Metallicum

George was in the middle of cleaning, having reconciled with Eugo he was now attempting to do the same with his Mum. In his eyes he had neglected her horribly and rejected most of her attempts a common communication while he was being depressed. Now he wanted to make up for it.

The first thing his Mum tasked him to do was clean the cooking pot, as she never liked it when her roasted bread and meat tasted like charcoal. This process was just about the most arduous job that George had ever taken part in.

It opened his eyes to the truth, that the world is just full of absolute pain. Based off the experiences of the past couple days, George had gone through utter hell. This had left him with the perspective that if the world isn’t against him, then clearly, he has to take action against it.

This action came in the form of vigorous arm movements that made his arm just want to fall off and die. Twas a harsh life for the boy.

Then his Mum said she was going out to the announcement centre for a bit. George watched her as she left the house carefully and waiting a few minutes. Then once he was certain she had gone, stood up, snatched a shovel and ran.

George didn’t know exactly why he was running, but quite honestly, he just sort of went with it. He planned to visit and then enlist Eugo by bartering with a shovel. Which was terrible idea, but he didn’t really care. If anything, he could use it as a flimsy excuse to escape trouble from his Mum.

George arrived at the trash heap and noticed Eugo talking some two others a bit further ahead. He knew one of them as an eccentric girl who he’d seen with Eugo from time to time, the other younger girl he didn’t know at all.

Just as he was about to head and talk to them, a shockwave shot throughout the dome. Causing Eugo to run off far faster than George’s weak legs could catch up.

Still panting he came up to the two girls.

“Do you know where Eugo’s going?”

“Ya wanna help him friend?”

“If possible, yes.”

“Well, I’d say ya better run to the castle then.”

Sent off in the direction of the castle, George ran as fast as a bullet (in his head at least). He looked almost similar to a half dead child still learning to walk attempting to run… he wasn’t very fast.

Each foot burned upon landing and his legs wanted to crumple with each step. Meanwhile both of his arms (especially the one he’d been scrubbing with) hung loosely either side of him, flailing back like long locks of hair.

Still after a reasonable length of time he was able to arrive at the castle to find a giant gaping hole there. The hole was still smoking so he assumed that he wasn’t too late, this was proven when he saw Eugo fumbling his way about looking for something.

Without a second of hesitation, George ran up to him with full confidence and gave him a shovel. He didn’t exactly know why he wanted to do this but at the same time it just seemed like the logical thing to do.

Approaching his friend, he handed him the shovel with full force, and Eugo accepted it happily as though it was just what he was looking for. Then without a second to spare he sprinted into the castle.

George now had nothing much to do honestly. He had given his friend the shovel he needed and without any clear reason to go inside the castle he kinda just stood and vibed. He waited for a bit, maybe for something to happen or a change to occour.

A few people came, and some others left. Some just sat down waiting just like him, every few minutes someone would go to step in and immediately run back out. There was nothing binding the people, so George realised they would have no reason to do anything, just like him.

George wanted to rally the power of the people, he saw them stand there dull and aimless. He wanted to change this, give them the motivation he had from Helena’s death to fight forwards.

The people of the dome were too weak for George! He needed to make them fight, feel the rage of their actions. Though at the same time he wanted to enforce a concept of peace amongst them.

George decided he wanted to take action. Though if he was going to do so, he’d need to do it peacefully. Hence, he went out in search of a few different materials, as well as some simple machinery.

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First of all, he needed a cart of sorts, which he was fairly sure he had at home. 

Secondly, he needed a lot of flat pieces of metal. Under the impression that he didn’t have time to go to the scrap heap, George realised he could just start stripping walls. 

Finally, he needed something to make his voice nice and loud… or at least get people’s attention.

Ready to put his plan in action he ran in the direction of his home, one the way carrying a total of about… three sheets of metal he could find. Unfortunately, he wasn’t very strong, so it’d have to stay at three for now.

Arriving at his home George stumbled upon his cart, he also heard his that his Mum was inside. That or it was his father, either way he wasn’t going in. Stealing his own metal wheelbarrow George sped back towards the castle chucking all of his spare metal inside.

Progressively over time he also grew this metal collection, George started to think he was going insane, but decided it was probably fine. He pilled metal chunk after metal chunk into the cart, half just wanting to entertain himself by doing something.

The other half of him did have a plan in mind, although even George admitted to himself that it wasn’t a very good one. Still, with a rickety barrow ahead of him, he collected as many flat sheets of metal as possible.

Along the way back to the castle he also spied an empty pot, perfect for how he was going to get attention a bit later. Throwing it precariously onto top of the other sheets of metal, George carefully wheeled his cart back into the crowd ahead of the castle.

It seemed about the same size as before but with a very different group of people, still his plan should work. George wheeled his cart towards through the people as though the slightest false movement would cause the great metal stack to collapse. Which honestly, George thought it probably would.

Once he was where he wanted to be, he gently placed the cart onto the ground, placing some of the flat metal sheets beside him. Then, he lifted up the trusty pot he found and bashed it with as much force as he physically could manage. 

Gathering the attention of the people.

At first about three looked in his direction, so standing atop his metal plate pile and bashed the pot once again. 

This time a few more people looked at him. George had what he believed to be a genius idea and jumped up into the air he annihilated his pot into the metal ground. 

This got the attention of most of the people there, who were now staring at him very confused.

George cleared his throat.

“Fellow Scorchers! I’d like to offer you an idea, you have seen this castle every day of your life. The doors have just been opened to enter the grand castle behind us, giving an opportunity none have ever experienced before. Like you I have lost many people to the wrath of the Spotless, and I’m sure many of you fear them. But! I ask you not to fear, for we have the power to attack. Below me are a set of thick metal shield, indestructible to power of the bullet. With numbers, we can beat the Spotless! And with passion we will overcome them!”

There was silence.

For a second George was fairly certain the entire world audience him… more or less. Although, instead of a sudden eruption of applause there was a slight murmur amongst the dull crowd. George was very disappointed in his audience, but at least he had acquired a response.

After a few more seconds some people picked up their oversized metal shields and stood behind George, as though expecting him to lead them onwards. George realised his mistake, but it was too late to correct it. He was now the leader of a large army of shield peasants.

George did his utmost best to trudge forwards into the main entrance to find… nothing. Yet he couldn’t be seen as disheartened, looking back at his army… who seemed like they were there out of boredom, he made his way to the floor directly above.