"You'll never guess," Zeke said smugly.
"Hold on, hold on," Tyrin said. Zeke could easily imagine Tyrin pulling back from his game to poke and prod at Zeke's console setup, trying to find out what had happened. "Your throughput jacked like 500%!"
"Yeah, we'll see about that," Tyrin said. Zeke could picture exactly what Tyrin was doing, swapping to his hacking OS to poke and prod at Zeke's rig, looking for a clue as to what happened. "Holy shit, your throughput is jacked like 500%!"
"That's what happens when you score a TR two-two-one," Zeke nearly exploded as he spilled the news to his friend.
"That's what you get when you manage to sneak a TR two-two-one," Zeke's words spilled out of his mouth as he excitedly confessed his new hardware.
"No way you got a Temporal Rift," Tyrin scoffed. "There's an injunction against them. Besides, it's practically stolen military tech."
"No way you got a Temporal Rift," Tyrin scoffed. "That's basically military tech. It's treated like stolen property in civilian hands."
"So?" Zeke said, offended.
"So it's dangerous," his friend replied. "I don't think you have one."
"So it's dangerous," h is friend replied. "But I still don't think you have one. You're risky, but you're not that risky."
"You just can't handle that this is going to bump me over the top," Zeke said. "I'll be pro after this. You're jealous."
"You just can't handle the fact that this is going to put me over the top of the rankings ladder," Zeke said. "I'll be a rich pro after this. You can just keep on being jealous."
"If I believed you had one, which I don't," Tyrin said, "then I might be the tiniest bit jealous. Not enough to override my fear, though."
"If I actually believed you had a TR, which I don't," Tyrin said, "then I might be the tiniest bit jealous. I'd be more spooked than anything, though. You hear stories about those things."
"Quit holding me back, man," Zeke said. Then, "I don't have time to argue in a fucking VR field. Let's switch matches so I can show you."
"C'mon, quit holding me back, man," Zeke said. Then, "That's all just deep web bullshit. Listen, I don't have time to argue with you in a virtual fucking field. Let's switch servers so I can show you first hand."
"Fine," Tyrin relented with a sigh. "Pick a new server and let's go."
Zeke stepped out of the match, his vision pulling away from the stunning map as if he was peeling his nose away from a display it had been mashed against, only instead of the real world filling his vision, he found himself in his virtual console, icons and words floating before him. He reached up a hand and flicked through several servers, finally coming to one that caught his eye.
Zeke stepped out of the match, his vision pulling away from the stunning game map as if he was moving his eyes away from a set of binoculars, the image shrinking but remaining clear, eventually becoming a small icon floating before him. He found himself in his virtual console, icons and words floating before him in the empty space he stood in. Glancing over, he reached up a hand and flicked through the server listings for Warfighter 4, finally coming to one that caught his eye.
"Tyrin, I'm joining a new server now," Zeke announced.
"Tyring, I'm joining a new server now," Zeke announced, not waiting for a reply.
A falling sensation overcame him as he plunged back into the game world, a new map loading and replacing the one he was previously on. He flashed into existence in the middle of downtown Tokyo, the Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid burning in the bay. Zeke could actually smell the roiling smoke, which stung his nostrils and made him cough aloud. A moment later Tyrin materialized next to him. Zeke deployed into the game with the same assault kit, convinced it would give him the firepower he would need. Tyrin's soldier switched over to an engineer kit, equipped with micro-UAVs, mines, and equipment useful for hacking military networks.
A falling sensation overcame him as he plunged back into the game world, a new map loading and replacing the one he had previously been on. He flashed into existence in the middle of downtown Tokyo, the Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid burning in the bay, the licking flames casting long shadows over the waves. Zeke could actually smell the roiling, oily smoke, which stung his nostrils and made him cough aloud.
A moment later, Tyrin materialized next to him. Zeke spawned into the game with his same assault kit, convinced it would give him the firepower he would need. Tyrin's soldier switched over to an engineer kit, equipped with micro-UAVs, mines, and equipment useful for hacking military networks.
"Zeke, tell me you didn't pick a tier two server," he said incredulously.
"The match starts in thirty seconds," Zeke said coolly. "You going to cry about it, or are you going to back me up so I can break into the tier one groups?"
"I did. The match starts in thirty seconds," Zeke said coolly. "You going to cry about it, or are you going to back me up so I can break into the tier one groups?"
"Fine," Tyrin grumbled. "Just don't blame me when you wreck your score and get bounced back to tier five."
"Not going to happen, man. I'm invincible," Zeke said, watching the game timer count down to the start of the match.
"Not going to happen, man. I'm invincible," Zeke said, intensely watching the game timer count down to the start of the match.
"I hope you know most of the guys in here are stimmed to the gills," Tyrin said.
"I hope you know most of the guys in here are stimmed to the gills," Tyrin's voice nagged at the edge of Zeke's focus.
Zeke didn't answer. Instead he saw the timer hit 00:00, then he exploded forward, taking off in a sprint towards Tokyo Tower, but having no intention of remaining on the ground for long.
Zeke didn't bother to answer. Instead, he exploded forward just as the timer hit 00:00, sprinting along the roads towards Tokyo Tower, but having no intention of remaining at ground level for long.
"Where are you going?" Tyrin shouted from behind him, trying to keep up.
"Have to get behind their lines and flank 'em before they can dig in," Zeke said, his mind split between navigating the city and watching the map that floated in his HUD, red enemy markers already being flagged by the attack tiltrotors that now when blasting overhead, their shadows flitting from building to building.
"We have to flank the enemy infantry before they can dig in," Zeke said, his mind split between navigating the city and watching the map that floated in the HUD of his helmet, red enemy markers already being flagged by the friendly attack drones that now went blasting overhead, their shadows flitting from building to building.
The sun was setting before him, already low on the horizon, making it seem as if the skyscrapers before him were on fire, which many of them actually were. In the first sixty seconds of the match, both teams had already launched air assaults, missiles, cannons, and directed energy weapons knocking vehicles out of the sky even while cutting gouges in buildings, flaming debris raining down to the ground to be stamped out by the boots of the infantry that moved forward, backed up in the middle by columns of armor. It was digital warfare, but the emotions were real. Kill or be killed. Survive. Win.The sun was already low on the horizon, making it seem as if the skyscrapers were on fire, many of which actually were. In the first sixty seconds of the match, both teams had already launched air assaults, cruise missiles, artillery, and directed energy weapons, knocking vehicles out of the sky while cutting gouges in buildings. Flaming debris rained down to the ground only to be stamped out by the boots of the infantry that moved down the crowded avenues, backed up by columns of armor. It was digital warfare, but the emotions were real. Kill or be killed. Survive. Win.
Zeke and Tyrin were tiny cogs inside a large machine, but in order to advance in the game they would need to stand out, scoring more than the remaining 90% of the players to secure a pass to a tier one server and opening the gates to professional gaming contracts with major clans and corporations. Zeke could almost smell the sponsorship deals, so close was he to breaking out from his bleak life. Drive by desperation, he charged on, fully intending to emerge victorious, or else to die in the attempt.
Zeke and Tyrin were just tiny cogs inside a large machine, but in order to advance in the game rankings they would need to stand out. Scoring more than the remaining 90% of the players would secure them a pass to a tier one server and open the gates to professional gaming contracts with major clans and corporations. Zeke could almost smell the sponsorship deals, so close was he to breaking out from his bleak existence. Drive by desperation, he charged on, fully intending to emerge victorious, or else to die in the attempt.
Neon lights from hanging signs, each one several stories tall, were reflected in puddles of water on the moist asphalt, rain clouds still looming over the grim totems that rose up into the sky. Zeke's boots splashed through the standing water, turning the reflection into a rainbow kaleidoscope of commerce, karaoke, and pornography. Up ahead he heard armor exchanging fire, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as IFVs and MBTs maneuvered in their own conflict. Seeing an opportunity, he cut down a narrow alley, working his way through a labyrinth of izakaya, the low hanging lanterns brushing against his inflated shoulders as he kept up his manic pace. He had already outstripped the other infantry forces, only Tyrin doggedly remaining with him, following his trail as best he could.
Jutting out from the skyscrapers were massive neon signs, each one several stories tall. Their garish colors were reflected in puddles of water on the moist asphalt, rain clouds looming over the grim totems that rose up into the sky. Zeke's boots splashed through the standing water, turning the reflections into a rainbow kaleidoscope of commerce, karaoke, and pornography. Up ahead, he heard armor exchanging fire, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as IFVs and MBTs maneuvered in conflict. Seeing an opportunity on the map, he cut down a narrow alley, working his way through a labyrinth of izakaya, low hanging paper lanterns brushing against his broad shoulders as he kept up the manic pace. He had already outstripped the rest of the infantry, only Tyrin doggedly remaining with him, following his trail as best he could.
He emerged in a pedestrian square lit almost entirely by a fifty story holoprojector that faithfully disgorged advertisement after advertisement. Though Tokyo was supposedly at war, the game designers had found that interest in the level dropped to nothing if they turned off all the tiny lights that made people interested in the city to begin with. Tokyo without electricity was just a collection of concrete, holding no more interest to anyone than the next pile of rocks. Crossing the square, Zeke entered the building itself, Tyrin catching up to him.
Zeke emerged in a pedestrian square lit almost entirely by a fifty story holoprojector that faithfully disgorged advertisement after advertisement. Though this simulated Tokyo was supposed to be at war, the game designers had found that interest in the level dropped significantly if they turned off all the shiny lights that made people interested in the city to begin with. Tokyo without electricity was just a collection of concrete, holding no more interest to anyone than the next pile of rocks. Crossing the square, Zeke entered the building itself.
"We're way out of position," he said.
"We're way out of position," Tyrin chided, just catching up to him.
"Relax," Zeke countered. "I know what I'm doing. And keep quiet, you'll give away our position."
Swiftly climbing the stairs, his soldier unable to tire, Zeke emerged on the roof of the structure, giving him a view directly across the maglev line and the skyscrapers opposite his position. Below, tanks and walkers exchanged fire in the streets while a pair of fighter aircraft tangled in the sky above. The constant drone of ordinance spread over the city, bouncing off the glass, steel, and concrete, a symphony of destruction. Moving to the edge of the building, Zeke rested the handguard of his rifle on the concrete lip, getting his eyes down behind the optic.
He swiftly crossed the lobby to the stairwell and began climbing, his soldier unable to tire, A few minutes later, Zeke emerged onto the roof of the structure, giving him a view of the city around him. Across his building and directly below was a maglev line, followed by a collection of skyscrapers opposite his position. In the streets on either side of the rail line, tanks and walkers exchanged fire while a pair of fighter aircraft tangled in the sky above. The constant drone of ordinance echoed through the city, bouncing off the glass, steel, and concrete, a symphony of destruction. Moving to the edge of the building, Zeke rested the handguard of his rifle on the concrete lip, then got his eye down behind the optic and looked out across the sky.
"Now what?" Tyrin asked in his ear.
"Now we kill everything before us," Zeke said.
"Hold on, hold on," Tyrin said. Zeke could easily imagine Tyrin pulling back from his game to poke and prod at Zeke's console setup, trying to find out what had happened. "Your throughput jacked like 500%!"
"Yeah, we'll see about that," Tyrin said. Zeke could picture exactly what Tyrin was doing, swapping to his hacking OS to poke and prod at Zeke's rig, looking for a clue as to what happened. "Holy shit, your throughput is jacked like 500%!"
"That's what happens when you score a TR two-two-one," Zeke nearly exploded as he spilled the news to his friend.
"That's what you get when you manage to sneak a TR two-two-one," Zeke's words spilled out of his mouth as he excitedly confessed his new hardware.
"No way you got a Temporal Rift," Tyrin scoffed. "There's an injunction against them. Besides, it's practically stolen military tech."
"No way you got a Temporal Rift," Tyrin scoffed. "That's basically military tech. It's treated like stolen property in civilian hands."
"So?" Zeke said, offended.
"So it's dangerous," his friend replied. "I don't think you have one."
"So it's dangerous," h is friend replied. "But I still don't think you have one. You're risky, but you're not that risky."
"You just can't handle that this is going to bump me over the top," Zeke said. "I'll be pro after this. You're jealous."
"You just can't handle the fact that this is going to put me over the top of the rankings ladder," Zeke said. "I'll be a rich pro after this. You can just keep on being jealous."
"If I believed you had one, which I don't," Tyrin said, "then I might be the tiniest bit jealous. Not enough to override my fear, though."
"If I actually believed you had a TR, which I don't," Tyrin said, "then I might be the tiniest bit jealous. I'd be more spooked than anything, though. You hear stories about those things."
"Quit holding me back, man," Zeke said. Then, "I don't have time to argue in a fucking VR field. Let's switch matches so I can show you."
"C'mon, quit holding me back, man," Zeke said. Then, "That's all just deep web bullshit. Listen, I don't have time to argue with you in a virtual fucking field. Let's switch servers so I can show you first hand."
"Fine," Tyrin relented with a sigh. "Pick a new server and let's go."
Zeke stepped out of the match, his vision pulling away from the stunning map as if he was peeling his nose away from a display it had been mashed against, only instead of the real world filling his vision, he found himself in his virtual console, icons and words floating before him. He reached up a hand and flicked through several servers, finally coming to one that caught his eye.
Zeke stepped out of the match, his vision pulling away from the stunning game map as if he was moving his eyes away from a set of binoculars, the image shrinking but remaining clear, eventually becoming a small icon floating before him. He found himself in his virtual console, icons and words floating before him in the empty space he stood in. Glancing over, he reached up a hand and flicked through the server listings for Warfighter 4, finally coming to one that caught his eye.
"Tyrin, I'm joining a new server now," Zeke announced.
"Tyring, I'm joining a new server now," Zeke announced, not waiting for a reply.
A falling sensation overcame him as he plunged back into the game world, a new map loading and replacing the one he was previously on. He flashed into existence in the middle of downtown Tokyo, the Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid burning in the bay. Zeke could actually smell the roiling smoke, which stung his nostrils and made him cough aloud. A moment later Tyrin materialized next to him. Zeke deployed into the game with the same assault kit, convinced it would give him the firepower he would need. Tyrin's soldier switched over to an engineer kit, equipped with micro-UAVs, mines, and equipment useful for hacking military networks.
A falling sensation overcame him as he plunged back into the game world, a new map loading and replacing the one he had previously been on. He flashed into existence in the middle of downtown Tokyo, the Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid burning in the bay, the licking flames casting long shadows over the waves. Zeke could actually smell the roiling, oily smoke, which stung his nostrils and made him cough aloud.
A moment later, Tyrin materialized next to him. Zeke spawned into the game with his same assault kit, convinced it would give him the firepower he would need. Tyrin's soldier switched over to an engineer kit, equipped with micro-UAVs, mines, and equipment useful for hacking military networks.
"Zeke, tell me you didn't pick a tier two server," he said incredulously.
"The match starts in thirty seconds," Zeke said coolly. "You going to cry about it, or are you going to back me up so I can break into the tier one groups?"
"I did. The match starts in thirty seconds," Zeke said coolly. "You going to cry about it, or are you going to back me up so I can break into the tier one groups?"
"Fine," Tyrin grumbled. "Just don't blame me when you wreck your score and get bounced back to tier five."
"Not going to happen, man. I'm invincible," Zeke said, watching the game timer count down to the start of the match.
"Not going to happen, man. I'm invincible," Zeke said, intensely watching the game timer count down to the start of the match.
"I hope you know most of the guys in here are stimmed to the gills," Tyrin said.
"I hope you know most of the guys in here are stimmed to the gills," Tyrin's voice nagged at the edge of Zeke's focus.
Zeke didn't answer. Instead he saw the timer hit 00:00, then he exploded forward, taking off in a sprint towards Tokyo Tower, but having no intention of remaining on the ground for long.
Zeke didn't bother to answer. Instead, he exploded forward just as the timer hit 00:00, sprinting along the roads towards Tokyo Tower, but having no intention of remaining at ground level for long.
"Where are you going?" Tyrin shouted from behind him, trying to keep up.
"Have to get behind their lines and flank 'em before they can dig in," Zeke said, his mind split between navigating the city and watching the map that floated in his HUD, red enemy markers already being flagged by the attack tiltrotors that now when blasting overhead, their shadows flitting from building to building.
"We have to flank the enemy infantry before they can dig in," Zeke said, his mind split between navigating the city and watching the map that floated in the HUD of his helmet, red enemy markers already being flagged by the friendly attack drones that now went blasting overhead, their shadows flitting from building to building.
The sun was setting before him, already low on the horizon, making it seem as if the skyscrapers before him were on fire, which many of them actually were. In the first sixty seconds of the match, both teams had already launched air assaults, missiles, cannons, and directed energy weapons knocking vehicles out of the sky even while cutting gouges in buildings, flaming debris raining down to the ground to be stamped out by the boots of the infantry that moved forward, backed up in the middle by columns of armor. It was digital warfare, but the emotions were real. Kill or be killed. Survive. Win.The sun was already low on the horizon, making it seem as if the skyscrapers were on fire, many of which actually were. In the first sixty seconds of the match, both teams had already launched air assaults, cruise missiles, artillery, and directed energy weapons, knocking vehicles out of the sky while cutting gouges in buildings. Flaming debris rained down to the ground only to be stamped out by the boots of the infantry that moved down the crowded avenues, backed up by columns of armor. It was digital warfare, but the emotions were real. Kill or be killed. Survive. Win.
Zeke and Tyrin were tiny cogs inside a large machine, but in order to advance in the game they would need to stand out, scoring more than the remaining 90% of the players to secure a pass to a tier one server and opening the gates to professional gaming contracts with major clans and corporations. Zeke could almost smell the sponsorship deals, so close was he to breaking out from his bleak life. Drive by desperation, he charged on, fully intending to emerge victorious, or else to die in the attempt.
Zeke and Tyrin were just tiny cogs inside a large machine, but in order to advance in the game rankings they would need to stand out. Scoring more than the remaining 90% of the players would secure them a pass to a tier one server and open the gates to professional gaming contracts with major clans and corporations. Zeke could almost smell the sponsorship deals, so close was he to breaking out from his bleak existence. Drive by desperation, he charged on, fully intending to emerge victorious, or else to die in the attempt.
Neon lights from hanging signs, each one several stories tall, were reflected in puddles of water on the moist asphalt, rain clouds still looming over the grim totems that rose up into the sky. Zeke's boots splashed through the standing water, turning the reflection into a rainbow kaleidoscope of commerce, karaoke, and pornography. Up ahead he heard armor exchanging fire, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as IFVs and MBTs maneuvered in their own conflict. Seeing an opportunity, he cut down a narrow alley, working his way through a labyrinth of izakaya, the low hanging lanterns brushing against his inflated shoulders as he kept up his manic pace. He had already outstripped the other infantry forces, only Tyrin doggedly remaining with him, following his trail as best he could.
Jutting out from the skyscrapers were massive neon signs, each one several stories tall. Their garish colors were reflected in puddles of water on the moist asphalt, rain clouds looming over the grim totems that rose up into the sky. Zeke's boots splashed through the standing water, turning the reflections into a rainbow kaleidoscope of commerce, karaoke, and pornography. Up ahead, he heard armor exchanging fire, the ground rumbling beneath his feet as IFVs and MBTs maneuvered in conflict. Seeing an opportunity on the map, he cut down a narrow alley, working his way through a labyrinth of izakaya, low hanging paper lanterns brushing against his broad shoulders as he kept up the manic pace. He had already outstripped the rest of the infantry, only Tyrin doggedly remaining with him, following his trail as best he could.
He emerged in a pedestrian square lit almost entirely by a fifty story holoprojector that faithfully disgorged advertisement after advertisement. Though Tokyo was supposedly at war, the game designers had found that interest in the level dropped to nothing if they turned off all the tiny lights that made people interested in the city to begin with. Tokyo without electricity was just a collection of concrete, holding no more interest to anyone than the next pile of rocks. Crossing the square, Zeke entered the building itself, Tyrin catching up to him.
Zeke emerged in a pedestrian square lit almost entirely by a fifty story holoprojector that faithfully disgorged advertisement after advertisement. Though this simulated Tokyo was supposed to be at war, the game designers had found that interest in the level dropped significantly if they turned off all the shiny lights that made people interested in the city to begin with. Tokyo without electricity was just a collection of concrete, holding no more interest to anyone than the next pile of rocks. Crossing the square, Zeke entered the building itself.
"We're way out of position," he said.
"We're way out of position," Tyrin chided, just catching up to him.
"Relax," Zeke countered. "I know what I'm doing. And keep quiet, you'll give away our position."
Swiftly climbing the stairs, his soldier unable to tire, Zeke emerged on the roof of the structure, giving him a view directly across the maglev line and the skyscrapers opposite his position. Below, tanks and walkers exchanged fire in the streets while a pair of fighter aircraft tangled in the sky above. The constant drone of ordinance spread over the city, bouncing off the glass, steel, and concrete, a symphony of destruction. Moving to the edge of the building, Zeke rested the handguard of his rifle on the concrete lip, getting his eyes down behind the optic.
He swiftly crossed the lobby to the stairwell and began climbing, his soldier unable to tire, A few minutes later, Zeke emerged onto the roof of the structure, giving him a view of the city around him. Across his building and directly below was a maglev line, followed by a collection of skyscrapers opposite his position. In the streets on either side of the rail line, tanks and walkers exchanged fire while a pair of fighter aircraft tangled in the sky above. The constant drone of ordinance echoed through the city, bouncing off the glass, steel, and concrete, a symphony of destruction. Moving to the edge of the building, Zeke rested the handguard of his rifle on the concrete lip, then got his eye down behind the optic and looked out across the sky.
"Now what?" Tyrin asked in his ear.
"Now we kill everything before us," Zeke said.
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