“Do I trust my AI? Depends on what with.
My life? In a heartbeat.
My body upgrades? Not in a million years.
This fucker in my head has tried to give me animal ears more times than I can count! No, shut up, I won’t hear you out! THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN I’LL ENJOY THEM?!”
--Shadowflame, moments before burning down a tv studio in an argument with their AI, Liandry.
I pop open the box and find two familiar syringes, three strange silver metal disks, and a small inhaler.
‘Okay, is there anything I should know before I start? Is there a specific order?’
There is, however, first I would like to warn you that using this upgrade package will likely break down and clear out the damaged sectors of your brain.
‘And that means?’
I suspect this brain damage is the cause of your missing memories, so removing the damaged sectors is likely to make it impossible for you to regain them.
‘Oh…’
I sit in silence for a moment, not quite sure how I feel about that.
On one hand, I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. I’m perfectly happy how I am now, and I don’t even know if I want to remember what my life was like before this.
But on the other, something about never knowing makes my gut twist.
‘Do you have any information at all about me pre-undercity?’
A little bit, yes.
‘Do I still have any living family?’
No.
I shut my eyes and take a deep breath.
‘What first?’
Please take the application pads and place them against your temples and the back of your neck.
I pull the three hefty discs of metal out and stick them in place, each one clinging to my skin with a soothing touch.
‘Do they do something?’
Yes. Please inject the syringe with the green preparation solution into your neck and I will activate them to install the mechanical portion of your aug.
Nodding, I pick up the syringe with a thick, bubbling, lime green liquid inside and place it against my neck. A chill rushes to my head as the solution enters my bloodstream, and it’s quickly followed by a buzzing pain spreading from the metal pads.
It lasts for an instant before both sensations vanish together as the pads fall off on their own.
Now inject the viral sample into your chest. The inhaler is a drug for afterwards to help you adjust.
‘Got it.’
It’s a pretty silver liquid this time, and a splitting pain hits my head moments after it disappears into my chest. I wait out the process I’m slowly starting to become numb to, and once the pain vanishes again, I immediately feel like I’m back on Hyper Thought again, but this time I’ve taken triple the dose.
“Woah,” I mutter, slipping between three different tones in the process.
I pick up the inhaler without having to be told, and the moment I breath it into my lungs I feel a haze settle over my mind, slowing it back down for a bit.
That drug should wear off slowly over the next few hours, allowing you to adapt to the change smoothly.
‘Okay, what about the augs?’
Before Cyon can respond, a simple UI pops into my vision as if reacting to my question in her place. The screen offers a basic search engine along with my messages, and I even see a small tab at the side with my current points total included.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Your new augs have several functions including acting as a hub to control any biological upgrades you may pick up in the future and the aforementioned empathy hub. However, for now you will mostly notice the working basic functions, and the increased interactivity with me.
Suddenly, a small black dot appears in my lap, twisting and stretching to form into a pitch black raccoon with blank white eyes.
‘Woah!’
I reach out and my hand passes through the avatar, but it stands up and floats up to hover in front of me before speaking.
I can use the augmented reality capabilities to create holograms visible only to you. These can be used for both tactical purposes like 3D renderings of a battlefield, and to improve your experience as a Vanguard.
Cyon raises her paw and taps the air, forming a glowing example panel in front of me.
¯¯¯¯¯
New Purchases!
Class I Prolotor Cybernetics Unlock – 50 points
Mark IV D.E.N Upgrade Package – 300 points
Total: 350 points
Remaining points: 1491
_____
‘Cool.’
I reach out and swipe the screen away, watching it turn to smoke between my fingers.
‘Does this mean I can know what’s happening topside now?’
Yes. I can now tell you that there is a large-scale incursion occurring in city above. There are several Samurai, both veterans and newbies like you, trying to fight it off, so I would recommend you focus on trying to remove the suspected hive below the undercity still, but they are struggling.
‘They’re struggling? How bad does it look? Will the city fall?’
It is entirely possible. This city is not prepared for an incursion of this size, and if it drags on for too long it may be recommended to abandon the city and use more drastic measures to stop the spread.
‘Great. Well, I guess not much changes for me anyway. What’s next?’
Cyon taps the air again, this time leaking some of her pitch-black skin and forming it into a familiarly designed syringe filled with a pale purple fluid.
That would be the Combat Base XX Genome Conversion Solution for five hundred points. It is a full genetic rewrite to convert you into a custom-designed, combat-focused family of the Prolotors. You will receive several changes to your anatomy, vastly increasing your compatibility with future Prolotor upgrades. Base XX is a female model, meaning your body will be changed to match that of a cisgender female Prolotor as well.
I feel a bubbling excitement at that prospect, but I manage to stop myself vibrating out of my seat thanks to the haze calming me down.
‘Will it change my height?’
Yes. There is a small variation, but Base XX should be between one hundred and sixty-two, and one hundred and sixty-five centimetres. Is that enough?
‘Yes, that’s perfect! Goodbye one eighty, time to be smol!’
Cyon’s avatar crosses her arms and nods before raising her head proudly, as if begging for praise.
Would you like to purchase it?
‘Wait, what other changes will it cause?’
Are you sure you want me to spoil the surprise? I don’t believe it will be anything you would object to.
I hesitate for a moment before nodding. She’s got me this far, why not trust her further.
‘Okay, buy it.’
¯¯¯¯¯
New Purchase!
Combat Base XX Genome Conversion Solution – 500 points
Total: 500 points
Remaining points: 991
_____
A simple, plain black box the size of my forearm appears, so I catch it and flick it open to find a perfect copy of the syringe Cyon showed me.
I take it out and drop the box, finding the syringe disappointingly light. I don’t know why I thought it would be heavy. I guess I just think important things should be.
I take a deep breath, pushing away my pointless distractions and placing the syringe against my chest.
‘Here comes to the pain.’
Actually, you won’t feel pain with this change.
‘Really?’
My head snaps up from watching the glowing solution drain into my body, searching for Cyon’s avatar but finding a quickly dimming room instead.
Yes. You will, however, fall asleep for a short period.
Everything went black before I could yell at her about warning me about these things.
***
{-ster}
I stir to the feeling of Stripe’s nose brushing against the ears on top of my head.
Wait, ears on the top of my head?
I sit up, suddenly feeling very awake, flicking my gloves off and reaching up, finding a pair of small, fluffy ears that tickle as my fingers brush against them.
“Whoa,” I exclaim, my eyes widening as I hear a tone that clicks in my mind.
I immediately try to memorise the shape of my vocal organ, and a message pops up on my augs in response.
¯¯¯¯¯
Vocal form saved as default.
_____
“Did that work?”
I hear the same soft, feminine tone with a creaking rasp and feel my face stretch into a wide grin.
“That’s convenient.”
It’s meant to be. Your augs were designed to help control your esoteric organs.
“Fair point,” I reply aloud, feeling a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest with each crackling note. “Oh, also, why didn’t you tell me that I’d be knocked out!”
You were only asleep for five minutes for the process to be carried out and your siblings were watching over you.
“That’s…”
I kind of can’t argue with her here, and the fuzzy feeling is making it hard to stay angry, so what the hell.
“Whatever, maybe warn me in the future?”
Maybe.
I’m starting to think I should trust her less and less.
Finally taking my hands away from where I totally haven’t been scratching myself behind the ears the whole time, I slide them down the sides of my head, checking for my old ears.
Yep, they aren’t there. Freaky.
Ignoring that one for now I stop putting off the scary part and look down.
It’s hard to see through the torn hoodie and trousers, both several sizes too large for my current frame, but I don’t think I need to. I can feel every inch of my body to an almost disturbing degree.
It’s surprisingly not uncomfortable, but it tells me all I need to know about the lithe, muscular form with just enough curves hidden underneath the folds of fabric.
Tears run down my cheeks, and I feel my chest vibrate with an involuntary, rumbling purr as my tail wiggles happily behind me.
Wait, that really is a tail!