Day 66 continued

(Rick POV)

Well they aren't soldiers and most of them look quite haggard. The two hundred and fifteen of them.

I took a photo just to count them all and keep track of all the faces. Don't want spies or saboteurs sneaking in with the strangers because nobody was cautious.

“WELL THEN, HELLO EVERYONE. I AM NOT CERTAIN WHO YOU ARE JUST YET, SO PLEASE TELL ME. YOU KNOW MY FRIEND, HOWEVER I WILL NEED MORE INFORMATION. IF IT IS SATISFACTORY WE CAN MAKE SPACE FOR YOU TO REST IN A SAFE PLACE. I'M AFRAID OUR SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED AT THE PRESENT SO WE WILL NEED FORAGERS WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO VOLUNTEER. WE DO HOWEVER HAVE ACCESS TO PLENTIFUL WATER NEARBY.” [Rick speaking through the golem] “PLEASE EXPLAIN, WHY ARE YOU HERE.”

“Uh... that thing can talk?” [Karamech]

“IT CANNOT, I SPEAK AND IT RELAYS THE MESSAGE.” [Golem (Rick)]

“Is that thing really a weapon? I don't see any blades... even the claws don't look very sharp.” [King Hensai]

“IT IS A WEAPON BEYOND YOUR NIGHTMARES. YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS TOO LIMITED.” [Golem (Rick)] “PERHAPS LATER I SHALL EXPLAIN. JUST KNOW IT CAN CUT YOU ALL DOWN WHERE YOU STAND RIGHT NOW. YOU CANNOT RUN FAR OR FAST ENOUGH TO ESCAPE.”

Yes, a pulse laser can do that. It won't take more than a fraction of a second to pierce a body completely. It can cut through inch thick armor plate in roughly one second. The real way this laser of mine trumps modern designs is that the output is steady. I can keep it firing all day, provided I have the anti-matter ring connected to it. I sacrificed a lot of resources to add the 'heat nullify' attribute to the barrel, you know. Regular lasers have heat conduction issues.

To put it in perspective a 100 megawatt laser can shoot down a plane over a few seconds. Mine is roughly 300 gigawatts, over three thousand times stronger. It's a prototype weapon. The materials are made without deviation to the molecular level, but it has quirks and inefficiencies to iron out. Like for example the fact it's a pulse rather than a beam. That is due to the condenser being inadequate for more than short bursts, since I'm just working with optimal design glass. Essentially the focus would burn out if I used it for less than a fraction of a second. So it rotates to cool down. Even with the 'heat nullify' effect, basic physics still apply they're just delayed. Glass at high temperature melts. A laser is predominantly heat based.

Anyway, specifics for these kind of things are complicated, so I won't go any further.

…

So back to the strangers.

“SPEAK. WHO ARE YOU?” [Golem (Rick)]

“Former prisoners, rebels... slaves no longer.” [The younger looking large dog]

“AH HA.” [Golem (Rick)] “HMM... MAKES SENSE. WELL THEN ENTER, BE WELCOME. THE RULES ARE SIMPLE: DON'T MOLEST OR HURT ANYONE ALREADY HERE. LIKE YOU WE ARE ALSO ESCAPED SLAVES, MOSTLY. WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING PERMANENT HOMES, SO I'M AFRAID LIKE US YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE DO.”

I move the golem from the path, back to an observing position. I leave it on weapons active mode. It actually can act on pre-set orders, besides my direct commands. It is a very simple AI however. I have it set to fire on anything that isn't visible in the normal spectrum of light. I also have it ready just in case this is a trap, but it doesn't seem wrong. I suppose they could be mercenaries or such, but really they're too weak to be a serious threat. If they were sent to do away with only 'two rats' they are far too numerous, but to deal with me specifically they wouldn't stand a chance. Well maybe the dogs are dangerous, they are quite imposing.

The adult cats, Niala and I are waiting armed to the teeth. Kitten's hidden.

However our weapons are lowered. I unhooked the cable from my chest.

I wait as the carts enter one by one. My eye sees interesting things, such as various ores on the carts. Should I be concerned? Beware Greeks bearing gifts...

The trio of dogs comes to us directly. Oh, these guys are very direct.

“You are the weapon sage, that we know of?” [King Hensai] “Indeed your body is queer.”

“If you seek to insult me, mission accomplished. A heads up. No one that made that list lived past a day.” [Rick]

Niala hisses at him.

“I did not mean this as an insult, merely an observation. We were told you would look unusual.” [Hensai]

Sigh.

“I guess that means you really do know the little scamp well. The apes know only that I'm a rat. Only Tirmin knows I'm like this.” [Rick]

And Chanti, but she would have died before talking.

“That huge, golden thing at the door... you made that?” [Hensai]

“Sure did.” [Rick]

The huge dog-man loomed over me. I felt a flash of a threat and blocked a punch aimed at my chest with my hands.

He's strong. Very strong, for flesh, blood and bone. I'm metal wires and iron components under flesh. I may not be quite as big or strong, but I'm tough and heavy enough to absorb most of the hit without being sent flying. I barely needed to take a step back.

“So that's how it is. This IS an attack?!” [Rick] “Wow, you are really stupid.”

The golem takes an earth-shuddering stomp as it's laser and electrical sub systems line up targets. Choices, choices.

“Wait! This isn't what you think...” The grey-furred dog growls.

“Then what is it?! You attacked me, with no provocation. I should kill you all where you stand, because you broke the only rule we have here.” [Rick] “Is what I would like to say, but really I'd kill your friend because that fool, is a threat. Pure and simple.”

“Fool am I? What then are you, who gives living engines of war in trade for baubles and rocks?” [Hesnai snarls]

Niala raises a knife, teeth bared as well. “I'll kill you for that!” She states coldly.

“What the Hell are you... oh... the golem. You're talking about that great lump I sold to the apes? What does that have to do with you?” [Rick]

“What it did, under the orders of those wretches was to raze our home and slaughter the twelve clans of Barest City. We don't know the true extent of the damage, but your creation slew several thousand!” [Hensai]

“Well... shit. Look I had no idea at the time it would come to this. They came to me with an army, having seen my golem. I had to choose if I wanted a war. At the time I didn't. I was just using them, I thought they'd use it as a bodyguard or something. Dammit, should have added a time-delayed recall order too. I only really planned on them using the golem to attack me... I didn't know much about the Maze back then. It was a bad judgement call.” [Rick] “If you want to stop it, then say loudly to it 'User Reset Approved'. That will send it back home, with only myself allowed to issue it orders. If some idiot tries to issue it orders after that, they will be killed.”

“I want to destroy it!” [Hensai growls]

“You can't. You don't have weapons capable of that. I only barely have a couple. Besides, it is just a weapon. Do you break a sword for killing? Or the one who used the sword?” [Rick] “Because my creation only does as it was told. It listens to the apes, to only a handful of them at best. If all the owners die it wanders back to me too. Or if they fight over control. Or use it to attack my kind. Hell, I'll be surprised if they still have it. I never intended for them to keep it for long, just long enough to set some deep roots.”

I'm feeling quite guilty here...

“I can't fix this or make it right, what is done is done. So I'll offer one thing: I'll make you a weapon. You will need to provide the resources and while I won't sabotage it like the first one, I will leave it unable to attack the people who live with me and my kind. You may choose what it is capable of, but understand that the limitations of my skill are based around the material cost of the weapon. The better the weapon the more obscene the cost in resources.” [Rick earnestly] “I won't be making anything too proactive so better to consider a defensive weapon that greatly exceeds your needs than a sub-par assault weapon.”

“The golem at the door is a one-off that is tied directly to me for power, so you can't make one like it. The golem that attacked you is clearly too loosely bound. I never intended it for slaughter, more a personal bodyguard role in the face of the greater monsters, but clearly I was naive.” [Rick shrugging] “I won't make that mistake again. But if it makes you feel any better I'll let you have one clean, unguarded punch to my face. With no repercussions. I feel I deserve it for my mistake.”

I spread my legs and stand with my arms to the side, waiting with a smile.

The younger male strides up, spinning his arm to loosen the joint.

“This is going to hurt. Clench your teeth.” [Hensai]

“Don't worry yourself on my account. My teeth are hard iron.” [Rick]

“No... so you don't bite that arrogant tongue off!” He snarls as he delivers a massive hay-maker punch to the tiny me. He threw his whole body into that one. If I was flesh and blood my head would be flying off at this point...

I see flashes of light as my vision is cut off by the rattling of my brain. I can still see however, as the golem gives me an observer's view from thirty yards away. Confusing.

Well he really knocked me off my feet this time, Theras actually tried to cushion the fall only to be squashed under my surprising weight. Ouch. The bones are fine, obviously as you'd need a bulldozer to break them, but the skin around my chin and throat tore open. Glinting metal and muscle visible in the bloodless gash.

“You don't bleed?!” [Karamech]

Squinting through one eye, from the pain I chuckle. “I'm a weapon now, how can a weapon bleed?”

Niala however doesn't want to let this be the end. She has the poisoned dart launcher readied.

“I don't care about you, your people, your kind, your anything! You hurt my brother! So. You. DIE.” [Niala screams]

“Niala... let it be. I don't care about the injury... Ow~ Stop making me talk and heal it already.” [Rick exaggerating the pain]

She glances at them, then at me.

“Just once. You dare to do that again, then resolve yourself to die.” She turns on her heel and walks back to hug me.

“Oh... that female is feisty.” [Karamech] “Is she taken?”

… lets ignore the old grey wolf.

“So tell me... what happened to the little guy?” [Rick] “Why did he stay?”

The young male dog looking away from us replied to my question. “We are not entirely sure. But things went very badly as we escaped. Something happened to him and as a result we had to fight our way through the gate guards, as the city burned to the ground...”

“What? How did...?” [Rick]

“We don't know. Our plan was prepared and ready, even some of the fires were expected but when we got to the gate everything fell apart. I think he is either captured or dead. We lost over a third of our number in the fighting and more in the tunnels from pursuers.” [Hensai] “A disaster.”

…

Dammit!

Oh, to Hell with it.

“Load up the 'iron cart' with supplies I'm going to be busy for a few hours. Show the new guests where to find food. When I'm done we're all gonna roll out. When we get to that damned city I'm going to have answers and the head of anyone who dared to hurt the little guy!” [Rick angrily] “I'll leave a proper guard on the gate but keep it open unless danger comes. Since you don't know how to unlock it. I'll be back in a week.”

“A week? What is this word?” [Hensai]

“Seven days. Eight at the most.” [Rick]

“But how will that be enough time to get answers? You will surely only be at the city by then if you hurry.” [Hensai]

“Actually I'm only giving it so long, because I expect it'll take a few days to pound them into submission.” [Rick] “It should only take a little over a day to get there.”

“That's impossible! Not even the wind-walker tribe are that swift!” [Karamech]

“Oh, I'll be taking the ores on the carts you brought. That was intended for me anyway, I assume.” [Rick] “You three can come or stay, I don't think it will be very dangerous.”

“They still have over forty thousand armed solders!” [Hensai]

“Ah... I changed my estimate, six days then.” [Rick] “Bronze-age garbage isn't worth my time. They don't even have numbers to back it up.”

The three dogs stared at Rick as he walked away, with Niala still hugging his arm.

“He's even more bizarre than I can believe...” [Karamech]

A female cat slid close, resting a hand gently on the young leader.

“If you make him your enemy, your Majesty... your culture will die out in less than a year.” [Minke] “And you will die miserable and alone. If you chose wisely, there is hope.”

“You...?! The lost Oracle?” [Hensai]

“I warn only once. Because that is my man, I only want the best for him, regardless of the suffering it puts me through. If you oppose him, or wallow in anger and regret... I will let your hopes be crushed like those of any others that deny his path.” [Minke] “Because in the end you are nothing but a leaf in the path of a river. With or without you it will continue to rage and pour. I do not care to see him hurt more than he needs. Beware his sister. She will not let a second affront go. Even if he asks.”

What we learned:

So much!

Not enough!

Rick's about to go to war!

What is Little Rat's fate?!

Minke knows a hell of a lot more than she lets on!

Later on:

Niala gathering blankets and bundles of food is grabbed from behind by a huge hairy hand... it clenches around her throat tightening...

“If you threaten my brother again, you low born whore, I will tear your head off!” [Janess]

The dog woman suddenly yelps in pain and drops Niala, clutching at her hand.

“If you ever touch me again, it will be as you eat my knife.” The rat smirked, waving a steel knife coated in blood. “Your brother is lucky, next time I will kill him and I won't do it openly. Watch your food, because I like to use poison, bitch. Oh... and I collect all the food too. So be careful...~”