Of Phantom Pains [continued in Akkala]

[AmJanky]

Axel

Where the guardian equipment had been there was now a mostly empty sleeve. He had managed to get the hardware off eventually with the help of one of the Zonai automatons that whirred and whizzed around the building site. Axel would argue about that operation having gone successfully, seeing as he was still an arm lighter.
As smart as the automatons appeared to be and as well as they could take orders, it had yanked the offending screw straight out of the socket. Leaving the thread of the ancient screw entirely smooth and Axel's mood anything but. He'd cursed something fierce, not just because the whole affair had smarted greatly but because that was possibly the last ancient screw in the vicinity of Hyrule Castle.

It was hard to hold a grudge against something that was in no way capable of feeling any emotion, however. The machine had done the job that had been asked and remained to ask if it could be of any further service.
That was how he found himself standing around a table at the city's newly founded smithy, with the very same automaton that had caused the grief, looking glumly at what he at present could find no way to fix.

He regarded the bot with some interest. There was no apparent force between all the floating parts, safe for the visible flow of light running through the spine. Every bit of the Zonai machine slotted together when powered down, until the - for lack of a better word - thing took up no more space than a stool. But they stood magnificently tall when in action.

The forms they held were not entirely foreign to the Hyruleans, scattered along the land lay ruins that bore a striking resemblance to the simulated lifeform in front of him. Some even went as far as to call the ancient ruins signs of gods of old. Whoever - or whatever - had built them had done a more than adequate job. The ruins had stood there for so long even time had eventually come to forget them. Only forced to be remembered when more of their remnants came falling from the sky - quite litterally.

To think this technology outdated the Sheikah's was mind boggling. And yet the eye-like shape that was carved and inset on their foreheads made Axel believe that this technology must have been what the Ancient Sheikah had built upon, be it a little less refined and graceful looking. It was a crying shame that years of wars and uncertainty had made all their efforts go to waste or laid to burn in the castle. Or in the hands of-

"Hmm." Axel shrugged that thought off before it fully formed. He turned attention to the arm that was on the table, not taking note of the impressive white pompadour that had placed itself just inches away from the surface. "How compatible would Zonai materials be?"
"Uncertain," Computing in beepedeeboops before sounding the answer Axel didn't want to hear, "chances of succeeding near none."

Considering the possibly smartest calculator in the room hadn't known what a screw was, Axel believed it. You couldn't make windows out of apples, either.

"None have yet tried!"

Shocked by the loud exclamation that seemed to come from under the table, Axel found the source to be a tuft of hair shuffling its way around. When the bearer of the hair stepped into view the begoggled face of Robbie revealed itself. Making his point even clearer by posing and pointing a finger fiercely in Axel's direction.

"This is an impressive bit of kit, lad." A thoughtful expression on his face when he noticed a sleeve billowing in the wind. "It must come in mighty handy."

"It does, or well, it did," unable to not scoff at what was clearly a jab at him, "my grandfather made it for me- he used to work under you."

"Ah, yes, tall guy, white hair?" Robbie didn't fully seem to listen, he fidgeted with the grabber on the arm, "What's wrong with it then?"

"Our lovely friend here helped me from the fire into the frying pan..." While gesturing to the Zonai machine it followed Axel's hand with great interest and let out a slight beep. "It broke the connecting mechanism while not so subtly undoing a screw."

"Ah yes," Robbie inspected what would be the upper arm and turned the screw hole to catch the light, "Thread's bare, entirely smooth, ancient screw? Wouldn't another method of attachment solve the problem?"

"Welding." The automaton offered in its ever serviceable tones.

"That would be a solution if skin could be welded upon-" Before any other explanation of why that should seem a bad idea to everyone could exit Axel's lips the diminutive man struck his signature pose again.

"None have yet tried!" He exclaimed once more, waiting expectantly for applause or praise.

"Not volunteering my arm for any further experimentation." Axel answered fiercely, noticing a slight shift in Robbie's look, the pointing finger drooped. "What I need is an ancient screw, am I right to assume you don't have any?"

"Sorry lad, none to spare. Not since Yiga took my lab from me." As he said it the scholar turned to face the general direction of Death Mountain, a scowl on his lips and a frown lining the goggles ever present over his eyes.

"That's .. rough." He understated, feeling a little embarrassed for his outburst. Axel had seen his father's hard earned workshop reduced to nothing when the upheaval hit, as every weapon eroded where it stood, a blight formed on every sword forged since, for years. He knew the hardships of having to start from scratch all too well.
In that time the Yiga's hand had lingered close enough to shake. He felt the gravity in Robbie's words, even though the scholar had a job here, he didn't look like he'd forgiven the guilty party.


"Tell me, your grandfather... Good man?" Robbie's face didn't leave the view of the impressive mountain that loomed over the whole of Hyrule.

"Not always." Because he wasn't about to lie to someone he did hold in high regard. "Smart man, though. He spoke highly of you and his time here."

"Akkala's a long way from here, lad." Robbie turned to smile at the youth.

"Sir..."

"There should be a key under the mat somewhere. If they haven't burned the place down yet."




--

Author's notes:
So here's the tl;dr: who wants to go to Akkala?

I decided to purposefully leave the timing vague and not tie it into the work continues thread, for convenience sake.

I'll make some sort of preparation post over the week/next weekend. For now, this thread is open to interested parties. Just a heads up, it's gon' be a long journey indeed.

[LuckyBlackCat]

"Hm?" Alyson had just started lunch break, sitting on a bench near the half-built general store and tucking in to a rice ball, when she heard the commotion. Shouting and swearing, coming from the smithy down the street.

Recognising the voice as that of someone she'd worked with a few times, she grimaced. Axel? Had he gotten hurt in a construction accident? At once she was on her feet, toolbelt clinking as she hurried to the building. "Axel? What happened?" She burst in through the open doorway to find him standing over a construct-surrounded table, on which lay his prosthetic arm, built from repurposed Guardian materials. His sour expression shifted from the arm to a diminutive white-haired scientist known well around Lookout Landing, Robbie, who denied his request for ancient screws, explaining that... the Yiga clan had taken his lab?

"Yeesh that sucks worse than a hungry Octorok..." With a shudder, Alyson bit the inside of her lip. Being no stranger to forced relocation, she knew all too well how invaders could steal away everything a person had put their all into. Things that took years to build only took an instant to destroy.

"Akkala's a long way from here, lad..." The hint in Robbie's smile was obvious.

Alyson's stomach tensed. He was suggesting infiltrating a place occupied by trained assassins? Before she could think better of it, she spoke up. "Uh... If you want, I can help! Assuming Hudson lets me take time off, I can get you to Akkala no problem." She gave Axel what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "The actual lab part will probably take more than just the two of us though..."

Her gaze drifted towards the mountain in the distance. Cold sweat beaded at the back of her neck. What had she just agreed to? Head out on a long journey to Akkala. Salvage an ancient screw or two from a clan of murderous Demon King worshippers. Yeah, what could possibly go wrong...

Yet her experience with technology had told her that, no matter how much reverse engineering took place, some contraptions truly were irreplaceable. And the lab... Nobody else was losing everything on her watch. Even if they only managed to reclaim a scant few materials, it would still be a victory.

[AmJanky]

While Axel was still mulling over the implications made by the old scholar another interference presented itself.

"Uh... If you want, I can help! Assuming Hudson lets me take time off, I can get you to Akkala no problem." She gave Axel what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "The actual lab part will probably take more than just the two of us though..."

Alyson, the builder, had apparently poked her head around the corner too, she looked kind of shocked, but offered help nonetheless. Axel answered her smile with a chuckle.
"Ha. I am not exactly equipped for that kind of exercise, either way." A sad little flop of an empty sleeve punctuated his sentence. He hardly stifled a snort at the thought.

"I'll leave you youngsters to get to planning." Robbie meanwhile excused himself, "I have other work to get to. I trust you to let me know if the old stomping ground still stands."

"Will do." Axel answered, a little bewildered, wondering if he even had been given a choice. He had been brought up to respect his elders and wasn't about to even question an implication of a request, you just did the thing that was impliedly asked. Axel could not help but peek down at the old codger's feet, and yeah that looked like a pair of easily throwable slippers.


Axel had been to Akkala exactly once, Torin Wetland to be precise. Back before Tarrey Town had even been a thought. The rocky outcrop that housed the town now was then as barren as the rest of Hyrule had been.
Tarrey Town was the first established town and trading center in Akkala. And the youngest established town anywhere in Hyrule since the Calamity. It had only continued to grow under Hudson Construction, last Axel knew they'd opened a racetrack on the Wetland.

Torin Wetland at the time of his visit had not been so pleasant. There had been plenty of parts to scrounge, but some of the parts still scrounged about. If you kept an eye on the blue lights and kept them at a distance they weren't a threat.

"If ..." Axel lamented out of nowhere as he sunk into thought, he scratched the back of what was left of his left arm.

"I don't think you need to necessarily ask for time off," After realizing he'd gone quiet for a tad longer than comfortable, he snapped out of it with a cheeky grin about him, "it is a supply run, after all..."


But to take care of first things first, cause he wasn't going to lug a piece of malfunctioning machinery with him - nor was he going to carry his prosthetic arm around town, he turned to the Zonai Machinery
"You." He pointed at the bot, "Guard this," lowering the pointing finger toward the robotic arm, "with your life- or whatever substitute force you're thriving on."
The automaton beepedeebooped, opened a drawer in its chest and placed the arm into it.
"That'll do," Axel answered a little bewildered to the action, not having expected anything so rigorous, "now please stay here, so I can find you."
"I can also-"
"Stay."


"Anyway..." He gestured at Alyson to follow, "Instead of days off, we're going to ask for an escort."

[Emily]

Reverie released a sigh that didn't quite cover up her stomach rumbling. It had been difficult for her to understand and accept that she hadn't fully thought through this whole "saving her best friend and running away from home" thing. While they were both capable of defending themselves, and could reasonably expect success in hunting and foraging when they were away from a city, neither had what Lady Purah had called "marketable skills". In her defence, the community she'd grown up in didn't use currency or have a market; everyone contributed in the ways they were able, ensuring that everyone's collective needs were met. They had even traded in goods when making visits to Rito Village. Apparently, that wasn't the way everywhere worked, and people expected her to have rupees here.

Why couldn't grandmother have told her about that part of Hyrule during story time?

It wasn't lost on Reverie that she and Lucke had been lucky to start their adventure with rebuilding Castle Town. The feeling of community and cooperation had extended to free meals, and they had stayed for just about as long as possible. By the end of things, they had moved into the free sleeping quarters provided within Lookout Landing and made a number of friends with whom to share meals. Unfortunately, that time was at an end; now that things were taking shape, the other elements of "civilisation" had begun moving in. While that included amazing things like infrastructure, new farms on the outskirts, and all sorts of strange and interesting shops, it also included "the economy" and "paying for your sleeping quarters and all your food." She wasn't as much a fan of the latter.

The worst part was that everyone else seemed to have it all figured out. There were people happy to set up a farmstead, or open a pub. Others had generational wealth allowing them to immediately enroll in the academy or work in the tech institutes. She'd considered going to the guard captain in hopes of securing a position at the walls, but ultimately chose not to. A long-term commitment in Castle Town didn't sound ideal when she really wanted to see more of Hyrule than just this. Also, it would probably be the first place someone would look if they went on a search for Lucke. The ideal life would either be mobile, avoiding surveillance or interception, or else just living somewhere entirely off the grid.

"Perhaps we will live in the forest," she said, looking toward Lucke. "You can catch rabbits and I'll plant potatoes. That wouldn't be so bad."

-

"You need an escort?"

Plans began forming before her eyes, the puzzle finally solved. The wry amusement in Reverie's voice belied the fact she hadn't considered such a thing as a valuable source of income. Perhaps she should have; her visits to Rito Village had introduced her to the idea that not everyone was as capable or trained in combat as she was. She and Lucke could take contracts guarding people as they went from location to location, which would keep them mobile and allow them an income for whenever they visited a place where the macroeconomic outlook mattered to someone dressed in silk.

She began to speak again before the idea caught in her throat. Wait, what was a proper amount to charge for this sort of thing? They were going from Castle Town in the centre of Hyrule, all the way to the northeastern edge of Akkala. It would be at least three days of travel, they'd probably find at least one stable along the way, though it was possible there would be more. That would involve spending on lodging and food. But what would that cost?

"I-" she stalled. Surely there would be a better time to hammer that out later. "We would be happy to escort you to Akkala and assist with your tasks there."

[LuckyBlackCat]

At Axel's suggestion that she view it as a supply run, Alyson chuckled. "Good way to put it." Hudson Construction worked closely with the Zonai Survey Team, and while the latter's area of expertise was obviously Zonaite machinery, both groups had an interest in ancient technology in general.

"Once we've found an escort though, I'll have to quickly let the other workers know, in case they think I've been snatched up by an Aerocuda or something." And in case this takes longer than expected, was what she didn't say, the possibility of things going awry all too real. Not that she'd let herself dwell on it. They'd find a capable fighter, and get that ancient screw no problem, along with as many of Robbie's old supplies as possible...

"You need an escort?"

That capable fighter had found them. Not just one, but two. Alyson beamed at the duo, a blue-haired swordswoman in heavy armour, and a redhead whose traditional Sheikah robes suggested a less defensive but more lithe combat style. "That'd be perfect, thanks! I have an aircraft parked outside the site, it's just big enough for four, and it'll get us there before you can say son-and-done."

Well, not quite. They'd still have to rest overnight at a stable, but it would shorten their travel time considerably.

"Heads up though, this is Yiga trouble we're dealing with." Not knowing how much of the conversation the two warriors had overheard, she figured it was best to mention who they were up against. Success in this mission would be crucial not just for Axel and Robbie, but to keep potentially dangerous lost technology out of the wrong hands - as an engineer, she saw such as a responsibility. "I can fight a little, but you seem like you really know your stuff."

Her fingers brushed against the wing-shaped boomerang at her belt. She'd carved it herself, but she'd begun training with weapons long before that. When she'd been just twelve, she'd been given her first basic boomerang and taught the essentials of combat by her mother, should yet another dire situation arise and bring the need for self-defense. For just a fraction of a second, her expression became solemn as she hoped nobody would ask why an artisan like her had learned to fight.

"I'm Alyson, by the way." She brightened up, looking from one newcomer to the other. "And your names are?"

[Sav'saaba]

She exhaled through her teeth. This was the first time she had been able to take a closer look at the workshop's inside and its equipment, despite having passed by the newly-built smithy on the regular.

Like a child set loose in a carnival, she trotted along the spacious workbench and dragged her fingers along its still pristine surface, then marvelled at the size of the unlit forge as she leaned over into it, hands finding purchase on its edge, to look up at the inside of the chimney, and eventually she stopped before one of the walls filled with tools.

There were hammers, tongs, chisels, swages and shears. But the way they were arranged was all wrong- had she done so with her father's equipment, he'd have her do it all over again, while patiently explaining why that fuller went over here and this flatter over there and what could go wrong for a blacksmith if things were not in the right place for grabbing while keeping candent iron squeezed between tongs.

Lucke couldn't count the times she had been painted the most gruesome mental images of severed limbs, charred fingers and crushed bones. No wonder mr. Emptysleeve here was an arm short. She glanced sideways at her kinsman. All well-toned bicep, no brains, then? That silky, long hair of his wasn't very safety conscious for his profession, either.

Arranging an efficient layout for a smith's workplace had become second nature to Lucke, having helped her father out whenever she desired a sense of normalcy and something menial to focus on, and the one she found herself in right now was a thorn in her side.
Without prompting -or permission- she took the biggest offenders off their hooks and placed them elsewhere on the wall, listening all the while to Alyson's lively chatter.

The Yiga, huh? An eyebrow raised, and she paused halfway placing a chisel. She had heard a few stories, but had never dealt with the Sheikah cult herself. She'd relish a challenge, although she would need some practice to get a better feel of the run-off-the-mill traveler's sword graciously lent to her by Kosi at the Landing as a substitute weapon.

An old friend could not be replaced. Skulltula Bite had grown scarred and weathered of late, but Lucke had known by heart the blade's balance, its song, and even its vicious edge. An extension of her own flesh and bone, now reduced to nothing more than a few pitiful pieces of ancient material that had made up its hilt that she had gathered into a piece of chamois, rolled up and tucked away within her clothing, in an inner pocket near her heart.

She had kept up with the blade's maintenance to the best of her abilities, using the fractured knowledge her father had imparted on her about his craft when she hung about the forge as he worked, but there really was only so much she could do.
Lately every time Lucke had swung the blade, she had mentally pleaded for the rapier to remain sound for just a little longer, for it to endure the onslaught of blows and clashes just a little more, until she would finally find someone willing and able to tamper with ancient Sheikah technology.

She'd been a rash idiot. What else was new?

Knowing she wasn't quite as suited to introductions, she trusted Reverie would take the wheel, and would wave in greeting at the Hudson Co.'s employee and the Sheikah blacksmith when she'd hear her friend mention her name.

[Emily]

"I am Reverie," the warrior replied. Turned out their new benefactor was direct and to the point- a welcome reprieve, if she were being honest. Many people in this part of the world had a tendency to talk at length, meandering around the point. She had come to realise it was because they were speaking aloud all their thoughts, and worked through problems externally instead of internally. She had always been more accustomed to speaking only after giving a situation some thought. She gestured, "and this is my partner Lucke."

The Sheikah had wandered off in the meantime, nothing terribly surprising to Reverie, but she was brightened somewhat to see a return to form. In the days since the shattering of Skulltula Bite, there had been less enthusiasm in Lucke's step, but seeing a forge seemed to have done her some good. Which in turn did Reverie good. A rising tide and all that.

"I haven't yet fought Yiga," she continued, her expression brighter than before, "I look forward to it." The Yiga had been around long enough to factor into grandmother's stories. They had apparently been a smaller operation in the years before the Calamity, but had nevertheless attempted to subvert the then-Princess's quest to stop the Calamity. There was more, of course. Much more. She had personal reasons for wanting to go on this mission, even if she felt no need to overshare.

"We are ready to leave at any time."

[AmJanky]

He had seen the blue haired lady before, at the lunch provided on the first day of the rebuild of Castle town. Axel never did find out if it was the shellfish that had done the poor chap dirty. He also never got to have lunch himself that day.

She went for it with no intro, no names, just the question. Straight to the point, all business, obviously a knight. Judging by the look of her armor, Hylian. Unlike her, it looked old - no, not old - vintage, well maintained despite the many small dents and scratches.

The other was much harder to pinpoint. The red hair would suggest Gerudo, but she lacked the height to be one of the desert folk. Honestly, she lacked height period - not that he doubted her to be a swordswoman, by the way she carried herself - but she was petite. And frankly far too pale to be hailing from such a sun-blessed part of the country.
He half expected a remark from the redhead, when she wordlessly started to reorganize the workshop. He couldn't help but give her a wry smile.

She seemed to know what she was doing too, he just let her amuse herself, if only because he didn't want to have to bother with it later. At the end of the day he'd quite often ask one of the bots if they minded, they never did.

Either way, Alyson took the conversation, she laid out the transport means, explained the broad goals and managed expectations. She did such a splendid job he let her handle that while he took a tool-bag from a peg and opened a drawer from under the workbench. Some of his personal tools were in there, to the initiated a tell-tale blue and orange sheen on some of them betrayed their purpose. He organized them into the bag while he listened to the swordswoman finally getting to the introductions.

"And I'm Axel," completing the introductions, "thank you for helping us out... Specifically a thanks from me, to be honest."

He gently rapped the Zonaibot, who had moments before closed the drawer in its chest to do what Axel had told it to do, "Sorry friend, will be absolving you of guard duty sooner than expected."
"It has been my pleasure." It once again beepedeebooped, opened up and picked up what was stored there. "I can also-"
"You can put it in the bag for me," trying his best to not sound too exasperated with the ever helpful artificial intelligence, "thanks."


Something clicked in the back of his mind, "Alyson...? This aircraft of yours is Zonai built?" There was a slight concern in his tone. He didn't like the idea of bringing their new favourite toys right up to the Yiga's front door. It was just as well that they hadn't found a way to weaponize the helpfulness of the tall green creatures. The last time something vaguely equipped with artificial intelligence was hijacked for evil had been a Calamity.

"It would shave days off travelling to go north directly... But I think it's wise to stop at the South Stable, or maybe Tarrey Town. Either way I'm ready when you are."

[LuckyBlackCat]

The platemail-clad woman who introduced herself as Reverie didn't say much, but seemed like a practical, to-the-point person as she expressed her readiness to leave right away. The other warrior, Lucke, said nothing at all, instead busying herself rearranging the tools around the forge. The laugh Alyson tried to hold back came out as a soft snort. In her experience, it was pretty common for crafters to be somewhat disorganised, herself included. Sometimes it took a fair amount of rummaging through her many pouches to find what she needed.

At least Axel didn't appear to mind, as his little smile attested. However, the concern in his tone was unmistakeable when he asked about the aircraft, if it was Zonai built. And there were good reasons for caution - going by what Alyson had heard about the Yiga Clan, they relished the chance to use any kind of technology they could get their thieving hands on and twist it to their own purposes.

"It's inspired by Zonai vehicles," she explained, "but the Loftwing's a construction of my own. Wind magic based." In recent years, there'd been a growing tendency for people to combine magic and machinery in order to craft their own contraptions, or enhance ancient ones, as opposed to recreating them. "Even so, yeah, best to leave it in town or at the stable, and go the rest of the way on foot. I happen to live in Tarrey Town, and it has a cosy little inn, but if you'd rather stop at the stable, I'm good with that too."

Stables were familiar environments for her. While on the move, she and her family had stayed at many a stable, her parents taking up temporary maintenance work there, or whatever odd jobs they could find advertised on the noticeboards. Naturally the rest stops stirred up mixed feelings in her, bringing back memories of loss and uncertainty, but she'd grown to associate them with a sense of safety and community in a divided, chaotic world.

Now, though, wasn't the time to think about that. "Anyway, let's get going!" She raised a fist in the air. "Yiga rear ends won't kick themselves!"

She led the three down the street, past building sites, pausing only to explain the situation to her co-workers, and to gather supplies from the inn as well as give everyone the chance to pack anything they needed in the campsite. Pushing her goggles down over her eyes, she climbed into the mini-plane parked near the inn, its shape resembling a bird with a pointed beak-like front. The sails and wooden beams that made up its wings and tail unfolded, lighting up with blue-green sigils running along their feather patterns as she pulled at the controls. "Everyone ready?"