Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 8

Chapter 71

The otter girl Aestus sat on a chair, gritting her teeth, as the human Heinrich did his best to cut out as much of the branch that was inside the girl's arm. Gelus and Avaritia were sitting across the table; the bager and cheetah were lost in their own discussions. Resonantia, the shark-looking folk, was on watch, looking out of a small window of the tower. Victoria came over to Iratus and Ignis to explain the situation to the mouse and the red panda girl.

It started with the three girls traveling to the stone city to gather resources for the second group that had come to their tower. They gathered some more leathwork backpacks and sheets, but the story turned horrific when the treeskins surrounded a building they were in. The horde came from deeper in the city and quickly surrounded the group before they could properly understand the danger they were in.

They had killed at least six before they had the opportunity to escape, and when they tried, Aestus was just unlucky enough to get grabbed.

Iratus, "And the others didn't travel with you?"

Victoria, "They didn't want to risk their lives."

With a sigh, Iratus thanked Victoria and checked up on Aestus.

The otter girl would reassure Iratus that she was fine with Heinrich chiming in.

Heinrich, "Hm, yes. The tree bits don't last long without a dead body. The only real problem is the chance of infection, and looking at the size of this wound, obstruction really, we might need more than simple disinfections."

Iratus, "Can we grow some penicillin stuff?"

Gelus, "How do you even know what that is?"

Iratus, "Because I am an educated citizen of my homeworld."

Gelus was about to continue when Avaritia stepped in.

Avaritia, "There are a lot of things we know about back home. I'll admit I'm not particularly well educated folk myslef, but I will say that even I am aware of bacteria, mostly...I think."

Heinrich, "Yes yes. I just need the right kind of, uh, I am of course a doctor, quite self-educated, but however, I will say that I have had a lot of experience with many mentors."

Ignis, "I will go and cook a hearty meal. At least I find myself wanting."

Victoria, "Yeah, I need some food right now too."

Gelus, "We don't have anymore food."

Iratus, "Excuse me? How?"

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Chapter 72

The night finally came, with absolute darkness creeping in with only a hint of light from the many glowing creatures and flora floating in from the windows. Heinrich stopped operating on Aestus; she was mostly fine at this point despite the branch wrapping around under her skin. He slowly moved around as the darkness continued to grow, and his vision slowly came to a halt. Despite this, he could see the light reflect off the eyes of the other folk.

Avaritia, "It had been a while since we had a decent meal, and we got carried away. You know what it's like to work for days on end only to stop and rest only to have your body demand that you replace what it spent. The hunger that won't disappear for a whole day."

Victoria, "We are in this godless hellscape of the mortal world! I know..." She took a deep breath and continued. "I know everyone is hungry all the time. Though I have to ask, what ever happened to rationing? Despite that, we had a stockpile of smoked meat. How did you eat all of it? When did you eat it, when we three left?"

Gelus, "You overestimate your stocks."

Iratus, "You people are pissing me off! Whatever. Avaritia, come with me; we are going hunting."

Avaritia, "At night? Even home was dangerous at night, and this wilderness is worse. It is a bad idea to go out at night."

Iratus, "We were born to hunt at night."

Avaritia pointed to himself, "Cheetah. Besides, I'd rather go hungry than risk my life out there in the dark."

Iratus, "How are you still hungry? Regardless, a lot of people here are hungry, and someone needs to feed them."

Gelus, "It is too dangerous. Besides, didn't you get some eggs from your trip?"

Ignis, "I must stop your line of thoughts starting from there."

Gelus, "It is better than dying out there. Of course, we could deal with this later and just go hungry for the night."

Iratus, "You mean the people who have not eaten yet go hungry for the night?"

Ignis, "We traveled far for our prize and desire it for another destiny. We shall not relent."

Gelus, "Then it should go with a vote."

Iratus, "Vote for what? Ignis and I got the eggs, so we decided what to do with them."

Gelus, "You can't horde food for yourself; that's wrong."

Iratus, "You are not making sense again. These are not your eggs."

Gelus, "They are the community's resources. You don't get to decide who gets what, and you don't get to play dictator here. We vote on these things."

Iratus, "I, as well as Victoria and Aestus, are in charge here. This is our tower, and we decide what is here. We are not allowing you to vote for anything because that is dumb." Continuing with a mocking tone, "We five just arrived here, and now we vote to kick you three out."

Gelus, "You think we'd do that?"

Iratus, "Or similar; that is what democracies do. You want to vote, then earn it."

There was a thud as the human ran into a clay pot.

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Chapter 73

Heinrich, "Ow! Who put this here?"

Victoria, "Me, sorry."

Iratus, "Victoria, are you still good to go?"

Victoria, "I'm out of energy, and in fact, how are you still able to continue? You just walked for all the day."

Iratus, "It's called dealing with it. I don't have a choice right now; the day is half over and we are out of food."

Heinrich in a slightly playful tone, "The day is over!"

Iratus, still looking at Victoria, said, "Keep an eye on these people so that they don't steal the eggs. Heinrich, you are a doctor, yes?"

Heinrich, "I believe somewhere in our time together I must have mentioned it, if not the first time we met. I'll do my best to keep a lookout for some proper medicine that I can harvest from the wildlife, if that is your real question."

Iratus nodded and headed down the stairs. Resonantia followed Iratus and spoke up as he was getting ready to head out.

Resonantia, "I will be joining you."

Iratus, "Oh...uh, ok."

She grabbed the bow and a wooden club, and unlike her somewhat timid behavior so far, she was confident heading out with the mousefolk.

Iratus, "I heard you also joined the other two girls; thanks for that."

Resonantia, "I just preferred not to stay with the others. Everything is fine now, but the train was rough. The conductor was a lot like you, inviting every lost soul. Without a proper society, I have seen the worst in the best of people. The other three males are good people, but I fear being alone with men, even them."

Iratus coughed, and Resonantia continued.

Resonantia, "If the other girls say you're not one of those kinds of guys, then I'm not going to sweat it too much. Besides, I know how to defend myself."

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Chapter 74

They scattered and sniffed around the tower and looked for tracks. They went south smelling something on the wind but only found several dead ends with their tracking. They continued to venture south until their senses picked up a new target.

Resonantia would kill a rabbit and Iratus would come over to inspect her kill after picking up some mangoes.

Iratus, "Wow, one shot."

Resonantia, "I was trained to take over my families station as the designated Eques."

Iratus, "What?"

Resonantia, "My family held a high political position, people like us had to pay for this position with service, usually as elite soldiers. When I become an adult, I'd have ten years where the monarch could call me to war."

Iratus and Resonantia started walking north for a while before Iratus spoke up again.

Iratus, "Strange, I don't reconize this area. Did we cross the river?"

Resonantia, "What river?"

Iratus, "There was a second river that ran into the main one. How could we miss it unless, hm?"

Resonantia, "Miss it, what do you mean?"

Iratus, "I think we went much further than what I'd call safe."

Iratus looked around and kept an ear out as the pair walked northward.

Iratus, "We've got to find a river to get our bearings."

Resonantia, "Then west? Wait, do you smell that?"

After a few seconds of listing and smelling the air, Iratus spoke up.

Iratus, "I think I can hear something. Let's keep moving."

Resonantia, "I think it might be a panther or perhaps a leopard based on the tropical nature of our area here."

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Chapter 75

The pair continued to travel, slightly lost in the dark night with only some light from some glowing bugs or flora.

Resonantia, "It closed the gap some more."

Iratus, "Three minutes out, I think. You know, monsters I can take, but a leopard is way too dangerous. One of us will probably die if it does decide to attack."

Resonantia, "Are you scared or something?"

Iratus, "Somewhat. Like I said, monsters are nothing compared to a large pretator."

Resonantia, "This kind of feels like when I first got here."

Iratus, "Oh, please, do tell."

Resonantia, "For the first few days, someone was hunting me. I tried to run, lay traps, and do other stuff. I was ahead for quite a while, but eventually I was cornered in an interesting city. It was a city from my world, but in the future."

Iratus, "Future stuff, what was that like?"

Resonantia, "Imagine that stone city, but with more roads and more concrete. There are metal vehicles, stone and glass buildings soaring high into the sky, and litter everywhere. There were no gas lamps or horse-drawn carriages there, and the cloths still there came from many different eras, most of which I had never seen before."

Iratus, "I wonder if my world would follow suit."

Resonantia, "I've seen a number of such cities while on the train, so I'd say most likely. Anyway, what was hunting me was just a person. A rabbit man from my world."

Iratus, after a chuckle, "I'm sorry, but rabbits and sharks? Anything else?"

Resonantia, "I'll admit, compared to the other worlds, it does seem a bit on the weirder side. So the rabbit guy was someone I actually knew, but he was different. After I pinned him down and interrogated him, I learned that after coming here, he had somehow become younger. He was still old, but nowhere near the age I've seen him. Not only that, but he claimed to have killed me in our world. He was basically a hitman hired to kill me and appeared here a few days later."

Iratus, "So are we in the afterlife then?"

Resonantia, "My last memory was a day before he said he killed me. So why don't I have my complete memories? Even then, who is to say anything that man said was correct? He was much older in my world, so maybe he didn't have the best memory?"

Iratus, "Well, if anything he said was true, then we have just learned that some people, or at least super old people, can revert in age after coming here, and it might be possible that we are...I don't know, dead?"

Resonantia, "Considering how religious I am, and no doubt most of us at the tower are, saying that this is the afterlife is quite blasphemous."

The shark girl gave the air another sniff.

Resonantia, "Is the leopard closing the distance?"

Iratus, "By the thirteen, I think it is now two minutes behind us. Luckily, I think I can hear one of the rivers."

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Chapter 76

The two came upon the second, smaller lake across from the camp lake. They headed down the road, picking up their pace. Iratus was slowly becoming stiff as he could sense the pretator closing the gap.

Resonantia, "Don't worry, I am a crack shot. Once that animal comes close, I'll knock it down."

Iratus, "Unless it goes on the move."

Iratus would eventually feel Resonantia's own anxiety as the creature closed the gap even more, following closer and closer.

Iratus, "So, what's your world like?"

Resonantia, "Lots of water and islands. Two continents, though. Yours?"

Iratus, "One massive continent, some small islands too. There is a tropical belf, savvanah around it, and various climates around them. Uh, cats, we are all cats."

Resonantia, "That I knew. On the train, there was someone from, uh, I don't remember, but they were way up there. Give a few more hundred years, and a new feline race will appear, actually."

Iratus, "Like what? What kind of feline?"

Resonantia, "Uh, pfft. They only described it as just feline."

Iratus, "What is just a cat?"

Resonantia, "Well, it was described as having a multitude of fur patterns and colors."

Iratus, "Now that sounds silly. Then again, I think some more interesting fur patterns would be a nice change of pace."

After another minute, both Iratus and Resonantia became even more unnerved. Both looked behind them to scan the dense wilderness. Far behind was a feline creature of some kind, its form shrouded in shadow from the night.

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Chapter 77

Resonantia, "How much worse could this cat be than any actual monster?"

Iratus, "Monsters can be fought using reason and discipline. Also, that cat is deadly, while the other monsters probably have more tenacity. If the leopard strikes, one of us is sure to die, but not both of us. Ironically, I think that a single treeskin has a higher chance of winning against a leopard than a single person."

Iratus held onto his sword tightly and was starting to breathe slightly harder than normal.

Resonantia, "We'll be fine." she said, slightly shaken.

They hit the dirt road near the burned-down cabin.

Iratus, "Sure, but we have a leopard lurking around now. This thing needs to die, or we'll have to send an army out any time anyone wants to go outside."

Reaching out with their ears, they heard the leopard fade further behind.

Iratus, "I think it stopped following us."

Resonantia after a deep exhale, "See, everything is fine."

Iratus, "Again, we still have this thing roaming around near us. We could start shooting it."

Resonantia, "Wasn't going to happen. Now, if we bring everyone out here, I do believe we could kill it without someone dying."

Iratus, "I love animals, so it's going to be sad that the cat has to die."

Resonantia, "Same. Hey, I'm sorry, the guys are really weird. Things were a bit different on the train, and I think they are just getting used to having no say in what happens with where they live."

Iratus, "They can do a lot of things; they just refuse to do anything."

Resonantia, "I know, but please be patient with them."

Iratus, after sighing, said, "Sure, but I make no promises if they eat the eggs."

They both laughed and continued talking until they got to the tower.

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Chapter 78

The mousefolk and sharkfolk returned to the tower to dispense the food, which Ignis was more than willing to cook. While the two were gone, Ignis found some wild garlic and nutmeg that she just finished grounding up as they returned.

Aestus finished picking out the roots in her arm, and she, with the help of Victoria and Henrich's guidance, did all they could to prevent infection. Eventually, as the night wore on, everyone would head off to their room.

The late morning came before Iratus, Victoria, and Aestus headed to the commons room. The other five were at the table, eating some scrambled eggs.

Iratus, "Ok, I guess we are doing this then."

Avaritia, "There was no food for the morning, and we needed to eat."

Iratus, "Yeah, I guess eating in the morning is important."

Heinrich, "Ok, ok, yes, uh, you can still make animal glue for the ink, and to be fair, I believe making glue was going to happen regardless."

Iratus, "Most likely, I can't argue with that logic. Though it seems strange that you will not go hungry while the people who go out to get food will be doing so without eating anything."

Heinrich, "Exactually."

Iratus, "Have you considered doing it yourselves and giving us a rest?"

Gelus, "Well, it seems to be your job to go hunt."

Iratus, "You are the ones who ate; you are the ones who need to replace the food."

Gelus, "Or we could vote to see who should go out hunting."

Iratus, "You have no right to vote as you are still guests of the tower."

The three men stood up from the table and walked to stand in front of Iratus.

Gelus, "We three have been discussing some things lately."

Iratus, "I bet you have."

Gelus, "And it has come to our attention that you three are still just children. So, it should be up to the adults to take charge of the situation."

Iratus, "Is that your reason for war? Well, I think we don't need any adult supervision. So if you don't like us children being in charge, then get out."

Gelus, "It is up to us to help you; you're only making things worse for yourself if you kick us out."

Victoria, "And we'll deal with it."

Avaritia, "We are the adults here, and you people need to listen to us."

Iratus, "Why would you side with these two? Aren't we kinsmen?"

Avaritia, "There are no sides here."

Ignis and Resonantia were silent, sitting down almost as if this wasn't the first time this kind of situation had happened before.

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Chapter 79

Iratus thoughts, "I am taller than the human, with all the females here just slightly shorter than myself. Avaritia is lithe and does not possess the same muscular bulk that I have. Gelus is the real problem, with significant height and mass. Ignis and Resonantia might not take part in the fight, but I still don't think I can win here."

Aestus, "I can teach you guys how to fish. I have some nets I've finished recently, and you three can easily and safely gather some food for us."

Avaritia, "We are not going anywhere."

Iratus, "So? Are you saying you want us three to go out and get food?"

Gelus, "Exactly. Your jobs are to hunt and gather for the tower, and we will manage resources."

Victoria, "Sounds like a scam, and as a former bandit, I should know."

There was silence for a few moments before Iratus spoke up.

Iratus, "So what are you people going to do?"

Heinrich, "Make sure everyone gets their fair share. We don't want anyone taking more than they should."

Iratus, "And you need three people to do that?"

The silence was back again for even longer this time, and everyone was sizing up each other.

Iratus, "Your rulership sounds like someone licking dirt and drinking their own urine. Get out of our tower or I'll eat you all alive."

Gelus, "We are only doing what is best for everyone."

Victoria, "You are only doing what is best for yourself."

Heinrich, "You are free to stay here. There is no need for you to go outside into the dangerous jungle. Then again, you would have gone out whether or not we ate the eggs."

Iratus, "Get out of my tower. You are the guests, and we are in charge."

Heinrich, "And we are not listening to children!"

Iratus, "You have only taken our resources, never given any. You are thieves, and thus I don't recognize your rights."

Iratus was about to continue when he saw Ignis flick her tail, giving Iratus an idea.

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Chapter 80

Iratus, "If you are so keen about fairness, how about we put this to a vote. Everyone who wants these three men to be permanently removed from the tower, stand over by me."

Victoria and Aestus stepped next to Iratus. After a second, Ignis also walked over to him. No eyes were on Resonantia, but she could feel all eyes on her regardless. Her thoughts were in confusion while she looked back and forth between the two groups. She looked at Ignis and then cautiously walked over to Iratus.

Iratus, "I'd say. God bless democracy, but the only thing that matters here is who has more muscle to force their will. Get out."

Gelus, Avaritia, and Henrich started to slowly back away. Then, they began to move downstairs, taking their weapons, which was the only thing they brought to the tower, and then finally left the tower.

Aestus, "The hyenas are waiting at the southeastern lake...if you want to meet up with them...or something."

Iratus, "Give it an hour, then let's go fishing. We will have to be on our guard in case they choose to still lurk around here."

Resonantia, "My God, what just happened?"

Victoria, "A bunch of freebooters were removed from our home."

Ignis, "Correct we were in choosing to side with the tower."

Iratus, "Why wouldn't they just...work? How hard is it to catch a few fish?"

Resonantia, "Those three don't have those kinds of skills."

Iratus, "Well...something."

Ignis, "Pay no mind to those three anymore. I didn't eat all of my share of the eggs; come and eat for yourself."

Iratus looked out a window and saw the three men slowly disappear into the trees, heading towards the dirt road to the east. He then turned to Ignis and spoke to her.

Iratus, "Thank you."

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EPISDOE 8: END

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Episode 8 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 14
Coverings: Blonde Fur, White Gambeson (lightly damaged, leather patchwork), leather gloves
Weapons: Long Sword, Knife, Bow
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 33 oval copper coins, 7 small silver bricks, 6 gemstones
Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, small metal pot, several leather items, a lot of animal bones, a lot of animal hide, 3 glass jar, 50 oval copper coins, 1 fish net, primitive sewing kit, trowl, woodcutting axe, several wooden spears, crossbow, some woodcarving pieces, wooden dice, lots of sheets, metal scrap, a tarnished silver brooch, fifteen ancient coins, a small ornamental figurine, a brass ring, a handful of sparkling glass beads, weathered leather-bound journal, a dainty silver bracelet, a small wooden trinket box, a collection of delicate, hand-painted porcelain charms, lots of rusted metal, several small fish nets.
Home Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates and clay pots), Basic Butchering Area (few tools, smoking rack), Basic Workshop Area (some tools), Kitchen Area (many tools), Outside Makeshift Tannery, Muddy Hole
Wounds: none
Year 0, Day 9

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Special documentary on Nexus Prime
Author: [DATA ERROR]
Report #: 34
Karma is the determining factor in whether Soulbound can appear in Nexus Prime. Nearly all soulbound religions share the three concept eras, which correspond to the level of karma awareness. The birth of the soul is the first covenant; the second covenant is the awakening of karma itself with the ability to inflict change. Finally, the third covenant is usually after a great calamity, which allows room for rapid growth and development to finally move beyond one's own planet and become multi-planetary.

Without the movement of karma, the earliest of a soulbound's species is beyond our ability to grab. The mindful manipulation of one's own luck, the third covenant, is growth beyond our ability to grab as well. Only the awakened and blind karma use are ripe enough to harvest for our home.

Karma is a luck factor that has creation giving way to destruction and destruction bringing creation. Soulbound have inert karma but don't have access to it until after the second covenant. Then there are our people and our karma. If karma always seeks to be set to zero, then one does not have to imagine that hard what happens when we build something as vast and massive as the Nexus Prime and how to imagine the destruction that must come with it, the rot that takes us all.

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