Kingdom Keepers II(19)

“I promise you it’s true. Remember the link: dgamer-dot-com, forward slash VMK. You’ll use the same user ID and password I’ve just given you. And by the way, something you may need…There’s a new Web terminal in Camp Minnie Mickey. It’s supposed to be used for making Disney vacations reservations, but if you click on Dream Vacations and type the password I gave you, it will grant you Web access and through it, a way into VMK.”

“But Camp Minnie Mickey is in the Animal Kingdom?” Finn said.

“Once you’re inside VMK, if you need me type my name. It won’t show in the text box, but I’ll see it and I’ll come find you. Trust no one, not even the avatars in VMK. The Overtakers are everywhere. Take every precaution you can.”

“But I’m going to Animal Kingdom?” Finn said, repeating himself. After all he’d been told, he wasn’t sure he wanted to get anywhere near the park.

“You must find Maleficent and destroy the second server. So, yes. You and the others are going to Animal Kingdom.”

Wayne turned to look over his shoulder again. “Oh, no…” he said, his voice panicked. The screen erupted into static, and Wayne was gone.

* * *

Finn found his way to to the DHIs’ private room inside the Virtual Magic Kingdom. He was disappointed he didn’t have time to enjoy being back in VMK. The game was nearly empty of players, and the effect was chilling. As he reached and entered the room, he found Maybeck sitting on a virtual couch; Willa and Charlene were over in a corner, their text boxes filled with dialogue about what had happened during the lightning storm.

Philby stood near to the room’s only door, guarding the entrance. Text bubbles appeared above each of the avatars as the Kingdom Keepers began “talking.”

philitup: he’s here

mybest: about time

Maybeck’s avatar stood up and crossed to the door, meeting up with Finn. Quickly the other avatars swarmed around Finn as well.

willatree: we got the message to wait, but we worried what it meant.

Finn: it was_ _ _ _ _. He’d forgotten that the VMK server wouldn’t allow him to type Wayne’s name.

philitup: who?

Finn: the old guy with the white hair, five letters.

mybest: you mean_ _ _ _ _? But the system again refused the name. where’s he been?

Finn: he appeared on my IM buddy list and we had a video chat, he’s in trouble, we’re all in trouble.

philitup: and?

Finn: serious problems, philby, stay by the door, we don’t want anyone entering unannounced and reading us.

Philby’s and Maybeck’s avatars pushed the couch to block the room’s entrance. Philby stood there, just behind the couch, while the others moved to the far side of the room. Charlene brushed her hair in the mirror. Maybeck’s avatar shot free throws at a basketball hoop on the wall.

Finn described the meeting with Wayne as simply as possible.

Finn: the Animal Kingdom is installing a DHI server—animal hosts as guides, our old friend thinks the original server may have been cloned, possibly when Maleficent was hiding out in the server room, remember that? if that’s right, the Overtakers may have their own DHI server, or they may have control of the new one at AK. that means if we go to sleep they may be able to cross us over—to control us and prevent our return, we’d be in perma-sleep the same way Maybeck was at Space Mountain. Sleeping Beauty Syndrome.

willatree: Jez’s DHI

Finn: exactly, that was them, it confirms some kind of second server is up and working.

philitup: are you saying we can’t go to sleep?

Finn: he’s warning us not to.

philitup: exactly how long does he think we can stay awake?

Finn: depends on how much Coke we can drink.

angelface13: i’m tired right now. Charlene’s avatar finally turned away from the mirror.

mybest: this is crazy.

Finn: we can do whatever we want, he’s just warning us.

mybest: not to sleep.

Finn: yes.

mybest: and I’m saying that’s crazy.

philitup: so what’s the drill?

Finn: we find jez and get her to safety, then we find or destroy this cloned DHI server and put it out of commission.

mybest: all before we go to sleep.

Finn: that’s the safest for all of us

It was a long time before any dialogue lines appeared above any of the avatars. Finally, Willa’s avatar stepped away from the others.

willatree: if it was my sister, i’d be freaking out

angelface13: same here.

mybest: do we know they’ve got her in AK?

Finn: remember the monkeys we saw tonight? they’ve got to be from the Animal Kingdom! and it fits with what the old guy said about the server—that’s AK as well.

philitup: AK’s a big park