‘I’d like to stay here all day as well,’ he said calmly. ‘The team’s got a very important mission coming up. We’re just on our break.’
‘It’s just as well you’re forced to take a break, otherwise you’d live in the damn game.’
Skye paused a little before every reply. This unsettled Zak, who always suspected she was concocting a remark to wind him up.
‘I’ve got to put the time in, to improve my world ranking,’ he said.
Skye sighed.
‘Another V-Commando game?’ she asked.
‘Yep,’ said Zak. ‘V-Commando: Arctic War 3. Released this morning.’
He pointed at the wall, then darted his eyes along the icons at the top. The game’s cover video appeared, then advanced into some sample action. Deep in a snow-covered mountain forest, two sets of opposing soldiers were engaged in a skirmish. Being the junior version, the projectiles comprised of blue gunge which splattered on impact.
‘It’s brilliant!’ said Zak, enthusiastically. ‘Although we’ve spent most of the time trying to get up a cliff.’
Skye watched it for all of five seconds, then tutted.
‘Are you not playing the adult version yet?’
A typical Skye taunt. But Zak was ready for her this time.
‘Not yet,’ he said.
‘Then you’re still on the kids’ version. Not much point talking about world rankings when most of the world is playing the proper game.’
Zak smiled. Smugly.
‘No, but Tom’s got a cheat code that will unlock the adult version of Arctic War 3.’
Skye’s face turned sour.
Zak struggled to contain his glee.
‘Not only that,’ he continued, ‘but it will put the game on the True-To-Life setting. We’re going to enter the code on the very next mission. That’s why it’s such an important one.’
