I was sitting down on a plastic chair outside the hospital. Holding my head with both hands.

The hallway was immaculate as I sat there. Free from dust and debris to the point where it gave off an imposing, unwelcoming feeling. As if everything had been sterilized to the point where the mere presence of people disrupted the natural order of this place.

Worse was the incessant ticking of the clock mounted on the wall. Its sounds penetrating through the pervasive silence with every passing second. It felt, ominous. At least to me. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was some sort of countdown. Some, vile reminder that I might lose someone precious.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I recalled the way I'd been moving through the sandy dunes. How slow the scorpions had seemed.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I recalled how right everything had felt. How I'd had a newfound mastery over my own movements. How each of my heartbeats felt like thunder roaring inside of me.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I recalled the others. How they had moved. The casual ease with which they'd dispatched the monsters standing in front of us.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I recalled the jealousy I'd felt then. Looking at people who could probably kill me with a casual backhand. I wanted that for myself. I wanted that power.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

I recalled some conversations we had. How, normal they seemed when we were just sitting around and talking. How I'd thought the four of us could be friends.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

"Cecil? Cecil, you there?"

My eyes went up. Staring at Marco, Ramji and Drew. The three of them didn't look so sure of themselves now. Rather, they seemed, crestfallen. Ashamed.

"Hey man. Sorry about your uncle." Marco began. "I... we, messed up. We should have been keeping tabs on him too."

"Yeah." Drew agreed. Her previously braided hair unkept and tangled up as she stood in front of me. "Honestly, we got distracted. You were doing so well that we, kinda figured it was okay to keep going. I mean, you were doing really, really good back there."

"Yeah man. You were on fire." Ramji piled on. "And we're all really glad you're on our team now. And we're also sorry for what happened to your uncle. Is he...?"

"They said he's going to be okay." I told them. "Apparently it was all good. Coach Russell was keeping an eye on him, but he... my uncle..."

I sucked in a breath.

"He forgot to finish off a scorpion the coach had served up. That was it. Coach Russell called it a momentary lapse in judgement. Said it was normal."

The three of them exchanged looks.

"I mean, he's not exactly, wrong. Per se." Drew admitted. "That kind of thing is pretty normal around these parts. I mean, I've been stung by a scorpion before. It's something you kinda have to experience for yourself."

No one else said anything. All eyes on her.

"Okay, look. Its like this, right? You have to delve in order to level up and you have to level up because the apocalypse is happening in three or four years. I'm coming from the viewpoint of my family. Ya can't get good at killing monsters without getting a few scratches along the way. That, and its always better to get a few licks in now, when the stakes are low, rather than later when we're level five or something and hunting down Lava Spiders down on the 20th floor."

"But she's no saying that its a good thing your uncle got hurt." Ramji added hastily. "Isn't that right, Drew?"

"Oh, no. That is not what I meant at all man. Its a real bummer what happened to your uncle."

"And we wanted you to know that we're here for you. No matter what happens." Marco finished.

He then moved to take a seat next to me. His eyes going to the ceiling as if in contemplation.

"Also, I've been doing some thinking. Its not right what you're going through. Coming over without knowing the truth and getting put into a position where you have to fight. Its messed up."

He pointed a thumb at himself.

"I'm fine with going down into the dungeon because I like to fight. I mean, I really like to fight. I'm always snoring through homeroom no matter what the teachers say, because I always tired from training until midnight."

He caught himself mid-boast and cleared his throat to bring himself back on topic.

"But I know that's not what the real world is like. Not yet, anyway. I shouldn't have assumed you would be like that from the start and I shouldn't have gotten irritated that you got hurt the first time."

"You were irritated that I got hurt?"

"Not anymore." He clarified hastily. "Coach Homer's been drilling a new perspective into me. Into all of us."

"I can't feel my legs half the time." Ramji quipped.

"And we've come to, better appreciate what you're going through." Drew added. Rolling right over Ramji's words. "We don't want to harass you or anything. Its bad enough that we've been one person short this whole time. The last thing we need is for our new teammate to hate us."

She hesitated before continuing.

"Also, you're like, the most interesting thing that's happened to this place in about ten years. We'd want to be your friends, even if you weren't our new teammate. But since you are, we have to watch your back. Because you'll probably be watching ours in no time at all."

"That's right." Ramji cut in again. "Which is why we're here to introduce ourselves again. So all of can start out fresh, help you et n awesome core and become the best team in town." He presented his hand again.

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"Hi. My name's Ramji. I like to control monsters and make them fight each other without getting too involved. I love hiking and taking pictures. I hope we can be friends."

Drew stepped up again after I shook Ramji's hand.

"Hey there. My name's Drew and I like to dance and party. I also like to make monsters party but not in the same way. I like jokes, cats, dogs, especially puppies, and I love me some fancy coffee. Nice to meet you. Again. I hope we can get along."

I shook her hand as well, until Marco took his turn.

"So, hello. I'm Marco. As you know. And I'm finding this whole, introduction thing to be very awkward. But, I'm a team player if nothing else, so I'll keep it going. My big thing is loyalty. I'll have your back as long as you have mine. No if, ands, or buts. I don't like reading much. Or playing games. I'm a physical kind of guy. I need to run to feel alive. I need to lift so I can feel good. Its a, sense of fulfillment, you know? Looking at your gains in the mirror is always satisfying. Fighting is my escape. My way to relax. But I know better than to think everyone is like that."

He then shook my hand again and waited .

"Oh, right. Sorry. Uh. My name is Cecil. As you all know. I'm..."

I took a deep breath. Surprised to find some of the tension gone now that I was actually talking to this lot as if they were real people instead of battle-hungry maniacs.

"I'm really over my head. I've got no idea what's happening or what's going on. I've got no idea how cores work or which one I'm going to get, which is getting to be very stressful as coach Russell pushes me further and further. I, like working out. At some level. I had fun delving with you guys too."

I considered leaving things there, but found that I wanted to say more. That I needed to say more. That doing so would help.

"Which really surprised me because I'm also scared to death of the monsters. Its like, being with you guys, makes me less scared. More open to pushing myself. Because I see how awesome you guys are and I want it. I want that power. I feel stupid when that happens, because I just started training while you guys have been doing this for years, but that doesn't matter to me."

I clenched my fists. So tightly that my knuckles went white.

"I want to be strong. Strong enough that my family doesn't have to worry about the apocalypse. Strong enough that I can make sure they're all right."

'Strong enough that nobody dares take them hostage.' I thought to myself. 'Strong enough to rip anyone who tries fifteen new assholes from which to shit themselves.'

That part was left unsaid. Lest it ruin this development.

Getting friends now was critical, to the point where I was kicking myself for not thinking about the issue before.

This was a life or death situation. Where my entire family's future was on the line. A wandering monster wouldn't care that these guys, or more accurately, their families, were kidnappers and that I hadn't done anything to deserve being here.

What I needed was allies that would help me get stronger. People who'd be willing to take a hit for me while I was still vulnerable. People that I could trust implicitly right now.

Not just because we'd be fighting together, but because they and to a greater extent, their families, must have some kind of influence here in the town. At the very least, they'd have more say in the goings on that anyone in my family. Perhaps enough to smooth over any, mistakes, that me or mine might make without realizing it.

'Or a failed escape. If an opportunity presents itself and sours at the last minute.'

I was still convinced that getting a core was absolutely crucial to our survival, but after that... There would be a lot more leeway to consider our options.

Becoming a good and trusted friend to them might mean the difference between life and death sometime in the future. There were no downsides that I could think of too. It would be stupid to turn this chance away.

"With that in mind. I hope that we can get off on the right foot starting from now. Please let me be your friend and please take good care of me."

"That's the spirit." Marco chuckled. Clasping my hand more tightly than before.

"And don't worry about being greedy. When it comes to power, that's one of the best things you could be. There are way worst qualities out there."

"Yeah." Drew agreed. "You could be like Ramji and be scared of ghosts."

Ramji whirled on her.

"I knew it! You're the one spreading those rumors!"

She gave him a sidelong glance and shrugged.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar! You're such a freaking li...!"

"SHHHHHHHHUUUSH!"

We all shook, turning to the room where uncle Uter had been placed. The nurse looking after him was the same one who'd been tasked with looking after me after my run in wit the Rippers. She, didn't look too happy to see me. Or any of us for that matter.

"Kids. I'm glad that you have so much energy to spare, but please keep in mind that this is a hospital. One with patients that will not appreciate being bothered while they rest."

"Sorry." My three teammates said in unison.

"Sorry won't cut I'm afraid. I'm going to need you all to vacate the premises. Now." She turned to look at me before I could move a muscle or protest her decision.

"Not you. You uncle would like a word."

I nodded eagerly. Standing up at once and making my way inside the room.

The accommodations I saw there were fair. A large double bed pressed against the side wall, with innumerable do-dats connected to it and screens on either side that showcased all manner of graphs and numbers.

The blankets were thick and fluffy. Devoid of any stains or discolorations that might have indicated prior use. The mattress and pillows were similarly stuffed. Appearing as if someone had created a material not too dissimilar to actual clouds.

There was a window to the left of the bed. Large and expansive so that it allowed the room's occupants a view of the wide stretches of pristine forests surrounding the town of Dunstonberry. The setting sun was striking the pines and spruces at that moment. Giving the world an eerie sense of calmness and serene beauty as it was dyed in golden hues.

The impact was, breathtaking, to say the least.

Uncle Uter didn't look impressed however. His face betrayed a misery so deep that it beggared belief. His body retaining much of the tension I had relinquished after he was brought here.

"Uncle? Are you, feeling okay?"

"That's a difficult question Cecil." He said with no small amount of exasperation.

"Physically, I feel fine. At least, I don't have any lingering pain as far as I can tell right now."

"That's great!" I said excitedly. "I was worried for a second there. You know?"

Uncle Uter said nothing for a few seconds. Leaving me to stand awkwardly at his side. When at last he spoke, his voice was quivering.

"Cecil. I don't want you going into the dungeon again."

I blinked in surprise.

"Huh? Wha? Why?"

His face grew taut. The lines stiffening as if he was barely restraining himself with all the willpower he had left.

"Are you really asking that, Cecil? Look at me. Look at what happened to me the second I made a mistake. Do you honestly think I would want this for you? Do you think I could live with myself if anything like this happened to you?"

He shook his head.

"No. Its better that we lay low and do the bare minimum to get halfway decent cores without going into the dungeon. After that, we can do administrative work when the, end comes. We'll be safe, at least."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life."

Uncle Uter looked at me. Aghast.

Funnily enough, I was fairly certain I had the exact same expression on my face. The words had simply, flown out of my mouth. Thoughts turning to sounds before I could supress them.

However, I didn't want to apologize now that they'd been said. Indeed, I found that I stood by those words more and more as the implications of having bad cores ran through my head.

"Uncle. No. Your idea isn't a good one. In fact, it might be the single dumbest thing you've ever said to me."

I waved about the room.

"Haven't you noticed something odd? Odder than the usual, I mean? No? Well I'll tell you. There aren't any people with low-ranked cores here. Not in charge anyway. Coach Russell talks about them as if they were a burden. Now, I don't know how bad the end will be, but it was apparently bad enough that Mr. Robertson had to bail from his original timeline and try again with knowledge from the future. I think there's an argument to be had about the, ethics of the operation. But the time for protests is not now. We don't know what these people want from us. Neither you nor I have any idea. Who's to say they won't kick us out if we get bad cores? Who's to say they won't leave us out to dry when the real bad stuff comes burrowing out of the ground?"

I shook my head in exasperation.

"No. We have to focus and we have to fight. Fight like all our lives depend on it. Because they do. I refuse to fumble this opportunity when it might be our best shot at having a fighting chance!"

"Cecil. I..." He bit his lip. "I'm afraid. Not just for me, but for you. I've told you this before. I'm your guardian. If anything happens to you..."

"I'll at least have died on my feet. Trying to save the people I love." I finished.

The sternness of my voice was enough to shock me. As were the tears gathering in my uncle's eyes.