Chapter 9 – Step By Step

I make landfall back on Continent Asgard and head to the containment where I placed the masses from Fenrir.
The masses are nearing final formation taking a from much like the wolf girl Ástríðr has named Fenris.
Estimated completion should be final once I retrieve Ástríðr and Fenris.
I assume the two of them took shelter with Jarl Ivar so I will proceed to there.
Detaching myself from the exosuit, I convert it back to repair assistance vehicle and proceed to the village.
Prior to arriving at the village, I decide to investigate the situation at the farming area.
I arrive at the farming area and notice no Midengardians tending to the fields and the livestock are, I assume, housed in the sable area.
As there are no Midengardians present and I theorize the Midengardians are either taking shelter in the stable or the barn.
I depart my repair assistance vehicle and activate my personal camouflage and make my way toward the stable’s entrance.
Before I reach the entrance, I hear a child’s voice coming from the barn.
“Mr. Ninety is that really you?”
The child is standing peeking from behind the person I assume is her father.
With the two of them standing in the middle of the smaller doorway to the barn I reply to them.
“Indeed, I have returned from my subjugation of the aquatic being calling itself Kraken.”
“What’s a Kraken?” the child asks.
Before I could reply the man replies for me.
“Elsu, Kraken was a sea creature from a long time ago during the time of the Æsir.”
“Indeed, it was as you stated. This Kraken is not the same one from your historical times however.”
“So, I can go out and see the pretty flowers again.”
“That is not a decision I can make for you but there is no danger at this present time.”
“Well, if Mr. Ninety says it’s safe to come out now then you can go see the flowers again but come back before the sun starts to go down so we can return back home to eat.”
“Okay father I won’t be late I promise.”
Elsu leaves the barn and runs off.
“Mr. Ninety since you mentioned the danger has passed, we still have more work to do.”
“I would join you but I have preparations for new villages once I am joined by Ástríðr and Fenris.”
“I will be happy to see more of my fellow Midengardians return.”
“As I am sure they will be enamored to be back. I will go now to meet with Jarl Ivar.”
The man bids me farewell as I make my way toward the village.
I enter the village and make my way towards Jarl Ivar’s domicile.
Once I reach the entrance, I rap upon the door and call out to Jarl Ivar.
“Jarl Ivar, it is I, Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 90.”
The door opens and Jarl Ivar is there.
“Oh! Mr. Ninety I presume the danger is gone now.”
“Indeed, the danger has passed. The villagers are free to resume their outdoor activities.”
I enter the domicile and Fenris comes running up to me.
“Leader! Thordis has a cub in her belly.”
“That is highly unlikely as she is not a wolf.”
“Welcome back, Mr. Ninety.” Ástríðr says as she comes to greet me. “What kind of monster was it this time? Was it Kraken? I bet it was.”
“Indeed, it was Kraken, as you deduced.”
“No way really?!”
“What is Kraken?” Thordis inquires.
“Oh, I vaguely remember hearing the name in a book one time when I was little. It was some sort of aquatic creature the Æsir battled if I remember correctly.”
“Indeed, it as you recall, Jarl Ivar. Its appearance matches the records I obtained.”
“How did you know about this Kraken, Ástríðr?” Thordis asks.
“Well, the stories of Kraken and Fenrir made their way to Earth and their mystique inspired other people to make their own stories involving them.”
“I see. I hope monsters weren’t the only thing that made their way to this Earth.”
“From Michiru’s memories I’d say that Kraken and Fenrir were probably second and third in popularity with Thor the runaway most famous.”
“Wow, not even the original Allfather Odin or the tactical genius Tyr?” Jarl Ivar inquires.
“Well, Odin is Probably up there and Tyr also ended up having a day of the week named after him. So, there’s that. In fact, many of the different languages use variations of the Æsir’s names for days of the week, even if they had no relation to the descendants of the Midengardians. With as many different cultures and languages on Earth it’s crazy to think that they people use words from here that they don’t even know about.”
“That is good to hear that some of our history survived.” Thordis says relieved.
“I was able perform a complete back up of all the information stored at the Hall of Urthr and the entries stored on the Verthandi system. I am waiting for the optimal time to recreate the Hall of Urthr so I can return your historical records to you.”
“Why wait?” Ástríðr inquires.
“It is not the appropriate time. Everything has its time and place. Once we can bring more Midengardians back then the place and time will be decided.”
“So, you’re doing a step-by-step thing then.”
“Indeed, I do not intend to withhold the historical data from its rightful owners.”
“Master, I’m sorry for the interruption but, the final assets you planned have been placed and is ready for your next steps.”
“Understood, I will be making some minor adjustments once I return to the containment.”
“I await your command, master.”
“What’s going on Mr. Ninety?” Ástríðr inquires.
“Computer has informed me that Continent Midheim is ready to be repopulated.”
“That is excellent to hear.” Jarl Ivar exclaims.
“I will need to make some adjustments to my original layout to incorporate Ástríðr’s request and a village for the remaining wolf people to reside at.”
Fenris, while very attentive to our conversation, moves closer to me and grabs my hand.
“I don’t want to leave you leader.”
“At this time, it would be inappropriate to leave you unattended without proper integration with the other wolf people.”
Fenris tilts her head in a manner like that of animals not fully comprehending the words spoken to them.
“I think he means that you get to stay with us for now until you’re comfortable being with the other wolf people.”
“Really?” Fenris replies as her head straightens up.
“Indeed, I will still need to perform thorough examinations of you and the other wolf people before habitation at the village near Yggdrasill.”
“Yggdrasill!?!” Jarl Ivar and Thordis exclaim in unison.
“You were able to revive the great tree?” Jarl Ivar inquires.
“It has not yet been restored but, it is within my ability to do so.”
“Yeah, I thought it would make Midengard look more familiar for everyone and the wolves used to be native to the forests by Yggdrasill. So, I asked Mr. Ninety if he could bring it back,”
“Thank you very much for thinking of everyone’s feelings. It will be great to have my child see the great tree.” Thordis says as she reaches down to rub her middle section.
“Oh yeah, by the way Mr. Ninety, Thordis was having really bad morning sickness. I was able to get her some food that she was able to keep down but it occurred to all of us that there’s no one that we know here that has any medical experience.”
“My intention was to analyze and document any illness or abnormality that the Midengardians may experience in the event that it may be due to the reconstitution process.”
“Well, I don’t think Thordis being pregnant is because of anything you said. Just two people that love each other and glad to be alive again.”
Jarl Ivar and Thordis both look at each other and embrace.
Fenris appears to not comprehend Ástríðr’s words as she tilts her head in confusion.
“I believe your assessment is sound. I will have to interview the new Midengardians to see if there are any with any medical experience. However, in the meantime I can perform an analysis of Thordis and her child to make certain both will be of sound health.”
“I am feeling much better now that Ástríðr got me some food I could keep inside me.”
“Nevertheless, I should make sure you and your child are nominal. I will also provide you with an initial nutritional supplement designed to alleviate any further digestive abnormalities that may linger.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Come, lay on your bedding unit and I will have the data relayed to my visor.”
“Alright.”
Thordis enters her bedding unit and lays down.
“Computer, perform a health analysis of individual Thordis and relay results to my visor for review.”
“Command confirmed, master.”
The bedding unit begins to hum to life as data begins to reach my visor.
“Analysis complete, master.”
“Your data has been received. You may exit the bedding unit if you wish.”
“Thank you very much.” Thordis replies as she sits up preparing to exit the bedding unit.
“What have you found out?” Jarl Ivar inquires.
“Yeah, is she okay?”
“Her health is mostly within healthy levels but there are some elevated hormonal levels. The child is also healthy and progressing well. However, nutritional levels are slightly low for both Thordis and the child. I will be back briefly.”
Thordis and Jarl Ivar meet and embrace as they both reach down placing a hand on Thordis’ abdomen.
I leave the domicile and return to my repair assistance vehicle waiting outside.
After placing the repair assistance vehicle into encampment mode, I direct the matter converter to produce a liquid nutritional supplement and several meal supplement items placed on a carrying tray.
I return to the inside of the domicile with the items and place them on the table.
Grabbing the cup from the tray, I hand it to Thordis.
“Thordis, please drink this liquid supplement. It will provide you the nutrition you are missing and re-balance your hormone levels.”
“Thank you very much.” Thordis replies as she takes the cup from me and drinks it.
“Additionally, please eat one of these before your meals each day. Upon completion your natal progress should be at the level that you will not need any more supplements.”
Thordis finishes the liquid supplement and places the empty cup back on to the tray.
“That actually had quite a pleasant taste to it.”
“It was a standard formulation that was devised in the event of encountering any pregnant lifeforms but modified to suit your physiology with a masking flavor to allow for easy ingestion.”
“Thank you once again.”
“Now then, we must return to the containment area as the wolf-people should have completed their formation.”
“Right, Let’s go, Fenris.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you once again for the supplements.”
“Yes, I thank you as well.”
“You are welcome.”
We exit the domicile and return to our respective transports and depart for the containment area.
The trip to the containment area being uneventful we arrive and I place the repair assistance vehicle into encampment mode again.
“Computer, what is the status of the wolf-people?”
“The formation is complete and vital signs are good, master.”
“Inject a waking agent into the containment area.”
“Command confirmed, master.”
The waking agent enters the closed containment area and the wolf-people begin to move around in their bedding units.
A few wolf-people sit up and look around the containment area taking note of their surroundings and appearance.
I let them continue waking as I monitor their vital signs using the encampment mode’s monitors.
“Looks like they’re waking up. How are they doing?”
Ástríðr comes up to the encampment mode with Fenris hiding behind her.
“Their formation was complete so I provided a waking agent to cancel the sedative they were under previously.”
“I see. Look Fenris so many people like you. Aren’t you excited?”
“I don’t know them.”
“It’s ok Fenris. Maybe you will know someone.”
“I’m not a person, I’m a wolf.”
“But you are all wolf-people now.” I interject.
“Look, someone is coming to the door. Wow he’s tall, even for a human.”
The wolf-person’s height is indeed taller than the typical Midengardian.
“Hello. Where are we and who are you?”
“My name is Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 90. You are on your native planet of Midengard.”
“I’m alive again?”
“Indeed, at some point you were removed from stasis and combined with the others to form the beast Fenrir. When I defeated Fenrir you and the others were formed with a slight variation to your regular features.”
“I see so that is why we look like this.”
“Your assessment of your appearance is correct.”
“Forgive my manners. My name is Hrólfr.”
“Really? Your name is Hrólfr? What are the chances?”
“I do not understand your observation, Ástríðr. Excuse me this is Ástríðr and Fenris also fellow Midengardians.”
“Oh, I get what Miss Ástríðr means now. My name means “Renowned Wolf”.”
“That is a rather curious coincidence. As you are able to remember your name, I can assume you were a normal humanoid Midengardian.”
“Yes, I was born and lived primarily in Agðr.”
“I see. You have all of your memories of your time before your revival, it seems.”
“I do. Why do you ask?”
“The reason is this young wolf-girl Fenris you met. Unlike you she seemed to have no memories of her past.”
“Although we may look different then before I do recognize a few people here. I don’t recognize her. Maybe she was someone who was orphaned.”
“That is a possibility.”
“I’m not a person, I’m a wolf.” Fenris interjects.
“You are now both a wolf and a person but your anomalous nature will require a thorough examination once I am able to repatriate the other wolf-people.”
“That is a question I have to ask. What happens to us now?”
“As you and the other wolf-people were an unforeseen occurrence, I will be adding an additional village in the forests near the revived Yggdrasill.”
“The Sacred Tree yet lives?”
“It will once I make my adjustments to my original designs.”
“I should leave you to your work and relay the news to everyone else.”
I return to the encampment mode and begin the modifications to my final design incorporating Yggdrasill and the forest village.
“Computer, I have added some design changes to the layout of Continent Midheim. Incorporate them beginning with the village.”
“Command confirmed, master. Village completion will be finalized momentarily.”
“So now that the wolf-people are awake what are we doing now, Mr. Ninety?”
“I will be escorting them to their village in the forests, while you and Fenris will be preparing the near village for the restoration of the remaining souls in storage like you did before.”
“You can count on us Mr. Ninety.”
“Master, the village you requested is completed and restoration of the ash tree is proceeding as directed.”
“Understood. Prepare one large transport pod for myself and the wolf-people with the destination set for the forest village. Additionally. Prepare a transport pod for Ástríðr and Fenris with a destination of the near village on Continent Midheim.”
“Transport pods are on their way, master.”
“Understood. Ástríðr, there will be a repair assistance vehicle inside for you to place into encampment mode and utilize. You saw how I converted it before I trust?”
“Yes, I did Mr. Ninety.”
“Good. I will join you once I repatriate Hrólfr and the other wolf-people.”
“We’re ready to go, Mr. Ninety.”
“See you later, Leader.”
The pair of transport pods arrive and I direct the wolf-people to the larger transport pod while Ástríðr and Fenris board the smaller transport pod.
Once we arrive at the forest village, I escort the wolf-people out and show them to their domiciles.
“This is a wonderful village. It’s not like our old cities but it’s a great place to start our lives again.” Hrólfr says as he surveys the village.
“Indeed, it was my intention. As I am able to restore the other continents and the people that are contained there, you and the others will be able to initiate trade and enhance your village farther to suit your needs.”
“This is more than we could have ever hoped. We have food in storage and a way to grow our own even if the space is small.”
“The forests will also provide you gathering opportunities as well. I must request that you do not hunt any of the fauna for a period of time so as to allow them to multiply. This also goes for the livestock.”
“Yes, that makes sense, but why are we here in the forest?”
“There were a few factors, primary among them is the forest will need a protector. It is very young and your newly gained heightened senses would serve in being the forest’s protectors.”
“That makes sense. I was worried it was because we were different then we were before.”
“That was not my intention at all as I am familiar with the fact that many diverse races previously inhabited Planet Midengard and were able to coexist peacefully eventually.”
“Yes, that is how it was but we aren’t one of the other races. We’re all new. Will we be wolf-people forever and what of our children will they be wolf-people as well?”
“The analysis I performed on everyone resulted that you and your brethren had mostly human genetic material with a minor trace of the wolf genetic material. It is unknown what form your offspring may take in the event of procreation. I would surmise that as your genetic data is stable, your offspring would be that of a wolf-person assuming both parents were wolf-people.”
“I guess that’s reassuring. Will we ever see you again?”
“While I still have many tasks to accomplish on Planet Midengard, I will still be returning from time to time to observe your progress and help you address any shortcomings or issues you may have. I will also be adding a transit system to connect the current and future villages on the other continents.”
“Thank you for everything you have done for us.”
At that Hrólfr kneels and bows his head while the other wolf-people do the same.
“Please arise. There is no need to bow before me. I am not someone deserving of your worship, I am only fulfilling my missions given to me.”
“How can we ever repay you?”
“You need only to live and assist each other in living.”
“I see. Thank you once again.”
With the exchange completed I bid them farewell and take the transport pod to the village where Ástríðr and Fenris await my return.