Chapter 2: The Golem
(Golem POV)
It felt like I had just woken up from a deep sleep. I remember the desert. A ruined town. My fireteam patrolling. A sudden ring of a cell phone to my right and then an explosion. I remember hearing them calling my name. A tourniquet wrapping around my lost arm. Blood and grey matter oozing down my eyes. All of a sudden it went into nothingness. It was pitch black and cold. No sound. I couldnt think. There wasn't any point.
It was at that time I realized, I died. I drifted in that endless abyss for a long time. Was this death? Everything that awaited me, everything I thought that I believed was the afterlife. It was nothing that I expected. But I couldn't feel anything. Not even the fear or disappointment of being wrong.
Who knows how long I've drifted around there. It was then that I had sensed something. It was like feeling warmth for the first time in a long while. A gentle hand held my tiny being, my soul. She held me close to her body and whispered something unintelligible. From this distance I could feel a radiance emanating from her being. Was this some kind of Goddess? As that thought passed through my mind, she smiled at me or at least I could feel a smile. Suddenly she pushed me away and I drifted down towards the abyss.
Wait wait, come back! I was like a moth being drawn towards a light. All I wanted was bask in that feeling of warmth again. But the cold returned around me. Apathy once again took hold of my spirit. But she had a set a course for me. And soon I saw the destination. A tiny pocket of light in the distance. Closing in fast. My being rushed towards it. It was like a thirst. A desperation for reality. A hunger. I was a soul that wanted to [Be] again. I finally reached it. Light enveloped my spirit.
And life rushed back into me again. My sight seemed... gradient. I took a breath of the air as a spasm shook my body. I seemed to be in a chair. Gripping the handles, I slowly pushed myself up and stretched. It was then I noticed four figures in front of me. People dressed like they were LARPing.
"Huh? You guys dressed up for a convention or something?"
I chuckled. My hand went to rest on the back of my head in slight embarassment. It was then I noticed I didn't feel any sensations.
""""...Eeh?""""
I looked at my hands. I quickly looked at the rest of my body. It was mechanical.
"Wait, what the hell am I? Where the hell am I? This isn't the..." Their weapons caught my eyes. They were definitely sharp. "Wait, are those real weapons? What did I do you guys!? I'm not trespassing here, am I? Why does this place look like a tomb!?"
""""...WHAAAAAAT??"""""
Confusion filled the air around them.
"Just.. just give me a second here. Listen. I have no idea whats going on but please just let me go. I don't mean to intrude in... whatever this place is. A museum? A Cemetery? I, um, also don't know why I'm a robot but, uh, yeah."
I start to bow on my hands and knees pleading.
The group of LARPers still stood there with a shocked looked on their faces. I raised my head to see their reactions. It was the fancy looking one with the rockin' tits, showing way too much cleavage wearing a the large wizard hat that spoke up.
"Golem. Do you understand us?"
"Well yeah. Why wouldn't I?"
She stepped back a bit looking unbalanced. Like my words shocked her.
A teenage girl stepped out from behind the young dude in plate armor. She stepped towards me cautiously. "Are you... alive, Mr. Golem?"
"Eeh?" I slowly got up again. She backed away at my movements but I kept my hands raised up to show them I wasn't a threat. "Yeah, I'm alive. I think. I'm pretty sure I was dead though."
"What do you mean dead?" the dude covered in leather spoke up. It was like I was staring at a tabletop game party. Is he the thief?
"Well I died. I was alive as a human before. A soldier. An IED blew away half my body. Next thing I know, I was floating around in darkness. I don't remember much. I think I found... something? I remember it being warm. And I got pushed towards a light. Floated there awhile and then I reached it. All of a sudden, I'm in this weird robot body and you guys pointing weapons at me. So please don't mind me if I'm a bit freaked out over this all."
The girl had a strange look on her face, "An Eye Id Dee?"
"An Improvised Explosive Device. They put some fertilizer, along with some other chemicals in a jug and rig it to explode when someone gets close by."
"Oh, so it's like a trap... Wait, you can do that with fertilizer!?"
"Oh um. I think it's best you guys don't know about those kind of things..." Do they not know chemistry or something? Or are they just innocents? "In any case, I explained myself. Can I put my hands down? I'm not a threat to you guys and you all seem like alright people."
The woman considered me for a second. "Yes, you can put your hands down. For now."
I let out a sigh and dropped my hands. "Don't seem to trust me yet?"
"I would trust a golem. But like you said. You're really a human in that body. And humans are unpredictable."
"Huh well. I don't blame you there. I'm still a bit weary with you all too. I recall hearing about someone trying to sell me for booze."
The thief jerked up a bit when he heard my comment.
"No, we can't sell you. Slavery is outlawed in the Nation Alliance. Well, unless you're in the Grav Empire in the far north. Either way, now that you've proven your both sentient and intelligent, we can't do anything to you."
"The Empire of Grav? Never heard of that place before."
"Oh that's right. You were created millenia ago during the Ancient Ones Kingdom" Plate boy stated.
"A kingdom? We didn't have any kings back when I was alive."
"What really? There was text stating that a wise warrior king ruled the world before it fell into ruin!" (Tessa)
"Hum. He must not have been very good at his job if he let his entire kingdom collapse all at once."
The wizard woman let out a stifled laugh. "That's quite astute. I think I like you, golem. By the way, what's your real name?"
"My name?" Should I give them my real name? "My name is... Arlan."
"...Arlan. Is that an alias?"
"Yes. The person before me died fighting for the people around him. I think he deserves the rest."
"That's right. You were a soldier before. I understand. Arlan, I think we've had enough of this place. Would you like to come with us back to town?"
"Being invited to town by two beautiful women or staying here in some crypt. Well, I don't think I've ever been given a more obvious choice." The girl giggled at me while the wizard let out a sigh. Muttering "soldiers" under her breath. I flirted with them out of habit but I got a chance to look at my body. I'm as anatomically correct as a Ken doll. I wouldn't be able to do anything with them even if I wanted to.
Me and the ladies started walking out of the room. "Wait is this alright? I've never heard a golem talk like that!" muttered the thief behind us. I ignored him. I really wanted to get out of this place.
"He looks like he's a human inside a golem body. We can talk more with him later when we make camp. I wanna start polishing this new sword!" Plate guy patted the thief's back and ran over to us.
The thief sighed. "So much for the good booze at town." Dejected, he walked behind us with his head held low.
Weekly Power Status
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