Time seemed to slip by ever so quickly, a week passed so fast. I felt deeply saddened that a week had already passed us by. I wanted the countdown to disappear and let us stay in our world. Rebecca also has been struggling with how fast the time is passing us by, but we knew ultimately we would have to return and it made both of us feel depressed.
We hadn’t been idle during that week. Mum had dragged us around, mainly shopping for clothes. While I complained about getting yet again another pile of clothing, I felt happy to see her smiling and enjoying herself, wanting nothing more than to ensure she stayed happy like this.
Steven and Tim had stayed at mum’s house, either joining us on our clothing spree or spending time just talking. As the time flew by, we noticed that the three of them started to become high strung, as if knowing that our time limit was just rushing all of us by.
One morning, after Rebecca and I just chilled out for the night struggling to think of anything to buy, Steven called us down to the living room.
“Can you girls call Deven over? We’ll be heading to get your gift today.” While Rebecca calls Diana, I look around for mum. “Your mother is out doing a few chores, she’ll be back this afternoon.”
“Ah, okay.” Finding it a bit strange that mum wasn’t here, I sat down on the couch and had a chat with Steven, with Rebecca joining us a few minutes later.
Diana and Deven arrived after about an hour and with Steven shoving all of us into his work van, started driving us to a location he refused to reveal. After an hour's drive, we arrived at a complex and parked by a gate, Steven asked us to wait here while he went in.
“Mid?”
“Mm?” Looking at Sheep who spoke in a soft voice, he looked me up and down.
“Are you doing alright?”
“I’m fine, Deven.”
“I think what Deven is asking you is if you’re doing okay since it must be hard knowing there is a time limit on staying here.” Diana spoke in a soft voice, pushing Deven to the side while looking at Rebecca and I with concern.
Exchanging a glance with Rebecca, we held hands as we shook our heads. Looking at Diana, I pursed my lips.
“No, honestly we’re not. Being able to see mum's happy face has made me so happy that it hurts to think of leaving her by herself again.”
“I’m the same with my dad. Knowing we’d have to leave them behind while heading to a world filled with unknowns where we may never see them again is hard.”
Diana grabs both of us and pulls us into a tight hug, her soft voice ringing in our ears. “This isn’t the last time, girls. If this happened once it’ll happen again. Besides, you’ll see them once we’ve defeated whatever it is in this other world. Don’t think of it as you girls saying goodbye forever, think of it like you’re heading to another country for a few years. You’ll see them again, I believe it.” Letting us go, Diana cupped our faces with a smile. “After all, you’re here and Deven returned to me.”
Diana’s words sunk in. It’s true, if we were offered this reward once we may very well be given it again in the future. Even if we don’t, we just have to survive and overcome whatever the Prime World wants us to, save it and we’ll be able to ask it to come back here. Resolving myself once again to keep pushing on in that world to ensure we can come here again, I look at Rebecca as we both nod strongly.
“Good, you’re both looking better. Ah, Mr Howard is coming back. Smiles on those dials girls.” Glancing up, I saw Steven coming over, looking pale but upon seeing us a rather cheeky grin appeared on his face.
“Oh no…” Hearing Rebecca’s slightly fearful mutter, I couldn’t help but agree with her. Steven very rarely smiled, only ever in times of either happiness for his children or when he had a very crafty joke ready for all of us.
“I hope you’re all ready. Follow me!” Steven waves his hand enthusiastically and glances at each other, nervously following him. Leading us through the complex of buildings tall, wide, short or long, we arrived before a rather big factory. We followed Steven to a side area, and showing a guard an ID, we entered a side door into a small room.
“Don’t tell me mum is going to throw a surprise wedding or something like that…”
“Oh no, your mother and I talked about that the other night. You two are getting married the moment you’re back for good. We can’t legalise your marriage since technically you don’t exist in this world and we don’t want a shotgun wedding for you both. So make sure you wrap everything up in that world before either of us die of old age.” Steven laughed and pats Rebecca and I on the shoulder.
A bit relieved we weren’t being led to a sudden wedding, I also realised by Steven’s words that our parents had accepted that we would return to them at some point, even if there were no guarantees they at least believed we would.
“Where are we anyway dad?”
“Good question, Bekky. After that night, we were approached by a firm that paid for therapy for all of us, and one of the things that they offered were meetings with others who had lost someone. Tessa and I both attended, meeting people who were just like us. It’s one of the reasons we didn’t completely lose ourselves. We met a man who we hit it off with who had lost his only daughter and the three of us became quick friends, meeting often and helping each other out.
“As it turns out he owned an operating plant that produces industry level equipment for a lot of companies, government agencies and the military. I contacted him last night to ask him a favour and after a long discussion he agreed to it. Ah, it’s the man himself.” The door to the room opened and an elderly man walked in, wearing a suit with neat combed back grey hair and piercing blue eyes. “Girls and Deven, I’d like to introduce you to Rodney.”
Rodney looks us over with a bit of disbelief in his eyes before speaking. “It’s a pleasure to meet you all. It’s hard to believe the stories I’ve heard, but seeing you all here really reminds me it’s a reality. Come, my daughter is rather excited for you all to see what we have prepared for all of you.”
“Daughter? I thou-wait…” My mind spun as I glanced at Deven and Rebecca with a bit of disbelief. We walked through a corridor into another room, where a familiar purple haired girl with yellow eyes stood, waiting for us, a big grin appearing on her face as we entered.
“Ah, Ruby, Rebecca and Deven! It’s really you three!” Looking at Kate in disbelief, I couldn’t believe the coincidence that led us to seeing her here. Glancing at Steven, he grinned at me as if waiting for me to say something.
“Rodney had told me during our initial contact last week that his daughter had returned and only told me because he thought I would take him seriously. After telling him that my daughter and Tessa’s had also returned in different bodies, he had been astonished, especially to learn that you three were the ones that saved Kate’s life back then. So he and I prepared this gift for you all in the hopes you one day return to us safely.”
“I’m breaking God knows how many international laws by doing this. I’ve sent all the workers home today and whatever you three see on the floor is yours to do what you wish. I’ve heard you three can take things apart easily and by putting it back learn how to make it from the ground up, is that right?” Seeing us three nod, Rodney nods. “Good. I have been able to buy you until the next day. Kate here will look after all of you while I keep up appearances. Steven, it’s best you leave as well, I’ve informed the guards that the four you’ve bought here are new workers. Kate, lead them into the main facility, remember, call in tomorrow afternoon or when you’re done. I’ll send someone to pick you all up.”
“Yes, Father.” Kate hugs her dad before turning to us as Rodney and Steven leave. “Follow me guys.” Pulling out an access card, she swipes it, opening the door and leads us through to the main room, a massive storage shed with hundreds of all different types of machines. “This is one of three. One floor below us is where we produce machinery for all types of different jobs and the last floor is where we keep all of the military weaponry we manufacture. We have access to all three of them.”
“Unbelievable. Your father is responsible for all of this?”
“He maintains it. His father, my grandfather, is responsible for building the company this far and father simply maintains it at its current level.” Kate turns around and looks at us. “A hot shower really did wonders for you three! Especially you, Deven, a razor really cleaned you up well! Oh, you must be Diana, it’s nice to meet you!”
“And you must be Kate! You’re very mature for a fourteen year old, you’re even better than Deven!” Diana giggles as Deven wipes a fake tear away. Looking at the facility, I shook my head as I looked at Rebecca.
“Two days isn’t enough, we won’t get much.”
“Ah, father thought of that. I told him everything and he organised a list of what we should prioritise. Ah, here it is.” Pulling out a few pieces of paper, she handed it to me as Rebecca looked over my shoulder.
Lumber sawmill, 1B6
Wood Cutter, 1B8
Industrial Water Filtration System, 1J7
Industrial Water Tanks, 1J8
Industrial Welder, 1K9
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Auger Drill, 2C9
Experimental Solar Powered Power Tools, 2H3
Lithium Ion Battery, 2G2
Automatic Bullet Press, 3G8
Handgun Aisle, 3H
Assault Rifle Aisle, 3G
Long Range Aisle, 3K
Base Defence Aisle, 3B-E
M72 LAW, 3F3
“T-This list…” Barely able to contain my excitement, I looked at Rebecca who had been looking at the list with excitement. I heard Kate’s voice ring out happily.
“There are two more lists if we need it. Father said that as long as we don’t physically take it we can pull them all apart.”
“I hate to burst the bubble, but we don’t have tools.” Looking at Deven and realising what he meant, I heard Kate snicker and point behind us. Turning to where she’s pointing, I saw a massive stack of power tools, hand tools and more.
“Already accounted for. Oh and don’t worry if anything happens to it all, Father paid for it out of his pocket.”
“Well…let’s get started. We should just go top to bottom, right?” Glancing at the others, they nodded and we got to work. Deven, with the right tools, easily dismantled the lumber sawmill within an hour and with me putting it back together in two hours, I saw a System message come up.
Advanced Blueprint: Lumber Sawmill Acquired.
+20 Job Points
This is the first time you have constructed this machine.
+40 Job Points.
“Oh shit.” Looking at the Job points I acquired, I went to bring up my Job talents.
System: Job Talents is currently locked (Different World)
“We can’t use the System?”
“You guys didn’t know?” Kate tilts her head while looking at us. “Did you at least learn the blueprint?”
“Yes, I got the knowledge and Job points, it counted as an Advanced Blueprint.”
“Wait, if they’re all Advanced, wouldn’t that mean you’ll get a boatload of Job points?” Rebecca looks at the machines before we turn to Deven.
“Yea, I got a lot from dismantling it.” With his comment, we quickly moved to the Wood Cutter and it happened again.
Advanced Blueprint: Wood Cutter Acquired.
+20 Job Points
This is the first time you have constructed this machine.
+40 Job Points.
Looking at each other with excitement, we quickly moved to the water filtration system, a huge machine and from the description that Kate read could easily filter four thousand litres an hour. Repeating the process, I got the same amount of points as before. Nearly half a day had passed at this point, so without wasting time we quickly moved our way through the list. Diana had become tired after a few more hours and Kate led her to an office to sleep, giving her number to Diana so she could call when she woke up. We got to the last machine on the list, having moved to the third floor, the Automatic Bullet Press after a day and a half.
“Right, I have to call my father. He should be able to buy us two more days but that’s all he can afford.” Kate walks away with her phone as we get to dismantling the press, returning once it had been dismantled. “Got two days, father said he’ll make a company wide announcement with an excuse.” Thanking Kate, I started to reassemble the machine as Rebecca and Sheep moved to the first lot of guns. They had decided to do three in each row unless they found they wanted to do more. Weaponry didn’t take long, ten minutes at most, to dismantle and put back together.
As I finished reassembling the Automatic Bullet Press, I let the knowledge filter through my mind as a new System message came up, giving me a slight shock.
Ten Advanced Blueprints learnt. You are the first Entity to learn Ten Advanced Blueprints and have been provided rewards.
Error, Entity Midnight is currently in another world temporarily. Reward will be available upon returning. Providing Exclusive Legendary Quest as an additional reward.
New Quest Chain Received!
The Machinist Queen (1/6): The life of a machinist is a long, expensive and tiring path, however you have progressed far in a short time. As one of the few machinists in the world you have the ability to create what others need. By fulfilling this quest chain, you will step far above the others and come to truly understand machines.
Note: This is an Exclusive Legendary quest for Entity Midnight. Completion of each step of this quest will provide bountiful rewards.
Create Advanced Machines: 10/15
“Oh what the fuck?!”
“Are you okay, Ruby?” Kate and Diana rushed over to me as I glanced at them, nodding.
“I just unlocked a quest…” Telling them about it, they looked at me with surprise…well, Kate did, Diana looked confused. She’d never played video games before and due to the lingo we used she hadn’t completely grasped what I was saying. “In other words Diana, it’s a good thing…a really good thing.”
“Oh, I see! Deven said I should be a Chemist since I studied chemistry at university.” Diana, with an innocent smile, looked rather proud.
“Hm? Are you coming with us, Diana?” Kate looks at Diana in a bit of surprise. Leaving them to talk, I found Rebecca and Deven and explained what I had received, with Rebecca nodding.
“I see. I’m also getting advanced blueprints. Perhaps this world’s technology is far ahead of where we are and is considered advanced?”
With the three of us discussing theories as they worked on weapons, we progressed rather quickly. As soon as Rebecca learnt the tenth advanced blueprint, she confirmed she had received the same. Turning to Deven, he nodded as well.
“Mine was twenty, but the System says I’m the first dismantler instead of within top ten like Rebecca’s does, but I also got a quest chain. I need to do twenty more advanced blueprints, what about you two?”
“Five.”
“Ten.” Rebecca says while looking towards the base defence aisle. Deciding to check the aisle, we found mainly machinery rather than weapons. Some of the things we saw made us question what type of company this is. Most of it looked experimental, not practical in the slightest and would consume an ungodly amount of power. We decided on three we came across; an improved version of one of my earlier blueprints, an advanced version of whirling blades meant to be used in enclosed areas, electrical spikes that shot up from the ground when powered and automatic turrets that used .9mm rounds.
Deven dismantled one machine before heading to dismantle more weapons with Rebecca while I worked. Another half day passed by rather quickly but we had finished and decided to look at the second list, and found two more machines on the first and second floor to wrap everything up for me while Deven and Rebecca would head back down here to finish their quests.
The first machine we went back to is a digger that dug lines, the depth depending on what you set it to. It would be extremely useful to Damien and Kate with wiring and plumbing. The last machine is a soldering machine, something I would desperately need to actually make all of this in our world. After nearly half a day, I had finished and saw the System message come up.
The Machinist Queen Updated:
Create Advanced Machines: Done
Rewards will be available upon return.
Next Quest:
Build a Machinist Workshop. Blueprint will be provided upon returning to the Prime World.
“Still, I can’t believe how fruitful this has been. Then again, part of me kind of wishes I’d spent this time at home.” Sighing lightly in a soft voice, I looked up to see everyone coming over.
“I’ve called father, he has an escort coming to lead us out. They won’t ask questions so don’t worry. Just don’t speak, the less this escort knows the better.”
Going back to the waiting room, a man who could’ve been mistaken as a secret service agent entered the room and following him without a word, we soon arrived outside, a car waiting for us. After a short drive, we were dropped off at a random store.
“Right, a bit of a walk around first and then Mr Howard will pick us up. Sorry about this secrecy. Father said that the plant being closed down for this long is highly suspicious to others so to avoid any complications he had us sneak out. You don’t have to worry either, father said that he told everyone the factories had to be shut down due to complications, only authorising contractors to work on the problem. He said he’ll handle everything.”
“Thank your father for us, we certainly received far more than we expected. What are you going to do, Kate?”
“Hang out with you guys for a few days. Remember, to the world, father’s daughter died six months ago, so another young girl hanging around him during a time where he’s closed up shop for a few days would be suspicious. Come come, I’ve always wanted to go shopping with you guys since returning!” Seeing her bright smile, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “As long as it’s not cloth shopping.”
After shopping for a while, Steven picked us up and returned home, we parted ways with Diana and Deven and lounged around, taking our time to talk with mum, who had spoiled Kate and took us all to a hairdresser, who cut out long hair back and treated it. Like that, another two weeks quickly passed by, and as we reached the last few days, we started hoping time would slow down, even for a day.