A few minutes later, while Betty helped Carol strap on the last of her gear, I got a message from Ingrid.

  [Ingrid:] [William of Brinsford] [I’m stopped. Bhaarrt is organizing people. Andrew is here too. Between the two of them, they’ll have both sides covered when it’s time. NOW do I get to find out what the hell’s going on?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Ingrid] [Yes, you do. Mostly. One last favor. In case you think you’ve figured out who it is, please don’t mention it to anyone. Once the three of us are here, I’ll drop out. OK?]

  [Ingrid:] [William of Brinsford] [Roger that.]

  I sighed. “Maybe someday people’ll stop saying that. Maybe. But I wouldn’t bet on it”.

  Quickly, I sent Ingrid a Join Party message. She accepted.

  [William of Brinsford:] [PARTY] [Thank you. I’ll make sure she’s ready and then give you the Party and drop out. She can let me know when you two are done. Thanks.]

  “Carol? Ready to party chat with Ingrid? You can talk while you finish gearing up.”

  “I know. I’ve done it before. But it also means they can reach me any time they want. That’s not so good,” she said, fastening a buckle.

  “Yeah, I know. Not much we can do about that. You’ll need it for the fight, though. When you get the Join Party message, hit yes. I’ll introduce you, then hand the Party to Ingrid and drop out.”

  “I’ve done Party Chat before. It’s getting too common. The archivists are having a fit because there’s no way to record it.”

  “Not unless someone adds a stenographer to the chat. Maybe that’ll bring that profession back? Or everyone just speaks aloud and records it. I’m sure someone will figure something out.”

  She grinned and gave a small nod. I sent the invite and got the message: “P-46 has joined the Party.”

  [William of Brinsford:] [PARTY] [Ingrid, P-46, you have it from here. It has to end by ten till ten, so we all have time to finish getting ready. Dropping now.]

  After transferring Party Leader status to Ingrid, I dropped out. Carol sat back on the couch. Her gear was almost complete. Just her gloves, headpiece, and balaclava remained off. Her mace hung from a loop attached to on her belt. It’s flanges gleaming faintly under the table lamps on both ends of the couch.

  “OK. They’re talking. Betty? What are your plans while she’s out there? I’m sure you’re going into STEALTH mode. Or VANISH.”

  “Is it that obvious?” She actually smiled when she asked.

  “To me it is. I’ve worked a lot with Shadow. I’ll see if you can talk to her before and after the fight. Just a heads-up…there are ways to detect STEALTHed people besides cameras, but you won’t need to worry about that with humans for at least another five levels. Unless there are monsters that have that detection ability sooner.”

  “OK. I’ll pass that on. I need to know what you have planned. We know it involves her. I think Phillips knows too, but he hasn’t said anything. Why?”

  “Take this to chat,” I told her. She nodded yes.

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [OK. Tell me. Or I’ll call this whole thing off. I can do that.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [Simple. We don’t want you interfering or trying to stop it. Yes, we’re setting something up. I’m pretty sure she knows that. If you want to help her, it has to happen. She has to rely on herself and her team. No outside help.]

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [I get that. But if I don’t know what it is, I’ll react on instinct. So will the others.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [Will you tell her if I tell you?]

  She crossed her arms and gave me a look that could freeze Blaze’s fire.

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [Maybe.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [I want her to use her mace.]

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [What! That means she’s fighting something. That puts her life in danger.] I watched her body go stiff as we chatted.

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [Yes and no. If Falstaff and Yoshi time it right, they’ll let a Kobold through to her. If the casters miss the Shaman, it might hit her with a CURSE. One CURSE will hurt like a gut punch, but she’ll survive.]

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [We know about that spell. That’s why your healer’s watching her.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [Nope. Unless she’s about to die, and maybe not even then, she has to heal herself. This is live training. If teenagers like the Flanagan boys can take it, so can she.]

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [OK. I can’t stop that. I could stop the Kobold.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [You could. But its club hits for 5-10 damage. With her armor and buffs, she can take it. The spell’s worse. Armor’ll cut physical damage by half or more. If she doesn’t stop it, someone else will. Probably Yoshi. He’s faster.]

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [And that’s OK?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [Because he’s her teammate, yes. Get the difference?]

  She didn’t answer right away, but I saw her shoulders relax. Her arms dropped.

  [Bouncing Betty:] [William of Brinsford] [I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it. I can see why Phillips approved it. Just remember, her team can override anything set up in advance. It’s our job to protect her.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bouncing Betty:] [Understood. She looks ready. Finish prepping.]

  “Thank you, Will. I learned a lot from Ingrid. I hope to meet her soon,” Carol said.

  “You will. Less than fifteen minutes till go time. There’s still time to meet your party. They’re probably showing up now. I need a quick talk with some of my guild. They’re handling perimeter security and blocking both ends of the street. The police chief said he’d send a couple of cars to help block traffic farther down.”

  “The only ones allowed in are the two guilds, the police, and Secret Service, of course. Or residents. No one else.” Carol nodded and pulled the balaclava over her head, then fastened her hood. Betty double-checked her gear, tightening straps with precise care.

  I stepped out through the patio door into the warm, muggy air of late May. Dark clouds loomed in the distance, but for now, the sun had just set after baking the ground all day.

  I was ready to meet with the guild and whoever else was there.

  Outside, Bhaarrt, Ingrid, Shadow, and what looked like half the Irregulars were already in my back yard, along with Sir Andrew and Chief Brown. Vaneski and Airmann were heading our way. The Flanagan brothers and their parents were cutting across the backyard from the other direction, slipping between my place and the Whitford’s.

  “Will! I hate you!” Ingrid shouted with a huge grin. “I figured it out…and you made me promise not to tell anyone. Not even my husband. You’re a bastard, you know that?”

  I laughed and agreed. “Guilty as charged. But the goal is to let them do the big reveal.”

  I raised my voice to address everyone in earshot. “You all can wait fifteen, twenty minutes. But you can’t say a word about this until tomorrow. If you do, I’ll come find you, and I won’t be happy.”

  “That includes 19th & Fox,” I added, looking at the Flanagan boys and their parents. The brothers both nodded.

  I got a few chuckles, but no objections.

  “The reporter who covered Eddington will film this and do interviews. This isn’t live. If I, or you, see anyone with a phone out, they better have clearance from the suits, Chief Brown second, and me third. Pass it on. Enforce it. Questions?”

  Silence. Just nods and a few exchanged glances.

  “Let’s move. Bhaarrt, Sir Andrew…set up perimeter teams half a block out. Use people with REVEAL STATS. Let Irregulars and 19th & Fox members through. Same with residents. No vehicles. Tell people the road might open by 10:30. We should be off the street by then.”

  “Shadow. Take your Sneak and Peek team. Stay STEALTHed or VANISHed. Intercept anyone suspicious. Message Chief Brown immediately.”

  “You’ll coordinate with her security team. I’ll give you a contact person in a minute. Keep patrols rotating. Some of her people have STEALTH. You need to speak to them before and after the Spawning. She’s your main contact with them.” I started a new Party Chat, connected her with Bouncing Betty, and dropped out after reminding Shadow: Tell no one else.

  “Roger that!” Shadow said loudly, then started pulling her people away.

  “One more thing. There are two people in a car on the side street across from my place. They’re good. Leave them alone unless they come running. If they do, clear a path to the VIP. I don’t think you’ll have to interrupt the fight.

  She gave me a nod. No visible reaction. Probably a good thing.

  “Final instruction. Unless you’re in the fight party, do not interfere unless the party asks for help. Ingrid will be on the porch with me.”

  No pushback. I was surprised. As the crowd dispersed, James and Jack Flanagan made their way over.

  “Will?” James asked.

  “Yeah?”

  “We’re ready. Jack and I are DPS. Carlos will buff us ahead of time and stand by. Morticia and Ryan are our casters. Your mystery person is the Healer. That work?”

  “Up to you. You’re in charge of the fight. Blaze and I might do color commentary from the porch again. Depends on the reporter.”

  “You’re really not helping?” Patrick asked.

  “Nope. They’ll be fine, until the special event tonight. Speaking of which…how will you signal it? Got a catchphrase?”

  They looked at each other and shrugged.

  “I take that as a no. How about…‘Release the Kraken’?” I offered.

  They looked at each other again and burst out laughing.

  “Do it,” Jack told his brother.

  “Just don’t tell her,” I said. “Everyone else in the party needs to know ahead of time, but no one else. That it?”

  “Yeah. Let’s go, bro,” James said, giving Jack a shove. Their parents followed.

  That left Chief Brown, Ingrid, Vaneski, and Airmann with me.

  “Meet me on the front porch,” I said. “I’m heading through the house to round up the rest. We’ll be out in a couple of minutes.”

  Back inside, the ladies were ready. Betty and Carol both wore black balaclavas. Betty had her jacket and gloves on. Carol wore her coif, everything blacked out. Blaze had her tac vest under her FBI jacket, and laced-up boots like the others.

  “Blaze…remind me to enchant your gear tonight. Betty…I should’ve done yours earlier. Are those the clothes you’ll usually wear?”

  “Sometimes. Depends where I am. I need to blend in, you know? Why?”

  “I want to enchant your gear. That way you’ll get used to the extra boost. What’re you usually in for stealth mode?”

  She thought. “Boots, gloves, jacket. If I’m shadowing instead of overt protection.”

  “I’ll add the balaclava, too. You can keep gloves and balaclava in your pocket. Your agency should have enchanters soon. Have them do your regular clothes including shoes.”

  She sat on the couch and held up her boots, then peeled off gloves and balaclava. I started enchanting.

  “+2 DEXTERITY,” I told her, finishing the boots. Then the gloves. “+2 DEXTERITY. And the balaclava, +2 WISDOM.”

  Lastly, her jacket: “+2 DEFENSE. The WISDOM helps your MANA a bit. But you mostly run on DEXTERITY as a Thief class.”

  “Thank you, Will. Thanks for remembering me.” She smiled. The first real one I’d seen from her. It suited her.

  “You’re most welcome, my lady.” I bowed. “Now let’s get this show on the road…or at least into the road.”

  “Betty. STEALTH in here. I’ll hold the door and you go through first.”

  Donning the rest of my own gear, we got set.

  “Blaze…you follow 46. It’s game name time.”

  “Roger that,” she replied

  “P-46? Ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s go.” P-46 answered.

  “Good. It’s show time!” I said, opening the door.

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