“Let me see your hands! Let me see your fucking hands!” Men and women in blue and black stormed the room, weapons drawn and ready to fire. “Get down, get on the ground now,” an officer tackled Erin to the floor.

I squealed in agony as the syringe ripped out of my vein, splattering blood all over the cloudy white mattress. I could only guess how long It would take for the serum to begin to affect me. At best, I would be dead in minutes, at worst this would be my last breath.

“Are you okay?” An older police sergeant cut my restraints with a multi-tool from her belt, “thank God we made it in time.”

“You idiots!” Erin raged, “you’ve killed us all!” She spat and kicked.

“Get her out of here,” the police sergeant motioned her officers to remove Erin from the room, “this is an active crime scene now.”

“Thank you so much!” I sighed in exhausted relief, “They tried to kill me. They tied me up in here and injected me with poison!”

The officer slid a latex glove over her hand and carefully picked the syringe up. It was filled with a ruddy orange liquid, speckled with flecks of alien metal. Erin hadn’t done it. She hadn’t injected me after all.

“I’ve never seen anything like this.” She stared at it intently, “we might have to ship this one out of state. Do you have any idea why they were targeting you?”

“I don’t know if you remember me,” I said, “but I’m the guy who got shot at the concert a couple of months back. Ever since then, crazed people have accused me of being an alien.”

“So they were trying to kill you because they thought that you were an alien?” She looked perplexed, “it never ceases to amaze me with how ridiculous people can be. You’re safe now though,” she smiled, “let’s get you out of here.”

As the officer led me out of the room, I glanced over my shoulder at the pocket-sized journal. Who had written it and how did they know about PAL? It didn’t make any sense. My mom was the only other person in the world who could possibly know about PAL, and there is no way that she would try to hurt me. Or would she? I guess I couldn’t rule it out as a possibility.

An officer threw a blanket over my back as we walked into the chilly evening air. I likely would be checked out at a hospital to ensure that none of the serum made it into my blood, and then I would surely be questioned. I had no idea what I would say. Although I hadn’t known PAL long, I already felt lost without her presence.

It would seem that the authorities made it in time.

PAL! Relief flooded through me. Did you call the police?

I sent a text to the 911 call center the second that you got jabbed with that AI disablement serum.

What is going on? What was that serum?

A high-grade weapon developed during the original Serpian Conquest. Its presence on this planet is an impossibility that I haven’t yet been able to reconcile.

I should have listened to you, I apologized. You were right about Erin. My ignorance almost cost us everything.

“Your blood pressure and vitals seem normal,” a paramedic reassured me, “but we will have to take you to the hospital as a precaution. You will need a couple of stitches at the very least.”

“Thanks,” I sighed, “I’m not sure what to make of any of this.”

“Don’t worry,” the man said. “We’ll get you the help you need.”

He was wrong, though. I wasn’t worried about my health; I was worried about my situation. Someone had tricked Erin into trying to kill me – and my only clue to that person’s identity was trapped behind police tape. That damn journal.”

We need to get it, PAL. We need to get the journal.

Admiral, I was out of commission during this incident. What is in this journal?

The writings of our enemy! I could hardly believe what I was thinking, “we need to eliminate this threat before it eliminates us.”

I like the way you are thinking. Yes, I like it a lot.

PAL purred at my newfound confidence. From now on, I would never again ignore her warnings. Who needs love and friendship anyways? Power is what I need – the power to save the world, the power to save my brother. That is what I need.

“What was that about a threat?” The paramedic driver asked as our ambulance pulled away from the scene.

“I was just thinking that it is 11:59, and that it would be cool to know what your favorite color is.”

“It’s red,” he twisted out an answer.

Congratulations Admiral, you have reached Level 2.

“It feels good PAL, it feels really damn good.”

## ##

I scrolled through the text boxes in my vision while the doctors checked me out.

CONGRATULATIONS ADMIRAL CARTHAGE

(BADGE SUNRAY 01)

Level 2 Integration Attained.

Biotic Power Points: 200 (+100)

Physical Dexterity Points: 100 (+0)

Health Points: 200 (+100)

You have earned 1 skill upgrade.

Apply now? (Y/N)

Yes, I thought to myself.

Select a skill to upgrade:

Biomechanical Health Modulation (Level 1, Physical) Mind Control (Level 1, Biotic) Illusion (Level 1, Biotic)

This was my first time leveling up, and my first chance to think tactically about my build. Although I was only Level 2, it was clear that I was already going down the path of a glass cannon. My physical dexterity points had not increased at all, and I had no active abilities under my Biomechanical Health Modulation skill. Perhaps I would gain a new ability by leveling it up. Or, I could go for an increase in my biotic powers. Now that I had 200 biotic power points, I would easily be able to use my abilities two times in a row without getting tired as quickly. It was a hard choice.

Upgrade my Illusion skill, I thought, after carefully considering all my options.

Congratulations, you have reached illusion level 2!

Ability Improved: False Impression

You can now use false impression for up to 20 minutes on people, animals, and items.

Perfect, with my newly enhanced illusionary ability, I might actually be able to pull off a heist like in PAL’s ridiculous simulation. I already had a target in mind.

SECONDARY OPERATION COMPLETE: Acclimate

You successfully used your active abilities three times before the end of the day.

Reward +100 Experience Points

I now had 200 experience points, which put me only 100 points away from reaching Level 3. I wondered if I could get there in less than a day.

SECONDARY OPERATION: Journal Heist

A mysterious journal might hold clues about your enigmatic enemy.

Steal the journal before the police realize its significance.

Reward: 200 experience points, intel.

Accept (Y/N)?

PAL read my mind. I needed that journal. Yes, I accept.

“Okay, Mr. Carthage,” one of the doctors pulled a chair next to my bedside, “everything checks out. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m okay doctor, just a little shaken up, that’s all.”

“That’s completely understandable.” He smiled, “I hate to put you through this, but we would like to keep you overnight as a precaution, just to be safe.”

“No problem. I could use the rest.”

“That’s a good attitude,” he got up and pulled the curtain shut behind him, “I’ll check in on you a little later. Call the nurse if you need anything.”

“Can do,” I waved.

Finally, I laid back in my bed, enter simulation mode, PAL. There are a couple of things I want to try out.