The Pilot of Wrath

Chapter 29 – The Codex Does Support This Action

Matt was not sure what he had expected to happen. He had set up a fire, using his domain to conjure a small flame to light the pile of wood. Then he got out the cook set and set it up, making sure to wait for a bed of coals before setting the grill down. Then after the embers were ready, he pulled out a few steaks of the ever so prevalent deer meat. He intended to season them before grilling but was suddenly interrupted.

Echo had appeared over his shoulder, peering down at the slabs of meat on the wire rack. He didn’t immediately try to eat them but instead sent a questioning hum toward Matt, asking what was happening. Matt started talking him through the process, promising to share the majority of it with the drake. The answer seemed to mollify the beast who wandered over to the opposite side of the fire to observe the cooking process very closely.

The drake was strange to say the least. Matt had interacted with dogs and cats back on Earth, but Echo seemed to be a mix of both. It had the prey drive of cats but the boundless energy of a Labrador. It was almost like a giant monitor with a dog’s personality, running cat software. Matt thought this because Echo was sitting on its haunches and drooling slightly as it watched the cooking meat. Just like his friends golden back in high school.

Regardless of the drake’s quirks, he didn’t move other than to get a better view of what Matt was doing at each step. Soon all 4 steaks had been cooked to a nice even medium, with almost perfect grill marks. Removing the whole grill from over the coals, Matt set it aside to let it rest for a few minutes, having to reassure Echo that this was part of cooking.

Soon enough it was time, Matt plated one of the cuts for himself and then sliced the remaining 3 into large chunks for Echo. He had seasoned one of them to see if his companion liked the taste of salt and pepper but didn’t want to fully commit in case it wasn’t a hit. He shouldn’t have worried.

Matt tossed a chunk in the air, arcing it toward Echo who snatched it so fast he almost missed the movement. It was interesting to see the drake chew but he somehow mimicked Matt in the action, seeming to savor the taste before swallowing. Matt decided to cut out the middleman and just dumped the rest on a slab of rock, keeping the salt and pepper one off to one side.

Matt watched his companion pick over the cooked meat as he ate. Pulling out the codex and looking it over while he finished dinner, thinking about what to put in it. He was almost finished eating when he heard a sound that he hadn’t heard Echo make before. A strange gurgling followed by a deep hum. When he glanced over, the drake was actually starting to tear up. It had made it to the seasoned steak and was clearly in favor of the addition.

“Here you go buddy.” Matt said as he deposited the rest of his meal in front of Echo. “I’m glad you like it.” He laughed and returned to his spot beside the fire. He couldn’t be sure, but he thought there was a small tear running from the corner of the drake’s eye.

Shaking his head and pulling out the codex, Matt committed to filling it. He opened the first page and a System window displayed over the first page of the book.

Training Codex – Blank

Do you wish to impart knowledge into the codex? Y/N?

Matt chose yes, planning on having to focus hard to make sure all the info he had was imparted correctly. That would not be necessary as fate would have it.

Training Codex: Knowledge Transfer Menu

Please choose the type of information you wish to impart into the codex:

Technical

Procedural

Personal

This was not what had been on the package. It was however a welcome surprise and Matt selected procedural, assuming that was the ‘how to’ option. He wasn’t sure what personal was, but it didn’t sound like something he was really needing and would ask Tori about it later. His wondering was interrupted by a new system window, this one much more… strange.

Place both hands on the codex. Prepare for memory scan.

Note: Do not resist memory scan or data corruption may occur.

Matt did as he was told and steeled himself for what he assumed would be painful. It was not painful in the slightest, but it was somewhat unpleasant. The scan involved his own mind being dragged through his memories, going back to his youth when his adoptive father had taught him about hunting. He saw his classroom training and field training in the military which blended into his deployments then his time as a contractor before finally working toward the present day.

Every memory was sped through, but the effect dragged on, seeming to slow down at crucial times in his life. The time he learned how important setting up proper security was after getting jumped by an enemy fire team while in a patrol base. The time he experimented with using LMG’s as rifles in a squad assault. When he began working in conjunction with larger elements to capture objectives and secure cities. Every event where he learned or gained wisdom was dissected, inspected and recorded.

Hours passed as the codex scanned Matts mind and compiled information into the pages of the book. As the memories replayed and forced Matt through the trauma of his past, he tried to hold on to his sanity. The emotions flickering back and forth within him as he was forced to see friends die again or feel the relief of a successful defense. This feature of the codex was truly making him work for it.

Just as Matt was about to call it quits and try to back out, the codex reached the point of his integration. He sighed with relief and was able to coast on some of the less traumatic memories. Soon after, his mind returned to the real world, letting him see that Echo had curled up next to him and was watching intently. The codex in his lap suddenly snapped shut and he held it up, inspecting it again now that it was filled.

Tacticians Codex (Rare)

This codex contains the total combat knowledge from the pilot known as Matt Shultz. With an exchange of mana, instantly gain the tactical knowledge of an advanced world and retain it permanently. Codex has unlimited uses.

Matt was pretty pleased with himself. Not only had he completely filled the codex, but it was also classified as a rare item. Naturally, the first thing he tired to do was use the item. That failed with only a window saying that he could not use it since he made it. Then he tried to have Echo use it, which worked… mostly.

As the drake had to be told what to do, it wasn’t as simple of a process but eventually Echo was able to push mana into the book. He snarled, showing all his teeth, as the book began to glow, and a blue light was cast on the paw touching the surface. After a little more than a minute, the glow receded, and Echo let his lips back to their resting place. He backed away and shook his head before making a whistling noise that sounded like a whine.

After a very brief exchange on imagery, Matt learned that, while the book had imparted knowledge, it was very strange and unfamiliar to Echo. The use of words and numbers to explain concepts was a very foreign idea that caused issues when the drake had to translate what it all meant. The final impression from Echo was that people should do people things and drakes do drake things, honestly flawless logic.

Another early wake up courtesy of the resident familiar had Matt on the road before the sun was up. He found out that Echo liked to get moving soon after the rocks lost their warmth from the previous day and cooled off. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the cold, but the lack of radiating heat meant there was nothing attractive about the location anymore. Matt was utterly perplexed but just followed along, only needing a few hours each night anyway.

The route that Matt had ended up on, due to the terrain, was taking them further away from the settlement than he originally intended. Kicking them out into the open terrain and rolling hills several kilometers away from the city. Matt knew this clearing was dozens of kilometers long with the settlement at one end of it. The relief of being out of the woods was immense and caused him to sigh and relax ever so slightly. Just having an unobstructed view for more than a hundred meters was nice. Echo apparently also liked the new terrain.

The drake was, for lack of a better word, frolicking in the tall grass that made up the massive clearing. The grass was nearly as tall as Matt in some places, and Echo was using these patches to dive under then pop up at the edge, leaping to the next spot of tall grass. This went on for almost half an hour in the post dawn light that washed from the eastern edge of the clearing.

Matt knew that they were relatively close to the settlement and only needed to follow the tree line. The monster levels in the area would be low due to their proximity to the settlement and its population. A fact that didn’t prevent him from telling Echo to keep his eyes open for any large, tasty looking animals. He assumed there had to be more deer or perhaps bovine animals in the area. So, with a very excited companion, Matt set off for the city, hoping to see the walls by noon.

Matt and Echo had some good luck while in route to the city, getting the drop on a heard of deer all under level 10. Echo had actually stalked them, getting the drop on 2 at the same time with Matt taking another with his rifle as it ran from the drake. They paused to dress the kills and let them hang for a little while to bleed them. After a quick hour break, they set out once again, rounding the slight curve in the tree line and spotting the high walls of the city.

“Alright, here’s the deal, Echo.” Matt began. “I think you need to stay close and walk right beside me. I don’t want them to panic and think you are a threat or anything.” Matt finished explaining to the drake. “Actually, let’s try something.” He was hoping that Tobias would be listening in or had his radio nearby.

Matt keyed up the radio, broadcasting in plaintext since he hadn’t set any encryption. He should have the range if he was broadcasting from his mech, just needed someone like Tobias to be listening. “Any station this net, this is Matt. Radio check, over.” He said into the mic built into his helmet. He paused, waiting a full 10 seconds before repeating the message.

“Matt, this is Tobias. Read you lima, charlie, over.” Tobias’ voice came over the radio, shockingly clear given the distance.

“Hey man, can you let the folks on the east gate know I will be coming in a little bit with a friendly creature as a dismount. Break.” Matt had to pause to think how to describe the situation. “The dismount is my new familiar and is a drake. Coloration is black and covered in scales. How copy? Over.”

A very long pause before Tobias responded. “Roger, one mech one dragon RTB via east gate.” The voice sounded both excited and exhausted. “I will meet you there. Tobias, out.”

It wasn’t exactly the correct radio etiquette, but they also didn’t have anyone sharing the network to worry about. It was a problem that Matt would fix with his codex and if they ever set up a radio network. He was very excited to see what Tobias had been working on for the past few days. It should be good considering how excited Tobias had been with the prospect of using the forge.

Matt looked down to Echo and decided to fill him in, using the mental link to send a series of images and thoughts at him. They set off shortly after, picking up the pace a little as they closed with the city. He was surprised to see the trees around the walls had been cut back but another few hundred meters, giving almost a kilometer of distance from the wood line to the wall. The pilots had been working hard to clear it all out.

As he approached, Matt also noticed the patrols moving along the wood line and zoomed in on them with his powerful cameras. They had set up a foot patrol with a couple constructs tailing them as they moved along the tree line. There looked to be 12 people on foot supported by 4 constructs for each group. They didn’t venture far into the woods and when crossing large open areas, the constructs would screen the dismounts, moving to be on the outside of the patrol.

“It seems Tobias has been putting in some work more than just at the forge.” Matt said, deciding to comment to Van about the patrol.

“It does, I know he served with you, but I did not take him for much of a commander.” Van replied.

“He isn’t. This is pretty basic stuff but still, I almost expected to find the pilots still out here waging war against the trees, not looking like a proper fighting force.” Matt said just as one of the patrols spotted him and started to change course, putting them on a route to intercept him. That was fine, as long as they weren’t jumpy and didn’t mistake Echo for a threat.

One of the pilots must have been more familiar with Matt since they broke away, moving faster than the rest of the patrol after a brief conversation. The construct ran out in that heavy footed gait they seemed to favor and crossed the remaining several hundred meters at a run. Matt finally recognized the mech by the heraldry still emblazoned on the chest armor.

Matt raised his hand and boomed over the loudspeaker. “Well met Commander Rohm!”

Stopping to let Matt come to him, Rohm unsealed his hatch and yelled back. “Matt! Welcome back, Tobias has a whole… what is that!” He cut off as he spotted Echo moving in the grass around Matts ankles.

“Don’t worry. This is Echo, my familiar. I think he’s friendly? I haven’t had him around people so I’m not sure.”

Rohm just stared at him, mouth agape, jaw flapping slightly. After a few moments of trying to make sense of what Matt just said, he was able to string words together. “Um, I… I think I’m going to go ahead and warn the others.”

Matt laughed. “You do that. I’ll be right behind you then. Oh, Congrats on the levels by the way.” Indeed, Matt was impressed by the level growth amongst the group that he had seen so far with Rohm having almost reached 20.

Rohm waved as he closed the hatches on his construct and then thundered off to warn the others not to panic when they saw the level 34 drake if they saw it. Echo was doing his impression of a patch of grass and honestly kinda killing it. He looked like an ever so slightly darker and shorter bit of grass, even swaying with the breeze. Matt was honestly impressed with his ability to camouflage instantly. Waiting for a respectful amount of time for Rohm to get ahead, Matt set off toward the walls once again.

Matt made it into the east gate without any issue and saw Tobias waiting just inside. Being considerate of other traffic, he moved off to one side before he dismounted and caught his friend up on his adventures. He immediately noticed the growth inside the walls had been explosive, buildings popping up everywhere across the open area inside the star fort. He thought he even saw some roads being laid down at the center around a wide, stout tower.

“You guys gave been busy.” Matt said, commenting on the building initiative.

“Clearly not as busy as you.” Tobias shot back. His hands were on his hips, and he had a severe look on his face. “I can feel it, your aura is… different. You have a presence around you now.” He sighed deeply before continuing. “At least it is relatively contained. You really need t…”

Matt had forgotten about the aura issue and immediately withdrew it completely. Within half a second, there wasn’t a trace of his aura or intent leaking out. “Is this better?” Matt said with a smirk.

“Well, um, yeah it is.” Tobias faltered. “You made your breakthrough?”

“Yes, I won’t tell you about it now, but I can answer any questions that you have after watching the recordings.” Matt tapped his helmet to emphasize his point. “We have a lot to talk about and Frank is going to want to be a part of it.”

Tobias agreed and Matt made the introductions for Echo who seemed a little cautious of Tobias until the researcher made the offering of some smoked meat. After that, there was an understanding between them, good dragons get snacks. After the introductions, they started making their way to the forge so they could talk in Tobias’ office. Well, Tobias and Echo walked while Matt climbed into the mech for the short journey.

The extra height and the alternate route allowed Matt to get a rather complete view of how the city was developing. There were marked areas all over the place. He couldn’t look in any direction without seeing a series of wood stakes or the beginnings of a building. The ‘roads’ were also being more clearly defined with stakes marking them. and he thought he could see gravel on the ones leading to the center. Finally, he made it to the forge and didn’t have to wait long for Tobias and Echo to join. Judging by the look on his friend’s face, the trip had been harrowing.

“Do you have any idea what happens when a drake pokes its head into a restaurant suddenly?” Tobias asked, using his tone that said don’t bother answering I’m telling you anyway. “Everyone freaked the fuck out!” he shouted. “I had to force my way past to calm them and the only thing that did it was mentioning that he was your familiar.”

“When did we get a restaurant?” Matt asked. He had already seen the visual side of it through the link he shared with Echo. “I was only gone for like 5 days.”

“Really, that’s what you take from this?” Tobias dead panned before he scrubbed his face with his hands and returned to his more normal tone of voice. “It’s more of a dining hall that serves preset meals, but the food is decent. My guess is the smell lured him in and he at least had the good graces to only poke his head through the door.”

“Awe, did you want some more cooked meats?” Matt said to Echo in the voice people used for puppies while scratching behind his jaws. “Tell you what, I will make some for you tonight with the deer we got today.” Echo seemed to like that idea as he began humming in that odd pitch again.

Tobias looked between them with a bewildered expression before throwing his hands up in the air and storming off to his office. He shouted something about going to see if Franklin was there yet. Matt didn’t mind, he was enjoying his time just being out in the open without having to watch his back or with a mission to complete. He was about to follow after Tobias when he heard a voice call out and turned around.

“Matt it’s good to see you a… What in the hells is that?” Franklin shouted as he got a good look at Echo. It seemed Matt was going to have a reoccurring problem with the townsfolk.