Fucking jet boots…
I felt like a superhero as I stood up and tested my new gear. Granted I only made it a few centimeters off the floor. Madeem didn’t want me going full airborne and breaking shit in his shop. He said that I could take his work outside, where I could test its full range. The gear tech looked over to me proudly, impressed by his work, and I couldn't blame him. I was, too. The jet boots were sleek and smooth, and I couldn't wait to take them for a spin.
“These are a game changer for sure,” I whispered to myself.
“Careful with those boots, hero,” Madeem warned, a twinkle in his eye. “Don’t let dem get ova ya head.”
“Oh, that’s a given,” I snickered lightheartedly. “I’ve wanted jet boots ever since I was a little kid. Kinda crazy to think it’s my reality now. That, and a bunch of other unbelievable stuff.” I gave him a hard handshake and nodded. “Thanks, Madeem. You really outdid yourself this time.”
“No problem, playa.”
In addition to my jet boots, Madeem threw in repulsor rays in my hands to stabilize my flight, and a hidden heel blade.
“Ya real close to fittin’ The Punisher now, aren’t ya, hero?”
“The chest piece is the only thing missing now, right?”
“It more den a chest piece. It’s a torso piece that will join all de parts togetha. We missin a few parts but don worry, I’ll fix ya a sweet suit, Silas. Ya deserve it. Just promise me ya won’t overdo it.”
Madeem told me it’ll take him some time. Honestly, I was in no rush. I was grateful for the new gears he whipped me up for now, but before I could test out my new footwear, I needed to pay Trin a visit.
Trin was my assigned replacement as an overseer. Technically I wasn’t back just yet, so I didn’t plan on disturbing any new implementations she had established in my short absence. I made it to the central hub, a fancy term for the small fortress or bunker for scouts and overseers, where Trin had taken up residence. The fortress wasn’t too far from Madeem’s shop, but my trip there took three times as long. Refugees stopped me to express words of thanks and appreciation, and compliments on my new look. Elle sure spread the word quickly in Prism Point, and instead of being looked at funny for being a fae, I was immediately recognized as the hero of Senterra.
As always, I helped where help was needed. Money needed to funnel around, some shops still exchanging goods and food for sammies. Thankfully I had some damaged armor they could also use for tools, and I offered everything I could.
Without saying much, I could tell they felt bad for leeching off of me. They were used to having spare equipment and essential items, food and clothing, but with the expansion of our civilization, all of our back up was gone. I emphasized that I was more than happy to give when I could. I’d rather give and have more Senterrians saved than having people stranded out there, with the risk of hunters waiting to pluck them up as slaves, or worse…
“Thank you, sir Silas!” A little blond boy with dirt on his cheeks said to me, the adorable kid missing his front row of top teeth. He was no older than five years old, an orphan of war. I offered him my last blueberry pastry from Hatti and he ran off, offering his friends at the end of the street a piece.
“That was sweet of you, Silas,” Trin said, and I pivoted around to see her standing against the façade of Lyra’s Fabrics with a wholesome grin on her face. “Love the new look.”
I chuckled. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I wasn’t expecting you to come back so soon. What’s wrong? Don’t have any faith in me?”
I laughed. “You do know it’s only been a couple of hours, right?”
“Yes, but we’ve been so very busy.”
“Trouble?”
“A little. Walk and talk?”
“Sure.”
I took to Trin’s side and she filled me in on the problems they’d been facing along the outskirts of the badlands. For some reason there was an influx of goblin predators. So it wasn’t a coincidence we bumped into Bo-an and his guard girls earlier.
“Usually it’s orcs and fae, as you already know. Goblins were on the bottom of our list.”
“Hmm, I wonder what’s pushing them in our direction all of a sudden?”
“The need for weapons arose. Something must have happened with the opposition.”
“But what?”
“Doesn’t matter. They are being very aggressive. A horde of them got pretty close to camp, Silas. We lost two warriors today. They are in the infirmary in critical condition.”
“Who?”
“Ramus and Duke.”
“Shit…”
“Don’t bother visiting them. They are in a coma induced state to help tolerate the pain,” she said, offering me a seat at the head of the mission’s board table as soon as we entered the fortress. She offered me a bottle of water and sat adjacent to me with her own beverage.
“I fought goblins for the first time today…”
“Then you’d know how they are no easy race to fight. Both warriors need prosthetics.”
“Do you need me to get anything for them, Trin?”
She smiled. “No, that’s sweet of you, Silas. We have everything we need to help them recover.”
“All right, how about rations?”
“We are on top of those, too,” she said, halfway convincingly.
“Trin, you can tell me. I want to help.”
