"Skill level up detected.
Knowledge Infusion will begin during the resting state."
These were the first sights that greeted me as I stirred awake, a potent headache thumping in my head. It seemed the knowledge downloaded into my dreams while my practical skills engaged in some kind of exercise dream.
I attempted to shift, but to no avail, as two koalas clung to me like living blankets. "Should I wake them?" I whispered to myself, eyeing their serene, slumbering faces. But gazing upon their peaceful expressions, I found it impossible to disturb their sleep. As I lay there, waiting for something to rouse the twins, my thoughts drifted to the box, and I turned my head toward the stash. Searching the HUD for a way to activate the cyberdeck, I finally unearthed the method to initiate it.
The world morphed around me; every device, every light, and all things electronic became enveloped in swirling sequences of numbers. Back at the stash, a solitary fragment of code danced in and out of the panel's view. Focusing intently, the code morphed into a compact box, a cursor pulsing rhythmically within it. So what could be the password? Let's try the classics like Password, Drowssap, 12345678, and 87654321. That would actually be nice for a change. Is there no way to crack this simple password? After all, isn't everything here made up of numbers? Couldn't I just sidestep the password altogether?
I rummaged through my cyberdeck, searching for the quick hacks I had slotted in, and after what felt like an eternity, I finally found a few options: Ping, Short Circuit and another hack called Password Breaker. Ping operates just like the game, much the same as Short Circuit. Password Breaker came with a warning file attached, which cautioned against using it on corporate properties unless I fancied my brain splattering across the walls. Checking my RAM, I was surprised to see I had ten beams of it.
"What's the worst that could happen?" I mused as I activated Password Breaker. At first, nothing seemed to occur, merely a dwindling of RAM. As I waited, I noticed slender strands of data drifting from me toward the box. They meandered around the box, probing for any vulnerabilities in its defenses. No sooner had they completed a circuit than they surged at one point, seemingly drilling into the barriers.
Barely a moment after the last strand vanished, a new block materialized in my view.
"100 Netrunning exp gained. Skill unlocked."
"Please enter a new password," the block commanded. After a moment's deliberation, I settled on today's date as my passcode for the box. Glancing back at the twins, still lost in their dreams, I gently eased myself out of their embrace until I reached the wall panel. With silent precision, I removed the bolts and lifted the box from its resting place, replacing the panel with care. As I entered the code, the box illuminated with a soft blue glow before revealing its contents.
Inside lay neatly stacked rolls of paper money, several datashards nestled in their cases, and an enigmatic amulet. The amulet was forged from a dark metal, featuring a sword at its center; one side bore half a skull, while the other showcased the remnant of a knight's helmet.
"Damn it. That pretty much ruins the story if there happens to be a knight of Blackstone wandering around here," I muttered under my breath, wincing as the amulet's origins dawned on me. Or perhaps Cyri had strayed into the For Honor realm, pocketed it, and lost it while fleeing from Arasaka ninjas. Could this be linked to the strange dream I had? Wasting time on what-ifs wouldn't change anything.
I slipped the amulet around my neck where I could see if it glows or anything. Apparently, my near-silent wincing was sufficient to rouse the twins. They blinked at me through sleepy eyes. "Good morning, Kassy." They were too adorable. Is it even legal to be this cute?
I shook my head. "Good morning to you both as well. Now, could you kindly get off me?"
They exchanged a brief glance. "No, we can't. We want to spend the day like this," they replied before snuggling back into me.
"Please, get up—the sun is already shining," I implored them, using the most pitiful tone I could muster.
"Fine." Lynne said unhappily. They got up and grabbed a bottle of water each before waving goodbye as they opened the door and jumped out. I really should be stricter with them. But when I thought of their puppy eyes, I could only shake my head.
Searching the floor for a change of clothes was perhaps not the wisest idea first thing in the morning. Yet, after rummaging through every piece of clothing strewn about, I came to realize that the previous me owned only one outfit in various colors, save for a runner's suit. This meant… shopping.
Probably with someone else… either Jessica or Cathrin. "Will I be treated like a dress-up doll?" I mused as I stepped out of the camper.
"Most likely." A distorted voice chuckled from behind me. I staggered at the unexpected sound.
"Could you please refrain from suddenly speaking to me from the side?" I asked the man.
"Didn't Cathrin ask you to assist me with the maintenance of the defensive armaments? At least, she told me to give you something to do since you lost your memories."
I turned my gaze toward Hans, the kind of guy you might pass on the street and forget in an instant if not for his clothes. He was clad entirely in tactical gear, save for a peculiar helmet that seemed a bizarre amalgamation of a gas mask and a space helmet resting under his arm.
"Sorry, I didn't recognize you. What do you need help with?" I questioned.
"Hhaa. Follow," he sighed, trudging towards a sizable truck with a semi-trailer while putting on his helmet.
Now that I think about it, that truck wasn't there yesterday. Didn't Wade mention he shifts his location daily? Either he's an exceptionally skilled driver, or he's modified his truck to run nearly silently. The trailer was packed with a motley assortment of old military equipment, ranging from mortars to an ancient tank that even I found intriguing.
"Where did you uncover the tank? It looks so antiquated it should be stored in a museum." It was a heavily modified M48 Patton, stripped of most of its antiquated technology.
"Betty? Don't dare call her old; she easily outshines most of the newer tanks. Unlike those clunky Militech Basilisks, she's impervious to even the most formidable EMPs. And honestly, who needs a floating piece of scrap that lacks a main cannon? Anyone with half a mind would just load a magnetic casket with explosives and lay it right in their path. When the tank rolls over that casket—ah, I can still hear the explosion. It didn't just obliterate the tank; it took out nearly the entire infantry company that was tagging along. Good old days," Hans said passionately, his voice resonating even through the confines of his helmet, as he completely ignored my question.
"What do you need help with?" I asked, perched on a stool while he ranted.
"Help? Yes, I need help! Could you go to Wade and persuade him to use his 3D printer for the parts on this shard? He won't let me near his equipment," Hans sulked. I took the shard and walked away.
I wandered through the camp. "Kassy, could you pause for a moment?" A female voice called out as I passed a van topped with a satellite dish beside the radio tower.
I turned and glanced at the open van, where a dark-haired woman sat clad in a black netrunning suit, the fabric worn and frayed, with the sleeves cinched around her waist, revealing a dark sports bra beneath.
"How are you holding up? It must be challenging to find yourself in such an unfamiliar place among strangers," she inquired.
"It's not as overwhelming as it might seem. Everyone's been kind and approachable. Still, it's undeniably strange to be here."
"Well, now that you're here, Cathrin asked me to assign you a task. Could you place these around two hundred meters from the fence in a circle around the camp and activate them? The integration of the scanners with the others can be done from this spot." She handed me a duffle bag filled with metal rods, one end sharpened and the other capped with a round device.
"Anything else, Yuriko?" I asked, hefting the bag over my shoulder.
"No, just the sensors will suffice. Be careful, and I'm checking on the mercs, so you should be able to leave the camp soon."
"Ah, before I forget, here's a shard for training in programming and netrunning. You requested it prior to the incident." She passed me a shard case before pivoting back toward the van.
I made my way to Wade's workshop, where he was in the midst of securing a piece of armor plate back into position.
"Can I use the 3D printer? Hans asked me to make some replacement parts from a shard," I inquired as I approached the machines.
"Yes, you can use it… did you say a shard Hans gave you?" he replied, panic edging into his voice as he let the plate slip from his grasp. Just as I was about to slot in the shard, he powered down the left printer. "Please use the other printer instead."
I shrugged and complied, starting the second printer. At first, there was silence. But after nearly a minute, the machine began to whir erratically. I stepped back as sparks erupted, the printer heating up with a violent tremor.
"Haa. Just like with the stuff Hans drags in from who knows where." Wade approached the printer, opened a panel, and pressed a hidden button. The machine ceased its chaotic movements, though the power remained on. The screen illuminated with a progress bar glowing ominously red.
"In about a minute, it should finish clearing the daemon. Then you can insert the shard back into the other printer," Wade remarked, returning to his plate while muttering, "It's always like this with his gear. If I didn't know better, I'd think he had a rogue AI lurking somewhere."
As I initiated the left printer, it displayed an estimated time of two hours to complete the parts. Why not pass the time with Yuriko's request while I wait? I jogged toward the camp gate, waving to the watchmen as I stepped outside.
Once I was beyond the confines of the camp, I slowed my pace; the desert soil was unfamiliar beneath my feet. Descending the slope of the hill, I scanned my surroundings. There was nothing but the barely discernible road, a smattering of cacti, and the occasional tumbleweed.
I planted the first scanner in the ground beside the road and flipped the switch. As I positioned the other scanners, my gaze fell upon a line of abandoned buildings marked by a large sign on the far side of the camp, near a dumpsite for trash. The sign read, "West's Metalworks: The best in the west," accompanied by an unrecognizable figure.
It certainly seemed worth investigating. After securing the last scanner, I jogged back to camp.
"250 Athletics exp gained."
As I glanced at the clock, I noted that I still had an hour until the parts were done. My stomach let out a low growl as I passed through the gate. "You should grab a bite before you do anything else, or you're going to end up on the ground," one of the watchmen called out.
I felt my cheeks flush as my stomach growled again, urging me toward the food truck. I joined the line of hungry patrons waiting for their meals.
A different aroma wafted through the air, distinct from yesterday's offerings. "Do you know what's on today's menu?" I asked the woman in front of me.
"Today, it's either leftovers from yesterday or pizza," she replied. "Thanks." As I waited, I felt a tug at my jacket.
Turning, I found Lynne standing there. "Could you please order some extra pizzas for Mom, Granny, Lyra, and me?" she asked, looking up at me with those irresistible puppy eyes.
Damn it, she uses that look too often. I would have said yes even without it. "Of course I can. Where are you guys sitting?"
"We're back at the same table as yesterday," she said, her smile brightening before she dashed off. It took a bit before my turn arrived. "Five pizzas, please, miss?" I inquired of the red-haired woman, clad in a t-shirt with an apron draped over it.
"Here are your pizzas, dear, and it's Sarah to you—or Aunt Sarah, if you prefer," she replied, setting the tray down on the counter and giving me a playful wink.
"Thanks, Sarah," I said with a grin, grabbing the tray. I made my way to the table, distributing the pizzas among my table companions.
"Enjoy your meal," I called out, then dug into my own. They echoed each other's well-wishing and joined in their feast. As I polished off my slice, my gaze fell upon the clan emblem, sparking my curiosity.
"What's the story behind the clan? How did it all begin?" I asked Cathrin.
"No, not again!" the twins groaned in unison, quickly slipping away from the table.
"They always bolt whenever someone mentions it because they don't want to hear the story anymore," Jessica laughed, shaking her head.
"Well, that takes us back to the nineties. Most people in my parents' generation were employees of the same company.
The company, Ymir Technologic, specialized in green energy development and operated some biomod laboratories.
But when the crash of '94 struck, the company went bankrupt, and the employees rallied around a woman named Natasha Raven.
Together, they formed a community within the abandoned company building. They lived there for nearly a decade until the land was sold, and demolition loomed on the horizon.
Reluctant to part ways, they sought work as military subcontractors and relocated to Venezuela during the Second Central American Conflict.
I was born and raised there.
They expanded, working diligently until the USA was defeated.
Afterward, they scavenged everything they could from the military base and joined other returnee groups in the Long March back to US soil.
Throughout the arduous march, they faced near daily attacks from guerrillas.
They welcomed survivors from shattered groups, and though they experienced losses, their ranks continued to swell.
When they finally reached the US, their number had grown to around twelve thousand.
In deliberation, the group decided to wander the lands in small families, adopting the identity of the nomadic tribe known as the Ravens.
Over the years, we fluctuated in size, sometimes growing, sometimes shrinking.
Currently, we number around eighteen thousand members across twenty clans, roving within a thousand-mile radius of the main group. And that, for now, is the end of the story."
After pondering the story for a moment, I inquired, "Are we connected to any member of the seven nations, and do we still possess the research from our days as a company?"
She responded with a knowing smile. "No, we are not officially linked to any of the seven nations. While most of the energy research remains under our control, the biomod research was seized by a member who was subsequently branded a raffen." Her smile faded as she finished talking.
The energy research certainly merits attention.
"Thank you for sharing the clan's history. I must take my leave now." With that, I rose, anticipating the printer's completion.
The workshop was empty; no one was in sight. I approached the printer and retrieved the parts.
"Where do you always find daemon-infested shards? Do you think that 3D printers grow on trees?!" As I approached Hans' truck, I spotted Wade there, yelling at him while shaking him like a rag doll. I knew I should avoid inciting Wade's anger. While I waited for the scolding to end, I loaded the parts into the semi-trailer.
After what felt like an eternity, Wade finally calmed down, setting Hans back on the ground before stomping away. Hans stumbled around, disoriented for a moment, and eventually collapsed onto the trailer, clutching his head. "The parts are finished and in the trailer. Do you need anything else?" I asked.
"The parts? Yes, the parts! No, there's nothing else for you to do here. Betty's about to get her latest upgrade!" He leaped into the air, arms raised in exultation as he let out a cheer.
Keep your distance from that lunatic. Madness isn't always harmless, especially when it comes with a tank. And even more troubling is a madman wielding a tank, accompanied by a truck brimming with explosives, right next to my camper.
I stealthily ran away from him, making my way toward Yuriko's van.
"50 Athletics exp gained."
Gasping for breath, I rapped on the van's door. "Yes? Do you need something?" she inquired as she swung the door open.
"No, I just wanted to return the duffel bag. Were the scanners positioned correctly?"
"They're perfect. As the final line of sensors, that their order differs from the others and suits the task better."
"Task Help completed. Reward: 1 Skill Point and 1 Adaption Point."
"Good to hear. Is there a safe place where you can hide from Hans?" I inquire.
"Why?" She tilts her head, narrowing her eyes.
"Someone provided him with components to modify Betty." I nod in guilt. She groans and facepalms. "I'm going to call Cathrin and Erik. Don't worry; they'll know how to calm him down."
As I consider the situation, two things come to mind. "Could you please send me a copy of the energy research? And if you have it, a drawing program compatible with a 3D printer?" I ask as she concludes her call.
"Yes, I have both in shards. Here." I take the shards, thank her, and wave goodbye.