“Bob?” he asked not a little confused, you would think being after all the room flips and a woman appearing out of no where he would have been a bit more prepared. But this was the first time he had the proportions of somewhere so intimately familiar as his bed room seamlessly expanded in size.
“Yes.” Bob said as he looked around the spatially exspanded room. “hmm, I guess this could be a little jarring for someone new to the system.” He waved his free hand.
With the flick of Bobs Wrist his room was gone. The man, Bob as he had called himself remained seated in his chair taking another long drink of his tea.”
He however found himself sitting on the couch from his living room, Syl sitting to his side.
She was unresponsive, that distant look still in her eyes.
Over her shoulder he could see the Earth, bright and beautiful the clouds un-moving above the seas oceans and landmasses bellow them.
To his other side was the rest of the Milky Way, brighter and more detailed than he had ever seen from his years living below the planets surface.
Ignoring the fact space was supposed to be pitch black beyond earths atmosphere for reasons he didn’t exactly know he asked Bob, “Whats wrong with her?”
“Oh nothing you need worry about. As you both discussed the Tutorials have finally started and the system has started to reabsorb her to complete the process. I interrupted the process.” Bob said as he leaned forward to put his cup down on a saucer, that was on a coffee table, a coffee table that had appeared from nowhere.
“But is that really the question you should be asking?”
“Who are you?”
Bob looked disappointing as he raised an eye. “Oh come now, you can do better than that, I’ve already told you, Bob ”
He thought for a moment, “System Authority?”
“Accurate, but in this case also inaccurate.”
“You interrupted Sly being absorbed, so you have to be a higher system authority?”
“It’s a relative term but yes.” Bob said as sat back. “You’re starting to get somewhere.”
“And you denied the restriction of my rewards?”
“In a way. But you still haven’t asked the really important question have you.”
He just looked at Bob, a little lost for what the man he was fishing for so he fell back on every infants favourite question. “Why?”
“Why what?” Bob smiled.
Letting out a frustrated sigh he found himself channelling his inner child. “why mess with the rewards? Why pull me back from the actual tutorial? Why stop Sly from Being reabsorbed?”
Bob tapped the arm of his chair. “Because it is my purpose.”
“Your purpose?”
“Yes. All System Authority's, no matter how minor” Bob gestured to Syl, “or high they might be,” Bob emphasised himself by sitting up higher in his chair, “we are all created by the system for a purpose. And as you should know by now when we complete or even fail to complete that purpose we return to system.”
“My Little sister here was only ever suppose to clear an error the kept cropping up when the system integrating your planet tried to calibrate the tutorial.”
“Sorry about that”
Bob scoffed at his apology “Don’t be, your nothing special. If I was to be brutally honest most of what you did is considered average in the multiverse. Maybe one or two outstanding things when you and Syl started interacting more and more.”
“Oh, I thought-“ I thought I really was special.
“Everything you did was with in the limits of the system. But the system you were operating within had a.. Hiccup.”
“A Hiccup?”
“You survived when everyone else died. It does happen. But the system tagged you as an error, then struggled to balance itself around you and everyone else without the tag.
The real problem here was how inadequate this Integration System is. Did you know Eather Investment is no longer standard protocol with integration? Turns out blasting a planet with Eather can have disastrous consequences on the native flora and fauna never mind any sapient life. Rifts and Dungeons are the common practice now, too many dead worlds.”
He just shrugged, he was about to ask what Eather was when Bob continued.
“Imagine my surprise when an ancient Integration System comes out of a dormant state starts asking for either investments, the system itself automatically denied it’s own requests per current system standards. I flagged it for investigation by an appropriate authority.
Then the same system requested assistance.”
“But there was no higher authority in range.”
Bobs eyes narrowed slightly, “Not exactly, there were plenty of System Authorities within range. But non of them met the requirements. I also flagged that for investigation by an appropriate authority.”
“But you got the request, why didn't you come then?”
“My purpose is not faults, errors, tutorial calibration or even to provide assistance. I could not accept even if I wanted too. My purpose did however let me see the request, as you should respect by now I flagged it.
But then something else happened…”
Bob paused as if waiting for him to interject again.
When he said nothing Bob continued, “I was flagged to investigate the actions of a newly created System Authority that somehow started operating, lets say outside of its purpose.”
“So now your here to do what exactly? Save Syl? You’ve already stopped her absorption” he asked Bob hoping the was a chance.
Bob grin grew, “That… that is not my purpose.”
The building hope he had been feeling almost died, he had had enough, “if its not you bloody purpose then why are we even talking?”he jumped up from the couch, “If there’s no way to stop the absorption why stop the process, why are we even talking?!” he said, his voice raise to that just below a shout.
“I will let my little sister answer that one.” Bob said ignoring the outburst, giving another little wave of his hand he was back on the couch.
To his side there was a sharp intake of breath. Turning to see Syl Back, no longer staring of into space she had her eyes locked on Bob.
“Hello little sister. Call me Bob.”
Syl went to say something, but no words came out. She was paler than before and taking her had he noticed she was shaking. She was terrified.
“Aah, she knows my purpose, and I think she has put things together without asking so many whys. Syl, Sister for our friends sake. What is my purpose?”
“You can’t, he has done nothing wrong!” she stood up her tone firm.
but before say anymore bob waved his hand again and Syl was back on the couch.
“Oh please I saw your little show before. Why do you think I asked if you wanted to say goodbye and gave you that form. I know exactly what you want!”
“You asked?” Syl asked, her confusion.
Bob snapped his fingers. “What is my purpose?”
“Th… System threat elimination, but he has-“ Syl said it so softly he almost couldn’t hear her.
“Oh hush I’m not here for him. Right now the systems more dangerous to him then anything else. He is full of so much nascent System energy he going pop like a balloon if things aren't handled correctly. Not to mention the weight of the rewards if they were allowed to activate.
Bobs casual remarks about him popping like a balloon made him pause as the unpleasant mental image worked its way threw his mind.
“No Dear Little sister, I’m hear for you.” Bob said matter-of-factly.
“Me? I’m no threat, I’m about to be reabsorbed so the Integration System can start the tutorial.”
Bob slapped his hands together, “and that's what I am here to stop.”
He sat up the dying hope bursting back to life once more.
“You stop that,” Bob said pointing at him, “you already know my purpose.” Bob turned back to Syl and continued “you don’t even realise what would happen if the System, even this crappy antiquated outdated part of the System reabsorbed you?”
Syls brow furrowed, “I would cease to be? the energy use to create and upgrade me taken back by the System.”
“If only it was so simple.” Bob said. “No, the System doesn’t waste anything. Well that’s debatable. It would in fact try to absorb everything about you. Everything you have become, everything you have been given. That’s why System Authorities never really fear reabsorption, we never grow to care for anything beyond our purpose. Heck I’ve been reabsorbed forty two times. Though the Systems grown to point it just keeps me around now instead of spinning me back up each time I’m needed. But you, your different aren’t you.”
Syls eyes went wide.
Bob shuddered, “a System that feels I mean truly feels is not something you want. A self aware System even less, last time that happened It lobotomised it self for a reason.”
“That bad?” he asked guessing there was allot not being said.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Both Bob and Syl both nodded.
“I’m not really sure the System can reabsorb you, which is another a problem as the system really does need the energy back to continue. Though I plan on deleting it the moment the tutorials. Its proven to be a little too problematic.”
It was his turn for his eyes to go wide.
Bob raised a hand, “I already have a newer more polished System branch ready and waiting to to take over when its safe to do so.
But being honest with you in my younger days I would have just delete this whole galaxy and been done with it, maybe the too universe just to be safe.
But I have a plan. Well more like a concept of a plan. This, well this is a first for, er, everyone. I would like to say I have a cunning plan, but slim margins and all that.”
Hearing Bob finally confess he was up to something, he allowed himself to sink back into the couch again, Syl taking his and and giving it a squeeze.
Bob smiled seeing the two of them finally relax a little. “So I have a Neo System Authority I can not allow to be reabsorbed.” He continued with some finality. “And my options are limited. I can delete you, but I think I would technically also need to kill you, and the results could also be problematic. I might get away with quarantining you, but I have decided there are too many risk with that soo…”
“If I wasn’t a Neo System authority the System needed to absorb,” Syl said piecing what bob was getting at.
“Exactly!” Bob said slapping the arm of his chair.
“Relinquish all your remaining System Authority to me. I took what I could to stop you from messing with the tutorial once I tweaked it. But you posses allot more then you realise…” Bob stopped and got a blank look on his face for just a moment. He shuddered and took a moment to shake out his arms. “Gave that up easier than I thought.”
“Don’t need it.”
Bob laughed, “little sister you’ve been draining System Authority from a whole galaxy.”
“I have?”
Bob just rolled his eyes, “now we need to detach you from this System and anchor you to something else. Its going to take allot of System Energy.” Bobs gaze settled on him.
He watched Bob and Syl, he couldn't stop smiling. No idea what was going on, but it sounded good so he kept quiet.
Syl got a distant look for a moment.
System Authority is Requesting use of your nascent System Energy.
Warning: Accepting request will diminish possible rewards generated Upon
Do You Accept.
Yes / No
Oh yes he though, a thousand times yes! Bobs threat of him popping like a balloon had kind of stuck with him so any chance to get rid of some.
Syl Grinned at him as he felt something cool and refreshing wash over him.
System Anomaly Request Received.
Do You Accept.
Yes / Yes
He barely read the blue box that appeared before it was gone. “Er what was that?”
Syl looked at him and pressed a finger to her lips. “Hush child, the grown ups are talking.”
Bobs eyes narrowed, “you shouldn't do that.”
“Oh relax, he’s use to it. The Systems done it to him over a thousand times now.”
“That’s another reason to delete this branch, I know it created you and all, but its a mess.”
Syl just shrugged.
Bob got another distant look, “this wont do, I mean its accurate but a bit rude to my little sister to be calling her that.
System Authority renaming System Anomaly to Sylph.
Sylph categorised as System Guide.
Wait, Sylph? He thought reading the new message.
“That will do for now I suppose,” Bob said, “I’m sure the two of you will figure out something better.” Bob pointed at Syl, “I need that back.”
Syl eyes grew larger, “no.” She replied, abruptly with a tone of finality. Her grip on his hand growing tighter
“It was a loaner and besides its mine, give.” Bob held out his palm as if waiting to receive something.
Syl pouted, “but big brother, I barley got a chance to use it.”
Syls grip on his hand grew tighter
“Not my fault you threw a panicked the wasted a good time crying about it. Besides its Authority, get yourself a real one.”
Bob snapped his fingers and Syl death grip on his hand just dissipated.
Looking to his side he could see Syl was still there, but at the same time she wasn’t. He could still kind of feel her presences, but it was off, tilted. The worst part was her sweet smell only just lingered.
Syl pulled up her knees and curled into a ball, pouting.
Bob was oddly silent, and he finally drew his attention away from Syl to see the little man sitting in his chair looking off into space.
Moments past as he watched Bobs smile grow and grow. Suddenly Bobs attention was back with them.
“It’s done.”
“That it, all that talk and that was all you needed to to do.”
“What did you expect?” bob asked, “oh!” he flicked his wrist.
Congratulations!
Sylph is no longer a True System Authority.
Sylph no longer has any System Authority.
Sylph is no longer anchored to any System.
Sylph has been anchored to New System Initiate.
Sylph has been awarded System Threat Level MINIMAL.
Termination of System threat Sylph is no longer required.
Love Bob.
The message pulsed purple this time
Syl said still pouting , “That’s a very lazy System message.”
“Your complaint has been registered and flagged for the attention of an appropriate System Authority.” Bob said as he scrunched up a piece of paper and threw it over his shoulder.
Bob looked at him and tilted his head over to the planet beside them, “what you like to do about that?”
He got up to look down on the planet. “What do we need to do about tha-“
System Authority is Requesting use of your nascent System Energy.
Nascent System Energy will be used to complete System Integration Tutorial for all sapient life on the planet.
Additional Nascent System Energy required for all stalled System actions within this galaxy.
Warning: Accepting request will diminish possible rewards generated Upon
Do You Accept.
Yes / No
“The whole Milky Way? Do I have enough?”
Bob just nodded. “Why do you think I put it there, I wanted to emphasise the gravity of the situation. It’s not there to look pretty ill tell you that much, its below average at best.”
He had thought it was there to look pretty “Take it then take everything that’s needed. I have family down their.” With that said the message dissipated and he suddenly felt a great weight lift from his shoulder, one he didn’t realise he was carrying.
“Well that’s everything.” Bob said getting up, or more accurately down from his chair and walked over to join him looking down on the planet that to be whole lot more animated, no longer held in place.
“Disaster averted, System Integration resumed.” Bob said slapping him on the back with far more strength then he would have suspected from such a small man.
“Erm Bob. Aren't you forgetting something?”
Bob looked around, “no I can’t say that I am.”
Syl got up from the couch and drifted over to stand beside them both as the looked down at the planet. “He’s asking why he’s not currently picking a terrible name and joining the Tutorial we spent a millennium crating together.
“Nine hundred years,” Bob Corrected, “I tweaked the last one hundred so that’s my accomplishment. But ill accept croup project.”
“Why do I feel like everything is not exactly resolved Bob, I thought that was why we were using up all that System Energy I had, so I wouldn’t pop like a balloon the moment I completed the tutorial.”
“Well its interesting you bring up how long you were both messing about. To you it was maybe an hour that you remember. But it was a long time for someone who has just started their system initiation. Didn’t effect Syl so much because she was a system entity. But you, your soul kind of grew and expanded.”
“And what does that mean exactly Bob?”
The little man paused, as he thought something over. “To put it in terms you should understand. I could put you down their but you wouldn't exactly thrive. You would be a very big fish in a very little pond. Sure for a while you would grow exponentially at first, but even the the New System you would suffocate long before you find your path and reach your true potential. It could devastate even the potential of the galaxy itself, never-mind Earth or your family and friends.”
“So I cant go back, ill never see my family again?” he asked feeling the loss starting to sink in
“They are already in the tutorial. A very safe well calibrated tutorial thanks to you. And the New System has a much subtler rift process then the current one, so they should be fine. They might even get a title or too due to association with you you. You’ve just technically made a massive sacrifice and save your home galaxy from destruction by a Higher System Authority that goes around deleting universes for his day job. No, its much better I move you to a world that’s already progressed enough with its System Integration that you cant adversely affect it and it you, one a little better then F grade.”
He didn’t have anything to say to that, he just looked down on earth already deciding he would return one day.
“Besides,” Bob clapped him on the back, “you can’t tell me you weren’t somewhat prepared to be isekaid when you first noticed the System connection. I already have the perfect world lined up for you.” Bob said then turned and walked away from them both, “Syls going to hate it.” The man muttering as he went away.
It seemed Bob was giving them some time. Syl and him just looked down on the planet.
“Syl?”
“Yeah?”
“This was your home too wasn’t it? I mean, I don’t remember our time together. but you were created here, and you lived hear for years.”
He felt a cool feeling around his hand, and looked over to see a rather frustrated Syl trying to grip it, her tough peaking just outside the side of her mouth as she concentrated.
"Aghem!" Bob let out an exaggerated cough, "we need to get you on your way to that new world. If I see one more mage initiate pick up a stick and yell some stupid combination of abbra kadabra at another goblin, I just might delete this planet as a System Threat."
Stifling a laugh he realised no amount of looking at the planet would actually change things. But something was still bothering him. “Bob, earlier, when we first met. were you testing me? telling me all about system authorities, purpose this purpose that. You wanted to know what I what I wanted, if I would just let her Die.”
“Ah that.” Bob turned and waved his hand again, Syl disappeared with yelp.
Hey! Not cool! He heard her voice from the now familiar nowhere. Oooh this place has potential. She drifted away and somehow he knew she was exploring something he felt a strong attachment to but had yet no way of comprehending.
“Your memory was wiped," Bob Said. "You don’t even really know her anymore, at least not in the way you once did. I needed to know you understood the situation and weren't just accepting my advice because the advice was given. When you leapt to the assumption I was here to save her and then to outrage when danced around my purpose. I was satisfied you could handle the responsibility.”
“Responsibility?” he asked.
“Look, I am nearly as old as the System itself, I have seen countless Authorities come and go. Not once has any of my kind gone beyond their purpose, not once interacting with anyone beyond their intended purpose. Sure maybe we twist things here and like I have done here. But nothing like Syl was doing with you towards the end, she is a true anomaly within the system itself.
In a way I have grown to envy you mortals, the system lets you grow, you ascend and then some of you even become Gods. Sure its no System Authority but its better than never changing outside your defined parameters and purpose.”
Bob smiled sadly, “it really is time. I've stretched my resources far thinner then I would like being here for so long, interacting in the way we have. IT may take some time for your new world to be ready for you, have your System Guide actually guide you. Your not getting an honest to good tutorial. Say good by to your body.” Bob finished and waved his hand, this time adding a little pomp to his oft now repeated action.
With that the world around him twisted in on itself and he exploded, everything went black.
----------------------------------------
Shamiale was back in his office, outright ignoring the pile of notification and messages that had piled up. His disappearance had indeed been noticed.
It was going to be interesting when those kids realise they are both system users.
Categorising Syl as a System Guide was nothing more then a hasty patch job. It should obfuscate Things for a while.
Well, he could have anchored her to her a body of her own and she would have realised what they had done immediately. But she needed a little more time to fully adapt to what she now was. that and rewarding a body like that would the use of far too much Authority for things that fell far outside his purpose, the others would take note.
That and this way was far more interesting.
Shamiale Grinned as he looked over the pulsing system messages lined up before him.
Private System Event.
A Progenitor System Branch has been detected!
>Investigate Immediately<
Recover any Progenitor System Authority discovered by any means necessary.
Eliminate System Threats by any means necessary.
Eliminate Progenitor System by any means necessary.
Possible Rewards:
Parameters Expanded
Purpose Expanded
System Authority
>Warning: this System Event is Mandatory.<
Failure to complete this Event to the Systems Satisfaction
will result in immediate reabsorption.
He had never hear of a System Authority receiving a Quest, not to mention an actual System Event.
Private System Event Completed.
All Tasks Completed.
Bonus Tasks Discovered and Completed.
Bonus task: Secured safe source of Progenitor System Energy.
Bonus task: Secured safe source of Progenitor System Authority.
Analysis:
SSS
The System is Satisfied.
Issuing rewards.
Shamiale had no clue what a Progenitor System was but could make some educated guesses. Whatever it was the System sure as hell wanted a piece of it. He also had a feeling the System was scared shit-less when it showed up out of nowhere.
And to think he was allowed to talk directly with a System user. An Initiate of all things, not a god, moderator or administrator, just an lowly level 0 System Initiate. He found himself wondering how the System would actually expand his parameters, his purpose.
What else would the System let him do now.
The System Rewards those it finds useful.