Read Online The Game by Terry Schott - Free Book Online

Now it invites me back in? None of it makes sense.”
      “Don’t start believing the Mainframe had anything to do with your fate, Alex.” Lilith said. “You know the Mainframe is just a computer that creates and maintains a virtual universe. It’s not an intelligent, self-aware creature. It’s no different than this computer console in front of me; it just has a much larger memory and processing speed.”
      “Mainframe has an AI chip, too, Lilith,” Alex said.
      “Yes, but that technology is still very limited and simple. A small amount of artificial intelligence to allow it to process its tasks quicker. That’s it, Alex. No one has made a significant advance in AI technology.”
      “Brandon Strayne might have,” Alex argued. “He made virtual reality seem simple. Maybe he’s succeeded with artificial intelligence as well.”
      “It’s illegal to even try,” Lilith said. “Now let’s stop wasting precious time on a silly topic. Are you ready to play? You go in tomorrow. How did you decide to spend your credits?”
      Alex knew how much guilt Lilith felt from advising her on the last play, so this time, Alex had told everyone that she would assume sole responsibility for how her credits were spent. It was a challenge, though.
      “Are you sure you want to know?” Alex asked. “You might not like what I’ve done.”
      “Nonsense, Alex. I support your strategy, whatever it is.”
      “Okay, then.” Alex handed Lilith the computer tablet with her selections listed on it. “Tell me what you think.”
      Lilith looked at the tablet, then back to Alex. “Where’s the rest? I can’t get it to scroll to the next page.”
    “That’s it. There is no next page.”
      Lilith closed her eyes slowly. Taking deep breaths she remained silent for a full thirty seconds. “I already told you, Alex. If you fail out of the Game again I can’t protect you like last time.”
      “I understand.” Alex said. “I’m not asking you to. This strategy will work.”
      “Well, I don’t understand it. Please explain it to me.”
      “I have limited credits, so I spent a long time looking at all the power ups and scenarios and interactions that I could purchase. I saw a couple of mistakes in the price lists.”
      “What mistakes?” Lilith asked.
      “A few of the more expensive choices were very, very cheap on my price list. I looked them up on the world system, and sure enough, they were high end purchases, but for some reason they were very inexpensive for me to purchase.”
      “Strange…”Lilith said.
      “Or a sign,” Alex said. “So I spent my credits on them. All of my credits. Before you say anything, you know how many credits I was given. There was no way to be conservative and hope for another play if this one fails. My free play is exactly that, it seems. One free play. So I’ve kept it simple. I’ve spent all my credits in very limited areas.”
      “List them off for me, please,” Lilith requested.
      Alex ticked them off on her fingers. “Health, Longevity, Focus.”
      “Health and longevity I understand. I can’t believe the Mainframe will give you what you purchased,” Lilith said. “Focus is an elite and expensive attribute. Only the very wealthy Gamers can buy it, and when they do, it’s often a wasted purchase because their avatars never seem to use it well.”
      “I’ve studied that. I think it’s because they purchase Focus, yet try to use it on too many things in their lives.”
      “Focusing on too many things destroys Focus. Now that you mention it, I think you’re right. Describing it like that makes it seem silly, as if they are clearly not using Focus the correct way at all.”
      “Well, I spent a lot on Focus, Lilith, and I’m going to focus on just one thing when I’m playing.”
      “What’s that?” Lilith asked.
      Alex smiled slyly. “That it’s all a game.”
      Lilith laughed. “There’s no way that will ever work.