The moment we cross the barrier, we run into the fiercest resistance yet – Ms O’Keefe. I idly note that at least a few of the guards have acquired new weapons that look very familiar.
“Young man, where were you?” she stands there, tapping her foot with one hand casually on the hammer. I call a tactical retreat, waving goodbye to them both and making sure not to meet Ms. O’Keefe’s eyes as I head for the restaurant where lunch is being served, ignoring the beseeching looks for support sent my way.
Ali floats back up to me soon after, glowing from having a good haggling session it seems; “Alright, we traded the guns and armor for 10,000 credits on an IOU basis. They need to keep what credits they have, so we got a better deal. I figure we can collect it in a month if they survive.
“Also, you’re going to take the old lady with you into Whitehorse and carry whatever you can of their loot in your inventory. We help them buy and sell and cart her back here too.”
Quest Received – Help Carcross
Help Carcross make their first successful visit to the Shop in Whitehorse. You will need to get Elder Andrea Badger to Whitehorse and back.
Reward: 2,000 XP
Nice. Maybe I should let him talk more. “When?”
“Right after you finish stuffing your face,” Ali says.
The ride in is surprisingly comfortable and quiet. I don’t slow down, not for anything and Ali keeps us informed of any potential problems so I know when to really speed up. Elder Badger just laughs when we do speed up, obviously the old woman enjoys going fast. I don’t tell her of the dangers Ali informs me of, but I can feel my shoulders relax, my grip loosens slightly when we finally get within the lower zone around Whitehorse again. Some of the monsters that prowled the mountains and forests would not have been fun to fight.
In Whitehorse, I slow down for safety’s sake and for the elder to take it in. Not much seems to have changed from a few days ago, with only guards and the occasional hunters moving around other than in the Safe Zones. It is a stark contrast and again, I wonder what the major differences is. It almost seems that not having a safe zone forced the people of Carcross to step-up, forced them to either face the challenge or die.
Dropping Ali and the Elder at the city centre, I decline to join them. Ali has full access to my inventory in the Shop, so there’s no point in going in directly. Instead, I ride the elevator to see Roxley himself to turn in my quest. Interestingly enough, Ali still can’t provide any further information even with his higher level. I guess we’re still not up to snuff.
“So, there’s a settlement of humans in this Carcross numbering hundreds. But you only brought back one – who isn’t even going to stay. Is that right?” Lord Roxley stares at me with those soulful black eyes under long delicate eyelashes.
“Yes.”
“And you wish to be rewarded for this,” Roxley continues and I admire the way his lips twist as he speaks, the barest hint of a smile on the lips. “Even if your quest is for bringing survivors back to my city?”
“Mmmm… yes?” I pause, seeing his point.
“Well, I really can’t do that,” Roxley shrugs shoulders that are surprisingly broad for such a willowy frame, muscles rippling beneath his silver and black tunic.
I shoot him a rather pitiful glare, one lacking any real heat. He is right after all – the citizens of Carcross aren’t actually contributing to his city. Not that the citizens of Whitehorse are contributing either, but that’s a different thing entirely. Still… “I’m sure this information is worth something. And eventually, some might come.”
“Eventually is not now,” Roxley picks up a glass, sipping on it and adds, “Did you Level Up while you were gone? You seem… broader.”
“Yes, thank you,” I answer back, wondering if he’s going to offer me a drink again.
“Well, I can’t really reward you for the citizens you didn’t bring back, but the information is valuable…” Roxley runs a finger along the edge of the glass before smiling. “Yes, this will do.”
Quest Completed!
Bring News of the Survivors
Reward: 2,000 XP and 1,000 Credits
Roxley watches me for a moment before realising I’m not leveling up and then he flicks his hand, dismissing me. I shrug and head off, the Credits better than nothing.
Now what? A quick stop in the Shop shows that Ali and the Elder are really going at it, so I leave to head out. When I walk out, I see Sabre and realise that someone needs some loving. Right, Ali mentioned there was an Armourer in town. Let’s see what they can do about poor old Sabre then. I follow the small map in my helmet to the building and stare at it, frowning. It looks like your typical concrete and metal warehouse, no different than any other building in the industrial park. Well, no different except for the sign out front saying ‘Don’t shoot the proprietor’.
I walk in, wondering what the sign is about. I tape the button, withdrawing the helmet back and walk into the building. I look around for a moment, eyes adjusting to the darkness and then I pull my sword, jumping a good foot back as I choke back a scream.
I’m not scared of giant spiders. I’m not scared of giant spiders. I’m not scared of giant spiders. Squatting in a web that crosses above a workshop counter in front of me, a giant black and gold spider sits chittering and working on a dismantled energy pistol. The spider looks up as I wave my sword around and for a moment, seems to even sigh; “Please put sword down.”
I inhale and then exhale again before finally making the blade disappear. Right. That’s what the sign was for. “Sorry! Sorry!”
“No shot. Good. All good. You work?” the creature chitters and sets down the pieces its been working on.
“Yes. I have a damaged Omnitron III Class II Personal Assault Vehicle that needs fixing,” I mutter, staring at the creature. My feelings slowly start to settle, adrenaline dropping as my instinctive response slowly subsides. Right, giant spider can talk and is sentient and is the mechanic.
“I open. Bring in. I look,” the spider chitters.
Damn, without Ali around, I can’t read its name. “Sure.”
When Sabre is rolled in, the spider flows out from its web and begins to crawl around, chittering to itself and poking at damage areas. It twists to me halfway and at its prodding, I engage the transformation sequence. Ten minutes later, it comes to get me.
“Damaged. Not bad. Superficial mostly. Some electrical. 5 hours. 2,700 Credits,” the spider chitters and I shiver.
“Ummm…” I stare at it, realising I’m out of moves. I have no idea if he (it?) is quoting high or low, though if it’s a mechanic, then it’s probably on the higher end. So, umm… “That seems high.”
The creature chitters and I swear, it’s laughing at me. “2,700 Credits I fix. System fix, more.”
“Fine. Fix it,” I grumble.
The creature flicks a bunch of things in the air and then a moment later, a text window shows up confirming our agreement. Easy come, easy go.
Time to find something else to do then. 4 hours… there was another building wasn’t there? An alchemist? I just hope it’s not another giant insect creature staffing it.
It takes me nearly half an hour to walk back to Main St. which makes me think I should really plan my trips without my bike better. Still, the alchemist shop is much closer to what I’d expect even if it is set in the middle of Whitehorse’s quaint, 1960s strip of shops.