Chapter 43 Decision
We survey the area Bre'Tirgan had pointed out, where he and his people appeared. We decided if we can get there in time, we could set up a kill zone, so as soon as they appear we could kill them, but we were too late.
Thousands were already there, spread across the area. A dull roar of voices could be heard in the distance, and camp fires lit up the evening sky as far as the eye could see. I pull back removing my high powered binoculars.
I sigh to Rick who is with me,” That is one hell of an Army and more seem to be arriving by the hour”, I say to himquietly after witnessing a flash of light and another group emerged to join the rest. “It seems, they can not send everyone at once, but given time they can get them all here.” I sit back and think things over of what we now know.
So far they have not used magic on us as Bre'Tirgan had pointed out ealier. But their numbers were swelling at an alarming rate. We could run, and hope they do not catch us, but moving almost a thousand people now would incur heavy losses. Right now the Barony had 831 people of which 150 were the workers.
What to do here, think Scott. The Warriors infused mana into their arrows and had better results than the guns or Phaser Rifles. Magic is the key here. The Fireballs and Lightning from the Shaman hurt them, and we have Cindy to add to that, but we have almost 250 who have nothing of that nature. And the Ny'haren do not have many more warriors than what we took with us. There has to be a solution.
“So what are they doing now?” Rick asks.
“It looks like they are building something, like a structure. Bre'Tirgan said his people, when they attacked their main force, saw them using slaves to build structures, coincidence?” I say to Rick in thought.
“So we have time then?” He asks
“Maybe, but that does not count out smaller skirmishes. We need to find out what those structures are and what they do if anything, that might be the key to of all this, in any case it is wishful thinking, if that is the case” I say with a long drawn out sigh.
“Why do you say that?” He asks again
"If I had a special forces team, we might be able to get in and blow the place up delaying them for some time, but me alone, I do not know, if I had my...............” then it hit me. Reality Manipulator, I can recreate my stuff. But I would need to train it up to a higher level and fast. Also I can probably upgrade my Profession and maybe, maybe get new stuff, but I am not counting on it.
Adding a second profession is iffy as well. I am coming up blank to be honest, not sure what else to think of as I am first and foremost a marine. It is all I know. It WAS my life all these years, so how can I imporve on that, hell I can think shit up easy enough, guns ammo, explosive. But a profession, is something else. Saying and understanding them are two different matters. Sigh
Rick and I retreat from our vantage point and leave the scout to watch for any movement, he was taught how to use the radio. We head back to the School it is early evening about dinner time.
We arrive and the workers and people are still working hard on the walls, no one is taking a break, it is matter of survival now. And I can not start the next upgrades till these are done.
I look at the work and nod, just then one of the Workers arrives and tugs at my shirt. “(Scott the West wall is now completed)” he thinks to me”(we will begin on the south wall next)”. Earlier in the day, I came across the workers and tried my crown on them and it worked, since then we have been able to communicate.
“(Very well is there any way you know of we can speed up the upgrades?)” I ask him in his language.
“(There is but it is very costly)” He thinks.
“(Money is not an issue right now how do I do it?)” I ask now intrigued.
“(You simply put in a rush order, each day you remove off the build times, will costs you 2000 gold at current build level)” He replies.”(However the catch is, it will be all upgrades at once)”
“(so if I decide to knock off 9 days off of the build time of all upgrades, then the walls would be completed?) “ I ask trying got make sure I understand.
“(That would be correct and as we have completed the west wall ahead of schedule and started on the South wall, estimated completion time is 5 days now instead of 9 with all these workers handy. The delay is of course rest.)” he thinks with a smile now.
“(So ten thousand for the walls ten thousand for the keep and we still have three days on the towers so six thousand for the towers. A total of twenty six thousand gold and we would have walls and towers done and the keep will have less than 21 to completion. Is that right?)” I ask
“ (You are almost right you will still have to pay ten thousand for the towers.?)” He smiles and nods
“(I am sorry for asking this but why can I not simply put in a rush job for the walls only?)” I ask
“(It is because a rush job does not distinguish between each upgrade, you are asking for a work force increase and only get one rush job option as a whole, it looks to the number of workers assigned to a current project and sees the estimated time and simply increase the work force based on that number, not the upgrades themselves. So having 150 workers, you want to take five days off, it will add five times the workers and materials on hand to cut the job down by five days. Get it now?)” he thinks with a smile.
“(Yes I got it, very well I am formally putting in a rush job of five days)”. I say
BARONY NOTICE!You have opted for a rush job on your current upgades
You have selected five days
Cost will be thirty thousand gold.
Do you accept yes or no?
I select yes.
BARONY NOTICE!Thirty thousand gold has been deducted from your Treasury,
Upgrades will now be sped up by 5 days.
A light glows, lots of them all over, 750 lights shine in the open area. As the glows recede 750 more workers appear, and begin to start working on the various upgrades. A cheer rises from the citizens as they see the new workers join them. Morale is rising high.
Good thing they do not know yet......I must find an answer soon.
I head for the Cafeteria to get some dinner, and as I enter I spot Julie, Cindy and a very embarrassed Ki'Diera with them who flushes red as soon as she sees me, but she stays seated and does not flee, I am in no mood to read her mind right now.
I grab my meal, Julie and Cindy made room for me between then and I take my spot.
“Why the gloomy look sweetheart?” Julie asks.
What I am about to tell you stays here and does not leave this stable got it?
Uhh sure sweetheart...
Scott is everything ok?
Rick and I just got back from scouting the area that Bre'tirgan and his people portaled into.It is crawling with thousands of those creatures and they are building something out there.
Thou....thousands? Julies face goes pale
Could you see what they were building Scott?
No it is too early to tell as it is in the beginning phases.
What are we going to do Scott?
Well for starters I just used thirty thousand of the Barony gold to speed up the walls, they should be done tomorrow and so will the Watch towers.
That's a lot of gold Scott, does not leave us with much.
I know, but it had to be done, I will try to send out some more groups tomorrow to see if we can get more money from the surrounding stores, but for now that will have to do till we can figure this out. To upgrade the keep in a day would cost another forty two thousand gold which we do not have right now.
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Um yeah we would need....lets see.....a little over a million more dollars to do that
Sigh I know and gathering that up will not be easy. Bre'tirgan and his people hit the two largest banks already, and it took us a day to gather just eighty thousand with our people.
What if we ask Bre'Tirgans help and send everyone out to gather money?
And what if that army decides to attack while they are all out? I can not risk that honey.
Well Julie and I can help you..
NO!
Scott?
Sigh.....I might as well tell you both now, since this is the best time to say this and please I am so sorry, but prepare yourselves for this and know I love you two dearly
Scott what is it? you are scaring me now
If you are scaring Cindy you sure as hell got me scared now.
Ok here it is...you are both pregnant.
Hahaha good one, not possible as I am on the pill
Yes so am I.....
Julie open my status screen please and look for yours and Cindy's health status
Open Scott Smith Status
hmmmmmm
Silence....
Julie?
Cindy....
“We are pregnant Cindy!!!” Julie yells out loud for all to hear as many heads turn, some slowly begin to clap.
Congratulations!
Good Job Horn-dog!
Got them both huh? hahaha
Stunned Cindy grabs and looks at her stomach. “Pregnant? She whispers.
“It would seem congratulations are in order Scott, Cindy and Julie” Ki'Diera says her pride is kicking in.
“Yes thank you Ki'Diera” I say to her with a smile, it is very weak tho.
Julie jumps on me and hugs me “I am so happy Scott!”
I hug her back, and see Cindy still staring at her stomach. A tear now rolling down her face.
“Cindy?” I ask
“I ....I never thought I would have kids Scott, I was 38 you know.” she says her lower lip fluttering as she tries to hold back the tears.
I grab her with my left Arm while still hugging Julie with my right her sitting on my lap,”I know honey, me too, me too”.
We then retire for the night, Ki'Diera joins us and we sit on the sofa area and talk.
“Now you understand why I did not want you with me out there. I am protecting not only you, but our children as well.” I confide in them, I finally tell them the truth.
“I understand Scott, but you need our help more than ever Tiger”, Cindy says.
"Yes but we have no idea how magic will effect the fetus now do we?” I say to her.
“In my tribe magic is common and the children grow up fine, some inherit the parents abilities and some develop their own.”Ki'Diera says.
“I understand that Ki'Diera, but we, our race before this incident occurred, never had experience with magic, We have no idea what the long term effect are.” I say with concern.” I worry is all”
“You are a strong warrior Scott Smith, stronger than my father, he tells me. Your offspring will be strong as well, so you should not worry Scott Smith, in fact rejoice for now!” Ki'Diera proclaims to the room.
We sit and talk for a few more hours,, Julie and Cindy both seem to be in their own little world, as for me, seeing them like this, pained me greatly inside. Outside were thousands of these creatures, who were about to take their joy away. I have to do something and decide on my course of action. I get up and look to the three,” I am going to get another room, I need some time to think and go over things in my head,” I say as I head to the door.
“But why Scott? Why this sudden having to leave?” Julie asked shocked.
“I am distracted here, I can not put my thoughts into a clear picture, I need to clear my head is all kitten” I say to her hoping she understands.”I need to train and can only do that alone”
“Then I shall accompany you Scott as this is part of our seven day trial.” Ki'Diera says.
“Princess, you will remain here, get to know my wives and come to terms on accepting them” I say looking at her “If you can not accept them, the we can not marry”. I reach the door and feel arms around my waist.
“Don't go, please” It is Cindy, she is hugging me from behind tightly, “at least not tonight, give me one more night for now, you sprang this news on us and made me happy, please, just this night” She says her emotions are all over the place.”
I turn to her and hold her tight, “Alright honey, tonight”.
We call it a night and all four of us head to bed. There is no intimacy, but lots of kissing. I push them away gently as they try to be intimate. I need to sleep and be ready for tomorrow. Tomorrow, my training starts.
As I awake in the morning, it is still dark outside. I see three incredibly beautiful girls, it is unbelievable to me how I got here to be with these three. Yet here I am, and now it was all going to be taken away, if I want this dream to continue and see my kids grow up, then I have to have a plan. I need to think and plan, and I need to train these skills and grow stronger.
I Set my resolve, leave the room using my stealth, not a sound was made as the door closed, I head for Ricks room and enter quietly, he is still asleep.
“Rick” I whisper next to him and give him a light shake.
“Hmmmm?” He stirs, then sits up quickly,” WHA... Sco....” He begins, but quickly quiets down when he see my finger on my lips motioning for silence.
I explain to him my plan, then with reluctance he agrees to it. “In the meantime while I am gone, keep training, send out patrols, gather money and give it to Cindy, eradicate monsters to the North and East outside the safe zone in groups. Have our guys level and increase their skills. Also learn from the warriors how to infuse weapons with mana.”
“Infuse weapons with mana?” he asks
I explain quickly what I saw of the warriors with the bows and how they out damaged the guns and Phaser Rifles.
“I know I am throwing a lot at you Rick, but you have to trust me, for now we are safe behind these walls. How long that will last I do not know, but we have a few weeks it seems, if they are going to take the time to build that thing,, or else they would have already attacked given the numbers they have now.” I say to him with a grim expression.
“You know the girls are not going to be happy about this. What do I tell them? Rick asks.
“For now nothing, tell them nothing, if I do not do this, they would insist on coming with me. Rick they are carrying my children, I can not and will not allow any harm to come to them. I do not know how to make it clear to them, but the one thing I do know is that I was....no, I am a good marine. I know how to blow shit up Rick. But taking them will be far too dangerous, and I can move faster on my own. Even if you have to restrain them, keep them here, also explain to Bre'Tirgan what I have told you and that there will be no wedding till this is resolved. He will understand, as this comes first.” I say to Rick.
Rick nods his head in understanding after hearing my plan “ we will keep them here Scott, you go do what you have to.” we shake hands, then he pulls me in and gives me a hug, Stay safe my friend.” and let me go.
I leave and head for Alexanders quarters and find him already up and making his rounds. “Alexander a word please.” He bows and salutes, then I explain what I am about to do, the plan, keeping the girls here, his part in the defense of this place. After a brief moment we shake hands and part ways.
Everyone is still asleep. I head to one of the few remaining empty rooms and go out the window, a few of the Elite guards are on patrol with the Regular guards, I use stealth to sneak out not wanting to be questioned or seen right now.
Once outside I head for the north wall, the workers are all over it and working hard. From the looks of it the walls are almost done, probably a few more hours of work left. The workers notice me but ignore me, there were simply too many of them to try to sneak by, so I did not try and jumped the wall.
I take off in a run and in moments, I am over a km away from the compound, I look back and sigh “Sorry my loves, but this I have to do alone.”
Steeling my resolve, I look at the map and find my destination, looking into the dark clear sky, getting my bearings, I break into a run.