Wait, You are leaving?

"Yes... I need to go home and check on Buddy. Also sleep. Sleeping is nice for meat beings like me" Nola doesn't sleep. She doesn't even seem to get tired. I only hate her for that a little bit. It's all jealousy on my part.

Please don't go. I don't want.... I am afraid to be alone here. I don't think I have ever been alone before.

"It's ok Nola, I will just be gone for the night. I will be the first one back here in the morning" I guess this is the first time she's been alone on Earth. I am not sure what it was like when Buddy had her, but he doesn't seem like the type to let someone like this out of his sight. I don't know how long she's been alive/ conscious, but the whole time I've known her she's been no more than a football field away at all times. And even then it was only briefly.

Uh oh.

She was 'tied' to me back when she was loose. When I tried to leave she almost went through a wall. She mostly did.

And now she's locked in place and several thousands of pounds of equipment and dirt.

Can I even leave? If not I am about to become a really loyal Door Dash customer. That wouldn't be too bad. Nola can make food, she can make new clothes, furniture and basically anything else I need...

And Buddy will die of dehydration.

Crapola. I need to test this out, for his sake if not my own. But my dungeon is not handling this well. The anxiety of being left alone has been constant since I brought it up, and growing. She's working herself into a fit. I need to stop this before the ground starts hyperventilating.

"Nola, listen to me. I will be coming back. I promise." Got her attention, now sell it. "Can you make me a tiny room with a bed or a couch in it for tonight. I will sleep here" The anxiety dropped immediately. At almost the same rate as a new building popped up. It was an all green moss teepee decorated with orchid flowers. Not my style, but a neat look all the same. It replaced the area I had my desk in. Huh. I guess we would have to put that back in the morning. I suppose that is an easy enough task for Nola given her skill set.

"I am going to go home..." This is gonna be my home for a while, gotta re assure the panicky one "... I mean to the house and pick up a few things. I will check on and take care of Buddy and be right back. 2 hours or less" I think she's starting to accept it.

"And I want you to focus on making an actually dangerous guardian. Think of something that can capture any person that comes here without permission. You have my blessing to use as much matter as you need." If this is anything like last time that will keep her occupied for for at least 40 minuets.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

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After a nod of approval I hurried out to my car. I wanted to move fast, but I also didn't want to move fast enough where I'd go splat if I was pulled back to the core. I hadn't felt anything tugging me as I exited the gate or when I walked to the car. Good sign so far. As I drove away I could feel the anxiety rising even as the connection faded. We would need to work on that together. I wonder if I could get a shrink to work with her. Or work with me so I can work with her. Does psychology work on dungeon cores?

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At least within 10 miles of the core, I am not getting pulled back. That's good. Aside from mental damage there seems to be no issues with me being this far away. The clock is ticking. In and out. Quick check on Buddy. Grab a change of clothes and a tooth brush and get back.

Buddy was still where I left him. In a coma. I should probably find a professional to take a look at him. People shouldn't be out for this long should they?

I force fed him some water and another potion. A quick trip to the blender and I gave him some protein and vegetables shake. Hopefully nothing poisons him. Nola already said she knows basically nothing about the guy, so help with the diet plan is out of the question.

I need to think if I know anyone who works in the medical field, human or animal, who I could trust to help. It could end really badly for everyone if I choose wrong. Something to work on for later

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I went to my room and packed a suitcase like I was going on a work trip. Everything I'd need or want if I couldn't make it back here regularly.

Looking around for books I grabbed everything that might be worth reading for my dungeon. I also grabbed some classics literature that I had been gifted, but I never got around to reading. Someone will get something out of it. It didn't take long to get everything worth reading into my car. There wasn't that many books overall. I should work on that when I'm rich and famous. Get a giant library in my mansion. Seems like the thing to do.

I took a last look around my place. Most everything in it had been rescued from the garbage where I worked. It functioned, but it was far from nice. Half finished home improvement projects by an idiot (me) made it feel more like a construction site than a home. If it weren't for Buddy I probably wouldn't be back.

Before heading out for the night I left a note for Buddy. I wasn't sure if he could read at all, let alone read English, but it might be something That could help him when he wakes up and I'm out.

Or I could bring him.

Build a shack that says something like "toxic chemicals - do not open" and then fuze the door to the wall using Nola. And then I can keep an eye on him as he recovers. And no one will discover him if they break into my house

Ok. New plan.

I grabbed the remaining potion and some extra blankets and placed them in the back seat.

It's late, so no one is walking around, I should be able to drag him to the car if I move quick. If I get caught, he's just a Halloween decoration. A really heavy Halloween decoration.

The move went off without a hitch. I got him in the back and covered him with another blanket. Now my car just had a messy back seat. Still, I'm gonna drive more carefully so I don't get pulled over.

I turned on the porch light and grabbed the mail before locking up. Back to work we go

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I could feel Nolas nervous energy a mile out.

By the time I was pulling in she was, literally, pulsing with excitement at the garbage pit.

"Well, look at that! You made it. I told you ya would"

I did! I also made a guardian based on your memories, wanna see?

Wait, a fully fictional creature out of my memories? That could be a lot of things...

"Which memories?" I asked

The movie Tremors!

The pulsing garbage pit made a lot more sense now.

Lesson learned, don't give the dungeon a blank check