Bert noticed the difference in Way Way the moment he dropped into the massive tides of mana it contained.

In all of his previous visits, the mana had felt welcoming but wild and uncontrolled. It moved in a rush in Ebb or Surge tide with massive flows in a constant struggle.

He always saw it as a storm-tossed sea, never feeling threatened but always with the feeling that the sheer power of it could sweep him away.

This time, it was different.

The mana still flowed just as fast, but now it flowed beneath a calm surface, controlled and managed.

It put his own mana control to shame.

“Wow, Way Way, this is really impressive.” He smiled, “Well done.”

“Thank you, Bert!” A delighted voice echoed around him. “I’ve been working really hard on it.”

Bert felt as if he had come home to find his cat curled up on the couch with a packet of crisps and shouting at the Television.

“Way Way?” He tried, “Is that you?”

“It is!” The voice wasn’t male or female, just kind of a neutral tone.

“I didn’t know you could speak,” Bert noted.

“I just learned how. I’ve been waiting for ages for you to join me again so I could finally say hi!” There was a tone of recrimination in the words, and he immediately felt guilty.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” Bert said, “I’ve been a little busy.”

“I know… Please stop going so far away. I can’t really see what is happening if it isn’t near me.”

“Sorry, I guess I’ve not been a great Caretaker lately, have I?” Bert admitted to Way Way but also to himself.

Another thing he realized was that this changed everything. What if Way Way didn’t want to change?

“Oh, I do!” Way Way said immediately. “I can sort of see what you want to do, and I can’t wait.”

“Good,” Bert said, feeling some relief. He had long ago gotten used to the idea that Way Way could read his mind at all times. He kind of liked it.

“Me too!” Way Way said happily, “I’ve learned so many new words from you! And ideas!” There was a sighing sound, “Bell just mostly thinks about hitting stuff. Or stabbing stuff, or hitting and stabbing!” What sounded suspiciously like a dirty laugh sounded, “Unless she’s thinking about your-”

“Moving right along!” Bert said desperately. “Is it usual for Waystations to be able to talk like this?”

“How would I know?” Way Way said. “I’ve just been getting… bigger? In my thoughts, I mean.” There was a pause. “You don’t mind, do you?”

“I think it’s amazing!” Bert said truthfully.

“Shall we get started?” Way Way asked. “I’ve looked at what you had planned, and I have notes!”

A series of images flooded his mind, some small changes, some huge ones. More than one raised a few questions, but he decided to start with the big one first.

“How do we start this?” Bert asked. “I don’t want to stress you more than we have to.”

“You’re sweet,” Way Way said. “But I have no idea. You’re the Caretaker; it’s kind of your thing.”

Bert laughed and activated build mode.

While he tried to figure out where to begin, Bert fired the grapples into the surrounding area. Once they had taken over the land around them, Bert decided to simplify things.

He was doing a complete rebuild, and trying to figure out how to divide the buildings was… honestly beyond him.

Bert had Way Way absorb everything except the Bear’s Fall and the shed housing Scruff’s horrors. He also dropped the walls on one side of the Waystation and Trailor One.

Once he had that done, he simply made ramps, slid the two buildings, along with the fields, off, and placed them next to the Waystation.

Now, he was left with the basics.

Next, he absorbed the massive collector and harvest system on the front before he moved all the soil and such out of the gigantic hulls that comprised trailer One and the Waystation.

“I feel naked,” Way Way joked.

Smiling to himself, Bert tried to figure out how to make the next step work. He didn’t want to place Way Way’s consciousness into the Bear’s Fall, so he needed something to…

“I have the materials in storage to construct a brand new one!” Way Way said excitedly. “It is design number 42b3.”

Bert mentally sorted through the images they had sent him until he found it.

“Isn’t this a bit narrow?” Bert asked. “I was thinking of keeping more of the width we have now.”

“That would work for this tunnel, but what about future tunnels?” Way Way argued. “Let alone bridges. I was mortified when you had to basically fill a gorge to make a bridge for me that time.”

“That wasn’t a problem,” Bert said. The last thing he needed was a Waystation with body image issues, “But I worry if we go this narrow, then we will be unstable, considering the height.”

“Are you sure?” Way Way sounded doubtful. “I would be more flexible this way, and you seem to like how flexible Bell is.”

Bert felt his cheeks flush as he blushed.

“I am more worried about being able to protect you if we get attacked.” He hurried on, “Too long, and we won’t be able to cover the entire length well enough.”

“I thought of that!” Way Way sent an image of a wagon train circled up for protection. “Would that work?”

“That’s actually kind of perfect,” Bert admitted. “Can I add just a little extra width to the design? I want it to be impressive.”

“Is this a size issue? Bell is extremely happy with your-” Way Way started again.

“Not that kind of impressive!” Bert wondered what he looked like lying up in the control tower and… The control tower was gone… so where was he?

“With me, silly.” Way Way sounded exasperated. “I just absorbed you.”

Bert tried very hard not to panic. It wasn’t easy.

“Absorbed me?” Bert asked.

“Well, I converted your form into mana, and I am holding it separate until I convert it back,” Way Way sounded proud of themselves. “As soon as we make the engine car, I can convert you back.”

“You can do that?” Bert was stunned.

“Probably!” Way Way said happily.

Bert swallowed hard; it was way too late to go back, so he had to go forward.

He had Way Way absorb the front third of the Waystation, adding to the massive pile of sky metal bars that were being deposited on the far side of the Waystation before he extended a single line of metal to build the Engine around.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

Pushing aside the building panic of knowing he was a bundle of mana at this point with no body to return to, He concentrated on the design.

For a proper land train, they would have needed wheels. The problem was that they had no rubber to make tires.

He could just make them metal, but all the suspension in the world wouldn’t make that a comfortable ride.

Pulling on his experience building the Hudson Express let Bert create a proper chassis this time as opposed to a hull with stuff on it.

Way Way’s new chassis was only half as wide as the old Waystation, but it was three stories tall, so it was still an intimidating sight. In place of the old control tower was a massive control room that covered over half the top floor.

With a smile, Bert built it to look like a bridge, complete with twin consoles at the front, a wide, low arch in the center that held four chairs instead of the three they had, as well as smaller consoles and chairs along the walls. The Crystal windows returned, thicker and stronger, stretching from just above the floor and going up and over the bridge, allowing them to see everything above, in front, and on both sides of them.

He added truly massive wing mirrors made of silver and crystal as well.

Admittedly, the consoles didn’t do anything, but still, they looked great.

Twin staircases spun down from the bridge to the other two floors. The front half of the second floor was completely converted into an armory, complete with a few sets of armor and a smattering of weapons.

The third floor was… strange. It, along with the rear half of the second floor, was a complex mix of crystal latices and steel.

“Where did that come from?” Bert wondered aloud. He certainly didn’t build it.

“I made it,” Way Way said. “I want that bit. Is that okay?”

Bert shrugged. Whatever it was, it seemed to make Way Way happy. “Sure.”

“Thank you,” Way Way said. “I promise it will be worth it.”

After adding the suspension systems and axles, Bert grew a quartet of smaller tank treads on each side. Each one was designed as a separate system, with suspension and runes, and was a triangle shape. It would let the Waystation move even easier over rough ground.

Bert ran a line of light crystals down each side of the Engine and put a pair of huge ones on the front. He added another row just beneath the bottom edge as well. He was not too proud to pimp his ride.

“PIMP!” Way Way squealed in his ears. “I know what that word means!”

“NOT LIKE THAT!” Bert yelled in horror. “On Earth, ‘pimp my ride’ means to make it look fancy and impressive.”

“Oh. Okay. I like that!” Way Way responded happily.

Bert was wondering how on earth he could feel like he was covered in sweat when he was just mana.

“I converted you back into physical matter a few minutes ago,” Way Way added helpfully.

“Great!” Bert yelled. “Please don’t do that again without asking.”

“How can I ask if I can’t talk to you?” Way Way asked. “What about this?”

Bert felt a sensation of being pulled apart.

“Is that a good signal?” Way Way asked. “From your reaction, I’m guessing no.”

Bert tried to form words but failed. There was no way to explain the wrongness he felt when they sent that sensation into his mind.

“No,” Bert said eventually. “I think we should make a few changes.”

He added a thin layer of white onto the consoles before covering them in another thin layer of black. “Can you use this to make words and send messages?” He asked.

“I can!” Way Way said happily. “Thank you.”

Bert worked in silence for a little while, putting the finishing touches on the suspension and balancing the treads on each side.

“That sensation -DON’T SEND IT AGAIN!- That isn’t what it feels like when I make changes to you, is it?” Bert asked when he couldn’t stop himself any longer.

“No, just something I thought of,” Way Way said cheerfully.

“Good, it's… not a nice sensation,” Bert said carefully.

“Sorry!” Way Way said brightly.

“It’s fine,” Bert said.

“Is that a real ‘it’s fine’ or more of a Bell ‘it’s fine, and I will make you pay for this until I get bored’ kind of fine?” Way Way asked.

Bert laughed. “It’s really fine, I promise.”

A couple of hours later, the gleaming sky metal Engine was completed. It was incredible, like a space-age train had a baby with a tank and a truck at the same time.

And that was the problem. It looked too modern, too different than the things in this world.

Way Way suggested the answer, covering the entire length in rich, red wood with only metal highlights and strips showing.

With a weary sigh, Bert turned his attention to building the collector on the front. He was very tempted to just create a miniature version of what they had before, but if a job was worth doing, do it right.

Adding a ram in classic train design was the first step, but this one opened up into a pair of pincers, revealing the maw of the collector. Two larger pincer arms were added on each side of the engine.

When not in use, they looked like armor, but once activated, they slid forward, snapping into shape and allowing the Waystation to scoop and shove things into the collector.

Promising to be back in a few hours, Bert rose out of the tides and opened his eyes.

“What did you do?” Bell was crouched on his lap in human form, hands gripping his shoulders. “What did you do?”

=============

“You were gone!” Bell snarled. “I looked everywhere!”

“You might need to calm down for this,” Bert warned.

Bell just slapped him, which seemed to be pixie for ‘no thank you, please answer my question’ from recent experience.

“Way Way absorbed my body and shifted it into mana.” Bert felt the horror of it again but tried and failed to keep it from showing on his face.

“What!” Bell gaped at him. She got a distant look on her face before spinning and looking at a console, which had text scrolling. “Way Way, you can talk?” She read the console again, “Did he suggest that?” She nodded a little, “No, Way Way, that isn’t normal to do to someone.” Bell kept reading, the tension leaving her shoulders. “I’m sure you were a big help.”

Bert took a moment to look around the new bridge. It was really impressive. He’d be proud if he weren’t so tired and hungry.

By the time he was done, Bell was staring down at him, hands on her hips.

“What?” Bert asked.

“It wasn’t your fault, but I’m still mad.” She said. “While I decide whether to kiss or hit you, do you want anything to eat?”

“Uh, yes, please,” Bert said.

He never found out what Bell decided as the Multi-Bell that brought his sandwiches was apparently made while Bell was having pleasant thoughts about him, as it winked at him when it gave him the plate.

He ate while he watched Bell arguing with what was basically herself.

Bert was asleep before he even finished his food.

When Bert woke a few hours later, Bell was gone. In her place was Scruff, with an angry look on her face.

“How long do my plants have to be off the Waystation?” She asked grumpily. “They are starting to get restless.”

“Another few hours, maybe a day?” Bert guessed. “This shit ain’t easy.”

“Okay,” Scruff sat in a chair at one of the front consoles. “Keeping all those plants in line isn’t easy either.” She shrugged. “They want to expand, to grow.”

“Is that a problem?” Bert asked.

“If you think leaving behind a mass of homicidal plants to take over the area is bad, then yes.” Scruff grinned. “If you can get even a few of them back on board, that’d be great.”

“I’ll work on it,” Bert promised, already coming up with some ideas.

Scruff didn’t move.

“Anything else on your mind?” Bert asked.

“Maybe?” Scruff sighed. “I’m not sure what to do about something.” She looked anxious. Bert let her decide what to do. He wanted to hurry her but knew she would just shut down if he did.

“Am I a bad person?” Scruff asked suddenly. “I grow plants that eat people, and I keep coming up with worse and worse things… but I love it.” She held up a hand when he went to speak before hurrying on. “My girlfriend is a woman who I watched tear those cult people apart with a smile on her face, and it just makes me love her more.” Her face twisted. “And I have a shed full of creatures that I’m pretty sure could wipe a small town off the map.”

Scruff put her head in her hands.

“It’s a lot to handle,” Bert said. “Do you want to wipe a small town off the map?”

“No!” Scruff protested.

“Then you’re not a bad person,” Bert shrugged.

“What if I become one?” Scruff asked quietly.

Bert sat and thought for a minute. How far did he think Scruff could actually go? He didn’t see her wiping out any towns for no reason. If there was a reason, it would depend on what it was.

If she started killing for the fun of it? He’d just send her to Bell, who also loved killing things.

“Then at least try and give us a heads-up before you destroy any towns,” Bert shrugged. “If you get really murderous, then Bell can always give you some tips.”

“That’s it?” Scruff gasped. “Let us know if you’re going to end all life in a town, and if you become a serial killer Bell will give me some tips?”

“Pretty much,” Bert confirmed mildly. “What did you expect?”

“How about telling me I shouldn’t kill people unless I have to, or maybe that it’s wrong?” Scruff demanded.

“You didn’t know that?” Bert asked.

“Of course I did!” Scruff gasped. “I’m not a nutcase!”

“Exactly,” Bert grinned. “You don’t want to be the bad guy? Don’t be.”

“Oh.” Scruff deflated.

“What did you want?” Bert asked.

“I didn’t want anything, really.” Scruff shrugged. “I just didn’t want to lose you guys because I did something wrong.”

Bert tried for a second not to laugh and failed.

“No chance,” He grinned at her. “You’re stuck with us no matter what you do.” Bert thought for a second, “Of course, if you get really nuts, I can always have Bell give you a special chat.” He looked at her, “In private, all alone… with no one watching.”

Scruff paled, shivering. “I think my soul just shivered.” She gulped.

“She’s a scary lady,” Bert grinned. “As the person she is most often pissed at, let me assure you… you have no idea.”

Scruff nodded, thanked him for listening, and then almost ran out of the room as Bell returned, looking happy.

“You going back in?” She asked Bert.

“In a sec,” Bert confirmed.

“What did Scruff want?” She asked, dropping into the seat next to him.

“To know what we would do if she wiped a whole town off the map by accident,” Bert admitted. “Or on purpose.”

“Oh! I’d be so proud!” Bell wiped a tear from her eye. “A girl's first mass murder is a special time!”

“Exactly,” Bert sighed, dropping back into the tides.