Alpha World
Book Three:
Alpha Company
Daniel Schinhofen
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons,
places, or events is coincidental.
© Copyright 2017 by Daniel Schinhofen
All rights reserved.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter One
Francis shook hands with the man who was introducing himself. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Brouch. I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to inform the other testers of the guild I’m part of. Also, for allowing me to hand out the shirts we had made.”
With a smile Alvin Brouch replied, “It’s wonderful to see our testers wanting to band together. I’m sure that you’ll all shoot right past our expectations of the leveling curve. My secretary did mention there was also another topic you wanted to discuss today?”
“Yes. I was curious if you had any plans to extend your test period past a single month. If you do, is there any way to sign up for it now? Miss Dorn and I are extremely interested in participating in a longer test period. That would mean there are arrangements we’d need to make tonight, before the medical exams tomorrow.”
Pushing his glasses a little further up his nose, Alvin looked over the man seated across from him. “Interesting that you should ask that. We have just finalized plans to offer a three-month and a sixth month test immersion to our testers. We were planning to announce it tomorrow during the exams. Giving those people who’re interested a chance to arrange to participate in the longer immersion. I was surprised by the legal packet indicating that you are Miss Dorn’s legal aid and our primary contact point with her.”
“Yes. As has been stated, she wishes to remain incognito as much as she can. We would both like to sign up for your six-month immersion test now, if it’s at all possible. If not, we’ll wait for the announcement.”
“It would do something for our PR department to note that a member of the well-known Dorn family is playing our game. Do you think she would agree to doing an endorsement?” Alvin sat back with a poker face, waiting for Francis’s reply.
“Send an agreement to this email,” Francis said, handing over a card. “One of our lawyers will look it over tonight. If it is acceptable we’ll have a signed copy for you in the morning.”
“I’ll have it sent out within the hour,” Alvin said with a smile, taking the card. “There is something I’m curious about, if you don’t mind me asking. How did you get onto the immersion test list so quickly? Miss Dorn has been on the list since beta ended, but you were only added when the immersion trial was announced.”
“It’s all in who you know, Mr. Brouch.” Francis stood up to his full six-and-a-half-foot height. Brushing his golden bangs out of his eyes, he put on his sunglasses, “It has been a pleasure, Mr. Brouch. Thank you for your time.”
“The pleasure has been all mine, Mr. Bennet. I’ll see you in the morning. Have a good night,” Brouch shook hands with Francis and they parted ways.
The next morning at six, Marysue Dorn and Francis Bennet entered the lobby of Mindblown’s testing building. Behind them came a man with a dolly that had four boxes stacked on it. The receptionist looked up with a frown as they entered. Francis walked over to her as Marysue directed the man with the cart. “Good morning, miss. I have paperwork with me for Mr. Brouch. He should be expecting me, I am Francis Bennet.”
The woman looked down at the notes on her desk, her professional smile becoming fixed in place. “Of course, Mr. Bennet. I will inform Mr. Brouch that you are here. Are those the gifts for the other testers?”
“Indeed,” Francis smiled, “I see the tables are set up already. I’ll go get things arranged while we wait.”
“Of course, sir,” The receptionist pushed her black hair back behind her ear, with a bright smile that was more than just professional. “Would either of you like coffee or anything?”
“No, we’re fine, thank you,” Francis gave her a polite smile before he went to join Marysue. The man who’d pushed the dolly in was opening the boxes. “We’re good, Joe. You can take off.”
Joe looked up, “Okay, Francis. I think you’re nuts, you know, telling your dad you’re taking six months off. I heard that argument through the damn wall last night.”
“Dad will settle him down,” Marysue put in as she dug shirts out of a box and began to set them on the table.
Joe shook his head, his eyes going from her to Francis. The sheer pity in Joe’s eyes for Francis slid right off Francis, who had been getting that same look for years. “Well, you two have fun then. See you in six.”
Francis watched his friend and assistant go then turned back to the business at hand. He helped Marysue arrange all the shirts, stacked by size. They each already wore an identical shirt, along with a name tag. Francis’s tag read ‘Gerald’. A number of sharpies and name tags were on the table next to the shirts.
“That didn’t take long,” Alvin called out as he approached them. “I take it everything is in order?”
Francis handed the contract to Alvin, “Signed and delivered. Once you sign off on it send a copy back to the law firm noted on the document, please.”
“Of course,” Alvin said, turning his attention to Marysue. “Miss Dorn, it is a pleasure to have you with us for the long test. I received a call just this morning from your father. He was quite eager to learn more about our technology, it seems some of his charities might be able to benefit from what we can offer. So on behalf of MindBlown Entertainment, you have our thanks.” He extended his hand, his best smile on his face.
Francis blocked the hand, “Sorry, Mr. Brouch, but Miss Dorn doesn’t shake hands with people.”
Alvin faltered slightly before he withdrew his hand, “Oh, right. I forgot about her condition. I’m sorry, I was just so happy to have you both here. I’ll just go get these documents taken care of. I’ll see you again for the presentation.” Alvin went away with the contract in hand.
“It’s not a condition,” Marysue sighed, her voice pitched low. She brushed her blonde hair back from her face. “I just don’t like people, especially fake people. It’s just like in school, everyone wanting to know what I can do for them.”
Francis nodded, “I know, Mary. I’m here for you and soon we’ll be there for six months, just like you wanted.”
“I wanted the rest of my life,” she replied, but she gently touched his arm and gave him a blinding smile. “I’ll take what you could get me. Thank you, Francis. You have always looked after me, even when I’ve been a bitch.”
“Call me Gerald,” Francis said. “Time to get used to our new life for the next six months, right?”