After the initial slowdown with the first spoonbill, we worked our way through the rest quickly. Each gathered bit of Dreg struck our bodies for a second before kicked in. Fortunately, once Daniela and I figured out how to keep it active between dissociating corpses, the wear on us vanished almost completely. Unfortunately, it was only for the last few dissociations. The trick was to rush getting the energy while focusing on the Skill to keep it active. It was like juggling with a limb you didn't know you had, but it was much preferable to the flicker between well and seizing that happened with each corpse at the start. However, after experiencing the stinging of the dust during my 'brief' visit into the Trait Paradigms, I knew those few we managed to deflect would be back for a vengeance during our next proper activation.

The last corpses we dissociated were the ones Sam had trapped up on the canopy. To impress us, he actually channeled his and triggered the dissociation at range. The man was very smug... up until I pointed out that the Infusion and Material loot was still up in the trees.

With a snickering Daniela in the background, Sam deposited the last of our loot on the small pile we'd created. Ten Q2 Air Infusions and over half a dozen feathers the size of my forearms. One of the spoonbills that had been killed up in the trees actually dropped its beak. That particular Material shone with a green outline, marking it as a potential component for an Amplitude Infusion Item.

The thought of crafting made me want to craft, not least of which because I was still barehanded. It didn't mean I wasn't happy to punch or shield bash things, especially with the addition of to my repertoire, but I was a fan of having at least a tad bit of range in combat. The thought of what the United Council would need, the looming threat going on north of Gec, and progress at the Corporeal Limit easily crushed any chance of me finding an opening to work on Infusion Crafting. Nevertheless, I vowed to sneak in some time for it while in Wildwood.

I have a working budget now, don't I? I wondered as we made our way back towards Lake Weir. There wasn't anything in particular that we needed from there, but I was looking forward to at least a day to process everything. Plus, if the threat of the gators in the lake was truly expanding then I was sure that would be the next target for the Wild Guard and our own squad.

The three of us traveled in silence and after just under an hour of travel we arrived at the Weirdian wall. A guard called out in greeting, motioning to the gate and letting the three of us in. To my surprise, people were primed to greet us as they asked a million questions about a million things. From tips on Infusion Crafting to proper flight technique to mana horticulture. The last set was almost solely directed towards Samuel, who had the biggest part of the audience. Daniela and I looked around confused, but Samuel explained that he'd been in correspondence with the active guard due to the scout rotation that checked in on the Death Territory.

"Why are these people asking us all these things?" Daniela asked through the comm-plant, not wanting to offend anyone as she kept a strained smile on her face.

"They see us as the epitome of what the Council is looking for. Crafting, combat and infrastructure. Not to mention we are extremely well known and popular, especially with the kids," Sam said matter-of-factly. For an introvert, he handled a slew of questions about horticulture with aplomb.

Thankfully, a skeletal limbed man parted through the crowd, dispersing them back to their various responsibilities. There was more than one grumble, but the huff from the vine-haired man behind Ian set the whole lot scrambling. Only the guard who'd let us in remained, looking sheepish. Maurice raised an eyebrow in his direction, and the man double timed it back up to the wall. He bowed and excused himself profusely the whole way up to the small ramparts.

"Hard to find incorruptible help these days," Ian joked.

"Hard to find any help at all, dad," Maurice countered.

"Yes, Maurice, we are all aware." Ian let out a suffering sigh before turning back to our group. "Welcome back."

"Something about being behind a wall is very appealing," I said, smiling at the old man.

"Especially when it's inspired by your handywork, I imagine."

"That doesn't hurt," I said, shrugging.

"Come on, we can talk in Wec's crystal," Ian said, waving his hand over his shoulder.

"Actually--"

"If we could--"

Daniela and I both interrupted each other. The Latina waved her hand, motioning me to continue. "Actually, I think we've had enough of the whitespaces for a minute. Your office will work just fine. It's not like Wec doesn't know what we plan to tell you all already."

"Very well," Ian said slowly. "Maurice, see if you can't scrounge up something to eat that isn't dried rations. A few days in the wilderness couldn't have been comfortable."

"You have no idea," Daniela mumbled as we walked towards the pre-Fall school building.

If it was possible, Lake Weir looked even more vibrant than when we'd left for Gec. The fruits looked more saturated with color and the bushes were forming natural walls to segment the open areas of the town. With so much growth everywhere, the pathways that had originally been built for defense were now used as the main thoroughfares of the town. I couldn't help but think of them as a road system. If the town grows much more, then it will become the only means of moving about.

My musings about the infrastructure of Lake Weir were cut short as we passed by Wec, a gap in the hanging vines exposing its shimmering surface. The Entity's crystal was visible from beyond the walls, but now finally being close to it brought its growth into perspective. From the small, wagon-sized chunk of Tec that our excursion had brought, the Metier Crystal had grown to incorporate itself into the old school structure.

Where Gec bloomed into several tetrahedral peaks, secretly reaching deep below ground, and Tec towered over Wildwood with its massive singular bulk, Wec had followed Bec's route.

Through its transparent crystal I could see a few people climbing stairs to reach the watchtowers built into the roof of the school. Some even moved straight through where there had once been a wall just to flow down to ground level like a fancy magic elevator-tube slide combination.

The development left me excited for when Bec, who'd started our collaboration with the Entity Clusters in the first place, would be able to grow into the next Category. It was already incorporating itself into the keep I'd been constructing over the Bunker, and having it assist with magical amenities would be an awesome sight.

One such amenity that Wec had implemented while expanding over into the school was lights. Where there had once been torches and a number of candle-brazier-barrel sources of light in the building in the rooms with no windows, now there were hanging crystals in the ceiling. Usually one or two per room, but they shine a soft white light not unlike the LEDs in the Bunker. If the computer systems, data banks and simulation classrooms weren't set up in the Bunker, I would have almost suggested that they return the building back to its original function before the Fall. It was part of the way there already.

Instead, it was still the primary source of housing for the Weirdians. Their small council had designated spaces for the various crafts and storage necessary to survive the decades after the Fall. It was yet another testament to human ingenuity and perseverance to see the different ways in which the towns had survived. Combining all the strengths of the groups in the Council was the first step into truly forming a cohesive front to regain the surface for humanity.

Before long, Ian led us to his office and the three of us practically collapsed into the worn couches stashed within. Ian gave us a bemused smile as he waited patiently for his son to return. A half hour later, Maurice returned with a spread of fruits and vegetables that had me salivating. Since coming to the surface I'd realized that I'd always craved to be a carnivore instead of the vegan-vegetarian blend that us Bunker-born had been raised on. That did not mean that I couldn't shovel an inhuman amount of fructose and veggies when they were presented. The tough bread and flavorless bean paste that was standard fare for the Wild Guard were a far cry from the Insta-meals available in the Bunker, but I didn't think it was physically possible for me to reject fresh food since the moment I tasted it.

When we finally retreated from the ravaged tray of food, Ian's expression was slightly more strained. Maurice was holding back laughter as he stood over his father's shoulder. Ian cleared his throat before proceeding to ask for updates.

And update him we did. The Trial, the preliminary testing we'd done as well as all the bits of knowledge we'd acquired about were passed on. Ian and Maurice both started taking notes on some pads when they realized the deluge of information coming their way.

While it was just a short amount of time since the Trial, the three of us had already spent a lot of time contemplating the data we had available. Our combat bout and slips into our white spaces wasn't scientific in nature, but that didn't mean it couldn't be structured as such. It was a side effect of being raised by in-field experts and then subsequently surrounded by other talented people in the Bunker. None of us had discussed our theories, but many overlapped with our fields of expertise. It was the key reason why I was still requested to give lessons on Infusion Crafting and Samuel was sought out for anything healing or horticulture related. There weren't any universities or trade schools left on Earth that we knew of, but the Bunker had a pretty good information base and we'd had nothing but time before coming to the surface.

"That was certainly... Extensive," Ian said, finally putting down his pencil after almost an hour of writing.

"We like to be thorough," Daniela said, crossing her arms and leaning back on the couch.

"Yes, you can't be faulted for that. Especially when it comes to something like this." Ian started "As a matter of fact, one of our fighters actually hit Q6 while you all were away. We pulled him from patrol the moment he did, but it's good to know he might be able to join back up. He was able to handle one of the Crocs single handedly."

"How's the situation there?" I asked, leaning forward.

"Stable for now. With the hanging gardens, we haven't needed to rely on fishing as much to hold up our food stores. This let us dedicate more people to the lake defense. Not to mention the Guard's contribution in squads and Wec's presence easing the pressure from the other parts of the wall," Maurice explained.

"Does the Allied Council have a plan they are looking to implement?" I asked.

"Currently they are trying to get Gec's guidelines in place. It's not a leap, but there are a handful of people pushing back. They don't think we should be listening to the 'alien rocks that caused this problem in the first place', I quote."

"Unfortunately they have a point," Ian added. He raised his hands to cut off the argument already rising to my mouth. "I understand, Mr. Terrigan. The fighters and the farmers do as well, especially after they have seen what the Implants do. We are close to the level of communication we had before the Fall, which has helped relieve a lot of the stress being isolated caused. But there are a few tough nuts to crack. As much as I see the benefits, if Maurice hadn't survived through the Fall I think my view would not have been as amenable to the Metier Crystals."

My mouth shut with a clack as I was forced to accept his point. It wasn't something I'd considered since we'd been working together with Bec for so long I often forgot that their arrival had been a fundamental shift in the laws of Earth. Even when the world was 'civilized' there had been disagreements. A high stress environment with death lurking around every corner would likely cause many times more.

"Let me know who they are; I'll pay them a visit and see if they are still willing to cause trouble," Danny said casually. Thankfully I didn't have to be outraged alone because Sam jumped up.

"Daniela! They are entitled to their own opinion. As long as they don't impinge on the rest of the group, we are not going to strongarm them," the blonde said.

"Fine, fine. It was just a suggestion," Daniela mumbled in response, sulking even further back in her seat.

"We'll pass the Q6 information on to Stonecrest," I said, shifting the topic back. "Then Wildwood. I'll reconvene with Sarah on the subject of the gators and we'll focus our efforts there. Gec was vague on a lot of things, but if there are more people out there that need our help then we need to reach them."

"You three really know how to light a fire under someone, eh?" Maurice said.

"What can I say? When you spend your whole life idling, the first thing we want to do is go full throttle," I chuckled. Samuel and Daniela matched my smile as we parted from the Weirdians. There was plenty of work left to do.