Chapter 26 The Harsh Reality 1 (1/2)
Ark Outpost, 2-Stop Teleshop...
”Urgh...” Lenny groaned while trying to get up from the teleporter's floor, ”I really, really hate teleporters.”
”Stop whining and put yourself togheter.” John rolled his eyes.
”Well...” Lenny dizzily stood up, ”At least I don't look ridiculous all bandaged up like that.”
John was still using the bandages covered in salve.
”Shut up, and let's go.”
”Okie dokie.”
John and Lenny were about to leave the shop when they heard the owner calling them from behind.
”Hey, the human and Novakid! Aren't you forgetting something?” The woman lifted her eyebrow and stared at them.
”Ow, right...” John took the Retriever from his inventory and gave it back, ”Here...”
”Thanks, have a nice day.”
John waved goodbye and left the shop. They were greeted with quite a sight. The Shopping Complex seemed more bustling than before.
”What happened here?” John asked in wonder, ”There is a lot of new people here... At least triple the amount that had before...”
”Yeah...” Lenny also surveyed the place.
”We go see what happened later, we need to find Pinguin Pete.”
John and Lenny left the Shopping Complex and walked toward the Shipyard Shop at the back.
John was soon able so see the middle-aged man with orange hair in the distance, ”Hey, Pete!”
”Oh!” Penguin Pete exclaimed in surprise, ”What happened to you ?” Pete saw that John was all bandaged up and some of the bandages were colored in red with John's blood.
”The Lunar Base 12 was...” John then explained what happened in the Erchius Mining Facility.
”Ohhhhhh... That was quite a fight.” Pete commented, ”And Clark? Did you saw him?”
”No... He... We weren't able to find him.” John said.
”That's fine.” Pete waved his hand, ”That guy's luck was always the best. I don't think he died that easy.”
”So... My ship?”
”Oh... Right... I had finished the fixing of everything. The piece that is left is the FTL engine that needs the Erchius Crystal.”
”Here...” John handed over a box that contained 20 Erchius Crystals.
Penguin Pete opened it and glanced at the crystals, ”Now this is some good stuff. Look at the glow...”
”Can you make the engine now?” John asked.
”Yeah.” Penguin Pete was snapped away from his fixation over the Erchius Crystals, ”It will take one full day to complete.”
”That's fine, I can wait.”
”Yer should look around. There more shops and entertainment businessman at the subterranean of the Shopping Complex.”
”Okay... Ow, by the way, what's up with the Ark Outpost? Why are there some many people around here?” John asked what he had been wondering all this while.
”That...” Penguin Pete hesitated a little, but still spoke, ”The ban had been lifted. Newcomers are welcome now.”
”They weren't?” John confusedly asked, ”What about me and Lenny?”
”It is because yer are a Protector. Remember, weren't yer wearing the Terrene Protectorate's blue Protector uniform when yer first arrived here?”