Dan
Dan walked into the armory with a confident stride. After receiving the funds transfer of one hundred thousand credits as his reward for the completed heist a month ago, he was excited to see what new gear he could buy. He brought in his old ZK-77 rifle in the hopes of getting the discount to exchange it for the newly released model, the ZK-77T.
In addition to his credit reward, Michael had convinced the higher ups within the Alpha Corp to grant Dan and his two other companions Angie and Li permission to purchase gear that was only accessible to tier twos. He briefly pulled up his own stats and reviewed his stat categories.
Agent: Dan “Arctic” Orion
Age: 18 M
Shard: Alpha Corporation
Rank: Tier 1 | Level 19
Strength: 28
Agility: 22
Endurance: 21
Intelligence: 28
Supernatural: 13
Healing Factor: n/a
Reflex: Average ++
You have 5 stat points to spend.
You have 115750 credits.
Walking through the short hallway and now standing in the middle of the armory with guns and equipment all around him, Dan felt a strange sense of excitement. Not once in his life was he ever flush with money and could obtain something without having to steal it.
A female attendant walked up next to him as he admired the various weapons hung on the wall and leaning in rows.
“See anything you like?” she asked.
“I want my seventy-seven exchanged with the latest model. Heard it uses tungsten instead of depleted uranium, whatever that’s worth,” Dan said. His HUD popped up information about the updated ZK-77 model.
ZK-77T assault rifle
Manufacturer: Emissary Armories
30 round magazine
7.62 x 57mm tungsten hollow-point rounds
Description: The newest version of the ZK-77, replacing the previous model. The main difference is the lighter weight by a full kilogram and its use of tungsten ammunition, ditching the older depleted uranium rounds. The tungsten hollow-point rounds are nearly just as effective without the hazardous radioactive concerns while also being cheaper.
Cost: 15000 credits | 100 credits per magazine
Trade-in bonus: Exchanging an old ZK-77 will give a discount of 5000 credits.
“Ah yes. To keep it concise, tungsten has similar damage output in terms of armor-piercing but the ammo is cheaper and the bullets don’t leave radioactive waste in the environment. A simple matter of economics.”
Dan didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take it and exchange my old rifle then.”
“Good choice,” she said. “And how many additional magazines would you like?”
“Maybe four.”
“Alright then. Anything else?”
Before coming to the armory, Dan had a brief discussion with Allen Draco regarding if this upgrade was worth the credits. Allen claimed that the seventy-seven was nicknamed the “basic bitch rifle” by many of the experienced Alpha agents. But ammo was abundant and relatively inexpensive. Most agents called it basic because it wasn’t anything special, a mere rebrand of the long-standing Kalashnikov rifle updated with armor-piercing rounds.
At the corner of Dan’s eye, he caught a set of armor contained inside a giant jewel case. He walked over to the casing and his HUD immediately began feeding him info.
Shipment of stealth armor now available for purchase!
Dan thought about the silver variant of the Alpha agent armor his teammate Li Phantom wore during the heist. Li touted the armor’s lighter weight along with the completely silent footsteps thanks to its specialized boots.
The armor that Dan saw in front of him didn’t have the same silver color of Li’s. It simply looked like a deep inky black version of the same outfit for both the armor and the long coat. Dan squinted and noticed faint patterns along the shoulder and chest of the long coat resembling various geometric shapes linking together. The armor underneath the coat was sleeker and more understated compared to Dan’s current armor. Simpler and with less contoured angles, making it almost resemble a divesuit for deep swimming than actual combat armor.
The helmet that came with the set rested at the boots of the armor. Dan didn’t see anything about the piece that stood out. It was a blocky and angular black helmet with a wide white non-reflective visor.
Alpha Mk. II Stealth suit
Manufacturer: Source Technologies
Description: An improvement to the first stealth suit developed by the Spec Ops Hellhounds, a subsidiary of the Alpha Corp. The armor is 12% lighter with an increase in armor durability by 20%. Features limited protection against radiation.
Cost: 16000 credits
Bonus: throwing knives and PX300 silenced pistol included with purchase
“Oh yeah,” Dan said, grinning ear to ear. “I’m buying this too.”
Dan didn’t have many applications in mind for his throwing knives, but he knew he would find some purpose for them. The addition of another handgun to add to his arsenal, plus the fact it came with purchasing the armor made the set an attractive upgrade from his current armor.
“Very good choice, Mr. Orion,” the attendant said. “I’m not sure if your HUD told you but the purchase of this armor set comes with a second long coat.”
“It didn’t, but I’m listening.”
“The second coat is the exact same in terms of number of protection rating, pouches and pockets. But there has been a growing number of agents who demand that our armor manufacturers produce more options to satisfy demands for varied aesthetics. It’s superficial in my opinion, but that is what the market demands. Let me send you the images of the second coat.”
Dan’s HUD began loading the images of the second long coat for the stealth armor. What he saw immediately sold him on the purchase.
The second long coat had an intense dragon pattern on the shoulders and upper chest compared to the original which featured basic shapes. The bright red color used to draw the dragon was an immediate attraction.
“Well, I think I’m sold,” Dan said.
“I see, anything else? I have three other agents in que waiting.”
“Six more grenades, three impact and three smoke grenades.”
“Understood, please wait outside for a moment while I get your items ready. And leave your old ZK-77 rifle behind,” the attendant said.
Dan left his old seventy-seven leaning against a crate in the armory and walked out. He paced around a bit in the room outside of the attendant’s desk before leaning against the wall. After a few minutes of waiting, Dan saw the attendant emerge out of the doors pushing a trolly with his items. His eyes widened at seeing his newly updated ZK-77T along with the ammo and the extra grenades he ordered. Dan also spotted the throwing knives and the PX300 silenced pistol.
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“Nice,” Dan muttered to himself.
“The Mk. II Stealth armor will arrive at your apartment later this evening. The system has already accounted for your measurements so there shouldn’t be any problems regarding the fit. Any more questions or concerns, refer to the technical handbook that will be forwarded directly to your HUD.”
“Just in time,” Dan said. “I have a training session scheduled with Jane tomorrow.”
“Good luck,” the attendant said. “You will need it.”
His HUD fed him info about his purchases and the total cost of everything.
ZK-77T + 4 magazines = 10400
Mk. II Stealth suit = 16000
3 impact grenades = 900
3 smoke grenades = 600
Credits: 115750 - 27900 = 89350
Dan took his new seventy-seven rifle and placed the gun along his back, the magnetic layer underneath his coat holding the rifle in place. He took the grenades and magazines and shoved them into the various inner pockets of his inner coat.
As he was gathering his gear, the attendant returned to grab the trolley and she looked at him.
“Would you be interested in the alpha cell injection?”
“Huh? What’s that?” Dan asked.
“Since Michael has allowed you and your teammates extended access to upgrades reserved for tier twos and above, that includes the alpha cell injection. I just thought I should inform you. It’s the procedure that granted Jane Sunheiser her healing factor.”
“Holy shit,” Dan said. “So I get to heal super quick like those old ass comic book characters?”
“Well, there are limits that you should ask the medical department about. Any more information that should be taken up with them. Since you seem to have sufficient credits and extended tier two access, I would think about it.”
Dan’s HUD immediately popped a spinning blue icon in the middle of his vision and a pop up message appeared in front him regarding a brief overview of the alpha cell injection.
Alpha cell injection upgrade
Description: A serum injection that grants an agent a healing factor. The serum contains specialized cells that integrate into an agent's circulatory system and help to significantly boost healing capabilities. Divided into levels of effectiveness:
Low (5000 credits)
Moderate (15000)
High (30000)
At some point, Dan would have to ask Jane if he could benefit from this upgrade. Maybe it could reduce the strain his berserk ability put on his body by healing his body from the ability’s harsh effects.
Dan smiled to himself. “Looks like I got some new hardware. I’m going to kick ass at tomorrow’s training.”
***
The attendant at the armory gave him directions to the nearest Alpha clinic for Dan to explore his options in purchasing upgrades for his body. Specifically, he was interested in the Alpha cell injection upgrade that would grant him a healing factor similar to Jane’s.
Dan also recalled a conversation with Allen that to upgrade his reflex stat to the next level also had to be done through a procedure.
The extreme fatigue and damage done to his body after using the berserk mode was a concern that he needed a solution for. If he was going to take on agents beyond his league, he needed every advantage he could take. The doors in front of Dan slid open to the waiting room of the clinic and when he looked around, he was perplexed.
The waiting room didn’t resemble what he envisioned at a typical doctor’s office. He saw a row of computer terminals lined up against a wall and technician at one of them.
Dan walked up to the man who stood several centimeters shorter than him. “Hey, is this the clinic?”
“Sure is, agent,” the man said casually. He continued typing on the keyboard and Dan could only make out lines of text scrolling down the display.
“This doesn’t look like any waiting area I’ve ever seen,” Dan muttered.
“Nothing too fancy about these clinic for agents like you,” the technician shrugged. “You just go to a computer, select the upgrade you want, twiddle your thumbs for a bit until you get called in to get your upgrade.”
“It’s that simple?”
“Yes sir,” the technician said. “Use any of them except mine. I’m still diagnosing this piece of shit.”
Dan chose one of the terminals and the display in front of him lit up with a message.
Welcome to the Alpha clinic. All Alpha agents can select upgrade to purchase to further improve their performance on the field and become the deadliest weapon to our enemies. Please enter your fingerprint in the scanner.
Dan looked down and saw a small circular pad with a flashing ring light next to the keyboard. He removed his glove and pressed his thumb against the smooth surface of the pad. A spinning icon popped up on the display and after a few seconds, the display transitioned to a menu.
Dan scrolled through the extensive list of upgrades and saw many he never knew existed before.
Aqualungs (5000)
Cyber heart (8000)
X-ray eyes (3000)
Alpha cell injection (3 levels)
Cyber leg prosthesis (8500)
Reflex upgrade (7000)
Dan spotted the Alpha cell injection and selected it from the menu. The display stransitioned to the three variants of the upgrade and Dan contemplated which he should choose.
Low (5000)
Moderate (15000)
High (30000)
Since Jane was the only one he knew that has a healing factor, Dan decided that his squad leader could guide him in the right direction. He opened a private channel with her and waited.
“Dan, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you this late in the evening,” Jane said.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything. I need some advice on what upgrade to pick,” Dan said. “I’m thinking of getting the Alpha cell injection to get that healing factor. It would work wonders for my health, especially while using the berserk ability.”
“Understandable. I would suggest the moderate level upgrade. It’s well worth the cost and I’m sure you have the funds after the successful heist with Michael.”
“You have that same one I believe. What’s it like?” Dan asked.
“Bleeding and bone fractures are mended and healed within ten to fifteen seconds. I think this level would highly benefit you and your use of your new powers. Moderate and above also slows the build up of lactic acids in your muscles. In other words, you won’t be fatigued as quickly. Just make sure you don’t get a leg blown off. Limb regeneration without medical intervention is still many years off.”
“Good to know Jane. What about the high level? Any benefits to getting that? I got the funds.”
“High is amazing. It goes a step further and provides high speed regeneration for severely damaged organs. Two years ago, Michael Cynosa once completely recovered from a sniper bullet that blew apart his right lung. But if you’re not constantly out and about like Michael taking on dangerous missions back to back in enemy territory, it’s a waste of credits. And there’s a heavy price for such an ability beyond the credits.”
Dan stared blankly at the display. “Which is?”
“Michael had to power through a high fever that almost killed him after his body healed his right lung. Turns out, cell regeneration at such a rapid pace ramps up your body’s temperature.” Jane followed up with a snicker. “After he survived and told me the story, we had a laugh about it. A high caliber sniper round didn’t kill him but a fever almost did.”
“Okay then, I guess I won’t go with that one,” Dan said. “And thanks. I think that’s it. How long does this upgrade process take? Hopefully I won’t be under the knife so long that I’ll miss training tomorrow.”
“That won’t be an issue. Depending on how many upgrade you’re purchasing at once, you’ll be asleep for a few hours. I’ll see you in training tomorrow.”
Jane abruptly cut the link and left done to his own devices. Dan immediately knew which upgrades to select.
Confirm purchase of Alpha cell injection (moderate) for 15000 credits?
Y/N?
Dan selected yes and then swiped back to the main menu and scrolled down to see the reflex upgrade.
Your current reflex stat is Average ++. This upgrade will increase your reflex rating from Average ++ to Superior. Confirm purchase for 7000 credits?
Y/N?
Dan confirmed the selection and smiled to himself. He would have the opportunity tomorrow to put these new upgrades to the test.
Alpha cell injection moderate = 15000
Superior Reflex = 7000
Credits: 89350 - 15000 - 7000 = 67350
Proceed into the cradle.
Dan raised an eyebrow at the last message. What do they mean by cradle?
His HUD generated yellow chevrons on the floor and he followed the glowing patterns past the technician and walked through another set of sliding doors. Dan was led through a sterile hallway of drab grey walls before stopping at a room.
The door slid aside and Dan saw a strange bizarre combination of equipment sitting in the middle of the room waiting for him. The “cradle” the menu mentioned appeared as a cross between a recliner and crucifix as the arms of the chair were outstretched. Beside the chair, Dan saw machinery that had outstretched mechanical arms with either needles or other various tools such as scalpels.
“Welcome. Please remove your armor before sitting in the cradle. Your upgrade procedure will begin shortly,” a voice said. The soft-spoken male voice flowed through the room from speakers Dan couldn’t see.
Luckily, Dan didn’t show up to the clinic in his armor, only dressing in casual but understated wear. He stripped down to his boxer before climbing into the cradle and simple resting his body into the contoured shape of the strange chair.
“You have selected the Alpha cell injection and reflex upgrades. The procedure should take approximately two hours. Thank you for your cooperation.”
After the friendly voice concluded its speech, Dan’s wrists and ankles were restrained by sudden metal cuffs that sprang from the cradle. He felt immediate piercing sensations throughout his back from the cradle. It took another few seconds for Dan to become drowsy before he fell asleep.
***
Dan slowly opened his eyes and his eyelids gave way to the whirring mechanical arms pulling back and folding themselves to the side. As he laid flat on his back, the cradle slowly raised itself and the upper half of the chair bent forward back to its original position when Dan entered the room.
“Your procedure has been completed. Enjoy your new upgrades, agent,” the voice said.
The metal cuffs around Dan’s wrists and ankles pulled back and recessed into the cradle and he was finally free to move. He leaned forward and stepped onto the cold metal floor. He performed a few stretches before walking over to his pile of clothes. As Dan put his clothes back on, he pulled up his stats to see his new upgrades.
Agent: Dan “Arctic” Orion
Age: 18 M
Shard: Alpha Corporation
Rank: Tier 1 | Level 19
Strength: 28
Agility: 22
Endurance: 21
Intelligence: 28
Supernatural: 13
Healing Factor: Moderate
Reflex: Superior
You have 5 stat points to spend.
You have 67350 credits.
Dan grinned at his newly updated stats and clenched his fist in anticipation. “Let’s put all this to the test,” he said.