by Tao Wong
As for Kros, he’s long and angular and weirdly humanoid, like a human stretched to seven feet and given extra-long ears. That Kros is giving Mikito the same kind of considering look that she gives him almost makes me worry that they’re going to challenge one another immediately.
“I figured I’d translate it. Just like I’ve translated the Bruiser and Techwarden’s Class,” Ali says.
“What is a Paladin of Erethra doing on my station?” Oi says once he’s looked us over too.
“Your station?” I say.
“I’m asking the questions here.”
“Could you be any more cliché?” I say, shaking my head. But still, I answer him. “We’re dealing with a little fallout and need a place to settle some matters. Spaks is known for its hospitality. Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to visit the Shop.”
I see the twitch, the way Oi looks at I Shao when I stretch the truth. I Shao catches it, her eyes darting toward Oi, whose eyes refocus on a readout then back to me in seconds. Interesting that the Negotiator’s broader range of Skills allows it to pick up on my evasion even when I’m telling the truth. Different from Nelia’s TruthSeeker ability.
“And if I told you you’re not leaving this dock?” Oi says.
“Then I’d have to question Spaks’s reputation.” That elicits a snort from Oi, so I decide to be a little more blunt, tired of playing nice and pussyfooting. Getting stopped at the first hurdle would get us nowhere. “I’ll still be coming in anyway. I need to visit the Shop, and I’m not letting some petty dictator stand in my way.”
“Petty—”
“Why?” I Shao asks, a claw landing on Oi’s body.
I look at the alien, but all I can see in those crystal eyes are myself. Damn, but reading body language in alien species is hard. Years and skills later, and I’m still finding it difficult when I hit a new species. It takes time to build up that catalogue of behaviors.
“Come on, you guys know the answer by now,” I say. “We’ve drawn down enough heat that Spaks and its like are our only recourse.”
“Do you have a target here?” Blunter now, focused.
“Nope. Not that I know of.” I shoot a glance at Harry, who shakes his head. “Definitely not.”
I Shao freezes, processing before she nods to Oi. The Rebel Captain’s body ripples in violent waves as he considers, making me a little seasick just looking at him.
Eventually, Oi turns around and walks away. He’s about halfway down the undulating metallic corridor before he turns around and adds, “I’ll be waiting for you to mess up, Paladin.”
“Well, that was nice,” I say, rubbing my face.
Mikito snorts and puts Hitoshi back into her inventory. Harry chuckles dryly, moving out from where he’s been hiding behind us.
“You know, I’m used to Mikito not talking much. But you do know you’re allowed to talk,” I say.
“Not my way to be in the story. It’s pretty bad style,” Harry says.
“I’m surrounded by baka. You’re already part of the story. We wouldn’t have made it this far without your Skills.” Mikito points at Harry. “Stop trying to act as if none of this concerns you.”
Harry sniffs, the long running argument between the two not likely to be resolved any time soon. Rather than wait around for them to rehash old positions, I walk away, marveling at how the walkway seems to float in the center of the undulating metal tube that makes up the corridor. Pretty damn cool tech.
“Got a bunch of options highlighted for you, boy-o. Of course, the main Shop connection is in the center of the waystation, but there are a couple of merchants in the hub itself that look interesting,” Ali says.
“Good man. Do me a favor?” At Ali’s nod, I continue. “Keep an ear to the ground? See if any of your people have any news about the bounty hunters. Or hell, a dungeon or some easy-to-run quests. If we’re going to be here till the ship is repaired, I want us gaining experience and Credits.”
“On it. While you go a-shopping, I’ll go a-drinking.”
Harry covers a snort of laughter with a coughing fit while Mikito, more used to Ali’s antics, rolls her eyes.
***
The outer hub is quite an interesting place. Think the Mos Eisley cantina population of weird and wonderful aliens mixed with a cyberpunk sense of style, all lit by neon, silver, and copper for the metal corridors and you’d have a good idea of the aesthetic. Retail stores are inset along the walls, floating 3D hologram advertising and neon signs differentiating the various stores. Some of the stores are open wide, ready to welcome everyone; others have dark privacy screens, offering secrecy for grey market products. Like any good pirate station, there are no rules on what is or isn’t for sale.
There’s a grunginess in the hub that wasn’t present in Prax, a certain level of destitution and blatant aggression among its residents that the more civilized station did not showcase. I admit, walking through the station and eyeballing the various stores, I’m more comfortable here than in the more “civilized” Galactic worlds. Well, except for the way we’re treated.
“We don’t deal with your kind here,” the shopkeeper says, staring flatly at my chest.
“Humans?”
“Paladins.” Eyeballs swivel on their sticks and I find an unseen force slowly pushing me out.
Down the street, Harry is rebuffed too.
Skill Used: It’s My Store
It’s My Store (Level 1)
A Shopkeeper’s best friend, It’s My Store allows the user to blackball users from their premises and sales of their merchandise.
Effect: Targeted blackball users are ejected from the premises. Sales via other formats are automatically rejected. May be resisted using a Strength or Intelligence check.
Cost: 100 Mana
I could force myself past the damn Skill, but what am I going to do? Force him to sell to me by punching him in the face? At some point, you just have to give up.
“Look, I’ve got good Credit,” Harry’s lips move as I lipread.
I don’t even need to read the creature’s mouth to see the results—not that I could with this angle and its lack of lips. Harry’s face tells me everything that I need.
Eventually, after a period of intense frustration, we meet up at the linked Shop sphere. Not that we ever split that far apart, but we have been checking out stores individually to cover more ground.
“Any progress?” I ask softly.
“No. We’re going to need to improve our reputation first,” Mikito says then gestures to the sphere. “Or just use the System Shop.”
“Shop it is,” I say.
While we’ve had trouble with merchants before, this is the first time we’ve ever been shut out this hard. I’m debating if our new reputation is the cause or if it’s just an issue with me. For a group of pirates and rebels, they’re pickier about the company they keep than I expected. Then again, Erethran Paladins have had thousands of years to build up a rather uncompromising reputation. I watch as Mikito and Harry engage the Shop sphere before I touch the orb myself and feel my body twist as I’m transported away.
***
Blink and you’re there, that’s how fast the System’s teleportation ability is. The fact that I’m in a weird semi-dimension that has significant time compression is something I still have a hard time working my mind around. Oh, I’ve read about Shops in my studies, but I’m still puzzled about the why and how. As best as I can tell, the dimensions and locations of the majority of merchant Shops don’t actually exist. They just float around in a weird dimensional location. It’s one of the reasons why it’s possible to alter the flow of time. Of course, some Shops are just in-dimension locations, but they’re relatively unpopular. You’d have to fall pretty far down the ladder to rely on those Shops. Among other things, pirates have a tendency to fly in and do a raid once in a while.
As for myself, well, I’m in a beautiful yellow room, one with a simple counter to greet guests, a waiting and lounge area for those wanting
to take their time perusing their wares, and a couple of doors. I know, from previous experience, that those doors lead to private shopping rooms.
Old Foxy, all big toothy smiles, comes out the moment I make my appearance known. After all this time, Foxy’s as much an old friend as Ali. He’s not even trying to con me anymore, having decided that it makes more sense to take his cut normally. Which, I’ll admit, at this point is really getting up there.
“Got a bunch of things to sell,” I say after we’ve done the usual introductions and walked into a private room. A gesture is all I need to dump my gathered loot onto the floor. One of the advantages of having Ali around is that the Spirit often finds time to grab corpses, pieces of gear, and the System-generated loot while I concentrate on the more important part of a battle. Like staying alive.
“Another successful bounty, it looks like,” Foxy says.
“Yup.”
“Something is bothering you,” Foxy says. Familiarity goes both ways unfortunately.
“A bit.” I pause then decide to mention my worries. “We were nearly caught this time. They almost trapped us in the ship. I hate the fact that we’re so reliant on Dornalor’s Skills.”
“You have a piloting skill already, yes?” Foxy says, and I nod. “Then do you desire an individual Skill to take over, or are you looking to aid him?”
I can fly the ship without Skills, so in many ways, there’s no point in getting a boost Skill for generic piloting. In fact, if we’re at the point where I’m piloting the ship myself, we’re in trouble. A shot that hit the well-armored cockpit and killed Dornalor would disable the ship. Which means… “Probably something to help him. Though I’d take both if possible.”
“Hmmm…” Foxy falls silent, standing there in thought as his bushy tail swings back and forth. If I’m not mistaken, the tail has gotten even larger. “I believe I have a solution. To start, here is a Pilot Skill and a hyperspace warp Skill from the Pod Racer Class.”
“Pod racer?”
“Entertainers. The Class is chosen by young daredevils who race for sport, thrills, and fame. They earn a pittance of Credits entertaining the masses by running circles around interstellar circuits. They brave the occasional monsters that live in hyperspace and between the void and the occasional manufactured obstacle.”
I admit, I’m frowning. I’m not entirely sure why he’d choose their skills over a more “normal” Class’s.
“Please, take a look. You’ll see their hyperspace skills are dependent on Mana. Useful for quick boosts on over-stressed engines. In your case, as you do not expect to use this Skill much, it suits your massive Mana pool,” Foxy explains with a lolling grin.
Class Skill: Hyperspace Nitro Boost (Level 1)
When you’ve got to win the race, there’s nothing like a hyperspace boost. This Skill links the user with his craft’s hyperspace engine, providing a direct boost to its efficiency. Unlike normal speed increases for hyperspace engines, the Nitro Boost is a variable boost and runs a risk of damaging the engine.
Effect: 15% increase in hyperspace engine efficiency + variable % increase in efficiency at 1% per surplus Mana. Each additional 1% over base raises chance of catastrophic engine failure by 0.01%
Cost: 250 Mana + (surplus variable amount; minimum 200 Mana increments) per minute
Class Skill: On the Edge (Level 1)
Shuttle racers live their lives on the edge, cutting corners by feet and dodging monsters by inches. There’s only one way to drive a ship with that level of precision, and no matter what those military Pilots tell you, it’s with On the Edge.
Effect: +10% boost in ship handling and maneuverability. +10% passive increase in all piloting skills. +1% increase per increment of surplus Mana
Cost: 100 Mana per level + (surplus variable amount; minimum 100 Mana increments) per minute
“I’m guessing the racers just use these as boosts and rely on their real skills otherwise?” I say, cocking my head as I read the descriptions.
“Most have regular piloting, engineering, and hyperspace Skills from other Classes, but many of those are passive skills. However, due to the way the courses are set up, it’s in the corners where the winners win. These Skills are then the bread and butter, at least for the Advanced Classers,” Foxy says. “Also, depending on the races, sometimes non-Class Skills are barred from use. Helps keep things a little more fair, you know?”
I can’t help but hear the enthusiasm in Foxy’s voice. “You’re a fan, I take it.”
“Well, it is an exciting sport.”
I mull over this new information. Still, I can’t say I disagree with him. In particular, the fact that much of the boost comes from active use of my Mana rather than a passive overall boost means I won’t be affecting my Mana Regeneration rates and I’ll be able to throw in a ton of Mana when needed. It’s very much in line with my Overload skill, which probably will make Dornalor complain, but he doesn’t need to know about it.
“So how does this help?” It’s not a bad single Skill, but I’m wondering if a copilot Skill or maybe even an Engineer Skill might be better.
“Well, you’ll want to combine your Skills with this one,” Foxy says, gesturing at the new notification he has created.
Class Skill: Temporary Forced Link (Level 1)
Most Class Skills can’t be linked with another’s. The instability formed between the mixing of the aura from multiple Mana sources often results in spectacular—and explosive—scenarios. For the 02m8 Symbiotes though, the need to survive within their host bodies and use their Skills has resulted in this unique Skill, allowing the Symbiote to lend their Mana and Skills. (For more persistent effects, see Mana Graft)
Effect: Skill and Skill effects are forcibly combined. Final effect results will vary depending on level of compatibility of Skills.
Cost: 250 Mana + 10 Mana per minute (plus original Skill cost)
“Symbiote?” I say, raising an eyebrow. And Mana Graft? I shudder to think about it.
“02m8 Symbiote. One of fourteen races that live in symbiotic relationships with others under the System,” Foxy says. “What you’re looking for is a bit of a specialty of their races. Of those, many are passive Skills—which I’m sure you’d prefer to avoid, from previous conversations—and others require portions of the anatomy that you do not have.”
“Right, gotcha.”
I tap on the Skill for a moment before I wave my fingers, pulling up the Credit cost of getting all three. I wince. Even after selling the items from the corpses and collecting the bounty I’ve earned, the entire thing will cost me a chunk of my earnings. But one of the aspects of fighting in the Galaxy is the constant need to keep updating our Skills. If we don’t, if we aren’t improving, then we’re just asking to be countered.
“Oh, right. Can you get this sent off?” I say, pulling out the set of armor.
It’s taken some damage. Not enough for it to be a major issue, but better to get it done now than have it fail on me later. While I could use the Armor’s auto teleport function, I still pay for the fixes, and this way, I don’t have to worry about the cooldown on its Skill. While I hand over my Master-crafted armor, I actually take a look at its stats.
Hod’s Triple-Fused Armor
The product of multiple workings by the Master Blacksmith and Crafter Hodiliphious “Hod” Yalding, the Triple-Fused Armor was hand-forged from rare, System-generated material, hand-refined and reworked thrice over with multiple patented and rare alloys and materials. The final product is considered barely passable by Hod—though it would make a lesser craftsman cry.
Core: Class I Hallow Physics Mana Engine
CPU: Class B Wote Core CPU
Armor Rating: Tier I (Enhanced)
Hard Points: 9 (6 Used—Jungian Flight System, Talpidae Abyssal Horns, Luione Hard Light Projectors, Diarus Poison Stingers, Ares Type I Shield Generator, Greater Troll Cell Injectors)
Soft Points 4 (3 Used—Neural Link, Ynir HUD Imaging, Airmed Body Monitor)
Battery Capacity: 380/380
Active Skills: Abyssal Chains, Mirror Shade, Poison Grip
Attribute Bonuses: +93 Strength, +78 Agility, +51 Constitution, +44 Perception, +287 Stamina and Health Regeneration per minute
Note: Hod’s Triple-Fused Armor is currently under limited warranty. Armor may be teleported to Hod’s workshop for repairs once a week. All cost of repairs will be deducted from user’s account.
The armor’s a piece of work. Most of the attribute bonuses are side effects of the materials used, helping to concentrate and focus Mana and provide a boost to its maneuverability and Strength. The Perception and Constitution bonuses are, however, purely due to the additional equipment I had grafted onto the armor.
The HUD Imaging software is much better than anything I’ve ever seen, with a full array of passive and active sensors that tap directly into the System. Combined with my Eye of Insight Skill, only Master Class Skill users can sneak up on me. As for the Body Monitor and Troll Cell Generators, they boost my Constitution and thus my Stamina and Health Points.
But the real benefit of the armor comes from the Active Skills. While I’m not a huge fan of Poison Grip, the other pair of Skills have made my life much safer. Of course, after getting my ass handed to me that badly by the damn Master Classers in Irvina, I had to update both my Skill set and equipment. It took me months to slowly rework my fighting style, adding new Skills at a pace that made it possible for me to instinctively use them. If not for my upgraded Intelligence attribute, it probably would have taken even longer. Even if the hesitation before choosing your next action is in a microsecond, when you’re fighting Master and Advanced Class Combat Classers, that microsecond is a ton of time. It’s also one of the major differences and balancing points between Skills and spells. Skills are almost instantaneous in their activation. Spells require channeling and casting times.
