They gently carried Sally to a room. I followed, the stealthed Fix and Scuff hovering over head.

The room wasn't much, but it had a bed and a couple of chairs. The state of everything was rough, but at the moment, it seemed clean. I took a chair in the corner. I leaned back gathering more mana, it was taking a longer than I thought it should. Fix went to post up outside the window and Scuff went back to patrolling the parking lot and scanning vehicles.

Most of the Aldecaldos spent a few minutes talking with Sally and Amanda before shuffling off to their rest. Some stayed alert and took up their own patrols of the area around the motel. I really wasn't paying any attention to what they were saying, just letting my mind drift. Enjoying a moment of quiet.

"I don't trust him, who knows what that weird power of his really does. Maybe he put a charm on her, or a h-hex or something." Lynx was obviously my greatest ally. Haha.

"She wasn't going to make it. Now she's stable that's all that matters. Anything else can be dealt with. Later." Amanda with the dismissal. Lynx stomped off muttering.

Amanda sat wearily in the other chair. "Soooo..." Ah, I know this one. "Buttons." I chuckled.

"What?" She cocked her head at me.

"Old Joke. You sew buttons. Heh." She frowned at me. Okay. Humor not working, switch tactics. "You want to know my deal, I get that. But I don't know a lot about my "magic" either. Hell, I've barely started to put together where I am. I've already fucked up in the City. Soooo yeah." I shook my head. I plead mana deprivation, my head was feeling a bit loopy.

"Just tell me what you can, maybe we can help. At least point you in the right direction." She sounded sincere. For the second time that night, I launched into a somewhat cut down version of my story so far. I gave her a little less than I told Greg, and I certainly kept out the otherworldly aspects. Still it seemed that my tale moved her, as much as anything could move that hard-bitten woman.

"That sounds insane. If I hadn't seen what you can do... If I hadn't noticed those flashes of energy, I wouldn't even entertain your story. As things stand, I think we can help. We know the badlands better than anyone. We can help you get around. We have our own networks of Fixers, maybe we can set you up. We are certainly willing to help with trading Lumber for a nice cut. Say 40%." She delivered that in a precise controlled cadence. She was an old hand at the art of the deal. But for once, I just didn't have it in me to play the game.

"Hmm. Yeah, I'm too tired and too lost to haggle. I agree." I thought I had enough mana built back up to give Sally another once over. I stood up and went to her resting my hand on her head again. I hadn't realized it, but she'd been awake and watching us. She was listening in the whole time.

"Warm." She smiled up at me. Her voice was smoothing out. That was a good sign. I dived with Regrowth and began searching for any other problems. She had a ton of damage to her hip joints and knees, and more than a few torn muscles. I poured mana into each issue in turn. Once again, I lost all sense of time, as I went to work on her.

As I was coming out of my trance I heard, "You don't understand. When he does it, it feels so good. Better than anything I've ever felt before." I cleared my throat. Both women glanced at me, I couldn't read their expressions. Gun to my head, I'd say that Sally looked embarrassed and Amanda looked annoyed.

"You ladies okay?" They both snorted at me.

"My daughter here was telling me she wants to travel with you for a while. I told her it was a bad idea. Not talking you down, just think it be better to get to know you first." Ah, yeah she was annoyed. Wait a minute. What did she say...

My brain stuck, "Daughter?" Sally looked somewhere between 20-25. Amanda, after accounting for a hard life, looked my age maybe a little older. Hey, at least I'd remembered to remove my hand from Sally's head this time. Wow, that put the everything in an awkward light.

"HA! A bit of vanity in my youth. I'm a lot older then I look." Amanda guffawed at me. She slapped her hip. Sally was also chuckling, "Yeah me and Mom don't share much in the way of features, my looks take more after Dad's. I got her winning personality though."

"Uh, okay." Time to change the very uncomfortable subject, "I've done what I can, but you'll need to get your cyberware checked over by a Ripperdoc. I can't do anything about that. Go slow, but it's time to test things out. We need to make sure I didn't mess up anything. And for the record, I agree with your mom. We should get to know each other a little better before traveling together." I offered her a hand to help her get up. She took it, frowning. Her hand was smoother than I would have thought except where she had a gun link imbedded in it. Right, chrome arms.

She went through a series of motions. The only thing off, seemed to be her right arm. It'd probably taken some buckshot when her lung did. Luckily it was a small hitch in her motion for now. Their Ripper could get it back up to speed back at their camp.

"Nice. I'm going to head out. I'd like to feel safe before I crash out." I flicked them both my detes. I got theirs back. "I'll be in touch in a couple of days, to setup an exchange for the lumber." I hoped that they weren't full of shit about being able to help with that.

"We be seeing you." Amanda said. "Real soon." Sally smirked as she waved.

I left the room to see the sun just peeking over the mountains. Wait already, my sense of time had really been fucked over.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I watched the dawn for a brief moment. Sunrise at the Sunset motel. I will never stop being amused by that.

My eyes caught some of the Aldecaldos still keeping watch. Scuff and Fix had already attached themselves to the Galena. I got in and started it up. A quick thought brought the engine of the Mahir awake as well. I was going to have the van follow us.

I drove out of the parking lot, thinking of tomorrow, and what might be.

When I got to the turnoff for the broken road that ran alongside the canyon, I was feeling much better. Something was different already, there was a hint of humidity in the air. I could also sense an uptick in the mana flowing around us. Hmm, had the changes we made already...

"I've plumb forgot to check in with Meadran, I'm such a dumbass." I almost facepalmed, but the cruddy road required both hands.

'Meadran, can you hear me?' I hoped everything was alright. It'd be just my luck if things had gotten crazy back in the Valley while I was out of touch.

'Young One! We were starting to worry.' A sense of relief. I could actually feel him place his worry to the back of his mind.

'I'm sorry, I let events get away from me. Night City is a crazy place. Every minute there, is a study in bullshit. I don't know if that mess can be saved.' I tried to share my impressions of that cesspit.

'I have faith you will find a way.' There was sense of time passing. Roots growing deep and creating strong anchors.

'I'll be back to base very soon, and after a nap we can go over everything in more detail.' I was absolutely certain, he could feel my exhaustion.

'We await your return.' It didn't take long to get to the damaged bridge, where I had to stop.

There were two new gouges in the earth. I got out to inspect them. These troughs were smooth walled and several feet deep. Small streams flowed through them, each of them radiating the distinctive scent of mana and moon energy. The outflow fell into the canyon below. I had the thought that one day it would became a lake or river, helping to spread our influence.

I noticed a path of cobbled stone running between the new small canals. The Probes had done a lot of work.

I took the time to park the Galena and the Van behind an outcrop closer to the mountain. I left Fix and Scuff to dig out emplacements for a couple of Photon Cannons. I didn't want anyone to steal my wheels. Cheap though they may have been, they would be great for figuring out how differently mechanics function here. As they got to work, I trudged up the slope. The feel of moisture and more importantly mana in the air was continuing to work wonders for my stress.

How often would I have to make this trip? Going back and forth between here and the city. Eventually, I would have access to Khalai aircraft then I could travel the skies in style. But not yet.

The cave that lead through the mountain was now flanked. Not only by two brass grated outflow channels, but by a pair of Photon Cannons as well. A Pylon was imbedded into the rock above the entrance. I noticed the Psifield had been strengthened. Good we should be safer. I was looking forward to seeing all the changes that Meadran and Alina had made.

Tons of work had been done in the caves, with many of the side passages having been expanded. Likely for mining, I pondered with a slightly greedy heart, what goodies they might have found.

Once I exited the cave, I received even more of a shock. Meadran had nearly doubled in size. I paused, stunned, to take in the majestic view. His purple foliage a magnificent sight. He had already seemed as large as any tree I had ever seen. Now he was a true behemoth amongst tree kind. How much further would he grow?

A Moon Well with a Pylon floating directly over it was to my left. It's mana infused water flowed down slope into a now much larger pond. The water shimmered in the daylight, it's own light subdued until nighttime. In fact now I could see that Pylons and Cannons now ringed the whole Valley. The crowns of many new trees caught my attention as well. Red leaves, gold leaves, blue and purple leaves where everywhere now. Even almost normal seeming trees with leaves of green. Now this was a forested Valley. I loved it. It was new fresh life. The air was so clean. Each breath was a shot of peace. So refreshing after the stale stagnant atmosphere of Night City.

Soon all of this energy would spill forth from this Valley, and bring hope back to this world. Where metal had stolen the souls of people, I would bring healing.

I began my descent towards the pond. Making a list of things we needed to go over before I could sleep.

'Alina report on status.' Let's start there. The Khalai AI would be able to bring anything critical to my attention right away.

'Executor, status crystal. All standard buildings have been built. Exceptions, the Starport and Fleet Beacons. Unit production other than Probes awaits your commands. 'Excellent, Alina. Continue research. Await further instructions.' Oh, good. I didn't know how much gas I'd left in my tank right then. 'By your command, Executor.'

When I reached the new western bridge to Meadran's Island I was both energized and ragged out. I stooped down to take a sip from the stream. Crisp, clean and cool water, the tingle of mana adding an amazing touch. One sip became three and three became many. So good. My dry throat felt healed.

I saw a red leafed tree nearby, silver apple-like fruit already ripe hanging from it's branches. My stomach growled. Oh, now I had to try one. The tree seemed to lean towards me as if to offer the fruit to me. I was probably imagining it, since it didn't appear to be a treant like Meadran. "Thank you." Because it never hurts to be polite even to a tree. Maybe especially to a tree.

The first bite of the silver apple was pure bliss. The skin was crisp, the flesh slightly firm with a snap to it. The texture delightful, not anywhere near as gritty as some apples can be. The flavor...a medley of different fruits both sweet and acidic, with a touch of cinnamon and clove. Was that molasses, yes it was.

"So tasty." I groaned. Best thing I had eaten, maybe ever. After all the foul food in Night City, this one apple was a slice of heaven. The tree seemed to shiver. Strange there wasn't a breeze. I gave the tree a pat. It had become the provider of my new favorite food. Nope it was actually shuddering. Strange, I'd have to ask Meadran about that latter.

I felt so much better. Just one awesome apple and not only was I full, all the toxins I had picked up were being burned away.

Finishing my trek, I stood before Meadran's now huge face. His lines of wisdom were clearer than ever. There was a vibrate energy surrounding the whole island now. Pure life energy.

'Young One, How like you the bounty of Life?' He wasn't only asking about the apple. There were depths to that one simple question, I might never be able to comprehend.

"So far everything is great." Which was an understatement. They had exceeded my expectations. "Everything seems far ahead of schedule as well." My eyes drooped. Someone kept trying to pull them down. I was rapidity losing the battle to left them back up again. I stumbled. I decided to sit on the soft grass before I fell.

'I see the journey took quite a bit of your spirit. Rest now, Young One. You are safe now, and there with be plenty of time to talk tomorrow.' His mental voice was deeper now, it kind of echoed or reverberated. I found it extremely soothing. My mind followed the voice down, down further into the peaceful dark.

I yawned, my body beginning to lay flat. "I'll just lay down for a little while." I was lost to the world as soon as my head hit the soft minty grass. Dreams of blue eyes chased me to a new world.