Horse People: The Precursor Legacy
Chapter 15: Chapter 13: Resisting
Previous Chapter Next Chapter“I sense time travel shenanigans,” Surprise chirped. “Are there time travel shenanigans? Because I’m pretty sure there are. Time travel shenanigans, that is.”
Thomas smiled. “Interesting theory. How did-”
“The boy was you.” Luna deadpanned. “He was an adorable, chibi little Thomas, and we let him get away.” She took out her frustration on a nearby, innocent rock. “Sloppy.”
Moonlight nodded. “Agreed. We won’t let our guard down next time.” She held her fist in solemn resolve. “In the meantime,”—she turned her predatory gaze on Thomas—“that was your transformation?”
Thomas chuckled and feigned disinterest. “I didn’t think it was so bad.”
“So bad?” Moonlight gasped in disbelief. “You can transform from super cute to drop-dead sexy!” she blurted loud enough that even the pedestrians were taking notice. “And those… teeth.” She shivered and pressed her thighs together. Her imagination threatened to run away with images of Dark Thomas, bearing his teeth and claws like the predators that had once chased her ancestors, hunting her down and making her his prey. She slapped herself before the images grew too elaborate. “Pardon me, everyone. I think I need to… to get my hormones in check.” She excused herself from the group and disappeared around a corner.
“She forgot ta mention the chibi,” Honey pointed out. “If Ah saw Jona ‘n’ Plow go through all that…” She trailed off, her body spasming as the mental images took their toll, and she, too, excused herself.
“Getting back to the original issue,” Silver spoke up. “Since that boy was so obviously you, and there is no point in even denying it-” Thomas guiltily looked away, grinning all the while. “-then it stands to reason that the Ring was some sort of time machine.”
“Which begs the question of when we are,” Luna added. “The world previously had a feel of people rebuilding amidst the ruins of what was lost, but these people”—she gestured to one of the eavesdroppers—“are clearly not Precursors.”
Despite his amusement, Thomas rolled his eyes. “Do I really have to spoil it?”
“No, don’t!” Surprise bellowed. “No spoilers!” She then reconsidered. “Unless you think it’ll lead to something fun?”
“Right now, I think we should just make our way to Torn and see about joining the rebellion against the evil empire.”
“Is this an empire?” Luna asked. “A single city does not an empire make.”
“Not even if it’s made of crystal?” Thomas asked cheekily.
Luna shook an accusing finger at him. “That is a discussion for another time,”—she warned—“but your point is made. Let us away to Torn.”
Moonlight and Honey rejoined the group, and the party resumed their journey, with Moonlight sticking especially close to Thomas. Entering the more open areas, the players witnessed several street vendors while pedestrians mindlessly moved from one destination to another, mostly with their heads down. Tents and dumpster fires lined the walls of lower traffic areas, confirming that this was indeed the poor sector of the city. Even buildings with boards over the doors had people simply walk under them as they went to and fro at their leisure. Condemned signs, it seemed, were treated more as suggestions than rules.
The overall layout was much as Thomas remembered, but more complex in the details. There were, for instance, a number of gaps between buildings that led to cramped back alleys and sewer entrances. Houses, as before, were open to their entry, although the people were far less welcoming. They were afraid, likely fearing the players to be government inspectors or worse. It was a far cry from the hero’s welcome from the last game. There wasn’t much to be seen inside, anyway. It was as though someone had condensed the very essence of decrepit and glum into a spray can and gone absolutely nuts over everything in their path.
All the while, Krimzon guards moved about in single patrols while a few of their military-grade zoomers flowed along with the rest of the overhead traffic. Besides billboards advertising the guard, the guards themselves were the only things in sight that looked even remotely clean. Once in a while, a civilian would go up to a guard and have a little chat. What was said went unheard for the most part, but it all seemed mostly cordial. Sometimes, money would be exchanged, but others saw the guard and civilian give one another a friendly pat on the shoulder. Corruption was clearly at work, but there was more to the Krimzon guard than faceless oppressors. The Baron’s looping propaganda messages included a bit about people joining the Krimzon guard so that their families could stay, making it clear that a good number of these people were just doing what they had to in order to get by.
After much milling about, the players finally decided to use their HUD maps and arrive at their destination, a spot in the slums that was somehow more unimpressive than everything around it. Three people were standing idly by when they saw the newcomers approach. The first to meet them was a blonde woman with a form-fitting green jacket, blue shorts, brown boots, and blue eyes that gave a look that could curdle milk. Beside her was a man with a blue business suit, brown trousers, neatly combed brown hair, and a finely trimmed beard. He smiled his bemusement at the players as if he expected them to do something stupid at any moment. Approaching from behind them was a man with brown hair, Krimzon guard tattoos over his face and ears, a curved dagger sheathed on his back, and armor that looked like a lighter version of what they’d seen from other guards, only missing all insignias. The former mares tried to position themselves between Thomas and these unfriendly types, but he stepped up as the other guy approached.
“We’re looking for a guy named Torn. Kor sent us,” Thomas said, holding his ground even as the leader of the trio stood tall over him, clearly trying to look intimidating.
“New faces make me nervous,” Torn informed in his gravelly voice.
“Even when they’re this cute?” Surprise asked, laying the charm on extra thick.
“Especially,” Torn snapped back. “If Kor sent you, I’m guessing you’re out to join the fight for the city.” He smirked, likely sizing these newbies up as unimpressive. “You know, picking the wrong side could be… unhealthy!”
“For anyone who gets in our way,” Moonlight bragged.
“I hope you would be willing to take us to see the shadow?” Silver asked, already anticipating a refusal. If she were running a resistance, she’d certainly never let a bunch of untested newcomers anywhere near the command structure.
Torn chuckled dismissively. “Not likely. If you want to join something, maybe you and your pet should-”
In the blink of an eye, Silver had pushed torn up against the wall with a hand at his throat. “Who were you calling ‘pet’ just now?”
Torn just laughed and gestured over to Silver’s shoulder, where a red dot floated around. More red dots appeared over each of the players, indicating that their sensitive parts were in the sights of several snipers. The man in the business suit laughed openly while the blonde woman smiled her appreciation. Torn gave a signal with his hand, and the dots disappeared. “Nice moves, but I’m not easily impressed,” he replied, sounding entirely unfazed.
“You want to test our mettle?” Moonlight cracked her knuckles. “Anytime, anywhere.”
“Good attitude,” Torn complimented. “Steal the Baron’s banner off the ruined tower and bring it back to me. Then maybe we’ll talk.”
The players departed the alley in a couple vehicles that just so happened to be left out in the open. There were no keys to speak of, but it further confirmed just how new these zoomers must be with how easy it was to start them and take them anywhere the stealer pleased. They drove to their destination, ignoring the arbitrary and unmarked driving lanes and even switching between hover heights to easily avoid traffic. If the guards noticed, they apparently didn’t mind.
A door in the wall unlocked like a safe and led outside the city. The area was full of crumbling ruins and half-drowned in mud. Amphibious mutants patrolled the few dry patches and lunged at the players whenever they got too close. The green fish-faced ones weren’t too much trouble, but the salamander-like red ones were twice as big and could punch from a distance with tongues almost as long as their bodies. When the players fought back, dark eco suffused from the creatures’ bodies and was drawn into Thomas’.
“More dark eco mutants,” Moonlight spat.
“An’ here Ah thought we was done with those,” added Honey, staring down at the body of a green, fish-faced creature with contempt. “So much fer Kale’s idea ‘f goin’ out ‘n’ dealin’ with the problem before it deals with us.”
“Things must have truly gone downhill since then,” observed Luna mournfully. “Before, the beasts bled green eco upon their deaths. Now they are so corrupted that they have learned to live off the darkness.”
“Thoughts on how to proceed?” Thomas asked.
Luna shook her head. “For the good of all, including themselves, all corrupted creatures will need to be euthanized. Until we gain the means to rehabilitate them, all we can do is end their suffering.”
The players complied, killing every mutant creature in their path. When they arrived at the tower, it was a straightforward matter to ascend it. The path was hazardous, though, crumbling beneath their feet in many places. It would likely prove impossible for the resistance to use this tower to train any future recruits. This fear proved prophetic, for upon reaching the top of the tower and snatching the banner, the tower collapsed. The group managed to bounce off a fabric awning before grinding down a rope to safety. Torn stood waiting for his new recruits, and he watched as the tower finished falling apart behind them.
“Yeah. I guess you guys are in,” he said, more impressed than he let on.
***
The group split up upon returning to the city, with Torn instructing them to meet back at the same alley. There, the man in the suit and leaning against a wall directed them towards a spot covered in graffiti. At the center of the artistic collage was the Krimzon guard insignia, colored green and with a hammer poised overhead. The man flipped a switch hidden behind him, and the graffiti wall pulled aside to reveal a door. The players were impressed, especially with the elaborate layout branching off into numerous rooms. Torn waited in the main room, where maps of all sorts covered the walls, and a large furnace provided heat.
Once inside, feeling the need to make up for her quiet last time, Honey spoke first. “Ya’ll planted that banner up there, didn’t ya?”
Torn shrugged. “Wasn’t that obvious? That’s just one of the ways we test anyone who wants to join the Underground. Although now, I guess we’re gonna need something new. But never mind that. Right now, we’ve got bigger priorities.”
“We are all ears,” Moonlight replied confidently.
“The Baron must have figured out we’re based somewhere in the slums, because he’s turned off all water to the area. He’s willing to sacrifice innocent lives just to destroy the Underground.”
“And willing to risk a full-scale revolt while he’s at it,” Luna added. “This is exactly the sort of despotism that would push the indecisive into action. When we succeed in turning the water back on, I suspect this incident will bring a number of new recruits to your doorstep.”
Torn chuckled, impressed with these people’s intuition. “Been a while since I’ve dealt with anyone so optimistic, but fine. Your target is a valve located outside the city at the plumbing station. There’s a drain pipe in the north wall that’ll take you where you need to go. If you survive, the slums will be indebted to you.”
“Then maybe we’ll start seeing some smiles around here,” hoped Surprise.
“And if not, maybe we’ll have a touching moment of silence in your honor,” Torn sarcastically offered.
“How do you know all this stuff, anyway?” Moonlight asked. “Unless those tattoos come standard with the uniform.”
Torn chuckled. “Yeah. I used to be with the Krimzon guard. That’s where I got to see the Baron’s evil up close. That is why I quit.”
“Okay, but how do you know about the valve for the mission?”
“A friend of mine on the inside keeps me updated on these things,” Torn replied evasively. His expression suggested he wasn’t in the mood to elaborate, so the players left.
The journey north took the players into a shanty town that had been haphazardly built over a lake inside the wall. Perhaps this lake had once been intended as the centerpiece of some sort of park, but now it was as brown as the feces no doubt being dumped into it on a daily basis. Ramshackle buildings were connected by bridges that looked like they’d been built by drunkards, seemingly trying to capture the spirit of Sandover’s more simplistic architecture, but without any of the charm.
Outside, the group caught the first sight of full-grown metal heads. They were red and reptilian, with plates of metal growing along their backs. The players would later identify this variety as manic heads. Glowing yellow gems adorned their foreheads, which popped out once the creatures died. Obviously, these gems were meant to be collected, which the players promptly did. Along the way across the rocky beach and over the metal piping mechanisms, they encountered more amphibious mutants and sparse scatterings of metal heads either alone or in small groups.
“This must not be a high-priority target for either side,” Moonlight assessed. “Metal heads seem far more beastlike than the lurkers. I’m guessing these are only minimal patrols set in response to the guards turning off the valve.”
“They must be beasts,” Silver agreed. “Otherwise, they would have turned off the valve themselves.”
“There must be some kind of intelligence commanding them, though,” insisted Moonlight. “You can’t very well wage a war against a foe that doesn’t have some understanding of tactics.”
If there was any sort of metal head command structure, the players saw no evidence of it. They did see the mutants and metal heads patrolling in close proximity without any signs of aggression, suggesting the mutants might somehow be under metal head control. Regardless, it was a fairly straightforward path to the valve. They turned it, the water started to flow, and they returned to the city.
On their way back, however, the players got an alert on their HUDs to a spot in the shanty town. It was by far the sturdiest building in the area, with walls made of stone and standing on legs that didn’t look like they’d cave in on the first big wind. Only the roof was patched together with loose sheets of metal, and that was probably just to provide a bit of camouflage. Inside was a large room of polished wood with rows of candles lining the walls. At the opposite end of the door was a Precursor Oracle. Then again, perhaps ‘shrine’ might have been a more fitting term, given that this was the only spot in the city so far that didn’t smell putrid.
“Greetings, great warriors,” the Oracle acknowledged. “I sense there is a dark rage burning inside one of you, and in time, it will destroy you with its madness.”
Luna hopped onto Thomas’ shoulder and wrapped her tail around his neck. He, in turn, reached up his hand and gave her paw a reassuring squeeze.
“Only the last power of the Precursors can save you,” the Oracle continued. “Destroy my enemies, those creatures you call the metal heads. Bring me twenty-five of their skull gems, and I will teach you how to control these powers.”
The players, unfortunately, were short of the required gems, and so departed. On their way back to the Underground, they received quiet nods of appreciation from the civilians. Apparently, word traveled fast, yet the guards seemed entirely blind to their presence as they returned to the Underground’s entrance.
“The slum’s water is back on,” Torn confirmed, almost cheering. “I’d love to see the heads roll when the Baron finds out!”
“If the guy gets his kicks off of taking people’s water, I wouldn’t mind doing more stuff to piss him off.” Surprise chipperly offered.
“On that much, we can agree,” Torn acknowledged and gestured down to the map table. “On that note, I want you to take care of an ammo dump we’ve I.D.’d in the fortress.”
“We get to ‘splosions?” Surprise asked giddily, almost shaking right out of her clothes as she quietly squealed.
Torn blinked. “Is she safe for a mission like this? We only need to blow up the ammo, not the whole damn building.”
The other players tried to offer words of encouragement, but they only came out as uncertain mutterings.
***
Getting into the fortress was a relatively simple matter. Past the door with the security turrets waiting on standby was a reception area, much like that of a standard police station. The players made quick work of the few guards in the room, only to notice the automated tank that activated just off to the side. In a panic, the players ran out the first door they saw while the tank plowed through the walls in pursuit. The path took them through halls lined with more oversized turrets that they had to evade before finally ascending to an area the tank couldn’t follow.
Moonlight laughed as she and the others paused to catch their breath. “I’m almost relieved to see our enemies have actual security.”
The next stage was relatively easy, with only moving platforms and more rookie guards for obstacles. Upon reaching the room with the ammo, the players found a security pass that would let them travel through city checkpoints. Of greater interest was below, where the players saw Krimzon guards delivering barrels full of eco to metal heads, apparently on the Baron’s orders. Before the players could fully process this, however, another automated tank activated behind them, which they used to destroy the ammo. They managed to jump out of a nearby window, with the explosion hot on their heels as they fell to the ground below.
“Everyone alright?” Thomas asked as the others groaned and picked themselves up.
“Fine,” Honey grunted. “Although Ah think Ah landed on somethin’ soft.” Feeling something move beneath her butt, the woman quickly sat upright and parted her legs when the thing poked its head out. Upon seeing the dark, fuzzy face of Luna, the green-skinned woman chuckled.
Luna, after fuming for a second in faux rage, reciprocated the mirth. “When you threatened to sit on me, I did not expect you to be so rough.”
“Sorry. Ah’ll be gentler next time,” Honey promised.
***
Back at the Underground HQ, Thomas gave his report. “We took care of the ammo, but saw something odd. Krimzon guard soldiers were giving barrels full of eco to a group of metal heads.”
That got Torn’s attention. “Really?”
“They didn’t look happy about it, either,” Surprise added. “The guards were super jumpy and looked ready to start shooting each time the metal heads made sudden movements. Can’t say I blame them, but still.”
“The Shadow will be very interested to hear that,” Torn admitted.
“Ya know, aside from the tank, these missions haven’t been all that challengin’,” Honey said. “How are we supposed ta meet the Shadow, assumin’ you ain’t actually him, if ya don’t give us the chance to prove ourselves?”
Torn laughed. “You kids want to prove yourselves?”
“We’re still kids?” Surprise whispered to Silver.
“One of our suppliers needs his payment delivered – a few bags of eco ore,” Torn continued. “Take the zoomers parked out back and drive them to the Hip Hog Heaven Saloon in South Town. Ask for Krew – he’ll be there. And don’t let the Baron’s patrols stop you. The ore doesn’t have much of a shelf life when it’s out in the open, and it’ll be useless if you take too long to get there.”
“Ooh. Timed mission,” Surprise cooed.
“By the way, when you get there, pump Krew for information. He’s wired into the city, and may know what the Baron is up to.”
The party left to find the man in the business suit loading up identical packages to three different zoomers, with one connected to a power cord. “Well, hello there,” he greeted exuberantly. “You must be the rookies everyone is talking about.”
“Probably,” Silver replied, folding her arms over her chest. “Who wants to know?”
“You may call me Shren,” he informed poshly. “And yes, I know I don’t look like a gruff and tumble sort of fellow, but that’s actually my skill. You see, the Underground needs more than just fighters. I work at a rather prominent bank, you see, and whenever I spy any of the nobles using their vast riches less than responsibly, I… correct the issue.”
“Impressive,” approved Luna, “but why are you out here loading cargo?”
Shren shrugged. “Why volunteer at a soup kitchen when you can just donate to charity? It just feels more satisfying this way, but I’ve prattled on long enough.” He gestured at the zoomer with the power cord. “This one holds the real package. The rest are merely decoys. You see, eco ore in this state needs to be held in precise conditions, which aren’t easily maintained in transit, hence your limited timeframe. I’d say you only have about fifteen minutes or so to reach your destination.”
“Plenty of time,” boasted Moonlight.
Thomas, Moonlight, and Silver served as pilots while Honey, Luna, and Surprise rode in the back. These zoomers were of the smaller variety, making them fast, but not ideal for holding more than one. As such, the passengers had to hold on for dear life once Shren unplugged the cord and the drivers set off.
Thomas took the lead, having traveled this route hundreds of times back when it was just an image on a screen. The real deal was a whole different experience, but he did fairly well in balancing speed and control as he maneuvered around vehicles and pedestrians. The security pass immediately proved its usefulness as they easily passed the checkpoint into the industrial sector. These buildings were much newer and better maintained than the slums, but covered in soot and grime as smoke stacks dotted the horizon. Things came to a head, however, when they came upon a blockade of Krimzon guards and their heavier vehicles. Seeing where this was going, all three drivers punched the gas and tore their way through the blockade.
Alarms went off across the city as turrets opened up along the streets. Civilians, thankfully, heeded these alarms and ran for safety, clearing the area. Thomas took the low road while telling the others to take the sky roads. The latter was less exposed to enemy fire, but it also fooled the guards into diverting more forces from ground level in the belief that the players were trying to keep the eco ore as far from danger as possible. This allowed all three teams to maneuver their respective courses with relative ease, keeping the guards confused until all pursuers had been shaken.
South Town was an immense port overlooking a walled-off portion of the sea. The sea air was far fresher than anything the players had experienced in Haven thus far. Even the metal of the buildings looked cleaner, and at the far end of the wall was a gate large enough to welcome ships. However, the players still had a package to deliver and decided to gawk later. Their destination was on the west side of the port, where dock workers immediately moved in with a power cord to Thomas’ zoomer. Once the delivery was confirmed, the players entered the saloon.
The Hip Hog was dimly lit, with smooth Jazz providing a relaxed ambiance. The walls were decorated with metal head trophies, pictures of scantily clad women, and a few portraits of a bulbous mass of flesh that was probably some artist’s idea of a joke – or maybe a cry for help. Near the door were a few arcade machines, while the center was largely taken up by a fighting ring, and the bar made up the back.
“Was this not where Misha used to work?” Luna wondered aloud.
“Who?” Surprise questioned.
“Mah ol’ boss while we were workin’ on bustin’ you guys out,” Honey answered. “An’ yeah. Said she was sellin’ the place last time we spoke. Looks like new management had more ‘f a budget. Sure hope the li’l lady’s doin’ alright.”
The players approached a man with dark skin, a red prosthetic eye, and covered in armor that looked like it had been torn off of metal head corpses, minus the grime. Upon seeing the players approach, he turned to face them with his rifle – also decorated with metal head armor – for all to see. However, this large man was overshadowed – literally – by the absurdly obese man floating in a hover chair directly overhead. His folds of fat overflowed his chair, and his green suit – much like any time Surprise wore a bra – looked ready to burst at any moment. His right eye was milky white, and his legs dangled limply beneath his girth, almost like they were vestigial.
“You must be Krew,” Luna said, stepping forward on behalf of the group. She was grateful that the dream did not allow actual nausea, less negotiations fall apart the moment someone launched an attack of projectile vomit. “You will be pleased to know that your shipment is doing just fine.”
“That’s good, ‘ey,” the fat man wheezed, “because a cargo of rare eco ore is worth more than ten of your lives.” His chair brought him down close to the players, too close, for it brought them in range of his smell. “Mmm, and of course, I’d be forced to collect… slowly.” He laughed at his poorly veiled threat as he floated around the players, examining them as they struggled not to gag. “The Underground will take anyone with a pulse these days. And what do we have here?”
When the fat man’s one good eye locked on Luna, the ottsel was swiftly snatched up and cradled protectively in Silver’s arms.
“The Shadow’s mascot of the month? Ooh, looks soft,” Krew awed. “Sig, this fur would go well with my silk suits, ‘ey?”
Thomas stepped up, holding his arms out to block the others from delivering what would surely have been a righteous beat-down. “Later,” he whispered, sympathizing with their urge. “He’ll get what’s coming to him. I promise.”
“Dibs,” Silver whispered in reply.
Thomas nodded his agreement and turned back to the dead man-er, Krew. “We delivered your eco, as promised. How about you return the favor and, say, tell us why the Baron is giving eco to metal heads?”
Krew scowled. “Questions like that could get a person killed, ‘ey! Sig,” he called to the armored man. “Pay these impudent little whelps a bonus.”
Sig approached slowly, each step hitting the floor heavily as he moved. The ladies braced for an attack, but the man merely offered out a weapon. The morph gun was a short-barreled rifle with a red ammo clip. Thomas took it gladly, but was mindful of the way the others eyed it up.
“If you want to see what this baby can do,” Krew continued, “I’ve stashed a few more down at the gun course. Show me some skill with that hardware, and I’ll hire you for a job or two, ‘ey.”
The players departed for the other end of the dock. All were eager for Thomas to whip out his new gun for them to ogle, but he insisted that it would be too dangerous while there were guards about. Silver clung onto Luna the entire trip to the course. Inside, the others found weapons of their own, save for Luna. While this was the first time any of the women had held guns, the dream filled them in on the basic mechanics so that they didn’t accidentally shoot themselves. Sig’s voice came in over the communicator, and he gave them a few pointers on how to handle these new scatter guns.
Entering the course proper, the players immediately formed a firing line as targets popped out of the walls and floor. Most of the targets were made to resemble metal heads, which gave points upon being destroyed. Targets made to resemble civilians deducted points. There were also a few targets made to resemble lurkers, which also gave points, much to the party’s distaste. Surprise became a little ‘overenthusiastic’ at times and needed to be reeled in, but otherwise, the course was completed with little hassle. Afterward, they backtracked to the Hip Hog, where Silver once more held protectively onto Luna.
Krew met them at the door. “Excellent shooting, lad and lasses! Ever thought about being wastelanders, mmm?”
“Afraid not,” Thomas answered plainly.
“Wastelanders find items for me outside the city walls, ‘ey,” Krew began, not noticing how Sig rolled his good eye. Any artifact or weapon comes through MY hands.” He gripped his unnaturally meaty fingers for emphasis. “Work for me, and I’ll throw some of the sweeter items your way, mmm?”
“Fight monsters. Get toys?” Surprise asked rhetorically. “Sounds like business as usual for us.”
“Sig will show you the ropes,” Krew said before departing back to the bar.
“So YOU wanna be wastelanders, huh, doughboys?” Sig asked with his deep, bass voice. “We’ll see what you’re made of when we get out in the thick. Krew wants some new trophies to put butts in chairs at the Hip Hog. So I’m gonna bag him five nasty metal heads some scouts spotted at the pumping station.”
“Only five?” Moonlight asked, pouting cutely. “And here I was hoping for a challenge.”
“I like that confidence,” Sig said with a smirk. “I need someone to watch my back while I bag these bad boys, so don’t leave me hanging,” he finished firmly.