Noah just got a letter from Professor Maclaren that he is now at stump level. His achievements had apparently impressed a lot of people, and the Earth ability users now had a lot of work to do. Even Zenix helped in the field, keeping the crops fresh and healthy. He had to do a lot of digging, but he found that this was way better than mopping blood and feces. Now he is content watering the crops, beginning to find his place among these people. Noah wanted to go, to admire his new workplace, but as he walked to Professor Maclaren's office, he saw it being cleared out. With a face full of questions he walked to one of the workers that was overseeing the progress.
"Excuse me, could you tell me why the office of Professor Maclaren is being emptied?" Noah asked the tall but scrawny man.
He turned around to face Noah, "She is dead, so we are taking all these materials to the people who have higher clearance."
Noah was a bit shocked, to say the least, 'How could a researcher, who was at least twig if not leaf die? I mean she could order me around and give me a new position, a higher level. Does that mean that after leaf there could be other levels? Higher positions?'
Noah looked cutesy at the man and asked with big eyes, "Where should I go then? I was about to be promoted to the next level..." Then he looked kind of sad to the ground, the man looking at him was reminded of his little brother.
He thought to himself it was a blessing that there still was a soul that was untainted from the world around."How about you go to the end of this hallway until you see a purple door, that is where we got our orders from. Maybe they can help you with that problem of yours?" Noah nodded and walked by the people moving the chairs and everything. He walked to the end of the hallway, and just like the man said there was a purple door.
Noah knocked on the door and he heard a female voice saying, "Come in." He opened the door and walked inside, the office was a bit old-fashioned not at all like the office of Professor Maclaren, or at least what was her office. This office was decked with dark wooden furniture, and kind of looked like it was out of the Victorian era. Even the couch was right out of a Victorian household, with dark wooden edges, and a white padding.
In the seat behind the dark wooden table sat an old woman, she had black hair but you could see the beginning of black roots. She looked at him in a mix of confusion and annoyance.
Noah stood upright and asked, "I was supposed to be promoted today, but I have come to know that Professor Maclaren is dead."
The woman nodded, "Name, current level, the thing you did, and give me your cards."
He nodded as he walked forward to the table giving her his ID-Card and Key card, "Noah Valentine, the current level is gras, I researched a way for the dirt to be usable again."
The lady then looked up in surprise, "Ahh yes, you developed in a different direction, the one which is only available for the leaf and above people. But it is understandable, and you did a very good job. That is why I will let you move not only one level up but two. Now that you have twig-level clearance, you will be getting a computer card. This computer card will show you everything you need to know and also have information about the levels that come after the leaf level."
With that, she gave him his two upgraded cards and one computer card, it was white with a dark blue circle, and on the back was a black magnetic stripe. Seems like the computers have a card scan device.
Noah bowed a little and left with a "Thank you, ma'am." He walked to the next crossing corridor and turned left, straight forward, and left again. There he saw the bright green doors, even the air smelled fresher. He swiped his card and walked inside. Many people looked at him with calculating gazes. Then a person walked out of the crowd, they had brown shoulder-length hair and one piercing brown-green eye.
As they wore an eyepatch over their left eye, reaching out a hand they said, "Hello, I am Mills. I use they/them pronouns, just saying." Then Mills winked and walked Noah around his new workplace. Mills was very chill, they were always making some kind of jokes, which were not funny. But out of courtesy, Noah smiled at each of their jokes or laughed a little. Then Noah had to ask where the computers would be, as he still needed to figure out the information and wanted to know the levels after leaf.
Mills smiled and showed Noah to the computers then they said their 'goodbyes'. Mills explained briefly where Noah could find them if Noah had something to discuss.
Noah waved at Mills, turned around, and sat on one of the computers immediately. Swiping his card the computer gave him a few file options on what to open. There were four files he could access, one named 'leveling system', one named 'all we know', one with 'future development', and the last one was called 'special rights'. He first opened the file 'all we know', a lot of video footage was on there, from experiments to slow motion videos of an infected turning. A few reports on certain people who turned and in what way they developed. He opened a random report:
...
Name: Sergeant Emilia Kopsky
Age/ Birthday: 34 years old, 24.09.2023
Died: 13.10.2057
Cause of death: -Zombification level 6
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
-the target had to be put down
Cause of zombification:
- the Sergeant was out on a mission to retrieve the head scientist, and while out she encountered a level 4 zombie
- the level four zombie had extraordinary hearing and scenting abilities, and a special fire ability
- Sergeant Kopsky had to abandon the mission to get her team to safety
- while rescuing a teammate she got fatally wounded and infected
- she signed her body over to the research in hopes of finding a cure
Science:
- she didn't transform until five weeks past
- she didn't show any sign of humanity after three weeks after the transformation
-feeding her crystals made her faster, but no progress in an ability
- two months after her transformation and one month after feeding her crystals, the subject didn't show signs of an ability
- after 2 months of feeding her crystals, she regained her communication but didn't say any other words than - "Let me out"-
-two weeks after her communication she suddenly got super strength and broke through the glass, the breakout was prevented as the hunters took her zombie life
Cure: FAILURE
...
Noah found this information extraordinary, the zombie was able to communicate, and instead of harnessing that they didn't even try to talk back. They only observed. He left the file and opened the 'leveling system' folder. There he found that now that he has leaf level access he can have an assitent. It didn't even matter if the assistant was schooled in chemistry or anything else. There were no requirements, he could get Zenix in here. Then he wouldn't have to work so hard, and it could get him his trust more. Other than that, there were new levels. Fruits. Depending on the direction he could move up. If he wanted to go into weaponry like gas bombs or the like he could be promoted to the Durian fruit, but only if he showed enough talent. The same with the other fruits if he didn't show talent there was no way of getting in there. Then there was Apple, which is the research for the cure. Pear the research for sustainable food and drink resources. Grapes for the research other than chemistry are more for the IT type of people, like building new equipment. And Melons for the people who don't fit into either category. Seems like harnessing crystal power and leveling up the abilities kind of research.
He closed the file and opened the file 'future development', which he shouldn't have because there is just some Archetechtur stuff in expanding research areas and stuff. He closed it again and opened the last file 'special rights'. Noah saw a lot of bull, he could eat as much as he wanted if he wanted to. He can get a gun, execute any zombie he wants to, and can explain it in the spirit of RESEARCH?!
'So I can run wild no one would bother as long as I explain that it is some kind of research. WTF?!' He thought to himself. He didn't want to read any more of this crab, shut the computer off. Noah then stood up and walked out, he wanted to make Zenix that offer. After all, how could he not notice how tired Zenix is after every day of working these heavy body jobs if he worked as Noah's assistant he wouldn't have to do these anymore. He could just take notes for Noah and be actively included in the fight against the zombies.
With that in mind, he walked to the elevator and pressed the second button, he heard Zenix talk about helping out in the kitchen again. The kitchen was always looking for free hands. Hearing a 'ding', the doors opened and he walked out, and into the canteen. He saw Zenix from a mile away even if he was wearing a stupid hair net and a mask.
He smiled as he stood in front of him, "Hey, I just wanted to make you an offer."
Zenix got a confused look and then it turned into anger, he looked up with rage, "If it is about the special favors-" Zenix was startled and then looked really guilty, "Sorry, it's just many guys have been asking for special offers that may or may not entail my butt. The exchange is food and safety. What is your offer? It shouldn't be a butt thing, because sorry to say it, but I look like I could top you. But then again I'm straight, I think..."
Noah chuckled in embarrassment as Zenix let all his thoughts out again, "I got a higher level and I know you have been feeling like you can finally do this work smiling, but do you maybe want to become my assistant?"
Zenix's eyes became dinner plates, "You mean I could help you with research and stuff? Do you really think I am the right person to ask though... I don't know anything about this stuff, don't you think someone else would be better suited?"
Noah nodded understanding the underlying worries of his friend, "I understand your worries, but I'll be honest I could not imagine anyone else working with me in there. Because even if you are stupid sometimes, you can be smart a lot of times too. Or at least that is what I've heard from Ben."
Zenix chuckled, "Sure, let's do this. But don't tell Ben, he can get jelly if it's about new friendships. You know I am the only friend he has left after all, after-" He looked shocked and didn't say anything else.
Zenix bit his lip and then said, "Sorry, just a bit of ramble. After I am done with my shift, maybe show me around?"
Noah nodded, "Sure, we can meet in our room. I've read enough files and don't want to research either." Then he waved and walked to the elevator again, feeling like he was being watched he turned around.
It was Maison, his ice-blue were staring right through him, and so Noah was feeling a little self-conscious. At the same time, Noah wondered how long Maison must have been staring at him and why he was staring at him. Soon Maison's face and the face in his dreams overlapped, and he noticed it was the same... The same eyes were staring back at him. Could it be? Could it be Val who was in his dreams? Does he keep following him?
Quickly, he banned those thoughts out of his mind, 'No, that would be silly, but I remembered Val. That was because I looked at Maison's eyes... Could he... be Val? Like a reincarnation, can I regain my memories about Val if I hang around Maison more?' He then shook his head, trying to get those thoughts out, but the whole way to the room he kept thinking about it. His head in the clouds.