Winter Dread, page 2
I held myself straight as we approached an actual doorway. The number on the door matched what Melody had said. “I’m sorry to say we don’t have guest rooms, but you can stay in here. The girls will be re-assigned from tonight onwards.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I said. “I didn’t mean to push anyone else out.”
“Is it okay that you’re in here?” Beth opened the door, and I could see two rows of beds and tables at the far end.
Ten, I counted. Five down each side. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry I’m not being ungrateful, I promise.”
She nodded. “Good. All of this is something we have never done before. The other men who were with you, and the women have the other wing. Afternoon snacks are always out at this time. Eat what you need and rest.”
“That sounds good,” I said, and I meant it. My legs felt lighter and unsteady even with the energy flowing around here.
Beth motioned for us to go inside. Hiroto stepped through, and I followed. The door hissed and locked.
Crap. I slammed my hand on it. It should have been obvious they wouldn’t want us wandering around on our own.
I looked to the room before me. It spanned around sixty feet, maybe slightly more. There were beds to each side, each with the same neatly folded sheets. It looked like any private school or military base bunks. To be fair, they had a lot more space between bunks, though, and what looked like decent supplies.
Without Hiroto’s support, I walked cautiously towards the table at the other end of the room.
When I reached it, I gulped down a glass of water.
Careful there, Sol said. I don’t want you overloading our system.
I poured another glass, and then just held it to my chest without drinking. I stared at the beds in the room. The precision to each and every one. No matter what, we had to discuss and decide, right here now. We’d made a difference. That mattered.
2
“I’m exhausted,” Hiroto said, leaning on the table, nursing his own glass of water. He looked back out to the large span of the room and then to the nearest bed. He drank deeply, picked up a plate and filled it with snacks, and then moved to sit on one bed to his left. I followed his example and sat on the one next to him, leaning back. I placed the water and snacks onto a small cabinet so I could pick at them.
I lay back, then turned on my side to watch him. I found he was also watching me. “Feels weird, right?”
He ran a hand over his arms, and I saw a frown grace his forehead. “I didn’t think I’d feel so sad, yet happy at the same time.” He paused. “I already miss you.”
I could only nod. This isn’t a slight against you, Sol.
I know, he replied to me. I am floored at what you have been through, and I am honoured to be the one here with you now.
“I have to actually speak to you,” I said toward Hiroto. “That’s the weird thing.”
“Kyle,” he asked, his voice soft, unsure. “You could have gone home, right? Why didn’t you?”
I hoped he wouldn’t ask. Maybe I could at least get some time to think about what I would say. What I felt over that decision. During the respawn I thought maybe for a second or so on the choice I wanted to make. All my friends were here. The life we had and what they would face without me if I had gone home . . . that wasn’t worth thinking about. The war was real. I’d seen it.
“Yes,” I said, taking the glass of water again. “Yes, I got the option, and I didn’t take it.”
“Why?”
“Because I hoped you hadn’t. Because that’s the person I believed we both were. With Paul and Craig also here. It wouldn’t have been you to leave us.”
“What about your father?”
I winced. My heartbeat picked up. “I hope he’s living a life trying to do the best he can and waiting for us all to return. But I also know he would be proud of me, of my friends.”
“Do you think Lyndsey went home?”
That question I had thought about, but I wasn’t sure if I’d ever get the real answer, so I choose the one I knew of her.
“Yes, she would have picked home,” I said. “As much as she would have wanted to be here with us. She also had to report back to the ones there on Earth. I know for a fact she will be with my father, right now, if not coming up with another plan to get back to us.”
“I’d like to think that of her, yes.”
I settled back on the bed, the soft covers totally unscented. Not even a sniff of soap. I found it comforting in the great scheme of things that had happened. And the room melted away as I drifted off slightly.
“Kyle,” Hiroto whispered, rousing me. “Sleep. I need to sleep too. I feel like I need to sleep for a very long time.”
I turned to watch him again, and I could see his eyes were closed. This time I watched him sleep, thoughts inside my mind whirring around and around.
He wasn’t your mate? But you love him? Sol asked.
I laughed at that and silently crept off the bed to cover him with a blanket from the bottom of the bed. I guess I do, like a brother. Family. He seemed to mumble and then he tucked himself into the blanket and turned over fast asleep. I climbed back into my bed, tugging the blanket over me. Then I pulled up my character sheet. There were a ton of changes. The level down stung, but at least I hadn’t dropped anything else.
Kyle Ranz - Contains -
Name - Sol
Pure Denti Merge
Name - Kyle Ranz
Species - Unknown
Year of Death - 2629
Class = Fighter/Sorcerer
Age 18 + 2
Level = 60
Respawns = 4
Mech Command
Memories = 89%
Health = 67%
Kenosi = Rank 113
Kenosi Merge - Rank Master
Nanites x 0
Body Type = Denti
Structural Integrity = Silver
Internal AI Chip = 0
Skin Strength = 102
Blood Capacity = 86
Healing Speed = 92
Overall Personal Level = 707
Strength = 111
Dexterity = 23
Constitution = 172
Intelligence = 268
Wisdom = 156
Charisma = 40
Luck = 62
Quick Points = 2
Mech Warrior Operational Level = 230
Mech Command - Rank 38
Battle Mage - Rank 80
Mech Pilot - Rank 72
Nanite Engineer - Rank 78
Nanite Factory - 89
Human/Machine Interface - Rank 75
Mech Merge - Rank 75
Mech Remote Control - Rank 15
Molecular Insight - Rank 69
Molecular Manipulation - Rank 54
Acceleration/Deceleration - Rank 45
Combustion - Rank 13
Reversion - Rank 12
Soul Split - Rank 5
Vrolsh Coding Learned
CAD Tech - Rank 21
Kiain Language - Rank 6
Emaxyol Language - Rank 1
Shuttle Operator - Rank 17
Freighter Operator - Rank 13
Computer Science - Rank 12
Electronics and Communication - Rank 17
Electrical Engineering - Rank 18
Mechanical Engineering - Rank 21
Information Technology - Rank 24
Hacker - Rank 32
Foot Soldier - Rank 30
Merc - Rank 28
Sniper - Rank 19
Gun Smith - Rank 19
Shadow Awareness - Maxed Out
Future Insight - Rank 13
Reconstruction Expertise - Rank 25
Null Gravity Management – Rank 18
Sword Play - Rank 60
Emergency Medicine - Rank 18
Psychology - None Human - Rank 21
Psychology - Human/Denti - Rank 39
Muscle Healing - Rank 25
Poison Resistance - Rank 19
Viral Fighting - Rank 15
Night Sight - Rank 25
Deception - Rank 29
Negotiator - Rank 50
Detective - Rank 10
Space Politics - Rank 16
Animal Handling - Rank 15
Intelligence = You are smart already. + 20 Intelligence, + 20 Wisdom, + 20 Charisma, + 20 Luck
Special Traits Awarded x 2 – Any extras here do not show on your Stat Sheet Totals.
Healer = Internal AI Chip X Class – Crystalline and Silver metal Chip with integrated healer nanites led by Xe.
Shade Brain – 1 in a million, you managed to not only keep your memories, but you can also hide them. Your character sheet is elusive to even the strongest of will. UPGRADED - No one can penetrate your Shade now!
Spells - Active - Intensive Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 50
These new spells increase not only the strength and speed of your healing, but the distance you can use it.
Spells - Passive - Slow Fire Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 120
Spells - Passive - Medium Fire Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 150
Spells - Passive - Rapid Fire Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 200
Spell - Active - Lightning Fury – Requires Kenosi of Rank 20 – Damage increased by 50%
Particle projectile cannon
Uses energy direct from Kenosi reserves
Can store within battery compartments to aid when needed
Special attributes – when inside a mech it will enlarge to the size needed by its soul bonded owner
Familiar - Separated - Penalties induced
Debt to Darkness - Owed - He will not forget
It was seriously interesting to see the changes this time. Of course, a lot had altered. It had no choice. The new spells over kenosi rank of a hundred were great to see. I could see other goals, things to reach for. It did however mean there would be more to lose. I was sure. And two quick points.
I had to read it twice, and then a third time. I couldn’t understand it.
Arndale had no control here anymore; with what everyone witnessed, it had to have crumbled. I needed to speak with those on Flaour, Yun, the other Mega Mech team leaders.
YOU WERE AWARDED JUST 1 QUICK POINT FOR FREEING THE DENTI WOMEN
YOU WERE AWARDED 1 QUICK POINT FOR FREEING YOUR FAMILIAR YUN
THERE WAS GREAT LOSS OF LIFE ON FLAOER 1 OTHER QUICK POINT FOR FREEING THEM FROM ARNDALE WAS DEDUCTED FROM YOUR REWARDS
ARNDALE, HOWEVER, ARE NOT DEFEATED
That sucked, but those words—GREAT LOSS OF LIFE—they really stung. I sighed and then read.
MISSION LOG - ARNDALE’S THREAT REMAINS
TO DEFEAT THEM FOR GOOD YOU MUST RETURN TO EARTH
Sol’s voice came to me then as I struggled with my thoughts. This is who you are. What we are?
Yes, I am a warrior who is fighting the good fight. Against . . .
I wasn’t sure who they were. I’d only seen them, seen that fight. Those mechs, they stretched for miles, in full-on battle.
I’ve witnessed it, Sol said. You couldn’t just be someone normal, could you?
I found myself laughing once again. Normal—is that what you expect from the first ever real conscious and fully merged of our species?
He laughed then. No, my mother told me as she called my life force to her that this if it worked would be something very different. She also made me a little special as well.
Oh. He had my curiosity here. How are you special?
She asked me to keep my memories from a previous life, not to regress to a form that wouldn’t hurt with the takeover of your species. Usually the rebirth of us is into a blank state, even if we know it’s coming, hurts.
I’m sorry, I said.
Don’t be. You can’t help what came before you. You can help what comes now, correct?
I will do my best. You have my word on that.
I looked back to my character sheet. I was doing so well. Now I did have this extra respawn and memory loss, but at least it was just that one percent. It annoyed me more than it should, wondering what memories were lost. I pushed the thought.
I peeked over to Hiroto. I really wanted to see what he had inside him. I was sure he was going to be more than a master in many things. I couldn’t wait for him to wake so I could see for myself.
I turned on my side, pulled the blanket up and around my shoulders, and tucked myself in. I needed sleep too.
I don’t need to turn you off, do I? Like Hiroto would?
No, I said. I will sleep for as long as needed. This is a natural one and is much needed.
I drifted off almost immediately. It was strange to be here. I dreamed of many things, things which disturbed me, and I tossed and turned quite a lot. Lyndsey, my dad. Paul and Craig and then, and then of course I drifted towards the woman I loved. Shion.
When I stirred in my dreams. Sol asked, She is still alive, yes?
I nodded and knew he felt it. Yes. She is. And I really want to see her again. I miss her too.
I can feel that. Will we feel everything the other does?
Yes, I am sorry. I will and so will you. I know Hiroto and Xirob managed to block it out. Maybe you can have a chat with him on how he managed to do it.
I will. When we are all awake and in control and can talk freely without feeling like being watched.
Of course they’re watching us. This is a watched facility in general. I think this is why Tyto went with them. I think he would have been one of the only ones who could access the facility’s controls in full.
Probably. I’m glad he is there for them, though I trust he will talk to them properly on the whole integration . . . if that’s the right word.
Yes, I think it is. It will take a long time for them to come around to the idea they’re not under the same pressure they were.
I sighed. You know what I am going to tell them though, you’ve seen that side of things.
He seemed to frown then, just like Hiroto would. Yes, I have seen the war is real, that there are no other options for them.
There are options. They will get a choice.
You’re going to give them the choice to supply the respawn vats?
I thought about that for a moment. Would they donate their unborn souls, the spark that allowed us to respawn without force? The consequences of that one question would change all their lives and ours forever.
Yes, I said. Of course I am. They’re not prisoners here anymore, they need to make the choice for themselves.
That will be something I don’t know they’ll make wisely, he replied.
They will. I have full confidence in them that they’ll see what we’ve accomplished here, and what our goals are for everyone.
The sound of someone moving around woke me. “Hiroto?” I asked, stretching out.
“Yes, it is I. Just needed water. You want one?”
“Please.” I pushed the sheet back, and he came and sat on the end of my bed and passed it to me. “Thanks.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yes,” I said. “I feel better than I did, before. It’s one of the strangest things, though.”
“I believe that’s an effect of the real body and not the one we acquired on Artemis.”
That would actually make sense, Sol said. It was a body which had passed. Your ability to use it was much a miracle.
Hiroto raised an eyebrow at me. “Sorry, Sol agrees.”
“Is he nice?” Hiroto asked, turning the water round and around in his hand, his face flushed.
“Why, jealous?”
“A little, yes.” His shoulders sagged, and he looked away from me. “You’ve been my main companion for nearly six years, Kyle. I really miss that.” He risked a look back at me. “It’s like there’s a hole here.” He tapped his chest.
I almost choked. Sadness and pain flooded through me. “Yes,” I said, trying to change the subject. “He’s pretty nice. Yours—Akiar, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, Akiar.” Hiroto bobbed his head in a way that made me smile. He sipped his water. “He’s clever, in many different ways to me. I now understand how you felt all those times though with feelings and emotions from someone you didn’t know.”
“Kind of weird, isn’t it?” I said, watching his posture, facial twitches. I had a lot to learn about the physical Hiroto and I wanted to.
“Yes. I mean, I went into your head knowing I would get all of that,” he said, blushing still. “They were just told they were to keep their memories and this might be something different.”
“Yes, Sol said that too.”
“Do you think we can get some way to communicate inside here, without having to voice to each other?”
I thought only for a minute. “Maybe we need an AI chip like those Tyto and the others have. That would make some of the system work better for us, and we can access computers and interfaces easier. At the moment we’re real flesh and blood; there’s nothing metallic inside us, and I fear that’s given us a slight disadvantage.” I paused some more. “Oh, your character sheet?”
He grinned. “I should hold it back and not let you see it.” But with a flick of his hand, he shared it with me.
Name - Hiroto Toshiaki
Human Consciousness
Year of Death - 2628
Class = ?? Special Tech
Age 26
Level = 78
Respawns = 0
Chosen Specialty ??
Memories = 100%
Health = 98%
Kenosi = Rank 71
Kenosi Merge - Rank Master
Nanites x 0
Body Type = ??
Structural Integrity = ??
Internal AI Chip = 0
Skin Strength = 87
Blood Capacity = 62
Healing Speed = 26
Overall Personal Level = 390
Strength = 31
Dexterity = 24
Constitution = 38
