Chương 103: Chapter 99 – It's Today?

Dale was stressed out; the big party for the Forgeworks finish was in two days, and he had too many things to do to get all of the prep work done. This was way bigger than the grand feast had been. There was bread to make, stew to prep, and vegetables that needed roasting. The fish was just put on to smoke, and the preserves were not yet started. Everything was planned, but the schedule was tight to make the two-day countdown.

Then he saw the runner come back from the Forgeworks; he was supposed to be delivering items to the kitchen in Cave Camp. Dale wondered if that cook was missing an item or something. The runner ran up breathless, a look of terror in his eyes. Runner said, "Forgeworks." Dale said, "What about it?" Runner said, "It's finishing." Dale relaxed, "Yeah. In two days." The runner shook his head.

"Three hours." Everyone in the kitchen went silent. Dale pulled up the timer to check. [Regional Infrastructure Project] Forgeworks Estimated Completion: 03: 17: 16 Dale said, "Wait, that has to be wrong. It said days just an hour ago when I checked; this is terrible how can we have the celebration ready in only three hours?" Tom heard the noise stop and looked around. It was like everyone in camp had vanished. Then he looked around at the others. They all were standing there looking into space.

That meant they were reading some system window. Then someone said, "Wait, you're saying the timer changed?" Tom knew the only timer everyone had been watching for days was the project timer; he brought it up to review it. Tom said, "Wait, we're down to 3 hours? That can't be. I have orders to complete that are needed for the completion party." John was doing another review of the Forgeworks. They had been running full steam for a few days now.

All the tasks were done, and they were doing all the final reviews that the system required. He had a checklist with over 200 items on it, and he was about halfway done for like the third time today. As if anything is going to change on that two-day timer. One of the forge workers ran up to him panting.

"Hey boss, have you checked the timer recently?" John said, "I am tired of looking at the timer; we have 2 days left, just like last time I looked." Worker said, "Um, boss, I would really look at the timer." John pulled up the timer. [Regional Infrastructure Project] Forgeworks Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Estimated Completion: 02: 56: 11 John's eyes went wide.

"Who all knows about this?" Worker said, "Word is spreading like wildfire." John groaned and stuffed his list in his pocket. A runner ran up to the mine foreman's office. Runner said, "Sir, you need to gather the workers. The system is well. It's decided we're almost done; there are now only two hours and change left on the timer. Everyone has been asked to head to Forgeworks." The foreman reached over and pulled the non-emergency alarm for the mine to call all the workers out.

Garrick walked into Forest's Rest; he had come up a day early to help with the setup for their celebration. But what he saw at camp was not what he expected. People were hastily setting up tables and chairs that had been prepared for the celebration in two days, but it was too early for that. Garrick found Dale and said, "Why is everyone acting like today is the day?" Dale said, "Well, it is; that's why." Garrick said, "Wait, what?"

He then pulled up his timer and saw that there was now less than two hours, not two days, until it was complete. A runner ran into camp.

"Anyone find Mark yet? I can't find him, and the other three runners that were with me could not find him either." Elias was with his wife on the road heading north to go to the Forgeworks celebration in two days when a runner came by asking if they had seen Mark, which they had not, and started to run off before they stopped him and asked why. Runner stopped and said, "It's today; it's happening today." Then he continued to run south.

Mark was talking to the Southgate outpost manager about an issue he was having when a runner ran up and blurted out.

"Mark, it's time you have to move it or you're going to miss it. John said we were in big trouble if you did not make it." Mark said, "Miss what?" Runner said, "Check the countdown timer." Mark brought up the timer. [Regional Infrastructure Project] Forgeworks Estimated Completion: 01: 42: 31 Mark just sat there watching the seconds count down. Runner said, "Get moving; no time to explain; go." And Mark headed north on the trail almost at a run; he really did not have the time to walk it today.

Dale was barking orders, and cooks, messengers, assistants, and every able body were moving items, setting up tables, or doing last-minute directions to the few cakes that were already finished. Dale said, "What is the system thinking of jumping the gun like this? Most of the people are not even going to make it, and we don't have the food ready." Clara just sat there smiling and looked at Dale.

"Just breathe; it will be fine. Some of the food is done; no one will hold anything against you over the time change." Mark was panting when he got to Forest's Rest. He was also sweating like a pig after that run. He quickly went into his cabin and put on a fresh pair of clothes. Then, trying to slow his breathing, he walked to Cave Camp to ask John what was going on. People were moving around camp, and runners were coming in and out.

People were slowly starting to arrive from the outside outposts, all trying to figure out why things changed. He was passed by dozens of people going in both directions; almost everyone was running, which was just not their norm. When he finally got to the Forgeworks, he found John. Mark said, "So can you explain the timer?" John said, "We have been ahead of schedule forever; all the tasks except the final reviews have been done for a couple of days.

We were wondering what was going to take two more days, and then the system, being the system it is, changed the time. Sorry about that; at least you made it." Mark said, "Yes, I guess I did make it." Then he opened his timer for the last time. [Regional Infrastructure Project] Forgeworks Estimated Completion: 00: 07: 42