by Dawn Chapman
A few corridors later, he led me into a lift, then up, up higher than I even knew was possible. It was a single glass box, and as we ascended, I could see the base below. I looked upwards into the bowels of something I hadn’t even known was here.
“What the hell?”
“I know, right?” I stared up, and Borix coughed. “Eyes front. Don’t act or do anything as I guide you through the ship, understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Kyle, I don’t know who he is, but I am getting scans through now that he doesn’t match anything else the others think he is either.
I know. I could see it. I could see exactly what he was.
How? I asked Hiroto.
Maybe Shadow Awareness, he replied.
Possibly I didn’t know how each skill worked just yet. Just that I had acquired some. Borix’s skin faded from view, and I was now looking into the creature that I was, except that it was whole on the inside, not just a face.
“We will talk in my office, nowhere else.”
I just nodded. His eyes were focussed, more yellow than mine. There was real life in them. I could see it—his intelligence, his wit.
When the lift stopped, a red light flashed up, and then it turned green. Borix stepped out, and immediately I got a sense of something else.
There were men and women who waited on him, made sure he could get past them and out to a corridor quick. They watched his every move and mine. Whatever was going on here was big.
Again, opening a doorway, he waved me in and pointed to a seat. I didn’t know what else to do, so I sat as instructed.
When he spoke, he did something else. He slid a hand up the side of his neck, and I watched as the human skin I could see visibly melted away. Like vanished. I didn’t blink; I didn’t show him any other emotion. I just kept my eye contact. Then he clicked a device at the side of his desk and pulled out an instrument. He moved to me, started to run it over the top of my head. I was going to shy away.
“I knew the moment I saw you, brother,” he said.
“Brother?” If I hadn’t been sitting, I think I would have fallen over.
He lowered his head his eyes closing for a moment. The device in his hand whirring and beeping away. “The denti that you now possess is of my flesh and blood.”
“What?” I swallowed.
No fucking way Rytin and Alek suspected this. Did they?
“My brother went missing a few months back. He’d been undercover like I am. I figured no contact was a bad thing. I never expected the system to figure out that we were actually here.”
“Wait, if they know you’re here, then they know much more than what’s going on right now!” I stood and started pacing the room.
Hiroto? Make sure there’s nothing tracking me right now. I need to know that everything I have seen this past day hasn’t been passed on to anyone else.
I already checked everything when you respawned. What I did find I disconnected. We’re safe, don’t worry.
“Thank fuck!” I said, turning back to Borix. “It’s okay. I am clear.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I have tech inside me that no one else has.”
Hiroto laughed. Tech, huh?
“How? It’s all stuff that can’t go with you. It can’t transfer galaxies,” Borix said.
No, Hiroto said to me. Tech can’t—that’s why I was integrated into your brain. They see the internal that they put there, the computers, the digital, but they don’t see that in fact there were two minds in the one transfer.
I wondered how he had done it, how he’d gotten past their tech. It was the fact he simply wasn’t tech that had done it. I wondered how many times they’d tried this.
Four. We lost four in training. You were our last chance, and I was the last one they’d been training up to go with.
I’m sorry. I looked at Borix and moved to sit down again. He did the same this time, staring at me.
“What happened out there?”
“There was a complication. Tyto tried to take me out by any means necessary. He used Nehi and poison, and it needed immediate healing and more.”
“Do you know what it was they used?”
“I don’t,” I said, “but Rytin had to cut my face off.”
He winced for me. “Do you have a report on it? A specific name?”
Hiroto?
Nanite enhanced Core Fusion Poison, Hiroto answered, and I repeated it for Borix.
“I know what that is. Do you know where it came from?”
“Only that it was from Tyto. I don’t know how they got it through security, though.”
Borix came closer, peered into my face. I could feel his breath, smell the food he’d been eating. Fruit?
“I healed up okay,” I said. “It was just horrid and painful.”
“I can imagine. It was made to attack the denti inside. It would have been specific to the skin you’re wearing, too. Not easily made at all.”
“What do we do now? Where do we go from here?”
“I just needed to see you, to confirm who you are, to see what and how you reacted.”
“I’m nearly nineteen years old. I lost my life on my planet because they thought they could dupe me and my family. Others believe there’s more going on, and they have no idea. I won’t let this go. I want to do what I can.”
“I can’t bring you here again. Arndale has no idea this is part of the base as it is.”
“I understand that. Train me, do what Rytin wants you to, and I’ll work out the rest.”
I moved, and he followed me. “Don’t let my brother die, Kyle.”
I turned to him, met his eyes with mine. “Do you think he’s alive in here?”
Not that we could cope with any more talking! I laughed at Hiroto.
“I do not know the answer to that question, but maybe one day we’ll be able to find out together?”
I wanted him to be. I didn’t want to have taken the life of someone else. This had been someone, and no matter what was going down, I wouldn’t forget that.
“Get me back down there, get me in the yard, and get me to work. I need to level faster than anyone has ever before. By any means I can, illegal or not.”
“You’re willing to do whatever it takes?” Borix asked, staring at me.
It was the way he stared at me that made me more nervous. I just nodded.
“Then we have work to do. After you.” He waved towards the door for me to leave.
He made sure I was back within normal base grounds in no time. Although I wasn’t sure where I could go for rest, I headed back to the room I’d used with Rytin and crew. However, there were others already moving in. Damn, they were fast. I noticed it was Anna and those I had woken with the first time.
I turned to leave, but she ran after me. “You’d be welcome to stay. We were told to report here, that you’d lost the others.”
“Yeah, no, it’s okay.” My mind flashed back to Nehi. “I want to stay solo for a while.”
I didn’t meet her eyes. I didn’t want to feel bad for lying to her, though I didn’t really know her.
“Maybe I will train with you a little sometime?”
“Training with us? Oh, that’s okay. We’ll be in the yard in the early hours.”
I nodded and turned to leave. She let me. I didn’t need more of that. I went to the main reporting office and was assigned another room. At least one on my own. I walked towards it, veering off, only to collect the ring from Rytin’s place. It was easy to spot, hidden in amongst the floorboards. I tried to see inside the ring, but I couldn’t, the only thing that came up was the ID.
RYTIN’S RING - FORGED BY A MASTER JEWELLER - PRICELESS
I slipped it on the chain with the coin and tucked it away. Hoping one day I’d be able to get it back to him. When I reached my room eventually, I saw it wasn’t much more than a box with a bed, somewhere I could put my gear that locked. At least it was kind of safe.
Hiroto?
Clear. Don’t worry. They haven’t had a chance to know where you’d be going, but give them a few days, and I think they’ll try anything to get in and bug it, do something to harm you, anything.
Yeah. I rested my eyes for a while, waiting till I needed to go looking for food in the main halls. I knew that as soon as I ventured out Tyto would find me. They’d be looking, just so they could try and end this. I would try and stem that for as long as I could. I didn’t want to go head to head with him yet. But I knew it was coming. Bullies like that couldn’t be allowed to go on, not in my books.
I frowned, kicking off my boots and throwing myself on the bed.
I pulled up my character sheet. I really needed to study up some more now.
Name - Kyle Ranz
Species - Human/Denti
Year of Death - 2629
Class = Fighter/Sorcerer
Age 18
Level = 10
Respawns = 2
Memories = 94%
Health = 94%
Mana = 9
Nanites x 17,019
Body Type = Unknown
Structural Integrity = Tungsten and Alumi
Internal AI Chip = X Class
Skin Strength = 8
Blood Capacity = 6
Healing Speed = 12
Strength = 8
Dexterity = 7
Constitution = 8
Intelligence = 9
Wisdom = 10
Charisma = 6
Luck = 4
Quick Points = 0
Skills =
Foot Soldier - Rank 6
Battle Mage - Rank 5
Merc - Rank 2
Sniper - Rank 6
Gun Smith - Rank 4
Nanite Engineer - Rank 7
Human/Machine Interface - Rank 7
Shadow Awareness - Rank 2
Deception - Rank 5
Sword Play - Rank 1
Special Traits Awarded x 3 – Any extras here do not show on your Stat Sheet Totals.
Healer = Internal AI Chip X Class – Crystalline and Silver metal chip with integrated healer nanites led by Xe Aria.
Intelligence = Internal prototype AI Chip, inserted on 17th birthday, with consciousness of Hiroto.
Shade Brain – One in a million, you managed to not only keep your memories, but you can also hide them. Your character sheet is elusive to even the strongest of will. Be aware, this will be your downfall in high company (expert and above).
Spell - Active - Minor Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 2 and x 1 Mana per second.
Spell - Passive - Medium Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 7 and x 10 Mana per second.
Spell - Passive - Intensive Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 14 and x 100 Mana per second.
Chapter Fifteen
First time out to the food hall was interesting. I hung back as much as I could from any crowds. I could see the odd one or two watching from the corner of their eyes, and I knew I was a topic of conversation for some.
There was a ping.
This is interesting. Think you can read this while acting normal, or should we wait till you’re seated?
No, whatever it is show me now, I replied getting my tray.
An image flashed up on my screen. It was of my face, of course.
Then there was a price. Fuck.
That’s why you’re flavour of the month.
I got my food and made my way over to a table, where I sat and ate. It wasn’t good to then see all the nods and glances my way. How could this go on, inside a supposed military system? It felt so bad.
It’s pretty simple—they want you out of the picture. Something tells them you’re a threat to them.
I am. I am after everything they want. All the goodies now, I am going for. I have to continue to level quicker than anyone ever has. It will be impossible with the odds stacked against you like this.
I chewed my mouthful, still thinking I hated to talk with it full.
No, I said. This is exactly what I don’t thrive on. But don’t underestimate me, Hiroto.
If he’d been sitting with me, I would have seen his shock. Feeling things coming from him was weird. But it was there. I could gauge what he was doing.
I’m sorry. You’re correct. We don’t know each other very well.
I put a slice of chicken in my mouth, chewing slowly. When someone caught my eye, they were bringing a plate of food over to my table.
I hadn’t seen this guy around, and I had no idea who he was. But he wasn’t acting shy at all. He just walked over and sat down.
I regarded him. Scan him?
SCANNING BLOCKED
YOUR ATTEMPTED SCAN FAILED.
He looked at me and smirked. “I presume you already know the price on your head?”
I nodded, eating more chicken and waiting for him to say more. He didn’t. He just ate his food in silence with me. I did notice a few of the glances had gone away though, at least from several sets of tables.
Mostly those who spawned around the same time as me.
I believe he’s a higher level than you, but possibly not as high as Rytin or Tyto.
I could see that. But it wasn’t giving me any other thoughts. I ate up the rest of my main dish and opened the pudding pot. It looked awful, so I pushed it away.
“Mind if I have it?” he asked.
I pushed it closer to him, and he scooped it up.
Slurping it off the spoon, he sighed. “Don’t know what it is. Just can’t get enough of this stuff.”
“Happy to oblige, err.” I laughed at him.
When he finished, he put the spoon down inside the other pot, then moved to pick up his tray. And mine. Tidy fucker. I liked that.
It was also pretty much a request. If he had said the words, I might have responded with the same. But this was subtle, different.
I stood and moved with him. All eyes in the mess were on us this time. He stacked his tray and we headed out the door. Towards the yard. This was going to be very interesting indeed.
This can go downhill very fast. You know that, right?
Hiroto’s warning was needed. I know. But I didn’t feel things were bad.
I was, however, on my toes already, adrenaline rushing through my system. Eyes alert.
“I watched you spar with Rytin,” the new guy said. “You are already more aware than most new denti. They follow along with their spawn team, make friends. Die many times. But you stepped away from that already. That tells me one of two things.”
He moved to pick up a sword, a real one. This was no game. He meant business. He tested it lightly with a swing and put it down in favour of another one.
I did the same, making sure that the one I picked was good enough for defence and a swipe or two. Strength and size were going to be a problem; he was a big guy. Taller than me and with much more density.
Then he moved to a power point by a large square on the ground some feet away. One that no one was using. It was slightly different from the one where Rytin and I had sparred the day before.
I spotted Borix, but couldn’t focus in on him. A sort of shielding set up around where we were. “That will stop prying eyes.” He told me.
The sword felt good in my hand, and when he came in for the attack, I dodged out of the way, making his attempt seem weaker than it actually was. It was a test, a way to judge how I’d react to a stranger with a weapon.
“Good. Your defence isn’t weak. You can handle yourself fairly well from that. Let’s see how much you really have in you.”
“Okay.” I wasn’t surprised when the next wave of attacks he sent my way were much stronger, more than a few getting through. He allowed one or two to make contact with my clothes. But then the last one cut deep, and I dropped the sword.
He moved in, picked it up as I stood panting. He handed it back to me.
“What are you doing this for?” I asked.
FANTASTIC – SWORD PLAY IS NOT YOUR FORTE, BUT YOU’RE LEARNING – RANK
2 ACHIEVED!
“Because if I hadn’t, you’d be dead.”
I swallowed, feeling the drip of blood down my arm. My health bar moved a few points down. I watched it. Then focussing on him, I noticed he was sweating. It wasn’t quite as easy for him as I was thinking.
I ignored the dripping blood and lunged. We spent quite some time trading back and forth, until the two of us were breathing quicker. He dipped his blade and his head. Eventually, he moved to the side of the shielding and placed his hand to it. It responded to him, and a square unit popped up with a water and aid station.
“Handy,” I said when he passed me a drink.
“I don’t like Tyto and his crew. Usually I keep to myself also. But I felt that this needed some intervention. No one steps in front of an M- Wolf and lives, so I needed to see you and see for myself.”
“Oh, I see. Now you can plot my downfall a lot better, right?”
“That may come whether I am around or not. I am in it for myself, of course.”
He watched as I drank down the water. It was good. There were added minerals and ingredients that my nites were sending instructions and thanks for in the background. I also felt the wound on my arm pulsating. It hurt. I cast Minor Heal and it eased off slightly.
MANA INCREASE + 2
I was learning and still gaining in skills and magic. But he confused me a lot. Whoever he was. “What is it you want?”
“The gear you’re going to leave behind in your wake.” He was straightforward, and I smiled. I liked that.
“Think you’ve got me pretty worked out already, don’t you?”
“Tell me you’re not going to go at this with everything you can?” Question from a question. “You’re correct.”
“Name’s Dylan.” Finally, he held out a hand for me to shake, and I did. He was strong, steady. “Rytin was also a good guy to follow around. I needed a replacement. Tag.”
“The grind starts low,” I said, nodding over in the direction of the missions board.
“That’s okay. There’s always several merchants and farmers that pay well for some clear-outs and escorts. The more you rack up now getting those steady missions, the easier the next few weeks will be. There will be a few people watching, waiting for you to make some early mistakes, but they already know Borix, and now I am also doing the same. The lower levels won’t interfere. The higher ones have enough to do.”