Benjamin – Sal’Yiu – Citadel #2 ‘Not For The Horde’
You have entered Citadel #2 ‘Not For The Horde’.
The scattershot of spells shut off as one of me closes the portal the millisecond we’re clear.
A me then takes to grumbling to the rest of us about ungrateful pointy eared aliens not understanding how close they came to total annihilation as another me fans a molten segment of our armor that ate a nasty looking fire spell. Meanwhile another me begins profusely apologizing to it while it in turn whines in protest at the rapid temperature reduction.
Looking around the Siphon Insertion chamber, one of me wonders if it should enact a bit of spiteful reciprocity and mothball the place before we leave. Another me points out that that would be breaking our word and begins to walk back its spiteful stance, as all of me are forced to grudgingly admit that we clearly crossed some cultural taboo for the elves with our overzealous application of the new trait, by banishing their celestial body.
A third me concurs with the second and points out that although it might sting a wee bit to loose a potential ally, we have technically achieved what we’d set out to do anyway.
Looking forward to being home amongst my own semi-kind of which at least a minuscule portion don’t want to instantly murder death kill me on sight. In short order, the power of jolly cooperation brings us next to the console near the rooms central divot and activates ‘Establish Siphon Insertion to specific Phase 1 World’ with ‘Earth’ as the destination.
And as we move into the portal’s terminus and feel our body and minds contort, one of me hopes that we haven’t broken Gérard again, on account of the communication system being blocked the way it has been:
[You have entered Dimensional Siphon #2,806
To collapse the Dimensional Siphon and gain access to the adjacent Phase 1 World Earth, you must survive 30 days.]
[Quest: Perseverance
Description: Survive 30 days within Dimensional Siphon #2,806
Rewards: Manamotes (quantities will vary based on your party’s size).]
Willing away the notification’s we collectively scan the desert like surrounds of the artificial dimensional pocket and head toward the only bit of flat rock at its center to wait for our as yet unsuspecting month long bunk buddies to arrive.
We assume a meditative pose and initiate a tri-fold review of what the hell went so wrong toward the end on the fungal elven world.
Barely a minute in to the introspection a flash of system generated light draws our enhanced vision’s attention. Only to collectively grin as we note the identities of my new dimensional-roomies, a me moves as quickly and as quietly as our stats allow, utilizing the large scattered stones of shard like obelisks which jut out from the sand, while the new arrivals bicker.
“Kimi, for the life of me I can’t quite understand why you wanted to spend our precious downtime running another one of these things after what happened last time…”
“Because Jin! We never even got the chance to find out what the reward might be for clearing a Delta Zone one because of that fucker!”
“I don’t know why you think it’s any different based on what zone it’s in…”
“Shut up Kai! No one asked for a traitor’s opinion!”
“Pull your head out Jin, him and Wang are here as a personal favor to me!...We’re lucky they came at all, especially considering how we ended up treating them…”
“That wasn’t our fault! If that freak hadn’t sh-“
Electing to not let things get more uncomfortable then they already had, I's collectively greet our thirty day involuntary friends by moving slowly out from behind the artificial rock I’m behind offering.
“If it isn’t my favorite siph-“
Not even having to dedicate a mind to slow our perception of time, a me swats away the arrow and bolt of fire with an armored hand as they reward my surprise greeting with one of their own.
Their shock lasted only a moment before Jin exclaimed whilst throwing his bow to the sand in apparent loss of his tether.
“That’s it! I’ve had enough of this...This!...This shit!...I fucking quit!”
It took a while for the irate archer to come to the campfire that night, after he’d finished punching and kicking the sand as he sobbed.
But when he had eventually recollected his proverbial marbles, he seemed to be a much more agreeable sort.
The others however took far less time to overcome their annoyance and frustration at having to spend another month cooped up with me’s…. Especially After we cleared up the embarrassing topic of my's temporary baldness...
Sadly they didn’t have much in the way of stories this time, so I collectively settled instead for whatever news they had of the lay of the land for nu-Earth, in exchange for my harvested magical meats and fruits.
Unsurprisingly they had learned from their lack of preparation last time, packing jerky, hard biscuits as well as dried fruit and nuts in the off chance of running into a similar situation.
However given the choice between long life food and freshly harvested gourmet, there was barely even a contest.
Unlike the last time we had cohabited such a space, we managed to endure each others company with a much more amicable sum total of emotions. Partly because Sung had the forethought to pack a set of cards made by a halfway decent crafter, but also because after the last time, one of me had the foresight to stock Mr Pocket with all the beverage varieties we could find on the terminals market.
Thankfully for their safety, none of me could get drunk any longer, stemming not from some act of supreme will or moral compass but owing solely to our high vitality attribute. Thus making any danger of a new foray into alcoholism with accompanying loss of self control a moot point. And given the depth of flavor of the drinks this ‘Kivar’ guy had created, drinking had now become a cherished highlight of my's monthly dimensional interments.
And despite Kai kept sending me warily silent sidelong glances when he thought none of me were looking, the thirty days passed without so much as a ‘Kill the abomination’ uttered or hastily drawn weapon. Many of me even liked to think we might have even finally started to enter the fabled friend zone...
On a mostly unrelated topic. As an aesthetic bonus, by the end of our somewhat willing entrapment I’d regained my hairs previous length!
So, as the notification flashed up signaling our release the me's unilaterally bid them a swift but cheerfully haired farewell before we went our separate ways.
Stepping out into Delta Zone #4 a me promptly opened a portal to home and we stepped through it in earnest:
You have entered Citadel #1 ‘Keep Out’.
Surveying the still mostly vacant Command Center, one of me selfishly decided to splash some mana cash, before even checking in to make sure our extended absence hadn’t broken Gérard again.
Mentally willing the administration interface to manifest, a me selected the ‘Manifest Command Centre Physical Interface’ option and watched bemusedly as five million manamotes instantly disappeared from our ethereal wallet. The resulting system generated light bathing the whole floor, to completely wash out our sight before our eyes adjusted to its absence less then a moment later while the new equipment finished its manifestation.
In a circular arrangement from the large rooms center were three rings of consoles, broken in four places so as to presumably to allow foot traffic. Moving from console to console. The consoles in question had functions ranging from manual monitoring of gate traffic, real-time trade information, external sensor feeds and even manual defensive spire control.
One of me pointed out that the impulse manamote splash might not have been the best idea given that these consoles, as new and shiny as they were, seemed to require an individualized and unfortunately more hands on approach. Another me hedged that we might be able to co-opt the delinquents into running things from here while we're out and about in the galaxy, trait shopping.
Our third mind points out that it would not be the brightest of any of our ideas to give a bunch of delinquent survivalists the literal controls to a towering fortress, housing tens of thousands of already traumatized people, that’s mounted with magical siege weaponry.
No matter how well intention-ed and high leveled said delinquents might be.
Huffing in exasperation at our new and shiny, yet all but redundant control room. The triumvirate attempted to take solace in the fact that at least the central part of the room has an ever so slightly more detailed hologram of the structure rotating in it.
This small gain in voyeuristic resolution fails to boost my's collective spirits as one of me wills the magical ovoid lift to appear next to us before climbing in and resisting the urge to throw a consumer induced, regret driven, super-ex-human temper tantrum.
Scowling at the ante chamber to Gérard’s whole floor apartment, many me’s have a moment of consternation as the door telescopes open and Giselle storms into the small room, whilst looking over her shoulder and screaming.
“I AM A GROWN WOMAN YOU OGRE! I WILL NOT STAY IN ZIS PRIZON BECAUZE OF YOUR ABHORRENT CHOICEZ ANY LONG-“
Then her red faced word wounding of 'dearest papa' cuts off as her eyes meet mine and she skids to a halt, almost running into me's in the process.
Trying to relax the incensed woman a me offers.
“So Giselle...How’s things?”
Her face engorges and turns an even deeper shade of rouge before something seems to deflate her mounting eruption, only for her to turn to the still open apartment’s doorway and yell.
“YOU AD TO CALL BENJAMIN DIDN’T YOU! IT WONT WORK PAPA, I’M LEAVING A-“
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Universally feeling we should defend the under siege father, a me interjects.
“Ah, not that it probably matters, but I have absolutely no idea what your screaming abo-“
She rounds on me, holding a delicate figure in threat as her chestnut hair jostles to keep up whilst she hisses.
“I will keep your secretz monzter…but don’t sink for a second, zat you ave fooled me az we-“
Thankfully its at this point that her not-currently-dearest-papa emerges from the entry way with open arms like he’s about to greet an old friend whole cooing.
“Sir Benjamin! I am so glad you are back!”
Then his eyes flick nervously to the side and he continues far less merrily.
“If you would pleaze indulge a doting fazzer some privacy by waiting inside but a moment… I would be extremely grateful…”
More than a little relieved he is not distraught like last time and collectively keen to be free of the on going familial tumult, a me nods and heads deeper into his abode.
Sitting down on a chair and comforted by the magical soundproofing the citadels building material provides, we unilaterally wait in silence and take to perusing the decorations the French Initiate Merchant seems to have acquired in my absence to pass the time.
Three of my minds quickly lose interest in the human crafter generated décor largely owing to the fact that when compared to the other races nack for artistry all of us have witnessed, my own ex-species recent creations give off an aura akin to a manic childs play-dough left out in the sun too long before they tried to imprint their 'personal flavor' on it with a hatchet while suffering from an epileptic ceasure.
Huffing at squandered opportunities for cultural exchange, we once more turned to introspective musings and what exactly to do next.
When Gérard finally finds his way to the room he looks far more harrowed than when any of me had last seen him. Leading a me to offer weakly.
“Anything I can do to help mate?”
This seemed to startle him slightly before he regained his beleaguered composure to slump down in the chair opposite me’s, whilst waving us off and despondently adding.
“No no my friend, she iz a grown woman az she sayz…I juzt wish I could keep her safe from what iz out zere...”
Nodding in understanding like any of me weren’t one of the bigger potential dangers to humanities continues survival, a me supplied.
“Well if you want I could assign some of the delinquents to act as her guards or something?”
Confusion clear on his face he queries.
“What are zeez ‘delinquients’ you speak of?”
Barking a laugh, The Triumvirate convenes and grants him security clearance, before one of me proffers.
“Oh that’s just what I call them… you’ve met them actually, they’re those black clad young’uns you contacted me through...They’re mostly harmless though… basically just some good hearted teenagers I’ve employed to observe and report on the goings on in the Citadel.”
A flicker of emotional conflict flashes across his face before he cautions in one of the most level tones of voice I’ve heard him apply.
“When I say zis to you I say it az a friend and a confidant. Please do not expoze zem to ze conflictz in which you yourself partake...”
Blinking universally in surprise at the mans sincerity, a me counters in kind.
“Don’t worry they’re fine…Well mostly…Well full disclosure...Some of them did get killed by those Shakti guys when they left the safety of the Citadel which is why I might have gone a little overboard on them…”
The man’s eyes bulge like I’ve just hit him in the nadgers, before his eyes find the floor and he whispers hollowly.
“I-it waz a miztake to let my little sweet pea leave…wazn’t it…”
It was all of my’s turn to suffer from mild confusion before rejoining.
“What?! No!...I mean I can get them to keep an eye on her, sure, but as to her being a target because of me? After what I recently did to those Shakti dickwads? Not a chance mate!”
Some life returns to his face as he asks hopefully.
“Y-you sink it iz so?”
Only embellishing my's triplicate surety marginally, a me furthers.
“Absolutely! I doubt there is going to be anyone who is going to fuck with someone linked to me for a good while!”
Seeing doubt still lingering at the edges of his face a me adds.
“Oh and I was in such a rush last time I completely forgot to mention, we might kind of have a non aggression pact with The Asian Union now.”
Eyeing me for a moment he flummoxes three of me by slapping his knee and barks a laugh before adding.
“You are intent on killing zis poor merchant with your surprizes arn't you?”
Apparently back to his old self he leans forward with a smile to elicit.
“Now why don’t you try and ruin my worrisome heart a little more and tell zis unlucky fazzer wat haz kept you from contacting me, so i could activate ze device zis time?”
One of me grins at the fact that Gérard is back in working order before all three of my minds turn to the task of regaling the amicable Frenchman with the rough outline of what has been going on the past month and a bit.
“…And so I activate some skills and killed the Gigantic flying…Monster…before returning the elf to her own…eagerly awaiting kind!…It got a little noisy after that so I decided to leave them to it…Then I had to sit and wait for a month in a siphon whilst reconnecting with some...Business associates...And now I’m here!”
When all the appropriate words have been said, with trade secrets omitted and sufficiently vexing details getting the same discretionary treatment, it seems my's lone French audience has yet to remove his jaw from the pristine white floor.
It takes a few uncomfortable seconds where three of me think we might have said something wrong, before he shakes himself and begins.
“I-I do not…It’z juzt…Are you...Are you pulling my leg Sir Benjamin?”
Slightly relieved, a me retorts.
“Have I ever lied to you Gérard?”
Concerningly, his face scrunches for a few moments in hard thought thoughts, before releasing a not quite certain.
“No?…”
Then he shakes himself again and adds.
“I apologize, it iz juzt zat it all seemz too strange to be true…”
Nodding sagely, three of me elect not to burden him with the tale of the agressive cat people while a me instead counters.
“I can see that, but then answer me this – What building are you sitting in right now?”
He blanches slightly, like I just told him the size of his knife, in turn replying in a somewhat strangled tone.
“Y-your building?”
One of me mimics his earlier head shaking as it amends.
“Sorry mate that’s definitely not what I was getting at…What I meant was, how was this building made?”
His visible tension eases as he responds far less guardedly.
“Well ze syztem of courze!”
Frowning and massaging our temples a me counters.
“Not what I meant either…My point is that it was extremely advanced technology, or to our cavemen senses, magic!”
Gérard waves me off before adding.
“Of courze of courze, but wat about ze advanced technology, or ‘magic’ az you put it?”
Smiling a me offers.
“Well then why don’t you believe my story?”
Then his expression gets a little harder to read as it goes through a few phases that are exceedingly complex before it halts momentarily at concern, then instead decides to rest on resolute seriousness as he replies.
“I-It iz not zat I dizbelieve your ability to do wat you ave said, but I mean, be reazonable Benjamin…orcz and elvez and zen rezcuing ze damsel in diztress?”
Noticing my collective glower, he adds hastily.
“W-what I mean to say iz itz ard to imagine ze rezt of ze univerze iz so…so like human fantazy literature…”
Huffing a me grouchily concedes.
“Fair point.”
As one of me notes my conversational partner relax, another of my minds endeavors to have a more constructive conversation by furthering.
“So regardless of the originality of my…tale…I seem to have come to another crossroads of sorts…”
Clearly more comfortable with this topic Gérard nods silent encouragement, leading the me to continue.
“Well I have kinda come to a point where I can choose whether to keep spending time on trying to increase my own strength and wealth or to try and take on a more active role with things here on Earth…And I know it’s unfair to ask…But what do you think I should do?”
Giving me weighing look, after a few tense moments of silence he opens his mouth only to close it again.
This process repeats a couple more times before he rubs his temples and queries.
“I will azk about ze firzt option in a moment, but ze second option iz the far more important one. What do you mean when you say ‘take on a more active role’?”
Eager to share our recently formed plans a me supplies.
“Well I was thinking something along the lines of forming a coalition of all the major groups of survivors we have and gearing everyone up before pushing into phase two so I can fi-“
Registering his upheld hand, we collectively curtail my's sales pitch and motion for him to voice his apparent thoughts.
“Zat iz certainly a lofty goal...However I sink you are missing somesing important in all zis...Wat appenz to ze people who ave not adapted az you ave during zis second phase of elevation?”
Not quite sure what the Initiate Merchant is driving at, a me offers.
“We protect them and help them level up?”
He gives me a quizzical look, like hes not sure if I’m stupid or just playing silly buggers, before adding.
“I understand ze need to improve az a speciez I do...But wat appenz when people refuze your generouz offer to elp zem go out and fight monzters?...To add to zat question, wat appenz when zey are not part of any of ze major groups in power and do not wish to be?”
Sighing as all three of me think we see what he’s getting at, a me counters.
“So what you mean to say is that we have to initiate everyone into some kind of armed forces or at the least habitation based militia before we can make any progress toward phase two readiness?”
His eye begins to twitch before he beings to massage his own temples.
After a few deep breaths however he rejoins the many me’s still in the conversation by asking in as level tone as he seems to be currently capable of.
“Benjamin…wat would you say if I told you zat my precious Giselle would refuze, even in ze face of death, to take part in wat you suggezt?”
Universally blindsided by how our clear lack of empathetic reasoning has been laid bare, our eyes go wide as we realize that with even three of me, I’ll likely never be able to truly understand my fellow humans.
Trying to save the not-quite-friendship, one of me offers lamely into the silence that’s now settled between us.
“S-sorry Gérard I didn’t really con-“
But he reaches out and a couple of me suppress the urge to obliterate his arm as it nears our armored knee.
Meeting his eyes, where we expected to find hostility or at the least disappointment, all of me instead find bemusement mixed with…something, as he adds.
“Do not fret my friend…We can not all be fazzerz…I am however delighted zat I ave a chance to talk with one such as you of zese singz of import!”
Unilaterally relieved that we don’t have to explain why he's missing an arm a me replies weakly.
“T-thanks mate...I’ll try to bear that in mind for next time…”
Chuckling he counters.
“Zat iz all I azk, now wat do you intend to do in light of zis new and important perspective?”
Shrugging we offer the best that three of me could cobble together on such short notice.
“Well seeing as I can’t in good conscience conscript people, force them to fight at knife point or subject everyone to a phase two elevation unprepared…that just leaves optional training and alliances?”
At this the Frenchman waggles his eyebrows as he inquires.
“It iz good you can adapt to information so quickly! but zere is somesing elze you may ave not considered...Zat iz, if you were to put yourself into a pozition of active command and bring togezer all ze large groups of survivorz az you say…How iz your track record with such matters of diplomacy?”
One of me registers the glimmer of amusement in his eyes and we deflate anew at his clear reference to our poor history with such things and a me mumbles.
“Not great…”
Releasing a belly laugh at our omission the Frenchman adds.
“Fear not my friend, zis is wat you ave me for! Alzough even I fear I am not up to such a mazzive tazk…”
Frustration takes hold as one of me snaps.
“Look I’m not throwing these ideas out there cos I like bossing people about mate!... If you had seen some of the shit that’s out there I garen-fucking-tee you would be in the streets screaming at everyone that the end is coming like those shakti donuts did!”
One of me points out the jolly Frenchman who was just with us has gone and left us with a more then slightly taken aback Gérard.
Going into damage control a me continues.
“Sorry mate, I just…Its bad out there…Like planets full of max level aliens wanting anything that isn't them dead bad….”
Nodding slowly he cautiously offers.
“I know I do not get out much, but I try to get reports from reliable market contacts as much as poszible…zey tell me zat while zere are dangerouz monzters, when we send out our best, we are able to overcome zem.”
Snorting derisively a me counters.
“What’s this we business? Every human I’ve met is so weak it’s a bloody joke Gérard!”
Waving down his attempted blanch-faced-reply the me presses.
“And I’m not talking about compared to me, I get that I’m a freak I do… I’m talking about in regards to the more garden variety humanoid aliens. Hell just a couple of parties of them could wipe out our entire species and that’s even allowing for if all of the major groups were to combine!”
Obviously unconvinced he rejoins with matching gusto.
“But it certainly cannot be az bad az zat, ozerwize we would be under attack az surely az we sit ere an talk?”
Unanimously shaking our head in rue, one of me releases a dark chuckle before adding.
“Mate, if I wasn’t clearing siphons every time I’m back, we definitely we would be. One thing in our favor though, near as I can tell, Siphons seem to be the only way they can invade.”
He fixes me with another of his ‘you are clearly bullshitting me Benjamin, but I’m too kind to call you out on it’ looks as he refuses to obey his own face by way of querying.
“From wat I understand, Siphonz are in almost every zone since ze syztem announcement. zey also disappear razer quickly az well. Certainly you are fast…but zis iz a whole planet we are talking about!”
And so it is, while the silence continues to stretch. That many of me take to wondering if it is indeed prudent to let another human know of our true level of extermination of all too cognitively aware alien invaders.