《Garbage Core Master-participant in the November writathon》 Chapter 1: Unlikely opportunity Roy Malloy- Earth Deep in the woods, surrounded by lush and healthy trees, green grass, wildflowers and miles away from any form of humanity and civilization, I was staring at 3 and a half foot tall pile of garbage. Some asshole, somehow, had carted it up the bike trail, unloaded what must have been multiple backpacks and left it. It makes me want to set fires, not to the woods of course. But something should burn for this. A small part of me is a little impressed by the feat. We are a mile up a mountain right now. This took planning. This took effort. And (and I am just guessing here) probably a lot of contempt for nature to get this done. I can¡¯t fix it all, but, I can fix it a little bit. Might as well grab a few of the least wet pieces and cart them back to the park garbage can right at the base of the trail¡­. and that bottle is full of piss. I don¡¯t want to do the right thing. It sucks. I just want to have a nice day off.
Verdandi Lakedamon - Vahin Meanwhile Knight of the Lugaid-Polyxene order Verdandi was on the losing side of the fight. The attackers had come for the core and would not stop until they had it. Several brothers had already fallen to the beasts and bullets of the Utallia Brotherhood, several more would fall soon. They were dying to buy him time. In the, now former, headmans office he searched frantically for the teleportation tome. The sounds of violence growing louder with every moment wasted. Terror bit at the edges of his mind. Terror, and determination. The core could not fall into their hands. Worlds would fall if it did. Youngest of the order, the former page¡¯s duties had included attending to the headmans quarters. Finding the right tome should be easy. He should be off by now to another friendly world, gathering re enforcements, rallying troops from the battlements! Anything other than digging through old books and baubles. ¡°Ah HA! Victory¡± I have found the tome. Now to quickly make the circle, with the destination obscured of course. Basic magitech design, 4 layer, 24 points of energy. I can do this. *Slam* I can do this quickly With a sweep of my spear I knock glass ornaments and books worth more than I¡¯d seen in a lifetime off the raised spellcasting platform. The area is ready for marking and impowering. It must be now. There can be no mistakes. One shot to save the world
Roy Malloy- Still on Earth The first trip to the trail head garbage cans wasn¡¯t so bad. I had picked up mostly dry things and there was a large plastic bag to line my backpack. No garbage juice on me. Opening the bear proof box and dumping everything in gave some warm fuzzy feelings. A real ¡®save the planet¡¯ feeling. There was so much left though. I did not want to go up that hill again though. I¡¯ll admit, I could be in better shape, but I don¡¯t think that was it. I just didn¡¯t want to touch that big pile of someone else¡¯s problem anymore. Too bad for me I can just hear my mother saying ¡®if not you, than who?¡¯ Life would be easier if I just cared less. Welp¡­ We¡¯re up and we¡¯re off I guess. We¡¯ll just consider this exercise for the week and then take ourselves out for ice cream after.
Verdandi Lakedamon- Vahin, for now *slam* *Slam* *SLAM* The obscura was done, no point in fleeing to have them follow immediately behind. The last 4 points of the arrangement are falling into place quickly. I had chosen the world Ammon, and more specifically the fortress of Nagendra, a desert fort full of hearty people who have been long time allies of our order. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. They can protect the core. They may even be able to help retake our home. *SLAM* I can see the hinges deforming. The wood splintering. Death approaching. Focus. 3 points left. Control the shaking of your hands. Empower the points. Finish the formation. With a crash the door gives way completely. The hinges coming loose from the wall as the door splinters to pieces. A magni. Large vicious cat demons too stupid to control directly, but violent enough to be let loose as a problem for everyone to solve. 8 feet long and only 35 kilograms the skeletal creature should have snapped in half against the door, but they are well known for being able to hit beyond their weight class. Just one of them would have been a tough fight. And currently 3 were squeezing into the office. My throwing knives would be useless in close combat, if they got that close it was over. I sent them flying with all the power I could spare. 2 hits. One kill. The third was not affected by his comrades pain. The look in its eyes something between contempt and rage. He charged. Abandoning my primary task I charge back at the unhinged cat with my spear. It approaches faster than any bio creature could have. But luckily it does so predictably. Anticipating the path I move my spear in to its way. The force of the strike taking me off my feet and back into my circle. As I landed the spear snapped and shattered against the stone. I felt splinters of wood force themselves into my hand and arm. The point had pierced the magni¡¯s left shoulder and exited out through the middle of the back. It was dying, we could both see that, but there was enough fight left in it to make it a problem for me. It was getting up. But the other one, knife in its eye and shaking with pure rage, had gotten back to its feet a while ago. They both charged from different directions, I ran to the fireplace. The only decent ranged weapon in the room was there. The former headmans enchanted fire poker and fire starter. Originally a failed enchanted halberd the headman had seen to it that the beautifully crafted, if flawed, piece had found a home in his office. Incapable of holding an edge due to the constant heat, but not hot enough to cut flesh like a proper enchanted sword it would be a poor weapon in a real fight. But the best one I had left. I steer the more injured cat with the blunt end, beating and kicking at the still imbedded spear to increase the bleeding. In front I keep the half blind monster at bay with the pointy end. The strikes light a small portion of the fur each time, but it doesn¡¯t last. What does last is the fire in the room. One parried strike into a haphazardly discarded pile of books and the battlefield has changed. The fire is spreading quickly. Too quickly. I need to get back to my escape. And the flames can be my barrier. In a desperate ploy I kick back with my dominate leg into the face of the wounded magni. He fell back, but not before he made me pay for it. With a swipe he took off my boot and more than a little of my calf and heel. But the window it gave me was worth it. Half limping, half falling, I dragged the blade behind me, lighting floor and books alike as I retreated to the circle. The flames served as a barrier for me. I had my opportunity. Now I would seize it. The enchanted chalk was gone, lost somewhere in the scuffle, but blood could be empowered too. And I happened to have some lying around. I formed the symbols from memory, not the safest idea at the best of times. But these were not the best of times. Runes that should have taken minuets were written in seconds. I might not land in the fort directly, but a populous world like Ammon would have someone find me. Hopefully. The last symbol is almost done when I hear a nasally taunt from the doorway ¡°Well done little knight, you almost made it¡± I look up through the fire and smoke and see a black robed invader holding his hand cannon in my direction. There would be no stay of execution. By the time he finishes his sentence, he will fire. Before I consciously realize what I am doing I send my power to the incomplete circle. I send a fleeting prayer that I end up somewhere that has air, land and people; but if not that, then at least that the core will never be found.
Roy Malloy The top of the hill was still covered in garbage on trip 3. But the walk had been nice, the breeze had been cool and the pile was starting to look like I¡¯d made a dent in it, so that¡¯s nice. And then I felt the electricity in the air. And not a small amount either. My hair stood up on end and I felt like I had just licked a car battery. The purple haze formed right over my left shoulder for only a second, and then there was a bang. I jumped to the ground thinking I had been shot, but when I turned I saw that I wasn¡¯t the one who had been. There was an honest to god alien in front of me, and it was not doing well. The purple haze faded almost immediately, with it the buzz in the air went too. Whatever it was that brought things through was over. I went over to¡­it¡­ and tried to see what I could do. My quick crouching sprint lead to me falling over next to the poor thing, but thankfully not onto it. ¡°Hey buddy, I¡¯m Roy. Do you have any medical supplies? Cause I have a mini aid kit and you look like you could use some more help than that¡± I dropped my bag while I said it and started looking for the gauze. The worst wound looked to be a fresh hole where its hip used to be that was bleeding badly. The leg didn¡¯t look too good either. The slash across the back had clearly hit some vein because it was bleeding quickly. ¡°Ye melavat mola ituf iesaye! Sut fesate etehil tel ne eta dare be memipep ritaci. Tora pateces odaten. Osi savinor rigaru nidi romu ogipes; unip diehi yiloyep ri otanes pitit reca; lile necifal lo roleqog yuma metolas fulat! Rer re rulie tip ranir nabe re, ra uzadev doregot geret ielepohel melat lopu peperu lihico tano.¡± ¡°OK, buddy thats nice. I have no Idea what you are trying to say. But I¡¯m trying to help, so please don¡¯t bite me.¡° I shoved the roll of gauze into the hip wound to stem the bleed. The creature was clearly very uncomfortable with the move, but didn¡¯t get aggressive. Good sign over all. I undid my belt next. The leg needed to be tourniquet¡¯ed. I had a vague idea how to do that. Lets hope it works on aliens. The guy reached for a pouch around his neck as I worked. He was struggling with the clasp. Whether from pain or shock or blood loss, it wasn¡¯t going well. Maybe it was some sort of family memento. ¡°Alright buddy this part is gonna hurt¡± the make shift tourniquet was in place, I just had to ratchet it down to cut off blood flow. ¡°Vahin asar¡± it looked me in the eyes and seemed to brace itself Good as I¡¯m gonna get. I pulled. The scream needed no translation. After the tourniquet was in place I reached for the pouch and unclasped it. There was a little crystal in it about the size of my thumb. I went to hand it to him and his hand met mine to stop me. ¡°Riciepo ripe mem emebid rani ieyesir lieqoten ereler tiralo onarem. Ena arereto neton ga atun seleti dan onilerey porur.¡± He signed, wrapped the gem into my hand and held it closed ¡°Gidena durunie segit.¡± And then I was somewhere else. Chapter 2: Out of body experience Roy Malloy - not quite on Earth
I dated a hippy chick once. It was a lot of fun while it lasted. Ended when she stabbed me with a fork. I probably deserved it. Not important now. But I do remember her long lectures on astral projecting and power crystals. I wish I had payed more attention. She probably wouldn''t have stabbed me back then. I am fairly certain that was what was happening now. Either that, or I really was floating both inside and outside of every location within a mile of my body completely naked. I¡¯m hoping this is taking place in my head. I''m flashing a lot of squirrels if it isn''t. Its not too bad in the meantime. Everything is grooOoovy. I can feel the crystal before me. It''s a lot bigger than me, mentally I mean. Its trying to connect to my mind. That doesn¡¯t seem like a scary thing at the moment. Merging with an alien rock, seems like a grade a plan. The stone thinks so. Am I on drugs? Nah. Let¡¯s do it. ¡°Accept merge¡± I attempt to say. The lack of a functional mouth makes it hard, but the crystal gets the idea. And we did. All at once back into a single location, just above my own body. Whiplash doesn''t even begin to cover it. If my eyes were real they''d be orbiting my head right now. I got a chance to look down at regular me. I had face planted into the dirt next to Buddy. He didn''t look too good. He had definitely passed out after... whatever it was that he did. A cloth plug and an armature tourniquet may have slowed the bleed, but it hadn''t stopped it. After the merge I knew what ''it'' was. Roughly. It was more of a feeling than true knowledge. Overheard conversations from several years ago kind of knowledge. It knew me too. It knew how out of my element I was as a non magical being from a non magical world. The emotion I was getting back tasted a lot like pity. And it decided to help. It prompted me that there was a basic interface that could pop up at my request. ¡°Core information¡± I thought/spoke again
Dungon Core Type - Nature Affinity Age - Less than 1 year Power Level - Very Weak
Abilities - Current - Active
Creation Transformation Destruction
Energy Creation Energy to Matter Conversion
Matter Creation Energy to Energy Conversion
Matter to Matter Conversion
Matter to Energy Conversion
Other Skills Empty category Empty category
Core Master Mental Communication (You)
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Well that feels like an understatement of abilities. Probably a lot to unpack there. I''m no physicist, but I feel like some laws are being broken. Learning more is gonna be a task for later. ¡°Core, can you help Buddy, I mean the alien. The thing beside me out there.¡±
Insufficient Power
¡°Core, how can you gain more power quickly¡±
-Converting matter into energy
-Killing.....
.....
¡°Enough. I have what I need. Converting matter to energy, how much matter do you need and what kind¡±
To create *low grade health potion* you will need 14.4 cubic feet of matter local area matter. Material requirements for *low grade health potion* are non specific. Any matter will work as long as it is within 18 feet of the core master and core at current level
Two birds, meet one stone. I almost wish I hadn¡¯t carted away the other two loads. ¡°core, absorb the pile of garbage, make a low grade health potion and let me out.¡±
There is significantly more information to disseminate to the core master regarding core operation
¡°Time is passing, this needs to happen now or he¡¯s gonna die¡± I get what could be considered a nod of approval from a thing with out a head... or a body
Proceeding with core master''s orders
Roy Malloy ¨C back in the flesh Coming back into my body was weird. It didn¡¯t feel like I was moving fast in the astral plane, but I must have been. My body flew back a few feet when I went in. The worst was the perspective shift. One second I¡¯m facing one way, towards my face. The next second I am facing the other way, looking out my own eyes. And also flying backwards. Not fun. Buddy was laying there still, and the crystal was not. I looked over to the garbage pile to see the detritus starting to orbit towards a lightly glowing center. It was going pretty fast too. It should be done with the pile in a minute or two. I had a minute to burn, so I took it. Get used to having to breath again was not fun, but just like riding a bike I was able to pick the skill back up quickly. I crawled back over to the alien. I knew he was a ¡®he¡¯ now. Couldn¡¯t tell you how I knew, but I was fairly confident. ¡°Hang in there buddy, I¡¯m working on getting you a health potion. That is the sort of magical bullshit you''re used to right? Just another minute or two and it will all be a okay.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Shock or blood loss had taken him out of the game. I hope this works. A short time later the core floated back over to me when it was done with the trash pile. As it hovered over my hand it dropped a small glass bottle, maybe the size of a 5 hour energy shot, into my outstretched palm. That''s a lot of stuff for such a tiny bottle. Buddy¡¯s breathing was slowing down. No time for thinking, just doing. I pulled the cork, opened his mouth and tilted his head back. When I poured the light green concoction in he choked a little, but got most of it down instead of on his shirt. Low grade health potions take time to work¡­ I think¡­ but they will keep him alive and healing. For now. And that¡¯s better than where we were a few minutes ago. I can see the bleeding slow as the worst of the wounds close up with ugly scabs. The worst seems to be over. Now I can take a breath and think about how I am going to get off this mountain. Chapter 3 - Comin round the mountain Roy Malloy
I don¡¯t know how long it had been since my alien friend popped in, but it feels like its been hours. Consciously, I know it hasn¡¯t been. Maybe 10 minutes on the long side, but damn they had been exciting minutes. A bit more than I was used to. The adrenalin was still pumping hard through me. I set myself next to the alien to take a breather. Took a beat to actually look at him this time. He was a weird looking thing. Humanoid, right number of arms and legs. That¡¯s good for him. If he wakes up he shouldn¡¯t have too much trouble adapting to door knobs. The face was a gonna be harder for him to blend in with. He had a German shepherd face with tiger stripes instead of the usual pattern. Usual for earth anyway, who knows what the rest of his people look like. The armor looks like some fever dream combo of knights plate mail and kevlar. The plates had a shiny green color to them. I could not figure out what they were made of from sight alone. Keeping him out of site would probably be for the best so we both don¡¯t end up in some sort of government blacksite. He¡¯s about as tall as me, hard to tell with him on the ground, and definitely gonna be heavier in that armor. Getting him down the mountain, quickly, is a priority. The longer I stay the greater chance we get discovered. I think the core and the alien would be better off if that didn¡¯t happen. Dragging him is a bad idea. That leg wound might open up more, might loosen the tourniquet, might dislodge the bandage on the hip, might do a lot of things. This would be easier with a ¡­. I can have a cart made! ¡°Core, do you have a blueprint for a cart with shocks?¡±
Affirmative
There was a dead tree leaning over a few yards away from the trail. I ran to it, core following closely behind. Pointing to the tree I said, ¡°eat this¡± I paused, planning the next move ¡°after you are done let me know if it is enough to make the cart¡± I began searching the area for more dead trees, unsure of how many it would take. That tiny potion vial had taken a mountain of trash. IF the same holds true for the cart I might not be able to make it out of this forest without leaving a dent in the ecosystem. About thirty feet beyond there was another dead tree rotting away. It was a bit larger, but a lot more decayed. In terms of density I didn¡¯t know if that was better or worse for my little crystal. I kept looking when another notification popped up
Matter requirements met. Creating cart
¡°No, wait¡± I shouted too late. Well I am glad the thing is fast. Near instant creation. The problem was the hand cart was off trail and now I¡¯d have to navigate it back. No biggie, not that far. Don¡¯t sweat the small stuff. Life got easier with a cart, we can talk to the core about thinking ahead later. I grabbed the handles of the cart and started heading back. As I did I noticed the tree I told the core to eat had about a third left. I guess some items take more matter than others. Good to know. I will have to experiment with that when we get home. ¡°Core, please finish eating the tree and the rotten tree and join me¡± Can¡¯t hurt to have a little more matter in the tank. I heard the buzzing start again behind as the core started eating the tree. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I got back to ¡®Buddy¡¯s¡¯ side and started trying to load him. I was right, he was heavy with that armor. I should probably think of something to call him other than Buddy. Buddy was the name of my first dog, not a German shepherd, but pretty close. It seems a bit disrespectful to name a person after a dogs name. But the only thing I can think of looking at him is Stripe and Shep, and that¡¯s much worse. Grunting with exertion I got him into the cart without causing any more damage. When I was done I saw the crystal hovering silently beside me. I guess it was done. ¡°Good meal?¡± Silence. I swear I could feel it judging me. I took the pouch off Buddy and held it up, ¡°Alright I need you to hide¡± I said to the crystal. The thing just ate a tree. I didn¡¯t want it in my pocket, and the pouch seemed to work for Buddy. Without moving the crystal disappeared, I could still feel it in the same place it had been. It turned invisible. Alright, 2 lessons right there. 1: the crystal can turn invisible. That¡¯s useful. I will keep that in mind. 2: I need to be more specific with my words or I¡¯m gonna have some problems with this rock. Nothing has been ¡®monkeys paw¡¯ kinda bad yet, but lets not tempt fate. ¡°Remain invisible and get in the pouch I am holding¡­ Please¡± A little politeness can¡¯t hurt my chances. Don¡¯t piss off the magic rock. A small amount of weight fell into the pouch. Even if I couldn¡¯t feel its location through our connection that would have been a good sign that it was in place. I put the bag around my neck and tucked it into my shirt. Time to set out. For being crafted in less than a second the cart was pretty nice. The handles fit my hands, the wooden wheels and metal springs gave a surprisingly smooth ride and it was light and narrow enough for the bike trail I was on. It was bespoke for the task at hand. There was a huge range of things that could be considered a ¡®cart¡¯. Horse carts, for one. That would have been useless to me and Buddy. But the core chose or designed this one. I will need to figure out which. More things to test. Also where had the metal come from? There was metal in the pile, but I thought all of that went to the potion. Did the core transform wood into steel? It turned garbage into magic healing goo, so I guess its not beyond possibility, but somehow this seems more impressive than the magical thing making another magic thing. What are the limits I wonder? ¡°Hello there!¡± Shit. Not paying attention to your surroundings. Now you have people approaching. I whispered to the core ¡°Cover Buddy with a blanket, then cover the blanket with garbage. Same kind of stuff you picked up earlier. Not too much. And do it as quietly as you can¡± Looking up I shouted at the approaching couple of hikers ¡°Hello there strangers, how are you?¡± I forced a smile but didn¡¯t slow. Hopefully they didn¡¯t want to small talk. ¡°What¡¯s with the cart?¡± The woman asked. I hope the core is done. It should be, it made the cart in less time, but it didn¡¯t have to be quiet then ¡°I was doing some clean up on the trail up ahead. Some one or someones left a bunch of trash up there. So I went and got it.¡± ¡°That big pile at marker 2?¡± The man said ¡°I have been complaining about that mess to the park service for weeks, thanks a bunch for helping out¡± He stepped into my path, forcing me to slow. I chanced a glance backwards. Cart full of garbage. A little too organized looking, but otherwise not too suspicions. ¡°Yeah, I hate it when people do that to our trails¡± I said politely, while screaming MOVE! internally. ¡°Do you come here often?¡± I am my own worst enemy. And I know this. ¡°Absolutely!¡± The man starts to excitedly describe the area as I, trapped by social convention, smile and listen. He is so excited to find another enthusiast. I might never leave this mountain ¡°Dave honey, we should let the young man be on his way. He¡¯s still got to unload that cart after all¡± Lady, we are the same age. Whatever. The wife/ girlfriend of the talkative Dave gave me an out I¡¯m taking it. ¡°Yeah, it was nice catching up with you but I have to go. Lots of trails to check after all¡± ¡°Of course, of course¡± Dave said, sheepishly waving me past. He seemed disappointed as he was pulled out of my way. I started immediately. Not gonna give him a chance to step back in front. ¡°It was nice meeting you!¡± I called out over my shoulder, picking up speed ¡°Hey wait just a second¡± the woman shouted. Oh crap, am I busted? I turned and looked at the cart, nothing visible from my angle. Can they see something at the back? Are Buddies feet sticking out? She half jogged up to me, still smiling ¡°Can you take these wrappers for me since you are heading down?¡± ¡°Absolutely¡±
The rest of the hike down was uneventful and mercifully solo. I was at my car at the trail head. I passed the bear proof can and had a quick idea. ¡°Hey core? Go inside here and absorb all the garbage inside the bin liner. Do that for all these cans. Then meet me at the car... ¡± that might not be clear enough. Does it know what a car is? ¡°it¡¯s the big silver thing over there. Actually just come back into the pouch when you are done¡± less ambiguity. Monkeys paw, gotta remember this thing is a monkeys paw. I got to my car and started to look around. Nobody around as far as I could see. I wish I had binoculars, I probably could have a pair if I asked, but its probably not needed. Just move fast. I pulled the blanket off trying to keep most of the cans and bottles from falling back into the cart. Buddy was still there, still breathing. I opened the back door and cleared some clutter off of the seats. Then I started struggling to heft 280ish pounds of dead weight into the vehicle while being careful not to hit anything. As I was getting him into the car I noticed for the first time that his wrist was swollen and covered in splinters. I am a terrible doctor. I didn''t even notice that before. But Its not life threatening so I¡¯ll be dealing with it at home. I fold buddy¡¯s knees so I can close the door as I feel the pouch get heavy again. Perfect, just in time. ¡°Alrighty core¡± I need to name this thing ¡°re absorb the cart and all the garbage that goes with it. And the blanket. That too¡± A quick buzzing session later and there was no evidence the cart ever existed. Not one splinter or mote of saw dust. Freaky. Its odd to have something be there one second and then ¡®not¡¯. There must be some residual merge calming juice running through my system because I am taking this way too well for how weird it is. As I slam the drivers side door closed and buckle in I exhale deeply. The weird is only beginning. I know this deep in my soul. Whatever shot Buddy is probably bad news. The core is a winning lottery ticket, world ending super weapon and Faustian bargain rolled into one, if used poorly. And then there¡¯s our interplanetary man of mystery currently known as Buddy; is he good, is he bad, something else? Who knows. But now he is my problem and my responsibility. The engine turns over. Time to go home. Chapter 4 - The dawning realization you have made a huge mistake Chapter 4
I don¡¯t think I drove that well since my drivers test. I went exactly the speed limit the whole way home. Full stop at stop signs. All the turn signals. No yellow lights. If I am honest with myself that probably made me seem more suspicious. But it worked! Made it home. To suburbia. With a thousand prying eyes in every window. And probably a camera or two Normally I park in the driveway to save space in the garage for extra activities, but tonight feels like a night the car should be indoors before unloading. What with the body in the back seat and all that. Before I drag Buddy inside I take a second to close all the blinds I can. No need to have anyone peaking in. ¡°Home sweet home Buddy, Me cassa es sue cassa¡± I grunt out as I drag him into the living room. Characteristically of someone in a coma, he doesn¡¯t respond. I prop him up against the couch taking a breath. The armor is coming off before we go up the stairs. He¡¯s too heavy and I¡¯m too weak. "Core, Please eat the armor without hurting Buddy" Nothing. It makes no move to take it. The core sits very contentedly in the pouch, not ignoring, but definitely not following my command. Ok, either the armor is enchanted or there is something else stopping it. Lets put that in the later column I guess I will be getting it off myself. It is at this time I realize there is a lot left to learn about knots. But not being a scholar I instead chose to imitate Alexander the great and just cut the darn things off with a knife. Much easier. I hope the ties weren¡¯t important. If they are, maybe I can have the core take care of it. If it can do anything with the armor at all. Now I am wishing I hadn''t cut the knots. Buddy was still a sack of dead weight up the stairs, but a more manageable one. We made it into the spare room. The half finished one weekend project from 4 months ago was not clean. Drywall dust and plastic paint coverings all over the place. The mattress was leaned up against the wall, wrapped for protection. I put Buddy down and did a quick sweep and kick of the room before placing down the mattress. It wasn¡¯t much of a hospital, and I wasn¡¯t much of a doctor, but I liked his chances. With the core providing magical healing stuff and me¡­ being there¡­. I¡¯m sure he can make a full recovery. I just need to make sure I can get more potions¡­. ¡­and find a way to feed and water him¡­. ¡­ and clean up after him¡­ ¡­and make sure no one finds him¡­ ¡­and prepare for whatever shot him coming after this core¡­ I clearly did not think this plan through, did I. I got the first aid kit from under the sink and started wrapping and cleaning what I could. The wounds looked better. Ugly scabs everywhere, but the bleeding had stopped, even on the hip and leg. I removed the tourniquet and was thankfully not greeted with a waterfall of life blood, only a small trickle from the deepest part of the cut. I wrapped it tightly. Maybe if I can get him some more potions I can speed this along. I patted the bag hiding the core under my clothes. It was comforting there. The bond, the thought of what it could do, or some combination of the two brought me some comfort in the face of the unknowns. ¡°If we are gonna do this, we¡¯re doing this right. And we¡¯re doing this now.¡± I sat down at the foot of the bed so I wouldn¡¯t fall over and hurt myself. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Core! Open Merge!¡± I said tensing myself for the out of body experience again. I was greeted by¡­ nothing. I was still sitting in the spare room on the floor with a ridiculous look on my face. Nothing from the crystal. ¡°core¡± I said with noticeably less confidence ¡°open teaching screen. Please¡± Nothing I tried a few more permutations of commands to get the learning options back up again, but I think I knew after the first two it wasn¡¯t going to happen. In my rush on the mountain I had skipped the tutorial. I was flying blind on iron man difficulty. ¡°Not even a day into it and I have already kneecapped myself¡± I got up off the floor. I wouldn¡¯t be going back to the astral projection zone today, maybe ever. But the core still responded to commands. And I had a brief and incomplete list of abilities. Not great, not terrible. Time to do what I had done every time I had bumbled past the tutorial, brute force this system into submission through trial and error.
I emptied every trashcan in the home with the crystal. Free matter for testing. Next, I pulled the large cans into the garage and emptied those too. It was too bad that garbage day was only 2 days ago, I could have had more to play with if this had happened earlier. I wish I had kept all that garbage. Well there''s something I have never thought before. It is strange how fast normal can re adjust in your head. It seems the core had an easier time on the mountain making mundane items than magical ones, so that is what I am going to try and test first. Transmutation, efficiency, complexity and several other five dollar words I am sure I will think of later. And I had just the plan. I save my change. I keep it around instead of depositing it. Not sure why. I don¡¯t have the patience for proper coin collecting. Occasionally I find a fully copper penny or a silver quarter, but even those I just hang onto. Maybe it was always for this. Probably not, but that would be an interesting bit of fate. Now, they are material. Test subjects. A violation of US code 331. And a means to understanding this thing in front of me. I mean, how many other things are there in a modern home worth less than a buck? I started with a fully copper penny. "Core, please absorb this penny, the round copper thing here" and it did, unsurprisingly after a day of eating much larger objects. Now for the first test. "Core, using only the penny you just absorbed as fuel, make as much copper as you can" A tiny square of shiny copper was deposited on the table in front of me. I searched around the kitchen for a scale. The scale only went out to two digits, so I wouldn''t be setting any records for accuracy, but it would be enough for these first tests. The copper lump and a fully copper penny were the same weight. Ok, so the same material has a minimal cost, even if its in a completely different form. Now lets test accuracy. ¡°I want you to absorb this penny¡± I pointed to the coin, flipping it over to show both sides, ¡°without absorbing anything else.¡± I then sandwiched the coin between two other pennies, newer combination penny coins, and set it down in front of the crystal. The crystal, Bob, performed perfectly. The top most penny was lifted ever so slightly and the middle penny shot forward and disappeared. This was my first time closely watching the process of ¡®eating¡¯. The penny didn¡¯t last long, but as it moved into the crystal it seemed to stretch and warp before vanishing completely. Very interesting. Not sure what to do with that information, but it was sure cool to look at. No, Bob doesn¡¯t seem right. Not regal enough for something this powerful. And I think Dresden called dibs. I told the crystal I wanted the materials it had just absorbed back. But this time, I wanted it to be divided into 100 identical copper balls. The crystal obliged. And 100 teeny tiny copper balls were deposited onto the kitchen table in front of me. Carefully to ensure none were lost I scooped the loose copper into a cup and weighed it on a kitchen scale. The weight was exactly the same. At least to the level of precision a kitchen baking scale can account for. So splitting an object apart doesn''t seem to absorb too much either. That''s good too. A few more tests with other pennies proved that this was a consistent effect using the core. Modern or original style, as long as you asked for the same materials as were present in the original coin, you got the same weight back The problem started to arise when using the modern pennies. They aren¡¯t fully copper. In fact they are mostly zinc by weight. If I mistakenly asked for the weight of the modern penny in copper, using only the material it had just absorbed, the core would give me copper, but much less of it. The 100 copper balls were smaller, and the total weight was lower by more than 30%. Similar things happened when asking for the pennies back in lead, silver, gold, water and grass (the kind in your lawn, get your mind out of the gutter). The biggest weight loss came from the grass and the water. I assumed it had to do with the elemental complexity of the items being transmuted. I wanted to see if I could get more complex. To test this I attempted to find the most complex chemical that was stable at room temperature. In scientific American I found an article that had a string of elemental characters that may have technically been in English, but that I couldn¡¯t understand. I showed the phone to the crystal and got¡­nothing. Ok, maybe its audio only. I pulled up a picture of gold and indicated for the recent penny in that instead. Task completed successfully. So it isn¡¯t audio holding it back. Its probably me. I have to understand what I am asking for. That¡¯s good to know, I will have to write that down. But wait, it made a health potion?! I have no idea how that works. How it works.... I don¡¯t know how grass ¡®works¡¯ either. Something about the mitochondria I¡¯m sure, but that isn¡¯t exactly the same as knowing how a living thing operates over millions of cells. How did I get the potion? I was in the shared space and the crystal, Reginald, suggested it to me. The crystal knew about the potion. Then it shared that with me. I asked for it and Reginald made it. Yeah I hate that name too. I need something complex that I can give the.. I¡¯ve got it! I gave the core a handful of pennies. ¡°Please make me a painkiller liquid gel pill¡± No movement, task failed. Excellent I ran back up the stairs to the bathroom and grabbed the bottle. Back in the kitchen I gave the core one Tylenol pill. ¡°Eat this, and learn about it¡± The act took less than a second, but I was on the edge of my seat. ¡°Once you are done, make two pills using the pill I gave you and the 10 pennies, and give me back the pennies you don¡¯t use¡± The core deposited 3 and a half pennies on the table, right next to 2 identical pills I don¡¯t have to understand shit! I just have to feed it things that are complex and it can make them, with a significant amount of material loss. But still, this is huge. I fist pumped into the air. It was all starting to make sense. Chapter 5 - Mad Science! After the experiment with the Tylenol I had to resist the urge to feed Throngler my phone. Yeah, no, that name is not gonna work either. I knew it as soon as I thought it. There were still levels of complexity I didn''t know if this thing could do. But its time to get a little harder than loose change. Copper to gold was nice. Even with a 30% weight loss. Technically with that alone I had solved money for myself forever. Each penny turning into 180 dollars of gold would make me a rich man with just a few dollars worth of change a day. But I felt called to more. I could have wealth if I wanted it, but that seems... small... compared to what the crystal is capable of. I want to keep going. The infinite money glitch will still be here after. Everything else is just... mad science. Also, cash is easier to spend. And how much difference is there between a 1 and a 20 dollar bill really? So I took out one of each from my wallet. 3/100ths of a penny and a dollar bill can become a 20. Talk about a return on investment... They are exactly the same. Exactly exactly. Shit. If I use this I''m going to prison. I fed the core a few more dollar bills and a ream of printer paper. Lets test its arts and crafts ability. I told it to analyze the paper, see how the colors and materials changed between each one. I asked it to make blank paper that the bills came from with the materials within randomized. It worked. I told it to randomize the numbers on the bills as well. I received a 3,168,068,813 dollar bill with a serial number of 12. Gotta be more specific with the request. After a few more tweeks I had a pile of non sequential perfect 20s. I''d probably still end up in jail trying to use this many, but it was nice to hold for a minute. And I had learned how to get controlled randomness into constructs. I fed all but $200 of the bills back into the core. Money wasn''t the goal. Now we try something else. I fed the core two batteries. A dead one and a live one. I asked for 2 live ones back, with the difference taken out in pennies. As far as I could tell, nothing had been clipped off the pennies when I got two live batteries back. I know there''s a lot of power locked up in atoms, now I just need a bigger object to see what the conversion rate is. Next went books, cds, and an e reader. The core was capable of spitting out exact working copies of all of them. It had no problems randomizing or editing books, but any attempt at messing with the code on the cds or e reader seemed to leave me with a non working brick. Tech manufacturing is probably not in my future. Maybe the hardware only. Maybe, but I think I can dream bigger Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Negative
Ah well. Maybe later. For now I need to think and plan. I have a super duper matter converter. Money, medicine, and food are no longer issues. The best thing I can do at this point is focus on getting the core as powerful as possible, as quickly as possible. Something shot Buddy, and Nola is a big hovering pile of motive for that crime. Whoever did is probably gonna try to find us again. I want to be ready when they do. For that I will need matter. Lots of it Now how can I get it without drawing all the attention to myself and/or going to prison. Back when the two of us were connected she called herself a dungeon core. There had to be a reason for that. She was in my mind, choosing English words. Dungeons need a place. My house would be an easy place to start, but not ideal for growth. Also, how much matter could I transport to the middle of suburbia before people start getting suspicious. And all of a sudden, the way forward became clear. For once in my life, I thank the convoluted path that lead me to my current employer. You see, I am a material recovery technician. A garbage man. Thousands of pounds of stuff nobody wants anymore, and it''s my job to make it go away. The ''how'' doesn''t matter to almost every normal person. Just so long as it goes. And because of my job I know the drivers, I know the operators. I know the scrap yards, recycling bays and landfills. Who would raise red flags at a garbage man going into business for himself processing garbage. Not anyone I know, at least not till I get too good at it. But hopefully by then Nola and I will be stronger. The two of us are going to open a recycling plant/ dungeon. That second part is gonna have to be subtle. We''re gonna take as much trash as we can. We are gonna grow, and we are gonna be ready for whatever comes. Chapter 6: Midnight Heist To open up a center I will need something that can pass as vaguely scientific, a spot to put it and a source of trash. Its almost midnight now, so I don''t think I will be able to do two of those, But I can start on the "machine". With everything I''ve fed Nola I can get started making something convincing. And if we run out, I have just the place to go next. I ordered Nola to transmute all the remaining matter to stainless steel and place it in the garage. That would give me an idea of what sort of volume I am working with. Then we can focus on shaping and detailing the thing. It was not as much as I was hoping for. A waist high cube maybe 3ft on each side. Doesn''t seem like much compared to everything I''ve fed her today. Until I attempt to re position the thing into a more central position. It is not hollow. I guess it is enough material to make something impressive. Also its deforming the floor. That looks expensive. Taking advantage of Nola''s nature affinity I ask her to form an arrangement that can open and close like a flower petal. The end product ended up looking like a Dahlia Flower in silver. After adjusting the design to be wider at the base I had Nola cut a hole in the side for intake. I would need some sort of ramp to move stuff in and out on the full size version, but this is just a design session. We can scale up later and make it functional. Maybe I can feed Nola a ramp to make that a part of her brand new ''plant''. Reading my mind, two ramps formed on either side of flower at a gentle slope. She even made them run for a moment. Excellent For the base I made a nice platter for the bulb to sit on. From that base I attached vines in the form of wires and tubing to the bulb above. Miscellaneous numbers and dials were kitbashed on everywhere. After a few more flourishes it looked less like a flower and more like a mad scientists hallucinations about a flower. But Nola could fit inside without being seen. If I can figure out some way to hide the doors from the outside, no one will be able to see how the magic trick works. Time for a quick test run, then we get the materials to scale up to full size. I grab all the silverware I have left from the kitchen and bound back to the garage. I want to see the brand new processing plant in action. Its still just Nola underneath, but this feels like a big step. Like a line of marching army ants the silverware goes into the hole on one side of the flower, there is a brief buzzing sound amplified by the metal walls of the plant, and then tiny perfect ingots come out the other side. As long as no one looks to closely, I can sell this as a real thing. Enough arts and crafts. Time for a trash run. "Alright Nola, ready for an adventure?" She returned to the pouch as a response, radiating anticipation.
There is an unofficial public dump in between my town and the next. Starting several years ago an unscrupulous driver dumped a load or two at the abandoned dairy farm in between police jurisdictions. Over time the blight attracted others, until finally you are left with the sight before us. 3 acres of hazardous waste. Most of the big pieces of metal, copper wire and aluminum cans had been stripped out by scrappers long ago. What was left was either to difficult to get to or not worth recycling for cash. But that didn''t bother us. Matter was matter. And we were gonna take it all. A quick look around in the dark showed that we were alone here. "Start at the back, take everything you can. I will stay at the front on guard." But Nola didn''t move more than a few feet away. "You scared? I am right here.. oh yeah we''re tied together aren''t we." I can feel the mental head nod come back at me. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. I guess no one is standing guard tonight. I suppose that what we are doing isn''t really illegal. Taking pieces from the dump has always been allowed. I''m just taking more of it. As long as no one sees the absorbing, I just need to walk out like i own the place. I have a bad feeling about this. I walk to the back edge of the property with Nola, the neighbors high fence gives some comfort from my paranoid fantasies of spies. Nola begins zipping around like a kid at Christmas. A very fat kid. Its hard to gauge how much she is taking in, but truckloads would be a good starting point. As the area directly around me clears I see the dirty contaminated ground revealing itself. The few struggling plants poking through the oily dirt are a testament to the power of nature. ... "Nola, using the plants you know I want you to repair the ground once you are done with an area." Leave it better than you found it. The feeling that came back was definitely happy. I''m glad the two of us had some symmetry in our goals
After half an hour of slowly pacing the dump Nola began to slow before finally stopping in a half eaten chest freezer. I didn''t get the feeling that something was wrong, but I knew that she had reached her limits, for now. Too much matter, not enough uses for it. This shouldn''t be a problem when we make our processing plant, she''ll be spitting out a lot of the stuff she takes in. But for now I had a choice to make. I could call it good with what we had. There had clearly been more than enough absorbed to make a 2 story tall flower for my dungeon. But if we''re here, we might as well make the most of it. We should take it all. And I think I had a way. Taking in more matter was out, but energy wasn''t. We had another third of the dump to go by my estimation. "Nola, Convert half of your matter to energy. Use it to make yourself stronger" The feeling that came back was definitely excitement that time. And then I felt a buzz of static all around me. Nola, previously a thumb sized cylinder crystal had ballooned out into a sphere half the size of a baseball. Great. The pouch is useless. She could also get a little further away from me. That''s good. A little more mobility can''t hurt to have. It gives us more options. And it gives me an idea. Next door beyond the fence there is a storage yard. That one is guarded. RV''s, boats, tractors, and other large equipment people don''t need at all times are stored there. Including material processing equipment. Rather than recreate the wheel, I could just have Nola eat and learn about the equipment over there. It wouldn''t even be stealing because I can have her put it right back after. I see no good reason not to. It wouldn''t be long till we are done with this project. We can purge the extra matter again, then go learn about large equipment.
I watch from the safe side of the fence as Nola heads to the 3rd chain bucket elevator in line. The angry dogs on the property didn''t notice or didn''t care as dozens of tons of machinery vanished into thin air. Nola had no sent and no body to detect. I also had her stop the buzzing. It slowed her down, but this felt like the time for stealth. If there was someone in the guard shack on the opposite end from me, they weren''t awake. It would be hard to miss all your inventory going away. Even silently. As the last tire finally disappears I let out a breath I had been holding. The slow part was over. Now we just needed to put everything back. I''m sure Nola wishes she could convert all that matter to energy for a third time tonight, but I wasn''t interested in a criminal record. It was time to put everything back and go home. Putting things back started well enough. The small equipment like forklifts and telehandlers went back into their spaces without a fuss. The worry started when she skipped over a parking space where a dump truck used to be. I really hope she was just doing the stuff that was easy first. But that hope quickly died as more spots that used to hold large machines were skipped, one after another. There''s a size limit. I''m not fully sure what that number is, but clearly there is one. And even being a bit larger and a bit stronger, the machines I just had her eat are too big to rebuild. I guess this really is a heist now. I remove my head and hands from the fence with a start. I need to wipe this down for fingerprints. And we need to get out of here. Oh no, I drove here! Were there any cameras? No, not on this side. This dump doesn''t even technically exist, so there''s no cameras. Definitely gotta go the long way home. Avoid everywhere that has a camera. Crap crap crap crap. This was supposed to be a victimless crime. Deep breath. We establish a dungeon, earn lots of money, pay back all the people we just robbed -with interest- and it will all be ok. And then we never speak of this again. Nola was back. Everything that could be rebuilt had been. Hunching my shoulders and staying low in the shadows to make myself smaller I crept back to my car, Nola floating invisibly behind me. As I slipped around the corner I swear I could feel the walls and grass judging me. It was time to go home Chapter 7: Greed is Good It was 2 in the morning before I got home. My second day as a dungeon core master had come. Didn''t feel like it had been that long ago. And I''m already a criminal. Gonna have to avoid being that kind of person in the future. I needed to sleep after today. But before I do, I need to check on Buddy. "Nola can you make me a medium healing potion for Buddy"
-Insufficient material - Exotic material missing
Oof. Those potions are no joke. At least I know I can get a low grade one "One, nah, 5 low grade potions please" Can''t hurt to stock up. I force feed Buddy another healing potion and check his bandages. Clean. Everything else was too. I would need to get him some water tomorrow. Food too. I hope Nola has something saved he can drink that won''t end up poising him. But that is a problem for future Roy. Present Roy is going to bed, cause he is bone tired after the day he''s had. He''s even started speaking in the third person!
The morning came far too soon. They always seem too. Never enough energy, no matter how much you sleep. There''s a good potion to ask Nola about. Magic coffee. Full nights sleep in a glass. Probably costs a skyscrapers worth of rocks though. Best not to get the hopes up. We have other things to spend our matter on.
I called ahead to a junk man I had met at work. Charlie ''Chopper'' Antalia. Really cheap dude. He''d cart his own cast offs away rather than pay the 8 cent a pound disposal fee. I know that selling him on free disposal will be a breeze. With the volume he alone brings in every week I could keep Nola well fed. With his connections to others in the business we might have more than we can handle I agreed to meet him at his place later in the afternoon to discuss terms. He seems skeptical, who wouldn''t be, but a demonstration of the mini processing plant will make a believer out of any skeptic. That conversation would be easy. Maybe even fun. Something to look forward to after what I am sure will be a difficult morning. "Nola, I want you to stay and protect Buddy. If anyone comes into the room, stop them." She was too big for the pouch now and I didn''t want to risk anyone running into her while I am out. Even invisible I think someone might notice getting hit in the face with a rock. I assume the baseball sized crystal tried to comply with the order, but as I drove down the street I felt a physical tug as we reached the limits of our bond. By the time I got to the stop sign at the end of the road the feeling was that of a rubber band stretched to its limits. If I didn''t head back now, something would break. A quick illegal u turn later I am running back inside to Buddy''s room. Nola had embedded herself into the wall facing the direction I had been going. She appeared to be stuck too. I didn''t get a feeling of total frustration, yet, but it was coming. I should help her out of the wall before she starts eating the house. "Its all right, I''ll get you out of there" I said as I started pulling off sheet rock. It''s a good thing I can print money now. I''d be worried about expenses otherwise She''d gotten herself wedged between two studs placed too close together. I thought it was funny to see a stone that ate trucks last night held in place by some 2x4s, but I appreciated that she didn''t start eating things without permission. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Definitely bodes well. She''s less likely to deliberately destroy things if that''s her personality. I grabbed an old gym bag before heading out again. I can hide her inside this, hide the bag in the trunk, lock the car, and then nobody has to know she''s there and she can stay close to me. That''ll work. No more issues today. The unplanned delay had set me behind schedule. I needed to hurry to make the morning appointment.
"You Sir, are Late" Melvin said with an exaggerated point as I parked out in front of the fence. God I hate this man already. Who shows up to a junkyard in a suit? Is he stupid? Nope, stop it, we need him to let us buy the place. Put on your best ass kissing face and pucker up. We are buying the place from this Gordon Gekko wannabe. "Sorry about that Melvin, hit some traffic on the way in here" I got out of the car as quickly as I could. I resisted the urge to check the trunk. Nola was fine there. Don''t act suspicious. "Yeah, well time is money and you are wasting mine." He exaggeratedly whipped out a pair of white oakleys. Come on man, it isn''t even sunny out. Are you trying to fit yourself into every stereotype? "Well in the interest of not wasting any more, I will get to the point. I want to buy your fathers old yard. I want to re open it with my new process and have a go at being a recycler. I am prepared to offer fair market value for the area" I had researched the place. The land wasn''t worth much, 50k on the high end. The permits and zoning however were perfect for me. I could open tomorrow without any harassment from the city. I could print 50k in cash without raising too many red flags for the irs. Maybe even a hundred. Anything higher and I would need some sort of paper trail for legitimacy. I probably can''t go too far over 150, maybe I can get a loan against my house... "Alright then Ryan" It is Roy asshole "A million dollars and the whole thing is yours." I had to choke back my first reaction to that offer. And the second. I should count to ten before responding "I''m sorry, What the fu..." He raised a hand in my face stopping me dead. "Hold up a minute there boss, I have a phone call. Chew on that offer a beat and I''ll get back to you" I will not commit murder and have Nola hide the body. I will not commit murder and have Nola hide the body. I have to collect myself, this guy is the difference between starting tomorrow and starting a year from now. You can print money and gold. Get him to accept a payment plan for this highway robbery and we can make this happen. Sure, he''s charging 20 times the value of the place. But you can afford it. Don''t cheap out now. "So what do you think Robert" he held out his hand as if I''d shake on this bad a deal "Do we have a deal" "I can''t afford that for this land Melvin, any way you can come down from there?" What are you doing you idiot! Just pay the man! No. Its the principle of the thing. This douche canoe is not getting a million dollars for this scrap of land. He isn''t even getting my name right! "Well, I suppose I could be tempted to take an equity stake in your business. How''s 51% sound" Like you think I am an idiot. "I''ve been wanting to go back into the family business. I could be a silent partner" I would rather eat glass Melvin "Here''s my offer, 100k for the property. Cash. I can have it to you by the end of the day" The implication of tax free bills flashed across Melvin''s eyes, but there was something else there. I am not sure why he hasn''t been taking the offer seriously since I got here. He seemed excited to sell when I called. There''s something else at play here. "I need an equity stake my man. I am diversifying my portfolio. 200K, 25% stake, we can shake and make it happen." There it is. He wants a piece ''for his portfolio''. I don''t know why. I am an unknown nobody looking to go into recycling. I need the land though. "100k, 1% stake. Option to buy you out in a year for another 100k" That is more than generous. Take it. Take the deal and get off my dump. "Make it 10% and a 150k buyout. Final offer" I hate you Melvin "Deal"
I absolutely got screwed in that deal. Even being able to print money didn''t soften that. If I didn''t feel a sense of urgency around the core, I would have gone somewhere else. Next year I am paying the buyout in pennies. Unwrapped dirty pennies soaked in motor oil. We got the deal signed and notarized at the bank nearby. Its official. Nola and I can start our empire here. Melvin did give me a key to the gate, but it didn''t fit. One last insult from him to close out the day. I had Nola eat the lock. Nothings stopping me now The well worn gravel driveway lead to a half collapsed shack with a broken smelter inside. Useless. I can put the mini processing plant inside for now while we have Nola make the largest pieces she can for the full sized version. I will end up having to assemble the big one by hand, but I can just have the pieces designed to slot together. Its not like it has to actually function anyway. It just has to look cool and hide the core inside. I check the time. I have a little over an hour before I meet Chopper. I should check on Buddy. Chapter 8: Whats the catch? "But seriously, What''s the catch?" Chopper said while waiting at the gate. "I promise, no catch. Just take a look at the scale model in action and you will see I am telling the truth." I was struggling to get the gate moving. It was not in the greatest condition, the hinges were sticking from rust and the corner dragged against the ground. I needed to get inside before Charlie took off. I needed just a few seconds more and his skepticism may keep him from giving me that. I got the gate open to human width and made my way in. "Come on Chopper, I will show you" The machine was out in the open. I had Nola waiting invisibly inside it. Just a few more steps and we can have our first lifetime customer "Well you have a fancy looking prop there, but I don''t see no way this thing does what you say." He was holding a bag of household trash in his hand exactly as I had asked. Now or never "Well, lets open that bag and get started" I set up a crooked folding table in front of Nola for him to dump it. Chopper pulled out a used glass jar of salsa. Not fit for recycling under normal circumstances. The label was still on, it hadn''t been rinsed, and the lid was a plastic with way to high a number to process. Destined for the dump any other day. But not today. I had decided to make a few ramps for output. After some practice with Nola we had figured out how to get different material types to go down different ramps. In this case we''d need 4 active ramps. One for paper pulp, one for glass, one for plastics and one for food waste. Nola and I agreed that anything that didn''t have a tray could "go missing" during processing. I put the jar on the in ramp and hit a just for show on button indicating that Nola should start. The ramp moved quickly, taking the jar into the ''processor''. I don''t know why I was so nervous. I felt it from Nola''s end too. Over the past day and a half we had processed literal tons of trash. I guess theres something to be said for performance anxiety. A quick hum followed as the can disappeared from view, followed a second later by a pile of finely ground glass making its way to the first bin. Then a small pile of paper shreddings. Then a small shredded plastic bead collection from the lid. Finally the little mess of leftover salsa. Perfectly separated. Ready for re processing. Charlie had a raised eyebrow looking at the piles. Still not a believer, but I finally had something other than naked cynicism. Progress. "Where''s the hidden compartment on this magic trick? What''s the Con?" OK, I wasn''t expecting anger as a response. Gotta get him back "There''s no trick" I said, I had to think of a way to disprove magic on the thing that absolutely magic. "Its heavy, but if you help me lift it you''ll see there''s nothing hiding underneath" This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Chopper made his way to the flower bulb and pushed with one hand until it came off the ground. At least nothing snapped off. I sent a psychic message to Nola to have her lock the doors to the processing part. "Hey man, how much could possibly fit inside that thing?" Chopper didn''t stop searching for the hidden trick. But he did acknowledge that I asked a question "If you let me, I''d like to process everything you brought today. And I will make you a bet. If I can''t do it I have a hundred bucks with your name on it" "This isn''t possible" "Let me prove it" And I did. There weren''t enough ramps to really separate things properly. I''d have to correct that for the full sized version. More ramps, more splits, more bins. Are we gonna have enough space to do this? I guess we could always build up. But more and more garbage went in and came out as ready to process material. Far more than we could fit inside the little flower bulb. Magic trick disproven. "It is just not possible man." Chopper looked like he''d just gone through a crisis. He was sitting in front of the mini machine staring at it like it was an alien, which it technically was. "I know it seems like a lot, but this has been my side project for the last..." think of a convincing number..."15 years. Every night and weekend and right now I am ready to go and show it to the world" The older man gave me a look that said ''bullshit'' louder than words ever could. "I have been doing this a while kid" He slowly got to his feet and dusted off before facing me "Ten years ago I met these two Harvard guys back when I was hooked up with WB Services. They had funding, backing and a bigger machine than yours and do you know what it was for?" "I don''t know? Maybe processing engine blocks" That seems like a Harvard level project, not quite what I''ve done here but still impressive "It was for getting the paint and plastic out of aluminum cans before melting. Ya know, to keep the slag down." Chopper looked smug. He had a reason to be. Nola had been removing the pigment from soda cans the whole time. Some of the ''freebees'' she got to keep. He was right that that shouldn''t be possible. "You know the best part?" Oh this will be fun. "They spent half a million of the city''s money before deciding it didn''t work well enough to keep working" He laughed, probably thinking back to the expressions on the faces of the college kids as they were sent packing. I knew the feeling. Every few years a new city program brings in a hot shot to do our job better, it usually doesn''t work out. "Somethin is up with your thing. I don''t know what, and you ain''t telling. You can keep your secrets, and the garbage I get rid of normally. If that''s your payment I''ll let you do you." He put a too firm hand on my shoulder as he started walking away. "But I don''t believe a thing you said" He stood at the door to the future processing center and turned back to me "How long did you say till you were open for real?" "Tomorrow" He''s not gonna buy any story I give him, might as well start piling on. He looked around the empty yard with a half broken shack and a tiny flower bulb. More skepticism. I should have laid out the pieces of the full sized machine. That would have made an opening date of tomorrow more realistic. "Of course you will." He said with a big exhale. "I am gonna trust there''s no tricks from you kid, you''ve been up front with me when we worked together. I''ll tell the others. The scarpers, the junkmen, the clean out guys. All of em. You''ll get more than you''ll know what to do with" He started walking back in towards me before leaning in close "But if this thing is half of what you say it is you need to be careful. If it isn''t, even more so. You in a brave new world now kid" He then patted me on the back with all the power of a man who has been lifting refrigerators for 30 years. He left me standing there in the afternoon sun with one overriding thought above all others. I need a way better cover story. Chapter 9: And now... The real fun begins I closed and locked the gate from the inside. I didn''t think Charlie would come back immediately after that send off, but it can''t hurt to be sure. If he keeps his word he will be back bright and early tomorrow morning. So will others. I need to get Nola set up and figure out a way to lie more convincingly. Oh, it looks like Charlie left everything behind. I guess its all mixed together anyway. I... should put those somewhere for him. Show of good faith or something. Or re process them into categories again. I can have Nola make some takeaway containers once we are set. Would that be more or less suspicions? Probably more. I never got the gossip vibe from the old guy, part of why I chose him as my first contact. But he was right, this may be too much too fast. I got a push of reassurance from Nola. And then impatience. She wanted to get started. And I am here worrying myself in a circle. No time like the present. I called Nola to me. She exited the bulb and flew to my hand. Still the size of an over large baseball. Its a good look. Much more substantial than the sliver of crystal we started with on the mountain... yesterday. My god it feels like years and its just barely been 2 days. And I just signed up for even more with Chopper. I probably should have slowed down and thought about this more. Another burst of impatience from Nola. "Alright, alright. I''m going. Keep your pants on" That phrase does not work as well when speaking to a rock. At least I didn''t say ''bite me''. That could have been bad. I walked to the half fallen shack in the center. As good a place as any to start. "Nola, do you know what to do?"
Yes. Dungeon master must send an order to place down roots while holding the core.
Seems simple enough. Nola is a bit more direct there than usual. She must be getting impatient with me. She floated to chest height directly in front of me. Show time. "Nola" I thought and spoke the order at the same time "Take this spot as your dungeon and put down roots" She shook for a second in my grip before shooting directly downwards. I''m glad I have a naturally wide stance. I am not sure if she would have stopped for my foot. And then once again - things change
It wasn''t as severe as last time around. No oneness with the universe. No psychedelics. And I kept my close on this time. I actually think I remained fully in my body. Thats good. I could still feel and taste the dirt, metal and trash all around me. Not my favorite flavor.
Could you take a step back please. I would like to put up our metal flower.
It is much harder to walk when you can consciously feel every single rock you are stepping on. It doesn''t hurt, but its weird. The rocks didn''t mind. "I''m gonna sit down by the fence if you don''t mind"
I do actually. If you are outside of the dungeon it is much more costly to speak with you
"The fence is outside the dungeon?" Wait, what did she say about costs? "And what do you mean more costly"
My current power level is low, I can only claim a portion of this yard as a dungeon at this time. I can convert matter to gain more energy, but we need that to create a successful dungeon for Chopper and his friends.
As for costs, every letter inside the dungeon costs us less than a pennies worth of matter. Outside, several pounds worth, even just to send feelings.
Kinda like old school texting plans. "Wait so every time you sent me a message before now..."
Several pounds of matter. Incredibly wasteful. I am lucky you were able to give me so much. I would have been forced into silence otherwise.
"How far is the edge" I said backing up. But I didn''t need an answer. I stepped over the edge of the boundary and immediately knew. The awareness of my dungeon dropped off dramatically. I could still feel where Nola was, but I no longer knew where every rock and twig within her was. I stepped back in "Never mind, I got it" Nola''s dungeon was about 600 square feet of area all circling out from the central point in the shack. About 27 feet wide. Not huge, considering what we are trying to do. Growing into the space is gonna be a priority. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. "I would like you to start getting the pieces we made out. It is gonna take me most of the night to get those together.
I don''t think it will
"Did you level up again?"
Not exactly. Inside my domain construction is much simpler. And I can build much larger
Sweet. "Will you need any help putting the processing plant together? Or do you have that part down?"
I will only need help with the ramps. Those will extend outside the current domain
She started by eating the shack. It sort of collapsed in on itself almost like a sinkhole had opened below it, but the ground remained solid and unmoving. Most of the shed was inside of our circle of control, except this one small corner. The metal sheets were pulled into the ground and sheared away from the support post. The beam remained moored in concrete bent over Nola. Before I could move to do anything about it Nola extended a vine as thick as my leg from the dirt and grabbed the beam hanging over ''her'' dirt. She didn''t move outside the circle I noticed. Even when the beam snapped, leaving the concrete footer in place . Next the mini plant went into the dirt. Then the table. Then all of Charlie''s garbage. Then the gravel driveway. I half expected the dirt to ripple like water as the things sunk. It might have made me feel better about the surreal sight. And then we were looking at a plot of clean, even dirt in the middle of an old scrap yard. But not for long. Rather than re creating the pieces we had designed together last night, Nola bloomed. The metal flower grew as a single piece from a tiny organic looking sprout to a massive 10 foot tall bulb and platform. It looked a lot more like a flower than the first version. I could feel Nola wanting to go further before she said anything.
I know it has to look industrial for the story, but can I make it look pretty? I will only use the green and yellow paint from those tractors we found!
Great, thanks for the reminder that I am a felon. "I''m sorry Nola, but that may be a bit too much too soon for this project" Who am I kidding, a 10 foot building just appeared out of nowhere. This whole thing is too much. "We need to get people to accept you are a machine first before we get you a coat of paint. I promise after people are used to us we will let you turn any color you want" Nola seemed to accept that as an answer, for now. Industrial is not her style, but she is willing to listen to me. Again, for now. I should probably have a garden out near the back fence as we expand. Just for appeasement sake. Next she focused on making the intake ramp. The ground near the front entrance started to sink into a bowl shape. The edges became covered in rolling trays built into concrete. All the edges focused the future garbage to a single point, the brand new ramp to the intake side of the flower bulb. It actually looked pretty nice, for an industrial garbage chute. I sent Nola a mental note to put shut off buttons on both sides of the ramp all the way up its length. I could force the ramps to stop with my mind, but what if I wasn''t paying attention and someone fell in. That would be a disaster. Actually... "Hey Nola?"
Yes?
"Is it possible for you not to process things?"
Of course. I already showed you during testing. I can select what to absorb.
Phew. "Alright, anything human; don''t"
Of course.
The finished material ramps were more of a problem. Nola was so good at breaking things apart we could have hundreds of different bins collecting separated pieces from just a single bag of residential trash. In the end we decided to play to our market. The scrappers wouldn''t care about things like plastic or glass or wood. They wanted the metal. Stripped wire sells for more than jacketed wire after all. Everything else was waste to them. The junk men, they just wanted it gone. If they could make a buck on some easy metal or glass they would, but otherwise it was all just trash to them. We set up 10 ramps for the major metals; copper, lead, aluminum, steel, iron, tin, brass, nickle, zinc, bronze. A bin for each ramp that could collect the processed bits and then taken away by our customers. Nola was unhappy with the plan of letting matter walk out for nothing, but understood the long term play The problem comes from the true believers. Diligently separating things out to have the most impact on the recycling process. They were gonna be a problem for me. For us. They don''t care that it isn''t currently profitable to recycle most glass, paper, or plastics. Well, profitable to scrappers anyway. Somebody is making money in that process. No, they actually want to see the promise of recycling and a closed loop realized. If I could convince them to leave it with me, that would actually be true. But at this time I have nothing that looks like a glass making shop on site. I''d need more bins for them. 15 more to be exact. For all the other recyclable material that could be processed elsewhere. Nola was extra unhappy about that. In her words, ''that''s basically everything''. I promised her I would talk to the true believers that came in. If I could convince them I needed the stuff for future experiments I could probably get them to leave it. We will see. The last bin was ours. General waste. Everything that didn''t fit into the other categories. The food. The unrecyclable plastics. The styrofoam. The chemicals. At the end of the day after we lock the door Nola could eat everything in that category. It would probably be enough for her. The last thing we made was an intake desk for me. It was just a simple folding table. I didn''t want anything too fancy for day one. But Nola insisted that I have a plant on it. She made me a basket of geraniums. Yeah, we need that garden. 10: Finishing touches Together Nola and I printed some more bits and bobbles to complete the ''look'' of the processing plant. There was still plenty of space outside the dungeon that was still inside the fence. Right now the whole area looked far to empty. I printed a few moving machines like forklifts and hand carts for processing for moving the totes around. I don''t know if it would be needed, but they make the place look like it should. I parked a few of the machines around the edges for some set dressing. The hand carts I put near the entrance. Maybe those could help with moving things for my future customers. Thinking of them, I printed out a huge collection of cardboard totes to hold the metal pieces. I wanted to have a large material shredder onsite, but given the fact that those were some of the machines that went missing from our little heist I didn''t want to risk it Next I started to focus on signage. I set out some parking signs, direction arrows and a round about sign showing where cars can turn around to leave. But what would we call the place? "Nola, do you have any suggestions for a name?"
''The Empty Forest''. Maybe ''The Lonely Flower''
"I promise you can have more plants, we just need to grow a little" I paused a beat, the industrial feel was not helping my nature dungeons mood. Every item that went down seemed to make it worse. The little flower pot on my desk was not gonna cut it. "I know they aren''t the best plants in the world, but what if you grew some dandelions and grass in and around the gravel driveway? It can also serve as a nice guide to track your territory growth for me"
All plants are good plants. Weed is just a classification your kind came up with.
Fair enough. "Will it make you feel better?"
Yes. For now.
The grass and weeds started popping up through the dry dirt. The whole yard started to fill up with the exception of the gravel driveway. I guess Nola didn''t want cars killing her plants. She also didn''t go as overboard as I expected. She kept it minimal, except in front of my desk. There it looked like someone had put out fresh sod. Instead of looking like a freshly scraped plot, the ground now looked like it had been established for a while, and that the groundskeeper quit. "I know it doesn''t look like it, but we are helping nature by doing this"
I understand, but the whole process conflicts with MY nature. I don''t think I belong in a city.
"I am sorry about that. Lets focus on getting you stronger then. We can protect ourselves from whatever was hunting buddy and get you the space to be the dungeon you were always meant to be" ... "Speaking of, now that you can speak, can you tell me more about this whole dungeon master thing" The heavy feeling of embarrassment came before Nola responded. That''s not a good sign.
I... am not sure if I know too much more than you. You were the first person that ever bonded with my core, and I had only been around a short time at the fort with Buddy and the others. I don''t even know his real name. I was counting on that tutorial as much as you were. I didn''t even know I was a ''dungeon'' before your mind linked the term.
Curses. I don''t regret saving Buddy, but it was way more costly than I expected. OK. We were able to figure out some big things mime-ing back and forth to each other the other night, we can do it again working together. Lets figure out how to do this. "Alright, at least we know one thing. If my mind picked it, it has to mean something. We can work with that." I thought for a second on what to do. "Nola, can you read?"
Yes. Just as well as you can.
Perfect. "Well, I am gonna bring back a bunch of books for you tomorrow morning. You can read them and absorb them. Dinner and a show"
You aren''t nearly as funny as you think you are. Especially when I can feel you practicing the joke before you say it
Dick
I can feel that too. I can feel everything you think while you are inside the zone of control.
She felt smug about that one. I guess the connection was weaker back to me, I wasn''t getting every emotion she felt (Or she wasn''t feeling as many). That seems like its worth a question.
I feel plenty, but I believe that my emotions are less important to you than yours are to me... As a dungeon master to his charge. I think you care a lot
"Well I am glad you don''t consider me a total ass" Nola doesn''t seem to know, but I wonder what sort of relationship other dungeons have with their masters. Might be a good question for Buddy later. I''ll add that to the long list. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "In the stories I remember most dungeons could earn mana by fighting and killing delvers, having their guardians fought by delvers and delvers successfully looting something or completing an obstacle." Among other things. Some of the stories got a little bit out there. I know ''killing'' popped up on the tutorial screen before I cut it off, I didn''t even get to see what sort of killing. Not that it really mattered. It wasn''t a route I wanted to pursue. "What sort of dungeon guardians can you make? Anything small and mostly harmless? Can you make flies?"
I am not sure. I haven''t tried to make a guardian yet..
Personally, I disagree, that vine thing that helped eat the shack was terrifying.
That wasn''t a guardian. That was ... a .. tool? I am actually not sure what it was. It was not autonomous at least, I had full control the whole time
"Can you stop reading all my thoughts, its creepy. I am not used to that."
....no.
"Can you pretend for me?" I got a mental sigh back, I''ll take that as a yes.
I will try to make a fly guardian for my yard. I won''t make it too strong, as you have requested. But I don''t think it will be a normal fly
We sat in silence in the fading light together as she focused. I felt useless sitting there. I wanted to help, but what could I do? Glue the wings on a non existent animal being made out of transmuted garbage energy? I''ll focus on the other things missing from the place. We still need a front entrance sign, a name. Something with our hours of operation. A place to add fees if I am going to pretend to be a legitimate business. Lights too. Its starting to get darker as winter approaches. Soon enough morning will arrive later and night will arrive earlier and I will need flood lights to make the place safe. And those lights would need power. All of the machines will. Nola can re charge a battery basically for free by converting some matter, but that doesn''t sell the ''not magic'' bit very well. Some fake solar panels and a ''battery bank'' would do it. I can place them near the back and mark it off limits so no one gets to close. I could also make a (fake) bio gas digestor inside the zone of control. That would give me an excuse to keep the organic matter. Its my "power". Which I guess wouldn''t be a lie lie.
Can I have a solar panel?
I could feel a little strain as she spoke to me this time. She was still working on her first guardian, but listening to me brainstorm. Better multitasker than me. "Of course, I''d bet we will probably get at least one broken one tomorrow if we have enough people come by. But I can buy you a fresh one too. Best on the market. But why? It''s not like you need a little extra electricity. You can turn matter to energy!"
I like the idea of using the sun for power. Its very plant like.
Yeah, that tracks. "I am guessing you were listening to the rest of my list?"
Always.
Stop it. "Alright, if you can do it without hurting yourself can you make the fake panel I just sent you an image of so I can stop sitting here uselessly." By the time I had moved the 10 fake arrays into position and connected the fake wires to each Nola had created an input hole for the Biogas plant, along with a wire hook up and set up a half dozen flood lights. For the signage we agreed to disagree and landed on the "TBD Recycling Plant". If I didn''t have something great by the time Nola expanded to the gate she was absolutely going to change that to something she wants, with or without my permission. When I stepped back into the zone of control for the last sign Nola messaged me to hold on a moment. She was nearly done.
I think I have it.
"Great news, can I see?" I was excited to see what sort of dungeon guardian we would get. I know I asked for simple, but this was magic. It would probably look different from normal.
Sorry to disappoint, but it will look like a normal black fly. It took a lot of work to make it Not magic looking. Same for the other bugs too. I used all the dead ones I found in the illegal junkyard. Nothing that will look out of place in the local ecosystem. Unless someone stored something exotic in their garbage. And now that I have the template down, I can make them quickly.
All around me centipedes, millipedes, ants, beetles, flies, moths, spiders and worms popped up in rows. They all looked normal to me. We could scatter these everywhere and no one would be the wiser. Its weird how they''re all just sitting there though. I will assume that after inspection they will move more... bug like... around the place.
Yes, they will. But we might have a problem with them.
Uh oh. "What''s wrong with the bugs? Short expiration time?" Some flies only live like a day, so that would make some amount of sense
I wish. The bugs cost a lot of matter to make. More than 50 lbs worth for the small ones.
I reached for one of the little ants. It willingly walked into my hand. It was so small it could barely be felt on the tips of my finger. It definitely wasn''t carrying the extra 50 lbs on it anywhere. Magic is weird. I know in my stories the dungeon guardians being slain always resulted in more mana than their creation, but is that true when converting for matter? I didn''t know. And it felt wrong for me to test. The ant was being nice and cooperative. I didn''t want to hurt my ant. I am sure someone would be around tomorrow to do that. I put the ant back down and it began to crawl away. As one the nicely arranged bug army also started to disperse and depart to hidey holes around the dungeon. "I don''t know if that will be an effective way to get more resources. So lets start our testing slow. If it turns out that each guardian costs us more than it makes, we will have to stop using them" Immediate emotions flooded back at me. Sadness, reluctance, disappointment
NooOooo! I like my bugs. Don''t take them away! Please.
"Relax, relax. We aren''t there yet. And, even if they aren''t profitable we can still keep a couple. OK. Don''t think the worst of me, we''re both new at this." Don''t touch the bugs, got it. I hope they end up working out. "You me and the bugs, we''re in this together." I smiled mentally and physically. That seemed like a pretty good team so far. I think we have done all the preparing we are going to do today. Lets get some rest for the big day Chapter 11: Separation anxiety
Wait, You are leaving?
"Yes... I need to go home and check on Buddy. Also sleep. Sleeping is nice for meat beings like me" Nola doesn''t sleep. She doesn''t even seem to get tired. I only hate her for that a little bit. It''s all jealousy on my part.
Please don''t go. I don''t want.... I am afraid to be alone here. I don''t think I have ever been alone before.
"It''s ok Nola, I will just be gone for the night. I will be the first one back here in the morning" I guess this is the first time she''s been alone on Earth. I am not sure what it was like when Buddy had her, but he doesn''t seem like the type to let someone like this out of his sight. I don''t know how long she''s been alive/ conscious, but the whole time I''ve known her she''s been no more than a football field away at all times. And even then it was only briefly. Uh oh. She was ''tied'' to me back when she was loose. When I tried to leave she almost went through a wall. She mostly did. And now she''s locked in place and several thousands of pounds of equipment and dirt. Can I even leave? If not I am about to become a really loyal Door Dash customer. That wouldn''t be too bad. Nola can make food, she can make new clothes, furniture and basically anything else I need... And Buddy will die of dehydration. Crapola. I need to test this out, for his sake if not my own. But my dungeon is not handling this well. The anxiety of being left alone has been constant since I brought it up, and growing. She''s working herself into a fit. I need to stop this before the ground starts hyperventilating. "Nola, listen to me. I will be coming back. I promise." Got her attention, now sell it. "Can you make me a tiny room with a bed or a couch in it for tonight. I will sleep here" The anxiety dropped immediately. At almost the same rate as a new building popped up. It was an all green moss teepee decorated with orchid flowers. Not my style, but a neat look all the same. It replaced the area I had my desk in. Huh. I guess we would have to put that back in the morning. I suppose that is an easy enough task for Nola given her skill set. "I am going to go home..." This is gonna be my home for a while, gotta re assure the panicky one "... I mean to the house and pick up a few things. I will check on and take care of Buddy and be right back. 2 hours or less" I think she''s starting to accept it. "And I want you to focus on making an actually dangerous guardian. Think of something that can capture any person that comes here without permission. You have my blessing to use as much matter as you need." If this is anything like last time that will keep her occupied for for at least 40 minuets. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
After a nod of approval I hurried out to my car. I wanted to move fast, but I also didn''t want to move fast enough where I''d go splat if I was pulled back to the core. I hadn''t felt anything tugging me as I exited the gate or when I walked to the car. Good sign so far. As I drove away I could feel the anxiety rising even as the connection faded. We would need to work on that together. I wonder if I could get a shrink to work with her. Or work with me so I can work with her. Does psychology work on dungeon cores?
At least within 10 miles of the core, I am not getting pulled back. That''s good. Aside from mental damage there seems to be no issues with me being this far away. The clock is ticking. In and out. Quick check on Buddy. Grab a change of clothes and a tooth brush and get back. Buddy was still where I left him. In a coma. I should probably find a professional to take a look at him. People shouldn''t be out for this long should they? I force fed him some water and another potion. A quick trip to the blender and I gave him some protein and vegetables shake. Hopefully nothing poisons him. Nola already said she knows basically nothing about the guy, so help with the diet plan is out of the question. I need to think if I know anyone who works in the medical field, human or animal, who I could trust to help. It could end really badly for everyone if I choose wrong. Something to work on for later
I went to my room and packed a suitcase like I was going on a work trip. Everything I''d need or want if I couldn''t make it back here regularly. Looking around for books I grabbed everything that might be worth reading for my dungeon. I also grabbed some classics literature that I had been gifted, but I never got around to reading. Someone will get something out of it. It didn''t take long to get everything worth reading into my car. There wasn''t that many books overall. I should work on that when I''m rich and famous. Get a giant library in my mansion. Seems like the thing to do. I took a last look around my place. Most everything in it had been rescued from the garbage where I worked. It functioned, but it was far from nice. Half finished home improvement projects by an idiot (me) made it feel more like a construction site than a home. If it weren''t for Buddy I probably wouldn''t be back. Before heading out for the night I left a note for Buddy. I wasn''t sure if he could read at all, let alone read English, but it might be something That could help him when he wakes up and I''m out. Or I could bring him. Build a shack that says something like "toxic chemicals - do not open" and then fuze the door to the wall using Nola. And then I can keep an eye on him as he recovers. And no one will discover him if they break into my house Ok. New plan. I grabbed the remaining potion and some extra blankets and placed them in the back seat. It''s late, so no one is walking around, I should be able to drag him to the car if I move quick. If I get caught, he''s just a Halloween decoration. A really heavy Halloween decoration. The move went off without a hitch. I got him in the back and covered him with another blanket. Now my car just had a messy back seat. Still, I''m gonna drive more carefully so I don''t get pulled over. I turned on the porch light and grabbed the mail before locking up. Back to work we go
I could feel Nolas nervous energy a mile out. By the time I was pulling in she was, literally, pulsing with excitement at the garbage pit. "Well, look at that! You made it. I told you ya would"
I did! I also made a guardian based on your memories, wanna see?
Wait, a fully fictional creature out of my memories? That could be a lot of things... "Which memories?" I asked
The movie Tremors!
The pulsing garbage pit made a lot more sense now. Lesson learned, don''t give the dungeon a blank check Chapter 12: Opening day "Tremors? You made a graboid? How? A fly took 50 pounds of garbage! Those things are the size of a truck. Bigger even"
It isn''t full size... yet. It will grow.
"How big is it?" In response a 4 foot worm heat poked out of the concrete bottom of the garbage dumping pit. That''s not very lore accurate, but the worm didn''t seem to care. It is still lots bigger than the fly. How much garbage did Nola use? "Hey Nola?" I started to pose the question when she answered. Perks and drawbacks of a mental connection. I will never get used to it
I used it all. You said I could. You can''t be mad.
"I''m not mad, I''m just shocked. 2 yards worth of garbage was our bank account. We probably wont have that much again any time soon" I was very concerned about how much was used. And the problem it presented for me and Buddy.
I could take back some of the equipment we put around to make a house for Buddy.
"No, the place already looks sparse for what its supposed to be. You should use my car." It hurt to consider, but the dungeon master should stay with the dungeon. My car wouldn''t be that useful I tossed the keys into the pit where the bounced off the graboids face. The worm chuffed at me and dove back under the concrete. "But I expect it back once we rebuild our stores" I said with an exaggerated finger wag. "But Buddy''s in the back so not yet. Let me get him out and then we can take care of the car"
I wasn''t gonna eat Buddy... besides, I don''t even think I can.
"What makes you think that?" Who did she try to eat...
No people, just some regular bugs that flew in. I couldn''t eat any of the live ones.
Good to know. Although I didn''t like the implication that Nola had started hunting. But I guess bugs are ok. But lets try not to destroy the ecosystem.
I won''t!
"Ok then. Lets get a house made for Buddy so we can get some rest for tomorrow. We have to get started bright and early to meet the junkers. You know what the shack I am thinking of needs to look like?"
''Do not enter'' meets hidden 5 star hotel?
"Pretty close. Can you do it with just the car?"
Yes, but it will be close.
Alright. "Make sure you read and save the books before you absorb them"
I read and save everything I take in.
I was a little sad seeing my car disappear into the ground. But I''ll get over it. Mostly I was excited to sleep.
The alarm on my phone said 5:45 AM Time to start the first day of the rest of our lives or some other such inspirational crap.
Don''t be like that. It will be fun!
"Yes it will. I''m just worried about everything that can go wrong. I probably will be till we get going"
Then lets get going! Go get the gate. I can''t reach it yet.
As I walked away from my green lean-to Nola started re absorbing it to make the desk again. I used my extra awareness as a dungeon master to check on Buddy. Still in a coma. I''ll need to make sure he gets some food and water before the end of the day. And another potion. See if I can get him to wake up. I struggled with the old gate as I opened both doors as wide as they could go. The TBD recycling plant is ready to start working. A junkman pulls into the yard before I fully open the second door, missing the driveway entirely and driving through Nola''s grass. She was not a fan.
There is a path right there! I''m going to bite him with my flies.
"Fine by me, just don''t kill him. We need the repeat business" "Yo, little man! You Chopper''s guy?" The junk man started getting out of his truck and walking towards me. "We know each other. I take it he told you what we do here" Darn it, this is a solo operation as far as anyone knows. Keep that straight. "Yeah, he told me. Seems a little too good to be true. It''s totally free? No bs hidden fees your gonna slap me with?" This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. He doesn''t seem to know or care about the recycling part. Fine by me. "Totally free all lines disposal service. Anything you can haul in, I''ll take" "Well all righty then. Lets get.." He slaps at his neck. I can feel a guardian being defeated "Ouch. Lets get this thing started so I can get back to it" "You are already in position, you have a dump truck or do you need help unloading?" I want him out of here fast so I can discuss weather the flies are a good investment. Nola seems to think so, they just keep coming at him. "I got the dump. Is there a daily limit?" The junk man said to me still waiting for the catch. I put on my best customer service smile. "No limit. Bring your friends" He hit the riser on his truck and whistled low "You are gonna be a popular man then" I hope so my man. I hope so. 5 minutes later he was dumped and out the gate again. He didn''t stick around for processing. Fine by us. I had Nola absorb everything without the pretense of processing it. "Before anyone else shows up how much did we make on the flies when they were defeated?" I got the emotion before I got the answer. The young dungeon was happy with the result
20%. ish. It seemed to vary per fly. But all of them were a big profit.
"That''s excellent. We should keep at it with everyone. Flies are a constant fixture at the dump so no one will be surprised." 20% one each fly? Each fly being 50 or so pounds of trash. Each pound of trash that could be literally anything. It was like printing money.
That isn''t all the good news. Something even better happened.
"Oh yeah, what else happened?"
There was a reward for me when he left after a ''unsuccessful delve''. Enough energy to make 300 pounds of matter!
It must have counted as unsuccessful since he left a bunch of stuff inside and came out with nothing. The recyclers will get a successful delve. I wonder what that would look like.
I think we are supposed to give them a gift. All your stories have that happen. Face a dungeon, get a prize.
"They''re getting the prize. The processed garbage. Its worth twice as much to scrappers."
That''s just loot. Its not the same. I can feel it.
"Ok. you have some ancestral instincts kicking in. I like it. What can we do as a reward? What if we....." I turned as I heard the sound of tires on gravel again. Our next delver had arrived. Time to be a good dungeon master and greet the adventuring party. "Nola, you brainstorm something. Make sure we can make a return on whatever the success gift is" I signaled with my hand for them to pull up to the pit. This was definitely a scrappers truck. Mostly metal items and wire rather than household trash and furniture. Time to test out what success looks like at the garbage dungeon.
Please don''t call me that. Recycling plant if you have to, but not garbage dungeon. It hurts my heart.
Ok. I''ll be better. "Hello gentlemen! I take it you are here to take advantage of our pre processing services for higher scrap prices." "Depends. Can you do what he says you can do?" He spat on the ground as he tried to wave the fly away. Not gonna work my dude. That thing won''t stop coming. "Give me a chance to prove it to you. Pick something you got and lets run it" They picked an old glass patio table. The tempered glass isn''t worth much and there''s only a few pound or two of aluminum in the whole set up, and that''s if its not made out of painted steel. In either case, if it didn''t work it wouldn''t cost them that much in lost scrap. The upside of stripped paint is a higher sell price. "How big do you want your pieces? Shreds, beads or shavings?" Not really much of a difference to Nola, but it might seem more believable if I tap a button or two on my phone first. "Whatever gets me out of here quickest holmes" The same disbelief I saw on Charlie the other day. Time to make some believers "Shreds it is" I tapped my phones blank screen. Nola took the queue to start the ramps to take up the table. The humming started and seconds later a small pile of ready to process material came out the other side and deposited into bins. The two scrappers went through all the stages of non belief just like Charlie did. Bewilderment. Questioning. Accusing. Anger. And finally Acceptance. The siren song of easy money probably helped. They agreed to leave the junk behind. Plastic stripped off wires, paint, misc alloys that cheap products always seem to use and the other unrecyclables that always go straight to the dump. I''m just saving them a trip if they leave it here after all. A few minuets later I was helping them load full bins of metal shreds back into their vehicle. What used to be an overflowing pick up was now an nicely organized set of 8 bins, ready to process. "Make sure you bring those bins back next time. And tell your friends." I shouted after their truck as they drove off. They''d be back.
Don''t help anyone load anymore. We get more reward when they do their own looting. When you do it, its just... nothing.
Well that seems rude. But I guess the too busy argument could work. Two more vehicles pulled in. Time to be a good host again. "What reward did you settle on? Also what did we get for a successful delve? I said to Nola as I started walking towards the next group
More than enough energy. And it was different flavored. 2 or 3 more and I can fix your car.
"So about a thousand pounds then. Damn." The opportunity this opened up was staggering. "And the reward?"
About 450 pounds worth of energy.
Ouch. High cost. "What did they get?"
Magic coffee, like you were wishing for earlier. They will be a little less tired and more well rested for the rest of the day. I figure it is less permanent than the stat buffs I could offer
Lucky ducks. "Any chance I can get that in potion form?" Also, stat buffs? I will have to look into that in more detail later
Not currently. That reward seems to only be available for delvers. And yes, I can''t wait to look into this more
For now lets get through today. Chapter 13: Making it through the day 2 more people drove in at once. As I started to explain to them how things work another guy pulled in as well. That was the pace that we set for the rest of the morning. Chopper apparently gets word around pretty fast. That''s great for a quick growth, but terrible when you need a chance to work out the kinks in your operation. The first issue of the day started with our 3rd and 4th customers who arrived at the same time. Just because Nola could purposely and perfectly separate their loads even if they dumped them in to the pit at the same time, doesn''t mean they have any way of trusting her, me, or each other. We almost came to blows over that one. We ended up having to run every load completely separately. Which lead us into the next problem we discovered. Time. It worked out for Nola, she could keep farming energy with mosquitos and flies. But I''m sure more than one person turned away seeing the line. The loading of materials in the pit one at a time, collecting of the bins before the next batch could start, and maneuvering around the cramped driveway to finally leave all caused issues with speed. And then there was the real bottleneck. Me. Or more specifically, how much ''waste'' material I could move from the collection site and where to put it. Pretty early on I had Nola start discretely absorbing 10% of the material designated as waste. By the end of the morning I had upped that number to half and we still had barrels and boxes overflowing at the back of the property. Every time I had to move a full collection barrel that was more ''down time'' for the machine Nola was pretending to be. We were also running out of bins. Printing more would be easy, if there weren''t so many eyes. As it stands the pile of bins I thought would last a week had dwindled down to a 3rd of its former self. The phrase ''Suffering from success'' almost began to cover my feelings on that development. But the most unexpected problem came just before lunch. A tourist. Well that''s not exactly correct. He started his day as just another junk man, but one of the hippy true believer types. After he saw Nola grind up an entire kitchen worth of cabinets and appliances he just... didn''t leave. He moved the truck out, that was considerate of him, but he just came in and stared open mouthed at the process until we closed up. Nola actually had a fly go right in and that barely even fazed him. Great for farming xp, but he was in the way. More than that, the whole magic trick is hidden behind the thinnest veneer of credibility. Looking at it too closely represented an existential risk to the operation. Tonight after close we could move the driveway, signs, even the machine and the pit to solve the other issues, but I don''t know what we are gonna do about our developing fan club.
"We will re open in an hour people, go get lunch or something. I know I''m gonna" I shouted to the people waiting at the gate as I forced those inside the plant out. My tourist was the last one out. I had to practically drag him out the door by his ponytail. He kept throwing questions at me that I ignored. Not the most adult way to handle that, but if I start talking in the same material science terms he started using he''d figure out pretty quick I barely finished high school. "Listen, I just want to know a few things about the processer unit. Is it using.." I held up my hand to stop the questions. "Everything is proprietary and a trade secret that I am unwilling And unable to discuss with you right now. More information will be made available after the testing phase" There that should hold him. "I get that. I won''t talk to anyone I just..." I looked him in the eye as I started to struggle with the old door again. He knew he wasn''t gonna get a real answer from me. Didn''t stop him from trying again, persistent bugger. "At least tell me who your backers are, I''ll bug them instead. No one has to know how I know" One last hail marry. Appeal to ''someone else''s problem''. Honestly if I was some low man on the totem pole that would probably be a pretty good play. "Not gonna happen man. But when they give me the go to start telling, I''ll let you know." I got the door closed and started to lock it so I could take a break. Unfortunately, there was a small gap in the old gate door. "I am gonna hold you to that. Here, take this" I could hear him rustling around on the other side as he reached for something. Shortly after a bright green business card with a smiling sun in the corner poked through the gap. "I am gonna hold you to that phone call. I want to know everything about this" I took the card and then, stupidly, went on customer service auto pilot. And I proceeded to say what may be the dumbest possible thing I could say to this particular person. Well, with the exception of the truth. "Make sure you tell all your friends!"
If I face palmed any harder Nola was going to tell me I was losing hit points. I walked away from the gate and back into the dungeon proper and felt the dungeon master''s awareness come back again. It was getting easier to operate normally with all that information after half a day''s worth of practice. I still wasn''t exactly comfortable with it, but I didn''t trip over my own feet when walking too fast anymore. I opened the door to Buddy''s shed. Still in a coma. "Nola, another healing potion please and some water"
Coming right up!
Both of the requested items popped up out of the ground next to me. How did I ever live without a dungeon before, so convenient.
Aw, Thanks. I know I am the best.
"Don''t get too cocky." I said playfully, "We still have some stuff we can do better" Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. I started watering Buddy. "Do you have any other potions that might help him? Did his people feed you anything else useful before you came here?"
They didn''t feed me much. Unlike you they were very selective with their choices.
"Are you complaining?" I legitimately wonder if she minds my method of... unusual... dungeon management. No kills, no traps. No walls even for the most part.
Hell no. Quality over quantity can happen later. For now I want to grow
"That''s good. Give me a quick rundown of what they gave you. I can figure out if any of it is worth pursuing as a helper for Buddy"
Here is a complete list of everything they gave me - some of it is incompatible with your current understanding, but I can use metaphors to help if you want -Minor healing potion -Medium healing potion -Major healing potion -Stamina potion -Well rested potion -a???s???d?????y???o?????f????z?????x?????c?????g???f????h????p????a????s????d???l????k?????s????d?????f????k????j???v???f???? -c?????v????n????r????e????p???a????s???d???l?????k????s?????d???f???k???j????v???f??? -Strength booster potion -p?????a???????s??????d????l???k???s?????d?????f????s????e???????d??????d?????k??????j?????v?????f????? - Personal forcefield - A gold staff of unknown use - o???e?????e?????e????y?????d????f?????s???e???d????d????k????j???v????f????
"They only gave you 12 items the whole time they had you?" Also, ow, some of those hurt my head.
"The whole time they had me" was less than 3 hours. I think. I only ate a clock after I got to this world. It felt like 3 hours after I woke up. I wasn''t as ''aware'' at the beginning.
"Alright, fair enough." Still I think I gave her a greater variety of, admittedly garbage, stuff in the first 5 minuets after we met. Considering the transmutation abilities, I am amazed they didn''t. I will have to ask Buddy about that. "Are any of the weird ones something that will wake Buddy up or could help us in our current position?"
No, most of them are weapons of some kind. One of them is ... well its like a magic mana potion from Skyrim, but not for humans, and not the same magic you are used to. Kinda. Again, there is nothing in your memories that''s a good match.
"Got it, so not exactly a high priority item for our party" I pulled out my phone. Nola probably hadn''t gotten over the separation anxiety since last night
I have not, thank you for remembering
Please stop doing that. Anyway. Thanks to the modern age I can make the food come to me "Nola, do you want to try some food made be actually competent people? I can get basically anything we can think of, and since we are linked you know what that list has on it."
I want to try a taco. And pudding. And pizza. And beef wellington. Fish and chips. Grapes. Gas station sushi. Turkey stuffing. French toast. And a potato. Pasta. Green beans. And....
"And I am gonna cut you off there. So what I heard, was you are up for anything and can''t make up your mind?"
I can so make up my mind. I want it all. Is that so hard to believe?
"Not at all, one might even say its on brand." I laughed a little at that one "But for now, we are only gonna order from one place. But, we can order one of everything. Fair?"
I''ll print the money!
"I am using a credit card. There''s no way to use cash on the app." I am gonna need to get to the bank to deposit some ill gotten gains before the end of the month, or I am gonna have a problem. I figured we would try all the restaurants eventually, so I decided to just go in order. The great American burger chain it is.
The delivery driver was confused when he saw just me. Not surprising as he was carrying 50 thousand calories of fast food and soda. "The others are coming in a bit. Thanks for coming so fast" I handed him a few 20s from Nola. And suddenly he didn''t care any more. I took the extra burger and coke I had ordered for me out of the bag and dumped the rest into the pit. This time when they fell through the concrete it rippled like water. What?
You said you wanted that.
"No, I said I expected that, not the same thing. When it comes to magic I am not an expert. Neither option makes sense. You should probably just absorb it the regular way, just in case"
After our lunch I had Nola absorb a few more bins of ''waste'' trash and print me some ramps. The absorption was not strictly necessary with everything she had already taken in, but I wanted to get a jump on clean up. With the new ramp I could just have all the waste trash piled at the back of the property and we could deal with it later at night. No more stopping to remove the bin from the waste chute slowing us down. We also added a second ramp on the intake side. I had Nola make the wall erected between them look like it was salvaged from the shack that used to be on the property. More believable that we were able to set it up over a lunch break. Now we technically had 2 dumping zones. That should speed us up a bit. I also made a tourist zone. Right next to the supposed biogas digestor. Really it was just an excuse for extra smells and flies. If they are gonna stay here, they''re gonna have to suffer through being my energy farm. Almost ready to get started again. "Alright Nola, I want you to focus on expansion. Always leave enough in the tank for us to keep operating here, but otherwise keep growing. Get to the edges of the property first and then onto the road. I want you to expand towards my house. You can take shoulders of the roads to grow plants as long as they aren''t too big or messing with cars. Don''t expand into anyone else''s property but mine." That should give her something to shoot for for a while, during lunch I was starting to get the signal that she was itching to spend some of our accumulated energy/matter collection. multiple miles of dungeon should be a pretty good goal. At least a year based on how much it took to make the first bit. Task for her and a task for me. Now lets get this thing started. Open the door and begin again Just gotta make it a few more hours. Chapter 14: New faces The line was halfway up the block when I finally re opened. I even had my first set of repeat customers. How many people does Charlie know? Maybe I should have talked him into slowly introducing this instead. As I struggled with the doors again the tourists started filtering in along with someone I almost recognized. Zeke? Zach? Something. I know he works as a pit boss for one of the recycling plants near here. Scoping out the competition day one? No, it shouldn''t be that, I am not really much of a competition since people are walking out with all the stuff he''d want. "Let me help you with that Roy" Mr. Z came up to me and helped with the gate, allowing the waiting vehicles to start pouring in just a little sooner. I really wish I remembered his name. He knows mine. Nola, does your zone let you know a delvers name?
Not as far as I can tell. Weight, stats, age and number of delves. I guess dungeons like me don''t normally see people as people. Just meaty energy bags
Well that''s unsettling. Don''t do that here please.
I won''t. Promise
"Thanks for that" I say to our new helper as I get the door into place, "Now, why would a pit boss be here?" "Right to business then, aye Roy? Alright. Its Zion by the way. I can see you struggling. If you''re gonna do business you should work on your poker face" I thought I was doing well.
You really weren''t
Shut it. "Yeah, right to business. I know we are in different parts of the same process. I''m just wondering why you''re here." The tourists had noticed me talking to Zion. They were watching closely. I need to watch my words. "You completely change the game, and you are wondering why I am here?" He gave me a wide eyed smile before brushing some non existent hair out of his face. He was trying to stop himself from laughing. "Is it true you aren''t even charging for this?" "Yeah. Free to everyone. For now. Eventually there will be a fee." He is giving me the same look as Charlie, he doesn''t believe a word of it, but he''s gonna run with it anyway. "Limits?" He said, looking at the pit where people were dumping their trash. Huh, the hippies have started directing the newcomers on what to do. That''s convenient. I think I know where Zion is going, and I think I like it. "Pieces must be smaller than a truck, but other than that no limits. You interested in some help processing?" Of course he is. Cut down on processing, increase the profit for the metal re selling. Plus I can get it into exactly the size he needs for peak efficiency. As long as he tells me what that is. "Only if you aren''t interested in buying me out." "I''m sorry, what now?" That took a turn I wasn''t expecting. "A buy out. I''m looking down the barrel of a brand new world, and I don''t see any cover." He gestured at the nicely processed material coming out the other side of the machine. "I talked to one of the guys this morning after they were done with your place. You can pick the size of the final pieces too? How much longer till your backers vertically integrate into processing?" He thinks I have backers. I will not correct that information error. No one believes I am smart enough to actually make Nola anyway. That''s fine. I''m just the front man. With powerful and mysterious backers. Maybe from another country. What''s the Chinese word for recycling again? "Zion, as far as I know they don''t have any plans about material processing for existing metal markets. Their goal is currently the unrecyclable materials." "Well." He stuck out his hand to shake mine. I took it, even though I wasn''t sure what we were shaking on. "I will have my yard bring it all here to take advantage of the free ride while it lasts. I''ll bring some resumes by too. Think of some of us little guys when you are done taking over." He didn''t stand on ceremony or wait for me to respond. He just started to head for the gate. As he waited for a truck full of washing machines to pass by he turned back and gave me another piece of advice. "Hire yourself a good press person. You can''t lie to save your life"
Well that was a downer.
I mean, we don''t have to take over the whole processing process. Just doing what we are doing is still paying huge dividends for me.
Yeah, but he''s right. This is a game changer for the whole industry. The tourists are filming us, so soon a lot of people will know. And just existing we are going to change what people expect from recycling. The plan wasn''t to end up un-employing all my friends. Nola shot me an emotion rather than words as response. She understood what I was saying, even if she disagreed. She wanted to keep growing. That was obvious. It was her job not to destroy the ecosystem where she was operating, my job is now to figure out how to not destroy the garbage economy. But some employees are probably necessary. Zion isn''t wrong about my poker face. I need someone to be a better spokesperson. And I need some hands to help with moving garbage. I have no ideas on the first one, but I know a guy that can help with the other part. And I think I can trust him to not leak anything to the press or the feds. I pulled out my phone and made a call to my co worker. Straight to voicemail. He must be at work today. That reminds me, I should probably tell my boss I am quitting before my shift tomorrow. The message beeps and its time to hook him without giving anything away. "Hey Tyler. Do you still hate the government?"
When the day came to a close and the crowd had been reduced to just one straggler junk man and a single tourist I turned on the closed sign and closed one of the doors. It moved much smoother this time. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
I reached the gate earlier today. So I fixed the hinge. It still looks the same, no one saw.
Thanks. I really appreciate this. Rather than using all my strength and both hands I could now swing the metal gate closed with one hand. How did I ever live without a dungeon. As the last customer of the day finished dumping the last of his load I called out to the remaining tourist "Closing time, you don''t have to go home, but you can''t stay here folks" The junk man gave me a wave as he drove off, but the hippy wasn''t leaving that easily. "Come on man, we gotta close up for the night." I said as I gestured to the door. I got peppered with the same questions I had been getting all day. How''s it work? Who do you work for? When are you expanding? Can I buy stock? So on and so on. All answered with the same non answers. I really need to work on that press position. I saw Tyler''s truck pull in and park as I was ushering the guy out. Perfect. I closed the other gate behind the tourist, much easier now thanks to the improvements, and locked it. Tyler was watching me from the truck but hadn''t gotten out yet. "Hey bud, how was work" "It was work" Ty said with a nod. He opened the door and half swung out of the truck. "Interesting message you left me" "I figured it would get you here" He smiled and nodded at that "Well that part worked. Now what do you have here?" He pointed at Nola''s flower "You don''t seem like the artsy type, so I imagine that does something?" "It does a lot, thats actually what I called you here to talk about. I want to...." Ty jumped down from his truck and came towards me with his index finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet. Nola and I both looked around, as far as we could see there was no one nearby. I turned in a full circle before looking back at Tyler and shrugging. "I don''t see.." "Shhhhh" He silenced me again. He pulled out a silvery bag from his pocket and put his phone inside. Then he gestured for mine. It''s probably worth explaining why I believed that Tyler was a good person to tell about this. He''s a conspiracy nutter and doomsday prepper. And not a "has a few cans of food and a bug out bag" kind of prepper. He''s the "has a secret bunker full of guns nobody knows the location of and grows 100% of his own food" kind of guy. He also makes homemade gasoline, guns, and spirits, probably without a license. Fun guy overall. But have a conversation with him and you''ll find out that the press is controlled by the illuminati and the lizard people took control of the US government during the Bush Sr administration. In short, even if he does tell someone, no one is gonna believe him. And he is probably not gonna tell anyone. The perfect employee for my operation. Plus I know he''s a hard worker. After both our phones were tucked away in the faraday bag and locked in his truck he indicated that we could talk again. "So, as I was starting to say, I have something here I need help with. Did anyone at work talk about this today?" "Yeah, magic recycling plant that popped up outta nowhere. People mentioned it. I didn''t know it was you till I got here." Interesting word choice with Magic. "Yeah, it has been an interesting day. Funny that you should use the word magic." I paused for dramatic effect "Because it actually is!" The dead eyed stare I got back was not a great sign "You don''t have to believe what I do, but I am not crazy" Debatable "I am sure whatever the machine is can be explained logically" Seriously? I am able to convince no one except the conspiracy guy? Nola, ever the impetuous dungeon, didn''t wait for an order from me. Or even alert me to what she was about to do. She just ordered her mini graboid to pop up beside me and ''skreeeee''. And I ended up jumping more than Tyler did. I can sense where that thing is when I am in the dungeon. How did it jumpscare me? "O. K. So there is something going on here" Ty said, not looking away from the little monster. He also at some point when I was jumping had pulled out a gun. Gotta take back control of the situation. "Nola, send the graboid away. Tyler, please put the gun away. I promise I will explain everything and it will start to make sense." The bug ducked back into the dirt and went back under the garbage pit. I guess that was his nest for now. Tyler did not put the gun away, but at least he lowered it. "Who and where is Nola?" "The flower, and I wasn''t lying about magic"
Technically I am not in the flower anymore, I''m below it.
Not now Tyler looked at the metal flower, shrugged and put the gun into the pocket of his jacket. Not back in the holster. He''s still a little on edge. "Is it alien?" "Not sure really. It came through a wormhole not a spaceship" "Makes sense. Faster than light travel is impossible. Wormhole travel is the way to go for large distances and parallel dimensions." That''s the thing you buy? I do not understand you. "Anyway." I said with some emphasis. "She came with the other guy in the shed, she got passed off to me and we have been trying to grow ever since." "Other guy? Another flower?" he said looking around "No the other one was a dog person" "One of the Cynocephaly? They''ve been visiting our world since ancient Greece and Egyptian times." Talking to you is a real trip Ty. "I wouldn''t know. He''s been in a coma. I''ve been calling him Buddy" I opened the door to the chemical shed and showed him Buddy''s set up. "Like your old dog? We should probably not tell him that." Tyler was smiling now. He''s taking this in stride. He is also probably right about the nickname, but I already knew that. "Not important for now. Nola is a dungeon core. That means she has some special magic abilities and we have been trying to get her to grow. Nola and I formed this dungeon to try and recycle as much as we could and get her some matter and delvers without hurting anyone. But we need help running the fake plant. It turned out to be more work than I thought." I explained to him about Nola and I''s merging, my dungeon master status, Buddy''s injuries, the matter transmutation tests and our heist. Ty nodded along taking it all in. "Can she make ammo? Nola! can you make ammo." He shouted in the general direction of the flower.
I can Tyler! Can I have one of your guns? They look neat.
Tyler was waiting for a response. He couldn''t hear Nola even if she tried to talk to him. Interesting. "Didn''t hear her?" I asked "Nope, I bet you did if you''re asking" "She says yes, if she gets a sample bullet"
Also I want a gun! Ask him for his gun. Pleeeeeease
No Ty ejected the mag and clicked one bullet out. "Where does it go?" "Anywhere on the ground will work at this point, but I have been throwing stuff in the pit for consistency" The bullet barely had a second delay after sinking into the dirt before 50 more pristine copies popped up in front of Tyler. That made him light up. "Here Nola, try this gun." He then proceeded to reach down to his ankle and throw a second weapon down towards the pit. So much for not giving Nola a gun. Also how many weapons did he bring to a friendly meetup. "How many guns did you bring with you?'' I asked incredulously "Just 3. Nothing major" "Did you think I was bringing you here to shoot you or something?" "If I thought that I would have come armed." "You are armed?!" "Those are nothing" "I am concerned by your definition of nothing." He smiled at me before turning back to face Nola''s flower. "Can you copy that too?" In response two shiny pistols appeared in the dirt. Nope "Nope" I grabbed one of them and threw it back to the pit. Ty didn''t try to stop me. "We are already on thin enough ice without gun running. Nola, No. Ty, also no." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "I will take the job. I''ll quit today and be here for you tomorrow. But I want my pay in gold, not worthless fiat currency. I can get Nola a sample if she needs some"
Tell him I know gold already!
"She knows gold already. But if you want a shape she''ll need that" "Can do" "I think it goes without saying, but this needs to stay a secret. From everyone. Not even the conspiracy boards can know." "All I can promise is that I won''t tell; but I think they''ll know soon. I watched the true believer leave. That guy is telling everyone" I really need that press person. Chapter 15: From bad... Tyler showed up to work the next morning at 5 AM with a box truck rather than his usual jeep. This probably isn''t good. Nola opened the gate for him and closed it right after. I barely saw the brown vines snake back under the dirt after she was done. If I didn''t have an awareness of everything in my dungeon I probably would have missed that. I should experiment with the awareness more. I have mostly been suppressing it so I can focus on people and walking without tripping. But Nola had been growing and I have not done anything with that. I spread out my mind to see if I could touch the whole area at once. Whatever magic bonded the two of us definitely kicked in at that point. Felt like I licked a AAA battery, and then the borders materialized in all directions. Nola was a lot bigger Gone was the little softball sized gem. Under the flower there was a core the size of a residential trashcan. It has been less than a week and we are seeing 1000% growth! It has to slow down by now though, we have to be hitting some sort of cap on just matter absorption. I will have to ask Nola about it later. Focus on your domain I reached out to the ground around me. Now that''s interesting.. The dungeon wasn''t all of the area around us. Yes, the ground inside the yard was, so was all the ground about 6 inches below the yard, with the exception of these strange trails running around the property. Then graboid! That''s how he gets around. He can''t leave the dungeon and he''s too thick to get most places. Looks like he doesn''t have too many trails right now. A few leading from Nola to his nest, a trail leading to the fence line and a ring all the way around. Perimeter defense. Nice. Everything else not in the trails or the first layer of dirt felt like foreign territory. Except below the flower. The dungeon was about 3 stories deep there. I guess Nola is expecting another growth spurt. Either that or there''s some claustrophobia. There is a lot of mycelium in that dirt. Mushroom roots basically. Why do I know that? Probably residual knowledge from Nola. All branching out from the core. I promised Nola a garden didn''t I. I will have Ty run and get some plants from the home improvement store at the break. She probably hates the industrial nature this place. All the drivers killed her plants driving off the path yesterday. She got plenty of energy for it, but that doesn''t change the fact that I made a nature dungeon a concrete pad to call home. Gotta work on that. I reached out further to the walls. The ''walls'' were not actually part of the dungeon. The air on the inside edge was technically part of our territory, but the rusted metal wasn''t ours yet. I wonder if that''s an efficiency choice or an affinity one? I think the gate is ours. I will check that out in a little while. I want to see how the vines work. Speaking of air, the dungeon stops in the air too. About 11 feet off the ground our territory ends. Interesting. So claiming new space in any direction requires energy. No free air space with the purchase of new land. I wonder if someone has to be completely inside to count as a delver?
Yes and no. They need to be almost completely in or they don''t count as a delve. I can still get energy when they fight guardians or drop off matter, but I wont get a delve bonus, and neither will they, if they don''t come in. The people matter more than the vehicles, those are just equipment. Oh, try sensing Buddy and Tyler! And Tyler''s truck
Buddy was still in the chemical shed. Still in a coma. I had given him another potion before bed last night, but his condition is not improving. He glowed a little bit in my sense sight. And he felt a lot different than everything around him. His lifeforce was pressing against everything around him. The dungeon was pressing back against him. The interaction of the forces was constant and flowing in fractal patterns I could barely comprehend, even with my expanded mind. Tyler, now through the gate and driving towards the back, felt different. Brighter, for one. And far more violently pushing back on the dungeon. Probably because he was moving and acting. And singing? He is singing along to the radio inside the truck. Katy Perry. Never would have thought he was the type. If anything I would have guessed talk radio. Woah. The truck. The truck felt like void. I couldn''t feel it at all. The wheels on the ground, the air against the body; sure. But the truck wasn''t there.
It''s why I couldn''t take anyone''s stuff before they give it up. If they still consider it their equipment, and they aren''t defeated, we can''t touch it.
"So Buddy''s armor?"
Still his, till you defeated him and disarmed him. Then I could eat it.
Magic respects property rights. Alrighty then. Tyler waved to me as he drove by. I waved back. He doesn''t seem to be bothered by me not getting up to greet him. He is moving with purpose. Tyler pulled up to the pit rather than his spot near the back of the lot, I knew he brought a box van for a reason. He has some stuff to drop off. I wonder if he had some garbage at home.
Ha. I''ve been in your mind. You don''t even believe it would be that easy.
Yeah. He''s almost certainly got something illegal or dangerous, or both.
Do you want me to not absorb it?
No, its probably good to have whatever he gives you. I should probably get a copy of the pistol he gave you too. Just in case. I am just not super sure about guns. I''ve never shot one.
Alright. I''ll make you one in a moment. Watch the truck. He''s opening it
Tyler reached into the van and pulled out... some sort of void thing... and threw it into the pit. I felt the air whip around it, the pressure as it bounced off the concrete. And then, as Ty turned to pull out the next void the void in the pit became known. 34.17 pounds. Metal and gunpowder. A metal ammo can full of 30-06 Springfield ammo. 500 rounds. Abandoned in a dungeon. Ours to absorb. I wanted it. "Is that what all the garbage feels like?... it.. I really want it." I said to Nola. I tried to pull back from the sensation. I couldn''t do it without also backing out of my awareness of the dungeon.
Not all of it. Some of the delvers never consider what they are hauling ''theirs''. Those are less compelling.
The ammo can sunk right through the concrete. Nola didn''t bother with the fake ramps and processing plant around Tyler since he already knew. As it was absorbed I learned about the new thing we had just taken in. Every crimp and fold in the metal. Every scratch and scuff in the paint. The chemical composition of every molecule in the can. I need to get out of here or my brain will explode.
I pushed my way out of my awareness. The lights were extra bright and my head was ringing. Too much. I can''t imagine what its like to take a dump trucks worth at once.
It''s not as bad for me as it is for you. I like learning
"Nola, I like learning too, but that... that is not the type of learning I am used to" I had to lean over and put my hands on my knees. Dizziness was starting to set in. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. If I had eaten I probably would have thrown up. As it stood I remained standing, but swayed a little on my feet. Gonna take a beat and recover from that.
After a period of time I came back to myself enough to walk over to Tyler. He was still unloading, so it couldn''t have been that long. I hadn''t finished my tour of the dungeon, but I had enough for the day. Plus I wanted to see what he was up to. "Hey Tyler" I called out to him as I walked around to the back of his van. Looks like he is almost empty. "Hey Roy. Have fun in your Intellectus?" He asked as he threw an overstuffed duffle bag full of who knows what into the pit. Well, I guess I could know what. But I am not ready for that again so soon.
It''s mostly clothing. Lots of military patterns. Was he a soldier?
No. But I think he would like to be. "What is an intellectus?" "Connection to your domain. You looked like you were a thousand miles away but you still waved at me when I came in. Without looking at me. You never hit me as the drug type, so, intellectus." "Do you have any books on that? I think I would like to know more." Maybe something he had could shed some useful light on my situation. "Nothing too useful. Mostly fiction, but I will bring you and Nola what I have tomorrow." He pulled the last item out of the van, looked like a briefcase. He underhand tossed it into the pit and closed one of the doors. "Speaking of fiction. Yesterday you told me Nola picked what she was called based on your memories of fantasy books. I would like to get a copy of those for research purposes. Next time you head home can you pick me up a copy of what she used."
I already have those. Tell him I already have them. Also, that wasn''t a briefcase. It was a solar panel! It''s smaller than the fake ones we put up, but I am going to replace them all with real ones. I will just pack them close so no one can tell!
Go nuts, I don''t think anyone even went back to that part of the yard yesterday. We will be fine. I turned back to Ty "She''s got them already. I will have Nola make you a copy of each." I looked back to the empty pit "Do you want your stuff back?" "Eventually. And with interest. But for now, I will just be happy to have Nola learn some new things. Gotta be ready for the dark ones to invade." He said with a completely straight face.
There''s someone pulling on the gate! He feels like the guy you met when I was in your trunk.
I looked at my phone, not yet opening time. I have a few minuets to talk to Charlie and thank him before we got busy. Maybe even convince him we are a legit business. Not likely, but a guy can dream. "Ty, we may have to cut this short. Pull your car to the spot in the back and look busy. I have to go talk to Chopper and thank him for all his good work on the referrals." "You the boss boss." He saluted me with the wrong hand and jogged back to the drivers side of his van. I jogged back to front gate ready to talk shop with another industry professional. When I got to the gate I realized that was not what was about to happen. Nola and I met two people that day. Chopper, and my apparently not as silent as I would like him to be partner, Melvin. Damn it. I paid the guy at the bank. Why is he here? I very clearly remember the contract saying ''silent partner''. I''m no business genius but I feel like that means he shouldn''t be banging down my gate on day 3 Nevermind. Put on a happy face and get rid of him. We have 15 min until people start showing up. Probably less. Nola, can you print me a grand real quick. I whispered silently through our mental connection. A bribe couldn''t hurt to have on hand. "Richard open up you lying bastard! You owe me an explanation!" I pulled open the recently repaired door with considerably less effort than we would have needed just a few days ago when I bought the place. As it opened all of my good will fell away. This dick. He scammed me out of far more than this place is worth and now he''s back? Screw this guy. "It''s Roy, not Richard. You haven''t gotten it right since we have been ''partners'' Melvin. And I think I member you signing up to be a silent one of those." I looked out the gate past Melvin, there were already two cars present. And multiple tourists. Shit. I need to get out of the public eye. "But why don''t you come inside like the burden you are" I gestured inside with a smile that didn''t reach my eyes. Melvin pushed past me, bumping his shoulder into me purposefully. Its a good thing I am not carrying that gun. "Well then, Roy" he said, drawing out every letter of my name, "What the hell is that thing?" "The processing plant." I said curtly. "Any other stupid questions" "No more questions, just a demand as part owner of this little miracle. I want the patent number and technical documents for Our machine. I think there will be many interested buyers. A rube drop out like you just isn''t smart enough to handle the complex stuff, so I will be taking that on."
Don''t say anything and don''t punch him. There''s an easy way out of this. Tyler fed me the state''s complete law books this morning and you fed me the contract as soon as Melvin walked away.
And you''ve read them already? Oh what am I saying, you read them as you absorbed them.
Exactly. Now repeat after me
I cleared my throat and straightened up to face Melvin.
Just because the land is owned jointly doesn''t mean the items on it are.
"What do you have joint ownership in Melvin? The land and the equipment are not the same thing." I don''t know where this is going but I am ready to try it. "The processing plant. I sold you the land so you could open a processing plant." Fear. Love to see it. Lets push.
Not according to the partnership agreement he signed. Specifically the sale agreement was for the land and licenses and all profits made from it.
"You sold me the land and licenses. You are owed a profit percentage from anything we do here. That''s true. There''s nothing about equipment."
Don''t get too far ahead of me. The equipment is leased from a separate company in a handshake deal. The partnership between you and Melvin owns nothing. No patents. No IP. No processes.
"The equipment is leased you knob. For a buck. Handshake deal with my backers. So you can have your 10% of the profits. I''ll get you a dime at the end of business today. Would you like cash or check?" This is fun.
Make sure you let him know that there are no assets owned. Be specific.
"There is no patent. There is no IP. And no profits for you to steal. Just losses from here to next year. At which time I will buy you out and kick you out of my life for good."
You shouldn''t have said that. It may be easier to just kill him.
Oh that brought me back down fast. How was that bad?
He now has an admission that you acted in bad faith when creating the partnership agreement. I can have a trail for the graboid, just give the order.
To many people saw him enter. Can you give him a heart attack?
No. Do you think he''s allergic to bees?
Unfortunately not "You think you are so smart doing some first year law student bullshit?" Melvin was cherry red. If he knew how bad I had messed up, he wasn''t letting on. He was just angry. "I work for a major investing company. We have real lawyers, not whatever hack told you to pull the stunt you just did."
Hey!
"I am coming after you now. I am getting my portion of that machine Roy. And I will take my payment for that lease in check. Along with the lease paperwork. End of business today" He turned to walk away and pulled on the gate. I think he was expecting the old gate, because the swing took him off his feet. "And you will be hearing from my lawyer for an unsafe worksite" One of the tourists from yesterday poked his head in to look at me as Melvin left. He gave me a pitying look, but didn''t say anything thankfully. I could hear Melvin speeding away in some too loud foreign sport car. Press person and lawyer. I am gonna need a lot of staff here pretty quickly.
Not to pile on the bad news, but what he did counted as a successful delve. So, he won that argument.
Thanks Nola, exactly what I want to hear to start the day. Chapter 16: ...To worse I was still fuming as I walked back to Tyler. That could have gone much better. "You alright there boss?" Ty asked. He was stuck between trying to look busy and wanting to ask more questions. Which manifested as him turning one of the useless knobs on the control panel over and over again. "No, I''m not. I just got some terrible legal news." And that may be an understatement. I cannot produce patents for something that doesn''t exist "I''ve never had much of a filter so I''ll just say it. You clearly hate that guy. Why did you go into business with him? He seems like he''s not ''our'' type of person." Ty said looking towards the gate Of course you''ve never had much of a filter, if you did you wouldn''t keep going on about the lizard people running congress. "I felt like I needed to get up and running fast. Melvin was the only person I knew of with land, licenses and a willingness to sell. Everyone else was happy with their spot." "Happy and not willing to move are not the same thing dude. You can print money and gold. I can think of 10 people off the top of my head who would have eventually taken a buy out." "Yeah, eventually. That''s the problem. I wanted to get started fast. I don''t know why! Normally I am too cautious. Look twice before acting kind of guy. But the magic and Nola and buddy must have caused a little temporary insanity and I just went for it. I don''t know." I took a deep breath. It really wasn''t like me at all. Why had I been so gung ho about getting a spot? I could have kept feeding and growing Nola without this place.
I...think I may have an answer to that
"You do? Please do tell." I said to Nola. Tyler strained up after hearing my side of the conversation.
Don''t be mad
Never a good sign. "What happened?"
I want you to know that I didn''t know I was doing it. And that I haven''t done it since. And that I am sorry.
"You did something to my mind." The pieces made sense now.
Only once. And it was more of a nudge than anything. I just pushed you towards doing what I wanted. You already wanted to as well, you were just going to overthink it. You were already overthinking when I started.
Don''t freak out. You knew this thing had mind powers from the merge. Just take some steps to keep it from happening again. "Nola, I''d like you to.. hell...I order you to not influence my mind again." I felt a surge of energy come out of my body and into my dungeon. Every cell of the dungeon responded. It didn''t feel like it was pleasant for Nola. "Shit. Nola are you alright?" I asked immediately She didn''t respond. "Nola answer me."
Is that an order? Master.
She did not have the usual mental inflections in her ''voice''. She was flatter. More machine like. I am not a fan of that. "It isn''t an order. And don''t be like that. I didn''t know... that would happen" Huh. I guess that''s one for each of us then. "Sorry"
I guess we both don''t know our own strength.
There was slightly more life in her response. Not the same, but she was bouncing back quickly "I can take it back. Nola..." I was stopped by a loud interruption in my mind
STOP
I paused. There was no compulsion to, that was good. But Nola didn''t want me to go on, so I should probably listen.
I wasn''t planning to go into your mind again and I don''t want to feel that again. Lets just leave well enough alone.
There was a short pause before she continued
And apology accepted.
"Same here. Still friends?"
Still friends. Lets just try not to make a habit of this. Either of us
"Agreed" "I am so confused" Tyler said from the sidelines. "A little bit of misunderstanding between some mind linked people. Nothing to worry about." Tyler did not need to know the details. He nodded at that, choosing not to push further. For now. "I''ll get the gate open boss. Its bout time to get going. You should take a seat for a minute. You look a little keyed up" "I appreciate that. Nola, you good to start?"
Always ready to do some recycling
I gave Tyler a thumb''s up and headed back behind the chemical shed where Buddy was hiding. Still in a coma. I should ask Tyler if he knows any cryptozoologists. They''d lay an egg for the chance to work on a real alien. It can''t be healthy to be asleep this long. I collapsed against the shed as I heard the gates open. Another day of fun begins now.
My break was interrupted almost immediately after the tourists filed in. I might have been hidden from view from the front gate, but from the observation deck they could see me clearly. And just like yesterday they were full of questions. Breaks over. Time to look busy. I could feel there was a line of cars halfway up the block. I really need to thank Chopper for his help. I don''t think I could have done this without him. Word of mouth would have gotten me here eventually, free is a great price for guys like us, but it would have been a week or more before I saw crowds like this. Definitely not day two. Tyler was working well. The early birds were all people who had been here yesterday and knew the drill. Things were moving smoothly. "Excuse me sir!" One of the tourists had left the observation deck "Look, I am allowing you guys to watch as a courtesy. This is still an industrial area, please go back to the deck." I said half looking back with a pointed hand. I did not want any part of this conversation right now. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. "I just need to get you and your employees signature for this video release form" He waved a clipboard at me. "Oh" Crap. Paparazzi. "I am not interested in being on film. And the facility is also not to be filmed" "I don''t see any signs up, besides, the news crews will be here soon and they don''t need your permission to show your face. Give me an exclusive and I''ll publish whatever you want me too." He was probably right about the news crews coming soon. Also, wait a second. "Wait, you said you needed a form? That means you aren''t with the news then?" I asked "Not mainstream news. But I run a news channel on YouTube. Almost 20 thousand subs and climbing. Being first on a breaking hometown story will be great for me and even better for you. I have no integrity whatsoever. You tell the story, I''ll put it out there for you, exactly as you want it." Is no integrity supposed to be a selling point? I really need that press person. "Tell you what, I''ll think about it. You got a card or something so I can call you?" I asked, signaling the end of the conversation. "Sure. Names Cole, Nexus News network. The one with the microphone, not the one with the panel. That''s some Turkish channel with the same name. My url is at the bottom of the card. You should check it out!" "Will do Cole. Now get back in the observation area or off the property"
Cole didn''t seem like that bad a guy. Little desperate, but I can relate. But I cannot trust someone who is willing to come out and say they have no integrity. That feels like a recipe for disaster. But what would I know, I don''t talk to the press as part of my old life. But he is for sure right about one thing. If he''s here now, someone else will be here soon. Some local station probably for a public interest piece on a slow news day, and from there the dam will burst. Everyone, except Tyler, has immediately concluded this thing was beyond possible. Tick tock tick tock.
Things went about as expected until lunch time. We had our first tree trimmer arrive. A truck load of diseased oak that he had taken down. Typically difficult to dispose of because of the risk of contaminating other trees in the area. He was so excited when he heard that disposal was $0.00 and he didn''t even have to grind the logs first. Nola was excited for the unique diseases and molds present in the tree. They still technically counted as alive even though the tree was dead, so she sent the bugs to ''defeat'' it. Lots of extra energy for that load because the mold colony was so large, and it counted as our first dungeon defeat of a major delver. "So what is a major delver?" I asked as I tinkered with the newly working solar panels. Nola did a great job putting them up on the old fake ones, but now the wiring didn''t make any sense. Tyler''s panel had a port every 2 square feet, my fake one had one wire port on the whole unit. Even if Nola was absorbing the energy directly I had to something to make it look like it worked normally.
I''m not really sure. I can tell you what it isn''t. A minor delver is something like a bug, or a tiny bird. I''ve killed a few of those, but I stopped because it is a better use of energy to have those creatures defeat my bugs. Huge success bonus relative to their size. A medium delver could be something like a rabbit. There haven''t been many, and I have been leaving them alone. They come and eat some flowers and leave
"And that doesn''t bother you?"
Yes it bothers me, but I get more energy from their successful delve, so I fix it once they are gone.
"So I guess the delver grade has more to do with weight and size than anything? I would have thought people were special, with the thinking and all that."
It would seem like it. I haven''t actively hunted a human yet. Melvin, maybe, if he comes back.
"We are still probably suspect number one if he goes missing."
Maybe you are. I''m just a big dumb garbage lot.
"Shut up" I''m glad her humor recovered. "I just want to not be involved with the police for as long as I can help it" "Hey boss!" Tyler called out to me from the front of the property. Normal people wouldn''t have heard him over the din from the back corner. But I could. Just like I could see two uniformed officers standing next to.
I think we may be cursed.
"I wouldn''t put it past us." I said under my breath as I started jogging to the front
"Hello Officers. What can I do you for. Do for you. I meant do for you" Coming out the gate strong with that one, idiot. "Hello Roy. We have some questions we would like to ask you regarding your whereabouts this past Sunday" They did not look happy to be here. Not surprising. Most normal people hate junk yards. Shit. The equipment we stole. They can''t prove anything, calm down. Just focus on your poker face. Your terrible terrible poker face. "What would you like to know sir?" I said with my best ''not guilty face'' "Hold on here just a minute, is he being detained? He doesn''t have to answer any questions from you. This is a free country." Tyler if that works I am printing you a pound of gold. "He is being questioned. If the questions are not answered he will be detained. Can I get your name sir?" The taller cop asked in response. "I plead the 5th. Fascist" Yeah, Tyler is not gonna be helpful with this one. "Ok bud, can you go help our clients while I talk with the cops. I''ll be right over" Go away. Go away. Go away. Tyler made an exaggerated two fingered ''Watching you'' gesture back at the cops. Not helping man. "Sorry about him. He''s great at his job, just a little intense." I said trying to defuse the situation. "Don''t tell em shit Roy!" He shouted back over at us. I resisted the urge to cringe out of my skin. "So.... Sunday night." I said, hoping to press on and get this over with. "What are you looking to know more about" "Are you the owner of a silver 2015 Honda accord, license plate FTYE370?" Not anymore I''m not. "Yes" "Where is that vehicle now? We have not seen it on property." "My friend is borrowing it." "Can I get this friends name?" The same cop pulled out a note pad and pen in an expectation of writing. "Nola" Technically not a lie. "Last name" Crap. "I don''t know it" Both cops looked at me like I was the biggest liar in the world. Or the biggest idiot. The second one is correct. "You let a woman borrow your car and you don''t know her last name?" "I trust her to bring it back." Also the truth "Besides. Letting people borrow your car isn''t a crime. I''m a free American." Oh god no. Tyler is rubbing off on me. And with that assertion of my rights rather than appeal to their authority, I had officially spent the last of the two officers good will. "Were you present at the Duval Heavy Equipment Yard between midnight and 3 AM?" There is no good way to answer that question. The half second of hesitation was all they needed to end the pleasantries. "Roy Malloy, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent...." I tuned him out. I was going to be pulled off property pretty soon and I needed to make sure Nola didn''t do anything stupid. Mental communication, can''t say anything out loud. Don''t want to go for the insanity plea just yet. Nola, I am going away. Don''t freak out
I can stop this.
But you don''t have to. They have nothing. There is no evidence I was on the property we stole from, and you don''t exist remember. Just a big dumb garbage lot. They are going to question me but they will have to release me. If you fight a cop this will only get worse. The graboid is not big enough to take them on.
I can grow him. I can make others.
And they can call others. I will work this out. Focus on growing. Focus on being the best recycling plant ever with Tyler and Buddy. And I will be back in no time. And see if you can send a message to Tyler. Tell him to find me a lawyer, and print him all the cash he needs to get him paid. That will get me back faster. I was lead into the back seat of the car parked down the block from the gate. It will be ok. You are strong enough to do this. I believe in you
I''m scared. We shouldn''t be separated like this. What if something happens. What if we are pulled together like at your house
It didn''t happen when I left last time. You were fine, and you made a cool friend. Why don''t you use...I should give her a budget this time to avoid overspending like the graboid... 10% of the energy you have right now and make a new friend to keep yourself entertained. Make it complicated. Focus on your project.
I''ll try. I will tell Tyler as soon as he is not in view of the others. I''ll find a way.
Good. I''ll be back soon. You''ll do great... As we drove down the street I felt our connection sever suddenly. We were a lot further away from the dump than I would have expected. Almost 4 blocks. We will have to talk about her rapid growth when I get back. Chapter 17: Side stories Crazy Dave''s Carwash
"Has anyone noticed the bugs getting worse recently? I feel like I''ve been scraping a lot of windshields today." An employee asks his coworkers "It comes and it goes. It''ll be winter soon and then they''ll be dying off by the truckload." Says the most senior man " ''Sides, all these beamers tip nice. Just take the work before we all have to go back to retail hell in a month or two." A third says in response "I mean, sure, but it seems like too much all of a sudden." The first man remarks before getting back to work
The former illegal dumping ground - Mary Burdoc, Tenured professor
"... and over here we have another dicot, or should I say evolving proto dicot, that has a dual root system and leaf pattern completely unknown not only in this area, but maybe the whole world. If I didn''t know better I would say this is an artificial creation. But there are so many!" Mary Burdoc stood pausing her dictation device. She looked over the field that had once been an industrial dumping ground. According to her student tipster this field had, until recently, been a contaminated wasteland. Some city project had come in and swept out the junk and new plants had moved in. As they tend to do. She had made inquiries, but small towns are terrible record keepers for anything that isn''t the next county fair. So she had to estimate the age of the plant life in the area. Based on what she was seeing the plants had been here at least a full season. Maybe two. The tree sprouts were all quite thin, and the ground cover patchy. This lot was likely scraped clean of all life in the clean up before the plants moved back into the hard packed industrial dirt. Pernicious little buggers, always looking for the next free niche. The unique combo of contamination and fertilization from the surrounding farms, and I suppose the former dairy farm as well, lead to several rapid and unique mutations. Wild Carrots and parsnip with dicot and monocot root systems. Dwarf zea mays growing in a bush rather than a vascular stalk. Populus tremuloides that retained its shallow lateralis root system, but grew a tap root as large as the tree itself, and also flowered. Any one of the mutants would be worth publishing. She could probably get all of her graduates term papers with the things in this field. And to think, her student only caught it because of the blue sunflowers. Sunflowers can become purple under normal circumstances, blue was barely anything to write home about. She shoved another seed pod into her sample bag, its shape was reminiscent of a pomegranate. There was plenty to learn here. You just had to be willing to dig a little
Penal work detail off I-25
"There ain''t shit here man! This is bullshit." One of the prisoners shouted at the guard "I don''t care. We are contracted with the city to fill those orange bags, you''re gonna fill em." The officer said while batting away a mosquito "I could eat off this damn road man! There. Is. NoThing. Here!" The prisoner said while turning in a circle with his arms out. "Come on Joe, the young bloods right. City wants a clean road, they got a clean road. We can all go back and say job well done and get away from these damn bugs." An older prisoner tried to reason with the supervisor. "Fill the bags"
NOAA Research center -534 miles away
"Roman, I think someone is messing with the Colorado atmospheric units." One of the interns handed a highlighted page to her supervisor. Anomalis data had popped up yesterday and today. Well outside of expected parameters. And the area was growing. "What do you have here?" Chelsie''s supervisor took the paperwork without looking away from his models. Always so focused on what he''s doing, you could run a parade through his office and he wouldn''t care. Unless that parade could help him make better atmospheric models. "Smog and auto contaminates have dropped logarithmically over the past two days with no precipitation or heavy winds to disperse it." Chelsie said with confidence. "It doesn''t take a lot of wind Chelsie, just the right wind, to throw off the numbers" Roman said dismissively. So many young people in this job were quick to say the sky is falling. But after a long enough time the patterns become easy to recognize "Give it a week and I am sure things will be back within model." "Sir, with all due respect, if this pattern continues whoever is destroying our machines will have infected every station in Colorado by the end of the week at this rate. And it isn''t wind. Your model accounts for a 28.8% variance from weather, we are at 60% and rising" That got Roman''s attention. He finished the line he was working on and pushed his keyboard away. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Up or down?" "Down. A city of 3 million is outputting like a suburb" "And you suspect sabotage?" "Yes. The machines read normally and then all of a sudden the numbers fall off a cliff. They read clean air." She paused, confidence returning. "Should we send out some mobile units to verify?" This could be an opportunity for field work. "No. You aren''t going to tell anyone about this until I make some calls" Roman was pouring over the printed pages now. Dates, times and data variation said something very different to him than to Chelsea. Where she was seeing career advancement, he was seeing career ending manipulation. Maybe even worse, cover up by someone inside or outside the country for an environmental disaster. "This stays with us for now. We''re partners in this, but we need to play it close."
Harry Duval - With his insurance agent
"You are looking at a lot of personal liability here Harry. Your policy only covers 2 million per incident." The agent said to his Irate client "I pay you vultures 30 grand a year. I have 10 million in coverage!" Harry shouted back at his agent "No you have 10 million in aggregate limit coverage. This is a single theft. You are responsible for all losses above the 2 million dollar figure." "But I did everything right. Shouldn''t that count for something?" He asked, entering the bargaining stage. "Not to us, no. But from what I have been told this case has gone Federal. No one wants another Heemeyer. From what I hear they already have two suspects in custody, and your former guard. One of them will crack and then we subrogate back your losses when you sue them" The agent re directed his clients energy out of the office. Recovery from criminals is nearly impossible. By the time court adjourns they''ve injected or snorted everything of value, and there''s nothing to recover. He''d seen it dozens of times. Not quite as bad as this, but still. Harry Duval was ruined.
Tyler''s Perspective
The cop car pulled away with Roy and the problems started immediately. Nola got bent out of shape when her buddy pulled out the gate. The ramp stopped moving and nothing came out processed. We should probably close early today. She''s not in a working mood. I grabbed the tablet looking thing that Roy had on his desk. I was shocked when it turned on at all, and disappointed that it had nothing useful. But I could make it look like it did. "Bad news folks! I have a jamb in the output section. We are gonna need to clear the area so we can do some maintenance." "Hey conocido I still have stuff in there! You ripping me off?" The Latino scrapper at the front of the line was gonna to make himself a problem. Luckily it looked like the other guy at the front was just dumping. "I''ll write you a receipt and we will get you what you are owed as soon as we can re open" "Hell no hombre. I am not trusting you. You pay me for the scrap you stole now or I get the cops back here again to arrest your bitch ass too." Not gonna make it easy on me are you I pulled out my wallet, 200 bucks in the fake 20s Roy had given me to pick up lunch for everyone. This guy will demand more no matter what I offer him, start low. "You had mostly aluminum and steel in that truck. I''ll pay you out. 60 bucks seems fair." "300." "If you can find someone who will pay 300 for a Taco full of steel you better tell the rest of us. That guy can retire off his load" I said, pointing to an overflowing tow behind trailer. Most people were on their way out. I just have to get this guy out of here. And the tourists. "150" "140 and I''ll pay you out now, otherwise I''ll need change" "Deal"
With the gate closed I walked away towards the center. "Nola, can you hear me? Give me a sign if I can help." She didn''t respond. Or maybe she did. I am not sure where the big bug falls in this hierarchy. But he popped his head out next to me and shimmied over top of the ground towards me. All the grace of a fat man falling down the stairs. "Yeah, you can stay about 5 feet back there stinky." I patted both hips. If he got aggressive I could always shoot it. "You got any ideas?" The bug shook his head ''no'' at me. "You in contact with the boss? Nola or Roy?" Another shake "Just checking, can you understand me?" A nod yes Nice. It thinks on its own. That won''t end badly at all. I wish I hadn''t fed my 50 to Nola this morning. "Well you and me are in charge till Roy gets back or Nola gets over it. Deal, partner?" I stuck out my hand. He headbutted it. Yeah, ok. We can be friends.
Somewhere on the internet
-->Guys check out this video. This machine looks like it can process just about anything instantly ->Waow that amzing! I cannt wait to see moar ->Fake ->Free bitcoin from Mr. Beast, Click this link ->Have a little faith man, look at that thing go ->Fake and gay ->really cool fake, but your mom and I just want to let you know that you''re gay ->Nobody feed the trolls ->I wonder if you could crush a car with it, that would be cool to see -> ?? ???? ???? ? ???
Nola''s Perspective
Grow.
Must Grow
He said he would be back
He will be back
I have to be stronger.
I need stronger defenders
10%
10% of what I have now, or what I can earn
What I can earn
The road earns more than the dump ever since I took the big highway
Focus on expansion over all
More highway, more delvers
1 million so far today
2 million by tomorrow
I must grow. Be stronger. Not be separated again
I can feel him inside the station
I can''t get closer
Only roads and medians. No driveways. No parking lots. No buildings.
I''ll be ready
18: Mistakes were made
Roy - Local lockup
I had been in and out of the drunk tank over the past day. Not much happened. Office Friendly would drag me to the interrogation room, ask the same few questions, I''d ask for a public defender, back to the drunk tank. But I did learn something. They have another suspect. One that is ''just about to flip on me''. Aside from Nola I was there alone. And I imagine if they found Nola I wouldn''t be in a jail cell anymore, I''d be under area 51. Whoever the guy is I hope he gets away with it too. It''s not like either of us will be flipping on each other. I hope Nola is doing ok. After we drove away I felt our connection get fainter and fainter. But as I sat there the first few hours I could feel her getting closer rapidly. Based on how close it feels I think she must have stopped at the road right in front of the station, probably remembering my last order...scratch that, request... to leave out parking lots and buildings. Either that or she burned through her material panic growing. That would be a problem, but a solvable one, for when I get out. I tried to send re assurance through the bond, but I am not sure if it took. I didn''t get anything back but the same anxiety I had been getting since the beginning. How long had it been? Had to be close to 2 days by now. I''m not quite sure on the rules, but they have to be getting close to the limit for holding me without seeing a lawyer, right? Officer Friendly is back. Time for more of the same questions I guess.
But he didn''t stick around after dropping me off in the interrogation room this time. Instead I got to see some guy in a suit. This is either much better or much worse. "Hello there. My name is Dave and I am your court appointed public defender. I am sorry to say that the police have chosen to file charges against you and the other two for grand theft auto, conspiracy to commit theft, breaking and entering, and a few other misdemeanors that pale in comparison to the first couple" He gave me a funny look after he looked up from his folder. He continued "That said it looks like their evidence is weak. So far they haven''t got much in the way of evidence against you. Actually most of their suspicion seems to be the result of your association with a known persistent troublemaker. But he does not seem to be charged as part of this crime, so we can get that removed." He looked at me again "I''m sorry have we met before, you look very familiar?" I am not sure I recognize him at all. Maybe he was one of the homeowners taking advantage of the free dumping over the last couple of days? "I run a garbage dump in town, maybe you..." "Garbage! That''s it! Were you on Firecracker trail this past weekend?" He said having a eureka moment. Giving me one in turn "I was. Huh. Small world." I met Dave and his wife while I was towing buddy down the hill. That... actually gives me a good idea for an alibi. I could tell him I was dumping the garbage I collected at the illegal dump. But that didn''t make sense. I have a garbage dump, that just raises more questions. Why would I be illegally dumping when I have a legal dump? Maybe I was there scrapping? That would make some sense for someone in my position. I can run with that. Lets run with that. "Look, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I wasn''t there to steal. I was there trying to clean up the community. Again. As I was saying, I own a dump slash recycling center. I was collecting stuff to test the new processor. There wasn''t much left when I got there." "Well that''s good for our case. Charity work and a legitimate business reason to be in the area. That coupled with the total lack of physical evidence should help us get you out. Will you be able to to prove what you took?" No. Not for real. "Yes. There''s a digital record of what has been processed. Weights, materials and time. I''d need to get back to my site to get it though." I can fake something, have Nola fill a sheet with a car load worth of random data and use that. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. "I will have to talk to someone on getting you out to get that. You don''t present as a flight risk. Home and business locally, no priors. I think I can get you released into my custody. Do you have anything to put up to cover your bail?" "My house, I don''t own it outright, but there''s equity" And I am not going back there anytime soon. "I hope your bail isn''t that large. I was more asking about cash." He said Oh. Whoops. "Ok. I don''t have a lot of cash in the bank. I am heavily invested in my start up. Maybe a few thousand in small bills from customers." I can print a few thousand more when I get back to the dungeon, but I have been doing that a lot. It might get flagged soon with how much I am throwing around. I am gonna have to start charging people when I get back. Start the money laundering process. 20 bucks a head is still a great deal. "Then we may be stuck putting up the house. That gets really expensive for you if you do something stupid. Are you planning on doing something like that?" My lawyer asked. I think he believes me about the excuse. Thank God something is going right. "Absolutely not. I have roots here. I kind of want to stay close." True. As long as Nola was at Melvin Sr''s old dump I was tied to this area. Thats another problem to deal with. I need to get Melvin Jr out of my life. "Do you practice business law at all?"
Tyler- back at the plant
I named the bug Burt. Seeing as how we were buddies now I figured I should stop calling him ''bug''. Plus I thought it was funny, naming him after the best character in the movie. Burt had a couple of spots he could pop in and out of quickly, but everywhere else he had to waddle on top of the ground. I''d have to figure out what that was about when/if Roy gets back. Slows him down too much otherwise. He can''t be an effective guard dog if he can''t move. Nola had been catatonic since Roy left. I threw some food in the pit to see if I could get her going again. ''Food'' food and garbage. No bites. It''s all still sitting in the pit. She wouldn''t be helping. I was also worried about our resident dog man. The shed was locked. And basically invincible. It may look dilapidated, but it pulled the bumper off my van before it so much as moved. luckily there were some small holes in it, for aesthetic reasons, so I sprayed water at him when I could. But I couldn''t get him his medicine. Roy never explained what it was or why he needed it, but he''d missed a few doses already. I hope Roy gets back before things get bad. There was nothing else I could do until Nola woke up. So Burt and I patrolled inside the fence. I only had 2 guns left on me after feeding the rest to Nola. Stupid mistake. Should have kept at least one long gun in my truck for if the shadow government or the lizard people try to steal the core. It would be hard enough to fight them off without the additional handicaps we had. Detection is our worst enemy right now. We stay closed the next 3 days. We stay vigilant. We don''t let any strange people inside our walls.
Verdandi "Buddy" Lakedamon -inside the chemical shed
I was badly dehydrated when I came to. The burn across my whole body was intense. I had never felt anything like it. My armor was gone. And my weapon. But I was untied. Clean. Moderately damp. And in some sort of peasant structure. No, not a peasant structure. They wouldn''t have this much metal. A ruin maybe. The light coming in through the holes made that seem plausible. I tried to sit up. The fog in my brain and the pain in my muscles prevented that from happening. I leaned back on the mat I had woken up on. It was clean and new. Maybe this wasn''t a ruin? Where was that flat faced scrod-like creature I had seen when I came through? .... The Core! It was gone. No no no no no. I shot up, fighting the burning and the fog. I failed. What had happened? I came through... I was hurt. Not hurt like now but.... I looked down. My wounds were gone. Not even scars remained. How? Healing magic? If this world had magics that was a good sign, I could find allies. But first the core. I had come through the portal, I had seen the scrod thing... and I gave the core to it. I thought I was dying. Blast. I need to get it back. I crawled over to the door of the ruin, a small journey but a hard one. Locked. So I am a prisoner after all. "itedow domasi ipon rahemid ti?" What gibberish is this? I turned to look. The scrod thing was looking at me through the hole in the wall. "Unlock the door, we need to talk" My voice sounded weak compared to what I was expecting. Dry and without any energy. I received a spray of water in the face as a reply. I will make it pay for that. Just as soon as I can sit up without being dizzy. The water was nice though. Cool and clean. I licked the remaining drops off my muzzle, trying to sate my thirst. The water helped, but I needed more. I didn''t have anything left in me to pursue it. I slumped against the floor again. Sleep was calling. Chapter 19: Freeeeeeeedom! Roy
It took another half a day for Dave to talk me out of jail or file paperwork. I''m not really sure what he did. Not important. I''m sure he''ll let me know how much trouble I''m in later. For now we were milling around the lobby while Dave talked with reception. The good news was that he was willing to give me a ride back home. Or, I suppose to be more accurate, the core. Dave doesn''t need the specifics on what I call home. We can take a tour of the facilities and I can talk to him about coming on as our lawyer. He seemed interested back in holding. But before I go on a car ride with him I want to speak with Nola. She is right outside the station on the road buzzing. I can feel it getting stronger, she knows I''m getting out and is excited as well as anxious. She''ll have plenty to talk about. It will be awkward to have that conversations two feet away from the lawyer. "Dave can I have a second to get a snack at the gas station, prison food was... not great" I can get away from him, have the conversation and have a quick snack. I can grab a few for Nola too. A little coming home present. "I hear that. If the coffee is anything to go by I would definitely prefer to eat anything else. I''ll meet you over there and we can go see your site. Just give me a minute to finish up some paperwork" "No hurry. Do you want anything?" I asked trying to not look like I was in a hurry to leave "I''ll pass. I''m full of terrible coffee." I controlled my speed as I headed out into the first sunlight I''d seen in 3 days. Bright and sunny day, perfect weather. 3 double rows of cars and a sidewalk separated me and Nola. A fact our bond made entirely too clear. I needed to move or she''s gonna explode. I almost jogged through the parking lot, the connection getting stronger with every step. It wasn''t just the road leading to the station. We were surrounded. More than that. Rings within rings. Side streets and main streets. Everything around us felt like dungeon. How much had she grown? It''s only been 3 days? Did Tyler get some sort of garbage contract while I was out? No, this is too much for matter absorption. This would be... just un imaginable amounts of matter. I stepped to the sidewalk and hit the cross walk button. After I did I stepped to the edge of sidewalk and touched one toe to the road. Connection re established. It felt like I had been punched in the face. My head whipped back but I focused on keeping my foot in place. I should really be more prepared for this feeling. The mental whiplash keeps happening every time we do something different. I really wish I had listened to that tutorial.
I am so glad you are back!
"Me too. You feeling ok? I could feel how you felt the whole time. It wasn''t good"
I feel better now that you are back. I.. felt like I was not all there when you left. Like I was going away.
"Nola.." I started to say
And it''s not co dependence. We are linked. It''s not like with people. I only started being after we linked minds, I stop being when you leave. I don''t like it, and I am afraid if you are gone too far or too long that I will go away. Also, you have a walk signal.
I looked up and saw the signal on. Thanks. "I don''t want to leave. We will work together to make sure that we don''t have any more of these separations. I''ve got a lawyer now, that should help with any future legal stuff. We can figure out anything that comes next." I got to the sidewalk on the other side and realized a problem with that last statement.
We both need to work on planning ahead. I survived 3 days, just be quick on the trip. We have more to discuss. And grab me a slice of their pizza. I''ve only ever gotten crumbs and boxes.
"Will do" I broke the connection and moved quickly into the store. My selections inside were mostly random, except for the pizza. I came out as fast as I could and made the connection again. I was ready for another punch in the face, but this time it was more of a love tap as we re connected. Good to know. Time and or distance affects the reconnection.
Aaaand he''s back. It is much better on short trips.
"Agreed" I said as we waited for the light to change again. I pulled the pizza slice out of the bag. A quick look around showed no one obvious looking at us. So I dropped it on the street. It disappeared into the ground without even slowing down. Still not used to that. Even though it makes less sense I still expect the ripples. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
I told you that was a smart way to absorb things. And you said that looked weird too.
"It does look weird. Magic is weird. Was the pizza any good?
I''ve had better. But it is nice to put a slice to the crumbs.
"We will get something good for today to celebrate. But for now we need to talk about you. How big are you now?
See for yourself. Then I''ll tell you
I expanded my mind to sense the limits of my dungeon. Unlike before where I had a nice box with a small patch of road out front, now.. well now I had a web. Miles and miles of web. Big thick strings on highways shined the brightest in my mind. Hundreds of miles worth in either direction. We might even be outside state lines at this point.
We are. Cheyenne to Vegas, and everything in between. And still growing. Keep looking
After the highways there were the major city streets coming out from highways. I might not know all the city names, but I knew for sure where each and every one was and how they were laid out. There were gaps, everywhere. Spots where the streets just ended as far as the dungeon was concerned. Why is that?
Neighborhoods, blighted areas, low density agriculture areas. They aren''t worth as much as a well traveled road, so I de prioritized them. Closer to the core I filled in more, but for now I am focusing on getting all the commuter delvers I can.
"They''re worth a lot?"
Yes. I can hit them with bugs the whole time they are driving. And not just flying ones, no one even notices the ones they hit with their wheels.
"And you only have to give them a little bit of energy potion in return"
I stopped doing that actually. Too expensive, and most of the modern delvers are happier with the current delver reward. Guess!
Happier with the reward than a magical energy boost? Well, I guess they''d have to notice and know that was related to the dungeon to like it.. What else do we have? Oh no. "You didn''t" Cash. She''s giving out cash
I did for a little bit, but that would be too obvious. I stopped doing that pretty quickly when people started talking. I do still leave the occasional quarter in the cars though.
Ok so it is something less obvious, but still valuable to people. What else do we have?
Gas, diesel and electric charge. That one''s the best. They never notice the charge go up and its the cheapest to give out.
"Nola, people are still gonna notice that." My head started spinning with all the possible un intended consequences of this reward
Its usually less than a gallon. Nobody has put it together yet. Or at least they haven''t said so while delving.
Well that''s good. Wait. What does usually mean?
The longer the drive, the longer the delve. The longer the delve, the bigger the reward gets.
"I bet long haul truckers are having a field day."
They are. The longest ones still get the energy boost. I know filling an empty tank would be suspicions.
I was almost afraid to ask the next question. "How many delvers are you getting a day"
Every day is different with how I have been growing. Today I had a little over 8 million. Only about 3.5 million unique ones.
Wow. An unsuccessful delve is 300 pounds of stuff, a successful delve is somewhere near 1000. If we are no longer blowing most of our earnings on energy gifts for successful delves.... Even at the low end that is 2 billion pounds of stuff
2.8 billion, and a good amount of the delves were successful. They got some monster kills and traveled far. We got about 5 billion tons worth, but I spent all of it expanding and such
"That''s insane" "What is?" Shit, my lawyer. "I was reading the label on this can." I held up the can from my bag. Coke. Quick come up with something. Ummm
39 grams added sugar. It''s as much as 3 doughnuts, 1.5 apples, 5 slices of bread or a full sized snicker bar
Why do you know this?
There are a Lot of labels in the garbage.
Way to go. you can be my nutritionist. "There''s a lot of sugar in this. More than the candy" I said to Dave "Something''s gonna kill you, might as well chose something fun. You ready to go see your site?" "Absolutely" 20: Homecoming Roy
My lawyer was ready to go, even if I wasn''t, so we are going to have to cut this conversation short. There was still a lot we haven''t discussed, but I am not sure if Dave is ready to be read in to the whole story. Really, I just met the guy after all. I have no idea how he would react to the truth. Odds are he won''t take it as well as Tyler did. Odds are I won''t be that lucky again. I broke the connection with Nola and followed Dave to the car. We''d be back in touch after we got out of the parking lot. If Dave isn''t a talker, I can absentmindedly stare out the window while secretly having a conversation about everything else. If not, which seems more likely based on our first interaction, then I guess catchup has to wait. "So what makes a garbage man take his work home with him? When we first met on the mountain I thought....." I guess that answers that question. Silent car ride is out of the question.
Dave and I made some polite small talk as we drove. I tried to practice splitting my attention between the dungeon and Dave, but I am not good at multi tasking. I will have to have Tyler help me practice that. Have him test me on trivia or tic tac toe while trying to expand my mind into the dungeon. That seems like a fun mental strengthening exercise.
You and I can battle some bugs while you and Tyler play chess. He has been trying to get Burt to play with him
"Who the heck is Burt?" I asked "Who is who now?" Dave said in response. See this is the sort of thing I need to work on. I can''t keep doing this "Sorry, I am remembering what the cops said. My supposed accomplice. They never told me who Burt was." That should work Dave gave me a look "Neither of the other suspects were named Burt, as far as I saw. They may have been playing this one closer to the chest if there''s a 4th. Not surprising, considering how much equipment was stolen" "Yeah, must be that. How much was stolen, after all? I just heard it was a bunch of large equipment." I said, genuinely curious. "About 8 million worth. The insurance companies are still bickering about valuing used equipment, but it turned out to be quite a bit." If I had been drinking anything now would be the time for a spit take. "Well at least insurance is covering it, that''s good right?" I said in response "Yeah. They''ll make everyone whole just like they should." Dave said, dripping with sarcasm. "You don''t have a lot of experience with insurance do you?" He said "Most of what I do seems to be suing them for failing to live up to their end of the deal. If they cover half the losses I''d be shocked. That poor guy who owns the yard is going to take the worst of it" Good to know, I guess. Add that to the list of problems to solve. Take care of the yard owner, insurance companies and bring the equipment back. Nola should be able to do something that big by now, right?
Yes. And much bigger. I''ll stop interrupting, I promise
Ok. Find some rural places along your roads, we''ll talk later. "Poor guy" I said to Dave. I hoped the pause was as short as it felt for me. "Yes indeed." Dave said contemplatively. "Oh, look, I can see your place. Doors closed. Shouldn''t you guys be operating today?" "Yes we should. There must have been some tech issues while I was out. Experimental machinery, its finicky. Sometimes it breaks down for no reason." Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Hey!
That was directed at Dave, not you. Doors are unlocked right?
They are now.
Good, see if you can get a message to Tyler to act normal. Or at least Ty normal. The gate opened automatically before us and we drove right in.
Tyler
Bendy straws are the best thing Joseph Friedman ever invented. I couldn''t get in to feed and water the dog man, but the straws and the little rust holes made that a non issue. He still doesn''t seem happy with me. I don''t speak a word of alien, but I can tell when someone is threatening me. I''d open the door if I could Buddy. I''ve always wanted to fist fight an alien. And punching down at Burt seems unfair. Since we''re friends and all that. The gate was secure. The perimeter is being patrolled by Burt. And Nola just recently took in the stuff in the pit. Maybe she''s getting better. If she does it again this afternoon we may be able to open up in a limited capacity. Get her some more goods and delvers. I was absently tipping and playing with the succulent on Roy''s desk when I was dive tackled from behind. I came off my feet and face planted into the gravel driveway. Ow. Clawed hands were wrapped around my waist. I guess Buddy found a way out. And he''s cruising for some southern hospitality. I threw my head back with full force at the same time as my right elbow. A quick one- two- crunch came in reply. And Buddy released his hold on me. I kicked up to get my legs back under me and threw another elbow into his ribs before shucking him off my back. You had all the advantage Buddy, and you wasted it. The back of my skull was wet, my blood or his wasn''t clear yet. But It was time to get him under control. Reaching towards my waistband while backpedaling I saw him roll away to create distance and jump completely to his feet with out so much as a hand touch to the ground. Good core strength on the guy. Got to watch out for a punch. It takes about 1.5 seconds for me to draw under normal circumstances. I feel like I was moving faster in this case, adrenaline doing its thing, but 1 second is still a long time in a fight. It takes even more to get on target. I had just barely gotten my gun out and level when he raked his claws around my non dominate arm and pushed them down and away from his body. A qucik second strike with a closed fist on my wrist loosed the pistol from my grasp and sent it flying. My knee came up to create some distance, maybe slow him down. But the connection was bad. I glanced off the outside of the hip, he turned into it and it forced me back off my feet and onto my back. Not good. But the hip strike wasn''t entirely useless. His stance was wide and he had made tactical error of being in kicking range as he repositioned. I targeted the family jewels. Whether he has em or not, it should un balance him enough to give me a moment to get back up. He has em. But he recovers quickly. I got just enough time to get up and start a haymaker. Start, but not finish. He turned through the punch and got a hold of my arm. He turned my wrist over and took control of that side. I did not have good leverage to counter, so I was reduced to throwing punches behind my own shoulder with my non dominate hand. Not powerful, but it can''t be comfortable. And then Burt came in clutch with a distraction. We weren''t fighting over one of his holes, but he had waddled his fat ass on top of the dirt over to us and latched on to Buddy''s leg. The distraction causes him to loosen his grip for just a second, but it is enough to rip my arm out of his hands. I keep the turn going and use the momentum to slam my non dominate fist into his solar plexus. The punch and Burt together put him on his back. I reached for my belt buckle knife and pulled it out. A quick jab to the head again as I knelt on top of him, holding the knife to his eye. I don''t speak alien, and he doesn''t speak American, but I have to try. Roy went to the trouble of keeping the guy alive "Yield" I shouted at him. The word might not have meant much, but he saw his position. He made the smart decision that second, and the fight went out of him. Victory. Earth one, Alien zero. Burt didn''t let go, but he definitely loosened up a tad. He knew we were the victors. I wish I could give him a high five. Now we just have to figure out a way to tie him back up now that he''s escaped the shed. "What the hell is that" I heard a new, very agitated, voice say behind me. I kept the pressure and the knife in place as I turned to look. Some body was standing next to a sedan inside the gate. The main gate was open. How? I put a lock and a chain on that thing, on the inside too. And now there''s some tweed wearing idiot in our spot. I still had my ankle piece. I pulled an shouted "Get your hands up and get on your knees" He quickly made to comply, just as I saw Roy get out of the car. Oops. Chapter 21: You aint seen nothing yet Chaos. I come into the site and it is total freaking chaos. Ty and the graboid are currently fighting Buddy, who is apparently awake and hostile now. Dave jambs the breaks and puts the car in park. Bolting out of the seat to get a better look at the unfolding fight before I can stop him. "Dave wait a second" I shout after him futilely I whisper quietly while I struggle to get the seatbelt off. Of course technology chooses now to act up "Nola, what the hell? You knew we were pulling in"
This wasn''t happening literally 30 seconds ago. Don''t blame me for this.
She sounded just as stressed as I was. "What the hell is that?" Dave shouted pointing at either Buddy or the bug. It could be either, or both. Probably both. His eyes were bugging out of his skull. Got the seatbelt off. I pushed open the door and got out as quickly as I could. But not before Tyler pointed a gun at our new lawyer. Wonderful. Wonderful start to a totally professional relationship. "Get your hands up and get on your knees" Tyler shouted, with Dave quickly complying. When Tyler looked from Dave to me, he put together that he messed up. "Tyler, drop it. Nola, Door. Dave put your hands down and come with me. I think there are some things we need to talk about." The doors slammed closed behind us eliciting a frightened jump and shrike from Dave. "What is going on? What are you going to do to me?" He asked, hands still raised from his kneeling position. "Nothing, you''re fine. We are all fine. We are gonna deal with Buddy real quick and then I promise I will explain everything." I jogged over the short distance to my outdoor desk where Buddy and Tyler were waiting. They both looked rough. "Ty, what happened. Why''d he attack you?" I asked him trying to keep the anger out of my voice. "You''ll need to ask him that boss. I did my best to feed him and water him while you were out but he has been angry since he woke up." Tyler said with a shrug. "It''s not like I can ask him, babbling in his gibberish alien language." Buddy took that momentary break in conversation to speak up "You. Scrod face creature that just came in. How do you speak my language?" He seemed out of breath. "Yeah, like that gobldeygook he just did. I can''t make heads or tails of it. And I know a fair few con langs" Tyler said in response to Buddy. So I guess Nola is only translating for the dungeon master. "Ty, I can understand him. Nola, can you grow some restraints so we can talk more calmly." The vines started growing around Buddy''s arms and waist immediately. Tyler shifted position to let the vines pass him by but didn''t get off till he was fully tied down. "You can understand me down there?" I asked Buddy from my position out of reach. Tyler got up and started rubbing his shoulder. He looked like he was a little beat up. "You should go check your head, it looks like you are bleeding" I said to him. "Not my blood." Tyler said in response. "Check anyway. For me. I want to talk to Buddy" "If ya want some time alone just ask. Come on Burt." Tyler reached down and picked up the bug, draping him over his shoulders like the worlds ugliest feather boa. I guess that solves the mystery on who Burt is. I turned back to our prisoner. He was starring me down. He opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it. "Why did you attack Tyler?" I asked "I will assume that is my jailer? I was attempting to escape him and find something that was stolen from me." He said to me. Does he not recognize me? "I''ll assume the thing you are looking for is a crystal about the size of my thumb?" I asked back Buddy eyed me up and down, frowning the whole time "What do you know of it?" He started wiggling one of his hands to try and escape his bonds. Not happening. Nola?
Already on it.
Two more vines grew out at Buddy''s elbows, synching down and sealing him even further to the ground. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "You don''t recognize me at all do you? We met a week ago, you gave me the crystal to protect and passed out. Ringing any bells?" I asked "I don''t ring bells, I am a knight. And no I don''t recognize you. All you scrods look the same to me." Rude. But that explains a few things "Dude we are different colors, even if faces are hard that should be obvious" He didn''t look me in the eyes on that one. Fine, moving on. "We''ll circle back to that one. We are trying to help. I kept you safe and worked on healing you basically as soon as you got here. You weren''t a prisoner until you started acting like a violent sociopath. You absolutely are now." "You may want to talk with your jailor about that. I was certainly a prisoner before you arrived" "I''ll talk with him. Later. Now we need to talk about the crystal. I''m not giving it back. She''s very happy here." I hope.
Could be better, but I''ll take this over Buddy''s home.
"She?" Identifying emotion is hard on alien faces, but I would bet anything that was confusion. It certainly sounded like confusion when he asked the question. "Yes, she. She goes by Nola" "I''ve seen plenty of fools name their weapons. I guess it would make sense for you to name one as powerful as this. I can understand your urge to use such a tool for your local squabbles. But this is bigger than those. The weapon must be kept out of the hands of the dark ones." Holy shit, did he just say the dark ones? Like Tyler was talking about? If he and his conspiracy talk turns out to be right I will never recover mentally. "I am trying to keep out of local squabbles as much as I can. I have mostly been growing Nola so we can face whatever hurt you." Buddy nodded in appreciation at that. "The things that hurt me are called magni. They aren''t the threat so much as an easy tool for the dark ones." He paused, a bit of concern darkening his face. "How have you been growing the c.. Nola...? Ritual? Combat? ....sacrifices?" I bet he''s hoping I don''t say sacrifices. Its weird how matter absorption didn''t come up in the top three. "I''ve been feeding her. Food, material, the buildings that used to be on this plot. We''ve also had a good amount of delvers killing bugs." Buddy turned and looked towards Tyler and ''Burt''. "How many?" he asked "Bugs? Thousands. Probably more." I don''t think I should tell him the size of our organization just yet. "Not that. How many of your kin have died to feed the core?" Oh. He''s going in a different direction than I was expecting with that "None as far as I am aware. We try not to put anything too dangerous out there for people." Buddy sighed at that, relaxing in his restraints. "Do you think I''m some sort of monster or something? I helped you after all." I hope I don''t give off that vibe. "Many people... would not be so .. restrained with this kind of power. Worlds can be unmade by would-be dictators. There are legends of people doing evil as soon as they finish learning from and bonding with the crystal. I... There is always a risk I created a monster by handing over the crystal. You refusing to give it back seems like a bad sign when I don''t know you" "Well it''s a good thing I skipped the tutorial then" I said jokingly "And lets introduce ourselves then. I''m called Roy. I''ve been calling you Buddy after... doesn''t matter... what''s your real name?" "You skipped the tutorial? How?" Buddy sputtered. "Why? How have you been able to do anything?" "I didn''t skip the whole thing. I got far enough to learn how to make a health potion. That''s how you are still alive by the way. I stopped the tutorial so I could heal you." "Health potion? What are you talking about? You stopped the instruction to help me? I...ugh." He took a deep breath. I bet he''s as frustrated by my decision making as my lawyer is. Oh shit. I should check on Dave. "My name is Verdandi Lakedamon, Knight of the Lugaid-Polyxene Custodial order. From the incorporated world of Vahin. I thank you for saving my life. I pledge to you on my honor not to attack you or your jailer Teelahr again." Nola, how fast can you re restrain him if he''s lying?
Very quickly. 3 seconds or less. I will send a message to Burt too. I''ll have him stay right below. I''ll have to expand the dungeon under you, but I have the extra energy.
Do it The vines started retracting shortly after. "You are on probation Verdany..Verdandi. Behave yourself of I am tying you back up" Buddy..Verdandi.. Got to his feet slower than he could have, likely to keep a non threatening appearance. He''s a bit taller standing up. Probably 6''6" if I were to bet. I was looking up at him. 3 seconds started to feel like a long time to wait for new restraints. "It''s a very impressive growth spell you have there. There''s no vines around for you to draw from and you have so much control over them." V seemed impressed by the vines, too bad those were all Nola. "The vines are all Nola. I just told her to let ya go." I said with a dismissive wave. Verdandi froze at that. His eyes darted around us looking for something. "We are...within the crystals domain...now?" "Yes. She''s not going to attack unless you do" I said in response. The other dungeon masters must be something else. "Have you ever met other crystal users? What are they doing that has you so scared of me?" "Many things." He looked around at the walls, back to the flower at the center of the yard. "Your domain stops at the walls yes? The flower holding the core and the strongest challenges for those who can reach it?" He bobs his head appreciatively. "And I have been asleep for only 7 days? An impressive feat. Especially considering your moral stand. I think working together we could possibly stand against the dark ones here. A bit more growth would be ideal, but this is a good start. This is already a larger domain than half the cores on worlds I have visited, albeit much simpler." He said confidently, and with a bit of pride at having picked a capable dungeon master "You may want to sit down for this next part buddy." I said Chapter 22: Informative conversations Tyler
I walked away with Burt over to my truck. I had my emergency kit in there and I could give myself a quick once over. There are also beef sticks in there. And I think Burt would like one for a job well done. It was definitely a bit of a workout to carry him over there. I guess he''s somewhere around a buck fifty right now. If he keeps growing he''s gonna be too big to pick up soon. Getting him off my shoulders was also a bit of a chore. All that dead weight, it was hard not to drop him in a heap. I opened the door and pulled the kit onto the seat. Treat first, then medi check. Ripping the first beef stick open with my teeth I broke it in half and threw it at Burt. It bounced off his face. I don''t think catch is his sport. But he could smell it, and he went and got it with his weird tongue mouth things. And started begging for more. "This half is mine. You did good though." He bumped into my leg. If he had eyes he''d be doing the puppy dog thing right now. "Fine, go and get it you fat lard" I said, throwing my stick to the fence line. Burt waddled over the ground till he found one of his holes and disappeared into it, emerging almost immediately by the fence to grab it. He''s fast when he wants to be. I pulled open the medical kit in my pack and assessed myself in the drivers side mirror. But of a scrape along my chin, but I''m still pretty. The worst of it looked like the hand, but even then not too bad. Some broken skin with ground in dirt, but I didn''t see exposed fat, bone, or muscles. I started flushing the wound before binding it. It would probably scar if I didn''t get stitches, but I think it would make a gnarly scar. I can say its from something like a cougar. I wound the gauze in place and taped it down. Now for the back of my head. I poured the sterile solution down the top of my head to clean the area before inspection. I think I cut myself on Buddy''s teeth. 6 little punctures bleeding like a son-of-bitch. Egh. That one will be annoying. Some clotting powder and another bandage will handle it for now. I went to pack up the bloody cloth and the empties into the trash bag before remembering where I was, and unceremoniously dumped the lot on the ground. Waste not, want not. Nola can use all that. I looked back towards the entrance. The new guy was still sitting where we left him. I should apologize for pointing a gun at him. Normies aren''t a big fan. I should also probably explain to him what''s going on. He''s gonna have to know the whole story if he''s gonna be working with us. I cleaned my hands off, no reason to have bloody hands for a first meeting. Its already gonna be a lot for him. I headed over to him, if he saw me coming he wasn''t responding yet. Eyes are open, but nobody is home. Roy was still talking with Buddy, it looks like he let him up. I''ll have to keep an eye on that. I tapped my front pocket. My ankle piece was more readily accessible there. My main gun was still in the dirt in no mans land...I''ll get it later. Between Roy and Nola, Buddy doesn''t have a chance. Plus new guy probably wouldn''t appreciate me getting a gun before talking to him. He might see that as a threat. "Hey there my man! Are you doing ok?" I called out as I was within 10 feet of the new guy. He finally looked up and noticed me. He looked ready to cry. "I just wanted ta come over and say I''m sorry for earlier. I didn''t know you and the situation was... intense. We''re all good now though. Not gonna happen again" I held out my hand to shake/give him a hand to his feet. "What is happening right now? What is that? Just...what is that?" He said quietly. He didn''t take my hand. "Hey man, I know its weird. I was freaked out the first time I saw the secret world too. But it gets better. What''s your name man?" I asked, sitting down next to him. Roy probably hoped to lead this guy in slow, but we''re past that now. He went in the deep end and he''s sinking. He needs to know the truth of the secret war or hes gonna go crazy. "David. Dave. I go by Dave. I''m a lawyer. I was coming here with a client to see a recycling center" He was still far away when he said it. I need to get him out of this mindset. Lawyers. Gross. Not a fan. But right now he''s just a guy, that needs to know what''s happening. I snapped a few times to get him to focus on me. There we go, now we''re coming back to earth "Dave, its a lot to take in but I can help you out. I can explain everything you saw and more. Listen up and I promise it will start to make sense soon." He lit up at that. He sat up a little straighter, ready to take it all in. "It all started in 1912, with the sinking of the Titanic. Well, that''s not technically true.. It started at the formation of the universe. But lots of those events don''t matter to you yet. I''ll come back to those. America''s involvement in the shadow war started with the deliberate sinking of the Titanic to kill off some influential people who opposed the creation of the federal reserve. The captain of the ship had been possessed by dark striders. And while the forces of good fought against them, you might know them as "angels", the ship was still destroyed by a particle beam....."
Roy and Verdandi
"And why would I want to sit down?" Verdandi said to me. "It''s the thing that is said in my country when you are about to give someone shocking news" I said in response. He nodded and sat before me cross legged, waiting to hear whatever it was I was about to say. He seemed confused by the cultural tradition, but didn''t question it. "How big is the biggest... crystal domain... you''ve heard of?" Time for some information gathering before I give out any secrets. "The largest? There are many it could be. I would guess the dead city of Des''a. More than 400 thousand inhabitants were sacrificed by their mad king to create an impenetrable fortress of monsters. From there he went onto conquer most of the continent of Nals before another crystal user rallied and empowered warriors to stop him. There are still legends about that told around campfires to scare recruits." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Well that''s dark. But not the question. How big was it? Size wise." I asked. No wonder he didn''t like being in a dungeon, apparently wiping out cities is a thing. "Nearly 3 kilometers on all sides. Buildings, roads, rivers and fields. All taken and consumed by him." Nola, you''re better at math than me. What''s that in miles? Also where are you in comparison.
1.864 miles. 3.47 square miles, not accounting for any air space. And it''s tiny. I have 23,000 miles of lanes, 10 ft wide each on average. I''m 479.5 square miles. And growing. And I didn''t have to wipe out whole cities to do it.
Yes yes I''m very proud of you. Keep up the good work. "I skipped the tutorial, I am not sure the full capabilities of a dungeon. Does size matter all that much?" I asked. "Absolutely. You have total control of your domain within. Water can flow fresh and clean out of every river within your domain, or be poison. The weather can be as hot or as cold as you would like. The ground can become fertile beyond natural capabilities, or itself become a predator. The air itself can change to your whim. In the right hands a crystal domain can create the strongest nations in the universe; wealthy, healthy and powerful. Cores can be used to quickly terraform whole worlds. In the wrong hands...incorporated worlds have fallen to darkness." "Terrifying. And fighting a large dungeon?" I asked to follow up. The implication of what I just learned, Nola and I are really gonna have to be careful. "Very difficult. warriors have to reach the core to destroy it, usually at the cost of their own lives. Even with the best magical equipment the volatility of the dungeon in distress makes it nearly impossible to reach, let alone fight a core. The core grows in power from those trying to fight it, so the longer the fight lasts, the more powerful the foe. Most dungeons cannot be brought down without the aid of another opposing core master" Verdandi said definitively. I guess that''s good news for us. We have some options if anyone comes after us. Also, I wonder if anyone has ever tried nuking one? That seems like a fast way to destroy a core.
I''m sure I don''t want to find out.
I wasn''t talking about you. "That''s all very interesting, but how does a dungeon get enough energy to do all that? Nola and I have been working and the biggest thing we''ve gotten is Burt over there." I gestured over to where Burt was but didn''t see him. I did see Tyler talking to Dave though. I should probably check on that. "You said you haven''t killed, yes? The strongest energy available is from the consumption of a sapient mind. Delving by skilled warriors is a great substitute, but never the same." He looked down in shame before continuing "Even many the brightest of the white cores got their start with... sacrifices. Unintentional or intentional. Even now, under-skilled warriors that fall within those old fortresses... are used to fuel them." He shook his head. I''m glad we both disagreed with the practice. "Hard pass on that method. We are growing just fine as is. We''ll just increase the bug amount to get more energy." I started rubbing the top of my head as I started thinking. Who would have thought converting all of my towns trash into brand new consumer goods was thinking too small? "I want to get ready for whoever attacked you. Without killing, how can I do that. We''ve got space, we''ve got delvers and we have a large supply of matter we can bring in any time." "You''ve mentioned that before. What matter are you referring to? Matter could refer to anything, it is the building blocks of all things. What matter could you have in such abundance worthy of feeding to the core." He asked me. I have a feeling I am about to wander into a cultural faux pas. Never stopped me before, not stopping me now. "Garbage" I said matter of factly. "Tons and tons of garbage" Yeah, he didn''t like that. He opened his mouth to speak before closing it again. While remaining seated he turned away from me shaking his head and clenching his fists. He took a deep breath before turning back and starting to speak again. "You fed the most powerful known weapon in the universe....trash? Refuse from commoners? What''s next, sewage?" "Hey. You said other white cores can change rivers, I can''t be the first one to use it for things like this?" I said in response "Yes. You can be. No one with sense would use a weapon like this for something so.. soo.. mundane!" He nearly shouted. I think only the fear of Nola''s vines kept him from jumping up and throttling me.
I don''t see what he is so worked up about. I like it. There''s so much to learn in the garbage. I''m basically an archeologist for the near past! I can do what I want, and I want to keep doing that. I''m a powerful super weapon after all.
That must be one of those things we would have learned to hate in the tutorial "We''ll I''m different. It seems to be working for me." "Yes, you are a lovely master of a garbage core." He said in response
You can hit him or I can.
"We aren''t going to hit him. This is America, free speech. Even when he''s insulting a world changing superweapon." I said out loud with a rye smile. He just got done talking about how powerful she is and says all that? He''s a bit of an idiot. He''ll fit in well on this crew. "Who are you talking to?" "Nola. She''s a little unhappy at being called a garbage core. Processing plant is the preferred name." I said back to him, emphasizing plant as the important word. "You daft little alien. What are you talking about? The core isn''t a person even if you name it. It doesn''t think, it doesn''t prefer. It is the extension of the core master, nothing more." I sent the equivalent of a mental shrug to Nola, she sent one back. "Gonna have to disagree with you on that one. We both are."
Yeah, you tell him! Also, please? Just one quick hit from one of my vines. I already have one growing behind him.
No. Not yet "Either the other core master''s aren''t giving you the whole story or Nola is different. In either case, she''s thinking and I''d like you to stop being a dick about it. Or she will probably injure you" I gestured to the 1 foot tall plant directly behind him that was growing quickly. It had a spiky goathead looking seed pod on top. That would probably hurt. "And we are on the same side. You are gonna have to work with me And Nola to get through this. Now, I need to go talk to Dave and Tyler before Tyler says something off. Can I trust you to wait here?" Nola was done with the conversation, and a bit of anger was bleeding back towards me through the bond. A minuet to cool off would be ideal. The two of us can work on separating out emotions. "I will remain as you command, core master. I will control my tongue in the future." Well at least Buddy can admit when he''s being a dick. Or know when he''s out matched. Or both. Also I have to stop calling him Buddy. Why does his name have to be so weird. Chapter 23: Legal maneuvers Roy
He''s rude.
Yeah, little bit. But you heard what he was saying about other dungeons. Having someone as friendly as you probably wasn''t something he expected.
I know, but still. I don''t like him.
Well we are stuck with him. He''s got more info on dungeons than either of us, and he knows what''s after him. That''s useful. I looked at Tyler and Dave. They were deep into some conversation and did not notice me walking up. "...And that''s when the CIA, in cooperation with the lizard liege assassinated Kennedy" Oh this is not good. "Hey Tyler!" I injected myself into the conversation. I''ve heard him when he gets going. It is a trip. It has to be 10 times worse when you are actually primed to believe him. "Yes boss." He said turning to me. He looked a little disappointed I had interrupted his college level lecture on conspiracies. "I need you to keep an eye on Buddy, real name Verdandi, while I talk to Dave. What weapons do you want?" That aught to distract him. ".50 BMG rifle, 660 grain rounds with tungsten heads, 2 full spare mags, a Ka-bar and my Kevlar battle vest with pouches and my grenades." That did not take him a second to come up with. He was just ready to go with that. "Nola, you got that?"
I put it on the other side of the car for him. No need to freak out Dave any more than he already is.
"Good plan. Ty, the stuff is on the other side of the car. Get it and go over to Buddy. Oh, Nola! Throw in 2 healing potions. One for each of em." Tyler almost skipped away to the other side of the car. Like a kid at Christmas when it came to military hardware. I have no idea how he plans to use a .50 at close range, but I hope he doesn''t use it at all. "So, Dave." I took a moment to suck in a breath and let out a cope laugh "There''s a few things we need to talk about." "Demons are real and we live in hell" He said back in a monotone response. Oh boy, Tyler did a number on you. "So, Tyler is a lot. And he isn''t exactly an expert on the situation. Just someone who... I thought could roll with it easier than most. I mean he believed everything he told you before he met the alien." I said gesturing over my shoulder and Verdandi I got a pleading look in response. I''m really unhappy that Ty broke my lawyer. "What...what is really real then?" Dave asked "We don''t know a lot. But here''s the basics. Nola is a dungeon core, what that is doesn''t matter. She can process matter into other matter. I was using her for recycling. We can turn garbage into anything and change the world. It''s cool. The dog man over there is called Verdandi, he''s an alien. He''s been in a coma so we don''t know much about him. He was freaked out about being in a new place and attacked when I opened the doors. They were all linked. Something attacked budd... Verdandi before he came to earth, we are getting ready for it. Maybe its whatever organization Tyler was talking about, maybe its just some competing faction from Verdandi''s world." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. "What about the worm.? That thing looks like a movie monster. That can''t be real." "It is real, but it''s magic. You are gonna have to accept that as a thing going forward. There''s a lot of magic going on." Dave was sweaty. Maybe I could show a benevolent magic and calm him down a bit more. "I''m gonna show you something. Nola? Can you please make an ice pack, cold, and a big glass of water for Dave please." A literal silver platter rose out of the ground next to Dave with some ice packs and a glass of water. It was a lot slower than normal, I think Nola was also trying not to freak him out. Good plan Nola Dave grabbed the water and took a long shallow sip from the glass. "Everything I believed in. No, everything I''ve ever done, it all seems so...." "All that still matters. All that is still true. We''re just adding some extras to the top of it." I hope that sounds re assuring. "Can I ask some questions?" Dave said while putting the glass back on the tray. He took one of the ice packs and put it on the top of his head, going back for a second that he kept held in his hands. he kneaded it nervously. "Absolutely, that''s what I am here for" I said my smile getting a little bigger "You are the one that stole everything from that yard aren''t you?" Ouch, bad pivot there. Ok, we can deal with this. "Yes. Full disclosure it was an accident. I intended to put everything back, but the core wasn''t strong enough at that time. It is now. We are gonna put it all back soon." Dave started to put his lawyer face back on at that "And the business issue you were having, that Melvin character you told me about, he was just a lie you made up to get me here?"
I wish
"No, unfortunately that was real. Under different circumstances I would have not told you about any of the weird stuff until after you had dealt with that one." I said. Dealing with Melvin is on the top of my to-do list actually. I want him out of my life as soon as possible. "I really need to get him out of our hair before he becomes a bigger problem." "You can''t just put it all back. You''ll get Harry in trouble if you do that." Dave said, likely to himself based on his body language "Harry?" I asked in response "The yard you robbed. That''s the owner. If you put everything back the feds will look at him for insurance fraud, conspiracy and any number of other things. We also have to get the other two innocent men out of prison." Yes. That''s exactly what we need to do. "And your machine..."
Really, you too Dave? I was hoping to like you
Not now. We will tell him later "... it can really make matter. Like the water bottle and the ice packs? That''s not a trick?" Everyone always comes back to that. Come on Dave you''ve seen the alien and the graboid, believe in magic "As long as matter comes in, yes. Hence the dump idea" I said, gesturing around us. Dave put the ice packs down and stood up. "I am going back to my firm. I am going to tell all my other clients I will be dropping them. I have a feeling you are about to monopolize my time. When I get back here you are going to tell me every detail about every crime you have committed, are currently committing, or are planning to commit. We are going to come up with a legal strategy on how to keep this" he gestured around with exasperation "Business... from imploding." He made a move towards his car and stopped. "And I want a body armor set like Tyler. Gun too. Something smaller and more forgiving than the monster he''s holding. Survival gear." Nola pushed out what he asked for immediately. The gun she picked for Dave looked Sci-Fi. I kinda want one too. "Are you ok?" I asked as he loaded his new equipment into his car. "No. But I have a task. I can work with that and get through this that way." He threw the last of the equipment in his back seat and asked for a tarp. We gave him one "I''m going to be back tomorrow. I expect you All to be ready to talk legal strategy." He slammed the car door a little bit too hard. "I''m gonna go home and pet my dog, kiss my wife, and try to forgive you for bringing me into this. I would have been happier not knowing." There''s no good way to respond to someone saying that to you. So I just nodded. Nola got the door open as Dave accelerated till his car fish tailed out of the lot. I walked up and closed the door behind him. We were not ready to open for business again. Chapter 24: Planning ahead Roy
I''m not ready to open back up just yet, are you?
I''m good for now. I''m still growing with the highways.
Good. Then we are gonna use this time to try and get ahead of our problems for once. Can you put out a table with a chair for each of us... and Burt. Notebooks. Snacks. And some shade. We may be here a while Tyler and Buddy are facing off against each other again. Nobody is making a move, but I think they both want to go for round two. I hope Verdandi doesn''t go for it. Tyler will tear him in half with that gun at close range "We''re on the same side guys. And we have some work to do." I called out. The table had formed already, so I directed them to it. Oh look at that, Nola even made a couch with a ramp for Burt.
We both know a chair would have been funny, but not really useful. I don''t think Burt will have much to say. He''s not made that smart.
Supposedly neither are you, I''m not writing anything off just yet.
...fair enough.
Verdandi and Tyler took seats at the opposite ends of the round table. Whether to keep distance or keep staring each other down I can''t tell. They were both still bleeding and scowling. But we are nipping this in the bud now. "Both of you! Can you understand me?" I asked "I''ve always been able to understand you boss." And "I can understand you core master" came out simultaneously. "Good. Then I am only gonna say this once. Whatever the two of you have going on, we end it now. If you need to stand up and hit each other till you find out who''s top dog, lets get it done. But after that you put em away and work together. Under me." Tyler gave me a solemn nod and shifted the gun off his back and to the ground. Verdandi also unclenched and relaxed back into the chair. I noticed he was sitting on it sideways. Oh right, tail. "What in the seven hells is a dog?" Verdandi said to himself quietly. I''m going to assume that''s rhetorical and move on. "Can you give V a message for me?" Tyler asked. "Depends." I said in reply "Tell him he''s a strong warrior and I am happy to fight beside him against the forces of darkness." Ty said. I relayed the message and Verdandi asked me to return another "He says he apologizes for his dishonorable attack on a superior warrior and will gladly fight beside you as well." Tyler took the moment to walk over to the other side of the table and extend his hand for a shake. V looked at it and then at me. "Am I expected to do something here?" "Take his hand in yours and shake it up and down." Verdandi rose from his chair and took Tyler''s hand, and then shook it like he was trying to mix paint in a can. A for effort buddy. Everyone went back to their seats. "First things first, why didn''t you pass out the health potion?" I turned to Tyler "Didn''t find the opportunity." He said as he reached into his battle pouch and pulled both of them out. He slid one of them to Verdandi while uncorking his and downing it in a go. "Tastes like ass." He said with a grimace before throwing his empty at the pit. He came up way short, but Nola got it anyway Verdandi''s eyes got wide. "Is this what you were calling a health potion?" He asked me. "Yes...?" I answered hesitantly. "I guess you could, technically, call it that. And... you said you gave me one of these already?" He was holding the vial like it was some sort of fragile treasure "We gave you a couple." I said He nodded. "That would explain the sleeping and the burning then. You have no idea what this is." That wasn''t a question, that was a declaration directed at me. "No, I''m not entirely sure. But Nola called it a health potion and it worked didn''t it?" Tyler chose that moment to interject. "Hey now! What did I just drink?" He looked a bit nervous. "Nola said it was a health potion." I said in response. "You should tell your Second that it''s a bit more than that. This.." He said holding up the vial, "..Is a ''best self'' potion. It extends your best years and brings your body to the peak of its capabilities. Your man is likely going to live 20 years longer than men of his age, and be stronger the whole time" "What did you just make me drink Roy? That was a lot of words coming outta him." "It is a health potion, its just not only a health potion. Turns out you''re gonna live a little longer" I said to Tyler "Live to see the tercentenary of the USA or see the heat death of the universe?" There is a lot of range between those two Ty. "He says 20 years more than men of your age." "Alright. That''s not so bad then. Does it stack?" "Verdandi, you''ve had more than one. Are you going to live hundreds of years longer?" "I don''t rightly know. No one I''ve met has ever been rich or foolhardy enough to use more than 2 on one person." He said while pushing the potion back to me. "The burning I am feeling everywhere is manna burn. Too much magical energy inside me. I''ll live, but I have likely reduced the effectiveness of the further potions. It''s also what put me into that deep sleep. Your body can only handle so much." "He says drinking too much reduces potency and increases side effects. So we are gonna pass" But I''ll take 20 more years as my best self. If Verdandi isn''t using it, I will. I grab the vial and prepare to down it in one go. If Tyler, the man who will eat MRE''s, road kill, and expired canned food thinks it tastes bad; I want to get it down fast. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Oh god it burns going down. "Ergh" I said before coughing a few times. "The reason we are all here is we want to get ahead of problems rather than react to them. Things have been moving faster than I am used to, we are gonna slow down and get things back under control." "Tyler, you were here for a few days on your own. I''ll hear from you first." "The wall is crap. It''s corrugated metal on rotten posts. Won''t stop trucks, ladders or cutting tools. Anything larger than a sidearm will go right through. There''s no cover or concealment to make a stand from and no place to hide weapons. If we''re gonna fight back against anything, the whole place needs a makeover. Also, Burt needs more holes and trails. He can''t move on top fast enough to get to anybody" Burt huffed in agreement at that. Well one of those is easy to fix. Slow up on the expansion outside and give us about 6 feet of depth inside.
Done.
"That fast?" I asked her
I''m growing very fast. It''s rush hour. Lots of delvers
"Alright. Burt has his new path. The whole area is prepped for him. The rest of it is harder. There''s only so much defense we can put up before we start not working as a dump" "Well that''s good. Why do we need to stay here at all. You hate Melvin, he''s gonna be a problem for us. Let''s find a better spot. It''s not like Nola needs the garbage any more."
Need, no. But I want it. I like Roy''s plan of cleaning up the city and recycling everything. I just think he''s thinking too small.
"He can''t hear you Nola. But she wants to keep the trash collection going. I kinda sold her on the dream of closed loop recycling." I paused a beat. "But we don''t have to keep the core here. We can pick another place. The core doesn''t need to be in the flower to absorb trash."
This is true. I''ve been cleaning up the highways state wide.
"This still seems like some sort of primitive sacrilege" Verdandi said under his breath. "Tyler, your task is to find a plot of land, preferably one that''s for sale from sane people. Then you have to design me your prepper fantasy fortress." I said to Tyler Have you ever seen a kid enter a toy store? Have you then told that child that he or she could have everything they could fit in the cart? That was Tyler. He was still here physically, but he left the conversation completely. Mad scribbling in his notebook had begun in earnest That''s all we''re getting out of him today. I turned to Burt and Verdandi "So, he''s gonna be busy in his own head for a bit. You can''t reach him when he gets like this. Verdandi, when he''s done I''d like you to look it over before we build. You''ve fought different things than Tyler has. Fill in the gaps in his knowledge. But until then we have to deal with the two of you.. no, three of you. Nola, you are part of this to." "We have 3 team members with very limited communication abilities. If things get hard, I want everyone to understand each other. Nola can only speak to me. Verdandi can speak to everyone but only Nola and I understand. Burt, honestly I am not sure about you. You seem to understand Tyler, right?" I asked Burt nodded in reply. "What about Verdandi, can you understand him?" I asked Another nod yes. "And Nola can communicate directly. Does he say anything back?"
...I kind of feel like a jerk now.
"What does that mean?"
He can talk back. I just never listened. He says hello.
"See, this is what I am talking about. We need to figure out how to get things working out better. So, to recap; Burt can communicate only with Nola well. Nola can communicate only with me. Verdandi, you can communicate with me, be heard by Nola and maybe we can work out some hand signals between you, Tyler and Burt." I took a breath. "There''s too many bottle necks in that. Nola, Burt is magic right? Any reason you can''t give him vocal chords? Also, can you do the translation conduit for anyone other than me?
I don''t know, and I don''t know. But I am willing to try.
Burt huffed from his couch.
And so is Burt.
"I am not sure of the core''s ability to translate, but I have trained at learning languages before. If we could find a way to compare my tongue to yours I am sure I could pick it up quickly." Verdandi said to me "English is a pain to learn, and I am a native speaker. I am happy to help you try, but I think I''d like to take the easy route if we can." But in the meantime he''s right. We should try something. "We can get a dictionary and you and I can go line by line to make a translation book. Nola, do you have any dictionaries out of the garbage?"
Someone threw out an English to Turkish dictionary, but there were a lot of pages missing. It can be a good start.
"It can be a good start." I turned back to Verdandi, he had another problem, so did Burt too, but Burt seemed happy in the dirt. I doubt Verdandi would feel the same. "You don''t look like us." I said, pointing my thumb back and forth between myself and the oblivious Tyler. "On your world are there other species living among you? Sapient ones, I mean." "Yes, but they are rare. Most pass through rather than ''live among us''. I take it from your question that is not so here." "Correct" "So my appearance, it presents a danger not just to me, but to the secrecy of the core." "It''s why the shed has no windows." "What should I do then? You know this world better than me." "Two thoughts. We can put you in a chemical suit for when you are walking around. If we get a face mask that is a little elongated we can hide your muzzle. But that will be hot, and difficult to use outside of an industrial setting like this one. Other than that, we could try a burka. It''s meant for women, and we''d probably have to practice angling your face down to hide your nose, but it would allow you to go out in public as long as you don''t speak to anyone." "So our options are limited and inadequate." He seems like he''s not a fan of either option. "Little bit. But I will brainstorm more. We can work with those for now. When you aren''t dressed up and people are around we will need to hide you in the shed."
Cole is approaching the gate with a ladder. He looks determined
"Crap. Verdandi, go to the shed. Burt, dive. Nola, eat the table. Tyler, we have guests." Nola, remind me who Cole is
The reporter you promised to think about giving an exclusive to. And then you went to jail and abandoned me. I guess he got impatient.
"He''s motivated. Maybe we should hire him." I said. Tyler was out of his trance and holding his .50 again. "Is this the type of guest that needs party favors, or should I give this to Nola?" "How about you keep it and stay out of sight." "If violence is expected, can I retrieve my weapon as well?" I am not sure if your weapon is magic yet. No "Ty, give him your knife and a pistol. Verdandi, take that for now and stay out of site. Don''t do anything till Tyler does."
Cole
The video of the plant was my most popular ever. I had doubled my subscribers in the past day. And then the damn place had to close down. The people wanted more. They were gonna get more. An all access tour revealing all the little secrets. I had a safety vest and hard hat on. It really is true what they say, safety gear is an all access backstage pass. No one stopped me even though I am carrying a ladder in daylight. I pushed through the weeds off to the side of the gate and placed down my ladder. Exclusive here I come. I straddled the 8 foot fence before preparing to drop down. No one around. Too bad there weren''t boxes around to shorten the fall. I tweaked my ankle a little bit when I landed. I hopped in place for a moment, resisting the urge to swear and give away my position. I unzipped the backpack and started pulling out my camera when I heard someone speak from behind me. I jumped and dropped the camera at the sound. "Exactly how did you plan on getting out of here?" Oh no. I''m about to be the main character of a true crime podcast. Chapter 25: Meet the Press Roy, Tyler, Verdandi, Nola, and Burt
I heard the edge of the ladder click against the wall outside. Cole is really about to break in. Bold. I am also realizing how right Tyler was about cover and concealment in this place. From the top of the wall you can see almost everything not directly opposite you and behind the flower. Tyler was hiding there. Verdandi chose to hide inside his shed. Door slightly cracked with the barrel of the pistol peaking out. I had to extend my mind to find Burt, but he was in position too. Hiding tucked against the wall below the dirt. Leaving just me hanging out. Not a lot nearby.
I can help with that.
Under the ground?
Yup.
eugh.
I''ll leave you some air holes. Maybe.
ha ha you are soooo funny.
Now you know how I feel when you talk. ;)
Did you just... send a winking emoji... to my brain?
Wait till I figure out pictures.
That is ominous.
Whiner.
She said to me as I sunk into the ground. That was weird. There was still dirt around me, but I could pass through it. So could the air. Thanks for the air holes Nola. I''m gonna throw that one in the magic pile and stop thinking about it. I can just practice expanding my mind for a little bit. I saw Burt moving back and forth through the dirt. Fast. He was also passing through it rather and digging. That is interesting. I guess digging would be more difficult for speed, and within the dungeon the laws of physics are more of a list of suggestions than hard and fast rules. The real dirt still felt solid and real. I was standing on some since Nola only expanded our territory down 6 more feet. While I could move effortlessly through the dirt of the dungeon the real stuff was just as hard and compact as the dirt should be. I tried picking at it with my fingers. It was hard packed clay, and why wouldn''t it be, it probably was before. But I was able to get a nail on the edge of a rock or slightly harder clump and pulled it loose. It was small, maybe a little smaller than palm sized and thin. But I had it. It came loose. It was almost impossible to move. I forced it anyway. The magic dirt of the dungeon parted with some effort on my part and I lifted my non dungeon rock up to eye level. I had my phone in my pocket. I pulled it out of my pocket and could move it through the dungeon dirt just like I could move my body through it. I want to play with this a bit. Time to do the hammer and feather experiment. I struggled to get the stone even with the phone out in front of me. When they were both in position I turned my wrist over and dropped both at the same time. Expanding my mind to see both. The stone was a void. Like the truck Tyler had been driving was. But wait a second. I looked down. I could ''see'' the dirt below me.
I know you weren''t focusing on it, but the stone turned all void-y after you claimed it. Before that it was just a normal stone.
I could feel the edge of the ladder against the wall, but I couldn''t feel Cole yet. I''m gonna get the experiment done and the two of us can analyze the data later. If we ever catch a moment to take a break. I focused on the void/stone more than the phone. That one just felt like a part of the dungeon, similar to how I was. My aura pressing back against the dungeon and interacting with it cooperatively. I guess that''s the linkage, with Tyler and and Verdandi the dungeon was fighting against them and their auras, and getting energy from it.
I''m not trying to fight them. I''m not acting against them at all. They just seem to be acted upon, and act upon me, as long as they are here. Everything not part of me does.
Weird I dropped the stone and the phone. The phone fell like it was falling through the air and clattered against the hardened dirt at the bottom. The stone stayed where it was. Still a void. At least for a second. As I moved my hand away I started to feel it change. It wasn''t foreign anymore. It was delver garbage. Abandoned equipment. Nola, can you absorb this now?
I can.
My awareness was still focused on the stone so I got to see what it looks like when Nola absorbs something from inside. The dungeon energy attacked the stone like like white blood cells, or fire ants. Surrounding it on all sides and tearing off little pieces. The microscopic sheds moved slightly away from the stone and then were enveloped by dungeon energy, flashing briefly as they were converted, and then they were gone. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. All that may sound like it was a slow process, but it was not. Near instant actually. If I hadn''t been focusing my awareness the stone would have just ''poofed'' away in front of me. Then Cole''s hand hit the top of the wall. That.. That felt different from a normal delve aura from the junk men and scrappers. It tasted red, if that makes any sense.
Nope. But I understand completely.
Do you think it''s because of his intentions?
It''s the only thing that makes sense
Have you ever felt anything like it
Not in here, but I feel it all the time on the highway.
We will have to do some more experiments.
I still wish some idiot hadn''t skipped the tutorial. That would make these questions so much easier
Yea, but then you''d be a non thinking tool if Buddy was right. And that wouldn''t be as fun for either of us. I got a suppressed twinge of sadness through the bond before Nola cut it off. Struck a nerve there. Sorry
If I wasn''t thinking you''d be all alone with your problems, and you''d be so doomed by now. So clearly it is a better deal for you than me, stuck cleaning up your messes
There was a pause
:)
I''m glad we can see the humor in this
You should greet our new invader
Can you make me rise out silently when his back is turned?
Easy. One dramatic entrance coming up.
Cole
The sound of the camera hitting the ground sounded expensive. And normally that would be the worst thing that happened in a day. But I had just been caught trespassing by the property owner who had appeared out of thin air when I turned around. "Exactly how did you plan on getting out of here?" Oh no. I''m about to be the main character of a true crime podcast. "I.. Um... I...Hi I''m Cole" I jumbled that pretty bad "We''ve met. Why are you breaking into my place?" Yeah, I know we''ve met. I''m just hoping I didn''t get remembered. Curse my memorable made for fame personality. "I''m not breaking in" I said. Maybe I can gaslight him. The owner looked up at my ladder, back to me, and then the gate. My powers of gaslighting are not that strong. I could tell from his face. He pinched the bridge of his nose before mumbling something I couldn''t hear. "Back when we met you said you''d do anything for the story. I guess you weren''t kidding." He signed before continuing. "I never checked out your channel, but I am going to assume people liked your video if you are back." "Most popular I''ve ever had. You went viral. Almost a million hits. But A lot of people are calling it fake. I was hoping to get more footage to counteract the haters. For you. I want to defend your business. Do you have a press liaison?" "Yeah, I think we just got one. And he is going to come back tomorrow to meet the team. Camera off until after. Then we can help you make the best video about this place you can. We''ve needed a media person for a while, and you are here, so congrats." "YEs! You won''t be disappointed. But why not now, area is clear and I won''t be in the way...." He cut me off "We aren''t ready for visitors right now. The machine is broken and we need to do some repairs. The language we''ll be using probably won''t be ''TV G'' for your program. We''d hate to give you a strike." That seems like bullshit. IF it is broken where are the workers, where are the tools? Why did he sneak up on me. Ah, who cares. He''s giving me my break. But something smells like a story. "What time should I be back? I''m free all day." I''ll explore more tomorrow, just seal the deal for the exclusive. "I might just need you for all of it. 6AM. Get here and come in the gate this time. We''ll have breakfast for everyone. We''ll go over.. how everything works. Take your ladder with you when you go." "I''ll see you then, and of course I''ll be getting that." I have my secret birds eye camera on it, I want to see how you snuck up on me. "I''ll see you then Cole" The owner said as he extended a guiding arm and lead me to the gate. "Don''t forget your bag." Wait, what? When did he pick that up. It was behind me. "Thanks. I can''t wait for tomorrow, you won''t be disappointed." I said He smiled but it didn''t reach his eyes. I get that look a lot as a reporter. Who cares, exclusive. I grabbed my ladder off the wall and headed back to my car. I can''t wait to see what it saw back at home.
Nola
Why was that delve so profitable for Cole? He didn''t do anything. He just left.
He''ll be back tomorrow. Roy can talk to him about it then. No need to stir up dram now. Roy has enough on his mind already.
Cole - hours later, back at home
That''s not possible. None of this is possible Holy cow, I was in a lot of danger there. My first thought about the true crime podcast was spot freaking on. So far I had found 2 gun barrels in the video, one of them looked like a military grade fully semi automatic machine gun! Normal people don''t have those. And he was pointing at me. Me! I''m press. Don''t they know the rules? That''s gotta be in the Geneva conventions somewhere. And! And. That isn''t even the weirdest part. The owner popped up out of the ground like a daisy. I couldn''t see the trap door, even going frame by frame. So it had to be hidden well. Or something else I was leaning to something else. Because of the bug. If I didn''t know better, I''d say it was a thing from the movie Tremors. But it was real. It grabbed my camera and put it in the owners hands while my back was turned. I loaded the full video to a dead man''s drive. I titled it "If I go missing investigate the recycling center near Larton". If I am not back by tomorrow night this goes live. Hell, maybe it goes live anyway. We will see what kind of offer they make me. I should protect myself though. I''ve got it. I can come in livestreaming the outside. Camera will be off for the team meeting, but it will let them know that people know where I am. That can work. I am gonna get so famous for breaking this story. 26: Cram session "I don''t like him. Somethin''s off." Tyler said after I walked back from the gate. "Maybe. But we need a press person for what is about to happen and apparently we are already famous. Ty, I doubt V is gonna be working youtube anytime soon, so I want you to look him up and find out what people are saying." He nodded at that and walked to his truck, I guess his phone was probably still in his little faraday bag. Why even have a cell phone if you don''t keep it on you? Verdandi, who had been patiently waiting for me to finish with Tyler, came up next. He turned the gun around and handed it to me grip side first. "Woah there, don''t ever point the barrel back at yourself, that''s dangerous." I said while carefully taking the gun back, pointing the danger end away from any of my people. "Tyler explained the off button to me when he passed it off." Off button? Oh, the safety. "Still, things fail. 1st rule of guns is never point it at something you aren''t willing to destroy....also how did Tyler explain anything to you?" I asked. Had Nola fixed our language issue already?
Nope. Haven''t even started
"Grunting, pointing and waving. This weapon is different than I have seen, but not unique to this world. Explosive based weaponry is quite common actually." He looked at the gun again before reaching for the knife in his belt. He handed that one to me handle first as well. I didn''t reprimand him for the knife like I did with the gun. "I do have a question though. If you will accept one." "Of course, we are teammates in protecting Nola." For a man without eyebrows he did the ''Rock eyebrow'' pretty well. "You don''t seem to understand how powerful ''Nola'' is, but for now that isn''t the issue. The metal work on that weapon, both weapons actually, it was better than I expected." Verdandi said with some hesitation. "I didn''t really hear a question in that." I said back. "There wasn''t one. I feel there is no way to ask this politely, but your society seems to pride itself on... directness... unlike mine. So I will endeavor to do likewise. What level of technology does this nation have? So far I have assumed primitive from what I have seen; a forest, a ruin and this dungeon. None of it is impressive. None of it... is on the level of the gun. Your clothing was an anomaly, but I assumed that was from the dungeon or that you were rich to have woven fabric of that skill level." "We''re space age man. This place looks like a ruin because it is supposed to pass for a dump, a place where we put garbage for processing. That''s why everything is rusty." "Space age?" He asked. I guess they aren''t that far. Ok, I will have to explain that. But First. Nola can you find some examples of some high tech stuff that''s been thrown out. 5 or 6 things or so. "Space age. We used technology, not magic, to send a man to the moon. That big glowing thing you can see at night. We have car...horseless carriages. Flying machines that can take people across the ocean in a day. Hell, the phone I have on me is talking to a satellite, probably. I don''t actually know how it works. This place, it''s not representative of my world." I took a beat. Last time I spoke to him about Nola I hadn''t gotten to the big news. But I made a decision to trust him, I''m sticking to it. Time to tell him how big this dungeon really is. "And we have a lot of people here. This world is home to 8 billion humans. Millions of them in this state alone. And, thanks to Nola taking over some roads, most of them have become un knowing delvers." Verdandi tensed up again. "You are bigger than this yard then. You asked about the largest dungeon, Des''a. You and your Nola are larger. You must be." The gears were turning with the implication, if Des''a was able to conquer a world with three miles, how much damage could I do with mine. "How much have you grown in the 8 days since you took possession of the crystal?" This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. "450 square miles" I said
Actually it''s closer to 510. 1.3k kilometers. I''ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Should I be filling in in this state or expand out on the highways more?
Highways. Aim for California. That will get you the most bang for your buck. We can get the rest faster once you are done. We''ll have more options then. "Nola just informed me its really 510 square miles, 1300 square kilometers and growing. We plan to take over all the major roads so we can grow faster. If what you said is true we will be the most powerful dungeon in the universe before the end of the month. This wouldn''t have been possible without our world being high tech. Millions of people use the roads every day." It feels good to tell the truth. I''m sure he will have plenty to say about how I am miss using Nola, but I''ll live. He didn''t say anything though. He dropped to his knees and prostrated himself on the ground before me. Ok, stop that. "Get up. Please. That''s not a thing we do here. Not to garbage men." I said to Verdandi. I bent down to pull him up by the arm. He got unsteadily to his feet. "I have already pledged to serve. I will continue to do so to the best of my ability. But you have unwritten knowledge said to be immutable. And you have not begun to exercise your power. You are the most powerful creature on this or any world that is known. And you are busy worrying about children climbing your walls and minor lords with claims to land plots? You could unseat kings and councils!" "Clearly you have never met an American bureaucrat. Those guys can never be fired." I said in jest. I know what he meant "Plus I am not a ''rule the world from my dooms day prepper base'' kinda guy. Too much paperwork. I just want to make people''s lives a little better and the earth a little cleaner. Just that would be a big accomplishment." Absolute power corrupts, but hopefully not when it goes un used. I managed to mess up just a little bit of power, so I''m gonna stay here till I get the hang of it. "You are insane. But at least you are insane in a way that doesn''t end bloodlines. If you want to play at being insignificant, I will be here to serve. I wish you every success in your endeavors. Let us go and become the best bin man your world has ever seen" Verdandi started a strange clipped yipping as he walked away. I could be wrong, but I think he was laughing. Rude. Verdandi went over to Tyler and mimed that he would like a task. I am glad they are getting along better now. I had a task I had to get to though. Dave wanted to know everything we had done, were doing and were planning to do. Specifically he had referenced criminality, but with how badly I had been faking my way through this I am just going to assume it''s all criminal and let the lawyer sort it out. I will have no problem paying him thanks to Nola. Oh yeah, that''s another crime. This is probably going to be a long list.
I sat in a repaired copy of an executive chair that someone had thrown out before I went to prison with a note book and pen for the next hour. I wrote out everything I could think of The issue with Melvin. The fact I was gonna force Zion and the other processors out of business The fact I had been printing money The heist and my arrest for it The innocents in jail and in debt because of it Patents for a tech that doesn''t exist Taxes. Oh I am not looking forward to that Cole and our internet fame. Maybe we should have told him to come by After we met with our lawyer. Too late now And so many others. Not to mention all the things I didn''t know I didn''t know. I''m sure Dave is also putting together a list of things I have been doing wrong. While I was looking through Tyler''s law books for other things I may have stumbled into. I haven''t studied this hard since I got out of school. Focus was hard then too. Tyler and Verdandi left me alone. For the most part they had been working with the dictionary Nola gave them. Mostly on nouns by the look of things. Ty asks for a thing, says a word, points to it and then Verdandi says his version. I don''t know how effective it will be but at least I have space to work. Nola and Burt had been working together too. Nola was working to see if she could get him to speak in a way we could hear. Burt was happy about that. I think. He did a little wiggle that looked happy. I wish them luck. I spoke to Nola about her new scion. The one I had said she could make back when I was getting arrested. Turns out that when I went away she started to forget things. She remembered when I came back, but it hadn''t been a priority. She just focused on growing. She insisted that she was gonna hold me to 10% though. What does 10% of a mega dungeon turn into? Something big I''d bet. I hope Tyler finds us a better place for it to roam in. It will be hard otherwise Hey! you are letting your mind wander again. Read the criminal codes. Finish filling out the notebook. Dave will be back tomorrow and we need to be ready. Even if we have to work through the night. Speaking of working through the night, maybe we have enough extra to get one of those magic coffees. Or we could get some regular coffees delivered. Nola?
Shouldn''t you be focusing
Darn it. Foiled again.