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!ERROR! REPAIR NEEDED. LV2 DEVICE REQUIRED.
Current date: 19 April 2045
Skill List:
Kanji (lv1): Aspect of Energy: Electricity, Thermal, Sound, Elastic.
[Vortex battery (Storage)]
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Full destructive power limit: Several Villages]
Skills: [1. Infuse/Absorb] [2. Energy travel] [3. Energy trail] [4. Energy bolt] [5. Energy wave] [6. Energy blade] [7. Energy shield] [8. Energy dual conduit] [9. Energy healing] [10. Umbral Cape]
Inventory: [Geographic sphere] = [Mechanical soap] = [Spyware device] = [Tungsten-infused nanotech silver chain] = [Tech tablet (Portal) (Hide, Input, Output, Convert, Compress)] = [Night-vision goggles] = [Blue headphones] = [Notepad and pencil] = [Life sensing device]
Claire (lv1): Aspect of Creation
[Vortex battery (The Ninth Prince’s Order)]
Skills: [1. Create (Slots: 10)] [2. Absorb (Only created and non-broken items)]
Inventory: [Black cloak] = [Crossbow (modified with rotatenium)] = [Crossbow bolt] = [Ammo pouch] = [Mechanical soap] = [Thermal suit] = [Medicine belt (sling bag and pockets for syringes)] = [A gas mask] = [Healing small white frog] = [Red lava frog] = [Green yellow spotted claw frog]
David (lv1): Aspect of Form
[Vortex battery (Control)]
[Range limit: Room]
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
Skills: [1. Expand (x2)] [2. Spikefacation] [3. Delay (1-10s)] [4. Shieldfacation] [5. Trigger] [6. Transform pattern Wave] [7. Net Transform] [8. Whip transform] [9. Blend around] [10. Uno]
Inventory: [Tungsten bat] = [AK-47] = [Mechanical soap] = [Night-vision goggles] = [Bag filled with light-weighted rocks]
Amelia (lv1): Aspect of Reality
[Vortex Battery (Charge)]
{Skill points: !ERROR!}
[Attack type: Strong illusion] [Attack range: x3 field of view]
Skills: [1. Third-person vision] [2. Blurring Mirage] [3. Double] [4. Connect] [5. Vision Swap] [6. Disguise] [7. Flash Mirage] [8. False movement] [9. False Touch] [Mentaltomisis]
Inventory: [Frying Pan] = [Knife] = [Mechanical soap]
Sarah (lv1): Aspect of Fiction
[Vortex Battery (Weapon Recall) (Followers Benefits)]
[Skill access: 2 skills for each item] [Conjured item 1] [Conjured beings 2]
(Low Tier > High Tier > Eldritch God > Elder God)
LT1: Sciophobalos: Short Teleport 5min (Active/Group) & Teleport Exchange (Passive/Group).
Awakening (Sciophobalos): Greater strength and speed. Changing form depending on darkness.
HT1: Arachnochidna: Water Breathing (Passive/Group), Paralysis/Necrosis Spikes (Active).
Awakening (Arachnochidna): |=Require Climbing and Web Shooting=|
Inventory: [Mechanical soap] = [Nezha’s leopard bag (Nezha’s ring, Nezha’s Fire-Tipped Spear)] = [Shovel] = [Grimoire] = [Tungsten axe] = [Tungsten daggers] = [Tungsten Zweinhander] = [1 Flesh syringes]
Noah (lv1): Aspect of Emotion
[Vortex Battery (Fall Resistant)]
(Emotional requirement: Medium)
Skills: [Emotion infusion]
Inventory: [Mechanical soap] = [Sharpening stone] = [Tungsten axe] = [Anger stone]
Diana (lv1): Aspect of Law
[Vortex Battery (Three Talisman: Regen, Resistance, Speed)]
[Limit: Only manipulate small values]
Skills (Laws unlocked): [1. Law of Friction] [2. Newton’s Third Law]
Inventory: [Mechanical soap] = [A pickaxe] = [Night-vision goggles]
Adrian (lv1): Aspect of Knowledge.
[Vortex Battery (Wings Parry)]
[Limit: Full basic information]
Skills: [1. Connected Minds] [2. Info Extraction]
Inventory: [Mechanical soap] = [Handbook (recorded events)] = [Reinforced glass shield (Red Cross symbol) (Broken)]
Azan (lv1): Aspect of Change.
[Vortex Battery (Greater Flight)]
[Limitation: 1. Follow under the concept “change” only. 2. Changes under other aspects require hand-holding.]
Change slot: 2
Inventory: [Metal suitcase] = [Mechanical soap] = [Miniature fan] = [Blue boxing gloves]
Mina (lv1): Aspect of Time
[Vortex Battery (Mark Speed)]
[Limitations: 8 skills (Currently)]
Skills (!ERROR!) (Auto Input Activated): [1. Aging] [2. Time Exchange] [3. Time Wrench Transfer]
Inventory: [Mechanical soap] = [Yellow boxing gloves] = [Sandra’s gears] = [Peepo’s pillows] = [Piza’s patchworks] = [The Heart Striker]
Gwen (lv1): Aspect of Destruction
[Vortex Battery (Apply Speed)]
[Limitation: Gas and Liquid only]
Inventory: [Mechanical soap] = [Izzybot] = [P.T.A] = [Codex Seraphinianus] = [Spherical terrarium (containing a black widow)] = [Notepad and pencil] = [Ice whale eye] = [Bolt Eel]
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In the throbbing streams of glitchy lights, M124 is troubled by turmoil. Her spirit is restless, devoid of peace, a disturbing aftermath of unveiling the tragic truth of her being. With each ticking moment, Selina questions her allegiance to the once-trusted cult and its great cause. Only one person could possibly soothe or banish her sorrow...
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The radiant beams pull apart like a spectral curtain, unveiling a steel portal before her.
Selina "Uh... m-my lord. C-Could I possibly come in?"
Silence. She waits, her heart pounding. Then, with trembling hands, she touches the access panel.
The gate grudgingly gives way...
The interior is a picture of chaotic desolation, a scene of unspoken battles fought and lost. The only sign of mechanical life, or any semblance of it, is a hovering, rectangular hologram at the core of the room ominously declaring "999 MISSING TRANSMISSION". Intrigued, she begins to approach—
A shard of broken steel launches, halting her advance and hitting the wall.
KARNAT "Stop. Just... stop making it harder. It's all fucked up, anyway."
Selina "I-I don't understand, sire?"
KARNAT "ARE YOU... fucking blind? Half of the Majors have fallen. The rest... I have no idea the fuck happened... but seeing you here, I'd wager they met a similar fate. I am screwed, maybe even compromised. The shame is getting to me. The best service I can provide to Her Highness is to stop them from leaving Earth. EVEN... even at the cost of my own worthless life. A deserving end for someone who lived a life of lies."
Selina "But Sire! I need-
KARNAT "SHUT THE FUCK UP! I'm no longer your larvae sitter! Fuck off or, better yet, go find the other two fuckers who actually took the hint. You naive dipshit! JUST... leave me alone. Understand?"
The sting of his words was unbearable. She felt her strength leave her, both in body and spirit. Emotions swelled, uncontrollably, tears as crimson as blood streaking down her cheeks as she fled the room.
KARNAT "... Attention, all units! Prepare to move closer! We shall this fight till our last breath!"
Selina careens through corridors and control rooms, shielding her tear-streaked face as puzzled soldiers glance in her direction. She finds herself at a familiar refuge... a janitor's closet. Opening the door, she retreats inside, the echo of her sobs reverberating in the silence.
Selina "Why?... JUST WHY?! Why isn't anyone here to guide me?! What am I?! What is my purpose?!-
Her attention is suddenly drawn to the right-hand wall, where an inscription is etched into the metallic skin of the closet...
"Hey, how's the universe treating you, M124? It's me, M114. I reckon you're hiding in that special place by now, that nook where you escape to gather your thoughts. M115 and I left this note here for you. We're on a special mission to hunt down those rogue cult members. You know, the ones tasked with collecting and raiding The Aspect of Law's home. If you don't see us around, that means something's gone sideways, and you should head over to this location..."
Selina "Hmm? The Netherlands? Why would those deserters choose to hide so close to the main base? Unless they've established a secret lair of sorts. Regardless, I can only hope those two are safe. Alright... steady, Se-Selina. You must reveal the truth to them."
Selina bursts forth from the closet, but the tinodium door slams into a hapless engineer passing by, rendering him unconscious. A grin tugs at her lips, grateful for this lucky accident. She drags him inside before shedding his uniform. She slips into the suit, though it's baggy around her waist. To compensate, Selina pads the excess space with some towels.
Selina "It's slightly damp and somewhat gross, but it'll have to suffice. Now... to the escape pods."
Fragments of memories come together to form a blueprint of the ship's layout. The vessel's main entrances are positioned at the center of the front and rear, leading into a labyrinth-like main floor with various dead ends opening into offices and additional facilities like lounges, a cafeteria, and even an entertainment room. Navigating towards the heart of the ship, the walls transition from conventional tinodium to a compressed variant. Access to these more important areas is given to those possessing higher clearance cards, with exceptions made only for the General or someone of equivalent authority.
The first gate, Access Level C, leads to the lesser control rooms, responsible for managing about 20 percent of the ship's AI system, special espionage software, tracking devices, geological archives, and planetary maps spanning millions of worlds, and third-person viewing of the entire vessel. This data is subsequently relayed to the ship's nerve center, where the main control rooms are located.
Next is Access Level B, which safeguards more vital functions of the ship, including its cloaking mechanism and force field. Here, the ship's crew receives, organizes, and disseminates messages from other vessels, The Empire, and other sources, using a strange device known as a "Pheromone Harp".
The final security gate, Access Level A, is the nucleus of the ship. The central command deck is situated here, housing all the main controls and the captain's quarters. On-demand, the main controls can be relocated to any of the surrounding control rooms which form ten total rings and act as backup systems. Each ring is shielded with additional layers of tinodium and requires an Access Level A clearance scan in case of false entries. The main controls are responsible for space navigation, thrusters, and of course the plasma cannons.
Flanking the command deck's door is an elevator leading to the other floors. Usually, access to these levels, namely Floor 1, 2, -1, and -2, is unnecessary as they are automated by machines. Each floor is layered inside and out with self-repairing synthetic tinodium type A. Floors 1 and -1 house plasma energy cells, additional weaponry, and robots that manage these resources. Should a soldier be missing a weapon, the AI system will detect it, prompting the robots to deliver a replacement via the floor or ceiling on the main floor. Floors 2 and -2 accommodate a Gravitational Attractor along with all the complex machinery and codes to operate it. One Gravitational Attractor must always be operational, with the other acting as a backup. These floors also house 20 escape pods.
Access to these floors is only granted if the Captain endorses an Access Level S card or the person is an engineer. Engineers are distinguished by their yellow thermal suits and their helmets, a fusion of melted gears creating a unique steampunk aesthetic. Some rumors suggest that these gears are made with a unique metal that keeps the engineers calm and safe from heat even in the most dangerous situations. Typically, meteor-class starships have a total of 100 registered engineers, while the larger asteroid-class starships boast 200.
Asteroid-class starships are considerably larger, featuring an extra level sandwiched between the top and bottom floors. This level serves as the fleet's storage area, housing all the precious spoils they've pillaged.
Selina "... Oh fuck. This isn't going to be easy. But, at least I've got the first step sorted."
Selina retrieves a Level S card from the engineer's helmet before struggling to put it on.
Selina "Phew. This is suffocating, but it'll have to do. Now, I just need to blend in. What do engineers say or act like again? Shit. Maybe if I remain silent, no one will suspect me."
Selina exits the closet room and a group of soldiers spot her. Their body language suggests urgency as they rush toward her and tug at her arms. As she resists their pull, Selina spots several more soldiers running from around the corner, assuming their direction to the control deck.
Upon exiting the closet, Selina catches the attention of a group of soldiers. They rush toward her with a sense of urgency, grabbing at her arms. As she pulls back, Selina spots more soldiers sprinting around a corner, seemingly heading towards the command deck.
Selina "What... what the hell is going on?!"
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me! It's another one of the general's fucking tantrums! When he thinks nobody's watching, he enjoys maneuvering the ship to blast any nearby space debris. But this time he went off the charts! The Gravitational Attractor is overloading because he went ahead and discharged one of the plasma cannons without switching the thrusters. So, move your tail and fix it, or we'll personally be culling you!"
Selina "Alright! Alright! No need to lose your cool, I'm on it." "Damn! I don't have the first clue about repairing that machine. I need to find a way out when they're distracted."
The soldiers escort Selina to the elevator. Just then, the ship lurches violently, pitching them onto the floor and sending them sliding. Selina, luckily, manages to grab onto the elevator door, pulling herself inside...
"Do whatever it takes to get that machine running! Damn it, why did the general have to crash the ship now of all times?!-
The door slides shut... Selina draws a long breath, sinking to the floor as the elevator descends.
The door reopens. Stepping out, she notices the absence of any engineers. The entire floor is a maze of lengthy cables and wires connected to walls festooned with computers and engines. She strides toward the center of the room, examining the large machinery. Huh? Everything seems fine. Shrugging, she proceeds to explore the room, eventually coming upon a row of 20 escape pods neatly arranged.
She selects the furthest escape pod to the left.
The interior is reminiscent of the sleep pods used by humans on space stations, but there's a terminal next to the bed that displays a list of destinations along with corresponding maps.
Selina "Right. Back to Earth. No turning back."
She picks Amsterdam, Netherlands. The pod gives a loud hiss... and launches into space.
Hours pass, and she can no longer sense any movement within her metallic cocoon. With a flick of her hand, the door opens. Selina steps out, greeted by a refreshing breeze. She's perched on a cliff, with a sprawling sea stretching out before her, and the view is simply breathtaking. An irresistible urge to sit on the cliff's edge swells within her...
Selina "Maybe a little leisure wouldn't hurt."
Several more hours pass and time seems to stand still. She wishes she could bask in this moment forever, but her daydream is interrupted by approaching footsteps. Shadows fall on either side of her, and she grins.
Selina "Took you long enough. Honestly, I can't believe I was worried about you two."
She stands and turns to face her colleagues.
They seem... different. M114, usually joyful, now has a serious look, and his hair is messy. M115 stands straight, no longer hunched over, and the stench of rotten eggs is replaced by the scent of cashews. From afar, he could pass for any regular old man.
Selina "Ummm, what happened to you-
?? "It appears you've uncovered the truth about our cult, young lady. We were similarly enlightened when we pursued M119 and M120. They were aware of the parasites and the false memories implanted within us, but feigned ignorance this whole time."
?? "Yes, and when we fought them, they gave up their lives to kill those disgusting little worms. Adjusting to our regained memories took some time. Still, I'm so fucking mad that we couldn't save them."
?? "No use mourning the dead now. All we can do is honor their wishes. Now, let's reintroduce ourselves as true forms. My name is Goral Hemel."
?? "And I am Jeff Spencer."
Selina "Hi, I'm Selina Golworth. Guess I can start by sharing my lost memories."
She recounts her heart-wrenching past.
Jeff "Geez, that's pretty rough, especially compared to my cockroach problem."
Selina "Hey, what's this now? You got me curious."
Jeff "Oh, nothing. Just an orphan who was bullied for having no parents. One day, the bullies decided to increase their cruel shit, shoving me into a pit full of cockroaches. I crawled out looking more monster than human. Turns out, our cult orchestrated that horror. Like Jesus, the lengths and effort they would take to cause trauma."
Goral "Guess I got off relatively easy then. Wrongfully accused of a crime, subjected to torturous religious rites, imprisoned, isolated, and starved to near death... Actually, on second thought, you youngsters got it easier!"
Selina "I guess I'd have to agree. That sounds atrocious."
Jeff "Don't take his words at face value." ["He tends to over exaggerate. Even more so now that his memories have returned."]
Goral "Hey! I heard that! Show some respect to your elder!"
Selina "Heh. It's good to see you haven't changed. What about you, Jeff? You seem a lot more serious."
Jeff "I was always serious. Apparently, John Calsion, aka our former leader, decided that I should play the fool. A silly goose. It's annoying because a part of me still wants to behave that way."
Selina "Yeah, that kind of thinking is rather silly. So... what do we do now?"
Jeff "Before we decide on that, let me ask you something. How are you feeling right now?"
Selina "I... I don't know. The storm in my mind has calmed down somewhat, and I'm relieved to know that there are others like me. But... I long for something more. A clearer path. I just hate not being able to see my future."
Goral "Young lady, are you saying you've lost your sense of purpose? If so, then what do you want to do?"
Selina "Well, I can't stay on Earth. I don't think anyone would accept a freak like me."
Goral "Pah! You two are making mountains out of molehills! Look at my legs! You'd fit right in if you just throw away your robes."
Jeff "Old man, we're not leaving you behind. You're kind of like our Dad."
Goral "Enough with the sweet talk! Fine, how about we jet off to one of the other planets and start anew there?"
Selina "That sounds wonderful, if we can find a ship to get us there."
Jeff "Tiss tiss. Have you both forgotten that there are A-class ships nearby? With a little patience, one of those beauties will be ours. What do you say, Selina?!"
Selina "Yes, absolutely! I'm in!"
A single tear, crimson with regained hope, slips down her cheek before crystallizing on her skin.
Selina "Woah! What the hell?! My powers are back!"
Goral "Oh, right. We forgot to mention that your abilities might return once you've settled your 'Crisis'. I suggest we change out of these ridiculous robes and wear something more suitable. Here..."
He hands them fresh clothes and shoes. They retreat behind the nearby bushes to change.
Goral "You two look fantastic. Now, listen carefully to my plan. We should...."
(To be continued)