Start of Part 5__________________________________________________________________________________________

I took a slow turn on my chair in her direction so I was facing her, “And what?”

Malinda looked a bit embarrassed before saying, “Um. I only just figured it out after talking about the Ether. Your magic circuit is wrong. Humans have very simple magic circuits. Yours has redundancies, back ups, secondaries and is far too ordered and symmetrical.”

“I only just took a look and instantly it became as obvious as day. Humans don’t look like that. It was that obvious after I payed attention.” She pointed at something invisible on my chest. 

“Really? What species is he? He looks pretty human to me.” Welkin grabbed the back of my chair and swiveled it around to him. He looked over me with a critical eye but didn’t seem to find anything.

“Maybe he’s a high vampire variant?” Welkin finally said. It sounded more like he was asking himself.

Malinda shook her head, “No that can’t be it. See here?” 

She pointed at something I couldn’t see on my stomach, “This part looks like a merfolks circuit than anything else. But then we have over here.”

She pointed at my shoulder, “This looks like a Thunder Saints circuit.”

Welkin nodded in agreement, “Is he some kind of human form Chimera variant? If so then the fact that he retained his ego is a miracle.”

“You two having fun?” I asked dejectedly.

“You wouldn’t happen to know what you are would you?” Malinda asked me sincerely.

“Human enough for me.” I said flatly.

“Oh, shut up.” Malinda scowled at me before continuing, “What are you? You should know instinctively.”

“Admin Server. Apparently I’m a machine. Which is bullshit.” 

Malinda and Welkin both froze up,”What?” I asked them. 

“So he’s a Machinist variant.” Welkin brought his hand to his chin.

“Awesome! This is first time I’ve seen one with an ego.” Malinda squealed excitedly and bounced on the tips on her toes. My eyes locked themselves on her bouncing breasts against my will.

“This also explains why you had such little mana. Mechanists have almost no mana of their own and are known for infesting crystal mines. They use the crystals as mana containers and drain the mana from living creatures to power their construction projects and upgrades.” She explained.

Malinda and Welkin started a debate about me and were off in their own little world. So I signed into the forum and checked my private messages. This is what I usually do after watching the giant hole in the sky for a few hours each night. I received a message from my informant and the guy who’s really the only reason I’m still alive today. 

“W0UV9erboud53 

Hey there Ject0RK. Want to meet up tomorrow? Important business. Milly has big plans! We’re going to have a real good time. 

Be sure to watch out for missing socks and I heard that headbands are in again. Dress well for the occasion!”

Fuck. Shit. Damn. Fuck! I kept my frustration internalized and ended up just glaring at the screen. Dress well for the occasion… our code yellow and Important business, our code red. The military’s putting whatever plan they’d been sitting on for the last three years into action, that’s the code red. The South Coast Vigilance have lost the area around my street to the North Band, that’s the code yellow. I had a feeling there had been more shoot outs in the area that usual. This means that this area is now the frontline in the gang fight between the South Coast Vigilance and the North band. Normally the two gangs are not too hostile with unaffiliated parties. But with the fighting between the gangs they shake down anyone they come in contact with. If they don’t like you then you’re dead. It’s as simple as that. If they do then they’ll force you to join them. You get the short end of the stick either way. I’ve also been hearing bad things about the North Band. Most of them being cases of them forcing their female members to “encourage the troops”. This encouragement coming in the form of sexual favors and outright slavery. If this information is true then the North Band are really not a group I want anything to do with. I’m all about respecting women and their bodies. I’m also part of team forever virgin so what the fuck do I know? 

Around five hours latter I rubbed my now bloodshot eye and looked outside to see the sun coming up. I guess it’s about time for me to go to bed. When I got out of my chair and turned around I found Welkin watching TV again. Around this time there won’t be any ads with scantily clad women so I guess it should be fine. Malinda was laying half on and off of her armchair and was fast asleep. At first I found it a little funny. Then I realized that was probably the only position she was comfortable in. Her tail and wings weren’t getting in the way when she layed on it like that.

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“Hey. How goes the info hunt?” Welkin asked me when he noticed I was off the computer.

“The military is going to pulling something soon and the area around my house will be dangerous from now until who knows. The frontline between North Band and the South Coast Vigilance has moved into the area. Apparently they lost the bridge and North Band is pushing south. I won’t need to move for a while but I will have to be more careful. Other than that Fens Clan has been killing people in Bankstown just northwest of here and South Coast Vigilance is struggling to hold Surry Hills to the northeast. Bad news all around. Things in the city had been cooling down after the big three claimed their territories. It seems that was wishful thinking because things are getting heated again.” I said. Informing him of the main points of everything relevant I’d learned. 

“I see… ” Welkin turned off the TV and nudged Malinda awake.

“Hah!? What?” Malinda jolted awake, sat up and wiped away some drool from the corner of her mouth.

Welkin repeated everything I’d said back to Malinda and her expression scrunched up in annoyance, “That’s going to make getting around a bit more annoying.”

“Do you know any good ways of avoiding trouble?” She asked me.

“Most people stay off the streets to avoid trouble. But walking through the back alleys is a definite way to run into armed gang members when they’re fighting for the area. During this time people like me usually keep in doors and don’t go outside. It’s why I have such a large stock of food here. If the army stopped supplying food I’d have enough to keep myself well fed for about a year. Two if I ration it.” I explained. 

The looks on their faces making it evident I hadn’t lived up to their expectations.

“Nevertheless I want to look around for materials and magical devices.” Malinda finally said after being deep in thought for a while.

“How confident are you at fighting people with submachine guns?” I asked with genuine interest.

“I know a few protection spells that could hold out against gunfire. I wouldn’t be able to fight back though.” Malinda replied seriously which surprised me.

“Using my talent I could take more than a few bullets. I’ll have a plethora of nasty bruises the next day though.” Welkin said after Malinda.

“I could take one and die shortly after.” I said sarcastically.

“Your talent can’t help you with that?” Malinda asked me.

“I don’t have a cool defensive talent like Welkin.” I sulked.

“What is your talent anyway? So that we can work it into our battle plans.” Welkin asked me curiously. He seemed to be trying hard to not be so obviously curious however.

“Backup Server assembly and a few other that all seem to be related to it. I have no idea what they do. What I do know is that I need materials to do it and I don’t have any materials.” I said.

“What do you use as materials?” Malinda asked me with obvious interest.

“Well, I don’t know. It’s just has letters with a number next to them. They don’t seem to be minerals. It’s almost like they’re ranked rather than anything else.” I said perplexedly.

“Ah. I think I know what it is. In our world materials are graded by their relative strength and rarity. That’s probably what those letters are referring to. The ranking starts at S for special and then from A to G.” She explained simply.

“So… I can just pick up something and use it as a material is what you mean?” I asked. Not really understanding.

“Technically that makes sense. “ Malinda nodded.

End of Part 5__________________________________________________________________________________________

AUTHOR Reminisces: Crashed into fantasy... I need more.