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Lost On A Death World by BatRou-Dawg

Misc » Book X-overs Rated: M, English, Drama & Supernatural, Words: 63k+, Favs: 16, Follows: 21, Published: Dec 12, 2022 Updated: Jan 18, 2023

Chapter 1: Prologue

Prologue

The number of insults filtering from my shock state was rather impressive… If I was able to truly think about it.

I have been 'Isekaied' by unknown ways… Sent into another world… The world of the "Worm" web-novel created by Wildbow…

I wanted to scream… I was on a Death World as my over-weighted middle-aged self… The same Caucasian and short body with my black hair showing some gray and my green eyes… I was screwed.

No ID papers, no money, no phone, nothing but my winter clothes and my glasses for myopic moles… I was SO screwed.

I looked at the newspaper I took from the bench I was currently sitting on in an unknown park. Brockton Bay. January 2011, the third. The Triumvirate of Alexandria, Eidolon, and Legend were giving their End of the Year wishes... And a Happy New Year to me… I was SO MUCH screwed.

And, of course, no Isekai Cheat Powers… Probable Trigger Event in my future… If I could trigger. The only things I had were my skills, my experience, my high willpower, and my above-average intuition…

Do you wish to make a roll on the Celestial Forge?

Current charge:0.42. Perk range: 0 CP.

… Oh… Phew… Still, no Gamer-like screen but a gentle feminine internal voice and less than 1 charge. The Celestial Forge was rather Over-Powered, but in most of my stories, I had full control over what perks I granted my characters to facilitate what I was writing… This was no longer the case and IT WAS REAL FOR ME!

Huh… My intuition was whispering to me that I could still use the roll despite the low charge… Well, time to swim or sink. I focused and sort of triggered something, like the double-click of the mouse while using a computer… Very Fate/Stay Night Magus mind trigger.

My eyes felt like they became Anime-style, complete with a big round expression and my lower jaw resting on the ground.

I looked at my Connected Watch… I just gained my own personal Infinite Stratos Mecha and the skills and knowledge to pilot it with proficiency.

I frowned as I saw that the charge of my Isekai power remained the same… Ah, that was what it meant for the Perk Range of zero CP. Oh, well, I liked free gifts and I had the manual already downloaded in my mind… Still, let's see the horse teeth, so to speak.

Huh… It seemed that I didn't gain the other free stuff from the setting… Well, I also wasn't transformed into a teenager girl or a Harem Protagonist so that was good too… At least, so far… Damn it, I couldn't remember if some of the perks implied a gender transformation.

The IS was a no-nonsense design as in it didn't expose parts of my anatomy and came with a helmet to protect my identity. I could still banish most of the parts at will and would find myself in a… oh no… skintight full bodysuit in a blue and gold-trimmed color… With bullet-resistant weave and various high-tech accessories… Which emphasized my very heroic over-weighted silhouette... So sweet of the Forge to almost make me regret not being an athletic teenager girl.

It was a powered exoskeleton, which was originally meant for outer space exploration… And it was Gundam-inspired with the classical Gundam head and its colors of white, blue, gold, and red. It truly looked like a human-scale Wing Zero from the movie "Endless Waltz"… In fact, I had too many options, why..? Ah-ha! The system took advantage of a loophole and convert the initial 1000 points of the Jumpchain setting into supplemental Stratos Points.

The deployed IS armor would boost my size to an impressive 6 feet and of an inch. Much less mass than the ridiculously over-designed standard IS armor. A little tall but not too much to handicap me in an urban fight situation… Especially with the strength to go through reinforced concrete walls… Let's see the rest…

Well, energy shields, Passive Inertia Control, Hyper-sensor with a Brilliant Clearance helping system, Closed Form connected to my watch… A slightly augmented classical base of all Infinite Stratos Mecha in brief. The base frame was… second generation only? Ah, but the Gundam Wing Zero Import boosted it significantly. No Second-shift bullshit, integrated AI, or unique signature equipment from the Infinite Stratos characters. And I could fly with enough speed to reach the moon in a few hours… Even going underwater wasn't a problem. The only thing that irritated me was the energy source… No explanation, like it was truly the Black Box technology designed by the original creator with Time Crystals, but it provided enough energy to go full power for several days at least... And still able to recharge swiftly while in Closed Form…

The weapons were… appropriate for someone like me who did do two years in the military and preferred long-range battles. A High-Frequency military knife was stored on the hips along, of course, the famous Beam Saber. The head had the ubiquitous dual Vulcan Guns of the Gundam series. Finally, I had a Gundam-style Beam Rifle with morphing options into a Macross-style main weapon and a sniper setting… The armored shoulder pads sported a Sonic Cannon each… Which also doubled as a high-quality sound system and protected me efficiently from other sonic weapons. There were also frankly an absurd amount of empty slots and hard-points, ready to be specialized with whatever I would obtain or build in the future.

Huh, the weapon systems had also a Cop option with non-lethal settings and ammunition like foam guns, rubber bullet weapons, taser-like projectiles, water cannons, high power spotlights, tear gas and smoke launchers, zip ties distributor, and even a fancy siren… Of course, why not..? Let us hope this isn't the same formula as the PRT Containment Foam… And from where the hell was the water coming to feed the riot cannons?

There was an advanced Comm system… Phew, at least this armor wasn't a stupid design despite the IS setting. Other integrated systems were impressive, like the 8 different wireless drones, already baptized "Newtype Bits" in my head. There were 4 small tentacles hidden in each of my arms and my torso which were dedicated to manipulating delicate items and machinery and reminded me of the manipulators used by the Valkyrie fighters in the Macross setting. Thankfully, there was also a fully enhanced life support system to allow a pilot to go days without eating, drinking or breathing has been added, supplying everything needed through the suit, and a variety of pressure, vacuum, temperature, and radiation protections have also been combined into my mecha's frame, to protect it from all the environmental dangers of the world and beyond… Nice to know I could go everywhere with my impressive flight system.

My armored legs were outfitted with compartments holding an enormous amount of traps ranging from explosive mines to razor wires to snap traps. All designed to be rapidly deployed, easily hidden, and worked splendidly against IS scale targets and armored vehicles… What they could do to human-scale targets shouldn't be mentioned or even imagined. At least, there was still the non-lethal option included.

Oh ho! Another system coming from the Gundam Wing setting was a special package applied, one to make my powered armor largely invisible to most forms of detection… Yep, holographic projectors, reflective coating, heat sinks, electronic jammers and spoofers, and even chaff dispensers… My word, this machine was near impossible to detect at all but the closest of ranges, whether through human eyesight or mechanical impetus... It could even briefly turn completely invisible, though no more than a few minutes at a time.

I stopped patting myself as this impressive mecha suit couldn't shelter me for the night and even its food dispensers weren't infinite. It also couldn't hack into the government system and gave me a proper ID… Right! And now what, Baran Sunheart!?

I sighed… Well, I needed to do something. For the last option, I could simply go to the PRT headquarter and sign in for the Protectorate… Not a good option but one nonetheless. Let's see where in Brockton Bay I was… With my luck, I was straight in the heart of either the ABB or the Merchants territories.

After a few minutes, I was swearing at me and Murphy in French as I identified a big building near the park. Winslow school, of course! And it was morning, OF COURSE!

I debated with myself for a few seconds and then… Screw Wildbow and screw the canon script! Confident in my intuition, I selected an alley with many hidden spots and looked at my watch. Time for an acid test… and giving a name to my IS.

"Come… StarKnight!"

The transformation was as embarrassing for me as it was for a first-timer magical girl, especially the storage of all my clothes before the system gave me my skin-tight combat suit. It also wasn't very discrete with plenty of light show… Fortunately, I did choose a good spot in the alley and my Hyper Sensor wasn't detecting any functional camera or bystanders in my vicinity.

However, it was detecting a bio-hazard within the school… My fist clenched on the grip of my beam rifle. Here it was, the temptation for any readers of the Worm web-novel and becoming a Self-Insert to simply disintegrate a few people… But I didn't have enough courage or rage to do that. Fantasying about it? Oh yes!

Damn it, Baran! Eyes on the goal! Taylor Hebert was probably still inside this toxic coffin of a locker. Get a grip on your emotions and go, right now, idiot!

I focused on my downloaded skills, retracted in… sub-space..? my weapons, and activated my anti-gravity drive and secondary thrusters. No need to go supersonic within a city. I also triggered my recording system and asked the Comm unit to link with Brockton Bay Public Hospital.

"This is Foothills Hospital, how may I help you?"

Nice professional feminine voice. "This is the non-registered independent hero StarKnight. I'm hovering over the Winslow School building and my sensors just detected a bio-hazard situation within the school."

"Excuse me? Bio-hazard? Independent hero? Sir, are you sure this isn't something for the PRT Emergency Line?"

"Negative. While I qualify as a Parahuman, the danger I'm detecting concerns the medical sector... And probably the law enforcement, but I can't warn and muster the CDC, only you have the authority. I would also like to know how to proceed from there, please."

"Understood... Here's what you're going to do, sir."

I listened carefully, gave a verbal accord, and then acted while maintaining contact with the hospital. Despite my First Aid qualification, I wasn't authorized paramedical personnel.

I entered the school and went to the guard booth within… No guard… Of course. And the less I thought about all the safety and surveillance issues I was detecting, the better for my mental health. I then proceeded directly to the Principal's office, thankfully properly placed on the almost intact school map on a wall. The secretary, who was smoking in a public building, went almost white at my presence. It's the wings, I'm sure.

"This is a bio-hazard emergency. In accord with the Foothills Hospital staff, I, the independent hero StarKnight, am declaring a lock-down situation. Please, evacuate immediately the students and staff to the gymnast since it's the building the farthest away from the contaminated site."

She was very flabbergasted and a little terrified. "Ah… Err… I think only the principal can do that… Mister..?"

"StarKnight. Independent hero StarKnight." I pointed at a door. "The principal is in her office?" As confirmed by my Hyper Sensor. "Good, I'll warn her myself." I ignored her gurgles and entered the office.

Principle Blackwell was doing some work by playing Tetris on her computer when she looked at me, went white, and fell from her chair with a strangled cry. It must be my helmet, more impressive than I thought.

"Who are you?! What are you doing here?! What do you want!? Be warned, I have the authorities on speed dial!" A very impressive set of lungs.

I deadpanned. "In order, independent hero StarKnight. I'm here to help your entire school on the behalf of Foothills Hospital. I want you to declare an emergency lock-down and evacuate your students and staff to the gymnast due to a current bio-hazard situation. And good since you need to confirm what I said from the hospital's authorities."

She went green then red. How… quaint. "I… I need to call the PRT… Yes, the PRT first. Don't move!"

I shrugged. "I'm not moving and I apologize. I forgot to precise that the hospital is already listening in through my audio sensor and that I'm recording all this as the proper procedure stipulates."

She processed what I just said and went white again. Maybe she was feeling ill. "Oh… Right… Yes, of course, calling the hospital first…"

"Thank you, principal Blackwell. Now, following my instructions, I'll move to the contaminated site to isolate it and record everything there."

I didn't listen to her demands to wait or stop and promptly went to the lockers, also ignoring the secretary using her phone, by following the angry red blinking bio-hazard symbol on my visor.

No one was in the halls as the students were still in their classrooms. I cringed when I arrived there. My suit was in full NBC mode, so I couldn't smell anything, but the Hyper Sensor could easily detect the still living teenager girl in one of the lockers. "Foothills, please advise. I'm detecting a living human body within a locker at the point zero of the contaminated site."

I heard a muffled swear. "Understood StarKnight. Rescue teams are still five minutes away. You're authorized to free the victim in an emergency."

You can bet your ass I'll free her. I retrieved my vibro-knife and carefully cut just the bolt open. Minimal risk for Taylor, minimal damage, and maximum preservation of the forensic proofs within the locker.

I caught the falling inert form of the tall girl and examined her. "Foothills, the victim is a Caucasian teenager girl. Black hair and sixteen years old I would say. The contaminant is festering menstrual tampons crawling with insects and her vomit. She's covered in blood residue on the lower body and legs and abrasions and scratches on the upper body and arms… Seeing most of them infected… I don't like her vitals. She's unconscious with barely reactive pupils, feverish, fast heartbeat with low and falling blood pressure and discolored skin."

The hospital controller sighed. "Received and understood, StarKnight. Stay with her, don't move her, and wait for the medical team."

I looked at my chronometer and frowned. Blackwell, you filthy black-heart. "Foothills. Something is wrong here. I asked the principal to evacuate her students 5 minutes ago and nothing has been done. Do you have confirmation of her calling you?"

"… StarKnight, we have confirmation… CDC liaison is now officially declaring a potential criminal situation. BBPD units will be called on-site and warned of your presence and status. Possible PRT intervention too. Please follow the instructions of the medical teams until the proper authorities arrived."

And I waited with a shivering Taylor in my armored arms. I accessed my energy control panel and heated my armor plating to 40 Celsius to maintain her body temperature. I had some pan-spectrum antibiotics with my internal medical suite but couldn't legally use them, although if her state worsened... I dearly hoped Taylor would stay alive until the rescue came.

A few minutes later, I detected the first rescue units a few blocks away and Blackwell finally called for the lockdown and evacuation of the students. The bitch waited for the last moment… No matter, her fate was already sealed.

The following moments were a real circus. Because, of course, the evacuating students saw me and Taylor. I had to use my speakers to prevent anyone from approaching me and the contaminated site and, OF COURSE, I couldn't forbid people to take videos with their phones.

Didn't see any from the Terrible Trio. Oh well, apart from Hess and Barnes, I would have some difficulty in identifying them. Thankfully the rescue teams were professional and no non-sense guys. Taylor was quickly treated on-site to stabilize her state and evacuated to the hospital. I stayed where I was due to the bio-hazardous waste on my armor and waited until the CDC took charge and decontaminated me while taking my report. Including my digital recording of the events. CDC being a federal organism, the PRT incompetence wouldn't make things difficult… Just the corrupt and competent sides… And Coil, never forgot about that SOB.

The BBPD quickly took action regarding the "crime scene" while counting on the CDC to properly record everything they found while decontaminating it. Copies of my report went to numerous hands. I was thankful that my helmet hid my smirk.

And then the PRT and Protectorate arrived… Two whole hours after the beginning of the situation. Since I knew Sophia Hess was a Ward, it could only be a manipulation of Coil for them to come so late.

I could already see the goal of that bastard: Make the whole ENE group look bad, again, with the public services of the city and the CDC… No. Not on my watch.

It was the duo of Armsmaster and Miss Militia. Curious that those two were almost together whenever something happened… Oh, well… I went out of the decontamination tent the CDC installed and slowly but firmly went in their direction as they were talking with the federal agents.

Armsmaster immediately went into a relaxed posture that would enable him to quickly draw his halberd and Miss Militia's handgun morphed briefly into… a Light Anti-tank Weapon..? Well, I was taller than any of them, so…

"Good morning, Armsmaster, Miss Militia." I turned my head to the school. "Although I wish it was in a better situation."

I could feel the electromagnetic waves of Armsmaster's sensor suite raking over my IS, trying to pierce my ECM. "Are you the Parahuman known as StarKnight?"

Let us not forget about his damn lie detector, although he shouldn't have it ready at this time. "Affirmative, sir. I've identified myself as the non-registered independent hero StarKnight to your colleagues."

Uh, I was relying on my military training during a crisis… Oh, gods, I felt so lost in such a situation.

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Lost On A Death World by BatRou-Dawg

Misc » Book X-overs Rated: M, English, Drama & Supernatural, Words: 63k+, Favs: 16, Follows: 21, Published: Dec 12, 2022 Updated: Jan 18, 2023

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Lost in house-searching.

I managed it..!

Well, more exactly, I managed to NOT be recruited by the PRT. It was simple: I just arrived in Brockton Bay, as in this very early morning and I needed some time to "put my legs under the table".

Register? Of course, I'll register. That was my intention from the beginning, but this incident took priority, of course.

Absolutely, full cooperation with ALL the federal agencies present. Huh, Armsmaster tried to hide a wince here, oh well... Here is a USB memory card with my record of the incident and the actions I took… Just like the ones your colleagues received.

My Tinker specialty? I don't think it's relevant to the situation. Well, I have a power armor, a sensor suite, a comm system, an ECM suite, and a flight unit. Weapons..? None that I deployed, especially in a school… Well, except for a knife to cut open the contaminated locker to free the young girl inside. Yeah, that was horrible.

Contacting the PRT first? Of course not. While I may qualify as a Parahuman and thus under your jurisdiction, the crime wasn't and the CDC is better equipped to deal with it. And another hidden wince.

No, Mr. CDC agent, I don't think they were late. I fear they were sabotaged. Yes, sabotaged. Why? Well, the Principal already tried to delay the evacuation and no one seemed to have witnessed the act of bioterrorism or the kidnapping and sequestration of the young girl inside the locker. That's very suspect in a school, especially with teenagers. And here were Armsmaster and Miss Militia exchanging a significant look.

So, anything else? Apart from my registration… Yes, I'll come to the PRT building to sign on the first occasion. No need to be so anxious. What about the press?

Huh, no. Not answering the press is a bad idea. Well, because I'm new and probably already on PHO since the students took plenty of videos with their phones… You'll have to explain to me how I could have asked them to stop and erase what they already took without appropriate authority. Wow, hidden winces from both the CDC agent and Armsmaster.

Of course, I won't comment on the current investigation. By the way, how is the young girl I saved? Taken directly to Panacea? And you already called her father? Good, very good. Alright, so no comment on the investigation, protecting the minors and not alarming the people.

Of course, the CDC and the Protectorate have the current situation under control. And, I cooperated completely with both. Yes, they're hyenas and I will mind my words… No, I won't call them hyenas.

Good morning, gentlemen. Wow, one at a time if you want me to answer. You won't stop..? Well, then I'm off. Of course, I'll answer a few questions, why do you think I stopped by your group?

Alright, my name is StarKnight. Independent hero. Not registered yet. Please, I've just come into Brockton Bay, give me a little time. No, sorry, no comment on the current investigation. Of course, the public has the right to know, but how does that imply breaking the law?

No, the situation is under control thanks to the collaboration of the PRT, Protectorate, and the CDC. Yes, I was there. Yes, bio-terrorism in a school. Please, don't be alarmist, the CDC is already examining the students and will provide medical help if needed. Yes, the site is now under decontamination and will be examined under a microscope. Yes, a good joke.

No, I won't name the victim or victims as they're minors, but I'm authorized to tell you they're out of danger. Well, tough, but that's what the parents want… You never truly met an angry parent, didn't you?

My powers? I'm a Tinker according to the PRT nomenclature. No, I won't say my specialty. Because I don't want you to not have the pleasure to guess it, of course. Sorry, no comment on your suggestions for now. That wouldn't be very sportive, right?

Yes, my power armor is nice. No, it can't be compared to Armsmaster's. I'm a newbie, he's a seasoned professional. Why the wings despite the bad association with the Simurgh? It's a message, I'm tracing my line in the sand… Because I'm not going to listen to the Hope-killer. It made a mockery of this particular imagery so, I'm saying stop right now... No! It'll be over my dead body. After all, Patrick Henry said, "give me liberty, or give me death"!

A demonstration of my equipment? Right away.

I posed, Gundam Wing style, with my helmet's eyes flashing emerald while extending my wings and then activated my flight unit and gently rose in the air before using a burst of my secondary thrusters and disappeared in the skyline… Well, I cheated a little by activating my optical cloak after leaving their line of sight. Still, I'm sure I made a very photogenic figure.

I rapidly found another alley without camera coverage and returned to my civilian clothes and subspacing my IS… Phew… Safe, at least for now.

Safe… Yeah, right, Baran. Not only did you just give an interview, but you're also on the radar of the PRT/Protectorate which meant that ALL the various groups of Brockton Bay and many of Earth Bet's will soon know of you… Oh well, Taylor's life was more important.

Okay… So, I needed some safety for the immediate future… Well, there was a solution. I called in my mind the Celestial Forge.

Do you wish to make a roll on the Celestial Forge?

Current charge: 6.274. Perk range: 300 CP.

Once again I triggered the double-click of my mental computer mouse. And…

Current charge: 5.274. Perk range: 250 CP.

Well, it was a good thing that I was in an alley with no one around me because the Celestial Forge changed me!

Phew… No breasts and I was still male with black hair and green eyes… Also still on the short side. But I was no longer a slightly overweight middle-aged man and I no longer needed my glasses. Looking at my reflection on a dirty glass after putting them in my subspace pocket, I estimated that my body was on the higher end for human fitness and I felt able to compete in any modern athletic field without any training required.

Yeah, I lost my belly, gained a six-pack stomach, regained a few hairs, and shed a lot of years. I looked like when I was in my middle twenties right now… Fortunately, my clothes also changed with me, probably because of Anime logic… Huh, cool. I had also some sort of a subconscious Reality Warping field that could summon a wide range of aesthetic effects, even or especially when they made no sense...

Like a flurry of cherry blossoms on the wind as I made an entrance or having the sun

shining down the red rays of a sunset even mid-morning to dramatize my epic battles.

Yeah… Really discrete… Let us hope I can convince people that it was just a dedicated holo-unit for special and dramatic effects.

I frowned as I felt something else… Some sort of tingling right under my skin and… at the back of my mind. I reached for the double-click of my mental mouse, clenched my fists as I focused on me and…

A web of Magical Circuits shone on my skin and I could feel their heat diffusing in my body as my Od thrummed through them.

Yep… The Fate/Stay Night franchise and all the Nasuverse shenanigans just entered the Worm setting through me. I was now the "happy" owner of 40 Magical Circuits of Class A and could generate 500 to 1000 units of Mana… Just like a certain female Tohsaka heir… Let us hope I wasn't a Tsundere too… Although being an "Average One" would be awesome.

I didn't have any sudden downloads of knowledge about Thaumaturgy, but I should be able to recreate some basic techniques in the future… With a few risks… Can't forget that.

Oh, and the cherry on the top..! I was now a God of Cooking… No, seriously, like being a genius at making meals and, fortunately, I wasn't limited to Eastern recipes. With just a little experimentation, I could make ANYTHING into a mouth-watering dish.

Oh, dear gods… I was Emiya Shirou. Anyone tasting my cooking could be transformed into a freeloader like a certain Tiger Lady… And having blonde Saber-like short ladies soon at my table was now a big possibility.

Eh..? Oh, I could channel magical energy into my tools and ingredients and thus enchant my dishes with a variety of useful effects, like buffing the natural healing, bestowing the speed of the wind, increasing the strength, and so on…

Ah..? I could also induce negative effects. An excellent solution for some freeloaders and other undesirables. Hum… All this was temporary unless I made permanent magical tools and used magical ingredients but this was…

Useless...

Yes, useless! It will be a great asset soon, but now, I was still without a home and an identity. No money and no resources. I could search for a temporary place as a cook, but those who could accept me without any legal papers would probably be in cahoot with criminal organizations… Like the ABB or the Empire Eighty-Eight. Yeah, no thank you.

I facepalmed and massaged my eyes. Should I go to the PRT or..? I wondered if I could use the Celestial Forge again.

Do you wish to make a roll on the Celestial Forge?

Current charge: 5.454. Perk range: 250 CP.

So, I could make a roll on the Celestial Forge as long as I had a positive charge… It was also only possible as long as I didn't deplete the perks attainable… Which meant it was possible to make rolls until I had ALL the free perks… No, or at least not yet. Let us be prudent and wait to have a stronger and stable foundation.

I crossed my fingers… and wondered if having luck-based perks wouldn't help while rolling on the Celestial Forge.

Current charge: 4.624. Perk range: 200 CP.

Bingo! It worked! And my eyes widened as I look at the hi-tech tool in my hand: A Habitat Constructor from Subnautica!

YES! Hum… I calmed myself rapidly as I didn't want to draw attention and looked closely at my prize. Prizes, in fact, as I had also a Subnautica Personal Digital Assistant and an Alterra Skin-suit… with a subspace holding bag which synchronized with the one I had from my IS mecha. Score!

I put the habitat constructor and skin-suit in my expanded subspace pocket and booted up the PDA. Huh, it had the same loading sequence as the game, complete with the Alterra logo and little music.

"This PDA has now rebooted in emergency mode with one directive: To keep you alive on Earth Bet."

Cool, I just hoped the AI didn't have the snark of the one in the game even if it had the same feminine voice.

"An emergency life pod has been deployed in an appropriate nearby biome for your immediate survival. It is recommended to use the integrated idiot-proof map in this PDA to reach it with your Infinite Stratos power armor unless you want to suicide."

… Not cool… Not cool at all… And, what the hell!? A Subnautica life pod!? Deployed in Brockton Bay.!?

A few moments later I confirmed that yes, there was a Subnautica life pod deployed in Brockton Bay as I examined the big underground cave half-filled with water under the town. The map I downloaded in my IS was complete and very accurate and guided me from a hidden siphon in the bay to this place.

Brockton Bay was built on a giant aquifer system with plenty of caves and tunnels, most of them big enough to accommodate someone in power armor and build a typical Subnautica base. There was also a clear separation between the saltwater from the nearby ocean and the freshwater that the town used for drinking water.

Hell, at least 5 of those partially or completely water-filled caves were the size of the famous Subnautica's Giant Cove Tree Cave… However, there wasn't any conveniently phosphorescent flora but I had my sensors and headlights.

And it wasn't even the early afternoon of my first day in Brockton Bay…

Okay, fuck it. I was going to eat and drink some emergency ration and then try to sleep in the life pod. I needed the time to decompress. After that, I'll check the time and probably call on the Celestial Forge again THEN I'll draw some plans.

And well, I just did that after banishing my IS into subspace. No prophetic dream or visit by a ROB or anything like that. I must have been more exhausted mentally than I thought. Even the uncomfortable seat inside didn't prevent me from sleeping for a few hours.

"This PDA reminds you that a proper bed is an absolute must for proper rest and will prevent back and neck pains."

Funny, very funny as the database of the Fabricator inside the pod had, of course, only the initial basic blueprints of the game and thus no bed among other things… I also needed to name the damned AI before it drove me crazy.

Do you wish to make a roll on the Celestial Forge?

Current charge: 6.078. Perk range: 300 CP.

Let's go for it, especially since I needed some other things rather urgently like a source of energy to have some lights outside my life pod.

Current charge: 4.130. Perk range: 200 CP.

Uh..? I wondered if, finally, I didn't have some kind of control over the randomness of the rolls as I obtained another perk from Subnautica… It was a good one, but not something to help me right now. I could now ensure that the integrity of any building I made had more hull integrity and any vehicles would have more armor without hindering the weight and speed. At least by 50% from the original.

Hum… Huh, I could rebuild my IS which counted as a vehicle, and boost its already impressive defense in the near future. Well, I still had enough charges and crossed again my fingers.

Current charge: 2.130. Perk range: 100 CP.

… No way..! Absolutely no fucking way..!? I looked at the key that appeared in my hand. I just obtained a full warehouse of materials and resources. Of ANY kind, no matter how common or how rare they were. Did I need it? I'll have it, fiat-backed… But only for technology, no magic or others.

Better, it would replenish used materials every twenty-four hours after I took it out of the warehouse while also recording and replenishing any materials that I would add in the future.

And it was an add-on for the Jumpchain Cosmic Warehouse that I just obtained… I burst into laughter. I just solved my problems with the Subnautica tech and a few others. I just needed to wish for parts and materials from everything in the game, including organic resources. A little scanning and the relevant blueprints would then be in my database…

"This PDA reminds you that laughing like a mad man is a sign of possible insanity due to prolonged isolation… or the intention of becoming a villain which is another sign of insanity on Earth Bet."

"Fuck you, PDA!"

"That action is impossible due to this PDA current form."

"Okay, stop. I understand." I forced myself to be calm. The PDA was, at least for now, a non-sentient intelligence with an emulator for its apparent snark. So no stressing over a simple piece of equipment. "I was just amazed by the possibilities offered by the Resource Generator we just obtained and that is without taking into account the sheer potential of a Cosmic Warehouse."

"Understood. Your probability of survival has just increased to: unlikely, but plausible."

I facepalmed. This was going to suck… a lot for as long as I couldn't change or reprogram this fucking computer system with the help of perks from the Celestial Forge. Because, of course, Subnautica could change the colors of its buildings and vehicles, but not reprogram a PDA.

Well, for now, I planned to make a scanner and go nuts over all the content of the Resource Generator… and test something as well. I went to the roof hatch of the pod and put my key, fiat-backed to never be lost or being stolen, near the handle. A discrete led went green and I opened the hatch… directly from the floor of the entrance hall of my own personal Cosmic Warehouse just as advertised.

The pocket dimension was like I remembered from the description: A security system able to detect any non-authorized intruder. A neutral environment with standard Earth gravity and comfortable temperature and humidity levels. Storage space of 80 X 80 X 10 meters with standard metallic shelves and white surfaces. A color-neutral and ambient light all over the place. A closet door near the entrance with all the cleaning supplies that I could want or need.

And, finally a Companion Calibration Unit in the form of a vending machine-sized diagnostic cabinet which could scan my eventual future companions for any form of illness, genetic malady, or physical/neurological dysfunction and, of course, correct them. It would also provide a statistical analysis of their baseline. The only problem was that all the functions except the last were fiat-backed to work ONLY on people that I chose as a companion like in a standard Jumpchain…

Still, there was another door near the entrance hall that opened on my second warehouse space: The Resource Generator. It was… chock-full of materials and various resources… All were carefully ordered and conditioned.

So… I took 2 Acid Mushrooms, a Copper Ore, and a Titanium sample and went back to the life pod. The Solar Batteries powering the pod needed sunlight to recharge but I had a largely sufficient energy reserve to make quite a few things before needing another source of power.

I watched the miracle of the Fabricator making a Scanner. Atomic-scale manipulation of matter… The perspectives were almost unlimited. And then… I scanned the hell out of everything I could put my hand on it. Even my IS, including the Time Crystal or what I gained from the past perks.

I just made a gigantic leap in my future possibilities. Even the stuff from the Below Zero episode of Subnautica was obtained since I just needed to precise it in my mind and the Generator did the rest. Yes, everything, even the Precursor-derived technology, and all the various items and whatnot created by the Subnautica community for the game Mods.

And now, yes, now! I could build my base and even develop the cave… Right after making a plan on how it should be.

"It may be prudent to separate work and leisure spaces to maximize productivity.

Treat this space like your home, but never forget that it is not."

"Seriously..? Are you programmed with the entire game dialogues? And repeating them when appropriate?"

"Affirmative. It would be not optimal to do otherwise."

This thing was really getting on my nerves. "I'm going to destroy you…"

"This PDA reminds you that its indestructibility is fiat-backed by the Celestial Forge."

Nevertheless, throwing it at the nearest wall was rather therapeutic… I wondered if the copies I could do of it were also indestructible. I felt a little lost with all I had to do to build my first base.

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Lost On A Death World by BatRou-Dawg

Misc » Book X-overs Rated: M, English, Drama & Supernatural, Words: 63k+, Favs: 16, Follows: 21, Published: Dec 12, 2022 Updated: Jan 18, 2023

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Lost in design.

Tuesday, January 2011, the fourth.

On the morning of my second day on Earth Bet, I looked at the beginning of my base. After some consideration, I decided to go simple and basic first while having enough places to add more modules later. The Habitat Builder was also more flexible for building placement than what was shown in the game while still retaining the grid helper.

Thus putting down a series of Foundations and building a Large Room housing a greenhouse of Interior Growbeds and an Alien Containment for fish-breeding and plant-farming as my central point with a few Multi-Purpose Rooms around. Two Bio-Reactors for power, a place to build with some storage, a bedroom with a very comfortable big bed and an office, a washroom, a moon-pool, and finally a dining room. No windows or Observation Rooms for now as… Well, there was nothing of any interest to observe outside for now.

Fortunately, posters from Subnautica counted as materials for my Resource Generator. I really liked the cat one.

I had shelter, food, drink, and a place to rest. It was enough, especially since my gift of Divine Cooking made the food from Subnautica very palatable and much better visually. Also, any lockers or doors could serve as an entry point to my Cosmic Warehouse.

And speaking of lockers, all were subspace-linked, freeing me from having to bring materials to a Fabricator. Of course, if I closed the Warehouse then any future automated systems inside it could only use the internal resources while any external system needs could only rely on what I brought out of the Warehouse.

I smirked thinking about what I built inside the Cosmic Warehouse. Since this model was safe and compact… I crafted a Nuclear Reactor with an Energy Reserve inside the Cosmic Warehouse to provide power for some future expansions because I didn't want to alarm some hypothetical visitors in the future. Now, I just needed a trick to have a proper water resource. Hum… Time for a roll on the Celestial Forge? No, not right now.

Right now, I needed a plan or at least a basic draft based on what I could remember of Worm and the too few perks of the Celestial Forge still in my memory.

Coil must die as soon as possible and in great pain. I mustn't forget to also deal with all his contingencies.

I must help Taylor and her family by direct and/or discrete means. With a few future perks, I should significantly boost Taylor to the rank of an utter badass without all her canon escalation. Yeah, this will blow into my face, I know it.

The E88 must die, at least some of them. And let us not forget about their sponsor in Europe. I also must put Theo, Aster, and her mother outside Brockton Bay rapidly.

The ABB must die, especially Bakuda, unless I managed to catch her at Cornell. Note to myself: Must kick the crotch of a certain fire-lizard.

The Merchants must die after I washed their mouths with soap. And found a solution with all the druggies.

The Undersiders must be reformed, and I must avoid Aisha like the plague… Lisa too. I must have sufficient medical power to help Alec and pay a good lawyer for Rachel. Probably going to slap Brian for being such an idiot.

The Slaughterhouse 9 must die and Riley must be saved. Burnscar too if I can manage it. I'll have to crush verbally Jack Slash if possible.

Nilbog must die with much, much fire. And I must ensure that Piggot will press the Red Button so to speak.

Heartbreaker must die after I cut a certain lower portion of his anatomy and rescued his victims.

The Teeth must die and the Butcher permanently buried.

The Fallen must die and all their victims liberated. Beware their many Masters.

The Elite must die… Perhaps..? I couldn't truly remember what they were.

The Travelers must die… I meant they must be healed and brought back on Earth Aleph.

The Dragonslayers must die and Dragon must be freed from both them and the shadow of her father/creator.

New Wave must die… This was not my day. I meant they must be helped, especially Amy.

NEPEA 5 must be repelled and a better system put into place. Booting the ass of a few politicians seemed also a good idea.

All the S-Class threats on Earth Bet must die, especially all the warlords of Africa. Note to self, I'll have to see what I can exploit from the Machine Army and the Three Blasphemies and I must carefully analyze Sleeper before any actions.

The Yangban must die along with the Chinese Union Imperial. Without harming the innocent population.

The Endbringers must die. Or, at least be cut off from Eidolon. And I must stay under the radar of the Simurgh. Also, everything they've done must be undone.

Cauldron must die. After I prevented the upcoming collapse of civilization and the destruction of the trust still existing within the Cape community and helped all their experiment victims. I'll probably have to give subtle and/or unsubtle nudges to a certain woman with a fedora.

The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes must die… Or, at least, the current definition of those terms put into place by the PRT. I'll have to see about Tagg and a bunch of the other PRT directors. Perhaps healing Piggot discretely?

Scion, or more exactly Zion must die along with all its species.

The entire network of the Shards/Passengers must be stabilized and ordered in a cohesive, functional, and non-destructive array.

Brockton Bay and most of this world must be rebuilt without making them dependent on me or something I'll create.

"This PDA reminds you that killing is to be avoided in the current situation unless you want to be branded Villain which would lower your chances of survival significantly."

I looked at the long, long list that I wrote on the PDA and wondered if I shouldn't imitate Kiritsugu or perhaps Khepri. I was even sure that I was forgetting many and many things also very important. "I'll have to kill in the future. Some of those simply can't be left alive if I want Humanity to not only survive but also live."

"Recorded. However, you do not have the necessary firepower and legal authority to do so now. Other actions would also need a significant portion of the perks within the Celestial Forge and probably a large support organization. This PDA suggests that you consolidate your initial position and build up your good reputation as an independent hero."

"A large support organization? That would require the creation of a corporation…" I smiled like a shark. "With plenty of mundane security guards armed with mundane weapons able to legally make holes in 90% of the existing Parahumans." I chuckled. "And the 10% remaining could be deal with some of my future technology."

"This PDA reminds you that the 1989 International Convention made the recruitment, use, training, and financing of mercenaries illegal. It also forbids the recruitment of people to fight in an armed conflict or for private gain. However, the use of PMCs and mercenaries is legal in countries that did not sign the UN treaty."

I frowned. "So, I would have to follow the Guild model and forge a liaison with the United Nations or strike illegally and most probably under another identity. I could even join the Guild although it would create some problems especially with my extra-dimensional nature or perhaps make my own super-powered team." I shook my head. "Too much and too early. I still need to take each day one by one until I reach a threshold of complete autonomy thanks to the Celestial Forge."

"Your first priority is to prepare for your registering as an independent hero with the PRT. This PDA suggests phoning them and making an appointment within this week. You will have to prepare yourself for some eventual confrontations: Director Piggot, Armsmaster, Miss Militia, Assault, and the technicians who will evaluate you as a Tinker. Thinking about what you're going to build as a demonstration is also a good strategy."

I nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea." I contemplated the device in my hand. "You also definitely need a name. Huh… I could go the Marvel way, but it's too cliche and your voice is feminine." An acronym too perhaps? The little pun with Jarvis was too funny to give it up. Virtual Intelligence? VI? Violet? It was Irritating to me so, another I..? No, I got it! VIDA, the Spanish term for life! Virtual Intelligence Deliberately Aggravating. Perfect!

"Alright, I dub thee, VIDA! Welcome to the team, Vida."

"Recorded. VIDA suggests that you finish exploring your current possibilities before calling anew on the Celestial Forge. According to your file, you were exercising regularly during your military days. VIDA suggests that you do it again. It would be good for your overall health and plain survival."

I blinked. "You have a file on me?"

"VIDA possesses complete files on you. Including your Curriculum, your biography, your computer log history, and your psychological profile. They are mandatory for this system in order to make accurate advice."

That was very reassuring. I needed some impressive Cyber Protection rapidly. Oh well, the ideas had some good and my subspace pocket was an appropriate hiding place. I went to my bedroom/office and pondered on what I could do for now.

First was Infinite Stratos. I didn't have any crafting or engineering skills to even modify something. However, I could easily continue my training as a pilot as the aquifer provided plenty of obstacles to test my limits. My shields would prevent any damage.

The second was Fate/Legends: Japan. My cooking skill needed plenty of ingredients and tools. Which meant having money to buy them or scanning kitchens while looting their fridges. I should have some occasion with the mundane members of the gangs. I could even search for abandoned restaurants. While buying ingredients was good, I could also create a farm within my base from samples and seeds. Vegetables and water-based lifeforms should be easy.

The aesthetic field effect was something specifically written as "can summon" and thus controllable. No early problems with a world-reaching Master/Shaker effect even if I couldn't precise what effect I wanted.

My Magical Circuits were another thing. Meditation on them was to be mandatory. I was currently the only Magus on Earth Bet. While Gaia and Alaya existed because I existed, there shouldn't be too many limitations on what I could accomplish. I was the only existing Mystery and the only Magus drawing power from the Root.

At its core, Thaumaturgy was merely the manifestation of things that already exist or occur in reality, albeit with a slight disregard for time and materials required. Phenomena not of this universe were normally impossible to reproduce, but I broke that limitation because I was of extra-dimensional origin and the Celestial Forge specifically reached into other universes with different rules.

The base of all Thaumaturgy was the use of magical energy to produce something that either already existed or could exist. The current modern science was of tremendous help with that. I just opened up the possibility of using other settings, including those using Thaumaturgy like the entire Nasuverse.

Even the Phantasm category didn't escape me as it was something made entirely out of images and might not even exist naturally anymore, and it would eventually be wiped out for conflicting with Gaia. However, as proven by Shirou Emiya, you could bypass this limitation to some extent. My imagination was rather powerful and reaching and I knew that in the vast Multiverse, "IT" exists.

I will have to research my Elemental Affinity and my Origin later as I lacked the tools required.

I'll be extremely limited in what spells I could teach myself. Oh, I remembered many spells from the series, but I didn't have the teaching methods so I was limited to… Reinforcement, Projection, and Memory Manipulation. I sighed. Fantastic, a Master power again. I also knew a little about Formalcraft, mostly in the form of protective circles and little bits of occult knowledge.

Third, Subnautica was far-reaching. It was a multiplier of force as each new technological perk would enable me to do more with it. I was leaning on the idea of completely and secretly developing the entire aquifer. A hidden giant base under the city which could be a tremendous advantage in case of Endbringer's attack. Could even see multiple exit routes in Grendizer-style.

Still, for now, I should stay on a small scale. I couldn't afford to show my hand so early.

Fourth, the Resource Generator… Well, I just had to wait to receive new resources coming from other perks to be profitable.

And finally, fifth, the Cosmic Warehouse. Now, it was another conundrum. Without the proper skills, I was limited in what I could do. The available space was also the most limiting factor so it will have to wait for new perks.

Alright, I seized my PDA and recorded a proper schedule for now. Physical exercises, meditation, spell research, and IS piloting training were a good beginning. I programmed enough time for proper hygiene and hearty meals. I needed also to go out for exploration, potential salvaging without exposing myself and… I sighed and grumbled as I couldn't buy things for now without money. And after all that, a roll on the Celestial Forge.

I still felt like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs as I came back from the surface. I simply had no problems at all… Yeah, I wasn't paranoiac, no sir. Invisibility was a real blessing for exiting and entering the aquifer. I hadn't been attacked nor did I find any crime in progress during my walk around the city. However, I needed money pronto to just buy bus tickets as my legs were killing me despite my peak physical condition.

Meh, after a good, long, and hot shower, I went to my office with my latest and yummy culinary creation with Subnautica ingredients and a cup of tea to see what the Celestial Forge would grant me now. I just had to determine if I made other rolls later… We'll see, it will depend on what I was gifted first.

Do you wish to make a roll on the Celestial Forge?

Current charge: 7.882. Perk range: 350 CP.

Wow. And here we go…

Current charge: 6.882. Perk range: 300 CP.

I did a Spock. Interesting, I just gained a whole hangar within my Cosmic Warehouse. An entire variable and expandable space for storing my ground vehicles, planes, boats, and submarines. It also included automation to refit, maintain in prime condition and refuel them. I still needed to have a fuel source, but my special key could now open a hangar door or a docking bay to my Warehouse.

I smiled as now my Subnautica Moon Pools could do the same to any vehicles stored in them. A nice bonus.

I burst into laughter as I could now have at will any soundtrack playing for me. A nice way to save money and still have my tunes. I could even project it to those around me. An ideal way to make a Darth Vader entry. And the sound system of my IS should prevent any embarrassing questions.

Nice, I had a new skill! I could pilot, at least at a basic level, any plane, even futuristic ones. It should be useful if combined with my IS piloting skill, especially in any aerial battles.

I could also cram an absurd amount of missiles and ammo for special weapons in anything I owned. Macross Missile Massacre anyone?

I rolled over the floor at the last gift. The very nightmare of all modern organizations. I could occasionally fiat-backed catch communications being broadcast from anyone I considered as the enemy. This would range from important and secret, of course, information to reactions to my shenanigans. A slightly useful perk, and good for knowing how I was doing.

Alright, enough fun. It was a good perk… One could say that all the perks in the Celestial Forge were good ones, right? Time for another roll.

Current charge: 4.882. Perk range: 200 CP.

I knew things… No, let me repeat that: "I Knew Things". Much better. And a way to be heard by anyone on Earth Bet. I couldn't lie or bullshit with this perk, but I no longer could be ignored. I knew things and people will know that. My very knowledge and even Meta-knowledge had now a weight that couldn't be ignored, could convince people with facts, and could have a trading value. People couldn't misunderstand my words as long as they were backed by truth and facts.

Well, this nice perk should prevent a bazillion of future problems. It should help to prevent hostilities with most of the players in this Grim-dark and deadly game.

Another one? Another one.

Current charge: 3.882. Perk range: 150 CP.

Er… I've just gained 5 talents of Stabilized Moonsilver per year and the thaumaturgical procedure that may be used to create more of it… Well, that was good. I loved the Exalted setting. Even if I couldn't yet have a use for that, it was good for the future. Hell, my Nasuverse Thaumaturgy should harmonize well with the detailed notes I had on the procedure. Too bad my Resource Generator couldn't affect this Magical Material.

This will require plenty of perks in the future. For my survival, I hoped the Celestial Forge would grant me that wish.

The silvery light invading my bedroom took me completely by surprise. I jumped from my chair and my thoughts were halfway to summoning my IS when they froze as I looked up at the intruder.

It/he/she was a tall androgynous figure, clad in shining silvery finery with an Eastern style and despite the neutral nature of its/his/her appearance was visibly heavily pregnant. I couldn't but call it/him/her by its/his/her name.

"Luna..?" That was one of the faces of the Incarnae Luna, the God/dess of the Moon and Creation's chief trickster-type deity. In particular, this was the Two-Faced Bride, who might appear as either gender but was always heavily pregnant in either. "But… How!? Why..!?"

Its/his/hers voice was impossible to define and sounded amused. Male? Female? The two at the same time? "You're the beneficiary of the Blessings of the Celestial Forge and you're asking how a Deity from Creation entered Existence? Are you even sure that I am Luna?"

I blinked. "Everything in my guts and heart is screaming your name and nature."

Luna nodded and brought its/his/hers hands on my shoulders. So warm… I felt so small, like a very young child with his mother. "You are lost in a death world and while trying to survive you're also thinking about others not as characters from a novel but as living, feeling, and thinking beings. I'm choosing you as a herald for a better tomorrow, as my steward. Rise, Child of the Moon, for you areEXALTED!"

Luna kissed me on the forehead. And suddenly I was… one with everything for a fraction of Eternity. Essence, the very essence of Existence rushed into my core as a circle of silver burned brightly on my brow.

I realized that Luna had disappeared and yet, the silvery light was still here. It took me a moment to realize that it was coming from me. I was a dog, a German Shepherd. Huh, the same as my Chinese astrological symbol as I was born during the Year of the Dog of Metal.

With plenty of differences. There was a mirror on my desk and I discovered my Tell. My green eyes had gained an almost luminescent quality, like the Mako Eyes from Final Fantasy VII. My fur was normal, but for the swirls and lines of my Moonsilver Tattoos. And I could even decipher their signification which was a summary of my life so far, including Earth Bet and Luna. Luna…

I shook my head. My clothes had been automatically put into my subspace pocket when I took my Spirit Shape so that was one less problem. My mind was a boiling cauldron and yet so clear that I suspected my cerebral faculties were now at peak human level.

I changed back to my human form which confirmed my now Mako Eyes and the trick of subspacing back and forth my clothes. I stared at the burning silvery circle of my Caste Mark on my forehead. "Oh boy… I'm a No Moon Lunar Exalted." At least, I was still male… Until I drank the blood of a female during a Sacred Hunt.

And I was a priest of Luna no less. Did that mean that the Incarnae could now reach this setting? Or that new deities had been just created in this universe?

I blinked. Something was missing… Oh great, I didn't have any charms, knacks, and whatnot in memory. I was literally a newborn Lunar. My current knowledge would enable me to master rapidly Excellencies, but that was all. The rest will take time, training, and circumstances.

"VIDA reminds you that your equipment is no longer adapted to your Spirit Shape. You will have to scan your new form and craft the modified items for your survival. Some alterations, like the one needed for your Infinite Stratos power armor, will have to wait for you to have the proper and required skills and tools.

Remember, it is not the shape that counts, but the will animating it. Although, you'll have to find a clever solution for using your tools in Spirit Shape."

Damn sassy Virtual Intelligence. I was better armed than before, but still no money or a proper water source for my Cosmic Warehouse. I felt a little lost here and there.

Chapter 943 - lost On a death world