Inheritance by Morgan Cole

Author:Morgan Cole [Cole, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: virtual reality MMO litRPG role playing steampunk, men's adventure video game adaptations, action horror dark gritty epic metaphysical quest, cyberpunk apocalyptic dystopian quest gamelit, science fiction dystopian action adventure
Publisher: Shadow Alley Press
Published: 2020-02-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

THE ALPHA’S CHEWED and burned corpse lay nearby. With some care I tore loose its remaining blade arm and used it slice open the Matriarch. I found the GN-75 not too far down her shredded gullet. It was scarred from the acid, but it seemed mostly intact. I refilled the FERA and stuck the weapon to my chest.

"Brick, how am I going to get down to the security level or repair the control runs when everything is covered with water?"

"The Nanite Clusters will be unaffected by the water, Owner. The hatch to the security level is located in the kitchen area. I suggest you repair the control runs first."

I made sure I still had the Link secure in one of my pouches and sloshed over to the west door where the control runs had been.

When I got closer and focused on the area Brick highlighted, the Interface popped up a helpful UI.

╠═╦╬╧╪

Repair control runs

Cost: 15 Nanite Clusters, 700g Metals (Tier 2)

╠═╦╬╧╪

I wasn't sure I had that much, but when I brought what I did have close to the repair site, the button lit up. I pressed it with a thought. The repairs started, and I stood up from the water.

"Okay,” I said, walking toward the kitchen, “show me where this hatch is. I'm not sure if we really want to open a floor hatch and flood the security level with water, but we'll see."

"Yes, Owner. Highlighting the hatch location now."

In the corner of the wrecked kitchen a circle of water a yard across glowed. I walked over to it and could just make out a hatch underneath the filthy water.

"Place the Link on the hatch to repair the mechanism, Owner."

Where am I going to get the materials for this repair? The two previous times I had done this, the repairs had required tier 2 metals, which I was now completely out of. Maybe there'd be enough in the FERA if I dumped it out before it converted all of it to ammo.

I clicked the Link into place and prepared to read the bad news on the Interface repair prompt, but nothing happened.

"Stand by, Owner."

"Huh? What's happening?" I asked.

"Reintegrating external module,” said Brick. “Please stand by."

There wasn't much I could do other than stand by, so I did, squatting in the filthy water beside the submerged hatch.

"Reintegration complete," Brick said a minute later.

"What do you mean, Brick? What's going on?"

"There is what you might think of as a piece of my brain in the security level below you,” Brick replied. “Now that the connection is reestablished and the Owner is present, we have reintegrated." His voice had changed slightly, becoming less stilted and more human. He also hadn't used my title except indirectly.

"Is everything good with you, Brick?" I asked.

"Yes, Owner, I am fine. Do you mind if I address you as Jake from now on?"

"Uh, sure, I guess. How did you forget that a piece of your brain was in the security level?"

"I was prohibited from recording anything relating to the security level in the Core's memory banks.

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