Lex started to explain about the refugees and the quest for a new world to settle on. He continued on about what happened to their worlds and about the cyberorces , about what had happened to his and tatty. That they would probably have to go back through the door to explore the other world to see if its suitable for the refugees to settle. Alloy hadn’t had much chance to do tests.
She had managed to test atmosphere and if the planet was big enough with enough resources to support life but that was all before she was knocked of course and crashed into them.
“I have the same boxes as tatty and also I has joined with the drone and can talk to her. I’m going to sit in my room for a bit and go through the boxes and talk to alloy. Hopefully I will be able to tell you more later. We can sit down with mom later I’m sure I’ll have to tell her everything .”
He left the table and washed the dishes. While he was washing he told tatty that she should sit down and look through what was written for her and they can talk later. When he was finished he dried his hands and went to his room. He kicked of his slipper and lay on his bed with his eyes closed.
“now show me how to open these boxes”
“first just think the word system. I’ve been thinking you may have to explain this to tatty as she does not have my interface in her head. I’ll show you and you can teach her later, ok.” she waited a moment and continued.” you may notice you have 3 orange boxes, these should be opened first. Only to be beaten by red boxes, red means urgent or emergency so never ignore them. Orange means read as soon as it’s safe to do so, green is a general system message, blue is communication in private, this is between me you and tatty. Then there will be black boxes, these will be quests or emergency calls for assistance. The next thing is stats. We will go through these next so lets do the boxes now.”
Lex retained the information easily, in part thanks to the matrix that alloy had built to improve Lex’s brain power.
“ok to call up the boxes just think notifications, and they will appear in colour order. You can set blue to instant pop up so it’s like texting.”
“how do you know about texting?”
“do you think your kind invented these thing by themselves, please .
Anyway pick a box and concentrate on it and it will open right up.”
Box 1
Congratulations, total assimilation of Alloy drone body.
Box 2
You have absorbed and integrated Alloy drone body, AI and circuitry into your body. You may now create basic bladed and bludgeoning weapons, also encase vulnerable organs in an armoured casing .
Box 3
Sacrifice acknowledged . Heart restart in progress……Heart restart successful.
Lex checked the green boxes next
New skill learned : shield. You have used your body to shield others you may now use your augmented body to create an improved shield.
New skill learned: enhanced strength.
New ability: strengthened bones. You can encase bones in vulnerable parts of your body.
New ability: quickened intellect . you have enhanced memory, processing speed and calculation speed.
New skill: hack. You can use your AI to hack computers and electronics using fine alloy wires from your fingertip
New skill: lock-pick use wires from your finger to pick any lock.
A black box appeared in the corner of Lex’s view. “ oh I have a black box”
“Open it now. that’s a system box. That’s rare this early you haven’t even filled in your stats yet.”
Lex opened the black box.
Welcome to the universal system. By assimilating a system run drone you have become part of the system proper. You will have greater access to system tools and the use of the AI.
You have been awarded 50 stat points to assign to any stat you wish.
20 point for joining the system
30 points sacrifice for your companions
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“holy crap, I’m part of the system….. what’s the system again?”
“really! Do I have to go through all this again?” she almost sounded as if she was giving a flat look. “ just bring up your character sheet.
“ok. Sheesh lady is this what I have to look forward to?” He called up his sheet.
Name: Lex Greenstone.
Race human/drone hybrid
Level 1
Age 22.
Sex male.
Strength 15
Constitution 20
Dexterity 15
Intelligence 30
Speed 15
Sense 20
Health 120
Skills enhanced strength , hack. Lock pick. Shield . simple bladed and bludgeoning weapon creation. Hardend body.
Universal system.
Integrated AI with wired matrix.
Silver-titanium alloy mailable chassis.
“what’s all this? It says I’m a human drone hybrid. Is that because I absorbed your body? “ said Lex . “ok , I’ve got 50 point to add to this, what do you think would be a good build. I’m not a min maxer.”
“it would seem so. Although I have never heard of it before, but if that’s what the system calls you , then that is what you are. I would suggest while you have a good amount of points go as equal as possible”.
Strength 30.
Constitution 30.
Dexterity 20.
Inteligants 35.
Speed 25.
Sense 25.
Health 180.
“does that look good to you. ”Lex asked. Hoping but not really knowing if he did ok.
“ I think it’s a good set up. At least for a starter. As you level up and choose how you want to specialize then you can choose where to place any more points. Now just think save and they will set.”
“ok “ said Lex “ I need to show tatty how set this stuff up. At least she wont have as many thing to go through. Will she be able to see her sheet like me?”
“ she will. It will be a more basic set up but it have what she needs. She wont have an AI or matrix because that is my , lets say brain and nervous system but she will have a basic system interface.”
Lex paused for a moment.” Is there any way we can do something for El ? me and tatty got this alloy on us but El was covered and got none on her. So is there any way to get her the system?”
“i don’t know. When we return to my crash site I can see what’s there.”
Lex showered and dressed himself. Feeling refreshed , he headed to his sisters room and knocked the door.
“yeh,” a muffled voice replied from inside the room. The door opened and Ella face appeared .
“is Tatty up yet.” Lex said looking in the room.
She opened the door to show Tatty curled up at the bottom of her over sized bed. “ I don’t know why but she sleeps there. Maybe it’s a fox thing.”
“ok,” he said in an unsure tone.” as long as she’s happy. Did she not want her own room?”
“ well. We sorted one but she wanted to talk about being a person, so we spent ages chatting and just fell asleep on my bed.”
“ I’ve come to go through her system stuff with her. I’ve done mine and now I know how to help her set hers up. “ he looked over to where she was sleeping, he smiled.” can you wake her for me,”
She walked over and gently shook the sleeping girl.” hey sleepy, its time to wake up.”
Tatty looked up and blinked sleepily. ”oh, ok” she said in an almost singsongy voice .she sat up and smiled when she saw Lex standing by the bed.
“I’ll let you get ready. Come to my room when you’re done. El you can come too if you want.” he left the girls room and went down stair to the kitchen. He made a pot of tea and picked some sweet snacks and put them on a tray and carries them back to his room. He placed them on his desk and waited for the girls to arrive.
A soft knock on the door and the girls walked in
“ Sorry we took so long, I’ve been getting some clothes together for Tatty as she doesn’t have anything of her own. She’s quite petite but my stuff from a couple of years ago fit her fine.”
“ so you’re dressing her like a 15 year old.” Lex smirked “ that’s not gonna get awkward at all.” he poured out the drinks and offered out snacks. “ ok then are you ready to get started?”
Tatty sat on the bed and Lex move his chair so he was sitting opposite her. “ have you tried to open your boxes at all?”
Tatty shook her head, her white hair tousling as she did.
“ok then “ Lex said moving into a better position. “ close your eye and tell me how many boxes you have and what colour they are.”
Closing her eyes, she brought up the boxes and they settled in line in order of colour.
“ I have a black box 2 orange boxes and 2 green boxes” she looked at Lex waiting for instruction.
Alloy spoke up in Lexes head,” you’re going to have to hold her hands for this first time so I can inject a nano into her system . it will act as a very basic AI. It won’t talk to her like I do with you but she will be able to use her system on her own from here on out.”
Lex reached out his hands to Tatty. “ I’m going to have to hold your hands for a moment” he said taking her hands “ I’m sorry but you will feel a little bit of pain for just a moment. It will put something in you that will make it so you can use the system yourself without me.”
A fine wire came from Lex’s palm and stuck into Tatty’s wrist. The nano slipped into her body and move to her head. In a moment a connection with the interface was made. Another orange box appeared in both Lex and Tatty’s view.
“ oh, I’ve got another box.”
“ now , all you have to do is open the boxes in order of appearance. Oh I will have to tell you. If you ever have a red box come up open it immediately, that’s the most important . it could mean life or death.”
Tatty closed her eyes again and concentrated on the first box.
Black box. Welcome to the system. You have evolved into a new life form . you can now advance through levelling and gathering new skills.
Orange box 1. installation and integration of nano successful.
Orange box 2. you have successfully bonded with a part of alloy drone body 8% you can now create simple stabbing weapons and unbreakable claws. Your arm bones are strengthened.
Orange box 3. you have mutated into a new life form. You are now a humanoid fox kin race name Vix.
“ ok” said Tatty rereading box 3.” I’ve changed race I’m a new race called Vix”
“wow that’s great. ”Lex said.” I had a similar thing. I’m some kind of hybrid now. Is that all your boxes?”
“no I got a couple of greens left.”
Green box 1. new skill acquired. Killer claws. A multy slashing attack.
Green box 2 new skill acquired . blink. Sudden speed boost. Duration 4 seconds . 5 minuet cooldown .
“ok, that’s it done. I’ve got 2 new skill. I’ve got a claw attack and a speed boost. Now what?”
“ oh my god, that’s great. Ok next I want you to think character sheet. You will have a sheet of stats come up. If you have any spare points you can add them to what you think is best for what you need.”
Closing her eyes again she brought up her sheet.
Name Tatty.
Race Vix (unique race) bonus to speed, dex and sense
Level 1
Age 19 (equivalent)
Sex female
Strength 15
Constitution 15
Dexterity 25 (enhanced)
Intelligence 12
Speed 30 (enhanced)
Sense 35 ( enhanced)
Health 100
Available points 20.
“i’ve got 20 points to use. Do I just choose what I want?”
“ yeh. When you place them and you’re happy think save and they will stay as you want them.”
Tatty nods and closes her eyes again.
Strength 20
Constitution 20
Dexterity 25 (enhanced)
Intelligence 12
Speed 40 (enhanced)
Sense 35 (enhanced)
Health 120
She mentally saved and opened up her eyes. “ I’m all done.”