Regularr
patreon
KP - Episode 17 (Public)
🕑 Added 2023-10-17 12:50:07 +0000 UTCWords Count: 4790
A/N: Sorry… I was super sick for a few days. I'll try to quicken my writing speed. Just, lots of things to worry about in real life.
(“It's you…
You ruin my life.
I had so many dreams- so many expectations and it was all destroyed because of you.
If only you hadn't been born.
If only I had gotten an abortion.”)
Journeying through the Cosmos for what felt like a never-ending week, our attempts to leave the System always seemed in vain, trapped in this endless loop, courtesy of the Marker. The waiting only fueled my restlessness every time I remember my feathery child who is currently still stuck in a world that's not ours.
And then there's the damn Marker, its presence lingering, taunting.
But before my thoughts could spiral further, a Necromorph emerges from the shadows, a Slasher barreling through the doorway with ferocity. Yet, it couldn't be. Isaac, Kendra and I have triple-checked the shuttle… There’s no signs of corpses, Infectors, or Necromorphs. So, who could this be?
"I-saac!" I call out, the realization dawning on me. Besides I, only one other person aboard possesses the strength and skill to overwhelm me, albeit temporarily. Kendra's punches are nothing to scoff at, but there's no comparing her to the engineer. “It- It’s me!”
I had witnessed Isaac decimate Enhanced Slashers using nothing but his bare hands- beat their skulls in; brains out and stomp their joints to a bloody paste. He once told me he didn't enjoy it, but now, I'm not so sure. "Wake up! It's me," I urgently cry out, hoping to bring the man back from the hallucinations-induced outburst. Unfortunately, my words appear to fall on deaf ears. Kendra hasn’t faired any better and is currently tied up inside a sealed room at the back of the shuttle.
Without extracting the memories directly from Isaac's mind earlier, we wouldn't have had anyone capable of piloting or operating the shuttle. Though I still don't see eye to eye with Julian's methods, I simply can’t deny that they yield results. ‘You're welcome–‘ My Alter-Ego mutters, his voice sounding almost… Smug as he continues. ‘Now stop being a bitch and get the human off!’
"Huh..." I grumble, surprised by the fact we're agreeing on so much today. Our mug is far too valuable to let Isaac trash it. ‘Enough babbling,’ He retorts with an edge to his voice. ‘If you are going to do something, do it and say less!’
Summoning a third of my strength, I forcefully break free from the engineer's unwelcome grip and with a swift motion, send him flying several feet away, his body collapsing to the ground.
Goo oozes from my sleeve, enveloping him until he is completely immobilized. ‘Good,’ My Alter-Ego’s thought echoes, satisfied that he can no longer obstruct our progress. ‘Now we can finally rid ourselves of this useless fool.’
But as quickly as his words surface, I reject the notion. ‘No means no.’ Isaac isn’t an enemy to be disposed of, I firmly remind myself- him.
Even amidst the onslaught of distorted hallucinations, the Marker’s trickery has tried and failed again to take root. Still, it’s not like Julian and I don’t understand the threat the Artifact poses to our sanity and mission. We cannot afford to let it overcome us.
‘Do you really want to let the Marker win?’ I contemplate, attempting to appeal to Julian's sense of pride instead, which is a far simpler option in comparison to appealing to my Alter-Ego’s compassion or kindness- all things that often seem completely absent in him. It almost feels as if I have inherited everything positive about the person we were; and he the negative which includes, but aren’t limited to the Biblical Seven Sins.
It's evident in order to be whole- for our differences to balance out each other’s vices and weaknesses, we must fuse… Yet- ‘Don’t even think about it. I will die before I agree to combine with your dumbass.’
‘Oh-Trust me, I don’t want that either.’
The guy looks; talks and feels miserable. Nevertheless, he’s a part of me- that I can’t deny that. Breathing heavily, I move towards Isaac- standing over the man’s fallen, flailing form with a huge frown on my face… “Sorry ‘bout this Isaac, but you are definitely gonna thank me later so… Sorry, not sorry.” My foot collides with his face, sending the engineer into oblivion as he drops for good, still wearing the face of a Necromorphs, which then morphs into my mother’s. “Okay, this isn’t working.”
The insidious influence of the Marker is clouding our minds, making it increasingly difficult to think rationally. If we remain trapped in this cycle, we'll either succumb to starvation as our supplies run dry or fall victim to our own escalating paranoia, turning on each other like a pack of rabid dogs.
In fact, it has been ages since I've had a peaceful night’s sleep, constantly woken up by visions of my deceased mother trying to put a nice little pillow over my face. And the screams from the other two only add to the nightmare. At least, for now, I can take solace in the fact that I haven’t had any screaming bouts… Yet. Lips pursed with worry, I blow a defeated sigh- regret filling my mind.
If only I had taken the time to pick up what remained of my phone.
According to the rulebook, the App will automatically get installed on literally any phone that belongs to me. Keyword: Phone, because for some reasons RIGs don’t work.
How it determines this, I don't know and I’m not gonna question it.
Point is, even destroyed and melted as it was, it’d have provided important information about its parts, allowing me to recreate- maybe even improve on the original with the memories I got from Isaac and Kendra…
One'd think with all this high-tech, sci-fi knowledge imbedded in my brain, making a phone will be a walk-in-the-park, but nope. Blocky, handheld phones have been discarded by Humanity several centuries ago, ever since the creation of the Resources Integration Gear (RIG) which, as its name suggests, has nearly all the… Desirable quality-of-life functions built-in already. It slightly irritates me the App does not consider the RIG a phone, even though it essentially is one.
Unfortunately, the rules were decided upon by the Gods,
I can only follow their Wills.
After ensuring neither Kendra nor Isaac has breathed their last, I limp towards the Bench in order to make the finishing touches to my new phone- one I’ve personally designed based on what little I know about the technology… It is a thin thing, made out of flexible, yet reinforced glass that can probably withstand the weight of a hydraulic press without permanent damages. The frame is made out of pure Titanium, same with all RIGs since the metal is biocompatible, light yet durable.
Now all I need is a working Operating System, which will take longer, as compared to the engineer’s memories; we are having troubles incorporating hers.
One of the major challenges posed is her gender. I have a dick; Kendra Daniels doesn’t. The chemicals in our brains are vastly different as well,
And- this is just a guess, mind you- Deimos’ [Expertise Absorption] works via recreating and implanting the same neuropathways from one to another.
If our sole computer specialist were not suffering from Marker-induced hallucinations, the whole process would have been much quicker. Days, perhaps weeks at worst, as I’m looking to incorporate the RIG OS in my brand new phone, not develop one from scratch. But I think the Marker caught on to what I’m doing, ‘cause its malevolent influence has intensified a lot. I dare say it’s actively targeting Kendra. ‘No matter… We just have to hold on for a little while longer.’
Chucking the Artifact in a Star seems to be a fool’s endeavor, but that doesn’t mean I have run out of options, mainly because the Artifact is messing with how we perceive the Star Map.
They all require a phone though, specifically access to the Magnus App and its Functions. Plan (A) is to put the Marker in the Inventory and dip. Plan (B) is pretty much the same, but instead of storing the Artifact, I’ll give the damn thing the ‘One Ring treatment’- AKA a dip in Mt. Doom. I hold my thoughts, expecting a *DING from Annabella until I realize she has no way to contact me. “Alright… Now to upload it to the hard drive.” Inhaling sharply, I fall on the seat with a heavy thud, hands fiddling with the mini laser.
I carefully connect the laser to the computer terminal, my hands shaking slightly from the exhaustion and tension.
Sweat beads on my forehead as I navigate through the interface, my fingers gliding over the holographic keyboard.
The micro chip I made can be considered child-play in this society, though I reckon it will be quite advanced even on my Earth.
The rest is a delicate process, one that requires precision and focus. As I begin the upload, hope mixed with anxiety surge through me. Will this work? Will I be able to create a functioning OS?
Only time will tell. The progress bar slowly inches forward, indicating the transfer of data from the terminal to the phone's storage while I add the finishing touches. Minutes feel like hours as the bar trickles to completion, heart pounding under my ribcages.
Suddenly, a soft *DING* emits from the computer, and a notification pops up on the terminal screen. The upload is complete. I can hardly believe it. Excitement courses through my veins, yet at the back of my mind, I know that this is just the first step. The OS still needs to be recalibrated to fit the hardware, and that might prove to be more challenging.
Disconnecting the laser and carefully placing it back in its locked case, I pick up the phone with care, examining it carefully, I smile.
‘It looks promising.’ Julian says, and I inhale once more. “Well… Moment of truth.” I tap the power button, watching as the screen lights up with a soft glow. The logo of the Magnus App appears, indicating that the OS has long last booted up.
A surge of relief washes over me, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. This is where Kendra's expertise would have come in handy, but with her currently incapacitated, I'm left to figure it out on my own.
Delving into the intricate system of codes and algorithms, I write a line of code which’s simple stuff for people in this Age but probably a whole lot more complex than anything that has been invented on my Earth.
Meanwhile, my Alter-Ego hovers in the back of my mind, watching skeptically, voice dripping with doubt. ‘Knowing our luck…’ I hush, ‘Don’t jinx it.’
Minutes turn into hours as I work tirelessly on ensuring no mishap will happen. The entire shuttle becomes my makeshift laboratory, with nothing but the hum of the engines and the occasional flicker of the lights to keep me company. Sleep is a luxury I can't afford, not when time is running out and the Marker's influence continues to permeate our minds further.
Finally, after what feels like an eternity, I make the final adjustments.
Holding my breath, I swipe left and right the phone screen to test its functions. To my relief, everything seems to be working as intended.
I swipe a few more times as the App gets uploaded to my shiny new device, running ever-so smoothly with no functions impaired, at least not to my searching gaze. “It works… It finally works.” The smile on my face blooms brighter as I slump in my seat. For once in my life, it feels as if things are turning for the better at last. Phone in hands, I run towards the alien Artifact, an evil smirk plastered while Julian just chuckles away.
There it is- the Marker in all its enigmatic and malevolent glory, exuding an ethereal and pale luminescence that pulses with an otherworldly energy. Its elongated obelisk-like shape boasts intricately carved patterns that appear to shift and undulate from a distance, as though alive and in constant flux.
Sacred symbols and hieroglyphics adorn its surface, meticulously etched with such finesse that they shimmer in the ambient light in order to beckon the foolish observers to unravel their mysterious meaning.
Closing in on the Artifact that I’m willing to admit has instilled an overpowering sense of unease within me, I sense an unseen presence lurking in its depths- the apparition perhaps? It radiates an aura of malevolence, enveloping the atmosphere in an ominous ambience which scares me no longer. “It took a while, but look what I got!” I taunt, running my fingers down its sides, my touches gentle- caressing. “Let's see if this will work.”
Swiping through Annabella’s messages, I click on the Inventory and immediately, an otherworldly phenomenon occurs as the Marker emits electrical discharges, crackling with volatile energy that dances across its surface in wild and unpredictable patterns, as if it senses the danger- as though it’s afraid. The discharges create an unsettling symphony of distant pops and crackles, shattering the eerie stillness, but I care not for the risks, fully aware there’s little the Marker can do as long as I assume my Necromorphic Form.
Pressing my device against the obelisk, my smirk stretches from ear-to-ear as the Artifact sinks into the screen- even defying the laws of physics, shrinking until it fits perfectly in the screen.
“I knew it!” Triumphantly, I throw my arms up. The sudden increase of my physical attributes has taken literal ages to get used to, thus why I have neglected the Magnus App thus far, but it is now clear to me I should invest more time on the App. God only knows what secrets or tricks it still holds.
“With the Marker gone–”
It is merely a matter of time before Kendra and Isaac wake from their stupor.
I won’t be here for that though.
Unloading a box of Compound V, I write a detailed instructions explaining what it does; how it works based on my understandings and telling them they should definitely hold test trials first before… You know… Moving onto actual human testing. Once that is over and done, I stand in the middle of shuttle, slightly nostalgic. Truth be told, my time here has been pure Hells, but no matter what, this tiny place has been my resident for– “Wait, how long has it been? How long have I been stuck here?”
*DING
Casting a glance at the device, I see Annabella’s message blinking on the screen.
[You’ve been in this Universe for two weeks.]
Air gets blown out of my nostrils as a wave of exhaustion overwhelms my being, threatening to floor me where I am. “That’s… Not too bad.” Nanna’s a smart girl, though above all, she's a incredibly vindictive. I am more worried about the poor blokes she has met than her. “Nanna is safe. She must be.”
‘You don’t sound confident.’
“Hush.”
Scrolling past the list of worlds I’ve been to plus their descriptions, I manage to locate the MCU. One thing I’ve learnt about the Magnus App is it connects another world entirely… In fact, there's even a whole hub with an entirely separate YouTube filled with various contents I can watch whenever. Most of which are things I’ve never heard about. It wasn’t there originally so I’m guessing Annabella must have talked to her father or the developer. It is a nice function for guys like me, who never had time to watch or enjoy the various fictional realms.
In fact, a lot of what I know about this Universe- aptly named Dead Space in the Browser and YouTube, I got from the Wiki and Explanation Videos.
Very informative, yet extremely entertaining.
Swiping left, I’m greeted with my current Balance of three.
It will cost me two Points to return to the MCU at the exact moment I left, and only one measly KP without the [Time Distortion] effect.
There are pros and cons to both, of course. Unfortunately, neither is ideal… “The Lesser Evil. Pick the Lesser Evil, Julius.” Mumbling to myself, I close my eyes- almost resigned as I press on the second option.
The more Points I have, the more opportunities will present themselves.
Nanna’s fine… She has to be.
I remind myself, eyelids closed shut as I press the virtual button. It is quite the sensation- to feel smooth glass at the tip of my finger instead hard buttons, yet it works out all the same. One second I was standing in the shuttle, the next I find myself buried underneath the ruins of the Nazi Institution again- all alone. “It’s gonna be quite the hassle to dig ourselves out, isn’t it?” I whisper to myself, limbs exploding into tendrils while my torso starts to shrink- losing all fats to reveal an emaciated and skeletal frame.
“This… Will work.”
I growl, opening and clenching my fists as power surges through my person. The Marker's many things, but one thing I certainly hadn’t expected is a power-up.
It’s a surprise, albeit a welcoming one. Calves tensing, I latch onto the boulders, scanning the makeshift structure- held together only by the deep crevices and cracks. If I dig in the wrong spot, the whole thing may just collapse on our head. Though I sincerely doubt the impact will kill us, getting out will prove significantly harder and honestly? I don’t fancy suffocating to death in this hopeless underground cave. “Yep. We'll have to take this slow.”
‘Wait… Do we even need air like this?’
Claws slowly penetrating the first layer, I tear open a small hole, hoping to widen it but nothing seems to give. The rocks are stubborn, unwilling to budge and those that do cause the whole structure to shift unsteadily.
Sweat trickles down my forehead as I curse under my breath. Time feels like it’s standing still as frustration prickles at my mind. Within the confines of my head, my Alter-Ego lets out a frustrated sigh. ‘This is taking forever,’ Julian mutters. “If you’ve thought of a better way, I’m all ears.” My words immediately shut the guy up- an unintentional outcome but, just like the Marker, a welcome one.
Lowering myself onto the rocky ground, I explore the narrow cave with my fingertips, searching for any cracks or loose rocks. Every inch of the collapsed cave feels like it’s taunting us, mocking our attempts at escape.
And then I feel it. A small, almost imperceptible tremor beneath my hand. Excitement courses through my veins as I realize I may have found a possible weak spot.
Gradually, the hole widens, crumbling in on itself as more pours into the cave without… Well, caving in. It’s not much, but it’s something at least. I continue to chip away at the rocks, slowly carving a path to freedom- occasionally forced to avoid falling debris which, truth be told, ain’t that difficult. Stone fragments scatter around us as we push upwards, the sound of hard claws echoing through the cave.
After what feels like an eternity, I finally manage to create a hole big enough for our body to squeeze through. I wish I could say the rest of the way is eventful, but it really isn’t. It mostly consists of mind-numbingly repetitive work until sunlight bathes us, its gentle warmth soothing our battered body and mind. I take a moment to catch my breaths, grateful to breath in fresh air and escape from that treacherous underground prison.
Slumping against a rock, still rearing and recovering from the ordeal, I pucker my lips to hum and whistle a familiar tune- one even I know not the origin, just that it has stuck with me since… Well… Forever. It’s same tune I'd hum to Nanna when she was having one of her night terror. I did ask around, but apparently birds- specifically prey birds tend to get those every once in a while. Personally, I have no idea why but each note of the tune seems to resonate and calm the lovebird.
It's practically a necessity when she’s molting which, may I add, makes her incredibly cranky. Sounds of rustling leaves reach my ears, and a smile blooms on my face as a raptor whose fur appears to glisten a mesmerizing shade of blue under the sunlight. ‘Haaaaa… It sure is nice to look at the Sun from this perspective…’ And by that, I mean from Earth. The Stars I saw on the shuttle hurt my eyes. “Hey there. How are you doing, girl?”
The creature who by all means shouldn’t exist twists and morphs- her entire being collapsing into itself; transforming into a tiny lovebird that will fit snuggly in the palm of my hand.
Excitedly, she jumps on my shoulder- screeching and shrieking until I feel like my ears will bleed, yet I simply can’t stop myself from beaming. “Sorry I took so long. It was a…” Struggling to find the correct term, I settle for. “Quite the hectic two weeks.” Energy drains from my body as my head droops. “It felt like I was drowning… Suffocating up there. It was fucking awful.” I chuckle wearily, nail- claw running down her chin. “That was awful–”
It's the truth, even though it was nice getting new friends, having to constantly tiptoeing in fear of being swarmed- of falling victim to yet another hallucination the Marker created. “I- I thought I couldn’t come back anymore.” In all honesty, it was pretty hopeless. I knew as long as I got a new phone, things would be cool, yet as I have finally learnt: Even my resilience has a limit. “The Marker was pushing all the right buttons too.”
I don’t want to admit it, but those visions- the ones pertaining my… My mother really got to me.
They got me good.
I let loose a quiet sigh, frown deepening as I watch my hands shake- something Nanna seems determined to stop via presenting her head for me to scratch. “Thanks…” I raise her to eye-level, bumping my nose with her beak. It eases my mind and gives me what my parents never did. Even if I have no one, “I’ll still have you, don’t I?” Almost as if she can understand my words, which she actually can- the simpler sentences at least, Nanna bobs. Her brown, round eyes boring into mine.
“Goddammit! Nanna!”
A loud voice echoes in the forest- a familiar voice I just can’t quite put a finger on where and when I have heard it before. “What did I tell you about taking off suddenly?! It’s not s–” From the sky, my progeny descends. Bryan Carsten, in all his glory, with a pair of wings on his back- shimmering beautifully with a starry luster. “Oh, hey there.” I wave at him, all traces of tiredness gone- unscrupulously buried deep under a cheeky façade.
“So… How’re you finding your powers?” I wink. “It’s nicer than you thought, huh?”
I anticipate a lot of reactions from the man, but not- “You’re alive.”
Not this…
Not guilt.
Nobody will ever feel guilty for someone like me.
I rear- fear surging in my chest as I stutter, an awkward smile on my lips. “I- Yeah. I’m alive…! Surprise?” Again, contrary to my expectations, Bryan collapses in a boneless heap. “Thank God.”
He doesn’t quite cry, but it’s close.
I don’t know what to do…
The correct course of actions is to help Bryan up, ask if he’s okay and console him since he’s clearly struggling with the guilt and shame for abandoning me, yet I feel utterly… Paralyzed. “Are- Are you alright?” Scratching my head, I extend a hand towards him, hesitate, pull it back, then stretch it once more- stuck in this constant cycle of hesitation. Luckily, Nanna comes to our rescue. Transforming into her more ferocious form, she helps Bryan up with her head while simultaneously pulling me forth using her tail.
“Yeah… Yeah… I’m okay. I’m alright. It’s just- I was losing hope that you were alive.”
He casts a glance at Nanna, his dark- bottomless eyes overflowing with remorse. “Look, don’t worry about it. I told you to leave, remember?” I mimic Nanna’s actions, tilting my head with a sunny disposition yet even without seeing my face, I can tell my expression is stiff and forced. Bryan must’ve realized it too, thus why he turns away, leaving neither of us able to articulate or show our vulnerability which I can’t possibly be more grateful for. “It’s been weeks, right?”
My mind immediately searches for ways to dissipate the awkwardness- the quickest and easiest is to change the subject. It’s something I’ve grown quite adept at, sad as it is to admit. “Why’re you here? I mean, Nanna I can kind of get…” My girl can be real stubborn when she wants. My guess is she must’ve taken off and waited for me here, but Bryan…
Has our progenitor / progeny bond truly grown that strong? “I volunteered to search for you… If you’re alive, I want to ensure you don’t fall in the hands of our enemies. If you weren’t, which you are thankfully, I thought you deserved to have a proper burial at least.” His gaze’s glued to his boots as he mumbles.
His admittance only serves to water the discomfort in me, causing it to grow taller- stronger- more distinct. Fuck… Changing the subject isn’t working. “What about Hans and–”
“They’re fine.”
Bryan nods. “Last I heard, Hans is working hard to make amends. He has already been assigned a new identity. As for Neil… He is still alive. I hope he is–”
His volume lowers, no louder than a mosquito. “He’s on another front. I’m not sure where either, the Colonel wouldn’t tell me. Although I did hear good ol’ Neil joined some super secret governmental agency. With that mousey face of his, it’s no wonder they wanted him.” Bryan snickers, his short burst alleviating the heavy atmosphere that surrounds us.
Whether this will last or not remains to be seen.
“Good for him…”
I hum, constantly tapping my feet. “Guy’s good.”
Then add awkwardly. “So… Should we leave or…?” Pointing at the forest, I gesture with my head to indicate my desire to leave.
We’re in the open here- where every enemy will be able to spot us. Although normal bullets may not have an effect on us, standing around just doesn’t seem wise, especially since it’s a widely-known ‘secret’ the Nazis possess tech that feels like they belong in a sci-fi novel and not a WW2 movie. Then again, I myself have stood witness to what humans in this world are capable of creating when they put their minds to it.
Only then does Bryan seem to realize the outfit I’m in- a repainted Venture Suit I forced the Bench to make me by hacking its system, and strapped to my waist is a PR, a standardized EarthGov combat knife plusmy very own, you guess it, Plasma Cutter! Didn’t take much effort to make once I was able to study Isaac’s. The power source proves troublesome, though not really an obstacle given all the spare battery-packs left scattered around the shuttle. “What the fuck are you wearing?”
I chuckle. “It’s something I scavenged and made myself. Look pretty cool, huh?”
Bryan nods absentmindedly as we race out of the forest.
I nearly stumble, smelling the heavy scents of death, decay and blood- lots of it, in the air. These don’t smell like Necromorphs… They smell like people… Freshly murdered corpses. My eyes scan the area in search of the source to discover a dismembered limb tossed in a bush. It looks like it has been chewed and spat out by the maws of a powerful beast. Probably Nanna. “Uhm… What’s that?”
Bryan drags me by the scruff of my neck. “Never mind that.”
Stumbling along, I'll occasionally catch sight of Bryan sneakily staring at my armor, until- inevitably- he can no longer contain himself and, “So, I was thinking–”
He trails, struggling to find his voice. Odd for someone as straightforward as him. “Can you make me one of those?”
A shit-eating grin splits my face. “I knew it! You think it’s cool too, don’t you?!”
His expression instantly hardens.
“Forget I asked.”
It only makes me want to taunt him more. “C’mon bro! Just admit it.”
“I said forget it!”
With that, he takes to the sky with his wings, leaving Nanna and I to stare at his rapidly vanishing silhouette.
“What a tsundere…”
* Frustrated Ding
