The Way It Is

it's not real - part 1

I watch small clouds of steam escape its giant nostrils with each hissing breath. He isn't frightened in the least. He knows he has us.

My stomach twists with knots. How the stars are we suppose to fight this?

The Jakal is over 20 feet tall, with a long spiked tail, skin made of scales thicker than any Armada armour, and teeth as long as my fucking arm! It breaths in deeply again, tilting its large head back, savouring the smell.

Two large horns protruded on either side of its skull. It's like a giant horned man-lizard. Legs similar to the Dukri, backwards, made for speed and strength. They are long and agile. Body slim and lithe, long arms ready to reach out, with its massive claws, at any moment.

I watch blood drip from its jaw, streaming down its neck, over its collar bones and down its front. It drips off its torso to mix with the puddle below.

The rain isn't washing off the signs of the carnage he has just left. The air, even through the rain, is heavy with a sickly sweet metallic taste.

This isn't good. According to the stories, I remember they don't have any weaknesses. They have ravenous appetites and eat anything living, preferably while it is still alive.

It takes another step towards us as it breaths in again, almost like it is in a trance from our smell. That's when I notice the huge heavy metal bracelet clamped to its leg. A large chain, about five feet long before it brakes off, dragging in the beast's wake.

We need some serious artillery here. Where the hell do you get weapons in a dreamland?

I look down at Ufrik. Now that the initial shock is gone, he seems strangely calm. Like this mammoth of a beast, with blood dripping from its claws and teeth is no big deal.

How in the stars is he not afraid? He must feel me staring at him because he looked up, shooting me a glance.

"Open your Eye, Zea."

What? Whatever. It isn't a bad idea. I should get a feel for the beast's power. Maybe if I let myself absorb enough energy, it can be a fair fight.

Maybe I can absorb the Jakal's power. I hate to say it, but the thought is rather exciting!

Inhaling deeply, I let my Eye open to the world around me.

What the?

This can't be right. I can not see anyone's energy. Not one damn thing has an aura or an energy signature, except Ufrik and the other two.

This makes no sense. My heart rate picks up. I am about to start freaking out. Have I lost my sight, or has my K'ai left me?

But that doesn't seem right. I feel more connected to my K'ai than ever. My head swivels around like a spin top as I try to find anything with an energy signature. Why doesn't the beast have one? I felt his power! I know I did.

"Don't have an aneurysm, Zea." Ufrik sounds exasperated with me yet again. "This is a computer representation of the Dukri's deepest fear. There is nothing to see with your Eye because there isn't anything real here."

"I think I will start with you, my glowing star fairy." The beast's tongue flicks out as if to taste me, or maybe my fear. However, I find it hard to be afraid now.

The realization of what I am seeing and what Ufrik just said washes over me like warm sunshine. My muscles relax, my breathing calms, and my fear vanishes.

Suddenly I know. I can win this. This is all bullshit. No wonder it was so easy for Ufrik. He never had some colossal epiphany that the Universe was all-powerful. He just simply accepts his fate here in the game.

Easy to do when you understand nothing is real. And you have actual visual confirmation.

The question is, how does he make it look good so that the spectators, and game operators, don't catch on?

Cocking my head to the side, I look down at the Dukri. She has past out in her fear. Some strange emotion plays on the Gnarr's square face. Ufrik is staring at me. Seeing understanding bloom on my face, he nods to me, turning back to the Gnarr.

"The trick is not to win every time. You have to let some things play out. Sometimes you win by accident. It ends up being unavoidable. But then there are times like this," he nods at the Gnarr, "when you can tell that one of the other players is about to make a choice. You let them win."

Just then, the Gnarr steps forward, bending on one knee, head bowed forward.

"If you are hungry beast, eat me. I am a meal more befitting a beast your size than the scrawny glowing female."