It had been an enlightening evening for Debbie. She'd overcome her reservations about Stevo, and decided to give him a chance. He was a bit nerdy, a bit too cautious, but it seemed like his heart was in the right place. He'd had some good ideas, trying to befriend some of the “locals” in the other place hadn't even occurred to her, but she had higher charisma than Stevo did, so it would probably work out if she tried. He'd also had the idea of trying to boost his strength and stamina attributes by joining a gym, which when you think about it, should be obvious!

Debbie (Citizen)

Level 2

Experience (XP) 35/70

Intelligence 12

Strength 14

Stamina 15

Agility / Dexterity 12

Luck 12

Charisma 12

Health 39/48 (regenerating)

Skills: Sudden Strike level 1.

Items:

Basic Clothing.

Backpack

Glow Ring

Mace

3 Potions of Minor Healing.

3 Silver, 8 copper.

Debbie looked at her status, she was recovering steadily. There was a temptation to take a healing potion and fully recover her health, she had decided not to do this for the same reason she turned down Stevo's offer of a potion. The sudden massive damage that she took from a single blow had hurt her in some way deep inside. It was more than just physical damage, her very soul had been bruised. She needed to take her time, although it was against her usual pattern, she needed to feel right again. She had no idea how low her health had dropped before the priest stepped in and healed her, but it was likely down to single figures. Kahlil had said that they couldn't actually die in the other world, but now Deb wasn't sure what to believe. She certainly didn't want to get any closer than she had!

When she spoke to Kahlil to get Stevo's address, she'd relayed what had happened. Apparently Kahlil had been stabbed right through the abdomen with a lance once, and his health had dropped to just four points! (He didn't reveal just how high his attributes were, but Deb had her suspicions.) He told Deb that he'd felt something similar, despite using healing potions it was several days before he felt ready to do another mission. Kahlil said to relax and focus on other things for a day or two.

While she thought of it, that was another mark in Stevo's favour. He'd offered her a healing potion without any thought of getting anything in return. He hadn't known that she had some potions, and was genuinely worried about her well being.

She'd misjudged Stevo.

Deb's father had taken one look at her this morning and told her to take the day off, so she guessed she still looked fairly ill, although she'd not checked a mirror recently. So with no work, no mission, and no trip to the gym on the agenda, she was at a bit of a loose end.

She decided to take a leaf out of Stevo's book, and do some research and planning. Her first thoughts were, what products would be needed to survive assuming the current economic model collapses? Food is obviously at the top of the list. Medical supplies would be a close second. Food comes down to hunting, fishing, farming and foraging thought Deb, and right now she knew nothing about any of these things. That has to change, and quickly!

Debbie wished she knew more. What was going to happen? When? Where would be safe? Frustrating! How to plan, when all she really knew was that something terrible would happen at some point, and civilisation would collapse, was beyond the level her degree prepared her for!

Suddenly Deb's phone stared vibrating on the table, making a buzzy-rattling noise. It was a message from Stevo, they'd swapped numbers the night before.

“Forgot to tell u, going to gym at 6 to see K, wanna come?”

Stevo was meeting Kahlil? Absolutely she wanted to go! Time to get some answers, she hoped.

“Absolutely! Can u pick me up on the way?”

Debbie spent the rest of the day thinking about various scenarios - meteorite strike, global war, pandemic, super volcano eruption.... She would glance at the clock occasionally, willing the hands to move faster. (It didn't work) Finally, at 5.20pm, she heard a car horn outside. Deb peered out of the living room window, and saw Stevo waving at her from his Mini.

“Hi Debbie! How are you feeling today? You look much better.” Asked Stevo, as Deb folded her long legs into the surprisingly spacious small car.

“I'm almost back to my old self I think. I don't want to get hurt that bad again if I can help it though.”

They spent most of the short drive in companionable silence, as they contemplated the conversation to come. They were lucky today, there was a parking space just across the street from the gym! Stevo parked, and the two of them headed inside.

Kahlil was on the far side of the gym, which was almost deserted. There was a middle aged woman on a cross trainer, who appeared to be working up quite a sweat, a couple of teenage boys doing bicep curls in front of a mirror, and Kahlil. He'd been doing a set of chins, but now dropped back to the floor and started walking towards them.

“Hi! Are you two going to work out, or shall we go into the office?” Kahlil asked as he reached them.

“Office I think K, I'm going to rest today and maybe do a light workout tomorrow.” responded Debbie, Stevo nodded in agreement.

They sat in the office, the CCTV monitors showing the gym floor, and the three customers working out.

“So Stevo, you said you had questions. I'm not sure I have answers, but fire away!”

“I've been trying to make plans, to work out how to prepare, but there just isn't enough information K! All we know is that something is coming, at some point. We need more to go on.” Debbie nodded her agreement as Stevo spoke.

“Well, it seems that your inquisitiveness was foreseen. I heard from The Voice last night. Up until now, I knew little more than you guys, but last night I got a little more infor... What the hell?”

Kahlil jumped out of his seat and ran out into the gym surprisingly quickly for a man of his size.

The lady on the cross trainer had clearly over-exerted herself. As she climbed off the machine, she had lurched a few unsteady steps, before collapsing onto the rubber-matted floor. By the time Stevo and Debbie had reacted, Kahlil had helped her up onto a bench, where she was sitting being fanned with a large towel by one of the teenagers, whilst the other had gone to fetch a sugary sports drink from the fridge in reception.

“Thanks K, I'll be fine in a minute. I don't know what happened, I just couldn't control myself.” The woman said in a weak voice.

“What did you eat today? You know you have to fuel your body if you are going to work hard.”

“I had an apple for breakfast, and a banana for lunch. I'm going to have chicken soup when I get home.”

“Diana! That's nowhere near enough! You know you shouldn't starve yourself! I get that you want to lose weight, but you can eat healthy, reasonable-sized portions of food and the weight will come off with the exercise you are doing.”

The teenager handed the middle-aged woman, Diana apparently, a bottle of frighteningly yellow sports drink, and she took a large mouthful.

“When you go home, I want you to eat a proper meal, not just soup, OK?” Kahlil continued. “I need to see that bottle of drink finished before you stand up!” He ordered. “I'll call you a taxi, I'm not having you passing out walking home!”

Twenty minutes later, the taxi had arrived, and taken a visibly better Diana home. The teenagers had left at the same time, so with the gym empty, the three of them were now sat in reception.

“Where was I?” Said Kahlil with a grin “Ah yes, I got a bit more detail from The Voice. It's not much I'm sorry to say, but it helps a little.”

Debbie and Stevo edged their seats a little closer in anticipation.

“Apparently the fall is a gradual process that, depending on different variables, will take from one to three years to happen. I was told an invasion of some sort is coming, and that it will begin in three to six months from now. The clock is ticking!”