When Tamako arrived home, Sam asked, “Can you help me tomorrow?”

Tamako replied, “Yes, but where’s Jen? Did you finish the app?”

Sam’s eyes drooped and his forehead crinkled with weariness and said, “Nope, we have a long way to go still, but my package is arriving tomorrow, and I have to pick it up.”

Tamako sighed, frustrated with Sam’s vagueness. “I’m getting a little tired of not knowing what’s going on. What exactly is the app and what is in the package you need help with?”

“O.K.” Sam said as he raised his hands in the semblance of a surrender, and then explained, “Jen wants the app to be a surprise, so you need to take that question up with her.” Sam could sense Tamako was about to lose all patience when her mouth tightened and her muscles visibly tensed, so he hurried to finish, “But I can tell you everything about the package I’m getting. It’s a wall-mounted fortress-ballista with a loading hopper.”

“What do you need something like that for, and who did you buy it from?”

Sam rolled his eyes and said, “You remember Razz, the weapons merchant?”

“Yea, I remember him. What did he charge you for it?”

“I was looking at his wagon-mounted ballistas and when I told him I was just ‘looking’ because I could not afford one, he took me into the warehouse behind his store and showed me B-squared.”

Tamako looked to the ceiling and shook her head in exasperation, and asked, “What is B-squared?”

“That’s what I’m calling the Beast Ballista, B-squared.”

Tamako rolled her eyes at Sam, but gestured for him to continue his explanation.

“Razz said B-squared had the power to kill just about any beast in the Second Deck, no matter how tough their hide, and it would punch through at least ten fighters wearing the best armor.”

“O.K., so are you going to tell me how much it cost you?”

“He sold it to me at cost. Apparently, there’s not much demand for ballistas this size. They are too cumbersome to move and aim. He’s been trying to sell it for years, and offered it to me at his actual cost, just to get it out of his warehouse.”

“Why do you need my help? Still trying to keep the size of your storage rings secret?”

“Exactly! I’ve asked around, and confirmed that even on the Second Deck no one crafts storage rings. They’re all purchased from the System shop, inherited, won on gambling quests, or found in dungeons, and even the largest and most expensive of those are only the size of a 10-foot cube.”

Tamako nodded, and said, “Makes sense, but something like this, you can bet there will be system gambling quests to steal or destroy it while we’re trying to get it back here.”

“Way ahead of you there, I’ve hired several adventurers from the Highland Guild to meet us at Razz’s shop and act as guards. Razz is going to have B-squared covered and ready for us to place it on a wagon which will be pulled by a team of those oxen used by the caravans.”

Tamako huffed at Sam before correcting him again, “They’re not called ‘oxen’, they’re Bowler Beasts.”

Sam started walking toward his crafting room, and said, “O.K., yea, that’s it, Boozer Beasts. Anyway, I’ve got some more work to do improving the enchanted defensive wards and wall strengthening wards on this place before tomorrow.”

The next morning, when Sam and Tamako arrived at Razz’s warehouse, the guards, the wagon, and the bowler beasts were all there, ready to go. Everyone could ‘feel’ the frenzy of activity from the alleyways, rooftops, and open windows. Tamako and the Highland Guild’s guards gave each other a knowing look as they prepared for the brief journey across the City.

Tamako followed Sam to the warehouse door, where he went inside to make sure Razz had the ballista properly covered and ready to be moved to the wagon. Tamako could see the ballista was on a pallet and covered with a large tarp, but she stayed at the door for security.

Tamako heard Sam say to Razz, “Good morning, Razz! Like we talked about, could you clear all your people out of here while I place a few security enchantments on the ballista?”

Razz replied, “No problem, Mr. Sam,” as he cleared all his men out of the area and left with them.

Tamako noticed from the corner of her eye, Sam working on the outside and underneath the tarp preparing his wards. When Sam finally finished, he went and found Razz to finish the transaction.

Razz said, “It’s all yours now!” and then had his men move the pallet outside and set it down near the wagon.

Within moments of Razz’s men setting the pallet down near the wagon, gamblers attacked. There were close to a hundred gamblers fighting the guards and each other to get to the pallet. Tamako quickly understanding that there was no way of fighting them all off, ordered the movers to leave the pallet and just take their wagon and run for it, and then she ordered the Highland guards to fall back on her and Sam. As they pulled back, surrendering the area with the pallet, Tamako launched an exploding crossbow at the pallet. When the bolt hit, Sam’s wards caused the pallet and the ballista to implode in a ball of fire, preventing any damage to the surrounding properties or people, but completely destroying the ballista and the pallet.

In the process of pulling back and striking down a few gamblers to get clear of the area, Tamako watched some gamblers trying to put out the flames, but they only succeeded in burning themselves.

Jimmy, the Highland Guild guard in charge of their convoy said, “Ms. Tamako, we were willing to stand and fight, but I agree with your decision. I don’t think there was any way we could have stopped that many gamblers.”

Tamako nodded to him in appreciation for his support of her decision, and said, “Thanks, Jimmy, but keep your people alert. Your job’s not done until we get back to our warehouse safely.”

Jimmy nodded, and replied, “Yes, Ms. Tamako!” as he started barking orders at the other guards.

As Tamako waved the guards off and shut the door to their home, Sam said, “Did you get them to take the payment?”

Tamako nodded her head, “Eventually, but they claim they are now in our debt and owe us a favor.”

Sam thought about it for a second, and replied “Let’s hire them for some minor job in the future, and suggest a small discount on it to make us even.”

Tamako grinned, and said, “That’s probably best, but let’s get it set up. I can’t wait to see it in action!”

Sam winked and grinned back at Tamako as they walked to the back half of their house near the enclosed courtyard, and he unloaded the ballista out of his ring.

“Wow, your new ballista is huge!”

Sam smirked and replied, “Yes. Yes, it is!”

Tamako simply pulled a rock out of her pocket and threw it at Sam. “Ouch!” he screamed. Tamako said, “I just remembered we haven’t been working on your dodge skill lately.”

Sam grumbled, “We also need to work on your sense of humor.”

Tamako rolled her eyes, and said, “Do you think the wall is strong enough to handle the recoil?”

“Nope. That’s why I reinforced it with a bunch of enchantments to enhance its strength.”

“O.K. That makes me feel better. Onto another topic. Does Jen have a plan yet?”

Sam frowned. “I’m waiting for her to finish the app before pestering her, but after that, I hope she kicks it into high gear. All I want to do is visit the gnome sector before heading to the Third Deck, and if I don’t get to see the gnome’s district, that’s fine too. The sooner we move on, the sooner I get Kelly back.”

Tamako nodded, but inwardly still worried about Sam at some point having to face the possibility that they may not make it to the Seventh Deck. She also concerned that even if they made it to the Seventh deck, what were the odds the gods on that Deck would really be able to bring Kelly back.