11 Chapter 9: Spoils

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Industrial District

1821Y 03M09D 0800H

It took them a few days to clear up the nest and a few days more because Luci became impatient and tried to blast the area. The powerhouse was in ruins but they manage to somehow make a standby generator run.

The lab gate was hidden just outside the perimeter of the industrial complex northwest of the walled city, it was embedded on a hill surrounded by traces of military installations.

Smirf took out the key card and inserted it. The gate unlatches its bars and slowly opened breaking everything on its path but stopped halfway. The boys need to push it, just enough to get the wagon inside. "Hey, give mah card back." Smirf banging at the doors key slot. "Looks like its a one-way trip, Cat." Azaleah passing her by. "What ya mean, Azi?" She looks but Azaleah was not there anymore. "Love, we will need to find another way out." Tapping her shoulder. "Come along now, everyone's inside already and there is still a long way to go." She took her wagons leash and hurriedly followed, the gates closed behind her.

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Underground Lab

1821Y 03M09D 1100H

"Looks like their making experimental weapons here." Menan wandering around the armory. "Hey guys, found us a depot." Baby on the other side. "Anything good?" Acki asked. Then machinery started moving menacingly. Everyone reaches for their weapon but Mat signaled all to stand down. They saw Smirf running away from it. Mat gave her the look, she gave him a smile. He sighed and told Luci to check it out.

Started settling in the place. Only one sleeping quarters that is still intact, so, the girls claimed it for themselves.The technology and equipment are quite ancient but it is better than the basic workshop currently available in town.

Before the day ended Mat brief the group of their last battle, emphasizing on what they lacked; told them to prepare for the next one. Luci felt unaccomplished more than anyone else in the room. Remembering how she gave everything but couldn't put down the beast and the Captain was relying on her for that.

. . .

Proving Grounds: Forgotten City, Underground Lab

1821Y 03M12D 1400H

"What ya doin'?" Smirf suddenly showed up. "Oh," Luci got surprised. "I am making a new driver; a new spell." Gesturing towards the black sphere, that is about the size of a human torso. Smirf started poking at it. "It kinda looks like Baby's ball." Examining it further. "Will ya summon sumthin' like Cali?"

"Not, quite." She tapped it with her wand, the middle opened up like a cameras' lens, showing the philosophers' stone gyrating in the middle. "It is more like a familiar."

"Ti's an Evil Eye," pointing at it, making Luci stare hard. "It does look like an evil eye." Menan interjecting. Acki hearing the commotion came by. "Right, it does look like an eye, just don't know if it's evil."

"If it's Luci's, It's evil I tell you." Baby shouting as she walks in. The remark made everyone laugh.

Luci still laughing. "Where is Shiro?"

"There," Baby pointing towards the hammering sound at a workbench, where Shiro is laughing ominously while emanating a dark aura. Smirf started praying making everyone laugh more.

"He is just making a new mask, Smirfy." Menan making her calm down. "Really passionate about it, you can tell by the smile on his face." Smirf looked but Shiro was wearing an Oni mask, it scared her away. "Love, do not take heed of that dimwit." Luci glaring at Menan. "Anyway, what are you guys planning."

"I am making improvements on Cali, Weapons, Armor... the works." Baby paused a bit. " I am also going to make a catalyst, I realized a lot of things during the last battle."

"I know how you feel." Luci sympathizing.

"Me too, so, I made this." Acki showing his ultra great sword. "Made it bigger and heavier, and put my second philosopher in the middle of it." Menan with a sly smile. "What inspired you, Acki."

"Well, if I have to say... I saw Mat's Hammer and thought, that's amazing, it's big and heavy, and crackling with energy." He held the huge sword high and golden aura emanated from it. "So, I made mine bigger, heavier, longer, and more amazing." Everyone started to chuckle except Smirf and Acki.

"Well, ain't that somethin'." Smirf all sparkly about it made the three crack up. "Enough, enough, I can take no more." Luci holding her chest. The two got confused to what just happened.

"Smirfy, where's captain by the way," Menan ask still laughing.

"Well, told me. he'll be busy." Pouting as she said it. "Your boyfriends a real jerk, Smirfy" Menan fanning the flames.A puff of steam suddenly erupted at Smirfs head as she got all red and flustered. "He ain't mah boyfriend, Menan." Fluttering about "Husband?" Said Acki, making the situation worst. Everyone was laughing really hard by now. As the situation got 'steamier'.

"Luci, is that Mage art or... really steam." Baby chuckling as she asks Luci. "I believe it's Mage art," can not stop herself from laughing. "I taught her that, probably something went wrong with her parameters or configurations." Wiping the tears off her eyes. Baby started to laugh really hard too. "A command activation by being flustered... How... Ho..."

"Should we tell her?" Luci trying really hard to throw the question. "Are you serious!?" Both of them laugh so hard, it drowned out everyone else's then everyone joined in.

. . .

Smirf sat down at a chair beside him. "Hey, ya busy?" He glances at her. "Not really... heard you guys having fun." She stretch a bit then started kicking air. " Nah, they just pickin' on me — again." Smirf watch him as he was was building small spheres, lots of them his focus unwavering but was not neglecting her presence. "Well, that's because they like you a lot."

"Mat," Smirf calling him softly. "Yeah,"

"R'member, Leitz's speech at the Grand Hall?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Ah, still don't get it. Why all of this for?" Smirf look at him, but he was still focus at work. "What you mean?"

"Swords, em medieval stuff, mutants, and low tech stuff... It ain't summin' up in mah head." Flicking the spheres like playing marbles. "How'd we kill em elves with this?"

"Kill!?" he stops working then looked at her. "Did ah say sumthin' wrong?"

"No, it is just the way you said it." He took a chair and sat beside her. "Anyway, elves are far technologically advance than we are. That is why we lost countless battles." Mat started talking, looking away to some far away place. "So why?"

"The only reason mankind still exists is because of our ingenuity." He continued on, Smirf started to frown. "Ya makin' it more complicated."

"Our situation right now, we are fighting incredible odds with leftover technology. Finding ways to overcome what seems to be impossible. That is the main point of our existence, I would say." He finally looked at her. "Kinda get that part of the training, and kinda answers mah questions — ah think.

He laughed realizing he is not making any sense to her.. "Why medieval sorcery, armor, and weaponry. How do we defeat technologically advance elves with these, right?"

"Well, yah!" Annoyed puffing her cheeks with air.

"In your class, you have monsters films every sunday, Right?" Portraying some kind of a monsters as he talked. "Ah remember that Mah always shows em at night to scare us — t'was funny now I think 'bout it." Reminiscing then snaps back. "Wut that got to do with anythin'?"

"Monsters in films kill humans by the dozens, with claws, teeth basic 'stuff' and humans trying to kill them with guns, bombs, etc."

"That's cause their monsters, they ain't just gonna die." Smirf said complainingly .

"Exactly," opens his arms wide. "This — is a factory of monsters." Spreading his arms wide. "The forgotten city, mutants!?"

"Us," with a far look and a wicked grin. "What!?" Frightened. "Ah ain't no monster."

"Not yet..." with a low resounding voice. "Ya, scaring me Mat, what ya talking about?" On the verge of tears, trying to make sense of all of it. "Am I!? Sorry about that." Smiled at her, then stood up. "Anyway, I have something for you."

"Really!? What is it?"

"It is with Azaleah, at the armory." He started to work again "Oh, I also gave her some plans for your wagon." Smirf all sparkly and spaced out. He came close then blew softly on her ear. She turned red as a tomato then a huge puff of steam came out of her.

"Wa...wa wa... why!?" All flustered holding on her ear. Chuckled. "Go see Azaleah," She fluttered away screaming. "I heard ya — didn't have to do that, ya know!." Running away like a steam locomotive.

. . .

"Azi," Smirf arrive at the armory. "Wer ya." Smirf saw her at a blast-proof door hovering about. "I'm busy cat, go away."

"Mat sent me." Showing no intention of backing out. Azaleah Rolled her eyes. "Oh, did he now?" Fidgeting as she came closer. Little bit steam coming out of her eyes. "At least, your version of Mage Art is getting better." Azaleah ooking down on her. "What you mean?"

"Anyway, I know why your here." Hovered over a folded set of white clothes. "This is for you, White Herald Set he called it." It was a silver half-plate armor with long flowing white garments. It has a hood, leather boots, and leggings are covered by a skirt with a pair of leather gloves. "It's lighter than Ah thought." Swirling around.

"It is a catalyst, it has been configured to use reinforced on self once you start to pray "The Lord's Prayer."

"Why..."

"Don't ask, his word 'it will turn her to a statue of a virgin for the duration of the prayer'."

"When, well, ah am but..."

"There's more," interrupting her again.

"Mail," Smirf opened it up and saw blueprints for the wagon. "So, this is..."

"How is your wagon, cat?"

"Oh, I made the kitchen bigger, made everything bigger actually." Pointing towards a tank now twice it's original size. "So, when we get us outside, we' ll be more comfortable and..."

"How will you get that outside?" Azaleah Irritable ask her the question. Smirf froze like a snowman in winter.

"Dumb cat, just don't make it any wider than that circular platform in the middle. Got it?" Pointing over to what looks like a lift in the middle. "Yes, Azi... I heard ya. T'anks," bowed her head.

"This is the last, finally," Azaleah gave out a sgih of relief then opened up the vault.

"What..."

"Its a doll, Cat. I was supposed to use it to house my AI but it needs a philosophers' to function properly, without it, a common mutant will just slap it around." Hovered close to the mechanical doll.

"How..."

Azaleah flew back then sat on her shoulder. "Cat... we will make this into something great, okay?" Smirf nodded energetically. "Okay, Azi."