Unknown Time

Even before opening his eyes, Kayden knew what happened. His mind had been transported to a virtual world – one where the normal physical laws of the universe may not apply. As his monumental headache slowly began to recede he cracked his eyes open to see a pair of beings standing in front of him, their heads cocked slightly in confusion.

“Uh… hi.” Kayden said lamely.

“He isn’t Kel.” The figure on the left growled in a dialect of the Kel language.

“Nor is he Vrul.” The figure on the right added in perfect, robotic-sounding Vrul.

Kayden took a moment to study the pair. To him, the curves of the first one’s body gave her a distinctly feminine look – one that was mostly covered up by the ceremonial-looking red tunic she wore. On her legs she had a pair of tight black pants and high heeled boots, and her hands were covered by a pair of black gloves. Her face was the only part of her body not covered, revealing her silvery grey skin and ritualistic black tattoos that traced across her cheekbones and up her bald head. Her eyeballs were pitch black, but somehow Kayden knew that she was studying him intently.

Next to her stood an even more ‘alien’ looking figure. He immediately recognized the being’s head as being from an ancient Vrul – covered with grey skin, glowing blue eyes, and blue hair styled into a mohawk that stuck straight up. The being had neither a mouth nor a nose, and in contrast to its companion its slender body was mostly uncovered to show an almost human-like torso all the way down to its hips.

That’s where the similarities to a human ended.

In place of its arms, 4 mechanical appendages had been welded directly to the being. Each appendage ended in a grasping hand, and based on the way they seemed to flex and move as the being breathed Kayden guessed that they were connected via neural link – not unlike his own prosthetic. Moreover, the being had replaced its legs with a pair of enormous mechanical ones that ended in a pair of talon-like claws.

“He must have passed the test though, or else he wouldn’t be here.” The first figure said.

“Perhaps one of our peoples uplifted a primitive race?” The second figure offered.

“One that then went on to achieve Synthesis?”

“It is possible.”

Deciding that interrupting their back-and-forth would be a bad idea, Kayden took a moment to survey his surroundings. Looking down he saw that the stone beneath his feet was completely black, and looked like it had been poured as a liquid and then cooled. His suspicions were confirmed when he looked to the horizon to see a bright line of fire slowly pouring out of a mountain in the distance. The sky above him was choked with smoke, lit only by the occasional crackle of lightning.

I’m on a volcanic planet. He realized.

“He has an A.I. with access to his neural link.” The second figure said, interrupting his thoughts. “She has a simulated personality matrix, and is quite insistent on trying to break in. She is also actively preventing me from accessing this one’s memories, though I have stopped her from communicating with him.”

Seeing his opportunity, Kayden interjected. “She’s going to get in eventually too, unless you stop blocking her. She’s one of my women and she’s quite protective over me.”

The first figure turned to him. “Your woman? An interesting choice of word. You make it sound as if you are romantically attached to her.”

“I am.” Kayden nodded as the rumble of thunder boomed through the darkened skies above.

The second figure narrowed its eyes at Kayden. “Interesting. Who and what are you?”

“My name is Kayden Reynolds, and I’m human. I’ve come seeking the Kel’s assistance in defeating the Voidborn.”

The last word seemed to catch their attention. They shared a meaningful sidelong glance for several seconds, their mouths moving but seeming to make no sound. Furrowing his brow Kayden stepped closer but quickly realized that it didn’t matter – whoever these people were had ‘muted’ him, and were having a private conversation he couldn’t listen in on.

When they finally seemed to come to a decision the second one turned back to Kayden. “You say you come seeking the Kel-Azaan’s help, but not the Vrul Technocracy’s. Why?”

“Well, first off – it’s the Kel Confederacy now, not the Holy Kel-Azaan Empire.” Kayden replied. “And it’s the Vrul Hegemony, not the Vrul Technocracy. Secondly, I intend to speak to the Vrul after this. They’re just…not particularly friendly with me right now, despite the fact that I’m technically an executor.”

“It seems much has changed since we were last activated.” The first one muttered. “Did we survive our awakening?”

Kayden furrowed his brow as he dredged through his memories. “I don’t think so – at least as far as I know. My Kel companion helped me learn about some of the Kel and the Vrul who survived the awakening, and I don’t remember anyone looking anything like either of you.”

“Do you know who we are?” She pressed him.

“I’m guessing you’re the leaders of the Kel and Vrul who created this vault?”

“We are virtual avatars of them, yes.” The second figure said. “My name is… or perhaps was Cyrius Voltrix, Mechanicus-General of the Vrul Technocracy.”

“And I am High Priestess Zerya Nyrssara, of the Holy Kel-Azaan Empire.” The first figure added.

“We created these avatars in the event that neither of us survived the awakening process, so that we might fulfill our life’s purpose.” Cyrius continued.

“Avatars? Is that like an A.I.?” Kayden asked. “And what is your life’s purpose?”

“Similar, yes. Your A.I. is an entirely unique being unto herself. We are virtual intelligences, confined to this realm and based off real beings.” Cyrius explained.

“And to answer your second question: our purpose is to ensure that the next being to achieve Synthesis wouldn’t repeat the damage of the last.” Zerya answered, her eyes narrowing dangerously as lightning flashed dramatically above them.

Sensing he was being tested, Kayden opened his arms wide in an attempt to seem non-threatening. “I’m just trying to stop the Voidborn, that’s it.”

“Yes, but if you win…what will you do after?” Zerya asked.

He paused for a moment, caught off guard by the question. Almost unbidden, Anna’s suggestion of days-long group orgies came to mind, causing him to supress a chuckle. Seeing the looks on Cyrius’ face though, he composed himself long enough to answer.

“I’ll probably spend the rest of my days making my women happy. We’ll travel the galaxy, generally helping people and promoting peace where we can. Eventually we’ll probably settle down and have a bunch of kids.”

“How do we know that is your intent though?” Zerya pressed. “You may say you wish for a peaceful life, but feel differently once you are the most powerful being in the galaxy.”

Kayden shrugged. “I don’t see any easy way to convince you."

“We need to examine your memories.” Cyrius said. “That is the only way we will know for certain. Ask your A.I. to stop blocking my intrusion attempts.”

“For that, I’ll need to talk to her.” Kayden countered.

“Fine.” Cyrius said, closing his eyes for a moment.

[“Kayden. Are you alright?”] Ali’s voice rang in his head a moment later, her tone laced with concern.

I’m fine. Let him access my memories. Kayden requested. Just…put a stop to him if he tries anything more intrusive than looking.

[“I will.”] Ali replied, her voice hardening.

A moment later Kayden felt a soft tickle in the back of his mind. His thoughts raced from one memory to another – growing up on Earth, losing his arm in the riot, enlisting in the Roccan Alliance, and flying with his squadron. They seemed to pause when he met Selina, then again when he met Dawn, and Anna. Scenes of the 4 of them entwined naked in passion flashed through his mind before he started to protest.

“Hey! That’s private!” Kayden protested.

Cyrius made a metallic, grating noise that sounded like a chuckle. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”

Regardless, the speed of the flashing scenes increased – helping Ali obtain her android body, defeating the Black Company, then meeting both the Kel and the Vrul. It paused again when Kayden fought the Voidborn for the first time before flashing forward to his confrontations with the Queen.

“He is telling the truth.” Cyrius said. “I have reviewed enough of his memories to know that his wishes align with his words.”

“See?” Kayden said, the gentle tickle fading. “I come in peace.”

“However, he is not ready.” Cyrius continued.

“I… what?”

“He has achieved Synthesis, but does not understand the true extent of his powers. Even he will fall to the might of the Voidborn.” Cyrius stated plainly, without judgement.

“I thought I handled myself pretty well against them so far.” Kayden protested. “I think we stand a good chance.”

“What Cyrius is trying to say is that we can help you uncover more of your powers. Are you interested?”

The memory of fighting the Voidborn Queen bubbled to the surface, reminding him of how it took both an almost-fatal distraction and a high-powered mining laser to kill her. Knowing that he’d likely have to fight her again – and potentially without those advantages – gave him pause. Moreover, the fact that these two aliens apparently had access to a potential trove of ancient alien knowledge tipped the scales in their favor.

“I’ll take all the help I can get.” Kayden said. “What do I need to do?”

The pair looked at each other for a moment before Cyrius turned back to him and spoke. “Prepare yourself. We are each going to test your limits.”

“Prepare myself for wha-woah!” Kayden said as the ground beneath him zoomed forward, blurring and changing.

A moment later, the scene in front of Kayden resolved to a square 10-meter by 10-meter platform made of rock and metal hovering precariously at the edge of a chasm. On each side of the platform was an antigravity generator, and when Kayden peered over the edge he saw a bubbling red river of lava far below. Feeling a distinct sense of vertigo he turned back to see a small metal pedestal rise from the middle of the platform – one with an obvious input for a control cable.

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“My task for you is simple.” Cyrius’ voice boomed from the safety of the ground behind him. “Pilot the platform to the other end of the canyon, and step foot on the ground there.”

Kayden squinted through the waves of heat that seemed to make the air waver, estimating that the other side was about 500 meters away. He exhaled deeply and moved towards the pedestal as he called upon his nanobot swarm to form a set of armour around him. With a quick glance backwards he pulled the control cable from his arm and connected it to the pedestal, feeling the trickle of information from the relatively simple platform fill his mind.

Before he could urge the platform forward though, a wave of exhaustion overtook him. He raised his arm slowly, his armour suddenly feeling far heavier than he was used to. Unsure of what was happening he quickly pulled out his control cable and felt his strength return almost instantly.

[“Kayden. It appears that connecting to the platform disables your gene modifications.”] Ali informed him.

He glanced backwards at Cyrius’ impassive face before responding. I guess he wants me to use my technological powers rather than my biological ones.

[“Given that he is the Vrul leader, that would make sense. I believe your adrenaline rush will not work either.”]

Is there any way to control the platform without me plugging in? Kayden asked.

[“None that I see. Moreover, I believe searching for a way to circumvent the challenge would defeat its purpose: to test your limits.”]

Kayden sighed, seeing her logic and resigning himself to the fact that he wouldn’t be able to rely upon his biological powers. Reconnecting his control cable he felt the wave of exhaustion wash over him but did his best to ignore it, sending a command to the platform to begin moving. It shuddered in response before beginning to glide forward, leaving the safety of the ground behind them.

Aside from having all my strength sapped, this isn’t all that bad. Kayden thought to himself as the platform slowly moved across the deadly volcanic fires below him. A little warm, but it could definitely be worse.

The moment the thought finished crossing his mind he saw movement to the side of the platform. Whirling around, he was confronted by a small robot hovering in place. It was made of grey metal and couldn’t have been more than 30 centimeters long by 10 centimeters wide. It was arranged around a central cylinder with an eye-like blue light in the middle and 2 metallic struts jutting out like wings from either side. The telltale signs of an energy shield shimmered to life around it as it bobbed up and down slightly, ‘looking’ at him as it did.

Ali, what is that? He asked, hesitating.

[“I do not know. I expect it is part of the test. Be ready – it may attack you.”]

It doesn’t look too scary. Kayden thought in response.

Suddenly a second, identical-looking robot hovered into place beside the first one. A third one quickly followed it, then a fourth. They began to spread out as they were joined by yet more robots, and in moments Kayden was surrounded by a swarm of dozens of them.

I take it back. Kayden thought as he deployed his own nanobots. Whatever they’re doing, I don’t like it. I don’t suppose Cyrius is going to give me a gun here, is he?

[“That would defeat the purpose of learning to rely on your technological powers.”]

Without warning, the robot in front of Kayden fired an energy blast from its singular eye. The beam of light glanced off the energy shields from his armour as he threw himself to the side, pulling his control cable out of the pedestal as he did. The moment it was out though, the platform beneath him came to a sudden stop.

Rolling to his feet, Kayden formed his nanobots into a swirling electrified cloud around him that absorbed several more beams of energy. Before he could take the offensive though, the robots around him dispersed. He crouched and turned in a slow circle, looking for a target but finding none.

So that’s the game we’re playing here. Kayden thought.

[“What do you mean?”]

The platform only moves when I’m plugged in, but that’s also when they attack. I can’t use my genetic abilities when I’m plugged in either, and the fact that I need to remain plugged in limits how much I can move around. And those robots have shields too – it’s not like I can just throw my nanobots at them. Kayden reasoned. It’s a clever trap.

[“The platform is also slowly sinking towards the lava, which it wasn’t doing when you were plugged in.”] Ali said.

Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Kayden steadied his breathing and looked out at the canyon wall. Realizing she was right he shook his head and grit his teeth. Great. So there’s a time limit here too.

[“Indeed. Whatever you’re going to do, you should do it quickly.”]

Racking his brain for a few more moments, Kayden performed a mental inventory of his options. His eyes absentmindedly moved downwards to the platform as the heat from the lava began to rise, causing him to break a sweat – even through his armour. Overhead more thunder boomed, and the ever-present volcanic lightning flashed brightly. He took a deep breath and focused his mind.

One problem at a time. I need cover. He thought to himself.

With a newfound determination he formed some of his nanobots into a pickaxe before hacking away at the ground beneath him. He quickly carved out several large pieces of rock and metal before using his enhanced strength to pull them into a wall around him, filling the gaps with more of his nanobot swarm. He then hauled a piece of rock on top of the structure and another in front of him, creating a makeshift bunker that was only partially open to one direction – ensuring that the robots would have to come relatively close before they could attack him.

Ali, how long do we have until we hit the lava? Kayden asked.

[“I’m estimating another 4 minutes. I expect that our descent will slow somewhat as we pass through the layer of poisonous and explosive gasses before we touch the lava itself.”]

Kayden paused for a moment. Explosive gasses?

[“Yes. Hydrogen sulfide is both flammable and explosive and is present near most active volcanoes. It gathers in a layer above the lava, because it is denser than the surrounding air.”]

Grinning, Kayden formed his nanobots into a long tube. At one end he formed a canister with a long plunger, and at the other he sealed the opening. As the platform moved closer and closer to the lava Kayden began to pull on the plunger, creating a vacuum inside the tube. Finally, he tossed the sealed end of the tube off the platform, dropping it downwards until it grazed the lava.

The flames from the molten rock were hot enough to burn through the thin layer of metal Kayden had left at the end of the tube, creating a long siphon. As the gasses raced up the tube he quickly placed the canister into his recently-created ditch, focusing instead on slowly pulling the tube up as the platform descended so that it would stay just above the lava.

Just moments before the bottom of the platform touched the lava, Kayden used his genetic strength to squeeze the tube almost entirely shut 2 meters above the canister before plugging his control cable back into the pedestal. The platform hummed to life, rising quickly to its original height before continuing its ponderous journey across the chasm. He grinned at his own ingenuity despite the continued waves of exhaustion, knowing that he now had cover from the worst of the energy weapons fire and a method with which to strike back.

As if summoned by his thoughts a small blue robot ascended into view, hovering in the open doorway. Its eye glowed blue with energy but before it could fire Kayden took aim with his canister and pushed down slightly on the plunger. A small spurt of gas shot out of the tiny opening, hitting the robot just as its eye began to emit its beam of energy.

The effect was immediate. Kayden instinctively covered his face with one hand as a fireball bloomed to life around the robot, blasting it backwards. When it faded Kayden saw the robot’s blackened form on the ground on the far edge of the platform, the blue glow in its eye quickly fading. His grin widened at his success and he had to resist the urge to pump his fist in victory.

[“Your ability to turn anything into an explosion is truly remarkable.”] Ali joked.

Before he could respond though, several more robots appeared at the edge of the platform. Bringing the makeshift nozzle at the end of the tube to bear, he reached down for the plunger but paused when he realized they weren’t coming any closer. Glancing upwards, he saw that the lights in the robots eyes had changed from blue to green, and that they were surrounding the husk of his defeated foe.

In comparison to the harsh blue energy beams the swarm shot at him, the green light emanating from each robot towards their companion seemed soft. Kayden watched as a stream of nanobots followed the beam of green light, entering the broken metallic body of the fallen machine. After a few moments the light show stopped, and the light in the broken robot suddenly flickered back to life as it started to hover under its own power again.

[“It appears they can repair their fallen comrades. An adjustment in strategy may be in order.”] Ali intoned dryly.

This is such fucking bullshit. Kayden replied as the swarm began to take up firing positions again.