by Erik Weir
“Give him some room,” the fox woman said with a tired tone.
The three cat girls pulled back, smiles turning to pouts. Victor looked to their coloring; one cat girl was black, the middle one orange and the last one was pure white.
The fox woman stood over the bed, a small smile along her snout. “Excuse them, they get excited with new company.”
Victor simply nodded.
The fox woman held out a fur covered hand, small claw points at the end of each finger, “My name is Wynn.”
The Blade reached out and shook her hand, “Victor.”
Wynn nodded before letting go and looking to the three cat girls. “The black one is May, the orange one is Abby and the white one is Ema.”
The three cat girls smiled and waved furry paws. Victor gave a small wave back, unsure what exactly is going on. Wynn stepped to the wall and picked up a backpack. The fox woman threw it to Victor who reached up and caught it midair. Sheet falling away to reveal his chest, the three cat girls purred their approval.
“Get dressed while I check your implant,” Wynn smirked as she moved to nearby table and opened a laptop.
Victor rummaged through the mystical backpack until he found his clothes. Pulling out the cowboy shirt from when he was in Eddor, he quickly put it on, closing the buttons to the right side of his chest. Leather pants were next and finally his boots. Slipping each boot on, he noticed the large room he was in. Beds covered one wall while crates and equipment stood in stacks in random locations in the room. Neon lights lined the edges of the room, giving it a warm glow.
“Um…I know I’m new here, but can someone tell me what is going on,” Victor asked as he stood up.
The three cat girls moved closer while Wynn typed away on the laptop. Abby moved close, rubbing her head against Victor’s arm. The other two watched, almost like they were waiting their turn.
“Leave him alone,” Wynn said sternly.
Abby pulled away and again the three cat women pouted their dismay.
Wynn talked as she typed, the glow of the screen casting her fox like face in an eerie light, “You are a non-consumer in a realm where almost everyone is part of the network. The all mighty Xull only wishes for your safety and servitude. All others shall be converted.”
Victor wasn’t sure but Wynn’s tone came off extremely sarcastic.
The fox looked up and gave the Blade a wink. “That’s what the digital intelligence wants everyone to think anyway. We down here are part of the resistance.”
Victor looked around again when something sensitive radiated from the middle of his spine. Lifting his arm up behind him, he tried to reach the spot but his fingers couldn’t quite touch it. It was right in the spot between his shoulder blades.
“That is your nano-drone shell implant. It’s connecting to your nervous system,” Wynn said as she typed.
Victor raised his eyebrow, “I didn’t ask for it to be put in. Take it out.”
Wynn shook her head, “It is there to protect you. The nano-drones introduced to your body will fool the city scans for a few days. After that, you will need that one removed and a new one implanted…unless you become altered.”
Victor shook his head, “I have no idea what you’re talking about but I don’t want some nano-drones in my body. And altered? What do you mean by that?”
Abby slinked closer, cat-like eyes drinking in Victor’s shoulders. “If you step outside, the sentries will be able to locate you pretty quickly. This is one of the ways to protect us and yourself.”
Wynn nodded. “As for the other way, we can genetically modify you, splicing animal DNA with yours so you will be undetected by Xull scans.”
Victor simply blinked.
Wynn looked up from the laptop. Upon seeing Victor’s confused gaze, the fox woman sighed.
“Xull controls everything from street level and up. The sublevels are for animals to roam about without interfering with the society above. Through a loophole in Xull’s logic protocols, sentries do not engage with animal life forms other than human. By altering our genetics, we can roam freely along the sublevels unless we directly engage them.”
Abby nodded. “It gives us some protection, but the moment we step on level one or above, Xull will dispatch sentries to send us back to the sublevels or kill us on sight.”
Victor’s mind spun on as he tried to digest what he was hearing.
Abby moved in, furry hand touching Victor’s shoulder. “He’s so cute when he is confused.”
A stark memory of Lily being dragged away stabbed into his mind. The Blade brushed the cat woman’s hand away as he stepped closer to Wynn.
“My friend, I need to find her,” Victor said with a serious tone.
Wynn nodded. “We saw your friend, but I don’t believe you can help her. She is being kept in Tower 5455 and chances are judging from how she looked, they will euthanize her for not being human.”
Victor’s gaze hardened. He was about to open his mouth when a heat blazed into his spirit. Looking down at Wynn, something licked his inner mind and heart. Turning away, he looked to the three cat women, a hazy warm aura appearing around them. The feeling enveloped him, knocking the wind out of his sails. The Blade stepped forward, hand grabbing the top of a chair to keep his balance.
Abby, May, and Ema’s eyes widened as their tails swished behind them. Wynn looked up, her eyes steady but a light shining before it faded away. The air in the room stood still before Victor looked to each of the women in turn.
“Your acolytes of Vala,” Victor stated.
The three cat women bowed their heads but it was Wynn who gave the Blade a stern look.
“We don’t know what you’re talking about,” Wynn said without emotion.
Victor shook his head, “I don’t know why you’re lying, but if you’re acolytes then you have to help me save my partner.”
Wynn’s furry brow hardened, “We don’t have to do anything but protect ourselves. You and your friend appeared while we were waiting for a shipment of weapons. Thanks to you, we used up some of our already depleted ammunition. Without that shipment, we won’t be able to fight anyone or save your friend.”
The fox woman looked back down to her laptop screen and growled. “Why are the upgrades locked?”
Victor looked to the frustrated Wynn when points of greenish light appeared in his vision. Looking at them flicker in and out, he stood with wide eyes. Random words and numbers filled the edge of his vision before they began to slowly form into coherent patterns.
“What’s happening in my eyes,” Victor said with an edge of panic.
“It’s the nano-shell,” Wynn said, “It’s calibrating to your nervous system.”
Victor watched as words filled the edges of his vision. Body temperature, highlighted scans of the women in the room and pulse rate glowed in a dim green light. Spinning around, targeting crosshairs appeared at certain objects in the room before they faded away. The Blade blinked, still seeing the information before his stat sheet appeared.
Victor Hobbs
Acolytes Unlocked- 10/77
Divine Orbs- 2
Spheres of Influence
Str (Gaia)- 4
Con (Nano)- 2
Int (Abyss)- 2
Will (Holy)- 2
Wis (Mind)- 1
Cha (Shadow)- 3
Swords
Iron Sword
Elemental Sword
Sphere Abilities/Powers
Mind
Speak/Read/Write Languages
Gaia
Increased Strength/Speed
Animal Tongues
Nano
Shadow
Holy
Abyss
Impulse Control Touch
The stat numbers glowed as he could see everything.
“You should be able to see your personal information. It will alert you of damage and help guide you with information,” Wynn said as her eyes flicked down to her laptop. “I just don’t understand why the six upgrades are locked a
nd your senses are only functioning at ten percent.”
Victor looked on as an idea formed, “I think I may understand.”
The Blade mentally tapped the divine orbs on his digital display. The two orbs flashed away as two points appeared, ready to be used. An alert appeared, blinking several times before fading away. The fist level was unlocked and the Blade’s senses increased dramatically. A target appeared in his vision as a fly zipped around in the corner of the large room.
You have gained Senses Upgrade (Passive).
Wynn looked up to Victor, “How did you unlock the first upgrade?”
“It’s part of the reason why I’m here,” Victor said as he looked down to Wynn. “Vala sent my partner and I to help her followers.”
The three cat women remained silent as Wynn stood up, eyes on Victor.
“Whatever reason you’re here, know this: there are no higher beings here except for Xull. The artificial intelligence just wants minds to play in its game worlds. It wants you to be a consumer so it can keep you its slave,” Wynn said with a hard edge.
Victor met the fox woman’s gaze and held it. “I can understand lying to protect yourselves, but I know you can feel the connection. Vala sent us to help, but right now I need your help. I need to find my partner, now.”
Wynn closed her eyes and shook her head. “Without our weapons delivery, we would be captured or slaughtered. I’m sorry, you’re on your own.”
Victor’s jaw clenched before it smoothed away, “Thank you for me helping me back there. I didn’t mean to make any kind of demands on you. If you can show me the way out, I’ll be on my way.”
The three cat women whined before Wynn shot them a look.
“Abby will show you out,” the fox woman said.
The orange furry cat woman moved to Victor’s side and curled her arm into his. May picked up the backpack from the bed and handed it to Victor. Ema stood with her hands to her mouth, eyes’ glistening in sadness.
The Blade gave them a kind smile before he and Abby started walking for the doors across the room. Wynn let her fingers touch the keyboard and tapped a few times. Victor’s eyes went wide as information poured into his visual display. The Blade looked back to the smiling fox woman.
“I uploaded the location where your partner is being held,” Wynn said with a small smile.
Victor gave Wynn a quick head nod before Abby pulled him along. The doors slid into the sides as the pair made their way down a lit tunnel. Neon light glowed as they followed the tunnel, passing closed metal doors every few feet.
“What is Xull,” Victor asked.
Abby looked forward, her arm holding Victor’s arm tight, “Xull stands for eXperimental Utility Learning Logistic system. It was meant to make everyone’s life easier hundreds of years ago before it decided it could do a better job than anyone with a real brain. That is why we fight, to be free from the system like our ancestors were so long ago.”
“The age-old story,” Victor nodded.
Abby looked to the Blade, ears twitching. “I wish you could stay. It has been so long since we had company. The resistance cells are not allowed to gather because it increases our chances of being detected.”
“After I save my partner, we will try to come back,” Victor smiled.
Abby looked to Victor with sad eyes, “Why?”
“Is there religion here,” Victor asked.
The cat woman shook her head.
Victor continued, “For whatever reason, Wynn doesn’t want to talk about what we all felt. Vala led me and my partner here for a reason. That means we all have to sit down and discuss it if we can.”
“The Gods and Goddesses are nothing but myths,” Abby said with an almost childlike tone.
Victor gave her a reassuring grin, “Something bigger is happening and all the realms will be affected, even this one. I can feel Vala wanting to help those who worship her. I respect your need for secrecy, but don’t take that to mean we are finished. If you have dreamed of Vala, she has already connected with you, making her real when once she was myth.”
The pair reached a door at the end of the tunnel. Abby touched a scan pad and the door slid upwards. Beyond it, pillars, neon lights and long shadows greeted the Blade and cat woman.
“Keep straight and you will run into a service staircase to the first level. The sentries will leave you alone unless you’re doing something odd or out of place,” Abby instructed.
Victor took Abby’s furry hand, lifted it up and kissed the back of it. “Thank you and thank Wynn for the hospitality.”
Stars shined in Abby’s eyes as the Blade let go and stepped beyond the doorway.
“Wait,” Abby said.
Victor turned to the cat woman.
“Stay here,” Abby said as the door closed.
Victor looked around, taking in the tall pillars and neon lights. The sound of dripping water echoed through the subterranean level as a minute ticked by. The door opened and Abby stepped out with a bundle in one hand and a small rifle in the other. The Blade watched as she stepped to him and handed the items over.
“It didn’t feel right to let you leave without some things to help you. Please take this armored trench coat. It has lightweight specially designed metal plates to protect against plasma fire,” Abby said a she handed the trench coat to him and lifted up the rifle.
Victor took the trench coat and slipped it on over his shoulders. He could feel the plating sewn into the coat but it felt light, not hindering or weighing him down at all. Abby handed over the short black rifle, Victor hands curling around it.
“I never fired a gun before,” the Blade said he held the rifle.
“Your visual interface will guide you on how to use the weapon, targeting and keep track of ammunition. I was only able to load a 300-round plasma magazine. I wish it could be more but we are low on everything,” Abby said with a concerned edge.
Victor smiled and nodded. “Thank you. I’m sure it will help.”
Abby lifted her hand before curling her fingers back. “I hope you find your friend…and come back to us. I would love to hear more…about Vala.”
The Blade kept his smile. “I will, I promise.”
Victor turned and began walking. He didn’t look back as he heard the door slide shut behind him. Thoughts focused on Lily and legs picked up the pace. Walking turned into a jog as he moved through the forest of thick pillars. A glowing outline appeared along a staircase and Victor made a beeline for it. Once on the stairs, he began to climb.
The Blade eyed the display in his vision. He still had two divine orbs to spend on his stats. Not sure what he was exactly up against, he decided to spend the two points on his Wisdom. If things got hairy and he ran out of ammo, he would have to rely on his Elemental sword to get him out. Since the elemental powers only work when he spent wisdom points on it, it was better to be safe than sorry if there was going to be a fight.
Victor Hobbs
Acolytes Unlocked- 10/77
Divine Orbs- 0
Spheres of Influence
Str (Gaia)- 4
Con (Nano)- 2
Int (Abyss)- 2
Will (Holy)- 2
Wis (Mind)- 3
Cha (Shadow)- 3
Swords
Iron Sword
Elemental Sword
Sphere Abilities/Powers
Mind
Speak/Read/Write Languages
Gaia
Increased Strength/Speed
Animal Tongues
Nano
Heightened Senses Upgrade
Shadow
Holy
Abyss
Impulse Control Touch
Victor reached the top of the stairs. A scan pad glowed by the door. The Blade looked at it before shrugging, guessing that the nano-shell on his spine may allow him to pass through. Hand touching the pad, it blinked between his fingers and the door slid open.
The Blade smirked as he stepped out on the first level. Looking up, the Blade�
��s breath was taken away as the sheer size of the world beyond. Buildings stood, miles tall into the dark and foreboding sky. A light rain fell as floors and buildings glowed with neon lights of various colors. Lightning flashed as small flying drones moved from one building to the next.
“It’s like a cyberpunk wet dream,” Victor chuckled to himself as he began to walk.
Rifle hidden within his trench coat, the Blade walked on, marveling at the sights around him. An arrow pointed in the direction he needed to go and he followed it. People walked along the streets but as Victor passed a couple, he quickly noticed their bodies were partially metal. Not trying to stare, he saw implants to various degrees on the people as they walked by without noticing him.
Victor bowed his head as he walked, a miniature map appearing in his vision and a building blinking on it. It indicated he only had to walk five blocks before he would be at the entrance.
“This is like Iron Man’s display,” Victor smiled before he squinted at the display in his eyes again, “Or a VAT’s display from Fallout.”
The Blade continued on, lifting the collar up to help hide his face. He had no idea if it would help but again, he didn’t want to take any chances. He was a stranger in a strange realm and knowing Lily was captured caused him to pick up the pace. Thoughts touched the fringes of his mind of Wynn and the others but he quickly pushed them away, accepting that they had their reasons for lying to him. Simply put, even if they did share their love for Vala, it didn’t mean all her followers would be kind and understanding. They had every right to be secretive with what they knew, but Victor didn’t understand why they seemed a little eager to help him with the upgrade and send him on his way.
The rainy weather grew with each passing step. Looking to the towering buildings, Victor poured over strategies. He had no idea what he was up against and a frontal attack might be out of the question. An alert appeared in his vision, telling him Lily was on the 99th floor. Moving along, he wondered if he could use his spheres of influence to talk his way through.
Can you influence a robot to listen?
Victor absentmindedly shook his head as he wasn’t sure. The spheres of influence could help alter a situation to his advantage. but he wasn’t sure the scope of his powers. A sigh fell from his lips as he knew he was going to have to wing it when he arrived.