Now, San Francisco
“Thanks for putting those out. Saves me the effort,” Eron said after he dropped out of the sky.
Cal grabbed his brother in a tight hug, which Eron returned after a moment’s hesitation.
“That was… rough,” he regarded his brother’s battered face and sliced up body. Quick healing meant that there was a mixture of fresh cuts, scabbed up ones and mostly healed ones, lighter slashes in his brother’s light brown skin.
“Yeah, that thing was strong. Top tier for sure. I haven’t been this beat up when at full power since the early days,” Eron probed at the ugly hematoma on his forehead. “It’s like I’m growing another head.”
“This is like a war zone,” he gestured at the blasted, pockmarked landscape, “you literally flattened a few hills.”
“Sorry, couldn’t really worry about that while I was fighting for my life,” Eron shrugged. “If I wasn’t so much faster I could’ve been in trouble. So, how’d your thing go? I figured you were doing some mind bullshit the way you floated in one place for two days.”
“Was it really two days?” he blinked. He had failed to register what his brother had said earlier.
“The sun came up twice,” Eron frowned.
“Jesus… I can’t explain. It felt much faster, but also much longer. That’s how it tends to go with the mindscapes. It gets weirder when multiple entities are competing in a somewhat equally-matched field.”
“What? You an entity now?” Eron snorted.
“Sometimes— I’m not sure,” he admitted.
“Okay… please don’t be creepy about it. It’s just mind fucks. Call it a weird interaction between superpowers and magic, which are already strange by their natures. I mean I should be practically invulnerable, even to magic. Been hit with all sorts of spells to varying degrees of effectiveness, but I haven’t been this badly hurt in a long time,” Eron said lightly.
“The Deep Azure did give off old one or god-vibes.”
“That’s what I’m going with. We beat up a god and I sent him, it, into the sun,” Eron laughed.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Well… I pushed him— or is it an it—”
“Does it matter?”
“Kinda does, but whatever,” Eron shrugged. “I pushed it toward the sun. Seems to have worked since it stopped talking in my head.”
“I don’t know if we’re done. I don’t think it’s that simple.” Cal shared all that he had exchanged with the Deep Azure.
“So, you think it exists on multiple worlds simultaneously? And we just managed to barely get rid of a temporary avatar of sorts?”
Cal nodded reluctantly.
“That’s worse than the fog. At least that was a one and done… hopefully,” Eron said.
“Its words implied it drew power from worship. Needed it to manifest here. At least that’s the logic.”
“Logic based on myths and fiction, sure, I guess. I wonder if we can go to the spire and get a tutorial or bestiary type thing. ‘Eldritch gods from A to Z’, something like that,” Eron mused.
“I’m going to see the next time I go. I’ll have to update Remy and the family.”
“They’ll be glad to know that the Deep Azure is gone, at least for now,” Eron agreed. “I’ll check too. After I do a sweep of the area and take care of the rest of the fishmen.”
“Don’t bother. I killed them.”
Eron’s eyes widened. “You know I did see a lot of bodies, might’ve smashed a few during the fight. I thought you had just put them to sleep.”
“It was the permanent sort.”
“That’s good. Then that just leaves the cult,” Eron said. “I hate dealing with people. Too messy. No easy answers.”
The smoke from the extinguished flames filled the air.
Cal saw the city across the water, miles away.
It wavered in the haze.
Tenuous.
A fragile, distorted image.
He thought of the women that suffered so that the many in the city could enjoy the benefits of being protected by the Deep Azure and its scions.
He experienced it all.
Saw it from all perspectives.
“I’d rather not either.”
“The cult needs dealing with,” Eron said.
“Without fishmen or the Deep Azure they won’t need to sacrifice.”
“You know they’ll just do other shitty things. That’s what they do. That’s what I’ve seen all over the world,” Eron said.
“And what would you do?”
“Well, unless you had other ideas, I was just planning to go to their leadership and punch my way to someone that will swear to not be bastards to other people,” Eron said.
“And that works?”
“You’d be surprised. So long as they know that I can fly in at any moment, which is why I’ve been very busy after getting stuck in Manila for so long and why I’m going to be busy for the foreseeable future. Much punching to be done and such.”
“I can’t be certain I’d be as restrained. Not after what I saw in the prison.”
“I remember what Remy said about how they… reproduced,” Eron’s face twisted, “you don’t have to justify yourself to me. I’ll handle this.”
“I’ll let the state government people know what you’re doing. They can help enforce things when you’re gone.”
“Who knows, maybe without the Deep Azure and fishmen the people will be more inclined to seek a better place. From what I understand SF. was only as safe and prosperous as it was because those bastards kept other monsters away,” Eron said. “Not worth the cost though.”
“Do they deserve a better place?”
“That’s up to your friends. I can empathize, but I know it’s a lot harder for you the way you experience things,” Eron said. “I guess you’ll be heading back then? If you want to wait an hour or two I can fly back with you after I’m done. You can help me grab a bunch of drake eggs and since we’re up north might as well try to find some wyvern ones too.”
“Sure. I’ve got some things to talk over with Mr. Del Campo— you remember him?”
“Oh yeah, old guy, made all the rounds work in the early years. Glad to know he’s still kicking. What do you want with him?”
“It’s kind of dumb, but losing my main powers in the fog got me thinking. I need more weapons. At least more than sharp, pointy things that rely on my telekinesis,” he gestured at the pouches and compartments around his waist.
“Can’t rely on mind blasts and mind bullets, huh?” Eron said. “I remember you used to carry a camping axe around.”
“Lost that. Got a replacement made out of Threnosh metal, but I think Mom owns that now,” Cal sighed.
“Just get another one. Go with a sword this time. I thought you were taking lessons from Hanna,” Eron said.
“Years ago and only for a few hours a week. Too busy to fully devote myself, so I’m terrible at that. Practiced a bit with Caretaker, don’t think I improved all that much.”
“So, what’re you getting from Mr. Del Campo? A gun? Ammo? Weird cause you can just get those from Rayna’s people,” Eron said.
“I’m not cutting in line. Arming all of the rangers is the priority and their handful of Blacksmiths and Gunsmiths are swamped as it is,” Cal sighed as he took a folded paper out of his pocket and handed it over to his brother. “Like I said, it’s dumb, but I thought, why not?”
Eron scanned the contents as a smile slowly broke out over his bruised and batter face. “Shit! I should do this too. How’d you even draw this? From memory?”
Cal shrugged. “Mind powers mean that I can review my memories like opening a book or watching a recorded show. Practically perfect detail.”
“… hand cannon… weight is not an issue… if possible make 11 round cylinder… strongest possible round…” Eron read through Cal’s handwritten notes. “… ask about special round possibilities? Even stronger? Luck in the Chamber… Holding Aces…” he laughed. “Yeah, I don’t know about that last part.”
“Mr. Del Campo’s class leveled up to the point that he can craft guns like Blacksmiths make swords. It’s possible.”
“Artisanal guns!” Eron’s laughter echoed out across the bay. “God! That’s awesome! If yours works then I want one too,” he regarded Cal solemnly for one moment. “Gjallarhorn!”
“I don’t know if that’s possible.”
“What? Why not? If you’re having him make you a Hawkmoon—”
“A rocket launcher isn’t a gun.”
“Won’t hurt to try,” Eron shook his head, “you’re such a nerd and that’s coming from me. You’re going to waste the old man’s time with this,” he grinned.
“It’s a challenge, which could be a leveling opportunity. Everyone wins.”
“But a video game gun?”
“It was the best,” Cal said flatly.
“I guess it’s a better investment than one of those enchanted weapons in the spires’ marketplace,” Eron said. “I doubt the spires would allow them to be put up for sale if they weren’t legit, but the pricing,” he spat, “ridiculous. Like Pokemon cards for thousands of dollars.”
“A sword that can ignite into fire probably has more value than a tiny piece of card stock with shiny foil.”
“Why don’t you buy one then? I’m curious to see how they work.”
“I’m not paying that much!”
“Well, if not me or you, then who else? From my experience the people with the points don’t need fire swords. I’m better off buying tutorials and saving for emergencies,” Eron said.
“My thoughts exactly. I would like to talk to one of these people. Find out how they’re doing it.”
“Hard to do that when all you’ve got to go on is a user name. The spires do a better job of keeping the seller anonymous than E bay did,” Eron said.
“I’d have to buy the items, build a relationship, but I don’t want to risk giving Universal Points to an asshole the will only use them to do asshole things.”
“Well… I’m going to start asking around in my travels. You can do the same,” Eron suggested.
“It’s on the list,” Cal said. “Alright, we should get going. I need to check on those women, see Mr. Del Campo, check in with the Watch and I need to let the governor know about what you’re going to do with the cult.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Might want to clean your face off first,” Eron gestured. “You bled from your holes again.”
Cal was shocked to realize that he hadn’t noticed.
“Good luck with the hand cannon. I truly hope it’s worth it cause I want one too,” Eron said as he rose into the sky.
“Come find me in Sacramento when you’re done.”
“I’ll be done way before you. I think I’ll look for wyvern nests and clear monsters while I’m in the area,” Eron waved.
“Later,” Cal watched his brother fly across the water and down into the city. He hoped that the cult leaders were smart enough. If they weren’t then he hoped Eron could contain the damage to only those that truly deserved it.
----------------------------------------
Now, Southern California
“It’s an adventure,” Cal said.
“Babies don’t go on adventures,” his mom said flatly.
Cal regarded the individual in question. Drooling and babbling as he stood on two chubby, unsteady legs while Rynnen held his arms and helped him stagger around the living room.
Not a hint of fog tendencies as far as he could see with his many eyes.
“Then tell Eron you said it was fine if I left him here with you.”
“Ay nako,” his mom grumbled. “I already tried, but your brother is being stubborn. Just leave the baby with me. I’ll deal with your brother.”
“It’s about building trust. Between him and me, him and the baby,” Cal sighed.
“Not a baby. A toddler,” Rayna chimed in unhelpfully. “Well… look at him… toddling,” she smirked.
“Only with Rynnen’s help.”
“I’m helping him walk!” Rynnen smiled.
“Yes, that’s very responsible of you,” his mom beamed.
“Oh my god,” Cal muttered.
Rayna snickered.
“He’s almost a year, physically at least, not chronologically. Does that still count as a baby or is that toddler age? I don’t know how that works,” Nila said.
“What does that mean?” Rynnen’s forehead wrinkled.
No one deigned to explain.
“He’s somewhere between 10 and 12 months old. We aren’t sure because I found him in a ruined building in Manila,” Cal told his young cousin. He shot glares at his girlfriend, sister and mother.
Which was a mistake judging by the strong thoughts that slipped through his telepathic walls.
“Uh… sorry, I’m just stressed about this whole adventure.” The word slipped out bitterly. “I thought there was a good chance that after our fight with the Deep Azure Eron would change his mind about the whole having to have the baby within easy distance at all times.”
“Then why not postpone until you finally find parents to take him. It’s not fair to the baby—” his mom said.
“Toddler,” Rayna said.
“I can’t delay. Eron’s busy with the rest of the world and I promised to check this continent out. I feel like there’s a clock I’m racing. The people of this planet are scattered and we can’t be everywhere individually to face what’s coming from other worlds. If you saw what I’ve seen…” he shook his head, “as bad as it has been and I’m not minimizing that, it can get so much worse.”
“Your mind’s made up?” his mom said.
Cal nodded.
“Why Vegas?” Rayna said.
“Eron said that it was a bunch of spawn zones. Thought we’d clear those out, turn them back into encounter challenges. Also pick up cash, gold, silver or gems for possible bartering needs as we move through the country.”
“You can get all of that here. Plenty of banks, pawnshops, gold exchanges and jewelry stores in the area,” Rayna said.
“That’s your stuff and those spawn zones are a priority according to what Eron said.”
“What about help? You sure you don’t want a squad of rangers? You’ll get plenty of volunteers. Practically everyone is itching for the chance to break Level 30 after Sgt. Butcher’s squad came back… what’s left of them, that is,” Rayna’s voice softened.
“Thanks, but I don’t want to responsible for their safety,” Cal held up a hand, “even if they’d say that wasn’t the case. It would be for me. Besides, I think you’ll need everyone you have for whatever’s going on with San Diego. I’m sorry I couldn’t find anything more concrete than what you already knew.”
“Confirmation that there’s something bad going on is good enough for now,” Rayna said. “I’m tempted to flatten everything, but I want to keep the infrastructure up unless there’s really no other choice.”
“We’ve got to stop by Sacramento anyways,” Nila said.
“It’s out of the way, but I’ve got something to pick up and people to check up on,” Cal explained.
“Okay, just be careful, especially for the baby.” His mom scooped said baby up and whirled him around to peals of high-pitched laughter. “I’m gonna miss you. Be good okay?”
Cal cringed at his mom’s voice. He could tell that she was already attached.
“Are you sure you won’t leave him,” his mom hesitated, “I can work on finding parents to adopt.”
“I told you, Mom. I’m not sure how to approach that. I have to tell them his true origin and that’s a huge risk for him. What if they reject him because of that. It’ll make it harder to find others unless I erase their memories, which is wrong.”
“Yeah, that’d be evil,” Rayna said.
“A lesser one that’s best for him,” his mom said.
“Mother… are you advocating for me to do a wrong? A lesser one, perhaps, but—”
“Don’t give that tone, Anak,” his mom chided. “Your father and I raised you to know right from wrong and to make those decisions. I trust that you’ll do the right thing here as you always have.”
It was an exaggeration, but Cal wasn’t going to openly gainsay his mom.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got this. I’ll claim a resort hotel casino as a safe base for Nila and the baby. Maybe that one with the best buffet—” he pointed to Nila.
“The Bacchanal,” she supplied.
“While him and Nila are playing slots and gorging on awesome food—”
“Which I’ll have to cook,” Nila said.
“No offense, Love, but despite your superhuman physical attributes and great fighting skills you can’t solo a resort hotel casino-sized spawn zone like I can.”
Nila exchanged a look with Rayna and Cal knew that he had misstepped again. “Thanks for the mansplanation, but you forgot about my Threnosh armor and baseball bat.”
“Acknowledged… but I’m not risking you and the baby.”
“Nila can decide that,” Rayna added.
“Yes, absolutely, but we’re getting side-tracked. As I was saying,” Cal hurried, “shouldn’t take too long to sort Vegas out in terms of spawn zone issues. A few weeks, maybe a month or two and we can be back here for a break before heading out to other places.”
“I’m not going to risk my guys on spawn zones beyond Vegas, but once you turn them back into encounter challenges we can help keep them from spawning again,” Rayna said.
“I’m considering claiming as much as I can to use for future bases and just to limit the amount of places that need regular clearing.”
“I guess you’ll find out if there’s a limit to the number of structures a single person can claim,” Rayna said.
“Maybe.”
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” Rayna tried again. “You’re Threnosh armor still isn’t fixed. We’ve got some plate and chain you can borrow or old riot gear.”
“My skin’s stronger than that stuff and I’m not taking away protection from someone that needs it. I’m good with the jacket. Might find something out there or stop at a sporting goods store somewhere.”
“What about weapons?”
“Oh, the axe!” his mom hurried to the closet under the stairs.
“Keep it, Mom and what have I told you about having it in arm’s reach at all times,” Cal chided.
“I don’t want one of the kids to accidentally cut themselves on it,” his mom said.
“What if you need it at an instant, like when the Vitiator—”
His mom silenced him with a pointed look followed by a glance toward Rynnen.
“Got it.”
“Well, don’t die,” Rayna hugged him. “Don’t worry about things here. Most of the gangs are done, so it’s just patrolling around their old territories and doing outreach trying to get the people to move here. You can do a more thorough screening for shi— crapheads when you get back.”
“Sounds good.”
“Oh, and hopefully you’ll be back for one of those eggs to hatch. On account of our superhuman toughness I thought it’d be best if you and me, Nila too, tried imprinting or whatever with one of those wyverns or drakes, whichever, you guys can pick,” Rayna smiled.
“Uh… thanks,” he replied.
Like ripping off a band-aid it was best to do it all in one quick go. So, Cal grabbed the baby out of his reluctant mom’s arms and hustled out the door with words of goodbye.
Cal handed the baby to Nila before they both climbed into the small RV parked outside his parents’ house.
“I agree with your mom, but I also see where you’re coming from. Every time I think about it I come to the conclusion that this baby is safest with you, us,” Nila said as the RV rose up into the sky under Cal’s power.
“For his sake?”
“His and possibly everyone else,” Nila spoke without hesitation.
“What do you think about erasing memories?”
“Feels wrong on a fundamental level, but I think I can excuse it if you’re doing it to bad people or the alternatives are worse. I don’t know where this situation fits in that,” Nila said.
“I don’t think it’s right in this case, but I know I need to make a decision.”
“You’re bringing a baby along on a dangerous adventure. I’d say it’s overdue,” Nila said.
“I can’t leave him. You weren’t there. The way my brother and I kicked each other’s asses… I don’t ever want that to happen again. You’re right he’s safest with me. For his own sake and others. If, God forbid, the fog returns then I need to be there to stop it. I promised I’ll do what it takes to prevent that from ever happening again.” He glanced at the chubby cheeked copy of himself at that age in Nila’s lap.
The baby seemed to sense the attention and stared up at Cal while slobbering over the bright red teething ring in his mouth.
Please just be normal, Cal thought.
Nila sniffed suddenly. “Oh, man,” she groaned.
Cal stiffened. “I’m flying this thing,” he said hesitantly.
“Uh huh. I’ve seen you cook an entire meal while re-enacting Infinity War and Endgame with toys for the baby and Rynnen, all while you lay on the couch reading,” Nila frowned.
“Yeah, but this thing is really heavy and I’m also having to shield our presence from the notice of every flying monster,” he stretched the truth, a little.
“Fine, but next time we’re going to land and you’re going to change him,” Nila climbed out of the chair with the baby at arm’s length and headed to the back of the RV.
Cal did the mental calculations on the baby’s digestion speed.
He sped up.
----------------------------------------
Then, Texas
“We need to take a break, Kath.”
She mulled an appropriate answer for a moment. Her second had been pushing for the team to cool their activities for a few weeks now. She didn’t want to let her long-time friend and teammate to feel as if he wasn’t being heard. “Dave… no,” she said.
He thrust a crumpled piece of paper into her hands.
She scanned it quickly. Stopped at the end and went over it again more carefully.
“Mayor Sammy’s gotten really mad about what we’ve been doing,” Dave continued. “She’s put a bounty… a huge one on our heads. 20K for each of us, dead or alive,” he punctuated his words by poking a finger into the bounty.
“This isn’t for us,” she said after a moment, “it’s for those responsible for the food thefts,” she spat, “as if we could steal things that magically appear in the stores on a daily cycle. As if that soccer mom bitch does anything to make that happen! What gives them that right?”
“A monopoly on violence, same now as it was before the spires,” Dave sighed. “Look, I get it. It’s dumb that people are still being forced to do bullshit jobs for pieces of paper that aren’t worth shit. I’m not saying we stop what we’re doing… just, I don’t know, take a break for awhile.”
“Our target plan should be good enough. We roll the dice and let chance decide which stores we hit. The city’s mostly abandoned. The mayor doesn’t have the man power to keep guards posted on all of the stores. Too risky with how the monsters have been increasing in strength and numbers lately. They need to focus their efforts on keeping the encounter challenges under control. Word is that they lost one last week. Turned back into a spawn zone.”
“I know and that’s another reason why I think we should hold off on tonight,” Dave pleaded. “The team’s running ragged.”
“People need food and medicine.”
That was reason enough for Kath. As far as she was concerned she didn’t need more. She strove to live by the lessons her long-dead father had instilled in her.
“It sucks, but they can pay for it. I’m willing to help those that need it out of my own personal funds,” Dave tried.
“I’ve already allocated a percentage of team funds to the nuns. Also gave them what I had. I’m not expecting you or any of the others to do the same, just to be clear. The problem is most of that will go to heating expenses, firewood and oil. They think it’s going to be a cold winter.”
“It’ll be a lot colder if we get caught or killed,” Dave said.
“We’re one of the top teams in the whole guild.”
“Most of the others will team up if they find out we’re the ones responsible. Not to mention the Mayor’s militia. Oh, and not to mention every random bounty hunter, genuine or otherwise, with a spear and a gun. 100k if they get all of us,” Dave said.
“We’ve been doing this for months. All we need to do is work fast and keep our masks up. People need us to do this.”
“Alright, you’re the boss, but please consider taking a break after this one, for me?” Dave pleaded.
“Fine,” she said after a moment. “There’s also been rumors about the Meat Parade…”
Dave blanched. “I didn’t hear about that one…”
“Word is that the mayor is keeping this quiet… scouts came back from the east. The ones semi-permanently stationed near the Mississippi. According to them a pretty big one’s formed and might be headed in this direction.”
“Those psychos— fuck! Just what we need! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Dave scratched his bald head.
“Calm down,” Kath flicked Dave on the forehead. “Just rumors. Maybe after tonight we’ll head over and check it out ourselves.”
“That’s not a break, boss. That’s the opposite of a break. Trekking through monster country toward the Meat Parade…” Dave shook his head.
“Makes taking supplies from an empty store and giving them to the needy seem less dangerous, doesn’t it?”
“It’s the difference between facing an alpha gremlin and a man-eating mutated longhorn, which is to say there isn’t much. Either will kill you horribly if you aren’t on your game,” Dave said.
“We’ve been at this for years. Have confidence in your abilities. Your training. Your experience. Why do you think both the mayor’s people and the Golden Eagles are always hassling us to join up? We’ve got this… like we always do.”