There is nothing greater than a good man with high Numbers. And there is nothing more terrifying than an evil man with high Numbers.

It is not the Numbers which determines what is great and what is terrifying -- it is the man. At the end of the day, there is an ineffable something in each person that cannot be defined or detected by our Numbers. That something is the origin of religion. The origin of love. The origin of friendship.

I agree that the Numbers can play a role in our capabilities, and my opponents are not entirely off-base in their advocation of using Numbers as a basis for measuring people. However, there clearly is a something that plays a much larger role than our Numbers, which determines the difference between a good man and an evil man. And there is no Number to measure that.

- Excerpt from The Sixth Attribute, by John Liegan

“...Okay.” I acquiesce. “But why do you need to see them before we can eat?” I ask. I assumed we would have to show our Numbers at some point -- after all, before the apocalypse we’d have to list them on every official document and application. But the way he phrased his request seems...strange.

Jeremy sighs. “We have a system here. It works, but it requires everyone to do their part. Everyone has to be willing to do what they can, and shoulder the responsibilities that come with their role. And the Numbers play a large part of those responsibilities.”

That...didn’t really answer the question. I begin to roll up my sleeve, assuming his statement will become clear in time. The rest of my friends roll up their own sleeves, Styx frowning at Jeremy as she does so.

Jeremy glances over each of our Numbers, nodding to himself and making a thoughtful noise under his breath. I look to the Numbers on my arm.

100

100

157

100

70

Using my skill, I had changed my wisdom Number to appear less than half of its true value. I had considered modifying my other Numbers as well, but eventually decided it may be suspicious for my Numbers to be too different from my actual capabilities or for my total Numbers to be too much lower than my companions.

After examining each of our Numbers, Jeremy continues. “I’m impressed, you certainly must have killed a lot of monsters to be this strong. And without guns! I’ll also have to see your right arms I’m afraid.”

I sigh and begin to roll up my right sleeve as well. It may have been too much to ask for him to not know about skills. His eyes quickly glance over Pallas’ and my bare arms before looking at Styx and Melete with a smile.

“Even more impressive! Two skills. What do they do, if you don’t mind me asking?” He says.

“Why do you want to know?” I ask. I want to trust him. He’s the first human we’ve seen since the inclusion and this fort looks like it could be a safe place to rest for a bit, so I want to trust him. But as these questions continue, my inner pessimist is starting to sound more and more convincing.

He looks annoyed at my question, glancing at me only for a second before looking back to Pallas and Styx. “Here at Fort Carscott, we have two roles: combatants and non-combatants. Combatants serve as the guards and defenders from the monsters, while the non-combatants take care of other needs around the fort. Obviously, being a combatant comes with certain dangers that non-combatants wouldn’t have to face. To keep everyone safe, we need to make sure that everyone who is a combatant meets a certain threshold of being able to defend themselves and others. For now, that threshold is a total of at least three hundred in the physical Numbers or a relevant combat skill. Preferably both. Pallas and Styx here,” He puts a hand on Styx’s shoulder, “both already qualify for being a combatant from their Numbers. Melete still has a chance, provided her skill can be used to fight.”

Styx brushes his hand off of her shoulder and angrily retorts. “Why can’t Atlas fight too? He’s been fighting this whole time! You can’t stop him just because he decided to add his Numbers a bit differently!”

I wave my hands, trying to calm Styx down. “It doesn’t really matter either way. We aren’t planning on staying here long term, we’ll need to move on to Clayton to look for our families soon. Of course, we can help fight if you need us for an emergency, but we won’t need to be added into any squads or anything.”

Jeremy’s smile turns into a frown. “I think you should let your friends decide that for themselves,” he says with some menace. “Besides, there are a lot of benefits to joining our combatant squads. Combatants get better food and first choice for most privileges, plus we’ll make sure you all get a chance to occasionally score the kills on monsters giving you the chance to increase your Numbers.” By the end, his smile has reappeared, directed back towards Pallas and Styx.

“...what.” Styx asks, her voice low and hard, angrier than I’ve ever heard her.

Jeremy just shrugs. “We put ourselves in danger daily. We need to stay strong, and obviously the greater sacrifice comes with greater benefits.”

“We’re leaving, now.” Styx just says, making the decision. I don’t disagree, happy to finally listen to my instincts. We all turn and head for the door, but our way is suddenly blocked by a group of four men. We get close, but they don’t move, wide chests blocking the way and hands resting on holstered guns.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t let you do that,” Jeremy says, following us. I suddenly become aware of the number of people with guns sitting throughout the cafeteria. Most of them are looking our way, but I don’t see any sympathy in the faces directed toward us. There are a few people not looking in our direction, heads down, but I notice most of them don’t have guns. “Here at Fort Carscott, we have a good thing going. I cannot idly sit by while four teenagers commit suicide by running into monsters’ arms just outside of our walls. But more importantly,” His eyes are hard. “Leaving directly harms Fort Carscott.”

“We’ll leave in peace, we won’t harm you at all!” I say, raising my hands in the air.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong. Numbers are a commodity now. And that commodity is in short supply. Allowing you to leave would just be giving more strength to the monsters that attack us every day, and would take away from the Numbers we have here to work and fight.” He stops a few inches in front of me, looking down into my eyes. I had noticed his height earlier, but standing this close he seems even taller. Fear surges through me as he leans closer. “So you see, even if you leave peacefully, the act of leaving itself harms us. And I would sooner kill you now for your Numbers than allow harm to come to what I’ve built.” I swallow nervously, barely able to breathe.

Suddenly, Jeremy’s entire demeanor changes as he steps back and smiles again. “But it won’t happen, now will it?”

Carefully, I nod. Melete and Pallas nod slowly as well, Melete uncharacteristically silent, and Jeremy turns to Styx. I can tell that she is still fuming, and I silently pray she gives in. Now isn’t the time to fight.

Eventually, she nods, and Jeremy’s smile widens. “Good, good! Let’s sit down then, and we can get you some food.” We follow him to a table and take our seats. The wall of men by the doorway has cleared out, but the cafeteria feels just as crowded. “I’m going to need to hear more about your skills now. It’s not a request anymore.”

He looks at Styx first. For a few seconds, she just stares at him until she finally mutters between clenched teeth. “It lets me somewhat ignore other skills.”

“Really? That’s interesting.” Jeremy says. “Would you be willing to demonstrate?” Without waiting for a response, he calls over to a woman at another table. “Gina! Get over here!” A short angry-looking woman stands from her meal and walks over.

“What’s up?”

“This lovely young lady has a skill she says can make her ignore other skills,” Jeremy says. “And she wants to demonstrate it for us.”

The woman’s scowl morphs into a smile. “I can help with that.” She lifts a hand and fire appears at each of her fingers. The flames are small but intense, and I can feel the heat from where I’m sitting a few feet away.

Styx stands and backs away. “Hold on, I’ve only had this for a few days, I’m still not sure how it’ll work. What if her skill is just to make fire? My skill doesn’t make me immune to normal fire.”

Jeremy nods. “You’re right of course. Slow down Gina, just bring it close slowly, and we’ll see if you feel the heat.”

Gina nods, her smile dimming a bit, and walks up to Styx slowly bringing her hand up to Styx’s face. Styx has fear in her eyes, and I struggle to stay in my seat, but she doesn’t react to the flames.

Gina frowns and brings her hand even closer until she finally brushes the tips of her fingers against Styx’s face, flames fluttering around the ends of Styx’s hair and ear. I can’t imagine how painful it would be if it weren’t for Styx’s skill -- sitting a few feet away, I fight the urge to back away from the heat.

Styx’s face has calmed once again, and she simply stares back into Gina’s eyes. The flames against her grow in size until Jeremy speaks. “That’s enough, I think.” Gina’s flames disappear and she walks back to her seat, frowning as she walks. Her face is a bit pale, and as she gets back to her table a man stands and offers her a hand, which she angrily brushes away. “I’m impressed,” Jeremy says. “That skill certainly is powerful, although limited in usefulness. How about you, Melete, what does your skill do?”

Melete’s voice is quiet when she responds. “Mine? Nothing useful for combat. It just helps me to sing better.” For a moment, I am confused. If it’s not useful for combat, how were we able to use it to fight...?

Jeremy simply nods, moving on without asking for a demonstration. “That’s nice to have, I guess. I’d love to hear you sing sometime. We’ve certainly been lacking for music over the last few weeks. Unfortunate that it doesn’t help you fight though.”

I stare at Melete, mouth open. For perhaps the first time I see value in the charisma attribute separate from healing. In all my life I’ve never encountered a situation where such a casual lie is so important, and never in my life has a casual lie sounded so believable. The way she spoke...I wanted to believe it was true. And Jeremy accepted it without question.

“So Melete and Atlas, you are with the non-combatants. Styx, Pallas, how about you two? Do you want to join them, or are you willing to fight?”

They look at each other. Styx opens her mouth to speak, but before any words come out she glances at me. Or rather, at my hand. I’m subtly making our sign for attack with my right hand, hoping they’ll get the message.

They pause for another second before Styx finally speaks. “We’ll fight.” Pallas nods with her.

“That’s good!” Jeremy says, slapping Pallas on the back. Glad to hear it. I’ll lead you to the food line, and I’ll get someone to take care of Altas and Melete.”

He yells for a man named Jonathan, who jogs up and leads us over to a line for food. Unfortunately, it’s more of the same of what we’ve been eating for the last weeks: canned vegetables and beans, and in a much smaller portion than what I’m used to. I’m glad we decided to eat before approaching the fort.

Jonathan barely says a word as he leads us to a table to sit and eat, far away from Pallas and Styx. We’re surrounded by what appear to be other non-combatants -- at least that’s what I assume based on their lack of firearms and less than appetizing meals.

Now that we’re away from Jeremy, Melete gains back a bit of her normal joviality and hums between bites of food. I can’t help but worry that encouraging Pallas and Styx to take Jeremy’s offer was a bad choice. I’d prefer for us to stick together, but I also want them to be able to take advantage of the ‘privileges’ being a combatant offers.

Nothing for it now -- I try to start up a conversation with some of those sharing my table

“So, do you know what we’ll be doing all day?” I ask the older woman on my right.

She looks up from her food, glancing at my eyes before shrugging and turning her attention back to her plate.

I turn to the kid across from me, I’d guess still in junior high, and ask him the same question. He doesn’t even look up from his food to respond.

I frown. I had hoped that I’d be able to get more information on the fort from a less biased source, but that may be harder than I thought. Now would be a great time to have more charisma to get these people to open up.

I look to Melete on my left, happily munching on her food and humming to herself.

Sighing, I lift a forkful of beans to my mouth and take a bite.

S: 100

D:100

W: 321

I: 100

C: 70

0

Skills: Adjust:Self