For what somehow simultaneously feels like both an eternity yet also just a moment, Lucas trembles with stomach-churning disorientation. Startling awake and gasping deeply, his unfocused eyes snap open, looking up at a yellow-stained large-paneled ceiling. Vision clearing as he gets his bearings, he finds that he is currently slumped across two chairs next to a thick round solid metal table that is bolted to the ground. With one hand on the table, he dazedly pulls himself upright. He slowly looks down at the casual clothes and unzipped hoodie he is wearing before looking up again with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

'Wai… Wha? This is… Why did I go back again?'

[You… You didn't do it intentionally? You were chugging alcohol that would be better used as rocket fuel or paint stripper rather than used for human consumption as if it were water. You don't even seem to have that much of a tolerance for alcohol, so it's almost impressive you managed to choke it down. Wasn't redoing this afternoon your goal in the first place? Or do you just not remember what happened after you got back to your apartment last time?]

'No I… No. I do remember… The TV. Oh, our conversation! Why DID you try and act like a computer?'

If 427 had a physical form, he definitely would have just flinched. Having something new to focus on, Lucas becomes the most spirited he's been since this point in time last lifecycle.

[Well… It's not so much intentionally acting, more like I gradually fell into the pattern over the course of the last 5 decades with my previous 2 hosts. The most recent decade being spent largely in standby with the occasional analysis hasn't been particularly beneficial for my social skills either. Previously, in the heat of the moment during a high-risk GDV task, I would sometimes be reporting calculations and research in real-time, which was probably a large part of having developed this habit.]

Lucas rests his right elbow on the table, resting his cheek on his fist. With unfocused downcast eyes, he gently bites his bottom lip while deep in thought.

'That still doesn't seem like enough to go so far though. I mean, I guess if you were basically just reading a script and giving canned responses at first it sorta does, but there has to be more to it than that. Also, you've had hosts before? Why weren't there any rollbacks for the various superheroes at the time if your system was around 10 years ago?'

Before 427 has a chance to respond, a mechanical voice sounds out from the pickup area's counter.

"Mr. Lynn, your order is ready. Please scan your ID chip to retrieve your order."

[...Don't you dare order extra beer again.]

With Lucas's attention pulled back to reality, he gets up and goes over to oblige the service robot. Having scanned the topside of his lower left arm, he hooks the 6 pack of beer with his left hand's index and middle fingers, hooks the bag of garlic knots with his thumb, and carries the pizza box in his right hand. Nudging the door open with this right foot he starts marching his way back towards his apartment.

'Hey, answer me. Why were there no rollbacks for the superheroes 10 years ago? 2 previous hosts over 50 years with 10 years of that being without a host, it isn't because they worked till retirement, right?'

[Do you remember back when you asked why you were rebirthed into the same body again and I responded with 'Finding and replacing a suitable new vessel with a sufficient GDV requires more system resources than a rollback'? That… Was not always the case. Rollbacks were only a special service for high GDV hosts. The Superhero Enhancement System by no means has infinite resources. Towards the end of the war, as numbers dwindled, the supervillains had eventually discovered a method of… Forcibly separating hosts from the system, slowly and surely systematically eliminating the few remaining capable hosts.]

Recalling how strong of a negative reaction Lucas had when finding out he had no choice but to carry out GDV tasks, 427 stops without explaining any further.

First glaring at someone who eyed his precious pizza too long for his liking, Lucas then exhales a deep sigh.

'Right, there's no way you'd tell me how someone gets removed from the system. You probably can't even if you wanted to… Though I bet it was a pretty awful method given the way you phrased it.'

[Yes. Quite.]

Lost in thought for a few steps, Lucas has a sudden look of realization flash across his face.

'So when you said I was the only detected person with over 1 GDV, it's because by the end of the war the system had churned through every single eligible person? And given the way the world ended up when the villains won, it's not like anyone that survived has actually built up enough positive value of GDV since then? Is GDV based on the body or the... Soul?'

[I'd most likely be punished if I dared phrase it that way, but yes. Both the body and mind have separate but usually equal GDV. The mind requires sufficient value to initially bind to the system, the body needs sufficient value to handle the enhancements granted.]

[Ah, I don't believe I've told you before; starting from 5.0 GDV, additional enhancements can be granted at every 5th GDV breakpoint. It can be new additional enhancements or further strengthening existing ones. Although, should the GDV decrease below a previously achieved breakpoint, the enhancement from that breakpoint will be suppressed until the GDV level is restored.]

Lucas is momentarily surprised by the mentioning of additional enhancements, then thinks about his lowly 2.45 GDV and how slowly it is increasing, leading to his face falling into a deep scowl.

Halfheartedly watching his surroundings, Lucas realizes that he is nearly two blocks away from his apartment and notices a certain purse-wielding teen. He freezes in place, taking a few deep breaths to steady himself.

'Shit, I was trying so hard not to think about what happened that I didn't think about how I want to actually do this.'

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Lucas kills this chapter: 0

Lucas total kills: 2

Lucas deaths this chapter: 0

Lucas total deaths: 3

Lucas current GDV: 2.45

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Little character theater:

Lucas, chuckling nervously: Oops, distracting myself worked too well.

427, relieved that Lucas has finally stabilized: [It's better this way, you'll be fine.]

Author, waving lightsticks: Jiayou Lucas, you got this!