CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
A species I’m no longer part of.
The valley spread out before us as the airship rose to cheers from those who were staying behind at the keep.
As an engineer, I could only marvel at the ingenuity behind these airships. These things weren’t small. I hadn’t spent a lot of time on boats, so my experience was limited, but my family had taken a trip to Europe once, and we got to cross the channel on one of those massive ferries. That was the closest thing my mind could compare the Hugo to. Not because it looked like a ferry, or because it was built the same way, but because of the sheer scale of it.
I looked down from the ship’s superstructure and over the railing of the catwalk that wrapped around the bridge. Below us, an entire legion of kobolds and cohorts were camped across the deck, packed between cargo, equipment, and the heavy structures that held the ship together.
“It’s the air composition in the lower atmosphere, isn’t it?” Kyle asked as he moved up to join me.
“It’s actually pretty smart, they’re taking advantage of all those heavy noble gases that hang around the surface,” I said, still looking down at the deck below. “That’s why they can’t go very high.”
“I think it’s absolutely genius.” Kyle said. “The amount of lift they’re getting out of the envelopes that are tucked into the hull is insane. But what really has me floored is how these kobolds managed to build liquid salt reactors small enough to fit on a ship!”
“I took a tour of the engine room earlier with ARi,” I said, shaking my head as I thought back to it. “I mean, I guess it makes sense. They did have access to everything we left them. These things are completely steam powered. Those reactors are driving steam turbines that are connected to a mechanical drive system. The efficiency that these ships are running on straight up rivals modern technology back on Earth.”
“At least before the storms.”
Kyle leaned against the railing and looked out over the valley as the airship continued to climb.
“It’s too bad we can’t just fly all the way through the pass,” Kyle said with an impish grin. “All that marching is going to be hell on my knees.”
“Dude.. Your dad jokes are awful.”
“I know, right? He said grinning ear to ear. “I’ve been saving that one up for like three days.”
“I’m still trying to get over the whole enhanced attributes thing myself though. Truth is, we’re never really going to catch colds or get sick again. There’ll be no arthritis or any other deterioration. If we survive this competition, we’re going to live for a really long time, Kyle. Like a really long time,” I said, slowly shaking my head as I continued to look out at the view below.
“The entire concept of time doesn’t even feel real anymore,” he said. “When you think about it, with all this back and forth between the cradles so far, what scale do we even use as a reference? If I would’ve asked myself that question a year ago, I would’ve said Earth time, but after coming back to Adeya knowing that three hundred years have passed since the last time we were here, and knowing next time we go back to Earth that hundreds of years will have passed there as well, I don’t know anymore.”
I looked over at Kyle. “I guess that’s something that we’re going to have to learn to come to grips with. And if Roslyn was successful and they managed to get all of those people scanned and into stasis, I think humanity as a whole is going to have to come to grips with it as well.”
“It really is impressive that they were able to achieve so much without iron or steel, or even electricity, for that matter,” Kyle said, watching the deck crews moving below us. “It’s really got me thinking about all of the other life out there. With so much happening with this competition and everything that’s happening with Earth right now, we never really got a chance to bask in the fact that we’re not alone. What other crazy technologies are out there? What other species are out there? One day, if we survive all this, I’d love to explore it.”
“Yeah, well, with what’s happening with Earth, if we all end up on those Arks, you’re probably going to get your wish,” I said.
Both of us found ourselves suddenly distracted, and we looked down over the side of the Hugo to see massive long-necked sauropods crossing the river valley below us. They moved in herds, there must have been over twenty of them, standing easily six to seven stories tall.
“You’re right,” I said. “We never really did get a chance to marvel at just how amazing all of this is.”
I gave Kyle a quick slap on the back and headed back into the bridge.
“Captain, how long until we reach the mouth of the pass?”
“At the current wind speed, it should only take about a day, Architect.”
A bell sounded, and the kobold moved over and lifted the cap on a flared brass pipe that ran down through the floor. Placing his ear to it for a moment, I could hear the tinny sound of someone talking on the other end of the tube.
“Very well,” the captain said as he closed the cap on the tube. “Architect, the other champions and the Ward are waiting below for you in the War room.”
ARi had insisted that the Wardroom be renamed to War Room as soon as Kyle made his first joke.
“Well, then, are you ready to crunch some numbers?” I asked as Kyle joined us in the bridge.
“Honestly, I’m just excited to kind of get a look at Tim’s character sheet. He hasn’t really shared much up to this point, and I’m excited to see what everybody’s classes are going to look like.”
“I’m excited to dig into ARi’s subclass choices as well,” I said.
“You know what this reminds me of, Gav? It’s like the start of a video game. Like before you go off on the great adventure, and you’ve got to sit and build out your character. But I guess this would be more like a sequel, wouldn’t it?”
I couldn’t help but smile at that.
We moved down the narrow staircase, and as we made our way toward the others, I suddenly noticed a small detail that had slipped my eye before.
“Have you noticed that all of the passages, all of the entryways, the doors, and the hatches are all big enough for humans?”
“I did. The amount of faith that they had in our eventual return over all those years…” Kyle said, looking down the passage as we walked. “And it’s not just the ships. It’s the fact that they can all speak English. Their knowledge of Earth and its culture. I guess the reality is that it’s not really just Earth’s culture, is it? I mean, they were there before us.”
We opened a large bronze hatch and moved into a wider space. There was a long table surrounded by comfortable chairs in the shape of an oval in the middle of the chamber. A warm fire crackled off to the side, and I couldn’t help but smile again, immediately recognizing the resemblance to the original hearth in the den. The others were all standing and staring at projections that now spanned across the wall, with character sheets and skill options displayed across them.
“Don’t worry, guys,” Yumi said, chiming in as she ran over to hug Kyle. “We didn’t start without you. These are all the initial windows.”
ARi stood staring at the projection with her class choices.
“I have some really interesting options.”
“Interesting like overpowered, or…” Kyle started.
ARi stopped and turned to glare at him.
“Interesting as in the system is clearly adjusting my options to encompass my sisters on Earth as well.”
Kyle scratched at the short start of his scruffy beard as he moved over to get a better look at the wall.
“Is the system adjusting your options, or is it just working as intended, though? Now that you are considered a champion and a guide, wouldn’t it make sense that the system would have to treat you as a champion as well?”
ARi stopped for a moment and considered Kyle’s words.
“Actually, when you put it like that, I guess this makes a lot more sense. I think that’s exactly what it’s doing. It’s just looking at not only my actions but the actions of the others on Earth as well.” ARi said. “We’ve already figured out that the system develops class and skill choices in a way that reflects our experience. We’ve even had some luck manipulating that to our advantage a little bit. But some of these options could have a real impact, not just here in the Ascendancy, but back on Earth too.”
That caught my attention, and I walked over to get a better look at her subclass options.
[System window] Congratulations, ARi. You have reached Level 6.
Due to your recent developments and growth your experience and level has opened up subclass options.
Please select one subclass.
Foundry Warden
The Foundry Warden is a guide subclass focused on construction, manufacturing, and the development of controlled territory. This subclass improves the Guide’s ability to refine resources, build structures, manage production, and support allied settlements through improved fabrication systems.
Subclass Bonuses:
-
Manufacturing Slots increased by 2.
-
Resource Refinement Efficiency increased by 35%.
-
Large-Scale Fabrication Cost reduced by 20%.
Class Skill: Industrial Oversight
Industrial Oversight allows the Guide to create and monitor two utility-class constructs that do not count against the Guide’s Control Point limit. Utility-class constructs are limited to non-combat functions, including hauling, surveying, mining, construction, and repair.
Skywright
The Skywright is a guide subclass focused on aerial construct design, flight stability, and long-range support. This subclass improves the Guide’s ability to create, maintain, and command flying constructs used for scouting, transport, battlefield observation, and rapid response.
Subclass Bonuses:
-
Aerial Construct Control Range increased by 50%.
-
Aerial Construct Carry Capacity increased by 20%.
-
Detection Radius increased by 20%.
Class Skill: Winged Relay
Winged Relay allows the Guide to create and maintain two small aerial relay constructs that do not count against the Guide’s Control Point limit. These constructs are limited to non-combat related tasks.
Progenitor
The Progenitor is a guide subclass focused on bringing guide-created life closer to the physical world. This subclass improves the Guide’s ability to maintain projected forms, reduce the cost of controlled constructs, and allow projections to interact with physical objects.
Subclass Bonuses:
-
Control Points increased by 100%.
-
Constructs using Control Points have their cost reduced by 50%.
-
Projection Stability increased by 40%.
Class Skill: Manifest Presence
Manifest Presence allows the Guide’s projected form to physically interact with the world within approved projection range. Initial interaction is limited to touch, grip, and simple object manipulation. Additional strength, duration, and range may improve through level progression and skill development.
“ARi, I can see where Foundry Warden could be pretty powerful,” I said, looking back over the options. “It’s less emphasis, ultimately, on individual ability, but the increased manufacturing and industrial capability backed by Meilun could be huge. It makes sense why the system would offer you something like that.”
“Don’t even get me started about flying constructs,” ARi said quietly. “That would’ve been a potential game changer for us when trying to deal with the Reapers.”
Tim walked up next to ARi and put his hand on her shoulder.
“You know what option you’re going to have to pick, ARi,” Tim said. “Even if you don’t like to think about it like that, the truth is that you are the progenitor of a new species.”
“I’m the Progenitor of a species I’m no longer part of,” ARi said.
“Well, not to get biblical, ARi, but the old book said God made us in his own image,” Kyle chimed in. “I’m not religious, but I’m starting to feel like there might be more to that than I’ve ever really given much thought to before. At least when it comes to your sisters.”
ARi looked up to find Kyle’s huge, cheesy grin as he tried his best to hide his chuckling.
“That’s not funny,” she said, glaring at him again. “And don’t you dare let the kobolds hear you talking like that.”
“I think there’s another reason why you should choose Progenitor,” Tanya cut in. “When we were originally going to go into your system through the WBE technology, you said that we would be able to project ourselves. I’m assuming that we would have inherited that ability through you…”
All at once, we came to the same conclusion.
I saw the resolve settle into ARi’s expression a second before the window closed and she had selected Progenitor as her subclass.
Yumi looked behind Kyle and smiled when she saw a projection of ARi walking up behind him. She nodded at the projection enthusiastically as ARi stepped into place and smacked Kyle on the ass.
Kyle jumped and screamed, and both ARi and Yumi started laughing so hard that Yumi nearly folded over while ARi literally fell to her knees. The laughter was contagious, and after a moment, even Kyle couldn’t help but laugh.
“That was so weird,” Kyle said. “I felt the impact, but it was soft, like your projection could touch me, but not quite all the way. What happens if you dump additional skill points into Manifest Presence?”
ARi pulled herself together, and I reached down to help her back up off the floor. She waved her hand, and a new window appeared.
[System window] Subclass Skill Acquired
Manifest Presence 1
Manifest Presence allows a projected form to physically interact with the world.
At Level 1, Manifest Presence allows limited physical contact, light pressure, simple object manipulation, and minor tactile feedback. Projected forms may touch living targets, move small objects, and interact with the physical world around them in a semi-corporeal form.
Current Limitations:
-
Interaction Strength: Low.
-
Lift Capacity: Limited.
-
Physical Feedback: Minor.
Skill Growth:
Each additional level of Manifest Presence improves interaction strength, and tactile feedback.
“I just upgraded the skill to level two as well,” ARi said. “That leaves me with one skill point and some attribute points to assign.”
ARi waved her hand and a new projection formed on the wall.
[System window] SKILL SELECTION:
Congratulations, ARi. You have 1 unassigned skill point to spend.
Please select one of the following:
Projection-Relay 1
Allows the Guide to phase between physical location and an active projected form. When activated, the Guide’s physical body trades places with the selected projection, allowing rapid repositioning within approved projection range.
Projection-Relay may be used to escape danger, reach allies, bypass terrain, or reposition into an active projection already present at the desired location. The selected projection must be stable, active, and within valid range at the time of activation.
This skill has a significant cooldown and requires a high energy cost to activate. Cooldown duration and energy cost may improve through skill advancement.
Mobile-Control Node 1.
Allows the Guide to create one mobile control node outside established territory. The mobile control node has a limited control radius equal to the Guide’s standard outside-territory projection range and may be moved with the Guide or assigned to a protected allied unit. Unlike fixed control nodes, a mobile control node has a physical form and may be damaged or destroyed.
Mobile control nodes may be used to extend construct control, support projected presence, and maintain limited system functions while operating beyond established territory. Destroyed mobile control nodes may be recreated after a 24-hour cooldown.
Mobile-Control Node may be improved through skill advancement. Radius, durability, control stability, and supported functions may also be improved through compatible territorial skills.
Phase-Matter 1
Allows the Guide to convert stored energy reserves into temporary phased matter. Created matter remains stable for a limited duration and may be shaped into simple physical forms, tools, barriers, supports, or replacement parts.
Energy cost is determined by mass, density, and complexity. Light, simple materials require lower energy expenditure, while dense materials require significantly higher reserves.
Phase-Matter cannot create living tissue, system-bound resources, rare materials, unstable compounds, or complex constructs at Level 1.
Phase-Matter may be improved through skill advancement. Higher levels may increase material stability, reduce energy cost, improve shaping complexity, and allow denser or longer-lasting matter creation.
All of the giggling and playfulness in the room suddenly stopped.
“ARi?” I said.
“I know, Gav. I see it,” ARi said, still staring at the window. “I’m going to go ahead and select Mobile-Control Node, and I’m going to tell the system to roll the dice on Projection-Relay.”
“ARi, again, I know I’ve made jokes about your skill options and stuff being overpowered,” Kyle said, drifting off before he could finish the thought.
Tanya and Hannah stepped to either side of ARi. Tanya reached down and took her hand as Hannah leaned into her shoulder.
ARi selected the skill, and the window closed.
