Ch 29: Silens

Heading to the lakeside town of Silens, Grey and the others search for a relative of Schmitt's to take in his grandchildren before they head to the Gate.

            Mythra’s pond. Saturday June 9, 520NA. Placing Lei in the pond, Amy smiled at him and said, “Ok Lei, this pond is your new home now! Mommy has a lot of places to go, but I promise I’ll come back to visit you!” Swimming around happily, Lei looked at her and let out a loud “Ribbit!” Amy, looking rather downhearted, turned to the Grey and the others gathered there as she said, “I’m gonna miss him…” Smiling, Scott said, “Hey it’s like you said, you’ll come see him again right?” Next to him, Richter nodded and said, “There’s a saying. For every meeting there must also be a parting, but as long as you keep your friends in your heart you can always meet again.” Grinning, Schmitt said, “Couldn’t have said it better myself Richter! No matter how far apart, that little guy’ll always be one of us!” Mildly annoyed at the way everyone was making such a fuss, Mythra crossed her arms with a sigh and said, “I swear, it seems like we have a frogpole fan club now. If you all are going to miss him so much you could just bring him along after all…” Amy shook her head as she said, “When I found him all alone in the middle of the forest, I knew he needed me to take care of him. Now that he’s found a safe place where he can live in peace, it would just be selfish of me to make him leave.” Walking up next to Amy, Grey flashed a smile at her and then looked over at Lei in the pond and said, “Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be right here waiting for you. Right Lei?” Then Grey turned back to Amy with a grin as he said, “The sooner we stop Altera Veritas, the sooner we’ll be back, right?” Smiling, Amy nodded and said, “Yeah!”

            Looking around the bridge of the Audentia, Mythra said, “So this is what passes for a top of the line airship these days? Well, I suppose it can’t be helped…” As she took one of the passenger seats in the left row, Schmitt turned back and looked at her as though she were crazy, saying, “What’s wrong with this beauty? She’s EDE powered, has a top speed of about 2,500mph, plenty of storage in the cargo hold, the newly developed EDE cannons, top of the line navigational computers… This ship’s got just about everythin’!” Scott whispered to himself in awe, “2,500mph…” Mythra simply smirked and said, “I’m sorry to say Schmitt, but this ‘beauty’ of yours looks like a tin can with wings compared to one of the flagships I commanded when we laid siege upon the Dark Crusade’s stronghold all those years ago.” Schmitt only replied with a “Humph!” Donning a mischievous grin, Alexander sat down in a passenger seat and said, “Careful Mythra, taking a stroll down memory lane can be strenuous exercise for an old lady such as yourself.” Her eye twitching angrily, Mythra replied, “Oh is that so?! Perhaps I should get my exercise by strangling you instead, old man!” Clutching his head with a sigh, Grey broke them up quickly as he said, “Would you two knock it off already?” With a pouting expression, Mythra turned away from Alexander and muttered, “He started it…” Turning around in the pilot seat again, Schmitt said, “Alrighty, everybody grab your seat before we lift off! Next stop: Silens!” Getting Jacob and Emily in their seats, Amy quickly took a seat next to Grey. As the ship lifted off, Richter quietly said to Serius, who sat next to him, “I’ve noticed Alexander and Mythra seem like they don’t get along sometimes…” Glancing over at him Serius replied, “You need not worry about them. That is just their own way of getting along…”

            Having landed the Audentia in the fields outside Silens, as the group all made their way towards the town, Scott said, “It really a good idea to leave the ship out there in the open like that?” Shrugging his shoulders, Schmitt said, “Well if ya take a look around, Silens ain’t all that close to any forest or anything that we could hide her in. Sure as hell not gonna hide her in the lake! We’ll just have to make this a brief visit I guess…” Fiddling with her hat, Mythra groaned, “Do I have to wear this? I mean, if those two thought they were just fakes, does it really matter? It’s the middle of summer, it’s too hot for a hat!” Grey laughed nervously and said, “I think it’s probably better we don’t take the chance. Like Alexander was saying, we’re wanted and all, so it’s best we don’t draw too much attention.” Approaching the town gates however, it became apparent it would not be so easy to enter. Seeing the Special Forces soldiers protecting the gate, Schmitt exclaimed, “Aww hell! That ain’t good…” Not the least happy to be right, Richter muttered, “I was afraid of this.” Nodding, Alexander said, “I should have expected this as well. With the destruction of Lamis, it looks like the Special Forces are on high alert.” Scott nervously looked around for somewhere they could hide as he said, “Well anyone got a plan or something? They’re gonna see us standing here!” 

Suddenly, the soldiers began to rush towards them, and Amy said, “Uh-oh! Here they come!” Stepping forward as the others hesitated on whether to flee, Richter said, “I’ll handle this.” As the soldiers approached, Richter said to them, “Greetings men. I am Colonel Jack Richter, Second Division Guild Special Forces.” Eyes wide, the soldiers hesitated for a moment and then snapped to attention as one of them said, “Um, good day Colonel! Um, excuse me for asking, but the word among the troops is that you went missing after you went to investigate the attack upon Lamis! Also s-sir, aren’t they the wanted criminals, rogue energist #669 and his gang?! And what’s with the kids?!” Wondering just when they’d become a gang, Grey muttered to himself, “Well this isn’t looking like it’ll work…” However, Richter simply laughed quietly and said, “Yes well, I’m afraid I can’t disclose the details, but I am currently working on a top secret matter at the moment. These people are involved in that matter, and we require passage into Silens, if you would be so kind. I assure you I’ll take full responsibility.” Looking at each other for a moment, the guards quickly saluted and said, “Y-yes sir!” Quickly moving to the side, the one guard said, “Go right on ahead, and please everyone, forgive me for my rudeness!” As they marched quickly past them, the guards saluted once more. Their luck seemingly as strong as ever, the group made their way into Silens, and once they were out of earshot, Scott exclaimed, “That was awesome Jack! I can’t believe what just happened!” Grinning to himself, quite clearly amused by the Colonel’s successful deception, Alexander said, “Indeed. That was quite impressive.” A little amused herself, Mythra said, “Really? I find myself more unimpressed at the intelligence of the Special Forces grunts. Top secret mission… To think they actually bought it!” With a shrug of his shoulders, Grey said, “Yeah well, I’m just glad we didn’t have to fight our way out of that mess!”

            Making their way to the town square, as they arrived, Grey looked around and said, “Ok. We’re in, but… Schmitt, do you know exactly where we’re going?” Furrowing his brow, Schmitt seemed to think for a while as he looked around as well, and then he simply said, “Nope. No clue.” Nearly falling over from surprise, Mythra turned to him and shouted, “What the hell do you mean you have no clue?! You’re the one who asked to come here!” Quickly doing his best to explain, Schmitt said, “Well ya see, I know that my niece lives somewhere here in Silens, but the truth is I ain’t never visited myself, so I really don’t have any idea where her house’d be…” With a sigh, Alexander adjusted his shades as he looked around the many streets and said, “Well this complicates matters. I suppose we will have to ask around.” Eager to make amends for his blunder, Schmitt quickly said, “Leave that to me! Ya’ll just take a little look around town while I sort this out.” As Schmitt went off to start his search, leaving his grandchildren in Scott’s care, Amy took a good look around. While it was still a small and somewhat simplistic place compared to Celestis, this city was somewhat different from Aerennis. Various kinds of fish or boat related ornaments hung upon many of the houses and shops. Sometimes you would see the occasional hover wagon transporting goods, no doubt supplying the many shops in the square, all of which were much nicer than the stalls of Aerennis and stocked not just with goods like clothing or produce items, but with heaps of fish, fishing supplies, and boating supplies. One store in particular caught her eye, a shop stocked with swimsuits and other swimwear supplies, and as an idea popped into her head, she said to herself, “Hmm, maybe after we find Schmitt’s relatives we could go swimming…” 

Overhearing her with her superb hearing, which was just as powerful despite the hat, Mythra smirked and walked over to Amy, whispering to her, “You wanna go swimming eh?” Startled, Amy said, “Ah, um, I was just mumbling to myself.” With a sinister chuckle, Mythra whispered, “Oh I think it’s a great idea, why not suggest it? It’s not like you’re afraid to wear a swimsuit in front of Grey, right?” Realization dawning on her, Amy’s face turned deep red as she thought, “N-n-n-no! No, no, no, no, no! I-I-I-I’m not ready f-for something like that!” Suddenly making his way over to them at that worst possible moment, Grey asked, “What are you two whispering about over here?” Feeling her blood run cold, Amy made a panicked gesture and stammered as she shouted, “N-nothing, a-a-absolutely nothing!” Stepping back in surprise, Grey said, “Whoa, ok! Was just wondering…” Suddenly clinging to Grey’s arm, Mythra said, “So Grey, after we find the kids’ relatives, how about we go swimming? There’s a swimsuit shop right over there!” As Amy glared at her in fury, Grey turned to Mythra and stammered, “M-Mythra I told you to quit grabbing me like this! Plus, we’re not here to goof around! We’ve got places to go!” Releasing him, Mythra smirked and said, “Oh well. Sorry Amy, I tried.” With a surprised expression, Grey looked at Amy and said, “Going swimming was your idea, Amy?” Stunned, Amy looked at him and, struggling to find the right words as her face felt as though it was getting redder, she said, “Well… I… No, I mean yes, but…!” Then with a sigh of defeat, she muttered, “Oh just forget it…” Grey was rather confused, but before he could say anything more, Alexander called out, “Schmitt seems to have found some information. Let’s go.”

            As everyone followed Schmitt down the streets, Amy was trailing behind them, walking along the side of the street thinking about the embarrassing experience Mythra just put her through. Not looking where she was going, she walked right into someone, and as she fell on her behind, Grey looked back and said, “Amy, what happened?!” He rushed back to help her as she muttered, “Oww…” Then Amy looked up at who she’d run into, who had managed to remain on his feet, and said, “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention…” It was a man with green hair who looked in his late thirties, wearing black boots, black pants, black gloves, and a black vest with two large blue stripes going across the top of it. He also wore a pair of green tinted sunglasses. He walked up to her and extended his hand to help her up as he laughed and replied, “You’re not the only one. Sorry lil lady, guess my mind was somewhere else.” Amy took his hand and he helped her to her feet, and then as he took a better look at her, the man lifted his green shades to reveal his own green eyes, a look of surprise in them as he quietly said, “Hey, aren’t you…?” Then turning to look at Grey beside her, the man muttered, “You?!” As the others came closer to see what was going on, Alexander said, “Do you know Grey and Amy somehow sir?” Facing Alexander and the others now, the man quietly laughed, and after a moment he grinned and said, “Nah, they just look like someone I seen before.” Turning back to Amy, he said, “Sorry bout all this, miss. Name’s Douglas Mitchell, nice to meet ya. You folks new in town?” Nodding, Amy said, “Yeah, we’re on our way to meet with some relatives of Schmitt’s.” She pointed at Schmitt, who gave a grin and waved. With a chuckle, Douglas said, “Ah I see, I see! Well, sorry again for holding ya’ll up. Be seeing you around, I’m sure…” As Douglas continued on his way down the street, Alexander kept his eyes on him thinking, “Something about that man just did not seem right…” Reaching a small house on the corner, Schmitt said, “Here we are!” He walked up and knocked on the door. After a moment a woman with long brown hair and blue eyes answered the door, saying “I wasn’t expecting anyone, who…?” Looking at Schmitt, who grinned back at her, she exclaimed, “Uncle Schmitt?!” With a hearty laugh, Schmitt said, “Yep! Sorry to barge in on ya like this Jennifer, but I’m afraid we got a bit of a problem. Ya mind if we come in and talk?”

            Jennifer’s house was somewhat small, and the room they entered was without wallpaper, making it very obvious the house was made of wood. The area one would consider a living room shared the room itself with a jumble of appliances that made up her kitchen. There was a couch in the center of the living room in front of the small TV and a round wooden table with several chairs in the kitchen area. Schmitt sat at the round wooden table across from Jennifer, Alexander sitting next to him. While they talked, Amy did her best to keep the kids entertained on the other side of the room. Scott, Richter and Serius stood leaning against the wall near the table, and Grey and Mythra sat on the couch, listening to the conversation. As Schmitt finished telling her the situation, Jennifer sighed as she said, “Honestly I want to take them in, but you know the law. They’re both energists, I can’t legally keep them here, and I certainly couldn’t afford it if I had to move to a Sanctuary.” Scratching his head in thought, feeling as though he’d wasted everyone’s time coming here, Schmitt said, “I’m real sorry to hear that Jennifer. I really ain’t got anyone else I can think of to take care of them. Like I said, right now we’re gonna be goin off and doin stuff that’s too dangerous for these kids…” Glancing over at the kids, who were now listening to Amy as she sat reading them a book she’d borrowed from Mythra’s house, Alexander adjusted his shades and said, “The children both have very weak auras, I see little chance of them being discovered for quite some time.” Scott walked over to the table and said, “That might not be the case now though Alexander.” Following Scott over, Richter crossed his arms in front of him and said, “For normal towns, the protocol is usually to have a quarterly inspection that does a brief scan of the town for rogue energists. This is assuming the police do not call in the Special Forces for an emergency, or during a manhunt, a situation for example like when we came to Celestis to track down Grey. However with the heightened security, patrols will be sweeping the village every day until they are recalled. Also, the detection technology was recently updated to a more effective model. There is a chance they won’t be detected, however it is far more likely they will.” Suddenly thinking of something, Grey got up and walked over to the table as well as he said, “I know we’ve already caused her enough trouble with the Aerennis incident, but couldn’t we ask Tabatha to take care of them?” Considering this a moment, Alexander said, “That’s not a bad idea I suppose. If Jennifer cannot take them in, it’s probably our best bet.” Suddenly Amy stopped reading, and getting to her feet, she said, “Alexander, you told me to let you know if I got any bad feelings, and I just got a really bad feeling about something!” Turning to Mythra, Alexander said with a serious tone, “Mythra, do you sense any unusual activity of EDE?” Mythra closed her eyes, and after a moment she started to say, “Hmm, not at the moment, there are a lot of Special Forces mem-” Suddenly her eyes went wide and she said, “I’m sensing Corrupted EDE!”

Reviews

[Ryan Henderson]

Just one spelling correction: "It really a good idea to leave the ship out there in the open like that?” You may want to put it as "Is it"

Very good chapter. I particularly like the scene where Mythra and Amy were discussing going swimming. Mythra certainly is mischievous! I like Amy's reaction when Mythra asked if she was comfortable wearing a swimsuit in font of Grey. I laughed out loud. Quite literally.

I like the plot of this chapter. Sort of a filler chapter. The gang needs to get Schmitts grandkids to a safe place before they continue on their journey. I like it! I am also coming to like Ritcher and Schmitt's characters, although they will nevr be as good as MYTHRA!!!!!!!!

Very amazing write, I hope there are a lot of Mythra moments yet to come! Keep writing!

[KeithKVH]

Thank you for the review! On the spelling correction, I see your meaning about the correctness of "Is it", however it was done this way to display a bit of an informal speech pattern. Sort of similar to using slang, I'm just portraying Scott as being youthful and laid back with his speech. I may consider changing it just to avoid confusion though, it doesn't have any largely important impact.

This really is a filler you're right. This and the last chapter are really the calm after the storm, and this one pretty much is just to introduce the town and the start of the journey onward. The part with Mythra and Amy is a highlight though, and since it's not spoiling anything specifically I'll let you know that this bit between them doesn't end here as they do wind up visiting a beach in volume 2.

[Ryan Henderson]

I can't wait for the beach scene. Lol Can't wait to see what Amy and Mythra will do there. Perhaps they'll get competitive and try to win Grey's heart there?