On a planet much like Earth but set in a different reality, humans have mastered interstellar travel. New discoveries were being made each year as exploration teams traveled to new planets finding new animal life forms and left over technologies from extinct peoples.
Despite all this travel no new species of people had been discovered, just their techicological remains. The coveted professions in this new age were as Xenoarcheologists, Technical Engineers, Xenolinguistics, Xenovetrinarians, and Xenobiologists.
While humans have spread out amongst the planets that are habitable, most remain on their version of Earth, a planet called Terra Prime. Exploration teams were made up of the top professionals in their respective fields. Their discoveries made new technologies, new languages, new medicines, and new pets possible.
Mina Barrow was one of the youngest students ever to not only graduate from the University of Xenobiology and Vetrinary Medicine but with a double major in both Xenobiology AND Vetrinary medicine. She truly was a prodigy. She came from a poor family and was lucky enough to win the University Scholorship to finish her studies with very little debt.
Her grades afforded her a position at the Xenobiology and Vetrinary Medicine Clinic owned by the University board. This Clinic was also a research center that often had their staff members selected to join Exploration Groups.
Here she studies new species and helps to heal the ones kept as pets by the general public on Terra Prime.
//
Mina placed the last suture in the narrow line of stitches and let out a breath of relief. She removed her soiled gloves to push her long red hair with purple highlights out of her eyes.
She looked down at the tree-cat she finished saving from an intestinal blockage.
Mr Tufty-Fluff was doing well and was ready to go to the recovery room. His 6 legs twitching a bit as he dreamed about whatever tree-cats dreamed about.
The surgery to remove the roll of ladies stockings had taken over 8 hours to complete. The other Xenovetrinarian on staff, Dr Marcus Wayland refused to help or take the case himself even though Mina had been working for over 24 hours already. She was more than ready to stop so she could eat and finally sleep.
She has been working for Dr Wyland since she graduated top of her class from the University of Xenobiology and Vetrinary Medicine in Z continent 2 years ago. In the last 2 years she has yet to make it past the Junior level Xenovetrinarian in this company. Dr Wyland has blocked every advancement opportunity Mina tried for because she refused to date him.
What made it all the worse was the fact that Mina studied even now about all the animal life forms that existed. She was one of the most knowledgeable Xenovetrinarians in existence. While Marcus skated by on outdated knowledge and surgery techniques. He got away with this by swooping in at the last minute on procedures with the newest Doctors and claiming full credit for the surgeries for himself.
Just last month there was an opening on the Xenobiology Exploration team that was set to explore the next planet in the solar system. She wanted the position with all her might. This was why she chose to become a Xenovetrinarian in the first place. Mina wanted to help discover new species of animals in the universe.
Dr Wyland was the one who told her the interview for the team was an hour later than it really was. Mina showed up late and was refused entry into the interview room.
As if thinking of her last failed interview for Senior level doctor summoned him, Dr Wyland knocked on the surgery suite door and walked in.
"Mina, I mean Dr Barrow, glad to see you finally finished with the stupid bush-mouse, thing. There is another client waiting for you in exam room 2. Some kind of old world bear thing with a metal beak." Marcus Wyland panted out. He was a balding, middle aged man with dried out skin, a large gut, and a leering stare. He hunched forward as he spoke, especially to the female staff members.
Wyland looked Mina up and down noting how exhausted she truly was.
"Of course, you could always leave with me to get dinner and some…..sleep." Dr Wyland drawled while giving a lecherous grin to Mina.
Mina sighed. "Dr Wyland I have been working for over 24 hours now. I will not be able to effectively treat any of the animals that come to us for help."
"How much do you want this job Mina? If you cannot accept the demands that come along with your position, perhaps you don't really want to be a part of this company any longer, huh?"
Mina sighed, "Let me clean up quickly and I will see the next patient."
Wyland smiled knowing he still had some control over her. "This would all get easier if you just agreed to be my woman you know. I can make your position elevate quickly. Just say the word."
Mina just stared coldly at him waiting for him to leave.
Wyland sneered at her, "Fine. I'm going home to eat some dinner. Don't forget to lock up the building before you leave after this last patient. I cannot be bothered with such small tasks."
He turned and stalked out the back exit to his Magnicar. The latest edition hover car that his ill gotten rewards afforded him.
Mina sighed again and was suddenly hit with a piercing headache. She had been experiencing them more and more often over the last few days. While working hard caring for her animal patients, she had failed to properly take care of her own health.
Splashing water on her face she pushed the pain back and prepared to meet her next patient.
Exiting the surgery suite and turning left Mina continued down the hall until she reached exam room 2. Taking a deep breath and plastering a calm smile on her face she turned the door knob and pushed it open.
She took 2 steps into the room, " Hi, I'm Dr….." was all she got out before she tripped over nothing but air.
Mina's arms whirled around trying to help her catch her balance but she still began to fall. She fell straight towards the Steel Birdbear's feet and landed directly on his talons. Mina died instantly.
//
Mistress....Time to choose.
Mina opened her eyes slowly. She looked around and found herself floating on an ethereal plane.
"Am I dreaming?"
No Mistress. You are dead. You did not survive tripping over air and impaling yourself on a poor animal's talons.
Mina thought this voice was a bit too snarky for her tastes. Was this voice making fun of her? She remembered tripping, then nothing but blessed blackness. She half hoped she finally fainted and was sleeping peacefully.
Mistress has already been informed that she died. This is not a dream. Now focus. You need to choose.
"Wait. I'm truly dead?! This cannot be! I have so many things to get done! I haven't been on an exploration team yet! This isn't fair!!!" Mina was panicking just a bit, or rather, she thought she was. Her thoughts were panicked and jumbled but her body remained calm and relaxed.
Again Mistress, you are dead. You technically have no body.
"You can read my thoughts?"
Of course. I am the Supreme System. Now choose.
"What is it I am choosing? And what is a Supreme System?"
I am a Supreme System. I was created by the Divine Emporer God to pair with beings of superior potential to help them succeed in their ventures.
You are to choose if you want to live up to the supreme potential that exists somewhere within your soul.
Mina was astonished. Never did she think she would get another chance to make her mark on her world and her life.
"Yes! I want to make my mark on the world…I want to live to my fullest potential!"
As Mistress wishes…..he he he.
Mina suddenly felt apprehensive. This system seemed to be laughing at her a bit. She did not know what it was thinking, but she resolved to be cautious when dealing with it. As long as she reaches her top potential, she can put up with anything.
A blinding white and blue light surrounded Mina and she felt herself being pulled down at a great speed. She was pulled faster and faster until she felt herself sink down into the ground.
Slowly Mina opens her eyes and looks around. This room had warm cream colored walls with woven reed windows. The bed she lay on was soft but worn. Her blankets were thin but the weather was still warm enough not to need anything more.
Looking down at herself, Mina realized her hands looked like those of a child no older than 9 or 10. She started to become agitated as she realized she was indeed a child not an adult.
"Where am I? Who am I?!" Mina asked herself out loud.
"What are you doing in here?!!" A voice demanded of Mina. "Demon! Get out of me now!! I'm the only one that belongs in my body! Get ouuuuuuuuttt!!!"
"What is happening to me? System was that you?"
Oops. It seems Mistress was placed inside a body whose soul had not yet passed on. It looks as though the original host soul is now connected to your own.
"What?!"
"What?!"