Now

“Interesting, your displayed decision-making ability has covered a wide range of competence,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

“Uh… thanks?”

“Designation: Honor, it is erroneous to take that as a compliment.”

“You wound me, Tides,” Cal sighed. “In my defense, information was hard to come by the first couple of years. There were so many different tutorials and they cost so many Universal Points that we were mostly operating by guess work.”

“The Threnosh compiled a comprehensive database of all spire-originated tutorials within the first two years,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said.

“Really, how did you manage that? Whenever we tried to share information directly from the tutorials they came out garbled or scrambled. It didn’t matter if you tried to speak the words or write it down or type it down. You could only read, listen, to them while inside a spire.”

“That was not our experience.”

Cal looked back and forth from Loaming and Tides. “You’re serious? Huh… so our worlds’ interactions with those things weren’t the same… interesting.”

“These supply distribution facilities that you speak of. How did you not recognize that they were transitioning into Encounter Challenge Zones?”

He couldn’t be certain and it wasn’t important enough for Cal to peek into Tides’ thoughts for confirmation, but it seemed that the alien was actually being smug.

“Could you be referring to the grocery stores?” Cal knew that it was.

“Yes.”

“Well, we checked five stores that night. Tried different things, different combinations of things, to see if we could trigger it. Then we went and double-checked each store again on our way back. Nothing happened,” Cal said. “Turns out all it took was time. Got a bit of an unpleasant surprise two weeks later. The stupid council tried to blame me when all the commercial properties started turning into Encounter Challenges one after another. They needn’t have worried. All the new Encounter Challenges were clearly for lowbies.”

“What is this word, lowbies?” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said the word with distaste.

“It refers to weaker individuals. Those that haven’t strengthened their abilities.”

“And?”

Cal tried to shrug. “Nothing much more to say. People had to do the Encounter Challenges to get their supplies, food, medicine, and other necessities. It worked out pretty good. They got the stuff they needed, while gaining experience, strength, and Universal Points. It actually pushed those on the fence about going to the spire to unlock their abilities. Kind of reinforced our new reality.”

“And there were no further incidents similar to the M-L-K High School Spawn Zone?”

“Nope, made it clear that if they tried to do anything other than gathering their supplies, they risked the chance of triggering a Spawn Point,” Cal said. “After what we all went through with the high school, everyone was very careful.”

“Did you discover anything further concerning the Encounter Challenge Zones?”

“Not much more, probably just the same as you guys have,” Cal said. “Used a good chunk of points to purchase an Encounter Challenge tutorial. I was concerned about our lack of information to say the least. Found out that there was an entire ecosystem when it came to a zone, as you call it. The tutorial didn’t really explain how, but the zone itself earned Universal Points from deaths that occurred inside, people and monsters. It used these points to replenish the items it carried and apparently it could make improvements over time. I didn’t observe any significant improvements in four years, so I concluded that the time scale involved is likely measured in decades or more.” He grinned. “Tell me, did you understand all that? It didn’t come out garbled or in gibberish.”

“We do not know this word, but you were understood,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said.

“Huh… did you already know all that?”

“You have shared information that we already possess,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

“Damn,” Cal said. “Oh well, it was worth a try.”

“Explain.”

“Just wanted to see if I had info that you didn’t,” Cal said. “So, I take it you know about the thing where if you trigger the supersecret and super-dangerous boss monster then you have the option of taking control of the Encounter Challenge.”

The interrogators’ heads jerked to look at each other. It was the first non-deliberate movement that Cal had seen them make over the weeks of interrogations.

“Oh, you didn’t know? How is that possible? I was under the impression that you guys were extremely methodical in your pursuit of information.”

There was a long moment of silence before Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 spoke. “We do not take risks.”

“Well, maybe you should start. When you gain control of an Encounter Challenge you can set all sorts of parameters. For starters you can set the frequency and location of monster spawns. Your people will know exactly what kind, how many, and where they can expect to find monsters, no more surprises. You can determine how the zone’s Universal Points are spent. Maybe you’d rather it put out useful supply items more frequently versus spawning monsters. You can do that too. That’s what we eventually did with the grocery stores when the value of monster killings started to drop once the community as a whole grew stronger.” Cal smiled smugly, which was intentional. “Pretty good info, right? And I gave it up for free, didn’t even ask for anything in return.”

“This session is at an end. Designation: Honor we shall resume at a later time,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

Immediately after Cal was floated out of the interrogation room in his sealed sarcophagus a holographic projection appeared in front of the two interrogators.

“That is unnecessary.” Prime Custodian 3 waved away the two interrogators in the middle of their salutes. “Assessment of the subject’s information.”

“All scans indicate truth,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said as they flipped a panel up out of the back portion of his power armor’s left arm. The right arm of their armor unfolded revealing a stick-thin gray-skinned arm topped by four delicate fingers. These fingers danced across the buttons recessed underneath the panel. “Reviewing data, C.I. concurs with 93.784 probability.”

“Agreement.” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 was just a hair behind.

“Yes, I saw the same,” Prime Custodian 3 said. “What is your assessment?”

The two interrogators exchanged a look of confusion. It bothered them that they had caught themselves doing so many times since their current project with the subject began. Never before in the course of their duties had they openly displayed such uncertainty.

“Twenty-four sessions over fifty-two days,” Prime Custodian 3 began, “that is the amount of time you have spent with the subject. It is clear that the subject is fundamentally different from the Threnosh, not just physically, but in here,” they tapped their mottled gray head with one finger in an uncharacteristically demonstrative fashion. “I ask for your assessment. Not what the scans say. Not what the C.I. says.”

“The subject speaks truth, but not completely,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said. “I… suspect,” the word tasted unfamiliar in their mouth, “that the subject’s words are meant to conceal and confuse. The purpose of which, I am uncertain.”

“Concur,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said perhaps a tad too quickly.

“Speculate,” Prime Custodian 3 said.

“The subject desires this alliance, between his people and the Threnosh. All of his words, spoken and not, are all aimed toward that goal,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

Prime Custodian 3 bent their head forward slightly. “Very well. Proceed as you are with the subject.”

“Prime Custodian 3.”

The Prime’s impassive gaze fell on Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623.

“What the subject said about the possibility of gaining control over the Encounter Challenge Zones.”

“I have already ordered an immediate investigation. If the subject is truthful and accurate then the Threnosh will owe him.”

Prime Custodian 3’s holographic projection dissolved without further word leaving the two interrogators even more confused and troubled than they were at the start of the short debrief.

Then

“You guys ready?”

“Yes, sir!” Four voices in unison responded.

It was like the nerdiest of choirs. Although by definition Cal figured it was probably redundant. Choirs were supposed to be nerdy, weren’t they? Or was that dorky? He’d ask Remy later, his brother was the one who’d spent a few years in the choir during elementary school. The thought brought a smile to his face. He wasn’t going to pass up an opportunity to tease his younger brother about it. Especially since it must’ve been a good decade since he last brought that particular nugget up.

The adventuring party, Team F.C.W.R., as they dubbed themselves, took the smile as encouragement.

“Thanks so much for leading us!” Gene smiled brightly.

Olo nodded like a bobble head. “We won’t let you down!”

“Tsk.” Bastien was frowning. “We don’t need help. We aren’t lowbies.”

“Shut up, dude,” Johnny whispered as he elbowed his friend in the side.

“Listen up, kids,” Cal said. “Bast, this isn’t a milk run. I’m not here to babysit. I’m just here to make sure you don’t do anything dumb and accidentally turn this place into a Spawn Point.”

“It’s Bastien,” the teenage boy grumbled under his breath.

Cal heard the complaint fine with his superior senses, plus he didn’t need to peak into the boy’s thoughts to see the waves of resentment coming of him like the stench of body odor. A smile crossed Cal’s face again. He’d have to remember to tell Nila about all the cool and totally not lame metaphors he was coming up with.

Gene raised his hand.

“Again, what’s with the hand raising? This isn’t school,” Cal said. “Well, out with it.”

“Um… why the Target?”

“Huh? No one told you?”

“Our watch supervisor just said to report to you,” Gene said.

“Oh, I see,” Cal sighed. “Gentlemen, you are performing a vital task for our nascent community. Specifically, your quest is to procure vital supplies for an upcoming operation that,” he paused for effect, “a lot of people are counting on. So, you best have your A games today.”

“Wait!” Gene raised his hand, then dropped it hastily, “but we didn’t get a quest.”

“Ah, my mistake its a quest not a QUEST,” Cal said. “Lowercase, not uppercase.”

“It’s a job then,” Olo said.

“More like a chore,” Bastien said.

“Dude, you’re making us look bad in front of… him,” Johnny whispered while elbowing Bastien in the side.

“Bro, quit it with the elbows, you’re the one making us look bad.” Bastien returned the favor.

“I’m going to stop you two there before you start a fist fight.” Cal gave them his best glare. “Save that aggression for the gremlins.”

“Excuse me, sir?”

“Yes, Olo,” Cal said flatly.

“Do you know what kind of gremlins are in there?”

“Good question. I checked it out earlier and it’s mostly the small ones and maybe a few of the human-sized ones. Nothing you can’t handle based on what I know of your capabilities.” Cal clapped his hands. “Now, any more questions? Or can we get this started?”

“Um… what exactly are we supposed to be looting?”

“It’s procurement, Gene and that’s a good question. You are getting candy, snacks, and drinks. Nila said to stick to juice, but I’m thinking since it’s for a special occasion we can grab soda too.”

“This is for that stupid party!” Bastien shot an accusatory look at Cal.

“C’mon man! It’s for Halloween. They’re going to do trick-or-treating for the kiddies. There’ll be games, music, dancing, and some other stuff for the older crowd,” Cal grinned.

Truth be told he was a bit leery about the plan. He had looked over the protection plan for the event and found it adequate. Besides, he was planning to shoulder the burden of keeping everyone safe. As much as he didn’t want to play chaperone all night, he knew that he was going to do so anyways. It was annoying, but he decided that since he was doing it for people, young and old, who hadn’t had much to be happy about in the past year and a half and not at the council’s request then it was okay.

“So that’s what why they’re decorating the community center,” Gene said. “Seems risky though, all that people in one place, outdoors at night.”

“The watch will be keeping a tight patrol,” Cal said.

“Why weren’t we included?”

Cal grinned at Gene. “It was decided that minors get to be minors for at least one night. No patrolling, no monster killing, no responsibilities.”

“I’m sorry, but that sounds kinda irresponsible,” Gene said.

“Well, yeah, but it’s been decided,” Cal shrugged. “Now it’s time to get this quest started. Are you ready to answer the call to adventure, Team F.C.W.R.?”

As one, each of the teen boys’ faces grew grim. Young though they were, monster killing was old hat by this point. It made Cal sad.

Cal had to admit that Team F.C.W.R. moved like they knew what they were doing. Olo was at the tip of their arrowhead formation. He had a police riot shield in one hand and a well-dented metal bat in the other. A little behind him were Gene and Johnny, to the left and right respectively. Both were armed with a machete in one hand. Gene’s off-hand was held in front of him at the ready, fingers splayed open. Behind them in the center was Bastien. He held a lantern and an ax handle, minus the bladed head. It was too heavy according to him when Cal had asked. Naturally, Cal told him he needed to work out, but Bastien had claimed that his healing prayers became less effective and more difficult to perform when he tried increasing his strength. It was yet another quirk of the spires’ enforced system that they hadn’t unraveled.

As he followed the team from a safe distance, Cal reached out with his telepathy. He could sense the usual malice and hunger in the dark shadows of the store’s interior, but kept that to himself. He wasn’t planning to help even a little. He wasn’t going to interfere unless the team was in real danger. They still weren’t sure how Universal Points were allocated. There was a chance that since he was so much more powerful than the boys that even his simple actions risked taking the bulk of the points for the monster kills.

Even so it was difficult to restrain himself from acting when a handful of small gremlins jumped out of the shadows all around the team.

Olo batted one aside with his shield, while smashing another with his bat

Johnny took in a sharp breath and the two gremlins rushing him stopped suddenly, as if they lost sight of the teen that was actually still standing in front of them. The second of confusion was plenty of time for the teen to hack into first one, then the other gremlin with his machete.

“Magic Missile,” Gene said in a soft voice. Three marble-sized orbs of glowing purple light shot out of his fingertips. Each zoomed away to impact into the chests of three small gremlins, leaving a burning hole in each. He then rushed forward to end the dying gremlins with his machete.

“Nicely done,” Cal said. “Decisive and efficient. Except for one small thing. Gene, still have to say the spell’s name?”

Gene frowned. “It just doesn’t work if I don’t verbalize. I’ve tried everything. Visualizing, saying it in my head.”

“Inconvenient to give your targets a warning,” Cal said.

“I’m trying to say it as quietly as possible,” Gene said.

“Just keep in mind that I could hear you from all the way back here,” Cal said.

Gene nodded. “C’mon guys let’s keep moving.”

“Where do you want to go first?” Olo spoke without taking his eyes off the shadows in their front arc.

Cal was slightly impressed to note that each of the boys never took their eyes off their sectors even during the conversation. Gene’s eyes flicked to Cal.

“Remember, I’m just here for observation and in case of an emergency,” Cal said.

“Snacks aisle first, then drinks on the way out, since they’re heaviest,” Gene said.

The team faced two more attacks as they made their way to collect the snacks and on their way to the drinks. They dealt with the small gremlins with practiced ease. Even Bastien had the opportunity to smack a few with his wooden ax handle to make sure that he secured his claim to some Universal Points.

The drinks were placed in separate bags. Juice and soda of several different varieties. Cal was responsible for hauling their cargo, since it would’ve been too heavy for the non-super strong teens to carry them without the use of a shopping cart. Cal idly wondered how many points he’d get for being a glorified pack mule.

“Alright, we’ve got the loot,” Gene said the word with a sour look on his face. “Time to get out of here. Keep ready for the larger gremlins.”

“Shouldn’t they have attacked by now?”

“I don’t know, Olo,” Gene said. “I’d say fifty-fifty on that.”

“Maybe we haven’t entered into their aggro radius,” Johnny said.

Bastien looked to Cal. “You wouldn’t happen to know where they are?”

Cal replied with a chuckle and a shake of his head.

“Do you think maybe we should look for them?”

“I don’t know, Johnny,” Gene said. “The points for the bigger ones are definitely worth it, but we did get what we came for and I don’t know if it’s okay with Mr. Cruces that he was to carry everything, while following us around.”

“Isn’t it risky though to go looking for trouble?” Olo eyes were constantly moving around their immediate area.

Gene mulled it over for a few seconds. “Why don’t we vote? All in favor of leaving now…” No hands went up. “Okay, I guess that means we’re going hun—”

The words died in his mouth as a faraway look appeared in his eyes. The same look came over the rest of the team.

“Well, crap,” Cal said. “I recognize that look.”

It took maybe ten seconds by Cal’s count for the first teen to return to reality, so to speak.

A wide-eyed Gene was breathless. “We just got a quest, I mean a QUEST!”