by Tao Wong
I sighed. “It’s all right. I already knew it would be too much to ask.”
Even the full amounts both Rachel and Tae Song had received wouldn’t have been enough to make up the difference. I glared at the remaining options, trying to resign myself to spending all my Credits on something that wouldn’t solve our problem. There was nobody left to arrest the man or try him, but I wished I could find some reliable authority outside Watson’s mental influence. It would be best if I didn’t have to kill him to protect everyone.
Sumay flicked a wing toward Vaone, and I realized they’d been waiting for me to glance in their direction. They directed me through a door that had appeared in the far wall. “The meeting the Vizier mentioned has been arranged.”
Once again, the decor was very similar, and I wondered whether it was a signature look for the sake of marketing or a cultural design based on the Beoheva planet of origin. This time, however, the room was empty aside from a table full of refreshments in the center of a traditional, rounded sofa. An array of tiny cups sparkled with a variety of liquids in all colors.
Vaone directed me to sit but remained standing outside the sofa’s circle. “You will meet the individual of whom the Vizier spoke. We await their arrival.”
A few minutes later, a flamboyantly dressed Beoheva burst into the room, clearly scandalizing Vaone. Vaone stiffened at the sight. Their iridescent robes gaped open in a way that The Basics of Social Conduct proclaimed would be insulting to anyone other than the most intimate of friends. I stood and bowed, admiring the brightly colored fan of feathers and flowers balancing precariously on their head. Whatever had I gotten myself into, it seemed interesting.
They turned to face me and proclaimed in English, “I am Genius!”
Even Sumay was unable to discern whether this was, in fact, their name or a self-description.
They noticed my confusion and clarified. “You may call me Genius. This human term suits me!” They languidly reclined on the sofa and gestured grandly at the table. “I have arranged for refreshments that should appeal to you, my dear Rebel Within. While you savor them, listen and consider my offer.” They claimed one of the cups and tilted their head as they waited for me to do the same.
I took a cup filled with a pale-blue liquid with bubbles and sipped cautiously. The flavor was much clearer and sharper than anything I’d sampled before. “It’s very good!”
“Of course! It is the fermented juice of a rare blueberry variety that only grows near mountain mineral springs. It is both nutritious and delicious!”
“Nobody would ever claim that randomly absorbing bushes and cacti—that happen to cross your path—develops a refined palate, Adrian.” Sumay preened her wings. “Of course this tastes better!”
“Good point. I haven’t had the chance to experience tastier fluids.” I finished the juice and set the empty cup on the table.
“Excellent!” They nodded, obviously waiting for me to claim another cup before explaining the reason for our meeting.
“I am an Entertainment Producer!” They paused dramatically.
“Of course! And a stereotypical drama queen as well.” I wondered why Sumay sounded offended until she allowed me to view the constant barrage of notifications that said I had resisted mental influences.
“Okay, I’ll be careful. Now, shh. Let me listen!” This flamboyant individual personified the boldness I’d often wished to have.
They summarized a flattering description of a brave adventurer surviving against all odds. I only recognized this hero as myself because they had directly explained they were talking about me. The fruit juices were much easier to absorb than the myth Genius was spinning. The flavors filled a hunger I hadn’t even realized existed. I continued to sip slowly, savoring each drop, as they continued to expand on the concept.
It became clear they were laying out the framework for some kind of play or movie based on an extremely skewed interpretation of the events leading to receiving my Title. Sumay mentioned they had probably purchased a summary of my experience from the System, since they knew details even I hadn’t known.
Eventually, Genius finished circling and came to their point, sitting up and taking on a recognizably formal posture. “And so we wish to purchase your story for fifty thousand Credits.”
The amount was enough to stun me into silence. I could expose Watson and still help purchase supplies!
“Think, Adrian. The first offer is a test.” Sumay didn’t seem inclined to speak out loud, leaving me to figure out how to react.
“Can you explain the process? You already seem to have access to everything that happened, so I’m wondering what the payment is for.” I was pretty sure I sounded like an idiot.
Genius gestured as though flinging an invisible ball. “Here is the contract.” A box popped up in front of me, and they sipped a golden juice I hadn’t tried yet.
Sumay read the details through alongside me. “They’re asking you to give them your own memory files, you know. You’re going to be visible to a lot of people if you do this. You dislike your Title, and they’ve made it the central feature of their marketing plan. Your race change might also bring up social elements you haven’t considered. This is an established company with a big name, so the amount they’re offering seems low given the exposure you’ll be facing. I’m still not sure why they’re even asking you in the first place! They have all the power here, and it makes me nervous.”
While the thought made me wince, the Credits were a huge lure. At the same time, I didn’t want to pull anyone else into the consequences of my choices. By the time we reached an agreement that protected the school and my friends from exposure, I felt like I’d been pulled through a wringer.
Sumay continued to suggest I should hold out for a higher amount, but Genius had already tripled their offer. I couldn’t help but feel like I’d won the lottery in spite of her warnings. I’d receive enough Credits to ensure I could counter Watson’s manipulation, and that was all I cared about. An overly dramatic presentation of my struggle to survive and make my way back to safety when the System had arrived would have very little effect on my life. After all, I lived in the “isolated wildlands of Earth,” as Genius had phrased it. There was nothing important about me, and I worried they might not even make back the Credits they were paying.
Sumay begged me one last time to at least request a day to think it over or demand legal counsel before signing, but I knew I’d hate myself if they changed their mind. The ability to block Watson’s power was on the line.
After a formal exchange, a new notification glowed in front of me, showing an incredible increase in my personal fortune. I had to work hard to focus and bow formally to conclude the meeting instead of jumping for joy.
Having accomplished their goal, Genius rose from the sofa and examined my face, this time without the overt drama. “You have potential as a negotiator, so I will give free advice. It is in your best interests to require the attendance of your own legal advisor before you agree to contracts instead of attempting to create your own agreements within a system you don’t fully understand.” They bowed slightly. “Next time we meet, I expect you to be more of a challenge, my dear Rebel Within. I will be observing your progress.”
Resuming their persona, they swept out of the room. I collapsed into the sofa, simmering amid an odd mixture of triumph over my sudden windfall and worry over whether I had failed to protect myself in a way that might come back to haunt me. Finally, I put the internal debate aside and focused on my new ability to protect everyone. As I settled down, I realized Vaone had vanished at some point during the negotiations and had only just returned.
They nodded formally. “Do you wish to continue shopping? Your companions have completed their transactions and returned to the suite if you prefer to join them there.”
I returned to the main Shop to make the one purchase that was most important to me, then purchased Sumay the upgrade she’d been wanting so she could access more detailed informa
tion and detect predators more easily. Even after paying for both, I still had Credits left to help with purchasing supplies.
As I followed Vaone back to the suite, I wondered whether the others would be upset with me for spending so much without asking their opinions.
Eventually, Sumay grew weary of my mental flagellation. “Stop it. You’re not obligated to make every decision by committee. You’ve earned every one of the Credits you spent, and you could waste every last Credit on Guaraná and fantasy books, and nobody would have the right to complain. Get used to being an adult, Adrian. You’ll need that confidence to deal with Watson.”
The others were relaxing on the sofa, immersed in their screens, as I let myself in. Outside, the sky was already dark.
Tae Song glanced up and gave me a relieved smile, patting the cushions beside him. “They told us you were meeting with someone about that offer the Vizier mentioned. How did it go?”
I tried to shrug off my fears and moved to sit between him and Rachel. At least he would understand my choice, even if nobody else would.
Mr. Sanders’s face was tense as he gestured at his screen, and he jumped when I walked in front of him. “Adrian! You’re back!” Obviously, he’d been intensely focused on whatever he’d been studying.
Rachel blinked back tears and looked up at me over the edge of a cushion. “I hope you have good news. Please, please have good news! I don’t think I could handle anything else today.”
“Are you guys okay?” Something must have happened after I left, since they hadn’t been this gloomy before.
“I looked up the families of everyone at the Fort.” Mr. Sanders’s voice faded, and he shook his head. “Not many survived.”
“It’s only me and John left.” Rachel’s voice caught on a sob.
I sat beside her and leaned to offer her a hug, not knowing what to say. She burst into salt-flavored tears and curled up against my shoulder. Feeling helpless, I turned to look at Tae Song.
“My parents are still alive.” He was obviously relieved but still looked hesitant. “Uh. There’s no way to say this easily… but your family is dead too. I’m sorry.”
I blinked. “I expected so. They were in the middle of an extremely high-Level zone. They wouldn’t have accepted the System’s suggestions since it doesn’t mesh with their beliefs.” I could see Tae Song had expected more of a reaction. His love for his parents would have made similar news as devastating to him as it had been for Rachel.
“Uh, you see, my parents always hated me. Maybe I should feel sad… Maybe I’m a terrible person… but …”
“It’s okay to feel relieved when someone can no longer abuse you, Adrian.” Mr. Sanders sighed. “They caused you far too many wounds while they were alive, so it’s not surprising they didn’t leave much of an injury by dying.”
For some reason, the fact that he understood made me wish I could still cry. Polymorphs don’t have that kind of physical reaction to grief, however. I shivered at the intense rush of emotions and leaned back into the sofa as Rachel’s sobs began to slow.
It felt important to explain. “I finally realized I’d never had parents when they didn’t stand up for me against Watson. I ran away from school because it hurt so much. But now? Now I’ve lost people who actually cared about me. Our friends died defending us so we can keep on living. That’s what means the most to me, you know?”
Tae Song’s face dropped against my shoulder and his tears combined with the flavor of Rachel’s. Tasting their grief, I couldn’t stop shivering as salt soaked into my skin.
Eventually, Mr. Sanders sighed. “Let’s focus on the present. Tell us about your meeting, Adrian.”
I explained the meeting with Genius at length, then quickly described my purchases. “I wanted to offer you the rest to help with supplies.” I fell silent, waiting for Mr. Sanders’s reaction. At some point during my story, Rachel had pulled away and was now wrapped around a cushion instead. Tae Song seemed to be on the verge of sleep against my shoulder.
“Huh.” Mr. Sanders examined me closely and finally shook his head. “It’s ironic that your Title will suddenly become so very public after hiding it for so long.”
“You need to purchase the knowledge you’ll need to deal wisely with our alien neighbors, Adrian. Make sure you’re prepared to protect yourself both socially and physically. After you have what you need, then I might accept a portion of what remains to help provide for the school.” He shook his finger at me. “I won’t take your word for it. Only Sumay’s will do.”
Sumay burst out laughing. “He’s got you there, Adrian! No generous self-sabotage for you!”
I shook my head, but Mr. Sanders interrupted before I could speak. “It isn’t selfish to nurture your own strength, Adrian. Those who don’t understand the importance of this task usually fail in their attempts to care for others.”
Tae Song poked me in the side. “Shut up and just nod your head.” His voice slurred slightly with drowsiness. “If you insist on letting us spend your money, we’ll just spend it on you. Now let me sleep so I’ll be awake to supervise your shopping excursion tomorrow.”
Rachel chuckled at his words and curled up with a cushion beside me. Even Mr. Sanders merely stretched out where he’d been sitting and propped his shoulders on a pile of cushions. “Lights out.” Surprisingly, the lights actually understood his spoken instructions, and the room went dark. None of them seemed inclined to retreat into the cozy alcoves to sleep in their own beds.
I watched the stars spin outside the window. “Sumay, I think I might understand what you meant about choosing family.”
She snorted, looking up from whatever text she’d been reading. “It’s about time!” She draped herself over a cushion and waved a wingtip in my direction. “You were trained to be so certain that nobody could possibly want you that you didn’t even notice we had all adopted you long ago. Now go Meditate or something. I just found a hilarious theory about how the world is secretly flat, and I plan to read everything I can find on the topic.”
The next morning, with everyone crowded around offering opinions on my options, I felt like I’d been dropped in the middle of a circus.
“You definitely need Health and Well-Being for Polymorphs, Adrian.” Tae Song was having far too much fun pulling up anything with the word Polymorph in its name.
Rachel selected The Mystical Secrets Behind the Success of the Beoheva and pushed it into the stack of possibilities as well. I groaned at the title and eliminated it, then glanced to see whether Mr. Sanders might be willing to save me. He noticed my pleading expression but shrugged and looked away to hide his smirk.
Eventually, Sumay stopped laughing at their craziness and took pity on me. “Here’s what I recommend.” The massive pile shrank to a manageable level, and I sighed in relief, taking a look at the first item on the list.
Polymorph Childhood Education, Life Skills & Survival Pack
A collection of skills and basic information that most Polymorphs learn as children. It is useless to most, aside from freed slaves, the mind-broken, feral wanderers, and others who have been deprived of their birthright.
Sumay refused to meet my eyes after I read the description. I couldn’t argue with her logic though. I needed to figure out how to make the best use of my new body since I’d managed the changes mostly by using Morphic Disguise to make myself as human as possible.
In the end, I left the Shop with a stack of new Skills, including Intermediate Beoheva Business Skills & Culture; Countering Manipulation Techniques; and Basic Bartering & Negotiations.
I was also wearing a new Mana-fueled, arm-mounted, variable-projectile launcher as well. Sumay had strongly suggested it as the most cost-effective solution to my need for some kind of weapon, along with the Skills to aim accurately and craft projectiles. This way, I could restock without access to the Shop. Everyone insisted I should wait and spend the pitiful remainder of my windfall on upgrades for Fort Tin or the school’s new Safe Zone when we got home
.
Justice
The next day, I found myself crowded into one of the two armored transports assigned to the survey team. Vaone, who seemingly had been permanently assigned to our group, sat nearby. Even with Survey Spells slowing us every few kilometers, they claimed we’d be at the school within a few hours. Since the transport had antigrav and didn’t need to follow the many curves of the highway, we could have arrived within fifteen minutes.
My cramped position in the corner couldn’t muffle my excitement over the first mechanically advanced technology I’d seen. Many System conveniences seemed to be fueled by ambient Mana, which meant they didn’t always have a space-age aesthetic, but this transport could have been lifted straight out of a Star Wars movie.
Suddenly, Vaone sat up straight and spun to face us as everyone on board surged into a flurry of preparation. “It seems Fort Tin has fallen under an attack. Our battle group will drop first to clear the way. I will join you to meet with the survivors and help coordinate your defenses.”
I jumped to my feet in a rush to run and help, then had to wait for an excruciating ten minutes until we settled to the ground and the ramp finally lowered. I paused in shock at the blackened rubble in front of me. Tae Song and Mr. Sanders pushed me forward. The bunk shelters were smoking, I hoped because someone had followed through on the plan to use them as a firewall in an emergency. Thankfully, the main buildings still remained standing, and I could see rifles poking out of the shutters. Two armored Beoheva warriors stood guard near the shattered doorway, stomping on a still-twitching body of a massive Milliscorpion. It was even larger than the one our party had killed only ten days before. A similar corpse lay draped over the cooking shelter, and the sounds of battle continued behind the building.
Mr. Sanders hurried forward with Rachel close behind him. I could only hope John had survived. I let Tae Song guide my steps as he moved to walk beside me. Better to just face the worst and get it over with. Vaone followed silently, their alien presence both intrusive and reassuring. The sounds of battle grew louder as we approached the building. More warriors ran to the side, their weapons raised. I hurried to get inside, knowing I wouldn’t be of any help in the attack.