The game starts at the first level – the half ruined railway station where the player arrives by the section car, with a single gun as a weapon. The station building is crowded with monsters – former Twilight City inhabitants, and other players. It's difficult to say who is more dangerous: monsters are armed better but the players are smarter than machines obviously. One can find weapons, defense gear, first-aid sets and food in the station building. When one leaves the first level, he gets to the second one: the highway full of abandoned cars… and of course, of other players and monsters. In order to win one must reach the 50th level, the ancient cathedral in the downtown and to destroy the alien ruler. It's very hard. I did it before but since then "Labyrinth" have changed at least ten times: new buildings, weapons and monsters were added. And of course, new players have arrived: game addicts who can't imagine their lives without shooting on the streets of Twilight City.
It's an interesting game, mainly because it requires constant communication with other people, not just 'fighting to death' like in
'Mortal Combat', not diplomatic notes and threats exchange like in 'C&C' but direct communication: making unions, convincing others, some small worldly wisdoms…
But just what so unusual could happen in the "Labyrinth"'s space?
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"Labyrinth"'s administrative building is a two story house in Deeptown's suburbs, faced with rose colored coquina. It looks peacefully and neat, more like a residential building than an office. Maybe American middle class families use to live in houses like this. Labyrinth entrance is a bit further and obviously it looks much more impressive. I stand in the garden and examine the guard by the entrance. He's dressed into masking overalls, the standard players' uniform, with carbine in his hands. His muzzle has absolutely 'impenetrable' expression, he stands motionless like a statue. Is he a human or not? It's foolish to ask, at least because one can't distinguish well made program from a human at once. I pass the guard and find myself in a small hall. The bright sunlight beams through windows, small tables and soft armchairs stand along the walls. More solid table is in the center of the hall, a smiling girl sits by it: the secretary and most likely live one.
– Good afternoon, – I say.
The secretary's face changes a little.
– Good afternoon, – she replies. The voice is soft and nice, looks like I was switched to Russian employee.
– I need to meet with the management, – I begin without ceremonies.
– Please be more specific if possible.
The girl is the courtesy itself but it's not easier to break through her barrier than through the monster by Al-Kabar's bridge.
– I have a confidential information for "Labyrinth"'s management.
– But still I'd like you to state the goal of your visit briefly.
Ah well…
– I'd like to relay to Mr Guillermo Aguirre that I'm informed about the small problem that have arisen recently and about the fact that divers cooperating with you had failed to solve it. I'm going to offer my services in solving this problem.
The secretary nods.
– One moment please.
She stands up without a hurry and enters one of the inner doors. I wait patiently. Everything is very cute and patriarchaclass="underline" no computers, no monsters. It's not the office of the most expensive and dreadful ride in the history but a small toilet paper sales firm.
The girl is away for long, I get tired of standing and sit into one of armchairs, browse through newspapers scattered on the nearby table. It's quiet and peaceful, no other visitors except me, though they in fact are present most likely. We just can't see each other and they communicate with other company's employees.
– Mister…
– Gunslinger, – I say standing up. – Call me Gunslinger.
The girl nods.
– Mr Guillermo Aguirre will receive you.
Slight curiosity in her voice, it looks like she had no idea that any problems might arise in "Labyrinth".
I enter the door and freeze.
This is beautiful.
The hall is in the form of unequal sided triangle, one wall is completely transparent and one can see the city from the big height, lighted by red sunset light. Not Deeptown but Twilight City most likely. The table of "Labyrinth"'s security manager, Mr Guillermo is horseshoe-shaped, three monitors are installed on it, a keyboard and nothing else. Mr Guillermo himself already rises to meet me, he's aged, lean, very suntanned, dressed in blinders and T-shirt.
– Hello, – he says stretching his hand to me first. – So you are the Gunslinger, yes? Call me just Willy.
Okay, let it be Willy.
I shake his hand.
– You said so interesting things, yes? About problems, divers, help…
– Willy laughs and waves his hands, – Boom! Boom! That help?
Very interesting interpreter program, the strong accent, parasite words like Guillermo speaks Russian himself. One starts feel different towards the guy immediately.
– Let's be honest, okay? – I offer. Willy-Guillermo knits his brow and nods. – I'm diver.
– Yes?– inquires Willy politely – And what is that?
I smile in return and say:
– I think that your Ukranian and Canadian employees would explain that to you quicker. I mean the divers working on permanent contract with you.
Willy looks at me silently for a long time, then nods:
– I thought that Anatol is Russian. He's Ukranian?
Yeah, Man Without Face is informed much better than "Labyrinth"'s security manager.
– These are just details.
– Take a seat Gunslinger… – Willy moves an armchair to me then pads to the window looking at the city poured by blood colored blaze, – So, you're diver?
I nod.
– This is very interesting. Unusual! – Willy raises his forefinger, – Everybody look for divers, everybody have requests, business, questions… you came to us by yourself.
I stay silent.
Willy turns around and looks at me.
– You have a nice suit Gunslinger, – he says, – It'd be good to add… a small cap to it. A small gray cap.
I see. A simple test.
– Vika…
Willie smiles: it's the same little trick as was done by Man Without Face, I'm cut off from my operating system, I could expect that type of surprise.
Abyss-abyss, I'm not yours…
It turned out that my head is aching badly. Must be the beer…
I took off the helmet, grabbed the mouse, launched 'Bioconstructor', hastily opened the 'Clothing' window, then 'Headgear', found something looking like beret or cap. Then I filled it with steel gray color and hooked it on my figure, person number seven, Gunslinger…
deep Enter Beret is on my head. I'm not sure whether it's what Mr Aguirre wanted or not but he looks satisfied.
– We value the divers' work. – says Willy. – But our permanent employees quite manage it. We need time, small. We'll offer you interesting work, yes?
I shake my head, beret slides to the side.
– Mr Guillermo, – I say respectfully but resolutely, – I'm talking about one certain problem which I want to help "Labyrinth" to solve.
I see his eyebrows raised in surprise.
– Recently a strange accident have happened in "Labyrinth"…
I fall silent and wait for his reaction. Willy is obviously deep in thought.
– Accident? – he nods towards the window, – We have thousands of accidents here every day. War! Shooting! Cheerfulness!