A hysterical alarm shrieked into my ruptured eardrums, screaming of impending death and unavoidable catastrophe. The synthetic soothsayer had been driven insane by its own prophecy, causing mass hysteria among the artificial surroundings. Acrid smoke spread angrily throughout the reclined battlesuit, obscuring my vision with swirls of stinging pain.
Shit.
Closing my eyelids, I attempted to hold my breath, a meagre form of protection against toxic fumes. Yet, it did work to an extent, ever so slightly delaying the inevitable. Nonetheless, it did not matter; I wasn’t given additional time to think. As if that torture wasn’t enough, my external plating brightened ominously, slowly converting into glowing metallic jelly. It sagged inward lazily while structural support servos whined about critical failures.
I don’t remember when I started screaming. The molten liquid drizzled onto me in small droplets, charring skin and burning hair with sadistic glee. On my head, patches of flesh withered away to reveal glimpses of stark-white bone underneath. As my throat wore itself raw, it inadvertently invited the cloud of chemicals into my lungs to sizzle smoothly from the inside. Despite the suffering, I did not move or pass out. A tidal wave of numbness had long since flooded my body from within, easing the degree of my agony. Unfortunately, I already knew what that meant: I was paralyzed. Crippled. An easy meal waiting to be eaten.
Damn it. Another failure.
Dozens of bullet-shaped holes peppered my shell, swiftly opening new avenues of escape for a particular noxious gas. As it vented, eyesight luckily returned, though hearing remained predictably absent. Wet tears dived off my dirty grime-stained face, trailing down my cheeks in solemn silence.
At the same time, in a far-off corner of the battlefield, an enormous mechanoid phased into existence silhouetted by raging flames. It scanned the endless armageddon, searching methodically for a specific target.
Oh f—
Its cyclopean eye spotted me, locking on as it burst into kinetic action. The twenty-two foot humanoid mech covered large swaths of distance in effortless strides, its graceful ease betrayed by the ground shattering beneath its fifteen ton steps. My fractured heads-up display showed it weaving through the fabric of reality like a ghost, only visible in brief snapshots and still images. Without actively looking for it with my own acid-etched eyes, the machine was practically invisible.
Suddenly, it appeared directly in front of me.
Looming over my broken form, the towering giant radiated lethal intention and undeniable fate. It lifted a battlesuit-sized foot and adjusted its trajectory to perfectly flatten my center. The bastard was enjoying this. However, it abruptly stopped midmotion, head quickly rotating to stare at something out of sight. Whatever it used for an eye narrowed in mechanical whirls, zooming with perfect fidelity. For just a second, the universe was still; a scenic photograph basking in lingering rays of a familiar setting sun.
Then time resumed.
The mechanical monstrosity's leg snapped down without hesitation, a tectonic lightning bolt that evaporated everything below my neck in an instant. Finally, it glanced back at me, only to look elsewhere barely a moment later. Its non-verbal message was clear: I was just a bug, meant to be stepped on. Death from above was always a given.
I gritted my teeth in frustration.
I thought I could do it. Defeat it. Do what no one else had done before.
All it took was one more simulation.
The nightmare swiftly tore itself apart, releasing my detained consciousness into a null sea. It surged upward, kicking, desperate to find a way to my body. To escape its haunted memories of shame. The water’s surface breached with a gasping cry.
Once again, I woke with a violent jolt. My mind returned to reality, startled into panicked inaction as if a bucket of ice water was purposefully dumped over my head. Lagging sensations arrived in sequential order, jogging to their places like a squad of soldiers preparing for deployment. But, that wasn’t what had caught me off guard. Rather, it was their baseline intensity and natural depth to which each sensation stretched.
Touch came first.
Good old reliable. Based on it alone, I knew I was secured within the metal coffin, safe and sound. My immediate surroundings were drenched in sweat, but had otherwise remained the same. There was one noticeable change though: The space felt vastly smaller. At least a foot and some inches of wiggle room were now gone, my body scrunched accordingly to fit the enclosure.
Did I grow? I suppose that makes sense since I kind of asked for it.
Smell arrived second, a foul stench pouring into my lungs.
That was… me, apparently. I’d have to check later if I could bathe myself using nanites; remove all the natural oils and other unpleasant secretions that came from living. If I couldn’t, I might have a problem.
Taste appeared third, a smattering of iron and blood abnormally heavy upon my tongue.
Licking my crusted split lip, I found the source of the aftertaste with disdain. Evidently, I had bit my lip during the process. I was lucky I didn’t bite through my tongue; the possibility hadn’t even occurred to me. Tapping on the scab resulted in a minor wince of pain, answering a question I hadn't thought of yet. My healing had been natural, not from a command. Whenever I did biological modification next, I’d wear a mouth guard. Unless I wanted to drown in my own blood. That was always an option.
Hearing reported fourth, announcing itself with a muted whistling of wind.
It hummed consistently in the background, restrained by the innate soundproofing of the capsule. Occasionally, I heard a hint of sharp cracks, sonic booms, and roaring explosions many worlds away. Other unidentifiable noises prattled nearby in closer long-forgotten corners of the wasteland. That did not bode well.
Sight returned last, quiet in the darkness.
Gentle orange-red flickers defiantly sputtered to life from icons on an inner wall, saluting at their captain. It didn’t seem like any damage occurred to the device while I was out. No reason to linger. Without delay, I used my sense of touch and the minimal light to disengage the safeties; it was practically muscle memory at this point and required little to no focus. With a final jab, the opening code was once again inputted into the control panel. The lid groaned in response and began to slide off to the side. As the rectangular open-aired gap grew larger, so too did the noise. But, I didn’t notice, since something else stole my immediate attention.
The sky.
A radiant star-speckled night canvas sprawled above me, its constellations posing regally throughout the vast interstellar landscape. I gawked in awe at the rippling ocean of dazzling lights above, completely enamored by their grand majesty.
A dot streaked across the sky in a fiery blaze, a mere tiny thing among incomprehensible giants. The clear moonlit view etched itself deeply into my memory, becoming the top highlight of my short lifetime. Such beauty was simply breathtaking. An unforgettable wallpaper plastered to my psyche.
Was this how the early humans felt? Their innocent wonder dancing among the stars?
Either way, it seemed that I was significantly more sensitive compared to before the alteration. The difference was night and day, like the heavens above.
For a while, I remained there, fulfilling my promise from earlier. When I was properly satiated, I sat up, tuning back into the world around me. Cold wind howled deafeningly in my ears, tyrannical in its dominance. Yet, it didn’t bury the vibrations of rampant unrestrained warfare thundering faraway within the giant metropolis. I looked at it and squinted, trying to make out details in the darkness.
What I saw shocked me to the core.
The city was lit up like Las Vegas on a holiday, though its current illumination wasn’t from acres of electric signage. Instead, it was lit by a torrential exchange of vibrant multicolored laserfire, thin plasma bolts, thick energy beams, twisted scorching rays, wide blinding explosions, and waves of self-guided missiles. To the left, in the distance, a gargantuan titan stirred from its slumber to rotate towards the bustling hive of activity.
The effect was immediate.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Instantly, the entire urban region became motionless, dropping into pure silent darkness. Fires were snuffed out, various glows covered with nearby debris. Not a single sound or light was made. It was as if the world had flicked a switch from on to off, a difference so immense that it made comparison pointless.
The unknown giant eventually turned back to its original position, roleplaying as the ever-watchful sentinel. From then on, only small snippets of action and chaos arose, the irregular small-scale occurrences well beneath the attention of whatever stood vigil.
In my head, I carefully boxed up that moment, packing it away for future analysis and evaluation. What I saw just seconds ago was too much to think about right now. Too many implications, too many revelations.
Moving forward was more important.
Gathering my wits, I carefully got out of the crash couch. Immediately, it became apparent that I was substantially different from my old self. My personal center of gravity had moved; I was, at least, a foot and a half taller. Once short limbs stretched long while dense muscles coiled underneath pale skin with newfound strength. It was as if I had worked out for decades religiously, sculpting my body into the artful image that I desired. An extraordinary change that left me right on the edge of what was humanly possible. Close enough to touch that line, but not enough to pass it. The belated realization pushed itself to the forefront of my thoughts: Those nanites had successfully completed their task.
My entire being was now pushed to the natural limit, forcibly extorting optimal adaptability and survivability. Biology was no longer under lock and key as it used to be. Everything down here had conditional open access, though only the strong could afford to take advantage of it. I, we, had to join those ranks to live freely. An ambitious goal that could not be achieved overnight.
Regardless, the improvement had not come cheap. Looking at my pod, I estimated that I sacrificed about a fourth of what I was initially given in order to pay for the overhaul. It was easily worth the trade. Other than the crash couches, each half of the drop pod contained a set amount of compact cargo strapped to the floors and walls. It was standard for every descent, a final farewell gift. After all, to land on Earth in a random location with no supplies was hardly fair. A useless challenge when the inferred goal of this planetary-sized crucible was to see how we humans decided to break the previous mold.
The first bill and tip was paid for.
It was up to us to afford anything more.
As I stretched and got familiar with my current self, I made a new promise: To focus on imminent priorities and not dive beneath the waves of investigation and contemplation. There were an infinite amount of questions I wanted answers for. Needed answers for. Some practical, others existential. Many of them would shatter a homeless fragile psyche.
I couldn’t afford to deal with that right now.
I was too vulnerable. Too weak.
Flesh, by itself, had clear limits. An undeniable fact. The sole reason humanity made weapons, armor, mechs, and machines. I had to utilize everything.
Even my humanity.
Feeling at home in a newly optimized body, I changed focus to my mind. There were definitely changes to my brain, though I couldn’t tell what they were. The world felt vaguely unstable, so I sat on the stone ground in lotus position to let everything settle in. Unintentionally, I found my thoughts start to wander and reined them in towards something safe.
History.
The cradle.
My life spent there, among the so-called ‘free.’
Our generation was the ninety-ninth to be raised, vastly different from our original predecessors. In the past, the first of our ancestors decided against preparing for their inevitable arrival on Earth. They wanted to enjoy young life to the fullest while abundance and joy were guaranteed. Yet, as years passed and people left, word from the surface never returned. The sub-AI supervisors never elaborated or explained why. So, they were left to wonder.
Over centuries, this uncertainty turned into doubt; a poison that ate away at their initial confidence. Bleak assumptions surfaced, that vast preparation was absolutely necessary to live freely. Earth was not an empty paradise or a place to surpass old humanity with ease. They had been clearly warned that an unknown predation covered the planet, that it was an obstacle meant to be passed. But, no one did. Not yet. This implied the threat was unprecedented, that they weren’t prepared enough.
This strain of thought spiraled all the way into our generation. The sub-AI teachers generously adapted its provided material to our competitive spirit, turning the lab into a militarized facility. Methodology was directed to maximize gains and minimize loss. Full-dive simulation rooms showcased ancient human wars of countless eras, each made available for different types of training. Theory was tailored for combative scenarios and apocalyptic settings. Plenty of resources available in a culture that wanted to use them all.
Except, we couldn’t.
It was a fact that the descent ceremony occurred when both pod partners reached twenty years of age, so it was no surprise that two decades wasn’t enough to cover everything. We could only stock up on knowledge like the desperate and hope that it’d be enough.
And, well, it wasn’t.
It was valuable though.
I recalled an early conversation with Luna: How to use the leftover materials to obtain the highest probability of survival. There was still quite a lot remaining; we each had half of a pod and about three quarters of our own cargo available. Over the years, we burned through thousands of possible loadouts in simulation, filtering out everything that was too situational. At eighteen, we finally narrowed down that list to a select few tailored for different environments and strategies. Upon landing, we instantly knew which one fit the best. The loadout that maximized covert operations, guerilla groups, and extended missions: Stealth battlesuits.
They were the peak of mankind’s clandestine technology, used in dozens of world wars several times over. It was a bit ambitious of a build for one nanite cluster, especially given the high prerequisite materials. However, by cutting a few corners, it was possible. That was acceptable.
On analysis, this mountain chain was excellent for hiding, trapping, and defense. If utilized correctly, it could be a natural fortification and forward operating base. The fact that the population of locals remained low increased the value further. However, there was a good chance there was a reason for that. In our simulated experiences, sparse enemies meant there was an apex predator in the area. High risk, high reward.
Nothing complimentary.
Standing up, I brushed the dust and debris from my mesh clothing. Fortunately, they were expanded during the command execution. Waking up naked and confused was not a pleasant experience. I assumed the nanites agreed.
At the corner of my vision, I saw two new messages in my log and pulled them up. An inflectionless familiar voice resounded in my head.
— TASK (2/2) : COMPLETE —
— TIME ELAPSED : 11 HRS —
An obvious conclusion. Now, normally, I would have contacted Luna to lock in details regarding the stealth suit. There was only one small issue: It was nighttime. The mirrors wouldn’t work and we didn’t want to create light of our own; that would attract enemies like moths to a flame. Not a viable option.
The estimate for the last command was off by several hours; that was going to set us back temporarily. The mirror’s construction had given me false hope: It was only fast because it was simple. My biological modification clearly showed that complexity scales with time. So, we had to give the new command at our own discretion. Not ideal for a pair that wanted to synchronize complementary roles, but we didn’t have a choice.
Fortunately, I already knew what I wanted: A jack-of-all-trades adjustable loadout suited for variable range environments. Each setting had its own advantages and disadvantages. Nonetheless, it was my old reliable. I preferred having more options than less.
Reaching out to the nanite cluster, I gave the order.
For the following steps, utilize any and all material within my domain except for critical internal matter. Prioritize non-functional material. Keep track of time elapsed upon starting operations.
Using your discretion, create the following:
- MV19 Stealth Battlesuit
- Basic Combat AI
- Multispectrum Sensors
- Recoil Absorption Counterweight
- Weapon Melding
- Jetpack (Passive, Active)
- Stealth Field Generator (Passive, Active)
- Modular Railgun
- Tri-Range Settings (Short, Medium, Long)
- Stabilizer
- Kinetic Darts (Armor Piercing)
- Quick Release Magazines (Any Capacity)
- Shoulder Mounted Grenade Launcher (Photon, EMP)
- Utility Torch
- Quick Release Back Storage
Then convert excess materials into compact cubes and place them all within the storage unit.
The nanites paused for a second, processing the new command. Then they barked at me.
— REQUEST : RECEIVED —
— ANALYSIS : GENERATED —
— REQUIREMENTS : PARTIALLY FULFILLED —
— EXECUTING : CREATION OPTIMIZATION —
— REQUIREMENTS : FULFILLED —
— LOG : NOTATED —
— EXECUTING : COMMAND —
A familiar transparent cloud of mist discharged from my skin, gathering in front of me. I took several steps backward as it expanded in size, flowing over the entire drop pod like a second layer of skin. The fog-covered shapes squirmed, twisted, bent, and flopped with a disturbing level of animation. I couldn’t see what exactly was happening as it began to combine into one big blob.
I stood off to the side, watching what little of the process I could see. It would probably take a full day or so to complete, so it was best to get some sleep and update Luna at sunrise. We needed to share new information and discuss our timing for departure.
Wandering around, I found a flat vaguely bed-shaped rock and laid down on it. The dark sky was still there, patiently waiting for the incoming dawn. I felt sleep close in with aggressive maneuvers, my eyelids drooping heavily after only a few minutes of stargazing. Moments later, I dipped beneath the waves of wakefulness, plunging into the depths of the sleeping sea.
This time, I hoped for a more pleasant dream.
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