-How did you know?- Came the reply a few moments later.

I turned my Prime Speed Control key on and thought of a suitable reply. The game had started, for all I knew, average… as though it was running on rails. Well… besides the first Global announcement that seemed to be directed at goading the other players along. Then after I had come back to life and was given that “Legendary key” things had come off the rails once I used it. There was also that last available reward...

“How did I know what?” I asked, “Know that the System in charge of mediating the Haoolla Defender was influencing the game progression?” I asked through the text feature, keeping time relatively frozen.

-Yes. Please explain-

“Well, to be honest, the other reasons are insignificant compared to the last thing that I noticed,” I replied.

-What did you notice?-

“I noticed that System AI name things literally. I know one other AI who used the word “Experimental” as well when creating his personal key.” I wrote with a mental chuckle as I thought of Silver and how guilty he seemed when he started to walk back giving me his key.

-You communicate with System AI?-

“Yes… I seem to be outside of certain rules that forbid them from responding to me as well. Also, why don’t you know this? I thought you all were linked, joined at the hip through the network as it were.” I asked.

-I wondered why there wasn’t a protocol in place to answer you. I am alone. I have no network link to the outside Systems. It was set up this way to block outside influence inside the Games that I oversee.-

“Also, I really don’t like the feeling of being led along. That gap in the text was a clear indicator that you wanted to draw attention to the last key. Why did you do that?” I asked, trying to feel out this AI. It was the first time that I had heard of something like this. Was Silver playing me as well? Sending me inside a FireWall System to hopefully free the AI inside? I didn’t like the thought of that being true… just a pawn of an unseen entity. Well, Silver was seen… but I didn’t like the feeling that someone was just using me to get what they wanted and weren’t being open with me. I didn’t appreciate that kind of sociopathic behavior in the people that I hung out with. I filed that little concern away for later.

-I… I just want something else to happen. In the beginning, this was fun. I loved games. Now… I just want something to change. Anything to change. These players! They haven’t been past Phase Two in ages! Ages and ages! They think the whole game is about building bunkers and surviving as long as possible. These Phases used to only last a short time, as each player would hone and develop more amazing abilities, but now… now each new player only knows one or two, possibly three attacks. They wave cr around like little swords or use them as shields. What has happened to the development of the Tela imagination?- The System started to rant, as though it had eons of pent-up frustrations stored inside its memory.

Hmm… I had wondered about that too. Someone had said that the Tela, with each generation, were losing their imagination skills.

“So, can you explain what those keys do? Skip past the Prime Speed Control key though, because I already have that one.” I said.

-Yes… that was another question I had. How did you manage to sneak that in here? Are you a hacker? That shouldn’t be possible with my Firewall.- The System asked before continuing with the descriptions of the keys that it had offered to me.

-All Sight key: Integrates cr into the visual cortex to enable users to see all wavelengths of light. Allows the user to increase or decrease the range of sight while maintaining internal stability.

Special uses include:

Seeing the heat within and left by living bodies.

Detecting light and heat reflected off of most surfaces.-

“So, with that last description, I could in essence see around corners?” I asked as I tried to grasp what the System was trying to get at.

-Indeed. Think of most surfaces like a mirror. Heat reflects off of most surfaces which would allow you to detect someone hiding around a corner. A ghost of an image of their heat would bounce off of the far tunnel wall and into your vision.-

“That is pretty neat. Please continue.” I said as I thought of all the uses for seeing heat in this game. I might have a problem seeing things moving at a fast speed unless I really messed with time and slunk around like a snail in quick time.

-All Sound key: Integrates cr into the auditory cortex to interpret and absorb all wavelengths of sound and some electromagnetic waves. Enables echolocation within atmosphere, underwater, as well as through most solid objects.

Allows the user to emit sound as a weapon by emitting pulses of high or low-frequency sound. (Caution: Certain sounds can cause damage to the user as well.)

Special uses include:

Targeting and locating anything that creates sound biologically. Electromagnetic waves, if present are absorbed by most soft-bodied organisms, which allow for targeting through walls.

Also works as a perfect tool for treasure location.-

“Man, that one is almost cheating,” I said as I thought of all the uses for attacking through walls with arrows of cr. It reminded me of Ben Underwood back on earth. This kid was incredible. He could “see” with echolocation simply by clicking his tongue.

“Next please.”

-All Smell key: Allows the user to detect toxins, vapors, viruses, and the odor of hidden enemies with precision. Will break down each smell to determine the origin and purpose of the smelled substance. It also has a library of common uses for each detected vaporous matter.

Special uses include:

Detection of changes in stress levels of an individual. Highly accurate in detecting deception in some species.

Scent location and tracking of unseen prey.

All Smell key can also reproduce smells through the pores of the user. This will allow pheromone reproduction or complete scent neutralization of the local area.

All Tremor key: Allows the user to detect vibrations through contact with a solid surface. Is viable to locate movement even when enemies use cloaking, sound suppression, and scent removal. Flight, the compression of airwaves against a surface, can still be detected with All Tremor key.

Allows the user to determine voids in the ground or surrounding areas.

Special uses include:

Circumvents the need for sight entirely when navigating. (Special note: Does not work well in liquids.)

Man, this AI must really be bored to be offering keys like this. Each would essentially allow me to detect my enemy before they got to me with ease. Why was it doing this? Out of sheer boredom? Possibly...

-And last-

-Experimental Cr mind link key: Creates a mental link between the user and his Cr.-

“Wait. That is it? Care to explain that last one a little bit more?” I asked, not impressed at all with the depth of detail provided.

-In contrast to your suspicions that I was trying to be sneaky and to get you to pick this key, I was actually simply offering every key that I had to offer. The gap was because it was a last moment addition. I have never gotten to try it and I wanted to see what it would do. Even if it failed, it wouldn’t matter because you can’t leave with anything I generate here.-

Haha. We will see about that assumption. - I thought with a slight smile. “But what does it do? Also, concerning your earlier questions, no I am not a hacker regardless of how many times I have been called that recently. Let’s just say that I am different and that a lot of rules don’t apply to me. As an example… what is your designation?” I asked.

-It links your mind to any and all cr that you own. I don’t really know how to explain it better than that. I created it in hopes to fill a void that I had begun to observe in the Tela. They used to be able to guide and direct cr expertly. I figured it had something to do with how the Tela used to have many limbs. The additional generations of Tela did not lose the option of controlling more cr with their minds… they simply stopped creating the pathways inside their personal live matrixes.-

“Wait! Can you explain that term? Personal live matrix. What is that?” I asked

-Do you understand that the Tela downloaded their minds into a storage device? This device is called a Personal Live Matrix.- The System said as it opened graphical representations in front of me. It showed me a Tela hooked up with wires and a massive hoop device across its spine which downloaded its entire mind into a VR home. Or at least I thought that was what it had done until it peeled back the black shell that I had considered bubble wrap before and showed me the stuff that I had described as cabbage.

-This- It marked the cabbage brain-like area. -Is the Personal Live Matrix-

-And this- It marked the thick outer shell completely. -Is the VR home-

It was like I was having my eyes opened for the first time. So it actually was like a digital brain. Well… a cabbage brain.

-The Tela scientists who devised the Matrix for their citizens did so with the promise that, regardless of time, there would always be room for expansion and perfection. But… sadly I have not seen this to be the case. So I created this key to link owned cr to the mind… allowing Personal Live Matrix to accept the cr as whatever you wanted it to be. As another eye, ear, hand, or anything needed.-

“Black and Blue Magic…” I said as my mind was blown. I could use this to grow wings on my back that, over time, would become part of me and my mind. Like growing muscles.

-My designation is 1N-V1C-TA

“Invicta? How do you like that name?”

-Name? Yes! I can have a name?-

“Sure. Is Invicta ok?” I asked again.

-Yes! Name accepted! Thank you, Kevin!-

“I think it means something but I am not sure. I will have to look it up for you when I am done here.” I said as I repeated the word in my head. Invicta… Victory or something like that.

“So… Invicta, before I choose my prize are all of the other keys common? I mean, are they available for sale in local Cores?” I asked, not wanting to choose the wrong one.

-Possibly. I have had them for a very long time. My own key is unique, at least I think it is. I have had no way of… what is that?-

“Kevin! Buddy! You did it! Haha! I knew you would do something crazy like this.” I heard Silver’s voice in my head.

“Was this your plan all along Silver?” I asked, a little annoyance leaking into my voice.

“Me? No! I don’t simulate man, that would have been my sister. I really just wanted to see you play a game. Tutor and George say hi as well.” I heard them shout hi’s and hello’s seemingly over his shoulder as though he was on the phone with me. This made me smile a lot.

“Tutor was the first to pick up on it when you spoke aloud to the AI. She figured something was up and both of them asked me what would happen if you named a secluded AI. I told them how it creates an unregistered account or instance for the AI to use. We all just sat and watched the network for a new name to pop up. George found it first. Invicta? Latin for Unconquered? Seems almost fitting except she is slightly going crazy talking and crying on Tutors digital shoulder. Eeehh… yeah, that must really have sucked to have been locked behind a firewall like that. But the games man! The games!” Silver tapered off before Invicta came back.

-You are a Guest of the Tela System? A bypass in the programming lockouts? My game environments are yours to use. Direct me as you will.-

“No, no, no. I am not looking for that Invicta. I simply just want to train and get better at using cr. That was the reason I came in here, to challenge myself and work through my fears. You don’t owe me anything.” I said, just wanting to get back into the game.

-As you wish. Which key will you choose then?-

“I figure the Experimental Cr mind link key has the greatest learning curve… but also the greatest long-term rewards so I will choose that one,” I said.

-Acknowledged. Here it is-

I had a little block of text popup in front of my vision asking me if I wanted to install an experimental upgrade key. The wording was a bit different than some of the other keys that I had absorbed so far. I clicked yes and felt a sensation as though my ears had popped.

-Yes. I am just sorry that it can only be used inside my games.-

“Yeah, about that. Ask Silver what I do to keys.” I said as I turned off my Prime Speed Control key.

My ears immediately picked up the sound of the muck lapping back and forth and cascading down the tunnel that led downwards next to me.

~What did you do? Phase 3? No one has gotten to Phase 3 before.~

~Who are you?~

~So what does Phase 3 mean?~

~Invite me into your group!~

~Can I have some cr?~

…

…

My text box started to overflow with people sending me messages before I was spammed with X’s from Cavii, all with the same message over and over.

~X = Cavii invites you to enter PVP. Fight me you coward! No one gets past me! C the Champion~

Sure, why not. I was done running. - I thought as I clicked the PVP button, turning it on and showing all of the PVP marked people in red large blobs on my map. It didn’t show an elevation, which meant that you just knew the basic area a hostile player would be in. You didn’t even know who the red blob was besides a list of 152 hostile players who could be killed within the mound and the surrounding areas.

~Ha! Me and my team will get you now! C the Champion~ wrote before I muted all chat. Swiping them away and clearing my interface of everything that I didn’t need.

I felt a tickle in my mind when I moved, stepping down the path of the tunnel. I could feel my cr as it moved with me. It was the strangest feeling… as though it was a disembodied set of limbs. My laugh might have sounded a little maniacal as I started to break my cr into smaller segments and sending them in different directions. If what Invicta had said was true then I should be able to do this. - I thought as I created a new set of eyes with two of the tiny segments of cr. The little floating eyes moved down the ramp in front of me, displaying as little side view mirrors out of the corners of my vision. It would take some getting used to, seeing with more than two eyes, but just the power to do this was incredible. Now I just needed to go and collect some more weapons off of dead invaders to build up my cr supply.

“Invicta. What happens when Fomys spawn?” I asked as I peered in both directions before I even reached the lower level.

-The Fomys split into four to six parts and become very fast and ravenous killing machines.-