Chapter 2
'' The date is 14th of June 2273 ''
''...''
''...''
'' WHY THE h.e.l.l AM I IN 2273!!?? I was supposed to awaken in 2176, NOT IN 2273!!
How did that even happen… ''
'' We believe host was not originally part of Project G.o.d of War Super Soldiers, but of Project Eternity. Project Eternity was discontinued after the start of the war. System implanted in host's body was reaching critical point of degradation, therefore we have been looking through servers for a viable option to survive. ''
'' What do i have to do with your options to survive? ''
'' While searching for a way to extend body lifespan, we have discovered a file containing the in and outs of Project Eternity. Inside the file was the copy of hosts conscience. An artificial body with a human conscience is more viable than one with just the ACC System. ''
'' Sooo, that means… what exactly…? ''
'' We judged our chances to survive greater if we were to integrate your living conscience to our artificial one. Therefore we downloaded your conscience into the artificial body and merged our two consciences. ''
'' Ok, but how does that prolong your lifespan. ''
'' Inhibitors have been placed on the body to prevent it from moving without a living conscience. ''
'' That means you couldn't move before merging with me? ''
'' Precisely. ''
Thinking things out thoroughly, Karl then asked the following question.
'' Why were the inhibitors there in the first place? ''
'' The inhibitors were installed after the first wave of GoWSS artificial humans went rogue. ''
'' Went rogue how? ''
'' Whilst fighting, the artificial minds gained a will of their own. Gaining lifespan from defeating enemies, they understood that they could live forever if they never stopped killing. Following that discovery, they went on an indiscriminate killing spree and killed thousands of soldiers, enemies and allies. ''
Scared s.h.i.+tless, Karl was almost tempted to take his own life right there, thinking he would become a murder machine too. Mustering up some courage, he decided to ask a final question, before making his decision.
'' What are the chances of you going on a killing spree, with me inside. ''
'' System calculates chances are less than 0.000001% of going into a killing frenzy. Host has control over the body, therefore, we cannot force any movements or intentions upon it. ''
Feeling relief fall over him, his shoulders almost dropped to the floor. He was then struck with the other part of information he was lacking. They were at WAR! Not wanting to dwell over it too much, he decided it was time to move out of the lab and see what had become of his home planet.
Finding a plan of the place on the computer, he memorized it and set out for the exit. On the way to the exit, he thought about asking who they were at war with, but brushed the idea away, thinking it wasn't his business anyway. If the war was near him, how would the lab have survived, he thought.
Getting closer to the exit, he started noticing some changes in the decor. There no longer was dry walls or hanging ceilings. Everything was now made of concrete and metal reinforcements. Arriving at the lab exit, he understood why the place had seemed untouched. it was a freaking nuclear bunker!
The door was a huge steel plate, 10 meters tall, 6 meters wide and what looked like at least 6 inches thick. For all he knew, there could be a war waging right on the other side and he wouldn't notice it.
'' System, how do I open this door. ''
'' There seems to be an electronic panel in the wall, left of the door. ''
Exasperated he added '' I mean I don't have a pa.s.s for the panel. How do I open the door without a pa.s.s. ''
'' The System has basic hacking capabilities. If host permits it, We could take over the hands to perform the hack and open the door. ''
'' Ahhh, now that's useful. What else can you do exactly. ''
'' System has basic capabilities in many fields, including Combat, Hacking, Pursuit driving, Military vehicle driving and many more. Host will be notified if need be of such skills. ''
'' Hmmm ''
Seeing how the system might actually have it all covered, he felt safe and let it take over for the purpose of opening the huge steel giant in front of him.
After a few seconds of fiddling through the wires, the door finally let forth a screech of defeat, before cracking open for its adversary.
* CREEEEEK*
What Karl saw next took his breath away.
He was standing on the edge of a giant mountain, whose top was covered in snow. But what really astounded him, was the view below.
What used to be a nice valley with a small village in its center, was now an acc.u.mulation of craters resembling the face of the moon. Everything seemed burnt and destroyed.
'' Ohh my G.o.d, what happened here. ''
'' Information in the bases servers indicate that a big part of
'' But which country did this. These are the swiss alps, Switzerland has always been a neutral force. What country could have decided to make them an enemy? ''
'' Enemy forces were not from this world. ''
'' What do you mean not from this world? ''
'' The enemy came from another world, a planet named Tamara. ''
'' So you're saying this was caused by an alien invasion? ''
'' Indeed ''
'' But why? ''
'' Information leads to point that, the military during experiences to warp reality for mobility purposes, opened a wormhole to another galaxy, dominated by the Tamarains. Discussions were engaged for peace, but never concluded.''
'' So they're colonizers, that explains a lot. So- ''
'' SYSTEM ON FULL ALERT!!! Hostile detected 100 meters west of host. We advise host to hide or get ready to engage. ''
'' WHAT DO YOU MEAN ENGAGE AND HIDE WHERE, WE'RE ON THE SIDE OF A FU***** MOUNTAIN!!! ''
'' Hostile appears to be of cla.s.s F, on par with hosts current physical condition. Combat is advised as to lengthen hosts lifespan. ''
'' How could fighting lengthen my lifespan, I COULD DIE!!! ''
'' Host's current lifespan is calculated at 6 days, past that, if no genetic material has been consumed, host will die. ''
'' WHY DID I NOT NOW THAT YET!!! ''
'' System had concluded that informing host on how short of a lifespan was left, He might have panicked ''
'' OF COURSE I'M PANICKING, WHO WOULDN'T YOU DUMB AI!!! ''
'' Hostile now at 20 meters, imminent contact. If host desires to engage, System will plot the best course of action and correct any necessary movements to achieve combat victory. ''
'' You better, because you will die too, you dumb machine. I can't believe you hid that fact from me. From now on, i need to know how long is my lifespan, every time it reaches a threshold worth noticing. ''
'' Hostile 5 meters away. Enemy has noticed you and is fast nearing from the sky. Best course of action is to dodge back now and jump back forward on enemy's back. ''
'' This has better work. ''
'' Hup, Hahh!! ''
'' Jumping course has been corrected by 10% strength. ''
'' Hah, already telling me I'm not doing good, this is promising. ''
As he was having his mental quarrel with the system, Karl hit an object mid-flight and started spiralling towards the ground, latched on its back. Just as they were about to hit the ground, he felt the system tugging his left arm back, sending the humanoid he was riding, right under him before ground impact.
* THUD * * CRACK *
He had landed 300 meters down hill, in a small forest, on the outskirts of the burnt village.
'' Hostile appears dead, please absorb genetic material to enhance lifespan. ''
'' AARGGHH, MY ARM, I THINK ITS BROKEN!!! ''
'' Please absorb target's genetic material to enhance lifespan. ''
'' I don't care about that now, how do I fix my broken arm, you dumb program! ''
'' We advise host to refrain from referring to System as 'dumb' or any other undermining insults, as host's conscience is fused with said System. ''
'' DAMMIT, I can't even insult you now. That's rubbis.h.!.+ ''
'' We remind system to absorb target's genetic material to enhance lifespan. Lifespan can also be expended to heal minor injuries and non lethal wounds. ''
'' Ahh, you should have started with that. How do I 'absorb' his genetic material then. ''
'' Host needs to consume blood or flesh of target. Other methods such as direct blood contact on user's skin can be used, but is not recommended, as user would have to bathe in target's blood to absorb enough genetic material. ''
'' That's DISGUSTING, isn't there another way. Like I don't know, blood to blood maybe? ''
'' Option is viable, but would require Host to cut himself deep enough to bleed and have direct contact with bleeding foe. ''
Deciding that would be his option, Karl cut open his wrist and the Tamarain's and stuck them together. He immediately felt a suction coming from his wrist, as if it was siphoning the blood. When he looked, he realized why. It was indeed sucking the blood from the body's wound. He slanted to the side and vomited, the sight being too much for him to bear.
'' Sufficient consumption attained. Primary activation of blood nan.o.bots achieved. Host has gained an extra 6 months of lifespan. Total tally now 6 months and 6 days of life expectancy. Would host like to heal broken arm, slit wrist and fractured rib. Price would 3 weeks of lifespan. ''
The moment he had slated to the right, he had felt the broken rib. Probably the adrenaline had kept him from feeling it before, but now, it was EXCRUTIATING.
'' Yes '' he shouted
'' Healing in progress, please remain still for 30 minutes. 3 weeks deducted from total lifespan. New tally 5 months 1 week and 6 days.
New threat detected, 3 slow-moving scouts detected. Please remain still to avoid detection. ''
'' How, their 100 meters away, they will surely find me before half an hour. ''
'' Negative, System has acquired longer detection range by reaching higher lifespan. Detection radius now 300 meters. Hostiles are sweeping at a pace of 9 meters per minute. Detection can be avoided if remaining immobile. ''
'' Fine, but you better be right. Remember, if I die, you die. ''
Remaining low to the ground and as still as he could be, Karl waited out the 30 minute healing process. When his interior clock rang, he decided it was time to make a run for it. He had asked the System to make a sweep for anything that could enable him to escape. The System had pointed out to a weak electrical signal, which it a.s.sumed was a vehicle battery. If the battery was fine, high were the chances of the vehicle being fine too.
Taking his breath, he sprinted out of the clearing he was in and headed straight for the signal. When he pa.s.sed the tree line he saw what looked to him like the light of salvation. A military hummer. And it looked fine!
Good thing too, as his pursuers had locked onto him and were closing in fast. He made it to the humvy just as his 'fans' made it out of the tree line. They were all equipped with jetpack looking backpacks. They flew straight into the air and started firing at him with plasma rifles. With them being still quite far away, he was not threatened of being shot, at least for now.
After 4 tries of starting the humvy, its engine finally roared to life. Stomping on the accelerator, he fled in the opposite direction of his a.s.sailants. A few moments after, he noticed he wasn't losing his tail. Quite the opposite, they were gaining on him.
'' System, can't you do something to help me lose them, their shots are getting better and we might get hit! ''
'' Agreed. If host permits it, we could take over briefly to lose tailing a.s.sailants, as host's driving skills are sub-par. ''
'' WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SUB-PAR. SCREW YOU AI, I BET YOU CANT EVEN DRIVE!!! ''
'' As per mentioned earlier, System is equipped with pursuit driving capabilities. We could lose tail faster, as host is driving to carefully. ''
'' DAMMIT. Fine you take over, but you better give me control back when we lose them. No way you're keeping the wheel on this body. ''
'' Affirmative ''
Losing conscience instantly, the System took over and did as told. A little while later, Karl came back to himself, in a crashed vehicle, miraculously unscathed. Wondering what had happened, he vowed to ask the system later. But for now, finding shelter to hide was his first priority.
'' System, can you find the closest house, shack or cave nearby, where it would be safe to hide. ''
'' Affirmative. Cave located 200 meters to the north. No danger noticed on the trajectory there. ''
And with that he headed there, thinking his day had been enough of a catastrophe, it couldn't get worse.