Chapter 130: Chapter 125

I still didn’t really understand him, but I could at least answer his question. “Uhh, okay, sure. Multiverse theory. Not much, I would say. Not much at all.”

Axle nodded. He licked his nose and looked up. “Right, easy to fix. Where are we right now?”

I blinked. “Uhh.”

“I’m gathering a frame of reference, it's okay. There’s not a wrong answer here, I just need to understand location from your perspective before we can continue,” the Knowle explained.

“Okay. We are on Earth,” I said.

“Good. Now scale that down, tell me where we are in a smaller, more localized area,” he said.

“The US? Well, that doesn’t count anymore. Arizona, I guess?” I said.

“Arizona, the area that Dearth now controls, perfect. Now scale our location up, tell me where we are in a more general sense. Before I could find Arizona, I would need to find Nu-Earth, but before I could find Nu-Earth, I would have to find . . .?”

I frowned. “The Milky Way?”

Axle shook his head. “The Sol system, actually, but the Milky Way is next after that, yes. We’re talking about a sense of scale. So we start with just the ground you stand on, then scale up. Arizona, Nu-Earth, Sol System, Milk Way. Beyond that is the universe. Beyond that is the multiverse. Many universes that are attached directly and indirectly.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay, I get that. How are the universes connected?”

“Directly through BuyMort portals, and indirectly through black hole propagation. Black holes lead out of universal space, to the multiverse connection,” Axle said.

“Wait, out of space? Space is out, I thought. Everything is in space, right?” I asked.

“No. Space is contained inside each universe, leaking out through black holes and coating the multiverse connection,” he said.

“Coating? What the hell is the multiverse connection?” I asked, exasperated.

“Excellent question, which I have no real answer for. My people, before BuyMort arrived, used to believe it was a mountain, and the universes attached to each multiverse connection strand were like drops of dew, flowing down its slopes.” Axle leaned back in his chair with a sigh. “Not a particularly scientific view, in hindsight.”

“Well, you guys were aware of the multiverse, so you’ve got the advantage on me. I’d only seen weird movies that did a lot of swirling imagery and broken mirrors to explain it,” I said, with a shrug.

Axle chuckled. “It is a confusing concept, to be fair. In essence, universes drain and swirl into and out of one another, through black holes, white holes, and the multiverse connection. It helps to think of the process like droplets traveling down a mountainside, as each drop of dew can drip into one another, creating new droplets as the old droplets drain, ever flowing. This creates new universes out of nothing. Those physically closest to our current universe will be governed by similar physical laws, because of universal determinism. We are all a rainstorm, a river, an ocean, flowing through and across the multiverse. If you were to travel far enough away, in the chain of universes, you might find that gravity, for example, doesn’t work exactly the same way as it does in your home universe. Or even atomic structuring.”

“Alright, I think I follow. Now help me tie that back into my suit here,” I said with a chuckle.

“I believe your suit comes from a very distant universe. More than that, it appears to have been constructed with universal determinism in mind, to be able to function effectively in a universe governed by different laws than originated the item,” he said. Axle took a deep, shaky breath, and licked his nose again. “The multiversal knowledge, let alone engineering capability required are, without hyperbole, well beyond any known affiliate.”

“So, a relic,” I whispered.

The Knowle nodded. “A relic of a time possibly even pre-dating BuyMort.”

I immediately thought of Specter, and the Teslak Cooperative. The powerful items that had helped me survive so far, and the focus on BuyMort’s destruction that had brought me to Teslak in the first place. Axle was my best chance at understanding my situation, and without help, I wasn’t shopping as smart as I needed to.

“Okay, you can ask where I got it now,” I said.

Axle blinked and scowled. “Very well.” He held out a paw for me to continue.

“It’s from an affiliate called the Teslak Cooperative. I was given access to their storefront because I asked BuyMort for something to help me destroy BuyMort,” I said with a sigh and shrug.

The Knowle across from me licked his nose and narrowed his eyes. “Have you purchased anything else from them?”

“Maybe, but before we get into that, I need to know if you’re okay with my overarching goal,” I said, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. “Killing BuyMort.”

Axle chuckled. He shook his head and laughed, but stopped when I didn’t join in. “Destroy BuyMort? How? Most of us struggle to properly define BuyMort. Look around you! Everything is BuyMort. I cannot imagine a quest to destroy it, when no-one has even been able to fully understand it.”

 

He crossed his arms over his huge, hairy chest and shook his head again. “It sounds absurd, like trying to give the sun a black eye.”

I laughed too and shook my head. “I know, but it’s just something I can’t shake. I hate this thing, and I want to break it.”

“Now that I can easily relate to,” Axle said. “You asked me for my definition of BuyMort, yes?”

I nodded.

“Very well. BuyMort is a store, but a store so powerful that it destroys entire universes, by accident,” he said. “As far as I can tell, there is no divinity in BuyMort, no intelligence, or purpose. BuyMort appears to be a machine, unthinking and cold, operating by a set of rules. You should ask your priest woman, she will tell you a very different story. But by my best definition, you have what BuyMort is.” 

The Knowle scratched behind his ear with one hand, cocking his head. “I can’t imagine the complexity of ‘breaking’ this machine, as you say. Nor the greater consequences for the multiverse at large. Or even for you. The BuyMort portals drive the operation of your suit, by blending our universes’ laws and allowing both to exist simultaneously.”

Axle pointed a claw at my turbine. “That thing might revert to its original universe’s laws the moment BuyMort portals no longer connect its original universe with ours. Perhaps it would take you with. Perhaps it would tear free from you, perhaps it would turn to scalding liquid, or unstable strange matter. It is impossible to know, at least without knowing more about this affiliate. The Teslak Cooperative?”

“Yes, that’s their name. In fact, I’m due for a visit to their store-front soon. I’ll try to bring you with; it's in ad-space,” I said with a shrug.

Axle stared at me for a long moment, before saying, “you’re not kidding, are you? How can you possibly know you’re going to be visiting them soon? Relic storefronts do not appear in regular BuyMort rotation.”

I nodded. “One of the items I got from them was an app for my BuyMort interface,” I said, choosing my next words carefully. “It helps me run the affiliate by rewarding me for growing it, with item coupons that bring me back to the storefront.” I swiped up the relevant Afflqwst notification.

Quest – Complete affiliate upgrades and produce appropriate income. Act like a real affiliate.

You are reading story BuyMort: Rise of the Windowpuncher – How I Became the Accidental Warlord of Arizona. Apocalyptic GameLit at novel35.com

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Collect twenty-five million morties worth of income from affiliate products or services. (19,426,532/25,000,000 incomplete)
2. Complete all construction projects in que. (complete)
3. Effect repairs on damaged affiliate structures. (complete)
4. (Optional) Install a memorial for fallen affiliate members.

PROBABLE OUTCOME – Affiliate upgrades completed. (100%).

POSSIBLE OUTCOME – Affiliate income requirement met. (86%).

REWARD – Item coupon.

“Yeah,” I said to Axle. “Once we make another six million morties from the affiliate, I’ll be heading to the storefront for a new item.” I had forgotten about the memorial. “Hey, could we install a quick memorial to our fallen?” I asked.

In front of me a number of somber looking aliens, and a few humans as well, appeared, residing in their own floating boxes that looked like animated screen shots from a computer screen. 

LOST A LOVED ONE? COMPASSION IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. BUYMORT MEMORIAL SERVICES CONTAINS BILLIONS OF AFFILIATES DEDICATED TO CELEBRATING LIVES LOST TOO SOON . . . AND TO HEALING THE HEARTS OF THOSE LEFT BEHIND.

I stared at the ad, brought direct from BuyMort. It sickened me. So uncaring, yet so on point. A list of affiliate names and median prices scrolled down the right side of my vision while peaceful music began to play in the background.

IN WHAT MANNER DO YOU WISH TO MEMORIALIZE AND HONOR YOUR LOST ONE(S)?

A far-reaching list of services scrolled by alphabetically. Some of them stood out. Animation in particular. Could I bring the dead back to life? I clicked on it and read a few of the services but quickly found that they were all about inserting mechanics into the corpse, or else replicating the deceased with non-intelligent golems.

I shut it all down in disgust.

Axle was there, blinking and scowling. “You got ads, didn’t you?”

I nodded and swallowed hard. He sighed. “Yeah, the ads are rat bastards. I’ve about had it with them.”

I thought back to the AdBlock ad and its offer to delay them. It wouldn’t help here, but in combat . . . well it might be a necessity. I wondered how often BuyMort pulled shit like that in the middle of a big fight. Then I stopped. Once was too often. I’d have to get the damn thing soon.

Axle watched my face twist and eyes turn as I deliberated, and he sighed again. “Look, I can take care of all of this. It should be relatively easy, depending on how elaborate you wanted it. Six million morties should be coming in soon, and we are due to turn over the newest Sleem freezers any day now. I’ve expanded them again, the new income should more than cover that amount.”

“Perfect, you can join me in the ad-space and see the affiliate for yourself.” I sat back in my chair.

Axle was still scowling. “Why are you asking about this stuff now, boss?”

I sighed. “Because I’m having Lee sell me out to Dearth. I’m hoping you’ll work under Rayna the way you’ve worked under me to try and help my people, if I don’t make it back.”

The Knowles' eyes went wide, and he nodded. “Ah. Yes, I would do that. This is a good place, and you’ve been a good boss. I will try to help your people if you do not return.”

“I appreciate that, and of course, don’t say anything about this to anyone, please,” I said.

He nodded. “Jada can be trusted, I suggest looping her in. She is helping Rayna and Tollya run security.”

“Yeah, you can tell her, just not until I’m already gone. I don’t want her trying to come with me or something,” I said.

He chuckled. “She might. That woman hates Dearth with a passion.”

I grinned and let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Yep.”

Axle took a deep breath and licked his nose again. “You mentioned facility maintenance?”

“Yes, I wanted to talk about Morbin’s bar?” I said, eyes narrowing.

“Ah, of course. Temporary situation, I assure you. It was just what we had on hand,” Axle said, raising his hands to defend himself.

“No, I get all that. I was just hoping we could keep the shingle. I like it,” I said. “I figured you’d be doing upgrades to the place, and I would like to keep Morbin happy.”

“Wise. He could do a lot of damage to our affiliate if he were to become disloyal,” Axle said.

“I’m aware. It was something we needed at the time, but now I do question his presence here. Especially coupled with the beholder,” I said.

“I have already briefed everyone who knows about Quadrum not to openly discuss their presence without being someplace sound-proofed,” Axle assured me.

“Good, thank you. I rely on you more and more, Axle,” I said, meeting his eyes.

He blinked but held my gaze and nodded. “I know. It is the nature of my position to be relied on for day to day operations. That often translates to greater responsibility than is expected by leadership, so I appreciate the recognition.”

“Well, our goals align, so I feel like I can trust you,” I replied. “But now that I’ve told you about my plans for BuyMort, do our goals still align?”

The Knowle puffed out his cheeks, looked at the floor for a few seconds, and then licked his nose. “In honesty, I must admit I find your goal of BuyMort’s destruction to be laughably improbable, but I do not see a conflict because of it, not yet anyway. If you were to send our hobbs to destroy a fruition center because of it, I would have to object, but as it stands I have no issue.”

“That’ll work for the moment, just be discreet please. Nobody else needs to know about this yet, and I suspect I might be able to change your mind when we go visit Teslak’s storefront together,” I offered.

“Very well. I would like very much to do that, what do we need?” Axle asked.

“Just get a memorial installed and have the affiliate make us another five and a half million morties,” I said. “It should pop once the morties are in the account.”

“Very well, let’s get to it.” Axle stood up and clapped his hands together.

I nodded and stood, moving to the door. I held it open for Axle, and we left the soundproofed room.

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