by Ben Ormstad
“Heroes…” he continued dreamily, and presented his open palms. “For destroying the daemonorgs – all of them. You are in truth heroes. Risking your lives for us. I… We owe you everything.”
I waved a hand in the air while leaning against the clean, white wall. A ceiling mounted, rotating fan sounded like a rumbling engine in my exhausted ears. “Don’t worry about it, doc,” I said hoarsely. Glanced sideways at Frida. She swayed back and forth, as if so fragile from the battle that even the mild, fan-generated wind could tip her over at any moment. I felt a bit claustrophobic inside the FL-Armor. It squeezed my chest, and the helmet suddenly seemed tighter. “But maybe you’ve got a few MedKits lying around, perhaps?”
“Yes, of course,” he said abruptly, as if snapping awake. “Apologies for my rude inattention to your condition. Not a good trait for a doctor, is it? Immediately!” He gestured at a coated woman with shoulder length, grey hair and a single, huge eye in the middle of her forehead. “Annie, please, bring these heroic souls two full MedKits each!”
“Right away, Dr. Riezenthaal,” she said and scurried out of the well-lit office.
“And Annie…”
I don’t know how she heard it, but her head popped back in. “Yes, Dr. Riezenthaal?”
“Ditto magic vials, please.”
“Certainly.” Her head disappeared from the doorway. Booted feet clunked against the metal plated-floor in the outside corridor.
“Appreciate it, doc,” I said, pulled out a chair from the wobbly table he’d stuffed with papers, tools, white boxes and other paraphernalia. “I just… need to sit for a bit, you know.”
“Yes, please, sit. All three of you.” He limped around the table and found chairs for Frida and Ayamii.
With a soundless grunt, I removed the FL-Armor helmet and placed it on the table next to a stack of papers. Closed my eyes and dragged my hands across my face. It felt numb after hours inside the helmet. I breathed deeply as the claustrophobic sensation gradually ceased, and let the fresh air from the rotating fan caress my face like a cool summer’s breeze.
Dr. Riezenthaal waited until all of us sat down, then patted our purple friend on the back. “I am very proud of you, Ayamii.”
“R-really?”
“Absolutely. You participated in taking down the daemonorgs.”
Still enjoying the cool air, I interjected: “More than that. To be honest, I don’t think we could’ve done it without him. He weakened the Pulverizer’s mind, enabling us to easily distract and lure him closer to the lava.”
“That is amazing to hear,” the doctor said, rubbing Ayamii’s stiff shoulders with both hands.
Ayamii kept his eyes on a stethoscope on the table. “Th-thanks, Dr. Riezenthaal. Just doing my part.”
“You are heroes,” the doctor continued as he rounded the table and plumped down in his puffy armchair. “Every single one of you. Heroes.”
“And Hiko,” I added.
Light from a lamp on the wall reflected in the doctor’s glasses when he focused on me. “Hiko?”
I nodded. “Yeah. A great man who helped us get this far. Unfortunately, splashing lava hit him during the Pulverizer fight. It stuck to his body armor and burned him…”
Dr. Riezenthaal’s bushy eyebrows arched so high they poked up above his glasses. Placing his hands flat on the tabletop, he said in a hushed tone: “My sincerest condolences.”
Frida leaned forward in the chair beside me, resting her elbows on her knees. “In case he’s still out there, do you have anyone who could keep their eyes open for a guy dressed in the same armor as Dex?”
“Of course,” the doctor said. “I will let our remaining rangers know. Should I ask them to bring his body if they find it?”
Frida and I exchanged looks. We both knew there was no body to be found. But did the NPCs know not all bodies remained after they died? I had no idea how to deal with a situation like this, so I kept my mouth shut.
“We would appreciate that very much, indeed,” she said softly. “Thank you.”
From the outside corridor, the clacking of boots had grown steadily the last few seconds, until the assistant returned. Her one big eye gleamed of joy as she delivered MedKits and MP vials to all of us.
+2 MedKits
+40 MP
I thanked her and immediately used a MedKit, feeling a wave of new energy burst through me like pure, rejuvenating life force. In less than three seconds, I sat up straight and struggled not to let out an audible sigh of joy. My vision was once again clear and crisp. No aches. No wounds. Nothing. Just freshness.
Beside me, a red light flashed about Frida’s body, washing away all blood, dirt and sweat. She actually moaned from the pleasurable feeling. Combed her fingers through the instantly clean, white hair and nested it behind her shoulders.
Ayamii didn’t make a big deal out of it – just sat more upright in the chair. Still, a subtle layer of sadness seemed merged with all his changing expressions – even while smiling. I knew he mourned the loss of his fellow rangers, and especially the female we found before entering the junkyard area. Maybe they liked each other more than just as acquaintances.
“Thank you, Annie. Please join the other medics and see if they need help tending to the wounded.”
“Certainly, Dr. Riezenthaal,” she said and scuttled back out.
The doctor sighed. He folded his blue hands on the table and leaned forward, closer. Holding Ayamii’s gaze for a moment, he said: “I know this has been difficult for you. For all of us. But the majority of us were not in the chaos’ midst. In fact, most of us hid behind the gates while you fought the enemy.”
Ayamii’s expressions, although ever changing, seemed more apathetic than usual. Only his twitching eyes and the strong smell of vanilla revealed his mental state.
“Be that as it may,” Dr. Riezenthaal continued, still mainly addressing Ayamii, “we have all lost people close to us today. And let’s not fool ourselves. Daemonorg now knows where we’re located, which means this will not be the last time they come for us. Rather, this was the first time. Hence, it is more vital than ever that we develop a way to improve our mutated bodies, increase our self-defense abilities and reinforce the gates surrounding our precious community. In truth, we can no longer ignore it. It must be done.” Perhaps to let the message sink in, he removed the glasses and wiped them on his coat to rub off invisible dust. As he moved to put them back on, he instead dropped them on the tabletop. “Ayamii, you know I would never push you or otherwise nag you for anything. Especially considering what you’ve been through today. But also because of this, I must ask. How did your search for the–”
“Ye-yes,” Ayamii said, cutting him off – but not rudely. “Thanks to Dex and the others, we have the Genetic Re-Assembler parts. They are s-safe.”
Dr. Riezenthaal’s bushy brows jumped far up on his forehead as his eyes widened. Folding his hands in front of his chest as if praying, he whispered: “Is it true?”
Ayamii nodded subtly. “Yes, doctor. You can now f-finish your work.”
The shock in the old humanoid’s face transformed into the glowing joy he exuded when the helpers first brought us to his office. “I was too afraid to even hope for any progress, since so little time has passed since you left. I can hardly believe it. But oh, bless you all! May I see the parts?”
“Sure,” I said, fetched my large backpack from the floor and produced the Nuclear Modulator and the XP Transmutation Core. A snippet of epic orchestral music with thundering drums played as I handed them to him.
QUEST UPDATE
LOCATE GENETIC RE-ASSEMBLER PARTS – COMPLETED 3 OF 3
Help Ayamii find the two parts needed for the mishaps’ community doctor to complete the Genetic Re-Assembler, and promise to deliver the parts with or without him:
1) Nuclear Modulator – V
2) XP Transmutation Core – V
3) Deliver the parts to Ayamii’s community doctor – V
REWARDS
+
1000 XP
+500 Cash
“Incredible,” he whispered, inspecting the XP Transmutation Core. The glass-like ball shone an incandescent, mellow green inside. Placing it on the table, he examined the Nuclear Modulator. It too had an incandescent, green glow inside, although the shape and color of it was that of a white box which still reminded me of a WiFi router. “I cannot thank you enough, but thank you, thank you, thank you!”
I waved a hand in the air. “No probs, doc!”
“Indeed,” Frida said and smiled. “No problem at all. Happy to be of service.”
“M-my pleasure,” Ayamii said, then turned to me and bowed his head. “And… I am in your debt, Dex. Your help has been deeply a-appreciated.”
“Wow,” I said and once again felt a flash of brotherly love for the little guy. “It’s deeply appreciated right back at ya, buddy.”
As he looked up at me again, his continuous expressions stopped completely for a moment. Something resembling inner peace and contentment burned in his eyes, as if he’d just accomplished his life’s purpose. “Thank you for ignoring your first impression of me and… choosing to help me. You’re a f-friend for life.”
I took his hand and shook it. “Agreed. Friends for life,” I said, and a notification popped up:
TRUE ALLY ACQUIRED
From this point on, Ayamii will be at your service. Ask him to join your group, go on solo missions on your behalf, watch over your friends – or whatever else you need. As long as he’s alive, he’ll be there for you.
As I finished reading the notification, a familiar voice filled the room: “Did anyone say they wanted a friend for life?”
Not believing my own ears, I rotated in the chair and stared up at the armored person standing in the doorway with the helmet under his arm. A long-haired, smiling Japanese dude with half of his face tattooed in intricate patterns.
Frida shot up from her chair and hugged him. “Is it really you?”
Laughing, I stood up and greeted him with a firm handshake. “Good to see you, man, wasn’t sure we’d ever meet again. But how the hell did you get here?”
Hiko smiled broadly. “Well, Mr. Walsh, turns out I spawned by the entrance to the cavern.”
I arched an eyebrow. “That stone door decorated with those strange symbols.?”
“That is correct,” he said, then shook Ayamii’s hand. “I am glad to see you are still alive, my friend.”
Ayamii bowed. “Thank you. L-likewise.”
Frida turned to Dr. Riezenthaal. “How did you do that so quickly?”
The doctor angled his head quizzically and squinted. “Do what?”
Staring a bit uncertain around, she said: “Uhm, get Hiko here?”
“That is not my doing,” Riezenthaal said and gave her a smile as if she was a cute, little girl. “I was planning to tell our rangers to keep an eye out for him as soon as our meeting here is over. But it seems the matter resolved itself beautifully.”
“Yes,” Hiko interjected. “When I returned to the community gate, some people I met during the battle were assisting the wounded. They told me to visit the doctor’s office.”
Dr. Riezenthaal stood up from the puffy chair, rounded the desk and stretched a hand out to Hiko. “Your friends told me you played an important role in defeating the daemonorgs.”
A half-smile stretched one side of Hiko’s lips as he accepted the doc’s hand. “Considering I was disabled during the most crucial part of the battle, I do not know how important my role was.”
“Bullshit,” I said. “You and Ayamii completely cleansed the entire left side of the cavern before the Pulverizer arrived. You even helped take out two of the Bio-Drone Screamers – even after I told you not to do it.”
The doctor’s smile widened. “I’d say that justifies a great, big thank you.” Finishing the handshake, he looked at all of us while fiddling with the long, bushy beard. “Speaking of being appreciative… Can I do anything for you? I mean, a few measly MedKits and magic vials can’t possibly begin to cover my – or rather, our community’s – thankfulness.”
I shared eye contact with Frida, before we both looked expectantly to Ayamii – who immediately understood.
“There are a couple of th-things,” our purple friend said.
“Yes?”
“Dex is poisoned. We don’t know what kind, but it almost killed him a few hours ago. I promised we would be able to c-cure him here.”
“Oh my,” Dr. Riezenthaal said, crossed his arms and addressed me: “How long do you have left?”
I checked my status:
Character States
– Poisoned : 00:17:01 until dead
An audible gulp came from my throat. “I actually… only have seventeen minutes left before the poison kills me.”
The doctor unfolded his arms and smacked a blue hand on my shoulder. “Seventeen minutes, you say? We need to get you fixed this very instant!” To my friends, he said: “Make yourselves comfortable. We’ll be back soon. Oh, and Ayamii, make sure to let Annie know what else you wanted help with. Whatever it is, we’ll make it happen. Well, almost anything,” he said, winked jovially, before grabbing my arm and pulling me through the office.
We entered a small, disinfectant-smelling room with a single bed, an operating table, fluorescent lights in the ceiling and some equipment in a few shelves. He helped me disassemble the FL-Armor. Took a blood sample and analyzed the poison floating through my veins to pinpoint which antidote was needed. And, as Ayamii promised, they had the correct one, which the doc injected into my system twelve whole minutes before my end. The process nearly seemed trivial, especially considering how much pain and stress the poison had caused.
When we returned to his office about fifteen minutes later, my comrades weren’t there. Instead, wounded mishaps from the battle occupied the chairs, awaiting medical assistance. One-eyed Annie had left a message letting us know she’d brought my companions to the community engineer. I thanked Dr. Riezenthaal for curing me of the poison, before leaving him to care for the wounded.
After traversing a labyrinth of interconnected pathways through the unexpectedly large building, I finally arrived at a rusty, yellow double door with a skewed sign above:
The Engineer’s Playground
I grinned. Hinges screeched as I pushed the door open. Breathing in a waft of oil and iron, I entered. My boots clanked on the metal-plated floor, sending footsteps echoing around the spacious area. About the size of a school gym and dirty like an old mechanic’s workshop. Unknown machines in all kinds of forms and sizes piled every inch, some leaking oil onto the floor, others squeaky clean.
“Dex, over here!” Hiko’s voice rang through the air. Following the sound, I found his hand wave behind a row of shelves stuffed with wrenches, hammers and a whole host of other tools.
As I rounded the corner, I found Hiko, Frida and Ayamii facing a workbench. Each of them inspected computer chips through magnifying glasses. A red-skinned woman with green, spiky hair, dressed in blue overalls greeted me. “Aaah, so here’s the last one of ya! Dex, is it?”
“Yeah. And you’re the engineer?”
“Hellz to the yes!” She caught my hand in a firm handshake. “Gurdy at ya service. Swell ta meet ya!”
“Thanks,” I said, smiling. “Glad to be here.”
“I understand you’re responsible for saving our asses from da ‘norgs?”
“We helped a little,” I said, still smiling.
“Hahaha, a little, indeed!” She gave me a friendly slap on the shoulder and pretty much shoved me toward the workbench.
Frida looked up from the green computer chip in her hand. “You’re still up and around,” she said, crystal blue eyes blazing. “Does that mean the doctor found an antidote?”
“That he did,” I said. “And it feels great! No more fucking countdown timer threatening to kill me and rob me of everything I own. For the first time since I came here, I’m free.”
Flashing a wide smile, her perfec
t row of teeth appeared between her lips as she came and hugged me. I hugged her back. When I let go, she kept hugging me longer than expected.
As she let go a few seconds later, I was about to comment on it, but she quickly held the tiny green chip up in my face. “Ayamii was right. They don’t call this a ‘DirectTranslate’ around here, but that’s what it is.”
“Correct ya are,” Gurdy said, came up behind me and poked the side of my head. “We implant da chip into da part of ya brain that understands language. With a little bit of fiddlin’ around on da ‘puter, we’ve installed language packs for most known languages. If needed, there’s also no problem updatin’ da firmware with more languages at a later point in time. And so, while speaking with someone using a foreign language, ya’ll get ‘em translated on da spot during a conversation. Awesome sauce, yes?”
“Nice,” I said and gave a thumbs up. “Buying some of these will complete your mission, right?”
Frida held the chip in the air between us and rotated it. Light reflected off the glossy, green color. “Yes. These qualify. The warrior-medics will definitely be pleased.”
Standing with a straight back, arms folded across her chest, Gurdy asked: “How many ya need?”
“My mission requires at least two,” Frida said, then added, after a bit of contemplation: “Buuut, the more the merrier, I guess. So, if possible, then I’d like to buy, oh, I don’t know, ten chips?”
Gurdy gave one firm nod. “Comin’ right up!” With heavy footsteps, she strolled to a locker next to the workbench and shuffled things around inside.
Ayamii put down the chip he’d been inspecting. “Have you th-thought about what you want to do next?”
“Well,” I said. “I think we should take some downtime to manage our XP, stats and such. I bet there are ability upgrades and leveling awaiting all of us. Especially you, Hiko, since you’re only Level 2. After all we’ve been through since we met you, I wouldn’t be surprised if you shoot up to at least Level 4.”
