Dododex
ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion
The Arks: Over Heaven (by Ben)
Chapter 65: Brutality
Part 1/4
“OKAY, here’s the plan,” Ben said. He laid a map on a large wooden table, and John, Carlos, and Paul took a look at it. Ben pointed a finger near the midwest at a thick forest.
“So, we’re here, right?”
“Yep. We hid in the forest after our encounter with the scouts,” Carlos said. He was munching on a dodo leg.
“And you said that you saw a huge castle being built near here?” Ben asked again. He put his finger at the southwest.
“Yep,” John replied, “I bet that’s where Ian is being kept. I saw the scouts take him in that direction.”
“So if that’s the case, then all we need to do is infiltrate it!” Ben stated.
“What?!” Paul stated. His eyeballs popped out of his sockets, “Ben, what if we get someone hurt?!”
“We don’t know what those scouts are doing to Ian. For all we know, they could be torturing him!” John insisted, slamming his fist on the table.
“But I don’t want any of us to be harmed!” Paul protested, “Ben has just recovered from a fatal attack. Shouldn’t he get some rest first? Ben, are you feeling light-headed?”
“Okay, okay, everyone stop,” Carlos said, putting both of his hands in the air. All attention turned to him. Carlos looked at Ben, and eyed the implant in his wrist carefully.
“John, we can’t attack the castle just yet. There’s only four of us and who knows how many of them. And Ben told us how they have dinosaurs on their side.”
Carlos turned to Paul, who was hugging himself tightly.
“And Paul? We have to raid the castle. It’s the only way we’ll get Ian back, and Ben’s other friend, Chris. I don’t think they’ll return them to us so easily. This is the only way we can ensure we ever see them again.”
Paul’s head dropped to the ground hopelessly.
“But how will we ever do that if we don’t even know what our powers are?”
“What?” Ben remarked, his eyes widening, “What do you mean by that? Do you… know your implant attributes?”
Paul’s head dropped to the ground in shame, and John shook his head, no. He leaned against the wall of the hut, propped his leg up, and crossed his arms.
“Ian was the only one. Even then, his power could only serve as a minor distraction. He held them off so that we could run.”
John clenched both of his fists, and a vein began to bulge from his forehead.
“I want to help him, as he has helped us.”
Ben’s expression softened, and the mood seemed grim. Ben outstretched his palm to the table, and flowers began to sprout from his sleeves.
“We have to try. For Ian’s sake, and Chris’. We won't just yet. I myself know how to tame the dinosaurs, because of another friend of mine, and because of… past experience,” Ben claimed, his head looking back and forth at his old friends, “If we attack the castle on both fronts? They won’t stop us so easily. We’ll tame an army of them, it should be easy. That’s why I propose we dive into the seas, tame some aquatic mounts. I don’t think they know about the seas’ beasts yet. Half of us will go to the sea, the other half will tame beasts of the lands.”
“And who will it be?” Paul asked curiously.
“I’m thinking me and John will head to the seas. Carlos and Paul should go tame some of the herbivores around here, like the horned ones, Triceratops, and the spiked ones, Stegosaurus. They’re sturdy and hold their own really well against the carnivores. And they’re safer to tame.”
“You sure do know a lot about this place,” Carlos noted, a smile growing, “It’s almost as if you’ve been here before.”
“Yeah, almost…” Ben muttered under his breath. He scratched the back of his head, “Well. Are we ready to go?”
“Of course,” John replied, “Let’s head out soon. We don’t have much time.”
The four packed their essentials, and after a minute’s notice, they were out the door and on their adventure.