Neuro Enhancers are designed to modify certain nanomachines within your body, enhancing neurons and neural tissue by integrating seamlessly with the user's brain. Depending on the model, they can also stimulate the growth of new neural pathways, and enhance neuroplasticity, making your brain learn more efficiently.

This is the initial filter that distinguishes corpo individuals from those who were destined to remain merely peons throughout their lives.

Achieving it was one of my long-term goals.

To even have a chance at elevating myself from this dump, I needed one. And now one of my long-term goals fell into my lap.

I'll have to thank the old captain.

The diary included descriptions of the content and detailed explanations from technicians on their best application. This Enhancer was the next iteration of the top-of-the-line model, which had not yet been released, well during the timeline of the diary, which was 120+ years ago.

I'll have to look up this exact model, but based on his description, it was designed for espionage teams.

He intended to give it to his granddaughter, hoping it would assist her in climbing the corporate ladder.

I popped open the containers, finding medical supplies in one and the actual enhancer in another. The medical supplies were likely useless due to their age, but the enhancer appeared terrifying.

It resembled a centipede with 10 legs on each side. Its body tapered off at the tail, measuring 15 cm (6 in) in length, while its antennas were massive, extending longer than its body.

Carefully packaging it back with everything else, I realize I need to do some research. I'll have to be careful how I go about it, if the American government could spy on its citizens, so could these corporations. I’ll have to disguise my search and act as if I don't possess some premium shit.

The way back out was easy enough. Once out, I looked around and checked my datapad. I still had most of the day.

I will have to get some medical supplies before trying to install it. In fact, I would be better off leaving them here. There's no point in bringing it home; this place is pretty well hidden. It's not like I can use it at the moment.

Today's original plan was to explore and train with my blaster, but now the blaster is the main focus. I'll backtrack a little before finding a place to practice.

Looking out from my perch, I could see the mountains in the background and the rust-colored rolling hills. It took some walking but I found a nice spot.

I took aim at a panel across the way and shot.

The recoil and vibration made its energy unmistakable it made me acutely aware of its power. If the instant hole in the panel didn't give it away.

The faint metallic smell and the tingle of my nose hairs added a futuristic ambiance, a detail easily overlooked when all you have done is walk and worry.

I used to hit targets from 20 meters away, but my aim was off this time. This was barely like 10 meters and I still missed it.

"Welp, better get to practicing."

It was a bit past the afternoon when I ran out of practice ammo, I kept a magazine worth of steel pellets. No point in using all my ammo.

Having some time left in the day, I decided to explore a bit and headed off to the south.

While walking for 20 minutes, I saw another person. I hesitated briefly, unsure of what to do, until the person raised something in my direction.

Instinctively, I immediately ran to the side and ducked behind a rather large pipe. I heard a bullet zip past me.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Who the fuck just starts shooting at people.

"You the fucking kid making all that racket!"

"This is my turf kid, fuck off!"

Okay fuck this guy, he was firing at what he thought was a kid just because of some noise. Also why the hell is he claiming a piece of turf, there is nothing but crap here.

I looked around for better cover I had to find a more secure spot. I wasn't sure if should reveal my gun but he wasn't giving me much of a choice here.

I picked up a piece of junk from the ground and tossed it to one side of the pipe, then peeked out from the other side. I heard a shot hit the ground opposite me.

I leaned out raised my blaster and took aim, damn he was far. Well, I only need to scare him.

He was wearing a cape just like me but he was just standing out in the open.

I took aim and fired a few rounds. None hit, but it did give me the reaction I needed.

"What the fuck! Fuck you!" He ran to some cover.

Dipshit thought I was just going to lay there and die.

While he ran, so did I but I was dragging my skimmer behind me. So by the time I got to another piece of cover, he was already shooting. Luckily his aim was terrible even with what looked like a rifle.

"Come on you little shit!" He shouted while shooting a few more rounds.

My cover here was a lot bigger, looking behind me I could see a large cockpit, if could get past I would be able to run for quite a distance without him having a line of site.

I went over to my skimboard's interface and gave it a simple command to travel in a straight line back past the cockpit. It wasn't going to be fast but I wouldn't have to drag it behind me.

When the skimmer got out from behind cover shots went off. I peeked out from cover and took a couple more shots. When I couldn't see the skimmer any longer I took a couple of shots and ran for it.

I heard some shots but none near me, I don't think this guy practices a lot thankfully.

When I reached past the broken cockpit the skimmer was still traveling slowly i grabbed the leash and booked it.

I turned the corner and hugged the large mountain of scrap. When I found a little nook in some fallen habitat. I pushed my skimmer inside, turned it off, and let it fall to the ground for better camouflage.

I took out the datapad and water bottle. Then threw some dust and junk over it real quick.

I ran a bit further and began climbing the hill, where I found a small, broken spherical probe to hide behind.

I could've kept running but there was no way I was going to let this guy get away. I would have to deal with an unknown hostile with a better gun in the nearby area.

It took the man a few minutes to turn the corner, I guess he was a bit skittish. I watched from the hillside, I had to turn my cape into a blanket and pile some trash over it to prevent it from flapping.

I just lay there watching him awkwardly check some corners. He even went inside a habitat and stayed inside for over an hour. I worried he might slip past through some kind of back exit, but he eventually left after giving everything a quick look over and walked back.

After he walked out of sight, I slowly dusted myself off and trailed behind, maintaining a large distance. Although he frequently glanced around, he became more relaxed after ten minutes.

I trailed him for 40 more minutes and noticed he didn't have a skimboard or scavenging tools. I guess I must have woken him up.

He walked up a flight of stairs that he made and into a mostly intact habitat.

I wanted to find some high ground, but it was too risky. Instead, I spotted a pile of broken metal bins nearby. Walking over, I slipped into the pile and found one bin turned over but slightly off the ground, with a large corner piece missing facing the entrance. I squeezed myself under the bin and took my position. It was a stakeout.

It didn't take long for the man in question to come out with a large skimboard and rifle in hand. If he came by the bin pile and I had a good shot I would be glad to take him out, but no such luck. He went the opposite way.

Once he left the area I waited another 20 min, before I slipped out of my cover and headed toward his habitat. I wasn't planning on entering, but I wanted to get a vantage point of the entrance. It took some climbing but I managed to get up high over the entrance.

Looking over the area I spotted some area that I could crawl backward into and have a good line of shot over the entrance.

Once I crawled in, I covered the front with my cape and secured it with small scraps to keep it in place.

It was almost nighttime when he finally came back with his skimmer only half full.

I slowly aligned my blaster.

Before entering his home he pushed his skimmer under a shaded area.

With his back turned, I aimed and shot.

The first bullet hit him in his upper back, the second I over-compensated for and landed in his gut, the third close to the first.

The man fell forward, I could hear his groaning and whimpering.

I aim for his head, shot once more.

My shot echoed in the night, his voice gone.

I got up and climbed my way down towards him, I saw blood pouring out his head.

It was a bit anticlimactic, but it was ideal.

It was somewhat unsettling that my first significant action in this new world mirrored what I used to do.

Gazing at the sky, the sun's light slowly faded as it disappeared. The stars and cosmic clouds shone brightly, creating a beautiful scene. Perhaps I've been too focused on survival, I thought, glancing down at the bleeding corpse and correcting myself.

No, I have been correct, but maybe I can rest and smell the roses soon.