Winter Dread, page 35
I nodded. “I trust you. Trust me.”
“I do, Kyle. I do.”
I heard pings but wasn’t getting any notifications.
My insides melded with his station. And within a second my mind was flooded with so much more information. I could see what I wanted to, I could find and feel much more. It hurt though, and I wanted to give in, to let myself go.
I WOULD NOT LET GO OR EVER GIVE IN!
As I sifted through the information, I clocked that we were indeed a few hours out from the nearest planet. Combing over the details from my friends, I could see Naylar wasn’t going to make it. She had to. We had to. We all had to.
What could I do to help this? To make it easier, faster . . . it had to be faster. All of it.
I saw some of what I needed to do. I saw some of what I wanted.
“I need to use kenosi. Push the engines, but not a full jump. We’re too close to jump.” Or were we? Yes, there was no way we could. Numbers, code steams. They all melted into one long stream of things assaulting my brain, but I was absorbing it again.
“Jai.” I spoke. “I’m going to jump the ship.”
“You can’t. We’re too close to the planet. We don’t have the energy!”
“I know, we don’t have a choice. I need everyone with kenosi by the engine room. I’m going to have to draw directly from them, I have nothing in here.”
The thing I was occupying wasn’t kenosi capable, but if I could direct and manage someone with words, and punch into the computer the co-ordinates down to the tiniest detail, we could make this without the worry.
I heard his voice over the comms asking the crew to move to the engine, to wait on my orders.
And they did. I was sure I could see where I needed to go, what I needed to do. I was still too close to getting us there in time. If I moved us slightly now, it would help. Cut the timing down. But it wouldn’t be enough to shave off hours.
“Jai.” He was kneeling in front of me in a second.
“What do you need?”
“Just you,” I managed to stutter out. “Just you.”
He placed a hand on my knee though, and I felt some great comfort from it. With focus on the number I needed, I waited, waited for the engines to power slightly, just enough.
I knew Jai watched the counter to my left, just as I did.
“Crew of Artemis,” I spoke. “This is a tight jump. We may hit turbulence. Secure yourselves if you can. On my mark.”
The bar filled to the capacity I needed. I felt another hand on my shoulder, knowing it was Sadie.
“Jump.”
The ship lurched, and I felt Jai move with it, digging his fingers into my metal. Then it seemed like we’d hit a wall. The ship stopped dead.
Lights exploded and the klaxons sounded. Jai was on his feet next to me, I pushed myself up. “We’re heading to the med bay. Get us the rest of the way, no matter how much you have to push her.”
I heard someone’s voice come through as we were leaving the bridge. “The engines are severely damaged, Jai. If you push them too much, they’re not going to make it.”
I paused by the door, tapped the comms, “Spike, Denn. Help the engine rooms do everything the hell you can to get us to that planet!”
She faltered. I knew I would. “Sir,” came her reply, and Sadie helped me away from the door once more, and back to the med bay.
There was no shortage of emergencies as we walked through the door. Sadie was off within seconds, seeing to a few crew members that were injured.
I went straight to Naylar and noted her stats. Her life was slipping away.
My mind drifted to the ship once more, and as the strain on her vibrated through the hull, I also knew she was in deep trouble.
“Hang in there, Naylar,” I said, “Please hang in there.”
I looked to the others in the room, knew they were also in trouble. I hurt, hurt more than I ever had, and if I’d had tear ducts, I knew I’d be crying right now.
The ship lurched beneath me. “Jai?” I asked.
“Engines are struggling, Kyle. We’re almost there. Denn says we will make it, but we’re going to have to push out the cores, once we’re there.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “We’ll be stranded?”
“Not for long. How’s she doing?”
I looked down to her, saw her mind map dip some more. “A minute at best.”
He didn’t speak again. That minute started to tick down. It was agony.
“We’re here, we’re in the safe zone.” Jai’s voice came through then. “Pull the plug.”
I didn’t know what to do. Sadie was beside me, her hand on my arm as she stepped forward and pulled out just one line that was attached to Naylar’s arm.
Watching her flat line broke me. Sadie moved quickly through to the others and did the same, pulling the life support out from under them. She came to me, “Kyle, will you lie back down while I do this?”
“You need to kill me?”
“Technically, yes.”
I moved back to my bed and lay down. “Thank you,” I said. “Thank you.”
Sadie reached for something that just looked like a paddle. And the next time she touched me I was jolted sharply with pure electricity.
YOU HAVE DIED
My stats flashed before me, and I read them, but wasn’t interested. I wanted to respawn. Now.
Kyle Ranz - Contains -
Name - Xe
Species - Trion
Name - Kyle Ranz
Species - Unknown
Year of Death - 2629
Class = Fighter/Sorcerer
Age 18 + 2
Level = 65
Respawns = 6
Mech Command
Memories = 88%
Health = 46%
Kenosi = Rank 125
Kenosi Merge - Rank Master
Nanites/Trion x 335,470
Body Type = Denti
Structural Integrity = Silver
Internal AI Chip = AX 717 - Drudel X Class
Skin Strength = 96
Blood Capacity = 83
Healing Speed = 92
Overall Personal Level = 909
Strength = 121
Dexterity = 112
Constitution = 364
Intelligence = 268
Wisdom = 156
Charisma = 40
Luck = 62
Quick Points = 0
Mech Warrior Operational Level = 251
Mech Command - Rank 38
Battle Mage - Rank 80
Mech Pilot - Rank 72
Nanite Engineer - Rank 80
Nanite Factory - 94
Human/Machine Interface - Rank 85
Mech Merge - Rank 76
Mech Remote Control - Rank 15
Remote Control - All - Rank 22
Mega Merge - Rank 5
Molecular Insight - Rank 73
Molecular Manipulation - Rank 56
Acceleration/Deceleration - Rank 50
Combustion - Rank 13
Reversion - Rank 12
Soul Split - Rank 10
Vrolsh Coding Learned
CAD Tech - Rank 21
Kiain Language - Rank 6
Emaxyol Language - Rank 1
Drop Ship Pilot - Rank 15
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 39
Foot Soldier - Rank 40
Merc - Rank 33
Sniper - Rank 19
Gun Smith - Rank 19
Shadow Awareness - Maxed out
Future Insight - Rank 15
Reconstruction Expertise - Rank 30
Null Gravity Management – Rank 23
Sword Play - Rank 65
Emergency Medicine - Rank 18
Psychology - None Human - Rank 23
Psychology - Human/Denti - Rank 43
Muscle Healing - Rank 25
Poison Resistance - Rank 24
Viral Fighting - Rank 15
Night Sight - Rank 25
Deception - Rank 34
Negotiator - Rank 55
Detective - Rank 15
Space Politics - Rank 24
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.
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 - Active - 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%
Spell - Fortified Tattoo - you have been gifted the crest of a god - when active this increases your - kenosi x 20, and all stats x 20 - you may only use this once per day. Lasts as long as your Kenosi does, Kenosi strength dependant.
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
Debt to Darkness - Owed - He will not forget
Yun
Sitha Male
Level 89
Health = 82%
Strength = 184
Constitution = 105
Dexterity = 75
Intelligence = 72
Wisdom = 29
Charisma = 27
Luck = 30
Kenosi = Rank Unknown – draws from his bonded partner and the denti master.
Special Attributes
Made within the shadows, born of noble blood, all Sitha are sacred creatures to never be harmed. They are loyal to the core, respected by all species. Hurt or maim one, and your life energies will suffer until you can do something to redeem yourself. Chances are, you never will.
Abilities = Skilled Keix = Level 60 = Skilled swordsman. Once kenosi is harnessed, this Sitha is a killer. Nothing can withstand the sharpness of his blade or the strength with which he will wield it in your defence.
37
This was different once again. I was being respawned into a new body. This time it was much more like a regular one. Like when we first lost Xirob, this wasn’t a denti merge. There was no one else in here with me, I was sure of it. I could feel the fluid in my lungs, and the liquid sloshing around me as I forced myself up out of it.
I had notifications everywhere, but I had no time. The first words I croaked out were, “Naylar!”
I felt arms around me. Helping me. Pulling me to the side and to the front. Then up and out.
“Kyle. You’re okay,” a voice said. “You’re safe. She’s safe.”
My mind reeled. “Where is she?”
“They’re not coming around yet,” they said. “Give them some time.”
The person whose eyes I was drawn to, I didn’t know. I didn’t know any of them in here. They just were denti, obviously, but who, what . . .
I almost collapsed, but strong arms held me up. Then there was another voice. “Kyle, I’ve got you.” It was deep, it resonated within my mind.
I knew the voice from a long time ago. I grappled for anything to help me. Limp in his arms. “Xirob?”
“Yes,” he said. “It is I.”
I struggled against the arms that held onto me so tight.
“Get off me!” I shouted. I hated everything he was. I wanted to kill him and hug him. Everything all at once. I wanted him away from me, for his betrayal. Oh God, everything he’d said, done. It was all a lie.
The fact he’d never even contacted me, and he was alive!
My eyes stung, and yet the more I tried to push him away, the more he hung on. He didn’t let me go.
There were lights and sirens at the pod at the end of the room. The doctor who was in front of me turned and ran. Naylar? No, they’d said she was okay.
“Who is it?” I croaked, licking dry lips. But I got no reply, as there were others suddenly around the pod. They were trying everything to help the person on the inside. The green bar above the pod, his pod, was turning red.
Fuck!
“It’s Hiroto,” Xirob’s low whisper came to me. “It looks like he’s not taking. They’re trying everything they can.”
“I can’t lose him,” I said, sparking kenosi inside me, which wouldn’t even light a candle.
“I know.” Xirob watched with me as they desperately tried to do something. This reminded me of so much, saving Dylan, then I felt the pain he would know when he’d lost his mate.
The first doctor came back to us. “General, we can’t get his mind to take. He’s floating within the system still. But we’re losing him.”
“No,” I said. “No way.” I looked up at Xirob, gripped his arms tight. “Put me back in the pod. I’ll take him.”
The doctor looked at me strangely. “You can’t, that would be virtual suicide.”
“Tell them I can, and I will.” I glared at Xirob. I knew we hadn’t talked, I knew there was so much more to him than I’d ever imagined, and yet I trusted he’d do the one thing right now I needed him to.
He dipped his head to me, then looked to the doctor. “Do as he asks. He’s had both minds inside him before. He can do it again.”
The doctor hesitated even more, shaking her head. “This is totally different, general, and you know it. He was brought here with Hiroto already inside his head—you’re asking us to allow two very different minds to join.”
I wasn’t listening to her anyway, and Xirob was already helping me back to the pod I’d came out of.
“Kyle,” he said as he lowered me in. “I’m not avoiding you. I have so much I need to say, I want to say. To talk.”
“We’ll talk after.” I grasped onto his arm as he lowered me back in. I didn’t want to let him go either. I stared deeply into his eyes. “We will talk. I promise.”
“You’ve got this,” he said and eased me down some more. “I know you have.”
Then he let go, and the fluid covered me again.
I heard the doctor shout from the end of the room, “He’s out of time!” just as the lid closed over me.
I sank back into the liquid. I didn’t know what was going to happen.
Xirob’s voice came through to me from outside. “Kyle, this is not going to be like anything you’ve experienced before. You’re conscious. Just like I was those many years ago.”
There were lights flashing above my head, flickers of something. I realised as soon as I saw them what they were. They were Hiroto. Part of his make-up, his mind. Tiny pulses of energy, of him.
It sparked above me, and lightning reached out and struck my chest. My head seemed to implode. I lost my balance, and the liquid filled my nose and lungs again. I couldn’t fight it; I was drowning back into it.
“Don’t fight it,” Xirob said.
But it was hard, so hard. Most flashing lights and pain assaulted my eyes, my mind.
KYLE RANZ = HEALTH 22%
I could see things I hadn’t before. There was a childhood I never experienced, a life that I hadn’t had. All of it passed before me, as the pain increased.
I screamed out.
I wanted to die.
KYLE RANZ = HEALTH 12%
I needed to die.
I couldn’t die.
My health fell more, my kenosi levels nothing. I couldn’t help or heal myself. This was it.
I couldn’t die!
KYLE RANZ = HEALTH 2%
I. Have. To. Do. This.
I had to save him.
As the light seemed to grow brighter and brighter, I could do nothing else but close my eyes.
“Hang in there,” Xirob’s voice whispered through the pod. “Please, Kyle, hang in there.”
I could feel his emotions coming through to me, as I also felt his kenosi. He was helping. He was giving me the strength to do this.
KYLE RANZ = HEALTH 6%
I tried to focus to not feel the pain, to see everything as what it was. As the life moved to more recent events, I saw it through Hiroto’s eyes. His own death, his first transfer into my mind. Then I was back under the forest dweller, stuck.
I was just about to raise the dagger into the air when I saw a red flag across my screen.
INTERNAL REQUESTING CONVERSATION
Y/N
I ignored it.
But the internal spoke up, anyway. Cutting off your own arm is a bit dire, Kyle?
What the fuck would you know? I shouted to the world.
Damn. No need to be cranky, I can hear you.
I’m about to cut my arm off. I don’t need sarcasm from some gaming AI.
I am not a game AI, Kyle. Would you like to hear what I was going to suggest?
I lost my momentum then and paused with the dagger inches from my skin.
What? What is so important that you had to interrupt me right this minute?
Would you like the sensors in your arm switched off?
