Challenge Accepted (Eternal Combat Book 1), page 27
"I already have all the contracts I want," he called through the door.
"Not all the interviews," she shot back.
She was applying her makeup when he walked into the room. His jeans were still unbuttoned and his T-shirt was tossed over his shoulder. This time, he was the one that paused to watch. She swiped the color across her eyes and blended it before turning to look.
"Yeah," he said softly, "Wow. Do the lipstick, and I'll get out of here."
"You want to watch me put on makeup?"
"Yep," he said greedily. "There's just something about it."
She shrugged and grabbed the tube, a brilliant red to match her hair, then slowly stained her lips. Pressing them together, she looked back at him. Logan leaned against the wall, his arms casually crossed, his eyes taking her in.
"Yeah," he sighed. "I'll bring you a coffee."
He returned with a cup and set it beside her. When she looked up to thank him, a quick breath flew into her lungs.
"Oh damn," Riley sighed, eying the tight shirt. "I owe the PLG for that one."
"It's a little tight," he admitted.
"No!" she said. "Oh no. That's perfect. Like it was fucking painted on."
"Take it off me later?"
She grinned. "I'm thinking it might be a race."
He glanced at the bed, a pair of boots peeking from the top of her bag. "What are you wearing, Riley?"
"Well," she said, drawing it out, "You remember what I didn't wear for the Deviant deal?"
"Yeah," he said carefully.
"Just remember that. And keep in mind, it's branding. Hot gamer girl who kicks ass." She raised her eyebrow, daring him to beg for more. "Go play, beautiful."
"You are going to fuck their world," he said, kissing her neck. "I'm going to be insanely jealous all day."
"You haven't even seen my sponsor shirt yet, and you won't until I walk in. I need a real reaction."
"Fine!" he groaned, kissing her again, then grabbed his phone from the table and left.
Riley just went back to what she was doing, adding a bit more to her eyes and putting a layer of gloss over the red stain on her lips before dropping her towel and pulling out the dress. The Corsair rep had managed to find exactly what she'd asked for. It was a spaghetti strap T-shirt dress that hung to her thighs and clung loosely against her body. The color was only a shade darker than her hair, and the company logo was centered on her chest. It was tastefully plain, letting the gamer inside speak louder than words. She pulled on a borrowed pair of Kitty's over the knee, stiletto heeled boots, a simple necklace she'd found on Etsy, made from the rainbow wires in computer cables, and a line of black rubber bracelets completed the look. With one last glance in the mirror, she grabbed her phone and hotel key, then left the room.
The event was already in full swing, even though most gamers wouldn't be up for a few hours. She passed through the vendor area and stopped by the Corsair booth, double checking the time of her demonstration, then made her way to the Eternal Combat display. When she walked up, the handful of people playing demos looked up. One guy gasped and smacked his friend on the arm. She just stuck her tongue out as she pushed behind the counter.
"QQ!" a man said. "Braden Mathis, EC marketing. Nice look."
"I'll be in EC's gear tomorrow," she said. "Don't worry."
"Yeah, I was told. I have you and Void, head to head, at five."
"Yep, we'll be here. Dunno if you care, but Paradox and Executive Pain will be running ops after the Tournament on the east coast server."
"Nice!" he said. "You mind if we stream it in the booth?"
"Nah, it's why I told you. Not sure if we'll be in it, but our outfits will be fighting hard. Just don't give Executive Pain any advantage," she said with a wink, then left, smiling at the guys playing.
"You just got a glimpse of a legend," Braden bragged. "That's QQ, currently number nine on the Eternal Combat leader boards."
With all of her morning obligations completed, Riley headed to the gaming hall. She checked her phone and saw that the first tournament would start in twenty minutes, giving her just enough time to make a grand entrance and still run a check on her machine. The security at the door greeted her by name. It was her character's name, but she liked the feeling.
There were over a hundred gamers in the room, all packed in, side by side. The murmur of voices had risen to an impressive level, but as soon as she walked through the door, something changed. Slowly, men stopped talking, some pointed, and many turned.
Riley only had eyes for one man's reaction. Logan looked up and paused before he began to smile. Glancing quickly around him, he turned back and mouthed the words, "Oh yeah."
It was Dreadknot who found his tongue first. "Q?" he asked.
"Yeah?" she replied, a bit too innocently.
"Holy shit, Q," he said, looking at her from head to toe.
"We're on camera today, Dread." She pointed at the logo. "Have to make sure I fulfill my contracts."
The man sitting across from her, just to Logan's right, stood up. "Nice to finally meet you, QQ. Murder. Hottest guy in gaming?" He leaned across the table and offered his hand.
He was a very good looking man, too. His dark wavy hair was a bit too long and his piercing blue eyes probably got him a lot of attention. She couldn't fault his smile; it was genuine and pleasant as he shook her hand.
"Read your write-up. You're hot, Murder, but you're not the hottest, I'm sorry." She glanced quickly at Logan, knowing Murder would see. "But close."
He grinned and lifted his hands in surrender. "It's a good boost to the ego, at any rate. The guys said I should go easy on you."
"Fuck off," Dread told him.
"Do I fucking look like an idiot?" Logan asked.
"That was me," Psyc said. "If you fuckers had played along, he'd be out in round one."
Riley laughed. "Good try, Psyc," she said as she powered up her rig.
As soon as she logged into the game lobby, a message from Logan popped up.
[VOID] Nothing?
[QQ] ;)
[VOID] I have to stand in front of this crowd in a minute, and I am about to be very embarrassed.
She actually laughed at that, drawing a glance from Dread. "Keep your eyes on your own," she told him.
"Can do," he replied quickly, looking back to his screen.
[QQ] Just imagine Dread naked.
[VOID] Yeah, that would do it. You look amazing.
[QQ] You too. Good enough that I'll even let you flirt.
[VOID] won't kill me?
[QQ] Never said that, now did I?
[VOID] world chat?
[QQ] Want the competition?
[VOID] yeah. I plan to win the girl publicly...if she'll have me.
[QQ] Challenge accepted.
With the clicking of the keys, it wasn't hard to figure out that the two of them were talking. Soon the other guys had to chime in.
[DREADKNOT] He's got the hots for you.
[QQ] and you don't?
[DREADKNOT] Check my left hand, babe. I'll play the part, but I know where I'm sleeping.
[QQ] Nice. I knew I liked you for some reason.
[DREADKNOT] I'm keeping that for posterity!
[QQ] :P
[MURDER] You really as good as they say?
[QQ] Better, I saw The Gamer Channel segment last night, too.
[PSYCHOCUT] We can't all be pretty, but at least some of us can aim.
Riley laughed again, glancing over at Psyc and shaking her head, then hit the open channel.
[QQ] You can't all spam me. Just sayin'.
[VOID] Oh, looks like you have a fan club?
[MURDER] Hell yeah. So QQ, what's under that dress? Bikini or thong?
[QQ] LOL! Try harder, Murder. And yes I do, Void. You trying to be in it?
[MURDER] ! Did I just get shot down?
[VOID] Yes, get used to it.
[DREADKNOT] You boys look desperate.
[VOID] We are! You're the one sitting next to her.
That brought a few laughs from further down the table.
[PSYCHOCUT] Keep working yourselves up, guys. Makes it easier for me to kick your ass later.
[QQ] Hey, don't give away my tactics!
[PSYCHOCUT] Fair's fair. Can you win without flirting?
[QQ] Pretty damned sure **I** am not the one flirting. Unless you want me to post screens of what you sent me?
[PSYCHOCUT] Sure...I can still aim.
[QQ] So can I.
[VOID] Unfortunately.
[QQ] Bite me Void.
[VOID] Is that an offer?
[QQ] Shit. That's the best you got?
[VOID] No. I've put you on your back at least five times now... I checked the kill feed.
[QQ] Yeah, and how many times did I shove my SMG up your ass?
[VOID] We weren't talking about that.
[DREADKNOT] Oh, I see how you like it Void!
[VOID] Yeah, my definition of a real woman is one that can kick my ass.
[PSYCHOCUT] I need to start playing EC it sounds like.
[QQ] LOL! Make you guys a deal. Which ever of you gets the kill on me, I'll buy a drink.
[MURDER] I'm in.
[VOID] Deal.
[DREADKNOT] Fuck yeah.
[PSYCHOCUT] Jack and Coke, baby, remember it.
"And it looks like we are starting the Fourteenth annual Denver Professional League of Gamers match with a bet!" the announcer said, making Riley turn to see him gesture at a big screen behind him. "QQ has already started the war, but this time it's in chat! But first, it's my great pleasure to finally announce one of the top gamers in the history of the PLG. For fourteen years, he has managed to keep his identity a secret, but I'm pleased to introduce the reason the PLG exists. Logan Weiss, more commonly known to most of you as Void!"
Logan stood and cast a glance at Riley. She raised her eyebrow at him, making no attempt to hide the fact that she checked him out as he walked to the front of the stage, addressing the room, not the cameras.
"Fourteen years ago, my father, James Weiss, tried to find a way to convince his son to keep his grades up and go to bed at a reasonable time. He decided to start a gamer's tournament, convincing the top hardware manufacturers and game developers to participate. The result was the Dallas Tournament, and a threat that I wouldn't be allowed to attend if I didn't have straight A's. Well, I pulled off the grades, but never did learn to keep normal hours!"
Most of the people in the room laughed, understanding exactly what he meant. Gamers were notorious for late nights, too much coffee, and too little sleep.
"Today, the PLG has become a respected organization. I've never missed a tournament, and I've placed in the top five in all of them. While I've never been legally allowed to accept a professional contract because of my familial ties to the league, I'm glad to say that I've watched the PLG grow and thrive."
Riley heard a beep from the headphones around her neck, and glanced at her screen.
[DREADKNOT] You knew about this??
[QQ] ;)
Logan went on, "As a partner of Corwin, Weiss, and Weiss, I still can't take the rewards, but I can set the bar. I will be participating in every open tournament for the next five years. Everyone who manages to place above me will get a one thousand dollar check from our firm. I'm here to prove that we gamers aren't just the dredges of society. We have doctors, business owners, and," he pointed to himself, "even lawyers on the other side of the screen, aiming at our heads. FPS gaming isn't the doorway to violence, it's the cure for the stress we all deal with in today's society."
[DREADKNOT] He's representing you??
[QQ] Yeah. That's how I got the suite.
[DREADKNOT] and he got your key. Fuck! I think he's about to get a lot of business!
[QQ] Yeah. Hope he doesn't forget his first gamer client!
[DREADKNOT] doubtful.
"Corwin, Weiss, and Weiss," Logan said, "will also be offering a one hundred thousand dollar scholarship to the top gamer, eighteen and under, in every tournament this year. Yes, that includes this one."
There was a quiet gasp in the room, and Riley hit her keys, sending a message to the one person she knew that would apply to.
[QQ] You're getting that scholarship!
[KNOCK] o.O
[QQ] I mean it.
[KNOCK] I suddenly want to go to law school!
[QQ] You and I against the world, little brother.
[KNOCK] You know it, big sis. Fuck yeah!
Logan finished his speech and sat back down, catching her eye while the announcer began to recite the rules. He glanced at his screen meaningfully, and Riley looked to her own.
[VOID] I can't help.
[QQ] Oh I know. I'm still getting Knock into the rankings.
[VOID] Don't babysit. He'll rise to the challenge.
[QQ] I know. And you're going down.
[VOID] Bring it.
Chapter 32
She loaded into the world and quickly found Knock. He fell in behind her, covering her back as they began to clear the area around them. Slowly, surely, she led him into a building at the side, tossing out a melee kill, grinning when Knock did the same behind her. They began to take the stairs and someone peeked around the corner, laying a few rounds into her chest. Riley dropped back as Knock surged forward, taking out the enemy and giving her the time to hit a medical pack. She glanced at the timer. Four minutes to go.
They cleared the second floor and holed up, each covering a stairwell. That's when Void decided to start the taunting.
[VOID] Hey QQ? Can't take it on your own?
[KNOCK] Paradox sticks together, not like you fucks from Executive Pain, Void.
[VOID] That's because my guys can hold their own.
[QQ] Scared, Void?
[VOID] A bit.
With bodies piling up on the stairs, the press toward them began to slow. Riley moved past Knock, jumping when she was in his field of view to show him to follow. She hopped through an open window and dropped to the ground below, her outfit-mate on her heels, heading back into the building from the side. Together, they tore down another five players who'd been waiting to make their rush up the stairs.
With that building clear, they followed their typical strategy and pushed over, spiraling in toward the point, clearing enemies as they went. Gunfire sounded all around, letting her know that they weren't the only ones in the thick of things. She checked the time. Just under two minutes to go.
With another building hold, they almost made it until the timer ran out, then Riley heard intense fire in Knock's stairwell. She fell back, surging across his field of view, taking a hit in the side because of it, but giving Knock the chance to trigger a medical pack as she faced down the opponent.
PsychoCut lifted his gun slightly, and she strafed, seeing the tracer of the bullet at the corner of her screen. She put a few rounds into him, and Knock shoved back to her side, adding a few more. That was all the incentive he needed. Psyc hopped off the stairs and quickly ducked behind cover.
[PSYCHOCUT] I'll knock your ass out of this running, boy.
[KNOCK] Not with QQ on my side, she's better than you. Suck it up.
[VOID] What building?
[QQ] Move.
They did, making quickly for the roof and over the rail. The fall damage was worth it for the clean escape. Knock led this time, heading for the edge of the map, QQ covering their retreat. She glanced at the timer again. Seventeen seconds. Riley saw a form running the same way, planning to cut them off, and she aimed down her sights, getting the kill with only a second left before they would progress to the next round.
The timer in the corner of her screen flashed red, showing all zeros, as Knock rounded the corner and began to fire. Riley was on his heels, her sights up, but she paused when she read the name: Void.
She stepped back. The time was over, Knock needed to prove his own, and this fight would do it. He was on his game, and Logan had never gone up against him. They strafed, each controlling their bursts. Logan took a swing with the quick knife but misjudged the distance. Knock stepped in, showing him how it was done, switching to his pistol and tapping off a few rounds in his head. Unfortunately, Logan did the same. The two bodies fell and the mutual kill spam scrolled across the top of the screen.
Logan laughed loudly. "Damn you, Knock!" he called across the room.
"Need to be babysat, my ass!" he yelled back.
That's when the screen started to fade as the server logged them out. The first round ended thirty seconds after the timer, instead of with the last man standing. It would simply take too long with this many players on that size of a map. Riley pulled off her headset and glanced to Psyc at her side.
"I wasn't prepared for two of you," he said with a shrug. "Never would have charged up if I'd known you both were there."
Riley shrugged. "That's cool, man. I'm getting him to round three."
"The scholarship?"
Riley nodded. "Yeah. He kinda needs it."
"I'll stay out of your way, but if you come at me, I won't hold a shot."
"Wouldn't ask you to. I just need the third round, then he's on his own."
They had four hours until the next match, and Riley had a demonstration to give for Corsair. She pushed away from the table and stretched, then headed for the door. Knock was standing there waiting. With a smile, she hugged him, and for once, he returned it without embarrassment.
"Coffee?" he asked.
"Any way I can talk you into bringing one to the Corsair booth?"
"Most definitely!" he agreed, and they went their separate ways.
She made her contracted fifteen minute speech extolling the virtues of the Corsair line of equipment. A few people asked questions, and she answered them honestly – for she truly liked the products. When she was done, Knock pushed his way through the crowd and passed her a paper cup filled with exactly what she needed.
"Check this out," he said, pulling a T-shirt from his shoulder and holding it open.
The emoticon for QQ was printed on the front and across the back it said, "Or the girls will kick your ass."
"Where did you find this?"
He grinned. "PLG booth. Void's over there and gave it to me."
She laughed. "I see. You did amazing in that head to head with him."
