《Secret of the Raganrog》 Part 1: Saga of Asgard and the Exploration of Midheim: Prologue – Fragments of What Used to Be ¡°Master, a message has arrived from central command.¡± The cold feminine voice echoes in the ship awakening me from my sleep chamber. ¡°Understood, connect me at once.¡± ¡°Right away, master.¡± ¡°Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 90, we have received your report in regards to planet Marshugan. It seems you had no interference in completing your mission.¡± ¡°Affirmative, repair of planet Marshugan was completed to 100% with no impediment and ready is for migratory re-habitation.¡± ¡°Your work was exemplary however; we will need you to divert from your return to command.¡± ¡°Understood, what is the next mission?¡± ¡°You will proceed to planet Midengard. The coordinates have already been sent to your ship¡¯s computer.¡± ¡°Warning, I and my ship are critically low in Vitran Particles needed to perform repair of planet Midengard within tolerance.¡± ¡°Command understands your situation and has a new pod for you to rendezvous with in Five Parsecs. The beacon identification has been sent to your computer.¡± ¡°Understood, please state the mission.¡± ¡°Your mission is twofold: One ¨C repair the planet Midengard for re-habitation, Two ¨C We have lost contact with Environmental Repair Cyborg Mark 88 who was previously performing mission one. You are to investigate what happened to Mark 88. Do you understand this mission?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°As planet Midengard was one of the first planets destroyed, the only logs known about Planet Midengard have also been sent to your computer, Central Command bids you well.¡± ¡°Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 90 confirms missions and will proceed to planet Midengard. End transmission.¡± ¡°Your orders, master?¡± ¡°Proceed to the beacon to recharge our supply of Vitran Particles, and then change course to planet Midengard via the coordinates provided by Central Command.¡± ¡°Understood, master. Executing commands.¡± I begin reading the logs provided by Central Command until we reach the recharge pod and we recharge our supply of Vitran Particles. ¡°Master, our recharge is complete. Shall I set course to Planet Midengard?¡± ¡°Afirmative, proceed to Planet Midengard.¡± ¡°Order confirmed, course set to Planet Midengard.¡± ¡°Computer, I will shut down until we are within range of Planet Midengard. Please notify me when we arrive.¡± ¡°Understood, master. Rest well.¡± I close my eyes, set all my systems to standby and drift off. The first thing I see is the golden wanzral crop waiving in the wind as I hear a voice. ¡°Father, is the grain all ready for harvest?¡± My son looks up at me with his violet eyes, his black medium length hair matching the waving of the wanzral. ¡°Yes, it is my son but, we will have to do so tomorrow morning. Now, please get your sister so we can join your mother for our mealtime.¡± ¡°Yes, father. Anastria! It is mealtime!¡± Rigan runs off toward the barn yelling. I pick up my bag that was sitting next to me and go to my home a short distance away. Once I reach the door, I leave my footwear outside and enter. As I arrive inside, I see Shatara, on her way to the door. ¡°Oh! I was just about to call you.¡± I gaze into her violet eyes as she reaches up to let her long blue-green hair down. ¡°The children are on their way here.¡± Just as she about to reply everything goes black and I am awoken to a message from the ship¡¯s computer. ¡°Master, I am sorry to disturb your rest but we are close to planet Midengard.¡± I turn my personal systems back on and exit the sleep chamber. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°I have also detected power readings on the moon of Munin.¡± ¡°The records state there were observatory bases on both moons Munin and Hugin however, the base on Hugin was destroyed by an asteroid bombardment and all salvageable materials were transferred to Munin.¡± ¡°The power readings are emanating from the observatory base on the moon Munin.¡± ¡°Set us in orbit at the moon Munin. I will investigate. The base should have been dormant for hundreds of solar rotations. Logic would dictate that the power was most likely restored by Mark 88. Perhaps there is information as to Mark 88¡¯s whereabouts.¡± ¡°I will prepare the transport pod for you.¡± ¡°Set me down nearest the entrance.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± I go to the transport pod entrance and enter. Once I enter and press the switch to seal the pod, I let the computer know I am ready for transport. ¡°The pod is sealed and ready for inertial stasis and transport to the surface of moon Munin.¡± ¡°Enabling inertial stasis and launching pod to the surface of moon Munin. Safe journey, master.¡± The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.The stasis wears off, I attach addons configured for oxygen deficient areas with zero-gravity and then exit the pod. I survey the immediate area leading up to the entrance to the observation base. My first observation is there are foot prints from that of an Environmental Repair Cyborg. They must have been made by Mark 88. The foot prints lead up to the door. Once I reach the door, I notice a key panel next to a handle. The keys appear to prepare the transition chamber for arrival of those that were outside the facility so that they can remove their environmental suits. I press the key to empty the room of air and then turn the handle once the signal is provided to let me know the chamber is ready for my arrival. The door opens automatically and I step inside. I turn around and press the button to seal the room and pump air into the chamber. When Mark 88 arrived, there must have been no power. It would take little effort for him to force the door open and make his way further. Once the power was restored the base must have gone into failsafe mode and resealed the doors to prevent the air from escaping. The air is filled in the chamber and I turn off the addon providing me with air. I walk over to the door on the other side of the chamber and press the button to open the door to the rest of the facility. There are no signs of life that I can detect but, there are piles of gray dust like remains from the people that were here and were killed by The Raganrog. I continue surveying the facility until I reach the main observation room. Many workstations are laid out the room but one was powered on. I make my way over to it to investigate what information may still be intact. Hmm, I don¡¯t recognize these symbols. ¡°Computer, the computers here have symbols I do not recognize. Is there any information in the data banks somewhere?¡± ¡°I will check for you, master.¡± While I wait for my reply, I continue to assess the rest of observatory base. ¡°Master, I have found a match for the symbols you sent me. It was used in many forms in some planets. After compiling the information this should be the standard writing style for planet Midengard.¡± ¡°Understood. Recall language for planet Midengard.¡± ¡°Command confirmed. Transmitting data.¡± I return to the console that was powered on and on the screen is scientific observations of organic meteorites in their solar system. ¡°Computer, was there any traces of Kirtov in the area when we entered the system?¡± ¡°I did not encounter any while navigating the system but, there were powdered remnants that would suggest that The Raganrog came into contact with some Kirtov, master.¡± ¡°Your hypothesis is sound. Query, do you detect any Kirtov on the surface of planet Midengard?¡± ¡°Master, I detect fifteen faint life signs across the surface of planet Midengard. The signs align with that of the Kirtov in stasis mode. I am also detecting some odd atmospheric disturbances on eight of the nine continents.¡± ¡°Understood. I will be finished here in five minutes.¡± ¡°I will prepare for your arrival, master.¡± I continue going through the remaining information but, most information is unimportant scientific observations about the local solar system and experiments on materials that were found in space. The final entries document Raganrog making its way toward planet Midengard the observers here notifying a place called Odin¡¯s Court. Once I finish looking through the information, I turn the power off and leave the observatory base, return to the transport pod and seal the door. ¡°The pod is sealed, ready for stasis and return transport back to the ship.¡± ¡°Enabling inertial stasis and retrieving transport pod.¡± Once the pod returns to the ship, the inertial stasis dissipates and I exit the pod. ¡°Welcome back, master. What are your orders?¡± ¡°Commence conversion of the observation base materials to that of the moon Munin and then proceed to orbital proximity of planet Midengard. The information at the observation base was minimal. The logs sent by central command states that the center of information lies on the continent of Asgard. Once we reach orbit prepare the enhanced transport pod for deployment.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± A large beam of light envelopes the observation base and it crumbles into dirt no different to that of the native soil of moon Munin. Once the conversion is finished the ship leaves orbit and begins its trajectory toward planet Midengard. As I stand watching my arrival on the outside display, something inside me is telling me these missions will be more difficult than any I have ever undertaken. Chapter 1 – Skeletons of Society My enhanced transport pod lands on the continent of Asgard. I survey the capital after exiting the pod. The skies are blanketed in gray clouds stuck in a perpetual state of near torrential downpour. My gaze is then set at the decimated remains of the tall buildings of the once proud civilization. The logs state this was one of the most advanced civilizations destroyed by The Raganrog. While this is the smallest continent it housed a very large population. It housed the center of the government and was represented by all the races of planet Midengard. The continent was once connected by a multicolored bridge to Continent Midheim. Those colors represented the other eight continents coming together to meet on Continent Asgard. Once the representatives from each continent arrived, they would convene in the palace called Odin¡¯ Court. Named for the one who unified the races and created the system of government here. This was the extent of the details that were contained in the logs pertaining to the continent of Asgard. My first step is to locate the remains of Odin¡¯s Court or whichever place that could house the majority of historical data. From previous information with other civilizations¡¯ placing value on buildings that represent prestige and connections to their past it would be correct to assume that Odin¡¯s Court could follow a similar path. I continue surveying the crumbled buildings while making my way toward the center of the continent. The majority of the buildings belonged residents living spaces with some smaller government offices scattered seemingly at random. At the center of the continent, I find the remains of what appears to be a palace with eight towers collapsed onto the main building. I clear the rubble from the entrance and then enter. Just past the doorway is a magnificent open area with hallways leading to each of the fallen towers with the center hallway leading to what is called ¡°Hall of the Allfather.¡± I see what appears to be an information console. My first two fingers extend out to the console and provides a little bit of energy to the console and it begins to come to life. A robed female holographic figure with shoulder length yellowish hair manifests itself in front of the console. ¡°Glory to the Allfather, visitor and welcome to Odin¡¯s Court. How may I be of assistance?¡± ¡°I would like to know in which facility your historical records are maintained.¡± ¡°Are you requesting those pertaining to the current Allfather or those pertaining to previous Allfathers?¡± ¡°I would like to have access to both.¡± ¡°Those records are maintained in separate places. The records pertaining to the current Allfather are maintained on the Verthandi System stationed in the Allfather¡¯s Chambers located behind the Allfather¡¯s Throne. Once a new Allfather is installed the records of the outgoing Allfather are ceremoniously transferred to the Hall of Urthr where the previous Allfather¡¯s records are added to the historical counts of our glorious planet¡¯s history.¡± ¡°Understood, please provide me the location of The Hall of Urthr.¡± ¡°The Hall of Urthr is located here.¡± The hologram of the speaker changes into that of a model of the area surrounding Odin¡¯s Court with a line marking the pathway to The Hall of Urthr.¡± I retrieve the power from the console and make my way to The Hall of the Allfather. After pushing the large ornate doors open, I make my way along the crimson-colored carpet walkway leading to the gilded throne. Behind the throne is a set of curtains that once moved reveals another set of large ornate doors. I push those doors open and behind them is a large room with a desk and multiple pieces of furniture. Toward the back of the room is the desk and in the middle of the room is an oval shaped table with four chairs on each side of the long edges and one ornate chair at the small edge facing the desk. On the walls flanking the furniture are pieces of art portraying some unknown historical events. I make my way to the desk and look for access to the Verthandi System. My fingers again extend out to provide a small burst of power to the desk. A holographic display appears on the desk with a corresponding holographic keyboard. ¡°Hail to you Allfather. How may I serve you?¡± a voice proclaims from the desk. ¡°Verthandi System, I would like to obtain a copy of your current historical data.¡± ¡°It would be my honor, Allfather. Please input your passcode.¡± This will not do. I place my hand on to the keyboard. ¡°Computer, break into the Verthandi System and obtain all data within.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master. Infiltrating Verthandi System and attempting to extract all data contained within.¡± A slight amount of time later I receive a reply. ¡°Master, data extraction is complete.¡± ¡°Retain a copy for our use and then send the data on to central command.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± ¡°Understood. I will now proceed to the Hall of Urthr.¡± ¡°I will await your next command, master.¡± Once my communication is over, I recall the remaining energy I supplied to the Verthandi System and then leave Odin¡¯s Court. I proceed along the route that was provided to me by the information console. While traveling the Hall of Urthr, I have the computer relay to my visor the information contained on the Verthandi System. The information in the beginning is rather mundane daily statecraft. The final Allfather assumes leadership, spends a majority of his early time conducting business with the representative of each race and addressing petty disputes. Toward the end days the response to the arrival of The Raganrog was no different that of many other advanced civilizations. Initially they tried to prevent its arrival with attacks from five neutron missiles developed by an incarcerated scientist only referred to as L?kni X, or translated to Doctor X. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!When that plan failed, the decision was made to either continue creating neutron missiles or to devise an evacuation plan. Because the initial neutron missiles failed the plan to make more was abandoned and the plan to build evacuation vessels was formed. In quick succession the planet unified to create seventeen evacuation vessels. As quickly as they were to build the evacuation vessels, seventeen was all that they could make before The Raganrog touched down. The last entry is the Allfather leaving to ceremoniously see the seventeen evacuation vessels off as The Raganrog made its way toward the launch site. Deduction would suggest that the logs obtained from central command are from some of the survivors. My journey to the Hall of Urthr is complete and I stand before a building that takes the shape of a large ash tree. Many of the branches have fallen and a couple have blocked the entrance. I draw my weapon and fire several shots it at the fallen branches rending them into small piles and clearing the entrance. Once inside I see display cases that once housed artifacts that once belonged to certain historical figures and items from historical events. According to the logs on the Verthandi System, the last Allfather decreed that those artifacts be split among the evacuation vessels so that no matter what planet they inhabit their connection to the past and their home planet will be with them. I make my way to a booth that houses a console and provide power to it like I did with the Verthandi System. The console comes to life and a holographic robed figured similar to the information console in Odin¡¯s Court. ¡°Glory to the Allfather. I bid you welcome to the Hall of Urthr. How may I be of assistance?¡± ¡°I need access to all historical records that belong to this planet.¡± A panel opens up revealing a port that is utilized to transfer data. ¡°You can have access to general data for public consumption. Any further data will require Allfather¡¯s approval.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± I extend my two fingers out to the data port and make it conform to the shape of it. ¡°Computer, I am connected to the central database in the Hall of Urthr. Proceed with forced transfer of all data.¡± ¡°Yes, master. Transfer of data has commenced.¡± While computer transfers data from the archives, I take note of the items that were once housed here. ¡°Master, my infiltration and retrieval of all data is complete. What is your next command?¡± ¡°Retain a copy for our use and send a copy to central command so they can have a complete historical account of planet Midengard.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± I have completed documenting my findings of this continent. ¡°Computer, I will return to the enhanced transport pod to retrieve the repair assistance vehicle. Once I retrieve the repair assistance vehicle, I will move to Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Understood, master. I will await your next command.¡± I retrieve the remaining power and leave the Hall of Urthr and return back to the enhanced transport pod. Once I make it back, I detach the enhancement portion of the pod setting it on the ground. I press the button sequence to convert it into the repair assistance vehicle mode. ¡°Computer, you can retrieve the transport pod.¡± ¡°Command accepted. Retrieval commencing, master.¡± While the ship recalls the transport pod, I mount the repair assistance vehicle and proceed toward a place on the edge of Continent Asgard called Regnbogabr¨²in or The Rainbow Bridge. I arrive at the edge of Continent Asgard and there is a long device set up a good distance before the cliffs. This must have been the device that created an energy bridge to Continent Midheim. I stop near the device and dismount the repair assistance vehicle. The device does not appear to be damaged. It appears the device just has no power. I look around the device and find an entrance to a service area. The large metallic doors are still secured. I draw my weapon and fire five shots at the middle seam creating a hole. With the hole created, I reach in with both hands and force the doors open. After the doors are opened, there is an elevator that appears to descend down a lengthy shaft. I apply some power to the elevator and ride the elevator to the bottom. The bottom is a dark area. ¡°Set visor to dark environment mode.¡± It is a room with a large device in the middle with eight pipes protruding from it extending upward. This should be the power room that provides power to the energy bridge. ¡°Computer, analyze the energy type used to power this device and create a copy in the repair assistance vehicle.¡± ¡°Yes, master. Analysis complete and copy created. You can retrieve it at the repair assistance vehicle.¡± ¡°Understood, I will retrieve the power source now.¡± ¡°I await your next command, master.¡± I return to the repair assistance vehicle and it has already changed into its exosuit form with the hands holding the created power source. Once I enter the exosuit form, I return to the power room and begin installing the power source. After installing the power source, the room lights up and the rest of the machinery comes to life. I return to the surface, exit the exosuit form and return it back to transport mode. The energy bridge is illuminated ready to be utilized. I take the repair assistance vehicle onto the bridge to its final destination on Midheim. Retaining the bridge is important due the harsh edges of Continent Asgard. ¡°Computer, begin conversion of Continent Asgard however, retain the bridge mechanism.¡± ¡°Yes, master. The process will take some time due to the volume of materials on Continent Asgard.¡± ¡°Understood, commence conversion.¡± ¡°Yes, master. Conversion commencing.¡± I dismount the repair assistance vehicle and watch as the ship begins its terraforming command. Chapter 2 – All Guns Blazing I set the repair assistance vehicle into encampment mode. As I stare at the view screen on the desk like structure while continuing to monitor the progress of Continent Asgard, there was something in the Verthandi System data I found interesting. ¡°Computer, send me data pertaining to L?kni X.¡± ¡°Transmitting data, master.¡± I spend three day-night cycles going through the logs. Why would the natives here enlist the aid of a known criminal? What did he do to become imprisoned? The earliest data mentions him being a decorated scientist for his numerous breakthroughs. No one knew his true name only being referred to as Doctor X. After some time, other scientists started to come forward accusing L?kni X of disturbing experiments involving people and animals. While he was able to deny allegations long enough to disappear from society, secluding himself in several secret laboratories, as time went on more allegations were levied against L?kni X to where the authorities had to take him into custody. Every time the authorities discovered one of his secret laboratories, he was able to escape his capture. This chase continued for several solar rotations until, he was found disguised as a woman in the city of Utgard on the continent of Iotunheim. He was in the midst of capturing one of the local denizens and the authorities surrounded him and brought him before Odin¡¯s Court. While his trial was ongoing the discovery was relayed to the Allfather from the observation base on moon Munin the arrival of Raganrog. In an attempt to bargain for his life, he devised his plan to create the neutron missiles. The plan was that even if the missiles didn¡¯t destroy Raganrog the resulting power backlash could alter its course towards the star of this solar system. It seemed this L?kni X was on the right path but didn¡¯t know the power Raganrog truly possessed. While he may have been on the right path, what it really took was a combined variety of high-powered weapons developed by the remnants of multiple civilizations housed on the planet of Gandarion, to push it towards a black hole where it was crushed under the extreme pressure of that black hole. With the plan a failure the Allfather and his council decided to evacuate as many people as they could. L?kni X was enlisted to engineer and create as many evacuation vehicles as they could. The final number was eighteen evacuation vehicles but it seems only seventeen were made. Given L?kni X¡¯s penchant for hidden laboratories and subterfuge, logic would dictate the eighteenth vehicle¡¯s launch facility was more than likely made. ¡°Computer, provide me the possible location of the eighteenth evacuation vehicle facility.¡± ¡°The vehicles were launched from facilities located on Continent Midheim at these locations. All known sites are overlaid on the map I have just sent you, master.¡± What a curious formation. Connecting the points form a single word, ??? (von), meaning hope. I can extrapolate that the eighteenth facility might be located in the middle of the second letter. The location is not too far from this location I am at currently. ¡°Computer, I will proceed to the center of the middle set of launch sites. Keep me informed of the status of conversion on Continent Asgard.¡± ¡°Yes, master. Current conversion status is 27% complete. Have a safe journey, master.¡± I put the repair assistance vehicle into transport mode and leave heading toward the launch sites. On my way I continue to look through the logs while the repair assistance vehicle is on auto pilot. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.Why did it become dark suddenly? ¡°You need to wake up my love.¡± I hear the voice of my first wife Mishandra. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°You need to wake up and live for the both of us.¡± Those were the last word I heard from her before her death. ¡°You need to wake up¡­¡± Suddenly my consciousness is regained. Once my eyes begin to open, I notice a dark figure attacking the repair assistance vehicle. It is a Kirtov and it is trying to drain all the Vitran particles from the repair assistance vehicle. Slowly I reach for my weapon from my leg and start to aim it for its head. The shot goes off and the Kirtov moves away just as I fire. I jump into the air as I fire a few more shots at the Kirtov. The Kirtov dodges the shots as it closes in on me. As I land my feet on the ground it collides with me sending both of us to falling. The maw of the Kirtov snapping at me trying to get at my Vitran Particles and my life force itself as I hold it away with both of my arms. I hold it off with my left arm and try to reach back to my holster. My weapon should have rematerialized there once it was knocked out of my hand. I finally reach my weapon and am able to get a shot off. The shot pierces its shoulder and it recoils, jumps back off of me and lets out a loud roar. I fire a few more shots at it and it¡¯s able to dodge all my shots while closing the distance between us again. My last shot hits its hip area as it bites down on my right arm as my weapon falls from my hand. I reach up with my left arm and grasp its head pushing it away from me. The Kirtov continues lunging at me and I continue dodging it while I once again draw my weapon. As it goes for another biting lunge, I raise my weapon aiming at its mouth and let loose three shots. Its head is blown completely and falls over backward landing on the ground dead. I take a couple of steps toward it and shoot three more shots this time into its center mass. As I start to put my weapon away, I see Vitran Particles exiting the cavities and starts to repair the wounds. I raise my hands and summon the Vitran Particles into me. The amount coming back to me is more than what it would have taken from the repair assistance vehicle. It¡¯s not stopping, only accelerating. I can¡¯t stop the flow of Vitran Particles. Computer¡¯s voice come on, ¡°Warning! Vitran Particle overload!¡± As I keep the flow of the Vitran Particles entering, I try to force my left arm to stop gathering and am successful. I then raise up my left arm and try to vent the particles out that way only for it to explode forth. The reclaimed particles fall to the ground sprouting new life in the form of plants and insects. This continues until the last of the particles leaves the fallen Kirtov and the body crumbles to dust. I raise my right hand and continue venting the excess Vitran Particles. Finally, I am able to vent enough to be just below overload levels. I go over to the repair assistance vehicle and replace some of the Vitran Particles that were taken by the Kirtov. This incident is curious. I have never had this happen in previous battles with the Kirtov. The amount of Vitran Particles in its body far exceeded what was taken from the repair assistance vehicle. Someone has altered it while it was in stasis. That is the only answer that would line up with the evidence. Also, why was I not able to detect it before it attacked me? Suddenly hear a voice in a language not native to this world. ¡°¤¦¤ï©`¡¢¤¹¤´¤¤¤­¤ì¤¤£¡¡± I turn toward the voice and draw my weapon, ¡°Spectral anomaly detected!¡± Chapter 3 – In A Dead World I really hope this worked. I¡¯ll feel really stupid if I just got my hopes up for nothing. I open my eyes and see a field of flowers in front of me. ¡°Oh, this is so beautiful!¡± Behind me I hear a loud voice shouting, ¡°Litr¨®fsfr¨¢vik greind!¡± I turn around to see what appears to be a humanoid looking robot or someone in a full set of armor standing near something sort of resembling a motorcycle with no wheels, aiming what appears to be a gun of some sort at me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Robot, sir. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°Tungum¨¢l greint. Stilltu tungum¨¢l ¨¢ Terran undirmengi jap?nsku. Language now set to Terran variant language Japanese.¡± ¡°Wow! I can understand you! That¡¯s awesome that you know Japanese!¡± ¡°Correct, I have recalled the Terran variant language you call Japanese.¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait. You can see and hear me?¡± ¡°Correct, I detected a spectral anomaly not native to this planet. Once I observed you, I concluded you were of minimal threat. Query, why is there a spectral anomaly from Terra on this planet?¡± ¡°Uh, um, oh you mean me. Right, m¡­my name is Michiru Kanazawa and I, uh, read this article about, uh, the scientists on Terra, as you call it, discovering this planet. I was having a bad day and decided to see how life was here. I hope I¡¯m not causing any trouble.¡± ¡°Your ability to hinder my mission is inconsequential however, the planet here is still unsafe.¡± I look out past the beautiful flowers and see a gray landscape with a massive tree in the distance devoid of leaves. Hmm, I guess it is. ¡°So, uh, Mr. Robot sir, do you have a name and where am I?¡± ¡°I am not a robot; however, I know my appearance can be deceptive. My designation is: Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 90. You have arrived at the planet the natives once called Midengard. It was laid desolate by a monster called Raganrog. Once the oceans and nine continents here were drained of life, The Raganrog left to seek another planet to claim.¡± ¡°Wait, these names are sounding familiar and nine continents sounds like nine realms. Not to mention that huge tree as well. Were there any survivors?¡± ¡°Affirmative. Records state that there was a group of approximately one hundred million natives of this planet fled in the final days. To try to keep their genetic information from extinction they set out to three different planets. One of those was your planet, Terra. They arrived approximately two thousand of your Terran years ago.¡± ¡°Wow, no way! It has to be them. I mean it makes sense that people from a more advanced world would be considered gods.¡± ¡°Indeed. The native Terrans in the northwestern part of the Eurasian continent incorrectly considered them deities. Some survivors remained in that area and mated with the local natives. The remaining left in search of a less populated planet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably how the legends there were started. That¡¯s amazing! I have to wonder though, this place doesn¡¯t look that bad, in fact it looks gorgeous!¡± ¡°This area is the result of my primary directive on this planet. Primary directive: return the environment back to its previous state prior to the devastation caused by The Raganrog. Secondary directive: investigate the disappearance of Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 88.¡± ¡°I see. These flowers you made are so beautiful.¡± ¡°I did not make these. I used the energy of the Kirtov I defeated to reconstitute the dead plant and animal life in the immediate area.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡­wait, WHAT!? You brought the plants and animals back to life?! I mean you¡¯re not God or a god obviously how is that possible? No wait, we just talked about this. You¡¯re from a more advanced civilization than where I come from.¡± ¡°Correct, your logical conclusion is sound.¡± ¡°But I thought there was no life here. How did a, uh, Kirtov you called it, end up here?¡± ¡°The Kirtov remained in stasis after traveling on some small meteorites. The meteorites bombarded the planet approximately 517 Terran years ago. Once the meteorites crashed on Midengard, the Kirtov remained in stasis waiting for signs of life so that they can consume and create more spawn. Once I arrived a nearby Kirtov awoke and attacked. ¡°They kind of sound like that Raganrog you mentioned.¡± ¡°Incorrect, The Raganrog stands approximately three hundred and twenty-seven Terran meters tall and systematically consumes all manner of life on a planet. The Kirtov stand at over two of your Terran meters tall and drains the life force from animal type lifeforms. Kirtov are more similar to what you Terrans called vampires.¡± ¡°Wow, vampires!?¡± ¡°Correct, unlike your Terran vampires of fiction, Kirtov are very feral and attack once the first sign of animal life is nearby.¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty scary but, you took care of the one here, right?¡± ¡°Correct, there is no danger in the immediate vicinity.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, not that I¡¯d be in much danger since I¡¯m a ghost and all, right?¡± ¡°Correct, had you arrived 1.06 Terran minutes earlier you would have been inadvertently reconstituted as well.¡± ¡°Whoa, WAIT, WHAT? You can do that?!¡± ¡°It is still within my ability to repair your body allowing you to become whole once again.¡± ¡°Oh my, um, I¡¯m at a loss for words. I have a wave of emotions flooding me. What should I do? I mean I can be alive again and see Shinichi.¡± ¡°Warning, repairing your body will prevent you from returning to Terra. You would have to remain here and the area is still very unsafe. Additionally, I will have to alter the isolation barrier on planet Midengard to prevent further inadvertent intrusions. Do you still want to proceed?¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a catch. Hey, I know, couldn¡¯t you just take me back to Earth¡­I mean Terra? I mean you must have a really cool spaceship, right?¡± ¡°Confirmed, unfortunately I am unable to leave until my objectives are complete.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I figured. It¡¯s not like you know me let alone owe me anything. So, I can stay as a ghost, return home and finish my mission there or take a chance here with my body returned unable to return to earth. Not to mention trying to survive against unknown dangers.¡± ¡°Your conflict is correct. I cannot assure your safety assuming you decide to remain.¡± ¡°Right, and I guess you won¡¯t be done here any time soon.¡± ¡°Correct, time to complete mission is unknown. Current time on planet Midengard is six Terran days. Current completion percentage of primary directive is 3.27%. Secondary directive is currently at 0.00%. Additional directives have potential to be created in the process of completing the primary and secondary directives.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought. I think it really is me having to come to terms with letting Shinichi go on with his life without me and if I were to come back to Earth alive is that really fair to Shinichi and to a lesser degree Yoko? I upended both of their lives to set them up for the future and coming back now would be pretty mean and undo everything I¡¯ve done so far. I have to think about them and not just myself.¡± ¡°Quandary analysis. If returning to Terra alive would cause an error in your current progress the only option is to continue as you were before to complete your mission. The conclusion is sound.¡± ¡°Well, I was mostly thinking out loud but, yeah, we pretty much came to the same conclusion. I can¡¯t run away from my problems. I need to fight them head on.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.¡°Interjection, I still detect hesitation from you about your decision.¡± ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I be hesitant? I get killed, then brought back as a ghost and told to give my fianc¨¦, the love of my life, to another woman all for the sake of a future I will never get to experience. I still love him and I know he still loves me too. Why can¡¯t I have that life with him?¡± ¡°Counter-point, while I do not profess to know your situation entirely, I would like to present you with a narrative from a position of strength. Death is something that has been familiar to me since even before becoming an environmental repair cyborg. As a Vitan I visited many planets ravaged by The Raganrog. Among them is while being able to reconstitute some native lifeforms there were some that were beyond saving. In a few cases those that were considered the closest to those that were reconstituted were unable to be. While I could sense their spectral form, they would not manifest and would instead continue to deteriorate until they would disappear. ¡°Additionally, those that were reconstituted would pay tribute to those that did not to help ease their pain and to help them start their journey without those that did not return. I would sometimes observe some natives return to a designated spot to continue to pay tribute to those that are gone. I would like to posit that the natives continuing to visit the designated spots was them being able provide a sense of mental relief and to thank them for being a part of their life.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s pretty normal for us on Earth as well. I don¡¯t see how any of that really applies to me. I know that my parents and Shinichi miss me and visit my grave every year. They even have my picture with an offering plate always available to remind them of me. I know they miss me and would want me back and I want to be back with them. If I never saved that boy, I would have had a perfect life. The man I decided to spend my life with, to have children with and supported me in anything I wanted. I deserved to live my life with him and not give him to someone else. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± ¡°I detect your regret at saving the young human but, I will continue.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t let that go. I lived my life with no regrets. Why can¡¯t I have some regret for once, huh? This is my life after all.¡± ¡°I understand your emotion. I believe the rest of my anecdote will be of use to you.¡± ¡°Fine, if you say so.¡± ¡°I will now continue. The majority of the spectral forms were resigned to their fate; they were just glad to see their closest individual be reconstituted and survive. Those that were not resigned to their fate would become distorted due to their harbored resentment or negative emotions. They would cause problems for those that are alive to the point of becoming what you on Terra call ¡°vengeful spirits.¡±¡± ¡°What happens to those vengeful spirits? Don¡¯t they just hang around and create trouble for the living?¡± ¡°They will however, also continue exuding their negative energy and eventually dissipate infecting objects and areas.¡± ¡°I had read about cursed objects and haunted buildings before and it all seemed believable but they were just stories. I¡¯m not vengeful though.¡± ¡°Correction, I have detected the beginning stages of your spectral devolution.¡± ¡°Spectral devolution? Me? I mean I am upset I can¡¯t live my life with Shinichi and seeing him with another woman hurts me but I don¡¯t think that is me devolving at all.¡± ¡°Query, was it just this one time just prior to arriving here or were there other instances? I posit that there have been instances of regret and/or jealousy before arriving here.¡± ¡°Well, yeah, but no more than any normal person. That is what it means to be human, to feel all the emotions we experience in our life and how we deal with them. How¡¯s that any different than now?¡± ¡°Understood, however the difference is that you are not a whole Terran anymore. You are a spectral form and will eventually dissipate. How you dissipate and leave your mark depends on the actions you do before the end. You can finish what you need to in order to accept your fate or you can let your attachment to the corporeal world distort you.¡± ¡°He¡¯s MY fianc¨¦. I should be the one to live our lives together! I know he will never forget me!¡± I crumble to the ground and tears fall from my eyes. He comes up to me and his hand begins to glow. His hand reaches out and touches the top of my head. It doesn¡¯t feel like metal that is touching me. ¡°Understood, if this Terran was close enough to be your mate, experience dictates that if he were to find another, he would still remember everything the two of you accomplished together. Those memories will never fade. You may be gone physically but, the impact that you had on their life will not diminish. It will leave a mark on their soul.¡± ¡°Is that just another of your anecdotes?¡± His hand slides from the top of my head, down the side and below my chin. He brings my head up to look at him as he kneels down. The armor is gone and he¡¯s wearing some strange clothes almost like something out of some Futuristic American Sci-Fi show. He has shoulder length black hair, striking green eyes and a very slim, pale complexion. His hands come to rest on my shoulders. ¡°No, it is my own personal experience of losing the woman I loved.¡± His monotone semi-robotic voice is gone. ¡°Even after becoming a cyborg all those years ago, the memories of Mishandra are still here deep within me. Sometimes while I am in stasis between planets I would reli¡­I mean dream of those happy days we spent together. While I¡¯m not the same as I was before becoming a Vitan my love for her never went away.¡± ¡°But, did you ever find any one after her?¡± ¡°Of course, I did. I met Shatara a few years later. We fell in love and had three kids. While I did love her, she was never Mishandra and I never expected her to be Mishandra. My life with the both of them is very precious to me. They both shaped who I am.¡± ¡°Do¡­do you think Shinichi will be the same way?¡± ¡°If he feels anywhere close to the way I felt for Mishandra, I don¡¯t see why he wouldn¡¯t feel the same way. Especially, considering what I know about people from Earth. You need to let him live his life.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. I have to let him go on with his life. I have to believe that he¡¯ll never forget me. No, I KNOW he¡¯ll never forget me.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯m glad you are feeling better. Here let me help you up.¡± He offers his hand. I grab it and get up. Wait a minute! How is he doing all this? Just as I start to think about that, he becomes fully armored again. ¡°Danger! Enemy detected three hundred Terran Kilometers away. Recommend you return to Terra without delay. I will take down the barrier so that you may return.¡± ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯ll be ok, right?¡± ¡°Affirmative, you should return to continue your mission.¡± ¡°Right, what can I do here after all? Ok, I¡¯m ready to go.¡± ¡°Understood, the barrier has been adjusted. I wish you success on your mission and you do not forget what we discussed here.¡± ¡°Right. Thank you for everything and I hope everything goes well with your missions as well.¡± I close my eyes, put my hands together and think of Shinichi¡¯s apartment. Chapter 4 – Hangar 18 ¡°Master, there is an atmospheric disturbance closing in on your position.¡± ¡°Understood, my sensors detected it as well. Provide me a close-up video of the disturbance along with its trajectory.¡± ¡°Right away, master.¡± As I await the information, I set up the repair assistance vehicle into encampment mode and analyzer the info sent to me. The display shows video of a tornado with its projected trajectory heading towards my position. Something about that tornado looks different. ¡°Computer, analyze the tornado¡¯s composition.¡± ¡°The tornado¡¯s composition is that of a normal tornado found on just about any planet however, I am detecting a large number of spectral anomalies contained within, master.¡± That is a curious development. ¡°What is your current progress of Continent Asgard?¡± ¡°Current conversion progress is thirty-one percent, master.¡± I set the repair assistance vehicle back into transport mode and leave towards my original destination but, making sure to avoid the tornado¡¯s trajectory. ¡°Computer, I will continue on my course to the eighteenth launch facility. What is your estimated completion time?¡± ¡°The estimated completion time should fall within five to six day-night cycles, master.¡± I will need to investigate this anomaly later. There will need to be ample livable space before I restore those trapped spectral anomalies. Yeah, there needs to be a place to start over. ¡°Computer, using my trajectory, is there any Kirtov in that area? ¡°Master, I detect one at the coordinates by your trajectory endpoint.¡± I will have to remain vigilant. I continue on my way until I reach the farthest part of the third letter ?. The site is completely destroyed and looking out at the nearby launch facilities there is barely anything remaining denoting that these were sites even existed. I continue investigating the remains. The sites were indeed hastily constructed with no possibility for reuse. While I continue assessing the launch facilities, I look for any possible hidden facilities if my hypothesis is incorrect. As I get closer to the suspected eighteenth facility, I decide to dismount and survey the area and see one of the launch facilities destroyed by a crater. This must have been where the Kirtov landed. I try to enhance my vision to focus on the crater. There¡¯s nothing in there. Suddenly, my vision is blocked and I jump back while drawing my weapon. I fire shots at it and it backs away while dodging. How are they avoiding my sensors? What¡¯s up with these things? I continue backing away while firing at the Kirtov. Three of my shots hits and it roars out in pain. While it¡¯s stunned, I continue firing and finally it goes down. Like the other one I encountered this one begins to repair its wounds and I begin syphoning off the Vitran Particles using my right hand while I ready my left in the air incase the overload happens like last time. ¡°Warning! Vitran Particle overload!¡± Indeed, Vitran Particle overload has begun. This also somewhat confirms these Kirtov have been altered in some way by someone for some reason. I vent the particles as I keep syphoning and the Kirtov crumbles to dust. The particles that vent fall to the ground like before but I notice some particles seem to be trailing off toward my suspected location. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.The ground springs to life with various plants and insect life. Once I am able to normalize the amount of Vitran Particles in my body, I take note of the direction the stray particles were traveling and follow them. It seems my deduction may have been correct. The particle repair stops before the entrance to a building. It seems the particles were unable to travel any further to whatever was attracting them. I see the remains of not a launch facility but a building. Like the launch sites the building was made in a hasty way and not built to last. It was most likely a facility used to monitor the launch procedures. I clear away the rubble from the entrance and make my way inside. As I walk the inside of the building, I pay key attention to the floor area. I notice a console that seems to be covering something. Pushing it aside it reveals a hole with a ladder. I climb down the ladder and reach the bottom. ¡°Set visor to dark environment mode.¡± As I turn around with the ladder to my back, I notice a large door with a panel off to the right side of it. I extend my fingers and apply some power to the panel. The lights turn on and the panel illuminates. I set my hand on the panel. ¡°Computer, brute force into the security panel and open the doors.¡± ¡°Initiating brute force against security measures, master.¡± The doors open and the room beyond is illuminated revealing four-person sized tubes utilizing a glass like substance. Three of the tubes are laid out in a triangular formation with the fourth set in the middle of the triangle. The outside tubes are empty but the middle one, labeled ¡°Project Lucretta¡±, contains a metallic skeletal structure and what appears to be a primitive version of the binary heart that powers every Vitan Series Environmental Repair Cyborg. This must be what was attracting the Vitran Particles. I walk toward the middle tube and begin examining it further. Just I draw closer an alarm goes off from computer. ¡°Spectral anomaly detected.¡± The spectral anomaly suddenly appears within the tube. WHOA! I knew it was there but still it surprised me. It is a grey mostly humanoid shape with no defined features and appears to be unable to leave the tube. I will leave it for now as something is amiss with my systems. ¡°Computer, I am experiencing some intermittent emotional interference. By my count it would appear to be my third instance. Please check my systems.¡± ¡°Master, I am detecting some residual spectral data dating back to your interaction with the Terran Spectral Anomaly.¡± Most interesting. A parting gift perhaps? ¡°Computer, isolate and quarantine the Terran Anomaly Remnant.¡± ¡°Quarantine complete, master.¡± ¡°I will continue my progress in this laboratory. Ready a repair attachment for my weapon.¡± ¡°Attachment is ready for retrieval, master.¡± Now that the issue concerning the Terran Anomaly Remnant is resolved, I will need additional Vitran Particles in order to restore this spectral anomaly. The anomaly floats around the tube hitting the glass like substance like it is trying to escape. Perhaps it was this anomaly that was summoning the Vitran Particles earlier. I surmise its behavior is probably in reaction to my own particles. Chapter 5 – Wild One I return to the repair assistance vehicle where my seat is raised and the attachment pod awaits below it. After I retrieve the attachment pod and place it on my back attaching the hose from the pod to the back of my weapon. I set the seat back down and return to the facility. Once I enter the laboratory the anomaly increases its flailing against the glasslike substance. While the anomaly continues, I notice the skeleton slowly begins to move as well mimicking the movements of the anomaly. The metallic hand crashes into the glass cracking it. Again, the glass is hit, this time by the other hand and the structural integrity is compromised enough to shatter to pieces. I raise my weapon up and the anomaly lunges at me with the skeleton following behind it slowly mimicking its every move. As the anomaly reaches for me with its arm like appendages, the skeleton melds into the anomaly. I use my left hand to palm strike the two back a little distance and then start firing Vitran Particles at the combined entity. The formerly amorphous form starts to form that a female humanoid figure. Her eyes become a bright blue while her epidermal area becomes a pinkish color and long golden waist length hair is formed from her head. No longer stunned it continues trying to attack me and I begin falling to the ground. I let the force take me to the floor and I roll while using my legs to kick the entity away from me. The entity slowly gets back up but, I am able to get back up quickly and continue firing Vitran Particles at the entity. As the entity finally stands up it becomes fully formed. The naked figure turns and flees the laboratory and scurries up the ladder and out into the open world. I follow her out of the laboratory and back up to the surface. Once I reach the surface, she attacks me and we both fall to the ground. Her hands grab each side of my head and my helmet retracts. As I¡¯m trying to hold her back, she reaches in with her head and her lips touch mine as she begins syphoning my own Vitran Particles. I reach for my weapon and flip the thumb switch to pacify mode and fire a shot into her stomach. Her body gives out as she falls asleep. I push her body off me and pick her up to bring her back to the repair assistance vehicle. I put the repair assistance vehicle into encampment mode and press commands to make clothing for her in a design that resembles an old traditional one-piece dress. It¡¯s a very simple over the head design similar to many I saw used by humanoid bipedal creatures. Straps rest on the shoulders to secure the cloth on the body and the bottom has a large opening to provide quick access for relief of bodily waste. I prop her body up and slip the red colored cloth on her and then lay her back down. After I finish clothing her, I obtain restraining devices and bind her hands and legs together. ¡°Computer, I have discovered a primitive version of a Vitan Series Environmental Repair Cyborg and I need to ensure her Vitran Particle levels are stable. Provide me levels on my monitor.¡± ¡°Scanning female body-type primitive Vitan Cyborg, master.¡± The scanner light emits from the encampment mode and envelops the body in its light. ¡°Master, scan is complete. Her system was designed to use a very unstable derivative of what became the current Vitran Particles.¡± ¡°Very intriguing indeed. Continue.¡± ¡°Her levels are currently at seventy-two percent. Her spectral form is still not fully integrated with her flesh and cyber forms even though it is in synch with those forms, master.¡± ¡°I would posit that the Vitran Particles we use are more stable and additional Vitran Particles could resolve that issue.¡± ¡°Your conclusion is sound, master.¡± ¡°Continue monitoring her level and status. I will provide more Vitran Particles.¡± ¡°Monitoring particle levels along with spectral assimilation progress, Master.¡± I reattach the hose to my weapon. ¡°Beginning Vitran Particle infusion.¡± Slowly I release particles at the unconscious body. ¡°Particle level at seventy-nine percent, master.¡± I increase the amount a little more and hold the amount steady as computer responds. ¡°Particle level at ninety percent and spectral integration at ninety-two percent, master.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.As I continue the particles the facial features finalize on her. ¡°Particle level at ninety-seven percent and spectral assimilation is complete. Her bodily functions are normalized, master.¡± I count to five while continuing the Vitran Particle stream to her. She lets out a large gasp as she sits up and then falls back down to sleep. ¡°Particle level at one hundred percent and all vital signs are holding steady, master.¡± ¡°What is your conversion status on Continent Asgard?¡± ¡°The conversion is currently at forty-two percent, master.¡± ¡°Understood. Continue monitoring her status.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± ¡°There must be information relating to this project so, I will be returning to the laboratory to look for any.¡± ¡°I await your next command, master.¡± With my transmission finished, I produce a blanket from the encampment mode and place it on her before I return to the laboratory. Once I arrive back in the laboratory, I begin looking for a terminal. Near the entrance I find it. It would have been easy to miss when passing through the door. I begin going through the data he left. This facility predates the construction of the evacuation vehicles. I continue combing through his data files but there is no information on the locations of other sites. On the subject of the experiment at hand, the three chambers on the outside of the middle chamber at point housed a female in various stages of life. One in her late years, one in her peak years and the other a newborn. L?kni X¡¯s logs state that they represent the past, present and future with two of the names that are familiar, Urthr and Verthandi. Extrapolating from what I gathered on Continent Asgard, Urthr represented the past, Verthandi represented the present, so this third Skuld, represented the future. The skeleton that was created was devised so that the final creation would hopefully survive a coming disaster and be able to repopulate Midengard without the experiment aging. While this lab and experiment was started before the arrival of The Raganrog it seems that after the launch of all the evacuation vehicles L?kni X stayed behind try to salvage this experiment and many others. Query, if L?kni X stayed on planed Midengard how did Central Command come by this technology? Perhaps these reports of him staying were more of L?kni X¡¯s subterfuge. Indeed, the only thing that can be certain are the actual facts in the logs. All else should deemed as falsehoods unless there is irrefutable data to support the statements. ¡°Computer, I am sending you the laboratory¡¯s data logs. Retain a copy and forward a copy to central command.¡± ¡°Yes, master.¡± As I finish my transmission, I hear screaming coming from the surface area. I exit the laboratory and see the female thrashing about and screaming. As I reach for my weapon to pacify her, she stops thrashing about and uses her bound legs to leap at me. With my left hand I grab her wrist shackles to stop her while holding her off the ground. She tries to use her bound legs to hit me but, before she is able to get withing reach I fire a shot to sedate her. I bring her back over to where she was resting before and place her underneath the blanket. Her primal behavior is a problem. It seems that while her body is stable her mind is no different than that of an animal. ¡°Computer, analyze her brain wave activity.¡± ¡°Master, subject¡¯s brainwave activity is unstable due to the three former female lifeforms colliding and refusing control. Since the three are in a stalemate her base instincts are in control.¡± ¡°Thus, she is exhibiting animalistic behavior.¡± ¡°You are correct, master.¡± I go over to the encampment mode and continue looking through L?kni X¡¯s notes on the experiment. This problem was known after fusing the three Midengardians. L?kni X was unable to contact the three and resolve the dispute. While L?kni X continued to research the issue, he decided that a fourth person was needed to override the base instincts. One that was of a similar age to the Verthandi figure. L?kni X may have been advanced for his time and place but, there are things I can employ that he was not able to. ¡°Computer, I will need to transfer her to the ship to commune with her mind. Prepare a transport pod back.¡± ¡°Transport pod has been launched and on its way to you, master.¡± Chapter 6 – Communion Once we arrive on the ship, I have computer prepare my sleep chamber so that I can commune with her mind. I lay her down in the chamber and seal it up so that if she were to awaken, she could be sedated again and also not be able to escape. ¡°Computer, attach the brainwave monitor and ready a corresponding brainwave monitor for me as well.¡± ¡°Connecting dual brainwave monitors, master.¡± A mask like device exits the top of the sleep chamber and covers her forehead and eyes. An identical device is ejected from the side of the sleep chamber. I retract my helmet and place the brainwave monitor to my forehead and eyes. ¡°Computer, begin brainwave synchronization.¡± ¡°Synchronization commencing, maste¡­¡± As computer¡¯s confirmation finishes, my consciousness slips and I see a white light. Once the light fades away, I see a dark room with three naked figures holding hands in the form of a circle. In the middle is a fourth figure standing but asleep. I move closer to the quartet and the three outside figures are female. These appear to be the spectral remnants of the three Midengardians. The smallest is floating above the ground which is that of an infant with a small amount of golden hair grown on the head. Holding each of the hands of the infant are two females of similar height and build. The first of the two is definitely more advanced in age and has some of her golden hair replaced by silvery strands. Her body is that of someone who had given birth to children in her earlier age. The third one, looks very similar to the main body¡¯s outward appearance. Like the other two she has golden hair but is resting at the length of her shoulders. She, as like the main body itself, is well-endowed and shapely. I move forward toward the quartet and I am able to see the figure in the middle of the circle. She has the appearance of the main body. While she is asleep for the moment, her appearance is very aggressive looking. Her brow furrowed and her waist length hair in a tangled mess with hands in a claw like shape as if she is ready to attack anyone at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Your appearance is not Midengardian. Why have you intruded before us?¡± The voice is actually three speaking at the same time presumably belonging to the three in the circle. They can see my non-armored naked form and made the correct deduction that I do not belong to this planet. ¡°I have come to seek a resolution to your stalemate.¡± ¡°We refuse to be a party to this abomination.¡± ¡°I see, that is a problem.¡± ¡°We had a life. We had a soul. This thing was artificially created. It has no soul.¡± ¡°So, the reason for you not becoming a singular being is because the host body had no soul to begin with.¡± ¡°We have been unable to die because its will to live is strong. We saw you while it was distracted trying to restore its body, we collectively took control of the body and attacked you so that you could finally end our abomination of life.¡± ¡°I see, you did not expect me to keep you alive because you were a variation of the Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Series. ¡°Indeed, it was a grave miscalculation on our part.¡± ¡°As such I still need to investigate you and your origin further.¡± ¡°While that is a need of yours, we still refuse to be a part of this abomination and will try every way we can to terminate this mockery of life.¡± ¡°If you were to be left alone, would you attempt to take your own life?¡± ¡°We would be unable to so because of the strong self-preservation in the abomination.¡± ¡°I mean, if I were to eliminate this abomination in the middle, would you still try to end your lives as well?¡± ¡°We would because we would not be a whole person anymore.¡± ¡°So, you would still need someone in the middle to act as a pillar.¡± ¡°We are parts of our previous selves so we would need someone to meld with and this abomination is not fit.¡± ¡°If I were to replace her with someone who was a real person, someone who had a soul and would like another chance to live, would you allow her to take the abomination¡¯s place?¡± ¡°We may allow it. Bring her before us and we will decide.¡± ¡°I will introduce her to you¡± The connection is ended and I am returned to my own body. ¡°Computer, I will need the return to the entity but will need the quarantined Terran Anomaly Remnant to accompany me.¡± ¡°Terran Remnant has been returned to you.¡± ¡°Computer, begin brainwave synchronization.¡± ¡°Synchronization commencing, maste¡­¡± I reappear in front of the quintet but, this time the Terran woman is beside me. ¡°¤­¤ã£¡¤É¤¦¤·¤Æ¤¢¤¿¤·¤ÏÂã¤Ê¤Î£¿¡± Michiru Remnant starts to cover her chest and area between her legs. ¡°¤â¤¦¡¢¤É¤¦¤·¤Æ·þ¤¬¤Ê¤¤¡£¤½¤ì¤¸¤ã¡«¡£¡± After she speaks, she waves her right hand upward and a long green dress appears on her. I will need to adjust our synchronization so that the Michiru remnant and the quartet will easily understand each other. My eyes close and I bring my hands to my head. That should do it. ¡°What¡¯s going on here and why is everyone naked?¡± ¡°Welcome back, Michiru.¡± ¡°Oh! Ninety-san. Glad to see you again.¡± She bows as replies. ¡°These are people from the planet you visited. We are inside their mind.¡± ¡°But, it¡¯s four people here and we¡¯re in their mind? How¡¯s that supposed to work? And why is one of them a baby?¡± ¡°Is this the person you mentioned?¡± ¡°She is. She came from a planet faraway called Terra or as the people of her native land called it, Chikyuu.¡± ¡°N¡­nice to meet you. My name is Michiru Kanazawa.¡± She bows to the quartet. ¡°We each had a name before but as we are no longer a whole person so we do not remember it.¡± ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry to hear that. Why am I here anyway?¡± ¡°Since we are not whole, we would need a suitable soul to merge with to become a full person once again.¡± ¡°I see. This still all confusing but, what can I do?¡± I jump into the conversation, ¡°You are a fragment of the ghost that visited me. I know you are not the whole you but the dilemma is this, the entity in the middle was created and the three soul fragments were supposed to be merged to the her. The three refuse to do so because as they say it has no soul and thus would need a different host to merge with.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.¡°Ok so I guess you want me to combine with the three on the outside to make some sort of super woman like in those kids¡¯ robot shows on TV?¡± ¡°I do not understand your reference but your analogy seems to be right.¡± ¡°Before I do this, I want to know what happened when the rest of me left.¡± ¡°I am unable to know what happened when you returned to Terra. I can say that you were very at ease and resolved to finish what ever mission you were given by who you said was God.¡± ¡°I mean that¡¯s good I guess.¡± ¡°While I am not able to directly tell you what happened I can surmise that considering your state of mind when you left you did complete your mission and wished your mate a good and long life.¡± ¡°Yeah, that seems like I could have done that. I just want Shinichi to be happy again.¡± ¡°Does what I told you ease any burden you may have?¡± ¡°Um¡­yeah, I think what I did was enough to help him become happy again. Alright, what do I do to become this superwoman thing you mentioned?¡± ¡°Please, step further toward the quartet.¡± We walk a little further toward the quartet and the voice from the three starts to talk to us again. ¡°This woman seems to have experienced quite a tragic life.¡± ¡°According to her she did have a rather good life before she died but, I believe it best for her to answer any questions you may have.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh¡­ I guess you want to know more about me before we combine, right?¡± ¡°Yes, while we know you were a real soul, we need to know that you are of pure thought.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand what you mean by pure. I¡¯m just a normal woman who had a fianc¨¦ I loved and looked forward to having children with. I loved reading books and most of all I had a promising future. I have had my fair share of sexy thoughts so that doesn¡¯t seem pretty pure, I guess.¡± ¡°We think you misunderstand us when we used the word pure. We mean that you are of a real soul. However, what you stated confirms to us that you were of a real soul.¡± ¡°Whew. That¡¯s good to know¡­I guess. Hey! Wait! I WAS a real woman!¡± As she is making her statement, she makes a rather odd pose. She places her right hand behind her head, her left arm is placed below her breasts hefting them up and she is standing on just her left leg. Presumably it is one that Terrans deem attractive. ¡°We understand but do you have the resolve to overtake the abomination?¡± The Michiru Remnant bends forward to look at the figure in the middle of the trio. ¡°Wow! She looks scary. Is she some Demon Lord or something? I mean I did fight one before but he was really big and much scarier.¡± I interject, ¡°The only name given to her was Lucretta. She was a being created by a rogue scientist on this planet. Because she was created, she has no sense of identity or as the three said has no soul. The scientist then tried to bond the three you see here to her but, they refused to do so as they deemed her an abomination.¡± ¡°That scientist sounds both crazy smart and crazy insane. I¡¯m glad Shinichi wouldn¡¯t do anything that stupid.¡± ¡°Indeed, he was deemed so by the law enforcement entity on this planet.¡± ¡°So, what am I supposed to do go up to her and bop her nose?¡± ¡°We would need you to overtake the abomination rewriting it with your soul. To do so just place your hands on it and if your will to live is stronger than its you will be the pillar to which we will form our union.¡± ¡°Does that mean I won¡¯t be me anymore?¡± ¡°You will and you won¡¯t.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t really make much sense to me.¡± ¡°While you will be the pillar to which we will be forming our union, you will be the dominant personality that will exhibit traits from us.¡± ¡°Ah, I got it. So, it really is like that super robot in the kids shows.¡± ¡°We do not understand that reference but if that eases your concerns then your reference is most likely correct.¡± I step in once again, ¡°Do you understand what we like you to do?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s all kinda confusing but, it sorta makes sense somehow.¡± ¡°This will be a very important task for you so I believe the appropriate Terran term to use here is, I wish you good luck.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll do my best!¡± As she says her reply she raises her right arm with her hand in a fist and places her left hand on right bicep. ¡°Right, here I go.¡± The Michiru Remnant ducks underneath the locked hands of the trio and continues to Lucretta. As she approaches and reaches her right hand out to place on Lucretta, she wakes up, reaches up with her right arm lets out a yell and bats the Michiru Remnant away. ¡°Oh, I see. You¡¯re not going make this easy, huh?¡± The Michiru Remnant lands on both her hands and feet out of the circle. ¡°Well, I have always been a bit of a fighter myself.¡± As she gets up her clothes changes to a green and leather top with matching short pants. In her hand is a white and blue blade. Lucretta tries to exit the circle but, the trio continue to prevent her exit while Lucretta continues yelling at the Michiru Remnant. The Michiru Remnant jumps up and lands inside the circle behind Lucretta. Quickly the figure turns to face the Michiru Remnant and brings her hands up to grab at the Michiru Remnant¡¯s neck. Just as the hands reach the Michiru Remnant¡¯s neck, the Michiru Remnant plunges her blade into the chest of Lucretta. Lucretta lets out a final yell and begins to dissipate. ¡°We deem the pillar worthy and will begin integration.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ninety-san, for giving me another chance at life.¡± ¡°I believe the proper Terran response is, you¡¯re welcome.¡± The trio¡¯s arms merge as the circle gets smaller and coalesces on the Michiru Remnant. Once the trio finish merging, a white light blinds me and I am disconnected from the brainwave synchronization. Chapter 7 – Falling Fast The combined entity is resting peacefully in the sleep chamber. I will wait for her to regain consciousness on her own. ¡°Computer, what is the conversion status of continent Asgard?¡± ¡°Master, conversion of Continent Asgard is at eighty-six percent completion.¡± ¡°Understood. Retrieve the repair assistance vehicle and place it near the multicolored bridge on the Midheim side. I will return with the entity and oversee the final conversion status and organize the settlement formation from there.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master. Retrieving repair assistance vehicle and placing near the bridge on the Midheim side.¡± I switch the monitor to watch as the repair assistance vehicle is converted to storage mode and is tractor beamed to the designated location. Once it arrives at the designated location, it changes back to encampment mode and awaits my arrival. I return the monitor to its previous view of the planet. ¡°Uhhhhh¡­¡± ¡°You appear to finally be gaining consciousness.¡± She sits up in the sleep chamber rubbing her eyes. ¡°Good morning, I think.¡± ¡°Regardless of that insight we are currently in orbit around planet Midengard. Current day-night cycles are not existent.¡± ¡°Wow this a different voice than I¡¯m used to.¡± ¡°It is the one that would have belonged to the entity Lucretta had she had any grasp of language.¡± ¡°It seems like a cute enough voice.¡± ¡°I am not able to pass judgement on what should be deemed cute or not.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s cute so I¡¯ll say good morning in a much cuter voice.¡± ¡°It is not morning here in space.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s morning for me.¡± ¡°I assume it would be for you regardless of the day-night cycle. How are your parameters currently?¡± ¡°If you mean, how am I feeling, I guess my response would be¡­weird.¡± ¡°I surmise it may take some period to fully adjust to not only your combined spectral form but your new body.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re right. I have so many stray memories from things I have never experienced and places I don¡¯t know about.¡± ¡°It seems to be a side effect of the merger of beings from two different planets.¡± ¡°If you say so. It¡¯s still all a giant haze.¡± ¡°Are you nominal enough to return back to planet Midengard?¡± ¡°Oh yeah! I¡¯m in space!¡± She climbs out of the sleep chamber and hastily rushes to the view screen, her bare feet pitter pattering on the metal floor as she goes. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s such a beautiful planet! I only ever saw images from a computer screen¡­or was it a holo-monitor?¡± ¡°As you are experiencing memories from multiple beings, I would say that both are true.¡± ¡°The stars are also beautiful. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m in space.¡± ¡°Technically everyone is traveling through space. Just some do so on vehicles.¡± ¡°You¡¯re no fun or romantic.¡± ¡°I have no need to be either of those things.¡± ¡°Well, what do we do next?¡± ¡°Are you stable enough to return to planet Midengard?¡± She raises both of arms up with her hands in in fists and pumps them slightly downward. ¡°I feel ÔªšÝ¡­er I mean, I feel fine.¡± ¡°Hmm, you still have some Terran speech anomalies present. It should be normalized over time.¡± ¡°Does that mean I won¡¯t be able to use ÈÕ±¾ÕZ anymore?¡± ¡°You are a unique entity so; I do not have enough data to form a conclusion. You could eventually lose the language entirely but may have it retained as a secondary native language.¡± ¡°I really hope I don¡¯t forget it.¡± ¡°That may entirely depend on you.¡± ¡°If you say so. Anyway, I¡¯m ready to go whenever you are.¡± ¡°Understood. Computer prepare the transport pod for departure to the encampment site.¡± ¡°Transport pod ready for departure, master.¡± ¡°Oh, she sounds cute. Who is she?¡± ¡°That is the ship¡¯s AI assistant to provide automation to planetary repair processes.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°Follow me to the transport pod.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± We exit the bridge area and enter the hallway where the entrances to several transport pod types are stored. I open the one closest to the beginning of the hallway and motion for her to enter. ¡°This is the standard transport pod. We will depart to the surface of planet Midengard using this.¡± She pokes just her head into the pod. ¡°We¡¯re gonna use this to go back to the planet? Looks strange. Is it some sorta material transporter?¡± Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.¡°If you mean that we are materials and it transports us, then you are correct.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡± We both enter the pod fully and I close the door. ¡°Computer, the pod is sealed and ready for inertial stasis and transport to the surface of planet Midengard. Location is the encampment mode near the multicolored bridge.¡± ¡°Enabling inertial stasis and launching pod to the surface of planet Midengard. Specific location: encampment mode near multicolored bridge.¡± ¡°Did you just say multicolored bridge, as in The Rainbow Bridge?¡± ¡°I did, please hold any further questions until we reach the surface.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± As she starts her reply the stasis kicks in and she is unable to complete her response. The decent occurs like many other times until just after atmospheric entry there is a loud sound that appears to come from the outside and the inertial stasis suddenly terminates while our bodies begin to float to the top of the pod¡¯s passenger area as the force of the decent pulls our bodies upward. ¡°Mr. Ninety, is this always how you go to planets? It doesn¡¯t seem very safe.¡± ¡°Negative. Somehow the inertial stasis was terminated. Computer, reinstate inertial stasis.¡± Strange, there is no response. ¡°Computer, reinstate inertial stasis.¡± Still no response. ¡°Mr. Ninety, this is starting to hurt.¡± ¡°Standby I will begin initiating emergency landing procedures.¡± I reach for a panel and open it. Inside is a handle which I grab as quickly as I can and use all my strength to pull it. Once the lever is pulled, some gears can be heard and then a loud thud accompanied with a sudden shift in our weight balance. The two of us fall to the floor of the pod. I go over to the control panel start checking the pod¡¯s systems. Power is severely reduced; transmission lines are damaged. What would have caused this damage? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It appears something hit the transport pod causing loss of power and connection to the computer.¡± ¡°But, we¡¯re gonna be ok, right?¡± ¡°Our decent has been steadied. We should make landfall soon.¡± ¡°Why did it happen?¡± ¡°I do not have sufficient data to form a conclusion.¡± ¡°Clearly something hit us and it could have been something trying to kill us.¡± ¡°Your conjecture has a small amount of plausibility.¡± ¡°We should be nearing the ground so I should be able to reestablish communications.¡± ¡°But you said the lines were broken. How would you do that?¡± ¡°I should be able to reestablish communications via the encampment mode.¡± ¡°I see. I guess that makes sense.¡± Once she finishes her reply, my connection via the encampment mode is restored and I hear computer¡¯s voice. ¡°Master, connection reestablished.¡± ¡°Understood, what was the cause of the incident?¡± ¡°Master, an unknown object of reddish-brown hue struck the pod after reentry. The object sped off toward Continent Helheim.¡± It appears aside from the Kirtov we are not alone on this planet. ¡°What¡¯s wrong Mr. Ninety?¡± ¡°It appears we are not alone on this planet.¡± ¡°That sounds pretty scary.¡± ¡°It may indeed be so.¡± ¡°Computer, can you guide the pod to the encampment mode.¡± ¡°While the tractor beam on the encampment mode is weak it should be able to guide the transport pod to it the encampment mode, master.¡± ¡°Understood, deploy the tractor beam and guide the transport pod to the encampment mode.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± The pod jerks and we can feel the transport pod changing direction. Shortly the transport pod lands near the encampment mode. I open the transport pod¡¯s entrance and exit it. After I exit the transport pod, entity follows me out. ¡°Wow! I¡¯m surprised we lived.¡± She makes this remark as she looks at the damage on the transport pod. ¡°Indeed, it is good that the damage did not affect the emergency landing apparatus.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t kidding when you said it was dangerous here.¡± ¡°I would not give you a false statement.¡± I leave the landing area, go to the control panel and begin monitoring the final percentage of the conversion. While the conversion is finishing, I pull up a layout of Continent Asgard and begin planning the areas that will be placed with housing and plant and animal life. Chapter 8 – Tunic Mr. Ninety is very preoccupied with his work. I decide to take a peek at what he¡¯s doing. Wow! That looks cool. It looks like something from a distant memory. What was it again? A¡­game? Oh yeah it was a game where you create a town and watch it grow by building places for the population to live and work. He calls this an encampment but it doesn¡¯t really look like a camp to me. Where¡¯s the tent. Where¡¯s the bed. Where¡¯s the food. Oh, that¡¯s right I haven¡¯t eaten anything at all. Do I even eat? I don¡¯t feel hungry, not yet anyway. ¡°Mr. Ninety, do I eat food?¡± He continues his work but answers me anyhow. ¡°While your physiology is a little similar to mine, you should still be able to consume food but it will not provide as much sustenance as a normal Midengardian.¡± ¡°But will I still enjoy it?¡± ¡°Your sense of taste should be unaffected.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± I look at the landscape in front of me. Oh wow! The Rainbow Bridge! I only read about it in books¡­or wait¡­I have some memories of seeing it before. The sky is all dark and cloudy. Is it gonna rain soon? ¡°Mr. Ninety, is it gonna rain soon?¡± ¡°Planet Midengard is in a constant state of near torrential downpour.¡± ¡°But what if it starts to rain?¡± ¡°In the event of precipitation, the encampment mode will provide a barrier to repel the precipitation.¡± ¡°Like a giant umbrella?¡± ¡°The barrier is not created by a cloth but by force. It is the same barrier used to prevent intruders.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know I¡¯m safe here.¡± I look around the ground is colorless. Definitely looks like there¡¯s no life. I feel a breeze hit me and I see some blonde hair hit my face. I reach down and grab a handful of hair. Looks like I¡¯m blond now. But I was always blonde too. As I drop my hair from my hands, my gaze focuses on my clothes. A tunic, huh. Well, it is simple and I guess I¡¯m glad Mr. Ninety didn¡¯t have me stand around naked. I pull the front out and peek inside. Whoa! They¡¯re pretty big. Wait a minute. I have no bra on! Reaching underneath the bottom of my tunic I notice I don¡¯t have any panties on either! ¡°Um, Mr. Ninety. Are you¡­um¡­able to make me some¡­uh.¡± ¡°What are you wishing for?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s kinda embarrassing.¡± ¡°My emotions are currently being suppressed so I will not be embarrassed.¡± ¡°No no, it¡¯s embarrassing for me.¡± ¡°You should not need to feel so.¡± ¡°Fine. I want to have some underwear!¡± I embarrassingly shout out to him. ¡°Oh, is that your issue.¡± ¡°Yes, I feel embarrassed not being properly dressed.¡± ¡°Come over this way.¡± He motions to the end of the encampment mode. I walk over to where he motioned. ¡°Put your hand here.¡± He points to a flat surface near where I am standing. ¡°Once you do that think about the item you would like and the matter converter will create it.¡± ¡°Wow! Really?¡± ¡°That was how I made your current attire.¡± ¡°This tunic?¡± ¡°Indeed. I needed to make a garment that was easy to place on you and allowed a sense of decency.¡± ¡°T¡­thank you for doing that for me.¡± I bow to him as I thank him. ¡°It was the appropriate thing to do.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Please give the converter a try. If you wish to wear a different set of attire than what I have provided you can do so using the matter converter.¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ll need a mirror as well.¡± ¡°The matter converter can provide that as well.¡± ¡°But what about when I don¡¯t need the mirror anymore. I don¡¯t want it to break when I¡¯m not using it.¡± ¡°Just place the item on the shelf and place then your hand on the panel and think of returning it to the matter converter and it will recall the materials.¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s convenient! I kinda feel like I used something similar before¡­or was it something I saw.¡± ¡°It could be both. The Midengardians were an advanced civilization. It was within the realm of them to create a similar device.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you very much for telling me this.¡± ¡°You are welcome I believe is the correct response you require. Now, I will continue my planning as the conversion of Continent Asgard is nearing completion. If you require any further assistance do not hesitate to ask.¡± ¡°Ok, thank you and good luck.¡± He goes back to the place where he was working before and continues what he was doing. I place my hand on the flat surface and think about a normal handheld mirror. Some beams of light emit from the left of the panel onto a medium sized shelf protruding from the end of the encampment mode. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.Within a few seconds a cutely ornate hand mirror is formed. Once the beams are done, I cautiously put my hand toward the mirror and eventually I grasp the handle. Wow! It really is the mirror I was thinking of. I put the mirror up to look at my face. My face is just like that scary lady. I scowl my face like I remember. Yeah, I¡¯m pretty scary. Wait a minute, you know what, I¡¯m really cute too. Oh, hey! I got blue eyes. I don¡¯t remember that. Wait yeah, I do. All these memories are kinda confusing. Mr. Ninety did say the memories and experiences should balance out eventually. But who will I be? I don¡¯t look like anyone from my memories. I especially don¡¯t look like Michiru. Does it really matter what I am on the outside? On the inside I¡¯m me but not just one me but four of me. I continue using the mirror to look over myself even further taking note of all the new things on my body. Well, I can¡¯t do that as long as I have this tunic on and I still need to put my underwear on. I put my hand on the matter converter and think of an appropriate style of bra and panties. The lights start again and a set of bra and panties start to appear. Like with the mirror I wait until the light is finished. So cute! A pink silken bra and panties with embroidered flowers on them sits on the shelf. I take the panties and slip them on under my tunic and then bring my arms inside of the tunic with the bra where I am able to easily get it on and fasten the fastener on the front. There, much better. But this tunic is not so cute though. Hmm, what should I do? Not to mention my feet are bare. You know what, some cute sandals will go well with this tunic. I mean, it¡¯s not that I need to change my outfit but I definitely need some footwear. The tunic looks like a one-piece dress so a cute set of sandals should go with it nicely. I again return to the matter converter and place my hand on the panel and think of the kind of sandals I want. The lights finish and a have a cute set of sandals with white ankle straps. I slip them on and buckle the straps. They have a nice cushion on them. Definitely should be comfortable to walk in for a while. Very cute! I think this will work for a while at least. Realistically I could have a new outfit everyday anytime I want. That is so cool! Hmm, you know what, I will change this tunic out. OK last time really. I place my hand on the panel and think of a one-piece dress to replace this tunic. Once the light finishes, a green folded cloth is on the shelf. ¡°Mr. Ninety, I am going to change my clothes so, no peeking.¡± ¡°Understood, I am far too busy to avert my eyes.¡± ¡°Thanks!¡± It¡¯s a good thing we¡¯re the only two people here. I definitely would NEVER do this otherwise. I grab the tunic and pull it over my head taking it off. I didn¡¯t get a good look at myself when I put my underwear on but this is a really nice body Once I fold the tunic, I grab the new one-piece and put it on. It has short sleeves and the bottom ends just at my knees. There, much better. I place the mirror and the tunic on the shelf and place my hand on the panel. Ok, let¡¯s try this. Return. Once I think the word the lights hit the items and begin to disappear. ¡°OK Mr. Ninety, how do I look?¡± He turns around to look at me. ¡°I assume the matter converter was to your liking.¡± ¡°Yeah, I hope you don¡¯t mind that I made a whole new outfit. So, how do I look?¡± I spin around and the bottom of the dress flairs out. ¡°As you will not be in combat, your attire is sufficient.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so stiff Mr. Ninety. You can just say I look nice.¡± ¡°You look nice.¡± ¡°Thank you, hehe.¡± ¡°The conversion is complete and the continental assets are being placed.¡± ¡°So, what are you going to do now?¡± ¡°I have identified two more facilities on Continent Midheim that L?kni X used. We will go there to investigate them before the conversion of Continent Midheim can begin.¡± ¡°Oh! So, we¡¯re going on a trip?¡± ¡°Correct. I will need to keep you nearby for protection.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know. ¡®The area is still unsafe.¡¯¡± He said that before, right? ¡°Indeed. There are still some Kirtov that have not been encountered. I have been relayed their location and will proceed to terminate them along the way.¡± ¡°Sounds pretty scary. I won¡¯t get in your way really. Ok, I¡¯m ready to leave when you are.¡± ¡°I have a few minute details to finish and then we will be off.¡± Chapter 9 – Voice of Thunderstorm While the continental assets are being placed on Continent Asgard, I turn my focus to the damaged transport pod. I walk over to the matter converter and set it to reclaim a portion of the transport pod. The beams hit the transport pod and a portion is reclaimed into the encampment mode. ¡°Computer, have the ship reclaim and reconstitute the transport pod.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master. Reclaiming transport pod and reconstituting all damaged areas.¡± I return over to the command console and convert the repair assistance vehicle encampment mode into the transport mode with an auxiliary transport vessel attached. ¡°Wow! This was the bike I somewhat remember from before!¡± ¡°It is indeed the one from the memories that the Terran Michiru encountered. I have currently modified it to accommodate transporting you safely.¡± ¡°It¡¯s crazy that the encampment mode was really the transport. It¡¯s like those transforming kids¡¯ toys.¡± ¡°If you deem it so. Please, step into the auxiliary transport vessel and we will be off.¡± ¡°You know the naming sense you have for everything is really awkward.¡± ¡°I do not understand your apprehension to the names of the equipment. I did not devise their names. They were assigned.¡± ¡°They all have such long names. It¡¯s really tough to keep them all straight.¡± ¡°The equipment are named for what they are and they are simple enough.¡± ¡°But what if it was easier and simpler. Like instead of ¡°repair assistance vehicle¡± you use R.A.V. or instead of ¡°auxiliary transport vessel¡± use A.T.V.?¡± ¡°I do not need to use such terminology but if you feel the need to do so you may.¡± She starts to climb into auxiliary transport vessel. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get this R.A.V. going.¡± I set the repair assistance vehicle in motion toward our first destination. As we begin our journey to our first location, she begins asking me questions. ¡°So, we¡¯re going to another secret lab. Do you think we¡¯ll find another person like me?¡± ¡°It is highly unlikely that we will find another experiment like yours.¡± ¡°Oh! So, I¡¯m one of a kind! That¡¯s good to know.¡± ¡°You could consider yourself a distant prototype of the Environmental Repair Cyborg series.¡± ¡°That would make me your mother, right?¡± ¡°While you were the earliest variation of the Environmental Repair Cyborg, your linage would put you at that of what you would call a great-great-great-great-grandmother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only twenty-one¡­I think.¡± ¡°The Terran Michiru was twenty-one Terran years old when I met her. That would be her memory.¡± ¡°So, how old am I?¡± ¡°According to the notes by L?kni X, the youngest was eight Terran months old, the next oldest was twenty-eight Terran years old and the oldest was fifty-eight Terran years old.¡± ¡°That weird doctor liked the number eight, I guess. But still how old am I really?¡± ¡°You have two different possibilities. You can go by the date the original body was created and that would be two thousand Terran years old.¡± ¡°Eh!? No way! I don¡¯t feel anywhere near that old.¡± ¡°The other alternative would be to use the average ages of all four spectral entities. This would bring you to twenty-six Terran years and nine Terran months old.¡± ¡°Well, I think I¡¯ll go with that. It feels like that fits my body better.¡± ¡°That is an appropriate observation.¡± ¡°So, since I know how old I am, you can¡­¡° I do not let her complete her sentence because the coordinates of the first Kirtov is reached. ¡°I am going to need to secure you in the auxiliary transport vessel as the Kirtov is in the vicinity.¡± ¡°WHAT!? I think you¡¯re just dodging the quest¡­¡± While she replies I press the button to close the auxiliary transport vessel to isolate her from any possible outside danger. Just as I close the auxiliary transport vessel, I see the Kirtov in the distance stand up out of its stasis and begins running towards the repair assistance vehicle. I bring the repair assistance vehicle to a stop and jump off while drawing my weapon. As I fire my shots at the Kirtov, it dodges all my shots while closing the distance. With it closing in on me I crouch down and make a giant leap into the air and take careful aim. I first carefully aim at its center mass and fire two shots and then move to its head and fire one shot there. The first shot to the center mass misses but the second lands and the follow-up shot to the head lands as well. I land on the ground as the Kirtov also falls. Like the other two Kirtov I fought, it begins to repair itself. Raising my left hand upwards and reaching out my right hand at the Kirtov, I begin syphoning the Vitran Particles and venting them out as it creates base planetary lifeforms. Now that the Vitran particles are vented and the Kirtov is reduced to dust, I return to the repair assistance vehicle and open the auxiliary transport vessel. ¡°That thing was a Kirtov?¡± ¡°Indeed, it was.¡± ¡°That looked nothing like a vampire I remember from Michiru¡¯s memory. Wait, I am recalling something looking similar to that. It was tall, brownish, had a slightly snouted face and long arms. Where was that from? Was it a movie or a video game? It could be both.¡± ¡°I am not familiar with your references but it seems you can reconcile the visuals with something familiar.¡± ¡°Well, it took me a few minutes to find the button to let me see outside the A.T.V. but, it was cool seeing the Kirtov and you in action.¡± I remount the repair assistance vehicle and continue on our way to the first facility location. ¡°Mr. Ninety, I was thinking maybe I should have a weapon as well. You know, just in case.¡± ¡°Indeed. It would be good to provide you some form of self-defense. Once we arrive at the facility, I will fabricate one for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ninety. I will be very careful and only use it when I am in danger.¡± A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.Her thankfulness was very childlike. Perhaps it was one of the other personalities coming forward. It appears her integration is going well. We arrive at the location for the first facility and I look around for where the entrance may be. ¡°Computer, I appear to be at the location of the first of facility but have not located the entrance.¡± ¡°The entrance is located below your feet, master.¡± I bend down and begin wiping the dirt away to reveal a lid with a couple of inset bars. I lift the bars and turn them counter-clockwise and pull the hatch off. ¡°Ooh! Did you know that was there?¡± ¡°No. I was advised of the location from computer.¡± ¡°I see. It¡¯s good to have someone who can give you help when you need it.¡± We begin to descend the ladder to the bottom. The facility is similar to the one where I found the entity. ¡°It¡¯s pretty dark in here.¡± ¡°Yes, I will apply power to the facility to bring the lights on.¡± I find a familiar panel, extend my fingers and apply some power to the panel. The lights turn on and the panel illuminates. ¡°This looks awfully familiar. This looks like where you found me.¡± ¡°Indeed. It is possible that he crated these sites in haste due to The Raganrog¡¯s impending traversal towards this area.¡± ¡°That sounds like a possibility. Gotta keep those kinda things simple to save time.¡± ¡°It would seem so. Now then.¡± I place my hand on the panel and have computer open it for us. ¡°Ok, it¡¯s definitely not quite the same as the place I was.¡± ¡°Indeed. I will have to access the data that L?kni X had that pertained to the experiment that took place here.¡± Unlike the previous facility that housed the entity, this one has a large rectangular glass cube. I locate the terminal near the front of the cube and begin to access the data contained. ¡°Wow! Look at this huge fish tank.¡± ¡°That is an interesting observation but it is incorrect.¡± ¡°Oh? What is it then?¡± ¡°The data states that this ¡°tank¡± as you call it was used to create and control weather styles on a small scale with the intent to execute this experiment on a large scale.¡± ¡°Hmm. Well looking at the weather outside, I¡¯d say he probably succeeded.¡± ¡°Your observation is plausible. There has been no change in the weather since arriving on planet Midengard.¡± ¡°I wonder why he wanted to tinker with the weather.¡± ¡°L?kni X¡¯s notes state that he devised this experiment to preserve his laboratory sites.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why would he do that? I mean it¡¯d be cool to call down lightning like Thor but other than that I don¡¯t see the point.¡± ¡°Have you noticed something about the weather on planet Midengard? More specifically the clouds.¡± ¡°Yeah, it looks like it¡¯s gonna rain but never does. OH!¡± ¡°It appears you understand what is missing.¡± ¡°But if there¡¯s no life here why stop the rain?¡± ¡°Rain does more than provide moisture to plant life.¡± ¡°Hmm, Oh! I get it! Water causes erosion.¡± ¡°Indeed. The amount of precipitation that would fall on the land over the large amount of time from when The Raganrog to when we arrived would cause substantial damage to the soil especially if there was no plant life to prevent the erosion.¡± ¡°Wow it seems he thought a lot about the future of the planet. I wonder how he knew.¡± ¡°It is an answer we may discover eventually. I have recovered all the data stored here so we can leave this place and continue on to the next location.¡± We leave the laboratory room and after we leave the doorway, I start to retrieve the power and notice the lights flicker. ¡°Master, a power spike has exited the facility you are in and has entered the low atmosphere.¡± As computer relays that message to me, the power I was about to reclaim is gone. ¡°Interesting. The power in the facility is gone as well.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not even out of the lab yet. I can¡¯t see in the dark.¡± ¡°It was not my intention to remove the power so suddenly. It appears the energy I provided was redirected out of the facility.¡± ¡°Oh! Sounds like we tripped a trap.¡± ¡°Your theory is sound. Come, let¡¯s exit the facility.¡± We make our way up the ladder and back up to the surface. Once we reach the surface, I notice that the clouds above exhibiting flashes of light. ¡°Oh! A thunderstorm. I hope we won¡¯t get hit by lightning.¡± ¡°Why would you assume so?¡± ¡°Well, we do have lots of metal on and in us. We could become a Lightning rod of some sort.¡± Just before I am about to reply to her, a loud booming voice starts to accompany the thunder. ¡°Welcome to this dead world. Your arrival has been foretold, Vitan. I will open the way to all the fruits of my research. I hope you will use this knowledge to restore our past glory and not to complete the destruction. The future is in your hands.¡± As the voice finishes a series of lightning bolts strikes the surface of the planet. One strikes a location close by. The remaining strike unknown locations. ¡°Computer, verify the locations of the lightning strikes. Are there any more on Continent Midheim?¡± ¡°Master, there were two places struck on Continent Midheim. One impacted at the facility you recovered the Vitan anomaly and the other a close distance from your location.¡± ¡°Understood. Were there any other locations impacted on planet Midengard?¡± ¡°Yes, master. There were several other locations on the other continents that were impacted.¡± It seems like the I am being invited to investigate L?kni X¡¯s research. For someone to create such a message stating they knew I would arrive, it appears they did not know all of the future information as I would have investigated the facilities anyhow. ¡°Wow! Talk about the flair for the dramatic!¡± ¡°Indeed. It is interesting that L?kni X knew of my arrival by name.¡± ¡°Seems like things will be a lot more hectic.¡± ¡°It appears so but, we will need to prepare.¡± Chapter 10 – Tornado of Souls I go over to the repair assistance vehicle and place it into encampment mode. ¡°Come over to the matter converter.¡± ¡°Oh! Ok.¡± ¡°Place your hand on the panel like you did before and think of a weapon you would want to use for your protection.¡± ¡°Ok, got it.¡± I then place my hand over hers. ¡°Weapon production allowed. Binding to both genetic signatures.¡± Computer informs me of the allowance of weapon creation. The weapon forms on the shelf along with a holster. It is a smaller version of my own weapon. ¡°This weapon you must only use in self-defense.¡± ¡°I understand. Thank you very much.¡± ¡°Your weapon has safety features. The first is that only you or I am able to handle it. If anyone were to try to handle the weapon it will rematerialize back in its holster. Second is that once the weapon loses contact with your genetic signature, it will rematerialize back in its holster.¡± ¡°I understand but, I got a question. Why did you have to add your genetic signature?¡± ¡°It is also a safety feature but, not one for you but for me. The Environmental Repair Cyborgs are not arms providers and as such we can only make weapons for ourselves but can make weapons for others only to provide self-defense. Our genetic signatures are added so that we can take that weapon away if the recipient were to abuse their weapon.¡± ¡°Oh! Ok, I will definitely be very careful. Thank you so much.¡± She bends down in a bow as she gives her thanks. Before I convert the encampment mode, I look at the location of the next facility and the possible location of the last Kirtov on Continent Midheim. They appear to be near each other. I turn the encampment mode back into transport mode and I hear some rumbling of cloth. ¡°Are you ready to continue on to the next location?¡± ¡°Yup, got my protection right here.¡± She says as her right hand pats her right thigh. It appears that sound I heard was her securing her weapon underneath her clothes. ¡°Let us be off then.¡± About half way to our destination she remarks, ¡°Oh wow! I never saw a tornado in real life.¡± ¡°It seems this was also a creation by L?kni X. We will need to alter our trajectory to avoid contact with it.¡± ¡°Yeah, it looks scary. I wouldn¡¯t want to be in that thing. I¡¯m getting dizzy just looking at it.¡± ¡°Indeed. It has razed the majority of the settlements and buildings on Continent Midheim over the course of the last two thousand Terran years.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Tornados on Earth have always been destructive. But why does it look so¡­odd?¡± ¡°When last I encountered the tornado it housed many spectral anomalies. That is why I theorized that this was a creation by L?kni X.¡± ¡°Yeah, I can see that crazy guy coming up with something so cruel.¡± ¡°Your choice of descriptor for L?kni X is interesting.¡± ¡°Well, I would think only a crazy person would make someone like me and leave cryptic messages using thunder and lightning and trap a bunch of peoples souls in a tornado.¡± ¡°That is a reasonable perception of the situation at hand considering your previous situations.¡± ¡°Right? You can see what I mean.¡± ¡°Indeed, those are some odd situations. We shall see, now that we are nearing the next facility.¡± ¡°Oh, so soon.¡± Just as she finished her reply, I take note that there is no Kirtov nearby. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she queries as I bring the repair assistance vehicle to a stop. ¡°I am unable to find the remaining Kirtov on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Oh! Yeah, that¡¯s a probably not a good thing.¡± ¡°Computer, where is the remaining Kirtov?¡± ¡°There are currently no signs of the Kirtov that was near your location, master.¡± ¡°It appears the Kirtov has disappeared.¡± ¡°Maybe the lightning fried it.¡± ¡°It is unlikely that a lightning strike would have destroyed the Kirtov assuming it was in its stasis state.¡± ¡°Really? How?¡± ¡°While in stasis the Kirtov are resilient enough to survive atmospheric reentry and planetary impact.¡± ¡°Whoa! They seem unstoppable. How were you able to kill them before?¡± ¡°Once the Kirtov exit their stasis state they are weaker in their bipedal/quadrupedal form. They are no longer compact while they look for their victim and drain them of their life.¡± ¡°They¡¯re so scary but it¡¯s good they have a weakness.¡± ¡°Let us investigate the facility but, be on guard.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay very close to you. Just in case.¡± I turn on my visor to dark environment mode and begin down into the facility. As I reach the half way mark I motion to the entity to begin her decent. Once I reach the bottom, I notice the door is already opened and forcefully so. I draw my weapon and the Kirtov appears and attacks before I can fire my weapon. The Kirtov clamps down on my right shoulder and I release the grip from my weapon and as it falls to the ground, it reappears back in its holster. ¡°¤­¤ã£¡¤É¤¦¤·¤è¤¦£¡¡± As I wrestle the Kirtov off of my shoulder I yell out to her. ¡°Hurry up and flee back to the auxiliary transport vessel!¡± ¡°R¡­right! Back to the A.T.V.!¡± After she clears the entrance up top, I grab the Kirtov with both of my arms wrapped around its torso. Again, the Kirtov bites down on my shoulder. I then crouch down to perform a large jump and proceed to exit the top entrance. We clear the entrance and land on the ground with a giant thud, the Kirtov on top of me. My grip from the Kirtov is released and arms fall to my sides. The Kirtov recovers and begins pounding on my chest with its fists. ¡°Armor integrity is compromised and is at fifty-eight percent, master.¡± I move my right hand over and grab my weapon from its holster and begin to slowly bring my weapon up to fire at the Kirtov. The Kirtov notices and smacks my arm and the weapon starts to fly from my hand and dematerializes. It bites at the weak part of my armor and begins to syphon my Vitran Particles from me. I reach up with both of my hands and grab its head to push it away. It seems my power has weakened as I am unable to push it further away but am able to stop the draining of my Vitran Particles. With my little strength I am able to keep it at arm¡¯s length. Suddenly two holes appear in its chest and then one in its head. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.I push the Kirtov¡¯s lifeless body to the left side of my body revealing the entity standing with her weapon drawn. ¡°I¡­I¡­I had to do it. I know it wasn¡¯t really self-defense but if you died, I don¡¯t think I could have survived that thing coming after me.¡± ¡°You were justified. Thank you for the assistance.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re still alive. Is it dead?¡± I push myself up into a seated position. ¡°It is for now but will repair itself shortly.¡± ¡°Oh no!¡± ¡°I will use its Vitran Particles to recover myself and destroy it completely.¡± ¡°Whew, that¡¯s good.¡± While still seated, I raise my right arm and place my left on the near lifeless body and begin to drain the Kirtov of its Vitran Particles. I absorb a large amount of Vitran Particles which restores my armor¡¯s integrity and brings my Vitran Particle reserves back to one hundred percent. The remaining particles are vented out through my right hand and the Kirtov¡¯s body begins to crumble to dust as the area around us is filled with plant and insect life. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re all better.¡± ¡°Indeed. The absorption of the Vitran Particles in the Kirtov allowed me to repair the damage that I was dealt. Come let us continue our investigation.¡± ¡°Okay, but I hope there isn¡¯t any more Kirtov lurking around ready to avenge its friend.¡± I reply to the entity as I stand up and prepare to reenter the facility. ¡°The one here was the last on Continent Midheim. Also, they are unable to manifest the concept of revenge, only survival instincts.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s reassuring¡­I guess.¡± ¡°I am in optimal condition so let us continue to investigate this facility.¡± ¡°R¡­right.¡± As soon as she finishes her reply, I continue down the ladder back into the facility and signal for her to follow me. After I restore power to facility, we make our way past the remnants of the door and continue into the facility proper. The layout is more spacious than the previous facilities. Large containers are placed near several control panels. ¡°Wow, this place looks a lot different than the other two.¡± ¡°Indeed, it is.¡± She looks around at the control panels strewn throughout the facility. ¡°Be careful not to disturb anything until I can investigate them fully.¡± ¡°Of course, I may have been just born but I¡¯m not stupid.¡± ¡°I did not call your intellect into question. I only wished to advise you to execute caution until I can catalog the findings here.¡± ¡°I got it. Now get with your work. I wanna know what all this stuff is about, too.¡± I locate what I might deem as the main console and begin the extraction of information from it. ¡°The notes indicate that of something called ¡®Project Polaris.¡¯ Further analysis indicates this was the cause of the spectral anomalies.¡± ¡°WHAT? No way? That¡¯s crazy!¡± ¡°It is not as outlandish as to make it appear. Although the way that the spectral anomalies were created would seem that way too many a person.¡± ¡°Oh, and how was it created?¡± ¡°The project consisted of a secret missile that were disguised as part of the evacuation vehicles. Once the evacuation vehicles launched, the missiles separated from the vehicle and made their way to large population centers where upon detonation, the tornado was formed and, in the process, extracted the spectral forms from the natives residing in the population center.¡± ¡°That¡¯s cruel!¡± ¡°I do not think that was his reasoning for creating this project.¡± ¡°But to kill so many people so quickly I think is very cruel.¡± ¡°His logic was that there were not enough evacuation vehicles to accommodate everyone on this planet so he devised a plan place the remaining people in spectral stasis until there was a time to bring them back.¡± ¡°I guess he did what he had to do but it seems so violent.¡± ¡°I would surmise that time was of the essence as the Raganrog was beginning its devastation. The result was this project.¡± ¡°Yeah, that makes sense. So, what are these containers then?¡± ¡°They appear to be left over components for additional units to deploy. I will have them destroyed later when I have computer start the conversion of Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Wouldn¡¯t want to have anyone else use these.¡± ¡°As we are currently the only occupants on Continent Midheim, I do not see this as a possibility.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Come I have collected all the data from this facility and have calculated a way to undo the tornado and return the spectral anomalies to this planet whole.¡± She begins her reply as we begin to exit the facility. ¡°Really! That¡¯s cool!¡± ¡°We will need to do some preparation for when they are ready to be manifest.¡± ¡°We? You mean I get to help?¡± ¡°Indeed, computer will only be able to provide minimal support for this next phase so your assistance will be greatly appreciated.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you down Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°We will make our way back to Continent Asgard and I will explain your tasks there.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so excited! Let¡¯s go, Mr. Ninety!¡± We arrive back at the repair assistance vehicle and depart to Continent Asgard. As we close the distance to our destination I setup further coordination with computer in preparation for the dissolution of the tornado. ¡°Computer, I will need an additional repair assistance vehicle set to encampment mode placed at the center of the settlement.¡± ¡°Repair assistance vehicle enroute, master.¡± When I receive confirmation, we arrive at the multicolored bridge. ¡°The Rainbow Bridge never ceases to amaze me. It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± ¡°It was vital to restore this bridge to reconnect Continent Asgard to Continent Midheim due to the coastal terrain on Continent Asgard.¡± ¡°I sense a but coming.¡± ¡°However, once I am able to transfer the spectral forms from the tornado, I will have to shut the bridge down so I can isolate them from the repair that will begin on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°I see. What are we going to be doing on Asgard?¡± ¡°I will explain once we arrive.¡± ¡°OK, I guess. I mean I¡¯m really along for the ride anyhow.¡± ¡°Indeed, however I will need your assistance as I will be very busy extracting the spectral anomalies.¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna save the people?¡± ¡°That is the intention. We will be at our destination shortly.¡± Chapter 11 – In the Eye of the Tornado The repair assistance vehicle crosses the multicolored bridge and after a short time we arrive at our destination at the center of the main village prepared at the center of Continent Asgard. As the entity exits the stopped repair assistance vehicle she exclaims, ¡°Oh, wow! These buildings look so¡­um what¡¯s the word I¡¯m looking for? Traditional, like something from a distant memory.¡± ¡°Indeed. The designs are similar to those belonging to the early natives of this planet.¡± ¡°That sounds kind of primitive.¡± ¡°I assure you that only the exterior appearance appears so. Inside there are minor modern amenities.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. So, what did you need me to do?¡± ¡°This will be very exhausting work but I will need you to monitor the Midgardians while they are being repaired.¡± ¡°I see. That will be a lot of people that will be in ¡­um¡­ an indecent state.¡± ¡°I will provide you with an encampment mode for you figure out how to deal with that situation.¡± As I finish my statement to her the transport pod lands and I remove the auxiliary transport vessel and another piece of equipment roughly the same size as the auxiliary transport vessel. I set the auxiliary transport vessel into encampment mode. ¡°Here, you may use the matter converter for whatever you deem necessary.¡± ¡°Thank you Mr. Ninety. How will I know where you will need me?¡± ¡°There is a lighted antenna on the top of each building that will guide you to the correct living area where the spectral forms will be in the process of repairing.¡± ¡°I see. So, you want me to make sure everything goes smoothly, right?¡± ¡°Correct. You just need to monitor the reconstitution process and relay any issues that may arise to me.¡± I turn my focus to the augmentation kit I designed to be used with the exosuit mode. While I begin installing the augmentation kit on the repair assistance vehicle¡¯s exosuit mode I hear the encampment mode¡¯s matter converter begin to produce something. Once the matter converter is done, I hear a door on one of the housing units open and then close. Now that my modifications are complete, I contact computer. ¡°Computer, I am ready for the Vitran Particle Container as provided by my specifications.¡± ¡°Understood master. Vitran Particle Container on its way to your location.¡± Just as the Vitran Particle Container arrives the entity exits the building clothed in a rather odd-looking white dress. Her head adorned with an equally odd-looking hat on her head. ¡°So, Mr. Ninety, how do I look?¡± She says as she spins around, the bottom of the dress flaring out as she spins. ¡°Your clothing choice while odd is inconsequential to your assistance with the mission at hand.¡± ¡°What do you mean? If you are going to have me going around acting like a nurse, I might as well look like one.¡± ¡°If that is how you view your task then do as you see fit.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re no fun. Oh, WOW! Is that the R.A.V? It looks so cool like a giant robot.¡± ¡°It is a modified version of the exosuit mode.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s the same thing that took as all over Midheim. Well, I mean, the encampment mode is different too but, this is really different and huge.¡± ¡°The exosuit mode is no different than usual other than the modifications I made. The modifications only provided more bulk and did not impact the standard height.¡± ¡°If you say so Mr. Ninety. Oh, by the way is there any way I can get something to help me get around the area?¡± ¡°Ah yes, it would be daunting going from domicile to domicile if you are transporting materials.¡± ¡°I know right?¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.¡°Come this way.¡± ¡°OK.¡± I take her to the auxiliary transport vessel I had detached from the repair assistance vehicle before I started my modifications. ¡°Please hold your hand on this panel on the front of the auxiliary transport vessel.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± After she places her hand, I tell the entity the next command. ¡°Display an image in you mind of the vehicle you wish to change the auxiliary transport vessel into.¡± ¡°Something from deep in my memories is showing up.¡± Just as the entity finishes her statement, the auxiliary transport vessel changes to that of a small two wheeled vehicle with a small box behind the seat. ¡°I did it! All of a sudden this¡­ uh¡­scooter I think it was called, popped into my head and then the A.T.V. changed into it.¡± ¡°The encampment mode and auxiliary transport vessel should provide you with all you should need to accomplish your portion of this mission.¡± ¡°Yup this should be all I need. Thank you very much, Mr. Ninety. So, are you ready to leave?¡± ¡°I am indeed. Are you prepared, now?¡± ¡°Yup. I¡¯ll be your angel of mercy.¡± ¡°I do not understand your statement but since you are prepared, I will initiate my task.¡± ¡°Ok, good luck.¡± After her reply I turn my back to the enhanced exosuit and make a leap up as the exosuit reaches out and integrates me into its center mass. I raise my right hand and point to a nearby building. ¡°Please enter that building and await the first reconstitution. I will be ascending and there could be a considerable amount if debris that could impact you.¡± ¡°Got it! On my way!¡± The entity takes the auxiliary transport vessel to the building I directed her towards and I see her enter. I provide full power to the exosuit and ascend with my baring toward the tornado. I exit Continent Asgard and enter Continent Midheim. The tornado seems to be on a trajectory toward the multicolored bridge. ¡°Computer, terminate power to the multicolored bridge.¡± ¡°Commencing power termination, master.¡± I watch as the multicolored bridge begins to dissipate and I close the distance and begin to enter the tornado. ¡°Computer, I have entered the outer edge of the tornado. Deploy spectral container and prepare for spectral transmission.¡± ¡°Spectral container is deployed to provided location and transmission lines are ready for your extractions, master.¡± I change direction to follow the natural direction of the swirling winds while slowly making my way toward the center. Emerging from the high winds I enter the center and deploy the stabilizing wings and spectral transmission antenna. ¡°Computer, my assets are deployed and ready to begin spectral transmissions.¡± ¡°Spectral container is in place and transmission lines are opened, master.¡± ¡°Once the first spectral beings are contained you may begin the reconstitution process. ¡°Understood, master.¡± I energize the arms and reach in to extract the spectral beings and begin transmission. The process continues until all the spectral forms are transmitted to the spectral containment. Although the tornado is devoid of all spectral forms it is still formed but appears to be losing energy. I stay in the middle and monitor the progress until finally all energy is expended and the tornado is dissipated. With the tornado terminated, I jettison the additions I made to the repair assistance vehicle, exit the exosuit form, convert repair assistance vehicle back to vehicle mode and proceed back to the settlement. ¡°Computer, return power to the multicolored bridge and reclaim the modifications I have jettisoned at this location. ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± Chapter 12 – Got the Time Ticking In My Head Mr. Ninety said there was supposed to be some modern amenities it doesn¡¯t really look like it to me. I see two things that look like beds but, I don¡¯t see much else except for a chest of drawers and a simple square table with four simple chairs at each end. Along the wall is what looks like a cooking area with a small fire stove. Looks like I have a little time before the first person arrives so, I head back outside to the A.T.V. and I get my supplies from the back of the scooter. As I am on my way back to the house, I notice that the light near the antenna on top of the building begins to light up. Oh! I guess that means it¡¯s started. I hurry back inside and see the first bed like thing start to light up. Talk about just in time. OK¡­um¡­yeah, I should get started. I head over to the other bed like thing and put one tunic and one sheet on the floor by the end. Looking over at the other one that is still active I see an outline of a skeleton beginning to appear. I had a feeling something like this was going to happen so I rush over there. Once I reach there, I put the tunic at my feet by the edge of the bed and pull the sheet out in front of me. I don¡¯t know if this is a man or a woman but I¡¯d rather not find out. Mr. Ninety let me keep my dignity I might as well do the same for them. We all come into this world naked but even little babies get wrapped up once they¡¯re handed to their mothers and fathers. I wait a little longer and then see skin appear on their feet and then I place the bed sheet on their body. Oh! It¡¯s a guy. He looks to be in his late twenties or early thirties with short blonde hair and a very short beard. Yeah, I¡¯m glad I decided to bring sheets. Besides, if he wakes up with a sheet on him it¡¯ll hopefully seem like he took a really long nap. Ok, a two thousand years long nap but still I can hope that¡¯s what they feel like. Suddenly the other bed starts to light up as the one I¡¯m at starts to power down. Wow, I¡¯m not gonna have much time in between people, am I? I run over to the other bed, grab the bed sheet and unfurl it while I wait for the body to finish. This would be so much easier if I didn¡¯t have to wait to put the bed sheet on them. Oh well, what can I do. I have my way of doing this and I¡¯m sticking to it¡­unless something changes. The skin starts to appear on the feet and I lay the sheet down and see the face of the person had just returned. It¡¯s a woman. She appears to be about the same age range as the guy and has darker blonde hair than the man. Well, looks like I¡¯m done here. I head to the door and instinctively I put my hands together, bow and say out loud, ¡°Welcome home.¡± Why¡¯d I just do that? Ah! I better hurry on to the next one or I¡¯ll get more than I bargained for. I rush out the door and look up at the top of the houses to look for the next one that should be ready. Ah, there it is right next door. That¡¯s pretty convenient. Maybe computer was thinking of me. I better hop to it or I¡¯ll be late. After I quickly gather my supplies from the scooter, I hurry into the next house. Already the first bed is lit up and the skeleton is starting to appear. I quickly get one of the bed sheets while dropping the two tunics and other sheet by my feet. Unfurling the sheet, I look at the feet and wait for the skin the appear and then lay it on the body. I¡¯m not really paying much attention to whether it¡¯s a man or woman that appears because I don¡¯t really have time to think about that. The light on the bed fades and I quickly grab the other sheet and one of the tunics and go over to the other bed as it begins to light up. I take my place with the sheet out as normal and wait for the body to appear. You know I had to make these tunics pretty much as unisex as possible. I really hope they are ok not having any underwear. The lack of underwear shouldn¡¯t be an issue really. They¡¯ve been ghosts for like two thousand years. That should be the least of their issues, right? Oh, hey, this one is smaller than the others. This one has gotta be a child, probably? I place the sheet down on them and their face. It is a child, a little girl in fact. Somehow, I have a familiar memory of looking at a blonde-haired little girl resting peacefully in her bed. I bring my hands to my face and slap myself out of my thoughts and hurry out the door. So, where is this next house at? Ah, there it is. I quickly grab my supplies and hurry into the next house. Just like the last house the bed is already lit up and the skeleton is starting to get the muscles on it. Oh no! I better hurry or I¡¯ll get to see more than I want. I toss the two tunics and other sheet down by the foot of the bed and quickly get the sheet ready to place on the person. Glancing over at the feet the skin appears and I lay the sheet down on them. On him? Or is it a her? I glance at the face of the young woman with bright blonde hair resting peacefully. She is about the same age as what Michiru would have been. Actually, that¡¯s what my age is, I guess. The other bed starts to light up and I prepare for the next person to arrive. I just realized; I¡¯m not going to be the only Midengardian here anymore. Well, I guess I¡¯m not completely a Midengardian since I still have part of Michiru in me. Also, I have that weird thing going on with the Vitran Particles. What was it that Mr. Ninety called me? Oh, yeah, Vitan Prototype. So, I¡¯ll have some form of connection to these people but also¡­not. The person finishes appearing and I place the sheet on them. This young boy with reddish blonde hair had a long life ahead of him. What am I thinking? He still does. He¡¯ll be out there playing with all the other kids really soon. Assuming there will be other kids for him to play with. What am I thinking? Of course, there has to be other kids. Oh crap! I¡¯m wasting time. I have to get more supplies from the encampment mode and find the next house. Gotta hurry, hurry, hurry. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.I hop on my scooter and go to the encampment mode and make a bunch more tunics and sheets and put them in the storage on the back of the scooter. Quickly I get on the scooter and make my way to the next house. Slowly I open the door and peek over at the second bed. Just as I thought, the first person is already done. Hmm, what should I do now. Really don¡¯t wanna look at someone¡¯s private parts. Well, unless we were a couple that is. I know, I¡¯ll look at the feet and place the sheet over them. Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯ll do. Good thing I¡¯m not one of those foot freaks. OK, here you go your sheet and your tunic. I glance over at the other bed and the muscles are starting to form on the body. Oops, gotta hurry up. I unfurl the sheet and prepare to lay it over the body. There that should take care of everything here. On to the next one. I continue taking care of the next three houses with no incidences and then go back and get more supplies. As I arrive at the encampment mode to get more supplies, I see Mr. Ninety there also getting supplies. ¡°Oh! You finished?¡± ¡°Correct. All the spectral forms have been collected and I have returned to assist your efforts.¡± ¡°Thanks a bunch. I¡¯ve been doing my best to stay ahead of the people coming back.¡± ¡°You have been providing the Midengardians with bed covers and clothing I assume?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been trying to be as quick as possible.¡± ¡°Was there and issues with the Midengardians¡¯ reconstitution efforts?¡± ¡°Not that I noticed.¡± ¡°You have done good work thus far. Now that I am here, we can double our efforts and should be finished before the night arrives.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I¡¯m going to the next house now.¡± ¡°I will proceed to the next domicile.¡± We both leave on our vehicles and arrive at our houses. I slowly open the door and peek over at the second bed. Gah! They¡¯re almost done here! I try to shield my eyes and hurry into the house and do the usual sheet cover on the bodies and leave the tunic behind for them as I continue on to my next house. Time keeps on passing as I keep going from house to house while I occasionally meet up with Mr. Ninety. With just a few more houses to go Mr. Ninety comes up to me and tells me something. ¡°I trust you can complete the remaining domiciles?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can but, what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I must tend to the beasts of burden and livestock.¡± ¡°Oh ok, wait, what?¡± ¡°I do not understand your bewilderment.¡± ¡°I mean there was souls for the animals in that tornado too.¡± ¡°Indeed, there was but, the souls you mention are not like those that belong to higher lifeforms. They are fragmented spectral forms and only provide base cognition and functions.¡± ¡°That really makes me feel really guilty about all the meat I ate in my previous lives.¡± ¡°You should not feel so. They are part of the way life is. If you did not partake of them others would. Whether they be other Midengardians or base life forms would do so.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying if I didn¡¯t eat them someone or something else would have?¡± ¡°Correct. Do not be discouraged by your former place in the life chain.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. We all have our place in the world¡­er universe¡­ I guess.¡± ¡°Indeed. Now I will be off.¡± ¡°Oh yeah! I should hurry too. Good luck Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°I do not believe in nor need luck.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a natural reaction for me. Just go with it.¡± ¡°If you deem it necessary.¡± ¡°I do, so good luck with your work.¡± ¡°I believe thank you is the response you require.¡± ¡°Yes, but you could also wish me luck too.¡± ¡°Thank you for your continued assistance.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯ll have to do for now.¡± He departs on his R.A.V. towards a place that looks like it¡¯s off in the distance. Wow, it¡¯s gotten dark pretty fast. I gaze out at the setting sun. That is such a beautiful sunset. What am I doing, I gotta go! At least there¡¯s not too many houses left. I make my way to the next house, take care of the people there and then continue on to the rest of the houses. Eventually, I finish off the rest of the houses. ¡°Whew! Finally done!¡± You know what? I deserve a nice cold drink. Mr. Ninety did say I can have food so why not a drink. Let¡¯s see if the encampment mode can make me a nice tall glass of black tea. I get on my scooter and head back to encampment mode and notice there are lights lighting up the area around the encampment mode. Well, that¡¯s convenient. I go over to the matter converter and think of a nice talk glass full of cold tea, with a little bit of lemon and a bit of sugar to equalize out the sourness of the lemon. The tea appears, I sit down and take a nice long sip of the tea. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± When was the last time had this? I don¡¯t think there was tea like this on Midengard so it must have been something Michiru had on Earth. Off in the distance I see a light coming toward me. It must be Mr. Ninety. He must be finished with what he was doing. It is pretty late after all. I continue nursing my tea and see glimpses of the starry night sky through the clouds. Mr. Ninety arrives as I finish my tea and return the glass back to the matter converter. ¡°I trust you had no issues with your mission.¡± Mr. Ninety says as he parks his R.A.V. ¡°Nope. How are the animals doing?¡± ¡°I utilized the historical documents to reconstitute common beasts of burden and livestock that would be found in an agrarian village setting on Planet Midengard.¡± ¡°So, everything¡¯s good then.¡± ¡°Correct. There will be some time before the first of the Midengardians will awaken.¡± ¡°Oh? Like how long?¡± ¡°I estimate shortly after daybreak.¡± ¡°Looks like we have a while to wait then don¡¯t we.¡± ¡°You are free to partake in another beverage or some foodstuffs. I will have computer begin the conversion on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Oh, you caught me drinking some tea. Hehe.¡± ¡°It was of no consequence. I instructed you to use the matter converter as you wished.¡± ¡°Well, since you said I could then I¡¯ll have another glass of tea and then change out of these nurse¡¯s clothes then.¡± ¡°Do what you must, I will begin my work with computer.¡± Chapter 13 – Sunshine ¡°Computer, begin conversion of Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Yes, master. While the density of materials is not on par of Continent Asgard, the process will take approximately the same duration due to the large size of the Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Understood. I will be assisting efforts here on Continent Asgard. You may begin conversion.¡± ¡°Yes, master. Conversion commencing.¡± I begin deciding on the assets to place on to Continent Midheim once the conversion is finished. ¡°Now that I¡¯m not running around from house to house, I can relax.¡± I turn to the voice directed at me to see the entity in a very loose-fitting blue one-piece dress that ends just above her knees. ¡°Indeed. However, we will be providing assistance to the Midengardians once they awaken.¡± ¡°What will I provide that you don¡¯t?¡± ¡°You provide a similar perspective to what they have gone through. They will be awakening to a world they will barely recognize.¡± ¡°I guess I do have a unique perspective to share with them.¡± ¡°Sunrise will be soon and the Midengardians should start to awaken at that time. I will continue to oversee asset placement for when Continent Midheim is ready until the first of the Midengardians arrives to meet us.¡± ¡°I got it. I¡¯ll stop bothering you.¡± I continue my work and occasionally hear ice clanking off the glass drinking vessel the entity is using. Adding to the background noises is what would appear to be that of paper moving. The background noises continue while I continue my work until suddenly there is a thud like a book being closed sternly. The entity says, ¡°I just realized something. It¡¯s always cloudy. Cloudy weather is always so gloomy and can make you feel sad.¡± ¡°There has been scientific evidence to support your statement.¡± ¡°So, can you have the clouds go away for a while at least?¡± ¡°I believe I can arrange that for a short time. I will need to have the rain fall not too long afterward and it will be necessary for the crops.¡± ¡°Thank you Mr. Ninety. It¡¯ll be great to have some sunshine to celebrate these people¡¯s return.¡± ¡°If you believe it is so.¡± ¡°I really do.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± I have the encampment mode raise an antenna and emit a dispersal beam, creating a sizable hole in the cloud cover. ¡°Hey, I can see the sunrise. Ah, it¡¯s so beautiful. It¡¯s been a long time since I saw a sunrise like this.¡± I return to the console and finish up the work I had started. ¡°Oh yeah. I better change before they show up.¡± While I complete my current work I can hear the rustle of cloth behind me. ¡°Looks like I finished just in time.¡± ¡°I have completed the tasks I was performing as well.¡± ¡°Well, how do I look?¡± The entity shows off her new attire to me. It is a cream-colored sleeveless dress. It ends just at her ankles and was also made to accentuate not only the curvature of her torso but also her chest. ¡°It appears rather elaborate for the situation.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯re the first people they¡¯ve seen in, what, two thousand years. We can¡¯t look like we¡¯re threatening or we¡¯ve been rolling around in the dirt for a few weeks.¡± ¡°Neither of those things describe our current or previous situations.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. We¡¯ll be the first people they¡¯ve seen in a long time. We should look nice and friendly.¡± ¡°Your analysis of the situation is sound.¡± ¡°Right? So, can you do something about your armor? Maybe something like when you met Michiru.¡± ¡°What I provided to the Terran spectral form was a psychic projection to link us and to calm her emotions.¡± ¡°So, you can¡¯t do anything about your armor? It¡¯s looks pretty¡­um¡­threatening.¡± ¡°I can not remove my armor but, I can alter its outward appearance to that similar of what I presented to Terran spectral form Michiru.¡± ¡°Well then, hurry up. They¡¯ll start coming out here any minute now.¡± I defuse the entity¡¯s incessant verbal prodding and initiate my personal camouflage. ¡°I assume this form is more to your liking.¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s so much better. Why can¡¯t you look like that more often?¡± ¡°There has been no reason to utilize my personal camouflage. The personal camouflage is used to blend in with already established societies. That situation has not arisen since landing on Planet Midengard.¡± ¡°Even though there isn¡¯t ¡®already established societies¡¯ here, there¡¯s people here now so it¡¯s better to look like normal people don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Your postulation is sound.¡± ¡°Wait did you change your hair color?¡± ¡°My original hair color is not one that would appear normal to the Midengardians.¡± ¡°From Michiru¡¯s memories your dark hair was pretty common where she came from on Earth.¡± ¡°There are two flaws in your assessment of Michiru¡¯s memories.¡± ¡°Oh, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I am neither Terran nor Midengardian.¡± As I finish my statement a man and a woman exit from the domicile nearest to us. ¡°Where are we? Are we still dreaming?¡± ¡°I assure you; this is reality.¡± ¡°Oh Mr. Ninety why do you have to be so stiff?¡± ¡°There is nothing wrong with my joint functions.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry where are my manners. My name is ¨ªvarr (Ivar) and this is my wife T¨®rrdis (Thordis).¡± The male introduces. ¡°I am Environmental Repair Cyborg Vitan Mark 90.¡± ¡°But you can call him Mr. Ninety because his name is too long.¡± ¡°If my designation is too cumbersome then I suppose the name the entity created will be sufficient.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, I don¡¯t really have a name, do I?¡± ¡°The name provided to your project was Lucretta.¡± ¡°Ew, that¡¯s not a very good name. Hmmm, how about¡­um¡­¨¢str¨ªer (Owstreethr), ¨¢str¨ªer Gullidal.¡± ¡°That is a very pretty name.¡± The female Thordis says. ¡°I know right? It just sort of came to me all of a sudden.¡± ¡°I think it fits you just fine.¡± Replies Thordis. ¡°You think so. Aw thank you. You¡¯re pretty also.¡± ¡°Why thank you. Your family name is a bit odd, though.¡± I interject. ¡°Have you experienced any bodily issues after your reconstitution?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand. The last thing we saw was a blinding white light and then we woke up here. Where are we?¡± Questions Ivar. ¡°This is the continent you would have once called Asgard.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± The two Midengardians exclaim in unison. ¡°I know it¡¯s really confusing but, Mr. Ninety here terraformed the continent here.¡± ¡°Where are the tall buildings?¡± Ivar responds. ¡°And Odin¡¯s Court and the Rainbow Bridge?¡± Thordis adds. ¡°The Rainbow Bridge as you called it is repaired and will be repowered once Continent Midheim is finished being repaired. The buildings here on Continent Asgard were in a severe state of disrepair and represented a grave danger to you and your fellow Midengardians, as such they had to be razed. As for Odin¡¯s Court as it was known, it also was razed but was replaced with a more modest version that resembled its earlier version.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what happened to everyone and everything?¡± Responds Thordis. ¨¢str¨ªer interjects, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you remember but the planet was attacked by a giant monster called Ragangog.¡± ¡°Yes, I vaguely remember The Allfather making an announcement about a large interstellar beast on its way toward our planet.¡± Ivar recalls. ¡°I also remember something about the monster landing on Helheim and all life around it crumbled to dust.¡± Thordis recalls. ¡°Those things happened as you remembered. Your memories and experiences will seem to be confusing but, will normalize over a short period of time.¡± ¡°That is good to know, thank you.¡± Says Thordis. ¡°I wondered why I felt so hazy. This is good to know.¡± Adds Ivar. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m still not all together myself.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer interjects. ¡°Your situation is different then theirs. They should be fully stable within a very short time. Possibly before the last of the Midengardians awaken. Your stabilization may take further day-night cycles.¡± ¡°I know I get it, I¡¯m different. I just hope I can have a normal life eventually.¡± ¡°That will be entirely for you to decide once we are done on Planet Midengard.¡± While ¨¢str¨ªer and I were discussing her future, Ivar and Thordis survey the village. ¡°This is still amazing even if the tall buildings are gone.¡± Exclaims Thordis. ¡°Yes, and the houses are like the ones used on Midheim in the pre-Allfather era.¡± Adds Ivar. ¡°Indeed, I used the historical data from the place called Hall of Urthr. It was a well thought out and good design for a village whose focus was on agriculture at the time.¡± ¡°Are you saying we will have to grow our food?!¡± Exclaims Thordis. ¡°Indeed, however you all will not be starting from nothing. There is a bounty ready to be obtained and stored for your living for the time being.¡± ¡°But we don¡¯t know much about farming or harvesting crops and I¡¯m sure just about everyone else will be the same as us.¡± Says Ivar. ¡°This was taken in to account I have extensive knowledge of the subject as well as I have filled the new Oden¡¯s Court with the knowledge accumulated in the Hall of Urthr.¡± ¡°This is not the life we were used to before.¡± Pleads Thordis. ¡°I get it. This is going to be a brand-new world and you¡¯re gonna the new people to help being this work back.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer interjects. ¡°This world is still mostly dead with the exception of Continent Asgard. It will be imperative that you and all the other Midengardians here on Continent Asgard can be self-sufficient before expanding to the other continents and reclaiming additional technological advances.¡± ¡°What he¡¯s saying is that farming is a lost art and everyone here has to walk before we can speed run to the future that you had before.¡± ¡°I think I understand what you mean except for the speed run part.¡± Ivar responds acceptingly. ¡°That¡¯s ok I don¡¯t know where I pulled the term ¡®speed run¡¯ from either.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer responds quizzically. ¡°Anyway, the sun is shining and this the dawn of a new age, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Yes, we must be thankful that we are alive again.¡± Thordis acknowledges. ¡°Is it you that we have to thank for our revival uh..Mr. Ninety was it?¡± Inquires Ivar. ¡°Indeed, I was able extract your dormant spectral forms to combine them with¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Ninety did a lot of the work but I helped get you covered up and clothed.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer abruptly interrupts. ¡°I see. Well, we thank you very much for giving us a new chance at life.¡± Ivar replies. ¡°Yes, I guess we owe you, our lives.¡± Adds Thordis. ¡°It is my mission to restore life to Planet Midengard.¡± ¡°He means, ¡®you¡¯re welcome, it was our pleasure.¡¯¡± ¨¢str¨ªer elaborates. ¡°If you will excuse me, I must discuss some things with ¨¢str¨ªer.¡± ¡°O¡­ok.¡± Thordis responds for the two of them. I pull ¨¢str¨ªer off a short distance from the Midengardians. ¡°I understand that your emotions are high at this moment but do not keep trying to subvert my authority. I understand the situation and can adjust quickly to accommodate it. This is not the first planet I have had to interreact the local populace in a reconstituted state.¡± ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know what got into me.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer apologizes as she bows to me. ¡°Your emotions are high because this is the only other interaction you have had with living beings. I understand your feelings but I need you to allow me to continue my mission unimpeded.¡± ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll keep my mouth shut.¡± ¡°That will not be necessary. It will be good for your recovery to interact with the Midengardians. I only ask that you do not let your overzealousness run amok. As more and more Midengardians awaken I will require your assistance to inform those I will not be able to of the situation they have awoken to.¡± ¡°Right, I understand. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± ¡°I have no reason to believe that you will. Now I see that there are more Midengardians exiting the domiciles. Let us go.¡± ¡°Right, I got this. I mean you got this and I¡¯ll help where I can.¡± With our discussion finished we go back to the awaiting Midengardians. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.I continue to interact with the awakening Midengardians while occasionally ¨¢str¨ªer will interact with those that do not come to my vicinity. The majority of those being children or those that would be considered young adults. ¨¢str¨ªer is doing a very good job interacting with the young Midengardians. The last of the Midengardians has awakened after the sun has passed its peak and begins its decent. I take a contingent of Midengardians to the farm lands and the current reserves while providing them basic instructions for the coming future. The Midengardians survival and future progress depends on them accepting the way things are now. Once we make our way back to the remaining Midengardians, ¨¢str¨ªer makes a suggestion to me. ¡°Mr. Ninety, I had an idea. I think we should hold a party or a feast to welcome these people back to the land of the living.¡± ¡°Hmmm, that is an interesting idea. The current food reserves would be able to accommodate such an endeavor. What brought you to this idea?¡± ¡°Well, I realized that very few of these people actually know each other. Some people are from Asgard while most are from Midheim. You know Midheim is really big and had so many different areas so the cities didn¡¯t have to interact with each other except by holo-communications, commerce and the occasional vacation travel.¡± ¡°I see. That could be a reason for the slight standoffishness I noticed the Midengardians had while I was introducing them to their new environs.¡± ¡°Right? So, I thought if they can get together in a really relaxed setting like a party, they could get to know one another and make the life here a little easier.¡± ¡°Your theory is sound. We can do this social gathering you request.¡± ¡°The only thing is I don¡¯t know where we can hold it.¡± ¡°I feel the place referred to as Odin¡¯s Court would be sizeable enough to hold such a gathering.¡± ¡°Oh! That¡¯s perfect! I¡¯ll tell them all about it if you can bring the encampment mode over there. I have a few things I want to make for there.¡± ¡°Understood. I will move the spare encampment mode to that location and await your arrival.¡± I put the spare encampment mode into repair assistance vehicle mode and bring it over near the entrance of Odin¡¯s Court and then place it back into encampment mode. Once I finish, ¨¢str¨ªer arrives on her ¡°scooter¡±. ¡°They should be here once the sunset starts. I mean I don¡¯t have a clock so that was the best I could do.¡± ¡°You could have used the matter converter to make one.¡± ¡°Oh yeah. Well, my mind was focused on more important things. ¡°What did you need the encampment mode for?¡± ¡°Well, I needed to reduce the time for cooking the food so I figured I could cheat a little bit by using the matter converter to recall the food and then have it remade into the various dishes I think of.¡± ¡°That is a decent idea for the lack of time we have on hand. I see you are also thinking of the not wasting the Vitran Particles that are currently in reserve on the ship.¡± ¡°Yeah, I didn¡¯t want to be wasteful and I know the ship¡¯s AI is really busy working on Midheim.¡± ¡°You made very wise decisions. Come let me show you to the food reserves.¡± We make our way to the food reserve storage. ¡°There is a all manner of vegetable and fruit produce as well as animal products.¡± ¡°Brr, it¡¯s really cold in here. Is this one of the modern amenities you mentioned?¡± ¡°Indeed, it is essential that even if the yield of the up coming harvests is low there will still be a way to retain what they have for as long as they can until the Midengardians will be able to increase their reserves.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Well, looks like I¡¯ll need some of this, and this and definitely some of this.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer selects a variety of vegetable and fruit produce and a humble amount of animal products. ¡°I¡¯m gonna need a bigger scooter to bring it all there.¡± ¡°Hold.¡± I tell ¨¢str¨ªer as I return to her auxiliary transport vessel. I change its form to that similar of the one that was previously attached to my repair assistance vehicle but with more open space, no canopy and thinner walls with a protrusion made to attach to her waist allowing it to follow her movements. ¡°I feel this form will suffice for what you need to transport the food items.¡± ¡°Yes! That¡¯s great! Just what I needed! A wagon! Thank you Mr. Ninety.!¡± ¨¢str¨ªer places the many food items into the ¡°wagon¡± as she called it. ¡°Okay, so how do I move this?¡± ¨¢str¨ªer says as she tries to pull the ¡°wagon¡±. ¡°You need to walk backward to this point here and a belt will extend and disengage the breaking mechanism.¡± ¡°Oh, so like this?¡± ¨¢str¨ªer walks backwards and the belt extends and buckles around the front of her waist. ¡°Wow. That¡¯s cool!¡± ¡°The temperature, in the ¡°wagon¡± as you call it, is unchanged.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great too. Come on, let¡¯s get back.¡± The breaking mechanism disengages and we walk back to Odin¡¯s Court with the ¡°wagon¡± hovering behind ¨¢str¨ªer. We arrive back at Odin¡¯s Court and ¨¢str¨ªer presses the button to disconnect the belt from her waist and reengage the braking system. ¡°You know, I completely forgot. Is there tables and chairs inside?¡± ¡°There are. Follow me.¡± We enter the main area where it is essentially empty except the throne at the far end. ¡°Wow! This is a beautiful reception area. And that throne so elegant and regal.¡± ¡°It is the throne from the dilapidated remnants of the Odin¡¯s Court I entered when I arrived.¡± ¡°Nice touch! Great thinking.¡± ¡°Come, follow me.¡± I guide her towards the throne and show her a panel inlaid in the back. ¡°Here are the controls for the reception area. These are controls for official functions but these controls are for seating arrangements.¡± ¡°Wow you really thought of everything.¡± ¡°As I mentioned before, this not my first time reestablishing a settlement.¡± ¡°I know but this is all so amazing. Okay, so looking at the different layouts here, I think this galley style is the best one.¡± ¡°That would seem to an optimal choice to allow for equal amounts of seating and foot traffic.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t want everyone just sitting around, I want them to be able to mingle with everyone. You know interact and get to know one another.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer presses the button on the panel and the tables and seat benches arise from the beneath the flooring in the arrangement that ¨¢str¨ªer selected. ¡°Mr. Ninety can you help me a little more?¡± ¡°What is it you require?¡± ¡°Well, while I cook, I just need you to set the finished food out on the tables. Oh, and I¡¯ll need some plates and some center pieces. Nah, that¡¯ll be too cluttered. The tables should be for food and drinks.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer collects her thoughts and then begins with the plates which I place in a few stacks on the tables and once I return, ¨¢str¨ªer¡¯s first batch of food is ready to be placed. I make several trips to and from placing the food items on the tables until the last is about to be placed. ¡°That should be all the food. I¡¯ll bring the drinks in.¡± I bring the last of the food in with ¨¢str¨ªer following behind me using the ¡°wagon¡± to carry several pitchers of the drinks she created. We arrive inside and ¨¢str¨ªer distributes the pitchers on the table in sets of two. One metallic and one glass. ¡°What is the purpose of the two differing pitchers?¡± ¡°Yeah those. The glass pitchers are full of fruit juice. I couldn¡¯t pick just one so it¡¯s just a medley of three different ones. Those will be for the young ones. The metal pitchers are filled with a drink called mj?e (myuth). It¡¯s a fermented honey drink that is for the adults. It was a drink in Michiru¡¯s memories that was popular with the Midengardians¡¯ successors on Earth. I don¡¯t recall it being a drink here but I thought it would be a nice touch.¡± ¡°I see. You thought this event through very well.¡± ¡°If you mean I did a good job then thank you. Also, you helped a lot, thank you.¡± ¡°The sun has begun to set so the Midengardians should be on their way here.¡± ¡°Right, let me make sure everything is okay. Oh, and please don¡¯t let the young one¡¯s drink any of the mj?e. They¡¯re too young for it.¡± ¡°Understood. It appears the Midengardians are approaching.¡± ¡°So soon? Oh, I hope everything is ready?¡± ¡°Why would it not?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Oh my! This is beautiful. I never saw Odin¡¯s Court look like this before.¡± A female exclaims as she enters with a small group of Midengardians. ¡°Are there more Midengardians arriving with you?¡± I query the female. ¡°Y¡­yes. They¡¯re right behind me.¡± The female responds. ¡°Oh, Mr. Ninety, please let them in.¡± ¡°I had no intention of impeding their progress.¡± ¡°Please come inside everyone.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer announces to the Midengardians as she pushes me aside slightly. The Midengardians stream into Odin¡¯s Court and wander around in amazement at the state of Odin¡¯s Court, the throne and the tables filled with food. ¡°Mr. Ninety, I think they like it.¡± ¡°Your assertion appears correct. However, is it not customary for the host to greet everyone and open the festivities?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, you¡¯re right¡­um¡­I guess I gotta make a speech.¡± ¡°It would appear so.¡± I go behind the throne and press a button on the console. From a compartment a microphone appears and I walk over to ¨¢str¨ªer. ¡°I believe you will require one of these.¡± ¡°Oh! Thank you.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer taps the microphone and the resulting sound emanates from the embedded sound amplifiers in the overhead lighting fixtures. ¡°Uh¡­h¡­hello everyone. Thank you for coming. I¡­uh¡­thought we should have a little party to get to know one another. Although, with the exception of Mr. Ninety, we are all Midengardians, we don¡¯t really know each other. But even though you may not know each other you have a chance to now. You see, you all now have something else in common other than being Midengardians. You now have the same birthday and so this meal is to celebrate your birth and a long and healthy life.¡± The Midengardians look at one another and say some indistinguishable things to those near them. ¡°A¡­and so I would like to propose a toast. In the clear pitcher is a fruit cocktail for the young ones. In the metallic pitcher is a drink for the adults. It is a drink that was popular with the later generations of those that escaped the disaster and landed on a planet called Earth. The drink is called mj?e and I raise this glass to you all to welcome you back to start a new beginning.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer raises the hand with a glass in it toward the ceiling and yells, ¡°Sk¨¢l! (Skawl!)¡± The totality of the Midengardians reciprocate by raising their glasses as well and yell, ¡°Sk¨¢l!¡± ¡°Now everyone please eat, drink and get to know your new brothers and sisters!¡± I take the microphone from ¨¢str¨ªer¡¯s strong grip. ¡°H¡­how did I do?¡± ¡°It would appear your address to them was able to stir some strong positive emotions and allow them to converse unimpeded.¡± ¡°So, did YOU think it was good?¡± ¡°I was not the primary audience for your address, so my previous statement stands.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s the best answer I can get out of you, then.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer steps toward the mass of Midengardians and begins conversing with them. Over the course of the event, I am approached and asked questions to which I reply. The event eventually progresses to its conclusion and the Midengardians begin expressing their nightly pleasantries on their way back to their domiciles. Once the final Midengardian exits Odin¡¯s Court, ¨¢str¨ªer turns to me and states, ¡°I think that went well.¡± ¡°I will agree if that is your assessment.¡± ¡°I think I can handle the cleanup here by myself. I know you have lots to do.¡± ¡°Indeed. I will take my leave if I am not required here.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re busy so, go.¡± I exit Odin¡¯s Court and notice ¨¢str¨ªer sits down on one of the bench seats, pours herself another cup of the mj?e and lets out a large sigh of relief. Chapter 14 – Why Are They Watching Me? About three days have gone by since the birthday party I threw. Mr. Ninety has been teaching everyone here how to handle the crops and the livestock here. Some are looking to make new clothes and other items like tableware. Lots of people came up to me and asked about the mj?e I had at the party. I had to break the bad news to them that they¡¯d need to get some honey first in order to make it. But that doesn¡¯t stop me from having a little bit at night thanks to the matter converter. For some reason the alcohol has no effect on me. Mr. Ninety says that it¡¯s probably because of my ability to heal using my Vitran Particles. Oh well it still tastes good. I¡¯ve been helping out Mr. Ninety as much as I can but lately, I¡¯ve been noticing the young ones crowding together and talking to each other while looking at me. Whenever I try to go to ask them what¡¯s going on, they run away as a group. This keeps going on for about two more days until a boy leaves the pack and comes up to me. ¡°Are you and Mr. Ninety robots?¡± ¡°What? No, we¡¯re not. What makes you think that?¡± ¡°Mr. Ninety talks funny.¡± ¡°I know, right? I keep telling him that.¡± ¡°You both seem so different ¡®specially Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name little one?¡± ¡°Kjel (Kyel)!¡± He belts out his name with passion. The other kids are still a bit away but paying attention to what Kjel and I are talking about. ¡°That¡¯s a great name for a brave boy like you. Kjel, Mr. Ninety may sound funny because he¡¯s not from Midengard.¡± ¡°No way! That¡¯s umpossible.¡± Kjel does his best to pronounce impossible the best he could. ¡°It¡¯s true. He¡¯s from far far away and came to heal the planet from what the giant monster did here.¡± ¡°What about you, Miss ¨¢str¨ªer? Where did you come from?¡± Kjel asks me as the crowd of children have moved closer. ¡°Oh, me? I¡¯m a Midengardian just like you of all.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± A few other voices join Kjel¡¯s reaction. ¡°Well, mostly anyway.¡± ¡°What? What¡¯s that mean?¡± ¡°Well mostly I¡¯m from Midengard but, a part of me came from the planet that some of the people here fled to.¡± ¡°No way! That¡¯s umpossible.¡± Kjel and a few other kids yell in disbelief. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.I bend down into a squat. The kind that some people would perform when in front of a certain type of building called a ¡°convenience store¡± in Michiru¡¯s memories and ask the kids, ¡°¤Ê¤¼Ë½¤òÐŤ¸¤Æ¤¯¤ì¤Ê¤¤¤Î¤Ç¤¹¤«?¡± The kids all react in utter shock. ¡°What language is that? You made it up, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kjel asks. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. It is called Japanese and is one of many languages from that planet. Only really know that one language from Earth. Although, a different island has their language similar to Midengardian. I guess that means I know two Earth languages. So enough about me. What¡¯s wrong with you all?¡± ¡°We¡¯re bored.¡± Kjel says as if speaking for the group. ¡°I see. And all of you are bored enough to stare at me and then run away?¡± ¡°We¡¯re sorry.¡± Kjel and a few of the kids respond. ¡°That¡¯s ok. So, what did you all do before now to play?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing here that we used to play with here.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I hold my right index finger to my right cheek and tilt my head as I think of something. Two sports I recall from Michiru¡¯s memories. The first seemed to be one that she liked but probably won¡¯t work for this situation. This other one however, even though she didn¡¯t care for it is very simple and seemed to be very popular all over Earth. ¡°Hold on I got an idea. I¡¯ll be right back¡± I head back to the matter converter and have it make a soccer ball. I also change into soccer kit, put my hair into a pony tail and the return to the kids. ¡°Those are strange clothes you have on.¡± ¡°I will teach you a game that is very popular on Earth. Luckily, it¡¯s very simple and only really needs one thing, this ball. In Midengardian it would be called f¨®tbolta.¡± We find a large open space and I go over the rules. I set up a goal area using sticks from a nearby tree stuck in the ground like poles. We all play together for a long time until the sun starts to begin setting. The kids all thank me and go off to their homes. I stop Kjel before he goes back. ¡°Here, you take this and play together next time, even if I¡¯m not there, okay?¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss ¨¢str¨ªer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Kjel.¡± Kjel runs off with the ball in his hands to his home. I think that worked out well. Maybe I¡¯ll try hafnabolti next time if it¡¯s possible. Chapter 15 – In Dark Places So, this is the surface world master told me to infiltrate. There is still too much light for my liking but, the shadows are still here to comfort and conceal me. The areas of darkness away from the people will provide me a safe haven if I¡¯m discovered. With the night out and in full force it seems that even the humans do not want to enjoy its glorious embrace. They fear the darkness but I am one with it. I slowly make my way through the village using the shadows to keep me safe. My mission is to find the containment that keep the remaining souls that were taken. More specifically the dark souls. Kindred souls like mine and masters. I arrive at the edge of the village and discover the Vitan and his companion, the failure. The containment is by the Vitan within a few steps. Footsteps, they are coming from behind me. I change my gaze to behind me and see a human male coming my direction. Am I discovered? No, the darkness embraces me and keeps me safe from all. The male walks past me and I remain unnoticed. He goes to the Vitan and begins conversing. I cannot hear nor do I care to know what is being discussed. All I am concerned with is getting access to that containment. The man and the Vitan go over to the containment and the man places his hand on the containment. It begins to power up and then power down. The man slumps his shoulders. The failure comes over to the man, puts her hand on him and says some words to him. With the man finishing his conversation with the Vitan and the failure, he slowly begins walking to where I am. Eventually the man stops next to me and collapses against the wall of the building which is producing the shadows I am hiding in. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.¡°I can¡¯t believe my dear wife is gone. What am I even living for then?¡± It seems an opportunity is before me. I must take it to use his soul to grant me even more power. ¡°It seems you are longing for your woman. I can help you join her.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± ¡°I am someone who can ease your pain. You can see your woman again.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I see you?¡± ¡°I am the unseen but I can grant you your release. Do you want it?¡± ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. Will I really be able to see my beautiful wife again?¡± I reach out with both of my hands and bring them close to each side of his head. ¡°You will be able to join your beloved¡­in the nothingness of death.¡± I grasp his head with both of my hands and drain him of his lifeforce and add it to my power. His body flinches and thrashes as he begins to reach his end and lets out a primal scream as he dies. ¡°Intruder detected!¡± the Vitan shouts as he and the failure come toward my direction. I must retreat, but thanks to that foolish human I can now extend the shadows to help me. Extending the shadows and then circling around the adjacent buildings to find my way toward the containment. The distraction I created is perfect to accomplish my mission for my master. I extend the shadows and join them to those by the containment and begin to access the panel that the human interacted with. Suddenly the power to the panel dies and an alarm goes off. A trap! I must retreat before I am discovered. The Vitan comes back to the containment but I have already escaped. I must hide and plan to complete the mission my master has given me. My time will come very soon but for now I will lie in wait until the next night I can succeed. Chapter 16 – Shadow Walk As night begins the Midengardians return to their domiciles to commence with their nightly meal before retiring to their beds. I continue monitoring the progress on Continent Midheim and outline the assets to be deployed until I can continue properly training the Midengardians further. ¡°Whoa! That shower was so good!¡± ¨¢str¨ªer exclaims as she returns to the encampment mode from the closest domicile wearing the same blue loose clothing she had when she was awaiting the Midengardians awakening although with a towel around her neck. She declared the clothes are called ¡°loungewear¡±. ¡°I am glad that the plumbing setup is to your satisfaction.¡± ¡°Well, I really worked up a sweat playing f¨®tbolta with the children so the shower was a godsend.¡± ¡°No divine beings were involved in the creation of the plumbing.¡± ¡°I know but the feeling was divine. Those kids really made me work hard so I needed it.¡± ¡°You did a very admirable job keeping the young ones entertained.¡± ¡°I did my best, thank you.¡± ¡°You are welcome.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer returns her towel to the matter converter, then obtains a glass of some liquid and then goes to her nightly chair. ¡°I noticed you¡¯ve been talking with Ivar a lot the past few days.¡± ¡°He is very inquisitive as he was a structural engineer in the days before the Raganrog.¡± ¡°I guess he was asking you a bunch of questions about how everything was made and works and such.¡± ¡°That was a discussion that occurred at several points. However, the most recent discussion was my encouragement for him to fulfil the position of village leader.¡± ¡°I can probably guess that he was a bit reluctant to do it, huh?¡± ¡°Indeed, he did present a fair amount of apprehension to assuming the role of village leader.¡± ¡°Well yeah. It¡¯s a huge responsibility to take on so soon.¡± ¡°I have evaluated all the Midengardians that have been reconstituted and Ivar¡¯s analytical abilities and problem resolution skills were the best that I observed. The position of village leader would serve as an easy task for him.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t doubt that but¡­¡± ¡°Hold. We have company.¡± A male Midengardian is walking on a trajectory to meet with us. Once he arrives, I begin a line of inquiry. ¡°Is there something amiss for you tonight?¡± ¡°Y..yes, if it is no trouble I would like to know what happened to my dear wife.¡± ¡°I took great care to be certain that those that had any sort of relation were reconstituted together. There were some that were reconstituted individually as additional Midengardians would be needed to help the settlement¡¯s efforts.¡± ¡°So, she¡¯s gone then?¡± ¡°I cannot say that my efforts were without error. Come join me over to the containment unit and we shall see if I reconstituted you without your mate in error.¡± I guide the Midengardian over to the control panel of the containment unit and unlock it. ¡°You will just need to place your hand here on this panel and the display will reveal if there is a spectral form within the containment unit with a spectral connection to you.¡± ¡°O¡­okay.¡± The male places his left hand on the panel and the display lights up and the display replies with no spectral connection found. ¡°It appears there is no spectral connection to you contained within this containment unit.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s true then. She¡¯s gone.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer comes over to the male and places her hand on his back. ¡°There was a lot going on when you were put to sleep. Anything could have happened. She could have made it on to one of the escape ships. Maybe you have people that may be a distant relative to you.¡± ¡°Thank you for trying to comfort me and thank you for letting me know what befell my wife. I¡¯ll let you be and will be ready for the morning.¡± The male set off back towards the domiciles. ¡°I hope he¡¯ll be okay.¡± ¡°Being a survivor is always a heavy burden. He should realize that every Midengardian here are also survivors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true enough. Michiru¡¯s fianc¨¦ carried a heavy burden for a long time and probably still has one even if it''s lighter. Oh! I know could his wife be in one of the other tornados?¡± ¡°It is very unlikely¡­¡± In the middle of my statement, I hear a primal scream like that of someone¡¯s life ending. My scans detect a lifeform not of the Midengardians but is unable to locate it specifically. ¡°Intruder detected!¡± I make my way to the place the scream came from with ¨¢str¨ªer following behind me. We arrive and see the remnants of the male we had just conversed with. ¡°That¡¯s so cruel! Who could have done this?¡± ¡°His spectral essence has been completely drained similar to that of a Kirtov.¡± ¡°What? Here? How?¡± Before I could reply to ¨¢str¨ªer the tamper alarm sounds on the containment unit. We both rush back to our encampment to inspect the containment unit. ¡°Indeed, the containment unit has been tampered with.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see anyone did you?¡± ¡°There was no visual evidence of anyone interacting with the containment unit. The genetic signature which tripped the alarm only had only an 8.8% match to that of a Kirtov.¡± A small group of Midengardians begin to make their way to the encampment with confused looks on their faces. ¡°Please the area is not safe. I need you all to return to your domiciles. I need you to also leave your lighting on inside to maintain your security. Your safety will be ensured if you follow these directions. I will elaborate on the incident in the morning.¡± The Midengardians, with still confused looks on their faces, begin to make their way back to their domiciles. ¡°I think they¡¯re still worried.¡± ¡°This is all we can do right now as we do not know where the adversary is at this time.¡± ¡°So, back to what we were talking about. It¡¯s not a Kirtov we¡¯re dealing with but, some sort of shadowy night crawler, then?¡± ¡°That could be a somewhat accurate description of our adversary.¡± ¡°Really? No way.¡± ¡°The adversary¡¯s ability to camouflage itself using the shadows would be why I was unable to detect it.¡± ¡°Why do think it was hiding in the shadows?¡± ¡°Do you not recall where we found the male Midengardian¡¯s body?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah. He was in the shadows of that building.¡± ¡°We must be vigilant when occupying our encampment.¡± ¡°Oh, absolutely, but what could that night crawler want?¡± ¡°There are many Midengardians that have yet to be reconstituted. I am waiting to have them populate Continent Midheim. There are also several souls of black that are being retained for disposal at a later date.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­I see, WHAT!?¡± ¡°I do not understand your sudden exclamation.¡± ¡°Are those souls of black what you were warning Michiru about not becoming?¡± ¡°It is indeed. When a spectral anomaly builds up enough negative emotions, they become a soul of black. Those are unable to be rehabilitated and as such must be terminated.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sad but also understandable. So do you think these souls of black are what that night crawler was trying to get?¡± ¡°That is a very strong possibility. In any event, we must cease any further discussion or speculation in the event we are being overheard.¡± ¡°R¡­right. My lips are sealed.¡± ¡°There is no need to use an adhesive on your mouth.¡± ¡°I mean I won¡¯t say a word.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer returns to her seat to continue her nightly drink and opens a book by the title of ¡°Heimskringla¡±. It is a rather curious book that like most historical recounts for mass public consumption is riddled with inaccuracies. That was to be expected as the vast majority of the Midengardian settlers preferred to tell stories of their old world verbally to help keep their origins as secretive as possible. I break from the distraction and begin to form a counterattack and defense from the being ¨¢str¨ªer calls ¡°night crawler¡±. It will be vital to take accountability in the morning to see if that Midengardian male was the only casualty or if there were any others the ¡°night crawler¡± drained of their spectral essence. While I wait for daybreak, I will need to provide countermeasures for the Midengardians. I go over to the matter converter and place my hand on the panel. A large, flat box is formed with its lid opened, revealing numerous rings. ¡°Oh! Pretty!¡± I hold my finger up to my mouth to symbolize a reminder for ¨¢str¨ªer to remain silent. ¡°Oh, yeah, right. Shh.¡± Her gaze is still fixated on the box of rings. I close the box and set it aside next to me while I head back to my control panel at the encampment mode and begin more defensive planning. I deploy additional lighting units to eliminate any shadows in our encampment. ¡°I have eliminated all possible hiding places this ¡°night crawler¡± might be hiding. I still advise a low volume when trying to communicate.¡± ¡°Got it. Besides we don¡¯t want to wake up the sleepy heads.¡± ¡°If you mean the Midengardians, I have provided a light sedative to their sleeping chambers.¡± ¡°But, what about those that didn¡¯t come out to see us earlier? That night crawler thing might try to go in the other houses that have their lights off.¡± ¡°No need to worry. I have turned on the lighting within all the domiciles.¡± ¡°You thought of everything, Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°I did what was best for the situation. I still have further preparations to make before the sun rises.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer comes closer to me and whispers. ¡°So, what are the rings for?¡± ¡°All will be revealed once daybreaks.¡± ¡°Okay, got it. I¡¯ll wait ¡®til morning.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer goes back to her seat and sits for a few seconds lost in thought before she picks her book back up to continue reading. I go over to the body, recover it and bring it back to our encampment. With the body recovered, I place it on the ground near the matter converter. Once the body is placed, I set the matter converter to convert the body into a cube of compressed ashes to be placed at a burial site to be determined later. This the body¡¯s preparation complete, I return to the control panel and continue my plans to either capture or terminate the ¡°night crawler¡± once the following night begins. The nighttime gives way to daybreak and I have finished the planning stage along with blueprints for support accessories that will be for myself and ¨¢str¨ªer. I hear the thump of ¨¢str¨ªer closing her book. After she gets up from her chair, she comes over to me. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan for today?¡± ¡°Once the Midengardians awaken I will go over the plans with them. As for your part, you will be providing back up to me. My intention is to have us triangulate the ¡°night crawler¡± to corner it with no escape.¡± ¡°Oh! I won¡¯t let you down, Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°I know you would not. That is why I requested your assistance.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you can rely on me. What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°We will distribute these rings to the male Midengardians. The females and young Midengardians will be holed up in the domiciles to prevent them from being attacked by the ¡°night crawler.¡± ¡°Sounds good but, what¡¯s the men going to do?¡± ¡°You, I and the male Midengardians will populate the shadowed areas of the village to provoke the ¡°night crawler¡± into revealing itself.¡± ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s like the hunter becomes the hunted type of thing.¡± ¡°That can be a way to analyze the situation.¡± As I finish my statement to ¨¢str¨ªer, Ivar begins to walk toward our encampment. ¡°Ah, what fortuitous timing.¡± ¡°Yes, I needed to talk with you about what you said about me becoming village leader.¡± ¡°I see. It appears you have had an epiphany.¡± ¡°Well, I talked it over with my wife, Thordis, and I don¡¯t know how good I can be, but I¡¯d like to give it a try. But I don¡¯t want to be called All-Father.¡± ¡°That is good to hear. The timing is good as well. It appears there is something we have termed a night crawler that is prowling the shadowy areas of the village at night.¡± ¡°What? But I thought there was no other living creatures here but us?¡± ¡°That is not entirely correct. There are other beings called Kirtov that are in stasis on the other continents. But this ¡°night crawler¡± is an anomaly. It was attempting to access the spectral containment unit.¡± ¡°What exactly is that?¡± ¡°It is the unit I transferred your spectral essences, in other words your souls, to from the tornado of souls pending your reconstitution. Not all spectral essences were reconstituted and are still there awaiting a future additional village or villages on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Okay, that makes sense but why do you think it was trying to access the containment unit?¡± ¡°Yeah, I wanna know too.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer adds to Ivar¡¯s inquiry. ¡°This is speculation but, the male Midengardian that was attacked last night was drained of all of his life spectral essence.¡± ¡°Someone was killed?¡± ¡°I apologize for neglecting to informing you of that detail. I have recovered his body and have prepared it for burial once the time is appropriate.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to hold a ceremony after we take care of the intruder.¡± ¡°Your priorities are aligned with mine.¡± ¡°So, what is your plan and how can I help?¡± ¡°Indeed, there are many things to prepare for before the night falls. We will have to do them while also taking care of the daily tasks. First, we must distribute these rings to the male Midengardians and direct them to perform patrols during the nights paying particular to the shadows.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.¡°Okay, I will do so when we are at the fields today.¡± ¡°In regards to the fields, we will need to inspect the livestock. The ¡°night crawler¡± may have retreated to attack the livestock.¡± ¡°Oh no! Yes, we must make our way there now!¡± ¡°During my preparations I illuminated the inside of the holding areas for the livestock but I may have not have done so quick enough.¡± ¡°The we need to make haste to see if there was any damage.¡± ¡°Hold Ivar. ¨¢str¨ªer I leave the organization and information distribution of the females and the young ones.¡± ¡°I got it Mr. Ninety. You can count on me.¡± She says as she raises her right hand up in a fist and heads towards the domiciles. ¡°Come let us go.¡± Ivar and I walk towards the livestock holding area and other male Midengardians start to join us. We inform the males that join us of the situation. Eventually we arrive at the livestock holding area. ¡°Oh no!¡± Ivar exclaims. ¡°It would appear I was a little late but our losses were minimal and only number five units.¡± ¡°Yeah, I suppose the damage could have been worse. Thank you for your vigilance.¡± ¡°It is part of my job to ensure that every Midengardian is able to sustain themselves and is protected before I return to Central Command. I will have the bodies disposed of.¡± We all continue the daily work and await the night time. Before the night begins Ivar and I send the males back to their domiciles to eat and prepare for the patrols tonight. I return to the encampment and join ¨¢str¨ªer who is already waiting for me and dressed in an outfit that is a dark blue in color with a length just above her knees and boots on her feet. It is an outfit that she would be able to move about freely if she were needing to run from the ¡°night crawler¡± if she was attacked. ¡°I assume you were able to explain the situation to the females and the young ones with no issues.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say there weren¡¯t any problems but they were easy enough to take care of.¡± ¡°That is good to hear. We have little time before the night begins. I will be lowering the lighting back to where it was prior to the attack during the previous night.¡± ¡°So, what am I going to do?¡± ¡°You will be joining the males and myself with the patrols. Hold out your hand.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± I place one of the rings in her hand. ¡°A¡­are you proposing to me?¡± ¡°I am proposing that you wear this ring to keep you safe since you do not have the same defense systems I have.¡± ¡°Right, I got it.¡± ¡°You are also free to use your weapon in any situation you feel needs it.¡± The males begin to make their way to the encampment in small groups over the course of a small amount of time. Once they all arrive, I instruct them to ensure they retain the ring on them and to use the manual farming tools as a form of self-defense. Above all I instruct the males that if they encounter the ¡°night crawler¡± to not engage it, enter a lighted area and press the button on the ring to notify me of its position. With my instructions to the males and ¨¢str¨ªer complete, we all begin our patrols. I assume a central location which is near Odin¡¯s Court and deactivate my personal camouflage. My visor is set to low light mode and I look around at the nearby shadowed areas. Ivar is patrolling an area near me and notices the deactivation of my camouflage. ¡°So that is what you really look like.¡± ¡°It is not my true appearance. It is just armor that is fused to the remnants of my organic body. My true appearance was not too dissimilar to that I showed you using my personal camouflage.¡± ¡°I would like to hear your story some time.¡± ¡°I would tell it if I am able to, once my mission is finished.¡± Ivar moves over to another shadow and I broach a previous subject. ¡°You mentioned that you do not wish to use the title of All-Father. I feel there is a title that was used before the original All-Father¡¯s time that was more modest.¡± ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± ¡°It was one used also by the Midengardians on Terra; it is Jarl.¡± ¡°Jarl huh? I think I have heard of that title before. I think the Midheimians used that for their village leaders before Asgard united the continents. Yes, I would be okay using the title of Jarl.¡± A bright flash goes off in the near distance and the position is displayed on my visor. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°You must maintain your patrol. Someone has encountered the ¡°night crawler. I will go to investigate.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± ¡°And you stay vigilant, Jarl Ivar.¡± I leave Jarl Ivar and run toward the place that had the ring go off. Once I reach the place I notice a male standing in the well-lit area. ¡°Are you unharmed?¡± ¡°Oh! Mr. Ninety it¡¯s you. I didn¡¯t recognize you in that armor. Yes, I am okay.¡± ¡°Can you describe what occurred?¡± ¡°I was patrolling these shadow areas when I felt something start to touch the sides of my face. That¡¯s when the ring went off and lit the area. I heard a loud scream and I ran away into the open area.¡± ¡°It is as I deduced. This ¡°night crawler¡± is severely averse to light. Was there anything else you noticed from the situation?¡± ¡°Well, I noticed this area was darker and larger than the other shadowed areas.¡± He points to a shadowed area adjacent to one of the domiciles. ¡°I see. It is approximately the same darkness and size as the other shadowed areas currently. That would mean it has moved on to another location but your keen observation has provided valuable information.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± ¡°Come let me reset your ring. I feel it will be fine for you to stand your distance. The ring will still provide you protection if you encounter this ¡°night crawler¡±.¡± ¡°Thank you Mr. Ninety.¡± I go over to him and raise my right hand and repower his ring. ¡°Let me know if you encounter the ¡°night crawler¡±, understand?¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Once I leave the male, I enter one of the empty domiciles that were vacated due tom the males on patrol and the females clustered with the young ones protecting them. I decide to use my personal camouflage to appear as one of the Midengardian males and then exit the domicile. Once I exit the domicile, I begin to go from shadow to shadow looking for the one that is different than the others. As I get close to the encampment I see a darker spot. It seems to be moving from each of the shadows adjacent to the domiciles. I begin to look as if I am uninterested in my patrol gazing out into the night sky. The shadows around me begin to get darker. My trap has been sprung and I await the ¡°night crawler¡¯s¡± next move. I start to feel something begin to touch my face on both sides. Quickly I reach up and try to grab what I assume are hands while my personal camouflage begins to fade. As I was about to grab the ¡°night crawler¡± the shadows fade to that equal of those around it and then I see the darker shadow move on its own. ¡°That was very good trickery, Vitan but, I am not so easily fooled.¡± ¡°Your lust for power betrayed you and I only acted on that.¡± I speak into the night unknowing the exact location it is at. ¡°It would appear your foolishness to try to capture me has left my real target unguarded.¡± The darker shadow begins to slither towards the encampment area. I draw my weapon and fire at the darker shadow with no noticeable damage. My firing of my weapon was more of a ruse with evaluation of if my weapon could actually incur any damage to the ¡°night crawler¡± or dissipate the shadows. The directionality of the darker shadow is unchanged and continues toward the encampment area. Its destination is obviously the containment and I continue following it to that destination. ¡°You are too late Vitan, I will fulfil my mission for my master.¡± The ¡°night crawler¡± manifests itself into a bipedal being with very few features and I aim my weapon at it. ¡°Do you really want to damage the containment, Vitan.¡± ¡°My aim will be perfect and I will succeed.¡± I notice the shadows move onto the containment and I maintain my stance. ¡°This master of yours, who are they and what do they want?¡± ¡°My master is who gave me life. He knows this planet well and I will release the souls he will need for his plans.¡± With that the ¡°night crawler¡± begins to access the panel. The panel begins to light up in confirmation of the ¡°night crawler¡¯s¡± commands. ¡°HAHAHA I have won, Vitan. I will get these souls for my master!¡± The containment opens up and an antenna appears and begins to emit a light and focuses on the ¡°night crawler¡±. ¡°No! What is this light?!¡± ¡°It is the true trap I had planned for you.¡± ¡°This light! I¡¯m being ripped apart! URGRAAAAAAAHH!!¡± The soul is taken from its body and deposited within the containment. Once the soul is extracted and contained, the body falls to the ground. ¨¢str¨ªer comes running up to the encampment area. ¡°What was that noise? Did you get it?¡± ¡°Indeed, I did.¡± ¡°Ewww, is that what it looked like? No wonder it wanted to hide in the shadows.¡± ¡°It is not likely it was utilizing the shadows due to vanity.¡± Ivar, whether out of curiosity or investigating the commotion, arrives at our encampment. ¡°I came to investigate the scream I heard. Were any other villagers attacked?¡± ¡°There were no other males attacked and the one that was attacked was unharmed. The scream you heard was from the ¡°night crawler¡± as it was defeated.¡± ¡°That is a unique looking¡­being.¡± ¡°It is not one I am familiar with either.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. I mean if Ivar has no recollection of these that thing I sure don¡¯t. I don¡¯t remember anything real like that on earth either.¡± ¡°Was there anything like that in the Terran fictional accounts you may have read?¡± ¡°I mean, probably. There¡¯s always been writers that used people¡¯s fear of dark places to think up monsters to dwell in them.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So, where do you think it came from?¡± Jarl Ivar asks. ¡°It is too early and there are too little clues to decern who this master is that the ¡°night crawler¡± declared he worked for. The statement about the master being someone that is familiar with this planet.¡± ¡°Do you think maybe it¡¯s L?kni X?¡± ¡°That is not very likely. Even if he were to have survived the Raganrog, he would be far too old to be alive.¡± ¡°Yeah but, had all those crazy experiments, made me and the missiles that created the tornados. Maybe he escaped. He did make the escape ships.¡± Jarl Ivar interjects. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I am not familiar with a L?kni X but the person that created the escape vessels and the missiles that made the tornados was the criminal scientist Loki.¡± ¡°LOKI!?¡± ¨¢str¨ªer exclaims. ¡°You know of him?¡± Jarl Ivar asks. ¡°Regardless of ¨¢str¨ªer¡¯s Midengardian memories her Terran memories hold very different tales of Loki.¡± ¡°I see. I still do not know who this L?kni X is that you mentioned.¡± ¡°That is very interesting. His name was somehow substituted for Loki in your historical accounts I had accessed. One could assume that this L?kni X altered the historical records.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¨¢str¨ªer inquires. ¡°That is a mystery we have to investigate when the time is right.¡± ¡°I suppose so.¡± ¡°What impact that have on us in the village?¡± ¡°I will have to see about fortifying the defense of the area around the village so that no more intruders will be able to take us by surprise. It will also be beneficial for when ¨¢str¨ªer and I make our way to Continent Midheim and begin the new village there.¡± ¡°That is a relief. While we have many able-bodied men to help defend the village I don¡¯t know if we could be able to defend ourselves against something like another night crawler attack.¡± ¡°Your concern is valid Jarl Ivar. I believe it may be prudent to about finding ways to aid your own defenses. I will look into that at a later time.¡± ¡°I think I speak for us all that we are thankful for all that you and miss ¨¢str¨ªer have done for us so far and continue to do.¡± ¡°It is my mission to see this world brought back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just here trying to figure out who I am and where my place is in all this.¡± ¡°I will dispose of the body. While I do so, please tell the other males they can stand down and let the females and young ones know that their safety has been assured.¡± ¡°Thank you I will.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Jarl Ivar and ¨¢str¨ªer head off in different directions. I have the encampment mode¡¯s matter converter reclaim the body and convert it to a small rectangular stone that I will use for the fallen Midengardian¡¯s resting place. I then begin documenting my report of the incidents that transpired this night. What is the reasoning for changing Loki¡¯s historical data to reads as L?kni X. I feel that there will be more incidents like this ¡°night crawler¡± in the near future. For that I must prepare not only the Midengardians but myself and ¨¢str¨ªer. Although neither computer nor myself are able to sense these adversaries cleanly I must remain vigilant. With thoughts collected, I return to my planning of Continent Midheim. Epilogue – Un-Finished The light goes off on my monitor. It would appear his mission retrieving the chaosmongers was a failure much like him. His hunger for power was his own undoing. No matter, I have other more capable servants who will not fail me. My plans will rely on continuing the extraction of the chaosmongers on the other continents and obtaining those that the Vitan has secured as well. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.This is my world and I will populate it as I see fit and not how you or your ¡°Central Command¡± deem it so. Yes, my next move will be to make a diversion and interrupt his plans on Midheim. You may have survived thus far Vitan, but I have only just begun to fight. Part 2: The Sagas of Midheim and the Oceans Part 2: The Sagas of Midheim and the Oceans This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Prologue – A Sinner’s Fame There have been two day-night cycles since the creature ¨¢str¨ªer dubbed the ¡°night crawler¡± was defeated. During those two day-night cycles, I have briefly paused my planning of Continent Midheim and have begun researching the Midengardian called Loki who somehow had his name replaced in all the records with that of L?kni X. The records I had recovered from Hall of Urthr and the Verthandi System were provided to the Midengardians in a room in Odin¡¯s Court so that they could have a record of their history and they can add to it going forward. I debated for a short duration as to whether I should correct the records housed in Odin¡¯s Court and ultimately, I chose to leave them uncorrected for the time being. My reasoning is that it is unknown if only Loki¡¯s records were altered. I have created a working copy of the record and have begun to adjust it using the data recovered from Loki¡¯s hidden research facilities on Continent Midheim. Additionally, I have begun interviewing the Midengardians in the village but they could only provide hearsay evidence at most. That is with the exception of a female by the name of Dr¨ªfa (Dreefah). She is currently a female of thirty-nine solar-cycles with bright yellow hair and a very pale complexion. While she has a pale complexion my scan of her indicates no illness that is causing her complexion. The incident occurred when she was a child of five solar-cycles. During my interview with her, she mentioned encountering Loki while on a trip to one of the cities on Continent Midheim called Ager (Ahgther). While on her trip, there was a disease outbreak where in the local government sealed the city to prevent the spread. She was interned during the outbreak and was eventually infected. The disease was terminal at the end of its fourteen day-night cycle incubation period. The cure was created by Loki in the course of eight day-night cycles and was allowed to be put into service upon completion by decree of The Allfather of that time. The team providing the cure to the populace included Loki himself. He also was the one who provided the cure to Dr¨ªfa personally. It was pure coincidence that Dr¨ªfa was housed at the medical facility that Loki chose. While the losses to the populace Ager were many, the cure arrived in enough time to prevent a total annihilation of Ager¡¯s populace. With the remaining populace of Ager saved Loki was called to The Allfather and awarded a symbol befitting his merit and heroism. I reconciled the events that Dr¨ªfa recited to me with my working document. The investigation that The Allfather authorized independent of Loki¡¯s own that he provided as to the origin of the disease, found that it was created by Loki himself and was released by an accidental breach in its containment. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.Following the discovery of Loki¡¯s foul play, he hid himself from all with the occasional appearance as previously noted in my initial scan of the historical data after arriving on Planet Midengard. Once I finish updating my files, I notice ¨¢str¨ªer exiting the vacant domicile near our encampment along with the young ones. She is wearing another odd outfit which consists of a white button-up shirt, a tight black knee-high skirt with black calf high boots while holding a thin metallic stick. In unison the young ones say to ¨¢str¨ªer, ¡°Thank you Kennari ¨¢str¨ªer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, everyone. Now go and play.¡± Once the young ones leave to perform their recreation, ¨¢str¨ªer comes to join me at our encampment. ¡°I assume your instruction of the young ones has been progressing well.¡± ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re taking everything I teach them in.¡± ¡°That is good.¡± ¡°They still have a ton of energy. If I didn¡¯t have the body I have I don¡¯t think I¡¯d be able to keep up with them.¡± ¡°That is the nature of growing young ones.¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna go take a shower and get changed.¡± ¡°Understood, I will continue my¡­¡± ¡°Master, I have had to pause my conversion of Continent Midheim due to the appearance of several life forms.¡± ¡°Understood, provide me with the coordinates and I will go to investigate it shortly.¡± ¡°Transmitting coordinates, master.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It seems that ¡°night crawler¡± was not alone. There have been several lifeforms encountered by the ship on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Let me guess we¡¯re going to investigate them, right?¡± ¡°It would be better for you to stay here.¡± ¡°Absolutely not. I¡¯m going with you.¡± ¡°From my time spent with you I know that once you decide something you are unwavering.¡± ¡°You know it!¡± ¡°I must insist that you do not join me in that ridiculous clothing.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, I¡¯ll go change right now.¡± ¡°I will prepare for our departure.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer goes to the matter converter, creates a new set of clothing and goes into the empty domicile to change. I put the encampment mode back into repair assistance vehicle mode and attach the auxiliary transport vessel. Once I complete those preparations, ¨¢str¨ªer exits the domicile wearing a blue-indigo sturdy pair of pants with a somewhat rigid black jacket which appears to be made of an animal hide of some sort. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m all set.¡± ¡°I have completed my preparations as well.¡± ¡°Right, let¡¯s go!¡± We both assume our places on the repair assistance vehicle and depart for Continent Midheim. Chapter 1 – The Wolf We finish crossing the multicolored bridge and I relay a message to the ship. ¡°Engage protective barrier over Continent Asgard and disable the multicolored bridge.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master. Barrier engaged over Continent Asgard and disabling the multicolored bridge.¡± With my defensive measures engaged, we continue our journey to the coordinates provided by the ship. The journey continues for a long time until ¨¢str¨ªer poses me a quandary. ¡°You know Mr. Ninety, there¡¯s something that has been bothering me for a while now.¡± ¡°What is it that is perplexing you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Loki or L?kni X or whoever he is, was using some names that don¡¯t really belong here in Midengard.¡± ¡°Linguistic entomology is not something I usually regard as being important. Can you provide some examples of the non-native linguistic anomalies you have encountered?¡± ¡°Well, the name that L?kni X gave me, Lucretta is not a name used by any Midengardians. It sounds very much like it came from Earth. Also, that name for the last project we saw was called Polaris.¡± ¡°I see. What of this Polaris?¡± ¡°It was the name for the Pole Star in Latin. It was a name people used in the old times that was used to refer to the North Star.¡± ¡°I see. If my data is correct that is the triple star system in what the Terrans call Ursa Minor.¡± ¡°Yeah, the North Star in the Big Dipper was used by people on earth to navigate by land and sea.¡± ¡°I see those are coincidences that should be investigated.¡± ¡°Those are just two that I can think of off the top of my head.¡± ¡°Once we return to the village, I will have to have you assist me in cross referencing any Terran Linguistic Anomalies with the research notes I recovered.¡± ¡°Sure. Also, that night crawler thing like mentioned before isn¡¯t something from here or Earth. I mean many cultures on Earth have always had mythological creature that lived in the night.¡± ¡°There have been many planets I have attended that had such creatures real or imagined that were of a similar fashion. None that fit the description exactly to what we encountered.¡± ¡°Yeah, me too.¡± ¡°There is still much to investigate. We have seven more continents in addition to the ocean area.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. No need to rush things I guess.¡± ¡°Indeed, but for now we must focus on the task at hand and that is the life forms that the ship detected. I will be increasing to near-sonic speed. The inertial dampeners in your auxiliary transport vessel will decrease the impact of the effects of the speed.¡± ¡°Whoa! This thing can really go.¡± The increased speed and the lack of remnants from the previous society due to the conversion allows us to traverse the largest continent here on Planet Midengard with very little time. The closed environment of the auxiliary transport vessel prevents outside sound to enter but we are able to continue conversing using the transmitter to me directly. ¡°Everything is going by so fast but I can definitely tell everything so different than when we were here last time.¡± ¡°Indeed. Ship was at 90.11% completion when it encountered the life forms.¡± ¡°So close to being done.¡± ¡°The remaining 9.89% would have been finished in approximately one day-night cycle.¡± ¡°Sheesh, way to put you behind schedule.¡± ¡°I am under no time constraints to complete my missions here.¡± ¡°I guess that¡¯s a good thing but how long will it take once the conversion is done?¡± ¡°My asset placement design was at 97.4% before I started to investigate the historical anomalies regarding L?kni X and Loki. Both would be completed at the same time and once the assets start being placed the completion time would be six day-night cycles.¡± ¡°That seems really quick. I can¡¯t wait to see what you came up with.¡± ¡°The conversion process takes the longest because the land needs to be cleansed of all previous societal remnants. Initially my goal was to prepare Planet Midengard for colonization but because the discovery of the tornado of souls caused me to alter my initial goal slightly.¡± ¡°It would make sense that if you came here expecting a planet with no lives on it and planned for that and then suddenly found some that would make you have to rethink your plans.¡± ¡°You understanding of the situation is good but flawed.¡± ¡°Oh? What did I miss?¡± ¡°While the restoral of Planet Midengard was but only one of my goals. My other mission was to locate Environmental Repair Cyborg Mark 88.¡± ¡°What? This is the first I heard of this!¡± ¡°I told Spectral Anomaly Michiru that my secondary mission was at 0.00% when I met her.¡± ¡°Yeah, but you never really said what it was.¡± ¡°You are correct. The details were not provided.¡± ¡°Oh hey! Do think that the thing that sent the night crawler was the one that attacked Mr. Eighty-Eight?¡± ¡°That is a plausible theorem.¡± ¡°Wow! You think that¡¯s really possible?¡± ¡°I have only found signs of Mark 88 on the moon of Munin. After that I have yet to find any sign of his efforts here on Planet Midengard.¡± ¡°I guess that obviously means that he landed on a different continent first.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.¡°That is also a logical deduction.¡± I bring the repair assistance vehicle out of its near-sonic speed to its normal cruising speed. The area contains numerous hills along with the lifeless remnants of what was possibly a wooded or forested area. ¡°We are nearing the location that the ship encountered the life forms.¡± ¡°I hope it¡¯s not more of those creepy night crawlers.¡± ¡°That is unlikely. Mine and the ship¡¯s sensors were unable to detect the ¡°night crawler¡± previously as well there is too much light currently for its liking.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re ri¡­OH MY G¡­!¡± We start to come into view of a very large dark furred quadrupedal beast with eight similar looking smaller beasts wandering by it. ¡°It¡¯s Fenrir!¡± ¡°You know of this beast?¡± ¡°I mean I never met him in person but that is totally how he looks based on the descriptions in Midengardian lore and also in Earth lore. A giant wolf. Big enough to devour a person in his massive jaws.¡± ¡°That is an interesting observation. So, this beast¡¯s legend made its way to Terra as well.¡± ¡°Well yeah but how did he get here and who else knew about him other than me and possibly the villagers?¡± ¡°We are lacking information to investigate that issue further. Do the legends state if the beast has intelligence and can converse normally?¡± ¡°Yeah, the stories told on Earth made it seem like he talked to the ?sir (aysihr) from Asgard.¡± ¡°I see. So, from your knowledge I should be able to converse and possibly reason with it.¡± ¡°Well, yeah, according to the legends. But they could just be stories though.¡± ¡°I am well aware of that probability. If my attempts at parlay are not successful, I am fully prepared for combat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know. What should I do?¡± ¡°I am anticipating that should my parlay fail, combat will ensue so, you will have to be in a safe spot while I fight.¡± ¡°I get it, I¡¯m not really set to back you up especially since I don¡¯t have the armor you have. But what if I¡¯m found?¡± ¡°With the auxiliary transport vessel sealed it should prevent any way for the beasts to detect you by any sensory ability short of visualization. If the smaller beasts find you the enclosure of the auxiliary transport vessel should provide sufficient protection. If the integrity starts to become compromised you can find the appropriate time to activate the ¡°scooter¡± mode and escape.¡± ¡°But the scooter won¡¯t be nearly as fast as your R.A.V. though.¡± ¡°While your ¡°scooter¡± cannot reach the same speeds that my repair assistance vehicle can, you will still be able to out run the smaller beasts.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to know.¡± ¡°Your monitor will allow you see what is transpiring while I parlay with this Fenrir.¡± ¡°Okay, I hope everything goes well.¡± ¡°As do I.¡± I detach the auxiliary transport vessel and set it by a hilly area. The terrain should provide concealment and multiple paths to escape if needed. ¡°Computer, perform a spectral analysis of the large beast and the smaller beasts.¡± ¡°Spectral analysis complete, Master. The large beast is composed of five hundred spectral forms. One hundred are belonging to the citizens the remaining are a combination of various fragmented spectral forms with the primary being a soul of black. The smaller beasts are comprised of normal fragmented spectral forms.¡± That is most interesting. Where were those spectral forms obtained? Logic would dictate they were possibly obtained from one of the other continents. ¡°Computer, I have relayed modifications to the exosuit form¡¯s main weapon.¡± ¡°Modification made, master.¡± I change the repair assistance vehicle into exosuit mode and make my way toward the large beast ¨¢str¨ªer has named Fenrir. While the exosuit form will allow me to increase my size it will not be sufficient to overpower it physically. I begin to make my way toward Fenrir with my hands in the air to appear non-threatening. ¡°I have come to parlay with you.¡± The smaller beasts begin to growl and start to make their way toward me to attack. ¡°HOLD!¡± The loud voice from Fenrir halts the smaller beasts. ¡°WHAT DO YOU WISH TO SAY BEFORE YOUR DEATH?¡± ¡°I have come to understand why you have come to this location?¡± ¡°HAHA! THAT IS ALL YOU ASK BEFORE I TEAR YOU TO SHREDS?¡± ¡°It is what I would like to know.¡± ¡°I HAVE ONLY COME TO THE LAND THAT I AND MY KIN HAVE ONCE OCCUPIED.¡± ¡°I see. So how did you come here?¡± ¡°I AND MY KIN WERE BROUGHT BACK BY OUR MASTER AND PLACED HERE.¡± ¡°And who is this master?¡± ¡°HE IS JUST THE MASTER THAT BROUGHT US BACK AND GAVE US THIS LAND TO LIVE.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, you are impeding my conversion and restoration of Continent Midheim. I will need you and your kin to temporarily relocate to a containment area until the process on Continent Midheim is completed.¡± ¡°YOU SEE WE WERE ALSO PUT HERE TO PREVENT YOU FROM COMPLETING YOUR EFFORTS.¡± With that message, the smaller beasts begin converging on me and I escape into the air. Fenrir reaches up with one of its massive paws and swipes at me as I evade the attack. While my main focus is on Fenrir I see two smaller beasts leave and head towards where ¨¢str¨ªer is at. Chapter 2 – Wolf Knows Where I Am Well, looks like Mr. Ninety couldn¡¯t talk Fenrir into a peaceful solution. I hope he¡¯ll be ok. There¡¯s eight normal sized wolves and Fenrir against him. Kinda unfair if you ask me. It not like I can help really. This A.T.V. isn¡¯t really made to go on the offensive. At least I don¡¯t think it can. It wouldn¡¯t have enough mass to do something like what Mr. Ninety did with his R.A.V. Wait? What¡¯s going on? This is not what I was think of doing¡­or was I? The A.T.V. starts forming around my body but not like what happened with Mr. Ninety. It¡¯s kinda like covering my body like a small piece of armor with lines going down my arms with gloves on my hands. Similar to my arms, lines go down my legs and boots cover the boots I¡¯m already wearing. Oh! There¡¯s a helmet too. I guess this makes sense since the A.T.V. was more focused on keeping me safe. It¡¯d be nice if I still had some way to attack. Of course, as I say that I see two wolves coming around the corner heading my way. What kind of luck is this? I take off running away from them. Wow, I can really move. They are keeping pace with me but not catching up. Wait I should have my gun still. I reach down by my leg and it¡¯s there so I grab it. While still running I fire a few shots at the wolves trying to get them to back off a bit. They dodge my shots and I try to look for a place to hide from them. I got a little more distance between us, but where can I hide? Is that a cave? I know, I can block off the entrance and wait for Mr. Ninety to come get me. Firing a few more shots at the wolves to try to get a little more space between us. I change my direction and head to the cave. Once I make it inside, I see the wolves closing in on the entrance as I raise my gun up and shoot at the area above the opening causing the rocks to come down. The rocks land on one of the wolves killing it but, the other wolf is able to leap through at the last second and is locked in here with me. It¡¯s dark in here but apparently the helmet I¡¯m wearing lets me see in the dark like it was a clear day. The wolf recovers from his landing and begins looking for me. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.I raise my gun at him and try to take careful aim at the wolf as it also prepares to make a leaping attack at me. Just as it makes its leap at me, I fire off two shots. The first shot misses and the second lands on its front right paw. The injured wolf lands on me and reflexively I drop my gun and grab the wolf with both hands as we collapse to the ground. I put both of my hands at its throat to keep it from biting me. Keeping the wolf away from me seems to be effortless. In that case I¡¯ll only need one hand to keep it off me. I keep my left hand on it as I bring my right hand back and punch it with my open hand. The wolf goes flying off me and lands in a dazed state with its injured right paw lifted. This¡­thing has quite a punch. Growling, the wolf begins limping towards me. I reach down to grab for my gun in its holster while keeping my eyes on the wolf. What? It¡¯s not there? I glance down at my feet and it¡¯s there. I guess it¡¯s not far enough away from me to go back into the holster but, I have an idea. Keeping my eyes on the wolf I bring my leg back and kick the gun away from me towards the wolf. The gun goes flying toward the wolf which momentarily distracts it. It disappears just before it reaches the wolf and I reach down to grab the gun that has found its way back into my holster. With the gun in hand the wolf closes in and I let off five shots which make their mark killing the wolf. ¡°Whew!¡± I let out a huge sigh of relief. ¡°Sorry Wolfie but I¡¯m ready to die again.¡± I say as I put my hands together. Guess I just have to wait for Mr. Ninety now. I could just try to blast my way back out but I don¡¯t know if there are any more wolves out there waiting for me. Maybe I should just focus on what I can do here. Well, I need to see how things are going out there with Mr. Ninety. Maybe if I think really hard, I can get the A.T.V. back. As I finish my thought the exoskeleton goes back into the form of the A.T.V. with me in the middle of it once more. Well, I guess all I need to do now is to keep an eye on Mr. Ninety. The monitor lights up and I see Mr. Ninety fighting Fenrir. Chapter 3 – The Killer Wolf I continue to stay airborne but I will need to come down at some point. My first priority should be to pacify the smaller beasts. While keeping my distance from Fenrir, I try to lock on to the smaller beasts and then let loose several sedative shots from my hand weapon. The shots land on five of the six smaller beasts and they fall unconscious. With those five incapacitated I can begin my focus on Fenrir while being able to incapacitate the remaining smaller beast. I make land fall as far away from the remaining smaller beast but facing Fenrir. Fenrir prepares to attack using its massive front appendages as I ready the exosuit¡¯s main weapon¡¯s initial attack. Steadying the long barrel, I let loose my first shot and it lands. ¡°GRRRRRAAAAWWWWRRRRRLLLLL!!¡± Once the shot lands a most curious thing happens. The spectral disruption occurs and the body expels some of its mass. The expelled masses appear to be in the shape of various fauna and persons. A most curious occurrence indeed. My modifications were to only separate the spectral forms from the body so they could be collected after the battle was complete. I must continue this assault to see if I can continue reducing Fenrir¡¯s mass and release the imprisoned spectral forms. After recoiling from my initial attack Fenrir is able to ready a counterattack using his front appendage. I begin my evasion but the smaller beast comes full speed towards me and provides a distraction due to my preoccupation with the result of the initial shot. Fenrir¡¯s counterattack lands and sends me hurtling away from Fenrir. The smaller beast changes direction to follow my trajectory. Prior to my impact with the ground, I stabilize the exosuit and ready my legs for landing. Fenrir also begins his pursuit and quickly closes the distance between us. I land planting my feet firmly on the ground and prepare my counteroffensive. The smaller beast closes in on me and I am able to incapacitate it with my hand weapon. With the smaller beast no longer a threat, I begin to ready my modified main weapon as Fenrir closes in. Just as Fenrir brings his paw back to attack, I fire my second shot. ¡°GRRRRRAAAAWWWWRRRRRLLLLL!!¡± More masses are expelled and Fenrir is reduced in size. While Fenrir recoils and yells from the shot his tail swings back toward me. The tail sweeps my legs out from under me and I land face first to the ground. My main weapon goes flying from me. Fenrir recovers just enough to bring his left paw down on me, pinning me under his still massive paw. ¡°VITAN, YOUR EFFORTS WERE VALIANT BUT, THIS IS WHERE YOU MEET YOUR END.¡± Fenrir¡¯s massive paw applies more pressure on me. ¡°Exosuit integrity is down to seventy-two percent and dropping and primary armor integrity is down to ninety percent, master.¡± Fenrir begins exerting more pressure as I reach by my leg and I am able to grab my hand weapon. ¡°Exosuit integrity is down to fifty percent and primary armor integrity is down to eighty-six percent, master.¡± I change the form into a piercing weapon and am able to plunge it into the paw. ¡°RAWRRRRR!!!¡± The pressure lets off a little more but I am still pinned down. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!With the piercing weapon form still embedded into the paw I convert the hand weapon back to firing mode and let loose five shots into the wound I made. ¡°GRRRAAAWWWRRRR!!!¡± With that volley of shots, Fenrir finally retracts his paw in pain from me. I ignite my thrusters on my exosuit and skid across the ground briefly before I am able to upright myself and enter the sky. The distance from Fenrir enables the main weapon to rematerialize back on my exosuit. I make landfall with some distance from Fenrir and fire off a shot from the main weapon. ¡°GRRRRRAAAAWWWWRRRRRLLLLL!!¡± Again, more masses are expelled which reduces his size as well. There is still considerable distance between myself and Fenrir so I fire another shot from my main weapon. ¡°GRRRRRAAAAWWWWRRRRRLLLLL!!¡± More masses are again expelled but this time the size reduction is extensive reducing him to that of a slightly larger version of the smaller beasts. ¡°You think that just because I am no longer same size, I was when we first that you have won.¡± ¡°I never take my adversaries lightly. That does not change with regards to my battle with you.¡± ¡°That is good to hear. I will not relent.¡± After finishing his statement, he lunges at me. I drop my main weapon and prepare to receive Fenrir. Fenrir lands on me and tries to bite at my neck. I reach up and incapacitate his head by pinning it to my chest. ¡°Computer, I need you to analyze this enemy in my grasp to determine if there are any other spectral forms housed within.¡± ¡°Analysis complete master. Including the primary Soul of Black there is still twenty-seven remaining spectral forms housed within the entity.¡± Still a few more to release. Fenrir¡¯s head wiggles around until it gets a little bit of freedom and clamps down on my arm. I bring my arm back and punch him off me. We both recover and ready an attacking stance opposite one another. I jump into the air and gain more altitude as Fenrir tried to attack me. The distance in the air allows me to distance myself from my main weapon and it reappears in my hands. Steading myself in flight I ready another shot. It should take one or two more shots to release the remaining spectral forms. Steadying myself I fire my shot and it reaches its target again. ¡°AWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!¡± It appears the final masses have been expelled from Fenrir but I should verify with computer first. ¡°Computer, confirm the remaining spectral forms within the beast you previously scanned.¡± ¡°There is only one Soul of Black remaining within that beast, master. All others have been expelled.¡± Once I have received confirmation from computer, Fenrir regains his composure and attacks with a much greater ferocity than before. Just as he leaps at me, I flip the switch on my exosuit¡¯s main weapon and out comes four containment array orbs. They form around Fenrir and trap him in a field to prevent his movement. ¡°Vitan, if I ever get free again you will regret not killing me.¡± ¡°Oh, your fate will be much worse than death. You will be joining the other Souls of Black that will be sent for destruction.¡± As I complete my words to him, I bring out my main hand weapon and fire a shot to sedate him. Chapter 4 – Lock Up the Wolves ¡°Computer, set up a secure area the farthest away from the current settlement on Continent Asgard. Ensure the area is set to stasis. I will be collecting the expelled lifeforms for transfer to that area.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± ¡°There will also have to be an area for me to process the Soul of Black that has been captured.¡± ¡°Understood, master.¡± Now then, the next step is to retrieve ¨¢str¨ªer. I make my way to where I had left her but her and her auxiliary transport vessel are not there. ¡°Computer, locate the auxiliary transport vessel and send the location to my visor.¡± ¡°Auxiliary transport vessel located, master. Location has been provided to your display visor.¡± The location is close. Looking down at the ground I see a set of footsteps that are larger than ¨¢str¨ªer¡¯s and two sets of tracks belonging to the smaller beasts. The distance between each footfall suggests a chase at high speeds. I review the tracks¡¯ trajectory with the location of the auxiliary transport vessel. The two appear to align. I offload the exosuit from my body and convert it back into repair assistance vehicle mode and head to the location on my visor. After a short trip I arrive at what appears to be a collapsed cave entrance. The tracks end at the entrance as well. I begin to move the rubble from the entrance and come across the remains of one of the smaller beasts. That accounts for one of them. I surmise I will find the other inside. The remaining rubble is cleared away and I enter the cave. ¡°I knew you¡¯d find me Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°Indeed, I did. I see you had trouble but were able to take care of the situation.¡± ¡°Y¡­yeah. I was watching you with Fenrir and then the A.T.V. started to change and then it turned into some sort of skin suit.¡± ¡°That is most curious. It seems that your auxiliary transport vessel has formed a bond with you somehow.¡± ¡°Is that really possible?¡± ¡°It could be that since you are a prototypical version of the Vitan that it responded as if you were one of us.¡± ¡°That sounds cool but, I don¡¯t want to accidentally cause a problem.¡± ¡°If it is contained to your auxiliary transport vessel then I see no issue. Nonetheless I will investigate that abnormality once we return.¡± ¡°Oh, so were heading back now?¡± ¡°We will return once I have contained the masses that were expelled from Fenrir.¡± ¡°Yeah, that was crazy to watch. What were those things?¡± ¡°They were the spectral forms that were coexisting within Fenrir and once I was able to extract them, they oddly took a part of his body with it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s weird. Did you expect that to happen?¡± ¡°No. This was the first time encountering this phenomenon.¡± ¡°Well, I guess there¡¯s no point waiting here talking about it when you still have stuff to do, right?¡± ¡°True. Now that I have found you, we can return and contain the masses as well as the sedated smaller beasts.¡± ¡°Oh, and you caught Fenrir too. Although he¡¯s no bigger than the other wolves.¡± ¡°Master, I am sorry to intrude but the secure area you requested is complete.¡± ¡°Understood. Prepare a containment transport and place it near the already contained black beast.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Let us be off. I have computer sending the containment vessel to transfer everything to a segregated area of Continent Asgard so computer can continue the terraforming of Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go already. We can¡¯t keep computer waiting.¡± I attach the auxiliary transport vessel to my repair assistance vehicle and we return toward the battle site. ¡°Master, the containment vessel has arrived at the location you commanded.¡± ¡°Understood. We are currently proceeding to that location. I will notify you when we are finished loading the mases for suspension.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± Once we arrive at the battle site, the expelled masses have already begun to take the shape of a large variety of fauna to include those of the natives in this area. ¡°Look Mr. Ninety! It¡¯s a ÈËÀÇ! I mean a wolf-person.¡± The ¡°wolf-person¡±, as ¨¢str¨ªer called the lifeform, is similar in appearance to most bipedal humanoids but have ears on the top of their heads and the hair that is on their head extends to their backs with large amounts of hair on the hands and feet. While the basic form has been developed the features are still not finalized. ¡°That is most curious.¡± ¡°Could they be from another world? Did you meet any other wolf-people on one of the planets you visited?¡± ¡°I have not. There are accounts of two planets that have such lifeforms.¡± ¡°So maybe they are from there?¡± ¡°There is not enough data to confirm your theory. I will perform a scan on a sample later but for now we will need to gather all the masses into the containment vessel.¡± ¡°Got it Mr. Ninety.¡± We both utilize our exosuit modes and begin loading the lifeforms into the containment vessel. As we do so, I take account of the number of ¡°wolf-people¡±, as ¨¢str¨ªer called them, that have formed from the masses. By current count there have been seventeen that we have loaded. As time passes, we continue loading the masses and I load the six sedated smaller beasts along with the contained Fenrir who will be disposed of once we return. ¡°That should be all of them, right?¡± ¡°It would appear so. I will have computer scan the area in case there is an errant mass that we missed.¡± ¡°Yeah, we don¡¯t wanna miss anyone.¡± ¡°Computer scan the area for any unaccounted-for lifeforms.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± I prepare to close the containment vessel when computer responds. ¡°Master, there is a lifeform close to your location. I have the location sent to your visor.¡± ¡°Understood. Proceeding to the location now.¡± I start to walk in the direction that computer sent to my visor. ¡°Was there one we missed?¡± ¡°It would appear so.¡± I draw my main weapon and set it to sedative mode. ¨¢str¨ªer follows behind me as arrive at the location. ¡°OH! It¡¯s a little wolf-girl.¡± Indeed, it is a child of a wolf-person although the child¡¯s appearance is complete, unlike the wolf-people we loaded into the containment vessel. She is peering from behind a boulder with a sense of fright. ¡°She¡¯s scared. She can¡¯t be more than twelve years old. I think you can put the gun away.¡± I agree with ¨¢str¨ªer¡¯s assessment and holster my main weapon. ¡°It¡¯s okay, we won¡¯t hurt you.¡± The wolf-girl remains apprehensive toward us. ¨¢str¨ªer turns to me and says, ¡°Can you let me handle this for you?¡± ¡°I feel that may be the right course of action. I will stay back and observe in the event of unexpected issues.¡± ¡°Thanks, I won¡¯t let you down.¡± I retreat a fair distance and observe the situation prepared to assist ¨¢str¨ªer if she needs it. ¨¢str¨ªer crouches down near the boulder. ¡°There, there little one. You¡¯re safe. We only want to help you.¡± The wolf-girl appears to have released some of her apprehension. ¡°Are you able to speak? Do you have a name?¡± ¡°Ahhh ooh ehbu.¡± The girl tries to mimic ¨¢str¨ªer¡¯s question. ¡°It¡¯s okay you don¡¯t have to answer me if you can¡¯t.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.The wolf-girl¡¯s head tilts as she tries to think of a reply. ¡°I know. Are you hungry? Let¡¯s get you something to eat, okay?¡± The ears on the wolf-girl¡¯s head stand up straight at the mention of food. ¡°Oh! Looks like you are hungry. Come on let¡¯s get you something to eat.¡± The wolf-girl comes from behind the boulder slowly and cautiously walking towards ¨¢str¨ªer. ¡°Ka-l-t.¡± The wolf-girl slowly says as she brings her arms together to embrace her chest and shivers. ¡°Oh! Are you cold? I mean of course you are, you¡¯re naked. Here you wear this. It¡¯s a little bit too big for you but it should keep you warm for the time being.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer takes her black animal hide jacket off and places it over the wolf-girl¡¯s shoulders. The jacket is indeed oversized for the wolf-girl¡¯s body as the bottom extends to her knees and the sleeves are almost dragging on the ground. ¡°Mr. Ninety can you get some food for her?¡± I walk back to my repair assistance vehicle, place it into encampment mode and have the matter converter produce a bowl of white stew with various meats and vegetables. The duo arrives at the encampment mode as I slowly turn around and crouch down. I offer the stew to the wolf-girl while holding the bowl in my right hand. The wolf-girl¡¯s face lights up. ¡°Ma-t!¡± I place the spoon in the bowl and set it on the ground in front of her. Quickly she grabs the bowl and begins eating it furiously. ¡°She really was hungry. Haha.¡± ¡°Indeed. I will finish up out preparations.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not gonna put her in with the others, are you?¡± ¡°The thought had entered my mind but she is small enough to join you in your auxiliary transport vessel.¡± ¡°Really?! That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll need to get her some real clothes. So, I¡¯ll need the matter converter for a little while.¡± ¡°Understood. Do what you must.¡± I return to the containment vessel and secure the opening. ¡°Computer, the containment vessel is set for departure to the secure area.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± The containment vessel departs and I turn to return to the encampment mode. ¡°We are ready to go Mr. Ninety.¡± ¨¢str¨ªer and the wolf-girl await my return. The wolf-girl is now fully clothed. She is wearing a pullover blouse top with a buttoned sweater on top of it. On her lower half is a pleated skirt with her legs covered with leggings and a pair of shoes on her feet. ¡°It seems you were able to find suitable clothing for her.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s so cute, isn¡¯t it? It was something from Michiru¡¯s memory.¡± ¡°It looks sufficient to provide modesty and warmth.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s cute, right?¡± ¡°S-?-tt.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re very cute.¡± ¡°If you deem it so. We should be off.¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re cute. Come on let¡¯s go little one.¡± I change the encampment mode back into repair assistance vehicle mode. ¨¢str¨ªer boards the auxiliary transport vessel. The wolf-girl looks at ¨¢str¨ªer quizzically as she tilts her head. ¡°It¡¯s ok little one. This is safe. We¡¯re gonna go on a trip, okay?¡± The wolf-girl starts to peer into the auxiliary transport vessel still unfamiliar with what is going on. ¨¢str¨ªer reaches out to pick her up and bring her inside setting her on her lap. With the wolf-girl secured inside I set our course back to the settlement. The wolf-girl is entranced at the scenery as we make our way toward the multicolored bridge. ¡°Fal-leg!¡± The wolf-girl slowly exclaims. ¡°Yes, the rainbow bridge is pretty, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Computer, once we cross the multicolored bridge, disable it and continue conversion of Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± We cross the bridge and drive past the settlement. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Our destination is the secure area where the containment vessel is moored.¡± ¡°But I thought they¡¯re already contained. What else is there to do?¡± ¡°While the lifeforms are in stasis and will be in the secure area, they will need to be allowed to continue what ever formation the lifeforms are becoming before their repatriation to Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°I see. So, you¡¯re gonna see what they become?¡± ¡°While the majority of the smaller lifeforms have already manifested their final form, the larger ones have yet to and will need to be observed to determine where they will need to be placed.¡± ¡°Where they will be placed?¡± ¡°Each lifeform will need to be placed in their proper habitat according to their species. As such I will need to readjust the plans I had made in regards to the placement of assets on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Oh! I just had a thought if it¡¯s not too much of a problem.¡± ¡°What is your request?¡± ¡°Well, I thought if you¡¯re looking to make an area for the wolf-people could you rebuild Yggdrasill?¡± ¡°Yggdrasill? Oh, you mean the massive ash tree.¡± ¡°Yeah, I remember seeing the remnants of it in Michiru¡¯s memories when she met you.¡± ¡°I see, but why would you want that for the wolf-people?¡± ¡°Well, I figured the area around Yggdrasill would also be a forested area and they can be free to do what they want there.¡± ¡°That is an intriguing idea. I will take your input under advisement.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s the best I can hope for, I guess. Right, Fenris?¡± The wolf-girl looks up at ¨¢str¨ªer confused. ¡°I see you have determined a name for this child.¡± ¡°Yeah, I figured since she was sorta Fenrir¡¯s child a female version of Fenrir is Fenris.¡± ¡°I will defer to your naming convention as long as the wolf-child is satisfied with the name.¡± ¡°You like your name, Fenris?¡± ¡°Me¡­Fenris?¡± ¡°If you like it yes you can be Fenris.¡± ¡°Me Fenris!¡± ¡°Yes, you are!¡± ¡°It appears she agrees with your name for her. It also appears her speech is starting to normalize as well.¡± She points to ¨¢str¨ªer and states, ¡°¨¢str¨ªer!¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Fenris then points to me and says, ¡°Leader!¡± We arrive at our destination but, the conversation continues. ¡°No, that¡¯s Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°Leader!¡± ¡°I think I understand what she is determining. Since I was the one to defeat Fenrir who would be the leader of her pack, I would be by default her new leader.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re Mr. Ninety.¡± ¡°That is but a name you call me and Leader is what she has decided to call me.¡± ¡°I guess if you¡¯re ok with it.¡± ¡°Again, it is not an issue for me what I am called. I have missions to complete. Now, I will need to see to the lifeforms in the secure area. Will you be able to keep Fenris occupied while I am busy?¡± ¡°You can count on me Mr. Ninety.¡± I detach the auxiliary transport vessel and convert the repair assistance vehicle into exosuit mode and enter the secure area to begin unloading the containment vessel. As I unload each occupant from the containment vessel I place them on containment bedding. Each one is designed to keep each occupant sedated and monitor their manifestation. The beasts that have completed manifestation I have placed in a stasis container pending their repatriation on Continent Midheim. ¡°Computer, relocate the containment to this location outside of the secure area so that I can dispose of the Soul of Black and continue monitoring the status of those that have not fully formed.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± Chapter 5 – Walk on Water I have finished all the arrangements for the lifeforms¡¯ stasis pending repatriation to Continent Midheim. Just as I am about to terminate Fenrir¡¯s body and store his Soul of Black, I receive a message from computer. ¡°Master, there is a large lifeform similar in configuration to the one that caused the conversion stoppage on Continent Midheim that is heading toward Continent Asgard.¡± ¡°Understood. What is the bearing?¡± ¡°The projected bearing is towards your location at the secure area, master.¡± ¡°I see. I will intercept the disturbance. Continue your conversion and then implement the changes to the asset placement upon completion of conversion.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Ninety?¡± ¡°It would appear that Fenrir was not the only one of its kind.¡± ¡°Is it another wolf?¡± ¡°That would be unlikely as the new beast is coming toward us by sea.¡± ¡°What do you want us to do?¡± ¡°While the protective barrier on Continent Asgard should prevent the beast from attack, that is not without its own uncertainty as the ¡°nightcrawler¡± was able to enter. As such, I will need you to take Fenris and go to the village to warn Jarl Ivar and villagers of the possible attack and assume a defensive position, while I go to intercept it.¡± I detach the auxiliary transport vessel and then convert the repair assistance vehicle into exosuit mode. ¡°You should be able to alter the design to allow both you and Fenris to ride together so that you can reach the village in minimal time.¡± ¡°I got it, Mr. Ninety. Be careful, okay?¡± ¡°I will exercise the appropriate amount of caution as the situation dictates.¡± ¡°Take care, leader.¡± ¡°And you both maintain caution as well.¡± I make my way to the nearest edge of Continent Midheim and glance the farthest distance I can with my visor. The disturbance is that similar to a Tornado of Souls but, I see a large pointed protrusion in the middle. ¡°Computer, I have relayed a nautical modification to my repair assistance vehicle, send the additional items to my location.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± The modification arrives and I add it to my exosuit form. Once the modification is complete, I step off the edge of Continent Asgard and provide a reverse thrust to slow my decent. I make it to the water¡¯s surface and begin my walk as the thrusters stabilize my motion on the water as I intercept the beast. Once I get closer to the beast, I confirm that the beast is indeed surrounded by a Tornado of Souls. My records do not indicate that there was any civilization that dwelled underwater. Theoretically this should contain the various fragmented spectral forms belonging to the sea life native to Planet Midengard. ¡°Computer, I suspect that the Tornado of Souls housing the beast is that of the fragmented spectral forms belonging to the sea life. Perform spectral analysis of the Tornado of Souls to confirm theory.¡± If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Performing spectral analysis, Master. Your theory is correct. The fragmented spectral forms belong to the sea life that once populated the oceans on Planet Midengard. Master, they are providing assistance to the large beast¡¯s movement and allowing it to maintain its size.¡± ¡°Was there any record matching the description of the beast in the Midengardian records?¡± ¡°The beast¡¯s description matches that of the ancient beast Kraken, master. The beast was described as a monstrous sea creature called a squid, master. ¡° One could posit that whoever this L?kni X is they have knowledge of Planet Midengard¡¯s history and mythology. I continue my walk until, the two of us arrive together and I initiate a parlay. One can hope that like Fenrir, this Kraken is capable of parlance and is capable of speech. ¡°Am I led to believe that you are a reincarnation of the mythic beast the Midengardians called Kraken?¡± ¡°YOU DO WELL TO KNOW THE NAME OF YOUR EXECUTIONER.¡± The beast¡¯s replies to me with a loud voice similar in intensity as Fenrir¡¯s but the intonation comes out with a warble to its speech most likely due to the pliable nature of its body. ¡°Kraken, I cannot allow you to attack the settlement. Their lives are under my protection.¡± ¡°THIS WORLD DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU, VITAN.¡± ¡°I make no desire to make Planet Midengard mine. It belongs to the natives that were in put into stasis by Loki.¡± ¡°THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE WRONG, VITAN. THIS WORLD BELONGS TO OUR MASTER WHO WILL REBUILD THIS WORLD FOR US!¡± Upon completion of its statement something exits the surface of the water which appears to be one of the Kraken¡¯s tendrils. It wraps around the leg of my exosuit and drags me underwater. Just before I am dragged full underwater, I activate the exosuit¡¯s modification. It seals up the entire exosuit to prevent water from entering it and supplying me with breathable air. It is a submersion mode I used a few times before on other planets. I activate my boosters full force to fight against Kraken¡¯s pull but, the force that Kraken has is too much for my boosters and I am pulled completely under. The exosuit¡¯s main weapon, attached to my back, houses a blade in the stock so I pull the blade out which is small but, I press the button by the handle and it extends out. I use my strength to swing the blade in the water to cut the tendril from my leg. My blade cuts it but not completely. The shock of pain to Kraken from the cut causes it to retract the wounded tendril but begins sending three of its other tendrils toward me. As I am freed, I exit exosuit mode and convert the repair assistance vehicle into a modified version meant for ocean exploration. I escape at full speed looking for a place to regroup and reconfigure the submersion mode so that I can extract the spectral forms. Chapter 6 – Dive, Dive, Dive! While I am fleeing at full speed, Kraken is doing well to keep its speed with mine. I decide to test the limits of Kraken¡¯s ability to follow me deeper towards the ocean¡¯s floor. Kraken exit¡¯s the Tornado of Souls¡¯ tail and pursues me. That is odd. The Tornado of Souls was supposed to be providing support to Kraken. ¡°Computer, how is Kraken able to detach from the Tornado of Souls?¡± ¡°Master, Kraken is still connected via small spectral threads. The threads are near its limit.¡± I see. So, my plan to retreat to the ocean floor was a wise one. ¡°Master, it seems my analysis was in error.¡± ¡°What was your error?¡± ¡°My error was that the threads are supporting Kraken. The threads are actually spectral syphons that are collecting the spectral forms within the Tornado of Souls, master. I sincerely apologize for the error and have proceeded to initiate a full diagnostic as a result, master.¡± ¡°Computer, cancel diagnostic and send another spectral containment unit to my location. I will be attempting to extract the spectral forms in opposition Kraken¡¯s extraction efforts.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± Once I finish my command and make some distance from Kraken, it disengages from the Tornado of Souls and increases its pursuit of me. I continue my decent while looking for a place to conceal myself so that I can prepare my attack. Kraken pursues me while picking up speed. My time is limited as the speed from Kraken increases. I notice a rocky formation and set my trajectory toward it. Kraken continues to close its distance between us. To try to slow it down I fire a couple of submersible concussion missiles at it. Even if they do not impact or are dodged, the missiles should provide a distraction long enough to allow me to enter the rocky formation and find concealment. To my surprise, Kraken does not dodge and takes the full impact of the missiles. As I reach the ocean¡¯s floor and make for the rocky formation, I glance back to survey the damage that Kraken took. It appears stunned which is the opportunity I need to mount my assault once I can prepare. Once I duck behind the rocky formation, I reconfigure my repair assistance vehicle back into the modified exosuit and land with my feet on the oceans floor. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. I prepare the exosuit¡¯s main weapon. Assuming the outcome will be similar to my fight with Fenrir I will need to have some sort of collection device to collect and masses and spectral forms. ¡°Computer, I have sent you a plan for a collection device. Send it down to the ocean¡¯s floor near our location taking care to not be near Kraken.¡± ¡°Plan received and command confirmed, Master.¡± Now to mount my offensive. I make my way from behind the rocky formation and am immediately greeted by Kraken up close. Reflexively I raise the main weapon and try to fire off a shot but, I am dragged back toward the rocks and slam into them. The distraction of seeing Kraken allowed it to use its tendrils to catch me off guard and pin me against the rocks. I try to push away from the grip but, the pressure gets tighter. Computer relays my vitals. ¡°Exosuit integrity is rapidly approaching fifty percent and primary armor integrity is down to ninety percent, master. Exosuit integrity is breached and water is beginning to enter.¡± ¡°Computer, I will need to create back pressure to repel the water entering and then I will initiate an electro-barrier once the purge is complete.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± The back pressure commences and the grip from Kraken stabilizes. ¡°Master, all water has been expelled.¡± ¡°Understood. Commencing electro-barrier.¡± The electro-barrier is a part of the modifications to the exosuit for oceanic traversal. I activate the electro-barrier and electricity coalesces on the outer shell of the exosuit. Currently the electro-barrier seems to have no effect. I begin to increase the intensity and finally Kraken loosens its grip and slip its tendrils and fall down to the ground and lay on the ocean floor. Quickly turning over I ready the main weapon and fire a shot at the stunned Kraken. Much like my fight with Fenrir masses are expelled from the main body. The masses with their buoyancy float toward the surface of the ocean. Kraken reels from the pain and a black cloud is manifest in water around us. Chapter 7 – Run Silent, Run Deep Activating my sensors, I do not detect Kraken in the immediate area. I activate my boosters and right myself, standing with my feet on the ocean floor. Continuing my scan of the area with my sensors, it would seem Kraken released the cloud to escape and prevent any further damage. ¡°Computer, are you able to determine the location of Kraken?¡± ¡°A scan of the oceans does not reveal a location of Kraken, master.¡± Interesting. It would appear that Kraken has some sort of cloaking or stealth ability. I jump up and use my boosters to navigate out of the black cloud. Visually tracking the area to see if Kraken is trying to take me by surprise. ¡°Computer, I have uploaded modifications to the submersible mode of the repair assistance vehicle. Implement them as immediately.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± Just after my transmission finishes four tendrils exit the black cloud and try to grab me. Activating my thrusters I initiate evasive maneuvers but one of the tendrils grabs my leg and slams me on to the ocean floor and then releases my leg to conceal itself again. Once again, I stand up on the ocean floor as computer messages me. ¡°Master, your modifications are complete.¡± ¡°Understood. I will need to configure for a stealth setting. Add that to the previously uploaded setting.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± I get some distance away from the cloud waiting for the configuration changes are complete. As I get some distance away from the cloud it begins to increase in size. It would seem that the cloud¡¯s properties are what is allowing Kraken¡¯s stealth settings. ¡°Master, your configuration adjustment has been completed.¡± ¡°Understood. Continue your efforts on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± I change the repair assistance vehicle back in submersible mode and enter the black cloud. The main weapon is now mounted on the bottom with the opening protruding in the front. I activate stealth mode once I fully enter the black cloud. Visibility is limited to just barely in front of the submersible mode¡¯s front visual dome. As I finish my visual observations, I activate my sensors to pull up the location of Kraken on my Heads-up display on the visual dome. Suddenly four tendrils come for me and bombard the submersible mode. ¡°Hull integrity at forty-seven percent.¡± I go full reverse out of the cloud and allow the Vitran particles to regain the submersible mode¡¯s integrity. Kraken appears to have a way of detecting my sensors. I will have to forgo any of the sensors on the submersible mode. Once the integrity is regained, I reenter the cloud and begin the search for Kraken. I slowly make my way around the cloud when I begin to notice something white. Firing a shot at it, I quickly change my location to prevent Kraken from knowing my position. I watch the shot impact and the place of impact recoils into the darkness. Whether it was the main body or a tendril that was impacted I do not know but I must continue my assault and evasion techniques. The recoil caused by Kraken creates a back pressure in the water allowing me to move undetected. I decide to stop my engines and let the artificial current take me where it wants as I continue to survey the area. Keeping the submersible mode powerless I notice the end of one of Kraken¡¯s tendrils. I hold off my attack and trace the possible route of the tendril to the body. Once I have determined the approximate location of the body, I move the main weapon and fire another shot. The current picks up as I assume it lands. The submersible mode follows the currents once again. I continue surveying the area for another opportunity to attack when something hits the hull of the submersible mode. Quickly, tendrils start to grab the submersible mode and begin to squeeze. I turn the main gun in the possible direction of the main body and fire two shots. Kraken loosens its grip from the submersible mode and I restart the engines to continue the assault. I assume the shots land as the current increases. The dark cloud begins to dissipate and the visibility slowly increases. Kraken now at less than half the size than it was originally keeps trying to expel more black liquid to mask its presence but its size reduces the amount expelled and dissipates into the water with little impact. I fire off another shot which Kraken is able to dodge and comes toward me at full force, its tendrils reaching for the submersible mode. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. I restore all power and sensors to the submersible mode and take evasive measures so I can focus my shots. It¡¯s smaller size and speed allows makes getting a shot off successfully more difficult. I launch a stun charge to try to slow Kraken down so I can better connect with my shots. Kraken uses one of his tendrils to bat the stun charge away before its payload can connect. Even though the stun charge didn¡¯t land it should have caused enough of a distraction so I can get another shot or two off that can land. As the stun charge explodes harmlessly away from Kraken, I follow up the stun charge with a shot to Kraken¡¯s center mass. It lands and much like Fenrir when we fought masses are expelled which float upward towards where the tornado of souls is still at. Kraken¡¯s size is also reduced so that one final shot should be the last. Reeling from the shot, Kraken decides to call off its attack and begins to flee towards the tornado of souls. I increase the speed of the submersible mode and follow pursuit while trying to plan my next shot. My speed is enabling me for shorten the distance between us. Kraken tries to speed up and weave to try to shake me but it appears that it has reached its limit. Before Kraken is able to reach the tail of the tornado of souls, I catch up and change back into exosuit mode and use my arms to grab the tendrils in a bunch. Kraken tries to break free and secrete more of its dark cloud to no avail. I bring us both back down to the ocean floor and send a message to computer. ¡°Computer, I need two containment units at my location. A larger one will be for the masses and a smaller one for Kraken.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master. Both containment units are enroute.¡± I continue to grasp Kraken tightly as the containment units arrive at my location. Walking over to the smaller containment unit Kraken continues to struggle to unsuccessfully break my grasp. Grasping Kraken with both of the exosuits hands, I reach out touching Kraken to the surface of the containment unit. The containment unit activates absorbing it into the stasis area inside. With Kraken contained I open a hole on the containment unit and fire one more shot to release the remaining souls trapped within Kraken. The shot connects and the masses hover in stasis along with the now smaller Kraken. I reach into the containment unit and grab each mass and transfer them into the larger containment unit. Once masses are transferred, I close up the hole to leave Kraken in stasis so I can transfer it to the containment back on Continent Asgard. ¡°Computer, recall the smaller containment unit and bring it outside the secure area on Continent Asgard.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master.¡± The smaller containment unit with Kraken exits the ocean and goes to its destination. I go up to the tornado of souls to survey the situation. The masses are swirling intermingled with the spectral forms. ¡°Computer, I will need the modification I used to extract the souls on Continent Midheim.¡± ¡°Command confirmed, master. Enhancement modification module enroute.¡± I intercept the modification and combine it with my exosuit mode. ¡°Computer, I am about to begin the spectral extraction but I will need a secure area near the containment unit for the masses to continue their formation. ¡°Command confirmed, master¡± Once the modification is finished, I begin the extraction of the spectral forms. After some time, I finish collecting the spectral forms I switch the collector¡¯s configuration and then begin collecting the masses and place them in the secure area one by one. The forms have still not taken their final shape but has bipedal appendages not too dissimilar to the situation with the masses from Fenrir. I will have to leave the masses secured until I can have computer create the initial stages of vegetation and basal life forms for sustenance. The tornado of souls did not have any souls of black contained within. One theory could be that Kraken was the one belonging to this tornado of souls. I place the final mass inside the secure area. My time underwater is finished but, I place proximity sensors on both the containment unit and the secure area. As I did with the tornado of souls on Continent Midheim, I begin a reverse centrifugal force and the remnants of the tornado having already lost some of its power begins to dissipate. With all of my tasks completed here I head for the surface and walk along the surface of the ocean back to Continent Asgard.