Chapter 45: Orphan Maker.

  “Look lady! I’m sorry! Okay! I shouldn’t have mind-controlled you! My. Bad. I promise it won’t happen aga….”

  “HEEEEEEEEEEEELLP!!!!!! ADMIN!!! AAAADMIIIIIIINNNN!!!!!!”

  Her claws raked at the wall. Leaving small gashes in the smooth stone and making a sound akin to nails on chalkboard.

  A vile, resonant screeching that cut through the quiet din of the chamber.

  It would have been horrifying….

  If the exit wasn’t five steps to her right.

  She, uh. Didn’t seem to notice.

  “Is this the System vendor?” Charlie asked from the side.

  “Yeah. She’s, uh, the one I accidentally attacked.”

  Charlie raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

  “Is that so? Then, why do you suppose she’s going at it like you’re a goon from the docks and she owes you money?”

  I hung my head in shame and began to massage my temple.

  “It, might have something to do with the whole mind-control thing that I did.”

  He nodded.

  “Yes. That does sound about right.” He turned back towards Granny Golden and her escalating meltdown.

  She had erected a [Force Wall] around herself. Keeping any curious onlookers away, despite most of them trying to help.

  Mr. Park and Jacob stood next to me as well. Opposite the spot where Charlie lingered.

  “You know, we could use the services of a vendor. We have a surplus of supplies right now, but I’d love to get my hands on more of those storage rings.” Mr. Park commented. “Not to mention what other secrets we might be able to gleam.”

  “Forget that.” Jacob scoffed. “What we need is weapons and armor. You lot might be happy with those parasites you cover yourselves with, but I ain’t about to have a leech on my skin.”

  ‘Kill him.’ Buddy hissed in my mind. ‘He’s trying to take you from me. He wants to break up our friendship. Kill him now. Before he whispers more poison into your ears.’

  ‘No Buddy. I’m already coming up with ways to avoid killing Randall and Anezka. Even though they totally deserve to get shot. I am not killing a friend.’

  ‘He’s not your friend! I’m your friend! He wants to replace me! With a cold, dead piece of metal! It won’t love you like I do. No one will ever love you the same way I love you. Kill him!’

  Jacob kept talking. Ignorant of the enmity his comments had earned him.

  “Besides, I wanna see how our abilities affect good equipment. You saw the same memories I did. Sully’s [Insight] merged an ability called [Awaken Object]. I’m dying to see what it can do when combined with [Imbue Construct] from the Projector board and [Enhance Object] from the Enhancer board. I’d bet my left (Gnome) that we can make something much better than a parasite suit. I’ve been smelting scrap so far. I’d love to see what sort of goodies vendors might have.”

  I turned to face him.

  “That…is a great idea! Why didn’t you bring it up earlier?”

  Mr. Park’s face remained impassive, while Jacob’s turned into a grimace.

  “I did. You used your powers on Prudence’s diary. It took two fingers off Kaito when he tried to pick it up and our new Telepaths kept saying that it was evil and that it was thinking of ways to, and I quote: ‘Take our (Gnome)ing legs and arms off so it could move like a real boy and finally profess his undying love to the greatest woman in the world.’ By which it meant Prudence’s aunt. The book didn’t manage to do any of that, but it did learn how to float. It literally zoomed away faster than we could blink. We kept telling you to catch it, but you were too busy singing and talking to a mushroom.”

  I massaged my head.

  Trying to process this new information while also doing my best to tune out Granny Golden’s desperate squawks. My hangover was still very much around however. I could feel my heartbeat in my head. Veins pulsating around my skull as if trying to kick their way inside.

  Frustratingly, I soon started feeling kicks coming from the inside as well. My brain throbbing as if a gaggle of musicians were testing percussion instruments right next to my ears.

  “How did, whatever. Why did you want to keep testing the ability if the book turned feral?”

  Jacob shrugged.

  “I’m hoping the oddities came from your drinking. A sentient weapon as powerful as the diary would be awesome if it was sane. A sentient armor would be even better. We’ve got other people who can use [Psychometry] now. Items like your dagger or Dusty’s spear have their own Psy pools. It means extra avenues of attack and defense, which are only made better by the fact that they can have abilities their owners don’t. Imagine what we could do with a crossbow that shot [Force Bolts] instead of wooden bolts. Now imagine if it could do that in the hands of an Enhancer or a Shifter. With its own Psy as ammo. Given that those pools can be recharged between fights, its an easy way of getting our mittens on twenty or thirty levels worth of extra Psy.”

  I nodded in understanding.

  “Have we made any progress with [Imbue Construct] and [Enhance Object]?”

  “Not as of yet.” He admitted sheepishly. “I have both of them, since Projector was my main Type and Enhancer my second, but… I’ve been having difficulties with the materials on hand. The Psy dissipates after I shove it in. Or breaks the metal when it doesn’t.”

  “Which is why my powers and Granny’s stock would come in handy.” I finished for him. “Look, I’m sorry about it, okay? I already said so. Multiple times. Granny’s the one who doesn’t want to listen. What am I supposed to say?”

  “Have you tried kowtowing?” Mr. Park offered.

  “What’s that?”

  “You kneel so low that your forehead touches the ground. It is a sign of deep respect in my culture and it can be used to express one’s deep humility and remorse for one’s actions.”

  I looked back at Granny Golden.

  Noting the obscene amount of horror in each of her cries.

  “HEEEEEEELP!! HEEEEEELP!!!! HEEEEEELPP MEEEEEEEE!!!! HEEEEEELP MEEEEEEEE!!!!!! ADMIN!!!!!! ANYONE!!!!!!!!”

  Monique, Borislav, Kaito, Slab, Dusty and Prudence had been trying to calm her down for a good minute or two. To no avail. Kaito, Slab and Prudence’s own [Messages] weren’t getting through and neither were their voices. Whatever gestures they made only served to agitate her further.

  Slab made his way over to us once he’d given up. Hanging his head in shame.

  “I’m sorry Sully. I don’t think I can help.”

  “That’s all right. Its not like I did much to help either.”

  He sucked in a breath at that. Looking guiltily in my direction.

  “You know, I cannot read your thoughts due to your [Suppression]. But I can read theirs. That, and my hearing’s enhanced. I was listening.” His features twisted for a second, but he got them under control in half a heartbeat.

  “I was raised to respect Shepherds and to only offer them reverence. After all, their powers were the most important in our fight against the Blood Queen and the other Devourers. I, normally wouldn’t suggest any kind of debasement but…”

  “No. You’re right.” I said, stopping him before he could finish.

  “This is my mess. Its only right that I clean it up.”

  I walked forward. Moving closer and closer my friends and to Granny Golden.

  It was, odd, seeing her like this.

  “H, hey. Mrs. Golden? Its me. Solomon. I wanted to apologize for what I did. Again. I’m really, really sorry. I’m a good person now and I can see that it was wrong of me to, lump my problems on you and, almost get you killed by making you lie. Again, I’m sorry.”

  She just kept bawling and clawing. Giving no indication that she’d heard me.

  She’d seemed so strong when we first met. So potent and imposing.

  ‘She was also kind.’ I reminded myself. ‘She could have bullied me around. Or lorded her status over me. But she didn’t. She always spoke as if she was genuinely trying to help.’

  I felt another pang of shame overtaking me, before curiosity arose as well.

  ‘I wonder what her status looks like?’

  I willed [Insight] into being and focused my gaze on the screens.

  It all seemed pretty interesting. Right up until I found the last screen.

  My eyes went over it once, almost glossing over the information. Then they stopped dead and went back to (Gnome)ing doublecheck the utter (Gnome)ing bull(Gnome) on display.

  ‘Dispels lingering psionic effects and increases the natural regeneration. Increases…regeneration…. actively or passively…. can be overcharged with Psy….’

  I was so stunned that I forgot to breathe. When I finally did, the oxygen burned my lungs and came out in a roar that eclipsed anything Granny Golden had displayed.

  “WHAT THE ACTUAL (Gnome)! HOW!? HOW!!!???? YOU’RE TELLING ME!! THAT TELEPATHS COULD HEAL!!! THIS ENTIRE TIME!!!!!???? HOW!!!?? WHO THE (Gnome) KNEW ABOUT THIS AND DIDN’T TELL ANYONE!!!! YOU (Gnome)ING PIECES OF MOTHER(Gnome) (Gnome)!!!! I SWEAR I’ll (Gnome)!!!! YOU ALL IN YOUR (Gnome)!!! AND (Gnome) IN YOUR (Gnome)!!! UNTIL THERE’S NOTHING LEFT BUT (Gnome)!!!!!"

  Granny Golden flinched.

  Shivered violently.

  And turned around to face me.

  “YOU (Gnome)ING PIECE OF (Gnome)!!! HOW (Gnome)ING DARE YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME!!!??”

  I was so angry that I barely noticed the shimmering in front of Granny Golden. When it receded, I was left with two crow people instead of one.

  This new arrival was bigger than Granny. With throwing knives of pink crystal strapped to a highly-decorated Symbiote and a massive two-handed emerald great sword strapped to his back.

  Despite his intimidating attire, the man himself crumpled to the floor almost immediately.

  Furthermore, he somehow managed to exude more fear than Granny Golden herself.

  “P, please!” He squeaked. “Please good master, I didn’t know! The screen! It tricked me! The System rewards were too good! Please Master! Oh, gentle and wise master! Please don’t enslave me! Please! I have family! Me and my wife have hatchlings! And eggs that haven’t hatched yet!”

  He actually brought both his gloved talons to his beady black eyes and began to weep profusely.

  “I’ll do anything you want master! Anything at all! Just please don’t enslave me master! Please! Kill me cleanly if you want! But please don’t make me into one of them! Please! Please!!”

  The indignation I felt then, at that accusation, actually brought me back to my senses.

  “I…I don’t. I wouldn’t…”

  I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and turned to see Mr. Park. His face as impassive as always.

  “You’ll do, anything?” He asked, in a steady voice that nonetheless cut through the noise like a hot knife through butter.

  “Anything!” Orphan Maker confirmed. His beady little eyes glistening with tears and newfound hope.

  Despite his alien visage, I got the distinct impression of a castaway glimpsing land after weeks at sea.

  “Me too!” Granny Golden interjected. Throwing herself on the floor in a close approximation of a kowtow. “Please spare me and mine! Don’t invade our world and subjugate us!”

  “Now, now, there’s no need for that.” Mr. Park assured them. “We are all civilized individuals here, are we not? I’m sure we can put aside our superficial differences for a moment and come to an.”

  He paused, letting the words hang in the air.

  “Amicable solution.”

  The two nodded profusely. Actually, going so far as to crawl over to where Mr. Park stood. They clung to his legs like misbehaving children hoping to avoid punishment. A sight so spectacularly out of place that it left me utterly speechless.

  I was about to say something when Slab grabbed my right arm and Charlie grabbed my left.

  “Let it go Sully. This is good. We’re getting what we wanted.”

  “No sense in stirring the pot right now Sully. This is perfect.”

  I gaped at them. Then back at the two aliens.

  Mr. Park was playing them like a damn fiddle and neither seemed to care. Even though they were both infinitely stronger than he was.

  “I, am I that scary?” I asked. Feeling stupid as soon as the words left my mouth.

  “No.” Slab assured me.

  “You are, by far, the single most terrifying bloke I have ever known.” Charlie stated.

  If looks could kill, Slab’s glare would have sent Charlie and all his ancestors screaming into the shadow realm right then and there.

  “But, you’re also not a bully about it.” He added quickly. “Which is good, because we’d all be well and truly (Gnome)d if you were. Point is, don’t worry about it. Scary people can be bad and good. You’re being very good by standing back and letting Mr. Politician do his thing. Granny feathers over there gets her apology, some nice reassurances and a pat on the back. While we get a sweet little edge that we didn’t have in the future you predicted. Everybody wins.”

  They were right.

  Because of course they were. It was bad enough that I’d lost my cool at a critical juncture. Right now, was the time to be a team player and worry about the needs of my whole group.

  I backed off without another word. Pulling Slab over to the side for a quick chat.

  ‘She can heal.’ I [Messaged] him.

  ‘Yes? Why are you bringing it up?’

  ‘Because she doesn’t have to use her Shifter powers! She can heal using Telepath abilities!’

  ‘So?’

  The nonchalant way he thought it took me off guard. Leading me to gape like a heavily medicated imbecile.

  ‘So!? The (Gnome) do you mean, so? Did you not get my meaning? She can heal using Telepath abilities!?’

  ‘Yes. Sully. I heard you the first time. I was asking why you were so surprised about it?’

  He knew.

  He and his sister knew this whole time and neither bothered to tell me.

  ‘Its not a common thing in my world, since it’s a rare power to have. At least, when compared to Shifters. All of them can heal themselves and most can heal others too. Telepaths don’t normally manifest healing abilities, but its also not unheard of. Is this not the case in your world?’ He inquired.

  Becoming worried after sensing something was off.

  I was about to answer, when I realized that I had no idea. Information about Telepaths had been tightly controlled for as long as I could remember. I didn’t know if my predicting the future was unique or if the powers that be simply kept that to themselves. This, could be a similar case.

  But why hide it? Did they not want people being healed?

  Unless…

  They didn’t want them healed by Telepaths.

  I was starting to think more and more like Randall, recalling the rants about conspiracies. Then I thought back to Ryan’s first impression of my world. Of the way things were handled there.

  ‘It’s possible he wasn’t mistaken. If people knew about this and kept it hidden, what else were they keeping to themselves?’

  I was so distracted with my spiraling thoughts, that the new screen almost made me fall face first into the stone floor.

  Holy (Gnome).

  Mr. Park managed to squeeze the bird man this much? Forget me and my mind-control, he’s the real scary one around here.

  I was reading and re-reading the notice, when another one popped up in front of it.

  I barely had time to gasp, before a shimmer overtook me.