Chapter 3: A breath of "fresh" air
The Two started their journey through the underbelly of the city as they followed the enthusiastic drone's waypoint.
As they walked Alyx noticed the multitude of pipes on the walls. "What are all these pipes for?" She asked.
Tails glanced over his shoulder. "I'm guessing power and communications conduit. Even before Robotnik took over Mobotropolis, it was extensively automated." He spread his arms wide. "There's an extensive network reaching across the city, it even connects to different zones across the planet." He grinned. "What it would have been to see Mobotropolis before it fell. I was born just before the coup so I don't remember."
Grady slowed down to hover next to him. "I think it would be cool to a movie theater."
Tails stretched, resting his his arms behind his head. "Put it on our list of things to do once Robotniks gone." He yawned. "I want to fly a plane someday." He dropped his arms forward lazily.
They continued to walk weaving their way through dark tunnels, crossing catwalks and crouching through maintenance accesses. Alyx frowned. "If they are looking for us... Why wouldn't they look down here?" She asked.
Tails turned to her. "They probably are, but back in the zone we were just in. They have a lot of buildings to go through up top though, plus these tunnels go down a hundred meters." He turned forward. "This is an old city."
They continued in silence. Alyx was battling in her head. She needed to figure out what to say if he asked her where she came from. Her father had instilled in her that the best long term relationships were built on trust. She gnawed on her cheek nervously, she would have to tell the truth eventually. Lying would only make things worse down the road. She also couldn't outright say she was a human. Then again right now she wasn't a human, she was Mobian. She resolved to let some of it slip if he asked.
They came up to a closed off floodgate with a dim red emergency light flashing above. Grady scanned the door. "Huh, this wasn't closed last time. Well that's a bummer." The drone swiveled and looked at Tails. "Want to try and open it or find a way around?"
Tails sighed. "How long would the detour be?"
Grady's map grew bigger. "ba ba da pa… aaaaand a two hour jog."
Tail's face dropped. "No way your telling me-"
The robot interrupted. "That this is a major exit point from the western to the northern zone of Robotropolis. It failed closed. If we are going to stay underground it will take that long." He quipped.
Alyx came up to them. "Can we try and fix it or at least jam it open?"
Tails started digging some tools out of his bag. "I can sure try, they are probably going to send me down here to do this anyways." He looked back at her twirling his screwdriver. "This is my expertise." He knelt down starting to take the maintenance panel apart. "So where are you from Alyx? Why make the pilgrimage all the way to the lost city of Mobotropolis?"
This was it, she needed to choose her next words carefully. "I think I'm from where Dr. Kintober came from. I guess I came to help fix the issues he's created."
Tails paused giving her a funny look. "You're from whatever realm Robotnik and Snivly are from?" He slowly gave her a look up and down in the dim light. "Your a Mobian though…"
Crossing her arms she leaned against the wall next to him. "I know." She flicked her hair up being dramatic. "One of my charming qualities I guess." She pushed herself off walking over to him. "Not many Mobians on Earth though. Lota Humans… or there used to be anyways…" She sighed.
He directed his attention back to the panel. "What, did something happen to them?"
"Yea... My planet got invaded by aliens from another dimension." She shook her head as she sat down next to him. "Well I guess this planet is my planet now."
Tails looked back to the open panel. He started digging into the components using a tester to check for power. "This isn't good." He frowned. "I think the power failed to the control panel itself, No power means nothing to bypass."
Alyx got up and walked over to the dim emergency light above them. "I've got an idea." She pulled out her multi-tool. Activating the wiring function she held it to the emergency light. The holoprojector started drawing the live wires through the wall.
Tails eyes widened. "Is that doing what I think its doing!?"
She traced the live wire back to a conduit joining the control panel. "Oh! It does more then that." She Smirked. "My dad's friend says I should sell them, like I'll ever get that chance." She chortled. Finding where the two wire paths intersected she charged the tool. Releasing a burst behind the wall the live wire was welded to the inactive circuit causing the panel to light up.
He looked shocked at her. "Where did you get this tech!" He shrieked.
She laughed. "Hey, were you listening?" She waved the repurposed micro cassette recorder. "I made this one!" She holstered the tool. "Lot of neat tech on Earth." she moved to sit on the ledge of the walkway her feet dangling down near the water.
He Paused looking at the gadget on her belt then moved to continue working. "Must have been hard being around his kind." Grabbing for his tester again he started looking for the relay to bypass.
She frowned. "Not all humans are like him. My dads a human."
He fumbled his test equipment. "What?"
She gripped the ledge looking over to him. "Ya know... I kind of picked up that you don't like humans but do you seriously think that all humans are like that guy?"
He met her gaze staring for a few seconds. Giving a huff he returned his attention to the panel. "I don't know but I'd be careful who you go telling that info to."
She pulled a leg up, letting her chin rest on her knee she tapped the wall with her dangling heel. "Earlier you asked me to trust you so I'm trusting you." She waved her hand. "It probably sounds crazy right?"
He paused and gave it some thought. She had multiple chances so far on this walk to attack him from behind and so far she seemed genuine. Considering the fact she was Mobian he made his mind up, he would trust her for now. Grabbing a flat tip screwdriver he started forcing relays shut testing for the door control. "Teleportation isn't out of the ordinary here, its just teleporting that distance is extremely rare...There have been outrealmers before. Robotnik is one of them..." He slammed the last relay shut. There was a grinding noise and the gate started to open. Water streamed forth into the channel between the walkways. "found it!"
She got up and walked towards him. "Hey I think I can help, Does this ever need to close again?"
He shook his head. "No, we just need to get some scrap wire to tie it on."
She grabbed her multi tool again. "That relay? The one with your screwdriver in it?"
He nodded pulling out the screwdriver, the gate began to close.
She held the tool out. Pressing a button it actuated welding shut in the process. The door started to open again. "And there we go."
Tails got up putting his tools away. "You really made that?"
She got up beside him, hands on her hips. "It's not all me, its made from scavenged Human and Combine tech but yea I made it."
Putting his tools away he situated his bag at his side and they waited for the door to open. "You mentioned something happened to the humans of your realm, what happened?"
She moved to the door beside him. "It wasn't just Humans, the Vortigaunt's as well. After the Black Mesa incident the planet was conquered in 7 hours by the Combine." She sighed "The planet used to have billions of Humans on it. Now that number is in the millions if not hundreds of thousands…"
The door finally opened water flowing down the center path they made their way through continuing to follow the little drones waypoint. Tails was silent for a bit. "For what its worth, I'm sorry. Its a good thing you managed to make your way home though."
Her step faltered. "… Yea." She sighed. "I guess this is home now. She perked up. "So whats this place called?"
Grady spun looking at her. "Welcome to Mobius! Oh you'll love it here! There's lot's of metal and also green for the organics!" The little drone twirled in the air. "There's so many people to talk to! So many things to do!" He circled back to Tails. "Hey are we going to be heading back to Knothole soon? I want to play tag with the kiddos again!"
Tails chuckled. "I've a feeling we will be going back home soon, just hold tight." He pushed the drone back forward
Alyx's ears perked as her heart skipped a beat. "You guys have kids?" She mumbled. She froze as the realization hit her, the suppression field wasn't here! If more humans came the race could continue!
Tails held back. "Did you say something?"
She looked at him. "It's fine just thinking." Grady's map indicated they were getting close. Alyx examined the little bot and felt a pang in her heart, she missed Dog. "Hey, Miles?"
He glanced over to her. "Yea?"
"You made this little guy right?" She gestured to the drone.
He waved off the drone. "Sort of. Grady is a project I'v been dreaming about for years. His hull is a eyespy drone. His central processor is from a swatbot III and I snagged his template from one of Robotniks mainframes. I guess his AIs aren't completely original. My Aunt has a AI assistant and I've wanted my own for a very long time." He puffed up his chest. "Grady's got some more work but so far he's been a success!"
The drone tilted back as if to glance at them. "My microphone's burning! you're making me blush!" the drone turned to Alyx "I'm a backup of a floor manager for the testing and calibration department. At least that's what I remember from before they backed me up."
She gave the drone a funny look. "You sound so alive! Your inflections don't sound robotic at all!" She looked back to Tails. "So you don't know how to create that kind of intelligence?"
His smile grew sheepish. "No unfortunately. Grady is stock."
She looked back to the drone. "You're a manager in a company?"
The drone perked up. "My header says manager in Apertures testing and calibration department."
Alyx rubbed her chin. "Aperture sounds familiar." She snapped her finger. "My dad told me about that place! It was a science company in Michigan! I think its where Dr. Kintober worked before the Black Mesa!"
Tails continued forward putting his hands in his pockets. "So Robotnik was a scientist on the other side too? Not surprising."
Alyx glanced back towards Grady sighing. "I was hoping… I've got a dog back home. someday I wish he could talk."
Tail's got a thoughtful look on his face. "Some of the others might be able to help you if your interested in AI." He turned his head to her. "May have to trade tech though." He noticed the outline of her necklace. It wasn't a necklace at all, it looked like a headset and by the placement of the earcups it wasn't Mobian. He pointed at it. "That's for a human isn't it?"
Looking down she examined the headset. Pulling it off her neck she noticed something, The earcups slid up and down the band. Testing her idea, she slid the earcup that didn't have the mic boom up to be where her new ear was. Taking off her headband she fitted the headset and slit her hair band back on. Smiling she wagged her eyebrows. "Works fine." She replied. A static pop hammered her ear and she took the headset back off and fixed her hair. "Not the most comfortable though."
Looking at the map they were nearly there. In the low light Tails could hardly tell what she was other then she was Mobian and some of the details of her face. He thought back on what she had said and something odd stuck out. "What's Combine?" He scratched behind his neck yawning again.
She returned the yawn. "Ugh. don't yawn, I want to be someplace safe before I pass out." She was starting to feel a bit lightheaded anyways. She remembered his question. "The Combine are an extradimensional empire. They call themselves the Universal Union but we call them The Combine."
He looked thoughtful. "So some faction on Robotniks realm is it? Why do you call them The Combine?"
She frowned. "They integrate species into their empire. They're also like a combine harvester, consuming all in their path." She shuttered. "Be glad they don't know about this world."
Tails stopped and thought. "You don't think they could follow you here do you?"
She paused and turned to face him. "The reason Earth was invaded was because they were doing teleportation experiments to somewhere the combine were already seeking… I don't think they know about this place at all."
He slowly nodded. "Ok…"
She huffed. "It's not like I wanted to come here anyways." She mumbled.
He frowned. "Your not excited to be home on Mobius? Do you remember anything from here at all?"
Alyx thought about her next words carefully. "I don't have any prior memories of Mobius." She sighed as they arrived at the end of the tunnel. "I'm taking this as an opportunity for a new start. Things may be dreary over here but so far we've had no creatures try to eat us in this tunnel." Looking up she saw a ladder to a manhole cover. "So far this has been good." She felt dizzy all of a sudden, grabbing a handlebar she steadied herself.
Tail's ears drooped a bit. "You ok?"
she let go of the ladder rung. "Yea, I've just been feeling a little dizzy." holding her palm to her head she looked at him. "You wouldn't happen to have some rations at this safehouse would you?"
He nodded. "Yea, we can find something." He started climbing the ladder as Alyx and Grady waited below. Reaching the lid he used his elbow to slowly lift the lid, peaking out he saw the coast was clear.
As he started pushing the lid off Alyx started ascending the ladder behind him. Her leg was starting to hurt again and she noticed her pant leg felt wet. Maybe she should have used the injection. Grady zoomed above her exiting the tunnel as she trudged up the ladder behind Miles. Getting to the top she pulled herself out sitting on the ground. Her legs were still dangling in the hole. Gasping for breath she held her temples as there was a building fuzz.
Tails noticed her demeanor and he knelt down. "You alright?" He asked.
It was dark, she could hardly notice his outline. "I have an injury on my leg." She pulled both of them from the manhole resting her forehead on her knees. "I didn't think it would be an issue." She breathed. "It was just a burn, It smelled like it cauterized."
"What?" He frowned kneeling down to her level. "Why didn't you say something earlier?
She started to get up. "I didn't think it was going to be an issue." She swallowed. "Are we almost there?"
He got back up. "Yea, give me a moment to close the drain." He helped her up and grabbed the pry bar from his bag. Pulling the drain closed he let her lean on his shoulder. They were in an old metropolitan district. Overpasses stretched above them blocking the dull night sky. She couldn't see any stars. Even City 17 had stars. She thought. There were tall buildings on both sides of them with a two lane road. They turned down the ally of the roads and headed towards the back of the building.
He moved for a door with a broken in window. Opening the door he lead her inside. It smelled foul, like rancid meat. She gagged. "What is that?"
He smiled. "Its an old deli, upstairs there's an apartment block, that's where were headed." He chuckled." Smells way better, trust me."
They turned avoiding the shop and made their way down the hall. Grady was hovering above them with a dim light. Tails lead her upstairs to the top apartment. "Almost there." He opened the door into a little apartment. There was a kitchenette attached to a living room on the left and a hallway to the bedrooms and restroom on the right. The kitchen was divided by an island with a bar on one side and counter on the other. At the bar there were stools and an old looking terminal. Leading her to the couch he helped her sit. He moved to turn on the power source he had plugged into the circuit breaker in the kitchen. It hummed, the power cell slowly warming up.
Grady hovered passed him to a pad next to one of the outlets and plugged himself in. "What A day. My cells are at 4%. I'll see y'all in the morning. " And powered down.
Tails moved his attention to the living room. Flicking on the lights he was able to take a good look at her for the first time. She was a Mobian fox like him, he blushed, she was cute. He quashed that thought process, not the time or place. He moved over to her and gawked at her leg. Sure enough the blue fabric was matted with blood. "How did you not feel this?" He looked down and saw a specs of blood leading to the door. "You've left a trail of blood!"
She looked up meeting his gaze. "Hill we have to move again, can they track that?"
He thought and then shook his head. "No were fine here, the acidic rain will wash our tracks." He stepped forward. " Your not though. Let me go grab my med kit!" Moving to the kitchen he opened a cupboard and pulled a bag from it. "If your that woozy from blood loss I may need help getting you out of here…"
Alyx made up her mind. "It will be fine. Give me a moment." She pulled the bag from her back and started rifling through it.
Tails approached her nervously, a bottle of alcohol and cloth in one hand and some sheers in the other. His face was burning under his fur, he hated first aid. "If you can take off your pants and clean the wound yourself I can get the stich kit ready, if not heres some sheers to cut through the…"
She pulled out a gnarly injector with glowing cyan liquid inside. "What on Mobius is tha-"
Pressing a button a large needle protruded from the end. He watched in shock as she stabbed the spring loaded injector into her leg. "WHAT IS THAT?!" He reeled back in horror.
She looked up from the draining syringe gritting her teeth. "What?"
He pointed to the injector still held in her leg. "YOU JUST INJECTED SOME RANDOM GLOWING THING INTO YOUR LEG!" His ears flattened back as he grimaced at the sound of the hissing injection and then the sharp metal retracting back into the device.
She set the used needle on the coffee table as she shuttered. "Whats your deal? Its medicine, see the symbol?" She rubbed her eyes sighing. Leaning back into the couch she closed her eyes.
He slowly relaxed glancing to the needle. "I'm sorry, I have never seen any medicine like that." He set the scissors and antiseptic supplies down on the coffee table and slowly picked up the needle. He could see some remaining liquid glowing eerily through the little window. "This is medicine? I don't know if I could do that to myself..."
Alyx continued taking deep breaths an uncomfortable look on her face. "From what we can tell it is healing water from Xen."
He set the injector down on the table. "And it just… heals you?"
She tilted her head forward looking at him. He noticed when her eyes were relaxed they had an almond shape to them, Maybe a Mobian of far eastern decent like Whisper. "It does, I didn't want to use it over here unless I had to." She pushed a thumb through a hole in her jacket. "They work quite good though. For puncture wounds and blood loss."
His eyes grew wide. He looked her up and down and could see tears and old blood stains all over her cloths. The horror struck him when he saw how many tears pelted her cloths with tufts of orange fur poking out.
Standing up she stretched. "You said there was food?" She asked.
He startled snapping back to the moment. "Uhhh… yea." He moved back to the kitchen pouring a kettle and set it on the stove. "Its not much but I've got some old noodles we can eat. I've heard these cups can last hundreds of years stored properly." He looked up meeting her gaze. "There's running water on this block, Robotnik keeps the water mains going for his industrial purposes I guess. I can spare some energy for the water heater if your interested in cleaning yourself." He pointed to the box on the wall. "Its marked in the breaker. Food is going to take a bit to cook then cool off." He started digging under the counter behind the island. Poking his head up he pointed down the hallway. "Last door on the right is the restroom, there might be some soap in there I don't know. " He blanched. "I know you say your ok but if you need stitches tell me, I'll be working on the computer for a bit." his head dipped back behind the counter and the sound of rummaging continued.
She stared down the hall. Glancing at her pant leg caked in blood she made up her mind. "I think I will." Grabbing her bag she headed down the hallway and entered the bathroom.
As he heard the sound of the door shut he got up and put the food packs on the counter. Darting around the island he frantically hit the space bar on the terminal to wake it up. "Come on, come on!" As the screen started warming up the green login prompt materialized. He reached behind the screen to pull the disconnected coms cable out. Plugging it into the network jack on the wall he waited for the signal status to show. Logging into the terminal he started the chat client and dialed uncle Chuck. "Come on Uncle Chuck don't be busy!" He said putting the Mobian style headset on.
The window flickered and the image of Chuck materialized. The Hedgehog had dull metal plates, he was wearing spectacles with the glass poked out over his red optics. He had a wire brush mustache and a brown trench coat adorned his shoulders. "Tails, just the pup I wanted to see!" His red optics lit up and a bright smile lit his face. "Glad your safe, we were actually talking about you-"
"We?" Tails interrupted.
"Sally's on the other line." He started typing. "Give me a moment and I'll bring you in."
There was a click and the window divided. He heard her voice come through. "Tails!" Sally greeted. Her voice sounded nervous. He could see his adoptive mothers image clear up on the other feed. She was a chipmunk with brown fur and auburn red hair. She was leaning forward in her chair resting her elbows on the desk and wringing her hands anxiously. She was wearing her Iconic blue vest and a black shirt underneath. "I heard from Chuck that Robotnik was locking down a sector you were in. I'm glad you're ok!" She started rambling. "This is why I want you to stay in knothole Miles! Its not like the early day-"
Tails cut her off. "Hi Aunt Sally!" A nervous look on his face. "Look I have important information and only a little time to talk in private before she comes back."
Sally straitened up her expression steeling. He noticed the mood shift, he wasn't talking to his adoptive mother anymore, he was now talking to the commander of the Freedom Fighters. "Whats wrong Miles, Are you safe? Who's she?"
"I'm fine but you know that refugee I made contact with? I wanted to talk in private for a bit, She is cleaning up in the restroom right now and I don't know how long I have before she comes back." He took a deep breath.
Chucks head tilted. "I take it she was the source of our signal?"
Tail's nodded. "She was wearing a headset that looks like it was designed for field work with a remote technician. Its off now so Robotnik cant track it."
Chuck frowned. "That signal, I ran the protocol against the Mobian database, it came up squat. Running it against Robotniks database however comes up with PAL video."
A concerned look crossed Sally's face. "What does that mean?"
Tails butted back in. "Listen, This Mobian girl claims to be from Robotniks home-world."
A shocked look crossed both remote party's faces. Sally got up. "What?!"
Tails cut her off. "Let me finish! She has crazy technology Mom and says she wants to help!" He looked down. "I don't know how its possible what she claims or how Mobian's got there to begin with."
He could hear the metal clink of chuck tapping his chin. "There have been outrealmers before, Robotnik wasn't the first one. You know as well as I do the dimensional barriers are weaker on Mobius. We also have legends of our people leaving and returning. Heck we have cluster of warp zones protecting the great forest!"
Sally butted in. "How much have you revealed to her?"
Tails leaned back in his chair stressing. "I don't know… We talked on the way back, nothing much important but the more we talked the stranger it got."
"Do you think she is a threat?" Sally bristled.
Tails thought for a second. "No… I don't. She seems genuine but there is one thing."
Sally met Tails gaze through the monitor. "What is it?"
Tails hesitated. "She says she was raised by a human."
Sally bristled. "What?"
Tails leaned forward waving his hands. "She doesn't seem emotionally deficient or cold like either Snivly or Robotnik!"
They all paused.
Chuck cleared his throat. "What kind of technology does she have?"
Tails grinned. "I think your going to like her Uncle Chuck. She has these gloves that can grab things from across the room." His hands started gesturing more as his excitement built. "She has a multi tool that can detect wires through walls and change their paths by cutting and welding behind the wall!" He shuttered and blanched. "She also has some gnarly looking injectors that can heal lazgun wounds and replenish blood." He shuttered.
Chuck sat back in his seat, the clank of metal echoing. "When you say pull objects."
Tails frantically nodded. "It has to be some sort of gravity manipulation! We have the ability to push but not to pull! This could open up so many possibilities!"
Sally leaned forward. "Did you say she had medicine that could heal lazgun wounds? Do you think we could replicate it for our field kits!?"
Tails shuttered. "Maybe… there may be a hangup though." He stood remembering. Looking back to the table he saw the spent cartridge. "Give me a moment." He ripped of the headset and ran over grabbing the used hypo. Jumping back in his seat he put the headset back on. Holding the object up to the camera he continued. "Its got some sort of strange glowing medicine inside. I was getting ready to dress the wound and she just up and stabbed herself!"
Chuck chortled. "Still don't like needles my boy?"
"This is serious!" Tails diverted his cheeks flushing under his fur.
Sally sighed. "Do you think she is trustworthy Miles?"
He slowly nodded. "As I said earlier I think she's genuine. She seemed more frazzled. She seemed a bit miffed she was in this situation but also she wanted to help."
Sally looked away rubbing her chin in thought. "We could use the help and the technology, especially if its tech Robotnik doesn't have. We cant let Robotnik get her." She met miles gaze. "If she wants to join us… bring her via the underground route… if she has links with humans... We can't trust her with the location of Knothole… yet."
Tails slowly nodded. "Your talking about the mine shafts?"
Sally nodded confirming. "Bring her blindfolded, I'll have a powered cart and a blindfold ready for you on the far end."
Tails grinned saluting. "Eye ma'am!"
She waved him off. Smiling she rolled her eyes. "Ok enough of that, How have you been camping in Robotropolis? Avoiding patrols I hope?"
He leaned back relaxing. "Yea things have been fine, no big issues staying under the radar. Once the alarms down in the industrial district you can have the pickup crews go to the buildings I marked in my reports to Chuck. We have a lot of scrap we can bring back."
Chuck gave a thumbs up. "Good to hear son."
Tails just remembered. "Hey chuck, I have a thought. Her name is Alyx Vance. Can you try and access the old Mobian social services database? Maybe she was teleported as a kid."
Chuck nodded. "Good idea. It may take a while to safely tunnel back into that network but I can sure take a look." A ringing came through on his line. "I've got another field agent calling in. Talk to you later Miles." He nodded to Sally. "Princess."
Sally nodded back. "Keep up the good fight Uncle Chuck." His video feed cut.
Sally focused back on Miles. "It will be good to have you home." She smiled. "Xander's been asking after you." She smiled. "His 10th birthday is coming up and he will be so glad his cool older brother will be home."
Tails blushed. "It will be good to be home Mom, its been a few months."
Sally sighed. "Its funny he looks up to you just how you looked up to Sonic."
"How is Sonic?" Tails asked.
She sighed. "Due to be home soon. He is hitting a power plant in southern Robotropolis. You know Robotnik though. His infrastructure has so many redundancies now… We need more electronic warfare experts." She paused. "Tails… I want you to stop working towards field missions… I want you in the electronic warfare division…"
He sighed. "I get where your coming from but I want to be out on the front-"
She cut him off. "You know as well as I do the right exploit can do so much more damage!"
He put his head in his hands. "Can we talk about this later." He heard the door to the restroom open. "Hey you'll be able to meet our guest soon." He turned looking down the hallway.
Chapter 3 end
Authors Notes: Wow, I thought id be uploading this for like maybe one person to read. The story is sitting at over 80 views! I'm getting more practice editing and writing. I'm trying to be descriptive and have natural dialog. If I get enough practice maybe I can post a chapter once a week to every two weeks. I have a vague outline of where I want to go but things keep changing or being refined. If you have an account or ability to post and you see a continuity error or some mistake I've made let me know. I'm also trying to keep it accessible but that is extremely difficult. If you are interested in the source material here are some specifics, Half Life Alyx is a big one but its a VR exclusive and aperture desk job from portal. Portal 2 later. For the source material for sonic right now its Sonic The Hedgehog, that's not really going to bring up much because so much is name that so look up Sonic SatAM . The current distribution right holder WildBrain cartoons has it uploaded to their youtube for free as of this date. Sonic SatAM is not as popular but is very nostalgic to some people me included. When I first started this idk I think iv tried to start this story… it feels like 5 times and the quality just wasn't good enough or just felt off or way too cheesy. With this chapter I think this is about to pass the longest thing I've ever written, maybe someday I'll be one of those 100k+ words writers! Hope you enjoy.
Traveler out