Chapitre 55 : Preparing the Test – Elegant Distractions
New York, Queens – Alex's POV
May was locking her door, dressed elegantly, clearly prepared for an evening out — a charity gala, if I had to guess. Her posture, the neat lines of her dress, the subtle highlights on her face — all of it suited her perfectly.
She turned at the sound of my footsteps and smiled.
"Oh, Alex! Perfect timing."
I approached with an easy nod.
"May… you look incredible tonight. Really."
She let out a warm, flattered little laugh. "Thank you. It's a charity event for the center. I don't get many excuses to dress up, so I try to make them count."
"You did," I said simply — sincere.
She adjusted her clutch. "Heading home?"
"Yeah. And tomorrow afternoon I'll stop by to see Peter. I want to go over the Minecraft project with him, tie up a couple things."
"Good," she smiled. "He'll love that. I'll leave him a note if I see him first."
She stepped past me toward the stairs. "Enjoy your night, Alex."
"You too, May. Have a great evening."
She waved lightly as she walked away, heels tapping softly down the stairwell.
I watched her disappear around the corner, then turned toward my apartment door — quiet corridor, quiet mind, the day finally settling into place as I reached for my keys.
I slipped my keys into the lock and stepped inside.
The apartment was quiet — the kind of quiet that invited focus rather than pressed against it.
I dropped my jacket over the chair, crossed the living room, and headed straight to my bedroom. The familiar glow of my setup lit the space as soon as I powered on the screens, the soft hum of the cyberdeck booting up settling into the background.
Tomorrow's session with Wendy and Peter needed to be tight.
Not complicated — just controlled, stable, fun.
I sat down, fingers already moving across the keyboard as I brought up the tools I needed. The plan was clear: let them test a basic multiplayer mode for Minecraft using my cyberdeck as a temporary server. A closed environment, small-scale, just enough to observe how the systems handled player interactions, syncing, chunk loading, latency behaviors.
The real multiplayer module — the full version — would only launch after release.
I needed funding for proper servers, dedicated infrastructure, all the pieces I couldn't brute-force alone. But this? This was the proof-of-concept. The part that would show potential investors the game could scale.
I opened the framework I'd built earlier in the week and started refining the packet-handling layer, smoothing out the handshake process, making sure the lobby creation wouldn't choke with three clients connected.
Variables adjusted.
Endpoints re-labeled.
A cleaner loop for player positions.
My breathing fell into rhythm with the work — steady, precise, uncomplicated.
This was the part I liked: taking something complex and making it behave exactly the way I intended. No noise. No emotional contrast. Just logic and flow.
By the time I initiated the final debug run, the prototype server spun up cleanly on the cyberdeck — stable, responsive.
Good.
Tomorrow, Wendy and Peter would stress-test it.
Then I'd refine it again.
And eventually, once funds came in after launch…
The real multiplayer experience would begin.
I slipped my keys into the lock and stepped inside.
The apartment was quiet — the kind of quiet that invited focus rather than pressed against it.
I dropped my jacket over the chair, crossed the living room, and headed straight to my bedroom. The familiar glow of my setup lit the space as soon as I powered on the screens, the soft hum of the cyberdeck booting up settling into the background.
Tomorrow's session with Wendy and Peter needed to be tight.
Not complicated — just controlled, stable, fun.
I sat down, fingers already moving across the keyboard as I brought up the tools I needed. The plan was clear: let them test a basic multiplayer mode for Minecraft using my cyberdeck as a temporary server. A closed environment, small-scale, just enough to observe how the systems handled player interactions, syncing, chunk loading, latency behaviors.
The real multiplayer module — the full version — would only launch after release.
I needed funding for proper servers, dedicated infrastructure, all the pieces I couldn't brute-force alone. But this? This was the proof-of-concept. The part that would show potential investors the game could scale.
I opened the framework I'd built earlier in the week and started refining the packet-handling layer, smoothing out the handshake process, making sure the lobby creation wouldn't choke with three clients connected.
Variables adjusted.
Endpoints re-labeled.
A cleaner loop for player positions.
My breathing fell into rhythm with the work — steady, precise, uncomplicated.
This was the part I liked: taking something complex and making it behave exactly the way I intended. No noise. No emotional contrast. Just logic and flow.
By the time I initiated the final debug run, the prototype server spun up cleanly on the cyberdeck — stable, responsive.
Good.
Tomorrow, Wendy and Peter would stress-test it.
Then I'd refine it again.
And eventually, once funds came in after launch…
The real multiplayer experience would begin.
Gwen's voice came through the comms, casual but warm. "So… you said you're almost done with your project?"
I leaned back slightly in my chair, fingers resting on my cyberdeck. "Yeah. Final touches mostly. The mechanics are stable, the core gameplay is solid, and tomorrow I'm planning to run the first multiplayer test with Wendy and Peter. Beyond that, it's mostly polishing and preparing for launch."
She chuckled softly, the sound coming faintly through the comms. "You never slow down, do you?"
"I don't really have time to," I replied, a faint grin in my tone. "But it's close now. Once the game's out, I'll be able to step back a little and focus on the bigger picture — servers, company structure, long-term support."
Her tone shifted, teasing now. "Just… promise me you won't let all that money and fame change you. Don't forget me once the game makes you rich."
I felt a brief heat in my chest, tempered by the Void keeping my focus steady. "It won't just make me rich," I said firmly, "it'll make us rich. And that won't change anything between us. Money doesn't define us — it never will."
She laughed lightly, teasing still evident in her voice. "Good. Because if you're rich, it'll be easier to support your… harem," she said, smirking through the comms. "But I know you'd never abandon me. That's why I'm the queen of it."
I let a quiet, knowing smile tug at my lips. "Fair enough. You'll always have that place — no question about it."
She tilted her head, curiosity in her voice. "So, the game's almost ready, right? Solo mode is live, and multiplayer is just waiting on servers?"
"Exactly," I replied, calm and measured. "The solo mode is fully playable now. Multiplayer is prepared, ready to go as soon as the infrastructure is stable. The plan is to launch the game, build momentum, and then open multiplayer for testing with friends and beta players."
Her laughter softened the distance between us. "And all this… could actually help us too. In real life?"
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Yes. The funds from the project could cover a lot — living expenses, research, even things we need for patrols. Equipment, upgrades… safety measures. It's not just about money; it's about having the means to handle whatever comes our way. Both in civilian life and… everything else."
"Everything else, huh?" she murmured. "You mean the superhero side of things?"
"Exactly," I said. "If you need better gear, more support, or tools to make patrols safer, the company can cover that. You can justify outings as helping me with the project — it all works."
I let a small grin tug at my lips, aware she could hear it but not see it. "Everyone wins."
She laughed, light and confident through the comms. "So basically, I get to sneak out while patrolling because it's 'work for Alex,' and the funds make my life easier?"
"Exactly," I said, shrugging. "And it's smart. You get to train, stay active, and I get the benefit of your expertise without worrying about costs."
Her voice softened. "I like the way you think. And I like that this keeps us aligned. Me supporting you, you keeping everything honest and calculated… it works."
"It works because we trust each other," I said, letting the warmth of that connection settle in even across the comms. "And because I know you'd never abuse it. The company, the game, the money — it's a tool. Nothing more. But it can make both our lives easier, if we handle it right."
Her smirk came through clearly. "Sounds like a plan, Alex. Just… promise me you won't let any of this distract you from us."
"Never," I said firmly, letting the Void keep me focused on her voice. "This changes nothing. It just gives us options."
Her teasing returned. "Good. Because I'm still the queen, remember. No game, no servers, no money can change that."
"Not a chance," I replied with a small smile. "Queen of my harem. Always."
I leaned back in my chair for a moment, letting the day's energy drain away. The comms quiet, the city's hum distant, I finally stood and stretched. The bed called, and I obeyed, shutting down my cyberdeck and letting the warmth of the evening fade. I stayed up a little longer than usual, waiting for Gwen to return from patrol so I could reactivate the Void and finally let myself sleep.
The time passed quietly, the city's rhythm softening outside my window. When she checked in briefly over the comms to confirm she was done, I reactivated the Void, letting its familiar presence settle around me, and then sank into the bed, exhaustion finally taking hold.
The next morning passed in the usual blur — breakfast, light chores, small adjustments to my setup — until early afternoon, when I finally felt fully alert, calm, and composed. The Void remained inactive now, and with it, my thoughts and emotions were steady — clear and organized, ready for the next tasks ahead.
Just before the multiplayer test kicked off, I pulled up Wendy's character on my screen and walked her through the setup. "Okay, for this afternoon, you'll be connecting to my server," I explained, pointing out the steps. "Make sure your settings match what we've tested, and if anything doesn't work, just let me know. I'll be at the Parkers' place, so you can reach me there if you run into any problems."
Her eyes lit up behind the headset. "Got it! I'm so excited. I can't wait to see how it works in multiplayer!"
"Good," I said with a small smile. "Just follow the setup carefully, and everything should run smoothly. After that, you'll have the chance to explore freely."
Once I finished guiding her, I closed the session on my end, taking a deep breath before heading over to the Parkers' — Peter and apparently May had been waiting for this moment as well.
I pressed the doorbell, and the door opened after a few seconds. May stood there, looking composed and put together — subtle makeup, hair styled in loose waves, and an outfit that suggested she was heading out somewhere elegant, without being overt.
"You're early," she said, a small warm smile on her lips. "I've been expecting you. Peter too — he knows he's finally going to try out multiplayer"
I stepped inside, letting the door click shut behind me. "Perfect timing," I said again, glancing around. "How about we go see Peter and get everything set up for the test? And afterwards… if you want, we could grab a coffee, sit for a bit and chat."
For a moment, her eyes lit up, almost too quickly, as if she'd been hoping I'd say exactly that. Then she blinked, caught herself, and let a small, composed smile settle on her face. "Sure… that sounds nice," she said, her voice regaining its calm warmth.
She turned smoothly, guiding me toward Peter's room. "This way. I'll show you the setup so we can make sure everything's ready for the multiplayer session."
As we walked, there was a quiet ease between us, but beneath it, I could feel that familiar, subtle tension — the one that seemed to always surface whenever we were alone together. It wasn't uncomfortable. It wasn't dangerous. It was… charged. And I didn't pull away.
We reached Peter's room, and I immediately moved to his desk, opening the game client on his PC to check the server settings and make sure everything was ready for the test. Peter leaned against the doorframe, eyes wide with excitement.
"So, this is really happening," he said, grinning. "Multiplayer… for real?"
"Yeah," I replied, calm and precise. "The solo mode is stable, and today we're just making sure the multiplayer setup works correctly — server settings, connection limits, syncing worlds, that kind of thing."
Peter leaned closer, peering at the screen. "When's the actual release date again?"
"Soon," I said, reviewing the settings quickly. "Once the servers are stable and we're confident they can handle players, we'll do a soft launch. Multiplayer will open fully as soon as the infrastructure is ready. For now, today's just testing."
He nodded, eyes bright. "Got it. So today's the test run. Then full launch after?"
"Exactly," I confirmed. "I'll manage the backend, the company side, server monitoring, support — all of that. You just focus on playing and reporting anything odd."
Peter's grin widened. "This is awesome. Can't wait to try it out with Wendy too."
Same here," I said, finishing the last checks on his PC. I made sure the session was properly synced for multiplayer — server settings correct, world loaded, connection stable. A quick glance at the logs confirmed everything was running smoothly on both ends.
"Looks good," I said, stepping back. Peter started exploring his side of the world, moving through the terrain and interacting with objects. Meanwhile, I could hear Wendy's laughter and chatter faintly over the comms from my own apartment — she had already logged in and was testing the environment from my setup. Their voices overlapped occasionally, playful and full of energy, exactly what I had hoped for in the test.
Once I confirmed both ends were stable and the two of them were engaged, I stepped away from Peter's desk. "All right, Peter, everything seems solid. Keep an eye on things, and call me if anything comes up."
Peter waved, still grinning. "Got it!"
I moved down the hallway toward the living room where May was waiting. The session was running smoothly, Wendy occupied in the game from my apartment, Peter exploring from his room at the Parkers', and now it was time to focus on the quieter, more personal part of the afternoon with May.