In the end, nothing much happened, as Merida explained to Ember about the logistics of becoming a Search and Rescue dog.

First, she needed to gain human trust to gain access to their information network, especially about something as sensitive as distressed or missing people. And this much would already be a tall order given the global state chaos and distrust, as well as Merida and Ember's unique circumstances, making them a poor fit for the already established institution doing that very job.

Second, she needed to prove her worth time and time again before the humans would entrust her with any sort of responsibility. That part was tricky because Ember was impatient. She wanted to start doing that job right now, not waste her time around proving she could do it RIGHT. She understood why it was needed. But it did not help her feel any better.

However, to do just that, right now, all she had to do was earn human trust by doing precisely what she had been doing so far:

Be a good, reliable dog and help Merida save lives for the time being, so Merida could voice Ember's ambition in her stead once things in the city had fully calmed down. For now, Great Falls was undergoing its first starvation crisis, as the American supply chain had been interrupted for the first time in history. For now, the people needed food, and while there was plenty, and no granaries were storing the food locally, the country always relied on its superior logistics that went to shit overnight.

It was not like Merida and Ember could produce food magically. And so they had to do their part another way.

And so Merida had insisted that Ember should try to learn a healing spell and start accompanying her inside the improvised hospitals, smelling of death, waste, and chemicals.

It was not like humans expected her to do anything while inside, so she did the only thing that made sense: settle herself in the middle of whatever room Merida was working in and have a quick nap snuggling at some patients' feet.

If I knew that you lazying around would be so effective, I would have forced you to accompany me a lot sooner. Although, would you please choose the sickest next time? Those are the ones that need your boost the most.

'Merida and her obsession for effectiveness,' Ember grumbled before falling back to sleep.

★☆★

The humans were having a meeting, and they got invited. According to Merida, it was the first sign that humans were starting to trust them. But Ember was worried. Great Falls showing a united front for the first time in weeks could only mean one thing: greater troubles.

Don't be so pessimistic. Maybe the humans are tired of fighting and realize they need to work together to get their lives back?

'I will believe it when I see it,' Ember retorted, the sight of the wounded injured by their peers flooding her mind.

Anyway, it was the first time the Gangs, the Neighbourhood Militia, and the Mayor's Office decided to meet since the last and final system update. Maybe the people had indeed grown hungry enough to finally be reasonable? Ember entertained the idea before shaking her head. The cart had jumped at a rock on the road. She had to focus on the task at hand and get them to the meeting in one piece.

The meeting point had been a neutral neighborhood at the riverbank, and the agitated crowd had been noticeable from afar. Whatever the purpose of that reunion was, Ember could smell the people's anxiety as they got closer, which resulted in Ember being a ball of nerves in spite of her innate talent negating most of the perceived unrest. She couldn't help it: her instinct was all over the place, screaming at her to turn around and escape that cutthroat.

To the best of Merida's understanding, it was a former major company headquarter, and it was chosen since so many people used to be employed right there. And many humans looked down on them as they crossed the gates. It was clearly not their idea to invite the doll, and they were not subtle in conveying their feeling. They were not welcomed. And yet, no one raised a finger to stop them as they made their way to the meeting room.

The mayor, the chief officer, the Red Fist, and the Militia representatives were already gathered there and actively arguing with each other on whatever subject Merida did not bother to translate until everyone calmed down and the Mayor spoke up:

"Thank you Everyone for coming!" He shouted before he exposed the reason for that obviously unhappy reunion:

"As you must all already know, the army decided to start a civil war against the White House, claiming that the president and his cabinet had all been compromised and brainwashed by some teenage mind spellcaster. Many factions decided to join, causing a massive breakdown of all states' exchange of goods and our current predicament." The mayor started his speech by simply but accurately summarising the last few weeks' events.

"The Army is deeply aware of this issue and, after seizing control of most strategic resources, decided to broadcast this deal:"

He paused for effect before taking a sheet of paper to make sure everyone knew he was quoting from it instead of voicing his own opinion on the subject:

"Whether they are within loyalist or secessionist territories, the US Army will ship off relief supply consisting of food, seeds, tools and warm fabric to all cities signing off a system enforced deal NOT TO support the corrupted government until the end of the civil war.

The US Army does not want to force people to choose a side in this current conflict or cause any unnecessary civilian casualties and would respect the right of neutrality of any bystander cities or states, including any states or factions claiming independence from the United States as a whole.

This system-enforced deal's sole purpose is to prevent further escalation of the conflict in densely populated areas by denying the corrupted government access to more manpower and high ordinance weaponry. In exchange for freely given support or continued neutrality in the conflict, the US Army will offer monthly relief shipment until the end of the conflict."

The man then gravely put the paper back on the table before continuing his own speech:

"Florida and Texas already agreed to this deal and received their first shipments. They also confirmed that anyone benefiting from this deal is therefore system-bonded to honor it, with already confirmed cases of seizure, temporary exclusion, and permanent ban from the system for oathbreakers.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

While not technically a war crime, this blackmail is downright unethical and, I daresay, a very surprising dick move from US Army. So I would like you all, district representatives, to give it some thought before outright refusing or accepting this deal cause the promised consequences would be dire either way."

The mayor concluded his speech, and then, all hell broke loose as every human assembled seemed determined to talk over one another at the exact same time. And so Merida started to translate mere keywords instead of fully rendered conversations.

Some needed the food desperately.

Some wanted to spite the US Army and were ready to go to war, starting immediately.

Some feared not accepting the deal would equate to declaring war against the Army.

And some feared losing agency and ending up on the wrong side of the war.

It was utter chaos in the meeting room, but Ember could only think of one thing, which she could not help but share with Merida:

'Why the hell would they invite US to a meeting to decide THEIR future? You don't need to eat, and I'm pretty sure dog food won't make it on the list of relief supplies anyway.'

I think that is the exact reason for our presence here. We are a third party with no interest in that particular deal. But we showed enough interest in the city to act as a possible mediator. What do you think? Should I help those helpless fools?

'While you are the one doing the talking, I don't trust you to do it on your own,' Ember replied, remembering Merida's past attempt at playing diplomat. 'I will allow it. But you better do as I say. '

Okay. Ready when you are and awaiting your prompting.

'Let's first establish boundaries. If they go to war, we leave,' Ember declared. 'Then defend our interests, but I will veto it if I think you go too far.'

I got it! Would you raise your awesome voice to shut them up, so I could get their attention?

Ember doubted it would help them get points in diplomacy but agreed to bark loudly anyway.

And as Merida predicted, it proved brutally effective.

"Thanks, Ember," the doll praised her loudly over the now silent assembly.

"I have no say and interest in your country's politics, but I was invited to this meeting, and so I have a statement to make," Merida announced, to which the Mayor gave her his approval.

"As you all know, Ember and I have been gathering some goodwill in the last few weeks, offering free healing for free passage wherever we went. Some people chose to break that deal by trying to restrict our freedom of movement."

Merida eyed the Gangs they had not visited in weeks for that very reason.

"What some of you might not know, however, is what our goals are and how far we are willing to help you. And the answer is simple: We are operating here on a system mission to promote independence for the ecoregion of Cascadia and are currently in the process of recruiting people. However, Great Falls is nothing but a frontier city to Cascadia, and we are not willing to go to war for it."

The doll paused for effect, looking everyone in the eyes before continuing.

"What the US Army offered you is a way out of this Civil War. They promised to respect the neutrality and gave you every incentive not to get involved. Otherwise said, they acknowledged they could not win a war on multiple fronts and chose to buy neutrality at all costs.

My point is: if the US Army wins, they are not going to blame you for staying neutral. If the US government wins, you will have the perfect excuse to justify taking the offered deal: you were hungry, and peace was an easier choice than war.

Also, you might be afraid of the system-enforced deal. Still, it works both ways: Sure, you won't be able to take actions against one another, but you would also be system-protected against any attempt to force or brainwash you to join any side."

Merida paused again to let her three bullet-point arguments sink in.

"For the record, the future Free State of Cascadia will most likely not only take that deal but try to negotiate non-aggression pact and free trade deals with all cosigners. That's all I had to say on the subject. Thank you for your time, and I will now bear witness to your decision, whatever it might be."

★☆★

On the way back home, Ember was left wondering how Merida did it. One moment, she told them she was done talking, and yet she never really stopped being the center of attention and true mediator directing the remainder of the discussion. It was truly an eye-opener for Ember as she realized there was still more to her partner that she did not truly understand.

But an unexpected event pulled her out of her thought as the cart started to pull sideways before she heard a loud crack, and the cart crashed, dragging her down.

'What the fuck is happening?' Ember panicked, restrained by her own harness.

I don't know. It's okay. Stop struggling. I'm going to free you ASAP.

It took thrice as much time for Merida to free her from the cart before she could see it for herself.

The cart was upside down, with a missing wheel and the axis hanging at a weird angle.

'I know you already said you don't know, but still... what the fuck?' Ember repeated.

I think some shock damaged the axis. Then the wheel gave away under the extra pressure.

'Do you think you can fix it?' Ember asked quizzically, causing Merida to scratch the back of her head.

Short answer: No.

Long Answer: I might be able to make a temporary fix. The wheels looked mostly OK. But the axis is broken. We are going to need help.

'Okay,' Ember took the answer at face value and went on. 'What can I do to help?'

And so she went to fetch the wheel, lift the cart while Merida was trying to fix it, and then turn it over. She wasn't sure she understood what Merida had done, but she had not sounded confident in her "temporary fix," which had involved a lot of tapes and some rope they had kept at the back of the cart.

Done. I think we better hurry back to the city and seek help before it breaks down again.

Although, to be honest... you should take it slow, just in case.

'Are you sure you want me to pull this?' Ember asked, suddenly feeling Merida's insecurity to be contagious.

It's either that or leaving the cart behind.

This last argument finished convincing Ember. If they wanted the cart fixed, they needed to bring it to those who could do the job. If they couldn't get it fixed, then Ember would have to carry Merida on help back. And she didn't like the idea of becoming more of a beast of burden. Plus, she got attached to that cart and wanted it fixed regardless. So her mind was made up.

It was their first time going back to the city in broad daylight since the last system update, and things had been different since then.

But they also needed help that only a human could provide.