Otherlife Nightmares: The Selfless Hero Trilogy (45 page)

Deciding to check on the medical server, Runner sat up a bit. Focusing on the space in front of him, he called up the medical server and froze while reading the log.

LOG: Triage activated.

LOG: Life support terminated.

Runner checked the medical server for errors and found none. Unfortunately, the advanced reporting software that the server would normally use hadn’t been included in his image database.

Pressing his hands to his eyes he fought down the panic rising up inside him. Attempting to organize his mind, Runner thought furiously on what could have gone wrong.

The server was functioning correctly. Mitica had been brain dead upon insertion. Could the server have decided that a lack of brain function meant he wasn’t alive to begin with?

Did it measure brain function on transfer or after? If it was during or before, every single person would have zero brain function. Transferring the minds of people back and forth had never been the intent unless in emergency critical situations. All those authorizations needed certainly backed that up.

Unfortunately, there would be no answers for him. He booted up the diagnostic program and told it to scan and check all of the medical server’s programming to confirm it was functioning as intended.

That was all he could do.

Resting the back of his head on the wall, he listened to the conversations around him for a bit. The newest additions to his circle, Sophia and Faye, were well received by the existing group. The conversation veered wildly from the war to current events and news.

Then Runner did what every good soldier did when given a chance. He slept.

A hand pressed to his shoulder gently shook him awake. Blearily he tried to focus his eyes and found Thana bent over in front of him. Boxy was empty and outside night had fallen.

“Hello, dear heart,” Thana said, smiling at him.

“Mm. I take it it’s time for the dirty business to begin?”

“No, that’s later,” she promised, pressing a kiss to his lips.

Brought to full wakefulness, Runner smiled when she pulled back.

“What a delightful way to wake up. Sign me up for the annual membership.” Runner grinned at her.

“I believe you’ve already signed on for lifetime membership.” She backed up a few steps from him and smiled sadly. “I’m afraid we indeed have arrived at the village. Sophia surrounded the church during its evening services. They’ve got everyone inside the church. Numbers are expected to be two hundred, give or take.”

Exhaling noisily, Runner stood up and turned towards the exit.

“Right, then. Time for me to do my part.” Flexing his fingers, he opened up his ability panes and selected
Banishing Bolt
.

Using his
Lightning
aspect, he’d built it as a chain lightning spell with low damage but an increased focus on jumping to other targets. Added to that, he’d blended the
GMHub
ability.

They’d all be sent off world by his hand.

“Shit,” Runner whispered. Like a bolt of lightning striking, he remembered GMHub wasn’t empty. He’d forgotten all about the aide.

“I’ll be right back. I forgot about the aide. She’s been there for…well, a while now.”

/GMHub 1

Teleporting…

Active settings only:

Death=On

Food/Water=On

Damage=On

Gravity=100%

Biome=Plane

Day/Night Cycle=On

Runner found himself standing in a pit. Glancing around at the raised dirt walls, he felt surprised. There was no moon, and Runner was forced to hold up a small ball of flame to see by.

“Hello up there, Faye’s aide. I’m not sure what you intended with this pit, but it’s quite lovely and cool down here.”

“Ah!” shouted a voice not too distantly.

“I have you. I must be, you must be… am I dead? Is this death? Are you dead? Are you death?” she babbled, her mind wandering.

“No. No, you’re not dead. I’ve banished you from the world. I gave you two chances to work with me, you denied both.”

A dirt stained face appeared above him, peering down at him. Her hair was ragged, her clothes smeared liberally with dirt. Her eyes had a sheen to them that Runner couldn’t identify in the poor light.

“You killed me for disobedience. Punished.”

“No, you’re not dead. Will you help me out of here or do I need to take care of it myself?”

“You punished me for not listening. Deaf. Deaf to the cry. Punished.”

Sighing, Runner pressed a hand to his eyes. Letting his hand drop, he looked up out of the hole and blinked to the top of the pit. He immediately grabbed the aide by a shoulder and activated the
GMHub.

/GMHub 2

Teleporting…

Active settings only:

Death=On

Food/Water=On

Damage=On

Gravity=100%

Biome=Plane

Day/Night Cycle=On

/GMHub Settings

Death off

Damage off

Food/water off

Settings changed:

Death=Off

Damage=Off

Food/Water=Off

Appearing in a near identical field of nothing, minus the hole, Runner stood next to the dirty aide.

“You’re not dead. I didn’t punish you.”

Falling to her knees, she stared up at him, her eyes wide and unfocused.

“You’re a god.”

“No, I’m not a god. If I were a god I would have remembered sending you there. For that I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”

“It was a proper punishment for my transgressions. I’ll build. Work will bring happiness.”

“That would make you happy? Building?”

“Yes. Happy. Happy to build. Happy to work. Working to build happiness. What is your name? So I might pray correctly in your name.”

“Runner. I’m not a god. No prayers are needed.”

“Runner, I pray to you, give me the tools to build. I…I am not hungry or thirsty here. I do not even grow tired. I sit alone at night in the dark. I cannot sleep. I scream at the night. For hours. Dark. Dark without sound except for my screams.”

“Ah. Sorry, I’ll turn that off.”

Runner could only assume not having to take in food or water had prevented the need to sleep.

/GMHub Settings

Food/Water On

Day/Night Cycle Off

The sun beamed down on the world from a fixed position at noon. Though he could feel the sun on his skin, it didn’t feel warm or cold. Perfectly balanced.

Odd.

“Runner! I praise you,” the aide screamed, falling to her face and grabbing at his boots. “You’ve given me the light. My lord. My savior.”

Damn. I’ve really screwed her up.

“Stop, please. Wait. What’s your name?” Runner asked. Reaching down, he gently took her hands in his and helped her back up to a sitting position.

“Alexia, my god.”

“Alexia, I’m not a god. I’ll provide you with materials and tools to live here. I expect you to begin working on a home for yourself and others. I’ll check in on you much more frequently. I’m so sorry, Alexia. I can’t return you but I can at least fix your life here.”

“Generous. So generous.”

“Alexia. Look. I’m going to send a lot of people here, alright? I need you to organize them. Lead them. Help them start a life here. Do you remember what you did before this? You were a leader. You took care of hundreds.”

Alexia sat up, looking at him with wide eyes.

“You will send others? For me?”

“Yes, Alexia. For you. No one can harm you here. I’ll provide for you but you need to help them build new lives here. Lives and homes. Okay?”

“Yes, Runner. I shall do as you command. I will be worthy of you.”

“Good. For now, here,” Runner said and then emptied half of his foraged food and water into a trade window. It would keep her fed for at least three months. Thinking of the dark nights, he added every torch and piece of firewood he had on him, including a ring with
Campfire
enchanted on it. Last but not least he threw in a caster’s robe from a failed project he had been working on. It was in his colors—black and red—and did little except project a feeling of positivity. The area of effect was small, which made it a failure.

“I’ll see what I can do for the settings of this zone as far as getting animals and the like to spawn. Here’s food, water, torches, and the ring will allow you to build a fire at will. I also threw in a robe since yours are…ruined. Remember, build a house, gather everyone together, help them start lives here.”

“I shall remember. I will remember.”

“Thank you, Alexia.”

/GMHub Settings

Day/Night Cycle On

/GMHubReturn

Teleporting…

Runner shifted his balance around upon his return. The sudden transition from grass to wood threw him off a little.

“Were you preparing the site for their banishment?” Thana asked, standing beside him.

“Yep. Alright, let’s get this over with.”

Runner exited Boxy and set his sights on the church. As he walked he changed the spell from GMHub one to GMHub two.

“I need to assemble twenty or so sets of tools for building and excavating. Preferably in a large wooden container. Could you arrange that for me?”

“Certainly. Though I’ll charge you for it.”

“Oh? Steep prices?”

“You’ll pay it.”

Runner didn’t feel much in a flirty mood. He did appreciate her willingness to keep his mind off the bad and in a positive direction. She kept his peace of mind paramount even when the world sought to break him. She always worked at keeping him mentally balanced.

She had her own mind and will. Her own life that existed beyond him. She always kept him part of her focus though.

“I love you, Thana,” Runner blurted out.

Runner could see the ring of Sophia’s guard that encircled the troops now. He’d be on them in a minute or less. She’d done well in hiring so many people so fast.

Thana said nothing immediately in response. Runner couldn’t handle the lack of an answer and finally glanced over to find her staring at him as she walked.

“I love you too, Runner,” Thana whispered, smiling shyly at him.

Then he was amongst his guards. There was no time for saying anything further. Entering the ring, he moved to the front of the church and took the steps two at a time.

“Everyone please remain outside. Keep this door shut and allow no one out.” Not waiting for naysayers, Runner turned and opened the church doors and entered.

As the doors boomed shut behind him, Barbarians from every walk of life turned from their seats to look at him.

Sighing, Runner held up his hands.

“Good evening, everyone. While this brings me no pleasure, I must interrupt your services today.”

Runner took a moment to confirm his personal safety and that no one could pass him at the door.

“I’d like to take only a minute of your time and talk to you about the triumvirate of Vix and their ability to save you. I promise I’ll keep it short and to the facts. Unfortunately, though, I’m afraid I’ll have to be insistent when it comes time for a decision. Forgive me.”

Chapter 18 - Extinction -

8:41 pm Sovereign Earth time

11/22/43

Runner looked around at the empty church and rubbed at the back of his head. No one had resisted him, but neither had they renounced their beliefs. Alexia was probably drowning in the sudden onslaught of people. He’d have to head over soon to see what he could do to help her.

“No deaths, at least,” Runner muttered to himself. “Rabbit will be happy. Brunhild, Ernsta, Amelia. I need your assistance.”

Summoned directly, the three women appeared in a wedge formation. Brunhild at the front, Ernsta to her right, Amelia on her left.

“Good work, Runner.”

“Yes. You did great, little lamb.”

“Invite me back later tonight. It was… exciting watching you hurt him.”

“Thank you, ladies.” Runner smiled wanly at them. “How do I destroy this church? I assume it’s a temple. What empowers it and what do I do to break it?”

“That’s simple, love. In this case the symbols. Like that big silly starburst on the wall. Gaudy bit of trash, that,” Amelia said, pointing up at the huge emblazoned star on the wall.

“She’s right, Runner. Destroy the icons,” Brunhild agreed, folding her arms under her chest.

“Very well. Could I ask a favor of you three lovely ladies? I need a golden triangle with a silver background. Equilateral lengths and six feet long on each side. On the inside of the triangle I need each of your icons in gold. Each icon to take exactly one third of the space. That or something with all of you together.” Runner stood up with a groan.