The Tower rose up before he knew it, monolithic as ever. Rowan blinked up at it, squinting against the sun. I’ll do it. One day, I’ll conquer that Tower!

“Take it down! Down with the Tower!”

“Crash the System!”

“Down, down! Down with the Tower!”

A dozen men and women in black and red gathered across from the Tower. Some carried signs, most of them showing the Tower crumbling. One showed a man drop-kicking the Tower, a big grin on his face. Another read The System Is Oppression!!!!, while a third, hefted by a particularly enthusiastic demonstrator, read: Power in the People’s hands! HUMAN POTENTIAL.

These guys again? Rowan pressed his lips together and hurried past. I don’t necessarily disagree with them, but shaking signs at the Tower isn’t going to change anything.

“Whoa, what are they doing? Is this normal?” Ikara asked, looking from the protestors to Rowan and back.

“They’re System Crashers. I guess they don’t come around to the GSEZ?” Rowan queried.

Ikara shook her head. “Never seen them before. Though, to be fair, making that much noise is a good way to get swarmed, where I’m from.”

“No, that makes sense, actually. The System Crashers fundamentally reject the System. They refuse to get skills, or if they already have skills, they refuse to use them. Similarly, they avoid leveling up as much as they can. They believe the System is stagnating humanity through providing us skills rather than having humans learn through their own experiences, and forcing us into a caste through the System’s uneven distribution of power… or something,” Rowan appended to the end.

Ikara glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. “You sure know a lot about these guys.”

Rowan shrugged. “I had to do a project on a political group in high school. Picked them because they seemed interesting.”

“Sure, sure, that’s why,” she teased, eyes glittering.

Rowan rolled his eyes at her.

“Incoming,” Kaidu muttered.

Startled, Rowan scanned the horizon. No monsters. No Terry, either. What’s Kaidu—

“Rowan.”

He jolted, as if struck by lightning. Slowly, he turned.

His father lounged at the side of the road, initially out of sight beyond the hubbub of the System Crashers. As Rowan approached, he stepped out and walked toward Rowan, holding out a pair of shoes. “Come home. Your mom’s waiting for you.”

Rowan hesitated. He took the shoes, but remained out of his father’s reach. “Mom kicked me out.”

His father shook his head. He held out an arm, gesturing for Rowan to come in. “She regrets it. Come back. I’ll take you out on my next job. You can learn the ropes of the trade, start finding some clients… I’ll get you set up. I know I haven’t been home lately, and that’s my bad, but I’ll make up for it.”

“I don’t want to be a Gardener. I want to be someone. Take on the Tower.”

Rowan’s father sighed. “That’s impossible. Dreams are nice, but there comes a time when you need to grow up.”

Rowan shook his head. “It’s not impossible. I beat the first floor. Took out the boss and everything. We can do it. I can do it, Dad. Believe in me.”

“Rowan. Don’t be ridiculous. The Tower only gets harder. Support classes can’t take it on. It’s suicide. Your uncle—”

“No, Dad. No. It’s not suicide. I can do it. We—we can do it.” He gestured at Ikara and Kaidu, waiting in the distance.

His father glanced over at them. He gave a little wave and a friendly smile. Ikara waved back, beaming. “I’m glad you made friends. You should ask them if their gardens need tending.”

Rowan stepped away. “I’m not going to be a support class, Dad. I’ve made up my mind. I’m taking on the Tower, and that’s that.”

His father stepped in, a hand on Rowan’s shoulder. Friendly, but powerful. Controlling. “Rowan. Be serious. You’re going to die.”

Rowan shook off the hand. “No.”

“Your mother has cried herself to sleep every night. You know she’s still broken up about her brother’s death. You going in—you’re her only son. It’s killing her, Rowan. If you saw—”

Rowan swallowed. Mom. I… I knew, but… I didn’t think it would be that bad. “Dad. I can do it. I’m going to do it. Tell Mom, tell her I have a party. Friends. People who support me. Tell her to believe in me.”

“Rowan, no. This has gone on long enough. You’re coming home with me, now.” His father grabbed his arm and started to drag him away.

Rowan dug in his heels. He twisted his arm out of his father’s grip. It was surprisingly easy to break. He looked at his father, who stared back at him, startled.

Scan.

Samuel Promet. 47/M. Class: Landscaper. Level: 9.

Rowan took a deep breath. “I’m level twelve, Dad. Better--better than that, really. I can take on the Tower. Believe in me.”

His father shook his head. He reached out and grabbed for Rowan again. “Rowan. No.”

Light flashed off steel. Kaidu stood beside Rowan, his white coat flapping in the wind, fur gently ruffling. “Don’t touch my party member.”

Rowan’s father scowled. “What do you think you’re doing? This is my son.”

“Back off! He doesn’t want to go back. Leave him alone,” Ikara snapped, jumping in.

His father drew back. His eyes narrowed. “There’ll be hell to pay, Rowan.”

“I’m sorry, Dad. Tell Mom I love her. And that I’m going to make it.” Rowan shoved his shoes on his feet and backed away.

“You’ll regret this. One day, you’ll wish you came with me. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, Rowan. It’s not easy to break into our industry.”

Rowan shook his head. He walked away.

Ikara pulled up next to him. She glanced back at his father, then up at Rowan. “It’s alright. We’ve got your back.”

Kaidu grunted.

Rowan nodded. He managed a smile. “Thanks.”

He looked over his shoulder. His father stared back at him and shook his head, once, slowly.

Rowan drew a breath and turned ahead. No. That's not who I'll be.