{A day after the fall}
Jono awoke in pain and darkness. To make matters worse, he felt like he was lying on broken glass at the edge of a lake. Half of his body rested on some sort of sludge under shallow water. The other half had jagged edges pressing uncomfortably against his skin.
“Um system, please confirm my situation,” Jono tried, hoping it had been a nightmare. “Um, confirm galaxy,” he asked next. Maybe it had been a dream and the glass and darkness were part of the rubbish-truck accident.
“Urg, system, confirm status,” he asked one last time.
[Acknowledged]
[ Identity: Jono the special – sub hero potential
Level:1
Health: 12/60
Mana: ? Environmental mana steal defective]
[Class:%%%… error]
[Error]
[Warning: your class is fragmented or corrupted. Please update to a currently recognised class. Closest match is ‘Hero Class Rouge’ 34%]
[Warning: the stat system is not properly restricted and is displaying in dynamic mode
This is illegal. Please seek a guild or class technician to fix this and avoid prosecution]
[Dynamic Status Levels
Physical Level: 1 Learning Level:1 Social Level:1 Spirit Level:1]
[Warning: Universal Translate is not restricted to suit your level. Your spirit, subclass wisdom stat is below the recommended minimum of 20 for this setting. Please restrict this skill or risk severe mental instability]
[Homogenised class compatible skills, Stealth (level 1), Airwalk (level 1)]
[Incompatible skills, Jelly Energy Damage Absorption (level 1), Regeneration (level 1)]
[Please homogenise your class and skills. Integrating the current mix requires hero potential capability]
[Congratulations, Disappearing Hero Mystery, mission stage 1 of 4 has been cleared
Mission 1 – ‘Survive One Day’ completion gives 30 Exp and 6 AP] Special System
Calling on the system had helped less than Jono had thought. He didn’t understand most of the information and having his health presented as twelve of sixty didn’t let him know if it was safe to move.
What am I supposed to do, Jono thought, groaning.
“Um, Kaire, are you around?” Jono asked into the darkness.
***
{Meanwhile in Jono’s head}
“That’s got to be it, the unrestricted universal translate,” said Guardian Agent.
“Zerp,” Guardian Loon added with something like agreement.
Their area was like a war room locked down in red threat level. The lighting was now a dim throbbing red.
“Is the thought-clutch still functioning?” Guardian Agent said, wandering over to something that looked like a weird gyroscope ride, that were sometimes found in science entertainment centres. As he stepped into the thought-clutch, it lit up.
Guardian Loon took advantage of Guardian Agent having his back to him and flipped a switch on the rear supporting arm.
The mechanism whirred around Agent for a moment. Guardian Analyst confirmed, “The thought-clutch is functioning at an impressive level.”
“Right well, what would we do if we made contact?” Guardian Agent asked.
Loon said, “Who’s the loon now? Do you not know how to introduce yourself?”
“Simple, I’d say, ‘the name’s John, Doe John’.” Agent said
“You have names reversed for that format.” Analysis pointed out.
“Whatever, what would we do after an introduction?” Agent demanded.
“That’s easy, I’ll show you,” Loon said, wandering off.
“Hey, where are you going?” Agent yelled.
[Um, who are you guys? Where are we, um, was it Joe?] Jono
Most of the guardians froze where they were.
“What’s going on Jono? How did you activate a link or the thought-clutch?” Agent demanded.
[Um, what do you mean?] Jono
“Loon activated the clutch behind your back,” Analysis calmly stated.
“WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY SOMETHING?” Agent yelled.
“I just did,” Analysis replied.
“I’m surrounded by morons,” Agent muttered to himself.
[Um, so one of you is called Loon?] Jono
“Yep, I’m on my way now,” Loon yelled before blasting himself out something like an airlock.
Agent’s mouth hung open, “… He had an orb as he ejected, is he going to self-destruct?” Agent sounded terrified.
“Don’t startle the human, Loon is going to assist and he should just about have equipped the ability.” Analysis stated while watching the sensory array.
“What ability?” Agent demanded.
“The ability is level one Light,” Analysis replied.
“Oh, I guess that actually helps.” Agent said, calming a little.
[Ah, is Loon coming to help me?] Jono
“Indeed, you should see him soon.” Analysis responded.
[… … Oh are you guys pixies?] Jono
“WHAT IS LOON DOING?” Agent bellowed.
[Look, I’m helping] Loon
“Loon has taken advantage of the emergency settings to acquire light with the ability points,” Analysis summarised. “By leaving here, he became able to equip light. His small, shining appearance seems to be assumed as pixie-like to Jono.”
“Somebody kill me now,” Agent muttered.
“I’d definitely kill you if it didn’t make things more difficult,” Guardian Judas said. “Why’s it so noisy in here?”
“Where have you been?” Agent demanded.
“Can’t a guy get a decent nap before he fades from existence?” Judas replied. “But you seem to have avoided that for the moment, so I wanted to know what the commotion was about.”
“Useless pile of energy,” Agent muttered in an incoherent fashion this time.
“We are working to help the human,” Analysis started. “ Currently, Loon has been mistaken for a pixie, which brought about Guardian Agent’s frustrated yelling.”
Judas burst out laughing.
You could now feel waves of anger coming from Agent.
[Um, so how is the progress on helping the human?] Jono
“The process is at the initial plan stage,” Analysis replied. “With Loon using light and my sensory scans, we have confirmed that you are currently safe. The crystal has regrown around you and the water energy is also a monster deterrent.”
[Uh, okay, that doesn’t sound like much of a plan though] Jono
“Indeed, it is not. For now you have little time before you go back to sleep. It is suggested that Loon returns immediately and that you stay in contact with the water. Next time you wake, you should be safe to move around a little and I suggest you prioritise eating some moss. We will update you on further details then,” Analysis summarised.
[Whee ha, heading back now] Loon
[Um, are you sure that it’s a good idea to stay in the water?] Jono
“Yes, I estimate that remaining where you are is likely to result in an eighty-nine percent chance of you waking alive again. This is much better than the thirty-six percent chance of the next best scenario,” Analysis explained. “You are not a hero. They have passive cultivation, which steals energy from the circuits around them. For now, stay in contact with the water to aid physical regeneration and mental stabilisation.
[Um, okay] Jono
“That’s Loon back now,” Agent announced.
“Flying is fun,” Loon said, now back in the support interface area.
“Thanks everyone, ten seconds till shutdown… now,” Analysis prompted.
Judas charged into the clutch with Agent.
“What the…” Agent
“Remember to sort a toilet when you wake up, your sanity depends on it,” Judas yelled.
Time was up and Jono passed out.
Dezhanite Drafts 