by Han Yang
“I had zero issue fleeing if things got bad and I was reluctant to commit to anything. Now I have committed myself to something so meaningful it gives me purpose. That… feels not wrong, instead... better. Better works. This new version is better. Yes.”
Ginli smiled happily, rotating onto her side. “I lived a pretty selfish life. Correction, a very spoiled life. I have a choice in Hexpa. Do I take my chance against the assassins and hide in fear when they likely do show up?”
“I’d miss you,” I said and meant it. Maybe not the same way as I’d miss the lovely lady across from me.
She grabbed my augmented hand and stuck it over her heart. “My other option is to be a better person and find a cause I believe in. Norn is a great cause. I burnt myself out so the winter could be weathered. That effort has given me more pride than anything else. People will live instead of die because of my actions.”
“It’s clear to me at least, that Bradley would prefer if you stayed friends for now. Are you okay playing second fiddle for now?” Joana asked in a calm tone.
“More of a flute girl if ya know what I mean.” She tilted her head to wink at Joana. I didn’t catch the reference. “However, yeah. I’m okay with being the baroness plus one.
“I need to learn as much as you guys do and it lets me be in charge while not being in charge. I’d like to step in and run the place at some point, if you’d be okay with that?”
“All I ever asked for is time,” I said. “Slowly keep building that trust between us.”
“Aye, I hear ya. I guess what I’m sayin is if ya’ll have me, I’d like to stay on as a Baroness with a commitment to respecting the blossoming love you two have growing,” Ginli said in a sweet manner.
“Well yer obviously with us in a single suite when we easily could have afforded two. Team building as they say. So what were your thoughts about Duke?” Joana asked.
“You don’t think it’s crazy that Duke is… altering steambots. Kinda like he is upgrading them. While you were out,” Ginli said, snapping her fingers in joy about remembering, “we found a depot of sorts. Almost like a trash heap for the old city.”
“Oh yea?” I said. “Makes sense. Best way to dispose of stuff in the downgrade is to let the wilds have it.”
“I don't think this was intentional though. There were salvageable bots. I think it was a shop owner’s warehouse who didn’t realize the walls were changing so quickly. Maybe that is where the molebear started; the find was in a partial hole after all.
“My point is, he became ecstatic. I swore I heard a cackle, or maybe it was just an extra crank or servo noise. Those parts were taken away, and suddenly more steambots are speaking common, like… humans. They normally only mutter back commands or whatnot.”
“I hadn’t heard of that.” A loud hmm emanated from my throat as I pondered. “So here are the facts. Duke is only born by intervention. If it is not divine, then there is something wrong with me, and my wonky mind was hallucinating really bad. I truly believe something led me to Duke. The question is. Why?”
Joana tapped the pencil on the paper, having an ‘Ah-Ha’ moment. “A steambot revolution would need a hidden city with friendly humans. A city down on its luck. What if… That’s too dark.”
“Say it,” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Humans have enslaved machines for as long as the magic of Gearnix has been around. What if the machines want to enslave humans?” Joana said.
“Oh,” I said in a frown. “That is bad. I much prefer to think they merely want a city that respects them.”
Ginli grunted. “That’s not dark unless they start killing humans to be a superior race. Which I think Gearnix would frown upon. A free machine city would make more sense, or a new society city. That is what Duke is already doing. I don’t think Bradley wants to stop him.”
I shrugged with a head shake. “Nope, I do not. I love what they’re achieving and Duke has been beyond helpful. Maybe I’m still naive and too trusting. Time will tell. I hear your worry and it is noted Baroness Ginli!” My chipper tone got her grinning.
“Story of the bear cubs?” Joana said.
“Even I was sleeping during that trip. I went to working nights and her days. Maybe you should get an eye augmentation Joana,” Ginli recommended.
“I… A lot of doors have opened for me. I bought nice dresses,” Joana blushed because we ripped that dress from the bar to get her out of it, “cooking skills, and I’m a tad jealous of the upgrade Bradley received.”
“I like ya just the way you are. But… if you want to change, I’ll be there for you. We got more than a few days to think about it. Tell us this story,” I said encouraging her.
“Oh, it’s rather sad actually. Animals in the wilds fight. We don’t know what killed the mother, but it wasn’t us. She was ripped apart by something fierce and small. Whatever it was, headed back for the mountains after eating half the corpse,” Joana said with a shudder.
Ginli frowned, sitting up. “How small. What kind of footprints?”
“Prints the size of my hand with three claws. We found a feather, but that doesn’t mean it’s a flying bird,” Joana said with a shrug. “The momma went out of the cave to fight and lost. The cubs were crying for attention and lured us in. Now we have three children.”
“Ah, the pets that you treat like children… pass for me normally, but I’ll help. Also, count me in for looking into getting a wild’s guidebook for this area. Getting attacked from above sucks,” Ginli said.
I groaned, unable to help myself. “And below.”
There were long sighs at remembering my near death. Ginli yawned, patting my hand.
“Come humm me to sleep, my Baron. I’ll adjust for a day shift in the next couple of days. The shopping should be a delight. Wake me for dinner please,” Ginli said to Joana while dragging me into the bedroom.
I hummed her a tune after she changed in the privy. A few minutes later, I snuck out to watch the view out the window. As the trees, lakes, and fields passed us by I had a great conversation with Joana.
It felt right to help those folks in Norn. It also was good to get away and let things adjust while we were gone.
I only had to hope Duke did a good job while I was gone.
CHAPTER 22
Joana smacked the device against her hand. “Arg… this darn readiness checker is busted.” She stuck the device in my face, pulling me away from my studies on augmentation.
I raised an eyebrow at her. “Can I help you?”
“Stick this in your hole,” Joana said with a grumble.
I wasn’t sure what had gotten into her, but I decided not to comment on her phrasing. We were almost to our destination and the trip had been marvelous. Being a patient lover and concerned partner was probably going to help more than snapping back.
There was a whirl of the device and then a flash on the screen.
GEARNIX READINESS SHEET
Name: Bradley
Origin: Ocarna
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Residence: Norn - Baron Lord
Rating: 9.9
Strength: 9
Endurance: 6
Perception: 5
Burst: 6
Luck: 11
Reflex: 11
Charisma: 15
Charge: 57%
Healing: 1
Intelligence: 18
Melee Combat: 12
Crafting: 1.1
Aim: 6
Dexterity: 7
Steambot Mastery: 82
Leadership: 3
Construction: 0
Farming: 0
Tree harvesting: 1
Gathering: 1
Fishing: 0
Skinning: 0
Cooking: 0
“Uh…” I scratched my head.
“Oh come on! All it says for me is see Gearnix Manager,” Joana grumbled. “What’s got ya so confused?”
“Well,” I said in a smug tone, heading for the door to exit
the train. “My aim is a six.”
“Don’t see how. You literally shot a flipping bear from ten feet,” Ginli said with a swat on my rear.
I dodged Joana’s pinch. “Hey, no double teaming.” I sighed. They giggled delightfully at my blushing. “Phrasing… Look at that Steambot Mastery score.”
“Huh!” Joana said with widening eyes. Ginli peered over to check too. “Eighty flipping two.”
“Gotta be from Duke,” Ginli said. “Steambot mastery just means how quick bots learn from their masters. I got some high stats. Never come close to an 82. Hey, time to go and Hudson’s out there waiting.”
We often ate dinner in the dining cart with Hudson and his family. Which was a grown son, his wife and their baby granddaughter. They would come and visit in our small lounging area, and us theirs.
The trip was delightful. I got to learn Joana had wanted to be a restaurant owner. Of course, trying to earn a quick coin by adventuring backfired for her, and she gave up those dreams to settle for moving out of her parent’s place.
Ginli opened up and we learned about her stories of battling depression. Her yearning for a soul mate or mates and children. The ups and downs of gambling and self-loathing. I think the last eight and half days were really an adjusting period and a grieving period for her.
It felt good to finally step off that train and into a new city. There was work to be done within this bustling metropolis.
A mid-afternoon wind whipped my hair with a slight chill. A glance around revealed steamblimps littering the sky, a giant watchtower chimed - telling the hour, and an incoming train from the opposite direction tooted its arrival.
Birds flocked, bursting through the billows of steam. Not far away, a main street was filled with machine lanes, animal lanes, and pedestrian walkways. The majority of the people wore decent to excellent garb while walking a clean city.
I was certainly impressed by Hexpa and it even had a nice sign.
Hudson met us halfway to say, “They check all weapons at the entry. Those human guards by the Gearnix Guards are the uniforms for local law enforcers. They’ll give ya a token when we come back to board or adventure out a gate.
“As we discussed, you wanted to stay somewhere lavish. The Gradium hotel is the perfect spot and Duke said you’d love it. Great saunas, pools, and it's next to both the market and the arena. I'll set up a meeting with the trade guild while you book… two rooms please.”
“We can afford three,” Ginli said. “I know, I know. Let me cover it.”
There had been a debate she’d rather not have again. Staying together made sense. We wanted nice views and the Gradium had them but the place was pricey for Hudson and his family. So we offered to get a room for him and one for Harven and Desri, so baby Bonnie could have a separate place to rest.
No surprise that the cart with the baby was packed during the day and devoid at night. Ginli just wanted them nearby so she could keep visiting the baby. I was fine with people crashing in our living area to get a rotation of sleep.
We checked in our weapons and I hired a steambot to guide us to the Gradium. After nine days of no civilization I soaked in the nasty stench of humanity. I smelt a distant waft of farms over the stink of manure.
Teams cleaned, swept, and washed the animal paths into sewer drains. I saw minimal police and we fit in fairly well with our adventuring garb.
Since we were near the train a lot of hotels loomed high. Signs called for our attention stating vacancy. The chimes, hoots, toots, and ringing bells warned us to follow the steambot for a land bridge over the four lanes of heavy traffic.
Our guide had a strut to his step and a smile on his face; as if the Hexpa Council wanted the steambot to be more approachable. I noticed zero venturebots, even the fancy carriages held no mechanical guards. There was a shortage of them in Norn and I’d been hoping this was crafter's heaven.
I did see humans carrying luggage, and when we got high on the landbridge I saw a park full of children playing. Hundreds of adults watched on eagerly encouraging the little ones. It wasn’t fair, not one bit.
“Ginli, we can stay,” Joana said, finding a pause in the breathtaking views. “Ya know, with us too. His face is in wonderment also.”
“I’ve never been to a better city than Langshire. These tier six walls they -”
I interjected, “Amazing. There is so much city here. I’d love to take a blimp tour.”
“Sure they do offer em. Hexpa’s wondrous. And no. I want to make Norn bigger. Ten walls are the record and only a few mecha’s of Gernix have been achieved,” Ginli said with a smile.
We left the land bridge for a foot traffic only road. The roaring sound of a crowd cheering and stomping blasted through the air. Something was going on that had those people mighty excited. I smiled when the massive coliseum came into view.
I missed my turn when the steambot chimed an alert. Encircling the arena were massive hotels, with ritzy decorations and ferocious gargoyles. The Gradium was a black and red building with balconies that views the arena for at least twenty stories.
Before I could step in, a steambot waddled over to halt my entry. A set of envelopes were handed to me. I frowned, accepting the letters with a curiosity.
“Welcome, welcome. Do you have a reservation?” a portly man with a bushy white beard said. He managed the whole sentence with a pile between his teeth.
“We do not. -”
I steambot tugged on his sleeve, interrupting me. He chuckled at the steambot, patting the head until it happily hissed steam.
“The Gearnix Station guards handed that steambot those letters not thirty minutes ago. He is quite late to get back to something or other. Said to open the letters. Have a seat on those couches and we have vacancies so don’t worry about a reservation. Oh, Wesker’s the name,” he said heading to a desk.
I went to the couch while the girls absorbed the massive chandeliers, the interior water fountain, and the expensive painting.
I opened the bundle to find two stacks. There were labels. Open now. Wait to open until after trading. I opened the open now.
Dear Baron Bradley -
Your safe arrival to the Gradium in Hexpa should be guaranteed. In case you were wondering, I can send messages through stations. So can you. I have included a detailed report of all trade good items moving between Hexpa, Dardin, and Portin. There are a few reasons for this.
The trade representative will be able to meet you right away. I urge you to go there first and settle these three trades. Purchase five rolls of thread. Eighteen tons of basic steel and twelve tons of common steel. Then set the imports how you see fit against the bids. While hosting a booth at the market is an option I do not recommend it.
I need you to verify trade data I have provided against buy and sell orders. If all goes well, then our trading will be more… streamlined in the future. You still have to open the official city account and exposing you to trading is beneficial to all.
Lastly, I need you to trust me. Go directly to the trade district. A Station Guard will be outside to escort you. After you will go with him to his station to visit the manager. Only after you finish your trade negotiations will you open the second envelope. Tuck both these data sheets and the second letter away.
Duke Norn. Advisor and Friend of Baron Bradley.
A hulking station guard was standing out in front of the Gradium. Residents were in shock at one in the middle of the city. The massive machine was terrifyingly big with intense weapons slung over its back.
I realized it was time to go. I tipped my head in apology to Wesker. “We shall be back sir. For a nice room I guarantee it. Ladies. That is our escort,” I said passing them by.
They had a million questions that I didn’t have the answers to. Did I want to allude to a second letter, hell ya I did. Was I going to even bring it up, not a chance. I was already itching to break Duke’s trust.
What was the secret?
Why the Station Guard?
So m
any people stared and gawked as we went right back to the train area. There was no landbridge needed this time. When the Station guard walked into traffic - traffic stopped.
Even the horses and oxen were frightened by the ten foot robot that creaked with each thundering step. The journey back into the city center let me ingest the sights and sounds. I really enjoyed the cleanliness and price these people took in Hexpa.
I saw alley crews washing and cleaning areas that normally collect stinky rubbish. Steambots scrubbed bricks with soapy water. A few guards watched over intersections and were among the point and stare group of onlookers.
Ten minutes of a nice fall walk resulted in our arrival at a big set of warehouses. I smiled when I saw Hudson and his family waiting in a line to get to a window counter.
A note that looked tiny in the monster machine’s hand was handed beyond a patron and to the teller. An overseer rose from her back of the room desk, to take the note from the teller.
“Baron Bradley! Side door, please,” she hollered out a circle hole in the glass.
I gave Hudson a wave forward. He trotted alone to join us. The Steam Guard parted the line so we could get past and into the side door.
The woman displayed a hip high silver leg in a revealing way, in an otherwise very business-like attire. I could tell she was lean and fit, but the buttons, chains, latches, and pouches covered her mostly up.
That leg looked custom and extremely expensive with the big gems melted in. A powerful woman in a trading position probably could afford it.
“I’m Lanisha, there are under two thousand city leaders. They don’t wait in lines. They also don’t command them,” Lanisha said pointing to the robot with disdain.
I realized something as I stared at the metal monstrosity. I removed my pouch, taking out a small orb, certainly nothing to power something so large, and inserted it into the slot at the hip.
“Thank you,” I said to the black machine that probably got a bad rap for looking insanely terrifying.