Universe Online - Enter the Game: Complete Edition (30 page)

I do not envy him for having made that choice.

I just hate being used as a guinea pig without my permission. That shit just rubs me really raw.

In the end, I blow out a breath and then cough with another grimace.

“Fu...k.” I manage to mutter.

“Anyway. Now that you have the Key Gem, you can enter the Trident as you please. Any of the hatches or sensors in the ship will recognize it, even through gloves or suits. Also, you may want to check out the Suit Workshop here before you leave. They've been working on something for you ever since you let them have a full scan of your Mobile Core. It could use a little more work, but I think you'll find it well worth it.”

Andrix was trying to appease me, but I simply give him a glare and look at Silene with a raised brow. A question, one she gets almost instantly. Ah, the look is so much more effective here than it is in my real life, where the motion is barely a twitch.

“Heh. Yeah. You can go. You should have most of the feeling back, and be able to speak softly by the time you get there, Allec. We've already started working on our end. Packing up everything is going to be a hard thing, but so long as the life support holds out, we'll work until it’s done.”

I nod and stand up, grabbing my helmet and getting the hell out of there as quickly as I can. I don't even get the door closed all the way before I hear Silene yelling at Andrix. Apparently not for the first time, given the looks that everyone in the control room is giving the office.

But before, where everyone looked at me as one of the guys, with respect for doing my damnedest to save them; now they look at me with something like... well, awe. As if my reputation had suddenly jumped through the roof. Huh, odd. I hadn't received any notifications at all lately.

Not even for the change in the quest.

I even go so far as to check myself. No change.

Hmmm. Well, no matter.

I start off through the large shelter and finally make my way back to the workshop I'd been brought to before. Everyone is hard at work, this time no longer caring about all the little details. They were rushing, trying to make as many suits as possible that could survive in cold space for only hours.

It’s obvious that there is a lot of anxiety and fear going on. And fear pushes people to desperate acts. But these guys aren't so overrun by emotion that they aren't doing a good job. There's just only so much you could do with suits that were never meant to go through what we need right now.

Along the way I had regained feeling in my arm, and my hand was mostly free of numbness now; although my fingers were stiff and every now and again I'd get a bolt of pain spiking into my brain if I tried to move it too much.

Yeah, trying to mess with the body like that is a bad no-no. Even I can get the hint.

One of the guys look up from his workstation when I walk through the hatch, and he stops and gives a sharp whistle that carries over the machines and talking, or rather cursing people who are hard at work. They all stop and turn to face me almost as one. Really creepeh, that.

“Ah, you're here. Silene sent word that you'd be stopping by. I could even hear Andrix cussing in the background.”

The one who'd spotted me first calls to me, and I nod before walking toward him.

“I was.. told that you have something for me.”

Getting the words out still hurts, but my throat is no longer so raw, and I can swallow without pain now. I have been sipping on my own water supply though, trying to sooth it even faster. Being unable to talk brings back too many bad memories for me.

“Yes, we do. Bring it out here, boys!” The man calls, looking over his shoulder and flashing a grin to those who'd been hard at work only moments before.

What is brought out is a personal crate, the sort used to store things, like a chest would be in other settings. Small enough to fit into tight traveling spaces and yet still big and secure enough to hold a number of things before becoming too heavy to move.

It’s dropped on the leaders worktable, and he opens it with a flourish.

What is inside... takes me a moment to recognize.

It’s a new suit. Or rather, it’s an overlay to my space suit and a complete add-on for my mechanical suit.

I reach out, although I stop before getting a nod from the man, and start pulling the parts out.

In short, it’s armor. Except not like the heavy battle armor you'd expect for a mechanical exo-suit. No, this is lightweight, flexible... I'd call it Explorers armor. The sort of thing an adventurer would want instead of a knights heavy steel.

It’s also fully outfitted, as well. Like, it covers almost every metal rod of the mechanical suit, and is pulled almost skin tight against the space suit beneath. It has... well, I'd say dozens of pockets, pouches, and spaces for extra storage. Including a large backpack that I'm told can carry six compressed bottles of air along with three batteries in the pouch beneath it. That part actually goes over the Mobile Core, so it’s out of the way and yet still allows me to move.

But the gadgets! Shit. An upgraded comm extension on the collar, that plugs into my existing comm unit. Longer battery life and boosted signal. An equitable touchscreen computer unit on the left gauntlet. New tools of all sorts, neatly stashed and folded into their own individual pockets or pouches.

A utility belt with a brand new coil of extendable magnetic rope, like I have been using; except better. A small sized medkit, outfitted for in-space use. A nano-Forge and Assembly Plant. Just all sorts of stuff.

Oh, and a new mapping program . Built into the brand new helmet they'd designed for me. It’s sleek and open-faced, like the old one; except its software and sensors are several times more powerful.

And a laser pistol on the hip. It’s like an all-in-one survivors suit. The sort of thing I'd have a wet dream about if I ever restarted somewhere all alone again.

“Just... How did you guys...?”

Yep, I'm totally not able to express myself right this moment. There's just too much shock. Even the fabric is ballistic and laser resistant while still being lightweight and flexible. All told, it doesn't add that much bulk to my existing suit.

It’s really a lot like high-tech leather. Now if it just had a duster that'd work properly in vacuum, things would be complete. Oh, and Indiana Jones' hat. Yeah. Heh.

“Well, a lot of things were just laying around. We basically took donations, after we told everyone that the upgrades to their own Mobile Cores came from yours and the data you freely gave. There's actually quite a bit left over. We haven't had a whole lot of time to streamline or optimize yet though.”

The leader explains, although he's grinning ear-from-ear. I could really understand why. The Drune Rex are tied to their mechanical suits. They are literally their greatest tool, a companion closer than any lover or child.

So customizing them is something of a pastime for the Rex. With enough time and material even the less mechanically inclined Rex will work out their suit exactly as they want it. It’s like a motorcycle or Harley for a biker. They pick up just enough skills to do it them damned selves, simply for the satisfaction and getting to show off.

Really though, I'm touched. I let them sit me down and start stripping off my mechanical suit. The work goes swift, and they even switch out some of the metal rods and supports with new ones specially made for the new suit.

Once put back together and strapped to my space suit, I run a full check and try out all the functions. All sorts of stuff come on inside of my helmet, and it takes me a few minutes to sort through the new data.

Everything from atmospheric pressure to air composition, scans of every major (and most minor) objects nearby, as well as constantly updating stats and data on a whole slew of other things pop up in my vision.

Most of them I file away and either minimize them or shunt them to one side so I can have a full field of view. That done, I actually go through a full exercise in the suit, testing it out in comparison to the bare one just moments before.

Really, I cannot really tell any difference at all. The leader grins while watching me.

“To get the suit to feel natural like that, we had to replace or heavily modify almost every joint and motor. It gives 100% full range of motion, without weight restriction, at a full 1 gravity. Only high-gravity conditions will cause any noticeable difference. How do you like it?”

I'm still playing around with the various things when I stop and look at the man with a grin.

“Call me crazy, but I love it. It feels like my own body moving.”

My words bring an even wider grin, if it were possible, and a sharp nod to the man.

“Good. I hear you will be going to the Trident. Me and my boys also prepared something else for you. It’s in that wrist-comp there. Go ahead and check it out.”

I arch a brow at the man for a moment, but he doesn't spill the beans; so I shrug and does as he says. It’s a fully functioning computer, that automatically ties into my space suit. That's cool. It’s also wifi capable, both as a node and as a stand-alone. Nice.

But I get a good surprise after I've pulled up what the man was referring to. It’s the full schematics to the new suit upgrade, as well as more possible extensions, add-ons, and upgrades. Complete with lists of needed components, machines, and thoughts on the programming required to get it to work with full compatibility.

It’s like a strategy guide to mechanical suits! Everything from heavy powered armor to stealth camouflage options are included.

I'm actually struck speechless. It’s simply that amazing. I definitely am going to make a copy of this and store it everywhere I can.

The leader of the workshop laughs and slaps me on the shoulder when he sees my jaw-on-the-floor expression.

“There now lad, that's more like it! You've been strutting around here in that basic mechanical suit since we've known you, and while I know you've been busy and helping all of us, you have to have pride as one of the Rex and go all out with a customized suit! Now, if you need any help, give me a call, ya here? Now, the rest of you! Back to work!”

The man slaps me on the shoulder again and laughs as he returns to his own workbench, while I pack up the leftover bits back into the small crate and carry it under one of my arms, along with the helmet I'd taken off. I'd actually given my original to them so they can use it for someone who'd actually need it now.

Still... I feel decked out in all sorts of bling. I don't even know where to start! Haha!

It’s probably the first time I've felt good ever since this whole thing started down here. I even get very interesting looks when I step back out into the corridor, taking deep breaths to try to calm myself.

Yep. Everyone can now dig my new threads! Haha.

Screw high fashion. Every person needs a mechanical suit. Heh.

Still, I do come down and start checking up more on the suit. I really do need to memorize everything I can about it. I start heading back to the hangar bay and my Hauler, although before I even get close I find the halls packed with people.

People yelling, screaming, crying. The place is a madhouse. Men and women, some carrying or dragging around children, trying to push into the bay.

I get a bad feeling; and I'm not wrong. By the time I've wormed my way through the crowd, I can see the full guard detail being used as a cordon, separating the rioting crowd from my ship. Thankfully they recognize me, even with the new suit, and I walk through and then turn around.

Some of them are cursing at me, while others are yelling or beg to take them with me.

For some reason it just strikes me as partially funny, while at the same time setting off my anger like a pipe bomb.