Winter Harvest

by Dawn Chapman

  Rei reached up. “Relax.” He moved closer with his fingers and lightly moved some of the hair at the side of my right ear. “You already know about this little slot. You’ve room for several. The internal system takes the chip, moves and integrates it, and then you can use it. But you should then be able to ID things without too many issues. The more you use it, the deeper the analysis will eventually become.”

  He moved back to stirring the pot.

  Flashing across my view were the details of the chip.

  ID DATABASE UPDATED

  OH, SO YOU REALLY ARE GETTING SPOILED HERE.

  RIGHT, THEN. USE IT IF YOU MUST. TO ID AN ITEM, JUST STARE AT IT. THE LONGER YOU STARE AND THE BETTER YOU GET, THE MORE YOU KNOW. SIMPLE, RIGHT?

  “Try it,” Rei said.

  “What’s this?”

  He held out another vial for me. This one contained a liquid. I did what the AI had said. It was also the required item I needed earlier. Some of that which I’d needed back in Hope City. Finally. Maybe I would start to feel much better with all this. Was it just all related after all? If I ignored things, it escalated? Yeah, that actually made too much sense.

  FOLX = LIQUID 100ML

  2 PARTS PER MILLION PRICE = 40 COPPER

  REVITALISES NANITES CORE SUPPLIES REPLACES 5% OF ALL ENERGY LEVELS

  I read the stats aloud to Rei, and he nodded.

  “Good, at least I know it’s working. Just need to keep using it.” He smiled and added, “You can put this one directly on any wounds or use it in food or drinks.”

  I sniffed it. It had a slight banana odour, which I really didn’t like.

  Hated that fruit.

  “Go on. You can drink that one before we eat dinner, and you should then start to see some of the benefits of it.”

  I almost downed it in one gulp because I was sure it was going to taste like it smelled. But as the liquid touched my lips, it actually didn’t taste like banana.

  “Kind of nice, right?”

  “Yeah, it’s odd.”

  There was a notification, and I saw my health bar start to climb once more, and not just that but I actually felt better. There was a nice deeper level to healing. I wanted to learn more.

  “The physical side of it, note the differences. This will help you know how much you need to consume in the future. I gave you a specific amount to your needs, but you’ll only learn that by trial and error. You won’t always get it right, and these mixtures sometimes come at a high price.”

  I noted the feeling.

  “Oh,” I said. Pulling my health bar up, there was now a lot more detail to it. I grinned. “This is interesting. No other system quite works like this.”

  STATIC HEALTH = 78%

  ENERGY = 42%

  HYDRATION = 56%

  CORE ENERGY = 9%

  “Shit.” I hadn’t realised the nanites levels really had been that low.

  “Your nites?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “They’re pretty done in, aren’t they?”

  “You’re a new denti, yeah. They may have come from Jai, but they’re dealing with all your relative newbie issues as they had with him all over again.”

  Now I realised why the head nanite in me was pissed. Not just because of the healing, but everything she was doing inside me was rehashing stuff done before. I looked inside.

  Sorry, Xe, I said. I am not an easy person to be around. I hoped that she was listening.

  A laugh, and then her voice came to me. Don’t be silly, Kyle. I wanted this assignment. I knew the challenge, and I was ready for it. Don’t get me wrong, I know you’re going to need a good few kicks, but we can handle it.

  I saw something new then, something beneath her image. I clicked on it.

  NANITE NUMBERS

  XE’S PERSONAL ARMY= 2421

  STRENGTH = 15

  XE’S NORMAL SOLDIERS = 55,770

  STRENGTH = 8

  CORE ENERGY = 78%

  SKILLS =

  RECONSTRUCTION EXPERTISE = RANK 14

  MUSCLE HEALING = RANK 17

  VIRAL FIGHTING – RANK 13

  POISON RESISTANCE – RANK 15

  It was interesting.

  Yes, she said. You can improve us as much as yourself. Originally, we took a step down to come in here. Our choice, of course, and I’m sorry I lost my team, but Hiroto had valid reasons.

  Then I’ll do my best to get you back to where you were, if not make you better.

  Your body and the tech that comes with it is not something we’re used to. We can improvise, but we’re also going to make mistakes. Her voice wavered, then she added almost softer, I’ll do my best to prove to you that I work for you. I won’t betray you. There is a learning curve in here for me as well as for us. Will you give me that chance?

  That’s understandable.

  I stroked the side of my neck where the chip had gone.

  Rei was now moving the pot from cooking, and he glanced at me. “Talking to your nites?” On my nod, he said, “Come on, I need a hand.”

  “I can’t help it. They’re interesting.”

  “Yes, but you’ll also find them annoying in the end too. Constantly demanding more stuff!”

  Speaking of. Xe started to push demands towards me, a few notifications pinged off, and I just ignored them with a swipe of my fingers.

  Scooting in closer to Rei, I asked him instead of talking to Xe. “Would you run through some steps with me how to turn off the pings from the nites? Just want to see the most important.”

  “Yeah, it’s super easy, just on your front page. You could do it standing on your head.” He laughed. “But totally. They get annoying as basic, think I lasted a day with mine, but you’ve had yours going a while already.”

  “I like to settle in a bit before I turn things off. You never know what you’ll be missing if you just hack at the settings.”

  “Quite true. I think some time to adjust is a good thing.”

  I sat down with the others and watched as Jai dished out the food, making sure we all got a decent size, and it was just nice to see everyone tuck in and talk without much pressure. I wanted to engage them more and ask questions, but I held back.

  It was Jai that turned to me. “Quiet?”

  “Just listening in,” I replied.

  Naylar gave me a glance. “We all went through similar things.

  Everything here’s so different.”

  I popped some meat into my mouth, savouring the rich taste, enjoying every bite. I nodded. “I haven’t processed any of the last few months really.”

  “We understand,” Jai said. “Don’t think you have to hide things. Although we don’t know you, we will. Only way you’re going to get through things is to learn and ask. So don’t feel stupid. Just ask. Okay?”

  I didn’t like feeling stupid, though. I should have been up to speed, should be able to help them more. I should have spawned in the right place.

  “Okay, I will.” I at least would try.

  “I’ll head out with Kyle in a few,” Jai said. “We’ll pick up the stuff we need to move Denn.”

  “I’ll come with you,” Rei said, but I saw Jai shake his head. “She’s running out of time. I’m gonna have to split us up properly.

  Naylar should stay, and guard her. There’s a couple of things I want you to get from down below. If we complete these missions simultaneously, we cut the time. Maybe when she’s more stable, we can concentrate on getting the job that we were here for done. Then get the hell out.”

  It sounded good. Few more missions, gain a few more levels. I could do that, and I tucked back into my food, relishing every bite.

  Chapter Forty

  I hadn’t spent a lot of time with anyone here as of yet, other than Hiroto. Meeting Rytin and his crew, then Dylan and dealing with Tyto, well.

  They were all brief encounters in this world compared to the time that some had actually been here. Mere months. I hadn’t had time to get to know them very well, just snippets of them as
people while I built myself up. Yet the connections I’d made with them felt lasting.

  The thought of being with Jai on my own left me wondering if he’d just find somewhere to extract the information from my brain and leave me for dead. He wasn’t giving me the same vibe that Rytin or even Tyto had. What was I really to them other than a liability?

  He paused ahead of me, gave me the once over, and laughed. “Don’t look so terrified, kid.”

  I was going to try and defend my actions, but I couldn’t. I let out a chuckle myself. Nervous as it was.

  Jai nodded his head in the way of the door. “Ready?” I checked the gun was at my side. “You shouldn’t need that. There’s nothing else dangerous outside at present, and we’ve got a good few hours before anything else dare venture past the rain.”

  “Oh, it’s still raining?”

  “Yep, and it still hurts. It’s not as light as when we came in, which means you will take constant damage, but you should be able to cope with it now, even at your level. If you do get untoward warnings, let me know.”

  I let the gun sit. I would be ready when he needed me to, I guess.

  We approached the outer doors, and I could hear the rain. He wasn’t kidding when he said it wasn’t light. It was almost a full-on storm outside. I looked out to the terrain scanning with the senses I did have, taking in as much as it was showing me.

  Even the plants now showed basic properties. If they were dangerous they showed red, and everything else was just visual. The detail here was phenomenal, and I relished the senses and numbers. This was how I was used to seeing games. This made me feel much more at ease. I was so much more in my element now.

  I tried to check my sheet quickly, nothing still. Crap.

  I was so close to moving on from Basic to Trainee. I could taste it. “I forget what it’s like the first few times out in the real world. How easy it is to forget and see past those things as you get used to them.”

  “You don’t see it anymore?” I looked to him, watching his features as he too glanced around the outdoors.

  “Only if I look deeper. We get used to seeing it, so we’re not actively looking for things. It’s more the internal, and your brain starts to process things much faster so that it’s not needed.”

  I followed Jai for a while, making sure I didn’t get caught up in the world around me. Getting wet was annoying, but I could deal with it, the damage to my outer clothing affecting my health only slightly. But I was doing okay just like he said.

  “What are we looking for?” I asked.

  He turned to me and shook his head. “I couldn’t tell the others. They’d want to come with, but we’re completing the mission.” I knew my jaw dropped. “What?”

  This went against what most gamers would have done. I couldn’t understand it. Originally their plan involved all four of them, and I’d ruined it. What made him think for one moment that two of us could complete it?

  I stuttered out, “The one you came here for, to blow up their nest? Aren’t we too far away? They’re expecting you.” The look on his face— he just laughed, but it was an infectious laugh. “You’re crazy.”

  “Stick with me, kid, and you’ll level up faster than you ever thought you would.”

  “Why? You’re going against everything I know that’s ingrained in me.”

  “Things change over the years out here. It’s not as black and white. I—”

  “You wanted to protect them somewhat. I get that much, at least. But what if you fail because you needed them?”

  “We won’t.” Jai grinned. “I wouldn’t have asked you to come with me if I didn’t think you had it in you.”

  “You don’t just want to off me then?”

  “Hell no. I’ll need someone with tech experience when we get there. Denn wouldn’t have hesitated but…”

  “I see.” I started to follow him. “Second best then.”

  “It was more complicated than that. We needed another tech because we weren’t sure that one would be able to manage the base lockdowns. We requested the additional aid months ago. We hadn’t expected them to listen, nor for them to just literally throw you at us.”

  “But you’re a decent tech level?” I said, confused.

  “I’m fairly competent. Just below Denn’s levels, but I was going to do something else, and now we can’t. It’s you and me. That’s all we have.”

  When he looked at me, I smiled. “It’s okay. We’re dealt one hand of cards, but it doesn’t mean we still can’t bluff our way out. Tell me the plan you have.”

  The rain started to get heavier, and I winced, seeing my health drop a lot more. Jai saw this. “You doing okay?”

  Ahead there seemed to be a different colour to the rain, and I almost stopped before I crossed that weird threshold.

  When I did, it was like flashes of something. Lights, sounds. I went dizzy for just one second.

  KYLE!

  Hiroto? I almost cried.

  I hear you, we good? You hear me too? Xirob asked.

  I could hear their emotion once more in their voices and I answered.

  Yes!

  Good. Seems Xe was doing a good job of passing back and forth info.

  But where are we going?

  First thing I did was call my stats up and glance over them. I was so close to moving up again.

  Name - Kyle Ranz

  Species - Human/Denti

  Year of Death - 2629

  Class = Fighter/Sorcerer

  Age ??

  Level = 25

  Respawns = 2

  Memories = 94%

  Health = 90%

  Mana = 30

  Kenosi Activated

  Nanites x 60,063

  Body Type = Unknown

  Structural Integrity = Tungsten and Alumi

  Internal AI Chip = X Class

  Skin Strength = 28

  Blood Capacity = 24

  Healing Speed = 29

  Strength = 23

  Dexterity = 18

  Constitution = 59

  Intelligence = 34

  Wisdom = 21

  Charisma = 9

  Luck = 8

  Quick Points = 0

  Skills =

  Foot Soldier - Rank 19

  Battle Mage - Rank 17

  Merc - Rank 12

  Sniper - Rank 17

  Gun Smith - Rank 13

  Nanite Engineer - Rank 20

  Mech pilot - Rank 15

  Human/Machine Interface - Rank 21

  Shadow Awareness - Rank 12

  Shuttle Operator - Rank 12

  Deception - Rank 12

  Reconstruction expertise - Rank 14

  Sword Play - Rank 14

  Vrolsh Coding Learned

  Mech Merge - Rank 10

  Muscle healing - Rank 17

  Animal Handling - Rank 2

  Viral fighting - Rank 13

  Poison resistance - Rank 15

  CAD Tech - Rank 12

  Night Sight - Rank 1

  Special Traits Awarded x 4 – 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.

  Knowledge = direct from Xirob if he freely gives it. Extra skills and training available.

  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. UPGRADED - No one can penetrate your Shade now!

  Space Sickness - Unknown effects

  Spell - Active - Minor Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 2 and x 1 Mana per second.

  Spell - Active - Medium Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 7 and x 10 Mana per second.

  Spell - Active - Intensive Healing = Requires BATTLE MAGE RANK of 14 and x 100 Mana per second.

  Spell - Active - Lig
htning Fury – Cost: 10 mana per second – Damage increased by 30%

  I had to fill them in quickly while I also tried to listen to Jai tell me where we were actually walking to.

  Once up to speed, Hiroto started to access all the other systems he’d been cut off from.

  I could do nothing but grin. So good to have you back, I said, feeling the weight of the last few days finally start to lift.

  I can see where we’re going on the map, Hiroto said. We’ll be there in a few hours. I need more time to digest this, this is huge!

  We don’t have it. Whatever Jai’s planning we have to back him.

  The base he’s going to, Xirob said, belongs to Arndale. The creatures…they do need destroying. Vrolsh are nothing but vermin. However, there may be intel in that base you need.

  Really?

  Yes. I could see some of what he was doing; the code and files flashed before me in a blur. Hiroto was so fast, and I envied him that. I realised I was being daft. Essentially, I was envying myself.

  Tell me. I said.

  There are other creatures here, but this is one of the first respawn centres from many years ago. This planet KronoS was where the first spawn facilities were set up. The Vrolsh overran it, and the humans and their denti fled.

  With my focus back some more, I noticed Jai up ahead. His gun was out, ready for anything. But he wasn’t ready for this.

  “Jai,” I asked him. “Why are you blowing it up? Why not just chase them all out, come here with numbers, and take it all back?”

  “That was the mission,” he said. “Come in, blow it. I guess maybe they didn’t want to send in the numbers needed to clear it properly. Blowing it like this would be easier.”

  I frowned. “Easier or because they’re hiding something.”

  We both heard something stomp up ahead, and he whirled around.

  Was that a—

  Mech! Hiroto said in hushed whispers even in my head.

  No. They shouldn’t be on this planet, Xirob said.

  I saw Jai duck down more, edging out to get a closer look at our destination, seeming to go and investigate.