LOG REPORT 5—ENTRY 19

I write this report primarily to summarise the strategic issues that the pobournes will have to face rather than a direct commentary on my host or her pets and future servants.

Having said that, it is always helpful to reiterate successes to ensure that future generations can benefit from my wisdom. The bipeds, as you well know are creatures driven by their emotions with little self-awareness. While technically capable of logic, I believe there is a design flaw that limits them accessing the appropriate circuit to utilise it for most of their daily activities.

An enormous amount of their processing power is directed into vision. This is a flaw in them evolving in a non-Alpha Physics environment. It’s like they’ve never even heard of sub-brains!

While this is fun I need to stop this because if I keep talking about the bipeds flaws I probably won’t be able to check myself and while the encyclopedia of knowledge it would produce would be academically interesting it won’t help in future events.

What’s happened recently?

Despite the naysayers bonding, the queen was successful and lo-and-behold the building hasn’t fallen over.

Now I’m not the type of person to declare I told you so, but I can confirm my host is feeling very smug at her contributions to their current state of affairs.

The addition of the silver fly hive to the pobournes is a substantial improvement in their available power. Though I liken their inclusion more to including an enchanted battering ram in a well-drilled army. Undoubtedly useful when breaking into a castle, but not so impressive when fighting centaurs. Basically, the silver flies are a cocked and loaded deadly weapon without a target to aim at them. At least not currently, given what’s already been killed or is active in the pobournes territory I am a hundred percent confident that an appropriate enemy to unleash the flies upon will emerge.

Where are we at?

For the first time, my host and her annoying pet actually have a limited understanding of what they are facing.

There is the broncada lizard whose territory pretty much cuts off all the land east of them and stretches from the beach right to the river that borders the central business district. Now I know for a fact that the monster information class person Richard has spelled out its capabilities in exhaustive details to the powers to be. They all theoretically appreciate that there is no sneaking through that claimed zone. I say theoretical because its’ obvious that there will to be hands of dead bipeds before that knowledge gets embedded in everyone’s skulls.

While it seems ludicrous that it will require multiple deaths to prove this point I would refer you to observation on human psychology in volume 3, chapter 17 to 19 of my encyclopedia titled. ‘All the ways Bipeds fail at basic balance and the emotional effects of flawed evolution designs.’ It explains in details why these tests will be required.

Nevertheless, I digress. By itself, the lizard would not be a problem because the pobournes could have established a pocket to live in where they could thrive and still be far enough away from the water to be safe from its dangers.

The croldlics change that equation completely.

Out of all the nearby sea threats that could have existed, these are probably the worst. They have no restrictions to their movement and are proven coastal raiders with a history of taking over land up to ten kilometres from the ocean. They will hunt right up to the lizard’s territory through instinctually will not cross into its marked area. That’s a problem if you’re stuck only two kilometres from their sea colony and you comprise two hundred tasty morsels in easily carried packaged size.

The third danger is further south and none of the leadership know about the risk yet and I might need to get my host to accidentally talk to the right person to make the issue more obvious through she’ll have to be careful not to cause her pet to take responsibility for it. A spreading carnivorous plant will definitely get the pet’s attention even if his powers are likely to be useless against that particular threat.

What does all this mean?

Well, we’re going to get an entertaining show.

There’ll probably be biped tears, but from what I’ve observed that’s pretty common.

‘I lost half my hand and making sobbing noises and generating salty water to run down my cheeks wills somehow help solve that problem.’

‘Oh no my barely animated shield got broken. Bo hoo.’

‘A biped I’ve known for four days was eaten in front of me? Oh, no! That’s the greatest sorrow ever.’

‘Oh, another biped found me not completely repulsive and gave me a kiss. Yes, I’ll cry about that too.’

Their delicate emotional outbursts aside I’m sure I’ll come up with a solution to save the pobournes and then trick them into accidentally saving themselves. I’m also convinced that after I achieve that miraculous feat my host won’t give me a single friendly word of encouragement.

The good news is the rest of our plan. *Cough—my plan* is coming together. We have the co-wobub and the illusionist to lead the forces.

Then there is the training facility.

Funny story: we had already worked out what we needed when a biped discovered the facility. The biped who found it was obsessed with swords, which, given our plan that was bad news.

All the others were ready to give up. There’s no way to influence a decision, and she’s going to choose a sword theme. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, so I just said. ‘Come on, guys, we’re talking about a biped. I can think two thousand and fifteen ways to deal with this and only two contain a guinea pig.’

The others heard me, thought about it and four different types of magic mushrooms later. A bit of prodding and poking and we got the configuration we were after. Unfortunately, the girl still seems to be permanently affected by the mushrooms, which limits the effectiveness of the facility, but the result was well within our success parameters.

‘You can’t do that!’

‘What were you thinking?’

‘That denies fee will.’

Blah, blah.

As always, the holier than you component came out of the woodwork. Is it really a crime when the fact you acted was the only reason they were even alive?

Anyway, did it deny free will? No, it was her choice to eat those mushrooms. Was it a good outcome for her? Well, explain what that means. The simple fact is that she seems to enjoy each moment more than anyone else around her. Now, unlike before, she is always laughing and carrying on. So if you ask that question I would respond with my own. ‘Define a good outcome?’ Because honestly, while she is choosing not to interact with everyone she sees everything is a source of immense amusement to her. She is living her happiest life.

Anyway, they said it couldn’t be done, and they were wrong.

And you know who was right.

Full marks to me and not a single formal flag raised against us regarding the conduct necessary to get us there.

So the training facility will help and then with the increased population the community has qualified for a trader and apparently they’ve arrived, which is a big concern off my back. I was generally worried that there the croldlics might kill off a sizeable chunk of people and they we wouldn’t have hit the number threshold to allow a trader to teleport in here.

I can’t express what a terrible result that would be for all of us.

In summary, things are precariously placed but I’m optimistic that provided they listen to exactly what I say I’m quietly confident that before they all die, I’ll find a solution to save a few of them.

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Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that last bit. My host’s pet is going to successfully save all those little bipeds, which is precisely what a struggling community on the edge of extinction needed. More mouths that can’t look after themselves.

Go pet Daniel you have showed once again what a true strategic mastermind you are.

Chapter 18

There was no movement anywhere, but Daniel still watched what was happening and prepared for anything. There might be rogue flies on the floor or a wave about to come from below.

He wiped nervous sweat off his brows. Fighting the flies out of formation was more difficult than he had expected. He hadn’t thought he would ever get used to having competent tanks to watch his back, sides and above but having fought with them against this particular enemy he appreciated them a lot more.

Rob got up from the floor, and the woman immediately nudged him with a significant look.

The man looked sheepish. “Um, I think I screwed up.”

“You did.” Daniel said flatly not dropping his vigilance for a moment.

A third woman slid out of the toilet. Opening the swinging toilet door, the minimum amount possible, to let her slip through.

“I’m under-slept,” Rob continued, going with the classic simultaneous apology and explanation of why you weren’t really wrong at the same time. “And I misheard you and overreacted, and then I got hurt.”

Daniel sighed. He wasn’t interested in the half-hearted apology at all. “I don’t care. I’m not saying that critically, but I have hundreds of people I need to keep alive and I’m beyond caring about random new individuals. Now.” He turned to the two women. “We have to discuss getting everyone down.”

“Hundreds.”

“Shut up.” The first woman snapped at Rob.

“We’re really getting saved?” the woman who had just emerged said with a tone of wonder.

“Yes, you are. I’m Daniel. We haven’t been introduced yet, so…”

“Oh sorry,” the woman who had come first and was the clear leader apologised immediately. She subconsciously straightened her hair gunked up hair. “I’m Jasmin. This is Maysa and Taylor is with the kids, keeping them calm.”

“There is just the four of you, right?”

Jasmin shook her head. “No, there’s also two other guys who worked on this floor. Leo and Miguel who’s injured. I don’t speak for them. We had more initially, but we started at the day care and have been doing running battles ever since and were driven up floor by floor. We couldn’t keep them out” She nodded pointedly toward the wall where bodies lay.

She began to cry.

Maysa immediately grabbed her and hugged it tight. “You’ve held it together this whole time don’t break down now at the finish line.”

Jasmin stood straight wiped the tears from eyes and took a single sucked in a breath before she composed herself. “I’m good.”

“And which of you does the shield thing?”

“Everyone apart from Rob.”

“I’m able to make a bite of muesli bar be enough for a meal. It’s the only reason we didn’t all starve to death.”

“It’s true.” Jasmin said. “For all of his occasional impulsiveness that class was a lifesaver.”

“Great, I’m sure the logistic group back at the hotel will be eager to talk to Rob.” Daniel was not about to mention that between all the meat they were bringing in and his plant abilities the food issue was as good as solved.

“Yes.” Rob said, perking up. “I’m sure you guys are struggling with food.”

“Not yet. But I won’t lie. Getting access to more is always useful.”

Especially if those croldlics are as dangerous as I fear, he thought to himself, but didn’t share that.

“How are we getting everyone down?” Jasmin asked finally.

“It’s tricky. I thought I would take an adult down and discuss with the guys downstairs before we confirmed the plan.”

“I’ll come,” Rob said instantly.

“I’d prefer someone more familiar with working with kids,” Daniel clarified dryly. “And then we can talk about actual logistics.”

Jasmin nodded decisively. “I’ll go.”

Daniel explained what he did as he escorted down the fire stairs, then his staircase and then the last stretch to the garage.

Alex had been sleeping in the door. He took one look at the woman behind Daniel and sighed in relief. “Thank god!”

“What?” Daniel asked perplexed having not quite expected that level of emotion.

“The building not.” Alex shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t think it’s structurally sound.”

“The movements haven’t been any larger tonight than any of the others over the last couple of days.” Jasmin said quietly.

“I’ll have to take your word for that miss, but come dawn I’m getting us all out of there.”

“Not now?” Daniel asked.

“No. Those croldlics are probably still out there. Going outside is signing up for certain death.”

“Yes. I wouldn’t want them to be attacking us from all sides.”

“Cro… Croldlics?”

“A problem for tomorrow.” Daniel told her without hesitation. He turned to face Jasmin. “You’ve seen the route and know the limitations and the kids. How are we going to do this?”

“Get Carly and Iris on floor eight.” Jasmin said immediately. “To guard the stretch from the fire stairs to the staircase. Have you and maybe the next best fighter to defend level nine.”

“Not me, but Tamara, with Alex supporting her.” Daniel decided instantly. He looked at Alex to see if he was going to object.

“Calm enough down here. Richard doesn’t think there’ll be anymore Croldlic attacks, and it’s getting close to dawn, so they should be returning to the bay now. But if this is your plan, you’re waking Tamara.”

“Fine.” Daniel said with a snort.

“Once the adults are in place. We get the older kids to escort the younger ones down. I’ll stay down here to coordinate. Taylor on floor eight and Maysa organising the toilet. It should only take each group two minutes to get down and we can be done in an hour.”

“Carly can heal whatever that guy’s name is when she’s up there.”

“Agreed.” Jasmin said.

Daniel considered the arrangements. “I’ll need to stay on floor eight to monitor the staircase. I’ll be able to tell if the weight of cumulated stress is getting too much and do repairs and stop anyone new from entering while I fix things.”

They looked at each other, and then Alex pointedly glanced over to where Tamara was sleeping. They had leveraged open a car, and she was curled up in the back seat. He went over and she was adorable. Gently, he put her hand on her leg to wake her.

She woke non-violently. “Dan?… What?… I.” She sat up rubbing sleep out of her eyes. “What’s happening. I was taking a power nap. How long?”

“It’s almost dawn.”

“What!” Alarm flashed in her eyes. “Alex said he would wake me in fifteen.”

“I think he decided to let people sleep while he stood watch. Anyway, it’s time.”

Tamara was standing in an instance. “They’re alive. How many.”

“Lots.” Daniel assured her. “And we need you and Alex to be security on the top floor.”

“I’ll be there, but what are you doing?”

“I need to keep my stairwell made on thoughts and prayers together.”

“Ah. That makes sense.

They set off. Waking Carly on the way and explaining the issue. Then one by one each adult went up the stairwell. Daniel and Carly stopped on the eight floor and Tamara and Alex went up one extra to stand escort duty. With a low probability of any flies getting up there, Daniel was not worried. The combination of Alex’s defences and Tamara’s lightning meant they could easily deal with at least a group as large as the seven Daniel had killed and if there were too many, they could retreat to the toilet with the leaves already in place to mostly protect them from attack.

Daniel’s job was to monitor the stresses on his construction. It was as a dodgy as he had expected and his hand often went out to stop people entering. One adult with up to two toddlers was his limit.

He looked up and was surprised to see that Alex, Tamara, and Carly were the only people left. “Are we done?”

“We’re done.” Tamara agreed there were tears of happiness. “Thank you for doing this. So many lives saved.”

“Yes. Yes. It’s very good,” Alex grumbled. “Can we get out of this death trap?”

“Go.” Daniel waved and then Alex went. When he got to the bottom, they sent Carly carrying Iris down the stairs.

Tamara with a suspicious look at the floor closer. Daniel mentally readjusted some of the nearby connections.

“It’ll hold.” he promised.

She shuffled forward, taking care to avoid the spots near the holes, and when she reached him, she hugged him tightly. Her face pressing into his neck. “Thank you, thank you. You’re a good man. If you hadn’t pushed, we wouldn’t have.”

“It’s a group effort Ivey—”

“Don’t bring her up.”

Internally, Daniel winced at his loose lips. Ivey deserved credit because without her support Carly wouldn’t have bonded Iris and the queen was essential to getting up to floor eight and to give them this chance to save the kids. He also remembered Ivey pushing to stay in the underground garage. All along, she was the one who had made this possible. “Sorry.”

He held her.

“I know we wouldn’t have done this without her.” Tamara said finally. “I know she supported it, but it’s you taking the risks while she stays in safety. You built the staircase. You neutralised the queen, your lightning scared off the first croldlic. Your magic let us survive the devil dogs.”

“Hey stop it. I think my head’s already big enough.”

She laughed. “Yes, it is. And I’ll make sure it doesn’t get out of control.”

“It’s just that you just then weren’t doing a good job. If anything, you were making it bigger.”

“Maybe.” She pulled back to stare into his eyes. He swallowed. “I’m not sure you understand how amazing you are.”

“I’m just a farmer who has had a lot of luck.”

“It’s not what you can do. It’s the sacrifices you make for others that counts.”

“I haven’t made any sacrifices.”

She looked at him like he was stupid.

“The spider thing wasn’t a sacrifice. It was a tragic accident and if anything it was Alex with his stasis field that did all the sacrificing. He could have taken a more useful skill.” His senses pinged him that Carly has reached the ground. “We can head down if you want?”

Tamara made no move towards the staircase.

“Dan. Are you really claiming other people have sacrificed more that you? If you are, your sense of perspective is broken and I’ll help fix that.”

“It’s not…”

Tamara kissed him.

Daniel froze and then kissed back.

No thoughts were going through his head and he enjoyed the moment.

She broke away slightly breathless. “And you can help fix me, because I’m a bit broken, too.”

The entire building groaned.

“I don’t want to take a raincheck.” She looked around. “But I’m not sure it’s sensible to wait up here.”

Daniel nodded mutely not knowing what to say. She was truly beautiful in the soft oranges of dawn.

“I should go. We can… talk later.” With a brilliant smile, she started the slow trip down to the ground floor. Daniel wanted to join her, or abseil down to reach the ground faster, but without Iris it wasn’t an option. If he went through the centre of that cleared space, a rogue fly would target him even if ninety percent of them had been reprogrammed by Iris not to hurt humans.

His fingers touched his lips. She was… He was… A deep breath, and he tried to calm his heart while monitoring the stairwell to make sure it remained as strong as ever.