Ch 105
After taking a moment to confirm what he was going to say, Matt realized it would be another month before he could use the leader’s broadcast again. Despite upgrading it, the only change was that it now allowed him to send a video of himself and his surroundings, rather than just projecting his voice. This upgrade was important to Matt, as he had arranged for the others to position themselves behind him just before he selected to start the broadcast. At that moment, he received a prompt asking whether he wanted to send out a notice and start a countdown or go live immediately.
Part of Matt felt silly delaying things, but he had to admit that giving everyone an hour to find a safe place to view the broadcast was likely for the best, so he did just that. This decision left him with an hour to kill as he sat there, continuing to look over the options his new organization allowed him to explore with Emily and Eleanor. Together, they opened up the quest system and frowned at what they saw because one key feature was clearly missing: quest creation. Instead, it seemed that all they could do was allow their members to accept quests they found and reassign such quests if needed. With all of it blank, Matt felt like there were more questions than answers. Emily predicted that quest creation would come with a higher level of control. The way she phrased it suggested that she expected it to be a system designed for smaller organizations to build their reputation by taking on the work of larger organizations.
Feeling disappointed, Matt shifted his focus to the member benefits to understand why they were so high on Emily’s list of priorities. He discovered that the benefits system was structured to reward members based on merit, which didn’t apply to him since he was the owner rather than a member. Despite this, he had to acknowledge that the system’s ability to offer members up to a five percent boost to all stats was impressive. However, he was uncertain about how long it would take the average member to accumulate the necessary 50 personal merit points. At least the members of his group had already surpassed the current cap. Nevertheless, Matt couldn’t shake the feeling that the system was primarily designed to enhance the organization’s reputation by motivating members to contribute more. From his perspective, this approach seemed counterproductive, as he believed that supporting members without any conditions would yield better results in the long term.
It was during these contemplative moments that Matt received a notification indicating only five minutes remained before the broadcast would commence, a broadcast that would last merely 15 minutes. Promptly, Matt instructed everyone to assume their positions once more, positioning himself with his back against one of the safe room’s walls as he prepared to wait. In these final three minutes, time seemed to elongate as Matt pondered over every word he was about to utter, hoping that his message would be well-received. Finally, the countdown hit zero, and he began to speak with a steady resolve.
"To all of you whom I have yet to meet, I am Matthew Pierce, the leader of the Scattered Stars organization that you have all recently joined. I would be lying if I claimed to fully understand what I am doing, but that is precisely why I have a dedicated team to assist me in navigating any challenges that may arise. This means I have no intention of micromanaging every action you may take. Instead, I aim to be transparent with you about what I expect from each of you and what you can anticipate from those of us in leadership positions.
"That being said, our current circumstances make enforcement rather challenging. Therefore, all I ask of you between now and our return to Earth is not to die and to refrain from needlessly provoking anyone. This doesn't mean you should give in to the demands of others; instead, it means being the bigger person by walking away and becoming stronger for the day when someone inevitably crosses the line. I also understand that many of the greatest rewards can only be achieved by risking one's life. So, despite my advice not to die, if you do, make sure it was in pursuit of a benefit you believe is worth the risk.
"What I just conveyed is essentially what Scattered Stars embodies. Each of us is currently scattered—not only from one another but also from those we hold dear, whether they be few or many. If you don’t perceive yourself as someone capable of rising to the top and becoming the driving force that reunites you with them, then you are no star. Thus, your first step is to rectify that mindset and discover the path that will enable you to become one. When you return to Earth, let nothing hinder you. We know not the circumstances we will encounter, but cowering and hiding will never yield optimal results in our new reality. All you'll achieve is leading a short and meaningless life, failing to truly live. Do not rely on the charity of others; do not expect people to wield their power for good. Instead, strive to be the one who can offer charity to others, the one others can depend on to use their power benevolently, and make those who would attempt to stop you feel powerless in their efforts.
"We are the Scattered Stars, and even if we never gather together, our power is what will bring a brighter future to all those around us. Even if they are not our members, though, I do not wish or expect any of you to sacrifice your life for anyone else’s. After all, if you do, who will save them when the next threat arrives?"
Matt paused, looking straight ahead as he felt everything necessary about their identity had been conveyed. It was time to shift gears. He didn't want to delve too deeply into the specifics of what the organization could offer them, yet he continued to speak with a determined glint in his eyes, aware of the responsibility resting on his shoulders.
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"I have said all that I am going to about our purpose. Now, I will touch on a few basic benefits that I expect all of you to use and, yes, even abuse while I permit them. Specifically, the contribution system and the request board, as I am quite certain that we all have access to very different resources. Although I am sure we will encounter issues and delays in using them, the ability to obtain what you need in exchange for what you have in abundance is the foundation of trade since the dawn of time. That being said, I expect this system to be operated differently, as it is not intended for profit. So, do not get greedy and do not expect to receive everything you wish for. Emily and Eleanor will be monitoring what is submitted on the request board and working to balance things through the member contribution system. However, everything is still in its early stages, and patience will be necessary.
"With that, I have expressed what I feel is necessary. While I am aware there is much more to discuss and elaborate on, our time is limited, and I do not wish to overwhelm any of you. However, I will emphasize that I expect each of you to give your best effort or choose to step aside. Now, before concluding this broadcast, I will call forward each individual who is with me. As I mention their name, I anticipate the broadcast will allow you to see them as part of my backdrop. If, however, you do not see anyone, you can attribute it to system limitations. Nonetheless, rest assured that they are indeed present, ready to support me as I try to figure all of this out."
Matt rotated through his entire party, even allowing them to try saying something to test just how much the broadcast would transmit. Once they were finished, there were only 30 seconds left, so he concluded with a simple farewell and a reminder to strive for greatness. Then, just like that, it was over, and he felt a weight lift off his shoulders as he focused on another control he was about to use for the first time: Leader’s Call. Although there had been some debate about who should receive his first call, they all eventually agreed that Tyler was the priority. Since Tyler should have been on his way to see Matt when everything happened, Matt felt it was essential to get an update from him on his situation before making a follow-up call to his brother, Peter. Matt was relieved to see that both Tyler and Peter had joined Scattered Stars, along with everyone else on his list, except for their mother. This likely meant she was gone, just like Matt’s father—a realization that was a blow he wasn’t ready to process as he made his first call.
"Uncle Matt, is that you?" Tyler asked, his voice tinged with confusion. "I thought I was done hearing from you after the broadcast."
"Yes, it's me," Matt confirmed. "Before we delve into personal matters, did you see everyone with me during the broadcast?"
"Yeah, but only your voice came through," Tyler replied, curiosity piqued. "I have to ask, though, how did you run into Apricity? I haven’t come across anyone I knew from before since everything happened."
"We don’t have time to cover everything we want to discuss on this call, as it will only last 30 minutes, and I only get one such call every couple of days," Matt explained. "Part of being the first means I have to test things with you as we chat. So, are you alone, or are others with you?"
"I’m in a group of ten after we lost two members," Tyler explained, a hint of sadness in his tone. "Our group consists of those who seek adventure, and no, I’m not the leader. However, a lot of what you taught me has been incredibly useful."
"That’s good to hear. Are there other groups around you?"
"Not that we’ve seen. As far as we can tell, the danger increases the further we move ahead, so we’ve been progressing slowly, not wanting to risk finding out what happens if we stop completely."
"What level are all of you?"
"We’re at level seven, but we’re getting close to level eight. What about you?" Tyler responded eagerly.
"I’m at level 15," Matt revealed. "You need to push harder, as the system starts unlocking personal menus at level nine. Just make sure to increase your durability and spirit..."
Matt spent the majority of the remaining call explaining as much as he knew to Tyler and testing a few things. This included determining whether sounds other than their voices could be heard over the call. It turned out that the answer was no, unless they were the ones creating the noise by clapping, walking, or doing anything else that would naturally make sound. Finally, with only a few minutes left, Matt shifted back to personal matters.
"Now, before I let you go, I’ll be calling your father in a few days. Is there anything you want me to say to him?" Matt inquired, his tone gentle yet curious.
Tyler paused for a moment, considering. "If Mom is there as well, tell them that I am fine and figuring things out," he replied thoughtfully. "Otherwise, just tell him that he better not let you out-level him, or he will never convince me that his way of life is better than yours."
Matt couldn’t help but chuckle at what he knew had been a sore spot for him because Tyler was quite disheartened by the reality he faced back on Earth. Matt couldn’t really blame him or advise him to figure out how to navigate it, considering he himself had chosen a path to avoid it. Peter, on the other hand, believed that Matt was being foolish in the long run, as what he was doing wasn’t something sustainable into old age. Matt was well aware of this and never intended to live long enough to experience old age. Another reason he doubted that having kids was in the cards for him. This made Tyler the closest thing to a son he had ever had, making the next words he was about to say all the harder to utter.
"I'm not going to do that to your father; now isn't the time for such games. Tyler, I am not the role model you should aspire to emulate. If you weren't my nephew, we wouldn't get along, and that's because of who I am more than anything else. I was sent to a place where they dumped all the antisocial loners and forced us to work together. Even now, part of me longs to run off and be alone, despite knowing that those I surround myself with improve my chances to survive and genuinely care about me."
"Yet you don't—" was all Tyler managed to say before the call abruptly ended. Matt glanced around to find the rest of his group looking at him with a mix of concern and curiosity. It was only then that he felt a few tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the internal struggle he had faced.
