《The Crucible - (Terror Infinity Fanfic)》 Prologue – Death takes a U-turn The finest advice I remember was from my sensei, ¡°The best defence is to not be there.¡± It was true on so many levels? Don''t want to be hit, dodge. Don''t want to be in a fight, run away. Even when you know somewhere is dangerous or not good for you, easily fixed, you just don''t go there. I guess it is just another way of saying prevention is better than cure. Well, if I always did what I knew was right or smart life would be less interesting. Less interesting would be good about now. Tonight''s main event of interest is three gentlemen of questionable integrity who came from the right side of the path and stopped spread out in front of me. My shortcut home through the less than safely lit park seemed like a great idea but it''s started to turn out to be sobering in a different way. All three are dressed in the finest thug chic; dark hoody with the hood up, old jeans and sneakers. I can''t make out much of their features due to the darkness and clothing, only seeing hands and mouths but they are all roughly my height and build so average for a man. The right and middle blokes look dark skinned but more like a very tanned white than actual skin colour while the guy on the left is actually dark brown. Other than that the only difference is the guy on the right has a stubbly beard. Roll for initiative. Middle: That''s far enough. Don''t be a hero and we can keep this friendly. Give us your wallet and phone and no one has to get hurt. Stubble and Lefty smirk and chuckle at that. Stubble is standing perpendicular to the path on Middle''s right but a bit in front, keeping watch down the path both ways while Lefty stands in front and off to his left with a scowl and his right hand in his hoody front pocket. Guess they are going first, of course, I''m drunk ¡­ ish, so I guess I rolled with disadvantage. Finally using some of those right and smart things that my sensei taught me, I raise my hand non-threateningly in front of my chest to appear as calming and non-hostile as possible while actually allowing me to put something between us and defend against attacks. I stopped off centre closer to Stubble so if the situation goes downhill I can move around to him first and use him to block the others, I can only fight one at a time after all. He is also watching me the least. Who watches the watchman? No sober up, distracting yourself will get you shanked, time to be serious. David: OK no problem mate, not getting hurt sounds good to me. I''m just gunna reach into my pockets and grab them. OK? Calm and steady is the way. Don''t be twitchy and I might just make it home. Keeping my eyes on the trio I use one hand at a time pulling out my wallet then phone and passing my wallet to my left hand so I can pass them both at once and still keep my main hand free.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. It''s then that fate decides interest is waning and a couple come round the corner of the path behind the trio and see us. Worst for them, the woman gives a surprised cry and Stubble sees them too. As they freeze up stunned he reacts in a panic and reaches behind his back. His actions catch my attention and turning my head slightly my sight is drawn to him. The world seems to move in slow motion and my eyes are wide open in shock as he draws a pistol and points it at the couple. I don''t know why, it was instinct, my mind said he is going to shot them and my left hand flicked out. My wallet bounced off his chest uselessly but the phone caught him across the eye and bridge of his nose. A shot goes off high and clear of everyone and I stepped forward. Left hand grabbing his gun hand then twisting it while the right hand folds the gun back behind him twisting the gun loose and knocking it back in the darkness and breaking his trigger finger probably. Finishing up I spin at the waist and torque the back of my right fist into the side of his jaw and neck hoping to knock him out or put him down. I miss what happens next as I am blown away and roll across the ground and onto my feet. I try to stand up fully but my left sags like a deflated balloon. I can feel my shirt sticking to my back, confused I touch it trying to pull it away from me as I look for what hit me. Standing where I was is Lefty holding something dirty in his hands. Letting go of my shirt I bring my hands in front of my body to defend myself but my hand doesn''t rise well on my left and it is dirty now, sticky too. I hate sticky stuff. Focusing back on Lefty I catch the back of Middle''s shirt as he disappears into the darkness. I can''t see the couple either, that''s good but I wouldn''t say no to some help, I''m feeling kind of tired for this kind of tense situation. My balance is wrong and I stumble forward and Lefty punishes me for it. Tackling me to the ground and taking a mounting position above my hips, Lefty starts stabbing down wildly. Flailing my arms I try to protect myself unsuccessfully, my forearms and stomach have multiple cuts from the folding knife Lefty wields. Lefty pauses momentarily to take aim and plunges the knife towards my neck bringing his weight done behind it. Crossing and bracing my arms I just manage to halt the blade. Lefty: JUST DIE ALREADY FUCKFACE! Lefty''s spittle coating my face as he leans into the blade. My strength is fading as I feel colder ... I''m going to die. What a shit ending. Murdered by a street thug is not acceptable. David: No. With this refusal some path in me opens, like I''m a sink and someone cleared a blockage, everything unneeded drains away. I can feel all my wounds but not the pain, my worries and fear wash down the metaphorical drain and I''m calm, everything becomes clear. I feel the pressure change on my arms and I look at his body, seeing his weight shift back before he raises up for another heavy blow. I can see and feel everything that is happening between us and exactly what will happen next, like step by step instructions in my head. As his weight shifted back my right arm slides up the left forearm to my fist, temporarily support it. At the peak of his buildup during the pause between rising and falling my right hand move from supporting the left to cupping his fist and around the side of the blade. I no longer have the strength to stop the knife from falling and what happens next is clearer to me that anything has ever been. As he collapses towards me with all his weight I let my left arm fail and twist my right as we fall into each other I close my eyes and wonder why this never happens in the movies. Lefty reels back as his blood coats my chest and neck. The knife falls past my shoulder and I open my eyes to see him fall back and to the left. I just stare up at the sky as his legs flail across my lower body and his choking sounds fade as he passes. As I relax the calm fades and everything returns but duller, colder and for added fun now I feel like every part of me is dipped in acid. Yet before and I can lie back completely and wait for the end a soda pop sounds rings out into the night and a flashing light cause me to look to my right. My phone is lit up with a message, ¡°Do you want more than this life? Want to live¡­ a real life?¡± with two large buttons, YES and NO. I would laugh at this ironically appropriate viral message but I don''t think I''m able. In fact, I''m not even able to lie back, my mind is drawn to the message unable to look away or ignore it. Strangely compelled and knowing there is only one thing I can do my hand slides across the grass and lands on YES. David: Sure, why the hell not. Famous last words. Trial 1 – 1 – Deus Ex Animus Jolting up from my nightmare I grab at my stomach. I don''t feel any blood or wounds and in relief, I realise I actually feel great, better than I can remember ever feeling. I feel the relieved laughter coming on but it dies in my throat as my hand catches in my shirt. I can''t find any wounds but my blue dress shirt is shredded and much darker than it should be. I notice the sleeves of my dark brown leather jacket are also soiled and slashed up. Something is definitely not right. From my sitting position, I take more of a look around and things get stranger. Not the park or my apartment or even a hospital, hell this wouldn''t have even made my list. I''m sitting on some unknown wooden pier at night staring out into darkness over the water with some seemingly unconscious people sprawled around me. David: So did I die and this is purgatory or something? Maybe that''s the river Styx and I gotta wait for the Ferry Man. Maybe I got some leftover change in my pockets from the bar, I hope he takes the Aussie dollar. Kovit: An earlier riser, uncommon but still talking gibberish so not outside the norm. I turn to my right and notice an Asian man looking at me with disregard. He looks roughly my age and maybe a little shorter than me but not too much. His black hair is almost buzz cut short and he''s clean shaven. He''s thin and strong looking like a Muay Thai fighter. His clothes look expensive, the shirt is a close cut shiny gold colour and pants are a baggy black with red designs up the side. Kovit: Whats your name kid? That earned him a raised eyebrow. David: David ¡­ and you? Kovit: Wait for the others to wake up and I''ll explain. David: ¡­ OK but one quick clarification. Am I dead ahh are we dead? He sends and a raised eyebrow back at me. See we have stuff in common, we''re building rapport. Kovit: No one here is dead but who knows, give it time. David: No as reassuring as I hoped but not as bad as I feared. It''s a start, I guess I''ll take it. He looks like he wants to reply to that but the others start to wake up and he looks towards them. There are 4 of them; a tattooed white guy that looks like trouble, a businessman looking African American guy, a short fashionably dressed 20 something girl, maybe a uni student and a late 30 looking white woman in casual wear. They all start looking around surprised and suspicious while mumbling and checking themselves. Guess they don''t know anything either but at least Asian guy might give some answers now. Kovit: Before anyone gets too excited, look here and I''ll give some quick explanations. Tatts: Who the fuck are you and why am I here? Everyone looks at Tatts while Asian Guy just sighs and continues. Kovit: First thing does everyone remember the question they got asked just before waking up here, the one about having a real life?Stolen story; please report. Tatts: Don''t ignore me bitch. I asked you a question and you better fucking ¡­ Tatts moved in on Asian Guy, the Businessman and woman shuffle back from his path and I stand up and move back ready for what seems like a recurring problem for me. Tatts doesn''t even get to finish his sentence, as he gets within reach of Asian Guy and there is a flicker of gold and Tatts face bounces off the pier. I think I saw a tooth shoot out. Everyone is surprised and takes another step back, 30 Something lets out a cry as well. Kovit: So ¡­ ignoring the foul-mouthed fool, does everyone remember getting the YES/NO question about having a real life? There is a time limit people so respond quickly. The others nod. David: Yeah I hit the yes button. Kovit: Good, you all picked yes or you wouldn''t be here. You can ask some questions at the end but for now, it will be quicker if you just let me explain as our time for this is actually limited. You probably won''t believe me but that question is an invitation to an ancient trial and this place. It is known as The Crucible and people who meet its criteria get asked that question and the yeses enter its trials. Entrants join teams as the trials need based on where they lived on earth. The teams are sent on trials to challenge them and are rewarded for how well they complete objectives. The Trial difficulty is determined by the size and strength of the team, max team size and hence difficulty being 20 people. These trials are generally based off of stories that you might know for example movies, books and video games. Knowing these stories will help you as you can use your knowledge to predict future events or problems you might encounter. They won''t be exactly the same but enough that it would be useful. Changing what happens is extremely risky but risk and reward go hand in hand. After the trial is completed or failed, those who are still alive and have reward points that are greater than 0 return to The Waystation for a 10 day break between trials and may use their rewards to purchase enhancements, equipment and other useful things from The Obelisk found in the centre of The Waystation. Anyone who didn''t meet that standard is erased, which basically mean dead and gone. The only assistance The Crucible provides for free is this language, Babel, which I am speaking now and the interface. Babel allows communication between all Crucible challengers and most beings they meet in the trials. Second, you are given The Interface is how The Crucible communicates with you. When in a trial it provides information on how you fit in and what your objectives are as well as how many team members are left et cetera. The Interface is controlled by thought just think about wanting to use it and what you want it to do. If will also have a brief version of what I am telling you if you forget. It will also announce important changes that have happened. You will know it when you hear it. Finally, the only way you can leave The Crucible is by beating it or buying your way out at The Waystation and that costs 100000 points. Everything from here on is live or die and it''s your choice which one you aim for. I suggest you start checking your interface before the staging time ends and the trial begins. Asian Guy just goes back to leaning against the dock railing while everyone just stares for a moment before 30 Something starts exploding about kidnapping and cops and just generally what someone losing their shit at this crazy light novel, isekai bullshit situation. OK let''s take stock, I appear safe for the moment and I really need a plan of action. So 1) I''m dying in the park and this is my brains last hurrah. Solution: Run with it, you can''t do anything anyway. 2) Your dead already and this is what''s next. Solution: Run with it, you''re stuck here now and can''t do anything about it. 3) Your dreaming and everything that happened recently is made up. Solution: Run with it, have fun you''ll wake up probably hung over. 4) Someone kidnapped you, healed, cleaned all the blood off you and now they are doing the strangest prank of all time. Solution: I suppose stay calm and run with it till you can figure something out. Not like I have some mind operated interface. Wait I try it out and if it doesn''t work then well ¡­ I at least know something. I take a breath and clear my thoughts and think, Interface. A screen pops up in front of my face and showing a bunch of words. Waving my hand through it does nothing, I close my eyes and it is still there in the blackness of my eyelids. OK, now I know there is an interface and that means ¡­ I have an interface and still no idea what the hell is going on. So my infinite wisdom and logic have determined ¡­ that I''m an idiot who can only run with the situation and wait till the answer becomes obvious. God if you are listening, I promise if I get out of this next time I will use my cab fare to get home safely and not to buy the hot girl at the bar drinks. So throw us a bone. That could take a while, may a well see what the interface has to say while I wait.
Team Oceanic 6/6 Trial: Team is inserted into the mission as UNATCO trainees assisting UNATCO Agent JC Denton on Liberty Island field mission. Meet with JC at the docks and proceed with objectives. Objectives:
  1. Complete trial ¨C Team receives 1000 points each
  2. JC Denton must survive ¨C Team receives -2000 points each if failed
  3. Challengers must remain within 100m of JC until entering the statue ¨C Failure results in challenger erasure
  4. Capture or kill NSF commander ¨C Challenger receives 1000 points and D rank reward
  5. NSF commander escapes island ¨C Team receives erasure
Optional objectives
  1. Destroy 100101 small security bot ¨C Challenger receives 1500 points and D rank reward
  2. Destroy Page Bravo-3 Peacebringer ¨C Challenger receives 2000 points and D rank reward
  3. Additional rewards may be gained or lost dependent on actions taken
JC Denton ¡­ Deus Ex JC Denton? I turn around, look up and there she is. Lady Liberty sans her head. Looking down at the docks it clicks, it''s just like the Liberty Island mission from Deus Ex. It was only the greatest game ever. This is too much for some sort of gimmick and I don''t really have anything to be conned out of for starters. Too real for a dream and I sure as hell don''t feel dead let alone gone to video game heaven. I turn around and look at the docking area, if the police boat comes and JC gets off I err on the side of caution and take this as real. If we complete the objectives we go to ¡°The Waystation thing¡± and that proves it. I look to my right where Asian Guy is still ignoring 30 Something, who is now yelling at him, he clearly knows what is going on so let''s follow his lead. David: Hey mate. His eyes look up at me. David: What''s your name? Kovit: ¡­ Call me Kovit. David: OK Kovit, how long until we get things started? As soon as I ask that it''s like someone turned the volume up and I can feel the wind come from behind me. He just points to the right. Kovit: There''s your answer. Staging time is up, time to meet the objective. Trial 1 – 2 – Deus Ex Animus I look over and see a police boat pull up. A guy in a uniform jumps out and ties the boat to a bollard and then the man of the hour steps off the boat black trench coat and all. He walks up to the Businessman and Uni student who are roughly the closest to the boat. Kovit starts moving closer and I follow his lead while 30 Something looks around confused. JC: This is a restricted area, identify yourselves. Adam: Arr um Adam Cox. JC: And you? Jill: Oh I''m Jill, um Jillian Haines. Kovit: Agent Denton, I''m Trainee Kovit. I was ordered to report here, await your arrival and assist in your mission. JC looks at Kovit before switching to me. OK follow Kovit''s lead. David: Trainee Stone, my orders were the same as Trainee Kovit''s. It''s an honour to work with you Sir. I barely get it all out when 30 Something runs up to JC. 30 Something: Help, you''re police right? I''ve been kidnapped, I don''t know these people. I just want to go home to my family. JC: Understood ma''am, please come this way and the officers on the boat will assist you. JC called two officer over, one to collect 30 Something and one for Tatts. While this was happening Paul Denton arrived. Paul: Welcome to the Coalition, JC ¡­ I might as well start using your codename. Looks like you got a busy first day, are these your trainees? JC: As issued by command, what''s going on? Paul: The NSF ¨C they hit one of out shipments. A few of them got away, but we trapped the rest in the Statue. JC: What are we waiting for? Looks like a textbook assault. Paul: The bots are holding the perimeter, but my orders are to hold back and send you in with your ¡°team.¡± I think someone high up wants to see how you handle the situation. JC: All I''ve got with me is a pistol and an electric prod. I don''t mind a test, but UNATCO better issue some hardware. The trainees look like they need something too. Hearing this reminded me that it would be nice to have something and if memory serves there is a crowbar by the creates beside us and there it is. Kovit was right, knowing the story can be helpful, I think I even remember the NSF login and password for the statue. I might have to keep a look out for the datapad the NSF kept it on just in case my memory is rusty. Paul: Remember that we''re police. A nonlethal takedown is always the most silent way to eliminate resistance. Just in case though, Manderley wants you to pick an additional weapon: a sniper rifle, a GEP gun or a mini crossbow. JC: I like to pick''em off from a distance. I''ll take the rifle. Paul: This isn''t a training exercise JC. Your targets will be human beings. Keep that in mind. JC: I get the idea. What''s the first move? Paul: I''m going to give you a map of the island. If you can get to the north docks, a UNATCO informant will give you a key to the Statue doors. He responds to the code-phrase ¡°iron and copper.¡± You could avoid a lot of fighting though, if you found a back way in to Statue. Might be a good idea if you don''t want to loose any of your trainees.Stolen novel; please report. JC: I''ll see how it looks onshore. Paul: Your primary objective is the makeshift command centre the terrorists installed at the top of the Statue. JC: What are my orders when I reach the command centre? Paul: Interrogate the leader. We don''t yet know why the terrorists would risk an open assault. JC: Understood, trainees you heard our objective now form up and I''ll explain how we are going to go about this. At this point, JC shows us the map (Liberty Island). He points out that the main forces will be in front of the statue due to the entrance and UNATCO headquarters. We will be leaving the docks and covertly travelling around the east side of the island until we reach the north docks where we will meet the informant. Once we know our possible entry points we will assess the most viable. All that''s left then is to breach and proceed to the objective. JC sets our formation as himself on point, followed by Kovit and myself then Adam and Jill in the back. Adam: I''m not sure we should be doing this. Jill: Um JC: Keep it together trainee. Command has ordered your participation and as a UNATCO trainee agent to are obliged to follow it. Don''t let the stress get to you, I will be doing all the heavy lifting. You will follow my orders and I will get you safe and whole back to headquarters. With that said, the formation set and plan ready we moved to the entrance of the pier. Jill and Adam looking around nervously. Objective failure challenger erased. Team Oceanic 5/6 Objective failure challenger erased. Team Oceanic 4/6 David: What? Kovit: I told you all to check the objectives. The drop outs are more than 100 meters away. The mission interface ¡­ 100 meters, erasure. I look back at the police boat stunned to realise what that meant in the objectives. OK stick close to JC. Looks like Adam and Jill are planning the same as they move a bit closer to Kovit and myself. While I was coming to terms with the objectives, JC moved up the ramp to Liberty Island and to a grey brick wall just beyond ramp about 10 meters down the walkway. Using the cover of the wall he checked the path straight ahead and then moving back into cover unslung his rifle. He stared down the scope for a moment and then there was a crack. It wasn''t very loud, so those a decent distance might not hear it. After waiting about 5 seconds he waved us up to the wall. Behind the wall is a dead UNATCO soldier. I''m trying not to ignore it but my eye catches the collapsible baton beside the body and I remember this is one of the first points you can gain equipment in the game. Trying to ignore the body I grab the baton and shove it in my back pocket and while I''m doing that I notice the body armour. Considering how I ended up here, I remember how easily hurt I''ve been tonight. Not wanting to spend too much time getting it all, especially the bloody parts, I only unclip the helmet and put it on. Judging by the sounds Adam and Jill have at least noticed and don''t like what I''m doing. Adam: Show some decency. JC: Morose but smart, you need to use what you can when you''re in the field with few resources. Next, we need to move to the other side of the entrance to the east of us and proceed around the side of the island. I neutralised the NSF that was over there and the guards further up the path to the statue have pulled back to the main square. I''ll watch the square and when I signal, you will move in pairs as per the formation to the wall beside the path. I will follow after. JC then moved to the edge of the wall and looked around it. After a few seconds, he waved his hand and Kovit and I ran to the wall. As we made it and turned back Adam and Jill were already following and by the time they arrived JC was almost to us. JC: Follow closely in formation. You can and should assist in any offensive we need to but don''t get in my or each others way. If in doubt stay in cover, I will handle it. Better to not help than to get in the way. We all nod and that satisfies him. JC turned, checked around the edge of the wall and flowed around it. Still thinking about the other two''s erasure and wanting to keep up with JC I rush around the corner and hear the others following. There are some more bodies to our right on the path up ahead, one UNATCO and the other NSF but I don''t have time to look too closely if I want to keep up with JC. I don''t know how but he moves so quickly and silently along the wall without even trying and I have to slow jog to keep up. Luckily the grass is soft enough that it barely makes a sound. We manage to get a few hundred meters along the dark area under the statue before encountering two more NSF. They''re talking about Gunther Hermann, one thinks he is a badass fighter and they could use someone like him on their side and the other thinks augmentations will just lead to people being treated as tools to be upgraded. JC signals for Kovit and I to take down the Pro Guy and he will take the Con. JC gives the signal and as expected moves fast, less expected was that Kovit was just as fast. He arrived behind the Pro guy facing me and punched him in the jaw, I almost froze from surprise but still acted on instinct and swung the crowbar also hitting the poor bastard in the jaw as he stumbled towards me. Second hits the charm as he goes down. I look over towards JC but he is already dragging his NSF back around the corner we were using for hiding. I snap out of my staring as Kovit passes me doing the same with ours. Ducking back around the corner too, Kovit acquires the NSF''s pistol and ammo as JC looks up and notices me. JC: Trainee have you completed small arms training. David: I''ve completed basic training with hand guns but haven''t use them in the field before. A slight lie, I do enjoy going to the range and shooting the hand guns at targets. While I am a decent shot and 7 and 10 meters it isn''t exactly small arms training and definitely not what I''m suppose to be using this gun for either. JC: It will do, you will have to learn on the job for the rest. Just remember to not use it unless I tell you or as a last resort and more importantly, never point it at one of us. I nod while putting the crowbar under my arm and taking the pistol and 2 spare clips from him. I shove the 2 clips in my pants pocket and start checking the gun to get familiar. Everything is exactly where I expect it to be and sliding the magazine out I see it is only 6 rounds which isn''t much for a magazine. Sliding the mag back in, I pull the slide loading a round in the chamber and after checking the safety put it in my jacket. Terrible gun discipline I know but I haven''t a holster and times are desperate. Jill and Adam seem like they don''t know whether to stay or go as they are just hanging around the back of the group watching and following with tense expressions. Ironically, seeing them freaked out helps me keep my head. I look both of them in the eye and try to give a reassuring nod. Economics for the win as my initial investment doubles with their return nods. Now if I can get the most of my second life and survive the night everything will be just great. JC not distracted by us mere non-aug mortals is already looking ahead. About an hundred meters away back on the ring path that runs along the wall are a few more NSF standing around talking while keeping watch and one big ass shiny robot walking on 2 legs. I remember the bonus objectives saying something about destroying the robots and points, I think it was a Page 3 or something robot and had what I assume was decent rewards since I remember it was more than we lost if JC died. JC: Looks like we are clear until we reach the shipping containers, the NSF and bot won''t be able to see us all the way over here. We will wait till the guard at the containers is looking away and then move up hugging the wall for cover until we reach the containers. When he does his next lap after that I will move in and eliminate the threat and we can reassess and continue from there. Alright follow me and stay in formation. This is actually great news, if that game holds true some more the shipping containers actually have ladders on the sides that will let us climb in the back way. Skipping the docks and getting us out of this strange place quicker. We follow JC along the wall to the containers and when the guard does his next lap JC easily drops him and moves the body to cover. We all slip around the outside and into the safety of the containers. First thing I check for is the ladders and crates. Score, it''s all there, now I just have to convince JC. I get his attention. Trial 1 – 3 – Deus Ex Animus David: Sir. JC: What is it trainee, we should be maintaining silence as much as possible? David: Sir, I believe I have found our way in. I point out the ladders leading up to the base of the statue. JC: Good work trainee, you just saved us a lot of time and energy. I''ll make sure to note this in my report. Alright team, follow me but watch your step on the containers and stick to the edges to keep the sounds of your footsteps to a minimum. JC leads the way up the ladders, leaving us in his dust as usual but we followed him up to find the crates moved to the right position to let us climb the bits without ladders. Metal crates on metal containers and I didn''t hear a sound, JC wasn''t this stealthy when I played him. The only tricky part was where we had to jump from one container to another. It was only about one and a half meters, just a big step really but three stories up makes you rethink simple things. Kovit didn''t even think twice and just pasted me stepping over the gap with ease. Taking a quick breath I followed along with Adam and Jill. JC was waiting for us just before the wall with 2 unconscious NSF agents on the container and him watching over the ledge with his rifle. As we arrived he stepped down. JC: Trainees Cox and Haines have you completed small arms basic training? They mumble something and shake their heads no causing JC to sigh and wonder aloud how they were allowed into to the field. He gives them a quick rundown on safety, loading and using the two pistols he gives them. He follows up with the obligatory don''t put your finger on the trigger until you are going to shoot and don''t use it or point it at anyone unless he tells them to. JC: I''ve cleared the way along this side of the statue but there are still guards to our left so when I give the signal one of you will proceed over the side wall and to cover directly in front of us, quickly and quietly. Ready?Stolen novel; please report. We all nod and he looks down the statue to the left of us before giving a signal and Kovit goes over the wall with ease and moves off. I''m up next and finding it not as easy as Kovit made it look but still doable. I make it across the open area and take up position next to Kovit at the statue base. Soon the others make their way over to, JC had to boost Jill but we all made it to cover no problems. JC lead us down the wall to the entrance of the statue and as we close in someone calls out. NSF: Who''s there? JC: It''s just us. NSF: Huh, who? The NSF steps through the entryway only to be pistol whipped by JC and held up as a shield when JC moves around the corner gun up. I follow him in reassured by the lack of gunfire. Statue entered, distance restrictions to JC Denton removed. After this new surprise, I check my interface to see the requirement for staying within a hundred meters from JC is crossed out since we are in the statue. JC drops the NSF agent and starts mumbling to himself before turning back to us. JC: I''ve just received intel that Agent Hermann is being held downstairs. He should be fine while we finish the mission but we have been asked to retrieve him to prevent any unexpected mishaps if possible. The question is are you four capable of dealing with the increased objectives? Kovit like always seems uninterested but Adam and Jill are shuffling about nervously trying not to be noticed. Thinking about it, the map has been identical to the game so Gunther should be in the same spot, from here it is actually an easy rescue as long as we have some lockpicks and multi-tools. David: Shouldn''t be a problem sir. I have actually been to the statue before, back in the day so I think I know where he would be held and a safe back way to get there. As long as you have a couple of lockpicks and multi-tools and know how to use them we should be fine. JC: Really trainee? Explain yourself. David: If we follow this hall down the stairs up ahead it leads us to the lobby downstairs. To the right of the lobby will be the back rooms, Agent Hermann should be held there. The problems we are likely to face are NSF in the lobby and back room as well as electronics defences such as cameras. Like you said earlier the NSF should be focused on the front square. Other than the guard you disabled before no one else has come by so they must feel safe inside here. If we scout the stairs and lobby we should be able to find a way down if they are focused towards the front. There wasn''t a door to the back rooms that I remember but if there is something now I remember a large air vent in the northeast corner of the room that could fit us and you could hear the people in the back office through it so I believe it would get us there. So if you have a few multi-tools for cameras and a few lockpicks for doors, I have some training with computers and could handle them if need be. All together I think it is doable under those conditions. JC: My Infolink support''s intel agrees with you on the layout and air vents. I should be carrying sufficient equipment for security. It sounds like a reasonable plan and worth at least following for now. Good work trainee. Form up team and follow me to the stairs. I''ll quickly scout the lobby and we will proceed from there. Bonus Objective added ¨C Rescue Agent Gunther Hermann alive within 45 minutes ¨C Team receives 1000 points and D rank reward each. After 45 minutes Agent Gunther Hermann is no longer safe Objective added ¨C Agent Gunther Hermann must survive ¨C Team receives -1500 points and D rank reward each if failed We all flinch except Kovit who turns to me. Kovit: Changing the script means more rewards and more risk. I do hope you know what you are doing. Jill: Stop making things harder. Well shit. I hope the scouting goes well. We all move to the top of the stairs and just as we arrive JC returns. Trial 1 – 4 – Deus Ex Animus JC: We have three watching the front doors from a barricade and two on the upper landing in conversation. One turret and camera at the top of the stairs, both now off. Backroom is blocked by laser tripwires, we could disable it but the vents are looking like a better option. Get in formation and follow me. With JC leading the way and moving as quietly as possible, we make our way down the stairs into the lobby. The stairs lead down into an open area with a statue of the liberty torch in the middle and square pillars around the outside supporting the second floor. Off to the right is a desk with a few odds and end on it and behind that the entrance to the back room. Blocked with laser tripwires just like JC said. Up on the second floor, there is an NSF soldier leaning on the railing, facing away, talking to someone we can''t see and on the other side of the torch statue is three NSF behind a metal crate barricade watching the doors and talking. Luck is with us for the moment, no one is watching the stairs. We move down the right side of the stairs and everyone follows JC over to the vent that he is opening but I got low and stopped by the desk first. In the game, there were some items and a data pad with the login and password on it for the security system. The items aren''t really important but I better grab the pad as it will explain why I know the login and password to get Gunther out. Not wanting to we left behind and wary that I might be spotted I grabbed everything on the end of the table and covered it with my jacket since future tablets seem to always leave the screen on for some reason. I duck into the vent and could feel JC''s annoyance that I didn''t follow orders as he lowers the vent removing most of what little light we had. Unfortunately, it''s a tight fit since everyone seems to be waiting instead of moving forward. David: Go forward until you hit the wall and then turn left, it shouldn''t be far. I hear more than see as the people in front start heading down the vent and eventually we come out in a storage room out the back. Game knowledge to the rescue again as I grab the multi-tool that is on the floor. I''m quickly running out of pockets, number one on my new list of stuff I need, an inventory. Space bags and inventories have to be the cheatiest tool in fantasy. JC: Trainee, you could have got us all trapped and under fire with your stunt. You better have had a good reason, explain yourself. David: Sir, I think we might find this datapad worthwhile. I slip the pad out of my jacket and quickly look at the screen. The data pad has a random message from one NSF to another but more importantly is the follow up comment, Computer login NSF001 and Password Smashthestate. As I read it I''m first reassured but quickly my stomach drops out. The password is slightly different from the game. It was all lower case in the game. I''m suddenly really glad I grabbed it and now slightly worried that I might have over sold myself earlier. JC glances at the data pad from my side an actually freezes in surprise. Something else I wasn''t expecting considering his machine-like behaviours so far. Maybe my adrenaline is wearing off or all the craziness of tonight is finally getting to me but I''m starting to feel less and less sure of myself.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. JC: This will be greatly helpful, how did you know to get it? David: Sir, I saw it with the terrorist''s equipment when we came down the stair. Fresh intel is always helpful and it was only two steps away from where I was anyway, so seeing the coast was clear I grabbed it and anything else that might be useful since I was there. Since I already said I could handle the computer side for us I guess I got even luckier. I also got a LAM and a lockpick, do you want them Sir. JC: I''m not sure if it was reckless or clever thinking but for now this is useful and good work again. Keep the extra gear on you, it might be useful. Seems we will be using your computer skills after all. Jill: What''s on the pad. David: Oh ah, it''s the NSF login and password for the security system. I''m a bit awkward saying this to her since the other know this is based off a game or at least fantasy after Kovit''s intro and will probably see through all the crap I am saying to JC. I might be getting into the roleplay a bit much too with all the sirs. Despite my awkwardness, Jill and Adam looked surprised but Kovit just gives a quick look and follows after JC. Despite the fact that JC had only left long enough for that short interaction, by the time I turn and follow too he is already putting his lockpicks away and cracking the door to see down the hallway. JC: I see a hallway in front of the door and a room to the right with at least one entrance probably two, one a few meters past the door and I suspect one where the hall veers before continuing. One NSF is patrolling the hall and judging by the voices two are chatting at the far entrance. JC closed the door and turned back to us. JC: The plan of attack will be, Trainees Kovit and Cox will move to cover in the first entryway and wait for my signal while Trainees Stone, Haines and I move down to the second entrance. Stone with Haines assisting will move on the hallway patrol and as they do I will signal you two to move on the room. Take the NSF down quickly and quietly and we will move on down the hallway to assist with any NSF and recover Agent Hermann. Form up in your teams and get ready while I check that we are clear. JC moves to the door and peeks out again and Jill comes and stands beside me. Jill: You go first OK. I don''t know these kinds of things. David: Sure no worries. JC: Ready and ¡­ move. JC slips out the door and I follow him. I hear the others moving behind me but I keep my eyes on the guy in the hallway. JC moves into the second entryway but I ignore it, he''s the last person here that needs help. The guard is almost to the end of the hallway as I get in range and he tenses up. Thinking he heard me I draw back and swing down at his head with the crowbar. He turns to look back but the crowbar is still close enough catching him on the right side of the head and knocking him back into the wall as I step into the corner of the hallway and recover my balance. Jill catches up to my right side but immediately yelps and gives a small step back. I turn from the guard to tell her to calm down only to see what actually frightened her. There is another NSF agent just past the corner and he has already started to lift his pistol to shoot me. No. I''ve had enough of being stabbed and beat and in danger with my life on the line. I won''t freeze or stop or get shot anymore and just like earlier with the knife a path opens. Unlike last time it''s not like breaking through something but smoother like I open a door and something I already had flows into me. Once again I can feel my whole body and my instincts see what is needed. My body moves like liquid lightning, everything together and all at once. My right foot pushes me towards the enemy, only half a step as my left lands making me stable and putting me in range. Left and right arms move in different directions ready for their purpose. The pistol comes level with my chest and clicks sadly as my arms'' first actions come to completion. The left pushing the gun''s slide back emptying the chamber and the right brings the crowbar to his wrist breaking it and causing the gun''s release. Using the rebound of the blow to cancel the inertia of the crowbar, the arm becomes a guide to the jaw. The crook of the crowbar locks around the back of the neck pulling him forward off balance as the left hand already cocked from taking the gun moves across finishing him with a punch using the base of the gun grip just below the ear that knocks him into the far wall. Unlocked Genetic Potential: First Stage. Challenger exceeded body limiters. Rewarded 500 points, intelligence and reaction time increased by 20. The feeling leaves as it came, with the danger and I''m panting like a dog and feeling like I''ve got acid in my veins again. It''s not as bad as last time but I feel wrecked, like I ran a marathon instead of a two second fight. Glad I got some points and stats however that works but what the hell is unlocking Genetic Potential, that sounds kind of weird. Jill: Holy shit. Where did you learn that? David: Ah *wheeze* I don''t know ¡­ just instinct. Ah, I feel like crap. Trial 1 – 5 – Deus Ex Animus Of course, I''m coughing and spluttering as the others show up to see what is going on. JC just inspects the two bodies while the other just look at me coughing away. JC: I didn''t think you had this level of hand to hand skills based on your technique so far. Good instincts, I''ll make sure to note your skills in the report and suggest additional training in this area. David: Great *cough* thanks. Can you just get the camera for me so I can use the terminal and open the door? JC: HA sure. Follow me, tough guy. Kovit: Looks like the first stage. David: What ¡­ how? Kovit: Later ¡­ if you survive the mission. I give Kovit a look to let him know he isn''t off the hook before I pulled myself together and followed JC to the end of the hall. I watch him use a multi-tool to disable the camera. I still have no idea how they work, might have to play with mine sometime later. With that sorted I moved to the computer terminal on the wall and dumped the gun and crowbar I was still holding on the table in front of it. Logging in proved easy with the data pad''s information and I immediately set the ceiling turret to friendly an opened the door for Gunther. Bonus Objective Completed ¨C Rescue Agent Gunther Hermann alive within 45 minutes ¨C Team receives 1000 points and D rank reward each. Hidden Bonus Objective Completed Rescue Agent Gunther Hermann alive in under 20 minutes ¨C Team receives additional 500 points and D rank reward each. Objective altered ¨C Agent Gunther Hermann must survive ¨C Team receives -1500 points and D rank reward each if failed. OK, one problem down and a bonus. Doesn''t even matter if he dies we still come out ahead. Looks like the terminal has more then I remember too, I can see the lobby and holding cell cameras like normal but the camera setup outside and even more interesting one for the top floor with the commander are there too. No turret upstairs, guess that would be too easy but it does give me some ideas. The first step will be getting Gunther to help us, I grab the pistol off the table for him as he joins us in the room. Gunther looks as he did in the game but it comes across weirder in real life. He is kind of like Arnie in the terminator but with the eyes and top of the head skinned as well as the torso and upper arms being steel plated. Ironically the lower half looks normal in black combat pants and boots but who knows if his legs are even real. His appearance causes Jill and Adam to back up but as usual, Kovit seems unimpressed.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. JC: Glad you''re not hurt, Agent. Gunther: Command should not have left us to be surrounded. JC: Risk is part of the job. I think you lucked out this time. Gunther: Agent Navarre and I were ready to go in, but for no reason they said pull back. I do not retreat. Please give me a weapon and move out of the way. JC: First thing ¡­ OK time to cut in and get Gunther''s help and maybe make things easier and safer for myself. I quickly hold out the gun and cut off JC. David: As you wish sir but may I request assistance and a moment of your time. I also have some more equipment for you. Gunther: Who are you? David: Trainee Stone sir, the Trainees and I were sent to learn from Agent Denton in the field. It''s an honour to meet a veteran like yourself sir. Gunther acts like someone who feels overlooked for the nano-augs in the game. A few sirs and some ass-kissery will hopefully make him stay long enough to convince him of my idea. Gunther: Oh so JC Denton has some little Agents to train. Damn, time for plan B, just lay it out quick. David: Sir, after viewing the NSF system to open your door, I''ve noticed I have access to all the security, including cameras and turrets. One particular camera is for the top floor and it appears that the commander is having a meeting with four people plus guards. I was hoping to request your assistance with our assault. JC: I''m confident I can handle the guards but I can''t guarantee the safety of all the trainees, especially if they want the commander alive for questioning. Agent Gunther could be of assistance. Gunther: HA, it is worth it just hearing the great Agent Denton requesting assistance. I will help you with your little problem. David: Actually I have an idea that might make things go a bit easier. Gunther: So the trainee wants to train the trainers? JC: Go ahead trainee, your ideas have been useful so far. David: Thank you sir. My plan is pretty simple though. Basically, I stay here and maintain control of the security system while your group proceeds covertly back up the staircase in the main lobby. After I see you all reach the top of the stairs I''ll give a, 15 count sounds about right, to give you time to move down the hall and start to the next floor. At that point, I will disable the cameras and switch the turrets to target the NSF. The ensuing chaos will distract the NSF and help protect your flank on one side at least. If we move the desk here to semi block the hallway I should be safe with the turret guarding me and my pistol until the mission is complete and UNATCO moves in. I also thought that if you had a gas grenade it would be perfect for the top floor group, to smoke them out. Failing that I have these spare clips and a LAM for Agent Gunther, should be of much better use to him. I take my spare clips from my pocket and the LAM from my jacket and hand them to Gunther. His red eyes seem to light up even more on seeing the LAM. JC: What about other terminals, the NSF could log in and leave you high and dry. David: First thing I was going to fix, I''ll lock them out first. I turned to the terminal and started looking through the settings. I found the logins and changed the password, Deusexmachina1. Seems like NSF001 was the admin login to begin with and they didn''t bother making more accounts just for the simple security they set up. David: Done, if you need it NSF001 password Deus Ex Machina 1, No spaces and capital D. JC: God from the machine, a little dramatic don''t you think? Gunther: Indeed, I have no time for fanboys. I can''t tell if he is joking but since JC''s face looks like mine feels ¡­ I''m just going to ignore it. Adam: Perhaps someone should stay here with him to be backup. I''m willing to do it. Jill looks angry she didn''t think of it first. Probably would be safer. Gunther: You would just slow us down anyway. JC: No you stick with the main group. You haven''t performed at all in this mission. I would rather keep you under my observation and see if you can assist a full agent before leaving you to cover another trainee. Trainee Stone will be fine with the turret and the hallway being blocked. Alright, form up, Trainee Kovit will support Agent Gunther since we are leaving Trainee Stone here. Gunther: Which one is Kovit? Kovit: Here sir. Gunther: Hmm, you might be passable. You at least look like you can handle yourself. Make sure you keep up, I won''t wait if you are slow. JC: Easy Agent. Gunther takes the crowbar from the desk and places it on the chair and picks the desk up from the middle like it''s nothing. Guess those augs aren''t just for show. Gunther: There is no time to waste, I will set the desk move into the hallway. JC: Understood, follow me trainees. JC moved into the hallway followed by the others. Gunther turned at the entrance to the hallway and lay the desk on its side as a barricade. Gunther: Maintain your vigilance little one. There will be no one here to save you but yourself. Awww thanks Gunther. I didn''t know you cared, you strange German terminator. Trial 1 – 6 – Deus Ex Animus I suppose I''ll give the room a quick once over to grab anything we missed and improve the barricade with anything not bolted down. I start by moving the chair with the crowbar to the desk and checking the draws. Just a newspaper in the top one but I found a box that looked like the weapon mods from the game in the second draw so good stuff already. Nothing in the kitchenette part of the room that you wouldn''t expect or that I want, I guess it was the break room for the staff. I put the fire extinguisher from the kitchen near the desk, who knows maybe I can toss at anyone that comes and then shot it. OK maybe not shot it but I could totally throw it at someone. Time to check the terminal and see how the gang is doing. They''re almost up to the stairs already, faster then I thought they would be. Lucky I didn''t miss it. OK start the 15 count, 15, 14, ¡­ 4, 3, 2, let''s start with the lobby, turret on. Front square, lots of guys out here and the little robot, turret on, camera off and here is another good surprise, robot switch targeting to NSF. I can hear the turrets winding up better move quick. Top level, may as well turn the camera off, last screen and it''s me again. Hidden Trial Reward ¨C The best offence is their defence ¨C You have gained control of the NSF''s security system and turned it against them. Challenger receives 1500 points and C Rank Reward. Hidden Trial Reward ¨C What''s yours is mine ¨C You have stolen control of the NSF''s 100101 small security bot and turned it to your cause. Challenger receives 1500 points and DD Rank Reward. Sweet, more stuff that I think is good. Well I guess that''s it and with that, I''m about to go back to the lobby and front square screens to monitor what is going on when I see another option on my screen I missed before. Under the door option, there is a ¡°Safe¡± OPEN/CLOSE option. That wasn''t there in the game, let''s check it out, OPEN. To the right of me, the bricks pivot open revealing a medium size hidden safe. Maybe this is where they put Gunther''s stuff after they captured him. Gotta put peoples stuff somewhere safe when you lock them up ¡­ in the statue of liberty ¡­ where they have a huge fish tank holding cell ¡­ with a super strong door. I never questioned that when it was a game but now seeing it in ¡°real life¡± it doesn''t make any god damn sense, what the hell? No, add it to the don''t think about list and go see what the treasure safe has. Jackpot, bottom shelf has a pistol, an assault rifle and two mags for each. The rifle goes straight over the shoulder using its strap and the two mags in the left pants pocket that I cleared by giving Gunther the pistol mags. Good things really do happen to good people. I don''t need a second pistol but if there is nothing useful on the top shelf then why not take those mags too. I stand up straight so I can look down the top shelf and there''s only one thing there. Looks like a glowing blue soda can and I got no idea what it is. Can''t hurt to look so I grab it.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Trial Bonus Item Found Nanotech Augmentation canister (Nanotech Infolink) Challenger can have Nanotech Infolink installed at The Waystation if you have it in your possession for 500 points or at a Matsu-Gravas GV-4 Nightingale Medical bot if you have compatible physiology for free. Change is good, my own nano-aug, without further thought this goes right in the jacket pocket. Just as I put the nano-aug away I hear the turret start to spin up. I take it back, change is bad, change is bad, go back to the way things were but leave the nano-aug. I rush to the corner of the hallway and peek around the corner as the turret starts unleashing on the hallway. I just catch the foot of the person jumping back around the corner, shouting something as the turret unleashes on the first NSF I hit with the crowbar. Looks like someone tried to wake him as he was in a sitting position until the turret hit him. Turret don''t fail me now. I toss the fire extinguisher down the hallway and hear voices cry out as I take aim with my pistol using the desk and wall as support. Next guy to come round gets exploding fire extinguisher. I hear a beep beep and a LAM comes down the hallway and hits the desk. I dive to the corner of the room before it goes off shattering desk everywhere. I can''t hear anything but ringing anymore as I crawl back to the hallway to look down. I make it in time to see an arm flick another LAM down the hallway floor, fool me once. I can''t get back crawling on the floor so instead, I fall to the ground and swing my arm like a pinball flipper to slap it backwards. I immediately try to rear back and put my arms up for some cover. It helps since the shrapnel only grazes my eyebrow and bouncing off my helmet instead of embedding in my chest. Upside I think the fire extinguisher got blown up cause even my deaf self heard something explode, that and the white shit everywhere. I need some cover in case they got more LAMs. I roll out of the front of the hallway and look back. I can only see the left half of the room as the forehead bleeds into my right eye, busted chair, crowbar, terminal, open door ¡­ the holding cell! I pick my self up, quick as I can and trip over straight away. Damn ears, my balance is fucked, so I crawl instead and use the wall at the terminal to help me up and regain my balance. I hope the NSF are at least as banged up as I am so they are slow to act. I got to log out so they can''t turn the system against me but I also need to get through the door before it closes. I think it is doable, I just need to get my balance hit both buttons and run. Fingers crossed, I pause for a moment and look at the door. I plan me every step to it and see it in my head before looking at the terminal. OK stand up and check balance ¡­ passable. I set the door to locked so they can''t open it and then put my hands in the right place to close and logout. I take a breath to steady myself and hit close and logout. I see the terminal and the door start closing and I move. I stagger and get my left shoulder in the door but before I can cheer something hits me in the kidney and then the shoulder. I fall forward into the room and hit the floor, feeling nothing. Before I can think pain hits me like two bursts of fireworks going off in my body, first in my shoulder and then around my kidney. What the hell happened? I just scream like I never have before and despite the burning, I feel cool liquid running down my side. I can''t move, I''m lying on the ground in so much pain and my body just won''t move. I lay my head on the ground, I can''t hold it up anymore and I can see the blood pooling on the ground. Things start getting cool and I have to shut my other eye as my forehead bleeds into it too now. I can''t think, there is some noise trying to get my attention but I''m too tired and ignore it. I take a breath and feel like I''m falling. I still feel like crap but not bleeding out dying crap. Most of the pain is gone, I open my eyes and jerk up like I''m trying to do the worm while being electrocuted. I''m in a large well lit room with a massive fat black obelisk in the centre. My bullet wounds and forehead gash are healed somewhat but the whole acid in the veins thing decides to stay. Things are getting crazy again. Another scene change while waking up. This is starting to become a habit. Trial 1.5 – 1 – Deus Ex Waystation I never thought I would need a checklist for waking up in strange places after apparent death. Surely that''s more of a one-time thing ¡­ unless you''re a Buddhist or something. Guess it''s time I learnt. Body, sore but not dying, danger, seems safe. Kovit: ¡°Are going to lie there all day?¡± I sit up and look towards the voice. David: ¡°Ah hey, Kovit.¡± I look around. ¡°Where are the others?¡± Kovit: ¡°Dead, you should have gotten the notifications in the trial but here''s a good rule of thumb. Not at The Waystation after a trial, then they are dead.¡± David: ¡°Oh ¡­¡± I feel a weight in my chest and lower my head. ¡°Were you with them? Do you know what happened?¡± Kovit: ¡°We made it up the stairs to the second top level with no problems but it went downhill then. The other two stuck to the back while JC and Gunther took point and I was behind them. The turret fire must have alerted the NSF because on that level there were six or so of them and they were ready. JC was spotted as he checked the room at the top of the stairs. JC signalled a halt and took cover and the NSF opened fire. Gunther and JC held until the NSF started reloading and then stormed the room but the momentum was already against us. A few of the guards from the top were on the next flight of stairs ready and one of the first group threw a LAM onto the stairs. The guy got hit close range and died while the girl was blown to the bottom of the stairs. Took a while for her notification so I assume she died from her wounds and the fall. JC and Gunther pushed hard and killed the rest on both floors, I don''t know if the objective was killed or captured but it ended after they went upstairs.¡± This was not how it was supposed to go. Would I have been able to help if I was there or was it my turret plan that got them killed with its noise tipping off the NSF? What if we skipped Gunther and just went straight to the top? Kovit: ¡°Hey, wake up.¡± David: ¡°Oh hey um, I was just thinking ...¡± Kovit steps up to me and squats down to my right. Kovit: ¡°I know what you were thinking, this isn''t my first battle. Don''t dwell on it. Looking back to see what you could''ve done better is not a bad idea, but blaming yourself for what happened is wasteful and won''t get you anywhere.¡± That makes me look up at him and I don''t know what emotion I should be feeling. I''m torn between being angry that he doesn''t care they died or upset because that heartlessness seems like a good idea, in the end, I''m unable to express either. Kovit: ¡°These trials are death to all but the strongest, smartest and most able. You either adapt and rise above or fall by the wayside. Despite having basically no skill or ability you made the best of every situation you could. You adapted what little you had to each problem faced and that is how you got back here. Even that is sometimes not enough to survive these trials. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Those two did nothing from beginning to end, they could not adapt and forge their own way and because of that, they had to take what they were given. They are responsible for themselves. You are responsible for yourself. Now I imagine you are still in some pain, so get up, it''s time to heal you and give you the very basics so you can go rest and recover before we continue.¡± Kovit stands and offers a hand. Taking his hand he pulls me to my feet with ease and leads me to the large black obelisk in the centre of the room. Kovit: ¡°This is The Obelisk, you can use The Interface to interact with it and use your rewards to buy improvements, powers and equipment. Though that can wait for tomorrow, for now, there is another function you probably need. The Obelisk can heal you from anything bar death for a relatively small amount of points and you need some healing. When we return to The Waystation we are all healed enough to make us conscious and stable physically for free. A minor perk since The Crucible wants strong people and getting us back here just to die is pointless. Though it is the bare minimum to keep us going and that is where The Obelisk comes in. Injuries infused with energy like magic, special poisons or curses don''t get fixed for free. So on top of what''s left after the bare minimum, you will also have these to get rid of those. If you know what is wrong you can get that fixed and it will be cheaper, otherwise ask for a ¡°full heal¡± and it will get everything back to normal. After unlocking the first stage of your genetic potential you will need a full heal. That burning feeling in your body is your genes breaking down after unlocking them. Call your interface and ask for a ¡°Full Heal¡± and after that, I will give you the rest of the basics.¡± Interface give me a full heal. Light comes from The Obelisk and surrounds me as I rise into the air. This is surprisingly cool and the relief, I didn''t even know I was hurting in some of these places until it went away. All my wounds are closing and healing completely in seconds. It''s like watching a film in rewind. Despite all my wounds being healed the light sticks around. I feel like my body is popping like I''m a fizzy drink. After a few minutes, the popping stopped and the lights faded as I was lowered to the ground. Kovit: ¡°Alright, now that you aren''t going to die it''s time to rest.¡± David: ¡°Whoa, what the fuck. What about explaining all this shit?¡± Kovit: ¡°I''ll explain how the rooms work ¡­ ¡° Kovit points at the nearest door. ¡°... and then we can get some rest and talk about the rest in the morning.¡± David: ¡°Hold on, I''m freaking out. How am I suppose to rest after what we just went through? I basically died, twice, not to mention the people that died ¡­ the people I killed and now you are saying just go take a nap. Come on you have to give me more than that. Just ¡­ let''s just talk for a bit. I ¡­ don''t want to be by myself. Hey, we''re a team now aren''t we?¡± Kovit: ¡°No, we aren''t.¡± David: ¡°What?¡± Kovit: ¡°It''s understandable, you''re meant to think that when you do your first mission. I''m a guide, I work for The Crucible to assist and advise new challengers. I show you the ropes, so to speak and give some advice, that''s all. David: ¡°You work for this thing?¡± Kovit: ¡°I have my own problems but while I won''t be taking part in any of your trials, I think I have a solution for the current problem. You have a one time chance to get a human creation from The Obelisk for free.¡± David: ¡°Human creation?¡± Kovit: ¡°The Obelisk can literally make any human you can imagine. You can make yourself a skilled warrior that will loyally fight by your side or a doctor to treat your wounds. The idea is to give newbies a supporter to assist them in their trials. Very few can meet the trials without any help at all. A lot of newbies use it to make a plaything.¡± Sigh ¡°They are usually short-lived. So a little bit of advice. Average human stats are 100 in each stat, you can get yours from your interface, but your created human can be anywhere up to double that, so do that. They can also be given knowledge and skills that would be possible for someone like them to learn in the real world. Give them at least loyalty to yourself, combat skills and knowledge of the things you will need to survive missions. Lastly, The Obelisk can assist you in making a personally suitable for you, just ask it, it is better you get along well.¡± David: ¡°What just make a friend, that doesn''t seem ¡­¡± Kovit: ¡°Your morals are your own but you might want to get a bit more flexible if you want to survive. Use it or don''t, it''s up to you but whenever you are done, choose any door, place your hand on it and imagine any kind room, house, etc you want. The door will let you access that room etc and only you and people you allow can access it. I''ll see you in the morning if you want to know more.¡± And like that Kovit walked up to a door and left. Trial 1.5 – 2 – Deus Ex Waystation Well so much for team us. I can''t believe he left after I said all that, and what is up with this god damn room. There''s no sound, it''s creepy quiet with all white marble floors and walls. The doors look like some kind of steel plate in the wall with no door knobs. It looked like Kovit just touched it and it opened just like a normal door. That''s a problem for future David. Now how do I take in what he just told me? I don''t think I can handle going back to a room and sitting by myself after all this, I''ll go crazy. On the other hand creating someone, some scapegoat ¡­ no he said human, gotta think of them as a person. A 100% loyal person with double strength and fighting skills ¡­ yeah so combat slave, no he said some people make pleasure slaves and let''s stop that train of thought right there. FUCK! OK, enough feeling sorry for yourself. What are the facts and where is my bottom line.
  1. A couple of street thugs with a knife were enough to kill me.
  2. Without JC I probably couldn''t have done the trial.
  3. I killed that guy with the knife.
  4. That makes me feel sick ¡­ but I don''t regret it.
  5. An NSF with a LAM and a gun took me down even with turret backup.
  6. Kovit has peaced out.
  7. I''m all alone ¡­ and I need help.
Well that settles it, looks like I''m not the good guy I thought I was after all. I''ll fight to survive. I''ll kill to survive. I''ll do this to survive ¡­ but if I''m gunna do it, I''ll do it right. Interface. Challenger Stats Team Oceanic David Stone Trials challenged: 1 Current rewards: 7898 BD Stats: Intelligence: 142 Mental Capacity: 117 Cell Vitality: 92 Reaction Speed: 129 Muscle Density: 104 Immunisation Strength: 93 Inherited non-human genetics detected. Acceptable levels of Dungeon Core genetics found for use and advancement via The Obelisk. Challenger may exchange Dungeon Core related enhancements and skills below B rank while ignoring points cost. Initial Dungeon Core enhancement may be purchased for free. All purchases using this system are bound to the challenger. Well, I have no idea what that means but I love free stuff. At least the stats look self-explanatory and I''m high in mental stats, always preferred to play as a mage. I''ll need a frontline fighter/tank to help me. Let''s see what that damn obelisk can do.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. David: ¡°Hey obelisk, I want to make my human creation.¡± Enter. As I watch the side facing me starts to ripple and form an arch where the inside takes on a strange look. The arch takes on some sort of optical illusion effect where I can still see the crystal but it kind of looks like the arch leads somewhere. Enter. David: ¡°OK ¡­ uh, well I got to try something.¡± I walk up and try to touch the crystal where the arch is but my hand just passes through like nothing is there. I almost lose my balance and step forward passing through the crystal more. Looking back nothing seems abnormal, it''s like The Obelisk is a cave and I''m just walking into it. Slightly more convinced that this is what is meant to happen I keep going. Despite there being nothing but darkness I can still see fine, it''s more like a well lit black room than darkness. After a few more steps of not finding anything, I look back only to find nothing there too. David: ¡°OK, so how does that work?¡± Challenger receives 1 free human creation. State the characteristics of the creation. David: ¡°So just say stuff I want and you will help me design her?¡± Yes. David: ¡°Alright let''s start with the basics Kovit suggested. Set all stats to 200 and make her fully loyal to me. For skills and knowledge, the only Australia special forces I can think of are the SAS so make her a fully trained SASR officer and doctor with specialisation for close quarters combat.¡± Every team needs a healer and now I''ll have a paladin, best of both worlds. ¡°Also make her skilled with HEMA martial arts, driving most vehicles and cooking.¡± Sword are cool and I can''t cook for shit after all. Within acceptable limits, additions made. David: ¡°How about languages, could I add say English, Japanese and German?¡± Languages added: Challenger native language (English), Trial Standard (Babel), Additional languages (Japanese and German). David: ¡°Cool, I suppose add knowledge about me, my life and what I know about this thing ¡­ place ¡­ here. Oh and probably all the knowledge that women ¡­ need to know for like ¡­ normal life if that makes sense? Scanning challenger ¡­ knowledge added. David: ¡°This seems too easy, just hope it works out. I suppose looks and personality are all that''s left. Kovit said if I asked you could help me with that, so how do you help me do that, is there a questionnaire or something?¡± Scanning challenger ¡­ optimum personally and appearance that the challenger desires determined and added. Human Creation processing ¡­ Completed. David: ¡°Hey wait run it by ¡­¡± I didn''t even get to finish before I see a silhouette walking out of the darkness and I lose the rest of my sentence. I suppose this works. A young Eurasian woman in her early 20s by the looks of it walks towards me. She looks familiar but I don''t remember knowing anyone this stunning. She has one hell of a curvy figure and long black hair with crimson highlights that is up in a ponytail. She looks to be a few inches shorter than me and dress in really expensive looking clothes; long black pants and boots with a dark blue top and a grey jacket. Kana: ¡°Hi, I''m Kana. Seems like you''ve had a hell of a night. Follow me.¡± I nod dumbly as she reaches out a hand and I instinctively take it. Pulling me along we walk back out of The Obelisk and towards one of the doors. Kana places a hand on the door and it opens. We walk through a room and enter another with a bed where Kana helps me put down all the weapons and odd and end I''m still carrying before taking my jacket and shirt. She leads me onto the bed and I follow. She guides my head to rest in her lap as I look up at her face and she strokes my head. Kana: ¡°I know what happened to you but you''re safe now. You need some rest to calm down. We can sort it all out after you recharge your body and mind. I''ll watch over you, just relax and sleep.¡± It does feel relaxing to lie here with her running her hand through my hair and I do feel really tired. Trial 1.5 – 3 – Deus Ex Waystation Opening my eyes I stare up at an unfamiliar ceiling while feeling strangely good. I never really was one to get hangovers but I didn''t expect to feel this good after just a night''s sleep. I suppose I should figure out why the ceiling is unfamiliar, I push the blanket off and sit up, only to find myself in the biggest damn bed I have ever seen. The unfamiliar room does jog my memories though. Kana and Deus Ex, third times the charm, body good and no danger in sight. Pays to prepare, that waking up in strange places checklist is showing its worth already. Seems like the room is empty other than me but I can hear sizzling from the other room. Smells like ¡­ bacon, this requires investigating. I look around for my shirt and jacket only to find their shredded and bloody remains on a table. I loved that jacket but I don''t think I''ll be wearing it or that shirt again. Someone, I assume Kana, has left me new clothes draped over a chair beside the table, faded blue jeans and a dark grey shirt. I want to see what''s going on as quick as possible so I ditch the jeans but put the shirt on and head to the other room. Walking in I find a large room with a lowered area with couches and coffee table in the middle, across that is a dining area with table and chairs and if I keep going forward a kitchen and benches. I find Kana in the kitchen serving some food from a frying pan. Kana: ¡°Good your up, come have some breakfast. We have a lot to discuss and do today.¡± She grabs the two plates and walks over to the dining table, placing one plate on my side of the table and she sits opposite with her plate. I move through the couched area and join her at the table. David: ¡°Um, hi. We didn''t get to talk much last night, I''m David.¡± Kana laughs at my statement. Kana: ¡°Yeah, I know. Knowledge about you and your life were added by The Obelisk. That''s kind of what you asked for.¡± Scratching my head. David: ¡°Oh yeah, I did kind of say that.¡± Kana: ¡°Sit down and eat your breakfast before it gets cold. This is the most rest we will probably get today so enjoy it.¡± I sit down and grab my knife and fork. David: ¡°What do you mean? I suppose I should go see Kovit, that''s the other guy who knows about this place, and find out what the deal is. That won''t take much.¡± Kana: ¡°I see, that''s right you were a bit out of it last night so you probably haven''t thought it through yet. First, like I mentioned, I know what you know about this place so you don''t need to explain who Kovit is, the trials and other stuff you have done while here, at least up to this point. Second, we will talk to Kovit and then comes the important part. We need to discuss how to spend the rewards from the trial. After that comes training.¡± David: ¡°Training?¡± Kana: ¡°You will need to practice with the upgrades and equipment that you exchanged, not to mention I will be giving you additional survival and combat training to improve your chances in the coming trials.¡± David: ¡°OK, that makes sense. I am interested in the enhancements that Kovit mentioned.¡± Kana: ¡°Then shall we?¡± David: ¡°Wait um ¡­ shouldn''t we talk about this thing? This you and me uh ...¡± Kana: ¡°That you created me with The Obelisk.¡± David: ¡° ¡­ yeah.¡± Kana: ¡°Alright, I''ll give you my thoughts. Regardless of where I came from, I''m here now and I am just as human as you and everybody else. Don''t worry about how I got here and what it means, we can''t change it and if we did I wouldn''t be me anymore anyway. This is all you need to remember. We are partners in this death game and we need to rely on each other to get through it. I will stand by you and have your back, I expect the same in return. I want you to see me as Kana the person right here in front of you and not some guilt complex or some time bomb.¡± David: ¡°So, nothing before I first took your hand matters, only the Kana in front of me now and in the future? Partners, friends and teammates against the world, taking life as it comes?¡± Kana: ¡°Sounds good, now let''s go buy stuff. Don''t forget your Infolink, it should be with your jacket.¡± I''m not sure if it''s what she meant for me to feel but hearing that does relax me. Having someone to work with rather than bossing around someone I control will be good. I suppose The Obelisk did OK too, minor credit for OB. David: ¡°On it.¡± I drop the plate off in the kitchen and jog back to the bedroom, grabbing the Infolink I head back to the front door and Kana. ¡°Let''s go.¡± Kana pushes open the door and we head out to the creepy white room. Doesn''t look like Kovit is here yet. David: ¡°Let''s check out The Obelisk.¡± Kana nods and we head on over. First, let''s check out The Interface and as I think it, it appears on the side of The Obelisk for Kana and me. Challenger Stats Team Oceanic David Stone Trials challenged: 1 Current rewards: 7898 BD + Upgrade Certificate 3/3 Stats: Intelligence: 142 Mental Capacity: 117 Cell Vitality: 92 Reaction Speed: 129 Muscle Density: 104 Immunisation Strength: 93 Upgrade Certificate - Rating 100 A rare certificate given to challengers who show enormous potential. Allows for the upgrade of a C Rank or below non-genetic enhancement, ignoring points and rank reward requirements. Consumable: 3/3. Inherited non-human genetics detected. Acceptable levels of Dungeon Core genetics found for use and advancement via The Obelisk. Challenger may exchange Dungeon Core related enhancements and skills below B rank while ignoring points cost. Initial Dungeon Core enhancement may be purchased for free. All purchases using this system are bound to the challenger. Supporter of David StoneThis story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Kana Trials challenged: 0 Stats: Intelligence: 200 Mental Capacity: 200 Cell Vitality: 200 Reaction Speed: 200 Muscle Density: 200 Immunisation Strength: 200 Kana: ¡°Mine''s boring, at least yours has something other than stats.¡± Kovit: ¡°Maybe but at least he was smart enough to take my advice. It seems we have a legacy amongst us. Shouldn''t you have researched this place before coming?¡± David: ¡°What''s a legacy and how could I have possibly researched this weird ass place?¡± Kovit: ¡°A legacy is a descendant of a former challenger that failed The Crucible but managed to buy their way back to Earth. They often have left over genes and abilities from their ancestor which grants them the significant advantage you enjoy with the Dungeon Core race. Though if you don''t know this it means you are a lost or forgotten legacy, someone whose ancestor''s genes are faint enough that you get nothing from them or was cast off by the family and never knew their heritage.¡± Kana: ¡°Ray of sunshine you are.¡± Kovit: ¡°That reminds me, I forgot to mention last night that supporters are erased if their challenger dies.¡± Kana frowned at that. Kana: ¡°Well, looks like someones survival training is getting increased.¡± Sigh. David: ¡°Kovit ¡­ could you perhaps bring me some good news for a change?¡± Kovit: ¡°Very well. Let''s start with the unlocking of your genetic potential.¡± David: ¡°Finally.¡± Kovit: ¡°Unlocking your genetic potential comes in stages with each stage unlocking something different and allowing a person to become more in control of their body and mind as well as more powerful. It is also needed for higher level exchanges.¡± David: ¡°So each stage is a power-up. How do I use it? I don''t feel any different. What do they do and why do you need them for higher exchanges?¡± Kovit is starting to look annoyed. Kovit: ¡°Just shut up for a bit and I will tell you. The first stage that you unlocked allows you to think clearly and harness your instincts. It also starts to bring your body into peak genetic condition so that you can progress further. Once you can handle the first stage to a reasonable level your body will be able to progress onto higher stages assuming it receives sufficient stimulus.¡± David: ¡°Considering the first ¡°stimulus¡± was dying on the floor full of holes that doesn''t sound like fun.¡± Kovit: ¡°Granted, breaking through your limits is dangerous and challenging but it doesn''t need to be to that level, especially if you want to keep living after doing it. Unfortunately for you, The Crucible is designed to push you to those limits and cause your advancement. So best embrace it if you want to survive. As for the higher ranked exchanges, you can exchange for them but the improvements will be minimal unless your stage is high enough that your body can make use of them. D rank exchanges are relatively usable by normal people and even C rank will be a decent improvement but to fully use it you would need the first stage. This continues the second stage for B, the third stage for A, mid to late fourth for S and above. Starting at B the power you can use will be vastly different from someone in the correct stage and worsen the farther you are from it.¡± David: ¡°OK good to know for later. What about this dungeon core thing?¡± Kovit: ¡°Tell The Obelisk to bring up that enhancement and I''ll check what information I have on them.¡± Dungeon Core - Psionic (Unawakened) - Rating 40 Suitable for missions that require building and crafting. Gains sub-body in the form of a magic gem on their body. Dungeon cores as a species are innate master builders, creators and summoners due to there domain skill which allows the absorption of material from their outer domain into their inner domain using dungeon energy (a mana variant). Dungeon Cores live off of ambient energy and as long as the core has access to ambient energy. Size increases with Intelligence and Mental Capacity of the cores. Possessor gains +50 Intelligence, +50 Mental Capacity and ability to use and store dungeon energy. Requires D Rank Reward and 500 points David: ¡°Lucky the first one is free otherwise I won''t have a D rank to give to Kana.¡± Kovit: ¡°The rank rewards can be split, 3 A''s make an S, 3 B''s make an A etc. You can split that B up into smaller ranks at no cost it is just displaying it efficiently. David: ¡°Oh that''s awesome, one problem solved.¡± Kovit: ¡°Quite the rare race choice you have. Appears to be a sentient magic crystal that can store materials like a space bag. Extremely mentally focused since they don''t really on their body. Able to build just about anything and use magic. Mostly keep to themselves and focus on growing bigger and defending their territory. They''re like living computers that just want to grow and defend themselves. Might be alright and cheap if you are focusing on magical defences and support for the team. Completely useless if you plan on fighting anywhere the enemy can reach you.¡± David: ¡°I was planning on getting magic anyway, free inventory and crafting thrown in sounds good.¡± Kana: ¡°I''ll be the main fighter, so if you can support and build better gear and weapons then all the better.¡± David: ¡°What is the Psionic part about though?¡± Kovit: ¡°Looks like it is the dungeon''s affinity. Cores appear to attune their energy to match different types of magic that suit them and their environment. It makes that magic easier to use and stronger. It''s like how a cultivator might learn a fire art and so they cultivate a fire chi. You shouldn''t have gotten it until the next enhancement up but it must have been your ancestor''s affinity. Good news is, it''s a free affinity and it is a mental type too so you should be able to use psychic force type skills, the bad news is it might make other affinities harder to get.¡± David: ¡°I''ve heard of psionics from DND but what is psychic force and why would I want to use it?¡± Kovit: ¡°Every team needs at least someone with psychic force or comparable energy. It''s an area of energy and skills that help prevent mental attacks, mind control and magical spying as well as long range scouting, spying and communication for the team. It leaves the team vulnerable without it. The most basic of which is Psychic Force Scan.¡± Psyche Force Scan - Raring 70. Order Psyche Force to scan the area around the user. Can increase radius as your Mental Capacity increases. Ever 100 points = 500m diameter and further if used in a straight line depending on control. Requires 2000 points DD rank reward and a mental type energy. Kana: ¡°That will be great for intel, I think we found your calling.¡± David: ¡°I can live with mind powers, let''s see what comes with the next level of dungeon core.¡± Dungeon Core - Psionic (Awakened) - Rating 65 The Core has finished forming its crystal and conscious mind. It can now use dungeon energy to cast basic spells and begin to attune an affinity. The inner domain can act as spatial storage for inanimate and living matter but living things enter a stasis-like state due to the timeless nature of the inner domain. They can manipulate matter freely inside the inner domain using their dungeon energy and create anything from living monsters to items. Dungeon Cores live off of ambient energy and as long as the core has access to ambient energy, has full dungeon energy and the materials it is made of it are in its domain it will continue to grow in size. Size increases Intelligence and Mental Capacity of the core. Possessor''s core gains stats Core Intelligence and Core Mental Capacity both at +150 as well as Dungeon Domain and Divided Mind Requires C Rank Reward, 1800 points and Dungeon Core (Unawakened) Dungeon Domain - Rating 80 Allows the Core to expand an inner and outer domain using dungeon energy. These domains balance each other and grow together. By infusing dungeon energy into the domain the outer domain expands out into the world as a faint dungeon energy field to a maximum of the users mental capacity in meters. Energy sensitive beings will easily detect it if they cross the border of the domain and non-energy sensitives might notice a slight pressure. Conversely, the inner domain expands as a sub-dimension that acts as spatial storage for the core to a maximum of 1/100 x the users mental capacity in meters. With practice, the outer domain can be reduced or expanded to any size between the maximum and the core. Divided Mind - Rating 75 Good for missions that require possessor to handle multiple things at once. Allows species with vast intelligence to partition parts of their mind off to act as independent minds. A small portion of the user''s intelligence is negated when using this but with long use and mastery, this becomes negligible. Divided Minds that are less than 100 intelligence may not be able to complete tasks satisfactorily depending on the task. Requires C rank reward 1800 points and suitable mind (generally determined by race) David: ¡°OK, much more useful than the first level. So splitting the rewards between Kana and me means CDD and 4000p each and if I use the Upgrade Cert for the Psy scan I still got DD and 4000p left if I take these. I think we should look at some stuff for you before I plan anything else. What do you think K?¡± Kana: ¡°K now is it, well I suppose I can live with that. Don''t forget the Infolink, that''s another 500p. Now, let''s see what I can get.¡± Trial 1.5 – 4 – Deus Ex Waystation Kana: ¡°I did a bit of scouting and planning last night after you went to sleep. I have an idea of what I want. I liked the idea you had for a paladin David. Being a tough self-healing badass appeals to me. I¡¯m not sure how all these energies work though. Weave based spells seem powerful but locked into spell slots like mass produced spells and faith or mana based spells are its opposite, you get a basic starter and need to figure the rest out yourself.¡± Kovit: ¡°First thing you should know is, it¡¯s best not to get multiple energies or races together. It can be done but 90% of the time it goes bad. Sticking to one race and energy is the safest and cheapest way. There are exceptions, but you won¡¯t know until after you roll the dice and there are no take backs. The Obelisk can set you back to a blank slate like when you first arrived, but it won¡¯t remove or fix individual enhancements that go wrong. Different energies can clash and blow you up while opposing genetics will fight or worst warp you into something terrifying. For energies, there are four main types and their hybrids. Life and mana are generally universally useable by everyone. Life includes cultivation energies like chi and chakra or genetic superpower based energies nen and aura. Mana is generally for spellcraft and energy manipulation like wielding elements. The other two; will and mental, require the person to either have a natural ability in that area or boost the associated stats to meet the requirements. Will relates to energies like haki and faith, while mental would be likePsy force. David¡¯s ability to use Psy force shows he has an aptitude for using mental energies, if you want to use faith energies like a paladin you will need a strong will or belief in something. If you can buy the energy, then you have the aptitude otherwise The Obelisk will tell you what stats you need to raise and by how much to make the cut.¡± Kana: ¡°You said that you shouldn¡¯t get more than one energy but the race I was interested in comes with two will that be a problem?¡± Nephalem Rating 70 Born of angel and demon they can gain powers from both. Gain access to Holy and Unholy energy but has not attuned to one or the other. +20 all stats. Requires D rank reward and 500 points. Kovit: ¡°As they are innate to the race it won¡¯t harm you, they may not like each other but they should cause anything too bad.¡± Kana: ¡°Excellent then my plans are for getting these enhancements, spells and equipment to go with my choice of race.¡± Sacred Gear Rating 80 Also known as God''s Artifacts, are items with powerful abilities bestowed upon humans by the original God from the Bible. A random sacred gear is selected and granted to the user. These can have many varied abilities and grow with the possessor¡¯s desires and soul. Requires DD rank reward 1200 points and will based energy. Lay on Hands Initiate Rating 65 The beginner level of the Lay on Hands ability that paladins are famous for. With a touch the initiate and channel faith based energies to heal minor wounds and cure normal poisons and disease. Requires D rank reward 700 points and will based energy. Blessed Armour Rating 60 Casting this spell imbues the targets body and clothes with holy energy providing basic protection from harm for an hour. Requires D rank reward and 500 points Sinful whispers Rating 50 The target of this spell will be enticed subconsciously to act upon their base and sinful desires. Easily cast of by strong and goodly people. Requires D rank reward and 400 points AEV9 Armoured enviro-suit and helmet Rating 30 A basic full body suit designed to protect the user from physical harm and inhospitable environments. Provides air filtration, internal temperature control and communications in the helmet. Requires -500 points Silenced USP45 (Unlimited Ammo) -100 points K-bar knife and holster -2 points David: ¡°That looks awesome, you can be a paladin and a dark knight with that race. I also found out that unlimited ammo can be added to already owned weapons for 9 times its store price. Makes sense since buying them outright seems to be 10 times the base cost. Why don¡¯t you just upgrade the 10mm and assault rifle I brought back form Deus Ex?¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Kana: ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea but how about you keep the 10mm for yourself and I¡¯ll get the USP and upgrade the rifle.¡± David: ¡°Alright sounds good, I won¡¯t even mention the extra D rank reward you are using.¡± Kana: ¡°Yay, and I won¡¯t guilt you over the Upgrades Certificate you get to hog.¡± David: ¡°Well then you won¡¯t mind that I found something else to use them on.¡± Blacklight Virus (DX-1118 C) Rating 73 The virus activates the ''junk'' DNA in host resulting in several biological changes that create (and recreate) sentience within the infected creature''s cellular makeup causing superhuman genetic prowess that greatly increase their natural abilities to levels far exceeding human capability. The host will not be infectious, but cells will be able to recode new biomass introduced to the system. +100 Cellular Vitality, +20 immunisation strength, greatly increases regeneration, gain consume biomass and shapeshifting skills. Body evolves to overcome harm and environmental stress, has chance of evolving traits from live biomass absorbed. Requires C Rank 2000 points. No further upgrades possible. David: ¡°I¡¯m kinda sick of bleeding out all the time and I figured this will help. Added bonus, I won¡¯t need that enviro suit you are getting. Alright you big black rock you got the list of exchanges we want?¡± Nanotech Infolink -500 points Dungeon Core - Psionic (Unawakened) Free Dungeon Core - Psionic (Awakened) -C rank reward Psyche Force Scan ¨C Upgrade Certificate 1/3 Blacklight Virus - Upgrade Certificate 2/3 10 mm Pistol DX Unlimited Ammo upgrade -90 points 7.62mm assault rifle Unlimited Ammo upgrade -450 points Nephalem -D 500p Sacred Gear -DD rank reward 1200 points Lay on hands Initiate -D rank reward and 700 points Blessed Armour -D rank reward and 500 points Sinful whispers -D rank reward and 400 points Silenced USP45 (Unlimited Ammo) -100 points 7.62mm assault rifle Unlimited Ammo upgrade -450 points K-bar knife and holster -2 points AEV9 Armoured enviro-suit and helmet -500 points Total: -B 5392 points and Upgrade Certification 2/3 Remaining: D 2506 points and Upgrade Certification 1/3 David: ¡°Excellent, make it so.¡± HA, last word. The shocked look on Kana and Kovit¡¯s faces are funny too. Can¡¯t wait to see what these enhancements can do. Two beams shot off to my room as the light wrapped around Kana and me, lifting us from the ground. It takes about 5 minutes for Kana¡¯s light to fade but mine lasts around 20. As the light puts me down my whole body feels tingly and my mind clearer. I look over at Kana and she starts laughing, Kovit joins her. David: ¡°What¡¯s so funny, something on my face?¡± Kana: ¡°Nope. Nothing on your face or head or anywhere else I imagine.¡± That earns her a raised eyebrow. I turn to look for something to see my reflection in and The Obelisk provides by mirroring a surface. All my hair is gone, eye brows and facile hair too. I raise a hand to touch my face and see my finger nails gone too. David: ¡°What the hell, why¡¯s my hair and nails gone?¡± Blacklight virus recouped non-living resources during infection. Come on, the Prototype guy had hair, I¡¯ve got to be able to fix this. Right, the virus can shapeshift, I focus on what I know about the virus, seems like the enhancement gives me the basic knowledge too. Focus on the form I want and tell my body to move, it¡¯s a bit like using a third arm you didn¡¯t know you had and can¡¯t see. After a few minutes and staring at my reflection and waiting for the chuckleheads to take a breath I feel something happen, the top of my hair turns black and flows out like a tar-ish water and then separates forming my old hair. Kovit: ¡°That was disgusting.¡± David: ¡°Thanks sunshine. That¡¯s one enhancement working, time to test out the dungeon core.¡± I close my eyes and focus on the core, I can feel the energy in it. That must be the psionics, it¡¯s like a cool fire at the bottom of my sternum. I draw on the energy with my mind and it flows up to my brain and is sucked in stunning me as I get a weird sense of the entire room and the two other minds in it. Whoops, accidentally triggered my psychic scan, that will take some getting use to. This thing instead of draw from the core I push my mind towards it and feel a slight falling sensation and then darkness. This is weird, I keep trying things that don¡¯t work and when I ask myself why I find the information already in my head. Going to take a bit of time to process all this. Looks like a dungeon can only see within its domain and I need to expand mine first before I can see anything. I take my psionics and feed it into the domain, changing the energy and expanding it into a sphere around the core. At first, it grows quickly reaching 2m across but the longer I go the slower it expands, running low on energy I stop before I even make 3m. Looks like it takes a long time and lots of energy to grow your domain to full size. Brushing over that I turn my mind outside to see what the core and see. It¡¯s like seeing in some spectrum but also seeing information. It isn¡¯t a world of light like seeing with your eyes but flowing colours that I can tell are different types of energy, but I have no idea which. The air and ground are worse, I don¡¯t even see them per say, as I know some type of matter is there and a description of it. It¡¯s like matter is all just millions and billions of bits of the periodic table around me. Well shit ¡­ I can¡¯t use this ¡­ I need a computer or something to parse this for me ¡­ or better yet and AI. Look like a have one more purchase to make. I release my mind from the core and open my eyes. Kana: ¡°So liking your upgrades? Mine are badass.¡± David: ¡°Hah, yeah ¡­ pretty badass.¡± Kovit starts chuckling again which leads to Kana giving me stern face. I think I prefer her normal face. Kana: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± David: ¡°Nothing wrong, everything¡¯s working great ¡­ it¡¯s just that dungeon core senses are a bit more insanely inhuman and nonsensical than I thought they would be. Don¡¯t worry I already know how to fix it, I just need to make a small exchange or two.¡± Kana: sigh ¡°OK what do you need to get?¡± David: ¡°I think an AI will do it. Just need something to sort the data and make it meaningful for me. Let¡¯s see what the shop has for me.¡± A quick look in the shop shows me that the low-end AIs are kinda weak and most require some sort of hardware to work so not helpful. One seems passable, the biochip that is like the MC in Warlock in a Magus World had. It would cost me my last upgrade cert though and if memory serves, while powerful and useful it didn¡¯t have a mind of its own. I wonder if I can get it to act on its own or like I would ¡­ that gives me and idea and a quick chat with The Obelisk makes it viable. I use one of my other dungeon core abilities, split mind, and make a second mind with the core before telling The Obelisk to go for it. AI Biochip Rating 83 A biotech nanite AI assistant the joins with the user¡¯s body and becomes a part of it. Used as a personal assistant and personal computer for the host as well and transferring information and interfacing with host directly. Requires C rank reward 2000 points Mind digital transfiguration Rating 30 Alters the challenger''s mind to become digital allowing it to operate like an AI. Requires 1000 points and compatible body structure Chip: Booting up and scanning host. Scan complete, awaiting instructions. Core: Call me core or C, I¡¯ll take it from hear mate. If you need something give me a call, I keep you updated through the infolink. I can¡¯t help but laugh, I should have done this from the start even if I could understand the dungeon senses. MCs with AIs are always better off. David: ¡°OK all sorted. Now you said something about training Kana.¡± 10th day David: ¡°Thank god you let me have the last day to rest. Your training was murder.¡± Kana: ¡°Harden up, you¡¯ll thank me when we kick ass on our next mission instead of being shot full of holes.¡± David: ¡°Too soon.¡± 10 minutes until the trial starts. Take necessary equipment and personal and head to the main room. Next trial is Dredd X Trial 1.5 – Exchanges summary First Trial ¨C Deus Ex Animus David Stone Trials challenged: 1 Current rewards: 8000 BD Stats: Intelligence: 142 Mental Capacity: 117 Cell Vitality: 92 Reaction Speed: 129 Muscle Density: 104 Immunisation Strength: 93 Rewards: Mission completion: 1000 points First mission bonus D rank reward upgraded for unlocking genetic potential: first stage in first mission to C rank reward 2000 points and Upgrade Certificate. Upgrade Certificate - Rating 100 A rare certificate given to challengers who show enormous potential. Allows for the upgrade of a C Rank or below non-genetic enhancement, ignoring points and reward requirements. Consumable: 3/3. Unlocked Genetic Potential: First Stage. Challenger exceeded body limiters. Rewarded 500 points, intelligence and reaction time increased by 20. Bonus Objective Completed ¨C Rescue Agent Gunther Hermann alive within 45 minutes ¨C Team receives 1000 points and D rank reward each.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Hidden Bonus Objective Completed Rescue Agent Gunther Hermann alive in under 20 minutes ¨C Team receives additional 500 points and D rank reward each. Hidden Trial Reward ¨C The best offence is their defence ¨C You have gained control of the NSF''s security system and turned it against them. Challenger receives 1500 points and C Rank Reward. Hidden Trial Reward ¨C What''s yours is mine ¨C You have stolen control of the NSF''s 100101 small security bot and turned it to your cause. Challenger receives 1500 points and DD Rank Reward. Trial Bonus Item Found Nanotech Augmentation canister (Nanotech Infolink) Challenger can have Nanotech Infolink installed at The Waystation if you have it in your possession for 500 points or at a Matsu-Gravas GV-4 Nightingale Medical bot if you have compatible physiology for free. Exchanges: Healing -102 points Nanotech Infolink -500 points Dungeon Core - Psionic (Unawakened) Free due to legacy Dungeon Core - Psionic (Awakened) -C rank reward due to legacy Psyche Force Scan ¨C Upgrade Certificate 1/3 uses AI Biochip - Upgrade Certificate 2/3 uses Blacklight Virus - Upgrade Certificate 3/3 uses Mind digital transfiguration -1000 points 10 mm Pistol DX Unlimited Ammo upgrade -90 points Manual: Introduction to Psionics -500 points Manual: Awakened Dungeon Core Development -500 Starter monsters Free due to legacy Basic flora and fauna Free due to legacy AR Projector/PC with internet access and Wi-Fi -40 points 10 x Food pills -100 points +1 bullets -10 points Miscellaneous materials -20 points Total -C 2862 points + Upgrade Certification 3/3 Kana Trials challenged: 0 Stats: Intelligence: 200 Mental Capacity: 200 Cell Vitality: 200 Reaction Speed: 200 Muscle Density: 200 Immunisation Strength: 200 Exchanges: Nephalem -D rank reward 500 points Sadistic Glee (Sacred Gear) -DD rank reward 1200 points Lay on hands Initiate -D rank reward and 700 points Blessed Armour -D rank reward and 500 points Sinful whispers -D rank reward and 400 points Silenced USP45 (Unlimited Ammo) -100 points 7.62mm assault rifle Unlimited Ammo upgrade -450 points K-bar knife and holster -2 points Armoured enviro-suit and helmet -500 points Total -CC 4352 Grand total -B 7214 points and Upgrade Certification 3/3 Remaining rewards: D 786 Start of Mission 2 Dredd X David Stone Rewards: D 786 Stats: Intelligence: 192 Mental Capacity: 167 Cell Vitality: 192 Reaction Speed: 132 Muscle Density: 112 Immunisation Strength: 133 Core Intelligence: 152 Core Mental Capacity: 152 Kana Stats: Intelligence: 220 Mental Capacity: 220 Cell Vitality: 220 Reaction Speed: 220 Muscle Density: 220 Immunisation Strength: 220 Trial 2 – 1 – Dredd X Vertigo overtakes and I momentary lose my balance, looking up I find myself in a crappy slum of a plaza. I channel psionics to start my psy scan and it¡¯s immediately stopped by what I assume is the edge of the starting area. Still, far enough to find Kana and check the surroundings, she appears to be fine, just sleeping. Let¡¯s not mention I used psychic powers to find the people directly next to me to Kana, besides it was a tactically sound thing to do ¡­ let''s wake Kana up and scout the new blood. I shake Kana¡¯s shoulder rousing her as I scan the newbies. Looks like 7 new contenders, one of them looks like they got a little extra. Newbie doesn¡¯t stand out visually, he looks like your average businessman, wearing a business suit, shirt, shoes, tie, the whole kit. What sets him apart from the rest is less obvious and without my pys scan I wouldn¡¯t spot it. Suity¡¯s waking up already though he has enough control to pretend not to be. Next, he¡¯s got concealed weapons, an assortment of knives and probably other stuff I¡¯m missing with the psy scan. Lastly and more importantly he has an energy that my psy scan could pick up, it is more than normal people and slightly different. I suppose even more troublesome is that Suity is hiding it now that he is fully awake. Would be great if he ends up being helpful for Kana and I, for now let¡¯s be cautious. David: ¡°Chip scan and watch the newbies, warn us of anything dangerous and give a report to Core.¡± Chip: ¡°Acknowledged and performing tasks.¡± Core: ¡°Let¡¯s get this started, updating your HUD and Kana¡¯s, I¡¯ve already told her what you found out and I¡¯ve opened a channel to her internal comms. OK guys, here what I got so far for this trial. Team Oceanic 8/8 Trial: The team is trapped in Peach Trees Mega Block after the crime boss Mama has initiated a lockdown. The trial will be completed when one side in the conflict is victorious. The objectives will be based on challengers¡¯ choices.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Objectives:
  1. Complete trial ¨C Team receives 1000 points each
  2. Leaving the Peach Trees Mega Block before the trial is complete ¨C Challenger Erasure
So good news is I grabbed all the data I could on Judge Dredd during the countdown and this looks like the Karl Urban one, the bad news is we need to pick a side before we can plan what to do.¡± David: ¡°Feels like a trap. I say we side with Dredd, attacking Dredd for a quick win will change the plot right from the start and we will be fucked by something crazy. Besides at least we know the plot and if I remember Dredd could kick their asses without help, the only problem was he was short on ammo. If I gave him my infinite ammo gun he could probably do this by himself. It¡¯s just a few gang bangers with guns, I can take a shot without much harm now and Kana¡¯s suit and healing with keep her safe.¡± Kana: ¡°I agree, it is probably a longer path to follow Dredd and the plot but the risks are relatively known. Plus, I doubt the gang would be willing to let us join or not backstab us even if we helped them. The real questions are, do we team up with Dredd or just work towards the same goal and how do we convince Dredd to team up with us and/or not shoot us?¡± Core: ¡°The building is probably too small to remain unknown to Dredd the whole trial and getting trapped between both sides is even worse. The best probability I can identify is immediately present yourself to Dredd and identify yourself as Citi-def, a civilian militia that the blocks have to assist the judges and protect the mega-city. David should be the officer for the squad and Kana the second in command/medic. Convince Anderson you would be a useful backup, she will be making the decisions because of her test. Some options would be: David: ¡°What about the rest of the team?¡± Core: ¡°Those that will follow your plan can be trainees that you are taking on a scouting mission of the local mega-blocks so they can be familiar with the area. Atlanta Tower is near to Peach Trees, you can say you are from there if asked. The rest can hide out on the first floor away from anything and they might survive but that is their choice. Kana, I¡¯m going to put Citi-def on your front and back, pull back your energy as best you can so it doesn¡¯t interfere and Dave, copy it onto yourself.¡± Kana nodded and Citi-def appeared on her chest is white block letter. I closed my eyes and focused on the front and back of my clothes and shapeshift the same letters and a similar vest. Looks like making my clothes with my shapeshifting was a good idea and not just being too lazy to get new clothes from the waystation as Kana said. Chip: ¡°Warning, objectives are waking up¡± Kana: ¡°Your up. I¡¯ll support, you take point. Remember to stay alert, trust only me. We don¡¯t owe these people anything more than a chance. The recruits need to prove their worth before they join the squad.¡± David: ¡°OK, OK I remember your training ¡­ I¡¯ll make it plain and simple like planned, no charity. I¡¯m on point let¡¯s go.¡± Trial 2 – 2 – Dredd X David: ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. We are short on time, I will say this quickly, so you can be ready for what is coming. Everyone here, myself included, said yes to the question. Would you like to live a real life? Now, we are stuck here, don¡¯t ask I don¡¯t know how just that saying yes to the question gets you here. Everyone needs to say or think interface. This is the interface and will keep you up to date on what we need to do to get out of here alive. We must do everything we can to complete the trail laid out by the interface and survive if we want to return to safety. This isn¡¯t a video game or dream, death here is death. Returning home is possible but only if the trail gets completed. We need to deal with the challenge in front of us or it will kill us. Don¡¯t think too deeply about it, just accept it but we are stuck in Peach Towers from the Movie Dredd and we need to help Judge Dredd deal with the gangsters that are trying to kill him.¡± Initiation completed ¨C challenger has provided basic induction for new arrivals ¨C Challenger receives 200 points. That¡¯s new. Surfer: ¡°Yeah Plan B bro. I say we bail, I¡¯m not interested in fighting these people for no reason.¡± David: ¡°Whatever, if the interface and the world outside our bubble that looks like god hit the pause button doesn¡¯t convince you this is real then good luck. I recommend hiding somewhere on the ground floor and laying low. For anyone that wants to do that you should leave as soon as the world starts moving again to get the best chance. For everyone else who wants to try to make it back to safety, I¡¯ll fill you in on our plan.¡± Surfer: ¡°Woah, hold up. What about us? Can¡¯t you help us or maybe give us some stuff, you clearly came prepared?¡± David: ¡°Depends on what you need? I could probably spare a baseball bat or two.¡± Surfer: ¡°What about food, water, even money to buy some? You could come with me and we could work together.¡± David: Sigh ¡°OK, that¡¯s my fault for entertaining your crap. None of us will be here long enough to need food or water.¡± I reach behind my back and into a small bag, no one can see my hand and Core makes a basic iron rod appear in my hand. I toss the rod to Surfer. ¡°Catch, there is something to help you fight anyone who tries to hurt you though it would be safer if you could hide.¡± Surfer: ¡°You got to be shitting me. This is your idea of help? You could¡± David: ¡°Shut up! If you want to go off and die then do it, the rest of us need to get ready.¡± If looks could kill as they say. Surfer doesn¡¯t look happy but at least he stopped talking. I gesture for the other to move closer. ¡°OK, we don¡¯t much time left so I¡¯ll make this quick and simple. I don¡¯t know if any of you have seen this movie but it is pretty straightforward. Dredd and Anderson will come back in the foyer when time starts up. I¡¯ll approach with Kana,¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. I point over my shoulder at Kana. ¡°and tell him we are Citi-def and you are our trainees on a scouting mission. I¡¯ll convince him we can help and we will tag along as he kicks the gang members asses. You can arm yourselves from the gang members we take out. Just remember a few things, follow mine and Dredd¡¯s lead, altering the plot of the movie will increase the difficulty. Dredd is crazy about the law, so don¡¯t cross him or he might put you down. If you are not able to commit to fighting and killing the gang members to save yourself and the team then you are better off staying here and hiding. People that tag along and are half heart always get killed, they get in the fight but won¡¯t do what they must and die for it. Basically follow us, don¡¯t get shot and back up the team when we need it and you should make it through this.¡± Of course, that is when time starts up again, seems the Trial gods are full of dramatic timing. ¡°Alright, Kana here is going to be helping you guys, just follow her lead while I get us in with the Judges.¡± I look over at Kana and she gives me the nod and moves up to the group, now to find the Judges. I move away from the group and start scanning the square, my psy scan stretching out and covering the whole area easily. I start to focus on the people when my HUD highlights three people coming in from the entrance. Core: ¡°If they are coming from the entrance then the lockdown must have just started and Mama will make an announcement in a moment, we should move closer. It would be better to meet them before they get a bounty. I will update Kana.¡± I start moving towards the trio that my awesome new HUD indicated when my grin is destroyed by red lighting and the PA system. Everyone starts staring around and looking up while I pick up the pace. Mama: ¡°Peach trees this is Mama. Somewhere in this block are two Judges. I want them dead. Until I get what I want this block is locked down. All clan every level. Hunt the Judges down. Everyone else clear the corridors and stay the fuck out of our way until the shooting stops. If I hear of anyone helping the Judges I will kill them and the next generation of their family. As for the Judges. Sit tight or run. Makes no difference you¡¯re mine.¡± Shit, Dredd started to move before I could get over to him. I¡¯m almost there, Core get Kana and the group over here and direct them to me I¡¯ll try to catch up without getting shot in the face. Easier said than done as I move into the alleyway to stare down a Lawgiver. Danger rings in my mind and I can tell Dredd will fire without hesitation if I give the slightest reason, I freeze. Dredd: ¡°Identify yourself citizen and state your purpose here.¡± OK, play just like with JC. David: ¡°Judge, Captain David Stone of Atlanta Tower Citi-def. I saw you in the lobby when the announcement was made, my team and I are reporting for duty. With your permission we¡¯ll help you deal with these damn gangbangers, just say the word.¡± Dredd pauses for a moment scowling at my Citi-def vest and relaxes slightly but doesn¡¯t take down his guard. If memory serves Dredd never switches off so this is probably as relaxed as he gets. Dredd: ¡°We have it handled, your assistance will not be needed.¡± David: ¡°No doubt sir, I¡¯m confident you could do this on your own but is it worth the risk. I don¡¯t mean to offend but your rookie looks like she has her hands full with that Iso Fodder. Without some backup your Lawgivers will long run dry before they run out of fools to shoot. My team also has some specialties you might find useful.¡± Anderson: ¡°There is something strange about you, what specialties?¡± David: ¡°I¡¯m not surprised you noticed, I noticed you too. My second in command is a doctor and sharpshooter, she¡¯ll be handy in and after any standoffs. As you sensed Judge, I¡¯m also a mutant with psychic abilities. Mine allows me to scout ahead a couple hundred meters or so. Though reduced with all the materials in the way it will come in handy when you need to avoid trouble or find someone.¡± Dredd: ¡°Providing false information to a Judge is ¡­¡± Anderson: ¡°Sir, I believe he is telling the truth about these abilities.¡± Dredd pauses for a moment to assess the situation. Dredd: ¡°Call it rookie.¡± Anderson: ¡°Sir?¡± Dredd: ¡°This is still your assessment, you make the call.¡± Anderson looks and me and I have no idea what expression to make that says take me with you, so I¡¯ll try for a neutral stoic. I don¡¯t think I can pull off angry at the world like Dredd so this will have to do. Anderson: ¡°Alright bring your team up and remember to follow our orders to the letter else you will find yourself in an Iso-Cube with Jay here.¡± David: ¡°Yes Judge.¡± Core, I¡¯ll put on an act of using a comm and you pass the message on the Kana. I tilt my head down with my hand on my ear and talk into my wrist. ¡°Lieutenant, the Judges have accepted our support bring the team in.¡± Kana brings the group of four over to the alley and we all move further into cover. Seems like we have three dropouts. No surprise with Surfer but Suity and someone else decided to go there own way. I sure hope Suity doesn¡¯t stab us in the back at some point, will have to keep that psy scan peeled for more than just the Mama clan. Dredd: ¡°Let¡¯s go, we are regrouping at the med centre.¡± Sweet we¡¯re in. Challengers have sided with the Judges, new objectives revealed. Objectives updated:
  1. Complete trial ¨C Team receives 1000 points each.
  2. Leaving the Peach Trees Mega Block before the trial is complete ¨C Challenger Erasure.
  3. Killing member of Mama Clan ¨C Challenger receives 2 points
  4. Killing Mama ¨C Challenger receives 3000 points and B rank reward. Team receives 1500 points and C rank reward each
  5. Dredd must survive ¨C Team loses 4000 points and B rank each on failure
  6. Anderson must survive ¨C Team loses 3000 points and DD rank reward each on failure.
  7. Jay killed by non-Judge or before Judgement ¨C Team loses 500 points and D rank reward each on failure.
Trial 2 – 3 – Dredd X David: Well fuck. About what I would expect for objectives but unless there are a million clan members that die from harsh language that doesn¡¯t look completely balanced. Core: Seems likely there will be further updates with hidden rewards otherwise you are right. Kana: I agree but I would prefer cheaper rewards that aren¡¯t a surprise. David: Let¡¯s just keep the newbies calm for now and stay the course. At least this time I have a psy scan, so we shouldn¡¯t be caught with our pants down. We follow Dredd to the elevator and he hits the top bottom, meanwhile Core has Chip start trying to tap into the utility and security systems and Kana looks like she is explaining something to the newbies. Dave: ¡°So Judge what¡¯s your plan?¡± Dredd: ¡°We¡¯re headed for the Med Centre on 25, it will be our defensive foothold until backup arrives and we secure the perp.¡± David: ¡°So you already got back up on the way?¡± Dredd scowls at me and starts tapping on his wrist. Dredd: ¡°Dredd to Control come in ¡­¡± David: ¡°Way more static then I was expecting from a Judge¡¯s gear, you should ask for an upgrade.¡± Somehow Dredd manages to frown even harder, I suppose he never was a people person. Dredd: ¡°¡­ Comms down, change of plans. Head to Med Centre, collect intel on the situation and drop off the dead weight.¡± Dredd ends the conversation and turns away, staring at the elevator doors. Core: I don¡¯t think he likes you. Well with that inspirational comment the elevator opens and Dredd leads the way out, gun first. Anderson follows with Jay while I check that Kana¡¯s good. She gives me a quick nod and we jog out to rejoin Dredd as he moves into the stairwell. Dredd¡¯s not exactly waiting for us as he heads up the stairs but Anderson¡¯s slowing him down with her luggage so it¡¯s not a problem to keep up. Dredd is setting a steady pace up the stairs and after a few flights, I can hear the people in the back starting to breathe harder. I doubt they can last if we are keeping this pace for another 10 floors. Might have to leave them if they can¡¯t keep up. Core: If this is like the movie there will be clan members entering the stairwell soon from above and below. I split a small part of my mind off so I can start focusing more on the areas around the stairwell with the pys scan and sure enough, Core¡¯s warning proves right. We''ve got about 10 seconds before both groups come in from above and below us. Psy scan is amazing for scouting but there is so much space and information to cover. There are literally thousands of people moving around us but unless I focus on them I¡¯m not going to know if they are clan or not. I¡¯m going to have to just focus on a smaller area with a split mind, maybe I can have Chip assist. David: Chip can you use the information from my psy scan to investigate people. Chip: Task acknowledged. Beginningthe investigation, state the parameters for investigation. Core: No time for that,I¡¯ll sort it out for you and you get Dredd¡¯s attention about the clan that is incoming. David: ¡°Judge we have incoming.¡± Everyone stops and looks at me. Dredd: ¡°Explain.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. David: ¡°My psychic scouting is picking up two groups of Mama clan coming towards the stairwell two floors above and below us. We have about five more seconds till they enter about twelve to a group all armed.¡± Dredd watches me for a second before turning to Anderson. Dredd: ¡°Call it rookie.¡± The bang from the stairwell doors adds a bit of urgency to the statement. Anderson: ¡°Sir?¡± Dredd: ¡°You¡¯re still being assessed rookie call it.¡± Anderson: ¡°Ahh, armed perps above and below, respirators and gas grenades.¡± Dredd: ¡°I recommend the rest of you hold your breath.¡± David: ¡°Crap. You four move up behind the Judges and stay as close as you can to the wall. Kana and I will guard the rear.¡± Everyone started to move, Kana and I to the back, the newbies to the front and the Judges putting on respirators and getting the grenades out. Both groups of Mama Clan are moving in on us from above and below and my HUD updates as I move up ontto the railing to target them. Dredd: ¡°Ready?¡± Anderson: ¡°Ready.¡± With that Dredd threw his grenade up and Anderson down to the next landing. A thick yellowish gas spread quickly filling the staircase followed by coughing and hacking from anyone not protected. I breathe in and feel my lungs burn as I move my pistol until the HUD¡¯s predictive projection meets one of the Mama clan and fire. Kana moves much quicker and has already shot three before mine even drops. Chip: Hazardous gas detected. Respiratory damage occurring. Recommend holding breath and leaving the area immediately. Unknown physical alteration occurring in the lungs. The burning in my lungs reduces every second that passes accompanied by a squirming feeling in my chest which must be my enhancement adapting to the gas. It feels tonnes weirder than the shapeshifting, like worms moving around my chest. Despite Chip¡¯s ¡°helpful hint,¡± I stay and fire off two more shots before Kana taps me on the shoulder and send a message over the comms. Kana: We need to move up with the rest of the group, don¡¯t worry about the leftovers. We can deal with them if they follow. I nod and we run up the stair in time to see the door to the next floor closing and New Girl from the newbies having passed through. The stairs and floor leading to the door are littered with Dredd¡¯s handiwork and I can sense the rest of the party on the other side of the door. Kana and I slip through the door and follow the group. After a few more seconds the squirming in my chest stops along with any pain. Chip: Physical adaptation in lungs has occurred. Hazardous gas no longer reacts with lungs. David: Core can you do something about Captain Obvious¡¯s updates. I don¡¯t need it to tell me things I already know. Core: On it and I¡¯ll have it send over the information on the new scanning system I came up with. Before I can even finish processing that, I feel a sort of mental pressure and the information for the new Psy Scan IFF is in my head. Not only that but all the minds I can sense with the scan start taking on a hue. White minds are unknowns, blues are neutral, greens are friendly, yellows are potentially threatening and reds are currently threatening. Yellows will pulse when they are about to change to red to let me know in case I missed them. I don¡¯t get to check anything other than nothing being red before we reach the next elevator and move in. I start moving to the back when Dredd grabs my arm and pulls me to the side. Dredd: ¡°Psychic scouting huh. Let¡¯s get some details, how far can it scout?" David: ¡°Well, roughly a 400m bubble around me in the clear maybe half that through structures like the building and it gets vaguer and harder to understand the further away but within 100m should be pretty accurate. I need to focus on certain bits to get details so it¡¯s not like I¡¯m all knowing. It¡¯s good enough to spot people coming up on us or to scout out an area within the bubble if we want to know something.¡± Dredd: ¡°Good enough. Scout the elevator doors on 25 and the Med Centre. It shouldn¡¯t be too far from the elevator.¡± Abrupt but not a bad idea. My second mind focuses and starts moving through what it detects. I swiftly rise through the floors checking for danger until I reach the 25. Here we have two clan members guarding the elevator doors without much attention. Guess they aren¡¯t expecting us. While I keep those two marked I scan out over the floor to see if anything stands out. About 50m out there is a large gathering of yellow markers in a common area. On closer investigation it is just outside the Med Centre, the Medic appears to have locked himself inside the centre but no one seems to be interested in getting in. Not a great outcome since it probably means they know we are coming but forewarned is forearmed. Looks like there are 33 of them spread out over the surrounding area but two of them stand out for some reason. They have an energy about them, they feel, stronger. Other than these two groups it seems that the rest of the floors have random patrols of 2-6 people walking around and looking for us. Everyone has a mix of pistols and assault rifles. With the scouting done I look back at Dreddy McJudgeFace and recount what I found. He grunts and tells me to keep him informed of any changes. Dredd might be a badass but I¡¯m really starting to miss JC, he didn¡¯t give me the impression that he would but just as happy to shoot me as the enemy. Moving to the back to be with Kana I find her talking with New Girl. New Girl even seems to have collected a pistol from somewhere. David: ¡°Looks like we are done with the easy part of today and moving on to another firefight. You lot ready?¡±