Lair by Carl Stubblefield (recommended reading TXT) 📕

bed made a world of difference. The stiffness and achiness he had experienced the last couple days were gone. A little disoriented, he groggily asked, “Nick, ya there, buddy?”

“Deepest apologies, Gus, that was… intense. From the initial designs of this complex, I underestimated the complicated scope of this facility.”

“What did you find out?” Gus asked and headed to the shower. Gus started the water, letting the warmth spread over him, exhaling as it not only rinsed off his accumulated funk, but drained away the tension he had been carrying around from struggling to survive. He started attacking the grime caked on his skin, beginning to feel human again as Nick explained.

“This complex spans fifty-three floors, thirty-three of which are above the surface, and the remainder extend into the core of the island.”

“Dang, that’s huge!” Gus looked up from focusing on scrubbing his feet, wide eyed. The bottoms were so black it looked like he had walked on charcoal. He attacked them again with a brush as Nick went on.

“It runs primarily on geothermal energy, but this is not as active as it should be, as far as I can determine. Most sections of the facility are offline as a result, but there are directories that show the titles of facilities that can be accessed. The system will not allow some of these to be unlocked until your stats and skills increase.”

“What is this,” Gus threw his arms up, frowning, “it’s not just a power issue, but most of the facility is locked?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Basic functions are enabled though, so you should not have to worry about shelter anymore.”

“Well, at least there’s that.” Gus slumped his shoulders, admitting to himself that even simple shelter was a huge improvement in his life. Hard to complain when he was in a hot shower on an island resort just for him. Am I always so pessimistic? Gotta work on that, no one likes a Debbie Downer.

“So what can you tell me about the guy who built this place?”

“This facility was commissioned to be built by a super named Anders Bergstedt, AKA Methiochos. His powers appear to be related to healing, both himself and others. He also has a matter manipulation sub-skill which assists in reforming lost limbs or replacing biological material—"

“Aren’t healers fairly rare among supers?”

“Yes, they often progress slower in leveling than more offensive based supers, so few have the patience to pursue this evolution of skills, although those who do become much more powerful at higher levels, and have an increased lifespan.”

“Sorry for interrupting, go on,” Gus turned his attention to the gunk buried under his fingernails.

“The facility was completed forty-four point three years ago, but was never claimed. Service robots have been maintaining the grounds ever since. Manor records indicate that Methiochos accessed the facility controls remotely from the island, then disappeared shortly thereafter, including activating the bio-stasis field and security protocols. There is no mention in the quantum server of the manor at all. The data I have comes from internal records of the manor itself. No nemeses are listed in his file.

“It would seem that something happened to Methiochos on arrival to the island—”

“If he was already here, on the island, why didn’t he claim and activate this structure which was to be his new base? I don’t buy it that a healer would be killed so easily. Since it sounds like nothing can get past the bio-stasis field, and you said he turned it on from inside, then where is he?” Gus stopped cleaning and looked up, trying to puzzle out what had happened.

“He did activate a few systems personally, but they were odd choices for his first acts on the island. Possession of first generation Nth seems to be a requirement for proving leadership and claiming the facility. Even though all supers are Nth-integrated, you have most likely been classified as an officer, as first generation Nth are not typical of the rank and file.”

“You keep saying first generation, what does that even mean?”

“The first Nth that seed a planet’s hosts are referred to as the first generation. They have the most ability to adapt and offer a variety of abilities as they have not specialized to a specific host biology. Future generations are derivatives of these Nth. This means that Methiochos is one of the first supers to get powers on Earth.”

Gus’ throat closed again, making it difficult to pull in the steamy air as he connected the dots of the only things he knew. Zombies. A missing super boss. A healing-super no less. Was he killed shortly after arriving on the island? And if he had been, what would Gus have to deal with? Couldn’t life be easy for a change? He rubbed his temples and pinched his eyes shut. He had to work to keep from imagining strength-based zombies. What could a luck-based zombie do? His stomach soured and he hurried to change the subject, his go-to move when uncomfortable. Just avoid it.

“Are there any supers that don’t have any Nth?” Gus found a twig in his hair he hadn’t noticed as he lathered up. A flipping twig!

“Not yet. Human evolution would have eventually developed these abilities, but it would have taken millennia. Nth accelerate these natural tendencies and make the transformation possible in a short time by modifying their hosts to tolerate and alter the forces and reactions that generate their abilities. Whether they know it or not.”

Gus once again had a hunger pang, stronger than usual, distracting him from the conversation.

“What does the database show in terms of clothing and food?” His empty stomach alternated between nausea and hunger.

“There is a mess hall, but there are no current food stores, although there are orchards on the property, as you have seen. The majority of food stores were most likely to be shipped in later, after the bio-stasis field was lowered. The only prepared food available is within food dispensers. These can be accessed for only 50 FP, and come stocked with energy