Preface
The ship raced towards the shining blue and green planet, gently manoeuvred itself through the atmosphere and landed on the surface. Minutes later a ramp descended. Slightly green-tinged light escaped through the opening which was then partially blocked multiple times as the occupants exited.
Standing seven to eight feet tall, with elongated craniums, vibrant purple eyes, and tanned skin, though with a slight green sheen, stood twelve beings. Six males and six females, traitors to their race.
"Preliminary scans show advanced biological life. One species shows promise, primitive use of tools and bipedal movement. Brain scan shows the beginnings of a pre-frontal cortex. An estimated 50,000 live on the western half of this continent. About 20,000 easily accessible in our 40-day time frame." One of the females stated.
"Alright prep the scout, get in close before releasing the nanobots until they can replicate these are the last."
"Nanobots updated, local inhabitants will be drawn to this location, as per safety protocol alpha section 2b neural pathways will create a sense of awe and a desire to please."
"Well done, leave when ready"
The female who first spoke, walked to the side of the shuttle. A large metallic disc three and a half meters in diameter detached, as it fell sideways it stabilised a meter off the ground. The female ascended a small ramp, which then retracted. After seating herself a semitransparent forcefield encased the top. With barely a sound it climbed into the sky and seconds later it was gone.
The leader spoke, "We have 40 of this planets days until the mothership is out of range and the processing power needed to run the nanobots will leave them inert. We need to seed this planet, the only viable option is to create a virus that can replicate the inert nano-bots. So when the mothership orbits back around maybe this planet can stand against the Osorian Collective."
CHAPTER ONE
The loud buzzing of my alarm sounds, waking me up from a dream that fades away as soon as I think of it, leaving only a slightly pleasant feeling in its wake. I slowly get out of bed as the fog covering my mind lifts.
I make my way to the kitchen, drink a cup of water and head to the toilet. As I get ready to head to work, I look around my place and shake my head at the ever-growing disaster area of my house.
Cups and plates litter the surfaces and empty takeaway containers are pushed into a pile at the edge of the table.
I have to get my act together, with an effort of will, that wouldn't even be felt if I was someone with even the slightest hint of motivation, I gather the trash piled around the house and take it with me as I leave for work.
I put the trash in the bin and hop in my HiLux and pull out of the driveway. Thank goodness today is a Saturday, I work in a supermarket and am lucky enough to have the next two days off. It doesn't sound like much if you work a Monday through Friday job, but supermarket hours are terrible.
I have to be there at 6 every morning to get the store ready, stock shelves and organise specials. Pay is alright, but dealing with customers day in day out. If you've worked in retail you'll understand.
I pull up with minutes to spare, clock on and go about my day. It's a fairly average day, a couple of breakages and one guy that wanted a discount on some biscuits because we didn't have the brand he normally buys. Some people, oh well you get used to it. At least that was only an incredibly mild case of customer self-righteousness.
Anyway, I finish my shift at 3 and go home. I call a couple of mates but they are either busy or working. Well looks like a night of either cruising solo to a bar or watching a movie at home. Doesn't get more depressing than that. Honestly, I can't stand the thought of going to a bar alone. Plus ever since my ex I've been kind of bitter towards women. I mean I'm not blameless in the relationship going south and I'll take responsibility for that, but whatever the circumstances, it doesn't justify cheating. I mean if you don't love me anymore that's fine, leave. But what gives you the right to be so selfish and heartless to make me think everything is fine, all the while preparing to leave.
Hmm, I have to stop thinking about this, as my mum always told me, everything happens for a reason. And I honestly believe that no matter how bad something is you can learn something positive from it. But sometimes it is so incredibly hard.
So it looks like home it is. I'd call my sis but she has some romantic getaway with her boyfriend planned. I get on my computer and halfheartedly search for a movie to watch. Then I get up to make some dinner. I'm no cooking master, but I've never gotten sick from my food. Ok, maybe one time, but I could have sworn the meat wasn't that far gone.
As I sit down to eat my dinner slash late lunch, I play some random cartoons, I gave up on trying to find a movie. Nothing good seems to come out anymore. I just made a basic pasta, I used to make more imaginative food but recently I just can"t be bothered making anything too complex.
After lazing around for a few hours I end up psyching myself up to go for a run before bed. I put on my runners and run a couple of blocks and do a loop through the local park. Being dark, the heat of the day had dissipated so the run wasn't so bad.
When I get back I have a quick shower and head to bed. Several hours later I'm jerked out of sleep by my phone going off. I spend several seconds laying stunned unsure what is happening until my brain starts working and I roll over to pick up my phone. I see it's my sister and answer.
"Lily was'up?", I mutter into the phone.
I listen for a couple of minutes trying to understand what my sister is saying. The only things I got for sure was, "Bastard", "Cheating" and "Please take me home".
After she is a little calmer I ask, "Ok, ok, where are you now?"
"In a hotel."
"In Adelaide right?"
"Yeah"
"See, I listen when you talk, sometimes."
"So can you come get me?"
"Of course, give me a couple more hours of sleep and I'll be up there in time for lunch. Does Philip know where you are?"
"No."
"Okay, send me the address and I'll see you for lunch, alright?"
"Okay."
"Love you little sis', night"
I hang up the phone and start to drift back to sleep, the last thing I hear is my phone receiving a message.
I wake up, roll over to see the time '4:50'. The benefits of regularly waking up at unsightly hours. See Lily's message and recall last night's little drama. Well, no time like the present, I force myself out of bed, legs feeling a little stiff and sore from last night's run. I really should get into the habit of stretching.
Have a quick shower, shave and third 'S'. Then I hop into my car and drive down to the service station to refuel and buy a couple of snacks for the trip. By the time I pull out onto the highway, it's just hit 6:30 on a soon to be blazing 38-degree day in mid-January. Glad I got my air-con fixed a month ago, that's all I can say.
Well, I've got a bit over 5 hours ahead of me, so I decide to chuck on some of my favourite travelling tunes and sing along, mostly in tune even if I only say so myself. I stare out the windshield and take in the beautiful scenery, yeah it's stinking hot outside but at least it looks nice.
I'm about halfway through the trip, on a relatively straight stretch of road when everything goes black.
I slowly come to, I seem to be hanging upside down and it feels like all the blood has rushed to my head. As I'm trying to figure out where I am and what happened, I notice something is obscuring my vision and close and open my eyes several times to try and clear it. It doesn't go away and I notice it's still there when my eyes are closed. I focus on the image in the middle of my vision and to my surprise I can read it.
***Neural map decoded***
***Bio scan complete***
***War program activated***
***Training rewards initialised***
I finish reading, feeling confused and hoping I don't have brain damage when the messages disappear. Before I can become relieved more messages appear.
Damage has been detected, moderate head trauma, minor muscle damage, 2 fractured ribs, minimal right knee trauma, and multiple lacerations. Recommend immediate repair. As it appears you are not currently in battle do you wish accelerated repair?
Yes/no
Sure, I'm losing my mind. I whimsically think that to have all that disappear sounds like a good idea. As soon as I thought that it sounded good the writing was replaced.
Before accelerated repair can commence please return to an upright position and lay down.
Amused at my brain I shake my head, that was a mistake I think, as pain radiates from my neck. I sigh and press my right hand to the floor, or the former roof of my poor almost definitely totalled Toyota HiLux, I undo the belt buckle with my other hand. Gracelessly falling to the floor I slowly remove myself from the wreck. Hobbling away I look back in dismay. Only 5 months away from paying it off, sighing in frustration I walk several meters away and put my back against a tree. I see that the sun is nearly down so it must be about 5 pm or so, I notice the prompt telling me to lay down and with nothing better to do I decide to humour my malfunctioning brain. I painfully lay down and start to ponder my next move, I realise the writing has been replaced.
Accelerated repair will take approximately 3 hours. 54% of fat reserves and 87% of water reserves will be used. After procedure hydrate as soon as possible.
Continue Yes/no
What the... I have a massive imagination but this, this is ridiculous. I try to ignore it, but several minutes later it is still there. Why not I think what's the worst that can happen, besides, a pleasant fantasy of nearly instantaneous healing is more appealing than a slow tedious recovery. I give my consent and... nothing. Surprise, surprise. Wait, my whole body started to feel like it was floating and every thought just started to drift away. I try to feel alarmed but I just feel like I'm riding a wave into nothing. My vision starts to fade and then disappears completely.
I open my eyes and see nothing, I momentarily start to panic, but as I sit up I realise I can see stars in the distance and when my back finds the tree, I realise branches and leaves must be blocking out the stars. The second thing that draws my attention is that I feel no pain. Well, I feel like desert found a new home in my mouth but apart from that, I felt whole.
I slowly stand up still cloaked in thick disbelief and start patting myself all over. "I can't believe this." I try to say, but my voice comes out as a croak. I make my way over to my car remembering I have some water on the passenger side. After 5 minutes of searching my hand finds the water bottle. I back my way out of the car and slowly sip on the water. I had read somewhere once that your body can only absorb 30 millilitres of water a minute and that drinking water fast when dehydrated was not a good idea. No idea if that's true or not, but I didn't see any reason why I should tempt fate. The water wasn't going anywhere and it's never a bad idea to show some restraint.
As I slowly drinking my water, it occurs to me that I haven't checked my phone yet. I pull it out and have a look. Strange, I don't think it should be flat yet, I try to turn it back on. No response. "Hmm.", I murmur. I start pondering this and more writing materialises.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Your body has been satisfactorily stabilised.
First-time activation detected.
Training information has been made available.
Proceed yes/no
It's official, I"m insane. Well, might as well make it official and dive on in. "Sure I'd love some more information, floaty writing ghost." I announce into the night. Then seconds later I shout in my best Jim Carey voice, "It's a miracle." as more writing appears.
Available topics:
Strength
Dexterity
Agility
Intelligence
RMR (remote manipulation reserve)
Ok, well might as well start from the top, strength.
Strength: Defines the amount of weight one full contraction of major muscle groups can move. Changes based on species dominant muscle groups. 1 point of strength for humans, via dominant body areas, in descending order are:
Legs: Bodyweight + 12kgs
Core: Applicable bodyweight + 10kgs of force
Chest and shoulders: Applicable bodyweight + 8kgs
Biceps: Applicable bodyweight + 5kgs
Triceps: Bodyweight + 3kgs
Current strength to one decimal:
Legs 9.2
Core 10.2
Chest 10
Shoulders 8.1
Biceps 9
Triceps 10
Average strength 9.4
Well, that's just spooky, as far as I can tell that's pretty accurate. I did a one-rep max day at the gym a couple of months ago and if my finger math isn't too far off, neither are those numbers. My subconscious is smart, nice. Ok then, let's have a look at the rest.
Dexterity: The ability to adapt the mind and body to the task at hand. To balance the mind and body to work as one. In the easiest to understand terms dexterity is the ability to be accurate. You hit what you aim for, dodge what you want to dodge.
Dexterity is based on non-moving objects.
Dexterity is based on the ability to accurately strike and dodge a static object, the same size, and shape as yourself, at your max sprint.
The closer you can get to an object with dodging and closer you can get to an object while striking the better.
Your arm length is equal to 1 point
Arm length is measured from the front of the chest to a closed fist.
Your arm length is 62cm
62 times 100 divided by the length from target or intended target in millimetres.
(62x10=620/100=6.2)
Current Dexterity to one decimal:
Dodge 7.8
Strike 12.4
Average dexterity 10.1
*Hint dexterity and agility go hand in hand.
Ok, so how close I can get to a stationary object, while running full out and dodge it or hit it where I want. Because I do a lot of that. Hmm, so I have no idea how accurate this is. But it looks like I can hit something better than I can dodge. I suppose it makes sense, never been the best at changing directions when I'm running. Lily still has a scar on the back of her head, from when I ploughed into her, when she jumped out from behind a tree, to try to scare during the last dash of a 400m at school. It wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I still felt bad about it for weeks.
Agility: This is broken into two sub-categories, Flexibility and Reaction time. Flexibility determines how far your muscles can stretch. Lending the ability to touch your toes, do the splits or fold yourself into a pretzel.
10 degrees of freedom in main rotation points averaged, is equal to 1 point.
Degrees of freedom averaged/10=Flexibility
Reaction time determines how long it takes stimuli to reach your brain and then how long it takes your body to react to it. (2 seconds is equal to 1 point)
2/ReactionTime= Reaction time in milliseconds 2/8.5=235ms
Current Agility to one decimal:
Flexibility 7.8
(Congratulations you can touch your toes.)
Reaction time 8.5
Average agility 8.2
Great, I have a witty brain ghost thing. Ok well, no surprise on my flexibility, and I can touch my toes, just. But the reaction time's a joke, not even a ten.
Dodge:
Ability to dodge an object
(dodge*AverageAgility*(strike/100)= Dodge
Strike:
Ability to stike an object
100-(dodge*AverageAgility*(strike/100))= Strike
*Based on an object travelling straight, at the speed of your sprint. Objects moving faster decreases your chances dramatically.
Ok, so I take it, no dodging bullets anytime soon then.
Intelligence: How fast you make connections. How quickly you adapt to neural changes.
Calculations based on neural plasticity, number of neurons and stength of new connections.
Current Intelligence 9.5
So decently intelligent then, at least if 10 is average, like I hope. It sure would suck if 100 was average for intelligence. And every time I made a witty remark that no-one laughed at, it wasn't because I was too smart.
RMR (remote manipulation reserve): The power reserve used to control, enhance, communicate with or destroy nano-bots.
Status: Unavailable.
Upgrade required.
A power reserve, well this isn't confusing at all.
General statistics
Strength: 9.4
Dexterity: 10.1
Agility: 8.2
Intelligence: 9.5
RMR (remote manipulation reserve): N/A
Ok then, what now, I'm hours away from anywhere. I have what appears to be status screens like I'm in some type of game. What else, oh yeah I just went through 'accelerated repair' whatever that means.
Accelerated repair is the process of using nano-bots to increase healing speed using your bodily reserves.
Ok, that. And oh yeah, apparently there are nano-bots, and floating writing. I don't know what this means but it feels real.
I sit down with my back resting against the nearby tree to ponder what to do. As far as I can tell it's the middle of the night. This part of Australia is not the most dangerous place but there is still likely some predators roaming about. So it's not the best move to go wandering off just yet. It's probably better to wait until morning and hopefully flag down a car to take me to town or call a tow-truck or something.
I feel too awake to want to go to sleep. Plus maybe there is some more information I can find out. I mean I am pretty sure I can rule out hallucinations. At least I think I am. I feel myself over and roughly push into now non-existent injuries.
Ok well all my, I suppose I can call them stats are pretty clear, apart from RMR. It says I need an upgrade, however you go about that.
Access to an RMR upgrade requires experience-based actions to occur and your first rank-up. Unlike other ranks your first rank-up only requires experience.
Ok, how am I supposed to get experience?
I wait but nothing comes up.
How am I supposed to rank up past the first rank?
Nothing...
Hmm, well I suppose if it's like a game experience could probably come from killing something. And then I suppose completing quests, maybe? And I assume that since I have the same abilities as before if I train and increase those abilities I could gain experience.
There are just too many questions and right now I don't even know the right questions to ask. And even if I did, I don't even know if my brain buddy will answer.
I sit there thinking, my brain slowly drifting off to sleep coming down off an adrenalin high, when suddenly a dingo's howling growl breaks the mostly silent night.
I feel myself waking up alert something primal in me sensing danger. My ears alert, eyes wide trying to peer into the darkness, for the telltale sign of glowing eyes.
The hairs on the back of my neck stick up, causing me to turn around eyes wide, trying to control my breathing. I slowly bend down trying to keep alert and search for a fallen branch or a rock, something with a bit of heft.
A couple of soft yips come from left as my hand finds a stick, I turn around brandishing my makeshift staff. Just in time to stare down set of canines that were coming for the back of my neck. I get knocked over and go down, I managed to get my staff between his two front paws, his hind legs between mine. I push him back away from my face, I swivel my body sideways and manage to knock out his back legs. The dingo drops sideways and I get up just as the dingo is finding his feet. I swing my weapon low and hit his legs. He goes down again and before he gets up, strike at his face and clock him in the back of the head. I hit him two more times and being unsure whether the dingo is dead and unwilling to face it's wrath if he's not, I quickly search the ground and find a sizable rock and bring it down on his head several times.
As I'm sitting down panting, totally spent from the short combat. A message once again slightly obscures my vision.
Enemies dead.
1x dingo.
700 experience received, based on difficulty.
Rank-up.
RMR upgrade, now available.
After fighting the dingo I sat there panting for a while, before my mind slowed down enough to process the words in front of me.
I have so many questions, I'm not even sure where to start. I mean, how does experience work? What determines difficulty? I suppose if you just take it literally, difficulty is how hard I find something to kill. So does that mean if I had a gun and shot the dingo I wouldn't have gotten that much experience?
And how much experience does it require to rank-up to each additional rank?
And what exactly is a rank and what does it mean?
But I suppose my biggest question was now that I can get the RMR upgrade, should I?
With a thought I bring up my stats. I'm not sure how it works but it just works. Like how my arm respond to my will but I don't understand exactly how. And I see that it has undergone a change.
General statistics
Strength: 9.4 to (11)
Dexterity: 10.1 to (11)
Agility: 8.2 to (9)
Intelligence: 9.5 to (10)
RMR (remote manipulation reserve): N/A (Upgrade Pending)
(All changes to physical makeup will occur during sleep. Sleep in a secure area, changes will take approximately 10 hours.)
Wait, what?
I don't get a choice whether or not my brain will be messed with?
Well I guess I didn't get a choice in any of this, so it's par for the course really. But still.
I start thinking about where I could hole up for ten hours to sleep and then I remember the tray of my ute has a hard top and hopefully it can hold my weight, with my car being upside down and all. I get up and walk up to my HiLux and unclip the side and corner. I manage to wriggle in and by sticking my hand out the side I manage to clip back up the corner to lend a bit more stability. I then slowly move towards the front and restore balance to my car the was rocking precariously as I tried to get settled.
I lay in the dark, close my eyes and wonder how my sister is going.