Chapter 4: Chapter Four: Parley

I couldn’t help but stare at the futuristic ship on the landing pad. It was sleek, with the familiar gray and gold edges along the hull. A ramp was down. It led to a glass-bottom part of the ship. I could see comfortable seats within, like the entire ship’s purpose was to entertain guests.

I slowed down as a light rain fell from the gray sky. I looked up into the gloom, seeing towers of metal and glass stabbing up along t he edges of my vision. Neon lights glowed from tower edges and on the tops of spires. I turned my head as rain ran down my features, the area reminding me of Spiral City, only much taller from what I could see.

Xull stopped walking and turned to me in the rain. “I can have a drone fly over you and cover you from the rain?”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Thank you, but I’m okay. I always loved the rain and it reminds me of back home.”

I opened my eyes and lowered my gaze to the android woman. I started walking and reached her side. We continued until we reached the pad and walked up the ramp.

Air blasted my as we walked on. In a matter of three seconds, I was dry. I think the nano drones helped to dry me out as well. This technology was fascinating and I wanted to know more about everything.

The ramp closed behind us. Xull stepped along with perfect grace to a pair of red, cushioned seats. She sat down in one.

I walked over and sat down in the other, while looking at everything and the glass walls. There was a small hum, that I think I wouldn’t have noticed before getting my super hearing and senses. It tingled along my skin before the entire ship began to take off.

“Would you like a refreshment?” Xull asked.

“A beer would be nice,” I said, not sure if she knew what a beer was.

Xull simply nodded.

I heard a whirl and a click. I turned my head to see a pillar move down from the ceiling, not far from us. I watched in fascination as it opened up and reformed into a pop-up bar. Another clone of Xull was behind the counter. She picked up a glass mug, put it under a tap and began to pour. I couldn’t stop staring as the other Xull stepped out from behind the counter, walked over, and bowed with a beer in her mechanical hand.

I took the beer and thanked her, which was weird all by itself. I took a sip, and I had to admit, this was best tasing beer I ever had in my life. It even had the perfect cold temperature and little to no foam.

“I try to optimize everything here on Xull, to make a living experience most memorable. From my studies of living beings, at the end of their lives, all that is left is the wonderful memories of a well-lived life,” Xull explained.

I turned to her with the beer in my hand. “Are there living beings on Xull?”

She nodded. “Yes, there is a myriad of living beings on this world. Some were those orphaned from others worlds, destroyed by war, occupation, or celestial catastrophes such as a sun going super nova, or large meteor strikes.

“The true people of Xull are similar to Urthlings, except they are paler and have less, to no hair. A testament to the harshness my world must endure.”

“Sounds like a story,” I said before taking a sip of this fantastic beer.

“A quick summery may help you adjust to the surroundings. Xull Prime used to be named Jaskur. It was a simple, vibrant planet. The people evolved and advanced, to the point it had become a utopia for a time. I was created to aid the populace and scientific research. We aimed to reach the stars and explore the universe. Our plans were put on hold when a celestial event changed the course of our history.

“There was a shift in our sun. For unknown reasons, it began releasing larger amounts of ionized radiation. It began killing the vegetation and poisoning the people and animals of this world. Our magnetosphere and atmosphere couldn’t stand up to it, and they began to degrade. The radiation was killing our planet, so Jaskur’s leaders and myself worked tirelessly to stop it.

“Shielded buildings were designed to keep out the radiation. Jaskur has a ring of ice. We began sending up drones to move chunks of ice to rain down from the sky and in unpopulated areas. It helped, providing more moisture to the atmosphere, but as you noticed, it rains most of the time.

“There are floating scrubber drones above cities. They move through clouds and scrub it of radiation, not that you have to worry about, but it helps protect the populace. These were only small steps to help protect against a bigger problem. But without a solution to be found, the people carried on.”

Xull looked away as she continued, “Time continued. Leaders faded away. New leaders were being chosen less and less with each generation. Soon, the populace knew they could rely on me to keep their best interest. I was chosen to lead this world, which they renamed, Xull Prime.”

Xull turned and looked me in the eyes. “I have taken on my responsibilities. It is my purpose to this world and its people. But as time progressed, the need to aid others only grew. Worlds have experienced the cold, callous void of space and its invaders. I am tasked to be a bright point in a cold universe.

“This is why we are here,” she ended with a smile.

“That is an incredible story,” I said, unsure what else to say.

“It is our story, but we are discussing how we can ally and aid one another,” Xull said, keeping her smile.

“What exactly do you need from me? Currently, it seems like you have everything you need to defend yourself against any kind of threat. It feels like I should be asking you for help, if something called the Harvester Legion is on the dark side of our moon.”

Xull blinked, which was weird to see because it made her appear like she was a living thing with a metal body.

“We can be beneficial allies. I have records and measured data that may help you increase your power much faster than leaving it to discover yourself. In return for training, and our mutual agreement, we may call on each other to help defend against cosmic threats,” she stated.

“What kind of threats are we talking about? I think I might be able to stop a meteor, but I also think you can do that already. I still don’t know much about the war conflict between worlds,” I said truthfully.

Xull gave me a measured looked before her lips parted. “There are cosmic monsters and intelligences that simply feed on living worlds, or seek to control them. My databases hold nearly a thousand cosmic threats, and by my calculations, that is regarded as under one percent of what may be out there.

“Fighting alone does not aid the universe as a whole. This initiative between us will only strengthen both of our worlds. On most worlds, throughout their histories, more was accomplished by working together than by one’s self.”

I couldn’t help but get the feeling that Xull was pushing hard on this alliance. When I used to sit down people to talk, they often would get emotional, to plead their case and appear as an innocent party, even when I had camera footage of something proving they were in the wrong. It was a tired dance, the acting involved to appear right when they were completely wrong. It often cut away at my soul because I always believed there was a deeper good in people, but if I went by what I saw and experienced at work, over time, you would think otherwise.

Despite my experiences, I always still held on to what I considered the best of people. They were capable of great evil, and great good. I’m not one to hold myself in higher esteem. I had my own bullshit, but I at least tried to keep my bullshit to a minimum, unlike many others. Sometimes, being a good person wasn’t enough because people perceived it as weakness. I never thought that. Considering how cruel and unforgiving the world, and maybe the universe, the strongest thing a person could be was kind, protective, and understanding.

I put my beer down on a small table. I leaned forward, putting my elbows on my knees as I gave Xull a serious look. Rain beaded against the windows surrounding us as the ship flew through gray and white puffy clouds.

“I’m sure we can sit here and discuss the righteous and mutually beneficial ways we can help each other. But my instinct tells me there is something more not being said. We barely know each other and you’re offering a lot for an alliance. I may have won the golden ticket of powers, but I’ve seen enough to know that when someone is offering a lot, they have a lot to lose.

“I don’t want to dance around this anymore. If we are to have an alliance, I need a truth and foundation we can build on. I need to know we are equals. I’m more than willing to help, and even put myself out there, but I can’t be the only one. If we can’t build on something strong like honesty, you can open the hatch and I’ll find my own way home.”

Xull eyed me with a blank stare. I wasn’t sure if she was considering what I had to say, or was ready to go full robot apocalypse on me. With so much advanced knowledge of people, it was safe to assume she must understand to a deeper degree of what I was saying. But I was speaking with a self-aware AI, so who knows what is actually lurking under her carapace. She did have information I could use but I wasn’t signing my life away for it. If she wanted a partnership, we had to start from the bottom floor and work our way up, together.

“You are intelligent and wise, Mr. Barron. A credit to your people,” Xull said with a smile.

“Thank you, but just call me Quinn. Mr. Barron is my father’s name,” I grinned.

Xull chuckled in an odd and jerky fashion. I think she was attempting to show she understood the reference, but it came off weird and alien.

Xull stopped chuckling and she looked at me with glowing yellow eyes.

“I too wish to form an alliance built on mutual trust, so I will explain what is happening. As I’ve mentioned, there are cosmic threats across the universe. As the protector and guide for Xull Prime, I must constantly be prepared for threats, and the possibility of threats.

“Part of my programming allows me to splinter my intelligence to work on many projects. As Xull Prime, I must see to the welfare of the people, and territories under my control. That is why, I cloned my intelligence and gave it specific directives to gather, assess, and discover solutions to any threats that may target my world, and worlds that may not be strong enough to protect themselves.”

Xull’s golden eyes shined for a moment before she spoke again. “That particular digital clone, Xull Omega, went dark on a research moon on the edge of Xull space.

“I sent a ship to investigate, and they vanished from my sensors and my connection. I sent a battleship to follow up, and it too has vanished. The ships were not crewed by any living beings. They have a compliment of humanoid drones and soldiers that share a similar appearance as myself.

“As you may have already summarized, I will not chance losing any more vessels until I can discover what is stealing my ships and took over the research station. Long range sensors indicate the research station is still on the moon, but has gone dark. Threat assessment indicates there is a sixty-four percent chance it is trap. There is also a forty-three percent chance an unknow intelligence or monster has made a home in the system and may be disrupting subspace communications.”

I leaned back in my chair with understanding eyes. “You want me to go there and find out what happened.”

Xull nodded. “You have considerable power and resistance. I am prepared to give you anything you may need, if you will consider inspecting the station and reporting back what transpired. I will offer a binding agreement, should we need each other to fend off cosmic threats.”

“First, thank you for telling me. I can understand how it may be perceived as weakness, losing contact with something that never should have happened in the first place. Your honesty only helps with what is happening now.

“Second, I accept our agreement, on a trial basis. I’m not against helping, but as you know, I’m new at this. I will need every bit of information you have on mana storms. If there are threats against my world, I will need every iota of information so I’m not at a disadvantage should they arrive.”

Xull eyed me as she kept her smile. “I accept your terms, on a trial basis for both of us and our worlds. Our discussion happened much quicker than anticipated. We still have one hour and twenty-four minutes left.

You are reading story Mana Storm at novel35.com

“To show my sincerity, I will detail some of the augmentations of your implant that will aid you. Please call up your digital HUD. You can bring it up with a thought command.”

I blinked, not sure what she meant at first. It took me a moment to remember that HUD meant Head-Up Display. I did as she asked and thought about bringing up the display.

I watched in amazement as the edge of my gaze began to populate with blue and white digital information.

Quinn Barron

Cat: 1 Mana Storm

Strength Power: 25 Tons

Speed: Mach 1 (1,000 MPH)

 

Standard Abilities

Hyper Physical Durability

Flight

Regeneration

Hyper Senses

Hyper Dimensional Jump

 

Storm Powers

Element: Water

1. Aura (X)
2. Elemental Weapon or Armor (X)
3. Energy Bolts (X)
4. Elemental manipulation (X)
5. Elemental Flare (X)
6. Unique Ability (X)
7. Unique Ability (X)
8. Unique Ability (X)

 

 Xull didn’t hesitate to explain, “As you can see, the implant has correlated your strength, speed, power, and abilities into a simple, informative display. As you improve, it will display any changes, give status alerts, and expand on information by your commands. It does not change anything, merely displays the information.

“The top two areas show your basic strength, speed, abilities and storm category. Since you are a category one storm, it will display how much you lift over your head and how fast you can fly. You may move fast on solid ground, but it will be greatly reduced due expending more physical exertion.

“Under the basic information, I have already detailed your standard abilities as a mana storm. Durability, heightened senses, flight, and the ability to hyper-jump is there.

“Under Storm Powers, things are handled differently. From what I’ve researched, every element has eight levels, or degrees of power. Each power is standard among all elements, but must be trained up with practice and meditation. You can see, there is an X beside each one, indicating you have not trained up each ability.

“Training increases an ability by twenty percent. Despite common practice, you may achieve more than one hundred-percent, if you focus and connect with said element. I have not measured it completely, but so far, I have only seen levels reach one hundred and forty percent. Considering a mana storm’s power, it could go well over that, but I have not recorded beyond that.

“The last three levels of an element will unlock a different, and perhaps unique ability within the element. I postulated that it was a way to ensure each mana storm would have unique ways to fight unusual foes, or assist with training. They may unlock if you reach one hundred percent on the previous five abilities.

“When using an elemental power or ability, it will drain depending on usage. Your basic abilities do not drain, but they will tire you out from repeated use in short amounts of time. Your elemental powers will drain until they reach zero. After that, rest and recouperation will allow the percentages to return to normal.

“You are a super powered being, and your power regeneration will happen much quicker, providing you are not in combat.”

I eyed the information as Xull spoke. As of this moment, I had the strength of a construction crane and the speed of a slow jet. Hardly the incredible power I was expecting to have. It was enough to fight Xull’s robot, but not strong enough to destroy it.

“Your strength and speed will increase as your storm category increases,” Xull said as if she was reading my mind.

I looked at her with curious eyes. “How do you know all of this and how do I increase my category?”

Xull nodded. “I know this because I have hidden satellites on many worlds. Some of them have not achieved space travel and are easier to study. There are mana storms who have displayed their power, and hyper jumped to other realms, or planets.

“From what I’ve observed, there is a test between the planet and any visiting mana storm to that planet. Most of the time, a visiting mana storm will engage in battle with a mana storm who protects that planet. If they fight fairly, and the visitor wins, the planet may allow the winning visitor to swim and bathe in their mana. The winner will gain the elemental power and grow by a category, becoming stronger and faster.”

A question popped into my head. “If you’ve observed other mana storms, why haven’t you reached out to them for assistant?”

“I would, if they would listen. Mana storms can be from worlds with low, or high technology and societies, but all are mistrusting of outsiders. The mana storms on many different worlds have formed a loose organization, or understanding. They spend their time protecting their worlds, training, and fighting other mana storms to test themselves and become stronger. They will sometimes come to each other’s defense, if there is a respect and admiration for one another.

“Mana is living energy. They will never trust an artificial intelligence like myself. I am considered too alien for their sensibilities.”

“So, by befriending me when I just started, was a strategy to give you a better chance at asking for help,” I said plainly.

“Correct. Do not take this as an underhanded response. I simply compiled the best strategy to open discussions between us.”

“Yeah, I get it. Please continue,” I said, not wanting to bother getting into the cold logic she seemed to use to justify her actions.

“Mana Storm categories grow exponentially. The first few categories grow by tripling your base power, but they may quadruple once you reach the mid to high range of the twelve categories.

“From my databases, I haven’t seen a mana storm reach beyond category six. Mana, and energy attacks are a weakness to storms. They disrupt the harmony of your power and cells.”

“If I was thrown, or fell into a sun?” I asked, afraid I already knew the answer.

“You would be ripped apart by the tidal energies. Instead of exploding, you would be consumed by the star. I have one recorded instance where a mana storm no longer wished to continue. Instead of giving up their power, they flew into the sun and ended their existence by simply winking out, joining with the star’s power.”

“No flying into stars. Got it.”

“Plasma weapons will hurt you, just as most energy attacks. On a realm called Eddor, mages could hurt you much more than plasma weapons.”

“Be careful around wizards,” I muttered to myself.

Xull turned her head and looked at the side glass wall of the ship. I turned to see what she was looking at.

The dark clouds began to slip away, and we were greeted with sunlight.

I stood up from my chair and walked over to the glass wall. I gazed out a dried, parched land, filled with sand and scattered weathered mountains. There was no hint of any vegetation. No trees or lakes. I didn’t even see any moss growing in the shadows of the mountains. It looked like the surface was sand blasted.

Xull stepped beside me and looked out. “We cleared the storm. This will make a perfect place to begin.”

I turned my head and looked at her. “Begin what?”

Golden mechanical eyes turned and looked me in the eyes, as a small smile formed.

“To begin your training,” she said matter of fact.                  

You can find story with these keywords: Mana Storm, Read Mana Storm, Mana Storm novel, Mana Storm book, Mana Storm story, Mana Storm full, Mana Storm Latest Chapter