We finish crossing the multicolored bridge and I relay a message to the ship.
“Engage protective barrier over Continent Asgard and disable the multicolored bridge.”
“Command confirmed, master. Barrier engaged over Continent Asgard and disabling the multicolored bridge.”
With my defensive measures engaged, we continue our journey to the coordinates provided by the ship.
The journey continues for a long time until Ástríðr poses me a quandary.
“You know Mr. Ninety, there’s something that has been bothering me for a while now.”
“What is it that is perplexing you?”
“It’s just that Loki or Lækni X or whoever he is, was using some names that don’t really belong here in Midengard.”
“Linguistic entomology is not something I usually regard as being important. Can you provide some examples of the non-native linguistic anomalies you have encountered?”
“Well, the name that Lækni X gave me, Lucretta is not a name used by any Midengardians. It sounds very much like it came from Earth. Also, that name for the last project we saw was called Polaris.”
“I see. What of this Polaris?”
“It was the name for the Pole Star in Latin. It was a name people used in the old times that was used to refer to the North Star.”
“I see. If my data is correct that is the triple star system in what the Terrans call Ursa Minor.”
“Yeah, the North Star in the Big Dipper was used by people on earth to navigate by land and sea.”
“I see those are coincidences that should be investigated.”
“Those are just two that I can think of off the top of my head.”
“Once we return to the village, I will have to have you assist me in cross referencing any Terran Linguistic Anomalies with the research notes I recovered.”
“Sure. Also, that night crawler thing like mentioned before isn’t something from here or Earth. I mean many cultures on Earth have always had mythological creature that lived in the night.”
“There have been many planets I have attended that had such creatures real or imagined that were of a similar fashion. None that fit the description exactly to what we encountered.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“There is still much to investigate. We have seven more continents in addition to the ocean area.”
“You’re right. No need to rush things I guess.”
“Indeed, but for now we must focus on the task at hand and that is the life forms that the ship detected. I will be increasing to near-sonic speed. The inertial dampeners in your auxiliary transport vessel will decrease the impact of the effects of the speed.”
“Whoa! This thing can really go.”
The increased speed and the lack of remnants from the previous society due to the conversion allows us to traverse the largest continent here on Planet Midengard with very little time.
The closed environment of the auxiliary transport vessel prevents outside sound to enter but we are able to continue conversing using the transmitter to me directly.
“Everything is going by so fast but I can definitely tell everything so different than when we were here last time.”
“Indeed. Ship was at 90.11% completion when it encountered the life forms.”
“So close to being done.”
“The remaining 9.89% would have been finished in approximately one day-night cycle.”
“Sheesh, way to put you behind schedule.”
“I am under no time constraints to complete my missions here.”
“I guess that’s a good thing but how long will it take once the conversion is done?”
“My asset placement design was at 97.4% before I started to investigate the historical anomalies regarding Lækni X and Loki. Both would be completed at the same time and once the assets start being placed the completion time would be six day-night cycles.”
“That seems really quick. I can’t wait to see what you came up with.”
“The conversion process takes the longest because the land needs to be cleansed of all previous societal remnants. Initially my goal was to prepare Planet Midengard for colonization but because the discovery of the tornado of souls caused me to alter my initial goal slightly.”
“It would make sense that if you came here expecting a planet with no lives on it and planned for that and then suddenly found some that would make you have to rethink your plans.”
“You understanding of the situation is good but flawed.”
“Oh? What did I miss?”
“While the restoral of Planet Midengard was but only one of my goals. My other mission was to locate Environmental Repair Cyborg Mark 88.”
“What? This is the first I heard of this!”
“I told Spectral Anomaly Michiru that my secondary mission was at 0.00% when I met her.”
“Yeah, but you never really said what it was.”
“You are correct. The details were not provided.”
“Oh hey! Do think that the thing that sent the night crawler was the one that attacked Mr. Eighty-Eight?”
“That is a plausible theorem.”
“Wow! You think that’s really possible?”
“I have only found signs of Mark 88 on the moon of Munin. After that I have yet to find any sign of his efforts here on Planet Midengard.”
“I guess that obviously means that he landed on a different continent first.”
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“That is also a logical deduction.”
I bring the repair assistance vehicle out of its near-sonic speed to its normal cruising speed.
The area contains numerous hills along with the lifeless remnants of what was possibly a wooded or forested area.
“We are nearing the location that the ship encountered the life forms.”
“I hope it’s not more of those creepy night crawlers.”
“That is unlikely. Mine and the ship’s sensors were unable to detect the “night crawler” previously as well there is too much light currently for its liking.”
“I guess you’re ri…OH MY G…!”
We start to come into view of a very large dark furred quadrupedal beast with eight similar looking smaller beasts wandering by it.
“It’s Fenrir!”
“You know of this beast?”
“I mean I never met him in person but that is totally how he looks based on the descriptions in Midengardian lore and also in Earth lore. A giant wolf. Big enough to devour a person in his massive jaws.”
“That is an interesting observation. So, this beast’s legend made its way to Terra as well.”
“Well yeah but how did he get here and who else knew about him other than me and possibly the villagers?”
“We are lacking information to investigate that issue further. Do the legends state if the beast has intelligence and can converse normally?”
“Yeah, the stories told on Earth made it seem like he talked to the æsir (aysihr) from Asgard.”
“I see. So, from your knowledge I should be able to converse and possibly reason with it.”
“Well, yeah, according to the legends. But they could just be stories though.”
“I am well aware of that probability. If my attempts at parlay are not successful, I am fully prepared for combat.”
“That’s good to know. What should I do?”
“I am anticipating that should my parlay fail, combat will ensue so, you will have to be in a safe spot while I fight.”
“I get it, I’m not really set to back you up especially since I don’t have the armor you have. But what if I’m found?”
“With the auxiliary transport vessel sealed it should prevent any way for the beasts to detect you by any sensory ability short of visualization. If the smaller beasts find you the enclosure of the auxiliary transport vessel should provide sufficient protection. If the integrity starts to become compromised you can find the appropriate time to activate the “scooter” mode and escape.”
“But the scooter won’t be nearly as fast as your R.A.V. though.”
“While your “scooter” cannot reach the same speeds that my repair assistance vehicle can, you will still be able to out run the smaller beasts.”
“That’s good to know.”
“Your monitor will allow you see what is transpiring while I parlay with this Fenrir.”
“Okay, I hope everything goes well.”
“As do I.”
I detach the auxiliary transport vessel and set it by a hilly area.
The terrain should provide concealment and multiple paths to escape if needed.
“Computer, perform a spectral analysis of the large beast and the smaller beasts.”
“Spectral analysis complete, Master. The large beast is composed of five hundred spectral forms. One hundred are belonging to the citizens the remaining are a combination of various fragmented spectral forms with the primary being a soul of black. The smaller beasts are comprised of normal fragmented spectral forms.”
That is most interesting.
Where were those spectral forms obtained?
Logic would dictate they were possibly obtained from one of the other continents.
“Computer, I have relayed modifications to the exosuit form’s main weapon.”
“Modification made, master.”
I change the repair assistance vehicle into exosuit mode and make my way toward the large beast Ástríðr has named Fenrir.
While the exosuit form will allow me to increase my size it will not be sufficient to overpower it physically.
I begin to make my way toward Fenrir with my hands in the air to appear non-threatening.
“I have come to parlay with you.”
The smaller beasts begin to growl and start to make their way toward me to attack.
“HOLD!”
The loud voice from Fenrir halts the smaller beasts.
“WHAT DO YOU WISH TO SAY BEFORE YOUR DEATH?”
“I have come to understand why you have come to this location?”
“HAHA! THAT IS ALL YOU ASK BEFORE I TEAR YOU TO SHREDS?”
“It is what I would like to know.”
“I HAVE ONLY COME TO THE LAND THAT I AND MY KIN HAVE ONCE OCCUPIED.”
“I see. So how did you come here?”
“I AND MY KIN WERE BROUGHT BACK BY OUR MASTER AND PLACED HERE.”
“And who is this master?”
“HE IS JUST THE MASTER THAT BROUGHT US BACK AND GAVE US THIS LAND TO LIVE.”
“Unfortunately, you are impeding my conversion and restoration of Continent Midheim. I will need you and your kin to temporarily relocate to a containment area until the process on Continent Midheim is completed.”
“YOU SEE WE WERE ALSO PUT HERE TO PREVENT YOU FROM COMPLETING YOUR EFFORTS.”
With that message, the smaller beasts begin converging on me and I escape into the air.
Fenrir reaches up with one of its massive paws and swipes at me as I evade the attack.
While my main focus is on Fenrir I see two smaller beasts leave and head towards where Ástríðr is at.