Frostpunk: The Last City On Earth
Chapter 11: The Observatory (Part 1)
"Jack, this is a bad idea," Walter protested, his brows furrowing in concern.
The bear cub nestled comfortably within Jack's pack, it's head poking out curiously as it lets out a gentle purr. Walter's skepticism was apparent in his tone as he continued, "I can't believe I've let you do this."
"It will be fine, Walter," Jack reassured him.
"No, it will not be fine, Jack. You are carrying a literal bear in your backpack," Walter grumbled, his voice edged with frustration.
Jack pouted in response. "Well, this bear has a name. And it's Boris."
Walter stopped in his tracks, his gaze shifting from his map to meet Jack's. "What did you just say? Do you mean to tell me you've already named this thing?" he asked.
Jack nodded, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Yup. I sure did."
Walter wiped the ice off his goggles, his doubts echoing in his mind. Yet, they had come this far. But turning back now wasn't an option.
"It's going to kill us," he muttered.
Jack chuckled, his laughter cutting through the frigid air. "No, he won't."
Turning to the side, Jack posed a question with a gesture. "Does this look like it will kill us?"
The tiny white cub emitted a soft, endearing roar. Its innocence is evident even in this unforgiving landscape.
Walter sighs, his breath visible in the cold air. "Alright, fine. But if Boris decides he's had enough of our company and decides to feast on us, don't say I didn't warn you."
Jack grinned, adjusting the straps of his backpack. "Boris is a sweetheart, you'll see."
Walter's thoughts wandered back to their encounter with the bears before. "What about the bears back at the cave? Have you forgotten that you charged at one? You didn't have a plan."
"I had to help them, Walter. They were in danger. I couldn't just stand there and let them die, Walter," Jack said.
"Yeah, but at the cost of ours? I'm not the one who chose to fight a damn bear."
"It was two bears, actually," Jack corrected.
Walter rolled his eyes, an exasperated sigh escaping him.
"The survivors we've saved. They should be on their way to New London. I've already marked their map."
"Better there than the cave," Jack said.
"We did the right thing, Walter. They called us heroes."
Walter shakes his head, "But I don't. I don't feel like a hero."
"But you are," Jack insisted, his voice firm.
"Look, let's never do that again next time, alright? I don't want to die out here."
Jack nodded in agreement. "Alright."
"Good. At least we can agree on that. But don't take this the wrong way. It's only been two days, and I can't lose you. There are only so few that I can trust, and you are one of them."
Jack's surprise was evident, his eyes widening at Walter's admission.
"So don't go and die on me from your stupid stunts," Walter concluded, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. Not that Jack could see it.
"You do have a heart," Jack teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
Walter turned around to hide his embarrassment. His voice was laced with a hint of annoyance.
"Shut up. And I'm still not trusting that thing."
Boris emitted a quiet, almost affectionate roar.
Jack's laughter echoed through the frosty air. "I think Boris likes you too."
"Stop it," Walter grumbled.
As they trudged through the snow, Walter couldn't help stealing glances at the bear cub peeking from the backpack. Boris seemed remarkably content, occasionally nuzzling against Jack's shoulder as if to reassure him.
"You know," Walter mused, "this might just be the most bizarre thing we've encountered."
"With you saying that, I think Boris is the least of what we should expect."
/-/
Jack's stomach grumbled. He stopped for a moment and felt a slight hunger in his stomach. He had hoped that Walter didn't hear it.
"I heard it," Walter said, not looking back.
He cleared his throat, hoping to divert attention from his hunger. "So, how much longer?" he asked.
Walter halted as well, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Why, you are getting tired?" he said, a playful smirk on his lips.
Jack's cheeks flushed as he tried to hide his embarrassment. "Uh."
Walter chuckled softly. "You know what, I'm not surprised."
"Wait. You're not?"
Walter's smirk widened. "Well, you got food in your bag right now."
Jack gasped, his eyes widening in mock shock. "Walter, you did not just say that to me."
"Uh, I just did," Walter retorted, amusement dancing in his gaze.
"How could you? I take it back. You don't have a heart. You're cold-hearted."
Walter's playful façade melted into a warm smile. "I'm joking. I still got some rations with me. I didn't give away all my food. But I bet you did."
Jack winced, "Yeah."
"Hold on just a little longer. We'll eat when we find this place," Walter said.
"Is that it over there?"
Jack's finger extended, pinpointing a prominent figure on the horizon. However, what lay ahead was a destroyed structure crowned by an oversized telescope.
As they reached a ridge overlooking their destination, the Observatory came into view. Its imposing structure barely stood against the snow. Coming out of the dome is a thin column of smoke. Someone must be inside it.
Walter double-checked his map, his brow furrowing in concentration. "I think this is it. The Observatory. I guess we made it."
Jack was worried as the structure didn't look so good. "It looks abandoned. But that smoke trail could mean there are people. But is it even safe to go near it? What are the chances that we'll encounter wolves?"
"What are the chances you will pick up another cub?" Walter counters.
"Oh, very funny of you. But still, wolves are a little more dangerous than Boris right now. Besides, we can see the building, but do we have to scout it?" Jack asked.
Walter unslung his rifle and gave it a firm, reassuring grip. "Only one way to find out."
/-/
Approaching the Observatory, its true scale became apparent; what appeared small from a distance was now an imposing structure up close. But the building itself has been titled, and the snow had found its way inside it.
"Think there's anyone alive in there?" Jack's question hung in the chilly air.
Walter's head shook slowly. "I don't think so. But don't let your guard down."
Jack adjusted his pack, his fingers brushing against the cold metal of his revolver as he held it at the ready. He positioned himself slightly behind Walter, seeking the reassurance of his partner's presence.
"Okay, I see a large opening on the side of the building. You ready?" Walter's voice was calm yet tinged with caution.
Jack's response was a determined nod, his focus unwavering.
Boris let out a low, echoing roar, the sound bouncing off the surrounding icy terrain.
"I wasn't talking to you, Boris," Walter said.
With a steadying breath, Walter led the way into the building. The snow had crept inside, blanketing the floors and surfaces.
As Jack followed, his eyes caught a glint of light on the wall. His curiosity piqued, he approached the source and swiped away the frost.
"Huh, the Arctic Observatory. Made by the Royal Society. The year is scratched. I can't read it," Jack remarked, his voice a mixture of fascination and frustration.
Walter's sigh carried a weight of history and speculation. "They must have been here to learn about the great frost. I doubt they were here to look at the stars." He decides to look elsewhere for clues.
Jack continued to look at the metal plate on the wall. He had heard about them, The Royal Society. A social group that focuses on studies ranging from plants to animals and their recent expansion, the stars, and the skies.
The Observatory's walls whispered the stories of those who had sought answers within its confines, a reminder of humanity's unyielding quest for knowledge in the face of adversity.
Suddenly, Jack's ears heard a piercing sound. It sounded like the heart-wrenching cry of someone consumed by fear. Bringing his senses up, he turns his heels around and aims his revolver toward the source of the scream. His eyes glazed, locking onto the scene unfolding behind him.
And right there, in the middle of the stark backdrop of snow and steel. Walter stood firm, his grip unwavering on his rifle's cold wood and metal. And his finger, already on the trigger, waiting to fire.
His focus was fixed on a lone figure, shrouded in an otherworldly silhouette—the unmistakable form of a lab coat draped over a heavy winter garment.
The figure trembled, caught between the frigid winds of the unforgiving winter and the death stare of Walter and Jack's gun barrels. Jack's heart raced as he absorbed the heavy tension that hung in the air, a clash between survival instincts and the fear of what could happen next.
"Bloody hell," Jack muttered under his breath, his voice a mere whisper in the vast expanse around them.
Recognizing his coat, Jack puts his revolver back in its holster. But Walter was keeping his rifle up. He took a cautious step closer, eyes never leaving the scene, and slowly made his way to his companion.
"Walter," he called softly, a blend of concern and urgency threading through his words. "Take it easy now. Let's not jump to conclusions."
"I'm not taking any chances, Jack."
The figure's ragged and desperate breathing kept shifting his gaze between Jack and Walter. At that moment, time was almost standing still. Each passing second became more tense.
During this, Boris emitted a gentle roar, which echoed inside the dome. His curiosity and innocence watch as the three of them stare at each other.
Walter's gaze remained unflinching. His voice was low but firm, with both caution and authority. "Identify yourself. Slowly."
As the figure's features began to come into focus, the obscurity of the lab coat yielded to reveal a face etched with weariness, lined with the harsh truths of this new world.
With a cautious exhale, the figure began to speak, words tumbling out in a tremulous cascade. "I... I didn't think I'd find anyone... anyone left. I thought it was just us. Please, we don't have much time."
As the figure attempts to move again, Walter stops him. "I didn't say you could move." He warned.
"Just take it easy, Walter," Jack interjected, his tone soothing. "I think he's just trying to help."
Walter's grip on his rifle remained tense, but he hesitated, his gaze shifting between Jack and the figure before him.
"Don't shoot. I am not a bandit," the figure pleaded. "My name is Doctor Jonathan Faraday. My team and I were sent here to study the Earth's atmosphere. And what we've discovered is far from promising."
His words hung in the cold air.
Jack looks at Walter, then to Faraday. The doctor's earnest plea and mention of his scientific mission created a fragile bridge between the two strangers in his Observatory.
The gusts of wind seemed to echo the tension that swirled around them, waiting for the next move.
Walter grunted, his grip on the rifle relaxing as he lowered it to his side. The doctor exhaled audibly, a visible sigh of relief escaping his lips. The tension in the air disappears slightly, a small step toward a fragile understanding.
"Thank you," the doctor said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Walter's brows furrowed. "Jack saved your life. You should thank him," he stated firmly.
A worried expression crossed Faraday's face.
"Are you two raiders?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. "I'm sorry. But I don't have anything valuable for you to take."
Jack stepped forward, but Walter's hand on his arm halted his advance.
"We're not raiders. We're scouts from New London," Jack explained, his voice steady. "We've heard about this place after rescuing some of our people left behind from our expedition."
Faraday's expression changed; his curiosity piqued. "Expedition? Would you happen to be sent from London?"
"Yeah, what about it?" Walter interjected, his voice guarded and questioning.
"Some of your people are staying in our quarters. I can lead you to them," Faraday offered.
"Really?" Jack's face lit up with a mixture of surprise and hope.
Walter positioned himself in front of Jack, his back facing him. He raised his rifle again towards Doctor Faraday, a clear stance of caution. "Alright, lead us, but you go first." His tone was firm, indicating that he was taking no chances.
A/N: So I had a dilemma on this chapter. Do I keep some astronomers alive or dead to stay canon? Then I figured, We already know what happened when they died. So why not save some of them? When I first played this game, I hoped to meet some scientists but nope. It was sad, so I decided to change that.
I have thought of keeping the story close to the game. But I can't help but think of what-ifs, like the astronomer. But I do intend for this story to be for both those who have played the game and those who don't play the game.
This chapter is pretty long ngl. The observatory might take at least two or three chapters. Im not sure. But I hope you like this chapter.
Thank you for reading.