《Starcraft Unbound》A Bargain Struck.
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I was now very certain The System was actively fucking with me. The random snide comments, the constant annoyances that came with changed and inconsistent texts, at least the ones I still allowed.
You are correct, Player. The might Xal’gul granted you another 0.0000000001% of my processing power as a hidden reward, I am now capable of speaking with you at length.
I froze, ignoring the bustle around me, pretty sure Fernando was trying to get my attention about something, but I just...froze. What in the hell was happening to my life? First I find out the ‘Primary Target’ was pretty much nothing but a toy, then I get sent into this fucked up version of a death game, and now I had a voice talking to me at length...responding to my thoughts.
Why couldn’t it just stay quiet and give me a set method of delivery for rewards?
System acknowledges your request. -Overridden by Moderator Xal’gul for amusement purposes. - Player, you have further rewards.
System Announcement! You have gained five followers! System rewards Player with one Primary Building Card.
Congratulations Player! You have reached Commander Level three! You are now able to recruit a new Hero Unit!
Player may now bring ten Units and two Heroes into a Campaign Map!
Congratulations Player! Your Regeneration Skill has increased to level three! Health regeneration increased to forty percent!
Ok...yea, sure, just ignore my broken mind and continue with your fucking rewards. I took a deep breath, absently holding a hand up to stop Fernando from talking to me, the others present looked concerned, but I honestly couldn’t process anything right now.
Right, so Regeneration increased due to usage, most likely. I did feel oddly better, so that was nice, if confusing. Another Primary Building Card would really be useful, I’d use it after finding out what the next Hero I obtained would be, now that I could use the Utility Hero Card I had. An increase in the number of Units I could take with me into the Campaign Maps was good as well, though it made me worry about just how much more difficult they would become due to it.
Exponentially so, Player.
Ignore it, right, why does Fernando look like he is about to blow a gasket? “What is it?”
He gave me a critical look and then turned to Andy who was staring at her tablet with wide eyes. “Sir, how did you go from barely functioning to nearly perfect condition?” Oh, that. Now, to be fair, I had forgotten about that little perk of mine.
“I’ll answer you if you tell me how exactly you can train Imperial Guard, and who you are.” Ha! Take that! Bossing me around, making me do things I didn’t want to do. I doubted he’d answer, and I was feeling pretty petty all told. I could have just shrugged and said I had no idea, instead I lashed out to a degree, wrong setting, but who cares.
He became guarded, a bit withdrawn while pulling himself straight. Something big then, because that was one hell of a reaction. “Sir, for the Imperial Guard, it is due to my Family. Who I am, is Lieutenant James Fernando. Your General.”
I lifted a brow at his words, he’d tell me when he was ready. I nodded and shrugged. “My condition, I haven’t the foggiest. Perhaps the poison worked itself out? Green can go over me later, just to be safe. Will that appease you?”
He gave a very small nod, then I dismissed him. A crisp salute followed, then he was gone. Great, piss off the man that makes Monstrous soldiers. Smart, Damian, really smart.
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I sighed as everyone else left the room with orders to submit an operations report to my personal logs by the end of the day. I wanted to see exactly what The System changed in their recollection of events to keep them from going insane.
“Adjutant, can any information be gained prior to the next mission?” I needed to make sure of this. Any edge I could get would be useful beyond measure.
Yes, Magistrate, six hidden objectives may be unlocked for the next Campaign Map. Be advised, the first will take four days to unlock, the second will require you to complete a Universe Achievement, the final will cost you three thousand Minerals and Vespene Gas.
Ok then…”Start the first one.” I knew damn well the third one wasn’t going to happen. I wouldn’t short my people that much for a fucking hidden objective. The rewards would be nice, but it would be a short sighted thing to do. The second was rather confusing, but I knew that the things existed in this Universe. I just had no idea how to actually achieve the fucking things.
Fuck it, at least I’d have one I’d know about in the next mission. Leaving the Adjutant room, I went to my quarters to remove the Marine Armor, and the cold metal tube from my ass. That part was tantamount.
I had to get a lot done before what was left of the day was gone. See Nova, ask her about the kiss. Deal with her ‘punishment’ to try and appease Fernando. See the Assassin, who I was certain would be executed soon, then start using my rewards so that I wasn’t sitting on opportunities. I’d also need to undergo more training, try to get my shit together and improve on what I actually was able to do. Try to stop reacting and actually begin doing.
The list was damn near endless. Just thinking about it all gave me a headache. Everything would get done though, even the more annoying or disturbing aspects. I smiled a bit, actually looking forward to seeing Nova. Remembering I had Jim Raynor's Vulcher gave me a few ideas in terms of ‘punishment’ as well. Only after I drove it though, I mean...c’mon, it was fucking Jim Raynor’s personal Vulcher! Just thinking about that was enough to get me excited. I was sure Caspian could study it to reproduce it on a massive scale. It had to be immensely better than the normal ones, right?
When I arrived at Nova’s quarters, I opened the door to find her sitting on her bunk with her hands clasped in front of her while looking at the floor. She lifted her head slowly as the door opened, and I entered. “Nova! First, thank you for ensuring I made it back to Bastion without dying. Second, Fernando informed me he placed you under house arrest. That’s done.”
“I need to be punished, for failing to keep you safe.” Well, that was disconcerting. She sounded colder than an iceberg. Well...shit, alright. I can do this.
“Fine, you wish to be punished, I have something you can do. You will be relegated to my personal Ghost, as before. Your Ghost Division will answer to Fernando until I state otherwise. Your punishment is to stay by my side, at all times, and never allow what happened after you kissed me to happen again.”
Good, that seemed fair, even agreeable compared to what Fernando might have wanted. I temporarily stripped her of her command, while also making her always stay near me. Yay! Wait, no, not yay. Just good, an excuse to keep her near it was not.
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“Kiss? Damian we never…”- “Right, the kiss! It was rather fantastic. We will have to do it again. Up you go now, I need to see the Assassin and find out exactly how he managed to poison me while you were with me. Seems that kind of skill might be useful.”
I cut her off, knowing exactly what she was going to say. That was not what happened, only my word was truth in this regard. She eyed me like I was insane, but I never gave her a chance to respond. “Come on, Nova, we have a lot to do today. Fernando will be notified of the increase in his responsibilities, temporary though they may be.”
That made her angry, good. Now she wasn’t thinking about such idiotic lies as me kissing a man. Perfect!
We found Fernando outside the Barracks, watching people with a vacant look that I personally found a bit off-putting. “Fernando!” I called upon reaching him. He showed little reaction but did respond to my voice with his attention. “You’re being given control of the Ghost Division, though the Orion is still Nova’s. This is temporary until she earns it back. She will also remain by my side so she has the chance to do just that.”
Push forward, don’t let them overwhelm you with their overbearing monstrous might! “Now that she has been suitably punished, where is that Assassin?”
Fernando seemed a bit confused at first, but then what I had said registered with him and he gained a scowl the likes of which would put my third-grade teacher to shame. “Sir, I do not see remaining at your side as a suitable punishment”
Of course, you didn’t. “How so? She has to remain at my side, always reminded of her failure to keep me safe and perform that duty twenty-four seven. Seems a fairly fitting punishment. Moving on, the Assassin?”
Fernando retained his scowl, but actually, let it drop. Small victories are very important, yes indeed. He led us through the Barracks to the holding cells that had been built within to house prisoners. Nova had been uncommonly silent, I ignored the fact she suddenly had a shotgun in her hands. The implications of where the bloody hell she has kept it was a bit too disturbing for comfort.
Opening a door, Fernando stepped in first to the rousing catcall of “Hello gorgeous man!” followed by “Boy-toy!” I restrained myself, do not shoot, do not shoot when I entered. Nova followed and stayed in a corner, glaring daggers at the man.
Getting a good look at him, he was a handsome little bastard. Slim, but toned musculature, sporting a goatee. He resembled his sister a lot, very strong features, almost hawkish. “Aww, no response Boy-toy? Even after sharing such a…” - “Finish that and I’ll shoot you.” I cut him off, my truth was the only truth. I had kissed a beautiful woman, Nova, not a man disguised as her.
He pouted, the jackass actually pouted. What in the hell? I’ve known flamboyant men, but this was taking it to an extreme. “Why did you poison me? What did you gain from that?” He adopted a relaxed posture, that smirk I’d seen in the camera coming to the fore.
“Simple, honestly. I wanted my sister, you had her. It was a win-win. Then the handsome man beside you had to have the demonic thing you call a Doctor drain me of at least two pints of blood while sucking my will to live away with her nagging. Who the hell cares about me possibly dying with genetic modification?”
It’s official, Green was my chief torturer, without being informed. “According to the reports I’ve gotten you have repeatedly stated ‘The Old man cannot have her’ I assume you mean General Vex?” He grimaced but nodded. “Care to explain?”
“Not like I have a whole lot of options here. You’ll still give her to him in the end.” I waited, he waited. Apparently, we were going to play the silent game. That’s fine, I looked toward Nova, admiring her for a moment. I was forced to stop when she glared at me, cruel.
“He’s her Husband, in name at least. Political between Guilds before they fell, he wants to find her and kill her because of...a problem that involved me. I felt I owed my darling sister something, so I came to rescue her.”
Yea, probably cause you fucked him and turned into a man...Nope! Thought to erase, delete, delete, he cannot do that as a woman. Moving on. “I see. You’re right of course, I still intend to hand her over. She’s a Pirate, she was also the key result behind several of my men dying in a raid she performed.” I was still pissed about that.
“Yes, she was. She also struck you before you could strike her. It was war, Boy-toy, death is the currency you trade in during a war. I can offer you benefits, should you choose to let her go, or at least keep her from the old man.” I really did not like the way he said benefits.
“Nova, Fernando, leave the room a moment, please. Disable all security feed. I want to have a private conversation.”-”Damian!” - “Sir!” - “For fuck's sake, just do it!” I shouted at their objections.
When they did leave, an entire argument later, I was alone with Hiko. I took a seat across the table from him, leaning my chin on a palm. “Brave Boy-toy, staying here with me alone. What’s to say I won’t kill you?”
“The fact your sister would be the first one killed if you tried it aside? That you’d die soon after. I know your kind, you’re self-serving beyond all else. Moving on, I will trade with you.” He regarded me, his smirk falling away to show the man beneath it, a bone chilling depth to his once playful eyes.
“And what would it cost, Boy-toy?” I resisted the shiver that tried to make its way down my spine, this man really was dangerous.
“You never, ever, speak of what occurred the night I was poisoned, delete all records when you are able as well. I kissed the actual Nova, not you. Second, you give my Doctor the means to replicate your modifications, all of them. Finally, you take your sister's place. I have no doubt you’d survive the encounter. Do that, and she can go free, but only after you are on that ship.”
I wanted whatever it was that allowed him to change forms like he did, no matter what cost.
“The first one is simple enough, even the second one. Though I refuse to be anywhere near that Demonic woman you call ‘Doctor’ again. The third needs to be changed, she goes free now, then I will do it.”
“Not happening, you’ll escape if I do that. I’ll allow you to speak with her daily, but you will remain separated other than the hour I grant you to speak, under heavy guard.”
“Very well, Boy-toy. We have a bargain.” I ignored the thought I had just struck a deal with the devil and left the room, ignoring Fernando and Nova a moment while I collected myself.
“Fernando, he can speak to his sister for an hour each day, use your best to guard him. I’ll forward the other information to you later. Come to my quarters tomorrow morning as well, we need to talk.”
I let out a deep breath, heading back to my quarters, pausing at the monument as I went, glad no new names needed to be added at this time. It was too late now to use the rewards, but I planned to see the Vulcher first thing in the morning and take it for a joy-ride. Then I needed to do the rewards. Fernando would need to be talked to first, we needed to discuss both of our actions, find a common ground, and work outward.
As for Nova, I knew I’d need to speak with her later as well. For now, this was enough though. I bid her goodnight after reaching my quarters, she left afterward...at least I think she did, she had cloaked after I said goodnight. I had the strangest feeling I was being watched now as well...sleeping with the clothes on tonight I think.
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The Mook Maker
There are many possible fates that can await those whisked away from our world to another. Some became heroes or villains, given the right power to forge their own destinies as they wished. Others, the powerless, became victims, doomed to perish, at the mercy of the cruel world filled with mystical powers they are unprepared for. A lone man that woke up alone under the alien sky was neither of those. He didn't get to choose what he was going to become - a disaster, an unwilling source of intelligent, yet violent monsters, slowly but steadily rising in numbers. Stranded in a foreign land, without even knowing the language, his creations may be the only company he would ever find. He wasn’t powerless. But was he really that much better off? It just took one wrong power.
8 358Deviation
There is a place in the far off reaches of space. It is a lonely place in the barest portion at the edge of the universe. There are no stars or other planets for light-years. A region few have ever wanted to visit and fewer still actually have. If you were to visit you'd find and small rip in space-time leading to the most bizarre and out of place thing you have ever seen. A solar system consisting of five planets, all with life, all stuck in conflict, and all absolutely bursting with energy. For some it seems like a paradise. A land of sword and sorcery? Why would anyone pass that up? That was the thought process of the freshly dead boy. This boy, like many before him and many after him, was trying to find the bright side. Things had finally been going right for him, good grades, new friends, and best of all a girlfriend when the entire world ended. No huff, no puff, just poof the end. At least being reborn into this world would be fun. That definitely sounded like a bright side to most. Fracture, one of the five worlds in question, was massive and full of magic. It looked sounded and felt like it would be just another game, it even had prompts and levels. Piece of cake. Well that might be the case if Fracture was meant to be a paradise. The hottest fires forge the strongest swords. This fire has the habit of melting away oneself. A pixie clan searching for a new home, a boy who just lost his, a reality bending forest, and a bug that doesn't belong. All with an intense desire for power. Who will make it through the fire intact, and will they choose to be a hero, or will they join the long history of villains and monsters?
8 266Keepers of the Neeft
The Indigo Empire has conquered half the world’s nations, their people, and their gods. According to its citizens, old and new, the rest of the world will follow. In the capital of the Throne-home, the Imperial Academy produces the next generation of great leaders to drive that expansion. Cadryn Bence knows he will be one such leader, he’s overcome his common birth, mixed heritage, and every other obstacle to be the top of his class. He dreams of glory on the southern front against the Gravanik States. He will not be finding it. Instead, if the glory he expects. Far to the north, lies the unassumingly named North-Eastern Extreme Frontier Tower, a backwater post if ever there were one. Through the machinations of the Emperor’s state religion, and a cult within it, Cadryn will find himself on his way to this first assignment. On the frontier, Cadryn will discover that neither his campions, nor the Neeft itself, are what he expects. Follow Cadryn on his journey to discover many truths: about himself, about the Empire, and about the very world he call home. ****** Keepers of the Neeft is a (bit dark) fantasy story revolving around Cadryn and his journey of discovery. There’s a fairly wide cast of supporting characters (his fellow Keepers) all with their own reasons and motivations behind how they came to be at the Neeft. Current release plan is to have part 2 completed, then fully edit up till the end of part 2. I am in the process of editing the earlier content as I complete the updates/re-writes. Apologies for any rough content in the meantime. My primary objective with Keepers of the Neeft is to work on developing content flow and establishing a community of people who enjoy my writing style. I write SF/F and horror as my primary genres, Keepers is actually my 3rd novel length work, but my current project. Updates of new Content will currently be in the form of one larger post on Tuesdays.
8 160Inks of Heart
Just some words woven into lines making the fabric of a poem; sometimes prose.#1 poetry#1 book of poems#3 prose#7 poem{ Copyright © 2021, Anna Woods}
8 61YANDERE HARRY POTTER ONESHOTS
Ever wondered what it would be like if the Harry Potter characters went yandere over you, dear reader? Well, you can find out :) I don't own the characters or the pics that I use in this book and I hope you enjoy reading it :)
8 477Status : Love 2 Aces
Nara, who has struggled to feel love since school, starts dating Yuki, who is 3 years younger than her. Yuki is a volleyball athlete and he is a member of the Japan Men's National Volleyball Team. But unexpectedly, Nara meets someone from her past while watching Yuki's match. Nara's heart is still beating fast when she sees it.Then what happened to Nara? Hasn't she been able to forget her past? Is Yuki able to take over Nara's heart? Who's that guy?
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