[Issue 50] Warphare: Digital

[sonofchrysalis3 3,719]

 

The farmer gaped in horror as his herd of cattle ran over a cliff and plunged into the ocean. All he had worked for, everything he had owned… it was lost.

 

Hearing laughter, he wiped his teary eyes and squinted to see a man far in the distance, standing where the cows had grazed only moments ago.

 

It was his neighbor Allen, and he was holding a cattleprod.

 

And then, it all vanished, replaced by the words “You have logged off.”

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

Allen was laughing so hard, he could hardly type. Destroying other players’ property on the free mobile MMO farming game “Hoedown!” was against the rules, and that made it all the more funny.

 

He signed into the game’s forum and scrolled to the “Misc. Topics” section. Time to post an obscene photo.

 

A blip suddenly popped up on the screen. “PM received from ForumAdmin Passionate_Slowcooker.”

 

Ugh, what could he possibly want now?

 

“I just received a complaint that you pushed a player’s cows off a cliff. While he was not able to provide a screenshot to prove that you did it, he is missing twenty cows, and you have some pretty nasty karma.

I hope it was not you, and hope you understand that destroying a player’s property is against the rules and will result in a six-month ban.”

 

I’m so sick of getting these-.

 

KNOCK KNOCK.

 

Allen set his phone on the table and walked to the front door. Who could be visiting at this time of the morning?

 

He opened to find a short, dark-skinned man on the steps, his hat pulled low over his eyes. In his hand was a gun.

 

Oh God, not now.

 

“I don’t think I have to tell you why I’m here,” growled the man, “especially since you’ve been warned twice.”

 

“The money’s in my account; I finally scraped it together. I’ll withdraw it first thing this morning.”

 

The man stood silent for a moment.

 

With a sudden movement, the man kicked Allen solidly in the stomach. Allen gasped and sank to his knees.

 

“The boss told me to put your body in the dumpster down the street.” The man grinned as he pressed the gun to his groaning victim’s head.

 

“Just… few hours… ‘til the bank opens!” Allen managed to gag.

 

Looking thoughtfully at his watch, the man nodded and pulled away the gun. “You’re right. As much as he wanted to read the police report of your disappearance, I know getting the money you owe him will make him much happier.”

 

Allen struggled to stand as the man stepped back down the stairs.

 

“Oh, and don’t bother trying to spirit yourself away,” he said over his shoulder. “I’m not leaving this area until that debt is paid.”

 

Allen shut the door and leaned against it, gasping and rubbing his belly.

 

I thought I was done for.

 

He glanced around the messy apartment. Now, what was I doing? Ah, yes, trolling the moderator.

 

The phone showed another message from the mod. “I’m aware that, in times past, you have publicly made fun of the rules and indicated that you have no intentions of abiding by them, which is why I’ll be watching you like a hawk from now on.”

 

Man, I’m Mister Popular today. Everybody wants to watch me.

 

“LOL its not important to obey the rules man” Allen typed with a smile.

 

The reply came quickly. “Our game is played by over two million people who want to have a good time without worrying that someone’s out to hurt them. You may not care, but I care. Those two million players care. So yes, it is important.”

 

Ooooooh, mod’s gettin’ maaaaaad….

 

“You want to know why I don’t obey the rules?” he typed.

 

“I’m assuming you’re going to tell me.”

 

“Because it’s FUN to break them.”

 

After ten minutes, there still was no reply.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

Allen strode up to the teller’s window and handed the smiling employee a withdrawal note.

 

“I need to take out five hundred pounds.”

 

The woman’s smile instantly faded. “Very well….”

 

She turned to her computer and began hammering the keys.

 

Allen glanced idly around and saw the black SUV parked outside the front doors. The windshield was too heavily tinted to tell if anyone was inside.

 

“Uh, sir?”

 

He turned to find the woman eyeing him.

 

“Yes?”

 

“Our records show that there’s only five pounds in your account.”

 

He laughed. “That’s cute; I like you! But I really am in a hurry.”

 

The woman didn’t laugh.

 

Allen felt the blood drain from his face as she swiveled the monitor around for him to see. Five pounds exactly.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

MY PHONE! WHERE’S MY PHONE?!

 

Allen stomped frantically around his apartment, throwing things aside in his search. I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS- ah, found it.

 

He scooped the cell phone off the floor and stuffed it in his crammed duffel bag. All he needed now was his keys, and he could put as much distance as possible between him and his troubles.

 

CRASH!

 

All Allen ever saw was a man breaking down his door.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

“This is the most horrible case I’ve ever seen.”

 

The doctor shook his head in disbelief as the body was rolled away. “Shot, then beaten headless with a club. What is the world coming to…?"

 

BEEP-BEEP.

 

The inspector fumbled around in his bag and pulled out Allen’s cell phone.

 

“Hello! It seems the dead man just received a text message.”

 

It was a PM from ForumAdmin Passionate_Slowcooker.

 

“You’re right. Breaking the rules is fun, sort of like how computer hacking is fun.

 

Oh, and that reminds me. Thanks for the money.”

 

 

 

 

The rules were not made to be ignored and broken. They were made to break you if you ignore them.

 

 

 

Also in the Warphare series:

 

Psychological

 

Interpersonal

 

Internal

 

Practical

 

Final

 

Supernatural

 

Edited March 1, 2016 by sonofchrysalis3

[beaku 2,656]

Woah! That was too harsh a punishment for online trolling and breaking MMO rules! In any case, I think the message is directed towards the rule-breakers in Tanki who, most probably, won't even read this story! :(

[fordmustang12345 3,910]

o.0 whoa

[KillerGnat 3,135]

Goin' out with a bang, eh Strats? Great story though, Warphare will be missed  :(.

[yk88 577]

Epic.

[personia 4,036]

Good story Stratus. We will all miss you.

[RRMI 210]

Will miss Warphare :(

[13rilliant 8]

My reaction:

 

o.0

 

 

Edited March 10, 2016 by 13rilliant

[dragonssk1 334]

Will be more intense with swearing but knowing 8 year olds play and stroll the forum... Great story. Lol unethical to say the least

[anuclearbomb 220]

That is the stuff we... i mean i, love, brutal and to the point, good story