Tella and Will joined the others at the top of the hill examining the entrance to the base. Collin walked nervously up to it.

“I hope it accepts my ID.” He said. “I could be considered a wanted criminal for I know…” he put his hand against a dark pad and pressed inward.

“Identification please.” An electronic voice said softly. Tella jumped back surprised and looked around wildly. The others looked similarly unsettled, even Demus who normally seemed unshakable.

“Collin Wilhelm.” Collin said.

“Wilhelm?” the wanderer asked. “Is that your last name?” Collin was silent for a moment then answered.

“Its my master’s last name. I’m registered under that name.”

“Identification code please.” The voice said. Collin let his hand drop to the keyboard and punched in the code.

“Searching… Searching…” the voice said. Collin bit his lip and cried out.

“Ah! No! It was-”

“Verification failed.” The voice said. Electric bolts shot out of the dark pad and attacked Collin’s small form. He shouted in pain and fell back cursing.

“Have a nice day.” The electronic voice said cheerfully.

“Ahh!” Collin shouted getting up. “I screwed up the code!”

“J-Just take your time…” Will said staring fearfully at the dark pad.

“Right. We’re in no hurry.” Tella said  glancing at her wet clothes sticking to her skin. “Take all the time in the world.”

“I’ll get it right this time.” Collin said determinedly. Collin gave his name and once again punched in the code. This time the door opened when he was done. They hurried in. The inside of the base was dark and cold, obviously abandoned for some time.

“I think I can find the generator.” Collin said moving deeper in.

“Its kind of creepy in here.” Will said hunching up his shoulders and shivering.

“Is it alright to use magic in here?” Tella asked.

“Yes. I think so.” Collin said.

“Good.” Tella reached down and took out her staff, lighting the end so they could see. “Wanderer, light your staff too.” Tella said.

“I-I don’t know if that’s such a good idea…” the wanderer said. “I think I’d probably blow something up instead… if it did anything at all…” Tella sighed at this.

“We really need to teach you how to use that thing.” Demus touched his sword and made a small ball of light, as he had at Kal de Fin. Collin raised his hand and made a similar ball of light appear.

“I think it’s this way…” Collin said. “They design the bases to be about the same so that if you’ve seen one, you know the basic layout of any other base you go to.”

The walked down a narrow hallway that lead to a room with a catwalk. Below them there was only darkness.

“What’s down there?” the wanderer said shivering.

“Water.” Collin said. “I think this is the drainage room. Bases in places with high rain fall collect the rain water from the roof and channel it down in a pipe that lead in here. Once every few months they empty it and use the power of the moving water to generate hydroelectricity. But I would guess this water hasn’t been dumped since the base was abandoned.”

“Didn’t they worry about it flooding the place?” the wanderer asked. Collin shook his head.

“Nah, as you can see, it’s a long way down there. It would take at least thirty years for the water to get even up to where we are. I guess they figured they’d come back before then.”

“Is the generator on the other side of that catwalk?” Tella asked. Collin nodded.

“Yeah I think so.”

“Well, there isn’t really any reason for me to go over there.” Tella said stepping back from the catwalk. “Its not like I know anything about Arean machines.”

“All of you can stay over here. That would probably be better.” Collin said. “I don’t know how sturdy the catwalk is and extra weight could make it dangerous.” With that Collin started across the gorge with the others waiting anxiously on the other side. Collin finally reached the opposite side and found the generator near by.

“Ahhh,” he moaned. “There isn’t any power stored in it.” He called back to them. “I’ll have to drain the water, then we’ll have enough to last us at least until tomorrow.

“Go ahead.” Tella called back shivering. “The sooner the better.” Demus cocked his head.

“Have you done anything yet Collin?” he asked.

“No.” Collin called back. “I’m only starting the drainage process… now.”

“What is it?” the wanderer asked. Demus shook his head.

“I thought I heard something.” He said. Will looked up at him alert.

“What was it?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Like a high whistling.” He said. Will bit his lip and turned toward the catwalk. “From over there?” he asked. Demus nodded.

“Could it be… Chupakabras?” Will asked fearfully. Demus gasped. Squinting his eyes Will peered into the darkness alert for any noise or movement. And there it was, crawling along the wall over Collin’s head, peering down at them.

“I see it…!” Will said through clinched teeth and took off running for the catwalk.

“Will?” Tella called loudly about to follow him but Demus grabbed her arm and held her still. She turned to him and opened her mouth.

“Make no noise!” he hissed.

“W-What is it?” the wanderer asked frightened.

“There may be a nest, over by the generator. Chupakabra, they like places like this.”

“Wh-What are they?” she asked.

“Monsters. They live in Iyokia mainly but sometimes are found in Hailia.” Demus said.

“Will and Collin…”

“Shh… Don’t worry. Will will get Collin out.” Demus told her.

Will ran across the rickety catwalk as quietly as he could. Collin looked up and saw him.

“Will? Why are you-” he asked before Will rushed to him and clamped a hand over his mouth. Collin tensed up frightened.

“Are you done?” Will asked. Collin nodded. “Then run! Don’t ask!” he said. Collin took off running as quickly as he could with Will trailing him. There was an unearthly screech behind them as something heavy jumped down, shaking the floor and bolted after them screaming. Collin shouted in fear as they reached the catwalk. They couldn’t out run it… Will was pushing him and urging him on. Collin took hold of himself and turned around to face the monster chasing them and at the same moment raised his hands, readying a spell. Will, seeing what he was doing ducked as Collin fired off one spell after another, hitting the monster full in the face. It was ugly, about as tall as a human, though it crawled on all fours. Its eyes glowed red and it screamed as Collin hit it with spell after spell. Finally having enough it turned and retreated, nursing its wounds.

“Go! Go!” Will yelled pushing Collin toward the other side. Collin took his advice and ran quickly to the other side. Will hung on a moment to make sure the monster was really retreating.

“Will! Run!” Tella shouted at him. The Chupakabra turned, finding that not all its prey had escaped.

“Come on!” the wanderer shouted. Demus drew his sword and held it above his head, drawing together a fireball and shooting it at the fiend. Will yelped as the fire hit the Chupakabra and it screamed in rage as it died, its carcass falling forward.

“Run!” Collin shouted at him. Will jumped back and tried to escape, but the fire and the weight of the monster were bring the catwalk down, melting and twisting the steel. Will grabbed the railing but to no avail he was sinking with the monster’s carcass into the blackness. With a last shout Will felt his grip loose hold and he fell down into the darkness. His friends above shouted in dismay and fear as they saw his body fall. They rushed to the edge but nothing could be done. There was a splash and nothing more.

“Collin! Where does that drainage pipe come out?” Tella asked frantically.

“O-Outside b-but…”

“Can you show us?” Demus asked. Collin nodded and squeezed his trembling hands into fists.

“Will…!” the wanderer cried. “He-He-”

“Just shut up!” Tella shouted. “We don’t know anything right now! Let’s go!”

 

 

Fairien latched his arms around Will’s lifeless body as it was sucked into the drain.

Idiot! Fairien silently thought, frustrated at Will, and the danger he was in. Fairien cried out as he felt his back scrape painfully on the side of the pipe as they were pulled downward in the tremendous deluge. He held on tighter and pulled a shield around himself and Will so Will wouldn’t be crushed to death.

The pipe emptied into a large muddy pond filled with slim and scum out in the woods behind the base. Fairien found himself floating in it, still holding Will.

Did I black out? He though as he raised himself up and pulled Will toward more solid mud.

“Will?” he called fear creeping into his voice as he noticed how pale his friend was. He could feel the water in Will’s lungs. “Hold on…” he muttered frightened and began pushing down on Will’s chest. Still getting no response, Fairien leaned down, cupped his hands over Will’s mouth and breathed into him. He raised his head to gazed down at Will, watching for any sign of life. Will gave none. Fairien cursed and resumed pumping his chest.

“You’d think…” Fairien muttered, “… A deity would figure out some better way of saving you but… I’m not really a healer…” he leaned down and breathed into Will again. This time Will’s chest jerked and he coughed turning to one side coughing out water and filth. Fairien breathed in relief.

“Its over here!” Collin’s voice rang out. Fairien jerked up and disappeared, just as Will’s friends ran around the corner. Will sighed and sank back into unconsciousness.

“I see him!” the wanderer called wading into the mud. “Come on, we have to get him out!”

“Wait wait, you could hurt him! We don’t know if he has any broken bones!” Tella said wading in after her flinching only slightly at the mud as it covered her legs.

“Is he alive?” Collin asked watching from the bank. Tella put her ear to Will’s chest and listened.

“His heart is beating and…” she lifted her head and placed a figure under Will’s nose. “He breathing!” she announced.

“Is he asleep?” the wanderer asked.

“He may have been knocked out… or fainted. Or something.” Tella said. “Lets get him out of here. Collin, the base has living quarters?”

“Yes.” Collin answered. “We can get Will in a bed and we can rest here for tonight.”

“What about those monsters?” the wanderer asked.

“They won’t be in that section of the building.” Collin answered. “All other rooms were sealed off. It was only in that room because the pipe led from the outside into there.”

“Uggg… Those things were so creepy.” The wanderer said shuddering.

“I think that one was the only one. It was old and looked like it had been trapped in there for a while.” Demus said. “It probably ate its offspring to survive.”

“Eeee… Demus… Don’t say things like that.” Tella said shuddering.

“Well, let’s get inside then.” The wanderer said. “Some one will have to carry Will.” They all turned to Demus. Demus flinched at their gazes and looked down at Will’s slimy muddy form.

 

Will felt the world come alive again as he breathed in the air. He was laying down and everything around him felt… squishy. He opened his eyes and turned on his side toward the noise he heard.

“But- But-” Demus was saying.

“Come on, you’re the only one strong enough to carry him.” Tella was saying. “Besides, you carried Collin for days!”

“Collin wasn’t slimy and gross. He also doesn’t weigh as much as Will.” Demus muttered darkly at her.

“Demus the mighty murderer, afraid of a bit of mud and slime?” Tella asked taunting him.

“Now look-” Demus started.

“Don’t worry. I think I can carry myself.” Will said sitting up.

“Will!” the wanderer cried. “You’re awake!”

“How in the world did you mange to survive that?” Tella asked.

“Its impossible you know,” Collin said shaking his head. “I mean, you should have been smashed into pieces in that drainage pipe not to mention drowned.”

“Ha, idiot’s luck.” Will said pulling himself out of the sucking mud. “Is it still raining?”

“…Yes.” Tella said. “But not as bad. Lets get inside. You should get clean and get in bed.”

“I’m okay.” He assured her. The wanderer glanced down at Will’s body and noticed he was shivering. She said nothing.

 

 

Just as Collin promised the living quarters section was quite nice as compared with the rest of the building. There were servable rooms, fully furnished with quaint beds and closets full of uniform robes for sleeping. Each room had a small Arean shower with it, something new to most of them. They also found a kitchen and a few items of food that weren’t spoiled. Will was sent off to bed and told to take a long shower. He gladly complied but wondered if he would know how to work the shower. The others, after taking showers, settled down in a small gathering room near the separate sleeping rooms. There were tables and chairs, and a computer console in the corner. Collin found himself drawn to it and after a few tries managed to turn it on.

“What are you doing?” the wanderer asked him.

“I… was just wondering if I could find something out.”

“If your master is dead?” Tella asked. Collin didn’t answer. After clicking through several menus Collin managed to log onto the main network, connected with other Arean computers. Tella, Demus and the wanderer pulled up a chair behind him, curious as to how this machine worked.

“Can you all read Arean?” Collin asked.

“I can.” Tella said. Demus nodded.

“If this is Arean, I can as well.” The wanderer said. Collin opened a search box and typed in the name, ‘BRAN WILHELM’. Immediately entries poured in. Several mentioned something about the Arean senate, and others where titled with his name only. Collin scrolled down and found the most recent entry. 

‘Bran Wilhelm, death of’

Collin gasped and clicked the link.

 

Bran Wilhelm was discovered yesterday, dead in the shop he ran in the small town of Verca, Betamy. While cause of death is still unknown it appeared as though he was attacked and murdered through magic. His…

 

 “This…” Collin said turning away and hiding his face.

“It’s dated a month ago.” Tella said.

“So he had time to lay there and suffer before he died…” Collin said his voice quivering. The wanderer shyly touched his shoulder and hugged him. Collin allowed her to do so as he felt hot tears drip down his face. For once Tella was silent.

“Come on Collin…” the wanderer said softly after a few minutes. “I’ll make you something to eat. You’ll feel a little better.” He silently allowed her to lead him away to the kitchen section of the room. Tella looked almost mournful at the computer and got up to sit across the room. Demus turned back to the computer and finished reading the article.

 

…His apprentice, Collin Wilhelm was missing. All of their belongings were left, untouched and it seems that if Collin Wilhelm left, he took nothing with him. Further investigations are being carried out.

“We have many suspects,” Investigator Melpomene stated. “There are no shortages of Betamians who, if they had knowledge of Mr. Wilhelm’s nationality and knew of his accomplishments in Area would have gladly killed him. However, our chief suspect right now, is his apprentice. I never like cases like this, where an apprentice is found to be at fault, but one cannot over look such convincing evidence.”

Collin Wilhelm is rumored to be in Hailia and may have joined with other enemies of Area. If seen a report should be immediately filed. Do not attempt to capture him in less you have a keypad, or are at least level five or above.  

 

Demus shrank back from the screen and shut the computer down.

 

 

 

Will sighed and laid back against the cold sheets. He pulled the thin blanket over his body and curled into a ball to conserve heat.

“Tired already? Its not even late yet.” Fairien’s voice came from the dark.

“I’ve had a tiring day.” Will said paying him no attention.

“Well, that’s your fault, for falling down a drainage pipe.”

“… That true…” Will said pausing then looking toward where he thought Fairien would be he said, “…Hey, thanks.”

“Hmm?” Fairien looked over at him.

“…For keeping me from dying.” Will said. “At least I guess it was you that kept me from dying. I doubt I could have survived otherwise…”

“Haha… Maybe you do just have idiot’s luck… You know,” Fairien said. “I joined you so that I could protect this group. So far though, I’ve only been protecting you.” Will laughed quietly at this.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” He said. Fairien shrugged.

“Just try and be careful.” Fairien sighed. “I’d rather not have to look for a new vessel.” He said smiling. Will smiled in return and was about to reply when he heard footsteps from outside of his room.

“Will?” called a voice outside his door.

“Yeah?” Will answered.

“Do you need anything before we go to bed?” the wanderer asked opening the door a crack.

“Ummm… Are there any more blankets?” Will asked.

“Yes. Just a second.” The wanderer turned and in a moment entered the room carrying a thicker blanket and laid it over him.

“Thank you.” Will said. She nodded and bid him good night, closing the door behind her. There was a pause from he darkness as Fairien reappeared next to Will’s bedside.

“…Are you cold?” he asked quietly. Will nodded, forgetting it was dark and Fairien wouldn’t be able to see him, but it seemed that Fairien got the message anyway. He laid his hand on Will’s forehead for a moment, checking his temperature. Will waited, strangely nervous as he seconds passed by. Fairien made a quiet indecipherable noise, lifted his fingers and laid them on Will’s arm, feeling the cool skin. Will shivered. Silently Fairien moved around to the other side of the bed and lay down beside Will.

“You need to sleep.” Fairien said softly in his ear. With that he drew his arms around Will and pulled him into the warmth of his own body. Will blushed, a little guilty that he was enjoying this. In his mind Fairien laughed quietly at him and hugged him closer.

“Rest, okay?” he whispered.

“Mmm…” Will agreed and tried to relax. It wasn’t that difficult now that he was warm and comfortable, and already very tired.

 In the darkness Fairien smiled, feeling Will relax in his arms.

“Its strange…” he murmured softly.

“What?” Will asked sleepily.

“… Nothing.” Fairien said, half surprised he had even spoken in the first place.

The night was very quite inside that Arean base.