Chapter 5 – New Friends

Hollow woke up to a grey ceiling with sandstone imprints in the tiling. Well, I'm still in the complex, He thought, relieved. He looked around to find himself in the infirmary, Rage was sleeping in the bed next to him. Realising how much Rage must've risked with those spells, he made a mental note to get him a new staff. The incantation probably destroyed his own. Hollow couldn't see pocket. He hoped she'd survived. "Hey, Rage. Are you awake?" Hollow whispered in case he wasn't awake… no answer. He decided to go to sleep again.

Hollow woke again, 3 hours later, to someone clearing there throat loudly.
"I've been asked to talk to you. I've got a wheelchair, if you need it," Someone said, to his left. He turned his head to see a man in a white coat. His short, blonde hair was pushed to one side. His jaw was set in a lopsided grin, opposite to his hair, which caused a ruffled but intelligent look.
"Hello, what's your name?" Hollow asked. He already liked the stranger. He then looked to his left, Rage was gone.
"Fluke. We need to go. I have a wheelchair so don't worry about mobility." He replied and then somewhat hurriedly scooted over the wheelchair.
"Fuck that. I refuse to be seen in one of those. It makes me look like a cripple and that would do the others no good." Hollow then stood up. He swayed a little before regaining control. "I'm fine." He growled as Fluke rushed over to help.
"Are you sure? We counted five hundred and twenty three men. No one in the history of mankind has killed that many with a single spell," Fluke said, silently admiring Hollow for his great power.
"I'm immortal, remember? One of the many gifts Gwyn bestowed upon me and Rage. By the way, where are they?" Hollow reminded, with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
" Rage of The Last and Lady Ensorpocketyano have already left for the meeting."
"Lady whonow?" hollow asked.
With a quizzical look, Fluke replied, "You know, the one who tested you? The one who you risked your life for? Are you sure you're all right?"
"I thought her name was Pocket," Hollow replied, confused.
Fluke just stood there with an open mouth, wide eyed. "Are you sure that's what she said?" He said after a long thirty seconds.
"Yees, why?" Hollow said. More confused than ever.
"She hasn't let anyone call her that since her last love, Arun'dzeil…" Fluke said, his voice so quiet it was barely audible. Now it was Hollow's turn to stare into space. For twice as long this time.
"What are you guys doing, come -… What the actual fuck?" A man with long-ish, brown hair and a welsh accent wearing a shirt that said: Professional Sheep, walked in to see them with their jaws dropped at their limit and a sparkle in hollow's eyes that showed plainly that he was VERY glad it wasn't a one-way thing . He would still be at a standstill of what to say, for he had no experience with elves other than one he'd met in Lodran.
"It's good to see you too Evanz, Is Lady Ensorpocketyano with you?"
"No. Why?"
"She told this one to call her Pocket…"
The man called Evanz was now the third to have their jaw nearly torn off in surprise. "Boy, are you in for the ride of your life," He turned to Hollow, "you treat her right, you here?"
Hollow grunted in agreement. Elves could be vengeful at the best of times.
"Now, come along, gentlemen. We have news for you." Fluke said, clapping his hands together and walked off. Hollow had to hurry to catch up by the time he'd figured out what to say once he'd gotten Pocket on her own.
"So what do you do here? Are you just a doctor or…?" Hollow asked.
Fluke burst into laughter. "Oh boy. If I were 'just a doctor' what would I be coming with you for? Someone's got to update you. You're equipped with modern leisure tech but certainly not well equipped for battle. We need to stay ahead of the game. This reminds me. I have some things for you. Fluke muttered a few words into his pack and he produced a large garment of mail, some sort of steel and had a glowing plate on the wrist. He also brought out two steel rods which cured at the middle and shone a peculiar blue. The third item was a forty inch long stick which was housed in a black sheath. Fluke drew the stick part way out and Hollow saw that it had the shape of a katana and all along one side was that same blue material. Hollow, for his own reasons, reached out to touch the blade but Fluke slapped his hand away, "Don't. This matter will incinerate your arm down to the elbow."
Hollow frowned. "What is it?" He asked.
"It's a form of diamond. It is heated to melting point and then a seal is placed around it. Which causes the glowing blue effect. Rage has the same but instead of the duel pistols he has a submachine gun."
"What?" hollow queried.
"See these two things?" He pointed toward the two sticks with the diamond down the middle. "They're what we call pistols. This thing is called the trigger you squeeze it, like so – Don't worry I've set the power to low so you don't destroy someone in training." He pointed the weapon at the wall and squeezed, like so. The blue bolt of energy caused a small scorch mark in the wall. "what rage has is a larger, longer version of these but with two grips. The submachine gun fires at a rapid pace at the cost of accuracy." Hollow was silently in awe at the prospect of being so badass in a fight.
"Is there a limit to their energy?" He asked.
"Not for a normal person, no. their charge lasts for sixty thousand years. You recharge them by sticking them in water. Simple enough, right?"
"Right," Hollow replied.
"This chest plate fits over you like a normal piece except that it has a DNA recognition system. It scans you to see if you are you basically. If you're not it shuts down and initiates the self destruct system. Basically if someone other than you wears it big boom, boom happens," Fluke paused to let Hollow process the information," This little screen. Don't worry this won't burn you, it's just blue to be showy, sends me your status. If your heart level significantly drops or rises it triggers and sends me an alarm. Also it can be used to send commands to something I'll show you later. Right now, we're late and Gubiak is going to be annoyed. Clip the weapons on at your waist and stick the piece on." They continued walking.