Climbing out of his old alcove, Ronin saw K3 standing with his back turned, looking down the passageway. Without turning around, the giant dipped down and offered Ronin a hand up. He smiled at the silent support of his friend and bodyguard. When he accepted the hand and was pulled up, he was nearly moved to tears at the reassuring squeeze K3 gave him before letting go. It meant more to Ronin than he could say, to have people at his side, who cared about him. He hadn’t had that before. Markus and Penny looked out for him, but in the caves, everyone pulled their own weight, or they died. It wasn’t like having a family, and thanks to Alexander, he’d never had any friends his own age.
Clearing his throat, Ronin looked between his two closest supporters. One, bound to him by nanite imposed loyalty. The other sworn to him by her own honor and oath. He didn’t like what that said about him, but if he was being honest, he still didn’t understand exactly why Elyria was there. So, it wouldn’t be fair to judge himself too harshly at her presence. Shaking away the negativity, he focused on what he had to do next. There were people who needed his help, he could wallow in his inadequacies later.
“Let’s go back,” he said at last, voice only cracking a little. “We need to talk to Leo about what we do next.” Ronin just hoped the former cave leader would be on board to help, because helping these people would be a whole lot harder if he wasn’t.
“…always wondered what happened to them. So, they didn’t make it.” Ronin heard Penny’s voice drifting down the corridor, as he approached the communal area. “It’s such a shame, we did the best we could for him, but without his…” Ronin stumbled at the words, catching his foot on a loose stone, which clattered away down the tunnel. His heart caught in his chest, as he wondered who Penny was talking about.
“Yes, it is a shame.” Leo said cutting her off with an abrupt subject change. “I spoke to Markus before we left the ship, he was doing well. Adjusting to his new personal realm. I gave him a few pointers, since it’s easy to make mistakes if you don’t know what to expect.”
“Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Dawson,” Penny said her tone changing completely at the new subject. “We’d always dreamed about getting crystallized together one day. But the cost was so prohibitive, and from what I understand, we wouldn’t have gotten to enter the same world together anyway.”
“That’s true,” Leo said, Ronin had sped up and had now rounded the corner and saw him nodding his head. The lionid looked massive beside the shrunken old woman. “It’s the personal realm that costs all the credits. Since, the ship must grow a new one for every new crystallized person. If the powers-that-be would allow more than one person into a single realm, then we could upload as many as we wanted, with only a small cost to the ship. That doesn’t fit the agenda of the powerful though...” Leo visibly bit his tongue, before changing the subject again. “Now, why don’t you come show me around, and tell me about my boy. I know he caused a lot of trouble near the end, but how were his early years?”
Ronin, who’d been hung up on exactly who they had been discussing just now, came to a dead stop when he heard the last few lines. His mind spun; questions of his past forgotten as he contemplated this new thought.
“Guys,” he said, not turning around. “Is there any way for us to contact Xerox? I’ve got an idea, but we can’t do it without his help.” Spinning around, he stared at them with new hope blazing in his eyes. He might just have a way, if only the android could make it work.
Elyria and K3 exchanged glances, Ronin caught the move, and under other circumstances, he’d have been happy they got along well enough to do that. As things stood now, however, he was just impatient for an answer.
“We can.” K3 said at last, with some hesitation. “But all communication is likely being monitored. He gave us a way to get in touch with him, but it will only work twice. Once for the message to go up, and then for his response to come back down. After that, he will need to work at setting up a new, untraceable line. He told us not to use it except in an emergency, but it is possible.” Ronin was both gladdened and angered at the news.
“Ok, that’s great, but before we get to that,” he said, frowning. “Why is it that I never know what’s going on? It’s not like I don’t pay any attention at all. Yet still, every time I have a question, you guys already knew the whole time. When do you find the time to learn this stuff? I mean, you’re always with me, damn it, and I don’t know anything it seems.”
“Take a breath, White flame.” Elyria said with a scoff, “it’s not like we hide things from you. You just get too focused on one thing, or space out and completely overlook stuff. A lot of it is in the context, clues that you just don’t have the background on the subjects to pick up. Now, quit sulking and tell us what you want to do already.” Ronin glared at them for another second before relenting, he was too excited to worry about it too long.
“Ok, so, it just hit me when I was listening to…” As he spoke, the looks on their faces went from curious, to speculative, to interested, before landing on approving. He waited once he’d finished speaking, for them to share another look, before one of them spoke.
“Ok, I think it’s worth making the call. If Xerox can do it, then he can let us know in a return message once it’s all set up. That might take a while though, so I suggest we start working on the other parts of the plan while we wait. We’ll need to go back to the ship to make the call though, so when you finish up here, we’ll go.” Elyria was the one who spoke, but K3 was nodding his approval as well.
“Great, then let’s go talk to Penny and Leo.” Ronin said, having committed entirely to his plan. Forgetting all the negatives as best he could, Ronin focused on what he could do. The self-imposed tunnel vision was the only way he’d managed to accomplish all he had so far. Now wasn’t the time to worry about any inconvenient mistakes he’d made. He had a goal now, reaching it was all that mattered.
* * *
Surprisingly enough, it hadn’t taken much convincing to get the former and current cave leadership on board. Penny had already resigned herself to a slow death, so anything that gave her and her people a chance was worth a try to her. Leo, whom Ronin thought would at least offer a token resistance, also agreed right away. They’d cut their visit short, promising to bring back some food as quickly as they could, and headed back out of the caves. Their goal, a now fallen human holdout.
“How far away did you say the city was?” Ronin asked, some hours later as the crystal ship flew them away from where Ronin was born and raised. Once again, he bemoaned the lack of windows in the vessel. Since it meant he couldn’t see where they were going.
“We’re almost there,” Leo said, from his position on the floor, surrounded by his pride. They were all laying together in a pile in one of the swimming pool-sized depressions, either napping or grooming one another. After the battle, and crystal core collection was done, everyone had cleaned up and was now relaxing. While Leo’s people slept, Ronin’s people were playing a few games of POWF. Using several upturned barrels as improvised tables. Ronin had laughed out loud, when he realized Xerox, or Owl Two, had talked Jade into giving everyone an oversized deck of the syndicate’s signature card game. It had been added to the bags as an ‘essential relaxation tool’ of all things.
“Come on White flame, get your head in the game.” Elyria said, turning three ration cards and dropping a rare equipment card with a PCP 1.0 onto a random uncommon human soldier that Ronin didn’t recognize. “We’ll get there when we get there, now unless you want to lose your locust queen card, I suggest you pay attention… and can someone tell me how that tin can got these cards made with our current equipment on them? It’s scary how much that android seems to know about… everything.”
“Wait, what?” Ronin said, turning his head back to the game. “I didn’t agree to put her in the pot, she’s an epic. What are you putting up for grabs, if you want my epic?” He asked, finally paying attention, “K2 is an excellent soldier, but his card is only rare, not worth an epic. Either add another rare to the pot or swap for an epic.”
“You should really relax and pay attention to what’s going on around yourself boss.” K3 said, turning four ration cards and dropping two uncommons on the table. The first was an elf named Tupelo, and the second was a set of green scale armor, called locust lamellar. Again, Ronin didn’t recognize the elf, but he’d seen the armor in the battle for undercity. “When we started the game, you pulled the card on the top of your deck for the winner’s pot. I know you’re worried about the people from your home, but this blind focus of yours is what makes you miss things, and people to criticize you.”
Ronin looked at the kaldarr warrior, the giant gave advice so infrequently, that when he did, Ronin always paid attention. If his friend thought he needed to relax, then Ronin would try it. After all, they would get there eventually, and losing his strongest epic card simply because he wasn’t paying attention would be a crime. He took a deep breath, observing the cards on the makeshift table.
Elyria had the lead in damage capability, the PCP 1.0 was like shooting a sledgehammer from a rifle. Subsequently, K3 had the advantage in defense. Thanks to both Tupelo and the goblin scout he’d played last round, having armor cards equipped. Making it more likely Elyria would target him over the giant, because the strikes would do more damage.
Looking down at his own cards, Ronin counted out five common worker goblin and human farmer cards, and an equal number of ration cards. He didn’t even have any equipment cards down. He really hadn’t been paying attention to the game. Taking another breath, he looked at his hand. He had a K1 card which was rare, he could play him for three ration cards and a suit of uncommon armor for two, or he could play two weapon cards. It just depended on who he wanted to focus on. Nodding to himself, Ronin focused his mind on the game. Ready to put the city out of his head until they arrived. Just as he picked his first weapons card, a light ringing echoed throughout the ship, heralding their arrival at the city.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“See how easy that was?” Elyria asked with a cackling laugh, “all you had to do was not think about it, and we got there.”
“Ha, ha, ha.” Ronin said in pretend laughter, “so funny, Elyria. Ah well, guess we’ll have to stop here. Better luck winning my queen next time.” He added, making a move to collect his cards.
“Oh no you don’t,” she said, reaching out and grabbing his hand. “There has to be consequences to your actions, or else you’ll never learn. Back me up on this big guy.” She tossed over her shoulder, to a bemused looking K3. Ronin glared over at his friend, who had the grace to look away, but he still said.
“She’s got a point boss, it’s this type of stuff that you need to work on. Maybe higher stakes will help you improve…”
“Traitor,” Ronin mumbled, but he left his cards where they were. “Fine, but I don’t want to hear any crying when I win this game.” They continued to banter as Karr and his team, along with the pair of scouts formed up, having put their own cards away already.
“That’s actually a good way for the troops to pass the time.” Leo said, joining them by the drop door. “I’d like to learn if you’re willing to teach me. Perhaps I’ll introduce something similar to my own people. It was interesting to see your soldiers sitting around playing cards, and not trying to sneak off to find booze or to find a quiet corner.”
“Heh, that’s because Owl Two injected all the troops with sexual inhibitors before the trip.” Elyria said in a voice meant not to carry. “He was thrilled at the benefits the goblins showed and figured that fighters didn’t need the added distraction anyway.” Ronin was appalled at that news; he’d had no idea.
“He did what?” He asked.
“Ah, that’s also a good idea.” Leo said at the same time.
The pair exchanged glances, before they shrugged it off. Now wasn’t the time for this anyway.
“From what I remember, much of this city was encapsulated with a metal frame that had glass panels glued in with rubber, to protect the people from the atmosphere. It worked for quite a while too, they survived the entire apocalypse. The city only fell something like fifty years ago, when a crystal tree seed, they’d brought in to experiment on, sprouted in the middle of the enclosure. This wasn’t the biggest human city, but it was well known. So, keep an eye out for other participants.” Leo said as the door slowly opened.
“Wow,” Ronin said as the door cleared his field of vision, and he could finally see. They’d landed in the middle of what had once been a human metropolis, nearly everything looked as old and unattended as it actually was, but near where their ship had come down was different.
There were four skyscrapers that had been built in a square, one at each corner of the block. Between each building, a metal frame had been built. Filled with countless panels of glass, so filthy he could barely see through it. It wasn’t a dome, like the books talked about, but it looked better preserved than the buildings outside. Ronin couldn’t tell how they’d hung the ceiling, but they’d managed it somehow. More proof that humans could adapt and overcome almost anything, almost.
Since, right in the middle of one of the skyscrapers, a crystal tree had sprouted up through the building and shattered that corner of the enclosure. Ronin looked up at that tree with wonder. It was huge, bigger than the 350-foot-tall building it sprouted from, but it was far smaller than the tree he’d grown up near.
“What’s wrong with the tree?” He asked, looking at the stunted crystal tree.
“Nothing,” Leo responded with a shrug. “It’s only fifty years old. The one by our cave is two hundred years old. They grow fast, but they still need time to do it.”
“Let’s get the scouts out there, I’ll do a few laps around in the air as well. It’s possible there are survivors, or others from the ship. Just keep your radio on you this time, ok.” Elyria said, as she launched herself from the ship and into the sky. Nodding at the wisdom of her words, while ignoring the snark, Ronin called.
“Stone, Whisper, would the pair of you mind doing some recon please?” If you see any weak malnourished humans, try not to kill them, but if you come across anyone who isn’t wearing a mask, stay clear. If you can avoid being seen that would be for the best, if not…” He trailed off meaningfully.
“I think you are forgetting the small fact that we landed our ship right outside their front door.” Leo said as the scouts moved down the ramp to explore the ruins. Anyone with eyes, or ears for that matter, knows we’re here. Scouting seems a little unnecessary at this point.” With those words, he moved down the ramp himself, followed by his troop of female lionids. All of whom carried bags filled with tools.
“He’s got a point,” K3 said when Ronin looked at him questioningly. “It’s always a good idea to get a feel for the surroundings, but I think we’re safe enough to start work on the panels at least.” Nodding his head at the giant's council, Ronin motioned for the rest of his people to get to work. They’d come equipped with everything they’d need, or at least everything they could find, to gather the glass and the metal frame it was mounted on.
Ronin ran his fingers across the glass, feeling the heavy layer of dust flake off under his fingers. His hands weren’t as hard as the rest of his body, but they were still covered in carapace armor, so he had to be careful not to scratch or break the glass. Slowly, he worked his hand in a circle until he’d cleared a large enough area for him to look through. What he saw on the other side saddened him greatly.
The remains of a park lay inside the sealed city block. The skeletal forms of dead trees and bushes dotted the area, along with the actual skeletal remains of many people. Everything was dark and dead, except the multicolored rainbow hued grass that spread out from the crystal tree to the extent of its branches in all directions. It looked so beautiful, covering the dead remains of one of humanities last holdouts, that it was difficult to remember it was the cause of that death in the first place. Ronin’s heart ached for a world and a life he’d never known. That no one born after the world fell would ever know. A world that had been stripped from them by beautiful, crystallin death.
“How do we get the panes out?” He asked K3, after he’d had his fill of looking. Not surprisingly, K3 and Elyria were the only ones in his group with any knowledge of modern technology. So, Ronin was leaning heavily on them to teach him, along with Karr and his squad, how to remove the panels safely and carefully from the metal frame. K3, who’d spent the time Ronin was lost in thought, looking over the glass wall’s design, spoke.
“It’s a very simple design actually, see this?” The giant moved to the wall and pointed as he explained. “The frame is made from T-beams, they call them that, because the shape is like a capital T from the alphabet, see?” Not wasting any time wondering why a race of space orcs used the English alphabet, Ronin leaned in, along with Karr to get a good look at what they were being shown.
“The T-beams were welded together in a lattice work of three-foot-by-three-foot squares. Making a shallow frame that the glass panes were laid in. It looks like a rubber sealant was laid down first, then more rubber was spread over the top and edges to keep it tight. Not a very strong construction, I wouldn’t suggest leaning on it boss, but for keeping bad air out and being easy to fix, it works… All we’ll have to do is hold the panel in place and scrape off the rubber sealant. Then once we’ve cleared the panels away, we can start taking the frame apart. Here, I’ll show you.”
K3 was a good teacher. He took several minutes to show them how to use the tools, how to scrape the rubber without scratching the glass or digging into the frame, and how to hold and move the glass so it wouldn’t break. He worked each member of Karr’s squad through the process of removing a panel with him and walking it to the ship, before splitting them up into pairs. He then moved between the pairs to give pointers and encouragement for another half hour before he returned to Ronin. Just in time for Elyria to land beside them.
They stepped aside to talk, while Karr’s squad got to work. Leo’s people had been working the whole time, not needing any instructions, and already had a stack of panels pulled from the wall. Speaking of Leo, he finished up what he was doing and moved to join them when he saw Elyria landing.
“Find anything?” He asked without preamble, clearly in a hurry to get back to work.
“No,” Elyria said shaking her head. “No sign of hostiles or survivors anyway. It doesn’t even look like the city has been scavenged. From what I can tell, the tree burst out of the building, and everybody died, then nothing happened after that.” She furrowed her brow in confusion at the very idea. Ronin was surprised too, why hadn’t someone come to collect the useful equipment?
“Not surprising really,” Leo said with a shrug of massive shoulders. “This city has a teleporter and was even equipped with a crystallization pad. However, the amount of resources it takes to activate either are prohibitive. Natural humans who could use this stuff couldn’t afford the teleportation fee, those who could afford it, got crystallized instead and then didn’t need earthly possessions anymore.” Something the lionid said caught Ronin’s ear, he wanted to ask about it, but Elyria continued talking before he could.
“That’s not all.” She said, pulling her shoulder bag around, and opening it up. “I found these on the tree, it was so bizarre I collected one to show you.” Elyria reached inside and pulled out a ladybug corpse. It looked exactly like the ladybugs on the tree they’d just left. Except where those beetles were the size of large cars, this one wasn’t much larger than a football helmet. “I don’t understand how a species can vary this much in size, its unnatural.”
“Of course, it’s unnatural.” Leo said with a snort that shook his whiskers. “I spent a few, time dilated, years researching the beetles, and a few other alien species they’d encountered. What we have on earth right now is only the terraforming trees and the insects that grow with and protect them. There’s a whole world’s worth of samples up there on the ship. Enough seeds and insect eggs to birth an entire planet’s eco system. We just didn’t die like we were supposed to and stopped the transformation before it really got started. All we got were the trees and their bugs, each of the three insects that live on the tree servicing a function. The aphids stimulating sap flow when they eat, the ladybugs keeping their numbers in check and serving as defensive troops to any native species that try to interfere with the tree, the wasps pollinating the flowers between trees and acting like scouts and… pardon me, my inner academic is showing.” He said, clearing his throat. The small tangent gave Ronin a quick peak behind the curtain that hid Leo Dawson.
“The point is these bugs were designed to grow with the tree. This tree is young, dog sized aphids would suck it dry of sap in no time. So, the bugs start small. As they feed on the sap or each other, their crystal core, as Ronin called them, filters the sap, producing enhanced nutrient fluid. When they eat the cores of a fallen bug, they get a huge boost to their growth, making them larger… I’ve seen imagery on the ship of other, older, colony worlds. Crystal trees so tall they reach the atmosphere, and wasps the size of dragons.”
Ronin let his mind drift away as Leo spoke. More ideas coming into his mind and taking root. He hoped Xerox was as good at anticipating what he wanted as Owl Two was, because he had plans. They would have to wait for now though, because Penny and his old cave mates needed his help.
“You said there is a teleportation pad and a crystallization pod here?” Ronin asked, turning to Leo. “Where are those at? I’d like to…” He was interrupted by an angry bellow, coming from inside one of the once sealed skyscrapers.
“What are you brutes doing? Get away from there, don’t you know that’s a historical monument?”