Power Play

As his eyes focused on an invisible screen in front of him, Thump made a satisfied nod. “Perfect.” He pressed a button in the air, accepting the role of Manager. Tentatively, he pressed a hand to where the barrier across the doorway had been but encountered nothing. Smug, he stepped into the room. His hair flopped out of place as he did, and he instinctively swished it back into place. Then, with both hands on the bulge of his belly, he surveyed the room. That took about…three seconds. “Not much to it, is there?”

Kai awkwardly cleared his throat. He gave his grass bed the side eye. “It’s a work in progress.” Then he got excited. “But I have big ideas! I can expand the size of the room as I level up, right? The ceiling’s a little low right now. I want to raise it up, then in that corner over there, I want to put one of those nets you can walk and lounge on, maybe a fun place to read or take a nap. Like you’re a spider.” He laughed. “I want to add another room for a proper bedroom. Maybe a bed sunken into the floor. Or one that’s on a floating island and surrounded by water!” He tapped his lip in thought and frowned. “Actually, all that water might make me want to pee in the middle of the night.”

Thump distractedly replied with, “Huh,” but his attention was mostly on the console and screen.

Oblivious, Kai continued, “I was kind of thinking of my own apartment with a kitchen and stuff, but that seems like it would be kind of lonely. Maybe it would be nice to eat with the others, right? Like big, dungeon family dinners. Except sometimes they eat things I’m not really into, like people.”

“Uh huh.” Thump was only half-turned toward Kai now as he slowly drifted toward the console.

“Maybe like a snack area? And I’d love a library! Floor-to-ceiling shelves just stacked with wicked awesome books. I haven’t seen any books yet, but I’m really curious to see what’s out there. Maybe start a collection. Although if I keep them all in here, then nobody else can read them. That would suck. Can’t have a proper library unless everyone has access, right? I don’t think the kobolds read much. But they might like to learn!”

“Mmm.” Thump was now at the console and began poking the controls.

Kai continued, happily rambling away, excited that he had someone to share with, “I love reading fantasy. Or I did. But if magic exists, do they even have a fantasy genre here, or is it just called contemp…counter…uh, like real life? Maybe fantasy books here are about guys in suits at an office all day, trying to make more money so they can marry a trophy wife, and the big bad dragon is just, like, the CEO of the company. And you slay him and take his hoard and his house. And his trophy wife becomes yours.”

“Yes, that makes perfect sense.” Thump seemed to be deep in the menus and options at this point.

Realizing that Thump wasn’t interested in hearing about Kai’s interior decorating plans, Kai tried not to feel bad at the lack of excitement and also turned to the console. A thought struck. A good one, so it didn’t hurt. “Hey, maybe we should add Yellow Flowers as a manager too!”

Thump looked up, all his attention on Kai now. He seemed to give the notion serious thought, though he frowned too. “Well, that’s an idea. That Yellow Flowers, she’s something, isn’t she? Wonderful person. Really wonderful. I love her. But I think it might be best to hold off for now. You don’t want to grow the team in charge too fast. Too many chiefs and you end up spending more time talking than doing, and we really want to focus on good, effective progress right now. I think we should hang that idea on a stick and poke at it a little later.”

“Poke? Stick?” Another example of local euphemisms throwing him for a loop. “Why would you…?” Asking about the expression would probably be weird. Maybe it was something everyone in this world knew. He shook his head, clearing the idea from his mind.

As Thump became highly engrossed in studying the console, Kai felt awkward just standing there. Thump wasn’t asking questions or trying to engage in conversation. So Kai twiddled his thumbs for a bit, then decided to go touch grass. He took the back exit and went out into the forest.

It was easy to forget there was all that beautiful nature to be enjoyed when you were constantly in the dungeon. Kai wandered out into the forest and took some time to enjoy the sunlight on his smooth-but-bumpy green skin. He enjoyed the fresh air and the sounds of birds. The screech of a wyvern overhead was rather less peaceful. Recalling that he was prey now, he kept a wary red eye both on the surrounding forest and the sky above. And it’s a good thing he did.

An insect the size of a pickup truck appeared in the distance. It was mottled green and brown, only its slow movement gave it away. The creature was cockroach-shaped, but with arms ending in crab-like pincers and a head like a stag beetle.

Kai watched it for almost a minute. His veins iced over with dread. Finally, his brain kicked back into gear. “Nope. Not staying out here anymore.” He spun on his heel and retreated back into the dungeon.

Figuring he’d offer to help out where he could again, he went down to Floor 3 with the kobolds and the mine they were developing. He found Thump standing in the hall, his posture and tone commanding as he rapidly issued orders to everyone around him.

“Carry that over there. No, to the left. Fine. You, blue guy. I’d like to see shelves over there, ok? Good shelves. Tough ones. They have to hold rock, get me?”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Good, go. You, Rockhead—”

“Rocky, great chief.”

“Whatever. Take this load or waste rock and build a pile over there, across the entrance, will you. We want to block it off, make it harder to access.”

Rocky looked at the chunks of raw stone chipped from the new mine. “Heavy. My old…”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

Rocky weakly bowed his head. “Yes, Chief.”

The female goblin with red hair gingerly approached. She still looked like she was grieving. “Father—”

He only glanced at her, his tone sharpening as he replied, “What did I tell you?”

She took a breath as if calming herself. “Chief Thump, the pregnant mothers are working too much. Gabby and Jez are both way too late in their term—”

“They’re fine. You let me worry about that. You have your own job, don’t you.”

“Father—”

He backhanded her. Not cruelly, not angrily, just an automatic reaction, like he’d been slapping a mosquito. She lurched under the blow but didn’t fall. He just stared at her, waiting.

She straightened. “Chief Thump—”

He finally fully turned to her. “Enough backtalk. Do your job. Now.” He pointed down the hall.

The young woman hesitated, maybe thinking about trying to argue, but quickly turned and marched away.

Kai felt his stomach turn sick. This was not the version of Thump he’d seen earlier. Thump seemed to have entirely taken control, and the change in attitude shockingly sudden. His friendliness and charm from before were gone. He wasn’t working with people anymore; he was telling everyone what to do. Kai took a couple of breaths of his own to find his courage and stepped up.

Thump didn’t even look Kai’s way, just continued to throw orders around.

For some reason, it was scary, but feeling like this was really important for everyone’s sake, Kai raised a hand and his voice, and spoke to Thump in a way he hoped others would hear, “Hey, look, I appreciate that you’ve got leadership experience. I think that will be a real asset to all of us. But I think we were doing pretty well, working more communally. I don’t think we really need anyone that much in charge, right? It’s not like we’re under attack or something.” He weakly chuckled.

Thump slowly turned his head toward Kai. He didn’t smile. In fact, he seemed annoyed, even a little affronted that someone would challenge him. He took a moment to reply, and in that second or two, everyone else, kobold and goblin alike, who were working on Floor 3, slowed to listen. “I think that’s fine if you live in a peaceful place. But we’re in the wilds. Who knows what dangers could find us? We need to get this dungeon in fighting form as soon as possible.”

Kai didn’t like this. Thump was suddenly acting very much the sole chief in charge, and Kai had to consciously remind himself that the dungeon was actually his, not Thump’s. “Sure, that’s understandable. But a top-down, authority-driven society isn’t what we were really going for, and I don’t think that’s what’s best here. I think everyone would be a lot happier if we worked together more, rather than just following one person’s orders.”

“Oh? So you’re saying my orders are bad?”

“No—”

“You’re saying I’m stupid? I don’t know what I’m doing?”

“That’s not—”

Thump stepped closer, challenging Kai. “I’m a chief. I’ve been a chief a long time. A very good chief. How about you? How much leadership experience do you have?”

“Well, none, I guess, but—”

“Oh, so you’re the expert. Even though you have no idea what you’re doing. I see.” Thump gestured to the other people, now all standing there, rapt at the conflict between the one who’d invited everyone into the dungeon, and the big, impressive leader who stood bigger and taller, who was stronger and more able. Thump’s voice was flat as he said, “Go ahead then. You want to be in charge? You want to lead them all to their deaths, is that it?”

“No—”

Thump spoke right over him, “Go on, go ahead then. Kill everyone. I’m not staying, though. My family and I are leaving. I don’t feel like dying here.” Suddenly, his demeanor changed again, now disgusted and dismissive, and he gave every impression of being absolutely done with Kai and the dungeon.

All around, people’s eyes widened, and someone gasped with worry.

Even Kai felt a surge of panic at the idea of Thump leaving. “Wait! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you or anything.”

Thump snorted. He spoke mockingly, “Sure. Just tell me I’m a bad leader. Ask me to die. That’s all.”

Kai was at a loss. He wasn’t used to situations like this and didn’t know how to handle it. Instinctively, he tried to back off, flustered. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m not very good at understanding or communicating sometimes.”

Thump finally turned to meet Kai’s eyes again. “So you’re saying you want me to stay.”

“Of course!”

“Well.” Thump shrugged like he was undecided and had lost all enthusiasm for the dungeon. He looked away again. “We’ll see.”

Not wanting further conflict to drive Thump out of the dungeon and fearing he was somehow in the wrong, Kai excused himself, embarrassed in front of the goblins and kobolds watching him. He made himself scarce for a while.

An hour later, it was dinner time. People gathered, cooking and eating together on Floor 4 since Floor 3 was a mess from setting up the mine and barricades, and Floor 2 was cramped.

Kai, not wanting to eat alone, nervously approached Floor 4 from the back staircase. He stopped before entering. He wasn’t looking forward to running into Thump again. The idea of arguing turned his stomach. Seeing only a few goblins and two kobolds caring for babies in the first room, entered, giving the others a smile that he was sure must have looked stupid. At the archway to the next room, he paused again.

Trump was at the far end of the room. He and Rush were alone in the corner, talking in hushed tones. Trump was bent over and had his hand on Rush’s shoulder, his manner direct. They whispered back and forth, Trump breaking out his charming smile more than once before grinning, gripping Rush’s shoulder tightly, and then patting him a couple of times. It was the same kind of intense, personal attention he’d given Kai before.

Thump moved into the next room. Kai could just see him wave to another kobold and pull him aside for another private conversation with shoulder poking, a wink, and a friendly air. There were plenty of people, and the rooms were small; Thump could easily have addressed lots of people if he’d wanted to. Why was he having these little side dialogues? Because he was trying to control the narrative? Win people over one by one, saying whatever he had to in order to get them on his side?

Rush saw Kai and came over. “Kai.”

Kai suddenly choked up, almost unable to respond. Had Rush been turned against him? Kai had been feeling like they were becoming friends, so this might hurt. “Hey.”

Rush’s expression grew dark and uncertain. “Strange.” He glanced over his shoulder at Thump.

Kai looked too. “Thump?” The hobgoblin was still actively working on the kobold in the other room.

“Yes. Strange. Talk of you. Of him. Say he is good chief. Not you. Want us help.” Rush gritted his teeth and hissed. Then he looked resigned. “He is big. Very strong. More than us. More than all us together. Maybe everyone want him to be chief.” He gave Kai an apologetic look, and he seemed sincere.

Kai soured, finally understanding what was going on. Thump was taking power. He was quietly trying to get people on his side so the next time Kai tried to object, Thump could count on support while Kai had none.

Thump’s behaviour this whole time hadn’t been genuine. Kai had just been caught up in an act, a victim of manipulative charm. A sleezy politician making you feel cared about and valued when they were really only out to use you to get what they wanted. Thump didn’t want to be a part of the dungeon; he wanted to be in charge of it. Thump and Thump alone. Even if Kai was the owner, Thump was going to try to get everyone on his side and effectively take charge. Probably bully Kai into becoming a minion. If Kai continued to be spineless and let that happen.

Kai had made a very big mistake. He’d trusted Thump too quickly. But now, it seemed like Thump wasn’t someone to trust at all. Kai needed to act, even if it meant angering Thump or causing him to leave the dungeon. He hardened his resolve. “I need to fix this.” He ignored Rush’s confusion and turned to race back upstairs. He needed to revoke Thump’s manager role as soon as possible.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Thump look up. He saw Kai. His hand rose, and he snapped his fingers.

A goblin seemingly stepped out of the wall. It was the first time that Kai had seen that particular goblin. He knew it because the goblin was male and dressed in shimmery gray cloth armour like a rogue or ninja. It must have had a camouflage effect, or the goblin had a skill. He’d remained hidden until choosing to reveal himself. The goblin rogue calmly stepped between Kai and the stairs, cutting Kai off. The rogue wasn’t nearly as big as Thump, but he was easily twice Kai’s size.

Kai whirled. Could he make it past Thump instead? He had to get up to the Admin Room.

But Thump was already marching back into the room, his orange hair falling into disarray but for once ignored, and he had a hard look in his eyes.