Chapter 5 - Reunion

A bright light hovered over Jerro dominating his view as a team of rodents wearing protective paper masks popped into the edge of his narrowed vision. Metal instruments clattered about as the team seriously discussed their every move. Jerro took a deep breath of latex and iodine before a mask covered his face and the smell was replaced by a sharp bouquet of vinegar and alcohol.

“Keeper, is she—” his suppressed voice trailed off and his field of view was again consumed by darkness.

He opened his eyes slowly, he had moved rooms again. He looked around the sterile but comfortable room. There was a single door with a smoky window about three quarters of the way up. The earthen walls were packed smooth and clusters of glowing mushrooms lit the edges of the room. A simple necked metal lamp sat on his bedside table casting a warm down light on him.

This was the hospital wing in Deepworks. He thought briefly back to the time when he had an allergic reaction to peanuts during Builders Basic. A group of Cogs had snuck them into his lunch, thinking it would be funny.

“It wasn’t funny.” he said to himself, his face tightened then softened as he remembered why he was here this time around.

Jerro reached down to feel his leg. The bone wasn’t sticking out anymore and it wasn’t cast or secured but a simple bandage wrapped around his upper leg. It was a little sore and he could feel some lumps under the bandage. His head was wrapped as well and had a thick band that felt cool to the touch.

A shadow occupied the window and a quick knock followed. Without getting a chance to answer it opened. A beaver entered wearing an open long white coat. She carried a pad, tucked under her arm and had a mask pulled down under her chin and a colorful headband. It was hard to tell but she looked to be not much older than Jerro.

“Good late lune, or is it morning? I’m not sure, I’ve lost track of the time. I’m Doctor Mossbank, I performed your surgery and am in charge of your recovery.” she said, smiling and pulling the pad up. She rested it on her chest, pressing it into her body with one paw and tapped it a few times with a stylus.

“What happened to Keeper Aleese?” Jerro asked the doctor.

“I’m… I’m afraid she didn’t make it. I’m sorry.” Her face turned somber and she pulled a chair from the corner and sat down at the bedside.

“She was gone before we received her here at the hospital wing.” she said, placing a paw on Jerro’s arm.

He looked away and fought the knott that formed in his throat. “What happens next?”

The doctor pulled back and sat up in the chair placing the pad on her lap. “Well, once I clear you to return to duty you’ll be back in the paws of The Builders. From there… that’s all out of my domain, so I’m not sure.”

Jerro continued to look away, attempting to mask his emotions.

“Let me see that leg.” she said, patting the mattress next to his injured leg.

Jerro looked back and sat up, propping himself on the pillows. “Wasn’t it broken, it wasn't casted or restrained?”

“No, well yes.” the doctor smiled. “It was broken, and no, we didn't use a cast technique. You are the newest recipient of a novel technology from The Burrow Health Institute. Nanomites!” she said excitedly.

“Uh, that’s cool, what exactly are nanomites?” Jerro responded.

The doctor shifted in her seat and tapped her tablet several times then held it up to show to Jerro. A diagram of a miniature robot appeared on the screen.

“Essentially, these are incredibly small inorganic machines that we injected into your body. So, I reset your leg and put things back where they should be, but by now, these nanomites should have already rebuilt the lattice and reconnected your bones and soft tissue. Let's look!” she said, pushing his bandaged leg up and unwrapping it.

The door opened, this time without a knock. Ordinate Rull, entered accompanied by a nutria sentinel who stood next to the door.

“Cog Jerro, I’m glad you’re awake. I have some questions that I’m hoping you can answer.”

Jerro sat up straighter against the headboard of the bed. “Of course, Ordinate Rull.”

“First, how’s he recovering doctor? I heard you used the new nanomite tech?” Ordinate Rull asked.

The doctor inspected his unbandaged leg. The spot where his bone had protruded was already healed. “Amazing…” she said with astonishment.

She bent his leg up and through its full range of motion. “How does that feel, any pain?”

“It’s a little sore, but no pain.” Jerro replied with a smile.

The doctor beamed and looked over to the monitor against the wall behind Jerro. “His vitals look great. I’m going to recommend him for discharge. Just take it easy on that new bone for a lune or two and come back for your follow up so we can record the progress and make sure you don’t need any more treatment.”

She pulled a long sensor that wrapped around his forehead, another that pinched around his finger and finally removed the bandage on his head. 

“Your gear should be in this cabinet.” she said, opening a small door against the far wall to show Jerro. “Oh and the nanomites will break down after about ten lunes, your body will take care of them from there.”

Ordinate Rull shuffled to the bedside chair and took the seat where the doctor had been sitting. “Thanks for putting him back together, doctor.”

The doctor made her way to the door and the nutria sentinel opened it for her. “Sure thing, and you all know where to find me if anything changes.”

The door shut and Ordinate Rull sat with his cane between his legs, both paws stacked on the end. “Sentinel, leave us.” He ordered without taking his one good eye off Jerro. The door closed again.

“Tell me son, what happened down there?”

Jerro proceeded to explain the ordeal to the best of his memory. He described their attempts to slow the flooding, the creatures, the dead sentinel and the confrontation in the turbine gallery.

“Can you tell me where they went?” Ordinate Rull asked.

“I have no idea, they had this, this hoop thing?” Jerro said.

“What did it look like?”

“They put it on the wall and It was sort of an ocean of thick black water. I don’t remember much after that. I think I was knocked unconscious for a while then the sentinels showed up”

The Ordinate sat back in the chair and frowned then shifted his weight and stood up. “This stays between us for the time being.”

“What am I supposed to do now?” Jerro asked.

“I’m placing you on medical leave until you're cleared at the follow up. Go home and get some rest. You and the Keeper’s bravery was exemplary to The Builder code.”

Jerro’s focus faded as he was lost in thought. “Keeper Aleese…”

“She was a hero to The Burrow and our order. She will be posthumously awarded The Builder’s Timber Cross.” Ordinate Rull said.

Jerro’s eyelids dammed the tears as he shifted in the bed. “What about her family, she had two kits.”

“We will make sure they are taken care of. That is all we can do now. Go home and get some rest.”

Ordinate Rull hobbled to the door turned back to Jerro rendering a salute. Jerro quickly returned the salute from the bed and Ordinate Rull exited the room. 

Jerro stumbled out of bed and gathered his gear from the locker. He hurried out of the room, tossed the disc out in front of him, clambered on and whisked off down the winding halls. He passed into a swirling grey and black marble lined antechamber whose walls reached up and disappeared into shadow. A long glossy white counter stretched the full length of the wall to his left. The wall cantilevered over the counter creating a recess. A banner-like sign was inlaid above this alcove, with contrasting marble that read in large letters ‘Deepworks - The Vestibule’. A snaking maroon velvet rope formed an empty queue line approaching the counters and holo screens lined the wall behind the counters switching between various historic and current pictures of Deepworks. The only activity in this vast space was the two sentinels that stood on either side of the formidable square archway that led to the entrance foyer. 

As Jerro approached the guards two large silhouettes and a smaller one could be seen through the semi-transparent doors on the other side of the foyer. They pounded on the doors and shouted something unintelligible as the heavy doors dispersed any formulated words.

The sentinel on the left turned over its shoulder towards the door and yelled. “We already told you, no one is getting in. The facility is locked down on order from the Ordinate.”

Jerro stopped and dismounted his disc carefully by sitting down and swinging his legs off to the ground. The sentinel on the right, with a dark brown coat of fur, reminded him, “Don’t forget to scan out. Things are especially tight right now.”

“I’m very aware of the situation here. Who’s out there though?” he asked while placing his paw on the pad adjacent to the guard. It started with a soft red glow from beneath his paw that was just bright enough to allow the light to subtly glow through. It flipped to green and let off a swift positive tone.

The sentinel rotated its head to the entryway and shrugged. “Some little gopher and the biggest grumpiest marmot I’ve ever seen. They said something about needing to get in to check on their friend who works here but as you’re aware the entire facility is on lockdown.”

Jerro’s eyes lit up and a grin spread over his frown. “Oh! I may be able to resolve this situation for you two.”

Without another word, the guard stood erect and rendered a sharp salute. Jerro returned it with less formality and strolled through the door.

Jerro was one of the youngest members of the prestigious organization known as The Builders. The Builders' crest flanked the foyer entrance to the Deepworks on two large banners. It consisted of a black circle with a white triangle overlaid. Centered within these shapes was an engineer's hammer. On one side, a copper bust of the first Ordinate was displayed and on the other an illustration covered the wall, depicting the original construction of Deepworks. The Builders traced their history back as far as The Folding, a time before any recorded history, before even The Burrow existed, before anyone could remember.

Jerro opened the door to the stepped entrance where his friends awaited him. 

“Jerro!” Mari shouted, springing up from her seat on the stepped entrance and wrapped her short arms around Jerro as far as she could reach.

Greg approached with a smile as Jerro and Mari broke their hug. Greg and Jerro placed a paw on each other's opposing shoulders. 

“It’s good to see you both, but what are you doing here?” Jerro said, looking inquisitively at them.

“And Phlip!” Jerro said as Phlip bounded over to him, knocking him to the ground, nuzzling his giant floppy face into Jerro’s. “Alright, alright, that's enough, ya big ball of fur!” Jerro struggled to get out while laughing and playfully pushed his way back up against Phlip’s excitement.

The group of friends started back down the dig.

“Mari, don't you have a trial coming up?” Jerro asked.

“Yeah, I wanted to ask you about that actually. We were at Tailweavers talking. How long ago was that?” Mari asked.

Jerro looked over at her, with narrowed eyes. “Before my shift, maybe ten or twelve hours ago? Don’t you remember?”

“I do… but that was the last thing I remember before waking up in this old ruined cave on the north end of Long Valley.”

“What!” Greg jumped into the conversation. “You were out of The Burrow?”

“Yeah, but I don’t remember how I got there.” Mari said.

Jerro looked at Mari seriously as they passed the failed side wall of the dig. “Unsanctioned excursions are forbidden Mari, you’re gonna get in trouble one of these times.”

“Jerro, I know you don’t approve but I don’t remember going out there. Don’t you think that’s odd?”

Jerro stopped and started pacing in front of Mari as she rolled her eyes. “It is, but maybe that sort of thing is the reason we aren't supposed to go out there? You’ve heard the stories, beyond the birds there are all sorts of strange anomalies on the surface. Maybe Rufus knows something, he’s full of that sort of esoteric knowledge when it comes to the surface and ancient tech.”

“That’s what I was thinking, I stopped by Tailweavers when I got back and he wasn’t around.” Mari responded

Jerro turned his attention back to the breach in the dig wall. “This is worse than I thought.” Jerro said, looking over the damage and then back down the inundated dig. Debris was scattered and embedded in the drying mud. Chunks of worm flesh decorated the peripheries of the tunnel. 

“What’s all this?” Jerro asked, pointing to a hunk of jellied flesh.

“We killed an earthworm.” Greg said as he dropped to all fours and took off leaving Jerro and Mari behind.

“Yeah it was pretty cool.” Mari added.

They continued their walking conversation without Greg. “Must have been drawn to the water. How exactly did you do that?” Jerro asked.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. I think it was mostly Greg’s psionics, not mine, but I used a duo technique Mr. Craghorb had been teaching. That was the first time I was able to get it to work though.” Mari explained.

“Well I’m impressed, even the sentinels have a hard time taking down errant worms.” Jerro said.

They continued towards The Spine, Mari mounting Phlip and Jerro on his disc. Greg made swift work of the rough terrain, often having to stop for Mari and Greg to catch up, each time greeting them with an impatient glare. After several iterations of this leap frog movement they approached the final bend in this dig and the blue light from The Spine poured around the corner.

Makeshift camps had been set up throughout the large circular plaza. Sentinels and medical teams assisted in the cleanup and recovery. A crowd was building in front of a formidable white columned structure they knew as The Bank of The Burrow.

The friends approached the gathering and Mari spotted her dad on the side of the crowd mingling with another gopher and a ground squirrel. Mari recognized them as her dads old friends from the war. The gopher was a bit bigger than her dad and stood with crossed arms that showcased his mechanical forearms. Not the newest tech, but the arms articulated well as he pointed up to the podium in front of the bank. The ground squirrel turned, unveiling a dozen large patches of fur replaced by thick skin that swirled into smooth scars.

Mari turned around walking backwards facing Greg and Jerro. “I’m gonna go check in with my dad real quick and see what’s going on.”

“Sounds good, I’ll wait here… I can see my dad over there and I’m not ready to have that conversation.” Greg said, pointing into the crowd past Jupi at a massive marmot surrounded by twenty or so others wearing small black cylinder hats.

“I’ll stay too, I doubt my grandparents are down here. Actually, I don’t think I see a single beaver in that crowd… or any riding rabbits, Philip can hang out with us.” Jerro said with a little smile while nudging Phlip with an elbow.

Mari worked her way through the crowd, her small stature favored her in this scenario allowing her to easily slip between gaps. “Hey dad!”

Jupi spun around surprised. “Oh, hey my little carrot! Did you and Greg find Jerro?” He said and pulled her in for a tight hug.

“Yeah! He’s okay, well mostly.” She said pointing out of the crowd towards Greg, Jerro and Phlip. Jerro and Phlip were dancing around Greg in an impromptu game of tag. Greg sat still without emotion, a pillar of stoicism, but a fun obstacle nonetheless.

“What’s going on here?” Mari asked.

“Council Member Kaet just came out and said that they are discussing ration distribution for all the displaced citizens and coming up with a plan to repair the damaged digs and homes. The Head Banker said she’s going to open some of the reserve stockpiles too.” Jupi explained and turned around to confirm that the podium remained empty then turned back.

Jupi was caught off guard by a fit of coughing and excused himself from the gathering. Mari followed him out of the crowd as he doubled over before the attack subsided. She stood at his side, rubbing his boney back with her paw, tracing each rib gently.

Catching his breath he wiped a tear that had formed in the struggle.i. A soft smile melted across his face then was sucked away, replaced by a straight mouthed gaze which drove through Mari.

“Dad?” she said.

“Mari, I’m so proud of you. You keep those boys safe, promise?”

“What?”

“Your friends, no matter what happens. They chose you to stand by, and believe it or not, I think they need you now more than ever.”

“Dad, are you okay?”

He pulled her in for another long hug, then pressed her out with both paws on her shoulders, resuming the intense stare.

“We love you.” he said, fighting back further emotion.

Mari was confused, but her father’s intensity roused reciprocating feelings as they embraced again. “I love you too.”

“Alright, you better get going. I’m sure the three of you have a lot to do.”

Jupi returned to his old pals and Mari to her friends, more confused than she had been before checking in with her dad for updates.

∞

Merchant’s Hollow was quiet despite a few of the typical vendors setting up and a group of young mice taking advantage of the empty street. They were split into two teams playing a game of weavers ball. As the friends passed by an errant ball rolled in front of them and Greg booted it in the opposite direction. The mice all stopped their game and just watched the ball soar down the desolate corridor.

Mari looked at him with a flat face. “You could have just kicked it back to them.”

“Could have.” Greg said plainly.

“I get that you're upset about Jake but you gotta get over yourself.”
“Wait what happened?” Jerro said.

“I lost.” Greg replied.

Jerro leaned forward and looked around Mari as they walked. “I'm sorry man… sounds like it’s been a rough lune all around.”

 They were closing in on the turnoff to Tailweavers. They ducked down the alley and made their way up to the entrance. The stained glass was dark, there was no glow from the hearth dancing through the windows. The friends stopped and glared at eachother then Mari pushed forward, placing her paw on the latch and opened the creaking door into the hushed room.