Walkers vs. Red Nexus

The Old Man

As the instructions went, they were to head east at sunset. But as they were ready before that, Margrethe decided to leave before sunset. But as they wandered west and west, they could not find any house.

"I told you we should have waited till sunset!" said Jason.

Margrethe grit her teeth and said, "We still have hopes. Let's continue."

They wandered west until nighttime had fallen.

Kelsey said, "I think we should have set out at exact sunset."

"Yes, that's what I was saying!" said Jason.

Anxious to prevent an argument between Jason and Margrethe, Alexandria said, "We'll set up camp here tonight. We'll try going east tomorrow at sunset again." 

They did exactly that, and next day at sunset they went east.

This time, they found a burnt down, and black house. It wasn't exactly a house, it was more of a ruin. Alexandria went in, followed by her friends. 

They saw a tall man garbed in white robes. When he turned around, his face was that of an old tired man. He said, "Welcome."

Margrethe said, "What do you have for us which we could use to continue on our way?"

The old man laughed. "I have words only with Kelsey. She has the blueprint, right?"

With shaky hands, Kelsey brought out the piece of paper. She handed it to the old man, who carefully examined it.

"An AV-8 and a RX-8..." said the old man. "Kelsey, my dear, you understand this riddle, right?"

Kelsey shook her head. "I have been trying for years now. I still can't get the answer."

"Who suggested to look for me?" the old man asked.

Everyone turned to Alexandria.

Her throat dried up. "I did," she croaked nervously.

"Good job," the man said. "I know the answer by heart."

Margrethe said, "What do you mean, by heart?"

Walker #8 said, "Walker #0 had given me a piece of drone's core when he last visited me. There are only two pieces of drone's core in the world. One is with me, and I don't know where the other piece is. As the name suggests, it is the core which connects all drones. It is in any RX-8 as well as any AV-8s."

"Wait a minute," said Jason. "Isn't Walker #0 only a myth?"

"I heard the same too," said Sandra.

#8 smiled. "And how does the myth go?"

Alexandria slapped her forehead. "#0 appears only to Walkers in need! Yes, I understand!"

#8 said, "Clever girl. I was assaulted by Red Nexus once, at Tjentiste, when I met with the Black Walkers. Apparently Red Nexus didn't like the White and Black Walkers reuniting, so they decided to send an attack after us. I ran with some of my White Walkers, because we were not exactly the fighting type. The Black Walkers tried to fight back, but as far as I remember, they were slaughtered." His voice cracked.

"So #0 appeared to you after you ran away?" asked Margrethe.

"Yes," #8 admitted. 

Alexandria said, "Sorry to interrupt this very interesting story, but could you please show the drones' core?"

#8 rose. "Yes, yes. Sorry for the delay." He went over to a destroyed drawer, and brought out a piece of metal. "Here is the legendary drones' core."

When Alexandria peered closer, she saw that inside the metal sphere many clinks and gears were turning; it was like a small metal world of its own. #8 passed the core to Kelsey, who curiously stacked it inside her backpack. "Give me the blueprint," she told the old man.

When passed the blueprint, Kelsey pressed the drones' core into the blank in the blueprint. Blue and red streaks coursed through her body, and she seemed bathed in light. The blueprint started to smoke in her hand, but Kelsey didn't seem to notice. In her hands appeared four metal cans. Then the blue and red streaks of light combined and formed a purple light which glowed above her head like a beacon. The metal strips shot to Alexandria, Sandra, Margrethe, and Jason. Then, the purple light disappeared, and Kelsey collapsed.

Margrethe rushed to the Walker. "Are you okay?" she asked. 

Kelsey shakily stood. "I'm alright," she confirmed.

Alexandria exhaled. 

Then Jason said, "There's a paper in mine!"