A while after I pulled myself back together, we split up to handle the morning spawns outside town…or the ones nobody else in town had gotten to yet. Shadow teamed up with Bhaarrt and Ingrid, while Blaze rode with me. GPS and Google Maps made it easy enough to get close to most out-of-town sites, sometimes letting us pull almost right up to them.

  The worst we found was a cluster with three Goblins and seven Kobolds…two spawn groups working together. My MANA SHIELDS were at a point now where I could shape them, more or less, as long as it wasn’t too big an area. I half-wrapped the enemies inside a shield while Blaze hit them with FIRE BALLS, and I dropped a MANA BALL or two to be sure we had it covered. The BALL spells spread out and exploded across the area, tearing them apart. It was mostly her doing the killing, honestly. I just made sure it was over fast if needed. We didn’t have a Healer so we didn’t want them reaching us.

  We cleared four groups that morning. It took longer to drive and find them than it did to kill them. One group, I let Blaze box them in with her FIRE SHIELDS before I hammered them with MANA BALLS. Even with that third Kobold showing up, it didn’t matter.

  We reported our cleared sites to the ESR coordinator too, the one logging which spawns were handled. I hoped they were paying her extra…she’d earned it. At least people now had a phone number or email to call in spawns, and we were getting reliable site notifications in return.

  By the time we headed back to my place for lunch, I felt useful again. Sure, we still overpowered them, but a level two or three party would’ve struggled against that combined group. I messaged Harry to let him know what we’d found.

  Finally, we stopped for lunch. Blaze insisted it was her turn to cook, and who was I to tell a lady no?

  ***

  After lunch, we opened the living room drapes and windows and sat on the couch with coffee. We sat at each end, sitting angled so we could watch the 1 p.m. spawn over the back of the couch and through the front window.

  The 19th & Fox guild handled it while we sipped, the faint glow of their spells outside mixing with the bright May sunlight pouring in. A breeze drifted through the window screen, carrying the now familiar sounds of combat and scent of flowers and grass from somewhere nearby, probably Megan’s back yard, reminding me it was barely still spring.

  They had a Fire Mage I didn’t recognize. “Good. They’re recruiting,” I told Blaze.

  It took them longer than it would have for us, but they managed it. Meg and Ryan, now their highest-level members at Level 3, handled themselves well. Their Paladin who was Tanking, blocked off Kobolds trying to slip past Ryan’s LIGHTNING SHIELDS. He cut them down with precise strikes. He’d been practicing.

  Blaze figured the Flanagan boys were in school, since we’d heard schools had reopened with about two weeks left in the semester. We hoped it would still be safe come fall…or even summer school if they have it.

  Afterward, I cleaned up the house while Blaze took care of the kitchen. She said we’d switch duties the next time. That’s when the bad news came in.

  [Harry:] [William of Brinsford] [Will. We’ve got a problem. There’s an army Captain here saying he’s setting up a command post to control the town.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Harry] [To control the town? Like in martial law control the town?]

  [Harry:] [William of Brinsford] [He didn’t say it exactly like that. He said his orders were to, quote, secure the area and establish a military command post. Is this what you warned me about last night?]

  “Blaze, gear up. We’ve got problems downtown,” I called out.

  “What’s up?” she asked, already reaching for her jacket.

  “Some Army Captain is talking about taking control to set up a command post.”

  “I’ll check with Matt, see what he knows.”

  “Thanks.”

  [William of Brinsford:] [Harry] [Maybe. Could be. Is this your way of asking me to haul ass down there and save yours again?]

  [Harry:] [William of Brinsford] [Something like that.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Harry] [Have you talked to Matt Bledsoe today?]

  [Harry:] [William of Brinsford] [The FBI guy? This morning. He said he was looking for office space downtown close to the center.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Harry] [We’re reaching out to him. We’ll get there as fast as we can. I’ll call in any Irregulars and maybe a few guilds. Command center, fine, but Eddington takes care of Eddington.]

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  [Harry:] [William of Brinsford] [Will, you’re scaring me talking like that. I’ll make the calls. They’re the ones who should be scared.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Harry] [Sorry. We’ll get there fast as we can. Goal’s no one gets hurt. We don’t want another Battleground, not with the Army, not with anyone.]

  [Harry:] [William of Brinsford] [Amen to that.]

  “I love Game Chat. No more texting if I can help it.”

  I was putting my armor back on as we finished chatting. The cloth of the doublet was still damp against my arms and back in the house’s air conditioning.

  “You ready?” Blaze asked, sliding on her jacket and adjusting her shoulder holster under it.

  “Almost. One more message to Ryan,” I answered.

  “OK. I reached Matt. He finalized office space and is heading to the City/County building.”

  “Sounds good to me. We’ll need him.”

  [William of Brinsford:] [Ryan] [Need you and your guild downtown, ASAP. Army’s talking about control, and we want a peaceful Eddington show of force. Ask your guild for everyone who can get to the City/County building.]

  [Ryan:] [William of Brinsford] [You want Meg and me too?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Ryan] [Damn straight I do. Hurry, and I’ll give you a ride.]

  [Ryan:] [William of Brinsford] [Grabbing our stuff. Be right there.]

  “Ryan and Meg are coming,” I told Blaze as we stepped outside, the warming breeze hitting us as we moved to the van. They jogged across the lawns, gear in hand, their eyes set with both worry and determination.

  [William of Brinsford:] [Irregulars] [Potential problems downtown with the military. If you’re free, meet at the City/County building. Park where you can. We’ll be out front or inside. We want a peaceful show of force, not another Battleground. Spread the word.]

  They climbed in, and as soon as their seat belts clicked, we pulled out, the van heading down 19th Street to the light.

  We drove past the front of the City/County building, scoping out the three desert tan, Army vehicles parked there, empty but guarded by a single soldier. “At least four per vehicle, maybe more,” I told them. Blaze nodded and quietly checked her wand, sitting in its place under her jacket, next to her holster.

  We parked in the back and got out. I sent the Join Party message to everyone in the van. “I don’t want any fighting. Meg’s here in case something goes sideways. Besides, who’s going to mess with a sweet old grandma Healer?”

  Meg beamed with pride. “That's two times a grandma,” she said proudly. “My Sally had her second baby on April twentieth…a sweet little girl.”

  “Congrats, Meg. Hoping for more?” I asked.

  “Aaron hasn’t settled yet, but we’re hopeful,” she replied.

  “He’s been with the same person for almost a year now.” Meg told me. Ryan smiled and nodded his agreement.

  “Meg’s the grandmother, all us old guys think every kid should grow up having,” He added.

  We circled to the front. The soldier out front barely glanced at us, and the two inside the lobby only watched as Blaze displayed her badge.

  Further down the hallway, I saw two more soldiers standing by a door and a man in a blue suit and beige tie I recognized. I didn’t expect him to be there. “Mr. Flanagan. I’m surprised to see you here,” I said.

  “Ryan’s message came through. My office is almost next door, in the County Planning Department. so I came to help.”

  “Thanks for coming. Know what’s going on?”

  “Nope,” he said, jerking a thumb at the soldiers. “They won’t let anyone in. Do you know what’s going on?”

  “Not for sure, no. But I can guess. Someone got orders and they may have misunderstood them. I hope that’s the case.”

  “That’s the coordination office for all this Game mess, right?” Patrick asked.

  “Yeah, and we’re here to make sure it stays that way. Harry called for help.”

  Patrick chuckled. “My sons wanted to leave school to help. I told them no way. They’re stuck until school’s out. Schools over a week from Friday. Then they can help during the day.”

  “They didn’t like that, huh?” I grinned.

  He shook his head, laughing. “I’ve got a wand now,” he said, pulling an eighteen-inch bolt that was at least a quarter inch diameter steel from inside his jacket. He’d taped one end in black tape to make a hand grip.

  “I’ll enchant it,” I said, giving it a quick +1 INTELLIGENCE and handing it back.

  “I feel different,” he said, eyes wide.

  “Check your stats.”

  “As long as I have this, I’ll be this way?”

  “As long as it's on you. Leave it somewhere and you won’t have the buff from it.”

  He glanced, then nodded. “I owe you an apology for yesterday.”

  “Thank you. But right now, let’s fix this.”

  [William of Brinsford:] [Harry] [We’re outside with a party. Status inside?]

  [Harry:] [William of Brinsford] [They’re an advance team waiting on orders.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Harry] [Tell them we want to talk. Matt Bledsoe just arrived. Blaze is here too.]

  Matt came down the hallway, eyes sharp. “Hanna, Will. Situation?”

  “Just got here. They’re blocking the door,” I said.

  “All that’s happened is the gentlemen blocking the door have said we can’t go in,” Patrick told him. One of them nodded in agreement. They were looking worried. They had the new M14’s but there were now six of us and two showing FBI badges.

  Matt flashed his badge. “FBI Associate Deputy Director Matthew Bledsoe, DC office. We need to speak with Mr. Sakraney and Captain Park. Now please.”

  His face went slack for a moment, then added, “Mr. Sakraney just informed him of our arrival.”

  The corporal blinked, paling. “How do they know you’re here?”

  “Game Chat. Think texting without phones. Sakraney just confirmed,” Matt said.

  The door opened, and a man in uniform stepped out, captain’s bars shining under the fluorescent lights. The soldier stepped sideways and out of the way.

  “Captain Park, I presume?” Matt said, calm and direct. “May we come in?”

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