Despite the Chief Administrator’s warning, everything seemed… ordinary. Alan had emerged feeling slightly stronger, maybe healthier, but that was it. No Eve in his head. If anything, the main disorienting feature was the lack of his enhancements. His thoughts felt sluggish, his memory foggy, his body frail. Reality somehow felt a bit less real, as if everything was slightly out of focus.
Feeling a bit hungry, Alan looked about the room. Two of the capsules were currently in use: Kitana’s and the one next to hers. Icewolf's and the last capsule were empty. Alan wondered whose it was. He assumed one of them was Kitana's mentor, whom he still hadn't met. The kitchen appeared to be fully stocked, but since Alan hadn’t ever bothered to learn to cook, he decided to go downstairs to the company kitchen which had a hired chef. Despite the fact that this was the room where he had stayed in for the past few weeks, only a week real time, it still felt foreign. The rich decor, the paintings and the penthouse view made Alan feel a bit uncomfortable.
Alan checked the sign in the elevator; the kitchen was on the fifteenth floor. Swiping his ID card he’d gotten from Omnitech, he proceeded downstairs. The kitchen was a fairly simple place, with a granite counter-top and a wooden dining table that could seat 12 people. A few people were there, eating at the table, wearing the standard light grey Omnitech jumpsuits. One person was standing behind the counter, a young man in a white chef’s coat. Alan assumed they were the chef. He asked for a burger with fries. The chef muttered something about no one ever asking him to make actual food.
Alan pulled out his phone, looking to see if any major news had happened while he was gone. Apparently a lot had, with Russia, China and a number of non-NATO countries withdrawing from the United World Government over a dispute about where the tax money going, with a claim that an emphasis was being put on western projects. Of course, as all violence took place in-game, this seemed like a peaceful transition to the public, but the in-game ramifications could be startling. Rumors were now circulating that these countries had started funding the Legion of Man, and were preparing to set up their own force in-game to take back the Control Points in their homeland.
Alan wondered about the foolishness of mankind. In about another year and a half aliens could start a war and try to take over Earth, and here people were wasting tons of resources fighting each other. Well, unfortunately he couldn’t do too much about it now. He’d try to keep better track of how things evolved on the news though.
He texted Icewolf that he was back in the realm of the living.
Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Alan turned to look around, and saw a non-descript man in an Omnitech jumpsuit.
“Are you Adampwnage?”
“Uh, yes, that’s my username.”
“I have a message from the Legion of Man. Just letting you know, I’m a messenger, and bear you no ill will.” The man looked about nervously. Alan gestured for him to continue.
“Their message is as follows: Stop messing with Earth politics. Or else.”
“Or else? Or else what?”
The man shrugged. “I don’t know, that was it. I should get back to the Game.”
He turned around and left.
Feeling rather unsettled, Alan finished his meal, then went back up to the penthouse. How had the Legion of Man tracked him down in real life? And how did they tie him to any of his actions? What did they actually know? The Enforcers made sure no actual violence happened in the real world… right?
He stepped out of the elevator, and found Icewolf waiting for him, sitting behind a wooden desk in a corner of the room. Alan couldn't remember if it had been there before.
"Hello Alan, it seems you've had quite the eventful Tutorial. You definitely took my words to heart. I doubt any other player has acted as brazenly as you."
Alan took a seat opposite Icewolf, trying to recall his advice. Treat the Game like a game, or something like that.
"So," Icewolf said, drawing out the syllable, "what are your next plans?"
"Well, it was recommended that I join this Black Rose guild, so I thought I'd check them out," Alan said.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Icewolf asked.
"What?" Alan paused. "Oh, you mean the debt I owe you? I've been making tons of money, I should be able to pay you back in a matter of months."
"No, that wasn't the plan," Icewolf said, slowly shutting his eyes, gripping the edge of the wooden desk. Alan shifted his seat backwards. "You were to take the Grasshopper to Mars, and then complete a few tasks for me there."
"Look, I can still help you with whatever you want, just on Khersath," Alan said. "I don't understand what the big deal is."
"The big deal is that I expected you to help me on Mars, not Khersath!" Icewolf shouted. "It's like I handed you an airplane ticket to LA, dropped you off at the airport, and then you ended up on the moon. There are tasks I need done on Mars, by someone I trust. I have people in Khersath."
"Do you have people in the Black Rose guild?" Alan asked.
"No."
"So let me try to join them."
"No, as soon as you reach Khersath you need to take the first ship back to Sol," Icewolf said.
Alan stared at Icewolf for a second, then said, "I'm sorry but I don't think I can do that. Unless you can tell me what's so important on Mars, I have it on good authority that I will become much stronger as a player if I join a well respected guild."
"Good authority?"
"A Chief Administrator."
Icewolf paused.
"And they told you to join this guild?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry," Icewolf said, rubbing a hand over his face, "but I need your help on Mars. I'm calling in my debt."
"And why should I listen to you?" Alan said.
"Because the contract says you should."
Alan glanced at Icewolf. "Um, what contract?"
"The debtor’s contract, the one where you agreed to pay me back for the capsule."
"I don't remember signing anything," Alan said.
"You don't need to sign anything under galactic law, there just needs to be tangible evidence of agreement."
"Like in the Game," Alan said.
"Yes, like agreements in the Game," Icewolf said. "You need to pay more attention to the world around you; the rules have changed. You agreed verbally, and that would be enough for the Enforcers. I am demanding you pay me back right now, and if you can't come up with the sum you will end up my indentured servant. Then, I will order you to come to Mars."
"But you said the capsule is worth more than a million credits. I could just sell it," Alan said.
"Sure, but you'd have to find a buyer within twelve hours. Capsules aren't really liquid assets, they're tailored to the individual."
"I could sell my AI."
"Yes, you could," Icewolf said, "though I doubt you would. I can see it in your eyes, you're hooked on the Game and won't ever stop playing. Look Alan, I'm not trying to make you take such drastic action. We were guildmates, but this is something much bigger than that. You have a week to find the money and a connection to the Black Rose guild. Otherwise, you come back to Mars, okay?"
Alan thought it over, looking up the laws on the Internet. It seemed like Icewolf really did have him under contract, and he could end up a virtual slave to him if he didn't pay him back. He stared at Icewolf. "Fine."
Icewolf nodded. "Good, but this changes plans I have. Message me in-game when you get the chance." He stood up, walked over to his capsule, and entered.
Alan took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. A week to get a million credits, ten million dollars. It should be doable, and in the worst case he'd just end up taking a flight back to Mars. Still, he would need to try to come up with the money, fast; he didn't want to be beholden to Icewolf forever.