The Holo Earth

Chapter 9

Liam's shoulders tensed as he heard Imad's signature whistle approach, his gaze dropping to the small, framed photo of his grandmother, the sole personal touch in his workspace. The familiar tune, perhaps a nostalgic melody from Imad's roots, had become part of the office soundscape. His eyes darted up briefly before fixing on a spot just past his colleague's shoulder.

Imad's eyes were wide and eyebrows raised. He shook his head in disbelief. "Wallah, Liam! You've truly worked wonders with this save corruption bug. It's like finding water in the desert, no?"

Liam glanced up from his desk, avoiding Imad's gaze. A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Uh-huh," he mumbled. The barren workspace stood in contrast to the vibrant, poster-covered walls of his colleagues' cubicles.

Imad's gaze swept over the empty surface, his brow furrowing slightly. "You know, a few decorations wouldn't kill you. Make this place feel a bit more... alive?"

Liam shrugged, his arms folded. "I prefer things functional."

Imad laughed. "Functional? This isn't simple, it's spartan," He tapped the bare desk. "But hey, if it helps you work miracles like this bug find, who am I to judge?"

Imad leaned forward, his eyes wide and bright. His fingers tapped a rapid, excited rhythm against Liam's desk. He lowered his voice to an eager whisper, words tumbling out in a rush. "So, come on. How'd you crack it? That save corruption bug was driving everyone nuts."

Liam's fingers idly traced the edge of his grandmother's photo. "Oh, you know... just thorough testing," he replied vaguely.

Imad leaned in closer, his voice dropping to an eager whisper. His fingers tapped rapidly against Liam's desk, barely contained excitement evident in every movement. "Don't be modest! What was the trigger? Something obscure, I bet."

Liam shrugged his shoulders, "My imaginary friend told me." "As Liam mentally reviewed the phrase, goosebumps prickled along his arms, his fingers, suddenly cold. He'd meant it as a joke, a deflection, but the words hit too close to home. Was that what Zolok was? An imaginary friend? Or something more?

Imad laughed, clearly thinking Liam was being facetious. "Right, and I have a genie in a lamp who does my laundry. Seriously, though, how'd you crack it?"

Liam forced a smile, grateful for Imad's light-hearted response. "Just got lucky, I guess," he mumbled, averting his eyes. But luck didn't begin to explain it, did it? The bug, the incident with Calvin and Jose - it was all too specific, too convenient. He wasn't completely sure that Zolok was real, but he couldn't deny the results.

Imad gripped the edge of Liam's desk, leaning in closer. "It happened when saving after a side quest, but only if the player hadn't visited a merchant in the previous session. That's... that's incredibly specific. How many hours did you sink into finding that?"

"Just got lucky, I guess," Liam mumbled, averting his eyes.

Imad straightened up, shaking his head in amazement. "Luck? Nah, this is skill, pure and simple."

He gestured at the empty desk. "Maybe this zen workspace of yours is the secret. Might have to try it myself."

Imad clapped him on the shoulder. "Luck or skill, you saved us from a potential disaster. Great job, man. Keep it up!"

Liam's lips curled into a smirk, but it faltered as his gaze flicked nervously around the cubicle. His eyes rested on his grandmother's picture and his hand unconsciously reached for the pendant in his pocket, fingers tracing its unfamiliar contours."

With a few deft keystrokes, Liam bypassed the main menu and loaded directly into his test environment. The office faded away as the game's gloomy landscape materialized on his screen, engulfing his senses. Here, in this digital realm, he could lose himself in the familiar dance of bug-hunting and problem-solving.