by Tao Wong
“Talk,” I grunt and begin the process of bathing in the garden. It’s not great, but it’s certainly better than nothing and while I couldn’t necessarily smell myself after days of stewing in my own stink, I’m sure others could. Not to mention that the simple act of being clean is bliss in itself.
“Hmmm… where to start. First, don’t fuck with the elf. He’d eat you, me, your friends, the entire city and then wonder when the main course would start. He’s got at least an Advanced-class in the high levels, or, and I’d lay good money on this, a Master class. Very little chance he’s got a Grandmaster class otherwise he wouldn’t be hanging out in a dump like this. Second, he’s in a rush. I don’t think X-124 knew I picked that up, but again, we’re outclassed here. Third, he’s the reason why the Raven’s Circle is so high-level. He’s been giving out Quests like candy in an attempt to get as many survivors in town as possible,” Ali says.
I finish dunking myself in the water and pause long enough to ask “Why?”
“Mmmm, City prerequisites. Once we get the buildings bought up, he’d be able to upgrade to a Town which gives us a series of new building options. There’s a minimum citizen requirement for that though, and of course, you guys are his tax base.”
I grunt at that and then nod. Makes sense. I pull up the house’s menu and flick it to him as I get dressed, sliding the high-tech jumpsuit on first before more normal clothing. Thank the gods the jumpsuit had an auto-clean feature on itself, otherwise, I’d refuse to wear it again. “Recommendations?”
“You’re asking? Shit, did he drug you?” Ali teases as he spins it around and points to the Residence option. “No choice. If you intend to stay, this is it.”
I nod, happy that we concur and make the selection. Sorry Randy, guess I’m taking over your place. If you are alive, I’ll apologise in person. That done, I also make a quick payment on a rush basis to bring the integrity of the location back to 100% which fixes all the doors. It’s amusing watching the System take care of it as the doors shimmer and then reappear, fixed and brand new. Much more convenient than doing it myself.
“Where to now boy-o?” Ali asks.
“Got to get my rifle back,” I make sure the doors are locked before I roll the bike out, the sun still shining with its cheerful brightness. I grimace, pulling up a clock and realise it’s nearly time for dinner. Damn midnight sun.
“Jim!” I wave to the Elder, having parked the bike around the corner from the school on 5th street. Not as many people roaming by and while it’s out of sight for me, Ali can sense it and I can easily call it to me through the Neuro Link. The helmet I stow in its band form around my neck, finally giving up on acting like it’s a normal helmet.
“Ah, John,” he comes over to shake my hand before he unslings the rifle from his shoulder and hands it back to me a tad reluctantly. “That is a powerful weapon.”
“Yup and…” I shut up, my brain kicking in before I finish the sentence if you get me a pouch of tobacco and your daughter it’s yours. Not appropriate.
“And…?” Jim says.
“Uh… there’s a basic version of one like it for around 500 Credits in the Shop. If you skip getting the upgrades, it’s pretty decent,” I reply, quickly backpedalling.
At the mention of the System, Jim scowls, “The rifle came in handy. We had to fight off this 3 legged, furred creature that was eating the bear. Couldn’t save all the bear meat, but it more than made up for it.”
“Good! What’d you get for the loot?” I grin at him, curious.
“…” Jim pauses, speaking slowly. “Loot?”
“Shit. No one told you about that?” I wince, wondering how much they must have missed.
“Not as if you knew either noob,” Ali points out helpfully.
“Put your hand on your next kill, or whoever does the kill, and think Loot. The System will let you grab some items that can be sold for Credits in the Shop,” I explain and then add. “You can still use the meat that’s left, it just gives you a small portion of the creature. That’s how I skinned the bear.”
Every time I mention the System, Jim scowls. I can understand not liking the world we are in or the damn scam that it is, but the way he acts, it’s pure spite. It’s not as if the System cares if we loot a body or not, “Try it the next time. You’ll need to get new weapons soon, unless you want to try killing things with spears when you run out of bullets.”
Jim’s grimace is enough to let me know I’ve gotten through to him. I nod a goodbye to him saying, “Alright, I guess I should try some of this food…”
He nods, gesturing me into the building itself and I head over, surveying the grounds for more familiar faces. In the school, only a small walkway is available as people sit, squat and rest, marking out where they will be sleeping tonight. A few questions has me directed to the cafeteria, most watching me with wary or curious eyes.
The serving tables are set-up in the cafeteria itself, people streaming in and out as they get food before most of them leave for less crowded environs, the close-packed quantities of unwashed humanity a bit much on the senses. Everything is dirty, dishevelled and demoralised; many just sitting down without a goal. No electricity means no easy entertainment or ability to use a million, billion electronic distractions that we have come to rely on, and until more buildings are purchased, safe zones are at a premium.
I stand in line and wait my turn, eyeing the portions doled out. The stew is mostly water with some slivers of meat and vegetables in it. Considering I lost my backpack and all my rations to a dragon and someone had already raided my house, I don’t have a lot of other options at this time. I’ll have to look into purchasing some food from the Shop the next time, but for tonight, this works.
A part of me wants to be among humanity, unwashed and demoralised as they are. The press of humanity, the closeness of people is something that I hadn’t realised I missed until I met up with Richard and his crew. It’s not easy for most, shifting from a peaceful lifestyle to dealing with the System and its monsters and I can see more than one person being comforted as they suddenly break down crying or just stop, staring into space. I’m mostly a stranger here, having only arrived a few months ago so I have no true ties to the community, not like many here who have lost friends, family and co-workers in days. Whitehorse has always been a small town, so everyone has lost someone.
I grab the bannock, flashing the server a smile and getting a blush back before I go looking for butter, not finding any. Stew and bannock it is then and I head for the doors, hoping for some fresh air. I catch more than one glance, a few looks filled with hope which is quickly dashed. Outside, I find an empty spot and continue people watching as I mull over the future.
What happens to us now? Traditionally, the First Nations hunted for their for meat but with such a large group, that probably won’t help in the long run, not to mention that many of the hunting grounds are at least an hour away. We’re lucky this is in mid-April, giving us the option of getting more plants into the ground, but there is no way for us to actually plant all the food the town will need. No more food from the south means the winter will be brutal, not unless we can find another source of supplies. That means we need the System and all the ability to buy and sell in the Shop - which means not pissing off Lord Roxley.
It’s not a nice conclusion especially since it seems like he’s just another vulture, dropping onto the still twitching corpse of Earth but it is what it is. I wonder how many of these others are seeing that, thinking that far ahead? For that matter, why am I? I’ve never been much for this kind of thinking before.
“Ali, those increases in Intelligence. Are those things making me plan and think further?”
“Yeah, sort of,” Ali shrugs, turning away from trying to look down a nearby lady’s blouse. “It’s a bit hard to pinpoint the changes, but sort of. When you increase your level or your base stats, there are two effects. The first is, of course, your increase in your Mana pool which the System adjusts for you. The s
econd is a change in your brain, allowing you to process and understand data better and then eventually process that data into information, to put things together into concrete ideas and plans, especially in unexpected ways. That’s the physical side, the thing that makes you, you.”
“So, what, I’m smarter than Einstein now?”
“Ein… who? Look, you weren’t a complete Goblin before. But you’ve also mostly been fighting and running so your increases have mostly been focused in that area. You’re faster and smarter at fighting, not at solving world peace. However, there’s also side benefits like your ability to plan and think about things, at comprehending information.”
I grunt, mopping up the last of the food. That’s frightening, that the System - that Mana is changing me so directly. It’s also just as scary thinking what someone who specialises or puts all their points into Intelligence would be like. What else is the System changing without me knowing? The more I learn about the System, the less I like it.
As I stand, I realise that the group of children playing in the corner are doing so with some mini-ponies masquerading as dogs. On a whim, I walk over, depositing the bowl in a nearby tray. Lana gives me a hug when she spots me, Mikito offering me a slight nod. Richard seems to be missing, but that’s okay as I view the two ladies in turn, both of them having obviously found a washbasin somewhere to clean up the worst of the dirt and blood. Mikito looks at first glance to be doing fine, stoic and calm, but little signs show she’s on the edge. Fingers trembling ever so slightly, a twist in the mouth when no one is looking.
Lana looks to be doing better, more subdued by the generally gloomy atmosphere here but certainly not as broken. She has also changed into new clothing and the top she’s found is just a little too small, ensuring that more than one man has enjoyed looking at her generous assets. I have to work hard on not staring myself, reminding myself that I’m not a teenager anymore. No matter what my damn hormones are saying.
“How are you guys doing?” I gesture around before we return to watching the pair of dogs give rides to the kids. Parents watch on, some disinterestedly, some with deep concern but none make a move to stop it. I watch for a moment then I pull some chocolate from my stash, waving over some of the smaller ones and handing out the chocolate. It looks like they could do with the calories and after the initial rush, the children return to playing with the kids. In the meantime, the girls stay silent.
“We found a place to stay but it’s… umm… crowded,” Lana answers once we are alone again and Mikito nods firmly. “Richard’s taken the dogs to Collin’s, we’re hoping there’s more space there. Where are you staying?
“In my house,” I say.
“That’s not safe!” Lana hisses, turning to me. “I know you’ve been out in the woods yourself, but it really isn’t safe. You never know when a monster could spawn.”
“Oh,” realising my mistake, I quickly explain. “I bought it from the System so it is a Safe Zone. Still, won’t stop them from breaking in, but I’ll have enough warning especially since the doors and windows are fixed.”
“Mmmm….”
“Is that where you bathed?” Mikito speaks up from her seat.
“In a way. Randy, ummm, the former owner, he had rain barrels that were still filled up in the back,” I explain.
Mikito smiles and shares a look with Lana before they each take hold of one of my arms, gripping them firmly. “John…”
And that’s how I ended up with three new guests and a half-dozen mini-pony dogs. At least the dogs make a great alarm system.
Chapter 8
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
The world centers on my breathing and then nothing, a complete absence of thought fading in and out at times. I still have a long way to go, even with the purchased skill but as my alarm goes off, I realise I’ve been at it for half-an-hour now. Much better than what I could have done before the purchase.
It’s strange that such a simple thing helps me feel so much better, more balanced and calm. A part of me still wants to poke and prod at the System, about the why’s and wherefores, but it’s easy to push aside now, to focus on what is. Those questions can be answered in due time, but for now, there are things to do. Like breakfast.
“I love you,” I come down after a rain barrel bath, rifle clutched in one hand to grab the cup of offered coffee. “If that’s bacon, I’m marrying you.”
Lana laughs, shaking her head and pokes me with the spatula as she stands in the kitchen cooking up breakfast using my spare camping stove in a plain black borrowed shirt. The house looks cleaner, more put together with blood stains gone and furniture put aright. It must be my guests since after being forced to invite them home, I spent the rest of the night hidden away in my room going over the various upgrade options of my new residence. Spending so much time alone recently and being a natural introvert meant the rush of humanity drained all my social batteries.
“It’s the end of the world, not my taste,” Lana retorts and points to a seat. “Sit and eat.”
I comply happily, digging in before I have to ask, “Where did this come from?”
“Richard. He visited the Shop this morning while you were asleep and traded in our loot for some groceries. We gave most of what we got to the others, but we kept some essentials,” Lana answers me.
“Where are they?” I look around and note that both Mikito and Richard aren’t around.
“Hunting. Richard got an invite to join in and Mikito insisted on going. They took the dogs with them and joined up with a few others to work the area around Long Lake. Seems like you can put together parties in Town and share experience that way,” she explains. “I’m going to see what I can do to help at the schools. What’s your plans?”
“Nothing,” I smile slightly, shrugging. “I was thinking of taking it a bit easy, maybe spend a little time looking over the rest of the house and resting.”
Lana purses her lips, looking at me for a moment but does not comment further. After a moment she finishes the last of her coffee before she heads off to the room the girls shared to get dressed. Dressed for sure, since when she walks around the counter, I realise she’s not wearing pants. My jaw must have dropped because she grins back at me mischievously and explains in a purr that she doesn’t have anything to wear.
Ali just wolf-whistles and helpfully points out that she probably is coming on to me and proceeds to provide me graphic, graphic advise on what to do. I tune him out again, and when Lana does come back out wearing the same worn jeans as the day before, I almost wonder if what she said was the full truth. Either way, not the problem this moment. She waves goodbye to me, heading out and I sit back, staring around me.
The next half-hour has me puttering around the house, cleaning up the dishes and the stovetop, sorting out the remaining mess upstairs and my suite and then the workshop. When I find myself trying to turn on the water to water the plants that I realise I’m just trying to find work to do, something to get my mind off that gnawing pit of grief that is still bottled up in my body. I walk over to my bookcase, staring at my old friends and realise that’s not going to work either.
Fuck.
I close my eyes, leaning on the bookcase and realising that make-work isn’t going to cut it. I either have to deal with my emotions, all the things that I’ve been putting off or… Or I need to be out there, fighting. That’s when I don’t think. Out there, with the monsters, I can’t afford to do it.
I grim humorlessly, staring at my hand. Stupid. Such a stupid idea. But there might be more survivors who need help, more people trying to get back to town. Maybe I could do a little good too.
First step is to swing by the old hospital near the school and then take the road down to check out the scattered homes on this side of the river. There’s not a lot of people who live past the hospital, but with the increased number of monsters down this way, anyone who did live here might have been trapped. Anyway, it won’t take me
longer than a half-hour. Other than a single, unwary crab-like monster that I kill, Ali and I find no sign of surviving humans and I don’t feel the need to go hunting here. The quest and the potential lives I might save are more important, at least for now.
After that, I leave Riverdale itself, the goal to make it to Porter Creek and the other suburbs to do a final check. There are more people out during the day, even the threat of on-going sudden death can’t beat pure boredom. In Rotary and Shipyards Park on the river, I note people working the fields over, breaking up the earth to begin planting. I’d barely glanced at Rotary Park on the way to Riverdale last night, figuring the churned earth just another apocalyptic change.
Once I leave downtown, it’s a faster ride to the suburbs. I don’t even bother slowing down to shoot at the monsters I see on my way there, but a part of me knows my haste is wasted. If there are survivors, they could have made their way in from these nearby suburbs on foot easily enough or someone like the circle would have escorted them in. Still, I’ll feel better making sure.
Surprisingly, I come across a few holdouts; families and individuals who refuse to leave their residences from sheer pride or stupidity. By the sounds of it, I’m not the only one who has tried to convince the holdouts to move, so I leave them to it, just making notes of where they are. I’ll leave it for someone else to deal with these idiots. Unfortunately, by the time I finish my circuit, other than a few simple kills, I’ve not found a single survivor to bring back and I’ve wasted half the day already.
It's strange, driving through abandoned houses and spotting the occasional dead and rotting body, the smell carrying through the wind. I know I should feel something for them. Pity. Sympathy. Grief. Something. I don’t though, just this hollow emptiness where the feelings should be. Pushing aside my own emotions over my own loss has left me with this emptiness, this coldness. Why should I cry for someone I didn’t know when I haven’t for those that I do? I can’t change the fact that they are dead, can’t make them come back alive. Dead is dead and there’s no point wasting any further thought on them. It’s cold and heartless, but it’s reality. What is, is.