Descend- First Steps

by David Burke

  The difficulty here was that these hoomans had all been forcibly evolved to a further state. Each also carried within their body an implant that helped guide the process as well and monitoring their progress. D’varn simply didn’t know if the same type of memory wipe would work for one of these subjects and least of all one who had already passed through more than 10 evolutionary steps. It didn’t mean that D’varn wouldn’t make an attempt but there was no guarantee.

  That left the other normally used protocol: elimination. D'varn, like all good scientists, hated to waste resources and so this protocol was only used in the worst of situations. The problem here though was more complex, as this M1789 was by far the most advanced test subject. He was the first to cross the first threshold and could be credited with being instrumental in the advancement of three new test subjects past that first threshold.

  He was everything that this experiment was meant to create. Perhaps in a very larval stage of development but D’varn simply could not bring himself to get rid of the most promising test subject.

  So once again chaos found root in the process as he chose to allow the subject to live. He would modify and repair the structure of the level one and add an extra layer of soil and plant matter. By making the covering over the previously revealed panel 13 feet thick rather than the 3 feet it was before, D’varn thought that would dissuade the subject. Even if M1789 dug down again he likely would not dig to that depth and thus might be unsure of what he had previously seen.

  Besides that, M1789 was the best bet for dealing with test subjects who were so busy destroying the other clusters. Accordingly, D’varn decided to implement the transition to the second stage of chemical enhancement. Perhaps he would even slightly augment the second-stage compound to see if M1789 could keep up with the changes. There was a risk in that it would likely cause some erratic behavior and perhaps even death amongst those subjects who had passed the first threshold but it would also enhance the more advanced subjects.

  Whatever happened, D’varn was certain that it was going to be interesting.

  Chapter 39 - Returning Heroes

  Jay woke up from the awakening. He knew there was something important that he needed to tell everyone else but his body felt like it had been through a grinder and then re-assembled. There was no pain, he just felt like he was separate pieces all stuffed together.

  Flashing in front of his eyes were two notification screens. One was in red and the other was in blue. Since red was unusual he decided to look at that one first.

  Notification to all test subjects. Stage 2 of the experiment has been reached.

  Some of you may not be ready for this but more than one of your fellow test subjects have crossed the first threshold.

  Revelation: This experiment is geared to the strongest and fastest of you. Those who cannot keep up will die.

  You likely will feel some changes now and not all of you will survive. This is the way of life.

  Accept. Strive. Improve. Descend. Discover.

  Some of that made sense while other parts of it made no sense at all. Jay figured there would be time to discuss it with the others in a bit but now wanted to see what the blue screen revealed.

  Notification Summary: Quest completion rewards have been applied.

  M1789

  Level: 12 (Double awakening * Quest Reward for 4 levels)

  Awareness: 12

  Precognition: 10 - 99%

  Sensual Projection: 6 - 1%

  Life Sense: 7 - 81%

  Iron Will: 7 - 14%

  Telepathy: 2 - 5%

  Durability: 13

  Hardened Body: 10 - 8%

  Enhanced Strength: 8 - 13%

  Kinesis: 10

  Kinetic Bolt: 5 - 96%

  Accelerate: 6 - 74%

  Kinetic Dampening: 6 - 19%

  Metabolism: 13

  Regeneration: 10 - 21%

  Enhanced Speed: 7 - 2%

  Formation: 25

  Body Modification: 4 - 0%

  Psionic Construct: 1 - 0%

  Temporal Manipulation: 25 - 0% LOCKED

  Psi Pts: 470

  Stamina: 260

  Current Credits: 6820

  He was progressing along very well and apparently going past level 10 was not a threshold as going past level 5 had been. Still getting double stat points was nice and his skills had increased by a good margin too. Other than the Formation skills which he still had not found an opportunity to try out. In that moment he decided that he would take a day off of the dungeon tomorrow and spend it practicing or at least trying to figure out those skills. Temporal Manipulation might be locked at this time but he was hoping he would be able to push through that.

  No sooner had he finished going through his upgrades than he started hearing gasps and little squeaking cries from the girls. He immediately jumped up, literally jumped from a seated position to a standing position. It was crazy cool and something he would have to look at repeating later but now he was worried about whatever they were afraid of.

  As he looked around he didn’t sense any danger or see anything with his eyes. A pulse of life sense also didn’t reveal anything big around him even though the range of the skill seemed to have improved by a good margin.

  Then as he looked at them all he realized what was wrong. They all had that glazed-over look in their eyes. They were all glossed over and clearly still looking at the notification screens. Whatever they saw there though must have been very significant for them to be making sounds like that.

  Jay realized that he was rather thirsty. He had trained right up until the moment of the awakening. Hadn’t he? There was something missing but he couldn’t say what it was at the moment. Anyway, he needed a drink of water and so grabbed his canteen.

  Downing the water felt renewing but odd. It was cool and refreshing but there was something different about it. He couldn’t say what was different about the water though. It had only been put in his canteen the night before but then again if the creators of all this could put everyone to sleep and make changes what was to say that they couldn’t make changes to the water.

  The more he gulped of the cold water, the more that he felt the feeling of having been pieced back together faded. He entered more of a state of complete relaxation like he was exactly who he was supposed to be. Although one other thing hit him.

  It was the same nagging itch in the back of his mind that he had felt when he first started drinking the water. The thought behind every thought. He stared at the girls sitting there and he couldn’t help but start undressing them with his eyes. He hadn’t felt this for the past couple of days. It was that raw desire which was beyond anything normal, even for a 22-year-old guy.

  Looking at them he felt waves of lust rock through him. Amelia’s eyes suddenly shot open. “Whoa, what brought that on?”

  Her voice partially shook him out of it. “Whaddya mean?”

  Both the other girls were staring at him with their eyes wide open too as Amelia replied, “I could feel your arousal. It was like you were broadcasting what you were thinking. Not so much in words as much as I could feel your desire and it started to echo in me.”

  Jay shook his head. “I thought we were getting past this.”

  “We all agreed that we weren’t feeling it as much. This has to have something to do with the parameters of changing to stage 2 of the experiment. Think for a second. What have you done since regaining consciousness?” Huong asked.

  Even as Jay heard her words, he couldn’t help but think about how cute she sounded when she got all scientific. He growled at himself inside his head. He needed to push that kind of thinking aside. “It all began after I drank the water again.”

  “So they must have changed it again,” Huong concluded.

  “Dammit. What I want to know is who they are. Who the fuck is doing this to us?” Amelia vented out her feelings on the subject.

  “I’m sorry, I will try harder to rein it in,” Jay said.

  “No, we are p
ast that. We decided that we are a team. We don’t blame each other for what this experiment is doing to us. Right?”

  Jay was surprised by the emotion from Meikiyo but Amelia surprisingly echoed her. “I’m sorry. She’s right. I didn’t mean to make it sound like I was blaming you. The same thing is probably gonna happen to all of us as soon as we drink the water but it would help if you could reduce how much of that emotion you are passing to us. It is hard enough to deal with my own overactive desires let alone yours too.”

  “Fair enough,” Jay said as he focused on trying to stop the projection of his emotion outward. He felt a struggle internally but after a minute or so seemed to have gotten it under control. Something about feeling like they were all a team made the effort easier.

  “Wow, I really can feel the difference. But it isn’t like we can go without drinking water,” Huong said.

  “Maybe just wait till we get out of the dungeon then?” Amelia asked.

  Jay nodded along with her and added in, “We will have to check at the terminal to see if there is still a way to buy something that will counteract the aphrodisiac effects or if the new stronger chemicals are different.” He felt bad that a part of him hadn’t wanted to bring the possibility up but pushed that aside.

  “Good point, Jay. I had almost forgotten about it because it was so expensive but if the team pools our resources we should be able to buy as much as we need since it was only 20 credits for one gallon’s worth of water,” Huong said.

  “Then let’s get out of here. I am anxious to see what the rest of them have been up to while we were stuck in here.” Amelia’s grin spoke to an ulterior motive.

  “I didn’t think you cared about what the others did?” Meikiyo asked.

  “I don’t, but I just wanna see how pathetic they are. I bet none of them kept up with our progress.”

  A few hours later they reached the exit to the dungeon. During the trek across the jungle they had discussed the upgrades. Due to the reward for completing the quest, each of the girls had crossed the first threshold. Then because of the doubling of stat points instead of getting 2 points in each stat they got 4. This of course greatly increased their potential power. Adding to that the increases in their skills and he felt that they would be much safer.

  As they came out into the ziggurat each of the girls drank down some water. They had waited till leaving the dungeon before drinking which made the last hour of the walk fairly quiet. Now though as they drank the water, Jay could see that they were all experiencing the same effects that he had. Instantly, their demeanor changed and the looks they gave Jay made him feel like he was a little lamb surrounded by wolves.

  Amelia moved up against him and leaned into him, pushing him against the wall. Huong slid up and started nibbling on his neck. Even Meikiyo ran her hand up under his shirt. Jay was completely ready for this and didn’t care if it was out in public, but even he was a bit overwhelmed by their intensity.

  His mind was filled with all the little observations: the cleavage revealed by the plunging neckline of Amelia’s shirt, the swish of Meikiyo’s jet-black hair and the hungry gleam in Huong’s eyes. He leaned in as a set of luscious lips were pressed against his and felt a shudder pass through her.

  Then suddenly a scream cut through the air and instantly the lust evaporated. In the back of his mind, Jay couldn’t help but marvel at how whatever was in the water had one effect when they felt relaxed and safe and a completely different effect when they felt danger.

  “What was that?” Huong asked.

  “I don’t know but I’m gonna check it out. Back me up okay?” Jay said as he ran towards the door.

  Amelia jumped in front of him. “Wait, let me check it out stealthed first. We don’t know what new problems might be waiting for us. The message did say this was now stage 2, right?”

  “Okay, good point, but shoot up a shadow bolt into the air if you need me and I’ll come running.”

  “My hero to the rescue,” Amelia replied before she disappeared shrouded in her power.

  Jay and the other two crept up to the door and looked out. He couldn’t see much, but a few seconds later he heard another high-pitched squeal. He couldn’t help but be worried. Again he moved to leave and this time it was Huong who said, “Wait. I want to go help them too, but give her a minute to let us know what’s going on.”

  “What if they don’t have a minute?”

  “I understand, trust me, but we have to be smart about this.”

  “They are probably both right, but I also know what it is to be lost and helpless with monsters hunting me and to then see you appear out of nowhere and save me. I will trust your judgment and will follow you. Just say the word,” Meikiyo said.

  “Don’t encourage him,” Huong snapped.

  “No, I have to do what I think is right. If I can’t trust my gut then I’m not doing everything possible. The voice is always telling me to take charge and find a new path,” Jay said as he started to move out again. This time with a smile for Meikiyo.

  “You need to give Amelia a chance.”

  “I will, Huong. I will move down slowly and give her a chance. You two can come or wait for her. It is your decision, but this is something that I need to do.”

  Jay made it down to the foot of the ziggurat and as he did a pair of women that he recognized even though he hadn’t had much interaction with them came running towards him. When they saw him, one of them cried out, “Help us. He’s gonna kill us.”

  Before the question could leave his mouth, Jay learned who he was. A man that he didn’t recognize came running from behind some trees at them. He definitely wasn’t one of the 100 who had started out here.

  Jay took in his appearance quickly. He was in sandals and a pair of jean shorts but with a shirt bought out of the shop here on top. In his hand he was brandishing one of the hand axes that were available and shouting out in a taunting voice, “Don’t run. I just wanna get a little kiss. You don’t wanna make me tired from chasing you.”

  As the man saw Jay he came to a stop. “Oh you must be the other guy they said was lost in the dungeon.”

  “And who are you?” Jay asked while flexing his fingers on the shaft of his spear. He wanted to be ready for anything. Behind him he heard the other two girls coming down the stairs and the two that were running from this stranger reached him and began to cower behind him.

  “I’m the one who’s here to take your women. Kenley and Tyson said we should offer any guys we found a spot in the army they are building but I don’t like to share. You got some right pretty ones here and most of the other girls tend to end up with the bosses, so I gotta get me some where I can.”

  “You aren’t going to lay a hand on any of these women.”

  “Oh and I suppose you are going to stop me.”

  Jay started to ask where the man was from when suddenly a dagger wreathed in the blackest shadows punched through his throat from behind and he dropped to his knees gurgling.

  “No, I’m gonna stop you, asshole,” Amelia shouted in the man’s ears even if it was doubtful that he heard her words as he desperately clutched at his throat in a futile attempt to stop the blood gushing forth.

  “What’s going on, Amelia?” Jay asked. He felt strangely numb about the fact that she had just killed a man in front of him. It seemed different than the monsters they had slain and even different from the people he had helped put out of their misery. Jay realized he would need to sort this out later but the very presence of another person here was shocking enough.

  “There are eight guys, besides this one,” Gina one of the girls the dead man had been chasing answered for her as she kicked the body. “And maybe two dozen women. They are all attacking or were attacking the others. If it hadn’t been for Liam we would have never gotten away, but now Liam and all the girls who were with him are dead. So are at least half the other girls. Most of the rest are either unconscious, wounded, or wishing they were dead.”

  “Where are they fro
m?” Huong asked.

  Gina trembled as she answered, “I don’t know, but if Jay wants to protect everyone, now is the time. Most of the new women that came with them are just sitting on the ground and covering their ears or rocking back and forth like they are trying to pretend it isn’t happening, but some of them are helping hold down our people while the new guys are having their way.”

  “That is sick. Okay, let me go in first and you all cover me from behind? Unless you just want to go back and hide in the ziggurat. It’s up to you,” Jay said, the tension in his voice evident.

  “I’m with you,” both Huong and Meikiyo said and Amelia added, “Did you really even have to ask.”

  “I knew I could count on you. Amelia, are you able to help get me closer without them seeing me? Eight plus however many of their women fight with them to our four is not very good odds.”

  “If you stay close enough to me I can cover you in my shroud too and then when it is time you can leap out. One other thing. I think that Jasmine, Daphne, and a couple other girls are still fighting them but they were losing.”

  “As much as I want to help them, we need to get to the closer of the invaders first. I am going to attack to kill. If you aren’t okay with that then stay here and help guard these other two.”

  All of Team Jay nodded their understanding and so Jay said to the other girls who had come running for help, “Go hide at the top of the ziggurat. We will let you know when it is safe to come out.”

  With that they all moved out. It was odd to Jay to know that they were hidden from view but inside the shroud he couldn’t tell any difference other than a slight haze-like heat pouring up off the blacktop during summer. The first group that they reached was a pair of guys and four women with three of the girls that he did recognize.

  One of the girls that he was thinking of as their people was being held down and had half her clothes ripped off. The other two were lying trussed up on the ground by some weird crystalline bands. Jay was incensed by what he saw and charged forward. The shroud hid them so well that he appeared only a couple of feet away from the man trying to have his way with the poor girl beneath him.