NOVEL NEXT Chapter 69: The Rift.
Chapter 69: The Rift.
“So, let me get this straight.” Henry started. Holding his head in his arms.
“Your plan is to go away somewhere. To an Excursion. Wherever that may take you. There, you will confront your teammates, all of whom have a second Type, and demand to know what happened to Randall. After that, you’ll ask this, Slab fellow, who just so happens to be the younger brother of the girl who’s angry at you, the eugenicist one who wants to kill all the kaiju, what you should say to his own sister.”
He paused to give me a worried look. His face having aged 10 years over the course of the last few hours.
“Did I get that right?”
“Not that last part.” I corrected. “I’m not going to ask Slab what to say. That would be ridiculous. I’m going to ask him how apologies typically go on his earth. Trust me, I’ve been doing this long enough to know that cultural differences can be, severe.”
I swallowed.
Thinking back to what the siblings had done to Charlie upon our first meeting. Or how Slab had handled Simeon when he’d tried to punch me when we’d first arrived at the Warehouse.
“I need to have a moment with them. Alone. This is partly out of consideration for whatever secret they might be keeping, as none of the others know about Randall’s fate. I honestly don’t know why they did it, but it might yet be a very good reason. I might even agree with them after I’ve heard it. I don’t know. My [Insight] doesn’t work when I try and peer into Randall and Anezka’s whereabouts. Neither does my fog pick up on their thoughts half the time. Whatever is going on, I need to hear it from them.”
“And the other reason?” Henry inquired.
I didn’t answer immediately. Instead gazing out onto the screens as they flickered. The System being in the middle of whatever calculations it used to determine the next Excursion for any given team.
“Because it might be a bad reason and I may need to do something about it.”
I turned my head to Henry in a flurry. Rushing to clarify what I’d meant.
“I’m not going to hurt them. I’d never hurt people, Henry. Please believe that. Not unless they absolutely deserved it and there was no other choice. I’m a good person.”
“I know.” He assured me. His face softening somewhat. “I’m actually happy you’ve thought of it before I had to bring it up. Be careful Sully. Whatever happens, I don’t want to lose a friend. By all means, hear them out. But don’t let down your guard.”
“I won’t.” I said. Smiling sadly. “In all honesty, it probably won’t come to that. Slab, Charlie, Monique and Boris have had ample opportunities to hurt me. If they wanted me dead, I’d probably be dead right now. I just…”
I took a sharp breath and released it in a slow hiss.
“I just need to know the truth. I need to know that I can still trust them and I need to figure out what to do about Dusty.”
“Right on.” Henry assented. “Though, if I may ask a quick question. Hold on. This is difficult to put into words. Um. How do you feel about her?”
“Not as strongly as she feels about me. That’s for sure.”
“No, Sully. I meant, as a potential partner.”
I turned to stare at him.
“Don’t give me that look. It’s important to sort out your own thoughts now. While you’re talking to someone with no biases who you know you can trust. I’ve got no skin in the game other than looking out for you, so I can give you a mostly objective lump of feedback.”
He raised his fingers up to the mirror.
“That said, let’s count off what we know of Dusty.”
He raised a single finger.
“One, she’s hungry for approval. Whether from her peers back home, society at large or just Daddy dearest. She’s been looked down on her whole life and bringing you as a boyfriend would overturn everyone else’s opinion of her. We know this from the memory you saw and from what she herself has told you.”
He raised a second finger.
“Two, she’s hungry for power. Political power, that is. At a certain level, she wants to have influence over others. She wants to be seen as one of the best, if not the best person in her clan. She wants respect and affirmation from those around her because she hasn’t had either of those things up till now. Part of that might stem from the expectations she had growing up, or it might just be how she is. Again, she herself admitted to you that one of the reasons for seeking you out was this influence.”
He raised a third.
“Finally, she’s hungry for actual, literal power. As in, strong superpowers to kill these kaiju in her home world. She’s proven time and time again that she prioritizes the lives of her people above the lives of others not under her protection and she’s shown that she’s more than willing to resort to violence if it means getting you back home.”
Henry’s fingers curled downwards.
“What’s more, we have proof that she and her brother are, in fact, eugenicists. As they have been shown to want to pair up with people because of their Type.”
“Well, yeah.” I admitted. “But only because Types are apparently inherited. At least, to some degree. It makes sense for them to act this way, given where they grew up and how much of a difference Telepaths can make.”
“No.” Henry said suddenly. “Do not excuse that kind of behaviour Sully. Eugenicists are never, ever good people. Ever. Trust me, I know.”
That took me by surprise.
“How could you know?”
“Cause one of my maternal great grandparents was a camp guard at Sobibor.” Henry said. “Went to Argentina after the war and then moved with the family to the US and later to Canada. I mean, listen Sully; I generally love my family and I’ll overlook a lot of BS on occasion, but that guy is (Cherub)ing nuts! As in, he’ll sit there and say the wildest (Cherub) Whenever we were over for dinner. Stuff that sticks to me till this day! He thinks certain groups of people are evolved from jumping spiders and vampires! You cannot reason with someone who sees breeding people as the same as breeding dogs. You just can’t. It’s like trying to convince the ocean to turn purple with polka dots all over. You ain’t gonna manage it. In their minds, people are not people. They are breeds. Extensions of their ethnic background. You cannot reason with them, because they do not see humans as proper individuals with feelings and emotions of their own. They’ll drag you to the level of all the other stupids and then they’ll beat you with experience. You might actually have a better chance talking to a dog than to someone who believes in eugenics. I love my grandma, but the honest truth is, her dad escaped justice. Great grandpa really should have been hanged at Nuremberg.”
I was stunned by the revelation, but didn’t think it was a fair comparison. Regardless, Henry kept talking over me.
“All of these are reasons for her to want Sully the Telepath, as he’s a dangerous, absolutely horrifying mother(Cherub)er. However, none of these suggest that she has any inclination to care for Sully the person. The one that really, really needs care and support right now.”
I barked out a short laugh.
“Come on Henry. You’re starting to sound like my mother. I’m not in that bad a state.”
The bags under Henry’s eyes seemed to deepen at that statement. Growing so dark as to be midnight black as his pupils retreated into the shadows of nearby buildings. It all came together to form the perfect picture of a World War 3 vet. Complete with the stereotypical thousand-yard stare.
“Sully.” He said after a pause. “The children. The Solomonlings…. They’ve been saying things. Scary things. I… look. My folks have money. A lot of money. After we get back, I’ll take you to see a good, reputable therapist. Someone with a lot of experience and very, very tight lips. We’ll get through this together.”
He drew in a deep, resonating breath and held it for almost a minute before letting go again.
“But for now, just think on what’s in front of you. Figure this thing with your team out and try to keep things amicable, if you can. If you can’t… well. Better you than them. As for Dusty, think about yourself. What do you need in a partner right now and can she provide it?”
I thought about it for a moment. Thinking back to Doris for half a heartbeat.
Her memory was no longer painful to recall. Not after what I’d done to Mason. It was as if I’d put those ghosts to rest. That said, I did still miss what I had with her. The warmth of her body in the morning and the way her smile made my heart melt.
I…
Yes. If I was going to enter into another relationship, it would have to be similar to that.
“I see the gears in your head turning.” Henry continued. “Good. Keep that up. Be selfish. For once. Don’t beat yourself over the head with thoughts about what she wants. Think about what you want. You’re both adults and you should be able to discuss what you expect before anything else happens. If all you want is some, companionship, that’s fine. So long as she knows and she’s fine with it. If you need some emotional support, tell her she needs to be there for you and she needs to listen. Really, listen. And promise her that you’ll do the same in return.”
I nodded.
Somewhat taken aback by the maturity of Henry’s advice.
“Yeah. Thanks.” I chuckled. “When did you grow so mature?”
“When that toad-faced Intruder of yours started advocating for what he called: A benevolent dictatorship.”
“Toad-faced? I don’t know that any of my Intruders are toad-faced. What does the rest of him look like?”
Henry shuddered.
“Like a giant. With a red, uh, half-suit, half robe. His body is lean and muscular, but his face looks like he’s morbidly obese. It’s like, it’s like he’s not human, but is trying very hard to pretend. He says… he says…”
Henry’s face twisted and his throat bulged, as if he was about to throw up.
“Dude. You really need to get all these guys under control. That one in particular sounds like a maniac and has the literal definition of crazy eyes, but he makes some really good points. It’s starting to freak me out.”
“I’m trying, Henry. I’m doing all I can.”
Henry nodded. Tightening his lips as he suddenly stiffened. His head craned upwards in a fast, jerking motion and his body swerved to the side with masterful precision. Another shower of gnomish blood landed on the spot where he’d been standing moments prior. None of it landed on his shirt. This time at least.
“I hate how good I’m getting at dodging those.” He grumbled under his breath.
I couldn’t help but smile at that. Taking the opportunity to tease him a little.
“I guess it’s good that you’re so great at dodging bird(Gnome). Must be those Enhancer powers at work.”
“(Cherub) you man.” He sighed. A small smile crossing his face and dispelling some of the gloom.
“Now run along and put those superpowers to work. I’ll be here watching from the sidelines, so give me a good show.”
“You better be watching!” I smirked. “Just you wait, Sully the hero is on the case!”
I got up and released [Stealth III]. Allowing those inside my room to sense me once again.
In truth, this whole mess with my team was the least of my problems right now, but Henry was right about one thing. Leaving the issue be wouldn’t solve anything.
‘Better to rip the bandage off now, while I still have the strength. I can tackle my other issues when I find a way to deal with them.’
Two days without sleep had taken a toll already. Making me re-live those harrowing times when Bruxa and her ant riders hunted me down the Labyrinth.
My whole body felt heavy. Clumsy. My eyelids feeling like they were attached to massive boulders weighing me down. Yet, I didn’t dare sleep.
I’d tried it a few times, and encountered the same result on each occasion.
The Seeking Drake was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Randall, for that matter.
In their place, was the Tall Man. Sitting quietly in his bench. Waiting.
I shuddered and pushed the memories out of my mind.
‘Focus Sully. First, your team. Then, the abomination. Some answer will turn up. Eventually.’
The space outside was crowded as people came and went. Muscling through each other with the spoils of their own Excursions. A sort of, marketplace had grown about our new community over the past two days. Growing more and more ever since Prudence and her team started bringing in goodies like music players or TVs and the generators to run them.
It turns out a lot of people down here were starved for entertainment and would barter away thousands of Store Tokens for something to pass the time that didn’t involve fighting or hunting or training.
I personally thought it was a bit stupid to let one’s guard down so easily but I was happy for the others.
‘Though I guess that’s not entirely fair either. I’ve spent the better part of the last two days talking with Henry. With some very light experimentation sprinkled here and there. I’m also indulging in my own way.’
It wasn’t long before I found the others after that.
Monique was sitting back, her eyes smug as she leaned against a comfortable-looking armchair. It was an old thing. Half-broken and moth eaten on some spots, yet still far more accommodating than the alternatives we had on offer from Peachy.
Across from her, Slab was sitting on a bench made from the bones and furs of lobster-moles. His eyes fixated on the board between them. His expression betrayed the fact that this match was lost, though his mind refused to give up.
‘Funny how I can read that and still know nothing regarding Randall or Anezka. How are they doing it, I wonder? Is it some combination that I don’t know about? Something similar to [Suppression] that also masks their own Status screens from [Insight]?’
It was possible, though it did seem unlikely.
Charlie and Boris’s own minds were as closed off whenever the topic of the pyromaniac came up and neither were Telepaths.
‘What then? Is it an item? A Title? Or some consumable that I’m not aware of?’
Too many questions. Too few answers.
I kept walking over to them. Keeping an eye out for the Excursion screen as it began to settle.
“Hey guys.” I greeted them. Trying to sound as normal as possible. “Ready to go out and do some good deeds?”
Charlie shrugged without looking up from the game of cards he had with Boris, only glancing upwards as I reached them.
“Don’t ask me. I’ve been ready for a long while now. So? Did have a good talk with your… Holy (Gnome)! Sully! What’s wrong with your face!?”
I drew back, startled.
“What? Why? What’s wrong with it?”
“What do you mean, what’s wrong with it? Have you looked at a mirror lately? You look like you’re about to keel over dead! When was the last time you slept?”
I made a rude noise.
“Oh, I don’t know. Since before the thing with Ryan.”
“Go to bed.” Monique interrupted as she got up from her armchair.
“No.” I said lightly. “I don’t think I will.”
“Go to bed.” Slab repeated. “Think of it as a council order. Do it. We’ll manage.”
“No.” I repeated. With the teensiest bit of force backing up my words.
The whole chamber stopped. People halting their walks and some even going so far as to drop their precious goods. A loud crash echoed behind some shelves. Proof that someone had dropped a TV.
At that moment, the sounds of breathing, or rather, the lack thereof, was louder than thunder.
I turned around this way and that. Looking all over the shelves.
“Oh, come on. Is it so weird that I want to go out and help some people?”
“No.” Mr. Park answered from the side. “What is strange is you being so, assertive. When your team gives you good council.”
He approached slowly. Like a circus showman approaching a lion. Not knowing whether or not the beast had been fed.
“You look tired, Sully. That, and times have been stressful. Why don’t you call your friend on the forums? I’m sure he would agree that you could use the rest.”
“I’ve already spoken to him.” I clarified. “We both agreed that some exercise is exactly what I need. Preferably against monsters. I still have 51 points left to spend too. I think I’ll experiment some more in open combat to figure out what’s my next target for improvement.”
Mr. Park looked worried. Very worried. Turning his eyes towards Slab in a gesture so subtle it might as well have been imperceivable for anyone who wasn’t reading his mind.
Slab sent him a [Message] and Mr. Park retreated.
“Well then. Best of luck to you all. Do remember to bring back a souvenir or two. We could use more DVDs around here. Maybe a soap opera or two. I’ve always been a fan of those.”
“We’ll keep an eye out.” I said, trying to keep the edge out of my voice.
I turned my eyes to the screen and confirmed that we had all accepted the current roster once again. All save Dusty, of course.
System Excursion:
Team: The Good Guys, has embarked on an Excursion.
Objective: Defend the people of Hong Kong from a monster outbreak. This Excursion will be considered a failure if more than 15, 000 humans perish due to monster attacks or through the direct or indirect intervention of Team: The Good Guys.
Bonus Objective: Clear the entire Island and its shoreline of monsters.
Time Limit: 50 hours.
Deaths: 0 / 15, 000.
Excursion to Earth: TRKG 2004 is underway.
As bad as I felt, a smile still managed to creep onto my face.
‘Finally. Another chance to go back home. And unto a broken Rift to boot. I was just saying that, but it looks like I really will get the chance to try some new things.’
It didn’t take long for the shimmers to take us away.
When they at last receded, the five of us were left standing on a pile of debris. Probably from some unfinished construction site.
At least, that’s what I thought, until the pleading prayers started coming up from beneath the ground. I whirled about, taking in the shattered columns and the fact that they were bent and crooked. The steel bars within poking out from their sides like shattered bones poking out from within a broken leg.
The first thing I did was reach out with my fog. Violently searching for each and every monster scampering underfoot or flying overhead.
I sensed them then. Hundreds of thousands of heartbeats coming from vast swarms of winged fish leaping out from the water. They had legs, as well as wings however. Each limb ending in three toes tipped with vicious talons.
Moreover, their bodies were small, but sturdy. Swooping down as they coated themselves in telekinetic energy to slash support beams and walls alike. Aiming for the soft, squishy humans taking refuge within the high-rise buildings.
There were so many of them at once. An endless surge coming from the ocean. From a Rift located just beyond my senses.
It was with a gasp, that I realized how much of the city had been laid to ruin already and how much more damage the fish were about to do as the school began dropping in altitude.
‘This is an A-Rank outbreak. Maybe even an S-Rank one.’
The truth was as sobering as it was infuriating.
Here I was, hoping to clear up some questions with people I ultimately trusted. Gathering my nerve to talk to someone about relationship issues.
All while a city bled.
No more.
‘FALL!’ I commanded. Sending ripples of pure, unadulterated power through my fog. My order shaking the very foundations of the monster’s minds.
All the ones within the eight-kilometre radius of my fog fell. As they were bid. Their wings falling silent as gravity once again took hold. Dragging their unnatural bodies down towards the waiting earth.
At the same time, voices within my fog began to fade. Minds no longer sending signals to me as some damaged structures began collapsing.
The numbers on the Excursion counter began to tick up. Reaching a couple of hundred within fractions of a second.
My teeth gnashed against each other as my fingers curled into fists. My knuckled turning white from the force of my grip.
Rage swelled up. White hot and boiling. Sizzling the very blood within my veins.
‘Stop breathing.’ I demanded.
Those fish that had fallen to [Domination] obeyed. Their throats and lungs sealing themselves shut as per my wishes.
“There are people trapped below!” I shouted at once. “Slab! Boris! Start digging! Charlie! Head out west to where other buildings are crumbling and get as many people out as you can! Monique! See if you can’t teleport into air pockets and get the people out that way! Cheru…!” I stopped myself. Recalling that I’d left Cherub on Henry’s Tutorial Instance. To keep him safe.
The rest of the team was in motion as I stood there. Basking in my own ignorance and stupidity.
‘Fool! Imbecile! That Patricia doesn’t pose a threat anymore! That, and the aliens there with him know better than to mess with him by now! Fool!’
I spent the Psy and felt Slasher cooing in my ears. Space and reality bending backwards as the weapon started coming back to me.
At the same time, I pushed points into [Sense Thoughts]. Willing my range to grow.