Chap 3:The Pack's "Fair enough. Comeon Annis."
Gar heads outside to the green, while trying to work out sleeping arrangements. Probably Annis on the couch, with the rest of us trading the bed each day... Perhaps two people on the bed? It is a twin, afterall...
You head outside to contemplate sleeping arrangements as Ox wanders back and forth like a worried father as John inside works on fixing ratCarl, the old man meditates on something or another and a pack of wild dogs starts running down the street towards you. That last one snaps you out of your contemplation and taking a closer look it appears to be a dozen or so starved looking short humanoids covered in twisted metal and bits of animals running around on all fours. They appear to be dragging some small animals out of their dens before ripping them apart and feasting on the raw flesh, you shudder as the screams of a rabbit like creature pierces the night air and you hurry everyone back inside before locking the door and then leaning against it. So much for sleep you think to yourself.
Annis will eat the food and drink the water that was given to her earlier. And then she wants to access her Relay in order to check if there is was any records or saved data on it that may be of use.
Checking through for records you manage to pull up some old info on how before the full collapse it seems that various corporations took over from the local governments, declared themselves independent, made all sorts of biological weapons, pets and other items before completely self-destructing when their bio-armies went rampant from the madness of the white plague. You realize that you were likely one of the alpha experiments in these trials and wonder if there's legions of independent hyper-intelligent and strong little girls out there some-wheres. At least, you wonder for a short time before the adults come inside in a panic discussing how there's a pack of twisted small humanoids running on all fours wielding sharped spikes and weaponry moving down the street butchering the local wildlife.
"Blasted outdated literature! Ugh."
Nicholas meditates again, this time focusing on traditional calming and healing exercises.
Deciding to head outside since the fresh air might be a bit better, you begin your exercises in calming. It's about as relaxing as can be up until you hear a clacking sound coming down the street quickly towards you. Looking about you see that it's now dark out and decide to head inside, waiting for a moment with the others who were taking in the fresh air you see what appears to be a pack of, well you'd call them goblins but Gar and Ox seem to be far more concerned than they would be for goblins.
Well I can give it a shot.
I hand RatCarl more paper and ask what is wrong with the device and how to fix it.
Using terminology even you don't understand ratCarl proceeds to explain how the vocal synthesizer is a cross-species translation device to allow people's pets the ability to speak back to them. He goes on to explain how his shorted out a few decades ago after his owner stopped moving and that being a rat that doesn't die of old age was getting extremely lonely. You get a short speech about how he had a rat wife for awhile but that the other rats no longer want to be around him since he's so much larger now. He goes on a short tangent in what you assume to be mandarin before coming back to English and asking you to take a look at it. He easily removes a metallic spheroid from his throat that is connected by a glowing silver-ish wire to what seems to be his spinal cord.
Luckily the fix for you is inanely simply, at some point in the past the sentient rat seems to have accidentally flicked the off switch that isn't visible to him; likely it was put in so that aggravated owners could shut their pets off easily. You turn it back on and ratCarl starts to thank you before you hear the front door slam and a strange metal-on-metal grating sound from outside which causes ratCarl to hide under the bed with a whimper.
"Get the man who just joined with the fungus to fix my vocal synthesizer."
Ox points to the note."I think he broke his voice box. He gave me a quarter."
ratCarl seems to be relatively excited as you explain the situation to John and proceeds to write further notes to John that seem to make little sense to you. Heading outside you await the results of ratCarl's operation with baited breath, Carl and the old man seem to be outside enjoying the night air as well before the screams of some small animal cause you to jump. For a second you think ratCarl is in pain and then real Carl points out the real source with shaking finger. You see a pack of creatures straight out of one of the horror movies you auditioned for ripping something apart as blood fills the evening air like a red fog. With a shudder you head inside suddenly exceptionally aware of your lack of weapons, you contemplate breaking apart Carl's kitchen chairs for a club, or the table but realize that anything that breaks will likely never be replaced.
Danger Turn:The wild pack is currently contented with killing local wildlife and has not yet noticed the lights in your apartment. It is approximately 100 feet down the street and the screams of dying animals are keeping you alert of it's general location.
quick status:
Annis
Hydration: 100/100
Nutrition: 100/100
Exhaustion:80/100
Mental Ability:95/200
Mental Stability:80/80
OX
Hydration: 160/160
Nutrition: 160/160
Exhaustion:0/160
Mental Ability:60/60
Mental Stability:60/60
Gar
Hydration: 100/100
Nutrition: 100/100
Exhaustion:50/100
Mental Ability:120/160
Mental Stability:135/160
John
Hydration: 100/100
Nutrition: 100/100
Exhaustion:40/100
Mental Ability:90/140
Mental Stability:115/140
Nicholas
Hydration: 160/160
Nutrition: 160/160
Exhaustion:40/160
Mental Ability:120/160
Mental Stability:80/80
Database:
Noj-Fungoid Morph-Sensitivity to natural light (UV?), can change shape and split into autonomous entities rapidly, seems intent on touching humans and does not display similar behavior to other biological's. Needs to breathe, what exactly is unknown.
Defining Features-Large masses of Noj give off a popping sound that is caused by the bursting of puffballs on it's skin regardless of current shape, small Noj do not exhibit this behavior but seem more inclined to a static quadruped shape. Despite ability to change shape, maintains distinctive blue-white coloration.
Eating Habits-Does not like dead/dried meat, enjoys ancient crackers that would break your teeth.
ratCarl-So far only encountered one member of this species, though that member exhibits high levels of friendliness, some intelligence and does not like loud noises or loneliness.
Quadruped animal with opposable thumbs on it's forelegs, as well as two small manipulator arms set just behind forelegs. Weighs approximately 20 pounds but is larger than an equivalent quadruped would be at that weight-Is it's bones hollow or light to allow for swimming/climbing?
Defining Features-Dog sized rat with 4 legs, 2 manipulators and human like hands.
Author
Topic: From The Ashes-Episode 1:Chap 5:In the Dark (Read 11518 times)