[THE HAVEN]

Jay rose from his covers, doing his best not to wake Esara. Dark circles under her eyes indicated that would be difficult anyway. Esara had accrued significant sleep debt and was just now paying it back.

Jay glanced towards Bander and Janzo. They snuggled up together in bed, still sleeping, but not for long. Morning approached; Jay had to move quickly.

He slid out of his covers, reaching beneath his bed for –

Nothing.

No more duffel bags waited in reserve.

His last enforcer weapon was expended yesterday.

That was bad timing. The Infinities were on the ropes, and he couldn’t stop now; one more assault would do them in.

It was too risky to confront them with just his weapons alone. He had to secure another enforcer weapon, no matter what the cost!

***

Jay crept into Danny’s floor four sanctuary. He had hoped never to step foot in this rotten hellhole ever again, but Jay needed another weapon, and Danny likely needed another favor.

The sanctuary looked like a literal hellhole today. Scratch marks, bite marks, and every other type of mark Jay could think of covered the unit’s entirety. Dried blood trailed between rooms, guiding him through a museum of death. Three deserters lay on a mattress, their insides spread out like butter on bread. Another lay limp across a kitchenette, a fork through one eye and a spoon through the other. One more crouched in a corner, a gun in his mouth; this one took his own life.

Did a static monster do all this? Jay dreaded the thought of taking on one alone. Without an enforcer weapon, he wasn’t even sure that was possible.

At the end of the hall lay the remains of Danny’s horrific deity: the statue of Zayder. Its once-beating artificial heart lay still and beaten, wires worming about its body like spilt spaghetti. Only the worst parts of its face remained intact, black metal eyes piercing through Jay’s soul, steel jaw wedged open in an endless scream.

An actual scream drew Jay’s attention to the next room over. It was vaguely human, though Jay couldn’t comprehend how a human could make that sound. More likely, it was probably the static monster, waiting in ambush. His footsteps grew soft as he slipped through the doorway. Sneaking up on a static monster seemed implausible, but he might as well try.

He took a big step over a barricade of bodies - the first to retreat had been the first to go. Everything else in this room looked chewed up, as if masticated by a giant’s teeth, then left unswallowed.

But nothing was more chewed up than Danny. A man sat on top of him, still chewing. It was a pale man, tearing at Danny’s forehead with ravenous bites.

This was the palest man Jay had ever seen; pasty white, covered with red paste. Teeth and fingernails were his killing tools of choice. They were cracked and bloodied, loosening further by the second.

Jay couldn’t watch this anymore. He twirled his pistols in his palms.

The pale man looked up, blood dripping from his bloodshot eyes. With an inhuman scream, he charged –

“CLEAVER SHOT!!”

Thousands of level two bullets sprayed from each pistol, ripping through pale flesh and everything beyond. The pale man fell instantly; wiggling and foaming from the impact of a hundred blows. Jay wasn’t interested in a fair fight, especially with an opponent like this.

In an instant, the pale man was dead. Or at least mostly dead. Jay gave the still-twitching corpse a wide berth, kicking open the shelf where Danny kept his enforcer weapons. One kick did the trick; the shelf was already chewed through, along with everything inside of it. Jay cursed - that ravenous pale asshole destroyed them all!

The pale man choked out pale blood; Jay readied his pistols for round two.

“T-T-Thank y-you,” said the pale man.

Jay’s pistols lowered.

“What?” asked Jay.

“It’s over now,” the pale man repeated. “You killed me.”

“You’re clearly not dead,” said Jay. “What the hell is your problem? Why’d you do this?”

“I couldn’t stop,” said the pale man. “I was scared.”

“When I get scared, I piss myself,” said Jay. “I don’t murder a whole fucking unit!”

“You don’t know fear like this,” said the pale man. “No one should know fear like this.”

The pale man’s body convulsed, as if expelling some terrible disease.

“I made a bad deal with bad people,” said the pale man. “They threw me into the static. Something came for me. Something bad.”

“Yeah, I’ve seen static monsters too,” said Jay. “They don’t send me on killing sprees.”

“I lost control,” said the pale man. “It threatened me. Threatened my soul. When your soul is threatened, your body loses control. It does whatever it desires. Anything to protect the soul.”

The pale man’s breathing slowed.

“I saved these people,” said the pale man. “The Pale Dune won’t take them now.”

“The Pale-what?” asked Jay.

“The Pale Dune,” the pale man repeated. “It’s out there, circling the Haven. It rattles in a curtain of sand. There’s something behind that curtain. Pray you never see it.”

The pale man grew still.

“The Pale Dune is coming,” said the pale man. “It’s waiting for an opening. And when it finds it, the Haven will fall.”

***

Jay stood in a floor twenty three hallway, attempting to think happy thoughts. It didn’t matter which floor he was on, so long as it was far away from floor four.

The White Wave. That was the first time he’d heard of it. But was it the first time he’d heard it? He recalled a rattling sound chasing him up the Haven’s exterior. It was fortunate he hadn’t actually seen the creature. If he ever ended up like the pale man, he would end himself.

“Jay,” said a voice nearby.

Dane approached in full yellow enforcer suit, hand-held cannon leaking blue sparks.

“Yo Dane,” said Jay. “How’s guild stuff going?”

“Don’t know,” said Dane. “I’ve been working. I’ll log on today. What do you need?”

“Just checking in,” said Jay. “You still after the Healer Killer?”

“Sort of,” said Dane. “He’s most active during static breaches. He’ll come for Bez again. I’m using Bez as bait. Don’t tell Bez.”

“Nice, nice,” said Jay, his mind elsewhere.

Dane gave him a funny look.

“Jay, why did you call me here?” asked Dane.

Jay took a deep breath.

“Dane,” said Jay. “Don’t get mad.”

Dane prepared to get mad.

“I need to borrow your enforcer weapon,” said Jay.

“No,” said Dane. “Absolutely not.”

“This is serious!” said Jay.

“I’m serious,” said Dane. “Not happening.”

“This is life or death,” said Jay.

“Whose life?” asked Dane. “And whose death?”

“I can’t tell you,” said Jay. “I’ll bring it right back. Promise.”

“Forget it,” said Dane. “I’ll lose my job. Probably more.”

“I’ve used your enforcer weapon before,” said Jay. “I know what I’m doing.”

“I was there,” said Dane. “You don’t know what you’re doing.”

“Please Dane,” said Jay. “I’ll owe you anything after this.”

Tears gathered in Jay’s eyes.

“You know I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t incredibly serious.”

Dane groaned.

“I can’t, even if I wanted to,” said Dane. “That’s the enforcer code. We don’t lend our weapons.”

Jay nodded.

“Gotcha,” said Jay. “Catch you back in Zero Space.”

Dane nodded –

“PAUSE SHOT!!”

Jay strolled through the frozen world, lifting the enforcer weapon from Dane’s hands. Dane’s petrified eyes watched him in horror.

“I’m sorry Dane,” said Jay. “This is super important.”

Jay strapped the heavy cannon around his shoulders.

“I promise I’ll give it right back,” said Jay. “I’ll meet you back in-game.”

Dane watched helplessly as Jay darted down the hall, out of sight.

[ZERO SPACE]

Dane sulked into Chief’s throne room, or what remained of it. His drab demonoid eyes managed to produce a dour expression.

“Hi Dane!” shouted Umi. “Nice to see you again!”

Dane pulled himself away from his misery long enough to acknowledge Umi, and the fact that Chief’s throne room was in shambles. He’d never witnessed the throne room so silent. No squawking birds. No drunken rambling. Dane liked quiet places, but he didn’t like this.

“What happened here?” asked Dane.

“I don’t know!” shouted Umi. “I’ve been gone for a few days!”

“Mister Dane,” said Bez. “The whole base was destroyed. Some big bird did it.”

“I don’t understand,” said Dane. “I thought monsters couldn’t get into guild HQs.”

“It was a glitch monster, dummy,” said Bander. “Those things do whatever they want.”

Dane’s demonoid eyes widened.

“Sorry I missed it,” said Dane.

“Don’t be,” said Bander. “You got lucky.”

“It was bad, bad, bad,” said Lanzer. “Bad, bad, bad.”

Lanzer hid his face; replays of the incident branded him a coward. While other Feather Birds battled the monstrous bird or helped their allies to safety, Lanzer only helped himself, slashing and biting through anyone in his way. He was a selfish, unforgivable clown, steered exclusively by primal fear. He had failed the guild.

He failed himself.

Asira’s orange eyes scanned her surroundings.

“Has anyone seen Shae?” asked Asira.

Dane grimaced at the mention of Shae’s name, keeping his foul comments to himself.

“Step aside!” shouted Dalli.

Dalli escorted Chief through the small crowd, clearing the way to the throne. Chief’s beetle body shook. And with each heavy footstep, the room shook too.

“Hello everyone,” said Chief. “Everyone left, I mean.”

Chief settled on her throne; it nearly collapsed below her.

“I have some,” said Chief. “Bad news, I mean.”

A few dozen eyes stared back at her.

“There are fewer of us now,” said Chief. “Less than sixteen, I mean. It is no longer possible to enter the tower or find reliable replacements. Level two replacements, I mean.”

Chief’s beetle wings fluttered faintly.

“We’ve been issued a challenge,” said Chief. “From the Deadly Skulls, I mean.”

The entire guild tensed up - Asira especially.

“We have no choice but to face them,” said Chief. “In combat, I mean. Winner takes all.”

Dalli stared at Chief wide eyed.

“Chief,” said Dalli. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means the losing guild will be absorbed,” said Chief. “Into the other guild, I mean. If we win, the Deadly Skulls join us. If they win, they take our team. And our campaign progress.”

The room erupted with Feather Bird objections.

“No way am I working with those idiots!” shouted Bander.

“I can’t go back,” said Bez. “I can’t go back!”

“I love hating the Deadly Skulls!” shouted Umi.

Asira’s heart sunk in her chest. This was it - this was V’s plan all along. Thanks to Asira, the Deadly Skulls now knew Chief’s power. The Feather Birds were heading into a slaughter.

“This battle is happening,” said Chief. “Today, I mean.”

The guild objections grew louder.

“That’s so soon!” cried Bez.

“Screw those morons!” yelled Bander. “We need time to prepare!”

“We don’t have it,” said Chief. “Time, I mean. The Wizard Twins will arrive any day now. And when they do, we must be ready.”

Bander hurled his magicoid staff to the ground, nearly snapping it in half.

“Where the fuck is Shae?” yelled Bander.

[THE HAVEN]

Jay stood in a large empty room, face to face with Eye. A dim flickering ceiling light illuminated her painted eyeball and crossbow, both fixated on Jay’s head. He aimed Dane’s massive enforcer weapon right back; a weapon like that didn’t require much aiming.

Static rain pounded against a window behind Eye. One glowing green computer sat below it, shielded by Eye’s body.

“Just you in here?” asked Jay.

“Correct,” said Eye. “The rest of us fled. Dragon demanded I stay.”

“Dragon’s your leader?” asked Jay.

“Correct,” said Eye. “But you already knew that, Jay.”

Jay’s grip on his weapon tightened.

“You probably don’t remember me,” said Eye. “I was in your unit that night. I beat your ass. Then I subdued you while your brother watched you die. Maybe you couldn’t see me through all your tears.”

Jay’s weapon raised.

“Where’s my brother?” asked Jay.

“He’s not here,” said Eye. “He’s with Dragon. Back at our base.”

“Hold up,” said Jay. “This is your base.”

“Incorrect, it’s a sanctuary,” said Eye. “Mostly Infinities. Our real base is small. Dragon and a few others live there. Your brother lives there now too.”

Jay paled. All that effort raiding this place, and it was just a sanctuary? He should have figured as much; following some random Infinities to their base just seemed too convenient. This was far too public too. It was even in a gym called “Infinite Power” for fuck’s sake.

“Tell me where your base is,” said Jay.

“No,” said Eye.

“Tell me, and I’ll let you live,” said Jay.

“Dragon ordered me to confront you,” said Eye. “He wants me to die here, as punishment for what I did to our guild.”

“Screw Dragon,” said Jay. “Help me save my brother, and I won’t kill you.”

“You killed all my brothers and sisters,” said Eye. “I don’t give a shit about your brother. And I don’t give a shit about what happens to me.”

Jay’s weapon raised just slightly –

Eye pulled her trigger, planting a crossbow bolt near Jay’s feet.

“That was a warning shot,” said Eye. “Next one’s in your head.”

Jay grimaced, attempting to hold Dane’s weapon steady. It was heavier than it looked, and it looked heavy.

“We had just one more mission,” said Eye. “Then we were off to a better life in a better Haven.”

“It’s your own fault for coming after me,” said Jay.

“What are you talking about?” asked Eye. “We stopped hunting you weeks ago.”

“I heard you talking about me on an elevator,” said Jay. “Days ago!”

“Incorrect, we had a new target,” said Eye. “The head of Zero Space development. DD, they call him. Not everything revolves around you!”

Eye trembled.

“You ruined my guild,” said Eye. “You ruined everything!”

Jay had enough. He pulled the trigger –

“DECAY SPRAY!”

Eye’s grounded crossbow bolt spun like a sprinkler, circulating green acid across Jay’s body. Jay screeched as acid soaked through his clothes, staining his skin with sizzling streaks.

Dane’s enforcer weapon eroded into a pile of rotted scrap.

Jay froze.

That was bad.

That was really really bad.

Eye’s crossbow aimed at Jay’s head.

“You’re all out of warning shots,” said Eye.

Jay watched Eye’s trigger finger. A faint grin slid across his face.

“You know, you guys really suck for premiums,” said Jay.

Eye stared at Jay.

“I think I know why,” said Jay. “You’re good at fighting, but your abilities suck ass.”

Eye’s mask hid her rage.

“I couldn’t figure out why no one heard of you guys before,” said Jay. “You guys are so big and powerful. You think you’d be more well known.”

Jay flicked off his Captain Lair mask with a swift nod of his head, revealing oily black hair and a devious grin.

“You’re all Level One,” said Jay. ”Probably zero campaign progress too. I bet you’ve never even beat the Goblin King. Trying to keep a low profile, huh?”

Eye held her crossbow steady.

“Killing your group was super easy,” said Jay. “Pretty chill compared to what I’m used to. Level One’s can’t do shit to Level Two’s.”

Eye trembled with rage. Jay watched carefully.

”I don’t regret coming here,” said Jay. “It was worth it to watch you fuckers squeal –”

Eye pulled her crossbow trigger. A single bolt flew forward –

“PAUSE SHOT!!”

Pause Shot didn’t require Jay to hold his pistols; they just had to be touching him.

Jay strolled forward, scooping the frozen crossbow bolt from mid-air. He twirled it between his fingers, pressing the tip to Eye’s mask.

“This is for Anton,” said Jay. “And every person your stupid guild murdered”

Jay aimed a single pistol towards the ceiling.

BANG

Time resumed. The crossbow bolt maintained its momentum, drilling deep into Eye’s painted pupil.

Bullseye.

Eye crumpled, a smoking crossbow bolt jutting from her forehead.

Jay’s pistols lowered towards her glowing green computer. He couldn’t save Anton, but he could at least get rid of another damn Infinity.

Wait –

He had a better idea.

Jay slipped on Eye’s headset.

[ZERO SPACE]

Jay entered a strange empty guildhall. Lavender light leaked across hardwood floors. Wide open windows revealed towering fuschia trees and two violet suns, peeking out from behind saffron clouds.

Wait –

Where the hell was this?

Was this a different server?

“Eye,” said a voice.

Jay turned, observing a gigantic dragonoid with a painted dragon mask. This had to be Eye’s leader, Dragon; all the signs were there.

Jay saluted with long flexible arms - he was a tentacloid apparently. How in the world did Eye use her crossbow as a tentacloid?

Oh right –

Jay wasn’t Jay here.

Jay was Eye!

“Why are you back here?” asked Dragon. “Is it finished?”

“Yes,” said Eye. “Jay is dead.”

“What about his computer?” asked Dragon.

“Destroyed,” said Eye. “He won’t be coming back.”

“Good,” said Dragon. “Meet me back here. And bring your computer.”

Dragon turned away.

“Wait,” said Eye. “Where’s our base again?”

Dragon paused. He eyed Eye, thick tail whipping through the air.

“I don’t understand,” said Dragon.

“That Jay guy put up a real fight,” said Eye. “My memory’s hazy.”

Dragon crossed his arms.

“Code word,” said Dragon. “Now.”

“The code word is –” Eye started. “Infinity.”

Dragon stood in stunned silence.

“Are you Jay?” asked Dragon.

“No, it’s me, Eyeball,” said Eye.

Dragon’s tail thumped against the ground.

“So Eye is dead, I presume,” said Dragon.

Eye winced; that charade didn’t last long. Jay really sucked at things like this.

“Yeah,” said Eye. “I killed her ass.”

“I see,” said Dragon.

“Where’s Anton?” yelled Eye.

“I have him,” said Dragon. “He’s here with me. But not for long.”

“Give him back,” said Eye.

Dragon lifted his mask, revealing a sinister set of red reptilian pupils.

“Come get him,” said Dragon.

Eye suddenly stood atop a worn-down road, stretching out towards an ethereal purple dome. The dome loomed glassy and hollow, like a solidified bubble barrier. Shapes and figures moved within. Some stood tall and static - probably buildings. Others were small and moving - maybe people.

It all looked very interesting to explore, but Eye had other priorities right now. Like figuring out why she was suddenly standing in a field. There was only one explanation:

Dragon kicked her from the guild.

[THE HAVEN]

Jay ripped off the headset, slamming it against the desk. He’d never find Anton now. What was it all for? After attacking the Infinities and breaking Dane’s enforcer weapon, he was suddenly right back where he started.

There was only one thing left to try.

Jay popped out Eye’s hard drive, tucking it into his pocket. Maybe Bander would know what to do with that. They’d have to work fast though. In eight hours, Eye would respawn, probably right in the middle of their Unit. Jay could absolutely not let that happen; he was done bringing Infinities home.

RATTLE RATTLE

Jay paused - the noise was faint. Subtle to the untrained ear, but he recognized it. He’d heard it before.

He pressed his face against the window; only static rain was visible. Something terrible lurked out there and Jay had a name for it now - the Pale Dune. It was impossible to see, and he didn’t want to try.

Jay fled the Infinity sanctuary, a whale-like moan penetrating the Haven walls behind him.