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Moving carefully to avoid detection, Robben and myself crept away from the cloning facility. Robben led me down a small trail towards a new destination where he believed we could find some possible answers for dealing with the madness on this server. I found myself walking on an asphalt sidewalk through what looked like a well-tended park. Even though it was still dark out, I began to fear that perhaps we would be spotted. This appeared to be a place that was frequented by people other than ourselves.
“Robben,” I whispered urgently. “Should we be on this path? Someone might find us.”
My guide shook his head nonchalantly. “We're fine. I've been in this area many times and never encountered anyone.”
Many times? I pondered this as we continued to walk. It was seemed obvious from his appearance that my partner had been marooned on this server for a very long time. But why had he been in this area so often? And if he had been here as often as he claimed, why had he never done anything about the clone crisis before? It struck me as odd that he seemed so casual about the whole thing! Wouldn't he be anxious to escape this place if it were possible? But on the other hand, perhaps the time he had spent here had driven crazy!
I continued to ponder these ideas until presently we came to a halt before another building. This structure, however, seemed somehow different from the cloning facility we had just left. It was smaller and lacked any of the mechanical instruments that I had seen earlier. I could, however, see a set of consoles on the second floor.
“What is this place?” I asked.
“This, Rob is the network building.”
“The network?”
“Yes. This is where the mechanics of this each clone facility are handled. Things like: how many clones can operate at once, and what sorts of weapons are available. It's also where the competitors watch the matches.”
“The competitors?”
“Yes, Rob, weren't you listening before? People compete against one another on this server, using their clones. The original players stay up there. You know, so they don't get mixed up with one of their clones. Imagine how terrible that would be!”
I chuckled. “It sounds to me like they're afraid to get a taste of their own medicine!”
“Perhaps. Maybe we should take a closer look. There's a ventilation shaft that leads inside, but it's too high up on the exterior wall for me to reach on my own. If you give me a hand, I'll unlock the door from the inside!”
I complied with Robben's request and then waited silently in the darkness for him to emerge, while plotting an escape route in the event he was caught. But my worries were unnecessary, as a few moments later he appeared at the glass door. Pushing the door open quietly he motioned for me to step inside.
The interior of the building was sleek and modern. I glanced around nervously, expecting at any moment for an alarm to go off and for armed guards to descend on me. Robben, on the other hand, was startlingly calm and relaxed.
“Come on, Rob,” he said with an easy grin. “The main control room is on the second floor. I'll show it to you!”