by Han Yang
A hand swiped in front of my face. The blackness washed over me and I opened my eyes to find myself in a room with a huge circular war table.
Mountains rose off the surface a few feet tall, forests in a myriad of colors stood inches high, and rivers cut across the land. Lakes, oceans, and gulfs gave the world map different shades of blues and sea greens.
There was noticeably one thing absent. Signs of civilization. That was until I leaned closer into the map.
“Holy shit!” I exclaimed when I saw a teeny tiny train.
I followed the line until it reached a clearing no larger than my thumbnail. The very center of that was a city with the outer edges being farmlands. Only a spec upon the mighty map.
“You really made it so humans struggle against the wilds.” My confusion was evident.
“This isn’t all me. There are things at play that must remain a mystery. However, yes. There are plenty of wilds to colonize and almost infinite room for expansions. This is how it should be. Great efforts must be made to achieve any expansions. That is also not what matters to you at this very moment.
“You need to pick a starting point. This section right here.” He pointed to a river near the mountains. I saw a bigger city there. “Is the only one that is off limits. That is Ocarna and the place you left for your backstory.
“Understand, you can travel the world safely via steamboat, steamtrain, or the unstable steamblimp. Getting from isolated city to isolated city is… difficult only because of the cost. The trains and boats are really reliable and a fun journey.”
I walked around the table, taking in the map as I went in a circle. There was not going to be a perfect answer just looking at the typography.
“Can I see what the politics are like, how the people behave and that sort of thing?” I asked, not seeing an interface.
“All politics are local besides for what the trade barons, tycoons, and magnates deal with. Tell me what you’d like and I’ll guide you there,” he said, folding his arms.
“Do the zones increase in difficulty? Is that a factor?” I asked, running a finger along a wide brown river.
“Sure. The deeper into the wilds you get the more dangerous the situations become. Most cities have a fairly docile nearby zone for you to earn measly hydrox. The wilds vary greatly, and even change on their own with time. I wouldn’t judge a location based on what you exploit for profit.
“However, if you like the sea, yeah, live by the ocean. If you like the river, pick a river. If you enjoy seeing mountains… I hope you get the picture.”
I huffed. I didn’t like hiking or fishing, but I never really tried them that much. I had to be open to new options. Limiting myself seemed counter-productive.
“Let’s go with free society, near mountains, easy travel, low taxes, and access to waterways,” I said in a happy tone.
He snickered, shaking his head. “I can do medium taxes with a free society, but highly punishing, governance. Meaning if you break the laws ya hang.”
“Fair laws?” I asked and he nodded. “I can live with that.”
The map changed from a massive circle to three smaller end tables. The cities lived large in these smaller variations. Each had mountains, docks, and rails leading into the towns. The ports opened into greater oceans and rivers crested the sides of the settlements.
The wilds were broken up by the changing terrain and I was wowed by each of them. Seeing the metallic building billow steam as they generated lights was enthralling. Neatly lined roads held street lamps and the cities were beacons of activity.
He walked to the left city. “Langshire. Ran by a tycoon named Patrica. If it can be traded, she dabbles in it. She rules with a steady hand that most favor. If there was a vote… she’d win because most of the city works for her in one form or another.
“Her rule is fair, and yet, harsh. She taxes hydrox at her two gate Gearnix Stations at twenty percent under a certain quota. If you become a big earner, she reduces the rate after a sit down. Patrica pampers her wild earners.”
I smirked. “Sounds like my kind of lady. Glad to see a woman can rule.”
He shrugged. “There are more female goddesses than many know about. This next city is Krenix. Ruled by a council of barons that rarely rotate. There are a whole lot of rules, regulations, and taxations. However they’re all fair, just, and you step across a line you're given leeway for early or mistaken infractions.
“The city gives no preferential treatments, has good rails, decent trade, and no blimp access.”
I scratched my chin. “Why no blimps?”
“They… they’re rare, prone to problems, and when reliability matters, it matters. Also the mountains around Krenix make flying tougher.”
“Ah…” I said like I understood.
“Last is Nornfree. Nornfree is… different. They hold elections, change rules frequently, and have the lowest taxes of the bunch. The issue is stability. The city has been on the decline, hence the low taxes. They’d elevate a big earner fairly quickly.
“All will value you if you venture forth and risk life and limb to bring home hydrox. Nornfree will do so the most because they’re kinda desperate. I don’t know if you want to be a king or just get by at first. The best part of Nornfree is it’s a pass through town for the most part. It has far more access to other cities.
“I must warn you now. Even a train ride from Nornfree to Dolve, or Krenix to its nearest city takes weeks and is incredibly expensive. Another reason to venture forth into the -”
“Wilds. Gotcha. So I’ll be stuck saving up if I decide I don’t like the first city I start in. Unless I walk.”
Zozo shook his head. “No, you’d die. The wilds are not something to test fate with. They’re so dangerous, we gods had to build the railways and install protections for them. If you need to move. Use the rail or a boat. The intercostal and rivers are fairly tame.”
“Not a fan of months of hiking anyway. Okay. What do you recommend?”
I saw him fighting on what to answer. “Technically I’m supposed to just build you a body, add some parts, and slap you into a spot. Except, I like seeing people react to Gearnix… seeing your building excitement brings fulfillment. If that makes sense.”
“It does. This will be a big change to my old life, but I can admit, I want steambots, awesome weapons, and a chance to do something that matters,” I admitted with a smirk. “My… life was stagnant and lame on Earth. This… this’ll help me become something more.”
“And hopefully you can bring about lasting change.”
“Hopefully.”
He patted my back before walking the options. “I like them all. In Langshire you can expand the city, earn favor, and sway the leader. In Krenix you can live in quiet or become a council member. The ability to blend in will be nearly perfect. In Nornfree you can change a fledgling city and imprint your way of life as a ruler. Picking waterways, mountains, and open society is a great way to ease into Gearnix. I… I can’t pick for you besides to say they all are fantastic.”
“Which offers the most entertainment?” I asked.
“Oh, Langshire for certain. Think of Langshire as Las Vegas in an odd sense. Krenix is more of a stable suburb. There is gambling and whoring in both, but one is quieter about it with more rules. Nornfree has both... but again, struggling and ready for someone to shape it into their own mold.”
I chewed my inner cheek in thought. Maybe I’d want to be a mayor or baron at some point. For now, I wanted to live a bit and experience the world. Krenix is where I wanted to build a family around. No… I needed -
“Langshire.”
Zozo stuck out his hand. I went to shake it and he clasped my forearm. “You greet by forearm with men. Wave to women you don't know. Longshire is a great place. Do not cross Patrica. Pa-tri-ca. Like that. Got it?”
“Pa-tri-ca. Kiss her ass. Because a brown noser gets more than a sour apple.”
Zozo chuckled. “Who knew that your communications degree would
be so relevant? Alright imprinting your back story now.”
“Imprinting?”
“Yeah, in time your cover will be fact to you. You left Ocarna for riches in Langshire. You’re inexperienced and wanting to go where you can achieve a fate not overshadowed by an older brother. You parents paid for a blimp ride aboard the Crussian Charters.
“A craft that never arrived safely to Langshire. You’re not sure what happened to the flight but you awoke in the wilds, luckily not far from civilization. All traces of the blimp vanished and you're grateful to be alive.
“You kept your pack with a smidge of hydrox to get you buy, your sword, and your blunderbuss. While you sought civilization you based yourself in a cave under a fruit tree. Got any last questions?”
“Uh, like a thousand. I was -”
“Glad you don’t. Good luck!” He cackled an evil laugh while waving his hand in front of my face. As if the light switch had been flicked off, there was blackness.
CHAPTER 4
I awoke in a daze.
A confused groan escaped my parched lips. The cloudy haze that fogged my mind was whipped away when I felt a sharp pain in my right foot.
My eyes shot open to reveal two cat sized rats at my feet. I scrambled back, hitting a wall in the dimly lit cave. There was surprise hissing from the big rats that had been gnawing on my boots.
When they noticed I was awake they scurried out the small opening.
I stood, feeling a pain in my toes. A quick inspection showed I was missing flesh off my biggest toe.
“Those assholes. Where the hell am I?,” I grumbled to myself. I reached down, scoffing at the hole in my fine boots. “These boots were nice and thick too. Musta been out for a while.”
My muttering caused my head to tilt. Things weren’t adding up. I tried to pull at memories and failed. I recalled my Papaid a lot of H (hydrox) for me to venture to Langshire. I shook my head to focus my mind.
I survived a crash, I needed to find civilization.
Those damn rats musta thought I was dead. I’ll show them.
I hurried out of the small cave to find myself under a… lemon tree. A piece of parchment fell from the tree to land on the leafy ground littered with rotting lemons.
When life gives you lemons. Good luck Bradley of Ocarna
“You make lemonade.” My words caused the paper to dissolve, the remnants floating away.
Something triggered in my mind, giving me a headache. I tried to hold onto the memory of Bradley Pierson but the thoughts faded like a dream you desperately wanted to recall but lost.
A snarl from my left broke my thoughts, flaring my senses with panic. I whipped my sword out of its sheath to find three rats fanning out.
“Easy fellas, can’t we chat about this,” I asked them.
Funny thing about extra-large rats. They don’t listen very well.
I stepped back, feeling the squish of a lemon under my boot. Instinctively I looked down, giving the rodents an opening.
A rat on my left leaped at my leg with claws flayed, and buck teeth at the ready. The moment it attacked, the others jumped with snarls.
Planting my left foot, I spun, swiping my sword in a circle at shin level. The blade sliced the maw of the first rat clean off. A loud shriek became a gurgle.
My victory was short lived as the blade lodged in the ribs of the second rat.
“Argg!” I cried out as the third rat clamped onto my right leg.
Every yank on my blade just pulled the second rat along for the ride.
“Fine,” I shouted between clenched teeth.
I used the sword with the stuck rat like a club, smashing the final rat off my leg. When the rodent tumbled in a crash against the leafy forest floor, I abandoned my sword.
A desperation leap resulted in me slamming on top of the final rat.
My right fist smashed down, pulping the shoulder. The rat shrieked, scampering for distance. I jumped to cover the fleeing large rodent with my torso.
Big buck teeth sought my face in defensive desperation. I readied for this, smashing my metallic hand hard into the creature's mouth.
SNAP!
Teeth popped free to crash to the forest floor. The crossed eyes and swirling head of my foe, told me he was stunned. I raised back my fist and hammered down a final blow that splintered the skull and killed the rat.
I sat panting in disbelief of the situation.
How!? What!?
Old memories crashed against new ones. I realized I had survived when I shouldn’t have. Even if what brought me to this moment was a fire on Earth or a blimp crash on Gearnix. The reality was, I had just been attacked.
After a few minutes my heavy breathing calmed. Getting to my feet I stood and retrieved my blade.
“Now you come free,” I grumbled at the weapon.
The reality was I merely had to pull from the original angle, something that escaped my adrenaline filled brain during the heat of battle.
Live and learn.
I sighed, staring at the corpse. A quick rummage through my bag revealed a half dozen cubes of H inside a velvety purse, a dagger, some jerky, and a metal container of water. I extracted the water, chugging to quench my thirst.
With that back in my bag, I retrieved the dagger to head for the dead rodents. Cleaning animals seemed easy enough, even if the process was gruesome.
I may have gaged when warm blood coated my hands.
“Couldn't you have just winked out of existence and left a nice prize… No… you had to have me cut out a freaking heart,” I grunted while working.
After a few minutes, I cut the heart out of the big rat, earning a ball the size of my thumbnail. I groaned at how small it was, feeling underwhelmed at the results.
While staring at the magic there was a sensation, as if my body was telling me my reserves were low. I closed my eyes, focusing on a desire.
Tingling from my left foot, right eye, and right hand gave a thirsting request for magical energy.
“Interesting,” I muttered.
I undid my boot, exposing my reddish brown augmentation. I found the square hole and slid in the round ball of bluish white hydrox into the slot. A sensation of happiness washed over me.
My puncture marks knitted together, almost completely closing. A wide smile transfixed my face as I went about gutting the second and third rat.
After extracting their orbs, I added them to the valuable sack in my bag.
“Where to next?” I asked myself, peering around. “A drink. A drink sounds lovely.”
The fact I was talking to myself was normal. I used the process to help cope in stressful situations. I also chewed on my inner cheek, just like I had during the hydrox retrievals.
Feeling a touch better, I scanned the area. I saw a clearing about a hundred yards away from the lemon tree.
Without any clear destination in mind I headed that way. Every step was painful, resulting in a slow pace. Arriving in the clearing, I spun, checking the sky line. Half-way through my rotation, I spotted smoke stacks billowing black in the distance.
A quick glance back at the lemon tree left me with a tough decision.
Did I brazenly risk the wilds at a slow pace or did I hunker down in that cave until I healed?
I realized I was missing my blunderbuss somehow. Maybe a short rest would make sense. Backtracking for the cave, I shuffled into the entrance a few minutes later. Against a dimly illuminated wall was a makeshift door and my firearm.
When I picked up the weapon I saw it was devoid of power.
“I need to get a pouch for my neck or belt, rummaging for ammo mid-fight simply won't do,” I said, doing exactly that.
My left hand poured out the two orbs from the rats into my metal palm. I slotted both balls of hydrox into the blunderbuss, letting the weapon whirl to life. There was a quick charging, after a few seconds of gears spinning, and a lot of whirring, I knew it was ready to fire.
With an awkward gait, I hauled the wooden slabs to block t
he entrance to the cave. I jammed the makeshift door into position the best I could.
My efforts resulted in flaring pain, causing a loud grunt to escape my lips. I hobbled over to the back wall, set the weapon in my lap, and thought about life.
It didn’t matter if I was Bradley Pierson or Bradley of Ocarna. What mattered was my leg was slowly starting to feel better and there was only one way forward. A future on Gearnix.
A hiss of steam ejected from my arm.
Okay, if I was being honest with myself it did matter. I didn’t like losing memories or feeling like my thoughts were torn.
Actually, I hated it.
Feeling lost was… abysmal and yet, I had to let it go.
I decided to pass the time by inspecting the hydrox cubes in the sack.
When I tried to feed the magic into my mechanical foot, it consumed half of the cube. A sensation of needing to pee washed over me. The steam releasing tubes on my foot, eye, and hand hissed all at once.
“Oh… Oh!” I stood, realizing I actually did have to urinate.
My rush to relieve my bladder revealed my leg was now healed. I’d need to look into that in Langshire.
Could I just input x amount of hydrox and I'd be healed? Or was this a one off because my injuries were superficial?
I knew I’d need to get a pen and paper to start recording all the intriguing questions I had. Somehow I figured someone would answer them for me, for the right price.
After a second thorough sweep of the cave, I exited hesitantly.
I froze.
There was a shuffle of leaves near where I’d fought the rats.
My eyes swiveled to find a big gorilla with a corpse stuffed in its big jaws as if it were starving. The glare of the big beast told me I was in trouble. Its sheer size loomed over me even at a distance of a dozen paces.
There was an ear ringing roar that sent the rat corpse flying with spittle.
Two massive fists slammed into the animal’s chest. The hits were so powerful air washed over me and I could feel the impact transfer from its body, through the ground, and into my bones.
