Peter returned me to my house. The teleport process was similar to being sprayed with a high pressure hose, but the water was flowing through your body. Weird and uncomfortable. They said I'd get use to it.
Before he left he get me a list of the major websites I'd need. Including Power Connect an everything app, not unlike UsChat with less government oversite. Also, Mubie, a free movie site. I plopped down on the couch and turned on the Smart TV to begin getting a basic idea of the world.
I noticed my Firearms were on the coffee table. I cleared them, then started cleaning them with the kit included in the Rifle's case. It struck me as very strange, there were no maker's marks or product stamps. No Serial numbers either. Pure custom jobs maybe, as they fit my oversized mitts. None on the ammo. Guide made perhaps? Or the Faction, whose name I still didn't know.
Nice to find the process is still meditative. While I am still bizarrely unstressed by the whole situation, the peace is enjoyable.
Neat. Well, time to get to work.
There had always been Supers, or all least since recorded history began. Between eighteen to twenty two percent at any given time. The vast majority, eighty percent or so, are at the Yellow level of threat, this is considered a base line. It is rated by having at least one abnormal ability of moderate scale. Say to affect a building or a handful of people at Yellow 1 to a city block or a couple dozen people at Yellow 5, and so on.
Orange starts at the city level or thousands of people. They represent about ten percent. Red starts at the national level or millions of people. Four percent. Purple and Blue are after that but there was no listed framework. Probably Global and Cosmic.
One really crazy thing was that anyone with a power, once it developed in their teens, gained an enhanced physicality, like Major Murica. Even their baseline mental performance shot up. In spite of if they started from a disabled or injured condition. There were powers that focused on these areas, like Super Strength or Intellect, but at least your basic supers were not as one-dimensional or squishy as some could get from stories back home.
They were literally just better than human. I couldn't help but wonder where I'd stack up.
Geographically, things were mostly the same. America, Russia, China, Japan. A few extra Cities here and there. Like Cattleton. Where the real differences started was on the African Continent, in Eastern Europe, and South America, whole new countries. The Republic of Rastovia, Leswai, and Gemasis to name a few.
Politically, this world was a little more stable. Mostly due to Super intervention. However, they did have the Great War, it was World War One and Two Rolled together, a forty year long conflict. In this war, nuclear weapons were developed to counter Red Level Supers. Many were used. It was a sobering moment for everyone, because they worked, mostly.
Side note, the nukes they built, seem to be far more focused and small scale with far less fallout. Super Science? Maybe. Technomancy? Could very well be.
There wasn't really a Cold War. Again Supers. Communism never really took off. The Russian Oligarchs were Supers. China had a Thousand Year Old Emperor, who didn't put up with anyone's nonsense. By the Same token, America almost didn't happen. It was only the intervention of several unnamed Supers the revolution succeeded. Many of the Major events I had learned back home, were different or didn't happen at all.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
It was overwhelming.
It also made me think the the folks at SEPT were different. Their attitudes just didn't fit the general vibes of the Supers from history. Maybe it was because they though I was a Supe, it bares investigation.
I finished cleaning my guns and re-cased them.
I took a break and watched a silly movie about dragons. Thinking about a choice.
[ Meta Options
Guide Information Popups - 1 Meta Coin
Basic Guide Quests unlocked - 1 Meta Coin
One hour per day of unobserved time - 10 Meta Coins ]
My initial thought was to take the Quests, that could lead to more coins without relying on donations and subscriptions. The Popups were most likely similar to identify, information while always useful doesn't solve my immediate problems. Unobserved Time was a luxury I greatly desired, but it would have to wait.
Ugh! I had forgotten the other option.
[ Purchase Options
Integrate object into a Guide format - Starting at 100 Guide credits.
Raise object's Tier by One - Starting at 1000 Guide credits.
Basic Tier I Health Potion - 50 Guide credits
...
Purchase a randomly selected New World to integrate into Hub World - First Time 10000 Guide credits.
Purchase a specific New World to integrate into Hub World - Starting at 100,000 Guide credits. ]
So much to unpack. Starting with yet another currency. Let's hope it's easier to earn.
Thousands of Basic utility items. No Weapon or Armor. I'm suppose to earn them, I guess, and then integrate them.
An option to buy new Worlds. My mind raced with the possibilities. New Powers. New Enemies. New Potential Allies. New Places to explore. Definitely, worth it down the road. But first, I need to get a handle on what's already on my plate.
I purchased Guide Quests.
[ Guide Quest installed.
Please Check under Daily Quest Options ]
Okay, let have a look.
[ Daily Quest 1
Please Design a daily exercise program.
Receive - 1 Guide Coin and 50 Guide credits. ]
[ Daily Quest 2
Please Engage in Conflict.
Receive - 1 Meta Coin and 50 or more Guide credits. ]
[ Daily Quest 3
Please Make a Purchase.
Receive - 1 Meta Coin and 50 Guide credits. ]
Whew, hold me back! I gonna get all over these Grand Quests!
I spent the next hour trying out various complex exercises until I find a handful that seemed to have potential, at least until I found a proper Supe Gym. I performed the routine in sets of nine. At the twenty fifth set, I got a notice.
[ Daily Quest 1 Completed
You get 1 Guide coin and 50 Guide credits. ]
I've had about enough. "Hey, Guide can you use Abbreviations for thing like the Guide Coins and credits?" Doesn't hurt to ask.
[ Acknowledged, Guided Preference Set. ]
I quickly used my new credits to purchase a Basic Health Potion. A simple glass vial with the expected red liquid appeared. I laid it gentally on the table.
[Daily Quest 3 Completed
You get 1 MC and 50 credits. ]
Better. I thought about asking it to use more natural language, but I'll take what I got for now.
I used the MC to get the Guide Information Popups.
My GIPs threw a ton of Data at me. I wrestled it down to just the object I was focused on and potential Threats. I immediately had to know.
[ Name: Avenger MK I-A Rating: Tier I
Type: Semi-Auto .60 caliber Pistol
Capacity: 4 round normal / 6 rounds extended
Damage: Large to Critical ]
[Name: BGH MK I-A Rating: Tier I
Type: Lever Action .50 caliber Rifle
Capacity: 3 round tube fed
Damage: Critical to Devastating ]
Yup, My GIPs would change everything.