Author’s Corner: Hope that everyone had themselves a good Christmas! As always, here is another daily chapter of our story. I wonder how many people have been keeping track of the days? I suspect not many, because it’s a troubling process to do so in a story where the current date isn’t regularly brought up! However, for the sake of randomness, decided to put it up here. The current date is 12/29/3015, which is also Day 34 of his time in game. I totally did not realize when I arbitrarily made the date near Christmas that it would mean that the Seeds would be released on the first day of the new year, but hey! It works, so I can roll with it!

I had two hours until I landed on an unknown world just beyond the edge of wood elf space. So what did I do? Well, first of all I gave myself a last name! Now that I knew I wasn’t able to introduce myself in the game with my real name even if I wanted to, I at least wanted to have the same last name. That way, if need be, I can just call myself Mr. Hulett.

I also took a moment to spend my five points from leveling up on increasing my intelligence again, because I definitely needed more mana if I wanted to pursue the path of a Xeno-Shifter. By my basic estimates, an average animal like a wolf would take just over four hundred mana to transform into. Taking into account the shift in complexity and mana density, a magical beast should take around eight hundred. With the same standard applied again, a monster would need at least a thousand.

The idea that a simple slime would take a thousand mana to turn into annoyed me, but I was probably assuming a bit much. Naturally, some monsters would be less complex than others, such as slimes. That problem was sentient creatures. I had no idea the mana cost necessary to turn into a sentient, as they could technically be evolved forms of either an animal, magical animal, or monster. Either way, this is what my stats looked like now.

NameFalenel HulettRaceHalf-Elf(Woodland)TitlesVengeful HeartFame0Level 152%ClassDruidSub-ClassWild ShaperDeityMalthanHealth150/150Health Regen0.25Mana620/620Mana Regen0.72Strength12Wisdom70Agility20Intelligence62Dexterity20Charisma10Vitality15Luck15Points Remaining0Earth 8%Fire 8%Wind 8%Water 8%Lightning 6%Light 8%Dark 7%Plant 7%Void 5%Luck 2%

Most of my elements were getting pretty close to the point where I would be able to cycle them constantly, without focusing on them. Once I was able to do so, my grove should begin expanding explosively, as it means I’d be able to take in mana on a far more regular basis. Likewise, it should mean that my passive mana regeneration might even improve for the same reason.

There were still two hours left before I’d land, and I needed to be prepared. I hadn’t expected to get into fights yet, so I had previously forgotten about charging up my weapons. Now, however, it was entirely necessary to do so. I didn’t have enough time to fully charge all of my weapons, and I knew it, so the first thing I did was finish charging my beam saber until it was full. After that, I did one round of charging up my pistol, and was recovering my mana from that when the escape pod’s mechanical voice spoke up again.

“Entering planet atmosphere. Please secure yourself to prevent damage during entry.” Never one to argue with the wise opinion of an AI, I hastily found a large seat and planted my behind in it, strapping myself in for what promised to be a wild ride. Looking out the window, I was relieved to see that this planet was green, indicating the likeliness of plant life, and thus breathable air. Unfortunately, what I could not see from this distance was signs of habitation, but that wasn’t unusual. Typically, unless you were looking at the dark side of the Earth, it was hard to notice anyone living there if you looked through the naked eye from space.

I felt the craft rocking slightly as we entered the atmosphere, like turbulence on a plane ride that just kept getting worse and worse. Unlike the shuttle or the cruiser, this escape pod didn’t seem to be equipped with the same level of inertial dampener. Thinking such, I rated my odds of entry without injury as rather poorly. “Sorry, Celeste…” I said as I looked down to the watch, an idea coming to mind.

“What do you mean--” She tried to answer, before I quickly used as much mana as I could muster to wrap around the small wristband. Jarl had said I would need to be able to completely suppress the aura of a magical item before I could transport it into the grove, but I had to at least try. Celeste was powered by my aura, so I gave myself decent odds of success. And sure enough, a moment later the bracelet vanished from my wrist. Briefly entering my grove, I made sure she landed safely on the ground, rather than getting planted somewhere. Though, her hologram appeared above the bracelet a moment later.

“Oh come on! This is so not fair!” She yelled out to the empty air, drawing the attention of the two birds. It’s a small world, after all. “Come on, Falenel!” She pouted, seeing that I wasn’t bringing her back out. But, if she were to become damaged or broken in the inevitable crash, that would suck royally. I was actually enjoying her company, and didn’t want to lose her like that.

Briefly, I realized that being able to put her into my grove meant that I could take her with me now when I logged out, which made me smile slightly before I went back into panic mode. Since I used most of my mana to put Celeste in my grove, I didn’t have enough to activate the Aspect of the Armored Beast. I could only ride out the turbulence and pray that nothing broke.

…

Fun fact, I’ve never actually been in a crashing escape pod, even in the science fiction games I had played before. I had expected the entire process to be over in a matter of seconds. However, the ride to the ground took far longer, as the view outside the craft became red for a short while and the turbulence grew to new heights. I was starting to worry that the escape pod might shatter before even hitting the ground, when it slowly began dying down. After about five minutes, there was barely any turbulence left.

Looking out the window, I could more clearly see the ground approaching, though it still looked some distance away. The red haze that had appeared had entirely vanished, and I could only shake my head as I called Celeste back to my wrist. Immediately, the holographic woman flared to life as I felt the metal return to its normal place. “Now, you listen here!” She began, raising her hand to point at me accusingly. “Don’t just go sending me off at the first sign of danger! We’re supposed to be partners, aren’t we?”

I sighed, shaking my head with an embarrassed smirk. “Yeah, sorry. Didn’t want you to get broken if we crashed. And I really was expecting a crash.” I looked back outside, and she seemed to understand we hadn’t landed yet.

Celeste let out a huff at that. “Well… as long as you understand, it’s fine. But you put me in your grove! That means I can visit your world, right?” She suddenly looked to me, her previous anger having completely vanished, instead replaced by a hopeful expression.

I chuckled, and if she had a physical body I would be patting her head by now. “Yes, yes, don’t worry. Next time I go back I’ll take you with me. Satisfied?” After I asked that, she nodded happily before fading back into my wrist. I looked out the window again, and saw that the ground was becoming very close. In just a few more seconds, we’d land and find out what our situation is.

Sure enough, a moment later there was a dull thud as we gently touched down. I didn’t know what kind of propulsion the pod had used to counteract the fall, or if it had been some kind of magic, but whatever it was, I was just glad that I was still in one piece. “Computer, do you have any information about this planet?”

A moment later, the mechanical voice rang out. “Negative. Planet not registered in data banks. Conclusion, either an unexplored planet, or one of dangerous origin.”

I did not like the sound of that. “Explain dangerous origin, and give an example.”

“A planet which is extremely inhospitable or possesses particularly threatening circumstances may be removed from data banks to prevent discovery. Example, sentient worlds capable of draining the life of any creature that lands on them.”

Now I really didn’t like the sounds of that. “Has such a planet been found before…?”

“...Unknown. If such a planet has been discovered, it has been removed from data banks due to dangerous origin.” Now I felt a bit silly for asking.

“Alright… next question. This thing should have sensors, since it was able to find the planet. Is the air outside breathable by my species? Also, what is the standard rescue protocol for situations such as this?” Both were very important questions. If I was expected to stay in the pod until help arrived, I needed to know this.

“Scans show that the atmosphere outside is capable of sustaining your species. Alliance policy for rescue attempts, in the event of a hostile faction capturing or destroying a ship, and escape pods successfully reaching an uninhabited world. Survivors are strongly recommended to remain near their escape pods until help arrives. In the event this proves impossible they are suggested to remove a portable beacon from the pod to ensure easy retrieval. Should it be impossible to send ships to rescue, a summoning ritual will take place on the nearest inhabited world to rescue survivors.”

So, as long as I take the beacon with me, I’m guaranteed to be safe one way or the other. Thinking of something, I decided to ask. “Does the beacon work when placed in the inventory?” I didn’t want to have to carry around a homing beacon while also worrying about fighting off monster attacks.

“Affirmative. After forty eight hours, if a rescue has not yet occurred, the summoning ritual will be initiated at the nearest inhabited world. At that time, all survivors will be relocated and capable of reporting to the rescue team.”

I sighed, nodding my head. If I needed to, I could theoretically stay in this pod for as long as I had to. Between the food in my grove, and my ability to logout when nature called, I could sustain myself for well more than two days. However… I looked at the door to the escape pod. There was adventure just outside that door! Worst case scenario, I die and respawn back on X-23, no big deal. “Computer, where is the beacon?’

A small compartment opened up next to my seat, containing a palm sized metal object. Taking the object, I placed it in my inventory before unstrapping myself from the seat and getting up. After taking out my pistol and beam saber, I moved over to the door and had the computer open it. “Celeste, keep an eye out for any signs of movement, and alert me to anything you consider a danger to my health.”

Suddenly, my entire body was highlighted in my Cybernetic eye with the same yellow light that Celeste always used. “...Very funny…” I heard a small giggle before the light faded, and the door to the pod opened. Outside, the area was a vast jungle, with there being only a small clearing around myself caused by the pod landing. Turning around, I was able to get a good look at my escape pod for the first time. It was big, roughly five meters in diameter, and six tall with a cone shape. On the side was the word Nostromo, likely referring to the ship that it came from.

Returning my attention to the jungle, I prepared myself to be assaulted by random fluffy, scaled, fuzzy, slimy, or scraggly menaces. However, much to my disappointment, nothing arrived. Celeste was even unable to see any animals nearby. Aside from the plants, there was absolutely no sign of life from anything. I don’t like this…

I began to inch my way back to the escape pod, when the ground suddenly began to shake, as if an earthquake had appeared. Looking back at the pod, I saw the ground splitting below it, and instinct said that the pod was currently the least safe place I could possibly be. I hurriedly activated my Aspect of the Bird to grow the angel wings and flew off into the sky, just in time to see a sight I really wish I could forget.

Beneath the pod, the ground opened up, roots and vines flailing. Beneath the surface, the plant life writhed as if with a mind of its own, grabbing onto the pod and pulling it down into a giant circular, green maw that appeared below it. I watched as the plants ripped apart the metal escape pod, destroying it in seconds before the ground slowly closed up.

“Celeste…”

“Yeah…?”

“I don’t like this world.”

I heard an audible gulp from the AI at my wrist. “If it makes you feel any better… I don’t think it likes us either.”