Book 8 – Chapter 22 – Passenger

Good news, the last mite challenge was all about outthinking an opponent that had cheated the system. This time around, there wasn’t any thinking involved, just flat out agility.

Bad news, even with Drakonis’s occult lashes and all the time in the world doing nothing but trying to outspeed the challenge, he hadn’t been able to make it work.

“Center console here, right above the sealed chest. That’s where the glyph image shows up.” He pointed, right above the center of the tower.

The insides were about the same as the outsides for this tower. Large platforms were outside, and on the inside those were there too, all up and down. There were stairs and different paths, sure, but those were more of a bad suggestion.

One of them was a single metal chain that looked like it would snap if I even tried to tiptoe my way over it with Journey.

Probably the closest the mites get to a joke. Superior sent. Whatever colony built this tower knew human agility wouldn’t be enough.

It’s all about preplanning for this one. I sent back, agreeing with his findings.

The setup was as simple as making ice. Image shows up in the center of the tower, and a matching image appears somewhere on one of these platforms. Get to it fast enough to press down a raised pedestal, and the challenge would repeat. Drakonis’s high score had been three, and that was by pure luck.

Half the challenge wasn’t agility, just immediate information. Knowing where the matching image had been generated, either inside the tower or outside, and which platform. If we could figure that out fast, then a simple occult lash would get us the rest of the way.

The winning ticket for this obstacle race was just flat out getting information fast. Hence why Drakonis said we needed five people here.

Two runners waiting outside and inside, one spotter for the main image generated waiting by the center sitting at the very top of the inside looking down at all the different platforms to tell where the image might show up, and the last two doing the same thing but for the outside, on the north and south side respectively.

Good plan all in all, and with armored up relic knights sharing instant visual information and assistance from their armors, this would be a cakewalk.

What I had to work with were four birds in an evo-suit, a Deathless in a makeshift toga without the philosophy lessons, and me.

“Wrath, how much power do you and To’Orda have on yourself to work with?” I sent out, walking back out of the tower. “I need some toys to play with.”

“To’Orda and I can have enough to craft some items, if that is what you are requesting for? How complex is the task?”

I looked at the Deathless tagging behind. He’d seen better days, messy short black hair and sharp brawny features like I remember them, but the angry creases by his eyes and mouth seemed to have gone a little. Maybe a vacation out here playing tag with the mite tower had been good for his mental health.

“I need one set of Drakonis sized clothing, a spare cape for myself since I don’t want my old one back, and cameras. Probably five or six, just so long as they can communicate with each other and Journey can connect to them. Also Drakonis needs a comms unit. Pretty please? I’ll cook you an actual editable plate as thanks, whenever we get some free time. I think chocolate can be shaped into just about anything, and the Logi have a chocolate coffee dessert shaped like a mug and plate.”

“I recall. I have tried that one twice thus far, I would be interested in seeing your attempt at it. I assume the other requests are for the tower itself?”

“And that’s why you’re the smart one between the two of us.” I said, giving her some finger guns to match. I knew she could see me even this far, Feathers have very good vision, the little cheats.

“Don’t forget to give yourself credit, human,” The rock added. “You also make her look extra pretty standing next to her. And everyone else too.”

“Cathida, attack the rock for me please.” I said, loosening my attack dog off her leash.

“What a lovely string of words deary, you should say those more often.” She said and went on to do exactly what I’d asked.

While the two started barking at each other, I waved at Drakonis to follow. “I’m asking for the crew to make some items for us, including some clothing for you. We’ll hike over there, get the goods and then come back here to get the tower done.”

Drakonis narrowed his eyes. “What do they want in return?”

“Compliments mostly, they’re ninety five percent ego, and five percent spite. Flattery gets you everywhere with Feathers I’ve found. At least the ones that don’t want to indiscriminately murder everyone though.”

“Winterscar.”

I waved him off, “Fine, fine. I said please, and that I’d cook her a dessert. She was very happy with that trade off.”

I had told Drakonis she was a glutton. He hadn’t believed me much back then, but maybe he would this time around. “Anyhow, by the time we make it down there, they should have it setup for us.”

Stolen story; please report.

He looked out and seemed almost hesitant. But that lasted all of a second as he took a breath and started walking again. “Reckon I’ll finally meet the warlord of Capra’Nor personally to make my own judgements this time.”

We made our way each time the terrain changed, with me mostly catching Drakonis up on anything he needed to know. About Wrath, events after he died, what the Icon and the Odin were up to.

Things were fine up until the Odin in question came down for a landing on his shoulder.

Drakonis freaked the hell out.

Out right dove out of the way, even used an occult shockwave to push away the Odin approaching. The poor bird gave a very upset squawk and flew back up.

“… uh, what was that?” I asked, giving him my full attention. “Did your paranoia about Feathers turn into something more literal here or something?”

He straightened out, looking supremely uncomfortable. “I… fuck. Don’t even know how to say this, but I’m not alone out here.”

“You were gone only a day and some change, and most of that was probably waiting to respawn or something. How did you get crazy within just a few hours? A little ahead of schedule there, don’t you think?”

“No dipshit, I mean I really am not alone. Didn’t know how to say this, but it knows you at least, so might be easier.”