The rest of the work day flew by after the near confrontation with the three members of the Trent household due to their close proximity, and not having had more then a 10 minute drive time inbetween them. The drive back to the family manor was another matter, the longer drive taking place on mostly strait highways, now that the roads having been cleared of wrecks.
Over a decade and more than 400,000 miles of drive time had allowed Maik to develop what he called an auto pilot, a subconscious mental subroutine that handled driving the van while his mind wandered.
What changed today ? I was even more buff yesterday and my customers hadn't started reacting so negatively then. This could be a problem. No. Somebody probably called to complain. This will definitely be a problem. Boss is going to chew me a new one for sure.
Their companies office was on the same property as the manor, literally a 3 minutes walk across the large front yard. A decade ago, when Maik had just started working for his father at $200.00 a week the businesses office was a 2 room portable building 10 meters long and 4 meters wide, with the back room used as a parts storage room. There was also a shop for the techs to work in, another portable building of the same size.
Six years ago they had moved the portable buildings up to the family manor and away from Maik's childhood home. They built a metal roof over both the office and the shop, poured a cement pad between them and walled the whole thing in to build a new structure. Now they had a mini parts warehouse that was a full 10 meters by 30 meters, and 2 office rooms now. There was a computer in each of the office rooms, one in the parts room and a 4th in the shop.
Maverick was in the front office doing his daily paperwork when Maik arrived and they chatted about various issues they had run into over the course of the day, even as Maik moved to the back office to fill out his own paperwork, Maverick bringing up his experience first.
"So I ran into this LG refrigerator that was totally dead. No lights, no display, no fans. Nothing. The only thing it was doing at all was that indicator light on the electronic control. It was blinking 8 times, Which means that it thinks the compressors bad."
Maik nodded along while looking up a part. "That sounds like one of the new LG units, and yeah, that's normal. If its the model I'm thinking of then whenever those things suffer any kind of major failure they just shut down and do nothing."
There was a pause while Maverick processed this. "..... Damn. Really ? So its just a sealed system failure then ?"
".... Possible. Did you check continuity of the compressor winding and make sure the wire harness going from the board to the compressor was good ?"
"Of course, and yeah, that all checked out good. I also checked to make sure the power transformer on the control wasn't busted and sending the wrong power in any part of the electronic control or the compressor. I know that the LG boards send a test signal to the compressor, and if it doesn't detect the right feedback then it shows an error code but that used to just lock up the ice and water dispenser, not shut the whole thing down."
Maik scoffs a laugh. "Hahh. Yeah, I think its just the LG engineers fucking with us servicers again. Trying to see how many technicians they can trick into ordering electronic controls. Might also be trying to distract from the terrible life expectancy of their compressors again. Hard to say."
Maik's earlier fears were born out shortly after entering the living room. His father had been pleasant at first. At least until everyone was gathered. Then his tone changed to boss mode and his ire fell upon Maik in an instant as he outline the complaints against Maik, especially the Trent call.
A hot anger rose in Maik at the mention of that vindictive customer and he started to retort. "I called the office and warned Becky about that customer. Their son came right over and started deliberately trying to interrogate me about the tutorial. I tried to be conversational about the subject...."
Michael spoke, his words resounding and resolute as always. The ripple effect that flowed through Maik as a result of those words was something that Maik had long classified as a conditioned response he had developed under a life time of his fathers particular disciplinary methods. "And there you go again. Socializing with the customer, philosophizing, joking, debating. The only sin you haven't committed is fucking the customer."
Michael took a moment to stroke his beard, the pause giving Maik the perfect opportunity to reflect on how his father seemed to know every time he had ever broken any of the mans rules. Maik sat with his head bowed in his best demonstration of humility. Long practice telling him that speaking up now was not advised.
"You said that it was their son that came over and started interrogating you. What did you do to attract his attention ?"
Maik was glad for the chance to explain the extenuating circumstance. Strict as his father was, if the problem was truly the result of someone else making an ass of them self then the man would forgive Maik and set about leveraging what influence he could against the guilty party. But Maik well knew that he would have to be beyond reproach, Teflon coated clean. For if there was so much as a speck of dirt to be found on him then Michael Daley would hold Maik wholly responsible.
"That's just it. The mother was the one in the kitchen watching me work and we were both ignoring the father and son arguing in the other room while I worked on the dishwasher. I never even looked their way until the boy came right up and accused me of knowing something because I'm so buff now."
Michael leaned forward and stared at Maik very intently as he repeated what Maik had said, and as the man spoke the ripple returned, stronger and somehow more noticeable then it had been for a very long time. The ripple dove deep into him, in through his nerves and up into him mind. "They were in the other room. They were arguing. You were in the kitchen. You were pretending to not listen. You did report your finding to the mother. The son did directly confront you."
Michael leaned back, stroking his beard for a moment. "What were they arguing about ?"
The ripples had partially reseeded and Maik had the feeling that this was a trap but also knew that any lie would be damning. "They were arguing about the tutorial. From what the son was saying, there is a strong minority of students at his school who went through the tutorial, including himself and he was trying to educate his parents about what it could mean. The father was digging for details while berating his son the whole time.
The family patriarch nodded, still stroking his beard and idling staring off to the side at one of the wall paintings. "That's a rather comprehensive answer for just over hearing an argument. How long were you listening in after having figured out the problem with the dishwasher ?"
fffffffFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUCCCKKK !
"..... Long enough to get some understanding of numbers and of what kinds of theories are being floated around the school."
"So long enough that a paranoid person might start suspecting you of eves dropping. MmHmm. Then.... When this paranoid boy saw you standing there looking so... buff, as you put it, he directly accuses you of knowing things. Because if your listening in on their conversation then of course you know things."
"Yes sir."
"After which, you failed to alleviate their paranoia. Instead you stoked it by trying to be sociable."
"I... I would have gladly shared some of what I know if they had been...."
"Are they paying you for help with the tutorial ?"
"No Sir."
"Is trying to give advice on anything other the the functional operation of the customers appliance not something I have repeatedly had to get onto you about ?"
"Yes sir."
"YOU ! Are not nearly as clever or special as you seem to think you are and you need to stop forgetting that."
"Yes sir."
"I can teach a fucking monkey to say Yes Sir."
".... I apologize. I acted carelessly and let my curiosity get the better of me. Then when I was treated like a peasant I became.... vindictive. I should have at least offered a simple trick that I had discovered to placate them. It would either have been dismissed as something they already knew and thus they would have dismissed me or it would have been an interesting addition to their knowledge that they could congratulate them selves for having procured at no expense."
Michael's tone shifted to fatherly. "You need to me much more careful, especially with all the strange things going on. Certain people are going to become very territorial very quickly in the coming days.
Then his tone shifted back to boss mode but with a lighter tone, the ripples fading and reseeding from Maik at the same time. "Now then, we have the new vans in but they still need to be outfitted and stocked...."
Now that they could cultivate, the majority of the family was busy doing so whenever they had the time. This meant that Maik was elected the defacto teacher for Ian, Maya and Max. Each of them had reached the beginner rank in Fundamental Chi control at various levels, Ian at level 4, Maya at 3 and Max at level 5. Maik was explaining things for them as he helped guide them through the exercises.
"The fundamental difference between Fundamental Chi control and Chi manipulation is that Fundamental Chi control is all about actively helping your chi to flow through your innate and preestablished pathways, where as Chi manipulation is all about directing your chi through your body but outside the natural flow that your body is used too."
Maik started gesturing with his hands, pointing at his second brother, Max's arm. "Right now, you are directing chi to flow along your natural pathways and this helps make you healthier... At least the system says so, and I think that's accurate. What you want to start doing, is convincing the energy to flow through your body, just not along the natural channels, but jump from one channel to another. Get it to freely flow through you. Just start small. Only moving a small amount."
The three had been trying for a while and Max was getting pretty agitated at this point. "I'm trying man but.... It's just not happening. How did you start making the chi just magically jump from one pathway to another anyway, huh ?"
Maik though back, trying to remember his earliest attempts at the chi manipulation, but the memories were fuzzy and incoherent. Then something came through. And idea that he quickly put into words before it could dissolve. "Try this."
Maik made opposing gestures with his hands, his right hand forming the Varan Mudra and the left hand assuming the Apana Mudra. Once his 3 students copied him he pressed the finger tips of his right hand directly into the palm of his left without breaking either hands posture. "Now push. Push your chi out of the finger tips of your right hand with all your might and pull with the left. Try to complete the circuit."
They did as Maik asked. They pushed, their brows furrowing more and more with their eyes closed. Muscles tensed and their faces reddened. Max even started sweating after a few minutes. And then. it happened.
Max let out a groaning roar as he finally made the connection. His right arm had felt heavy and bloated with all the chi he had pushed into it, though you wouldn't have noticed to look at him. The only discernible difference being that the right arm was redder then the left, like there was more blood flow to his right limb.
The chi energy jumped the gap, all in accordance to his will but he was not moving a small amount at first. He was moving almost everything he had and for him that was a full twenty four chi worth of energy. the muscles of his arms tried to jerk but he had been pulling just as hard as he had been pushing and thankfully already had the route planned out for the chi to flow through. But even for all that preparation Maik could tell that there was some strain on his brothers body to handle that much chi flow all at once.
Neither Ian or Maya managed it before they tired out but seeing Max's success kindled new hope and determination in their hearts.
Michael seemed quite pleased when they told him how they had finally made some advancement. The family patriarch congratulated his eldest son, Maik, in a round about way. "About time you figured out how to help then unlock a path toward Chi manipulation."
Maik felt a little ashamed, his skill level was just so much higher. One would think that it would have been easy to explain these things, especially after the tutorial. "I think... I've tried so many different things over the years and with such varying success that I just forgot how I discovered Chi manipulation in the first place. Its something that is very natural to me at this point. After all, we don't seem to earn much XP for just moving the energy. Only when we spend it in some manor and most all of my attempts to spend it prior to this either didn't do anything or got me in trouble with you."
All eyes turned to the family patriarch with a faint tone of fear filling the room. He just shrugged, his head tilting to the side with his eye brows going up and then back down. "As you said, before the backup control matrix went down nothing ever did come of your efforts. Now, not only do we know why but we also know that without these changes nothing ever would have come of your efforts. Nothing worth the time and effort you were putting into it at any rate."
Maik reflected on the 90% tax rate for his chi energy and shuttered. Then recalled how the governing matrix of the system had also taxed all of his EXP, no to mention locked away any chance for him to gain a class. His fists clenched at the thought. "How the hell did it get to be like this ? And who set the back up control matrix to do this to us ?"
Rather than a movie night, the family spiraled into a lengthy discussion of speculation, faith and plans for the future before ultimately preparing for bed. After his shower, Maik took a moment to look over his contributions. He had taking it easy the day before due to how much he was paying attention to not hurting himself and the day before he hadn't had been a whole other ordeal, on top of not having access to as many stat points as he now held.
Maik paused. Is that why people were more confrontational today ? I was being very timid yesterday and extra careful as to not hurt myself but yeah. Now that I look at myself in the mirror I have to admit that I might have been strutting about like I was the shit today. People really don't like it when the appliance repair man looks more self assured then they are huh.
Pushing those dark thoughts away was a minor exercise of will and Maik went back to reviewing his contributions.
Total contributions : 49,700
Maik was flabbergasted. True he was downing food bars and sports drinks between each call to keep up with the absurd number of kilojoules of energy he was burning though throughout the day but still. The combination of his higher tier system access, his new higher stats and finally taking the time to stop before, during and after each call to contribute chi had resulted in him contributing more than 7 times the total he had contributed in the whole 5 days prior.
Maik was almost afraid to go to sleep. Heavy handed as his father was earlier, he had been right. Maik had courted the ire of people with significant money and influence and had also been strutting around like a peacock, high on his new found power. I need to get a handle on this before I loose control of myself.
Yet even as those thoughts rang true Maik couldn't stop himself from smiling. He closed his eyes, knowing that he would not, could not stop now. He wanted MORE.
The first thing to come up in the nightly interface was his quest log.
Active Quests : Personal
Class : Empower craftsman / Mechanical
Type : Private / New
Duration : Until 1:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Gibson, Nancy's Stack unit
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : $308.53 / CXP 308
Status : Finished
Type : Private / Continued
Duration : Until 1:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Winesteen, Bill's Wine cooler
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : $457.95 / CXP 457
Status : Finished
Type : Private / New
Duration : Until 1:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Gaston, Zeek's Refrigerator
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : Variable, dependent upon performance.
Status : Pending part acquisition
Type : Private / Continued
Duration : Until 1:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Jurral, Travis's refrigerator
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : $80.00 / CXP 80
Status : Finished
Type : Private / New
Duration : Until 1:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Murdral, Nathan's refrigerator
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : Variable, dependent upon performance.
Status : Pending part acquisition
Type : Private / New
Duration : From 1:00 PM too 6:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Vellruse, Cathy's Dishwasher
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : Variable, dependent upon performance.
Status : Pending part acquisition
Type : Private / New
Duration : From 1:00 PM too 6:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Hamelton, Allbert's Dryer
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : $206.40 / CXP 206
Status : Finished
Type : Private / Continued
Duration : From 1:00 PM too 6:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Trent, Robert,'s Dishwasher
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : $80.00 / CXP 80
Status : Finished
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Type : Private / Continued
Duration : From 1:00 PM too 6:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Destrose, Michael's Microwave
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : $316.05 / CXP 316
Status : Finished
Type : Private / New
Duration : From 1:00 PM too 6:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Lee, Bell's dryer
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : Variable, dependent upon performance.
Status : Pending part acquisition
Type : Private / Continued
Duration : From 1:00 PM too 6:00 PM today
Objective : Repair Victoria, Sara's refrigerator
Penalties : Loss of company reputation / Loss of personal reputation
Rewards : $576.20 / CXP 576
Status : Finished
Total CXP : 2,023
Class : Empowered craftsman / Mechanical / H grade Tier 8 : Advancement
Level 0 : 0 / 800
Level up
Level up
Level 2 : 2,023 / 3,200
You have 2 Tier 8 skill tutorials available.
Total contributions : 49,700
Active quest : Avoid the Apocalypse
Type : Open
Duration : Until Calsifus 5-A, local designation Moon, impacts Calsifus 5, local designation Earth.
Estimated time until failure : 24 days 17 hours to point of no return.
Objective : Contribute a collective total of 4.6816e+13 Joules of energy in the form of Chi to the stability array aboard the Vassaroth through this interface.
Penalties for failure : Calsifus 5-A, local designation Moon, will impact Calsifus 5, local designation Earth, resulting in the extermination of all life on the surface.
Rewards : Varies - Dependent upon contribution.
Hidden rewards unlocked
You have contributed 10 times the required contributions needed for the maximum rewards offered in this quest. Extra rewards acquired.
Extra rewards : 1 free skill tutorial.
Tier 2 skill : Fundamental Chi control : Advancement
Intermediate : Level 8 : 7,090 / 10,253
Level up
Level up
Effective : Level 0 : 0 / 800
Excess XP not applicable without increased understanding of Fundamental Chi control
And with that Maik was plunged into a vision. Maik already understood how his chi flowed through his circulatory system, his nervous system and his digestive system. Now he observed how the red blood cells to be used like cargo trucks to store and distribute charges of chi throughout the body, empowering his other cells when the blood cells passed oxygen or nutrients along. Then he was back in front of the interface.
Tier 3 skill : Engineering : Advancement
Advanced : Level 6 : 18,437 / 20,503
Level 6 : 20,460 / 20,503
Tier 3 skill : Electromagnetic theory : Advancement
Experienced : Level 4 : 6,354 / 7,593
Level up
Level 5 : 7,703 / 11,389
Tier 3 skill : Physics : Advancement
Effective : Level 8 : 27,428 / 30,754
Level 8 : 28,210 / 30,754
Tier 3 skill : Chemistry : Advancement
Intermediate : Level 5 : 4,872 / 6,834
Level 5 : 5,032 / 6,834
Tier 3 skill : Chi manipulation : Advancement
Capable : Level 8 : 6,999 / 10,253
Level up
Level up
Intermediate : Level 0 : 0 / 900
For the second time in one night Maik dove into a skill vision. This one allowing him to feel as much see the interplay of his chi as it flowed over his skin. At the same time he was being shown new techniques for forming more stable patterns with chi so that once a patter was formed it would be more stable, lasting longer without Maik's direct will to keep its structure.
Tier 4 skill : Chi cultivation : Advancement
Beginner : Level 5 : 1,696 / 2,025
Level up
level up
Level up
Level 8 : 5,476 / 6,834
Tier 4 skill : Chi projection : Advancement
Beginner : Level 8 : 5,608 / 6,834
Level up
Level up
Capable : Level 0 : 0 / 800
Excess XP not applicable without increased understanding of Chi projection
For the third time Maik found himself plunged into another vision. This one showed him how to improve the structure of his chi formations while projecting them beyond his physical body showing his how his chi projections could gain greater range and strength. Even now he knew he wasn't done and it was back to the interface. Though he was felling a little off at this point.
Tier 4 skill : Chi Mastery : Advancement
Beginner : Level 0 : 0 / 400
Level up
Level up
Level up
Level up
Level up
Level up
Beginner : Level 6 : 4,362 / 4,556
This last one proved annoying but after some quick calculations Maik realized that this skill only gained one tenth the same XP as other skills. Stingy.
EXP Acquired : 8,366
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 2
You now have 20 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 3
You now have 40 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 4
You now have 60 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 5
You now have 80 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 6
You now have 100 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 7
You now have 120 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 8
You now have 140 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 2 : Level 9
You now have 160 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 3 : Level 0
You now have 180 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 3 : Level 1
You now have 200 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 3 : Level 2
You now have 220 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 3 : Level 3
You now have 240 stat points to allocate.
Entity Level up : Human / H grade / Tier 3 : Level 4
You now have 260 stat points to allocate.
Maik was ecstatic, positively giddy with the possibilities laid out before him. 3 new skill tutorials and 260 stat points. For a moment Maik just didn't know what to do with all the points available. Then he knew. It was something he had lived with his whole life but would suffer from no more. taking a full 100 of the precious stat points firmly in hand, Maik slotted them right into perception. So long glasses. You have been a most faithful companion but its time for me to move on.
Half of the remaining 160 points went into Endurance with 28 being added to Durability and the remaining 52 bolstering his Chi stat.
Finally Maik needed to browse the available skills options. Thanks to his class there were many such options available that were related, but Maik only had eyes for those skills of the metaphysical variety. There was more than ample study material of electrical engineering after all, but nothing solid was available for any price on skills like Aura manipulation. Without hesitation it was the first one Maik purchased with one of the Tier 8 skill tutorials.
He didn't plunge into this vision but instead the vision seamed to emerge out of him. A sense of transcendent existence stirred inside the very center of his being and began to expand out. It at once felt like he was becoming more substantial while not actually changing physically. With effort Maik began stretching this newly experienced aspect of himself for the first time. It was being born all over again, complete with his aura flailing about like the frail arms of an infant while trying to take their first breath.
When the breath finally came it was a cry out into the universe, almost to protest the injustice of having to expand beyond the simple base function as a connection between body and soul.
Emerging from the vision left Maik feeling stretched. he didn't know if it was a byproduct of gaining the Aura manipulation skill or going through so many skill tutorials in rapid succession but he was certainly feeling it.
Maybe I should hold off until tomorrow before gaining any more skills...... Maybe...Just a peak at what the options are. I though I saw a new skill just being picking Aura manipulation.
It there had been a new chi skill available, Maik could never be sure. What he was sure about was that their were now multiple new skills available to him.
Tier 4 Skills
Chi body infusion :
Boost one or more of ones stats with Chi energy.
Mind body connection :
Actively infuse the body with Chi to expand and improve its fundamental capabilities.
Aura projection :
Project your aura out beyond the immediate area of your physical body.
Chi sight :
Use aura and chi to perceive the world around you. Dependent upon aura and chi projection skills.
Chi healing / Minor :
Use chi to promote rapid healing and recovery. Self and others. Dependent upon aura and chi projection skills.
Maik took a moment to suffer a short panic attack of analysis paralysis. I really wanted to keep that limitless level skill tutorial in reserve for later but DAMN ! It looks like Aura projection is going to open the most doors and boost the most skills but I really don't have any skills to be boosted by it yet. Deep breath....... Calm. Like anything else. I should work on the foundation first. Aura projection it is.
If the stretching in the Aura manipulation vision had been the kind like you might do while still in bed in the morning before slipping out from under the covers, tight and twisting. This stretching was like doing yoga. The connection between body and soul was stretched painfully as it reached out around Maik, but in a good way.
That was until he came out of the vision and immediately started feeling hung over. Yep. Definitely pushed things a little too fare there.
Despite still having another skill tutorial and skills he very much wanted, Maik was even more sure that trying to push further tonight would be counter productive. Instead he decided to look over his stat sheet before slipping back into blissful sleep.
Name : Maik Alphonse Daley
Race : Celtic / Germanic
Species : Human / H Grade Tier 3
Entity Level 4 : 2,562 / 3,300
Class : Empowered craftsman / Mechanical / H grade Tier 8 : Level 2 : 2,023 / 3,200
Age : 32
Gender : Male
Height : 190 centimeters
Weight : 78 Kilograms
Unused stat points : 0
Strength : 191
Flexibility : 99
Dexterity : 130
Endurance : 188 = [1,880 / 1,880]
Durability : 150
Intelligence : 134
Smarts : 157
Wisdom : 113
Perception : 143
Charisma : 106
Chi : 200 = [2,000 / 1,800]
Aura : 135
Available skill tutorials
Limitless : 1
Tier 1 skills
............................
Tier 2 skills
Fundamental Chi control : Effective : Level 0 : 0 / 800
.............................................
Tier 3 skills
Engineering : Advanced : Level 6 : 18,437 / 20,503
Electromagnetic theory : Experienced : Level 4 : 6,354 / 7,593
Physics : Effective : Level 8 : 27,428 / 30,754
Chemistry : Intermediate : Level 5 : 4,872 / 6,834
Chi manipulation : Intermediate : Level 0 : 0 / 900
Aura manipulation : Beginner : Level 0 : 0 / 300
Tier 4 skills
Chi cultivation : Beginner : Level 8 : 5,476 / 6,834
Chi projection : Capable : Level 0 : 0 / 800
Chi Mastery : Beginner : Level 6 : 4,362 / 4,556
Aura projection : beginner : Level 0 : 0 / 400