Avilien

Soilders of bone

Dozens of two-man squad teams scurried throughout the town of Islington checking every nook and cranny as a possible hiding place for the two missing teens. Chris Patters, who had also been involved in the search, now left it to his team as he sat across from Sharon Bakes at a white-clothed table. Candlelight shone down from above them onto the napkins and silverware.

The pair hadn't waited long before a petite pale-faced waitress, dressed in a long black skirt and white shirt, served them two sizzling T-bone steaks and seasoned chips. The juicy, roasted cherry tomatoes on the vine next to grilled string beans made Chris's mouth water. He picked up his knife and fork as the plate was placed in front of him on the table. Cutting into the sixteen-ounce tender meat, it bled from the middle. Seared on the outside and red in the middle, just how he liked his steak—medium rare.

Before taking the first bite, he looked up at the nervous waitress and smiled at her with pearly white teeth. She felt relief and relaxed her tense shoulders before then walking away. Sharon had never been to the steak house in Islington and rarely left the house at all. She looked around at the lavish augments that made the place look fancier than it truly was. An augmented stone fireplace roared on the left wall and tables stretched across the room. A heavy varnished bar stocked with all kinds of spirts and ale took up the entire right side of the room, with cushioned stools bolted into the floor. At the back of the room was the open kitchen, where customers could see the chefs prepare their meals if they wished.

People whom Sharon had known throughout her long mission in Islington gave her funny stares as they ate their meals with their children or with their dates. Now dressed in her black agent uniform, it felt odd to her. She hadn't worn it in so many years.

"We must get the pair of them before they enter Avilien, or at least get Luke. I knew we shouldn't have waited. We should have taken the boy out when his dad did a disappearing act. I have no idea what the guild master is playing at," said Chris as he looked at Sharon.

She had been undercover for years; her job to keep an eye on Luke. Luke was a bargaining chip to be used against Grey and to make sure he completed the tasks the government set him. For doing so well, he would be allocated a few days off now and again under supervision to see his son. If there was any indication that he leaked information or warned anyone—including his son—of what was going on, Luke would be terminated.

Hating the assignment she had been given years ago, Sharon had failed it. Not entirely her own fault—the blame lay with Chris's superior, who made the call to hold off on deleting Luke.

"Grey is out of our reach and has been in Avilien for two weeks. He managed to send something out the first day he arrived in Avilien, that much we gathered. He has been in there for fourteen years now, and hasn't made much of a dent in our plans. Cunning little rat, though. Stewart was sure that Grey would pass something of high value onto his son, and he and the guild master want whatever it is."

"Are we still being tasked with finding the Orb of Drunskull?" Sharon whispered across to Chris as she left her plate untouched.

"Not just the orb. There are other items, Sharon, that have been discovered and requested. Avilien continues to advance faster than our own world in various fields. Terraforming technology, ancient gems of unbelievable power, and weapons of greater destruction than a tactical nuke. Thanks to the help and aid of the corrupters, we are being spoon-fed a good amount of intel. The fact remains that they are just pitiful AI creations that Grey designed, and in the end we shall do away with the world of Avilien...after gathering everything we can." Chris started to dip his chips in ketchup and then eat them.

"What about the other players? Grey managed to get that data-converting software into every piece of technology to date. They will hunt them items, too, especially gamers," exclaimed Sharon.