The Atrium, Protovitae System, February 14, 458 UE. Docking bay B72: 2800 hrs A.M.S.T.

“Erny, I want you to keep tabs on the kid, any news from Auctus and I want to hear about it.”

“Aye Capitan, I was going to do that anyway, its been along time since anyone has punched me straight up. I was alert too, still wary. I’ve never seen anybody move that fast.”

“Captain, this boy is special, he seems to know way of world. But, he seems oblivious to his heritage. I know only one person with violet eyes like his, and last time I checked His Majesty does not live on Auctus.”

“Aye, you’re right Andrei, violet eyes are common enough, but not those, only royal blood has those. The strange part is, I know for a fact, King Matthew has never been unfaithful, and he never spake anything of the heir… Oh… Gorram retirement my ass, Alexander is there to watch over James!”

“Captain on deck!” Bellowed Andrei as the trio entered the bridge.

“Captain, we are all aboard and ready to depart, and we have been sent a heading from STC.” The update was given by Nathan Presley the navigator aboard the The Eagle Spire.

“Aye aye, Heave to, and let's get on our way. I have to call Alexander it seems my best friend has some explaining to do,”

“XO Remonicov has the deck and conn.” Andrei announced as the captain left.

60 mi outside Greenton, Auctus, February 14, 458 UE. The Treehouse: 2850 hrs. A.M.S.T.

After I touched down I set the armbots to build the framework for Andrei and the Captain’s ship, Now that I had built one I could automate the whole process. Afterwards I unload the DivePod and move it to the bedroom,

Dreq, two things, one, let's start building you a suit. Somehow you heard me through the ship what were you working on?

I was calibrating the main battery.

Okay... what exactly were you doing?

I was synchronizing the photon emitters to deliver photons in a single line through the nanotubes.

Huh? That could increase efficiency by 40%! Wait, we don't have that many nanotubes, ahh, controlling the photons with metron plated nanotubes, perfect. So what if we give you an adamantium suit with metron inner plating? It seems the metron amplifies preon integration.

It will probably work, the only downside would be comfort.

Comfort won't be an issue, remember metron is both a superconductor, supercapacitor and a kind of a non-newtonian liquid, it will probably feel like silk.

Except the silk will be as hard as steel, not soft fabric.

Um… you are covered with really really soft fur. I apologize if I fail to see the your discomfort.

I walk over to the holobench and pull up the blueSheet for my suit, I reconfigure the suit to fit Dreq. The metron was the real issue, metron is naturally a fluid, but it solidifies as energy, that is not mechanical or chemical, is introduced. The metron absorbs the energy and lets it course through itself, solidifying it. The easiest way to apply it would be in a vacuum, in zero gravity, and inside a Dyson sphere.

The issue is I may be able to simulate that environment, but the gravity plate would give off energy that the metron will absorb. Wait…

Dreq, can you make a preon sphere, that blocks out all energy, or better yet, do you think you could control virgin metron with preons?

I can try, how about you set the suit to print nanoprint**, and I will start to line the pieces with metron. You don't have to be here for that, why don't you get in that divePod you got and try it out.

With nothing to do, but wait anyways, I take a shower. Afterwards I don the nerveSuit that came with the divePod. It is supposed to enhance the connections to the nerves and provide a barrier making it safe to be forcibly logged out without nerve damage, It is still not recommended since forced logouts can harm the brain, but this still keeps you stabilized and prevents seizures.

When I opened the pod, I noticed the inside had a thick layer of biogel. The gel was designed to adjust to the exact softness its occupant needed. This gel was something that had to be grown, because it was living. It is unknown if living things could be printed, but it was long ago deemed illegal, and sofar no one was brave enough to try it. Either this pod cost a fortune, or all you really paid for was the biogel.

Something caught my eye, I looked up and down the pod looking for what drew my attention. At the side of the a light on the pod control panel was dim. I looked back in my memory and saw it was blinking, but now the light was feeble, as if trapped mid blink.

“Ah, tarc dung, don't tell me it already broke, I barely touched it.”

“I'm afraid that would be my fault.”

Pulling my caster I whirled around looking for the source of the voice. The source was a NEW ALIEN. Well maybe it was not new, the alien was a Gray, like from the old earth vids. The gray aliens were one of the most famous old earth fictional aliens, right up there with little green men.

Not lowering my caster I ask the obvious, “who are you?”

“Who do you think I am?”

“Obviously you are a Gray, but your kind has been, until now, bound to fiction.”

At this, the Gray’s face changed slightly, it's small mouth turned to a smile and the eyes, they, became square. Or maybe the skin around the eyes changed structure.

“I'm impressed, most people would not be so calm, I am Jev, it's a pleasure to meet you James.” Jev said sticking his hand out for me to shake.

Taking it I replied, “Did you stop time? No, you, bent it, around us?”.

This time he made a new face, his eyes he came pointed four, in each cardinal directions, like a star in the cathedrals. “Now where did you get a fanciful idea like that? I have to say James you've surprised me, and it is not often one of us gets surprised.” His eyes changed back to the normal ovals. “To answer your question, yes, I didn't want anyone walking in on our conversation. I come to give you your future. I can't have anyone else knowing it, can I?”

“Because someone will want a different future.”

Jev’s eyes became the four pointed stars, then hexagrams, “very wise James. Now let's get down to business…”

“A Vitality out of Vitiation

To navigate the dark

A secret Manifestation

To which ancient prophecy harks

A distant people you must descry

To guide the Forces that close the gap

A Grand Almanac where answers lie

To unlock the knowledge to bring the Ancients back

A final friend you must find

To destroy the enemy whom cannot be beat

A perfect match to sharpen your mind

To be crowned together your work complete”

“What the hell man.”

“I apologize, I must give you your future in riddles. For if you knew the exact nature of the future you could have, you may change things irrevocably, and some of those changes could be disastrous”

“I get it, you structure it like that so I will know what it means when the events occur, that way I will know what decisions to make at these “anchor points,” removing the likelyhood I can exploit Time.”

Jev’s eyes became stars again. “You have tremendous insight, maybe this time, you, my Recipient, shall be the one to follow your destiny.

As Jev turned to leave I called after him. “Wait, don't leave without a gift.”

“A gift, why?” The Gray asked, it was a curious response from one so… worldly. To be one with Timeless experience, and to ask an infant the question “Why?” The Gray would tell you that “Why?” is the most important question of all. For it is the question why, that unlocks curiosity, and curiosity is the box that holds the keys to the universe.

“You told me my future, it is only natural that you receive Valued Recompense.”

The black in Jev’s eyes shown with light, and in them, for only a moment, I could see the substance of the universe. Then they became normal again.

“The way I see it you came all the way from... wherever just to give me a prophecy of my future. That's a solid if I've ever heard of one. Mom always says ‘a gift is an proper response for a gift.’” I went out to the holobench I took two of my spare gravSuit** gauntlets and removed all the stuff that made them space worthy. I kept the gravplates and the projectors that create shield like energy barrier. As I final touch I changed the size and shape to fit his three fingered hands.

Presenting it to him I said, “these gauntlets are one of my greatest achievements, they can manipulate gravity to push or pull objects to you, or eliminate it within a certain area. It also comes with barriers. It will, probably, tap into your nervous system, so with a little practice, conscious thought will activate the features.”

“You know, in all my time I have received a gift but once from Recipients. 'Twas also a human, a little girl who bestowed upon me this necklace,” Jev replied pulling a candy necklace from under his vest. “This was given twenty thousand years ago, there is something different in humans, maybe you shall be the one to grasp this destiny where others have not.”

At that Jev walked through the door to the tool room, and closed to behind him. I had a feeling I would not see him if I reopened it.

Deciding to follow in his example and enter my own Narnia, or rather Veritas Redefined. Returning to the Dive Pod I lay down and close the lid.

“Sensing biological presence. Identifying.”

A suave female voice spoke. Though obviously artificial, it had a very calming effect, it was a strange balance between maternal and sultry.

“James Valdimar Rex, Identified. Please provide vocal authentication.”

“James Valdimar Rex, present.” I provide in a monotone voice. A standard protocol when operating any computer besides a personal omnicomp.

“Authentication acknowledged. Verifying. Identity confirmed. Commencing submersion.”

LEDs in the pod flared brightly once, then everything went black. It seemed like hours, though my omni told me it was just a few seconds, of darkness, no feeling, at all. Off in the distance I hear an explosion, suddenly klaxons are blaring.

“Get up Ensign!”

What? Ensign? Opening my eyes red light slams into my retina. A shadow passes over me and I see a hand reach out to me.

“Get up! We are under attack! It’s, it's the Rachna**. Hurry we must find the Princess and get to the escape pods!”

Suddenly everything took a blue tint and time stopped. A window appeared with a ten second countdown

----------Abandon Ship----------

---

You are an ensign in the Royal Navy, assigned to the armory, a recent explosion knocked you unconscious where a resourceful marine sergeant wakens you.

-----Your ship has been attacked by the ValRachna!-----

-----Find the Princess and escape the ship to the planet below.-----

---

Reward: dependent on degree of success.

---

Accept?

----------Yes. Or No.----------

Hurriedly I say yes, and time resumes and I return to the world of flashing red and klaxons. I grab the man’s hand and he pulled me up. “Alright where to?” I said trying my best to sound like I was in the navy.

“That's your call sir. I’m a Marine Sergeant, you're an Ensign. Now normally I don't take orders from you, chains that bind and all that, but these are extenuating circumstances and you outrank me. Sir.”

“Alright.” Obviously the game wanted me to be the leader. “Do we have eyes Sergeant.”

“Internal systems only sir. We are completely blind void-side.”

“Sergeant set up a program to search for the Princesses face, and spacesuit.”

“Done sir I have sent it to your HUD” Well that’s handy. I had just realised I had a spacesuit on. Fortunately my hud showed me a picture of the Princess so I knew what she looked like. She was an absolute beauty, with silver hair and violet eyes, a lot like my eyes. Strangely though she had pointed ears.

As I start to head out the doorway the Sergeant was by, he spoke up. “Forgive me sir but I think you should arm yourself first.” Embarrassed I look around and see what is available. First I grab a weapon that looked like a pistol or a caster. Seeing a holster on my hip I place it in. I also grab some grenades, two red and two blue. Guessing the blue are non lethal. Glancing at the Marine, I see a rifle on his shoulder. I grab the same kind.

Once the rifle was in my hands a readout came on my HUD showing my ammo. I was sure a thousand round clip should be enough but I went and grabbed two more mags just to be sure. I also grabbed another caster and placed it in another holster and placed it on my left hip. Not for me, though, for the Princess, if we find her. Lastly I see a red cabinet. I open it to see tubes that look like epipens, seeing they were medicine I grab a satchel off the floor and fill it with them.

“Well sir, I'm glad you're my CO right now, you sure know what to grab. That is when you are reminded you should grab somethingin the fistplace”

“Well I want to save anyone we can that we come across.” Grab another duffle and put sidearms in it, the more people w have the better chance we got. But only if they are all armed.” The Sergeant quickly complied, but he put five rifles in first, then four casters.

“Let's move.” I say determined, leading the way through the door. Right out the gate, we see two naval officers pinned down, one shot in the leg. Reaching in my bag I pull out an injector and give it to the wounded officer. “Name and Ranks.” I ask them.

“Petty officer Arn, and this is Petty officer Wilnon, sir” The non wounded PO stated Damn, I still outrank them.

“Sergeant, sorry what is your name?”

“Manan Sir!”

“Manen give these POs a weapon.” He handed each of them casters, I thought it odd to hand out the casters first, but I did know that Sergeant Manan knew what he was doing.

“Wilnon can you walk now?”

“Sir yes sir. Good as new!”

“Alright let's move out Manan you got the rear, Arn, Wilnon, check the rooms as we move.” We continued like this for five minutes, then a boarding ship punched through the bulkhead. Without thinking I jumped to the side, aimed and fired, my projectile punched right through the head of the first Rachna that dropped in. I was amazed , not at the shot, I had plenty of practise in RL, I was amazed that I did not fall on my ass. Balance has been a crippling weakness since I was nine.

“Contact!” I yelled, that's always what I had seen on the holos. Eight more Rachna dropped in and were neutralized before they could fire a shot. “Don't touch their weapons, we don't have time to figure them out.” Arn was just about to trade in his caster for a bigger gun.

*Ding* “Match found, the Princess is in the loading bay.” It seemed the voice was in my helmet. “We’re heading to the loading bay.” A map popped up on my hud showing me the way.

“Die you rotten flesh eaters!” A voice rang out down the halls.

“Sir, that’s Tully.” Manan said.

“Check it out Manan, we’ll be right behind you, we’ll clear the rooms. I don't want to get flanked just because we aren’t careful, Arn watch his six Wilnon and I will sweep the rooms.”

We caught up to Manan behind cover making his way to Tully, who was crouched behind an open door. As I dove beside Manan a projectile ricocheted off my helmet, and I froze.

It was different before when the Rachna didn't have a chance to shoot at us. Bullets and light casts were slamming into the crate I was behind. Consciously I knew it was just a game, but it felt real. How close I came to dying was no joke. The fear was crippling. I have not ever trained for things shooting back.

“Sir, sir, SIR! Can you hear me?” Manan was shaking me, trying to get a response. He shook me out of my shock.

With a dry mouth I wheeze out “yes, I can hear you”

“That's good sir, those POs still outrank me and I don't fancy their leadership skills”. Manan thumbed backwards. Turning I saw the POs hiding behind the bulkhead.

“Manan I'll cover you while you get to Tully and give him an upgrade. That caster is probably low on charge.”

“Yes sir!” Manan got up, then hesitated “Sir?”

“If you have a suggestion Manan let’s hear it. You have more experience in this department.”

“Sir I suggest you burn that clip during cover fire. Make the enemy think we are dumb, and out of ammo.”

“Fantastic, I alway wanted to pull a Schwarzenegger. Don't break cover until they see me.”

“How will I know they see you?”

“Because all fucking hell will be breaking loose!” I laughed a little, Obviously Manan didn't get it. It is a really old joke. Standing I started spraying bullets down the causeway. Through the com I told the POs to move up next to me. It took one and a half minutes to get through the mag. I yelled a curse and ducked as the Rachna rushed our position, right into Manan and Tully’s barrels. It turns out we were on the ass end of the group trying to breach the loading bay. “Manan, get that door open. Tully prepare for breach. Arn, Wilnon, watch our six. I'll head in first. When I get in, marines you know what to do POs stick on me.”

As the door opened the marines stepped in beside me the large bay was empty save a small contingent in a fortified corner. The marines seeing no threat turned around and covered the door. Arn and Wilnon flanked my left and right.

One of the soldiers in the room came up and saluted. A left closed fist over the right breast. I returned the salute, though I found it strange, it clearly was not human military, we used a flat right hand to our forehead as a proper salute. “You and your team will hand over your supplies by order of the Royal Princess!”

“Fortunately for you we have extra, which we will share, don't try to employ that impractical bullying during a hostile takeover!” That was Manan.

“I was not addressing you pe-chanas.” The soldier then turned to me.

I was caught off guard by the strange word. It obviously was an insult, and another reason not to like this guy. “What he said, show a little respect, and if you still want to try to take them from us, just know it's probably the dumbest idea ever conceived to try to take marine’s gun away.”

“Hoorah!” Tully and Manan yelled. This odd mixture of alien and human ideas was confusing.

“You!...”

“Calm yourself Saggon, they have clearly come to help.” A regal voice permeated the vast hangar. It came from an alluringly curvy spacesuit.

“Manan hand out the weapons and treat wounded. And Manan do you have a psychic gift or something? You brought the perfect amount of weapons.”

“Ah, it seems he was one short.” The opulent voice returned.

“Don't worry Princess I got you covered.” I handed her my spare caster. “Dreq, I swear, If I ever meet someone like her, I will ask her out on the spot.”

Suddenly all the activity in the corridor halted. “Your a mage!” Saggon was the first to recover. I had automatically broadcasted that across preons, and everyone of whatever this race is, is sensitive to that sort of thing.

“You all heard that” I chuckle shyly.

“You mean that was just a thought!” Mannon seemed surprised. “I thought you cast a ward or rejuvenation, or something.” Mannon continued but he was only muttering to himself.

“What do you mean if you meet someone like me.” The Princess said hotly, “I am the only of myself and we just found each other five minutes ago.”

Ah, can't tell them this is all a game, “Alright then, your highness, would you like to go out sometime, maybe grab some coffee.”

“Well, I’ve never taken coffee before, but I would be willing to try, as long as it’s not a drug.”

“You don't have coffee! It's a dark beverage, it’s…”

“Ahem…” Mannon politely coughed

“Right, we're headed out, let's get to the escape pods. My team we take point, the Royal Guard will take the rear and do their job.” Some of the Royal Guards bristled at my order, but they complied.

Slowly we made our way to the escape pods with brief periods of contact every now and then. When we reached the pod bay antechamber we ran into a large amount of friendlies trying to punch into the bay.

Many were injured, “Tully take my duffle and treat the injured. Who's in charge here!”

“That would be me, Lieutenant Auriles. I respect you moxy Ensign, but you don't have that authority”. I gulped. “In normal circumstances I might give you a ‘fun’ assignment, but I'm out of ideas right now and you just swooped in with medicine for my injured AND the Princess. Believe it or not you single handedly raised moral higher than it has been all day, as of this moment if you have any ideas you have the conn.” With that he saluted and took position behind a closed door.

Nervously I say, “what's the situation Lieutenant. Sitrep.”

“This door leads to the airlock into the pod bay, right now we have 20 something Rachna in the airlock and more in the bay it's all we can do to open the door and blind fire, but that is getting us nowhere. Also we felt a wave of power earlier, they may have a mage”

“Sorry.” I said bashfully, “I let a few thoughts escape. Through the Lieutenant’s visor, I saw that he didn't believe me, but when he looked at the Princess, his look changed, something about her expression made him realize I wasn't lying.

Looking down at my suit I see my grenades, “well Lieutenant, today is your lucky day. I got four grenades, two nonlethals for the airlock and two lethals for the pod bay.”

“I like it but let's switch it up, the lethals could damage the pods”

“Alright Manan let's do it Lieutenant if you could open the door we will throw the lethals then close the door.” I handed a lethal and nonlethal to Manan and we took our positions on either side of the door. After a three count The door opened and we threw the lethals in and the door shut, after tremor the door opened again and we cleared the airlock, there were only two rachna still alive.

We lined up at the bay door and applied the same tactics. We opened the door threw the nonlethals into the bay and closed the door again. Two seconds later the door opened again and our entire group rushed the bay. Ten seconds later all hostiles were down and the bay was ours.

“Alright everyone get into the pods!” An unexpected voice shouted. We turned our eyes on the Princess.

“Princess you are first.” The Guard Captain said. But she shook her head, I knew better than to argue.

“Alright you heard her anyone still injured is first, with the Lieutenant. By the way Auriles, you have the conn.”

“I have the conn, ensign you and your team will be last on the ground with the Princess. You have shown you’re good, perhaps even the best, Guards I want you down first with me, we need the to secure the ground. Move out!”

In an astonishing two minutes everyone was in their respective pods and planet bound.

Suddenly I was pulled, I opened my eyes in front of me was a full body mirror and I was naked. Suddenly a woman appeared she was radiant, clad in a resplendent gold dress. She had golden hair and golden eyes. I was definitely self conscious, unfortunately I could not move. “Welcome! Unfortunately you have died for no reason at all, but it is not the end. You perished in this planet's magnetic field. This trapped your soul, and it was given to the gods, to us. We can bring you back. In fact you can be brought back an infinite number of times, for your soul is not bound here.”

“Since you are being reborn would you may chose your form.

----------Choose your race.----------

---Human---

---Random---

Umm… “Random?”

---Accepted. Please modify your appearance.---

What? I didn't mean… the only option is human anyway. "I want to be taller, seven feet." I came in at just barely six foot five, and that was just barely average, I mean most girls were that tall. You may think me sexist for wanting to be taller than the girl, but you know what, thats what I want, If you have a problem with it, I don't really care. “That's all” I didn't want to change anything else anyway. a white pare of shorts faded onto my body. Oh, now I get underwear!

----------Choose your name----------

Immidiately the name the discrete longshoreman gave me came to mind. "Val Ren"

-----Accepted-----

“Well if that's all step into this portal.” The goddess stretched out her hand and the mirror shimmered and swirled into an azure vortex.

“So, what race am I.” I said jokingly

“How should I know?” The goddess said, just as I stepped into the portal. Her response was confusing, and worrying.

The world went black again then opened into a desert. Somehow I ended up on my back looking at a blue sky.