Chapter 9
I wake up with a yelp as something bit my right breast. I look down and see Frost nibbling at it in her sleep. Owwww. I then move Frost enough so I can get out of bed. I get up and get dressed before going out into the hall rubbing at my breast. It was bleeding a little bit. I wonder where the medical supplies are. I then bump into a peached haired person. "Hello." I say giving her a questioning look.
"Oh you must be Alex. I'm Compa its a pleasure to meet you." The peach haired person said to me and I remember the name Compa being mentioned to me several times she's living here along with the other two.
"Likewise. I must thank you for watching over Frost and taking care of IF. Have you've seen the candidates yet?"
"Your welcome. Oh right I did see them. They are pretty cute. They are still pretty young they look like they could be your kids. They should be waking up soon they may look a certain age for now but they are really only a day old right now. Have you checked on them yet?" Compa asked and I scratch my cheek I haven't seen them at all yet.
"No I sadly haven't because I got here I went to sleep. How is IF right now? I saw how she was up and walking around yesterday."
Compa smiles "Well you should. IF's doing a lot better now. She says she still feels like a stranger in her own body though. She's training herself hard so she can get back to her previous shape before capture. She's aiming to start doing Guild quests again. I'm making sure she doesn't stress herself out too much though. Good old Iffy can't be kept down for long!" Compa tells me with some cheer in her voice. Its good IF is at least doing better now.
"That's good. Can you point me in the direction the Candidates are?"
"They are down the hall and one the first door to your right." Compa tells me while pointing down the hall.
I follow her directions and go into the room to see three children. Their ages looked to be 12, 10, and six. The 12 year old had purple hair. While the 10 year old had black hair and the six year old had light orange hair.
I have to say they all looked rather cute. Should I awake them? Compa said they were only a day old which is strange for me. Before I could do anything the purple haired one yawned and blinked open her purple eyes and stared at me confused.
"Hey there. How are you feeling?" I ask her sitting besides her hoping that she can hear me.
She yawns again leaning her head against me "Still waking up. But I'm okay. Are you my mom?"
I ponder over the question for a few seconds before thinking fuck it. "Yes I am. You hungry?"
"I am. I feel like I haven't eaten in days. But what about my sisters?" She asks caring about her sisters I'm guessing.
"How about we wake them up so you guys can get some food in you. And also you have another sister to meet." I say shaking the black haired one.
She begins to stir waking up before leaning on my chest "Mom?" I look to my side to see the purple one shaking the light orange haired one. I wonder if they remember their names if they have one.
"Yes sweety. Do you guys have names already?"
"Nepgear." Spoke the purple haired one.
"Uni." Came the black haired one next.
And lastly "Peashy!" shouted the light orange haired one. So those are their names….how unique.
"Alright you three lets go find the kitchen because not even I know where it is. Oh yeah how about we pick up your other sister on the way." I went from single with no kids to single with four kids. Life sure has its curveballs.
Me and the girls went to go get Frost who was now chewing on the pillow. She must be eating in her sleep.
I then remember how my breast was bleeding a little while ago. I need to make sure I clean it out. I the shake Frost awake. "Come on let's go get something to eat so you don't keep biting my breast or the poor pillows."
Frost nods "Okay mommy. Let's go!" Now we just had to find the kitchen.
I flick her in the forhead. "Thought we agreed no breast biting. Also do you know where the kitchen is?"
Frost gives me an apologetic look before nodding "I do follow me mommy!" She runs off not seeing her sisters yet.
We follow her to the room and already see Compa and IF in there. "Hey IF how ya feeling? Also Compa do you have a band aid on you? Frost bit my breast abit too hard in her sleep?"
"Sure here you go!" Compa says as she takes a band aid out of her inventory. I but it on my breast before IF speaks to me "I'm doing alright my joints are still feeling more stiff than I'm used to but I'm determined to get back to the point I was at before and that'll start with my speed and agility."
"That's fine but don't do it too quickly and hurt yourself. Got it."
IF nods "Yeah I got Compa around to make sure I don't over do it. So what's on today's to do list?" IF asked curiously.
"Nothing much besides shopping for clothes for me and the kids. Maybe also go buy some food."
"Oh yeah Scarlet is off hunting for our dinner tonight. She volunteered to do it and I couldn't say no to her stretching her legs. Best tracker and shot in Lowee when she was there. She should be back later in the day." IF tells me no wonder I haven't seen Scarlet around here as of yet.
"Alright. Later we have to set up either one or three more kids rooms for these guys." I then groan. "That reminds me. I have no money."
IF pokes my shoulder "Just talk to Snow she's the guild master around here. Helped me and Scarlet get our bearings here. Just talk to her about signing up to do some quests to earn some cash. Should be simple since your the CPU around here." IF 'Informs' me. Great I can just do some mercenary get some cash thank god for that.
"Thanks for the info. I guess I can do a quick quest or two before we go shopping then."
"I should let you know there is a quest to take out a spiders nest that has a pretty big pay out. About 12k credits for killing all the spiders. Just thought I let you know. There's also a dogoo exterminating quest with a 400 credit reward if your not as darring." Wait dogoo? As in my cute blob pet?
"Dogoo as in that little pet I have. Which where is it anyways?"
"Oh I moved it into a room I thought you'd be staying in though I'm letting it hop around outback to get some fresh air." Compa tells me and part of me wants to check on it now.
"I just picked a room at random to sleep in and at least you guys are looking out for it. I guess I'll be taking that spider quest. I want to use a flamethrower."
"Flamethrower? Most don't go through the trouble of those anymore too bulky. Though Grave did leave some napalm grenades if you want use them instead. And your welcome." IF pointed to a wooden box not far away and I have to thank and scream later because one of the kids could have gotten at it.
"There are kids in the house and those things are laying around?" I would put them in my inventory but I don't know how to do so.
"Yeah sorry about that. Wait do you know how to put them in your inventory right?" IF asked me like its strange I don't know how.
"Not even close. I bearly know how to get stuff out of it."
"Okay you know how to open your inventory right? Well just tap on it twice or reach for an item to bring it out. To put in just open your inventory place it in. Should be self explanatory. May need to hold it there for a second. You might see an option to store it too." IF tells me and well its better than nothing.
I pick up the box and open my inventory. Somehow. I then see a store option for what I was holding. I pressed it and the box disappears. I need to put the grenades in there individually later. "Thanks for info. So who's making breakfast?"
"I am. So you all fine with pancakes?" Compa said as she moved to the stove taking out some pancake mix she must have gotten earlier.
All the kids and I said it was fine while Peashy yelled it. "So how do you two like it here so far?"
"It's good so far lot better than back home that forsure winters I here are more mild and the town folk seem alright too." IF told me and I get the sense that things in Lowee were very far from okay.
"Well things will get better in Lowee due to Blanc being in charge I believe and we are still working on being a nation here. Glad you like it for what it is so far."
"Well not like I'll ever be going back there too many bad memories and all that's left of my family is already here. Seeing your parents gunned down as a kid tends to leave a sour impression on you." IF told me and the rest getting Compa to flinch. It seems this one messed up world.
I pat them both on the back. "Just think of this as a new beginning. Leave all the bad in your past behind. The only thing you can do now is to keep on going forward."
"Yeah your right. New nation new start." IF says with a small smile seems I got through to her.
"You better believe it. Heck I'll be doing my damndest to get a hot springs around here."
"A hot spring? That sure would make this place a tourist spot. Only other place that has hot springs is Leanbox." IF told me and well I'll have to pay Leanbox a visit sometime then.
"Yeah someone brought up how there should be some here and I was like challenge accepted." I say sitting at the table.
"Well that sounds good. Well everyone pancakes are ready!" Compa says while bringing over several plates of pancakes somehow balancing some on her arms.
"Thank you Compa. You doing anything today?"
"I'm helping Shelby organize the local hospital to get it up to where it should getting a list we will need for the future. You doing anything?" Compa told me and honestly I should have expected that this place will need some help to get up to snuff in a lot of fields.
"Nothing much besides shopping for some clothes for me and the girls. And some food most likely. I don't know other than that."
"Well that's good. So I hear you have two oracles now. Well I haven't heard Lucy going through the Oracle ritual though I think that requires a special type of Ink." Compa tells and this is the second reference I'm here of a processes for Lucy to actually become my Oracle.
"Yeah. Both Grave and Lucy are becoming my oracles. I'm glad they both agreed to it." I say starting to eat.
"Wait Grave as in Grave Deathstalker! She practically a legend in the guild for her tech and combat prowess! Where is she now!?" IF told me in complete fangirl mode.
"Doing a small errand for herself why?" Is she that well known?
"I soo need to get her autograph when she gets back! I can't believe I have the chance to meet my and so many other's idol! This is like a dream come true!" IF says ecstatic to meet Grave maybe I can ask her a few questions about Grave since she knows more than me.
"I have a couple questions. Was Grave the same before I came here and has she always been like that?"
"Well she was very happy whenever she was with Lady Luna but I heard she just always spoke that way. You'd have to ask someone more recent but from what I know she was a recluse until recently hiding from the world and shutting herself in." IF told me and this all if very interesting to me.
"Has she always been good with electronics and whatnot?"
"YES! She is a god with that stuff! She even had an entire company with the most advance tech you'll ever seen. Heard she closed its doors after Lady Luna tried to kill her. She even made a fleet of airships that could give even goddesses trouble! She is beyond amazing! I'm surprised you haven't heard of her till now. Guess the other nations did a lot to cover up her reputation." IF told me and from the sound of it I made a very good choice making her one of my oracles.
"I wasn't part of this world a week ago. So no. I don't know alot about almost anything here."
"Wow well you really should take some time to watch some achieved news stories. Or whatnot. Well if you ever need to ask me more questions I'll be right here." IF tells me as she begins eating.
"I'll keep that in mind. These are good Compa. You cook much?" I ask finishing up what I had.
Compa nods "Yeah I cook all the time. My mom said I could always become a cook if Nursing didn't work out. But cooking helped me to become a better Nurse."
"That's good to hear. How long have you wanted to become a nurse before you did so?"
Compa hums and taps her chin "I'd say about two years in medical school and another two months in a nursing program. Though all that schooling was worth it in the end. I was able to get a job within a week."
"Already went through all the training huh. You don't even look 18 yet."
"Well I am sixteen I started when I was fourteen after all. So what about you?" Compa asked me and for a second I realize they don't know much about me. Though I have to wonder what standards are there if Compa started medical school at fourteen.
"I lived a normal shitty life until I was 17 by working small jobs here and there to survive until someone dragged me into the mercenary business without me knowing. I worked there for eight years until I somehow got transported here and I turned myself into a CPU on accident."
"Well that seems like a rough time. I got pulled into guild quests by Scarlet. At least you know what happened to you I still have no idea what those scientists did to me in that lab." IF looks at her hands after saying that. I wonder if I should tell her the truth or not.
"I know some of what they did but I'll tell you in a little bit. Due to I don't know how classified this is suppose to be."
IF's body language visibly became a bit hostile "How is knowing what happened to my own body classified! I I'm sorry..I'm just going to get some air." IF then leaves the table leaving Compa worried.
"She never acted like that before. She'd never act like that before. What's wrong with her?" Compa whispered to herself. Well that rules out IF just being bitchy.
"Tell her sorry for me when you can please. It's just I don't know how secretive it's supposed to be."
"I will. But does it involve things like the voidlings?" Compa asked me and I wonder what these voidlings are?
"Don't think so. And what are Voidlings?"
"They are about dog sized beasts that attack in swarms. They look almost insectoid like when you see them up close. But they are rarely appear but when you see one at least a hundred more are nearby." Compa tells me and these things sound insanely bad.
"That sounds fantastic. Guessing they are hard to take care of?"
"They are killable if your well armed but they are intelligent using pack tactics making them even more dangerous." Compa told me and I start drawing parallels to wolves.
"I'll remember that for the future then if I run into them." I look at the kids. "I'd hate to ask but can you look after the kids for a couple hours? I want to do a quest so I can get some money."
Compa smiles "I'd love to. Caring for others is one of the duties of a nurse after all. So don't worry about them. And is anyone tries hurting them I'll stick them with my needle." Compa takes out and gigantic needle that would hurt like hell if you got stuck with it. I suddenly feel very uncomfortable right now!
"Who in their right mind would make that." I say staring at the needle. I do not want to be poked with that.
"Oh they sell these everywhere they are for combat and for those with tougher skin." Compa tells me and I sweat because my skin would be tough enough to warrant that. I hate this so much right now!
I just give her a quick nod. "I'm going to go and do that quest. If IF wants to do it with me tell her to meet me at the basilicom. I'll wait a few minutes for her."
Compa nods before getting out her phone "I'll give her a text then see you later Alex."
"See yeah." I then give all the kidos quick hugs and kisses on the head. "By the way which direction is the basilicom from here?"
"Its to the west and when you get to the Guildhall and take a right and keep going straight and you'll see it right away." Compa told me and I did my best to memorise it.
"Got it." I say walking out and following her directions. Which wasn't hard to do but it still took me a few minutes. I then spot the guild hall easily. I walk in and see the specific quest on the quest board. I grab the paper and walk up to the receptionist person and say. "I'd like to accept this and also can I have a map of around here?"
The receptionist nods and hands me a map and stamps the quest. "Hey I got the text Alex can I still join?" IF calls out to me. I thought I told Compa to send her to the Basilicom oh well guess IF came to see me at the guildhall first.
"Sure. Go ahead but I wasn't expecting you for a few more minutes."
"Sorry just had a hunch you'd be here. Anyways it'll be good to show you what I can do in the field." IF told and I'm indeed interested to seeing what she can do with those katars.
"Alright. Lets go and do this then. We splitting the reward 50/50?" I ask her walking out.
"Yeah the sounds fair and keeps things simple." IF said as she cracked her neck and I notice her irises had a very noticeable black ring around them. Was this another trait of her becoming shadow?
"Got it. Now where is a gun store or armoury around here so I can get ammo for this thing." I say pulling my Heckler & Koch MG4 out of my inventory.
"Yeah I think I say a gun store open up recently. I need to get more rounds for my high power handgun." IF shows me what looks like a glock 17 but a bit different what was it capable of?
"I'm just thinking on buying a few chains and putting them together to just mow at least most of the spiders."
"Sounds good. But how are you going to do that?" IF asked me curious how I was going to put a few chains together.
"If they are made like they did where I got em they should just be able to connect to each other."
"First I'll see it done. Still my handgun is better for bigger monsters. That gun would just piss them off." IF tells me and I wonder how big the monsters can get.
"Then I want to at least try to smash them with a hammer for a little fun then. It'll give me a little challenge then."
"Suit yourself lets just swing by the gun store and pick up some ammo I still have a couple hundred credits for us to work with." IF told me while I guess looking through her inventory.
"Just a quick question. Don't I get stuff when killing monsters and other things?"
"Yeah you do and some people have learned to make use of them. In some way or another. Some may pay for that stuff." IF tells me and it had peaked my interest.
"Alright does it pop in my inventory? And also do I get credits or the credits off bandits that have bounties."
"Yeah it does pop into your inventory. And yeah if they've become a big enough nuisance that someone paid for their death. Scarlett used to do that sometimes take out big criminals to make sure they don't harm anyone else. Pays well." IF told me. So they do have bounty hunters here.
"What I actually ment by that is do I get the credits that were on the person."
"Yeah you do as long as the situation around it was justified like honorable fight or they were corrupt or evil. And it would have to be truly evil not forcibly turned evil. Their stuff should also be in your inventory as well." IF tells me and I have a sinking feeling in my gut now.
I'll check my inventory for Luna's stuff when I get done here. "Where can I see how much credits I have and how do I use em?"
"Okay they should be in the upper right corner of your inventory and you'll need a special card device to use it or they could have a credit reader that does it for you. But the card should easier for the long run and to get." IF told me and that gives me something to get later on.
"Alright. How can I get one of em cards?" I ask her while I open my inventory and look at the credits. I just stare at the amount I already had. 134,962 credits it said.
Luna must have been loaded when she died looks like I have enough to do some shopping later. "Well I can lend you a spare I have though most Basilicos or Guildhall should have some. You'll have to give a bit of personal information though.
"That's fine. I believe I have enough credits from past monsters to get some ammo myself." I say closing my inventory.
IF shrugged and began walking toward what I assume is the gun store "Well the gun store is this way Alex."
We walk up to the store and go in. I instantly see the walls lining up with many types of guns. I might just look through these later. I walk up to the front desk and put a part of the chain I have onto the counter. "Do you have these rounds here. If so I want four 500 round crates of it please?"
The woman looks up "Yeah we do. Anything else you need? Or do you want to check out the the back room? Though its fine if this is all how many crates do you need?"
"Four like I said. How much will this cost?" I then look at Iffy. "Let me see one of those cards you have please?"
IF hands me a card for me to use as the woman gets all the crates ready "Okay that will be about 3,530 credits please."
I look at IF. "Will this take out of your or my account?"
"It's a blank one so it should be yours just ask the clerk to connect it to your inventory first." IF informed me. I'm fortunate to have them around to help me. I wonder I could have met them if I wasn't doing this whole goddess thing would have been a lot different.
I hand it to the clerk. "Can you do that for me please? This is my first time actually doing this."
"Sure just give me a minute to get it done." The clerk said as she did somethings with the card before I'm guessing completing the purchase before handing it back to me. "There the purchase should be complete. Have a nice day be sure to come back later cuties!"
"Alright I definitely will because I love using my guns." I say putting my card in my inventory.
IF shivered "Yeah we'll come by later. Come on Alex lets go!"
"Fine fine fine. Just let me connect these chains." I say doing so and arranging it in my backpack so I can just hold my gun and it'll pull the rounds out of my pack. When I was done I then followed IF. "Do you know where we are going?"
"Yeah its in a cave to the north west in a dense forest about 8-12 kilometers from here. And we should definitely not go back there anytime soon. Heard that place also serves people of a particular taste in lewd activities lets just for are sanity's sake. I'm sure we're both not into that stuff." IF tells me with a shiver and I begin to understand what's she's talking about.
"I didn't know that. So we just jogging there then?"
"Sure we could or we can take my motorcycle most of the way there and walk the last kilometer or so. Still have it in my inventory and it can handle a tank of wait so you should be fine." IF tells me and it has been a while since I've been on a motorcycle.
"Steering might be a little weird to you because I weight a lot more that people my size"
"I heard. If anything you could transform and follow me while flying." IF recommended to me and I couldn't be help but consider it.
"I'm not comfortable yet flying like that. I'll be riding with you if you don't mind."
IF nod and pulls her rather nice looking motorcycle out of her inventory "Sure you want to drive or should I?"
"You should because I wouldn't know how to contribute the new weight."
IF nods and gets on it "Alright well hop on and hold on tight."
I hop onto the back and wrap my arms around her. "Trust me. I'd crush you if I held you tight."
"Alright I'll take your word on that." IF told me before putting her motorcycle into gear and taking off down the main road I'm guessing.
After half an hour we hopped off and started our walk. "How often have you done guild work?"
"I've been doing this stuff since I was about six if I remember right. Me and Scarlett lost what family we had two years before that. She's about three years older than me to put things in perspective." I feel a bit bad for them to have to go through that shit at such a young age.
"That had to suck. Then again I had to almost live by myself at the age of nine and do small jobs to survive. Wish I had a guild and a place like this back then."
IF pats my back "Yeah despite its flaws this would generally has more ups on average then downs. I had a big sister to help so I wasn't truly alone. Guess we are more alike than we thought. Just so you know the guild does a lot more than killing monsters it has other takes to most others non combative though perfect for kids."
"I'm glad I came here. Life is so much simpler and better in my opinion."
"Well I'm glad you like it here Alex. That cave shouldn't be much farther judging by all the webs around this area." IF said as she pulled a strand of silk from a nearby tree.
I pull my lmg off my back and make sure the safety was off and the chain was in the gun. "Let's get this started then eh. Who should take the lead?"
"Depends want to try that toy out now or later? I have a few things that'll attract them for use. I could take the lead I'm used to close range but I can tell you want to mow them down and no telling how many there are." IF tells me and I see her point thin out the crowd first before going in for the slaughter. As I'm in my train of thought IF begins running ahead of me.
I check that the chain can be pulled out of my pack easily before going after her. "You can't be having all the fun eh." I say opening fire on a few I saw tearing them apart.
The rest begin to let out high pitched screeches calling the rest of the hoard of them to arrive as I keep gunning them down and IF well she seems to be gracefully dancing around them and cutting them to pieces as she did so with her katars. So far we were doing pretty well…..Until the DAMN MOTHER SHOWED UP! SHE WAS FREAKIN HUGE!
When I notice how some of the rounds were bouncing off its main shell I started going around it while going for the legs and underbody. Trying to go for the cracks. "That handgun good enough to pierce this thing?" I ask sidestepping one of it's legs.
IF gave me the best response of firing two rounds that blew huge as chunks out of that thing causing it to start limping now. "That Answer your question Alex?" I sweat drop that's a lot of firepower in a small package.
"Good to know." I say just laying into it and the smaller spiders that came close. "So we just burning all the web in the cave before we leave or what?"
"Yeah we could but we should check for any captives first before we do. These thing web up their victims for later use." IF tells me and I get the impression that means going into that place.
"Ah. So glad I don't hate spiders then. Heck they try to web me up they'd have a little problem. Come on. Quit playing with it just end it already. I would but I don't have the right rounds for this thing right now."
IF shoots the colossal spider in the head ending it. "Well its not only that you also need to get a special gun like mine for it to work. That gun you have is a standard issue one even with better round it still won't do that level of damage." IF tells me and well it looks like its gun shopping for me then.
"I don't care about that kind of damage. I just need rounds that can pierce it." I say making my way into the cave.
IF follows after me "Well in that case you need hexium tipped rounds they can pierce anything and even some magical barriers as well nasty stuff. Getting shot by that is the worst." IF tells me as we move further into the cave.
"I bet. Has to cost a fortune then." I make my way in shooting down the spiders and looking around. "There's so much web here. Can you tell which ones have victims in em or not?"
"It depends on the quality and where you by it. Hexium is plentiful in ore but not so easy to refine. And yeah I can tell them apart. Just so you know these spiders can reanimate the dead and keep them alive for a long period of time so no telling who or how long they've been here." IF tell me and the first part sound reasonable but the spider part sends chills down my spine so we can encounter someone ancient here.
"So fucking wonderful. Also do you know how big this cave system is?" I ask stomping onto a spider that tried to run past. My boot caving it's head in.
"Its it runs about a kilometer down but does have many branching paths. I'd say about 4 square kilometers at max." IF tells me while humming.
"This is going to take a few. These guys aren't that hard but there are a lot of them. Guess we are getting a lot of items and credits from this eh."
IF nods to me "Yeah we are from dealing with them all. Look Alex our first victim is right up ahead let's hurry and free her." IF said as she hurries up ahead of me.
"Alright. Just don't run ahead and also don't exert yourself. Your not at 100 percent yet."
"I know still getting better. You have a knife I don't think my Katars will be the best thing to cut her out with." IF tells me and I agree a knife would be best for this delicate task.
I pull out my combat knife from its sheath and flip it so I was holding the blade. "Here ya go."
IF smiles at me before cutting the poor victim free I wonder who this person will be? Once the captive was cute free she fell to her knees and puke her guts out before wiping her mouth clean "Sorry about that being trapped in that thing for a long ass time isn't fun." The now that I can tell the young woman said she got to her feet.
"It's fine." I look at IF. "Will they be staying with us as we go or is it alright do you think for them to just head out?"
"Depends on the state they are in though. I think generally staying in one group is best for now. Most of the big ones are dead but best to be safe than sorry. Best let them stay will us so we can take them back to town with us." IF told me and its reasonable they have likely nowhere to go and there's more safety in numbers.
"Alright. How many people have went missing then?" I say getting in front of them and proceeding forward.
The woman looks up at us "There about ten well eleven now that they dragged some woman in with share energy from what I can sense. Oh right apologies I didn't give you two a basic introduction I am an elder CPU a pleasure to make your acquaintance. If you wish for further introduction and exchanges of information I suggest we wait till we rescue the rest of these captives first if you don't mind. You are the local CPU here correct?" I suddenly feel a chill roll down my spine as she looks into my eyes as if she could end me in but a second if she really wanted to.
"Since a few days ago yes." I say going forward and taking care of the spiders in front of us.
"That's good this place needed one. Well I'll be sticking around you. Now where is my cane? Ah its in my inventory along with my hat and change of clothes!" this elder CPU takes out a walking stick and and old style british detective hat. I sweat drop is she role playing as a detective or something?
"Uhh. Alright lets get going and help the other people here." We soon reach a fork in the path. "Are we going left to right on this?"
The elder whatever she doesn't even look older than me tapped her cane on the ground looking down both of them "Let's take the way of the evil hand and go left. Rest are down that path, right one leads out and the other path leads to a bunch of nesting chambers." Okay me and her are going to have a talk later. I need to now at least her first name.
"I want to go down the middle and take out as much as the nesting chambers as possible. You two good going down the left path?"
"I'll be fine helping IF here. I'd be more worried about you. But suit yourself. Come on Iffy lets go clear out the rest of the captives. Do try to keep up dear wouldn't want me showing you up on your homefront now do you?" The elder tipped her hat to me before she walked down the left path with IF. Snug little piece now Alex just calm yourself.
I just shake my head and chuckle as I unroll some more of the chain. This is going to be fun. I then go into the middle entrance and start mowing down all the spiders if front of me. This gun is so useful dealing with crowds. I make my way forward through most of the cave system with little trouble. Only having to dodge the spiders I missed and webshots their doing. After almost an hour I finally reached an opening to a big room that housed the nest but there was something blocking my way. And it had to be a goddamn dragon huh.
I take out a napalm grenade. It didn't take long for it to notice me. I chuck the grenade at it's head and it erupted on it's right eye. It then roared at me and that's when I started mowing into it. Most of the bullets successfully went into it's mouth and tore it up. It then wisely then went at me to try to take a bite. I then sling the LMG onto my back and take my sword and shield from my inventory. I'm so glad I can do it faster now.
When it went in for the bite I jumped to the side and bashed it's head with my shield. I then zoom forward and slash it's neck. The blood almost erupting from it's wound. I then jump up and try to slash at it's eye but it bashed it's head into me causing me to fly into the wall. I grunt and jump up. Let's go you big ass lizard. I ran back forward and mercilessly started slashing at it's throat again. I got a few slashes in before I had to dive to the side to dodge it from its foot trying to smash me. I run up the leg and get almost get to the top before I slip due to my blood soaked boots. It then raises its leg when I hit the ground and it brought it down causing me to raise my shield blocking the blow but forcing me into the ground. I then start hacking into its foot but only some of the hits actually hurt the dragon.
I shove up the leg enough so I can roll out. I then go to get another strike in but the dragon bites down on my blade breaking it. I start at it in shock. I don't have another blade on me. I gave my combat knife to IF. I jump back and bash it's head to the side. Goddamnit. I was actually liking that sword. I kept up the dodging and the bashing until I could think up another plan.
But before I can a cane fly insanely fast and hits the dragon square in the chest knocking it back as the cane spun threw the air back to its owner "Sorry dear we took a bit longer than expected you having fun with the dragon rather than just killing it? Now do you have things under control or do you need assistance?" That dam elder spoke to me with a tip of her hat and an infuriatingly smug smile.
"I was fine till it broke my fucking sword." I semi-yelling point to what remained of it. "I was handling it just fine till then."
The elder looked at it "Well I'll help you with that later maybe even find a suitable replace. If you wish to finish it on your own I will lend you my blade for the task. If not allow me to show you how its done." The elder told me had she unsheathed a sword hidden in her cane. I've heard of those before but this is a first I'm seeing it in person.
"If you don't mind me borrowing it please just toss it over. I want to end this myself." I look at the dragon trying to get up but I bashed it in the head so many times it's unable to right now.
The 'Elder' tosses me the unsheathed sword at me and I catch it easily enough and get into a stance it was actually about the same weight as my sword so this should be good enough.
I then rush the dragon and continuously hack at it's throat while it was trying to get up until it burst into pixels. I toss the sword back. "Thanks. Now let's get this over with."
The Elder CPU nods at me as she sheathed her sword "You got a plan from this my dear? Or are we just going to bring this place down? Brute force or a more intelligent way?" She asked with the same damn smug smirk.
I take out two napalm grenades and smile. "Oh you know just wanting to burn a lot of it."
IF smiles "So you're finally bringing those out to play well we got the captives out and your going to want to see one of them. This place is covered in silk if we do it here we'll cook ourselves." I look down and see spider silk everywhere that would not turn out well for any of us.
"Ah I'm at least a little durable here. Heck you two make up ahead of me a little and I'll chuck these do the back of that room and book it back. Also who is it that I want to see?"
"Lets just say someone came back from the dead. I think it's best you see her for yourself. Well we'll get going now." IF begins jogging away and the elder whatever just give me another damn smirk! "Do try and not scar that lovely skin dear it would be shame to mar such natural beauty with burns." She tips her hat at me again and I'm now fighting the urge to punch her damn face in! Luckily she began running after IF out.
I take out my handgun and shoot down the spiders that approach me. Waiting until I thought the time was good. I then chuck two napalm grenades into the back of the cave and I spin around and start sprinting. It didn't take long for me to catch up to them at the fork entrance. I skid to a stop by them. "Which way we goin?"
IF points head down a tunnel the one of the ones that lead out "We're going out the cave we came in through the rest of the victims are through there. We've done about everything here its time for use to go."
"Yeah I agree lets go. I know how fast these flames can spread." I say running down the cave to the entrance.
The other two follow me out as the flames began coming closer. We just made it out when the flames lick at are heals. "Damn that was close. That did the trick Alex." IF told me and I have to agree since everything inside was likely burned to a crisp.
"It better be. Either of you have explosives? I want to close the entrance. At least for now."
The elder gives me a bow and holds out two red cylinder sticks "Will these sticks of dynamite do my dear or do you need more?" She gave me another infuriatingly smug smirk I swear she's doing this now just to piss me off.
Why would I need a bow? "These should do for now." I say pulling out my lighter and lighting the fuzes and tossing them into the entrance to blow. I look at IF as they go off. "Who is this person that I needed to see. There's only like one person I know that's died here."
IF points to a woman "She's right they're. Somehow these spiders got lady Luna though she's a bit out of it right now. I keep asking her stuff and she keeps asking from Grave." The woman I'm looking it looks different than the one I fought but that's likely because she was transformed then.
I just give them a look. "I caved in her chest and her lungs. I know it's bad saying I killed her but I done so by the request of Grave but I know I caved in her chest and cut up most of her organs. How the hell is she still alive?"
"Well first off she's a CPU so she can take a lot more punishment than normal. I think whatever was driving her crazy weakened her though. But those spiders well take bodies back bring them back to life till they are ripe enough for them to get the most out of them. I'm guessing you didn't mutilate or destroy her body which let them do this. Though something is still wrong with her head. Just not like before." IF told me and it makes sense I let Blanc take her boy mostly intact.
"Yeah but let me say this again. I caved her chest in. I both felt and heard it. I had to pull my shield out of it." I say in denial.
"Well this isn't like your world. People sometimes come back to life. If you don't believe me go talk to her. And see for yourself. I've seen Lady Luna before and I can tell she the real deal." IF told me and I sigh this was not going to be easy.
"Wait, wait, wait. I'm asking you this one question. How. The. Hell. Is she alive when she had a caved in chest, a very damaged spine, and a hole in her midsection?"
"Those spiders venom can stimulate rapid healing in a corpse bring it back from death in a night. As long as the body is intact enough they can be repaired. Their venom can make a powerful healing agent if you know how to do it otherwise it paralyzes you. I've seen it a few times where the smaller spiders go inside the body to repair it. They can inflate organs by pumping liquid silk into them and fix bones by putting them back in place with their silk and puking their guts out onto them to mend them somehow. It's generally a very unpleasant experience. Just so you know they do it to those still alive too. I had it happen to me. Its a nightmare." IF told me with a very unpleasant shiver.
"Alright show me where she is. I have to see this with my own eyes." I say motioning them forward. I then follow them after punching through a tree.
The elder I need to ask her her name now well they do at least take me to her and I see Luna sitting down and looking at the sky "And my dear this is Luna. By the way the name is Sherry, Sherry Lock Homes at your service." The elder now introducing has Sherry Lock Homes.. I see the connection now. Well she said that while giving me a mock bow.
She's just getting on my nerves. I look at Luna and cross my arms. "Not to be rude or disrespecting but you surviving what you did really puts me in a position I don't want and you put me in major disbelieve."
Luna looks at me "Oh sorry didn't see you there. I'm sorry but I don't believe we meet before. I'm Luna Deathstalker and you are?" She extends her hand for me to shake and this gets even more awkward she doesn't remember me.
Then again I was in my CPU form and she didn't get to see me for that long. I shake her hand. "Alex Gardner. I'm the new CPU around here. Due to that you were corrupted I was the one to put you down by someone's request." I say informing her.
Luna flinches "I um see. So that's why I don't have old faithful with me anymore nor a good number of my stuff anymore. So that it I got corrupted then I died. Is Blanc at least in charge?" She said in a somber tone like the whole world was ripped away from her.
"As far as I know yes. Which. I may have the rest of your stuff but I haven't really looked through my inventory since I got it. So I don't know what's in it."
"Well I should be able to tell you what I'm missing. Since I was corrupted I doubt I can return home. Um if you don't mind me asking. Do you know where Grave is?" Luna asks me with hope in her eyes that she can tell me where her lover is.
"I don't know where she is right now but she should be back soon. Do you know what this will cause her seeing that you're alive. She might be just like I was. In disbelief for awhile. So be prepared for it."
Luna looks down "Yeah I just hope she'll accept me back into her life eventually. Well if that is all I think we should be heading back to the nearest town there are others here that need shelter or at the very least be in safety. Maybe we'll catch Grave when she comes back."
"The town we came from is a few kilometers from here. And also due to reasons." I put my hand on her shoulder. "Your coming with me."
Luna tenses "I um see. I hope it's to your place and not a cell. I understand I may have wronged your people greatly while I was corrupted."
"Yeah you almost destroyed Grave too. Not only physically but mentally. Do you know the night you 'died' she drank herself stupid. I gladly stuck around and made sure she lived on. Now I'll be nice somewhat and not throw you in a cell but you are going to be under constant watch at my place. Which is a helluva lot nicer than the shitty apartment I had."
"I see. Still thank you for making sure she lived. And um thanks for not throwing me in a cell. I don't mind being under constant watch but cells make me claustrophobic." Luna told me and at least she's cooperating with me. Still can't believe I have a mansion.
"Let's get moving then. I want to get some shopping done today." I say directing the group in the direction of the town. "How many are badly injured?" I ask IF.
"About four of them are injured badly and can't move much on their own and will need medical attention once we get back. But the able bodied ones are helping them get back though we do have a few former military gals that want to talk with you apparently way back this place used to have standing army and navy. One of them is a high ranking officer and the rest are soldiers and one sailor judging by her dress. It seems like most of these girls are either old military or industrial sect people though their was one guild member among the badly injured. Seems like helping others really is paying off for are nation." IF tells me and I can see things looking up. We got some skilled individuals to help us.
Though I have to wonder what happened to this place to cause such a collapse it sounds like this place used to be booming at one point then just at one point just took a massive hit.
"That's good to know. I was not expecting today to go the way it has so far." I say rubbing at my temple. Why does it have to be so stressful? "After you. Lune stay in front of me."
IF nods and walks in front of me and Luna staying in front of me as we began walking back. Though I could just feel Sherry's smug ass smirking at as she helped the other victims follow us back. At least she seems to be a somewhat decent person under all that smugness.
"Hey IF do you know where I can get a sword that's better than my old one? I kinda need one now."
"I did some looking yesterday to get my katars worked on. You know make sure they are at their best. Found a blacksmith by the name Bellona before she had an odd aura around her but she made some really impressive weapons even some war hammers. Her wares are vast and high quality. Even found a few things that caught my interest. She does take requests if you can't find anything you want. One of the best Blacksmiths I've ever seen." IF told me and it sounds great so far I'll have to pay Bellona a visit later.
"Sounds good. I might just replace my shield also or at least have the dents taken out of it." I jump over a fallen tree and keep going. "At least we saved some people today. Makes it worth it."
"Yeah and you got some trained military people to work with now to help build an army with. And saving people is always good. I'll go shopping with you if you want. Its likely either me or miss detective over there." IF tells me and I look over to see Sherry talking with one of the Military girls right now. I can just drag the officer with me.
"It's fine. You don't have to come if you don't want to. I'm just getting some clothes and food. Maybe a new sword. I can watch four kids no problem." I then think of something and groan. "Getting five different sizes of clothes are so going to be fun."
"Scarlett already got all their sizes so you don't have to worry about that. Scarlett is getting us dinner tonight as well. I really have nothing else to do after we collect the reward so I'll come with." IF told me as she walked next to me.
"Thank you then. Do you know any two guild members that can watch Luna here and keep their mouths shut till we figure something out?"
"Yeah depends if you want mouth shut and no sexual advances. I'd recommend Rose Dark and Yuki Raiko. They are professional, good company and keep their mouth shut as long as its reasonable. They do think for themselves." IF told me and that was better than nothing I guess.
"That's fine. I just need em to watch her till I can come up with something." I say yawning. "Do we have any food at the house for lunch?"
"Yeah we have some bear meat, fish, noodles and canned meals and instant ramen. Other than that nothing fancy when me and Scarlett went to by seasonings and other ingredients not much but should last us a few days or weeks at least." IF told me and it sounds like we have the essentials for now.
"We will have 10 people in the building for awhile most likely. That's good we have abit of food to last us for awhile."
"Yeah Scarlet loves to hunt so we'll be good on whatever meat she gets but she takes everything from her kills. She talked about making sausages with some of the spices she has. We'll need to get more though. Well at least more seasonings and stuff for breakfast." IF told me and looks like I still have to get some food for us still.
"Good to know. How far do you think we are from the town?"
"About a kilometer now I believe. Not much farther now." IF told me as the town came into view with a familiar giant ship in the air.
"Looks like she's back. Wonder when she's doing the oracle thing that Lucy did."
"Probably waiting for you to get back is all. Wonder why she's just hovering the Negotiator above the town?" IF told me and it makes sense. I wonder if Grave brought her munchkins with her?
"I don't know but we can find out. Come on Luna we are going by my place first. Or I can just say our place since IF here is here."
"Alright best to limit the exposure of your people seeing me. I see Grave's already here now." Luna told me and of course she'd know Grave's airship.
"Yes. She's agreed to become one of my Oracles here. And it is wise not many people see you because they want to kill you due to what you did because they don't know the 100 percent truth on what happened."
"I get it. If worst comes to worst I could probably crash with Noire or Stacy at their basilocom or hide out in my cabin in leanbox if worst comes to worst. So Grave decided to become your Oracle. She could easily given from what I can sense. She's a mystery." Luna told me in a soft spoken tone of voice. Well at least she has some options.
"That will be the decision of Grave. Till then you are staying with me." I say seeing my house come into view.
"Well it looks like we're back home now. I believe Scarlet should be home now given the scent of deer blood in the air." IF tells me and I faintly smell animal blood in the air.
"She better not be doing that on the clean countertops." I say with a specific tone in my voice.
"Nonsense she'd do all of that on the stone slab out back. Bringing deers inside is a pain and just too much work for the reward." IF tells me likely hearing my tone of voice.
"She better be." I say walking inside and looking around.
So far no blood then I hear something something that smells delicious in the kitchen cooking. Rounding the corning I see Compa cooking something while the kids watch.
"Whatcha making there Compa?" I ask her looking over her shoulder.
"Oh just some venison steaks for us and the kids nothing too extraordinary but its good. Scarlet dragged two deer back here and is finishing up out back. Should be enough meat for all of us," Compa told me and it did smell good must be the spices she's using.
"Think you have enough for a another person? Also I need you to keep tight lips about who it is for awhile please?"
Compa nods and smiles "Yes I believe we do. And I can give you my oath for that. I'm not that much of an air head."
"Alright. Luna get you butt in here! You too IF!"
"Yeah I'm coming I'm coming. So lunch almost ready?" IF ask as she walks in with Luna.
"Looks like it. Haven't had steak in awhile so I'm itching for it."
"Same here or well it's been awhile since I've had decent meals in a few years." IF tells me and I remember that she was trapped in that place. I doubt the labor camp actually feed them well or more than enough to keep them alive and move. Most likely they gave them scraps. Oh wait that is bad.
"Just think. From now on you can feast to your heart's desire. We just need to get the specific food to do so though."
"Thanks though that can wait till we're done eating. We should eat quickly so we can go shopping though I want to check in with big sis first though. Let her know I'm alright." IF tells me and I suppose I should see what Scarlet is up to/see how she's doing.
I then motion for her to go and I follow her. "Let's see how she's doing then."
IF nods and see Scarlet finishing up harvesting the deers organizing everything in piles for later use now all that was left was the heads and bones. "So you two finally got back going to make the skins into leather. If you don't mind." Scarlet told us without looking away from her task.
"That's fine do what you want." I say to her.
"Sis you can at least thank her for letting us stay in her nation." IF asks Scarlets and all I get is a "Thanks." blunt and simply form Scarlet.
I nudge IF. "Don't force her to say what she doesn't or hasn't said. You guys can go wherever you want and I can't stop ya."
"It's not that this place has been good to us so far. But Scarlett if really jadded and well as you can see is she doesn't much and isn't that well emotional. We know we can go anywhere we just made few enemies in other nations so this is the safest. Don't take her bluntness the wrong way." IF told me defending her older sister.
"It's fine. Stay as long as you like. I don't mind."
"We may stay here. Safe game and quests are plentiful. Plenty of beasts too. Would consider it one par with Leanbox. You a good shot?" Scarlet asked me and I see her rifle it looks like a Barrett 50 cal one of the newer models at that.
"Should be. Been awhile since I've messed with a rifle though."
"I have a spare you can borrow. I need to get a new sidearm though. My rifle has enough kick for just about anything I come across. Though I'll need a side arm for up close encounters." Scarlett says muttering the last part to herself as she brushes as side her burgundy hair. Okay I think I need to take her with me shopping she's too much of a shut in right now.
"You know what. Your coming with me when we go shopping after lunch because the kids and I are shopping for clothes and a sword for me. We can go and buy you a pistol while we are out."
"Sure just need to set the organs into containers and salt the skin and hang it up for it to cure. And that's fine I have a model in mind. Just to warn you some clothes may be a bit revealing unless you know where to look at least for a person of your body type." Scarlet tells me as she gets up and does some things with her inventory I'm guessing as the deers organs disappear one group after another. Didn't I take her hand gun before...Not going to bring that up to her.
"I just want some jeans and t-shirts mainly. Also lunch is almost ready and we are leaving after it. IF can you contact those two guild members?"
"I already call them they should be shortly. Well we should head in now." IF tells as she puts one of her many phones away.
"How many of them things ya got? I see you pulling out so many of them." I ask while we walk inside.
"About six on me at one time each for a different purpose and yes a few of them are untraceable. Never use the same one twice to avoid being tracked. I have more and spares in my inventory for the just incase." IF tells me and I couldn't help but wonder is all that really necessary?
"Reasonable." We then walk into the kitchen as Compa was finishing up. I then talk to the kids. "You kids been good while I was gone?"
Nepgear and the rest smile at me before answering "Yes mom we have. Miss Compa is really nice."
"Since you guys were good we can go and get ice cream after we shop alright?"
"YAY!" They all cheer as they here that..and Peashy tackles me with a headbutt to the stomach knocking the wind out of me and knocking me to the ground. She just giggles happily and cheers as she cuddles against me.
I rub her hair. "You have a good hit kiddo." I say getting up. I rub at my stomach.
Peashy giggles again clinging to me. "Your really strong mommy. Again! Again! I want to do it again!" And Uni just sighs "Peashy we can't be stressing mom she got home recently at least let her enjoy lunch first."
"Please let me you little ball of energy." I sat tickling her a little bit. "You guys better behave while we go out also."
The kids nod "We will mom." And with that we all sat down to eat and for the first time it felt like I was a part of a family again.
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Writer:Project Omega
Co-Writer: Alternet RedSkys
Editor: {Need one}
Thank you all for reading. Please review about what you think of the story so far and the massive curveball the Co-writer threw that even surprised and stumped me.
