“It looks like they are searching for something,” explained Rubio from atop the roof, “Down by where CJ grabbed the SUV.”
“Have you been able to make contact with them?” asked Roger poking his head through the roof access hatch.
“No. The power CJ used disappeared. I’m starting to think I should have gone with them.”
“I’m sure they’ll be fine. They took out that fuckin skeleton army didn’t they.”
“Right, I just hope my Miha is okay. Still if these people have access to military troop carriers that still work, why did they come here?” Rubio pondered aloud.
“I’m almost done with my latest project. We should be good to go when they come back.”
“Copy. Oh shit, there’s a group of three of them coming up this way on foot. Make sure the doors locked tight.”
Roger didn’t need to be told twice. He slid down the metal sides of the ladder and landed with the clank of metal on the janitor’s closet floor. His stump was fully healed now, and his movement speed had increased. No longer did he suffer from the throbbing pain of his self-inflicted wound. Rounding the corner to the hallway, Roger made a bee line to the front door.
Yesterday after the battle he repurposed the rod he used to use to secure the door into more of a lever assisted locking mechanism. When he pulled it to the right four shafts of metal braced themselves into steel facets on the receiving side of the door frame. If he pulled to the left, the mechanism disengaged. I found the upgraded design more appealing.
He felt the door was secure enough for now. Voices began to carry over the wind as the three looters crossed the street and entered the CVS. For now, their attention wasn’t on the retirement community.
“Back to work I suppose,” Roger commented to himself as he sparked up his arc welder.
----------------------------------------
CJ and his team made their way past a ransacked Wendy’s franchise on their way around the textiles factory. All the windows were smashed out of the burger joint, tables and chairs strewn around the parking lot, and a spray painted flaming pitchfork adorned the solid white wall next to the driver through window.
At the end of the block there was a city bus turned over. Glass shards were strewn all over the road. They all assumed a position with their backs against the underside of the bus. CJ’s eyes were wide as he searched the parking lot of the factory. It seemed like the plant had gone through a growth period while they were in the dungeon. Those pods were everywhere now.
“You think that plant will grow large enough to take over this section of town?” asked Jenn.
“It’s not really our problem. From the sun’s position it’s just past two pm. If we want to make it back to Leaf’s Bend before nightfall, we need to put a little hustle in our step,” replied CJ focusing on the street that led back to the old folk’s home, “The legendary item will be extremely useful but I gotta plant it. Long story.”
“Oh, I’ve got to see that thing,” she replied.
“Shh…you hear that?” asked Monty.
“You know we don’t, that’s your whole job,” quipped CJ.
“That’s a lot of people moving around. It’s coming from the direction of the Rogers house.”
“That’s not good. Come on, we’ve got another disaster to manage.”
CJ took off at jog closely followed by Monty.
New Message from Party Leader CJ: You two hang back a step. Monty and I are going to go unnoticed so we can pick up the speed.
The ladies didn’t respond, they just slowed their pursuit. Immediately after the message Monty and CJ both cast Now you Don’t on themselves. They picked up the pace to a full run at that point knowing that anyone they ran across would just ignore them as if they’d been there the whole time. The downside was Rubio or Roger would do the same.
They emerged onto the street west of the retirement home. There was no one around initially so they jogged over to the corner. Monty grabbed CJ’s pant leg, and he was brought to a stop. The CVS had lights moving around inside it. Not flashlights or candles more like those chemical glow sticks. Not very bright but if you held them up to an object or something you could get a good look.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
CJ leaned against the wall and just watched for a few seconds. They weren’t really taking anything, and they didn’t have bags. They seemed to just be searching aimlessly. Two of them left the entrance and stepped outside into the sunlight. They both had a capitol H, and a capitol S spray painted on what looked like hunks of metal. CJ walked across the street paying the spell cost for a few more minutes. As he got closer to them, he could see that the metal reminded him of a water heater. Like they broke up an old water heater and fashioned some body armor out of it. Pretty resourceful after he thought about it for a second. Then the two started speaking.
“I don’t think he’s still here. In fact, the whole story is preposterous. A magician throwing cards and a kung fu rabbit. This is a wild goose chase if you ask me.” Said thug one.
“Mason seemed to think it was important. What’d he say the guy’s name was? PJ tom Collins?” replied thug two.
“Nah man, CJ Thompson.”
New Message from Party Leader CJ: They’re here looking for me! Humanities Saviors, I mean. They’ve got a dumb H and S on their makeshift body armor.
New Message from Psycho: What? Why?
New Message from Elena: We’re in place, do you want me to light them up with the launcher?
New Message from Party Leader CJ: NO! I’m standing right next to them. Also, you’ll kill our bikes.
New Message from Psycho: I’m surprised they’re all in one piece after that sound blast.
New Message from Monty: Focus humans. What’s the play here?
New Message from Party Leader CJ: It doesn’t seem like they’ll stick around. They’re iffy about whether or not I’m still in the area.
New Message from Elena: Okay, but we can’t just walk into Roger’s place with these three hanging about.
New Message from Party Leader CJ: Right.
An idea sparked CJ’s mind. He looked up to the roof. Low and behold there was a glint of glass poking over the roof’s edge. Rubio was out and keeping an eye on these interlopers. CJ was of two minds. He could try and add Rubio to the party, but he didn’t know if that would break his spell. It would technically be considered interacting with someone who couldn’t see him. The next few words from the thugs made his choice for him.
“Man, why does Mason even want to talk to this guy again?” Thug one said while sliding the ammo clip in and out of his baretta. Then he mockingly spoke, “I thought the sun god was going to take care of everything.”
“We’re no phones. They said it’s something we couldn’t understand,” answered Thug two.
New Message from Party Leader CJ: I’m going to talk to them. It seems like this Mason character got my message.
New Message from Elena: Do you mean that old gangster movie line about regards?
New Message from Party Leader CJ: No. The mercy I showed his people.
With that, CJ leaned against the wall of the façade of the CVS, struck a relaxed pose with his arms folded concealing a few palmed cards. Then he eyed the shining glass up on the roof across the street and sent a party invite to Rubio.
“Steve, bring your ass out here. We’re going to meet up with the others. He ain’t here.” Said thug one.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” replied CJ from two feet behind the man.
Both thugs jumped out of their skins. The second thug dropped his weapon as the first one backed up. The clip from thug one’s gun just slid right out, clattering to the ground. CJ just shook his head.
“Where the hell did you come from?” asked thug two as he dove for his gun.
“Not important. You said Mason was looking for me? Why?”
“Steve, get your ass out here. We found him. Bald wearing a tux… It’s not as raggedy as Sue and Phil said but it’s definitely him. Don’t you move a fuckin muscle,” ordered Thug one pointing his pistol with one bullet in the chamber at CJ while his free hand quested on the ground for the fallen clip.
“I’m not gonna attack you guys. I just want to talk. Didn’t I send your team back to you in mostly whole condition? I’m not a bad guy.”
“Orders are to take you back to see Mason.” Said Thug one with more confidence in his voice once the third man came out, shotgun leveled at CJ’s chest. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Maybe we’ll bring you to Mason mostly whole.”
New Message from Rubio: I’ve got him in my sights. Your call.
New Message from Party Leader CJ: These guys are clowns. Let me try to resolve this.
New Message from Rubio: Right but there are two troop carries further south, and a fight will bring the lot of them.
New Message from Pary Leader CJ: Just make sure Roger is ready to open the door while I have these three occupied.
“You can shoot me all day and it wouldn’t matter. I need to warn you.”
As CJ said these words, he felt his mana stir inside him. It was something he’d have to delve into at another time, but it was enough of a sensation that his face dimmed into something more sinister which caused the three men to take another step back.
“Sorry, upset stomach. We as humans need to clear dungeons. It’s the only way to fix what’s happening to our world. I know for a fact that there is a town dungeon where Newark Liberty Airport used to be.”
“You mean the where the government has everything walled off? Sure, tell me another one.” Replied thug one.
“That’s an interesting bit of news. Thanks for that. Bottom line wah wah wah.”
“We don’t know what you’re saying weirdo. I say we kneecap him and drag his ass back to Mason,” thug three said before cocking his pump action shotgun.
New Message from Monty: They don’t understand system stuff like mana and corruption. Dungeon seemed to make it through though. Wonder what that’s about?
New Message from Party Leader CJ: You two make it inside?
New Message from Elena: Affirmative.
That was all the time CJ had for messaging as thug number three shot at his leg. As a reaction, Monty cast smoke screen standing in the midst of the three men. They all began coughing and yelling. Shots fired randomly inside the smoke cloud. After taking the blast to his right leg, CJ was forced to fall and faceplant. He was now on the ground covering his head from the gunfire.
New Message from CJ: Okay, that didn’t work. Monty, phase two.