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[Jonsar here.]
[Ollie sent me the reports of your recent fight.]
[I believe I know why the CIF acted the way it did. There is medical jargon you wouldn’t understand – no offense – so I’m going to keep it as simple as I can even if it loses some of the overall impact.]
[When you first absorbed the Cyberconnect Integration Fluid back on Velenar Prime, it functioned as it was supposed to – integrating prosthetics more efficiently. But, not enough of the substance was fully present. Until you met me. I replicated the ferrofluid, and infused you with the proper dosage.]
[Also, on Velenar Prime, you received a super soldier serum derived from magitech nanites. Those were inert and ‘mindless’ nanites for lack of a better term – so they only performed their intended function of improving your physique, metabolic healing rate, and the other items we discussed previously. Then, they went dormant.]
[Those two, separate fluids in your body were acting independently as per their set functions.]
[However, your recent acquisition of Artifact rarity (Equipment) in the form of a technology-oriented world’s prosthetic legs has presented…an interesting development.]
[The nanites from the super soldier serum had their hive mind activated thanks to the presence of the advanced technology. But it was placed in a subservient role to your subconscious thanks to Cosmic Infusion being maxed out at (Rank 10), and therefore becoming more integrated into The Cosmic System. The old programming was overwritten by X.]
[In layman’s terms, the serum and the CIF have merged into what I will coin as Nanite-Infused Cyberconnect Integration Fluid, or NICIF for future reference.]
[From what I understand based upon the reports and the diagnostic I can run remotely – thank you for access, by the way – they will function and act to improve your body’s health to keep it in peak condition as per the serum’s function. The nanites will also work to slowly repair injuries on your body and prosthetics; acting as a very weak form of regeneration. The nanites will self-replicate as long as you supply your body with nutrients, and are useless outside of your body. They will try to return to your form if possible, but if not then they will self-destruct. No need to worry about someone taking your neat, new development! Outside of a laboratory environment, that is.]
[Ollie has given me permission to keep track of your health status with twice-daily reports so I can keep monitoring. It’s a fascinating case, and I’m quite happy that you’re my client. Oh, and don’t worry – you’re still just ‘Flicker’ on all of the charts and whatnot. Plus, the Conclave wouldn’t try anything against me without incurring the wrath of almost every medically-focused Ascendant.]
[Stay safe out there!]
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“Quite handy,” Ollie said.
Jace nodded as he jogged back towards where he last saw the APC. “It’s nice having a doctor on call. I never had that before.”
“Benefit of being a Signer for Xera’s faction,” Ollie stated as he scratched the back of Jace’s head. “Onto the solar panel farm?”
“Yeah, we have to shut down Pheracorp’s power supply before we assault the headquarters.” Jace reached the road and looked around to try and track where the APC went to. “Ollie, mind reaching out to Bloopa and seeing where they went?” Ollie’s eyes went black, and a small map appeared under Jace’s chin. Glancing down, he spotted the APC’s location and the most direct route over a few hills. “Great. Thanks, Ollie.”
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“Those were valuable assets,” Deckard said quietly as he stared at the report Frojen had just sent him. “This is troubling.”
He was reviewing the footage from Vhell’s Wayfinder, and saw this Flicker had dealt with not only the Tempest Twins, but the promising Aspirant. He was dangerous, no question about it. And the next closest Signers or faction-aligned Ascendants were days away.
Leaning back in his chair, he sighed and pulled up his message log and list of assets. We’ve got sixteen more Ascendants on that world, and twenty-two Aspirants. They are scattered all over though. I need to start consolidating them…but what is the Star Council’s goal?
Deckard’s mind, his species’ able to process tens of thousands of possible scenarios based upon data they observed and collated, rifled through the possibilities. They must seek to topple the megacorporations. That’s what all the scenarios point to. If they do that, then the Star Council is clear to use those governments to sway enough people to approve a World Faction Assignment vote.
He tapped his desk and thought of his options. I need to send my assets to these different megacorps and have them hold tight. Shore up defenses. Protect them. Pheracorp is going to fall before I can get anyone over there.
He began assigning his Signers and faction members to the various megacorp headquarters. I don’t know where they will go next. Since they have access to The Cosmic Corridor’s portals, they could go anywhere in the world and strike before I can relocate forces.
Deckard was sure of his actions being the correct moves. Every grouping was calculated. The various Skill sets and Classes should complement each other.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
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Jace got to the APC. It was in a small dell between two hills, and Greg was lying prone atop the hill, rifle pointed out. He waved as Jace approached, “Hey! You’re alive!”
Jace nodded and grinned, “And you looked like a badass holding two rifles.”
Greg chuckled, “Impractical, but with a simple integrated HUD viewfinder and the sights synchronized, well, it’s doable.” He stood up, “Quinn is working on repairing the APC but it’s in rough shape on the outside. The holographic disguise thingy is busted.”
Priam ran out from behind the APC and went over to Jace, “You did great! Bloopa showed me the playback from Ollie’s point of view. Really great job!”
Jace patted Priam’s shoulder and smiled, “Thanks. How’s Quinn? She took a nasty shot.”
Greg laughed, “I took that shot. And you’re right, it fucking hurt. My head is still ringing like a bell slammed by a sledgehammer.”
Priam punched his mid-section softly, “No it doesn’t. I healed you.”
“Hyperbole, little guy,” Greg said with a chuckle.
Quinn popped her head out from the other side of the APC, “The whole holographic array is shot. We’re good to drive. I’ve insulated the vehicle’s engine and key components from the EMP array we hijacked.” She walked around the vehicle and wiped her hands on her pants, streaks of black grease streaking along them. “Nice job taking care of those guys.”
“To the solar panel farms?” Jace asked.
Quinn nodded and the four piled into the APC before driving off-road towards the solar panels.
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Victoria woke up from the anesthesia-induced sleep. The physician’s voice echoed slightly before becoming clearer. “You are fully upgraded! I’ve not done this level of extensive surgery in a single session before.”
“Good to know,” Victoria replied groggily as multiple screens flashed in front of her vision. The various biotech replacements to her body integrating and updating through her new Pheracorp Bionic Brain Mk. 3. Every part of her body had been replaced except for her brain and the skeletal structure. Thankfully, she could now shut off her pain receptors, and they started out turned ‘off’ post-surgery.
“Ah, good to see they are all integrating properly,” the surgeon said as she began putting away her tools with the two assistants. Only then did Victoria take in her surroundings, and see the remains of her blood being washed down the drain below her. “It will take four hours for your body to fully recover. Then, you can turn on the pain receptors once more and experience sensations. I would recommend testing out that new tongue – melon sorbet is quite tasty; especially with the enhancements.”
Victoria nodded, “As long as these bionics let me perform at a high enough degree-” She saw another screen appear in her vision…one that didn’t match the interface of her Pheracorp implants. It was black, and the text warped and distorted before becoming visible in her home language.
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[I have learned of your plight.]
[Your guarantors have abandoned you. The Nebula Alliance is leaving you as they have left many assets they found unworthy – as chaff in the wind. They rally their forces to the other megacorporations of Earth…and you are left alone…bereft.]
[I know the foe you face. And I wish to help you, if you will help me.]
[The Aspirant known as Flicker is someone of great interest to me. I want him. Alive.]
[Judging from your implants recently received, you are equated to a Tier 4 Aspirant in terms of your prowess – this makes you a formidable foe as-is.]
[But with my imbuement…I can give you more power. Simply accept my deal.]
[After all, how can you fight a foe you cannot see? I will provide a means to detect his movement, and a way to capture him.]
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Another screen appeared in her vision, and she saw a very fair agreement laid out in plain text. She would serve the Black Hole Conclave’s interests on Earth for a term of one week, and for that week she would be given limited Cosmic Power.
Deal, she thought as she saw the text box fill with her response.
Dark, black, glowing energy coursed through her vision and all went dark for a brief moment as she saw a gorgeous, glowing, white hole within the black. And beyond…the most beautiful sight she had ever beheld. She was enraptured and felt pleasure through every single nerve in her body, letting out an accidental groan of delirious delight at the decadent sensations. Every one of her senses was in bliss.
A voice echoed through her mind. A sweet, melodic, soothing, and yet slightly sinister tone. Paradise awaits beyond the singularity. This is but a taste of its promise. The voice faded, and she came back to her senses.
The doctor and nurses were staring at her, and she cleared her throat as she quickly wiped down and changed out of the medical gown. “What are you standing around for? Get out of here.” They continued to clear out, and after Victoria had finished dressing, she left and made directly for the armory.
Tapping her sliverscreen, she pulled up the list of all military assets. They’re sabotaging our manufacturing. And our Nebula Alliance assets were defeated on the way to Rio de Janeiro. Power stations are next, and then in all likelihood, headquarters. This is where everything valuable is kept, anyhow.
She began redirecting Pheracorp assets to her direct command. If she didn’t produce results from this risky endeavor, then she would have her ass on the chopping block. But I don’t have a choice. It’s succeed here…or lose it all.
And yet, that vision of paradise beyond the singularity’s center…it was enticing. I need to get back there.
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Quinn finished rigging the EMP device she had mounted to the front of the APC. It would provide a constant signal going out in a radius – so all they had to do was drive up and down the rows of the solar panels.
It would not be that simple, though, as there were solar collection towers with turrets on the top. But her concerns were rapidly alleviated as when she brought them up, Jace simply replied with, “I got it,” and vanished.
Two minutes later, she saw the sparking of metal atop the towers, and heard him over her sliverscreen comms. “Turrets are dealt with. I’m moving to the next tower. Race you to the end of the row!”
The joviality in his voice was comforting to her. She was surrounded by strong Aspirants. Hell, two of them were focused on support and defense respectively.
The open window next to her – the shattered, reinforced glass having been blown inward – was a reminder that she had nearly died.
She was still processing that.
I nearly died. If not for Greg and Priam, I’d be dead. My brain splattered all over the car’s seat. She would be trembling if not for the biotech implant augmenting her brain’s functions. The extra processing was also suppressing the chemicals that, by all rights, should have incapacitated her with fear after the incident.
Taking a deep breath, she gripped the wheel extra tightly and began driving down the lines of solar panels. It’ll be okay. I’ll live. Greg has to keep me alive as best he can, and Priam is a naïve, honest guy. He’ll try his best, I’m sure…Jace, though…
She couldn’t rely on him. She had tried to foster a connection of allyship but it wasn’t taking. The few conversations she tried to strike up during their drive down from Mexico were fruitless, and he was not taking the bait on the few topics of conversation she did broach. I’m failing the Star Council, she thought. And I know that he’s taken Shhiv as a partner from the conversation I’ve listened in on. I can’t get his power on my faction’s side.
And the consequences that could bring about were something she did not want to think about.