----------------------------------------
Max was feeling good about the animals. They should be fine until he got back, as long as no one escalated, maybe things could even be better for everyone. Max selected the storage option on Bo’s Bike and swiftly sent it into the Tesseract’s space. He wouldn’t need it to find Charlie and get moving. It was Labyrinth time soon!
“[Max, your SkillZ input Brachiation is very close to completion and will earn you another downloaded skill if you finish it. Perhaps something … more strenuous than a jog through the woods?]” Mal suggested.
Max smiled and waved to Mort, Flip, and several of the friendlier animals. Mort still looked overwhelmed and scared, but it seemed to Max that he stood a little taller now.
“Hey, Flip. Wanna have one more tree race before I go to the big city?” Max asked. Flip screeched and leaped to the nearest tree, scampering like lightning up into the tree’s daunting heights.
“No fair! I didn’t say go yet!” Max yelled. He flung his grappler upward, and as soon as it latched onto the trunk, he pulled with all his augmented strength while leaping. The combined impulse force shot him higher and further than Flip’s progress instantly. Max laughed maniacally, as he flew through the air. Mal was right, only a handful of swings and leaps and he got a very welcome notice.
[Agility +2, Perception +2, Will +1]
[Body Skill - Tireless +1, Tireless reaches level 6]
[Body Skill - Balance +1, Balance reaches level 9]
[SkillZ input skill Brachiation - complete. SkillZ +1, SkillZ reaches level 4]
[New SkillZ selections available: Houdini escapism, Kunai, Negotiation, Advanced Motorcycling, Phishing for Fun and Profit]
[Select SkillZ output ability now]
“[Wow, all my choices are so awesome. These would have been very useful in the last couple of days. This is a tough decision. Any help?]” Max asked his collection of internal advisors.
“[Phishing is another hacking method. That would be useful in advancing your Intrusion Skill further.]” Mal voiced.
“[Max, you should consider the Kunai skill. That will help you control your Grappler device better. Your Wuxia Sensei won’t be able to train you, like you wanted, if you’re in the Labyrinth.]” Musashi said.
“[Both Escapism and Negotiation could have altered the outcome of your detainment and subsequent dialog with the Uplifted Animals. However, it’s unclear if they might be of help in your upcoming delve.]” Sherlock observed.
“[And finally, Moto-Cyclun’ might be a hoot and a half, but I ‘reckon less useful in that there maze challenge than a fishing net in a prairie.]” Boone drawled.
“[Right! Good advice everyone. Thank you. I guess I’ll pick Kunai then. I know for certain that I’m going to need to use my Grappler.]” Max said.
[SkillZ Output set: Katana, Kempo, Kunai]
[SkillZ Input slot available - active monitoring for input skill ongoing until a target skill can be set.]
Max and Flip ended their fun and said their goodbyes as they approached the meditation rock and the waterfalls. Sure enough, Charlie was there, sitting on the rock in the exact same position as when he and Max had first met.
Unable to resist, Max slowed and tried to approach as stealthily as possible. His instincts to pounce were irresistible, even if only for fun. Max carefully and lightly stepped closer, being careful to avoid noise and missteps while willing himself to be invisible.
[New Body Skill unlocked - Precision 1: Augmented digital control of physical motion for fine motor control]
[Body Skill: Chameleon +1, Chameleon reaches level 2 - Mono-color shift upgraded to multi-color shift]
[New Body Skill unlocked - Sneak 4: Augmented digital control combines with natural instincts and applied induction body memory to enhance stealth. The initial starting level of 3 was applied for natural ability.]
Max smiled, his instincts helping to keep his approach downwind, even Charlie’s advancement of his Scent skill wouldn’t help. He was within leaping range and Max coiled to leap when Charlie spoke.
“Really Max? I’m meditating, not sleeping. You were so busy trying to sneak up on me; that you didn’t even notice that you walked right through my ever-growing screen cloud of nano-motes. I “saw” you the second you stepped out of the tree line.” Charlie said with a smile, finally opening his eyes.
“Son of a bitch. You got me.” Max groaned, then brightened and asked. “You’ve been using the nano-mote gift? What’s your level? How many do you have now?”
“Right now, my Swarm skill is level 3. That let me double the motes in a matter printer twice now. So, my initial swarm was 100 and it’s grown to 400 motes now with my advancements, 240 scouts, 80 scanners, and 80 power banks. It's super cool seeing the world through 400 different points of view. At first, it was overwhelming, but now it’s kind of addictive. You should really get started using them. I see why the Augmentation Academy gifted these to us. They will be enormously helpful in the Labyrinth.” Charlie said.
“So, are you ready to hit the road?” Charlie asked.
“You know it. My dad said we should get inside the Labyrinth ASAP while everything settles down with the animals changing. By the way, why didn’t you come into the forest and get me? It took me a while to see your message with the Oaks jamming field.” Max asked.
“Well, I did get the online alerts from the mayor to stay out of the reserve. But you know me, that wouldn’t stop me from coming to get you. No, the forest itself stopped me. Something changed. The second I passed into that jamming field; it was like the trees focused their jamming on me. My augs went haywire and it gave me the mother of all migraines. I’d almost say it's good training, except for the damn headache. My [Bastion] and [EMP Resist] skills both advanced twice.” Charlie explained.
“Damn. Someone altered the Oaks to help the animals? I don’t know, maybe it was their progenitor Harambe or maybe that Ultimate Hacker my dad is after for messing with his work.” Max said, with a furrowed brow.
“Whatever’s up will have to wait. We got stuff to do. Let’s run back to your car and collect the others. Once we’re all together, I’ve got some cool gifts to use in the Labyrinth to show you all.” Max said. The pair took off, like old times, and raced down the path to the entry lot.
----------------------------------------
In the parking lot, Tyler and Dalton waited. Tyler had parked his sporty red air car deep in the corner of the lot, out of the line of sight for the walking paths. Dalton flexed his large hands eagerly.
“Are you sure they're in there? It has been over an hour now.” Dalton complained, fidgeting with the fittings of his newly acquired Power Armor. Today he planned to break it in the right way.
“Oh, I’m positive. I used one of those nano-motes we got at the academy. I placed it on that bastard Charlie’s car over there. I got a new skill to track the mote using the national wireless grid. That idiot never checked his car for tracers.” Tyler bragged. He continued after a pause.
“This is perfect. I’m finally going to get even with them both. You can keep Charlie down, while I deal with the fucking mutt. All this goddamn chaos is likely that animal's fault. He needs a lesson to mind his place. A good starting point for showing all the animals that humans are at the top of the pyramid on this planet.” Tyler fumed.
As Tyler concluded his vengeful monologue, Dalton pumped his chest in anticipation, adrenaline coursing through him. Dalton was at his core a bully and didn’t care about the whole animal thing. He just enjoyed dominating others.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Tyler’s head jerked up and he smiled. “I think they’re coming. Something just broke my nano-mote cordon. Get ready!” He spoke.
----------------------------------------
Max and Charlie’s passage through the woods was swift. As their blurred forms raced, whirlwinds of leaves swirled in their wake. Max leaned deep into his run, but somehow Charlie had advanced again giving him an edge. He could see Charlie’s car in the distant lot. He wasn’t going to close the gap this time.
Max was about to yell to Charlie that he had won the race when the footpath beneath Charlie’s feet exploded upward in a spray of dirt and metallic ribbons. Max instinctively leaped high to avoid slamming into Charlie. He triggered his [FastCog] and [Gymnast] skills to turn his dodge into a somersault.
Max’s surprise turned to anger. A lot of information hit him as his senses peeled the time-slowed scene apart from his superior vantage point of flying over the mess. Charlie had triggered some type of trap. Ribbons of metal had exploded outward and wrapped him, entangling his legs and arms. The trap was pulling its mesh back in and dragging Charlie down into the dirt, the metal ribbons cutting his augmentation-resistant skin deeply as it cinched tightly around him.
Max howled as a familiar scent bloomed in his nose. Tyler and Dalton were nearby. That meant this trap was not a random prank. Charlie and Max had been targeted, and the pair was close by. Max landed on his feet, almost 10 meters beyond Charlie’s struggling form.
Miyamoto, Sherlock, and Mal quickly helped him assess the information from the clues. Max extended his claws and dug in, preparing to charge back to rescue Charlie when Tyler and Dalton emerged from their concealed position behind trees on either side of the path.
Charlie was already trying to wiggle out of the ribbons, but the more he struggled, the more the metal seemed to constrict. Charlie gasped until his [Painless] skill triggered. Max could see the glint of malice in Tyler's eyes from across the distance. No way he could get to Charlie unless he went through them first.
“No more games, Mutt! Now you will face me, or Dalton here will see if your friend's augmentation can handle a Death-Net’s monofilament ribbon at full compression.” Tyler yelled, excitement flushing his cheeks red. He had an expensive black overcoat, sunglasses, and slicked-back hair; looking to emulate the classic villain so hard it looked ridiculous to Max.
“I’ve got nothing to prove. You already know I can beat you.” Max said, his mind racing. Two-on-one odds were not good. Charlie was struggling. Max felt a weak pulse, like a muffled EMP. His internal team talked to him, fast time, as he squared off with Tyler.
“This isn’t about proving anything. You need a fucking lesson. No stinking animal can match a human without cheating. Do you think you’re some kind of natural predator? Fuck that. After I beat your ass, I’ll send you packing back to that fucking forest so you can stay with your kind and stop pretending to be human!” Tyler ranted.
“[Charlie’s physical and EMP attack to free himself did not work. I surmise this Death Net device has active EMP resistance in addition to strength and razor edges.]” Sherlock observed.
“[Max, perhaps you should follow their directions…for now. If you can defeat Tyler, you even the odds. Perhaps Charlie can free himself while you stall.]” Musashi spoke softly.
“[Rip that asshole’s arms off, Max! I reviewed your memories. Make him bleed. He won’t stop unless you stop him.]” Mal raved. Max shook his head; her emotional swings were so extreme and unpredictable. He really needed to get her and Leah’s AI Solace, the former therapy daemon, together soon.
“You want to fight! Fine by me. Let’s go! I win, you let Charlie go and we walk. I lose, Charlie goes free, and then I’ll do what you want…I’ll go to the forest. But I won’t lose! What about rules?” Max asked.
“No. No rules. You want to be an animal, then you fight like an animal. The last man standing wins, anything goes.” Tyler said through clenched teeth, almost spitting in anger.
“Fuck him up already. Stop talking and Fight!” Dalton yelled. Both dropped down, coiled to charge at Dalton’s last word, an almost involuntary habit from their many sparring matches.
Max used his [Leap] skill, his claws extended and sharp, going for Tyler’s throat. His forgotten Nemesis quest thundered in the back of his brain, urging him on. Tyler’s initial look of surprise quickly faded and a series of micro-expressions played across his face.
Max guessed Tyler had ramped up his thinking speed as well. Max was already in the air when Tyler’s lightning-fast hands plunged into his coat. He pulled a pair of futuristic guns, his enhanced systems leveling them at Max’s flying form without the need to aim.
Max knew deep regret as his thoughts raced. In the air, he had no way to even try and dodge. The best he could do was to twist and turn, trying to minimize the damage. He desperately triggered his [Stun] and [Strobe] skills, hoping to disrupt Tyler. His enemy's unflinching grin, as the gun barrels flashed, proved that Tyler had better defenses now. against the Tier 2 attacks, than he previously had demonstrated.
Max felt the first bullet rip through him, drilling a hole through his chest, piercing skin, and muscle, breaking a rib, puncturing his right lung, and exploding out his back leaving a gaping wound. His skills triggered immediately, [Regeneration], [Painless], [Gland], and even [Oxygen] to recover or compensate…and then the next bullet struck.
Tyler’s weapons and aim were not simple or unplanned. The first bullet was armor-piercing and overcharged to drill through Max’s augmented body’s defenses. The second was explosive, aimed to follow the first, and triggered for maximum damage within Max’s chest. It fragmented and its pieces tore and ricocheted within Max’s body, ironically prevented from exiting by Max’s durable bones and skin.
Max fell in a heap at Tyler’s feet, gasping and coughing blood. Despite the pain, he pushed himself upward with his arms. Tyler’s gloating sneer met his muddled vision.
“Surprised Max? Do you think it’s not fair? You shouldn’t be. I’m done playing with you. That’s what cost me the initiative in our match. I’m fighting to win now…and fairness isn’t part of my plan.” Tyler spat.
Tyler stepped forward and planted a boot firmly on Max's bloody chest, pressing down with all his weight to keep him grounded. “You see, you dumb Mutt, in the real world, there are no referees to stop the match, no rules to save your hide. It’s the cunning, the prepared, and the ruthless that survive,” he hissed, the metal spikes of his boot grinding against Max's injury.
Max, still struggling for air, knew that he couldn’t rely on brute strength alone. He reached into his mental arsenal for a skill, any skill that could turn the tide. He could feel his body repairing itself, but not fast enough. He used [Multitask], [Hack], and [Intrusion] and tried to wrest control of Tyler’s augs and devices to disrupt him.
Max pushed himself and his augs, as Charlie continued to struggle under the menacing Dalton. He blanked as none of his tactics found a hole in Tyler’s defenses. He rolled to the side and struggled to get to one knee and looked up…directly into the barrel of Tyler’s pistol. The muzzle flashed and Max’s head rang like a bell as the bullet obliterated his right eye.
[Neural Scaffold +2, Neural Scaffold reaches level 8]
[Oxygen +3, Oxygen reaches level 7]
[Empathy skill activated: Tyler Ericson - anger, excitement. Alert - emotional profile indicative of extreme narcissistic and psychopathic patterning.]
[Gland +2, Gland reaches level 7 - new chemicals unlocked: Euphoria, Focus]
[Gland - Focus auto-initiated]
[Multitask +1, Multitask reaches level 2]
[FastCog +1, FastCog reaches level 10, Skill cap award +100 XP, New skill awarded: PreCog]
[New Mental Skill: PreCog 1 - mental augmentation combined with predictive analytics enables modeling of near-term actions in local vicinity]
Max’s thoughts drifted as he felt more rounds pound into each of his kneecaps. His [Painless] skill preventing him from going into shock. Abruptly his train of thought snapped back, the mumbling in his head became clear, and he heard his mental advisors again.
“[Max, wake up! Focus, Broken Cup! This is no spar. He means to kill you. His intentions are plain to me.]” Musashi yelled.
“[Max! You need to do something quick. You’re running out of time!]” Mal screamed.
Max couldn’t breathe, could barely think straight, and struggled to move. He coughed weakly, blood and disturbingly solid chunks of flesh hitting the forest floor. He activated the one skill that had saved and damned him both. He triggered [Hulk] and despite the mounting damage to his body he rolled over and flung his grapples at Tyler.
For all his bragging, Tyler was caught by surprise with his guard down. Max’s grapples hooked Tyler by one of his shoulders and a leg. Tyler tried to retreat, but Max’s overcharged augmentation pulled him into the air and toward Max’s open jaws. Like with the fox fight, Max’s instincts took over and he went for the throat. Tyler twisted as he was pulled forward, but Max’s newest skill, [PreCog], showed the move and Max’s adjusted his strike preemptively. As his teeth sunk in, Max felt Tyler’s subdermal armor stop his bite. A new notice flashed as Max’s teeth pierced, driven by the overpowered [Hulk] skill.
[Body Skill: PreCog +1, PreCog reaches level 2]
[Body Skill: Claws +1, Claws reaches level 10, skill cap award +100 XP, new skill awarded - Vorpal]
[New Body Skill - Vorpal 1: Augmented body blade weapons (blade, claw, tooth) are sharpened to monomolecular levels with enhanced strength]
Max recoiled as his already bloody teeth were buried in Tyler’s neck. He resisted his urge to tear them loose, unlocked his jaws, and backed away. Tyler’s stunned expression flashed between shock, then fear, then relief, then finally settled upon anger as Max staggered away…without ripping his throat out.
Tyler recovered and then began to raise his pistols as Max fell back. His hands shook, and then his pistols fell to the ground as a searing pain spread quickly from his neck to his extremities. He had time for one gurgling scream before the pain lanced up his spine and into his brain. Tyler fell limply to the ground as his brain was aflame; his screams echoed across the forest.
Max couldn’t focus as the damage from [Hulk] took its toll and he also fell back to the ground. As Max faded, Tyler’s screams died down. Max felt horror and fear…and, to his embarrassment, a bit of satisfaction as well when the darkness folded over him when new notifications rolled in.
[Agility +1, Endurance +2, Vitality +3, Intelligence +1, Perception +1]
[Body Skill: Tireless +1, Tireless reaches level 7]
[Body Skill: Armor +1, Armor reaches level 6]
[Body Skill: Disable +1, Disable reaches level 2]
[Body Skill: Reflex +1, Reflex reaches level 7]
[Body Skill: Hulk +1, Hulk reaches level 4]
[Domain Skill: Power Core +1, Power Core reaches level 2, Energy regenerates x2]
[Quest: Nemesis - complete, +2,000 XP awarded]
[Max Mitchell +2 levels, Max reaches Adept level 15, 20 Free points awarded]
.
----------------------------------------