>>
|
a664e3.jpg
Gold Tulip
a664e3
>>915931
The tavern is a lot rowdier than it was yesterday. People are playing games, drinking probably non-alcoholic drinks, and having loud conversations. I don't remember all of them being in the tavern earlier, so I'd assume the celebrations went further than those involved in the raid.
One person waves me over, a woman I hadn't seen before. Logan takes a seat at her table, making it clear that she was the mayor in question.
Trekker "Hi there. You must be Ann, right?""
Ann "What was that?"
Trekker "What?"
Ann "What!?"
Trekker "It's too loud in here!"
Ann "I can't hear what you're saying!?"
Logan "She said it's too loud!"
Ann "Yeah! It Is!"
Trekker "Maybe we should head somewhere else to talk!?"
Ann "What!?"
...
Trekker "Sorry about that. I thought that the celebration would have calmed down by the time you woke up."
We'd left the tavern, and arrived in front of her office building. Alongside Logan and I, she invited another woman to follow with. I didn't know her, but I definitely remember seeing that round helmet among the raid group.
Trekker "Ahhhh~ It feels nice to be here. I could spend weeks just sitting at this desk, resorting all of the building permits again."
She pulls out chairs for Logan and I, motioning for us to sit. The other woman chooses to stand off to the side, and just watch for a while.
Trekker "Sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Trekker Eryll. It's nice to meet you both."
She offers me a handshake, with her left hand.
I extend my only functioning arm, and she quickly realizes her mistake. She tries to adjust course, and curls her fingers in for a fistbump. At the last possible moment, I manage to get my hand into a fist. With a perfectly executed fistbump, we are able to avoid an awkward situation due to her mistake.
Ann "My name is Ann Pepper. It's nice to meet you too." I choose not to mention the previous three seconds, sparing her the humiliation.
Trekker "Did your friends explain why I wished to speak to you?"
Ann "They only mentioned that you wanted to know if we were going to Tier Three."
Trekker "And?"
Ann "...I'm not entirely sure."
Trekker "That's understandable. I'm sure you didn't expect to receive a major injury so soon after arriving. On that note... I would like to issue you an official apology, on behalf of all of Towne."
Ann "An... apology? You don't need to do that, you didn't do anything wrong."
Trekker "No. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to provide a safe haven, and we involved you in a fight you had no way to be prepared for. On top of all of this, you were put in a head to head fight with Prattford himself after members of our own Tier were unable to defeat him. While you chose to assist us of your own will, we shouldn't have put you in that situation in the first place."
She gives us a small bow, before continuing.
Trekker "Despite the poor situation we placed you in, you did more than we could have ever asked from you. You fought Prattford and chased him out of this Tier."
Ann "Wait, we did?"
Trekker "Didn't Logan tell you? Prattford was knocked unconscious by him, and was escorted to his home Tier by an agent of his."
Ann "Wow. But, wait, even if our goal was to make him flee, shouldn't we have kept him here for an official surrender? Maybe get him to sign something promising not to come back?"
Logan "We c-couldn't."
Trekker "Unfortunately, we weren't able to keep Prattford here for such things. His imprisonment was intercepted by an agent with some form of teleportation Energia."
...Why do I feel a wave of "I told you so" on the horizon from the Voices.
Ann "I see..."
Trekker "The reason I wanted to speak with you, was to show my- no- everyone's appreciation. Your actions haven't gone unnoticed, and we want to do everything we can to pay you back."
She pulls out a few pieces of paper.
Trekker "Before I get into this, do you have any questions?"
>>915954
>Why not try checking your book? Something could have changed.
>And now that I think about it, the mayor might know something about us voices, most likely not, but it never hurts try.
Ann "Do you know anything about... voices?"
Trekker "...Like, speaking voices?"
Ann "No, or, kind of? It's just that, ever since the day my friends and I went through the Gate, I've been hearing voices in my head."
Trekker "Um... I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about that. Are they... friendly?"
Ann "Well, yeah, kind of. They mostly just ask questions, and give advice."
Trekker "Well, that's... that's good."
...
>>916031
>Her position as mayor, past and present, means that she likely knows a good deal more about the Queen and related matters than most others around here, and ideally, she'll be less friggen cryptic about it than some other people have been. On a related note, I believe that the prince was said to be the Queen's nephew, but Asshole McTeleporter mentioned his mom missing him, which would be something to ask about.
Ann "Oh, do you think you could explain the Witch Queen situation? Do you have any idea why they're planning to wipe out humanity, and why people are just going along with that?"
Trekker "I don't know."
Ann "Cool. Cool... Really?"
Trekker "Sorry, but I really don't know much about the Queen's motivations. Nobody does, not even her own soldiers. They just go along with it because they trust her judgement."
Hmm... This feels like it's going to be important to figure out soon.
Trekker "Um, if you'll allow me, I'd like to offer you and your friends something."
Ann "Really? What's that?"
She places a piece of paper in front of me. It looked like a passport for the woman who'd just been silently watching our talk.
Trekker "Steph here has volunteered to be your guide for Tier Three, if you intend to head up."
Steph "That's right! I know the place pretty darn well, and have been dying for an excuse to head up and visit some old pals."
Ann "Old pals? Are you from Tier Three then?"
Steph "What? No way! I'm from Earth, just like you. My friends have got a secret hangout spot there for humans and a few others really involved in the fight against the Queen."
Trekker "Steph knows the more about Tier Three better most other humans in Towne. Not only that, but she has connections with some of the leaders of the human resistance force found in that Tier, and will be able to put in a good word for you. Not that you'll need it admittedly, as I'm sure your reputations will precede you."
Ann "That would be very helpful! Thank you!"
Trekker "Adding on to that, we've had quite a few other volunteers. You've made a lot of friends, and a lot of them want to help you in some way. If you're interested, I'm sure that one or two of these other citizens would be willing to come with you."
She hands me a stack of papers, and I'm floored by just how many there are. It looked like everyone I've ever met was there.
Ann "All of them volunteered?"
Trekker "Every last one of them. Say the name, and they'll happily pack their bags to join you."
As I look over all of the pages, I mentally brace myself for the inevitable suggestions. The very much appreciated suggestions, because I only actually know like six or seven of these people.
|