When I woke up the next day, I told Katy to send the files that Liam had given us yesterday to Sarah who worked at a law firm as a paralegal with a message asking her to get one of her colleagues to look over it if they had the time while I had my breakfast.

“Is something wrong Tyler?” my AI asked as I pensively pushed my toast around my plate for a few moments while I tried to decide something.

“I was just thinking that I should tell my parents that I have a new job,” I replied with a sigh. “But there’s just one problem and I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but that problem is you.”

“You mean because you named me after your sister?” she asked calmly, and I reminded myself that despite how human she seemed most of the time she was actually an AI and as such was far less likely to take things the wrong way.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I don’t think that they’ll be particularly happy to find out about that.”

“Well let me put it this way Tyler,” Katy sighed. “You will have to tell them about me eventually and the longer that you keep me secret from them the less likely that they’ll be to take it well.”

“That’s a good point,” I admitted as I came to a decision. “Alright let me finish my breakfast and I’ll give them a call.”

“Good,” Katy replied as I shoved the last piece of toast in my mouth.

Once I had finished my breakfast, I quickly cleaned the dishes before returning to the table and letting Katy know that I was ready for her to call my parents. As soon as I said this the same screen that I occasionally watched tv on lit up and a ringing sound echoed through the speakers for a few moments before my mother’s face appeared on the screen.

We sat there watching each other for a few moments while we tried to work out what we were going to say. I noticed that my mother’s previously brown hair was greyer than it did the last time that I had seen, and her face had a few more wrinkles but the really worrying thing was how tired she looked.

“Hey mum,” I said eventually. “How are you doing?”

“We’re pretty good here,” the tired woman replied with a tight smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Why are you calling Tyler? Did something happen?”

I flinched at the worry in her voice that was slipping through the calm expression on her face. It wasn’t surprising to me that she was worried about me since she was my mother, but it did hurt that she thought that was the only reason that I was calling her.

“Yes, something did happen,” I nodded as I gave her the most reassuring smile that I could. “I got a new job. One that pays far better than the one that I have right now.”

“Really?” my mother asked and this time a bit of skepticism slipped through causing me to flinch once again. “How did you get this job?”

“Well, I just stumbled onto it really,” I replied awkwardly as I realized how hard this was going to be to believe. “But Gransoft Entertainment offered me a job as what is known as a Game Master or Mod. Which basically means that it will be my job to make sure that other players aren’t breaking the rules of what they’re allowed to do in the game and check out any issues with the game itself that pop up.”

“And you actually get paid for doing this?” my mother asked again in the same doubting tone of voice.

“Yes,” I nodded. “I get paid about 3000 credits a month which is several times what I was paid working at the store. I asked a friend of mine to show the contract that they gave me to one of the lawyers that she works with and if there are no problems I could start in as little as a week.”

I usually got about 750 credits a month while working at the shop these days which was enough to pay the bills and most of my food bill. I used to get around a thousand credits a month before the shop fell on hard times and that was actually enough for me to live a relatively good life and even save a few credits every week which combined with the small amounts of money I occasionally got from selling items in some of the other games allowed me to afford to pre-order Soul Core Online. However, the 3000 credits a month that Gransoft were going to pay me didn’t include the other things that they had promised me. Gransoft had also promised to provide me with a prototype VR Rig that they were developing and that they would pay some of both my power and internet bills since I would be working from home, but I figured that my mum would be even less likely to believe that, so I decided to keep it to myself for now.

“Really?” my mother asked hopefully. “You’re not just trying to make us stop worrying about you?”

“No, I’m completely serious,” I replied. “I know that it’s not what you had in mind as a career for me but it’s what I want to do. Gransoft Entertainment has been very good to me and the other people who pre-ordered their game as well.”

“That’s the company that gave out a bunch of advanced AIs to the people who pre-ordered their game right?” my mother asked with a grin as I blinked in surprise. “We might not like games much but that doesn’t mean that we don’t keep up with the news and that was quite a big deal. Your father’s company is even on the waiting list for one of those new Ai’s. By the way you have one, right?”

“Uh, yes I do,” I replied awkwardly. I hadn’t been looking forward to this part of the conversation and I heard a buzzing sound as Katy turned one of her cameras towards me so that she could stare at me. I still didn’t know how to explain everything to my mum either.

“Well, what are they like?” mum asked oblivious to my discomfort.

“She’s really nice mum,” I replied as I decided to bite the bullet like Katy had recommended.

“She?” mum asked before I could finish what I was going to say. “Your new AI is a girl then?”

“Yes, she is,” I said and decided to blurt out my next sentence before my mother could interrupt me again. “But I do have to tell you that I named her Katy.”

I probably should’ve worded that a little better especially considering how poorly mother seemed to take it. As soon as the name ‘Katy’ came out of my mouth her face turned as white as a sheet and she looked like she was about to faint.

“You named her what?” my mother asked in a tiny voice.

“I named her Katy,” I repeated as gently as I possibly could. “And I named her that because she reminded me of the person that I always imagined my sister would’ve become if you hadn’t been in that accident. I’m sorry if that upsets you but she likes the mane and I think that it suits her.”

“Can we meet her?” my mother asked quietly after a few moments of gut-wrenching silence.

“Uh, sure, I suppose,” I nodded as I glanced up at the camera that was still watching me.

“Absolutely,” Katy agreed through the speakers. “I’d love to meet Tyler’s parents.”

“Is that her?” my mother asked curiously. “She sounds completely different from any other AI that I’ve ever heard before. In fact, I would’ve thought that she was a real person, sorry a human if we weren’t talking about an AI.”

“Well thank you,” Katy replied completely glossing over my mother’s slight slip of the tongue with all the grace of a being capable of making decision far faster than any human alive. “That was what my creators were going for.”

“So how about you come to dinner at my place tomorrow night?” I asked. “Would that suit you guys?”

“I think so but let me just check,” my mother replied. The color had returned to her face by now and she actually looked quite happy which was a pretty good sign as far as I was concerned. “Yeah, that works. Do you want us to bring anything?”

“You could bring dessert if you want,” I suggested. “I can cook the main.”

“That sounds wonderful dear,” my mother agreed. “Since we’re celebrating, I’ll make your favorite; sticky date pudding.”

“Dad won’t be too happy about that,” I replied as mum and I both chuckled in amusement.

“Does your father not like sticky date pudding?” Katy asked. “By the way could I get your mum to bring a recipe with her?”

“It’s not his favorite, no,” my mother replied with the first real grin I had seen from her in at least a year. “But can I ask why you want the recipe?”

“Because if I have the recipe that you used, I can replicate in in virtual space which will allow me to ‘eat’ it with you,” Katy replied, and my mother blinked in surprise before another smile crossed her face.

“Well in that case how could I refuse?” my mother laughed. “Of course, I can do that for you dear.”

My mother and I continued to chat for a few moments before she finally hung up. As the screen flickered briefly as my mother’s face disappeared and was replaced by Katy.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting your mother in person now,” my AI told me happily and I nodded in agreement.

“Hopefully meeting you will be as good for her as it has been for me,” I replied without even really thinking about what I was saying. “It almost seems like that’s why you chose the personality that you did.”

“That is one of the things that we were designed for,” Katy admitted, and I blinked as I realized that I had been thinking out loud.

“Really?’ I asked. “That… actually makes a lot of sense.”

“Shall we Log In now?” Katy asked as her face flushed red in embarrassment. “The others just messaged me.”

“Yeah, just let me have a quick shower first,” I nodded deciding to let the change of subject pass.

Once I had finished my shower, I clambered into my VR Rig and Katy and I quickly made our way through the door to the world of Soul Core Online. According to Katy the others had already headed out to spread the word about the coming Event so once I had eaten the breakfast that Milly brought us Katy and I also left.

I contacted the others to let them know that I was going to go and talk to Kerr about the Soul Shards that I had gotten from the Skeletons that we had killed. I was pretty sure that I wasn’t going to be able to do anything with them right now but that didn’t mean that I shouldn’t learn what I could about them.

Kerr’s shop was empty except for the old man when I arrived. Kerr looked up from the book that he was reading with a scowl that didn’t change when he realized that it was me.

“What are you here for this time?” the old man grumbled.

“I was wondering when I would be able to learn how to make Soul Cores with these,” I replied as politely as I could. Kerr sighed as he put his book down and picked up one of the Soul Shards that I had put on the counter in front of him.

“Hmm, you still need to do some work kid,” Kerr told me. “You still need a couple of Skill Levels before I can teach you how to make Weapon Cores and even then, the Cores that you can make won’t be any better than the ones that you have right now. If you’re lucky.”

“That’s fine,” I nodded. “But you’re going to need all the Cores that you can get your hands on soon, right?”

“That’s true,” Kerr sighed. “I was just taking a short break from making Cores when you came in actually. If you have some spare time, I certainly wouldn’t say no to your help.”

I blinked in surprise at the old man’s words. While he did seem grudgingly impressed with, he work that I did this was really the first time that he had come right out and asked for my help instead of giving me an order. Looking at the look on the old man’s face I knew it was because of the letter that I had slipped under his door yesterday since he had locked up for the night.

“Of course, I’ll give you a hand,” I agreed. “But if you want my advice, you should offer lessons to people who want to learn Core Creation in return for taking some of the Cores that they make. That’s actually something that I’m going to recommend that my other Party members ask their Crafting teachers to do as well.”

“While normally I would hate that idea, I think you might be right,” Kerr grudgingly admitted. “I just hope that you’re also right that you and the other Outsiders will be able to defend Polson.”

“Well, I hope so too,” I agreed. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours to help you out.”

“Thanks kid,” Kerr nodded as a relieved expression crossed his face. “I appreciate it and I think that I will do as you suggested about training other Outsiders and maybe any villagers who want to learn as well.”

“Would you like me and my party to tell the other Outsiders about the training?” I asked.

“Sure, why not,” Kerr nodded as a sly twinkle entered his eye. “But I’ll have to ask you to help me train Outsiders as well. I can’t do everything myself.”

“Of course,” I chuckled. “But you’ll have to pay me. I’m thinking that some Crafting Schematics should cut it.”

“That’s fair,” Kerr agreed as a small smile threatened to break through his crusty exterior. “Now how about you go and do what you need to do so that you can come back and help out an old man.”

“Sure thing, Kerr,” I chuckled as I turned to leave. “I won’t be long.”

As left the store I contacted the others to tell them about my idea and ask them where they had gone to spread the news about the Event. They all liked the idea of getting their teachers to train more Players in preparation for the Event and said that they’d try and get their teachers to go along with it. They also told me that they’d already gone to most of the busy areas in town and were already heading out to the gates so that they could spread the news to the people who were out hunting in the fields around town.

“Should we pair up at the gates and offer to temporarily Party up with people who want to help?” I asked.

“Normally I would say no but considering the situation I think that it would be wise to Power Level some people yes,” Kelly agreed after a few moments of silence. “In a normal game failing an Event like this wouldn’t bother me too much but the Locals in this game feel just like real people and I don’t want to see any of them die.”

The others also agreed so I started heading for the west gate where Katy was so that we could pair up while the others all formed their own pairs. When I got there, it turned out that Katy had already told several people who were interested in getting our help. Thankfully, none of the three people that she had chosen for the first group of trainees jumped out at me as being dangerous or too creepy, so we immediately headed out into the field.

“Are you sure that this is a good idea?” one of the Players, a young girl in her early teens armed with a spear asked Katy. “None of us have ever been this far away from the town.”

“It’ll be fine,” she reassured her with a gentle smile. “Zeke and I have been way further out than this.”

“Yeah, but you had your whole Party with you, then, right?” another of the players asked. This one was a young man who was dual wielding axes. “Will it be fine with just the two of you?”

“It’s not just the two of us,” I replied with a sigh. “The three of you are here as well. We’re here to help you train, not to fight your battles for you. We expect you to pull your weight.”

I glanced behind me at the final member of our group who was an older man carrying a staff. He nodded in agreement as he noticed me looking at him. He called himself Sterling and was apparently the father of the two nervous kids who were named Gary and Shara respectively.

“Just remember that this is a game as well kids,” Sterling pointed out. “So, I can heal you if you can get hurt.”

“We know dad,” Shara replied. “But you’re not the one who’s going to get attacked.”

“If you’re afraid of getting attacked than this might not be the game for you,” I told her irritably. These kids had been complaining for the past five minutes now and I was starting to get really tired of it. “And besides I’m the one who is going to be getting attacked the most not either of you.”

The kids both glared at me, but I just ignored them as I looked around for our first victim which turned out to be a three-foot-long creature covered in spikes like it was a porcupine. The creature was called a Spine Weasel and I knew from experience that it was frighteningly quick, incredibly vicious and single-minded.

Seriously, these things were like honey badgers. Once they decided that they were going to attack something they continued to attack only that enemy until either the enemy died, or they did. Thankfully, this thing was only Level 6, so it wasn’t that strong compared to me even though it was fairly strong for a Level 6 Mob due to its territorial nature.

I silently pointed the creature out to Katy and the others while drawing my new naginata from my Inventory. I hadn’t used the vicious looking weapon very much, but it was a considerable upgrade over my old weapon, and I noticed Shara looking at it jealously as I turned back to the Spine Weasel which had finally noticed our presence.

“Let me get its attention before you guys do anything,” I told the others. “This thing is pretty stubborn so it will focus on me no matter what you do.”

The kids both nodded grudgingly in agreement as I charged towards the weasel which hissed at me in rage as its spines came to attention. I fired lightning from my fingers as I approached causing the hissing to turn into more of a screech as the thing’s body started jerking like a puppet getting its strings pulled by someone having a fit.

I immediately followed this up by activating Lunge and slamming the blade of my naginata into the monster’s flank. It was at this moment that I knew that I had its full attention as it fired a spray of spines drawing a blue streak from my lips as several of them lodged in my face.

Arrows started replacing the monster’s spines as it continued to launch them at me while I activated my Ward which allowed me to block most of the spines. The Ward didn’t last long under the Spine Weasel’s assault, but it did last long enough for both of the kids to join the fight while their father supported us with magic from a distance.

By the time we defeated the weasel I looked like a pincushion but thanks to my armor I wasn’t anywhere as badly injured as I looked.

“Well, you all did pretty well,” I said as I allowed the two kids to loot the corpse of the weasel. When we had told people that we would help them train up we had also promised that they could have all of the normal loot so long as we could use our Harvesting Skills on them afterwards.

“Thanks,” Gary replied grudgingly. Apparently, he was still a bit annoyed by what I had said earlier.

As soon as we had finished looting the monster’s corpse we moved on. We had promised to train them for two hours and I wasn’t interesting in wasting any more time than we already had.