Chapter 4

They continued their trek eastward, and two days after leaving the swamp they saw the sun for the first time on this world. There was barely a cloud in the sky, and they had seen the sun rise over the hills as they awoke. Raven had recovered enough of her strength to fly, and so they sped across the rolling landscape, covering more distance that morning than they had the whole two previous days. Game was plentiful here, many antelope covered the plains (Raven was quite happy to eat some after it had been thoroughly cooked), and there were plenty of tiny streams with fresh water. They moved swiftly over these rolling plains, hoping to see something, anything, before long.

They spent two fairly uneventful weeks crossing the plains. No enemies could be seen or sensed (no anything for that matter), and the animals that lived in the area kept well away from the pair. As they went, they began to notice things about the world around them. Time itself had no meaning. CJ was still wearing his digital watch from the day he had awoken in the infirmary, but now it showed an indecipherable set of symbols that meant nothing to CJ. The only reliable method of measure of time was the passing of each day. Distance was a difficult thing to get a hold on as well. Things on the horizon approached with startling speed, while rocks or ruins that seemed only a few miles down their path took all day for them to reach.

"The world has moved on." It was not an expression they were yet familiar with (though they would be before long), but even though they were ignorant of the changes the Tower brought to the basic structure of this and all worlds, they nevertheless became aware of these changes quite early.

The landscape itself was rather boring, brown grass and rolling hills for as far as the eye could see, day in, day out. It was just as the two had become quite sick of the monotonous surroundings when they saw it.

As they crested a particularly large hill, a small village came into view at the lowest point of the valley. The town looked very much like it had come out of an old western, what with wooden buildings, a large barn with pack animals, and one large hotel/saloon in the center of town. They couldn't see any people walking among the buildings, but there were definite signs of inhabitation.

"Civilization, finally!" CJ exclaimed. "I sure would like to sleep in a bed tonight."

"And eat something that hasn't been chewed up already." Raven said wryly.

"What you call chewing, I call tenderizing. Venison can be awfully tough otherwise, you know? Come on, let's go."

He was about to start off when Raven grabbed his shoulder. "We need to be cautious. Even if these people are on the level, I doubt our appearance will correspond to what they're used to."

CJ nodded his assent, realizing that even in their own world he and Raven would probably make an odd pair. Raven with her black tunic and long blue cape, and him with his long rain jacket, jeans, and baseball cap that said "University of Montana Football." He could already imagine the plain peasant garb of the townsfolk. "So what are we supposed to do? We're going to need supplies sometime, and we need to figure out our next move. If there are people down there, it's a safe bet that they know something about the surrounding area."

Raven began to reply, but the words died on her lips.

"Over there!" She cried, pointing with one hand and pulling up her hood with the other.

From the north end of the valley a group of over fifty robots was charging full speed towards the town, and it did not seem as if their intentions were friendly. They had the appearance of mechanical spiders; their limbs extended out from their bodies and were jointed about a meter over the head. On the joints there were what looked like plasma guns on swivels. They had two glowing orbs for eyes that were extended from their main bodies on stalks. They stood about two meters tall, and were running in a way that reminded CJ of some of the barn-spiders of the northwest, quickly closing the gap between them and the town.

Raven and the Weretiger charged forward, taking an angle on the "spiders" that would allow the two to intercept them before they reached the town. Suddenly aware of their presence, about ten of the spiders broke off, heading straight for the new comers. They opened fire, strafing the two with blue energy blasts. Most missed, but several found their mark. The blue energy was powerful enough to melt human flesh, but against the two Titans it had minimal effect. Raven's barrier absorbed the energy easily, and the bolts that hit the Weretiger he brushed off. They were on them in a second, the claws of the Weretiger easily shredding their thin armor. Raven lifted the scraps of metal left behind in the Weretiger's wake, muttered an incantation, and sent them flying at the group of spiders that had continued on. Raven aimed for the leaders of the pack, in the hopes they would trip their allies as they fell. The rapidly moving debris cut into the leaders, severing their limbs and eyestalks. The larger shrapnel penetrated the armor, sending sparks flying from the internal wires. In a scene that was almost comic, the spiders that were following behind the leaders tripped, sprawling onto their backs, and flailed their limbs angrily. Their anger quickly turned to dismay as the Weretiger was upon them, digging his claws into their metallic bodies and flinging them into the air. The spiders fired at the hulking beast, to little effect, but again showed comic dismay as they were enveloped in a black aura and were thrown into one another. The final spider tried to dodge aside, but was quickly subdued by the Weretiger, who grasped it in both paws, and with an impressive display of force, tore the robot in half down the middle.

The two heroes quietly surveyed their handiwork, looking at the twisted collection of metal strewn around them. They were roused from their post-battle melancholy by a loud cheer from behind them.

A number of people were standing near the entrance of the town, their hands over their heads as they waved and cheered. They ran towards the Titans, and in no time the pair found themselves surrounded by cheering townsfolk. The people were pretty hard to understand in their jubilation, but CJ guessed they must be thanking them. The words they heard the most were "Thankee sai Raven, sai Weretiger!"

It took a considerable effort, but CJ and Raven were finally able to calm the jubilant villagers.

"Now could you please tell us what's going on, and how do you know our names?" Raven asked to no one in particular.

An older, better dressed (CJ had been right for the most part about the plain peasant garb), man came out of the crowd. He was short, no more than five-five, and had a well-groomed mustache and beard. "Welcome sai Weretiger and sai Raven, to the village of Nurn. I'm the big landowner here, Tom Nichols. You'll have to forgive the Nurnfolken, there has been considerable debate as to whether or not the two fine gunslingers promised would actually show. I'm happy to say that ol' Red was right about this too. Come on up to me office above the bank and we'll have ourselves a proper palaver."

Raven and CJ eventually found themselves in small yet nice office, the kind that had little ornamentation, and felt like a place of serious business.

"A little refreshment before we get started, sai's?" The old landowner looked across an oaken desk, raising his eyebrow. "We don't have much this time of year, but we can get you some of the best coffee this side of the Callas. Strong enough to refresh the dead it is." Before either hero could answer, a pretty serving girl entered with a silver coffee pot and what looked like small sandwiches. Raven seemed not to notice, but CJ's mouth began to water as he stared at the spread. "I see ya eyein' yon popkins." The landowner smiled. "Or 'samiches' as Red called 'um."

Raven smiled a little at the pronouncement of the word 'sandwiches.' "We gratefully accept your hospitality sir. But you have yet to answer our questions. How did you know we were coming? How did you know our names? Who is this Red fellow you keep mentioning? I think my companion and me (CJ had already begun to eat, much to Raven's consternation), would feel much more at ease if you would provide us with an explanation."

Tom rose and stood looking out the window for a moment. The bank was in the center of town, and the office above it had an excellent view of Main Street. The street now had a number of happy looking people going about their business. Finally, Tom spoke.

"I'll try to watch the way I talk. Red said that we'd be the first residents of this world ye would meet, so no doubt our slang seems strange to one who weren't reared to it." He stepped around the desk, and took first CJ's hand, then Raven's. "First I better say, thankee sai Weretiger. Thankee sai Raven. For all the people of Nurn, I thankee from the bottom of me heart."

"Here here." Said the serving girl, her eyes shining.

"Don't worry about it. Its kinda our thing, you know?" CJ patted the old man on the back. "We weren't going to let those things near your town. We have a way of finding trouble."

"Or of trouble finding us." Interjected Raven.

"You say true, I say thankee." The old man grinned again, and returned to his chair. "It all started one year ago today. That's when those spider bots showed up for the first time. We didn't know what they wanted, but one thing was certain: they didn't much care to palaver. They shot the place up, killed any who didn't run, and took whatever raw materials they could get their hands on. Nurn is a mining town, ya see, and as such we keep plenty o iron, copper, and the like around for trade when any of the wanderin' boys (merchants they is) come through. That's all the buggers really wanted, but getting it didn't stop 'em from settin' the town ablaze. It took us months to rebuild, not to mention bury our dead. Just about six months later is when Red showed up. We were awfully suspicious of him at first. He's a robot himself, ya see, painted all red. The "red soldier" we called 'em, though that got shortened to just Red after awhile. He was pretty nasty to boot. 'Meatbag' this, and 'meatbag' that. But that was just his way of speakin' I suppose. He didn't seem to like us much, but he told us that the spider bots would be back in just a few more days. The six-month anniversary of the first attack, that is. Now, we is folken that love their land ya see? But even we was ready to pack up if it meant havin' to face them again. Red wouldn't have any of it, though. He said he was here to show them spider bots a thing or two, and that he would pick them off without so much to do. We were afraid, o course, but Red made a strong case, so we decided to hide in our cellars while he went to work. Had no trouble with 'em whatsoever." The landowner paused, as if trying to recall the important details.

"Did he say were he came from? Or why he wanted to protect the town?" Raven took the opportunity to voice her questions.

Tom shook his head. "Very tight-lipped was Red. Didn't talk much to us as is, and never said nothing about why he was here. Folks were glad enough to have him after he took care of the bugs for us, so we didn't pry."

"How did he fight those things? You said he was a robot himself, but I would assume he used a weapon of some sort." CJ had finally had his fill, and had become quite interested in the man's narrative.

"He had this old gun with him. A blaster rifle he called it. Said it would melt them spider bots like nothin'. Anyways, afterward we was quite happy, thinkin' that that was the end o the damn critters, but Red told us that the things would be back in another six months. Both times we had taken 'em on there had been about twenty or so. Red said that when these didn't come back the next batch would probably be up to three times bigger, and even more ornery. We were all a feared again, but that's when Red said that just before they attacked Nurn two gunslingers would come out of the east, using strange powers. A girl sorcerer that used magic like the Wizards used to, and a big old tiger that looked like a rock-cat that had had grown many times bigger than any rock-cat had a right to. He said that they would whip that batch of spider bots even more easy like than he had. He told us a lot about the two of ya, how you was from a different world and all. And he told us to tell you that after you've taken on supplies and rested, you need to set out north towards the mountains. That's where the factory that makes the thrice-damned things is. Red himself said he was headin' that way, and would meet you all there if ka willed it. We asked him why he didn't just stay with us, and meet up with your ka-tet when you arrived. He said that was not to be. Ka had decreed that he was to go to the factory ahead of you, and that the spider bots would keep coming every six months until we were all dead or the factory was shut off. We were told to hide in our cellars again, and let you all take care of the bots, which you did with flair I say thankee sai." Having finished his narrative, Tom sat back in his chair while continuing to look at them from across the desk.

Raven met his gaze. "You twice called us gunslingers. I get the feeling that that is not a literal title?"

"No sai. I supposed I'd better bring you both up to date on how we speak around here. Those are popkins." He indicated the sandwiches. "When someone says something that is very true we use the expression 'you say true, we say thankee.' And the term sai is a term of great respect that you put before a person's name. Ka-tet, as you probably are already aware, is a group of people who are bound by fate. To say "the world has moved on" is an expression that refers to the strange state of things in this world. You've no doubt noticed that time is strange here, and that ghosts and such are common. When we say palaver, we mean to have a council of sorts. The title of gunslinger doesn't necessarily mean a gunfighter. It refers to what you all would call a knight, a person of honor who rights wrongs and fights for the greater good. They also are known as defenders of the Dark Tower.

The two companions started, and then stood up. "What do you know about the Tower?" They asked in unison.

The old man smiled. "Very little, I'm afraid. Red said you would ask us about it, but we live so far from it that we wouldn't even know which direction it lies in. All I know is that Red said that to get to the Tower, you first had to go through the factory up north. Beyond that, who knows?" He shrugged.

"Well at least we have some idea where to head next." CJ said, sitting back down. "I'm awfully curious who this Red fellow is, and how he knows about us."

"He does seem quite knowledgeable about us and our quest." Raven replied. "We should certainly leave as soon as possible."

"We'll have your supplies ready by dawn tomorrow!" Exclaimed the old man.

CJ and Raven started again. So used had they become to talking openly about their plans and thoughts that it seemed strange indeed to have another break in.

"That would be great Mr. Nichols. Or should I say Sai Nichols?" Raven said, trying out the strange new word.

"Ye say true, I say thankee." The old man said with a grin.

"So what do you think?" CJ asked as they sat down for the evening meal. They had spent the day around town, picking up bits and pieces about the surrounding area and about the town's mysterious benefactor, the red soldier. Afterwards they had retired to the inn so as to relax before going to the main dining room for dinner. They were the only guests (Raven and CJ suspected they were the first guests in some time), and as such were left to their own devices after the hostess had served them.

Raven looked at him for a moment. "I sense no deception in them. I think we can accept their story at face value. Its unfortunate that their mines are to the south, as that seems to have limited their knowledge of the northern regions."

CJ took a large helping of mashed potatoes. "Maybe its because I haven't eaten anything but venison for the last three weeks, but this food is pretty damn good. I did talk to one of the traveling merchants in town. He said he'd been within sight of the mountain pass a couple of times on his journeys. He says its caked in snow in the middle of the summer, and seeing as its winter now, I think we'd better pack accordingly. Warm clothes of course, but we also can't expect to get any game that high in the mountains. We'd better pack as much dry food as we can carry. We can melt snow for water, so we won't have to worry about that."

"The real problem is that we don't know how far we have to go." Raven looked thoughtful as she poured herself another cup of coffee. "How far back into the mountains is this factory? Once again it looks like we're entering a situation with little to know intelligence, and the last time that happened we both were nearly blown apart."

"Don't remind me." CJ grimaced as he touched his shoulder. The wounds that he had received from the two beasts in the swamp had healed, but the areas where the rockets had struck him were still a little sore. "I think the terrain will prove just as problematic to our enemies as to us. We'll just have to be careful."

"That's another thing I learned today." Raven said, pushing her plate aside. "According to the town's legends, the perpetual enemy of the Dark Tower is a being known as the Crimson King. The Crimson King is supposedly a master wizard, one who is determined to destroy the tower at all costs. His obsession eventually regressed to madness, and he has not been seen or heard from since he set off for the Dark Tower alone from his castle. His servants are still quite willing to carry on his will in his absence, however, and they have spent millennia recruiting soldiers, mages, telepaths, monsters, beasts, war bots, and just about any other being with a thirst for violence and a hatred for the Dark Tower. The servants of the Crimson King supposedly have several fortresses along the path to the Dark Tower, with armies manning each one. The strongest of the Crimson King's servants are supposedly capable of leveling entire cities with a wave of the hand. Whatever it was that pretended to be my mother was one of these creatures, I know she was because of the bleeding symbol on her forehead was the mark of the Crimson King. She wasn't lying when she described the powerful enemies we have to face."

The lopsided grin was back. "We can handle them. We just need to stay on our toes."

"But what if…" Raven started.

"Ms. Optimistic strikes again." CJ rolled his eyes. "We'll have to deal with things as they come, right now we just need to worry about the next stage of our journey."

"I'm just saying, we've been caught unawares twice, and I don't want it to happen again."

You mean I've been caught unawares twice, CJ thought to himself and winced. Raven's little mind-meld had done wonders to shut that little uber-critical voice of his up, but you can't change someone's pattern of thinking just like that. "Have I been anything but a pain on this trip?" That damn little voice asked suddenly. "Against those two beasts I was no more than cannon fodder, and while I did pull Raven out of the swamp, she never would have been put in that position if she hadn't come to save me. And lets not forget that I could have killed her, and then what? Nice way for our quest to end, me killing my friend by accident.

CJ's cheerful reverie was broken as Tom entered the room, a strange metal box in his hand. "I hate to interrupt ya'll when you're havin' a bite, but I suddenly remembered that old Red left a box for the two of ya. Said it was important I give it to ya, and that you two would know how to open it." He set the metal box down on the table with a clunk. After the man had excused himself, CJ picked the box up.

It was very plain, having no ornamentation whatsoever and being simple steel gray in color. There was no lock on the box, but try as he might CJ couldn't get it open. After enduring her partner curse at the thing for several moments, Raven finally requested the box. Studying it carefully, she turned it over in her hands, examining the surface of the box. Her eyes caught something etched into the bottom corner. "Page 88." Was what was carved there.

"It says 'page 88'" Raven said, placing the box back on the table. "I know quite a few spells for opening things, but I think we'll need something specific."

"What about one of those books of yours?" CJ asked, taking a bite of pie. In their flight from the swamp, Raven had been forced to leave her possessions behind, and yet when she had awoken in the cave she had been shocked to find that the small book on door opening spells had made the trip with her. Neither she nor CJ could account for its presence. The answer seemed obvious now, as Raven pulled out the book and thumbed it to page eighty-eight. The title at the top of the page said: Opening enchanted lids. There was only one spell on the page, and just as Raven uttered it, the door to the box practically flew open.

As Raven tucked the book away, CJ examined the contents of the box. Inside there was an envelope containing a short letter, and some sort of item wrapped in tissue paper. He picked up the letter first, turning it over in his hand, looking for any writing. Seeing none, he opened the envelope and took out the piece of paper inside.

Greetings,

While I have virtually no regard for the organic meatbags of this town, I have saved them from the automatons so that this message may find you master. Although I feel threatening the head meatbag with termination would have been more likely to garnish the anticipated result, I have endeavored to use 'kindness' in my dealings with the meatbags of Nurn. I have found it positively repugnant top go against my programming like this master. Anyway, I hope that you decide to follow my advice master, and head to automaton factory 419 to the north of Nurn. The password to enter the facility is 'Hourglass.' I have enclosed a device that should help you to re-activate me. I eagerly await the time when we can kill things side by side once again master.

HK-47

PS: The guardian of factory 419 only attacks organics, so I will leave him to you master.

PPS: You know the password master; you just need to use that squishy brain of yours.

CJ read the letter twice, and then passed it on to Raven. He gently opened the wrapping around the object. It looked like some kind of oversized computer chip, or maybe a processor of some sort. CJ showed it to Raven, then returned the object to its wrapping.

"Whoever this guy is, he seems to know a lot about us." CJ said, looking across the table at Raven. "It looks like the only way to get some answers is to head north."

"He does refer to one of us as his 'master.' Perhaps this means we can command him to answer our questions when we catch up to him. He doesn't seem to hold the people of Nurn in very high regard, does he?" Raven raised an eyebrow.

"He does sound a little amoral. Like you said, the only way to go is forward."

They bid the people of Nurn a fond farewell, heading north at the break of dawn. They had taken as much clothes and supplies as possible, all courtesy of the people of Nurn.

They had been walking awhile when Raven spoke.

"It's nice to know there are people living in this world." She said thoughtfully.

"Was Sunshine lonely?" CJ replied with a snicker.

"No, I'm just happy you had someone else to pester for awhile."

CJ frowned and shook his head. "That hurts Raven, that really hurts. You're supposed to be the responsible one, remember? I didn't expect you to try and hurt someone's feelings like that."

They continued to bicker as they walked, while to the north, the snowy mountain range know as the tears of ice crept closer.