Downtime and Death (Apocalypse Gates Author's Cut Book 5)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Is that a pond?” Becky asked, pointing ahead of them.

  “Mostly frozen over,” Alvin nodded. “I’m glad it is. I’m really hating the water mobs we keep encountering. I don’t even want to think what either coast has in the oceans.”

  “You think there’d be leviathans or krakens?” Becky asked.

  “At the very least. I wouldn’t be surprised if Maine has an infestation of ‘Deep Ones’ from Lovecraft’s mythos.”

  “You don’t really think they put ‘Cthulhu’ in, do you?”

  “I’d ask Jarvis, but he can’t tell us. I wouldn’t put it past them. I don’t think they put in the ‘Ancient Old Ones,’ but the lower and still terrible monsters, like the ‘Deep Ones,’ ‘Hounds of Tindalos,’ and ‘Shoggoths’ seem very likely.”

  “The hounds would be a major problem since they can come out of any angle, if I’m recalling the mythos correctly.”

  “Yeah. ‘Shoggoths’ can at least be driven off with fire. We’ll find out if and when we encounter them.”

  “These beasts you speak of, what are they?” Desiree asked.

  Becky explained what she could of them to Desiree, who looked shocked. “We don’t know if they are here, but a lot of creatures from story and legend, like you and Mousie, have started showing up, so they might be able to, as well.”

  “This world is in grave danger, by the sound of it,” Desiree said. “Maybe you should consider staying with my clan, instead. We would be happy to welcome you.”

  “No can do,” Alvin said. “This world is our home. We’ll be back here exploring more of it once we broker a deal with your King.”

  “The XP and loot is split amongst your party evenly?” Desiree asked.

  “Yes,” Becky smiled, “though I think we share more than most, and even help make sure we all have the best gear possible. For instance, you have your armor, which sits in your accessory slots. But you can also get normal armor like Mousie’s for coverage against threats other than the fungals, and would mean you don’t degrade your normal armor more than needed.”

  “That is something I hadn’t considered. I wonder if fa… Mithrilblood has thought of it.”

  “Food for thought,” Becky nodded. “We wouldn’t be against you becoming part of our team, though it does mean you would be below the rest of us in the command structure.”

  “Until the trials of command come around, right?” Desiree asked.

  “Trials of command?”

  “In my society, those who lead have to prove they are still worthy of being followed. Every one to ten years, there is a gathering of current leaders and those who wish to lead. They are pitted against each other to see who is best suited for the role.”

  “You fight each other?” Kuro asked.

  “The lowest ranks fight each other, but higher ranks lead squads against the other leaders’ squads,” Desiree started to explain before she sighed. “There are rules and laws, and the fights at each tier get more complicated, but that is essentially how it works. Our generals prove they still understand how to lead by fielding companies against those who wish to step into that rank.”

  “What about the King?” Alvin asked.

  “Mithrilblood has held off every challenger over the last hundred years,” Desiree said proudly. “To challenge him, an opponent must first fight for that right. The next challenge cycle is next month, which is why Mithrilblood sent scouts through the portal. If he can gain something of power, others might not challenge him for the next ten years because he would already have proven his right to lead.”

  “If we show up and help him, would that still work?”

  “Yes, though the other clans would likely try to barter with you. If they can make a better deal, it would help establish them as challengers to the King.”

  “Different society,” Becky murmured. “As different from ours as Mousie’s is.”

  “Every new world is bound to be different,” Alvin said. “Have to make them different somehow.”

  “Fair enough, Hero.”

  Alvin went back to focusing on the road as he took them down some tight switchbacks, having to fight through high snow banks to keep them going. There was the muted sound of conversation behind him, Kuro and Desiree talking to each other quietly and not transmitting over the radios.

  “Mousie, switch with me,” Becky said as she slid into the back.

  “As you wish, Gothy,” Kuro replied, exchanging a kiss before she took the front seat. “How long until you wish to stop, Hero?”

  “Miles yet,” Alvin replied, “and the way the trip has been so far, maybe another hour or two. If the snow stops being a problem, maybe less than an hour? Then again, if the snow lets up, we’d likely have mobs to deal with, so who knows?”

  ~*~*~

  Hours later, Alvin stopped them about a quarter of a mile away from the small town that had grown up around the Purgatory Resort. Summoning the base portal, Alvin exhaled deeply, glad to be done with that leg of the trip. They had not been attacked again, but the snowstorm was rapidly turning into a blizzard, and he hoped it would blow out by the time they left in the morning.

  “That was starting to remind me of home,” Desiree said as they got out of the Humvee. “Your snow is different than ours... yours is white, while ours carries traces of lumios and glows faintly.”

  Becky’s lips pursed in thought for a moment. “Would you be willing to step into the training room with me, Desiree? I want to see if you can show us what lumios is.”

  “I’m willing to do so,” Desiree said, following Becky. “If you have any and I can get it to power my suit, I can be a bigger help when we fight again. I also need to ingest some soon.”

  Alvin’s eyebrows shot up at the comment, surprised that the devs would leave the cliché of Dwarves eating rocks in the game. He followed the women into the training room, just as curious as Becky to see what Desiree called lumios stone.

  Once everyone was inside the training room, Desiree cleared her throat. “Simulation, lumios mine under Mithril Mountain. Clear of all normal activities.”

  The room shifted to a large hall carved from silver-grey stone. One wall had what looked like a frozen green river that ran down it in a ten-foot-wide path. Alvin was impressed by the engineering required for the massive room to exist. Becky’s mouth hung slightly ajar as she took in the frozen waterfall. Kuro frowned and looked around, noting all the hallmarks of a mine in use.

  “That green stone is lumios stone,” Desiree said. “It is what keeps my people alive.”

  Becky frowned at the stone, moving over to get a better look at it. “Why does it glow?”

  “It’s just the way it is,” Desiree frowned. “That’s like asking why the sky is blue on your world, but more of a blue-green on my world.”

  “It reminds me of something,” Alvin said, turning his attention to the ore. “Some zinc under ultraviolet light will glow like this.”

  “Really?” Becky asked as she touched the stone with her hand. When she pulled her hand away, a few small flakes of green stuck to her hand. “I was thinking it was radioactive.”

  “That would be bad,” Alvin frowned. “I mean, the whole green glow thing might mean it’s uranium glass. Hmm... simulation, give me a Geiger counter.” The device appeared in Alvin’s hand and, turning it on, he brought it closer to the wall. The needle moved slightly. “Maybe it’s uranium, or something like it.”

  “How much?” Becky asked as she brought her hand over to him.

  “Negligible,” Alvin said. “It’s not 235.”

  “What does all that mean?” Kuro asked.

  “Uranium is a mineral from our world. It’s radioactive, which means it will irradiate you. One type of it, uranium-235, is what our world used for its most destructive weapons.”

  “You have this on your world?” Desiree asked with a hopeful smile.

  “Not this, but something close, although much more dangerous,” Alvin said. “How does this empower your armor?”
>
  Desiree shook her head, “I can’t tell you. I’m sorry, Hero.”

  “Not like we’d tell her how to make a nuclear bomb, even if we knew how,” Becky shrugged.

  “Fair,” Alvin agreed. “I wonder if Jarvis knows the difference, and if he could tell us.”

  “We can ask,” Becky said. “Simulation, end.”

  “Should we clean up before dinner?” Kuro asked.

  “We need to, I’m cooking tonight,” Becky smiled. “Let’s go, ladies. Hero is going to talk to Jarvis and then join us.”

  “I’ll be along as soon as I can,” Alvin agreed. “Don’t wait for me.”

  “Oh, we won’t, Hero,” Becky laughed as she led the other two out of the room.

  “Jarvis,” Alvin said when he found the butler in the kitchen. “I have a question and I don’t know if you can answer it.”

  “Is it about the lumios stone, sir?”

  “Yup. How close is it to uranium glass?”

  “Not the same, sir. It is considered a mild toxin for anyone but Desiree’s people and the fungals. Unless you ingest a couple of ounces, you should not experience any ill effects from it.”

  “Anything else you can tell me?” Alvin asked with a grin, glad Jarvis hadn’t been shut down.

  “Not without tripping myself up, sir.”

  “Got it, buddy. What’s Gothy making for us tonight?”

  “Flaze steaks with garlic butter rice,” Jarvis smiled. “Mousie has asked my help in preparing a dessert, as well. It is the dish Matriarch Bloodnight served. The translation would be ‘Custard Delight.’”

  “It wasn’t a custard, though,” Alvin said.

  “The translation isn’t exact, sir.”

  “I guess not. Ah well, you have fun. I’ll try to get the ladies out to cook before too much longer.”

  “I would thank you for that, sir.”

  “No promises,” Alvin chuckled. “After all, when they gang up on me, well... my judgement goes a little wonky.”

  “As it would for any man who had to contend with them, would be my guess, sir.”

  “True that, Jarvis.”

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Alvin’s smile was broad when he climbed into the Humvee the next morning. Okay, if they jump each other like last night, maybe having another woman involved won’t get me killed.

  “Hero,” Becky asked from beside him, “you going to start the Turtle?”

  “Yeah, sorry, thinking about things,” Alvin chuckled as he got the Humvee fired up.

  “Pleasant things, from the look of it,” Becky snickered, her hand lightly grazing his crotch.

  “Road-head is an even worse idea than it used to be, Gothy.”

  “Oh, I know, but tell me what had you thinking?”

  “That Desiree might be an okay fit. I was a little worried about you and her last night, though.”

  “A little dominance game between us is all it was, Hero,” Becky replied. “I talked with her this morning; she’s fine with being on either side of the line, and if she’s still with us tonight, she’s going to join me and Mousie in the dungeon. We could use a firm hand to help all of us meld a bit closer,” she smirked, licking her lips as she watched him.

  “Did you find that race change to succubus yet?” Alvin snickered.

  “No, but if I do, I’ll make sure that you’re even better taken care of.”

  “Oh gods,” Alvin said as the back doors opened and Kuro and Desiree got in.

  “Is everything okay?” Kuro asked as she climbed into the gunner’s spot.

  “Yeah. You both ready for the fun that’s sure to come?”

  “I doubt it will be as fun as last night,” Desiree said, “but I’m ready to head home, even if that means killing everything between us and it.”

  “She fits in so well,” Becky sighed happily. “Our own little team of murder hobos.”

  “Team Asshole,” Alvin coughed the name.

  “I know that’s what you’ve been calling us, but I prefer murder hobos,” Becky replied.

  “What is a murder hobo?” Desiree asked as Alvin put the Humvee into gear.

  Becky started trying to explain what a murder hobo was as Alvin drove them out of the base. The sun was just above the horizon when the Turtle started down the road toward the small town ahead of them.

  “Mousie, if it’s not alive and human, feel free to go hot,” Alvin told her.

  “I’ll make sure that we are clear of hostiles,” Kuro replied back.

  “Here’s Hermosa Park Road,” Alvin said, taking the turn. “It loops down the side of the mountain in a switchback. I think I can drop down to the 550 going off road if I need to, but this snow might make that difficult,” Alvin grumbled, pushing the Humvee through a snowbank.

  “It isn’t snowing now,” Kuro said. “That makes it better than yesterday already.”

  “We are close to the portal, are we not?” Desiree asked, her voice eager.

  “A couple of miles if we could fly, maybe five by road,” Becky replied. “We’ll make it around noon if nothing goes wrong.”

  Alvin winced at her phrasing, but did not correct her. “Mousie, keep an eye on the road as we go. If you can see down the switchbacks, it might give us warning if there’s a trap or worse waiting for us.”

  “Understood, Hero.”

  Going down the road slowly, Alvin plowed through and over a dozen snowbanks. “Town should be just up ahead. I don’t think we’ll have a good view until we reach the switchbacks.”

  “The trees are blocking me,” Kuro replied. “Though I see white-brown smoke starting to rise.”

  “Something is alive down there,” Becky said, seeing the smoke climbing over the trees. “This might get interesting.”

  Finding the first part of the road that started the switchbacks, Alvin tensed, waiting for what Kuro could see. Desiree slid to the passenger side in the back seat, trying to get a good look as well. Seconds ticked by as Alvin did his best to focus on the road, and not the town that should be coming into view.

  Desiree’s murmur of surprise was followed by Kuro saying, “I see a lot of movement, most of it green tinged.”

  “Fuckers,” Alvin hissed. “I’m not here to fight a fucking war right now.”

  “There are too many,” Desiree grimaced. “Even if I had my entire squad, I wouldn’t risk this.”

  “I’m going to go through the trees at the end of this stretch of road,” Alvin said. “It’ll be a couple hundred feet of trees until we can link with the 550, but it’ll keep us away from that mess.”

  “Mousie, get inside,” Becky said. “If we’re going through trees, there is no need for you to be exposed.”

  “Understood,” Kuro said, dropping inside the vehicle.

  “I wish my brother was here,” Desiree sighed. “If his men were with him, we could eliminate this growth.”

  “Your brother is higher ranked than you?” Becky asked as Alvin focused on his own task.

  “He leads the Flame, our best armored squad. They have never lost when confronting the fungals.”

  “Your whole family serves?” Becky asked.

  “All of my people serve their time in one fashion or another. It is the only way to fight back. It wasn’t that way before the fungals, but it has been ever since we started to fight them.”

  “How long is the required service?” Kuro asked.

  “Fifty years, minimum,” Desiree replied. “Even if someone is not suited for fighting, we still find a place for them.”

  Alvin shook his head, the idea of serving in the military for fifty years shocking to him. “Brace— I’m about to go off-roading,” he called out and aimed for a thin spot in the trees, dropping their speed to make maneuvering easier.

  All three passengers braced themselves. Desiree and Becky made sure to secure their assets as the Humvee started to bounce roughly. Kuro’s lips thinned slightly because she did not need to, but she got over her brief annoyance when she saw how Becky and Desiree were
wincing.

  “This is why we try to stick to roads,” Alvin groused as he maneuvered around trees, some scraping against the Humvee.

  “Roads are preferable,” Desiree agreed.

  “I hate it when we bounce this much,” Becky spat as she held her chest tightly. “I normally like it when my tits get bounced, but not like this.”

  Alvin snorted, “Later, you damned succubus.” Breaking out of the trees, Alvin jerked the wheel as he got them onto US Route 550. “There, done, and now onto Engineer Mountain.”