Dimensional Reality: Oz (Chapter 6)

Joseph made his way toward the armory.  He smiled as he saw who was working the lead doors of the armory.

  “Hephaestus!”

  A large, burly man looked up and gave a large grin as he saw the speaker.

  “Joseph! How are you doing?  I haven’t seen you seen we put out the latest model of the Enforcer armor.  How goes everything?”

  Hephaestus came from around the desk to greet Joseph.  There was a soft whine of cybernetics as he moved.  Hephaestus had been one of the gods of Mt. Olympus.  He had been known as the god of fire and craft, or the god of blacksmiths.  After they had retired their positions as gods, Hephaestus had wandered from place to place until Joseph found and recruited him.  Hephaestus had been the one to create and forge each individual suit of Enforcer armor.  It had not been hard to find him.  Hephaestus had been born lame, his legs useless and as weak as the rest of his body was strong and muscular.  The Historians and Enforcers had not been able to fix his legs despite their immense knowledge but had been able to encase them in cybernetic legs that worked perfectly.  Hephaestus, a quite and humble being despite his size had found a welcome home in the Enforcers.  He gave Joseph a great bear hug that probably would have crushed the ribs of a normal human.  Joseph just laughed and hugged Hephaestus back.

  “I’m doing well enough. As for where I’ve been.  I’ve been out using that model of armor.  And it’s working great thanks to you.  I’m here to put that armor to use again.  I need it outfitted in an L model.  I’m heading to a class 6 up world.  It might be an in and out, but it’s well possible that it might be an extended stay.”

  “Understood sir.  I’ll have your gear ready for final check in half an hour.  Just enough for prep I believe.”

  “Thank you Hephaestus, I’ll be back in half an hour.”

  Joseph returned Hephaestus’s salute and walked out to the locker rooms to get prepped.

-Damien