Chapter 40: Alien Overlords Are Not Very Fun
The next morning found Jack refreshed. He had been high-strung for a long time; he desperately needed some time to unwind. With any luck, the next few days would hide no surprisesand then would come the Integration Tournament.
Jacks eyes sharpened in anticipation. Until then, he would try to level up, understand more things about the Systems world, work on his Dao, and train with his new body. The Pugilist Body II upgrade had given him increased control over everything, which would be good in the long run but made everything a bitch right now. It would take practice.
For today, his first order of business was to visit the professor. Hed entrusted her with combing the faction screens for information and generally organizing the faction, and he was curious to see what she had achieved.
He exited his housea simple first-story apartment in downtown Valville that had luckily escaped the apocalypsewondering at how foreign it now seemed. Like it wasnt his. Sure, he knew where the cutlery was and how to properly close the leaking window, but everything now felt like a washed-out memory.
The white walls, the cozy desk, the single bed and narrow balcony where only a single chair could fit It was his house, sure, but it felt like a reminder of a previous world. His problems had gone from a leaking window to fighting bears bare-handed.
Perhaps it was a remnant of the past. Perhaps it reminded him of a life he now knew he hatedthough it wasnt as clear back then. Complacency was an insidious killer.
Whatever the case, Jack didnt feel like staying home any longer. He would only return to sleep, if even that.
He took a deep breath of the clean air that made him feel alive, then headed west.
This time, he chose to walk through the town instead of fly over it, curious as to what peoples reaction would be. Most looked at him with awe, but they made way before him and didnt dare meet his eye. Jack felt like a conquerora nice but disturbing feeling.
No, wait, Im one of you, he said, but to no avail. Sometime later, he got annoyed, changed his mind, and parkoured over rooftops. Brock was holding on tight to his shoulders, screaming in joy and enjoying the high-speed ride that resembled an amusement parks. Jack smiled at the thought.
There were still groups heading in and out of townmonster huntersbut at least they seemed better organized now. Each group was smaller, three to five people, and had a single handgun just in case. The professor was already at work.
Marveling at her efficiency, Jack reached her house, let Brock downthe poor monkey wanted to go another roundand knocked. Come in! came a voice. Jack opened the door and found himself facing a small group of wide-eyed people.
Hello, he said, Im Jack.
We know, a middle-aged woman in a ponytail replied, were part of your faction.
Oh. Okay. I suppose youre the professors assistants.
That's right.
Can you take me to her?
Of course. Follow me, replied the same woman, smiling at Brock before turning away. My name is Emilia Rogers, by the way. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Likewise. Are you from the university?
All of us have worked with professor Rust at one point or another, and we also happened to live in Valvillerecruiting from other towns is still difficult.
I see. So she brought all her nearby associates onboard?
Not everyone. Some didnt make it through the Integration, some were away on business, and others... She shook her head. They just werent invited.
Bad apples. She took the opportunity to clean house, Jack thought and nodded in approval.
While chatting, Emilia led Jack through familiar rooms and into the living room, where the professor was lounging on her armchair and staring into space. Her hands were busy scribbling on a piece of paper. Brock quickly ran to her feet and held out a hand.
Professor, Emilia said respectfully, Jack Rust is here to see you.
Jack? she responded, joy in her face. One moment, please.
Half a minute later, her eyes refocused. She shook Brock's hand with a smirk, stood up, and hugged Jack. Hello, Jack, she said.
Hello, mom, he responded. Before he could say anything else, Professor Margaret pulled away and entered business mode.
Come with me. I have discovered some incredible things. You have to see this. Thank you, Emilia.
The woman bowed lightly and left the room.
Well, Im here, said Jack, taking a seat on the sofa. What do you got?
First, open your faction screen.
Jack obliged. Faction.
Faction: Bare Fist Brotherhood (F-Grade)
Leader: Jack Rust
Members: 25
Capital: Milky Way galaxy, Milky Way sector, Animal Kingdom constellation, Earth-387 planet, Forest of the Strong dungeon area.
And then came a bunch of things that Jack tuned off.
No, said the professor, read those too.
He grumbled, then kept reading.
Resource Management
Contracted Monsters
Alignment
Topographical Description
Hierarchy
Buildings
Portals
Relations
Members
Hed seen these things before but ignored them. Each was split into a dozen sub-menus, and he always had better things to do.
You know I dislike management, Professor.
I do know, unfortunately. You dont need to go deeper; Ive kept notes on the important parts. Pay attention.
With a sigh of relief, Jack focused. Professor Margaret detailed her findings, occasionally looking over her notebook for directions. Jack noticed it was titled Faction Management for Dummies. He scowled.
First, Ive noticed an interesting segregation of power, the professor began. The System handles some things: it knows our members, any areas under our control, contracted monsters, and specific types of buildings. However, most of a factions running falls to us. The System wont streamline our hierarchy, rewards for contribution, job assignment, menial work, border surveillance, justice system, and other things. Maybe its different for higher-ranked factions, but at least for us, the approach it takes is very hands-off.
But I see a hierarchy tab right there, Jack noted.
Open it up.
He did.
Leader: Jack Rust (F-Grade), Pugilist Planetary Frontrunner (10)
Supervisor: Margaret Rust (F-Grade)
That was all. Okay, he admitted, no streamlined hierarchy.
Exactly. I assume more roles will open up as we advance, but for now, we definitely need more divisions than that, and well have to do it the old-fashioned way. Not that I mind. Old people like me love the old-fashioned way.
Right.
However, there is one thing you should know. See the Buildings tab? And the Portals one?
I do.
Those are science-fiction. Literally. From what I discovered, we can spend credits to make the System spawn buildings out of thin air.
Jack raised a brow. What kind of buildings?
Not too many. As I said, its generally hands-off. From what I understand, the purpose of this functionality is to eliminate barriers that might be caused by an integrated planets low technological level or otherwise difficult conditions. It keeps the ground at least somewhat even.
Not too many, was all Jack heard. He opened the menu, groaned, and closed it again.
Theres hundreds of them, he said.
Try filtering by price. See everything under or at a hundred thousand credits.
I can filter? How?
Just think of it.
He frowned, then tried again. Indeed, the System now gave him only three options.
Energy Wall: 10,000 credits per mile. Creates a shimmering, transparent, incorporeal wall that releases a flare and loud noise on touch. Upkeep: 10 credits per hour, 1 credit per touch.
100-mile Portal: 100,000 credits. A teleportation portal that can connect up to 100 miles away.
Personal Starship: 100,000 credits. A vehicle that uses the Dao to propel itself. It can fit up to three people and can freely traverse space at 3000 miles/hour. Upkeep: 10 credits per hour.
Wow.
Thats what I said, she agreed. Teleportation and space travel at the tips of our fingers. I can see why the merchant only gave me five hundred credits for my knowledge in cyber security: its useless.
Yeah So, should we build any of these?
Not immediately. The professor shook her head. First of all, we lack the funds. Second, lets not invite trouble on our heads. Anything could pop out of a teleportation portalI dont know how they work. And what would we even do with a starship?
Go to space?
Of course. Tourism is more important than the Integration Tournament.
Jacks eyes widened. Did you call going to space tourism?
Were part of an intergalactic network now, Jack. Space is to the System what the sea was to our planet. Not to mention we might be under critical danger.
What kind of danger?
I have no idea! She threw her hands in the air. Even the advanced information package you gave me says nothing concrete. However, I know that there are two critical events in a newly-integrated planets life. The first is the Integration Tournament, where the best of the best are given a massive extra push. Its what creates the future elites. The second critical event is the end of our grace period.
Which youre about to explain.
Yes, if you stop interrupting. Every planet is given a grace period which lasts about five hundred galactic daysthats around a year in Earth time. 370.5 days, to be precise. Before that time, aliens cannot enter Earth. We do not have to pay taxes, follow their laws, or submit ourselves to anything. We basically get free reign so we can adapt and grow reasonably strong. The only exceptions to that are merchants, non-combative administrative personnel for the Integration Tournament, and a single C-Grade Planetary Overseer.
Jacks eyes snapped to focus. C-Grade?
Yes. They arent allowed to intervene in anything except events that threaten the integrity of our planet or population. They basically make sure nothing terrible happens while were alone, like a widespread plague, a full-blown monster outbreak, or space pirates invading us.
Jacks eyes widened further. Space pirates?!
Thats beside the point. The issue is that, after the one year is over, things go south quickly. We have to pay heavy taxes, surrender our freedom, and be submitted to the whims of our alien overlords with minimal self-governing. The information package says the the Animal Kingdom are generous overlords, but...I dont trust that one bit. Even the wording is awful: Generous overlords.
Yeah. That sucks.
It does.
What can we do about it?
Nothing, basically. She shrugged. Your best bet is to get strong enough to be accepted into the Animal Kingdom faction, the overlords of our constellation, as a disciple. That should make Earths situation better, especially for our faction.
I see So, aliens are bad news.
Aliens are bad news. She agreed with a nod.
I dont know, Professor This all sounds a bit negative to me.
Did you expect an alien invasion to be fun?
I expected the System to be fair. So far, danger has coexisted with opportunity. If overpowered alien overlords just show up after a year and suppress us, there isnt much we can do, is there?
No, there isnt. Theres little to no chance of anyone reaching the D-Grade in a year, let alone the C-Grade, as the Planet Kings usually are. Well be doomed to subservience until one of our natives reaches the C-Grade and chooses to take over our planet, butyou know, that is also a form of balance. We wont be slaves, just temporarily shoved to a lower position. It isnt ideal, obviously, but it isnt unfair either.
Jack opened his mouth to say something, then thought better about it. The professor always knew what she was speaking about. Hastily arguing against her was foolish.
A moment later, he spoke. It is fair, I guess. It just doesn't work well for us.
It will for our childrenwell, yourswho will be the old ones at another new planets integration. The professor smiled. Cheer up, Jack. Its not that badand, most importantly, theres nothing we can do about it.
Yeah
Jack scoffed. That someone would come rule them sounded ugly after all the newfound liberty he had, yet it made sense, no matter how he turned it. It was natural. They would destroy the freedom he so enjoyed, but he understood the need for order, and the stronger and more experienced would naturally rule. So, why did he feel unsatisfied?
Because a fist is ruled by no one. The thought came unbridled to his mind, rising from its deepest depths. Jack enjoyed the thought but didnt entertain it. He was a warrior, not a fooland if his path was a bit extreme, he wasnt obligated to follow it.
His Dao Root protested, but he scolded it. Even the strongest warrior must know when to yield. Especially when I can do nothing about it. Maybe the Animal Kingdom, or whatever theyre called, are nice people.
But no matter how he pushed, he still disliked the idea. What if you could do something about it? his Dao insisted, excited at the prospect. He frowned deeper.
Whatever.
Jack? said the professor. Are you okay?
Yeah. Im fine. Just considering things, thats all.
Hmm.
So, is that all?
For now. Im still looking at things, but Oh, yes. What are theseshe squinted gymonkeys and brorillas I see in the Contracted Monsters section? Brocks pack, I assume, but I need more details. And whos Harambe?
Just a friend, Jack said, his mood instantly taking a turn for the better. Thats right. I should visit them before the tournament.
The professor cocked a brow. I understand you like sounding cool, Jack, but I cannot work with a friend.
Jack laughed. They were monsters spawned in the Forest of the Strong, the dungeon I conquered. You can probably see it in the territory tab, or whatever its called. I became friends with them. Theyre the reason why I made a faction, actually; the System would just despawn them otherwise.
Hmm. The professors eyes glinted. I see here that theyre very strong.
Yeah. Theres twenty of them. The weakest is Level 9, and the strongest, Harambe, could easily turn Henry White into mush.
Thats interesting.
Jack suddenly remembered more things. The dungeon had several useful resources, actually. We should move our faction there. It can significantly increase the physical stats of our members; plus, you get the protection of the monkeys if anything happens.
I see. Her eyes narrowed. Is there a reason why you neglected to mention these before?
I didnt want to overwhelm you, Professor. Information works best bite-sized. Her eye-narrowing intensified, but Jack paid her no mind as he stood. Anyway, got to go. I suddenly feel like training. If you want, we can grab Edgar and go visit the forest tomorrow. The monkeys will want to meet you, too.
OK. Lets meet here at dawn.
Sure. By the way, did you have any news about that Gan Salin? The one that Henry White mentioned?
She shook her head. Nothing. I asked around, but nobodys heard of himand ArTazul asked for more credits than I could spare.
I see Well, no big deal. I guess Ill meet him in the tournament. See you at dawn, Professor.
See you, Jack.
He turned to leave.
And Jack? she said behind his back. He turned around. Her gaze was mellow. Be careful, please.
Jack blinked, then smiled widely. I will. Lets go, Brock.
Brock, however, stayed for a moment to play with the professorthey had somehow developed a good relationship. He struggled and managed to lift a short table despite being short himself, then smiled smugly. The professor exclaimed in surprise.
What a strong boy! she said. Can I give him some treats, Jack? I have salami in the cupboard.
Knock yourself out, he replied with a laugh. Ill be outside.
He left the room alone and headed for the door. It was still surrounded by clean glass with flowers drawn on it. Jack turned the doorknob, opened it, and found a young man standing outside with his hand ready to knock.
Oh, hello, he said politely. Are you Jack Rust?
Jacks eyes narrowed. This person was short, with brown eyes and hair, as well as a wiry body that seemed full of energy. He wasnt the least bit intimidated by Jacks bare-chested, barbaric appearance, and despite his relaxed attitude, something in his eyes put Jack on edge. He knew that glint. Behind those eyes hid deep-seated insanity.
I am. Who are you?
Gan Salin. And I hear you took some initiative in my town.
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