The Connected System

Ed Turner smiled. Everyone gathered around were smiling, some even clapping. The yard outside the school wasn’t crowded, but the people there working and moving from task to task, no one just wandering aimlessly anymore, had all stopped to watch.

The hunters were returning victorious.

Five of them, armed with bows, led by Kyle Smith and Nick Franks, the two highest Leveled Hunters in the Clan. Each of them held a carcass over their shoulders, still covered in feathers, with the last one pulling a wagon piled high.

There weren’t that many birds, even from the distance across the yard Ed could see that, but the number wasn’t that important. It was for the long term survival of the Clan but in the short term just having the carcasses meant a lot for the Clan. Ed estimated that there were at least ten turkeys.

The birds were larger than he remembered them being, even the twenty pound ones that he’d seen in pictures and on TV ready for Thanksgiving dinner. These were just as Lochlan had described. The birds had even come from the Spawn Field near his house.

The hunters looked a little worse for wear. Their clothes were torn, each covered in blood. But all five had returned, which was the most important thing.

At least Ed had to remind himself that it was.

He was still focused on the birds. There was still much to learn. Had they had to kill the whole flock? If not, how many before the Alpha had appeared. Loch had told Ed about the turkey the girls had named Hoppy, back pre-Connection. The one-legged turkey that had somehow survived woods filled with fisher cats, bobcats, coyotes and bears. It had become the alpha of the flock, a truly massive beast that Loch thought equivalent of a Dungeon boss.

Not that Ed really knew what that meant. He’d never stepped foot in a Dungeon, not even the training one with the entrance only a hundred feet from him. He could feel the Dungeon, everyone could. It was hard to miss the waves of Spirit coming off it. But Ed, unlike many of the others, didn’t need to fight and kill monsters to get his experience and Advancement. He had a Support Class and got Levels by doing his job. He’d even gotten to Level Nine.

He was thankful it was that simple. Ed didn’t want to know what might have happened to him if he’d had to become a fighter. He still didn’t know why Micheal had chosen that path. His son was becoming someone he barely recognized.

Putting those thoughts out of his head, he smiled. Even with somewhat dark thoughts, he didn’t have to force the smile. It came naturally. The hunters had done what he had hoped.

“Nick, Kyle,” he said, walking toward them with arms out wide. “Welcome back. It looks like you had a successful hunt?”

Ed had to resist asking his follow-up questions. There would be a time for that. For now, let the hunters bask in the excitement their return meant. Everyone in the Clan had heard the news of the turkey spawn field not that far away, only a single night and that was if they didn't push it. Could make the trip to Loch’s street in a day and then camp out there, coming back the next if pushed on into night, like the hunters had done. Everyone in the Clan had been hoping for a hunting trip to the spawn field. There was meat; Lynxia, Coyote or those mutated Chipmunks; and they were starting to have enough to move meals beyond jerky strips, but people wanted more variety. They wanted poultry.

And poultry typically meant eggs.

Ed really missed eggs.

He knew it would look better if Kyle or one of the others brought the answers up. If Ed asked, he’d look like he was badgering them or not caring about them personally, just what they had done. Ed knew that it was always about appearances. Everything he did, it had to look right.

“Yeah,” Kyle replied. “Brought back what we could handle,” he said, gesturing behind them. “Would have been more if we weren’t afraid of running into monsters or having to stop for the night,” he said with a shrug. “It’s not much,” he added, eyes sweeping over the crowd.

That was true. The birds they brought back wouldn’t feed the entire Clan for a day. Ed had to remind himself that it was what the birds would signify.

The other hunters kept walking, Kyle handing his bird off to Nick, who gave Ed a nod as he walked past. Kyle stopped, brushing his dirty hands off on his blood covered and dirty clothes. His camouflage pants and jacket were looking pretty worn out. They’d been patched numerous times in the last couple weeks, ever since he became a hunter for the Clan. Ed wondered if they’d still be repairable.

“It’s just like we hoped,” Kyle said, a smile barely visible through his thick beard. Like many of the men in the Clan, they were going unshaven and their beards barely trimmed if at all. Ed was one of the few that tried his best to remain clean shaven. “We entered the spawn field and the turkeys appeared. They were spread out in smaller groups making it easy for us to take out a bunch. We killed them and managed to grab the corpses before the big one showed up. And I think he only appeared because he’d been nearby to begin with.”

Ed nodded. That was good. Very good.

“You didn’t clear it out so we don’t know the respawn time?”

“Nope, couldn’t, not with that one-legged beast coming for us,” Kyle said. “We weren’t a match for it. Nick has his Evaluate at Rank two. Guys smart. He uses it on everything he comes across. I started doing that and can feel I’m close to ranking it up.”

“That’s good,” Ed said encouragingly, even though he really didn’t care. Had to keep up appearances. “Tell Kristin and she’ll record that strategy in her notes.”

Kyle nodded.

“There’s still a couple dozen more roaming that field,” Kyle said. “I think there’s more than when Lord Loch and his daughters were there.”

“That is really good news,” Ed said.

They knew, from that strange fairy, that areas designated as Spawn Fields would constantly respawn the monsters. It was like an above ground Dungeon. That they could kill and take some of the turkeys, it meant the Spawn Field would be a source of continuous turkey meat.

“And eggs,” Ed asked, trying to keep the hopeful tone of his voice.

He failed, judging by Kyle’s laugh.

“Oh yeah, we found a couple of nests,” he said. “Grabbed a couple eggs and wrapped ‘em carefully. Not sure if they’re fertile or not.”

“We’ll need to figure out a way to transport the eggs safely,” Ed thought, tapping his chin. Something to add to Kristin’s large list.

They hadn’t known if there were going to be eggs or not. It was a Spawn Field, the creatures generated by the Worldcore. They weren’t natural and no one for sure if they’d follow the natural reproduction cycle or just be spawned by the Core.

Ed still wasn’t sure how exactly a Spawn Field could exist, but he’d given up getting an explanation. He didn’t know how to be able to utilize them.

Cerie, the glowing and flying Alexa, had said that sometimes a Spawn Field could start to produce natural offspring of the creatures within. But typically they did not. It all depended on how often the Field was culled.

Ed’s theory, now apparently proven true, was that since the Field had never been culled, the monsters had been there from the very beginning of the Connection. That meant if they were going to form a natural reproductive cycle, they would have already. And turkeys were poultry, like chickens they laid eggs all the time anyways. It was the Toms, or Roosters, that would make those eggs fertile. So the Spawn Field should have had a lot of eggs just waiting to hatch.

Or be taken by the Clan.

And he thought that if they only took a few of the turkeys, not culling the entire field, then there would be more to continue the natural cycle and lay eggs.

Ed had never had turkey eggs but he was willing to try.

He really missed eggs.

“That might not be a problem,” Kyle said. “The eggs we got have pretty hard shells. Cracking them is probably going to be the issue. We managed to transport them safely wrapped in blankets in our packs.”

“That’s great news,” Ed said, reaching out and clapping Kyle on the shoulder in a familiar gesture.

It always helped to connect with the people personally with such gestures. Ed forgot which politicians seminar he’d heard that in. He’d been to so many and watched so many more on Youtube and other sites. All to prepare him for storming the country and becoming a Senator someday. That wouldn’t happen but there was potential in running Clan Brady. He wasn’t a simple small town selectman anymore. He was the Magister of Clan Brady.

It was small now, but what could it become?

Could he someday become something similar to the President?

Or Vice-President really, as Lochlan would be the President. Kind of, as Lochlan’s role was going to be mostly ceremonial in the actual governance and most of his time would be spent acting tough and scaring enemies away.

Ed like that.

He could work with that.

And Lochlan would work to keep him alive. Ed wouldn’t have to fight. He wouldn’t need to leave the safety of the Clanhold. He did hope that someday there’d be a bigger one but that was future issues.

Right now they had a solution for one of their major issues.

It still didn’t really help them immediately or with winter coming.

Kyle gave Ed a nod, heading to rejoin his fellow hunters and unload his backpack. According to the schedule Kristin had posted, he thought Kyle’s team wouldn’t be due to head back out for another day. They had some well deserved rest coming up.

He looked up at the sky, trying to judge the time by the position of the sun. Others in the Clan were pretty accurate about it, but without a way to tell what the hours were it was hard to really judge how accurate they were. Ed knew just enough to judge when it was noon. From there it was enough to estimate how close to nightfall it was.

One of the biggest things he’d had to get used to was how early it seemed people went to bed. It wasn’t just exhaustion, which was a major part, but there was just nothing to do after it got dark. They had no night life and wouldn’t for a long time. Very few candles and people got tired of having to hand crank the few flashlights they had. When it was dark, it was very dark. With nothing to do, people went to sleep.

They also got up a lot earlier. There was no sleeping in once the sun was up. It was taking a bit for Ed to get used to the new schedule. Really the old schedule as it was probably what people did in the times before electricity or TV to watch at night.

Maybe they’d find a sundial or a book on how to make one. It would be nice to be able to start using hours again. Ed knew Kristin would appreciate it. She was getting aggravated having only solid times for sunrise, sunset and high noon. It was annoying when someone was late because they thought “halfway to sunset” was different from how Kristin saw it.

It his wildest dreams, or even nightmares, about his political career Ed had never envisioned something like what he was living now. He kind of missed some aspects of being a selectman. In this new world, there really wasn’t a true democracy. They, he and Loch, gave commands and they were followed. People still complained, but they didn’t do it to his face. Ed had lost count of how many times his family breakfast as the Northwood Diner had been interrupted by townsfolk wanting to complain to a selectman.

It had been the price he had to pay for his ambitions.

There would come a time when that would be back, where he’d have to play the game of politics. Right now, it was just him and the people on the council. And they didn’t argue much or try to work deals for themselves. Everyone was focused on survival.

But someday that game would be back and Ed was looking forward to it. He just had to make sure he was able to play it from a position of strength.

Ed walked into the building housing the Dungeon. It had suffered some damage during the fight with the gaunts, which had been incredibly scary even when huddled inside the school. Ed had taken on the role of maintaining calm with all the civilian non-fighters. It had been hard with both Mike and Susan out in the middle of the fighting. Mike had been in the first group to go out. Ed had tried arguing with Loch against it, but that hadn’t worked. Susan had given Ed ‘the look’. He knew it well. It was the one that told him to not bother trying to argue, she was doing it. Susan was one of the few healers, she was of course going to be out in the yard.

And Ed was inside.

That hadn’t bothered him. He knew it was cowardly but even the Connection had decided that he wasn’t a fighter. He hadn’t been offered any Class that had offensive Abilities. Magister had some Defensive ones, but nothing that would have aided in the fight. Lochlan had been out there, as he should, that was his role.

Eds had been to be inside with the people. There was no shame in that.

At least that’s what he kept telling himself.

Leaning against the railing, Ed looked down at the dungeon entrance. How many times had he walked through the tunnel that had been there? He was tempted to enter the Dungeon just to see what it was like. They had tested it and knew that someone could enter and leave without having to run the Dungeon and kill the boss, which was some horrifying creature from what he’d heard. He had sat in on one of Kristin’s debriefing sessions with the team that had just run the Dungeon. They wanted to learn everything they could to make it easier and safer for others. It had sounded horrifying, the entire thing. Not something Ed wanted to do.

And there were people in the Clan that were eager to run the Dungeon. The one at the school and the others discovered around the Clanhold. Two teams of people had joined Lochlan’s foray east to the Grandfords just because they wanted to run the Dungeon that was there. And from what Lochlan had said, that Challenge Dungeon was harder than the Painted Caves.

Turning away, he shook his head. The world had gone crazy and the people even crazier. Ed started heading back toward the school and his office. He had a lot to do. A gong started echoing through the yard, drawing Ed’s attention up to the roof. A couple of archers sat on the platform built around the belltower, which was where the noise had come from. The Worldcore had taken the bell, they’d replaced it with a gong one of the scavengers had found in a home. He’d grabbed it, thinking it could be used for forging, but Ed had a better idea.

The archers were standing up, arrows held loose in the bow, ready to draw. They were looking toward the west approach up Route 4. One person up on the platform was waving a green colored flag. Other guards were rushing to the wall, responding to the gong.

The gong was an early warning system. The guards were now being trained to respond to where the look-outs at the rooftop platforms directed them. The green flag meant something coming from the west. Other colors meant other directions or a variety of different things when used in combination.

Ed was very proud of that idea.

It was new, something only implemented in the last couple of days. He had felt they needed something in the wake of the gaunt attack, and even the lynxia chasing the hunters a couple weeks ago, or even the random monster attacks. There seemed to be two or three a day.

Ed thought about running inside the Clanhold, just in case, letting the guards handle whatever was approaching. He jogged past the Dungeon’s building, getting a better look at the situation. The guards appeared wary, hands on weapons, but not reactive. That meant there wasn’t a hostile force approaching. But something was coming.

Words were exchanged. Ed couldn’t hear but could tell just from the motions of the guards. Whoever was currently in charge at the wall had come to a decision. He turned, motioning to others. The guards that had been assembling around the gap in the wall pulled back, loosening the way they were holding their weapons.

A man walked through, looking around in confusion and a little worry.

Newcomers.

Ed hurried over, wanting to greet them. Best to get off on the right foot.

More people followed the first. They stayed bunched together, with two others stepping up to take positions behind the first. Another man and a woman. All three looked to be in their mid-forties. Beards on the men, one more gray than the other. The woman had black hair held up in a bun. All three had swords sheathed at their wastes, hands hovering near hilts but not grasping them as eyes scanned the schoolyard, focusing on all the armed guards. The first man, the leader, saw Ed approaching.

Ed was smiling, putting on his best and friendliest one.

“Hello,” he said. “Welcome.”

He didn’t extend his hand, not yet. It wasn’t proper in this moment. First he had to put the newcomers at ease. They looked worn out, covered in blood and filth. Probably hadn’t been eating much in the way of food or having enough drinking water. And fighting. They definitely looked like they’d been fighting. There were only a couple of backpacks or any other kind of bag. This group had been living really rough and for a while if Ed had to guess.

“Ed Turner,” he said, preparing the speech he had come up with for these situations.

***

Mike Turner pulled his sword out of the giant cat. Blood dripped off the end of the blade, looking an odd color when tinted by the glow his Piercing Strike Ability gave the weapon. It was the main offensive Ability of the Uncommon Striker Class. Mike’s lip curled up at the thought.

Uncommon Class.

That’s all he was able to get. Uncommon.

He deserved better.

Looking around, Mike saw that the rest of the Lynxia pack was dead. Flashes of light came as Malcolm sent healing waves of energy into the group as Eric started to gather the loot. The monster’s bodies disappeared, turning into the multi-colored sparks of Spirit energy. Mike watched as they twirled and danced through the air, flowing into each member of the party. Roger, of course, got most. Mike was second. He could feel that he was getting close to Level Nine, which meant Roger was that much closer to Eleven. Mike hated that he’d probably never catch up to the older man.

Mike hated a lot lately.

He was in a nearly constant state of anger.

First it had been directed at the world around him, at the Connection. He’d had it good at Coe-Brown. Not popular but not hated. It’d been an easy existence. But he could tell that his star in the school was going to rise. It was just a matter of time. He’d planned on running for office in the student council. He’d end up as the President and that would be the first step to a future political career.

One that would be quicker and better than his fathers. Mike hadn’t planned on wasting time as a small town selectman. The plan was to leave Northwood and never look back. He was too good for such a small town. Boston was the destination, maybe even New York City.

Maybe even with Harper Brady by his side. He deserved to have her by his side. She just hadn’t known it yet. They’d been friends for years, spent a lot of time together with their families. It was natural that they end up together.

But the Connected System had changed all Mike’s plans.

He hated it.

The world was a struggle now. He wasn’t in the position he deserved.

Mike wasn’t the strongest. He was just average.

Uncommon.

It was better than Common, which most of the Clan had for Classes. Malcolm was a Common Class Healer, but as one of the few healers, he was still important. Eric was a Common Class Archer. Just one of a dozen, or more, in the Clan. The difference was that he wanted to be in an Adventuring party and not just a guard or a hunter.

Adventurers.

Mike hated that term.

He sighed, looking at the items left behind. Claws and pelts. The good stuff came after killing boss monsters. Which was just so odd. Why? There was so much about the Connection that Mike found odd.

He hated all the game terms. He’d heard that the Connection had been behind the creation of RPG games. It was used as a training method, a way to get people used to what the Connection would be like. He’d never played games. They were a waste of time.

He didn’t wish he had, not like some of the people now said.

It was all a waste of his time.

Mike reached up, rubbing at his temple. The headache was back.

It had been coming and going for weeks. Nothing serious, just a slight pressure. More annoying than anything.

Something else to blame on the Connection.

It was a constant pressure, just pushing at his mind. Mike didn’t know what caused it or why. No one else seemed to be complaining of headaches. Not that Mike was asking. That would be showing weakness and he would not do that. Especially with Davis Millman around. Harper was already spending too much time with Davis. Mike needed to show that he was better. Complaining about headaches wouldn’t help.

“Mike,” Malcolm said, a little sharp.

Mike glared at him.

“What?”

“Easy,” Malcolm said, holding up his hands. “You zoned out. I was just asking if you needed a heal.”

“I’m fine,” Mike muttered, walking off.

He’d zoned out again. That was happening a lot lately. Luckily it wasn’t during combat, but just during the slower periods when he didn’t have anything to concentrate on. That was when the headache was worse. Sometimes it was all he could think about.

Mike wasn’t sure why he was so angry. He wasn’t where he wanted to be, but things were progressing. He’d get there, even in this new world. He just hated almost everyone lately. Especially Lochlan. Deciding he was in charge because he was the most powerful. Didn’t matter that he was Harper’s father. Lochlan was the enemy.

He didn’t hate Harper. Couldn’t hate Harper. Piper was okay, but only because she was Harper’s annoying little sister. He could manage to deal with her, as long as she didn’t get in the way of him and Harper. Before the Connection, when their families had BBQs, Mike would always try to get Harper off alone but Piper would interfere. Harper, who Mike knew wanted to be alone with him, would just be nice to the brat and walk off with her leaving Mike alone.

His parents wouldn’t leave him alone. Always bothering him about being a dangerous adventurer. Telling him he should stay at the school, get a Support Class or something. That wouldn’t get him the power he needed.

He didn’t think he’d stay with Roger, Theodore and the other two. Not with Roger being in charge. Mike knew he should be in charge but Roger was older, more experienced and a higher Level. At some point, Mike would form his own group. Maybe he should start looking into it now. It should be easy to convince Malcolm and Eric. They didn’t like Roger.

No one liked Roger.

Not even Theodore who had joined the Clan with Roger. They’d been together since the Connection.

Theodore would join him, Mike was sure of it.

If he could catch up, only a couple more Levels, maybe he could convince Harper to join him.

The headache seemed to lessen.