Stone doors began to slide open, a grating rumble and I looked at Derek, saw one foot on the stairs, frozen as he stared back at me, a deer in headlights -

The rising drumroll of echoed tapping, growing louder, a stampede of scorpions cajoled their way out of the opening, clicking toward us. Remembering how ineffective his bow had been against the crabs, I wanted to interpose myself - to run forward and take their focus -

But we knew our roles - we'd practiced, and with our limited funds on the beach, we decided there was one Skill that we all should have that could make all the difference -

Small Unit Tactics -

It only took a second for us both to spring into action -

Bottles soared over head while I threw green cloth bundles like baseballs - a mix of rocks and seeds along the stairway without aim, knowing they'd get there, still in the air they started to sprout and twist as I followed the sense of them - feeding them my mana and then flooding them with it as soon as they stopped moving -

I wasn't watching - instead heavy wood squares started to emerge from my inventory as I ran my hand up, like stacking poker chips - except it was hollow and they formed around us -

"Now!" Derek shouted, and I channeled Ensnare! Felt how the plants twisted -

I heard the bottles shattering, the whoosh - smelled the gasoline, and heard the crackling, the screeching - all while I quickly welded the wood together with a quick swipe -

Derek was firing his bow - it was almost semi-automatic, accompanied by hissed popping, I added rungs, gridded windows - dropped saplings at the corners to send down roots to brace -

"All clear."

I looked at Derek sagging back, sweat pouring off him, but it had been - I looked up at the scorpions - they were dead, or - a few still slid down the pyramid sides, where they'd got out of the flames or went around the eruption and I got ready to meet them -

Except they weren't moving, collapsed on their stomachs, their legs only moving as they dragged the wood and twitched, where they slid down faster - gathering the speed of gravity -

Altogether forty? Forty massive scorpions dealt with in...a minute? Seconds?

Garbage dragged, clanging behind them - and, they were whole - the burnt ones accounted for two thirds, and I looked back at him, but -

"Bug spray." Derek nodded, as though it was obvious - I wanted to slap him.

Was it? obvious?

My body was still tense, blood pumping, expecting a fight for my life and - I hadn't killed one?

I mean...I helped, but -

Forty? Maybe more - inside the opening? He'd turned that into an inferno - he'd torched forty yards of stairs, lit it with a thrown flare - while my plants held them close for the key seconds, but that hardly mattered -

By himself?

A few weeks ago he'd been complaining about the bowstring giving him blisters - I approached the dying bugs, looked back at my neat shelter - it would have saved us...they scorpions, we could of held off a thousand in that thing.

If we'd needed it...

I was shaken...I'd thought I was strong, but -

The scorpions were still alive, the ones that had gotten the spray. They quivered inches, but - they'd expire. Still I needed to kill them to collect the corpses -

I couldn't help glancing behind me, as Derek poured some water over his hair and eyes...I guess he still didn't have the same control over his inventory as I did, but -

I hammered a sharp bone spike into the center of the scorpion head, decapitating it, imagining what I would make from the material - the head was part of the body - like the pinchers came out where there'd be ears on a human -

Bug Spray? Why didn't I think of that - bugs were the first thing I was attacked by,

I put my hand out and then - recoiled, cold realization - Idiot

Of course I wouldn't - it's all ruined, I can't bring this inside of me. Not with her in there...I was shaking my head, but still -

"Could you get the stingers? There might be a venom we can use, and...one whole one? Or whatever you have room for?"

I imagined how cool it would be to have the stingers as weapons, poisoned clubs - spear heads or even arrow tips for him, but -

"Oh shit." Derek said looking up, then hurried over shaking his head- "I'm sorry, bro. I didn't think -"

"It's cool, it was a good idea, a great idea...just one I'd never have thought of, if I had, I would have warned you. You don't have any herbicide in there, do you?" I asked him -

He flashed me a guilty look -

"Last resort?" He squeaked out, embarrassed again - and I glared at him, chuckled and nodded -

"How did you come up with all this stuff?" I asked him, even knowing I should have been asking myself why hadn't I. A Molotov cocktail was obvious -

He just shrugged - but, I felt it was important or - inherent.

It's our power, of course he's going to keep close what's useful for him. His tools -

It was organic material I was interested in, living material - I was so consumed with what worked for me because it was better then...everything else. If it had no life to it, I couldn't change it. And if it was dead - it couldn't grow -

A toxin that just destroyed? It wasn't a weapon to me, it was...inconceivable, really, and wasteful...for my power...

I don't care if it's elitist, or silly. Or takes longer - it's just better -

Zero Kills -

I shrugged, passing the giant bone nail and hammer over, and Derek harvested what I asked of him, finishing the rest, not even grimacing.

So different -

Since the shelter was already built we retreated to it, regrouping and resting as we kept an eye on the open door, growing shade, and Derek asked, "What do you think it means?"

"That we still don't know anything." I replied, "Probably that I've been missing out."

We both gazed at the dark tunnel above us, Derek pulled out a sandwich and I snacked on a black-fruit, and was surprised how much better it tasted then the first time I'd tried it. It was growing on me -

And I could tell we both wanted to wait for the others, but - it wasn't a risk we could take. I had never seen anything like this, and if he hadn't heard anything, from his look of surprise -

We both finished at the same time and stood up, I broke down, then sucked up our barricade while he focused, standing at attention like I once had, replacing his clothes with the armor I'd made for all of them on the beach - layers of crab shells squeezed together, overlapping joints. It didn't offer any extra stats, but it was tough, solid, a custom fit - even if the helmet was a bit larger - cone shaped - to protect his noggin. Now that they had the shield spell like me, it was just extra -

For me - I'd gotten so use to shifting my body in combat, any armor felt cumbersome. I was more interested in utility than protection. I had my own versions if it was necessary - but I wasn't willing to to bring anything in and out until I'd purged the bug spray.

I pushed my hand in his palm, passing over some coins. It wasn't fair that they all were giving up a chance to get stronger to watch over my family, even if it was working out for all of us, so I'd been saving half the coins I earned -

"Holy shit!" Derek said as the 1300 coins hit his wallet, "You saved this much?"

"Yeah, that's all yours. I have more if we need it, but it's their share, so only in an emergency."

"No way!" He shouted before closing his eyes, then he took a long breath through his nose. When he opened them, it almost seemed he stood even taller - and I realized I was staring at his smile -

"Thanks, Cody." He said, patting my shoulder, I turned and saw that his hand was still there. I stared at it, then slowly moved my eyes to the camera that was now floating around the pyramid - faster then before, as though by an invisible hand -

My hand was on his shoulder, I realized, and that -

It was good - that we were finally bonding, that he felt comfortable.

He was just...so much better than before.

We began to climb the stairs, stepping over the burnt scorpion bodies and through crushed glass until we reached the open passage, I sent a light spell down it. The shadow of other corpses, we entered and I heard the slow grinding begin, I gave Derek a glance but we continued as the door closed, the dead insects torn in half or smashed without the door so much as shuddering -

Derek held up his hand, then produced a mannequin from storage. It was one of those they used to teach you first aid - full sized, I saw it had the same clothes that he'd worn earlier, then - it started to move -

It was clumsy, drunk, as it shambled ahead without moving its arms, he was checking for traps. I sent the light spell out in front of us, the floor was long bricks similar to the pyramid walls. I made sure to walk on the same ones the dummy had stumbled over as we made our way deeper, and the hallway opened.

A wide room, the same floor but as I sent the light ahead of us, brightening it, dispelling the darkness, checking for movement I saw a small opening across from us, low to the ground, three more doors and -

"Hieroglyphics." Derek whispered as he extended his hand, feeling the carved symbols, the recording phone floated back, slowly moving it into a circle round the room - his voice became regretful, "I can't afford to translate them, can't even see how much it would cost."

I looked within the store trying to sense what I would need, closing my eyes - I realized I could, a translation skill, Ancient Script (Words of the Gods) -

"You have to get it." Derek whispered, and I could hear the awe, the reverence -

But it was two thousand coins, and - I explained it to him how much it cost, then transferred over the coins, "How much is it for you?"

"It's 1399." He replied, shaking his head, then gave me the coins back -

I looked at him, but he'd already returned to staring at the language -

"Lets see what else there is, we can always come back, and you have copies of what it says? Maybe once we have the internet?"

He nodded, reluctantly, dropping his hand, the dummy had continued wandering across the floor throughout our discussion, we went through the low opening first. The scorpions had left small marks across the dust leading through the room, down the hall to the opening, it was obvious they came from inside here -

It opened into a wide room with nothing but a stone pedestal and more carvings on it. This time the walls were bare and boring. Both of us stared at the neatly carved script of pictograms, and I reached my hand out and touched it with the tip of my finger.

The stone was cool, smooth - and on the top surface, the flat of it, was a carving of a scorpion, which by itself was interesting, but I was more consumed with -

They'd stayed here, in rows. I could barely detect the shifted dust where their paths began, where they lifted their bodies and skittered out the door -

I looked back at the stone, and this time I noticed one of the carvings, the footprint of a bird, a paw, and a hoof on a scale - cracked. Just as important - no water, no food - no scorpion shit.

"This kept them asleep, or...in stasis." I told Derek.

"Or summoned them." He nodded, and I shrugged, it was possible. But...why not summon them out there? Right on top of us?

I stuck out my hand, glancing at him, he'd finished his recording of it - nodded, and I brought it into me. Both of us tensing the second it disappeared and -

No ominous noise, no change after long seconds marked by thudding hearts - we relaxed, heading back up into the room. We followed the dummy, to the first door made of stone -

I looked again at the hieroglyphics, and - inside me, I felt the stone marker, let my senses prod at its purpose how it felt used. It was garbage, a candy wrapper or empty soda can, and yet I clutched this litter like a treasure, because even though it wasn't a recipe -

It was still proof - that it had contained something, once. A million half-formed questions tumbled in my head, because, the implications alone -

And I knew, with what we saw in this room. I had to translate it - that they contained the...words of the gods - but...it wasn't my money. I'd spent my money on stats, on growing stronger, and this wasn't an emergency...

But this was something that could help the entire group - it was worth it, to know - if I could get more clues from the stone, the rest of the story -

Derek got it cheaper, and if it was everybody's coins...I saw how much he wanted it, and if it was worth it? I could still afford to get it, too - and we'd owe the guys.

I slapped the money into his palm before I could change my mind, 1399 - and he froze - he turned to look at me, for a second I saw, he looked like he had before - he seemed to shrink before my eyes. I saw the grimy dirt, and smelled the ocean odor the armor still emitted, fishy and dank -

His buck teeth poked out to bite his bottom lip - but the eyes weren't like they had been in school, as they opened wider and wider, I told him, "Get the skill. It's everybody's coins, we both know they'd want you to have it if they were here."

He stared back at me, not saying anything, then he blinked. And I almost felt - like the grinding stone again, right behind us after entering the pyramid, and he opened them and was back. Confident. I matched his smile -

So radiant - I bet Jason hates that smile. If he hadn't already stolen it -

"What?" Derek moved - fingers tracing, and stepping back, swinging his head around - bobbing, refocusing in front of us, then tracing the symbols back and forth, up and down -

Shaking his head - shock -

Like he couldn't believe - I followed, on his heels, keeping the light bobbing so he could make out each detail, but he didn't squint, hardly dragged his eyes over it - as if it was as easy as reading a road sign -

I wanted to shake him - What! What is it!

As he shuffled around the outer wall, focused -

Just tell me -

And we were back, back to where we started, but he circled the room again slower, staring at the blank ceiling, the floors - he had me change the color of the light through the spectrum - I had to focus, I hadn't practiced -

Grinding my teeth! Breathing through my nose - I heard it whistling -

"Nothing. It's..."

He was crying - tears were, leaking. And there was so many different expressions, frustration, embarrassment, almost horror - but mostly just...disappointment - his posture shifting to match the forgotten dummy slumped on the floor, he looked at me -

"It's...not even...that's a shopping list." He pointed, reworking his route - "That's a poem, and that's directions on how to make orange pottery, pressing olive oil, it's like - that's a recipe for..." He pointed at the large profile of what looked like a goddess - the obvious focus of the carved mural, her details were filled in with paint, the hair was silver, and in one hand a bowl, the other - a stick, a rounded instrument or -

"Grannie's Pumpkin Pie." Derek said with disbelief, and I heard the incredulous disappointment that choked his voice - "It's - it isn't...it calls for vanilla extract! They didn't even have that!"

A mixing spoon. I realized - and well...I guess that's life - it sucked, but I realized -

As Derek continued walking, listing off panels - each almost useless? I mean - they were all really cool. Hannah was going to love the poem, and the recipe was neat - and obviously my grandma would probably like that too -

"It's just all...a joke."

"A joke?" I asked, and - I did feel disappointed as well, but - it wasn't that big a deal - it was just coins, to me, and I almost felt guilty, because - I realized it was funny. That seeing him so...perplexed, so emotional over something so silly was almost worth the coins to me - alone.

That he had a little joke played on him? He never let anything get to him like this - I only wish I could have had this effect, before -

"...an actual joke.." His voice was heartbroken, almost hysterical - as he stared at the mural, I could tell something more serious was bothering him.

"Derek - what's up, man?"

"Cody - I...I thought." He paused, wiping his eyes, he stared down at the ground and kicked it, "You don't follow it, Cody, you don't really care about the dungeons or read - and Mike's power - Where does it come from?"

What?

"The religions, and - there's no proof, the meaning - what is life? What's the point? And so many people, I've been looking for answers, that they could be in here - then the skill, and I thought...my mom, but some people say it's aliens but, maybe there's a heaven..." He was rambling, and I realized - he thought he had found answers, or at least clues - to the deeper questions, to some sort of...philosophy bullshit, the sort of stuff I use to agonize over before I pulled my head out of my ass -

Now? I could have told him the answer - but...words...I just shook my head -

"What's the joke?" I asked.

He blinked - "All of it!" He said, frustration cutting his tone - but I pointed at the latest panel, the one that had sent him off, and he grimaced, "It...it's - ''How do you entertain a Pharaoh?"

I thought about it - "I don't know."

"A boat of young women wearing fish nets."

"Oh...I guess I get it -" Which caused Derek to erupt with miserable laughter, a pained expression -

"I - it's worse, because...it's funny, one of the better jokes I've ever, it...doesn't translate and I have to explain..." His pained expression, it was amazing to see him so vulnerable - and I realized that humor was also sacred, his passion and voice almost begging me to grasp - "It's a joke and a pun, because how fish smells and...fishnets - they're what women wear, it's a stocking, but also - all men like to fish, sex is implied - it's entertaining, but it's even funnier, because the Pharaoh claims to be a God, comparing him to man subtly is satirical, but it's...brilliant, and it all rhymes, because the word for fish is the same word they use for female, and she's the Goddess of sexual pleasure...it's Hatemehit."

It was a strange word - like he coughed over the syllables, it made no sense to me and I was hardly listening, just waiting -

The wall - the entire wall - where the joke had been carved began to glow - It was bright, like golden sunlight -

Derek gasped, backing away from it - he looked at me, eyes wide, and -

"Cody - it was a test! It was hidden, I...I unlocked it!" The excitement, the relief and the hope returned, bursting forth and babbling free - and I could just see by his face - it was going to be worth it, the 1400 coins - more, even.

As Derek looked at me, face almost beatific - torn - his eyes beseeching - begging...Still, I watched him shrink back into the before, a flashback of a time before the Doors, further - his persona was like a hermit crab, but the opposite -

Instead of returning into it's shell it was like he emerged, vulnerable and - hermit crabs are not cool - I saw he was giving me the option, saw the rawness of his regret in doing so but -

I raised my hand and stepped nearer to the glowing wall, watched him closing his eyes, I heard him bite down as he jerked his head away. The sharp click of his teeth - he wanted it so bad, and I could see how important it was to him...And I almost felt awful...for what I was doing -

"Take it, Derek. You deserve it -" I told him, and his expression bloomed, grateful and overflowing...but still, he hesitated -

"Cody...I have to tell you something. I should have told you before, but..." And that hesitation warred, all those emotions I saw flashing, his eyes opening into his soul and it was beautiful, clear and fragrant - the poison purged -

"After, Derek - " I said, even though I was choking on the words - it was so hard for me, I had to look away, but he was filming - and -

"No, Cody - I...it's all my fault. I'm here to...God! Forgive me." He was crumbling! Now? I just needed - he was going to ruin it and I'd waited so long - the light! Flickering, growing weaker - fading -

"Derek!" I shouted, and he lunged, dove into the wall - not just reaching, but - he sprung and smacked -

The light went out, and I couldn't hold it in a second longer, all the laughter exploded out of me, I thought I was going to puke -

"Ow-what?" Derek whispered -

I couldn't speak, and my sides - they just, it was horrible, and it felt so good. So perfect, as I collapsed and rolled back and forth on my back, and I could barely, barely - get the words out -

"Turtle, turtle -"

"It...it...?" He whispered, and I could just taste - how upset he was, I was gagging on it - to finally pull one over on him...it was so much better - and we were finally even -

"It's...just a prank...bro -" I said eventually, once I could actually stand, throwing my hand over his shoulder he was still drooping, in a daze -

And he looked so pitiful - like I was a monster - as though he'd offered me a bite of ice cream and I'd unhinged my jaw and bit all the way down, leaving just a stub of cone -

"Worth every penny." I gasped, clearing my throat, wiping my eyes - I grabbed the phone and replayed it - and started laughing again, he'd gotten it all - "Wait until Mike sees this!"

I handed the phone back to him, five times - and his sweet voice, all excited and wound up tighter then a cuckoo clock - how embarrassed he was, and he just glared - dumbfounded -

And still - his mouth struggled, quivering over words, and -

"I know about your power, dumb shit. And I know you didn't mean to make Brandon jump. I'm not even sure you could do that. I fucked up that night, too - I've fucked up since -"

"What?"

"Manipulation."

"You knew?"

"I see how your power works, it's starting to be telekinesis? But that didn't make sense, that's the weaker half of it, just an aspect of what it really is and - Like Jason said - if we were friends, you wouldn't have to tell me you're a manipulative bastard -"

He punched me, and I grabbed him, pulling him into a hug. And it was wonderful - until it became a nasty hug -with how sweaty we were, and the crab armor was scratchy, fishy -

"It's not easy for you to control?" I asked him.

"No. I have to focus, to turn it down, it's...natural -" There was sadness, as he shook his head, before he released his repression of it and went back to being wonderful. It was strange, to feel it shutting on and off, to talk about our powers - more and more I felt how incredibly personal they were.

And again - I thought of why we didn't really talk about them, about what they meant - who wanted to admit they were jealous, or that they weren't happy with themselves, wanted change. That more then anything, Derek was a manipulator -

He had shut it down - before, each time a decision was being made...

"I like when you have it on." I told him, "You don't have to worry about it affecting my decisions, it's great, useful, and...nice? The differences that it makes? They aren't important to me. It doesn't really change you - you've changed on your own, Derek, I see that"

He looked at me strangely - shaking his head, "One of these days you're going to realize how incredible you are..."

I can blush - his power. It is strong. And I realize, he was using it a little bit all the time, naturally - he could really use it -

"Incredibly stupid." He said, pushing out of the hug, he turned toward the closest door, stomped over and pushed it open, "Let's go, dummy." I waited for the mannequin, looking back I saw it standing there, watched it's expressionless face swivel and stare right at me -

I guess I deserve that...and, my punishment...maybe I'll get crushed by a pyramid death trap - and Derek was seeing, the meaning of life. To me it's like a joke, you can't explain it - It could be funny. Laughter. Friendship.

And we were sharing -

"Still worth it." I nodded, sending my light down the hall and following behind it -