Chapter 7 - The Carrot

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[Mission: An Ordered Space is an Ordered Mind] complete.

Rewards:

Territory Quality improved to maximum available based on current facilities.

Willpower-??? => +0.001

'Cleaning' Skill => +0.001

'Organizing' Skill unlocked. Previous experience has been added latest progress. >>

Like a final crack in a dam causing the whole thing to burst, a torrent of that soothing energy seemed to wash over Michael's being, leaving him feeling a calm and serenity he couldn't quite put his finger on. The tangle of string had been completely smoothed out, and he even felt that his thinking was a bit sharper than it had been previously.

"System, what is this sensation I'm feeling?"

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Conditions for playback of recording 003 met. Overlaying data.>>

"Hey, kid. Hopefully it hasn't been too long since you last heard from me. If it's still your birthday, then congratulations once again - you haven't disappointed us yet. I'm not sure what the context is, but if you're hearing this then you just got your first taste of The Carrot. You didn't think I'd just send us a crazy torture-happy taskmaster and call it a present, did you? Through a bunch of mechanisms that you couldn't even understand if I did explain them to you right now, the System is able to tap into a lot of bonuses and fun stuff when you meet the right conditions. Think of it like a Force Multiplier for your efforts. Someday, you'll be able to do all of this and more yourself, but for now this is the best way to get you up and running quickly. So don't give our creation too much of a hard time, alright? At the end of the day, you're the one who benefits. Keep up the good work."

Michael grimaced at the last bit of that message. While he couldn't wholly be blamed for reacting with some consternation to the sudden upheaval of his routines, the system hadn't really asked him to do anything unreasonable. It was just his teenaged hedonistic brain lashing out at doing what he didn't want to, like a kid being told to eat their vegetables.

"Hey, System?"

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"...Got any other missions for me?"

<<...Does Subject mean it?>>

Michael sighed. "Why not."

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Existing Missions:

[Mission: Status Check]

[Mission: Road to ???]

New Missions Generated:

[Mission: Take It for a Spin]

Description: Now that you have a viable Enhanced Focus location, why not take advantage of it and make some more headway on your foundational reading list?

Rewards: Appropriate skill and ability increases.

Penalty: None

"Oh! Right, I thought I'd completed that. I wonder what's left? And Road to what?" Michael wondered as he fished the printouts he'd made in the computer lab out of his bag. He'd taken a cursory glance at them in the lab, but hadn't really read through them. A few minutes afterwards, he'd finished reading them all in detail.

<<[Mission: Road to ???] completed. [Mission: Road to a Healthy Body] unlocked.

[Mission: Road to a Healthy Body]

Description: A regular calisthenics program is a large step on the road to a healthy body. Now that you've familiarized yourself with these basic exercises, create a designated exercise space in preparation for your new routine. Starting tomorrow, new Daily Routine will be initiated as follows:

- Pushups (tier 1: 20)

- Squats (tier 1: 20)

- Squat Thrusts (tier 1: 10)

- Leg-lifts (tier 1: 20)

- Bicycle Crunches (tier 1: 20)

- Walking (minimum 1hr)

Rewards: Subject will receive Basic Enhancement Package (1/4) after the first week of successfully completing Daily Routine.

Penalty: System will generate appropriate signals for physical discomfort due to lack of exertion.>>

"...I suppose I should have seen this coming," Michael muttered, though he wasn't upset. In fact, he'd wanted to be able to initiate some sort of exercise program, but it wasn't something he was familiar with and he hadn't had the motivation to investigate it further.

He went back over to his supply area and retrieved a couple of rolls of carpet. He decided to lay them out in the corner furthest away from his sleeping area, and layered them both one on top of each other in order to make sure that he was reasonably protected from the concrete floor of the basement. He decided to look into a better sub-floor for that area in the future.

"System, I thought heavy exercise wasn't recommended for people my age?"

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Michael nodded, somewhat curious as to what heavy exercise was supposed to look like, but decided it was wise not to push the issue at the moment. Since the new routine didn't start til tomorrow and he'd decided to leave the Status Check til right before bed, he opted for the last outstanding mission.

Fishing the Fundamentals of Reading out of his bag, he sat down at his new work desk. He glanced over at the time. 10pm. If he activated the Enhanced Focus, he'd wrap up around midnight, which was around when he normally went to bed - if he didn't get distracted by one of his games, or a book, that is.

"System, how do I activate the Enhanced Focus?"

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"Nine hours? I never sleep that much!"

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"Could I even fall asleep right now if I wanted to? I don't usually go to bed this early."

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"Now THAT's handy. I guess I'll leave the test-drive for another night then," Michael shrugged and changed into a pair of pajama bottoms before turning off the lights and lying in his bed. "So, how does this work, do I need to close my eyes, or say some--"

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7:00AM, September 2nd, 2000 CE

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Physique-??? => +0.002

Physique-??? => +0.001

Intellect-??? => +0.0005

Intellect-??? => +0.001

Existing Missions:

[Mission: Status Check]

[Mission: Road to a Healthy Body (0/7)]

[Mission: Take It for a Spin].>>

Michael rubbed his eyes, then snapped his head up as he realized what he'd just read. "Wait, my stats went up while I slept!?"

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Michael had heard platitudes in a similar vein since he was a kid, but it was another thing to see the evidence right in front of him. He deeply regretted a number of nights where he'd stayed up way too late playing video games. Who wouldn't want to get stronger while they slept?

Michael decided to get the first portion of his new daily routine out of the way before making his way upstairs. As he stepped onto the carpet he had placed on the far corner, the System prompted:

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Michael shrugged and dropped down to the ground, quickly doing a push-up. "Honestly, 20 push-ups doesn't sound too difficult. System, do I need to count them out myself or will you do it?"

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"But I--"

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"..."

Michael recalled the precise form he'd studied the night before and slowly repeated the exercise, maintaining his form through it. This time, it was much slower than the previous one.

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"...I take it back, System."

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<<...Daily Routine updated. (5/6) completed. Time is 7:20.>>

Michael quickly jumped up, perspiring and breathing rather heavily, quickly jammed the Fundamentals of Reading into his pack, grabbed the clothes he wanted to wear and raced upstairs. Anne was once again sitting at the table, and all she saw was a blur as he zoomed through the kitchen. 5 minutes later, he was back downstairs, tugging on a sock while hopping on one leg.

"Running a little late? It's not even 7:30," she commented. "Yeah, I'm doing this new fitness thing and I'm walking. It takes a bit," he explained. "Got it. Have fun. Mom said we're having pizza tonight!" Anne called out after him as he rushed out the door.

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"Really? Well, that's cool! Alright - let's go!"