5 -Alt System, page 41
“Well, I hope that works out. I've been gone for almost four days and only got a couple of thousand experience for killing the bear,” Rob said.
Marc had gotten even less, but he didn't mention that. Instead, he spent the time working through the book Hera had given him comparing the circuits he'd recovered to the things mentioned in there. He didn't think he'd be working on spaceships anytime soon, but he did hope to at least be able to recognize what the different parts all did.
By the time they made it back to the Safe Zone, the entire group was done with being cooped up in the gondola. Flying straight through had meant they made it there and back in three days in the air instead of four, but there just wasn't enough room in the gondola for all of them and they were feeling crowded.
The first thing Marc did when they arrived was return Hera's device to her, along with the two damaged circuits he'd retrieved. She tut-tutted when she saw the damage to them, but immediately pulled a tool set out of her inventory and started to break down the various components that the circuits were made from.
“Three days,” she said, “Three days and you can replace these circuits and it will fly.”
“Um, we still need to get into the Computer Age before it will allow any of us to fly it as far as I know,” Marc said. “Unless one of you can come out with us and fly it back.”
The look Hera gave him as she shook her head was disdainful in the extreme.
“Then what are you still doing here?” Hera said. “Go help my fool of a mate, who is helping your engineer that's building the Analytical Engine. The sooner the better, if I'd had my proper nanite levels these circuits would've taken all of three seconds to repair instead of three days. The sooner we can get that nanite cache the sooner we can get things properly underway.”
* * *
Chapter Thirty
Marc knew he was risking Hera's wrath, but he didn't leave the way she'd told him to.
“Hera? I've got a few questions, and you seem to be the most put together of our visitors, so you're probably the best of them for me to ask,” he said.
Hera looked equally irritated that he wasn't doing what she told him to and pleased, probably from his estimation of her.
“What is it? If it is short, I may be able to answer you.”
“How did your group manage to get here? I thought the Central System was enforcing a year long moratorium on outside visitors. For that matter, how did the people who took the satellite out of orbit get here?”
She smiled at him for a moment, indulgently, like a mother about to lecture her child.
“Well, it does enforce that, but we are all listed as inhabitants by the Central System.”
“Including the nanite thieves?”
Now her smile turned to a scowl.
“No, they had devices implanted that would give them a brief amount of time, several months most likely, where they would also register as inhabitants. It was simply their bad luck that they chose one of our altered satellites to steal, it doesn't react exactly like the originals to what they were trying to do with it.”
“Okay, so the people you came with were all born here on Earth?” he asked.
Now the smile was back.
“I, Zeus, and our companions were all born here on Earth. Bastet and her cronies managed to get themselves listed as inhabitants by spending long enough on the planet during the first reign of the System. So there were no prohibitions to us coming back here, but we did desire to wait until the nanite density could support at least half of our normal levels.”
Hera was taking on the lecturing air of a bad professor, somewhat condescending and deigning to share her knowledge.
“That is why the Central System has a one year moratorium on others arriving. It tells the inhabitants of a world that it is a chance for them to gain power and be on an equal basis, yet the truth is that it takes almost that long for the nanite density to build to where it can support those with the highest of levels. Those are the ones most likely to visit, and that is why the Central System is lying. Hardly anyone can gain enough power in a single year to protect themselves from the level of power of those who will come visiting when the year is up.”
Marc thought about that for a moment, and realized that he felt exactly that way about their visitors, and they had their levels suppressed to half their normal ones. Plus, almost half of the year that the System had given them had passed and he was only level sixteen.
I doubt I'm the highest level on the whole planet, he thought, but I'm sure I'm at least in the top ten percent. Which means that at the end of the year humans will be nowhere near the power level of Zeus, Hera, and the rest of these people.
“This is less pertinent directly to you, but how do people manage to level enough to protect their planet?” he asked.
“They don't. As I said, the Central System lies and those who come at the end of the initial phase tend to be significantly more powerful than those who were on the planet.”
“So, no-one ever manages to protect their planet?”
“I wouldn't say that,” Hera said. “I would say that is infrequent enough to be a major event when it occurs, and it usually occurs when someone meddles.”
Now her smile grew broader and had a touch of something darker to it. Marc caught on immediately.
“You mean like you're doing right now?”
The spark in Hera's eyes had Marc nervous now.
“Much like we're doing, although we've yet to determine if we'll assist you and yours in growing powerful enough to stand up to those who arrive, or simply take the task upon ourselves. We do all have our favored territories though, and this is not one of them, so it will need a protector as well.”
“You mean, here in what was the United States of America?” Marc said.
“Normally we go by continent, not arbitrary governmental divisions. So, I mean what you call North America. If no-one defends it successfully, it will go to the strongest of those who arrive at the end of the year.”
“So, the System lied about them not being able to claim land that we'd already claimed?” Marc asked.
“No, it did not, but how independent would a county be if it were surrounded by a country entirely owned by the same individual? It did not lie, it simply didn't give you all of the information based on what has happened in the past,” Hera said. “Now are you done with your questions?”
“Just one more,” Marc said. “If you are going to be the main defenders of Earth, even if not this part of it, is there anything we can do to help you? I know you're far more powerful than us, but there might be something.”
Now Hera smiled sweetly at him.
“There is, but we were not going to require or request it from you. Worship will strengthen us, as it does anyone in the System. You should know that since you yourself receive a minor form of it.”
“What?” Marc asked, shocked.
“The nanites within the System gravitate towards those who are often thought of by others. Strengthening them and the probabilities surrounding them. This works best as worship, but even the act of people thinking of you more frequently, or watching you on those silly Renown and Notoriety videos does the trick to a lesser degree. The higher, or lower, the opinion people have of you when they think of you, the more nanites gravitate towards you. We'd always wondered why this happened and when we set up the reprogrammed System we discovered it was pretty much hard coded into everything, so we couldn't remove it, even if we wanted to, which we didn't.”
Marc was just staring at her.
Great, so now we won't only have to deal with politics, but religion also? If it has a real, measurable, effect, then we'll be swamped with hordes of minor religions. I don't know that this is something I can deal with in the slightest. I'll have to let dad know though, mom will hate it, she always disparaged religion.
“It looks as though I have overloaded your organic circuitry,” Hera said. “So, run along now and assist Zeus as I requested. It has been decades, no it's been centuries even, since I've had to do circuitry work like this by hand so I need to get it started if I'm to finish in a reasonable time frame.”
This time, Marc followed her instructions, nearly stumbling away towards Earl's workshop as his brain processed everything Hera had told him.
* * *
Marc stumbled his way towards Earl's workshop. He did manage to recover his composure along the way at least. He was about to open the door when he heard a booming laugh.
That's Zeus, it has to be. At least it sounds like he's getting on well with Earl, Marc thought.
Marc opened the door and walked in on Earl, doubled over and slapping his knees while Zeus was standing upright, his booming laugh now toned down to significantly softer chuckling.
“Did I miss something?” Marc asked.
Zeus looked over at him, a twinkle still in his eyes from laughing so hard.
“Oh no, Marcus. I was simply telling Earl the truth of many of the stories that circulate about me in this day and age. I was simply pointing out to him that I would not be interested in a woman who desired the type of golden shower he related to me, but those whose affections can be bought by a shower of golden coins? Especially when they are still innocent? Those I am interested in.”
“Even with Hera around?” Marc asked, slyly.
Zeus quickly scanned the area.
“Decidedly not, only when Hera is nowhere nearby at all,” Zeus said. “Even before we'd left, the System was circulating stories to slander us since we'd discovered a way to make nanites that could empower us without them being beholden to the System. We couldn't use them for levels and the like, but to simply power ourselves up? That purpose it worked fine for, so essentially unlimited mana regeneration, the ability to unleash them into a form to build a structure anywhere we wanted? Plus many other purposes of that sort that reduced our reliance on the System. The System took offense and blackened our names with tales and legends that were untrue, but for a kernel of truth it twisted to use against us.”
Marc decided to press his luck.
“And the white bull?”
Zeus grinned broadly.
“Ah, Europa. The beautiful lady had a fantasy about a minotaur, not a bull. So I shifted myself to the form of a minotaur with handsome white fur on my head and chest. I stole her away, and, well, the rest of the tale may be mostly accurate. Here, would you like to see? I can still shift like that, you ought to see my minotaur form.”
“No, Zeus, save it. Save it for the ladies,” Marc said. “I was actually coming over to see if I could help with the Analytical Engine.”
“No, I think we've got that. It's going to take so much less time to test and calibrate now that we were just taking a break,” Earl said. “Zeus here is a funny guy. Knows his stuff though, he's dead serious if we're working.”
“No offense intended Zeus,” Marc said, turning to Earl. “You have no problem believing that he's the god Zeus?”
“Ain't no doubt in my mind. We've seen enough other crazy shit since the System showed up, so why not the gods also?” Earl said. “Besides, just standing beside him has all my hair standing on end, haven't you noticed?”
“Marcus might well not have noticed. He is one such as I, a master of Lightning, so what you describe is liable to not affect him,” Zeus said.
“Um, Zeus, I wouldn't exactly call myself a master of lightning. Yes, it's one of favorite elements to work with, but...”
“But you've created two new lightning spells for the Local System, have you not?” Zeus asked. “Do you not rely upon lightning for the majority of your damage? Have you not taught lightning spells to others? If not a master, then you are surely on your way.”
“If you say so, Zeus. I'm here to check on the Engine though, sent by Hera I might add.”
At that Zeus frowned.
“I suppose we should get back to work now then. Shall we check the third portion?”
“Zeus had the idea to set it to do a calculation that we've written out all the steps for. We go section by section, in the order the engine activates them, and check on its data, comparing it to what we worked out, at each step. Makes it easier to see what still needs calibration,” Earl said. “We should be done in a couple of days, well ahead of the schedule I'd imagined.”
“Good, she's working on the damaged circuits, by hand even.”
“Oh no,” Zeus said. “She'll be in a foul mood then, she hates doing that by hand, but the power she would normally use isn't currently available to her while we're suppressed.”
Earl went out into the forest of metal cylinders, carrying his massive wrench. He pulled a sheet out of his inventory and waited while Zeus triggered the engine. After a little while of a bewildering array of motion from the machine, Earl viewed the sheet, then checked it against something on the engine. He stepped in and made a pair of adjustments with his wrench, then stepped out and signaled Zeus again.
After another flurry of motion, Earl checked something again, then stepped out and to another cluster of cylinders.
Alright, Hera might think I can help here, but I've got no clue exactly what's going on so I'd be more hindrance than help, Marc thought. I'm sure there's something else useful that I can be doing.
“It looks like you guys have things under control here,” Marc said. “I'll be back later to check on your progress.”
Saying that, he slipped out of the building and headed towards the temple he'd built to house the gods. There were still other visitors that he hadn't dealt with much and he thought that he should at least spend some time speaking with them, if for no other reason than to show that he wasn't trying to ignore them.
Sekhmet, Artemis, and Poseidon, he thought. I should speak with those three if they're there, available, and willing to speak with me.
* * *
None of the gods were in the temple when Marc went to check, except for Hera, who was quite obviously busy and who Marc didn't want to bother again. Instead, he went outside and started looking.
There were loud noises coming from the Training Grounds, so he headed down there next. When he got there, he found one of his targets. Sekhmet was at one end of the Training Grounds and his father was at the other. They each appeared to be commanding a small unit of Legionaries. Even with his father knowing them and their capabilities very well it looked as though the match were going to be a draw.
Marc waited for the fight to finish, at which point Sekhmet strode out onto the sands. His father had come out from the other end. They met in the middle and Sekhmet offered her hand to shake. Sean took it and Marc heard the conversation from where he was standing, waiting to approach her.
“You did well to keep me to a standoff, Centurion,” Sekhmet said.
“I had the advantage. I know the troops and what they've been trained on. Were our knowledge of those things equal, you would've defeated me,” he replied.
“As is right. Even so, you did well to fight me to a standstill. I will admit to being better with larger groups of soldiers to command though,” she said.
Sean just bowed to her, then headed for his Legionaries. Sekhmet watched him for a moment, then turned. At that point, Marc stepped up.
“Sekhmet?” he said.
She looked at him.
“Yes?”
“I thought it best that I speak with you for a bit. I've spoken with lots of the other gods, but not you. So I thought I should speak to you, Artemis, and Poseidon since I hadn't yet.”
She tilted her head to him in a fractional nod.
“What did you wish to speak with me about?” she asked.
Marc hadn't given that a great deal of thought, so he went off on the tangent that had presented itself with what he'd seen when he walked up.
“You specialize in commanding large bodies of men?” he asked.
“Yes, that and healing. That is my purpose for this mission. I will command the troops if we end up involving an army, and I will take care of the healing for those who accompanied me here.”
“So, everyone that came has a purpose?” Marc asked.
Sekhmet nodded. In human form her facial features were stern and strong, she was attractive, but more handsome than beautiful if Marc had to say. Now her facial expression took on a displeased look.
“Yes, Zeus is our titular leader here.”
Her expression softened somewhat.
“Hera is responsible for communications and some other electronics, she has mastered quantum communications so we can communicate to any of the others we need to in real time. Artemis is here in case we need to train or command missile troops.”
She paused for a breath and Marc spoke up.
“Poseidon is here in case there's something that needs to be taken care of in the oceans?” he asked.
Sekhmet nodded.
“Sobek has come in case we need to rapidly build fortifications somewhere, and Thoth is the master of magic, so he will support us in any magical endeavors.”
Sekhmet stopped after that, but Marc knew she was skipping someone. Against his better judgment, he prompted her.
“Bastet?” he asked.
Her expression took on a bitter look.
“The little waste of fur is a scout, an exceptional one, but very unreliable otherwise.”
Marc kept his jaw clamped shut as he watched Sekhmet unconsciously move her jaws as though she had something tucked away in them.
“You do know that all she gave you was a concentrated form of an herb that is used to entertain felines in our world, yes? She got it from the shop even.”
“Is that what it was?” Sekhmet asked.
She spoke as though she were unconcerned about it, but Marc saw her eyes dart towards the Town Hall where the nearest shop kiosk was.
“Yes, it's called catnip. She purchased a large amount of a concentrated form of it.”
“As I said, irresponsible in the extreme. Now if you'll excuse me?”
Marc stifled a laugh as he watched Sekhmet walk off. She was headed towards the Town Hall and if he wasn't mistaken, was going to track down some catnip for herself.
