https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/972564269390503976/1002277381970608271/dbtoie1-f2f9fd11-1f64-460b-b8e1-773046154cc7.gif [https://web.archive.org/web/20230314190156im_/https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/972564269390503976/1002277381970608271/dbtoie1-f2f9fd11-1f64-460b-b8e1-773046154cc7.gif]
I stared at the sky a few more times, trying to spot the flying, multi-limbed abomination. It wasn't there anymore.
"Some kids even call me Dodo, the bird!
I still exist, in contradiction to the cruel world.
Rejoice and be merry, my dear shrew,
You'll fit nicely into our crew!
Don't you worry, my dear friend,
All this sadness we shall transcend!”
Captain continued to musicate.
image [http://rom.ac/img/dbtoek4-a4559960-cfc2-42ef-ba6c-6adf18171e88.jpg]
"I'm not a shrew," I mumbled blearily. "You are not a G-damned bird!"
I blinked momentarily, blanking out.
When I opened my eyes I found us walking through the outskirts of Eureka. A massive glacier had toppled a pair of skyscrapers and a snowstorm obscured visibility behind the wall of silver-blue ice.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/972564269390503976/1002277557657403412/dbto8f2-3b4ec9e7-530b-465f-957a-273661377fcb.jpg [https://web.archive.org/web/20230314190156im_/https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/972564269390503976/1002277557657403412/dbto8f2-3b4ec9e7-530b-465f-957a-273661377fcb.jpg]
“There's many fancy oddities,
Growing from basic commodities
That happen in our wonderland
Where nothing goes unplanned.
There is no border to this land
No need to fly or run
And anyone can get here,
If you just wish for it!”
Captain's nonsensical song-poem ended.
“Lo! Hither the state of Captania has taken foundation! Be amazed at the marvelous wonders that we have built...”
Captain announced, rotating me away from the glaciers.
I looked ahead. This was no wonderland. There wasn't much left of the mega-continental-city, except for wind-worn megalithic tombstones of our civilization. The letter [G], a logo of the Good Directorate Corporation was occasionally, prominently etched into the black, hexagonal-textured metal comprising the least damaged tombs of humanity.
The world I once knew was consumed by the pollution of the Dead Zone, slightly flattened out and melted by thermonuclear holocaust and frozen solid by nuclear winter. Leviathan ruins of corporate megastructures ominously loomed in the distance. They had too many floors to count. Broken down as they were, they were still incomprehensibly vast, absurdly long, extending far above the clouds. Looking at them gave me a migraine, so I stared at the ground instead.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
image [http://rom.ac/img/construct.jpg]
“I rate your beholding 1/10,” my companion chided me.
“Also, I am not hearing distinctive sounds of amazement or vigorous applause."
I ignored the shaming. Tourists have given me far worse ratings.
“Do try to behold harder,” the Captain sighed, the tone of voice becoming less deafening. “My minions have worked very hard to make this place presentable! You won't make any workplace friends with this unappreciative attitude.”
I shrugged in response. I wasn't scared of a shaming by imaginary employees.
As we progressed Captain pointed out various ruins, labeling them as:
“Utmost-prominent landmarks!”
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/972564269390503976/1002285042548088862/dbto8ex-415d61d6-27c2-46e9-a93b-e3aaea1a3a10.jpg [https://web.archive.org/web/20230314190156im_/https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/972564269390503976/1002285042548088862/dbto8ex-415d61d6-27c2-46e9-a93b-e3aaea1a3a10.jpg]
such as
“Get-your-mail-yesterday post office of Captania”
or
“Juicy-fruit market of Captania”.
I could barely find it in me to keep focus. The original sensation of hope I felt when disbelievingly taking the Captain's hand and being helped up had subsided. Right now, I was just tired, cold and highly concerned about the mental state of my new “Grande employer” who just offered me a “Two and a half percent discount in selected stores of Captania!”
Captain's words were buzzing into my skull, sucking out the remnants of my sanity like some kind of robot vacuum. It was really distracting me from focusing on potential Dead Zone dangers such as giant brain-sucking mosquitoes.
Wait just a minute...
What if Captain is actually one of them brain-suckers in a coat?
image [http://rom.ac/img/dbto8ej-7d1c19ac-01f7-4fd5-9c2a-7ff4f936fc71.jpg]
"If this is a clever trap to suck my brains out, I would appreciate it if we got to your hive sooner," I muttered.
"What?” Captain's head tilted towards me.
"Are you a giant brain-sucking bug in disguise?" I asked bluntly.
"I am definitely not anything questionable in disguise!" My companion stared at me, arms crossed in a very feminine 'I am extremely offended right now' gesture.
I felt that I was being judged.
"I'm sorry," I sighed. "Just don't try to eat me please. I have a gun and uh... I know karate."
"Don't worry, Charles! You won't be needing any of such in Captania," Captain reassured me with a gentle pat, voice suddenly soft, seemingly undeterred by my lies. I didn't know any karate.
I didn't feel very reassured by the pats.