User blog:ExdeathsBagel/Striking Gold (WWYD by Beyondrapture)

WWYD by Beyondrapture: http://monstergirlencyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Thread:763912

I regret not covering my ears as the blast echoes throughout the halls and causes the walls to shake, and for a moment I fear that tunnel around me will collapse. I expected the charge to only blast the lock, not obliterate the door. As smoke clears though, my ringing ears seem a worthy sacrifice to what I have stumbled upon. For behind the hole that was once an illustriously carved metal door, was an armory.

Though this armory is surely no older than the ruins my party and I were exploring, the centuries old weaponry seems to surface even what the Order has, despite their less than immaculate conditions. My mind begins to spin as I realized what stumbled upon, a vault from a time before the Demon Lord reduced all technology to dust, leaving only combinations of magic and simple technology untouched by her power.

Humanity has since been set back, thankfully that includes the Order, yet they’ve never given up their war against mamonos and humans who protect them, but these weapon can finally put an end to this long stalemate!

A sudden voice cuts through the silence, and eases the tempest of my mind, freezing it with fear.

“Major repairs needed. Unit integrity is compromised.” The voice is hollow and emotionless.

I pull out my knife and begin looking around until my eyes land on the dented remains of the door that I blew open. Struggling to push the door away, I met eyes with what appeared to be a woman, but as her tan skin and red hair gave way to a mangled mechanical arm, and clock like gears decorated her open side, not to mention a large slice across the stomach was leaking out a fluid I was certain wasn’t blood.

   This wasn’t a woman, this was a Golem.

“Major repairs needed. Unit integrity compromised.” It repeated in the same tone, though this time it locked its green eyes with me. It paused for a few moments, before continuing to struggle to get the door off itself.

I paused, unsure of what to do, but my mind is then made up by the sounds of shouting calling my name and approaching footsteps. No doubt it’s the guild I am with, the ever shady and sickeningly sleazy Prospector’s Guild. A guild notorious around the town I live, they are known for hiring just about anyone for their expeditions, and I was desperate for employment.

They had two simple rules. One: never report any suspicious findings to the authorities, just give it to the guild leader, and two: outside of suspicious findings, what you find is yours, but if you choose to sell, a majority of the cut goes to the guild.

It’s thanks to that shitty second rule I’ve been trapped under their thumb for months now, just trying to get by. But now I might be able to get out from under them and finally start living comfortably. As I help free the Golem from the metal door, the footsteps draw closer.

“Ah, Thomas. Good to see your well.” Our guild leader, Pate, said in his typical mock enthusiasm, “Sure would’ve been a shame had a charge gone awry and we’d have to send you’re scraped remains to your parents.”

I let go of the door, leaving the Golem under it once more.

He let out a low whistle, “Man, what a treasure trove you’ve stumbled upon. You do plan on selling it, right?” Despite his smile, the look in eyes made that more of a demand than a question. No doubt such weapons would go for a very high price on the black market, not that most of the money would go to me.

Before I could reply however, the door is slightly moved again, “Major repairs needed. Unit integrity compromised.” The Golem repeated, this time slightly louder.

Pate looked over my shoulder and without a word, pushed me aside and pried the metal door away from the Golem, “Holy shit, you’ve seen better days haven’t ya, doll?”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Golem’s eyes locked to him, that back to me, before going back and forth between us.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Well, no that’s biggie, we can just scrap the whelp anyway.” Pate said with a chuckle.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Golem froze its eyes on him for second, then back to me. I felt its eyes boring into mine, “Major repairs needed. Unit integrity compromised.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Pate laughed, “Is that all it can say? Poor doll, must’ve been locked up in here for ages. Hey Thomas, which scrap yard do you think will give us the best deal?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I kept staring at the Golem, and realized something. Pate was a fool, this Golem…if I could repair I could sell it on my own and I could make a fortune! Far more than what would be my cut if I let Pate and his goons take the weapons and the Golem.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Pate, I’m taking this Golem.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal">Pate cocks his head as the other guild member’s inch closer, “Eh? Why’s that? You feelin’ sorry for the poor thing?”

<p class="MsoNormal">I couldn’t tell him what I intended to do, but knew I was also a shit liar, “I have my reasons.” I simply say.

<p class="MsoNormal">Before I could even blink his knife was out and pressed against my throat a malicious grin on his face, I heard the other guild member unsheathe their swords as well, “Hey come on now Thomas. We guild members share everything! Come on, you can trust Pate to keep your dirty little secret. You into automatons? I’m more of Sandworm man myself, got a lovely one waiting for me at home, and she’s waiting for us to score big here!”

<p class="MsoNormal">I tried to keep calm, “And you will score big Pate, all of you will. In return for keeping the Golem, all the weapons and artifacts are yours.”

<p class="MsoNormal">Pate’s grin vanished for a moment in a look of shock, but slowly grew back as he looked over the room and saw the numerous weapons and trinkets that decorated it.

<p class="MsoNormal">“You drive a hard bargain, but you know what, I accept.” He placed his knife off me and motioned his men to start grabbing everything they could, “Keep your sex bot, though I think you’ve missed out on the real treasure here.”

<p class="MsoNormal">As the other guild member collected the loot, I helped the Golem up with its other hand, one that was not metallic or mangled, but human looking. While Pate led the way out of the ruins, the other guild member cheered and excitedly talked about the fortune they would make. The Golem and I remained silent, I noticed one of its legs were also badly damaged, I have a lot of work to look forward to.

<p class="MsoNormal">A few fiddled with the weapons, and when a spear let out a bolt of lightning that blew a hole in the cave ceiling, Pate glared at the men and warned them, “If another one of those damn things go off, I’ll be sure to test it on you! Now stop playing around with them you lots! We want to make it home in one piece!”

<p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately, we exited the cave safely, its cool darkness abruptly vanishing to blinding light and scorching heat. Once all the loot, including the Golem, was securely strapped to the sleds, we mounted our horses and took off to our town, Veilstone.

<p class="MsoNormal">After Pate bribed the guard to let us through despite our suspicious cargo, we made our way down the back alleys, were other shifty folk quickly gave us room. The Prospector’s Guild had a decent chunk of the town under its thumb, which led the other members carry the cargo safely to the hide out, and me to make it back to my home without much difficulty.

<p class="MsoNormal">Though to call it home would be giving it too much credit, it was more of a shed then anything, but with this Golem I’ll be able to afford a real home, until then, this shed will do nicely. Electric light from a lamp above illuminated the room, as the sunlight from the boarded windows hardly ever provided enough light. I was a mechanic for hire specializing in magitec, and one such job led me to Vielstone where I have been trapped since mostly due to sudden, nearly unpayable renting fees and tolls from the border guards. While I mostly worked with magitec, I knew a few things about Golems and had a book handy on them, so I got to work.

<p class="MsoNormal">I motion to the table at the end of the room, “Golem, undress so I can get a better look of your injuries.”

<p class="MsoNormal">It wordlessly obeys, not that there was much to remove, as it was just wearing rags. I was taken aback with how human it looked underneath, but reminded myself it was just an automaton from the mangled mechanical arm, exposed gears, and strange clear fluid slowly leaking out of a wound in her stomach.

<p class="MsoNormal">I rubbed some of the strange fluid in my finger, noting it viscosity was akin to syrup and it exuded a slight warmth. Looking through my basic book on Golems, I noted this to be ichor, a fluid essential to their functions. I looked inside the dark gash across is stomach, and in the inky blackness my stomach flopped as I could only see the ichor spilling out from underneath, as opposed to cascading from above. It was running very low on ichor.

<p class="MsoNormal">“How long have you been leaking ichor?” I whispered aloud.

<p class="MsoNormal">The Golem’s sudden reply caused me to jump, “Unit integrity was compromised 200 years ago. Major repairs needed.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“200 years ago?!” I said in shock, “How did you last this long?”

<p class="MsoNormal">The Golem paused, “After unit integrity compromised was detected, standby mode was initiated. R66Y was reawakened after the detection of an explosive device 10 meters away.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I guess that was my handy work. “R66Y?” I asked

<p class="MsoNormal">The Golem paused once again, “This Golem is designated as R66Y. Unit integrity is compromised, major repairs needed.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“I heard you already.” I say in a slight annoyance as I look at its back for its ruins, curious as to what type of Golem it was. My jaw dropped as I saw only one filled ruin of two, it was a security Golem.

<p class="MsoNormal">I gritted my teeth in frustration, a security Golem would be worth a fortune, even more so than a regular Golem! But if I can’t supply it with its lost ichor, this damn thing is just dead weight. I racked my brain, knowing a few markets that sold it, but how was I supposed to get the money for it?

<p class="MsoNormal">The shed echoed with a knock from the front door, cautiously looking through the window I saw it was Pate, with a grin from ear to ear. I felt a sense of dread, what did he want?

<p class="MsoNormal">I slowly open the door, and he steps in with a spring in his step, “Good evening Thomas! Still living in this dump? Gotta say things would be much easier if you just lived in our guild home-” he saw the naked Golem on the desk and let out a wolf whistle.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Wow, if it wasn’t for the mechanical parts I’d say she’s a keeper. Hell, I’d might’ve cheated on Sasha if this thing was in a better state. Don’t tell her that though!” He let out an obnoxious laugh, “That reminds me why I came here though, catch!”

<p class="MsoNormal">He tossed me a sack, and upon catching and feeling it weight, I was immediately weary. “Pate, I told you this Golem is mine.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“And yours it is! Think of this as…compensation to find us better treasure like those weapons than the usual scrap you turn up with.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I look into the sack and see numerous gold coins, then back up at the grinning Pate. “Fine, thank you, Pate.” I say, before motioning him to the door. He steps out, I with him, before going our separate ways. He heads to the alleys, while I lock up my shed and go to the markets.

<p class="MsoNormal">I would normally never except money form such a slimy man, but this wasn’t a normal situation. The gold here will be more than enough to repair the Golem, and after selling it I can be free from this desert hellhole. The town of Veilstone was arguably one of the worse town of the Desert Kingdom of Sahara, a town divided by numerous corrupt guilds, and I was eager to return home far up north.

<p class="MsoNormal">My expenditure through the markets was brief, even with the numerous shop keepers trying to haggle more gold from me. I regret carrying it all in a single sack, I humored to myself that perhaps Pate was laughing at me as he slinked through the alleys, but soon shuddered at the thought of him watching me. He was not a man to be trusted, and it only made me make haste throughout the markets and to my home.

<p class="MsoNormal">I unlocked the door and walked in, the Golem was still sitting naked on the table, but shot up its head at my approach. Set down all the prosthetics on the ground with a thump, handling with much more care the precious bottle of ichor. Though no smaller than a cup, it was this precious artificial life giving concoction that costed me far more than any of the prosthetics.

<p class="MsoNormal">Before I could have it drink, I had to sew up the gash on its stomach and the gash exposing the gears on her side, and it was then a strange though entered my mind and compelled me to ask, “Will this hurt you?” I asked the Golem.

<p class="MsoNormal">It sounded strange coming out of my mouth, why should I care what an automaton would feel if I was going to sell it? Could it even feel?

<p class="MsoNormal">The Golem paused, “Pain receptors are currently disabled.” For some reason that made me feel relief.

<p class="MsoNormal">I sewed up her stomach and gash quickly and handed her the sealed cup of ichor, after a few moments of struggling to get it open, I felt the familiar feeling I had before with her and undid the seal myself. She downed the ichor without a single drop spilt, and I could’ve sworn I saw the human spark of life in her eyes.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Diagnosis initiated...ichor storages restored…unit integrity compromised. Repairs needed.” She struggled to move her mangled arm and mangled leg.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Don’t worry. I got it.” I say to her.

<p class="MsoNormal">As I turn to pick up the prosthetics, I hear a sort of hissing and stuttering sound. I turn to the Golem, and see it was parsing its lips, its face a mixture of concentration where once a lack of expression laid.

<p class="MsoNormal">“T-th…thank…you. T-Thomas.” It managed to say before returning to an expressionless state.

<p class="MsoNormal">A whirlwind of emotions tackled me, leaving me speechless. It wasn’t the name that got, she surely picked that up from Pate, but it was those two words. They were spoken with emotion, a sense of gratitude.

<p class="MsoNormal">And what was I feeling? A warmth stirred within me, at first I figured it pride that I was one step closer to fixing this machine, but it seemed to hint at something else. No. I was not about to become attracted to this thing. She-it was my ticket out of here, I needed to remember that.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Your welcome.” Was all I said, before picking up the pieces for the prosthetic leg.

<p class="MsoNormal">Due to the fact that she was Golem, the pieces of prosthetics weren’t whole limbs, but rather parts that were to be interconnected like a puzzle. According to the seller of the prosthetics, this was vital to a Golem, but perhaps due to my haggling on the prices of such sets and refusal to pay the extra for the instructions, he refused to tell me why, perhaps eager for my return begging for the manual that contained the solution as the alignment of such parts.

<p class="MsoNormal">Little did he know of my stubbornness that extended beyond haggling, and I soon felt myself swelling with pride as I made progress with her leg. I did not work alone however, the Golem watched me work intently and offered aid, aid sounding less like automated guidance, and more…human.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Error, pieces do not match.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“Coupling successful, thank…you.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“T-try this one.”

<p class="MsoNormal">“T-that piece…might w-work.”

<p class="MsoNormal">This development was quickly dashed away however, as the final piece was set with a final, satisfying click. With a sense of pride I stood up and motioned her off the table, “Go ahead, walk around and get used to it.”

<p class="MsoNormal">As soon as she stood off the table she collapsed the floor and I felt my heart stop.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Shit! You okay?!” I asked, I wasn’t sure if my concern was out fear of an injury or of the leg shattering. Yet the latter was not possible given the toughness of the prosthetics, and why would it be the former?

<p class="MsoNormal">She raised herself with its two arms, obviously struggling, but she turned to me with a new, though faint, expression, a smile.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Unit integrity-I’m fine. It’ll take more to-compromise unit integrity.” Her voice, though with the consistent emotion of gratitude, seemed to still break between human and automated speech.

<p class="MsoNormal">She reached out her human hand, and as I took it I saw another flash of humanity within her eyes. She then stood up with no difficulty. “Thank you, really. I am grateful for your-maintenance.”

<p class="MsoNormal">I simply stared into her green eyes, ones that no longer flashed with electric light, but rather a sort biological one, a glint of human joy.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Let me get you some clothes.” I say as I reach into my closet for some spare clothing. As I handed it to her, I noted the strange expression her face, “Is something wrong?” I asked.

<p class="MsoNormal">“Do you not like me out of clothes?” Her tone was…teasing and I couldn’t help but blush at this comment, much to her delight if her eyes were to be believed. What was happening to me?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">I turned away as I heard the clothes rustling and read through the book on Golems. The slow growth of humanity, my growing feeling for her, why was this happening? It was then that I found a section that answered one of my questions.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">It stated that over time, a Golem that interacts with humans, namely men, will eventually develop human traits without the use of runes, prolong lack of contact will cause the opposite.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">Yet why was I having feelings for her? No, I knew why. Veilstone is a dangerous town where many are not friendly, and this was simply to product of loneliness brought on by my time in such a town. I knew what I had to do: repair her and sell her quickly before I became too attached. My freedom depended on it. I was turning, ready to begin working on her arm when I knew I had to work fast.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">For I laughed a jovial laugh at the sight of her, “You’re pants are on backwards.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">She pauses, observing my own pants before looking at her own, and let out a laugh that much to my regret was sweet to my ears before saying something that made my face blush once more, “Then, perhaps you can help me out of them?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">I needed to work quickly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">As the night drew the Golem noted my sudden silence, after pressing so many ‘is something wrong’ with an increasing voice of concern that hurt me to hear, she soon became silent herself. The arm would’ve been easier to work with provided we communicated, but while she stayed silent out of some falsely believed guilt, I stayed silent in an attempt to think of her once more as nothing but an automaton.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">Yet it did not work, more often than not I found myself looking at the rest of her body. She caught this and let the first smile I had seen in a while.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Oh, I see, you’re nervous.” She said. I did not say anything, and she continued, “You know, I don’t need ichor to survive now. I can have food, water,” she cupped my head with her other hand, “spirit energy.” She said with a grin.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Please, let me just finish your arm.” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">She put her arm down, but with finally a response from me, she spoke once more, “What’s wrong? Ever since this evening you’ve gone quiet. Please, tell me.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">I finished her arm with a click. “Try it out.” I simply say.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">After a few moments of wiggling her fingers, the new hand shoot out and places itself over mine, the other hand cupping itself under mine. Her face, now able to portray the human wheel of emotions, was one of confusion and sadness “I really am grateful for all that you’ve done. Saving me from the ruins, and now doing all this to repair me. Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Please, stop.” I say, “Let’s get some rest for tomorrow.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“No!” This was the first time I heard her raise her voice, “There is something you’re not telling me! What is it? Please, you’ve done so much, what can I do for you?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">A knock at the front door got both of our attention. Unable to see who it was, I cautiously opened the door with my dagger behind my back. I don’t know what the Golem was doing, but I could feel that she was just as tense as me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">A part of me wished my electric lamp illuminated a robber, for Pate and a few of his men stood at the door, and they were carrying the weapons from the ruins. Pate had a strange trident, while his two men had a sword and mace respectively.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Greeting Thomas. Came to see how your little pet project was doing.” Without letting me reply, he pushed me aside and let himself and his men in. He saw the Golem, fully repaired and glaring at him and let out another wolf whistle, “Damn, now that’s something I would cheat on Sasha with.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“State your business, Pate.” The Golem said.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">Despite being met with a murderous glare, Pate chuckled, “Ooh, she’s got some bite. A security Golem I take it? Such a thing would go for a very fine price.” I could see the gears clicking in his head as he put two and two together.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“And here I was thinking you were just looking for some company. You really scored big didn’t ya Thomas?” I didn’t say anything as his grin grew, “Golem, do you know why my dear associate repaired you? He wants to sell ya! Go on, ask him!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">The Golem looked shocked and turned to me, “Is-is this true? Is that why you’ve grown so silent recently?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">I couldn’t meet her gaze, I simply nodded.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Why?” The Golem asked, I remained silent. “Why?!” She asked louder.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“I want out of here,” I said silently, “and you’re my ticket out.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">Pate clasped his hands together, “And that brings me to my little visit. Thomas, I’m taking this Golem.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">My head shot up to meet him, “I thought you said-”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">He pointed his trident at me, and in a flash I was pinned to the wall by bands of light. “Did you forget the first rule of the Prospectors Guild? Report any suspicious to your dear guild leader, and I think this Golem is plenty suspicious, being from the same room as all the fantastical weapons.” He turned to the Golem, “Now, my dear automaton-”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">The Golem struck him with a devastating punch that sent him careening through the door. She then ran to me and yanked me off the wall, the bindings burnt on contact but where quickly broken, along with the wall I was pinned to.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“What are you-”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Shut it and run!” The Golem said as she took my hand and ran me through the destroyed wall.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“What are you lots waiting for?! I want that Golem!” I heard Patches say, looking behind me I saw the men snap out of their shock and chase us. The man unsheathed his sword and it burst into flames, with a single swing a sea of flames approached us, but the Golem took a quick turn down an alley.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Why are you helping me?” I say.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“I’ll explain when we lose them.” She said, but came to a skittering halt as we approached a dead end.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">The man with the mace approached us, and as he rose it the weapon glowed a light blue, before an apparition of a much larger mace appeared overhead. As the man swung the mace down the apparition did the same. Closing my eyes and bracing for impact, I heard the Golem grunt, and opening my eyes I saw her holding up the apparition, but struggling.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“What are you waiting for? Punch hit, stab him, do something! I can’t hold this up forever!” She shouted at me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">Though I still had my dagger, I was no murderer, and instead ran up to the man and struck him in the face as hard as I could. As he fell back the mace was released from his grasp and the apparition faded. While I was too afraid to touch it, the Golem picked up without hesitation and swung it at the wall, the apparition leaving a large hole for us to run through just as we saw Pate and the other man run to us.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">The town of Veilstone erupted thanks to the flames of the sword and earth shattering ruptures from the mace. In the chaos we soon lost our pursers and managed to get out of Veilstone and into desert, hiding within the ruins of ancient towns.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Why are helping me?” I asked again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">The Golem looked around at the ruins, “This place was once a city I was ordered to secure before the day I was sent to guard the weapons from of that ancient civilization.” She sifted through the sands, “It was a terrible city, akin to the one we were just in.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Veilstone?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Yes. I can still recall visions of broken men, women, and children, all with a singular hope to escape the horrid town.” She looked into my eyes, “It was a look like the one in your eyes. And do you know what happened to most of them? They died in failed attempts to escape. I soon made a vow to myself: that I would aid in the escape of any that I could. My creators must’ve caught on, and sent me to the vault to rot.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Then you came, and repaired me, only to want to sell me.” I couldn’t look at her as she said those words, but I felt her lift my head to do so anyway, “Make no mistake, I am furious that you attempted to sell me after repairing me, after giving me a life once again.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">I felt tears well up in my eyes, “I am so sorry.” I managed to choke out.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“I know, and you know what?” She then hugged me, “I forgive you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“I-I-”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Hush now, come on, let’s get out of here. Surely you had a place to escape to, right?” She asked.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">“Y-yeah, I’ve got a few idea. But, you’re alright coming with me? After what I intended to do with you?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">She smiled, “Yes. I now know you were just a man down on your luck, just like many of those in my time. Besides, you can’t be all bad, you did everything you could to fix me, and was happy when you did. I-I want to see that side of you again, I liked it.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">I smiled back, “Well, when we get out of his hellhole, I’ll be sure to show you that side, and only that side, because if I’m being honest, I think I’m falling for you.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops:303.0pt">The Golem smiled, “The feeling’s mutual.”

<p class="MsoNormal">