Chapter 49: The Scientist
“You don’t talk much, do you child? Come on now, if you want help, you're going to have to speak up.”
“Do you have a name?” I ask again probably for the third time.
“…” The child doesn't respond.
"Well, it's nice to meet you too." Not much of a talker this one. “Do you want me to carry you?” Looking down at the small child and his black head of hair I decided to pick him up so he wouldn’t get swept up by the crowd.
Before picking up the kid, I took off my lab coat. The child had been barefoot with nothing but a flag covering his exposed body. Who would leave a child like this, especially with the rumors of missing children?
“Aw, you're a cute one probably the most clueless one yet. I wonder where you came from. Your parents must be filled with worry, right about now. C’mon, don’t leave me hanging, little one.” Still, no words maybe the child had been abused.
“Can you tell me if you're a boy or a girl? Well, you look dwarven. That’s enough for me.”
“Is anyone missing a child!” I yelled not used to raising my voice, especially after so many years of being cooped up. Can’t believe the Doctor let me go, the man was unpredictable as always.
“Just keep the little guy until everything settles down, you're a Doctor I’m sure he’ll be safe in your hands. Sorry, I have to get back to my post.”
“Wait! Please I can’t-” Just great I was stuck with an abandoned kid.
“Well, I guess that’s that.” Being surrounded by this many Beast-kin was making me uncomfortable. A shame the lengths Mindel would go through to maintain this charade. A Hogsman was even given entry into this city, another slobbering pink pig among the many.
The child, I had almost forgotten.
“So can you at least point me in the direction you think your parents went in?" Gods, what am I saying we’ll never be able to find them in this mass these lines are barely serving their purpose.”
“…” Still no reaction, maybe I shouldn’t have come here.
“Remain silent, if you want to come with me. Nod, if you rather keep looking for your parents. I think we should wait until this great migration dies down.”
“…”
“Ok, a trip into the inner city it is.” Now to get through these crowds.
“Does anyone need medical attention? I’m not a healer but I can still be of help!” I could use a few levels for my skills. I see no harm the child doesn't look to be in any danger.
“Useless.” A beast-man in one of the prolonged waiting lines muttered.
“No, we can manage.” Another beast mongrel spoke up, who didn't speak with as much scorn as the last.
“Tough crowd, right little guy.” Looking at the child in my arms.
“…”
“You know it’s the first time I’ve identified a child and gotten back [Being]. I guess you're too young to even acquire a class. Either that or your parents haven’t taught you well.”
“…”
“Are your parents smiths?” That would explain the dark skin. Then again who would leave a child unclothed and unsupervised at a time like this?
“Very peculiar indeed. Are your parents around? Are your parents dead?” I think it would be appropriate to ask at least one more time for safety measures.
“…”
"An abandoned child or a child turned orphan." That may be the case under the circumstances. Traumatizing to bear witness to this catastrophe.
I can’t risk this child’s life in that hell hole of a city. Who knows what could happen to him? He’s, my responsibility.
I looked down at the watch on my wrist and almost had a heart attack. I’d been out for too long.
“Can anyone escort this child into the city!” It was best to get the word out. I'm sure someone else would be up for the task.
“Can anyone ta-!”
“I can take the kid doc, no need to shout we already got guards hounding us.” Someone wanted to take responsibility this time around. Who would've thought? If we were in the city the child would be as good as gone.
Turning my back with the child in hand. I flinched at the site of a Hogman. A burly obese man whose tusks and jowls, always gave me a little scare. How did he even get into the city with that fleshy skin?
I wanted to help the kid at first, but a new objective seemed more important. I needed to get out of these tunnels before I was penalized for staying out too long.
“Here just take the kid!” I said to the Hogman while trying to unwrap the child’s arms from around my neck. The little guys had a strong grip.
“Little guy, I'm going to need you to let me go. This man here will-” I had stopped to consider the consequences of my actions. The current scenario had made me think of my work I had to admit. Almost everything made me think of my work.
Am I going to give this defenseless child to this random Hogsman? He could be from the lowest department for all I know. No that’s not likely, those dwarves won’t ever let outsiders into their inner workings. There weren’t even that many dwarven half-breeds in the ranks, to begin with. As if I would know I’ve only been to the tenth and sixteenth.
“It looks like the little guy would rather stay with you.” The child has become quite attached to me in such a short time maybe it is the will of the Gods.
If that is not the case, then I shall ask again. “I have to get going, can you help me get the little guy off.” Figured I'd ask one more time. "Please just take the child."
“…” The Hogsman and I both looked at the expressionless child.
He had something to say it seemed. “Does the kid not talk? Actually, who would I even give the kid to after we entered the city? How long is the journey? Sorry, Doctor on second thought I’m going to decline the kid.”
Ah, it seems the Hogman just wanted information about where the lines were headed. I was a bit taken aback by the realization that I didn't notice him turning to walk away.
“Wait!” I yelled turning heads in my way. How could that mongrel just leave after offering to help?
“Hey kid, can you loosen your grip? No need to make it hotter than it already is. The gate getting closed, and all these bodies bunched together won’t be long till we’re baked into a crisp.”
“Ha, baked.” Shoot, I need to get moving.
“Hey, kid do you mind finding someone else to “Feeling the child's heartbeat slow on my chest.
-…. - Damn how the hell did this kid fall asleep so quickly.
“Little guy, it’s not safe for you to go where I’m going.” I tried waking the child so he could run along but he was holding onto my neck for dear life.
“Tick, tick, tick, tick” the sound of time ticking by. I wasn’t going to risk my life out here. The watch got louder when I was running out of time.
I couldn’t suffer a penalty again. “I just can’t! “Raising my voice drew more looks of curiosity, anger, and suspicion.
I took my left hand and rubbed it against the kid's back to comfort him. I made up my mind to swing by my current accommodations to reset the watch's timer so I walked like my life depended on it. I made my way to the hidden wall inside the tunnel on Wall Street. I made sure it looked like I was taking a breather and resting my legs.
Using the tunnels that lead to the inner kingdom could be expensive, just as much as the tunnel's expansive.
A Dwarf could get lost in these tunnels and meet an untimely death if they weren't careful. The tunnels could be treacherous without the right guide or guard, nothing like the cavern in which Fallohar city itself resides.
These Beast-kin should count themselves lucky. The Dwarves of old were something making so many hidden passageways into the inner kingdom. The main problem with using the hidden tunnels was that you still need authorization and or verification to use them. I needed to renew my authorization which would expire in minutes if I didn’t check back in every so often.
Not my brightest moment. Thinking I could help anyone when I couldn’t even help myself. Now I’m putting a life- my life in danger seeing to another lost child.
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Probably a mute one at that.
“Left, left, left, left, right,” I whispered, reminding myself of the directions I needed to take to get to the hidden pathway. Finding the right brick, I began lowering my body, putting my back against the wall in a sitting position. I looked down at the sleeping child in my arms. Praying to the Gods that things would go well.
“Seventh ember from the great flame” I whispered off into the air with my back plastered against the wall.
A black rune showed itself momentarily and I was in the clear.
An illusion acting as another safety precaution would take my place resting on the wall and fade when my eyes were no longer watching. It depended on if anyone was watching my movements in the first place.
The stone wall turned soluble allowing me and the child to slip right on through at a moment’s notice.
It was here I could scan my watch again to reset my timer. Hopefully, the Dwarves in waiting wouldn’t be in a sour mood.
“You’ve come back sooner than we accepted.” The one-eyed dwarf man spoke out of turn. It wasn’t my place to hound them about slacking off. Neither was it my place to try and help the Beast-kin forced to migrate, but here I am. A child in hand having not helped a single soul other than myself.
I kept silent hoping to enter the facility as quickly as possible and leave back out before my watch started burning my wrist into a fine roast.
“Woah, slow down there, you know the protocol to identify yourself. While you're at it, explain to me and the boys how you're still alive after deserting.”
“I didn't-” I was surprised to hear my business being spread around like I was some sort of hot topic. who told these Stones about my leave!?
“Yeah, you did.” Another dwarf man wearing a similar armor, to that given out to the Adventurers for free. Only the armor wasn't dark blue but a worn-down silver.
“Who’s the kid!” The only one with brains here had made the observation I had been anticipating.
I stopped and looked around the waiting room. A hollowed-out entrance hidden to all not affiliated with those of the ember. These four had made this place their home. Couldn’t blame them there was little to no chance that coal would exit the furnace. Once you were in you were there to stay.
“You haven’t answered any of our questions? You do well to cooperate.” Wow, they're going to take turns speaking.
“I talked with the good doctor, that's all I can say. As for the little one, as you can see he’s asleep. I was helping the little guy find his family. With all the commotion out there-”
“You!? Helping a child! AHAHAHHAHAH!!!”
“AHHAHAHAHAHAH!!” I never had four dwarves laugh so belligerently in my face. They were forgetting their place.
“...” At least the child was still asleep with his tiny arms still hanging around my neck.
“Wrist up, let's get this over with. I’m tired of seeing your face already.” Bald Bastard I'm not too fond of seeing your faces either.
“Just great you two doofuses woke up the brat.” Four not two at least bald ones up front and honest.
Raising my wristwatch to baldie. I looked at the child who hadn't paid any mind to the four dwarven watchmen who were still giggling without a care in the world.
“Where’s the Bar?” I wondered where their multi-tools were.
“The Rods malfunctioned when the lights went out but I don’t need it. With my set of Skills.”
Feeling my wrist warm up from the tag, I accepted what Baldie was saying to me at face value. One of the four was good for something.
The other two sat back down on the rectangular sofa sitting in the middle of the room.
“Now for the kid. I want class, date of birth, bloodline, and parentage, along with the reason why you're trying to bring the child into this facility.”
“I don’t think the child has a class yet seeing as he’s just identified as [Being]-” So I guess baldies are the most observant.
Wow, this kid is burning up. I put my hand across his expressionless little forehead and under his neck to find a pulse. This child needed my help. I guess my skill choice all those years paid off.
“As for the other stuff, I already told you. The child had lost his way. I only came back to reset my timer.” I should be getting back to my research.” These four were dangerously close to losing their lives do they not know who I am?
“Bullshit!”
“Bullshit.”
“Liar.”
“You doctors think you're so smart locking yourselves in your little research departments doing God knows what. It's not the first time I've seen you bring a child in through these doors. This one just happens to be the youngest. Now talk or you’ll find your scrawny ass in a place you surely don’t want to be in.”
*Ping!* [Patient Persona] has leveled up to 156!
*Ping!* [Observational hazard] has leveled up to 170!
*Bing!* Secondary Class
Looking at the child I spoke quietly without raising my voice to the four coals. “Know your place. Would you like me to report four slackers interfering with my work? As someone who has been working as long as you have Stone, you should understand the repercussions of interfering with my research.” To think I have to put up with this, no wonder I tried to leave.
*Ping!* [Procedural Memory] has leveled up to 169!
“Ahhh, I see a problem now.” The child wasn't just lost but in need of medical assistance.
It was time to wrap this encounter up and hope I'd never meet the four again. “As for you three excluding Baldie, laugh at yourselves, here you are living in a tunnel on the outskirts of the kingdom. You four are a close second from becoming outcasts and that’ll make you just another coal to the furnace. So be grateful that someone still drops by this cesspool you call a waiting- No, that's not right, a home.”
Three mouths out of the four laughing Dwarf men had been closed shut.
“So much venom towards the Stone and not a whiff of nobility to speak of. I know one of our own when I see it. You may pass as for the kid I'm adding him to the number. Have fun at the sixteenth you piece of shit.” Always the smart one's trying to fight for the last word.
“Have fun at the first baldie.” That lit a match under the small man seeing his handball up. So easy to get to the balding, know it all's.
“Now little one let's get back to finding that family of yours.” Cute and quiet, I may have a favorite yet.
Walking to the back of the waiting room checking my watch on my left wrist while I had the silent and sleepy boy in the other, I readied for the descent. I tapped my watch sixteen times to activate its tag. The wall made of stone split apart opening with little resistance.
Turning back around to say my goodbyes before we entered the elevator to the furnace, I let my white teeth show the refinement between me and the four losers.
“Oh, and make sure you get those bars fixed. I wouldn't want to have any problems because of a little slip-up.”
Walking into the elevator I closed my eyes for the first scan of the day looking at the steel pale walls and the lack of buttons indicating that I didn't have a choice on where we were going.
“Damn it” The kid was going to be scanned as well-meaning I wouldn’t get the chance to find out what was wrong with him for myself.
“Excuse the rather inappropriate language little one. Stay exactly as you are, you'll feel a little warmer than you are now. It’ll be over in a second."
I wondered if my words fell on deaf ears. We would arrive at the lab any minute now. "Almost there." I wonder if my return would be anticipated.
(Have you eaten today? Are you tired of the same bland flavored food? Do you have ideas for innovation? If so, come on over to the third department specializing in nutrition and flavor.)
“Give it a minute.” I try to look down at the child laying his head on my neck. I spoke to the elevator's announcer to skip the daily department advertisement.
Talking to the elevator with authority. I said, “Authorization overrule commence cautionary scan.” The good doctor knew how to get on someone's good side. Who wouldn't want the perks of jumping the line?
The elevator would soon recognize my position as we waited in silence.
(“SCAN COMMENCING: VOICE RECOGNIZED... HELLO, Walt Stoneye: Leader of the sixteenth sect... Stay calm, a cautionary scan will commence in three…two... one.”)
A blue light showered us from overhead along with a noise that was most startling to newcomers.
The child hadn’t moved since I tried giving him to the Hogsman. Which made me smile at the growth of my skills.
“Sorry about those four up above little one. There’s no rush, I doubt we could find your parents out there with thousands of smelly beast-kin running ramped. This city needs to wake up to the fact that these emergency protocols are outdated. What would’ve happened if you had met the wrong person.”
“...”
“Yeah, I know don't worry. Those four stones don’t know what they were talking about.”
“...”
(“CAUTIONARY SCAN COMPLETE: Walt Stoneye...Race: Half-Dwarf...Estimated age: Mid-thirties. Health: Optimal. Report to the Good Doctor when you get the chance, Walt Stoneye.)
'Quite odd she didn't scan the kid.'
(“CAUTIONARY SCAN CONTINUING: unknown... Race: Unk...Correction-Half-Dwarf. Estimated age: Mid-thirt-...Correction-infancy. Health: Deteriorating. High levels of Mana may be the lead cause of deteriorating health. Scans also show protruding Mana veins. There also seems to be no form of sustenance in the digestive tract. Signs of starvation.)
“What the hell this machine must be malfunctioning, probably due to that damn outage. There are way too many discrepancies.” I understand not knowing the child's name, but the other details are concerning. Didn’t even get the child's age right! This isn’t a damn infant I mean look at him he’s got to be about four.
“Mana sickness! I've been looking at this child the entire time there are no Mana's veins-” I fell silent.
“...”
I’ve heard about cases found in younger children but where would a child so young be exposed to high levels of mana? He was just fine minutes ago. Did I diagnose the child under the dim light in the tunnels?
“Little one can you look at me and lift your head.” How could I forget?
"..." He didn't move in the slightest.
Checking the child for the signs of Mana's sickness. I sat down on the elevator floor with the child in my arms slightly moving my lab coat to get a better view.
"(SCAN COMPLETE... Headed for the 16th Department)" I hate the voice of that pre-recorded concubine.
The blue light from the scanner had dissipated allowing me to see all that I had missed in the tunnels.
“Finally, some better lighting,” I said as I looked at a rune on my watch. The damn scanner must have been broken.
I squinted my eyes trying to remain calm. My skills depended on it.
"That’s not good. That’s not good at all."
In all my years I'd never seen a child withstand mana sickness without any treatment.
The words had slipped out by mistake. Another question to the many I'd asked the expressionless child.
“How are you still alive?”
There went another question that would probably never be answered. I had no problem talking to a child who wouldn't live to see the next day. The child may not have reacted like the patients prior. I wonder if the child knew that he was going to die with the final stages being so evident.
The most unsuspecting one yet but by far the most promising.
“…”.