Chapter 77 - Language Barrier

Max really, really wanted to look at all his cool new upgrades. But there was a glaring problem. A literal glaring problem. Every few seconds the enemy gave Max a scathing glance. Maverick sent off a very distinct, very urgent wish through their bond to smack the fool in the back of his head every time it happened.

“Keep walking,” Max said and shoved his prisoner forward.

The lizard grunted and spat.

“It seems he doesn’t like you,” Maverick said cheerfully. That made the lizard look back at Max in alarm. Max tilted his head and smiled coolly at his prisoner.

“He’s just not very happy with his circumstances,” Max said.

“Should we interrogate him?” Maverick asked. “I’d like to do something to pass the time.”

“And how, pray, should we do that?” Max asked. “He doesn’t understand a word I’m saying.”

“But you—”

“Wait!” Max snapped. Then he looked at the prisoner. He was walking, head looking forward. The lizard didn’t look like he was listening more than idly, but how could Max know.

“Listen, Maverick,” Max started carefully. “Don’t talk more yet. I have a suspicion. It could be completely wrong though.

Maverick uncharacteristically said nothing. Through their bond he sent a pulse to tell Max to continue.

“You’re of this world. Alpha Ludus. You’re created by these aliens. If this lizard guy would have claimed you and given you sapience, you’d be having this banter with him, right?”

“Go on,” Maverick said. Max could feel through their bond that he already knew where Max was going with this, but Max continued anyway. It was good to talk it out and make his thoughts more clear.

“I have a skill to understand all the languages,” Max said. “There’s no way you just popped up into being and started talking english.”

“You’re saying—”

“Don’t!” Max quickly interjected. “Don’t give him information. Yes, I’m saying he might understand you. I’m saying everyone might understand you.”

“Hmmm,” Maverick thought on that. “Well I am certainly very, very awesome.”

“I need you to do a very uncharacteristic thing, your awesomeness,” Max muttered. “I need you to be really, really careful about what you say when he’s within earshot.”

“We could just…” Maverick started, before he indeed very uncharacteristically trailed off. Instead he sent a pulse through their bond. It was a simple idea. Test it.

“We will,” Max said. “But first we need to get to safety and secure the prisoner.”

That halted their conversation for now. Max looked around. He had a moderate grasp of the geography of the Dreadlands. They were close. They’d walk past that hill and take a left and—

His musings were stopped by a sudden ambush of [Junior Vilefiends]. Some sense seemed to keep them mostly from attacking Max these days, most likely because of his high level, but now they had wandered too close. They came at him with claws extended, screaming as they swiped at him. The prisoner escaped immediately.

Max acted fast. He nailed the Vilefiends on the ground with [Tethers]. Two of them actually died from the pressure. Max got a menial amount of experience. He could care less right now.

The enemy, who was clearly a physical fighter, had used some kind of a movement ability. He almost glided forward, as if on skates as he attempted his escape. Max used a couple of well timed [Tethers] to skate across the ashen land himself. He tried a [Tether] on the enemy, but his momentum was too great for it to trap him down. Max cursed and used more spells to catch up closer to the enemy. The dry ash billowed into a cloud that followed the lizard’s wake as he ran for his life. When Max got close enough, he managed to use [Gravity Well] and lift the prisoner off his feet.

The lizard screamed in anger profanities at Max. Max came up close and dropped the [Gravity Well].

The lizard tumbled to the ground. When he tried to get up Max smacked him across the face with [The Maverick]. His Strength score was low, but the prisoner seemed to understand the message. There was no escape from this situation.  Max pointed at his face with his finger. “If you don’t play nice, there’s hell to pay.”

The lizard spat on the ground.

“It is an insult that you think I can understand your primitive language. You have no idea what you are doing. We have a town of over three hundred people. You will not slay us all. We will rip you apart.”

Max did his best not to smirk. That was useful to know. A tad terrifying, but useful. They were over double the size of what Joshua’s settlement was in size. Were there simply more of them, or were they better organized?

Surely humans had more bases somewhere too. Max hadn’t seen many people at all. Then again he had spent a lot of time underground.

“Don’t you think it will be hard to get him back to the base, if you cut his legs off?” Maverick asked suddenly.

Max raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t—”

Then he looked at the lizard. His eyes had gone wide and the dark green shade of his scales had gone slightly lighter.

Oh, Maverick you sly bastard. So he does understand you.

Maverick sent a pulse of the purest glee and self-satisfaction through their bond. Max smiled to himself. Oh this made things so much easier. If he just got this payload back home, they would get so much information. This person was extremely valuable. They should probably eventually even get him back to Joshua’s settlement.

“Let's get this prized golden goose back to the outpost,” Max said with a satisfied grin as he shoved the prisoner back towards the right direction.

“Golden goose?” Maverick asked. “I don’t get it.”

“Well you know,” Max stammered. “He will lay us golden eggs of information and…”

Maverick made a sound as if clearing his throat. “You know… Maybe it’s better if I take care of the interrogation. You seem tired…”

“Screw you.”