Chaos Unchained- The Mad Smith Read online

  A Quantum Mortalis LitRPG Novel

  By

  Brock E. Deskins

  Copyright ©2018 by Brock E. Deskins

  Dingo Dog Publishing

  Cover Illustration Copyright © 2018

  Copyright, Legal Notice and Disclaimer:

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Books by Brock E. Deskins

  The Sorcerer’s Path

  The Sorcerer’s Ascension (Audio Version)

  The Sorcerer’s Torment (Audio version)

  The Sorcerer’s Legacy (Audio Version)

  The Sorcerer’s Vengeance

  The Sorcerer’s Scourge

  The Sorcerer’s Abyss

  The Sorcerer’s Return

  The Sorcerer’s Destiny

  Rise of the Order

  Descent Into Chaos (Coming Soon)

  BROOKLYN SHADOWS

  Shrouds of Darkness (Audio Version)

  Blood Conspiracy (Audio Version)

  Primacy of Darkness

  THE TRANSCENDED CHRONICLES

  The Miscreant (Audio Version)

  The Agent (Audio Version)

  EMPIRE OF MASKS

  Highlords of Phaer

  Nightbird

  Mourningbird

  Stormbearer (Coming Soon)

  OTHER BOOKS BY BROCK E. DESKINS

  The Portal

  Amelia: Battle for Ardentia

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1: Meltdown

  Chapter 2: Launch Day

  Chapter 3: The Mad Smith

  Chapter 4: A Heavy Price to Pay

  Chapter 5: Ghost in the Machine

  Chapter 6: Awakened

  Chapter 7: Fallout

  Chapter 8: Meet Thy Maker

  Chapter 9: The Essence of Being

  Chapter 10: Trolled

  Chapter 11: The Gods Must be Crazy

  Chapter 12: Trail of Fears

  Chapter 13: Breaking Quarantine

  Chapter 14: Viper Pit

  Chapter 15: Merc’d

  Chapter 16: Exodus

  Chapter 17: Hounded

  Chapter 18: Heart of Darkness

  Chapter 19: Shibo

  Chapter 20: It Takes a Village

  Epilogue

  Jandar and Nyx’s Final Character Sheets

  From the Author

  About the Author

  Chapter 1: Meltdown

  IN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, Quantum Mortalis was going live. While it was a virtual MMORPG, it was far more than a mere game. It was a triumph of humanity and the pioneer of many firsts. It was the first full immersion virtual world, meaning all visual, auditory, and haptic feedback was sent directly into the corresponding centers of the brain.

  The amount of data required to replicate every facet of true existence and render it in real-time was beyond the capabilities of any quantum computer in existence.

  That is, until a brilliant engineer and programmer got together and combined the vast storage and parallel processing power of a DNA-based system and the speed and flexibility of topological quantum computer.

  The system was able to create a virtual world that included smell and taste and physical sensation identical to that of the “real” world. The physical and virtual were on the verge of becoming indistinguishable.

  It was also why it was the first virtual reality system to require accreditation by not only the FCC but the American Health Association, Federal Department of Agriculture, the World Health Organization, and similar agencies across a multitude of nations.

  When the alpha testers began showing changes in their neural pathways, the FDA and AMA got involved. It took five years of rigorous study to determine that not only did frequent full immersion not harm the brain; it actually helped bridge and reroute damaged sections better and faster than traditional cognitive therapy for people suffering motor function and speech impairment due to traumatic brain injury.

  While creating a significant release schedule setback, it opened an entirely new market aimed at high-dollar subscriptions to hospitals and the military without requiring a single additional line of code. Just immerse the patient in the VR world, have them play the game, and let the brain do its thing. That alone was worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year worldwide.

  But none of this would have been possible without the first, and only, DNA-based quantum computer, the brainchild of Darcy Magnani and Edison Pushard. The pair had been working on solving the parallel quantum-computing conundrum nearly their entire lives.

  Darcy was an engineer specializing in quantum mechanics and architecture. Fifteen years ago, she had announced that she was certain she could build such a supercomputer given enough resources and someone capable of creating the AI to make it more than a complex, insanely powerful calculator.

  That was when Quantum Technologies, a subsidiary of Global Online Development, stepped in and introduced Darcy to Edison Pushard. Edison was a programmer of mythical stature within the computer technologies field.

  It was his code running in every self-driving car, voice-controlled device, and computer operating system from smart watches to mainframes. He created the first fully interactive AI, but he claimed he could do far better if he only had a computer capable of running the topological quantum operating code he had invented.

  Global Online Development, or GOD, was the largest online gaming provider in the world. More than half of every multiplayer game, and nearly every virtual reality game, belonged to GOD. Their global profits put them on the GDP list with the top ten industrialized nations in the world. While at the bottom end of that list, they were a big deal, and they were about to become enormous.

  The fact that GOD was going to use the world’s first DNA-based parallel quantum computer for a game caused an international uproar. But how can you argue with GOD? They had put up the capital for its research and development. They held the patents, the details of which were not on file with any agency and secured in their impenetrable compound. They had the only engineer in the world who knew how to build a hybrid DNA quantum computer, and the only programmer capable of writing its operating system.

  Rumor had it that GOD was in the process of building a second system, but the first one had cost nearly a trillion dollars to make. Of course, now that the research and testing was done, another one would not cost a tenth of that, but even GOD had its limits.

  The corporation had leveraged every dollar, asset, and loan it could get its hands on to pay for it, and they needed to start turning a profit very soon or their house of cards would come crashing down. Global Online Development had bet the house on Quantum Technologies, and it would be the creation of Heaven on earth or an act of deicide with a blade forged from the almighty dollar.

  Edison strode down the pristine halls made mostly of glass and gleaming chrome, looking like some kind of futuristic sci-fi backdrop. Considering what was kept in a vault that made Fort Knox look like a child’s piggy bank five stories below ground, he guessed that’s exactly what it was.

  He walked with his head held high, beaming back the smiles and nods like a king appreciating the adoration of the peasants around him. No, he was more like the king’s wizard. Wise and all-powerful, he used his magic to keep the king on his thron
e and to elevate his kingdom above all others.

  He was answering a summons from his liege, Vincent Kurtz, President of Online Activities at Quantum Technologies, or QT as insiders called it. Quantum Mortalis was going online tomorrow, and he assumed Vincent wanted to check in with him so he could assure the board and stockholders that everything was going as planned. Which it was, only it was going to go according to his plan, not theirs.

  Edison allowed himself a smug smile of satisfaction before wiping it away as he entered Vincent’s office. He found Darcy and Michael Cho, a man he liked to refer to as his understudy, already seated in front of Vincent’s desk. Michael wasn’t his real name, but he preferred it because it made him sound more American. The last vestiges of Edison’s smile vanished at the sight of the grave expressions written on all three of their faces.

  He gave his coworkers a quick nod and said, “Vincent. What’s up?”

  Vincent extended a hand toward the empty chair between Darcy and Michael. “Have a seat, Edison.”

  Edison felt a slight tremor in his stomach as he sat down. “Is there something wrong with the launch tomorrow?”

  “No, thanks to Michael and Darcy having discovered your act of sabotage and removing the offending code.”

  Edison’s eyes flashed between his coworkers, his sudden sense of dread evaporating under the intense heat of his anger. “Offending code? It’s the code you forced me to write that is offensive! I originally designed the game to be survival mode only with permadeath. It was what set it apart from every other VR MMO on the market beyond the full immersion capabilities.”

  “And the board decided against it,” Vincent said, his voice rising just a bit but not enough to match Edison’s ire. “It was decided that permadeath would dissuade too many players, players who are going to spend a lot of money for their subscriptions and would not appreciate weeks or months of hard work vanishing due to a failed boss raid or just plain bad luck. You had no right or authority to make that change.”

  “No right? I created Quantum Mortalis. I am Quantum Mortalis!”

  “What you are is unemployed,” Vincent said flatly.

  Darcy broke the sudden, awkward silence. “Vincent, there was no actual damage done. Surely there’s another way we can handle this?”

  “No. Edison has become a liability we cannot afford. I’ve already spoken to the board and they agreed with me. This is the only suitable response.” Vincent turned his eyes back onto Edison. “Security is waiting outside the door to escort you from the building. Your personal effects will be mailed to you. You are no longer allowed to step foot anywhere near Global Online Technology property either physically or digitally.”

  A smile devoid of humor curled the corners of Edison’s mouth. “You can’t fire me. Who’s going to run Matrice?” he demanded, using the name he had chosen for his quantum AI.

  “You have done an excellent job training Michael. He’s the one who spotted your malicious code. Besides, Matrice is almost completely autonomous at this point, self-repairing and with self-code generation. You did good work, Edison. So good you worked yourself out of a job.”

  “Sorry, Edison,” Michael said with a shrug.

  Edison turned his fury onto the man. “Fuck you, Cho! You think you can replace me? You wouldn’t know the difference between counterfactual quantum computation and your own asshole!”

  Michael leapt from his chair and grabbed his crotch. “Fuck you, Edison! Suck my sticky rice balls, you egotistical prick!”

  Vincent pushed a button on the underside of his desk, and a pair of armed security men marched in and grabbed Edison by the arms.

  Edison whipped his head back and forth between the two stern-faced men before glaring at Vincent. “We’ll see how well I trained Cho when something goes wrong, and I promise you, something will go wrong!”

  “Edison, need I remind you of your contractual obligations and the legal ramifications should you violate it? You are required to provide technical assistance at any time, even after the event of your termination of employment. Should we find you have done anything to interfere with Matrice’s normal operating procedure, you will be held criminally and civilly liable.”

  Vincent made a brushing motion with his hand. The security guards turned Edison about and pushed him toward the door.

  “This isn’t the end, Vincent!” Edison shouted over his shoulder as his heels slid and skipped across the smooth floor. “QT is nothing without me! I am Quantum Mortalis. I am Quantum Mortalis!” he continued to shout, his voice ringing down the hall and echoing off the walls until distance attenuated it enough to silence it.

  “I had hoped that would have gone better,” Vincent said once he could no longer hear Edison’s protests.

  “Then you don’t know Edison like I do,” Darcy replied. “I anticipated the expectoration of gratuitous amounts of bodily fluids. The man is more than passionate about Matrice and QM. He’s positively obsessed.”

  Vincent pursed his lips and frowned. “Can you and your teams prevent him from further sabotage?”

  “As you said, Matrice is now autonomous and self-correcting,” Michael replied. “She has finished creating the world simulation and will do everything in her considerable power to protect it. Even if he were somehow able to remotely log in, the odds of him being able to do much if any damage is miniscule.”

  “You’re certain? This is the only quantum supercomputer in existence. There are no backups or restore points if something catastrophic were to happen. It would take half the server farms in the world to even attempt a facsimile of a full backup.”

  Darcy shook her head. “Michael’s right. Matrice’s self-correcting algorithms are the most sophisticated ever written by orders of magnitude. Her self-awareness simply won’t allow disruptions or outside manipulation. All commands sent to the AI kernel have to come from the admin terminal, and it’s air-gapped, so it’s impossible to access it from a remote location.”

  Vincent gave them both a grim nod. “Very well. Have your teams work overtime tonight and perform another system scrubbing just to make sure Edison didn’t leave any packages behind. It certainly wouldn’t be unlike him to do such a thing in anticipation of this potentiality. We cannot afford any further delays or disruptions.”

  Darcy nodded. “Don’t worry. Tomorrow’s launch will go off without a hitch. Not even Edison can change that.”

  “Excellent.”

  Darcy left with Michael, wishing she could reassure herself as much as she had Vincent.

  Chapter 2: Launch Day

  EDDY SHINKLE’S EYES FLICKED away from the indecipherable, for most people, code and down to the clock displayed in the corner of his screen for probably the twentieth time in the last hour. Quantum Mortalis was scheduled to go online at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The exact same time he got off work.

  He had seriously considered calling in sick today just so he could log in the instant it went live but thought better of it. He was one of the handful of beta testers that had been playing for almost two years. Even if he wasn’t one of the first ones to roll up their new character, he had a huge head start on 99.9% of the people who were already sitting in their most comfortable chair or stretched out on their beds with their neural link helmets on just waiting for the green light.

  It was a shame QT did not let the beta testers keep their characters and the loot they had acquired. His level 57 Templar, a kind of paladin built for kicking ass, would rule. That was fine though. He enjoyed character development as much as he did lording his power and superiority over others. Well, almost as much.

  “Hey, Eddie, we’re going out for brews and hot wings after work. Want to come?” Donte asked over the top of his cubicle. “Oh, that’s right; your new game is dropping today. Hey, maybe next time. You can even bring your girlfriend. Do imaginary elves eat hot wings, or are they strict vegetarians?”

  Laughter erupted from several mouths hidden behind the partitions. God, how he hated the guys from marketing.
Nothing but a bunch of preppy frat boys hired for their ridiculously white smiles and bullshit-slinging ability.

  Meet me in game and talk shit, assholes, Eddie thought as he imagined his Templar using Divine Justice to cleave through Donte’s skull with his sword. They’re probably just jealous because they’d most likely have to ask their parents for the money to buy the hardware and pay the insanely expensive subscription since they spend all their money on beer and hot wings.

  Buying into Quantum Mortalis was no cheap feat. The hardware alone cost over five grand and the subscription was an insane fifteen-hundred dollars a month. Most people would think such an expensive subscription would severely limit subscribers to just a handful of ultra-wealthy, but they would be wrong.

  Granted, your run of the mill middle-class player was most likely going to use a rental service and VR café for pay-to-play connectivity, but for people like Eddie, it was a small price to pay for a complete second life. One that was superior to the “real one” in so many ways. Even if he had not gotten the hardware free as part of his beta testing, he would have forked over the cash without a second thought.

  He had a decent paying job and lived simply. Paying the average rental cost of a city apartment for another life was nothing. Especially when one could experience almost a week of digital life over an analog weekend thanks to the time dilation used during immersion. And since immersion happened during REM sleep, the entire experience occurred during a time that was completely wasted on useless, unscripted dreaming.

  That was all full immersion really was. Just a digitally induced lucid dream with extraordinary resolution and coherence. Since the brain received the same stimuli in dreams as it did in real life, there was no need for bulky haptic suits with years of sweat and old farts permeating the fabric.

  Everything happened inside your own mind. No visors, no speakers, no electric shocks or vibrations from a haptic suit to create a poor facsimile of reality. Just power up the proprietary workstation, slip on the neural interface helmet, or NIH, and live the life you could literally only dream of.