Dust to Dust: Man 01

Camp Arc: First Contact

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The golem and the ranger stared each other down.

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"And you are?" A quiet voice called from beneath the ranger's hood. Quiet as it may be, there was a core of strength in the voice's low timbre.

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A hunter? But few supplies, and this area is home to no game... A scout? Perhaps there is a larger force nearby. He holds the bow with confidence, and I don't need to test this body against metal-tipped arrows so soon. That wolf seems far too familiar as well. If it is anything like the Alpha I shouldn't cross it without considering the consequences.

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"I am Pile. Just a travelling merchant. I seem to be a bit... lost."

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"Lost, you say? LOST? My friend, there is no possible way you could be so lost as to come here. The investigators will question you like they do all the other merchants that prey on our convoy, then you may be permitted access to show your wares." Finally showing personality, the ranger scoffed in derision at Pile's obvoious lie.

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"Then could you lead me to said convoy? I am quite tired, and almost out of food and water."

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"Follow me, then. I doubt I'll find anything else as exciting as a man in a powersuit anyways. Looks like I'll get to get off duty early today. The name is Travis, by the way. And this is my wolf partner."

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"Does he have a name? I can't just call him Wolf." Pile had seen countless animals and had only given one a name, and surely the black wolf standing before him also deserved a title. He was the spitting image of the Alpha but without the scars and matted fur. This wolf was young, in the prime of his life.

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WHAM

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The wolf let loose a ferocious bark at Pile and jammed a hind leg against his sled, almost toppling it over.

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"Does SHE have a name, you mean. I'm quite embarassed, I wasn't aware until she reached maturity. You know what they say about assumptions and all. Well, she says she has a name, but she hasn't earned it yet. Something along those lines, we communicate through feelings and concepts rather than words so its hard to deal with specifics."

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"You are rather talkative." This was Pile's first conversation, and he was overwhelmed. He was frantically matching references and words that he had never used before in order to keep up with the rather chatty ranger.

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"No, I'm really not. Today it's just... it feels easy to open up to you. It's like talking to a sponge. I don't suppose you're selling sponges, are you? A merchant came by with some around a year ago and the camp smelled better for months." A hopeful glint rose in Travis' eyes.

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"No," Pile firmly replied, causing Travis to let out a depressed sigh. The wolf walking alongside them also seemed to lose hope, her nose twitching in memory of the wretched smells of the unwashed masses.

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It was quiet for a few hours. With introductions done, both the golem and the ranger retreated into themselves. One hadn't opened up in years, and one had just had his first conversation. They were both recovering from the impact of their meeting. Pile was running through his memories in order to properly catalogue Travis' reactions to what he said when-

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"Wait, Travis, you said something about a 'powersuit'?"

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"Of course, you don't even know what you're wearing? I figured engineer-types like you knew what the hell you were messing with. Don't tell me you just found it lying around and played with it until you got it working?" Travis glanced shiftily at Pile, obviously unnerved. "Well, let's hope you just found it lying around. I'd rather not be dealing with a thief or a murderer, but I suppose the investigators will find out one way or another."

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"How did you know I was wearing a powersuit and not regular armor?"

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"Pile, I consider myself to be an observant man. That's why I'm good at my job. But even a child could see the heat shimmer coming off your armor, and the smoke leaking out from your neck isn't exactly well hidden."

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I got lucky. Discovered, but the armor will act as a decoy. However that means there are others that know of mechanical works. Perhaps they can build bodies like mine, or better. Looks like I've found a goal.

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"I need to talk to other people with powersuits, are there any where we're going?"

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"Oh yes, plenty of them. I'll lead you around when I have some time off, people tend to stay away from me and the wolf anyways. Most tend to be a mite unfriendly to what they see as monsters." Travis explained with a pained grimace. "Here, take this."

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Travis handed Pile a hollowed out reed.

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"It looks simple, but give it a blow and my girl here will hear it from miles away. Give it a test when you're done talking to the investigators and I'll come find you to show you around."

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And with that the golem and the ranger crested a hill, and beheld a gargantuan array of tents, banners, and vehicles splayed out in the valley before them.

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Like it? I freaking do.

Sorry, I'm excited. I've really been looking forward to Man. Monster was fun, and I probably could've made it into its own story, but like I've said before, we have greater places to go :D

For those of you itching for combat in Pile's new body, I understand your pain. We all need that itch scratched. I'll indulge you soon.

ALSO: Feedback on the dialogue system? Wrote it a few different ways, not sure what I like best. This wasn't the simplest or most complicated, but I feel like it got the point across without being overly complicated or boring. Thoughts?