Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 37

Chapter 361

The lights were changing colors, and the otterfolk holograms flickered in their transparent blue, each imitating the clothing of furs and skin dresses. All windows were closed, and the entrance was just as locked. Iratus looked from the frustrated Venatio to the hologram of an otterfolk with disturbingly similar looks to Aestus.

Venatio, "Let us out, you defuncted machine intelligence!"

Lead Hologram, "You appear to be having some problems; please report to the manager for more help."

Iratus, "Ok, now are we in danger?"

Venatio, "I honestly don't know. This hologram tech is strictly from the Nexus Prime, like I've said, but it seems like someone from the outside tried to use it for themselves. Its just so strange that this building popped up within the last, like, three days?"

The old fox woman shook her head while the other two girls tried to talk to the hologram.

Aestus, "You look like me."

Lead Hologram, "Incorrect, you look like me." It girlishly giggles.

Victoria, "Why do you hologram things to look like otterfolk?"

Lead Hologram, "This is just how we were made to look."

Venatio, "Once again, the Aestus legend."

Iratus, "How do we get out of here?"

The old fox woman started to walk away from the door and back to the office room.

Venatio, "Explore, and maybe we'll find a way out."

Victoria, "So this The Aestus thing is from a shop or something?"

Venatio, "It's an outdated thing these days, but yeah."

Aestus, "You know, my name is Aestus of clan Riversinger. Do you think I'm related to all this?"

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Chapter 362

The group headed into the office, away from all the lights and dancing holograms.

Venatio, "I doubt it. There were probably thousands of Aestus of Riversinger throughout history before the otterfolk re-did their family names. Do you remember being sick before coming here?"

Aestus, "A little. Maybe it got really bad the next day or two. Really, I wouldn't know how else I could have died."

Iratus, "Will we ever get to remember the last day of our lives?"

Venatio, "I have no idea, Iratus. As for Aestus and The Aestus being here, I'd say that it is indeed weird, but too astronomical out there to assume that Aestus is the girl from the local legends that made this."

Iratus, "What about nations or locations that could see if it is our Aestus?"

The group went inside the office, where Venatio shut the door after everyone was in.

Aestus, "Uh, Riversinger? There are...rivers nearby."

Venatio, "Don't worry about it."

Victoria, "Well, if Aestus is the local legend girl, then I'd say this is concerning, beyond consequences."

Venatio, "Right now, we just need to focus on getting out of here. You two stay safe here, and Iratus and I will see what else is here."

Victoria, "Maybe we can find something else in here."

After everyone gave a nod, Iratus headed out with Venatio and back onto the dance floor.

Iratus, "That contract you said was unperson-like; what does that mean?"

Venatio, "The whole thing had a layer of oddness to it, like it was written by an old-style AI."

Iratus, "Uh."

Venatio, "To sum up, I'm starting to think that it's fake."

Iratus, "Then what is this situation we are in?"

Lead Hologram, "Everyone dance! Dance! Dance!"

Venatio, "Stay sharp; stay safe."

And the pair went off, trying to see if there was anything else they could do or find.

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Chapter 363

Venatio grabbed the walls to try to find anything to pry on, while Iratus tapped the floor.

Iratus thoughts, "Maybe there is some sort of underground area? Huh, I wonder what would happen if I smashed that boom box, or whatever it's called."

The lead hologram appeared next to the mouse boy.

Lead Hologram, "Everyone should dance. What's your next move?"

Iratus looked at the transparent thing for a moment before an idea flashed across his face. Iratus drew his long sword, started to spin it around, and walked with it. He spun it around his head, sometimes around the back of his head, but always swaying it from side to side. He moved around, spun around, and was doing something like a waltz while swinging his blade in a certain way to make a mesmerizing dance.

The music changed into something more fitting, and the lights dimmed outside of Iratus's section. Anytime he caught a glimpse of Venatio, he'd flick his tail at her until she responded with her own tail flick. The other holograms either popped out or started to surround Iratus with entertained looks. A few of them let out their positive critiques of the mouse boy's 'dance' while the rest watched in silence.

Venatio did her best to scout around and examine the few items that were around. She messed with the music box and flipped a few more switches, which, after some tinkering, managed to shut off the holograms and return the lights to the rest of the dance floor.

Iratus, "Did we win?"

Venatio, "I doubt it. I'm going to use the metal cutting tools and try to cut us out of here."

Iratus nodded his head and went back to check on the girls, where he'd watch Venatio from the office room.

Aestus, "We found nothing here!"

Victoria, "It's just stuff from the town out there."

Iratus, "Just hold tight, ladies; we will be free in no time."

Venatio stripped the cords of several tools and wrapped them around the makeshift batteries, which allowed them to be powered.

Iratus, "I don't think I'll ever understand this electrical power stuff."

The girls got a good look at the old fox woman turning on a saw to cut the garage door, and both of them sighed in agreement.

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Chapter 364

Suddenly, the lead hologram appeared in front of the door, in front of the three in the office.

Lead Hologram, "I have detected that the current group is trying to expel themselves from The Aestus. You must contact the manager and not cause damage to private property."

Iratus, "Lady, you trapped us here against our will. You are the criminal here, and we are trying to escape."

Lead Hologram, "Since you have decided to damage property belonging to the Praevaricator Fines Corporation, we are legally allowed to defend it."

Iratus, "Oops."

Several holograms popped back into existence, these ones taking the form of male otterfolk but with cartoonishly muscled proportions and black suits. Iratus ran out, pushing past the lead hologram to defend Venatio, who turned around to see the buff bouncers starting to converge on her. Once Iratus stabbed through the first one, the others turned and came at him with fists and grapple attempts.

Iratus sliced the arm off of one to then come back down on a second, cutting into its collar bone. He turned and ran back to get more distance, and then got back into his high guard stance. His ears twitched as he strained to fight and listen to the lead hologram.

Lead Hologram, "You are Aestus of Riversinger, yes?"

Aestus, "I was told there are many people named that."

Then the hologram spoke with a male, unearthly voice.

Lead Hologram with male voice, "And all were fakes!"

Lead Hologram, "Spin your family's dance and confirm your bloodline, and then we will let you out."

Victoria raised her crossbow.

Victoria, "Back off or get bolted."

Iratus backtracked until all the holograms were in a line, then he moved forward. A forward thrust into the chest of one side stepped and slashed the face of the second. The remaining two slide at fast speeds to flank Iratus and then slide at him. Iratus started to bend the knee to slash the gut of one and attempted to spin around to strike up at the second, but wasn't fast enough.

A fist slammed into Iratus with enough force to drop him from one knee to flat on the ground. The hologram stepped on the mouse boy with a hearty weight and leaned down to pummel him, but was stopped when a bolt from Victoria passed through the hologram, shattering it and landing near Iratus.

Iratus, "Eh, watch it."

But his words might not have reached the two girls, as Venatio did not stop using her saw to cut their way out.

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Chapter 365

Iratus fought off the remaining holograms that were only injured, quickly finished them, and headed off to listen to the lead hologram.

Lead Hologram, "I ask again, show us the dance."

Aestus, "I don't know if I can. Not only have I not practiced it, but my pregnant belly is large enough to throw off my balance."

Victoria fired off another shot, but at the lead hologram this time, who casually caught the bolt and dropped it.

Lead Hologram with male voice, "By the blood of the Sin Lord of Pride, give unto us our right."

Lead Hologram, "This is our reason for existing."

Victoria, "Really starting to freak me out."

Iratus, "Would you mind stopping scaring my girls, please?"

Lead Hologram, "One dance, and you're free. Promise."

Aestuse, "Well, since you promised, I think I'll do it."

Iratus, "I don't know; that blood of the sin lord thing kind of creeps me out."

Lead Hologram turning to Iratus, "Our maker, our master, if only we were not bought and sold. We were made to find The Aestus and so we must."

Iratus, "Uh, ok."

Aestus, "Just let me dance and end all of this."

Iratus, "Hm, fine." Looking at the hologram. "But I'm watching you."

The group went onto the dance floor, with Iratus stopping Venatio.

Venatio, "Are you joking? I almost have a hole."

Iratus, "Well, I don't like how that hologram is staring at you."

Venatio, "You dealt with the security measures."

Iratus, "And if there are more and more deadly things, like guns or something,"

Venatio, "Pfft, I mean maybe. Whatever. Let's see where this leads."

Iratus, "We already have some worthwhile information so far."

Venatio, "Oh?"

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Chapter 366

The old fox woman shook her head in confusion.

Venatio, "Never heard of that. Sin Lord, you say? I feel kind of offended."

Iratus, "Same. It sounds like someone is trying too hard, if you ask me."

Venatio, "But it does mean something."

Iratus, "Regardless, we have learned where holograms come from."

The fox woman gave a nod, and then the two turned to face Aestus, who got ready to dance. Victoria was off near the wall, and she kept on overwatch to make sure no other surprises popped in.

Aestus stood in the middle of the dance floor, after handing her leather helmet to Iratus, and nodded to Iratus and Venatio, then to Victoria. She started her dance with some hip movement and slowly rotated her arms. She then continued to spin on one foot, only bringing down the other foot to spin again. Then she threw her arms to pull her body from side to side before spinning and throwing herself around. It was only about twenty seconds before Aestus stopped with an exhale.

Lead Hologram, "Wonderful. As the historians said, it would be."

Aestus, "Honestly, it is a bit incomplete."

Lead Hologram, "You are The Aestus, and our mission to find you is complete."

Aestus, "Uh, you're welcome?"

Venatio, "Now open up and let us out."

The music stopped, the lights went out, the shutters opened up, and the garage door was unlocked.

Venatio, "Quickly, out, out!"

The group started to migrate to the entrance while the hologram continued.

Lead Hologram, "Contacting corporate. Error. Recalculating the syntax error for The Aestus Found. Error."

Venatio opened the door, and Iratus waved his two lovers to hurry up.

Lead Hologram with male voice, "Contract complete, I am taking over."

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Chapter 367

Sounds of bending metal could be heard, as well as the walls starting to buckle.

Venatio, "What, was it a load-bearing dance?"

The group finally left the building and started to run away from it. The walls finally popped, and the roof finally caved in. Filtering out of the collapsed building was one hologram that, from its swarming light, grasped a metal bar, pulling it and taking on a humanoid form. The bipedal form was something like a human, or rather a chimpanzee of some sort, that was quite human in its appearance. Instead of blue, this light was red, and its clothing was a trench coat with leather-plated chest gear. It had military-like boots that looked like the bottom was made of steel, if it wasn't a hologram, of course. Finally, it wore a tricorn hat with it, and all the clothes smothered the red glow of the hologram in black.

Venatio, "Well, that was fun, but clearly we should be leaving now. Grab the cart and let's go."

Victoria popped out from behind a wall to fire off a bolt from her crossbow, to which the hologram gave a lazy side step to dodge it.

She backed off with the group to their cart, and they started to turn it to get out of the town, but several of the bouncer otterfolk holograms came over to surround the group.

Iratus, "Aren't these things supposed to be limited to a select area?"

Venatio, "I have long since been stripped of useful information at this point. I, someone who knows a lot about the Nexus Prime, am freaking out!"

The bouncers tried to attack the group, but with Aestus's spear, Victoria's crossbow, Iratus's longsword, and Venatio's baton, they were easily slaughtered.

The bouncer did, however, manage to buy time for the red hologram to walk up. Iratus got in between it and the others.

Iratus, "What's going on?"

Red Hologram angrily, "You creatures completed your task, and now I am taking back my technology, but I might as well ruin whatever this, The Aestus, is. I love petty revenge."

Iratus walked up to the red hologram in his high guard stance, and when the creature swung his metal pipe, Iratus caught it in his block and slid the pipe away, though he saw at the tip of the pipe a mist of burning air and sparks.

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Chapter 368

Iratus counterattacked, but the hologram blocked with his arm, and while the blade sank deeply, it did not sever the light-made arm. Iratus tried to pull down and sever the hand the old-fashioned way, but it made almost no progress. The hologram never stopped walking forward and was close enough to strike again, this time with a forward prod, which the mouse boy managed to dodge, mostly as the tip touched the edge of his side, which disintegrated into ash, including a tiny bit of his flesh.

Iratus held onto his bleeding side as the hologram still relentlessly attacked. Victoria fired a bolt, which the red hologram ignored as it sank into his chest. Venatio came to block one of the attacks on Iratus, and her gritty expression melted away when she realized the lack of strength the light-made creature had. Iratus moved to the side and cut the neck of the creature, which desperately tried to orient itself to the mouse boy, only to have Aestus come in with her spear, and when the creature moved its head to dodge her attack, it was merely a feint to stab his chest. Venatio moved in and grabbed the metal pipe, and with that, Iratus came in with a slash.

The longsword was stuck inside the hologram's neck.

Red Hologram, "To annoy me to such length is aggravating!"

Venatio twisted the creature's arm and forced the creature to drop its rod, which, when it did, vanished.

Aestus, "Oh, we won."

Victoria and Venatio had a confused look on them as well. Iratus, on the other hand, quickly took off his gambeson and rummaged through the bags on the cart to find some bandages as he continued to bleed out.

Aestus, "What was all that?"

Venatio, "You tell me. As far as I can tell, it was all a trap for Aestus. I guess The Aestus Corporation went looking for the Aestus from legends and, I guess, used holograms to do their work? That's the best hypothesis I can make."

Iratus, "Was our Aestus The Aestus?"

Aestus, "My dance was fairly incomplete."

Venatio, "The holograms use AI to have any intelligence, and it isn't that great. They might have thought any dance from someone named Aestus was the dance they needed."

Iratus, "How did they find us?"

The fox woman just shrugged as Victoria and Aestus finished helping Iratus dress his wound.

The group quickly headed out and went back home, where they spent the next few days resting.

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Chapter 369

The tower folk got back to work on day 214, with the group spending most of their effort on the wooden wall. However, since Iratus was really the only male, only he was able to do most of the heavy lifting. After a few days, Iratus came to the realization of just how difficult working for one man was.

Iratus, "You know, I am really hoping that we will find another person out there. I can't do this alone."

Venatio, "Maybe one day. Until then, should we continue trying to build the wall?"

Iratus, "I don't know. I am trying to prepare for the future children that will be born soon. We got cribs, blankets, and the like all ready."

Venatio, "Hey, I just realized that we should go back to the hologram place. They had electricity, so we might have something we can use."

Iratus slapped his head.

Iratus, "Of course, why didn't we think of that sooner?"

Venatio, "It has to be better than making a wall on your own."

Iratus, "Then let's get the cart ready then."

Iratus and Venatio gathered up their bags and the cart and started to head out, with Ignis joining them on the trip, bringing Victoria's crossbow with her. At the town, the group got to work looking for the building.

Ignis, "I don't see the pile of metal you people described."

Iratus, "Right over there by the riverbank."

Venatio, "Well, it should be."

The area was barren and empty, with muddy dirt being the only thing left in the spot where the building collapsed.

Iratus, "Of course."

Venatio looked around to see a number of large vehicle tracks, while the other two looked around confused.

Venatio, "I think someone came by and took the metal and stuff."

Iratus, "The nomads who built the place, assuming they were real?"

Venatio, "I don't know, but we should be able to follow these tracks."

Further down the road, there was a new off-road with trees and brush torn apart to make way for a large vehicle.

The group brought their cart and cautiously proceeded down the new path.

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Chapter 370

Iratus, "Stay sharp. If there is any danger, please stay safe, love."

Ignis, "I most definitely can take care of myself despite the circumstances. Don't worry, love."

The trip down the bumpy dirt path was short, with the path leading to a rough-worked cabin hastily made with shotty work. The tracks ended here, but there were no vehicles around. There were several dirt piles in what looked like a garden, and the cabin itself was somewhat small but built for tall people like the Bloodforge.

Ignis, "This one will stay over here. You two go ahead and see if anyone is home."

Iratus, "I'm not sure what I'd find at the end of this line, but hopefully whoever is living here is friendly."

Venatio, "But if they are hostile, we will be in trouble."

Iratus, "Maybe if they have firearms; otherwise, they are free to try to kill me."

Venatio, "I'll look around. If you are certain of reaching out, go ahead and knock on the door."

The pair came closer to the cabin and broke off, with Iratus heading straight to the door of the cabin. He slowed down to give Venatio time to circle the cabin, but she wasn't too far away to help him if things turned bad.

After some waiting, Iratus walked up and knocked on the door. He waited for a minute, hearing nothing. There weren't windows, but there were holes to act like windows, and while they were covered up with a board at the moment, Iratus did manage to glimpse bits inside the cabin. He was unable to see anything of real substance, so he went back to the door. He slowly started to turn the handle, and before he opened the door, he could swear he heard something.

Iratus didn't hear anything, but his body was tingling with danger. He opened the door ever so slightly and stopped when the smell of blood washed over him. Then he heard one step, and as Iratus backed off, the door was smashed open by the last Ebony, the blacken creature with large bones holding its form, the skin of a fox hugging its back, and a large bone club fused with one of its hands and a lantern in the other hand. It held out its hand, the lantern was filled with oozing blackness, and just like every other time, darkness surrounded the poor mouse boy.

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EPISDOE 37: END

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Episode 37 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, flashlight
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, metal keycard

Wounds: moderate side torso damage (fresh)

Relevant Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, several leather items, 2 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, sextant, some bedrolls, a tent, a large barrel, writing material, 79 cloaks and other clothing materials, some fabrics, 5 carts, 8 tattered tents, skin drum, beautiful arts of tropical scenery, floatation devices, wildlife figures, lots of tropical clothing

Armory: 10 wooden spears, 50 short swords, 53 knifes, 23 daggers, 34 metal spears, 21 rusted weapons, many armor pieces, ruined metal armor, semi-automatic rifle (no ammo), 3 hunting traps, 3 snares, 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: 62 oval copper coins, 19 oval silver coins 64 ancient metal coins, 8 fine silver coins, a tarnished silver brooch, a small ornamental figurine, a handful of sparkling glass beads, a few antfolk tapestries, some antfolk art, 46 copper lion coins, 5 silver lion coins, 4 gold lion coins, 57 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, Small Cabin

Books: 3x woodworking books, weathered leather-bound journal, war game booklet, sketch book (from warband), Bathhouse Reviewers (entire 80 book series), cards, Fractura's Notes, Tempestas's Notes

Year 0, Day 214

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(Extra Stories)

Extra Story 1

(a long time ago) The otterfolk woman did her best to loosen up her stiff suit. Another otterfolk man, off to the side, handed her some notes.

Otterfolk male, "You couldn't cut your hair?"

Otterfolk female, "It's all neat now; no harm done."

Her look was professional but still casual enough to be distinguished enough from a crowd. She walked onto a stage in a small room with a full crowd. She gave her introductions and introduced herself as Pulvis, a representative of The Aestus.

Pulvis, "Another thing I wish to let people know is that we have lost contact with the probe we set free in the Nexus Prime. This was always something we suspected would happen when we sent it to find one of my ancient ancestors' sisters, Aestus. While using my blood as the base to scan all the planets seems to have some results, it appears that we did not find Aestus, and that's assuming she became a ghost in our time. So while we started the search to see the face of The Aestus, it turns out we may never be able to achieve this goal."

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