Fate of Camlan

  Fate of Camlan

  A LitRPG Adventure

  A.T. Gilbert

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Also by A.T. Gilbert

  FREE SHORT STORY!

  Chapter 1

  “What the hell is this?” I demand of the slim, white-haired, well-dressed man standing in front of us. We stand on the dirt side of the road up in the mountains outside of Phoenix, and yet his shoes show not even a speck of dust.

  Where did this guy come from?

  The last several days my five friends and I have been deep in a full-immersion video game. The six of us have been leveling up through Toterra Online’s new MMORPG Camlan Realm, learning spells, and literally protecting the technology of the game itself while we battle vargs, trolls and even other players. We beat a dungeon; we led the charge in defending a castle while at the same time securing the game’s coding that had threatened the entire endeavor.

  And we did all of that secretly. No one else in the world will know what we’ve done while in Toterra Online’s game. They’ve got us bound by contracts and NDAs. The artificial intelligence they had spent years developing had begun to show signs of independence and the international gaming company sent us in to isolate and secure it.

  But that mission is over. We’ve done everything that Toterra has asked of us and now they’re sending us home. Quite abruptly, I might add. Seems like only a few minutes ago we were in our Toterra Capsules, saving our place in the game, and now we’re far outside the corporation’s compound, high in the mountains. We thought we had just been on our way to the Phoenix airport to go home, back to our real lives, after once again saving Toterra Online from themselves.

  But instead, our driver took us farther into the mountains, pulled over onto this shoulder of a two-lane winding highway, and this clean shaven, older man we’ve never seen before shows up, pitching us some new project to save the world or something.

  I don’t understand it.

  The six of us exited the van to find we have been waylaid by this stranger. He just stepped out of one of the cars and seems to think we’ll be going somewhere with him.

  “Who are you?” Erinocalypse asks.

  “My name is Guy Fountain.”

  Whoa, I think.

  “No,” I say.

  “Goddamn it,” TexBadass says before spitting in the dirt. The older man has never been shy about what he really thinks.

  “Wait, who?” Callidus looks between us. The gangly, black teenager stands slightly behind Tex.

  “Fountain Games International,” I say, not taking my eyes off the man. “This is their founder.”

  “And CEO, of course,” Fountain clarifies, smiling genially.

  “And now that we know who you are, you’re gonna have to kill us, I guess, huh?” TexBadass says.

  “Now, Mr. Tanner, let’s not be dramatic.”

  It takes me a second to realize he’s talking to TexBadass. We’ve spent almost all of our time together in the game, and virtually no time out of it. Even though these five are now some of my closest friends, I still never think of them by their actual names, just their game handles. Even so, I still trust them more than I trust this guy whose everyone knows.

  As I’m trying to follow all of this, our white van peels away from the shoulder and heads farther into the mountains, leaving our luggage in a pile in the dirt on the side of the road. I hadn’t even noticed the trunk being emptied, in my focus on the stranger. We have no other ride home and now we’re completely stranded.

  After what I have seen with Toterra Online’s power and secrecy, I can just imagine what Fountain Games International is capable of with their financial, technological and legal resources.

  “What? Hey!” Callidus half-heartedly jogs after it but stops after about thirty feet. “Wait!”

  “It’s no use,” Erinocalypse says. She ties her long brown hair into a ponytail, and doesn’t take her eyes off Fountain.

  “What do we do now?”

  I step closer to Fountain, but my attempts at intimidation have absolutely no effect. He’s the same height as me and, though I hate to admit it, in better shape despite being at least forty years older. My shoulders may be broader, but he’s also got a host of guards standing around us. He meets my stare with one of his own, not appearing intimidated in the least.

  “I appreciate that this is new and you may have some concerns,” the CEO says with a smug smile. “But trust me when I tell you that all will be clear if you come with me.

  “We don’t have long.” He gestures towards the open doors of the waiting car. “Your flights home will be scheduled to land in your respective cities within the next few hours. When you don’t walk down the tarmac there, your families will all begin calling their Toterra representatives. Then once Toterra Online realizes you did not make it on the plane, there’re only a few short steps in their investigation to find that van. We have to make sure it is far away from here, deflecting any further investigation into your whereabouts.”

  As he explains this, one of his flunkies is already out in the dirt using a broom to obscure the tire marks. My stomach churns and I’m starting to feel anxious. I don’t like this. I don’t like feeling like I don’t have options. The fact that Toterra Online at least knew where we were was the only thing keeping me feeling safe.

  Now, though?

  We are on our own.

  “None of this is reassuring,” Erinocalypse snaps. “Explaining the kidnapping to us doesn’t make it less a kidnapping.”

  I surreptitiously take another look at the henchmen Fountain has surrounded himself with. Wide as refrigerators and probably able to lift two at once, they seem to be excessive for a simple gaming company CEO security. What is Fountain involved in that he needs minions like that? Don’t get me wrong; if we were in Camlan, we could take these guys. Between Erin’s spells, SteelFeather’s sword, my arrows and all the rest, we as a team are a formidable threat. In real life, though?

  We’d be lucky if we could outrun them, though I’m tempted to try.

  “So, then, why don’t you just come with us?” Fountain says, gently. “We need your help. I will make it worth your while and you have my word that you will be safe, and returned home as soon as you would like.”

  “Okay,” I say snarkily. “How about now, then?”

  “After you’ve heard our request.”

  I shake my head. He assumes we’ll be so flattered and starstruck that we c
an’t refuse. Little does he know what the last few days at Toterra have been like.

  “Look,” TexBadass says, adjusting his belt over his sizable gut. “This has all been fun, sir, but as you say, we all have lives and families expecting us. You don’t want to tussle with my wife if I’m not home when she expects it. You’ll have to find someone else.”

  Callidus is still standing in the dirt where the van once was. He picks up his stuffed-full backpack, brushes dirt off of it half-heartedly and slings it on his back.

  “What are you doing?” Fountain asks, his voice cold for the first time.

  “Going home,” he says.

  The kid sets off walking down the road. He can only have a vague idea where he’s going, but he seems determined. I admit, he has the right idea. Without the van or cell service, walking is our only other option out of here. I eye my duffel bag and take the first steps toward it to follow.

  “I wish you wouldn’t do that,” Fountain says softly.

  I don’t even acknowledge him, but in my peripheral vision, I see SteelFeather and Balderdash13 move to follow. We’ll figure this out together, just like in the game. Once we get out of the mountains we can call a car or taxi or something.

  But before I get any further, I’m surprised by a blow from behind. One of Fountain’s gorillas has stopped me, knocking into me and then holding on. I try to wriggle out of his grasp, but he has one arm around me before I know what is happening, and the second hand stabs a syringe into the meat of my arm.

  The world goes black.

  Chapter 2

  I peek my eyes open, but the light makes my head hurt.

  I feel a bit lightheaded and rub my eyes so hard it makes me see spots. What happened?

  I sit up. The room around me comes into focus. At the sight of the white-haired man standing across from me, all the recent events come to mind in a rush and I am startled into full consciousness. I realize I am lying in a fine leather armchair in a room that looks like a library or study of some kind. Fountain stands by the tall window, looking out at some ocean, while my friends are all in their own recliners scattered around the large room.

  “What the hell,” I mutter. “Did you kidnap us? Did you drug me?” I demand louder, trying to stand up. My head swims and I need to sink back into the chair. “You maniac! You freaking kidnapped us!”

  “Ah, Mr. Duncan. You’re awake. How marvelous,” Fountain says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Keep your seat, unless you want to be unconscious again soon. My assistants Mr. Greer and Mr. Bellview are just outside this door and will be happy to oblige. I suggest you enjoy the comfort of my personal study and listen.”

  The unstated ‘and shut up’ hangs in the air between us.

  I glance at Erinocalypse. Her brow is furrowed and she is glaring at the CEO, but she is sitting back in her chair, feet pulled up sitting cross-legged with her arms also crossed. A quick look at TexBadass and he is fully reclined with his feet up. The others look equally inclined to listen to whatever Guy Fountain has to say, or at least not fight it.

  “Seriously, you guys?” I ask. “We’re just going to—”

  “Asher,” Erinocalypse says sharply. “The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can go.”

  I snort derisively. Fine. Sure. Just don’t make it worse. Whatever. I’ll conserve my strength, learn all I can and then take this guy on. Fine.

  I sink back into my chair and shut my mouth.

  “I’ll take that as acquiescence, I suppose,” Fountain says. “I promise you, if you don’t like what I have to say and don’t want to assist us, we will send you home in style and well compensated for your time.”

  “You’d better,” TexBadass mutters.

  Fountain nods his head, acknowledging the outburst.

  “Very well. Let’s begin with what we know.” He glances out the window, as though distracted or worried. When he looks back at us, his expression is unreadable. “We know what Toterra Online had you doing at their headquarters after the Camlan Challenge was over. We know that they lost control of their tech and that they needed you to save them. We know all of it.”

  Erinocalypse and I exchange a glance, her eyes wide. I am sure none of my friends has talked, so how could this rival company know this?

  “We also know,” Fountain continues, “that Jeffery Talbot basically threw you out of company headquarters earlier today, without much thanks or conversation at all. I’m sure you all have questions about this.”

  “How do you know?” I interrupt.

  “But we know even more than that,” he continues, ignoring my question. “We know why. Why he got rid of you so quickly, why the code corrupted in the first place, why Toterra is desperate to contain the story and control access.”

  “Why?” I ask, sitting up straight. I still feel a little light-headed but it’s better than earlier. “How do you know?”

  He is interrupted in answering me by a slight knock on the study door. Before he can respond, it swings open and a round woman holding a tray of champagne flutes enters, followed by a young male steward with a tray of cookies, croissants and some other fancy pastry I don’t know the name of.

  “Mr. Fountain,” the woman says in a scolding tone. “You have not yet offered our guests any refreshments. They need to be made welcome and comfortable if they will want to join us on the Fountain Games team.”

  “You’re right, of course, Mrs. Buxton. Please come in.”

  She beams at me as she leans over to offer me my choice from her tray.

  “Champagne, Mr. Duncan? Or if you prefer I can bring you coffee, water, whatever you like.”

  “I, uh … ” I claim a glass of champagne without thinking. It’s all bewildering and I can’t seem to figure out exactly what I feel about it.

  Just behind her the steward bends at the waist to offer me some baked goods while I remain seated. I wave him away. I’m not hungry, but I watch Callidus and SteelFeather take three different treats each.

  “Mrs. Buxton, we have their luggage all settled in their private quarters, right?” The woman nods. “Wonderful. Now, where was I?” Fountain says, almost to himself. “Ah, that’s right. All the things we know and you do not know.”

  I am immediately interested. I can’t help myself. I want to know what he knows. I take a swallow of champagne—I am no connoisseur but it tastes amazing. Cookies don’t interest me right now, but information? Give me all of that.

  “Before we go any farther, there is the small matter of NDAs.”

  As Fountain says that, a stern-looking black man enters holding a dark brown leather briefcase. He doesn’t say a word as he carefully places the case on the table in the middle of the room, enters his security combination, and clicks the lid open. The room is silent as he carefully takes out six slim folders and lays them one by one in a row in front of him.

  “Step up, please,” Fountain says. “If you choose not to sign the NDA we will have no choice but to medicate you again, but we will send you directly home.”

  “Medicate,” TexBadass repeats with a derisive laugh.

  “And what happens if we do sign it?” I ask.

  “You’ll find out everything you want to know,” he answers smoothly.

  “And then we can go home?”

  “If you wish,” he acknowledges with a nod.

  I scoot forward in my chair and push myself to my feet, pausing only a moment to make sure I can keep my balance, and then stride to the table. My name is printed in clear black letters on the first folder and I open it to read the contract. How bad can this be? Is this really all that stands between me and getting out of here?

  Erinocalypse is as the table just after me, reading her own copy of the NDA. “This looks pretty standard,” she says softly.

  “Look at page four,” I say. “The price they have quoted for potential damages.”

  She flips forward, reads the number and pales. “Are you going to sign it?”

  I sigh deeply, reading more of the con
tract. “I’m not going to tell anyone about this. Who would even believe me? And I don’t really want to be drugged, do you?”

  TexBadass and Balderdash13 have joined us at the table, paging through their contracts.

  “I’m doing it,” I say, looking for a pen. The lawyer-guy is ready, handing me one as I turn to the last page of the contract. “I want to know this guy’s story, even if it’s just for me. Unless there’s something nefarious hidden in this legalese, I can’t see any downside. We can always decide to turn down this alleged job offer, right, Mr. Fountain?”

  “That’s right,” he says from his spot still near the window.

  I read the last statement of the contract: I hereby agree to the above. And then just below that I sign my name, Asher Duncan.

  “Now,” I say, standing up straight. “Tell me everything.”

  Chapter 3

  Fountain smiles at my demand for information, but says nothing. He stands erect and inscrutable by the window, the bright afternoon light making his white head of hair almost glow.

  I realize I’m chewing on the end of the pen, hastily set it back on the table and clasp my hands in front of me. I return to my chair, sip my champagne again, and wait for the rest of my group to sign their own NDAs. Callidus hangs back, but once he sees that he is the only one who hasn’t signed, he stands up slowly and comes to the table as well. He leans his lanky body over the desk and pages through the contract, resting on his elbows, and I think I see his hand shaking as he forms his signature.