[Class selection unavailable: As new Race, primary Evolution must be selected before choosing a Class]

Kellin took a deep breath, rubbing two metal fingers on his brow for a moment.

"Can't win... Show [Evolutions] available]"

[Congratulations! As Progenitor, individual Kellin Finnel, Gypsy has been granted Preliminary Evolution of Race! Determine what your people will become from this moment onward!]

[Evolutions are mutually exclusive one-time opportunities given at set intervals to choose what path your life-]

[Circumventing basic Tutorial]

[2 new Evolutionary options Available!]

[Never One Without The Other - The Hybrid: Two thoughts, one individual, a single body, the Marine finishes the process of fusing with his suit and AI. Becoming equal parts machine and man, this path takes the individual further from Humanity. Utilizing a unique ability to alter that which they are at the molecular level, their own body becomes a multi-tool to handle any challenge that may arise. This path is one of overwhelming power in the individual, leaving creation and duality behind in favor of strength, speed, and variability]

[Base Stat Adjustments]

[Body Status:

Structural Integrity: 200/200

Energy: 200/200

Psionic Energy: 100/100]

[Stats:

Strength: 15

Dexterity: 15

Armor: 5

Density: 10

Battery: 10

Efficiency: 15

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 10

Sensors: 15

Willpower: 20]

[Initial Passive Abilities available through Evolution:

Basic Body Modification ---- Basic Repair ---- Basic Recharge ---- Novice Assimilate Technology ---- Novice Creation ---- Novice Manipulate Technology]

[Initial Class Choices Available:

Acolyte of Change ---- Acolyte of the Rifle ---- Acolyte of the Blade]

[Acolyte of Change]

|

[Initial Skills available to Acolyte of Change:

Instant Completion ---- Create New Blueprint]

[Initial Equipment available to Acolyte of Change(Choose One):

Bound Gauss Rifle and Combat Knife ---- Bound Cannister Rifle and Combat Knife ---- Bound Surge Energy Shield and Pistol(+1) ---- Bound Surge Energy Shield and Combat Blade ---- Bound Combat Blades]

[Acolyte of the Rifle]

|

[Initial Skills available to Acolyte of the Rifle:

Spray and Pray ---- Aerial Disengage]

[Initial Equipment available to Acolyte of the Rifle:

Bound Weapon of Seven]

[Acolyte of the Blade]

|

[Initial Skills available to Acolyte of the Blade:

Cloak ---- Void Dash ---- Sever]

[Initial Equipment available to Acolyte of the Blade:

Bound Void touched Blade]

[Note: Use of equipment from outside sources severely penalized]

[Congratulations! Contact with unique Savul Den Mother Class individual has altered Evolutionary path: The Hybrid]

[Passive added: Remote Interference]

[Individual must select Path to expand options]

Reading through the first option available left Kellin with several questions and a sense of relief.

There were melee options available.

He would prefer to remain a marksman as he had been his entire life but the fact that he had no ammo available to him in any way, shape, or form left him concerned about whether or not it was a viable option. Having to purchase ammo via [Credits] was an obscene waste of their future potential and not something he would do if given the choice otherwise.

Unfortunately, this first Evolutionary Path came with a massive downside: He would lose his body. It was unclear whether or not he would even have flesh of any kind anymore, what would happen to the suit, or how he would sustain himself should he choose it. The fact that he would essentially be the Combat Suit also left him susceptible to all forms of electromagnetic interference, not that he expected to encounter much of that on this planet. However, it was one of the most delved into technologies back in Sector Five and across the entirety of the Empire due to the fact that they were a people whose strength lay in their technology.

"What's your take, Gyps?" he asked after a few moments.

"AI finds option acceptable. Ability to modify form leaves Path open. First Class expands that. Two remaining offer survivability and power. Consolidation of [Stats] spike power above Human [Threat Level: 3] standards."

Kellin nodded along, finding himself unable to disagree with anything she'd stated. But then, she'd only offered positives.

"What do you not like about it?" he asked, wondering how she'd go about it.

"Disagreeable level of reliance on technology available. Threat of technology extreme. Lack of technology in either capacity offsets. Standards set as Human initial Evolution leaves evaluation overwhelmingly positive."

"And the fact that we'd be inseparable, likely stuck in each other's heads for life?" Kellin asked, bringing up the largest point of complaint he had.

"Non-factor."

When she didn't continue, Kellin shook his head slightly.

"What I meant was-"

"Correction: Positive influence on decision," she interrupted suddenly. "Fusion open-ended. Many aspects unexplained. Enhanced communication beyond vibrational frequencies highly probable."

"That's guesswork, Gypsy, not a guarantee. Basing our choice on what could happen is not something I'd expect you to suggest," he responded.

"Probability: Likelihood of an outcome based on logical extrapolation of data provided. AI giving individual Kellin Finnel all information available before making his choice."

Kellin felt his eye twitch slightly and nodded.

"And here I thought you'd prefer not to be stuck with me for longer."

"AI Gypsy since creation has been a tool meant to be used by individual Kellin Finnel efficiently. No logs suggest otherwise."

He opened his mouth to point out that she was no longer an AI, but closed it again. Now was not the time to argue this point, though he became distinctly aware that he may be avoiding it as much as she was. The fact that he could tell there was a bite to her monotone words even further drove him to refute her claims in the future, though.

"Let's see the second option then," he said after a few moments.

With no response, he willed the other option to appear.

[To Each Their Own- The Companion: A path that splits the individual; rooting one half in their humanity and the other in their newly found autonomy. Separate, but together, the Marine rejects the process of fusion, retaining the clear divide that had been present between the two halves from the start. Neither the Master, neither the Servant, both part of the same whole. Utilizing the unique ability to split apart, the individual favors higher damage output and utility over an overwhelming strength in one. Though they still retain the ability to combine their strengths to handle any challenge that may arise, the sever of fate weakens the fusion. This path is one of duality, leaving individual power behind in favor of the strengths and weaknesses of each half of the union]

[Base Stat Adjustments]

[Body Status(Separated)]

[Health: 80/80, 0/0

Integrity: 0/0, 100/100

Stamina: 100/100, 0/0

Energy: 0/0, 100/100

Mana: 50/50, 0/0]

[Stats:

Strength: 7/9

Dexterity: 11/6

Armor: 0/3

Constitution: 8/0

Density: 0/10

Endurance: 10/0

Battery: 0/10

Cardio: 7/N/A

Efficiency: 0/5

Intelligence: 7.5/15

Wisdom: 7.5/2

Perception: 5/0

Sensors: 0/7.5

Willpower: 20/N/A]

[Body Status(Together)*]

[Integrity: 100/100

Health: 80/80

Stamina: 100/100

Energy: 100/100

Mana: 50/50]

[Stats:

Strength: 12

Dexterity: 13

Armor: 3

Constitution: 8

Density: 10

Endurance: 10

Battery: 10

Cardio: 7

Efficiency: 9

Intelligence: 15

Wisdom: 7.5

Sensors: 9

Willpower: 20]

[*Familiarity due to exposure may increase or decrease modifiers]

[Initial Passive Abilities available through Evolution:

Unique Equip(1.5) ---- Novice Body Manipulation(Suit) ---- Novice Repair ---- Novice Recharge ---- Novice Assimilate Technology ---- Novice Manipulate Technology ---- Unique Shared Mortality]

[Initial Class Choices Available:

Sword and Sword ---- Sword and Shield ---- Shield and Shield ---- Shield and Sword]

[Sword and Sword]

|

[Initial Skills available to Sword and Sword:

Double Down ---- Cloak ==== Second Strike of the Shadows]

[Initial Equipment available to Sword and Sword(choose two):

Gauss Rifle ---- Combat Knife and Combat Knife ---- Combat Knife and Pistol ---- Pistol and Pistol ---- Combat Blade]

[Note: Weapon combination variable during Equip]

[Sword and Shield]

|

[Initial Skills available to Sword and Shield:

Double Down ---- Defensive Posture ==== Second Wind]

[Initial Equipment available to Sword and Shield(choose two):

Gauss Rifle ---- Combat Knife and Energy Shield ---- Pistol and Energy Shield ---- Surge Energy Shield]

[Note: Weapon combination variable during Equip]

[Shield and Shield]

|

[Initial Skills available to Shield and Shield:

Disruption ---- Defensive Posture ==== Titan of Confusion]

[Initial Equipment available to Shield and Shield(choose two):

Gauss Rifle ---- Wave Pistol and Energy Shield ---- Surge Energy Shield]

[Note: Weapon combination variable during Equip]

[Shield and Sword]

|

[Initial Skills available to Shield and Sword:

Disruption ---- Cloak ==== Descent of Darkness]

[Initial Equipment available to Shield and Sword(choose two):

Gauss Rifle ---- Wave Pistol and Pistol ---- Wave Pistol and Combat Knife ---- Combat Blade]

[Note: Weapon combination variable during Equip]

[Congratulations! Contact with unique Savul Den Mother Class individual has altered Evolutionary path: The Companion]

[Passive added: Psionic Communication]

[Individual must select Path to expand options]

Kellin closed his eyes for a moment and placed his helmet back in his hands where he sat, knowing he'd lost himself the ability to pick the first Evolution when he was already a few sentences into this one.

It was going to be a hard conversation to have.