Gamers' Rebellion Read Free Page B

areas and –’
    ‘Designer Prime is quite insistent,’ interjected Robbie. ‘Designer Prime is willing to accept responsibility for her actions and offers my services as her guide to ensure her actions and movements remain appropriate.’
    Zyra noticed the hint of a smile on Administrator Welbourne’s face, before it disappeared.
    ‘Very well,’ conceded the Chief Administrator, obviously far from happy with the situation. She got to her feet. ‘My objections will be noted in my report to Designer Alpha. This interview is now over.’
    The other two administrators also got to their feet. A door opened in the wall behind them and all three left.
    ‘What just happened?’ asked Zyra.
    ‘A minor power struggle,’ said Robbie, thoughtfully.

7: Josie and the Rebels

    As the light faded, Tark opened his eyes. Bright spots danced in his vision, obscuring everything. They diminished and a blurry form took shape.
    Messy dark hair, golden brown skin, soft hazel eyes and full lips.
    Tark smiled.
    ‘So, you are awake,’ said the beautiful face.
    Tark suddenly remembered what had been going on. He sprang into a sitting position and almost fell off the table in surprise. Just a short while ago he could barely move a muscle, and here he was sitting up.
    ‘You seem to be recovering quite nicely,’ said the girl. ‘My name is Josie.’
    Josie was short. She was dressed simply in grey cargo pants and black, long-sleeved T-shirt. She was arrestingly beautiful.
    ‘Oh … ah … I is Tark.’
    ‘You is Tark?’ Josie smirked. ‘Don’t you learn how to talk properly inside the Game?’
    ‘There ain’t nuthin’ wrong with the way I is talking,’ said Tark defensively.
    ‘Really?’ Josie sounded less than impressed. ‘Well, maybe not where you come from. But out here you’re going to stick out like a sore thumb if you keep speaking like that. And believe me, you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.’
    The boy who had been giving orders earlier walked into the room carrying a computer tablet. Tark looked around, taking in his surroundings for the first time. The room looked like a cross between a storeroom and a makeshift laboratory. All sorts of medical equipment was sandwiched between crates and boxes. The windows had been covered over with black plastic and masking tape. The whole place had a worn-out ambiance.
    ‘Got the results, boss,’ said the boy.
    ‘Well?’ asked Josie. ‘Spit it out, Devon.’
    ‘He’s perfect!’ Devon handed the tablet to Josie.
    Josie looked at the information on the screen, then back at Tark, arching one eyebrow. ‘Perfect, huh?’
    Tark suddenly felt vulnerable under her gaze. And cold.
    ‘I is naked!’ he announced, surprised.
    ‘Yes,’ agreed Josie, looking him up and down. ‘Yes you are. You have an amazing talent for stating the obvious.’
    Tark’s hands shot out in front of himself, trying to cover up the bits he didn’t really want out on public display.
    ‘Ah … I needs ta have clothes.’
    ‘Sure thing.’ Josie looked to Devon.
    He sighed and went to rummage through a box in the corner of the room. He returned with an old lab coat covered with mysterious technicolour stains. Tark jumped down from the table, snatched the coat from Devon’s hand and hurriedly put it on.
    ‘Better?’ asked Josie.
    ‘It’ll do.’ Tark looked down at himself. The coat was too small. The sleeves were short on him, it barely reached mid-thigh level and the top buttons strained around his chest.
    ‘Very good,’ said Josie. ‘Now, can we get down to business? There’s a lot to fill you in on.’
    ‘Yeah,’ agreed Tark, eyeing Josie suspiciously. ‘How comes I is not looking like I is supposed ta? Where is Zyra? Dids we gets outta the Game?’ He took a step towards Josie, towering over her. ‘And what the hell is you up ta?’

8: Designer Prime

    The door slid open and Robbie ushered Zyra into yet another white room.
    Unlike all the other rooms, this one was