I crawled out of the drainpipe right after Anis, dragging myself out of the stinky water. My solid combat boots hit the metallic floor with a soft clang. Inwardly, I grimaced. My uniform is soaked with the water from the drain pipe. The smells cling to me like a second skin. I subtly use my Alchemist perk to slowly dry my clothes. I can't do anything with the smells, since it also clings on our whole squad.
I take a good look at our surroundings. The walls were dull and rusted with age and exposure to who knows what. Pipes crisscrossed overhead, some still dripping, others emitting faint hissing noises. Large, industrial-sized tanks lined one side of the room, likely part of the old water filtration system. The air was humid, carrying that faint, metallic tang of processed water mixed with the remnants of... well, only god knows what else.
Anis stood a few feet away, shaking the grime off her clothes. "Well, this sucks." She muttered. I couldn't have agreed more, but I kept that to myself. She gave me a sympathetic glance but didn't complain much, not vocally anyway.
Neon wasn't as restrained. "This better not leave a stain!" She cried, wiping at her damp white stockings as if they would somehow evaporate the water. I glanced at her, half-wishing I could use my Alchemy magic openly to make ourselves clean. Because getting this stuff off manually was going to be a pain.
Rapi didn't look bothered by the situation as we are. She stood by the exit, calm and collected, even though her stockings and boots were just as wet as mine. Honestly, she could be in and out of a hurricane and it would not faze her.
I shook my arms to give the illusion that it was still wet and sighed at our situation. "Alright, everyone." I said, dragging my focus back on the mission. "We have two main objectives here. First, we explore this power station to investigate why it is still active. Second, we retrieve the data reports from the station office."
Neon perked up at that. "So, no more crawling through drains, right?"
I shot her a look and shook my head. "No more crawlings, unless you're volunteering when we find another path."
Neon quickly shook her head. "Nope!"
"Good." I continued, glancing around the room. "We are likely in one of the maintenance sections of the station. If lucky, we can move through here without encountering any Raptures. But considering the size of this place and how many Raptures are patrolling nearby, there's no telling what we might face."
Rapi nodded, addressing me. "We should assume Raptures are present then, Commander Sam. The density of Alva Particles in this area is high enough to indicate so."
"Most likely. Which is why we should not split up our squad. Doing so will needlessly weaken our formation." I explained to the squad. "Shifty, could you give us directions to the office?"
"Sure thing Commander Sam." Shifty said through the comms.
"What if we do run into some Raptures?" Anis inquired, putting her hand on her hip.
"Do not engage them first. Only shoot back once we are shot, otherwise we would alert them all. Which then would draw them to our position." I emphasize.
"So that means once we are surrounded, we can return with Maximum Firepower, right?" Neon asked with a refreshingly bright smile that promised utmost destruction.
I consider it carefully. On one hand, neon suggestions would lead to the destruction of this Power Station, which could be used to fuel the Ark for two whole months. So if I agree with her then there is a high chance of getting court-martialled by the Central Government. On the other hand, it could be the only way to distract the Raptures long enough to escape them.
"Perhaps. But it will be our last resort only." I finally decided.
Neon's face lit up with excitement at my response, her enthusiasm bordering on manic. I almost regretted giving her the option, but I had to focus on the bigger picture. Destroying the power station could save us from certain death at Rapture's mechanical limbs. Still, it would also mean losing a valuable resource. The Ark is hanging by a thread if two whole months' worth of supplies are that important to them.
"Shifty, have you finished charting the layout of this power station?" I inquired.
"Working on it, Commander Sam. There is some interference from Alva Particles, but I should be able to map the immediate area soon." she replied through the comms.
"Take your time." I replied back to her.
I sighed and shifted my focus to my arsenal of powers. I step into Strategy Trance and review back the newest perks I get. Portal Creation is a perk that provides various magical ways to create and modify portals with various properties. It has various applications, like simplifying just-in-time logistics, redirecting ranged attacks, closing the portal and letting the dimensional pressure cut the target, opening the portal to the deep sea and amplifying the pressure to create deadly water gun, creating a portal to a storage warehouse, modifying the portal so that only certain elements can pass through it, and even reducing or adding velocity to an object moving through the portal.
The downside is that creating even the simplest portal requires intense focus, and the more complex portal requires me to create special focus items. Another downside is that the magical energy needed to make a portal increases as the complexity increases. There is also the distance to mind, but various methods of making a portal circumvent it.
"Alright," I said, stepping out of Strategy Trance. "We stick together. No one goes off on their own. The moment we see anything suspicious, we pull back. Let me handle the consequences later."
Neon opened her mouth, probably to make another comment about more firepower, but I cut her off with a raised hand. "And no premature explosions. I'm serious, Neon."
She pouted but nodded reluctantly. "Fine, fine. I'll keep the fun under control."
Anis sighed softly under her breath. "Fun, huh? We'll see how fun it gets when buried under the rubble."
"Hey! Don't you disrespect my Firepower! There will be nothing left if I use my MAXIMUM FIREPOWER!" Neon shot back annoyed, hands on her hips.
I could feel a headache coming on. "Alright, knock it off you two." I said, looking at Rapi for support. She gives me a curt nod, acknowledging the subtle command to rein in the banter.
"Commander Sam, I have the layout. You're in the west section of the power station. The office you need is in the east wing, past the main generator room." Shifty chimed in from the comms.
I swore under my breath. Of fucking course we have to go through the generator room, most likely running into Raptures skulking around. "Alright. Any shortcuts?"
"No, unfortunately." Shifty denied. "It's a straight path, but the route takes you through an area filled chock-full of Alva Particles. Be careful, please."
"No promises." I muttered under my breath. "Thanks, Shifty."
I turned to the squad. "Alright. We move slowly, keep our heads down, and stick to the walls. No engaging unless it is absolutely necessary. Anis, you are our frontline so be sure to watch out for any suspicious movement. Rapi, cover our rear to prevent Raptures from sandwiching us. Neon, stay close to me. Don't plant your explosives yet."
Rapi nodded, stepping back without a word and readying her assault rifle. Anis shrugged but complied, taking her position before us with her grenade launcher in hand, ready to fire. Neon stepped close to me, looking more focused than ever while gripping her shotgun.
We start moving, cautiously stepping through the wide passageways of the power station. The constant hum of electricity reverberated through the walls, a dull reminder that this place was still operational despite being deserted. It should have been non-operational because no one manned it, but the power station is still operating despite that fact.
I could feel the tension rising the deeper we went. It wasn't just the threat of Raptures. It was something else. Something about this place felt off like we were not supposed to be here. My instincts kept screaming at me, but there was no turning back now.
"Commander Sam, we are approaching the generator room." Anis whispered seriously,
I nodded. "Stay sharp. This is where things might get messy."
We moved into the room from behind a storage box, and I froze. The generator room is massive towering machinery that stretches up toward the ceiling, casting long shadows in the dim light. But it wasn't the generator that caught my attention.
It was the Raptures.
They skittered around the room, operating the equipment with eerie precision, their metallic legs clicking across the floor. They clearly knew what they were doing, operating human technology even though they were supposed to only have animal-like intelligence.
What if they act like animals to deceive humanity as some kind of overarching plot to eradicate us? What if they were all sapient life forms behaving with different sets of understanding?
Calm down, Sam. Calm down. You slipped into Strategy Trance again. You need to have a better grip on your emotions. Even if you have more time to think than possibly anyone else in the world, that doesn't mean using it every time you panic is the right move. There is always a possibility of someone taking advantage of it.
Okay, now that you have regained your composure, let's calmly assess the situation.
I am in a power station, doing a mission with my squad. Raptures operate human technology inside the generator room, while tons of Raptures guard the power station outside. What is my next course of action?
Can we defeat the Raptures operating the power station without alerting the Raptures outside? Yes, with our equipment and the right plan, we could take them out faster than they could react. After all, there are only a dozen Raptures that are slightly smaller than regular husk-class Raptures. They are about 1.3 meters tall and 0.8 meters wide, with four limbs acting as legs and another four tentacle-like limbs acting as their hand, operating the control panel better than humans could. They don't have visible weapons on their upper body, unlike most husk-class Raptures.
Clearly, we could take them head-on, but that would lead to an all-out battle against the Raptures patrolling outside.
Time flows back to normal as I step out of Strategy Trance. But unlike me who had the advantage of accelerating my perception time to comprehend the whole situation carefully, Anis did not.
"They shouldn't be able to do that!" Anis whispered harshly expressing her disbelief. "How are they operating human technology?! This can't be real!" She denied the reality before her eyes.
"Anis, focus." I say as I approach her. "We'll figure out the 'how' later. Right now, we need to sneak out before they figure out we are here and alert the rest."
Her wide eyes met mine, and after a brief pause, she nodded. However, her denial still lingered inside.
"Commander Sam, are we continuing this mission?" Rapi asked me, her tone suggesting that she genuinely trust my decision.
I looked back at the Raptures operating the generator, feeling a growing sense of trepidation." No, we are retreating. I can handle getting chewed out by the Central Government for not fully completing the mission, but the information of Rapture's irregular activity is far more important than some kind of old research data."
Rapi acknowledged this with a nod. "Understood. Shifty, please chart an escape route."
"On it!" Shifty quickly replied.
Neon's voice cut through our conversation before I could step into Strategy Trance. "Uhh, Mentor?" She pointed at the Raptures operating the generator. "The Raptures stopped."
My stomach tightened, instincts screaming at me to flee. The Raptures had frozen mid-task. Every single one of them stopped, their limbs perfectly still as their upper body turned toward us. Their glowing mechanical eyes locked onto us in eerie unison. Then as one, they screeched at us, alerting every Rapture nearby.
"Skreeee!!!!"
"They've spotted us! Move!" I barked, stepping into Strategy Trance, ready to create a plan that could get us out of this problem. That is the only reason I saw it.
A powerful laser beam suddenly pierced through the wall of the generator room, tearing through steel and concrete with terrifying speed even to my boosted time perception, flying directly towards Rapi. It flew so fast that if I did not act soon then it would punch through her torso, so I instantly stepped out of Strategy Trance.
"DODGE, RAPI!" I shouted, barely getting my message out before she moved. As if she immediately knew what I meant before I could say anything.
Her boots flared with power fueled by a quicksilver bullet as she dashed away, using the speed boost from her recent upgrades to move away out of the beam's path. The laser missed her by mere inches, scorching part of her clothes and leaving a minor wound on her skin. I am flooded with relief at her survival.
But my relief was short-lived. More Raptures, bigger than the one operating the generator, swarmed into the room from outside, their weapons now aimed at us, turning the room into a deadly battlefield, with us sandwiched between two groups of Raptures.
Surely, this could not get any worse.
Celestial Forge disagrees and causes me to slip into Strategy Trance. It chooses now to start hammering the anvil and grants me a new perk. This perk feels different than all previous perks. For one, it feels heavier and denser, as if six Strategy Trances are thoroughly fused and pressed into the shape of one Strategy Trance.
Two, it has a long name: 'We are going to Change the World, Peter.'. To be honest, I don't know who Peter is. Is Peter my colleague? Besides, the full name is too long, so I am going to call it [Change the World].
It grants me exceptional intelligence and potential, comparable to great minds through history that bring significant advancement in various science and technology fields. The kind that takes several years of study to create cures for cancer, true cybernetic bodies, unlocking the secrets of turning matter to pure energy, or creating true space flight. I do mean years, not decades or even lifetimes. That is already insanely fast compared to the normal scale.
[Change the World] has insane synergy with Alchemy, SCIENCE, and Portal Creation. This perk grants me insight on how to create technologies meant to interact with superpowers, which includes various branches of magic (including Portal Creation), and even increases my novice-level understanding of any SCIENCE involving Nikkes and Raptures to Journeyman level while also giving me talent to altering them in some way I have yet to completely understand. As a side effect of understanding magic and science, it is possible to create something that blends both fields together to take advantage of their best properties, as assured by the SCIENCE perk.
But why superpower? Because it also comes with three different flavors of making your own superpowers; that is granting man the power of a spider, creating some kind of superweapon lifeform that bonds with a host to benefit each other, and creating a situation where the subject gains the electricity that somehow reverses how things are supposed to be. The last one is the most difficult, as it depends on the subject's affinity with said electricity I dub it negative electricity.
Anyway, it doesn't really matter right now since I am in the middle of what could be my last moment, so I have to act since I already spent several precious seconds processing this knowledge dump instead of thinking of a plan to get out of this situation.
As if to increase my stress level, the ground beneath us rumbled. It was subtle at first, almost like a tremor from distant locations. However, the shaking grew more violent within seconds. The walls cracked, and bits of debris fell from the ceiling, hitting several Raptures in the process. Of course, it doesn't stop them from shooting us.
"Is it an earthquake?!" Anis shouted, wisely using cover to protect herself instead of using my enhancement.
"No." Rapi answered, narrowing her eyes as she inspected our surroundings behind debris that had fallen recently. Recognition crossed her face. "This is something else."
"Shifty!" I called out. "What's going on?"
There was a brief moment of silence as Shifty ran her scans. Then she informed us urgently. "Commander! I'm detecting a massive Tyrant-class Rapture signal headed straight for you! It's… it's a Gravedigger!"
My blood ran cold at the name. Gravedigger. My now-journeyman understanding of Raptures brought by Science perks knew about those tunnel-dwelling machines. They are gigantic, snake-like Raptures capable of tunneling through the earth like a worm in search of the Ark's location. They are big, about 10 meters tall and 60 meters long. The problem is that we are in an enclosed building, which is their preferred field. I have to somehow drag them to the surface to take them out because they are more vulnerable on the surface.
"It's digging directly toward your location! You have to move, now!" Shifty warned us.
I cursed under my breath. The Raptures in the room were already closing in and shooting our cover, and now this thing was coming from below? How in the hell were we supposed to fight something that size while escaping this mess?
Rapi stares at me, her determined face reassuring me that I can do this. "Orders, Commander?"
I step into the Trance, simulating every possible option I could imagine. The ground shook again under my accelerated perception, more violently than the last, as if the Gravedigger was getting closer with every second. We didn't have much time, but it was enough for me to come up with a basic escape plan. One that should delay the Raptures long enough for us to escape.
I step out of the Trance. "We have to get out of this building. Shifty, are you done charting an escape route? We need it right now!"
"It's done!" Shifty replied, her fingers flying over the console in the command center if the sound is any indication. "I will direct you to the nearest exit, but you have to move fast!"
"Understood. Everyone, retreat! Neon, drop your explosive every ten meters! Save at least one bag of explosives! Rapi, secure our path to the exit! Anis, destroy that support pillar! It should be enough to collapse that section while also delaying Raptures from following us!" I ordered, starting to run toward the exit. I heard various affirmations from them while running.
Rapi, as the fastest, is already ahead of us. Neon is on my left, dropping explosives as instructed. Anis is slightly behind us, activating her shield after she has destroyed the pillar that is holding the halfway we are running from. The pillar collapsing caused rubble to fall and blocked the hallway behind us, preventing the Raptures from chasing us. Meanwhile, the ground continued to rumble beneath us, and I could hear the terrifying sound of something massive moving through the earth, drawing closer by the second.
"Shifty, how far?" I shouted, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I kept on moving.
"Three hundred meters to the nearest exit! It'll take you outside of the power station!" Shifty said worriedly. "But the Gravedigger is closing in fast! You've got less than five minutes before it reaches you!" She warned.
The blocked halfway suddenly split open by Rapture laser, and soon several smaller Raptures started breaking in and chasing us.
"Neon, stop dropping your explosive! Wait until Anis is outside of its radius, then feel free to detonate them!" I commanded loudly.
"Roger Mentor! Come on Anis, run faster! Are you even trying?!" Neon taunted unapologetically.
"I dare you to run faster than me when we are back to the Ark, Neon!" Anis maturely retorts.
After Anis is far enough from their radius, Neon detonates the explosive. It caused chain reactions that destroyed the Raptures who had been chasing us, while also collapsing the whole hallway. Hopefully, the next squad sent after us could deal with it.
"Once again Firepower saves the day! Say it with me, hip hip, FIREPOWER!" Neon cheered, practically brimming with excitement.
"You can celebrate later when we return to the Ark, Neon." I replied while maintaining my running speed.
Since she didn't need to cover our rear any longer, Anis quickly caught up, running to my right as we pushed toward the exit. "Commander Sam, are you sure this building won't collapse from all those explosives?" she asked with worry.
"It should hold, as long as the rest of the supporting pillars are not destroyed." I reassured her. "Though the next squad to take this mission probably needs an alternative entrance." I added.
"Commander Sam, the path is clear. I can see the exit door." Rapi reported, probably 70 meters ahead of us.
"Acknowledged. Shifty, how many Raptures are behind the exit door?" I ask.
"Too many to face while retreating, Commander Sam! They're swarming outside!" Shifty informed me in trepidation.
"You seem overwhelmed, Commander. Need a hand?" An unfamiliar voice teased from my right. I reflexly turn my head to see who says that, only to furrow my brows.
"Gah! Who are you!" Anis yells as she suddenly finds someone in between her and me while we are running.
I see a wild-looking woman with long, black and white hair split horizontally on her neck (with upper black and lower white) and a p90 look-alike with sharp knuckle submachine guns in each hand, smirking at us while running casually. She wears a coat that seems to be cut in half vertically to display her left side. More importantly, she wears proper combat boots. Finally, something that makes sense. "Name's K, from Elysion."
"And what's your angle here, K? You just happen to be nearby, so you're offering to help us?" I sarcastically ask while staring at her.
"That's right." She says innocently, ignoring my incredulous stare while keeping up with our pace. "I'm here to help, Commander." She stared back, her expression shifting to a more serious demeanor. "Trust me, you will want us on your side right now. Those Raptures outside aren't going to wait for you to make up your mind."
"Fine." I relented, prioritizing our escape over my doubts. "Also, us? Do you have a partner or something?"
"Of course I do." She scoffs at my legitimate question." D's my partner. She is currently driving a truck to the extraction point, which is behind the Raptures horde outside."
I see Rapi standing right before the exit door, waiting for our arrival. She looks at K in bewilderment and turns to me for an answer. I shrug my shoulders as I also don't know how she manages to sneak into our squad.
As we approached the final stretch, I could feel the rumble of Gravedigger's approach. We needed to get through the exit door, past the Raptures waiting outside, and reach the extraction point without being torn apart. A reckless sprint wasn't going to cut it.
"Raptures are swarming on the other side so we can't just blast open the exit door and hope for the best. We need to keep them disoriented until we reach the truck, so here is my plan:"
"Anis, I need you to blast open the exit door. After that I want Rapi, Neon, and K to throw in some smoke grenades. The smoke should hide their movement and vision long enough for us to sneak out of their perimeter and reach the truck."
Anis and Rapi nod in agreement wordlessly.
"Roger that, Mentor." Neon said, grinning happily.
"That might just work, Commander." K gives me a nod of approval.
Anis stands before the exit door, charging her energy shield while also preparing to breach it with her grenade launcher. "Door's going down in three… two… one!"
The blast rocked the hallway, and the door blew off its hinges, revealing the thick mass of Raptures waiting for us. Their eyes gleamed as they snapped their attention to us, and the air filled with a high-pitched whine as they powered up their weapons.
"Now! Smoke them out!" I yelled.
Rapi, Neon, and K each pulled multiple smoke grenades, tossing them out in rapid succession. Clouds of thick gray smoke specifically treated to block Rapture sensor billowed out, instantly blinding the nearest Raptures and filling the area. Their shots went wide, lasers and bullets flying aimlessly through the dense fog as we moved quickly through the cover.
"Stay close everyone!" I shouted, leading them forward as We charged through the dense smokescreen, weaving around confused Raptures as they frantically searched for targets.
As the smoke thinned, I caught sight of an armored cargo truck rumbling toward us, a woman with red eyes wearing a hooded cloak at the wheel. She glanced at us all serious and focused, gesturing us to get in. K led us to the back of the truck, and one by one we got in.
Just as we settled, the ground shook violently behind us. I glanced through the rear door, eyes widening as Gravedigger burst from the ground, its massive, monstrous form tearing through the earth in a frenzy to reach us.
"Floor it, D!" K called, slamming the truck's tailgate shut. The truck roared to life as D stepped on the accelerator, tearing down the rocky path while the monstrous metallic worm crawled after us.
"Dammit, we need more than speed to escape this thing" I gripped the side frame, watching Gravedigger crawling at us with insane speed. Its serrated jaws opened and closed randomly as it burrowed and surfaced, launching various projectiles, like drill missiles and some rocks.
I step into Strategy Trance, mind accelerating and start forming plans. We cannot escape from Gravedigger, as its tunneling speed outpaces this truck. The only way we can survive from this is if I can somehow destroy Gravedigger.
I delve deep into my perks and start simulating steps to modify the explosives to be more powerful. With [Change the World], backed with SCIENCE understanding, I have the necessary knowledge to upgrade the explosive. Using Alchemy, I can conjure materials as I need them. Then using Workshop Artisan, I can create blood bullets to fuel the enhancement upgrade for the explosive. As for the enhancement itself, I am going to use Portal Creation to create several small portals that open for a few microseconds and close immediately. Which is basically rearranging its inside wherever it explodes.
K and D's arrival to help us is also suspicious as hell, so I have to keep my perks hidden from them. It would make upgrading the explosive harder, but that is better than exposing my perks to someone I would not like to.
I step out of the Trance with a plan ready to be carried out.
"Rapi, K, please intercept those projectiles! Anis, aim at its front face! Your grenade should damage the drill enough to slow it down! Neon, hand me your side bag and help me prepare the explosive!"
Neon's face lit up in glee as she handed me two remaining side bags and the side bag filled with the last Rapture core. "YES! I mean sure, Mentor. This tyrant is about to get a faceful of our MAXIMUM FIREPOWER!"
Rapi and K give affirmative sounds, weapons in hand, and open fire. Their shots destroy various projectiles flying toward us. Anis shouts in frustration at Gravedigger, mostly curse words while also shooting her grenades mostly at Gravedigger's main drill. It does a good amount of damage, deforming the drill just enough to slow it slightly.
"Nice shots!" I yelled, keeping my eyes on Gravedigger's movements for a few seconds while mentally calculating the best way to buy us time. It shrugs off the damage done to its drill with some kind of minor regeneration, pushing through Anis's continuous barrage.
"Commander, it's regenerating! I don't think my grenades can do better than this!" Anis called with frustration in her tone, reloading and shooting at Gravedigger's main drill.
"Just keep doing it! if Gravedigger is focusing on regenerating then sooner or later it would not have enough energy to keep its speed." I replied, cracking open the bomb casing and beginning to work.
"Neon, could you help me by opening the bomb's casing and closing it after I am done upgrading it?" I ask, pulling out the last Rapture core that would be the base of this magical portal bomb. My hands direct the flow of magical energy from the said core to the bombs, engraving the portal and more enhancements with Alchemy and my experience as Workshop Assistant.
"Sure thing, Mentor!" Neon replied as she began to help me. While she is distracted, I slit my hand slightly, just enough to create several blood bullets to fuel the enhancement. Everything went smoothly, just as I had simulated.
Shortly after I was done upgrading the explosives, I let out a relieved sigh. I step into Strategy Trance and look at my surroundings. I turn my glance at Neon as she assembles the last bomb's casing with high spirits. I turned my sight to Gravedigger, noting that it had been getting closer. Rapi and K are still occupied with intercepting projectiles, while Anis is also busy bombarding its drill to slow it down. I calculate mentally when it will be most vulnerable so that Neon can throw the side bags filled to the brim with magically upgraded and enhanced explosives. After I am done simulating and noting down the timing, I step out of the Trance.
"Neon, I want you to toss these bags right into its mouth when I told you to. Can you do it?" I asked while locking eyes with her, searching for any hesitation and doubt. I found none of it, only unbridled trust and excitement.
"Absolutely, Mentor! Just say the word, and I'll give that Tyrant a taste of our ULTIMATE FIREPOWER!" She said with a wide grin spreading across her face.
"Alright then. I will trust you to execute it." I said back also with a wide grin. I turned to Gravedigger and began to step in and step out of Strategy Trance, basically abusing it to collect Gravedigger's hints and tells.
"Now, Neon! Throw it!" I shouted just before Gravedigger could lunge closer to us. I stepped aside as Neon swung her arm back and launched the bomb with precision. She is sending it hurtling straight toward Gravedigger's mechanical open maw.
The bomb disappeared inside, swallowed by the rapture. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, with a resounding, earth-shattering explosion, Gravedigger convulsed, its metallic body warping and buckling as the enhanced bomb detonated from within. I can see mini portals opening and closing within its body, rearranging its internal machinery all over the place and wreaking total havoc on its circuitry.
Gravedigger staggered, its colossal form crumbling as the core within it sputtered and dimmed, its regenerative power spent. With one last heave, it falls down with a loud noise.
The squad erupted into cheers, a wave of relief flooding over us as Gravedigger lay defeated. Neon punched the air in excitement, practically bouncing in place. "Take that, Gravedigger! Taste the power of our MAXIMUM ULTIMATE SUPER DEADLY FIREPOWER!"
I lean back to the chai with an exhausted laugh, happy to be finally done with this Tyrant bullshit. "Nice work, team. That was some top-notch work out there." I turned to each of them, offering a nod of appreciation. "Rapi and K, thank you for protecting us with your superb marksmanship. Anis, thank you for buying us the time needed to make the bombs. You really nailed down Gravedigger's main drill. Neon, Thank you for helping me make bombs and toss them accurately. And D," I added, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. "Thank you for your stellar driving."
Rapi gave a small, satisfied smile, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. She nodded, a quiet pride in her expression. "All part of the mission, Commander."
K flashed a smug grin. "Thanks, Commander. But wouldn't have done much without everyone else pulling their weight. You are a good commander."
Anis leaned back, blowing a mock kiss at Gravedigger's wreckage. "Yeah, not so tough now, are you?" She then turned her gaze to me. "Guess I should take some compliments more often, huh? Feels good knowing I made an impact, literally this time."
Neon practically glowed with pride, still beaming ear to ear. "Did you see that? Boom! Right on target. Thanks, Mentor!" She grinned, looking between me and the smoldering Tyrant. "No one can top our firepower!"
D eased up on the accelerator, her gaze steady on the path ahead as caught my gaze in the rearview mirror. She cleared her throat and looked straight ahead, maintaining her calm. I can see the slight hint of red on her cheeks. "Now, where to, Commander?" She inquired.
I took a deep breath, mind racing with various possible materials I could get as I looked at Gravedigger's remains. "If you both don't mind, can we turn back? I think I can scavenge and loot several parts to be sold to Elysion." I ask politely.
"Sure we can do that, Commander. As long as you split it with us." Said K casually.
"Of course, would 50-50 work?"
Stepping inside Andersen's office, I am greeted by Andersen sitting at his table, poring over a holographic display that showcased the mission details and Gravedigger's defeat at the hand of my Squad plus K and D. The flickering lights danced across the hologram, casting shadows on his face that deepened the lines of weariness.
"Glad to see you back in one piece, Sam." Andersen greeted formally with a hint of familiarity. "We will get to the report shortly, but I wanted to hear your perspective on how things went out there first." He stated while staring directly at my eyes as if judging me.
I narrowed my eyes back, then sat across from him to show that I was not intimidated by his position. But of course, I did it all politely as a gentleman would. To do otherwise is to invite unnecessary conflict. "It was a rough ride, but we managed to hold our own." I begin. "The squad performed exceptionally well. I would even dare to say that we exceeded expectations, especially given Gravedigger's sudden appearance out of the blue." I point out.
"Yet, you still failed your mission while also damaging the power station." Andersen's expression shifts to grim understanding as he objects to my evaluation. "It is true that the building itself is only slightly damaged. However, any more damage to it would cause us to lose two months' worth of supplies." He reminds me.
I could feel frustration bubbling inside me, but I kept it in check. "My orders were to investigate the power station and retrieve data reports, not to fight a Tyrant." I countered with a firm but still respectful tone. "We did what we had to do to protect ourselves. I am sorry but to me, our survival takes precedence over the original objectives."
"Very well." Andersen said as he inspected me. "I shall respect your opinion, Sam. But are you going to object if I enforce a punishment for failing your missions?" He questioned with a blank face.
I narrowed my eyes in response. I almost wanted to say screw it and start throwing hands, but I held myself back. "If you think surviving a near-death encounter against a Tyrant-class Rapture is punishable just because we did not complete the missions, then enforce it! Punish me all you want, but I will always choose their safety over our missions!" I declared to him in irritation. Does this want it meant to be a commander? To always prioritize mission over your subordinates? Are Nikkes expendables to them?
"HAHAHAHA!" Instead of getting mad at me for ranting at him, Andersen laughed. It is the freest laugh I ever heard coming from him, not that I have known him for long. It makes me look at him in confusion. "Hahaha! Ugh! Ehm. Excuse me, but that was the most motivational and passionate retort I had ever received from any commander at all. You are truly a one-of-a-kind commander, Sam!" He proclaimed.
"In case you are wondering, yes I somewhat agree with you on a certain level." Andersen said, his expression returned to normal, with a stoic look. "Now that I understand your worldview, I would like to apologize for sending you to a mission that you would have failed."
I grit my teeth and clench my hand to hold back my anger. "Explain, please." I asked with a deep breath.
"You are a talented commander, which the Central Government had been trying to stamp out of their programs. If your simulation room achievement and your confirmed Tyrant-class kill had been made public, The CG would have put you under their watchful gazes and pushed you under their thumbs. The only way to escape it is to show them that it was all just because of luck. By making you fail, you will be seen as a disgraced commander, which will make it easier to post you to the Outpost, where their gazes can't reach." Andersen explained lengthy.
His explanation stunned me, and I struggled to contain a mix of anger and grudging respect. So he'd set this whole thing up, engineered a failure to protect me from the Central Government's interests. I could barely wrap my mind around it.
"I know it may feel like a betrayal, Sam, but the Central Government sees Nikkes and their commanders as replaceable assets. They see us as tools, numbers, and expendable resources. By getting you out to the Outpost, I'm giving you, and your squad should you accept them, a chance to operate with some freedom."
I took a breath, trying to process the weight of his words. However, one thing stood out.
"Then what about the Gravedigger? Did you also set it up?" I accused him, but Andersen shook his head.
"We did not know about the Raptures operating the power station, nor about Gravedigger being nearby. Honestly, I thought you would have returned the moment you saw numerous master-class Raptures circling the power station. Perhaps I underestimate your resourcefulness." Andersen admitted with a slightly sheepish smile, which I can't argue with. From what I managed to piece together from my fragmented memories and Anis's colorful rants, most commanders would not even think of sneaking in.
I let out a slow breath, feeling the tension ease ever so slightly. At least Gravedigger's presence wasn't part of some elaborate plot, though that didn't entirely absolve Andersen of what he'd put us through, however accidental it might have been.
"Alright, I kind of get your intentions here. But even if what you say is true, why should I trust you? Why go through all of this just to get me out of their sight?" I asked while narrowing my eyes. It felt surreal to be standing here, talking with Andersen, someone who had the Central Government's ear, yet claimed he wanted me to be out of its control.
"Because I've had my fill of watching competent commanders get chewed up and spit out by the system. I've been in this role long enough to see good men and women, who truly care for their squad and refuse to treat Nikkes like tools or weapons, slowly spit out and removed by the Central Government. You're talented, capable, and…" He paused, a faint smirk breaking his composure. "...a bit of a loose cannon. The CG won't appreciate anything that threatens their authority, and it won't be long before they find a way to simply erase you."
The words settled over me, sinking deeper than I expected. He was right; the few memories I had were enough to confirm that the Central Government would not let me operate freely for long if I kept doing as I did.
Andersen leaned back, folding his hands together. "As for trust? Let's just say it benefits both of us if you're posted far from the CG's reach. You get to lead how you want to lead, and I… I get to know someone is keeping the ideals of the True Legendary Commander alive, even if it's just a spark."
"I understand." I began, but then I shook my head. "Well, I don't really understand. But I will accept to be assigned to the Outpost"
"Good." Andersen replied, a small hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "But remember this: by taking this role, you'll be venturing into territory most commanders would shy away from. You'll have limited support, a tighter supply line, and more responsibilities to bear."
I give him a resolute nod. "I am not someone who will shy away from challenges, Andersen. Counters and I are more than capable of handling those issues."
Andersen smirked in response. "Then I'll make the necessary arrangements. You will leave today. Once you're stationed at the Outpost with Counters, I will see what I can do from here to support you, covertly. The CG must believe you're just a failed commander being shuffled out of sight." He reminds me.
I paused, taking in his words slowly. He was sticking his neck out for me in an indirect way. "Thank you, Andersen. I'll make sure your trust isn't misplaced." I said sincerely.
"See that you do." He replied. "Oh and before I forget, the Counters Squad had been permanently assigned to you."
"Huh? Since when?"
[SPOILER="Fifth roll"]
125.-We're Going To Change The World Peter (Spider-Man PS4) (600CP)
[Change the World]
Few are the men that can look down on the world like you do. Your mind is one of those that will be looked back on in centuries time as one of the greatest in history. You have all the potential to change the world with your intelligence. Create a cure for cancer, true cybernetic bodies, unlock the secrets of turning matter to pure energy or creating true space flight.
They'll likely take years of work but you well and truly can change the world. But why cure cancer when you can make superheroes and monsters instead? You might have a world class mind but you also have truly superb talent for creating technology meant to interact with super powers. Giving, taking or altering the superhuman powers found in this world.
Making a man have the powers of a spider or creating a monstrous symbiote superweapon or sealing the negative powers of a poor young child. Even technology meant to enhance, weaken or otherwise interact with these powers is within your grasp. While you have no experience with magic, you might perhaps learn to apply some principles from your work here to that field too.
Points Left: 800
[/SPOILER]
Unchosen Perks
[SPOILER="Fifth roll"]
110. Build That Wall (Bastion) (100CP) (Skill)
22.-Bring it to Life (Generic Video Game Developer) (600CP) (Quality)
[/SPOILER]