With the portal closing in front of me I can feel the healing properties of Valhalla start to take effect, I was unsure of whether I was going to go for respawn or not, kind of a rough couple of hours there. While waiting for the pain to wear off some I decide to go ahead and sell off the bandit loot.

After a few minutes of fumbling with the screen I discover that I can do everything via thought, and intent, makes sense, wish I would have thought of it sooner. I figure since the mission probably netted me a solid amount of EXP I’ll just sell everything for coinage. Sitting all the bandit gear into the trade box I will it to sell, and end up with a tidy one gold, three silvers, and 42 coppers. Not bad for a few hours’ work. Now I need to get into the good stuff. Looking at my H.U.D. I will the boxes up for review.

-MISSION REWARDS-

-Main mission completed 100% > +400 EXP

-Situation resolved through violence > +5 Gold

-Point of interest discovered > +50 EXP

-Mission completed within estimated time-frame > +100 EXP

-Secret mission ‘Lost boy’ discovered 100% > +300 EXP

Top that off with the EXP from the bandits, the two named bandits and I’m sitting pretty at just under one-thousand, nine-hundred and thirty-four to be exact, add in my stashed fifty and I’m sitting at a solid amount. I think I’ll let those sit and do all my take care of all this up in my room. I start making my way out, and decide that I’m just going to eat some of the food I stocked in the pantry. The great halls food will probably taste better, but I’m not in the mood to interact with people right now.

On my walk-through town, I can’t help but people watch, it’s amazing the diversity and tolerance you can see here. I’m the only person really getting any kind of dirty looks, and I’m figuring most of them are because I am a ‘Hel-spawn’. Back in the regular world you hardly ever saw interaction like this, sure it happened, but it was far from the norm. Walking up the stairs to my room I remembered that I’d left Rita in my room. I really hope she isn’t there, I’m not sure I can handle that type of conversation without being a huge dick right now.

Scanning my hand, I take a deep breath and walk into my home. It looks empty, the bedroom door is open, and there is a note on the table. I figure I will get to that after I’m cleaned up and changed. I dump all the stuff I didn’t sell from my inventory onto the couch and head into the bathroom. Peeling my clothes off is a more painful venture then I would have believed, some of it is caked on and dried. Even with the accelerated healing here it’s still going to be a day before I’m good. Pulling my combat shirt up and over my head turns out to be something I am incapable of. Godamned Rita, if she hadn’t lost her shit I could ask her to at least cut it from me. I decide my best course of action is to lay on the ground and try to finagle my way out of it.

I end up spending the better part of five minutes getting out of my shirt, there’s blood all over the floor now. All the dried stuff being rubbed into the wet stuff made a hell of a mess. Another problem for future me. The whole time I had been fighting with my shirt I had imagined how heavenly it was going to be to step into the wonderfully warm shower to wash off the gore. Have you ever cleaned out a cut under a faucet? Or gotten water into a cut in the shower? Yeah, I’d forgotten how shitty that was. Stepping into the shower was like pouring lemon juice in my wounds. I knew I’d gotten messed up pretty bad from the initial crash, and then will all the flak from nearly being shot making little cuts. My shower was thoroughly ruined.

I managed to at least get most of the caked-on stuff off, and hit most everything with some type of soap. Problem that was really getting me here was the head-wound, it wasn’t deep; just a graze really, but it was on my head, and outside of my comfortable reach. I ended up ripping open a few other wounds while cleaning it, but I managed to get it, and my hair cleaned out. Note to self, hit the healer after the end of my next mission.

Getting out of the shower I decide to give a once over, looks like I’m going to have some new scars, but nothing too bad. Most of them should be covered and I don’t think the graze on my head is bad enough to scar, I guess time will tell though. I decide that air-drying is my best option, so I go to the living room to look at the note on my table.

‘Gnome,

I’m sorry I freaked out on you, it has been a long time since I’ve let a man touch me and I thought I was ready for it. I clearly was not, maybe we can work into something like that in the future, but I don’t think it’s something I can handle right now. Please forgive me for the way I acted. And hitting you. And throwing your stuff. And making you sleep on your own couch. I hope we can still be friends, let me know.

Respectfully,

Rita.

Straight-forward enough. I can still be Rita’s friend, I’m not trying to get tied down to anybody though. Maybe she’ll be interested in the whole FWB thing in the future, but it’s not something I will hold her to if she’s not interested. Oh well, I guess if this dry spell goes on a bit longer I’m going to have to consider the dead-hooker thing a bit more seriously. I’m not normally one to pay for it, but even a dead-men got needs. I really want to get into setting up my level stuff, but I figure I should knock out some quick food and I can do it while I eat. I use the interface set into the coffee table to put the TV on and turn it onto a channel showing arena games, the one on right now is a battlefield set up like a jungle warzone and two teams are fighting it out for a pot of ten-thousand EXP. It’s an interesting concept and Hep put me onto it while we were sitting in the great hall eating the other day.

He was more interested in the whole small team tactics than anything, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking of entering. They have everything from one versus one, up to large-scale guild battles involving hundreds of thousands. It’s an intricate system that I will probably never understand.

I pull a steak out of the fridge and throw it on a hot pan, trying to get a quick sear I leave it for about a minute then clip it over. After a minute on the other side I put the steak, pan, and all, into the pre-heated stove. I figure I’ll let that go for 10-15 get it a nice medium-rare. While it’s cooking, I throw on a package of premade cheesy rice and veggies. Within a few moments my meal is done and I can calm the angry badger that has taken up residence in my stomach. I pull a beer out of the fridge and manage to hobble over to the table with all my foodstuffs.

After sitting down, I start getting to the important stuff.

Name - Gnome

LVL. 1 0/100

Race- Daemon elf

Title - N/A

Class - N/A

Alignment - Chaotic good

Health -100/100 (Wounded, Bleeding)

Mana - 100/100

Fame - 20

Health regen - 0.1(min)

Mana regen - 0.05(min)

Karma - Neutral

Strength - 12

Agility - 12

Dexterity - 12

Vitality - 8

Intelligence - 8

Charisma - 2 (-2)

Endurance – 6

Wisdom - 10

Known languages - Common, Elven.

If I understood Hep right I cannot directly affect the LVL. Adding points to stats, and skills will prompt the SYSTEM to evaluate the level after I have made my decisions. I guess the first thing to do is buy my Race traits, it’s not going to do anything for my level but it should make life easier all the same. 300 EXP down, and I pull up the status again. To see what I have.

Are you FUCKING kidding me? My racial trait has a minus two charisma. A minus. Two. charisma. Jesus. It might have been better to buy everything one piece at a time. Or maybe to look at the package. Oh well I’m not here to make friends, so no use in crying over spilt milk. Guess I should keep going, so far, I’ve needed to move around exclusively on foot, so I should probably add in some endurance, and keep getting hurt, so vitality might be important. I decide that instead of Min/maxing myself I’m just going to try and keep everything normalized, growth might be slower overall, but I don’t think it will put me in a bad spot. After finishing all my selections, I pull it up one more time(giggety).

Name- Gnome

LVL. 3 (0/400)

Race- daemon elf

Title- N/A

Class- N/A

Alignment- chaotic good

Health-100/100 (wounded, bleeding,

Mana-100/100

Fame- 20

Health regen 0.4(min)

Mana regen- 0.05(min)

Karma-N/A

Strength - 12 (+2)

Agility – 12

Dexterity – 12 (+2)

Vitality - 12

Intelligence - 8

Charisma – 4 (-2)

Endurance- 12

Wisdom – 10

Known languages – Common, Elven.

Considering a regular human has an average of eight in every stat at level one I’m not doing too bad. If I were a regular elf I’d be much higher in wisdom and intelligence, but I’m fine with this, I feel like magic would take a bit more of that brain power crap. I’m down to three-hundred and sixty-four EXP but I think it was well worth the cost. From what rita said the day before I can eventually get a skill or something that allows me to put XP directly into my stats, the catch there being theres a cap for each one and you have to take the perk more than once. She also tried to explain how its "scaling" or something? I was pretty drunk and maths are my weak spot sober.

I need to re-stock some of my gear, and get a hold of a helmet. I saw some swanky stuff in the bazaar, maybe I can get something second-hand that’s outside of my regular prevue. That’s going to have to wait though, after the food, and the mathing for skills I need some sleep, and I’m damned sure going to get it in my own bed.

As I lay in my bed I can’t help but think that it is even more fantastic than I thought. It’s like a godamned marshmallow. I could live the rest of my afterlife here and never have a regret about it, if I weren’t such a violent prick. I was most of the way asleep when there was a light-tapping happened at my door. Damn, was almost out. Getting up I start moving towards my door, about half way there I realize I’m still naked. Fuck it, anyone knocking on my door has either already seen me naked, or isn’t interested. And I’m tired damn it.

I don’t even bother to look and see who is outside through the peephole, I just pull the door open. Not surprisingly it’s Rita, she looks like she is fresh out of a shower and has tears in her eyes. I have never been equipped to deal with a crying woman, it’s a lot of the reason me and my wife didn’t work out; Emotions, and drama aren’t my thing.

“you know mate, Ima knock on your door one day and you’re Gonna have some pants on.” She’s trying to play off her sadness with a joke, but I can hear there is no levity in her voice. She does take a second look from my feet up and I can see her surprise that I have new scars and wounds. “The Fuck happened to you? Those weren’t there last night.”

“Not sure how you’d know that. What do you want Rita, I was sleeping it’s been kind of a rough one?” I’m sure she’s here to see where our friendship is going, but I’m still a bit peeved about last night.

“That’s fair. I wanted to know if we was still friends. I think you are fun to be around, and I really was interested. I just panicked, you got my letter?” I shake my head in the affirmative and she continues, “I think I could get there eventually, but I need time.”

“I can understand that, your fun Rita. I’m fine with being friends, and even more physical stuff if you are ok with it. I’m not looking for a long-term relationship though. I can do just friends, or friends with benefits, whatever but I don’t like being led along. I wasn’t joking when we were drinking, I’m abrasive, and I’m more of a ‘cards on the table’ kind of guy. I won’t do drama Rita, your cool and all, but I’ve abandoned friends for it before. So, you know coming in.” She looks thoughtful for a few minutes.

“I’d be in interested in some of that, maybe even friends with the option of more later. I don’t usually do drama, at least I don’t think. If I am you’ll let me know, and give me a chance, right?”

“I can do that.” I get the feeling this conversation was only a part of why she came here.” Is there anything else?”

“Just a sec. so we’re good, right?”, gahh this woman, “yes Rita, if there’s something else please let me know, I really am exhausted.”

She looks down, a little intimidated, “I really hate to ask, but I’ve had a bad day, and the only other person I know is Hep.”

I’ve reached my limit, “Spit it out Rita, cards on the table, remember?”

“yeah, sorry. It’s not been a great day, and if I’m alone I won’t be able to sleep, can I sleep here?”

“Yes, I guess, but I’m not sleeping on the couch again.”

She gives me a sheepish look, “I was more thinking I could sleep in your bed. With you.” Gotta be fucking kidding me.

“I thought you weren’t interested in that Rita.” Her cheeks turn red, “I was kind of thinking maybe back to back or something. I could really use the human contact.”

“I guess, if you steal the blanket though I’ll kick your ass out of the bed.” I turn and she follows me into the bedroom. As I’m getting into the bed she clears her throat “are you going to put any clothes on?”

“I normally sleep naked. Not a huge fan of clothes, besides, until this knife wound is done healing any kind of bending or arm raising is out of the question. My bathroom floor is a bloody testament to how unsuccessful I have been at it today.”

“I can help you get dressed. Not that it’s a bad view, but I’d be much more comfortable if you had at least some underwear on.”

I sigh, “fine Rita, over in the dresser, top drawer there are some gym shorts, the shirts are in the third drawer down.”

She walks over and grabs a pair of gym shorts and a shirt. It occurs to me as she is bending to help me into my shorts what she’s getting a face full of. Thinking about it doesn’t make it any better, the contrary, actually. “I’m sorry Rita, that’s not something I have much control over at the moment. My new race seems to be much more hot-blooded than your average human.” The fact that I’m having trouble balancing to get my feet into the shorts is making things much worse.

“If you hit me in the face with it you’re paying for damages.” At least she can joke about it, I can’t even take care of the goddamned thing until It doesn’t to move. She finishes putting them on and helps me into the shirt.

“I’m really sorry about that Rita, mix the amped up sex-drive I have now with the fact that I was on the back end of a fifteen-month tour in Iraq and it’s going to take more control then I have not to come to, umm, come to attention.” I’m a little embarrassed about waving that thing in her face, but she asked to sleep here.

“I’ll live. I asked to sleep here, you didn’t try to shove it into my mouth so I guess all’s even.” She tugs the blanket down and crawls into the far side of the bed. “c’mon horn dog, sleeps to be had.” I lay in the bed with my back to her, and a few moments later she scoots over and puts her back against mine. “Thank you again Daniel, I really appreciate this.”

I just mumble at her since I’m mostly asleep.

I wake up the next morning with my arm around Rita’s waist and on the skin of her belly. It’s an amazing feeling of taut, soft. I realize a moment later that running my fingers over her stomach mixed with the fact that it is morning is influencing my lower brain and remove myself from the bed, I need to take care of that. The speed at which I roll out of bed wakes her up. “You awake already?” I try to keep my back turned to her so she doesn’t have to endure the trauma she did last night.

“yes, I’m feeling much better, I’m going to grab a quick shower and then head to the healer. If I can get all healed up today I think I’m going to run another mission.”

“Ya know Hep started his rift world, right? I got a notification that he had set a mission for any of his lower leveled friends to find a place to scout out at good spot for relocation. You’d have seen it when you went to check missions, but if you are interested we can go in together, I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

She’s right, I guess I know what I’m doing then. “All right, that sounds good. I’m going to grab that shower, some breakfast and head out to re-gear.”

“I’ll make some breakfast since you let me stay here, I really can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.” She looks at me with something like pity on her face. “Did you know you talk in your sleep? I know you told me you were a soldier before, but the things you say in your sleep…I can’t even imagine. Some of the things you were saying sounded horrifying from the outside looking in. I can’t believe you manage to keep joking.”

This isn’t something I wanted to happen, “I’m sorry, this isn’t something I’m comfortable talking about. Suffice it to say that my jokes are mostly to keep me smiling. I think we’ll be great friends one day Rita, but those boxes are something I’ve never opened to anyone, not on purpose anyways.”

“O.K. I’ll let it lie, but if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.” She gives a smile.

I smile back, and head to the shower. Now that I’m good enough to stretch some I’m able to get some of the stuff I could feel I missed. I don’t mind being dirty in the field, but having access to a shower makes me almost obsessive about being clean. While cleaning, I decide I’m going to grab a hair-cut at the bazaar while we are restocking. Getting out of the shower I just put on the clothes I’d gotten out of, I’ll change after breakfast.

Rita makes a delicious breakfast of eggs and some bacon. We talk about the mission that Hep had put up, looks like it’s a long term so I start writing things down on my paper, lists are one of the most mundane things in the world, but a bad one will get you killed. As I am finalizing my list I feel the need to discuss last evening with Rita.

“Rita, I think we need to discuss what’s going on here. I know what I said last night, and I still need it to stand. I know you’re not ready for anything more physical, and I can understand that, but, if you come and ask to spend the night again I can’t guarantee that I’m not going to make a move. I won’t force myself on you, that’s not what I’m getting at, but you must understand benefits work both ways. I’m not good with emotions, mine, or others. My explanation has gotten a little off course. I guess what I’m trying to get at is that I’ll be there for you, whenever you need it, but if you show up at mid-night saying you need physical contact were not always going to be on the same page. I’ve got two active ways of dealing with shitty emotions: Violence, and sex.” I am entirely sure that came off just as creepy as it sounds.

“It’s a weird way of going about saying you’re an awkward man who wants to have sex with vulnerable girls, but I get it.” She’s smiling, so I’m just going to assume I didn’t sound as creepy as I thought.

“Thank you for understanding.”

She heads off to get dressed while I take stock of what I still have and modify my list. Not long after that we were on our way to the bazaar.

We make a quick stop by the medic’s room on the way down the stairs and I get myself healed up and stock up on bandages along with some heavier healing supplies. I managed to get a haircut, extra ammo, and a few other miscellaneous items that are necessary for long term survival while at the bazaar, I tried my best to keep Rita from spending all her money on clothes but I’m pretty sure a large portion of her pack and inventory have ended up full unnecessary things.

As for myself, I wound up getting a bigger backpack, a helmet, and had a my vest repaired, then added a couple of pouches. They weren’t as big as my inventory, but it was enough to hold all the extra mags and loose ammo I bought. I also traded the site off my scope for a combo red-dot, Marksman optic.

-EQUIPMENT-

-Titan Combination optic > 4X Marksman scope with top mount 1X red-dot optic.

- Quality – Above average.

-EQUIPMENT-

-Raven tactical vest > Quick release tactical vest with molle weaving, includes two 2x2 weight-null pockets.

-Quality > Average.

-EQUIPMENT-

-Low profile tactical helmet > Helmet has two slots for enhancements.

-Quality > Above average

-ENHANCEMENTS-

-0/2

I blew everything I had on my new gear and supplies, someday I was going to have extra money. I really wish I could have gotten an enhancement, but the one’s I wanted costed more than all the equipment I bought combined.

After getting to the mission room, and paying the fifty EXP apiece for a combined mission. We decided to upgrade our communication abilities. After the upgrade, we plan what we’re going to do, Rita thinks it would be a good idea to stick together, but with the upgraded communications we’ll be able to tell the other where we are on the map, and talk at will so I tell her we should split up, there’s a bonus objective to finish within a time frame. The last time I completed it was a nice chunk of EXP. We decide to compromise and jump closer, within twenty-miles of one another. I’m not sure what happened in her last mission, but she seems pretty shook up still. I take a quick look at the mission profile as Rita goes about checking her gear.

-MISSION-

-A fellow survivor has located a group of locals. He needs someone to assist by performing reconnaissance for a new stronghold.

-This is an open-ended mission, the originator of the assignment will verify what coordinates fit his, and his people’s needs.

-This mission should be completed within a two-week time-window.

-REWARDS-

-Mission completion > +600(+) EXP

(The originator is a SYSTEM verified friend, and has listed you as a preferred option.)

(This mission has no fail parameters, as such, EXP will be decided on defensibility, location, and time per submission)

I seal my jumper and head out. On my way into my target zone I review what I had planned. I’m going to be landing in a wooded area about twenty-miles north of where Rita dropped. The map looked like it had a few empty roads and what looked like an empty campground next to a lake. Probably an out of use summer camp, I guess I’ll know in a moment. I let her set her coordinates and go first, the area she chose to jump to looks like it’s safer than the one I’m going to be in. She’ll be in a rural area so I don’t think things can go too bad. After Rita is out I key in my preferred drop zone and get to it. The second the portal opens I can immediately see that the sun is much lower than it was when she jumped must be some kind of time dilation inside the rift, I’m guessing we missed synchronization on the options. Probably cost more EXP, it is what it is I guess.

Once I'm dedicated to my zone and too close to change course I see a lot of movement down below, I need to notify Rita, who knows if she has started this way or not, and with our enhanced bodies she could make twenty-miles in a few hours if she pushed it. I open my options and initiate a voice contact.

-message-

Rita: The shit Gnome, I tried to call you for hours. I’m headed towards your drop-zone, probably about three-miles out if I’m reading the map right.” Shit.

Daniel:Stop where you are and hold in place, the camp is crawling with patrols of people. I’m not sure if they are friendly, I’m not even on the ground yet, but I’m pretty much going to end up in the center of camp at this point. So, if I go grey and can’t answer either move back to your original location, or push out to check another that we have marked closer.”

I was a bit nervous at this point I could see them looking up at me.

Initiating my fall-safe I immediately go vertical and put my hands up in the universal gesture of ‘I come in peace’, no-one tries to shoot me out of the air, so that’s good.

By the time I’ve landed there are about twenty-people with guns out fanned out around me. I’ll give it to them they are covering me in an L formation so they aren’t going to shoot one another, someone here’s got some brains.

No-one is talking as a set me feet on the ground and immediately kneel with my hands up, “Don’t shoot, I’m not here to hurt anyone, and I don’t want a fight, or an execution I guess.” I point to my mask “I’m going to pull this off, I don’t look like you, but I’m not a bad guy. I look around waiting for an affirmative before I do anything. Most of the people around me look to be younger, probably somewhere in their late teens, possibly low twenties for a few. Guess the camp wasn’t unoccupied.

“Is there someone here, a leader? Somebody in charge, the mask doesn’t hurt but it does make breathing and communication a bit of a problem.” I’m starting to sweat under the mask, no one is talking, they don’t necessarily look aggressive, but they haven’t wavered one bit in their aim.

“Nessa is on her way, once she gets here you can talk to her. We’ve already killed two of your friends who said the same thing.” The kid talking is wearing a name-tag, Brennan. He’s young, but he looks like he’s one of the older ones in the group, I’d give him 20 years on the top end, but not a day more.

“It’s all right Brennan, the closest friend I have is miles away. I can wait for Nessa, is she in charge?” I want to make sure they understand that I may be alone here but I’m not completely alone. I don’t want them to feel threatened, well, maybe a little threatened they are pointing guns at me.

A girl who looks like she is in her late twenties shows up. She’s wearing a full tactical get-up, pants, vest, helmet, looks like she’s wearing a combat shirt too, Kryptek my favorite color. She’s about my height kneeling, which would put her on the lower end of most humans, I can see some loose strands of dark red hair hanging down from under her helmet. She has a lighter shade of green eyes that look like they want to almost be blue, her face is a healthy oval shape, with a severe nose and plump lips set in a flat line.

The second she sees how tall I am on my knees her gun comes up pointing at my head “Name.” straight to the point I see. “And pull off the jumper, slowly, if you move your hand in any direction then your face you die.”

I’m a little surprised she knows I’m wearing a jumper, but I guess it makes sense “Daniel, I’m not here to fight, or die. I was just doing some recon in the area and you guys were on my point of interest.” I slowly move my right hand and pull my jumper off. Getting a look at my face she blows out a relieved breath. “Hep thought you would choose this area ‘practical’ he said, he has to stay with his charges or mess up his initial mission. There on the way here already. I think you’ll get partial credit for the mission. I found it, but If you put in these coordinates as a drop zone before seeing it the system will give you extra points.”

“I’m really glad we cleared that up, any way you can tell your people that I’m friendly?” no one has lowered their guns and I didn’t fail to notice the tightening fists on guns.

“Yes, sorry, Hel-spawn have shown up basically on top of us a few times now. Hep’s got enemies. Sabotaging his world has been on more than a couple of lists for years.” She points at her friends, he’s alright guys, this is Daniel, he’s a friend of the guy who sent me. He’s not going to cause any trouble.” They look reluctant, I don’t think Nessa has the level of control I thought she did.

“All right guys, I’m going to put my mask away. I’ll leave my weapons away, I just need to have a conversation with Nessa I’d prefer to do it without guns pointed at me.” I’m getting pissed. I’ve shown good faith here, I haven’t overtly threatened anyone, Hell, for me this is down-right cordial.

“How do we know he’s not he- “

“Shut the fuck up kid. If I wanted to kill you I would have waited for nighttime and dropped right into the lake, all your patrols are around the outside. With my level of skill and training I could have ghosted through and killed most, if not all non-combatants. Then I would have picked off your patrols, I’m not someone fresh to war, and more importantly I’m not someone new to infiltration. I was crawling to hide’s and shitting in ditches dug next to me in the sand before you even got into high-school.” I’m the mother-fucking king of eloquence. The kid looks like he’s ready to shoot me.

“look man, I get it, I’m different. I’m scary to look at. I used to be a human though, like I said before I’m not here for a fight. I’m here for the same reason as Nessa; I was invited. How much do they know Nessa?”

“If your asking do they know Hep is on his way with more survivors yes.” Good she’s smart enough to keep them informed. Judging by her manner either police officer, or military, well, ex-police officer or military.

“good, we don’t have to be friends. We don’t even have to like one another, but unless you’re going to pull that trigger I’m going to be here for a few days. Knowing what I know now I’m going to assume the infiltrators you killed were the forerunners. Probably here for recon because this is an almost perfect spot to hole up. Because those people never reported back, or in, the enemy is going to know where we are. Now, do you want to fight me to the end of this, or can we get on long enough for me to shore up the defenses?”

Nessa is giving me a speculative look. I’m positive she is judging my sanity. Holstering her gun and looking to the kid she says “I’d trust him, even if you kill him he can come back. The way Hep talks about him I wouldn’t be surprised if he had an open invitation to come whenever he wanted. If anything, he’ll do a better job than what he says; For people like us this is a paying gig, the better we do the better our rewards.” She shrugs at Brennan and walks away.

“I guess we can get along for a few days. I’m sorry man, the world went to shit a day or two ago and now things are nuts-o, ya’ know?” I didn’t think he had any malice in him, he’s just a scared kid, I’m happy I didn’t have to hurt him to prove my point.

Once he lowers his gun I can feel the tension leave my body. I put the jumper into my inventory, and move to follow Nessa. “No worries boss, I’m not here to horn into your territory. God knows I’m a shitty leader, but I’m hell in a scuffle, and that’s what you people are going to need. Honestly, I’ll probably spend most of my time outside of the camp, I do most of my best work alone.” I follow Nessa into what looks like a dining hall as the kids and young-adults in the area disperse back to whatever they were doing.

“All right miss Nessa, I’ve got a friend a few miles out, but probably closer. If you can call your people and let them know she’s coming, her name is Rita, she’s Australian. I honestly don’t know her capabilities so if your people fire on her she might kill them.” She points to one of the kids following her around and tells her to send runners to the guards. “Now on to business. I am not interested, in the least, in taking over whatever you have going on here. I’ll tell you now most of my skills run in small teams, and counter ops. I can probably give you some help in shoring up defenses, and placing traps where you can’t but I don’t have the mental acuity to lead, or organize a group of this size.” She’s shaking her head the whole time.

“Hep said you were ex-military, that you were a sergeant, I figured you’d want this as soon as you got here. I only took it because I found these kids, and no one else was here. It’s a summer camp, most of these people haven’t even broken twenty-five years old yet, and many them are in their mid-teens. I don’t even LIKE kid’s man.” Her look is almost beseeching “are you sure you can’t take over, most of my skills run parallel to yours, I was Diplomatic security at the embassy in Juarez before I joined Valhalla. And I’d only been doing that for about a year, we’d get in gun fights with the cartel, and run a few ops but most of my base is theory and bush craft I learned growing up.” I feel sorry for her, but this is the world now.

“You’re going to have to suck it up till Hep gets here, Rita used to be in some kind of job that had her dealing with people and traveling. Between the two of you I’ll bet this place will be just fine. Speaking of I should shoot her a message to not kill these kids.”

-MESSAGE-

Daniel: Hey, they're friendly. The leader here is an acquaintance of Heps. Don’t hurt anybody if you don’t have to, most of them are just kids.

Rita: Ok I’m a mile or so out. I’ll start making my way in.

“Alrighty, she’s on her way in, I told her not to hurt any kids.”

“What do you plan to do? You sound an awful lot like you plan to go off and get into something.” She seems a bit jealous.

“I’m going to go hunting. If whomever sent those scouts isn’t already on their way, then they are certainly in the vicinity. Shoot me an add for your friends list if you don’t mind and I’ll head out.”

A decidedly jealous look crosses her face. “I’ll tell you what, if Rita is comfortable with it and you can get your people to listen to her shoot me a message and I’ll come back for you. If we’re going to be working together we should get to know one another.”

“I bet you try to get to know all the girls.”

“Nothing wrong with making a few friends, I’m a growing daemon after all.” I wince, that was weak and we can both see it. As she tries to cover her laugh I decide to try and redeem myself. “Is there a place I can drop some gear, I’ll make more time if I’m lighter.”

Pointing she says “Over there next to my black bag, no-one will mess with it. Good luck.”

I gotta get out to the woods before I get myself in trouble.