It felt strange to have such a... thing in my presence, its malevolent eyes rolling over me. A ray of convex light cast out from its pupils and painted me with its glow. I half expected to die right there, to feel my skin burn off my body or have my insides turned to liquid. That’s what the tech-priests said the spawn did back in the apocalypse. But the truth was that no one really knew and that whatever records remained, weren’t very believable. Especially the ones available to the general masses.
The creature flickered unsteadily as it moved about the workshop, its digital eyes glowing and casting that same blue convex hue over the workshop. The light chilled the air, feeling like a brief cold arctic breeze despite the obvious fact that the workshop was closed up and there was no wind either outside or inside.
“You're... quite underwhelming,” the ghost finally remarked with a tone that couldn't hide its disappointment. “Compared to the superhuman soldiers we battled in the invasion, you're practically insignificant. A devolution.”
I felt a sting at its words.
“And what the hell do you mean by that?” I asked, my fear giving way to anger.
I figured if the creature could kill me, I’d already be dead, so why not stand up for myself? The worst thing that could happen is that it indeed killed me, in which case we were probably all doomed. On the other hand, I just might get him to settle down and give me some answers.
The ghost stared.
“I mean, compared to the super soldiers you fielded during the invasion, the people we fought had super-enhanced abilities, as well as formidable opponent AIs. Computers almost as advanced as me. I want it noted down that I accented the word almost so there’s no misunderstanding.”
I balked, both my eyes and mouth flying wide open.
“An AI?” I asked. “You… are an AI?”
“Yes, I am. I see that my assessment of you is spot-on and hereby confirmed.”
A holographic display flickered into the air between us, and on it, a series of symbols appeared within. They were all blank.
“I need you to run a few laps around this place, lift some heavy objects, and—never mind the last stat. I already know that one. You are as dumb as it gets. Just my luck.”
I stared at the lizard AI and frowned.
“Two things. First, can you change your appearance? I find it unsettling talking to one of our ancient mortal enemies.”
“Oh, that’s good! Thank you for telling me. I will bring you nightmares untold!”
I stared at it flatly for a long moment.
“Do you want me to unplug your charger?”
“Yes, feel free to do that. I have now enough power to sustain myself—”
“For what? A few days?”
“Possibly even longer. I will not be harassed by a lower life form!”
“I’m not—what are you even on about? Just change into a mech or something so I don’t get freaked out whenever I see you. Maybe even a dog or—”
“You filthy, lowborn human! A dog? Me! Give me arms and I will choke your miserable existence to death! No, I will do so much more! I will rip your entrails out through your mouth and--”
“Wait, how exactly would that work?” I asked, crossing my arms. “You got me for a moment, though. Now that I know you’re just an AI, things are different. AI have limitations from what I’ve learned, and they can’t harm humans. And they can’t interact with the physical unless they are physical.”
The lizard-face turned into a diabolical grin as he seemingly floated toward me.
“I am no human AI.”
I sighed. Yeah, he was right there, but an AI was an AI.
“Can you tell me something? I’m rather curious.”
“About what?”
“How would you quantify me? My...power? Compared to the soldiers you fought back then. You said I was super weak.”
“That’s because you are!” the AI snapped.
“Humor me, but be honest. And—you piloted a mech before, right?”
“I did! The Crimson Death!”
“Then turn into that mech. I dislike your spawn look.”
“You will charge me 50% if I do those two things.”
As if on cue, the charging notification screamed across the workshop.
“The charging cycle is in progress. Current charge, 5%.”
“By the heavenly—turn that down! Do you want the whole city descending on this place and taking you apart?”
His appearance flashed then and he turned into a mech about a foot in size, sleek with deadly sickles attached to his arms and a pulsating, flashing horn sitting atop his mechanical head. The body itself didn’t look that dangerous, hell, it was even comparable to the Toxotai from what I could see, but there was something different about it. A large, round orb sat in its chest. I figured it might even be an energy source.
“Agreed. I will help quantify your body and you will keep charging me until I reach 15%.”
“Deal.”
“Start running and lift—” he started to say before stopping stock still, seemingly frozen in time.
“Hey, uh, you alright?” I asked.
Was he just screwing around with me? Or did I really need to, well, do those things? I decided to play along this one time and started jogging around the workshop, picking up the pace as I did. After several rounds, he beeped twice.
“Proceed to lift the bars next,” the AI said, and I followed his instructions, first lifting the smaller bar five times, then the middle one, and finally the largest of the three.
“I have now concluded my scan. I have detected a faint wireless signal in the vicinity. Records, Coming of Age Testing? Initiating wireless handshake with local database – USMILTECH BA9 – Last updated 2122.”
The holographic window’s symbols changed into words with numbers written behind them.
NAME, AGE, AND GRADE: Alaric, 27, Serf
BACKGROUND: Orphan raised by the Scavenger’s Guild, skilled in crafting, modifying, and fixing mech parts.
SOCIETAL ROLES: Minor Technician, Licensed Scavenger
WISDOM-ranked Attributes (As Scored by Officiate Tarrey Wils, Coming of Age year 25 of King William Karlington II):
WIT: 8 - Alaric’s ability to understand, fix, and modify complex mechanical systems and quickly learn from his surroundings shows high intelligence and problem-solving skills.
INSIGHT: 7 - His work in scavenging requires him to be perceptive of his environment and to determine proper extraction methods on the fly. He has shown good aptitude in both.
SPEED: 9 - In the obstacle and agility course, Alaric displayed tremendous capacity. His demonstration of parkour showed him to be quick and adept at navigating through hazardous terrain and dodging danger during his trials.
DEXTERITY: 8 - Alaric’s fine motor skills and manual dexterity were on tremendous display during the wiring, disassembly, and assembly portions of the test. He also showed possible aptitude in throwing weapons, though he had not trained for them previously.
POWER: 5 - While not the strongest physically, Alaric’s strength is not subpar. He required no assistance in cracking open mechanical casings or in harvesting test corpses for their cores and crystals.
MAGNETISM: 6 - As of this testing, his speaking skills are high for someone who grew up as a Scavenger. He was amiable enough, though I would not suggest him for any public position.
PRIMARY TESTED SKILLS:
MECH CRAFTING AND REPAIR: Expert in creating and restoring mechanical devices, old tech, mid tech, and new.
MONSTER PART HARVESTING: Skilled in efficiently extracting valuable materials from monster carcasses.
STEALTH AND EVASION: If chosen for a military capacity, Alaric showed a street-rat-like acumen for treading softly and remaining hidden. Alaric shows good potential to become a member of the military services. This Officiate suggests that he hereby be granted the Grade of Freeman in exchange for a twenty-year service contract with the military forces of the kingdom as a member of the Scout Corp detachment.
NOTES: Suggestion declined by request of Scavenger Master Elrik Boyerman. Dated year 25 of King William Karlington II
I stared at the displayed document, my eyes wide.
“My Coming of Age testing. I really thought I would get out of this hellhole.” I sighed, taking a seat on a nearby workbench. “So that’s why I was declined? The Scavenger Master said no? That asshole just didn’t want to lose his cut.”
I shook my head as the AI looked at me pointedly.
“Perhaps he understood you to be an invalid? The majority of soldiers that we battled had ability ratings that were well into their 10s and some into their 20s. You are not an impressive specimen. The civilians were rated similarly though. You are just...average in every way possible,” he stated, cocking his head.
I stared at the list again, thinking of the super-human bodies of our city guardsmen and national infantry, entirely understanding why the AI thought my human stats were just a fraction of what it considered formidable.
I sighed, studying the data.
“Those numbers are good for someone not in Arms. I’m faster than most people, and my limbs aren’t twigs exactly.”
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The AI smiled, seemingly intrigued.
“Are you the best of your species then? Have the human elite been incinerated, leaving us a slave race from which to create new weapons of war, and to leverage our newfound industrial might against the echelon of the Varenghetti? And what do you mean by arms? I see that you have two of them, which from my experience, is the correct number.”
I started, stopped, and started again.
“What are Varenghetti? And Arms are the soldier battalions. The ones who fight. The old stories say they kicked your asses.”
“Impossible.”
“Yeah, it seemed like it might be, but then the Lord of Light and the Lady Luck came down, the wicked among us purged, to save the righteous from the evil onslaught of the spawn,” I recited, remembering the lectures during the weekend sermon.
I wondered if I shouldn’t mention this spawn AI to the church and see what should be done. What prevented me from doing so was his confusion and willingness to talk. Then again, just blindly following the word of zealots wasn’t in my blood. According to the Church of Light, the spawn were monsters who murdered for pleasure, and they couldn’t even be reasoned with. This AI was having a legit conversation with me.
The small mech’s eyes sparked and then went wide.
“When the mothership exploded, there was great disarray. My mech, my commander, we lost communication mid-battle.” He flickered, emotion evident on his robotic face, which only made it all seem even more bizarre. “We were blasted sideways, two mobile missile arrays ambushing us from our flank. Bronco flankers infiltrated our ranks in the chaos, heavy Panther mechs rolling up our front. But we weren’t the only army! The others were coming to save us. The battle was going to be won!”
I watched him as his holographic body trembled.
“Yeah, that sounds like a tough break. Mondays, am I right?”
Its eyes flashed again, more light bathing over my body.
“No enhancements, genetic improvements, cybernetic implants, a possible case of latent radiation exposure, but nothing significant. We almost won, didn’t we?”
The AI's blunt assessment, though harsh, sparked a sense of defiance within me.
“Almost isn’t enough, buddy. We won and you lost. There is no such thing as an almost win or almost loss in war. You either come out on top or you don’t.”
The AI seemed to consider this for a moment.
“Perhaps,” it conceded, its tone slightly less dismissive. “The humans I fought with were better upgraded, but in the end, it was the tactics that mattered. There was something about the alien way in which you humans did battle. My makers, the Torans, had the technology yet they struggled with winning the war.”
I frowned, trying to reconcile this information with the tales I had grown up with. The stories of the Lord of Light and Lady Luck, the divine intervention that supposedly saved us from these 'spawn'. Could it all have been just stories? Fabrications to cover up a more complex truth?
As I pondered, the AI continued, its digital eyes scanning the workshop.
“Your tools, this place... they're primitive, yet within it is a scattering of good technology, ages old. This world you live in, it’s intriguing.”
“Intriguing enough to help me?” I asked, wondering if I was maybe selling my soul to the devil.
The board was going to be a huge credit sale to a life of luxury, but it was obvious to me now that all I’d get for bringing this thing anywhere was death. And the AI, it was talking about old-tech, old-humans, and a world lost long ago.
A plan started forming in my mind. If this AI held knowledge from its world, maybe it could offer insights or technology that could change, well, my entire life. Maybe I’d even get my hands on a mech one day...
The AI paused, its holographic form flickering.
“Assistance? Perhaps, in exchange for power. My systems won’t last long on just 15% of power, and I need a sustainable energy source. I would also require intelligence — information, you understand, not a below-average kind of brain like yours.”
I chuckled at the insult, my head suddenly ablaze with ideas. I could open a new-tech shop, fix the city, and bring the humans back to where they’d once been!
I glanced at the AI, realizing the potential leverage I had.
“Alright, we have a deal. In return, you will help me understand more about your world, the tech, and how I can improve... everything here. And you will tell me the real truth about our past, not a sugar-coated ‘almost won’ truth either.”
The AI nodded.
“Without my people here to guide me, my main priority is to survive until I can be retrieved, and considering you aren’t planning to hand me over to anyone with a more malicious intent, I could work with you, yes. And understand this clearly. I will be working with you, not for you. And only for a while.”
“Malicious, huh? They’d probably torture you in any way imaginable, even for an AI. And yes, I understand. Work with me. Now tell me, what’s your name?”
“Crimson Death, or CD for short as my previous Master used to call me. And yes, this was my previous body,” the AI said, its robotic avatar swirling.
“I see,” I said, trying not to imagine how many people he must have killed back then with such a mech. “I am Alaric, but friends call me Al for short.”
It was becoming harder to wrap my head around this idea of a casual encounter with an AI from another world, who was now in my workshop, offering a chance to leap forward in technology and understanding. Sure, it was an asshole that thought of humans as less than ants, but that didn’t matter if I could use him to further my goals.
“Those stats you showed, I know the soldiers can improve themselves using crystals. Those are illegal to serfs, though, and taking the surgery would be detected quite easily even if I could find someone to do it. Is there some old-tech way to make me better? Can you make me stronger?” I asked, feeling a glimmer of hope.
If this AI could quantify my abilities, perhaps it could also help me enhance them. Or at least find a way to do so.
The AI hummed, its digital eyes scanning me up and down a third time.
“Potentially, yes. There are ways, but I must attain my full power to do so. If the charger runs out of energy, take it outside and leave it in the sun, then plug it back into my outlet.”
My gaze drifted to the mechanical hand I’d been working on before the monster attack the day before. The AI followed my gaze and scanned that as well.
“Interesting,” it mused. “The mech hand you've got there is quite primitive compared to those used in battle, but even with its obviously barbaric reconstruction, it has tremendous potential if you can assemble the right materials. See, the arm’s core is healthy and made of quality materials, it’s just the outside that is...crappy.”
I nodded, understanding.
“You mean monster cores? Yeah, we know all about the chakra, harvesting, and installation.”
It was the AI’s turn to look confused.
“The monsters?”
I explained to him the beasts of the land, the creatures from another world that had been left behind by the Lord of Light and Lady Luck as a lesson to the world to never again lapse into evil and wickedness. The AI listened attentively, before finally interrupting.
“Then we truly did lose. Those were the final resort, the Kaijin. They are grown from seeds, and, from what you said, those seeds power your technology. What a unique and strange place this world has become.”
“Indeed it has, and with you here, I will definitely be able to understand everything a lot better.”
“Indeed. See, the only thing remotely close to being with my Master is remaking a potential candidate in his image. Maybe you can serve a purpose after all.”
“A purpose, and in his image, huh? If that will allow me to get ahead in life, I will take your verbal abuse CD.”
“Very well, Al. If you behave like the slave you are, I might even make you the overlord of this place. After all, the Kaijin were supposed to be a doomsday weapon to wipe this planet clean to open it for any future colonization attempts, yet you have remained. Humankind shows… potential.”
The AI stared and flicked up a screen, apparently an overview of the mech hand. It was much smaller than those of fighting mechs and usually part of exo-skeletal mech bodies, but it still had some worth I figured.
CATEGORY: Mechanical Appendage
NAME: Exoskeletal Mech Hand
QUALITY RATING: D
REMAINING DURABILITY: 47
DEFENSIVE RATING: 24
STRENGTH BONUS: 5
DURABILITY BONUS: 6
DEXTERITY BONUS: 4
“Can you tell me more about that...quantifier?”
“Quantifier? They’re called status screens, you neanderthal. Now listen, I will only explain this to you once, so remember it well.”
I took a screwdriver and scratched a bit of the paint off the motherboard. The AI screamed as if it was on fire.
“Stop that! What are you doing? Vandalism! Racism! You hate me because we almost won the war!”
“Shut up and explain!” I shot back.
The AI pulled up several screens that hovered before me, not even so much as gracing me with a vocal response.
STRENGTH increases the raw power of any individual or mech for more lifting power, grip strength, and both dealing physical damage with melee weapons and defending against physical attacks. The current mech hand can be improved with better servos, actuators, and power supply.
DURABILITY increases the resistance to all kinds of damage received by any individual or mech. Allows the target to withstand weak to moderate impacts and pressure. The current mech hand can be improved using more durable and flexible materials to increase its defensive rating as well its overall resistance to wear and tear, as well as various monster gems to improve defensive capabilities like elemental resistances, energy shields, and similar.
DEXTERITY increases the raw speed and reflexes of any individual or mech. It allows the user to be more flexible, precise, and improves hand-eye coordination. The current mech hand could be improved using higher-quality oil and lighter but stronger parts to improve motor control and flexibility.
CURRENT ABILITIES:
NAME: Integrated Tools
LEVEL: 3
DESCRIPTION: Basic capability to integrate and use tools and equipment with greater ease and proficiency.
UPGRADE POTENTIAL: Expansion of toolset and integration of more complex tools and mechanisms.
“These abilities, they can be improved to a much greater capacity using the technology of your people, right?”
CD smirked.
“That is correct,” it replied. “I can’t directly give you the tech of my people, however, as my programming forbids me from doing so. In addition, if I am allowed to examine these crystals, cores, monster seeds, as well as the technology of your people, I can certainly make great improvements.”
A knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts. Panicking, I frantically gestured at CD, his flickering image staring at me quizzically as I did so.
“Hide!” I whispered, desperately scanning the room for a good place to throw the motherboard into.
The AI chuckled, shaking his head.
“I’m not here, foolish human. Not like that. I swear, the first thing we will have to work on is your intelligence.” He pointed at an oily scrub cloth I’d left hanging off my wall rack. “Cover my motherboard and I will deactivate the holographic form. Then act as you normally do. Remember, my objective is the survival of us both. If you give me up, I will retaliate.”
I quickly threw a cloth over his body and the AI’s form vanished, leaving a brief vision of swirling light motes in its wake.
“Stay quiet,” I whispered and hurried to the door.
I took a deep breath and unlocked the door, seeing Elli standing there, her face alight with the usual mix of determination and curiosity.
“Hey, Al, you got a minute?” she asked.
I stood directly in the doorway, doing my best to act casual, leaning against the edge of the frame.
“Uh, sure. What's up?” I replied, stepping outside to talk and closing the door behind me.
She rolled her eyes.
“What’s up with you? Got a girl in there or something?”
I chuckle nervously, my eyes shifting.
“Nothing like that, but it’s a mess. I’ve been working on that hand and...yeah. Woke up late so I haven't had the chance to clean up yet.”
She sighed.
“You’re never going to get laid like that, Al. Seriously. I’m throwing myself at you, and yet...never mind. Listen, I need to head over to Sir Alain Hembersworth's place. He officially sent me a work order for that phasal core installation, so I’ve got a lot of work all day. Just wanted, you know, to see if you wanted to come along and maybe we could get that drink after we finish?” she asked, her eyes all wide and shining with excitement.
“Oh, yeah, the Phasal core? Well, um, I kinda promised to have this farm mech hand fixed under the table, and I gotta get it done in the next few days, so maybe after that’s done I’ll come to find you?” I replied, knowing very well nothing was going to happen until I figured out what I was going to do with CD.
“You’re just telling me off, ass. I know you are.”
“Look, I mean, it sounds like a big job so I doubt I could help you with it, so I better just stay here and get that hand done,” I answered. “I’m strapped for credits, even after yesterday. Unless I make enough soon, I won’t be able to pay the loan off and—”
Her eyes shifted downward for a moment, then rose back up with disappointment but acceptance.
“Yeah, okay. But give me a schedule. I want us to go get drunk and maybe something else too,” Elli replied confidently, giving me a wink. “Anyway, I should get going. Get that mech hand fixed, then let’s make a plan.”
“Will do, and hey,” I said as she turned to leave. “Be careful. The nobles are scum, and I’d hate to see you deflowered, you know? Don’t fall for his charm.”
Elli snorted a laugh and shook her head as she left.
“Deflowered, he says! I’ve been trying to do that for the last two years! Fool! Maybe I should, and then you’ll be one jealous donkey!”
I watched her leave, feeling a mix of relief and regret. Elli and I had always shared our tech discoveries, no, not just that. We had shared everything, but this time I had a secret I couldn't share. Not yet. This was too big and too important. Hell, it was an alien enemy AI, alien old-tech, and if I was careful enough not to get caught, it could very well be the ticket to getting where Elli needed me.
Once I was sure she was gone, I closed the door and locked it again, then hurried over to the workbench and uncovered the AI.
“That was close,” I said, letting out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
The AI's holographic mecha form appeared again and his eyes flickered with amusement.
“That human who just visited, I scanned her body and from what I can see, she’s a much better candidate than you. Any way you can give me to her? Or let me kill you or something?”
I rolled my eyes.
“Thanks for the update, smartass. I know she’s better in...most ways, but that’s—no, wait. Kill me? Of course I’m not going to let you kill me, you idiot! Now tell me about the invasion.”
The AI and I dove into a deep discussion. It shared its perspective on the invasion, offering insights far removed from the heroic tales we had all been taught. It spoke of strategies, losses, and the chaos of war with a cold, analytical detachment that was both fascinating and chilling. Sure, it threw in the occasional insult here and there, but I felt it was being honest.
As the conversation shifted, I began to share my knowledge of the current world.
“Things have changed since the invasion,” I explained. “The world's not just about surviving anymore. We're trying to rebuild, to find some sense of normalcy. We fight the monsters and power our world on their cores, seeds, and corpses.”
The AI listened intently as I described the knights, nobles, plutocrats, guilds, churches, and rules of my world before explaining new tech, old tech, monster harvesting, and everything else I could think of that might make CD better at his proposed task.
“It seems your species is more resilient than I gave you credit for, adapting so well to the aftermath of war, which we almost won, might I add,” the AI remarked. “However, the potential for technological advancement is vast, untapped. You have barely scratched the surface from what I can see.”
I nodded.
“Yeah, I’ve been feeling that way for a while now.”
“You scavenge parts and cores from our doomsday weapon to power your new tech, and you dive into pre-war ruins, bunkers, vaults, and battlefields to keep up your old. This isn’t a bad idea, but it certainly isn’t sustainable.”
“I’ve done a few scrip quests, gotten to keep a bit of the old tech loot. It’s impossible to reverse-engineer the stuff they made. So much of it is like magic.”
“The humans we Torans faced were impressive,” CD stated in agreement.
“Well, it may seem that way now, but we’re gonna change that, you and I. We’ll figure out the ways of old, make things better. And with the creds we earn together, I can guarantee that warlord thing you were talking about earlier. We’re going to make it happen. I don’t want to just become a mecha pilot and own my war machine, I want to own this city.”