Stellar Survival Quest

by Jalf Whitemage

  Grimacing at the sudden intrusion of brilliant lights, Nathan squinted at the display.

  ***SYSTEM MESSAGE***

  Parthigoth Gamma station.

  Module: 5.21.96.C

  Administrator: None

  Section Administrator: None

  Segment Governor: None

  Station Chancellor: None

  System ~~ Security ~~ Maintenance~~ Misc.

  ***SYSTEM MESSAGE***

  Nathan’s smile was huge showing a creepy amount of teeth. Selecting the Systems tab he named himself as the module Admin.

  In a brief moment of anticipation Nathan froze expecting something to happen. When nothing did he confirmed the system was now showing him as the Modules Admin. Yet still in a cruelly anticlimactic fashion nothing changed around him.

  There was no quest completed prompts. No heroic music, not even a slap on the back.

  Nathan actually had expected Boov to do just that. But, when he looked around the control room she was nowhere to be seen; she had disappeared somewhere. Moving away from the terminal Nathan walked in to the corridor and froze. Boov was there half an arm missing as her grey flesh sizzled and bubbled. In the corridor, an electrical conduit had exploded and was now sending sparks of high voltage energy shooting through the hall like a small lightening mill.

  If there had been air enough to transfer the vibrations Nathan would have heard the massive explosion and resulting damage. As it was he had nearly missed the death of his only companion other than a man eating tree…

  Rushing back into the control room Nathan shut off the power to the module, plunging the area back into darkness.

  An instant later he was by Boov’s side. Her suit had ruptured and what air she had was venting through a number of locations. In addition to her missing arm, there was blackened and burnt patches all across her front. One breast was missing half its soft globe. A black char circled where her belly button would be on a human, and a baked stringy mass of grey flesh hung from her left thigh. Through all this though she was alive and somehow conscious.

  When Boov saw Nathans concern she smiled warmly. As he bent over her to look at her damaged she reached around his neck with her good arm and the burnt stump. In Nathans surprise he jerked backward completely lifting Boov from the ground. She hung there suspended in the zero G by his neck.

  Taking her cues Nathan sped forward. He ran as fast as he could while ensuring they made it safely. Visions of the habitat’s brilliant light and life-saving warmth it provided firmly in his mind’s eye. If she was going to die he wanted to at least make her as comfortable as he could before.

  Carrying Boov into the habitat he took her to his room and lay her upon the inflatable bed. Carefully he began to remove the ruined spacesuit. Where the suit had melted into Boov’s flesh he used a knife and cut away around the wound

  “It is okay Boov. You’re going to be fine.”

  ...

  “You have to be fine.”

  …

  “Only a little more then… then…”

  Nathan was so focused on his task that he had not noticed Boov calmly watching him. When he was on the last area, right below her right knee Boov spoke up.

  “Master, if this one may be so bold to suggest. You should cut the burned sections away completely.”

  Nathan paused startled and a little lost from what he expected would be a half conscious Boov. Boov not sure why her master had stopped thought maybe she had done something wrong.

  “M… Ma… Master? Does master want this one to continue?” Boov held out her hand for the knife.

  Nathan looked at the offered hand and then to the blackened stump of the other arm. Shocked and completely out of his depth he handed her the knife stunned.

  When Boov cut into her own leg casually gouging out thick chunks of blacken and damaged flesh, Nathan fell back on his butt. Then quickly he scooted away as Boov dropped the charred remains on the floor. When his back hit the semi-hard walling he just sat there staring.

  Over the last few weeks he had somehow forgotten this woman was not human. He had looked past her complete lack of color and the odd mannerisms. But, now as he watched her calmly cut away chunks of her own body from wounds… Wounds that would be life threatening to any Human; did it fully sink in. She may resemble a buxom Human woman, but she was something … something else.

  His mind spun as full realization of where he was, what was going on, and whom he was with settled in. He stared open mouthed and vacant eyed as Boov cut away not only the portions of the suit that had melted into her, but all the damaged flesh.

  Behind her knife strokes she left huge empty gouges. Nathan realized at some point there was no blood. No fluid leakage at all. The wounds once cleaned looked like someone had made a clay molding of a person and then just cut pieces out of it. The interior looked just like the exterior.

  When Boov got to her ruined arm she frowned. Then went up a few inches above the highest portion of the damage and began to cut, then saw. After a minute of stomach churning work Nathan watched her finally cut all the way through her arm. With a wet plop, the blackened burnt stump dropped to the ground next to the rest of the mangled flesh.

  “There all done!” Boov announced happily.

  Nathan just stared slack jawed.

  Boov smile dimmed and turned to a frown. This one is sorry master, but the wounds will prevent her from being much use for at least a week. That is if the master does not wish to just dispose of this ruined one.”

  It took Nathan a full 30 seconds to comprehend what she was saying, and then when it finally clicked he spoke so fast that it came out as one single word. “I do not want to get rid of you! Never! You will be okay in a week. Do you need anything? Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Boov’s smile returned, as she half bounced in happiness, “She has the best master! She is so happy to be this one. It is no problem master. This one just needs to get some bio carbons to nourish the growth process. She thinks the (DUNG) would be best. It is full of complex carbon chains and is excellent material. It was a blessing the master saw fit to let her build her body on the excellent material to begin with.”

  Nathan frowned then carefully shifted his face. Did she really think he had dumped her in the crate of shit to feed her? Had it really helped her somehow? Did she want to eat more shit?

  Somehow, as Nathan’s tortured mind was reeling over this new predicament, his body was moving. He was already near the Airlock mask back in place to go fetch her some shit to eat… If she wanted to eat shit he would get her that shit... As long as she did not eat, shit and die…

  Returning to the habitat Nathan held a bag full of the dung. Entering the main room though he was forced to pull up short. There blocking his way back to Boov as the damned demon tree! It had pulled itself from the pot where it had been happy to just look pretty for weeks now.

  Now though it stood on root legs blocking his path. Its three glowing purple eyes were locked on him and its mouth was slightly open causing the top half of the tree to tilt awkwardly. But more importantly at least to Nathan, it showed off the numerous rows of sharp barbed teeth inside.

  Stifling a scream Nathan half shouted, “AHH… Good little monster… J… Just let me pass… P… Please.”

  Nathan tried to step around the tree but it moved to block his path with a couple quick side steps of its own. Nathan looked at the little beastie carefully.

  “Did you get bigger? And you’re not looking at me are you? … You’re looking at this?”

  Nathan moved the bag away from himself and was relieved to notice that two of the three eyes followed the bag full of muck.

  Taking a step toward the trees planter Nathan cooed in a voice he hoped would be soothing, “This must be some valuable shit… All you little monsters want it… Maybe I should try eating some myself…”

  He paused to briefly think about what he just said, then sniggered. “Oh hell no! There is no way short of super powers that I’m
eating shit…”

  The tree did not stop him from reaching the planter. As Nathan neared he looked into the square container, to see that the tale tail yellow glow was gone. Inside the planter, where before it was mostly full of the small yellow glowing turds; now a dark rich black soil remained. Only the faintest bits of yellow could be seen and even that was no longer glowing.

  “Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. I guess this is what you wanted.”

  Looking around for a moment Nathan glanced at the tree. “I do not suppose you would let me take this to Boov and then come back to remove this soil and then get you some more?”

  The tree tilted its head at Nathan, looked at the bag of shit and its planter. With three eyes, it managed this all at the same time. Thinking it might let him pass Nathan tried to step around the tree. It moved rapidly and snapped its massive mouth three quick chops toward Nathan.

  “EEEECCCKKK!” He Squealed. “Right, ugh I promise to not forget you. It is just that she is hurt and needs this. Let me give her my shit and then I’ll give you shit afterward, okay?”

  The tree focused all three eyes on Nathan for a short eternity. Then slowly it lowered itself to the floor and pulled its roots together.

  Breathing a sigh of relief Nathan stood up straighter and slowly stepped past the tree being careful to never turn his back on the little monster. For the tree’s part it watched him with half closed glowing purple eyes, content in the knowledge that it was the dominant predator.

  Returning to his cabin Nathan entered with a cold sweat still moist on his clammy skin. Boov smiled at him warmly, as she took the bag from him.

  “Ah thank you master.” She placed the bag on her lap and with her single hand reached in to pop a couple glowing yellow turds into her mouth, like a Human might do a grape Tomato.

  Nathan had intended to sit with her for a bit, but seeing how she was casually eating the shit of a creature he had never even heard of made his stomach squirm. “I… I have to go and feed the tree. It… It is hungry.”

  Boov nodded and smiled yellow staining her normally grey teeth. “Of course, master. This one is grateful. Please take the discarded flesh there and give it to her. She will be able to use the nutrients from it.”

  Nathan looked at the pile of grey burnt flesh Boov had gestured at with her stump. Part of his sanity broke at that moment. With a numb and queerly empty mind Nathan bent scooped up the burnt pieces of Boov and space suit and left the room. Going into the storage area he collected another bag they had saved from the deliveries. Placing the burnt grey mass inside he went to the flap then paused. He grabbed another bag and left the habitat.

  A half hour later Nathan was dumping the remains of the newly collected bag of glowing yellow crap and Boov flesh into the planter. The tree was hovering above him watching carefully. With a final shake the last bits fell into the makeshift pot and Nathan stepped back.

  The tree stepped into the planter sending its roots deep into the yellow and grey mass. Before, it completely settled down a knot of roots shot toward Nathan. Still mentally numb Nathan did not even respond. He just closed his eyes and wait for the root to kill him.

  After a few seconds with no pain, or death he opened his eyes. The roots were hovering a foot from him, trembling with exertion as they held a bottle of water. Still, without the emotional strength to care Nathan grabbed the bottle from the roots, which rapidly disappeared into the planter. After a minute of working around the tree settled and watched Nathan. Satisfied that the tree was comfortable he opened the bottle and dumped the water into the planter.

  Bending over Nathan collected the second bag full of the rich black soil and turned to walk away.

  Nathan heard from behind him a weak stuttering voice akin to wind passing through leaves, “Ttthhhaaannnkkk ou, mas ter.”

  Somehow this did not even shock Nathan out of his mental stupor. He just walked away. After placing the soil in the storage room he went over to the computer terminal and began to browse the shop. After about 3 minutes of just staring at the screen he gave up searching though.

  Exiting back to the main screen he considered what to do. It had been awhile since he last checked his system readout.

  Entering his system access details, messages appeared on the screen.

  *** System Message ***

  Skill Level Increase: Level 2 Achieved: One Skill Promotion rewarded.

  Skill Level Increase: Level 3 Achieved: One Skill Promotion rewarded.

  Skill Level Increase: Level 4 Achieved: One Skill Promotion rewarded.

  Skill Increase: Agriculture: Xeno:(J)

  DEBT NOTICE *** Your Debt of 3168.8203 QOBOP has been assigned 922.3214 interest. ***

  Milestone Achieved!

  Claim a Module! Claimed - Parthigoth Gamma station Docking Module: 5.21.98.C

  Reward: 25% to next Human Level.

  Reward: Plo Robotics LLC J class Maintenance Robot

  Reward: 1000 QOBOP

  *** Warning *** Insufficient battery storage. Reward Delayed.

  *** System Message ***

  Nathan just stared at the notices for a bit. It took him way too long to fully register the full meanings behind everything. Two big things hit him first though. First, the computer section he and Boov had been working on must have been the module control unit as he suspected. By naming himself the system admin, he must have hit the goal for the achievement. Second was the stupid debt from his deaths. That was starting to get ridiculous! Going through his options, he found a way to apply the 2000 QOBOP he had as back rewards toward the debt. If he was in a more functional state of mind, he may of thought better of doing it. But, with the slow emotionally numb state of mind he was currently in when it made him confirm twice he just hit the button dispassionately.

  Satisfied he had gotten rid of nearly half his debt he went back and looked at the rest of the messages.

  Looking them over he frowned. Nathan knew that the Skill Level gained experience by just using the skills he knew. The Skill Level was the closest to the normal level of most games. It represented how much you have done.

  The harder the task you worked on using the hire ranked skills the faster you gained percentage points. So really the last few weeks of working on the arrays did not surprise him to see he had gained a couple levels.

  After biting his lip Nathan followed the train of thought to skills in general. He had used the wiki to discover that the Job Levels were based on the ranks of the skills assigned to them. The higher the ranks the more experience you had toward that job.

  It sounded easy to level, but there was only three ways to gain higher ranks in a skill. One was to study and or practice a skill over and over. Eventually as you increased your knowledge and ability the skill rank would expand. But only if you were covering things that were new or more challenging.

  As a general rule, skill ranks could be thought of as education levels. The lowest J was just showing some basic understanding. I, H, and G were primary school education levels; so Elementary, Middle, and High school respectably. F, E, D, and C were University or College level knowledge; So, Associates, Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorial levels. Then finally B was showing a skilled masters level of knowledge or ability. Once you were in the best of the Galaxy you could get the B rank. Only the top 1% were allowed the A rank though. Be they jus the best or pushing the boundaries of knowledge. A rank was akin to a Nobel Peace Prize or something equivalent.

  But, Nathans mind stuttered. He had gotten side tracked from his previous thoughts. The normal method of learning was one way to increase a skill rank. The more common for players was using a skill injector.

  Nathan had no clue how the devices really worked, but it had something to do with micro nanobots and creating new neural pathways in the host cerebral tissues. He also found out that it was very important to only use an injector made for your own species. Permanent damage or even death could result from using one created for a different race.

  The last way to gain s
kill ranks was by altering one’s self. Adding a robotic arm that was programmed for farming could greatly increase someone’s Agriculture skills. Or adding a neural processor to your head could jump the rank of many math and science skills profoundly. Even biological alterations could adjust a skill rank, but the wiki did not really have much on that yet. It seemed Humanity had not really experimented much with that and so the system did not grant the knowledge freely.

  The awards for the Skill level rank was an injector of his choice for any skill. The system would cover any costs involved. It was a nice freebie, but Nathan knew that the higher his Skill Level climbed the harder it would be to gain more.

  Also it was not like he could just grab an A rank injector and hope to use it. The previous ranks had to be attained before the higher ones could be used. Nathan pulled up his Bio to look it over.

  ***SYSTEM MESSAGE***

  Bio

  Human Level:050%

  Pilot Level:125%

  Engineer Level:140%

  Scientist Level:155%

  Skill Level:417%

  Stats/Skills/Equipment/Property/Milestones

  Name: Nathan Tyrone Rogers (Bubba)Race: Homosapian (Human)

  Age: 15GU (29 EY)Gender: Male

  Height: 2.12GMU (’6.3ft)weight: 3.15GMU (189pds)Style: Mammalian Biped

  PHY: 0.54/1.0Ner 0.52/1.0PER: 0.66/1.0

  IQ: 0.76/1.0GRT: 0.97/1.0App: 0.38/1.0

  Skills[jAG1]

  Primary Pilot Skills:

  Piloting: Small Craft:(I)

  Piloting: Small Atmo Craft:(I)

  Gunnery: Energy:(J)

  Targeting: Small Craft(J)

  Navigation:(J)

  Secondary Pilot Skills:

  Mathematics:(H)

  Electrical Engineering:(I)

  Mechanical Engineering:(I)

  Piloting: Drone(J)

  Programming: Micro: (J)

  Survival: Zero G:(I)

  Primary Engineer Skills:

  Mathematics:(H)