“Well guys, that shit was a lot heavier than I would ever hope it would be.”

I look towards Bheki and Zijde to see what comes next in this plan. Bheki is still looking off into the distance, but Zijde turns to me with a sympathetic look.

“I know this was more than you are used to, but if by setting examples like this I can prevent my crew from being harmed… well, let us just say that tonight is nothing compared to what I would do to keep us safe.”

I hang my head to let it sink in. I guess that makes sense but damn. That was a rough way to go. At the same time he was going to take Duncan’s body to do… whatever the fuck he was going to do.

“Alright men, I have things I need to attend to. You both are free to do whatever you wish for the rest of the night. We need to meet at the bar around midday tomorrow.” With that Zijde heads back towards town. I look at Bheki and he just motions me to follow him over to the fire.

We sit close enough to take comfort in the heat and light of the fire. Bheki pulls out a bottle of rum and pulls the cork out with his teeth. He throws the bottle back, and I watch the bubbles rise through the liquer. He finishes with a grimace and hands the bottle to me, “I figured we’d need this tonight. He’s been getting pretty dark with his ‘punishments’.”

I take the bottle, and throw it back much like Bheki. The burn down my throat and warmth in my belly does wonders to replace the turmoil I was feeling, “Ugh, so what the fuck was that Bheki. We fed that sick bastard ALIVE to pigs. I get he needed to die but shit. I don’t think he deserved that.”

Bheki nods his head in agreement as he asks for the bottle back. He takes another drink, “Ahhhgg, so you’re right. He didn’t deserve that. You don’t think so, I don’t think so, and Cap’n doesn’t either.”

“Then why the fuck did we just do that?”

“To put the crew at ease.”

I just give him an incredulous look hoping he is about to clarify.

“I know, I know. It doesn’t make much sense at first, but look at it this way. There are several ways to keep a crew in line. Most captains from the navy to the lowest pirate us fear to keep a crew in line. That works well for a time, but usually no more that a year. Do you know how long Zijde has been a pirate captain?”

I shake my head no as he takes another drink.

“Me either, but I've been with him for three years and he was a captain long before that. How do you suppose he’s been able to keep a crew from mutinying against him?”

He hands me the bottle and I take another long drink. I can feel my body start to release some more of my tension as the rum does it’s thing, “Well I wouldn’t fuck with him after what I just saw.”

Bhekin chuckles to himself, “You say that but you would. Everyone does. You hear it happen all too often. It doesn’t matter though. Even if you did something that warranted death by pig, Cap’n would just shoot you. No crew member ever dies like that by his orders. Anyways, answer me this. If someone threatened you, how worried would you be once Captain Zijde found out? Very few people dare hurt our crew. They know whatever they do will be paid back ten times worse.”

“Yea, I guess I see what you mean, but fuck… he was alive. I don’t really know how to reconcile that. He needed to die, just not like that.”

“I know Utah, just… don’t forget you didn’t make the decision. The Captain did. He has to live with it, and you just did what he said. Also, don’t forget what he was going to do to Duncan. Never forget that part.”

“Yea, you’re right. You’re right. What are you gonna do for the rest of the night?”

“Me? I am going to finish this bottle and fall asleep. I am gonna try and bury tonight’s shit with Duncan’s body tomorrow. I’d also rather do it alone. No offense of course.”

I wave my hand dismissively. He hands me the bottle for one more swig. After, Bheki gets up and sombers off into the church to get absolutely smashed. I sit there a little while longer soaking in the fire’s warmth. I know I have to be back at the bar tomorrow to meet with the madam, the girl, and Billy. I also need to get the money for Liber to start making the shields. Wait… when was the last time I ate something in the real world?

The next thirty minutes was a mixture of me finding a place for me to log out, and trying no to fall over. The alcohol Bheki was much stronger than I thought it was. I finally find an out of the way corner in the back of the church and log out.

Now, I should have seen this coming, but I’ll chalk it up to me being drunk. The process of ‘waking up’ is already uncomfortable, but going from being drunk to completely sober is not something I’d recommend. Couple that with the unbearable hunger pangs made the nausea so intense I almost vomit everywhere. I then proceed to actually start dry-heaving as I step in my vomit from when my mom forced me out of the game. I go rinse my mouth out and clean up the vomit that had been sitting in my floor for… I have no idea actually.

Once that’s done I go to the communal kitchen and put my payment info into the food synthesizer. I take out the pork ramen and add some ‘real’ curry from my spice cabinet back in my room. I start eating as I pull up the NBP game news.

Yes, It’s been confirmed NPR superstar, Dwayne Utah, fed an NPC to pigs… alive. Utah’s latest stunt pushed him into the number two spot in infamy. Roach’s spot is anything but secured. Still no word on Utah’s net worth in game. Roach still holds two #1 positions in NBP, but with Utah’s recent actions he is knocking hard on that prestigious spot. Click the link below to watch our experts dissect recent events. Everyone knows about the two top players in ‘New Breed of Pirates’, but have you heard about these lesser-known players with huge potential? Oh, so you think it’s just a game? Here is how Rio Grande has turned history’s largest money sink into the largest cash flow in history in a single year. Reports of five figure monthly stipend for top NBP players. Does that make you think you should sign up for the second wave of players? Here’s why you shouldn't.

Damn, I guess they really did air that night. I really need to stop forgetting to turn my live feed off. Which reminds me, did the chest of loot and treasure fleet plans get broadcasted? Well, It’s too late now. I guess the only thing I can do hope that nothing has gotten out. It’s reassuring it’s not plastered all over news articles at least.

Oh shit! I’ve moved up in rankings. I need to see what my stipend is. I go through the lengthy login process which includes; ID and password, fingerprint scan, blood sample, voice ID, AND to be plugged in via spinal implant while you access your information. Which is a mix between looking at the numbers and being the numbers. It’s hard to explain, but imaging being in a forest. While you are in the forest you can see, hear, smell, and touch the trees, but at the same time you are a tree. You feel your roots, the air against your bark, and you experience an alien sensation of other plant growth stealing nutrients. You feel at home and alien at the same time. I promise, it’s as odd as it sounds.

Anyways, I ignore the notifications and go to the ‘personal information tab’ to look at my stipend. Damn...

Player Dwayne Tommy Utah Status Player Subscription N/A Stipend 4789.98 Standing Good

My stipend quadrupled… I honestly don’t know how to feel about it. I torture someone and the masses are eating the shit up. I mean, I know that I didn't do that for the money, but apparently it was a hit. What the fuck does that mean? That everyone is a sick fuck? Oh shit, that means a bunch of players are probably about to commit some seriously fucked up things in game.

Whatever, I don’t do this for them. This is for me. This is me making something of myself. Albeit in an alternate reality, but what does it matter? This ‘real-world’ has shit on me thoroughly. I risk my life to defend my country and now I can barely feed myself. Well, with some of the shit I did I don't know if ‘defend’ is the right word, but I did my duty. Now here I am living in fucking squalor. Squalor that I see no way out of. So, here I am making a decent living through trailblazing a videogame and I love it. Hell, I think I’m famous.

I look up Liber's profile and set up a 400 credit recurring payment before I forget. I close out of everything, and I take the time to use the bathroom. I make my way over to my bed and relax. I slide the probe into the slot at the base of my skull, and I start to count back from ten....