By the time the boys returned to the command center, they felt never felt as drained as they had before. Zan had some familiarity with the level of exhaustion missions took on his body, but this recent mission was beyond the pale. He made a mental note to truly be on the lookout for lodestone so he and Jiehong could quickly travel to more places and quickly return. Otherwise, what was the point?

“Zan! Before you leave for your next mission, we must talk. I know you are tired, however, and need rest,” Screen Master Simulacrum said the moment he walked into the war room.

“Okay. Noted!” Zan said, moving straight to the kitchen.

Zan hoped there was something waiting for him on the table. It was about dinner time by the time he got back. Luckily, Jean Paul-Paul (the Fourth) came through for him. For Jiehong and him both, large plates of pasta, topped with a meaty sauce, and a side of garlic buttered bread abounded on large plates. The boys eat with a fury unseen since the last time they had one of Jean’s meals.

Burping like normal boys, the two friends finished their meal with a side of water — lots of water — and turned in for the night soon after, though not without having a quick puff of a certain plant to help them ease to sleep.

Having went to bed very early in the evening and sleeping into the next morning, by the time Zan and Jiehong woke, they had gotten at least eleven hours of rest.

Yawning like a bear emerging from a cave, Zan woke and encountered Jiehong.

Staring at each other dumbly, both were still fighting their morning sleepiness when Zan thought to say, “Day off. I need to run the… thing, the list, to Luxley.”

“Cool. Sounds good… you will be back before tomorrow?” Jiehong asked, stretching and yawning like a bear’s mate.

“I should be. I hope I will be. I am only going to visit and drop the list of places off so he can translate. With any luck, I should have the translation in hand when I return, but I might have to leave him be for a while as he translates. I don’t really know what’s going to happen,” Zan explained, waking up a bit more now, and having his mind leave his warm-up state.

“I gotcha… anything you want me to do while you’re gone?” Jiehong asked.

Jiehong asking him what he should do in his absence was a welcome change of pace. It meant he, like himself, was taking the job seriously. Zan found in him the desire the be friends with Jiehong once again, not purely ‘on record’ friends but genuine associates of fate.

Replying to Jiehong, Zan said, “Do whatever… take a day off. I shouldn’t be gone any more than a few hours, if that. A day at the most if I have to stay while he translates.

Should I be gone for longer, though, hold tight. Continue practicing with your bike. Practice sword fighting. We’re still just clubbing the enemy with whatever works, so it would be nice to have an actual trainer… but that is irrelevant, I guess. Nothing you can do about it. I’m running my mouth. Sorry.”

“Nah. It’s fine. I know what you mean. I remember a Warden talking about educational classes somewhere in the center? I will look into that,” Jiehong said.

“Sounds good! Now, before I wet myself, I need to hit the head,” Zan said, rushing off to bleed his lizard.

Emerging from the restroom with an empty bladder, Zan returned to his chambers to dress. As he slowly pulled on every piece of clothing he had, wincing at some of the smell which lingered, he received a ‘word’, a message-in-his-ear from Luxley.

“Buddy. You there?” Luxley said. Zan heard the words like sweet air.

Talking gently, Zan said, “I’m here and read you clear. I am actually preparing to head your way to give you the list.”

“Awesome! Does that mean your mission went well?” Luxley said, his eager levels increasing.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“It did. It went well. Still tired from it all, though. I’m hoping our visit today goes uneventfully. Simple day, lounging around with a bud. Did you think of some disguises for us so we don’t have to stalk around and get innocent people in trouble?” Zan asked.

“I think I did! I made it myself and I can’t wait to show you!” Luxley said, refusing to elaborate.

“Sounds cool. I can’t wait to see it,” Zan replied, wondering what he had in store for him and wondering if he should come prepared.

“Speaking of which… today is a good time to come, right? If I can’t come today, I really do not know when I will next be able to visit.”

“Oh, yeah. Today is great as any. I can’t wait to see you again. Hurry soon! Bye!”

The conversation ended there.

Zan smiled. Then finished putting on his clothes.

Entering the war room, Zan said, “I am going to prepare for my excursion to Luxley. As I restock on grenades and the sort, did you guys want to chat?”

Simulacrum told Sigma-Prime to begin. Recently charged, she stepped down from the charging table and approached Zan. “Yes, we did. Zan: you are growing into an exceptional leader and warrior. As such, we feel it is time for you to consider accessing the on-site training programs we have uncovered in the base’s memory banks. These training programs are in-depth and feature instruction from masters in the subject at hand. They are well-worth the time in viewing.”

“Well… I can’t read, so I can’t do any of that…” Zan said awkwardly.

“Worry not! This training material is not written. They are visual with audio materials. So it will be like someone is standing before you, talking to you, even though it is merely an imprint from another time and place.”

“Oh… huh. I’ve never heard of something like that before. Strange magic?”

“Something grander, Zan. Its nature can be discerned later, however. The other thing we wish to talk to you about relates to an experimental tool the Screen Master and I are close to completing.”

“Great. Shoot. What is this tool? You mentioned something about it last time, right?” Zan asked.

“We did! As you know, the nature of the Order and of the command center as the nerve center for the order depends a great deal on what emphasis the local leader of the order wishes to see. Before we put the command center into emergency hibernation, the Screen Master and I nearly finished researching an invention which, if had it the time to come into its own, would have turned the tide of the conflict we originally built it for; although the details of this conflict are now lost to time, the Screen Master and I, with immense luck, we have rediscovered the blueprints for this technology deep within the code of the command center. We believe this technology will immensely help you on your journey as Order-Master-in-Training,” Sigma-Prime explained.

“It sounds wonderful. Do you need my permission to dig it up or something?” Zan asked, curious about why they were so keen on him understanding something he had no clue about.

“Yes, and no. As leader, you can countermand any effort we choose to make. Of course, we will always clear with you first what special project we work upon. For that reason, however, we like to clear with you our labor-intensive projects. We mention this experimental project to you now because it will be both labor and resource intensive. Until now, our efforts while you have been away fighting the war have focused on repairing the command center; mostly, its internal structures, with its physical body taking a less-intense focus. Should we devote all of our time to this project, we cannot begin any other research projects. Is this fine by you?” Screen Master Simulacrum asked.

Zan thought it over. “Yeah, I don’t see why not. Sounds exciting, this experiment of yours. And you said it would help me in the war?”

“Yes. It should be a major advancement in how you interact with allies on the battlefield. We have noticed more and more Jiehong and yourself are allying with fellow freedom fighters. Once this technology reaches fruition, it will allow for instant communication and location between allied units, among other wondrous advancements.”

“Excellent. I look forward to testing it out. So, yeah. You officially have my permission to devote all your time and resources to this endeavor. With that said, anything else? I should get to Luxley.”

“That is all, Zan. Thank you for your time.”

Zan bowed and went straight to the White Chamber.

Closing the door behind him, he heard the chamber activate right away, the ever-watchful eye of Simulacrum present and aiding before Zan even needed to ask.

Flash, bang.

Zan was back in the Backroads.

Zan did not dilly-dally.

Heading straight to the pathway he knew led to Luxley, he wanted to visit his friend, drop off the list — maybe visit for a moment if possible — and head on back. He wanted to limit the time which weird, unexpected crap could happen.

Nearly to the pathway, Zan froze in place.

Zaaaaaaan… Zaaaaan…

He heard his name. Zan searched for where the voice came from. He saw no one.

Unsettled, he searched his immediate vicinity. Listening carefully, he heard nothing. ‘Maybe I imagine it?’ Zan told himself.

Unlikely as it seemed, Zan remembered the Screen Master’s advice: ‘don’t stay too long in the Backroads and stick to the path.’ Wise advice indeed, it now seemed to him.

Resuming his march, Zan headed straight back to Luxley’s pathway. Finding the shimmer, he stepped through, leaving the unsettling realm of the Backroads. Though not before hearing his name one final time.