Journal Entry 309

January 3, 2023

Artifacts: 299

Repairs: 300

Kill count: 2999

All PTSD have triggers. Mine are open space, getting touched at the throat and these two words: basic training.

TT

When I last spoke to Dune Wolf, I planned on taking out seven breeders a day. Have it be done in twelve hours each day. Sounds simple, right? WRONG!

I recall seeing a few anime clips of military shooting at a ginormous red dragon. Waves of bullets never puncturing the scales. The dragon being an outright bitch to defeat. All the breeders are BITCHES! FUCKING GODDAMN BITCHES!

I once worked as a ramp agent at an airport. After signing up for a week long vacation, I decided to do overtime to keep up with my paycheck, not wanting to lose out on money. It was at the end of the year. Christmas and New Year. Busiest time of the year for the Airport. I worked 80 hours that week. Needless to say, cat naps while working hard, does Crap to mental health. That was one week. Imagine doing that for two months. My mental state is in tatters.

The breeders took the flooring out from between the two levels they were occupying. The space was massive. The majority of them were hanging off a surface by webbing, which Tik Tak and I got tangled up in multiple times. The eco blasts always hit right next to us, sending us flying. The concussive waves from the attacks gave me migraines on top of the migraines from the legs in my head.

I definitely lost more of my hearing. I was originally at moderate to severe. Now I'm in severe hearing loss. Tik Tak is basically my hearing canine now.

We got backhanded many times, old age and decaying parts kept them from being at full strength probably saved us. The ones with wings, I shot them full of holes to keep the grounded.

It was constant running back and forth. Alcoves got used a few times each before being taken down. The eco crystals got used up and needed replacing between naps. Tik Tak and I are dehydrated and hungry all the time.

I think the only reason why they didn't use their full power at the same time is because we are pretty deep underwater. Don't think they can survive the pressure. They go pop, pop, go the weasel. Constant shooting and running. Shooting and running.

Stop.

Just keep shooting!

Stop!

Keep Running!

I said STOP!

Tik Tak pounced on my chest. Tears sprung from my eyes as another wave of pain shot through my head as I tried to push him off. Why!?

Companion, I think we got them all. There's no more.

It took more than a few minutes of my Sith Hound staying on top of me while saying that before I stopped and actually looked around.

Nothing's moving.

All that's left is to knock down a giant empty crystal attached to the ceiling, into the hole on the bottom floor, go all the way back to the top floor and flip a switch. Tabby said that the Temple has huge ass pipes connecting it to the catacombs far below, keeping the eco lines flowing. As the Temple rise up, the pipes will stay connected.

The cannon Tik Tak and I dragged before the boss fight will now serve its purpose.

TT

That wasn't supposed to happen.

Tik Tak?

Nothing was supposed to go wrong.

"Tik Tak." Please say something.

The cannon went off at the right level of power.

"Please, wake up."

The crystal fell.

"WAKE UP!"

There was some kind of explosion.

"Please, wake up!"

He won't wake up.

"C'mon. I'll carry you."

There's a metal rod sticking out of my back.

"You're not too heavy."

My tears are red.

"We're almost there."

I refuse to let go.

"You mean so much to me."

I left bloody footprints the whole way.

Everything is too quiet. Yet, the click Tabby made when I snapped it in.

"This is the Lost Temple coming up." That is definitely blood dribbling out of my mouth.

I didn't wait for a reply. A flick of the switch and the Temple is shaking. Wake up Tik Tak. You need to see this.

Everything got brighter and brighter. I grabbed Nectar from his hidey spot and brought him in.

Tabby lit up, Open all doors upon arrival? Y/N

We broke through the surface. It's so bright, my eyes hurt. There's a tower with a bonfire on top. A beacon. I hit Y.

A door by the main window slid open, it has a small balcony. Keeping hold of Tik Tak and Nectar, I brought us to the door, not quite outside. Fresh air, warm light, blue skies, ocean rippling down below, ants rushing to a sailboat.

Movement has me looking down to see Tik Tak trying to cover his eyes. So bright.

I gently rubbed my head against his.

We just sat there, wind and sand caressing our faces. Something white fluttered down to the railing. Tik Tak didn't react, not a threat.

I don't know how long we were there. Long enough to get stiff when my sith hound snarled at the door. It was merely instinct for me to grab a weapon and fire over my shoulder multiple times without looking.

I was expecting to hear growling or shrieks of a creature. Not words.

"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" Now that is a familiar voice. Turning my head, I see a group of people, all long ears. They're too far for me to make out detail beyond a blurry mess. I think, think, the big one is Kleiver.

The one up front, orange staff and orange spots on the head, spoke up, "Rift," anything else is just a garbled mess.

Nice shooting.

You had me shoot on purpose.

They won't underestimate you now. Especially the large one. Brat.

The garbled voices were still going on, "Dune," and they stopped. I tried to speak again. I couldn't. I couldn't breath. Dune rushed forward only to lean back as I swiped at him. Couldn't help myself, just a reaction.

And my body gave in. I just hope he remembers, no open space and no eco.

Journal Entry 310

January 4, 2024

Artifacts: 300

Repairs: 300

Kill count: 3000

We fucking did it. It's over. Basic training my ass. That was living Hell.

Tik Tak is 10. I'm 28. We share the same birthday.