The landscape changed from flat, snow-covered plains to jagged outcrops of rock, partially obscured by drifted mounds of snow. Though it had been months since her initial capture, she could immediately tell that this was it. This was the place where the ships had been, the site to which she and her tribe had been brought.
She slowed the Aeramo as they approached, her eyes scanning the desolate landscape. The ground appeared pristine at first glance, but as she drew closer, Terna noticed areas where the land had been gouged. There were thin trenches and, as she looked closer, she realized there were circular depressions under the snow as well.
Tell-tale signs of cratering.
“Aeramo, scan the area for energy traces. I want to be sure.”
Graphs filled her mind, alongside a map of the area, showing the residual signs of weapons fire and destroyed vehicles. There was no doubt about it; this was where the battle had been fought. Where she had been rescued from her captors.
Suddenly wary, Terna scanned the area, looking for signs of an enemy presence. The screens blipped, lines of invisible energy reaching out to find the signature body heat of living beings but coming back with only minor blips like those made by wildlife.
There was something else as well. An anomaly in the rocks, circled by Aeramo for its unusual nature. Terna disconnected from the tank and turned to Aaron, only to see him sitting with his legs crossed and body leaning forward before some program involving a talking duck and his heroic hamster friends.
“Aaron, stay here. I am going to go check something out. I will be right back.”
Aaron nodded absent-mindedly, and Terna moved to one of the tank’s many storage panels, watching it slide open as she approached. Within hung her armor, the AC5 command unit that had been her last gift from the Wizneber affiliate. She reached out and touched the smooth white plates with her fingertips, lightly brushing them as the sales algorithms fired its ad data into her mind.
The Arcti-Cool Anti-Ballistic Scalesuit, Command edition from Deerkon Armored.
Features knock-out protection with the Arcti-Cool designed Xavier grade Dodge-and-Run AI.
Monitors self and squad armor health, physical health, and points out possible flaws in enemy defenses and protective materials.
No hype, no claims, just facts. That’s Deerkon Armored.
Serving professional soldiers since the beginning of time.
4.6 stars, 7,000,000,000 morties.
Terna hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath as she prepared to equip the armor. The process had always been easier with a full support team, but now, with only the Aeramo to assist her, it would require more effort and focus. She had to do it, though; she couldn’t afford any mistakes. Not with Aaron nearby and the memory of the last battle still fresh in her mind.
“Aeramo,” Terna began, her voice steady, “initiate the suit-up sequence.”
“Affirmative,” Aeramo responded. “Adjusting parameters for solo operation. Please step forward and prepare for body scan.”
Terna took a step closer, positioning herself in front of the storage panel where the armor was housed. She felt a subtle vibration in the air as the Aeramo began its scan, mapping her body’s dimensions and calculating the precise adjustments needed to fit the armor perfectly.
The familiar, red-tinted light washed over her, similar to what Roger had used when she first suited up so long ago. This time, though, it felt more intense. The light flickered as the armor plates began to shrink and mold themselves, evidently weaker than the weapons bay the base had used before. The whole process was taking longer, and the lack of expertise was evident.
The red light faded, the armor unzipping with a soft, mechanical hiss. The suit struggled, robotic tentacles waving out from the closet space and clumsily working to open the suit for her. Terna winced as the armor’s back section pulled apart, revealing an interior lined with cables and sensors.
“I can solder the damage after you have been suited,” Aeramo commented. “Please step into the boots.”
Terna complied, stepping forward into the armor’s base. The moment her feet settled into place, the suit reacted, the material slapping around her legs, encasing them with a snug but flexible fit. She felt the armor tightening around her ankles, the process gradually moving up her thighs, adjusting itself as well as it could to her every contour.
The armor continued to fold over her body, suctioning closely to her skin and leaving no space for error. That part felt right, almost undoubtedly an aspect of the suit’s AI taking over now that she was inside it. She flexed her fingers and wiggled her toes.
“How’s the fit?” Aeramo asked.
Terna rolled her shoulders, feeling the armor settle into place. “It is tight, but the right tight,” she replied, her voice now filtering from the AC5’s helmet in a lightly mechanical whine.
“Excellent,” Aeramo said. “Activating Full Aeramo-AI interface connection. Handshake protocol required. Please confirm your passcode.”
Terna paused for a moment, thinking back to those hectic moments in which she’d been given clearance to the suit, then sent off to keep herself safe. “BuyMort Kaput,” she replied.
The suit pulsed briefly with a soft, orangish-red glow before settling into its operational mode. The HUD flickered to life in front of her eyes, a series of status indicators and data points scrolling across her vision:
Terna NoMort-AC5 Command Unit
User: Terna
Race: Hobb
Vital Signs: 100% (Stable)
Armor Integrity: 97% (Back armor tear – field repair successfully implemented)
Energy Reserves: 85%
Internal Temperature: 37°C (Optimal)
Oxygen Levels: 99%
Heart Rate: 72BPM (Resting)
Adrenaline Levels: Low (0.5 ng/ml)
Nanite Repair System: Operational (Passive Mode)
Armor Durability: 90% (Resistant to ballistic and energy-based attacks)
Battle Brew Reserves: SPEED(2x), ENDURANCE(2x), STRENGTH (2x), VISION (2x), STEADINESS(2x)
Map Overlay:
* Current Location: Northern Tundra, 56.342° N,112.564° E
* Local Time: 14:37
* Weather Conditions: Snowstorm (Visibility: Low)
* Hostile Detection: 0 Active Threats (Minor wildlife activity detected)
* Objective Marker: Anomaly (100 meters NE)
* Armor Status: Operational (AI Control: Active)
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Right. Everything was working perfectly. She wasn’t sure what the tank’s armory had for her, but it was time to get a weapon and head out.
“Aeramo,” she said, her voice now more confident within the suit, “I need you to assist with equipment selection. I will need a primary weapon, a secondary weapon, and standard med supplies.”
“Understood,” Aeramo replied, guiding her through the process. “Proceeding with equipment retrieval.”
A different locker opened, and she was surprised to see it chock full of armor-compatible weaponry as if it were the armory back at Wizneber. As she stepped closer, the HUD in her helmet began to scroll through the various options, each one highlighted with a brief description and accompanying ad.
TREBLED LEAF MAGNAR SPINTATE 3000
Weapon Type: Minigun
Firing Rate: 1000 rounds/min
Ammo Capacity: 3000 rounds
Special Feature: Rotating magneto-electrokinetic firing system
User Rating: 4.3 stars
Price: 2,000,000 morties
BuyMort Exclusive! Get the MAGNAR SPINTATE 3000 and outgun your enemies with superior firepower! Compatible with all TREBLED LEAF battle suits for seamless integration. Limited Time Offer: 10% off when purchased with any energy converter!
Terna considered the massive weapon. It was definitely powerful, but its high firing rate and potential to burn through ammo quickly made it worthless in her current situation. She moved on.
XMS-7 BLAST CANNON
Weapon Type: Heavy Rifle
Ammo Type: Converter Kit - Solid/Liquid conversion to ammo
Energy Requirement: Plasma charged
Special Feature: Neuronium-enhanced for maximum penetration
User Rating: 4.7 stars
Price: 2,500,000 morties
TREBLED LEAF’s XMS-7 BLAST CANNON is a must-have for any serious combatant. Convert anything around you into lethal ammunition! No need to worry about running dry—this weapon ensures you’re always locked and loaded.
Terna’s interest rose at the mention of the converter kit. It was basically the opposite of the XMS-7 in terms of resources, and perfect for her current homelessness. She marked it as a primary option.
GINZO-5000 BY WESSON BLADES AND AXES
Weapon Type: Close-Combat Knife
Special Feature: Psionic targeting system for absolute accuracy
Blade Length: 6 inches
User Rating: 3.8 stars
Price: 500,000 morties
The GINZO-5000 – Precision meets power in a compact, deadly package. Direct psionic energy to control the blade with unmatched precision. Ideal for sneaky situations.
The idea of a psionically controlled knife seemed useful, especially considering her personal knife-use in the wastes. but Terna wasn’t quite sure about what the psionic component entailed. She swept it aside to look at the next item in the arsenal.
STUN BATON ST
Weapon Type: Non-lethal Melee
Special Feature: Delivers incapacitating electric shock
User Rating: 4.9 stars
Price: 40,000 morties
The STUN BATON ST – For when you need them down but not out. Reliable, safe, and incredibly effective. Ideal for incapacitating threats without lethal force.
A side-arm that didn’t kill sounded smart. Terna marked it as her secondary choice.
XLR-8 ENFORCER
Weapon Type: Submachine Gun
Firing Rate: 600 rounds/min
Ammo Capacity: 1200 rounds
Special Feature: Built-in silencer, low recoil
User Rating: 4.8 stars
Price: 1,800,000 morties
Silent but deadly, the XLR-8 ENFORCER is perfect for covert operations. Low recoil and a built-in silencer mean you can strike hard and fast without alerting the whole base.
Terna took one look at the firing rate versus ammo capacity and turned it down.
“Aeramo, equip the XMS-7 Blast Cannon and the Stun Baton ST,” she commanded, feeling the armor adjust as the weapons were secured to her suit.
“Armor fully equipped,” Aeramo confirmed. “You are ready to proceed.”
Terna took a deep breath, feeling strong now that the armor encased her. “Thank you, Aeramo,” she said. “Let us see what that anomaly in the rocks is.”
As she stepped out of the Aeramo and into the cold, harsh tundra, the AC-5 adjusted to the frigid temperature, blowing heat to keep her warm and insulated. Her HUD displayed a direct path to the anomaly, highlighting it as an aura of soft blue that glowed over the next rise.
Moving cautiously across the slick and rocky landscape, she scanned her surroundings, peeking under every ledge and over every rock. There were no footprints, no signs that anyone had come back here within the last month.
As she approached the anomaly, Terna’s heart pounded in her chest. The glow in her vision was emanating from a small crevice in the rocks. Overtop the crevice were words carved in her language. CROMMER’S GALE, they read. Her eyes widened. Crommer was the God of Safety and Health. This was a message from one of her people!
She crouched down, carefully brushing away snow and dirt to reveal a hidden compartment, its metal surface scorched and blackened. The energy signature was faint but consistent, suggesting that something was still active inside.
“Aeramo,” Terna whispered, “can you analyze this?”
“Scanning now,” Aeramo replied, the HUD displaying a real-time analysis of the compartment.
Terna waited, unable to breathe. In her HUD, a 3D model of the image appeared, ghostly and see through, turning and displaying different mechanical aspects of the device and listing their possible uses.
“It’s a data beacon,” Aeramo noted, the model disappearing from view. “Possibly left by one of your tribe.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No one would have had this.”
“The signal is weak but still active,” Aeramo returned, ignoring her words.
Terna’s mind raced. Could it actually be? Like the scavenged homes, people in her tribe used BuyMort devices when they were found, but never bought them and never ever sold things for morties. Was this a scavenged artifact? Was one of her own crying out for help?
“We need to retrieve it,” she said. “If there is a chance it can lead us to the others, we have to take it.”
“Affirmed,” Aeramo acknowledged.
With the Aeramo’s guidance, Terna carefully extracted the beacon from the crevice. It was small, no larger than her palm, and it pulsed with a dim blue light.
Holding it close, she made her way back to the Aeramo, again watching the wastes warily for whatever madness BuyMort might send at her next. She passed without incident, and as she re-entered the Aeramo, she found Aaron glued to the entertainment screen. He glanced up from his show, his eyes wide.
“Did you find something?” he asked, excited.
Terna nodded, holding up the beacon. “I think we did. I think we might have just found the other NoMorts.”