AN: Hey everybody.
I got back from vacation only to learn that my cat is peeing blood and has three urinary stones, which I know from experience feels like your insides are being twisted into knots. The cat sitter only just noticed it while I was away.
While I was on vacation, my cat was suffering. I felt like a terrible owner, and when I saw my cat meowing pitifully and painfully as she tried to go to the bathroom, I vowed to do whatever it takes to help. Gave her antibiotic medicine from vet and I bought special wet food to dissolve the stone under the vet's recommendation. She loves the new food, and I'm keeping a close eye on her. I'll check back in December with the vet to see if my cat - Oreo - passes the three stones. Giving her plenty of water and hoping she drinks it. I'm hopeful she'll pass them, but she's also 11 years old and has other health problems associated with old age. We'll see how it goes.
In the meantime, Chapter. Don't feel bummed, I'm doing everything in my power to help my cat. This is as much an Author's Note as a reminder to myself what was going on in my life when I wrote this.
Disclaimer: I don't own Minecraft. If I did, I'd add Canned Cat Food.
Chapter 241
Oak Docks
[Cobb]
"Say, you guys have a lot of potion particles floating around you. What gives?"
"Ah, well, we uncovered a suspicious stew recipe that possess a plethora of beneficial long-lasting effects. We'd dispel with milk, but we rather enjoy them, so..."
"Oh, okay. Perfectly understandable. Never thought suspicious stew could last more than a few seconds."
"...You'd think."
"Ah well. Enjoy your stay!" A cheerful guard with a cyan-dyed leather cap welcomed after checking Citizenship Information, Entry Passes, and emeralds. I remained invisible, slipping past the Cadboro Bridge's packed toll gates with half of our landing party. We opted for half as a group of nineteen - eighteen since I was invisible - would've been too large and noticeable.
After passing through the gates, we moved to the south side of the bridge to look at the large expanse of beach stretching to the south towards the network of floating docks. The beach was packed with beachgoers lounging on wool blocks, playing beach games in the sand, or tanning in chairs. Anyone not lounging on the beach was playing and swimming in the water, far from any dangerous patrolling Guardians. The sun was warm, and the ocean breeze was cool.
We made it to Oak Docks.
There was a boardwalk that stretched along the beach. The raised wooden platform held coastal attractions, like rides, restaurants, and dozens of resorts. It seemed like it stretched for miles, and if the capital was as big as the peninsula, that was a very real possibility.
The floating maze of docks connected at the southern end of the peninsula, though they extended out and to the north, parallel with the beach and a mile away to allow swimmers to swim. It was like the docks acted as a barrier against the Guardians. I could even pick out bits and pieces of colorful coral under the water, which Crafters dove to enjoy.
Connected to the docks on the south side was a series of raised wooden platforms. Thicker and with buildings, these wooden structures were the makeshift canals, and differed from the thinner floating docks. Connected to the canals was the mainland - the Cuore District. The beach, the boardwalk, the ground full of buildings. It was all the Cuore District.
I couldn't even see where the peninsula ended or began either north or south. The bridge deposited us right near the middle of the landmass.
"Breathe it in, people." Heather announced aloud, her hands on her hips and a content smile on her face. "That salty ocean air. Take a deep breath and feel it clean out your sinuses. This is prime paradise. Feel that sun warming you over. Feel that breeze blowing your hair back."
"Just don't forget why we're here." Captain Attila brought Heather back down. "Somewhere in this paradise lies the Eastern HQ."
"Let's go find Wing and Aurand." Baltic ordered, our Team Delta guides leading us south.
The safehouse was in the Canals District. Following the Team Delta maps led us to a narrow canal with packed wooden buildings on either side, accessible via a lower level, creaky catwalk, right near the water. Lenz had to keep his eyes on the buildings when we got too close, as the water was deep. The canal was connected to the ocean.
As for the safehouse itself, it looked like most buildings in the lower levels of the canals were residences and businesses built into the moisture ridden wood. Our safehouse looked to be a former residence, and I had to wonder whether Wing and Aurand had to do something underhanded to obtain such a property, or if the kingdom loaned it to them for the purpose of ousting the cult from their borders.
Trenay knocked twice on the door. It creaked open a crack as the inhabitant took us in before throwing the door open and rushing out.
"You guys made it!" Wing cheered as he grasped Trenay's hand and shook firmly before looking us all over. His eyes held on the marred flesh on my face and left hand before they slid over to his partner and friend, Luis. The two were practically brothers. "Luis, hey. You kept Heather safe, I hope?"
"I did. Thanks for allowing me be there for her." Luis nodded back.
"No problem. Ah, so..." He trailed off, his eyes flicking to his left leg. "Is your leg... like...?"
Luis willed off his black skater shoe for a moment, showing off the blackened foot that matched my cheek, pec, and arm, and Neiro's face. Wing looked at it with morbid curiosity.
"Thed did that, huh." He commented after Luis willed his shoe back on. "And it hasn't healed yet...?"
"Can we be let in already?" Neiro asked shortly, startling Wing into looking at her blackened face.
"Who - oh! Sorry. Yeah. Come in. Come in. We're in enemy territory and here I am jeopardizing things." He stepped aside and allowed the landing party past the door. However, he stopped Neiro as she passed and whispered to her. "Is that really you, Neiro? You're unrecognizable."
"Guards said the same." Neiro roughly slammed her shoulder into Wing's, nearly knocking him over. Her disfigurement was still a sore topic, and I made a mental note not to bring it up in the future.
Aurand was sitting inside, checking his weapons when we arrived. He stood tall and welcomed us warmly, reconnecting with his fellow assassins and asking for details on the day the Hackers attacked Nitebane.
The interior of our safehouse was pretty spacious. Enough for me to suspect Aurand broke down all the walls to give us more room to work with. There was no other explanation why a living room had an attached kitchen, dining room, and bedroom. Only the bathroom and its walls were spared the renovations. Over on the wall was Teal's criminally seductive wanted poster with three arrows sticking out of it. Below that were double chests and an ender chest. Trenay got to work immediately, moving to the large dining room table to organize her notes.
"How'd you swing this place?" Dwight asked.
"Oak Docks granted it to us."
"Former inhabitants missing or dead?"
"In a sense. It was donated by a widow whose husband was taken from her by the Endward Cult. All she asks is we use her place to take down the Eastern Division."
Attila grinned with an End Crystal in her palm. "That can be arranged."
"Sorry we can't offer you guys any buffs." Doyle apologized as he handed over some totems to Aurand and Wing. "These are the next best thing, though. They're the latest craze."
"Awesome, thanks. And here are all your maps back." Aurand fanned out the linked maps that Lenz and the Paragons had entrusted him. The maps were given so that Carys would assume the group was going to Oak Docks instead of going to Nitebane to rescue Cobb and disobey orders. Now, the maps were back where they belonged. Even Lenz got his map back, a map I was looking to copy at my earliest convenience so to track my friends' movement again. My old map had been confiscated by Trish along with my information, entry passes, and several other personal items.
"What'd you do with my and Trish's horses?" Alfonso asked.
"We have them stored at a stable. Also, is it a good idea to trust this guy after everything he did?" Wing asked sensibly.
"He is trustworthy enough." Lenz vouched for the former Bird of Prey. "More importantly, he can help us. Alfonso is on our side."
Seeing the round of supportive nods from most of the landing party helped put Wing and Aurand at ease.
With everything calm and settled, the twenty-one of us stood around the dining table and awaited Trenay to finish putting her things together.
"Okay! All set." Trenay let out a huff of air before turning to Aurand and Wing. "You guys got a good safehouse. Secure and off the beaten track. Nice work." They preened at the praise. "As I recall, you had some leads for us to follow up on regarding the cult? Perry even hinted at a plan involving the Griefer Heads we brought...?"
"Yes. Let's start with that." Aurand spoke up, leaning on the table. Lenz translated for Z7. "We were thinking, since cult recruitment is at an all-time high, we could take advantage and sneak in with the new recruits. Of course, whoever we send in will have to talk shit, stand out, and perform flashy crimes like arson or bombings."
"Bombings definitely!" Wing nodded with a mad gleam in his eye. "We really gotta grab their attention. Then, when the cult reaches out, we let them lead us to their base without arousing any suspicion and boom! We're golden!"
"The Griefer Heads are just to maintain the illusion that we're seasoned killers." Perry explained. "Bombings suit our story better, since it's harder to harvest Heads from a burning building."
"Alright. Sounds like a solid plan." Trenay nodded. "There's a risk involved in being found out, but I trust you guys know what you're doing. You'd just map message me the location anyway and we'd coordinate with Captain Fo and the air fleet."
"You guys seriously got a fleet?" Wing mouthed the word 'wow'.
"What about the other leads?" Baltic asked. "Anything safer?"
"There's the usual." Wing waved airily. "Investigate supply lines. The Endward Cult has to feed and arm their cultists somehow. Especially since we clobbered their weapons outpost. If you find any businesses drawing an unusually large amount of food, iron, lumber, or potion ingredients, chances are they're a cultist-owned front."
Baltic and the Beta-males nodded, familiar with that method of tracking. They had a whole system, and investigating supply lines sounded a lot safer than attempting to infiltrate a murderous cult.
"The last lead we can investigate," Aurand continued, "are the Crafters disappearing in certain regions of the kingdom. Definitely the work of the Endward Cult. If we catch the culprits in the act, we'll have someone to interrogate. Torture them into revealing their HQ and the rest is easy."
"Ru R gligfiv gsvn drgs nb yzw qlpvh, blf xzm xzoo nv gsv KFMrhsvi." Z7 commented.
Lenz tried to fight back a smile but failed and snickered into his hand, earning a pleased grin from the assassin.
"What'd she just say?" Eustace asked.
"A really bad joke. I dare not repeat it." Lenz smiled.
"Anyway those are our choices. So, I dunno. Pick one." Aurand shrugged after he was done listing our options. "Go with it."
"I don't think we have to." I suggested. "There's twenty-one people here. Why don't we split up and check all the leads?"
"Cast a wide net." Eustace nodded in understanding, as did several Paragons. "It's a good idea. Oak Docks is a big kingdom; Lot of ground to cover. Who'll go where?"
"Well, us assassins can patrol the locations where most of the disappearances have been taking place." Aurand suggested, referring to himself, Z7, Doyle, and Shroud. "We'll go at night, since that's usually when they occur."
"If we're fishing, I don't wanna be bait."
"Not it."
"Not it."
"Mlg rg - ufxp nb oruv." Z7 kicked herself in frustration for being last. She'd have to be the bait.
"I wanna try my own kind of fishing." Captain Attila volunteered a hand. "The Eastern Division should recognize me as a deserter. I could go around and lure out some impulsive cultists with a bone to pick. I'll just need Alfonso to watch my back."
"...I can do that." The acting Captain accepted as he took out a crossbow and preloaded it in readiness. He was used to maintaining a guard position from his experience with Trishmegistus. Normally I'd be worried he'd stab us in the back and flee given his history, but Lenz vouched for him as a rival Bird of Prey. Also, Captain Attila had near-invincible potion buffs, totems of undying, and a set of Projectile Protection armor. She'd be fine.
Baltic raised his hand next. "I'll take the Team Alpha and Beta members of our party to look into the cult's supply lines. With enough patience, I'm sure we can track something down."
That took care of Baltic, Witige, Milton, Gregory, Wing, Luis, Perry, and Heather. They'd be well-protected and supported should anything happen.
"Whoa, whoa. Hold on. I can't come with you." Perry brought up to Baltic. "I'm doing my infiltration plan, remember? Dwight, Lenz, and I will be busy."
"Sorry, me? I am involved?" Lenz asked in disbelief. "How do I factor in?"
"We need you to rig up the explosives with redstone timers." Perry explained matter-of-factly, much to Lenz's horror and Attila's envy. "Keep your scarf on. The blast sites will all be vacant buildings. The only thing spilling will be the Griefer Heads we'll have stuffed into chests when the explosions go off. That way we can maintain the illusion we're killing and gathering Heads without doing any killing."
"Repeaters, that is ingenious. But what of the homes we are demolishing?"
"That's the best part. Oak Docks gave us permission, giving us a list of abandoned buildings slated for demolition. They're places where the tenants skipped out after being unable to pay bills, or buildings where the previous tenants were evicted to make room for new buildings. We can blow them up without reprisal. The citizens won't know and think there's a mad bomber on the loose, but the guards will be in on it and only pretend to hunt down the bomber."
"But the cult knows me. They have to! I mean Jade leaked-" Lenz started only to be cut off.
"You won't be the public face of our bombings." Dwight dismissed with a wave. "You'll stay hidden; Out of sight, while you rig everything up for us. Cuz we're stupid." Dwight felt the need to add to appeal to Lenz's skill as a redstone engineer. "We'll take the credit - and danger - of infiltrating the Eastern Division."
"And we'll be grandstanding in only the seediest of pubs to get on their radar as the new killers in town." Perry boasted smugly. "We'll be the worst filth they've ever seen."
"At least you don't have to reach very far." Trenay teased, earning a chorus of snickers. "So then I guess that leaves Cobb and us Team Delta members to remain here and coordinate and communicate with all the groups."
"You mean I have to stay under house arrest still?" I complained. I thought those days were behind me.
"It can't be helped, Cobb-sama. You're as much a legend as Carys-sama!" I grimaced at the unintentional insult. "The cult will go to ground immediately if they catch a whiff of you."
Daisy laid it on a bit thick. I couldn't tell if she was brown-nosing or just that starry-eyed for me. I kept teaching her what I knew and she just soaked it up like a sponge. She was an eager student who hung on my every word. She wasn't bad.
But did she have to keep calling me Cobb-sama? It was really weird.
I sighed. "I guess I can lay low. Kind of wanted to explore the kingdom a little..."
"As long as you're invisible, there shouldn't be a problem, sir." Gregory pointed out. "Just maybe travel with an escort-"
"Oh, me me me! It would be my honor!" Daisy hopped with her hand raised. I gave her a wary look before accepting her offer. Her exuberance would be exhausting, but at least I'd stretch my legs and see the wonders of Oak Docks.
"Out of curiosity," I began, "how dangerous is Oak Docks since it's inhabited by cultists?"
After all, Ringwood's capital was the HQ for the Northern Division, but I never felt like they were a looming presence when I was living there. Was it because I was living in the Northern District under a Captain's roof? Were they more prevalent in the rough Western District?
"Well, we just brought up the disappearances."
"Disappearances were typical back when I was a member." Attila commented. "Teal kidnapped a lot of Crafters for her annual Survival Games. I bet that's what these ones are about."
"Survival Games?" Milton questioned with a shiver. "What, uh, what do those entail?"
"Well, I never partook in the security coverage for it, but it boils down to that battle junkie hunting kidnapped Crafters for sport on some island between here and Nitebane."
"Which island?"
"I dunno. There's three. She probably randomizes each year to keep things 'fresh'. She's crazy."
"Xizab zmw wzmtvilfh. Hsv mvvwh gl tl wldm."
"What'd she say?"
"Just that Teal is crazy and she needs to go down." Lenz translated.
"Anyway, Attila is right. Disappearances are still happening here and there. Enough to investigate and enough for a curfew to be in place." Wing supplied. "I saw a ton of missing persons reports. Crafters going missing. Killed or kidnapped without a trace, but in small numbers across the peninsula. The cult's careful not to draw too much attention." He scratched his nose. "It's why the kingdom is so receptive to our help. They hired the Berserkers in the past, but I presume Teal just chewed them up and spat them back out. The king wants to end this problem once and for all, and we're all the kingdom's got."
"Then let's not waste any more time." Perry palmed his fist. "We have our groups. We have our assignments. Let's do what we do best!"
"Yeah!" Everyone shouted in unison before splitting up into their assigned groups and exiting the safehouse.
[Canals District]
The first thing Z7 and her assassins started with was scoping out the location. The disappearances happened mostly at night, so they spent the daytime checking several areas and narrowing down where best to lay their trap. The Canals District, with its narrowed, shadowed waterways, looked the most promising. Easy to ambush, both for cultists and Paragons. Z7, having done this numerous times with Team Epsilon, knew her assassins' intent and understood them to a degree, yet she still missed communicating with Lenz. She wouldn't have minded explaining to him the Team Epsilon methods.
She'd just have to talk with him while working on his phobia.
Acting as bait to fish for cultists was a bit of a pain. She had to appear vulnerable. Maybe even don her original outfit and hairstyle to appear girly, which she wasn't looking forward to. It damn hurt her scalp and her feet, and it was impossible to move around in.
If her usual appearance didn't lure anyone, she'd have to go original.
Capturing cultists to interrogate was imperative to finding The Eastern HQ and that Teal girl. Twice Z7 and Teal had dueled, once at Lunar Castle and once at the weapons outpost, and twice Teal had come out of it the better. Z7 chewed crabbily on a cookie, forgetting her Saturation buff kept her full. She had a score to settle with that Lieutenant, and with the countermeasure armor Jillian handed her, she had everything she needed to finish her off once and for all.
The assassins did a little more work scoping out the ambush site before appearing satisfied and ready for tonight.
[Canals District: Moretti's Pub]
Moretti's Pub was one of the seediest pubs in all of Oak Docks and home to the worst kind of scum. The drinks sucked and fights broke out often. It was a hole-in-the-wall shithole in the Canals District that most people avoided. Not for tourists.
"Boy, I sure do like killing lots of innocent people resisting Next Life." Dwight spoke to Perry at their table, loud enough to be heard by the whole pub.
"I too enjoy the murder of innocents, and Next Life." Perry replied just as loudly.
Lenz, invisible and watching things unfold, could only facepalm at how wooden their acting was. Was this really their best approach?
"I wish there was a group, or organization, associated with our interests." Dwight continued.
"Yes, yes!" Perry agreed earnestly. "A fraternity, or a brotherhood, to Next Life."
"Hey." A hooded figure called out, approaching the two from a table in the corner. "What you guys say about killing?"
"We enjoy killing innocent people." Dwight spoke plainly.
"And Next Life." Perry added. "Next Life for life, biotch!"
"Mm-hmm." The hooded figured gestured to the extra seat, asking for permission to sit, to which they nodded. "So what kinds of killings have you guys done?"
"Oh, all kinds of killings. Tell him, Dwight."
"Decapitations, burnings, mostly bombings. We've slaughtered thousands of Crafters."
"I enjoy blowing things up." Perry added. "Mostly Jibbermen. Those poor, unfortunate souls."
"Poor unfortunates indeed." The hooded figure, named Enrico_Ceylon, nodded. "They deserve to pass on to a better life. You did the right thing putting them out of their misery."
"Not just them, but all Crafters living a pitiful existence in Minecraftia. Take a look." Dwight reached into his backpack and showed off a handful of the prepared Griefer Heads. Enrico's eyes widened at the proof and the brazenness with which it was displayed. "In fact, we're planning to give Oak Docks a taste of Next Life. I'd stay away from the east side of the Cuore District if I was you."
"It'll be a real bang." Perry added in a stage whisper.
"Duly noted." Enrico got up from his seat and nodded respectfully. "My friends and I shall keep an eye out for your handiwork. Pleasure chatting with you." He bid the pair farewell before leaving the pub.
"...Should we have captured him?" Perry whispered to Dwight under his breath. No one would be hearing them now that they were being discreet. "Guy was definitely cultist scum."
"You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Let him pass along that there are two promising recruits bombing up the Cuore District. They'll keep an eye out for us provided we follow through with our bombings. Let them make the next move."
Once the cultists saw what they could do and felt they were proper cultist material, they'd approach and take the two to their HQ.
Then, the countdown to their destruction would begin.
"Z7 and Attila are already fishing for cultists to interrogate." Dwight reasoned. "We're exclusively on the infiltration plan."
"Alright. Let's blow up our first building." Perry and Dwight stood up and exited the pub while loudly bragging about Next Life, Herobrine, and killing.
Again, Lenz groaned at their acting. But then, how much better would his own acting be if things were reversed?
[Cuore District: Boardwalk]
"Just you?" The girl manning the gate accepted the emeralds and handed Daisy her ticket. "Enjoy!"
Cobb, invisible and with several Potions of Invisibility in his backpack, followed Daisy past the gate and onto the boardwalk full of rides and restaurants. The boardwalk stretched beside the beach, turning into piers at points that extended over the ocean. Cobb wanted to see what the attraction was, and Daisy had been all too eager to please. He had to shed his armor and consolidate items into his ender chest to make room for the invisibility potions and the armor he couldn't wear without being spotted. Why the heck didn't armor go invisible?
For all intents and purposes, this was a date, but thinking as much brought up uncomfortable memories for Cobb. She was just escorting him for safety and since it would look really weird for rides to be manned by an invisible person. He barely knew the blonde, anyway.
"Cobb-sama, Cobb-sama! What should we hit first?"
"Keep it down, would you?" Cobb hissed under his breath. "I thought you Team Delta folks were all about intelligence? Screaming my name is a pretty stupid move."
"Ah, sorry, sorry! You're right!" She rubbed her head sheepishly.
Cobb sighed as he looked around for anything eye-catching. "Bumper boats? That looks good."
The bumper boats ride consisted of an ice rink with boats of different wood sliding around and ramming into each other. Single Crafters or pairs of Crafters manned a boat, the goal being to break the opponents' boats and be the last one standing. The line for that was going quick too.
"Sure thing." Daisy veered towards the line and vibrated in place while Cobb tapped his foot patiently. Since two people could ride a boat together, Cobb figured he could ride in back while invisible. A boat moving on its own would be too suspicious.
It was interesting, actually. The ice rink melted in spots between rounds, but one of the Crafters manning the ride would walk out with enchanted boots and refreeze the water. It was like the Arcticum Arma, but its own enchantment.
"That's Frost Walker." Daisy explained when Cobb voiced his interest. "Freezes the water you walk on. Higher tiers freeze more water around the wearer."
It sounded like an enchantment that only came after one of the Bounty Days. Out of sheer chance, Herobrine used Command Blocks to make Frost Walker before it was officially a thing. What are the odds?
Actually, since Frost Walker was an available enchantment, Crafters could get across the ocean without using the Cadboro Bridge. The only worry was the enchanted item losing durability. Just one more way to access the coastal kingdom.
The line moved fairly quick, and before long, Cobb and Daisy were in a boat together, back-to-back. They claimed the birch boat, there only being six at a time to choose from. For the sake of looking normal, Daisy took the front and would be doing all the steering and rowing. Cobb would be watching her back and calling out, or whispering out, aggressors.
"Alright, let's throw down."
Right off the bat, their birch boat was targeted by the jungle and dark oak boats. Daisy rowed hard forward and slipped between them, the two banging into each other but pursuing them, nonetheless.
"They're on our six." Cobb warned, earning a nod from Daisy who proceeded to swerve left in a picture-perfect drift against the edge of the rink. Cobb clung tight in his seat. The other boats went too fast to turn and crashed into the raised lip serving as the edge of the area. They were disoriented for a moment, allowing Daisy and Cobb some breathing time.
The spruce and acacia boats looked to have some sort of rivalry going since they only targeted each other. The kept violently crashing into each other until the acacia broke first.
The oak boat was bullying the two disoriented boats until they recovered. Then it fled, the female rower letting out a frightened cry as she was pursued.
Daisy squared off against the spruce boat and rammed it hard. The collision was jarring for Cobb, lifting him out of his seat and momentarily on Daisy's back before he righted himself. As for the spruce boat, it was sent spinning out of control where it crashed into the fleeing oak boat, smashing both and sending the passengers sliding across the ice. With its quarry taken out, the jungle boat turned on the dark oak boat suddenly, knocking them away to be smashed against the wall.
It was just birch vs jungle now. It had two passengers just like Cobb and Daisy, though they didn't know that.
The two boats circled each other along the ice, the rowers rowing slowly as they sized each other up, waiting for their moment.
Suddenly, Daisy gunned it, rowing rapidly to propel the boat smoothly across the ice. The jungle boat did the same. Cobb helped move the oars as he saw the other pair doing the same. Their velocity was increasing, more so when he ducked low to reduce air friction.
That proved to be a mistake.
When the inevitable crash occurred, the impact was so jarring and his momentum so hard to resist that Cobb found himself launched from the boat, spinning over the rink wall, sailing further than normal with his permanent Slow Falling buff, over the perfectly safe Slime Block Bounce Castle, and landing behind the counter of the shooting gallery right before the five contestants were about to shoot. With arrows.
Uh-oh. Cobb thought smartly before using his buffed Speed to scramble out of the way of the volley or arrows. One or two managed to hit him and stick into his invisible body before he was safely pressed against the wall, but the contestants made up their own excuses for him.
"Hey! This is rigged! Someone invisible blocked my shot!"
"Mine too! HEY EVERYBODY! This guy's trying to sucker you out of your money!"
"The gallery's gaffed!" Someone threw down their crossbow.
"Beat him with sticks!"
"What!? No! I-I don't know what's going on-" The shooting gallery operator gasped. "S-Stay back! Not the sticks! FOR THE LOVE OF C418, PUT DOWN THE STICKS!"
In all the confusion and stick-beating, Cobb slipped out of the shooting gallery, his deer-in-headlights awkward duck face invisible to all as he returned to the bumper boats. Daisy was getting out too, distractedly shaking hands with the other rowers while her head swiveled around in search of Cobb.
The arrows in him vanished as his Regen buff healed the damage. He sidled up to Daisy and tapped her shoulder to show he was near.
"That was really something." Daisy declared aloud, making everyone think she was talking to herself. "What I should do next?"
She was asking, so Cobb led her off to a different attraction.
Not the shooting range, though. The operator for that was being beaten with sticks.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in ease as Cobb and Daisy sampled more of the boardwalk. They rode a minecart roller coaster, got extra high leaps and hang-time on the Slime Block Bouncy Castle, partook in a Fun House with a packed ice maze and a rising piston floor, and played minigolf of all things with snowballs on green-carpeted ice courses. They also walked around, reaching the end of the pier and finding some honest-to-goodness fisherman.
"Could these be my people?" Cobb asked overdramatically.
For his part, Cobb had to keep replenishing his invisibility and be careful not to slip up, but he was diligent. He also kept an eye out for Teal or possible cultist-activity, even though he doubted they'd make a move on a crowded boardwalk.
Cobb and Daisy even had time to order some overpriced boardwalk food despite not needing it due to their Saturation buff. It still smelled good, even as they threw it away in trash barrels.
That was another thing. Instead of trash chests, Oak Docks had trash barrels to toss out junk. It was a Bounty Day item. They had the same Inventory space as a chest, but barrels looked aesthetically better for the coastal kingdom. It also meant Oak Docks had to replace every trash chest with a barrel, but that was their taxpayers' problem.
Anyway, things were starting to wind down. Cobb certainly enjoyed himself. He hardly ever had time to have fun. Hopefully, Daisy didn't mind and felt the same-
"Cobb-sama?" Daisy questioned in a whisper. "I don't mean to question your methods, but how does enjoying this amusement park help us against the cult?"
Cobb stopped cold, Daisy bumping into his invisible back. She backpedaled in both senses of the word.
"I-I don't doubt you have something in mind! I'm just saying that my understanding is more... narrow? I don't always see the big picture like Jillian and Carys-sama. If you can't tell me-"
Cobb grabbed Daisy by the arm and led her off towards the shooting gallery stand. His current invisibility was almost up anyway. Daisy struggled to keep pace with Cobb's march, hissing questions under her breath. Cobb ignored all of them until he brought her past the broken, barely stirring shooting gallery operator on the ground, and around the stand. The two were out of sight just as his invisibility wore off, and he released her. She pressed against the back wall of the stand, her eyes wide, and Cobb leaned forward to pin her with his gaze.
"You need to hear me here." He spoke seriously, his tone silencing her words. "I am not infallible."
Daisy's brows lowered.
"I am not infallible." He repeated. "I have been duped. I have made bad calls. I have been locked in a cell because I was a danger to those around me. I fought with Carys and Paragons, and even nearly blew some up. I am not some all-powerful 'sama' with all the answers. This is not me making a plan. This is me taking it easy and exploring a new kingdom since I was instructed to lay low. I suggested doing all the leads at once, but this could just as well split our forces and make us easier targets to pick off. It was just an idea that Trenay, Baltic, Attila, and everyone else thought was good."
"But I think it's a good idea too. It makes sense." She reasoned earnestly. "With all the people and resources we have-"
"The people and resources are one big safety net to me, which isn't even how I should be thinking about it - that right there should tell you I'm not perfect!" He cut himself off. "I'm used to coordinating five or six people at a time, not an army. With an army, it's easier to shrug off casualties, and I don't want that. I don't want casualties. You Paragons might if it means the Eastern Division goes under, but I don't want there to be any casualties. So I'm not the best person to lead, here. So just drop the Cobb-sama!"
"I think you're just being self-critical. Jillian sung your praises." Daisy pointed out. "And you shouldn't concern yourself with the lives of every single fighter going into this. They all know the risks, and they would gladly lay their lives down," Cobb threw his hands up, not wanting to hear that, and turned away, "would gladly lay their lives down," she raised her voice heatedly, "if it meant ridding the world of cultists! And you playing things safe and cautious and getting nowhere would spit on all their sacrifices!"
"When I close my eyes and think of the World-" Cobb began before dismissing it as a waste of time. "Look, I'm only the strong 'sama' you think of me when I'm putting myself between death and the people I care about. You can't just tell me to switch 'protect your own at all costs' with 'sacrifice whoever you must to win'. My brain doesn't work like that, and neither do I."
"Jillian is expecting you to prevail no matter what." Daisy stated seriously.
"I know she put her faith in me, but being looked up to like this isn't helping." He stressed. "It's too much pressure."
"It's not about you. We infantry need a strong general to look up to. We need to know we're in good hands - that our lives and deaths will mean something."
"So then look up to Carys or Jillian, but not me. No more Cobb-sama. And tell the rest of your teammates the same. I don't want your blind faith when I'm just as indecisive with this many people. I'm not your leader."
Daisy looked unimpressed. "You're telling me you're not the guy to lead us to victory?"
"You've got Trenay, Attila, Baltic, and Fo. Take your pick."
Daisy's expression soured. "Fine. No more titles. No more respect. But let me just say this: No Paragon will hold it against you if they die to this. They'll only curse you in death if you give up."
"Well then I'll be fine, since I'm not giving up until the cult is toast."
"And that's why I respect you, Cobb-sama." She taunted with a bit of an edge. "You don't quit. Just like Cary-"
"AND ANOTHER THING!" Cobb belted out. "No more comparing me to her, or likening me to her, or, fuck, using me and her in the same sentence! We're enemies! Rivals! And I don't like her."
"Fine, fine. But if I can drop the honorifics, let me just say you're lousy with a trident. You don't use it to a polearm's fullest extent. You know who could help you with that?"
"Don't say-"
"Carys-sama! A superior leader to you in ev-er-y way!"
Cobb couldn't help but smile wryly. She'd gone from revering him to purposefully winding him up. But hey, this was preferable to how she'd been acting around him. He was familiar with good-natured taunts from Soul.
"If your idea of a good leader is someone who goes through soldiers like toilet paper, then Carys is second to none. Seriously. You know she lost five of her own men? I haven't lost one."
"I'm sure none of them blame her. They fought the good fight, and we'll remember them always."
"But will Carys remember them always?"
"This isn't the first time she's lost people. We've been at war for a while." Daisy noted forlornly.
"...I can't imagine it."
"What?"
"Watching people come and go. I doubt she got to know them really well, but it must've affected her a little. Maybe early on." It was something the fisherman never asked Baltic about her. Maybe Carys cared once, but the ongoing war and casualties just made it harder to get invested in people and easier to callus it over. Only the strongest - her inner circle of Team Leaders - stayed connected to her World.
Cobb just counted himself lucky his group never needed to weed out the weak.
"It's getting late." Daisy noted. "You wanna reapply your invisibility and check out more rides?"
"Nah, I've had my fill. We should get back to Trenay and coordinate our forces." Cobb pulled out his Riptide tridents with a grin. "I know a shortcut back."
And so, after Cobb reapplied his invisibility, he and Daisy jumped off the boardwalk into the ocean, the fisherman hauling Daisy back to the safehouse in a corkscrew that propelled the pair of them through the water and past schools of fish. A pod of dolphins swam with them, whistling and clicking playfully as they tried and failed to race.
And, by conversing and hanging with her a little, Daisy became one more Paragon Cobb would look out for.
Inventory (Cobb): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Leather Tunic [Dyed Green, Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection IV, Feather Falling III, Unbreaking III], 18 Obsidian, 7 Ender Chests, 43 Chorus Fruit, 48 Cooked Chicken, 64 Oak Planks, 64 Cobblestone, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 1 Bed, 30 Blocks of Coal, 64 Torches, 1 Lava Bucket, 1 Water Bucket, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 1 Potion of Invisibility {8:00}, 3 Glass Bottles, 64 Snowballs, 11 End Crystals, 16 Ender Pearls, 1 Fishing Rod {Backlash 2.0} [Knockback II, Luck of the Sea III, Lure II, Unbreaking III], 1 Trident {Awe} [Riptide III, Unbreaking III], 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying
Green Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 35 Eyes of Ender, 30 Blocks of Emerald, 6 Emeralds, 1 Diamond Cutlass, 1 Iron Helmet [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Chestplate [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Leggings [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Boots [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV, Depth Strider III], 25 Lapis Lazuli, 64 Books, 64 Glass, 64 Glass, 64 Glass Bottles, 1 Fishing Rod, 1 Fishing Rod, 2 Books, 1 Enchanting Table, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Book {How to Kill Stuff for Numb Nuts}, 1 Book {Advanced Mob-Slaying}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Nether}, 1 Book {Mobs of the Bounty Days}
[EXP: 53]
Inventory (Lenz): 1 Chainmail Helmet [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Dragon Head, 1 Chainmail Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Chainmail Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Chainmail Boots [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 16 Ender Pearls, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Compass, 1 Bow [Power IV, Flame I, Punch II, Unbreaking III], 1 Bow [Infinity], 1 Crossbow [Piercing IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Multishot I, Unbreaking III], 64 Arrows, 64 Arrows, 16 Firework Rockets {Flight Duration: 1, Small Ball x 7, Gray x 7}, 16 Firework Rockets {Flight Duration: 1, Large Ball x 7, Gray x 7}, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 62 Dark Oak Planks, 50 Chorus Fruit, 51 Cooked Salmon, 48 Apples, 20 Emeralds, 1 Map {Minecraftia}, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Daymonte Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Ringwood Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Zeppil Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Akasha Entry Pass}, 1 Paper {Oak Docks Entry Pass}, 1 Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying
Red Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Shears, 1 Lever, 9 Redstone Torches, 8 Redstone Repeaters, 3 Redstone Comparators, 18 Blocks of Redstone, 2 Hoppers, 3 Pistons, 2 Sticky Pistons, 1 Book {Airship Piloting 101}, 2 Fire Charges, 35 TNT, 36 Charcoal, 4 Torches, 32 Pumpkin Seeds, 1 Book {Redstone Textbook}, 1 Book {Notebook}, 5 Ender Chests
Gray Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 1 Crossbow [Unbreaking III], 53 Arrows of Poison {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Harming II, 57 Arrows of Harming II, 52 Arrows of Weakness {0:30}, 49 Arrows of Slowness {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Fire Resistance {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Healing II, 64 Arrows of Invisibility {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Leaping {1:00}, 64 Arrows of Slow Falling {0:30}, 64 Arrows of Night Vision {1:00}, 63 Arrows of Strength II {0:12}, 64 Arrows of Swiftness {1:00}, 63 Arrows of Swiftness II {0:11}, 64 Arrows of Water Breathing {1:00}
[EXP: 25]
Inventory (Baltic): 1 Iron Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Sword [Sharpness II, Unbreaking III], 1 Shield, 1 Bow, 1 Diamond Pickaxe [Silk Touch I, Mending I, Unbreaking II], 35 Arrows, 3 Brewing Stands, 1 Water Bucket, 64 Bones, 1 Ender Chest, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 20 Emeralds, 64 Cooked Chicken, 37 Cooked Chicken, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Slowness {1:00}, 1 Lingering Potion of Healing II {0:05}, 1 Lingering Potion of Regeneration II {0:05}, 1 Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}
Blue Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 41 Glass Bottles, 64 Dragon's Breath, 59 Dragon's Breath, 64 Blaze Powder, 64 Nether Warts, 30 Soul Sand, 62 Phantom Membranes, 64 Blaze Rods, 64 Fermented Spider Eyes, 64 Carrots, 64 Melon Slices, 64 Rabbit's Feet, 64 Gold Ingots, 64 Gold Nuggets, 64 Gunpowder, 64 Redstone Dust, 64 Glowstone Dust, 64 Ghast Tears, 64 Sugar
[EXP: 32]
Inventory (Z7): 1 Diamond Helmet [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Chestplate [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Leggings [Protection IV, Unbreaking III], 1 Diamond Boots [Protection III, Unbreaking III], 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Dagger, 1 Iron Pickaxe, 32 Cobblestone, 1 Crafting Table, 1 Furnace, 21 Charcoal, 40 Torches, 59 Oak Planks, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 1 Cake, 24 Cookies, 40 Baked Potatoes, 1 Milk Bucket, 1 Bucket, 1 Book {Citizenship Information}, 1 Paper {Gold Citizenship Pass}, 1 Purple Shulker Box {Pocket Box}, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Totem of Undying, 1 Map {Paragon Minecraftia}
Purple Shulker Box {Pocket Box}: 1 Iron Helmet [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Chestplate [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Leggings [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV], 1 Iron Boots [Thorns III, Projectile Protection IV, Depth Strider III]
[EXP: 47]
AN: I swear to Christ, the first person to ship Cobb and Daisy loses their eyes.
An admittedly short chapter of set-up. Arrival in Oak Docks and the division of teams to investigate leads.
Bonus points to anyone who can guess where Dwight and Perry's dialogue in the pub is from.
FAV. FOLLOW. REVIEW. PM. FORUM. DISCORD. CAKE.