Charlie grinned and asked the question on everyone’s mind. “Did we just pull of a coup?”

  David shook his head looking round at Mark, Carl, Katie, Camila and Sarah before answering Charlie.

  “No, that happens when I touch the Obelisk. The only thing I’m going to do is lock assignment of merit from survivors. I’m not going to become a dictator.”

  The words sounded slightly hollow to him. He was in essence becoming exactly what he feared Micky wanted to be.

  Camila shook her head, impatient as always to get moving once the decision was taken. “Dios Mio, just go and do it. Mark, you go and find Dr. Chen while David does his thing. Then we all agreed, we speak to the other raiders. We put the word out and we get back out there at first light. For Billy.”

  That sobered them.

  As David stood up he spoke to Charlie again. “While I’m doing this can you figure out what our options are with these limited upgrades we have and maybe what the hell Domain is?”

  Charlie grinned, nodded and his eyes immediately unfocused as he started doing his favorite thing, peppering the Obelisk with questions. David wondered if he was compensating for a web surfing habit but then dismissed the thought as uncharitable.

  David got up and moved off towards the Obelisk. He was only partway there when someone intercepted him carrying an electric lantern.

  “Sir, are you alright? You look like you need medical attention. I can call for help if you need it?”

  It took David a second to realize that he had never cleaned himself off and his face was a mess with stains of dried blood. He had no idea what he looked like in the artificial light.

  “No, no I’m fine. I got healed. I just need to use the Obelisk.”

  “Sir, if you could follow me, we can get you into the next orientation group and take your details. I see you have a firearm and are a member of law enforcement. I would be happy to put you in touch with other first responders once you complete your orientation and tutorial.”

  David smiled. Then actually, looked at the person talking to him. He didn’t recognize them, not surprising when over twenty thousand people had arrived in the safe zone. The man was young, and everything about him screamed administrative assistant. Other than the electric lantern.

  “Look, I don’t know your name. I’m David and I’ve already been through the tutorial. Days ago, actually. I just need to do something…”

  The young man interrupted, David had to check himself. The guy was about the same age as him and yet he was thinking of him as young. Not young, inexperienced, he realized after a second.

  “…sorry you can’t do that.”

  “I’m sorry what did you just say?”

  The Man looked scared then sucked in a deep breath and repeated himself.

  “As you know the Obelisk is restricted. Tutorials and official business only. You can use the Obelisk functions remotely for a resource cost. Everyone needs to respect the rules!”

  The last was said in a rush almost as an apology.

  “I’m sorry. I must have missed something while I was, you know, out saving lives today. Who exactly has restricted access to the Obelisk?”

  “The Obelisk Council took the decision shortly after Lunch today. There was absolute chaos and things had to be organized. Councilman Greenwood proposed several measures to ensure people had access and asked for volunteers to make sure people got help!”

  The respect in the young man’s voice followed by the sense of importance and pride as he explained that volunteers, presumably including him, were helping get things working was odd.

  David had spent the day fighting for his life and people had apparently been making rules behind his back. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

  “Look, you still haven’t told me your name.”

  “Christopher, Christopher Kenney. Everyone calls me Chris.” The man actually held his hand out to shake.

  Smiling, David accepted the man’s hand.

  “Look Chris. I’m going to go over to the Obelisk now and sort myself out. I can see there is space for me to walk up and touch it. I won’t disturb any of the people doing tutorials,” here he gestured to the group of still figures sitting on chairs and yoga mats arranged to allow contact with the Obelisk.

  “If you need to report that to someone please go ahead. I don’t want to make trouble for you, but this is important. You just tell whoever you report to that David Murphy told you that it’s OK to let him have access.”

  He saw a flash of recognition in the man’s eyes at his name.

  “I see you’ve heard of me. I don’t know what anyone has said.”

  The response surprised him.

  “You parked your bus in the no parking zone! I had to move it.” That sounded faintly accusatory, until he hastily continued. “I was told you were bringing lots of wounded people from some disaster into the park. So well, thank you for your service.”

  The last puzzled David, until he realized that the other man didn’t know him and was probably assuming he was some sort of first responder given the TSA vest he was still wearing.

  “I guess that will do. So, are we in agreement that I’m going over there now?”

  The man looked at him again and nodded. “Sure, I will have to tell someone about it and the Council might have questions. I’m not sure what else they might do but I have warned you so on your head be it.”

  David dismissed the man with a friendly wave and carried on. It seemed that Phil had been busy today as well. He wondered if the man had left the Park at all?

  When David touched the Obelisk, he was immediately greeted by a system prompt this one in an urgent red color that told David that he wouldn’t be able to do anything until he responded to it.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Swallowing David focused his will and without speaking aloud sent a single word.

  Yes.

  Then an unexpected voice emerged in David’s head.

  David Murphy, congratulations on acquiring the status of Squire of the System. This is a significant achievement. Your completion of system quests has been most gratifying to watch.

  The Herald was speaking to him, this time without pulling him into a virtual meeting space.

  Focusing David replied.

  How are you doing this?

  A happy coincidence. Your increased status has opened up new options and both resourced and endorsed our interaction. In addition, I am exploiting a loophole. There are system communication features that are based on the Nath. I am using these protocols, and you are using your bloodline. A fascinating experiment and interesting result as I am able to communicate with you despite your not having acquired the relevant system skills by progressing the appropriate titles.

  David again got the sense that the Herald was playing those games it so loved to give away tidbits of information that it was apparently incapable of just bringing up and volunteering openly.

  Herald, how long do we have?

  Technically no time at all once the bestowal of your reward is complete. Practically, were you to purchase even a single level of your new title as much time as is required. You are one of six Squire designates on your planet, an unprecedented number for a newly initiated world. You still merit a portion of my attention whenever you are in contact with the wider System resources, once you are a titled squire that attention will be required. As your title grows you will command more and more System resources.

  In that case how much help can you provide? We encountered an enemy that called itself R’Nath and commanded the zombies.

  David felt the Herald attention sharpen.

  You are certain that it said R’Nath? That you could hear it like the zombies as you call them? Was there anything else?

  Yes. It, she, was louder than the zombies in my spiritual hearing, she could wield words of power like I can. She used both Darkness to blind us and Halt to immobilize me. She led and organized the zombies, changing their behavior, especially around their death cries. There were other zombies with her that were changed, or more evolved and moved fast and they were louder in my hearing as well.

  She herself was not Undead and she attempted to force multiple Nath into the body of a system user. She nearly succeeded.

  When it came, the Heralds voice was formal.

  Squire, you have fulfilled the mandate of the System and provided critical information for the defense of local System resources. Your quest Enemies of Humanity is deemed to be completed advancing the priority of your safe zone, individual rewards are being calculated.

  Did the system user survive? They must be examined immediately.

  Seeing problems David quickly moved to head that off.

  Yes, they survived. All the Nath were extracted from their body and destroyed or claimed. By me. They are NOT a threat, and they are NOT an enemy.

  Acknowledged Squire. Upon your honor.

  It continued in a more informal tone.

  The fact that the being knew the term R’Nath and used it is significant, as are its powers, examination of the body, while somewhat useful, will add little to the context of your bloodline derived information and description of capabilities. The Nath themselves are little more than pests and can even be a benefit at this stage by providing an easy source of Mana fueling the growth of individual systems. They become deadly if there are higher order Nath among them, the behavior you describe is concerning and could account for the fall of some Obelisks.

  David nodded, aware that the Herald couldn’t see him. Then he asked the question he really wanted to know the answer to.

  Herald, how do we stop bodies rising as zombies? How can we, without destroying the brain prevent our dead from hosting the Nath? I need to know ideally both for system users and for those who never developed a system.

  Destruction of the brain prevents Nath occupation as you state, as does massive damage to the body. There are skills which render a body uninhabitable by a Nath, though R’Nath of sufficient power can overcome this. A body within the safe zone of an Obelisk would be exempt purely because the free Nath are repelled. It is possible you can achieve the effect with your bloodline; investigation of that possibility is suggested.

  Do you have a dead system user you wish to protect? My evaluation of your culture shows that respect for the dead is valued, especially for those who you are familiar with or who achieved significant work in life.

  Yes, we went to save people today and many of our raiders died, others are unaccounted for. I need to go back and collect the bodies of our fallen as well as search for the lost.

  Ahh, thank you for the insight. Is the R’Nath still out there? I infer from your words that you were forced to retreat.

  No, the Bitch is dead.

  R’Nath cannot so easily be killed. They wear their hosts like gloves and surrender them in defeat, not death.

  Not this time, I trapped her with my bloodline and fed her to Convert.

  Fascinating, and a powerful use of the skills I selected for you. Thank you for sharing this data with me.

  Even if most of the raiders don’t want to go out again and face, well everything, my core group will all have half-step evolutions and we should be enough. I’m a great deal stronger now than I was too.

  May I examine your system?

  Yes, so long as you share your insights and hold nothing back.

  Agreed Squire. I serve the System and will hold your power in confidence.

  The implication that wasn’t the case earlier wasn’t lost on David. There was a pulse that flowed through his arm, and he got a sense of information being exchanged.

  There. Your growth has been quite explosive, also quite uneven. In compensation for your efforts and for your contribution to the Enemies of Humanity quest I offer you the following:

  First, you should broaden your personal development. Diminishing returns and limiting resources will cap what you can achieve with Halt and Reinforce, though both skills are exceptionally powerful. Notably you have yet to acquire your last level of System Initiate and have an unused slot on the title. Two additional attributes would benefit you tremendously. You also have a growing number of opportunities you have not developed at all. Not investing in advanced or hard to acquire titles is extremely short-sighted.

  Second, you mention that you are unsure if your troops will follow you out again so soon, due, I presume, to trauma. The Safe Zone is a partial solution to this. The Meditate skill is the true long-term answer. As part of your reward, you may now unlock that skill for individuals of your choice at this Obelisk. Once you raise your title Squire you will be able to assign available resources to subsidize their learning the skill.

  Third, you and your allies are all eligible for Domain’s If you plan to fight together, I will tailor the rewards to that end if you all present them at the same time.

  Finally, you have various selections to make that will shape this Safe Zone. Do not make them in haste, I can tell your ally Charlie is already evaluating available information. You should wait until you have raised your title Squire, then grant him access to all the information you have access to…

  Our time is coming to an end and I will be unable to interact with you as a Squire until you buy your title. Do you have a final question?

  Yes, How do I restrict the ability of Leaders to assign Survivor rewards without my approval?

  I will do that for you now. Good luck David Murphy.

  Wait, wait! Do I have to get everyone to touch the Obelisk for the Domain thing?

  Why would you need to do that? You are linked to the Obelisk, you touching them is just as effective.

  With that bombshell The Herald’s presence vanished, replaced with a message box.