Chapter 18: Reboot
Mind you this planet might well be abandoned, giving me more than enough time for a wash and brush up, before then.
I stretch and get up. “Bones. Are you going to tell me why I’m down here? I know it’s part of a plan of yours but I’m too tired.” I ask wearily.
“Are yes. We are down here to find ore. Nearly forgot about that.” Bones says stalling.
Libby is quite concerned about the mysterious energy strands, yes plural, leading away from Adam’s soul shell into the void. There is a very bright one and one that seems dormant, at least right now.
She has made her own thin tendril connecting her to the dull strand. She has examined the energy flow and the symbols on the strand. She chose this strand as she had suspicions when there were energy fluctuations, when Adam was dreaming. She thinks this is linked to the curse he is under.
There are symbols. Bones original idea that this could be the soul’s power source is definitely wrong though. There was no energy travelling through the strand. Which means she thinks the other strand could be his connection to the system. No touching that one right now.
What was worrying was the fact that both penetrated far into Adam’s soul shell. She would need to keep a close eye on both. So she kept two main strands permanently connected, as close to Adam’s shell as she could.
Another strand, moved along and continued studying the symbols that ran their lengths. If there were enough she could possibly figure out their meaning. She carried on down the strands discovering more symbols as she went.
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“Can’t we use the mining equipment to do our work for us?” I say hopefully.
Bones didn’t understand what Adam was going on about until he remembered his ruse. Oh, yes Adam was here to get ore.
“Meca says that would be a possibility if everything hadn’t been shut down. The mining company doesn’t want anyone coming down here to pilfer. He can however possibly manage to get you back to the surface.” Bones replies.
“Sounds good to me.”, I say relieved to get out of here and not have to vault up a mile of metal.
“It might take some time though. Besides the ore is down here not up there” Bones monotones, Why doesn’t he go back to sleep?
“Adam I really don’t think this is a good idea. You’re much safer down here.” Bones spits out.
It dawns on Adam what they’re up to. Also Adam is feeling very chill.
“I can’t stay down here indefinitely. I saw no one around before and besides I have regen”, says Adam.
“Ok. You can have a little look around. Admire the view. That kind of thing. But don’t go to near the edge, again. That is.”, Bones is flummoxed as to how to stall Adam any longer.
I slowly make my way back to main shaft leading back and Meca instructs me how to operate a hoist that can bring me back to the surface. It is weird being up top again. It’s colder but at least most of the ore beasts seem to be have gone elsewhere. I thought all the ships had gone maybe I just hadn’t noticed but I can see a small craft about 200 metres away.
“That wasn’t there before. I think we better get to some cover quickly, back to the… In coming get back to the mine shaft quick”, says Bones in my head.
I look up to see several figures coming towards me, I edge back. I don’t know what they’re saying Bones would translate for me but doesn’t know the language but I get the gist anyway: I’m trouble.
“Adam, you need to get back to the mineshaft, now!” Bones screeches in my mind.
The nearest ones raise their weapons and take a few shots at me. They have me surrounded I realise as a searing pain pierces my back. They don’t seem too friendly. I guess people being on private property is the same everywhere. Another hits my leg as they open up. I decide I better raise my arms, in case they go for a head shot and edge back but my foot finds no purchase and I tumble instead, into the gaping jaws of mine shaft. And somewhere in the back of my mind I feel something is decidedly wrong with me. And it’s not the bullet holes. I feel a sickening thud and black out.
Bones is panicking. And not just because Adam has been acting weird since they left the ship. With no med chest and no sign of Adam’s non-death ability about to trigger. They are all in deep shit.
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Before when Adam came near to death there were clear signs that something was about to happen. A clear path to his resurrection or more like the pausing of his death. This time no energy build up, nothing. Had their interference in his spirit shell halted something vital? Luckily they had some time. Adam though knocked unconscious and losing a fair amount of blood, was currently stationary. He was hanging upside down around 20 meters down from the surface. All ok, as long as no one up top looks down with a flash light. But not an ideal situation.
Libby is still investigating the strands of foreign energy connected to Adam’s soul. She has collected a lot of symbols. The strands seems to stretch on and on away into the void but she actually doesn’t need to search any further for now. She has something more interesting to occupy her and her energy, finite as it is.
She believes she has cracked the language of these symbols, based on the original ones that circulate around parts of the strand. If her hypothesis is correct they are for collecting energy but from looking at the structure, in great detail, she can determine the date of creation of the symbols, relative to others that is. Some are old and some new. Why would the strand have been changed? And so recently?
“I think I may have a theoretical solution Bones”, Libby interjects, as Bones is relaying the situation.
“Libby, I’m all ears.” Bones says relieved. He had not a lot of options and the ones he did all would take him down the mad scientist rabbit hole.
“I’ve confirmed that his energy source of his curse, was the duller of the two foreign strands. The other is probably the systems connection to his soul. Though I don’t know for sure yet.
I believe I can turn the energy back on, better than that I think I can trigger the energy resources without Adam having to get to near to death. I’m also currently compiling a list of things we might be able to use this symbol language for in the future. But that will need more testing. Do you want me to do it?” Libby says happy to be of use.
“Do it! And well done by the way, Libby”, Bones says holding his tongue about any possibility of a fuck up.
Libby finds the correct parts and realigns the symbols. Then reaches a strand deep into Adam’s soul shell. She didn’t bother to mention this tricky procedure to Bones, as she was really, really keen to find out if it would work.
She had been making calculations with Echo, and had worked out that something was preventing anything happening to Adam’s soul, when his physical body died. Was it a stasis field or time magic? She had lots of theories but no concrete evidence until she cracked the symbol codes. Codes plural now, as the last one was totally different from the other two.
After some effort she finds the end of the strand. Now what to do, the trigger is Adam having nearly zero energy: zilch life force remaining. She still ponders as despite everything calculated and theorised with Echo and the others. It still all comes down to her having the conviction to try something that may kill Adam, if she’s wrong. But if she doesn’t he will definitely die. Unless that regeneration of his really kicks in.
Checking with Bones she finds it is doing remarkably well but the regen alone is not going to save him. Unless she can boost his regen somehow. Now how would she do that?
She temporarily slices the strand containing the mysterious symbols. She does not want the energy wasted on preventing his death. They need that power for other things.
Ok, she creates a set of symbols. She will call it a sentence. As the idea of sentencing Adam to death makes her groan inwardly to herself, at her dark humour. She intones to herself “may the sentencing begin” as she grafts the same symbols that are used to absorb atmospheric energy and alters them to reverse it. This creates an area of zero energy. As it is completed and she executes it, she is delighted to see the foreign strand pulsate with a stream of energy.
“Oh my, that is a lot of energy, what things we could do with that” she thinks merrily to herself. Then remembers to switch off the trigger. As energy flows into Adam’s spirit shell at an alarming speed and volume.
Libby has found the part of the system connections that have the most energy. She reasons that this energy structure must be his most powerful system built ability. As she reroutes the influx of energy into this structure. Will the system let her tamper in this way? Here goes nothing as they say.
“Libby did you do that? If so you’re awesome!” Bones beams proudly. He can see Adam’s vital signs make a remarkable about turn.
“Yes, I did. I can reroute more power at any point. I’m not sure how stable this is. Also I’m sure this must come at a cost. No such thing as a free lunch and all that.” Libby says iterating some of Bones scary suspicions.
“Ok. Let’s see if he’s fixed.” Bones says getting down to business.
Bones can still use Adam’s spiritual sense while Adam is unconscious. Adam’s shell is practically boiling with energy. He was expecting it to be dark energy. Dark strand, dark energy but no Adam’s shell is filling up rapidly with golden energy. Without Adam actually being near to death the rate of power flooding into his spirit shell, is a bit worrying. Bones tries not to think of the parallels between this and the ship exploding. What can they do with all the excess energy?
Adam’s body only needs so much for whatever healing process, Libby has instigated. Again he needs to use up this energy fast. Or does he? According to Echo the energy in the spirit shell is different from that in the physical and mana shells, in that it there are no channels to damage. He can just convert the energy into a higher and higher state. Echo you are a genius.
Bones has noticed something else happening with Adam.
“Libby, are you aware of what’s happening with Adam? He’s not just healing. He’s evolving.” Bones states, sure that Libby must know all about this. But best to check even if he does make a fool of himself.
“It’s the system Acclimatization ability. I’m feeding it all the power I can. Well not all but all we have at the moment. Echo, Meca and Trey are all in agreement that its using the materials found in his body to enhance his physical structures. Its fascinating, really” says Libby contemplatively.
Libby is a bit worried now that she has overreached herself, after one success. Bones has just caught up with the conversation.
“Wait, Adam has only partially digested some life forms which are the perfect resources. Ore beasts. We’ve hit another home run for the team! Amazing. It could just work. I’m checking out how much ore beast material there is.” Bones says jubilantly.