It didn’t take long to find who I was looking for. She stood taller than most, easy to spot even with the crowd thickening around the farmyard. I waited while they finished talking to someone I half-recognized but couldn’t place, game name or real. Whatever it was, it sounded important, so I gave them space, making sure they could still see me standing there, waiting.

  A few minutes later, they finished up, and I slid into the spot the other person had vacated.

  “I have a crazy idea,” I said quietly, “and it depends on you to make it work.”

  I expected surprise. Maybe concern. What I got was laughter.

  “Will,” she said, shaking their head. “Crazy I believe, coming from you. Why do you need me to be part of it?”

  We spent the next five minutes in Game Chat, tearing the idea apart. We poked holes in every weak spot, rebuilt it, then broke it again. We assumed the worst…that what I expected to happen would happen…and made sure we had a counter ready.

  There’d been total agreement from my party and friends since day one that I was crazy. This just reinforced it.

  Eventually, what we hammered out satisfied both of us. We agreed it would stay a backup plan…only used if we couldn’t handle things another way.

  Leaving them, I went to find the rest of my party. I didn’t get far. They were already heading toward me, shoes and ogre feet crunching on gravel and dry dirt. I waited until I had Bhaarrt, Ingrid, and Shadow together, close enough to talk quietly without drawing attention.

  “We know they have hostages,” I said. “Including Blaze and FBI Agent Viviane. Her car was parked on a side street in the middle of town. We don’t know how many townspeople are being held or helping them.”

  “PokerRun knows some of them. Some are far-right leaning, maybe all the way. A few live in Townsend. His friend Ralphie knows who they are. His family’s from there.”

  “Ralphie’s set up south of town where he can see most of it. Buildings will block some of his and PokerRun’s shots. We need to keep them out in the open where they can target their leaders.”

  Bhaarrt nodded. “Heard some of that from others. Attacking a defended position ain’t easy. They got the advantage. We’ll be out in the open.”

  “Agreed. I was told they have higher-level Mentalists from Idaho. The ones we’ve got from the university aren’t more than Level 2…three at best. They won’t be able to break a high-level CHARM PERSON.”

  “If they have someone with the SLAVER profession, they’ll be even harder to break loose,” I said. “I don’t know if any coming have it. We’ll need to ask. They’d want someone like Blaze under their control…both for her firepower and as a hostage. I expect CHARM PERSON as high as they can get it.”

  “I’m hoping not SLAVE too.” We’d see when we found her.

  We all looked at each other. Worried about her. Worried about us.

  “The question is,” I continued, “will whoever has that power have already maxed out how many people they can control? There’s no way they‘ll trust two FBI agents without them being controlled. With it, they’re hostages and more firepower for their side.”

  “Literally more fire with Blaze,” Shadow said.

  “Now the worst part,” I said. “My MIND CONTROL is only Level 1. It might not break a Level 5, even with my Stats. I still have my two spare points.”

  I stopped and let that sink in.

  Shadow stiffened, standing a little straighter. Ingrid frowned, worry deepening. Bhaarrt growled, low and angry…not his usual Bhaarrt growl. This was Darryl growling, already imagining how it would look.

  “Do it,” he almost hissed. “If someone’s got a problem, I’ll make ’em understand why. You never abused it, or anyone with it. Blaze at the party don’t count. She was pissed, but she got over it. Never held it against you. We didn’t either. ’Sides, it was funny.”

  Shadow nodded. Ingrid smiled, small but sincere. It helped more than I expected.

  “The other thing we need,” I said, “is a party fifth. Someone who can keep up and drop out if we get Blaze back and working with us. Suggestions?”

  “Yoshi,” Shadow said immediately. “He just hit Level 7 on their last dungeon run. Tanks spawns when they don’t have another tank. He’s fast. Almost as fast as me.”

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  Bhaarrt and Ingrid exchanged a look, nodded, then turned back to me.

  “He’s solid,” Bhaarrt said. “We’re good with him if he’s in.”

  “That leaves Falstaff to tank another party. We’ve got enough guildies here for three or four more groups. His parents and the Holdens would make a good party. Ask him. If he’s in, get him over here. We’re leaving in a few minutes. We just need final assignments and order.”

  “Then it’s clobberin’ time,” Bhaarrt roared. “Bhaarrt smash!”

  He raised his maul high, drawing more than a few looks.

  The rest of us laughed.

  When it died down, Shadow told us Yoshi was on his way. He was in.

  A few minutes later, we joined Lt. Marmari, Sheriff Harper, Lt. Charlita Debisono of the State Patrol, Lucas Shea…the farm’s owner…and Valentina Foster. She introduced herself as working university admissions and as a Level 3 Mentalist.

  She also had the SLAVER profession.

  Foster was one of the first people enslaved by the man behind the attempted university takeover.

  We weren’t much, but we were the so-called leaders. That didn’t include PokerRun and Ralphie, already in position and feeding intel back to the Army through an Irregular at the convention center.

  Then it came to us in email and chat.

  Lt. Marmari explained he’d sent one Stryker north and one south to converge on the town. If they were heard before the main force arrived, maybe the defenders would be looking the wrong way when we moved in.

  Seven Irregulars and three Mentalists followed one Stryker. More Mentalists and Irregulars went south with two cars and a sheriff’s deputy to clear the way. They had thirty minutes to position themselves for the final half mile.

  Marmari would lead the remaining three Strykers. Two would pull ahead for the last mile, with his command vehicle centered behind them. Once we hit resistance, the front two would block the road diagonally. The command Stryker would stop behind them.

  All other vehicles would halt at least a tenth of a mile back, except the ambulances carrying Healers. They’d move up when needed. Army Healers and experienced party Healers would be spread among the Strykers.

  Everyone else formed five-person teams, Irregulars scattered among them for Guild Chat coordination. We already had groups staged north and south of town.

  Then it got complicated.

  The Army would advance first, providing mobile cover. There was enough shoulder room on the highway for the Strykers to pull off, then meet nose to nose in a chevron with the command vehicle centered between them. The rest of us would deploy, casting shields between the Strykers and town.

  Then we’d see how they responded.

  Lt. Debisono would speak for us. I explained how defensive CHARM PERSON worked and would cast it on her, then on Lt. Marmari and the Stryker drivers.

  It was a Level 3 spell now, backed by my Level 12 Stats. Enough witnesses heard the commands to remember them…act normally…and take orders only from me or confirmed superior officers.

  Stragglers from Eddington were still arriving. They’d be stopped at the farm, except for Vaneski and Airmann. An Irregular contact stationed there would notify me when they arrived. I already had a message…they were coming as fast as they could. They’d leveled at the quarry fighting the World Boss as part of our groups.

  “Maybe I should invite them to the guild?” We had over 20 slots open, and we could use out-of-town coverage and media access.

  One last thing remained. Five minutes to decide.

  Who rode with me?

  I didn’t want MathMamm, NiceIce, or HealBot up front. Not yet. Not with this.

  Bhaarrt said he’d stay in the truck he was riding in. That left space if Shadow rode with me. Yoshi was already in our party until Blaze was free.

  Then my answer came.

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [I’m stayin’ in the truck bed with Bhaarrt. nobody will see me gettin’ out. All eyes be on him.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [Understood. Truck will move when he gets out covering your getting out. Who else should be in the van? We got space for more?]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [damn. you wanna put that on me? I ain’t no leader cept for s&p squad.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [Yep. You are. You’re top of Thief class. You’re their leader. Get them ready to slip into town while we hold attention. NurseMelissa’s in one of the cars. She’s leveled some. Should’ve done this sooner.]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [yah. should have. she’s in the truck with us. squad scattered already. don’t do no big area spells till we outta range. gotta move fast once we there.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [Yeah. You do. Holdens and Falstaff?]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [good wit me. gives you start of another party.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [Got it. Thanks. See you in Townsend.]

  I contacted the others, and they hurried over.

  Ingrid took the front. Her ambulance crew would follow with other Healers. The Holdens took the seats behind us. Yoshi and Falstaff rode in back.

  Ingrid wore her Valkyrie gear, armor gleaming silver mail. The brothers were fully armed. Her spear ran down the center of the van, the blade resting between seats. It was next to my cane.

  When we were ready, she said, “Bhaarrt’s making me a round shield so I can go full Shield Maiden. Wish it was done. Wood, iron straps, iron rim. Painted too.”

  I laughed. “Going to be ready before you get your wings?”

  “Probably not,” she said, chuckling. “If this goes bad, I’ll hit Level 10. At least the wings only appear when I want them.”

  “Or when blessing us. Flashy powers. Almost wish I had those. I’ve just got shields, bolts, balls, and blasts.”

  “And Wards,” Ingrid said. “Don’t forget those.”

  She paused. “Have you checked your casting range? You might shut down magic if they’re clustered. Won’t stop bullets, but spells? That could matter.”

  “They’ll have guns for certain,” I said. “But yeah. I should be able to stop casters. Thanks for the reminder.”

  That’s when the Strykers’ engines roared to life.

  The front two rolled forward, one in each lane.

  We followed, second behind the command vehicle.

  It was time.

  15 Chapters Ahead.