" the what ? "
" in short i call it the cardinal "
" that explains....literally nothing "
" huh.... ok I may not look it but I used to equip stalkers back in the day and i know the stalker proses inside and out, you eat the type of eruptide you want to steal there powers and pray to what ever your god is that you survive the prosses, but what if I tell you you could increase your odds of survival by 100% "
" I would still not understand "
" shut up and listen you spoiled brat...you know what... a picture is worth a thousand words.... "
as he said this Oldman famin went to the back and came back with what looked like a sealed container, as he opened it Alexandrove saw a very odd looking device, it was a rectangular screen that was connected to a metal frame with two tubes that were linked with soft tubing as well as a mechanical keyboard all of which was mounted to a lather brace with four buckles, Alexandrove picked it up and examened it closer it was gunmetal gray with multiple "ports" for more parts or links for other systems, it was roughly 2,5 cm thick and 20 cm wide, flipping it over he found six small needles connected to to thin pipes going into the first cylinder which had the bio-hazard as well as the stalker insignia but before he could press anything Oldman famin took it.
" alright you stared at it long enough "
" what's with the needles Oldman"
" if you would let me talk instead of being a dick I would explain,...ok so the hole system is powered by the liquid syleon fuel rod so it will last for approximately... 4 decades give or take a few year, and to answer your question the needles are to inject you with the altered gene code that you want with out having to eat those things as well as take a reading, so it can get accustomed to you, it works like this you open the bio-chamber and put in the sample of the eruptide you have taken down you then let the cardinals system run analysis of the sample and once it's done it will give you a reading of the samples possibility of success if you chose to inject it.
BUUUT... it can also alter and change the sample to make it easier to adapt to your biology.
well I wont spoil the surprise to much but lets just say the cardinal system will adapt to you and gradually become a part of you...in Theory."
" in Theory ?"
"well I can't really tested it on myself now can I, and ever since I retired from the mulita I haven't been able to even talk to a stalker so I can't exactly ask someone to test it in the field...well that was until you showed up....so what say you?"
" it sounds to good to be true, so I want to see if it can hold up to your clams can you prove to me it works?. "
after saying that famin took Alexandroves arm and strapped the cardinal on it and pressed the button on the screen and it started to hum as it's electronics came to life the the syleon fuel rod started to glow and the six needles stabbed into his thin forearm took some blood as well as some readings and retracted, after less than a second the screen started to read code.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [terra-aurora system istal V0.52.1]
[installing -1/8]
[installing -2/8]
[installing -3/8]
[installing -4/8]
[installing -5/8]
[installing -6/8]
[installing -7/8]
[installing -8/8]
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new user DNA: register name[______________]
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Alexandrove was taken aback by the sudden jolt of the needles on his arm but he quickly forgot they existed as he was fascinated by the cardinal he tried to use the keyboard but it was locked then he saw a large switch on the top of the keypad and when he turned it he hared a click and the keys were now a bit raised allowing him to use them a safety mechanism for when your on the field, after that he typed his name and the screen change.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [terra-aurora system V0.52.1]
[booting...]
[welcome: Alexandrove bellkenin]
[states]
[data bank]
[bio-sample analysis]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
it looked a lot like a videogame settings screen, Alexandrove was impressed he used the track ball on the screen and selected the states tad but before he started reading famin spoke.
" so are you going to buy it or what, it's not cheep you know, and even if you don't buy it i will need to clean it of your DNA which is a pain in the ass "
" yes am buying it....and your the one that put it on me so you have no right to complain "
" HAAHAHHAHAHAHAHA FAIR POINT so for the cardinal and the terra aurora system it will be one platinum plate and 90 gold plates "
the moment Alexandrove heared the price he almost coughed out his lung, that was almost all he had left!!!.
" that's a total rip off and you know it you prick!!!!! "
"HEY DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD SYLEON LIQUID IS TO OPTAIN, and to be honest i think you will be hard pressed to fined anything even remotely similar on the public market, electronics are rare and it's even rarer to find a technician that isn't from the collective, but I will cut you a deal, since it's still only bear bones when it comes to "toys" you can play with I will sell it for 1 platinum and 60 gold plates...so what say you? "
Alexandrove had to admit he really wanted it, it was like insurance that he was defiantly going to make it in this famed world, but still it was a substantial amount of money, so he made his heart into stone and paid the ridicules price.
" I hope I don't regret this...also whats the collective "
" don't worry about it "
Alexandrove looked at the cardinal with weary eyes, ominuus was the first thor on hia mind he made sure it was securely on his forearm but as he was leaving he heard famin call out to him, turning around he saw the Oldman's face turn serious as he said.
" stay alive you hear, and if you ever need anything else electronic related came back and I will help to the best of my ability's...ow also rely on the cardinal, you didn't just buy a fancy wrist guard, you obtained a partner that will evolve with you as you travel,...take care and came back safe. "
after that Alexandrove got out of the store and headed back to the inn his mind was lost in thot.
(" so I guess this is the point of no returnee there is no going back, I know this was what I wanted...he wanted?...no we wanted but I have to admit it is terrifying to think about the horrors that are waiting for me out side the walls, huh the city is pretty big and I only got to see a fraction of it, ow well I will be back in the future and I will be stronger and more free, just wait lanthan I will show you how strong I will become. ")
after almost 40 minutes he got back to the inn, he would have gotten there faster if he used the cable cars, but he didn't want to waste anymore money, tomorrow was the last day he was staying at the inn so he sat to take a look at his new "partner"