“Right. Have fun. See you when you get
back!”

Scott nodded then started to say something
but the only sound that escaped his lips was a loud gasp of pain
followed by a garbled scream. He felt like he was being
electrocuted and torn apart at the same time. The world suddenly
went dark. He floated in a sea of inconceivable blackness for a
space of time that he could not fathom.

The world returned in a blur of sound, light,
and pain. However, the sight that greeted his eyes was not the
laboratory. “What the hell? Did those assholes dump me in the
woods?”

He tried to stand up but found that his body
was strangely heavy. His movements were sluggish, and his arms must
have weighed over fifty pounds each. Despite the problems he did
manage to get to his knees and then stood up slowly.

“What did those bastards do to me?”

Scott turned his head then floundered back a
step, nearly falling down. Something had popped up out of nowhere.
It looked like a floating message screen. Something you might see
in a game.

He stared at the screen for a moment then
looked to his left and back to his right. “Are you kidding me?”

Scott touched the screen to see what would
happen and it disappeared. Another one popped up in its place,
however. He read it then touched it again. It was a series of
greeting information screens, the kind of information you might see
when first entering a new game!

“They, they were kidding right? This is not a
real place! It can’t be real!”

Now he looked around with greater interest.
Where was the projector? There had to be a projector! After a brief
but tiring search, Scott panted heavily. Wherever he was, he was
exhausted. Why did his body feel so heavy?

His questioning thoughts were answered with
the appearance of another screen. It explained that he had minimal
attributes currently. “I see. I technically have the strength and
agility of a small child at the moment. No wonder I feel heavy. The
strength of a child and the weight of a grown man don’t work out
that well.”

After he tapped the new window screen, a big
white arrow appeared in the air then started to blink in and out of
view. He had no real option but to head in the direction that it
pointed.

“They really aren’t kidding? This world
really is set up like a video game. Still, is it real or just some
kind of sophisticated virtual reality system?”

Scott struggled to follow the arrow’s
direction and eventually came to an open glade. At the center of
the glade was a pedestal. When he approached the standing edifice a
mirror image of his body appeared above it.

“Well, that’s not particularly flattering.”
In truth, since he’d left the army he had let himself go quite a
bit. All night gaming sessions and poor nutritional choices had
that effect on people.

A screen popped up and informed him that this
was the location where he would choose his race and general
starting appearance. When prompted, the message screen revealed
that there were dozens of races to choose from. His choice of race
would decide where he started in the world.

He toyed with the race choices for a moment.
“Seriously? I can even be classic monster races?”

Each race had their strengths and draw backs.
Humans had no major strengths or weaknesses physically or
magically, but they had a commerce and technology bonus. Dwarves
and Minotaurs had a bonus for smithing. Elves had a magical bonus,
heightened senses, and excelled at archery. However, they had lower
strength and vitality than a human.

Monster races had a negative commerce and
intimacy modifier with any race other than their own. They also
required more experience to gain a level. Scott had to consider the
choices carefully. The human option would be easiest but if he was
going to live another life, even if a game, why not be something
different?

“There’s even a choice for vampires,
werewolves, and dragons. Weird.” What kind of game let you be a
dragon? Seriously, wouldn’t that be extremely broken?

He thought about it for a moment then
recalled that there actually were some games that allowed for it.
One console game franchise made that the main deal of the player
character, after all.

Scott checked the dragon information again
and noticed that it provided good all-around stat bonuses but
required four times as much experience. Further, it was both a
class and a race. He would not be able to specialize.