Binary Soul

> Ellie PoV <

“So Ellie, do you know why you failed to notice the Island Turtle?”

“I wasn’t aware that such a thing existed. My preparations were lacking.”

*STOMP*

“Wrong. You noticed the terrain was suspicious yet you did not investigate. Otherwise you would notice you were walking on a monster shell and not regular dirt.”

That rocky-ish hill was actually a 10 meter tall tortoise.

{“To be fair Red, those things are pretty rare. Some people think they’re good omens, but a lot more people think they’re delicious.”}

*STOMP*

What’s this?

“They’re delicious!?”

{“Aye, folks say they’re so tasty you won’t forget it for the rest of your life.”}

*Drool*

“Ellie, wipe that drool! We’re not *Slurp* done here!”

“Kira’s no different though...”

“This review is about your failure as a scout, Ellie. Do not try to *Slurp* weasel out of it!

It’s true.

Failing to notice something like that means I’m still inexperienced.

*STOMP*

So this lecture is well deserved.

“I understand.

A mistake like this is inexcusable as a scout.

I will make sure I check the ground more carefully from now on.

I’m properly reflecting on my blunder, okay?

*STOMP*

Now can I get out of this position?

The Island Turtle’s walking is really hurting my ankles!”

Why did Kira insist we do this on top of its shell anyway?

And where did she learn of the forbidden secret of seiza?

*STOMP*

Both of those are probably Nano’s ideas.

{“Uh girls, if you’re quite done there I’d like to move on with our mission.”}

Kelly’s sure taking it easy back on the cart.

She’s “following” the tortoise.

*STOMP*

The thing has barely moved a hundred meters since 5 minutes ago!

“Okay, that’s enough for now. We’re still technically in the field, so I’ll let you off here. But these sort of mistakes can’t happen again. Are we clear!”

“Yes!”

I quickly stand up.

My ankles are instantly relieved.

* * *

We’re back in the carriage, leisurely keeping pace with the tortoise.

“Then the question is how did the box get inside the Island Turtle. Any ideas Kelly?”

“It obviously ate it, right? Those things will eat anything that’s sticking out of the ground. Trees, rocks, castles, doesn’t matter.”

{Well, we have to get it out and confirm the contents.}

{I know where the boxes are but not what’s inside them.}

{It would be good if the container and its contents were digested.}

{But those things are really tough, so that’s unlikely.}

“Well then there’s only one option. We just have to wait until it gets pooped out.”

What’s with that logic?

“Kelly! That’s disgusting!”

See, Kira agrees!

“Part of life though. Problem is these things take weeks to, uh, process things.”

{It should have been eaten just recently.}

{We’ve already put off gathering these for too long so waiting for, uh, that, isn't an option.}

Nano said that the box had been sitting still for weeks.

Probably abandoned as junk.

But it started moving again three days ago.

That’s probably when it got eaten.

“Ah, if it’s recent, I think we might be able to make it puke it out, but it won’t be easy. They got stomachs of steel after all.”

Stomachs of steel?

I hope that’s a metaphor.

“Kelly!”

“Don’t complain Red. That box is coming out of that thing one way or the other. Just pick one hole and prepare yourself.”

“Can’t we just kill it and cut it open?”

I’ve been wondering that for a while, so I asked.

It doesn’t seem to be particularly threatening.

“Bad idea. Island Turtles are under the protection of the crown. Poaching them is a sure way to a death sentence for  you and everyone you know.”

Damn those royalty guys.

Looks like we can’t just gut it and cook it.

Me and Kira will be fine even if the world crumbles.

Literally.

We have a functioning escape pod in storage, it can fit both of us if we snuggle.

But Kelly, Esteemed Father and the others in Runetap will be in trouble.

{Are they’re trying to save an endangered species?}

“Haha, yeah you could say that. Saving it for themselves at least. They just don’t want anyone else but royalty eating these.”

How envi- I mean selfish!

{How would they even know, though?}

“All of them are being tracked by magic so if one dies they’ll investigate immediately. And there’s no way to hide that mountain of evidence in time no matter what you do.”

So that’s how it is.

Hmm, yeah, let’s try with that.

“Kira. I have an idea. It’s dangerous but it should work.”

* * *

{Okay Ellie, the others are in position. Ready when you are.}

Nano reports Kelly and Kira have completed their preparations.

“Got it.”

I’m riding the tortoise’s head, waiting for it to open its mouth.

It doesn’t even seem to notice me.

I reach into my utility belt and take out one of the Pocket Grenades.

{You’re sure you want to do this, Ellie?}

I look at the small cylinder.

It’s so small that making a fist around it makes it disappear.

The top half is gray, the lower half is dark green.

It has some heft so throwing it is easy.

But resolving to throw it, is not.

Just thinking about how such a small thing can be so devastating…

Truly a weapon worthy of that old fart.

“It’ll be fine if I use the longest fuse and run away at top speed.”

This much is necessary.

This weapon needs absolute care when handling.

The tortoise is very slowly approaching a tree.

I grab the grenade, holding both ends in either hand.

I firmly twist them in opposite directions.

The two halves move and a faint click is heard from the middle.

A small light on the gray end activates, glowing red.

I twist the ends in the other direction and the light turns green.

There, it’s armed, there’s no going back from this point.

The tortoise approaches the tree slowly.

It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but patience is important here.

It opens its mouth, a yawning abyss that can swallow houses whole.

I twist the grenade ends one last time, doing a full rotation.

*Beep*

The 10 second countdown has started.

I immediately toss it into the tortoise’s mouth and run.

I don’t have time to think, I just run.

> Narrator PoV <

Ellie’s aim was a spot 150 meters away from the blast. That was the minimum safe distance when using this weapon in outside areas. However, it’s a different meaning from the recommended safe distance of 1 kilometer, where the others were currently waiting.

Ellie passed her goal on time, but she kept running. A few moments later, the metal cylinder released its contents. The brown-green gas spread out to envelop the tortoise’s head and invade its lungs in an instant.

The payload in question was listed as Gas (Non-Lethal). This particular product was shown to be effective on 95% of races across the galaxy. One of its effects, an overwhelming sense of nausea, was Ellie’s aim.

The main use was listed as “Crowd Dispersal” in the catalog. However, words like that often hide an ugly truth.

In reality, it’s one of the most vile chemical compounds ever created. The only reason it was commercially available was that it never directly caused casualties.

The victims will survive the gas, but its effects are said to be worse than death. It assaults the nose, skins, eyes, mouth, even the hair and nails. Psychological and physical trauma are common side-effects.

Some of the victims even claim the damage reaches down to their very DNA. Since the leftover residue and after-effects can take months to clear up, it’s not easy to dismiss such things as a simple exaggerations.

Truly something closer to a terror weapon than a law-enforcement tool was just unleashed upon the world. On that day, it’s said every living creature faced in the same direction with a vague sense of pity and disgust.

For the true identity of Ellie’s payload was the dreaded [Feolotian Anti-Respiration Toxin]. In short - a F.A.R.T. grenade.