Kaleb and Farrah remained quiet on the short ride back to his house. Kaleb checked his status page looking for injuries. But, it appeared the health potion had healed his ribs. The health potion had healed him, even with only drinking half. Farrah pulled up in front of his house and turned to speak.

“So I -”

“Coffee first.” Kaleb interrupted. Exiting the car and grabbing his equipment.

“W-What?” Farrah asked as she hesitantly got out of her car and walked to Kaleb’s house with him.

“We can talk inside. What anything to drink?” Kaleb asked as he opened his door and entered.

“Ok.” Farrah said sounding odd. Kaleb put his metal arm and sword into his lab. He walked back to the kitchen starting his coffee maker and opened his fridge for some creamer. As he grabbed for the weirdly shaped bottle his hand glitched through it. The glitch surprised Kaleb, games had come a long way and such glitches were rare. As he grabbed for the creamer again, he heard Farrah from his living room.

“This place is… nice.” She said.

“Is that judgment I hear, Farrah?” Kaleb asked as he poured himself some reheated coffee and added his creamer. “Sure you want nothing?”

“Glass of water.” adding under her breath “if you have clean glasses.”

“It’s a small house. Whisper better.” Kaleb said as he poured her a glass and walked back to his living room. He set his coffee on the small table in front of his couch and held out Farrah’s glass of water. As she grabbed it, the game glitched again. The glass fell through her hand bounced off his coffee table. What surprised Kaleb was that Farrah reacted.

NPC’s in games were hard-coded to ignore anything that might prove they were in a game world. Conversations players had in front of NPCs about game mechanics would be translated by the system AI into something the NPC would understand. System glitches like the one that just happened should go ignored by an NPC.

Kaleb stared at Farrah who moved away from the splashing water. She looked equal parts surprised and upset at herself. Looking at Kaleb she exhaled loudly, closed her eyes, and nodded to his unspoken question. She was a player.

Kaleb’s mind raced with this new information. MAO wasn’t the first game to use hired players to supplement NPCs. Hell, some companies have even hired celebrities to play important NPCs. But, AGE incorporated had said nothing about using players to free up the AI for more system heavy things. Kaleb tried to form a question, but he was frankly too surprised.

Farrah sighed again before collapsing into the couch and saying. “Honestly, I should thank you. The back-story they gave me was so contrived and so… boring.”

“It was one of the highest rated from the AI’s testing protocol.” Said a voice from nowhere. Kaleb leapt in surprise as the black suited faceless form of a system admin appeared out of thin air.

Kaleb took a deep breath. A little too much reality was infringing on his video game. “What was it?” He asked as he sat in the recliner opposite Farrah.

“Etha-Farrah Kyneklos was a top-rated Super in the SPPD until the Super villain Cog murdered her partner/lover. She now hides behind her rules and regulations. Afraid to lose anyone again.” Farrah recited her back-story like she was reading from a script. Which Kaleb guessed she was.

“So how many AGE employees are acting as NPCs?” Kaleb asked.

“Excuse me.” The admin spoke up. “The administration wishes to state that we broke no laws or game rules with the use of Player-NPCs. The terms of services outline using such employees. Furthermore, we had every intention of informing the player base during the first major game event. Which is scheduled-”

“Whoa! Blah blah blah.” Kaleb yelled covering his ears. “Spoilers man. Its fine. Game company use employees to take the load off the AI. I get it.”

“Actually, we were beta-testers and we are only in the HLO. Working as Handlers. Most of the testers opted to just recreate a character. But those of us who didn’t, got to work at the HLO.” Farrah explained.

Kaleb smiled. “Beta testers? They're not afraid you’ll use your knowledge to your advantage when they set you lose.”

“They can’t.” The admin said. “We used their experiences to generate the history of Modern Age Online. They experienced the game at different time frames and at a sped up rate. For nearly 5 years.”

“5 Years?!” Kaleb asked surprised.

“Not me personally, but yeah. Some older testers have been here forever.” Farrah said.

“So all that ‘Be careful. You can’t handle this.’ stuff?” Kaleb asked.

“Her overacting.” The faceless admin said staring at Farrah.

“I was NOT overacting.” Farrah griped from her seat on the couch.

“The AI calculated a 63% chance that your player would figure it out. Which jumped to 97% when you entered his house.” The Admin explained.

“The glitches?” Kaleb asked.

“Yeah, when a player enters another player’s house. The home owner has to set permissions for the guest. We didn’t let you set permissions for Farrah so it created temporary glitches.” Said the admin.

“Another question: Why team them up with players at all? Seems like a quick way to get caught. They’re gamers not actors. Why not make them shopkeepers or something?” Kaleb asked.

Farrah nodded. “Fair, but this way the beta testers can pass down what we learned about being Supers. It also builds a better rapport for the event you don’t want to know about.”

“Then shouldn’t they have teamed me up with a mundane Handler?”

“Well first off, there weren’t that many in the beta. Who buys a super hero game than chooses to be normal?” Kaleb raised his hand. Farrah ignored him and continued. “Second, the AI also sort of combined Handler and Player based on personality. The system assessed you as a person who jumps without looking so you got teamed with me.”

“And you think too much.” Kaleb retorted.

Farrah shrugged. “Truth is truth.” Continuing she added. “And finally, I was a mundane. Aside from the advanced hearing thanks to these.” She twitched her long rabbit ears.

“Really?! How did you get your Super-speed?” Kaleb asked intrigued

Farrah started to answer before she stopped and asked. “Are you sure you wanna know?”

It was Kaleb’s turn to think about his answer. Did he need that temptation? Sighing, he shook his head saying. “No, I can probably recreate a similar power with gadgets, anyway.”

“Dude, you like to ice skate up the hill. Don’t you?” Farrah smiled.

Kaleb just shrugged. Thinking about it, Farrah being a player changed nothing really he could still play his game. And maybe now that the secret was out she would get off his case. Looking at Farrah he asked.

“So does this mean you’ll be cool with me working as a mundane hero now?”

“Actually, no.” Farrah said surprising Kaleb. “Believe it or not that is a legitimate order from the NPC Mayor.”

“What the hell is that about?” Kaleb asked annoyed.

The admin answered. “Originally, Mundanes were not a part of the game experience. However, during the first wave of beta testers a strange thing happened. A few NPCs tried to become heroes and a small number were successful. So successful in fact that players asked to play with no powers.”

“Along with the success stories were the failures. Hundreds of NPCs were injured or out right killed. Shortly thereafter an NPCs mayoral candidate got the idea to take a hard-line against mundane supers. Along with another NPC, Ozarious, she worked to make Mundane heroes illegal. Fortunately, the NPC populace loved their mundane heroes.”

Kaleb looked thoughtful before asking. “So this ‘hard-line’ against mundanes is only in Austin?”

“No. Several other instances in MAO have experienced similar events. Although Austin is the only area to have the support of the HLO administration.”

“Which the beta-testers run.” Kaleb said staring at Farrah. Farrah raised her palms and spoke before the admin cut her off.

“No player is in a position of power. Yet. All the HLO upper-staff are NPCs. Ozarious himself set the rule that Handlers make things difficult for mundanes. We told the testers to obey their administrations orders.”

Kaleb sighed exasperated. “So why not change the NPCs minds? You guys built the game.”

Farrah gave an amused snort. “Actually, it's more accurate to say they ‘grew’ the game.”

Kaleb gave her a confused look until the admin explained. “We did not build Modern Age Online like a conventional game. The developers built a perfect recreation of the world circa early 2000s governed by a single AI. Then they introduced an Alien event. The simulation was then fast-forwarded 10 years, and we introduced the first set of beta testers. We did the same thing at 20, 30, 40, and 50 years after the first contact event. The only thing the developers did is adjusted the governing AI occasionally to enhance the game experience. Then after a final fast-forward and beta test we released the game.”

The whole process intrigued Kaleb. That was a hell of a way to make a game. But he couldn’t fault their results. He’d been having fun, even with the HLO trying to stop him from being a super. Kaleb adopted his best mastermind pose, steepling his fingers and saying. “So all I have to do is show the entire city of Austin that a Mundane can get the job done.”

Farrah gave a shrug and her ears twitched. “Maybe, but there have been mundane heroes before. I think your best bet would be to change Mayor Kennedy and Ozarious’ minds.”

Kaleb was thinking of ways to solve the problem when a notification window came into his view. Skimming the contents he realized it was an NDA agreement. As he read through the long document, he heard the Admin speaking.

“It delights us at AGE incorporated that you seem to understand and we would like your cooperation in maintaining this secret until the designated time. Which I have redacted to respect your aversion to ‘spoilers.’ If you break this NDA, you will be fined upwards of 10,000 new republic credits and we will suspend your account.”

Kaleb could feel his eye twitch and as he asked. “If I don’t sign?”

“The AGE corporation reminds you: they reserve the right to discontinue services to a player at anytime.”

Kaleb sucked in a breath before whistling it out slowly. “Ok, that is the stick, where’s the carrot?” Kaleb heard Farrah’s snort of laughter from behind the giant blue notification window.

“What would you ask? The AGE corporation has authorized me to give you anything within reason.” The admin sounded stiff.

Kaleb downsized the window and stared at the Admin. Jerking his head at Farrah he said. “How about the deal you gave the beta testers? I’ll be an employee. But, unlike them, when the set time is up you can terminate my employment.”

Kaleb watched the faceless admin avatar tilt its head at him before slowly nodding. “Acceptable.” The admin said.

Kaleb electronically signed the NDA and closed out the window. Smiling at Farrah and the admin he sipped his coffee. The admin nodded at the pair then disappeared just as he had appeared. Farrah smiled at Kaleb while she shook her head.

“You just got a great deal out of this.”

Kaleb nodded. “Oh, I know. I took 2 months off to play this game. So not only do I not have to work, but I get paid to play this game. Believe me, the little lizard inside my brain is dancing a jig up here.” He said pointing at his head.

Farrah eyes went wide in surprise before she guffawed in laughter. “You knew beta testers get paid for the time they spend in the game, didn’t you?”

Kaleb smiled wide. “What kind of gamer would I be if I didn’t?”

Farrah laughed harder. “Oh man, this conversation didn’t go how I expected. But, this might be better.” She stood up adding “Well it's good to see you can think ahead sometimes.”

Kaleb stood to see her out. “Hey, it's easier to think things through when I’m not under attack.”

Farrah smiled and said. “I’ll leave you to your inventing and your little lizard.”

Kaleb laughed. “So Roy and I will not be enjoying your dulcet tones this evening?”

Farrah said. “This gig pays well but even I have a normal job. The Farrah NPC may contact you but it won't be me.”

“The Farrah NPC?”

“Testers can’t be online all the time so they gave us custom NPCs to send the occasionally communication or give answers using a basic AI.” Farrah explained.

Kaleb nodded. “Smart.” Farrah walked out of his front door and headed to her car before something occurred to her.

“Oh and Professor, don’t bother analyzing the health potion. It will come back as strawberry juice or Kool-Aid. Its magical.”

Kaleb nodded and waved as she started her car and drove off. Kaleb entered his house wondering if Farrah had just given him some insider information. But, he realized that she hadn’t given him any information that a normal NPC Handler wouldn’t know.

Kaleb moved into the Pit and got ready to get to work. Looking at his metal arm he studied it. This was the first time he could get a good look at it. The frame was two rectangles attached to a ball joint at the elbow and metal replica of his lizard hand. Haphazard metal plates welded to the frame covered the bulky metal arm.

Either by luck or skill Postal had not broken the metal ball joint when he ripped it out. Kaleb felt around the corresponding socket in his shoulder discovering that it too was undamaged. All he had to do to reinstall his arm was rewire the thing. But he figured since he had it out, he might as well upgrade his arm.

Luckily he had his handheld pen cutter. Removing the metal plates attached to the frame was quick work. Once opened Kaleb was disappointed at the level of the technology in his arm. Are those Pneumatic actuators? Kaleb thought to himself, confirming they were, Kaleb sighed. His metal arm had tons of space and to his horror it also contained gears that did nothing but spin.

Stripping out the pointless gears that seemed to take the excess air pressure from the pneumatics, He then removed the pistons. Starting from scratch he swapped them out for electric pistons instead. It would take more space but he had plenty to spare. Using a mid-grade yellow crystal he made an electrical motor. He attached it to the frame of his arm and wired it to the actuators in his arms.

The pistons and the actuators were a little complicated to navigate with one arm. But the assisted mode helped him occasionally. He wanted to rework the wiring in his fingers. But when he opened a panel on his hand, he found the robotics far beyond him. Deciding to leave that alone he went back to his arm and tried to decide what he could add.

He figured he needed something to stop people from grabbing it again. It probably wouldn’t work with someone like Postal. But, he wanted a nasty surprise for anyone who tried to tear his arm off again. Not wanting to go with his old standby of shock the shit out of them, he grabbed his highest grade red crystal. Wiring the red crystal’s housing into his arm Kaleb hoped it would work like Shocky.

Staring at the bare arm again he let his mind wander again. He had two forms of defense with the red crystal heating his arm and Shocky being an actual shield. What he needed was an offense. He walked around his garage looking at the various pieces of scrap. He spotted a pile of 5 inch long railroad spikes.

He turned one over in his hand wondering what possessed Roy to grab so many. Looking back at his workbench he spotted the two pneumatic pistons sitting where he left them. Kaleb smiled wide as he grabbed the railroad spikes and ran back to his workbench. Dumping the spike he went back to his scrap pile and found a metal cylinder that looked like it came from a vehicle.

Using his metal lathe for the first time Kaleb cut grooves in the metal cylinder. Matching the grooves to the size of the spikes Kaleb sized the cylinder to fit in his metal arms forearm. He used a sheet of aluminum cover the top of the cylinder keeping the spikes seated in the ‘loader.’ He wired one piston to spin the loader and the other piston would fire the spike when the loader dropped it into a track.

The track sat just below his wrist with the firing piston. He cut a hinge in the aluminum for easy reload and then he covered his arm in layered metal. He wrapped an aluminum sheet to his arm frame securing it with rivets. He was about to weld steel plates to his arm but welding with one arm was difficult. So for now he left it with the shiny aluminum. He sighed loudly, deciding it was best to replace the socket wiring.

It took over an hour, and he had to use a vise and a mirror but he rewired and attach his arm. He cut and hinged another square door above the spike loader. If he had to quickly reloaded in the middle of a fight, it would be a struggle. He’d have to open two doors and load a 5 inch spike into a shallow groove.

Giving his new rail shooter a test fire proved disappointing. The pneumatic didn’t generate enough force to penetrate. He had to dial in the amount of pressure to use which took another 40 minutes before he got to a point where the spike pierced the wooden beam in the center of his garage. It still would only dent metal, but he remembered that he wasn’t trying to kill people.

He tested the red crystal which heated the aluminum with a thought from him. Anyone who tried to grab his arm again would get seared. He smiled, he’s arm wasn’t complete, but it was a nice upgrade as he sat back he got a notification.

*Robotics skill level up*

Knowledge and understanding of robotics has increased.

Kaleb smiled as he opened the panel in his hand again. Looking into the compartment the wires and pistons still confused him. He sighed and sat back on his stool. He stretched out his new robot arm and reached into his pocket with his other hand.

Feeling the glass health potion bottle he pulled it out and stared at it thinking. Magical, huh?

“Hey Farrah, can you connect me to Jar-lock?” Kaleb said into his communicator.

“Sure professor.” Farrah’s voice said from his communicator. If this Farrah was an AI, then Kaleb couldn’t tell the difference. But, then he guessed that was the point. He waited a few minutes before Jar-lock’s voice emanated from his wrist.

“What can… I do for you… professor” Jar-lock sound winded as he spoke, and the wind rushed passed the communicator creating light feedback.

“You ok there Jar-lock. You sound like you’re running.” Kaleb asked standing.

“Yeah, just you know. Warlock business.” Jar-lock sounded like he stopped running but now there was screaming in the background along with what sounded like growling.

“Need any help?”

“No. You know, yeah. Yeah, we could use help. You know where Butler Metro Park is?” Jar lock asked before he screamed. “Lacuna Stiriaque impexis!”

“I’m on my way.” Kaleb said as he grabbed his sword and Shocky. To his relief Shocky was still the only gadget attached his arms. Making sure his armor was secure he bolted out his front door and ran down the street. Kaleb was thankful they would deliver the engine for his car today.