Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 34

Chapter 331

Aestus and Ignis made a few rice balls as snacks for the group, the rice coming from the rice fields across the river.

Aestus, "You know, I was supposed to take over my family's duty as chef for the clan. Anytime I watch you cook, I find just how woefully outclassed I am, and I was hoping you could better teach me how to be a better chef."

Ignis, "To be honest, my skills are quite basic, with most of the taste I craft coming from my knowledge of basic spices and editable foods."

Iratus grabbed a riceball and sat back down at the table. The whole group was on the community floor discussing what to do with their most valuable prize.

Fractura, "I think we can take off using the shard as electricity and other sources of power and fuel. None of you can understand what these things can give, so I don't blame any of you."

The old rabbit man fiddled with the wooden dice as the conversation had been going on and stopped once he joined in.

Clamor, "I doubt anything can trump using the shard to tether two locations with a portal."

Iratus, "So we have a portal, destroy the shard, and go into the summoner tower."

Clamor, "Does anyone really want to go down there? I don't even think anyone could survive being in the lower levels."

Fractura, "Exactly."

Venatio, "So, let's talk about where to set up the portal."

Tempestas, "No, we need to know who is willing to destroy the shard and make our side of the Nexus Prime a little bit safer for everyone."

The old fox woman gave a dismisive hand wave.

Venatio, "No one is going to give up a portal for nothing."

Tempestas, "It isn't nothing!"

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Chapter 332

Iratus gave a sigh and stood up.

Iratus, "Do none of you really want to even try the summoner's tower?"

His four lovers gave an approving nod or look, but since each one was currently pregnant, not one could say they would volunteer. Tempestas had a curious look but also didn't say anything. Fractura and Venatio didn't have a single care at all, while Clamor clearly didn't like the idea at all.

Iratus, "I see."

Iratus listened in silence, as everyone would get started on the portal idea. Once it was decided on using the reality shard to create a portal, Tempestas and, surprisingly, Fractura would withdraw from the conversation like Iratus.

With a fiendish idea, Iratus would coax the other two detractors into a side conversation, and once together, he began to reveal his plot.

Iratus, "Comrades. I can sense some dissatisfaction here."

Tempestas, "I can already guess what you want, and the answer is no."

Iratus, "Is there nothing that exists to excuse the use of a shard?"

Tempestas, "I don't know, maybe getting back home."

Iratus, "And you, Fractura, what's with the saddening muzzle?"

Fractura, "If I can't get electricity, then I'd vote on dismissing the shard and sending it back. It may not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but restoring reality should lower the negative stuff we find out here, and that is enough to vote on it."

Iratus, "But what if we find something really grand in the summoners tower? What if we find your way home?"

Fractura, "You've said that before. You know, normally, I'd just say no and go about my day, but after my idea was lost, I think I could be tempted to join you on this adventure."

Tempestas, "You know I am against using the shard."

Iratus, "At least until we find the path back to your home."

The badger girl took a few seconds to think things over while also listening in on the other group's talk about which locations should be counted.

Tempestas, "I'll tell you what, throw in another meat party, and I'll join your expedition, but be aware that these towers are normally extremely dangerous. If it gets too much or too dangerous, we cut our losses and give up, understood?"

Iratus, "Alright, that is acceptable."

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Chapter 333

The discussion died down with a large wooden plank having several locations written down. The group agreed to table the discussion temporarily as Tempestas, Fractura, and Iratus have not given their opinions.

Venatio, "Everyone will be making one final presentation ten days from now. I hope you three will join us in this so we can come to a collective agreement."

Iratus, "We'll see."

So for the next few days, the group of three got their supplies around for exploring the summoners tower lower levels.

Iratus's girls would work on crafting a heavy coat from the buffalo for Iratus while the other two worked on getting sheets and blankets made to be better worn as the lower levels were as cold as cold comes. The girls would also get around to repairing Iratus's gambeson armor and try to come up with other ideas to help their expedition.

On day 167, Iratus and the other two were dragging a cart full of burnable stuff into the tunnel and tossed it somewhere in the middle of the tunnel where they'd made a few small piles of wood and stuff. They kept their torches close, as their need for warmth was almost all-consuming. Once they dropped off the woods stuff, they quickly got back outside into the hot and humid sunlit wilderness.

Iratus, "Are we sure going through this way is the best way?"

Their cart was left in the tunnel, ready to be used for their operation.

Fractura, "Going from the top would be quicker, but it's all busted up the more you descend. Also, we wouldn't be able to haul a cart around for a heat source."

Tempestas, "Still, it would be a much shorter trip."

Before anyone else could continue the conversation, there was a rumble in the bushes.

Iratus, "Hold on, something is making noise."

Fractura, "Duh. You don't have to tell us."

The three moved around and tried to get a better view of what was stumbling through the forest. The group was armed with their usual kit, so they were ready for trouble, especially when trouble attacked.

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Chapter 334

Iratus held up his sword with his rapid reflexes as one of those insect panther things rushed in and pounced at him. Iratus fell to a knee but held firm as the panther slowly fell off of him. The badger woman Tempestas was fast enough to get a stab off with her spear.

It was a decent stab, but the insect panther wasn't felled. Iratus stood back up, and Fractura started to close in on the animal's side. However, the beast merely jumped back and ran away with the others, unable to even begin to try to catch it.

Iratus, "Ok, that was crazy."

Tempestas, "You ok?"

Iratus, "Oh yeah."

The group got back to returning home.

Fractura, "We might have to do something about these insect panthers. They are the pests of the galaxy for a reason."

Iratus, "I guess we could head to their cave and take a look."

With that, the group changed their direction and started to head north, past the ruined stone city and up to the creek, which led to the woodland cave. Once the three got near the cave, they could see a few small, dead insect panthers, with two people standing outside the cave before they could smell the blood and strangers. Since Iratus and his group weren't sneaking around, anyone could hear them coming, so it wasn't surprising for these two new faces to be waiting and watching for them.

These two new people were both male and wolffolk, with one having pitch black fur with short black hair and the other having light brown fur with short black hair. They were tall, being around 6'7 (201 cm), with the black wolf being well built and almost buff, while the brown one was strong-looking but more on the light side, similar to Iratus but even more skinny and muscled.

Both of these wolves were also wearing armor similar to Desidia's SWAT armor, but these ones came from their world and had a lot of wear and tear to look ancient when they weren't. As for weaponry, both had a holster for a gun sidearm, while both had their own melee weapon. The black wolf had a well-made and finely crafted mace featuring a menacing spike on each side. The brown wolf had a short sword with a silvery hue and a design reminiscent of ancient blades first crafted at the dawn of civilization.

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Chapter 335

Once Iratus's group was close enough, people began to speak.

Iratus, "Ah, new faces, greetings."

Tempestas, "Really should have stayed back. They have firearms, so if anything goes wrong, we'd become rotten meat."

Black wolf, "Perish the thought. We are just two officers of the law making sure everyone stays alive out here."

Fractura, "You'll forgive us for not being completely convinced. There are a lot of hungry people out there."

Tempestas, "Bad people too."

The black wolf was amused, while the brown one kept looking at his partner as the conversation continued.

Iratus, "I see you two have been killing these adorable guys; I'd say how dare you if we didn't come over here for the express purpose of seeing if their population was getting out of hand."

Black wolf, "Luckily, insect panthers rarely grow to adulthood. It seems like while they are predators, they are also prey and get eaten all the time."

Fractura narrowed his eyes.

Fractura, "You seem to know these creatures quite well."

Black wolf, "I've lived in this strange world for a while."

Iratus, "You are also quite receptive to us. Like, I get chewed out anytime I welcome any new face I meet."

Black wolf, "If you didn't shoot us with sniper fire, then we don't have much to fear."

Tempestas in a non-serious tone, "Hey, we can be dangerous; you don't know!"

Black wolf, "I can smell the three of you coming from a mile away—south, actually. I can also smell a number of others all over you guys, but we both knew the size of your group, and we also didn't smell any gunpowder, which guns would actually cause us to take a defensive position before we met."

Tempestas, "I despise how cordial everyone has been down here. People are dangerous; take this more seriously."

Black wolf, "Believe me, we are confident in our combat abilities."

Iratus looked over to the neutral but still confused other wolf.

Iratus, "He's been silent."

Black wolf, "He does not speak, uh, this language."

Fractura, "Common Folkish."

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Chapter 336

Iratus, "Ok, well, hello. My name is Iratus of House Lionheart."

Tempestas, "Tempestas of the Last Burden Bloodline"

Fractura, "Fractura."

Black wolf, "Great. I am Speculator Springwind, and this is Fugent Ironmane."

Iratus, "So, you are a group; we have a group here. What's next?"

Speculator, "The two of us are just here to kill these things in here."

Iratus, "Why?"

Speculator, "These creatures are a pest, and it is better to kill them all before they multiply out of hand."

Iratus, "I know that, but you don't have to kill all of them."

The wolf man sighed, and then finally his partner spoke to him in their foreign tongue. The two talked for a minute before Speculator turned back to Iratus.

Speculator, "Technically sure. I still think it's crazy if you want this infestation to thrive here, assuming you live nearby, because they eat everything, like how a herbavore turns great forests into great plains."

Fractura, "There are some predators around."

Iratus, "Couldn't we eat these panthers too?"

Tempestas, "Nooooo. You'd get sick."

Fractura, "Even when cooked, their proteins do not breakdown well in our gut. It's fine if you're starving, but there is no way anyone could survive off of them."

Iratus, "Okay, but what I meant by 'why' is, do you live around here or something? If they are a problem, then they are a problem for us and not you."

Speculator, "I like to think of it as maintenance. I'm just trying to make this planet as best as it can be for the survivors who live here."

Tempestas in doubt, "How ultra-altruistic of you."

Speculator, "Thank you."

Iratus, "Are you some sort of hero?"

Both Tempestas and Frqctura looked at Iratus with a dumbfounded expression on their faces.

Speculator, "I am a police officer. I find myself wanting to help people. Usually my force offers our services as mercenaries to help anyone who needs extra manpower or firepower."

Fractura, "And there it is."

Speculator, "I have not even offered my services yet."

Fractura, "You are a mercenary. That's all we need to know."

Speculator, "Pfft, we don't sell our services for any criminal activity or rather bad things."

Iratus slightly confused, "Isn't running into people rare of something? Who are you selling yourselves too?"

Speculator, "Sure, sometimes we spend days without seeing other people, but we do see people from time to time. Our mercenary business started back in Crossprowl, where there were a hundred people who could pay."

Iratus shocked, "That's a lot of people!"

The hyena man and Badger woman were in thought for some time.

Iratus, "What happened?"

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Chapter 337

Speculator, "I and several others tried to be the law to keep everyone honest, but everyone soon broke off and formed their own factions. They traded, fought, and died, and while that is the short version, the long version is just more of the same."

Fractura, "Wait a minute, are you the people who stole that train?"

Speculator, "My team avoided that whole mess."

The hyena man and badger woman shared a shocked expression.

Tempestas, "My word, you're from Operation Second Wind."

Speculator, "Ah, our exploits are truly known worldwide."

Iratus, "Please, someone explain."

Fractura, "Like I always say, the summoners keep on throwing experiments together and summoning people for weird reasons. I don't remember the place, uh, Crossprowl, right?"

The wolf man nodded his head.

Fractura, "But it was so abnormal that we had to get involved. It was one of the few times we Invaders tried to help the people trapped within here."

The two wolf men were exchanging words while he spoke, and then Speculator spoke up.

Speculator, "Yeah, a bunch of strange folk and human things all appearing in one city. People didn't kill each other until day seven, and then it was all downhill from there. You said we Invaders, so I assume you were part of that rescue party?"

Fractura, "Not personally, but you can consider those people and I part of the same faction." Turning back to Iratus, "We had an inside man trapped in a summoner facility and used it to rally the others to unite and rescue our boy. The bad part is that once the remaining people arrived at the train, they decided to try to take it for themselves."

Speculator, "Everything was fine until people learned that these people had a train. It was horrible, and so you can understand why we noped out of there."

Tempestas, "Was it this planet that took place on? I never knew."

Speculator, "This planet? You guys always did know more than you were letting on."

Iratus, "We could fill you in over lunch or something."

Speculator, "Normally, I'd be overly cautious and say no, but I feel like making an exception."

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Chapter 338

Iratus, "So much for not being overly cautious."

The summoners tower was still white as can be despite the passage of time. Fractura and Tempestas had a makeshift dinning room made when as they still lived in the tower, for now. The solid walls and multitude of science rooms below were a stark reminder the unnaturalness of the tower.

Speculator, "Yeah, we trusted you to come back with only food."

Iratus, "Everyone was upset that the three of us are alone with two cannot be trusted strangers."

Fractura, "The police of Crossprowl can be trusted, why I'd say one of their most grand tales was when their raccoon companion defended a pair of merchants against a group of raiders. Anyone who puts their life on the line like that can only be considered trustworthy."

Speculator, "Worth every coin."

Iratus handed out smoked meat to everyone.

Iratus, "Did you fill them in on...everything I guess."

Tempestas, "Yup."

Speculator, "Yeah, we clearly underestimated our whole situation. How many years has it been since Crossprowl because you I've long since lost track of time."

Fractura, "Pfft, uh. I think four and a half years."

Speculator, "Man, that's a long time. A long time."

Iratus, "Hey guys, if these two are mercenaries, then how about we hire them. They came just in time when we were about to delve into the basement level of this place. If that's not a sign from God then I don't know what is."

The wolf man's ears flicker.

Speculator, "Oh, a summoner tower delve. That's going to be costly."

Fractura, "I guess. The only thing we really needed were firearms and if they have some then it shouldn't be too bad."

Tempestas turning to the wolf men, "Do you take coin?"

Speculator, "We take all kinds of coin and treasure, especially food."

Iratus, "Then let's talk."

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Chapter 339

The next day, the 168th day, was the day when Iratus, Fractura, and Tempestas met back up with the wolf pair. The wolves were outside the insect panther cave, with even more bodies littered around.

Iratus, "You didn't kill all of them, did you?"

Speculator, "Only as much as we could. Don't worry, we saved our strength for the real challenge ahead."

After some time, the group would head over to the mine tunnel and head inside, flashlights unbound. The wolf pair both had a backpack filled with items for times like these, including their own light sources, in this case lanterns that they clipped to their belt.

Fractura, "How will the rest of the tower folk react when they learn we traded some of the community resources and food for something they didn't agree on?"

Iratus, "My girls know, so it's already a forgone conclusion."

Tempestas, "Still, the others are going to freak out when they learn we are doing this."

Iratus, "They are not risking their lives, so I don't see a problem."

When they entered the cold tunnel, Speculator and Fugent got out relief blankets, while Iratus was already clad in his oversized fur cloak, and the hyena and badger had their own blankets. The group pulled the cart left there with them as they had set a bonfire on it while fueling it with the burnables they left through the tunnel. Despite all of these things, including the raging fire, the group was still shivering violently from the cold.

They'd get to the warm room and try to make sure that the bonfire wouldn't burn away the entire cart, for even in the reinforced pit, the fire was hot enough to scorch the rest of the wood that was the cart.

Tempestas, "I'm certain we will still have some embers left when we come back out."

Speculator, "We got some fire starters in the worst-case scenario."

The group took a few minutes to rest in the warm room, which they tried to fix up a bit as the extreme damage done to it left it in a ruined state that made it nearly useless to rest in. They got the room in a workable state to keep warm in, but only after a few minutes would the group get back on track and head inside the underground portion of the summoners tower.

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Chapter 340

The black and poorly lit areas were filled with broken work benches and items. Several drones lay around in a dead and useless state, while many rooms had no power to even light their rooms. The party did their best to move around the debris and explore the area. It took a while, but they found that all the remaining drones, at least on this floor, had already left or were destroyed.

The party would find a staircase that led deep underground. It was just a long shaft that stopped at another tunnel, which was carved out of stone with a large metal door at the end of it. The group had no choice but to light torches as they were desperate for more warmth, and then when they got to the door, they saw it was locked tight.

With some examination, Iratus got out his metal keycard and tried to slot it in, and with a bit of fiddling, he managed to unlock the door. It was still difficult to open as it had to be manually opened, but once inside, the group would see a large, empty circular room with five doors around. Each door had some writing and an image on it. On the left was a door with a bunk bed and a door with the image of a table. On the right was a door with the image of a book and a door with the image of a light. On the opposite side of the room was a door with the image of a black rectangle that kind of looked like a reality shard.

Everyone in the party had their senses working overtime to suss out any scent or sound.

Tempestas, "I think I hear some drones coming from behind."

As she went to close the doors, the other continued to talk.

Fractura, "Well, getting back out is going to be problematic. Other than that, I'd say most of the security here was spent from the last time we were here."

Speculator, "Ah, is that it? I was getting worried that this was a trap with how few obstacles we've seen. I believe you guys wanted the shard room."

Iratus, "Well, let's go."

As the party got to the far end, there was a loud banging on the door as something was trying to break in.

Iratus, "Should we do something about that now or..."

The two wolves had a brief talk while Fractura and Tempestas looked around to see if there was anything they could use.

Fractura, "Honestly, I'm starting to get worried myself."

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EPISDOE 34: END

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Episode 34 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 14
Coverings: blonde fur, white gambeson (many repairs, some leather patchwork), leather gloves, tactical vest, tailorcraft backpack, leather plate helmet, delicate gold chain with a small pendant shaped like a lion's glare
Weapons: Long Sword, 3x Knifes, Short Sword
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 33 oval copper coins, 6 small silver bricks, 3 gemstones, 20 fine silver coins,20 fine gold coins

Wounds: none

Relevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 3 glass jar, 12 empty bottles, 1 fish net, primitive sewing kit, a bunch of small wooden figures, wooden dice, metal scrap, lots of rusted metal, several small fish nets, a strange device (Gameboy-like device), compass, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, a large barrel, writing material, 80 cloaks and other clothing materials, some fabrics, 6 carts, 11 tattered tents, skin drum, beautiful arts of tropical scenery, floatation devices, wildlife figures, lots of tropical clothing, reality machines: portal maker and energy use, 1 reality shard

Armory: 10 wooden spears, 56 short swords, 53 knifes, 25 daggers, 34 metal spears, 2 hand bombs, 21 rusted weapons, many armor pieces, ruined metal armor, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), box of unknown ammo, 4 hunting traps, 3 snares, 2 pistols (no ammo), 12 unknown bullets, 4 backpacks
Aestus: leather vest, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword
Victoria: scrap metal breastplate, leather helmet, metal spear, short sword, crossbow, flashlight
Resonanita: breastplate, metal helmet, metal spear, short sword, compound bow, flashlight
Ignis: leather helmet, metal spear, crowbar

Treasure: 88 oval copper coins, 33 oval silver coins 74 ancient metal coins, 10 fine silver coins, 43 fine gold coins, 23 fine copper coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a handful of sparkling glass beads, a small wooden trinket box, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, 107 copper lion coins, 5 silver lion coins, 14 gold lion coins, 115 wolfen metal coins

Home Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates, clay pots, and wooden chests), Basic Workshop Area (lots of tools, woodcarving tools, glue, sandpaper), Kitchen Area (many tools, many cutlery items, pots&pans, makeshift grill), Library, Armory, Infirmary Room (surgery tools, first aid kit, plenty of medicine and equipment), Guest Quarters, Master Bedroom (proper bedding, sensual antfolk sculpture), Six Bedrooms (proper bedding)

Outside Base: Butchering Hut (modern butchery kit, smoking rack), Tannery Hut, Underground Storage Area, Garden Area (fenced in), Tool Shed (fishing gear and supplies, trowel, woodcutting axe, woodworking tools, lots of rope, rope ladder, plows, hoes, sickles, rakes, shovels, scythes, chisels, anvils), Partially Built Wall

Books: 3x woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), special documentary on Nexus Prime #34, 16 Broken Tower documents, Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series), cards

Year 0, Day 168

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(Extra Stories)

Extra Story 1

(years ago) The wolf man Speculator was strapped with firearms and was nodding his head to a small music player on his belt that, while nearly silent, was loud enough for the ears of any folk with the proper ear.

He was leaning up against a wall while scavengers pilfered through an abandoned house. Nearby, there were two sheds with more looters looking through them. The streets of the city were those of a suburban twenty-first-century place, with only a few houses and buildings coming from completely alien cultures and worlds.

A large red Jeep was driving by but stopped to turn and head to the scavengers area, with Speculator turning off his tunes and getting the attention of the others.

Speculator, "Go on alert!"

The wolf man held out his hand, and the jeep would come to a slow stop where one person, a cheetah man, poked his head out of the window.

Cheetah man, "Get over here and listen to this now!"

Speculator, "Geeze, ok, hold on."

On the radio, there was a repeating message. It was a man trapped in the military base that could be seen far off in the distance. He was under attack, and he offered the key to escaping the city as a reward for everyone if they could get him out.

The other looters would come in to listen to the message as Speculator left to grab the leader of the group who was with Desidia, the felinefolk that in the future would end up meeting Iratus.

Desidia, "We overheard. What are we doing, sir?"

Speculator, "Nabat, are you guys good?"

Nabat, "Hey, we're getting in on this. Give us a moment to get ready."

The cheetah man clearly overheard and shouted out.

Cheetah man, "Woo! Let's get rocking! Today we will be free, yall!"

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Extra Story 2

(some time ago) Tempestas's clothing wasn't too different from her stuff in the present. She was held up in a torn-asunder city that must have seen some real nasty war. The cars were not very advanced, and the buildings were made of stiff and boring concrete. There was rain that was lightly drizzling and a deafening silence otherwise as the badger woman looked over the dead body of another badgerfolk, this one wearing military gear one would see in the early firearms age where tanks would first be made. Tempestas picked up the sniper rifle of the fallen foe while leaving the knife she used inside her enemy.

The badger woman nearly jumped when the raccoon woman, Determinationis, entered the room.

Tempestas, "Thanks for the help, but you can leave this place now."

Determinationis, "The other two didn't make it?"

There was silence.

Determinationis, "I thought you three had a way to get off of the Nexus Prime."

Tempestas, "Nope, I just killed the only man who knew where my ship was. Honestly, it was worth it. My first interaction with him was him using this rifle to shoot and kill a family."

Determinationis, "If I may. I think I know someone who has some spare ships. Come with me, and we can get out of this place."

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