Chapter 27: Joining and Breaking

Going back to work the day after the date was just about the worst possible thing for Rick, since it gave him way too much time to think about things. Melissa had needled him with multiple insinuations once he got back, but he couldn't actually talk to her about all of that. For one, it was private, and for another, it would just give her more ammunition.

That left him wandering in his own thoughts as he hiked through the Peakless Wildlife Refuge with Delsin, however. Most of his thoughts were positive, it was just too easy to get lost in them. He was pretty sure the old man noticed and spent more time away in irritation.

Unfortunately, the third anomaly within the Refuge proved to be harder to find instead of easier. Even though there wasn't any more interference, a broader effect seemed to be making the aura flicker strangely. Rick had to double-check the surveying technique multiple times, but the problem didn't seem to be with him. A few others on the CSLA forums mentioned it, and though there were no answers, he assumed that it must be some broader trend. Hopefully not one that would make all future anomalies this difficult.

Once he spotted Blue in the distance. He immediately froze, not sure whether he wanted to avoid the aura bear or go up against it again. Yet this time the bear only let out an odd breath and trundled onward, as if he was no longer interesting.

Whatever the bear was interested in, Rick couldn't find it, because his day was filled with useless surveying. Just to keep his mind from shutting down he began trying to do his meditation simultaneously with the surveying technique. Slightly challenging for a while, though not something that could hold his interest for hours. When Delsin appeared out of the woods, Rick was relieved.

"You look like you're done for a while." Delsin leaned back against a tree and folded his arms. Rick wanted to object, yet found himself nodding.

"I think I'm getting too unfocused to work anyway. I guess I'm done early today, so take me back to the offices."

"Nah. You look like a man who could use a break." The world blurred around them for a moment, then Rick found himself outside Delsin's cabin. Immediately the man began walking toward it, barely glancing over his shoulder. "The offer's only good for a few seconds, kid."

Just sitting down for a while sounded good, much less the potential to chat with Delsin. Rick quickly followed him to the cabin, but this time the old man was in and out too quickly. When he emerged he was carrying two microbrews, one of which he handed to Rick. They walked a few paces around the side of the cabin where there was a wooden bench Rick hadn't noticed before.

For a while they just sat and drank, looking out over the forest. Not a great view, but it was a pleasant one. Rick wasn't sure if he'd ruin things by speaking up first, so he kept silent. Fortunately, half-way through their beers, Delsin finally broke the silence.

"I've been talking to my nieces and nephews. They seem to agree that you're a good sort."

Instead of risking a response, Rick just nodded and took a sip of his beer.

"You've fulfilled your side of the agreement, you delivered the misshapen creatures, and Wemilat says you've been helping out a bit. All good things." Delsin shifted to look at him, his eyes turning hard. "But you've refused payment. It's almost enough to make a man think you're trying to get leverage."

"I'm not interested in leverage." Rick took a drink in order to buy a bit of time and decide exactly how he wanted to say things. "I just want fair compensation."

"Well, you sure seem to be refusing it."

"The whole reason you agreed to work with me instead of throwing me out was because I was providing a service you couldn't buy with lucrim. And I'm not helping you out for a few bucks - that's what I have my job for." Rick forced himself to look at the older man without flinching. "I think it's only fair that in exchange I get something more than a bit of money."

Delsin stared at him for a long moment and Rick became extremely aware of the shotgun leaning against the side of the cabin. Eventually the older man grunted and took a drink, cutting through the tension. "At least you're honest about the manipulation. Fine, what do you want?"

"I'm not sure how strong you are, but you're stronger than me. I want you to teach me something I couldn't learn anywhere else. That teleportation technique, maybe."

"Out of the question. You couldn't learn it even if I was willing to teach you."

"But you're open to the offer?"

"Maybe." Delsin took a long drink, then gave him a grudging smile. "I don't like to admit it, but you've done my family a real service. The surveyors other than you are getting more aggressive, and I couldn't throw all of them out of the Refuge easily. Plus, I don't want attention from the CSLA. So I respect that you were willing to listen and that you've helped out."

The words didn't seem to come easily to the old man but they sounded sincere, so Rick let himself feel a little bit of hope. He hadn't been sure this gambit would work, just felt that he had to try. It was taking so many days to resolve things, he wasn't actually getting much of a leg up on his competitors, so he needed an edge. Ideally something that would last.

"Thing is, we don't teach our tribal techniques to just anyone." Delsin leaned closer to him, all trace of humor gone from his dark eyes. "If you want to learn even one, you have to become a member of the tribe. This is no petty ritual, it means giving up your old allegiances and taking up our causes as your own. Only when you truly fight for us can you become one of us. Can you do that?"

"I..." Rick took a deep breath and almost said yes. His instincts only warned him at the last instant and instead he eyed the old man shrewdly. "Do you ever give up?"

In response Delsin barked a short laugh. "Damn, I really thought I'd get you that time." He didn't answer right away, though, so after pausing long enough Rick just responded in annoyance.

"If you had been serious, how do you join the tribe?"

"You don't. If you'd taken me up on that, I'd have shown you the fucking door." Delsin took a drink and shook his head. "Seriously, it's no small thing you're asking."

Rick took a deep breath, focusing on the fact that there was still a chance. "I know that. There isn't a group in the world that would give up secrets lightly. But for all the nonsense you spew, I don't think I'm asking you to give up something sacred. You know that they're just techniques for fighting."

"Good ones, though. Your ancestors couldn't conquer their way through the continent because the lucrim was too equal. The only thing they had over us was their filth and all the diseases that came with it. Without them, you never would have gotten us to sign any truces. So it's no small thing to just hand over our techniques."

"Oh, hah hah. You can do that act for someone el-"

Abruptly the end of a beer bottle was in his face, almost hitting him. "I'm not messing with you this time, kid. We might have everyone's respect these days, but it's a kind of respect that starts to taste like poison. If I sensed any of it in you, I'd have blown your head off."

The words came out like ice and Rick found himself frozen, not sure if those hard eyes were sincere. Fortunately, after a while Delsin pulled back his bottle and gave him a dry smile.

"Fortunately, you're just power hungry, like most kids are. Why are you pushing so hard to grab power, anyway?"

"I have my reasons."

"I know, that's why I asked for them." Delsin stared at him, not drinking, looking like he wasn't going to budge. Unfortunately, the biggest thing keeping Rick from speaking was uncertainty instead of stubbornness. It was a question he often asked himself, so he didn't have much choice but to think out loud.

"I'm not sure. Just becoming strong... that sounded appealing when I was a kid, but the older I get, the more that starts to feel empty. It's not anything noble, it's just like... wanting to own the biggest pool in the neighborhood. It's empty."

"Not if it's a good pool."

Rick ignored him and kept speaking. "For a long time I wanted to help my sister, or just be able to keep my extended family from taking what wasn't theirs. But I was strong enough to do those things. Part of me feels like there's gotta be something even worse coming, so I need to prepare for it. I don't think that's the real reason, though. Maybe if I'm being completely honest... this is what I know how to do."

For a long time Delsin didn't answer, staring out over the woods and taking a drink from time to time. Rick decided to do the same, trying not to look nervous. When Delsin finally finished his bottle, he let out a sigh, set it down, and spoke without looking at Rick.

"Say I agreed to teach you something. What do you want? We could do the Ancient Prongs, which is a damn good offensive skill. Or maybe the Cloak of Midnight Beads? That'd be one that would blend pretty well with your defensive core. My teleportation technique is still way beyond you, but we do have some good movement skills. Take your pick."

"If you were in my position and your life was on the line, what technique would you learn next?"

Delsin gave him a long stare that was almost impossible to read. Then he cursed under his breath and looked away. "Okay, that is a bullshit answer."

"I think you were offering a bullshit choice. I don't know a thing about any one of those techniques. You just wanted to teach me something quick and get rid of me."

"Damn right." Delsin slapped his hands on his knees and pushed himself up. "I'll think about it."

"About your answer?"

"About whether teaching you something is worth getting rid of you for good. But fine, if we're going to do this, show me your portfolio. I assume you have one of those apps everyone uses these days?"

Normally Rick didn't just show that to people, but he thought that this was probably an exception. Quickly pulling it up on screen, he handed the phone over to the old man. Delsin seemed to have no trouble reading it, and Rick knew what he'd see.

[Name: Rick Hunter

Ether Tier: 15th

Ether Score: 315

Lucrim Generation: 49,025

Effective Rate: 47,097

Current Lucrim: 35,289]

[Rick Hunter's Lucrima Portfolio

Foundation: 4200 (Lv IV)

Offensive Lucore: 8100 (Lv V)

Defensive Lucore: 19,650 (Lv VIII)

Bunyan's Step: 8375 (Lv V)

Graham's Stake: 8700 (Lv II)

Aura Leech: -1928 (Stage I)

Gross Lucrim: 49,025

Net Lucrim: 47,097]

"Huh." Delsin's expression might as well have been a mask, hinting at absolutely nothing. "I still haven't decided yet, but I'll say this... if you want something good, you're not ready. If I were you, I'd stop investing in my current cores and start building a mass for something else."

That was as close as an answer as Rick was going to get, so he nodded, trying to keep from grinning. "I'll do what I can, though I don't know how fast my generation rate will increase."

"Shave some off your foundation, too. Looks like you've gained some fat to trim from all that biking."

"I... will do my best." Rick hadn't considered that and immediately filed it away. If he didn't know better, Delsin might have given him some actual advice. He didn't think the old man would ever truly warm to him, but he did think that they might be able to come to an agreement. That was better than he thought he'd get when he started the conversation.

"Alright, then shut up and get back to work." Delsin sent him blurring through the forest, and though the bottle was still in his hand, the break was clearly over.

~ ~ ~

"Okay, now!" Wemilat called out and Rick obeyed, pushing a bit of aura into the rod in his hand.

In an instant the ether-enchanted mechanism manifested an entire cage, wrapping itself around the running creature and trapping it in place. Of course, it was only a squirrel, not exactly a dangerous beast. The squirrel ran up against the side and chittered at him, but good-naturedly. The thing was practically tame.

"That was pretty good." Wemilat came up beside him and smiled encouragingly. "Okay, dismiss the cage. You can actually keep that one - no charge so long as you bring it back undamaged."

"Thanks." Rick disabled the device and stood up, while beneath them the squirrel ran around their feet. "Will this thing be strong enough to capture something serious? I mean, not an aura bear, but a dragon or something that uses heavier lucrim."

"Well, no cage is unbreakable." Wemilat gave a lazy shrug. "If it's a well-fed dragon, you're going to have a hard time catching it in the first place. If it's something really serious, you'd probably want tranquilizing techniques, not just a little trick like this. But it'll do in case you run into something average."

"Then I'll keep that in mind. Hopefully if I run into any other endangered animals, I can bring them back here."

"You're a good man, Rick. Hopefully we can talk some sense into Uncle Delsin. Actually, if you didn't already work for the CSLA, I'd almost consider hiring you on a part time basis."

That surprised Rick, far from anything he'd considered. He'd chatted with the siblings a few times, but he wouldn't have even called them friends, much less on a familiar enough basis for a job offer. Then again, they didn't seem to get the chance to work with many people.

Before he could figure out what he wanted to say, Adsila came in from the other room. The squirrel ran up to her leg and she immediately kicked, not connecting hard with the animal but sending it sliding across the room. Wemilat scowled at her, but she just focused on Rick.

"Okay, I have it ready for you. Come into the main room."

If she meant she was done with the jackalopes, that might be an even better gift than the cage. Rick eagerly followed her to the front desk, where Adsila triumphantly raised a stoppered test tube of red liquid.

"Tadah!"

"Uh..." He stared at it. "Is that jackalope blood?"

"Of course not!" She looked dismayed for a moment, but only a moment. "No, this is an extremely concentrated extract of their twisted lucrim. Filtered through their biology, it's like a highly specialized core. Definitely not something you'd want to just drink, but it's valuable."

"That's brutal," Wemilat said as he came up beside them. "Even jackalopes deserve better than that."

"Oh, hush. Extracts fund more of our operations than your nonsense." Adsila turned back to Rick with a smile and pushed the test tube into his hand. "As the person who brought in all those bodies, this is yours. If you don't know what to do with it, feel free to talk to someone who does. Just don't sell it off randomly - that'd just be rude."

Rick accepted it and smiled back. "Great, thanks. I think I might know someone."

"But that pales in comparison to the far greater gift!" Adsila reached behind the counter and then pulled something out with a flourish: a jackalope stuffed and mounted on a plaque. It looked a bit ridiculous with its mouth open, but that was kind of the point. "Whatever your joke is, I hope it's funny."

"Heh, I think it will be." He took the plaque carefully, imagining how Melissa would react. "Thanks to both of you. If your uncle doesn't kick me out after I find the last anomaly, maybe I'll stop by more in the future."

They left on a good note, leaving him cheerful as he began biking back into Branton. Despite the lack of progress in some ways, it had been a good day. He was closer to his goal, Delsin might actually agree to train him, he had the stuffed jackalope for Melissa, and the surprise vial of extract.

There was likely only one thing to do with it: give it to Lisa... oh shit, Lisa. Rick's eyes went wide and he slowed down as he tried to get out his phone while still biking. With all of the distractions, he'd lost track of time. He wasn't late to their meeting in Eastpark, but he was damn close. Worse, there weren't any buses or taxis out here, so he didn't have that option.

Rick exhausted himself biking as hard as he could, then grabbed a taxi at the first opportunity. He still ended up reaching the park almost ten minutes late. Fortunately, Lisa waited with a calm expression on her face, apparently going through her meditations. When he arrived, however, she looked at him with concern.

"Is everything okay, Rick?"

"Sorry I'm late, but I hope this will be worth it." He pulled the test tube from the place he'd secured it and showed it to her. "This is apparently jackalope extract. I have no idea what to do with it, but when they talked about its properties, I immediately thought of you. Think you can do something with it?"

"Thank you, Rick." Lisa gave him a surprisingly broad smile and took the test tube from him, brushing his hand. "I don't know anything about this specifically, but extracts like these are commonly used in higher end mixtures. This could be just what I need to produce better ones... actually, this is too nice of a gift. It'd be more fair to compensate you in some way."

"Nah, don't worry about it. Not with you giving me so many free mixtures. If you really feel guilty we can just do more training sessions, right?"

"That's kind of you." She watched him fondly, then seemed distracted for a moment. Glancing down at her phone, she then looked back up at him. "Can we reschedule our next session? I'm actually going to be attending a seminar on lucrim massage - it'll be interesting, but it will eat up my week. Can you do Saturday?"

"Not Saturday, I have a da-" Rick cut off, realizing that he'd been about to mention his next date with Emily and shying away from it without quite knowing why. Lisa shot him a curious glance.

"What was that?"

Part of him wanted to just say that Sunday would work better, but why? They were adults and there was nothing shameful about it - if anything, he should be proud. "Uh, I have a date with Emily on Saturday. I hadn't mentioned it to you yet. We've both been busy."

"Ah. Okay." Lisa turned away rather abruptly and Rick immediately felt a bit guilty without being certain why. The way she was turned he couldn't see her face, but her posture was stiff. "Thanks a lot for the extract, Rick. You're a good friend."

"Of course. Is... everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She turned back to him with a smile. "And it's cool that you're dating Emily. She'll be able to watch your back when things get rough."

He laughed awkwardly. "Yeah, if she doesn't drag me into anything worse."

"Before I forget, let me give you these." Lisa turned to open up her backpack and handed him a small case that appeared to contain several cans. "These are my newest mixtures, and I think you'll like them. I've been putting a lot of effort into translating the data into results lately, so I hope you'll see the positive effect."

"Great, thanks."

"Does Sunday work for you for our next sparring session?"

"Yeah, it should." Rick tapped it into his phone, eyeing Lisa suspiciously. "Is everything alright? You're talking like we're not going to spar today."

"It won't work today - I need to get ready for the seminar. But I wanted to get you these, and thanks again for the extract. I'll see you on Sunday, alright?" Lisa gave him a broad smile and moved away, leaving Rick a bit stunned.

Obviously she wasn't happy, but he wasn't sure why. The one potential answer that occurred to him was that she was upset that he was dating Emily, but that made him feel arrogant and self-centered. It was possible that she had her own issues in life to deal with. Given how they'd both been busy with work lately, they hadn't had much chance to talk.

After standing in the park for a while, directionless, Rick turned back and headed home.