Story Arc #4 Hero of Pendown
The Small Man On the Giant Ark
“I don’t trust you.”
This is a continuation of Securing the Control Room, part of a ‘Choose Your Own’ tale. Check out how you can contribute, as well as read other amazing entries here.
You immediately attack Olear and question his motives.
You angrily slap away his outstretched hand and aim your blade at his throat. His eyes widen in terror and he makes a high-pitched squealing noise as he slowly backs away from you.
“I don’t trust you,” you say, closing the gap between you and Olear. You thumb the button on your sword and the blade’s aura changes to an enshrouding black mist. “You’re going to tell me exactly what’s going on here.”
Eshami likely detected the dark aura you had just activated, and she steps closer, concerned. “My hero, what are you doing?”
You swing your blade over Olear’s head and it impacts one of the destroyed devices of the bridge, sending sparks flying and a strange slurping sound as the remains of the terminal melts away by a finger’s width.
“Tell me!”
Olear is practically crying at this point, his eyes shifting from your fury to the blameless control console still bubbling with black ooze.
“I’m so sorry! Don’t hurt me! I’ll tell you whatever you want to know-w-w!!!” he sobs.
Eshami turns away in disappointment and clicks her teeth. You’ll have to work a miracle to get her to talk to you again.
“What is the point of this Ark? Why are you here? What was with that Blood Beast out in the hall?”
After a minute to collect himself, he rubs his cheeks with his palms. “Our home has rid itself of evil and darkness by constructing these Arks and launching through the singularity. Our people finally know peace after thousands of years of suffering and strife.”
You nod. “Go on…”
Olear swallows and then continues. “I am one of the Attendants of the Ark. Our job is to keep the ship functioning until it reaches its final destination — the singularity.” his voice trails off. “But now that I see we’re in a whole new realm. We need to find some other way of destroying the evil on this ship!”
You wave your blade and open your eyes wide to show your skepticism, but it is surprisingly Eshami who steps in next. She places her hand on your shoulder, signaling for you to disarm.
“Must we destroy these creatures? Can they not be rehabilitated somehow? Serve time in a menial camp?”
You shake your head. “I’m guessing these are criminals and monsters far beyond the point of redemption.”
“In short, yes,” Olear answers. “While other Arks may have lesser criminals like cutpurses and swindlers, this Ark specifically houses some of the most prolific evil our world has ever faced.”
Eshami’s eyes widen. “Then this must be why the angel has brought you here, my Hero — to prevent this threat of evil from spreading to Pendown and our home!”
You think back to your initial encounter with the Angel. He did mention that your entire world was in danger. You had spent your life fighting against evil monsters of your world — mythic beasts and devious villains alike.
If your peaceful home was suddenly beset by such evil again, you shudder to think of the outcome!
“Why have your people brought the Arks here?” you dare to ask.
Olear is quick to respond. “I truly didn’t know the singularity would lead us here! I swear it!” You look to Eshami and she nods back.
It seems he is at least telling the truth about that.
“But why send your evil into this…singularity at all?”
“NIMBY Syndrome,” he answers vaguely.
“Huh?”
“It’s an acronym. Not-in-my-back-yard?” He sighs in frustration. “To be honest, I don’t think my leaders cared where the singularity led, just so long as it was away from us. But I care. So let’s fix this right. Peace?”
He holds out his hand to you again.
On the one hand, this man — assuming he is indeed telling the truth — accepted the likelihood of death by becoming an Ark attendant. That alone was either bravery or insanity.
But the fact that he is standing here before you — under your very direct threat of bodily harm — and asking for your help to find a solution to both your dilemmas, speaks something about his character.
You sheathe your sword and grab hold of his hand in a fluid motion that startles the man.
“Oh!”
“How do we deal with this Ark and its … passengers?” you ask Olear.
“Not passengers, but more like cargo,” he corrects. “Calling these monsters ‘passengers’ implies they paid a fare and want to be here. I assure you that isn’t the case!”
“Is this a form of capital punishment in your world?” Eshami asks.
Olear nods.
“Then let’s do what must be done.”
You nod, and Olear nods with you, but your faces slowly fall flat.
“What must be done?” you ask.
Olear ponders this thought for a quiet moment. “We can fly it into the sun! Everyone dies. The end!”
“Your exuberance at our demise is unsettling at best,” you say awkwardly, raising a skeptical eyebrow. “But can it be done?”
Olear nods again. “Of course, we’ll need to prepare some things, but yes. I’ll need your help, though. I’m not exactly equipped to handle things on my own.”
“We’ll need to rest here, if that’s okay, then we shall follow your directions to… fly the Ark into the sun.”
You can hardly believe the words coming out of your own mouth!
Olear nods, and reaches for a gnomon-shaped object and presents it to you. “Take my laser pistol. It can fire a few shots if you’re desperate…”
You accept his gracious gift gingerly, placing it carefully on your adventuring belt for safe-keeping. You have no idea what a ‘laser pistol’ is, but the little kid in you is just itching to try it out!
You and Eshami eat your packed trail rations and set up bedrolls and a small campfire in the middle of the room — much to Olear’s dismay — but he eventually allows it.
Eshami reads passages to herself from her holy book that she carries in her bag, reciting lines silently — she is preparing her blessings and spells for tomorrow, you realize.
You were never magically gifted. You had a knack for not dying and a love of gadgets — like that pistol from Olear, and your magic longsword.
Olear asked for your help, you reflect. Seconds before, you were ready to strike him down, but Eshami was certain he was being honest, and you have quickly grown to trust her.
“Hey, Ketal,” you whisper. Olear is busy at the front of the room, possibly enacting repairs to the devices you smashed.
The dapper fellow you remember begins to spin up from the floor, but sparks fly from a nearby device and he disappears.
“Ketal!” you and Eshami both blurt out, startling Olear’s concentration. You apologize for interrupting him. “What happened to Ketal? Is he okay?”
“I am operating within acceptable parameters,” a disembodied voice answers. It is Ketal!
“Why can’t I see him?” you ask Olear, who grunts and returns to his repairs.
“There is severe damage to the holographic matrices in the Control Room,” he responds. “You smashed the control room up, remember?” There is an accusatory tone from Olear.
“Oh dear, We are so sorry, Ketal!” Eshami clasps her hands together, asking for forgiveness.
“I was wondering, how many prisoners are on this Ark?” you ask him, not really knowing where to speak, and swiveling your head around the room.
“At last count, there were six thousand, nine hundred and twelve prisoners registered in the Hold, although my sensor systems have been severely damaged.”
“Six thousand!”
Olear stops what he is doing to join in the conversation. “They are safe inside the Hold… though that Blood Beast you describe tells me that some may have gotten out…”
“Some? How many is some?” you ask.
You might be a great hero but fighting even half of six thousand is suicide!
“Unfortunately, there’s no way to know for sure,” Olear admits. “But once you two have rested some, I’ll direct you on what to do from here.” He taps the console he had been repairing.
Fighting the adrenaline from your budding second wind, you fluff up your bedroll and begrudgingly try to get some sleep.
“Goodnight, Eshami.”
“Goodnight, my Hero.”
“Goodnight, you two,” comes Olear’s voice.
By the time you wake up, Olear and Eshami are already quietly sharing your breakfast rations.
“Hey!”
Eshami greets you with a sincere — and utterly disarming — smile. “We were just discussing our plans,” she says.
Olear hands you a small metal rectangle. “Here,” he says. “To replace what I ate.”
You accept the gift as you pack up your bedroll into your bag. “So?”
Eshami lets Olear explain the plan. “We need to make sure the Engine Room is secure, and it wouldn’t hurt to check out the Shield Generator surrounding the Hold to make sure it’s still intact. Ketal and I will try to aid you as best we can. Oh, and I’ll teleport you directly from here, in case that Blood Beast is still around.”
You hold out your hand and help Eshami stand up. You pat yourself down and dust yourself off.
Adventure awaits!
Do you:
- Investigate the Engine Room with Eshami? (Click here)
- Explore the Shield Generator and the entrance to the Hold? (Click here)
- Find and examine the Ballast Tanks? (Click here)
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