by R J Triveri
As the banging grew in intensity against the farm door, Athos had to shift his attention. The timer was ticking down by the moment and he still hadn’t figured out how he was going to make it back to the house, but at least he knew what to do now. Opening his inventory, he removed Sally’s arm and turned to the right in search of the woodpile.
Sally Queen - 68% integrity - 6:10 until limb fragmentation
Thankfully, Sally was meticulous in her organization, and there in the right corner of the barn was a large pile of well kept, bound wooden planks of varying lengths. Without much more thought, he put her arm on it and carefully uncurled her fingers from their clenched position. They resisted at first, but soon they were laying flat against the wood.
(Party) Athos Aramis: Her hand is on the wood. Grab it!
(Party) Sally Queen: Loading now.
A moment later, the woodpile vanished into the far away inventory back at the house. Watching the pieces vanish, he suddenly felt a lot more uneasy about carrying around her arm. Checking the status window again, Athos’s heart started to drop.
Sally Queen - 62% integrity - 5:20 until limb fragmentation
His mind raced to try to figure out what had happened to take away so much precious time, so he did the only thing he could think of at the time.
(Party) Athos Aramis: Are you okay, Sally?
There was a worrisome pause as he turned tail and started towards the tools.
(Party) Sally Queen: Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. Get moving!
He didn’t bother to respond as the door gave way to another volley of attacks. Like a beating heart, the pace was constant now. The fishers knew where he was, and they were hungry. Athos picked up the pace as he reached the tools and placed her palm flat against it again.
(Party) Athos Aramis: Your hand is on the tool box.
(Party) Sandra Queen: She’s going to transfer it in a moment.
Athos continued to hold his friend’s severed arm in place as he waited for the tell-tale flash of white, but it was slow to come. In a dangerous contrast, the pounding behind him was only growing stronger. The cracking of the digitally treated lumber grew louder and louder as the pounding steadily continued with a sudden, sharp crack.
(Party) Athos Aramis: I’m running out of time here! What’s going on over there?
Precious moments of time passed before an answer flashed in the form of a white burst and text.
(Party) Sally Queen: What did I say about questions?
Athos didn’t take the time to answer as the clock flashed in his vision.
Sally Queen - 59% integrity - 4:30 until limb fragmentation
He didn’t need the clock to tell him he was running out of time, but Athos felt the urgency rise as Sally moved into the danger zone. Soon, her abilities would be affected, and the house might fall even if he completed his job. He wouldn’t let that happen if he could help it. Sadly, the door’s integrity gave way with one final crack, disappearing in a flash of light as the fishers flooded into the barn.
(Party) Athos Aramis: We have a problem!
The Cost of Living
A problem was a bit of an understatement as the fisher school began to pour in from outside. Not as many as he had worried about, but more than enough to devour his data with no issues before he would even reach the door. As the ticking clock that had started his mission continued to count down, he weighed his options and made a calculated retreat to the deeper reach of the barn. Thankfully without the fires burning, there wasn’t much to slow him down, but that worked both ways. All around him, the fishers began to swarm, nipping at his feet just moments before they were out of range, at Sally’s fingers, which wasn’t doing her integrity favors, and to make matters worse, his plan to double back was quickly becoming a non-option.
(Party) Athos Aramis: I’m pinned down!
The fact he was holding his friend’s arm in his hand being the least of his worries was something he’d never thought that he’d have to consider as he pulled himself to the top of the forge. The creatures circled around him as another message flashed across the screen.
(Party) Sally Queen: Get back here, now! The house is secured now. Do whatever you have to, just get back here!
(Party) Athos Aramis: I’d love to. I really would, Sally.
No response came as the fishers’ teeth gnashed below his makeshift fortress in the sky. There was a bit of distance now between him, the ground, and the fishers, but there wasn’t nearly enough to make him comfortable as the clock continued its march towards oblivion.
Sally Queen - 59% integrity - 4:00 until limb fragmentation
Not that he had the time to get comfortable. At least two minutes to run to the house, another minute to get inside at most… there just wasn’t enough time for him to be stuck. He did have the Obscurus Arum. It might buy him enough time to get where he needed.
Switching his ammo, he rearmed himself and took careful aim for the center of the group. The reassuring click of the trigger and the rush of rapidly decompressing air echoed in his ears for only a moment before the school was engulfed in an explosion of inky darkness. A blanket of pure night blacker than the blackest pitch dripped from eyes and scales as chaos set in. The creatures were confused, their bites connecting with scales, wood, dirt, and whatever else came into range.
Athos knew that Obscurus Arum didn’t last long, so if he was going to get moving, the time was now. His feet tensed under him and in a single, fluid movement Earth would never have been able to provide, Athos flew and landed feet first on the ground. He was almost too amazed at himself to remember to run, almost. With the fishers divided, Athos’s mind began to compartmentalize. Walter had to be the first he contacted now.
Holding onto hope as the timer continued to click down, the alchemical arm quickly began his mission’s final leg, or arm in this case.
Athos Aramis => Walter Queen: Walter! I’m coming in hot! Get the door open!
The message that came back as his feet continued to crunch the grass below him was less than reassuring.
Walter Queen => Athos Aramis: I have no idea how you thought you’d do this, Athos! That’s my daughter’s arm you’re carrying! What’s the time left?
So much for telling him, Athos thought to himself. The alchemical arm though they would have filled him in more, and maybe they have. He really didn’t want to start an argument with his only path blocked. A quick glance told him what Walter wanted to know, but Athos knew better.
Athos Aramis => Walter Queen: Not enough for an argument! I need that door open, Walter!
Athos got the feeling that if text messages could yell at him, Walter’s words would be much louder than they seemed.
Walter Queen => Athos Aramis: I can’t we’re still pinned down here. We’re still pretty well barricaded in, too, Athos.
Well, there went his hopes of an easy return. He really didn’t want to explain to Walter why he was carrying his daughter’s arm.
Athos Aramis => Walter Queen: Look, just open it! I need to get this back to Sally.
Each step brought him closer to where he had come in, the back window was shut up top, the fishers have begun to spread out, and the group by the door was still intent on shattering it he realized as he circled from the back to the side of the front. They were tenacious little bastards, Athos thought to himself as another message popped up with less than a hundred yards to his destination.
Walter Queen =>Athos Aramis: Shit. I’ll try. Can you see them yet?
Athos nodded before he realized no one could see him do it.
Athos Aramis => Walter Queen: I’m not far out now. I’ve got my sights on them. Looks like there are about ten-ish left. The rest seem to have given up, but I’ll be bringing a few more as soon as their blindness wears off.
A moment of hesitation followed, but Walter didn’t leave him wanting.
Walter Queen => Athos Aramis: Just say when.
Athos left it at that as he rounded the side of t
he house in earnest and pulled his pistol forward. Checking his supplies, the Pyrothium would probably be the end of everything, and he didn’t want to pull more attention towards himself, so once again, he armed the blinding arum and took aim. At less than fifty yards, it was sure he would be able to hit any target. Taking aim, his focus increased, his attention down to the single target bobbing at the center. His finger tensed on the trigger, but something had changed. To his surprise, the target at the center began to glow a soft yellow in his reticle. In soft, welcoming yellow, text flashed under his target.
Ability Ready: Critical Shot
Awaiting verbal activation.
Verbal activation? As he took his thoughts away from his target, the yellow aura faded. He shook away the odd nature of the situation and tried to focus. All his focus, all his attention on the single target brought back the same aura with the same text just waiting for him to call it forth. Whispering to himself and despite himself, he smiled as the words passed from his lips, “Critical Shot.”
The kickback was a little more than what he had expected, but as the Obscurus Arum burst connected with its target, he was not going to argue with the results. Instead of the normal splattering of potion remnants, the critical shot was living up to its name. The potion had almost vaporized and lingered in the air, floating around the group affecting anything that came within its reach with a lingering blindness. The cloud still lingered as he ran up to the side of the house.
Athos Aramis => Walter Queen: I’m at the door! Open up!
No response came.
As Athos looked behind himself, he could see that the cloud of Obscurus Arum was starting to dissipate. If it was anything like what he had tested before, it wouldn’t be long after that the fishers would be able to see him again. In the distance, he could hear the rustling of the short grasses. It wouldn’t be long until the rest of the school joined with their friends, and if that happened…
Sally Queen - 50% integrity - 1:20 until limb fragmentation
Athos Aramis => Walter Queen: Walter! Hurry your ass up!
A few moments later, a response flashed on his screen.
Walter Queen => Athos Aramis: I’m working on it!
Facing from the door into the cloud, Athos carefully placed Sally’s arm on the doorstep before targeting the fishers in his vision. His ammo was mostly spent outside of the Sol Arum, and with his targets being blind, he doubted that it would do any good. Switching to the last of his Pyrothium, he said a silent prayer to his critical shot, took aim, and fired. From the range of only a few feet, Athos felt the flames rise and scorch his digital flesh. A scream erupted from his mouth that echoed across the farm as pain paralyzed him for a moment. All he could do was watch as his integrity took a drastic hit.
Damage Received - 56% integrity remaining.
The fishers stopped their thrashing as the shot burned off more than one of their own. Without the tall grass, the fire had no other fuel but their flesh. Those that were still waiting, and those that had followed Athos to begin with, were regrouping. Another shot soon followed loaded with Obscurus arum, but the damage was already done and their ranks had increased. Despite their blindness, the creatures knew where he had been. In one, frighteningly drastic turn, the school set their sights toward the alchemical arm. As a single, monstrous entity, the school rushed.
Athos braced himself, both of his hands held the Magus steady and fired iron shot again, and again, and again as the school rushed him. Another shot flew and another until a hand jerked him back and slammed the door firmly in front of him before sealing it shut with a lock that Athos had sworn wasn’t there before.
Pulling him into a rather bearish hug, Athos could feel Walter’s tears rain onto the top of his head. “You stupid bastard!”
For a moment, he had no words. Even in his own mind, Athos was a stupid bastard for what he had done, but one thought rang true as he spoke it aloud. “I had to,” Athos said almost to himself before ice ran into his veins. A cold realization washed over him as he looked around. His muscles began to struggle to free himself. “No! I have to go back out!”
Sally Queen - 48% integrity - :50 until limb fragmentation
“You don’t have to. We’re fine,” Walter explained before releasing Athos. “You don’t need to.”
“I have to! Just open the door!”
He shook his head, the tears only trailing down. “I can’t, Athos. We’d be mobbed.”
As if on his mark, the fishers continued to pound against the door once more.
“But…”
Sally Queen - 46% integrity - :40 until limb fragmentation
“Sally’s arm is on the doorstep!”
Fear washed over Walter’s face. His words were unsteady shifting between anger, surprise, and sorrow as he rushed to the door. “You left my daughter’s arm out there?”
“I had to aim, I didn’t think…”
“You didn’t think!” His hand fumbled with the lock. It was a complex thing of chains and knobs, but his efforts had little effect on it before the reasoning dawned on him. “Sally! Open the door!”
From the other room, Athos heard a response come across the air. The voice was weaker but no less sure of itself than any other time. “No.”
Sally Queen - 44% integrity - :30 until limb fragmentation
Walter’s face seemed to drop at her words. “This isn’t the time, Sally!”
Still where Walter had left him on the floor, Athos watched as Sally hobbled in. The wound of white light where her arm had been was much less than it had been, only a thin stream of light and pixels bled from it as she steadied herself. “If I do, we die, Dad.”
Sally Queen - 43% integrity - :15 until limb fragmentation
“You have to!” Walter was almost hysterical despite her calm demeanor.
“No, I don’t. Just… let it go, Dad.” With her words, the wound sealed and the timer flashed a dark, foreboding red.
Sally Queen - 42% integrity - limb fragmented
“Besides, it’s too late.”
For a single moment, there was deathly silence.
For a single moment, everything seemed to stop on Incipere for Athos as he stared at the father and his daughter.
For a single man, a single moment was all it took for his anger to break.
Fallout
Duel Engaged.
Damage received: 55% integrity Remaining - Performance Affected
“Dad!”
“Walter!
The echo of the collision between Walter’s fist and Athos’s jaw echoed to shatter the moment as the alchemical arm was forced back to the ground with a single, violent movement. “Why’d you let it go, Athos!”
Athos had no words for why he had done it that would make sense to Walter, so of course, no words came until Walter was looming over him with his face painted in rage. Behind the looming creature, Sandra and Sally watched. Sandra from her seated position and Sally still wavering from one side to the other with her new, unbalanced weight. Guilt welled and the words bubbled forth, “I didn’t mean to leave it, Walter.”
“I trusted you.” The words stung at Athos. The meaning behind them all the weapon that Walter needed. “Sally trusted you. Sandra trusted you. We could have survived without the tools. I know we could have!” His voice rose with each word. It almost echoed back at Athos from the ground he was pinned against. “I almost called you back, but no. No! He’ll be fine, they said. He can make it.”
Athos knew the truth. He knew what he could say to end it there and then, but he didn’t want to fight back. Walter was angry, upset, and hurting for the loss his daughter had to endure. The alchemical arm was only a scapegoat, and the truth might only make things worse. “I was swarmed, Walter.”
Looming above the smaller man, Walter looked like an avalanche ready to crash down. “That’s not an excuse! Tell that to Sally!”
Duel Extended.
Before another word could escape from Walter’s lips, Sally’s good hand co
llided with a crack against his cheek. “That’s enough, Dad!”
A dumbstruck look passed over his face as he looked from a furious Sally to a scared Athos. “Sally…”
“No, that’s enough, Dad.” She sighed pulling the large man into a hug. “We owe him our lives. This isn’t how we repay someone.”
Walter’s parental anger wasn’t so easily quelled though as the red boiled back full force. Righteous fury coating every word that slipped past his lips. “We wouldn’t have been in this mess if he hadn’t started it in the first place!”
Sally seemed to be in full form as she took it in and defended the alchemical arm. “You said it yourself that they were bastards. He reacted like anyone would, like you are now! If it had been me they shot, you’d have done the same, Dad. You’re too much alike.”
“Maybe,” his voice lowered as he looked from her to him. “Maybe we are, but I just can’t trust him, Sally.”
“Why not?” She pressed.
“Because I just can’t! It’s his fault this all happened!” came the flustered response as Walter tried to collect himself again. “He isn’t welcomed here anymore.”
Sandra joined the verbal fray as Athos struggled with the words Walter set forth. “Walter, if you want to blame anyone…”
“Oh, I do blame you two,” he added with a voice still as soft as falling snow, but it carried all the anger of a thunderstorm, “but we put our trust in him. Now, Sally’s missing an arm, the barn is probably just about fragmented, and he’s fine!”
“I can work it off…” Athos managed after a few moments as he finally made it back to his feet.
“You don’t have the skills to work it off,” Walter said simply. “We can get by on our own without the help of an alchemist anymore.”
The way Walter spoke of his profession was more of an insult than a matter of fact. The pounding had long since stopped, whether from Sally’s handiwork of reinforcement or some modification she had made to the walls, he couldn’t tell, but he was getting less and less comfortable under Walter’s gaze. In a way, he preferred the predatory gaze of the fishers. “If I could leave, I would. I don’t want to stay where I’m not welcomed.”
