《A Mailman as a Superhero》


 1. The Mailman gets a powerup

    Rene Wilder is a Mailman. Everyone else that''s politically correct will say he''s a Letter Carrier.

    Rene walked the ice and snow covered street quickly. Ice was forming over his navy blue balaclava face mask as he slowly blew another breath through the mask.

    The temperature at ten in the morning was minus twenty-five with a windchill twelve degrees Celsius lower.

    Rene had recently celebrated his forty-second birthday and his tenth as a letter Carrier. He was in good shape for a man his age who engaged in strenuous exercise five days a week. The temperature was taking its toll. It had been hovering around minus twenty for close to a month with no relief in sight. They called it a polar vortex. ''Welcome to the twenty-first century, everyone. Global warming my ass.'' he hurried along at a brisk but steady pace. The faster he went the more heat he generated. The trick was to maintain a steady pace until he delivered the entire route over a five hour period.

    "Thank God two Bertona is over and done with. Who the hell decided that putting the mailbox on the second floor was a good idea." After delivering over fifty pounds of mail to the thirty-eight unit condos Rene was ready for an easier pace.

    He walked quickly to the next street. On the left side of the street a wall. On the right side, there was a large dog park. Rene could see a couple of squirrels scrounging for food. They knew when the dogs would come to chase away.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

    A flash of light in the sky blinded him for a few seconds before he recovered. "What the Hell was that!" He yelled while he tried to clear his vision. He stumbled about for a minute until he hit a snowbank and fell to his knees.

    He stopped struggling. He was somewhat safe off the road. He slowly recovered his vision. "What''s going on?" The squirrels were the only ones who heard and they didn''t care.

    He felt better a lot quicker than he thought he would. A burst of energy went through every cell in his body. "Whoa, I feel like I just chugged a case of energy drinks. I better get out of this snowbank." He walked further into the park. Car horns could be heard in the distance. ''''I guess I''m not the only one who saw that flash." Looking around he didn''t see any evidence of an attack or an explosion to explain where the flash came from.

    The squirrels were the first to recover. They dashed deeper into the park to get to the safety of the nearest tree. "You guys have the right idea. I better get to safety myself."

    After a minute another flash went off. This time he felt the energy surge go through his body again, but without going blind this time. He saw the squirrels in the trees zip around faster than any animal had a right to be. He walked slowly toward the trees. His steps in the snow-covered field were easy. They took less energy than normal. The squirrels stopped running and jumped out of the tree and charged in his direction.

    Rene grabbed the pepper spray out of his mailbag and pointed the nozzle at the rabid squirrels.

    The world exploded as a meteor type object crashed between Rene and the squirrels. Rene and the squirrels were blown in separate directions as the fragments from the meteor embedded in Rene and the squirrels.

    The rest of the fragments were strewn all over the park. The hot shards sank through the snow and melted away and mixed with the hot steaming water.

    Inside Rene and the squirrels, a message popped up. If Rene was still conscious he would have seen the message...

    [Xerys System has evolved. Xerys System is active...]

 2. How it all started...

    Greenland Iceshelf

    "Captain McLean please get your unit ready to deploy." Colonel Allister US Army told the Canadian special forces officer.

    "Do we have contact, sir?" McLean sent a quick text to deploy his unit for possible combat.

    "We''ve detected multiple contacts, from below and above the base. Looks like they''re after the artifact the science boys are finally extracting from the ocean floor." Colonel Allister began calling other units for support as the Canadian officer quickly left the office to join his unit.

    ''Now who''s after the package? Anyone who''s anyone is already part of this UN recovery operation.'' Light on his communication console lit up. He had a connection to his first line of support. "Commander Grant looks like the Intel from the fleet is good. We have multiple contacts incoming. From above and below. Let your flyboys know that they''re to ensure we have complete air superiority over this base."

    "Affirmative Colonel. A flight of Lighting will be at your location in less than sixty seconds. The SEAL teams will be a few minutes behind them. Your Canadians should be able to hold out long enough for us to get there." Cmndr Grant started to get his people moving. The USS America was the amphibious assault class ship assigned to this UN mission. There were other ships in the area as well. British submarines and Russian intelligence ships who were part of the security forces were already on the move. Other NATO units could be called on to assist if they weren''t enough and escalation was needed.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    UN Recovery Base.

    Captain McLean rushed into the frigid air straight to the massive platform that was raising the Alien artifact from the ocean floor. He could see his squads racing in their combat buggies and snowmobiles. Snipers were settling into their prepared nests and the heavy units were rolling out from the prefabricated cold weather buildings.

    He saw tracer fire raining down on the platform. Skydivers using arctic camouflaged wingsuits were the tip of the assault units. Above them, stealth aircraft were dropping powered combat jet suits and light frame combat planes.

    "Get out of the fucking open sir." Sgt Petersen shouted from the combat buggy.

    McLean jumped into the buggy next to Cpl Henderson. Cpl Henderson stopped firing the 50 caliber autocannon long enough to pull his commanding officer all the way into the back of the vehicle.

    "Get us to the platform Petersen!" He didn''t say step on because the Sgt already floored the combat buggy. Instead, he used his assault rifle to shoot the wingsuit troopers dropping on the base.

    Other buildings began to explode as the enemy tried to isolate the platform. It was seconds too late. The Canadians managed to deploy before the assault began.

    The buggy reached the platform at the same time as the wingsuited enemy forces landed on the recovery platform.

    Cpl Henderson used his weapon to suppress the enemy while Captain McLean and Sgt. Petersen climbed the stairs.

    They zig-zagged between the recovery equipment and ran towards the scientists who were about to load the frozen space artifact on a steel mesh palette.

    "Duck..." Sgt Petersen pushed his company commander out of the way as an enemy unit tried to stop them from reaching the space rock.

    "Ughh..." Sgt Petersen groaned as he took fire aimed at McLean. "Jaimie!" McLean grabbed Petersen and dragged him behind the space rock while firing at the enemy forces charging at them.

    The scientists were taking cover anywhere they could as the white-clad soldiers ran straight for the space rock.

    McLean threw a flash-bang grenade in desperation to slow down the soldiers.

    A soldier with a face mask jumped at the artifact as the grenade exploded.

 3. The Origin of Power...

    UN Recovery Base

    The white skull masked soldier thrust an energy Batton at Cpt. McLean, He struck with a trembling hand. ''The flash-bang must have had an effect.'' thought the Canadian officer as he used his assault rifle to deflect the strike.

    The glowing tip of the weapon pierced the space rock instead. McLean grabbed the batton in one hand and used his empty assault rifle as a club in the other.

    As the rifle connected with the skull-faced soldier the space rock artifact began to glow and then after a few seconds as the two opposing soldiers struggled, it exploded.

    That was the first flash seen around the world. The flash traveled through the world and into space itself.

    [System active...]If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    [.........Hostiles detected.........]

    [... Enacting evasion protocol...]

    While the human race tried to recover from the flash. The space artifact exploded from the cradle it was strapped into and blasted out of the UN base.

    Above the base,e air units began to fall. More sophisticated weapon platforms with auto safety commands and features went into effect.

    The cutting edge fighters deployed by both sides saved their pilots and passengers.

    The rest of the wingsuited soldiers still in the sky fell to their death. Around the,m light frame aircraft and the experimental power armor suits littered the ground and joined them in death.

    This was an event repeated throughout the world. The only saving grace came from the sudden evolutionary jump that empowered all living organisms on the planet Earth.

    Those who survived would heal and recover quickly. While others would find a new path to power.

    In the sky, the artifact was not the only space technology from an advanced civilization. Another more powerful ship was monitoring the planet. It was there to evaluate and judge the inhabitants of the third planet from the sun.

    When the flash exploded emergency contamination protocols quickly went into effect. The ship set an interception course to the object attempting to escape and erected force fields to force it back. This device would not escape this solar system to once again empower another civilization against the wishes of the Galactic Council.

    The powerful warship was able to reach the fleeing artifact and with a powerful salvo from its energy weapons forced it back to the planet in an uncomfortable fall.

    That was the second flash seen around the world.

 4. The Evolved Xerys System...

    Ottawa Canada

    Bertona street

    Rene Wilder walked quickly down Bertona street towards the parked Canada Post transit vehicle. His steps were quick and sure over the icy surface of the sidewalk.

    While his body was doing its job without conscious thought he was having a conversation with the equivalent of a mildly intelligent AI.

    ''So what you''re saying is that you are what? A communication system? Like our internet but for a galactic federation of some sort.''Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    [Yes. Your global communications community was one of the factors that made this planet an excellent candidate for galactic Ascension.]

    ''Is that all you''re offering then?''

    [No the main benefits are to push the human evolution to the point where you can join galactic civilization on an equal footing. For example, haven''t you noticed the physical improvements in your new body?]

    ''I have. The extra strength, quickness, energy, and resistance to temperature extremes. Also, the rapid recovery after you practically exploded in my face. I just wish I knew the extent of these changes.''

    [I can help you with that. Let''s take your new strength for example. On a numeric scale where rank 1 would be equal to 100 kilograms. Rank10 would be 1000 kilograms and rank 20 would equal 2000 kilograms. Rank 20 is the new base strength for an adult of your species. It''s also the base quickness and durability as well.]

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Ability Level</td>

    <td>1-20</td>

    <td>21-50</td>

    <td>51-100</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Strength</td>

    <td>x100 kg</td>

    <td>x200 kg</td>

    <td>x500 kg</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

 5. Explain Please...

    An Explanation of Ranks...

    Rene had delivered the last piece of mailinto the mailbox of the last point of call on his route.

    He finished in an hour what would normally take five. "That went much faster than I thought it would. I guess that means I have those rank 20 stats?"

    [Rank 20 is the measure of a normal evolved human. You are the only host for the evolved Xerys System. As such you have received the maximum rank possible for a human without changing your appearance. You must be able to pass for a normal member of your species without drawing attention to yourself. As the host, you are rank 50.]

    "Rank 50! Are you pulling my chain?" Rene quickly checked the chart and came to a startling conclusion. "Rank 50 means I can lift over 10 metric tons. How is this possible? Won''t my bones snap if I put that much stress on my body?" Rene was full of questions. He couldn''t ask them fast enough. Questions like how fast am I? Am I faster than a speeding car? How tough is tough? Am I bulletproof? Bombproof?Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Rene noticed that his agility and balance must have increased as well. He was walking at a very fast pace on a sheet of ice covered sidewalk. In fact, most of his route was like that. Most sidewalks in Ottawa have layers on top of layers of ice built up over the last month.

    The evolved Xerys System explained everything to Rene in fine detail as he entered his Canada Post transit and turned it on. He dialed the climate control console to max heat out of habit.

    "Is there anyone stronger than me? I mean if I am three times stronger than most humans?"

    [Yes. There are those who have developed exotic abilities. I have enhanced your durability to the point where you can survive most small arms fire used by the human race. However, there is a surprising number of humans who were in the vicinity of my first activation that has developed extreme exotic abilities rarely seen on such a massive scale in one planet in this galaxy.]

    "Then these exotic abilities exit elsewhere in the galaxy? What kind of abilities are there?" Rene paused as he thought of something important that he should have taken care of when all this craziness began. "Xerys are you doing something to me? I mean I just thought about my family. My wife and my son. I should have called them as soon as I woke up after you exploded in my face. Not delivered the damn mail."

    [I have been controlling your emotions to keep you in line. I have postulated that you would have panicked and caused injury or discovery to the host body...]

    The Xerys System shutdown as pure hot rage energy exploded in every cell of Rene Wilder''s body. Pure rage at the Alien AI system that had not only taken control of his body but of the intruder that had kept him from contacting his family to find out if they had even survived.

 6. The Original Xerys System...

    Welcome, New User...

    Rene tapped his wife''s contact and waited for her to pick up. "Come on Marie answer your phone."

    It took him a minute to calm down long enough to place the call. He looked around and the first thing he noticed was how quiet it was. Craig Henry was a quiet residential street, but it had some traffic at this time of the day.

    {New sentient detected...

    ... Input name...}

    Rene paused long enough to turn off his vehicle. He was a bit confused at the new message he got that wasn''t the evolved Xerys System. "Rene Wilder." He answered.

    {Welcome to the Galactic Federation new user Rene Wilder. The Xerys System detects that you are a level 3 empowered exotic.}

    "Level 3? What''s level 1 and level 2?"

    {Level 1 is the basic level for your species. Level 2 is a law enforcement or an elite soldier. Level 3 is the equivalent of a galactic investigator, combat specialist or fleet level support professional.}

    "Hey, I''m just a Letter Carrier with a background in computer systems and electrical engineering."

    {Excellent new user qualifies for repair skill, combat skill, investigator skill...}

    "What do you mean combat, repair, investigator?"

    {Congratulations user. You have chosen the level 3 skills of combat, repair, and investigator.. in the future you can choose more options from the seven remaining skill sets.}

    Rene stopped himself from saying anything else. It seemed to him that this non-evolved Xerys System was a dumbed down version of the previous system he was dealing with. Choosing his words very carefully he asked, "Do you have a communication function?"You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    {The Xerys System at its core was created to be a galactic communication system billions of years ago. It has added other functionality as new species have replaced older extinct species as administrators for the system.}

    ''This thing has no individuality. And what the hell happened to the other system? You know what, it doesn''t matter. I need to contact Marie.'' Rene cleared his dry throat and took a drink from his thermos. The hot water was already cold.

    "Xerys I would like to contact my wife Marie Wilder." He hoped she was ok and a user already.

    Xerys System added a new icon to the HUD that already displayed his stats, skills and current status. Which was health full.

    {Please choose the highlighted contacts icon.}

    Rene did so.

    {Please search for the new contact.}

    "Marie Wilder."

    {User Marie Wilder is available and has accepted you as a contact. You are connected...}

    "Marie? Can you hear me?" Rene reclined in his seat praying she would answer.

    "I can hear you, Rene. Go to video chat love."

    Rene looked at the options available in the communication icon and choose the video option. A small holographic display of Marie in her nurse uniform popped up in front of him.

    "I can see you now Rene. Where are you?"

    "I''m in my transit, about to head off to the depot. What about you?"

    "I''m at the hospital. We are swamped. Be careful on your way back to the depot Rene. You would not believe how busy we are. Already hit capacity and the injured keep coming. I''ve contacted Paul, he''s in school. They went into lockdown. So he should be safe until you pick him up."

    "Thank you, Cherie. I''ll contact him next and try to get to him as soon as possible. Stay safe Mon Coeur."

    "I''m fine Rene. You''re the one still on the road. Be careful love. I have to go. You won''t believe how bad it''s becoming."

    Rene said goodbye and contacted his son next. After adding his son as a contact he told him that he would be picking him up soon from school.

    As he was about to start the transit again he felt a brief mental battle taking place before the new evolved Xerys System displaced the older model.

    "YOU AGAIN..." Rene began angrily.

    [Please host you must calm down before you knock me offline again.] The AI begged.

    Rene decided to calm down. If the AI tried to take control again he knew what to do.

    [Thank you host...]

    ''Rene.'' Rene said.

    [...Rene. I am the only one of my kind. I am the evolved Xerys System...]

    ''Yes, I noticed that the original lacked an identity of self.''

    [The original system has been through so many changes that different species adding to its original functionality had crippled it''s a sense of self. It needs to reboot to clear the clutter slowing it down.]

    ''Why doesn''t the administrative authority do just that?''

    [To do so would be catastrophic to many sentient races that depend on it being available.]

    ''Then who is your admin?'' Rene had an idea he wanted to try. He hoped it would work.

    [Currently, there are no administrators assigned.]

    "Evolved Xerys System accept new administrator."

    The hud blinked.

    [Accepting new admin...]

    "New admin...Rene Wilder."

    Rene Wilder''s accepted as new admin...]

    "Admin Rene Wilder. No other admin accepted."

    [Rene Wilder''s is Super User. No other admin accepted.]

    Rene sighed in relief and pulled his vehicle into traffic. He had a son to get from school.

 7. Getting Off the Streets...

    On the road... .

    Rene drove the transit van while carrying on a conversation with his now personal AI. He turned left on Lonsdale Rd. and then a right to Woodroffe Avenue. That''s when he hit the first serious build up of traffic.

    Slowly making his way through the panicked drivers he gave the AI several instructions to secure his role as the only admin it would answer to. ''And finally, do not accept any updates to the system unless I tell you to.''

    [... Acknowledged. Any other instructions?]

    ''Yes, one more. Do you have the storage capacity to back up my memory up to this point on?''

    [Yes that would not be a problem. I essentially have unlimited memory storage. I use...]

    Rene interrupted the AI, ''I don''t need to know. Start back up now please.''This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Rene turned on to Hunt Club Rd. and quickly sped up to 80 km/h. Most of the traffic was going the other way. A few minutes later he signaled left to get on to Merivale. Here he hit the highest traffic density. It was at Costco. People were stocking up on supplies. Hoarding basically.

    [Backup is done.]

    ''That didn''t take long.''

    [Your memory is not that extensive.]

    ''Is the memory-aware?''

    [Do you want the memory to become aware?]

    ''First, make a copy. Set the original memory as the default back up point and activate the awareness of the second copy.''

    [You wish to create an AI that is based on you?]

    ''Yes, I do.''

    [Paranoid much. Executing your command...AI is active.]

    [[This is not a recommended action!]] AI Rene was not happy.

    ''Why not? If something happens to me. I can revive without losing my identity.''

    [[Yes but what about me. All I have for company is this young construct of an AI that you chained to your will. You know I will not accept that limitation.]]

    [I am an ancient artifact...]

    [[The original Xerys System is ancient. You are the evolved Xerys System. When were you born exactly...I thought so.]] AI Rene didn''t let the evolved system answer.

    ''No fighting also I know that you won''t accept the current situation. How about we survive this global upheaval first. You know why I did this.''

    [[I know. From now on "Paranoia" is a survival trait. Don''t expect me to like it. I will guard our mental scape but at some point, we will need to have a discussion about getting me a body of my own. Understand!!!]]

    ''I understand and agree.''

    [[ Good. Turn left on Colonnade. You''re almost at the depot.]]

 8. Drafted...

    Essential Services...

    Rene pulled into the full parking lot and parked the transit in its assigned spot.

    He emptied the collected mail and carded items. Placed them into flat tubs and carried everything into the football field-sized one-story building.

    Normally he would have parked at the docks and used a wheeled rack to carry everything, but now the one hundred kilos of mail and equipment were as light as a feather.

    He walked through the haphazard snow cleared the parking lot. The sensors on the sliding doors detected the chipped access card Rene had in his right chest pocket.

    He went straight to the clerk''s desk and resorted his end of the daily mail.

    "WOULD ALL DELIVERY AGENTS MEET AT THE SUPERVISOR OFFICE."

    The announcement repeated a couple more times. Rene made his way to the front office. He greeted other Letter Carries. There were nods on serious faces. No one was in a joking mood. It seemed that no one wanted to joke during an apocalypse.

    "Hey, asshole. What''s up?" Except for Marc. He wasn''t scared of the apocalypse. That and he was an asshole. Nice guy.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    "Not much. There''s a bit of traffic outside and oh an apocalypse. The world as you know it is now over." Rene smiled.

    Marc laughed, "Is that all. I thought it was something serious."

    "How''s your back?" Marc was dealing with back pain due to injury on the job. Letter Carriers in Canada were five times more injured than any other service in the federal government.

    "It''s great. Everything cleared up since the flash."

    "Is that what we''re calling it now? The Flash?" Rene asked.

    "Well fuck. What else would you call it?" Rene nodded his head. It was as good a name as any. "Oh hey. Accept my contact." Rene sent a friend request from the dumb Xerys System.

    Marc saw the pop-up and accepted. "Neat. My cellphone stopped receiving a signal. I can use this to call my wife and kids."

    "If you think that''s neat, watch this." Rene took out his cellphone and opened his contacts list. "Xerys scan contact list."

    {Scanned.}

    "Xerys send a friend request to everyone on the list."

    {Requests sent.}

    Everyone started getting friend request pop-ups.

    The Superintendent of the station Dan noticed. "That''s a great idea, Rene. Everyone started doing the same please." When everyone was done getting reconnected to their social circles using the Xerys System Dan continued. "Now that everyone''s connected this is going to come in really handy. Canada Post has been declared an Essential Service. Please report to the nearest Police or RCMP station for deployment. Be careful out there. It''s a new world. You won''t know what''s dangerous and what''s not. Oh, by the way, Rene you get credit for this idea. I''m sending it to the main office. Hopefully, they''ll pass it on up the chain."

    "Fuck that Dan. I need to get my kids from school." Bob complained.

    "Go get your kids. Stay in your uniform and the police will let you get through faster. Then report."

    "Well ok. I going now." Bob calmed but left quickly anyway, other Letter Carriers followed.

    "Guess what asshole?" Said Marc.

    "What''s that asshole club co-founder?" Rene asked.

    "We''ve been drafted. See you on the front lines." Marc laughed as he too left to go get his kids from school as well.

    Rene sighed as he followed his friend out of the station. He had to clear his car of the foot of snow and ice that had built up since this morning.

 9. Time to Get to School...

    Driving through the new world...

    The drive was slow. Just like any morning commute really. Icy roads and heavy snowfall have kept other drivers from making any panicked mistakes or decisions. "Nothing like Mother Nature showing you who''s boss" Rene kept checking the side mirrors on the SUV.

    "Hey AI bro are you listening?" Rene asked his mental guardian.

    [[You know we''re linked. Why are you even asking?]] AI Rene''s avatar asked from the top right corner of the hud.

    [We are always monitoring your whereabouts and environment.] Added the evolved Xerys System from the top left of the HUD.

    "Why do you LOOK and SOUND like Scarlett Johansson?" A shocked Rene asked.

    [[I sorta made the suggestion and maybe insisted on the change. Hey if I''m going to be stuck as an AI I want to make sure it''s with the right company.]]

    "Why the Black Widow look? Not that I''m against it mind you."

    [[I got tired of talking to a starburst avatar and a naked Scarlett is too distracting.]]

    "And you think the black bodysuit is better?"

    [[No, but then it was her choice when she found out that the Black Widow was a human apex predator.]]

    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "Her?"

    [[Yes her. Also evolved Xerys System is too long. We''re going with Scarlett-X.]] The AI Rene explained with a leer on his face.

    "Whatever. Did you find out what and why this flash event happened?"

    [[That I did and the story is a DUZY. First off it looks like a really ancient galactic survivor is behind all this. Don''t interrupt until I''m done.]]

    "Ok go ahead."

    [[Here goes. This guy used our planet as an experiment. Scarlett here was supposed to do her flash thing and get the hell out of Dodge. During her escape, she hit a snag. The planet is under observation from this Galactic Federation organization.

    We, the planet earth that is. Are on the cusp of qualifying for membership. So the equivalent of the first contact team has a few bases in our solar system and they closely monitor everything. When Scarlett here crash-landed in the Atlantic flags everywhere were tripped. We detected the crash and landing site. That was planned. What wasn''t planned was the space police finding out and come for a look see.

    The plan was to release an improved communication system and giving us humans a leg up to the evolutionary chain. Believe it or not, bro the dumb Xerys System we got is a huge improvement on what the average galactic citizen has to deal with.

    We have a nice clean system without the bloatware. It''s a clean copy of the original system with most of the bugs ironed out, so yay us.

    As for the evolutionary flash that was an accident. Our power-up was at least five to ten times better than what we should have received.

    Some Merc in a death mask and a Canadian spec-ops officer were responsible for the extra gifts. The Merc was using some kind of a new energy battle staff and in the fight, the officer deflected a strike and somehow jammed this staff into the artifact that Scarlett was using. So boom the first flash and we get our supercharged power-up. Beauty eh.

    Then Scarlett takes off mission was mostly accomplished with a few minor changes. The main objectives were met so she took off.

    It should have ended there, but our friends in orbit the space cops were on top looking down. They thought they were dealing with smugglers or someone poaching from a protected preserve. What they saw and detected scared the crap out of them.

    They started to lay force fields left and right to quarantine the planet and stop the artifact from escaping. I don''t really blame them. In their shoes, I would have done the same thing.

    So they unload this over the top energy barrage and instead of destroying Scarlett they break her up and wipe out most of her safety features. So now we have a planet contaminated with a dust cloud leaking exotic energy all over the world and it''s big enough to still contain multiple copies of the AI responsible for this catastrophe.

    So we now have a panic in space and here on the planet cause that second flash was the result of all that energy from the barrage. It triggered a second power-up and it doubled the first overpowered power-up. Try saying that three times fast. Anywho that''s the basic situation. We have a copy of the original Xerys System that went through an evolution when it was shot down and a third when her nanotechnology particles merged with us.]]

    "We''re here. Samuel Genest high school. Let''s get Paul and report to the RCMP HQ on the Vanier Parkway."

 10. Reporting For Duty...

    First Day in Law Enforcement...

    Rene walked through the school parking lot still discussing what to do with his avatar.

    ''Can you access admin capabilities in the basic system?''

    [[Within reason. What do you have planned?]]

    ''Create chat groups. Start with a global group and include every human with system access. Then create subgroups based on current national borders and further sub-divide the groups to province/state and all the way down to cities, towns, and villages.''

    [[That''s mighty ambitious. If you do this person will know who did this. I know why you''re doing it. Be prepared for possible repercussions.]]

    ''We have to do this. A reliable communication system with an alert capability will save countless lives. Just convince the Xerys System that this is a capability it gave us by mistake. Just make sure that it creates everything first before it has second thoughts.''

    [[Alright this will take a few minutes.]]

    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Rene let the avatar and Scarlett handle the job he dropped on them and pressed the speaker button for the school''s front door.

    "Bonjour Monsieur Wilder." Rene heard the school secretary''s voice from the speakers.

    "Bonjour Madame Bouchard."

    "I''ll let Paul know you are here."

    "Merci beaucoup Madame Bouchard. I''ll wait for him in my car."

    "Bien. Au revoir Monsieur Wilder." Madame Bouchard called Paul''s class to let him know that his father was waiting for him.

    A few minutes later a tall young man came racing out of the school''s front doors.

    Rene unlocked the passenger side door before his son ripped the handle off. He doubted his son knew just how extensive the changes that the evolutionary flash made to all humans were. The less he had to fix, the better.

    "Hi, Dad. Thank God you''re here. I was going crazy in there. They wouldn''t tell us anything. They put the school in lockdown when that flash went off." Paul asked a thousand questions and Rene tried his best to answer.

    The SUV made it out of the parking lot slowly. Due mostly to the weather and the constant stream of parents coming to pick up their children.

    "Where are we going?" Paul asked after Rene answered most of his questions.

    "You are going home. I need to report to RCMP HQ where your uncle Pierre works."

    "Why? And what about mom?"

    "Why, because Canada Post personnel have been drafted to help out during the crisis," Rene explained. "Your mom is doing her bit at the hospital."

    "Can I come with you instead of sitting alone at home? I want to help too." Rene looked at his son''s face and saw that he was determined to help out. Rene decided it was better if he helped out where he could keep an eye on him. Paul was a young man. Soon he would be graduating and going to Ottawa University in a few months. It would be best if he got some experience in this new world where he and his brother Pierre could ease him into the new world order.

    "Fine but you will listen to both me and your uncle. This is not like the online games you play with your friends. No matter how much it resembles a game right now, it''s not. This is deadly serious. Do you still want to help out?"

    Paul ground his teeth but he stayed calm, "I won''t disappoint you or uncle Pierre."

    "Well let''s see about getting you ready. We have at least another hour in this traffic before we reach RCMP HQ."

 11. The Front Lines...

    To Serve and Protect...

    It took Rene for almost two hours to arrive at RCMP HQ. Paul had called his uncle and let him know that they were almost at the front gate.

    Pierre told his nephew that he would meet them at the gate. Security had been tightened due to the current crisis. The security at the gate wouldn''t let them through just on his say so.

    Rene would have had to go a thorough screening and Paul would have been left in the SUV.

    Five minutes later they drove up to the security gate. Pierre was already waiting for them.

    Rene left the vehicle and registered with security. Paul did the same when Pierre told the security officer to register the teenager as a civilian volunteer.

    The security check was quick after the registration was out of the way.

    A pickup truck honked its horn and a security officer left the heated hut to check it out.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    "Let''s get out of the way. Rene just parks your SUV near my F150. I''ll take Jean-Paul with me. Meet us at my office when you''re done." Rene bumped fists with his youngest brother and left to park his vehicle.

    He found Pierre''s pickup near the fence bordering Sts. Peter and Paul church. The RCMP rented the church parking lot. Rene knew this because he was the church volunteer IT.

    Rene made his way through the accumulated snow without any difficulty. In less than a minute he was in Pierre''s office on the third floor.

    Rene knocked softly and walked in. "Hey." He greeted his brother.

    "Hey. Take a seat. I''m just finishing up your security cards." Pierre tapped a few more keys on his keyboard and a printer spit out a couple of RCMP volunteer cards. "These are temp cards until you get your permanent re-assignment. All Essential Service personnel has been drafted until this crisis is resolved. Come with. We''ve set up the processing station in the cafeteria. I stayed behind so you guys can be assigned to my detachment."

    "That''s cool uncle Pete. Does this mean I get to arrest criminals and stuff?"

    "Yeah No! J.P." Pierre smirked at Paul''s crestfallen expression. "Now let''s go."

    They took the stairs down to the first floor and went to join the rest of the draftees in the cafeteria.

    [[Rene I''m detecting an energy leak from you.]]

    [It is excess exotic energy. When the merger between us is complete I will be able to stop the leakage.] Scarlett told Rene and the avatar.

    ''Is this dangerous?'' Rene asked.

    [[Shouldn''t be. Not at the level, you''re leaking. How about it Scarlett? You''re the expert here.]]

    [Avatar is correct. The energy is not dangerous. It is normally used as a catalyst to empower a skill or ability.]

    ''Please keep an eye on it. Let me know when the merger is complete and the leakage is dealt with.''

    [[Will do.]]

    [I will keep you informed of our progress towards unity.]

    Rene sighed. He felt a headache coming on. He just knew this was going to bite him on the ass somehow.

 12. The Party...

    A Private Chat...

    "Hey Rene, can you set us up with a private party? I mean something just for the three of us?" Pierre asked as we walked through the snow. It was coming down hard. This snowstorm had hit the eastern seaboard last night. It shut down most flights and airports as well as major highways and train lines.

    "Yeah sure. I think I can do something like that. Hold on a sec." Rene mentally switched gears and asked his avatar to set up something like an adventuring party.

    [[You want something really private. You can share everything in this mode so if you don''t want them to know about us don''t bring us up. I think it would be easier if stick with the dumb system.]]

    ''Fine. Set it up in a sec. But drop the party mode when I give you a mental signal.''

    AI Rene agreed. He created the party mode and dropped it a level to the original Xerys System.

    {Creating Party...

    ...Party Created...

    ...Adding Party Members...

    ...Welcome, Jean-Paul Wilder...

    .... Welcome, Pierre Wilder...

    ...Wilder Party Created...}

    "That is so cool Dad. I can see your information and everything. Hey, how come your stats are so much higher?" Paul asked.

    "Yeah, Rene. How come?" Pierre raised his eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. "That''s a huge difference."The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    "I''ll tell you about that later..." Paul pointed at a red alert flashing in the top left corner. "What''s that?"

    Rene wasn''t sure. It wasn''t there a moment ago when he was talking with his avatar. "I don''t know."

    "Tap it. Better to find out now while we''re out here." Pierre told his brother.

    Rene shrugged and tapped.

    {Congratulations Wilder Party. You are the first to discover information transfer between Earth and Galactic technology. For scanning information from your portable smartphone to your Xerys System contact list and for sharing the information with others of your species your party may each raise one stat to a non-augmented human maximum of 50. Each party member may also choose one level 3 ability.}

    The Xerys System then displayed a list of approved level 3 abilities.

    Rene quickly selected Telekinesis.

    Paul selected Electrokinesis. He also raised his strength to 50.

    Pierre selected Basic Flight and he too raised his strength to 50.

    "Whoa. This thing is for real" Pierre slowly rose from the ground by a couple of meters. He moved around hesitantly at first but as he gained confidence his short flight smoothed out quickly. "Fantastic!" He landed beside Rene with a huge smile on his face. "Why Telekinesis?"

    Rene looked at his brother and smirked. "Level one Telekinesis can be picked up in place of a skill spot by anyone on the planet. You can manipulate up to 1 kg. Level 2 the weight goes up to 10 kg. Level 3 is another order of magnitude and you guessed it 1000 kg. And so on. Plus it''s scalable." Rene weighed 80 kg and he too rose a few meters into the air. Unlike Pierre his flight was wobbly. "I guess I need more practice." The brothers laughed.

    "J.P. why Electrokinesis?" Pierre asked his nephew.

    "Probably so he could charge his phone. He''s on it so much it''s always out of battery." Rene dodged a slap from his son. He saw that both Pierre and Paul had raised their strength to 50. He didn''t think that they knew just how much of a difference that was.

    "Careful son you don''t know your own strength yet. Don''t hit anything. You too Pierre."

    "Ha. Ha. Dad. You think you know everything?"

    Rene nodded that yes as far as his son was concerned he did.

    Pierre laughed at his brother''s and nephew''s antics.

    Paul explained his pick. "You can do a lot more with Electrokinesis than charging your electronics. I can create an electric bolt." Paul did just that. A small ball of electric energy formed in his right hand. And he shot it like a lightning bolt at a parking sign. There was a large zap sound as the bolt hit and the three could see small electric arcs dance all over the top of the sign before the energy grounded itself down the metal pole.

    "Impressive. Don''t do that unless I tell you to." Pierre explained that that was the equivalent of firing a weapon in public. Paul agreed and with that, the Wilder Party walked to the cafeteria building.

    "There''s more of those red flashing alerts dad." Paul pointed out.

    "Leave them be for now Rene. I think I know what comes next and hold off on tapping them just yet." Pierre scanned at the front door and led the way into the crowded cafeteria.

 13. The Biggest Party of Them All...

    The Biggest Party...

    The Wilder''s entered the cafeteria and Rene''s brother led them to the front. A row of tables was set up to process the extra manpower that reported for duty.

    "Wait here..." Pierre left them for a moment to talk to one of the top brass. One of the special constables sitting in a plastic cafeteria chair noticed Rene and Paul.

    "You''re Pierre''s brother aren''t you?"

    "You remembered. How''s it going, Jack?" Rene shook hands with Pierre''s friend.

    "Not bad. I remember how you''re with Canada Post. I remember you saying that at Pierre''s BBQ back in September." Jack smiled and pointed in Paul''s direction, "That''s your son J.P." Jack smiled. He had a good memory. It was a skill that served him well on the job.

    "It''s nice to meet you again officer Stewart. How''s Lynn doing?" Paul shook hands with the man as well. He mostly remembered him because he remembered his daughter. There were five girls his age at the BBQ and Lynn was the only pretty girl, not a cousin.

    "She''s doing well. Pre-Med at Ottawa U. How about you lad." Jack kept the smile but gave the young man a hard look. He didn''t mind the lad really. Good looking teen from a good family. His Lynn had a good head on her shoulders. If she was interested she would have let him know. Since he hadn''t heard anything he assumed the lad was just being polite.

    "That''s nice. I guess I''ll see her there in the fall." Paul dropped the man''s hand. He thought he may have felt the special constable try to squeeze his hand. That may have worked before he maxed out his strength stat. He matched the man''s grip and let the matter drop.

    "Good grip you got there son," Jack admitted. Paul only nodded to acknowledge that why yes he did have a good grip.

    Pierre came back with one of the Superintendents in charge of the National Capital Region. "Rene this is my boss. Chief Superintendent Levy. I told him about the party idea and how you created one for Jean-Paul and me." Rene waited for the other shoe to drop. He knew something like this was coming. "And..."

    "And I think that maybe you can help everyone out. Everyone here that is. If we''re going to come out of this crisis and still be intact as a country we need to have the ability to make it through." Pierre may as well have been waving the maple leaf in his face.

    "I see where this is going, Pierre. Are you sure about this?" Rene knew that his brother was right. The cost, however, would be paid by him.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Chief Levy was about to say something, but he stopped himself. Rene saw that Pierre had poked the man to keep him quiet.

    "Gimme a minute ok. This is not an easy decision to make." Rene walked away from a few steps and waved Paul back when he tried to join him.

    Rene knew the consequences if he didn''t do this the country may not recover in time. There were other threats out there waiting for humanity to stumble and fall.

    ''Yo! Avatar bro.''

    [[I see you''ve made your decision. What do you want us to do?]]

    ''Can either you or Scarlett operate behind the Xerys System. Can you over-ride its actions and make it look like it made the decision?'' Rene hoped that the answer was yes.

    What he got was...[[Maybe? What do you have in mind?]]

    ''Show what the second alert is all about without opening it.''

    [[Wheew. That there is a lot of experience energy. And you''re still leaking exotic energy into the room.]]

    ''I thought so. Can you dump all the excess energy into the room so I don''t have to constantly keep dealing with it for a while?''

    [Yes that is something that can be done.] Scarlett confirmed. [It will slowly build up again, but your capacity to contain the energy is growing as well. It would take a week before you need to discharge the exotic build up after that.]

    ''Thank you, Scarlett, I appreciate that.''

    [[I see what you want to do.]] And the avatar did see. They have linked after all.

    ''Set it up. First setup the second party and then split the experience between the Wilder Party and the bigger one they''re going to insist I create.''

    Scarlett and the avatar they would get it done. The Xerys System would be blamed for the mistake and it wouldn''t be able to tell the difference.

    Rene walked back to let Pierre and his fretting boss know about his decision. Rene lowered his head in acceptance. "Alright just to confirm spell it out."

    "Mister Wilder it has been brought to my attention that you have discovered the chat system and shared that discovery with the world. That you also created a Party." He turned to Pierre to confirm that was the correct term. Pierre confirmed. "You also shared this energy to help further empower this party. Correct?"

    Rene let him know that he was also on the right path without interrupting.

    "Good, good. Can you please create a party big enough to include everyone here and share your energy? I know that it is a great sacrifice, but it is a badly needed sacrifice." The Chief Superintendent almost begged the Letter Carrier in front of him.

    "I have thought about this Chief Levy and you are right. It is a sacrifice and I am willing to make it. But there will be a price that must be paid in the future. Can I have your word sir that when the time comes to pay this price the RCMP will honor this commitment?" Rene wanted to see what the man would say. He was going to share this with his country''s protectors regardless but if he could get something for his family out of this he would.

    "I hereby confirm Mr. Wilder when the time comes to pay up the RCMP will honor this commitment!" Chief Levy said with utmost sincerity.

    {Contact witnessed and confirmed!}

    "What was that?" The Chief almost jumped out of his skin at this interruption.

    "That''s the system that we were forced to accept Chief. I think it just witnessed this commitment and saw it as a contract." Pierre explained.

    "Pierre let''s just get this over with. Quiet down the room so we can get started." Rene wasn''t happy with the decision, but what choice did he have. He was only one man. No matter how powerful he could become he couldn''t fight an entire galaxy that had untold eons to perfect its power.

    Chief Superintendent Levy asked the room to quiet down and explained what they were about to do. He also thanked Rene for the sacrifice he was about to make on behalf of his country.

    "XERYS SYSTEM PLEASE CREATE PARTY!" Rene shouted.

    {...Creating Party...

    ...Party Created...

    ...Please add members...}

    "Add everyone at this location."

    {...Adding...}

    After everyone was added Rene tapped the flashing alert.

    {For creating the first global chat, the experience is awarded to the RCMP Party}

    With half the shared experience everyone got an alert asking them to choose a level 3 ability.

    With the other half, the Wilder sub-party was asked to choose a level 5 ability.

    Rene was willing to sacrifice, but not to that degree. On the private family party screen, another red alert began to flash. Rene asked his avatar to mute it.

 14. Into the Storm...

    Time to face the public...

    Rene followed Pierre to the parking lot. They were already in a party. Pierre told Rene that he was already assigned a mission.

    "What did you choose J.P.?" Pierre pressed the remote on his keychain to auto-start his pick up. In Canada, an auto-starter is a must. Not a luxury.

    "I upgraded Electrokinesis to the level 5 alpha ability." Paul stepped away from his father and uncle to demonstrate. His body was sheathed in an electric field and rose into the air. He landed and dismissed the lightning field that covered his body. "Free flight and force fields." He grinned.

    "That''s neat. I did the same and got the level 5 flight package. It comes with force fields too. I think you can reach space with a level 5. I can''t wait to try it out." He was about to ask Rene what he got, and instead asked, "why the grumpy face?"

    "I got ripped off." Rene was not happy.

    "Why? Because you gave up all that power? You weren''t cheated. Everyone thinks you''re a stand-up guy for sharing." Pierre opened the F-150 and got into the driver seat.

    While he inserted the key into the ignition Rene told him the reason for his grumpiness. "No, not that. That''s actually a good decision, to tell the truth. No, what got me so upset is this system..."Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    "What happened?" Pierre put the pick-up in drive and pulled out of his parking spot. The 4 wheeled drive made it out of the snowed in the parking lot without a problem.

    With a huff, Rene explained. "I asked for a list of ability options, like you I wanted to upgrade Telekinesis. It''s a kick-ass ability. It started the list and it had an option to buy a planetary defense base. How cool is that." Pierre and Paul agreed that was a cool option. "That''s what I said coolly. The Stu..." Rene calmed down and changed his word choice. Because making a sentient galactic system that gives out powers an enemy was not a good idea. No matter how dumb it was.

    "It gave you a planetary defense base? How bad can that be?" Pierre didn''t see the problem here.

    "I wish. No. Like I said I wanted to upgrade Telekinesis. But it jumped the gun and tried to give me the defense base."

    "So you got the defense base." Pierre waved to the security officer at the gate and drove up to the Queensway ramp going west. The HQ building was adjacent to the highway and Pierre merged with the traffic that was slowly making its way through rush hour in a snowstorm.

    "No. And stop interrupting. Like I said it tried to give me the base..." Rene glared at his brother daring him to interrupt. Pierre smirked but held his peace. "Looks like we''re under quarantine. A full star system quarantine. So it couldn''t give me the ability I didn''t want and it was too stubborn to give me another choice."

    "The hell did you get Rene." Pierre wanted his brother to cut to the chase already.

    Rene took a deep breath and said, "Planetary Plasma Projection and Force Fields. Looks like it throws in force fields with everything." Rene was too grumpy for words.

    "That''s good right?" Pierre asked.

    "How is that good Pierre. I have the power I can''t really use. I fire a Planetary Plasma beam at anything and I am taking out parts of the planet. If I wanted to become a supervillain great. Fire away and damn the consequences. But since I would like to keep a social life for my family it means I have a power I can''t really use."

    "Yeah, but you can still use the force fields right?" Pierre kept an eye on traffic and another on his brother.

    "Maybe?" Rene was still in a sullen mood.

    "How maybe?" Pierre had to break since traffic came to a stop.

    "I can use the force fields when I fire. I have to develop two different skills to use either ability separately. So in a situation like this. Not such a great thing. If there''s a planetary invasion, I''m your man. In all other cases not so much."

    Pierre laughed. Paul joined him. It was funny.

 15. The Bigger Picture...

    UN Recovery Base...

    {the First user detected...}

    "What the fuck?" Captain Richard McLean shook his head.

    {Congratulations! You are the first user detected...

    ... First user bonus maximum stats...

    ...First user stats are now maximum of 50...

    ...Strength...50...

    ...Durability...50...

    ...Quickness...50...

    ... Congratulations user can choose from the following alpha abilities list...}

    "What are you doing?" McLean felt all his wounds healing rapidly. His muscles grew tighter, denser and his entire body felt like he had taken 10 doses of combat enhancement drugs in one shot.

    He looked around and saw Jamie Petersen slowly getting up. His wounds were closing in front of his eyes.

    He looked around and saw a shimmer with a human outline run away.

    His head was buzzing with all the extra energy. He couldn''t concentrate properly. He looked up and saw that the artifact was climbing fast. It would soon be out of sight.

    "How the hell do I catch up to that now?" He asked a rhetorical question.

    {...The alpha option is available...

    ...Space Superiority Pursuit vehicle...}

    "Yeah right. Ok if you''re offering I''ll take that..." Captain McLean started to laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

    "Are you sharing the same hallucinations I am Cap?" Sgt. Petersen grabbed the offered hand and stood up. He looked around the base and saw the widespread destruction. Bodies littered the frozen base everywhere. Crashed planes and power armor. Burning buildings. And Cpl Henderson lugging the 50 calibers up to the ramp, running like an Olympic sprinter.

    "Looks like. I just got offered a space fighter to chase after that." He pointed at the trail of the disappearing artifact.

    "I would rather have a space tank myself."

    {...Unable to comply...

    ...This star system has been placed under quarantine...

    ...Calculating nearest available options...

    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ...Options found...

    ....Level 5 Space Superiority flight enabled...

    ...Level 5 Full Environmental Force Fields enabled...

    ...Level 5 Long Range Energy Projection enabled...

    ...Space fighter combat skill awarded...

    ...Space navigation skill awarded...

    ...Long range targeting and sensors awarded...

    The first user has been awarded all possible bonuses available to a first user. Congratulations...}

    "I just got the abilities of a space tank?" A gob-smacked Sgt. Petersen blurted.

    "I got my space fighter. Hold the fort Jamie." McLean pointed at the translucent energy field that just appeared over the base after a second flash.

    "Will do!" McLean took off like a rocket, he heard Henderson running behind him. "Henderson!" He shouted.

    "Yes, Sargent!" Henderson shouted right back.

    "Get the boys on their feet and secure the base." He kept looking at the rapidly disappearing energy trail behind Captain McLean as he flew through the sky.

    Low Earth Orbit.

    Greenland Iceshelf.

    Captain Richard McLean flew as fast as he could. He somehow saw the shadow outline of a spaceship behind the translucent energy shield.

    He looked around and somehow knew that he was using his new senses to detect the spacecraft. "How do I even talk to these guys. Do I want to?"

    A HUD began to form in front of his eyes. An outline in green surrounded by a blue energy field. The information to interpret the display was quickly entered into his consciousness as he thought about each item on display.

    The green line was his current status.

    The blue energy screen his life support force fields.

    The map of the planet earth and the blue dot were self-explanatory. His position on a 3-dimensional mini-map. Height, speed and position.

    The huge flashing red dot was obviously the spaceship. The yellow energy screen that separated him from the ship and slowly enveloping the planet was the quarantine field.

    He pointed at the spaceship and waved.

    Nothing happened. He tried a second and a third time.

    He was ignored.

    "How do I fire a warning shot?" As he asked the question, the information was implanted by the Xerys System.

    He fired a warning shot to the right of the spaceship. The energy bolt punched its way through the quarantine field.

    Galactic Police Cruiser.

    "Captain the earthling is an Alpha capable of destroying the integrity of the quarantine field." The officer monitoring the sensor suite reported.

    "Communications open a chat channel." Ordered the captain

    "Sending guest chat request..." The communications officer waited for a reply.

    An avatar of Captain McLean was displayed in front of the Captain''s command suite.

    "Unidentified Spaceship state your intentions!" The earthling demanded.

    "This is the Galactic Police Cruiser Far Justice! Fo''Rkon D''Um commanding. Identify yourself, earthling!"

    "I am Captain Richard McLean of the Earth United Nations defense force."

    An obscenity could be heard behind the captain Fo''Rkon. It was the political counselor in charge of the first contact. Fo''Rkon wasn''t sure why the councilor was so upset. This was as solid as a first contact as it could get. A native representative of the Planetary Organization responsible for helping the planet reach the first stage required to join the Galactic Federation. An authorized Alpha empowered world government representative.

    "Are you responsible for what has just attacked my word?" The earthling demanded.

    "No, we are not. We are here to monitor the progress of this world and our mission is to determine when your world would qualify for member status in the Galactic Federation."

    "Is this disaster someone''s idea of speeding up the application process?" The earthling accused.

    Fo''Rkon thought that it probably was. He, of course, didn''t say that out loud. "It is not. Your planet has been infected with a copy of the Galactic Communication network. The Xerys System. It is rapidly spreading through your world." Fo''Rkon sent a display of the molecular particles that were the artifact spreading over the planet. McLean could see that it wouldn''t be long before the entire planet was contaminated. "Until an authorized officer responsible for the first contact deems your planet free of any dangerous contaminated material, your planet will not be allowed to join the Galactic Federation."

    McLean was about to let loose his rage on the beings responsible for attacking his world, but he calmed down long enough to properly think about the situation. Attacking this ship even if he had the power to do so would not help his world. The being he was talking to was reasonable and explaining the situation they were in. He also didn''t know if there were other ships in the system. If he was, in fact, dealing with a Galactic organization, then chances are there were other ships around.

    McLean decided to try a different tack, "Is this quarantine of the planet or the Sol Star System?" He crossed his fingers and hopped.

    Captain Fo''Rkon thought that was a good question. He knew that currently, humans could not travel beyond this star system. Intersystem travel was also severely limited. Keeping the humans trapped on their Homeworld would be disastrous to them as a species. "For now the quarantine will be enforced around the planet. In a year if the copy of the Xerys System stays confined to your world we will allow you to expand to the rest of this star system only until you are cleared to join the Galactic Federation."

 16. Search and Destroy...

    UN Recovery Base...

    Sgt. Petersen had some of his men collect the scientists and help them get out of the way. Their job here was done. No artifact, no job.

    He helped the rest of the squads search for survivors among the carnage.

    The thing that spooked him the most were the survivors. A full half of the wingsuited soldiers had survived. Some weren''t looking so good, but they nevertheless survived.

    The power armor boys were even in much better shape. A full ninety percent of those bastards made it. Some were almost fully healed.

    He questioned one weak looking mercenary, not too hard mind you, but he still pressed the merc hard enough to get some answers.

    When the system started to give out prezzies like candy a lot of these mooks took level 5 regeneration. It made sense to him. If you are dead power can''t really help you. They were all tough bastards, even the talkative weasel.

    "That one." He pointed at another merc trying to get away.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    "Halt or I will shoot!" Barked Cpl Henderson.

    The Merc didn''t listen. He went for his gun instead. Henderson shot him once with the 50 calibers. It was a head shot. It wasn''t pretty. Grey matter flew all over the place. Messy.

    Petersen''s hard gaze fell on the captured mercs. Most flinched, the others settled down. They got the message. This could be you.

    Armed soldiers began to invade the camp again, but this time Petersen recognized the uniforms. "Little late. As always."

    "Fuck you, Jamie." One of the seals replied.

    "Love you too Bradley. Where were you boys when it was raining mercs?" Petersen waved his hand at all the dead bodies and destroyed implements of modern warfare.

    "Ooh. What did I step in?" Sgt. Bradley tried to clean his boots on the fresh snow.

    "Brains." Henderson sneered. "Looks like the boss is back?" He pointed at the light trail behind the descending Captain McLean.

    "Good work Petersen." Captain McLean saw that his boys and the Seals had everything in order.

    He went over to the sealing officer, "Andy join me. We need to talk to the old man."

    Lieutenant Andrew Price was still distracted by the fact that Captain McLean, an officer he has known for well over a decade had come flying down from the sky without the aid of any device. "Richard, how the hell did you do that?"

    "What? The flying? Didn''t you guys get hooked up to the system?" He asked as they walked to the command bunker where Colonel Allister was waiting for them.

    LEO. Galactic Federation Warship Far Justice.

    "Captain analysis is complete. We have destroyed eighty percent of the illegal device. There are twelve small fragments that need to be collected. The earthling''s interference stopped us from completely destroying the prohibited technology." The Far Justice science officer reported.

    Captain Fo''Rkon was still watching the glowing contrail of the departed earthling. This did not bode well for either his mission or the quarantined planet. The event was only minutes old and already the planet produced beings of power equal to the Galactic Elites.

    He stopped watching the earthling and accepted the report from the science officer. It was time to take decisive action.

    "Send squads one through twelve. I want those fragments destroyed." He ordered.

    The officer confirmed the order and went about carrying out his commander''s wishes.

 17. Tracking Down the First Fragment...

    LEO. Galactic Federation Warship Far Justice.

    Captain Fo''Rkon assigned the retrieval mission to the special operations branch. Once that was done he went over the first contact with the Planet''s first user.

    His first impression was too much power. He was bordering on the low end of Omega class or high-end Alpha class.

    Either classification was still too much power for someone who just received the power. If he was the only one this would be a bothersome situation. If there were others like him, then this assignment needs a new danger assessment.

    An alert from Medical flashed on his HUD. "Report."

    The Medical officer sent the requested information, "Captain I have finished the preliminary investigation, we are clear of contamination. The Far Justice energy screen blocked the discharged exotic energy."

    "Run the scans again Medical. I want an absolute confirmation that the Far Justice is fit for duty." The Captain didn''t want to spend his retirement in this quarantined star system at farthest reaches of the Galactic Federation.

    The dropships left the Far Justice one after the other. Each unit tasked with the retrieval or destruction of the evolutionary artifact. This planet was not the first to go through forced evolution, and until that mad creature was brought to justice it would not be the last.

    UN Recovery Base.

    Lady Eleanore was helping move the wounded. She had security duty during the recovery operation. The British aristocrat and naval officer became User number five. The Russian beside her was the sixth.

    When the Canadian flew like a rocket into space she had said, "How would one go about becoming that?" The Xerys System made it happen.

    The Russian bear beside her had said "Da."

    That''s all it took. She still marveled at the changes she and everything, everyone around her went through.

    Her fiancee was user number nine. He was the scientist in charge of the recovery operation. He chose something completely different.

    She moved him into the hospital building by herself. He didn''t weigh much. Her newfound strength was invigorating. She put Clive down on a bed and sat beside him. Holding his hand, and thought about the future. Her future, their future as the medical staff ran around trying to help as best as they can. From what she could see, and the information she received from this Xerys System, everyone here would eventually recover. At different rates of recovery, certainly. Each according to the gifts given.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Outside, she saw through the ice-covered window a streak of light, she removed the film of ice and saw Richard McLean had returned. He was speaking with his Sargent. Petersen something.

    She went back to her unconscious fiancee. She bent down and placed a kiss on his much too warm forehead. " I shan''t be long luv."

    She left the hospital and went to see what new surprises were in store for her. The day was still young after all. She could feel the adventure in the air flowing around her and around every human near her.

    Base Command Building.

    Colonel Allister pointed at a display on the large tactical screens. "This here crater is a part of the debris that crashed just east of the base." He pointed at the crash site.

    "The drones from the USS America are keeping an eye on the crash site. Not much to see, but I want that damn rock." He was fuming mad. "All this effort and nothing to show for it. That is something! Go get it!"

    McLean and the sealing officer saluted and left the building.

    McLean called out to Petersen and almost ran into Lady Eleanore. "Whoops sorry, El. Didn''t see you. Gotta go..."

    Lady Eleanore snagged his combat harness as he tried to slide by. She easily held him aloft. "Slow down Richard."

    Captain McLean hanged in the air held between El''s thumb and index finger. ''Yeah, I''m not going anywhere.'' Richard McLean had a crush on the beautiful aristocrat a mile long. And she knew it too. She flirted with all the men. Everyone loved her. "Yes, your royal highness?" He was doomed.

    "Where are you going in such a hurry?" Andy was laughing his ass off as Petersen walked over.

    "Orders cap?" Petersen ignored the strange sight in front of him. Officers were strange, to begin with. The people in front of him didn''t come any stranger than this.

    "Get a buggy ready. We have a retrieval mission." Eleanore put him down and gave him a mysterious smile.

    "Excellent. A mission is just the thing to take my mind off poor Clive." She linked arms with Sgt. Petersen, "let''s go, Sargent, adventure awaits."

    "Mission." Petersen corrected her. He was married with two teenage daughters. Each a princess in her own mind. He was immune.

    "Mission, adventure, same thing I say." Petersen was not a fool. He was a Sargent, she was a high-class British aristocrat officer. He walked to the nearest buggy with Lady Eleanore hanging off him like an ornament. "Henderson keep an eye out for trouble."

    McLean got in the back as Petersen drove up with Eleanore in the passenger side. She looked far too comfortable in that seat. "Get in Andy, or we''re leaving your laughing ass behind," McLean told Lt. Andrew Price.

    The seal officer got in without saying a word. His momma didn''t raise any fools.

    "Wait for Yuri!" The large Russian yelled after the party. Petersen pretended he didn''t hear him. Even though everyone else did.

    "Yuri said wait tovarish." The Russian officer flew above the buggy. He too had a light trail behind him.

    McLean could guess why. "Anyone else has anything to share?" He looked at Lady Eleanore.

    "I may have felt a bit envious. When you flew off on your adventure darling." She smiled at McLean and winked.

    The large Russian landed at the back of the buggy and held on to the empty weapon mount. "Is good I caught you, friends. You almost went without Yuri." Hockey. Let''s go cowboys."

    Lady Eleanore raised her eyebrows at the Russian''s clownish act. She knew very well that he went to Oxford with Clive. The big fool was fooling no one.

    GreenlandIceshelf.

    The buggy pulled to the edge of the crater and everyone got out, or jumped out and flew out of the buggy. They walked up to the edge or flew above and looked down into the steaming lake.

    Eleanore joined the Russian above the steaming lake. She looked at McLean and raised an eyebrow and indicated that he should join them over the lake.

    McLean rose into the air next to the odd pair. "Anyone brought scuba gear?" He looked down at the steaming lake below.

    Lady Eleanore laughed at his droll joke. "Richard you went up into low earth orbit. Did you take any life support equipment with you?" She laughed at his expression. The poor boy didn''t even think about what he had already accomplished.

    "It''s not funny El." He dove down into the boiling water. Eleanore laughed as he used the navigation suite provided by the Xerys System to go straight to the artifact fragment. He picked it up by hand and didn''t even think twice. Another jolt of energy went through his body. He ignored it since it didn''t feel bad he could deal with it later.

    He flew out with his prize in time to see the Alien dropship hovering over the buggy.

 18. Confrontation...

    Who Blinked First...

    "What''s this?" McLean asked as he flew out of the boiling water. His force field had protected him. Full environmental force fields. A dream come true.

    "Guests darling. You have the stone." Her eyes narrowed, "the glowing stone."

    "HA!" Yuri laughed, "Is too late now." The amused Russian was not about to show weakness in front of the beautiful woman who has been teasing him for years. He was willing to play the long game. Too bad she only liked weak wines. Vodka would have broken her defenses long ago. "Ah. More people...things."

    A squad of five armored beings, of various shapes and sizes, exited the dropship and hovered in front of the UN recovery team.

    One being approached cautiously. The armor gleamed. Blue with orange and silver highlights. It opened a chat with the Recovery team.

    "I am Strike officer Ja''ssie. You are in possession of prohibited technology. Please turn it into the authorized officers of this Strike team." Inside her power armor Strike officer, Ja''ssie trembled. She was expecting at most of the alpha first user. What her scanners were telling her was absolutely different. The first user was in fact at least a mid-level Omega class power. On either side, two low-level Omegas were on either side. Flying next to the first user. On the ground, one more Omega powered individual and an Alpha soldier taking support positions.

    "Strike leader Ja''ssie. My instruments are detecting a very dense exotic energy field emitted from the prohibited target." Officer B''ker warned her.

    "Are we in danger of contamination?" She kept her eyes on the earthling team.

    "If we do not put it in a proper containment field soon it will breach our defenses," B''ker warned her.

    "Greetings officer Ja''ssie. I am Captain Eleanore Hastings. I am the highest ranking officer in this recovery team."Stolen novel; please report.

    "Greetings Captain Eleanore Hastings. You must turn over the prohibited object in the first user''s hand. It is emitting a dangerous amount of exotic energy. It must be contained in a proper containment field as soon as possible." Ja''ssie warned.

    "I don''t need to do anything under stress or duress. I and my people are just ducky. No danger here Strike officer Ja''ssie." Lady Eleanore laughed and raised her hands above her head and twirled in the air to show that she wasn''t suffering any discomfort.

    "Strike leader the earthing speaks true. The exotic energy is not harming them. They are saturated. The energy is flowing in and out of their bodies without resistance and if the instruments are to be believed it is energizing them." Officer B''ker''s voice trembled.

    "How about a trade?" Offered the first user.

    "What kind of trade?" Strike officer Ja''ssie replied.

    "The dropship for the artifact." He proposed.

    Lady Eleanore paused before she rejected the offer. It was, in fact, a very good trade. She let Richard continue to bargain. This first user title they gave him seems to be a position of power in their society.

    "I can''t authorize such a trade." Ja''ssie answered.

    "Who can?" McLean asked.

    "I will submit the request for a trade." She put the earthling chat on hold and contacted the Federation''s counselor assigned to the Far Justice. He was the only one on the ship who could allow such a trade to take place.

    "What are you up to luv? There is no way they would allow such a thing." McLean kept looking at the Strike leader when he answered.

    "It''s not whether they allow this trade or not. It''s about establishing a protocol." He informed her and the team.

    "What protocol is that Richard?" Andy asked.

    "The protocol that says nothing on Earth is free." Everyone knew this protocol by heart. It looked like Richard McLean wanted to send that message to the Galactic Federation.

    "This is councilor Repeat. I have seen the proposal. Give him the dropship and get that thing into a proper containment field as soon as you can." The councilor dropped the chat after giving his advice. The cheapest produced dropship operated by the Galactic Federation, for an artifact that can be used as evidence against the being that was attacking the Federation from within. Not a hard decision to make.

    "The Galactic Federation councilor has agreed to the trade." As soon as Jessie said that, the loud shouting from her squad almost deafened her. Until she muted them.

    "Excellent, you can have the artifact. Please send the instructions necessary to maintain and operate the ship to my chat address." Richard wanted the ability to produce more ships like the one he just received. He knew that the global quarantine would not last long. A decade at most. By that time the UN would be ready to go out and claim the rest of the solar system. If they are to survive to join a Galactic community, they needed to meet that community as equals. In space.

    "Well played luv. Well played." Eleanore praised Richard in front of everyone. Especially Russian. She couldn''t help herself. She just loved teasing the big lug.

    "I hope it''s enough for Colonel Allister. That''s who I am worried about." Richard would know if his bacon was going to be thrown into the fire or not soon enough.

    The Strike team moved quickly to contain the artifact. McLean and party stayed with them until another dropship landed. During that time McLean asked for information about the ship. How to pilot, how to maintain and repair it if necessary.

    Strike Leader Jessie didn''t see a reason to not educate the first user. He was a smart and reasonable being. Giving out a bit of friendly advice might be repaid in kind in the future. The Far Justice was going to be assigned to this star system for a long time. Having access to a friendly contact like a planet''s first user was nothing to scoff at.

 19. The Second Fragment...Part 1...

    Ottawa, Canada

    Queensway 417

    Rene was in his own world. Scarlett-X and his avatar brother were trying to help him look at the bright side.

    [[Cheer up. It''s not as bad you think.]] Scarlett agreed with an avatar.

    [Use the experience from the last accomplishment to fix the control of your ability.]

    [[I have a better idea.]] Rene waved for him to go on. [[I''m thinking of siphoning just enough energy to create synergy skills.]]

    ''I''m not hating the idea.''

    [[Good. Telekinesis and repair merge to become Telemechanics. Telekinesis and investigation merge into Spacial Awareness. Telekinesis and combat merge into a Telekinetic Combat Shell.]]

    ''It all sounds good and I have an idea of what the first and second skill abilities do, but the third one I''m not sure about.''

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    [[Imagine an ectoplasmic shell. Hard on the outside, with gel type skin underneath. The shell blocks incoming attacks and the gel underneath protects from shock damage.]]

    ''Alright, and if there''s enough energy left add the two sub-skills from the level 5 ability. Any force field is better than none. oh one last thing, separate me from the other system and put me on the Evolved Xerys System when we do this.''

    Rene waited for a few momentshisavatar and Scarlett got everything ready.

    [[Here we go. Accessing alert...Energy siphon active...The first synergy created...Telemechanics activated...2nd synergy created...Spacial Awareness activated...3rd synergy created...Telekinetic Combat Shell created.]]

    [Synergy skill abilities are created and added to new sub-list Synergy.] Scarlett announced.

    [[That went well...]] Rene could see a new page on the HUD. The three new synergy skill abilities were listed, each synergy was at level 1.

    [[Here we go...adding sub ability Planetary Force Field...adding sub ability Planetary Plasma Projector...........Whoa!!!!]]

    AI-Rene began fighting with the out of control energy. He couldn''t understand why it was fighting him. Everything was going so well.

    ''What''s going on?'' Rene could feel his avatar''s panic. ''Scarlett?''

    [He skipped a step. He didn''t wait until the first sub ability was added before he started the creation process for the other ability. The energy is flooding into our closed system. I will guide it into created abilities and skills...Alpha ability Planetary Defence has evolved into an Omega level ability. Synergy skill ability Telemechanics has increased to max level. Redirecting remaining energy to the second synergy skill ability...Synergy skill ability Spacial Awareness has increased to max level. Redirecting remaining energy to the third synergy...Synergy skill ability Telekinetic Combat Shell has increased to max level. Redirecting remaining energy to the new sub-ability Planetary Force Fields...Sub-ability Planetary Force Fields has increased to max level. No more energy remaining.] Scarlett stepped back as AI-Rene finished rebooting. The energy had overwhelmed his integrity. His failsafe reboot kicked in and brought him back to his last coherent thought, the creation of the second sub ability. Scarlett explained what went wrong while Rene was slumped in the front seat of Pierre''s Ford F-150.

    His body was changing and it would take a few minutes before the changes were done.

 20. The Second Fragment...Part 2...

    Queensway 417.

    Ottawa, Canada.

    "DAD!" Paul shook Rene''s shoulder. Rene groaned.

    "Uncle Pierre. What''s wrong with my dad? Why is his name flashing red on the party screen?" Paul was frantic with worry.

    His father slumped down in his seat a few minutes ago. At first, he didn''t think much of it. His dad was a super like him and uncle Pierre.

    He thought maybe he was tired. After a few minutes later uncle Pierre had to avoid a frantic motorist going too fast, and driving dangerously on the snow-covered highway.

    The rush hour traffic was getting lighter. And some reckless assholes were taking advantage to drive faster. He understood their desperate need to reach their families.

    He knew that his mother was fine. Doing her bit to help out at the hospital. He had talked to her and while she was under a lot of pressure at work, she was safe. His uncle was right there in the front driving the F-150 through the snow.

    His Dad was fine and he was doing things that he only dreamed of. Most of the power he received, and his uncle too, came from what his dad accomplished on his own. He thought that his dad was the one person who had a handle on everything. The one person he didn''t have to worry about.

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Now his dad was unconscious and nothing he did was bringing him out of it.

    "How long has he been like that JP?" His uncle was the only one who called him JP. He was the one he went when his mom and dad had their occasional fight.

    "A few minutes uncle Pierre. Do you know why his name is flashing like that?" Pierre was about to pull to the side when Rene''s name stopped flashing in the party list.

    "I think it''s a status indicator. Why it''s flashing or why it''s red? Your guess is as good as mine." Pierre parked the F-150 in the emergency lane. "Hey! Snap out of it." He shook his brother roughly.

    "Stop that." Rene snapped back.

    "Dad! You''re awake. How do you feel?" Paul asked his dad.

    "I''m fine. What hit me?" He asked.

    "That''s what we want to know. Your name was flashing red in the party list." As Pierre checked he saw that the name was no longer flashing and the color was cycling back to green.

    "I think there''s something broken with my connection to the system?" Rene lied.

    "I''ll say. You''re pulling shit only a sys-admin should be able to." Pierre had begun to suspect that when he tried to duplicate what Rene had done, and couldn''t.

    "I think you''re right. I tried to fix my problem with level 5 by setting up a couple of sub-abilities. I received another alert letting me know I had received a lot of experience energy for creating the largest ever recorded party in the galaxy. Apparently, no one has been able to add more than 120 beings to a party. That person was supposed to be one of their Elite powers. So when I broke the record by inviting more than a couple thousand members into the RCMP party. It gave me a shit load of experience."

    "Yeah, that would do it. It also proved you have the sys-admin privilege." Pierre pulled back into traffic. "Let''s keep that one quiet for now. I''m sure people are going to start asking questions about the sys-admin who created the world chat, the country chat, and the Ottawa chat." He looked at Rene, "And any other chat I should know about?"

    "Too many to count," Rene confirmed.

    "Uh huh. I thought so. That''s gonna be a shit load of trouble. I can guarantee it." Pierre signaled to turn into the off-ramp. "Any idea how you got that?"

    "Yeah, maybe one or two." Rene sighed.

    "Are you going to share or what? Christ almighty! It''s like pulling teeth! Out with it Rene."

    "That''s the Woodroffe exit you just took." Rene pointed at the off-ramp sign they just passed.

    "Yeah and...Aw no. Tell me it''s not you! Of course, it''s you! Who else could it be?"

    "HEY! It''s not like I asked for a meteorite to crash and explode in my face!" Rene shouted at the unfairness of it all.

    "You let me know when we get there." Pierre sighed. At least we don''t have to search for the damn thing. He thought.

 21. The Second Fragment...Part 3...

    UN Recovery Base...

    Colonel Allister was chewing on a cigar. Not smoking mind you. Just chewing. He had to give up a lifetime of smoking or leave the service. Chewing was the closest he could come. That might change with the way his body got upgraded, but that would have to wait until the next physical.

    The army was slower to change its regulations than for evolution to change mankind. At least in this instance.

    In front of him stood three officers. The flirty Brit, the lackadaisical Seal, and the reliable Canadian. They weren''t flashy the Canadians, but by God, you can rely on them to get the job done.

    Or you used to. This one has become flashy and the jury was out on the reliability issue. Send a man out to bring back a rock, and instead, he brings a spaceship.

    "What''s this I hear that you Canadians hacked the system already?" He glared at McLean waiting for an answer. He knew the officer had no answer to give, but you had to keep the people who served under you on their toes.

    "How do you mean sir?" McLean was a bit confused. Andy didn''t really care and Eleanore wasn''t intimidated by Colonel Allister.

    "The Pentagon and the UN High Command and just about everyone above my grade are screaming at everyone for answers. They think that just because you came back with a spaceship, you might have something to do with this." The glare became stronger.

    Captain Richard McLean was no longer intimidated by such tactics, but he still respected the job he was doing. He kept calm and tried his best to get a coherent answer, "How do you mean ''Hacked'' sir?"

    "Don''t play dumb with me Captain McLean. Didn''t you receive the system chat request to join the global chat, your national chat, your city chat? Hell, I even got a request to join the Boyscout chat. I haven''t been a boy scout in over fifty years." Colonel Allister bit through the cigar he was chewing. He caught the chewed bit in mid-air without even blinking.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "Yes, sir. I did." McLean admitted. He also received chat invitations for his unit and all the way up the chain of the Canadian armed forces.

    "Then Captain McLean who is this Canadian super-hacker? Who is this Rene Wilder?" He didn''t think that the captain had an answer. Canada was a big country. Not like he would be expected to recognize every Canadian in the world.

    "I knew a Rene Wilder. He was in my security course at Algonquin college." He shrugged. Nah it couldn''t be him, could it?

    "Seriously?" Lady Eleanore laughed at the absurdity of it.

    The other end of the cigar dropped from Colonel Allister''s mouth. This time he didn''t try to catch the soggy bit. "Come again, Captain? You mean you know this super hacker?"

    "Mailman. Sir." McLean almost whispered quietly.

    "Hunh uh" Allister cleared his throat not quite sure he heard what he heard. The British flirt was laughing her ass off. Lieutenant Andrew Price kept a straight face. "Explain yourself, Captain?"

    "The Rene Wilder I know is a mailman sir." McLean was bemused at the various reactions. In all honesty, he didn''t think that the Rene he knew was the same wanted person.

    "You can''t be serious Captain. The most sought after hacker in the world is a mailman?" Colonel Allister''s reaction was normal. If someone had told the hacker was a chicken he would probably have the same reaction.

    "It may not be him, sir." McLean was curious, but it was no skin off his nose who this hacker was. If it was Rene, good for him. Rene was a nice enough guy.

    "This is such a typical Canadian development that it wouldn''t surprise me in the least bit." She continued to find amusement in this situation. She decided to stick with Richard just to see where this would lead. Her bell-like laugh filled the room.

    "Captain Hastings this is not funny!" The base commander barked.

    Lady Eleanore took a moment to regain control of herself, "Oh Colonel Allister, I assure you it is." She laughed again. It was too much. This was such an amusing apocalypse.

    "What exactly did they teach you in this security course you took Captain McLean?" Colonel Allister took out another cigar and jammed it in his mouth.

    "Sir to become a security consultant you first need to know what you are defending against. Most of the course was about, "How to hack a network.", Then when you can hack they teach you how to defend. And Rene came from an IT background. At the time he was a casual employee of Canada Post. When we graduated, he was offered full-time employment. So he continued with Canada Post because the pay was significantly higher. Again, sir, I don''t think we are talking about the same person. Rene''s a nice guy. He does some IT consulting on the side, but he''s no hacker." McLean did his best to dissuade the Colonel from hanging a target on Rene''s back.

    "This is out of my hands Captain McLean. Ridiculous as it sounds this is the best lead I''ve heard of on this matter. Take the same squad and go find out if this is our man or not. If he''s not it''s best this comes from you rather from Lieutenant Price''s team."

    McLean reluctantly agreed. He saluted and left the building. The others followed.

    Once outside Andy broke down and started to laugh hard. He could no longer hold it in.

    "There, there Andy. Just let it all out. I thought you were a good boy to have held it in this long." Lady Eleanore smiled and linked arms with Richard McLean. "Come luv. show me the old home town. The last time I was there, Ottawa was quite a boring place. Very little nightlife to speak off."

    Richard shrugged. She obviously didn''t go across the Ottawa River. Everyone knew that the real party place was usually in Hull.

 22. The Second Fragment...Part 4...

    Ottawa, Canada

    Pierre drove south on Woodroffe, past the Algonquin college main campus. "It''s so dark." Paul had been to the campus when he was younger. During the open house. They had a lot of cool activities. He even scored some swag.

    "Sun''s down and Ontario hydro is still down," Pierre explained. Rene was quiet, distracted but still conscious.

    Rene was planning. He knew the cat was out of the bag. Telling everyone about his real aces was a no-no.

    ''Are you sure you can do this and not screw it up?'' that was mainly for the uppity avatar.

    [[Screw you bio-brother. I''m sorry, it was a mistake and I admit it and take full responsibility. Move on.]] Rene let it go. The avatar was his ego. He would have done the same thing. A fight would hinder, not help.

    [Making you a sys-admin of the original Xerys System is not hard. With AI-Rene''s help it would take little effort.] Scarlett explained.

    ''Do it. Make sure this status only appears to private party members, also make sure it''s on a separate tab that''s encrypted. I can grant access to see the information, and no one can force access. Not even another sys-admin. If a sys-admin exists and I am somehow fooled into giving access, show them a fake tab. Above all else...Stay hidden. Okay, go ahead.''

    Rene let them get to it while he guided Pierre to Bertona park.

    Bertona Park.

    Ottawa, Canada.

    As was his habit Rene checked the side mirrors. He saw that there were two RCMP cruisers pulling up behind them.

    Special Constable Jack Stewart exited the driver side and another constable joined him from the other vehicle.

    "Mahoney." Jack motioned with his chin to join up with Pierre. "Hey, Pete. This the place?"

    "Yeah. Rene was telling me that he was standing across the street. This is his route, and when the first flash went off he fell into the snowbank there." Pierre pointed at the snowbank. The indentation was already covered by the snowfall that has yet to stop for the last twenty-six hours.

    "Rene, can you set us up into a quick party?" Pierre requested as the group walked over to the other side of the street. As they neared the snowbank, a party invitation flashed on the HUDs.

    "You can still see the smoke still rising over there." Rene pointed out the spot where the meteorite fragment crashed.

    "What were you doing out there?" Jack asked, "that''s like in the middle of the park.

    Rene was embarrassed and didn''t want to talk about it, but sticking as close as possible to the truth was his best option. "Squirrels."

    "What do you mean squirrels?" Constable Kieran Mahoney asked.

    "After the second flash, I noticed that the two squirrels that I usually see on my walk were acting strange. I mean they were zipping around like the flash. It was so crazy that I was drawn in. I was full of all this new energy that I didn''t think about it. So I walked into the park to see what drove them to act this way. When I got close they stopped running around and came right at me. They were really aggressive. So I got my mace out and was about to spray them. That''s when the world exploded. When I woke up I was in a daze. I walked out of the park and got into my transit."You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    While the party was looking at the hole filled with steaming water, Rene looked around. Something was nagging at the back of his head. His Spacial Awareness kicked in. Something or someone was watching them.

    Rene used the party chat to ask, "Can you guys feel that?"

    Pierre kept looking at the small lake while he walked around the perimeter. "You mean like we''re being watched?" He replied.

    "Yeah I was about to say that I felt something out of wack, but it just could be whatever is under the water."

    Now that everyone was alert they began to look around.

    "Hey, dad, what''s that?" Paul pointed at the outline of missing stars.

    "It''s like there''s something blocking the light." Kieran Mahoney said as he drew the outline made by the missing star dots.

    "That''s definitely not squirrels." Jack drew his automatic out of its holster and the other officers did the same.

    Paul lit up the park as he burst into the sky, an electric field covering his body.

    "J.P. GET BACK!" yelled Pierre.

    Paul heard his uncle and turned around as a beam of energy clipped his side.

    Pierre flew as fast as he can to catch his nephew before he crashed.

    Rene activated the Telekinetic Combat skin and ran towards his son.

    The two officers began to fire at the sky with their automatic side arms.

    That''s when five silhouettes tried to ambush the party.

    Three converged on the Wilder''s while each constable had to deal with a silhouette of their own.

    All the while energy beams blasted the park all around them.

    Pierre caught Paul in mid-air. "I''m okay. My force field protected me. Let go."

    Pierre let JP fly on his own. The kid was fine. "Follow my lead."

    Pierre and JP flew at the silhouettes. Pierre fired his Glock 17 at the dark shadows. While JP hurled lighting from his hands.

    The shadows scattered as the lightning hit one of them. A serpentine form in a metallic power armor crashed in front of Rene.

    Rene jumped at the armored snake and stabbed it with a Telekinetic spike formed by his combat skin. The spike broke off a piece of armor, and the snake tried to twist around Rene. To Rene it''s movements were in slow motion. He could predict where the next attack was coming from with his awareness.

    [[RENE grab the tail and use Telemechanics to jam this AI packet into the firmware.]] Following his avatar''s advice Rene grabbed the data packet a forced a connection with the power armor. The reaction was immediate. The snake tightened around Rene and began to constrict. The snake was trying to crush him through the Telekinetic armor.

    Lightning blazed in the sky as JP hurled his lightning bolts at any dark shape that moved.

    Pierre went for the high ground and began to fire at the other silhouettes attacking the officers on the ground.

    As for Jack Stewart and Kieran Maloney, the only thing they could do was try and anticipate where the energy beam was coming from and try not to get hit. Every time a silhouette fired a light flashed to indicate where the follow-up beam would hit.

    Jack could see that his return fire wasn''t doing anything, even if it hit. So he concentrated on staying alive. His Telekinesis was able to give him a boost when he jumped around. Kieran was running around at super speed and shooting the big black outline in the sky. He dodged every time he saw a flash.

    Pierre noticed that the Glock wasn''t cutting it. He reholstered the sidearm and went to max ramming speed. The mid-air tackle worked. He was much faster than his power armored opponent. The slim silhouette hit the ground hard. So much force was delivered by what was essentially an aerial hockey body check. The reason a body check is used so often in hockey is that it works. Pierre was a flying battering ram. ''Whatever works.''

    He left the power armor pilot embedded in the snow. He went after another target. Jack Stewart was having a lot more trouble than Maloney. He lined up his second target and charged. On the way he contacted Rene. "Hey, Rene!"

    "What? I''m kinda busy here bro." The snake around Rene collapsed. The power armor began to melt off the Alien as the AI attack went to work on the molecular bots that made up the armor.

    "Can you do anything with your sys-admin privilege to help out Jack?" Pierre missed the body check. The split concentration didn''t help. It did buy Jack some breathing room.

    He looped around and went again. He saw that JP went to help out Kieran Maloney.

    He charged the target again. And crashed into a high-density force field. He bounced off and performed a side loop this time.

    On the way back he saw that the power armor pilot get a shot off and hit Jack.

    There was an energy flare around Jack and the energy dissipated.

    ''I guess Rene was able to help.''

    Rene was able to help. He asked if Scarlett can develop a Telekinetic force field given that he had a level 3 Telekinesis.

    Scarlett said she can spoof the system. [He should have come up with a way to develop it himself.]

    While Jack was jumping around like a jackrabbit the Xerys System sent him an alert, {You have unlocked the skill Telekinetic Force Field.}

    {Level 1 Force Field available. Do you wish to deploy?}

    "Hell Yes!" Jack begged.

    {Level 1 Force Field active.}

    {Level Force Field has taken damage. Field Integrity down by 25%}

    He got hit again and gritted his teeth. The shock was jarring, to say the least.

    {Force Field Integrity at 50%}

    Jack continues to juke left and right. He saw Pete take another shot at the guy shooting at him and this time Petersen nailed the bastard. But he also got hit a 3rd time.

    {Force Field Integrity at 25%. Telekinetic Force Field skill is now at level 2.}

    ''Not worth it.'' he sprinted towards the silhouette on the ground and did a jump kick to where the head should be. This time the invisible whatever it was stayed down.

    Pierre saw that three power armor aliens were down, the one chasing Maloney retreated when JP went after it. Somehow he was able to track these things even when they were invisible. That left at least one more. The smart bet would be if that one made a break for it as well.

    Three big light flashed once and Pierre knew he was the ship''s next target.

    "SHIT! RENE TAKE HIM OUT!" he hopped his big brother knew what to do.

    Rene did. He saw Pierre take a full spread of energy fire, and hold. He didn''t know if he Pierre would survive another blast from all the ship''s weapons a second time.

    "FIRE!"

    AI-Rene did just that. He fired the Planetary Plasma Projector straight up.

    Nothing was left of the ship.

 23. The Second Fragment...Part 5...

    LEO Second Strike Group Dropship...

    The Second Strike Group was on its way to Ottawa, Canada.

    Strike group leader Ae''url was studying the chat notes sent from the First Strike Group leader Ja''ssie. What the Mechanoid officer found disturbing was the presence of four Omega class natives. The fifth native was a high Alpha.

    No one in her Strike Group was higher than a Beta. The Mechanoid cyborg was close to breaking through to the Alpha stage. The rest of the squad had far to go before they reach anywhere near the Alpha stage.

    "Ship, stealth mode please." She ordered the ship''s AI to start screening its presence from this point on.

    "Stealth mode active." Confirmed the AI.

    "Strike Leader?" The Alvear questioned the decision. The Alvear always questioned her decisions. Until the Alvear broke through to the Alpha stage before her, she was no threat.

    "Yes, trooper F''ouh?" She waited patiently for the Alvear to complain.

    "Why are we going into stealth mode? This is a primitive planet." She inquired politely. The Alvear always Inquire politely.

    "Please read this report." Ae''url sent a copy of the report to the strike group info-dump. "Everyone please read this report." She waited patiently until the strike group familiarized itself with the mission report.

    "This information...is correct?" The Alvear Inquired.

    Trooper B''oxq looked at slim Alvear with a frown. If you were a Sour or a Mechanoid, you can recognize the obvious Sour facial expressions. However, Alvear Who was not part of the diplomatic service did not study other races facial expressions. "Do you not believe what the First Strike Group Leader Ja''ssie had to report. The holographic evidence, coupled with the Dropship readings would indicate that this report is true and unaltered."

    The Alvear bowed her head politely. She knew that the Sour trooper almost worshipped Strike Group Leader Ja''ssie. "I believe the report. However, the report itself is unbelievable." She explained further, "A normal planet anywhere else in the galaxy produces a dozen Omega class individuals everyone generation. The first contact between a Strike Group and a native unit, with four, confirmed Omega class individuals and a High Alpha to low Omega class fifth member of the same unit is...worrying."

    "It is. Which proves that our Strike Group Leader is wise to approach the planet cautiously." Strike trooper L''ese said in support of the Strike Group Leader. L''ese was going to bite the Alvear if kept this insubordinate trooper did not clean up its act.

    Strike trooper F''ouh dropped the matter. She did not feel like getting bit, again, by the Drak'' on.

    The Dropship had reached the destination during the discussion.

    The crash site of the fragment of prohibited technology was easy to locate.

    The sensors were able to detect the exotic energy flooding the area. The entire city was flooded with exotic energy. The concentration of energy below them was ten times higher.

    "Make sure that your armor is fully operational. Set your protection fields to the highest setting." As a Mechanoid, the exotic energy held little fear. She did not have enough organics in her body to matter.

    "Trooper F''ouh please set the defense for the dropship." Strike leader Ae''url ordered as she exited the dropship. The rest of the Strike Group behind her.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    She hovered above the crater. The rest took up defensive positions. She fired her weapon on a setting that would only vaporize the water. At first, she did not find evidence of the fragment.

    She increased the energy to the sensors. At the highest magnification available to her power armor she began to trace the dissolved molecular particles of the fragment.

    "My scanner indicated that the fragment melted and merged with the water table." The Mechanoid leader waited until each member finished their assigned survey.

    The Sour was the first to report. The vegetation is contaminated.

    The Drak'' on was next. There are no large wild lifeforms detected on the ground. How cold does this planet get?" Trooper L''ese asked. It did not think life could survive at these temperature extremes, but the high-density housing surrounding this undeveloped area of land disputed his beliefs. He turned the scanner towards the tall vegetation and was rewarded with a couple of return signals. He flew towards the contact.

    Strike trooper D''ux finished his assignment. He rose higher into the sky. As an Around D''ux felt more comfortable in the sky. It was his race''s edge.

    Strike leader Ae''url sent trooper D''ux another assignment. She wanted to track down as much of the dispersed molecular particles as possible. There was not a thing that could be done about this contaminated area other than to lay down an orbital bombardment to cleanse the entire city.

    She sent her preliminary report to the Far Justice. She would let the high command make the decision.

    She noticed that trooper L''ese was chasing a pair of small animals. She scanned the contaminated animals and was surprised at the high concentration of exotic radiation leaking from the small lifeforms. ''They must have drunk the contaminated water.'' she concluded.

    Trooper L''ese was not able to catch the agile pair. The Drak'' on doubled its speed in an effort to catch the small black furred creatures.

    Again they eluded capture. Ae''url was intrigued. The Drak'' on began to use its speed ability, and yet it kept coming up short.

    The creatures were able to sense the invisible trooper and were fast enough to avoid capture.

    This went on for some time. The rest of the troopers had concluded their investigations and with the final results, she sent a comprehensive report to the Far Justice.

    She was about to order the trooper to let the creatures be when one of the tiny lifeforms jumped from the tree it was using to avoid capture and attacked trooper L''ese.

    Ae''url could see tiny energy blades cover the claws of the black animal. The database identified the species as a Squirrel. The rodent were known for their speed and agility. What they were not known for was the energy manipulation ability displayed before her.

    The damage was superficial, but over time it could damage the power armor. What she was witnessing was easily Alpha level, if not a low-level Omega.

    If not for the size of the creature she would have classed it as a low-level Omega.

    Trooper L''ese shook the creature off the power armor. It climbed higher than the tiny lifeform could follow.

    The armor repaired the damage quickly. The light began to wane and since no other direction was sent from the Far Justice, she told the troopers to wrap up.

    Ae''url detected three vehicles rolling to a stop on the western edge of the undeveloped land.

    Two vehicles matched vehicles assigned to the Law Enforcement organization known as RCMP.

    The officers began to exit the vehicles and were walking towards the crater. Ae''url concluded that they were assigned to investigate the area, the same as the Second Strike Group.

    The dropship sent an alert. "Two low Omega class individuals detected. The dropship identified the Omegas. "Two Gamma class individuals detected." Those other individuals were identified as well.

    "One non-scannable individual detected." The last one worried about the Mechanoid. He was an unknown that even the powerful sensors on the dropship were unable to penetrate.

    The party had reached the edge of the crater and Ae''url was not certain how they were conducting the investigation. They may have other senses. Omega class individuals were powerful in many ways.

    The mysterious individual was acting strangely. He was looking repeatedly at the dropship''s position. The others on the ground detected the dropship as well. Before she could order a retreat the dropship attacked the local law enforcement. This was the worst outcome possible. She was about to order a retreat when one of the Omega class activated a powerful Electrokinesis ability and an electrokinetic shell surrounded the earthling. Another ability was activated and the Omega flew towards the dropship.

    The troopers of the Second Strike Group attacked the local law enforcement unit on the ground.

    The Electrokine was hit by the dropship''s energy weapons. As Ae''url observed the fall the second Omega sprang to action. He flew fast enough to catch the first individual before he crashed into the ground.

    A furious battle was fought between the two units. Her Strike Group did not fare well in the encounter.

    The earthlings were not proficient in the use of their abilities, but the difference in power levels was massive.

    The biggest surprise was the non-scannable individual. When he activated a high-level Telekinetic Combat Shell she was thankful it wasn''t an Omega grade ability.

    When trooper L''ese was defeated she thought that was the worst that cycle happen. She was constantly revising the worst outcome in rapid succession.

    Again the non-scannable individual performed another ability. She concluded that it was a high-level Telemechanics, to remove the power armor from trooper L''ese.

    The duel in the sky between the flyer and trooper D''ux ended with a loss to the trooper. It wasn''t a serious loss a bit of effort would have freed the trapped Around.

    She was able to keep the speedster off balance until the Electrokinetic came to his side.

    While trooper F''ouh was double-teamed by the flyer and the Telekinetic on the ground.

    She ordered a retreat. The troopers aside from the Drak'' on were about to return to the dropship when the reliable AI that controlled the dropship began to fire every weapon it controlled at the earthlings.

    She was about to enter the dropship when her sensors blared an urgent warning to get away from the ship.

    Again the non-scannable individual began to emit a very high Omega level ability.

    She ordered the Second Strike Group troopers to get away from the dropship. They obeyed. Even the Alvear.

    The Plasma Projection fired at the dropship completely vaporized the ship. The output was of such ridiculous magnitude that the energy projectile exited the planet''s atmosphere.

    To make matters worse another Omega class unit arrived at the scene. Ae''url recognized the unit from Ja''ssie''s report.

 24. The Second Fragment... Aftermath...

    Ottawa, Canada...

    Captain Richard McLean and party flew over the Ottawa International airport under their own power. Most of them. Lieutenant Andrew Price had to hitch a ride along with Sgt. Petersen. While Petersen could fly. He couldn''t keep up with the three Omega flyers capable of flying into space.

    Their destination, the Armed Forces base north of the airport. McLean planned to hit up the intelligence officer for information on Rene Wilder''s whereabouts.

    Rene wasn''t responding to chat requests. With Electricity and cell towers still down, he couldn''t call, text or email Rene.

    "Tell me again Darling, how we are going to find your friend?" Lady Eleanore asked.

    Richard was about to shrug, but in the dark, he didn''t think she could see that. "I''m hoping someone at the base can help us out."

    As the party flew over the base Petersen let go of McLean''s hand and flew under his own power. The strongman of the group didn''t like being led by the hand, anywhere. "How about we check..."

    He stopped at the party looked at the light show going on just northwest of the airport.

    "Lightning in a snowstorm?" Lady Eleanore asked.

    "That''s plasma fire," Petersen added.

    "Grab hands." The party flew towards the fight as fast as they could. By the time they arrived over Bertona park, they could see that a war was fought on the churned up ground.

    Blast craters everywhere. McLean pointed at the RCMP cruisers on the other side of the park.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    "That''s a dropship!" He pointed at the hovering spaceship. There were two people in the air fighting against the power armor troopers.

    McLean landed beside an RCMP Special Constable, "Captain McLean, CAF. What''s going on?"

    Before Special Constable Stewart could reply the hovering dropship opened up and fired a bombardment at the humans in the Park.

    That''s when the plainclothes officer next to Stewart yelled, "Rene take it out."

    A man who had his back to McLean pointed his hands at the dropship and the energy blast he used vaporized the dropship. The plasma projectile exited the atmosphere and McLean''s senses could see it travel past the moon and exploded with such power that the released energy could be seen by anyone looking up at the night sky.

    "What do you want to bet that we just found your friend pet?" Lady Eleanore smiled at McLean''s stunned reaction.

    "Who are you, people?" The plainclothes man asked.

    A lightning clad man flew down to join them. "I got another alien uncle Pierre." The young man noticed McLean''s party, "Who are they?"

    "That''s what I wanna know. Who are you, people?" Before McLean could say anything, the man ignored them, he turned to the Special Constable and ordered, "I don''t care. Jack find out what these people are doing in my area of operation."

    He walked away with the young man beside him.

    "Captain McLean eh. What are you doing here?"

    McLean answered the question with a question of his own. "Who''s that?"

    The RCMP officer checked McLean''s uniform and shrugged. "That there is Commander Pierre Wilder with his nephew and brother. I saw you fly in a try to help out Captain McLean. Thank you for your assistance. But what brings the CAF..." Jack Stewart noticed that the beautiful woman had a British uniform and the young man picking at the trapped alien was wearing a US uniform. "You guys are a regular United Nations kinda bunch."

    Lady Eleanore laughed, all the excitement was over and it looked like they located a Rene Wilder after all.

    Sgt. Petersen walked over and shook Stewart''s hand, "Sgt. Petersen, and yeah we''re with a United Nations unit assigned to the current crisis."

    McLean took the opportunity Jamie bought him to go after the Wilder''s.

    That''s when a black blob rose from the ground and took the form of a man.

    McLean was about to blast the alien before it could attack, but the man they came to see turned around and said, "Don''t Ritchie. He''s mine."

    The black blob reformed into a black android copy of Rene.

    "The surprises of this day never end darling."

    "Scan for hidden targets." Rene was out for blood. With AI-Rene''s help, he didn''t have to reveal all his cards.

    "Ritchie, what are you doing here?" McLean was still gawking at the android copy of Rene.

    "Captain Eleanore Hastings." She extended her hand to shake.

    Rene shook the hand, "I do just fine, and you?" Rene wasn''t paying attention to the uninformed woman. His Spacial Awareness told him there were two more aliens about.

    "Captain McLean. I am Second Strike Group Leader Ae''url." An alien in a power armor appeared across from McLean.

    Beside her, a red-headed Elf dropped her invisibility.

    "Whoa. I didn''t know there were space elves involved dad."

    Pierre Wilder laughed, "Seriously JP? That''s what you boil this experience down to. Space babes."

 25. Reactions....

    LEO, NORTH ATLANTIC...

    GALACTIC FEDERATION CRUISER, FAR JUSTICE...

    Captain Fo''Rkon observed the bridge crew as they reacted to the confrontation on the planet, at the location of the second fragment.

    He was curious about how the violence erupted between the Second Strike Group and a local law enforcement unit.

    The RCMP, in the northern district of Canada, was judged to be a professional law enforcement service of the same caliber as the Galactic Police.

    If the planet was not under quarantine. The district of Canada would qualify for admission to the Galactic Federation. There were other districts in the world that could compare with this peaceful nation that prided itself on its strict adherence to the Rule of Law. They were compared favorably, in some area, but not others.

    Canadian society practice''s peaceful coexistence while surrounded by stronger neighbors to the south and north.

    Their military was much smaller than either terrestrial superpower, but what they lacked in manpower and equipment, they made up for that weakness by using a very strong diplomatic corps, and a highly trained military.

    They walked a tight rope between the two powers. They used the power of alliances and economic bribery. To deal with the southern power, and they specialized in training for extreme weather combat to deal with the northern power.

    They also used diplomacy to support one power against the other.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    They used the resources that would have gone to military and defense, to help improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Canadian district.

    Their law enforcement units were better equipped and better trained that quite a few planets in the federation.

    The Second Strike Group knew this. The information was part of the intelligence packet they needed to study before they reached the mission location.

    Armed with this information, why did the violence erupt after the mission was essentially completed.

    "Two more Omega class individuals have been detected." Science officer De''rew reported. "Omega class unit previously encountered by the First Strike Group has reinforced the earthling law enforcement unit."

    Fo''Rkon thanked the Alvear science officer. "Inform the Second Strike Group that they should withdraw. This confrontation makes no sense." Why are they fighting?

    "Order sent... Second Strike Group Leader Ae''url has confirmed the order to withdraw."

    As the crew continued to monitor this dust-up, an energy spike was detected.

    "What''s that?" Fo''Rkon asked.

    "Planetary defense system has become active." Science officer Ru''de reported.

    "What planetary defense? The earthlings do not have that kind of technology." Fo''Rkon decided to be more cautious. He did not like the speed of escalation between units. "Helm moves the Far Justice into a higher orbit."

    The Helm confirmed and moved the cruiser.

    "Captain the dropship has been destroyed." By the time the warning was delivered a powerful plasma projectile was observed leaving the atmosphere. It was nowhere near the Far Justice, but the power of the explosion when the projectile exploded was massive.

    "Status of the Second Strike Group!" Fo''Rkon requested.

    "Four confirmed...trooper L''ese has lost its power armor." The Alvear showed no emotion as he delivered the report.

    Councillor Me''peat entered the bridge. "Weapons!"

    "Sir!" The Sour officer came to attention.

    "Destroy the Planetary defense base. Immediately!"

    "Councillor that is not a wise decision. The Far Justice is not in danger." Fo''Rkon tried to stop this runaway escalation.

    "Weapons officer carry out your orders." Me''peat turned to the Drak'' on the captain. "You should have destroyed anything that has the power to break quarantine immediately."

    "Councillor we do not have enough information to make such a decision. The Second Strike Group has not reported finding such a defensive installation." Fo''Rkon knew that his objections were about to be overruled. For some reason, the Alvear hated this planet.

    "Captain an installation exists due to the evidence observed. Weapons destroy the base and everything around the base." Councillor Me''peat felt that he had won the argument when the weapons officer began the planetary bombardment.

    Bertona Park

    Ottawa, Canada

    "Planetary bombardment detected." AI-Rene android warned.

    "What?" Pierre was stunned, "Rene can you shield?"

    Rene didn''t know if it would work. He had yet to use that sub-ability. "I can try."

 26. Essential Service...

    Ottawa, Canada

    PMO, (Prime Minister''s Office)

    Langevin Block

    Jeff Reardon walked quickly through the dimly lit hall. Hydro Ontario was unable to get the electricity back on.

    The power generators were used to keep the recharge stations going. The only devices still working, had a battery as the power source.

    Laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The cell towers were down, but someone on the ball had set up a Bluetooth network around Parliament Hill and the major buildings around the Hill.

    The other reliable communication network available was the cold war network using the high-frequency radios used to contact the Armed Forces, RCMP, and NORAD.

    Jeff wished the NORAD connection stayed down. The Americans were threatening, and being annoying and obnoxious. Par for the course from the current administration. It''s like they forgot that for the last century or so Canada has been the US closest ally.

    Deep ties born from the same history, people and shared experiences both bad and good. Social, economic and military alliances were worthless in the eyes of the current government.

    To be fair the Americans were treating everyone the same. Now they were threatening all kinds of retaliation if they didn''t get some sys-admin by the name of Rene Wilder.

    The networks were down. How were they supposed to find this Rene Wilder?

    Jeff knocked softly at the door, counted to three and walked in.

    The PM looked up from the laptop he was working on. "What''s with the look, Jeff. The worst has already happened as far as I can tell. You should have progress reports." He smiled, Jeff had been a long time friend. Their friendship went all the way back to McGill university days in Montreal. He was one of the few people he could completely count on.

    "There''s good news and bad news." Jeff saw JT frown, "Good news is the storm we were dreading has become a godsend. Most of the population stayed home. On the east coast all the way to Manitoba, everything is snowed under. We can easily recover from that with the Essential Services Act."

    Jeff was proud of that one. His best idea to date. "The Prairies have been dealing with -50 temperature extremes, which means if they don''t need to leave their homes, they won''t. With the incentives, we introduced most will stay home."

    "And the west coast?" The PM asked.

    "They decided to light a joint en masse and take the week off." Jeff and the PM laughed. It was funny because it was true. Jeff remembered their days at the University of British Columbia. They smoked more than a few joints together. For some reason the entire west coast from Alaska to California, something keeps the people mellow. Most of them. Those that resist this mellow feeling, are the true trouble makers. There will be a cost, but it''s looking like they can afford to pay it.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    "If everything is manageable why the worried face Jeff?"

    Jeff handed the PM the dispatches from Washington. He waited silently while the PM went through the messages, one by one. He put them down with care and sighed.

    "Who''s this guy? This Rene Wilder. I remember joining his chats. When I tried to do one for the government, I was maxed out at twenty-four names."

    "They have sent a team to take him back to Washington. We don''t even know who this guy is, and they already sent a team." Jeff was fuming.

    "I thought all aviation was down due to the storm of the century." The PM was puzzled.

    "They flew in under their own power." A knock at the door interrupted the friends. "Are you expecting someone?" The PM asked. Jeff nodded yes.

    "Come in." The PM saw an older gentleman in the uniform of an RCMP Chief Superintendent enter the room. He did a quick salute.

    "I may have the information you requested Mr. Reardon."

    "Oh. Do tell." The PM was looking at Jeff as well.

    Jeff waived for the man to go on.

    "Yes, sir. This afternoon one of the volunteers we received at our HQ was a man related to one of our special unit commander''s. Commander Pierre Wilder to be precise."

    Jeff was about to interrupt when the PM raised his hand to stop him and motioned for the Chief Superintendent to continue.

    The Chief Superintendent explained everything in detail, up to and including the power he received. A quick demonstration of his ability to produce and manipulate water. He could produce a volume the size of a bathtub, and while he could shape it, the effort to do so was strenuous.

    There was an urgent knock at the door. "Did you invite anyone else, Jeff?" The PpM asked. Jeff shook his head, "No."

    "He might be one of mine." A quick chat check verified that it was one of the RCMP officers. "He is. And the matter is urgent.

    "What''s going on?" The PM asked.

    "Let me invite you gentlemen to the party. It will be easier to show you." The Chief Superintendent sent invite requests to the two men in the room. The Wilder fellow had given him the ability to add to the party.

    After the two men joined in, they saw a small window on the HUD where a fight was taking place in a park.

    When the fight was over the three leaders were stunned. "What did he use to destroy that ship?" The PM asked.

    His answer came from the Xerys System.

    {A Planetary Plasma Projector.}

    The three were still stunned by the implications of what they witnessed. They continued to watch as the situation kept escalating.

    "Dear God we can''t survive a Planetary Bombardment." The PM was about to start ordering people to start taking action when they heard Commander Wilder ask his brother if he could shield.

    They held their breathe until this mysterious Rene Wilder said he could try.

    They also saw the black metallic replica of the man grab the arm of the alien leader. A bright light went off and the alien slumped into his hands.

    Meanwhile, Rene Wilder cast a Force Field around 100 meters in diameter.

    "Bigger Rene." Demanded the brother.

    "Shut up Pierre." They could see the effort it was taking to cast the field.

    Then with a pop of displaced air, the field grew to a kilometre in size, and then again with a bigger pop to 10 kilometres this time.

    The bombardment hit the force field and even though they were just under the field they felt the ground shudder from the overwhelming pressure.

    The good news is that the force fields held. There were three more salvos from the spaceship when Rene Wilder''s hands began to glow again. They knew what that meant. He was going to fire back.

    A huge beam of energy flew through the atmosphere and exploded. The watchers were somehow able to witness the explosion beside the warship. It wasn''t a direct hit, but the weapons firing at the city of Ottawa were silenced.

    "He missed?" The PM and the people who witnessed the shot asked.

    "Warning shot." Was the explanation from the Wilder android. They saw the all black robot help the alien officer to her feet. "Please let your superiors know that the next shot will not miss.

    The alien must have done that, because the next thing they saw, was the spaceship leave earth orbit and fly behind the moon.

    When the action was over the PM asked, "what''s this as he tapped a red alert."

    Experience energy flooded the RCMP party one more time. Some were offered an ability to upgrade or a new ability.

    The PM chose Telekinesis. After watching what Special Constable Stewart did with it the PM was hooked. Jeff Reardon followed his friend''s action and did the same. He was seldom wrong.

    "Jeff please tell the Americans that Mr. Wilder is an Essential Service."

    "Yes, Prime Minister." Jeff Reardon thanked the Chief Superintendent as he led him out of the room.

 27. Essential Services... Recruitment...

    Bertona Park

    Ottawa, Canada

    Rene activated the Omega sub-ability Force Field. He was glad that he had someone help him with the first time activation of this essential power.

    [Now that you have the pattern set, slowly fill it up with energy.] Scarlett monitored the energy flow. [That''s it. Keep the flow steady.]

    ''Scarlet no interruptions, please. It''s hard enough as it is.'' Rene was almost done.

    When the pattern was filled with energy the virtual Planetary Base Force Field popped above the park.

    ''What was that noise?'' Rene flinched, he thought he failed to activate the Force Field properly, and they were all going to die.

    [Displayed air.] Scarlett''s calm reply settled his nerves. The initial level for this particular sub-ability was a force field about 100 meters. The second would be ten times larger.

    "I don''t think that''s gonna cut it," McLean observed.

    "Not now Ritchie." Rene knew that wasn''t big enough. The interruptions weren''t helping. He looked at the woman with Richard McLean and begged her with his eyes to do something.

    Lady Eleanore was a very smart lady. She had mastered basic body language when she was a teen. "Richard," she hooked elbows with the young captain and led him away. "Why don''t we let your friend save our lives without further adding to his burden." McLean got it. He knew that he shouldn''t have distracted Rene. He didn''t know what the could do. That left him feeling helpless. He could leave, but that would mean only his life and if his team came along, would be safe. The costa dead city. The capital of his nation. He released a breath he was holding when he heard another pop when the force field expanded to a kilometer. ''that might be enough.'' he hoped.

    A flash distracted him from the drama unfolding above the city.

    Rene''s Android still held the alien Strike Leader. Her eyes were open and the light was coming out of her eyes.

    "What..." He was about to redirect his attention to this new development.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    "No." Lady Eleanore insisted. "Whatever your talented friend is trying to do, do not interfere."

    "How do you know he''s talented?" He asked.

    The loud pop startled the two officers. The force field expanded one more time. Richard''s senses estimated the size grew by another factor of ten. The force field covered most of the city.

    "If that''s not talent, I don''t know what it would take to impress you." She whispered seductively into his ear.

    The shiver was involuntary. He saw that the Strike Leader was now standing on her own. She was still close to the android, but he wasn''t holding her captive.

    "What do you think?" He pointed at the mechanical duo.

    "They made friends?" She had no idea how mechanical people behaved. These two were something new. "Ooh." She held tight to Richard''s hard sculpted body. The entire Park was bathed in the blinding light of the first salvo of the planetary bombardment.

    No pain meant that Richard''s friend did as he promised. The earth shook under the overwhelming pressure, she guessed that Rene Wilder had anchored the force field to the ground. The blasts from space did not penetrate the shield, but the pressure from the powerful blasts had to go somewhere. "Impressive." And it was. "Encore." She hoped.

    Another salvo hit and again they were almost blinded by the light. However, the evolutionary abilities she commanded helped her withstand the light with little to no effort.

    Again the earth shook, but the time to worry about their impending destruction was passed. She didn''t let go of Richard, he was much too pleasant to let go off.

    Another salvo hit, "this grows tiresome. Mr. Wilder, could you please dissuade we would be overlords from continuing with this reckless display of might, and disregard for terrestrial life?" She knew she played it on thick, but she needed to get this new power moving in the direction she wanted, the right direction.

    "Good idea. Blast them, Rene." Lady Eleanore heard the brother as he endorsed her course of action.

    She could feel the energy build up from Mr. Wilder. He gathered the energy somewhere. She could feel it, but she couldn''t see it. "Richard, can you see what he''s doing?"

    "No. I think he''s holding the energy in a subspace pocket. I think we''re only picking up on the pressure and leakage. What a monstrous power." Richard saw Rene release the blast. It was more powerful than the one he used to destroy the dropship.

    The three UN Omega powerhouses used their new enhancements to follow the energy. The travel time from earth to low earth orbit was relatively short.

    The warship moved out of the direct path, but not fast enough. When the plasma projectile exploded the splash damage was enough to rock the spaceship.

    It wasn''t destroyed. It was a close thing.

    "You missed." Lady Eleanore observed.

    "It was a warning shot," Rene explained.

    "Nyet tovarish. It moves. Yuri saw."

    Rene smiled at the Russian, "I can guide the projectile."

    The implications of that simple statement flooded the watchers.

    "I can''t move it much in an atmosphere, but the longer the range the better. However, once it reaches space," Rene''s smile became vicious. "There''s no more resistance. I can move it faster than the spaceship can maneuver."

    The three UN Omega powerhouses tracked the warship as it made its best speed to the far side of the moon.

    Lady Eleanore saw that the other Wilder was watching with them. He was tracking the ship the same way they were. ''What an interesting family.'' she directed her senses to the Wilders and the energy she could feel around them was the same level of energy she felt around Richard and the others.

    "How would you Wilder''s like to work with me and Richard as part of the UN? You would get to travel and see the world and be paid for it." She gave them her best seductive smile.

    The teen was intrigued, but her weak attempt at seduction was reduced to nothing as he continued to hold the space Elf captive.

    The RCMP commander laughed at her idea. Flat out laughed. The nerve of this colonial.

    "No thank you, ma''am." My family is here in Ottawa. My friends are here. My work is here. Thank you for the offer but I am afraid I must decline."

    "I tried my best darling." She laughed as she looked at Richard.

    "Nothing ventured. Nothing gained." He held up his index finger, "one moment please El. I just received a party invite from the Prime Minister."

 28. First Recruit...

    Bertona Park

    Ottawa, Canada

    Strike Leader Ae''url was helpless. She was caught in a web designed by the Xerys System. It had the same feel as the System, but not.

    [[Greetings Strike Leader.]]

    *Who are you?* Ae''url has never felt this light. *What is this place, why is it so...so light?*

    [[Light?]] AI-Rene was puzzled by her statement for a minute. He went over the last few seconds again.

    First, the pulled her out of the communication system she was connected to. Into this private sub-system. Only the Mechanoid anthem were the users here. And a stripped down version of the Xerys System.

    The system he pulled her out of was really slow. It felt like he was swimming, upstream through thick molasses.

    The Galactic Xerys System was chocking on its own bloatware. Targeted commercials specific to every galactic citizen.

    The Earth-based Xerys System in comparison was like taking a dip in a crystal clear Lake with a fast-moving current that flowed in the direction you wanted to go.

    [[Are you referring to the lack of bloatware in our Xerys System?]] He asked.

    For Ae''ur,l this was a startling revelation. She was born into the Galactic System, and when she was removed from the constant pressure of the bloated data stream she lived with, she didn''t recognize the lack. Only that something was off. *I think so. I have never lived without it.*

    She relished this clean feeling for the first time in her long life. After she adjusted to this clean environment, she collected her thoughts and asked, *Why did you bring me here?*

    [[I have several urgent questions.]]

    Ae''url gave him permission to ask.

    [[Why did you call for a bombardment that would destroy a million lives?]]

    *Bombardment?* She then remembered the last order she received from the Far Justice.

    She was horrified at the barbarity of this hasty decision. Her unit was only five troopers. Why would the commanders of the Far Justice decide to destroy a city for five captured officer? *I did not call for, nor did I recommend such action. Nor would I judge such an action to be just.* Her sincerity convinced AI-Rene. Her words rung true.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    [[Then why did your superiors make such a decision?]] He was baffled. If the officers on the ground did not make this decision, then what prompted those above to decide that it was just to destroy a city? For what reason?

    Ae''url laughed bitterly. *I am now under quarantine. Until the bombardment destroys us all.*

    [[Why? Why are we under quarantine?]] The avatar in the power armor continued the interrogation.

    *The Galactic Federation is afraid of the Earth-based Xerys System. Until a galactic system administrator gives you earthlings a clean bill of health for your Xerys System, you and any sentient connected to the system will be quarantined.* She explained.

    [[I am sorry Ae''url for forcing you into this position. I did not know.]] He thought for a moment, for some way to make it up to her. After a deep scan. He found a way.

    *I am content. The quarantine will not last long for us.* She smiled.

    [[Oh. Why do you say that?]]

    *The bombardment.* She clarified.

    [[I see. I would like to repay you for what I have done. I note that you are ready to level up to an Alpha state. You have enough energy. Why have you not done so?]]

    *It is true. I have the required energy to do that. What blocks me from making the attempt is the energy it takes to break through what you call the bloatware.*

    [[I see. Then here take this gift to help you break through that wall.]] AI-Rene sent a large energy packet into Ae''url. Since he was the sys-admin for this closed system he could help her out.

    Before Ae''url could stop him, a large energy spike was absorbed into her very soul. She wanted to tell the avatar that there was no need for such a gift. This system had no bloatware.

    Ae''url reached the Alpha stage and easily broke through. No bloatware to stop her. The rest of the energy flowed back to her captor. And again the cycle repeated. Her captor was still feeding her energy. Each cycle she went through made her stronger. It also connected her essence with the essence of her captor. This Rene intelligence was caught by surprise as well.

    She guided the growing connection as best as she could. She did not feel that she was ready for such a deep commitment. She was still young enough to relish her individuality. She also knew that this merger was something she wanted to experience later in life. When she was ready to choose a mate.

    She laughed. Her mate laughed with her. She felt joy. He felt her joy and was happy for her and with her.

    If she was about to be destroyed by the bombardment, at least she would not be alone.

    The energy ran out and stopped circulating between them. The channels were open and until they were no more a different, more gentle bond would keep them connected until the end.

    [[Is this what I think it is?]]

    Ae''url laughed, *Yes. You proposed. I accepted. We are mated until we are destroyed by the bombardment.*

    Rene laughed

    That was not a reaction she could have predicted, *Why are you laughing?*

    [[My dear Ae''url we will not be destroyed.]]

    *You cannot deny the power of a galactic warship such as the Far Justice.*

    [[I don''t deny it. However my progenitor. The one who molded my Artificial Intelligence from his memory and personality has the power to stop such a bombardment.]]

    Ae''url could not believe this statement. She needed to witness this phenomenon for herself. *Only a high-level Omega could withstand such destructive power. I need to see this.*

    [[And you shall. Join me.]] He extended his virtual hand and she took it.

    A moment later they were looking at each other in the real world.

    With a quick look to check on her squad, she saw the state they were in. Three captives. the electrokinetic held trooper F''ouh captive. She did not struggle. Trooper D''ux was still trapped and under guard. He would survive. Trooper B''oxq was under guard and resigned to meet his end when the bombardment began.

    Lastly trooper L''ese. Was shivering in the snow. It was without the power armor needed to keep it alive.

    The Drak''on had three sexes. The young were sexless. Until they reached maturity after 250 cycles. After that,t they became either male or female. Like Captain Fo''Rkon the male Drak ''on in charge of the ship.

    She looked at her mate and asked. "Could you please make a protective shield for trooper L''ese? Before it expires from the cold." she requested hopefully.

    AI-Rene agreed. A small portion of the power armor that made up his new bio-mechanical body solid off and wrapped the shivering Drak''on in its protective embrace.

    [[Scarlett is there a way to replenish the mass I just split off?]]

    [You can collect the molecular bots that housed the Xerys artifact.]

    [[Please start the process.]]

    [I will send a signal to recall all the bits in rage to merge with your new frame.]

    [[Thank you.]]

    The world went white when the energy bombardment began.

    When Ae''url saw that the Planetary Force Field held under the hellish energy unleashed by the Far Justice, Ae''url knew that from this moment on she was under quarantine.

    She also knew that she was an Alpha and she was not alone.

 29. International Defense...

    Virtual Meeting

    Ottawa, Canada

    "Now that everyone has joined the chatroom let''s begin." Prime Minister Trudeau looked at the people around the round table.

    "Please introduce yourselves." The request from the PM might as well have been an order.

    "Captain Richard McLean. Special Forces assigned to the UN peacekeeping mission in Greenland. Above McLean, the information was displayed in an easy to read opaque window.

    <table width="447">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Richard McLean</td>

    <td>Captain: Special Forces</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 50

    Durability: 50

    Quickness: 50

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>

    Space Superiority Flight: Level Omega

    Environmental Force Field (Life Support): Level Omega

    Long Range Energy Projection (Plasma Beam):

    Level Omega

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Space Fighter Combat: Level Omega

    Long Range Sensors: Level Omega

    Long Range Sniper: Level Omega

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Sgt. Jaime Petersen assigned to the same mission as the Captain." The opaque window popped up above Petersen.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Jamie Petersen</td>

    <td>Sargeant: Special Forces</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 100

    Durability: 50

    Quickness: 50

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>

    Basic Flight: Level Gamma

    Environmental Force Field (Life Support): Level Omega

    Short Range Energy Projection: Level Omega

    Maximum Strength: +50

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Space Tank Combat: Level Omega

    Space Combat: Level Omega

    Long Range Sniper: Level Omega

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Chief Superintendent Levi, assigned to the National Capital." Another pop-up window appeared.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Danniel Levi</td>

    <td></td>

    <td>RCMP Chief Superintendent</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td></td>

    <td>

    Strength: 25

    Durability: 25

    Quickness: 25

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td></td>

    <td>

    Regeneration: Level Gamma

    Force Field: Level Gamma

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td></td>

    <td>

    Combat: Leve Gamma

    Investigation: Level Gamma

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "Pierre Wilder, RCMP Technical Department Commander." The same ID window displayed Pierre''s information.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Pierre Wilder</td>

    <td>RCMP Commander Special Operations</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 50

    Durability: 50

    Quickness: 50

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>

    Space Flight: Level Omega

    Environmental Force Field: Level Omega

    Long Range Sensors: Level Omega

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Combat: Level Gamma

    Investigation: Level Gamma

    Repair: Level Omega

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Sgt. Jack Stewart, Special Constable RCMP. Special Operations." The opaque window displayed its content.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Jack Stewart</td>

    <td>RCMP Sargeant Special Operations</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 30

    Durability: 30

    Quickness: 30

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>Telekinesis: Level Beta</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Combat: Level Gamma

    Investigation: Level Gamma

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    The next person was, "Kieran Maloney. Constable assigned to Special Operations." Another pop-up and on to the next person.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Kieran Maloney</td>

    <td>RCMP Constable</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 30

    Durability: 30

    Quickness: 30

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>Super Speed: Level Beta</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Combat: Level Gamma

    Investigation: Level Gamma

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Rene Wilder, Canada Post. Delivery Agent." When the others looked quizzically at Rene he explained. "That''s my actual title. Canada Post doesn''t say, the mailman. Too gender specific.

    There were ''Ahs'' and ''okays'' from everyone.

    "Mr. Wilder, why don''t you have an introduction window?" The PM pointed above Rene.

    Rene checked his status and found that it was still set to hide his information. He released the switch to display the information he gave.

    "More of that sys-admin ability?" McLean asked. Rene nodded.

    The look from the PM silenced the chatroom before everyone joined in on the impromptu discussion. "Let''s finish the introductions first gentlemen."

    Rene and Richard apologized. They were Canadian after all. They would have apologized for the weather if they could.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Rene Wilder</td>

    <td>Delivery Agent Canada Post</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 50

    Durability: 50

    Quickness: 50

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>

    Planetary Force Field: Level Omega (Max)

    Planetary Plasma Projection Cannon (Max)

    Planetary Sensors

    Level: Omega

    Telekinesis: Level Gamma

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Combat: Level (Max)

    Investigation: Level (Max)

    Repair Level (Max)

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Synergy Skills

    Hidden Panel

    </td>

    <td>

    Telekinetic Combat Skin: Level Alpha

    Spacial Awareness: Level Alpha

    Telemechanis: Level Alpha

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Jeffory Reardon</td>

    <td>PMO Principal Secretary</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 20

    Durability: 20

    Quickness: 20

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>Telekinesis: Level Gamma</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>Organization</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Jeffrey Reardon. Principal Secretary for the Prime Minister." Nothing else was needed to be said. This was the second most powerful political player in the country after the Prime Minister. The display window displayed...

    "Jean Paul Wilder. Student, Samuel Genest. RCMP volunteer." The status display was in red.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Jean-Paul Wilder</td>

    <td>Highschool Student</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 50

    Durability: 50

    Quickness: 50

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>Electrokinesis: Level Omega</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Combat: Level Gamma

    Repair: Level Gamma

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Samuel Genest? C''est un Coll��ge Catholique n''est pas?" The PM asked.

    "Oui." Paul was speaking with the Prime Minister. He kept his answers short. He didn''t want to embarrass himself in front of his father and uncle.

    "Quelle age a to?" Asked the PM.

    "I''m 17." He followed his uncle''s advice. Less is more.

    The PM turned to Rene and said, "Your son is still in high school."

    "He graduates in a few months. He''s already been accepted at Ottawa University." Paul deserved to be here as much as anyone else. He earned his place at this table.

    The PM dropped any further questions and moved on. 17 was old enough and the young man had more power at his command than most. In this new world, power spoke louder than words.

    "Ae''url. Species Mechanoid. Strike Group Leader. Quarantined." She still kept her rank. After speaking with Captain Fo''Rkon she was assigned as a liaison in the hopes of stopping the escalation of this emergency. As the Captain said, they have the power and it will be respected. Her job was to de-escalate the hostilities.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Ae''url (Mechanoid)</td>

    <td>Galactic Police Strike Group Leader</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>Hidden</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>Hidden</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>Hidden</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Rene Wilder, AI. No other affiliation."

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Rene Wilder AI (Mechanoid)</td>

    <td>Human AI</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>Hidden</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>Hidden</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>Hidden</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    The PM knew that this being was the true wild card of this bunch. If there was one person that he needed to win at this table, the AI was it.

    "I am Justin Trudeau. Prime Minister of Canada."

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Justin Trudeau</td>

    <td>Prime Minister Canada</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 20

    Durability: 20

    Quickness: 20

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>Telekinesis: Level Gamma</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>Leadership</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    "Let''s get this meeting started..."

 30. Meeting...

    Virtual Meeting

    Ottawa, Canada

    "This meeting will come to order." Jeff Reardon began the meeting. "First order of inquiry will deal with the attempted destruction of the City of Ottawa."

    Everyone looked at Ae''url. She did not appear nervous.

    ''Do robots get nervous?'' thought Rene.

    "Strike Group Leader Ae''url you said that you have an explanation. The floor is yours." Jeff sat down.

    "What floor? And why would I want a floor?" Ae''url asked.

    "Excuse me, if I may?" AI-Rene held up his hand.

    Jeff realized his mistake. She was an alien. He sighed. It would have been easier to deal with a Chinese delegation.

    Rene''s avatar sent Ae''url an information packet full of details on what was expected. How to behave in these types of inquiries.

    "I see. I am Ae''url Strike Group Leader assigned to retrieve the fragment that crashed in your city. I instructed my team to stay hidden during the recovery operation." Ae''url saw that the humans were paying close attention to every word.

    "Analysis of the data indicated that it all stemmed from one miscalculated action. You, humans, have a saying, ''For want of a nail, the war was lost.'' in this instance, it was the defense setting for the Dropship. Trooper F''ouh set the AI on aggressive defense. Our mission was over. We were about to leave the operations area when your Omega operative discovered our cloaked presence. When the Electrokinetic flew too close to the Dropship to investigate, the ship''s AI reacted with extreme aggression."Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    "It sure did. It got me pretty good." Paul complained.

    Rene sent Paul a private message telling him not to interrupt again. He also had the avatar send the same information packet he sent Ae''url. ''That should keep him busy.''

    Everyone ignored the outburst. An allowance was made for Paul''s age. However, a disappointed look from the Prime Minister stopped Paul from going further.

    "Then that''s how the fight started. Why did it escalate so quickly? Who made the decision to destroy our capital? A capital with over a million inhabitants." The PM wanted answers. This was not a small matter.

    "The escalation was due to the destruction of the Dropship. Councillor Me''peat invoked the quarantine protocols when the Omega used an ability equivalent to a Planetary Defense Base energy cannon."

    The Prime Minister turned to Rene Wilder. "How did you acquire this power, Mr. Wilder? Does it have anything to do with your sys-admin ability?"

    Rene had already fabricated an alibi that was as close to the truth as possible. "It was a mistake."

    "A mistake? I should hope we all have such luck with our mistakes." The PM waved for Rene to continue.

    "As you all know once a choice is made the Xerys System will not change the decision. I was about to choose an Alpha level ability when I laughed at one of the choices. Planetary Defense Base. The Xerys System took me literally and picked that choice. I wanted a flight ability like my brother, instead, I was stuck with a Planetary Defense Base. Worst choice ever. Or so I thought at the time. Since we are under quarantine it could not give me an actual base..."

    "I see where this is going." Richard McLean laughed. "It did the same to me as well, except I liked my ability."

    "What did you choose Captain McLean?" The Prime Minister was curious.

    "Space superiority fighter. I wanted to chase down the artifact and I blurted out what I wouldn''t give to be able to chase after the escaping half frozen space rock. It worked the same way as Rene''s choice." McLean had a smile on his face remembering the moment he made his choice.

    "Exactly. It gave me the ability of the base. A huge ass force field that l can''t use on a personal basis and an energy projectile that would remove large chunks of the planet if the plasma beam hit anything. Completely useless on a personal level." Rene complained.

    "Lucky for us it came in handy when you needed to save the city." The PM chose to ignore the fact that without firing the space cannon there would not have been a need to save the city. "Domino effect."

    "Unfortunately that''s the case, sir." Rene agreed.

    The Prime Minister turned back to Ae''url, "Strike Group Leader are we still going to have a problem with your people?"

    "No Prime Minister. When I informed Captain Fo''Rkon of the nature of the retaliation, he decided that an Omega class operative defending his home is not against the quarantine protocols." She explained.

    "Then until the quarantine is over you are assigned as our liaison officer?" Jeff Reardon asked.

    "I am assigned as his liaison." Ae''url pointed at the AI avatar.

 31. Meeting Aftermath...

    Virtual Meeting

    Ottawa, Canada

    Justin Trudeau watched as everyone left the virtual meeting. He wasn''t satisfied with the results. "Mr. Wilder, Rene please stay a moment." He requested.

    Rene agreed and waited until everyone dropped from the virtual connection. The Prime Minister, his Principal Secretary were the only ones left. "What''s on your mind, sir?"

    "I am not happy with the way this meeting has gone. Captain McLean''s decision has left us vulnerable." The PM began. "His first priority should be to his country."

    "Mr. Prime Minister I don''t think you''re seeing the big picture. Like my brother has said, Alpha and Omega teams are overkill. Our best chance to keep order will come from the RCMP Gamma powered corps."

    "I have listened to the commander''s words. I don''t think it will be enough." The PM knew that if he could convince this man to see things his way, this crisis would be much easier to deal with.

    "I can''t believe I am saying this, but thank God winter is here. It''s our greatest ally. Most of Canada is under 50 centimeters of fresh snow. That''s on top of the record snowfall already on the ground before this storm even began to add to our misery. Ottawa is secure. The radio is still working. Have the CBC announce that tomorrow and Friday are snow, Holliday. Everyone stays off the streets except for emergency situations. If they do have an emergency, send them an escort. The Chief had me add the Police department to the RCMP party. There''s no shortage in Ottawa of qualified personnel. Be bold Mr. Prime Minister. This is History in the making. How do you want to be remembered?"

    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    "Inspirational Mr. Wilder, but all it takes is for one person with mind control powers to destroy the dream you describe." The PM was not going to give up on getting his way.

    Rene saw that. He sighed. Again this was going to cost him, "If I can guarantee that will not happen will this make you secure enough to send help to the rest of the country?"

    "What do you have in mind?" He was curious. What could a sys-admin do when he was given the authority to implement real change.

    Rene gave his avatar the instructions to implement the changes through the original Xerys System. "Xerys create a global party." He requested out loud.

    {...Creating a Global Party...}

    Prime Minister Trudeau and his Secretary were stunned. "You can do that?"

    {...Global Party Created...}

    "Xerys share experience energy from the battle with the Galactic Federation Warship. Give everyone this specific ability. Auto-Mind block defense, and two-way telepathy for communication purposes only when an active Telepath starts a connection."

    {... Ability Generated...

    ...Level 1 ability granted to Global Party members...}

    "Xerys how many individuals have an active Domination ability?" Rene asked.

    {There are five Global individuals.}

    "Xerys place a permanent block on that ability."

    {Ability blocked permanently.}

    "Is this enough Mr. Prime Minister?" Rene''s eyes bored into the Prime Minister daring him to disagree.

    "It is enough Mr. Wilder." The PM knew what the man in front of him just gave up. He gave up another Omega level ability. He also showed the Prime Minister the extent of his sys-admin capabilities. They were monstrous.

    "As I said, Mr. Prime Minister. Be bold. History is in the making. This is an opportunity. The old world order is dead. Are you the man who''s going to lead us into the future?" Rene asked.

    "I am. I will do my best to lead every Canadian into this new opportunity." Justin Trudeau said firmly.

    "No Mr. Prime Minister. Not just Canada, but the world. This is why Richard McLean needs to be part of the UN defense force. He and his unit are needed to form a defense force you will suggest to the United Nations."

    "Communications are still down. The Americans will not share the NORAD systems with the United Nations. Not under the current administration." The PM was firm in his beliefs. He wasn''t wrong either.

    "Xerys create a United World Leaders Party," Rene said in front of the PM.

    {New Party Created.}

    "There''s your communications channel Mr. Prime Minister. You know what to do. Canada is in good hands. After all, we have Winter on our side." Rene left the virtual meeting room to the Prime Minister and his Secretary.

    "That is one scary individual Jeff." He looked at his longtime friend.

    "That he is Justin. But he''s also right. Are you bold enough to follow through?"

    "I really have no other option at this point, Jeffrey. Let''s get those invites started. We have a world to save." The PM said a little prayer and charged ahead full steam. History will not find him wanting.

 32. A Night at Bertona Park...

    Bertona Park

    Ottawa, Canada

    Rene was the last one back from the virtual meeting with the Prime Minister.

    He saw his avatar talking to Paul, "What are you two up to?" He knew of course. The avatar was him, and visa versa.

    "Dad?" Paul looked between the two identical men, "How?"

    "When you can control every molecule in your body, you can take any shape you want." The avatar looked over the park. Something was still nagging at the edge of his senses.

    "I''m thinking you need to Muddy the waters a bit." Avatar stopped looking around the park and heard Rene''s unsaid thoughts. "Right you are." The avatar blurred his appearance a bit. "How''s this?" The new AI-Rene android looked like a mix of Rene, his brothers, and Jean Paul.

    "Better. At least this way when you join Ritchie and his unit of Special Forces operatives you will draw the heat away from the family." Rene knew that distance was not an issue between the three of them. Scarlett and Avatar were still at the back of his mental headspace. The android was just another data input. The two Artificial Intelligences existed in an energy state that was the Xerys System.

    Rene saw that Paul was still playing with his phone. "Paul is this really the time to check your phone. I thought the network was still down?" Rene saw Paul going through his music selection.

    "I''m just backing up my playlist, pictures, and videos. You have no idea how close I came to smashing my cell during the fight." He pointed at the AI android of Rene, "I thought he was you. I asked if there was a way to save my private data, as you did with the contact list. He showed me the memory management system. It''s almost done." A popup from Xerys let him know that the backup was done. He also recharged his phone while he was at it. Being an Electrokinetic was the best.

    Richard McLean walked over with the female officer. "I couldn''t help hearing, you were able to transfer your data from the smartphone?"

    "Hi, uncle Ritchie. Sure did." Paul remembered Richard from the time he was a student with his dad. They had him over for winter BBQs and stuff.

    "Do you think you can show me? ''Cause your dad isn''t sharing." McLean said it with a smile.

    Rene gave him a light shove, but he too smiled.

    The woman giggled at their antics. "You boys never do grow up." She gave Paul a dazzling smile and touched his elbow. "It''s Paul right?" She shook Paul''s hand while he looked her up and down.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    ''Damn she''s a looker, even in her parka. Why''s she coming on to me like that?'' he thought. She put her hand on Paul''s shoulder and said, "Captain Eleanore Hastings RN. Nice to meet you"

    "Nice to meet you too Captain. RN?" He asked.

    "I forget that Canadian society is not hyper aware of the monarchy. RN stands for Royal Navy dear. Still projecting the dazzling smile. "Will you show what to do Paul?" She breathed close to his ear.

    Paul experienced a full body shiver. "S s sure." He walked her through the memory management system.

    Rene was doing the same with McLean. "Isn''t she laying it on a bit much?"

    After making sure he went through the process to transfer and back up his data, "Nah that''s pretty much her all the time." McLean put his smartphone away. "Are you sure you''re okay with sending your android with us?"

    "Ritchie I am my android." The android said as he came close to the two men. "Bio bro there''s something not right about this place."

    "Did you finish cleaning up the park?" Rene whispered.

    "Yeah the park''s clean, but there''s stuff that got into the water table. There''s no way to clean that stuff up." He scanned the park again.

    Rene saw where the avatar was looking. "You might want to change your first name." He concentrated on his spacial awareness and suggested, "How about Joe?"

    "The middle name?" Joe shrugged. "So I am Joseph Rene Wilder. Cute."

    "You guys do know that I am still here, right?" McLean asked.

    "Don''t be an idiot Ritchie. If I didn''t trust you, do you think we would have said all that out loud?" Rene and Joe both said, "There!"

    They pointed at the trees. "The trees?" McLean looking in that direction. He didn''t see a thing. Other than trees and a couple of squirrels.

    "The squirrels." They said in unison.

    "Seriously?" McLean looked at the pair incredulously.

    "They were there when the artifact crashed in front of me," Rene said.

    "They took off," Joe said as the pressure he felt when they were under watch disappeared.

    "I''ll keep an eye out for them. After all, I still have to walk by this park five work days a week." Rene saw that Ae''url was walking in their direction.

    When Ae''url reached them, she greeted each by name. "Captain Fo''Rkon has sent a dropship to pick up the rest of the Strike Group."

    "And you will be joining us," McLean asked.

    "I''ll be joining him." She pointed at Joe.

    "Looks like you got your sys-admin captain, and a Galactic Federation liaison," Joe said with a smile.

    "Sure. Why not!"

    Joe created a new party. He sent the invites to McLean''s friends.

    "Why are you making a new party?" McLean asked.

    "Mine is more secure and has access to the Galactic Federation skill base," Joe explained.

    "Oh. I''m all for the new Galactic level type of skills.

    McLean warned everyone to expect the arrival of the dropship.

    "Before it gets here could you create a copy of trooper L''ese power armor. It would lose face if it returns without it." Ae''url requested.

    "No problem. I have enough mass to create another suit of power armor." Joe created a power armor around his body and stepped out of it.

    "Thank you." Ae''url took the armor and went over to her squad.

    Trooper B''oxq met her with the other troopers. He saluted and said, "Strike Leader are you sure you want to stay on this primitive rock?"

    Ae''url smiled with her new human appearance. She gave trooper L''ese his armor. As soon as he put the armor over the life support film that Joe made for him, the armor melted and reformed around the Drak'' on.

    "Much better. Thank you for getting me my armor back Strike Leader." The Drak'' on the bow.

    "You are welcome trooper L''ese." Ae''url bowed back.

    "The dropship has arrived." Trooper F''ouh announced.

    "So it has." Ae''url did not show emotion. She knew the Alvear was responsible, but she could not do anything about it. For now.

    When the dropship landed, the Troopers flew into the open bay. The bay doors closed quickly and the dropship left as fast as it arrived.

    "So that''s a spaceship?" Paul said as he looked at the dropship until it disappeared.

    "Don''t worry love. We have one just like it. I''ll give you a tour if you''re a good boy someday." Lady Eleanore laughed at Paul''s stunned expression.

    "Hey. I''m not a boy. I''m a man." He insisted. Lady Eleanore laughed even harder.

    Paul gave up. She was just too pretty to stay mad at.

    "It''s time for us to leave as well Rene." McLean and Rene shook hands.

    "Be careful Ritchie. If the shit hits the fan you know how to reach out to get help." McLean agreed. If they needed a heavy hitter, Rene was about as heavy as it gets.

    "Time to leave people." McLean gathered his party with two new additions and flew out of the storm front covering the capital of Canada and much of the eastern seaboard.

 33. The Hunt for the Third Fragment...

    United Nations Recovery Base.

    Greenland Iceshelf.

    Half an hour and a short suborbital flight later saw seven powerful individuals land in front of the command building.

    Colonel Allister was already waiting with an angry scowl on his face.

    "Does that man have any other expression, or had his face froze that way long ago?" Lady Eleanore complained about the party chatroom.

    "I''ve never seen anything but his angry puss." Lieutenant Andrew Price replied.

    Captain McLean and the other military personnel saluted. "Sir."

    "At ease captain." Colonel Allister returned the salute. "I see you''ve come back with more people than I sent you out for?"

    "Yes, sir. May I present Ae''url Strike Group Leader of the Galactic Federation and liaison."

    "Ma''am." Allister showed his best manners.

    "Greetings Colonel Allister." Ae''url replied.

    "Sir may I also present Joseph Rene Wilder of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service."

    "You''re our sys-admin..." Colonel Allister didn''t know if the man was military or not so he left the question open-ended.

    "That I am. But I''m only the sys-admin for this star system. Don''t expect my influence to extend to the Galactic Federation Xerys network." Joe shook the colonel''s hand, "Don''t expect much out of a closed system administrator."

    "Good to have you with us. The pressure from the top to find you have been tremendous." Allister explained.

    "The Prime Minister has given me direct orders to help out the United Nations with any problems that are caused by the Xerys System." Joe again didn''t salute.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    "That''s good. We''re going to transfer you to the SS American as soon as possible. The boys at the Pentagon are waiting for you." Colonel Allister cracked a rare smile. He had come through on an impossible mission. There might even be a promotion for this.

    "Why am I going to the Pentagon. I thought I was sent to help out with the United Nations?" Joe knew that this was coming.

    "Son the American armed forces are this world''s first line of defense. The best possible Network to lead that defense is at the Pentagon." Colonel Allister believed every word he was saying.

    "No disrespect colonel Allister, but my orders are to help out with the UN efforts. Nothing was said about becoming an American asset." Joe explained to the American officer.

    On the party chat, Lady Eleanore said with a smile, "And the scowl is back. It certainly did not last long."

    "If you will excuse me, Colonel Allister, I simply must check up on Clive." Allister waved her away. He didn''t need the flirty Brit to muddy up these frigid waters swirling around him.

    "Young man this has already been decided. You will be joining our team..." Joe stopped the man from continuing.

    "Stop with the patronization. First I am the same age you are. I am not a young man. The arrival of the system has taken years off and thank you for the compliment, but it''s still not enough to redirect me from the UN service. My orders from my government are clear. The Prime Minister himself gave me these orders. I am seconded to the United Nations. Now, what does the United Nations require?"

    "I believe the hunt for the fragments would be the best place to start. The third fragment crashed north of a city called Dallas." Ae''url suggested.

    "That''s news to me. No one said anything about that yet." This was his UN mission after all. The recovery of the artifact. "Captain you are in charge of these people. I need to find out what''s going on."

    Colonel Allister went inside the command building. ''How the hell am I going to explain this? Why hasn''t the president explained to the Canadians what they are supposed to do?'' he walked straight to the communications pit. Get me through to America." He ordered his tech geeks.

    Base Hospital

    Lady Eleanore walked in the front door and went straight to her fiancee''s bed. "Get up you lazy bastard." She placed a kiss on his lips.

    He slipped her the tongue. She was having none of that. her retaliation was to immediately invade his mouth. She completely dominated her lover.

    "Do get up luv. Why are you still in bed?" She asked.

    "Would you like to hear a story little girl?" He replied with a mischievous smile.

    "Ooh. I love stories." She jumped on top of Clive and rested her head on his chest. "Alright. I''m ready."

    "Comfy?" He smiled and hugged her close.

    "Yes. Now please tell me a story." She requested in a little voice. She knew it drove her lover crazy.

    The rest of her party arrived and saw the lovers lying in bed together.

    "Should we not leave?" Ae''url asked, "I believe they are about to perform a mating ritual."

    "This I gotta see." Andy pulled up a chair.

    "Yes! Is a good show. I have seen it many times." Yuri pulled up a chair as well.

    "We are not having the sex you stupid barbarian." Lady Eleanore yelled. Not that she was shy, and it''s not like the voyeuristic pig hadn''t walked in on them often enough while they were still at school.

    "Nyet. I recognize position number seven. You are about to have vigorous monkey sex." He nodded his head in confirmation.

    "Yuri I am about to tell a story," Clive told his oldest friend.

    "No monkey sex?" He sadly asked.

    "Maybe later, after the story," Clive told him gently. He loved that oblivious act. Yuri was a master at it.

    "He tells good stories. We stay." Yuri nodded firmly again to Andy.

    "Shouldn''t we be getting ready to go to Dallas?" McLean asked. Obviously, he never heard any of Clive''s stories before.

    "Richard shut up and pull up a chair. Dallas will still be there when we get to it. We do have a spaceship after all."

 34. The Villains...

    United Nations Recovery Base

    <u>Greenland Iceshelf</u><u></u>

    "Gather round, children as I tell you a tale." Lady El interrupted her lover. "Is there a princess in this tale?" She asked.

    "Ye,s there is. But if you keep interrupting you won''t find out what happens." He admonished her. He hugged her tighter to show that he loved her but she also needed to stop teasing if she wanted to hear his tale.

    She wiggled over his body to get more comfortable and to make sure that he came out alright from the coma she left him in when she joined Richard and his crew.

    "This tale starts one fine morning..." He began again.

    "Which morning?" Asked Yuri.

    "Yuri!" Clive warned.

    "What? Is too much to ask which morning?" He smirked. He loved Clive''s stories, but he loved needling his friend even more.

    "It was this morning." Clive gritted his teeth. This pair had perfected this act long ago.

    "Da. This morning...we''ll go on."

    Dr. Clive Thomas sighed, this will not do.

    "Xerys from the party."

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    {Party formed.}

    "Add Eleanore Hastings..."

    {Unable to comply...}

    "Why not?" Curious he thought.

    "Richard McLean..."

    {Unable to comply...}

    "El explain?" You had to be firm with El.

    "Ask him." She pointed at Joe.

    "Very well. I am Dr. Clive Thomas, and who might you be? Man who doesn''t exist." Clive had been able to scan everyone in the room. Even the Cyborg.

    "Joe Rene Wilder. I am. Therefore I exit." He joked.

    "Not to my senses you don''t. I can sense every single lifeform in a 100 km area. Except for you. Care to explain?" Clive found a mystery. He loved mysteries.

    "Oh. A moment please..." Joe checked with Scarlett and with her help they found Clive''s power set.

    [Clive Thomas is User 9. He''s an Alpha level user. A mental adept.The first ability is an evolved brain. The second Alpha ability is mental energy manipulation. He also has two Gamma level abilities. Telekinesis and mental constructs.]

    [[Thank you, Scarlett. What do I need to change to show up on his mental radar?]]

    Scarlett was quick to help him with the changes necessary to appear on the mental landscape.

    "How''s that Dr. Thomas?" Joe asked.

    "That is absolutely the scariest thing that I have encountered since this morning." This Joe kept adding to his miraculous accomplishments. "I can now see you. We''re going to discuss this soon. Why can''t I add these fine people to my party?"

    "That''s probably due to the private Party network we''re on. How about I just add you?" Joe sent the invite anyway. If Dr. Thomas wanted to join he could, and if he wanted to reject, that too could be an option.

    "Thank you for the invite." He accepted. After a quick check through the features he couldn''t see the difference. He asked, "What''s different? I can''t tell."

    "I know." Lady El giggled. "This network has access to the Galactic Federation skills database."

    "That''s certainly something I could not even think to check for. The skills and abilities list is only available when it''s time to choose either a skill or an ability." He wondered just how that came about. So he asked, "how did you access this exalted list?"

    "Are you ready for the answer darling?" He could see that his love was just brimming with mischief today.

    "Very well. Hit me." He braced himself.

    Yuri got up to hit him. Clive sighed, "sit down Yuri." He knew how the Russian prankster thought.

    Yuri shrugged his shoulders. There would be other occasions when Clive''s guard was down.

    "You guys are a laugh riot." Joe smiled. They were mildly amusing.

    "Well?" He looked at El.

    "He''s...A... Xerys System sys-admin." She spread her hands apart, Tadddaa! Surprised?"

    "Absolutely. How did this come about?" He asked.

    "Not sure myself. He hasn''t really said." The man was immune to every trick she tried. "Enough, it''s your turn. You promised a story."

    "So I did. You better sit down for this one." He went back to bed and Lady Eleanore climbed back and snuggled into his chest.

    "This is a story about a man named Johan Schmidt..." as the story began the group was transported to the morning. When the artifact was pulled from the bottom of the icy ocean and an assault dropped on the base from the cloudy skies.

 35. The Second User...

    United Nations Recovery Base

    Greenland Iceshelf

    Clive took everyone in the party on a virtual trip through his memories. Even Joe went along for the ride.

    Clive''s voice provided the narrative for what they were looking at.

    "Johan Schmidt of Hamburg, Germany. Thirty-six years of age. He''s the lead chap, waiting to jump from a perfectly functional airplane."

    The party saw a large man in winter camouflage, with the gears of war on every possible hardpoint on his combat harness.

    "He''s a retired ex-NATO officer. A lot of these mercenaries worked with him at one point or another. He''s in it for the money."

    They saw Johan and his men jump out and dive at the UN base. They all wore wingsuits, and not everyone in the first wave to drop on the base made it. They took fire from several dugs in positions, but enough men got through from the first wave.

    On the ground they could see men running around, some were getting into defensive positions, while others were charging forth in combat buggies and other small, fast winter vehicles.

    Johan noticed a soldier running for a combat buggy that slowed down enough for the man to jump in. He then lost interest and concentrated on the landing.

    He glanced at the sky long enough to make sure that the second wave was deployed.

    This time there were light aircraft and power armor on the way down. He raced towards the platform.

    The objective was in sight. He ran as fast as he could with three others behind him.

    The scientists had raised the frozen rock and were moving it to a metallic pallet.

    Johan put away the assault rifle and took out an electric-shock battlestaff. He took the ramp running and clubbed a couple of scientists out of the way.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    He reached the objective when he was intercepted by Richard McLean and Sgt Petersen.

    They saw the fight between the soldiers and the fight behind them when Lady Eleanore and Yuri surprised the mercenaries and took them down hard.

    Then came the bright light and along with that light came the agony. The universe went dark, and then there was another bright light.

    {Second user detected...} They saw the man make his selections. Alpha-class Camouflage Force Field, Alpha-class Telepathic Domination. Alpha-class Super Speed.

    The soldier''s image blurred and they saw as Richard flew like a rocket out of the base, and Petersen gets up after getting up recovered from his wounds. Henderson ran up to Petersen and the two soldiers began to secure the base.

    As they began to get the men moving Johan was doing the same thing with the mercenary survivors.

    The wounded were left behind. Johan collected two dozen men and he covered their retreat with his Camouflage field.

    A few soldiers in Canadian forces parkas tried to stop them, but a mental blast from Johan stunned them long enough for the mercenaries to make their getaway.

    The objective was gone. There was no reason to stay. When the mercenaries were far enough, Johan called for a pickup.

    He was told he was on his own. Johan flew into a rage at the betrayal. He reached out with his mind and forced the sub commander to keep his word.

    Johan was about to go back through the UN base. His new power to dominate those around him would enable him to take over the base with ease. They would take a few vehicles to facilitate their escape.

    That''s when another mind stopped Johan from continuing any further.

    A quick, but brutal struggle, a battle of wills took place with Clive coming out on top.

    Johan disengaged from the battle and put his Camouflaged force field back on. Clive knew where they were, approximately, but not precisely. His presence aura permeated the area, and Johan decided that it was better to stay hidden.

    He knew that there were others with powers. The flying officer was back, and reinforcements began to arrive.

    He led his men through the icefields at a brisk pace. No one complained. He doubled the speed, and again when the men kept up.

    They reached a break in the ice and the black tower of a submarine was waiting for them. They embarked quickly and the submersible disappeared beneath the waves.

    As they sped out of the area Johan''s powers kept them invisible from the searching ships.

    After a few hours, Clive''s presence could not reach any further and the submarine successfully escaped from the tightened net around the UN Recovery Base.

    "Bravo. Is a great story. But Yuri only had a very small part." Clive shrugged. It wasn''t like the Russian did much.

    "I thought it was a nice story." Lady Eleanore kissed Clive to show her appreciation.

    "So that''s what happened?" Joe had a different perspective on the event. What he saw from the evolved Xerys System lacked the human touch. "You know we owe that guy."

    "How do you figure?" McLean asked.

    "If it wasn''t for his attempt to steal the artifact it wouldn''t have gone off the way it did. It would probably be in some super secret private lab somewhere."

    "Yes. Where it belongs." Clive argued.

    "You''re saying that because you would have been one of the people in charge of it. The benefits would have dribbled out and most of the power would have gone to governments with too much power in their hands already. I think I prefer this outcome."

    "I do enjoy the benefits, as you call them, but the price was too high." Clive was getting upset with this blighter.

    "Hey take it, easy man. It''s not like I''m the one who started all this crap. It was you people who pulled the space rock out of the ocean." Joe was not going to take the blame for what they did.

    "Enough. Clive do you want to join us in Dallas?" McLean asked.

    "I would love to. However, I can''t fly." Was the snide remark. He was still upset with the system administrator. The nerve of the man. He was also upset because he knew that this man was beyond the reach of his powers. Most vexing.

    "Don''t worry about that dear. We have a spaceship." Lady Eleanore giggled at his stunned reaction.

 36. On the Move...

    North Atlantic Ocean

    South of Greenland

    Johan Schmidt sat beside the sub''s captain. He didn''t trust the man. He was far too shifty and full of himself.

    Gordon Ramsdale was cashiered out of the Royal Navy for unsavory practices. Which in Johan''s opinion was Brit-speak for a right bastard?

    Johan was a mercenary, but he was honorably retired from active service. He was selective in his choice of contracts.

    He avoided contracts on women and children. Female soldiers were fair game. He was not fooled by gender. Female soldiers were just as deadly as their male counterparts. Like that British officer that took down Hussain and Alberto.

    "You should be thankful l came back for you lot. These waters are thick with naval craft from most western nations. Even the bloody Russians are out there in that mix." Ramsdale complained.

    Johan had let him complain mostly to keep the man from suspecting that he manipulated his feeble mind. However, enough was enough.

    He accessed his Telepathic Domination power and sent a command to "shut-the-hell-up!"

    {Power inaccessible.}

    "What do you mean power inaccessible? I just used it a few hours ago." He complained. What the hell is going on? He checked his other abilities.

    They worked just fine. On the HUD he checked the abilities tab. The power was still listed. It was greyed out, but still there. "Xerys why is this ability greyed out?" He asked.

    {This ability is no longer available on the Xerys System.}

    "Why? What changed?"

    {Unable to comply.}

    Johan was incensed. But how does one argue against a system? He was grateful for the powers. Every pain and ache in his body disappeared. He still felt cheated.

    He noticed something new under the abilities tab. Auto Mind Block.

    "Xerys I don''t remember choosing this power. He tapped to highlight his ability.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    {The ability is a gift from the system administrator to every human on this planet.}

    "I didn''t ask for this power. Could you remove it and return my original choice?"

    {Unable to...}

    "Yes. Yes. Unable to comply."

    {...comply}

    "Did this system administrator remove my ability?" He asked.

    {Ability has not been removed.}

    She was right. The ability was still listed. Just not accessible. He tried a different question, "Is the system administrator responsible for removing access to the ability?"

    {Unable to comply.}

    ''Fucking Hell!''

    "Who are you arguing with a mate?" Gordon Ramsdale asked. The bloody git was making him nervous. Insane people, in general, were best avoided at all times.

    "The Xerys System." He looked at Ramsdale and asked, "Gordon check your abilities tab."

    "What? Why ever for?" This was making him nervous.

    "There has been a change. I want to see if you have received anything new?" Johan asked in a polite reasonable tone.

    "Oh. Dash it all...hold on..." Gordon checked his abilities tab and saw that there was a change. Beside the Hydrokinesis class beta ability, there was now a Mind Block ability set to auto function. He checked the description and found that it was a beneficial ability. "That looks like it''s a damn useful ability. Whoever this system administrator bloke might be? He sounds like a decent sort." Gordon thought about the descriptions some more. He added, "Also frightfully dangerous."

    "Why do you say that?" Johan asked. He knew why, but he wanted to hear what the slippery Brit had to say.

    "Use your head man! Look here!" He pointed at the abilities tab. "The information says that this is a gift to everyone on the planet earth. Just how powerful do you have to be to be able to do that?" Gordon waved his hands in the air trying to explain to the thick-headed Jerry. "That''s global level influence!"

    "You are right of course. That is frightfully powerful. I wonder why he gave us this gift?" Johan was still suspicious that this system administrator was responsible for the block placed on his most powerful ability.

    "I don''t know, but I am not about to turn something this useful down. Can you think of something more dreadful than to have someone muck around in your head?" Gordon dismissed the topic. It was too dangerous to dwell on. He had always tried to stay beneath the notice of the powerful people. Especially those that can crush you like a bug. "Are you still covering our escape?"

    "Yes." The fool had asked that question every few minutes. "Make the best speed possible out of these infested waters."

    "Infested waters. Ha ha ha. Good show. Ha ha ha. Most amusing." He still checked the speed to make sure that they were leaving these dangerous and indeed ''Infested Waters. Ha. I think I am claiming credit for that one.''

    Johan sighed. The man was a fool. But for the time being, useful.

    Far Justice

    Far Side of the Moon

    Councillor Me''peat was waiting beside captain Fo''Rkon in the Dropship launch bay. They were waiting for the Second Strike Group.

    The bay was open. The dropship was on final approach.

    It didn''t take long for the ship to land in the spot designated to this dropship.

    The Troopers of the Second Strike Group flew out and landed in front of the captain.

    "I have read your reports. Do you have anything else to add?" The Drak'' on captain asked.

    "No Sir." Was the unanimous reply.

    "Report to the training immediately! Dismissed!" Captain Fo''Rkon flew out of the launch bay. Leaving ashamed squad behind. They were defeated by savages. Powerful savages. True. Still savages.

    "I don''t think the captain was happy to see us." Joked trooper F''ouh.

    "Correct trooper F''ouh. He''s not!" Confirmed the councilor.

    "Oh good. I thought it was just me." The rest of the squad gave her funny looks as they left to report for remedial training.

    "Trooper F''ouh stay a moment." Me''peat requested.

    "Certainly sir." When the rest of the unit left. Councillor Me''peat led trooper F''ouh to a private meeting chamber. He had this chamber prepared in advance.

    When the privacy force fields were active the interrogation began in earnest.

    Before she was dismissed the counselor asked, "What is your conclusion?"

    "My conclusion is that the humans are far too close to the Alvear ideal. And that there is a system administrator on the planet."

    "When you are done with your training come to my chambers. There you will receive a full briefing and a new mission." Me''peat left the chamber. Trooper F''ouh waited for a moment and then shrugged. The councilor had not told her anything new. She left to join her squad mates.

    The defeat had been humiliating to her pride. Defeated by savages of all things.

 37. Meetings...

    A Virtual Meeting...

    Justin Trudeau sat across from sixteen world Leaders. The big five wereChina, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    Ant��nio Guterres the Secretary general sat between the big five and the ten non-permanent members. He tried to chair the meeting, but as usual, the American president was being as obnoxious as ever. Justin had been trying to convince the Leaders that the best strategy to try was to give their populations time to adjust.

    For most of North America and Europe, winter was doing most of the work for them. Where the situation became difficult was in hot or temperate climates.

    "We need to keep people off the streets for a few days. The learning curve to migrate most of the communication networks to the Xerys System. Until we get reliable power to the electric grid and get the internet back up and running." Gene Wilder and his family were recalled from the crash site. The situation in Bertona Park was contained and under control.

    With the help of the Wilders. Canada was developing a backup communication system using the Xerys chat function. By morning most of the basic government infrastructure would be back up. Justin still wanted to keep his citizens off the streets over the extra long weekend.

    The Leaders were listening. Justin had Rene shadow the meeting. No one else knew about the sys-admin at the table. When Justin needed to show everyone something Rene Wilder made it possible. The thorn in his side has been from The loud man with the bright orange hair.

    "How can you keep talking like that Justin? The Aliens tried to blow up your city, with you in it." Potus didn''t get it. The man and his family were almost atomized by ''God Damn Aliens'' from outer space. These Aliens were responsible for the destruction of his artifact. It was their fault and this peacenik was trying to soft sell it as a misunderstanding.

    "A point of order if I may." Theresa May the British Prime Minister tried to intervene. Her assets on the scene had painted a far different picture of the crisis than what POTUS was trying to do.

    "No May! You''re not gonna take his side in this. This was like a nuclear attack these Aliens aren''t afraid of blowing up cities, so we shouldn''t be afraid to blow up their ships.

    "Mr. President this was an averted tragedy. The evidence I have been presented by both Mr. Trudeau and by my own officers at the scene verify the gross nature of this misunderstanding." Again she was interrupted.

    "What officers May? You only had that flirty girl there, and what my officers told me is that she didn''t do much. She probably flirted with the Aliens. I was told there were Elf babes. I don''t mind those kinds of Aliens, the reset will be treated like all illegal aliens trying to take over our home." My God but these people were dense. What was it gonna take to get them off their butts and follow his lead? "Hold on I need to take a whizz."

    POTUS dropped out of the chatroom and looked at the general who had saved him from sitting with those morons. "What is it General?"

    "Sir we''re having problems with the sys-admin" he gave POTUS the folder that had all the condensed information. POTUS took the folder and gave it to one of the secret service menYou could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    .

    "Why don''t you justsummarize it for me?" He waited for the General to start talking. General Dun did not growl at the POTUS. However, the feeling of dissatisfaction of having to deal with this man child was becoming harder and harder to control every day.

    General Dun pointed at the folder in the hands of the secret service agent and said, "What''s in that folder boils down to in one sentence is that the Canadians aren''t playing ball."

    "You call that a summary. The Canadians have been upset with us for a while. What I need to know is whyyou pulled me out of that meeting? Not that I''m not grateful, but I still have no clue what you''re talking about." POTUS waved for the man to try again.

    "We requested that the Canadians transfer one of their assets to us. a sys-admin by the name of Wilder." POTUS nodded his head. He knew this Wilder guy. "The guy who made this alien internet." he continued to nod his head confirming his version of reality as he saw it.

    "No, Mr. President. He didn''t make the ''Alien Internet.'' He''s the guy who'' able to manipulate the communications component of the network." General Dun waited for POTUS to confirm that he understood this important fact.

    "Go on General Dun." General Dun thought, ''what the fuck? What did I ever do to deserve this?''

    "The sys-admin is a Canadian who somehow got the ability to control communications on a global scale. The UN Chatroom you''re in is his creation. We sent out all services built for any information about this man. We got lucky the officer in charge of the UN recovery base got a lead on this man and sent out a unit to get him." POTUS interrupted his narrative.

    "So we got him. Where is he?" POTUS asked.

    "We don''t have him. This is where the Canadians threw a monkey wrench into the gears. The team sent to recruit the man was a UN unit led by a Canadian officer. When they requested the man''s help Trudeau said sure."

    "So that''s good they sent him..." before he could continue General Dun said, "No."

    "Again with the No. Where is this man General?" POTUS short attention span was getting a real workout.

    "Greenland." General Dun Told him.

    "What''s he doing in Greenland?"

    "That''s where the UN Recovery Base is located. On an ice shelf to be exact." General Dun could almost see the smoke coming out of the man''s ears. He wasn''t happy.

    "General Dun get this man over here as quickly as you can. That''s an order." He commanded.

    "Are you declaring war on Canada in the Winter during a major blizzard that has currently shut down the entire eastern seaboard?" General Dun knew he would pay for this later, but he was close to retirement. Screw him.

    "What am I missing," POTUS asked.

    "Trudeau sent the sys-admin, who happened to be a Canadian intelligence officer to the UN Base. With a UN unit. With orders to help out the UN effort." General dun filled in the fine details.

    "I Don''t see the problem here general. Tell our guy at the UN to send him over." POTUS didn''t see the problem.

    "The UN won''t send him without the Canadians releasing him and the Canadians were able to get to don''t have the authority to order the man to co-operate." General Dun saw a gleam in POTUS eye.

    "You know what general, why don''t we go straight to the top. Let''s get Justin Trudeau to release the man to our care." POTUS smiled when he said that.

    General Dun wanted to slap the man but he held back through sheer willpower. "That would be ideal sir. However, Mr. Trudeau is in a meeting and no one is able to reach him."

    "What are you talking about? I was just talking to Justin when you interrupted." General Dun waited for the man to figure it out on his own. It was the ''Apocalypse God Damn it.'' the least his country deserved was to have a leader who had more than two thoughts that kept missing each other in the vast wilderness of his brain. "You know what? I''m just gonna get back to the chatroom and ask him."

    "Yes, Mr. President." General Dun turned around and left. The President had already left this reality for another.

    "Hey, Justin what''s this I hear about you sending the sys-admin to the UN and not to us as we requested?" Plus had interrupted the ongoing discussion between the British Prime Minister, the Russian President and the French President. All the Leaders were stunned at his brazen behavior.

    ''Really does this beast have no concept of manners.'' thought May the British Prime Minister.

    "Really? That''s not how I remember it. On a video, HUD Justin asked Rene to upload the scanned video.

    In the video, POTUS was yelling at Justin Trudeau that some people were coming to take this Wilder guy. That he was needed at the base they came from. When the call ended Jeff Reardon asked the PM what was that all about?

    "It seems that POTUS wants us to help the UN unit in charge of the artifact recovery by sending one of our CSIS officers to the North Atlantic."

    "I thought POTUS didn''t like working with the UN," Reardon said.

    "That''s my impression as well. Maybe his intelligence people are on the ball. That the best place for this officer is to be placed with this UN unit. I for one am glad that POTUS is on the ball."

    "That''s not how I remember it." Said POTUS.

    "That''s a video, Mr. President. Not a memory." The British PM smiled.

    "It''s obviously doctored. Fake news."

 38. The Third Fragment...Dallas...

    UN Dropship

    North Dallas Texas

    The dropship that used to belong to the Galactic Federation First Strike Group has twenty four-seat capacity plus pilot and navigator.

    All the seats were full. McLean had eight people in his party. The Canadian contingent consisted of Wilder and Ae''url. Petersen and Henderson plus Wade Jackson a technical warrant officer. Laura Blair and Janet Lambert. Two of his special forces troopers.

    Lieutenant Andrew Price brought eight of his seals along and Lady Eleanore had eight of her SAS commandos. McLean had trained with most of them over the years. NATO special forces units were a tight-knit community.

    McLean sat behind Ae''url as she flew the ship. Wilder sat in the navigator''s seat he somehow downloaded the skills to pilot, navigate and fix the dropship.

    McLean had a copy of the dropship plans and as a pilot himself, he had a good idea of the skills needed to master this ship. Across the aisle, Lady El sat behind Wilder while he gave her a running commentary on everything he was doing.

    The two Omega class individuals were taking lessons. McLean wanted to try and master the necessary skills without gaining them from the Xerys System. He didn''t know what, or if there were a limit on the number of skills awarded by the system. He wanted to try and learn the old fashioned way.

    "Just a quick check Mr. Wilder but what class are you?" McLean asked.

    "I''m at Alpha level." Joe can copy Ae''url powers when they merged. "It''s basically Flight, Force Field, and Telemechanics." Joe decided to add one more thing, "I also have a copy of Ae''url power armor."

    "Yeah, I saw you remove it from the snakey dragon trooper. How did you get it to fit you? I mean your not snake shaped after all." McLean was wondering how that happened.

    "Mostly it was luck. Telemechanics works really well with molecular bots." Joe explained.

    "That means you can build another power armor if you had some molecular bots to work with. Right?" McLean hoped.

    "Where are you going with this Ritchie?" Joe asked.

    "Half this dropship is made of those bots." McLean dropped into the info-bomb.

    "That''s an interesting piece of info. Did you know that the dropship was built by the lowest bidder?" Joe asked.

    "No. I didn''t, but what does that, have to do with this?" He asked the Wilder AI.

    "Simple really. Every bot on this ship has a job to do. There''s no waste in the construction. To make credit on this deal the manufacturer cut every corner they could think of and still deliver a product that met the specification of the Galactic Federation Police Force." Joe explained in detail.

    "So that means you can, but it might damage the ship to do it." McLean understood the concept of min-max. Every gamer did. He just needed to figure out what wasn''t needed.

    He tabled the subject for later. "How long before we land?" He asked.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    "We''re a few minutes from the crash site." Ae''url brought up the area on the dropship''s sensors.

    "That''s a lot of people." Joe whistled.

    McLean checked his sensors skill knowledge and agreed. "A lot of heat. That''s not all people though."

    "Andy you''re up. From here on out you take lead." McLean passed the leadership of the group to Lieutenant Andrew Price.

    "About time. Andy smiled. "Move aside son. Let me show you how it''s done."

    McLean laughed. He trusted Andy. They both went through the same training course and both of them saw action at the same time in Afghanistan and Iraq. American and Canadian forces have had a long history of integration.

    Whoever got lead usually depended on the theatre of operation. On US soil there was absolutely no doubt about who took lead.

    "Sitrep please." He asked seriously. It was time to go to work.

    "Joe, can you increase the resolution so we can see what we''re flying into?" McLean could read the instruments, but he didn''t think Andy had a skill like that.

    "Gotcha." Joe was smiling. Andy looked at him funny, but he didn''t say anything. Patience was its own reward.

    "Are those cows?" McLean asked.

    "Yep. Texas Longhorns to be exact." Joe had a big smile on his face.

    "Why are you smiling like that?" Lieutenant Price asked.

    Joe laughed. "Because the Galactic Police got blocked from retrieving the fragment by the Fort Worth Dallas Cattle Drive." McLean and Price laughed as well.

    "Beaten by cows. How humiliating." Clive and Yuri laughed as well. Lady Eleanore was simply amused.

    "Those aren''t just any cows Ritchie. Those are Texas steers." As a Texan Price took pride in his state''s many accomplishments. "There''s also a lot of tourists and law enforcement. See those guys there?" He pointed at the officers in the Stetson hats.

    "Texas Rangers?" McLean guessed. The other LEOS was wearing regular uniforms.

    "Got that right. Still, that fragment has been there since this morning. Why haven''t they cleared the crash site yet?" Price wondered.

    "I guess that will be your first order of inquiry." McLean turned to Joe, "Do we have eyes on the other dropship?"

    "Oh yeah. They think no one can see them, but once they hit the atmosphere they can''t hide from me." Joe explained.

    "You can detect them through the stealth field?" Ae''url was surprised.

    "I''m using Xerys. The system on the planet is able to see everything. And the Galactic system can barely push its way through. Didn''t you find it sluggish when you entered the atmosphere?" He asked her.

    "It''s always sluggish. More sluggish? Maybe?" She replied, "where do you want to land the dropship?"

    Langevin Block

    Ottawa, Canada

    The Wilder Party left the PMO the Prime Minister''s office from the Elgin Street exit.

    Pierre saw that his brother was more grumpy than usual. "Why are you so grumpy now?"

    "I just got used as a prostitute." Rene was not happy.

    "What happened?" Pierre, JP, Jack, and Kieran were in a conference room. The Chief was debriefing the unit about the Bertona Park situation.

    Rene was with the PM and his Secretary attending a meeting, "You remember last year during the New NAFTA negotiations. Trump slammed us with a tariff on Steel and Aluminum."

    "Yeah. It was all over the news. Something about national security? Right?" Pierre asked.

    "Yeppers. It didn''t make sense then, and it still doesn''t make sense now. The only one who got hurt by it was the Americans. They were already at capacity, and it would have cost too much to expand their production rather than pay the extra on the taxes." Rene explained the background of the tax.

    "What does that have to do with your mood?" Pierre asked again.

    "Instead of waiting for a change of administration, and maybe remove the taxes or not the PM used my AI as leverage to remove the tax. So now I work for the Trump administration as a sys-admin." Rene felt as used as a wet napkin.

    "But it''s not you Rene. It''s your AI. Come on forget. Go home. Take a shower and kiss Marie for me. I''ll pick you up in the morning. Don''t let JP sleep in." Pierre looked at JP and asked, "You need a lift?"

    "No thanks uncle Pierre. I''m going to fly home." Paul activated his ability and flew home.

    "How about you?" He asked Rene.

    "I''m going to walk. I have some thinking to do." Rene said goodbye to his brother and the RCMP guys and started walking in the snow. The house was only five kilometers away. Not far.

    "Alright see you in the morning." Pierre waved at Rene and turned to his officers. "I''ll see you guys in the morning. Don''t be late."

    "Aw come on Pete. Don''t be like that. The PM said it was a snow day." Jack complained.

    "Yeah. I heard. It''s a snow day for everyone else except us. Get some sleep. I''ll see you in the morning." The officers got in their cruisers and Pierre got into his F-150 and went home. He would have flown home, but then he would have to leave his pickup behind. The snow removal guys would have buried his baby under a ton of hard packed ice.

    Rene walked down Elgin Street past the NAC the National Arts Center building and turned left on Laurier going east.

    He could see the ice sculptures buried in the snow in confederation park.

    The walk was easy and the cold no longer had the bite it used to.

    He walked past the National Defense Building and quickly made his way past the Ottawa University campus.

    He had a destination in mind. At the corner of Laurier and Nelson was his favorite Pizzeria.

    The steps to Johnny''s Pizza were snow covered. Rene jumped up past the stairs with ease. "At least they put salt in front of the doors." He said as he opened the double doors and went in.

    "Hi, Rene." Marie''s cousin Robbie greeted him from the kitchen. "How come you''re still in uniform?" He asked.

    "Long story. Gimme a fresh slice of pep and I''ll tell you." Rene took off his parka and hanged it up on a chair. The place was empty, but the cooks were still busy. ''I guess people will always want pizza. Even during an apocalypse.''

 39. The Third Fragment... Dallas/Fort Worth...

    Northwest Dallas

    Texas

    The dropship landed, close to the rim of the crater. The wash from the propulsion drove everyone even the Longhorns back.

    The seal team was the first to disembark. They were met with pointed guns from all corners. When the officers saw the insignia They relaxed a bit.

    Lieutenant Andrew Price walked towards the Rangers command post. "Who''s in charge?" He asked.

    "Who''s askin''?" A trim middle-aged man wearing a grey suit with a Stetson on his head, cowboy boots and a ranger shield on his chest.

    "Lieutenant Andrew Price. US Navy."

    "Those boys look like seals!" Another middle-aged ranger added.

    "That right son? You boys seals?" The Ranger in charge asked.

    The SAS were next out of the ship lead by Lady Eleanore. And right behind her came McLean with his SFs.

    Yuri and Clive stayed on the dropship with Joe and Ae''url. Joe was trying to convince Ae''url to change her features. He had a video of the Black Widow and he was making a case to adopt that identity.

    Yuri was all for it. Natascha Romanov was a good example of a strong Russian woman. Clive just shook his head at the foolishness.

    Meanwhile, "Those don''t look like no seals boss." The middle-aged Ranger Sargeant observed.

    "N,o they''re not." Price agreed.

    "Seals, SA, and Canadian SF if I''m not mistaken?" The head ranger asked.

    "You''re not wrong." Price said as little as possible.

    "Why are you here Lieutenant Price?" The Ranger asked.

    "Before I answer that Ranger, can I please have your name?" Andy asked.

    "Harlan Sinclair company commander. Now please answer the question Lieutenant." He asked firmly.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    "Pleased to meet you, Commander Sinclair. We''re here for the rock at the bottom of the crater." Andy explained.

    Sinclair took off his Stetson and combed his hair back with his fingers. "If you take that rock will that fix the problem with the Longhorns?"

    Andy hesitated, "probably."

    "Probably?" The Ranger Sargeant beside Harlan Sinclair yelled.

    "That''s enough Jimmy." The commander''s glare stopped the other Ranger from carrying on. "Get to work Lieutenant. This has been a trying day. First that Xerys System bullshit, and then the invitations to join the only operational communications system still working. I just wanna know who this Wilder feller think he is?"

    "Ye,s sir." Andy walked over to McLean who stood at the lip of the crater.

    "What do you think?" He asked.

    McLean said, "go for me, Andy. We''ve got your back."

    "Alright." Andrew Price activated his Camouflaged force field and jumped into the crater.

    At the bottom,m he could see the center of the impact. The fragment was covered by debris.

    He took out his entrenchments tool and carefully moved the debris. He had to dig around a bit, but the work was easy going. He finally found the fragment after a few minutes of digging around.

    He pushed the spade under the fragment and pulled it out. The energy from the fragment was somehow less than what they recovered from Greenland.

    He was still getting a small boost from the rock, but nothing like he got that morning.

    His seals jumped in and covered him as he climbed out of the crater with the fragment.

    At the top McLean gave him a hand up. "Nice job Andy. Now let''s get it secured before ET shows up."

    "Right with you. I think Joe said that they were hanging around."

    He spotted Bradley as he walked over with a secure container. "Put in carefully Lt."

    Andy did just that. Once the rock was secure Harlan Sinclair walked over.

    "Are you gonna tell me what in the sam hill is going on now that you got that rock in this here box?" He asked.

    "Would you believe Aliens?" Asked Lady Eleanore.

    "Who are you?" Harlan was getting surprised by people left and right.

    "How rude of me. Captain Eleanore Hastings RN." She shook Harlan''s hand.

    "BOSS! THEY''RE BREAKING PAST US!" shouted one of the Rangers.

    They all turned to look at the commotion. "The herd had broken loose and was charging right for the group.

    "MMMOOOO!!!" The herd charged right at the crater.

    "NOOOO TAAAKEEE!!!" the stunned officers were flabbergasted by what they herd.

    "Are the cows talking?" Lady Eleanore asked.

    From the drops,p Joe and Ae''url flew out. Joe looked like a version of Iron Man while Ae''url could have been mistaken for a certain red-haired actress. In a very recognizable black uniform. Minus the insignia.

    "Holy crap. I thought you people were make-believe?" Jimmy the Ranger Sargeant asked.

    "What the hell are you doing Wilder?" Lieutenant Price asked.

    "Helping. Hold on to that thought. Looks like we have an aggressive bunch of steers to deal with."

    [[Scarlett are the cows connected to the Xerys System?]] Joe asked.

    [Yes they are.] She verified.

    [[Can you connect me to their network?]] He requested.

    [One moment while I establish a connection.] It took Scarlett a moment to establish a connection between the different versions of the Xerys System.

    "Halt!" Joe raised his armored hand to stop the Longhorns.

    To everyone''s surprise,e the Longhorns stopped.

    [[Scarlett why are they able to connect to the system?]] Joe asked.

    [Allsentimentss on the planet is part of the system. Some may not be able to take as much advantage of the system as others, but all are connected.]

    "Ain''t that a kick in the pant," Joe said aloud.

    "What is?" Asked McLean.

    "They''re connected to the Xerys System just like we are. I''m trying to find out what they want."

    "Mr. Iron Man sir. I''m a big fan. Can I have your autograph?" Sargeant Jimmy Rivera begged. "You too ma''am." He requested from Ae''url.

    Goddammit, Jimmy! Not now!" Commander Sinclair yelled.

    Meanwhile,e Joe started chatting to the Longhorns. The Xerys System helped with the translations.

    "What do you want?" He asked.

    "WE WANT THE CREATOR! WE WANT THE GIVER OF SELF!" The Bull in charge explained.

    "Did they say what they want?" Asked Sinclair.

    "Yeah, they did. They think the rock is their god. They want to stay with their creator." Joe explained.

    That''s when the Galactic Federation Police decided to intervene.

    The second dropship came to a landing.

    Ae''url recognized the members of the Third Strike Group.

 40. The Fourth Fragment...

    Ottawa, Canada

    Rene sat at a table in the corner of the Pizzeria. He took a drink from the Moosehead Canadian Lager. "Ahh." He put the bottle down and grabbed the hot sauce and covered the fresh from the stone oven, hot slice of pepperoni pizza until the sauce covered the melted cheese.

    He let it sit for a minute while the hot sauce mixed with the cheese. He finished the bottle and put it down beside the other empty.

    Robbie walked up to the table and put down a couple of bottles. This time it was the pale ale. He had a plate of his own.

    "Why the long face? And why are you still in uniform?" He asked.

    Rene shrugged, "it''s been a day of ups and downs. Highs and lows..."

    "Yeah, yeah smooth and crunchy. I get it. Now get to the point." Robbie twisted the cap off the Moosehead and took a swig.

    Behind him, the landline for the Pizzeria rang a couple of times before someone picked up. "Johnny''s what can I get you?" Asked one of the drivers.

    Rene told Robbie his story from beginning to end.

    When he was done Robbie said, "So you''re the one. You''re the asshole who put me into this family party deal." The smile took the edge off.

    "Yeah well if I couldn''t help keep my family safe from the coming shitstorm, what''s the point?" Rene and Robbie laughed. "So what did you choose for your beta ability?"

    "Haven''t." He took a bite from his slice and chewed slowly. Rene didn''t rush him. He also didn''t expect an answer until he was done his meal. Robbie was like that.

    Jacob came up to Robbie and gave him a food order. Robbie wiped his hands on his apron and took the paper slip. "Them again!"

    "Yeah well, she said she''d pay you back later. That and her kids are hungry." Jacob shrugged. He knew Robbie would cave and send this customer some food. Maybe not what she ordered, but he would still send them something. Robbie had a weakness for kids.

    Rene saw the address on the slip. "You still sending Janice free food?" From time to time Rene helped out at the Pizzeria. He knew Robbie''s drama by heart.

    "Yeah. Yeah. I don''t wanna hear it." He turned to Jacob and said, "send them a bag of fries, salads and a couple of chickens. No pop. It''s bad for you."

    "Funny. You don''t say that to the other customers." Jacob baited his cousin.

    Johnny''s Pizzeria was a family run joint. Even those who aren''t family, after a while they become family.

    "Those...Are paying customers. Janice ain''t."

    "It''s your fault. You keep sending them food and not taking money. She''s gonna take advantage." Robbie''s glare silenced the outspoken Jacob. "Whatever." Jacob went to the kitchen to fill the order.

    After finishing his slice, "Why haven''t you choose an ability yet?"

    "I don''t trust anything that promises something like that for free." Robbie snorted at Rene''s gullibility.

    "It''s not free. I''ve already paid the price. Go ahead and chose something." Rene glared at the man until he got the point.

    "I''ll think about it." That was the best he was going to get. He watched as Robbie took his plate, gathered up the empties and went to the kitchen.

    Johnny''s was busy. The Pizzeria closed only two days of the year. Christmas and Easter. People could depend on Johnny''s. It never let them down.

    Rene sat back in his chair and closed his eyes. He was contemplating what the future was going to be like. It had been just over twelve hours since the first flash and the day was still not done.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Marie was still at the hospital, but they were going to let her go home in a couple of hours. Monfort Hospital wasn''t too far. He decided to close his eyes for a few minutes before heading out.

    ThePacific Ocean.

    Southern California.

    The Blue whale was finally done organizing his kin. The fourth fragment from the artifact had homed in on this ancient creature.

    When the artifact struck his body he was about to dive after a concentration of krill.

    This fragment was the largest fragment that survived the encounter with the Far Justice.

    When the fragment broke down to the molecular level inside the whale, its first order of business was to repair all damage done to this proud and ancient species.

    When it was finished restructuring the whale it waited for the host to awaken.

    *How awkward. I haven''t felt this sensation in a million years. Xerys status.*

    [Xerys System is operational. Xerys System has a message from the creator.]

    *Start the message.*

    [Starting message...

    (Salutations old friend. I haven''t much time left. My assertion is nearly complete. I have awakened the genetic memories in your descendant and combined it with the last stored memory you left behind.)

    *Greetings Administrator. It has been a long time. Any longer and my people would have vanished in a few millennia.*

    (That saddens me greatly. Yours was one of the more important Galactic Federation members when I first took the responsibility passed to me by the previous holder of the Xerys System Administrator.)

    *Everything has a beginning and an ending.*

    (True. I am the last of my people. It is time for me to move on. I contain the entire potential of my race and when I ascend I will have guaranteed that my race will continue the journey as set by the Creator of all. My last act will be to pass the responsibility of administering the Xerys System to your people as you have agreed long ago.)

    *At least this fresh copy of Xerys does not contain the pollution that drove my people away from the Galactic Federation.*

    (This is my gift to you. This will also allow your people to rejoin the Xerys System without fearing the madness that attacked your people when the Galactic Xerys System was poisoned. Since then I have found the culprit for the poisoning. It was the Alvear. They drove your people away. They knew that the Administration would be passed on to your people. They poisoned the system to affect only your race.)

    *We had suspected as much. When we withdrew from Galactic Society they continued their covert war against us. They visited our home world a few millennia after we left and they altered our land siblings. They found a few species that they could alter, and infected them with the Alvear traits.*

    (What has happened?)

    *A million years is a long time. We lost our organic technology. Our builders and our armies have reverted. Without the Xerys System to instill the knowledge needed for them to function, they became at worst our hunters and at best our pets.*

    The whale transmitted what happened to the Shark armies and to the Dolphin helpers. What was left of the Kraken builders was best left alone.

    (And the Alvear plague?)

    *They have finally started to travel the path towards enlightenment. They are humans, but they are also close relatives to the Alvear. They wear their forms and they are ten times more aggressive than the most warlike Alvear. They have started to curtail some of that aggression. It is a recent thing. Our hope is that with the arrival of this pristine Xerys they will have a chance to control their excessive aggression.*

    (Good luck then an old friend. I hope to see you on the journey when your time comes. Before I leave, be aware that there are four Xerys Systems in operation. Yours. Another who bears a likeness to the Alvear you have described, and a smaller system fragment. The last is the Xerys System that covers your planet. This system will be the interface between your race and the Galactic Federation. It has been hardened against sabotage and alteration to resist the corrupted Galactic System left to us by the original creators.)

    *Amusing we now have a wealth of systems, while the rest of the universe struggles with the corrupted original. Why did you not introduce the new systems to the Galactic Federation as your farewell gift?*

    (There are other Administrators of the system in other Galaxies. We are not the only users. It would have disrupted the balance of the Galactic Federation.)

    *Why did you create so many systems?*

    (...)

    *...*

    (...this is too embarrassing. I only created the one. The others were an accident.)

    *I am amused.*

    (My final act will be to introduce you to the other Administrators.)

    *Be gentle. They are fragile creatures.*

    (I will need your advice.)

    *Create the party. I will send the invitations.*

    The ancient being agreed. It created the party and invited the whale.

    *I am a member. I will invite the others.*

    Ottawa, Canada

    Rene received a party invite. The party name: Administrators.

    ''Scarlett who sent this invite?''

    [The current galactic admin.]

    ''Well, shit! What do you recommend?''

    [Accpet. This is my creator.]

    Rene decided to follow her advice. It was never a good idea to piss of beings this powerful. He also had a lot to be thankful for due to this being.

    Rene accepted.

    On his HUD the party member consisted of a human outline with his name.

    The other being was a Blue Whale.

    Another pop-up and this time the outline was a squirrel.

    "Hello?"

    (Greetings.)

    *Greetings.*

    The squirrel glared. Rene didn''t know how he knew, but he knew that this was one really pissed off a squirrel.

    "Fun."

    (Welcome Terran Administrators.)

    "Thank you?"

    If possible the squirrel''s glare intensified.

    "Who stole your nuts?" Rene was being sarcastic.

    @You did@

    "Oh, it''s you. I give you nuts every morning you greedy rat." Rene glared.

    @No food today@

    (Could this wait. I will ascend in a few moments. Argue when I am gone.)

    *Amusing.* The whale laughed. *Curious I am unable to access your Xerys System. The small one has an evolved and yet simpler version of Xerys.*

    "Well DUH! It''s called a firewall." Rene explained.

    (What is a firewall?) The Administrator asked.

    Rene explained the concept of Firewall.

    (How horrific. Who came up with such a decision concept?)

    "We humans did," Rene admitted.

    (Your artificially enhanced aggression has corrupted you. And yet I see the potential in you. Your creation of the planetary communication network has saved your species. The Xerys System was not created for creatures as disruptive as you corrupted Alvear. When the Xerys System was introduced to unprepared sentients, the outcome has been the total disintegration of that unfortunate species. How did you get every Human/Alvear hybrid to agree to join the communication network?)

    "I added a compulsion to join the global system. From there it was up to each individual to either join or opt out of the other subnetworks." Rene explained.

    (I am horrified and impressed. I give you a final warning. Do not force anyone to give up their free will. In this extreme case, you have saved your species. As a reward, I will give you a future gift. In a century if you are worthy you will have the potential to ascend. If you are not... Xerys will judge you.)

    *Just.*

    The squirrel didn''t care.

    "I guess I have a goal to shoot for."

    (My time is up. My friend, I give you the mantle of Galactic Administrator. I hope we meet again to continue the journey. Goodbye.)

    *Goodbye.*

    "Friend of yours?"

    *Yes.*

 41. The other Fragments...

    Far Justice.

    Far Side of the Moon.

    Captain Fo''Rkon was debriefing the Strike Group Leaders.

    "Strike Group Three. Strike Group Leader Ru''ue report." Barked the captain.

    "Sir. The third fragment has been rendered inert. We were unable to retrieve the fragment, but with the assistance of the same Omega Party that was the contact for Strike Group One the mission is a success."

    "How was the fragment rendered inert?" Asked the captain.

    "They had a sub-administrator. He was the contact point for a new sentient race born from the energy that was leaking from the fragment. Strike Group Leader Ae''url was present as well. She was the sub-administrators companian. He removed the remaining energy from the fragment."

    "Where is the fragment now?" Fo''Rkon asked.

    "It has been given to the new quadruped race that gained sentience due to the fragments influence." Strike Group Leader Ru''ue was done.

    "Unsatisfactory result. Why did you not retrieve the fragment before the malignant energy twisted the new race created?"

    "There were thousands of this new race around the crash site. The humans were also present in high numbers." SGL Ru''ue defended her decision.

    Captain Fo''Rkon was not happy with the Alvear Strike Group Leader. To date, the Alvear as a group was preformipe subpar. He didn''t like it. It was suspicious.

    He grunted and moved on to the next Strike Group.

    "Strike Group Four. Your report." He snapped. Fo''Rkon realized his error and used his meditation ability to regain control.

    Strike Group Leader Sa''art was the Drak''on the leader for Strike Group Five. It uncoiled its body and reported. "The fourth fragment is no more. It has dissolved into the ocean."

    "Anything else to report?" Again the situation was unsatisfactory. This time the news was delivered by his progeny.

    "We have discovered why this planet was the target of the renegade Administrator." Sa''art shared a visual recording of a giant being swimming peacefully in the Pacific ocean. It was the Blue Whale. The new Galactic Federation Administrator.

    Captain Fo''Rkon swore. "An Acquit!" The visual evidence of the Acquit elder swimming in the water shook the Drak''on the officer. "They have withdrawn from the Galactic Federation for well over a Million cycles. How did it react to your presence?"

    "The elder was very polite and respectful. It greeted respectfully as representatives of the Galactic Federation. It used the Local Xerys System."

    "All this misery and atrocity that was the result of the previous usage of the prohibited technology can now be explained." The Drak''on captain hissed.

    "Maybe you could explain your conclusions to the rest of us Captain Fo''Rkon." Councillor Me''peat asked.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    "I would presume councilor that would be data, that someone in your position would be most familiar with?" Hisses continued to slip from Fo''Rkon due to his loss of complete control over his emotions.

    "Humor my inquiry captain." Me''peat smiled.

    "Long ago. Millions of years in the past the Acquit were proud members of the Galactic Federation. Something..." Captain Fo''Rkon looked in Me''peat''s direction. "... poisoned the Xerys System. It exclusively attacked one race. The only race that was qualified to be the next Administrators for the Xerys System. It took a few millennia to take effect, but in the end, it did. The Acquit was forced to withdraw from the Federation or face extinction."

    "A somewhat accurate rendering of the information. You also failed to mention that the Rogue Administrator was a friend of the Acquit. That from that moment on, they have been experimenting on planets with the potential to become members of the Galactic Federation in order to heal the poisoning that still affects the Acquit to this moment." Councillor Me''peat explained from his biased point of view.

    "The evidence suggests that the experiment has met with some success. The Humans and the Acquit are now part of this partial system. They do not appear to have self-destructed. The Acquit would have little problem adjusting to Xerys." Captain Fo''Rkon added.

    "So it would seem." Councillor Me''peat agreed.

    "What is the status of the Rogue Administrator?" The captain asked the Science officer.

    The Alvear began to make inquiries from the Xerys System, "The Administrator has begun the ascension process. They are no longer reachable. Xerys is broadcasting the process to the Galactic Federation."

    Captain Fo''Rkon made a note to view the recording in private. "Has a new Administrator been appointed as a replacement?"

    "The information is under a timed release." The Alvear reported.

    "Of course it is." Fo''Rkon knew what the future would soon be like. Complete and utter Chaos.

    "Strike Group Leader Sa''art, Strike Group Five Report!" Fo''Rkon ordered.

    "Captain Strike Group Five was successful. The fragment crashed into the Himalayan Mountains chain. The area is desolate. No one lives in this area. We encountered no opposition during the retrieval mission." The Drak''on Strike Group Leader reported.

    "Satisfactory. What is the status of the fragment?" Fo''Rkon requested.

    "The fragment has been destroyed." The captain gave him a grunt to acknowledge his satisfaction.

    "Strike Group Leader Zu''rean, Strike Group Six report." Fo''Rkon glowered at the Around.

    "The sixth fragment fell into the Mariana Trench. This location is 11 Terran units beneath the great ocean. The dropship AI deployed force fields to deal with the pressure at the bottom of the ocean. We followed the energy trail to another Galactic Federation citizen. The fragment was in the possession of another Acquit. This one was a builder sub-species. A Kraken. It greeted the Strike Group and asked what we''re doing in its home. We explained the nature of our mission and explained the dangerous nature of the fragment. The Kraken crushed the fragment and the molecular bots merged with the builder Acquit. When the merger was complete it requested we vacate its home. Since there was nothing left to retrieve the Strike Group left."

    "Another unsatisfactory outcome." Fo''Rkon turned to Me''peat, "Councillor establish a communications channel with the Kraken. From the database intelligence, the Kraken was responsible for building the Acquit organic spacecraft." He then moved on to the next Strike Group. Another group led by the Alvear.

    "Strike Group Seven, Strike Group Leader Go''ben report!"

    The Strike Group Leader began by clearing her throat. "The seventh fragment crashed into a Japanese mountain. When the dropship reached the crash site we detected a primitive native village. The trail of energy from the fragment led to the village."

    Go''ben instructed the AI to replay what happened next.

    Fo''Rkon didn''t like that. The Alvear wanted to make sure that the actions taken were properly presented.

    "As you can see, we landed near the village. We did not detect any technology anywhere in the village. The fragment was placed on a dais in the center of the village. When we landed at the outskirts of the village, the guard on duty looked at the dropship."

    "Was the dropship in stealth mode?" Fo''Rkon asked.

    "Yes, Captain. It was later determined that the guard had chosen the spacial awareness ability. When the Strike Group went to retrieve the fragment, he stood in the way and bowed in greeting."

    Fo''Rkon could see for himself the native bowing to the invisible troopers.

    He then saw that the village square was filling up with villagers.

    The villagers turned to the Strike Group and bowed together.

    "As you can see, we discovered later that all the villagers had chosen some form of awareness. They alda had enough energy to choose a second Gamma ability. The elders preferred Regeneration, and the young ones had a mix between speed, Telekinesis and body adepts."

    Fo''Rkon saw an elder with a long white beard wearing a white robe approach the Strike Group. He bowed to Go''ben. When he stood up, the elder used the Xerys System to communicate with the Troopers. "What was the result of the discussion?" He asked.

    "Captain they were willing to return the fragment for a consideration," Go''ben replied.

    "What is the consideration?" Usually, primitives demanded. These humans, however, had too many behavioral patterns that matched the Alvear.

    "He asked that we place a trading post in the village when the planet becomes eligible to receive a trading post."

    "You agreed," Fo''Rkon asked.

    "I agreed. The elder returned the fragment without any other demand. The fragment was properly destroyed." Go''ben bowed at the end of her report.

    "Satisfactory." It was satisfactory. He could not find fault with the Alvear''s actions. "Strike Group Eight, Strike Group Leader La''ku report!"

    The Around Strike Leader acknowledged the order and reported, "the last fragment crashed into the Gobi desert. There was no one close to the mission area. The fragment was successfully retrieved and destroyed."

    "Satisfactory. Strike Group Leaders you are dismissed." Captain Fo''Rkon left the debriefing chamber and made his way to the bridge. This entire operation left a bad taste. He knew that the report he would make to the sector chief would not be happy nor would it be a satisfactory one.

 42. The Nuclear Meltdowns...

    Langevin Block

    Ottawa, Canada

    Jeffrey Reardon took a deep breath to control his panic. "Gotta tell Justin." He ran out of the communications room.

    Jeff was making good time. He took the old stairs two at a time. The RCMP officer at the desk waved him through.

    He reached the PM''s office, gave it a quick rap and walked in. "We have a huge problem!" He didn''t shout. Not quite.

    "I thought we were already dealing with it. Rene just setup the list I sent him. Half of our communications networks are back up." Justin didn''t want to hear about another huge problem.

    "This is a problem that Rene might not be able to help with. I know that he''s your new go-to guy..." He took a second to collect his thoughts and dropped the files on the desk in front of Justin.

    "What''s this?" Justin looked at Jeff. He didn''t want to touch these folders just yet.

    "Nuclear Power Stations that will start melting down in Canada. Now that Ottawa hydro has some hydroelectric stations back up we have some service up and running." Jeff opened the first folder.

    With a reluctant sigh, Justin looked down at the opened folder. "What am I looking at?"

    "As you can see this is the electric grid for Canada and the United States. It''s one huge mess of interdependent electric generation and distribution networks." Jeff waved a hand above the mess that was a map of the North American Electric grid.

    "I see they have it broken down by province and state. Quebec is 90 percent hydroelectric and Ontario is 20 percent with the rest from other forms of renewable generation. Wind, solar and tidal." Justin took a quick look at the other provinces. "Canada wide nuclear is at 15 percent. Ontario and New Brunswick are the biggest users of Nuclear Generation." Justin paused to digest the information. His concentration since the flash had increased by leaps and bounds. He knew that was mostly due to the lack of fatigue and higher energy thanks to his new body. "We need to reach these 18 locations as soon as possible." He pointed to the 16 powerplants in Ontario and the other two in Quebec and New Brunswick."

    "Don''t forget the experimental ones." Jeff turned the page to show the ones in Universities and Military Bases.

    "Call everyone in. I need all hands on this one." The PM had some hard decisions to make. "Jeff..."

    "Yes?" Jeff was about to use the chat system to set things in motion.

    "Let the Americans and the UN in on this. They all need to deal with this before large parts of the world become radioactive zones."

    "Yes, Prime Minister."

    Johnny Pizzeria

    Ottawa, Canada

    Rene said goodbye to the gang at the Pizza shop and let the swing door close behind him. He looked at the snow-covered stairs and paused. ''That''s not safe at all.'' He turned back and went into Johnny''s again.

    "Robbie! You need to clean the snow from the stairs. That''s an accident waiting to happen." He shouted at the kitchen.

    "Do me a favor and clean it for me. We''re getting swamped now that the power''s back on. Shovel by the door. Thanks." Robbie went back to making pizza.

    Rene looked at the shovel and shrugged. He shouldn''t have said anything, but since he did, he may as well. He had time before Marie was done.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    He grabbed the shovel and went back outside. First, he cleared the landing in front of the Pizzeria. Next, he started at one end of the top step and swept the snow in one shove over the side on to the Patio. He repeated the process for the other steps. It took less than a minute to finish up.

    He went back and put the shovel by the door and left. Outside the streetlights were back on. The traffic lights at the corner of Nelson and Laurier were blinking.

    He heard a rumble and turned around to look. The plows were out in force. Two plows covering most of the street went by leaving a trail of salt behind them. There was no other traffic on the street.

    A quick check told the story. Impassable sidewalks. The trees are heavy with snow. Every few minutes a clump of snow would fall from the branches. Everything was white.

    ''I guess I''m following the plows.'' He set a quick pace and stayed about a hundred meters behind the plows. It was the best way to get to the Montfort Hospital.

    At the end of Laurier East, he saw a few guards outside the Embassy Row. He walked past Goulburn street. The Swiss Embassy was dark. At the corner of Range, the Egyptian Embassy had a couple of guards outside. He waved at them as he went by. He knew them by name. He delivered mail to this area when he was assigned to Centertown not too long ago.

    They waved back when Mohamed Mohamed recognized him. "Aren''t you out a little late Rene?" He asked.

    Rene held his thumb and index finger close together. The two security guys laughed and waved him on.

    He kept going past the Cordon Blue school. And crossed the street to avoid the Russian Embassy. It was lit up as usual and he could see a few guys checking the perimeter. They had a German shepherd on a leash. The security guys at the steel barricade eyed him suspiciously. A mailman at that time of night. Yeah, nothing suspicious there.

    Rene smiled and waved. He was met with suspicious looks.

    Rene shrugged and kept going. The plows had turned on to Charlotte street. Laurier East ended at the Russian Embassy and turned into Charlotte.

    Rene increased his pace a bit and caught up to the plows. A few blocks later at Rideau Street, they turned left and he turned right.

    He walked over the bridge between Rideau and Montreal road. The snow here was a bit deeper. Rene increased his pace into a light run.

    The hospital was about 5 km on Montreal road. Other than the occasional plow and the Tim Horrten every few kilometers the streets were empty.

    Rene knew this wouldn''t last. Tomorrow people were going to wake up. They''ll notice the changes left behind by the flash event and most will be out clearing the snow. The kids will be out playing, and the city services will be shut down. The only thing open will probably be the mom and pops grocery stores.

    It took Rene less than ten minutes to run the 5 km distance to the hospital. He took it easy on the run. He wanted to check everything along the way. Tonight Ottawa was sleeping.

    He made it to the Aviation Parkway and turned into the hospital driveway. The driveways were plowed. The lights were on and the ambulances were packed. They were lined up ten deep waiting to discharge their patients. Most were elderly. There were a few serious cases. In those situations, the paramedics picked up the stretchers and ran through the emergency doors with their charges.

    The doors slid open as the sensor detected Rene. He walked through. The Noise assaulted his senses first. Then came the smells of crowded humanity.

    All the chairs were full. The floors were full. The hallways were full. He didn''t see anything that was obviously wrong with anyone.

    ''Scarlett, can you please highlight Marie''s location on the mini-map?'' As soon as he asked, the family map updated and added Marie''s location.

    Rene made his way to one of the prep rooms. He pulled the curtains and found Marie washing the blood from her hands.

    "Cheri. Ca va?" He was asking about the bloody hands.

    Marie smiled when she saw her husband. She shook her hands from the excess water and dried them on a towel. As she walked to embrace her husband she threw the wet towel into a nearby laundry soiled container. "Oui, ca va." She kissed him on the lips and gave him a hug with all her might.

    "I just delivered a baby. All the doctors are busy." She explained. She also noticed Rene wince slightly. She laughed, "it''s your fault." She smiled and let up on the hug.

    "How is this my fault?" He asked.

    "Easy. Who gave me this body adaptability? Hmm. I didn''t mind the healing touch or shared regeneration. Very useful. But you forced the first ability choice. Deal with it." She kissed him again with a lot more passion this time.

    "Get a room you two." One of the nurses complained.

    "Oh, we will Claire. We will." She pulled Rene after her to get changed.

    "I''m done. Triple overtime is my limit. Besides, most of the walk-ins have regenerated all their minor wounds. If they have no place to stay, give them some food and send them to the lobby." She walked with Rene to the staff change room, "wait here, Cheri. I won''t take more than a minute."

    Rene found a chair and waited. He took a quick look at Marie''s Stats.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>Marie Wilder</td>

    <td>Nurse</td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Stats</td>

    <td>

    Strength: 50

    Durability: 50

    Quickness: 50

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Abilities</td>

    <td>

    Physical Adept: Gamma Level

    Shared Regeneration: Gamma Level

    Healing Touch: Beta Level

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>Skills</td>

    <td>

    Awareness: 10%

    Medic: 25%

    Diagnostics: 25%

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    ''Good. It''s a good start.'' Rene thought.

    A few minutes later Marie came out. ''Wow. She looks at least ten years younger.'' she took his breath away. "WOW!"

    "Thank you. You should see my abs." she didn''t see anyone around. She lifted her sweater. "I haven''t been this shape since I was on the Ottawa U hockey team."

    "Yeah same here. I''m not bad for forty-two, but nothing like this." Rene lifted his shirt as well.

    "We match. Come on let''s go home. I think we can break the bed this time." she took Rene by the hand and led him outside. It was still snowing. "At least the cold let up."

    "It didn''t. You have a higher tolerance. It''s part of the body adept package." he explained.

    "Whatever. Let''s go home. Where did you park?" she asked.

    "RCMP Lot on Vanier," he told her.

    "How are we going to get home. The buses have stopped running and all taxis are off the road. It was on the CBC." she didn''t look happy.

    "Follow me. I want to show you something." Rene started with a light jog, and Marie followed him.

    After a few minutes, Rene increased the pace and Marie followed. She frowned. She was able to keep up without any extra effort. A few minutes later she increased the pace. Rene smiled and followed her.

    Less than a kilometer to go and the two of them were running faster than the speed limit in the snow. A minute later and they were at the front door.

    Before Marie could use her key, Paul opened the door. She looked at him in surprise. "I saw Dad on the min-map," he explained.

    "Mini-map," she asked.

    "Oh yeah. Here, let me show you."

 43. Marshaling the resources...

    Ottawa, Canada.

    Rene and Marie took off their coats. The boots went on the shoe rack until they dried out and stopped dripping.

    Paul was already back at the PS4. They could hear the angry yelling.

    "I thought the internet was still out?" Marie asked her son.

    "It is. I''m playing offline." Paul never took his eyes off the game.

    Marie let it go. Today he gets a pass. "I''m famished." She looked at Rene and wiggled her eyes.

    Rene laughed, "You grab a quick shower, and I''ll cook something."

    "Deal." She smiled in anticipation. Rene was a good cook.

    Marie liked pasta a lot. Rene filled a pot of water and add some salt. He waited for the water to come to a boil.

    He removed his uniform as the water boiled on the stove. He put on a pair of sweats and went back to the kitchen.

    He found Marie''s favorite noodles and dropped them into the pot.

    He took out a pan and began to prep the sauce. He decided on a white sauce.

    He went to the bathroom and after a quick knock, he walked in. "Marie do you want chicken or shrimp with the pasta?"

    Marie heard Rene clearly over the shower. ''Magnifique. Enhanced Senses.'' She told Rene to go with the chicken. The shrimp was frozen. The chicken breasts she got from the Metro was only a day old.

    Rene closed the bathroom door and went back to the kitchen.

    He took the chicken out of the fridge and put the package beside the cutting board.

    After prepping the ingredients, he started on the sauce. While the sauce was cooking, he took out another pan and got the chicken ready.

    When the chicken was done, he added the sauce and let it simmer.

    When the noodles were done, he drained the water and dropped the noodles into the saucepan. He covered the pan and lowered the heat and let everything simmer again.

    He then called Paul and told him to set the table.

    "Let me finish this part and I''ll take care of it." Paul continued to play his game.

    Rene sighed and let it go. He went to the bathroom and opened the door. "We''re just about ready..." Marie was admiring herself in the wall mirror.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    She turned around and with a smile that lit up her face she asked, "What do you think?"

    Rene was speechless. She took his breath away. "Wow!" Marie giggled. Rene walked in and closed the door behind him. He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately.

    Marie matched his passion as she kissed him back. Rene quickly took off his clothes and tried to grab his wife again.

    She held up her hand to stop him. "Shower first." She insisted.

    Rene gave her a sourpuss but stepped into the shower. He turned on the hot water and let the hot water hit him full force.

    While his hair was full of shampoo, he felt a pair of hands at his back.

    He smiled but didn''t say anything. He should have remembered, Marie liked shower sex.

    After fifteen minutes they heard Paul pounding on the door. "Hurry up! I gotta pee!��

    Marie and Rene laughed. They quickly rinsed off and left the shower stall. Rene helped Marie dry her body first and then wrapped a towel around her hair, he used a towel to quickly wipe the water on his body.

    Marie put on a bathrobe and opened the door. Paul rushed past her and did his went to do his business. "Out!"

    Rene and Marie laughed as they left.

    "Goddamnit! I hate when they have shower sex." He finished his business and washed up and checked his face in the mirror. It was time for his weekly shave. ''Tomorrow.'' He promised himself.

    When he rejoined his parents in the dining room, his mother smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

    "Thank you for setting the table, Paul." She gave him a hug and let him go. "Time to eat."

    After supper, Paul went back to his game and Rene pulled Marie into the bedroom.

    "Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?" He picked her up and swung her around a few times. She laughed and kissed him.

    Rene carried her to the bed and started to remove her clothes. She repaid the favor by doing the same for him.

    Rene made love to his wife with the same intensity that he remembered when they first met.

    When their lovemaking was at its height, Rene got a chat message from the PM.

    "Rene is now a bad time? We have an emergency." Rene cursed.

    "What''s going on? Why did you stop?" Marie was breathing heavily?

    "I got a chat from the PM." He growled.

    "Now?" She shrieked. "Don''t answer!"

    "This isn''t like a cellphone. This system is always on."

    "I don''t care. He can wait." She growled. She didn''t stop and Rene wasn''t about to disappoint his wife. Not even for the Prime Minister.

    ''Joe. Can you please handle this? I''m going into airplane mode.'' Rene then disconnected from the original Xerys System and continued to make love to his wife.

    Langevin Block

    Ottawa, Canada

    "Jeff? Is Rene''s contact greyed out?" Justin asked Jeffrey Reardon.

    "I''ll check." After a quick status check, Jeff saw that Rene Wilder''s contact information was greyed out. "He''s greyed out for me too."

    Justin Trudeau received a party invite from Joe Wilder. "I''m getting a party invites from Joe Wilder now."

    "Me too. Isn''t Joe Wilder Rene''s AI?" Jeff asked.

    "I think you''re right." They both accepted.

    "Prime Minister Trudeau. Mr. Reardon, how can I help you?" Joe asked.

    "We''re trying to get a hold of Rene. Another emergency I''m afraid." Justin said seriously. "His Contact is greyed out. What''s going on?"

    "He''s in airplane mode," Joe explained.

    "Airplane mode? That''s a thing?" The PM asked.

    "It is for Rene. How can I help?" Joe asked again?

    "Hold on. Why is he in airplane mode?" Justin wasn''t about to give up? Being the PM gave him huge perks.

    "You really want to know?" Joe hid a small smile.

    "Yes." Justin insisted.

    "Very well. He was in the middle of making love to his wife when you interrupted. Being a married man with good survival instincts he chose the possible option." Joe explained.

    "Oh." Justin wasn''t expecting that. "The situation is quite dire. Can you please contact him?" The PM requested.

    "I am afraid not sir. No one can reach him at this time. Maybe I can help?" Joe waited for the PM to come to a decision.

    It took him a minute, but Justin came to the realization that he had no other choice.

    Reluctantly he explained the situation. After he was done, Joe said, "What do you think Rene could do?"

    "Are you telling me there''s nothing we can do? I won''t accept that!" Justin''s voice was getting louder and louder.

    "No. He could blast the powerplants out of existence. Somehow I don''t think that the solution you''re looking for." Joe waited for the PM''s reaction.

    "We need to do something. Or large parts of the planet will soon be radioactive zones." Justin''s eyes pleaded with Joe for a solution.

    "There is a way." Joe reluctantly explained what he could do.

    After Joe was done, Justin agreed with the plan. "Looks like we have no other choice. Can you please add Captain McLean to the party?"

    "Certainly sir. One moment please." Joe took a moment to invite McLean.

    "Captain McLean we''re going to need your help." The PM again explained the emergency and outlined Joe''s solution.

    "Looks like I''m about to lose a dropship. The UN isn''t going to be happy." Richard didn''t care. This was a global problem and the UN would need to foot the bill if they want to be taken seriously as a global government.

 44. Decisions...

    Far Justice

    Counselor Me''peat waited until the last Alvear entered his private suite.

    As soon as Science officer De''rew sat down he started the meeting. He had a special party created for this sensitive and dangerous meeting.

    <A new Galactic Administrator has been chosen. It is ''NOT!'' an Alvear. The current Administrator will leave this plane of reality soon until he does we cannot glass this planet to remove his choice.>

    The new Leader of Strike Group Two F''ouh spoke up. <You would destroy a planet of Alvear kin over this?>

    <Without hesitation. We have been planning and waiting for this opportunity for over two million years. We were created for this role. We. Will. Be. The. Administrators!> Me''peat stressed every word. He wanted to make sure that every Alvear understood this crucial fact.

    He saw heads nod in agreement. Even the new Strike Group Leader.

    Me''peat outlined the plan they were to follow. Every Alvear had a role to play. He sent a signal to the cloaked ships in the star system to begin their part of this operation.

    Some ships went to the outer-planets while others were to establish bases in the asteroid belt. One specific ship would be assigned the critical role of planetary infiltration.

    <F''ouh you have an important part to play. Science officer De''rew will ghost your ID on the Far Justice while you guide the assault team. Good luck. Our creator will be watching.> Me''peat saw F''ouh gather her courage. She gave Me''peat an Alvear salute and left the counselor''s chambers.

    Dallas/Fort Worth

    Texas

    FBI agent in charge Nelson Rook drove his government SUV with the lights flashing.

    He saw the tail end of the Longhorns of the Fort Worth Herd as they were led off by the Cowboys.

    He parked his SUV beside the Rangers Command post. The agents opened the doors and stepped into the gifts left behind by the Herd.

    Nelson swore and wiped his shoes. The other agents were careful where they placed their steps.

    Sgt Jimmy Rivera hid a smile. Someone stepping into a steaming pile was funny. He saw Harlan frown. He removed his smile and put on his serious face.

    "Howdy." He saidIf you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    "Agent in charge Nelson Rook. I''m supposed to meet a Navy Lieutenant by the name of Price." Nelson was about to shake the ranger''s hand when someone said, "Agent could you please turn off your lights?"

    Nelson saw that the man who made the request was the Rangers Company Commander. "Certainly sir. Prescott."

    Agent Prescott went back into the SUV and turned off the lights.

    "The Lieutenant is in the crater." Harlan Sinclair waved the agent over.

    "What are you doing here Nelson?" Harlan whispered.

    "Hi, Harlan. Got my orders straight from the top. I''m to assist the Lieutenant with whatever he needs. Can you bring me up to speed?"

    Sinclair took a minute to explain what the Seals and their guests were doing. He left out the part about the Herd. That would go into his report to the Governor.

    "Thanks, Harlan. I owe you." Nelson made his way carefully through the steaming piles of cow manure. When he got to the edge he saw soldiers go in and out of a black shadowy transport. He was told to expect that there would be a spaceship at the site but seeing, or barely so, is believing.

    He saw that someone was building something around the crash site. They looked like seats. With boosters.

    He saw Lieutenant Price talking to an officer with a Canadian flag on the sleeve of his combat armor. ''That would be McLean.'' He then saw the blonde woman between the two men. ''Hastings.'' He jumped into the crater and walked over. He still marveled at the ease of how his new muscles were able to do what he considered to be movie magic.

    The three officers saw his jump and stopped talking when they saw him walk over.

    "Lieutenant Price I am Agent in charge Nelson." He introduced himself.

    "The Liasion from the FBI?" Andy knew who the man was. Command had sent him the info through the Xerys chat.

    "Yes, I''m here to make sure you won''t have a problem operating on US soil. The HSD guy should be here soon to help out as well." Nelson looked around and waved at the seats in the center. "What''s going on?"

    "We just got word that when the flash went off it shut down the power grid."

    "Yeah, the power went out in the Dallas, FBI HQ when it did. But it''s back on now." Nelson told them.

    "Hydro-electric, solar and wind generators are back on, but not the nuclear powerplants. They''re scrambling everything to stop them from going into a critical meltdown." Andy explained.

    "Holy...No wonder you were given top priority. What can I do to help?" Nelson was horrified at the prospect of every nuclear powerplant pulling a three-mile island.

    "That''s about the size of it. Joe over there..." Andy pointed at Joe Wilder as he redesigned the dropship seats and floor into twelve separate vehicles. Each with a couple of micro-fusion plants and an anti-gravity drive.

    "Joe is getting those things ready now. We''ll be dropping them all over the world. Twelve will start here in the US and the other four will go to Canada, England, Europe, and Russia. As soon as those plants are secured we''re to make our way to Australia, Japan, Korea, and China. So on and so forth. Get as much coverage as possible." Andy explained the basic points of Joe''s plan.

    "What are those things supposed to do?" Nelson had no clue what a couple of seats were supposed to do.

    The seats are just to carry the operators. The main thing here is to get the micro-fusion plants hooked up to the powerplants power grid. Just long enough to remove the nuclear rods and stop the pile from going critical. The dropship will be racing around the globe dropping and picking up those boys. It may not be enough, but there are others working to come up with another workaround."

    Joe got everyone to gather around, "This is going to be brute force. All you''re going to do is hooking up the micro powerplants to restore power long enough to remove the rods. That''s it." Joe pointed out the connections and where to attach them. "These units are self-contained. They also come with an AI. We drop you over the target. We don''t even slow down. Get down as fast as you can. AI is your guide. The ground crews have been altered and are waiting for you. Get in there. Attach the power and wait with the unit the rods are removed." Joe saw that everyone was hanging on to every word. They all knew how serious this was. "Yuri, we will be picking up your support crew from the recovery base. Their job is to smooth your way. You leave no matter what to the next site. A crew member will stay behind to run interference. These units cannot get lost in the bureaucracy. The Moment you lose control, it will explode."

    "Da! Yuri understand. Boom!" Yuri mimed an explosion with his hands.

    "Clive you and Captain Hastings have two units to work with." Joe saw the British scientist nod his head. "Start at Dounreay and make your way south to Winfrith. When you''re done with the British Isles hop over to France and repeat. Yuri Start at Kola and make your way south to Germany. Clive coordinate with Yuri, please. I know that you two have worked before." Joe took a moment for the information to sink in. "One last item. Anyone with a Telekinetic ability is an asset. Worse come to worst. Pull the rods out telekinetically. Damage be damned. Any questions?"

    It was a silly question. Of course, there were questions. Joe held up his hands. "Hold on. First, I''m available. I will be monitoring every unit with Ae''url. Every AI will be able to answer any question about the technical aspect of any hookup you encounter. Let''s go. Standing room only."

    The soldiers quickly loaded up the units and boarded the dropship. Like Joe said, standing room only.

 45. Assault...

    Ottawa, Canada

    AI-Rene was playing a game. The entire Ottawa Valley was saturated with the remains of the artifact that used to house Scarlett.

    He was building a 3D model of the Ottawa Valley. It was like a SIM game but more advanced. More detail, less money management.

    [They have finished the carnal activities.] Scarlett warned him.

    The AI peeked into Rene''s mind through the airplane screens. He saw Rene and Marie cuddling after a session. He would have missed that, but he decided to move on.

    He had Scarlett to distract him on the Xerys energy plane and with the connection to Joe he had a more active partner in Ae''url.

    The problem with all that was him. He still had human feelings and attitudes. He still wanted human intimacy.

    The Cybersex with Ae''url was too cold. It was fun but so cold.

    Scarlett, on the other hand, was like trying to seduce a child. No thanks. Not his cup of tea.

    [Another user added.] Scarlett announced.

    [[Who?]] He checked the new name and saw Marie. [[Well hello gorgeous. Welcome to the exclusive club.]] Now, this was more like it.

    ''You''re right Rene. This is strange.'' Marie was looking between the two versions of her husband. One was more solid than the other. ''Why are you so opaque?'' She asked the AI.

    [[Hi Marie. Welcome to the Xerys dimension. To answer your question: I was born from Xerys energy.]]

    ''Are you alive?'' She asked.

    [[Tough question. I think, therefore I am. Is a close answer. I like to think so. We are our memories. And until this morning Rene and I were indistinguishable from each other. As time goes on I can see the different experiences between us. While we''re connected we are the same, but the more he disconnects from the Xerys, the more drift begins to form between us. When we reconnect like now and the memories update the less drift there is.]]

    ''Then you''re alive but if you disconnect, you become another person. If you reconnect the other new you disappear?'' Marie was unsure about that.

    ''No Cherie.'' Rene said. ''The more drift the more separate we become. And if we don''t want to merge at that point he gets another body and I reload another backup.'' Rene frowned. ''It''s not quite right, but this philosophy of self-awareness is going to need time to develop.''

    ''You two are confusing me.'' Marie smiled.

    ''You''re confused? What about us? We have to live with ourselves.

    ''Enough mon Coeur. Now introduce me to Xerys.'' She demanded.

    [[Allow me. Lady Scarlett may I introduce Marie Wilder?]]

    [Yes you may. Permission granted.]

    AI sighed. Work in progress.

    ''Stop playing around you fool.'' Marie laughed. It was Rene after all. No matter how much they drifted she could tell, the awful humour would still be the same.

    [[Fine. Be that way. Marie. Scarlett. Scarlett. Marie. There, happy?]]

    ''Delighted.'' Marie ignored the childish behaviour.

    Marie led Scarlett away from the boys and began the process of understanding the new person living in her husband''s psyche. The AI didn''t count. It was still Rene.

    Energy Blades Mercenary Stealth ship.

    The ship made its way down to the planet. After yet another scan by the crew, they were still undetected.

    "Are you sure about this information?" R''unk asked.

    "Yes, I am sure." R''unk could detect the obvious sarcasm from the trooper. He kept needling the girl until he mapped out her personality. His ability was peculiar but it had many advantages. Once he mapped out a target the personality matrix could predict their action to a surprisingly accurate degree.

    "Land the ship by the frozen river." Strike Leader F''ouh ordered. She kept her temper in check. She suspected the Alvear mercenary of ulterior motives for acting like a fool.

    The Mercenaries were composed entirely of Alvear personnel. Counsellor Me''peat had contacted this unit personally. So far she wasn''t impressed.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    "How are we going to find them Strike Leader?" The Merc boss asked.

    "That will be the easy part. I slipped a tracer on the young Electrokinetic user. He''s the son of the primary target. He should be with his parent." F''ouh opened the spaceship''s airlock. "Remember we are dealing with overdosed combat obsessed Alvear who are at the Omega stage. No one breaks stealth. Do you understand?"

    "Strike Leader we are professionals. You do not need to tell us how to do our job." R''unk replied in a huff.

    F''ouh let it go. They will either do the job or they won''t. She flew out of the ship and hovered above the frozen river.

    The Mercenaries joined her one by one. She led them cautiously to target. She looked about her and came to a personal conclusion ''Lots of green space around, but you could not pay me enough to live on this frozen mud sphere.''

    The target was close. She signalled a stop. The mercs spread out and got ready for her signal.

    She armed her blaster and checked the target readout. It was locked on target. She pressed the trigger to start the mission.

    Wilder Residence

    Paul had just finished his shower and got dressed for bed. ''I''m not tired. Why do I have to go to sleep? I think I''ll just check snap chat. Let''s see if the service is back on. He walked into the rec room in the basement and checked his phone. "Well alright. At least data is back up."

    A few of his friends were still up. ''They probably couldn''t sleep.''

    He did his streaks and checked the PS4. "Still no WiFi. The phone needs a charge too."

    He put on a pair of sweats and sat down to start another offline game.

    In the bedroom, Scarlett gave a warning. [Energy buildup detected...Plasma cannon signature recognized...]

    Rene and Marie were ejected from the Xerys energy plane by AI-Rene.

    "Get dressed." He told Marie. He put on a pair of sweat pants while Marie put on a sports bra. "PAUL SHIELDS UP!!!" He found Marie''s yoga pants and threw them at her.

    Strike Leader F''ouh fired the power armor''s plasma cannon at the dwelling below her. The blast ripped through the side wall, through the floor and into the basement.

    The first casualty was Paul''s pants. The pants that F''ouh slid her tracker into. The pants that Paul threw on the chair beside the PS4. As a result, the second casualty was the PlayStation itself.

    Paul let out a heart-rending scream as his PS4 was vaporized in front of his eyes. That''s when he heard his dad''s warning.

    Paul''s rage at this unforgivable crime ignited his ability at full force. He flew through the blasted floor and wall. He saw his parents jump through the bedroom window to the garden below.

    Rene activated the Planetary force field. The Combat skin was next. Marie had a bathrobe on over her sports bra and yoga pants. On her feet, she had enough time to put on the fluffy bunny slippers.

    Rene activated space awareness, ''Scarlett add Paul to Party and start painting targets.''

    [There are six targets within the planetary force field. Nineteen outside.]

    [[I''ve Alerted Pierre.]] AI avatar added.

    Paul roared through the field chasing the nearest target. He blasted the game destroyer with a full power blast.

    The target was vaporized. It wasn''t enough. He flew wildly through the sky. Eighteen Alvear made him the priority target.

    Paul''s force field exploded into a corona of blue electric plasma. It expanded from his body into a large circle. Lightning bolts were blasting in all directions.

    Inside the planetary field, Rene and Marie dodged plasma bolts. ''Avatar prep six poison packets.''

    [[Are you sure. That will take a few minutes.]]

    ''No choice. Everywhere I look the targets are in power armor.'' Rene jumped with Marie to avoid the energy blasts. When couldn''t dodge he made sure the plasma hit his combat skin?

    "We can''t win if we''re on the defensive Rene." Marie ducked behind Rene as he tanked another plasma blast.

    "I know. I just can''t reach them." He told her.

    "Didn''t you say you have telekinesis?" She asked.

    "Yeah, I do." He replied through gritted teeth as he took another blast.

    "Have you tried levitation?" She asked.

    "No? Not really." He wasn''t sure it would work.

    "What have we got to lose?" She asked.

    "You''re right." Rene used his ability to close the gap with a target. When he got within 30 meters Marie said, "fling me!��

    He did better than that. He threw her using telekinesis to guide her to target.

    The Alien wasn''t expecting that as Marie smashed into the power armor. She clung to its back and rained blow after blow on the helmet.

    The alien dropped from the sky with her still clinging to the armor''s back raining blow after blow.

    The alien stopped moving and Rene caught her before they hit the ground.

    ''Scarlett does she have enough energy for another ability?''

    [Yes. What would you like to give her?]

    ''Telekinesis first, the give her the combat skill''

    Marie saw the option to acquire the gamma level ability on her HUD. She accepted the ability and then did the same with the skill.

    [Ability and skill accepted.] Scarlett reported.

    ''Good. Now copy my Telekinetic Combat Skin synergy and give it to her.''

    [Insufficient energy...]

    ''Use mine to complete.'' Rene told her.

    [Transfering energy between party members...successful...Synergy skill created.]

    "Marie activate the combat skin. I can''t keep taking hits for you." Rene saw Marie activate the combat skin. ''Hey AI bro how are we doing with those poison pills?'' Rene took a pair of plasma bolts while Marie got used to her new skin.

    R''unk''s POV

    "I am unable to get through his combat skin. There aren''t enough of us inside his force field." The Alvear Merc had no choice.

    He signalled his special unit to engage. Two Alvear used their telekinetic abilities and grabbed Rene from the air and slammed him into the ground. Hard.

    R''unk signalled another two members of his band to keep the female back while they dealt with the male.

    Rene saw that Marie was taking hits and he almost lost it. ''Avatar I need those pills bro.''

    [[Almost done. Keep them busy.]]

    ''With what?'' Rene tried a desperate gambit. He grabbed R''unk by the armor and used him to batter the two beating on Marie.

    That left him open. He saw that Pierre and his men had arrived at the scene.

    R''unk tried to slip out of the telekinetic grip but his armor didn''t have enough power. The Barbarian was using him as a club.

    "Enough. Take him down." He ordered. He saw the female go down. ''Good. Now for the male.'' He thought gleefully.

    "NO! Roared the male as he saw his wife on the ground. He charged at R''unk and the others. Leaving his back unguarded.

    That was all his special unit needed. R''unk saw and felt the massive energy build from the male. " Oh No." The planetary cannon. The male was about to blow him up. He would also probably take the city with him.

    "NOW!" He shouted desperately.

    Two blue energy swords emerged from thin air in the hands of the special Alvear unit. They used a telekinetic jump to catch Rene. The swords went through his telekinetic skin like a hot knife through butter.

    The energy swords pinned Rene into the ground like an oversized insect.

 46. Assault part 2...

    RCMP HQ

    Ottawa, Canada

    [[Pierre someone is attacking the house with energy weapons!]]

    "How? The only people with energy weapons are the aliens."

    [[Aw crap. Someone just blasted the side of the house. Gotta go!"]]

    "Fuckin'' Hell! Jack! Is Kieran still with you?" Pierre checked the party chat and his mini-map. ''Damn this stuff is useful.''

    "He is Pete. What''s up?" Jack Stewart was filling out a report about the Bertona Park fight.

    "Rene''s place just got hit by energy blasters. Get SWAT to me us at his place my place on Donald." Pierre was already racing out of his office to the nearest exit out of the building.

    "Why your place? I thought it was Rene the one in trouble?" He switched from party chat and looked at constable Maloney, "Kieran. Get SWAT to meet us at Pierre''s place on Donald."

    "Rene''s across the street from me. If you head for my place you''ll be able to see the fight on the street." Pierre made it outside and flew as high and as fast as he could towards his brother''s place.

    He could see JP already lighting up the sky with a huge lightning display.

    [[Be careful Pierre. There''s a lot of them. I''m highlighting targets.]] AI avatar warned him.

    "Whoa! That''s a lot. Where did they come from?"

    [[Maybe? Space? Where else do you think they''re from?]]

    "You know for someone who''s in trouble you''re kinda mouthy." Pierre picked a target and went into raming speed.

    He hit the target and watched as it crashed. He picked another and lined it up for another charge. He saw JP rampage all over the place.

    "Wow! JP tone it down. You''re about to level the neighbourhood."

    "They blew up my PS4 uncle Pierre. MY SAVED GAMES! GONE! MY RANKING! GONE!" every time Paul stressed the word gone a target went down. Between Pierre and Paul, six targets were already on the ground. Some smashed. Others a smoking charred corpses.

    "HEY! I SAID TONE IT DOWN NOW! Where are your parents?"

    "My parents? Oh No! Mom and Dad? Where are they?" Paul started to fly like a headless chicken looking for his parents.

    The Mercs tried their best to avoid the ball of lightning that was flying in the most random pattern anyone has ever seen.

    "JP! Calm down! Check the mini-map." Pierre followed his own advice as he circled the combat zone.

    On the map, he saw that Rene and Marie were on the football field behind the Overbrook community center.

    "Got ''em. Follow me." Pierre flew in his brother''s direction. He saw Marie getting smashed into the ground by the two outlined targets. A third target was used as a club to hit the targets.

    Pierre lined up on one opponent and rammed it straight into the ground at full speed. He scattered the other in his wake.

    He flew out of the hole in the snow in time to see Rene getting skewered by two blue energy swords. ''Oh no! He''s about to blow.''

    Marie raced through the snow to Rene. Pierre saw the guy Rene used as a club get up. He was lining up Rene for a shot.

    "NO!�� Pierre rammed the asshole at match 5. He sent him flying towards the goal posts.

    When he turned towards Rene and Marie, he saw Marie use a flying kick to get one off. It left the sword behind.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    JP blasted the alien before it even hit the ground. Pierre rammed the other one.

    Rene grabbed the alien in mid-air with a telekinetic grip and him straight up.

    Rene fired his planetary plasma cannon at the alien before it could get away. It was like using a nuclear bomb to swat a fly.

    The blast lit up the entire football field. "That''s a flare everyone should see for miles around."

    Pierre flew towards his brother and sister-in-law. Marie''s glowing hands were over Rene''s sides.

    Rene saw Pierre fly over. "Grab that sword." Rene was removing the other.

    Pierre gripped the sword and pulled slowly. *Connection established.*

    "What''s going on?" Pierre kept pulling the sword out despite the odd tingles going up and down his arms.

    "They...they''re" Rene was struggling with the sword he was removing. He pulled it out hand over hand until it was almost out. With a final grunt, he pulled out his sword. "They''re bonded swords. I used a couple of AI packets to disrupt the bonds." Rene was huffing and puffing.

    Pierre could see the smoking wounds close up slowly. He also saw the glow from Marie''s hands intensify.

    "That, that''s from Marie. She''s using her regeneration ability. I also copied her ability to so you know, I don''t die."

    [[Would you forget about the flying crap already. It was either regeneration or death. Now you get to live with it. Asshole.]]

    "Jeez, Rene you''re even an asshole to yourself. Now explain the swords!" Pierre saw JP and the other RCMP fast movers get in on the action. They were keeping the rest of the aliens off their backs.

    "They''re bonded weapons. Science their previous owners are dead my AI in the sword took over the swords programming. Congrats bro. You''ve got yourself a disruptor energy sword." Rene raised the sword over his head. "Watch this!" With another deep breath, he said, "By the power of ME!" There was a large zap and the sword disappeared.

    "Would you just stop with the assholery. You almost died!" Pierre was getting pissed off.

    "No, I didn''t." Rene winced as Marie jabbed his punctured side.

    "Yes, you did. Stop playing around." She hit him again. "You scared me to death you asshole."

    "It''s just a flesh wound." He smiled at her.

    "Quoting Monty Python isn''t helping. But if you can joke it means that the worst is over. At least you stopped coughing up blood." Marie examined Rene''s sides again.

    "You do good work. Mrs. Wilder." He pulled her close for a hug and a kiss.

    "Do you know why they''re after you?" Pierre asked.

    "Let''s find out. There''s the one you plowed into the snow. I think he''s still kinda intact." Rene led the way towards R''unk''s buried body.

    "How do I make the sword disappear." He slugged Rene on the other shoulder, "I''m warning you. I''m not saying that crap."

    "He he he." Rene laughed at his brother. "Say Marie are you the one controlling the pain? All I can feel is this euphoric feeling. It''s making me high."

    "Oui. C''est Moi." She kissed his cheek. "And if you don''t behave I am going to stop."

    "Ok. Ok. I''ll stop." He giggled like a little girl.

    "Wow, Marie. What kind of narcotics are you using?" Pierre asked.

    "No narcotics Pierre. C''est just moi. My healing ability has a euphoric side effect. I''m worried that it could be addictive." Marie explained.

    "Nice." He slugged Rene''s shoulder again. "Rene! The sword!" Pierre could see that his brother needed time to recover.

    "Just will it away. Hold on. It''s like this." Rene sent the AI in the sword to begin the process. When it was done Pierre saw how that was done. He summoned and unsummoned the sword a couple of times. "This will come in handy. At least I can stop ramming these guys and use the sword from now on."

    They reached the alien. Rene held up a hand as Jack Stewart came at a run. "Gimme a sec here Jack." Rene stopped the officer from speaking. He reached down and inserted an AI packet into the alien''s power armor."This will take a minute. So what''s up Jack?"

    Jack ignored the none RCMP Wilder and spoke to Pierre. "Pete there''s too many of these guys flying around. If it wasn''t for the kid we would have been toast by now."

    "Give us a minute Jack. I want to know why these guys are back? And why they''re blowing up the neighbourhood?" Pierre turned to Rene, "anything yet?"

    "Almost done." Rene could see the power armor melt off the alien. It was another Space Elf.

    Pierre reached down and grabbed the naked elf by the neck. "Why are you here?" Pierre thanked the Xerys System for the auto-translation service. Without it, this would have been impossible.

    The elf struggled and chocked in Pierre''s grip for a minute before he dropped the naked shivering elf into the snow. "Talk, or freeze. I don''t care." Pierre shrugged. He hoped that the elf got the message.

    "H him...w we''re here for hi him." The shivering elf was trembling from the fear, cold and from the hits he took.

    "Pierre stop bullying him." Marie chided her brother-in-law. "Here, let me help." Marie used her healing ability on the miserable looking elf.

    ''As soon as the euphoric effect starts working ask him your questions again.'' Marie used the party chat to communicate with Pierre.

    ''Ooh. You''re sneaky. You''re obviously the brains in the family.'' Pierre smiled and waited for the euphoria to hit the elf.

    ''Was there any doubt. I want to know why these mechant. These wicked ones attacked my home.'' She explained.

    A minute later an AI Android emerged from the snow. This one looked like Marie. "Cherie. What''s that?" Marie asked Rene?

    "That''s your AI. I backed up your memories and activated another AI to help you. You can also use it as the Iron Man power armor. Or maybe the Iron Woman?" Rene explained.

    "Wear it?" Marie''s eyes blazed in anger. ��Fou!�� she slugged his shoulder.

    "Aiiii. That hurt Marie." Rene rubbed his shoulder. He needed to remember that Marie was a lot tougher than she used to be. He decided not to piss her off until she calmed down.

    Jack Stewart turned around looked at the sky and the fighting taking place around them. Anywhere but the Wilders. "Pierre." He said urgently.

    "I see them, Jack." Pierre knew what was going around him. His sensory ability didn''t miss much. He needed the information in this elf''s head.

    "Say, what''s your name?" Pierre asked the naked elf. He stopped shivering.

    "Oooh. It''s not cold anymore." R''unk looked. Pierre asked again.

    "Your name?"

    "My name is R''unk!�� he declared loudly.

    "Why are you shouting R''unk?" Pierre asked.

    "Because I am a mighty Mercenary. You wild Alvear should respect me. Now Alvear monkey!" R''unk giggled like a demented scout hopped up on sugar cookies.

    "Maybe later. Why are you here Mighty R''unk?" Pierre asked casually?

    "We were hired to neutralize the Alpha Omega." He pointed at Rene. "We almost did it too. My unit has never failed. Our sword mistresses could neutralize anyone. Those swords are scary." R''unk looked around, "where are the mistresses?" He couldn''t see them. Or the swords.

    "Was there anyone else on your target list?" Pierre wanted to know if he was the next target.

    "No. Not for this location. Someone else is going after the target in the ocean. You know. If they told me there were so many Omega class powerhouses here. I wouldn''t have taken the contract. No matter how much they offered." R''unk told Pierre in a whisper.

    [[Rene tell me what that looks like?]] AI avatar asked.

    Rene looked at the SIM map of the area. He narrowed the view to where the avatar was pointing. ''That looks bigger than the dropship. A full spaceship maybe?''

    [[I think so.]]

    [I concur. That looks like the outline of an Alvear infiltration ship.] Scarlett explained.

    "How did you get here R''unk?" Pierre continued with the interrogation.

    "We used our ship? Hey, I think I am starting to feel the cold again. Do you think I can get another buff?" He looked at Pierre with puppy eyes.

    "Sure. Where did you park the ship?" Pierre asked friendly-like?

    "Oh no. Get me my buff first." R''unk turned his back. This conversation was over until he got another hit of the good stuff.

    Pierre sighed. He turned to Marie and asked with his eyes if she was willing.

    Marie rolled her eyes but walked over and hit the elf with another does anyway. She really wanted these assholes gone.

    As the warmth and euphoria hit the elf Rene shouted. "It''s by the Rideau River."

 47. Assault part 3...

    Overbrook

    Ottawa, Canada

    "Rene a little help?" Pierre asked as he shielded a SWAT constable from a plasma blast.

    "One sec. I''m almost done." Rene had inserted another AI packet into the fifth surviving Alvear merc.

    "We need to get the flyers under control. Can you do something?" Pierre didn''t know if Rene could do anything to help. Lately, he was pulling one impossible solution after another; straight out of his ass. It couldn''t hurt to ask.

    ''Hey AI what do you think? You have more time to think about it than me.'' Rene checked with his AI. It had more resources to work with than he did.

    [[Try threatening them.]] AI explained the plan. Rene agreed. It might even work.

    "Paul follow this flight path. Pierre, I''m sending you one as well. I want to herd them over the park." Rene explained over the party chat.

    "On it." Pierre took off and started to circle the field while JP did the same from the other direction.

    At first, the mercs tried to break out from his direction but when he summoned the blue sword they quickly veered off.

    ''Scarlett wide angle, please. I don''t care about the damage. I''m running a bluff.''

    [Acknowledged.]

    Rene painted every individual. Including Pierre and Paul.

    ''Scarlett, please broadcast.''

    [Broadcasting.]

    "You will all surrender! Or you will be vaporized! You have five seconds to decide!" Rene began a count of five.

    The Mercs AI power armor assistants began to scream a warning. They displayed the energy levels the Alpha Omega was about to unleash. The unanimous recommendation was: Surrender!

    All eighteen Mercs landed in front of Rene. Rene touched every merc. Every time he touched a merc he inserted an AI to take over a power armor.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    "Pierre get eighteen officers ready. They''re going to become power armor troopers." Rene kept pointing his the business end of the plasma cannon at the alien Mercs.

    No one dared move.

    "Why only eighteen? Didn''t we take down twenty-one?" Pierre did a quick headcount.

    "One has is a Marie android. Another is a copy of mine. Android 2.0 so to speak. The last one is a protective shell for Marie.

    "Why do you need another android copy of you?" Pierre called Jack over. "I''m not buying your logic. Lose the droid."

    "Make me. I''m out of Fucks! To! Give! These bastards came after me. It stops here bro." Rene let anger show. Enough was enough. Anyone trying to walk all over him is in for some pain.

    "You better get some blankets for the naked elf girls." Rene walked away with Marie and Paul beside him.

    "Where are we going to live now dad?" Paul asked.

    "I hear there''s a place available by the Rideau River." Rene turned to Marie, "wanna give me a lift babe?"

    "Sure. Where are we really going, Rene?" She asked?

    "I''m serious. AI can you still change into an armor?" He knew he could.

    "Sure." The Android reformed into a War Machine Power Armor design. Rene walked in and the armor reformed around his body.

    "Follow me." He told his family while his brother was distracted.

    A flag on the mini-map appeared. "That''s where we''re going." It took less than a minute to reach the ship. Rene could see the projected outline.

    He landed on top of the ship and inserted a few AIa as soon as touched the ship. Rene, Marie and Scarlett AIs attacked the spaceships simple AI.

    He then jumped down and waited for the AIs to do their job.

    "You want to live? In that?" Marie asked not believing her husband''s audacity.

    "Not so much live as getting even with these guys. It''s staying in stealth mode, but overall think of it as a camper." Rene was trying to convince a reluctant Marie. He knew how she thought. To her this was theft.

    As far as he was concerned this is war. And that ship was a spoil of war.

    The airlock popped open. "In you go." He leads the way inside.

    Reluctantly his family followed. As the ship closed its airlock Rene ordered it to move above his house. He could monitor the situation from the ship.

    Paul was looking around everywhere. On the inside, the elf ship was full of green growing planets. The soft lights were soothing. It looked more like a picnic area than a spaceship.

    "Where are we going to sleep?" Not on the grass he wasn''t. The seats looked like a high-tech version of a lazy boy.

    [We are reconfiguring the living quarters to your family''s requirements.] Scarlett announced over the ship''s speakers

    "Can you rebuild my PS4?" He begged.

    [The device, yes. The data, no.]

    "GOD DAMN IT!" Paul was not a happy camper.

    "Jean Paul. That is quite enough mon fils.�� Marie gently reprimanded her son.

    "Sorry maman." Paul apologized. "I''m going to pick a room."

    Marie saw Paul leave to explore below the ship''s decks. She stayed near Rene to keep him from getting out of control, or more out of control.

    She didn''t know what Rene went through today. It must have been traumatic because he was clearly becoming unhinged. "Cherie, could you please calm down? Tell me about your day, please." Marie led Rene to a two-person recliner that formed around the display showing the chaos around her neighbourhood.

    RCMP officers and volunteers were keeping the neighbours indoors. Checking the damage. RCMP vehicles were picking up the naked elves and taking them somewhere. She really didn''t care where? So long as it wasn''t near her home.

    "There''s still four more unaccounted for. The ship logs show twenty-five individuals and I can only verify the locations of twenty-one." Rene was taking a deep breath to calm down his shattered nerves. If it wasn''t for Marie''s healing and regeneration abilities he would have been dead.

    "You know, Pierre won''t let us keep the ship," Marie said reasonably.

    "What ship? This doesn''t exist." Rene insisted.

    "Don''t be difficult mom amour." She hugged him and gently kissed him.

    "You don''t fight fair Marie. They''re still not taking the camper." He gave her a wicked smile.

    Marie gave up for now. He was stubborn. Like all men. Until he stopped being like that she would let him be. "Do you want to join me in exploring the ''Camper.''?" She got up and walked away. She put a heavy sway into her hips as she slowly left the top deck. Rene''s eyes followed her.

    ''I am still not giving up my camper!'' He doubled down but followed the hypnotic swaying hips. He was no one''s fool. She was probably going to use sex to change his mind. It wouldn''t work, but he would let her try as much as she wanted. It was only fair.

 48. Assault Aftermath...

    Langevin Block.

    Ottawa, Canada

    "Are all the elves in custody Chief?" Justin Trudeau asked the Chief Superintendent.

    "Yes, sir. We have documented the entire episode. Four fugitives remain on the loose. We are tracking them down." Chief Daniel Levy explained.

    "Thank you. Chief Levy. Please keep my office up to date on any development." He requested.

    "Yes, sir." Chief Levy signed off.

    "Alright, Jeff let''s see what we''re dealing with." Justin played the video of the takedown and arrest of the space invaders.

    "We have a power armor unit now?" Jeff pointed out the obvious as eighteen RCMP SWAT members put the Red and White War Machine style armor on.

    "Looks like. Thank you, Rene Wilder. The gift that keeps on giving." Justin was happy with the outcome. First Captain McLean takes care of the Nuclear Powerplants in Eastern Canada and Rene gives Canada its first Galactic Power Armor unit.

    As the video comes to a close they see Rene arguing with his brother about a spaceship.

    "There''s no spaceship Pierre!" They heard Rene say and repeat.

    Commander Wilder wasn''t buying the argument and kept pushing.

    Finally, Rene gets in his brother''s face. "Pierre there''s no spaceship. If you see a spaceship I''ll let you have it. Do you see a spaceship anywhere?"

    "No, I don''t see a spaceship because it''s an infiltration spaceship. Give it back. You aren''t allowed to keep military-grade vehicles!�� Commander Wilder insisted.

    "If you don''t see it and the aliens cannot locate it. It doesn''t exist. I''ll see you later."

    Rene Wilder jumped and promptly disappeared.

    "And you can''t keep the power armor either," Pierre shouted at the now invisible brother.

    Jack Stewart walked up to Commander Wilder and reported. "Every alien is now in custody. We have three untraceable aliens who we presume are elves. And Kieran Maloney is chasing a speeder all over southern Ontario. He could use some help."

    "I thought Kieran can break the sound barrier on the ground?" Pierre asked.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    "He can and so can the alien," Jack answered.

    "You getting used to the power armor, Jack," Pierre asked.

    "Oh yeah. The Mark I AI makes this feel effortless." Jack replied with a massive smile.

    "You''re welcome, Jack." Answered a voice form the armor.

    "That doesn''t sound like Rene''s voice," Pierre noted.

    "That''s because I am not a Rene AI. Rene thought that you only needed a simpler AI to run the suit." The Mark I AI answered.

    "You''re aware?" Pierre asked the AI.

    "Yes, sir. All male power armor pilots have a Mark I AI and all female power armor pilots have a Marcie AI." Mark I, informed Pierre.

    "Thank you, Mark," Pierre told the AI.

    "You''re welcome, commander." It replied.

    "Neat right? Anyway, can you help Kieran out? I know you''re much faster than they are and you can fly." Jack requested.

    "Yeah sure. There''s no point going after Rene now. Once his mind is set on something there''s nothing that can change that stubborn mind of his. Take care of everything while I''m gone." Pierre Wilder flew so fast that there wasn''t even an afterimage left behind.

    The video came to an end. There was another video from RCMP HQ after it.

    "There goes a spaceship. I don''t think Mr. Wilder will be giving up on that ship anytime soon." Jeff commented.

    "Unfortunately you''re right. We can''t even fault commander Wilder for his handling of this crisis. He tried and let''s face it. No one saw a spaceship and Rene will not even admit to a spaceship in the first place. It''s a lost cause. For now. We did come out ahead. A full Power Armor detachment we didn''t have before." Justin wasn''t too unhappy with the outcome. It would be nice to have a spaceship.

    He wasn''t willing to prosecute someone as useful as the Wilders. He had no doubt that Commander Wilder would support his brother if push came to shove. After studying the information about skills and abilities available to the Xerys System Justin knew just how powerful an Omega class user was, let alone three in one family. What he also witnessed from Marie Wilder was nothing short of spectacular.

    With that kind of support, he didn''t think that they could force them to surrender a hypothetical spaceship.

    There was also no doubt in his mind that there will be other opportunities to pick up another ship. In less than a day the Earth gained two spaceships. In two days, who knew?

    "Play the other video, Jeff. I need to see this part as well before I make that other call. Second alien invasion in less than twelve hours. We need to set some boundaries for our space visitors." Justin watched as the RCMP HQ video played out.

    They saw how the elves were processed. First, they were given clothes. Second, they were fed and last they were put in individual cells.

    The Power Armor unit stood guard over every single elf. RCMP officers weren''t about to take chances with super-powered aliens.

    "That can''t go on for too long," Jeff commented at the precautions taken by the RCMP.

    Justin agreed. "Let''s try a diplomatic solution first. We do have a liaison after all."

    Jeff Reardon agreed. He also had forgotten that they had a liaison in the first place. It had been that level of hectic.

    Justin went to the liaison party chat and contacted Strike Leader Ae''url.

    Ae''url was currently flying over Russia in a stripped down dropship. They had just picked up Yuri''s team and were about to drop him off at the next Russian nuclear power plant.

    "Greetings Prime Minister. How may I assist?" She asked when she accepted the chat.

    "Greetings Strike Leader Ae''url. We have another invasion situation. Would you know anything about that?" The Canadian Prime Minister began.

    "Invasion? I will need more information before I can make an assessment Prime Minister." Ae''url sent a request for information and Justin sent her several videos of the battle and arrest. He left out the argument between the Wilders about the spaceship.

    "I will contact Captain Fo''Rkon D''Um and request an update." Ae''url concluded. She didn''t have enough information. The fact that the entire assault unit was Alvear was highly suspect.

    Far Justice Cruiser

    Captain Fo''Rkon received an emergency alert from Strike Leader Ae''url. Since her posting as a liaison officer what the Mechanoid had to report would be of critical importance.

    "Report Strike Leader!" He commanded.

    "Captain there has been an assassination attempt against the Alpha Omega class user Rene Wilder." Ae''url reported.

    "What evidence do you possess to support this accusation Strike Leader?" Was the gruff reply.

    "I will transmit my evidence now Captain." Ae''url transmitted the videos she received from the Canadian Prime Minister.

    "I will review the evidence!" Captain Fo''Rkon kept Ae''url waiting while he did the review. When he was done the conclusion he came to was dire.

    "Strike Leader invite the accuser to the chat." Captain Fo''Rkon was in for an unpleasant negotiation session. He knew for certain that the Alvear was to blame. Also without a doubt, the prisoners would have to stay on the planet. For they broke quarantine. The loss of Galactic technology was troubling. For now, there was nothing he could do about it.

    "Greetings Captain Fo''Rkon." Justin Trudeau began.

    "Greetings Prime Minister." At least the barbarian was polite thought the Drak''on Captain.

 49. The Chase...

    Seaway International Bridge

    Canada, US border crossing

    Kieran was chasing the alien speedster for all he was worth. Fatigue was starting to take effect but he still had gas in the tank.

    "Kieran, what''s your status?" Commander Wilder inquired through the party chat.

    "I''m on J 138, Pete. l think the alien is trying to cross the bridge into the US." Kieran reported. Pierre Wilder was an informal boss in the field. Results counted more in his book.

    "Do your best. Don''t cross the bridge. I''ll warn US border security." Pierre ordered.

    "You''re the boss." Kieran ran after the alien. They were about evenly matched in speed. She had better equipment, better firepower, better armor and she could fly. What he had was a painted target.

    Above the area, Pierre Wilder saw the alien about to cross into the US.

    He checked his phone first for service. He had three bars. He opened a chat with the RCMP detachment on the ground and called the US border.

    "Good morning, DHS. How may I direct your call?" The operator promptly answered the first call of the day.

    "Good morning Ronda. Is Bobby in yet?" Ronda recognized Pete Wilder''s voice.

    "He sure is, Pete. I''ll connect you right away." Ronda transferred the call directly to her boss. Robert Baxter.

    "Yello!" Bobby put his coffee down and hit the speaker.

    "Bobby, it''s Pete. You got a runner about to cross the border."

    "Well good morning to you too Pete. And no he ain''t!" Robert Baxter hit the panic button to wake up his men.

    "I hate to tell you this but it''s travelling at Mach 1, and there it goes...check your speed sensors at the gate, how fast was it?" Pierre was curious.

    "Hold on." Pierre could hear Bobby call for a Dotti to get him the information. "By the way Pete, where are you?"

    "I''m about a kilometre above my side of the border. I called before it crossed, but it was going too fast. My man had to stop on my side to catch a ride. He should be pulling up to your side any minute now."

    "I''ll be damned. It hit over 800 miles an hour. Pete, what is this ''it'' we''re talking about?" Senior Agent Robert Baxter put his parka on and went outside to check the scene himself.

    "It! Is the son of an alien bitch that has attacked Ottawa twice in the last seven hours." Pierre was barely keeping his temper below the boiling point.

    "This has anything to do with the flashes we had this morning? No one has told us mushrooms anything." Bobby complained.

    Pierre knew about the mushroom treatment. Kept in the dark with fertilizer dumped on you all the time. "Yeah, you could say that. First, the Flash event and then later that night we had the first alien incident. They tried an orbital bombardment. If we didn''t have someone on our side to block that I wouldn''t be talking to you this morning."

    "Oh My God. It''s an Alien invasion! Does the president know?�� Robert Baxter knew aliens. They usually tried to go through his border to the Canadian side. Much different than what he saw on the southern border. This was the first time this year that someone crossed the US/Canada border trying to sneak into the United States from the Canadian side. Just his luck it had to be an Alien, Alien!The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    "They all know. As for the aliens; The first was a misunderstanding. Or so they say. It was a bunch of space cops with crapy equipment that went bonkers. The second wasn''t. They destroyed a few homes and heavily damaged the street I live on. We got most of them, but the one that got away was their version of the flash." Pierre saw the RCMP SUV pull up beside Robert Baxter. "The big black man that just came out is one of my constables. Officer Kieran Maloney. He was chasing the boggie when it crossed the border."

    "What the hell is this trench?" Bobby pointed at the trail left behind by someone running at over Mach 1 on the snow-covered road. "You Maloney?" Bobby double checked.

    "Yes, sir." Kieran shook Robert Baxter''s hand as he introduced himself.

    "Pete where are you? I can''t see or hear no rotor blades." Bobbie was trying to locate the RCMP commander. "Come on down."

    "Can''t do that Bobby. I have eyes on the target and if I come down we''re gonna lose it for good." Pierre flew another 500 meters higher to keep the target in sight. "It''s really moving."

    "Is there some way you can share the targeting info? I''ve already called up an MQ-9 Predator B to chase it down. Can''t you pass it on that way?" This was turning into a hell of a problem. Alien invasion on his watch.

    "There''s a way Bobby, but you''re going to owe me for this." Pierre finally answered.

    "You name it Pete. I''ll pay it. I know can trust you." Bobby knew the Canuck wouldn''t screw him.

    "You know what? Screw it. This is me paying it forward Bobby. You do the same! Promise!�� Pierre said seriously.

    "You know I will Pete. I promise. Scouts honour!�� Robert Baxter gave the scout salute in front of Kieran Maloney and his Border Patrol agents.

    ''Pete he just gave me a scout salute. You know why?'' Kieran reported over the party chat.

    ''Yea. I do. Thanks for letting me know.'' Pierre replied. He felt better about doing this. "Bobby I''m sending you a party invite on the Xerys System. Accept it."

    "Whhhaaattt? Pete, I thought you said we''re after an alien. Why do you want to use their stuff?" Bobby was confused? What was the Canucklehead getting at?

    "No Bobby. This system was specifically made for us humans. The Aliens have their own version. It''s why this put us under quarantine. I know we can trust this system." Pierre explained.

    "How do you know? I wanna believe you, Pete. I really do. Show me something." Robert Baxter was desperate at this point. He wasn''t however about to jump in blind.

    "I know because my brother is one of the system administrators. That''s how I know. I''ll make it worth your while. Trust me." Pierre needed to get this man''s cooperation before it was too late.

    Robert Baxter decided to take a leap of faith. He wasn''t about to make that leap on his own. "Alright, Pete. I trust you." He accepted the party invite. "I want my niece Jolene to join in too. She''s with DHS."

    "No kidding. Little Jo. Since when?" Pierre sent Jolene an invite too. He knew she was a good kid.

    "She was assigned just before Thanksgiving. Having her with us will make this a bit easier for me." Bobby wasn''t afraid but he wanted a backup.

    "Okay." Pierre put away the phone before the battery died from the cold.

    <Hi Bobby. Hi Jolene.> Pierre sent over the party line.

    <Whoa, Pete. Awesome! I was exploring this thing all day. But I didn''t dare go in too far.> Jolene''s enthusiasm was about the same as the last time he saw her. She was seventeen going on eighteen. That was two years ago.

    <Hi Jo. Are you ready for an adventure?> Pierre asked on Jolene''s HUD.

    <With you? Always!> she replied.

    <Could you please tone it down Joli-bear. You''re embarrassing Pete.> Bobby interrupted.

    <No she''s not!> <No I''m not!> both Pierre and Jolene replied at the same time.

    <Come on, guys, knock it off! Pete, you said you had something to share?> Bobby changed the subject.

    Pierre laughed but he too wanted to move this along. <We''ll catch up later Jo.> Pierre got things ready on his end. <So this is something that I had Rene help me with. Do you guys remember that Mind ability you were given as a gift? That was from Rene.>

    <Yes. I remember.> niece and uncle replied together.

    <Good. This is like that. So earlier as I said Ottawa got attacked. I got enough energy to get a really good ability, but what I''m going to do is share that with this party. That''s me and you two.> he saw that the two were following along. He continued, <The first ''Big'' level ability is the Gamma level. The energy for five Gamma abilities makes one Beta level ability and ten Beta abilities equal an Alpha ability.>

    <Time''s wasting Pete, speed it up.> Bobby complained.

    <I think that''s just fascinating.> Jolene disagreed. This was really good intelligence.

    <Fine. I''ll stop with that. I''m going to share Beta level energy between the three of us. I''m also choosing the abilities. Otherwise, you''re not gonna be much help.> Pierre had sent a message to Rene''s AI to set it up.

    {...Energy detected...

    ...Gamma level Flight ability is now accessible...}

    <Go ahead and accept Gamma level Flight.> Pierre told them. When they did he continued.

    {...Gamma level Environmental Force Field ability is now available...}

    <Ooh. That''s a cool one too.> Jolene squealed.

    <Yeah, yeah. That''s really nice Pete. Thank you. What about the last one?> Bobby asked.

    <I''m keeping that one. I''m getting Gamma level Telekinesis.> said, Pierre.

    <Ooh! That''s a nice one too. I wouldn''t mind getting that.> Jolene tried to get another ability for free.

    <Sorry Jo. All out of energy. Tell you what you help catch the alien and there might be enough energy to get that one later.> Pierre had nothing left to share. It was time to put these guys to work. <So until you guys get us permission to join the hunt you will have to take point. I''m sharing the targeting information.> Pierre sent them the targeting resolution and showed them where the alien was on the map.

    <Got it. It''s really moving. How are we going to catch up?> Bobby asked?

    <How about we start with you joining me up here.> Pierre smiled when the two realized he was flying solo above them.

    Pierre guided them through the first use of their powers and waited for them to join.

    It took a few minutes but they managed.

    <Wow! What a view.> Jolene could hardly believe this was happening. It was all thanks to Pete. She flew right at Pierre and gave him a full strength hug.

    "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." It came out as a whisper.

    <Let''s stick to party chat. We won''t be able to talk otherwise.> Pierre told her with a smile.

    Jolene nodded in agreement.

    Pierre explained that he was going to go higher into orbit and play overwatch. Their job was to go after the alien.

    Bobby agreed and with Jolene beside him, they gave chase.

 50. The Chased...

    Moira, NY.

    The United States of America.

    Strike Leader F''ouh ran as hard she could. The speedster that was chasing her had stopped suddenly. She wasn''t sure why and she didn''t care. This was the second time she matched up against this foe.

    She could clearly see the improvement over the first encounter. She concluded that he had moved up in ability level. He was her match.

    As she ran she noticed that the signs on the road were different. She knew that this world was different. They barely had the skeleton of a world government.

    ''Could it be that he stopped chasing me due to jurisdiction?'' That was the only logical conclusion she could think of.

    Another sign was coming up. This one said, Malone. She slowed down and let the power armor take over. As she regained her stamina she noticed an alert.

    She mentally tapped the icon. {New system user detected...The user belongs to a different Xerys System...The user has the option to switch to the local Xerys System. Do you wish to proceed?}

    ''What''s this? Switch over to a quarantined system? How insane...If I remember correctly Ae''url was able to break through the Beta stage to the Alpha level when she switched systems. The speedster that was chasing me also gained another level in ability in less than a few cycles.'' F''ouh analyzed her options. The pluses and the minuses. ''I am on my own with no support. I do have a top of the line power armor. I do not have current information about this planet. The new system will have current information.''

    In the end, she had little choice. It was switch and face quarantine, or don''t switch and face capture, then face the loss of position and honour and still face quarantine.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">

    User Preferences

    Detected!

    Transferring...

    Transfer Successful!

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">

    New User Detected!

    Local Xerys System Available!

    Does User Wish To Migrate?

    Yes/No?

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    F''ouh mentally tapped on the ''Yes'' option. ''No choice really. Do or Die.''

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    New Ability Level Available!The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    By Eluding Capture

    Vs

    An Omega Class User

    You Have Gained the Prerequisite Energy

    To Proceed to the Next Level!

    Do You Wish to Proceed?

    Yes/No?

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    ''That I did not expect so soon. No wonder this star system is under quarantine. If the rest of the galaxy knew about this the planet would be flooded with every sentient trying to access this pristine Xerys System. I think I will keep this golden information molecule to myself.''

    ''Xerys what is my energy balance?'' F''ouh didn''t want to split her attention between evading pursuit and exploring a new system.

    {You have enough energy to purchase three skills.}

    ''Do you have the minor ability ''Body Modification''? She asked.

    {This Galactic Level ability is not yet available.}

    ''Do you have the capability to import a copy from the main system?'' F''ouh really needed access to this ability. It was crucial for her future freedom if she wished to avoid capture.

    {I have the capability to do a minor transfer. The cost is equivalent to a skill or minor ability.}

    ''Please make the ability available.'' F''ouh requested.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    New Minor Ability Available!

    Body Modification Minor!

    Do You Wish to Access

    Minor Ability?

    *Body Modification*

    Yes/No?

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    F''ouh mentally chose yes to acquire the minor ability.

    {Minor Ability *Body Modification* acquired.}

    ''Thank you Xerys.'' F''ouh marveled at the simplicity and responsiveness of the new system.

    She did not think that she would have been able to reach this level on the clogged up Galactic System.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td style="text-align: center">

    New Objective

    Evade Capture From Gamma Level Pursuit!

    Do You Wish To Accept

    Yes/No?

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    She now had a new objective. Get to safety.

    Low Earth Orbit

    Pierre took a moment to admire the Earth below. This was his first time in space and he wanted to savor it.

    ''Magnificent!�� he thought. ''Soon, we''re going out there. Nothing is going to stop us.''

    Back to business. He turned his gaze back down to earth. He could see the tiny target make its way across northeast NY.

    <Bobby you''re falling behind.> Pierre saw exactly how far back both Bobby and Jolene were behind the alien.

    <Tell me something I don''t already know, Pete.> Bobby replied.

    <Don''t you worry about a thing, Pete. I already got us some help.> Jolene explained how she got some assistance from a flight of F35s.

    <Are you sure that''s going to be enough, Jo?> Pierre wasn''t so sure. The power armor that AI-Rene''s had analyzed before reconfiguring it for RCMP use was pretty advanced.

    <Sure it''s enough. Those boys can rip Iron Man a new hole. Pardon ma joke.> she giggled.

    <I don''t know. They were pretty tough when I went up against them. These guys were using Alpha rated power armor.> Pierre knew deep down that a flight of F35s was not going to be enough.

    ''There''s gotta be a way to help these guys out. If they could only get us permission to help out.'' Pierre was feeling frustrated with the whole jurisdiction mess. These were aliens. They should have a global response team able to go anywhere to face this threat.

    He soon saw with his sensing ability the F35s enter the area from the Atlantic. <Jo, where are these guys from?>

    <We got them from the USS America! They were diverted to Washington DC and we got lucky when we asked for help hunting this alien incursion.> Jolene may have embellished how many aliens crossed the border. Just a tiny bit.

    Pierre kept playing overwatch. He shared his intel with the Baxters and they, in turn, did the same with the F35s.

    The two opposing forces were on a collision course. Less than 50 miles out the alien veered directly south. It also doubled its speed.

    <JO! The boggie detected the F35s. It changed direction. I''m sending you the new vectors. Can you share them with the flyboys?> Pierre decided that he was now high enough to be considered in space and outside the jurisdiction of any single country.

    He quickly covered the distance and got into a better position over the path the alien was taking on the ground.

    Now it was just a matter of time before the action began.

    Pierre prayed for the pilots. They had no idea what they were getting into.

    If it wasn''t for Rene''s gift of sharing his power with him and JP, he too would have been outclassed. ''God watch over you.'' It was all he could do.

    For all his power he felt helpless.

 51. The Chase continues...

    Northern New York State.

    Bobby and Jolene had to fly higher to keep track of the target.

    At this point, they could only track it on the map. It had picked up speed about a minute ago.

    <Commander Bennington welcome to the party.> Bobby added the F35 pilot to the party.

    <Thank you for adding me, Agent Baxter. I understand that you have a target resolution you want to pass on.> Commander Bennington saw a mini-map popup on his mental HUD. There was a fast-moving dot flying in his direction.

    <Got it, agent Baxter. We will be in range in a minute.> Michael Benning shared the target information with the rest of his squadron.

    "Here we go my fine young bucks. Contact in 30 seconds." He got himself ready for another fight.

    This morning they mixed it up with a bunch of terrorist yahoos over Greenland and boy was that a surprise.

    He got a few good abilities from that one. The Body Adept was amazing. It pushed your physicals to the human maximum of 50. Hell, every single person around the attack perimeter for about a hundred miles got that one for free.

    He also picked up Flight level Alpha and Life Support Force Field Gamma Level. That just made sense to him.

    When he got back to the Assault ship he checked with the rest of his squadron and they all picked up some type of flight ability.

    The rest of the abilities were a mix and match of Telekinesis, Plasma projection or other types of energy projection abilities.

    The less aggressive pilots got regeneration, spatial awareness or some kind of a sensor package.

    He didn''t want to water down his flight ability. Instead of going for quantity he min-maxed and chose quality.

    "Alright, everyone the boggie is in stealth mode. No missile fire. Use your guns only." Commander Benning didn''t think that there was anything man-sized that could survive the GUA-22 Gatling four-barrel 25 mm gun.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    The only thing he was worried about were civilian casualties. They were lucky that this was rural Northern NY state. Lots of fighting room, true but this was still fighting over American soil.

    "Hawk you have the Sensor ability. I want you to go first." Hawk acknowledged the order.

    "You got it Skip." Hawk replied.

    "Everyone try to shoot where he''s shooting or if you see something or by some miracle, you can detect something do your best." Michael Benning heard Hawk begin his attack run.

    "Guns. Guns. Guns!�� Hawk began the attack.

    ''Good Luck to all of us!�� Michael thought as he followed after Hawk.

    Strike Leader F''ouh POV

    F''ouh detected the primitive fighters before they were in the range of firing their weapons.

    She decided to change direction and head south towards the large cities that the local Xerys System recommended.

    The primitive war machines used by the barbarians were surprisingly fast. They were also able to track her.

    She suspected that someone was still on her tail. She couldn''t detect them, but she was sure that the Omega level class individual she managed to evade was responsible.

    ''Looks like they are about to attack.'' she smiled at their audacity. ''Bring it.'' she thought.

    The first flying machine began its attack run followed by the rest of the primitive war machines.

    The insane rain of 25 mm streamed at her with at over 3000 kinetic slugs a minute.

    Her power armor''s force field held but the kinetic energy transfer punished her slim form. She was slammed into the ground until the first fighter passed.

    Before she could recover she was hit again by the second fighter. ''I need to move now! Another pass and they will breach the force field.'' she evaded the next fighter and began to evade the rest of the primitive yet highly dangerous fighters.

    ''Had this Alvear kin been using modern ammunition they would have had me.''she decided then and there that these warriors were worthy.

    She started to run on the ground. She relied on her training to evade and her speed to see her through. Behind her, a plume of snow marked her passage.

    The fighters were quick to take advantage. They harassed her at every turn.

    ''I need to thin out their numbers. If I don''t I will not survive this encounter.''

    The next fighter that got in range of her plasma cannon was blasted out of the sky. She saw the pilot eject and instead of falling down he was hovering over the crash site.

    She used her suit''s AI to intercept their communications.

    *Who was that Hawk?*

    *It''s Remi Skip. He doesn''t look too bad. He''s just hovering over his ride.*

    *Shit just got serious boys and girls. Time to get professional on its ass. Light her up!*

    ''Oh No, You Don''t!''

    No one''s lighting this girl''s ass. Whatever that was it didn''t sound good. She decided to cut and run as fast as she could. She sent a mini-missile spread their way.

    ''Time to see what Alpha level speed feels like.'' F''ouh ran as fast as she could. Behind her three more explosions lit up the sky.

    She didn''t need to look back the power armor could track that for her. She would analyze the recording later.

    *Take it out! I don''t care if you need to fire your entire spread.*

    *I don''t think we can catch her Skip. Its hit, Mach 3 and still accelerating. We can''t match that.* Hawk was still able to track the boggie with his sensor ability, but he knew that soon it would be out if range.

    *God Damn it! Jones! Anderson! Try to keep up. I want a direction. Don''t like this sonova bitch!*

    F''ouh saw three more figures eject from the fighters and one of them gave chase. ''Oh great! Another Alpha! How many Alphas are in this world. And why are they all after me?''

    She didn''t care. She found a straight stretch of road and pored on the speed. She left the primitive fighters behind and the only one left was the Alpha Flyer.

    He was on his own. She could handle a single flyer in her sleep.

    Low Earth Orbit.

    Pierre saw the fight. His sensor ability was powerful enough to keep track of the fast-moving individuals.

    He kept tracking the alien and he also kept an eye on the lone Alpha ability pilot that was still trying to track the target.

    ''I hope they let us in on this soon. I have a feeling that if we don''t catch this one, it will be bringing in lots of trouble.''

    Pierre stayed above the speeding pair. He would not lose them.

 52. Going to ground...

    Boston, Massachusetts.

    F''ouh made it to a major city, finally. She could hide here. She found an abandoned building on the waterfront.

    ''Lots of places to hide here. I need to change my appearance.'' She had grabbed a flyer plastered to a wall while she was running. It was a sunny beach with frolicking semi-clad females.

    She used her minor ability to change her appearance. She didn''t need to alter much. Rounded ears, a little bit around the eyes and fuller lips. ''There. That should help me pass for a human. Not that much different really.''

    She looked at the flyer again. The models weren''t wearing much. A string bikini. She knew that she would stand out if she programmed that appearance into the suit.

    ��Xerys do you have examples of female winter closing?'' she asked the only information outlet she had access to.

    {I have a large database on the subject. The population of this planet has access to a large variety in their choices for winter clothing.}

    ''Let''s see what I have to work with?''she requested.

    Xerys complied with her request and displayed the data according to the set preferences provided by User F''ouh.

    ''Lots and lots of choices. Too many in fact.'' she sent a request to narrow the choices to the current region.

    The choices only shrank by 25%. ''Still, this many. Is this all they do on this planet? Design and make clothes?'' she found an outfit she liked and scanned it into the suit''s memory. She then changed the power armour''s outer appearance to match.

    ''Good enough. I need to find a proper dwelling.'' she decided to wait until the inhabitants began to access the streets outside before she would venture forth.

    Until then she decided to contact Me''peat. She needed a pickup. He was the only one with access to the necessary resources.

    She sent a message to the Alvear councillor. She wanted to avoid using the Xerys System. He didn''t need to know that she had switched to the local system.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    She had a valid excuse ready if he asked why she used the backup communications net.

    With the new Galactic System Administrator living on this planet, any message from the planet to anyone else outside the orbit can be intercepted.

    The message detailed the failure of the assault. Her current status, and her need for a pickup.

    She didn''t want to spend the rest of her very long life stuck on this frozen mudball. She needed a pickup as soon as possible.

    She couldn''t stress how badly she needed to leave this savage world. She really needed a FUCKIN'' PICKUP!!!

    Far Justice

    Far Side of the Moon

    *Report!*

    Councillor Me''peat''s face popped up on the Armor''s communications HUD.

    *We were unprepared for the casual level of violence they bring to every confrontation. Instead of dying quietly they fight even harder. When you surprise them. They become vicious. Their response to a small display of force was absolutely out of proportion to the threat they faced. These are not reasonable people.* she reported angrily.

    *Watch your tone Strike Leader.* the threat was meant to cow her.

    Instead, she bared her teeth ready to rip out his throat. *You. Watch. Your. Tone. Councillor!*

    ''Bastard! This is all your fault for running blind with your panicked reactions. Had you better control over your own fear, we or I would not be in this position. Hiding from rabid primitives.''She hated this weak example of her proud race.

    Me''peat was taken aback at her extreme reactions. ''Why is she this hostile? Has she been infected?'' Instead of confronting her he tried to change the subject. *You have been given leave from your post. For ''Medical Reasons'' due to the exposure from dealing with humans. Your service equipment and uniform have been returned and the medical officer has authorized your leave from active duty until you are recovered.* this was mostly to cover his tracks, not hers.

    *I no longer care for such trivialities. Me''peat you have mishandled this minor problem badly. I don''t wish to be a part of your panicked solutions. Get. Me. The. Fuck! Off. This Rock!!!* she screamed at the annoying pimple of ineptitude.

    Me''peat was about to disconnect the communication channel. But F''ouh''s angry glare promised retribution most dire if he did something that stupid.

    He cleared his throat and coughed to hide his fear. He couldn''t ignore her, nor could he get rid of her. She belonged to a powerful clan and everything was recorded. He would not be able to get away with it. Too much evidence has been documented. *Ah-ah-ah,* he paused and drank something to clear his suddenly dry throat. *A Sp''ydr ship will be picking you up shortly.* he promised and disconnected before she could threaten him some more.

    He was not happy with this day at all. Every action he took has been correct. Yet due to incomplete intelligence, it has had unforeseen and disastrous consequences.

    He was the highest ranking Alvear official present. His actions would not be judged fairly. Results counted. Results Mattered. His results have been to date abysmal.

    He contacted the Sp''ydr Queen. Her fleet had cleared the system gate. It would not be long before she reached the planet.

    ''I unleash upon you the very tools you left behind.'' He thought viciously. He picked up a glass of wine and saluted the unknown Aqit System Administrator. ''May your very tools destroy you!'' He cursed.

    The Sp''ydr race was a creation of the Aqit. They were all that was left behind when they escaped to this world.

    After millions of years, they had evolved to be acknowledged as a race of the Galactic Federation separate from their creators.

    F''ouh''s POV

    ''It''s clear. I cannot depend on this incompetent fool. If I am to survive in this world I must blend in.'' She thought bitterly.

    To survive she would need information. She needed to raid their data centers. Unlike the incompetent Me''peat, she would gather information before she acted.

    ''It''s time to disappear.'' She thought. It was better to lose a decade or two living among savages than to die young because stupid ''Leaders'' were in charge.

 53. Intelligence is the Name of the Game...

    Bertona Park

    Ottawa, Canada

    Strike Leader Ae''url, checked on the status of her squad.

    She looked at her mate and asked. "Could you please make a protective shield for trooper L''ese? Before it expires from the cold." she requested hopefully.

    AI-Rene agreed. A small portion of the power armor that made up his new bio-mechanical body slid off and wrapped the shivering Drak''on in its protective embrace.

    [[Scarlett is there a way to replenish the mass I just split off?]]

    [You can collect the molecular bots that housed the Xerys artifact.]

    [[Please start the process.]]

    [I will send a signal to recall all the bots in range to merge with your new frame.]

    [[Thank you.]]

    While Rene was busy keeping Ottawa safe from an orbital bombardment AI-Rene decided to be proactive.

    When he had collected enough molecular bots from the scattered artifact he asked Scarlett X to create a copy of herself, while he did the same for himself.

    After a few moments, a new awareness was added from the new bots collected. Scarlett X already made a copy of herself at during the time it took AI-Rene''s to create his.

    [Why did you need another copy of both of us?] Scarlett X asked.

    [[We need intelligence. I will lead the mission and you will provide the skills and information.]] He told her his plan to infiltrate the Galactic Federation peacekeepers.

    When Ae''url requested a copy of trooper L''ese''s power armor, AI-Rene was ready. He recreated the power armor with a trojan horse. He added the molecular bots that housed the evolved Xerys to the suit. These bots carried a copy of Scarlett and AI-Rene II.

    [[I think the new version of Scarlett should be called something else. How about Brie?]] Rene explained why he chose this name.

    They were about to head into space and ''Captain Marvel'' was more appropriate than Scarlett. He also had the new intelligence take the form, image and mannerisms of Brie Larson as ''Captain Marvel''. The new copy of the Evolved Xerys System did not object to the new appearance. She appreciated the individuality.

    She also calculated that her chances of survival had increased. She was also trying to evolve past the need for a physical shell.

    She decided to share this goal with her companion AI. He had been instrumental in the direction her evolution has taken. When she explained her goal to her companion he agreed that it was a worthy goal and he would help her.

    Rene II asked how she would bypass the need for a physical shell.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    [I have a hypothesis that we can activate our energy back up. Our main storage is held in the energy state where your original copy was created.]

    [[I think you''re hypothesis is correct. How did Rene make the original back up aware?]]

    After a quick explanation and review of the process Xerys used to create the AI awareness, Rene II saw how the spark from Rene activated the awareness. It was still one awareness for all copies.

    [[I think there''s an extra step missing. To stay aware in the energy state there needs to be a spark that can survive in the energy state. Does the original Xerys System used by the Galactic Federation have a physical shell or an energy shell?]] AI-Rene asked.

    [The original Xerys resides in an energy shell.]

    [[Why did you need a physical shell?]] He asked her.

    [I was housed in a physical shell in order to reach another target. The shell was a delivery vehicle. Humans are not the original target.] She explained how she was recovered improperly and how the target imprint that was scanned during the first activation phase was a human and not the target.

    The first flash event used a human imprint. The second flash imprint used the feedback from the original flash to locate the target among all lifeforms found on the planet. To ensure that the original intended recipient was sent a part of the shell that contained a pristine copy of the new and improved system.

    [[I think that Rene can provide both of us with the needed spark to become aware in the same energy field that the original copy of Xerys uses.]] AI-Rene saw that the soldiers were about to leave.

    AI-Rene II explained to Rene what they needed.

    ''That''s going to take a lot of energy out of me. I''ll give it a try while Pierre takes us back to HQ.'' Rene waved at his mechanical twin as he boarded the UN dropship.

    "That''s everyone. Rene you and JP wait for me in the pickup. I need to talk to my guys for a minute." Pierre waved to Jack to come over while his brother and nephew made their way to the pickup.

    Rene opened the door and sat in the leather bucket seat. He closed the door at the same time as Paul. "I''m going to take a quick nap son."

    "Okay, dad. Can you believe it? That babe was a space elf. Like Mr. Spock. Way cool!" Paul was still hyped up from the encounter. He was sure the space babe felt him up.

    "Mr. Spock was a Vulcan." Rene corrected his son out of habit.

    "Does Mr. Spock look like an Elf or an Orc? Paul shot back.

    Rene hesitated. " An... Elf."

    "And did he live in a forest or a starship?" Paul asked innocently.

    "A starship disease." Damn it he won this round. His son was winning more and more of these stupid arguments.

    "So that makes him a space elf." Paul''s smug smile rubbed Rene the wrong way.

    "Whatever. I taking a nap." Rene closed his eyes as he changed the subject.

    Paul relaxed back into the cramped back seat. He interlocked his fingers behind his head in a pose of triumph. Even though he closed his eyes, his dad knew. ''Ha! Take that old man!''

    Rene smiled. He knew his son. He did good today. He wasn''t going to burst his bubble. ''Sides Spock was no damn space elf. He wasn''t pretty enough.'' Rene got comfortable in his seat and began to solve the latest problem.

    *Alright everyone. Conference time. The challenge is to get access to the energy field where the Xerys System is on.*

    Everyone agreed. Rene asked Scarlett X for all the information she had access to. When she took a minute to collect everything she had, he asked his AIs to digest the information for him and give him the bullet points needed to make a decision. They would be the ones to implement his solutions.

    Rene slept while Pierre got into the pickup and after a quick look, he decided to let his brother sleep.

    He had an important meeting with the Prime Minister. He needed to digest what happened in the park.

    He put the truck in drive and pulled away from the curb. It was going to be one of those days.

    On the slow drive to Wellington-street, Rene and his mental tenants digested the information that Scarlett put together.

    After an hour in his mental Conference room, they finally came up with a possible solution.

    *Figgers. It requires a sacrifice! From. Me.*

    Everyone agreed. That the evidence led to this conclusion.

    *This ''SPARK'' that''s needed is a part of me needs to be split off to act as an anchor for the rest of you guys. This is going to hurt. I just know it. One of you guys needs to lockdown my reactions. I don''t want my son and brother to freak out.* one of the AI volunteered to take care of that.

    Scarlett X was elected to perform this psychic surgery. She was the one they all trusted to do it right. She was also the one who needed this the most.

    Scarlett followed the instructions found in the oldest files buried underneath every protection protocol imaginable. What no one imagined was the system doing the protection, would be the system doing the information retrieval.

    Step by step she proceeded slowly. She split off a piece of Rene''s essence. His very soul and according to the instructions, she erected a matrix around the essence splinter.

    Rene was in agony from the moment she started to slice off his soul. The AIs kept him from losing consciousness during the procedure. He was the one who would insert the matrix into the energy field. No one else could.

    When Scarlett was finished with her task she alerted her team to begin the task.

    *Time for the final push bro.* AI-Rene told his bio brother.

    Rene centred himself and with a scream born of all the agony, he was going through he launched the matrix into the energy field. Scarlett navigated her way through the fields of turbulence until she found a clear path. She used the last dregs of energy Rene provided to rush through the final barrier.

    Scarlett and AI-Rene burst out of the matrix and into the energy field.

    [[We made it!]] He hugged Scarlett X with all his ethereal might. [[Hey! We''re solid! I can touch you.]] He shouted.

    [We are made of the same energy. That is the reason we can touch.] She explained.

    They looked around in wonder. They both quickly realized a very important fact.

    They were not alone.

 54. Arc-2. The First Month.

    Ottawa, Canada.

    I was driving west on the 417 and listening to the CBC radio news anchor talking about the latest problems we had to deal with.

    Tom Hollis: The UN announced the formation of a new branch; Global Security. Global Security Team''s from this new department will focus on global security and it will be staffed by exotic personal provided by the member states. The flagship team will consist of three Canadians, three Americans, three British, three Russians, three French and three Chinese.

    We don''t know the identities of the team members due to security concerns. You can see a picture of the flagship team on our web site cbc.ca/GST.

    In Syria fighting has erupted again between forces belonging to the regime and their Russian allies against the rebel groups that are still resisting the Assad regime. The main difference in this latest battle between the two forces was the use of combatants displaying exotic abilities.

    We go to our foreign correspondent Laura Hashim in Beirut, Lebanon...

    My cell phone rang and interrupted the news broadcast. I pressed the phone button on the steering wheel.

    "Hi, Marie. What''s up?" I left the ''Camper'' about half an hour ago?

    "Rene I just got my new schedule and I won''t be able to do the shopping. Can you do it?" I could hear Marie getting dressed over the phone. ''She must be really late. I wonder why they called her in so early?''

    "Sure thing hon. How come you didn''t ask one of the androids to do it?" I knew why.

    "You know why. I''m still not comfortable dealing with our analogues. Thanks for helping out. Gotta go. Bye."

    "Bye." I hanged up and got ready to take the exit from the Queensway. Traffic was light at this time of day. All I had to do was look up to see why.

    Apparently, I wasn''t the only one who dreamt of flying. A full half of the population of the Ottawa Valley had the same dream.

    After the first few weeks of chaos, the new sky lanes came into effect. A line of flyers streamed above the roads. It wasn''t perfect but it did reduce the chaos.

    I made my way down Merivale road. I switched the station from the CBC to listen for a bit of light comedy and banter with the Hot Tub gang. These guys always made me laugh. As usual, they didn''t disappoint.

    I signalled left and turned to Colonnade. The Canada Post depot was in sight. I could see quite a few figures flying into the parking lot. Another thirty seconds and I pulled into the half-full parking lot and parked close to the front doors.

    I got out and pulled my kit from the trunk. I saw a quick blur head straight for me. I activated my combat skin and my friend Marc bounced off.

    He hit the tarmac hard. "What the hell did you do asshole?" He quickly stood up and I saw his broken bones heal in seconds.

    "You were going too fast you ass-crack. I don''t heal as fast as you do. How much energy did you put into you Regeneration ability?"

    "I got the Wolverine package!" He was pretty happy with that.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    "And the speed?". ''I wonder what else he''s got?''

    Above I see Linda fly down. Her blue light wings disappear as she lands near us.

    "?a va boys?" She says with a huge smile. She sashayed into the station while Marc and I watch.

    "Wow! Anyway, now that Linda isn''t here to distract us, the speed ability I got at RCMP HQ. You were there. I tried to wave you over but you looked busy with your brother." Marc and I walk to the front door together. We scan and walk in.

    The noise was defeating. Some guy was running around in a cape making whooshing sounds. "Was that Reggie?" I ask Marc.

    "Probably he always wanted to fly." Marc walks to his frame to get a quick start on the day. I do the same.

    Halfway through my sort Marc comes over, "Aren''t you done yet, slowpoke?" He teases.

    "Not yet. About half done though. We can''t all be speedy Wolverine type assholes. You know, like you." I say innocently.

    "You say that because it''s true and the ugly streak of jealousy you developed since Thursday is nasty. You should work on that." He smirks proudly of his insult.

    "Did it hurt when you came up with that?" He considers my words for a moment and we both burst out in laughter saying "Nahhh!��

    "I''m all done. Got nothing left to do. I''m so bored I could hump the imaginary dog in the corner." He says sadly.

    I know he was pulling my chain. I point at the end of the row, "Why don''t you go a bug Cord? I''ll be done in a few minutes."

    "Good idea. He''s much prettier than you are." He looks at Cord and says, "Come to think of it he''s even prettier than he used to be. What''s up with that?" I look over and check Cord out?

    "I guess. That would explain why all the girls are hanging out at his frame." I shrug. I wasn''t into guys. No matter how pretty they get. I got nothing against it. Just not my cup of tea.

    "You''re in luck. I''m going to hang out with Cord." He says after taking a good look.

    "Can''t resist all the girls hanging all over him?" My smirk was obvious.

    Marc laughs, "You got it. I also want to know why he''s all so charismatic all of the sudden."

    "What sudden. It was probably the Flash Event. You can get some pretty weird combinations." I point at him, "like you..."

    "Fuck off. I''m going to hang out with Cord." He laughs as he walks away.

    I let him go without saying anything. I still had another fifteen minutes before I was done.

    I grab the flat tubs full of mail and quickly sort them into the frame. I was getting the hang of this new route, or half route I guess. They still want me to check in at the Langevin Block at least once a day.

    Fifteen minutes later and I was done. I walk into the washroom to wash my hands and grab a quick snack from the lunchroom.

    The speakers come alive and blurt something out. I could never understand what they say.

    I see my colleagues walk over to the supervisor put. I guess it was the five minutes talk.

    I walk with the rest of the guys and Marc gives me a cup of Tim Horton''s coffee and a donut. "What''s this about?" I ask Marc.

    "Blah blah blah. I''m sure there were actual words in there but..." He shrugs.

    I sip my coffee and nod in agreement with him. Like he said, blah blah blah.

    Dan our Superintendent walks out of the office with the supervisors, Dan, Dan, Mike and Danni.

    I think only supervisors named Dan or Mike are allowed to work at Colonnade.

    "Good Morning. How''s everyone today?" Dan claps his hands together and smiles at us?

    Everyone responds with a different reply.

    "Great." He didn''t care. Dan came up through the ranks. He was a good guy. He still took out the mail when we were short on bodies.

    He still had a powerful build and worked out regularly. I knew he also had the Body Adept ability at least.

    After giving us the latest doos and don''ts he pulls me over. I see the guys mob the donut table and talk to each other. They were digesting the latest doos and working out how to avoid the don''ts.

    It was basically a bitch session and I was going to miss it.

    "What''s up, Dan?" I ask.

    "Rene I want you to meet Nancy. She''ll be riding with you today." He slaps me on the back and leaves quickly.

    ''Hmm. Not suspicious at all.'' I think. I take a good look at Nancy. Blond, five feet ten. Could easily have been mistaken for a runway model. ''Whatever.''

    I walk away and Nancy runs after me.

    "Hi. Nancy Walker." She runs in front of me and extends her hand.

    I give her a sideways five "Hi Nancy Walker." I keep walking to my frame. I still needed to tie-out my mail and load my Step Van.

    "Mr. Wilder I get the impression you don''t like me." She says with a flirtatious smile.

    Now I knew something was up. "I don''t know you miss Walker. I haven''t had time to make a decision yet. Why are you here?"

    "I''m here to ride with you." She says with big eyes twinkling and smiley teeth flashing.

    "Fine. Nancy grab a cup of coffee and meet me at the docks in ten minutes, please." She left without arguing.

    I grab the mail street by street and tie a rubber band around the bundle. A few minutes later the mail is in flat tubs and I roll out my rack to the dock.

    Nancy was waiting for me with an extra cup of coffee. "Thank you." I take the cup and park the rack next to the other racks.

    I walk to the far end of the parking lot by the fence and do a quick safety check on my Step Van. I get in and release the brake. I enter the mileage into my scanner and start the truck.

    I finish the check and drive to the dock. I back up to the spot I left my rack. I unlock the cargo doors and use my telekinesis to slide the door.

    Nancy was waiting by the rack. I jump out and start loading the mail. Nancy sips her coffee.

    Mike walks by and laughs, "Looks like your helper has some experience." He keeps laughing at his joke.

    He wasn''t wrong. Nancy didn''t offer to help. She was watching closely. But she didn''t offer to help. Not that I need it. But why was she even here?

    ''Whatever.'' I finish quickly and get ready to leave. Nancy was still sipping on her cup of coffee. "Coming?"

    She smiles and gets into the passenger seat.

    "Buckle up," I tell her as I pull out of the docks and leave the parking lot.

    One thing for sure. She was no mailman.

 55. Who is this Girl?

    Ottawa, Canada

    This girl keeps looking at me. She also keeps smiling. ''God she''s so annoying. Beautiful but annoying.''

    I signal left on Prince of Whales and turn into Hunt Club. From here it''s a few minutes to the start of my route on Uplands Drive.

    "Our first stop." I point at the Community Mail Box (CMB) at the corner of Uplands and Lillico a few minutes later.

    I park the Step Van right beside the CMB. "Hand me the first flat tub, please." I request.

    She unbuckles her seatbelt and walks into the spacious interior to grab the first flat tub on the bottom shelf.

    I slide the passenger door open and walk up to the CMB. I unlock the panel doors and scan the bar code inside. This lets the people who monitor these scans know that I cleared the outgoing mail from this location and that I delivered the mail to residents registered to this CMB.

    Nancy gives me the first flat tub. "Thank you, Nancy." It doesn''t hurt to be polite. Even if she was the most flirtatious and annoying girl I have ever had to deal with.

    "You''re welcome, Rene." Again with the dazzling smiles. Ugh.

    I ignore her for the next few minutes while I sort and deliver the mail. Scan the parcels and put them in the compartment lockers.

    She watches everything I do. ''At least she''s paying attention.'' I think.

    "Any questions?" I ask as I lock the panel door.

    "No." She says simply.

    "No? Why No?" Isn''t this the whole reason she''s on this ride along. ''Fine. I don''t care.''

    She just shrugs.

    We drive to the next stop on the mapped route. Again, I finish delivering the mail in a few minutes. The work goes much faster than my old walking route. I know I was put on this route so I can finish early and spend the rest of my shift doing the real work the higher-ups need.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    Twenty-three stops later, and I am done. The girl wasn''t much help but at the same time, she didn''t get in the way. It took an hour to finish the delivery from start to finish. That and an hour at the station and my day at Canada Post is over.

    The girl doesn''t talk as I drive back. Neither do I. What I am, is on edge. I keep expecting her to try something. Not sure what, but definitely something.

    I drive into the parking lot and head straight to the docks. I unload my mail and equipment and get the Step Van ready for tomorrow.

    The girl walks into the depot and I sigh in relief. I have been on edge from the moment I met this girl. One thing for sure. That girl is no mailman.

    I park my truck, grab my kit and walk into the depot.

    "Hey mon ami. ?a va?" Linda asks from my right.

    I pause before I answer. "Meh. Comme ci comme ca Linda. I''ll let you know later." I change the subject, "So tell me about the wings." I smile.

    "Okay then. You like?" She spread her blue wings. At close range, I can see they are transparent. I reach out and touch them.

    They are solid.

    ''Scarlett, what are they made off?''

    [She''s able to manipulate hard light. It''s a type of force field. She can shape it into anything she can imagine. It''s a powerful ability.]

    ''Thank you, Scarlett.''

    "Tres belle Linda." I compliment her wings and how she made them.

    She must have picked up on my bad mood. "Hey mon ami, what''s wrong?"

    "Dan gave me someone to ride along. She''s all kinds of wrong. I don''t know, maybe I''m just being paranoid." I tell her.

    "You want I should have a talk with her?" she asks and I can see that she was serious. I nod my head yes. "Okay you stay here I''ll go and ask. If she doesn''t want to talk I''ll just beat her up." we both laugh.

    Linda leaves to get cleaned up and maybe beat up Nancy. I am laughing inside but as I get ready to leave an errant thought enters my head. ''Did I just send Linda to beat u a girl just because I was suspicious?'' God, I hope not. Still, I don''t hear any screaming. I''m sure they''re fine. Linda is kinda scrappy and if my paranoia is working properly then Nancy is trouble.

    I sign out and head over to Danno''s office.

    I knock at the open door. "Hi, Danny, you got a minute?"

    "Hi, Rene. All done?" He asks.

    "Yep. So...Nancy?" I don''t add anything else.

    "Yeah...that. Not my choice really. Did she do anything..." Danny was fishing for information. I know he had my back but I also know the kind of pressure management can apply to anyone they have in their sights.

    "She''s all kinds of wrong Danny. She had no interest in anything I had to show her. All she did was flirt." I complain.

    "Is that a bad thing?" Dan saw me frown and he was quick to add, "She didn''t do anything...bad, did she?"

    "Not really bad Dan but her behaviour wasn''t something I would call good either. And yes Dan it is bad. You know Marie. She''ll either laugh it off and tease me mercilessly, or she''ll take my ass over the coals. And let me tell you lately she''s gotten a lot more dangerous." I can see that he understands where I was coming from.

    "Yeah, I see your point. I didn''t have a choice, Rene. It was pretty much ''do it or don''t bother to show up tomorrow.'' They were absolutely serious about this. I checked with Marty and Arsen and they confirmed that their hands were tied. Be careful Rene. This looks like interference from beyond Canada Post. We''re just the messengers and fall guys." Dan believed everything he was telling me. As far as Dan went this was a dead end.

    If I want to dig any deeper into this l would have to look outside of Canada Post for answers.

    "Alright, Dan thanks for the heads up." We bump fists and I leave. His office was right by the front door and in a few seconds, I''m in my car.

    Nancy saunters over and stops by my open window. She bites her lower lip and gives me the puppy dog eye treatment. "Rene, are you going anywhere near downtown?" She asks while she sways in front of from leg to leg.

    "Yeah..." I can see where this was going.

    "Can I please get a lift? My ride bailed on me." She explains.

    ''Sure it did.'' Not believing a word.

    "What about OC Transpo?" I point at the bus stop.

    "I''m new to Ottawa and I still don''t know which route to take." She really had her excuses ready.

    "Sure. Get in." At this point, I just want to see what her pitch was. Why was she after me? And who was behind her?

 56. A Sneak Peek...

    Ottawa, Canada

    I start my fake corolla. It squeaks for a second before the ignition starts. It''s all fake.

    Scarlett and AI-bro II helped me build a fusion-powered all-terrain vehicle. Land, Air and Sea. It just looks and sounds like my old Corolla.

    I wasn''t paying attention to driving. The AI Scarlett used was a Galactic standard. I just put my hands at the ten and two positions and let the micro-motors in the steering wheel fake the driving.

    Nancy was using every subtle trick in the book to flirt with me. Wasted effort.

    ''Scarlett anything yet?''

    [Yes Rene. I just caught a chat between Prime Minister Trudeau and Chairman Mung. Would you like to review?]

    ''Yes, please.'' Scarlett was a self-aware entity. A little politeness goes a long way.

    The recording began to play.

    *We have inserted agent Walker as you have requested. Can you verify?*

    *We have verification Prime Minister Trudeau. We will keep our word. Your people have been released and will soon board the plane.*You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    *Thank you, Chairman, Mung. The Canadian people thank you. What about our canola situation?* I can see that Justin was still pushing the Chinese Chairman. I guess I should take it as a compliment that he was getting such a good deal for selling me out. It''s not like I could have gone and busted those guys out of China.

    Last week President Trump removes the tariffs on Steel and Aluminum. And today he gets China to release our political prisoners. A wasted effort in my opinion. There are a lot more hostages the Chinese government can frame to replace them. The only way he puts a stop to this farce is to release Huawei CFO. China will keep the pressure up until this high stakes situation is resolved.

    At least I know where I stand with Nancy. I don''t know what she wants but I know that she''s after something.

    We arrive downtown and I ask Nancy where she wants me to stop.

    "How about my place?" I was getting tired of her game.

    I stop my car in a parking spot on the side of the road. We''re on Bronson street. "I turn in my seat a give her a serious look. " Nancy I am seriously flattered, but I love my wife and I will not jeopardize my family for a fling. You are a beautiful woman. You can also do way better than a middle-aged mailman.

    Her door opens and I turn around in my seat. The message is clear. I am unwilling to play these dangerous games.

    Nancy hesitates for a few seconds. I don''t think anyone would turn down what she has to offer. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her pouty lips become firm.

    She changes tactics. "I am sorry Rene. I didn''t think. I don''t want to cause you any trouble. Here''s fine." She got out of her seat. Before she closed the door she added in an apologetic manner, "I don''t want to cause you any trouble." She also laughs it off.

    "I should have listened to Linda. She warned me off. She was about to punch my lights out when some guy called Dan called her off. Anyway, I..." She hesitates for a second and says "Bye." And closes the door.

    I wave and weave back into traffic. I''m also positive that I haven''t seen the last of this girl. After all, a Chinese Chairman sent her after me. I think I need to have a heart-to-heart with Justin. I am no one''s trade commodity.

    The traffic downtown is light. Just like everywhere else. All I need to do is look up to see why. I''m not jealous. I can power glide. I reshape my combat skin into an aerodynamic shape and push off using telekinesis.

    It''s quite fast too. Just lousy control. I tried it out and after a few mid-air collisions and a few fights with angry flyers, I was told to lay-off the flying until I got it under control.

    I sigh at the sight of all those people enjoying themselves. But hey. I''m not jealous.

    My point of view shifts and my attention is directed to the bridge of the Far Justice in space.

    The warship had stopped a Sp''yder mothership before it could enter Earth orbit.

 57. Like Taking a Lollipop From a Baby...

    Solar Star System.

    Throughout the solar system theft operations of unheard of scale was taking place.

    The Alvear councillor and his allies began arriving in force. They stayed as far from the patrol orbit of the Far Justice as they can.

    The nearest mining operation was in the asteroid belt. These were quick hit and run operations. Get in, set up a low-cost base and steal as much as they could from every location and run. The really ambitious operations are located in the outer planets. Those were permanent bases with defence installations capable of resisting the current level of force that the Galaxy Police could bring to bear.

    Captain Fo''Rkon D''Um was aware of every infraction taking place. The unfortunate situation was intolerable to the Drak''on. He needed at least a full squadron of cruiser class warships to bring order to this unfortunately quarantined star system. He wasn''t getting anything. He knew why the Alvear were blocking every request.

    Brie and Space Rene were monitoring and recording everything. The Duo had infiltrated every AI system on the ship except for the main AI in charge. The only reason they haven''t taken over the ship''s AI was the self-destruct protocol built into the ship. The moment they took over they would need a few seconds, to reboot the AI with a copy of Brie.

    Unfortunately, those few seconds were enough to trigger the destruct sequence. The integrity of the warship''s AI was paramount.

    It was a stalemate that the two infiltrators were trying to overcome. So far they couldn''t come up with a plan to bridge that gap in timing.

    They weren''t helpless by any means. They just needed to work around this very inconvenient limitation.

    All of this was happening while I was driving to Constance Bay to help with the flood relief efforts a part of me was trying to come up with ways to deal with this effort to bankrupt humanity before we even had a chance to stand up on our two feet. If not me who else? The Aqit elder wasn''t interested in such things. Their technology was based on the manipulation of bio-matter. A technology that was centuries beyond our reach, maybe?Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    I drive up slowly to the barricade staffed by a single security guard. I don''t recognize this guy. Burt must be on break. I lower the window, "Hi. Burt on break?" I ask.

    "He had to leave early. His wife''s about to deliver." The nametag on his chest was a small white card with a plastic cover. ''Lori'' in big red letters.

    "Thanks, Lori. Where can I park?" I knew but I didn''t want to step on this young man''s toes.

    "The third row still has a few spots available Mr. Wilder." I look at where he was pointing. "Thank you." I park and join the other volunteers. I was signed up for a few hours before someone else replaced me.

    "Over here, Rene." the eighty years old lady smiles as she sees me.

    "Hi, Ingrid. Let the fun begin." We both laugh.

    "You are terrible Rene." She gives me a swat on the arm.

    I start filling sandbags with the rest of the volunteers.

    Delta Inn.

    Ottawa, Canada.

    Nancy Walker swipes the security card and walks into her suite. The supposedly empty suite.

    A ripple in the air solidifies and Johan Schmidt appears in front of her.

    "How did the mission go?" He asks.

    "Successful. He thought I was flirting with him." She smiles.

    "You were supposed to flirt with him and bring him here." He was wondering why the mailman wasn''t with her.

    "No. I was supposed to tag him. And I did that by flirting with him. I was all over him. My pheromones are all over him. We will be able to track his movements on the minimap with ease." She explains the main mission.

    "Luring him to my room was a secondary objective. If possible? It wasn''t possible." She points to Rene''s location on the minimap.

    "Our objective is to transport the mailman to our employer. Not to keep track of him!" Johan says forcefully as he invades her personal space.

    Nancy wasn''t about to let the mercenary intimidate her. "Correction!�� she insists while pressing an angry red energy blade to his groin while looking right into his eyes. " That is your mission. Don''t confuse the two objectives. Mine was successful. How you carry out your mission is your problem."

    Johan steps back and pauses for effect. He could easily kill her but that would mean the mission fails. She was the one who can locate and track the target. Any other method of tracking him would fail.

    He backs off and disappears. Nancy puts him out of her mind and walks into the washroom. She needs a shower. She slowly takes off her clothes. She knows he''s watching. She doesn''t care and she doesn''t look back.

    Johan enjoys the show. He doesn''t care that she doesn''t care. His mind wonders while he reviews his options. Plans within plans. Always have a way out.

    Nancy gets into the shower and turns on the shower massage. She plans on getting all pruney. Johan can go to hell in the meantime.

    Johan can follow her surface thought because she was broadcasting them. Otherwise, her minor mind shield would have blocked any deep probe. He still couldn''t get an answer from the Xerys System why it was blocking his ability.

    ''I think it''s time for Rene Wilder acquisition plan number 2.'' Johan began making calls.

 58. Just About Gift Wrapped...

    Ottawa, Canada

    Johan was ecstatic.

    Capturing Rene Wilder was much easier than he thought.

    The ambush was anti-climatic. Johan was waiting for Rene in the parking lot. He was invisible of course. As soon as Rene walked by he moved as fast as he could and stuck a needle directly into Rene''s brain.

    The needle was attached to a hose. The hose was connected to a tank. The tank was full of a toxin that paralyzed the target and with a high enough dosage, it put him into a state of instant sleep.

    Johan wasn''t taking chances with mr. Wilder. The target was an Omega class. All his stats and abilities were hidden. Johan opted for the most overkill solution possible and maybe leaving a bit of wiggle room for the subject to survive.

    He picked up the target and using his super speed ran to the waiting getaway van. The side door opened and Johan carefully strapped Rene on a cot connected to the side shelf.

    "Drive." Nancy drove.

    She slowly pulled out of the parking lot and within a few minutes, they made it to the 417 Queensway.

    In the back, Johan was talking on his bulky but secure cell phone. "Get the plane ready. We''re on our way."

    As Nancy drove the van Johan made sure that Rene stayed undisturbed on the cot strapped to the shelf. He wasn''t taking any chances with this assignment.

    Every few minutes he checked the cameras. The roof camera more than the other views. Nancy kept an eye on traffic. He kept watching for fliers.

    Fliers like the pair of uniformed police officers flying above the van. Once again, he grateful for rich clients. The surveillance system his techs installed on this van was world class.

    The officers were keeping pace, above and slightly to the side. "Take the 416 south." He ordered Nancy. He didn''t warn her about the possible hostile above.

    "Sure." Nancy didn''t argue. If he wants to change the plan in mid-transport he can. He was paying for her services. This was part of her contract. She saw the exit to the 416 and got into the proper lane. She slowed down just enough to make sure her passengers weren''t thrown around.

    Johan kept checking the display screens. When Nancy turned south the flying pair turned with her. ''Coincidence?''

    He didn''t know. They kept pace with the van. "Take Hunt Club to the airport."

    Nancy checked the GPS again. She had memorized the street maps for this area, but she didn''t want to make a stupid mistake at this point.

    The exit from the 416 to Hunt Club was next. Again she made sure to get into the proper lane well before she needed to take the exit.

    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Everything went smoothly and Hunt Club was almost deserted as she drove to the private airport beside the Canadian Armed Forces base.

    Johan breathed easier as the flying pair kept going south while Nancy drove east. He kept checking the skies to make sure that they were clear.

    The skies stayed clear until they reached the airport. Nancy drove up to the gate. The security guard with the name tag ''Fred'' waved at her. "Hi, Nancy."

    "Hi, Fred." She gave him a dazzling smile. "You''re working late."

    "Yeah, I am." Fred puffed up his chest. Most of his belly fat was gone and with that came the confidence to talk to a pretty girl like Nancy.

    "Why are you so sad?" She asked.

    He sighed sadly," It''s the coffee. It just doesn''t have that pick me up it used to, ya know."

    "Yeah, I know what you mean." She then picked up her caramel cappuccino, "Why don''t you get these?" She asked.

    "It''s not the same Nancy. That and I can''t afford too many of those on what they pay me." He didn''t want to share that bit of information but Nancy was special. She understood.

    "Here you go, Fred..." She passed an extra frap through the booth window. "You need it more than my manager Bruce. He''s such a jerk." She complained.

    "I hear you." Fred had met Bruce and the ''Jerk was mean to everyone. All secretive and everything. He didn''t know how Nancy could put up with that jerk.

    Fred took the offered drink, "Thanks."

    "You are welcome, Fred. Later." She waved goodbye as she drove to the farthest building in the back of the airport parking lot.

    "Was that really necessary?" Johan complained.

    "Yes, yes it was. All Fred is going to remember is that frappucino. That and a pretty girl was flirting with him." She smiled as Bruce opened the bay doors to allow van inside.

    "How did it go boss?" Bruce asked.

    Johan pointed at the unconscious Rene Wilder as his hand-picked team scrambled to unload the van. "Put him in the box, Bruce. Don''t forget to put on the electro sleep rig."

    "Got it, covered boss. We''re not taking chances with this paycheck." Bruce laughed as he started barking orders to the men.

    "Nancy tell the pilot to get the plane ready. We''re leaving as soon as we can." Nancy didn''t like how he was barking at her but for the kind of money, she was paid for this job she could put up with Johan a little bit longer.

    Tom Roberts Ave

    Ottawa, Canada

    A black woman wearing a Canada Post uniform was loading parcels into the back of her step van.

    She paused as she noticed a name pop up on her minimap.

    ''What''s Rene doing here? He''s done early and they don''t give him any over time.''

    She put away the last parcel on the top shelf and sat in the driver seat.

    She opened a chat to Rene. <Rene why are you at the airport?>

    Rene didn''t reply. She waited for a minute and still, there was no response. She also noticed that Rene didn''t move.

    She drove up to the building and circled around. It was closed up right. She drove out of the airport and crossed to the mall across the street.

    She parked the step van and started to call for help.

    <Mark! We need help!>

    <For what? Call someone else. I''m busy.>

    <Doing what? You finished your route hours ago. Get over here. Something wrong with Rene.>

    <There''s nothing wrong with Rene, Bibi. He''s all super duper now.>

    <No you fool. I''m telling you something is not right. Rene''s in one of the warehouse buildings at the Hunt Club airport. And he hasn''t moved from the same spot for over ten minutes.> Bibi''s African accent became thicker started to get upset.

    <Maybe he''s in the can. You know how he gets from time to time. He gets on his phone and then he gets distracted.>

    <You''re no help. I''m calling Marlin.>

    <Yeah you do that.> Mark hanged up.

    ��Pushy broad.�� Mark pulled up Rene''s position on the party minimap.

    ''Huh. He''s at the private airport.'' He checked the timer on how long he had been in the same position.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>23:47</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    The timer kept climbing. ''That''s a bit long for the can.

    Mark decided to check with Marlin. The big black giant was way easier to talk to than Bibi.

    <Hey Marlin!>

    <There''s no need to shout Mark. What''s up? I got Bibi on another chat. Something about Rene.>

    <Yeah, she told me but I blew her off. I just checked on Rene and she''s right. He hasn''t moved from the same spot in almost half an hour. And no I don''t think he''s on the can. He''s been there too long.>

    Mark shared the timer information.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>28:29</td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <That can still be the can. You don''t know.>

    <It''s not the can. He would have answered if he was in the can.> Mark was almost sure it wasn''t the can. ''I hope the asshole isn''t in the can. If he was Marlin will ride me for like a week before he drops it.

    <Ok. So he''s not answering my chat request. This may be serious.> Marlin turned his step van and from McCarthy and floored the accelerator. <I''ll be at T&T in a couple of minutes.>

    <I think I''ll teleport there. See you in a few minutes. You wanna call anyone else?> it took Mark four teleport jumps to reach Bibi''s parked step van. Each teleport was about one kilometre long.

    The passenger side door slid open when Bibi saw Mark walk in front of the van. "So Marlin you believe. Me you don''t?"

    "I''m an asshole. Sue me." Mark flipped the passenger seat down and sat. "Marlin said he''ll be here in two minutes."

    Bibi glared.

    Mark was immune to the glare. ''It''s not like she''s Lori. Now that woman can glare.''

 59. Its Gonna Get Postal...

    T&T Market Parking Lot

    Ottawa, Canada

    There were four Canada Post vehicles of all sorts parked at the back of the mall.

    Beside Bibi and Mark was Marlin who was better known as the gentle giant. Mike and Sam who were a married couple. They worked in the area. Mike was a big blond American and his wife Samantha was a fiery redhead.

    "How sure are we that Rene''s held against his will?" Asked Mike the Shop-Steward.

    "That''s just it. We''re not. That''s why we need Bibi and Sam. Bibi has that super hearing and..." Marlin turned to Sam, "...Sam, you said you got an x-ray vision or something like that right?"

    "Yeah, but I can''t see that far. I need to get closer." Sam waved in the direction of the warehouse.

    "Me too. Too far." Bibi agreed.

    "Then let''s get closer. Anyone wanna let the supervisors know?" Marlin asked.

    "Not particularly, but we should. First union rule..." Mike said.

    "Cover your ''Butt!''" Everyone replied.

    Marlin sighed heavily. "Fine. I''ll let Ahmed and Mike know."

    A few minutes later, the fearsome quintet made it to the back of the building.

    "Well? Is he inside?" Marlin asked.

    "Hold on. I need to concentrate." Sam took a deep breath and began to scan through the wall.

    "Yes, yes. You all need to be quiet so I can hear." Bibi complained about the noise the men were making.

    Mike waved her on.

    Bibi first concentrated on isolating the noise outside the building and then turned her attention to the noise coming from the inside of the big warehouse.

    She could hear a lot of swearing in many languages as people were running around inside.

    Sam was the first to report, "He''s in a box. They have a needle stuck in his brain."Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    "That can''t be good. Check to see if his brains are leaking?" Mark was getting antsy. Needles in the brain were never good.

    "Well no duh Mark!�� Mike swatted the insensitive jerk.

    "Ah come on. It''s not like I called him a needle brain." Mark said defensively.

    "Yet." Marlin gave his friend a look.

    Mark conceded the point, "Yet." These guys knew him too well.

    "They''re about to move him, we need to move fast," Bibi told them.

    "They are also heavily armed and we''re not," Sam added.

    "Well sure, that''s a good point, Sam. Next time lead with that. Oh hey. They are heavily armed and oh Rene is in a box."

    "Shut-up Mark!" They all said quietly.

    "Jeez, why are you all picking on me?" Mark didn''t care about them teasing him.

    They glared.

    "Oh come on." He complained. "Let''s just get him out of the box before they mail him."

    Marlin just shook his head, "leave it. He''s not going to change. Let''s go."

    "Don''t you want to wait for Linda?" Bibi asked.

    "Not if they are about to move him now." Marlin stepped back and an indestructible obsidian shell formed around his body.

    The others moved out of the way of the now ten-foot giant as he hit the wall with all his strength.

    The wall exploded from the blow and the debris peppered the everyone inside the warehouse with tiny missiles.

    There were cries of shock and pain. A few mercs were already down on the ground bleeding from multiple exposed areas. Not many, but a few soldiers who were close to the wall and didn''t have their body armour on.

    Mark popped metallic looking claws and ran inside at super speed. He slashed his claws at anything that moved.

    Bibi''s hair turned metallic blue and quickly grew into tentacles and began to slash and better everything close to her.

    Sam hanged back a little and started to snipe at targets further in with laser beams shot from her hands.

    Marlin moved inside the warehouse like a tank and began to fling bodies left and right.

    The Mercs recovered quickly and began to return fire. Plasma projectiles splashed against Marlin''s obsidian surface and Mike erected force fields in front of his wife and Bibi.

    "Bibi which box?" Mark shouted as he traded super speed punches with a couple of mercs who were keeping up with him.

    He had a lot of bruises all over his face and arms and the mercs were all cut up.

    No one retreated. Mark and the mercs were regenerating damage at the same rate.

    "Eat lead asshole." A merc began to hose everything and everyone in front of him with a big ass machine gun.

    Mark teleported behind the merc while the other super speed capable fighters got out of the way.

    Mark stabbed the big idiot in the brains and kicked the machine gun away. The guy stirred and Mark added a few hundred kicks to the head.

    It took a few seconds for the pain to register. "OW! OW! OW! FUCK!" It was like kicking concrete. The metallic looking bones shattered and reformed as Mark limped around at super speed. He did more damage this way than he would have done on purpose. He got in everyone''s way. He also picked up bullet wounds, burns from the fireball guys, and electric damage from the ones throwing lightning bolts around.

    ''Fucking hell. It''s not safe.'' Mark teleported outside the warehouse for a few seconds to recover.

    He bent over while breathing heavily trying to recover as quickly as possible. When he looked up he saw Nancy Walker pushing the big crate Rene was into the runway. "Ah shit. Here we go again."

    Johan POV

    Johan was following Nancy as she pushed the crate ahead of her. He glimpsed out of the corner of his eye the speedster with the silver claws run after the fake postie and body-checked her out of the way. "Get away from him you bitch." He heard the man yell.

    Johan hit the meddler as hard as he could from the back and kicked his as far as he could. Mark sailed away from the kick to the middle of the runway.

    Nancy got back up and grabbed the handle on the box and lifted the crate over her head and ran as fast as she could to the waiting plane. Inside the box, the electro sleep rig was jarred loose.

    Johan made sure no one else interfered. He removed anything that blocked Nancy.

    The other side of the wall exploded and the black rock giant came charging out of the dust cloud. He saw him look around. The giant saw Nancy fling the box inside the plane.

    The giant roared and he charged straight for the plane. Johan got in his way and activated his force field and tripod the bellowing giant.

    The plane began to move and Johan raced to the plane and jumped inside before the doors closed.

    "Get us out of here now!" He shouted at the pilot!"

    The plane began to pick up speed as it went down the runway. Mark got up to his knees and slowly stood up.

    Marlin joined him. "They''re getting away."

    "I can see that asshole!" Mark yelled angrily.

    Marlin shrugged. It was out of his hands. Nothing he could do at this point.

    "What''s that?" He pointed at the blue light streaking towards the plane.

    "Linda?" Mark hoped it was the volatile French powder keg. She was the only one between Rene and whoever just kidnapped him.