BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Chapter 1008: The Gathering Night

"Great idea," June said.

The group gathered around the table and brought out the provisions the Chimaeric Demons gave them.

They didn\'t need to be cooked, and, since the Chimaeric Demons following them turned into large beasts, carrying them wasn\'t hard.

The clones basically gave Erik four months\' worth of food, ready to be eaten. Each member of the group picked at their food, their minds wandering as they chewed, lost in their own thoughts and perhaps contemplating the situation they were in.

Mira broke the silence. "I just don\'t get it. We\'ve been searching for days, and there is still no sign of this damn base. Didn\'t your clones say it was in this sector? And Emily\'s vision confirmed it should have been in this area."

"Maybe we were mistaken in assuming it was here because of that orchid."

"No. The orchid was a valid clue. I\'m sure it\'s around these parts."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Yes, but we should have already found it by now."

Erik remained silent in thought, his gaze fixed on the food in front of him but touching none.

"What if..." June had a look of realization on his face. "What if the reason we can\'t find the base is that it\'s underground?"

The others turned to face the clone.

"Think about it. This area is full of natural rocky formations-not quite mountains-but large enough to house an army or a camp. And if there\'s a natural cave system in the vicinity, it would be the perfect place to hide a base."

"I already thought about that," Erik said. "Honestly, that was my main thought. The problem was that we have no proof, and the only way to be certain of that is by ruling out the possibility that it might have been above ground. But yes, an underground base would explain why we haven\'t been able to locate it, despite all our searching."

"But searching for an underground cave system could take even longer than what we\'ve already done. We need to narrow it down," Mira said.

June turned to Erik. "Master, what about reading the minds of the thaids in the area? They might have some instinctual aversion to certain places, especially if there\'s a concentration of human activity. They might even feel the opposite and think of a place where there is a lot of food, or something like that."

Emily got curious about what June just said. "Can you really read the thoughts of thaids, Erik? I thought you could do that only with humans. What do they think, anyway?"

"It\'s not quite like reading thoughts, Emily. Thaids... Let\'s just say their minds work differently from ours. They don\'t think in complex ways like we do; rather, they act on instincts and primal feelings."

He paused, trying to find the right words to explain. "When I go through their minds, it\'s more about sensing their emotions, their base reactions to the world around them. And in a way, that\'s even better for us. Feelings are much stronger and more immediate than thoughts, and easier for me to pick up on."

The group fell silent for a moment. If Erik could sense the instinctual versions of the local monsters, it could lead them straight to the enemy base.

"So, we focus on areas where the thaids seem to avoid, or those they like to go to? It\'s not that clear."

Erik nodded. "I think we should focus on places they are avoiding. If thaids wanted to attack humans, they would have done so, but I don\'t see many thaids around, which tells me that: one, there is indeed human presence here, since they might have killed the thaids around. Two, it tells me that the few remaining thaids are steering clear of the actual base\'s location. We\'ll start at first light. The Chimaeric demons will turn into flying thaids and help us scout the area."

A small silence ensued. Mira then glanced around, and with a mischievous smile playing on her lips, she broke it. "So, what do you guys want to do to kill time?" She was intently looking at Erik.

The man raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Why don\'t you suggest something?"

Mira\'s smirk widened as she leaned in closer to Erik. "Oh, I have some ideas in mind."

Amber, catching the exchange, rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Is it your \'turn\' tonight, Mira?"

The woman nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Yep."

Amber sighed and stood up, motioning for the others to follow. "Alright, guys, let\'s give them some privacy."

June, Emily, Amber, and the three Chimaeric Demons all got up and left the small building, filing out into the cold night. Once outside, the atmosphere turned awkward.

"So, uh, anyone up for a riddle game?" June asked, to break the awkward mood.

The others sighed in unison, clearly used to this routine. They had long ago decided to establish \'turns\' with Erik to avoid any problem or jealousy.

June\'s suggestion was met with nods, and Amber started things off with a riddle.

"Alright, here we go," she said. "My ability to speak does not rely on a mouth, and my ability to hear is not dependent on ears. I have no body or physical form, yet I come alive with the wind. I can carry sounds across distances despite having no tangible presence. What am I?"

The group settled down for their game, cracking jokes and guessing the answer. They were gathered around an outside table Erik made for them, snacks and drinks within reach.

They laughed heartily, taking turns making wild guesses and teasing each other about their choices. The camp was filled with laughter and conversations.

Each wrong answer was met with groans and playful banter, making the atmosphere light and enjoyable. The friendly competition only added to the joy of the moment, as everyone felt free to be themselves and join in the shared experience.

Meanwhile, Erik and Mira were really digging the alone time.