by Tao Wong
“One last thing, you guys are probably just going to call them minotaurs,” Ali says.
Considering he drops that note a second before I finally catch sight of the scene, I make a mental note to kick his ass. A bit of warning would help – seeing a crowd of thirty or so bull-headed, horned creatures with the ripped, humanoid bodies carrying rifles and swords is enough to give me a shiver. The Yerick are facing the twelve-foot reinforced concrete wall, standing in a group right in front of the gates and watching the guards who are posted there warily. The wall itself is really just an extra high vantage point, the mana shield behind it is the real source of defense. Physical defenses like walls really only work against the most basic of creatures, what with most monsters able to punch their way through concrete without effort.
On closer inspection, I note that Roxley’s guards are between the minotaurs and the wall and are facing in to the human guards. Behind the wall, I can hear the unruly crowd that Ali mentioned though so far, no one has started a chant.
The minotaurs are extremely well trained, the moment I come around the corner one of their lookouts at the back barks a warning and suddenly we’ve got guns being raised and swords drawn. Even as I hit the brakes, Mikito is hopping off and running to the side of me with naginata held next to her. Behind the wall I can see humans beginning to aim their guns. All it’s going to take is a spark and everyone’s going to start shooting.
Shit!
“STOP!” The shouted command washes over all of us and for a brief moment, my body locks up. I shove against the mental command, forcing past it and feel it give way beneath my will.
Mental Influence Resisted
All around me, I see people frozen in mid-motion. I know that voice though and I get off the bike, leaving my weapon alone. As I move, I note that I’m not the only one able to resist the command.
Capstan Ulrick (Level 7 Yerick Flame Warrior, First Fist)
HP: 2100/2100
My eyes bulge out slightly when I spot his health. Christ-on-a-pogo stick. Capstan towers over even his people by a good foot, putting his total height including horns at just under ten feet. He’s holding a rifle in one hand that by human terms would be a crew mounted weapon with three barrels on it in gleaming black and on his back is an axe. He’s wearing a simple jumpsuit like us but I do note the variable shield pack on his hip. The Yerick’s eyes glow red and nostrils are flaring as it looks between me and the walls, wondering what is about to happen.
I wonder if his Level is a bug or something? In fact, why is only a quarter of the Status Bars on the minotaurs showing? I look over to Ali and realise he’s frozen too by the command and I can’t help but wonder if I can buy Roxley’s skill.
As if summoned, Roxley jumps over the wall and lands on the opposite side, startling Capstan. The minotaur is well trained though, he doesn’t just start shooting as Roxley doesn’t do anything more dangerous than smooth his robes down. Capstan and I both spend a moment to stare at the pretty, pretty elf with his marble skin, pointy ears, black hair and golden robes before we both begin to speak.
“Harglexasss Roxley,” or at least that’s what I hear.
“Roxley!” I stride forwards, keeping my hands well away from the pistol strapped to my thigh.
Roxley raises his hands up, forestalling our words as he turns to speak to everyone, black eyes glowing with an inner light. “The first person to shoot dies by my hand. The person who shoots after that condemns the group he is with to death as well.”
Like a weight that’s suddenly lifted off, I feel the pressure in my mind release. More than one individual staggers, the kids among the minotaurs bawling their eyes out though worried parents don’t move to comfort them beyond a single free hand. I spot at least one guard leaning over the wall and throwing up as control is released. I can’t tell what my team is doing behind me, I just hope they keep to what we agreed on.
Roxley beckons Capstan to him and as I begin to approach, he holds a finger up to me admonishing my actions. Fine. I’ll let them talk. Lipreading doesn’t help either since they aren’t talking English or any human language. It doesn’t take them long before the two break away, Capstan walking to the Yericks and speaking to his group while Roxley turns to us, voice like iron; “These are my guests, they will be treated as such. Harm caused to them will be as though harm is caused to me and punished in the same way.”
Oh boy. I’ve picked up a few things from Roxley and guest rights are pretty big in the Galactic Core. It’s one of the only ways any civilized conversation can be had between such a disparate group as the Council members and so it’s vigorously enforced. It’s what got us into trouble in the first place - the envoy expected some minimum level of guest rights and instead, it got shot, captured and then dissected. Alive.
At Roxley’s command, the gates open and his own guards move to flank and escort the Yerick in. I turn to Roxley to speak with him and he shakes his head again, mouthing ‘tonight’ before leaving to join the group. As the initial after-effects of his command leeches away, his more regular presence exerts himself. Even the guards who should be watching for danger are throwing quick glances at the elf and the humans are mostly just staring at the pretty, pretty elf. It’s no wonder he doesn’t make a lot of public appearances.
Fine. Tonight. Not my fault my traitorous,gluttonousstomach wonders what will be served for dinner.
By the time we get in, reporting in to the Council about the Dungeon would be problematic at the very least. I can just guess that they’ll want to drag us into an ‘emergency session’ which involved talking for hours in circles, so instead I get Richard and Ali to go to calm them down. Ali because the little bugger actually has relevant information and Richard because he can actually charm the pants off anybody if he has the mind to. I can see him give me his ‘we’re going to talk later look’ but he follows my lead for now. Hopefully, Richard can keep the Council from doing anything really stupid.
Mikito and Rachel get sent off to do the same thing with the hunters that gathered at the gate attempting to bar it, with orders to ensure they didn’t cause trouble. Last I saw, Mikito was organising the hunters into a spontaneous hunting party. Crude, but effective.
Me? I go shopping right after I drop Sabre off at Xev’s.
The Biology of the Crilik Shifter (100 Credits)
I make the purchase and information floods into me. I’m looking for some specific details in this and it’s a simple matter to locate and confirm. Great, next…
Carcross Wet Caves (#12356) Layout (25,000 Credits)
Jesus that’s expensive. I wonder if it’s because it’s a known monster lair. I frown at the screen and the Fox sidles up to me, offering me a toothy grin. “Perhaps I can be of assistance sir?”
Oh, I know the assistance he wants. Every single Credit that I have and without Ali here, I’m a bit leery of dealing with it. Still, no harm asking, “I need to work out the layout of this location but it costs too much to buy it.”
“Ah, but we do have a significant number of mapping accessories,” the Fox grins and waves his hand. “Now, you’re not looking for something passive that will add to your map currently, correct? So, we must look for active options. Does the sir have a preference for biological, spiritual or artificial methods?”
“Don’t care really, show me the best.”
“Budget?”
I grunt, picking through my mind what I had left. I’d need at least 10,000 credits for the rest of the equipment I have in mind, which doesn’t leave me with much. Then again, I might be able to get a loan from the group, so… “Let’s go with a maximum of 12,000 Credits,”
“Tight,” the Fox looks displeased for a moment before it raises its hand and starts waving.
Wil-o-wisp Spirit (Modified)
This nature spirit has been modified to accept basic commands and is able to update a map with locations it has visited.
Cost: 12,000 Credits
Hunii Dragonfly Drone (Scouting Type IV)
This dragonfly drone comes equipped with multiple visual and audio recording options and can update 3D landscaping maps.
Operating time: 2 Hours
Cost: 5,000 Credits
“Why the big difference in cost?” I enquire, staring at the two.
“The wil-o-wisps are a contracted companion, much like Ali and have the additional benefit of being extremely difficult to damage. The drones are more versatile but much more fragile,” the Fox answers promptly.
“The wisps, are they sentient?” I can just imagine having 2 Ali’s chattering at me all through the day.
“Mildly. Along the lines of a rat pet you humans have,” the Fox continues. “Though I would not recommend keeping this one summoned constantly. Unlike Ali, it will drain your mana continuously.”
“There more options?”
“Of course, sir,” the Fox doesn’t even frown when I ask, pulling up other information. Twenty minutes later, I have to admit, he’s probably picked the best options. Biological entities generally have to come back to report on what they see, not having an option to inform me directly and adding a direct connection is way too expensive and brings its own host of issues. When it comes to Spirits, anything smarter than the wil-o-wisp ends up being too expensive and unable to map. The drones have the better array of options, but most just become variations of one another with minor changes in operating hours, structure and locomotion methods. The only other option is to upgrade Sabre herself, adding a more powerful sonar and radar mapping option, but that would use a precious hardpoint.
I make note of the two options and start digging into the shop for the tools that I’ll need. Since Foxy is so useful, I let him know the outlines of the plan and we get to work, putting together my shopping cart. I’ll need Ali to take a look at this later once he’s free, but best to get as much done as possible.
When I get out of the Shop, it’s mid-afternoon and there just so happens to be a group of human guards waiting outside. Considering the minotaurs are currently housed in the same building, I’m not buying the coincidence.
“Amelia,” I can’t help the disapproval in my voice as I stare at her and her friends. Most are guards like her, though I’m surprised that’s it mostly women, especially considering the gender inequality we see among the guards and hunters in general. From the corner of my eye, I watch a pair of cats slink out behind me, sending shivers down my spine. Whitehorse isn’t much of a cat town, and I’m glad. Mana warped cats are just frightening – something about the way they look at me reminds me that they are just a little way off from going completely feral.
Amelia smiles at me when she first spots me and then looks confused at my tone of voice. It takes a moment for her to clue in before she waves her hand, “No, no. Nothing like that. We’re here to help. Keep an eye on things, you know.”
“Ah,” I nod slightly, still puzzled by the mix. Whatever, not my business. “Good I guess. Roxley’s serious about the entire guest thing.”
Amelia’s lips twist as she continues, “Yes. We understand what it’s like to be judged for being different.”
I nod slightly, glad that some people have sense. I won’t kill them if they don’t kill us. “Manbun running class still?”
“Adley,” Amelia replies, her voice stressing the name, her tone disapproving, “is running class today, yes.”
“Thanks!” I wave goodbye to her. Might as well get some training in since I’ve got a few hours before dinner.
“Breathe in and extend your arms to the heavens, open yourself to the world. Be one with it. Accept the Universe into your soul,” Adley chants as he walks around the class, guiding hands tapping and adjusting us. “Relax, let your hands fall to the earth and fall back on your heels. Stretch into downward dog. Hold and breathe. Feel the way the world moves with you.”
Today’s class is yoga. Adley has a lot of methods for gaining ability in mana manipulation - most of it cribbed from bad translations of Asian philosophy – but considering it works for him and those he teaches, I really can’t complain. Much.
Mana manipulation or more specifically, progressing the skill is all about learning to visualize that force that surrounds us and changes everything. Understanding that force is kind of like threading an elephant through a needle, not possible without significant adjustments in our worldview though. Manbun’s method is no better or worse than Rachel’s of envisioning her ancestral spirits – the elephant still isn’t in one piece. In some ways, it’s very similar to how Ali trains me to access my Elemental Affinity of electromagnetic force, though as he is quick to point out, one is artificial, the other, natural.
So, here I am, doing warrior pose in the middle of the day trying to connect with Mana by moving. I have to admit, this particular class might not be for me, though that just might be as much due to certain lycra clad distractions. Don’t judge – I’ve got a much higher Constitution, streamlined genes and haven’t been laid in months.
After class, most of the other students cluster around Manbun, talking to him about how great class was and how they felt closer to being connected. I take the moment to wipe the yoga mat down when a hand falls on my arm. I don’t really think about it, just grabbing and turning, putting the arm into lock even as I stand. The soft gasp by the brunette whose arm I had grabbed is not without a little pain, so I let go.
“Sorry. Habit,” I reply and at her smile, return it. Light brown hair in a ponytail, liquid brown eyes under long, curving eyelashes and a cute button nose look back up at me. I notice she doesn’t step back even though I’ve let her go, and can’t help but admire the tight stomach in the yoga top and pants ensemble she wears. She’s so close to me I can smell her, a somewhat heady combination even mingled with her sweat.
“Not at all,” she replies and her voice is like sweet taffy. “Did you enjoy class?”
“Truthfully, this didn’t work for me. Though it is looking up,” I say.
“John isn’t it?” she says.
“Yeah…” I look above her head and realise Ali isn’t around, updating her Status bar for me. Damn it.
Misreading my hesitation, or at least the cause of it, she replies. “Karen.”
“Well, it’s nice meeting you Karen,” I reply, neither one of us moving. She’s so close, I can feel the heat rising off her body. Or maybe it’s me that’s getting hot.
“Well, John, my friends and I have to go wash up in the river. Perhaps I’ll see you soon. I’m staying at Selkirk for now,” she smiles slightly at me and turns, walking away but not before letting a hand trail along my chest as she does so.
“Yeah…” I blink, watching her move off to join her friends and do a surreptitious check to make sure I’m not drooling when I finish rolling up my mat.
Chapter 19
It’s late by the time I get home though I take a moment to admire the house in the evening sun. We’ve managed to divert a little of our funds to the house, adding a new eight-foot-tall wall with lookout towers on either end that elevate it to a good twelve-feet. While physical walls aren’t the most useful things these days, even I could leap them at a standstill, it was better than nothing.
The separate garage has been purchased and turned into a workshop for automotive maintenance. Richard’s taken an interest in that, working with Chris on the trucks. Unfortunately, we still have to buy mana engines and mana batteries from the Shop, but when Chris isn’t working on our trucks, he’s upgrading vehicles for others which gives us a separate and small income stream.
Power for all this is now provided by a residential mana engine and battery combo that lights up the house and the spotlights we have situated along the walls. Reinforced security doors and windows are now installed throughout the house too, giving us a little extra security if we are ever attacked and even the walls are upgraded to Galactic standards.
As I walk in, I can hear the voices of more of our constant guests. Since we have one of the only places with power in town, we’ve also become the
go-to hangout location for many kids, especially since Lana looted a 72” TV for the living room. I pause at the doorway, just listening to the happy, contented voices as they chat as an episode of Firefly plays in the background. I close my eyes for a time, leaning against the doorjamb and let the noise and smell of home wash over me. I can’t make their world better, can’t make it what it was before, but at least, for a little bit, I can give them a place that is safe.
When I open my eyes, Lana is leaning on the staircase opposite the door, watching me with a small smile on her face. I feel my face go blank, caught for a moment but that just makes her smile wider, still not saying a word. I return her violet gaze before breaking eye contact, letting my eyes roam over the redhead’s form. Images of Karen flash into mind as I compare her to Lana, finding no fault in either. Lana’s dressed casual as usual, just a simple grey top and jeans which she pulls off with aplomb.
“Done?” she flashes me a mischievous look and I realise I’m looking a lot more than I should.
“Yeah…” I shake my head and she snorts, coming the rest of the way down.
“Dinner will be done in a bit but you need a shower,” Lana saunters past me to the kitchen, and I swear, she puts a little extra wiggle into her hips as she does. As she leaves, she calls out behind her. “No chocolate for the kids!”
I grin, waiting for a moment for her to exit before I walk into the living room. The kids, on seeing me crowd around and I wink at the teenagers as I pull out a handful of mini-Toblerones from my inventory and drop them into waiting hands. Good deed of the day done, I take the stairs to my place, heading around the corner to my suite. Unlike the rest of the house, nothing has changed much down here. I’ve barely been back to make any changes really – which sadly includes my sheets. I really need to change those sheets.