Lair by Carl Stubblefield (recommended reading TXT) 📕

cross the surface. This ability arrived just in time, because he was able to adjust his trajectory and avoid an area strewn with debris from a rockslide. The huge boulders sped by as he rocketed past. Sounds began to become deeper in pitch, stretching from the Doppler effect as his speed increased.

To Gus’ point of view, the waves moved more slowly, and his ability to see what was ahead of him increased. He knew there would be a shoal coming up, so he veered to the left, ten degrees towards the water. There. Now bring it back toward the shore. He was definitely feeling a pushing sensation behind himself, maintaining him at this speed. He felt like a mosquito on the windshield of a sports car. The song was almost unintelligible as George’s voice had dropped to a deep bass.

“Nick, let me know if I miss anything,” Gus said through gritted teeth, eyes intent on the path ahead. He noticed that his own voice sounded normal, unaffected by his speed.

“Certainly,” Nick replied curtly.

When the next song hit, Gus was unprepared for the change.

Run-Around by Blues Traveler. Success rates x 40,320.

Gus felt like his mind had been shoved open like someone was kicking in the doors. Multiple chimes sounded one atop the other and his log kept filling with messages.

XP notices pinged left and right amidst the level up notices. Gus ignored it all and tried to focus on what he was doing to avoid peeking at them to avoid a level up euphoria that would distract him and break the song chain. Forcing his eyes forward and away from the data on the edges of his display, he continued running. Time appeared to slow down even further, and Gus saw himself fly quickly past the volcano, circle another peninsula, and start wrapping around the other side of the volcano. The island extended away from the volcano on this side, and Gus saw, analyzed, and processed what was ahead, behind and below him. Even at this speed, this allowed him to absorb and passively scan everything around him. It was a rush unlike he had ever experienced and he felt a slight twinge similar to the feeling of leveling up, but with much less intensity. It was exhilarating nonetheless.

The feeling surged through him, like liquid light flowing like syrup first through his head and extending to his whole being, and seemed to sustain him during the strain of his current movement. Glancing up, he saw that he was at forty percent on his stamina and MP bars. It amazed him that he was able to sustain this level of movement with less effort than when he started.

John Popper’s words stretched out into unintelligibility as TimeSight asserted itself to another level. Gus was circling around the other side of the island in no time, and wondered and worried what would happen when he hit the next song. He did not get the chance to find out, because as he rounded another curve of the coast, he was back on the same side of the island as Atlantis Beach. Gus consciously slowed himself, to not overshoot the familiar beach.

He could feel energy seeping from him and being readily absorbed by the ether, bleeding off heat and kinetic energy to safe levels. The effect slightly chilling him as momentum was wicked away, displaced to who knew where. Nick had helpfully placed a figure of the island on the upper right of Gus’ display, and gauging where he wanted to stop made the process of slowing to a halt much easier.

“Nick, stop playlist!” Gus gasped, not wanting to risk pushing his limits any further. The feeling of liquid light drained away, and as it fled Gus felt an intense fatigue set in, both physically and mentally. With the need for constant focus gone, he eagerly looked at his logs, and the level up euphoria hit him at once. He trotted to a stop and was elated he had the earlier foresight to bring a chair down to the beach. He collapsed into it, and the last thing he saw was his log streaming past.

You have leveled up the skill: TimeSight

You have leveled up the skill: Dash

You have leveled up the skill: Dash

You have leveled up the skill: TimeSight

You have leveled up the skill: Dash

You have leveled up the skill: Dash

LEVEL UP! Congratulations, Level 7 reached!

You have (5) additional stat points to assign.

You have leveled up the skill: TimeSight

You have leveled up the skill: Dash

You have leveled up the skill: TimeSight

You have leveled up the skill: Dash

You have leveled up the skill: TimeSight

You have leveled up the skill: Dash

You have leveled up the skill: TimeSight…

…

Gus let the notices fly, levels and FP bonuses sped by that he couldn’t read until he heard another fanfare as another level was reached.

LEVEL UP! Congratulations, Level 8 reached!

You have (10) additional stat points to assign.

Smiling, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Weapon of Choice

45 years ago…

Methiochos was nearly done. Overseeing the loading and preparations of the ship were going well, but there was so much to do. He had to get this right the first time, because there would be no chance of getting more personnel or supplies after the bio-stasis field was in place. Still, what he had should be sufficient; five hundred of the best supers that he could find, loyal and dedicated to him. In a spot of luck, he had even convinced some of the world’s best researchers to join him.

He turned a corner, and headed back to the bridge of the transport. Two children ran headlong into him on the busy walkway. He nearly yelled at them until he noticed who they were. Archon’s little brat Basil and the girl who always followed him around. Methiochos had never really been comfortable around kids, especially in what amounted to a military facility in his eyes, but this kid especially rubbed him the wrong way. Having to deal with his endless questions and