After the climactic confrontation at the junkyard, we make our way back to camp. Upon arrival, we see George waiting for us near a crackling campfire. He's obviously worried and the other Wanderers take turns in reassuring him. When he sees us approach, he immediately runs to Samuel and lifts him up.
"Oh, my boy, I was really worried!" He sobs. "We 'eard news that the Ravens are moving in 'No-Man's Land' and when ye didn't come back, I though' of the worst."
The rest of the Wanderers come and escort us in. Detective Davenport and the girl who's with him make their way to the "Injury Guy" who's calling out to them in his tent. From the way this area's population exploded, it seems that when they heard about the Ravens' movements, the Wanderers chose to set up camp here for tonight. After all, this is the closest to the South as you can get without trespassing. While the people surrounding the campfire start celebrating Samuel's safe return, I take my place beside my tent and pull out the glowing box from my backpack.
"Safe and sound," I mutter.
With only the campfire and some flashlights lighting my way, I begin finishing my work. While my hands are busy, I keep glancing at my two saviors. Davenport winces as the "Injury Guy" splints his arm without the grace and care that healthcare professionals have. Meanwhile, his partner can't decide whether she would keep her eyes away from him or support him through the process. My stay at the precinct was nothing short of stressful so I couldn't even take in the appearance of the person who interrogated me. Now, amidst the cheerful atmosphere and the flickering light of the campfire, I begin to see his face for the first time. It's rough; tested; as if he has come face to face with the worst and survived. On the other hand, his partner has the most sensitive, child-like features I have ever seen for an adult woman. I think he called her Samantha? I'm curious how these two totally opposite people ended up becoming partners.
Eventually, the splinting finishes and the two make their way to me. Of course, I immediately pretend that I wasn't totally looking at them and hum a tune.
"You think we wouldn't notice you staring?" Davenport chuckles as he approaches.
"Get out of the way, you're blocking my light," I reply annoyedly.
Both of them make their way to the backside of my tent where their shadows won't interfere with what I'm doing. They watch me silently for some time. A long time in fact. Too long that even I begin to feel uncomfortable.
"I-I'm sorry by the way," I say softly. "For your arm." I sheepishly glance at them to see their reactions only to be met with the most devilish smile.
"Is that it?" he sneers.
I furrow my brow. "What'd you expect me to say detective? I'm not an asshole who doesn't say sorry when he's broken someone's arm."
"Haha, I could care less about my arm," he says as he rotates his bad arm about. "What I wanna know is what you were thinking of doing to that guy."
I freeze and unconsciously shifts my gaze away. He sighs and crouches beside me. Then, with his good arm, he puts his hand on my shoulder.
"I know it was scary and you were defending yourself but what were you thinking of doing after nailing that guy on the head?" he says with a voice full of concern.
I still can't face him. I silently take his hand from my shoulder and begin working at the machine again. The two pause briefly before I hear their footsteps walk away.
"Instinct," I blurt out while still not meeting heir gaze. Their footsteps stop and I could feel their eyes latch on back to me. "I let my instinct take over so thanks for stopping me."
*Click*
After the final wire is connected, the machine whirs to life. The once dark corner near my tent is now dotted with glimmering blues and yellows while the laughs and conversations that filled the air is replaced by an orchestra of fans and electronics. I take in the marvel of my work for a second before being interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Did you finally complete it?" Sher's voice rings out from inside my head which makes me jump.
"It's done," I reply.
I notice the two quizzically look between me and the machine as they take their place beside me again. The other Wanderers also turn to our direction.
"Wow, I've never seen anything like this," Samantha says in wonder. "It's like a Yule Tree."
Without warning, Sher apparates in front of me and also inspects the machine.
"Good job," she says in a stoic, almost monotone voice.
"What? I spent a week making this. I thought you'd be happier," I groan.
"Who're you talking to?" Davenport asks.
I awkwardly move my arms about. "Uhhh ... you must've misheard because of the noise."
Without replying to me, Sher floats toward the machine and touches it. I see her lips move but the noise is making it impossible for me to hear anything. She then turns to me.
"Activate it," she says.
I feel a vein bulge on my temple. "I spent a week in this stinky hell-hole with literal gangs surrounding me while you slept the entire time! And now that you're awake, you order me around? Fine. I'll activate your damn machine!"
With annoyance and frustration welling up in me, I smash the big, red button on its side.
*Silence*
I look at Sher. She looks at me. I look at Davenport and Samantha. They look back. Then I look at the machine.
"Well, that was anticlimact-"
*CRRRAAAACKLLEEE* *BOOOOM*
Suddenly, the air around us split as a shockwave bursts out from the machine. We instinctively cover our ears and brace ourselves against the force of the explosion. My Kaleidoscope goes on the fritz and shows me nothing but sizzling images.
+
[Warning: A Burst of Fractal Energy Detected]
[Stabilization Procedures Activated]
+
"Sheriv!!!" I yell in panic. I can't see her. I can't see anything. Damn lenses.
After a while, the assault dies down and my Kaleidoscope returns to normal. I take stock of my surroundings. Davenport and Samantha are safe but the blast sent them tumbling a good few feet. The Wanderers who are much farther away seem to have already recovered and are now watching intently. Their eyes, fixed upwards. I track their gaze and immediately understand why they can't seem to look away. Streaming out of the machine is a constant, intense, beacon of light that pierces even the darkest clouds in the sky. It has repelled the night that was surrounding the camp and is proudly announcing its presence to the entire world.
"What the fuck, Miller," Davenport groans as Samantha helps him get on his feet.
I raise my hands in defense. "I swear I don't know what this is."
"You expect me to believe that? You built the damn thing!" he replies.
Before I could answer, multiple alerts bombard my vision.
+
[Connected to Medacorp's Servers]
[Connected to the Internet]
[Downloading Role-players' DLC]
[10 Minutes Remaining]
[Administrator Privilege: Concealment Deactivated]
[Multiple Potential Digital Threats Detected]
[Antivirus: Non-Functional]
[Firewall: Non-Functional]
[Virus Threat Level: Red]
+
The Kaleidoscope glitches out again and suddenly, an unexpected alert appears.
+
[Protect Me, Devon Miller]
+
Try as I might, I can't figure out the ass and head of the situation. I need time. Time to process all of this. But of course, that is exactly something this situation doesn't offer. In the corner of my eye, I see the once stationary mountain begin to shift ever so slightly. I slowly turn my head.
*RUMBLE*
The mountain vibrates.
*RUMBLE*
It moves again. At this point, I could hear nothing else but my heartbeat and the ringing in my ears. Davenport and Samantha are yelling something at me. What are they saying?
*SLAP*
Suddenly, I feel a burning sensation on my cheek.
"Wake the fuck up Miller!" Davenport, who is now literally inches from my face, is shaking me like a ragdoll. "I knew you got a Kaleidoscope you son of a bitch but it seems that you don't know what's what so listen to me." He points at the shifting mountain. "Whatever that is, it's not real you hear me! It's just data being processed by your eyes through your lenses you understand?!"
I nod weakly.
*CRASH* *ROAAAAAAR*
Suddenly, the mountain bursts open and multiple giant limbs come out of it. The light of the beacon reveals a robotic creature that stands at 20 meters. Its nonsensical form is forged through a collection of various garbage. Its limbs of different sizes rotate and jerk around as it lumbers towards us. While it may seem clumsy, the singular red orb that twitches uncannily is dead set on our direction and I could swear I see it licking its lips.
"Aaaahh shit!" Davenport swears under his breath. "Samantha, take care of that giant virus! I'll set up a barrier!"
Samantha nods and pulls out multiple discs which she expertly places at our vanguard. Then, with a flick of her wrist, the discs form into three fully realized howitzers which immediately fire their shells.
*BOOOM* *BOOOM* *BOOOM*
Three shots, three explosion. Two miss the mark but one hit it square on the head. The monster retaliates with a piercing shriek which rattles my bones. Meanwhile, Davenport is writing symbols in the air and reciting an unfamiliar language until finally, a massive green dome appears that covers a hundred meter radius.
"Miller! Don't just stand there with your dick in your hands! Turn off the damn machine," he barks.
I look at the red timer that's been constantly counting down the seconds.
+
[9:26 left]
[9:25 left]
+
In my peripheral, I see the Wanderers take their positions and start throwing whatever they could at the giant: might it be fire, or lightning, or a jet of water. There's chaos happening all around me but I can't hear any of it. All my attention is transfixed on the soft glow of the beacon and its mellow but energetic hum.
"Is this your idea of cheering me up you damn bitch?" I chuckle to myself.
I hone my senses back to the situation we're in and steady my nerves with a deep breath. Impressively, the barrier is holding up against the barrage of muffled explosions against it. At the same time, our attackers are doing massive damage to the robot.
"Devon Miller!" Davenport shouts at me. His veins bulge on his neck and sweat is starting to roll down his face.
"Hold off for 9 minutes," I say calmly. "Do you have a Fractal gun?"
Before he could even answer, I snatch the pistol from his belt without resistance. It feels like the real thing and I would have been fooled if not for the label that it has.
+
[Fractal Gun: C-]
+
"Hey-" he protests.
"Every boss battle as big as this have phases," I continue as I familiarize myself with the pistol. "Since you've been doing a lot of damage to it, I'm assuming it's gonna start summoning minions soon."
As if on cue, the monster stops its assault and slowly aims it body towards the sky. Then, in quick succession, it lobs hundreds of orbs towards the barrier. The green shell prevents any of them from entering our space but upon contact, they unfurl into little metal spiders that scuttle on any surface they could find. Eventually, they darken the surface of the barrier and begin to hit it with their oversized mandibles.
+
[Fight Protocols Activated]
[Aim Assist Activated]
+
*Bang* *Bang*
Two shots to test out my new weapon. Both hit and send two spiders tumbling down.
+
[Low-tier virus eliminated]
[Low-tier virus eliminated]
+
"Not bad," I say as I feel a smile creep up on my face.
[Time Remaining: 8 minutes and 2 seconds]