Mai slowly leaned back in her chair as Dakota stalked across the canteen towards her. Eyebrows furrowed, lips pressed so hard they practically disappeared, Dakota’s very aura cleared a path through the rebels.

“I see you decided to completely ignore everything we talked about and got it alone. Again.”

“Hi Dakota, good to see you,” chirped Mai, trying to keep things light. It wouldn’t look good for the two of them to have a blazing row. First it would be bad for morale, and second it would give the wrong message. She didn’t want people shipping them, purely for the fact that it would undermined Dakota’s authority if people thought she was Mai’s second purely because the two of them were lovers.

“Don’t be fucking obtuse!” Dakota slammed her palm down onto the table, the sudden noise silencing all of the chatter in the canteen.

“Shall we keep our voices down a little?” asked Mai smiling sweetly, placing a hand over Dakota’s.

“Why would you do something so damned stupid?”

“I needed to get my head straight. Bob gave me a good mission, which I took. It wasn’t easy, but I got in and out, and managed to blame the Maggots at the same time. The Ghosts will be out for revenge, and the battle will weaken both of them.”

Trying not to sound too smug, she took a sip of her beer.

“Well, okay. What sort of mission?” Dakota was softening, her moods always swung hot and cold. Quick to anger, she was just as quick to calm down.

“Tri-barrel SMG,” Mai replied, forming the weapon as she spoke. She gave the barrels a quick spin with a thought, the weapon humming like a thousand caged wasps. Mai had taken Bob at his word, knocking on his door first thing that morning before even the birds had started to bark the morning chorus.

“Bloody hells!” Dakota leapt to her feet in shock. Mai couldn’t blame her. The weapon was intimidating just to look at. She hadn’t had a chance to try it out yet and couldn’t wait.

“It’s a game changer. Get down to Bob’s after breakfast and have him make one. I made a deal, first hundred are free. Round up Chan, Jock, Biyu and Hind as well as the rest of our people and take them with you.”

“Fuck breakfast. I’m going now. Don’t go doing anything stupid.”

“Wouldn’t give you the satisfaction,” Mai laughed. She ate slowly as Dakota went about rounding up their people. She was too tired to go on another mission, not even the butcher’s mission appealed.

Instead, she concentrated on eating. It cleared her mind, allowed her a moment’s peace. Plate empty, she pushed it away and dabbed at her lips with a napkin.

I need a plan. I can’t keep reacting to this. I’ve got to do something to change things. Make them react more than me. Go on the offensive.

Casting her mind back over the last coupe of days, she remembered following the ganger. He’d been rushing around collecting missions from everyone he could. Missions. For her they increased her reputation, or allowed her to gather resources, use skills. Could the players, her mouth twisted at that thought, get something else from it.

Levelling, she thought with a shock. All of the players were higher levels than most NPCs, - people she corrected herself – she had come across. What if completing those missions and killing other players and NPCs allowed the players to level up, to gain in power pretty much the same way she was levelling up in when she was in the culling?

She had the profession of ‘Rebel’ just like any of the others in the same room with her, but it hadn’t meant that much as she was still technically a Culler through and through. And there weren’t really any skills that the rebels had which made them stand out against the other factions. But again, when she thought about it, the most powerful rebels were players.

They level at different rates, quicker rates. And they’re not content with maintaining the status quo, they’re actively seeking to rise through the ranks.

Just like in the games she remembered playing. Or had she been programmed to remember them playing? Was she really twenty five, or had she been created just before the start of the culling?

How the fuck can I tell? Her cheek tickled and she scratched it, surprised to find a tear was trickling down it. Wiping it away, she made sure no-one else could see she was upset. Probably put it down to the stress of the last couple of days.

Still, she didn’t want have what would be an uncomfortable conversation. Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she focussed once more on the matter at hand.

Missions were the key. If players could level up completing them, then so could NPCs. And if NPCs took all of the missions before the players could, then that would weaken the players.

All I have to do is get my people to speak to everyone in this district first and hoover up the missions. Then have them move through the other areas, picking them all up.

Her thought process paused. She didn’t know how often missions became available and could have her people run ragged trying to get mission after missions with a never-ending supply.

I’ll bribe the people. Get them to only give the missions to the rebel faction, or only gangers at a low level.

But how could she do that? The shopkeepers were all members of trades guilds, following whatever orders they were given by the heads of those guilds. Opening up a menu, she blink-clicked on Nether City lore, opening up the Guilds and reading about their leaders.

None were as high ranking as the players on the rebel council, which meant they were most likely not players. There was a meeting planned for the next day. All she had to do was come up with a reason why they shouldn’t support the players and rely on her people and locals to do the heavy lifting instead.

*

“Are you sure this is the best plan of action?” asked Dakota for what must have been the hundredth time. “Really sure?”

“Yes,” Mai hadn’t felt this nervous in a long time, running her palms over her thighs she tried to dry them. “The guilds run everything outside of the areas that the factions control. The factions rely on them for training, supplies, a whole list of things I won’t bore you with.”

If she was honest, she’d been surprised at how much power the guilds actually had. They were the unspoken power behind the thrones. Granted, the factions might control areas of the city, but without the guilds, the city would grind to a halt.

“How did you manage to get a speaking slot before the guild masters?” whispered Dakota as they were led by the Major Domo through into the main chamber.

“Bribed them with a few laser crystals. Practically bit my hand off,” Mai smirked at the memory.

“Well, that always works. Grease a few palms, say a few kind words,” chuckled Dakota.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Mai Xiao is here to speak to the assemblage of Grand Masters. She has earned that right through the payment of a tithe,” intoned the majordomo, artificially boosting his voice.

All heads in the room turned, and a murmur rose.

“Let the petitioner step to the lectern and present her case,” the Major Domo said, gesturing to where Mai should stand. She inclined her head in thanks and made her way there.

“Guild Masters, thank you for agreeing to hear my petition. I’m here to beg a favour. As you know, the rebel faction, under the great leadership of Yen Ching, has been expanding its base, and numbers.”

Heads nodded.

“But I’m sure that you’re also aware of the massacre of innocents two nights ago, and the bounty set upon my head. Those who carried out the deed represented the other factions in this city. They fear what I’ve achieved in such a short time, and they’ve demonstrated their disdain for the people of this great city.”

Shouts of anger rang out, some members shaking their fists. She waited for it to die down.

“I would ask a favour of you. Stop granting missions to the higher-raking gangers, the ones who are clearly out of town, from using you to climb through the ranks of their gangs. Stop them from killing any more of our people in their cruel and wasteful wars. Use the rebels, and any locals, to carry them out.”

Roars filled the chamber. Men and women surged to their feet, voices drowned out in the cacophony. Mai scanned the crowed, trying to read their faces, to get an understanding as to whether they were all against her proposal, or whether at least some were in support.

One man stood out. Proud-looking, white hair swept back in a neat cut, neat dress military uniform in a dark green, red sash crossing from left shoulder to right hip, a series of medals arranged neatly on it. Everything about him spoke of command and years of experience.

Out of all of them, he was the only one not speaking. He was also one a few still sitting. As the roar continued, he stood, gave a tug to his uniform jacket, and slowly raised his hand. No-one noticed at first, but then those around him fell silent and resumed their seat. Gradually, it rippled across the whole chamber until only he stood. Silence reigned.

“The Warriors Guild Master has the floor,” Mai didn’t think that the majordomo spoke in any other way than an intonation. She couldn’t begin to imagine having to sit through a conversation with him.

“Thank you,” the Guild Master’s voice was just as she thought it would be. Gravelly, filled with authority. A hard voice for a clearly hard man. “Why?”

Mai didn’t realise for a few seconds that the question had been directed to her. It was only when he quirked an eyebrow at her that she caught on.

“Because they’re weakening Nether City for their own gain. They kill our people with no qualms, keep them under a yoke, and leave the city without even the most basic resources. We can’t even keep our lights on without their say so. And not even then depending on their standing,” Mai kept her tone respectful, empty of the true emotion she felt. She knew that any outburst would undermine her position. He was a man of logic, not choler.

“They pay well. Many of their people have come to our guilds. My guild especially. What reason do we have to refuse them?”

“We will also pay. Allowing locals to carry out the missions will mean that the money earned by them, and therefore paid to you, will benefit Nether City as a whole, weakening the factions’ hold upon the people. And I guarantee that we won’t be going around the city massacring its people.”

“Fight me.”

“I’m sorry? Pardon?” Mai truly hoped she’d misheard him.

“Fight me. Prove your worth. We’ve all heard tell of your prowess. Fight me. And we shall grant your request.” The whole time he spoke, his face remained completely devoid of emotion. He might as well as have been discussing whether grey or charcoal grey were the same colour.

A roar, this time of approval filled the chamber, the sound washing over Mai like a tsunami, battering her mentally and physically.

“You’ve well and truly gone and done it now!” shouted Dakota. “No backing out of this if you want them to toe the line!”

Mai’s mouth was dry, her forehead lined with sweat. Unlike the others in the chamber, she fully understood the consequences of such a duel. They were all playing a role, a role influenced by her actions. And the whims of the developers. She knew that any moment now a mission prompt would pop up, and she would either accept YES or NO. The Warrior Guild Master would have no choice. He had to play his part and press YES.

FIGHT THE WARRIOR GUILDMASTER

DO YOU ACCEPT YES/NO?

She sighed, her hand hovering over the YES, thoughts racing as to what would happen if she pressed the NO. It didn’t matter, if she pressed NO, then she wouldn’t be able to get the city to follow her lead and starve the players of the missions that they needed to progress.

She pressed YES.

Guild Masters and Mistresses roared even louder as they saw that both of them had accepted the duel. Many were on their feet, clapping, waving their hands. She felt like a gladiator in one of the Emperor’s Succession Day celebrations.

The Warriors Guild Master held his hands up for silence, the room stilling just as suddenly as it had erupted. Mai grudgingly respected the man for his presence. It was clear that the Warriors Guild held the true power in the city. Surprising, since it was usually merchants who were the true power in any city. Without them, people starved, went naked, went without any of the luxuries that made life bearable.

And yet this city is a place of constant war, so it makes sense that the Warriors Guild is the most powerful.

Looking at the Warriors Guild Master, she was tempted to SASS him. Doing so would have had social consequences she didn’t even want to think about. Just by looking at him she could tell he was a veteran warrior. Those medals weren’t granted just for show, they reflected true deeds, earned in blood.

“Mai Xiao has accepted my challenge. We shall fight. As I offered the challenge, it is down to Mai to decide how we should fight.”

Mai wasn’t ready for this. Without SASSing him she had no way of knowing what his strengths and weaknesses were. However, she did know hers.

“A hunt. Within an area to be agreed. No mines or traps. All other weapons allowed. To first blood, or death depending on the method used,” Mai was proud at how steady her voice was. It felt as though it was filled with sand, whilst butterflies pounded at her stomach in an attempt to burst free.

The Warriors Guild Master gave a slight smile and a bow in her direction.

“Let it be so. I shall send my second to speak to yours, I assume that’s your colleague?” he indicated Dakota with a slight bow of his head.

“I am, we shall discuss terms,” Dakota stepped forward, moving towards the Guild Master’s second, a slight woman in a uniform similar to the Guild Master’s but with considerably fewer medals.

“The petitioner’s business is concluded. We shall move onto the next item on the agenda,” the major-domo intoned, placing a guiding hand on Mai’s back, and showing her back to the door.

Back straight, fighting her legs as they trembled like a new-born kaolizard, Mai left the Guild House.