Lair by Carl Stubblefield (recommended reading TXT) 📕

Something has got to change. I can’t live in fear forever. He rubbed his face in his hands and decided.

“You know what? Let’s do it. I’ve lived my life with too much worrying about worst case scenarios, and every time it’s been a huge waste of time and a lot of mental anguish playing over the possible bad things that could happen. Bottom line, I can’t let these Dark Nth make it off this island. Whether I do or not is immaterial in the long run.”

It was discouraging but chances were good he would not make it out of this alive. He would die in ignominy, and no one would ever know that he had become a super or something unique and special when he hit level ten. But with the time limit and the possibility that the volcano erupting would not take out all of the Dark Nth, Gus realized what choice he had to make. While his baser nature wanted to hole up in the manor and hide, and let come what may, he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. The world didn’t need him any less because it was ignorant of him. And with the bio-stasis field, he was the only one who could.

His gloating seemed so childish now, but it wasn’t as important now that everyone knew what he could do. What mattered was what he actually would do. With his new clarity, he replied to Nick.

“I will agree to it if you can put a failsafe that would explode and make us unable to be converted into a Dark Nth. That would keep the Kroutonium out of Dark Nth hands. If the planet goes through an apocalypse event in the future, then it really won’t matter to me. It might even help the Nth as a whole evolve more. So, to be clear, you feel you are being hacked or turned, then both of us die immediately. Are you ok with those terms?”

There was a long silence and finally, Nick said, “Yes.”

Nick showed Gus the submenus where the Nth modifications and augmentations were stored, and how to program the changes he suggested. He wondered why this menu did not have any cost to unlock. Perhaps they figured in the design that to access the manor, Nth had to be present. Therefore, it wouldn’t be a distraction if people used the Foundry to access this functionality.

Nick synced with the control panel, configuring the Nth to be made to link with his consciousness when completed. Gus picked up the unassuming piece of plate from the space suit, took it to the hopper, and put it inside. He thought he would regret using what amounted to a fortune for a handheld weapon and armor, but instead he felt a sense of calm. Of rightness. Within the calm, Gus began to get ideas. Adding some more items to the queue, he began to plan how he would clean up this Dark Nth mess.

“Nick, this whole time I’ve been here, I’ve been plagued with carrying things everywhere. Is there some skill or power that will make something like a bag of holding or pocket dimension of some sort? I’m going to need something besides a backpack for what I’ve got planned.” Gus asked.

“Fiiiiiiinally!” Nick drawled. “How come it took you so long to ask?!” Nick asked. “One of our core protocols restricts revealing certain level information unless it is specifically requested. It was killing me to see you run around like a crazy man, lugging things all over.”

“Wait. What?! I didn’t have to be carrying those sensors and turrets like I was?” Gus asked.

“You know what the Prime Directive is, right?”

“Like on Star Trek?”

“Yeah. Did I mention Gene got some good ideas from the Nth scouts? Anyway, Nth can’t offer some information in an attempt to artificially advance a species. Earthlings have already discovered dimensional folding, but Nth cannot simply give the information until it becomes part of the collective consciousness of the planet’s apex lifeforms.

“Besides, you may have not been ready to do what needed to be done to make what you want. We can get started now since we’re just waiting for the queue to finish.” Nick offered.

Gus bounced his legs in agitation as he sat at the Foundry control center. So much to do, so little time. Gus wanted to hit up another training module, and boost some fighting skills. Maybe that would give him another influx of FP and maybe even a level before confronting the horde. He still felt he had to go back to the main control to see if he could refine the defenses. He was missing something.

“Ok, how much time will that take?”

“It depends, but it isn’t complicated. It can be time consuming, depending on how well you learn, though.”

“How do I make whatever it is we’re making? Something from the Foundry that needs to be unlocked?” Gus sighed, expecting another list of prerequisites before he could begin.

“No. But you’ll need a little background so your brain can wrap itself around what needs to be done. Have you ever seen a magician ‘disappear’ a handkerchief from their hand?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Typically, they make a show of waving the handkerchief around then cup one hand and start putting the handkerchief in it. The cupped hand has a fake thumb into which the handkerchief is stuffed. For emphasis near the end, the thumb really packs it in there and the fake thumb with the handkerchief inside locks onto the magician’s actual thumb. Then, PRESTO! The handkerchief has disappeared.”

“Thanks for the entertainment and ruining my sense of childish wonder,” Gus snarked.

“I’m getting to the point! Anyway, a pocket dimension can be formed of various sizes and is most easily accomplished by ether folding. You tuck the ether and form a kind of pouch—”

“A seamless pouch?”

“Yeah, I see what you did there. And yes, it IS seamless. Just like those baskets you made, items can be carried without you physically lifting their mass, and their