Jack navigated the strange touch screen in front of him. At first the list was chaotic. From a hundred different styles of knives to carbon fiber backpacks and liquid nutrient packs. The options seemed endless; he didn’t know where to begin. That was until he found the categories tab at the top left of the screen.
Categories - Tools, Weapons, Food, Shelter, Armor, and Gene starter packs. Jack knew what the other options meant, but the last one got his attention. Opening the category Jack was hit with a surprisingly short list. Survivability pack, Adaptability pack, Durability pack, Strength pack, etc. The list went on for a couple dozen options.
The adaptability pack seemed like a good option but there were no descriptions to let Jack know what he was actually picking. Though, there was one option that Jack was interested in. The Basic physical enhancement pack. Although the pack said basic there didn’t appear to be any advanced versions. This pack seemed self-explanatory so he tapped it to see what would happen.
“Do you wish to purchase 1x Basic physical enhancement pack for 600 credits?” Jack hoped there would be some kind of description, but it appeared that this was the best he was going to get. Searching the screen Jack finally found it. His credit total… That pack must be something amazing if it cost over half of his points, (1000). Jack clicked another only to find that the prices for all the packs were the same. ‘Let me look at the other items before making any choices.’
After browsing the items Jack thought about what he needed. He came up with the basic necessities, Food, water, shelter, and fire. Since he knew that he was supposed to live in the wilderness for at least three years, Jack concluded that there must be some reliable source of food and water. There was no reason to spend all his points on food and water.
Jack selected 21 nutrient packs for 105 credits and a refilling water bottle for 20 credits. He didn’t know how a water bottle would refill itself, but he decided to get 2 more normal bottles for 2 credits. With food and water taken care of Jack focused on shelter. There were an assortment of tents and other easy-to-use mobile structures. Jack went for a basic water and tear proof tent for 25 credits.
For fire Jack decided on a survival knife that contained a striking flint and some magnesium for 10 credits. After spending only 162 credits Jack started to wonder just how amazing that Basic enhancement pack was. Was everyone expected to pick one of these packs?
After taking care of the necessities Jack noticed that he still had time, so he continued to browse the other items before making any decisions on a gene pack. Looking at weapons jack noticed that there weren’t any modern weapons. Only spears, swords, bows, and other medieval items. Curious, Jack clicked on a katana. “Do you wish to purchase Carbon printed katana for 55 credits?” Seeing as how Jack still had enough credits to get a pack, he clicked yes.
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At this moment the general announced to the assembled conscripts “You have 5 minutes left to make your selection.” This caused many to curse and mutter to themselves or their nearby peers.
Jack didn’t want to waste any points, but he couldn’t think of anything else to get that wouldn’t weigh him down. Checking one last time, Jack browsed through the armor category and decided on a single item. A pair of carbon print gloves. He would need them if he was going to be surviving out in the wilderness for the next three years. Finally, Jack went to the Gene starter packs category and chose the Basic physical enhancement pack.
At this point Jack had nothing to do but wait. With nothing to occupy his mind, the reality of the situation began to set in. He was kidnapped from his home, his family, and expected to cooperate in some crazy last ditch science experiment. Obviously, Jack was angry. At the people that did this to him, and even himself. He couldn’t fight back or even protest. These soldiers had GUNS. You can’t win an argument with a bullet, so fear was the dominant emotion in his mind.
“Times up!” The general said as the windows in front of all the conscripts blinked out of sight. Protests sounded out. A few shouting “I wasn’t done!” and some in despair as only at this time they realized they forgot something crucial. “QUIET” the general bellowed. At his words the soldiers on his sides shifted their guns in their grips as a silent threat. This caused the room to go dead silent in an instant.
“Some of you might have noticed the Gene starter packs. You’ll only get this explanation once so pay attention.
Each of you has been implanted with a gene core, or that’s what I call it. It’s a wireless device that relays commands from the base to the nanobots you were injected with immediately after recovering from cryo.
The gene core analyzes foreign DNA in your system and sends that information back to the base. After analysis the system will send the information back to the gene core with compatible genetic changes. Say you eat a giant frog, if the system deems any of the DNA of the frog to be beneficial to you, it will give you the option to take on one or more of those genes. You won’t know what these changes do till after you finish evolution. You could end up with the ability to breathe through your skin or gain some of the musculature of a frog letting you jump 10 feet high.
Depending on the gene pack you chose, you could end up with super strength or have the density of your body’s tissues increase giving you strength and durability. These starter packs will only give you an advantage up to what is already humanly possible. You won’t be able to fly or some shit, so don’t get your hopes up.
Well, not currently at least. Finally, you’ll be given the option of a random mutation at any time. This mutation isn’t dictated by the system so the effects may be unknown to even the system itself. There’s no requirement to start the mutation, just know that the effects of the mutation could be either good or bad. It’s literally random. Even cancer is a possible outcome. The mutation is designed to be a last resort.”
After a long 10 second pause to let everything sink in, the general said something nobody expected. “I’ve given you your introductions, get some sleep.”
At that moment the vents along the walls opened, flooding the room with gas. Being near to a wall the effect was immediate on Jack. He wasn’t even given the chance to feel sleepy, immediately blacking out.