Chapter 15
Upon waking I felt deep shame for giving in to weakness and despair the prior night. I hadn't acted like that since I was a child.
Telling myself the last few weeks had been extremely stressful and that last night had been all of that stress boiling over, I lightly slapped my face with both hands and let it go.
I had to move forward and stop looking back. Whatever will be, will be. Crying about it changes nothing.
Checking the instruments in the cockpit as well as the view screens, I found not much had changed during my sleep.
“Toby, did anything happen while I was asleep?”
Toby immediately began to fill me in on every single detail that had happened around the CALIPSO as well as an extremely detailed accounting of all repairs done during the night.
His accounting was in fact too detailed. He even told me about a flock of small birds that had landed on a small tree's branches nearby during the night.
Eventually, I cut Toby off and explained I did not need every single detail, but only required the more important and to the point information. The robot had trouble understanding the difference between important and unimportant, but with a little time and a few explanations from me, he seemed to better understand my desires.
"Repair progress is following the estimated time frame. No enemy contacts or core beasts have been spotted on sensors."
That was good. No news was good news at this point.
It was still dark outside, but I could see light beginning to peek over the horizon. I decided now would be the best time to move. Sitting here would not be a smart decision. I was still far too close the site of the base's destruction.
Other people would come and investigate eventually. Their search wouldn't be limited to the crater alone.
Choosing a direction to move took some thought. I couldn't move west and directly towards my home City. That would put me in the path of any forces that would sortie from the city and investigate the explosion. The blast must have been visible from the city.
Thinking about the city and its proximity to the blast, I worried that the radiation from the blast may affect the city.
I asked Toby to run estimates on whether the city would be affected or not. The prognosis was good. He estimated that with the direction of the wind and its speed most of the radioactive dust would be blown further inland and not toward the coastline.
After some deep thinking, I decided to head south. There were multiple reasons for my decision.
Moving west or east were not good options. West led me back to the site of the explosion. East put me in the path of any forces sent from the city.
I struck North from my options when I remembered that the helicopters had come from that direction. It was possible the good Earl had more reinforcements in that direction.
That left south as my only real option. Checking the map I found that there were no cities directly south of my position. There were some to the southeast but the closest one was about 180 km away.
While Toby maneuvered the Calipso through the broken and craggy terrain and avoided any soft ground, I studied the map.
Toby brought us south while I asked him more questions about the alterations done to my body. I'd been too distraught last night to ask any further questions.
Toby answered with the same chipper attitude as always and I was happy to learn that my body now possessed a very high resistance to radiation, parasites, certain poisons, and disease.
Knowing my food and water would run out eventually, I also asked Toby if I could drink contaminated water or eat non-treated core beast meat.
“It is impossible to give an exact answer due to the variability of the possible scenarios. The answer would change depending on the exact type of contaminants present in the water as well as the type of core beast meat eaten.
While your body has increased resistance to contaminated water and food, it is still recommended to purify all the water you drink and treat all meat consumed.
In the absence of the ability to decontaminate food and water I highly recommended to at least examine all food and water thoroughly with the sensors of the calipso.
I really don't recommend eating whatever you find on the ground buddy. It's not good for your belly!”
I let his sudden over-familiarity slide. I was getting used to it. It was random and odd but seemed hard programmed into the AI. It wasn't worth the effort of trying to change it.
With the problem of food and water being answered, I moved on to new questions.
Based on what project details had been stored in Toby's mind, I also healed at a faster rate and required less sleep. He informed me the condition of my body should improve over time, but the exact speed and nature of these improvements could not be perfectly estimated.
One of the questions I asked Toby was about my eyes. They had been burning for almost a full day now. They also itched horribly. I thought it was just the stress and lack of sleep causing it, but I want sure about that any more.
"The nanites inside your body are altering and enhancing your eyes slowly. Due to the delicate nature of human eyes, the nanites must do the work cautiously. Don't worry buddy. Your eyes will be better than new soon!"
With further questioning, I was surprised to learn toby could answer to the exact specifics of what the nanites would do to my eyes. The information was not top secret, though he couldn't tell me exactly how they would do it.
“The nanites are altering your eyes to better see in low light situations, as well as give them the ability to sense thermal radiation. Pretty cool, right?!"
I didn't know whether to be happy or disturbed. Night and heat vision? At least it would be useful. A younger me would probably think the alterations were very cool. Sort of like the X-ray vision I had once wished for as a kid.
I swear the childish wish was innocent enough. I absolutely swear I had no ulterior motives... None at all.
One of the most comforting pieces of information Toby gave me was that the nanites were programmed to avoid changing the physical appearance of my humanity as much as possible.
It appears their creator was not intent on creating a monster.
We moved south very slowly, though our progress was much quicker than the first time passing through this area.
Looking at the map and estimating how long it would take to get through this area of labyrinth-like low cliffs and jutting sections of Rock, I came up with a personal estimation of two days. Toby's estimate closely matched mine.
This area of low broken labyrinth-like cliffs was long and stretched out. When our ill-fated party of knights and scavengers passed through the area we had traveled its thinnest section.
My decision to travel South had forced me to cross a long stretch of the area. I wasn't upset and was actually happy with the path.
The topography and the presence of the sandworms forced our rate of travel to a crawl in comparison to the armor's top speed, but it also provided a lot of cover and camouflage to avoid being spotted by long-range observers.
Due to the presence of sandworms, it also added the benefit of likely being an area that other core beasts would avoid. This entire area appeared to be the domain of sandworms and I guessed other core beasts would avoid the dangerous and disgusting things.
Sandworms while extremely dangerous due to their subterranean attack methods, were easy to avoid once you understood the danger. They were beasts of ambush and didn't seem to move from their underground nests.
As such this area actually provided the perfect cover for me and my armor. I would be less likely to be attacked by random core beasts during the night or day. All I had to do was pay attention to our path and avoid any possible sandworm ambush locations.
Toby was in control of the armor and I could have left the choice of paths up to him completely, but I did not feel comfortable putting my life completely in the robotic mind's “hands”. Machines make mistakes where humans wouldn't. Or were they called errors?
Our travel was actually pretty uneventful. Besides firing questions at Toby as they came to mind, watching the path ahead, and trying a piece of gray-brown protein bar that tasted like moist paper, there was not much else to do in the cramped cockpit.
Deciding to use my time efficiently I asked Toby to begin teaching me the controls for the armor. I couldn't leave it in his control forever. The sooner I learned how to control it myself the better.
It was ridiculously complicated.
Moving the legs and arms in a robotic and stilted fashion was not overly complicated.
Keeping balance as well as the finer and more dexterous movements was far more complicated, however.
Every other system and function on the armor was also very complicated. There seem to be hundreds of buttons in the cockpit. The joysticks that sprang out with a click of a button alone had a few dozen buttons on them. They seem to control hand, finger, and arm finer movements.
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Toby offered to activated a simulation mode but I denied it for now. Activating the simulation would basically block my ability to see what was happening outside from moment to moment. I currently did not trust toby enough to control the armor without keeping an eye on him.
I dedicated a general outline and list of all the controls and buttons to my head while watching Toby's actions for any mistakes that could get me killed.
My ability to memorize things and multitask had definitely been improved since my alterations. The current tasks proved that to me quite well.
The day dragged on and eventually, the sun began to dip below the horizon.
I contemplated traveling throughout the night, but after some thought, I decided against it. Caution would suit me best.
My friends had always called me a worrywart for my cautious ways. They never seem to complain when my caution saved us though. A smile spread across my face at the memories of our hijinx over the years.
Finding an overhang of rock, Toby positioned the armor underneath it. It wasn't the perfect place to sit down for the night as there wasn't much cover from anything on the ground but the overhang would Shield me from any eyes in the sky.
Having rocket shot at me from above once was more than enough. I didn't feel like any repeat performances. It was also the best option available for now.
After drinking some water the desire to exit the cockpit came over me. The cockpit was extremely cramped. My bag and the assault rifle did not make the situation any better. The rifle kept poking me in the arm and my bag which I had between my legs reduced the amount of movement I could accomplish. My Legs ached to take a walk. I wanted to stretch my arms out. An impossible task in the cramped confines of the cockpit.
There was a burning need to breathe fresh air. The air in the cockpit had a metallic scent accompanied by the scent of my own sweat, blood, and dirty clothes. If I had any water to spare bathing would have been too high on my priority list.
My body was also sending signals that it needed to relieve itself. The cockpit came equipped with a catheter but between the choice of it or relieving myself the natural way, the choice was pretty obvious.
Without any further need for excuses I ordered toby to pop the hatch and I breathed in my first fresh breath of air in days.
Holding my arms out at full length well rotating them in the sockets of my shoulder, I stretch my back in a curve and heard multiple small cracks. The feeling of tension draining from my body was heavenly.
Arms outstretched and leaning back, my eyes were met by the beautiful sight of the night sky. Thousands of stars dotted the dark expanse from horizon to horizon.
Unzipping my pants, I relieved myself without taking my eyes off of the beautiful sight. A crescent moon had just begun rising from the edge of the night sky.
I filled my lungs with a large breath and exhaled it slowly. The stars seemed brighter than normal. A cool breeze whistled through my hair.
Standing there while peeing, a feeling of peace settled over me. The immensity of the night sky and its sparkling jewel-like beauty washed away weeks of tension and stress.
Rotating my head to stretch my neck and work the kinks out, I laughed at myself. I didn't tend to stargaze and get all zen about life. Doing so while caked in blood, sweat, and what I presumed was urine struck me as funny. Holding my “tool” in my hand while doing it only made it doubly funny to me.
Eventually, my tool made it back into my pants and I began to walk a bit while I continued stretching. I stayed close to the Calipso in case of an emergency.
Looking at the armor I noticed the outer surface was truly messed up. It looked half melted and beaten out of shape.
The sight of the Calipso brought my thoughts back to my plans for the future. The sad reality was I didn't have much of a plan. I only had a general idea.
I couldn't bring her back to Grey Rock City. It wasn't like I could walk through the front door with it and say “look what I found!”
First of all the calipso was recognizable. Second of all so was I. Questions would be asked and I wouldn't really have any good answers. My entire team has been wiped out and I came back with a bunch of goodies?
It was a fat chance they let me keep any of it. Even if I went to another city the recognizability of the calipso would possibly get me tracked down by associates Earl Ragnar.
Once the armor had repaired its outer shell it would be easily recognizable. That thought caused my mind to jump to another thought and a possible solution to the Calipso's trouble luring appearance.
My desire for fresh air and a stretch fully satiated, I climbed into the cockpit again.
While moving the assault rifle into a position where it didn't poke me in the arm quite as annoyingly, I addressed Toby.
"Toby, the repair system is a type of nanite correct?"
"Yes and no, they are general repair nanite model number 138923, but the repair systems are not comprised of only nanites. The system also includes nanite control modules as well as equipment used to recharge the nanites."
Toby had gave me more information than I actually desired but I didn't dissuade him from the practice. He seemed to be learning that when I asked a question in most circumstances I wanted more than a simple yes or no answer, but also not to be drowned in jargon and technical details. Micromanaging every response he made would only frustrate me. He was improving. That was enough for now.
He was learning my preferences and his programming told him I preferred more branching information attached to his explanations.
“When the nanites repair the outer shell of the armor, are they only able to repair it to certain specifications or can they alter the appearance of the calipso in some way?”
"It is possible to alter the outer shell to non Factory specifications with the repair systems. It will require me to alter repair system programming. However, I do not recommend it. The outer shell of the calipso is designed to efficiently displace and deflect incoming kinetic forces as much as possible. The alteration will affect its efficiency. Do you want to give the Calipso a makeover buddy?"
"If you were to reprogram the repair systems to give the calipso a different appearance unrecognizable from its original appearance, how much would the efficiency of the outer shell armor be affected in comparison to before?"
"Processing"
Toby actually took a few minutes to answer.
" I have run 36,484 simulations and have selected the best alternative outer shell design possible. The new design will be 4% less efficient than the Calipso's original design at deflecting kinetic energy.”
4% loss of efficiency wasn't too bad. It was actually quite acceptable. The calipso would be like bait to any of the late Earl's allies otherwise. It was a worthy trade-off.
"Show me the design on the view screen."
A split second later a wireframe model appeared on the screen. The new look was slightly more boxy and less futuristic-looking, but that only made me like the design more. I didn't want the Calipso to be flashy.
My next moves would require me to be noticed as little as possible. The tallest tree in the forest was usually the one that got knocked down by the wind first. Standing out too much was not a good thing for a lone person without any backing.
“Can you add simulated superficial battle damage to the design without affecting the defense capabilities of the outer shell?”
“Sure thing buddy!”
I was beginning to like Toby more and more. He was extremely useful. It was almost to the point where I was even thinking about forgiving and forgetting what was done to me under his watch.
“Add the superficial damage to the simulated design before me.”
The image before me was updated quickly and I smiled. It was ugly and little simplistic looking. The simulated image of the armor appeared to have been through many scuffles. It was perfect!
“Alter the repair systems and implement this design.”
“Ok... I really don't recommend doing it but you're the boss!”
With one problem out of the way, I moved on to the next.
I couldn't go straight back to Grey Rock City, even with the new design. I could change the armor's appearance. It would be much harder to change mine.
Grey Rock City officials may treat rats like they were unimportant, but it wasn't like they wouldn't at least keep identification documents on scavengers. The Scavengers Guild alone would have pictures and data on me.
Even if I claimed to have been separated from my group and just so happened to have found 2 random old world armor, I doubted they believe or even care to believe me.
The second I was out of the armor and identified they would probably arrest me. Scavengers didn't have rights to claim anything found outside. It was part of our contract.
So Grey Rock City was off my list of options for now. I would need to return eventually. My mother couldn't be left alone. Within a little over two months, she would run out of Medicine and probably die soon after. The thought of my mother going months without news of my safety made my heart ache. I hoped she wouldn't do anything foolish. After father left us I was basically all she had left.
I would have to go somewhere else for now. Somewhere that would take in an unidentified man piloting an old world armor with a second highly damaged old world armor slung over its shoulder.
In my days wandering the outer ring of the city I never really focused much on information from or about other cities. It wasn't helpful in my situation and I never sought it out.
There was one city, however, whose name was actually quite famous. It might be the perfect destination for me now.
It was supposedly a bandit haven. One with very little restrictions and lot of freedom, but reportedly somewhat chaotic.
It was a medium to large-sized city based on what I'd heard. Apparently, there was no class differentiation like in Grey Rock City.
For a while, I thought tales of the city were simply fairy tales but the older I got and the more fleshed-out the information on the city became to me, the more I realized the city was anything but a fairy tale.
30 years ago the occupants of the city rose up and slaughtered their own nobles and most of the middle class. How exactly they achieved this, I don't know.
They used the weapons of their oppressors and set up factions and guilds, a good portion of which amounted to bandit war parties that roved about trying to catch and ambush any trade caravans from other cities.
The city was a constant pain in the ass for any nobles in the area. The main industry of the city was bandits. Who in return brought back equipment and money from their thieving expeditions. So the city supported these bandits in their ventures and even idolized them in a fashion.
Despite the bandit nature of these groups who occupied the city, there was a form of government. It was a loose one, however. The major powers among the rebels of the city set up a joint council to handle matters regarding the safety of the city and the basic rights of its citizens. The council acted as the leash for these bandit-like war parties, keeping these groups from eating away at the city and sowing discord.
There was a military system under the leadership of this council and basic laws were set up. Infighting was kept to a minimum or at least as much as possible in such an odd situation.
I had always thought that such a city wouldn't last more than a few years. Its antagonism of the cities surrounding it would surely bring the hammer of the nobles down upon their head.
An old man who claimed to actually have been to the city within the last 10 years, told me over a cheap beer that I had bought him, the reason I was wrong.
He told me that the city was only saved based on two factors. Its location made it extremely hard to attack in a siege. The second factor was the absolute insanity of its occupants and the seemingly huge amount of weapons and armament it had.
No noble wanted to use their own private army to break this city and weaken themselves to the other nobles in the region.
Nobles also had a well-known adversity to cooperating with each other. The only exception I knew of, was the very loose defense pact between the southern nobles meant to keep the northern nobles from coming south as they please.
He also told me I should never call anyone from the city a bandit to their face. They preferred the name "privateers". I guess on face value that was what they were, government-sanctioned land pirates.
The old man told me the city had been something of a fortress before its change of ownership and not much had changed that.
Apparently while at "peace" the city might be less than perfectly united, but should a force move against the city, a special unity would be instated and many of its occupants would fight tooth and nail in cooperation to protect their City.
The citizens of the city loved their freedom. They liked the chaos and despite its many factions and bandit nature, they had pride in their city. It was a place anyone not a noble could freely enter or leave as long as they followed basic laws. It was the kind of place where a rat could rise above being the lowest rung on the ladder of society.
The city would be a lot safer as a destination for me than any other choice I knew off. If I went to a noble owned city, the nobles in charge would likely strip me of my armor without a second thought. They made the rules. With this city, however, I would probably be allowed entry to the city and my property rights would be respected.
I didn't entertain the idea that should one of those "privateer" guilds find me far outside the cities boundaries, that they would leave me alone. Anyone not inside the city or within its defense perimeter was open season. But should I actually get to the city, I should be safe.
I pulled the map data onto the main screen and started searching. It should be to the east and slightly south of Grey Rock City. I even had a general idea of how far away it would be. I had been fascinated with tales of the city for a while.
Eventually, I found it. About 250km from my smaller home city, nestled between two sections of a mountain range forming an almost perfect natural defense, was a city.
Above the marking of the city on the map sat a glowing name.
ANARCHY CITY.