Luca DR
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22 – The Torment of Tantalus (1/2)
🕑 Added 2023-05-15 13:57:53 +0000 UTCWhen Albert finally opened his eyes, an unknown amount of time had passed, and he was suddenly thrust in the familiarity of own room. In his own house. He knew he was there before the image of the familiar walls and posters even reached his brain, the abilities gained with [Perception] beginning to spill over to his everyday life even when he did not use the skill. His mother was sitting at the foot of his bed, and his grandpa was talking to her animatedly. Something about cold and fainting and the dangers of this weather and this and that. There was a storm outside, raging lightning and strong winds howling through the tall skyscrapers that surrounded the house.
It was afternoon, yet it was dark as evening. The black clouds seemed to have spilled over from the Exclusion Zone onto Temalas City, with no sign of stopping.
He looked at Mother. Her arms were crossed, but as soon as she saw him open his eyes her expression melted into a soft motherly worry.
Grandpa only stayed for another hour or so, then he left without too much fanfare. He was worn down, tired, but there was a hidden grin in his face, one that he tried to conceal but failed. Well, Mother seemed to be unaware of it, but Albert knew very well what the grin was about and felt like grinning back. There was this hidden understanding between him and his grandpa that she wouldn’t be able to understand.
Then he was alone with his mother, and he wondered what excuse he should make up to explain the situation. He suddenly remembered his grandpa walking out of his room. Walking! He was supposed to have a broken leg! This could be bad.
“Sweetie,” Mother began, not giving him time to think. “Lloyd told me about what happened. That he rushed here as soon as he heard you faint and fall down. Try not to move much, okay? You have some nasty bruises… what were you even doing outside? Ah, it’s no matter. It’s okay.” She paused, looking around as if trying to pry the next words from the walls of the room. “Listen sweetie, you must have noticed that your grandpa was not wearing a cast, and that he was walking around without problems… I owe you an explanation, of course.”
What was she talking about? He was the one who healed Lloyd. What kind of bullshit had his grandpa cooked up while he was asleep? She looked worried and… guilty
“There is a new experimental medicine. Something about nanobots, I’m not too sure about the details. They were looking for volunteers and your grandpa was selected. Well, you know he has some interesting contacts way up, right? He must have used them, but I don’t know the details. In any case, that’s why he made his miraculous recovery.”
Ah. Well. His grandpa had anticipated him, it seemed. Which meant that, as soon as his mother left, he thought to better call Lloyd before she returned, so that he could get the cover story straight and not accidentally slip up and reveal details that did not match. She would never have any reason to worry, of course, but it was better to avoid any kind of cognitive dissonance happening in her mind when he told her his side of the story, or it would be the beginning of the end. Sooner or later, some odd things were bound to slip through, and in time they were going to add up.
Therefore he must do everything he can to delay the inevitable until the last possible second, and cross that bridge when he comes to it.
The phone dialed Lloyd Cromwell, then rang thrice.
“You dealt with it?” Albert said, skipping the hellos.
“All of it.” His grandpa said. “I have friends high up, you know? However, this cost me my stay at your house, I’m afraid.”
“You could still come.”
“You know your mother. She is not one to let go so easily.” This was not quite true, but perhaps his mother was only soft and sweet with him? His grandpa continued: “I’m to return home. I’ve already done more than enough, as she put it.”
“We can still work together like we did for this mission, right?”
“You bet. In fact, I would be very offended if you just ditched this old man like this!”
“I would never.”
“Well, then. What lesson have you learned this time?”
“Uhh… always have a body double in case you need to fake injuries and/or miraculous recoveries?”
“Almost.” Lloyd said with a chuckle. “Always have the bullshit pill ready to be administered. Always. In my case I’ve had the cover story ready ever since you cured me, just in case. I’ve gotta go now. I’m expecting to see you soon, as soon as you figure out that new teleport skill.”
Later he was left alone, to heal and rest, and Albert finally had time to go through the slew of notifications that he dismissed during the fight:
[Skill proficiency increased.]
- [Mental Fortress I] -> [Mental Fortress II]
[Skill proficiency increased.]
- [Healing I] -> [Healing II]
- 15x faster natural healing.
[Skill proficiency increased.]
- [Fireball III] -> [Fireball IV]
- no longer damages the caster.
[Quest: Pylon Repair complete.]
[Teleportation skill video available.]
“Play it.”
