028 – Also Explosives

Day 1

“Oh, I love her. Can we keep her?” Lucy’s voice in my head said. The idea of Liz and Lucy bonding was a terrible one.

Liz raised her hands defensively. “I’ll leave you two to it, I need to find Constance.”

I started up the coffee machine again and searched, unsuccessfully, for any breakfast cereal. The fridge was decently stocked already, with several ready-to-eat options and even milk—but no cereal. I sighed and picked a gas-station tuna sandwich from the fridge. Supposedly it was good to eat for another couple of days.

Jamie had observed me quietly, leaning against the couch and sipping his coffee. “Looking for something specific?”

I unwrapped and sniffed the sandwich. The metallic scent of the tuna stood out more sharply to my enhanced senses. “Nothing specific-specific. Just cereal. I’m a person of habit.”

“Put it on the list. We’ll find some.”

“I suppose I could. Figured it was for more important things.”

He pushed away from the couch. “Come on, I’ll show you. It’s split by priority.”

On my minimap I saw a couple others sleeping and some milling around the building.

“Is that a new collar?” Jamie asked.

I brought Jamie up to speed on everything that had happened and what I’d unlocked since we lost contact last night.

When we entered the room that had housed the pillow-fort, Jamie faced me.

“Eve. May I hug you?”

I shrugged. “Yeah.”

He did. “I’ve been so fucking worried about you.”

I returned the embrace. “You shouldn’t. I seem to be great at not dying.”

After a moment he pulled away again, holding onto my shoulders. “This is where I should either slap or choke you. And if either of those wouldn’t cost me my class I’d be sorely tempted.”

He probably had plenty of reasons, though I wasn’t sure what specifically miffed him. “For what?”

“For you suddenly being out there on your own. For Ash suddenly going ‘I think Eve just flew by at 200 miles per hour.’ For that reckless attack against the golem. Have you talked to Gabriel? She manifested when you went down. I know the jokes about biblically accurate angels. But her aura right then? It both felt biblical and apocalyptic.”

“Suddenly being on my own wasn’t my fault. Ash speculating about U.F.Os also isn’t my fault—”

“It was you, though, was it?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean he gets to snitch on me and make everyone worry.”

“Eve,” Jamie growled. I thought there was humor in it. I hoped there was.

“As for that last point. I apologize. It was reckless. And yes, I got my scolding from Gabriel.”

Jamie handed me a dry-erase marker and pointed at the whiteboard behind him. I went and inspected the list, copying the entries to my notes. Most were expected, and I could quickly attribute some handwriting to specific people. Various ingredients for cooking for Stephen. Specific books for Ash. ‘Anything compact and heavy that’s good to throw’ for Liz. What stood out was the lack of any medication. In a group of our size, I’d expect at least a handful of people would need something on the regular. Nobody had written anything in the high-priority group yet.

“No medication?” I asked, while I began adding my own needs. Sneakers (size 6) went into medium. Cinnamon toast crunch (or store brand) went into low. Along with ‘A kite (large)’, ‘balloons’, and ‘helium tank’.

“Nope. All cured by the blessing. Ash got some significant—” he stopped himself mid-sentence. “Actually that’s not for me to talk about. All bodily ailments have been cured.”

“Huh,” I said once more. That explained the lack of a headache before. I had attributed it to Annika’s spell, but maybe my caffeine addiction was gone, too? Which came with the uncomfortable question of avoiding caffeine now. Eventually it would get a lot scarcer.

Jamie looked at the list. “Eve. I have no idea what you are planning, but I somehow think it involves more reckless risks.”

“Very moderate risks, at most. Which reminds me. I need you to tie me up.”

Jamie’s eyes went wide. “Excuse me?”

I looked around the room and ripped a length of cord off one of the now discarded tents. I put it on the table and held my wrists out for Jamie.

“Just the wrists. And leave some of that cord, so I can hold on to it.”

Jamie shook his head and tied my wrists with remarkable care. I ensured that the cord was firmly secured before I held onto the loose end with my right hand and pulled the cord into my inventory. The entire length vanished at once.

“Perfect,” I said.

“You’re really just going to be all smug and force the poor less brilliant me to ask what this was about?”

“Let me have the simple pleasures. This is the emergency release when I, as a crow, get tied to a kite. For flying practice.”

“Sure. That’s not the most absurd thing I heard today.”

“You got any plans for today?” I asked.

“I’ve been waiting to talk to you about those. Others are going to attempt to crack the mall, but we aren’t exactly a great addition there.” Jamie looked away.

“Why not?”

“Well, on the one hand we are a bit high level. We are too many to always team up, and they need to figure out how to deal without you and me. Especially considering your tendency to be unavailable.”

He still wasn’t telling me the uncomfortable part.

“And on the other hand?”

“Jason needs to go with them. He has trap finding skills, which are essential against kobolds. And people think it’s better if you two don’t team up.”

I sat against the wall and hugged my knees.

“He hates me. And he’s right to do so.”

Jamie crouched across from me. “Eve. You can’t blame yourself for anything last night. None of us were prepared for this.”

I reminded myself of Gabriel’s words. “You say that. But while you were locked up, fighting against that spell tearing your mind apart… I was having a nice stroll with Lucy. The moment I got a grasp on my mind I should have returned and helped them.”

“Would they have let you?”

“Why wouldn’t they let me help them?”

“Lucy. It sounds like things were fine thanks to them. Would things have stayed fine if you had started helping others?”

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Before I could reply, Lucy did, having manifested behind Jamie. “Absolutely the fuck not. Can’t be giving out freebies.”

Jamie didn’t even turn. “See? You, Eve, must accept that you have limitations. As unpleasant and painful as they are.” He turned around. “Lucy, long time no see.”

“Hey, golden boy, how’s the end of the world treating you? Ready to ditch that Paladin class for a Dark Knight yet?”

“Can’t say I am, Lucy.”

“You know how it is. Had to ask.”

Their interplay was endearing in the weirdest way. And I was not sure if they were cooperating to distract me or not.

“Gabriel? Can you join us, too? I’d appreciate your insight on next steps.”

Gabriel appeared next to Lucy, giving Jamie a rueful smile.

“What about your guide?” I asked Jamie.

“Ah, they are a bit more shy than yours. They’d rather stick to me.”

“Fair enough. Let’s discuss options. You mentioned the dungeon run. What else needs doing? Gabriel, what’s next in line now that the seal is in place? How do we win this war?”

Jamie let Gabriel answer first.

“To answer your last question first: I cannot be your general. I am your guide, Eve. My job is to help you. Personal guidance, not strategic guidance. Right now, mankind has ten years to repel Hell. That timer might accelerate, depending on events across the globe. More important for the local fate of the Blessed will be the tasks the Blessing will lay out some time in the next 24 to 72 hours. Until then, you have some liberty to do as you please. I do encourage working on fundamentals.”

“Fundamentals being levels, supplies or combat practice?” I asked.

“All of that. I recommend you try to reach level 10 today. It’ll help with supplies, since you’ll unlock the ability to loot Created then. That will likely provide necessary sustenance.”

“An entirely new thing? Loot? Why didn’t you tell me before?”

Gabriel just smiled at me, letting me figure it out on my own. Damn, she was good.