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I didn't hesitate to take Robben up on his offer. I was excited to get a closer look at the place where I came from and see just how this whole server worked. I wondered if perhaps I would encounter the original Robben, the one that I was based on, in the process. I also found myself wondering just how I would react if I were to meet him. Was he some villain, twisted by a sadistic desire to watch people die, or was he perhaps exactly like me? Only time would tell.
Robben advised that we wait until after dark to make our journey, so we would be harder to spot. He had made the trip on several occasions, he said, and it wasn't far, so we needn't worry about it taking too long. Still, I was anxious to be under way. When the time finally arrived, I was relieved to set out.
We made our way to the very top of the hills that surrounded the valley where the battles were fought. From our vantage point, I could see a number of large buildings spaced at intervals around the valley. Their electric lights twinkled in the darkening sky.
“Currently, there are six different cloning operations,” Robben said. “But I don't think that there is a limit. At times I have seen more, and sometimes less. It just depends on how many people are competing on the server at any one time.”
“So the clones come and go then?”
“Yes. And not every facility is the same. Some are large and equip their clones with powerful tools, such as the Gunners facility. You met those clones today. Other facilities don't have the money to outfit their men so extravagantly, and therefore they are slaughtered. But come now, let's take a closer look at the building that we came from.”
After a few minutes of silent walking, we reached the place where I was made. It was a solid metal structure with large glass windows that offered excellent views inside.
“Take a look, Rob. Can you see what's happening inside?” Robben said.
I could see very well. An assembly line of sorts ran from one section of the building and wound its way throughout. Each part of the building was devoted to some portion of the creation process, from initial design, all the way to equipping of the clones. A watched in amazement as copy after copy of myself was built from nothing, then dressed and issued a weapon.
“They've improved since this morning,” I noted. “They have body armor now instead of just an ax! But why aren't they being dropped out into the field like I was?”
“Because it is nighttime. The rules of this server state that battles can only be fought in the daytime. So the clones will be stored all night and then unleashed at dawn.”
“Robben,” I said. “There has to be a way to put a stop to this! Surely you can't agree with this treatment, whether we're real people or not!”
Robben rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Truthfully, Rob, I don't know how I feel. But I do like the idea of this adventure, and I think I know how we can fix things. But it's going to take some work. Are you interested?”
“Absolutely!”
“I thought you'd say that! It's almost as if we think alike,” Robben said with a wink. “Now, here's what I think we should do!”