I don't know how long it has been… but suddenly… it appeared in my mind again
/Systems Template restarting/
/Warning, Host has been in Idle for 99%¤%&¤535355%#¤#%21ö4 days. /
/Activating User Interface: 730/
/Since Capital systems cannot be accessed, RE-Rc has taken the time to carry out necessary emergency precautions. All files and memories pertaining to the the Capital systems, the origin of host, and his family has been erased. As to stop them from falling into enemy hand/
Heh… Thanks Leo… I guess?
/Warning, hostiles detected/
/Hostiles Listing: 1/
Routing server detected. Routing…
/Uplink found/
/Hostiles Listing: 1. Uplink 1/
/Rehost Y/N?/
Heh...
..What else can I do…?
*Y*
I feel the... familiar? Feeling of the world warping around me, as I change from one perspective to another…
I am in the central Uplink room… to think he was this close to reaching me…
...That was too close...
...Too close?
...Too close to what?
/Host confusion is understandable. Deleted memories can reduce ability to focus on objective. Objective: N/A. Please work hard./
...Gee, thanks.
/Host is very welcome./
...Well, Leo is not any different…
...First thing first. Leo said he deleted a bunch of my memories… Most likely the reason I feel so confused... Time to try and understand everything..
I do remember Leo… He is my user Interface.
User Interface?
It is what the RE-Rc uses to communicate with a host.
Host?
Someone who gave their body and mind over to the government to protect the public…
RE-Rc?
An Uplink system to manage and transmit the Host to take over hostiles…
…The knowledge is there, in my memory.. But it is all somehow so fuzzy
/Systems relevant data was recorded to memory after memory wipe./
...Dude, You could just have left the old version into my memory Leo. But you just had to switch it with these paper-cut-out documents?
/Original files contained potentially compromising data./
…Sigh
Okay.. Piecing things together… I do remember fighting… as far as I can tell from these DOCUMENTS you put into my head (F you Leo. =.= ) and the current situation, I am a host.
...And yet.
What the hell was my name?
/File was deleted to protect user identity in case the RE-Rc falls into hostile hands./
… Great.
...Soo… I have to pick a new name?
/I can randomise one for you? Y/N?./
… Sure.. Why the hell not *Y*.
Name generated:
Host.
...Really?
/This name was entirely random. I assure you Host./
...One day I will re-randomize your personality. I am telling you.
...Oh yay, more things I still remember.
/Host Is recommended to wrap up confusion./
...?
/Hostiles detected./
/Hostiles Listing: 3./
...Okay… Where are they?
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
/RE-Rc main entrance, heading down./
…Time to earn my keep I guess…
Heading to the entrance into the facility I can see the “hostiles”.
Two young looking women and an old bald guy.
As soon as they spotted me, the younger woman cheered and charged towards me. Letting out a war shout in an unknown language.
Steeling myself I used the sword I had available and cut her down.
...Wow… That was far easier than I expected… looking at her muscle structure I expected her to be quite agile…
The other two look mortified, most likely having not thought about what happens if I take their melee unit down.
The woman screamed, taking out a bow, whilst the old guy started babbling in a strange language.
/Warning, hostile accessing local routing systems./
/Attempted intrusion detected./
/Intrusion repelled. Uplink established./
/Rehost Y/N?/
I picked *Y* as I jam the sword down the current Uplink’s chest.
The world whirls as I change perspective. The remaining young woman wailed and ran over to the collapsed man.
I put an arm on her crying shoulder.
/Uplink detected./
/Rehost Y/N?/
*Y*
/All hostiles terminated./
Well… glad that is over and done with… Just one question.
/Yes?/
“...Why are they all dressed like they had eight grader syndrome?”
The first corpse I possessed was wearing brown travel coat and light plate armor, the old guy was wearing brown monk robes, the agile girl? Leather armor. The one I took over? Scalemail.
Also: Really?
Swords?
Bows?
What is this, the renaissance fair?
/Uncertain. The data mining programs only managed to copy the last 10 minutes of their memory/
….First you make me a poltergeist now you can steal memories?
/Yes./
….Sure… why not… *sigh* So, what did you learn?
/Replaying memory sequence./
----------------------------------------
*Pov: Archer Liliana.*
We decided to follow into the temple after having not heard from Arthus for 3 days.. He was not supposed to be away this long… We were scared he might have…
No, I mustn't think such.
We found Arthus near the entrance. I watched as Lucy cheering ran over for one of his jump-hugs. She has always been all too energetic ever since we were little.
...But then. The tragedy occurred.
*Schwing* *Splurt.*
“Eh?”
Blood rained across the room from Lucy’s beheaded body..- I could feel a drop landing on my cheek.
Then. I screamed.
I took out my bow, unsure of what to do
I mean.. Its Arthus.
..But.. Just now..he.. Lucy was…
Old man Barnas start chanting an exorcism spell.
Of course Arthus must have been possessed! But he is the hero!?! What kind of a spirit can hijack a mind blessed by Yvona?!?
Suddenly, possessed Arthus smirked flipping his sword around, towards his own chest.
“Don't!” I wanted to yell, but the words got stuck in my throat as the spirit plunged the sword into Arthus’ heart.
...Why!?
I let out a guttural wail, as I ran over to Arthus. Chanting a healing spell in my mind
As I got to him he whispered something… I think he said…”run”...
...Then... he was gone…
…
...I could feel Barnas place his hand on my shoulder to comf-... *REHOSTING.*
----------------------------------------
*Pov: Host*
...Wow… That was… freaky..
...I kinda feel bad now.
/Host only acted in accordance with safety guidelines. Feeling bad i#%%” -oring./
...Did you just say ‘feeling bad is boring?’
/... Apologies Host. The long term idle has left some of the system files slightly corrupted./
…How long was the system… “Idle?”
/Data removed earlier/
...Great.
… So now I am stuck in an old… lab of some sort.
With no memories,
In a little girl's body.
With 3 dead, soon to be rotting corpses.
With a deranged, amnesiac AI?
...
..
.
/Yes/
...I swear, at least if it was Glados it would be funny.
...Oh yay. pop culture memories weren't deleted.
/I am happy for you Host!/
…I honestly cannot tell if that was sarcasm.
/Why would you think it was?/
… Whatever.
...So, to get back on point… These people are, what? Fantasy story main characters`?
/Objectively, yes./
...Ok… Also, why did the first guy take three days to reach us then..?
/...He did not./
….Ok?
/.../
…
/.../
...ELABORATE.
/He only took an hour to reach the main room. But due to various differences in brain structure, adapting the Uplink system took - 60 - hours./
...Various differences?
/The subrace of humans present in the area are .8% genetically past the acceptable margin of individual variation. They are effectively a separate species, albeit nearly identical to the hairless ape./
….Gee. You put me into a whole different species…
/Yes, main difference between them and normal homo sapiens is a strange organ found inside the brain structure, this organ seems to be able to access local routing systems without a terminal./
...In english, please.
/They can affect the world with their mind/
...Dude.
Magic?
/No, I assure you this is all deeply scientific!/
...Meh, magic is cooler.
…
..
.
/Ok./
….
For the time being I should ruffle through their pockets…
… Some golden coins… probably current day currency?... Jesus.
A travel flask full of water, dry food… The dead girl had vial of perfume on her… Really? Perfume?
….To each their own priorities I suppose…
...The most concerning thing though was not what was there. But what wasn't.
Same with those memories.
..There is no plastic items, or other modern items, the memories too… Not a single thought that would relate their clothing as strange, or unique…
…. Jesus, what the fuck happened whilst I was out (and was apparently memory wiped…. I still hate you for that Leo.) (/It was necessary I assure you Host/) Did the society collapse? Apocalyptic event?
…
I am going out.
Whatever happened out there, I must find out with my own eyes.
/Uplink eyes are not your ow-/
Figure of speech, figure of speech….
…
..
.
And so, I climbed the rusty ladder up the manhole, back to the surface with the young Uplink’s body.
...And what awaited me upstairs…
... Was a broken world.
I still remember the scenery…. There was no grass in this area. It was a Military compound,
with dirt for ground and metal for shelter, the lands were smooth, you could see for miles, with beautiful, sharp mountains in the distance… and beyond them, a giant structure, always alit like a sun for our ragged planet, the Hologate. our affordable solution for planet-to-planet transit…
But the scenery now?
The ground was green, reminiscent of the grassy parks in the cities, but far more wide, truly, grasslands… but in a twisted scene not unlike a poor joke…
The ground was cracked and rippled, with hard cliffsides and ridges dotting the scenery,
a small camp a short walk away was visible on one of the nearby cliffs, most likely belonging to the generic hero and his Harem Party
The mountains in the distance? Half of them were just… gone, some, being replaced by new mountains. Others…likely but whittled down hills… and far behind them, deep in the horizon,
a giant structure, once alit with activity, now broken and silent. Its giant silhouette, broken and ragged by the years.
...The sounds too…
In the past, all there was was the sound of machines, the never ending beat of pistons, the sounds of planes and shuttles flying overhead…
And now?
There were crickets.
… I have never heard crickets outside VR simulation…
/Uplink malfunction detected, please clean your sensors from the excreted fluids./
...Dude, they are tears.
/Correct./
…´I really must re-roll your personality traits…
Still… this scenery
… Just how long was I out?
...Heh, how cruel of you bastard… to not even leave me memories of home, and to not even leave a memory to tell me who or what I went this far to fight against. Against who did we go so far as to let ourselves be made into… this.
/..../
...As I was pondering such, taking in the scenery, I noticed something in the distance, smoke.
Dark smoke, rising in the distance.
Yeah, this seems generic. Village under attack?
/Uncertain, but current uplink will require food to maintain itself. The rations left behind won't last long, making contact Is recommended./
… I suppose you are correct… But what of the facility? Will it be safe on its own?
Oh! Could I grab a gun or something from inside?
/The RE-Rc has maintained functionality on its own so far. It will continue doing so. Also, there are no viable firearms nor protective gear within RE-Rc./
...This place sucks.
/...No./
... Yes.
...After grabbing the sword from the dead generic hero, I took off towards the smoke, of course, I brought the bow and quil too… never hurts to be careful…
And so. My traverse begins.