Alex sighed. “Jokeiro, is it me, or do your words sound like a farewell speech?”
Jokeiro grunted. You are a seer, as always. Now, chop-chop, Phoenix, proceed to the teleport! The current situation demands that you become incredibly dangerous, extremely famous, and fantastically rich!
Chapter 2. Reaper
Fear and chills made Alex smile. He wouldn’t allow himself to lose concentration, having decided to make it to the very end of the route.
“Hey, passenger, take your seat,” Alex said to his companion.
Flash transformed back into the tiny version of himself and straddled Alex’s shoulders, while the mechoes nestled into his backpack.
Alex nodded approvingly, checked his equipment, then imagined the place of transfer. Closing his eyes, he activated the portal jump. The transition went smoothly. Outwardly, he remained calm, but inside he rejoiced.
Yes! I did it!
He had mastered a simple portal in sight, but training to use it based on the intel had cost him twenty lives. Moreover, he had yet to determine the range of this ability.
“Whew,” Alex whispered, staring at the colossal main generator of the Reaper.
The pungent smell of ozone choked the thick, oily air. Alex’s body vibrated unpleasantly from close proximity to the massive device. The man looked away – though the machine was impressive, any further delay was unadvisable.
“What’s next, Jokeiro?” Alex muttered, watching the mechoes ease up to the force field of the generator.
Put your left hand closer to the force field, and I will leave your body. Do not be alarmed by my look.
“Will my spacesuit cause any problems?” Alex said, regretting his words the moment he spoke them.
Jokeiro grunted. You’re kidding, right? Shield your eyes, I’m coming. Activate the light filters, and do not look at the generator without them.
Alex approached the force field, turning the filters to maximum, and extended his hand, almost touching it. At first, he observed how this light penetrated his spacesuit, making his forearm shine brightly. Oddly enough, it took the light ten minutes to reach his palm. Alex’s arm ached.
Finally, he exclaimed, “Mentor, why are you so slow?! I thought you were the fastest entity in the universe.”
Jokeiro laughed. Phoenix, my speed is measured in parsecs. It is much more complicated in reality. Put another way, I’m like a swift — fast in the sky, but easily overtaken on the ground.
Alex wanted to ask more questions, but his upturned palm flashed like a supernova. The man froze, squinting despite the light filters. A dazzling shape in the form of a tiny radiant hedgehog slowly emerged from his palm and rose into the air.
“How do I look?” the creature asked in a high-pitched squeak.
Alex swallowed, covered watery eyes with his hand, and answered, “Jokeiro, you are quite handsome.”
“Thank you. Nobody else has called me that. You are kind, Earthling Phoenix.” One of Jokeiro’s shining needles extended from his body, a bead at its tip, and touched Alex’s forehead, “This is my parting gift. Remember me.”
“Why farewell?” Alex cried, forgetting the precautions and without looking at the gift.
He guessed that his mentor was going to sacrifice himself for the good of humanity. Though Alex knew he couldn’t dissuade him, he tried to find sincere words to propose an alternative solution.
“You are my teacher, my friend, my elder brother… my family! How are we supposed to get on without you, Jokeiro? Do you hear me? You must stay alive!”
“Friend… elder brother… family…” Jokeiro repeated.
His mentor remained in eye contact for many long moments, then retracted the needle and darter for the generator. Hovering before it, he said, “Phoenix, you are incredible! I hope the rest of the Earthlings are as well. I will try to survive. Master your new abilities, they will be necessary to complete your mission. For now, sit quietly and await instructions.” With that, the shining being disappeared.
“Wait and follow instructions.” Alex felt like a little boy, lost in a magical forest. He looked around, trying to ignore the buzzing generator and quickly found safe havens. He hid behind oblong smooth three-foot-high columns of unknown function. Oddly enough, he felt no sense danger in this place.
Alex sat on an floor made of pliant elastic, leaning back against a warm wall. The vibrations he felt through his spacesuit irritated him and made him uncomfortable.
Let’s have a look at Jokeiro’s gift. Alex suppressed a whistle as he displayed the a detailed study of stats and skills, and for simultaneous monitoring of the generator room.
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Attention, player Phoenix!
Possible display error. Source data not defined. Skills not registered in personal characteristics discovered.
.
Universal Pilot — 1600
Navigator — 1600
Senior Master of Strategies and Planning — 3400 (destruction of the Assistant function)
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Accept/refuse/view details?
.
“What a generous gift! All these abilities and their level…” the stunned Alex whispered. “I’m damn lucky!”
He clicked on the interactive ‘View details’ button.
The first skill was displayed, causing a storm of emotions that Alex had to restrain.
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Universal Pilot — 1600
Permitted piloting (all categories)
Combat piloting (multi-areas)
Mooring Master
Extreme Maneuvering Master
.
Alex re-read the message several times when the second skill opened:
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Navigator — 1600
Hyper Jump Master
Enhanced Star System Analyzer
Enhanced Analytical Center
.
The third skill, most amazing of all, was:
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Senior Master of Strategies and Planning — 3400 (destruction of the Assistant function)
Attention, player Phoenix!
Revelation of skill impossible at this
