“We have found the most effective way for personal advancement and development is through a combination of risk and reward.” Donnie Yen, Allen’s guide was saying. They were still in the cozy little café in Chile. It was storming outside and Allen had found a throw to drape around himself. He was actually quite comfortable if still completely naked. His guide continued,
“Accomplishing this growth will look different for every User. However, it invariably begins with the Tutorial. You will now be guided through a series of prompts. Please choose the best options for you. Remember that while your decisions here are not yet permanent, changes will require Quants at the end of the Tutorial. Additionally, after the Tutorial completion all decisions are final. Do not hesitate to inquire further on any topic. The only limitations to the information I can provide is your comprehension of the topic. Please note, at the tutorials completion your access to Guide will be limited and require additional Quants per inquiry.”
Allen drank in the information. It helped him ignore the terrible fear gnawing at him. He realized he’d somehow sat down and had a cup of sipping chocolate in his hand now. Seated next to Donnie Yen, Guide, whatever he was, Allen listened as he continued.
“Your ability to control The Code will grow and develop as you do. While many of your initial skills may seem underwhelming, they will quickly grow in power as you do. Part of this growth is the accumulation of working nanites within your body. You are currently at <1% working nanites. Thresholds are met every 9% points until you reach your total 27%. Afterwards you will need to begin building the physical percentage of nanites within your body to develop further. It should be noted that percentage increase is much more difficult to increase than your working nanite. To begin please chose a species. If you begin as Human, designation Homo Sapien, Sapien, you will not decrease your current nanite percentage. Please be advised, the greater the deviation from your current species, the more nanite percentage will be required. Some species are currently unavailable due lack of nanite percentage. Please choose species.”
Guide handed Allen what looked like a small ledger. In fact, it looked just like a Moleskine he used to keep in his back pocket in college.
"Guide, if I understand this correctly, say I chose ohh, lets say this one," Allen flipped to a random page. "Daaawilllisis? Ok, Daawillisis. It would take 9% of my nanite percentage so I be or have? 18% nanites? So I'd have to start building my percentage that much sooner? Is percentage of nanites my potential and working nanites my current ability?"
"Uhh, Allen, Myles. This is a correct assessment of the Codes Threshold System. beyond your initial 27% Threshold, there are Thresholds at the 54% and again at the 81%. For the astonishingly few who manage it, the final 19% are accomplished by permanent changes to the Code and this universe on a fundamental level. your level of working nanites may also fluctuate depending on how you use them. However once you reach a threshold you cannot dip below that percentage of working nanites"
Undoing the familiar nylon strap, Allen began leafing through the contents. He once again tuned out his Guide. The information was good but also he had no reference for what he was talking about. Page upon page of the journal was filled with ever stranger looking species. They were drawn in lifelike pencil and the image slowly rotate like some kind of weird GIF. Each was listed with a percentage decrease in his total available nanites. There was also a short description as well as a list of starting bonus attributes. It made him wonder about Users that were introduced to the Code from birth. What happened then? Did they start at a certain age then completely change species? It didn’t make much sense. He kept leafing through the old Moleskine. He flipped through way more pages than could possible fit within the binding of the small journal. In fact, he began fanning the pages just to see how many pages there were. The book continued to fan and fan like a magic trick until guide finally asked,
“Would you like assistance? I can simplify the number of options based on any number of qualifiers.”
Allen flipped back to the first page. A pencil sketch of a wildly ripped and faceless human spun with his arms out.
Homo Sapien, Sapien.
Reduction in nanite percentage 0%
A carbon-based species defined by a double helix Nucleic Acid storage system for genetic information. While hardly as effective as quad or even tri helix storage systems, the double helix does allow for rapid mutation and variations. The double helix design of the earth information systems also allows for easily accessible repairs, making it one of the few organic species capable of undefined lifespans. Originally evolved to hunt down prey through shear determination, the modern human has quickly adapted to a much more sedate lifestyle. Human Users are capable of any carbon-based lifeform skill tree route and are morally variable.
Starting Attribute bonus’
Strength +0
Constitution +0
Dexterity +0
Endurance +1
Intelligence +0
Wisdom +0
Perception +0
Charisma +1
Luck +1
Once again, Allen was stuck by how odd the information provided was. There was an emphasis on genetics that he could only guess at, having never heard of a tri or quad helix DNA structures. There seemed to be little by way of information about the physicality of humans, nothing about 10 fingers and 10 toes or the necessity for humans to breathe oxygen. He had to assume there were similar hidden drawbacks to the other species available to him. what if he chose some alien species that breathed Neon or something and choked to death immediately. Strike one for leaving humanity behind. There was also that bit about undefined lifespans. The human lifespan was about 75 or so as far as Allen knew, some people made it past 100 or even 110 but not many. Undefined inferred a lifespan much longer than that. On top of all that, did he really want to relearn how to walk with four legs or use tentacles instead of hands? Closing the book, he looked up at Guide.
“I think I’ll stick with being human.” He said definitively.
“Species chosen. Please choose appearance.”
Instantly the Moleskine widened and lengthened. When Allen opened it again there was only one perfectly reflective page. He looked at his reflection, adjusting the page this way and that to make sure it really was him. To the right of his face was a small representation of his body type, long and lean, and a number of options with graders next to them. He began to adjust one of the graders but stopped almost instantly. Allen dropped the Moleskine and clutched his cheek. He’d just adjusted the height of his cheekbones when an incredible pain lanced through the area like he’d broken it. The pain dissipated very slowly and the memory lingered longer still. Looking again at the mirror image he noticed his cheekbones were a cartoonishly higher. He would have to change them again but the pain was overwhelming. Taking the gradient down slowly helped but the pain was still intense. He eventually stopped with his cheeks more or less back to where they were. Then he clenched his teeth and give himself a slightly smaller nose and a brighter blue eye color, icy blue like his little sisters. Both adjustments came with pain that left him gasping, especially changing his eye color. He couldn't help but feel a little vain but at the same time, how many concussions came with magic that caused body wracking pain aaanndd the option to look better? The last adjustment felt like someone had replaced his eyes with white hot coals. Unable to stomach anymore changes vain or not, he looked over the final results. He didn't look that different, mostly like an ever so slightly idealized version of himself, with lighter blue eyes. Many flaws remained. Still, he assumed people would recognize him if this all turned out to be real. Finally done, he hit the absurd blinking green checkmark on the lower left of the reflection.
“Appearance chosen. Thank you, Human, Uhh, Allen, Myles. Tutorial initiated.”
Once again, without any prompting Allen was instantly in a different place. This time he was standing in the French Quarter, in the alley behind Café Du Monde. He knew the place well, though hadn’t been here in over a decade. He stood watching them make Beignets behind teal-colored glass bay doors, a cup of chicory coffee fell from his hand. Then he began dry heaving again. When he’d finally finished, he looked around realizing he was at least clothed again. He was back in his running gear in fact. What would he have worn if he wasn't human? He felt at his back pocket for his phone and quickly took it out. The thing looked like it had been struck by lightning. Gray colored streaks spread from a single point on the top right corner. He tried to turn it on anyway. Nothing. Putting the phone back in his pocket Allen felt at the headphones in his ears. Looking at the wireless things he realized they too had turned an odd gray color. putting them away, Allen fanned his shirt to try and dry it off. A large sweat ring around his neck felt incongruous now that he’d finally calmed a bit. After a moment’s indecision, he once again saw Guide standing next to him. Had the Code waited for him again? Strange to have a considerate and omnipotent intelligence reading his mind.
“You know, if you wanted me calm, transporting me all over the world instantly may not be the best way of accomplishing that.”
An older tourist walked by looking at Allen strangely, hearing what he’d said no doubt. Was he actually in New Orleans this time? In the café in Chile, it had been somewhat dreamlike. The calm of the place and the people around him hadn't registered the oddity of him. It had felt like a dream or at least not real. It must have been some kind of very advanced loading screen though. Now, people were looking at him strangely and he could feel a sharpness to the details he hadn’t earlier. The bile stung his throat and the slight wind on his sweaty shirt tingled and made goosebumps on his skin.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Guide is this Tutorial real? Am I really in the French Quarter?”
“This tutorial is here to help you start your journey as a Code User without significant negative consequences to yourself. As such the people you see around you are real in the sense that their entire consciousness is at the complexity of the average Human. In that sense, they are very real, with real hopes, desires and fears. If you’re asking if they are made of physical material, no. You are still within the Tutorial. Technically, your physical body just made contact with the boulder you’ve been about to land on this whole time. We will direct your body to sit if necessary. To anyone passing you will appear to be resting. The chances of anyone seeing you before finishing the Tutorial however is highly unlikely. Are you ready to begin?”
“So, can I walk out of here or get in a car and leave the city?”
“The perimeters of the Tutorial are as big as you need them to be. If you keep walking north the perimeters will fill out with a duplicate of the physical world. However if your objective is to see how we can push reality within your mind, be assured the Code processes information on a fundamentally different level than your mind. The comparison would be like asking if you could drink all the water on your planet.” Allen’s own cup preverbally overflowed at the implication.
“Assignment unlocked. Wrought of Iron and Bone. Discover who’s been murdering the residents of the French Quarter. Time limit: Hidden. Rewards: Hidden. Objective 1.) investigate the sight of the first murder.”
Yellow track lighting instantly appeared at his feet. It looked just like a movie theatre track lighting, down to the plastic tubing encasing the lights. With nothing else to do, he took one last look around, then began following the lights out of the alley. As they turned up a set of stairs and towards the levee’s, Allen stopped. He was headed towards the sight of the first murder, but what if he could speed things up. 'as big as I need it to be' he thought absentmindedly. Stopping at the top of the stairs, Allen turned to Guide who’d been trailing him.
“Guide, is there some kind of journal or feature or something that lets me to see what my stats or whatever you call them are?”
“Uhh, Allen, Myles. Please refer to your Journal for all personal information.” Before Allen could speak, the small Moleskine was once again in his hand and it was back to about 8 inches or so. He opened the journal and began to read.
Allen Myles
Species – Human
Code Progression – <1%
Attributes
Strength – 0
Constitution – -1
Dexterity – 0
Endurance – 1
Intelligence – 1
Wisdom – 1
Perception – -1
Charisma – 2
Luck – 2
Moralities
Inquisitive Morality – gain an energy bank based on asking questions and gaining information. May gain additional information when inquiries pertain to Assignment Objectives.
Protective Morality – Gain an energy bank that grows as you protect others both directly and indirectly. Gain additional Constitution at each threshold.
Seditious Morality – Finish Tutorial to unlock this feature.
Traits
Basic Scientific Understanding – you have a basic understanding of the scientific underpinnings of the universe. Just enough to be dangerous, mostly to yourself. Gain +2 to Intelligence
Basic Runners Endurance – Thanks to your long hours of running, you grow tired slower while running and gain +1 boost to Wisdom and Perception after a run of 3 miles or more.
Basic Weight of Responsibility – The weight of responsibility rests heavy on your shoulders. Gain a +1 to Wisdom, Charisma and Luck but a -1 to Constitution, Intelligence and Perception.
Skills
Basic Leaver of Inquest – Ask one question pertaining to an objective of your active Assignments. Question must be answered truthfully. May only ask questions pertaining to current Assignment.
Allen read through the page one more time. The -1 to constitution and perception was a real bummer. At least he thought it was, he really had no idea. None of these attributes felt like any kind of real change to him. He didn’t feel any luckier but then did you actually feel luck? He had a ton of questions now. Flipping to the back he found a number of blank pages at the top of which read,
Journal Notes
* How do attributes work?
* The fuck is Luck and Charisma?
* Percentages? Average or median human strength and endurance?
* Why am I able to so coherently think in this Coma?
* How much is Guide influencing me?
* Is there any privacy(or way to know?
*
Allen had many, MANY other questions not least of which was how did his questions end up on this page? He hadn't written any of this, had barely thought most of them. He also had many other questions that didn't show up for some reason. But, first things first, “Guide how do I use a skill?”
“A skill may be activated passively or intentionally depending on the skill. The actual use of said skill whether active or passive is quite self explanatory as you'll soon see. In the case of your Leaver of Inquest skill, asking a question with the intent of the skill in mind, to an appropriate entity, with the capacity to communicate with you, will be sufficient."
"That is an ocean of qualifiers." Allen replied under his breath. He tried to focus on the skill. Taking a deep breath, he approached a man sitting on a nearby bench.
"Sir, excuse me. Sir, do you maybe, uh, by chance know anything about the uh recent murders around here?" he asked not a little awkwardly. Allen hated talking with strangers. It was inevitably awkward but, here he was.
"huh? wha! Na, No! You git away from me you! You. GIT!" the man said getting up and stumbling away. He breathe smelled like sour wine and cigarettes. worst stranger to randomly ask possible, and in New Orleans no less. Still, as soon as he spoke, Allen felt a slight hollowing behind his eyes. It was a curious feeling he didn't quite understand. Not exactly a headache, neither was the sensation particularly pleasant. It was a bit like that feeling of being too big and too small at the same time, just before falling asleep. Only this was faster and more sharp, like a switch turned on and off.
"Uhh, Allen, Myles, I believe you have activated your skill successfully. Unfortunately, that particular individual did not have any information pertaining to your current Assignment. I suggest utilizing your skill at a time when you know an individual to have information pertaining to your current Assignment. As this is a tutorial, you may use your skill as often as you see fit. However once you leave the tutorial, the Inquisitive Morality energy requirements will apply."
"Great thanks, Guide. Really great advice. No please don't bury the lede too deep!" he said dryly. Allen sighed and looked around again. He looked again at the blinking path set out for him. Still he hesitated, it wasn't like the expected path was going anywhere and he hadn't been forced to follow it. In fact Guide made it sound pretty freeform about here.
"Guide, how long does the Tutorial last typically?"
"Uhh, Allen, Myles, the duration of the tutorial only lasts as long as it needs to. The Mean duration is approximately 96 Hours. However the Bell Curve of Tutorial Duration and the value of ones position on it, is a hotly debated topic within The Code."
Allen listened to all this as he walked into a kitschy store nearby, guide walking slightly behind and to his side. Inside the store, all manor of masquerade masks and boa's lined one of the walls. There were a list of white t-shirts lining the racks with frankly quite low brow humor plastered on them in garish pique. He found the front desk and found an untouched stack of local papers for sale. The plastic tie's still rapped tightly around the stack like some industrial bow.
"Can I have one of those?" he asked pointing to the paper,
"Buck forty nine." the lady responded. Allen grabbed the 20 dollar bill in his back pocket. It was still damp with sweat and he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty passing it over. Money really was disgusting. The lady behind the counter didn't even pause. She casually flipped open a pocket knife and undid the plastic ties. Grabbing the paper before it fell, she passed it over with his change. Allen watched the knife as she casually flipped it away as he stepped outside. He quickly ruffled through the paper. 'There.' he thought reading the small article smashed deep into page 8.
"Residents of the 5th ward are still on the lookout for a suspect following the series of murders rocking the French Quarter community. The as yet unidentified person or persons responsible for the gruesome attacks remain at large. They are considered armed and dangerous according to the NOPD, law enforcement is encouraging anyone with information to please call the crime tips hotline. Leaders and long time residents alike are warning visitors to be on the lookout for a cloaked figure. The NOPD have placed a curfew between the hours of 12 am and 3 am, the timeframe every attack has occurred within so far. Darrel Times, brother of the first victim Mary Times told the Picayune, "We're gonna find who did this, who's responsible. My sister will have her justice I can promise you that. If you're out there, if you're listening, turn yourself in. Stop this [sic] man and turn yourself in." While there have been few leads besides the timing of the murders, the similarity to each of the murders leaves little doubt, the same individual or individuals are responsible. So far there have been a total of 6 attacks, all within the French Quarter. The two surviving victims are currently still in Intensive Care, their current condition remains critical. The families of all the victims are holding candle light vigils beginning at midnight in front of St. Louis cathedral for the foreseeable future. For more information, contact Fr. Miquel Rodriquez at..."
Allen reread the article once more before going back and heading towards St. Louis cathedral. He supposed he was going to need to see a priest.