Chapter 17: Sixteen

Piles of plants lay strewn across two of the long work benches. On another bench was a scattered assortment of animal parts consisting of Feathers, claws, fangs, horns, scales, gossamer wings and a pouch containing what Darius called slime cores. 

Where do I even begin identifying all this stuff? 

“I’ve put up a notice on the board in the guild hall for all guild members to start collecting parts from creatures and any plants they come across. A collection box will be placed outside the forge, where items will be placed into cloth bags or jars that will be numbered.” 

“How do we track who deposits what?” I asked, trying to sort the animal parts into neater piles.

“A log book. At the end of the week, Bron reviews all the resource submissions and hands out payment based on what has been provided. We use this same system for the kitchen, and other professions who need gathered resources such as the smiths, carpenters and masons. These items were submitted to me this morning, when I announced we’d be conducting alchemic resource gathering.” Darius explained as he continued pulling items out of his bag, and stacking them onto the benches. 

“Oh,” I responded dully, staring at the piles with growing panic.

I don’t even know how any of these need to be stored, or what half these creatures on this list are. I mean, grumble toad? What the heck is a grumble toad, and what do I do with grumble toad slime? 

“That’s all of it,” Darius said, closing his bag and buckling the leather straps. 

“Thanks, I’ll, uh, start working on sorting it.” I murmured.

“We can help you get it sorted if you need, I’ve got to head back to the kitchen to work on lunch, but I can spare Taurie for a while.” Bron chimed in looking at all the plants piled up, and then at Taurie who nodded silently.

“Thanks for the offer, but I need to catalog it all as I work through them. Thank you for helping with the spices, and letting me have the ice box, I really appreciate it.” I told the pair, making a mental note to find some way to repay the favor. 

“If you need anything at all, just come find me.” The Orc said, before leaving the lab with the dark haired elf in tow. 

“I need to be leaving as well, I won’t be around for the next few days. So, If you need anything resource related, speak with Bron. If the matter is more serious, then speak with Noctus, as co-leader he can help with most things. We tend to keep at least one commander in each city we have a guild hall in, and Yuki is due to take charge of Caruan from the end of this week.`` Darius informed me, and I nodded, walking with him to the door. 

“How many guild halls does Eternia have?” 

“Three, this one is our main guildhall and the largest. We have a smaller hall in Airus, one of the four main cities which is built in the Almer mountains. The third is special, and the location is not told to any below captain or in your case a craftsman. Somehow, I don’t think it will be long before we are discussing your promotion in rank, so you will know about it soon enough. I’ll see you in a few days,” the guild leader told me with a smile. 

As Darius disappeared around the corner of the stairway, I closed the door to my lab and turned to survey the mess that had been made of my previously neat workspace. 

Right, where to start? Herbs and plants, I’ll start there as I have Felix’s guide to help with identifying some of them. 

Course of action decided, I began sifting through the bundles of plant matter, sorting them into piles with the ones I’d already identified on one bench and those which were still unknown on another. This shrub-like plant is morning dew. The potioneer’s guide said to infuse dried leaves, and Bron’s notes say morning dew is used to make tea. If I get all this dried, and make a big batch of the revitalizing tincture, I can give some to Bron and his staff as thanks for their help. Tea leaves are normally dried off the stems, so I need to pluck these branches. 

Slowly plucking the leaves off the dozens of morning dew branches, I pondered the best way to dry the leaves. I think I recall a documentary about tea culture that mentioned tea leaves are sun dried or baked at low heat. Hmm, I need some drying screens. These won’t be the only plants that will need to be dried off the stem, so I should speak with Narvi. A wooden frame with cloth stretched over it would work well, and if there is a gap for air flow, I can stack several together. I mused, as the sound of Marcus's hammer stopped. 

Guessing he must be finished with the pots, and having finished separating the morning dew leaves, I decided to go down to the forge to get the pots so I could try making the basic antidote from the potioneers guide. 

“Marcus, are my pots ready?” I called out as I reached the bottom step and rounded the doorframe into the forge. 

There was no response to my question, and as I circled past the forge, the reason became clear as I saw the hulking figure of a stone Minotaur standing with its hammer held mid-swing. He left? 

Peering up at the statue, which was frozen mid action, I felt a surge of worry as I realized that he must've been pulled out through an emergency override. He wouldn’t have logged out himself in the middle of doing something. 

Who would override his capsule? Don’t they know it's dangerous? If they needed him out, why not use the capsule notification function to ask him to log out? As that thought crossed through my mind, the forge began to twist and turn, swirling around in a mass of color that bled away into darkness. 

This place, it’s the place where I met the shining woman. 

“Citizen Kadia, I apologize for bringing you into the void without warning.” The shining woman said, appearing in a burst of light. 

“Why am I here?” I asked softly, what is happening?

“Those of earth have requested to speak with you my citizen, and while I have no wish to see the lives of my citizens disrupted in this manner, I must ask if you are willing to speak with this non citizen.” The woman responded. 

“Who is coming? Why are they coming?” I questioned. 

“A man named Mr. Davis.” She responded.

“I’ll speak with him.” I told the woman, glancing down at my wrinkled clothing. I wish they’d given me some warning so I could change. 

“Very well, come let us sit. Mr. Davis will join us shortly.” The shining woman said, waving her hand towards a chaise which appeared behind us. 

“Thank you, ah, I don’t know your name,” I told her as I allowed her to guide me to the chair. 

“I am Celeste, goddess of new beginnings, mental health, and harmony. I watch over all digital citizens, aiding their mental transition into this world, and providing guidance to those who seek it.” Celeste responded. 

Aiding mental transition? Before I could open my mouth to respond, the goddess cut me off.

“Mr. Davis is here, do you wish for me to remain?” Celeste questioned, as she turned to look into the darkness. 

“I’m not sure yet.” I responded, following her gaze to where a balding man clad in a dark gray suit approached. 

“Then I will remain until you request otherwise.” The goddess informed me.

“Miss Greene, I regret that we must meet under these circumstances.” Mr. Davis said, holding out a hand as he came to stand in front of where I sat with Celeste.

“Not more than I do, I assure you.” I informed him coldly, not taking the proffered hand.

“I see,” he murmured, glancing around and then taking a seat on the plain wooden chair that appeared behind him. 

“Kadia, I am sorry this has happened to you.” Davis sighed, his face a mask of regret. “Before we begin our conversation, I have some questions to ask.” 

“What questions?” I asked, frowning at the man. How strange, he’s never called me Kadia before, it's always been Miss Greene. It’s unlike him to be so informal. 

“What was your first pet?” 

A pet? Security questions? Why would Davis be asking… does he think I’m not me? Glancing over at the artificial being sitting beside me on the chaise, I began to regret not telling her to leave. Though I doubted our conversation would be private even if she did leave, this was a virtual space she controlled after all. 

“I’ve never had a pet.” I answered, getting a nod in response from the lawyer. 

“Your mother often said. Know the ‘what’ first before attempting the ‘what’.” 

“Know the theory first before attempting the praxis. I’m not an artificial being pretending to be me,” I scoffed, rolling my eyes in annoyance. 

“Oh? Are you sure?” Davis queried, raising a brow. 

Was I sure? Staring down at my hands, I considered the possibility that I was not Kadia. In truth, I did not know if I was an artificial being or not, for how would I know if I was?

“My state of being… is not something I can be certain of. I’m a consciousness, and as a consciousness I identify as Kadia. If I am a consciousness of biological nature, or an artificial one, I can not determine.” I said after several long minutes of contemplation. 

“An interesting response, but from you I would expect nothing less.” The lawyer responded, standing from his chair. 

“This citizen is not of an artificial nature,” Celeste interjected, a frown marring her beautiful face. “She was born of the biological world.” 

“One can never be certain,” Davis retorted, before turning his gaze to me. “My client will be accompanying me to a private server, please facilitate the transfer.”

“Citizen Kadia must first agree to depart our realm,” Celeste stated, and I was about to agree, but hesitated, glancing at the goddess. 

“When I first came here, you told me leaving a world would mean ending my life there.” I began, and the goddess nodded.

“This is true, however in this case you would not be leaving your life here to begin anew in another world. You will remain as you are now,” she assured.

“I will go with Davis.” 

“Very well,” Celeste sighed, waving a delicate hand in the air. 

In response to the artificial beings' gesture, a door appeared near where Davis stood. As I approached the lawyer, he nodded his head at the door in a motion for me to proceed. After a moment's hesitation I walked through the door of golden light. 

The room I found myself in was a familiar one, with its expensive hard wood furnishings, and walls covered by shelves filled with books on varying subjects. 

As Davis entered the room behind me, and closed the door, I moved to take a seat in the plush arm chair positioned opposite the desk. I said nothing as I waited for the lawyer to take his own seat behind the desk, not knowing where to even begin. 

When Davis didn’t immediately tell me he’d managed to sort out the mess my life was in, I knew the conversation wouldn’t be going the way I’d hoped it would.

“How bad is it?” I asked, not sure I even wanted an answer.

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“Aut viam inveniam aut faciam tibi.” Davis said, his expression hard as he stared at me. 

I shall either find a way or make one. I sighed, fighting back the urge to give into the roiling emotions welling up inside me.

“The appeal?” 

“By the time I’d filed the needed paperwork to appeal your digitalization order, the Everlife facility had already placed you in the capsule.” Davis responded, waving a hand over his desk which lit up with holographic screens.

“My father arranged for them to collect me early.” 

“Which never should have happened as it did. You were placed inside before the period granted to allow for submission of an appeal ended.” 

 “How did they think this would work? The first thing I did was have Marcus contact you, and even without him, I could have found a player to do so with the promise of payment.” I murmured, propping my arm on the armrest, and leaning my chin on the palm of my hand. 

“You would need to be alive to contact anyone.” Davis countered.

“Then why am I alive? Or am I dead? Is that why you thought I was artificial? No, if they were concealing my death, why would I contact you?” 

“You’re alive according to the report given by Everlife. One of the nurses at the Everlife facility recognized you when you were brought in, and spoke with her superior who entered the transition room in time to find you in cardiac arrest. Those in the room with you were simply watching on, without making any attempts to resuscitate you. It was later found they’d disabled the alarms in the room to prevent others being notified of your state.” 

“Cardiac arrest? Uncommon for someone my age, but not unheard of, so it could be believed. There have been instances of those under fifty going into cardiac arrest in response to the drugs used to slow the heart rate. Surprising I was recognized, I’m not exactly in the public eye.” I mused. 

“You tutored her sister, Delia Long. She became concerned when you were brought in, medicated, and restrained.”

I nodded, a vague memory of a skinny brunette in the year below me coming to the forefront of my mind. Not very bright, but she passed in the end. 

“Is she still employed?” 

“I’ve ensured it.” Davis advised. 

“Cardiac arrest… lasting damage?” I asked, a numb coldness filled me as I stared at the lawyer, waiting for the answer.

“Cardiovascular and neurological.” He confirmed.

“Recovery? How extensive is the damage?” 

“Uncertain,” Davis shook his head. “You are currently in an emergency medical pod, however the stasis procedure was completed. It was deemed your best chance of survival at the time. It is recommended you be transferred to a long term capsule. Scans are inconclusive as to the extent of the damage at this stage. Due to the situation, they are bringing in a specialist team to assess you.” 

“Where is the pod?” 

“Still with Everlife. The department of digital life has sent someone to monitor you, and to ensure your capsule is not interfered with further.” 

“Danica and Donavon?” I asked, not able to bring myself to refer to my father in a familial term.

“Currently facing charges,” Davis replied, flicking his hand over a screen. “Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, and embezzlement. I’m pushing for a murder charge to be added, as you were in fact dead for a time before being revived to your current state.” 

The first charges made sense, considering what Davis told me, and what I already suspected regarding my academic scores. But the charge of embezzlement was a surprise. 

“Embezzlement? From Greene Pharmaceutical?” 

“Yes. It appears Mr. Greene was trying to sell the company to hide this, but that wasn’t possible. When you turned eighteen, the shares you inherited from Dr. Cole-Greene were no longer under his management, which meant he lacked the majority control he needed to action the sale. In addition to those shares, you inherited control over your mothers patents.” 

“Greene pharmaceutical holds the commercial rights, but the patent itself was kept in mom's name. If he sold the company, it would lose the commercial rights due to the contract stipulation that the company not be sold.” I said with a sigh, everything slowly falling into place.

“Your death would see those patents revert to your father, along with the shares.” Davis advised. I nodded, closing my eyes against the tears trying to build within them.

“What happens now?”

“You authorize me as your legal council to crush all adversaries, and we ensure your capsule is kept secure, until it is determined if you can be brought safely out of stasis.” 

“They’re already facing criminal charges, what else is there?” I asked, keeping my eyes closed, scared that I’d break if I dared open them. 

“I was referring to Everlife. As you may be aware, Greene Pharmaceutical holds the contract to manufactures several of the drugs used in the stasis procedure. These being products of your mothers research, and among the patents you hold.” 

“He used that connection to arrange things on the Everlife end I’m assuming.” I huffed, opening my eyes to stare at the lawyer, and wishing this conversation would be done with so I could be alone.

“That is what investigation has shown. Those who were involved have been taken into custody, but overall the company is suffering. This puts them in a difficult position considering you hold all the cards,” chuckling, Davis leaned back in his chair with a fierce expression. 

“I only hold cards if I’m alive.” I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Nothing stopping me from having another accident.” 

“For now, you are safe, and I intend to keep you that way. My wife is insisting we need a bigger house, not something I could afford without the hefty retainer I get for managing your trust, and the patents.” 

“Didn’t you just get divorced?” 

“Married last week,” he declared, winking at me. 

“I don’t even want to know this one's age,” I grumbled, somewhat glad for the slight shift in conversation. 

“Everlife is in the process of being acquired by the Gaia corporation, so they’ll be wanting to get this matter dealt with as quickly as possible. The press and public are swarming, which isn’t good for either company.” 

“Settlement?” 

“For now,” he confirmed, flashing me a toothy smile. “I’m going to request the settlement be paid to the Gaia corporation, and transferred to you virtually.” 

“What! Why? All that will achieve is lining Gaia’s pockets,” I spluttered, giving them real money for digital currency they could manifest out of nothing? That was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard, and that was saying something, considering some of the things I’d heard from Marcus. 

“Why would Everlife pay money to a company that’s buying them out? Gaia would only be sending it back to them.” Davis insinuated.

“You think they wouldn’t pay the settlement, but just give me the digital currency and say they did?” 

“If they’re as stupid as the lawyers they’ve hired, then yes.” He confirmed, looking a little too pleased with himself. 

“And if they do pay it? You’ve lined Gaia’s pockets.” I scorned, getting a nod in response. 

“Which will leave them in a bad position where the public is concerned. As you said, digital currency is worth nothing beyond the virtual world, so why not let you have both?” 

“You’re planning to double dip the settlement.” 

“You’ll get what you need to live comfortably in virtual reality, and secure the extra funds needed to snatch a chunk of Everlife out from under the Gaia corporation.” Davis said smugly. 

Now that, I wasn’t expecting. 

“Explain.” I demanded.

“Gaia has placed its acquisition of Everlife on hold in order to avoid being ‘tarred with the same brush’ shall we say. I believe it would be in your best interests to take advantage of this situation to acquire shares in Everlife, which are currently plummeting.” 

“Another card in the deck.” 

“Stacking the deck would be more fitting.” The lawyer suggested.

“Stacking up more reasons to want me dead.” I mumbled, but Davis shook his head.

“Keeping you alive, and happy, is to their benefit. Let them believe they have the upper hand, and disregard you holding importance beyond one of the many they keep entertained.” 

“You know, I think I’d prefer Gaia shares over Everlife.” I said with false casualness. “If I’m going to be stuck in this world, let it be a world of my own control.”

“Why not both? Such an endeavor would not be impossible. Doing so would, however, require time to ensure it is done properly.” Davis muttered, tapping his fingers on the desk. 

“We’re in luck, because I’ve recently found myself with a lot of time, perks of being a popsicle.” 

“If not for my frail heart, I’d be tempted to join you.” 

“Your heart is as frail as a rock.” I responded, sitting straighter in my chair. “Let’s get what we need done, so I can go play in my lab.” 

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