Stellar Survival Quest

by Jalf Whitemage

  Electrical Engineering:(I)

  Mechanical Engineering:(I)

  Programming: Micro: (J)

  Maintenance: Electrical:(J)

  Secondary Engineer Skills:

  Biology:(H)

  Physics:(I)

  Chemistry:(I)

  Maintenance: Structural:(J)

  Maintenance: Life Support:(j)

  First Aid: Homosapian: (I)

  Primary Scientist Skills:

  Geography: Earthen. America:(G)

  Biology(H)

  Chemistry:(I)

  Physics:(I)

  Local History: Earth: USA: Current(I)

  Secondary Scientist Skills:

  Local History: Earth: Current(J)

  Geography: Earth(J)

  Stellergraphy: Sol System:(J)

  Psychology(J)

  Piloting: Drone:(J)

  Empty

  Unassigned Skills

  Language: Human: Earth: English: (D)

  Language: Human: Earth: Spanish:(J)

  Language: Human: Earth: Japanese(J)

  Piloting: Driving: Wheeled:(F)

  Martial Arts: Earth: Kung Fu(H)

  Survival: Temperate:(I)

  Weapons: ballistic:(I)

  Agriculture: Xeno:(J)

  Equipment

  Tee ShirtTorsoClothing(J)0.02GU

  Denim JeansLegsClothing(J)0.03GU

  Cotton Boxer BriefsPelvis(J)0.00GU

  Cotton SocksFeetClothing(J)0.01GU

  Hiking BootsFeetClothing(I)0.02GU

  Terriflex Space SuitFullSpace Suit(J)0.20GU

  Property

  VerOlx Emergency Portable Habitat(I)[Details]

  IPX092-QI Elixnox Personnel Transport(H)[Details]

  Milestones

  Critical necessity’s[Details]

  Claim a Module[Details]

  ***SYSTEM MESSAGE***

  “Hmm,” Nathan mumbled to himself. “So let’s try to think about this…” Nathan spent the next couple minutes digging his knuckles into his head trying to focus on the tasks of his skills. With his knuckles rubbing his forehead and his focus heavily directed on the task, he slowly brought himself from the emotional stupor.

  “Ok, the way I see it, I have two promising choices. One I can spend the free skills on new skills. Then move my skills around to suit what I want to do. Maybe something like Piloting: Capital Ships, or Piloting Mech….”

  Nathan’s eyes glazed over as he pictured himself driving a 200 GU Armored battlesuit of godly death around a battlefield like some anime lord. Then he shook his head as he crushed half a city in a titanic battle with Godzilla…

  “Or the second choice would to be increase one of my current skills, thus improving my job skill. One of them that would be good for more than one job. Or, may have extra benefits… But, which one?”

  He looked over his list of skills for a second time, then a third. Finally one thought came to him that helped him make a choice.

  “It is easy to learn a new skill. So picking up say the Piloting: Capital Ships would be fairly easy on my own. Whereas increasing one of my higher skills could take literal years of study. So the best bang for my buck, would be to improve my highest skill by three levels.”

  Looking over the skills once more something struck him. “Hey! I have a freaking Bachelors in Biology! Why are my skills so low?”

  He pulled up the wiki to confirm his memory on what the skills and equivalent rankings were. Looking at the list, he froze when it hit him. The ranks were based on Galactic Standard levels of knowledge. Thus his North American College education was equal to what most children learned of biology in Middle school.

  “Well talking about a failing school system.” Nathan snickered to himself. “At least this is just a game.”

  He was about to select the next levels in his Biology skill but paused. There was no way he was going to get more info on Geography. The only reason he assumed it was as high as it was, was due to him living there. But maybe getting his Math skills up would be better. The Mathematics skill was already being used in two jobs he would rather level up. Plus something he knew for certain was Math was the key to Science. You had to know the mathematics to learn higher levels of sciences.

  Nodding he chose his rewards.

  ***SYSTEM MESSAGE***

  Mathematics Skill Infuser Rank G

  Mathematics Skill Infuser Rank F

  Mathematics Skill Infuser Rank E

  ***SYSTEM MESSAGE***

  Satisfied, he confirmed the deliveries would be arriving tomorrow, then he checked on Boov. She was asleep. Nathan scooped down picked up the empty yellow stained bag and threw it away. Then he went to a different room. He was not about to sleep in his own bed tonight. Boov was not only laying in it hurt but, she had some shitty bad breath….

  Chapter 07 – A few Little Pricks

  Elsewhere in the System…

  “Run! They are coming!” The sounds were clicks and growls but it was the native tongue of the speaker. She was nearly twelve feet tall by the American measurement system. Her long thick Tawny hair covered her entire body. Even so, if it were not for the extra limbs between her upper and lower pair and that each limb ended in exactly three thick fingers and one thick thumb; then people may call her a really large Monkey. But with six limbs equally suited for running or grabbing. A Thin scaly tail similar to a rat’s in appearance, except it is as long as her massive body, and a Human like intelligence gleaming from her green eyes, no one would make the mistake.

  “As she ran through a corridor barely tall enough for her to not have to run on her mid limbs she glanced over her shoulder. A set of two creatures smaller than anything so dangerous had a right to be chased her. Clicking and clacking told her they were following even if she could not see them clearly in the dark. Already they had killed most of the crew sent to restore this small science station.

  When they first arrived, everything went smoothly. They were about to restore flight systems when newly restored sensors detected a transit pod coming toward the station.

  The crew had thought that maybe it was more Tallinites to help with the restoration. After all, they had done so much for the little station in such a short time!

  But, when the pod landed the two crew members that had gone to welcome the newcomers had not reported in. Instead only screams came from their communications units.

  Then it began… In a mere few minutes the stations life support and lighting had been cut. Pitching the whole station into darkness and allowing the air to grow heavy and rapidly unbreathable.

  Two more of her crew had died before they could get breathers in place. After that the creatures had begun to hunt them.

  Now it was only her and her primal mate. The smaller female was running ahead of her gasping for breath.

  Like all weaker primal mates, she was intellectually, and physically stunted in the womb. They had lost the first battle they had with their dominate Prime-mate. Some killed their primal-mates as children instead of the lifelong task of taking care of the inferior sibling. But she hadn’t she loved her sister and her sister loved her.

  Now though if she did not hurry they would not make it.

  Glancing backward again she saw movement just in time to bring up a long iron pipe. The creature that flew from the darkness at her head was caught mid thorax and sent ping-ponging off the bulk heads behind her. Still though she heard more coming.

  Returning her gaze forward she gasped and ducked. She nearly brained herself on a low entryway into the station’s single docking area. The place where both transports were docked…

  She knew it was stupid them coming here. But, there was no choice. If they did not reach the pod and get free of the station they would both die like all the others…

  With a strangled sigh she cheered as she saw the pod a mere twenty GU away. But her excitement disappeared when she realized she could not see her Primal-mate. Glancing around the dark bay she saw nothing, but a sob and cry of pain drew her a
ttention to the right. She began to half turn, when her primal-mates wispy voice, filled with pain and the wet sound of blood called out.

  “Do not stop! Go! Live!”

  She was going to stop and fight. Together they could make it… they were so close! But the sounds of bones snapping and the wet sounds of flesh being rented was sharp on her ears. She went to all six limbs and practically flew the short distance to the pod. As she flung herself into the interior and slammed the hatch controls with her rearmost right paw. Something flung itself at her. On instinct again she tossed the pipe and the sounds of metal hitting upon chitin briefly drown out the sounds of the things tearing into her primalmate.

  As the hatch closed she tapped in the commands to lift off and disembark from the station.

  As the pods lights brightened she saw the still shape of her primal-mate, her little twin sister… the only being that had been with her whole life. Black creatures of nightmare scurried and ripped with huge mandibles, tearing chunks from her and then gulping them down. The sight nearly broke her mind. But she was no newborn to lose control in the moment. There would be time later to mourn the lost. To sing the dirge of the dead.

  Now though she watched as the pod exited the station and entered the void… Now though she must find somewhere she could go… Somewhere she would not also become food for the nightmares…

  The next day Nathan awoke stiff and a little sore. He had been sleeping on the couch and its’ much smaller size left him curled into a ball. As he stood and stretched, he nearly pissed himself. The tree monster stood there in front of him Violet eyes gleaming. In one set of tendrils was a water bottle. But what really drew his attention was the plants eerily pointing its roots at the airlock.

  Nathan looked at the airlock and did not see anything amiss, so still foggy from the sleep he grabbed the bottle of water from the tree. Sharp blade red leaves rustled and the small plant monster floated back to its planter.

  You are going to have to start watering yourself. Yu pushy little bush.”

  The tree showed rows of barbed teethe as it settled into the yellow turds. Nathan frowned seeing they had already started to glow less and parts were already being broken down to the rich black soil.

  “You’re a hungry little mutant aren’t you?

  The trees eyes flickered toward the airlock and as Nathans gaze followed he saw movement through the mostly opaque habitat walls.

  Something moved between the light of the Transport and the habitat.

  “Oh fuck no! What type of fucking nightmare is it now?”

  On trembling legs, Nathan moved over to the clear airlock to look out. What he saw outside made him stand there slack jawed.

  Bodies floated around the cargo hold. From the current prospective, he couldn’t tell much about them but he saw there was definitely dead bodies out there!

  With a mixture of trepidation, horror, and concern Nathan grabbed his suit and donned it rapidly.

  Outside the airlock, he looked around and was nearly sick. In the light of the transport, he counted no less than six corpses floating around.

  ”Oh no fucking way!” As one corpse floated past Nathan, he could clearly see it was a dark skinned woman in a lab coat and little else…

  The other humans were dressed in a variety of outfits, but none looked ready to encounter vacuum. Just like Nathan had not been...

  “What the hell happened here?”

  As Nathan began to move around collecting the frozen decompressed bodies, he saw the hatch to the transport was closed. Frowning he let go of the leg he was holding and moved toward the transport.

  Tapping on the hatch release button, he was annoyed to get a flash of light denying him access...

  Looking in to the small window inside his frown deepened. Someone had made it inside. But, it looked like they did not make it in time. Their crumpled form lay on the floor near the console. Unlike the others though this one was not frozen. Dark red blood dripped onto the floor panels from where eyes, ears, and nose had been damaged from exposure to the void. Attempting the hatch release again, he cursed. The intruder must have locked him out somehow. But he ordered something that he could use to help him fix this; he just had to wait until it arrived.

  With a frustrated sigh, he went back to collecting the bodies. Searching them over he found nothing of use. So with a sigh he began to take them to Cargo Bay A, the hold they were taking garbage to.

  On the way, he found another body. This one did not even make it to the cargo bay. Nathan assumed the came from the respawn point and finding themselves in void headed for the one source of light.

  If they had been able to make it into the habitat, they would have been safe… On the other hand if he was asleep and unable to protect himself or his things when they entered… He had mixed feelings about the Habitats automatic security features. Unlike the transport, which had been turned off…

  It took him three trips to clean up the corpses. On his return to the bay from the last one, a light coming in through the narrow crack in the hatchway drew his attention. With a frown at the thick power cables that blocked the hatch from fully closing. He approached the narrow opening to cautiously look out.

  Outside he saw the now familiar delivery drone floating there.

  An hour later, the drone was zooming off and Nathan was arranging the newest set of deliveries. He had spent his saved QOBOP the night before on a few things he knew they would need to fix the module. Mainly new electrical equipment and two new tablets. One was a general use tablet that once charged would be able to be used for most things. The second was an electrical specific tablet. It had been costly but it came with scanning and diagnostic gear.

  Additionally, Nathan saw the crate that held the new robot he had earned, and the three skill boosters he had ordered.

  But, there were still more packages he didn’t recall ordering. There was five crates in particular that drew his attention. Standing nearly ten feet tall and five wide the rust red metal crates had markings on them that all matched. But other than that, there was no indication of any kind.

  Nathan reached for his scanner thinking it would be able to give him an idea. But as his hand reached and grasped empty air he cursed. In his haste to figure out what was going on he had left it in the Habitat. He also had not checked on Boov!

  Bending to grab the skill infusers and the tablets, he made his way into the Habitat.

  Inside he placed the packages on the counter next to the glowering plant holding out the still unopened bottle of water.

  Sighing he opened the bottle and poured it upon the trees leaves. As the water ran through the trees foliage and over its face, the thing glowered even more. Still though it settled down and closed its eyes after the last few drops had fallen.

  Taking the empty bottle, Nathan refilled it in the bathroom. Then he grabbed a MRE from storage and went to check on Boov.

  She was soundly asleep when he entered. As Nathan placed the water and food next the bed he attempted to check under the blanket but Boov’s damaged arm held the blanket close to her.

  “I guess you’re okay… Maybe I should wake you up and see?” He shook his head after a few moments of thought.

  Leaving the room, he went back to the main room. Picking up the packages, he began to open them up. After a moment he lay them out on the counter, before gathering up the trash packaging.

  The two tablets he put set to charge. Then he put away the odds and INS in the storage rooms.

  Finally, he was left with the three skill enhancers. With a resigned air, he moved to the couch and began to speak to no one in particular.

  “I guess now is a good time to mention I am terrified of needles… Like shit my pants, leave a plume of dust as I run away afraid, all Roadrunner status…”

  His trembling hands pulled the lid off the G rank enhancer. With a scream, he stabbed himself in the leg with it and pushed down with one movement.

  The trillions of cell-sized robots inside the injector f
looded Nathan’s body. Some moved to his local nerves and interrupted the signals going back and forth. This had two effects. First, Nathan was in effect paralyzed. Second, he couldn’t feel anything, not even the fact that he couldn’t move. Others flooded through his system until they found their way into his brain and central nervous system. There they began their work of mapping his brain. Once they discovered the pathways that pertained to his previous knowledge of Mathematics, they began to expand and reinforce them. They had been designed to be able to not only improve a skill but to improve the recollection and ease of recall to their programed skill.

  Since Nathan had learned everything the natural way so far, they had to work from the ground up. They followed the various mental paths reinforcing them and in some cases completely restoring the path when it was near to forgotten. After that they began to build new pathways in a manner similar to Nathan’s natural learning.

  Five minutes passed where Nathan sat there frozen. Barely breathing, heart rate as low as it could be and still be occurring. For those five minutes, he was in a completely dormant state. Even his brain was interrupted from its normal firings. Then with a start, he was back.

  A scream tore from his throat and then trailed off. Nathan looked down at the needle still stuck in his leg.

  “Oh that wasn’t so bad…”

  With a stupid little giggle and queer smile, his eyes rolled up into his head and he passed out.

  The tree seeing Nathans limp form collapse then fall onto the floor with a thump, felt irritation. This foolish being was always being so loud. How was a self-respecting tree to ponder the nuances of the universe while it kept screaming and shouting?

  The tree saw the two unused needles on the couch and grew more irritated. If it did not interfere then this loud stomping creature would repeat this process. Pulling itself from its comforting confines of the planter it made its way to the creature.

  After a brief examination of the needle in the creature’s leg and the other two, it discerned the approach needed.