"Haaaaa.... haha ha, hehehehehe." I kept laughing like a mad idiot.
"Hey... 42~?" I call out, swaying sideways slowly with a grin on my face.
"Yeeesss?" 42 respond in a same concerned voice.
"You said my black orb can turn into anything.... correct?" I ask.
"Yes... and the limit is about the size of the capsule you were in." he responds
Pretty neat, but I won't be needing anything that big, just need few modifications. My suit hasn't change since after I came out of the capsule. I just need to make some adjustments. Will I be able to do it though? Last time I couldn't fly until I remember the feeling of it. This time however, I know what I want, I can imagine it quite easily. As I imagine the image of my modification; some parts of my suits begin to break off and take shape.
Something is wrong! I am struggling to put the shape together. I have no issues with what I am picturing. However, when I try to shape the object and put them together; I feel as though my body becomes weaker suddenly, as if I get disconnected from the suit. I can't transfer my imagination to my suit, it keeps getting cut off.
42 is tilting itself in front of me and flapping its wings. "What are you doing?"
"I am trying to change my suit, but I seem to struggle." I respond.
"Hmm let me check." said 42.
Without a moment to spare, he quickly scans my entire body. He stops flipping its wings and hovers stationary, and he looking at me with complete silence.
"W.. What is it?" I ask in hesitation, my smile fades away.
"What did the doctor exactly tell you?" he asks in a serious tone.
His question caught me off guard, and he sounds a bit demanding too. Why? What's with the sudden hostility? Then I remember Dr. Rosita's warning, and I also remember how 42 doesn't have information on me. So I can't trust 42 either? Looks like I am caught, but what is it exactly that I'm suppose to keep a secret? Why shouldn't I trust anyone?..... I'd rather play it safe, I just don't know enough.
"Hey! Answer me!" He shouts.
"She told me not to trust anyone, especially the people on the higher rank," I answer honestly.
I don't know why she told me not to trust anyone, but if 42 found something. There is no point in hiding it.
He tilts sideways, "She said that? Did she tell you why?"
"No," I quickly respond "Do you have any idea why?"
He tilts back to normal, "Hmm, interesting.... I am not sure!" He flaps his wings again "Actually... This has been bugging me ever since you first tried to use the prototype Orb! That's why I took you to see Doctor Rosita! I mean... If it was an actual Orb that you couldn't use... that would make sense... But not being able to use... Prototype Orb... it's unheard of. Anyone can use these!"
"There are more types of Orbs?" I ask.
"Oh yes! Though you were suppose to learn about them after you depart. Now back to the issue at hand. At first when I scanned you, I notice your attribute bridge was... not connecting to your Orb. At first I thought it was because of your previous injuries... and that you have been in the capsule for so long. That was the foremost reason that I took you to the clinic. I was hoping for Doctor Rosita to help you out..."
42 looks down and his lens kept changing colors, rainbow colors "However seeing your attribute bridge isn't connecting at all. I wonder if she missed it? No! That can't be... She's one of the best doctors in the entire nation! Is it incurable?.. No, that's not it either, otherwise she would have told you. She must know something, and she kept it from any records and even from you!"
Huh... Never seen 42 like that and is he doubting the doctor? "Are you saying that I shouldn't trust what the doctor said?"
"No! I have absolute trust in her! I am just... puzzled.. Well she said that she will send you more details electronically, that part I heard. Maybe she thought it wasn't the right time, or you were not ready yet. I mean there is quite a lot you have to take in," He responds.
Well, he's not wrong about that... Still, I should keep this in mind. It's nice to see this side of 42.
His lens came back to normal and looks at me, "OK! I will do what I did before. I will help you with your Attribute Bridge!"
"What's Attribute Bridge?" I ask.
"Oh! Yes, I suppose you won't know about this until after you depart as well. Here is the brief and simple explanation." 42 explains "First of.. in order for you to make a connection to any type of Orb; You must first have Attribute Power. In your case you have a Prototype Orb, which means anyone who has Attribute Power, or Attribute Talent can use it, but that's only one part of it. In order for you to tab in to the Attribute Power, you must have Attribute bridge, so you can transfer the attribute to the Orb. You clearly have at least one Attribute Talent, otherwise, you wouldn't be able to function with your Orb even with my help. You definitely have a very weak Attribute bridge, though this is not common and can easily be cure most of the time. I still wonder why Doctor Rosita didn't cure yours..."
Is this explanation supposed to be brief and simple? If that's 'simple' then what does a complicated explanation sound like? Perhaps it's simple basic for them...
"Does this make sense now?" 42 asks with a cheerful tone flapping its wing
"Nope." I respond without a second thought. There is no point in pretending to get it.
42's wings dropped, and he looks down again. He shakes its body. "Uuugghhh! You are a hopeless human..... Ok... think of Attribute Power as a refined source of energy, Attribute talent as a potential unrefined source of energy, and Attribute Bridge as a connector."
He looks back at me, "Ok! Let's not waste anymore time, I will make an explanation note in more detail and send later! Now..."
42 hovers behind me and combines with my suit. "I hope this modification of yours is good! Because we need to get there fast!"
I look at the arch and smile "Oh don't worry, this will make me fly quite fast!"
Ok... So this suit looks like everyone else's suit. It has small engines on my back, behind my arms, behind my legs, and at the bottom of my feet. Now lets change it to a new modification I have in mind. I close my eyes and imagine putting the pieces together like a puzzle. I will keep the engines at the bottom of my feet; however I tweak it, to make to be able to turn itself, and change the round shape in to a rectangular shape. This will make it easier for me to fly or adjust my position, and in to horizontal or vertical position faster. This will also help not to just keep my feet in a parallel position, but also in a V position. I can open my legs a little while flying on my belly. I take out all the engines in my back and also the ones behind my leg and thigh. I make two bigger round shape engine behind my shoulders, and four smaller round shape engines on each side of my hips, since there are no gravity, This will help me maneuver more easily. From where 42 is on my back, I make wide wings from its sides. On each side where the wings are, I make a rectangular shape engine for support, about as big as the ones on the bottom of my feet. On the outer sides of my thighs I add smaller wings, making tail wings. Even if there are no gravity, this might come in handy later. My last tweak is that on the palm of my hands, I add a round shape engine as will, but this one is flexible, this will allow me to be able to grab and touch objects and still be able to maneuver. I open my eyes. I wonder how I look now.
"Huh! Impressive imagination! I haven't seen that many humans to think creatively right after they wake up!" 42 mentions "Your design is so similar to a star fighter."
"I know, I just wish there was a way to see myself."
"Oh! I can help with that! Here"
Right after he said that a screen pops up in front of me, with an object at the center.
"This shows how you look as if someone was behind you and looking at your back. I base this on my sensors I have connected with your suit. Your head isn't part of it because it does not cover your head with your suit." He explains.
Hmm, he is right. I do look like a mini starfighter in black. To be more precise, it looks more like one of the star fighters from a game I used to play based on my flash backs. I look forward at the arch and look at the path that leads down. So far there are no one in the way, and the path will gradually get leveled as it gets closer to the ground. I make a slight smirk. I may not be able to fly out of this hallway, but this is a too perfect of an opportunity to let it pass.
"All right, 42... buckle up. This will be a one hell of a ride!"
"Hah! It's about time you speed things up!" 42 responded.
I am flying on my stomach and open my legs in to a V shape. Ahh, this is the most comfortable position. I activated all the engines and drift as I am climbing up the arch. As I get closer to the peak, I gradually pick up speed. I am mimicking the roller coaster, though I know it won't be the same. No gravity and no wind, but this should be fun too. I reach the peak and I find my smirk turn in to a wide grin. Finally! Here we go!
"Hey what happened with you bragging to go faaaAAAASST!" 42's comment turned in to a shout.
Unfortunately for 42, he talked when the arch path goes down, and right then I increase my speed dramatically. By the time we are in a full dive, I had all the engines on my palms, Bottom of my feet, and behind my wings on full blast. I couldn't feel anything, but I can tell I'm going extremely fast. The ground is expanding in my view at a fast rate. As I get closer to the ground, I notice more details. I see more moving objects of different sizes and colors, most are gathered near the lakes and rivers. I see some of them are flying as well. The path began to gradually to curve to be parallel with the surface.
The path became completely parallel with the ground, and it very close to it too. The bottom of the path is only four meters higher from the surface. I see a horde of animals running along the path below me. They were big compared to my size, maybe 4 or 5 times bigger? They are white with black line patterns all over their body. I come to pass them. Next I see a group of even bigger animal. They are dark grey and have big ears; they have horns curve out upward near each side of their mouth, and they have one long nose that it appears to be a tentacle. I can't tell, for I am passing by quickly. I hear a loud roar somewhere; I look without stopping. I see another group of animal. They are light brown, and are chasing after one of the black and white animal, comparatively they are smaller than the white animal but they all are going after it. One of the brown animal's neck has dark puffy hair, making it set out compared to the other ones. Then I pass a few other animals that have a very long neck, they are yellow with brown pattern, most of them are gathered near a tall tree. I am about to pass a group of trees, then I see a lot of colorful animals flying out of the trees.
"I appreciate the speed, however you need to look out not to hit anyone..... Wait look ahead!" 42 warns me.
I look ahead, and I see two being in the suite, coming at a distance. With them, they have a drone following them each. I move closer to the right side of the glassed hall way and quickly pass them. I see them stop and look at me with surprise. I look back to the front; the path is now leading straight to a mountain.. no.. THROUGH a mountain! It's a tunnel.
"You might want to slow down a bit! That under ground tunnel has a few curves! If you crash in to something, well be in a lot of trouble!" 42 warns.
"How long till our destination?" I ask, meanwhile I cut my engine power to half.
"Oh, you still must go for a while. Usually it takes about 45 minutes to get there, but with the speed you just went, it should take us only about 15 more minutes."
Hmm, so after I pass through the tunnel I should pick up speed again. I have reached the tunnel gate, and throughout the tunnel, it lighted the same way as the previous hallway.
"Hey! I told you to slow down, human!" 42 yells.
"But I just cut my engine in half!" as soon as I said that I realize there is no resistance in this hallway as there is no gravity.
"No slow down now! There is a turn up ahead!"
I look ahead and sure enough the path makes a turn and I'm going in to a wall straight. Damn it! How did I forget about that! If reverse my engine in full blast now I can lessen the impact. I make a standing position, put my feet and hands in the front and activate all the engines. I immediately slowed down, but my distance towards the wall is only about 10 meters and closing fast!
"AAHHH!" 42 screams..
"Your on my back! You won't get hurt!" I shout back at him, doing everything I can to stop.
"Oh, yah... but still AAHHH!"
I crash into the wall.
"Ahhh Ouch!" I shout
"Well, good thing you slowed down otherwise it could have been worse.." He mentioned in a nonchalant tone.
"Yes.. yes it could captain obvious, but my head hurts more from your scream than the impact. Why were you screaming? You know you wouldn't be hurt!"
"Oh.. but I was screaming out of excitement!" He said in a joyful tone.
.... This bastard! Why little.... I try to grab him from my back.
"Haha you can't grab me, I'm in your suit~," he said in a mocking tone.
"Are you Ok?" Said a female voice.
I got startle by the sudden comment. I look to the direction of the voice. The path made a sharp turn towards up, which where the voice came from. Floating above me.. I see her again.
"Oh.... It's you..." She said crossing her arms and looking down from above.
Once again I am looking at her in aw, frozen by her golden hair and her blue eyes. She was the same female that I landed on. The blond angel.
*To be Continued*