Chapter 41

Looking over the list that Grey compiled from the information the spirits sent to Cetus, I noticed that the largest group reported boredom as a growing concern. I thought to Grey, 'Can you provide information on how many of the members are assigned daily work?'

'I can, but it might take some time,' Grey replied.

'Also, can you compile a list of the jobs these men held before joining us?' I asked.

'Getting the names of those not currently assigned work would be straightforward; I could request that information through the spy program. However, it might take longer to get you all the details,' Grey said.

'I'm giving you more work after just telling you to take time off. If you need additional help, I can ask Cetus to assign more men to assist you. But I need that information before the meeting.' I realized I had assured both Grey and Paul that their workload would lighten.

'No, I'm fine. As I mentioned, I wouldn't know what to do with all that free time. I'll get the information as soon as I can,' Grey replied.

*****

As I walked through the cave system, I reviewed the list of members, noting the number who were working versus those who were not, as well as their jobs prior to becoming members. I then examined the requests submitted by the members. Jesse was nearly correct; the largest single request was for work, followed closely by requests for pets. Dogs topped the list, followed by snakes and then cats. I set this information aside and observed the many requests for various sports. Most of these requests were for competitive activities, with fighting leading the way. American football and soccer tied for second place, while rugby ranked third. Many other sports are listed, but each received only a small amount of requests—though I should clarify that “small" still amounted to hundreds.

'Omegas, how many caves in the system have large sports fields?' I asked.

'None, Master. Why do you ask?' they responded.

'Many men are expressing boredom. Sports could ease that. Can we create a cave larger than the amphitheater, with seating for spectators, locker rooms for two teams, and lighting to grow grass?' I inquired.

'Yes, that can be done,' Stone's omega replied.

'One more question: is it possible to keep animals in the cave? I know you can't create living things, but can you change animals to be more intelligent—enough so they wouldn't defecate in unwanted areas and could understand the members of the Oasis?' I wanted to say more, but I needed to know if it was workable first.

Both Ursus' and Stones' omegas appeared. In a relatable size. “So you headed my words."

“Always, Master." They both replied in unison.

“Creating animals is impossible, but altering them can be done. Not by us, but by you," Ursus's omega informed me.

“By me? What do you mean by that?" I demanded.

“Master, you have the power to attach… Think of it this way: in many of your fantasy books and movies, people connect to power using spells or incantations, binding beings from other realms to their will."

I interrupted the omega. “Are you telling me I've been dabbling in the occult? Am I a witch… I mean, a warlock?" The two Omegas exchanged fearful glances.

“Oh, no, of course not! We're simply trying to put your power in context. Your abilities are greater than you realize." Ursus's omega urged me to listen. I hesitated, but my fear eased slightly. The omega seemed to notice the change in my expression.

“You can place unbound spirits into any living being. Spirits like us arise from these unformed ones, which materialize only once every hundred years. There are thousands of these unformed spirits in our realm, and as far as we know, they almost never evolve into beings like us; they remain unformed for almost eternity."

“How do you know I can do what you claim?" I asked both Omegas.

“In other worlds we've visited, we observed beings with far less power than you performing such feats. The animals that received unformed spirits transformed completely, becoming like playthings for their masters. This is what my older omega was trying to explain using the binding analogy from your literature. These unbound spirits gain their own thoughts. When placed in a living body, they merge with, and enhance, it—if the animal is simple-minded, the spirit increases its intelligence; if it's weak, it becomes strong—but it is forever bound to you. Like us, the creature can change shape. we've heard tales of them procreating, but we've never witnessed it ourselves. Have you, Elder?" Stone's omega turned to Ursus's omega.

“No, we've only heard the stories. However, the beings I've seen performing this binding could only bind one at a time. If the tales are true, there must be a way to bind more than one," Ursus's omega said, locking eyes with me. “If it's possible, you are the one capable of achieving it, Master."

“Let me get this straight: I summon an unbound spirit here and place it into an animal. The animal merges with the unbound and becomes bound to me, just like you all? Why would I want to bring more spirits here?" I exclaimed.

“No, Master. We're not explaining it clearly enough. The unbound isn't a spirit like us; it's… unborn. Merging it with the creature binds them to you, but not in the same way. You can command the beast, and it will instinctively want to protect you. As we mentioned, it can change shape, but it will still be an animal—just smarter and more powerful," Ursus's Omega clarified.

“Can I make it leave if it becomes uncontrollable?" I asked.

“If by 'leave' you mean return to our world, no—it cannot be separated from the creature. You can have it enter its spirit form and remain in that state. It won't possess the powers we have, so it would be here to observe, but unable to interact until you choose to release it. And just so you know, we can't make the unbound do anything; only you can. If you instruct it to follow orders from someone else, you can limit its loyalty to that person, and it will adhere to those orders until you tell it otherwise. As for feeding and care, it will draw energy from the spirit plane without producing waste, just like us," Stone's Omega explained.

“I need to think this through before committing. In the meantime, you two find out about sports from around the world. I want either one large cave to host multiple sports—football, soccer, hockey, wrestling, and any others that are popular enough—or several smaller caves, each for a single sport. They should all have all the facilities: locker rooms, meeting rooms, and more," I instructed.

_ _

“We won't let you down, Master," they both replied as they faded away.

Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by a crowd of men, with a ring of larger ones facing outward. The omegas must have been in my head and not really appeared in front of me. I must have been standing still all this time. Ursus then appeared.

“Everything's fine; Master was just considering ways to improve the Oasis for all of you. Please, continue with your tasks." He then turned to one of the larger men nearby and added, “You and your team have done well. Keep patrolling." The men nodded to me, bowed, and dispersed.

“Who were they?“ I asked Ursus.

“Each of us spirits have gathered men to serve as guards; they help prevent things from escalating," Ursus explained.

“Is it really that bad here? I know we have many men without jobs, but with you all overseeing them, there's no violence, is there?" I pressed.

“No, no, Master, nothing like that. The larger guys are more prone to reacting impulsively. Keeping them busy with tasks helps manage that behavior," Ursus clarified.

Still feeling a bit unsettled, I left the cave and headed toward the farm, noticing several hundred men working around me. A familiar silhouette caught my attention. Using the larger men as shields, I approached from behind and called out, “You've been out here all this time? “

“Well, I've been like most of the men in the Oasis, craving sunlight. The season is about to change, and we'll get less of it from now on. Don't you feel it?" Jesse replied.

“I have the guys working on a project that may help," I said. “Is that a field of grass?"

“I was going to talk to you about that. The workers out here wanted me to ask about getting some cows. The grass is for winter feed; if you say no, we'll sell it off for some extra cash." Jesse glanced at someone behind me.

“You mean dairy cows? What for?" I asked.

Someone behind me cleared his throat. “Sir, most of us believe that to form a real co-op, we need not just cows, but also pigs, goats, and chickens." I turned to see the man speaking and noticed everyone within earshot had stopped to listen. “We don't want to pretend; we want to be an authentic co-op. There's still plenty of land you own that could be turned into more fields. We could build a large barn, if you'll allow it."

I could see he spoke sincerely, representing all the men who stood awaiting my response. “What's your name?" I asked him.

“It's Ben, Sir. We met when you put up our sign. I know you can't remember everyone's names. I was one of the two guys who lifted you up for that," he said.

“Yes, I remember that. I was terrified at first. Thanks for the boost; it meant a lot. I've been waiting for someone to approach me with input about the Oasis, and you're the first. Are you in charge out here?" I asked, noticing how his name suited him—Ben, Big Ben. I tried to remember how big he was when he lifted me up to the sign.

“Sir," he replied, bringing me back to the moment. “You looked lost in thought. No, I'm not in charge of anything out here. Had some spare time, so I'm just out here helping or waiting in line to come outside."

Thinking to myself, okay, first, stop daydreaming about the men I see in public. Second, don't let thoughts drift into conversations away from our cave. Ben might not even look Like this, he could be one of the many who had to change to come outside.

“Well, Ben, things are going to change. I'm making you one of the first leaders of a new project. Gather anyone who shares your vision for this land and craft a long-term plan. Include everything you want to see here—barns, grazing fields, chicken coops, whatever. Organize the plan from what you want built first to what comes last. Once you have that, tell your leader you're ready to meet with me. He'll notify me, and we'll schedule a time. Bring about five others to my cave portal, and I'll let you in. “

“This is for real? You're not pranking me, are you, Sir? If it were this easy, I would have approached you during the celebration.“

'I'm addressing all of you, not just Ben. I always envisioned the Oasis as a collective venture, not something meant only for me and a select few. We succeed or fail as a team. I'm no farmer or influential businessman—hell, I'm not even a powerful leader. I need each of you to fill in the gaps and call me out if I'm heading in the wrong direction. I want us all to succeed. That said, we need order in how we move toward our goals. Everything we do here is in the open, and we need to be mindful. Initially, we have to show some struggle; the outside world, likely the government, is watching.'

_ _

'Each of you has done your part so far, and we'll use your plans to complete the co-op. If your first request is costly, they'll take notice, and we must prove we have the funds. This might take time, but if you want smaller improvements, those can happen quickly. Either way, they will all happen.'

_ _

Applause erupted from the men, growing louder as others joined in from nearby. I waved in acknowledgment.

Jesse stepped up behind me and squeezed my shoulders. “You're not just a good leader; you're the best leader. What you told them proved it right here and now."

*****

During the last month of summer and into the next, we were bringing in money from more than just the two camp parks. Our YouTube views skyrocketed, resulting in donations from around the globe. Viewers invested in the co-op and contributed to our mine cleanup efforts, wanting to feel part of our success. The funds were incredibly helpful.

The hotel had opened and was thriving. Initially, Karl worried about finding enough qualified staff because of the small town and his existing commitments. However, Grey provided information, revealing that there were more men in the Oasis hospitality field than Karl would ever need.

On the roof of the Solar Pyramid designed by Kenzo, we converted a large room into a portal to and from the caves, sending men to the hotel as needed. Each worked part-time, allowing experienced individuals to train those who were unemployed or inexperienced from the Oasis.

Like the men working in the field, the hotel staff had strict appearance guidelines. This time, the focus was on hiring men under forty who were fit and trim, with some exceptions for cooks and guards who had more leeway in terms of size. Cooks could be older and have a larger build, while guards could be more muscular as long as they remained within acceptable human norms.

Karl eventually recruited women from town and from the families of his former miners, who were eager to help, but it still wasn't enough. He also relocated some women from his other companies to fill the gaps—a costly but necessary move, as the Oasis had only men. A hotel with an all-male staff would reflect poorly on itself.

*****

Ben had yet to ask for his meeting. At first, I assumed he was busy coordinating with the men he needed to consult. After three weeks of silence, I asked Ursus to check on him.

“Master Ben is still making plans with the five others you told him he needed," Ursus responded.

Another week passed, and I asked Stone this time, “Stone, could you check on Ben and the other five men I assigned to the farm project?"

At least I received a straightforward answer. “They will be ready tomorrow. I've already told them to come at 11:30 since you're available then. I hope that's alright, Master."

“Yes, Stone. Thank you," I replied.

At 11:25, the portal opened, and Ben stepped through with four men carrying piles of drawings, followed by Harold. Cero, Cetus, Leo, and Roan who joined us at the dining table as it transformed into a larger standing work table. Roan spoke for the spirits as the men placed their materials on the table. “Master, Ben is tasked with planning the farm to completion. Not wanting to fail you, he sought five experienced men to assist with the project as requested. “

Ben introduced his team. “Sir, you know Harold—he was my first choice. Having a builder was crucial. Next, we have Jerold, Pat, Larry, and Charles. We also received significant help from Kenzo, whom Pat and Larry knew. While he's not focused on gardening, he helped enhance our designs and made a presentation with his graphics equipment. Jerold and Charles are professional landscape designers whose expertise influenced our plant selections. Together, we developed the building designs."

“So, Pat and Larry are landscape architects?" I asked.

“Yes, Sir. I'm sorry I forgot to mention that.“ Ben replied.

Pat, a lean man, and Larry, a heavier set guy, unrolled a large plot plan. Showing the existing buildings in gray, including the raised garden area, greenhouse, and the fields—the one with hay and the one that was being worked on when I made Ben project manager.

Larry pointed to the proposed barn, which resembled two smaller barns attached to a larger one. “We'd prefer to build the big barn first, but if funds are tight, we can start with one of the smaller ones and add the second later. The large barn could follow in ten to fifteen years. I designed the plans so we can build in any order without wasting materials."

Pat then indicated another building, a much larger greenhouse, two large chicken coops nearby it, and three enclosed lots, the largest of which was next to the biggest barn, partially enclosing one of the smaller barns. “The large lot is for cows. This shaded area is where they'll get feed during bad weather. The small barn will store grain and hay for the winter. I positioned the chicken coops close to the greenhouse so the chickens can move there during the day in winter when people are around. The two smaller penned lots are for pigs and sheep, with rock enclosures for winter protection—these bumps are what we'll use for that." Larry pointed out the two larger areas.

“We'd like to complete the main lot first, then move on to one of the other two projects. The chicken coops and greenhouse should be built concurrently. Although the greenhouse may require a significant initial investment if glass is used, we can start with plastic sheets for the first few years and upgrade to glass when funds allow."

Jerold and Charles unrolled a vellum overlay that highlighted trees and shrubs incorporated into the plot drawing. Charles began, “these trees are native, providing separation between areas and sometimes, completely obscuring them." He pointed to the pig pen lot, which was densely covered by a line of trees. “As you enter our Oasis, the trees guide you toward the greenhouse and barns."

Jerold added, “The shrubs enhance this effect by creating secluded spots where you can relax and feel isolated, even while in the field." He pointed out over fifteen shaded areas, “these will be shaded by these nearby trees at different times of day. Some of these areas featured a few chairs, while others included picnic tables, with one to five tables in each space."

The meeting continued for several hours, with the spirits ensuring we had plenty of snacks and drinks. Despite its length, it exceeded my expectations. One man after another presented detailed drawings of their major projects. There was a large barn designed to hold bales of hay and grass in upper lofts, with stalls below for horses, as well as the extensive greenhouse intended for year-round food crops, which would also serve as a botanical garden. Harold noted that much of our Oasis would appeal to guests, including those staying at the hotel and the campers.

Harold broke down the estimated costs for each project. I had braced myself for a higher figure, but the total was manageable. “We can tackle one of the larger projects right away. If it's the big barn, we can also build the cow lot. If it's the greenhouse, then the chicken coops. Which would you prefer to start with? It may take another year or two to fund the second larger project, but you can still work on the land in the meantime since it primarily requires manpower, of which we have plenty, including the rock enclosures." I shared my thoughts and waited.

They turned to Ben. “Since we've been growing feed for the cows and many men want the barn first, Sir, we'd like to build the barn and cow lot with its feeding area."

*****

Two weeks later, I received word from the spirits_. 'The sports caves are ready for your approval, Master,'_ both Omegas reported.

'You separated the playing fields, then?' I asked.

_ _

'After speaking with many men interested in these sports, we felt it would be safer to do so, Master,' replied Stone's Omega.

'It was fortunate we hadn't moved the material for the last major sports field. The men needed specific-sized stones for their pig and sheep huts,' Ursus's Omega added.

_ _

'Was there enough stone?' I inquired.

'It's still uncertain; If not, our realm will make more. They're just finishing the move outside. For now, they wanted the materials on hand to be ready for those projects,' Ursus's Omega replied.

'Alright, let's proceed. Notify everyone about the sports fields and inform them that there will be an open house tomorrow to check them out. Also, gather their feedback—whether they think the play fields are okay, good, or great. I want to know what the men think of the new fields,' I suggested to the two Omegas.