Track 07: Rescue

The explosion rocks me backwards. I fall back into Firewall, who grabs me around the waist as we both go down. I see a few more health points fall off my bar. We stumble to our feet untangling. I can barely feel anything, and all I can hear is a high, loud whine.

She looks at me [What the Fuck?!] The texts crawl across my vision. The psylink reading her lips to tell me what’s said, which to be fair isn’t in any way necessary. Not you need to know how to read lips to understand that.

As the smoke clears, an enraged Aquilan stumbles to her feet. Eyes shining with unguarded malice. The left side of her face scorched black. If I thought she was angry before, she is enraged now. The handles of her whips, which no longer had the heads attached, the energy coursing through them sparks and sputtering. They reminded me of tuning forks. And just as this thought passes through my head, she slammed both on the floor and sound erupts back into them.

[Someone lose a cat?] A woman in wearing fatigues and holding a hand cannon. Out of the head was a comically styled rocket with a bow and a smile on it. I gape at the preposterousness of it. With all that had happened and the fact that I knew less that 10 seconds ago that we were probably gonna die. That this woman would be our savior.

The woman stood there in her military attire, which was obviously broken in. I had no doubt she was the way she holds herself, the lines of discipline on her face. The way she was still in military dress five years after the arm services were all but disbanded. She stood there, a “make my day” look on her face, actually chewing bubble gum. She looked like if you took a badass 80s action star and put her in real life.

Her coily hair was in a high top fade. There’s a scar cutting through her eyebrow in just the right way to make her look cool. Her clothes are clean and without rumples even though they’re worn in. Her boots shine like the sky. Everything in regulation, except that bad ass gun.

Behind her, four other women in similar dress without the same flair start shooting at Gracus with assault rifles. At first it doesn’t do anything but one of the makes a hand sign and the bullets flying out of it glow yellow. These push him backwards and he stumbles.

[Come with me if you want to live!] the obvious leader says as she hits Aquilan with another rocket, staggering her.

We don’t hesitate. We get to our feet and run. I see one of the other women put Neon in a firefighter’s carry and get them into the tunnel. The quick decisive action, the synchronous movement, the way they always know what the other is doing, you can tell they’ve trained for this. This is an extraction team.

As we reach the tunnel, they hold them both off as they back away, holding the line. The last thing I see before I turn the corner is the leader pulling a grenade out of nowhere and lobs it into the room. She walks away slowly as the room behind her explodes in a cartoonish fire and debris. She wipes her head off with the back of her hand.

[Let’s go, people!] She calls as she surges past us. [We gotta get outta here before they get wise to us.]

[Yes, Harriet!] The rest call in unison.

We take twist and turns, probably to throw off pursuers, even so, I lost track. We eventually came out to a full and still night. It feels like coming up from underwater. Oh to be outside in my city again.

A tricked out GRTC bus sits waiting. Now I haven’t been to Richmond in a while, but the busses didn’t look like this. The windows were covered with sheets of metal blinds. So no one could get a shot in, but they could get a shot out. The tires were actually 16 wheeler tires, so they must have modded the frame. The metal sidings were reinforced. It’s practically a APC. This wouldn’t blend anywhere, however, it could probably get you anywhere.

[Welcome to The Bus] Harriet says, slapping the side. There’s a rustling inside. She sings a few bars of Wade in the Water and the bus opens up. The door collapsing inward and a man tentatively pokes his head out. Close-cropped hair and coke-bottle glasses. He wore the same things as Harriet and the others.

The woman holding a still holding the unconscious Neon climbs onto the bus. Harriet motions for us to get on. [We gotta get out of here. The Sea Witch has a long reach. We don’t want to stick around.]

Inside the bus, lanterns hang from the ceiling connected by black cords. The first six seats of the bus are unchanged. Behind that, on the right side, is a large table with a paper maps all over. On the left it had what could only be called a mini armory. Guns, knives, and even sabers were there hanging up on wracks. Further back, there were sleeping quarters, which probably isn’t the word a bunch of hammocks suspended on over the other like bunk beds. There is one cot bolted to the floor which Neon was currently laying on the man examining them and talking to the woman who carried them.

[Take a load off.] Harriet motions to the seat next across from her. She and the others sit on the edge. The one who was carrying Neon makes her way back to the front as I sit. She smiles at me when she passes. And sits down at the helm. With in moments, the vehicle is on the road. Firewall and her talk about things about the fine mechanics of The Bus.

“Thanks for saving us. We wouldn’t have survived without you.” I say.

[That’s what we do!] Harriet laughs she pulls her canteen off her hips and takes a swig. [But I sure used a lot of Dream there. Getting to save a few DreamRunners and a DreamCrafter. It’s about to be a big one. I might even level up! You should check yours in a minute. I’m sure getting to safety gave you a bunch of points.]

The notification blinks in the corner of my eye and I nod. I know I have to look at it. Just some part of me trembles at the thought, not of getting stronger or being better able to protect them is what I want. I just know this means there’s a lot more I have to do to be like Harriet and the others. If we’re gonna survive, thrive even we gotta do better.

[Anyway, I’m Harriet and that up there is Sojurner, back there that’s William Still. And the rest of ladies here are all, Harriets.]

“Wait…” The names coming together in my head.

[You caught on pretty quickly.] Harriet smiles. [We’re The Underground. We are trying to save people and help keep them safe. Want to build stations and start infiltrating their strongholds. We are building up to something.]

[Harriets in a way are the infiltrators we do a lot of spy craft and when that fails, we fight for the Underground. Sojurners are our navigators. A lot of them have transportation abilities or just know how to read a map and keep us off The Dominance’s radar. Which is exactly what we need. William Still back there is a chronicler and quartermaster all in one. They do different behind-the-scenes stuff. I mean, there are a lot of us around and more than a handful of jobs going around. We use these names as protection to keep them from finding the people important to us and doing harm. While on the job, I’m just Harriet. I guess the bigger question is, do you want to be a part of it?]

“Huh?” I’m shocked. Someone just asked me to join their secret organization to make a new Underground Railroad, actually. “I… You’re making a new Underground Railroad and you’re asking us to be conductors? That’s-”

[That’s a really nice offer but, we have some contacts we need to make sure are okay here first.] Gabrielle breaks into the conversation. I’m surprised but, the look that she gives me lets me know we need to talk.

I second that notion. Kohl says coming up from under the seat and hopping up on my lap. I hadn’t seen him when I came in but, judging by the direction he came from… It’s pretty obvious he came from back there with Will and Neon.

“Kohl, I’m glad you’re alright.”

And I as well. Kohl says he looks at me in a way that no cat would keep his attention squarely on me. Thank you for keeping everyone safe. You have my sincerest gratitude. I know you were gonna risk yourselves to save me, but I don’t know that I could have gone through what the others did. We have to have a talk, you and I. There’s a lot you’ll need to know going forwards… leader.

I knew that is something I am working towards, but the way he said it, I understand. I look at the first notification.

Congratulations Composer,

You fought The Sea Witch and The Excutioner and survived. A feat not many can boast.

You lead your team using the best tactics you know and no one died.

We have decided to award you the Leadership skill.

Use it wisely and save your home!

I got the leadership skill. And while I waited to feel a rush of arcane knowledge like I did when I got Magic, nothing happens. I’m shocked. I hoped gaining this skill would mean I’d have a better handle on the world around me and my party. Some bit of knowledge to save everyone. Maybe a way to save our world, but I got nothing.

I look at Kohl and he just beams back at me.

He nods, You’ve earned it. We wouldn’t have made it without you.

A skill is represented by abilities you have, not things that you will learn from being awakened. You have shown the system and me that you deserve this ability and you are now being recognized for it. That’s why this is important. That’s why this is an accomplishment. Kohl wanders over and puts a paw on my lap. Don’t overthink it. Enjoy the recognition and try to be worthy of it. Kohl makes his way back towards the bed in the back.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see the multicolored lights of Neon. They jump out of bed and shout, [I leveled up! Woooo!] Even the subtitles add a bunch of o’s. They hop up and down and wince. [Oww] The smile lost only for a second. They still dance around just way more simple options, as to avoid straining themselves.

[You should level up. It’s hard out here. You’re gonna need to be strong. And sense you’re not gonna be with us, you’re gonna need to be a lot stronger. There’s a lot of crazy things out there. And If I know anything about these aliens… They don’t take getting beaten very well.] Harriet advises.

I nod and I open the next notification.

Congratulations Composer,

You leveled up! You are now Level 2.

Please take a minute and allocate your new stat points and ability points.

We expect great things from you.

A course of energy works through me like I just had a good night’s sleep, and I felt reinvigorated. I can hear everything again. The sound of the engine and the quiet conversations on the bus. Leveling up feels like it could get addicting. I can definitely tell why Harriet and Neon like the feeling so much. I don’t think I would get up and dance, but I can’t help the smile crawling over my face.

First, I wanted to dig into the points. I had been losing way too much health in that last battle and I, for sure, wasn’t strong enough to protect people. So Power and Durability need a boost. I’m trying to be the ranged damage dealer and I think Creativity will keep me loose and thinking about tactics, so I think that’s an important spread for me. Also, I think it helps me find drops which I’m hoping will happen a bit more often. Three points per level isn’t very much, but with 30 being the cap, it probably makes sense.

The Composer’s Stats

Level 2 (Rank 1)

HP: 12

Dream: 12

Will: 1

Reflex: 3

Creativity: 4

Talent: 2

Power: 4

Durability: 2

I know Creativity is more passive, but when I put points in it. I feel like my brain wrinkles a bit, like I’m learning something new and I’m building new pathways. It’s such an amazing feeling. Also know I’m more powerful now makes me feel like my CDs will hit harder. Now on to my spells and abilities.

I think I’ll add Teleport, giving me crucial mobility in times like dealing with that nightmare thing should protect me if I’m in that position again. I need to stay alive without having to break formation for me. Shot is an easy push to Lv 2 because it’s my most damaging ability and now with the buff to power it thinks it will help me one shot lesser enemies. That last point though I look over at Firewall who’s looking over their stats and Neon who’s playing with their Light Gauntlets… What if I grab Summon Construct? It will allow us to have another ally on our side doing damage and it scales with Creativity. It’s the perfect fit for my abilities. And it would help screen me from attacks and allow Neon to assassinate them.

The Composer’s Abilities

Skills:

Leadership

Knowledge:

Magic

Utilities:

Siren

Enchanting

Echo

Special Attacks:

Shot Lv 2

Damage 7-20

While it wasn’t a major power increase, watching the numbers go up felt good. Feel like I’d have a better control of the situation. I knew things were bad and the only way to do something about it was to fight. I just didn’t have enough information to know where to point ourselves.

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When I look down to where Kohl had gotten comfortable while I was working on my stats. I’m surprised to see that the wounds all over his body have disappeared. There weren’t even healed over scars.

Yes, a happy pur escapes his body. Thanks for asking. It seems as you get stronger, so will I. I have abilities I’m not able to harness yet that will allow me to help you on your paths and allow you to grow.

As exciting as that would be, I think a veterinarian finding something like me on his table might give him a heart attack.

I’d probably tell you if I was a cat, probably. DreamCrafters are like DreamRunners except our bodies are changed by the Dream entering our bodies. We can’t hide who we are. None of us can change what we look like and because of that, we’re obvious targets. We gain pretty complete knowledge of Dream and how it affects life forms. We also allow those awakened by us to choose their path in gaining strength. Those not awakened that way tend to get some unique, and while powerful, they can be unpredictable.

When I look up, Harriet wasn’t there. She’s talking to the other Harriets over at the war table. Weirdly enough, Gabrielle is in front of me. She smiles as she gets caught looking at me. Holding a warm cup that smells like cocoa. “What’s up?” I can tell she wants to say something.

“I told Sojourner that we need to be dropped off by our apartment building. I think it would be a good idea to get some supplies. I mean, you need some actual clothes. I don’t think lab rat chic does it for you. She’s down to do that. They’re getting ready to leave.”

“Just that quickly? Can’t they help us fight?”

“They’re supposed to be a scout force. They aren’t supposed to get in long, drawn out combats.”

“That’s… honestly pretty smart.” I say, sighing.

“Yeah, if we find a handhold here, we might even become a station for them. They’d like to help us. They just don’t have the people. Plus, it’s not what they’re about.”

“The lady’s right. We want a to be a force for change and safety for noncombatants. That’s what The Underground is about.”

I see what they’re all about… it makes me think about what I’d want life to be here. This is my home and I want to protect it. Protect Neon, Gabrielle, and Kohl. I want to find Carter too.

I hope he’s okay. My brother and I are a lot of things, but not knowing where he’s at or if he’s okay is twisting my stomach. I have been able to avoid the thoughts until now. But we’re out of danger, at least for the moment, and he’s all I can think about. I wonder what he’s up to.

We say goodbye as we are dropped off in front of Gabrielle’s and my building, Harmony Apartments. It’s sad to see them go. Kohl said he added Harriet into our contacts and any time they’re in the area, we can send messages. As we’d get stronger, his range would increase. I was hoping that meant we’d get lucky with some new abilities as we go on. We shrug on the packs that William gave us. He had some kind of power to recreate non-magic textiles from things like trash. It was so cool to see He even made a shield for Firewall and some leather armor.

Before we entered the building, Firewall kneels down by the doorway and send closes her eyes. She was using her Dive ability. It allows her to connect with systems and that the ability is level 2 access to cameras. Which will be really useful as we didn’t know what could have possibly infested our homes.

Dive

Ability Type: Technic

Dream Cost: 0

Level 1: You connect to the net and objects in the area to unlock doors or hack electric locks. Takes a round or a minute to jack in. Requires Focus.

Level 2: Access Cameras

Requirements: Hacking

“There’s movement on the cameras. But it doesn’t look human.”

“You think it’s the bugs?” I say nervously.

I believe that’s likely. Getting some psychic distortion in there. We should be careful.

“Are you gonna be alright, in there?” I nod at the apartment building.

While I may never be a combatant. My ability to sense ripples in the psy-fields will be invaluable.

“Alright let’s get in there so we can get some damn sleep!” Neon cheers

“Wait.” I call before Neon passes through the double doors. “There’s one more thing I want to do.” I hold out my hand and focus on my summoning spell. A magic circle begins etching itself in the asphalt. Purple light pours from me into lines and symbols beneath me. Once finished, the Magic Circle begins shining and I could feel something coming into the world. A wire frame of a crouching figure floats in the circle. I feel the same thing when I create a sound construct, the space for improvisation. I sing the dark blade into the construct. There’s a bit of reluctance at first. So I push willing for my power to work into the summoning. After a second or so, it accepts the blade’s power. And obscuring light blots out my vision. When my eyes adjust back to normal, a tiny imp appears holding what to me seems to be a long knife, but in its hand was a long blade.

The imp was the size of a young child holding a Dark Blade Longsword. The imp had a young, round face like a child. Its short dull horns peaked out from a head of pronounced curls. Its dark, red skin was like leather in appearance, while his lower body had the shaggy hair and hindquarters of a goat. The sword is shaped like a gladius, the short flat blade with a wide crossbar to fit the broad blade. It’s a reflection of my power. I’ve got a demonic servant with a sword, I enchanted myself.

Summon Minon

Dream Cost: 3

Level 1: Summon a creature from outside your world. It will grow as you do and will resemble more of you and your power.

Requirements: None/Genesis

“What’s your name, little guy?”

“Whatever my master deems appropriate.” Little guy says with such a cute self-serious attitude.

“Hmm… I honestly think you should name yourself. It would be pretty hypocritical of me to name you something you didn’t like.”

“If time is what you need, I will defeat The Chronicler and have them hold back The Sands of Time.”

“That’s… intense.” Neon chimes in, “How about we just do what we can today? And if you come up with something, that’s what we’ll call you.”

“I will rend the sky and bring it low for my master.” He says. He punctuates this by swinging his sword at the sky. I try very hard to keep my face as neutral as possible.

“Can you make him take a chill pill?” Neon mutters to me.

“Alright, alright. We’ve got a job to do and you’re gonna help us get home, little buddy.” I say patting his head.

Creeping our way through the dark 1st floor, the only light comes from the glowing of the Solar Battery. The fact that the cameras still work and yet it’s completely dark is very creepy, like whatever was in here must have hated the lights. Could it be some sort of vampire? We checked the doors as we went. We agreed not to go rummaging through people’s houses and but we did try the doors as we go. Most of them were locked tight, however a few were busted in. Gabrielle says that it was probably when people started figuring out about what was happening with the kidnapping.

That’s the first time she’s even really mentioned what happened to her. I hope it wasn’t as bad as what happened to me. She says it like she knew things were going bad. Maybe she stuck it out a longer than I thought. Maybe she even fought back. I watch her for a moment and she raises her shield and just like that she sets everything else down. Shuts out all of her other feelings and just moves forward.

Watching Gabrielle’s work was awesome. William and her built her new shield with his textile ability and her Construction. They fashioned a pretty cool looking shield. It was leather reinforced with the vestiges of her old shield. Round and strong, I did see something I hadn’t before 3 Chevrons appeared over her health in my HUD. When I asked about it from Kohl. He said Chevrons are how the system represented armor. That lit up my brain. I wonder if I could make enchanted armor for her. The spear is a little less austere, but it’s good they got one. A simple spearhead point connected to a long wooden shaft, a leather wrapped grip is held tight in her hand. She said she was unsure what she should use, but she should probably get a weapon that can do some actual damage and the wrench wasn’t doing it.

The 2nd floor is where things get weird. As we open the door of the stairwell, we decided that the elevator was a bad idea; I hear Firewall’s voice catch. As I make my way into the hallway, I can see why.

The entire floor has tiny three to four-inch purple, red, a yellow crystals dot the floor, the corners, and some even come out of doors. They sparkle, shining dim light all over the place. I couldn’t help but gasp. I looking over at the others and Gabrielle is already on her knees examining. Neon’s hair and natural glow seems to react with them, falling into synch with their colors in the crystals. Kohl, however, is the oddest. Each color seems to wash over them as he purrs loudly.

Gabrielle starts digging around one of the crystals to wrest it from its home. “What are these?” she says as she gets the crystal free.

These are Dream Crystals. They help magnify our powers, but it can fuel other things.

“Other things like what?” I say nervously.

The very thing I was worried about. Kohl says.

“Bugs!” Gabrielle says as she readies her shield.

Six crabs the size of medium dogs scuttle towards us. Their shells seem to be covered in Dream crystals. Their pincers clack as they move menacingly toward us. Nothing about them seems like the figments of imagination they were purported to be when I first heard of them.

Kohl slips behind us while we get into battle formation. Firewall in the lead, with Neon ready to flank on her left, little guy on the right and me in the back, ready to send my disks flying. Firewall lunges forward with her spear. The crab grabs her weapon to halt the thrust. Instead of giving up, she lifted it up to turn it over and flip it upside down. And that’s when Neon dives in with their light blades. Scouring deep into its exoskeleton.

“The underside is pretty weak!” Gabrielle calls out.

“Good to know.” I send a one, two combo at the crab to finish it off. My disks cutting deep into it. Unlike the other constructs, they explode in glitter like fragments. The one next to it becomes unseamed by our favorite imp slicing through it after four or five chops.

I took my eyes off our tank, and she was getting overrun. Four bugs surrounded her and her Guard was doing its thing blocking hits but she’s having a bit of trouble keeping up. “I’ve pulled too much.” She admits.

“Neon, thin the herd!” Neon takes off, bouncing off the walls, doing their best to scoop, slice, and knock them away from Firewall. When Gabrielle is left with only two in her general vicinity. She scoops one up with her shield, knocking it in the air and off balance, and then throws her spear like a javelin, spearing it through its carapace and into the wall. It twitches there for a while before a bleeding debuff appears over its body while it slowly drains of blood.

“That was badass!” I say, cheering her on.

“Wait until you see this!” she says as she puts her foot under another and flips it up to her knee, where she juggles it up further and smashes it with her glowing pink shield into the other wall. She must have been playing fútbol. Dazed condition flashes over its body and the dent it makes. I follow up with Shot finishing it off.

“You two done flirting?” Neon has the two others they’d taken off Firewall skewered on each of their blades.

We did pretty well for the next two floors. Neon would disturb a crystal. We’d figured out pretty quickly that’s what was drawing them towards us, and would run back behind Firewall while we had an easy time picking them off. We really got into a grove. Having Little Guy allowed me really to focus on offensive abilities and gave me another avenue whenever someone else gets involved. We were capable, strong, and we were in over our heads.

As we made our way to the 8th floor, we were riding high. The bugs slowly got more powerful. We weren’t able to move them around as much and they only got bigger. The one on the last floor was just as big as our shoulders. We got lucky taking it down. Firewall got under its guard, pushed hard, digging her feet in to the earth and picking its front legs off the ground, she rammed her spear into its underside again and again and again. While that was happening, Neon and I focused down the legs. It got so bad Neon had to turn his swords into twin axes, hacking through the limbs, and I sent so many disks I had to start building them again during the fight. They really made us work for that.

We were a bit ragged now; we were covered in cuts and bruises and our clothes could easily be called tastefully distressed if not for the blood. The quips and the joking quit a while back. I could tell the team needs something to break the tension but, we also have to keep loose.

“So for the obvious boss battle, how bout we make this a crab boil?” I joke. It’s bad. I don’t think it’s funny. I know I’m not funny. Anything to break the tension.

“What was that?” Neon laughs. “W-was that sup-posed to be a joke?”

“No buildup.” Gabrielle roasts me. “No punchline. No follow through.” And she laughs too, each staccato phrase punctuated by a chopping hand motion.

I can tell you there’s no worse feeling than hearing someone else laugh in your mind. It gets even worse when he snorts. I’m sure my face was bright red and even when they finish laughing, they look at me and start right back up again.

“I’m sorry, that was just hilarious. The ‘joke’ certainly helps to get everyone to loosen up, and that was my goal, even if that’s not how I imagined it happening.”

Just then, Kohl cuts the laughing short, freezing in motion. His whole body becoming rigid like someone stopped his time. For a full five seconds he hangs about to take another step and then, like nothing happened, he moves forward, catching up to us in a few quick cat steps. Looking around, no one else notices.

Nothing. It’s not a big deal. There’s a sigh in his mental voice.

I want to examine it, but I drop it. I haven’t known Kohl very long. There’s one thing that’s very obvious though: the man likes to keep things close to the chest.

We look at doors to the Boss Room. I mean, what else could it be? The doors leading to the indoor pool are so encrusted with crystals I wouldn’t know they were without the sign or the sounds of kids playing. As we touch the doors, they begin to open on their own and the look from Neon is literally vibrating.

The pool sits clear at the shallows, close to us. It darkens farther away. The crystals also saturate at the depths. We hear it before we see it. The sound of surging water draws our attention. The massive crab breaches the surface and waves splash out in different directions. Instead of the smooth shell of its brethren, the King Crab wore a crown of crystals jutting off in different directions. And when the massive thing gets to a place where it can no longer hide its body, I jump from the pool and knives down its legs toward us. Each leg was a blade and two sets of claws. Two massive pincers and two smaller ones. We scatter and when it lands, the monster lets out a sound like that of a roar mixed with the garbled keen of a blender.

Neon’s Stats so far

Level 2 (Rank 1)

HP: 12

Dream: 12

Will: 2

Reflex: 6

Creativity: 1

Talent: 1

Power: 3

Durability: 2

Neon’s Abilities So Far

Skills:

Super Speed

Knowledge:

Weapon Bond

Light Gauntlets

Short & Long Range

Utilities:

Hide

Arms: Energy Weapon Lv 2

Damage: 1-8 added damage

Special Attacks:

Dart

Damage 6-17

Kinetic Fighting Lv2

Damage 6-17

With Elemental weapon 7-24

Neon’s Inventory

Weapons

Light Gauntlets [Bound] (Tier 1)

Damage 5-11

Firewall’s Stats so far

Level 2 (Rank 1)

HP: 14

Dream: 12

Armor: 2 Chevrons

Will: 2

Reflex: 1

Creativity: 2

Talent: 4

Power: 2

Durability: 4

Firewall’s Abilities So Far

Skills:

Construction

Knowledge:

Hacking

Utilities:

Blackout

Intent

Dive Lv 2

Special Attacks:

Guard

Pierce

Firewall’s inventory

Steel Spear (Tier 1)

Damage 3-6

Steel-enforced Leather Shield (Tier 1)

1 Chevron

Custom PsyDeck

Leather Armor

2 chevrons