Nagant Wars: A LitRPG Novel (Nagant Wars Series Book 1) Read online

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  ...........................

  After six hours of written testing, Dale was taken to a room for a face to face interview.

  “Please sit, Mr. Brown.” The man looked European, but Dale couldn’t tell for sure. He had a flat accent, and he spoke slowly and clearly. “Can I get you a coffee or perhaps a glass of ice water?”

  “No thank, sir,” Dale said. He’d already been given refreshments after the last round of written testing, and he didn’t want to have to get up during an interview to use the restroom. He was nervous enough as it was.

  “So, the testing, did you expect it to be so through?”

  “No, sir.”

  “No, I wouldn’t expect you too. We have severe penalties in place for revealing the nature of the testing done here. I’m glad to hear that you have not been able to find anything online. You did look, I assume?”

  “Of course.” Dale figured he’d get caught if he lied. Besides, everyone hunted for university test questions; it was almost a game in itself.

  “So, it takes two weeks for your test results to be completely analyzed. Because of the nature of the written test, they are read by two different graders, in a double-blind fashion. The results are then compared to your standardized test scores that have been uploaded by your high school. We do extensive background checks and a complete analysis of all your gaming going back, well, generally in these cases a decade, but sometimes longer.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yes, it’s impressive. I have noted your awards in design and construction. Those are, indeed, the reason that you are here. Very impressive work. But, our school is the top choice worldwide in your chosen field, so you’ll be competing with the best of the best. And it’s not just the Japanese, Chinese, Russians, and Brazilians you have to be worried about these days. No, you’re facing world-class applications from South Africa, Australia, and several young women from New Zealand. Perhaps you’ve seen the TED-Tech-Talk that Samantha Fallows did last year on the limits of knowledge concerning facial bone reconstruction of the Neanderthal?”

  “I did.”

  “Well, son. That’s your competition.”

  “She’s good.”

  “Yes. However, that is not your only issue at the moment. Samantha Fallows is a citizen of New Zealand. As you may be aware, New Zealand has not signed a treaty. That may change. However, at the present moment, the company must take into account the fact that you may be conscripted into government service. You may have to ship out.”

  “Yes, sir. I know that. I have not tested, yet. I don’t want to go to war.”

  “You may not want to go to war son, but the war has come to you.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Always trust computer games.

  ~ Ridley Pearson

  You can occasionally trust demons, angels, men, and gods. In that order, too.

  ~ Algrothist, Dragon Slayer

  ...........................

  Dale Brown and his best friend Brian Daniels opened the packaging on Brian’s new Rhithsuit. Dale, being more experienced, helped him into the skin, turning his head when Brian ditched his underwear.

  “That feels weird. Why do I have to be naked again?”

  “The Rhithsuit adapts your experience to your bodies responses, and I guess if you wear clothing it can screw up the calibrations, I don’t know exactly everything about it. They are developing some adult games—I think.”

  “That’s freaky, dude.”

  “I guess. Hurry up.”

  “I am. Now what?”

  Dale held up the face mask which provided the Heads Up Display. The face mask also provided filtered air to the user, which could be fresh, crisp mountain air or stale, nasty dungeon air, depending upon the game environment. It also tuned into the user’s facial expressions which were then mimicked onto their avatars. If a player smiled, the avatar would smile. The helmet unit also provided sound and voice commands, so that a player could interact inside the virtual world as if they were there. If a player stubbed his toe or was bitten by a creature, that person would feel pain (or pleasure) as if they were engaged in the activity that provided the stimulus.

  It was all so new to Dale that he could barely hold back his enthusiasm.

  “Okay, when I put this over your head,” Dale said as he helped Brian pull the helmet down over his face, “it will lock into place. If you say exit, exit, exit, the helmet will eject, and the whole system will pause. Later you can set a different safe word and other commands to exit, but in a moment you’re going to feel a bit of air blowing and then a sensation like you’re falling, so don’t be a pussy about it and just wait a few seconds. Ready?”

  Brian was barely saying yes when Dale dropped the helmet into place.

  ...........................

  Dale rushed to get into his Rhithsuit. He and Brian were both attached to his Rhith World Console and he wanted to get into the tutorial with his friend.

  “Brian, it’s me.”

  “Holy crap, dude! This is insane. I feel a little sick.”

  “I know. Don’t worry; it’ll go away in a couple of minutes. You need to get your character set-up. For now, just use voice commands like menu.”

  Dale’s menu opened when he spoke the word.

  ...........................

  Menu

  Player: Dale Brown

  Avatar: Default

  Rhith World Coins: 629

  Location: Tutorial

  Status: Tutorial Com
peted

  Please select what you would like to do:

  Accompany new player [Brian Daniels] through the tutorial.

  Adjust Avatar.

  Calibrate Settings.

  Go to Main Menu.

  Switch to a Rhith World [2 worlds available].

  Shop for additional Rhith Worlds.

  Enter an available Conversation Pod.

  Enter Phone Mode.

  Exit.

  ...........................

  Dale selected to help Brian through the tutorial. He entered the beginning of the tutorial and walked towards Brian and the Rhith World guide, Safaiz.

  The guide, who looked like a combination between a genie and an elf greeted him. “Master Dale, are you here to assist?”

  “Yeah, let’s get this show on the road.”

  “Follow me,” Safaiz said.

  Brian followed him towards an immense forest. Tall, dark trees climbed a mountain and disappeared into clouds. Dale walked behind them. His friend was using an avatar without any customization. His look wasn’t much better; he’d hardly had time to gain enough experience in the game yet. Not with all the final exams and tech school decisions and stress at home. But he was a confident gamer and figured he’d get caught up with the millions of people playing in Rhith Worlds in a week or two.

  There were always players in every game he’d ever played that must have had trust funds and no other responsibilities in life. Nothing could be done about that.

  Brian was killing a wolf.

  “Hurry up, Brian,” he said.

  “Give him time, Master Dale.”

  Dale watched him collect the wolf pelt and add it to his inventory. “Let’s go.” Dale ran ahead of his friend and jumped into a small lake. He searched for treasure, didn’t find any, but discovered a large catfish he’d never seen before. When he got out of the lake, he said to Brian, “you’ll have to buy aqua-googles in the trade center if you want to see underwater. It’s amazing. I just saw a catfish.”

  “Did you consider spearing it, Master Dale?”

  “No, why?”

  “There are rumors of a giant catfish who has a belly filled with gold coins.”

  “Shit.”

  “Your language, Master Dale.”

  “You sound like my mother.”

  The trio went into the village. Dale and Safaiz explained game mechanics to Brian and helped him buy the basic gear he’d need to start. Then they went on a quest for a minor-level grizzly bear boss to help Brian figure out if the calibrations were properly set.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  This is more than an experience in the shadows of sleep.

  ~ Richard Bunning

  It’s obvious that the universe was designed especially for humans.

  ~ Brian Daniels

  ...........................

  Dale and Brian discussed how awesome the game mechanics were in the latest Rhith Worlds; the virtual reality tech that had been developed surpassed their wildest dreams. They talked about the Nagant War and how the government trials were coming soon.

  “Do you think you’ll be drafted?” Brian asked.

  “I don’t know,” Dale said. He looked around and then reached out and touched Brian on the shoulder. “I’m not even sure what’s real anymore.”

  Brian swatted his hand away.

  “Ouch. That kind of hurt.”

  “Sorry,” Brian said. “I didn’t mean to hit you so hard.”

  “Should we consider the buddy offer?”

  Answering a question with another question, Brian said, “What do you think?”

  Dale had been nervous about this decision for a couple of days, but he had come to the conclusion that being alone in a new environment was a worse prospect than what he’d be giving up by agreeing to the Nagant-Accord-Partnership agreement.

  The government’s offer was simple and had certain advantages and disadvantages. Pros and cons. Just like everything.

  Pro: You and your buddy were guaranteed assignment into the same platoon.

  Con: Your skill levels and ranks weren’t guaranteed to track. You could become a superior to your buddy, or they could become a superior to you.

  Pro: The government was offering bonuses and certain privileges to those that joined up voluntarily and early.

  Con: It was possible to miss the draft; so volunteering was a gamble.

  “Early in the morning, I lean towards joining the military. By lunch time I’m sure I want to start tech training instead, realizing I might get drafted and end up in a worse position. I like to build things. I could make a good living at my job, avoid going to war, and have a good life,” Dale said.

  “You act like you’re afraid to die.”

  “Well.”

  “I’ve heard it’s not so bad. Supposedly you feel intense pain at first, sure, that’s part of the Rhith technology, but then some kind of medical robots put you into a coma and reconstruct everything. I’m not scared about it, not really.”

  “I’ve always wondered about the continuity problem.”

  “Don’t get all philosophical on me,” Brian said.

  Brian wasn’t one of the friends that Dale usually discussed important things with, like philosophy, religion, politics, or even females. Brian was a great guy, but he wasn’t much of a deep thinker. The continuity problem bothered Dale because it didn’t make sense to him that a human could die and then come back as the same person. Could you go to heaven or hell, like many religions taught?

  Dale believed Heaven and Hell were myths. Virtual worlds and parallel worlds inside computing constructs weren’t so much mythical as they were not yet completely understood. Parallel universes, multiverses, or even other galaxies with different kinds of life were things to consider. Maybe Heaven and Hell were real? Dale didn’t think so, but he was willing to admit he could be wrong.

  What bothered him was the question of whether he’d still be himself if he was reconstructed after he died. Would the digital memories really be him?

  He supposed that it didn’t matter if he didn’t know.

  It would be no different if he was simply dead and didn’t know he existed.

  Maybe Dale #2 would wonder the same things?

  Maybe Dale #7 would figure it all out and not bother with the questions anymore?

  Maybe he was already Dale V.4? Who knew?

  Maybe he was over thinking the whole thing.

  “Let’s take a break and eat lunch,” Dale said.

  “Okay. Sounds good to me. I’ve decided that I want to sign up early and go into the buddy system. You and me. I promise if you help me out, I’ll never betray you. I know you’re worried about it.”

  “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Dale had better skills and a deeper understanding of how virtual constructs worked. He would be making sacrifices if he went as Brian’s buddy. On the other hand, it would help him with his social anxiety, and that was worth something. He wouldn’t end up lonely.

  “I know what she did to you,” Brian said.

  “No. No, you don’t. You can’t know.” Dale frowned.

  “Okay, but I know she messed up your head. You haven’t been the same since.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. Okay? Let’s shake on it. Partners?” Dale put out his hand.

  Brian took it and squeezed.

  “Hey! Damn, you’re stronger than you think.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Nothing in life is fair except a witnessed duel.

  ~ Lynda Williams

  Students and soldiers, unfortunately, are both commodities.

  ~Vice-Dean Bold

  ...........................

  Prootingham Technical University was more impressive and had more departments, including, he assumed, secret ones, than Dale had imagined.

  “I still can’t believe it.” Dale looked up. They were in the main hall of the campus headquarters.

  “There are departments and projects here that I haven’t even heard
about,” his guide said.

  “Can we go to the lab now?” Dale asked. He was anxious to see how much more advanced the tech was than the public knew about, the university was on the bleeding edge of research. He’d been made to sign an agreement of confidentially before being allowed to tour the facilities, and he was trying to hold in his excitement.

  “Yes, follow me.”

  Dale followed his assigned guide, an upper-class student named Cole.

  “Have you been studying here long?”

  “Three years,” Cole said.

  They entered a series of doors that required retinal scans and voice commands from them both before opening. They walked down a long hall that was without windows, doors, or even any decorations, pictures, signs, or notices. A clean white tunnel. They approached a double set of doors that had a small notice posted above a control panel. A retinal scanner and a blood analyzer sat under the notice which had the following warning: Unauthorized access beyond this point is a Class 14.b felony. You may receive leniency now by contacting security. Passing into lab will result in the fullest prosecution allowed by law. All persons must provide blood.

  Dale leaned into the eye scanner. A female voice, with the accent of a young, Asian intellectual spoke. “Welcome, Dale Brown. Please place your left middle finger into the blood scanner.” He did. He felt a small sharp pain. “Thank you, Dale. You may proceed once your guide has confirmed his identity.”

  Their identities were confirmed, and they entered the lab.

  Dale was in shock.

  Full sized skeleton structures hung from the ceiling or stood on pedestals. Lions, sabertooth tigers, and other giant cats that were inventions of someone’s imaginary feline evolution. Elephants, whales, hippos, camels, and every type of grazing animal Dale could imagine were represented. Dozens of skeletons he knew were invented constructions were mounted throughout the lab including skeletons that were similar to actual extinct animals, but different enough that they brought out an intense curiosity. There were also bizarre ones, too. These were the ones that Dale liked the best. However strange, they were still seemingly within the realm of possibility. Dale realized these designers were working at levels he hadn’t known existed.