Mark of the Fated 2: A LitRPG Adventure by Ricky Fleet

Author:Ricky Fleet [Fleet, Ricky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-04-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 52

A Little Help

Rhys had said it was loud, but by god I wasn’t prepared for the noise when I finally reached the vast open chamber that was the pump station. Four of the gigantic machines sat in a row on plinths in the centre of the room. Two were currently offline. The other pairs’ motors spun in a blur. All of them were connected via an intricate layout of pipes and valves, all feeding into one massive pipe as tall as I was that ran up and through the roof.

“Felix says it’s so they can cycle them,” shouted Rhys, pointing at the silent pumps. “Prevents them from all having to work twenty-four-seven.”

I nodded and looked around at the walkways and soaring gantries that surrounded the equipment.

Unsurprisingly, most of the civilians had chosen to not take advantage of the prime real estate on offer. A couple of families were all trying to rest amidst a pile of duvets and blankets, their ears covered by construction grade muffs. In another corner, a trio of old gents were playing cards, totally unfazed by the hellish noise. A closer look showed six hearing aids, all dangling from their ears. They saw us, waved as if we were old friends, then returned to their hand and matchstick prize pool.

Felix was waiting at the top of a flight of steel steps which led to what I assumed was the control room. It was mostly just windows stretching about fifty foot along one wall, overlooking the entire room. He waved us up, a series of ear defenders hanging from his arm.

“Bit late for them, mate,” I yelled into his ear. “Could’ve used them when we arrived.”

His face blanched. “Sorry, Mark.”

“Get in there!” I shouted, pushing him toward the double thick door.

He stumbled on like a condemned man facing the firing squad. I pushed him harder, desperate to be out of the ear-shredding cacophony. We all bundled in and slammed the door behind us, groaning in bliss as the noise was cut down by ninety-five percent. The shrieking-whine was reduced to a low hum.

“I’m sorry, Mark!” Felix begged, falling to his knees.

I dragged him upright as if he weighed no more than a bag of cotton wool. “You’re not in trouble, you plank. You were in the bloody way!”

His watery eyes blinked a few times as if he hadn’t heard me. “I… I’m not?”

“Of course not. Your maps saved our arses out there. I owe you a beer or ten.”

He laugh-sobbed and stepped aside. I found myself staring into the faces of two youngsters. They were in their late teens if I was any judge, and after minding doors for years, I could tell a kid from an adult. The boy was inches shorter than the girl who stood around five-nine. He had floppy black hair that hung over his eyes. Hers was bleached-blonde, and hung down almost to her waist.

I glanced at Rhys. “These are your master hackers? The ones who created the encrypted communication? They’re kids.

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