The door to the storage room shuddered, almost splintering in places, as something slammed heavily into it, a heavy force ramming against it with clear aggression. Whatever it may have been, clearly didn't like his yelling, or was simply not happy about its new lease on life. But then again, after seeing how utterly useless his newfound power turned out to be, who could blame him for yelling out in frustration?
Best case, it was someone trying to break down the door to help him, but then what person would do that without asking if they are okay first?
No, this was definitely something that had less than pleasant reasons. Would it be more of the shambling undead? Or would it be something even worse? Afterall… who knows what kind of effects this event had caused the city… country…world?... to undergo.
His change was clearly different from the other deceased drone. A rotten, rapidly decaying corpse was nothing like useless strings and a pain in his arm. Plus, that voice had said something about different stats or something.
'Maybe if I stay quiet, it might go away. Plenty of others to attack on this floor alone. And with this useless ability, I don't know how long I'd last. Can't bank on luck forever…' These were the defeatist thoughts that swam their way through Seth's head as he gazed at his hand. His vision, and misery, focused on those stupid ghostly strings.
Seth let out an exasperated and defeated sigh as he lowered his hand, his thoughts currently being drowned too much by the utter disappointment to concentrate too much on the uninvited guests banging at his door. But before he could wallow for too long, a pristine voice sounded in his head once more.
[Congratulations on your Rebirth. You have taken the first steps on the path of true evolution.]
"Thanks…I guess, strange voice person. What the hell even is that anyways?" Seth muttered to himself. Although he wasn't talking to anyone nor was he expecting an answer, he got one regardless.
[I am your personal assistant on your path of ascension.]
The unknown voice spoke once again, causing Seth to pause in his actions and take a second to mentally process that it had, in fact, replied to him.
'Okay…' He thought to himself, 'I've got a voice inside my head talking to me. I mean, it's not like it's the first time today. I did hear that one earlier but somehow, this one feels different..'
The previous voice had always left him with shivers down his spine. It felt as if some squid monster had jammed his slimy tentacles in his ear and was groping his brain, wringing it like a wet cloth for all his delicious brain juices.
But this new one, this one felt the reassuring caress of a lover or the gentle breeze of a perfect summer's day. It was euphoric and comforting. Not foreign and invasive like the last, but like it was something always a part of him whispering into his mind.
[Correct. The initial voice was Mother. I am a sub-system assigned directly to you.]
The cheerful voice chimed in again, interrupting his internal musings. Seth let out a sigh and shook his head, realising the obvious fact that it could read his thoughts. Afterall, if it could speak into his mind it was to be expected he could speak back using it.
'So, what exactly is it you do? What makes you different from this 'Mother' system?' He asked the strange voice. Although he had an idea from what had happened previously, it was always better to ask and confirm. Afterall, it could lead to new information being revealed, information that could possibly save his life at some point or at the very least make things easier for him.
[Mother is the system in charge of the full evolution process. It is responsible for injecting the mutagenic acceleration agent into the atmosphere, for creating rewards, and for monitoring the overall progress of your planet, and many other functions you do not have the classification to access.]
[I, on the other hand, am tailored directly to you. I am responsible for showing you your stats, giving you the rewards Mother deems you worthy of, answering questions you may have, as well as sending your data to Mother to be analysed.]
As Seth listened to the "sub-system's" explanation of itself, he was scouring the room for a more suitable weapon to deal with the problem that was quite literally knocking at his door. Afterall, he couldn't expect to bash in every enemy's head with the photocopier. Not only was it impractical, it was… simply disgusting.
He would have preferred something with some reach to it, which would provide him with much more safety than a short weapon, but it seemed that luck was not on his side. The best he could do was a pair of scissors, which he secured in the back of his pants, and a fire extinguisher that he could hopefully use like some sort of crimson-hued club.
It was only when he had finally decided on his weapons that the sub-system had finally finished its explanation. And while it was all simple, it was the last sentence that made him pause.
'Wait.. you're sending out my data? Like my stats and abilities? What if someone intercepts the transmission?! Then they'll know everything about me!' He shouted at the system, his mind racing as he started to think of all the ways that such a thing could betray him. But it seemed whoever designed the Mother, and by proxy the sub-system, had already thought of this outcome.
[This is impossible. First and foremost, Gaian technology is far too primitive to intercept the transmission between myself and Mother. While it is possible for someone to develop an ability that could allow them to intercept the transmissions, all they would receive is an encrypted message. Communication with Mother allows for encryptions to be updated depending on abilities that can intercept, so your data can only ever be fully viewed by those Authorised to do so.]
At this explanation, Seth let out a sigh of relief. He would never sleep soundly with the thought that he could be read like a book by anyone. He could only imagine what someone would be able to do if they knew the extent of his abilities, or worse, his kryptonite. If he had one, that is. Speaking of which, nevermind someone else learning the full extent and limitations of his abilities, even Seth himself didn't know what that was. In fact he didn't even know what his abilities were!
'So.. Sub-system. This data, my stats and abilities, how can you tell me about them? Can you do it now?' He asked the friendly voice in his head, yet still keeping a part of his mind on the door. Just waiting for it to break down and for unknown carnage to tear its way in.
[Certainly.]
The sub-system replied succinctly, and a moment later a familiar screen appeared before his eyes. Hovering in the air like a hologram being projected in front of him.
[Name: Sephtis Quinn
Species: Gaian Human
Biological Score: 45 Elemental Score: 48
Spiritual Score: 64 Psychic Score: 46
Mutation - Puppeteers Thread]
'Huh, so you're basically like a UI straight out of a game or something.' Seth said internally as he looked over the stats, as well as the description of his new ability.
[....Among other things, yes. I suppose that could be an apt description of my purpose, although severely lacking.]
The system took a few moments to reply this time, speaking into his mind with a tone that still sounded cheerful, but had a hint of annoyance underneath. As if it was being said with a strained smile, like that of a professional customer service rep dealing with a very irritating customer but who still had to be positive.
Seth couldn't help but chuckle as he heard that reply, imagining the facial expression that they would be making alongside it.
'Alright, Alright. So you don't like that name. So what should I call you then? And do you only talk to me in a disembodied voice? It's a little creepy, if I'm being honest.'
The sub-system that hated being called a mere UI took a few moments to reply again, almost as if it was taking time to think. After ten seconds of silence, something finally changed, and thankfully it wasn't the unknown horrors breaking down the door.
An orb appeared before him, floating in the air completely unperturbed by the law of gravity. But it wasn't a solid sphere, nor a glowing orb of light. Instead it was a sphere composed of different rings, or lines, of ever changing text. It looked similar to a diagram of an atom without a core. The text on the swirling rings wasn't English, nor was it a language Seth recognised. They were symbols that constantly shifted and changed while they slowly swirled around in a circle without any clear meaning.
At that time, the system spoke in his head once again, the symbols on the atom of code flashing brighter and dimmer in rhythm with the words being spoken.
[You may call me Angel.]