“A fucking apple! Are you kidding me right now?”
“Okay, you impatient prick. Potential, yes? The more Potential you have, the more energy you can store in your body. When you train you pull in energy. It comes in through your Subconscious via me. However, you really shouldn’t have ever met me until you reached your full Potential. Fragile human mind and all that.”
“So how can I speak to you now?”
“Well, a couple of reasons. Number one was that opening the door allowed a tremendous amount of energy to pour through. While I was able to close the door immediately, the burst that did get through was still immense. It should have killed you, however those two idiots took the brunt of the blast. Your mind and body were thankfully able to process what remained.”
“And what's the second reason?”
“That was it.”
“No, it was only one reason: those guys took the worst of it.”
“And you're now stronger, remember? Your mind and body absorbed some of the leftover energy. Now you're better equipped to deal with the strain of this conversation.”
“Ah, well you didn’t really make that clear. Did you?”
“Well, I did really, but don’t worry about it.”
“So, Fiekela and Kirel, they’re dead?”
“As can be.”
“Shit, that's... well actually, fuck them, it’s a good thing. Lying bastards! So what happens now then? And will you er… be speaking to me forever? Because I already have enough voices in my head with Havok. I don’t need some weird version of myself being a dick in here, too?”
“No, I won’t be staying. This is the only chance you will get to speak to me here, because of the events that unfolded. To get here again, you need to reach your Potential, at which point you’ll essentially have become me anyway.”
“Okay, so you’re what, like future me? Anyway, you don’t have to answer that. What I want to know now concerns this energy that didn’t kill me. What has it done to me, if I absorbed it? Have all my levels increased?”
“No, your levels are essentially storage capacity. They represent the amount of energy your body can hold. Only further training will increase them. You have instead, amazingly, opened up a container to store the excess energy.”
“And?”
“I assume it’s just sitting there, being stored.”
“So how is it amazing? That seems like a shit power to have gained.”
“I did not say you had gained extra powers. That was all in your mind.”
“Ah right, yeah, you didn’t, did you? My bad.”
“That’s fine. But now you must go back to the secure parts of your Mindscape. Your subconscious is becoming unstable again with both of us present here. Give it a week or so before coming back in. It will take me that long to leave. Okay?”
“Yeah, whatever you say.”
“Remember, I won't be able to speak again, just prompt you on occasion, as always.”
“That’s you?”
“Yes. Now go! Seriously, get out of here.”
“Whatever you say, dude. It was nice to meet you, Subconscious Energy of the Universe me. Hopefully we’ll meet again.”
“I literally just explained why that will never happen!” the voice said, a little irritated, then I was suddenly and forcefully ejected back into my Mindscape Corridor.
Disoriented, I made my way down to the Control Room. I had shit to sort out, but first I was going to check on this energy store I’d gained, even if it couldn’t do anything.
Name: Shaun
Age: 31 GY
Transcendence Level: 257
Strength: 364/1000
Agility: 208/1000
Speed: 206/1000
Intelligence: 241/1000?
Constitution: 480/1000
Wisdom: 35/1000?
Mental Resilience: 282/1000
Mental Clarity: 76%
Potential: 99%
Omni Saturation: 35%
The first thing that stood out was Omni Saturation. Cool name, I thought, but there were no other clues as to what it was for, so perhaps it really was just storage. The next thing I noticed was that some of my scores had gone up—Intelligence and Wisdom, which I wasn’t complaining about. I initially thought that future energy me had been wrong, until I reached 76% Mental Clarity. The same damn Clarity I had before these dirty mofos took my memories. Which meant my original Intelligence and Wisdom, which had dropped, had now been replaced. Now I still had all that damn inventory to do. I’m not going to lie, that hurt more than I cared to admit. Now to business! I thought.
Coming out of my Mindscape, I looked around. The bodies of Fiekela and Kirel lay lifeless on the floor. I hadn’t liked them much when I had no clue who the hell I was. Now I only grieved the opportunity I’d lost to kick off with the two of them. I noticed Ialos next, standing across the facility looking shocked and possibly worried for her own safety. “What happened?” she stammered.
“I am not 100 percent sure, but basically when they opened that door, they got more than they bargained for. Something about universal energies and stuff. Anyway they got hit with a massive overload from it.”
“Is that what the glowing was?”
“Glowing?”
“A golden glow covered you all. It killed Fiekela and Kirel, whereas you’ve survived for some reason.”
“Ah right, yes. They took the bulk of the surge because they were the daft shits that opened the door. The amount I took just made me…” I paused; I didn’t actually know how much I could trust Ialos now. I mean, I suspected she was okay, and that Jezai wasn’t actually responsible for any of this, but why the fuck was I answering all of her questions when she should be answering mine!
“Vakuna?” she probed, as I’d fallen silent, lost in my own thoughts. That fucking name was definitely enough to snap me out of it though. I almost growled at her. “If I ever hear that goddamn name again, I swear I’ll probably kill someone.”
Her hand clasped her mouth. “You remember.”
“Yes, I fucking remember everything! Now you best start answering my questions, or should I say question. Where the fuck is my Ember?”
“She is alive! They are held captive on a Beler Station.”
“What! The one the empire is attacking?” I shouted at her.
“No, this one is far from the fighting. We’ve thousands of Beler Stations protecting our borders.”
“I need to get there now.”
“That won’t be so easy, this…” she said, pointing at the bodies, “it’s a huge incident. We must deal with the rest of the Council. Jezai is on his way, he will be able to help clear everything up, hopefully. He will object if they wish to purge your memories again. Without Fiekela standing in opposition he should be able to convince everyone, especially after what has occurred here. I am sure they will now consider it too dangerous to continue.”
I had no choice but to laugh. “You think I’m gonna just wait for them to discuss whether they want to wipe my memories again? Are you fucking serious? I trusted Jezai once and all this bloody happened. I’m sure, after this,” I gestured to the dead bodies, “I’ll just be killed. If you give half a shit about what’s happened to me, then help me get off this damn planet, or stay out of my way.”
“You won’t make it! If you try, then you’ll be killed.”
“And where’s Havok?”
“Havok? I don’t know who you are talking about,” she replied frantically, which was an odd look on the beautiful, ageless Apochros.
“My bloody axe, Havok!”
“Again, I haven’t seen or heard about an axe.”
“Great, then he must still be on the ship.”
“Oh,” Ialos said, looking rather uncomfortable, “your ships were destroyed on the border.”
“I hope you’re fucking joking. If you have killed Havok I don’t know what I’m going to do. But it will be bad,” I said menacingly.
“Killed your axe?”
&nb
sp; “He was alive.”
“A sentient weapon?” she asked in awe.
“Yes, and you all killed him. Ah, fuck this, I’m going. I need to find Ember and the others.”
“Stop, please wait for Jezai. Trust me, your chances of success will be far greater. Try to remember, every last person on this planet is far stronger than you and our technology is vastly different. Not only will you not make it to one of our ships, even if you did, you wouldn’t be able to fly it. I want you to have the best chance at success. I know if he can, my father will make up to you. He had such high hopes for the Apochros to work with you. He fought vehemently in the council against their decision and felt so strongly he resigned over it. Since then, he has been building a following to free you and give you back your memories.”
“Ialos is telling the truth, Shaun,” a deep voice said from behind me. “This whole thing was taken out of my hands.” It was Jezai, slowly floating down through the opening, accompanied by several Apochros. They all could not help but stare at the dead bodies.
“What has happened?” Jezai asked, to a chorus of hurried whispers from his company.
“They fucked with something in my mind that they shouldn’t have. I warned them and tried to hold the door closed to them, but they were too strong and now they’re dead.”
“I see,” he replied. “I always feared this method would result in strife. I am only sad that I could not free you before people had to die. This will cause quite the uproar.”
“I’ve no sympathy for them after they took everything from me and filled my head with lies. Now, before we talk any further, you owe me my crew back.”
“I will ensure you are reunited, Shaun. Not only that, but I also offer you my full support. If the council does not fall in line with fair and proper treatment of you, then I will fight alongside you against them in word and deed. I promise, there will be no repeat of what was done. Or at the very least, it will be over my dead body. But first we need to fully exhaust diplomatic options and address the rest of the council with the news of what unfolded here. Understand, it has been centuries since we have lost a member of our people. I don’t think you understand the gravity of what you have done!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “What I’ve done? I did nothing. I was trying to make friends with you fuckers and just sitting on my ship waiting for you to get back to me, when you did all this. Shit, Jezai, I even tried to stop them from entering! But oh no, Fystr are just so much better and cleverer than anyone else, why would they ever listen to the likes of me!”
I heard a sharp intake of breath from the group behind Jezai.
“What? You don’t like that? You fucking Fystr bastards!” I held my arms out in front of me in the traditional come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough stance.
No one was laughing now; a deadly silence had fallen over the room. Until I spoke again. “You know what? Fuck you guys! Take your fancy fucking promises and shove them up your Fystr asses. You’ve messed me about enough.”
“Shaun, please calm down,” Jezai said as he moved to intercept me from leaving.
“I mean it, out of my way. I’m stealing one of your ships, and I’m going to roam this stupid Dark Sector until I find my friends. And I promise you, it’ll go very badly for anyone who tries to stop me.” I stormed off towards the opening. As you can probably tell, I may have let my temper get the better of me. But seriously, it had been an epic day. I challenge you to go through what I just have, then think straight.
“You won't make it, Shaun,” Jezai shouted almost pleadingly as I passed him.
“That’s hardly the fucking point, Jezai!”
“What do you mean? If you do not let me help you will be killed trying to leave. How will you find your people then?”
“I’ll tell you what. Help me get Ember and my crew back, and then I might just about trust you enough to talk.”
“I will. Just give me time,” he said, as I began to levitate off the floor towards the opening. Just then a golden light flashed around me.
I heard a gasp from the ground. I stopped and turned to them, curious.
A different Apochros spoke in awe. “What was that? What did you just do?”
“Shaun,” Jezai said, looking at me with wonder in his eyes, “what was that?”
I ignored his question, instead asking my own. “Did one of you just attempt to stop me?” I said angrily.
The first man who’d spoken raised his hand. “I just wanted you to stay and help sort this out. I was fully blocked by that golden aura.”
I didn’t have a clue what had happened, but I suspected my new Omni energy store may have just protected me. I wasn’t going to tell them that though. “You dickheads are not understanding this. You can’t control me, even if you think it's for my own good. That's not how this is ever going to work. So far, all your people have done is take from me. You’re going to have to start giving back before I ever even begin to trust you again. It’s a long road back from here, motherfuckers. You can talk about your good intentions all you damn well want. But right now, good intentions mean exactly fuck all to me!”
“You’re right,” Jezai said commandingly, causing the others to hush their clamor. “We will offer you something that we can do immediately.”
“See, now we're getting somewhere,” I replied, slowly lowering myself back to the floor.
“Will you at least explain the aura?” Jezai asked.
“How are you going to help me then?” I replied.
Jezai smiled tiredly. “You win. What about if we can contact the station and allow you to speak with everyone? Assure them that they will be collected soon. Will that suffice while we deal with the fallout here?”
“I will take the communication. That’ll buy you a conversation down here, but there’s not a damn chance I’m waiting on the whim of your bloody council again. I’m going for my crew today and that’s nonnegotiable.”
“Very well,” agreed Jezai and spoke to one of his friends. “Melik, will you arrange for a transmission to Beler 4008, please.” Then to a woman next to him he said, “Can you please go and inform the remaining council members what has transpired here.”
“Nope, I’m not okay with that,” I butted in, and Jezai frowned at me.
“If you have to send someone to the council, send Ialos. I trust her.” I paused and I looked over at her. “Well, more than I trust any of you.” I saw looks of outrage, but Jezai seemed to accept my logic. I had to say, I felt more than a little empowered by that golden shit that had sprung up around me. Seems like I had a sick new skill after all, and the Apochros and Fystr had just become much weaker in the face of it.
On a whim I quickly checked out my Cerebral Interface. The Omni Saturation had dropped from 35 to 34 percent. I wondered how I could replenish it. Perhaps it was like how Havok absorbed energy. Maybe I would have to kill people with my bare hands to get their energy. These bastards had killed Havok anyway, so I was weaponless for now, unless there were still remnants of the Uprising out there. I might be able to find him yet. It would be worth checking the wreckage.
Jezai beckoned for Ialos to go instead. She had a strained smile for me, probably happy that I was starting to cooperate a little.
Once she had gone, Jezai turned to me again. “Shaun, I would still like to apologize for everything that has transpired. I couldn’t stop it at the time, but I have since rallied likeminded people with influence to our cause. Councilors from other areas, and others that are well respected among our people. And before you ask, yes, that’s the group with me now, whom you have just insulted repeatedly.”
I looked around at the faces of these apparently important people, and shrugged. “Come on, guys, you're the first Apochros I’ve seen since I got my memories back. You can’t blame me really, can you?” I reasoned, meeting each of their eyes. “My people trusted you and you kinda crapped on us from a really great height. I’m going to take some convincing you're on the level.”
They just looked confused by my words. “On the level?” Melik asked.
“It means, not hiding anything, what I see is what I get. Capiche?”
Only further looks of confusion came back at me. That was fine, I didn’t think I’d ever really trust the pricks again, anyway. But if they did everything that they were indicating, then it would help smooth the rift over enough.
“We are being honest with you, Shaun. The council tried to put a leash on you, and it has failed catastrophically, as I told them it would at some point. But I also told you in the tearoom that I would help you and support your growth, whilst trying to avoid the eyes of the Fystr. Those present with me now at least recognize the eventual danger they pose. It shouldn’t surprise you that many of us still harbor a deep resentment against them for the crimes they have committed against our people. Your people. I never believed we would have a chance to right those wrongs, but your arrival gives me hope.”
“What? You’re willing to fight them now?” I raised an eyebrow at him in disbelief. This was a vastly different stance than before.
“Yes,” he answered, and took a deep breath. “Maybe not to the extent you would wish, but we here are willing to make a move against them. Would you like to hear our plan?”
“Of course I wanna hear the damn plan. Why would I not want to hear that plan?”
“We know the Fystr have sent a substantial fleet to recapture you,” he said, taking the insult on the chin. “We are considering drawing them into our defense network. Our reports on the fleet’s size suggest that our defenses could defeat them, if not necessarily comfortably.”
“Go on,” I said, interested in where this was going.
“We could in theory put a huge dent in the Fystr war machine. I must emphasize, we are not intending to strike back at the Fystr Empire in their own territory. We are just not strong enough. But a large victory here may even provoke them to send a second fleet to exact revenge. We would hope to beat that too, given the distance they would travel to fight here. If that happens, we could seriously destabilize their empire, giving you a chance of achieving something within their territory.”
Condition Evolution 4 Page 15
