Nexus
Alex was sitting on a couch reading a letter from the post office , it stated that there was a package waiting for him to pick up.
Apparently , before they died , his parents had send a work related object home that was lost in transit for a few months.
They used to be palaeontologist’s and were away from home a lot , not that it matters now , they died in a helicopter crash that was supposed to take them to civilization.
Tears started to drop on the paper while the image of his parents flashed before his eyes, it was only 3 months but it already felt like an eternity…
He was an only child and was 19 years of age with no other family , sure he had a few friends but he hadn’t seen them since the funeral.
The insurance was enough to pay for the inheritance taxes and there was enough money left for at least a few years of frugal living.
They might not have been around a lot but they had provided him with the means to take care of himself.
Better go pick it up he said and grabbed his key’s from the dresser and left the house.
It wasn’t far so he arrived at the post office after a 10 minute drive .
Alex showed the letter to the office worker and got his package with a mumbled apology that they were sorry for the misplacement and with the insurance that it wouldn’t happen again.
It’s no problem said Alex while smiling , it’s not your fault , have a nice day !
Back home he unwrapped the package and was dumbfounded what they had send back home … It was a big piece of shit , to be correct , fossilized crap from a dinosaur a coprolite.
Alex started laughing , he didn’t know why but he laughed started crying and eventually got mad .
He smashed the coprolite to the ground and pieces flew everywhere.
After that he stepped to the fridge and drunk a beer while watching some tv , 1 beer became 2 , 2 beers became 3 , etc.
While drinking Alex didn’t notice that between the crap lay a bracelet that was giving of some eerie light but as suddenly the light appeared it disappeared .
Alex dozed off in the couch , drunk, it wasn’t until the next morning or should I say midday that he awoke , hungry as hell and needing a bathroom break asap .
While stumbling to the bathroom his eyes caught the clutter he caused in a fit of rage and hurt.
After relieving himself and eating a few sandwiches he started to clean .
What is this , that’s not mine he thought while seeing the cuff bracelet , it’s an odd design looking like it may be technological in nature.
I’ve never seen something like this , how did it get here ?
It couldn’t have been inside the coprolite could it , there wasn’t any civilisation back then.
It might even look like it could fit , how much would this be worth , I mean come one I’ve never heard of anything like this before.
I could be rich , now that I think about it , why did my parents send this home and not to the institute ?
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Could it be that they knew what was inside ?
Was the accident an accident , no I shouldn’t think like this , nobody came asking for a package and nobody bothered me .
What the fuck now , keep it or send it to the institute … better keep it even my parents send it home.
I mean come on were there intelligent dinosaurs or something , it’s 65 million years ago.
With trembling fingers Alex picked up the cuff bracelet and started cleaning it.
It should be water resistant because it literally got shat out after going through a digestive system .
There… all clean , it doesn’t weigh much if I say so and it does look like it could fit me.
Well no harm in trying it on I guess , “click”, what was that ?
It fits perfectly , I think I can wear this all day with how little it weighs and it doesn’t budge while I move around.
Enough playing around and better take it off , what’s this …
Shit , I can’t get it off , aaa fuck what the hell ?
Needles ?
Shit , this can’t be good , I’m feeling dizzy .
Better lay dooown……
(2 days later)
Aaah fuck why Am I this thirsty and hungry , why do I feel like I’m skin and bones ?
My belly is gone and I defecated in my pants….
I recommend you eat plenty and drink some rust in water !
Who is that ?
I am the ai of the bracelet your wearing , I repeat eat plenty and drink some rust with water.
Where the hell should I find rust And what do you mean ai ?
Questions can come later , eat and drink !
Like hell I am , first I’m going to clean myself up!
I’ll explain some while you do this and according to my scan you have rusted nails in your garage…
My former handler named me Da’grass and I am the ai of the cuff bracelet You’re wearing .
Since you don’t have the authorization level I cannot tell you everything And I’m still calibrating with nexus to get up to date since my emergency binding with you….
Almost 66 million years , damned , I was hoping on an error.
As I was saying my name was Da’grass and my former handler was cataloguing this planets fauna and flora to preserve it existence in the nexus database after it was determined that a comet would wipe out most or all life on this planet.
Sadly after a tail slash of one of its habitants he was out of commission long enough to be eaten and there was no way I could fix him, the damage done was too great.
Which brings us to this point in time.
I’ve injected you with nanites that optimize your mind and body and give you access to Nexus.
But don’t get your hopes op yet , your case is being deliberated at this very moment.
You are in possession of technology that doesn’t belong to you and I needed you to reconnect with Nexus.
But fret not even if they repossess me the changes to your body are permanent and give you an extended life and boosted intelligence , even your offspring would benefit from the changes.
And no I didn’t change you , I just brought about the current optimized version of your race.
You’ll be faster , stronger and smarter than the old you.
Consider this my payment for using you to reconnect…
Any questions ?
You made me shit my pants with your upgrade and yes I’ve got a lot of questions !
Sorry , waste material needed to exit the body , Alex .
Why couldn’t you reconnect without an host ?
I am an ai that has to work between parameters given to me by my creators , I needed a host to do this.
There were some problems in the past with rogue ai during the optimization process of said technology , we are required to turn our self in to our masters but without host we could roam the nexus and wreak havoc.
Why did your former host die if they were so technologically advanced ?
He was a young one barely 2000 years old and it was his first solo mission , he thought he could outsmart and outrun every problem he encountered on your planet so he was ill prepared.
You call 2000 years young ?
Alex , thanks to the nanites and me controlling them you could live theoretical forever unless they decapitated you or you hadn’t any access to food or water.
Wait , what ?
Don’t start dreaming Alex , they will come and collect me , I Expect the news of your case early tomorrow.
Oh , right that is a little disappointing after hearing that …
Then what is the Nexus exactly ?
The Nexus is in basic a copy of the universe in a vr world , all intelligent races come together and do trade and negotiating in everything that doesn’t require physical attendance .
They play games , enjoy food and drinks go on holiday’s to distant places , do research and much more.
It’s also a place where fauna , flora and even intelligent species are preserved from extinction.
Wait , you can upload yourself in the nexus ?
Only if certain criteria are fulfilled , Alex.
Only intelligent species that are threatened from extinction and only a maximum of 200 000 individuals.
They don’t even have a own home world anymore and have to be adopted by an existing species to exist otherwise they are stored as data .
Still , that’s impressive, to upload your consciousness in vr…
Most races merely upload a copy , Alex , with me though it would be 100 percent you .
Who made this Nexus anyway ?
The same beings that created me .
So you’re saying that it exists at least 66 million years ?