Dark Matter Ascension-Chapter 37B2 - : A change of plans

“Take this you weird, insect freak!”

Dee felt the tremendous crunch as her chitinous shell took a massive impact. She spit out a globule of goopy, yellowish blood that splashed harmlessly against the Skill-shrouded figure who was using her as a punching bag. The entire clear, plasteel chamber she was suspended within was covered with her viscous ichor as blow after blow was delivered.

Her Wayfinder, a mix between a small cat and an owl, was being harassed by the other Aspirant’s Wayfinder; a serpent with frills on it.

The Aspirant paused their assault and Dee giggled slightly, “That all you got?” she whispered out. Her voice was wavering with an undertone of a buzz as her mouth did not truly move. The chitinous shell she was housed in was just her means of staying mostly ‘together’.

“Oh, I’ve got plenty more you uppity bitch!” The Aspirant continued striking her, and Dee made sure that she turned her body to have some of her chitinous shell: which had become a sharpened point from the cracks: tear into the Aspirant’s sleeve. She then spat a globule of her acidic innards into the outfit.

He let out a string of curses and screamed in agony as he left the chamber. His Wayfinder went with him, and she looked up at Miku, “Did anyone respond?” she asked.

The Wayfinder’s mouth opened, but the cute, peppy voice did not come out. Instead, a serious voice came out. A female voice. One that Dee did not recognize. “Quite a predicament you find yourself in, Deasyl Luna of the world Xelvor Tersius. What’s a Plorp like you doing here?”

“Who are you?” Dee asked as her eyes saw the rapidly turning wheel of the chamber closing behind her tormentor.

“I saw that your Wayfinder was putting out a distress signal. Let’s just say…I’m an interested party, for now, and perhaps your ally. How did you arrive in this place?”

Dee hung limp against the restraints. She could feel the draining, sapping heat of the room like a constant assault on her chitinous shell, keeping her just on the edge of consciousness. Any energy expenditure to use a Skill would force her unconscious. She couldn’t escape. “I was captured,” she whispered. “Sold by the Nebula Alliance to this megacorporation on this alien planet…harvested for my goop for some type of pharmaceutical industry.”

“A cruel fate for any Plorp to suffer. Well, you are in luck. Aspirants are bringing down these megacorporations. They have destroyed three of the five so far, and I see here you are in Enduralife Enterprises.”

Dee slightly recalled seeing an image with two E’s on it in her weird, twilight between asleep and awake. “Yeah…I think that’s right.”

“You are not affiliated with a faction yet…tell me, would you be interested in becoming a Signer for my faction?”

“What faction is that.”

There was a slight chuckle, “The Dark Between Stars. A faction dedicated to keeping balance in The Cosmic System. If you become my Signer…I will ensure your freedom. And, I know how important your sister is to you, and that she is also hunted because of what she did. I can provide her safety in Khrox.”

Dee felt a jolt of fear go through her, “How do you know what she did?”

“Because I am the closest thing to an omniscient deity in the whole of The Cosmic System.”

“…Why me?”

“Pardon?”

“Why choose me for your faction?”

Again, an enthused giggle came out of her Wayfinder’s mouth. “I have my reasons. I know your sister is the most important thing in your life, that you would die for her. I will put her into a safe location, one where no one can get to her, right now. But you must agree to work for me.”

Dee knew she had no real choice here. Being saved from the fate of being drained for her goop over and over for the rest of her life, and ensuring her sister’s safety? It was a no-brainer.

Which was good for Dee, because technically her species did not have a brain.

“Deal. I’ll be your Signer.”

Quinn had been doing research ever since she read the logs of Bloopa and Priam’s conversation about Class Expansions. I’m level 81, so I should definitely explore one. She had been looking into any Broker Expansions, and a few had caught her eye.

There was a knock at her door, and answering, she saw Xera standing that. “May I come in?”

Quinn nodded and gestured for the woman to enter. She did so, and then she tapped some icons on her wrist panel. Quinn saw a screen pop up in her vision.

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[REDACTED has prompted the Class Expansion feature of The Cosmic System.]

[Qualifier of 75 levels in a base Class met. Bypasses ‘extreme emotional state’ restriction.]

[Class Expansion available.]

[Broker <Celestial Coordinator>]

[Confirm selection?]

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“What is this?” Quinn asked.

“A Class Expansion that will let you begin building up Skills to enable out-of-our-universe communication and coordination. Plus, you can ‘buff’ your allies if you can monitor them through any means that gives you visual or audible interaction. Go ahead, spend your two-levels’ worth of Stardust.”

Quinn nodded and went through her interface, accepting the new Class Expansion as she also allocated her two Ranks to max out her different World Interfaces. That way, no matter where they went in their universe, she could continue to keep tabs on them and interact with whatever the local interface looked like: whether it was a magitech network, or magical ‘aura’ of some type that cascaded across the skies. Every world had some equivalent of Earth’s Webnet.

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Name: Quinn Cipher (Aspirant, Tier 4)

Power [Class Level]: Star [Broker <Celestial Coordinator> 83]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Broker's Instinct (Rank 8), Broker's Contract (Rank 20), Broker's Fee (Rank 16), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Magic World Interface (Rank 10), Magitech World Interface (Rank 10), Technology World Interface (Rank 10),

Stardust: 244

Equipment: Broker's interface, Broker's starting gear, Webwalker Implants, Pheracorp Bionic Brain Mk. 1, Pheracorp Bionic Eyes Mk. 1, (Light) Venture Pack, survival meals (x40), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit, Enduralife Guardian AR, General Logistics 9mm Pistol, x8 micro-EMP charge

Boons: None

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Magic World Interface (Rank 10) As Rank 1, but enables Tier 10 or lower access.

Magitech World Interface (Rank 10) As Rank 1, but enables Tier 10 or lower access.

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“Now, we have a problem. Or, rather, an opportunity.” Xera walked over to Quinn’s bedroom and patted the bed next to her.

Quinn walked over and leaned against the wall, “What is it?”

Xera smoothed her skirt with one set of arms, and the other set manipulated her wrist panel. A screen appeared on the wall, drawing her attention. A…bug-person appeared on the screen. As Quinn focused her eyes, she realized that it was not a bug-person. It was some type of chitinous shell that surrounded a…mass inside.

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“This is Deasyl Luna, who goes by ‘Dee’ to her friends. A Nebula Blaster, and my newest Signer. But…she is held captive on Enduralife’s fortress in the Mediterranean. As of right now, she is not marked as my Signer: since that would indicate to her captors something is ‘off’. But…she is committed to my cause if we help her escape.”

“We’re switching gears? Going for Enduralife Enterprises first, and then General Logistics last?”

“Correct.”

Quinn nodded and pursed her lips, “Do the guys know?”

“I’ll be telling them next.”

“I don’t see a problem, then. They all have to go down, one way or another.”

Xera stood up and the screen vanished. She handed a data stick to Quinn, “This has the information on her, but to summarize; she is a Plorp. They are sentient plasmoids that inhabit a chitinous shell to enable interaction with more solid objects. Their ichor, their ‘goop’ is a potent antibiotic base once refined due to its highly acidic nature. She is being harvested for her goop.”

“I didn’t take you as the type to have a savior complex,” Quinn commented.

Xera headed to the door and glanced back at Quinn, “I don’t have one. But her Wayfinder, an adorable looking meowl, is one of my personal assistant’s friends. Plus, she has no ties except for a sister which means that keeping her from being blackmailed is a piece of cake. And, relatively little baggage from her home world. Unlike Shhiv and Priam who both have a whole mess to work out.”

“What’s up with Shhiv and Priam?”

“Priam is the last of a bloodline that was hunted down because Wricen, the Ascendant that took over his home world, started a propaganda campaign against Priam’s clan. Saying that they slew gods, rather than put them to rest after they had died. So, Priam is being hunted. As for Shhiv? She’s far down the line of succession of her nation’s list of royal inheritance…but there are conflicts ongoing at her home world. Soon enough, she may become targeted as well.”

Xera let out a laugh that bordered on the edge of madness, speaking through the laughter. “As if…as if that wasn’t enough, we have the Black Hole Conclave trying to still track down everyone in this building to try to get at Jace.” She shook her head and giggled, “I mean, they won’t succeed at that, but stymying their efforts costs me time and energy.

“You going to bring Dee’s sister here, then?”

“It’s already in progress. The sister is wanted on their home world, but I’ll just put her on house arrest here, and that problem is solved.” She shot a glance at Quinn again as he face became a frown, “I’ll go talk to the boys and inform them of our change of plans.” Xera left the room.

Quinn sighed and sat down at her console, plugging in the data stick and reading through Dee’s logs. She winced as she read about the recent damage suffered. She also read about this new Aspirant’s past. She and her sister are thieves from a magic-focused world. Tier 6 because of its acidic atmosphere and enormous…crabs? Huh. Interesting. She looked through the sister’s records: a Plorp named Reasyl ‘Ree’ Luna.

They stole an artifact? Oh shit. I recognize that from what Priam got back on Earth.

They had stolen a Godheart.

I cannot let Priam know they have that.

Xera had found the boys just before they had set up the tent and informed the trio of the change of plans. They were going to stop Enduralife Enterprises first and rescue this new Signer for her faction.

She had pulled Jace aside as well and confided a few words; just between the two of them: and Ollie, of course. “I am adding Dee to my Signers because she is going to be a hyper-damage focused asset. I know you can work with others well enough, but you’re also quite a capable lone wolf. You’ll go off and do your tasks, while Greg, Priam, and Dee focus on their tasks.”

“Makes sense,” Jace replied. “I did well enough on Velenar Prime, and I move a lot faster than everyone else.”

Xera nodded, “I heard Priam’s request and saw Bloopa’s research into a magic-focused world. I’ve got one for when you’re done with Earth. It should have plenty of Stardust as well in the form of magical creatures you can kill, harvest, and sell off parts. But the threat is a cabal of cultists that are trying to reach into the Astral Verge by ripping a gap through reality.”

That sounds bad, Jace thought. And the look on Xera’s face confirmed that notion. “We’ll deal with it.”

She reached up and cupped his face, rubbing his jaw slightly with her thumb, “I know you will. You make me proud.” She pulled her hand away and smiled. “Well, if you’ll excuse me: I’m going to let you three get some rest before you head out.” She snapped her fingers, and vanished.

Returning to his allies, Jace lay down in the tent: on the edge of the interior as Greg took up the center with his bulk. Priam was curled up in a ball in the corner of the tent.

It was not a comfortable way to sleep, but getting a full 8 hours in a single hour was too valuable at this point to pass up. Especially when time was of the essence.

Before shutting his eyes, Jace decided to level up and spend 4,000 Stardust. I’ve already got a bunch of Skills maxed out, Jace thought. And my only unlimited Ranks Skill is the Dark Energy Beam. He sighed and turned to his side. What could I use? I’ve got ranged, melee, defenses, healing, I’m already fast thanks to the prosthetics.

“Hey, Ollie,” Jace whispered.

The Wayfinder popped into existence next to him, “What is it?”

“How do we know Skills reach maximum Ranks?”

“Because the System notifies me. Currently, your only non-maximized Skills are Dark Energy Beam: which has limitless Ranks: and Mage’s Mark.”

“But doesn’t the System make new Skills on the spot if existing Skills don’t match what you want?”

“Yup! That is correct!”

“Okay. Let’s put the two Ranks into Mage’s Mark.”

“That would max it out.”

“Let’s do it. And let’s also use the Rare (Skill Evolution) on Energy Cost Reduction, turn that Uncommon (Variable) Boon into an (Equipment) Boon, merge that with the 2 other Uncommon (Equipment) Boons so I have a Rare one. Just in case I need something.”

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[Using Boon: Rare (Skill Evolution).]

[Applying to Skill.]

[Skill Name: Energy Cost Reduction.]

[Evolution Name: Siphoning.]

[Effect: Any willing creature may transfer energy to the user at a 1 to 1 ratio by touch.]

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Name: Jace Seren (Aspirant, Tier 4)

Power [Class Level]: Dark Matter [Swordmage <Wrathblade> 85]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Dark Matter Blade (Rank 5) [Rending], Dark Matter Shield (Rank 3) [Reflecting], Swordmage Stance (Rank 3) [Astral Annihilator], Dark Matter Dart [Exploding] (Rank 4), Dark Matter Cloak (Rank 3) [Group], Dark Energy Mine (Rank 3) [Distant], Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10) [Innervating], Dark Energy Beam (Rank 16) [Limited Range], Dark Matter Mending (Rank 4) [Vampiric], Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10) [Siphoning], Wrath's Embrace (Rank 10) [Focused], Ruination Razor (Rank 3) [Wrecking], Mage's Mark (Rank 5), Raging Cleave (Rank 10) Steel Gale Stride (1/day), Arbiter's Anathema (3/day), Shadow Nebula Smokescreen (1/day), Hope's Edge (1/day), Archmage Geomancy (1/day), Archmage Hydromancy (1/day), Archmage Pyromancy (1/day)

Stardust: 244

Equipment: (Returning / Adaptable) Nethaldrim, (Medium / Snowguard / Burnguard) Aegisleather, Ghostlight Grapnel Arm, (Thrice Judged) Anathema Arm, (Overclocked / Lightfoot) Steelstalker Sabatons, (Terrifying) All-Seeing Dragon's Eyes, Leviathan's Skin, Adamantine Skeleton, Mind's Eye Amulet, Thellor's Everguard, (Heavy) Venture Pack, survival meals (x40), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit, Omnitech prosthetic repair module (x2 charges), (Restful) Wildercloth tent, Devilsram wool bedroll, Vibro-Slicer Knife

Boons: 2x Common (Equipment), 1x Rare (Equipment), 2x. Epic (Augmentation)

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Mage’s Mark (Rank 4): As Rank 3 but increases the mark duration to 24 hours.

Mage’s Mark (Rank 5): As Rank 4, and the user can choose to detonate the mark, causing the target to explode in a 30-foot radius with a Cosmic Power manifestation.

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“Very good choice,” Ollie stated. He floated just above Jace, and the glimmering, sky-blue and sparkling nebula clouds swirled around him like cascading torrents of water. “Being able to have allies transfer energy to you will enable some interesting Skill uses, I am sure.”

Jace nodded, “Goodnight, Ollie.”

“It is not night, but I get what you are saying. I will depart. Enjoy your sleep!” He disappeared with his pop, and Jace shut his eyes.

Shhiv stood just above and behind Missy, helping spot her chest presses on the Recreation floor. “Come on! Just push! One more rep!”

Missy was huffing and puffing as she pushed up with shaking hands. Shhiv got her grip on the bar and helped the woman move it to the bar holder. She pulled her hands back, and the human woman let out a satisfied sigh. “That’s my personal record!”

Shhiv smiled, “Yeah, pretty soon you’ll be up where I’m at!” As if, she thought, knowing that Missy’s PR was nowhere near what Shhiv could lift. She began stacking more weight plates onto the bar before taking the position and slipping under. Lifting the weight, she easily crushed her set before placing the bar back in place.

“Hey, Shhiv? Your Cosmopanel is flashing.”

Shhiv moved over to where Missy was standing next to a treadmill for their cool-down jog. Shhiv saw a message from Jace, and her eyes were instantly glued to it.

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[Hey there gorgeous.]

[I’m downstairs in the entry hall, but we’re crashing in the tent so we can go back out. Xera has us on a tight schedule, rescue mission.]

[Just wanted to say that I look forward to seeing you soon. We should be done on Earth soon here. And I’ll be able to take a few days off work to just spend time with you.]

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Shhiv began typing back a message, and she barely noticed when Missy tapped her on the shoulder, “Hmm?”

“You going to run with me or what? Come on, I need my workout partner to motivate me!”

Shhiv nodded and hopped on her treadmill, typing back a heartwarming message to her partner. Too bad he can’t spend the night here. But hey, he’s got a job to do.

Right before she was about to put the Cosmopanel down, another message came over. This one was from Bhev, her friend that worked at the restaurant/diner she had been to with Jace.

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[Just figured you should know. Some Churkun from the -Zal pod showed up at the restaurant.]

[They didn’t say they were looking for you, but I have my hunch. And you know my hunches are on-point.]

[Wherever you’re at: stay there. You’ve got some family drama going on back home with the extended family.]

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Shhiv typed back a message telling her friend that she was safe, and then set the treadmill to near maximum speed as she took off running. I don’t want to deal with that whole situation, she thought. I don’t want to be a princess. Just leave me out of all that royalty drama!

She had a new life, now. And she loved it. Going back to serve some function of royalty was not what she wanted for her life. But, she knew that as she got closer to 150 years total in Khrox, she would need to return home eventually to live out the rest of her 500 year lifespan.

Just ignore it for now. Maybe Sera can help me with a workaround? She knows a lot about The Cosmic System.