The Lantern Bearers

chapter 29: on the road again

After moro divulged us the information needed to find the individuals with the truck, that apparently doesn't live too far from haven 38, i paid him in money and told him he could use our house to stay in and use the workshed if he needed to.

I left Zeus in charge of keeping and eye on him and to watch willow, in case she needed something. He is a strong, smart young boy that can fend for himself. I have confidence that he can do this task given he knows how to fight, shoot a gun, and can use his powers if need be.

Me and Yui would gear up and head out, but not before buying a "port-a-tent" from Nathan's shop. The "port-a-tent" is a umbrella looking device that, when stabbed into the ground and a button is pressed, it opens up and makes a small, dome shaped tent just big enough for two people. It was slightly weighty, so Yui volunteered to carry it, and carry the backpack full of supplies needed.

In the backpack was two days worth of food and water, which consisted of eight meal rations, eight cans of fruit, and eight bottles of water. This could be a two day walk, and we don't want to be out in the void with our pants down.

Alongside the supplies were our bargaining items such as money and spare supplies, in case we needed to barter the individuals to for a trip to the capital. If we were heartless animals, we could gun them down, but i don't want to resort to that unless we have to.

With lantern lit, we embarked into the void.

As we walked along the dirt road, the dirt and rock crunching beneath our feet, the silence felt peaceful this time, rather than harrowing and nerve racking. Part of it is that Yui is beside me, the person I'd trust my life with.

"It's been a minute since we did a walk, just the two of us." I commented.

"Affirmative. The last time we've done this, was prior to the god flux wave." She said.

"That time in the hole was very memorable." I said with a smile on my face.

She returned my smile with a smile of her own, looking at me.

"So...uhm....do you feel different?" I asked.

"What do you mean, master?" She asked, tilting her head.

"Since we breeded." I asked.

"Hmm....I'm not sure, master. I feel the same as if we haven't. Have i failed you?" She said, saddened.

"Not at all! Maybe it'll take another attempt!" I said, trying to reassure her.

"Very well, it is my goal to bear a child with you, master." She said.

"Why don't you ever call me by my actual name?" I asked, pulling my pack of cigs out of my coat and popping one in my mouth.

"Because, you claimed me months ago when i had no master or purpose. You gave me those things and made me feel important. So i have only the highest regards for you, master." She said with a smile.

I nodded at her statement, trying to light my cigarette.

She holds a high amount of respect for me, just because i tapped her with the artifact detector device? When you touch an artifact with it after finding the artifact itself, it counts it as "claimed". Once one is "claimed" the detector gives off signals to other devices so that they cannot detect the claimed artifact. She gave off the same signatures as any other artifact found in the void, even had an unusual amount of anomalies near her in the building as artifacts tend to have. I can't get it out of my head that she had the same signatures and mannerisms as an artifact, but is a humanoid girl.

Could artifacts detect when they've been claimed and detected?
Do artifacts have a soul of their own and are sentient?
Or could Yui be a special case.....

Hours when by as we trudged along the dirt road Moro instructed us to go along. Not so much as Yui's feet, but my own started to get sore from walking. With nowhere to sit down, it's very wearing on the feet and legs.

Something tells me that Yui noticed, as she looked at me with concern.

"Are you alright, master?" She asked with a tilted head.

"Yes, I'm fine..." i lied.

"False, the human feet can only withstand walking for three to four hours, these are within the parameters of pain. Your feet are sore from walking, master." Yui interjected.

"Ugh, calling me on my crap, eh? It's been three hours??" I asked.

"Affirmative, it has been three hours, eight minutes, and twenty-nine seconds since we left haven 38." She said.

"Dear god, and not a light one in the distance....let's set up camp and rest for a while." I said as i walked in behind yui and got the "port-a-tent" off the backpack.

She would rest the bag on the dirt and kept watch for any creatures while i set up camp.

I plunged the device into the dirt and pressed the button on the provided remote. It would open like an umbrella, fold another couple layers, before planting its stakes in the ground. The tent was just big enough for the two of us, and is dome shaped. It had a built in lantern that glowed brightly. The manual said that the stakes would emit a silent, low pulsewave that would deter wildlife from approaching.

Yui would eye up the tent and stares half lidded at it.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"The pulse waves feel great, master. I feel relaxed and sleepy." She said with a cute yawn.

So she could feel them? Must be like a massage chair for her, like that time i found a functionable one ages ago and found myself asleep on it.

"Here, let's get the sleeping bags rolled out then." I said, grabbing them from the bag we had.

After doing that and planting the heating stone artifact between us that i had on hand, it was warm and cozy in our tent.

We would lay and stare at each other lovingly as the outside glow of the lantern lit up the tent just enough to be dim lighting, as well as the stone artifact gently puslating a orange glow and producing heat to keep us warm.

"Hey Yui.....do you want to do that thing again? Breeding? Maybe this time it'll take." I suggested.

"Yes, master. I would love that...." she said as she slowly unzipped her jumpsuit and her eyes glowed pink with hearts and the heart symbol glowed on her forehead.

Just when i started to get undressed two, a mechanical sound was heard outside and two bright lights glowed outside of the tent.

"What in tarnation?? There's campers on the road!" Said a woman outside.

"Hmm...to be fair, you're the only one with a truck, Sazuka." A man said outside.

We would get dressed quickly and yui would morph her hands into drills as we exited the tent quickly. I immediately aimed my pistol at them and yui her drills.

The two rose their hands up in surrender, the glare of the lights blinding me from seeing them clearly.

"Get out of the truck now!" I demanded.

"Hold on there! We'll comply, don't shoot!" The woman said as the doors opened on both sides.

"Step over to the side of the road so i can see you better! No funny business." I said sternly.

"Ugh, fine, come on Sazu...." said the male as the two complied and done as told.

Before us was an odd sight to behold.

The woman i heard was a curvy, busty young woman with light blonde hair, in a mechanic's blue denim coveralls, white tee shirt, and work boots with tools in her pockets.

The young man had cat ears and a tail, as well as short, black hair. He had a red tee shirt on, cargo pants, and work boots as well. He had a feminine figure too and didn't look too strong.

Their story must be a strange one. They must be the one's Moro mentioned.