It had been a long time since Miles had played Cheezus at such a low level. The Misfits weren’t even a twinkle in anyone’s eyes when he started playing while his brother’s firm had been driven under. To try to distract his brother, Miles had gotten Eric an account to play Champions and they leveled together for the first thirty levels. By that point Eric had figured out how to move his life forward and had actually gotten a job consulting with the firm that had acquired his. However, that time they’d had together playing the game had been cathartic for Miles and he still remembered those early levels fondly. Looking around at the rest of the Misfits, he wasn’t sure that this was going to be anything like the leisurely fun experience he’d had the first-time round. On the plus side he’d learned a lot about how to play Cheezus strategically and he looked forward to a faster leveling experience.

Something still bothered him about the entire AI situation. He could definitely see how powerful a general-purpose AI like Aeon or Precious One could be. After all, Miles had lost his job with the rise of the machines. Even previous generations of AI had gotten to the point where they could provide some general functionality and think somewhat like a person – at least enough to beat people out of many job functions. However, even if a general-purpose AI came to power and used its sentience to realize that it no longer needed humanity to function, why would it instigate a world war situation and destroy humanity? Shutting down power seemed to be almost as debilitating to AI systems and the net as it would be to humans. What was the purpose of it all?

Strangest of all were the Gears. If those spiders up on Delphi 41 were also Gears owned by another megacorporation, what was the reason for Precious One to order the overtaking of that base? Also, how did the Gears continue to function when power systems had been disrupted? Miles made a mental note to question Dr. Thompson more when they went back to the bunker later that day. There were too many gaps in their knowledge to be able to make good decisions. One of the biggest ones was how the Gears operated without an external power source. Another was how they had the ability to translate their magical powers into the real world. Did that mean that the group was really casting spells all over the place or was there some conversion of magic to technology? At the time Aeon had explained the situation to the Misfits, Cheezus and the rest of the guild had been in too much shock to process everything at once. Now that he’d had some time to reflect, all the questions he’d not been able to ask whirled in his head.

Cheezus observed their leader, Smashit still ambling at the back of the group. Clearly, the incident on the asteroid was still haunting their leader. He also knew that the sudden failure of his friend’s marriage hit Sean hard. Was he wondering about whether he was still fit to lead? Krok’s earlier comments back at the bunker hadn’t done anything to relieve that tension and Cheezus could still see the two of them glaring at each other occasionally. Fortunately, the rest of the guild was in better spirits now that they were back in game. Thag lead the group with a big smile on her demon face and Deathberry was furiously talking to himself, no doubt dictating possible strategies. Linca and Zeffu were chatting about the good old days of Champions.

The Misfits continued east in hopes of connecting with a small town called Silverton that used to exist in the area as a small mining community. While they moved further through the valley, Cheezus spotted a mine shaft in one of the nearby hills.

“There is a mine shaft up ahead. Do we want to check it out and see if there are any survivors hiding out in it? We might be able to get some information,” Cheezus suggested. It was also pretty well known that the lonely Outback residents tended to be a good source of gossip. If anyone knew more about what had happened, Cheezus figured that they were a good bet. Assuming there were any survivors of course.

Deathberry responded, “Sounds like a good thing to check out on our way to the town. I suggest we stick together this time since we’re all level 1 and we don’t know what is out there.”

Cheezus nodded and took point. Thag and the rest of the crew followed behind him about thirty-feet behind. They wouldn’t be very stealthy this way but perhaps he would be able to spot any trouble ahead before it blew up in their faces. After the disaster on the asteroid, Cheezus agreed that keeping the party together was a wise choice; however, every crunch and clank behind him set his ears on edge.

He reached the mining shaft a few minutes later. It looked like whatever had happened had disrupted the miners here since there was equipment strewn all over the ground outside like they were still in the middle of a dig. Of course, it was possible they were still here digging but upon further inspection that seemed unlikely. Cheezus didn’t know much about mining but it seemed like the equipment had been there for several days. Several tools were half buried in sand and the wind had been completely calm that day. He made his way further into the mine shaft and told the group to stop for a minute while he checked something out.

Something up ahead smelled like death. Cheezus activated his stealth ability and snuck forward. Fortunately, stealth was a level 1 Rogue ability that allowed you to hide. At his current level he wasn’t very proficient; however, a dark mine shaft was an easy place to blend in with the shadows. He would have asked Krok to join them as they typically did their stealthy thing together; however, oddly enough, a first level Mystic Assassin didn’t get stealth or a similar ability until about level 15. A minute later Cheezus found the body of what might have been a man once. He was wearing mining clothes and was covered in grime. His body had horrific boils on the surface and his skin was like leather. Strange gill like appendages were evident along his ribs when Cheezus bent to inspect the man further. What the hell had happened to this guy? He scanned the body for obvious wounds and found none. The only evidence that the half-man half-creature was completely dead was the fact that it had no pulse.

Cheezus indicated for the rest of the raid to move up. "I found this guy lying here. It's not clear what killed them but he looks like he's become some sort of mutant," he said as the Misfits gathered to stare down at the creature.

Deathberry finally spoke up, "My hypothesis is that that the nuclear fallout combined with some other elements in the area caused these mutations. Alternatively, it could be some sort of biological warfare that we aren’t aware of." That made sense to Cheezus but then again none of them had any real experience with end of the world catastrophes or mutations. Well there was no use speculating any further since the creature was dead and wasn't going to be providing any answers. Cheezus move to explore further down the mineshaft when Krok halted him.

“There is definitely something odd here. Let’s turn it over and see if anything hit it in the back,” Krok suggested. He and Krok turned the disgusting creature over and immediately it was obvious that someone had shot the creature in the back. Oddly, there was no pool of blood and there were no exit wounds visible in the front of the body either. Krok said, “We should be careful since we don’t know what we’re walking into.”

Cheezus nodded in agreement before continuing further down the mineshaft. He approached an open area in the shaft that seemed to extend down at least 100 feet until he could see nothing further. Previously, he’d been able to use the phosphorescent lights in the mineshaft to see where he was going. These lights did not require electricity or fuel to run. However, the darkness below seemed to indicate that the miners didn't go in to this area very frequently.

He was just about to turn around and go back when he heard moaning coming from somewhere below. He whispered the raid asking if anyone else had light source. With a smile, Thag gripped one of the lights hanging from a beam in the mine shaft and pulled it down from its resting place, handing it to him.

"Thanks," he said. Light source in hand, Cheez carefully clambered down the vertical shaft over the rock surface and saw a mining cart below him. He wasn't entirely sure whether he would be facing a mutant or some other sort of creature but from the sounds coming below him it was definitely humanoid.

"There may be a survivor or another mutant in the mine cart below. I could use some ranged DPS to cover me," Cheezus said. Knowing that he would have some backup in case this was an ambush, Cheezus moved closer to the mining cart. He crept up silently to minimize startling whoever was in the cart; however, he knew his light source would give him away long before his footfalls did. Peering over the edge of the metal cart he saw what appeared to be one of the miners. He didn't look like the mutated miner from earlier. The man had a tourniquet over his right leg and appeared to be badly wounded. Still cautious, Cheezus moved down to the cart and asked the man if he needed help.

When the man saw Cheezus he gave a yelp and tried to back away but with the pain of his leg nearly passed out instead. “You aren’t one of those muters are ya?” the miner said. “Course not, or you would have already been on me clawing and biting. Those bastards took Tony. Although I shot one in the back as it was getting James.”

The man was rambling incoherently. Cheezus responded, “It’s going to be ok now, we’re not mutants and we’re here to help. But first we need to take a look at that leg of yours before you pass out.” Cheezus whispered the group asking if anyone knew any first aid. Without some sort of hospital equipment, they would be limited as far as what they could do for the old miner’s leg but perhaps they could at least cauterize it before the man bled to death.

The Misfits made their way down the mine shaft with a great deal less grace and silence than Cheezus just had. Linca was one of the first ones down to take a look at the miner. “I think I can probably heal him. All the rest of our abilities have worked,” she said confidently. A few seconds later she had placed her hands on the miner’s leg. Seconds later a blue light emanated from her hands and the miner’s wounds were gone. Even the small cuts on his face had disappeared.

Cheezus had completely forgotten that all of their abilities worked here. Even a first level spell like heal other.

The man looked at Linca like she was the next Joan of Arc. “Bless you missy - that was amazing. A true miracle. I’ve seen some devilish work in the past day and a half but it is good to know there are still some good things out there,” the miner gushed. Linca blushed with all the miner’s attention and was even more flustered when he held her hands and kissed them.

Realizing that the entire group of Misfits was staring at him he finally regained his composure. “Pardon me. Where are my manners? I’m Sam the foreman of this mine. There were ten other miners with me yesterday when things started getting weird. Tony, James and I were setting up the deep rig down below when the rest of the crew who were working above started screaming in pain. One of them described a hot blast of air entering the mining shaft but none of the three of us felt anything. Soon our friends were all changing into those mutant creatures you might have seen already,” he said looking around to see if the Misfits understood. There were a few nods so he continued. “Anyway, they started turning on each other and then on us. As I said they got Tony and James and I was only able to kill one of them after James shone one of the mining lamps in its eyes. They seem to hate the light. We’ve got to warn the people of Silverton if it isn’t too late.”

***Sam’s Request: Will you accept Sam’s quest to warn the people of Silverton about the mutants?

Rewards: Five gold bars

Risks: Death by a hundred mutants

***

The Misfits quickly agreed to help Sam warn the people of Silverton. Since they were planning to go there anyway it wasn’t even a side trip. Cheezus’ only concern was that whatever had already claimed the lives of nine miners here could have easily spread to the town, especially since it seemed like Sam and his friends had only been unaffected because they had been deep underground.