《Grinding of Gears》
Hunting for parts
The psi-stag was young, with only two small spikes of hardened wood floating above its head, but Stahl knew better than to underestimate them. He still remembered finding the giant bear carcass in carriage 205, its hunched bulk riddled with holes. He also remembered when the corpse had shifted as he hacked off the largest patch of complete fur with his knife, and the steel bulkhead revealed it had matching holes going through it too.
Only after creeping though two more rooms did Stahl find the dozen wooden spikes, impaled a fingers length into the dark metal wall. Pulling them out was a chore but the clan was always happy for more stagwood spikes, especially from what must have been a particularly ancient stag.
Unwilling to be made into a less complete bag of meat, Stahl backed away slowly, keeping his eyes on the psi-stag¡¯s legs as he avoided making direct eye contact. He frantically waved his hands behind his back to Eisen, warning him of the threat.
After a few tense seconds, the stag stomped once, then turned away, uninterested in them any longer. Stahl let out his breath and turned to his brother, who was crouched behind a fallen log.
¡°Let¡¯s keep moving. We¡¯ve got one more night before the Colossus has gone too far for us to make it back, and I want to reach these ruins.¡±
Eisen nodded but looked back at the stag¡¯s retreating form his crossbow still poised ¡°Are you sure we can¡¯t take it? Stagwood stakes would get us some good parts and a meal or two from Mel, compared to the risk of this ruin you aren¡¯t even sure exists¡¡±
But Stahl was already pushing through the undergrowth, following the subtle signs of the conduit buried beneath them in the ground as he talked over his shoulder to his brother. ¡°I know you want to bind your crossbow, but it isn¡¯t worth being able to see through you to the other side. Why don¡¯t you pick something easier for now? I¡¯m sure you could take that fern.¡± Stahl teased, gesturing to a particularly sorry-looking fern.
Eisen glowered and grumbled back, ¡°Just because you¡¯re trying to bind to the world¡¯s most boring Tool doesn¡¯t mean you need to take it out on the rest of us.¡±
Stahl reached up for his Prototype, a pendant on a chain around his neck that seemed to move slightly at odds with his gait. The subtle thrumming told Stahl it was still spinning inside, as it had for the last nine years.
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Looking back at his brother, he smiled. ¡°If it can keep going, so can we. Come on, let¡¯s bake a cake and hustle.¡±
The flashes of metal in the undergrowth and the occasional rise where a tree had grown off centre on top of the conduit cable kept them on track as they trudged through the forest. Though both were familiar with the dangers these forests posed, the brothers didn¡¯t relax. In a particularly thick part of the first Eisen had to let loose a bolt from his Prototype crossbow to scare off a treelynx that had been trying to approach them from behind.
It was near dusk when Eisen excitedly grabbed Stahl¡¯s shoulder and gestured at a new flash of metal off to the side. Another conduit¡ªa good sign, and when the two met, there was bound to be something. Stahl prayed it was a full ruin.
The brothers excitedly pushed forward, but the flashes of metal and off-kilter trees that gave away the conduits positions were growing closer at a glacial pace, and soon they had to break camp. Hooking up their hammocks above the forest floor but far enough below the canopy to avoid bats, they lay down for the night. The small brass alarm bots hanging below each of them would wake them if they spotted anything.
Both brothers struggled to sleep, not disturbed by the noises of the forest but instead mulling over what would become of their clan. The signs were getting harder to ignore. They needed a win to change their trajectory or the clan would die, slowly but surely.
Eventually falling asleep and getting a night of undisturbed sleep, they quickly pressed onward. Each step brought them closer to the conduits, and their excitement grew. Finally, the brothers were almost jogging as they broke through the underbrush and out into a clearing, spotted it, and froze¡ªshock on their faces.
The conduits fully broke out of the soil here, plugging seamlessly into a squat, copper-colored structure. But what shocked the brothers was the scale. Joining their two conduits were many more, all snaking out from the forest and plugging in to the gargantuan building, making it resemble a giant alien jellyfish, stretching its tendrils out through the forest to reach for some unknown prey.
Eisen backed up slightly into the cover of the trees, speaking in a low voice to his brother. ¡°Maybe this is too much for us.¡± He looked around at the clearing and all the cables. ¡°We should go and get the clan.¡±
Stahl knew this was too big for them, but they couldn¡¯t turn back now. ¡°The clan is too far. You know the Colossus will be too far if we try to bring them here. We¡¯ll have to do this ourselves.¡±
He turned to his brother, a steady resolve shining in his eyes. ¡°The clan needs this. We need this.¡± Looking out at the ruin they had spent the last four days tracking down, he spotted a gap between two of the cables.
¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
Sufficiently advanced technology
After days in the forest, it was disconcerting to be creeping out into the open clearing dominated by the ruin. The sun was now beating down overhead, its harsh light bouncing off the flat surfaces and artificial angles of the ruin, flashing into their eyes and across the glade in a dappled pattern, like light playing across the shadows.
"Not very ruined, is it?" remarked Eisen, one hand holding his crossbow against his hip, the other shielding his eyes from the harsh reflections.
Stahl led the pair, scanning the area of strange light and shifting shadow. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it either. Do you think someone polishes it, or does it stay like that naturally?¡±
Eisen just shook his head in wonder and followed silently. Neither of them wanted to speak; there was a feeling in the glade, an almost tangible presence in the air. A sense of importance or pressure, like you would find in the grand chapel in the second carriage¡ªa strange religious monument, deserving of a respectful silence.
Their destination dipped in and out of view as they clambered over and squeezed under the giant conduit cables blocking their way. But soon the slither of darkness they were heading for became clear, resolving into a human-sized corridor. An entrance?
Stahl gestured for Eisen to follow him along one of the conduits, cutting closer to the wall of the ruin where the cables met the stone and offering a narrow path around the perimeter if they ducked. Behind his brother¡¯s back, Eisen paused a moment¡ª uncomfortable getting so close to the strange ruin¡ª but Stahl was already moving forward. With a quick check of the area, Eisen picked up his pace to catch up.
The metal was cool beneath Stahl''s fingers as he ran his hand along the surface, ducking under the conduits every few meters. Flawless, Stahl thought, feeling for the familiar bumps and scratches common in his clan¡¯s carriages, but finding none. Not a single blemish. Even dirt refused to stick to the surface, sliding off when he tried to touch it.
Finally, they approached the entrance and Eisen pushed up next to Stahl trying to see down the corridor. ¡°Damn and derail you!¡± Stahl shouted, startling Eisen into sending a bolt skittering down the wall of the corridor as he looked around for the threat.
After seeing nothing moving and no immediate threat he looked down at his brother ¡°What on the rails was that? You nearly gave me a heart attack!¡±
¡°My hand¡± Stahl replied, raising his hand to show Eisen. Crossing across the grimy calloused palm was a thin straight line of blood gently beading up as he watched. ¡°The damned wall is sharp as anything¡± Stahl spat, rooting in his backpack for the first aid kit all Hunters carried. Or at least the ones who came home did.
The corner where the corridor cut in was another artificial angle to the strange metal surface but looking closer Eisen could see that the corner wasn¡¯t tapered at all, instead it had a wicked edge that gleamed in the light.
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¡°Now that would be some binding. Imagine a sword made of that!¡± Eisen was already imagining himself slicing through hordes of trainbeasts as the clan cheered behind him. Well at least Mel. Not that he would admit that to his brother.
¡°Yeah and maybe you would go really shiny and I wouldn¡¯t have to see your face any more¡± Stahl teased as he pulled out a bandage and began dressing his hand. ¡°It also looks like you wouldn¡¯t smell any more if the dirt doesn¡¯t stick to you. That would be grand!¡±
¡°Yeah well I for one am looking forward to you spinning all the time like a loose cog because of your stupid binding¡± Eisen laughed back with a smile, the familiar banter reassuring him that Stahl¡¯s would was light.
Finished his binding Stahl cut the unused bandage with his knife and neatly packed the remainder back into the pack. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving, there is bound to be something good in there.¡±
As their eyes adjusted to the gloom in the corridor they saw that it descended at a gentle angle leading down to what looked to be a doorway. With no door in sight.
Coming up to the threshold they noted the keypad against the wall and small modules in the walls that might have been for audio. It certainly seemed like a doorway but as Stahl poked a stick that had rolled down the ramp into the portal nothing happened.
Trying a toe next he kicked his foot in and out, almost daring the dead doorway to try something. Looking at each other and shrugging Stahl led the way, gingerly stepping through into the hallway inside.
Much like the corridor down this was a smooth walled corridor of the same mysterious metal. There was a gentle glow illuminating the inside, though the source was not obvious. Even looking around for shadows all Stahl could conclude was that it was the metal itself that was glowing with a gentle golden light.
Stahl was holding his hand against the wall, trying to judge how the light was coming from the metal when the bolt whizzed past his eyes. Turning to his brother ready to tease for being jumpy he saw Eisen¡¯s attention was on something behind him and whirled around his arms up to protect his vitals.
It was the glowing metal that gave away the nightfang away to Eisen. Used to having shadows and cover in the forest its usual tactic of sneaking up on prey had failed I when Eisen had spotted the shadowy blob edging around a corner ahead of them.
His bolt had flown true, striking the front leg of the beast but it didn¡¯t cry out. Nightfangs were famously silent, some even theorised that they entirely lacked vocal cords.
Its usual ambush tactics foiled the nightfang pounced forwards, powerful muscles rippling underneath its black fur. Coming up to his hips it presented a low target for Stahl who was now facing down his assailant hands raised defensively.
With practiced coordination Stahl stayed where he was, presenting a barrier between Eisen and the threat. Eisen was moving to the side, loosening another bolt when he had clear angle past his brother.
Stahl only had a second to register that the second bolt had only grazed the nightfang¡ªa line of red appearing on its flank¡ªand then it was upon him claws outstretched as it pounced. In a practiced move he twisted, punching out as he did aiming ti send the beast flying away at an angle. He felt a crunch from his hand as it connected with the beasts shoulder and cursed reinforced gloves still in his backpack.
The force from his blow did knock it to the side where it hit the wall and scrambled to find its feet. But even that delay was enough for Eisen as his third shot speared into the head of the nightclaw. The scrabbling slowed and then stopped as the life left it and finally it slumped, dead.
Parts in the machine
With the nightfang dead, the brothers stayed alert, looking around nervously, hearts beating in their chests as they awaited the next danger, adrenaline roaring through them in a rush.
Gradually their pulse lowered, and they allowed themselves to take stock. Eisen crouched down next to the corpse, prodding it with a bolt from his quiver to check that it really was dead. Stahl meanwhile was assessing the damage to his hand¡ªprobably a broken bone or two in his fingers¡ªand gingerly peeling away his top from shoulder to reveal two gashes. Obviously he hadn¡¯t been quick enough with his dodge and the nightfang¡¯s claws had scraped two raw and bloody furrows into his shoulder.
Unable to bandage the wound properly without losing mobility Stahl settled for rinsing the wound with some water and folding a patch tie on top of it while Eisen kept watch. Letting a hiss out between clenched teeth he let the water wash away the blood on his wounds, burning against the tender flesh. Another wince as he folded up the bandage to make a pad and using the remaining length to tie it on and his rudimentary first aid was done. They could find some plants once they were out to make a salve with to avoid infection but the improvised dressing would have to do for now.
Pulling out his reinforced gloves he slipped them on, wincing as he pulled them over his broken fingers. At least they would support his injured hand, and the metal across the knuckles would be a nice surprise for the next overeager cat that jumped him.
Why did I have to have this whole idea of self reliance anyway? Stahl complained inwardly. Would it really hurt my chances of getting a binding to carry a giant sword?
Cursing his luck he moved to stand, nursing his hand and shoulder and letting Eisen pull him up using his remaining good arm. On his feet again there was nothing to do but keep going.
And so they did, picking their way much more cautiously through the maze of corridors that unfolded in front of them as they proceeded. They passed a corner that had been the nightfang¡¯s nest¡ªa pile of gnawed bones and half eaten meat¡ªbut there was little else of interest. If there were rooms in these corridors then the doors were too flush with the walls to see, and there was no identifiable way of opening them. And so they continued moving, keeping the entrance approximately behind them as the headed deeper.
A ramp similar to the one leading down from the entrance offered them a way deeper into another featureless set of corridors. Delving deeper, taking ramps and turns, the brothers walked. The sounds and fresh air linking them to the outside were left behind, only a stale faintly metallic scent hung in the still air now.
Nearly an hour later and the first interesting thing broke the monotony.
A doorway.
At the top of the ramp that would take them down again was the same threshold as their very first steps into this place. But this one had a door. Or at least it had an amber-colored glowing plane filling up the frame. The light was coming off it was much brighter than the standard diffuse light the rest of the ruin had been filled with and they could easily make out the pad and modules next to the door. Lit up and working.
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With Eisen watching his back Stahl walked up to the pad. There were a series of buttons on the pad, marked with complex unfamiliar sigils unlike anything he¡¯d seen before. Above the grid of symbols was some kind of screen, a box of light glowing through the metal but there was nothing on the display.
Seeing no other option Stahl picked a symbol he hoped represented ¡®Open¡¯ and pressed it. A gentle chime rang out and in the corner of his eye he saw one of the unidentifiable modules above him turn slightly to direct a metal protrusion at him.
A moment of silence followed. And then the amber plane seemed to snap shut into itself, leaving the threshold empty and dark.
¡°Wow Stahl, you are off the rails!¡± Eisen joked, laughing at Stahl¡¯s shocked expression as he stared at the now open doorway disbelievingly. ¡°How did you pull that one off? Should I tell some of the old Technics that you¡¯re after their seats?¡±
¡°First time lucky?¡±
¡°Well we were due some luck. Let¡¯s not waste it and get moving then¡±
¡°You first? I¡¯m sure it¡¯s safe¡¡±
Five minutes of prodding and testing later and they were moving down the ramp, excited for something new after the monotony so far.
Reaching the bottom of the ramp they were disappointed. The same set of featureless corridors stretched out in front of them, Stahl could have sworn the whole place was teasing them.
But it was when they reached the first crossroads that they noticed the difference. As they came up to junction and were peering down the corridors¡ªdeciding where to head next¡ªthe ever present glowing blinked out from two on the corridors. Leaving a single remaining lit path.
¡°I guess we go this way?¡± Stahl asked rhetorically, already walking down the single glowing path. Eisen shrugged and followed him down the corridor, happy to finally have something happen.
A pattern soon emerged as they were led by a singular glowing path through the floor. The brothers quickly lost track of their location as they seemed to backtrack and go in circles, only the sound of their steps to accompany them.
Finally they reached what seemed to be their destination.
A dead end.
But as they approached, a seam appeared in the wall tracing the outline of a door. When the outline was complete the whole surface started lowering, a clinical white light streaming out of the widening gap.
Starting as a thin blade of light cutting above their heads they were soon awash with the bright light, blinking away the spots in their eyes as they acclimatised.
With a thunk the door was fully open and they could see into the brightly lit room ahead.
The walls were bare, a bright clinical white and like most things here they were featureless and smooth. The box felt like a hospital room, or a prison.
But both brother¡¯s eyes were glued to the lone occupant of the room, a glowing orb floating above a pedestal.
The orb did not appear to be solid but instead made of a shifting tide of a dark viscous liquid. Like sphere of molten metal colours slid across its surface, ropes of material winding and flowing together as it reflected the light in the room. It was beautiful, but it also reminded the brothers of the writhing intestines of a gutted kill. There was a sense of life to the movements.
They could have stood there for hours, watching the moments of the orb. But after they had second to take in what they were seeing, the orb spoke.
¡°Welcome. We do not have much time.¡±