Dark Energy by carlsojos

Chapter 25

The sun was just below the skyline when we next reached open space, but I look out over a small town literally overrun with mountains of scrap, and one of the largest arrays of salvaged solar panels I've ever seen. Most places use solar stills and steam turbines, since we don't have the ability to make anything more complicated than a vacuum tube. As I reach town, a sudden crackling noise echoes throughout the Motavian village. As a reminder, the following people are requested to report to the administrative office. Sophmore Marika Ashley, Senior Akkosua Ackland, and Ray Calant. Will these people please report as soon as practical. I realize that the voice was coming from a box mounted atop a pole nearby. An intercom like what we have in Piata, I presume. I wonder why Dora doesn't have anything like that? We find our way to a tent with a sign on it, Motavia University- Tonoe Campus Office.

Stepping in, we see an old Motavian with fur turning white, sitting in what is probably one of the ugliest chairs I've ever seen, shifting though a pile of paperwork on his desk. The name on his ID badge is Manager Man, Boss

Name and purpose, please. He doesn't look up.

Mr. Calant, Senior Ackland, and Sophmore Ashley, reporting. We have parts from Etirn. I put the backpack on the desk. He opens it, then looks up at us.

Thank you. I will get this to my Technology team. I'm already closing shop for the day, so take it easy today. It's open bar tonight for students at the inn.

Finally.... Akkosua looks like she was waiting for those words for all day. We turn to leave.

Oh, hang on. What's-your-name...Miss Ashley? You're wanted in the radio tent, so you can't say I forgot this time.

Ray speaks up. Also, could you confirm for me that I had completed my task successfully to the guild?

Huh?

Ray shakes his head. I'm a hunter who was commissioned to assist Motavia University, and I have just completed the task assigned to me. I now require the negotiated fee as agreed to by the guild and university.

I thought I forgot something! Go ahead and use the radio to tell the guild. The payment should arrive before you get back.

It better. Even I know that most hunters tend to get a little funny when it comes to money.

Unless I forgot anything else, you're all dismissed.

Once we had stepped outside, Akkosua turned to Ray and me. You guys have fun. I'm gonna find a soft bed and test it very thoroughly. I had to chuckle a little while Akkosua made her way to the inn. Ray and I walk over to a tent with its door open. Inside is a young Parmanian woman working the radio. She couldn't be older than most Freshmen.

She looks up from her paperwork. Hello, can I help you two?

Contact Kadary Hunter's guild. Tell them I finished the Zema job.

Can do....Kadary guild, Tonoe. You copy?

The radio comes to life. Loud and clear, Tonoe. How can the guild serve you?

Tonoe Campus is reporting on Zema Job. Confirming completion.

Acknowledged. Fee is now credited to the outstanding debt for Hunter Blades. Please send any remaining payments as soon as possible. We look forward to more business with Motavia University in the future. Outstanding debt? Ray didn't mention anything about that....

Understood. Tonoe out. The girl turns back to us. Anything else?

I step up. I'm supposed to talk to Post-graduate Etirn?

Oh, I know him! Isn't he that guy everybody hates in the flagship campus?

Hates?

Yeah! I was there for a term, to finish my radio training. I heard that he pisses off the professors royally, but they can't do a thing because he has the touch with old machines. Put that way, I could see how he could be disliked. I know some of the professors are prone to a little arrogance.

No kidding.

Here, I'll connect you guys. Contacting Piata, Motavia University.

Tech Dep. Read ya loud n' clear! Whaddya need?

Tonoe Campus calling for Post-Graduate Bay. Is he available?

'ang on, I'll ged 'im!

I turn to the operator, I could barely understand what he was saying.

She giggles. You get every kind of person in the Technology Department. A real bag of mixed nuts. You should've heard when one guy thought I was his dead sister!

Tonoe, Outerbeast 1. I'm here.

We read you. I've got uh... I pull out my student ID from a pocket for the operator. A Sophmore Ashley, Biology Department on the line for you. She gives me the microphone.

You made Tonoe today?

Yes. I gave those parts to Boss Man, if that's what his name really is.

Excellent! I had a little bet going, now the Principal's wearing jeans to work tomorrow. I realize what Etirn just said. Why does the Principal have so little faith in me, when he knows me so well?

Why's that?

But enough of the pleasantries. It's gonna take some time for Boss's team to figure everything out. In the meantime, we need to find out how to harness the output. We want to see what that code is without actually making it.

Why can't we make 'Rika'?

We'd have to wait for it to grow big enough to see what it is. That's a valid point. Besides, for all we know, it could be Zio's evil twin. It's a bad idea to charge in blindly, when you play with life.

Then, how do we simulate it?

I've been thinking about that. I know for a fact that other computer facilities have survived to this day. If we harness the capabilities of a facility, we could probably simulate the machine with enough resolution to see exactly what the code is, during the prime of its life.

So we're gonna scour the planet for a functional ruin?

I have a better plan. I've been talking to a History professor, so I have a general idea on a good direction, but we need some equipment to get there. I want you to meet me at a place on the peninsula south of Krup.

I can do that.

Oh, one other thing. Is Hunter Horny there?

Ray rips the microphone from my hand. It's Blades, you ass wipe.

I didn't appreciate your implications about me and Marika back in Zema. However, I would like someone to escort Marika to this meet. I'll throw in an extra hundred, cash. What do you say?

Ray shook his head like he was gonna walk away. ...Only because I need the money....

Good! Marika, before you head out, talk to Boss Man. Tell him you've been authorized to take one of the prototypes from Project Outerbeast for a field test. Just be sure it's the last thing you do before you leave town. Over. I noticed the operator's eyes went wide when Etirn said Project Outerbeast.

I can't believe you get that! I'm so jealous!

What? I have no idea what it is.

I know I'm not supposed to talk about it, but that project is about increasing the mobility behind radio technology. Etirn was the one who originally started the project before it was transferred to this campus. He named it after a mythical creature that supposedly could traverse dimensions.

Ray turns to me. I suggest we turn in tonight. We can leave in the morning and still have time to spare if he's in Piata.

What about Akkosua?

You'll have to ask that Boss guy about that. We head to the inn, check in, and after finding Akkosua already asleep under a table, head to our rooms.

The next morning, Ray and I head back to see Mr. Man. Name and purpose, please.

You don't remember me? The old Motavian pours himself a cup of coffee.

No. The doctors say I'm crazy, or demented, or perverted, damn it, I don't know. Basically, I can't remember a name even if I had to.

I sigh. I'm Sophmore Ashley. I was told to take a prototype from a project, uh... 'Outerbeast?'

Bullshit! Boss throws his cup to the floor, sending hot coffee and splinters of ceramic everywhere. I step back, afraid he's about to strangle me right here. There's no way a Sophmore should even know about that! Especially one outside of Tech Department! Who the hell put you up to this!? I didn't think a Motavian could get this angry!

E-Etirn told me to say that! I prepare to start running.

Ray tries to defuse the situation. Now, are you gonna have a heart attack here, old man? The only surgery I know involves a sword. Sit down. Surprisingly, Boss eventually sits down again.

Fucking Light. I hope that dip shit knows what he's doing. He reaches into a drawer in the desk and pulls out a small device. Here. The callsign for this unit is Outerbeast 4. I pick it up and look closely. Shaped like a 'C', it's made of a strange material I don't recognize. It has a small solar cell, a switch labeled SPK, and a button labeled PTT on it.

What is this thing?

Mr. Man looks like he might boil over again. It's a secret project being developed in the hopes of someday facilitating the creation of a worldwide communication network. In your hands lay the single best mobile radio created after the destruction of Parma to this day. You wear it on your ear. I start trying to put it on. Boss looks extremely serious as he continues. I want you to know something. If you break that radio, I will find out. I will hunt you down, I will kill you, and I will hang your bloody corpse from the roof of the Piata campus. I don't care if I get executed, so guard that thing with your life. I manage to figure out how it's supposed to sit around the ear.

Not a perfect fit, but this is pretty cool!

I will not make a joke about your ears if you get the fuck out of here, now. Do what you need to, I just don't want to hear about the culmination of 75 years of manufacturing technology, 20 years of transistor radio design, and 5 years of miniaturization squandered on a twenty-something's dance in a puddle, got it?

We step out of the tent, and Ray whispers to me, For a quick five hundred, I'll do him in for you. What you think?

I wasn't sure if he was serious. Don't tempt me.

What the hell?! I look up to see half the town staring at us. Akkosua runs up to us from the crowd. What the fuck happened in there?! We thought someone got killed!

Well.... I couldn't think up a good story.

He choked on the bill for my services. I notice Ray seems well versed at lying. He even almost fools me. Noticing my stare, Don't worry, he'll live.

Akkosua shakes her head. Light....

I speak, I don't think I'm at liberty to say what really happened.

You sound like those spies from that book I'm reading....

I'm actually impressed, so I take the chance to redirect the conversation. You read?

I do to help stop the spins. What are you guys doing now?

I'm heading south with Ray. Etirn didn't mention you.

Akkosua breathed a sigh of relief. Well, thank Light! I'm tired of traveling right now. I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks. I hope we can figure out this Rika thing... Ray and I head out of town, for an uneventful trip south. We only stop in Krup for a quick lunch, and we arrive at a large metal building around noon.

Next chapter

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