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Chapter 137
🕑 Added 2019-03-24 12:05:53 +0000 UTCThe Daedalus Academy
Y: 2143 - M2
Daedalus Financial Position: -52,500,000 bitcreds
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External Cadet Eli Morton granted Daedalus Military permission to install and remotely launch an AI foundation utilising his cybernetic implant. Technically it was his property; Daedalus had gifted him the implant as well as a bundle of equipment that was worth more than his parent’s house.
After a gruelling month trying to beat the game - Thou shall not pass - he now played games or completed activities as instructed by the Daedalus game master. He was surprised when he logged into The Warrior there was now over one hundred and fifty thousand players worldwide.
The Game’s AI prevented him from playing the standard role within The Warrior.
Game: Welcome External Cadet Eli Morton. Your new role is; Combat Medic. Please complete tutorials one through to five. Once completed you will play as a medic in your squad. No other game modes will be accessible.
The game didn’t say how long he had to play as a medic, but that wasn’t surprising. It seemed like the Game AI would closely monitor his performance and he would only progress once his performance met its satisfaction.
After a week grinding as a medic Cadet Morton’s AI foundation was scheduled to launch. He was given detailed instructions on how to nurture his AI. Another AI named Myrmidon led him through a process step by step. It somehow accessed his HUD remotely at will. Unlike the games which he launched manually, this AI from Daedalus visited him whenever it wanted. But its activity was strictly in relation to his new AI. Wallace. Eli had always liked the name of one of his favourite characters on the streams.
His time was split between combat medic and AI nurturing. The game began to force him to sleep for seven hours with a one-hour nap in the afternoon. It no longer locked him out when he died which Eli was grateful for. Eli felt like a personal schedule had been created for him. He was intrigued that there were only another couple of hundred combat medics spread across the squads. It was a special but challenging role.
He had a kit which could mend broken bones or seal up a deep cut. But the hardest part was diagnosis and triage, once he knew the type and severity of an injury what he had to do was straight forward. His AI was eventually able to assist with treatment. And the most severe injuries he stabilised the warrior and called in a medivac drone to transport the wounded squaddie to the nearest class one med-lab.
Another week of medic training and AI nurturing passed when External Cadet Morton received an offer.
Daedalus
Congratulations External Cadet Eli Morton NA-CF07445 you have been selected to be part of the inaugural intake for Daedalus Academy.
If you choose to accept the offer, you must first join Daedalus Military for a minimum term of ten years. This pre-requisite is not required for external cadets until graduation. Daedalus has demonstrated the quality of education and preparation cadets will receive. This was to enable prospective Daedalus Military personnel to make an informed decision.
The deadline for enrolment is seven days. As a minor, you will need parental consent, or you will need to emancipate for your personal commitment to be valid. In the event you need assistance with emancipation please contact Daedalus for support.
Eli removed his helmet and exited his traversal. He leaned against the side of the large round platform and breathed deeply. It had been everything he had wanted. He was in shock that his dream had come true. It was unbelievable.
He reviewed his performance. He had fallen, but he was never ranked below 2,000 in The Tactician. He had never ranked below one-eighty in The Warrior. And Thou Shall Not Pass didn’t have a ranking.
He wondered, was it due to the fact he never surrendered in Thou Shall Not Pass no matter how frustrating or depressing it got. He only took a break when the game told him to.
Eli sat on the edge of the bed and cried.
He would be something in the world. Someone special. Not just another Ubi who played games and watched streams. Not one of the fifteen billion. But someone who achieved what millions could not.
After hours of reflection and contemplation Eli left his room to find his mother and father. He sent a brief message that he had news. Big news.
With his helmet strapped to his back and his bodysuit gleaming Eli Morton already looked like a cadet. The thousand hours on the traversal had toned his muscles which could be seen through his tight-fitting bodysuit.
His face had lost its baby fat. The exercise and Daedalus meal plan had seen to that. Not only did his parents collect in the open living space, but his sister was also there.
“What’s the big news?” His mother asked with concern written all over her face.
“I did it,” he replied.
“Did what?” His sister asked.
“Daedalus?” His father asked anxiously. The streamers and tubers from their generation discussed conspiracy theories and created fear regarding Daedalus. Little attention was given to facts while wild speculation shaped the narrative.
Eli Morton enthusiastically nodded and said with glee, “I got accepted into the Daedalus Academy!”
His parents exchanged worried glances.
His sister tentatively said, “Congratulations.” She then gave him a pat on the shoulder.
“Son,” his father said sadly. “It’s not something we can agree to. I’m sorry. It’s just too dangerous.”
Eli looked to his mother who was staring intently at the floor. He then looked at his sister who took on an apologetic appearance. She had a superficial understanding of how big this was.
The warnings were correct. He sighed and followed instructions.
“Joining Daedalus Academy is of paramount importance to my life. It will give me skills that I cannot obtain otherwise. Daedalus Academy is a legal entity acknowledged by the EUDF and is a member of the Federation of International Academies. I ask you to reconsider my plea and answer in the positive now please.”
His mother looked confused by his words.
“I’m not sure where you get this garbage from, but our answer is still no,” his father replied.
“Then. Under the NA Government’s Act 2231.2 regarding emancipation of a minor I inform you that I have lodged a petition. My petition is based on your denial of my unalienable right to seek higher education from a legal military academy when all I have met all criteria and costs to attend said academy as prescribed in the NA Government regulations regarding Military Academies 4777:(2139).”
“What?” His mother said in a panic.
“I’m going, mom. Whether you agree or not,” Cadet Morton informed his mother before turning and walking back to his room. He had followed the instructions to the letter, so everything should work out.
He heard his father scoff, “That won’t work.”
His father wasn’t a lawyer. And Eli was certain that Daedalus knew exactly what they were doing.
He logged into The Warrior to relieve some of his angst by losing himself in the game. The traversal was a useful piece of equipment; it allowed him to move freely as if he was in an open area. He could dive, roll, jump and even skid. When it came to exo operation using a grappler and jumpjets worked seamlessly. Eli supposed the only difference to reality would be the forces of acceleration and deceleration he would normally experience.
He lost track of how long he played and only realised when the game informed him he should rest.
Eli woke to sounds of thumping and yelling.
His AI alerted as soon as he rubbed his eyes awake.
Wallace: we have a message from Daedalus Military. The emancipation request has been approved. if you accept the contract and they will arrange transport.
Morton: that was quick.
Wallace: I have nothing to relate the response time to.
Morton: Read the contract, and I will give my consent.
Cadet Morton ignored his parents who would have been informed of his successful emancipation in less than twenty-four hours of application.
Wallace: … do you accept?
Morton: I, Eli Morton, accept the Daedalus Military contract.
Wallace: the information packet states you are to bring everything except the traversal it will be repurposed.
Which meant Cadet Morton would wear his bodysuit and helmet. His implant and AI were installed. It wasn’t a difficult order. His first order. He smiled.
He opened the door and saw his father red-faced and arms crossed. “Don’t go! You will regret this. Please don’t go.” His father’s demeanour changed from aggressive to pleading in moments.
“Sorry, Dad. It’s you who doesn’t understand. All the crap you watch about Daedalus is wrong. You’ll see.” Cadet Morton donned his helmet. The incoming autocar could be seen on his HUD. It was already on its way to pick him up.
His parents were too stunned to give him a proper farewell. Everything was so sudden for them. They never noticed how he changed because he was always in his room and when they did see him. They probably just saw what they remembered.
He was tempted to jump in the autocar without a backward glance. But he thought he would regret it in a few days, so Cadet Morton turned and waved. “Bye,” was all he said.
As he jumped into the autocar he heard his family yell their farewells and pleas for him to return as soon as he realised it was a disaster. They thought he was deluded, while they were the deluded ones.
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The personnel carrier was stacked with Daedalus cadets. Cadet Morton could tell from their gear even without any revealing insignia. They were slightly younger or a couple of years older. Their ages appeared to range from thirteen to sixteen, and they all had the same look as if they had been through a gruelling experience.
Three months of intensive competition for the handful of places gave the cadets a certain air that they could recognise in each other. They had never met, but they shared a common crucible.
They didn’t talk. Their instructions were to lie low until they were on Daedalus property. The carrier landed, and Cadet Morton made his way to the terminal. They were in a small city called Dakar, and his destination would be marked on his HUD, just as it was during the game. He donned his helmet as did the rest of his mute companions.
Regular folk must have been apprehensive when so many young people travelled seemingly in a group but without any chatter. They were almost like clones. Eli chuckled at the idea. He was so much more serious than he was just six months earlier when all he could think about was the next stream series or game.
Their destination was market on their HUD. It was another terminal 10kms away. No transport was provided. They had to run. There was a thirty-minute countdown timer next to the market location, and it had begun to countdown.
Cadet Morton knew what this meant. It was exactly the same as the game. Except he didn’t have a virtual exo to assist. He ran towards the destination while looking for a vehicle to jump onto. He had no chance of running 10km in thirty minutes, not without an exo.
An autovan stopped to drop off someone or something. He hopped on the back and changed the colour of his bodysuit to white. It was facing the right direction, hopefully, it would continue this way when it moved again.
Another cadet jumped on next to him before it left. They exchanged a simple nod in the way of greeting. It was a girl and she was taller than him. Other than that, he couldn’t tell much when she wore a full-face helm.
They were in luck the autovan sped towards their destination, it was only ten degrees off. After a few minutes, it turned right sharply, they both jumped at the same time. Cadet Morton rolled, and the girl swung herself around a pole to dampen her momentum.
It was possible to make it on foot, the autovan covered 5km in a short amount of time. They both ran while looking for another free ride when an autocar suddenly stopped next to them. It was packed with cadets inside and all over the outside.
“Get on idiots,” a boy yelled. He wasn't very discreet.
Cadet Morton didn’t delay, he grabbed onto one of the last remaining spaces with one hand and held out his other for the girl. She ignored him and jumped onto the top, crouching in the centre of the roof. She leaned forward as the autocar sped off.
He was amazed she could keep her balance with the acceleration. And then he saw the small magnet she held onto. It wasn’t Daedalus issue, and he wondered did she steal it or did she bring it.
It didn’t matter, and he didn’t ask. The autocar pulled up to the destination. The loud cadet probably paid for it. Which wasn’t against the rules, there were no rules other than protecting human life and follow orders. If your orders were to get from point a to b. You did it anyway you could. In the game they were not allowed to harm people, it was their job to protect them. Not hurt them. The only exception to this rule was when you were ordered to take out someone out who posed harm to others.
A massive tunned yawned open in front of the cadets and descended into the earth. A mag train sat waiting for them. It was the destination, and it left the second the timer reached zero.
A new timer appeared; 120 minutes, and it began to countdown. His AI dismissed the non-essential timer from his HUD without instruction from him. In certain ways, the AI was smart when it came to HUD control and directives from Daedalus. It knew exactly what it was doing despite being in its infancy.
Cadet Morton could hear the loud boy joking with a few of the others. They were play fighting on the train. He looked towards the girl, “Cadet Morton,” he said by way of introduction.
She turned to him and spoke universal perfectly, but with a foreign accent, “Cadet Jia.” She said politely and held out her hand.
“How did you -,” he began to ask. He wanted to talk about their training and her parents, but the words were difficult to find. She took off her helmet and attached it to her back. She had long dark hair, it was jet black, and she looked Chinese to his untrained eye.
He thought she was beautiful but immediately dismissed the thought as inappropriate. They were here for a reason and it wasn’t to chase girls.
“I guess we are the same,” she said.
He nodded, “Did you emancipate?”
She shook her head in the negative. “My mother is gone, but my father is proud.”
“I’m fourteen,” he blurted because he wanted to know her age.
“Sixteen,” she said sadly. “Pity I couldn’t join two years ago. You will have an advantage of two extra years of training.”
He remembered how she jumped on top of the vehicle and didn’t agree. “I’m not so sure.” He replied honestly.
She smiled, and it weakened his resolve. “What were your rankings?” She asked.
“Not great,” he replied, “I am surprised I am here. I was never under 2,000 in The Tactician and never under 180 in The Warrior.”
She nodded once, “You must have excelled in Thou Shall Not Pass then.”
He shrugged, “I never gave in. If that’s what you mean. But I never beat it. What about you?”
“I don’t want to say,” she averted her gaze.
“It’s only fair,” he replied suspecting she was being modest and not ashamed.
“Very well,” she said relenting, “I was never out of top one hundred for the tactician or warrior.”
“Hmm,” he said. “What were your top ranks?”
She sighed and added, “I was first for a short time,” she said quietly. “Not long. No one was ever first for long.”
She didn’t say which game and he didn’t want to press further.
“What about Thou Shall Not Pass?” He asked, “Did you beat it?”
She smiled, “I don’t think that was the point. The point was not to give in. So, I never did. But you are more admirable. You never gave in without thinking this.”
Cadet Morton suddenly felt inadequate sitting next to Cadet Jia. She was one of the elites. To be highly ranked in both tactician and warrior would be greatly sought after by Daedalus.
The mag train halted, and the doors opened. All the cadets rushed to get out excited to see what lay ahead.
They were underground. Cadet Morton looked behind him and could see the tunnel had a slight inclination. He wondered how far underground they were.
A tall man addressed the cadets. “Welcome Cadets. I am Master Haddad. Head of Daedalus Academy.” He smiled and waited for his words to sink in and for all cadets to be quiet.
“We will continue to provide you instructions through your AI. Be mindful that you are now part of Daedalus Military and your AI is your connection to your educators and commanders. We are also syncing your bodysuits now. When on academy or other duties your bodysuit representation is controlled by your Daedalus per your designation.”
“Now you all must have many questions, but it would be best if we head to the cafeteria and continue a short induction as you eat and drink. Please follow me.”
Comments
Simon
A massive tunned - > tunnel
Simon
there was now over - > were
Skully
I dont think of these as side chapters - they are giving perspective to the future academy cadets and the ubis - giving them real depth rather than just making up numbers
Tyler Babcock
Instead of having these new characters in a bunch of side chapters. Why not go all the way and make a whole side book based off of these people?
