James's Descent

"What the absolute FUCK?!"

Pam's reaction was adequate to the uninvited denizens now crawling through their freezer. It was a room the size of a warehouse, with only the southernmost side smoothed to a pleasant shape. James disliked this development as well. The disadvantage of mountain bases, created after everyone saw just how damn good they were. An infestation. And since he was using THAT mod, it was a Large Infestation, which meant that the hives that burst out of the stone to take root in their food storage area came with bugs the size of Abrahms Tanks.

"We had one YESTERDAY!"

Also, yes, there was another infestation the day before in the exact same area. Pam just barely finished patching up the holes. The Three came inside and took cover behind the food baskets, leveling rifles at the giant bugs. Anna applied a liberal amount of lightning at them, which was much more effective than their shots, especially because it set them on fire and made them run around in a panic rather than charge the colonists. Fires would start, mostly the bugs but also their hives and the trash that was deposited at the far end of the freezer, not their creation, but sent from another faction to deal with in exchange for a payday. Keeping it here meant it did not pollute the terrain.

It would take thirty minutes until the bugs were dead and the fires were extinguished. James thought they REALLY needed an infestation repeller. He might force some traders to show up... one of them has to have one. Or at least, he'd do that once they had more money.

Considering the lack of people around, some of those bots felt like a worthy investment. The base now had half a dozen of those lower-tier bots running around... and they were already felt in how they improved things. Builder, crafter, kitchen, ER, and two haulers. Anna could now have someone tend to her if the ER bot was just good enough to trust with surgery, Pam had some robotic helpers to help with either of her tasks... or just let them do it while she focused on research. The kitchen bot was taking on the mother's tasks as well... good at cooking, butchering, and even garden work... and amazingly... fishing. The hauler bot finally dealt with a lot of overdue moving around of stuff that James might have to make a priority or just assign one of the others to more dedicated hauling duties. Nathan not having anything to ease his burden was not discrimination... there was no bot to deal with animals, hunt.... And the builder bot would do mining only after every building task was done. James was tempted at times to get that mod that lets you define what kind of work they do, but he felt that this single-minded pursuit was both fitting of robots and a worthy trade-off for what the more powerful ones could do. These were barely tier two or three in the ER bot's case... but tier five could humiliate them.

The base was getting along nicely. Maybe James should visit again.

To say that Anna had been watchful for any sudden tomatoes would do little to describe the intense anticipation the woman had for the Outsider to visit once more. She could... just wish him here, but she felt like that might be a disservice. The woman still had an ounce of resentment towards Nathan in consideration that he might be scaring James away.

That concern finally went away when the woman came to the table with breakfast in hand and saw... a tomato. Yes, Pam was right there and might have just dropped it.... But Pam did not know it was the signal... for obvious reasons... and she seemed equally surprised. Anna tried to conceal her emotions, but the notice would pop up in just a few seconds. The girl's squee had made one of those guests spit their drink.

*

James hated summer... always too fucking hot. He had to keep the AC on almost constantly even into the month of September. But summer wasn't so bad here. He could still wear his coat... he was back in that burgundy one that he liked going around in, but could often do only for a short period of time in between the cold and the heat.

For a second he was about to use the old route into the base... which would have had him come face to face with a solid wall. He remembered just halfway there that he now had to turn and take the main entrance. No mines or traps yet, but the kill box was ready to take more volume. Hopefully he could tell where the mines were when they were in... or Pam had to walk him through it.

And speaking of Pam... just as the man saw the straight wall of the welcome mat, the figure of the girl would pop around it and keep running towards him, still with that eager grin on her face. It was like having a puppy. Though she was slowly coming into a more peaceful love. She would not jump him, just stop about a meter before the man, taking him in... glad to have him back. Though there came a look of concern.

"What happened to your neck? It's all red."

"May I remind you that it's only been like four hours for me?"

"OH. Right, so... uh..."

"Yeah."

She tried to focus on the more happy aspects.

"For me, you're here once in a blue moon and you must feel like you saw me three times already in a day."

"Perhaps. But I'm still glad to see you again."

That made her traverse those last few steps and wrap him in a big hug to finish with a long kiss. James noticed that she was getting... just a bit older every time. Of course... she was aging and he was not. The girl might be close to twenty-four... and he didn't even know her birthday. Because the game told you of that only when you get some bad things from it like dementia.

"I must look like some immortal god because you're looking older and I haven't even slept since the last time we met."

"Didn't even notice... but... hope we figure out how you can stay for good before I'm eighty or something. Bet you'd rather go for Fiona by then... or her children."

"Seems she's walking and learning now. Oh, and this time... by my calculations, we have eighteen hours until I have to go. Might even stay the... okay, part of the night."

"We never actually slept together. Kinda lonely in that bed."

They started to walk towards the base hand in hand. There was a temptation to just walk through the wildest parts of their territory... but there were comforts in the base. Pam didn't need to update him on what changed since the last time. He knew everything. He planned everything. He might even know the ideas behind her plans.

"I guess... we have to do something about you and Nathan. Or it's gonna be awkward."

"Yeah, guess we do. I thought about it. We can have a private conversation in the home. And now it's much more comfy."

Other than the relics... everything was set in it. Altar, statues, sheets. Those sheets were thick and comfy, good enough to sleep on. Technically... they were kneel sheets, but they did not kneel, even to him... they sat down on them.

"An entire day! Feels like a luxury."

"Just hope that no problems show up. Randy can be a bitch at times and I'm the one who sets you guys up for defense."

"Randy?"

"The thing that makes those other things happen. Yes, it has a name."

He could then go on to describe the merits of this particular storyteller and why they were objectively better than the other two, even if they were intended to be the more unpleasant option. James knew from experience how the classic option casually destroyed colonies.

Pam would not ask what he had intended for her idiot brother. She'd rather have that as a surprise... but until then, she could brighten his mood with some details that the man did not see from his screen. He was relatively aware of Anna's pregnancy, but the girl could describe that relatively quick growth. She was looking forward to another brother and sister... and suggested they make another baby as well. She might not have been as eager to have some before, but now it was different.

"WAIT! How much time do we have, again?"

"Uh, I think eighteen. Maybe thirty minutes gone already. Why?"

Pam would rush to get that tablet and put in a timer for that much. James noted it as different from the last one.

"Making sure you know how much time we have? That thing is weird for me since the game has no such item. But, I guess we gotta make allowances for things." A pause to think.

"Oh, we got this from a trader. Helps us stay in contact and organize. But this one needs power. And yeah, gotta make sure we aren't surprised. Time might fly."

He was wrong about the time. They would find out how wrong later. The base courtyard was breached, the man seeing their improvised fields growing merrily.

"Hey, I keep having a feeling that this place shouldn't be like this. You've got plans, yeah?"

"Oh, I do have plans. And yes, it's not supposed to be like this. Do you want me to go on a tangent about what is supposed to be in the base?"

The look she gave him was of a blissful smile. Yes, she would want to hear it.

"Fine, but we better find a place to sit down. Mhm... never thought of how much this place might need some benches."

"I can get one! Or...something fitting."

"You're going to steal a sofa from the great hall, right?"

"Oh, I'm gonna... great hall?"

"Nickname for the dining and recreation room inherited from another game like this. Actually, that thing should be hell for three people to carry and... what are you doing?"

She was tapping on the tablet. Why do it herself when she can get the builder bot to do it? Previously, it would be some insistent pulling and help from the others, now they had this little platform to raise it and move the thing around. Required for the bigger stuff. And since reinstallation has the highest priority... they would be along soon to plant that sofa close to the "trade depot" as James called it. Pam would ask her questions and he'd answer them, but what she really wanted to see was him just... talking with that passion. He loved this stuff. It was his work and he was proud of it.

"Now, for your previous question... yes, this is not the final form. Split this area into six sections..."

"You mean the 11 by 11 squares? You sure love those."

"Biggest shape that holds up a roof and is still ordered. A wall can only hold roofs up to six tiles away. Or meters, I guess."

"It's not easy! Had to put supports everywhere inside."

"Which I don't see. But, counting down from left to right, up to down.... West, east, north, south. The entrance is to the north. First is the landing pad for OUR ship."

"We can get a ship?! Like... go to space?"

"Not to space, but it's good to trade with faraway settlements and it carries industrial quantities of material. Yeah, that one's not gonna be here for a while. Gonna see it by the time we start raiding vaults. Because we clean them out and need something to carry four tons of steel."

"Bet I'll build it. Wow... build a SHIP! We didn't even have a carriage back in the other place."

"I also want to try the cars. Those are probably gonna go somewhere around here. I'll explain cars later. Or we'll be here all day."

Yep, it was a joy to hear him speak. Second was landing pad for other people's shuttles. Trade depot was where he wanted it, but it would have a lot more storage. A section where the drop pod launchers would be... and possibly the cars as well. The middle south portion was clear. Might have to stay like that for ease of access. Pam recommended some ideas like a small park, but James mentioned how the cars had to leave and they would need space. Move it to the left... as in west? Nope, the pod launchers need... or work better... with a fuel line that goes through the wall. Go on the other side? Possible. Usually, that side was for the missile silo and the mineral scanners. So much stuff flew at Pam that she realized they were barely getting off the ground even though she thought this was already so much. Why missile silo? To launch missiles at those mechanoid ships that kept landing around them and bothered her with those alerts. Or else the mechanoids will attack both more often and be much stronger.

"Though, I'm kinda gonna miss being able to grow our food. Sounds like no fields here."

"Yes, no fields here. Why do you think there's that huge four-by-four big square area to the east? That'll be your greenhouse. We'll dig out the roof, replace it with thick, transparent roofing... grow a shit ton of food, and do it year-round rather than in the small time the temperature allows us here."

Her mouth fell open. That was a LOT of space. It was gonna be some work... and dig out the roof? As in right up to the top? This man had ambition. It was possible... but it would take time. And she did not want to imagine how much it might take to tend those fields. They were going to need more people... and bots.

"Wow, just... you thought this out. So, what's to the west? Nathan's digging out something over there. I didn't quite get an idea what's gonna be there."

"Anima room. That's what I call it. And it's just a big empty space to put the anima tree and be satisfied with nothing artificial nearby. Gonna dig out the roof a tad there to give it light."

"Oh, I wondered what was up with that tree."

Out on their land was a tree with bark as soft as flesh, glowing with a strange power. Anna had found it particularly calming to be near it. But the tree lost that calming effect if artificial structures were nearby. The mountain did not count.... Why that room would have nothing artificial in it, the door as close as possible without disturbing it.

They had shifted closer and closer on the couch, to the point that Pam was in his lap, the man's arms wrapped around her and hers holding his. James found her tits and started to squish them playfully... which prompted the girl to free them and let him touch bare skin. So eager... he liked that. Even his ex, as slutty as she was... would not be so eager.

Dialogue paused as the two found themselves looking at each other, for a while forgetting about everything, James coming closer to plant a kiss on her cheek.... The girl gave one back and then they started exchanging quick pecks like children until Pam would just rub her cheek into his, silence falling as they'd just keep this hold, the man still gently playing with her tits.

It might have been more romantic if they were watching the sunset, but the sun was behind them, the wall giving some pleasant shade as the two just relaxed in each other's company for a bit.

*

Nathan did not question why he was digging a straight tunnel west which would suddenly turn and then go north until he had a more wide-open area to clear. He'd complained in the past to Pam about her requests, but now he still had a bit of guilt from last time. And a lot of other feelings... that ate him up inside.

There was no part of this that he did not regret. Doubting his mother and lover, trying to kill their actual god... going to violence first before anything else. He could have ended them all... he could have made things get worse for them. What would have happened if he succeeded?

Work let him focus on something so he didn't think about that. He was bordering on being a workaholic... using it like a drug to take his mind off things. Okay, about three more sections until he has to turn. Every sixth stretch would be a tad narrower. He didn't get that at first... he thought it would be just decoration to have these five-by-five sections and then a slightly narrow one. He got it only during that sneaking segment. Cover. It was like the hallways were made with the thought of combat happening in them. The revelation that James was planning all this made his respect grow. The guy knew so much that he might as well be retarded.

He was grateful for his mother... the man could still feel some ire in her, but she had mostly forgiven him... and was back to honest support... and actively trying to stealthily make him feel better about himself. Even he could notice it eventually... just her attempts made him feel better... and worse... because he doubted that woman. Never again... at least, not without ironclad proof, probably coming from James himself. And maybe he'd beat Nathan to it to call the woman out. If any of them didn't deserve the outsider... he didn't.

But... work. Focus on breaking that rock with his pickaxe, one more big boulder loosened and set behind him. His arms burned a little. Let them. Just stop thinking about that.

He'd come when called.

*

"So, remember that confidence is almost always better than facts in a conversation. Don't go too far, or your confidence will falter."

She sure was using a lot of confidence. Inside, the woman felt lost. They taught the kids all of the basics... reading, writing, enough math to get on, and some other important basics of life like being careful around fire and electricity. But now... what else to teach them? She was going with what she knew to do. She taught them about treating wounds, planting crops, being convincing... cooking for others. But part of her felt they were not getting a proper experience.

Anna remembered what they learned in school. Basics of life, many practical... women were taught how to care for a home, men how to do the harder, practical things. She had no fun experience in the physical education classes. She was saved.

The woman and the three children turned to see the door to the classroom open, her eyes growing wide... and the little ones repeated the action. Guests were not allowed here, so they saw no one new ever... except one. James and Pam would shuffle into the room, his eyes on the kids, looking for his own.

Fiona had grown... just to the point where she looked about eight years old. Her hair was a tinge of blonde... just like his... and those eyes were almost emerald green, but other features were from Pam. Phoebe and Ben were secondary to his sight... as was the heavily pregnant Anna. He had no idea from that simplified view.

"Hello, kids... doing your classes? I'd say it's important but I don't have a good opinion on school." His eyes kept looking at the girl... she was looking back... not knowing yet why.

"Yes... uh... who are you?"

"This is James. He's a special guest. That's why he can be back here."

Ben raised his hand as if to answer a question that was not asked.

"Oh, is it because he looks like Fiona? Wait... is he...?"

"Yep, he's your daddy, Fee. Come by to visit once in such a long time."

Part of her already knew. But it was just a title. He wasn't there for her from the start. Yet the girl felt like this man loved her as her mother and the rest of the family did. She stood from the desk to come closer... slowly, looking up at the man.

"Daddy?"

How to do maximum heart damage. That one word practically tore through him. Pam could see a desire to cry, but she knew... his eyes refused to cry. A hand was offered, not just claiming her, but offering her this. It was taken and they drew into a hug, one in which the man lifted her up to look into those green eyes.

"Sorry I wasn't here."

"It's alright. Mommy is here. She smiles when talking about you."

Was he getting comforted by a child? Pam blushed at being revealed... not that her passion could be hidden. With a final peck on her forehead, the man would set her down and get on one knee to be at eye level. Damn, he could stare at her for hours... this was an achievement.

"But, we're working on me staying for good. I'll be here for today... and mommy probably wants to claim all that time." He turned to look at Anna. "They doing good with their lessons?"

"As well as they could."

He noticed that little lack of confidence. A turn back to the small girl to ruffle her hair.

"I know you might have a hundred questions, I'll spare some time for you. Got some stories you want to hear. Bet mommy doesn't tell you cool stories."