Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Five. It's Time.

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Five. It's Time.

Secretary of Defense Edward Heller was used to people demanding just a minute of his time. It came with the job, and one out of ten actually had something valid to bring to his attention. So when Brigadier General Thompson flew in from Pendleton, he cleared his schedule for half an hour. The medical report that had been pulled out of a bag of holding and the velociraptor that was pacing across his office caused him to reach for his phone and tell his aide to push his appointments for two hours.

"So, magic is real, and it can be had over on this other world. We have some former Marines who have had their disabilities healed working over there, aiding this Whitman, who believes the end of the world is coming," Edward said as he popped open a fresh roll of antacids.

"Yes, Mr. Secretary," Thompson replied.

"And you are suggesting we deploy elements of the I Marine Expeditionary Force to provide a beachhead, where our Marines will 'Level Up,' and kill 'Monsters' for 'Mana Crystals.'" Edward used one hand to provide the air quotes as he popped another tums with the other.

"I think that even if we discount Mr. Whitman's claims about an upcoming apocalypse, which Sergeant Hanson and Corporal Waters seem rather inclined to believe," Thompson nodded to the two former Marines, "the information we've confirmed thus far represents an opportunity our country can't afford to disregard." Thompson shook his head. "We'll be able to magically create, from thin air, mind you, diesel fuel, jet fuel, ordinance, and possibly even nuclear materials."

"If we deploy the 5th from Pendleton, people are going to ask questions," Edward murmured thoughtfully. "You can't move ten thousand men without some asking where they're going, or if you do manage to get them away without anyone seeing it happen, where they've gone."

"Sir, no disrespect intended to the media, but fuck them," Thompson replied calmly, "even if there isn't an apocalypse on the horizon, from what Sergeant Hanson has told me, Whitman has already recruited civilians, and he intends to save as many people, from as many countries as he can."

"An admirable goal," Edward nodded, "and I can see how that would make the issue more urgent."

He thought for a few minutes while the other men in the room waited quietly. From a certain perspective, which he would absolutely use to defend his actions if they were ever questioned, he had the authority to deploy any number of men on a training exercise. According to Hanson, whose jacket indicated that he had been a damned fine Marine, Whitman had already pulled in over a hundred civilians, who were bouncing back and forth with reckless abandon, bringing...

Edward shook his head. Illegal Aliens, maybe?

It was only a matter of time before someone reached out to friends or family in another country and involved them. That would cascade, and the cat would be out of the bag. Other nations would rush to exploit the opportunities available, just as the U.S. would.

As always, it was better to be first.

"Can you take me over there?" Edward asked suddenly. "I'm taking all of this on faith, and while you've provided some fairly convincing evidence, I'll need to see this for myself."

"We can," Thompson replied confidently, "in fact, Hanson has one of the natives waiting outside with your aide, just have her sent in, and we can be there in less than two minutes."

Edward nodded, then stood and grabbed his jacket off of the back of his chair. He reached down and picked up his phone. "Her name?" He asked. "Carrie," Thomspon replied. Punching the button for his aide, he spoke into the handset, "Gerald, please send Carrie in."

"I know, buddy," Bob commiserated, "It's so hard to keep all that kitty fur spotless and clean."

He had just finished another floor, and he was relaxing with Monroe, who was puddled in and over his lap, accepting a thorough brushing, eyes closed, a gentle purr rumbling from his chest.

"No one appreciates how hard a kitty has to work, how exhausting it is," Bob murmured, running the slicker brush through Monroe's thick, luxurious coat. "They just don't understand that kitty represents everything in this world that is soft, and pure, and good."

Monroe flexed his claws in pleasure as the brush ran down his back and over his tail.

Bob closed his eyes and methodically brushed Monroe, relaxing as the rhythm of the big cats purrs soothed his anxieties away.

Things were happening quickly.

Jack had built a Movie Theater with a restaurant inside. There was a four hundred foot tall tower built on one of the locations he'd designated. He hadn't seen it yet, but he'd been told it was there, and that was last night. It might be done by now.

Eddi had asked to meet with him, as had Amber.

Bob had finished the thirteenth floor, and he had promised to bring Jason down with him tomorrow to let him watch as he built the fourteenth.

He shook his head and focused on brushing Monroe. He had promised himself thirty minutes of peace after he'd finished this floor, with no one asking him for anything. Just some quiet time with Monroe.

Bob walked up out of the Dungeon and into the Tavern feeling much more relaxed. Monroe was draped across his shoulders, well brushed and purring his heart out. Bob caught sight of Eddi as the young man rushed over to him.

"Bob!" Eddi called out with a grin.

"Good evening Eddi," Bob replied, "why don't we go back to Holmstead for dinner? I need to see if I can catch up with Amber after we talk."

Eddi nodded, they exited the Tavern.

"Can I see the path?" Eddi asked hopefully.

"Sure, but I don't have a hardcopy; give me a moment," Bob replied before pulling his laptop out of his inventory by way of his satchel. Turning the computer on, he waited a few moments, then logged in and opened up the document he'd created with the paths, scrolling down to the Path of the Patient Warden before spinning the laptop around so that Eddi could read it.

It was at that moment that two people arrived at his table. Theo, bearing two plates and a large bowl, and Amber, bearing a conflicted expression.

Bob moved Monroe onto the center of the table while Theo deftly deposited meals in front of Bob and Monroe and just to the side of the laptop that had Eddi's complete and undivided attention.

"May I sit with you?" Amber asked.

"Sure," Bob replied. Amber sat down, glancing at the laptop.

"So, you've been back to Earth," she began as Bob started spooning up mashed potatoes.

"A couple of times," Bob agreed, "it's kind of weird, but I think Carrie, one of the Endless kids, and Eddi here," he nodded to Eddi, who didn't respond, "have been back much more frequently than I have."

"So I gather," she took a deep breath and continued, "I met Jack, and he offered to take me back over with him this evening. I was thinking of calling my parents," she admitted.

Bob finished chewing and swallowed. "Ok," he said uncertainly, "you'll likely want to get some money from Jack or Mike, or," he frowned thoughtfully, "better yet, just have them buy you a phone, that way your name doesn't pop up at all."

It was Amber's turn to frown. "I don't need charity," she grumbled.

Bob shrugged. "So trade them some mana crystals for dollars, I gather that's the whole point of Jack's Movie Theater venture anyways, to get a business going over here, spending his dollars before they become worthless."

"Worthless?" Amber blinked.

"As soon as the System integrates Earth, mana crystals will become the new standard currency," Bob explained.

"Duh," Amber shook her head ruefully. "I should have thought of that."

"Are you planning to bring them back with you?" Bob asked, "your parents, I mean?"

"I hadn't thought of that either," Amber said slowly, "I just wanted to let them know I was alive."

Bob started slicing up his steak. "Might want to think about it," he advised, "I can probably stuff them into a slot with the other Dungeons and Dragons folks that are coming in. The earlier they get in, the better their chances of not only surviving but thriving are."

"That's fucking awesome," Eddi exclaimed as he looked from the laptop. "You can build and design without worrying about getting attacked!"

Amber looked at Eddi curiously. Bob noticed the look and explained. "Curator path, the Endless are getting tired of competing for slots in the Dungeon here in Holmstead, and I've over capacity as it is, especially for the levels he needs."

"So you don't have a problem with me bringing my parents over?" Amber asked. "While I hadn't thought about it, they're both edging pretty close to retirement, and schools just about out anyway, so they'd probably be willing to come over, although I don't know how much work it would be to get them fighting monsters."

Bob chewed his steak thoroughly before responding, giving himself a little extra time to consider his response. "Whatever problems I had with you certainly didn't apply to your parents," Bob said, "as for you and I, you apologized, and I choose to believe that you meant it. I'm not going to hold onto what happened to me back on Earth. I'm letting it slide. Thayland is my home now, where I have my house, my friends, and a job that doesn't make me angry."

Amber was looking at him strangely, while Eddi just gave him a thumbs-up as he plowed through his mashed potatoes like a shark at a surfers convention.

"That's remarkably...." she trailed off.

"Forgiving? Stable? Mature?" Bob offered.

"Kind," she said after a moment.

Bob shrugged. "It isn't worth carrying all that emotional baggage around. I've got plenty of stress and anxiety with the whole 'Everyone on Earth is going to die' thing."

"If I bring my parents over and they agree to stay, where can I find you?" Amber asked.

"Just grab one of the Endless," Bob replied idly, "they all know where Glacier Valley is."