Chapter 12

  April 2 0350 ATG (After The Gate)

  -

  After escaping that shithole of a town they called Mottsville, and boy, I was so glad too, because the local leadership had a lot invested in that asshole and his operation. It was only after I received a warning from one of my contacts that I cut bait and left earlier than usual. After which, I made my way south to the ruins. Now, I have seen a few strange ones. I think the weirdest had to be an underground facility. It was there that I discovered how crazy the old world was. Apparently, the place had been a military research site. It housed something called a gate, and a M.E.D device. I found all this on a terminal that was still working after all this time, which was a blessing in disguise, because these metal humans chased into this room. Luckily there was a magic box in the room with me. I flipped all the switches via this terminal and shut the power to the place off. Big mistake, but it needed to be done. Otherwise, I would have been toast. Point is, Shit! Why couldn’t this place be just as exciting? There wasn’t even a single book or blueprint to make any of this worth it.

  – Archeologist Jonas Skarts. “Jonas’ Journal”

  -

  Jonas’ trek through the woods was mostly delightful. Shit was a very curious wolf pup. She caught the scent of some poor creature that found its way into a one of the traps set up by the scavenger team, and the scent of the dying creature caught the nose of his companion. In some kind of way, Jonas was happy that the puppy found it, because that meant training the shit in hunting and tracking wouldn’t be impossible. It also meant they would have real food, and not jerky. That was just the optimistic side of it. On the other hand, the puppy nearly got itself caught in a nearby trap. The little shit saw a snow rabbit that was about to set off a baited trap while going after the rabbit to play with it… or kill it. Jonas wasn’t sure, but when she saw the bunny, she bolted for it. The rabbit panicked and stumbled into the small bear trap like contraption, sparing the pups own leg. Shit naturally yelp out of surprise.

  Jonas yanked on the leash out of reflex the moment he saw the leg breaking device. Thank goodness for the rabbit, because Jonas would have been too late otherwise. From what Jonas understood of puppies of the canine family was this. They were impressionable at this stage, and learned by doing. This was one behavior he wanted to engrain into the puppy, and that was to avoid anything looking like the scavenger trap that nearly took Shit’s leg. Well, that and to never stray too far from him. All that other stuff would come later. “Come here!” Jonas commanded, while snapping once. The puppy didn’t obey. Jonas repeated the command and snapped once more, but this time gave the leash a light tug. The puppy understood and came to Jonas. “Good girl.” He gave the puppy a reward. After that, Jonas collected the emptied trap and placed it into his bag. He’d return it… eventually, but the puppy needed to learn to avoid these things, and it was a necessity to barrow it.

  Jonas found something to pry the other trap open, and tied the leash to the tree. Going back over to the trapped rabbit, Jonas placed his bare hand on the suffering creature and delivered a mild shock that paralyzed the struggling beast. Jonas felt bad about prolonging its suffering, but it would be helpful for training the pup. He would probably let the little shit play with it and chase it around before starting anything more serious. Jonas bagged the snow rabbit and retrieved his companion and cringed. That poor rabbit was in for a worse day.

  Their journey to the old-world ruins ultimately took about an hour. Jonas’ pocket watch read six, and that meant camp would have been completely set up by now. That also meant any kind of movement made against Jonas himself would already be in motion. Jonas approached the ruin. It was immaculately preserved, all things considered. It was two stories tall with some windows busted out with others still intact. The ruin looked to have a standard rectangular shape to it with a rectangular inlet leading into and to the door.

  Jonas felt his breath catch as he stood there marveling at the building. It had been hundreds of years, and it was still standing. Jonas even saw a flickering light. That was definitely a good sign, because that meant active terminals. The archeologist felt excitement well up within himself. The emotion almost mad Jonas forgot about the potential hoard that was on its way to crucify him.

  “What do you mean he is missing?” Georgy yelled in rage. “We finally got his journal and cypher and you can’t find him?” Standing before Georgy, wearing a buffalo fur duster was Shalty. She was having a very bad evening, and it was all because of rash decisions made by people who knew nothing but their own lust for power. In fairness, this had caused Georgy quite the headache. That journal was the key to unlimited power and change. The problem was getting rid of a loose end that turned out to not be a loose end. “At least tell me you didn’t kill Peter.” Georgy was back in his chair with his face in his hands. Shalty just looked at Georgy confused. “No, I assigned Mayble to do that, why?”

  Georgy just got to his feet and slid the journal over to Shalty. “Read it.” Shalty looked nervous. “I SAID READ IT.” Georgy shouted. “She didn’t hesitate the second time, and when she did, her stomach fell. “To the nosey fucks reading this. Keep your shit-stained hands, off other people’s mother fucken shit.” Shalty rushed out of the room. “This is a cluster fuck.” Georgy muttered sitting back down with his face buried into his hands. “This was a god-dammed loyalty test.” As to what extent, and the entire goal, that was anyone’s guess. The point was, Jonas just found out who he couldn’t trust. The man was smart. Too smart. He got up, and put on his cloak. He needed to track down Shalty, who was no doubt preventing Mayble from going murder happy on Peter.

  ***

  Shalty scrambled as fast as her feet would take her. She should have known something was off when Jonas hugged Peter. All her time watching the man, indicated he wasn’t the touchy feely type. Everything he did that evening seemed off. Suddenly the warm duster hugging her fit body felt heavier with the sight that greeted Shalty. What she saw spurred the lead security guard into action. Mayble had her saber out and had it raised in high executioners, while in a standard offensive stance. Shalty didn’t think. She moved, and intercepted the intended killing blow. Their eyes met, and Mayble’s eyes went wide. “Shalty? I- I- What’s going on.” Shalty didn’t answer and looked around for Peter, and when she didn’t see him, she feared the worst, but it did raise further questions. Why was Mayble going to kill Lars.

  “Where’s Peter?” Mayble shifted from a look of guilt to one of understanding. “He’s-” But, before she could finish, Georgy stepped through the door. Shalty and Mayble both stiffened. “Peter’s not here. Mayble was just telling me where he is, and was about to tell me that the man is alive.” Shalty put emphasis on the “alive” part, which Mayble was all too eager to supply a yes to, even though she still didn’t understand what was going on. “Sir, I still don’t understand. Isn’t Peter just a loose end?” Georgy was about to answer the psychopath, when he spotted a beaten Lars. Instead, Georgy just pointed at Lars and commanded, “Explain!”

  Mayble wilted. “He knows where Jonas is, but he refuses to say where.” Georgy slapped the woman with his full strength. Mayble was sent sprawling to the floor. “Have you any idea what you’ve just done? That man is a part of the security team and now we are a man short.” Georgy pointed at the man’s injuries for emphasis. Georgy turned his attention to Shalty. “Mayble is to receive a flogging for injuring Lars, and endangering the security of the expedition.” He probably should have explained his reasoning for clarity, but Georgy was so furious at being out maneuvered, that he just couldn’t think clearly. “You know where to find me, Shalty. Make sure Peter is alive, and bring me proof of it. Mayble’s just might depend on it.”

  Georgy snatched the keys and unshackled Lars. Just as he was released, Georgy was quick to catch the man, as Lars fell limply over Georgy’s shoulder and was carried out. Mayble looked wight as a ghost, and Shalty looked shaken. Mayble’s life had been threatened, and she was to receive a flogging. That was understandable. As for Shalty, the weight of Jonas’ duster felt even heavier than before. They had acted rashly, and all did was sow division and chaos. Lars would never trust them again. That was for dam sure. She looked at the trembling Mayble. “Take me to Perter.”

  Peter was still alive, and to Shalty’s relief, unharmed. He could be seen peeking through the various cracks and bullet holes. She sighed in relief. She was not politically savvy like Georgy, nor was she as ruthless as Mayble and the others. That might be why Shalty found the behavior as odd. Ok, maybe not odd, per say, but it was a bit confusing, because Peter wasn’t scared. He didn’t even resist and that was coming from Mayble. “Alright, let him go.” Mayble scrambled over to the wagon and unbound the man and let go on his way.

  Shalty parted ways with Mayble and made her way back to Georgy, who was reading something. “I take it Peter is safe.” He said this more as an expected fact then a question. “Yes, he has been set free and is unharmed.” “Good! Now, let’s hope the damage isn’t too bad. You may go.” Georgy dismissed, but Shalty didn’t go. She was worried about Mayble. “Please, George, do I really have to flog Mayble?” To her surprise, Georgy didn’t yell or get upset. He, just seemed tiered. “Yes. If we don’t, Lars may feel discontent and betray us.” Shalty was about to speak, but the co-leader cut her off. “Look, I know I’m the one who set these events into motion, but Mayble is the one who tortured Lars like some kind of treasonous traitor. The reality is, he saved this expedition from self-destructing, and deserves more.” Georgy got up and went to the back of the wagon. “At worst, we just gave Jonas an ally, at best, this show of justice will only mean 3 lashes to Mayble’s back. I’m hoping it’s the later.” Georgy said as he went into the back of the wagon, leaving Shalty alone. “Because the former means this show of justice would be pointless, and all this scheming would get you and yours nothing. You’re the coward that wanted Jonas dead by the morning.” Shalty thought contemptuously, as she left to get Mayble’s flogging ready for the next morning. She pulled the duster around herself. It almost felt like a comforting hug. Suddenly, Shalty’s and everyone else’s attention was drawn to the far distance as odd and alarming sounds that sounded like thunder fallowed by a hand crank gatling gun on ultra crank speeds blasted the encirclement.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Jonas prowled around the large ruin with excitement. At a distance, the broken windows were a welcomed sight, because it meant easy access. The closer he got, the more Jonas realized the broken windows were not the opening he’d been hoping for. The building was in a type of lockdown mode. Jonas had come across this kind of thing before with other old-world ruins, and getting in was a real toss of a coin. It just depended on whether or not this building was a military, converted for military, or civilian ruin.

  That still didn’t stop the archeologist from examining the perimeter just in case. After all, it was possible for an armored security shutter to be rusted to the point that Jonas could just force his way through, but Jonas didn’t find one. At least, not in the way he had expected. While he was making his way around the facility’s perimeter, he had made note of some interesting points of interest. One of them being, what looked like a multipurpose training yard with a cluster of flooded and damaged buildings all clustered around two crossing paved roads that looked to be out of place. The other part of the training yard was way to deteriorated to tell. All that was left were broken pieces of wood and cement.

  Making his way back to the front of the ruin, Jonas began thinking about all the points of entry he had made mental note of… which weren’t many. The shutters behind the windows were still strong, and the front door was a potential death trap. If the building had been used during the war, then it would have some kind of defense mechanism. Some places had turrets hidden in walls, ceilings, or floors, while other places had these death bots that would activate and shoot anything that moved, and when those things activated, all you could do was run. Revolvers were little more than pee shooters to those things.

  Of course, this only was a possibility if the place still had power, and this place had power. It wasn’t stable power, but it still had power non the less. Jonas circled back around to the back, where the training yard was. “Ok, Shit. Get ready to run.” Jonas picked the pup up. His sudden movement caused his revolver holsters and his relic to bob. The weight was a reminder that he did have options. With his free hand, Jonas pulled free his relic and charged it with electricity. It could fire off whole lightning bolts. The last time he’d triggered it, it wasn’t against old world tech, but a wooden crate instead. On the other hand, Jonas had seen a lightning bolt devastate a cottonwood tree, and he’d never seen a revolver do that.

  When the runes were glowing at their brightest, Jonas cut off the electricity, and with a cautious step, stepped across the line into the training yard. Jonas’ nerves were through the roof. His senses were sharpened, and his reflexes on ready. Then? His foot made contact and it was like the world stood still. Only, nothing happened. Jonas let out a nervous laugh, which he instantly regrated, because a disembodied female, and robotic voice said, “Do you wish to initiate Firefighter simulations 1-3? Yes or no.” which caused Jonas to react and fire a bolt of lightning towards the sound. There were a loud crackle and boom as the bolt struck the side of the building, blasting open what looked like an oversized doggy door sized hole.

  That was the only good thing about the situation, because three turrets rose out of the ground at various points throughout the training yard and began swiveling on rusted joints towards Jonas’ direction. Jonas mentally apologized to Shit. He had no idea if the pup would get a shock or not, but there was no time to test it out. Jonas enhanced his body with his electricity and bolted towards the doggy door sized hole as the turrets opened fire. It sounded like a gatling gun, but sped up impossibly fast. “FUCK THIS!” Jonas cursed, as he fired the last charge from his relic at one of the turrets. It was followed with another crackle and boom, and Jonas had no idea if the turret was destroyed or not. His money was on not, but he wasn’t going to stop and look.

  Jonas was closer now, and he could feel hope beginning to blossom in his chest with every footfall that did not end with a life ending bullet. The closer he got, the more hope he felt, but he felt something else. It was excitement. It was the thrill of it all, never knowing what a ruin would throw at him. It made plundering its secrets all the more worth it. The feeling was also distracting, and getting lost in the euphoria it brought, spelled certain doom. It also wouldn’t take long for these turrets to adjust for his movements. This, Jonas was certain of. This place was in remarkable condition, so he imagined the same was for the turrets too.

  At long last, Jonas was closing in on the doggy door like hole he had made. With little to no thought, Jonas dove and angled his body to his side so to not squish the maybe still alive snow rabbit in the bag or the puppy trying to escape his tight grasp. The archeologist felt a sudden and intense stinging sensation on his calf as a bullet grazed the back of his lower leg right as he passed into the safety of the ruin.

  The moment Jonas was inside the building; he noticed the storm of bullets cease. His heart was pounding, and his body was beginning to catch up to his injuries. Pain spread throughout his torso and limbs, but Jonas was more concerned about the puppy in his arms, because he’d over charged his own body. The pain Jonas felt wasn’t entirely due to getting shot up. He’d only been grazed at the calf, and Jonas suspected that if the turrets had not rusted, he’d likely be dead. No, it was because Jonas had over enhanced his body, causing his nerves and muscles to suffer a huge backlash. Needless to say, the archeologist wouldn’t be enhancing his body like that for a while, but at least his wolf companion was alright. She looked frazzled and confused, but Shit was ok, and that brought Jonas some comfort.

  Jonas just lay there, catching his breath. Shit had squirmed out of his arm and began sniffing around, clearly in need of a bathroom break, but the instant relief of not moving was all the incentive Jonas needed to just let the puppy go wherever. Hell, she could have pissed on his bullet wound for all he cared. There was also the fact that this place’s outer defenses were still functional. He wouldn’t be going out there any time soon. At least, not until they were disarmed. Jonas craned his neck to see where Shit had gone to.

  The lights had a tendency to flicker at times, and other times they would go out entirely. There were also moments where the lights would remain active for random periods of time. The lights were currently flickering. This made it slightly difficult to find the pup. The strobing light was distracting and slightly disorientating. But that wasn’t an issue. The lovable ball of fluff was attached to the leash. So, push comes to shove, he could just reel Shit in like a fish. That was when Jonas remembered how much leash there really was, and he sat bolt upright. The pain that pervaded his body was beginning to ease up, but the movement still hurt like a bitch. Panick over a family member, even a dog, was a powerful motivator.

  Gritting his teeth, Jonas looked around in a panic. The puppy was nowhere in sight. He fallowed the leash, and to his horror, it led outside the hole. Jonas felt terror grip his heart. “The turrets.” He yelled as he made his way over to the hole, the pain nearly causi9ng the archeologist to stumble and fall. But, just as Jonas was half way to the hole, he realized something. The turrets hadn’t gone off. As a matter fact, they quit firing the moment Jonas was fully inside the building. Jonas sighed in relief, and fell back onto his back. “You, little shit.” Realization hit Jonas. The puppy was pissing outside. He began laughing historically. “You little shit. If I knew nearly getting my dick shot off was what it took to potty train you, I would have done this sooner.”

  Jonas was woken up by his wolf companion’s whimper and face licking. Jonas did a quick mantle check of himself that told Jonas that his nerve ending and joints were no longer on fire, and a few movement tests revealed that he’d recovered enough to get a move on, on his little ruin dive. He checked his pocket watch and gave it a few twists, finding that he’d been out for a few hours. “Were going to have to play this one smart, Shit. If we can find the magic box, we could turn off the security.” Jonas was in the middle of saying when he noticed that the puppy had started growling and barking. Jonas looked at where the puppy was looking to see many dark humanoid shadows out in the distance beyond the hole. “Oh! For Fuck sakes. Really?”