by HL TRUSLOVE
“You’re a feisty one. I knew there was a reason I liked you.” She grins and you see red on her teeth. She seems to enjoy it. “Go on, go and get the other one.”
“Are you sure?” asks one of her goons, and she just nods while not taking her eyes off you. You hear someone leave the room. You and Dagger stare at each other for a long moment, her licking her lips to taste her own blood, you remaining stoic and silent.
You hear the door open again. One of the raiders has Gaia in their grasp, who’s desperately trying to fight herself free. When she sees you she goes stock still. She’s shoved towards you without care, but falls happily into your open arms. You can feel her breathing coming out in judders as she tries to hold tears back, refusing to let her captors see her as weak.
You’ve never loved her more.
“Now piss off, the both of you, before I change my mind,” says Dagger, waving her hand flippantly, smeared with blood from your fight. The two of you don’t need to be told twice, and hurry away from the raider base, not sparing a second glance for the guards who caused you so much trouble at the gate – except to give them a rude hand gesture. Gaia is clearly exhausted but pushes onwards, pain flashing over her face now and then, not wanting to stop until the base is far out of sight. Only then does Gaia allow herself to collapse at the base of a big, sturdy tree.
Heal her wounds – Turn to 19.16, Needs Medicine.
* * *
Feed her – Turn to 19.17.
* * *
Cook a meal – Turn to 19.18, Needs Survival.
* * *
Talk to her – Turn to 19.19.
19.15
You remain silent. The two of you stare at each other for a long, long moment. The rest of her group are clearly uncomfortable with this and start edging their hands towards their weapons, waiting for something to happen, expecting something to happen.
You refuse to engage with this woman any more than you need to, so instead, you keep staring.
A smile begins to dawn on Dagger’s face, cracking it in two; it’s not a pleasant smile, and it makes her look terrifying. It’s almost as if she doesn’t know what smiling is meant to be for, and is using this as a way to unsettle you, to show you that you should be fearful.
You stand firm. You need Gaia.
“Fine, give me the silent treatment,” she says at length. And then to a guard, “Go and get the girl. I’ve got better things to do than have staring competitions over prisoners I can’t be arsed to keep.”
“Are you sure, boss?”
“Don’t question me,” she says. Whoever spoke leaves the room. The two of you keep staring. After a few long moments of awkward silence, you hear the door open. Gaia is with the raider who left and is shoved towards you, where she falls into your arms in an embrace, clearly relieved if not surprised to see you. She squeezes you so hard you can feel her ribs.
She needs food.
“Now piss off, the both of you, before I change my mind,” says Dagger, waving her hand flippantly. The two of you don’t need to be told twice, and hurry away from the raider base, not sparing a second glance for the guards who caused you so much trouble at the gate. Gaia’s face remains steely and focused the whole time, gripping your hand like a vice. Though she’s clearly tired, she refuses to stop until you can’t see the base any more. Only then does Gaia allow herself to collapse at the base of a big, sturdy tree.
Add Instability to your character sheet.
* * *
Heal her wounds – Turn to 19.16, Needs Medicine.
* * *
Feed her – Turn to 19.17.
* * *
Cook a meal – Turn to 19.18, Needs Survival.
* * *
Talk to her – Turn to 19.19.
19.16
“Come on,” you say, rummaging in your pack to pull out your first aid kit, “let me see what they’ve done to you.”
“Oh, it’s not that bad. The worst is the chafing from those shackles.” She lifts her hands to show you the red, raw skin around her wrists. You suck your breath in through your teeth, feeling a sting in your own skin at the sight. “Save your stuff for someone who really needs it.”
“You do really need it. Now let me do my job.”
She mutters, but relents. Despite her protests, you look her over, just in case there’s anything she’s trying to hide. Although she’s thin and bruised, it doesn’t seem like the raiders took a lot of time hurting her, and the worst really is on her wrists.
You rub antiseptic over her tender skin and begin to bandage them – it’s probably not needed, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Gaia flinches a bit, then rolls her hands experimentally to test out the change. She seems happy and relaxes back again.
“I think I know how to find the others,” she says, taking you by surprise.
“How?” You can barely contain the excitement in your voice.
“When they were taking me here, I passed a radio tower. To the south. Only a few miles from here. I reckon if we kept walking that way we’d find it. If we can find the group’s signal, we can tell them where we are!”
You blink a few times. A radio tower? You have no idea how to use a radio, but it’s definitely the best lead you have so far.
“All right, we camp tonight and head out tomorrow,” you say, but Gaia hesitates.
“What?”
“Can we… just leave them there? Dagger’s dangerous, and you brought her something potentially deadly. Not that I’m complaining!” she adds, holding up her hands in defence. “I just… if there’s anything else you want to do, I understand. I can always wait a couple of days for you at the tower.”
You mull over her words. Maybe there’s some truth in them.
END.
Add Compassion to your character sheet.
Option 1:
Go with Gaia to the Radio Tower
* * *
Add Gaia in Tow (E.12) to your character sheet.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Go to The Radio Tower (Chapter 25).
* * *
Option 2:
Meet Gaia at the Radio Tower later
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Option 3:
Exact revenge on Dagger’s base
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) and The Push (Chapter 20, L.20) to map.
* * *
Go to The Push (Chapter 20).
19.17
You rummage in your bag and pull out some rations. They aren’t much, but Gaia snatches them and eats them thankfully. It’s not a pretty sight. It looks like she hasn’t had a proper meal in some time, and she has to force herself to slow down so she isn’t sick. You’re about to ask how she is when she speaks.
“I think I know how to find the others,” she says, taking you by surprise.
“What?!” You shuffle towards her, ready to listen.
“When they were taking me here, I passed a radio tower. To the south. A few miles south of here. If we can call the others, we can tell them where we are!”
You blink a few times. A radio tower? It’s surprising, but it’s definitely the best lead you have so far. If you can get it to work… you can go home.
“All right… let’s get some sleep and go tomorrow,” you say, but Gaia hesitates.
“Can we… just leave those raiders? Dagger’s dangerous, and you brought her something potentially deadly. Not that I’m complaining!” she adds, holding up her hands in defence, happy to be saved. “I just… if there’s anything else you want to do, I understand. I can always wait a couple of days for you at the tower.”
You mull over her words. Maybe there’s some truth in them. Maybe you need to stop Dagger before she does something awful.
END.
<
br /> Option 1:
Go with Gaia to the Radio Tower
* * *
Add Gaia in Tow (E.12) to your character sheet.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Go to The Radio Tower (Chapter 25).
* * *
Option 2:
Meet Gaia at the Radio Tower later
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Option 3:
Exact revenge on Dagger’s base
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) and The Push (Chapter 20, L.20) to map.
* * *
Go to The Push (Chapter 20).
19.18
“Can you light a fire?” you ask, taking your small foldaway pan out of your pack. Gaia nods and begins to collect tinder as you look at the area in which you’ve stopped. There are a few trees around, and at their bases are mushrooms – mushrooms you know to be edible. You start harvesting as Gaia lights the fire, and before long you have a little stew going. It takes a while to cook, but when it’s done Gaia slurps down her portion and asks for seconds.
It’s nice. At the end of the meal, you’re left feeling happy and full. The happiest and fullest you’ve felt for a long time, honestly. Gaia leans back against the base of a tree and lets out a belch. It sends the two of you into fits of laughter. For a moment, it’s like nothing bad has happened at all.
“So. I think I know how we can find the group.”
“What?” It doesn’t quite sink in until she starts to explain further.
“When they were taking me here, I passed a radio tower. To the south. Only a few miles from here. I reckon, if we keep walking that way we’ll find it. If we can find the group’s signal, we can tell them where we are. Or we can go to them or… I don’t know, but we can get home.”
You blink a few times. A radio tower? You have no idea how to use a radio, but it’s definitely the best lead you have so far.
“Gaia, that’s… amazing.”
She smiles.
“Hey, I’m just the messenger. Thank me when we get home.”
“All right, we camp tonight and head out tomorrow,” you say, but Gaia hesitates.
“Can we… just leave those guys there? Dagger’s dangerous, and you brought her something potentially deadly. Not that I’m complaining!” she adds, holding up her hands in defence. “I just… if there’s anything else you want to do, I understand. I can always wait a couple of days for you at the tower.”
You mull over her words. Maybe… maybe you aren’t done with Dagger quite yet.
END.
Add Wild Mushrooms (F.19) to your notebook.
Add Compassion to your character sheet.
* * *
Option 1:
Go with Gaia to the Radio Tower
* * *
Add Gaia in Tow (E.12) to your character sheet.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Go to The Radio Tower (Chapter 25).
* * *
Option 2:
Meet Gaia at the Radio Tower later
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Option 3:
Exact revenge on Dagger’s base
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) and The Push (Chapter 20, L.20) to map.
* * *
Go to The Push (Chapter 20).
19.19
“How are you doing?” you ask, going on one knee to get to her height. She chuckles weakly.
“I’m tired. I’ve been in there for… god, I don’t even know how long.”
In hindsight, it was a stupid question to ask. Gaia looks incredibly tired. You understand how she feels. She flexes her fingers, and out in the daylight you can see how thin she is. You can see every ligament in her hand, and the spider’s web of veins beneath her skin.
“Gaia, I know you’re tired, but do you know where the others are?”
It seems like a thoughtless question, but you need to get Gaia back home. She needs care that you can’t provide on your own.
She furrows her brow over her closed eyes.
“I think so. At least, maybe we can find them. When they were taking me here, I passed a radio tower. To the south. Only a few miles from here. I reckon, if we keep walking that way we’d find it. Find the group’s signal.”
You blink a few times. A radio tower? You have no idea how to use a radio, but it’s definitely the best lead you have so far.
“All right, we camp tonight and head out tomorrow,” you say, but Gaia hesitates, opening her tired eyes to look at you sombrely.
“Can we… just leave them there? Those raiders? Dagger’s dangerous, and you brought her something potentially deadly. Not that I’m complaining… I just… if there’s anything else you want to do, I understand. I can always wait a couple of days for you at the tower.”
You don’t like the idea of sending her off on her own, but at the same time, she has a point. Those raiders are far more dangerous now, and it’s directly because of you. Maybe you need to do something to even the playing field again.
END.
Add Resolve to your character sheet.
* * *
Option 1:
Go with Gaia to the Radio Tower
* * *
Add Gaia in Tow (E.12) to your character sheet.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Go to The Radio Tower (Chapter 25).
* * *
Option 2:
Meet Gaia at the Radio Tower later
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) to map.
* * *
Option 3:
Exact revenge on Dagger’s base
* * *
Add Gaia’s Badge (O.22) to your inventory.
Add The Radio Tower (Chapter 25, L.25) and The Push (Chapter 20, L.20) to map.
* * *
Go to The Push (Chapter 20).
Chapter 20
The Push
20.1
The world is quieter without Gaia around. Well, perhaps quieter isn’t quite what you mean – her incessant chattering was always good for filling the silence, but perhaps emptier is more appropriate. Even when she was asleep, having her nearby made you feel happier. Now that she’s gone, you can’t help but miss her painfully.
When you told her your plan to take down the raider base, she bravely volunteered her help. It was impossible to miss the tremble in her voice and shake in her hands; you knew she had already been through enough at that place. It wouldn’t be fair to make her go back. Instead, you told her to go ahead to the radio tower and wait for you.
You didn’t miss the look of relief on her face.
It’s early morning now. The sun has just breached the horizon. For once, it isn’t overcast, and the soft sunlight illuminates everything with a buttery yellow light. You’re perched on a hill a few hundred feet from the base, low enough to the ground that nobody will be able to see you. It seems the raiders aren’t early risers, but a few of them are making their way through the compound, completing whatever tasks they’ve been delegated. It’s hard to see from here, but none of them appear to be armed. If you want to do anything aggressive, now might be the time to act, or you could wait for more targets to appear. Keeping an eye on the happenings below, you begin to consider your options for how best to dismantle this place.
Shoot every person you can – Turn to 20.2, Needs Sharpshooter.
* * *
Poison their food supply �
� Turn to 20.3, Needs Medicine OR Chemistry.
* * *
