Est grabbed the flight harness from the secret compartment beneath his bed before rushing down to Runt’s office. “It’s going to be a tight fit, but it should work.” He thrust it into Runt’s confused hands. “Put it on. It’s got an autopilot function that’ll get you across the water to safety.”

“I sense distress, Estelon,” Runt said.

“No time to explain. Blissful Purpose or something close might be released at any moment. You don’t want to be here for that.”

“I don’t understand. That sounds nice.”

“Definitely not. It was created a long time ago by an Alchemist, who was either foolish, lucky, evil or a combination of those things.”

“So a potion… what did it do?”

“The perfect version essentially replaced a human’s personality to the maker’s specifications. It happened gradually so that the poor victim had no idea it was happening. There were no antidotes or defenses aside from an individual’s own natural power. Only one person was capable of reversing the effects and even then he needed to catch it within the first week. He had to rebuild the victim’s original personality piece by piece, like a broken window.”

“Then the current threat isn’t exactly the same.”

“In many ways the flawed versions are even worse. They’ve turned people into raving lunatics only concerned with hurting and killing everything in sight or turn them into listless vegetables that’d starve to death if they weren’t fed. Plus a few more variations in between. Every few decades some idiot tries to get the formula right, mostly in other parts of the world. We’ve kept a close eye on it here.”

“And now things change,” Runt nodded.

“Right, so you need to leave while I try to find these terrorists and stop them before it’s too late. Failing that, I’ll have to figure out how to mitigate the damage.”

“Is it not better to do this with your partner?” Runt handed the flight harness back to Est. “This potion affects humans. I’m Torruk. Different. Stronger constitution.”

Est considered it.

Runt was right and his muscle would be useful.

“You wouldn’t happen to have any resistance-type Skills? Against natural diseases, magical or others?”

“No, but Torruk can drink from the most stagnant pond or eat the most rotten foods with barely a rumble in the belly,” Runt bared his capped tusks.

“This is a step up from those things. Just to make it clear. You might die or worse.”

“With life comes death, such is the natural way. The only thing that matters is the living of it,” Runt pouted.

“What? You need to record a last message to your family? No last will and testament?”

“We will miss the roast pig tonight,” Runt said forlornly.

“Maybe, maybe not. I’ll start searching the island with my other self. You get geared up.”

“Perhaps we solve this case quick and be back in time for pig feast.” Runt cheered up as he left for the equipment room.

Est wasn’t sure on that account. The island was a small city. Many square miles, multiple tiers and tens of thousands of people. That was a lot to search even if he pushed his astral projection to its limits.

He didn’t have time to waste, so he prioritized his search areas.

The substance needed to be spread as quickly and to as many people as possible for maximum effect.

Est’s astral projection flew to the fresh water reclamation and distribution facility while he physically followed Runt to gather his own gear.

Walls were nothing to his ghostly projection. He floated through every space of the large facility in a matter of minutes. Scenes of people at work flashed through Est’s mind. He processed them just as quickly.

No sign of the two terrorists he had seen back at the arena.

Everything appeared just as it should’ve.

He skimmed over to the handful of water distribution substations scattered throughout the island, both artificial and natural portions.

Nothing.

Aerosol distribution was a possibility, so he took his astral projection to the highest structures.

The lack of intel from Vin was causing Est a headache.

As in, literally. He was pushing his power more than he normally did and was starting to feel the effects.

Est winced at the pain as he changed out of his regular clothes into a Threnosh-made onesie. Next, he put on a flexible, full-body, suit of armor, also from the Threnosh. The material was thin enough for him to subsequently put his normal clothes back on over it, which he didn’t do since time was of the essence. It was strong enough to be proof against the varied types of damage he could expect to face on the street. He was mostly safe from mundane, blades, arrows, bullets and low level spells.

“Have you located our enemies?” Runt said.

The Torruk had armored up in thick steel plate and ringed mail, with the exception of the torso piece, which was human-made from Threnosh metal alloy. He strapped a dozen blades of varying size and shape to his body. He grabbed his poleaxe from it’s stand. The iron-capped butt echoed with a loud thud when he let it hit the floor. The weapon was simple. A single solid piece of iron with a leather-wrapped shaft from his home world. The business end consisted of a wicked-looking axe head on one side and a studded hammer on the opposite side. A long, sharp, spike topped it all.

Runt admired the weapon. “I have not had the opportunity to use this in earnest combat in a long time.”

“You know you can ask for time off if you want to go out into the rainforests and kill some monsters,” Est said.

“I prefer to face sapient opponents… er… evil ones that is.” Runt grabbed his thick steel helmet and held it easily in one hand.

Est knew the thing weighed close to twenty-five pounds.

By comparison, his own helmet sitting on its stand looked downright flimsy.

In reality it provided a better defense thanks to its integrated combat software, the Threnosh metal it was made out of and the impact absorption and dispersion system in the entire armor.

Est cursed. “Nothing!” he snarled. “I can’t find them. If I have to check the whole island I’ll have to slow my projection down or my brain will explode.”

Runt made a disgusted face. “Let us not have that, partner Est.”

“What choice do I have? I can’t waste hours searching the whole island.”

“Perhaps we can spread word of the threat. You have access to the pictures of the two targets, yes?”

“I can get the renders from Vin, but if we put that out there it might spook them and cause them to release the substance immediately. I want to get them before they do that. I’ve checked water distribution and the highest buildings as the likeliest possibilities.”

“The evil ones will want to spread to as many people as possible while delaying discovery as long as possible,” Runt mused.

“It depends on how their version of Blissful Purpose works, but yeah, I think that’s a good guess,” Est grunted.

His astral projection zipped through the city at speeds that continued to increase the pain and pressure in his head.

“I’m getting nowhere searching this way.”

“Those recording devices on the street corners?” Runt ventured.

“Not enough coverage into interior spaces. As for the inside cameras you need special permissions to access those, which I don’t have and I don’t have time to ask for it. My mom could do it, but she’s got more important things to worry about right now,” Est’s face twisted to show his true feelings on that, “besides they’ve already settled on a containment plan.”

Runt nodded. “Yes, sometimes it is necessary to cull the ill to protect the rest of your herd.”

“The people on the outer islands are a bit more important than your animals,” Est said.

“Of course, I didn’t mean to suggest otherwise, just considering the current situation from your matron’s eyes.”

“Please don’t do that. We save everyone we possibly can. That’s what I learned from my grandfather. Only at the last possible moment do we even consider cutting others loose if it means saving a greater number.”

“It seems to me that way risks losing everyone you are trying to save. Who can decide and act effectively within a moment?”

Est considered Runt’s words. “My grandfather,” he sighed.

“We can only act within our abilities and limitations,” Runt said.

“Right, so I can’t search the entire island and still be effective when it comes time to stop these terrorists,” Est said.

“I will fight and stop them if you direct me to their location.” Runt’s voice was filled with conviction.

“That’s not enough. We need to get to them before they release Blissful Purpose.”

“If we are too late?”

“I don’t even want to consider that possibility. My helmet can be sealed against environmental hazards in the event that they’re using it as a gas. While my suit should protect me from skin contact. You don’t have the same, Runt.”

Massive, boulder-like shoulders shrugged. The steel pauldrons clanged and chain mail jingled. “I am strong.”

“Yeah, but does your constitution stand up to magical crap?”

Runt considered then shook his head. “Further conversation on this topic is pointless. I have decided to aid my partner in this worthy Quest.”

Est’s eyes widened. “Oh no! Why did you say that—”

A loud chime sounded.

From the look on Runt’s face he had heard it as well.

Est didn’t have time to review the notification beyond a cursory glance.

It didn’t matter.

The Quest message didn’t provide new information.

“Hate this so much,” Est muttered.

“I haven’t received a Quest in a long time,” Runt said in awe. “This many Universal Points means a truly difficult and dangerous one.”

“Yes, yes,” Est waved his hands impatiently. “And we need ideas or we’re going to fail it.”

“Well,” Runt bared his tusks in what was his thinking face, “if the enemy wishes to spread this potion widely then would they not try it where there is a large concentration of people?”

“Shit!” Est’s thoughts immediately went to the type of place that could be counted on to have densely packed crowds at most hours of the day and night. “The free restaurants.” He sent his astral projection flying like a rocket toward the largest one near the outer edge of the artificial island.

“I shall procure a flying wagon at once!” The weight of Runt’s armor added to his already considerable mass made each of his steps shake the room as he hurried out.

Est secured the flight harness over his Threnosh armor while his astral projection zipped into the largest free restaurant on the artificial portion of the island. The very same one that he had discovered Mr. Guzman secretly helping cook for the less fortunate.

He wondered how that conversation between the Guzman couple turned out after he had informed Mrs. Guzman of his findings. She should’ve been happy to know that her husband wasn’t cheating on her or involved in illegal activity, but one could never predict the irrationality of individuals.

His astral projection flew just over the heads of a packed main dining room. Close to 200 people at a quick count.

Everything looked normal.

They were waiting to eat and generally appeared to be in good spirits.

Talking, laughing, smiling.

The free restaurant did good work.

It was just another day.

People being kind for no other reason than the desire to treat others as they themselves would want.

Except there were always a few assholes looking to ruin things.

Est found them in the kitchen.

The normal volunteers and staff were either bound and gagged or down on the floor, clearly dead.

“Shit!”

A brief thought had Est wonder if Mr. Guzman was among the captured or worse, dead.

But he didn’t have time to find the answer.

“What is it?” Runt called back. “The flying wagon will be here in approximately 3 minutes.”

“There’s no time. The terrorists are at the free restaurant. The same one that I found Mr. Guzman. Do you remember it?”

Runt nodded.

“Good… you’ll have to meet me there.”

Est went straight to the window, opened it—

“Wait! You forgot this.”

Est turned at Runt’s voice and caught the dull, matte gray walking stick, he refused to call it a cane. Another gift from his grandfather. A concession to the need for a weapon weighed against his general dislike of committing deadly violence against sapients.

Est inclined his head sharply at Runt and jumped out.

The fight harness was synced to the cybernetics in his helmet.

A thought centered on the free restaurant several miles away, while another thought engaged the thrusters.

It wasn’t exactly fast, being just slightly faster than the normal human sprinting speed.

The anti-gravity units hummed and vibrated just on the edge of Est’s perception as the thrusters pulsed.

The harness was really more of an emergency device, so it didn’t have the energy stores that the full combat-specced ones had.

You do your best with what you have.

Est remembered the lessons.

“Crap!”

He remembered another one.

Don’t play hero ball.

That one was from his grandfather. He never quite understood the reference, but got the gist.

He sent a message to Vin.

It was a fool that went into a hostage situation and magical plague situation by themselves.

He could only hope that he wasn’t being a fool. That the others wouldn’t take long to join him.