Walking with a toolkit in my hand, I started following the route laid out for me to the thermal generator. With a lovely countdown timer ticking away at an hour and twelve minutes and some change. Al hadn’t bothered to talk to me, or respond to the plethora of questions I was asking, which I felt made him a horrible helper. But there was no complaint department anywhere, where ever this was.
Finally reaching a giant round Sci Fi looking thing, i pulled open the access panel and checked it over. It looked like some sorta rat, or this world's equivalent, got inside and damn near gutted it into nest parts. Thankfully with the ever pleasant skill drilled into my brain, it was a quick module exchange and a few wires to repair, before I hit the on switch and the room filled with a loud noise, and a low chest vibrating thrum. I shut the panel, turned around and… “Fuck me sideways, that is a big damn rat” I whispered, afraid to gain the attention of ratzilla, who was sadly staring with it’s demonic eyes straight into my soul, I think he found something delicious down there. With some drool and a screech it charged at me.
Running and screaming in a clear and very manly falsetto, I reached the hallway and closed the access door, which promptly bulged out in the face of a very angry ratzilla. A lovely piece of art, could probably sell it on ebay for a few bucks. Straightening my spine, and walking back with perfectly dry pants, I made my way back to Al’s wall.
“Thermal generator is back online, emergency power levels have reached 20% and stabilized. Job well done Candidate.” replied Al when i plopped myself back down and prepared for my epic mental breakdown. “SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETE” roared through the room. Searching the room like a frightened rabbit...urm I mean a cool and collected badass, Al responded. “The installation has finished is basic checks, and there are quite a few errors. Your Tier 1 and Tier 2 employers have all expired due to mechanical malfunctions beyond are control. System calendar has been reset and environmental scanning has ceased to respond.”
“As you are now designated as the highest Tier individual, the bases functions and capabilities are now under your command. Some restrictions apply due to security clearance protocols.” came Al’s voice from who knows where.
“Okay, Al, It’s Q and A time. Where’s this, what’s this, where are you, when is this, what was that rat, why is this tech so Sci Fi, and for the love of god, where can i get a sandwich?” I asked, totally keeping my cool.
“You are on earth, in an Alpha Corporation Executive Resurrection bunker. Meant to allow the Executive officers and family of Alpha Corp. to survive an apocalypse level event. They have perished due to mechanical malfunctions. You are designated as the highest Tier survivor at this time, and have had all right and privileges turned over to you. This event occurred 500 years after what you know as the Earth Sim.” Staring like a gaping idiot at AL Wall he continued. “As for the “giant rat” we have no information on current local flora and fauna at this time. Current data infers it is most likely a genetic mutation due to said apocalypse level event. Also, food supplement disks are located in the cabinet to your right in the third drawer.”
With a surprisingly rather helpful Al, probably doesn’t want to get turned into a toilet, I grabbed some grub. Or in this case algae and cardboard tasting circles. Munching away at those, and ordering my thoughts. I keep coming back to my lack of panicking, gibbering, and running in circles with my pant’s on my head, talking to john and lisa about the other voices in my head. “So Al why am I so calm and not, you know grade A mental?” i asked heavily.
“A chemical compound was injected prior to your awakening from suspended animation, along with a mild hypnotic to make you more tractable to accomplish your task. It will wear off when you wake up.” Well that should be a scary as hell, but I just shrug my shoulders, and decide nap nap time sounds awesome. In which case I promptly started sawing logs.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Assuming it was few hours later, i wake up to a beeping noise, instead of the usual jet sound, rolling over and looking for my alarm clock, I solidly smash my face into a wall. Holding my nose and tears coming to my eye, I look around and it all comes flooding back. I don’t know if it’s a side effect of the drugs or my higher intelligence but after a while of rocking back and forth and freaking out, I’m surprising okay rather quickly. Clearing my throat. “So, Al, anything else I need to know about, like a plan or something or how to wake up the rest of these poor schmucks?”
“Yes, Candidate, we will need to wake up at least 2 more E class indentured servants, to help repair this bunker to a more operable level. Estimations are at least a month for basic systems and to repair the universal Fabricator that is least damaged. We will also need to try and repair the environmental scanners located outside the base, and gain an understanding of local flora and fauna to facilitate the resurrection process. We will also need to increase power levels to awaken more workforce, but that will have to come later.” replied Al.
“Okay, first, what’s with all this Candidate and indentured servant crap?” I asked. “Seriously my name’s not hard, it’s Darius, Darius Kane. Simple, pronounceable and rather cool.” Staring at Al Wall again. “Also, where are the rest of these people located, and we have a fabricator, that is awesome, what can it make?”
Somehow sounding annoyed, AL replied. “As you direct, Darius. These “people” are located below you, and are brought this this location to begin the awakening process. Two of them are currently en route to our current location. The fabricator can produce any and all things programmed into it from the smallest screw up to advanced power stations, and we have a large supply of universal stock to make up to 100 of said power stations.”
Pondering over all the badass things I could make, I hear a swish sound, and like a banks pneumatic tubes a body shows up in my old glass looking case. Sadly, not a smoking hot girl, all I get is a face full view of dude junk. “Could you atleast put some clothes on him Al, staff and berries are not the first thing you should see in the morning.” I asked.
About twenty minutes later, used to be naked guy falls out of his pod crying and screaming. I think I was way manlier when it happened to me. Apparently Al’s not waiting to juice this guy up as Repair Guy #2. After his forced intelligence and skill download, and a puddle of what I can only hope is tears, the guy finally looks to me with a bewildered expression.
A little wave and brief history of what I know has happened, I think he’s ready for a little meet and greet. “So name’s Darius, and this place is hell, or close enough so far. We both used to be broke slave’s for some rich ass hats who done died, and now we gotta fix this place up. Once we wake up another person will jump right on that. But first what’s your name?”
You know that look, when someone crazy is talking to themselves, probably trying to bite their own ear. Yeah that one. That’s how repair guy looked at me. Shaking hands and looking around, he finally responds. “Yeah, so this is fucked up, and the name’s Chip, Chip douglas, by the way.” Chip was your basic lumberjack looking guy, imagine the brawny guy minus all that flanel and boom, nailed it in one.
Wait pause, that name is seriously familiar, just can’t quite place it, keep hearing blue knight rules, ehh I’ll come back to that later I’m sure.
Once me and Chip settle down, the next person on the “The Price is Pain” gameshow shows up. And we have a winner, a very lovely, and extremely well put together woman shows up. I may have hesitated a few minutes before telling Al that she needed clothes. Short brunette hair, almost creamy skin, prominent cheekbones and a cute little upturned nose. A way above average bust, with some seriously wide hips. Just throw her in some overalls and you have the girl next door model meets fitness fanatic.
Replay fetal position, screaming and crying, followed by the basic story and several strange looks, and bam we are all caught up. Looking to our new friend, goes by Cassy, stands for Cassidy, get a kick to the nut’s if you call her that though. Learned the hard way. It’s time to dole out responsibilities and figure out, well everything really.