‘He’s such an asshole!’ Jo snarled, slamming the door behind her.

  ‘Whuh? Whsat?’ mumbled Beth, starting awake. ‘Nnngh,’ she groaned, covering her eyes as Jo flipped the desk light on.

  ‘Him!’ Jo growled.

  ‘Him?’ Beth blinked at her, then her eyes flashed momentarily as she checked her BIS. ‘Oh, it’s the middle of the night. That’s why I feel so tired.’ She gave Jo an irritated look, then she frowned and her eyes widened, taking in Jo’s dishevelled state. ‘Wait… what have you been up to?’

  Jo gave the details while striding angrily around the room. He was so endlessly frustrating. It’d been a little impulsive but she’d known that inside, he was crying out for some companionship. She’d thought that after last night he would be a changed man. But no! Almost instantly, even after what they’d experienced, he’d flipped back to cold-and-grim. He was impossible. Hot then cold and for no apparent reason.

  ‘Well, what’d you expect?’ said Beth, who’d sat up while she talked and now slouched against the wall. ‘There’s no predicting that guy.’ She snorted. ‘So, uh… how was it?’

  ‘How was what?’

  ‘You know.’ Beth grinned at her. ‘I always wondered. I mean the crazy guy has to be great in bed, right?’

  ‘Fuck off, Beth! Is that all you ever think about?’

  ‘Okay okay, jeez. I was just asking. I’ll wait until you’ve calmed down a bit… sooo, what now?’

  ‘What d’you mean?’

  ‘Giving up?’

  Jo narrowed her eyes. ‘I’ll wait and see.’ There was still something there. But he needed to be punished for his recent behaviour. ‘He’s so annoying.’

  ‘Annoying, huh?’ Beth was grinning. ‘Okay.’

  ‘What? What “okay”?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Beth yawned. ‘I’d like to get back to sleep, if that’s all.’

  ‘That’s all,’ grumbled Jo, staring at the door.

  ###

  Nicolai was woken early the next morning, receiving an alert from Threat Analysis.

  There’s that message again, it said, drawing his awareness to the cage. Faintly emanating from the hole within, he heard the cry of the Unwinder.

  Paxolnaz is unable to watch me. He allowed himself to relax a little, and his mind wandered, thinking on things he tended to restrict himself on. After doing so, he added a few more items to his wishlist at the Trade Link. It was worth attempting to activate more Modules within him, to reach closer still to a more Zero-Twelve-like state. That was proven to help him control the dark.

  Money on his mind, that day Nicolai’s focus was on setting up more trades. Maxine had been busy. She’d finished setting up her radio equipment, and was back online. Now she was spreading the word about the imminent destruction of the castle, the safety of the Trade Link. She was entertaining frequent call-ins, trying to get in touch with leadership of the various groups in the area.

  This was quite useful, as through her he was also able to get the information of groups interested in trading; places to meet with representatives who could arrange a trade.

  However, that morning also saw the clean up after the great battle the day before, which thousands of freshly resurrected undead were streaming through the castle, heading back to their posts en-masse, which kept everyone cooped up inside.

  During this time he barely talked to Jo, who had been subjecting him to a chilly glare every time she saw him. Beth had clearly heard about everything and in contrast showed nothing but amusement, treating both him and Jo to eye raises and shrugs, apparently communicating, what can you do?

  Only in the afternoon was Nicolai able to setup a singular trade. They went into it with significant caution, wary of a Chosen ambush.

  Fortunately there were no issues, the trade going off without a hitch, gaining. Nicolai a further 6,000 points.

  With that he had around 19,000 points, halfway to 40,000, the amount he needed for the skin-suit. He’d intended to purchase it as soon as possible, but that had changed. Now, he needed even more; 70,000 for an anti-material rifle. He had decided to prioritise killing the Angel. It was a risk, as he had increasingly pressing need for a Skin Suit, but dealing with Paxolnaz and the Black Gift was his overriding goal.

  He was getting low on food for some of his Symbiotes. The Grasping Finger was in the most danger. It had only been about three-quarters fed when he took it from the praying mantis which had carried it, and he hadn’t found any food for it in the meantime. Now, it was down to less than a quarter “fullness.”

  It had become one of his most useful Symbiotes. Less powerful in the moment than the Blue Hornet, but in terms of utility it had endless possibilities. In concert with the Pegasi ring it allowed quick movement through the air towards nearby chunks of environment. It could be used to disarm enemies, or pull them off balance and towards him. It could be used to take or steal things from others. It could even be used to kill, in some situations.

  He knew that if he allowed it to run out of food, it would begin to starve. Then he’d only have a couple of days before it died, even less if he used its Art while it was starving.

  Getting more food for it had thus become a short-term priority. Its food wasn’t available from the Trade Link, he’d have to go into the jungle.

  Beyond that was a more crucial demand. Nicolai needed to complete the Lotus Soul Trap as soon as possible, in case he was ultimately forced to go to the sword. Paxolnaz had said that when he did so, the sword’s current holder would attempt to steal his body. The Lotus Blossom Soul Trap was to allow him to capture the attacking Soul rather than be overwhelmed by it.

  Nicolai had regarded this Symbiote, and its recipe, with some distrust ever since the realisation of Paxolnaz’s true aims. But he had found the recipe in the Memory Tome, which matched the one given to him by Paxolnaz, and it also described the Lotus Blossom Symbiote alongside the Lotus Blossom Soul Trap Symbiote.

  Lotus Blossom Symbiote

  This Symbiote acts as a vehicle and catalyst. It is often used in Symbiote Refinement and the creation of Artifacts. Most commonly it is used to create quasi-Artifacts by the empowering of a Ritual. With so many uses, it is prised by Cultivators and always fetches a good price in trade.

  Lotus Blossom Soul Trap Symbiote

  A very basic semi-Artifact, this is a Soul Trap Ritual empowered by a Lotus Blossom Symbiote. It is capable of trapping the Souls of Tier 2 Cultivators. In this basic form, the Symbiote requires more than Oma to function. It must be powered with Soul energy, typically in the form of Tier 1 Souls.

  He’d shared the recipe with Kleos and Maric, and had also examined it in comparison to the logic shown in the other recipes he had learned. So far as they could tell, the recipe should work exactly as described. He worried that somehow Paxolnaz might have altered the Memory Tome to contain the recipe, but if so, there seemed no way for him to know for sure, except perhaps asking the Angel. But the Centipedes wouldn’t be letting him anywhere near it, not again.

  Lotus Blossom Symbiotes grew on spiritual plants, he knew that, and he also knew that the upper-jungle didn’t have any. None that qualified, anyway. He’d spent quite some time in the upper-jungle and had seen that it was quite different to the true jungle below.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The upper jungle was safer, with weaker creatures and a notable lack of parasites. But it also held much less of value. He’d found Natural Resources and a Symbiote on his first trip into the true jungle, but hadn’t found any of either in the upper in all his time there. The trees and plants there also felt different to him than those below. Weaker, spiritually.

  This only increased his need for the skin-suit, because it meant he would need to venture into the true jungle for what he needed. He’d been lucky, last time, happening to find food for two of his Symbiotes relatively fast, but he knew that he was unlikely to be so lucky again.

  Without the skin suit, moving through the jungle would be difficult. He knew now that they had been very lucky the first time they’d gone out there. After his time spent reading through the Memory Tome about creatures of this world, he knew that many had very powerful senses of smell. On top of that, the beings they had encountered were on the bottom of the food chain. Something far more dangerous could easily have turned up.

  The skin suit, with its complete sealing of his body, would allow him to hide his scent while also protecting him from parasites. Many of these were spiritual in nature and might be especially bad for him while he was infected with the Soul rot.

  So Nicolai had pressing need both for the skin-suit, and an anti-material rifle. That meant points, lots of them and quickly.

  But, frustratingly, after that first trade of the day he was unable to set up anymore. Maxine worked the radios, seeking out groups willing to trade, but they all seemed to be busy. Likely recovering after the chaos of the day before.

  This led Nicolai to opt to seek out a trade more directly. He knew the locations of the bases of several groups. The Communists and the Tree People were the two more major bases he knew of, but there were several smaller groups Daksh had told him of. All should have some points to spare, but the larger groups would have the most.

  The Communists had spent almost all they’d had on the last trade, but by now they’d had time to complete challenges, get into fights, and recruit more members. Still, he wasn’t certain as to whether they’d have the amount he needed, and he doubted the smaller groups would have enough.

  The Tree People, on the other hand, he was reasonably sure hadn’t spent all their points in his last trade with them. They were a very numerous group, even larger than the Communists, and more people equalled more Challenges, which equalled more points and Oma crystals.

  He reckoned he’d only gained about half of what they’d had available, even with all his price gouging, due to the limitation of how much stock he’d had at the time. They’d bought pretty much everything. Plus they must’ve gained more by now. He had been careful to inform them of every simple Challenge he knew.

  As he considered the Tree People, his thoughts also turned to the Tree they worshipped. That tree was on another level to the ones in the upper jungle, clearly a powerful Spirit Tree, stronger than any of the ones he’d encountered in his short trip into the true jungle.

  The Memory Tome had contained information on such Spiritual Plants. According to what he’d learned, as a Spirit Tree developed they began to grow a consciousness, becoming aware of themselves and their surroundings. It was a slow process, taking hundreds or even thousands of years. Such trees should be exactly the kind that might grow a Lotus Blossom.

  This realisation had been all that was necessary for Nicolai to opt to surprise the Tree People with a trade. During the trade he’d be able to get a look at the Tree. He felt it unlikely he’d find a Lotus Blossom Symbiote on it, simply because he favoured pessimism, but it was worth checking.

  The journey to the Tree People’s home took longer than the last time, as Nicolai was once more forced to work out a new route due to the shifting of the castle. He was wary of encountering left over combatants from the battle, but all that they found were corpses, the journey uneventful.

  The Tree People’s home came into view as he poked his head out of a doorway, gesturing for the others to wait as he observed.

  He found himself relieved by the simple fact the Tree People’s place was still there. He’d felt there to be decent odds it might have came away from the castle and fallen below in the latest quake. A second moment of relief came when he spotted guards on the walls, as he’d further feared the group might opt to up stakes and move.

  If he’d been one of them he would have done so, regardless of the tree. Their home was attached to one side of this bastion like a great stone limpet, and seemed extremely vulnerable to the quakes. In fact, peering at it now, he saw the bridge showed fresh cracks up and down its length, and was now at a faint angle. The walls above likewise had cracks worming through them. In his opinion the place wouldn’t be there much longer.

  ‘What’s the hold up?’ came a voice from behind, and he glanced over his shoulder to see Cait staring at him, her face covered by a black balaclava, the same as he wore. ‘We gonna trade with these people, or not?’

  ‘In a moment,’ he said. ‘I’m thinking.’ His eyes skimmed over the others beside her, who also wore their masks.

  He had brought Jo, Beth, John, Cait and Daksh with him, likewise masked. Not a big group, but he felt these were the most competent people available. He reflected that in a way it truly was a shame he’d had to kill Karl. Despite the man’s grating manner, he had been quite capable.

  He might still have brought more, but Perro and Azure had been determined to stay with Maxine. Elena had also descended into another funk, and he’d come to realise her previous one wasn’t entirely result of Karl’s death. The woman didn’t respond well to battle.

  He hadn’t seen any point in asking old Ben, Sara, Maxine, or naturally, Katie, to come on the trip. Maxine was better placed at the radios and the others were, in his opinion, unlikely to be able to keep up. Old Ben was also quite useful; provided more tools and equipment, he had expanded from constructing Soul Traps to servicing weapons and gear. Nicolai’s estimation of the man was steadily rising.

  Looking out at the walls of the Tree People’s bastion once again, Nicolai eyes returned to the figures on the walls. He activated his artificial lenses, zooming in to look closer. There was a notable difference to the last time he’d been here. This time, they armed with the guns he’d sold them last time.

  The Tree People were weak and soft. The five behind him, especially Jo and Beth, were hardened fighters in comparison. Not to mention, Nicolai himself. But even so, with so few against such a numerous and now, well-armed group, he had to take precautions. More precautions than last time.

  Nicolai turned and explained his plan to the others. Jo and Beth simply nodded, ready and willing. Daksh appeared uncertain, looking to Cait and John, but they were nodding also.

  ‘Let’s go.’

  They moved rapidly, jogging to the front of the bridge. The guards on the distant walls reacted when they were halfway there, stirring and pointing, and Cyberwarfare detected a sussurrus in the Local as the far group began sending Link messages to one another.

  Nicolai joined them, passing his own broadcast to Daksh who activated his Link arm to send it out more strongly, washing over the outcrop.

  ‘We have come to trade. Do not be afraid. We mean no harm. You traded with us before, remember? We are the traders who sold you those guns. We have come to trade.’

  The message continued, repeating, in order to ensure the point got across. This was necessary, as Nicolai and the groups next behaviour was rather aggressive.

  Arriving at the bridge, Cait, John, and Daksh crouched low behind the guardwalls beside the bridge, dumping the bags of goods beside them. Meanwhile Nicolai, Jo, and Beth simply stepped up onto the guardwalls then hopped off, drones rising above and into the air to streak towards the castle. With activated Pegasi rings they floated below the bridge. The same trick as last time, as Nicolai thought it unlikely the Tree Huggers would have managed to come up with any kind of counter to it. In fact, he doubted they’d even have tried.

  In contrast, Nicolai and his people were better equipped and more experienced than ever. He held an assault rifle, loot from the cyborgs, and the AA-12 was slung over his back. He had plenty of magazines for both. Jo had an SMG in her hands and a new, better sniper on her back. Beth carried the other assault rifle. Their gear was also improved in other respects; better bullet-proof vests and more grenades.

  ‘Who is that? The trader?’ came a voice through the Local, one Nicolai recognised. Pot Helmet.

  ‘It’s me,’ he replied. ‘We’re coming up to check all is well, then we shall trade with you, as we agreed we would at this time.’

  The drones were now skimming over the Tree People’s walls, giving a view inside. He saw fewer people than last time, but other than that not much had changed. Not much, excepting one thing. As the tree itself came into view, he was shown a stark difference, one that gave him pause.

  The tree had grown. Not up, but out. Where before its branches had been high and spread, now they appeared to have wilted, and grown far more leafy. It reminded him of a willow. The trees trunk was now hidden, wrapped by a thick outer layer of branches, a shimmering green dress rustling gently in the wind.

  An odd change, but Nicolai was well aware that he knew very little about Spiritual Trees. The information in the Memory Tome was more of a quick-and-wide summary of different beings. It gave the standout information and useful facts, such as what could be gained from such trees, rather than an in-depth analysis.

  He supposed this must be the next stage in the process of evolution the Memory Tome had briefly mentioned such trees went through. More irritatingly, the covering of branches meant that he couldn’t have the drones observe it from a distance in order to check for Lotus Blossoms, as he’d intended. They would struggle to get through the thickly leafed wall of branches, too. If he wanted to have a look, he’d have to get closer.

  ‘Wonderful! It is good to see you again, please come over!’ the voice of Pot Helmet replied.

  Nicolai, floating beneath the bridge ahead of Jo and Beth, frowned. That’s quite the attitude change from last time. He’d had a gaslighting little story spun and ready to go. Pot Helmet should have said something like: “What? But we didn’t make any agreement to meet for another trade now!” and Nicolai would have said, “Don’t you remember? We set a trade up for today.”

  And then Pot Helmet would have started blathering on about how he didn’t remember that at all, and Nicolai would have said there must have been some mix-up, but, oh well, they were here now, might as well trade. This was all calculated to help him work his way in, keeping the man occupied as they rose and secured the wall top, and convincing Pot Helmet to think that maybe he had in some way agreed to this and all was fine, pushing through the initial wall of reactive unease that Nicolai and the others springing up unannounced would cause.

  But instead, the man had no problems. He was eager, even.

  ‘Where are you? Are you coming in now?’ came pot-helmet’s voice.

  Nicolai had now reached the far side, and he stopped beneath the bridge, right up beneath their gatehouse. He didn’t need the wary chiming of Threat Analysis to know that Something Was Off.