by Pal, J
Much to my disappointment, the scan didn’t tell me what the amber housed. Considering how the pair had gone on about the gift, I guessed the true treasure were the emerald flecks deep inside. I was about to put it back in my box when a momentary change in the crystal caught my attention. When I studied it again, though, nothing had changed. No. It wasn’t my imagination.
I held the crystal close to the container, but nothing changed. Something stirred when I held it up to the light. The emerald flecks were fluttering! It took me a moment to realize: the generator’s warmth was bringing the amber’s contents out of stasis. So I scanned it again.
Infant Hydrospawn Plasmabear
Tardigrades have been around for aeons and will continue to live long after all intelligent life has left this universe. They’re the ever living. No one knows what birthed this mysterious variety. They were first found on the desert planet of Tantopheen. The indigenous tribes carried them in their crystal flasks, relying on the creatures to feed on the sun’s rays and the sand’s heat to create water.
Considering the abundance of energy around the universe, one would think plasmabears would grow and populate every corner of it, but they don’t. Unless the local atmosphere and source of energy meet their likes, they go into hibernation and refuse to wake. However, the variety of environments they’ve been found in do not correlate, and researchers believe plasmabears have tastes—likes and dislikes. Most can’t figure out what determines them, but most believe they’re formed not long after birth. Research data is inconclusive, since infants of the species are nearly impossible to find.
I read the data over and over again as everything fell into place. Our mysterious fan had given us the key to self-sufficiency! That’s what they’d meant by “make water.” The rest of the riddle had to make sense too. What if moving meant rearranging how we had laid out our base? The plasmabears would most likely appreciate the Nurturing Field, which meant it needed access to the third floor. However, when I moved the amber away from the core, their activity ceased.
It took me a moment, but I figured out what they were talking about. The answer sat in the upgrade options that didn’t require McGuffins. Most of them demanded insane quantities of biomatter, so I’d ignored them before, but after the last battle, we had plenty to spare.
Rearranger: What’s the point of owning a Hub if you can’t mix things up now and again? Redo your kitchen, move your bedroom for a fresh view, or move your defenses before a battle for maximum output.
It would’ve made sense to warn the people still in the Hub, but I was too excited to go looking for anyone. Besides, the Hub was careful never to hurt people when I made my changes. So I invested a third of our biomass stores on the upgrade and moved the core to the third floor. When I got to the level, the Hub’s interface popped up, asking me whether I’d like to fuse the core with the Nurturing Field Generator. I selected “yes.”
The change was instant. The resin wobbled like jelly in my hands, and the field expanded to every floor and several meters outside of the building. When a prompt asked whether I wanted to exempt anyone from the nurturing effects, I selected yes. Only Hub residents and people I considered allies would benefit from it.
After some thought, I used the Rearranger function to move the residential quarters to the first floor and carried the amber over to the upgraded core. Heat pulsed off it and little water bubbles appeared around the emerald flecks. The plasmabears were already getting to work.
Planning on giving them a real home, I focused on the amber and selected the highlighted “Upgrade” function.
Plasmabear Habitat
infant plasmabears
The Blue Planet narrated by David Attenborough
Nurturing Field
biomass Hub Core’s energy
plankton
algae
sunlamps
McGuffin
This was the first time the interface had asked for anything living or abstract. Standing in the generator’s presence highlighted the Nurturing Field and biomass Hub Core’s energy requirements. The plankton and algae threw me off though. Much to my surprise, it was highlighted too. Scanning the amber again made me aware of their presence. Tiny flecks of them had been hiding in the plasmabears. The water and ambient energies were now making them reproduce.
After fetching the DVD from our pile of unused junk, I completed the build without hesitation and fell to my knees as it consumed all but five percent of my energy pool. The Hub’s core interfaced with me again.
Plasmabear Habitat is compatible with the Farm and Menagerie.
Would you like to link the three?
I selected “yes,” of course, and the Moondrip amber in my hands melted away. It expanded into a thin sheet and surrounded the generator, elevator, and me, forming a bubble. Holes emerged on the ceiling outside of it, and pipes grew along the floors.
Choice of vegetation and plant-based upgrades expanded.
Water-based upgrades are now available.
Once the aquatic level is full, consult the Menagerie’s chief drone to populate it with marine life.
Once the aquatic level is full, consult the Farm’s chief drone to populate it with vegetation.
Congratulations!
Self-sufficient Hubs are not uncommon, but you’re the first in your galaxy to achieve it using biomass alone.
Once the aquatic level is online, you may choose a free A-rank upgrade for the Hub Core.
A white glow consumed everything outside the Moondrip amber bubble. This was the first time I had built anything biological using my power, and the Hub had asked to fuse with it. It left me wondering: if I hadn’t picked biomass as the Hub’s fuel, would it want to do the same with my regular Creations? It didn’t make a difference now, but if I ever got my hands on another core, I’d pick a different build path. For the time being, I couldn’t be more pleased with where we were going.
As soon as everyone got home, I called a meeting. No one had been up to the third floor yet and didn’t know what was up. Before showing it to them, though, we needed to come clean regarding what we’d learned and were planning.
“Liam, do you ever use your telepathic powers?” I asked.
“No,” he answered. “Besides the null field, I have aluminum shielding around the spider-bot. Why do you ask?”
“We need to have a conversation that excludes our beloved viewers. They might not like it now but will appreciate it in the long run. Let’s head outside the field.”
Kitty placed a firm hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure about this? We haven’t been outside without our shielding since all of this started.”
I nodded. “Our new friends here have been in and out of the base multiple times. Have you noticed any change in them?”
“We’re not resistant like them though.”
“It’s fine,” Liam added. His spider bots popped out of the kitchen carrying aluminum foil. “We can make a little cage so external telepathic forces can’t interfere.”
“Does it really work?” Caitlin asked. “It feels silly that a powerful alien civilization’s powers can be foiled by something as simple as aluminum foil. Isn’t it possible you’re resistant to telepathic domination like us?”
“It hasn’t failed us so far,” Kitty answered, shrugging. “Matt started off with an A-rank power, and I with B. Even if it’s silly, the tin foil did something.”
“The aluminum protection on my dome keeps me from using my telepathy.” Liam tapped the glass using a spider leg. “I reckon that’s evidence enough. Should we get moving?”
With the matter settled, we all headed out to the neighboring park. It lay behind the surrounding mansions, well beyond the null field. For the sake of caution, Liam sent out his Recon Drone to keep an eye on everything. Jay kept Maya by his side and had a pair of panther-sized cats patrol the neighborhood. If anything tried to sneak up on us, we’d know.
Liam directed us to the jungle gym, and we climbed under it. It took the spid
er drone ten minutes to wrap the structure in foil until we were enveloped in darkness. Then Liam withdrew the metal plating that protected his dome, bathing us in pink light. Something changed in the fluid that housed his brain. The color got lighter and the liquid more transparent than before.
“It’s safe,” He told us. “Nothing is trying to breach my shield.”
“Can we get more light?” Caitlin asked. “This is too creepy for my taste.”
She wasn’t wrong. We stood cramped together, separated by the jungle gym’s metal bars, and Liam’s soft glow reflected by the aluminum added an eeriness to it. Kitty had Winnie unbutton his chest and add the golem core’s light to the mix. It made things slightly better, but we left it at that.
Once we had the lighting set, Kitty and I removed our protective gear and Liam formed a telepathic link connecting the six of us. Then the explanations began. We started from the beginning, telling them about my experience when the world had ended. I expected the trio to call me mad when we got to the bit about the television show and Knurven, but they didn’t bat an eye.
Jay claimed the dogs had told him a similar story. He had brushed it off since they had vivid imaginations and often misinterpreted information, but this confirmed everything. Even though David and Caitlin trusted him implicitly, they had a hard time accepting the fact. They considered it farfetched, but my relationship with Knurven explained the Hub. My explanation regarding the latest addition to the Hub drove the point home.
“I get that we’re self-sufficient now, but wouldn’t it have been better to invest in more concrete defenses now and add the rest later?”
“Yes and no, Caitlin,” I said, trying to articulate my thoughts. After everything that had happened with Pallav and Rajesh, I understood the blunt approach wasn’t always the right one. “By fusing the Nurturing Field Generator and the Hub Core, we’ve expanded the field’s range. It will accelerate water creation, and together they will accelerate the Balloon Pods’ growth. We’ll have more of them without wasting biomass, and it’ll be the same once we can afford more defenses. Also, what’s a plant defense’s biggest weakness?”
No one answered.
“Fire. I reckon the aquatic floor will be overflowing pretty soon. We can use water as a deterrent!” After some thought, I decided not to tell them about the free upgrade coming our way. I intended to consult Kitty and Liam but not them. “More importantly, it won’t just affect the Farm and Menagerie, but the lead drones will populate the aquatic level too.”
“Fish and sea vegetables?” Caitlin asked.
I nodded. It looked like she had more to say but didn’t. Then we moved onto explaining our goal. It came as no surprise when Jay announced his refusal to participate. He had nothing against our plan and agreed that we intended to do something good. However, he wasn’t willing to risk his animals. He agreed to scout, provide support, and do anything that wouldn’t involve combat.
Caitlin and David respected his decision, and we kept our mouths shut. I had hoped our objective would sway him, but it wasn’t too much of a loss. I didn’t want any dogs or cats getting hurt either. However, he promised to assist in the Hub’s protection, and I considered that it was as good as things would get.
David got hyped up over the idea of taking down the crushers and then removing whatever effect had everyone so screwed up. Caitlin made it clear she would rather stay out of it, but at the same time, she wouldn’t let anything happen to David. Even though he was a minor, she couldn’t exactly stop him from listening to us. I bet she was worried that pressuring him would have adverse effects, so she decided to play along. She wouldn’t admit it, but I was sure Caitlin agreed with what we intended to do and wanted to be a part of it. She let off a rough, uncaring vibe, but I was sure it was all a facade.
Once done, Kitty and I put our headpieces back on. Then the spider drones and Morpheus took the aluminum foil down, letting us out. Everyone headed back towards the base, but I took Caitlin aside. Everyone had seen me lugging around a big case, but none of them had asked what it housed. When I told her I had made her new toys, her eyes lit up. David decided to stay back and watch, but the rest went back to investigate the new floor.
“You want to turn me into a McGuffin factory?” Caitlin asked when I explained how her belt worked.
“They’re batteries that store whatever energy your power utilizes,” I explained. “I’m pretty sure I can’t use it for crafting, but it will let you use your devices without plugging them into your belly button. On top of that, if you plug them in and feed them a battery, they’ll be extra powerful.”
“And I just leave it on all the time?”
I nodded. “The shielding effect is a bonus. It’s pretty powerful but has a downside. Your power doesn’t give you technopathic control over your devices.”
“What do you mean?”
“None of my devices require a trigger mechanism,” I answered. “They respond to my thoughts and react accordingly. You, on the other hand, have to operate your devices manually. So when you activate the belt’s barrier, it will remain active until you squeeze the buckle again or you drain the charge on the current slotted battery. In the heat of battle its more likely to be the latter.”
“That’s pretty nifty,” David commented. “You make me feel bad about not building more artifacts, you know.”
I laughed. “I just enjoy coming up with cool shit, that’s all.”
Explaining the rifle and drone carrier’s functions were much easier. Caitlin wanted to test them out straight away, but I convinced her to hold off until the following morning. We could go out as a group and test her toys once she had charged batteries for her weapons. Then a woman’s scream sounded from the hill’s base, and we heard several footsteps coming from the same direction.
Chapter Twenty-Five
More Friend Than Foe
A massive thank you to c6OmegaVerdant for his subtle gift to MAD.
The few that avoid Survival Planet’s monsters die to disease and starvation.
Thanks to the aforementioned subscriber’s contribution to our thinktank, MAD is on his way to achieving a self-sufficient Hub. With the correct upgrades, our favorite group of humans may rain chaos on the producers.
Good job for making the bookmakers rage!
“Sounds like someone needs our help,” I said, double-checking my prosthetic’s fitting. Fortunately, I had brought the Gloop Shooter for a little test. “The rifle isn’t charged. In its base form, it will shoot freezing plasma—”
“That’s not a thing.”
“I know, just giving you the cliff notes.” Instead of making the Mini-drone Launcher just a backpack, I had turned it into a breastplate. “The two buttons on either side of your collarbone will release a drone. Right for exploding. Left for wire. Unfortunately, without charge, the best you can do is point where you want it to go. If it’s a location, they’ll set up a tripwire or mine. If it’s a person, they’ll be entangled or boomed on.”
“I get it!” Caitlin said, fidgeting as another scream sounded from the hill’s base. It was much closer than the last one. “Let’s go already.”
“You two hang back and cover me,” I told them, activating the lab coat’s camouflage. “Don’t come in until I signal, David. Let’s assess the situation before we attack.”
“Got it,” he replied.
I released the Pogo Heelies’ wheels before charging downhill. Fortunately, everyone had a communications device now. I alerted the rest of the team while speeding around a thicket of growing Balloon Pods. Liam took to the air straight away. Kitty had just undressed to get into the shower. She’d need a few extra minutes to get to us. Jay responded last. He’d gone up to the Menagerie and struggled to hear us over its regular racket.
“Don’t go in alone,” Kitty said, and Liam repeated the sentiment.
“I won’t.”
“I mean it, Matt.” I heard the shower turn off in the background and Kitty yelped, probably having slipped on someth
ing. “If you have to engage, stay at range and on the defensive until we get there.”
“I’ll be there to pull him out if things get hairy,” Jay told us.
The lab coat didn’t make me invisible, it just made it easier to blend into the environment. So I stuck to the pavements, moving between cars and buildings. Traveling down the middle of the road would make it easier for whatever we faced to spot us. Caitlin and David followed me on foot. We didn’t know how many people we’d be facing or their sensory capabilities, so they traveled at a brisk walk, keeping their heads low.
To err on the side of caution, I prepped the Charge Launcher. It was the oldest of all my Creations. Perhaps it was the age of the device or maybe the several McGuffins powering it, but the Charge Launcher had the most potent “voice” and consciousness of everything I had built so far. After using it against the platyhawk king, we understood each other a lot better. The device told me the most appropriate form for the situation, and I trusted it.
Thanks to the several moving parts and biometal gland, the Charge Launcher no longer had a set form for each mode. The Charge Launcher and I had the power to tweak each weapon to meet the current requirements. The Charge Launcher’s projectiles were too flashy and would give my location away. The Sonic Shotgun would suffer from range issues no matter what shape the weapon took.
In the end, I went for the Coil Gun. My right forearm opened up, and liquid biometal flowed around the opening, forming a cylindrical barrel. Liam had helped me come up with the form during the night. It sacrificed firepower for speed. It was as close to a semi-automatic weapon as the Charge Launcher would ever get. The gun hummed to life, making a lot less noise than usual. The barrel contained the usual sound and masked the blue glow too. I intended to test a couple of other forms for stealthy maneuvers, but that would have to wait for later.
