Oath of the Survivor

Hello all!  Once again, thank you so much for following Oath of the Survivor this far!  There's still a LOT of story to tell, and I plan on telling it!  This summer is going to be spent working on polish, building the next story arcs, and setting a foundation for things to pick back up this fall.

 

As mentioned in the previous announcement, my plan is for the next chapter to drop around 9/2.  I'll be keeping you all updated with announcements through the summer as things progress.

 

Thank you again, be well, and enjoy your summer!

 

-StarswornAdmin

~~~

The goblin frowned, looking at the series of parameters Kyle set before him.  “I’m not even sure how to value something like this.”

“If it’s something outside your scope, I understand,” Kyle said.  “If you could at least give me a referral, I can be on my way…”

“Absolutely not!” Fell’Zorre snapped.  “We have the finest artisans in the Verdant Republic, of course we’ll be able to put something together.  It’s simply an odd request, and it will take some time for us to even work on a prototype.  Let me assure you, anybody who thinks they can do it faster is either lying, or cutting corners.”

Kyle nodded, suppressing a smile.  “I can give you time, just remember the non-negotiables.”

Fell’Zorre tapped on his tablet, a quick projection appearing in the space between them.

EXPANDABLE FRAME

HIGH-DURABILITY MATERIAL

SELF-REPAIR INSCRIPTION WORK

MANA COLLECTION INSCRIPTIONS – D GRADE OR HIGHER

FULLY SEALING VENTS

EXTENDING TETHERS

“I’m sure we can put together plenty more, beside.  Give our team 10 days to review and come up with an estimate, and then we can finalize the details.  I can tell you that the cost will exceed 400,000 credits, though by how much I’m not sure.  If you’d be willing to put down a deposit as a show of good faith…”

“I can do that.  100,000 credits now, 100,000 credits upon delivery of the prototype, and then the remaining balance when you’ve completed the work?”

Fell’Zorre typed on the tablet, then showed Kyle a purchase agreement lining out the terms.  “That is agreeable.  Should we fail to produce a prototype within a cycle, we will refund you 75% of the initial deposit.  Should the prototype not live up to expectation, I’ve included provisions that we will keep the 200,000 credits, or cost of materials.  Of course, there are best efforts clauses included as well…”

The goblin droned on for nearly 6 minutes, explaining the nuances of the special order.  Kyle listened politely, having expected something similar.  The Verdant Republic loved its paperwork, after all. 

When Fell’Zorre was done, Kyle signed the agreement, paid his credits, and was returned to the entrance.  The goblin paused before he left, eyes narrowed as he regarded Kyle.  “Mr. Mayhew, if I may ask… has something changed with your armor?  Something looks different.”

Kyle met the goblin’s eyes.  “I’ve been through a lot since I purchased it,” he said, showing the gauntlet that now rested on his left forearm. “It’s probably just changes from the repair features.  Thank you again for your help today.”  With that, Kyle turned and exited the Emerald Armory. 

Through Sensory Barbs, he could see Fell’Zorre still facing him for another moment, before finally turning to head back to his office.  Kyle let out a breath when he was finally out of sight.  The goblin was more perceptive than Kyle had given him credit for, and he was thankful that there was no residual energy from the seed still present in the armor. 

It was something he’d need to watch down the road, though for now he was eager to get home and prepare for the next day’s work.  He had 3 jobs queued up, which meant he would be busy.  He waved to his security personnel before entering his apartment complex, stepping through his front door moments later.

Kyle made a quick meal, spiced poultry over rice, and took a look at the details.  The first job was pretty simple; a custom machinery component had been finished by a manufacturer, and they needed it delivered safely and quickly to the client.  The purpose of using a Courier seemed to be to avoid the risk of corporate espionage, which Kyle could appreciate.

The second job of the day was from a long-standing Guild client, and an influential dignitary inside the Verdant Republic.  A new goblin world had been discovered a while back, and they were in talks of joining the Verdant Republic.  They’d apparently sent some cultural artifacts to be added to a museum, and Kyle was to escort the shipment. 

The final job seemed the most interesting.  He was given a public location where he was to wait and receive a delivery.  From there, he was to simply turn the package over to the Verdant Republic Security Forces.  If nothing was handed to him by the end of the allotted time, he was to leave, the job being considered complete.  The intrigue left him curious, though he knew that he couldn’t let himself get too caught up in the what-ifs.  Not knowing the full picture was part and parcel of being a Courier, after all.

Imagine Kyle’s surprise then, when he found himself surrounded by thugs shortly after picking up the equipment for his first job of the day.  7 people stood in front of him, and Sensory Barbs detected 8 more presences approaching from the sides and behind.  A quick glance over his shoulder showed his security team moving in, and Kyle turned back ahead as he felt the group’s leader step forward. 

“Listen here, Courier,” the man said, sneering as he spoke. “Give us the component and we won’t have to rough you up, we’ll –“

Kyle didn’t give him a chance to finish.  Ignition burned through his veins as he dashed forward, blowing through the encircling group before they had a chance to react.  He also looked back with satisfaction as he saw his security personnel try, and fail, to keep up with his enhanced speed.

Once he was a reasonable distance away, he deactivated his skill and kept moving.  While skill use wasn’t prohibited in the Verdant Republic, it was considered poor social etiquette to use flashy skills in public.  Still, he made great time as he finished his delivery and received his pay.

 The second and third jobs were much smoother, with nobody even showing up to make the delivery during Kyle’s final job of the day.  Kyle returned home 8500 credits richer, already reviewing the next jobs that Suierrillax had set up for him.  Speaking of… Kyle received a message from her earlier in the day, which he’d dismissed. 

Kyle,

Please don’t abandon the Private Security forces we hired for you.  It’s rude.

Otherwise, keep up the good work.  More jobs coming your way.

-Suierrillax

The comment only made Kyle smile, and he turned in.

The next few days were a blur of repetition, and it felt good to get into a sense of routine again.  The jobs were varied enough that Kyle didn’t feel bored, and the Verdant Republic controlled sections of the Hub were large enough to provide a wide array of different scenery.  When he felt stifled from doing the largely-urban work, he and C.H.A.D.D. would make trips to the botanical gardens to walk and take in the different types of plant life.

A message on his nav bracelet reminded him it was nearly time for his dinner with Tillienne and Jax, and he hurried out of his apartment to the teleportation platform, walking up to the restaurant just in time to see a well-dressed young man with shaggy black hair approach the front. 

“Jax, it’s been a while!”  Kyle called, a smile on his face.

Jax did a double take, then his eyes lit up as a broad smile covered his boyish face.  “Kyle!  It’s great to see you!” 

The two men shook hands, with Jax clearly looking at the grey veins covering Kyle’s body.  “It’s nothing to worry about, just some changes from a new skill I’ve got.”

The explanation seemed to satisfy the young man, and they chatted amicably as they stepped into the restaurant.  As expected, Jax was doing well in the Private Security Guild, already having made some new friends and expanded his family’s network.  From what Kyle could see, he hadn’t grown much since the Practicum, but that was to be expected.  Kyle’s circumstances were far from ordinary, after all.

Tillienne arrived a short while later, pink skin standing out against an elegant black dress.  She was stunning, an effect that was particularly pronounced for Jax, who caught himself staring and immediately blushed, much to Tillienne’s delight. 

She tossed a look at Kyle, still wearing his armor and carrying the C.H.A.D.D.pack.  “You’re underdressed, you know.  Interesting tattoos, by the way.” 

The twinkle in her eye let him know she was joking, and he smiled in response.  “What can I say, I’m not a top Practicum performer like the 2 of you.  In seriousness, I’ve had a couple of pretty tough run-ins afterward, and I learned some lessons about being unprepared.”

Jax’s expression grew serious at Kyle’s words.  “What happened?”

[MAY I, DR. MAYHEW?]

“Go ahead, C.H.A.D.D.”

The drone went on to explain the series of events in broad terms, leaving out much of the information that they’d decided not to share, including C.H.A.D.D.’s handling of its captor.  When the story was finished, Tillienne had a dark expression on her face, while Jax’s was harder to read.

“This is ridiculous.”  Tillienne said.  “I don’t know what you did to get targeted like this, but it needs to stop.  I hope your Guild is working on it.  If they’re not, I can see about getting you a spot at the Mercenary’s Guild.  I know our higher-ups wouldn’t tolerate it.”

“I appreciate it, Tillienne.  Our folks are working on it, though from what I can gather it’s a pretty complicated knot to work through.”

Jax was silent for a moment, eyes focused on his clasped hands.  Finally, he spoke.  “Kyle… I’m sorry.  I think some of this might be my fault.”

Kyle looked at the younger man, raising an eyebrow.  “Last I checked, you weren’t the one trying to claim a bounty on C.H.A.D.D.”

Jax shook his head.  “I would never.  But the people at the estate really liked you, and they talk.  I know we’ve had more visitors than usual since the Practicum, and you’re a topic that came up more than once.  I should have paid closer attention, I’m sorry.”

Kyle took it in for a moment, gauging his own reaction to the news.  To his surprise, there was no anger, no sense of betrayal.  “Jax, there wasn’t a way for you to know.  Believe me, it’s getting worked out.  Now, enough about that.  Tell me more about your recent assignments!”

The group ate, drank, and laughed well into the evening as they chatted and swapped stories.  The mood lightened considerably, and it felt good to be able to unwind with good company.  Even better, Kyle didn’t have any jobs slated the following morning, so he could get some rest. 

Kyle got back to his apartment, opened his door, and was greeted by Jarberry lounging in his chair, eating a comically large piece of cooked meat on the bone.  “About time you got home, I was getting bored.”

Kyle wasn’t sure what was more concerning – the imp’s unexpected presence, or that he’d grown so used to it.  “Good to see you, Jarberry.  I thought you’d be out for a while yet.”

“It’s called finishing jobs ahead of schedule and underbudget.”  He paused to take another bite of meat before waving it in Kyle’s general direction.  “Something you could stand to learn, by the way.  At this rate, nobody will want to hire you because of all the extra expenses that pop up.”

“Hey now, it’s not all my fault.”

[ACTUALLY, DR. MAYHEW, MANY OF THE MA FAMILY’S EXPENSES FROM YOUR VISIT WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO YOUR SPECIFIC PRESENCE.]

“See?” Jarberry said.  “And that’s why I like you, drone.  And why I’ve been working on a little side project to make sure you’re taken care of.”

“And what does that entail?”  Kyle asked.

“C Grade stuff!”  Jarberry responded, sharp teeth showing in his smile.  “Speaking of, I think it’s high time you and I had a chat about that.  What do you know about C Grade?”

“Very little,” Kyle admitted.  “We had a handful on Earth at one point, but they left.  I don’t know much about the specifics other than that the power gap between D Grades and C Grades is a lot wider than E Grade and D Grade.”

“Yes and no,” Jarberry said.  “Either way, I want you to get there, which means we need to start thinking about your foundations now.”

“Aren’t my foundations a little set in stone?”  Kyle asked, only partially joking.  “I understand that a lot of C Grade heritages are pretty strict and specific.” 

Jarberry scoffed.  “If you want to do things other people have done, sure.  The real monsters, the ones who make heritages, are the ones who figure it out themselves.  I want to make sure you get pointed in the right direction.”

Kyle’s pulse quickened, anticipation building.  This was something he’d thought about a lot, and never found great information.  “Well then, where do we start?”

“I suppose discussing the second class is as good a place as any.”