Andy screamed as a laser-pulse hit close enough to send a tinge of electricity through his body. The adrenaline rush he felt was amazing. The Swarmish defenders were not going to get the best of him. All I need is a little more energy in this battery pack, Andy said as he completed settings on a small terminal mounted on his knee pad. He was crouched in a corner of a room built with heavy stone masonry.

The dark hallways of the Swarmish warriors house of horror were difficult to navigate, but Andy was determined to emerge in one piece from the prison that had held him for months. Many of his worthy companions had perished in the treacherous traps and hidden passages. More than once he had trusted the wizards and soothsayers, only to be deceived, and beaten or slammed into dank, oily, foul-smelling chambers. Each time his techno-kit and cipher skills had released him, he felt a great victory as he worked his way up to the surface. The light from the dry dusty desert was pouring into Andys hiding place.

Beautiful, Andy said, concentrating on aligning the reticule-sight on top of an elegant metallic satin-finished object in his hand. The solar plate on his handheld weapon sent the much needed energy into his battery pack. He pressed the trigger and a burst of blue light hit the gates enormous lock housing. It melted explosively throwing hot metal in all directions. As he dodged hot projectiles Andy made one last broadcast, Hold them back now, Dragon Slayer, I am going to make my break.

Andy placed his virtual headgear on the console and fell back in his seat. Sweat was rolling down his spine. Wow, that was a great game, Andy said. Twenty-five people were on one network working together to get me out of Disparagon, and fifty more trying to keep me in. Dragon Slayer saved my butt at the last second.

Heads turned toward Andy. A particularly gloomy supervisor pointed out that gaming was not for responsible vanguards of the nations records-keeping complex. Break time is over Andy, he said in a dull voice. Youll never save the world with those silly games.

Well, maybe not today, but someday we just might, Andy said, as he shook off the cosmic euphoria that gaming gave him - Someday.



Truxdeck station was quiet and dark until three carriers slipped into the station carrying thirty Troopers in full combat gear. They had an objective and proceeded from the cars across the platform onto Midquad Street looking like black ants spilling into any crack in the street they came across. The plan was to retrace the trail left by Mark2 and Andy before it got too cold. Hopefully it would lead them to the Manabone hideout and the Black Panther computer. The orders were to destroy the computer and anyone found nearby, retreat out of the city and reengage the boundary fence. A couple of shadows changed shape in a darkened doorway in a building down a side street from the station as the Troopers arrived. Two Cyberdogs became alert as the soldiers poured onto the street. Their sensors set off an alarm at the Manabone control center. Lockdown now! Activate perimeter defense, Hannibal barked out the orders.

The Troopers were across the street from the old vault, scanning the building. The front doors were open, askew, as if they were left that way by someone exiting in a hurry. The Troopers grouped and proceeded to pick their way toward the building, spreading out and staying behind as much protective cover as was available. The Tri-ops computer a few blocks away was counting targets and setting in coordinates. It hit its maximum count of twenty-five and activated the boundary-laser mounted high on the portal over the vault entrance. Twenty five Troopers were burned to cinders as they tried to scatter. The survivors hid behind a marble block at the side of the vault steps, took aim and fired at the boundary-laser. The device and a large chunk of the vault portal crashed onto the steps, sending dust and debris cascading down the marble steps.

Two Cyberdogs with mouths wide open and feet clacking on the pavement came up behind the Troopers at high speed. Each attacked a target. The victims spun around just a little too late. The steel teeth shredded arms, weapons and uniforms. Blood flew like a light warm rain onto the remaining three Troopers as they turned with grim looks on their faces. They terminated the dogs. Then there was silence. They scanned the area nothing.



After the dust settled across the Denver, Midwest and Southern Sectors, Andy and Sandra were poised to start the ultimate Cyber Voyager game. This one used the Talisman to its fullest and all the Level 10 players in the realm were guardians to make sure the game kept running.

This is it, Andy said looking at Sandra beaming with delight.

This is a big moment, Sandra said. The world may never be the same.

Andy typed in the commands to launch the Talisman and then the game code. He typed in Andy Master Lance Maker and the code came to life.



Gunter Habsburg Steiger walked down the two steps into the conversation pit. This was where the Steigers met and had their most private conversations. He faced several of the younger members of the family, sitting on either side of the walkway and one very old man holding a walking stick who was standing on his right.

Whats going on Uncle? said a voice to his left.

We had news that the company holdings are on a decline, said a voice on the right.

The old man said, The Steiger name in being questioned. What are we going to do about that?

Gunter sat in his big chair with the high back at the end of the group. Planning for the future began and ran into the night.