Shovels In Spades

Daz, Mu, and Madison were stood atop the stage of Fort Skip's theatre along with Rimmy's core.

"So what now, Brother?" Mu asked.

The building was empty save for a handful of people that worked on the stage's lighting and safety features who had stayed behind to cater to the king's needs.

"That city upgrade I bought for Vegas. I'll get that for Fort Home and let everyone know what we're about to do. Simple as that. It's a shame this theatre isn't magical, honestly. I'd love it if every single citizen could somehow attend your showing similar to how the system's grand auction worked," Daz explained. "Even if they might not be willing to help fight with us, more Ember users can only be a good thing if we handle it with care."

"That would be ideal, yes. I suppose we shall have to settle with me performing demonstrations frequently along with me using my less obvious Embers outside of Shúzuì to help show what they can do," Mu said.

Madison nodded. 'Embers... What a weird thing... Daz was right to get Lesser Identification. I knew he would be... I don't like this man since he tried to kill Daz, but if he trusts him enough to let him treat him like a brother then I don't have a choice but to play nice... I'm watching you though, Mu!'

Mu felt his back go cold, oddly enough.

"After this, we go talk to Rose like planned. The little devil will be incredibly helpful in finding more existing Ember users is what I'm hoping. Stumbling across Master Sorola was nothing but dumb luck, after all," Daz stated.

With all of that out of the way, Daz repeated the process of buying the city-wide upgrade that would allow him to communicate with all of his citizens via an audio and visual broadcast.

He lined up Madison, Mu and Rimmy so they would all be in the 'shot' and he then activated the ability, startling no small number of citizens.

"Hello, dear citizens of Fort Home, I am your king, Daz. I know this may seem strange and frightening seeing me and my companions here appear on a strange screen in front of your eyes with no warning, but let me reassure you that it was only done out of necessity. I trust I have your attention, so please, listen carefully to what I am about to say," Daz said in a very proper and confident manner.

Lindsey Blanchard was rather surprised when an unsolicited yellow screen filled her mind and showed her the face of the man who had saved both her and her fellow failed and abandoned esper children.

She had just gotten out of the bath and was relaxing on her bed when the king's speech had begun.

'So that's what he looks like... That must be Madison, huh? She's so pretty...' Lindsey thought in awe.

She wasn't quite sure how to feel seeing something so... real for the first time in her life. Sure, she'd seen the system screens for a couple of months now, but seeing another person? A physical place? Even if it was only a projection being transmitted directly into her mind it still made the young teen emotional.

"To get to the core of why I am speaking to you all right now I must first explain where I have recently been, why I am back, and why I went there in the first place," the king said.

Lindsey furrowed her brow. 'He left? Huh. Maybe I should make more of an effort to leave the dorm a bit more regularly? I guess we don't really get any news in here since the androids don't talk about useless stuff and Madison doesn't talk much at all when she's playing with us or healing us when we have... episodes.'

"I and the leader of the state of New York had entered an alliance of sorts over a month ago. This alliance was to help each other in times of emergency and war. Now is one such time. New York City is nothing more than a ruin; it's people dead or lost. No more than a hundred still remain in the city's core, protected by... a power," King Daz explained a bit ambiguously.

Lindsey turned in her bed to get more comfortable. 'A power? An esper power, I bet. Why else would he say it like that? If it was a class skill or something he'd have just said so.'

"What brought them to their knees, they who could likely match my own army in strength while also possessing several powerful individuals which may have given even me pause for concern should our alliance turn ugly? A cult," King Daz said coldly and with a firm tone.

'What's a cult? Uh, system, can you tell me what a cult is?' Lindsey was a prisoner in her own home for most of her life and was only allowed to learn what her brothers decided when they graced her with the odd braille book or two, so this was a completely new term to her which actually excited her a bit.