The doors closed behind us. Gorgon and Merlin moved through the inside of the chamber, poking with their weapons and peering around hanging cables and pillars. Rhodes and Golem moved to the center to sit on a massive knee-level platform. I sat beside Golem.
“Are we safe right now?”
Golem snickered. “We’re in the Logorinth. We’re never safe.”
“O-okay.” I gulped.
“Nah, I wasn’t kidding before. Ride hoppers in blue zones are rare. We’re probably fine for the ride but Merlin and Gorgon will double-check before we start moving.”
“So, points?” I asked, trying to get back on track.
“Points. Every time you level up, the System will notify you and you’ll have points that need to be distributed. You’ll use them to improve your stats.”
“So the System just reaches inside us and alters us?” I squirmed. “Don’t love that.”
“Not quite,” Golem said with a chuckle. “When you assign points the System doesn’t magically make you better, it does something that helps you become… better? You can improve your stats through regular training, but the points you assign are like a temporary boost to how fast you can develop.”
“Oh. So like, cyber-steroids? Weird.”
“I’ll take your word for it. Yeah. Weird I guess.”
I pulled back up the menu with a thought.
[Growth Vector Allocation]
You have 30 Growth Potential Units unallocated.
System Evaluation:
Muscular Output: 1.01
Motor Reflex: 0.94
Cognitive Processes: 1.51 [Advancement Available]
Memory: 0.56
[Further Traits Locked. Access may require Qualifications or Trait Advancement]
Merlin and Gorgon, having surveyed every nook and cranny, met up at a terminal buried in the wall beside the door. With a few taps, Gorgon started the chamber moving.
“So what do I do to improve them?”
“Well, there’s the first challenge.” Since people have different ones and it’s all in Syslang, most of us experiment by thinking of improving in different ways and see if any of the lines get longer. If so, good job!”
I can read this. Can I just… tell you what I want? I pondered. Improve my Muscular Output with… 3… growth potential units?
[3 Growth Potential Units have been allocated to Muscular Output]
We hit a bump and my shoulder slammed into the massive woman beside me. She laughed and helped me straighten back up. I pulled the menu back up.
[Growth Vector Allocation]
You have 27 Growth Potential Units unallocated.
System Evaluation:
Muscular Output: 1.01 [.03 - 14:51:03.13]
Motor Reflex: 0.94
Cognitive Processes: 1.51 [Advancement Available]
Memory: 0.56
[Further Traits Locked. Access may require Qualifications or Trait Advancement]
“I think I did it. One of my lines changed when I thought about my muscles growing.” I lied.
“Great. That’s a really, really common one. It’ll help. Keep in mind it doesn’t necessarily make you any better at taking a hit.”
“How do I get better at that?”
“Training can do it.” Merlin said, joining us. “Sometimes System achievements.”
“That’s the kind of stuff Infobrokers will help with.” Gorgon added, plopping down on my right.
My best is Cognitive Processes. There has to be a reason for that. I thought. I instructed the system to assign 3 more GPU to Cognitive Processes.
[ERROR: Please select Cognitive Processes Advancement]
“I think it won’t let me improve one of my stats. A red window popped up when I tried.”
“Ouch,” Merlin winced. “You started with a stat wall, huh?”
The rest of the crew winced too. Rhodes patted my shoulder.
“A wall?”
“Yeah, it’s a good news, bad news deal. Good news, it means one of your stats is high enough to develop into something cool. Bad news, unless you get really lucky or you can find an Infobroker that recognizes the Syslang, it’s basically impossible to pick anything and the system won’t let you keep going.”
Gorgon stared at me. “What were you trying to improve?”
“Gorgon!” Rhodes interjected.
“Sorry. You don’t have to tell me.” She said sheepishly.
“No, it’s fine. I tried telling the system to help me think better.”
“Huh. That’s a good stat to max. And not a common one. Well, work on the rest I guess.”
Okay. Show me the options for Cognitive Processes Advancement?
[Trait Advancement]
Primary Trait: Cognitive Processes
Summary: The sum ability to reason and problem-solve with given information
Qualified Advancements:
-Predictive Analysis: Anticipate causality more effectively
-Pattern Recognition: Identify components of larger patterns
-Abstract Reasoning: Recognize hidden connections
I stared at the list, trying to understand what it was offering. Are these replacements? Additions? And what do they even do?
[Further Information Unavailable]
Thanks. I grouched. I considered what I’d been through and weighed what little the System would tell me. Abstract Reasoning might be vital or might be worthless. Pattern recognition would probably help if I couldn’t read my menus but beyond language, I couldn’t think of an immediate use for it. Predictive Analysis though… We were on our way to fight something that had Rhodes and his people spooked. Even if they guarded me, there was no guarantee I’d avoid fighting. Seeing danger coming might save my life. Ummm, upgrade my Cognitive Processes with Predictive Analysis please?
[Trait Advancement Selected]
Predictive Analysis has been added as a feature of Cognitive Processes
Standard Qualification Earned: Exemplar
Conditions: Advance 1 or more traits
A wave of nausea hit me as I felt something in my head twist ever so slightly into a new arrangement. It doesn’t change us, my ass.
“You okay over there, newbie?” Golem asked, watching my face. “Run into more problems?”
“Another wall?” Gorgon added sourly.
“N-no. I think I’m fine.”
I pulled up my growth menu again.
[Growth Vector Allocation]
You have 27 Growth Potential Units unallocated.
System Evaluation:
Muscular Output: 1.01 [.03 - 14:51:03.13]
Motor Reflex: 0.94
(Cognitive Processes: 1.51)
Predictive Analysis: 1.51
Memory: 0.56
[Further Traits Locked. Access may require Qualifications or Trait Advancement]
“I’ve got it. I’m going to mess around a bit more with my menus.”
Gorgon nodded and turned to chat with Merlin while Golem and Rhodes looked to be fiddling with their own menus. I felt a faint tremor under my feet and, in an eerie moment of prescience, braced myself in time for the next bump not to launch me at Golem. Holy shit, that’s weird. But really cool…
Assign 10 Growth Potential Units to Cognitive Processes.
[ERROR: Cannot allocate growth vectors to composite traits]
Please select primary traits for growth vector allocation
Okay, assign 10 Growth Potential Units to… Predictive Analysis?
[10 Growth Potential Units have been allocated to Predictive Analysis]
I pulled up my growth menu again.
[Growth Vector Allocation]
You have 27 Growth Potential Units unallocated.
System Evaluation:
Muscular Output: 1.01 [.03 - 14:49:26.55]
Motor Reflex: 0.94
(Cognitive Processes: 1.51)
Predictive Analysis: 1.51 [.20 - 14:51:02.1]
Memory: 0.56
[Further Traits Locked. Access may require Qualifications or Trait Advancement]
Huh, that added twice as much to predictive analysis as when I bumped muscular output. Advancement is a big deal I guess. I settled on spending the remainder to try and fix my memory.
[ERROR: Cannot allocate growth vectors to corrupted trait]
An error has been logged for review. Please wait.
Uh oh. That doesn’t seem like a good thing. I considered asking the others if they’d seen anything like that before it clicked. Shit, there’s no way to ask without them knowing I can read these. Well, good luck with that tomorrow-me.
I split the remaining growth points between my stats evenly. Maybe it was a bad idea, but better safe than sorry.
[Growth Vector Allocation]
You have 0 Growth Potential Units unallocated.
System Evaluation:
Muscular Output: 1.01 [.12 - 14:51:03.1]
Motor Reflex: 0.94 [.09 - 14:51:02.45]
(Cognitive Processes: 1.51)
Predictive Analysis: 1.51 [.38 - 14:51:01.28]
Memory: 0.56
[Further Traits Locked. Access may require Qualifications or Trait Advancement]
“Okay, I think I’m done.”
Golem grinned. “Gorgon, how long do we have left on this ride?”
“At least ten minutes.”
“Solid, solid.” She climbed to her feet atop the central platform and held out a hand to me. “Let’s see if we can’t help you work on some of those stats right now.”
“Okay,” I replied.
I grasped Golem’s massive hand and let her pull me up next to her. The casual way she lifted me up was only slightly terrifying. We moved to the center, a good twenty steps away from the edge where the others sat.
“Okay newbie, we’re going to do a duel. The System allows you to declare a duel against any System empowered opponent and if they agree, it will simulate pain and wounds but prevent any system weapons or abilities from inflicting real injury.”
“Neat. So is this how everybody trains stats?”
Golem waggled her hand. “Danger matters. This will help a lot in the beginning, but eventually you’re good enough that only really good opponents can help you grow. Real combat improves you better.”
“Enough talking ladies, get to fighting.” Rhodes shouted from his corner of the platform.
“Aye aye, Captain. System Request: I, Juno Reed, request a duel against the Crosser Tee. The duel will end upon surrender, incapacitation, or after five minutes.”
A blue panel snapped into existence between us explaining the same terms. I took a few steps back and mentally accepted.
“Already cautious? Good. Don’t trust anyone in combat.”
Golem took a single massive step forward and swung right for my head. I ducked only to discover her knee racing right into my face. A flash of lights and then me, staring at the dimly lit ceiling.
“Good instincts, but assume your opponents want you to dodge.” Rhodes shouted out from the side.
“Like the Captain said,” Golem added with a grin.
I glared back and climbed to my feet and stepped back a few more times, trying to stay out of range for another lunge. Everything ached already and she’d only managed a single hit.
“You can’t keep running.” She muttered.
“Watch me.”
Golem shrugged and stepped forward again. I skirted back and to the side. Her weapon, a large hammer with a faint glow around the head, gave her easily four or five times the range of my knife. The only way I’ve got a chance is if she makes a mistake.
I stepped left and then abruptly doubled back, watching her start to follow. For a split second, a faint afterimage followed her before the real one reversed direction and the ghost faded away. Huh. Weird.
A ghostly blur rushed towards my right arm and I flinched left. A split second later the air wooshed as her hammer jerked forward along the same line and barely missed slamming into me.
“Nice reflexes, newbie.”
I grinned. Okay, Predictive Analysis is creepy but useful. I tried the double-back maneuver again. No ghost. She can spot when I’m faking out after seeing me do it once?
The next set of ghostly images came from two directions at the same time aiming for my left knee and head. I did the only thing I could and tried hopping over the lower strike. Her leg-sweep to my knee sailed right under my feet but her hammer glanced off my hip. The strike sent my airborne body flying to the side and I rolled as I hit the ground. Stars filled my eyes again and a dull ringing now filled my ears.
“I saw you flinch. I know you knew that was coming. Why’d you jump?”
“What else was I going to do?”
“Step back!”
“You told me not to run!”
“Relax folks, it’s just practice.” Rhodes yelled.
I nodded and climbed back to my feet. He was right. Golem was probably right. A sidestep would have worked but I just… didn’t think of it fast enough. More growth points into cognitive processes or motor reflex it is. Using a short weapon was a lot more mental than I’d been expecting.
Duel or no, I can’t keep getting up from hits like that. This is the last try. I thought hard, formulating a plan and staring at the eight or nine steps between us. It wasn’t a smart plan, but a smart plan would have been to run away and not look back.
As Golem took her first step towards me, I ran towards her instead. For a split second, I watched a ghostly afterimage of her flinch back. The moment I spotted it, I threw my knife as hard as possible right at her face. Golem's eyebrows shot up and She twisted her hammer in the way and deflected the knife. As her eyes left me, I slid like a baseball player right into her leg and slammed my whole body into it. I felt Golem’s body start to give and like a massive tree, she toppled over on top of me. My bones screamed from the impact. A moment later, her massive arms wrapped around my neck and the air and light left me.
[Duel complete]
A moment later, I was back, laying on the ground, twinges of the agony still racing through me. The dim ceiling no longer blurred and the ringing in my ears receded. I took a massive, gasping breath.
“That was the dumbest, bravest thing I’ve ever seen a newbie do.” Merlin said somewhere above me.
“I didn’t have any good options.”
“Never throw your weapon away unless you have another one!” Golem lifted me to my feet as she berated me. “Even if you could have beaten me, you never know if there’s another enemy waiting for an opening!”
“Are you saying I could have won that?” I shot back.
“No, you’re a newbie. Nobody expects you to win.”
“Then I think I made the right call. I can’t run. I can’t win. The most I could do was take my chance and maybe buy someone else time.”
Golem huffed unhappily. “Don’t try to be a hero, newbie. Nobody remembers the heroes.”
“I’m no hero.”
Golem walked me back to the others. I could see her mulling things over.
“Good job. Just… when we start this rescue, stay in the back. I don’t want you ‘buying anybody time.’”
I grinned back at her. “Deal.”
Rhodes clapped his hand on my shoulder as I plopped down next to him.
“Rest up, newbie. It’ll take a few minutes for the phantom pain to disappear. Good job.”
I nodded and then, remembering the point of the duel, pulled up my traits.
[Growth Vector Allocation]
You have 0 Growth Potential Units unallocated.
System Evaluation:
Muscular Output: 1.04 [.09 - 14:47:26.13]
Motor Reflex: 1.01 [.02 - 14:47:26.57]
(Cognitive Processes: 1.61)
Predictive Analysis: 1.71 [.18 - 14:47:26.40]
Memory: 0.56
[Further Traits Locked. Access may require Qualifications or Trait Advancement]
“Woah, that really did push my stats up.”
“Lotta lines changed?” Rhodes asked. “Don’t get used to it. The higher you get, the slower they’ll grow.”
We settled in and waited for the ride to end.