“Chief, I wish you’d let someone else figure this out. I’ve been guessing and doing the best I could, but I’m no tactician. I’m not a military officer. The Guard has some, and there are probably a dozen retired ones in Eddington,” I complained, trying to get out of leading another fight.

  Chief Brown glared at me, then shook his head no. “There are. But you know how these games work. Maybe they do and maybe they don’t. If they don’t, many people may die. I’d rather depend on you. I know you’ll come up with something that works. OK, OK, maybe not the best thing possible, but so far, you’re batting a thousand. I put my life out there on your word you’d keep me safe. You did.”

  “Hey. That was only one fight!” I objected.

  He stood, hands going back to his gun belt, challenging me to argue. “Two. Madame Boudoir counts. You made heroes out of everyone here and a lot more who aren’t. The university people are part of Eddington too. That makes them myresponsibility…and yours. You agreed to be our Warchief. So, damn it…do it!” he finished with a shout.

  Looking around the fire, I saw my friends, old and new, watching me, waiting. That forced my answer. I let out a long breath before I answered him. “Yeah. I’ll do what I can.” I didn’t exactly agree, but I didn’t say no either. “I may be the best person for the job right now, but someday someone better will come along. I’ll dump it on them.”

  Everyone laughed. That yeah, right kind of laughter.

  “OK. I’ve been thinking while the Chief talked. We don’t know enough to make plans yet. Shadow, it’s Sneak and Peek time. How well do you know the stadium?”

  “Been past it on the bus. Never inside,” She answered.

  “OK. Get your people together, and any other Thief classes you can find. Get any info about what the inside’s like. Especially the non-public areas. I want the whole area scouted for guards or sentries outside the stadium. Once the perimeter’s known, and you’ve checked as much of the inside as you safely can, stop and report.”

  “Back off rather than take risks. I don’t want whoever’s inside alerted. Bypass, don’t engage, unless I say otherwise. Talk to Ingrid about Healers. The stadium has four sides, so take up to four Healers until you go in. You and anyone you want take the open end. If that Healer from earlier is available, she’s on you. Got it?”

  Shadow nodded. “Got it. Y’all don’t expect much, do ya? Locate, ID, and bypass any enemies, and report back. Did I say that right?”

  Yes’s, yep’s, and a couple of roger thats answered her.

  “I still go in first when you’re ready?”

  “Absolutely. I want you and yours in position first. I quick checked the Game Rules. So far, no low-level Psychic abilities beat your STEALTH. If I missed something, we’ll find out the hard way. We know cameras can see through it. There are cameras around and inside the stadium. We don’t know if anyone’s monitoring them, so assume yes.”

  “I took VANISH. That should help.” She looked confident.

  “We’ll find out. Let me know via direct or GUILD CHAT. Anyone else got suggestions for her?”

  Silence.

  “If you think of anything, tell her, not me. Shadow commands the scouting mission. She decides. Only she, the Chief, or I can call an abort. We’ll decide on a regroup point when we get there. Anyone who knows the stadium layout, talk to Shadow, then me. Maps, floor plans, people who worked there…get them. Pass it on once we’re there.”

  Sneak and Peek’s job was almost easy compared to the rest. So, I moved on.

  “Ingrid. Healers. Round up as many as you can and set up a staging point at least a quarter mile out of sight of the stadium for ambulances, medics, and anyone else who comes in with them.”

  I paused a moment, letting them think. “Hopefully, we won’t need all of them…but if we do, I want us to survive it. Get Shadow her Healers and have them wear black if they can. If we can permanently assign anyone to her, do it. Volunteers only.”

  Ingrid nodded. “Do you want Father Stoddard?”

  “If you can get him, yes. We need all the help we can get. I’d love to bring Gaylord too, but I don’t want to give away our presence early. If he can buff us before we go in, great.”

  Then something occurred to me. “Everyone. Trade phone numbers and emails. We don’t have to rely only on game mechanics. Use your phones on vibrate, not sound. We can send pictures of what the Sneak Squad finds. Just…no flash, and turn off camera sounds.”

  Next up was the person I wanted to talk to the most.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “PokerRun. We’ll need snipers again to take out any mind controllers. Talk to the Chief about his men. If you know any good old boys who can sneak in the dark and hit a target without lighting it up first, call them. If they took Hunter or Marksman classes, or similar skills, get them to support the Sneak Squad and follow their lead. We may need them in an hour or two. I hope we don’t end up in a Battleground again. In any case, you’ll lead the sniper party.”

  “Got it. Know a few who might help. What’s in it for ’em besides helping y’all out? Some are preppers that don’t like working with gov’ment types.”

  “They help us now; we help them later. More of the same when we need them again, plus leveling if there’s a fight. And if they ever need help? I’ll come. Maybe not everyone, but I give my word.”

  “So will we,” Bhaarrt added, and Ingrid nodded.

  “Bhaarrt. You’re up. If we have to rush in, I want Tanks and anyone who can move fast and take damage. Could be bullets, could be spells…likely both. I’ll be throwing up PSYCHIC SHIELDING on each Tank, and a general PSYCHIC WALL in front of the rest. Anyone over Level 1, especially INTELLIGENCE and EGO builds, may resist a CHARM that slips through...unless the caster’s the same level or higher. I’m hoping their top caster’s only Level 3. If they’re higher…they’re mine.”

  I frowned at how I said that, “They’re mine.” Not sure I liked it. I haven’t met another Mentalist using it for good yet…but surely someone had. I hoped my reason was a good one.

  “Blaze. You and the ranged DPS and shield casters hold back, except for defense. You’re our screen. We keep casualties among the bleachers to zero if possible. Few as possible if not. But if someone’s attacking you and they aren’tcontrolled…take them out. Your lives matter more.”

  “You don’t think we can negotiate this?” she asked.

  “I wish I did. If you want to try, we will. If you want to go in alone first, talk to me once we know who’s inside and what they’re doing. I’ll shield you as best I can. But if you get controlled…whoever, did it is going down. Understand?”

  “Yes, Warchief,” she said with a grin. “But don’t I need to keep up my ‘nerves of steel’ reputation?”

  Facepalming, I double-checked the rules on Psychic Spells. “There might be a way. How much do you trust me?”

  “Trust you? I do. You kept me alive when I’d have died on my own. You’ve said before you’d protect me. What are you planning? You’ve got that look. Tell me first. Then I’ll tell you how much I trust you.”

  “I rechecked the rules. One Mentalist can replace another’s CHARM. Take control of someone already CHARMED. The odds improve with each level difference and CHARM skill levels. I just made Level 8. I’m betting their strongest caster is 3 or 4. That’s at least four levels of buffer. If I CHARM you first…they shouldn’t get through.”

  Blaze studied me. “What are you going to make me do?”

  “Whatever you want. You’ll have full control. As long as the spell’s active, you’ll follow my commands…but I’ll give you free will. You’ll know what’s happening.”

  “And to prove that…?” She asked.

  “We’ll test it here first.” I offered. “I’ll make you do something silly. A gaming reference. WoW.”

  “How long will it last?”

  “With our level and STAT difference? A day or two, unless you resist. Might be shorter. Might not.”

  “Can you end it anytime?” Her frown told me she was worried.

  “Yeah. I can dismiss it, and it’s gone for good.”

  Blaze nodded slowly. “I trust you. I think I trust you that much. I didn’t feel Boudoir’s control. Your shield blocked it. You want to do this now?”

  “Yes, we test it now, then I remove it while everyone gets ready?”

  “Do it. Quick. Before I change my mind.”

  I stared at her. After a few seconds, Blaze’s face went slack, pupils dilating.

  “Anyone with REVEAL STATS. Look at her. Does she show as CHARMED?”

  “Damn,” Shadow shouted. “That fast? She CHARMED!”

  “OK, let’s test it. Blaze, you’ll remember everything. Before, during, and after the CHARM. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  “Now act and think as you normally would…but obey any direct command I give you. You will not obey anyone else but me. Understand?”

  “Yes.”

  Then she shuddered and looked around. “I remember everything. I couldn’t move…just say yes.”

  “How do you feel?”

  “Normal again…but I’m not. My STATS show CHARMED. If not for the tag, I don’t think I’d notice. You’re really letting me be me? You can take it away, can’t you?”

  “Yes. How much do you remember?”

  “All of it. Even being told to remember.”

  “One more test, then I’ll release you. Tuck your hands under your armpits and cluck and flap your arms like a chicken.”

  She obeyed…and turned bright red.

  “Stop. Release.” I said as I released the CHARM.

  Several of us checked her STATS and saw the CHARMED tag was gone. She was back in control of herself.

  “You said you would make me do something silly, didn’t you? Why the chicken thing?” she asked, glaring at me.

  “Uh. It was the first thing I thought of. It’s a WoW emote. Slash chicken.”

  “Thanks. You could have done worse. If you say it’s in the game, it probably is.”

  Bhaarrt added, “It’s real. I’ve done it. Part of a quest.”

  “Early Alliance one,” I said. “Blaze, I’m sorry, it was the first thing that came to mind.”

  “Do you plan to do this to everyone?” Sir Andrew asked.

  I realized…I hadn’t thought that far. “I don’t have MASS CHARM. Just CHARM PERSON and CHARM MONSTER. After seeing what it can do…I’m not sure I want to take more levels. But for our core people? The first wave? I can do that. I can control up to eight.”

  “Tanks and the Sneak Squad need it,” Bhaarrt said.

  “Already thought of that.” I replied.

  PokerRun added, “Snipers too. You don’t want us mind-controlled behind you.”

  “And the Healers on Shadow’s team and for the Tanks,” Sir Andrew said. “If the rest stay out of range, they should be safe…until we go in. Then it’s too late.”

  “Too many. I can’t do everyone,” I told them. “I’ll charm as many as I can. Leave one or two slots open. We’ll do it just before moving on the stadium, so I can recharge my PSYCHIC POWER.”

  I paused, thinking. “Let’s take 30 minutes to finalize plans. First, rendezvous point. Then we call in help. We’ll finish deciding what to do once we’re there.”

  Semi-controlled bedlam broke out.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ndQpQ6fIM