Ogun laughed aloud. “Oh, don’t worry about that. You most certainly did. You see, the game had many complexities. If you managed to surpass level ten, then you go above your human average. If you surpass level twenty, you have progressed beyond the upper limit that we, the Fystr, have allowed humanity to reach.
“By completing the game and reaching level forty! Trust me, every pathway in your brain that can be unlocked… has been unlocked. You have the potential to be a full Fystr, like me. Although you will always be short.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Sounds scary, but cool. What sort of stuff can I do?”
“Well, nothing yet. You would have to train. But I admire your willingness.”
“Okay. What sort of stuff can you do?”
“Oh, my favorite part,” he said.
Suddenly, my body seized rigidly. I couldn’t even breathe. I felt myself begin to lift from the ground. Simultaneously, Ogun levitated up and over the damn desk. Next, he began moving other objects like statues, books and what looked like mobile phones. He sent them spinning all around us.
“What do you think, Shaun?” he spoke in my mind. I couldn’t reply though, being completely paralyzed and panicking for breath as I was.
The entire room seemed to go cold. I won’t lie. It shook me to my core. I felt like I’d woken up in some kind of horror movie. Then, he let me loose.
I took a deep breath, gasping for air.
“Can I do all of that?” I wheezed.
“Of course not. I am over five thousand years old. You should be able to pick up the basics relatively quickly, but there are levels to our abilities. It takes a decade to develop the mental conditioning needed to surpass operating on instinct. There will come a point when you can transcend. At that stage, you will become far more powerful.”
I pretty much hadn’t listened to anything after he said his age.
“You’re five, fucking thousand years old? That’s insane Ogun!”
“With training, you can become as long lived. The mind is a marvelous tool. If you have the skill, you can guide it to repair your ever shortening DNA strands. This stops the aging process altogether. Most illnesses can be dealt with quickly when you can guide your immune system efficiently.
“You will learn everything I can teach you, as long as we can stay alive. And for your information, only four people have reached level forty. You and Ember, along with Astrid, my second and Rufus, who is commander of our base in Ukraine. There are over a hundred evolved Earth humans in that base. I just hope they can escape. We lost twelve in our impromptu scramble for survival.” He paused for a second as I raptly took in all the information. “Sorry. I do have a tendency to ramble on.”
I didn’t believe that for a second. He told me everything he intended to, and not one iota more or less.
“Now, go to Ember. She will take you to your first superhero class,” he chuckled.
“Okay,” I replied, “and thanks again. I mean, if everything is true, you’re trying to do an amazing thing. I mightn’t be able to do much, but I’ll do what I can to help.”
“Thank you, Shaun. It is still nice to hear a bit of praise, even at my age. I can see why she likes you.”
Blushing with embarrassment I left the room.
Ember was still on the bridge. I nodded to people as I passed and, for the most part, received strained smiles back.
“Apparently, it’s time for lessons,” I announced, as I reached her.
“Sure is, Shaun. I hope you’re ready for some extreme boredom. There is a shit-ton of guided meditation.”
“Sounds awful,” I said as we left the bridge.
C2
How to Train a Roofer
I followed Ember back off the bridge, despite it not actually being a bridge. Realistically, we left the bridge rather than got off it… anyway, I digress. The musings of a madman.
I felt relieved to be back in the corridors away from the staring eyes. We walked for a little while until Ember stopped in front of a door. It looked like all the rest, so I had no idea how she had picked it out.
When we entered, I found the room was much bigger than I’d imagined. What struck me as odd about this classroom was the complete lack of chairs. There were around ten people and they all sat on the floor in a big circle. Everyone seemed polite, saying hello as we came in. Ember clearly knew a few of them.
“Right guys,” a young, blonde woman said authoritatively. She looked very pretty, but even when she smiled there was a hard expression to her face. “If you could sit down. And hello, Shaun. I’m Cassia.”
I nodded and mumbled a hello back, but she’d already switched her attention back to the full class.
“As we have new arrivals, we will change subjects. Something new for everyone. Defense!
“If you come face to with face a Fystr, you will not be able to beat them. But hopefully you can become accomplished enough to hold off a mental attack. At least until someone more competent can come to your aid.
“Firstly, we need to defend against mind invasion. They can enter our minds as easily as you can walk through an open door. Once there, they can paralyze, or even kill you. We need to make sure our minds are an impenetrable fortress against this attack.” She took a moment to look around the room, making sure she had everyone's attention. “We need to calm our minds. Now, close your eyes and take deep breaths.”
I did as I was told and closed my eyes.
“This is seriously dull as shit, Shaun,” Ember said loudly.
Shocked at her outburst, I snapped my eyes open to look at her. She still had her eyes closed, as did everyone else. Though, her face held a smirk.
“I’m speaking in your head, dipshit.”
There was a lengthy pause, so I listened to the teacher’s voice again.
“You not talking to me?” Ember spoke in my head again. I didn’t know how to respond, and she knew it. She was being a dick.
“I know you know how to talk back. You’ve managed to tell me you loved me this way, just before you passed out.”
I went bright red and looked at her again. She was smirking even more now, but still sat calmly with her eyes closed.
“Shaun!” the teacher shouted. “You have to try to concentrate. Please close your eyes and follow my instruction.”
I went even redder and screwed my eyes shut.
“What a dope,” came Ember’s voice again.
I focused with all my might to force my thoughts to Ember and said, “You’re still an ass in the real world too, huh?”
“Hey, hey. You did it! And yes, I am thank you. Did you miss my wit?”
“I missed you. Not your snark,” I strained back.
“Shaun, you really don’t need to strain like that. You look like you’re doing a poo.” I peeked at her and she was looking at me. Shaking my head, I closed my eyes again. “Pointers?” I strained.
“Visualize me in your head. Like it’s really me. Then, talk to me.”
I did as she said and tried to talk, “So, this is weird, huh?”
“Sure is. Much better too. Well done.”
“Well, I don’t feel like I’m going to burst a blood vessel anymore, so that's good.”
“So, you love me then?” was her reply.
“Shouldn’t we be listening to the teacher?”
“Yeah, in a bit. She always blah’s on about breathing for five minutes before she gets to anything interesting. I can’t fucking stand her to be honest. She’s a pompous bitch. Thinks she’s better than everyone else, just because she’s been asked by Ogun to teach us, what she’s had plenty time to learn.”
“Isn’t the breathing important?” I interrupted.
“Probably. I’m good at it anyway so it’s boring. You might need to listen though. You’re pretty stupid.”
“I’m misunderstood.”
“Misunderstupid.”
“Great! And she’s the pompous bitch? Do you have any other powers? Not including the ability to insult peop
le in their own thoughts.”
“I’m faster, stronger, and fitter than I was, or ever been. Other than in Anatoli of course.
“You’ll need to learn the exercise to repair your body. It’s called holistic repair practice, or some shit like that. Anyhow, if you do it daily it takes five minutes. I do it every morning before I get up. You can leave it longer, but it takes longer to complete. It’s the technique that stops the Fystr aging,” Ember explained.
“I heard about it vaguely from Professor Ogun. You totally have to teach me that one.”
“Someone will. I’m still perfecting it. And it’s Ogun, not professor, captain, et cetera.”
“Right, yeah. He told me that. Good to be reminded though. It seems a thing.”
“It really is a thing. Some superiority, inferiority complex situation. Don’t really understand it myself.”
“Okay. I trust you. And, you’ll be fine teaching me the exercise. I know it.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ve already been repaired on a molecular level by the immersion tub thingy.”
“Is that the scientific name for it?” I thought, sarcastically.
“I play to my audience,” was her damning reply.
“Funny,” I mentally fake laughed. “How did you get stronger?”
“Nothing I’ve done. It’s a by-product of the immersion tub thingy. Our bones are stronger now too, apparently. Not tested that one out yet… ah shush, we best listen now.”
I agreed, changing my focus to the teacher’s voice.
“Now, I will try to restrict your movement. You must try to resist. Julio, you’re first.” There was silence for a few seconds.
“Very good. You managed some resistance. Now, focus on how it felt to resist. Learn that feeling and strengthen it.” She moved through the classroom testing everyone.
Ember and I were last, I assumed because we were the newest.
“Shaun,” she announced.
Pressure suddenly appeared inside of my body. It was very uncomfortable.
“You need to try to push me out,” came a voice inside my head.
I tried to think about rejecting her presence. Nothing happened.
“Keep practicing your control,” Cassia said, while easing off the pressure.
Worst teacher ever! Control of what? I didn’t even do anything!
Next, Cassia turned to Ember. “And finally, Ember. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
I opened my eyes to watch. Everyone else still had their eyes closed. Teacher’s pets.
Ember’s trial seemed to last longer. She had a furious expression on her face, then suddenly Cassia gasped. Her eyes opened in shock. After that she took a moment to compose herself and muttered, “well done, Ember. Keep practicing.” As she moved back to her original position in the room.
“Okay, everyone. If you partner up and practice on each other. We’ve an odd number today.” Her clear blue eyes landed on me like a predator eyeing its prey. “So, Shaun can pair with me as he is most in need of guidance.”
I looked at Ember. She seemed to be absolutely fuming. “Oh, I’m quickly falling even more out with this bitch,” she said dangerously into my head.
“What the hell happened?”
“I kicked her stupid ass out of my head. I assume her training with you is my punishment for beating her like a drum.”
“Why would that be a punishment?”
“Why do you think, dipshit? Everyone knows how much I wanted to drag you out of Anatoli. They’ll make their own assumptions from that. Now, go on and train.”
“Why the hell are you angry with me?”
No answer was forthcoming.
“Shaun,” the teacher cried. “Let’s begin.” She sat down in front of me. “Close your eyes and concentrate. Find your center.”
“I’ll try,” I said.
“Don’t try. Find it. We’re being hunted by super powerful aliens across space,” she said, a little too aggressively.
“If I don’t know how, then all the fucking aliens in the universe won’t change that,” I replied.
She actually huffed in my head. I couldn’t believe it. I was already pissed with her for intentionally not letting me and Ember work together.
“You need to find the center of your soul.”
“Do you have maps, pictures, coordinates by any chance?”
“Why don’t you just try to do what I’m telling you,” she snapped.
“Because you’re not telling me how to do anything! Only that I need to do it. News flash: That’s not fucking teaching. You might as well put a five-year-old in a fighter jet and tell him to fly the bastard.”
“Fine!” she snapped again. “Try to free yourself from my control.” She held my body in full lockdown to the point that I couldn’t breathe. Great, twice in a day I was being internally suffocated.
“Retaliate!” she shouted angrily in my head.
I couldn’t do anything at all, and it seemed this time I wasn’t being freed quite so quickly as Ogun had. My lungs screamed for air as I faded out of consciousness. My last act was to scream for Ember telepathically. Thankfully, she must have heard me because her presence appeared in my head, blazing with rage. Suddenly, the teacher’s presence disappeared.
I lay gasping for breath, and barely conscious. The sound of shouting brought me round from my daze.
“I’ve been training under Ogun for almost five years. If you want a beat down, you may certainly have one.”
“You’ve already failed twice to beat me, so forgive me if I’m not concerned. He only woke up an hour ago, and you’re fucking suffocating him. I’ll ask Ogun if that’s how he runs things on his ship.”
“Don’t worry Ember, I’ll be telling him how you attacked a superior officer. It’s not hard to guess who he will listen to.”
“Threaten Shaun’s life like that again and I’ll fucking end you, you stupid bitch,” Ember said coldly, as she crouched down next to me. “Come on, Shaun. I’ll get you to your room.”
“You’re not going anywhere! You have a duty to humanity to learn all that you can. Not to come and go as you please,” Cassia screamed back.
I managed to reply now my head had cleared. “I can’t, and won’t be learning anything more from you. Looks like the therapy wasn’t as effective five years ago, you fucking nutter.” I turned to Ember, whose scowl had turned into a smile with my words. Without saying anything else, we left the classroom.
“That was interesting. I didn’t expect this on your first day at the office, Shaun.”
“Yeah, it was different. Are you going to teach me how to defend myself, like you did?”
“I’ll try. To be honest, it was more reactive than any plan.”
“So, you didn’t find your center? Whatever the fuck that is.”
She smiled, “Not much luck there for me either. Ogun told me it was really about calming yourself so you can be consciously aware of everything inside of you. He also told me it’s different for everyone. That bitch is too stupid to understand everyone is different.”
“How did you manage to boot her?”
“Come on, Shaun. If there’s one thing you know about me. Something that I feel so deeply about. What is it?”
“Ahh!” A eureka moment. “You won’t ever be controlled again. Gotcha! Do you think it was just pure force of will?”
“Yeah, if I had to guess. You couldn’t fight back because you’re a blasé moron.”
“As empowering as always, Ember.”
She laughed as we reached the room I had woke up in, “Here we are.”
“I thought this was a medical room?”
“Nope. It’s your living quarters on the ship. I’m next door.” She followed me in my room, picking another one of the gross pouches off the table. “Here. Get another one of those into you and let’s practice your defending skills. You useless, sack of shit,” she laughed.
I slurped down another pouch and we sat down cross-legged facing each other, eyes
closed.
Ember’s presence entered my soul and gently restrained me. “You’re a lot more gentle than the teacher.”
“I don’t really have a clue what I’m doing. I’m guessing based upon what I experienced. Now, try to imagine that I’m an evil Fomorian trying to take over your soul.”
I tried for a minute with no success. “I can’t do this shit, Ember.”
There was no reply.
“Ember?”
No reply, until Ember began screeching in my head, “Shaun! Help me, please! I can’t get back to my own body. I think I’m dying. I don’t understand what I’ve done. Please help me!!” She screamed, terrified.
Panic hit me like a wave. I focused on pushing her presence getting her back safely in her own body. Like magic, she disappeared.
I snapped open my eyes to check on her. She was smiling her head off. “Seems I found your trigger, doesn’t it?”
“You evil, clever fucker,” I started laughing, but quickly stopped when Ogun walked in, looking stern. The teacher was standing behind him.
“Wait out here, Cassia,” he said. The door closed, saving us from her sour expression.
He took a seat on my bed. I was glad. I didn’t want him looming over me when he gave us a bollocking. I glanced briefly at Ember. Concern etched on both our faces.
“So, your first lesson didn’t go very well, Shaun?”
“Not really, no. I don’t find Cassia’s teaching methods are for me.”
“You must still learn. We really are on a time limit. The Fystr will catch up with us eventually. How will you defend yourself against them if you don’t develop even the most basic defense strategies?”
I smiled at him. “I’ve learnt how to reject a presence out of my mind. Ember here has just taught me.”
Ogun raised an eyebrow. “So, you have taught Shaun to defend himself from mind invasion in just under five minutes Ember?”
She nodded in response.
“Impressive, as you only learnt yourself ten minutes ago,” he paused, and we sat there waiting for the hammer to drop. “Even more impressive, Ember, is that you managed to enter Shaun’s mind, and defended him against Cassia as she abused her power.”
“She was suffocating him. He was about a second from blacking out!” Ember half shouted in indignation.
Condition Evolution 2: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure Page 2
