Surprisingly, the captain held the door open for us. I glanced back and told the rest of the party, “Wait for us. We’ll keep you updated on Party Chat. If others show up, have them wait for word. We all should be on the same side.”

  Stepping inside, I caught the scent of cold coffee and cleaning chemicals, the cheap public office carpet muffling our footsteps. An enlisted soldier stood against the wall, looking nervous. Harry was still at his desk, arms crossed, his eyes flicking between us and the captain. Captain Park looked rattled, like he hadn’t been briefed on what The Game actually let people do.

  I figured it was best to let Matt handle this.

  “Captain Park, thank you for letting us in,” Matt began, voice calm but edged with authority. “I’m Matthew Bledsoe, FBI Associate Deputy for Training and Retraining. This is FBI Agent Hanna Pozarkova, and the gentleman on my right, dressed for war a few centuries ago, is William Bannister, the First Mana Mage. He’s one of the highest-leveled individuals in what’s called The Game. He’s Level 9, and Ms. Pozarkova tells me you’re still Level 1.”

  “If you compared game level to rank,” he paused for a moment, looking thoughtful, “He would outrank you because you’d still be a private and he’d be a at least a Major or Colonel. Or to put it another way, as I understand it, you’d be a squad, and he’d be a battalion when it comes to firepower.”

  Captain Park’s eyes widened. I added, calm and quiet, “We saw three vehicles outside. I’m guessing four men in each one, maybe two in the one with all the antennas. That’s ten to twelve people, tops. I think my shields will last longer than your ammo.”

  "Even if they couldn't, it seemed to impress him."

  Blaze stepped forward; her tone flat. “Captain Park, you ever been close enough to see the rifling inside a barrel when someone’s shooting at you?” He shook his head. “I have. Will’s MANA SHIELD stopped three rifle rounds before the shooter quit.”

  I cracked a small grin. “The press called her the agent with nerves of steel for that stunt. The shooter? He’s working with us now. Might even be on his way here.”

  “Why would he do that?” Park asked, frowning.

  “Because he,” Matt said, pointing at me, “called in help from his guilds and the others. If you saw the Battle of Eddington video, you’d know what they can do. So, Captain, why don’t you tell us why you’re here, because what we’ve heard doesn’t sound great for you.”

  Park looked embarrassed. “No, Mr. Bledsoe, I haven’t seen it. It sounds like I need to. I’m here by order of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to secure this area and establish a communications and intelligence command post.”

  “And those orders probably said you’d be working with other agencies too,” Matt said.

  “They did, but didn’t specify which ones.”

  Matt gave a small nod. “You’ll be working with the FBI. My department oversees agent training. A team from Fort Eustis, the folks who write your field manuals, is en route. Could be here today, likely late tomorrow or early the next at the latest. You’ll also be working with local university staff and others.”

  Park blinked, his brain catching up. “How do you know all that? I haven’t been told.”

  “Because the President decided on this last night, and the Army rolled it out this morning,” Matt told him.

  Park looked at us like we’d grown a second head. “Why would the President decide that? How do you know?”

  “The three of us were on a video call with her last night,” Matt replied. “She didn’t say who else was in the room, but she glanced aside a few times. One might’ve been the Secretary of Defense.”

  “You’re telling me you three just called the President?” Park scoffed.

  Matt’s lips quirked. “Her office told my boss to set it up with Will. Since he wouldn’t go to Washington, she called him. Hanna and I were off to the side.”

  Blaze smiled faintly. “I never thought I’d see the President in person, or even on a call, let alone while sitting next to the First Mana Mage. You might meet her too if you stick around.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “How would I meet her?” Park asked, incredulous.

  “Because,” I said, “I invited her to come here, join a party, and get some firsthand experience. Level up, see what this is really like.”

  Turning to Harry, I asked, “What’s the chance of using the convention center for the command post? If Park needs housing, send them to the fairgrounds. It’s got buildings and space, but keep ops here in town.”

  “I thought about that,” Harry told me. “If the Captain will do it, I’ll see if the county parks people will help too. Their office is in this building.”

  “Captain?” I asked.

  Park was still absorbing everything, but he nodded slowly. “I can look at it. We’ll provide the security. I was told to have it operational no later than tomorrow.”

  He looked thoughtful. Like a man who was putting the pieces together and moving them around until they fit.

  “Harry, calling off the alert,” I said, exhaling. “I think we’re good.”

  [William of Brinsford:] [Irregulars] [We got it worked out. Thanks to anyone who came. Tell everyone the government is setting up a post to understand the game and how to play it. Army and others will be here. Help them level up. Looks like they’ll be at the convention center and county fairgrounds.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Ryan] [We got it solved. Let your guild and others know. It was just a captain who didn’t have the full picture.]

  I looked to Blaze. “Can you take Ryan and Meg home? Use the van if they want to go.”

  She nodded, checking her watch. “On it.”

  The door cracked open, and a soldier poked his head in. “Captain, we’ve got a problem. There’s a monster outside, says he wants in.”

  “A big gray monster with armor and a shield?” I asked, laughing. “Also, a tall blond woman with long blond braids and maybe a spear?”

  “You know them?” Park blinked.

  “Yeah. That’s Bhaarrt, our Ogre tank, and Ingrid, his wife. He’s ex-Army, talk to him about Afghanistan sometime. And don’t try to shoot him, Park. Your bullets will bounce off his armor, and you don’t want to see what happens when he gets mad.”

  I gave Park a wicked grin. He gulped.

  “Just go out there, call him ‘Bhaarrt’ with a pirate roll. Kinda stretch it out and talk like a pirate. Tell him we’re good. He’ll understand.” I told the soldier.”

  The private swallowed, twice, nodded, fumbling the door before managing to close it. Matt, Blaze, and I tried not to laugh. Harry lost the battle.

  “Captain Park, how good are your security people?” I asked.

  “Good. No one gets past without being stopped. Why?”

  “Because your private just let someone in.”

  “What? Where?” Park’s head whipped around, searching.

  Shadow appeared; sword still sheathed but positioned near Park’s neck. He jumped back, nearly tripping until the private caught him.

  “She’s right there.” I pointed.

  “She’s a Ninja,” I explained. “You’ll only see her if she wants you to. Cameras can’t catch her unless she lets them.”

  “Let me introduce you to another member of our guild. We call her Shadow.”

  “How… how did she get in?” Park stammered.

  “The same way we did,” I said, shrugging. “Through the door.”

  Shadow sounded like she was grinning under her mask. “Y’all’s guards ain’t as good as you think they is,” she drawled, sliding her blade away. “Hey, Will, Bhaarrt’s friend made me these.” She flashed her palms, showing climbing claws, sharp and curved. They strapped over her hands.

  “Good for you. If you get more Ninjas, he can make more.”

  “Climbin’s a Thief Skill. I’m takin’ it next level. They’re a mean weapon, too.”

  If Park could see it, he’d probably run.

  I turned back to Park. “Captain, you’ve got a lot to learn, and we’ll teach you if you’re willing. We need your men leveling up, learning how to handle spawn sites, especially out in the county. Mix them with our guilds. You’ll probably get those orders soon.”

  “You’re in no position to give me orders,” Park snapped in his officer’s voice.

  “I hope I never am,” I said calmly. “But your higher-ups will give you new orders, and they’ll include this.”

  I looked to Harry. “Think you can get someone to show him the convention center and brief him on it?”

  “I can do that,” Harry said, pulling out his phone. “I’ll call the manager. I’m going to need more help around here.”

  “I’m sure you will. Unless you need us, we’ll get back to it. Maybe clear a couple of county spawn sites before lunch.”

  “OK. I’ll let you know how it goes and please don’t get the Army shooting at people,” Harry begged.

  “I’ll try,” I said. “No promises. If the captain tells his men to talk first and shoot last, even if they see a monster, we’ll be fine. The Orcs and Ogres are on our side.”

  The Private held the door for us as we stepped into the hallway.

  The Whitfords, Pat Flannigan, Bhaarrt, and Ingrid waited; Bhaarrt leaning against the wall. The soldiers’ weapons were at the ready but relaxed. The scent of sweat and gun oil, drifted to us from them thanks to the breeze from the open front doors that were letting more people in.

  “We’re good,” I told them. “Not martial law, just an advance team that got sent to Harry’s desk for some reason. Probably cause they didn’t know where else to send them.”

  “Good a reason as any,” Bhaarrt said, chuckling. “They were fine once they knew I was Army too. Just doin’ their job.They’re part of the HQ security platoon.”

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