[The Gunslingers, Book II, Chapter 5,] [Magic Box] The rugged wooden buildings of the town had an older more pure feeling that Tyler liked, and they looked like they could withstand a siege for months. The Cormons knew how to build a stronghold. Tyler rounded the corner of a hardware store and pressed his back up against a wall and tried to catch his breath. Cormon’s atmosphere was thick and heavy compared to the small avian’s mountainous home world of Darai, he should have remembered to bring a breather. Tyler peeked around the corner; the bounty hunter was fast and had unraveled every obstacle Tyler had thrown at him. His last stop on Corvus hadn’t even slowed the bounty hunter down and Tyler barely escaped Tyler had suggested to the customs agent that the bounty hunter was carrying a weapon, but apparently, it was the law on Corvus that everyone carry a weapon and the customs agent just laughed. Tyler had left his sidearm in his Dart ship and the customs agent had reached under the counter and produced a rather antique looking long rifle and made him sign for it while he was on the planet. Cormon wasn’t much better, the bounty hunter had more experience than Tyler and nothing Tyler did was slowing him down. The bounty hunter was only a block away and Tyler didn’t have anywhere else to run. He certainly didn’t want to leave what little safety the town provided and run off into the thick jungle, he had heard there were things in the Cormon jungle he didn’t want to meet personally. Tyler needed a plan, and quick. He scanned the street and saw a group of Cormon Blood Pilots gathered outside a tavern, at least that’s what Tyler thought it might be; Tanner never let him go into any of the taverns back at Sanon Town. Tyler took a breath and rushed across the street, intentionally watching behind him, and just as intentionally collided with one of the Cormon pilots. “What…?” the pilot spun around, his hand on his blade. “Well then, what have we here, a little bird flying too fast?” “Sorry, Sir,” Tyler yelped and looked up at the stocky Cormon. The pilot held his hand out and picked the small avian boy up off the ground while Tyler kept whipping his head around to watch the corner, the bounty hunter appeared and stopped to search for where Tyler had gone. “Is something wrong, son, where’s your father?” “Um… he went to the armory to buy my first blade, you know, a real Cormon blade, not a tiny Daraian blade.” The pilots laughed, amused at the thought of this tiny Daraian carrying a large Cormon blood blade. “And you wandered off and got lost?” asked the pilot. “Yes Sir, and then that man over there,” Tyler pointed at the bounty hunter across the street, “he wanted me to go with him to his cargo ship but I ran and he’s been chasing me.” Tyler almost felt sorry for the bounty hunter, the expression on the group of Blood Pilot’s faces turned to nothing less than the horrors mothers tell their children at night; Tyler shuttered. “The armory is that way, go find your father and stay with him until you’re old enough to defend yourself, little bird,” ordered the pilot. Tyler ran off while the Cormon Blood Pilots pulled their blades and crossed the street to deal with the black clad predator that made the mistake of thinking he could find an easy target on Cormon. The clash of blades could be heard in the street as Tyler ran away; that should slow down the bounty hunter for awhile, if he survived. Tyler ran for several blocks and then cut back across the street and headed for the spaceport, and his Dart ship. “I’ll have to make sure to leave some bread crumbs so he can find me again, maybe I’ll go to Demonia next.” *** The boy lay in the mud and watched the small creature wade around the lagoon. He had covered himself in the mud and was being very still and watching, just as his mother had showed him how. The creature looked like him but different, smaller and almost like a bird, and he seemed to be afraid to go out towards the deeper water. The creature didn’t look much older than he was, but he was so different. Mother had said there were many different types of people, and he believed it now too. On the beach was three more people that looked different too, one never moved, that one was huge but was hurt. He knew what injury was and the big one needed help soon. The boy knew the magic box might help him, but he had to be cautious, mother said always be cautious; mother was gone now, she hadn’t been cautious and the wild pig had got her. The others before her were all gone now too and he had buried them all in the fashion his mother had taught him. His father, he was the first to leave when the big wave came, Ben had been very little, his fathers name was Ben too. Tommy wasn’t really in the grave, it was empty; Tommy had just swum out into the ocean and never came back. Cari, his mother, was gored by the wild pig and never woke up. That was the hardest to deal with, Ben hadn’t spoke for nearly two years after that. Becka had tried her best to take care of him, but she got sick with the fever and then Ben was alone. Ben kept the marks on the cave wall, he knew the exact date and how old he was, he could read, and write, and keep numbers; they had taught him before they left. Becka left a little over a year ago and missed his thirteenth birthday, now he was fourteen, and alone. So alone, too alone, no people came. Ben had thought many times to swim out into the ocean like Tommy did, but the sea monsters were out there and would eat him. Mother always said never let the sea monsters see him, the sea monsters were the only thing he was afraid of. The green one on the beach looked a little like what mother said the sea monsters look like, but she said the monsters were brown. Maybe the green one was a special kind of monster. Ben watched the bird-like creature, what was he doing? All morning now he just kept going around and around in circles and doing nothing. It’s coming towards me, stay quiet, stay still, that’s what mother taught me, I’m a shadow in the mud. Ben smushed down into the mud as far as he could go, it was going to walk right past him. Just be still, Mother said be still always, they can’t see you if you stay still. Mother, why did you leave? I’m so lonely now. The creature boy was coming right at him, stay still, it doesn’t see you, you’re just a shadow. I could touch it’s leg, see, it’s walking right past you. You’re okay now. It’s stopping, but it’s not turning around. “You were hatched on this island, weren’t you?” asked Jack not turning around. “I’m a Daraian, that means my people evolved from a large bird millions of years ago.” Ben held his breath, it knows I’m here. How? And why does it think I was hatched? Stay calm, he’s alone, the others are on the beach, remember… I remember, there’s a gun hidden in the bushes next to the little rock. I can get to it. Be ready. Be fast like you were taught. “The others haven’t seen you yet,” Jack continued. “But I’m an avian and my eyes work different and my instincts are evolved to see a predator, even if he’s hiding, but I won’t hurt you.” He’s leaving, he didn’t even turn around, if he leaves I’ll be alone again. Do I want to be alone again? “I have fish at our camp,” said Jack walking away. “I won’t let anything happen to you, and I’ll share my fish.” Won’t let anything happen to me? I can take care of myself, but I am lonely, it’s very lonely with my family gone, Becka said I can’t stay here forever. “Alone,” croaked Ben, his voice weak from lack of use. “I’m alone, they left.” “May I turn around,” asked Jack. Ben didn’t know what to say, what could he ever do to stop the bird person from turning around, and why would he? “My name is Jack.” Ben instinct was to turn and run from something new, something different. The bird-person turn around, but he stood his ground, glaring, this was his island and he wouldn’t be afraid, but it was best to be cautious. Ben backed up into the forest and melted into the shadows, he needed more time to watch this person. *** Sheriff Tanner had been waiting for three hours outside the Deputy Marshal’s Office, and he was just about fed up with it. Getting permission to land at the Fox Island Spaceport had been hard enough, then he had to fight past the gate only to get stalled here. Tanner stood and was about to push past the Deputy Marshal’s assistant and storm the office when the door opened and the Deputy Marshal motioned for Tanner to enter. The office didn’t look much different then the Marshal’s Office at Camp 25. There was a long table in the center of the room and books lined the shelves along the walls. The desk was in the same place with several deep cushioned chairs in front of it. “Have a seat Tanner,” ordered the Deputy Marshal. “It’s Sheriff Tanner and I don’t want to sit down, I want to know where Lord Cyness is.” “Tanner, you are out of your jurisdiction, now sit down.” “And you have over-stepped yours, I know you have illegally sentenced Lord Cyness and imprisoned him. Now where is he?” “This meeting is over, get out of my office.” “Lord Cyness is a planetary Lord and can not be tried for murder; I will take this to the Imperial Courts.” “Cyness Minor is not within the Empire and Lord Cyness does not enjoy that protection, you’re out of your league boy.” Sheriff Tanner shook his head slightly and handed the Deputy Marshal a piece of paper. “You give me no choice,” said Tanner. “What’s this?” “You just confirmed what I only suspected; you have kidnapped and imprisoned Lord Cyness. As Ranking Lord of Cyness Minor in Lord Cyness’s absence, I am serving the Gunslinger Order and the Kitsune Empire with an official declaration of war.” “Are you insane, boy?” Sheriff Tanner turned and walked out of the Deputy Marshal’s office and slammed the door behind him. The moment Tanner was gone a side door opened and the Marshal General entered the room. “Well Marshal, now what?” asked the Deputy Marshal. “I had him for four years and he finally found something he can be loyal to,” replied Marshal. “Sadly, this will break Tanner in the end.” “You’re a cold man.” “No, I’m stepping down as Marshal General once this is all over,” Marshal sat down heavily in one of the cushioned chairs. “More than anyone I wish there was a way to prove Colt innocent, but sacrificing Colt and his team is saving countless lives. Tanner won’t find him and he doesn’t have an army, he will run around awhile and then go home.” *** Colt sat next to the unconscious Garth and waited, the end wasn’t far now. Garth had lost too much weight and his breathing was shallow and labored. Colt dropped his head and wept softly, he had never felt so helpless. “Jack’s back,” said Toran softly. Colt looked up to see the avian boy returning from the search for the islands unknown occupant. “Well,” asked Colt. “I found him,” said Jack. “He’s just a boy about our age, probably the offspring of the previous Gunslinger team that was here.” Jack knelt next to Garth and lifted his hand, it was cold and dry. Jack knew too that Garth didn’t have much longer left. Garth was Jack’s best friend and the first member of Team Cyness to welcome him on that first day. Jack thought fondly of the grumpy Garth watching over him when he was in the hospital after he finished his Long Walk. “I want to try and fly for help,” said Jack. “Garth wouldn’t want that, Jack,” said Toran. “Those wings just weren’t made to go that kind of distances.” The three boys sat by their friend through the rest of the day, the sun started to set and cast long shadows in the sand. They all knew Garth wouldn’t make it through the night and were steeling themselves up for the inevitable. “Remember when Garth…” Jack started to say. “Stop, Jack,” said Colt. “I don’t want to do that.” “He was my friend too,” said Jack. Colt didn’t answer and Jack decided to just drop it. The boys sat quietly and waited for the end. The shadows grew and Jack couldn’t take anymore of the waiting. “I don’t want to watch this,” said Jack getting up. The other two didn’t say anything and Jack walked away and down the beach, the ocean lapping lightly against the sand giving vigilance to the death watch. Jack almost didn’t see him sitting just off the beach on a large wooden box, it was the boy they had all searched for and the one Jack spoke to earlier. “My name is Jack.” “He needs the Magic Box,” said the boy pointing back up the beach to where Garth lay dying. Jack looked at the old worn box the boy was sitting on; it had seen better days and must be well over a decade old. The ocean air hadn’t been kind to the box and it was grey and looked to be rotted along the corners. Probably some fairy tale his mother told him to give him hope once when he was sick, and now he thinks the box is magic. The boy was going to have a long road to try to catch up after living his entire life as a savage. “I’m afraid there is no magic that will help him now,” said Jack. “The Magic Box can,” insisted the boy. “My name is Jack.” “I’m Ben.” “Hello, Ben, would you like to bring your magic box and sit with us while we wait?” “Is the sea monster there?” asked Ben. “I don’t know of any sea monsters,” replied Jack. “The green one,” Ben almost whispered the words; he was obviously frightened of Toran, if nothing else. “I’ll make sure the sea monster doesn’t hurt you,” said Jack smiling. Ben nodded and stood. “The sea monster’s name is Toran and he is tame,” replied Jack. The boy decided and grabbed his box, and walked out of the trees to Jack. “That box looks heavy,” said Jack. “Would you like help?” “Magic is always very heavy,” said Ben. “Yes, please.” Jack took a corner of the box and helped Ben carry it back up the beach to the camp where Garth lay dying. Jack couldn’t help but wonder what Ben had in the box that was so heavy, it felt like a pile of rocks. Toran stood up first as they approached and Ben almost dropped the box. Jack could see Ben was getting ready to run, or fight, it looked like a war raged across the boy’s face as he was trying to decide what to do. “He thinks you’re a sea monster,” said Jack. “Stay back.” Toran stepped back and sat down to keep from frightening the boy any further. Ben calmed down and they set the magic box down in the sand. Colt got up and walked over. “This is Ben,” said Jack. “He brought a magic box to help Garth.” “Hello, Ben,” replied Colt. “That’s the same name I saw on one of the graves.” “My father,” said Ben. “He left. Bring the hurt one over here so the Magic Box can fix him.” Ben pointed at Garth and looked back and forth between Jack and Colt. “I don’t think a magic box is going to help him,” said Colt. Ben unfastened the sides of the box and pulled the wood planks away. Toran jumped up and Ben scrambled on his hands and knees away and crouched in the sand snarling at Toran. “No, wait, Ben,” shouted Jack. “He won’t hurt you, I promise.” “Holy ancestors!” shouted Toran. “Do you know what that is?” Colt knelt and looked closely at the machine that Ben had brought inside the box. He had never seen anything like it, but it was obviously a very advanced piece of technology. “What is it?” asked Colt. “That’s a Carinian A.I. Surgical Field Kit,” said Toran. “Where did he get it?” “No,” corrected Jack. “Not a field kit, this comes out of a Dart Medical Ship, it’s been salvaged.” “Do you know how to use it?” asked Colt. “I saw them during Dart training but I’ve never used one,” said Jack. “Me neither,” added Toran. Colt looked at Garth, was there a chance they could save him only to lose him because they couldn’t work the machine. “Ben, can you work this machine?” asked Colt. Ben was still crouched and snarling at Toran, waiting for the sea monster to dare to come any closer to him. Colt saw the problem immediately, for some reason Ben was deathly afraid of Toran. “If I send Toran away, can you work the machine?” asked Colt. Ben nodded and Colt looked at Toran. “It’s okay,” said Toran. “I’ll go sit on the rocks, save Garth.” Toran walked off to sit on the rocks at the end of the beach. Ben waited until Toran was gone and came back over to the magic box. “Bring him,” said Ben pointing at Garth. Colt and Jack dragged Garth out of the crate and Ben pulled rods out of the side of the magic box and started building a frame over top of Garth. The magic box ended up looking a bit like a giant spider trying to eat Garth. Ben pressed a button on the side of the machine and crossed his arms over his chest and bowed. “Hi, Magic Box,” said Ben. “It’s me.” Colt and Jack looked at each other sheepishly, there was no way they could have known it was that simple to operate the machine. *Hello Ben,* said a computer voice. *Are you well?* “Yes, Magic Box,” replied Ben. “My finger is better.” Ben showed the Magic Box his finger. Colt and Jack surmised the A.I. had a memory and recorded each time it had worked on Ben over the years. *I have told you before, Ben,* said the A.I. *I am not a Magic Box, I am a robotic artificial intelligence surgical tool.* “I know, Magic Box,” said Ben. *Have you been rescued, Ben?* asked the magic box obviously giving up on an argument the two have had for years. “They floated up on shore from the ocean,” replied Ben, “that one is hurt.” *Subject is male, fifteen years of age, Homo-Cormonian, internal hemorrhaging, death is imminent without immediate surgery,* the A.I. completed a quick assessment of Garth. “No, A.I., he’s not Cormon, he’s Corvian,” corrected Colt. *Negative, DNA marker indicates subject is Cormon.* “Maybe his family colonized,” offered Jack. “I heard Cormons are giants.” “He almost never talks about his family, but it would explain why he’s so big,” conceded Colt. “Heck, that explains a lot about Garth.” *Surgery must begin immediately if subject is to survive, do I have authorization to begin.* “Yes,” Colt quickly replied. The A.I. began the surgery and the boys backed away and let the machine work. The moon rose and Colt threw wood on the fire while Jack went back and forth to Toran with what little progress the A.I. would report. Colt was alarmed at how much blood was on the ground when the sun rose the next morning and the A.I. was still performing surgery. Toran caught some fish and they ate a bleak breakfast and talked little. The sun was just reaching noon when the A.I. finally declared the surgery complete. Colt figured Garth had been in surgery for sixteen hours, though Colt wasn’t sure this could qualify as real surgery, he didn’t want to think about the un-sanitary conditions the surgery had been performed under. “All we can do is wait now,” said Colt. Ben packed his magic box up and Jack helped him carry the box back to where ever he kept it. Toran returned from the rocks after Ben and Jack left. “His skin looks better,” said Toran. “You think green skin is normal,” replied Colt. “I was thinking about Ben’s magic box,” said Toran. “Yea?” “If that was salvaged from a Medical Dart Ship, where is the Dart ship?” asked Toran. “Oh ancestors, you think there’s a Dart ship on the island?” said Colt.