External Threat (Reality Benders Book #2) LitRPG Series
Page 33
“I agreed to a voyage to the asteroid belt to extract minerals, not to fly half way across the galaxy and fight in some war!” I tried to object, to which Uline Tar mentioned that my contract had no limitations of that sort, and that any judge would find in favor of Uraz Tukhsh.
“But you can try and change the conditions of your contract for the better,” she whispered. “If you don’t push it too far, Uraz Tukhsh will probably agree.”
“Then tell the captain my conditions: the two Miyelonians are coming with me, and it’s not up for discussion. They are my companions and I won’t go anywhere without them because doing so would violate the norms and laws of their race. I also want to take two human soldiers with me. A Gladiator and a Space Commando. They are my team as a Gerd. Also...” I took a deep sigh, “my travelling mistress is coming.”
Authority increased to 28!
I had already managed to speak with Imran and Eduard, so I knew they would join “Team Gnat” and come with me. I hadn’t yet spoken with Minn-O, but I also was counting on her assent. Technically, given her position as a “travelling mistress,” she would have no choice but to accompany her “strong warrior.”
Uline walked away and came on board the ship. She was away for quite some time I even started to worry, but then the Trader came out, nearly jumping for joy:
“The captain agreed! Uraz Tukhsh was actually glad because the humans can fill out our crew. He’s ready to take off immediately!”
“Uh, no. I’m not ready yet... This is all too sudden. I need at least one ummi to get everyone together.”
Strangely, Uraz Tukhsh also agreed to that. The Shiamiru turned off its thrusters and lowered its ground supports, settling in for a long stay. The Geckho crew, initially nervous to see people surrounding their starship and pointing their weapons at anyone who came close, gradually calmed down. Some of them even risked eating a meal in the human canteen, although I later heard they found our cuisine bland.
The Starship Pilot also emerged. At first, I didn’t recognize in the huge figure wearing a glimmering armored spacesuit. But it was Dmitry Zheltov, clearly wearing refit Geckho armor. I embraced my friend warmly and he, slightly embarrassed, commented on his new appearance:
“Look at me now. I’ve been taken on as main pilot. I got a crew-member identity card and all the documents that go with it. And with my first bonus, I bought myself this armor suit at the Oku-III station. I gave all the rest of the money I earned to the faction just now, and that was practically three thousand Geckho crystals!”
My comrade’s face was beaming with well-deserved pride because he was bringing the faction a real boon, both new knowledge about the game Universe, and desperately needed space currency. Dmitry didn’t hide anything about his plans, either:
“A war has started, so I am leveling skills and preparing to take the official Geckho space-fleet pilot exams. Uraz Tukhsh trusts me completely, and now he just sits in the copilot’s seat, very rarely telling me the meaning of unfamiliar terms. Overall, both the captain and the whole crew are glad to see you back, though. They consider you a lucky charm!”
I noticed someone behind me, and Dmitry waved his hand in greeting, hurriedly bid me farewell and rushed over to Lydia Vertyachikh, who was waiting for him. I glanced at their warm embrace and passionate kisses, mentally wished my friends happiness, then headed off to talk with the prison guards about Minn-O.
Sure, my companions were important to me, but they weren’t the main reason I wanted the Shiamiru to wait around. Finally though, that had also come around. Lefty walked up to me with clear respect and, dramatically different from his earlier behavior, handed me the bracelet:
“I removed the racial requirement. Now the bracelet will work for a human. What’s more, I managed to improve it and add something. Now, the shields recharge faster and have higher capacity.”
I thanked the craftsman and studied the new properties of the Relict artifact:
Small Control Bracelet (Listener armor suit accessory)
+25% armor suit forcefield capacity.
+13% forcefield restore rate.
+1 controllable drone.
Statistic requirements: Intelligence 26, Perception 26.
Skill requirements: Electronics 40, Machine Control 11.
My character met all the requirements, so I immediately placed the bracelet in the arm slot of my suit. But I was not expecting what came next. A small wave of unfamiliar symbols ran before my eyes. There were many, many thousands of incomprehensible lines. Finally, the semitransparent bluish pall faded, and one column turned brighter and was translated to Russian:
“Listener, awaiting command.”
I had long suspected that my suit contained much more complex functionality than forcefield capacity and radiation resistance and I now had clear confirmation of that. I didn’t understand what kind of command it wanted, though, or how I could issue it. How could I answer, or at least get rid of these words, which were taking up room on the internal side of my helmet visor? Mentally? By moving my pupils? Voice?
As I stood and figured out my suit, Minn-O was brought to me under guard, and the proud Princess walked up the gangway before all my other companions. After her, Imran entered the Shiamiru. But Space Commando Eduard had problems. In his huge exoskeleton armor, he couldn’t fit through the door, so he had to remove the armor and change back into street clothes. Vasha Tushihh lifted the heavy armor with the loader claw and put it into a special niche in the back of the shuttle, hermetically sealing it with an armored cap.
The Miyelonians also entered, and I asked Ayni, who was walking forward with only a tiny backpack, where her heavy container of equipment for the special mission was. We had room, if she wanted to bring it. The orange cat looked embarrassed, then slightly afraid and whispered something like: “Gnat, the less you know, the better you’ll sleep. Believe me, you should forget about that.”
Anyhow, we were about to take off. I was the last thing they were waiting for. And I was just standing there, unable to get the bothersome text out of my field of view. I even tried to remove the bracelet, but it seemed glued to my armored sleeve and refused to go anywhere. But what to do? I couldn’t let these illuminated words keep blocking half my view, otherwise I might miss something. I tried everything I could think of to get rid of it or respond. I verbally issued commands, shook my head, spun my pupils and tried to command mentally when suddenly:
“Decision accepted”
ATTENTION!!! Your class will be changed to Listener.
10… 9… 8…
End of Book Two
Gnat’s adventures continue in
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ALL BOOKS BY MICHAEL ATAMANOV:
Perimeter Defense LitRPG Series:
Sector Eight (Perimeter Defense: Book #1)
Beyond Death (Perimeter Defense Book #2)
New Contract (Perimeter Defense Book #3)
A Game with No Rules (Perimeter Defense Book #4)
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Stay on the Wing (The Dark Herbalist Book #2)
A Trap for the Potentate (The Dark Herbalist Book #3)
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Countdown (Reality Benders Book #1)
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About the Author
MICHAEL ATAMANOV was born in 1975 in Grozny, Chechnia. He excelled at school, winning numerous national science and writing competitions. Having graduated with honors, he entered Moscow University to study material engineering. Soon, however, he had no home to return to: their house was destroyed during the first Chechen campaign. Michael’s family fled the war, taking shelter with some relatives in Stavropol Territory in the South of Russia.
Having graduated from the University, Michael was forced to accept whatever work was available. He moonlighted in chemical labs, loaded trucks, translated technical articles, worked as a software installer and scene shifter for local artists and events. At the same time he never stopped writing, even when squatting in some seedy Moscow hostels. Writing became an urgent need for Michael. He submitted articles to science publications, penned news fillers for a variety of web sites and completed a plethora of technical and copywriting gigs.
Then one day unexpectedly for himself he started writing fairy tales and science fiction novels. For several years, his audience consisted of only one person: Michael’s elder son. Then, at the end of 2014 he decided to upload one of his manuscripts to a free online writers resource. Readers liked it and demanded a sequel. Michael uploaded another book, and yet another, his audience growing as did his list. It was his readers who helped Michael hone his writing style. He finally had the breakthrough he deserved when the Moscow-based EKSMO - the biggest publishing house in Europe - offered him a contract for his first and consequent books.
Michael is now the author of three bestselling LitRPG series: Perimeter Defense, The Dark Herbalist and Reality Benders which are already considered the classics of LitRPG.
* * *
[1] The modern-day successor to the KGB.
[2] Translator’s note: the Russian equivalent of Fort Knox
[3]Valeri-Urla is a character from Michael Atamanov's novel Quarantine Planet
[4]Denni Marko is a character from Michael Atamanov's novel Quarantine Planet
Table of Contents
Introduction. Through Enemy Eyes
Chapter One. Back to Space!
Chapter Two. Copilot
Chapter Three. Endless Asteroids
Chapter Four. Mysterious Development
Chapter Five. Medu-Ro IV
Chapter Six. Under the Dome Again
Chapter Seven. Claim to Fame
Chapter Eight. Big Interview
Chapter 9. Playing Solo
Chapter Ten. Second Attempt
Chapter Eleven. New Friend
Chapter Twelve. Fox the Space Fox
Chapter Thirteen. Enemy of Two Prides
Chapter Fourteen. Foundling
Chapter Fifteen. Playing for Keeps
Chapter Sixteen. Escaping Alive
Chapter Seventeen. Housewarming Party
Chapter Eighteen. Political Agitation
Chapter Nineteen. Main Suspect
Chapter Twenty. Along the Blade of a Knife
Chapter Twenty-One. Ticket Home
Chapter Twenty-Two. Project Exodus
Chapter Twenty-Three. Way Home
Chapter Twenty-Four. Free Time
Chapter Twenty-Five. Rendezvous on Centaur Plateau
Chapter Twenty-Six. Distant War
Chapter Twenty-Seven. Race Against the Clock
Chapter Twenty-Eight. New Neighbors
Chapter Twenty-Nine. Listener
About the Author
#2) LitRPG Series