Codename: Freedom - Book 4 - Chapter 14

I turned to Destiny who was already prepared. “I’ll list necessary and obvious purchases,” she said, standing stiffly in her holographic form atop her drone. “Just tell me yes, or to hold off.”

I nodded, doing my best to give her my full attention as the horde headed straight for us.

“For an unrestricted lifetime membership to any Training Hall in human-occupied space, it will cost you 50,000,000 SP. This will give you full access to custom training modules developed by the best private corporations and individuals on the planet. You’ll also have a console installed in any one residence of your choice. I highly recommend this purchase because even after your service in the war it will allow gain access to any cube in human and Jinhwa space. With your DNA Cleanse, you’re practically purchasing hundreds of years of service.”

It was enough to allow me to forget the oncoming danger for the briefest of moments. “Woah. Do it then.”

“Also the Eden Tonic and its future iterations administered through nanobot technology. It will cost you 90,000,000 SP for a lifetime membership. Looking at the fine print, it seems the Eden Tonic isn’t considered one product, but a partnership between the current top ten health supplement corps. It guarantees the client will have access to the best tonics available on the market within certain safety parameters. The only drawback is that it defines lifetime to one hundred years.”

I gave her a contemplative look. “I thought this Eden Tonic was developed by the government? And aren’t I being given this for free?”

“It was originally considered a military exclusive, but it was developed by the group of said corps. And yes, you will receive the Eden Tonic during Vanguard and the actual war. However, that will only be when you are using a cube. Remember, it only took a day or so for the nanobots to become ineffective after you left Freedom. This will guarantee you always have the best medical science backing you up regardless of where you are. It is also a discounted rate available only to those in Vanguard.”

Destiny suddenly got very quiet. A moment later, she flew over and stopped before me at arm’s length. “Lucius, I know you are fighting with the hope that one day there will be peace between the Earth and the Ekseliksi, but the Prime Simulation isn’t set up for a short-term conflict. The Jinhwa believe this creation of theirs will bring an end to the massive loss of life in war, but never have they said it would be an end to war itself. Just the opposite. Maybe it’s a little late to be asking this in such a direct manner, but if this war goes on for the next one hundred years, or longer, will you continue fighting? What if it never ends?”

“I have no idea...” It wasn’t like I didn’t know that once the war began in the Prime Simulation started that there would be no clear end. But I still believed that it would have one. Victoria, Peter, Oliver… They seemed to have an end in mind, didn’t they?

“Sorry. Sorry,” Destiny said, quickening her tone. “This is the worst possible time for this. So yes to the Eden Tonic?”

It’s not like I didn’t have the money. “Yes.”

“Good. Last thing. Drone accessories.” She gave me the most roguish look possible. “Lucius. Do you trust me?”

“Stop it drone face. If you need something, get it. Just let me know the cost and if there’s anything crazy expensive.”

Placing her hand over her heart, she shook her head as if treasuring my words. “Then let me get changed.”

It all happened at once. One moment, Destiny was housed in a hovering sphere-like drone. The next, the body of her drone grew in bulk and became taller than it was in girth. I estimated it was between four and five feet tall. Ballistic armor now covered her, but that wasn’t all. There was a hard-to-see blue field of energy surrounding her entire form. If it was only her command drone that changed then it would be enough for me to gawk at, but that was the least of what happened.

The space surrounding her was suddenly filled with a swarm of microdrones that numbered in the hundreds at the least. There weren’t just the tiny drones either. A few larger one appeared at her side.

A heart bone-chilling scream sounded from Destiny’s command drone.

I staggered backward a few steps as if pushed.

She appeared standing in her holographic form atop the command drone and was larger-than-life. She was at least as tall as I was. Wearing armor mimicking Victoria’s warrior-queen garb from Freedom, her hands were in fists and thrown out to the side. As she screamed the veins in her neck protruded and the blue energy surrounding her drone deepened into a rich blue. It wasn’t just for show. I could feel the energy radiating off of her drone’s force field.

Her arms relaxed a moment later and she straightened up before giving me a satisfied look. “So that’s what it feels like to level up.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed this,” I scoffed. “What the—What happened?”

“I spent 17,450,000 SP only on the necessities, including service and replacement contracts in case anything is damaged.”

“Necessities?” I said, looking at the swarm of drones surrounding us.

With a nod, she turned serious. “We’re short on time so watch closely.”

The swarm of microdrones shot outwards in all directions. Just as I’d seen with Peter’s, we were enclosed within moments. However, there were far more of them. Once they found their place a hum sounded and we were soon shrouded in a soundproof dome the size of a house.

“This trick you’ve seen,” Destiny said with mischief in her gaze. “But they’re far more capable than simple surveillance. They can only last a few minutes, and will only survive a few powerful blows, but they can also create a powerful protective barrier.”

The sonic field between the microdrones disappeared, replaced by an energy field similar to Destiny’s except it was blue green. If necessary, even if it was only temporary, it could shield an entire platoon of soldiers…

The barrier fizzled out and the dome collapsed as Destiny recalled her microdrones. Soon there was a swarm behind her, split in two. The top of her command drone opened up and the largest swarm dove toward her. After she’d seemingly swallowed them in the small compartment that must have been designed to house them, the rest of the microdrones flew toward another smaller drone that was pitch black and shaped like a falcon, but without individual feathers.

“Let me introduce you to your scout,” she said.

After the scout swallowed the remaining microdrones in a compartment on its belly, it flew over to hover before me. Its wings looked flexible as if it was designed for agility in the air—and speed.

“I think it’s only appropriate that we give her the AI of an old friend.” Before Destiny finished speaking, the holograph of a familiar face appeared lying down on the drone’s head.

“Wink?” I said startled.

Hearing my voice, the wolf with a patch of white fur surrounding one eye deftly got to her feet. Her mouth drooped open excitedly.

Reaching out my hand, the drone flew forward and gave me a little bump. It wasn’t the same as petting her wolf form, but it was still a jovial suprise.

“It’s not just her personality that I saved, but she still has the directives and experience she received in Freedom. As for what she is capable of…”

In the next instant, not only did her hologram disappear, but the scout drone itself became ethereal before my eyes. I could still see her, but if she wasn’t hovering so close and I hadn’t been looking at her a moment before, I wasn’t sure I’d noticed her.

“She’s also capable of speeds nearing two hundred miles per hour with a maximum battery life of three months without being charged. If she has to use her top speed, energy shields, or rail-rifle often, then she’ll have to be charged more often.”

I just shook my head at Destiny’s explanation. If there was only more time… “It’s good to see you again Wink.”

The scout drone appeared once again and the hologram of my old wolf pet from Freedom gave me a happy bark.

“Two more things,” Destiny said, motioning for Wink to come.

A compartment opened on the bottom of Destiny’s command drone and Wink disappeared inside.

“Oh, and I can restore her charge as long as my own power source is not being overtaxed,” she added. “I can run perpetually without the need to be charged, but my source’s self-recharge ability is limited. I have a battery bank I will work to keep full for additional power needs in case of emergencies, though. Enough about me. Meet your mule.”

The largest servant drone of the two remaining looked similar to Destiny in size before she underwent her change. Instead of ballistic armor though, it seemed to be made of thick, unpolished metal all around and was similar in shape to a barrel or canister. There were also multiple straps along the outside of its body.

Destiny continued. “It has a refrigerated compartment and can carry up to 200 lbs. Backup weapons can be strapped to the outside for easy access. It also has its own power source, so it doesn’t have to be charged. Also, for larger loads…”

Two robotic legs extended downward until it was standing on the ground. They bent at the hip, knee, and ankle much like a human leg would.

“It can bear up to 750 lbs in Cache mode,” she said. “But it’s limited in speed. And finally. You’re shadow.”

As she said it, the last drone flew over to me. I could’ve guessed the use of the other drones, but this was the oddest I’d seen yet. It was in the shape of a triple-thick pizza with little claws extending out all around its edge.

“You’ve decided on the Lethality Short Psword that will allow you to use the entire range of your psionic abilities, yes?” Destiny asked already knowing the answer.

“Yes,” I replied. “Despite the cost.”

“Good. There’s a package deal from Lethality for five short swords and five dory-like spears for 3,000,000 SP that I suggest we purchase. If you buy them all separately it would cost you over 5,000,000 SP.”

I winced. “Fine.”

“Done. And—” Destiny wiggled her fingers and two spears and a short sword snapped into existence. They fastened around the edge of what she’d called my shadow drone.

Looking at it now, it was basically a hovering weapon holder.

“This thing will follow me around?” I asked.

“Yes. It will follow at a distance and only approach when I sense you desire it or are obviously in need. This will limit unexpected collisions.”

I wasn’t sure how much I liked the idea, but as long as it wasn’t crowding me all the time it probably wouldn’t end up stabbing me with my own weapons. Seeing that it only held two spears and a sword, I quickly found one of the swords sheathed at my waist and the other remaining weapons hanging from my mule. It was the closest thing to having an inventory outside a game. The irony was that I was currently in a simulation and such drones weren’t really necessary. But then again, the Prime Simulation wasn’t a game, but a virtual version of the actual universe. Realism was the point.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about always being followed around by three drones, not including the ones my command drone was carrying. Two of which were quite large.

“So all of this will be following me here and in the real world from now on?” I said, not really looking for an answer.

“Some of my upgrades must be manufactured and scanned, but in a few weeks, yes, within military protocol they will also follow you in the real world. There are certain places drone use is prohibited, but we’ll still be able to communicate through your headset in those situations.”

It was all too much to take in with the limited time we had.

“I suggest we head to the closest gate,” Destiny said. “I’ll relay Victoria’s battalion message as we go. You better run. The gear you’ve purchased should work similarly to what you’re already used to. You can experiment with different gear later.”

I took one more look at the numerous tables laid out before me filled with possibilities. “How much SP do I have left?”

“895,545,000.”

What Victoria had said about this being a lot like our first night in Freedom was making me wary. “Fill the mule up to the brim with nutrition shakes.”

She looked troubled. “You’re thinking they might lock purchases once the countdown reaches its end for the event?”

“It’s a possibility.”

“Okay go. I’ll do the calculations and have muley follow behind on foot.”

Glancing at the approaching enemy, I could already tell they were getting closer. Without another word, I turned and started to run.