I didn’t know how long I’d been standing among a frantic crowd since my mind felt like it had just been pieced together. It was as if I was half in a sleepwalk and half in some terrible waking moment. One moment people bumped into me to get by in a darkened subterranean area that resembled a subway station, and the next moment a rush of shadowy waves crashed against me as if to signal something large was on its way. I grinned in the strange sensations, despite the sense that looming danger could swallow me like a helpless fish.
Then everything was drowned in bright whiteness and a burn set in the same instant as if I’d been struck by lightning. My eyes shot open the instant my dream told me I was drowning and burning at the same time. The lost fragments of my mind assembled in my true location. The cold, dark waters went away and I stood in the frantic subway.
Hundreds of people were all dressed in costumes, some from shows and video games I recognized, but many others were completely unfamiliar. Everyone moved in groups and searched out whatever pockets of spaces around pillars or benches they could seize for what appeared to be hasty meetings. Many of the cosplayers were focused on their props and some took practice swings with their weapons. Mechanical beings, some of which were human-shaped and made of metal panels, and many of which were adorable mascots of the wrong sizes and proportions to be a people in costumes, patrolled the crowds. They examined the cosplays and props of everyone they passed, and no one made a fuss about machine creatures apparently being the rule enforcers.
I shook my head at the strangeness and attempted to move aside of the dozens of people who kept bumping me as they passed by. Merely stepping aside was useless, since there were no areas to stand still unless one secured an area with a group. I surrendered to the environment and moved with the greater flow of people. What I had thought was a subway station with hundreds became more clear as a large corridor of concrete pillars and damaged wall tiles filled with many thousands of strangers. Chipped and faded paint hinted at a time when the area had a cheery theme. I shifted from one side of the corridor to the other and found no stairwells to another level, nor any type of platform or tracks for a transit vehicle to pass through.
“Where are we?” I blurted the question out to the nearest person, a heavy-set man dressed in an anime-inspired cosplay which I didn’t recognize. There was no response as the man moved onward without so much as turning to acknowledge me. “Excuse me,” I said to a woman in a Peter Pan outfit, “What kind of Neverland is this?” Again, she ignored me and moved faster than me with the foot traffic.
“What’s wrong with you?” A tall man in a red Power Rangers outfit rushed to my side and yanked me toward a pillar. “Where is your team?” He pressed himself against the concrete barrier and adjusted the helmet and sword he carried with him.
“I’m here by myself I think.” I shifted my glance around to take in the chaos of the people and the serious look the man gave me.
The ranger had to be in his late twenties, but had a sloppy beard of unshaven blond stubble. His green eyes flared as he examined me with a look of clear disbelief. A hint of double chin showed when he looked down, which matched the slight pudge in his belly and thighs.
“You think it’s funny to troll around like you’re a newbie?” The man glared at me as if he was a second away from shoving me in anger.
“I really am new here, though.” I glared back to let the ranger know his anger was better directed elsewhere. “Seriously, where are we? And why isn’t anyone going bonkers over real robots everywhere?”
“Neo Carnia doesn’t ring a bell?” The man took a deep look into my eyes, then rubbed his face in frustration. “Come on, stop playing.” He huffed as we looked at each other in silence. “Okay, now you’re scaring me. There’s no way a newbie just wandered into the arena.”
I shrugged.
“Where were you before being here in the staging grounds?” The ranger leaned in to get in my face, as if he needed to see every tiny detail of my reaction.
“I was, um.” I fought off the dark water feeling that entered my mind for a moment. “I folded my arms around myself and struggled to recall what I’d just been doing. “I think I was in a parking garage. It’s all muddled. I’m pretty sure I was headed to a big gaming tournament.”
The ranger tilted his head and the confusion on his face was evident. “Nothing clear like talking to a stranger about life and happiness?”
“I got a ride, but I don’t remember who from. My mom, maybe.” I shrugged my shoulders. “No meaning of existence conversations. That’s something I avoid talking to family about.”
“Kid, you’re in huge trouble.” The ranger grabbed my shoulder and led me in the opposite direction of the swarm’s flow. “And you’re lucky I found you.” He squeezed my shoulder. “My name’s Isaac. I’ve been here six months. And I’m forming a team to finally get out.”
We moved toward a trash can along a wall that was stuffed with broken props and pieces of discarded cosplay. A girl stood against the bin dressed in what appeared to be a mashup of Captain Marvel and Alita. A boy was perched atop the trash in an oversized Venom costume that resembled pajamas on his petite frame, especially the way he wore the head portion loose around his neck like a hood.
“These two are Felicity and Wyatt.” Isaac pushed his way through a group of Klingons to press against the wall next to his companions. “Together, we’re Ragdoll Pug.”
“I’m August.” I moved closer to the trash can when at least six more people bumped me or pushed me as they passed through the chaotic corridor. I was right in Felicity’s face, and we had a moment of staring at each other. Her round face and large, magenta eyes went more with the strands of red hair that dangled against her forehead rather than the black wig they betrayed. I moved an inch backwards out of courtesy right as she tilted her chin down with a slight grin.
“That’s an ugly cosplay.” Wyatt leaned in and stared at me. His face had a shocking similarity to Felicity’s, except his shaggy hair was auburn and his wide eyes were hazel.
“It’s not ugly.” Felicity moved an inch toward me and put her hand on my chest to adjust something. “He’s just wearing the wrong badge. Bad, but not ugly.”
I gazed down to see a rounded-edged Federation communicator badge against a black Star Trek uniform. I was in a Starfleet jumpsuit that was all black except for the red shoulders. My hand shot up to my neck to feel the single pip on the uniform’s stiff collar.
“He’s a redshirt.” Wyatt huffed and chuckled at the same time and the uneven smile on his face made it clear he mocked me. “Go die, noob.”
“Hey!” Felicity pointed a finger in the boy’s face. “Red shirts were only the original series. He’d need to have gold shoulders to be cannon fodder in this uniform.”
“Oh, excuse me for dissing Ensign Crusher, here.” Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Hey Isaac, why’d you bring this guy when the trash can’s already overflowing?”
“Wrong series again.” Felicity patted my communicator and backed away. She smiled and poked the badge once she returned to her place against the wall next to the trash bin. “Too bad it doesn’t make sounds.”
“I’ve never cosplayed.” I tapped my badge and reexamined my outfit. “I barely even like watching Star Trek.”
“Let’s all behave.” Isaac shoved an elbow into Wyatt’s ribs. “It seems like there was a mistake because August is a new arrival.”
Felicity’s eyes widened to match the Alita half of her cosplay. “That’s impossible. Newbies load into their rooms and have to go through all those tours. They can’t come to the arena.”
“I swear I was just attending a tournament or something not more than ten minutes ago.” I gazed around the swarm. “I don’t belong here.”
“None of us do.” Isaac’s eyes glistened for a moment. Then his posture straightened and he went serious, as did his two companions. “A drowa examiner is on the way. Look your best. And August, let me do your talking. Don’t say anything!”
I nodded and peeked over my shoulder to see two figures approaching our group. The crowds parted for them, half out of fear and half out of respect. One was a copper-plated mechanical lion that walked upright to be a three-foot-tall biped. The other caused my heart to skip a beat at the sight of her, as if she were someone I wished attended my high school.
“I’m so glad it’s Gordon,” Felicity said.
Wyatt cleared his throat and he spoke in a hushed tone, “But why is Miss Elitist coming with him?”
The girl who walked with the lion was in an outfit that looked bizarre until the sharpened metal ring on her hip gave it away as a Xena outfit, but the cog-like accents revealed it was a steampunk variant. She had a dignified poise as if she was royalty but a slight heaviness to her steps made it possible she was a warrior. She was less cosplayer and more actual dignitary on official business. Her squared face was confident and concerned, as if she couldn’t smile but her eyes could light up with fury when on a mission. Her mane of dark hair and dark eyebrows were the perfect accent for her light brown eyes that almost glowed with intensity.
“Cool chakram,” I blurted. I immediately pursed my lips shut when I heard my words, which sounded like an awkward blurt even to my own ears. I wanted nothing more than to impress the warrior but in her presence my throat only let out a feeble squeak. I hoped the noise of the corridor had drowned out the sound for anyone else.
“You finally found your fourth squad member?” The girl walked right to Isaac and only made a quick gesture with her hand to acknowledge my existence. “Who is the new Ragdoll Pug?”
I almost opened my mouth to say my name. I was relieved when Isaac tapped the back of my leg with his knee to shut me up. I was glad I wouldn’t accidentally reveal the strange sound of my squeaky voice.
“This is August.” Isaac patted my shoulder. “Nervous little guy, but I believe in him. He’s as ready as the rest of us to go home. We’ve all been practicing our fighting to get ready for this qualifier.”
I gulped at the idea of fighting. I had no idea whatever was happening would involve harm. Everyone had cosplay, but I gulped again at the realization that most had durable props that could be used to hit people. I hoped it was only larp-style fighting.
“Is that so?” The girl’s eyes shot aside for the briefest of moments to take in my presence. “I haven’t seen him before.”
Her glance was all it took to convince me. Even if we were headed into a huge fight, I’d gladly do so to be by her side. To see those eyes.
The mechanical lion evaluated Felicity’s sword, then Isaac’s sword.
“Roar!” The little copper lion returned the weapons. “These are nice weapons. I wish your team luck.”
“Thank you, Gordon.” Felicity knelt and gave the lion a tight hug. “Will you be at karaoke tonight?”
“You can always count me in when the lineup is Disney songs. Roar!” The lion hopped in place and raised his little paws.
I cocked an eyebrow at the display, especially how the robot said his roar rather than making an effort to actually roar.
“No weapon for you, as usual.” Gordon the lion looked up at Wyatt. He turned to me with his twisted metal face that was trapped in mid snarl, as if he were a terrifying predator. But with his high-pitched voice, he was more of an adorable mascot. “And you, August?”
I shook my head after Isaac poked my leg with a knee again.
“No weapon for the Starfleet guy.” Gordon froze in place to stare at me. “You aren’t in my registry.”
“This is his first time in the arena.” Isaac shook me around by the shoulder. “Poor kid’s been stuck at the video game halls whole time he’s been here. But he finally misses his family as much as we do.”
The girl sighed for a second as she looked at Isaac, then Gordon.
“His records don’t exist.” Gordon motioned for Felicity to pick him up, and she obliged. His elevated position allowed him to look me in the eyes with his own glass lenses set within a copper face. “Why don’t you have an ID beacon?”
The girl spun in place from facing Isaac to facing me. She stared right at me with her amazing light brown eyes that were almost bronze in tone. She examined my face like royalty examining property, which was the first time she’d managed to be unsettling. “Who are you?”
My mouth quivered for too long a moment. I furrowed my brow to control my tone in case my mouth opened to squeak.
“He’s August,” said Isaac. “Shy kid from Tower H.”
The warrior girl smirked for a fleeting moment. “Say whatever you want with the drowa.”
“Hey!” Gordon puffed his little chest. “Us drowa deserve respect.”
“It’s difficult to ask for that when your database is scrambled.” The girl ended her stare to turn back to Isaac. “You’re all aware of the harsh penalties for lying to a member of the Royal Guard?”
Isaac nodded, and the look on his face was as if he was terrified to say a word.
“Do you know who I am?” The warrior girl shifted back to stare at me. “Remember not to lie.” She watched my every move.
I shook my head.
“See how easy it is to find out the truth?” She reached out a hand.
I shook the girl’s hand to discover an overly firm grip from her. “I’m August.” My voice was a squeak made more embarrassing by the tonal cracks.
“I’ve heard.” The girl grinned in a regal fashion. She squeezed my hand with a second firm and confident grip before she let go of my hand. “My name is Leoni. And up until yesterday, I was a member of the Royal Guard. So all of you can relax.” The grin returned, with a slight bit of sincerity as she looked at me, enough to make me wish I could freeze the moment. “See you all in the arena.”
Leoni motioned to Gordon and the duo walked off through a parted crowd and vanished as they examined more people beyond our small part of the corridor.
“That was terrifying.” Wyatt hopped off the trash. “Isaac, why’d you try to help this loser?”
“It’s dangerous to go into the arena without a team. We’ll take him.” Isaac pushed away from the wall to approach me. “That is, if you choose to fight with us.” He grabbed at a piece of trash atop the pile under Wyatt. “We need one more person for our team.” He held out a baton with a huge smile in an attempt to hide a momentary squint of grim thought. “What do you say, August?”
“I’m all for safety in numbers.” I accepted the baton, which looked to be part of a broken bo staff prop. “But what exactly is going on, and why do you make it seem so serious?”
“There’s so much to explain.” Isaac rubbed his face. “This is a hot flag round. Find the hidden flag and secure it for a full minute to be the winning squad. You can do friendly battles like dance-offs or paper-scissors-rock, or jerks go for physical pins.” He glanced aside and worry set into his face.
The general noise in the corridor grew louder by at least ten times.
“So we play capture the flag? And then goof around to take it from each other? But some trolls will try to tackle you?” I nodded to pretend I understood anything of what was going on. “You need to explain things more, like what this has to do with going home. Or where we are. How much time do we have before it begins?”
Felicity bumped into me and pointed to a holographic projection of red numbers around the nearest pillar. A countdown showed we had thirty seconds.176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttq3iirCIx
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