Sally stared back at Dent. There was a joy in his face that she’d rarely seen in the usually stoic swordsman. Looking past him, Chuck was fully focused on the screens in front of him. Sweat running down his face from his furrowed brow, picking up the glowing light from what he was staring at.
“Here,” the swordsman said, “let me get you out of there. You must be exhausted.”
Surprisingly, she was. The travel took a lot out of her, and healing the traumatic wounds didn’t help - even if she had regenerated to a clean bill of health already. With the cuff unclasped, he then opened up the cage hinges to let her out. She immediately stumbled on weak legs and he caught her.
“You should have seen me when I returned,” he said with a grin. “All but bust my head open trying to get out of that contraption. Cried a little, as well.”
“It’s… a lot,” she said, slumping into a chair he moved closer to her. “Plus, you actually died, right?”
“On two of the worlds, yeah. It’s the same transportation process, but a lot more violent.”
She groaned and wiped her face, still dripping troll gore. So it wasn’t just a mind transfer, her actual body went there and back. While she wasn’t the most knowledgeable when it came to how the System worked, that made sense for dying being a rougher journey. On returning here, you were essentially shocked back into life. Unlife.
Chuck swiveled around in his chair to face her, as if he had only just noticed she was back. There was a bright mania in his eyes, as if he was miles away. Elated and relieved, but still stressed. He grinned.
“We need to walk and talk, Sally Danger.” His eyes went over to the swordsman. “Entertain our guests, Dent? I’ve started the Guild if you could do the honors of filling it.”
“My pleasure.” He gave a nod and pat Sally on the shoulder before heading for the doorway.
The Architect held out a hand to the zombie. “Shall we?”
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Theo looked over at the doorway as Dent entered. The man looked rather tired and stressed out… yet trying to hide some manner of excitement. While the other three turned to greet him, the vampire went straight into his STAR. Map up, and zoomed to the forest.
“She did it,” he announced, a wide grin exposing his fangs.
Dent deflated. “Not even a hello and you spoil the reveal? Come on into the meeting room and we’ll discuss things.”
Humphrey was already behind the vampire, his eyes narrowed at the Map as well. “So it can be done…”
They walked into the other room, followed by Lana and Lucius.
As his metallic hand gestured, they all sat at the round table, while Dent returned to the head to sit as he did earlier that day.
“Now, I’m sure you all have plenty of questions.”
“Lana, more than the rest of us,” Theo said.
The woman pulled a face. “Just what am I getting pulled into now? Something that is going to put me in danger?”
“Far from it,” Dent said with a grin. “Let me get you caught up.”
----------------------------------------
With the flash of blue light, Sally and Chuck arrived on a field of plain grass, only somewhat marred by dark blood. Trees swayed in the background under a light sea breeze.
She grinned and turned to look at it. Just the same as how she had left it, other than the corpses were now gone. But it was definitely in the new world. With a gesture, she brought up her STAR menu - her normal Inventory full of junk, her [Skeleton Key], max Stats, and… she drew up her skill list.
“I have [Chain],” she confirmed to the waiting Architect. “It has a different hue on the list, like a soft gold.”
“It’s a core part of you now. Something even I can't take away.” Chuck held out a hand to signal for them to walk. “Although every System world is different, there’s an underlying fabric they all draw from. Something mostly outside of my reach… but we can dip in here and there.”
“I’m still amazed we pulled it off.” She stretched out her sore back as they paced aimlessly through the gentle scenery. “Almost didn’t… but I’m sure you did plenty of heavy lifting on your side as well.”
“You could say that. I like my role and put a lot of my time into improving our world.”
Sally turned her gaze toward him and pulled a face. “Big sap. Archie told me what the real test was, though.”
Chuck nodded, but didn’t say anything at first. They continued on in silence for a few minutes before finding a fallen log. After they sat in the shade, the Architect turned to her and sighed.
“I’m… hesitant to send you away for a long time. Slowly gaining permanent skills is the pragmatic approach, but I know you couldn’t stomach that.”
She nodded.
“You need something with people to save, a wrong to right.”
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“And much tastier brains, if possible.”
He gave her a soft smile before looking out toward the horizon. Just past the treelines there was the ocean, and then the shaded blob of the main continent. “I have something in mind. A System that needs rescuing. But… we have a few loose ends to tie up first, and you need time to say goodbye.”
Sally rolled her tongue around in her mouth, unsure with how much she liked the reality of that word. She had been able to sneak in this takeover in a couple of hours at most, but any world worth their salt would take her weeks… maybe months, to ascend and fix.
So she would need to say goodbye.
Might be a while before she could see Theo again, or any of her family and pals. She’d be gone from her comforting System and safe world, with only [Eat Brains] and [Chain] to get ahead of whatever problems would prevent her from winning.
But… this was what she wanted and needed.
“I understand,” she said, “and accept.”
“Great. I knew you would. First point of order, then, what do we call this world?” He smiled and narrowed his eyes, waiting for something he knew she was going to say.
“Cliche and going over old ground, but what about Sanctuary?”
“Sold.” Chuck stood to his feet and lent down a hand to help her stand. “I’m glad that was your line of thinking, because I had planned to name the Guild something a little old-hat, as well.”
She grinned and hopped up to wobbly feet.
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“Makes sense,” Theo said.
Humphrey nodded. “Outsiders is still a good name for what we’ll be doing.”
“Perfect.” Dent flexed out his mechanical hand. “Since it’s already been created. Chuck has just invited Sally in and the three of us can add anyone interested either in world-dropping or the functional side of our expansion.”
Lana pulled a face. “I feel as though you added that last part so that I don't feel left out.”
“On the contrary,” the swordsman said, tilting his head. “The retrieved land needs a lot of work on the back end to make it useable for our System. You’re a trusted ally and have been working at the Tower already… you might not care who Sally is punching in the face on the day-to-day, but if you want to be part of creating these new areas…”
Lucius leaned forward, exclamation marks popping up beside his head. “I want to join!”
Dent furrowed his brow. “Hold your horses. I’ve only made the offer to Lana so far.”
The Shade stared at him blankly before sitting back comfortably, no emojis beside him. Theo and Humphrey were also on the edges of their seats, wanting in already.
Lana drummed her fingers on the large table and closed her eyes. After a few moments of silence where everyone was watching her, she sighed. “Sure, I’m in.”
With the flash of blue light, Sally and Chuck returned to the room. The zombie wobbled a second, before trying to look heroic, which came off more like she was suffering from something.
“Hey Lana!” She grinned. “Pleasant surprise seeing you here.”
“World needs me again, I guess.”
[Lana has joined the Guild]
[Theo has joined the Guild]
[Humphrey has joined the Guild]
[Lucius has joined the Guild]
“Almost half full already,” Sally said and tutted.
Chuck walked around to sit beside Dent. “Ah, if only we knew someone who could change the Guild size limit.” He held his hand up to prevent the zombie from replying and instead she went to sit beside Theo.
The Architect stretched out and gathered his thoughts. Thankful that the gathered group didn’t immediately start spouting out quips or non-sequiturs, he focused on his own STAR.
[Maintenance Mode Complete]
[System Functions return in 10 Minutes]
“Gives people a chance to get out of dangerous areas if they ignored the first message,” he explained to nobody in particular. “Alright, I shall start the first meeting of the reformed Outsiders now.”
He cleared his throat and waved his hand, the center of the table illuminating as a hologram of the new area just outside of the main continent came up. It zoomed in a little more, to show the roughly round island now sitting off the coast of the Forest.
“If you’re not already aware,” he began, “we moved up the test run. Everything went better than expected. Sally was able to rise to enough power that we could complete the process… the results speak for themselves.” He smiled and looked back up at the map. “It’s off limits for Players until we can make it functional.”
“Did you get to keep a new skill?” Theo asked the zombie, unable to hold the question back any further.
She grinned as he put his hand on hers under the table. “Sure did. It’s like the opposite of [Meat Hook].”
“It… pushes people away from you?”
Sally narrowed her eyes at him and moved her hand away. “No...?”
“Really?” The vampire pulled a face. “Because it feels like it’s working.”
Dent cleared his throat. “If we could focus, please?”
The Architect smiled. “There is a lot to be excited about, and to celebrate, I’m sure. Populating the Guild will be important, as I am only one man and can’t do everything. Dent will be heading up the Developmental side of things, while I keep an eye on the next world drops.”
Humphrey shifted in his chair, causing it to groan under his weight. “You’ve already made plans for the next one?”
Chuck gave the zombie a quick glance before addressing the Death Knight. “It may come as no surprise that Sally has asked to go as soon as possible.”
She gave a sheepish grin at all the narrowed glares received from the Outsiders.
“Naturally, this kind of thing needs downtime and proper preparation. I’ll need to get the ball rolling on the Starter Island before Dent and his group take over. Then we can decide on the next steps. Everyone okay with that?”
Sally pouted, and Theo looked downtrodden, but the group agreed that was a reasonable proposition.
“Your job for the time being is to rest up and look to the future,” Chuck said, waving away the hologram. “For now, you are dismissed - I need some rest of my own, and to make sure Archie isn't back and knocking things off my desk.”
They all grumbled their muted goodbyes as they filtered into the lobby once more, while Dent stayed back with the Architect.
As the doors closed behind them, the Death Knight crossed his arms. “Even though I am no longer your Bodyguard, I felt a twinge of something. Was it a tough challenge?”
“A giant troll almost ate me,” she said with a grin. “But I ate him back harder.”
Lana sighed and rubbed her head. “This is still processing… but I’m glad to be a part of this.” She smiled towards the group. “Also super glad to be far away from any of the actual danger.” With a wave to the rest, she vanished with a flash of blue light.
Theo put his hand atop the zombie's head. “I need to run a couple errands. You feeling okay?”
“Sure am, fangs. I was going to do the same, actually - maybe pops could come with me?”
Humphrey nodded and grinned.
“Excellent,” the vampire gave her a warm smile. “I’ll invite Edward to the Guild and then I have to finish my session with Lucius, if that’s okay?” He turned to look at the Shade as he brought his hand back down.
“Of course!” A thumbs-up appeared beside him. “I have the rest of the day free.”
“Aw, pup.” Sally gave him a peck on the side of the cheek. “Thank you for going. Send a message if you get home before me.”
“And vice versa?”
She nodded, and the two vanished, teleporting away from her.
“Where to first, conqueror of worlds?”
Sally turned back to the Death Knight, a wide grin on her face. “A time skip to when I can next travel would be boring… so let’s do a montage!”