Thanks for so many great ideas from the comments last chapters i got some great stuff to work from and also fixed some thinks from complaints.
Here is the next chapter its a bit slower since its about the update so it leaves the game but things pick up next chapter.
Hope you keep supporting me and all feedback good and bad would be great since it will help me grow and make the story better.
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After cleaning beta site we saved Alpha as well. It was much better defended because of its importance so the reinforcements were less needed. With Jessica's help through our own hive mind we controlled all the drones through the NPC fighters.
After a long and tedious day we killed off the last attacker. I then released worker droids to retrieve some ships the crash landed and were intact enough to be remade. Security droids went along to kill off any survivors. With that done we finally release control of the NPC we controlled. From far we could already feel their anger as they ran our way.
Noah: great now the slackers want to complain.
Jessica: hey think we should discipline them a bit.
The soon arrived finding us with the link we still had connected. They began yelling and cursing us for doing that to them. We left them yelling for about a minute before veins appeared on my head.
I let them feel my anger and a moment later i began pressuring their minds with the heavy feeling. They all soon shut up and were starting to sweat.
Noah: all of you come complaining to me because I took your free will away i understand your complaints but…
Now Jessica starts piling her anger on top of mine.
Noah: if you were the leader, if you were in my place and woke up after 3 months to find your planet under attack and your soldiers not caring how would you react.
By now they began to trembling.
Jessica: if you spineless idiots want the right to complain go get to work!!
Her words was spoken out loud and in the minds of every NPC around us which made all of them run off in a cold sweat leaving only Gunner and Basil with us slack jawed.
Basil: we've been trying to get them to work for weeks and you two fixed the problem in a moment and they didn't even complain about whatever you did to them.
Noah/Jessica: pff ahahah!
Noah: I can't believe it did you see their faces.
Jessica: serves them right haha.
Gunner: hey what kind of changes happened to you guys.
Still laughing we told them about our mutation. As we got into a few of the abilities they had already given up on being surprised. When they asked about "us", i could feel my face getting hotter as well as feeling the emotional storm going on in Jessica.
Basil: guess we should leave the couple and get to work.
He had a big grin on his faces as he said that and winked my way as he headed off.
Both of us just sat there embarrassed with what they said it was an awkward silence which Jessica broke.
Jessica: so what will you do now that we have these new abilities?
Noah: i was thinking about the golems.
Jessica: what exactly?
Noah: well we have these abilities to override another hive mind. We could capture a few flying fish and evolve them into birds or airborne creature that can easily transport the Kronan like ships.
Jessica: you want to develop organic tech for the Kronan from the golems.
Noah: not just them reptiles are said to come from the sea. I wonder if the sea fish are the same. If we make a single new rock species and add it into our hive any that come later will as well. Mounts that can travel through space would be useful to spread the Kronan around.
Jessica: less tech and more like breeders. What about the Kronan themselves.
Noah: want to go link our hive minds.
I grinned which makes her do the same.
We jumped on a ship and soon flew off to the second tribe since i was well acquainted with their chief.
As we arrive, we see the place had grown immensely. The 5 Kronan i saw the last time i was here was now over 100. You could see many transporting large ore fish or carts full of coral pieces. It seems farms have gotten along well. We walk around until i find who i wanted. Cro'ti sat in front of his home, the torso on one of the giant golems i watched him trap.
He was napping so i give him a nudge in his mind which makes him stand up alert and ready for battle. When he sees us he calms down and smiles.
Cro'ti: oh great friend welcome. Feel different, more like Kronan.
Noah: we both grow stronger like the Kronan. We now have a link just like you and your friends.
Cro'ti: what friend want?
He sits down again with a loud thud. I move over and sit in front of him and Jessica next to me.
Noah: well besides us having a link with each other we can also link with other people unlike us. We want to link with you and your people.
His rocky forehead raises up in surprise before he smiles again.
Cro'ti: friend already liked by Kronan, now you and you pair can be brother.
I could feel Jessica getting embarrassed but i just smiled.
Noah: thanks can we do so now?.
He nods so with that i close my eyes and activate my sixth sense and feel all the presence within the village and about 1 km out into the ocean. I move slowly and touch Cro'ti's mind and find the hive link. It had a warm feeling coming from it. As i linked our minds i felt a rush of conscious. The feeling spread to every Kronan and even further out until it reached every village and every Kronan.
In my head I could freely feel every last Kronan clearly. They talked with one another as if they were in front of each other. Unlike the quiet streets the true noise was in their hive mind whose range far surpassed my presence sense. I bet if i went into space i would still feel each of them and could talk with them.
As i open my eyes i find Cro'ti and many of the Kronan standing still and staring into space. They stayed like that for a moment and i found out why when a notification appeared.
You have formed a hive mind with a creature of less intelligence and bordering sentience. Because your species is already a sentient being and possess great knowledge and higher intelligence, you have cause the Kronan to develop sentience. Also because your mind is now linked they have also learned about your life and most of the knowledge about Terran.
After the message vanished the Kronan all around us began to wake up from the daze. They looked around and at themselves for a while and finally at us two.
When their eyes had us in sight the dropped on their knees like a knight.
All Kronan: All hail our King and Queen.
You have gained a title "King of the Kronan"
+ 20 Charisma
+ 20 Leadership
Noah: King?!
Jessica: I'm Queen!
We just stood there looking at them and when we looked at Cro'ti he was also kneeling down.
Noah: please everyone stand and return to what you were doing please.
They stood and soon all were back to their work. We turned to Cro'ti who was standing now.
Noah: what just happened?
Cro'ti: you are a greater being than us just as the queen Golem is to their race. In a hive mind we need a greater being to guide us that is why you are our king and queen.
Jessica: you’re speaking better now and why am i queen don't you need a single leader?!
Cro'ti: yes we gained the knowledge to speak as humans do when you joined our hive. And your highness are you not his partner?
Jessica: ehhh!! Wait what how!!
Cro'ti: Also my king i believe you wish to see the evolution of the golems and fish. If you can have that man prepare the water which makes everything grow we can do it.
Noah: how much do you learn from my mind?
Cro'ti: we know what this galaxy really is and how to speak.
That said it all, seems hive minds will share all knowledge of a person with their hive but at least they have our own personalities.
Jessica just stood there flustered, she really needs to control herself whenever someone talks about that, though it is cute to see her flustered..
Noah: well i guess it find can you gather some large core from the fish and find some golem fish.
Cro'ti: a group has already left to do so while the ocean fish cores are already separated.
Noah: ...wow well keep stocking them we will be gone a month while the AI running the galaxy updates it.
He nods and goes to sleep like before. It was impressive the difference of walking through the streets of the village was when you could hear their talking.
After a bit we returned to base and found Conner who was worried about any possible side effects from the mutation bit seeing us move around and resolved so much so quickly he soon dropped that idea. We had him begin production of some mutation agent specifically to evolve the golem cores into usable creatures.
After that we had nothing to do so me and Jessica just trained our new psychic abilities. The range of or presence sense as just a bit past the safe zone around site beta but we found out that while we sleep the range goes as far as the ocean some 150 km away while meditating will only increase its range to Site Alpha so it really depends on who and when we use it.
On the other hand Hive Mind is a totally different story. We can feel the Kronan constantly and if we want to see a specific person doing their work we just need to focus on him.
Soon it was time to log out the update will eject everyone anyway so it was better done doing it willingly. As we get ready Jessica pokes me.
Jessica: after getting out, d-do you w-want to h-hang out.
Her face was a deep red from ear to ear and she was fidgeting. On the other hand i was in a daze. To be asked out for a recluse gamer like me and to someone so cute is like a dream come true.
Noah: ok want me to go to your house.
Jessica: I'll have Wilson get you at your house in an hour.
She quickly run into her room jumps on her bed and logs off leaving her game body to sleep. She just randomly jumped in so she was in an awkward position so I just put her faced up on the bed and jumped into my own before logging off.
Sophia POV
As the capsule lid opens i sit up blinking a few times. Soon i start feeling my face get warmer as I was thinking of what i had just asked Noah. Soon it dawned on me and i snapped out of my daze.
Sophia: I-I CAN’T BELIEVE I ASKED HIM OUT!!!!!
With my sudden scream it scares one of the maids of the house. She was one of my friends a short but slightly “larger” in some areas, waist long light brown hair and of course a maids dress. Her name is Beth Glint. Her mom and dad both work here so we have known each other since kids so we talk to each other more as friends instead of some master-maid relationship.
(http://www.cosplayisland.co.uk/files/costumes/3268/38236/Kaichou-wa-Maid-sama-01-Misaki-Is-a-Maid_00_48.jpg)
Beth: umm you asked who out Sophia.
I blush to a deep red and after sitting on my bed I grab a pillow and chuck it at her though she just catches it easily thanks to her almost anime like training. Dad made the maids and butlers like anime so they are just as trained if not better than the armed guards we have around the lawn.
Beth: ah I remember Master Malcolm talking about it, Noah right. I think i remember seeing him when master called him over and had you dress up to show you off. You were dreading what he would think of you after you met him. Your so cute when you're anxious and embarrassed.
Sophia: I asked him out before logging off.
i said that in a tiny voice barely audible but she still heard it and giggled. She then opened the closet and began looking through all the clothes throwing the very lavished dresses to the side and going deeper into the walk in closet. Soon she came out with a pile of cloths, very simple dresses with a simple design. I used those when i went out so i wouldn’t attract unwanted attention but dad still had a guard follow me from behind.
The dresses all were all simple. They were either a sleeveless one piece dress or a shirt and skirt that would go down to the knees. Before starting to choose i had Beth tell Wilson to pick Noah up in an hour and then i took a bath before getting ready.
Noah POV
I’m a wreck right now I’ve never gone on a date much less do i know how to go about it except for what I’ve seen in the anime I’ve watched. You know going to the mall, movies and those things. To calm myself i took a bath and simply got ready with a clean stripped shirt and jeans.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
After an hour Wilson arrived and i headed out. As we traveled with only the sound of the radio to kill the silence i could only feel more tense.
Soon we arrived at her “house”. As usual the huge lawn was wide open with a few patches of trees here and there.
As i enter the house if find Malcolm already waiting. He was smiling but I could see his eyes weren't and i felt a chill down my spine.
Malcolm: good to see you Noah it’s been awhile.
His all too familiar business smile was flashed across his face and it only filled me with more dread. He stuck his hand out to shake and i slowly grabbed it. He gripped it in a vice grip and didn't let go.
Malcolm: I heard you’re going on a date with Sophia when did you ask her out.
Noah: s-she asked me before we logged out.
His eyes grew colder.
Malcolm: oh it’s like that well i hope you have a great time, though exercise moderation, i wouldn't want Sophia’s disguise bodyguard to mistake you for one of those that fall under unwanted attention they are trained to attack.
I was trembling now while nodding. I had wondered what a charismatic person felt like when they exercised their power and now i know and trust me you don’t want to feel it.
Malcolm: good boy now…
Before he could saw more he suddenly fell down unconscious. Behind him were two girls. One a maid that was looking down at Malcolm like he was a bug and the other was Sophia. When i saw how she was dressed i was in awe. She wore a pure white sleeveless one piece dress that went down to the knees while her black hair fell freely around her.. The black hair in contrast to the white dress made her already natural beauty shine more.
(like this http://img2.blog.zdn.vn/55794492.jpg)
Sophia: you can take him away Beth he’s scared Noah enough already.
Noah: um is...he alright.
Sophia: don’t worry Beth knows all the pressure points on my dad’s body so she can knock him out just by poking them properly. He should wake up in a about an hour by then we will be far gone. So how do i look?
Noah: um it’s hard to describe… though i know for sure you are far more beautiful than many people who show off on TV.
She blushes.
Noah: did you choose a simple dress so you wouldn't attract attention?
Sophia: ya why?
Noah: i think it might attract more attention than a flashy dress would. You're already naturally beautiful so a simple dress lets that shine really well.
The maid giggles as i compliment Sophia.
Sophia: w-we should go.
She rushes past me blushing and I could hear the laughing and talk of the maids in the background. i look back and spot them looking from the corners of the doors and stairs. Seems this is a big event hope i don’t fuck it up.
(sry folks being someone that never went on a date or had a girlfriend i can only watch anime to see it so i will skip the date before i screw it up. But just so you know they get along well, REALLY well.)
3 hours later
We had just finished watching a horror movie. It was Sophia’s idea, seems she likes following the anime date plotline or she didn’t plan anything as well. Though I’m sure she didn't expect how gruesome the movie would be. The movies now a days are made using VR. This makes all the scenes real but the actors are actually NPC and the movie comes from their POV. This one specifically was a zombie movie so...ya. There were some people that ran out holding their lunch in. Sophia was much worse she was paralyzed with fear and gripped my arm fiercely while trembling. I came out a bit better since i had seen the Reaver guts and stuff on the carrier when i first got it.
As we leave the theater and help her move since she wouldn't do so herself. I sit her down on a bench in the mall we were in and call out to her but she is still in shock. I couldn't do anything normal to wake her up, shaking her, calling out and so one nothing worked. The one thing i didn't do because of my fear of Malcolm might work because it would be a bigger shock.
I shake her once more to see if she snapped out of it but she doesn't. I sigh as i look at her, when i look at her with the little bit of presence sense i have in real life i see her presence is really weak as she closes herself in. I try wrapping around it but it pushes back so sighing again i approach her and give her a small kiss on the cheek.
Noah: hey princess we need to get going.
Sophia: eh?
she looked my way in surprise. Like i thought it was a much larger shock.
Sophia: you...eh...EHHHH!!! You…you just...me.
She was in so much shock i just held her hand and guided her to the parked car Wilson was waiting in and we left. She soon fell asleep not caring anymore. Seems even with her stronger brain the amount of information that just rushed through it made her fall asleep.
Wilson: you sure did a number on Miss Sophia.
Noah: she was in shock after the movie. *sigh* how could she have bought tickets to such a graphic horror movie.
Wilson: she was tempted by her father who is an anime fanatic, she must have fallen to temptation of holding on during the movie but it backfired it seemed. But really Noah kissing her, that is an even bigger shock that it brought her out of her other shock.
Noah: i really hope Malcolm doesn't do anything to me seeing Sophia like this.
Wilson: i hope so as well. Oh right the doctors want to do some tests with you and miss Sophia about the larger brain power you have.
Noah: test like what?
Wilson: they want to see how it affects your mind, how much easier you can learn and things like that. So i guess written tests they will pass you that material and then a test on it.
Noah: I bet their more interested if i can do any psychic abilities like telekinesis.
He laughs at that as he drives. He is a pro butler so he doesn’t show many emotions and keeps a poker face most of the time but to people he likes like Dad and me he open up. I have seen him a few times over the years show up at home. It was normal for him to stay stone-faced even when something funny is happening.
We soon arrive at Malcolm’s house and we could see a few other cars were there as well. There were some guards around the house more than usual which was probably because of the larger number of people than usual in there. We stop in front and i wake Sophia up. She gets up groggy from the sleep and shock. As she looks around and sees we are at her house but when she looks at me she becomes beet red and quickly leaves the car.
We enter soon after and find Malcolm and the doctor that took care of is along with a few others talking in the large living room.
Malcolm: ah they’re back good. Did you have a good time?
Sophia: yes but why are so many people here.
Malcolm looked towards Wilson:
Wilson: she fell asleep in the car before i said the news.
Doctor: if it’s like that then I’ll explain. All of us are here to see how much you were affected by the mutation in the game. Malcolm told me you can now feel the presence of others near you as well as somewhat what their personality is like.
Noah: i can feel the presence but the personality part i can do it only in the game.
Sophia: me to, though i can feel Noah much easier and further than anyone else. I think when i sleep which is when we both feel like we leave our bodies and walk around, outside the game we can go at best around the room we are in but in the game we can reach the ocean from the Beta site, the original base on the planet.
Doctor: hmm Malcolm showed us all the skills you got after your mutation. We would like to test the photographic memory and see if you have that.
Noah: how exactly?
The doctor opens a small bag and pulls out to small textbook.
Doctor: we prepared a written test for what's in there. Please read it and then we can begin.
The book had about 100 pages and had basic subjects like math, physics and science. We sat down in the open seats and opened the book. We flipped to the first page and read. Reading was so quick it turned into skimming and we still picked up the more important parts. When we reached the 50th page after 20 minutes the doctor asked a quick question
Doctor: Are you really reading that? It look like you're barely reading.
Noah: it just sticks to my head after a quick skim.
Sophia: same for me i can also review what i saw some pages back and put it together with what i am reading now.
We quickly continued and after an hour we finished the books. Everyone was looking amazed at us for finishing the book so quick. The doctor then pulled out the tests. It was a packet with 50 questions about the books. Suffice to say we finished it in under 10 minutes and aced it without even getting one wrong answer. The written questions even had the answers written word for word as it was in the book.
Malcolm: well that is definitely proof enough to know that was brought with full power into the real world. You both could easily become the best scientist in the world with your photographic memory.
Sophia: and only someone who wanted to would be.
Doctor: hmm with this you could bring the games technology into the real world. Things like the ships and such.
Noah: like she said only if someone wanted to they would and we both don't want to.
Psychologist: you to seem to think alike, does it have anything to do with your hive mind skill in the game.
Sophia: don’t think so we haven't felt like we could read each other’s minds like in the game.
Noah: ya i feel the same, that ability is for there. I think its connected to the gem on ours head.
Psychologist: interesting, about the gem we talked about it as well and with what you just said we can now theorize something.
Doctor: right we believe that gem works as an antenna and amplifies your brains activity or abilities allow you to do what you can in the game, from what little we were able to get from the AI and your capsules we also believe they are still in an immature stat and can grow with time or if some conditions are complete and i dont mean more mutations. They are growing as well.
Noah: so if you could amplify our brain waves we could do the same things in real life.
Psychologist: well that is the idea but even with the Virtual reality tech we would like to evade testing that. It might attract...unwanted attention to you.
The tests continued with more mental tests and questions until they were satisfied and finally left.
Malcolm: finally they are gone.
Noah: didn't want them here?
Malcolm: not in the least. I feel like they want to turn you both into guinea pigs and slice you open to check.
Sophia: i get that feeling two.
Noah: you guys watch too much anime. And old man what the hell is up with making Sophia by tickets suck a fucked up horror movie. She went into shock you know.
Malcolm: about that.
His tone turned cold as he looked my way. My instincts were shouting to get out of there but he grabs me by the shoulder and looks straight into my eyes.
Malcolm: what the hell kind of shock therapy did you do to my daughter you bastard.
Sophia: DAD STOP ALREADY!! It’s embarrassing enough remembering what he had to do to wake me up don’t make it worst.
Just as she said that Wilson moved behind Malcolm and with a small grab to Malcolm’s shoulder he falls unconscious like in those old spy movies.
Noah: You guys really have to be careful no one ever sees that.
Wilson: don't worry, it’s a good thing he only acts like this when he is at home. The rest of the time he is usually faking his smile and personality for the business man image. Want to go home?
Noah: ya its late.
Wilson: oh one more thing because of what has happened to you we will be leaving one of the maids at your place to watch over you. We are trained well in combat and though you and your father are skilled martial artists you can't be too cautious with extremist cultist.
Noah: is it that bad.
Wilson: there were a few people who noticed the emergencies and the cover ups but with a bit of money it was a closed case but like i said you can't be too cautious with extremist.
Noah: right mind taking me home.
Wilson: sure come on.
I said bye to the others in the room and went home. The maid was already there and had cleaned all the rooms. It felt like a new house from how clean it was.
With a whole week open thanks to the update I had a lot of time open. Being an indoor guy with some outdoor habits i stayed home most of the time. I trained a bit to kill time and spared with the maid which completely trashed me. She gave me pointers and we continued the week like this.
With the announcement on the TV that the update would be finished at 8 am i went to sleep and woke an hour early to eat and get ready before jumping in.
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