Chapter 01: No Zealot Like A Convert! Scene 01

"It's less about the model and more about the fundamental concept. If there were a world with competing global hegemonies, they might use each other's currency when it's convenient, but they'd still mint their own for when that competition gets more direct. To do otherwise would be tantamount to letting your enemy hold your ammunition. Sure, you still have a gun, and it's loaded with whatever you have in there, but your enemy can always get a gun in your caliber." she shook her head a bit.

"As for the universe being small ... I've only been wandering around this one little world for a few years now. That's very much not the impression I've gotten."

Cal turned to look at Fort, chewing his lip slightly before responding. "I used to live as you say… chasing a better life. Making a place for my wife and son, always reaching to get that next comfort, that next step, that next security. That journey resulted in me helping build Creed’s wall for all the good that did… It put my family in Tolkeen…" Cal paused taking a deep breath. "…I’m telling you that I would give up anything. Any comfort. Any promise of security. Any perceived strength of survival. Any step forward, to go back and tell myself to focus on contentment." Turning to Yiza, Cal asked. "How so? What in your experience has made the universe different than a desire for connection?"

"There are many places where there are no people." she started, matter of factly, "If you're only focused on those that do, you're already forcing a commonality that isn't always present. I've roamed lands where the Xiticix hold sway, and I assure you they have very little in common with 'people', more like organic machines that exist to propagate and expand their colony. I've seen what vampire spawn will do to their living families, and I can assure you that any connection they once had was burned fully away in their death. The Wendigo I tracked was a solitary creature, it knew only its hunger and its hatred. Brodkil organize into gangs and tribes, but did you ever have the opportunity to observe them between raids? Lethargic, and incurious, until one of them picks a fight to alleviate its boredom and the rest gather around like drug addicts hoping for a contact high."

"I don't mean to focus on the negative. I've helped others speak to the shadows of the dearly departed, seen the wild and reckless dancing of the lights of faerie, and stalked a living meme that propagated itself through song." she gestured to herself, "This leaves aside the entire universes that can dwell within a single Person. Among peoples, there are commonalities, but to sweep their differences aside is to claim that bread and cake are the same thing."

"The world seems neither small, nor simple, to me."

It is an interesting perspective. Cal turned to look out the window again.

"Not all aspirations are created equal. We are all here, after all. Not throwing pots or tilling fields, for money or comfort or whatever else. Righteous heroism is no easy road to contentment." Adatahl leaned forwards a little, hands folding as he rested his forearms on his knees. His cheek curled and he let out a quiet chuckle. "Hmm. Quite a philosophical drive. Has everyone else been bashing their head, too?" He lifted one hand to press at the too-close ceiling of the vehicle.

Fort's expression and tone softens a bit more. "If that is what you seek, that is also a worthwhile pursuit. And there are indeed approaches that help achieving it - approaches that prevent grief and dwelling on the past consume the present and future, and deal with related issues. But these approaches still involve hard, delicate mental work, reflection, and research."

Listening to the others Glyfix shakes their head. " The root of the problem serms universal. Individuals seek power through exerting influence over or through others. I understand the desire for growth and comfort. But the need to control others, to prove your dominance or superiority, that is something I do not. "

To Adatahl he says " If we get a vehicle permanently assigned to us I can look into retrofitting it to suit us better. So if you want to stop hitting you head, I guess the best way is do a good job. Or ride on top. "

Cal turned to look at the instruments, his lips pressed tight as he shook his head slightly. Glyfix, can you confirm where that is? Is it toward our destination?

Glyfix directs several drones that had been on standby to investigate

Bouncing along in the ATV and distracted by driving while monitoring his sensors Glyfix realizes that multitasking in the field might not be all that easy

This looked like a situation that could escalate any moment. Fort remains seated, now with closed eyes, but with clenched fists. Many psi-warriors sought out a moment of tranquility in preparation to a battle. Fort, on the other hand, followed a much rarer path, tensing like a coiled spring. Ready to explode in a burst of raw power both physical and mental."If you need a dismount, just say the word."

Easy, Fort. We don't know anything yet. It could be hunters shooting at wild game. Cal's tone and face did not convey that he believed his own words. Glyfix, what are the range of your drones? Can you speed us toward the destination until they can tell us more? We better radio this in.

"...Pretty powerful weaponry for hunting." she muttered, "Can anyone raise the Onyx Logging Camp on their radio?" she asked, sweeping her visual mode over to heat to see if she could pick out the searing beams of coherent light scything through the woods. Radio encryption was far from universal out in the post apocalyptic wilderness. Wordlessly, she starting cycling through frequencies, seeing if she could capture the gunmen's comms.