I couldn’t stop laughing at first when it told me.
“Ok back it up,” I wheezed at the floating ball of anger.
“So. You guys go around invading sad, poor helpless species and it’s usually just a great time for you. Taking resources and murdering. But then you get to earth and we somehow manage to find a loophole? And what are you guys called? Kiwis? That’s kinda cute, we have birds like that,” I said wiping tears.
I think the ball would have killed me if it could have. It seemed to consider it before responding as it rotated furiously.
“Kwitle. Like quit-lee. It’s the only thing that came close in your language. Intergalactic Common and English are very dissimilar.”
I finally sobered up as reality hit me. The insanity of it all overtook me but this seemed to be serious. I really wanted to check on my parents too but I’m not sure that was an option just yet.
“So about my parents can uh, challengers check on or protect them? Are they challengers?” I asked hopefully. The worst thing was not knowing after all. Its not that my folks were completely defenseless, they were just older adults and the shock of aliens instead of Jesus might be too much for them right now.
“It’s surprising to see you take this more seriously. When the challenge begins you may be able to unlock more and more abilities as you progress. Eventually, if anyone you know is also a challenger you’ll be able to connect with them. If they’re not you’ll may eventually be able to find out their status. Unless you die of course,” the ball replied.
“I’m sorry what now,” I said blinking twice rapidly.
“Death is a very real possibility in the Legion’s Challenge. The challenge itself will only delay the very real inevitable reality of the fall of mankind. Shortly I’ll leave and you’ll soon get a dumber AI to assist you through the challenges. Good luck Mr. Monkey,” the floating ball said as it started to disappear again.
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“Wait before you go do I have mail or something,” I asked remembering the envelope opening sound. My head was still spinning at its last revelation but I wanted to get whatever mail it was. That's when I swear I heard the ball sigh.
“Yes Jon. The Interface will be unlocked. Congratulations. You are now forever intertwined with our ships,” the ball said.
A bunch of random screens appeared before me, as well as at least 20 giant dark prism spaceships in the sky. They dotted the blue sky like a score of unnatural, nightmarish pyramids.
“Holy shit,” I said in a slight panic as the reality of the situation finally washed over me. This was really happening. I needed to get a little more serious and try to figure out what to do, if there was even anything I could do.
Legionnaire Interface Unlocked the screen read.
Install earned upgrades? Yes/No/Help
I tried to “press” the help button. It was just a hovering screen and came with no instructions. The floating angry ball was gone and the area seemed deserted. Not even a random scream in the distance. It was just me and the ominous giant spaceships in the sky behind me.
“Uh. Help?” I asked no one in particular.
****
Rijohe
“It’s just subtle enough that it’s barely noticeable, but someone has interfered in the ape’s genetic code,” Commander Finik said to her troops. She was the fleet's oldest commander, but was still more than capable, always fair, and Rijohe liked being under her command. She treated him like more than just another lieutenant, and others might have resented his special treatment. Though they would never say it to his face.
Rijohe stood at attention during the meeting. His legion only had three challengers but some of his peers had up to ten. The invasion was slowly turning into chaos as now the entire galaxy was sending representatives to pour into the solar system and watch the challengers. There hasn’t been one for thousands of years after all and of all things, bets were now starting to take place. The Tixians jumped on that opportunity immediately as he knew they would.
“Our job is to contain this before it ever becomes a problem. We will not be the one link that brings down the Kwitle” Finik said with an intonation of frustration. Her symbiotes’ tentacles flared in a symbol for peace, trying to calm the situation down among their lesser symbiotes.
“Rijohe,” she called to him. “You are the pride of the fleet and have near perfect control. Only 3 challengers and none of the stragglers that others are dealing with. Crush your challengers and show these interfering vultures that the Kwitle are not to be trifled with.”
A bit of both pride and amusement rose within Rijohe. His symbiote, while not as grand as the commanders, still shot out and signed gratitude.
“Immediately Commander,” he replied. The commander’s symbiote flared out an approval.
He left out the part that while one of his challengers was a near idiot, another was already trying to fight him for control. That was the next problem he would deal with.