Level Up (16 page)

"Am I in some kind of trouble?"

Jen sighed. "I'm sorry. I've been trying to figure this out myself. You sent this in?"

"Last night, just before the midnight deadline," Tessa said. "Why? What's wrong?"

"This is." Jen handed her a print out. Tessa quickly scanned the contents.

"Wait. This is a cease and desist order. From..." She glanced. "Impressario? The production company that does
Mystics
. Why are they sending this to you?"

"I think there was a line about the code brother-and-sisterhood of the Mysterious Pickles Crew. Just a note, buried in," Jen said. "They ran it, loved it, but apparently had some serious misgivings about it being amateur," Jen said. "They wanted us to stop using their artwork and breaking their copyright."

"
What?
 That's bullshit!" Tessa burst out. "It's a contest. They knew that fans were going to be writing or drawing things based on the show. That's ridiculous."

"Fans, yes. Companies, not so much." Now Jen's expression turned serious as the proverbial heart attack. "Did you, at any time, use MPG computers or software?"

" No! Absolutely not!"

"Did you do any of this on site or on the clock here at MPG?"

"No," Tessa said staunchly. "Neither did any of the guys. We all holed up at my house." Tessa was shaking, she was so angry. "I'll contact whoever I need to, swearing to the same in writing. I don't want MPG to get in any kind of trouble for this!"

"We won't," Jen said, seeming to relax. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't...you know. Taking advantage of the company."

"Do you really think I would?" Tessa asked, feeling wounded. "I've worked here for four years!"

"I know it's been frustrating for you, not moving on in your career," Jen said. "You know, you could've shown us this at the monthly free-project meetings."

"It came up kind of suddenly."

"But you've never shown us anything like this," Jen said. "I've been waiting to see more from you."

Tessa felt aghast. What? She'd been working her tail off, but she'd never really been interested in the monthly free-project meetings, where coders showed what they worked on in their spare time. It seemed too social, since it usually involved a keg and plenty of heckling. She thought it was just a social thing.

God, had her own introversion just shot her in the ass?

"Bring something else to the next meeting," Jen counseled. "Maybe we can see where you can go from there."

"Like Abraham's team, maybe?" she asked bluntly. "Because I know there's a job opening. Mac's leaving. I'd like that slot."

Jen's eyes widened. Tessa had never been quite so straightforward. God knew, it was about time.

"Let me make sure this C&D doesn't bite us, and we'll see what you come up with on the next free project," Jen said hesitantly. "All right?"

Tessa deflated. "Okay."

With that, Tessa left the office, feeling sort of shell-shocked. Adam was right there. "You okay? What was all that about?"

"I guess they found our entry right off the bat," Tessa said. "And somebody left in a line of code about the MPG coders or something."

He sighed. "Fezza," he hissed. "He usually puts in a little Easter egg in the notes, a sort of signature. Also, to see if anybody steals the code straight out, without reading it. I'm sorry."

"They contacted MPG with a cease and desist. Jen wanted to know what it was all about." She went to rub her hands over her face, but realized she'd be smearing her makeup and ruining the gloves Kyla had given her. "I wasn't expecting this."

"Well, they must've thought it was good, then," Adam said, nudging her.

"That's something," she said.

"You okay?"

"I don't know if I'll ever make it here as a coder," she finally admitted aloud. "I don't think it's pure sexism or anything. I just...I've screwed myself by not putting myself forward. And I think they just see me as audio girl."

"So you'll change their minds," he said.

"I let myself get distracted," she said. "I just went out and made friends to get more social, and now it's all a mess."

"Hey," Adam said sharply. "Do you regret getting to know the sisters? Rachel, Hailey? Even Kyla and Stacy?"

"No, obviously."

"Are you regretting..." His eyes narrowed. "Me. Us. You're saying we're a distraction?"

"There's no 'us,," she said weakly. "You know..."

"I don't know," he said, his voice sharp. "But I'm not going to push you. You said that they didn't give you a promotion because you didn't put yourself out there. Well, I'm tired of chasing you. You know what you want, you tell me. But until you make the move...it's all on you."

He walked away. She sat down at her desk, feeling tears sting at her eyes. All this, on top of a hangover, was more than she could bear.

Well, at least nothing else could go wrong today, she thought, opening up her email. She saw a note from Impressario. Assuming it was the cease and desist, she clicked it open.

She stared. Then studied it, over and over, until the meaning sank in.

"We're sorry, Ms. Rodriguez," she read softly, feeling numb. She couldn't even speak the next line aloud.

Your contest entry has been disqualified.

CHAPTER 9

Tessa felt terrible when she went to the bookstore that night. She'd already changed out of her Sailor Moon costume. Stacy had brought her home early, and Adam was working late, figuring out schedules and workflow for a new project coming in. Adam was probably still angry, and she hadn''t felt like talking to him about this. She didn't want his pity. She'd tell the guys about what went down later. Right now, the girls at the bookstore were the only ones who mattered.

Stacy had emailed everyone for her, telling them to get together. They were dutifully waiting for her in the same book-filled room she'd initially met them, this time including the elusive Cressida, whose pale skin and long red hair made her seem almost ethereal. Cressida, the one all this effort was ultimately for.

Tessa felt her failure, like a lead cannonball in her stomach. She had to tell them, now, right away. Before they got their hopes up even further.

"What's the matter?" Hailey said immediately, sitting next to her and nudging her. "You look like someone died."

"You okay?" Cressida said, more kindly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so
very
 sorry," Tessa said, around the lump in her throat. "It's about the game."

"I saw what you sent," Rachel said, smiling broadly. "I'm amazed at what you were able to do with the drawings. My drawings. I couldn't believe it!"

"I played it this morning," Cressida said, grinning. "Twice. Really, you did a spectacular job."

"Please thank the guys for us," Hailey added. "We know how hard you all worked on it."

It was all too much. Tessa burst into tears.

Now Kyla made comforting noises, putting an arm around her shoulders. "What is it? What's wrong?"

The other women gathered around her, concern etched on their faces.

"I'm sorry," Tessa repeated. "The game's been disqualified."

"What?" Kyla squeaked. "Why?"

"It's really kind of bullshit," Tessa said, but didn't want to make it seem like she was making excuses. "They said it all had to be fan-generated and that the terms 'artwork', 'story' and 'video' absolutely precluded games."

"That is bullshit," Hailey spat out. "Seriously? Why would they?"

"I have no idea," Tessa said. "It's a total technicality, but still...that means we're out of the contest." She wiped at her eyes with the heel of her hand.

"Shhh," Rachel said. "It's all right."

"But it's not!" Tessa burst out. "You were counting on the contest to get Jake Windlass here, so you could capitalize on fangirl business. So you could make money. So they," she gestured to Hailey and Cressida, "could still have a place to live and work! And I've ruined it!"

Hailey sat on the other side of her. "You were amazing to try," Hailey said, making her even guiltier. "Seriously. You didn't even know us, but you put in hours and hours of work anyway."

"You're my friends," Tessa said. "I mean, I want...wanted...you guys to be my friends. I have a hard time connecting with people. First, I tried just telling myself it would help me in my job. Developing my people skills. Then I thought I could nudge the programmers into accepting me. But now, after all this, I see I just really wanted to help. And then I totally screwed it up!"

"Oh, don't say that! You
did
 help," Kyla said firmly. "For one thing, you got me off my ass about my drawings, and that makes me feel incredibly proud."

"It's true," Hailey drawled. "I've been kicking her ass over those drawings for years, and you managed to get her into gear in under a week!"

"And you've shown us that maybe we can see other ways to fix the situation," Cressida said, with a smile. "We don't have to just sit here and wait. We can experiment. Really think outside the blue box, as it were."

"You've certainly given us a boost," Rachel said finally.

Tessa blinked at all of them. "You mean it?"

"Absolutely," Kyla said. "I've even thought about making my cosplay business, well, a business."

"We can do this," Rachel restated firmly. "With or without the contest, we'll make this work."

"I get the feeling not a lot of people have been unconditionally supportive of you," Cressida said softly. "Of course we're still your friends, Tess."

"Hell, you can't get rid of us now," Hailey added. "Although I warn you: if you keep up with this 'I screwed up, I'm a horrible person,' crap, I may pummel you."

"Well, nobody wants that." Tessa smiled, brushing at her eyes with the back of her hands. "In that case, let's get this
Mystics
 marathon going. I'll make some more hot choc--"

And as soon as she said that, the power went out.

"Well, crap," Hailey grumped. "There goes that plan."

Rachel produced a flashlight from her pocket, as did Cressida. "Welcome to Snoqualmie, the wind tunnel," Cressida said, with a sigh. "I think the marathon's probably going to need a rain check."

"We'll get the fire going strong," Rachel said, her tone business-like. "Make sure the pipes don't freeze. I'm surprised we've kept power most of the winter, but we were expecting this. We'll just hunker down. You can camp here with us, if you like, Tessa," she added.

"It'll be like a sleepover!" Cressida said, clapping her hands girlishly.

Stacy's smile was mysterious in the dim lights. "Sorry, girls. I've got another sleepover scheduled."

"Oooh," Hailey said, clapping her hands. "Details! Details!"

"Oh, wait," Tessa said suddenly. "Adam!"

"He's from around here. I'm sure he'll be fine," Rachel said, but Tessa was already bounding for the door.

"I'll talk to you guys tomorrow," Tessa said. "I just want to make sure he's all right."

"Maybe she'll have a sleepover, too," Stacy said, and Tessa winced.

"He's sort of mad at me right now," Tessa said. "Besides...I think it'd be too complicated. We work together. We're friends. It's stupid to mess with that."

Isn't it?

"I may still pummel you," Hailey said, shaking her head.

"Just focus on staying warm," Rachel said, the smile evident in her voice. "Then see what happens."

"Do you want me to drive you?" Kyla asked.

"No, it's just around the corner, really... I'll be there by the time you would've warmed up your car."

Tessa headed out, feeling warmer than the cold air should allow. She'd faced them, and they'd been accepting.

What could happen with Adam?

Adam had been through bad weather before. He'd lived in Snoqualmie for a few years now, and he knew when it came to the windstorms around here, losing power was more a matter of "when" than "if." He also knew that as long as the pipes didn't freeze, they'd get through just fine.

Oh, and he knew that the electric starter for the furnace was dodgy at best...so the smartest plan was setting up a base camp.

He heard the door open, and heard Tessa call out. "Adam? Adam! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said. "In here."

She moved aside the blanket he'd strung up in the archway between the foyer and the living room. "What...wow."

He had the fire going in the woodstove, blazing enough that he didn't even really need the lantern he'd set up. It glowed, cheery.

"I brought out all the blankets. It's easier to keep one room warm than warm the whole house," he said grimly. "I had to do this last year, too. I nailed quilts over the doorframes to keep this room warm. Power shouldn't be out more than a day, maybe two tops."

"Two days?" she yelped.

"It sounds worse than it is," he said, even as he crossed his fingers and hoped it didn't stretch longer than that. "Listen, I heard from Jen what happened...at least the basics. Are you okay?"

She felt embarrassed. "Better now. I was angry, and I just felt sick that all that work was for nothing. I should've told you, but..."

She trailed off, and he realized: she hadn't talked to him because he'd blown up at her.

"I had to let the girls know about the game first – about what happened, the cease and desist, being disqualified. Winning the contest would have meant so much to them – to have a
Mystics 
actor there, to get the publicity. I was afraid they'd be angry or disappointed. But they were totally understanding," she said, plopping down on the couch. "I think I was more upset than they were. I still feel guilty, though."

"You did the best you could," he said, still moving the kindling and setting up a card table with various things. "It's not your fault that Impressario are vindictive, petty assholes."

She smiled, the warmth in her chest having nothing to do with the roaring fire. "Thanks, Adam. For everything."