Step One

[Albert Wesker]

In the relative safety of the much more sturdy temporary dwelling, Wesker had yet more questions for his gracious host. The scientist lurking within his mind had reawoken with a manic vigor, seeking answers to everything laid before him. Why were they packing up? Where were they going? Why choose to travel at such a precarious time? Why leave such a place of relative safety? It was all rather confusing and hard to wrap his mind around solidly, with as little information as he had.

But soon enough, it was all broken down for him. As Agent HUNK finally took a much-needed nap, Albert Wesker sat in rapt attention like an overly-fascinated child during story time.

A tale was woven, roughly in the fashion of the Gorons, of their situation. They had once lived high up on Death Mountain. In the shadow of a gargantuan dragon, Volvagia, and its horrendously large and powerful brood. A menace, but it was mostly content to remain in its lair, and they could survive against its horde so long as they were careful. But eventually, someone had come along with intent to destroy the dragon. In a long and arduous process, with the hard-won assistance of the Gorons themselves, the insane, impossible task had been accomplished. Volvagia had been banished, and that had been the end of that.

The aftermath of it all was something else...Death Mountain had been shattered, the Gorons finding their home left in ruins. So it was that they took up a nomadic lifestyle. Traveling from place to place; places of relative safety and stability in the dangerous verse. Never staying in one place for too long, lest the dangers of the verse catch them, or the remnants of Volvagia's brood track them down. They had just about outstayed their safety in this place, safe as it was. Their scouts had seen things lurking and roaming around among the cliffs overhead and edging in. Not aware of them yet, but getting closer all the time.

Things took a turn when suddenly Wesker found himself on the receiving end of the questions. What were they doing here? Who were they? Why travel such a dreadful place in such an ill-equipped state?

Wesker took great care in offering any answers. He was just a simple scientist and doctor, more than anything. Recently arrived here, and wandering without aim. The currently sleeping individual was his bodyguard, an explanation which satisfied both why HUNK was so well-armed and why Wesker himself was seemingly all but unarmed. They were so poorly equipped because...of unfortunate circumstances outside of their direct control. It had been hard to find a place that seemed safe enough to devote to procuring any supplies, once they had begun to learn what sort of place this verse was. By that point, it had even grown too late to easily return by the path they'd come, leaving them little option but to press onward and hope for the best.

It was only passingly true. All the facts were there, but shot so full of holes, half-truths and lies of omission that it was almost transparent. After several long minutes of digestion and contemplation, the Goron just nodded thoughtfully, seeming to accept the story, commenting on how it was a remarkable turn of bad luck. Not an unheard of one either, here in the Steppes, sad as it was to say.

It did bring another though to the rocky creature's mind, if the way his eyes lit up was any indication. They would be setting out fairly soon, as had already been made clear. Their road was liable to be at least slightly dangerous, and filled with hazards both natural and in the form of the other creatures living in the verse. Having another pair of helpers along for the trip would be of great use, especially ones with medical and combat experience. It would also, as the boulder-man quickly added, provide a way to see more of the Steppes, and learn what to look for when searching out areas of relative safety.

Wesker considered the offer, for a good long while. The only issue he could really see was not knowing how long their journey would take...but it wasn't really as if he had any truly pressing plans or matters to attend to. He didn't even have a schedule to be empty, in all honesty. And there were other things he wanted to look into here...many of which he could do just as easily while traveling with the burly rock creatures as he could while sitting and observing them at work. Perhaps there would even be a chance to see them in combat, out on the trail, and gather further information for his burgeoning plans and future endeavors.

Eventually, a smile crept onto the face of the would-be god. He agreed to the terms. The information he would gain about the verse along the journey would be of immense help, and he would be glad to lend what assistance he could to them during the trip.

The Goron was delighted to hear as much, and clapped Wesker on the shoulder as he informed that he would go and inform the Chief that there would be two outsiders joining them on their upcoming trip. He was sure that the Chief would be thrilled for the extra help. Wesker watched the boisterous behemoth trundle off, before reaching up to remove his sunglasses. Being so...friendly for such a prolonged period of time was exhausting. Now he was in genuine need of some rest.

And somehow, not at all looking forward to dealing with the Goron's Chieftain in the slightest.