Walking back to the surface was a chore for the Courier, constantly needing to reassure the criminal she was escorting. The few monsters that harassed them were woefully unprepared for Six's strength, and while Gran was starting to gather himself, he still jumped at any noises and was terrified of shadows. The whole way, Gran just kept repeating that he was done with monster trafficking, and it was starting to get on Six's nerves. They made it back to the surface just after the sun set, and stood in front of a fountain to talk.
"Tomorrow, we'll meet here and talk again about what happened. If you don't show up, I'll have to find you."
"I'll be here. I swear, I'm gonna go straight!"
"I get it! You're a changed man, the gods spared you, whatever. Just be here tomorrow." Six's glare silenced the man, and he nodded, saying something about finding an inn before fleeing from the irritated Courier.
As the moon rose higher into the sky, Six groaned. Now, with the realization that she had nowhere to stay, she had to resort to finding a place to settle in for the night. It had been a while since Six had been broke and homeless, and she missed her prewar bed in the Lucky 38.
After a little wandering, she decided that the best place to rest would be somewhere out of the way of normal people. It wouldn't be hard for her to climb to the roof of the bar nearby, and the noise from inside should be enough to mask any she makes. She would spend the night on the roof, and be gone with the sunrise. Six activated her Stealth Boy and snuck around the busy entrance, but hesitated when the eyes of a grey-haired waitress in a green uniform lingered on her invisible form. Cautiously Six moved out of her line of sight, and she relaxed when the girl's eyes didn't follow her.
Rounding the corner, Six waited for a moment before starting the climb. Once she reached the roof, she took a minute to retrieve the Roughin' it! bedroll kit from her Pip-Boy storage, and settled in for the night.
Six was stowing the bedroll as the first glimmers of dawn shone on the walled city. The sight was still incredible to her, a glistening city with no ruins in sight. Catching a faint clatter, she finished cleaning her impromptu campsite, before she spoke to the individual on the roof behind her.
"You know, not many people are able to sneak up on me. I'd prefer it if we kept things civil."
Behind the courier was a woman with blonde hair and pointed ears, dressed in the green maid uniform Six saw the night before, pointing a wooden sword at the courier's back. Despite the material, the sword looked well made, and the woman's eyes were narrowed in suspicion. She studied the armored form of the Courier before she spoke, her voice bordering on hostility.
"Why are you here?"
"Easy there. I just needed somewhere to sleep last night. I meant no kind of trouble. If you don't mind, I'll be on my way now, and this won't need to get violent."
The waitress's eyes narrowed further. The woman on the roof was an unknown, and the elf did not like unknowns prowling around the pub.
"You won't be going anywhere until Mama Mia lets you go. Why should I trust that you're harmless? You're sleeping on our roof armed and armored, without a word to anyone."
Under the mask, Six released a cheshire grin.
"Oh, I never said I was harmless. I have something important I need to do today, so I'll give you another chance to just forget about me."
Without another word, the woman lunged at Six, who was just able to get Blood-nap up in time to deflect the blow.
Holy shit, she's fast, Six thought. Six activated her implant GRX to keep up with the speedy opponent, and easily swung Blood-nap out to block the wooden blade's next swipe. The bowie knife cut an ugly chunk into the wood, and the woman leapt back to dodge Six's follow up, shifting into a defensive stance, ready to block an attack that never came.
Hearing a small clatter below her, the woman cocked her head and looked curiously at the metallic cylinder that the Courier tossed to her feet.
"What's thi-"
A thunderclap rang out and her world went white.
Six hid from the waitresses rushing to aid the stunned woman. She had no intention of causing an incident while she was staying in the city, but hopefully this will blow over after the confusion from the flashbang is over.
She needed to meet Gran, and she didn't have time to deal with a petty tavern owner. But, as Six snuck away, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her invisible form.
Finding the bald man was not a challenge, as there weren't many people around the fountain at this hour. Gran looked like he hadn't slept the prior night, and he jumped when the Courier walked up behind him and spoke.
"You look like crap, Gran. You said the deathclaw escaped into the eighteenth floor?"
"Y-yeah. How are you going to kill it? How do you even know about it?"
"Well, overwhelming firepower is a good place to start. I know about it because I've been hunting it. Imagine my surprise when someone brought the thing into the damned Dungeon."
"Sorry."
Six sighed. "I'll start trying to hunt it today. You're dead weight, so you're going to go report the deathclaw to the Guild while I head down. Don't forget to tell them why it's down there, too."
"Y-yes ma'am," Gran stuttered before scurrying off towards the guild.
Watching the man leave, Six shook her head. It would be so much easier if the deathclaw was left in the woods. She could have tracked it within the day, and have enjoyed this city as a vacation before returning to the wastes. Six began to walk towards the Dungeon, ignoring the stares of other adventurers.
On her way there, Six saw a familiar face.
"Bell? Going back to the Dungeon today?"
With a grin, Bell turned to face her.
"Ms. Six! Thanks again for yesterday."
"Bell. Don't thank me. I broke your ribs."
"O-oh yeah…. I think my goddess ran into you yesterday too."
"I… don't remember meeting any gods."
Six was confused. What was this kid talking about? Meeting a god?
"She said you were looking for the Guild. She was actually kind of upset because you left without answering her question."
Six takes a moment to think about it. "Do you mean the potato peddler?" Is this a joke? A deity selling fried vegetables?
"Yeah! That's goddess Hestia! She runs my Familia."
"Oh. Sorry for angering her."
Do the leaders of Familias believe themselves divine? Six shrugged internally. No matter. Caesar called himself divine, so she already had to prove that even a god-king can bleed.
"…Do you want to go to the Dungeon together?"
"Hmm?"
"I-I mean, you're strong and cool and have a knife like me-"
"Bell. Today the Dungeon is going to be dangerous. There's a strong monster loose on the eighteenth floor, and it could have gone up or down. If you run into it, you will die."
The look the Courier gave him froze the teen in his tracks. It was a warning look, that spoke of loss and made the woman seem much older and tired.
"What about you?"
"I'm hunting it. It's the only reason why I came to Orario."
"Then I want to go too. If it's as strong as you say, you shouldn't go alone."
"And what can you do for me? Buy me three seconds?"
The boy looked down, clenching his fists, cheeks burning in shame. "I-I just want to help you."
"Then get strong enough to help."
Six walked away, leaving the boy behind.
Six breezed through the floors of the Dungeon, the local map of her Pip-boy mapping the labyrinth. Along the way, Six looked for the telltale signs of a deathclaw marking its territory, but no signs of it yet. It wasn't until she reached the tenth floor that she sensed something was amiss.
Stepping into the misty cavern, Six was taken aback by the change in scenery. She expected a labyrinth all the way down, but the surprisingly pleasant-looking landscape caught her off guard. In the distance, she almost missed a figure clad in a black robe. Keeping an eye on it, Six cut through the larger monsters that inhabited this floor, the figure watching and following her the whole time. Once Six headed down to the eleventh floor, she waited around the corner at the base of the stairs for them. Sure enough, the inky black figure walked down, and started to scan the room for the Courier.
The figure froze as Six spoke from behind him.
"You know, if you wanted to get to know me, you could have just asked. You better tell me why you're following me, unless you'd rather tell me after I remove some teeth."
The figure shivered at the presence of the woman. Without turning around he spoke to her.
"Peace, please. I am with the guild. We keep a close eye on monster trafficking and poaching. The monster your… friend reported has been seen heading deep into the dungeon, beyond what normal adventurers would encounter. We need you to leave it alone as we investigate the situation with the Ikelos Familia."
"So you know where it is? Tell me, and we can both walk away in one piece."
"You cannot pursue this monster. It's already left all the well mapped sections of the Dungeon, and descended the thirtieth floor before we lost it. Our… sources say it is growing stronger and is highly intelligent."
"I have to follow it. It's a danger to everyone as long as it breathes. You can investigate the Ikelos trafficking Xenos all you want, but this monster is mine."
The figure stiffened. "You know the Xenos? Then, you are with the Ikelos Familia?"
Six snorted. "Buddy, I'm not with any Familia. I don't believe in gods."
Clattering to the ground, an orb fell from the figure's hand as he struggled to understand the madness of the one behind him.
"You aren't blessed? But you fought- Your skills- Don't BELIEVE in gods?!"
"Why should I? If gods existed, why didn't they do anything, or save anyone when the end came?"
"They saved us from extinction! Even now, we fight monsters with their power."
"Really? Ten billion souls snuffed out within two hours, and you say they saved us? The only power anyone could ever rely on was their own, what humanity could accomplish, and look where it led us. We engineered our own downfall. If the gods did exist, then they watched and laughed."
Both figures stared at one another in silence, trying to understand the claims their counterpart made.
"…I believe there's been a misunderstanding. My name is Fels. Shall I recount our history?"
Six and Fels had set up a small camp away from prying eyes. The next couple of hours were spent telling each other history.
"So, you're telling me that literal gods descended upon the world, and now give you power in exchange for entertainment? Are they the ones giving off that weird pacification field?"
"That is an interesting way to describe it, but indeed. That 'field' is their divine aura. Even with their powers sealed away, that is what leaks through. It prevents a mortal from harming a god. Some gods are so powerful, their auras have more effects."
The pacification was a divine aura? But its similarity to Big MT's was uncanny. If it really is the power of a god, did that mean the Think Tank somehow replicated divinity?
"And magic?"
"It is real, I assure you. I am quite skilled if you need a demonstration."
Silence descended on them again. Fels was shaken to the core when Six told the story of her world. The existence of weapons capable of such devastation was unfathomable, and the condition of the world afterward was tragic. To think, fools like me exist even in her history. Consumed by their own desires, only to consume their world.
Six was deep in thought. Nothing between the two stories lined up. It almost seemed like she was in a different reality altogether. Just where did those nutcases send her?
Six froze as a thought crossed her mind. She came across a term when she was reading some prewar books she found. Multiverse Theory. The idea that an infinite number of universes exist in parallel. That was about all she could find of the theory in the ruined book, but it seemed to almost line up. That was the only thing she could think of to explain the existence of gods, magic, and monsters.
"Fels… Do multiple worlds exist?"
"Yes. There is the lower world, Gekai. It's where we are now, the home of mortals. There is also Tenkai, the world of the gods."
"Could there be more? Could someone move between them?"
"… I have never considered it. I could look into it for you."
"One more question. Why shouldn't I hunt the deathclaw?"
"It is deep in the dungeon. You will die chasing it unprepared. If we see it again, we will have plenty of time to kill it before it reaches someone, but it is supposedly growing stronger. Return to the surface for now, and you should seek strength too."
Six had the feeling Fels was hiding something else, but with the knowledge that it was far from people, she relaxed a bit.
"Fine. But if it resurfaces, I will kill it."
After the long talk, Fels returned to the surface on his own, claiming to need to talk with his superior. Six rested a while, mulling over the new information. Heaving a sigh, Six shook herself off, and started trudging back to the surface. According to her Pip-boy, it was 2 am, meaning she somehow lost the whole day between her dungeon crawling and talking with Fels. It was around the seventh floor that she heard combat. A lone fighter shouting and panting, fending off an ever-growing horde of ants. One jumped atop the fighter, trying to tear out their throat. A second later, the ant turned to ash, revealing the figure to be Bell. Six was going to step in, but every time the boy faltered, he collected himself and fought even harder. It was an impressive sight. At least, his determination was. His skill left much to be desired.
Bell fought with all his might, well past his point of exhaustion. Finally, his knife bit through the carapace of the final ant, and he collapsed as the insect crumbled to dust. He was panting on the floor, and as he heard footsteps approach, he looked up and gazed deep into the red lenses of Courier Six's helmet.
"I-I want to become stronger."
Six looked at the boy. Something happened to push the adventurer this far. The dilation in his eyes was worrying.
"How many buffout pills did you take?"
"J-Just one."
Even now, the boy struggled to his feet. Six sighed. She could respect his desire, but this was nearly self-destructive.
"Go home. If you want to become stronger, dying here is no way to do it."
"No. Not until I can stand by her side."
Behind the mask, Six's eyebrow raised. Did he actually ask Ais to dinner like she teased? Did a rejection do this to him? He was tenacious, she'll give him that. Then he spoke again.
"Not just hers. Your side too. You told me to get strong, so I WILL!"
There was a fire in his eyes. It struck dangerously close to home for the hardened veteran. It was the look of someone who had a single-minded goal, and was ready to pursue it. Six let out a deep sigh, and nudged the boy who barely managed to stand up. With an indignant cry, he fell over.
"You can't even stand… Tell you what, I'll bring you home. You can hire me to help you train starting tomorrow."
"But I can't afford to pay you."
"I know. Luckily, I need information about Orario, and you and your goddess can help me. Call it a barter."
Six reached out a hand to the boy sitting on the ground, and Bell looked at it with a smile on his face. He accepted her offer quickly, and started limping out of the Dungeon alongside his new mentor.
Along the way, Six managed to pry what happened out of him, from how he stayed on the first couple floors of the Dungeon today because of her warning, to the public shaming of him at a tavern that drove him to come down here. She laughed as she heard the drunk was ridiculing her as well. It was apparently the same brat she shot down the day before.
"Really? He was upset because I didn't put out from his name alone?"
"He's famous, and very strong. I think he's upset that you didn't care at all."
"He's arrogant. Ignore what he said about you."
"But it's true. I am weak. How could I get something I don't deserve?"
"It's easy, kid. You take it. If you're too weak, you keep working until you can. The strong stay strong by squashing the competition, so you gotta be ready when their boot turns to you."
"Even you?"
"Especially me."
It was silent for another minute before Bell spoke again.
"That's a lonely way to look at it. I don't want to be strong like that."
"It's a realistic way to look at it. You might not want to be like that, but sometimes you don't have a choice."
From her tone, Bell felt that she was speaking from experience.
The sun was rising when they finally reached Bell's home, a dilapidated church that made Six feel at home, the ruined building being a familiar sight to the wastelander. Standing in front of the structure was Hestia, anxiously bouncing on heels as she leaned against the door. As they approached, she perked up, until tears started to form in her eyes as she looked at the shape Bell was in, fear and anger palpable to the woman helping him get home. She ran over, helping support Bell as he slumped a bit farther in exhaustion. Before she could say anything, Bell smiled, simply stating,
"Goddess, I want to become strong."
Deep below the Guild building...
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"What do you make of this 'Courier', Fels? Is she a lunatic?"
Sitting atop a large throne in a dark room, a large old man mulled over the information that Fels brought him.
"I believe that she is telling the truth, or at least what she believes is true, as ridiculous as it may seem. There was genuine emotion, and what she spoke of is almost beyond the imagination of any Child I have ever seen before. Not to mention, the device on her arm was unlike anything I have ever encountered. There is no magic or magic stone powering it. It was entirely mundane. I cannot speak to her sanity, however."
"And what of the disappearance of Gran?"
"No one knows where he is. He reported to the Guild this morning, but he disappeared soon after. No one saw him, and he hasn't left the city, according to the guards."
Ouranos hummed in thought. The missing Ikelos Familia member was concerning, but he couldn't shake his thoughts from the Courier's question. Once, there were more worlds the gods could access; however, the death of the World Tree had cut them off from most of them long ago, a piece of history only the most ancient gods remembered. The only inhabited world they could reach after that was Gekai, and some gods were cut off from the two realms as well.
For a mortal to pass the boundaries that even the gods could not pass was impossible. It simply required more power than anyone but a god could produce. But, if it was accidental, it's possible that one of the lost gods finally managed to find a way home, and this 'Courier' and 'Deathclaw' were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Either way, the Dungeon had turned its attention to the newcomers, and Ouranos needed to be ready for anything it may do. Whether the two were here by accident or if there were some hidden machinations involved, there were new pieces on the board of Orario, and if he played his cards right, one could be on his side.
Babel Tower, high above Orario…
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"What did you find out about the newcomer, Ottar?"
"Not much. Even her name is a secret."
At his goddess's sound of acknowledgement, Ottar continued.
"She is called 'Courier Six'. She has a strange war hammer that no one has seen her use, so it might be a magic weapon. Others in the Dungeon have reported seeing her wielding a large knife, and she cuts through monsters with little effort. She is likely a higher-level adventurer, due to her power and equipment. Forgive me, but her armor is unique. I have never seen a material or a design like it, and the helmet's glowing eyes are unlike any enchantment I could find."
A couple minutes passed in silence, the beautiful goddess Ottar answered to stood from her lavish chair and walked to the window. She gazed over the city below her, before speaking again.
"Dear Ottar, did I tell you why she caught my attention?"
"Forgive me, Lady Freya, but I do not know. I thought you desired the white-haired boy."
A low chuckle escaped the goddess of beauty.
"Oh, I do, Ottar. His transparent soul… It's beautiful. But her soul… I've never seen anything like it."
A soft sigh escaped her perfect lips.
"It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. It's a mess of bloodshed and regret, a dull gray tinted with a sickly green. It's so faint, it looks like an unblessed child close to death. But still, it's captivating. Otherworldly. I don't even know if I want to collect it or kill it."
Freya closed her eyes, imagining the soul she glimpsed earlier. As a judge of souls in Tenkai, she had the power to observe the souls of the Children inhabiting the lower world. She could see much, their potential, their color, their strength. She could even guess to the sins they bore.
All of the Children's souls were immortal. They returned to Tenkai upon their death, where they stayed until they reincarnated, beginning the cycle anew for eternity. They never truly died.
But this soul she found. It was so drenched in blood, bathed in sin, fractured. It lacked a fundamental connection to Tenkai found in all other souls. If this 'Courier' died, her soul would be lost forever. She was ephemeral, transitory; a true mortal.
"Then I will be ready to take it whenever you decide, my Lady."
Project X-54 Predation Exclusion Training
Status: SUSPENDED
Head Researcher Borous
The PET project is meant to produce an Apex predator that with ruthlessly hunt and kill designated target species while excluding others, predominantly humans. Lobotomite and Co-Researcher Courier Six requested this project to curb the rising population of deathclaws and cazadores in the Mojave wasteland, and the other Think Tank researchers agree that this is the optimal solution. We aim to prove that through minor genetic enhancements, cybernetic augmentations, chemical conditioning, and training, we can alter the predatorial nature of our subjects to prioritize the hunting of problematic species in order to prevent their spread.
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Subject Log: X-54.1.1
Subject Name: Gabe Junior
Courier Six brought a fine specimen for our first subject. Designated a deathclaw mother, Subject X-54.1 is incredibly healthy, and as such, is incredibly aggressive and territorial. Our current objective is to remove the subject's inhibitions against hunting and consuming other deathclaws and their eggs, as well as enhancing her aggression towards other creatures.
Researcher notes: The lobotomite suggested that I should get another pet nearly three years ago. I never thought she would bring one for me! And such an adorable one too! She even growls and tries to attack visitors, just like Gabe used to. I knew what to name her the second I saw her. -Doctor Borous
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Subject Log: X-54.1.2
Subject Name: Gabe Junior
Through the use of psycho-laced food, we have induced an instability in the subject that has increased aggression to an incredible amount. We have begun sending her to hunt other deathclaws after not feeding her, and while there is now no hesitation in regards to cannibalism, she is satiated after only one deathclaw, and is often injured in combat, making it unlikely for the subject to be able to face a pack of the creatures. Mentats have been added to the diet to increase the deathclaw's already impressive intelligence, and Courier Six approved trials for an enhanced Monocyte Breeder implant to further increase natural healing and cellular regeneration, so we decided that this was an ideal subject. By increasing the healing rate far beyond what the human body can withstand, we have accelerated the metabolism of the subject to a degree that would render her nearly insatiable, solving the appetite issue as well as the durability issue. Furthermore, we have also decided to test the Saturnite subdermal weave on the subject.
Researcher notes: Gabe Junior is such a loving creature. It's adorable how much she just wants to rip through any restraints to give me a hug, especially during transport to the testing facilities. Oh, how I wish Gabe could meet the new member of our family. -Doctor Borous
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Subject Log: X-54.1.3
Subject Name: Gabe Junior
The subject is now a true alpha predator. No creature in our confinement could even come close to harming her, much less inflicting a mortal wound. We have augmented her hunting skills considerably by activating the recessive chameleon genes deep in her DNA, allowing her to camouflage into shadows quite well. While not comparable to the likes of the stealth suit, her ability to move quickly and quietly before striking with unrivalled force make her a lethal ambush predator in addition to more conventional deathclaw tactics. The fact she can recognize this fact, as well as properly utilize it, suggests that the mentat diet has been effective in regards to increasing her intelligence.
Researcher notes: Ah, Gabe Junior is so smart! Sometimes I feel she can even understand me. She is always there for me when I talk to her containment unit, slashing at the bars. No doubt she wants to put her head in my lap and let me stroke it, just like Gabe used to. If she wasn't a subject, I would bring her to the dome with me, but until the test is done, she must remain here. For SCIENCE! -Doctor Borous
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Subject Log: X-54.1.4
Subject Name: Gabe Junior
We have not had much success in excluding creatures from the prey that the subject hunts. After much training, she still attacks the lobotomites we send in, and refuses to listen to any command. She seems to be taking pleasure in the act of hunting now. We shall try to disincentivize the hunting of humans further.
Researcher notes: She is so proud of her kills! It's adorable, how she smiles when things are afraid of her. But she has been a bad girl recently. I tried to teach her the same tricks I taught Gabe, but out of Sit, Stay, and Kill, she has only learned the last one. -Doctor Borous.
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Subject Log: X-54.1.5
Subject Name: Gabe Junior
We used the subject in another test for the Transportalponder due to her being the most durable biological entity at the Big MT facilities, but we have lost the ability to return her here. The project is being suspended until the subject is recovered. Possible trials on other species are being considered, including, but not limited to: cazador, nightstalker, brahmin, and human.
Researcher notes: Despite my request that we immediately send the lobotomite to retrieve Gabe Junior, my peers have informed me that my decision is being clouded by emotion. They are right. I do not want to lose another pet. -Doctor Borous.
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PROJECT UPDATE:
While currently suspended, the project is now facing termination pending review by Courier Six. The suspended status is being maintained, and planned testing on other species is being postponed due to Courier Six's request to wait for her return before starting any new projects.