Carnival - A LitRPG Apocalypse

“Sorry kid. I didn’t realise what had happened to you over the years. I just forgot about you.”

“It’s ok John. I was angry before but now I can’t remember why and I don’t feel that way anymore,” said Ryan.

John was deep underground in Pete’s “Lair” beneath Mount Snowdon in north Wales. There wasn’t a heap of gold and jewels with a slumbering beast on top. It was organically clinical. The entire lair was an extension of the Dragon currently blinking a red-gold eye at him; the walls lined with one of Pete’s bioconstructs converted into a massive biological wallpaper.

The walls didn’t pulse and the floor wasn’t sticky but there were veinlike bumps that ran across the otherwise smooth surface in regular intervals. Perhaps the most obvious giveaway was the sphincter doors lined with tiny sharp teeth. Bioluminescent nodules hung from the ceiling in deference to the humans, brave or stupid, that agreed to work here. Most of them were biologists before the system or had flesh tinker abilities that most people found revolting.

They weren’t proscribed as often as psykers but after the Minders, renegade psykers who stayed off the grid as much as possible, biotinkers were the next most heavily controlled ability set. For good reason as well; tailored diseases were no joke.

Ryan was bound to his gurney still. Thin tubes ran into his neck and skull giving him pale grey dreadlocks that pulsed occasionally.

“There’s nothing more he can tell us. His mind wasn’t tampered with, the only thing this Goodman bloke did was make an offer, tamper with the system somehow, and dump nearly 200 million Essence on him.”

“How did you end up with the Reich?” John asked gently. Ryan wore a peaceful expression that John found deeply disturbing. If this was what Pete could do to a collared subject… no wonder people were terrified of him.

“Goodman set that up, John. He was very nice. Very polite. He had friends in the Barons organisations who brought me in.”

“Before you ask, the contacts were at the Topping earlier. They’re gone. Clearly Goodman compartmentalises his operations very effectively and isn’t afraid to burn an asset in a good cause,” offered the Dragon. His mouth didn’t move properly with the words but they came through clearly in a voice that sounded like continental plates colliding. There was a rumbling inevitability to it that even John found unnerving.

“A good cause?” John raised an eyebrow. The Dragon lacked the facial muscles necessary to smile or frown so the only option was judging him by his words and tone.

“From his perspective no doubt it was a valuable trade off. We lost more Signatories today than any day for years. The Swarm of ‘33 is the last time so many died.”

John sighed for the umpteenth time today. He remembered the Swarm. Some Minder asshole had taken control of the forward scouts. One was a technophage who had disrupted the drones and automated defences. No one knew what was coming until five million angry wasps were a mile from the Wall. That had been the first time he’d met Starfall and Breaker, they’d both been newly minted sweepers, assigned to watch a stretch of the wall. The Minder purge that followed had been a bloody affair.

“Fair point.” John looked down at Ryan and his mask slid down his face into his collar. “Ryan. Time to go.” Ryan met John’s eyes and smiled happily. John cringed inside as he teleported the man’s head into the void, quickly followed by his body.

“Maybe you should have kept him alive for Mindscar or another psyker to go over?” suggested the Dragon but John just shrugged in response.

Team Report:

You have killed one human (level 41): Essence per kill 433494436

Essence per team member: 433494436

Teamchat:

Stormwitch: So he’s dead then.

Traveller: Yes sweetheart. Please Evie, stay at the Wall? The Raj have pulled back most of their troops in the south. It’s going to get messy.

Stormwitch: I’m already there Dad. I know my job.

Reg: What the feck is going on Sassenach?

NumberOneDorisDayFan: I’ve sent you an info pack Reg.

NumberOneDorisDayFan: Jesus Evie, is now the time to be fucking around with our chat names?

Stormwitch: I did that last week, Bob. If you used teamchat more you’d have noticed. If the Raj are being dicks we’ve got more important things to worry about. I was supposed to be on leave till next Sunday!

Traveller: I’ll relieve you after I speak with the bloody Council kid.

Stormwitch: Thanks. Have fun with Sarah.

Sunstrike: Mindscar is the least of our problems, honey.

Traveller: Says the woman who doesn’t have to go and deal with her. Getting out of the Council was a smart move on your part, love.

OWA: Raoul is still out but he should recover. He needs to wake up and activate his ability, then he’d be fine in a few hours, but he isn’t coming round.

Stormwitch: What about Ryn’s buds?

NumberOneDorisDayFan: Scared but they’ll live.

Sunstrike: You know your Dad is a bad influence, John? He’s teaching Ryn and Bad some really rude songs.

Traveller: It could be worse. Look, I’m going to level and head to the council. No point in keeping them waiting longer than I have to. You guys should level up as well.

You have chosen to spend 433494437 Essence and advance to level 42.

New Status:

Level: 42

Name: John Borrows

Ability: Teleportation

Constitution: 100%

Reserves: 216000

Ability: Teleportation. A shut in who hates to travel. You’ve barely left your house for years and now you can go wherever you like at a thought. Have fun with that.

Guidelines:

Maximum weight: 72900 tons

Maximum Distance: 17820000 km

Modifications:

Level 2: How about we split the difference?

Level 3: Weight limit x5

Level 4: Portion control.

Level 5: Maximum Weight X5

Level 6: Maximum Distance X3

Level 7: Reserve Regeneration rate X5 (base regen 25% per minute)

Level 8: Where did I leave my keys?

Level 9: Maximum Distance X3

Level 10: Maximum Distance X5

Level 11: Maximum Weight X3

Level 12: Maximum Weight X2

Level 13: Maximum Distance X5

Level 14: Maximum Distance X2

Level 15: Maximum Weight X3

Level 16: Maximum Distance X3

Level 17: Reserve Capacity X2

Level 18: Maximum Weight X3

Level 19: Reserve Capacity X3

Level 20: Class One Enhancement: Cybernetic integration. Your cybernetics will be extended along all your nerves to enhance reflex and thought speed. A reflexive blink has been added to your repertoire. If you see something coming you will teleport out of the way. You can dodge bullets now! Probably.

Level 21: Maximum Weight X2

Level 22: Utility portals: for a flat cost of 100 reserves open a 2x2m portal. The exit can be set anywhere you are able to teleport to. Costs reserves every second to maintain.

Level 23: Maximum Distance X3

Level 24: Reserves x2

Level 25: Reserves x3

Level 26: Maximum Weight X3

Level 27: Reserves x4

Level 28: Maximum Distance X2

Level 29: Maximum Distance X4

Level 30: Maximum Distance X5

Level 31: Maximum Weight X5

Level 32: Maximum Distance X2

Level 33: Flexible portals: Increasing the size of temporary portals is possible, reserve cost varies based on size.

Level 34: Reserves x3

Level 35: Maximum Distance X3

Level 36: Maximum Weight X2

Level 37: Reserves x5

Level 38: Maximum Weight X3

Level 39: Maximum Distance X5

Level 40: Class Two Enhancement: Ability Refinement: Molecular Teleportation. Sometimes going big isn’t the right answer. Stripping electrons or protons from matter can have dramatic consequences.

Level 41: Maximum Distance X3

Level 42: Maximum Weight X3

“When the hell am I ever going to need to move 73000 tons over 17 million kilometres? That feels like it should be used for space combat, not on Earth,” he muttered.

“Nice. I just get more constructs and weight when I don’t get a named mod. At least you get a real spike in power instead of more of the same, just bigger,” grumbled the Dragon. “John, I really think we should look at a bioweapon for the ants and the wasps. Maybe the worms and megascorps in the Sahara as well? We can deal with the problem without damaging any other species or wrecking the planet.”

“You make a new species that you can guarantee won’t jump to predating anything other than the target I’ll support you. Can you make that promise?”

The Dragon snorted, blowing a blast of warm air across John that made him slide his nictitating secondary eyelids closed. “Not a guarantee. But the odds of it jumping are tiny! It’s statistically so remote it’s about as likely as Reg stopping swearing!”

“That could happen.” Pete raised a metre long draconic eyebrow, one of the few facial expressions his real body could manage. “Well it’s not impossible. Look, send the data over to Sharon. She’ll take a gander and if she says it’s ok then I’ll push it to the council.”

“Sharon is dead, John,” the Dragon said softly. “She was with Anna when Ryan started his attack.” John began swearing and pacing up and down, rubbing a hand over his bald head.

“Send it to me. I’ll take a look, I promise.” John’s voice had gone cold. Sharon had been his right hand woman since she returned from her third wave. She had become a dear friend and her loss struck him harder than any of the others. He dreaded getting the final butcher's bill for Ryan’s attack.

“Do you ever want to leave the Accords?” asked Pete.

John blinked and looked the Dragon over. Reptilian body language, even scaled up to nearly sixty metres from nose to tail, was a mystery to him.

“The only thing that keeps us in them is that we choose to. Gemini worship the ground you walk on and they’re the only people higher level than you. Sometimes the only way to fix something is to flush it all away.”

“Not anymore they aren’t. I just passed them.” John sounded sad as he said this.

“Maybe the time of the Accords has passed John? They worked after the waves to keep the factions from killing each other but now? They're a bone of contention and perhaps some of those complaining have a point. If the Carnival leads the way we could make a real change rather than this grinding stalemate with the monsters. The void is still coming.”

“Didn’t think you were an Abolitionist, Pete. I need to go to Unity, mate. I’ll come back and we can talk more about this when the current crisis is sorted,” John smiled at his friend, worried at Pete taking this tack. If the Dragon decided to go his own way there wasn’t much any of them could do about it short of what the ancients would have described as a war between the gods.

“Thanks John. I’d like that. Good luck with Mindscar.” The massive body pivoted and slid gracefully into the shadows that lead to his breeding vats. As the tail vanished into a tunnel the light caught the gold that lined his scales and John was forced to blink. With a grimace John vanished. He couldn’t put this off any longer.

He appeared on Unity in the Council Chamber. Bloody arrogant dickheads setting up yet another level of bureaucracy. Mindscar, once the boss of the Inheritors, looked up and smiled thinly from the central seat. Belisarius was sat next to her, clad in bulky power armour of his own manufacture, face hidden by an helm crafted to resemble an eagle.

Paramanuvignakarta, the highest ranked Signatory from the Raj, scowled from within his brightly coloured lycra suit. He had always refused any of Bob’s armour patterns and Belisarius only produced equipment for himself and his own team.

Param sneered. “Well this is a bit of an issue John,” he said. “Care to explain how Wayfaire screwed up their security so badly?” The other seven seats were empty. John moved to his own throne-like chair, suppressing a scowl at the ostentation, and plonked down with a sigh. Why did it have to be the three most unpleasant and antagonistic council members?

“We didn’t screw this up. Something unprecedented came along you pr- Look, Bob is preparing a data pack that should be with you shortly. Someone out there can spoof Identify, they manipulated an agent with a grudge into making an attack after they power leveled him to forty one.”

Mindscar snorted. “I trust the proof for this outrageous claim will be compelling?” she asked. “Wayfaire is vital to the global economy, if we can’t trust the safeguards we’ve put in place for portal access the panic is going to ruin us.”

“Identify me. I’m level forty two. I got the Essence from the perpetrator when I executed him.”

“Perhaps that was a little premature, John? I could have spent some time in his head and gotten the truth of this,” Mindscar said softly.

“How can you prove the Identify was altered? And if it was how can we trust the information you return?” asked Belisarius in a mechanical voice. John honestly wasn’t sure the man was even in the suit at the table. He could remote pilot them easily enough.

“I can’t show you my log history. Bob and Pete both confirmed it. As did Evie, Flash and Vic.”

“Your family and friends all back your claims? Compelling!” chuckled Param. “John, I’m sorry. I just cannot take this seriously. Identify has been infallible since the Advent!”

“This wasn’t an attack on me. Yes it was my old faction that lost people, thanks very fucking much for asking, and my team that has a member in critical care at the moment. Param, I know you’re a good man. You’re true to your people. Whatever differences the Raj has with their neighbours you know they can’t pull back from the Wall. Please would you speak to the Royal Court?” asked John.

“You know we renounce all ties to our former factions. I carry no weight with Her Majesty,” lied Param. Of all the Signatories Param was the one who ignored that rule the most. Closely followed by Mindscar.

“Nonetheless, the voice of a hero might sway them back to sanity. If they move against the Khan in the north or even worse the Caliphate we’ll have to activate clause seven and intercede,” John replied more calmly, fighting down his urge to slap some sense into the man.

“Perhaps a word from one such as me might sway Her Majesty somewhat, I am still a paragon of my nation. I will consider it,” Param smiled.

John would take it. Flattery usually worked on the egotistical bruiser.

“We need to amend the rotas. We lost a dozen casters and just won’t have the members to sweep the Wall and the Lines like usual until more recruits come through. Can you help with that?” John looked at Mindscar as he finished. The powerful psyker had long since finagled her way into the position of chairwoman of the Accords.

“I’m not sure what we can shake loose, John. Any chance you could step up? You spend a lot of time messing about with Bob in his Bunker that surely isn’t vital.”

“We’re trying to replicate my ability with tech. Being able to open a portal without me is absolutely vital work. If I die… will the portals close? We don’t know. I’ll tell you this for nothing: if the council and the Signatories don’t step up I’ll be forced to take action. Up to and including requiring assistance or the portals get shut down.” Anger had crept back into his voice. These people hardly ever left their little enclaves and hadn’t held a Line for a couple of years. Yet they were demanding he and his team cover for this attack on the foundation of the post system society?

“There are alternatives. You are not irreplaceable. I myself have developed a new flyer that matches those egg things Bob makes,” rumbled Belisarius.

Match my ass! This knock off merchant just cloned the design and gave it a new, less efficient chassis! grumbled Bob on his and John's private channel. That might actually have been the motive for the attack. Killing you would end the peace the Accords enforce. Threatening to close the portals might backfire if they call your bluff. It is a bluff, right?

“Nothing quite as convenient though. I’m happy to dedicate all my time to the Lines until we can stabilise the situations but those forces who’ve pulled back need to get back on station and the rest of you need to step up.” John politely ignored Bob’s voice in his head. Sometimes his friend gave him only too vivid an experience of schizophrenia. Alas the voices in his head weren’t imaginary.

“We will see what we can do. Belisarius, you have some additional suits available for the Americas?” asked Mindscar.

The eagle helm nodded slowly. “I have some new schematics that could benefit from combat trials. This would free up the Halo’s and Justice Refined teams to serve elsewhere.”

“Param, you will speak to your Queen and request she push her troops back into position and perhaps remind her of the lesson the Imperium learned ten years ago?” Param scowled but reluctantly nodded at Mindscar. “Thank you. I’ll speak to the others. I’m sure we can shake something else loose to secure the Lines while we recover our losses. John, I’ll expect a complete report from you on today's catastrophe. This is a bad hit for our reputation. If our headsman can’t even keep his own home safe, why should anyone fear us?”

“As a rule I don’t want to be feared, Sarah. And fuck off with your reports. Bob will send through everything we’ve got and that will be your lot,” John snarled. Mindscar narrowed her eyes at his rejection of her authority and, even worse, his use of her old name. She only went by Mindscar now. At least that was the only name she tolerated being called to her face. “Whoever this Goodman is should be very afraid. I’ve lost friends today. When I find this prick he’s going to get the same treatment I gave Adrian.” John’s face was now as emotionless as his voice.