I was now very certain The System was actively fucking with me. The random snide comments, the constant annoyances that came with changed and inconsistent texts, at least the ones I still allowed.
You are correct, Player. The might Xal’gul granted you another 0.0000000001% of my processing power as a hidden reward, I am now capable of speaking with you at length.
I froze, ignoring the bustle around me, pretty sure Fernando was trying to get my attention about something, but I just...froze. What in the hell was happening to my life? First I find out the ‘Primary Target’ was pretty much nothing but a toy, then I get sent into this fucked up version of a death game, and now I had a voice talking to me at length...responding to my thoughts.
Why couldn’t it just stay quiet and give me a set method of delivery for rewards?
System acknowledges your request. -Overridden by Moderator Xal’gul for amusement purposes. - Player, you have further rewards.
System Announcement! You have gained five followers! System rewards Player with one Primary Building Card.
Congratulations Player! You have reached Commander Level three! You are now able to recruit a new Hero Unit!
Player may now bring ten Units and two Heroes into a Campaign Map!
Congratulations Player! Your Regeneration Skill has increased to level three! Health regeneration increased to forty percent!
Ok...yea, sure, just ignore my broken mind and continue with your fucking rewards. I took a deep breath, absently holding a hand up to stop Fernando from talking to me, the others present looked concerned, but I honestly couldn’t process anything right now.
Right, so Regeneration increased due to usage, most likely. I did feel oddly better, so that was nice, if confusing. Another Primary Building Card would really be useful, I’d use it after finding out what the next Hero I obtained would be, now that I could use the Utility Hero Card I had. An increase in the number of Units I could take with me into the Campaign Maps was good as well, though it made me worry about just how much more difficult they would become due to it.
Exponentially so, Player.
Ignore it, right, why does Fernando look like he is about to blow a gasket? “What is it?”
He gave me a critical look and then turned to Andy who was staring at her tablet with wide eyes. “Sir, how did you go from barely functioning to nearly perfect condition?” Oh, that. Now, to be fair, I had forgotten about that little perk of mine.
“I’ll answer you if you tell me how exactly you can train Imperial Guard, and who you are.” Ha! Take that! Bossing me around, making me do things I didn’t want to do. I doubted he’d answer, and I was feeling pretty petty all told. I could have just shrugged and said I had no idea, instead I lashed out to a degree, wrong setting, but who cares.
He became guarded, a bit withdrawn while pulling himself straight. Something big then, because that was one hell of a reaction. “Sir, for the Imperial Guard, it is due to my Family. Who I am, is Lieutenant James Fernando. Your General.”
I lifted a brow at his words, he’d tell me when he was ready. I nodded and shrugged. “My condition, I haven’t the foggiest. Perhaps the poison worked itself out? Green can go over me later, just to be safe. Will that appease you?”
He gave a very small nod, then I dismissed him. A crisp salute followed, then he was gone. Great, piss off the man that makes Monstrous soldiers. Smart, Damian, really smart.
I sighed as everyone else left the room with orders to submit an operations report to my personal logs by the end of the day. I wanted to see exactly what The System changed in their recollection of events to keep them from going insane.
“Adjutant, can any information be gained prior to the next mission?” I needed to make sure of this. Any edge I could get would be useful beyond measure.
Yes, Magistrate, six hidden objectives may be unlocked for the next Campaign Map. Be advised, the first will take four days to unlock, the second will require you to complete a Universe Achievement, the final will cost you three thousand Minerals and Vespene Gas.
Ok then…”Start the first one.” I knew damn well the third one wasn’t going to happen. I wouldn’t short my people that much for a fucking hidden objective. The rewards would be nice, but it would be a short sighted thing to do. The second was rather confusing, but I knew that the things existed in this Universe. I just had no idea how to actually achieve the fucking things.
Fuck it, at least I’d have one I’d know about in the next mission. Leaving the Adjutant room, I went to my quarters to remove the Marine Armor, and the cold metal tube from my ass. That part was tantamount.
I had to get a lot done before what was left of the day was gone. See Nova, ask her about the kiss. Deal with her ‘punishment’ to try and appease Fernando. See the Assassin, who I was certain would be executed soon, then start using my rewards so that I wasn’t sitting on opportunities. I’d also need to undergo more training, try to get my shit together and improve on what I actually was able to do. Try to stop reacting and actually begin doing.
The list was damn near endless. Just thinking about it all gave me a headache. Everything would get done though, even the more annoying or disturbing aspects. I smiled a bit, actually looking forward to seeing Nova. Remembering I had Jim Raynor's Vulcher gave me a few ideas in terms of ‘punishment’ as well. Only after I drove it though, I mean...c’mon, it was fucking Jim Raynor’s personal Vulcher! Just thinking about that was enough to get me excited. I was sure Caspian could study it to reproduce it on a massive scale. It had to be immensely better than the normal ones, right?
When I arrived at Nova’s quarters, I opened the door to find her sitting on her bunk with her hands clasped in front of her while looking at the floor. She lifted her head slowly as the door opened, and I entered. “Nova! First, thank you for ensuring I made it back to Bastion without dying. Second, Fernando informed me he placed you under house arrest. That’s done.”
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
“I need to be punished, for failing to keep you safe.” Well, that was disconcerting. She sounded colder than an iceberg. Well...shit, alright. I can do this.
“Fine, you wish to be punished, I have something you can do. You will be relegated to my personal Ghost, as before. Your Ghost Division will answer to Fernando until I state otherwise. Your punishment is to stay by my side, at all times, and never allow what happened after you kissed me to happen again.”
Good, that seemed fair, even agreeable compared to what Fernando might have wanted. I temporarily stripped her of her command, while also making her always stay near me. Yay! Wait, no, not yay. Just good, an excuse to keep her near it was not.
“Kiss? Damian we never…”- “Right, the kiss! It was rather fantastic. We will have to do it again. Up you go now, I need to see the Assassin and find out exactly how he managed to poison me while you were with me. Seems that kind of skill might be useful.”
I cut her off, knowing exactly what she was going to say. That was not what happened, only my word was truth in this regard. She eyed me like I was insane, but I never gave her a chance to respond. “Come on, Nova, we have a lot to do today. Fernando will be notified of the increase in his responsibilities, temporary though they may be.”
That made her angry, good. Now she wasn’t thinking about such idiotic lies as me kissing a man. Perfect!
We found Fernando outside the Barracks, watching people with a vacant look that I personally found a bit off-putting. “Fernando!” I called upon reaching him. He showed little reaction but did respond to my voice with his attention. “You’re being given control of the Ghost Division, though the Orion is still Nova’s. This is temporary until she earns it back. She will also remain by my side so she has the chance to do just that.”
Push forward, don’t let them overwhelm you with their overbearing monstrous might! “Now that she has been suitably punished, where is that Assassin?”
Fernando seemed a bit confused at first, but then what I had said registered with him and he gained a scowl the likes of which would put my third-grade teacher to shame. “Sir, I do not see remaining at your side as a suitable punishment”
Of course, you didn’t. “How so? She has to remain at my side, always reminded of her failure to keep me safe and perform that duty twenty-four seven. Seems a fairly fitting punishment. Moving on, the Assassin?”
Fernando retained his scowl, but actually, let it drop. Small victories are very important, yes indeed. He led us through the Barracks to the holding cells that had been built within to house prisoners. Nova had been uncommonly silent, I ignored the fact she suddenly had a shotgun in her hands. The implications of where the bloody hell she has kept it was a bit too disturbing for comfort.
Opening a door, Fernando stepped in first to the rousing catcall of “Hello gorgeous man!” followed by “Boy-toy!” I restrained myself, do not shoot, do not shoot when I entered. Nova followed and stayed in a corner, glaring daggers at the man.
Getting a good look at him, he was a handsome little bastard. Slim, but toned musculature, sporting a goatee. He resembled his sister a lot, very strong features, almost hawkish. “Aww, no response Boy-toy? Even after sharing such a…” - “Finish that and I’ll shoot you.” I cut him off, my truth was the only truth. I had kissed a beautiful woman, Nova, not a man disguised as her.
He pouted, the jackass actually pouted. What in the hell? I’ve known flamboyant men, but this was taking it to an extreme. “Why did you poison me? What did you gain from that?” He adopted a relaxed posture, that smirk I’d seen in the camera coming to the fore.
“Simple, honestly. I wanted my sister, you had her. It was a win-win. Then the handsome man beside you had to have the demonic thing you call a Doctor drain me of at least two pints of blood while sucking my will to live away with her nagging. Who the hell cares about me possibly dying with genetic modification?”
It’s official, Green was my chief torturer, without being informed. “According to the reports I’ve gotten you have repeatedly stated ‘The Old man cannot have her’ I assume you mean General Vex?” He grimaced but nodded. “Care to explain?”
“Not like I have a whole lot of options here. You’ll still give her to him in the end.” I waited, he waited. Apparently, we were going to play the silent game. That’s fine, I looked toward Nova, admiring her for a moment. I was forced to stop when she glared at me, cruel.
“He’s her Husband, in name at least. Political between Guilds before they fell, he wants to find her and kill her because of...a problem that involved me. I felt I owed my darling sister something, so I came to rescue her.”
Yea, probably cause you fucked him and turned into a man...Nope! Thought to erase, delete, delete, he cannot do that as a woman. Moving on. “I see. You’re right of course, I still intend to hand her over. She’s a Pirate, she was also the key result behind several of my men dying in a raid she performed.” I was still pissed about that.
“Yes, she was. She also struck you before you could strike her. It was war, Boy-toy, death is the currency you trade in during a war. I can offer you benefits, should you choose to let her go, or at least keep her from the old man.” I really did not like the way he said benefits.
“Nova, Fernando, leave the room a moment, please. Disable all security feed. I want to have a private conversation.”-”Damian!” - “Sir!” - “For fuck's sake, just do it!” I shouted at their objections.
When they did leave, an entire argument later, I was alone with Hiko. I took a seat across the table from him, leaning my chin on a palm. “Brave Boy-toy, staying here with me alone. What’s to say I won’t kill you?”
“The fact your sister would be the first one killed if you tried it aside? That you’d die soon after. I know your kind, you’re self-serving beyond all else. Moving on, I will trade with you.” He regarded me, his smirk falling away to show the man beneath it, a bone chilling depth to his once playful eyes.
“And what would it cost, Boy-toy?” I resisted the shiver that tried to make its way down my spine, this man really was dangerous.
“You never, ever, speak of what occurred the night I was poisoned, delete all records when you are able as well. I kissed the actual Nova, not you. Second, you give my Doctor the means to replicate your modifications, all of them. Finally, you take your sister's place. I have no doubt you’d survive the encounter. Do that, and she can go free, but only after you are on that ship.”
I wanted whatever it was that allowed him to change forms like he did, no matter what cost.
“The first one is simple enough, even the second one. Though I refuse to be anywhere near that Demonic woman you call ‘Doctor’ again. The third needs to be changed, she goes free now, then I will do it.”
“Not happening, you’ll escape if I do that. I’ll allow you to speak with her daily, but you will remain separated other than the hour I grant you to speak, under heavy guard.”
“Very well, Boy-toy. We have a bargain.” I ignored the thought I had just struck a deal with the devil and left the room, ignoring Fernando and Nova a moment while I collected myself.
“Fernando, he can speak to his sister for an hour each day, use your best to guard him. I’ll forward the other information to you later. Come to my quarters tomorrow morning as well, we need to talk.”
I let out a deep breath, heading back to my quarters, pausing at the monument as I went, glad no new names needed to be added at this time. It was too late now to use the rewards, but I planned to see the Vulcher first thing in the morning and take it for a joy-ride. Then I needed to do the rewards. Fernando would need to be talked to first, we needed to discuss both of our actions, find a common ground, and work outward.
As for Nova, I knew I’d need to speak with her later as well. For now, this was enough though. I bid her goodnight after reaching my quarters, she left afterward...at least I think she did, she had cloaked after I said goodnight. I had the strangest feeling I was being watched now as well...sleeping with the clothes on tonight I think.