Crashlandsau - Tumblr Posts

67 very calm upon meeting a man with jelly for skin

Entry 30

Day 213

On my way through the Crashlands I met this odd fellow. It was under some... Unkind circumstances, but I'm grateful I met another person nonetheless.

However, I do wish we didn't meet trying to avoid ACID RAIN.

I still can't believe I have to write this out- Acid Rain?? Are you bloody serious?? What, am I going to learn that literal stars crash into the world as well?

(Actually, I take that back. I don't want to jinx anything like that being a possibility!)

But that is how I met this "Jevin" fellow. I had noticed the sky getting cloudy and had made a decent camp for the inevitable weather that was to come. However, this strange man came up to me about an hour before the rain actually came down.

"You don't plan on staying out here when it rains, I hope!"

"I don't see why not? It's good to see rain after so long. It's been nearly a year since I have seen rain out in the Crashlands! I'd like to collect a supply while I can!"

"There's a reason you haven't seen rain!" He had warned as he started to collect my bottles from the ground (despite my protests at the time.) "It pours freaking acid! The stuff can kill you if you're out for too long!"

"What?!"

"Yeah! It's one of the first rules of the Crashlands: Avoid the rain clouds! You didn't know that?!"

"Apparently not!"

We collected all my bottles I had laid out (only about five, but still a nuisance when three of them were glass) and he offered me a rain shelter for the night. (They're these small buildings made completely of tin! Apparently tin is resistant to the acid rain, so I'll make a note of that for future use.)

That's kind of where I am for the moment. Not a lot has happened since Keralis gave me the compass and map but I should be in Comparator City in just a couple of days. Hell, I should be able to see it by dusk tomorrow!

However... On a different note... This Jevin fellow is very interesting. His skin isn't like normal skin! It's transparent! And it holds a certain coldness to it? It's hard to understand. He's not a touchy kind of fellow either, seems to be more of a loner than anything.

The thing that has me thrown off the most is the skeleton. His skeleton is VISIBLE. Through his SKIN. It's... A bit unnerving. But also intriguing at the same time. What happened to him, I wonder?

A question for another day, I suppose.

MLW

G.U.I.D.E 67

I love this design for Mumbo, hes so cute!

Entry 31

Day 223

This is him. One of the only people that can help me find The Doctor. The Heavy-Body Builder.

One problem: The man is the definition of "Looks scary, is a wet cat of a man." He definitely TRIED to be intimidating, but he failed pretty miserably at it when I met him after being unconscious for 10 days.

(Yes I did a double take. I still can't believe I was out for THAT long)

Picture this: Me walking towards a towering city of collapsing buildings with dust filled air. Eyes focused on the small blinks of light that just barely escape the smog- I'm thinking that I've finally made it! Comparator City!

And then I get absolutely BODIED by a huge hunk of metal. I wish I were kidding. My poor spine! My arm! It got freaking CRUSHED! I was sent flying a decent few feet and ended up crashing into an old light pole (Again. OW.) All that I can remember happening next is that same hunk of metal approaching me and some guy jumping out of it. But then... Well. I was out like a light.

Managed to wake up (after what felt like) a few hours later and oh GOODNESS did it hurt. My back, my right side, my stump of an arm- It all hurt! But there was somebody in the very dim room with me. The same person that crawled out of that hunk of metal.

"Thank goodness you're awake!" He had said when I first gained consciousness. "I was worried that you wouldn't stabilize! You've been unconscious for over a week!"

"I've been WHAT?!" And of course, when I sat up I saw the damage the man had done to me. Machines were strapped all over my body, an IV drip sticking out of my arm (Where he found a clean needle I will not ask.) a whole heart rate monitor- He was stacked! But from the state of everything, he was telling me the truth. "You knocked me unconscious for a week?!"

"Well it's r-really been ten days-"

"TEN DAYS?!"

"Yes- Yes I know it sounds absolutely horrible but! But! You're recovering at an accelerated rate! You should be good to go in a few days? Maybe three? The experimental drug is working great for you!" He had been blabbering and talking so fast that I nearly missed that detail.

"Experimental- I'm sorry, EXPERIMENTAL DRUG?" Of course I had been outraged back then. (Even looking back now I'm still a bit ticked off at being used as a guinea pig for a drug that could have killed me, but hey! I'm alive now!) "You used an EXPERIMENTAL DRUG to heal me."

"Yes! And it worked!" He stepped away from me to grab my prosthetic arm. "And! And I managed to upgrade your arm! It got destroyed- Again I'm so sorry about that- but hey! At least now your map and compass aren't an extra item to carry around!"

"So you fixed the nerve sensors? The solar panels?"

"Uh- No. Unfortunately I don't have access to the receptors or the proper solar panels you need." He had explained while reattaching my arm. "But! But, it works a lot like mine!" He flashed his brass arm, glowing a soft red. "It's powered by redstone! Should last you a solid month before you need to recharge it!"

And there was the main problem. "How in the ever loving hell do I get this 'redstone' stuff? Heck, where could I even get it?"

"Easy! Me!" He flicked on a lever on the backside of my arm and it felt... Nice at the time. Sturdy. Like it wouldn't die on me when I needed it most. "I use the Parrot System, so as long as you can get mail through the Parrots you should be good!"

"... The who?"

You wouldn't believe me if I told you this man began to glow with embarrassment. I mean he LITERALLY glowed. Pointy ears and face turning a bright red that GLOWED.

"Right, uh- The parrots! They're one of the middle tier delivery birds! I'm friends with their Flight Master! I... I take it you have no idea who I'm talking about."

"Not a damn clue."

"First of all, watch your tongue. Second! That's okay! I should have enough in store that should last you about three months- But you really need to find the Flight Masters. They'll help you in the long run."

When he stopped his rambling I focused on the newly upgraded arm. It is always a weird sensation, flexing a limb that's not really there. But the small tug of metal fingers and steel plates listening to one's mind is even weirder. And I mean REALLY weird.

"Who... Exactly are these Flight Masters?" I managed to ask him after a few moments of silence. "How do you... Get under their wing?"

"That-" The man paused and the red glow only grew. "That was a horrible pun-" He has a really nice laugh. Small but breathless.

"But it works! I mean, they have to be Birds of a Feather to Fly together-"

"Stop! Stop, no!"

"When am I going to stop, huh?! Never!" And then I started to laugh. I think it was just my mind needing something to focus on other than the glaring new arm attached to my body.

"Goodness you may be worse than Gri-" His laughter died when he barely mentioned a name. I couldn't get all of it, but it must be the Flight Master.

"Worse than...?"

"Y-You will find out eventually." His tune changed from that point going forward.

He eventually gave me his name (Mumbo) and gave me a quick summary of the three Flight Masters.

The Canary: Flight Master of the small, yellow birds that linger around Comparator City. Used by the residents of said city. Apparently the easiest one to befriend.

The Parrot: Flight Master of the robotic parrots that fly around all over the Crashlands. They're more tricky to get a hold of as they have a whole database on who's a customer and who's not. Need to find the Parrot Flight Master in order to get on the list.

The Crow: Flight Master of the Murders. Every crow I have seen so far apparently belongs to Him. And apparently the only way to find him is a mystery to even Mumbo. All I can do is hope for the best with that one.

That was all the information he was willing to tell me. Apparently I struck a nerve by getting him to almost spill the name of the Parrot Flight Master. I'm still resting in this small room, letting myself recover from being plowed by that big old machine.

I even tried asking him what that THING was that he hit me with! But he just shook his head and said it was a prototype I shouldn't bother myself with.

Things are just getting really overwhelming now. So much information to process. How do I find the Canary? Or hell, the Parrot? I'm not even going to TOUCH the subject of the Crow. What about the Demon? Is he still around? Is he in Comparator City? Will I run out of the weird redstone dust before I find the Parrot?

So many questions.

Too little answers.

I think I'm just going to shut off my mind for a little bit.

MLW

G.U.I.D.E. 67

Entry 33

Day 228

Three days.

That's what the flyer said. He's not here right now. The Angel is out of town.

Great. Just my luck.

Three days.

Well. Guess I'll be doing some sight seeing around this city. May get a few things. Maybe even a few photos. Send some things to Xisuma. And hey! The admin actually sent me a song! Called it "Crashland Lullaby." Don't know why the Crashlands would need a lullaby but it's a nice song. Soft tune.

Guess I'll update this soon.

Here's to hoping!

MLW

G.U.I.D.E. 67

Entry 35

Day 228

After I spent a few hours walking the streets of the revived city, my attention had been drawn to an odd store.

"Pearl's Imperium Of Endless Knick-Knacks"

I like knick-knacks. And I was sure at the time Brian would like something shiny as well. (Birds do like shiny things after all with how often they crash into glass to get said shiny thing.) So I went inside!

And oh. Oh my goodness. The way I could write a whole novel about this place. It's just... Breathtaking. Walls that seem to never end, filled with all sorts of items that one couldn't find just wandering about. No, these items had to be discovered through intensive searching and scavenging. Hell, there was a whole section dedicated to books BEFORE the Crash!

(Even as I'm making this entry it still shocks me. How did they even manage to save those books?? From what the G.U.I.D.Es had to say, most were destroyed from the Meteor!)

Brian and I spent a decent hour just getting lost in the place. Could you blame us? The place was never ending! I even snagged a few items for myself (and Brian, by demand of loud caws and angry pokes.)

It was right around there when an arm threw itself around my shoulder and yanked me down.

"Jimmy! You shoulda told me you were comin' early! I would've been down here a lot sooner! Goodness you've gone and grown a couple inches! And befriending Brian, that's one skilled move right there-"

"Uhm... I'm not. I'm not Jimmy."

That poor woman jumped away from me like she had just touched acid. And I had gotten a look at her. She was... Definitely something I'd yet to see (Not all that shocking these days. May as well see somebody new every other day!)

The entire left side of her face was covered by a large, moon-shaped panel that had a bright red eye. The other side of her face was more human, tanned skin with freckles and a natural blue eye. Something odd yet... Not the oddest I've seen. Her outfit was also something nostalgic. An old postman's shirt, dirt stained overalls (-At least I hoped it was dirt as of writing this. Maybe not-) covered in hand-stitched sunflowers and a hooded cloak that seemed to be made up of a few different fabrics. Definitely... Odd. But somewhat refreshing to see.

"Sorry! You look a lot like my friend! Really sorry about that!" Her face was a comical shade of red when she extended her arm out to me. "Let's try this again, shall we mate? I'm Pearl! Pearlescent Moon! Proud owner of this Imperium you see before your very eyes! I hope you're enjoyin' it!"

She was a very cheerful spirit. And even I can admit now that her smile was infectious. "67." Her hand was rather cold when I shook it. "I'm enjoying it." A peck. "We. We are enjoying it. Lots of stuff to be found in such a huge place like this. I mean, three floors of just different items? Goodness!"

"Well isn't that an odd name for yourself? 67? Naming yourself after a number. New one on me... But yes! Either that or the CPCs bring all sorts of goodies for me to stock the shelves with!"

Another term I was rather unfamiliar with. "CPC?"

"Canaries, Parrots and Crows! You really do know nothing about the Crashlands do ya?"

"I-I would beg to differ." Did I stick out like a sore thumb back then? Yes. Do I still stick out like a sore thumb as of now? Yep. But to admit that in front of this Pearl woman? Nope. Not gonna happen.

"Uh huh. Anyways, I should get going and leave you be! I have a friend I'm waiting on!"

"Jimmy, I assume?"

Another nod tossed my way. "Jimmy. He's the Canary of the CPC. Lives here a lot with his body guard!"

That caught my interest back then. I look back at it now and wish I'd never even asked. "Who's his bodyguard? Are they hiring, perhaps?"

"Well his body guard is unofficial- We just call-"

"PEAAARL!"

A flash of yellow feathers and blue cloth whizzed past me. It tackled Pearl into the ground and only then did it click. "Ohhh. That's Jimmy."

"Yep-"

"You two were talking about me?!" His voice was much higher pitched than my own (I can still hear it now, screaming in my ears.) as he ranted on about how "I've told you that I've been busy..." Or something along those lines. I was a bit too busy staring at the person standing in the midst of the chaos.

Somebody I thought was dead.

The same man that I shared my first kiss with.

The same, freckled faced, blue haired male that used to make a fuss over my hair looking somewhat decent in the morning.

Scott.

Entry 35

Day 228

Scott.

The same Scott who was supposed to no longer be here. The same Scott who had gone missing in our G.U.I.D.E.- The same Scott who had dark blonde hair the last time I saw him. Somebody who didn't have blue-tinted skin and an icy stare.

Somebody who didn't have ANTLERS of all things.

All I could do was stare. That was all I did. I just took in the face of the man who... that was my best friend. But it's been ten years. By the Watchers, I wish I knew what happened to him.

"You are not supposed to be here, Martyn."

His voice had changed too. Rougher. More defensive.

"And you are supposed to be in the G.U.I.D.E, but here you are. You're changed. You're not..."

"Not what? Not normal? Not that stupid, aloof boy who ran around the G.U.I.D.E with my head so far up in the clouds I couldn't tell reality from fiction?"

A sigh had escaped my lips back then. I wish it didn't. "You were never aloof, Scott. You were incredibly smart and witty and could do so many wonderful things- But then you left. You vanished in the middle of the night. You left the G.U.I.D.E! You left the people you were supposed to help- You left... You left me!"

"NOT WILLINGLY!" His hands slammed against his chest. "Look at me, Martyn! Does it look like I left willingly?! Those damned Watchers, feeding your brain- I bet you still believe everything they told you too!" The world around us had gotten quiet. People were looking.

And the "Jimmy" guy finally stepped in between us.

"Scott- Scott, hey, you don't need to tell him anything." He was definitely trying his best to keep the peace. But I've been told that I'm one stubborn bastard.

"No, actually, I think you do!" Jimmy's wing -Golden and soft and organic- stopped me in my path. "Scott, you left the night of your birthday! You left after freaking- You KISSED me, damnit! And then left! I thought you had died!"

"I WAS TAKEN YOU DUMBASS!" His hands got more blue with... With ice. Ice that he should have never had.

"Scott, you really don't need to do this, you know it makes you upset-"

"OH REALLY?! WERE YOU?! THAT SOUNDS LIKE A HELL OF A LOT OF BULLSHIT TO ME!" I shouldn't have yelled back then. Especially with Brian cawing the way he was.

"I WAS! THE WATCHERS ARE NOTHING BUT AN EVIL GROUP THAT JUST WANTED TO TORMENT US!" He was crying now. I, ME, I made him cry. Over ten years and I made him cry. But my anger was still speaking for me.

"And why would they want to hurt us, Scott?! They gave us everything!"

"They took away everything from us, what do you mean?!"

"ENOUGH!" Pearl's voice. I was pushed back from Scott while Jimmy stood in front of Scott like he was something that needed to be protected.

Needed to be protected from ME.

I should have been the one to protect him. I shouldn't have made him scared, but I did.

"Both of you are acting childish- You both are taking this out of my Emporium. Now!"

And that was how we got kicked out. And yet Jimmy was still protecting Scott.

Even when we left the Emporium and were finally in a quiet place... I still let myself be dumb. I wish Brian poked my head more often for my dumbass-ery at that moment.

"I thought you were dead."

"I'm not."

"They told me you left- That you hated the G.U.I.D.E and wanted to let yourself die in the wastelands. I... Didn't want to believe them."

"You did. Didn't you?"

My silence was the wrong answer.

"Martyn. You're a dumbass. You're a stubborn dumbass who never thinks things through. Why the hell would you even come out here?"

I held my arm up for him. His stunned expression... I wish it hadn't been with tears in his eyes. "A year after you left, a virus ran rampant. Killed everyone. Took my arm. I had to slice it off before it destroyed me." Scott's and Jimmy's shared silence let me continue. "Had to make a prosthetic. It was absolutely dog water. Held up for a while though. A couple of years. But then I had to make another one. And another... And another. It was okay for a while! Wish you had been there, Scott, would have been really nice to have my best friend with me to keep me sane but hey! Shit happens.

I made a fourth one when these... Bandits broke in. Took everything in there. I had to leave. I've been out here for almost a whole year now. Trying to find the Doctor. Give me an arm that will actually last." When I looked at Scott, his eyes were so... Empty. Void of anything. "When you left, everything changed. I became the Admin of the G.U.I.D.E. I got to read so many books- Things that I wanted to share with you!"

"I never said you had to be Admin, Martyn! I never even hinted at it!"

"I did it for you, Scott! Damnit, I did it so you and I could have been happy together! Unlimited access to everything, keep the G.U.I.D.E healthy and strong- We wanted that!"

"YOU wanted that, Martyn!" His hands collided with my chest. Gods I wish I wasn't so angry. I wish I had held his hands. I wished I hadn't gotten so headstrong. "Those were your dreams! I just wanted to be happy with you! That's why the Watchers took me away!"

More tears. His face turned an ugly shade of purple and ice crawled along my torso. I still have frost burn on my chest from it.

"That's... That can't be why. Why would they take you away just because you made me happy? That's stupid! That's absolutely stupid to even suggest-"

"Because you're too dumb to realize what they were getting at! We were just players in a game for them, Martyn!"

Jimmy stepped in. Again. And this time I didn't get a chance to speak. Not with a feathered wing shoved in my mouth.

"Scott. Enough. You don't owe this guy anything. Come on. Let's get home."

Two pairs of eyes glared at me as they walked away. One pair that I wish I'd been more calm with. I wish that I had just pushed down that rush of anger- Goodness-

His pen hit the paper with a loud shout. "GOD DAMNIT!" He held his head in his hands as he stared at the unfinished entry. "God damnit. I fucked up. I... Fucked up so much." A caw. "Yeah, I know. Big time."

Martyn didn't even bother to sign the entry. He shut the leather journey and tucked it away in his backpack. "I don't think I'll ever see him again either. He'll never forgive me. By the Watchers... What did he mean by that? Taken?? Nobody gets taken for making somebody else happy! That's just ludicrous!"

Another unamused caw.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Stupid." He collapsed onto the incredibly hard bed and let out a groan. "Ow... Forget these things are practically concrete..."

A cawing-like laughter from the bird.

"Oh ha ha. Very funny Brian."

Martyn rolled onto his stomach and stared at the comm. The reflection disgusted him. That reflection was him. "I need to find him again. I... I need to apologize to him, Brian. It's been almost fourteen years. I need to make things right by him. I need to hear him out, find out what happened to him. I made it sound like it was HIS fault for the G.U.I.D.E collapsing."

Another caw. Much louder.

"I know. Pretty shit of me. He's... He looks like he's been through a lot as well. He didn't have those antlers. Didn't have blue skin. He's... I've messed up so much."

Another quiet caw, followed by a trill. Martyn didn't bother to move as a weight made itself comfortable against Martyn's side.

"Didn't know you'd be a cuddly fella." His hand traced the bird's head while a quiet coo escaped its metallic beak. "Warning, I might move a lot in my sleep. Don't peck me if I end up rolling over."

Another caw and an unamused look.

"Just a warning, little fella." A yawn escaped his lips. "G'night, Brian. Sleep well."

Martyn was out before the bird could chirp again.

(@hermitadaymay )

(TW: Dehumanization, talk of opening up a mechanical bird to empty out its stomach, fantasy racism? I guess? Martyn fears one character in this story based on appearances- You'll see what I mean.)

Entry 36

Day 229

"I told you! Ohh, look who has an upset tummy because they wanted to drink something other than clean oil?" Martyn kept a steady pace as rubbed the bird's back. "But noo, mister smarty pants wanted to drink WATER."

A defeated caw left the sickly bird trapped in Martyn's arm. Poor Brian had been sick ever since this morning. With Martyn's water bottle being knocked over and tiny claw marks all over the metal... It wasn't hard to put two and two together.

"Oh I know. I know. Water and oil don't feel nice now does it? We're going to a shop, don't worry. Get a nice mechanic to take a look at you and empty out your stomach. Then I'll get you some clean oil. Sound like a deal?"

Another quiet caw, with a hint of hopefulness. Martyn would take that response if it meant Brian wouldn't try to take off.

Thankfully the shop was just as the hostess had said. Two blocks down, take a right, and look for... The building covered in all sorts of colors. "This... Is the place we're supposed to go to, Birdy."

A very hesitant caw.

"You and me both, bud." Martyn shouldered his way through the door. "Hello?" His eyes glazed the room, taking note of the rather plain interior. A few wooden chairs, checkered tiles, tools laying about everywhere... Yep. Definitely a mechanic's office.

With nobody in sight.

"Are they closed? Oh I hope not." Martyn stepped away from the door with a small grunt. "Sorry for any turbulence on Martyn Air, Brian. We shall provide you snacks as compensation." He said in response to the flurry of caws.

"I didn't know a crow- Helllllo." Martyn's eyes flicked up to a man leaning through the door. Who just so happened to be covered in an insane amount of colors. "Are you a paying customer by chance? Did you have an appointment with Doc?"

"Doc?" The Doctor? Was he here? "No, no, no, my little friend here decided it would be a smart idea to dunk his beak in my water bottle."

Another caw, sounding apologetic.

"Oh don't apologize to me! It's your tummy that you need to say sorry to." Martyn rubbed his head with a quiet sigh. "If you can't already tell, poor Brian here needs his stomach panel cracked open and checked. Think you could help?"

The other shook his head quickly. "Not me, no can do. I work on chems and spray paints. I can see if Doc is free to help? He works with machines more than I do. He could help you a lot more than me."

"As long as he helps Brian."

The multi-colored man eventually left Martyn in the waiting room. "Well. There you go! We're getting you some help, little fella." Martyn sat down in the closest chair with a small huff. "We just gotta wait a little bit. Get the Doc to look over you. Empty out your poor stomach."

A part of Martyn's mind wondered. What... What if this was THE Doctor? Could his arm problem be solved? Could he finally embark on his way home? Was... The G.U.I.D.E even his home anymore? What about Scott? He's alive! But... He hates his guts. His stupid mouth went blabbering and rage took over... Not to forget that bird guy beside him could have been the Canary Flight Master! He had managed to piss off two people in one day! Embarrassing, really.

"Hello?" A far deeper voice lulled Martyn out of his thoughts. And oh. Oh. He wished that his thoughts would consume his mind at that very moment.

The... THING towered over Martyn by an easy two feet, if not more. (And Martyn was a proud 6"0, a height that isn't all that common in the Crashlands.) But it wasn't the towering height that threw Martyn off. No, it was the pale green skin that clung to the man like glue. The way copper clung to the man's every breath, the twitch of his hand as it rested above his shoulder- The horrific glowing red eye that seemed to bore through his soul. The horrifyingly large horns that looked so impossible and yet were possible all at once.

Martyn had seen some weird things. He'd seen a LOT of oddities and impossible things in the Crashlands. But this. This takes the cake. Whatever this FREAK was, it was a danger. And with how still Brian had gotten in his arms, his bird agreed.

"You were requesting an audience with me? A problem with your... Bird?" That voice sent a shiver down his spine and NOT in a good way.

"Y-You are Doc?" Martyn cursed the way his voice stuttered. "Yeah- Yes! Yes, Brian. He... He drank some water this morning a-and..." His grip tightened on Brian subconsciously. That hand was getting so close to his bird. And the THING noticed. And it smiled.

Fucking SMILED.

"Don't be so jumpy! I promise to not harm him." The abomination assured. "As long as he doesn't peck me, we're fine!"

Brian's small caw rung through Martyn's mind. Right. Brian. Do this for Brian. He stared up at... Doc... And let out a sigh. "Okay. Let's....If it will help out Brian."

"Yes. I think it will."

(More to be added, the author is sleep deprived.)

(Warning for: Cracking open a very unhappy crow)

(We're in for a long one boys!)

"Set your crow on the table. Keep him calm." The man gestured to the steel table standing in the middle of the room. "I'll get a screwdriver and a bucket. And maybe some rags if he's got oil in his stomach.

Martyn was hesitant to listen, but if this Doc guy knew what he was doing... He set Brian on the cold table. "He's gonna fix you right up."

Three displeased caws at the uncomfortable table Brian had to stay on.

"Yeah, I know. It's a bit cold. But I can't exactly take you off the table, bud. Gotta get the water outta you!"

Another unhappy caw.

"Again. You drank water, bud. Water that can be bad for you." Martyn bapped the top of his beak, earning an unamused coo. "Metal and water do not get along."

Brian let out a defeated caw but finally settled in place. Just long enough for Doc to return again. With a few too many tools for Martyn's liking.

"I take it you calmed him down?" He set the tools on a cart. "You'll have to keep him from pecking me when I clean his stomach out."

Wait. Wait wait waiT-

"You're doing this while he's awake? Would it be better if I get him to fall asleep? This has gotta hurt in some way, right?" Martyn knew HE wanted to be out cold if his body got sliced open. But for a mechanical crow...

Martyn refused to take any unnecessary chances. Not if it could be avoided.

"No. He will be fine." That deep voice responded. His unnatural eye took on an even more vibrant red glow. "No pain receptors attached to the stomach. He'll only feel a lot of vibrations when I have to seal up his stomach. Just keep him from pecking me. It would stall the process."

Martyn bit his lip. He quietly folded his hands over Brian's neck, guiding the bird's head down. Another unhappy caw.

"I know. Cold." Martyn glanced down with a hum. He tugged off the dark green bandana wrapped around his wrist. "Let's try this for you Bri." He lifted his other hand from Brian's neck, folding the bandana under the bird's head. When Brian rested his head on the bandana he let out a very happy coo. "There we go. No more cold."

He could feel Doc's eyes lingering on him. He tried his best as he spoke to Brian. "We're gonna find our guy, I promise. And then me and you can go wandering the Crashlands. What do you think?"

A small caw. The metallic clinking of metal on metal. The glint of plastic in the corner of his eyes. And a laugh.

"The Crashlands are dangerous. Do you want to go walking around willy nilly?" Another shiver down Martyn's spine. That damn voice. "They will tear you down if you're not watching your step."

He willed himself to not roll his eyes. "I survived for almost a year. I think I'm doing pretty good. Saw some oddities, found this city... Gotta find more things." The soft tang of a screw hitting the ground. One, two, three, four-

"Have you found a loose bomb before?" A panel is removed from Brian, set aside. A small caw escapes Brian and Martyn has to keep his hands down to stop him from squirming.

"No? I don't exactly go looking... Why would bombs just be laying about?"

"Old world governments would threaten each other with nuclear weapons. Atom bombs, guns, drug planting. You name it, they were willing to do it. And then one of the governments shot at another and then the war broke out. They tested too many things back then. Made a metal that only reacts to oxygen in an instant. Others would combust if they got too close to water. Most were false alarms."

The way he got quiet when he mentioned "almost" threw Martyn off. He tensed up when he saw a semitransparent metal sack stuff inside of Brian. Swollen and looking ready to burst. "Ohh that doesn't look the best."

"It's an easy fix." Doc explained as he operated on the rather still Brian. "Those failed governments and their weapons are the reason this city even began in the first place." The sharp scalpel is taken away, and a bucket is placed under Brian's body. "We disabled bombs left and right. Brought any live bombs to the Core. They power this city. We were in charge of grabbing the bombs."

"We?"

"We." Was all he got in response.

Martyn fell silent while Doc drained the sack of the oil and water. He let out a dry chuckle at the happy caw escaping Brian. "Yeah, bet that feels better now that you are not walking around with water in your tummy, huh?"

Another happy caw. Definitely a yes.

"Great." Martyn's eyes flicked up to Doc. His eyes lingered on his horns for a bit too long. They were absolutely HUGE. Hanging beside Doc's head, amplifying his intimidating features... And yet making him look softer, in a twisted way. "Are your horns natural?" He

"Tumor. The organic one at least. The metal one is to balance out the weight."

A tumor. He knew that disease well. Cancer took his parents out before the plague did.

"Have you found anyone who could help you with that?"

"Not one that is alive." A soldering iron was set to heat up. "But I'm handling it well. I'm still kicking."

"If that's what you wish to call it." Martyn massaged the crow's head. "Almost done buddy. Gonna finish up here and get you something to eat. That sounds good?"

A chirp. Good noise. "You are going to be insanely hungry when Doc finishes up." He hesitated again. "The Angel. Is he here?" He asked Doc.

"No." Doc met Martyn's eye. "Left years ago. Posters are put up as a tribute to the man. Was a hero to a lot of people."

Not the answer he was hoping for. The Angel was gone. Out of town. Who knows if he would ever get to see him! Hell, would he even find the Demon in time? Was all of this just a lost cause?

"However. I know a person," Doc's hands focused on cauterizing the sack. "She's got an air ship. You get to her, and you're golden. She'll fly you to the city The Angel is in."

Martyn focused on Brian and his unhappy caws. It probably felt really weird on Brian's end to have his stomach constantly touched by something so hot. "Air ships exist? How come I've never seen one?" He ran his thumb along Brian's head.

"They're extremely difficult to find. You have to know a Captain to even get to the Hub. They sail above the clouds so people on the ground level can't see them. Their air ships are special, so most that fly them don't even show their faces. But I know a woman who has her own air ship. I can get you to her." Doc finally dropped the soldering iron and worked on putting Brian back together.

Martyn tensed up at a sharp peck to his hand. "A-And why would you help us?" He didn't even focus on Doc, too busy staring at the triangle shaped mark in his thumb. He bonked Brian with said thumb. That got him a loud, unhappy caw. "Hey, you're the one who pecked me." Martyn whispered to his bird.

A quiet chuckle from the Doc. "You amuse me. Figure I should at least entertain the idea." His red eye met Martyn's own again. "Don't see many people willing to go to such lengths. Most stay at the first settlement they find." Doc screwed in the last panel. "All better. His stomach is empty and sealed up. Keep him away from any water and he'll be perfectly fine."

"Thanks." He tugged his hands away, letting Brian hop straight up. Martyn laughed when Brian purposely stomped his two little legs over to Doc and pecked his metal hand. "Brian, don't be rude." He scooped the bird up in his hands. "He did fix your stomach."

A glare followed by a quiet caw.

"Ohhh, don't give me that look mister." Martyn bapped his beak. "Do you want air jail? You can get air jail mister!" The entire time he never noticed Doc's movements behind him. Not until he felt the cold metal brush against his back.

Did he jump nearly ten feet in the air from shock? Nooooo. (He ignored Brian's cawing laughter and Doc's quiet snickering. He did NOT jump thank you very much.)

"For a robot that does not belong to you... You take rather good care of him."

"Well I would hope so!" Martyn defended with a proud smile. "The little guy's voice box was worn out when I met him. Replaced the voice box and he's been as chatty as an old drama movie." He scratched under Brian's chin. "Isn't that right you screecher?"

A happy coo escaped Brian as the bird practically became putty in his hands. Martyn hummed as he made note of that. Birds like to be scratched under their chins. Got it. He then backtracked.

"How did you know he's not my bird?!"

"He's got a signature on him. Middle tail feather." Doc moved away to dispose of the oil and water. "He's somebody's pet or runaway experiment. My eye only tells me so much."

Runaway experiment. Was that what Brian was? ... Was that what Scott was? Martyn shook his head. No. Don't think about him right now. Don't break down.

"Thanks, I guess? Maybe his original owner passed. Crashlands are very dangerous." Martyn didn't want to think of the day that Brian would have to leave. "Where's this... Air ship?" He asked with a cough. Anything to change the subject.

Doc's eye focused back on him. He STILL didn't like that eye. "You'll see. Let me grab my signal flare."

"A flare?" Oh boy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After finding Doc's flare (And stopping for an hour to let Brian enjoy his well deserved hot oil) they made their way to a building Martyn would rather stay very clear of. "Are you sure this is safe?!" Martyn shouted over the howling wind. The air was thinner up here, and with all the holes in the crumbling concrete it did NOT help.

"No!" Doc shouted with a far too eager note in his voice.

Martyn glanced down at Brian (who had taken refuge in his arms to keep from being blown away) "Are we trusting a madman? I feel like we're trusting a madman."

Another caw and the shuffling of Brian's metal feathers. Brian was just as nervous as he was.

"DON'T STAY DOWN THERE, COME ON!" Doc yelled from the top of the stairs. "WE'RE ALMOST AT THE TOP!"

Martyn let out a deep breath as he stumbled up the stairs. He really didn't trust this building to stay up for much longer. One wrong move and this thing goes down in a pile of rubble.

Martyn peaked his head out through the heavy steel door, glancing around the empty rooftop. It seemed... Mostly safe, he supposed. No big homes in the floor at least. He kept Brian tucked in one arm as he walked out. "ShIT-" He barely caught himself as another gust of wind rushed by.

"Stay low to the ground!" Doc raised the flare gun to the sky. "It's about to get a lot worse when the Air Ship comes around!"

"WORSE?!"

Martyn barely had time to shield his eyes from the bright flash of oranges and yellows. He tucked Brian in his chest, hoping that the bright flare didn't blind the bird. "GIVE A GUY A WARNING!" All Doc did was laugh at him.

Thankfully they didn't have to wait long for this Air Ship. What Martyn didn't prepare for was the sheer SIZE of it. The large balloon strapped at the top was more than triple the roof top in length. The height itself was incredible, standing at who knew how many feet tall. More than Martyn could ever guess, the brown and white striped sails made it rather difficult to tell. The hull of the ship, composed of small circular windows and a fortified metal exterior, nearly took up the entire length of the rooftop and then some! Martyn couldn't even see the gap between the concrete and metal hull.

Needless to say, Martyn was impressed with the skillful landing.

"This is False's ship! Your one way ticket to Dia Bombia! Just stick with her until the morning and you'll be fine!" Doc shouted over the sound of the large engine. "False will treat you right!"

"Are you sure?!" Martyn jumped back when a large plank was thrown down to the ground. A hawk, made of shiny copper, pristine gold, and a craftsman quality appearance, flew straight down to him. It observed Martyn for a bit, its golden eyes raking over his body. "Well hello." Martyn mumbled. He couldn't even hear Brian's shocked caws until the bird was practically thrashing about in his arms. "Brian-!"

"Back off of him, girl, he's no danger!" A blonde woman offered her arm out like a lure. Summoning the hawk straight back to her. "Good girl." Said woman pushed her glasses up. "Doc, this better be the biggest emergency of your life! Shooting at the sky without checking your radar! Gave my poor Watchman a fright!"

"Unfortunately it's not a major emergency False. But I have a... Customer, of a sort. Needs to get to MCC."

Martyn didn't like the look of shock that crossed the woman's face.

"MCC? And you're sure you're not the insane one?" False looked back at him. "Well don't just stand there! Gather your gawking crow and get aboard! Don't have all day if you're going to MCC!"

"I-I'm not going to MCC- I'm going to-"

"Dia Bombia"

"Dia Bombia, yes yes, I know." False's voice overlapped Doc as she slammed a hand down on his shoulder. "But nobody goes to Dia Bombia unless they have a death wish or want to participate in MCC. And I don't take people who have death wishes."

Martyn gulped. "Guess I'm... Going to MCC." He muttered.

"That's the spirit! Come on!" She nudged Martyn forward. "You got a game to win! Maybe if you're lucky the Rewinder will pop up for a second. Always announces the games if his husband isn't too busy." Now that he could hear her better, her voice had a distinct accent similar to his own. "Hop to, come on!"

Martyn didn't even register that he nodded until he was being shoved forward. "Alrighty then-!"

"Take good care of him False! Don't let him fall!"

"Doc, you know I don't make promises like that!"

Martyn was regretting this more and more. Maybe he had a chance to back out- And the plank was being pulled up. Wonderful. Martyn looked over at where the plank was being hoisted and- Oh.

Oh.

So that's a Watchman.

The man's face was hidden by, surprisingly, pristine silver armor. His strength was something Martyn had not thought possible by a human, but this man could be a mutant like the others he had seen. Or a strength enhancer, he wasn't too sure. But the man was STRONG. And his stare... Ohh that was a "I will kill you if you fuck up" kind of stare.

Brian's caw snapped him out of it. "I'm moving, I'm moving." Martyn followed False into the cabin. "Thank you for taking me on such short notice. I was planning on walking but Doc-"

"Yes yes, I know. Doc does that sometimes. Unpredictable madman he is." False handed him a small key. "The bottom floor has a few rooms. This one is 103. When you leave in the morning, make sure it's nice and tidy. Don't give Wels more work than what he needs. He's a good man."

"Is that his name? Looks incredibly strong."

A nod. "Every pilot is given a Watchman in case things go astray. Sky pirates, thieves, people looking to take the engines of the ships. Stuff like that."

Martyn let a curious hum slip past his lips. "I'll find the Angel in MCC? What even is MCC?"

"The Angel is a 50/50. Depends on if the Demon's going to play or not." False approached a desk and began to press a few buttons. "MCC is the Mind Crack Championship. Every month, once a month, the Rewinder and his host hold a tournament. It's a bloody free-for-all. Thousands come every month for a chance to win. People die every single time."

That threw Martyn off. "Wait, wait, if it's so dangerous, why go in the first place? That makes no sense!"

"Because the Rewinder prevents people from dying. Gots a weird "No-Death" sorta deal going on. He waits for somebody to win, and then rewinds everyone else until they are back to health. Then everyone leaves, goes out into the Crashlands to do their own thing. Some return, some don't."

The idea that somebody could just... Bring one's self back to life... The idea boggled Martyn. And apparently, shocked Brian with the slack jawed look the crow hand- No. No, he was staring at the Hawk. Of course he was.

"So people willingly let themselves get slaughtered... For a chance at what? Money? Fame?" Martyn couldn't even imagine what prize had to be on the line-

"They get to grant a wish."

... "A wish."

"A wish. That's his husband's job. Wishmaker. The twelve Victors are brought back at the start of the year and they each battle it out for their wish. The ones that die don't get bought back. It's the sacrifice that comes with the wish."

Martyn didn't believe it for a second. "There's no way that's real. I mean... A wishmaker? What, does he conjure up the stars and goes "Your wish will come true eventually!" Or some crap like that? Seems like rubbish to me."

False narrowed her eyes at him. Uh oh.

"The wishes are real. Did you know that women couldn't pilot Air Ships? They weren't able to for as long as I was little. Hell, humans themselves are outright banned from purchasing them." Ohh boy, where did that sword come from- Where did that WALL come from?! Martyn went tense as he pressed against the wall, the sword's blade now pressed right against his throat.

"But I won. I made the wish to lift that ban. I got my ship. I got my license. I got my way. I fought my way through those games for three years." A dark look formed in her eyes as the blade dug into Martyn's neck just enough to draw blood.

"That's thirty-six games, thirty-seven if we include the Victor's battle. I fought tooth and nail for my ship. For my life. For Wels' life. And I will NOT let you disrespect those games-" The sword pressed closer to his throat- "Do I make. Myself. Clear?"

A gulp. "C-Crystal."

The sword fell. Martyn let out a relieved breath. He dragged his hand along his throat, pulling it back to see the dark red coating his fingers. He stared at False knowing his fear was obvious in his eyes. "You... Why wouldn't you just wish for the world to be normal again?" His voice was pitifully quiet.

"Because if the world were normal, everyone would lose everything. Our world may be screwed, but it is the only world we have." Was False's response. "Go to your room. Rest. Wels will call for you when dinner is prepped."

Martyn left. With too many questions still unanswered.

This one shall do well against the Survivor. Wouldn't you agree?

No, I would not. Is it wise to allow a fight between them? Our Survivor does not stand a chance. I wouldn't want to lose him so soon.

Oh he will be fine, One. He has lasted this long.

But against the likes of a warrior such as her?

He will do fine.

What about that crow? It is a constant warning for the Survivor. She would not be able to land a hit.

No. But I do not believe that crow will be allowed in the Game.

How do you know? That insufferable Gamemaster and Wishmaker-

-Do not listen to a word we say. Yes. I know. They're ungrateful for the lives we gave them, but what can we do? They twisted our own words against us.

There has to be a way, Two. Our Survivor needs to win. How else would we get him back to his Test Zone?

That is where our special project comes in. G1 may have escaped our facility... But T2 is not a failure. It was a brilliant move to grab it whenever it was much younger. More... How would you phrase it, One?

Compliant. Willing to believe everything we said. Now its mind is getting curious. If it gets too curious and suddenly gets access to that doomed world... How would you know it would even encounter our Survivor? Or even return?

We make it believe it will die. Simple. Those trackers are very hard to remove after all. Send periodic shocks to T2, each one stronger than the last. Whispers of doubt and a few Reteachings should do the trick.

That is what you said about G1. But that was a failure. It grew a backbone and escaped halfway through our tests!

Please remain calm, One. Believe me when I say this one will go swimmingly.

I hardly trust that anymore, Two.

Ohhh how you hurt me! Now, go get T2's plans ready. I shall see what we can do about the Warrior. She will be participating in those Games at the end of this month. When we are three days away, send T2 to our Survivor. His chip may be weak, but I should be able to locate it. Maybe even have T2 recharge it!

That... Would be a great opportunity to recharge his tracker. Wouldn't it?

It would! It would! You are starting to see the bigger picture One!

I suppose I am. Maybe you still have a conscious left.

Oh I have a conscious! But I cannot promise that I am sane!

"Why do I suddenly have a bad feeling?" A warrior would ask a demon.

"It's probably just nervousness before MCC! You'll do fine!" The demon would assure the warrior.

"Brian if you don't stop PECKING MY NECK-"

"... Hello?"