Chapter 4: Congratulations!

Her arms burned as, together, they hauled Luke down the corridor. The sirens had not stopped screaming.

“Woohoo! Those donkeys dared call my baby a flashbang? Well, look what it did to them! I bet half of them are still stumbling over their boots!” Spiky-hair roared, pumping his fist into the air.

“Neon… not the time… or the place…,” Luke choked out.

His head was lolling from side to side. The blood loss was making him weak and delirious.

From the direction they had come from, there were shouts.

Sweat was pouring down Yan’s sides. Her breathing was ragged. This body was really not used to physical exertion.

“Come on! The pod is just up ahead!” Neon shouted, gesturing.

Looking up from Luke’s blood trail, Yan saw that the corridor had changed. There were sturdy, sealed doors every few paces to either side.

A red light hung in front of each door.

It did not take her long to figure out that a red light meant the absence of a pod. The other evacuees must have already escaped.

“Not those! That one!” Neon exclaimed, pointing to a green light at the farthest end of the corridor. She had somehow missed it.

Movement caught her eye. A soldier burst out from around the bend they had just come from.

Thinking fast, Yan scooped up Luke’s pistol, pointed it at the enemy and squeezed the trigger. A burst of searing light shot downrange, charring into the walls. There was a shout of alarm and the soldier ducked back behind cover.

“We’re almost there! Keep laying down covering fire!” Neon shouted.

Yan did not quite understand “covering fire” but she got the gist.

A head popped out around the corner. She took aim and yanked on the trigger. All she heard was a click.

The light in the capsule above was gone.

Three Aramians darted out from around the bend.

“Drop your weapons and surrender!” The lead soldier commanded.

“Oh, Mother Void take you all!” Neon shouted as he reached his free hand into his lab coat and drew out a small oval object. Belatedly, Yan realised that the researcher was cursing.

“Then, you will die,” the leader replied. The soldiers started firing, unleashing a hail of bullets in Yan’s direction.

Neon smashed the object into the ground. A shield of translucent green energy flared, blocking the entire hallway.

As the bullets collided into the barrier, they slowed to a crawl. When they finally slid out the other side, they tinkled harmlessly to the ground.

Neon grinned at Yan. “First field application of my never-before-seen gel barrier! And it succeeded! Oh, patent pending!”

She gave him a weak smile. Her brows were soaked with sweat and she was just exhausted.

He shrugged and hit a button on the wall.

The last door along the corridor slid open, revealing a cramped hexagonal chamber. A control panel and seat were set against the far end beneath a panel of black glass. Four more seats were mounted along the walls, one on each side of the hexagon.

With a final tug, they hauled Luke into the pod and Neon sprinted over to the controls.

“Hang on tight!” He roared as he smashed his fist into an oversized red button.

Immediately, the door snapped shut.

Yan did as she was told, clinging tightly onto a handlebar built into the side of the pod, her other hand gripping Luke by his protective vest. The man had long since passed out from blood loss and if there was nothing they could do about his wound in the next few minutes…

She preferred not to think about that.

The pod shook and for a moment, nothing happened.

There was a hiss of escaping gas. Tremors rocked the structure.

A voice came over the intercom. “Launching.”

The hiss built up into a roar that filled the entire pod and the tremors intensified, shaking the pod so hard that Yan worried it might fall apart.

There was a muffled banging on the door.

“Lift off.”

A tremendous pressure bore down on Yan’s body as they accelerated, pinning her to the ground.

“Anti-G shield activated. Artificial gravity generator activated. Cloaking activated. Running internal scan…”

As quickly as it had come, the pressure subsided. The roar ceased.

“All systems nominal. Coordinates for planned evacuation destination: Attenue Station, Lumius Uncharted Sector Number Three-Six-One not found. Please enter coordinates manually.”

Wincing, Yan got off the ground. The mad, headlong dash to this pod had taken its toll and her muscles felt like they would give out at any moment.

She turned her attention back to Luke. She had not dragged him this far to let him die now.

Casting her eyes about, Yan spotted a small, bright red glass cabinet mounted a little to the right of the control panel. Written under a huge red cross were the words: “Emergency First Aid”

The meaning of the cross was quite lost on Yan but she knew “aid”.

Springing up, she dashed over to the box. There was a single kit within. She grabbed it without hesitation.

“Oh, right, Luke!” Neon rushed over to help.

Figuring that it was probably better for a native of this world to handle the task, Yan let him take the lead. She watched as he deftly retrieved two objects from the kit: A corked vial and a steel flask, both containing some kind of liquid.

With the speed of a trained medic, he uncorked the vial and poured a green liquid over Luke’s wound.

It bubbled menacingly as it hit his flesh and quickly began coagulating into a thick, ugly scab.

“Good. That should hold until we get a Quick-Heal jab or a surgeon. We’re lucky that the bullet didn’t completely destroy his femoral artery,” Neon sighed before adding, “Whew! I need a drink!”

Without hesitation, he uncorked the steel flask and took a long swig. The pungent smell of alcohol was strong.

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“Ahhh… Just what the doctor ordered.”

Yan looked at him and shrugged. That sounded to her ears exactly like what a doctor might order for their patient.

“Sorry doc. You want some?” Noticing her gaze, Neon tilted the flask towards Yan.

She grimaced and waved it away.

Something flashed across his eyes, then he shrugged. “Eh, more for me then.”

The speaker crackled to life again. “Awaiting manual coordinates. All passengers be advised: Seatbelts are essential for a safe journey to your destination.”

“Doc, Luke said you were injured from the explosion in the portal room. Don’t see any wounds but maybe you’re a little concussed? Why not you strap in? I’ll see to this old man, then I’ll settle the coordinates.”

She nodded. Despite his appearance, this kid was surprisingly mature. Well, aside from his exuberance over his explosive toys anyway.

Yan got to her feet and headed over to one of the seats. The seatbelt was not hard to figure out. The protrusion went into the depression.

She strapped in and closed her eyes. There was not much to see in the pod besides metal and machinery. Besides, it had been a long, long day and there was a lot for her to unpack. If she was being given a chance, she was going to take it.

“Hi ImYan!”

Her eyes flew open and she almost fell out of her seat. That ghost! Again!

“Initiating post-scene sequence. Displaying acquisitions.”

A screen that she had never seen before appeared in her vision:

image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/134929635/4691d79ec81540c5bee8c098b157dfff/e30%3D/1.png?token-hash=q5d1D-5yMSOp7OS55zDhhe469YKtWRDsvxkZ83UiKlw%3D&token-time=1754784000]

What…?

She closed her eyes again. The screen flickered away, replaced by a more familiar one:

image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/134929635/c72b4b402a674808ab47f3a35fa92a85/e30%3D/1.png?token-hash=hLd6tQllwthxNy-WVRbLeTo71qedZPCYUbSICYEMn7M%3D&token-time=1754784000]

Thank you, I guess?

The screen disappeared. Yan was still not too sure how much she liked this SIERRA system but so far, the ghost eye had at least been somewhat helpful. Surely, there was no harm in looking.

“Congratulations! You have reached Level 2!”

That’s just great.

“I agree! Now, would you like to browse your very first set of unlockable abilities?”

And is that going to require a Module purchased from some Perigot-Sim Interactive retailer? Yan had learned the ghost’s tricks by now. It always wanted her to buy something.

“Not at all! Until Level 10, your abilities come free together with your Bionic Eye model X-09 and me, Sierra!

Ah. So that’s the catch.

“There’s no catch at all! If anything, the Bionic Eye model X-09 is the real catch! The catch of the day, that is!”

She could only take so much of this insufferable ghost. Just show me the abilities.

“With pleasure!”

A screen of glowing lines appeared over her vision. But if she was expecting a vast array of choices, she was sorely mistaken.

There were only three.

image [https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/134929635/59b2d51204184a68874992dba87d8821/e30%3D/1.png?token-hash=7lF01_k9LC_ZDD-VYAs0LFhwRR-Gs8rHRVByyQKi-jk%3D&token-time=1754784000]

“Please select the ability you wish to unlock. All remaining abilities will be selectable during the next level-up unless already obtained by other means.”

Wait. So I can obtain these by other means?”

“Certainly, ImYan! You may, for instance, train for many months to attain the skills of a Blade Initiate. Upon demonstrating your newfound skills, I will automatically award you the corresponding ability without charge. Any bonuses will still be granted to you.”

And are there only three options? Is there anything else I can choose from?

“I’m afraid not, ImYan. I can assure you that all abilities in this selection have the most significant likelihood of providing you with the most rewarding experience possible.”

How do you know that?

“While I cannot share the specifics of my algorithms, I can assure you that they minimally account for your past performance and expressions of interest alongside your physical and mental limitations.”

Algorithms? What’s an algorithm?

“Oh… I’m so sorry. Unfortunately, the Dictionary Module has not been installed. Please purchase the Module at your nearest Perigot-Sim Interactive retailer! The nearest Perigot-Sim Interactive retailer is in the Cristom Cluster. Would you like directions?”

No. That would not be necessary.

Half-opening her eyes, Yan noted that Luke had already been secured into the seat across from her. Neon was busy standing over the controls, one hand holding his flask, the other playing around with the buttons.

Clearly, somebody had decided that they did not need a seatbelt - or even a seat.

“Very well. To repeat, please select the ability you wish to unlock.”

Actually, why is it that I can understand Neon and Luke when they speak? But I can’t speak their language?

“Astute observation, ImYan! Our CEO, John Perigot, in his infinite generosity, has decided to provide all users of the Bionic Eye model X-09 with access to its patented inbound language translation feature. However, speaking other languages is only available via long years of study, level ups or the purchase of associated Modules! For the sake of your sanity, the last is recommended.”

So Perigot just decided to randomly choose what to give and what not to give? Is there no consistency to this?

There was a slight pause, punctuated by the whirling of her eye. Then, it chirped, “ImYan, it would appear that I have a specific subroutine to answer precisely this question: If consistency is preferred, all features offered free of charge, limited or otherwise, can be consistently removed. Would that be to your liking?”

Hold on a moment! No! There’s no need for that.

“Very good. I’ve made a note of your response. Let us please return to our original selection.”

Much as Yan wanted to regain some of her magical abilities, it seemed a far smarter move to choose Multi-lingual. While it was best for her to keep quiet and let the two think that she was still “speaking in tongues”, she would probably need to communicate with other people who did not know Dr. Regina soon.

Multi-lingual. I want whatever language Luke and Neon were speaking just now.

“That would be Universal Common. Good choice!”

The selection screen disappeared.

There was a click in her eye and when it continued, it spoke fast.

“Prior to commencement, I’m legally obligated to inform you that all selections made are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Perigot-Sim Interactive is not responsible for any pain, nausea, internal brain haemorrhage or spontaneous combustion caused directly or indirectly by this procedure. Selection constitutes acceptance of the aforementioned.”

You gotta be kidd-

“Initiating level-up procedures.”

There was a brief zap in the back of her brain - or was it in her mouth?

A box appeared over the centre of her vision, announcing, “Language unlocked: Universal Common”.

“Procedure complete! How did it feel?” As the ghost chirped, the box disappeared.

Anti-climatic. Shouldn’t there be some kind of pain?

“ImYan, that can certainly be arranged! Would you like -”

No… Just forget that I sai - thought anything.

She felt motion and her eyes snapped open, the screen quickly fading away. Neon was waving his hand inches from her face.

Yan bit back a shout of annoyance.

“Hey! Welcome back to the land of the living! Just wanted to tell you that Luke’s awake!”

She nodded and glanced over at the grizzled old man. His head drooped a little as he tried to lift it up.

“Where - What happened? I feel horrible.”

Neon grinned wide and spun around to face Luke. “We’re on the escape pod!”

Luke flashed a brief smile that quickly devolved into sombre brooding. “So they struck us after all, eh?”

Neon nodded, strolling back to the controls. “They needed more things that go boom, I suspect. Scientists, knowledge, facilities, the whole shebang. Might have something to do with all the wars they keep waging. Or all the subjects that keep revolting against their doctrine.”

“Yeah, absolute order. That’s going to work out for sure,” Luke scoffed.

“Ding, ding, ding! A hundred points for you, Luke!”

The man in question sighed. “You’ve got to stop treating me like a kid, Neon. I’m turning fifty this year.”

Neon chortled as he swept a hand over the controls, abruptly changing the subject. “I’ve got bad news, by the way. This pod was meant to reach Attenue Station. That’s about fifteen days out. Problem is that they seem to have disappeared off the radar.”

“That’s… bad. Did Aramia hit them too?”

“My guess is as good as yours. Next known destination is Narius Port in the Cristom Cluster,” Neon paused before continuing, “It’s fifty days out.”

“There aren’t enough rations in this pod for that long!”

In all honesty, Yan had not even seen rations in this pod. But given her unfamiliarity with this world, she could just be missing a few obvious signs that pointed to their location.

“Well, if we rationed really hard… and ate the weakest…,” Neon began.

“Neon!” Luke let out an exasperated groan.

“What? I was just being honest! Why do you think they put a stiff drink in with the medkit?” Neon asked, waving the flask around. The remaining alcohol sloshed noisily. Answering his own question, he added, “When things get bad, you turn off the life support, sit down in a circle and talk about the good times. Passing this around helps the end come quic-”

He was interrupted by an incessant beeping from the controls. One of the many small glass panels flared red.

“Alert! Freighter-class vessel detected. The Silent Sail. Affiliation Unknown. Please initiate any hailing manually.”

There was silence in the room.

Neon was the first to break it.

“Well, that’s our ticket out of cannibalism. Affiliation Unknown, though.”

Luke continued the train of thought. “Aye, could be pirates. Could be Aramia. Could even be actual cannibals.

Neon nodded, his shock of purple hair bobbing up and down. “From eating to being eaten? Sounds fun! I reckon we let the boss decide.”

They both exchanged a glance and looked towards Yan.

Thrust into the spotlight, Yan froze, her mind spinning - or was that her eye?

“Initiating Analysis-Recommendation Protocol. Three Protocol uses remaining.

Analysis: Given the vastness of space and the particular remoteness of the current location, the chances of encountering another vessel are very low.

Recommendation: Initiate hailing procedures.”