Miner Discovery

by Ian Alexio

  So Eeone, did you need any help with these baubles, the Wroughtwiler's mechs could help ya move the immovables. We are always willing to help out a fellow miner. All we ask in return is let us dig here with you every now and then.

  Without even taking his eye off the diamond, he grunted,

  No. I am the sole owner of this site. I shall be the only miner to mine it. Now leave!

  Bute's brow furrowed. Bute was a man not used to hearing the word no.

  His frown quickly turned to a forced smile.

  OK, Fine, we will leave you alone. Bute said as he rallied his crew. Leaving Eeone to his dig, Andrena nudged Bute with her elbow. You saw it right?

  I think so, hints of it at least. Bute answered silently.

  Do you think he knows?

  Nah, he's too infatuated with those damn diamonds. But we'll have to come back later to be sure. Bute said with a glint of excitement in his eye. On the ride back to the living quarters, I tried asking Roda what was going on in Eeone's cave, but she told me it was official Wroughtwiler business and changed the subject. The others all seem to be in good spirits, but I was feeling left out. Why were they so secretive? I thought I was one of them. What's going on here? The ride back was quiet and as awkward as if I road with a bunch of strangers.

  Holo-pad Journal Entry 07

  Think-Type initiated.

  Lately, things have been strange, I have never seen the Wroughtwilers this determined before. Since meeting them they had always been hard workers but come quitting time, they turned to a regular bunch of party animals always looking for a way to have some fun. Since we discovered Eeone's new dig site, their demeanor has changed. There was a renewed hunger in their eyes. Their energy didn't diminish. After work they would go right into keeping tabs on Eeone and try to figure his angle. The Wroughts even became more civil towards him, acting as if they had been friends for years. The Wroughts' seemed different towards me as well. The request for drugs lessened. And when they did ask for anything it was for stimulants, and brain boosters. Selling them drugs soon became the extent of my encounters with them, my apprenticeship was neglected, and they claimed to be too busy for social gatherings. They took everything so seriously now. Even meals in the mess hall were somber. I became suspicious of the Wroughtwilers after I found the Wroughts talking about what they discovered on a repeat visit to Eeone's cave when he was away. When I tried to join them, they politely asked that I leave. They said they had some important business that they needed to discuss in private. They assured me that they would catch up with me later. Why were they so concerned with a stupid diamond mine? I decided to investigate on my own. With the free time I had between shifts, I snuck off to Eeone's cave. I had to hitch a ride with some guys heading out to the unexplorables. They took me as far as they could, but after we parted ways, I still had a great deal of walking to get to Eeone's secret spot. I brought along my own flashlight but most of the trek I had it turned to dim cause I was worried Eeone would spot me headed to his property. The rock walls that surrounded me were enough to induce paranoia, but still curiosity pushed me onward as beads of pure anxiety began to perspire on my forehead. I finally got to Eeone's cave, and it was deathly silent. I turned my light to full force and started looking around. I kept getting distracted by the many sized diamonds. I had to admit they were beautiful. I could understand why people once placed a lot of value on them. I even took one of the small non-immovables as a keepsake. I eventually came across the unusual material that the Wroughts were talking about. It appeared to be flaking off some mysterious shadowy substance but was actually solid. This couldn't be what I think it is, could it? The rare and highly sought after Bleaf Stone sometimes called an obsidian lotus. A mineral composed almost entirely out of dark matter. A solid clump of mystery that has eluded scientist for eons. I've heard of this stuff but only by word of mouth, It was thought to be a myth. Was it true, did it actually exist? Before I could find a sizable sample I heard the sound of a vehicle approach. I had to hide. I found an untouched pile of boulders near the mouth of the cave. From there I climbed to a small concave ledge that was recessed enough to keep me out of sight. I lay quietly in wait, curious as to who was approaching. I tried to remain out of sight behind the rocks, but when the light from a RocknRoll flooded the chamber, I had to take a quick peek. It was the Canary. The cave's owner had returned.

  Hours had gone by. I could not leave without being discovered. I had hoped Eeone wouldn't be there long, but he had an inhuman amount of focus. His RocknRoll wasn't as exciting to watch as the Wroughtwiler's was, but it was efficient none the less. The Canary used a highly ergonomic drill to excavate dirt and rock. Anything harder than that could be diminished by a thin laser cannon mounted on the mech. The laser didn't look remarkable, and it was slow to burn through some surfaces, but It got the job done. Eeone was methodical in how he labored. First, he would dig with his mech, then he would exit the mech and dig with a Shovelaxe, Next, Eeone would examine his finds, record the data, then he would repeat. When Eeone worked independent from his mech, his Canary would continue performing menial tasks off on its own in the background presumably on auto pilot. Eeone seemed content with this kind of work in isolation. He was unbothered by the long stretches of complete silence that it afforded him even though from time to time I would hear him speaking as if someone else was in the cave. He had an ongoing conversation with himself, about what I don't know. I just don't get this guy. I don't know if he hears voices in his head or if he has an imaginary friend or what, but it must be how he copes with his loneliness. He did this for hours with no breaks. I was puzzled, by how he only examined diamonds or anything that looked like diamonds. He didn't seem the least bit interested in the Bleaf Stone. The monotony of Eeone's work habits was finally broken by the sound of another approaching vehicle. It was The Wroughtwiler's RocknRoll hauler. After the Hauler had come to a stop, The Wroughtwilers exited the driver's cabin. They huddled together, quickly discussing something. They stacked their hands together before giving a triumphant shout that I've heard them make routinely before embarking on a dig. They broke away from each other and loaded into their RocknRolls. The Crucibles trembled as they powered on. The ground shuttered as the Monsters stepped off of the RocknRoll hauler. Each step thundered as the four Titans approached the lone miner recording his diamond data on the other side of the cave. This did not look good.

  Holo-pad Journal Entry 08

  Think-Type initiated. Video record mode initiated.

  The video showed Eeone confronted by the Wroughtwilers. The Crucible Mechs blocked the cave's entrance. The RocknRolls piloted by Roda and Andrena slowly positioned themselves behind Eeone and his idle Canary. The four crucible mechs surrounded Eeone. Bute and Fuge exited their RocknRolls. Fuge went on to examine the shiny, flaky rocks in the background while Bute approached Eeone face to face. I tried to be nice, we could have shared this site, but you had to be selfish. Bute said in a patronizing voice. Leave me the hell alone, you don't deserve what's here. Eeone hissed. Bute had a smile that would have looked innocent in any other circumstance, but here it looked demonic in the ambient lighting of the cave. Then you leave me no choice. We're gonna teach you how to share. Bute strolled toward Eeone with a confident stride. Eeone turned, desperately trying to get to his Canary. Right before Eeone got within inches from his vehicle, the monumental arm of Andrena's Crucible swatted the Canary away. The Canary Mech tumbled rapidly into the face of the cave wall. Just one swipe had reduced the Canary to a heap of crumpled metal. Eeone was gripped with terror as he thought about what would have happened if he had made it to his mech. If he was part of that high impact collision. Eeone was dwarfed by the giant blocking his path. Slowly backing away, Eeone realized that Andrena had no intentions of squashing him like a bug on the boot of her Mech. At least not yet. Eeone spun around to face a smaller but no less menacing monster. Bute was approaching with a gait that resembled the power of the crucible mechs. Eeone scurried away. He was afraid to face
the man coming at him. Eeone's eyes were frantic. He didn't want to take his eyes off the metal giants that barricaded him in this pit fight. Eeone was cornered, and Bute was almost upon him.

  Alright! Fine! Take what you want. Take what you came here for. Then go!

  Eeone hollered with his arms stretched out, trying to halt the man towering over him. Bute snickered as he looked at his teammates to see if they heard Eeone's plea. The others found amusement in Eeone's cowardice and chuckled to egg on their leader. I'm afraid it's too late for deals. I have to teach you some manners. Bute took one forceful step forward, and Eeone tripped over himself trying to get away. As Eeone fell back on his ass, Bute and his gang were in an uproar of hyena-like laughter.

  Y'all see that? I didn't even touch him yet. How are you gonna call yourself a miner and you can't even stand up to a challenge? How pathetic. Bute taunted.

  Damn it, what is it you want? Eeone uttered.

  You can't be that dumb. You know exactly what we want here.

  Ok, Ok! Take what you want, then leave. Just leave me with my diamonds. Eeone pleaded.

  Diamonds! Don't play coy with me. What you have here is a cash cow. Don't tell me you didn't notice the Bleaf stones littered throughout the cave. There isn't a miner in the galaxy that hasn't heard of the Bleaf stones. This kind of find is every miner's wet dream. Bute yelled.

  So that's what you're after. Greedy bastard! Fine, take em, take the damn stones, just leave me the hell alone! Eeone's voice trembled with anger.

  Sorry, I'm afraid we're way past negotiations, We want it all now, Who knows what else this cave of wonders has to offer. You're in over your head here, and it's our job to liberate you of such a hefty burden.

  Bute crept toward Eeone with malice in his gaze.

  It's time you learned what happens when you get in the way of the Wroughtwilers.

  Eeone was scooting back on his butt when Bute made another sudden move. This time, Eeone was certain he was attacking. He clutched a fistful of dirt and flung it in Bute's smug face. Bute winched back, rubbing at the coarse, ruddy mixture that blinded him. Bute began backing away, thinking that Eeone would flee as well. To everyone's surprise, the dirty little man charged Bute with everything he had. The Wroughtwiler didn't see what hit him; he was still struggling to get the dirt out of his eyes. Despite having a running start. Eeone's tackle attempt was unsuccessful. Even half blinded and staggering, Bute was a mountain of a man compared to Eeone, and now Bute had Eeone in his grasp. Bute reached down, and body locked the weakling grappler. Heaving upward, Bute tossed Eeone just as easily as if he were pitching a bale of hay. Eeone flew through the air and tumbled on the rocky surface just as his Mech did earlier. There was no wall to stop Eeone's momentum. So he rolled on the hard ground until the friction from the rough rock floor ended his tumbling. Eeone didn't know what part of his body hit the ground first, but as he lay there, he had cuts and scrapes all over. He didn't want to get up, but he knew Bute wasn't finished with him just yet. Bute was walking around the vulnerable diamond miner. He circled Eeone as if stocking his prey, deciding what to do with this pissant.

  Ha! I should have known that someone like you would be at home in the dirt.

  Bute kicked some dirt on Eeone, trying to urge him to stand up.

  It took a while, but Eeone finally picked himself up. He looked hurt, but there was no more fear in his focused eyes. His eyes stabbed at his attacker with intense hatred. Bute Smirked as he brought up his fist, to show he was ready for Eeone's worst. Eeone's arms were weighty. He barely lifted his fists when Bute launched a devastating right cross. The punch knocked Eeone back, but he didn't fall. It took everything Eeone had to keep from falling to the ground. Eeone didn't even know where he was anymore, but when he heard Bute coming closer, he lunged with a poorly timed swing that missed his nimble opponent by a mile. Bute moved in, burying a fist deep within Eeone's solar plexus. Eeone hacked up spit and blood. He couldn't even fall to the floor now because Bute grabbed him by the collar. He pulled him close just to say, see what happens when you don't share. Bad things happen to people who don't share.

  Bute Shoved Eeone hard to the ground, immediately wiping his hands on his pants as if he was disgusted for having touched such a filthy creature.

  Eeone was still conscious, but his movements were slow and stiff. He could hardly see anything, his head was spinning, and he was still gasping to regain the wind that was knocked out of him. The bright lights of the crucible mechs shined down on the two contenders like they were in the center of a boxing arena. He could just barely make out Bute's strutting silhouette. Bute was boasting about how this dig site belongs to the Wroughtwilers now. The rest of the Wroughts cheered him on as Bute challenged Eeone to do something about it. Eeone was dazed and badly hurt, but this was still his dig site. He devoted too much time here. He had to try to defend it, but instead he crawled away on his belly. Bute laughed as he stalked him.

  Don't worry, Eeone, we're not going to kick you out. In fact, you're not going anywhere. Since you love these stupid diamonds so much, you can stay here, forever. Eeone didn't get too far, but he did get far enough. He made it to a small mound of dirt that he was working in earlier. Right when he made it to this area of the cave, Bute caught up and grabbed him by the ankles. Bute pulled Eeone back, but as Eeone struggled, Bute yanked Eeone back harder that's when Eeone had obtained a small old-fashioned iron shovel from behind the mound. He twisted back and whacked it across Bute's forehead with every ounce of strength he could muster. It was a glancing blow. Bute had just managed to avoid the bulk of the attack, escaping with just a gnarly gash over his right eye. Eeone retracted the shovel for another swing, but Bute didn't give him a second chance. Bute rushed Eeone, disarming him with ease. Bute was on top of him, pinning him against the cold hard ground, raining down punch after punch. When Bute's onslaught had stopped, Eeone's face was a mound of swollen flesh. Eeone had stopped moving. Bute got up and spat on his beaten opponent, an opponent that should have been no match for the mighty Wroughtwiler. Bute was angry and frustrated because Eeone put up such a fight. Bute walked to his Crucible Mech, his pride hurt after being wounded by such a runt. When Bute wiped the warm blood that still dripped from his brow, he noticed the rest of the Wroughtwilers staring at him with wide eyes as if they just witnessed a god being struck by a mortal. Bute put on a feeble smile, then he shouted to his teammates with false bravado, Alright everyone, play times over, let's get to work.

  Holo-pad Journal Entry 09

  Think-Type initiated.

  What just happened? What are the Wroughts doing? Was this their plan all along? Was this why they didn't tell me what's going on. They must have a good reason for this. What about Eeone? Is he ok, or is he..? No No No, Eeone can't be hurt too badly, they just got into a little scrape, just a couple of guys roughhousing, that's all, he'll be fine. Or did they plan to get rich off of somebody else's efforts all this time? Nah, miner's are tough, that's just how they goof around. The Wroughts were just roughing him up a bit, it's nothing serious. Should I go down there and see if he's ok. No! They kept me out of this for a reason, I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to see what I just saw. What should I do? Are the Wroughtwilers really the type of people I thought they were. What will they do if they see me here? Maybe I should stay hidden and wait to see what they do next.

  The Wroughtwilers operate differently from how Eeone worked; they were fast and precise. They moved like a well-oiled machine getting right to business. The four of them worked in unison with each other and complemented each other's talents. In no time they had torn up a sizable chunk of the diamond cave. The way Eeone worked was slow and organized. A big contrast to the Wrought's controlled, chaotic way. In only a couple of hours, they had their Hauler filled to the brim with Bleaf Stones and other lesser items of value like Chronoskite and Fossil Plus. The immovable diamonds were left alone except to move them if they were in the way. The Wroughts all but packed up when Bute told Andrena to finish
up. She walked her Mech to where Eeone still lay motionless. He seemed to move slightly when Andrena's Crucible came close. He was regaining consciousness. Andrena examined the cave structure. Her mighty Mech then proceeded to demolish the nearby wall. She hit the wall in such a way that only a small portion of the cave collapsed. Fragments of rocky debris avalanched on top of Eeone. Andrena was trying to make it appear as if Eeone was caught in a rock slide. The Wroughtwilers were covering their tracks. By the time anyone, if anyone finds Eeone here, he would have been long dead. It would be seen as a naturally occurring accident caused by unsafe conditions, a lonely miner who didn't heed the warning of having a buddy system to help in the event of such mining hazards.

  When Andrena was certain that the fallen rocks looked unadulterated, she piled her mech back onto the RocknRoll hauler. The Wroughwilers left the cave as suddenly as they arrived. I waited in my hiding place until I was sure the Wroughts were gone. Before long I felt the ground shake. I didn't know what was happening. The sound of metal crashing into rock was heard from outside the mouth of the cavern. I rushed out of my hiding place just in time to see the entrance to the cavern collapsing.

  I'm trapped! No way out. I panicked. I could scream and hope the Wroughtwilers come to their senses and to my rescue, but I fear that I will have a better chance of survival in the diamond cave. I race over to where Eeone was buried. This mound of rubble was nowhere near as formidable as the collapsed cave entrance. I dug at a fevered pace. My fingers were going numb as I clawed at the debris. Eventually, I heard coughing. The next hefty sized rock I lift revealed what could only be Eeone's disfigured face. I thought this guy was ugly before, but now his face was further marred by extensive bruising. He let out a whimpering cough as well as some gasps for air. Good, he was conscious, he's ok. I finished uncovering the rest of his body as I asked if he was alright. It took him a moment to regain himself, Then he nodded. I'll be okay.