On to Objective

Frank began to stir just as the team was staring in awe at the GS2, looking as good as new.

"What happened?" Frank said as he sat up.

Turning to look at him, the rest of the team stared for a moment before replying.

"You don't remember any of it?" James asked.

"I remember amping up and going to smash some goblin guts, but then it gets a little fuzzy until nothing," Frank replied.

"You did a great job with the smashy-smash, but then did such a good job, you tried to do it to us," James said.

"What?!" Frank exclaimed. "No, no, no, that can't be right. I would never hurt you guys. You're my team."

"Unfortunately, I think you may have gone a bit too far into the rage. You started out okay, but then I noticed you may have triggered something else that set you off. Can you give us a rundown of your skills?" Jay asked.

Frank looked like he was going to throw up. He turned white and began wobbling back and forth slightly in his sitting position, "Uh, yeah, sure. I have the Rage skill, which I used to get myself fired up and ready for battle. Then I was smashing goblins, but I was worried they would get past me. So I pushed myself harder. I don't think I used another skill, though."

"Can you look at your combat log? Maria should be able to help you with that if you ask her. She can also sort it out to skill usage only and not damage," Jay offered.

Eyes unfocusing, Frank sat quietly for a few minutes as he looked over screens the others couldn't see. After reviewing it for a long period, his eyes widened.

"I used that many skills!" He called out as he read the list again.

"What does it show?" Jay asked.

"I used the Rage skill like I thought, but then it looks like I was using some attack skills, then I got worried and must have accidentally used the Berserk skill," Frank said, looking ashamed.

"What's the Berserk skill?" Lacey asked.

"It's a skill that takes off the limiter of Rage, but it also makes it impossible to tell friend from foe. It's supposed to be a last-ditch Barbarian skill to keep you alive," Jay explained.

"How do you know that?" Mark asked.

"I make it my business to know things," Jay said cryptically.

"That's not an answer," Mark replied.

"I don't owe you answers. I'm one of the guild's spy leaders. All you need to know is I have the best interest at heart for all upstanding members of the guild," Jay said.

"Fine, either way, that is good to know. We had to put you to sleep to stop you. We need to be very careful when that skill gets used. We're here to work with you, Frank. Just let us help. You can see we handled it when you were out," James said, gesturing to the death lying around them.

Frank turned to survey the battlefield. Bodies were everywhere; black blood was coating the ground to the point it appeared fresh asphalt had been laid on the freeway. Flies were beginning to gather on the goblins as well.

"You mean I didn't do all of that?" Frank asked.

"Unless you suddenly started using stabbing and slashing weapons, no. Those goblins are in much better shape than the ones you nearly obliterated in your stampede," Jay replied.

Frank looked ashamed, "I'm sorry, guys. I didn't mean to lose it like that. I'll do better next time."

"That's all we ask," James said in a moment of compassion. "We aren't here to bust your balls, Frank. We are learning too. Just work with us. You don't have to do it all."

Frank nodded, looking up at James with a mixture of shame and appreciation crossing his face. James reached out a hand to help the big man stand up. Frank took the hand and tried to stand but just pulled James down into his lap.

"Whoa, hey, Frank, I didn't know you cared. You're so strong and muscled." James said as he lay on Frank.

"Um...sorry, I can get up myself."

Frank proceeded to pick up James like a doll and set him back on his feet before rolling to get up himself. Moving over to the vehicle, James winked at Frank, who looked very uncomfortable.

"James, stop it. He doesn't need that shit," Jay said.

"Sorry, it's hard not to feel safe when someone that big picks you up and..."

"No, not doing this. Get in the damn car!" Jay cut him off.

"Aww, you're no fun."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Once the team had loaded up in the GS2, Jay took off at a slow pace as they rolled over the bodies that lay in the road still from their recent battle. Once they were past the carnage, he was able to pick up a bit more speed, weaving in and out of the stalled vehicles on the road.

When they finally approached the place where the goblin towers had been, the only thing remaining was the bases with a couple of support beams sticking up in the air. All of the wood was completely charred, and the smoking bodies of the creatures who couldn't get away were lying about.

"Good shot, Mark," James commented nonchalantly as they drove past.

Mark looked a little uneasy at all the carnage around him.

"I did all this?" He asked. "I think I might be sick."

"How are you not already past that? This world requires quite a bit of killing to stay alive," Jay said as he kept his eyes glued to the road.

"I've done it before, I just haven't been faced with the carnage like this and on this scale," Mark replied.

"Look, they wanted to kill us, no questions asked, simply because we were here and alive. You did well. Just remember that. You're a valuable member of a team, and they need you. You're the only one who can do what you do for them," Jay comforted Mark the best he could with his words.

"You're right. Thanks," Mark said, smiling slightly at the compliment.

"Well, I, for one, am disappointed that I didn't even get to kill any goblins," Susie piped in from the backseat.

"You'll get your chance, kiddo. Just be patient. There are plenty of things that want to kill you out here," Jay chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"What's so funny?" Susie asked.

"Sorry, just seeing so many people wanting to run away from danger, then thinking of you running at it was a little amusing," Jay replied.

"I am braver than most people. And more skilled,"

"I bet you are. Most people are cowards at heart. the old world made them soft. But there's nothing wrong with that either. Everyone has to face their fears eventually,"

Once the team was past the wreckage from the fire, the driving became easier, and they were able to pick up speed. As they went north on I-35, the devastation they saw in the surrounding areas dampened the mood again.

James tried to crack jokes to make everyone focus on the moment rather than what they lost, but it was an uphill battle. Eventually, they reached the I-35 merger in Denton and had to slow again. So many vehicles seemed to be driving at the time of the event that there was a pileup almost as far as they could see.

"This is going to take forever to move. Can we drive around it at all?" James asked.

"I'll try. No sense in getting out to move hundreds of vehicles out of the way, no matter how fast we think Frank could do it," Jay replied.

Pulling off to the shoulder, Jay saw that even it was blocked ahead.

"We should get out and see if there is another way around. We're on the wrong side here and need to get to the service road side. Everyone see if we can drive off the highway and get past that way," Jay said.

Climbing out of the vehicle, the team spread out and moved to the opposite side of the road. Looking at the vehicles on the side, they noticed that even the grassy divider seemed to be mostly full of vehicles that had the same idea. When they finally came back together, they all had pretty much the same thoughts. It was possible to drive off the road and up into the fields behind the businesses to get around, but it was still going to be slow going.

Frank got to work "casting iron" on the vehicles around them to make an initial path to the service road. Since it was past the merger, he had to really crush a few vehicles together to make a path past the barricade. When they got to the grass, they took it slow driving off and then had to drive over the curb into the field behind the In-and-out Burger that was just off the freeway.

"This feels a little dangerous for the vehicle," Lacey commented as they drove over a rather tall curb and into the parking lot.

"Alright, hang on," Jay said as he stopped the vehicle.

Pulling up the GS2's upgrade menu, Jay saw he still had enough points for a lift on the vehicle. He was able to buy a three-inch lift and made his selection. The vehicle rose as new shocks and spacers were added automagically to the vehicle.

"That's all we can do for now. We're gonna need to run over some more creatures if we need to fix it later, and we don't want it too tall, or we can't hit some of the monsters. Let's keep rolling."

The ride felt easier with the slight height addition as the team was forced to drive through parking lots to get to the other side of 380. Once they were past the worst part of the Denton traffic, they were able to get back on the highway and cruise at a fairly steady pace.

Several hours later, they were approaching their destination, Gainesville, Texas. Jay pulled the vehicle off of I-35 and onto Highway 82.

"Where are we going exactly again?" James asked.

"Tom said the people needing our help were hiding out in a boat and RV storage facility. Seems like there are a few of them out here, so we will have to look for signs of life," Jay replied.

"That looks like a pretty good indicator to me," Susie said, leaning over the center console and pointing off to the left.

They all followed where she indicated to see a wooden sign with orange spray paint reading "People, here, please help".

"Oh, yeah....that seems like the place," Jay said sheepishly as he turned to pull off at the storage facility.

The gate had been left open, so the team drove right into the lot and pulled up to the administrative building. Jay saw someone peering through the blinds and pull away quickly when they noticed he was watching. As they exited the vehicle, he motioned for everyone to stay put near the GS2 rather than just moving right up to the doors to enter.

"Hello? We're here to help you all get out. We're with the team from Dallas. Your message said you had a monster of some kind to deal with?" Jay called out.

Nothing happened for a long moment.

"Are you sure they're here?" James asked.

"I saw them watching through the window. Just give them some time," Jay replied, shushing James.

The door suddenly burst open, and a tall man with a beard yelled out at them, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?! Get in here before you get killed!"