Condition Evolution 3: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure by Kevin Sinclair (early readers .TXT) 📗

the head of trading on Torax. He’s in charge of all shipments on and off the planet.”

“That’s brilliant,” I exclaimed. “He can help us get people away then.”

“I had a huge falling out with him, and that’s why I left Torax. He is, how do you describe it… a complete prick. We do not get on, yet unfortunately, anything we do on the planet will have to go through him.”

“Right. That’s not great. Can you make it up with him?” Ember asked.

“I’ll try, I promise,” Calegg said, although we could all clearly see the tension in him as he made that promise. He didn’t believe he could deliver on it.

“You’ll do fine, I know it,” Ember said, while Elyek patted him on the back.

“Let’s get down there. I don’t think hanging on will help Calegg’s confidence any. How soon 'til we can land?” I asked.

Calegg sighed, “We can be there in an hour. We’ve jumped close. And seriously, this ship.” He smiled a little with pride, patting the table.

“Well, the Thoth turning up as bounty hunters changes things, too. I want to… sorry we need to get some support. Uprising Inc. needs a crew, yesterday.”

“Okay, Shaun. We’re going,” Calegg said, getting up from the table, “but I'm making no promises.”

“I will take us to Torax and watch over the bridge. You should all get tidied up and prepared,” Elyek said. “Plus, you won't need me on this trip. I can rest when you all go down to Torax.”

“Yeah, we could do with cleaning up. Hopefully, this excursion will be less intense,” I laughed.

“I’ll stay with you, Elyek. I’m still fresh and I can help talk us past the barrier force,” Calegg added.

“Thank you, Calegg. That would be appreciated,” Elyek replied.

Ember and I slunk off to our room to get cleaned up for whatever awaited us on Torax.

After we showered and jumped into bed, Ember started chatting, “Hey, Shaun. Have you checked your stats lately? We must have got some gains for that last week. We might even be up for the hundred party.”

“Okay. Together?”

“Definitely, mine first.”

I nodded happily, “Sure, Ember. Let's do it.” I went to her Interface Room. She was waiting already.

Name: Ember Davison

Age: 25 GY

Transcendence Level: 100

Strength: 81/1000

Agility: 110/1000

Speed: 100/1000

Intelligence: 40/1000

Constitution: 116/1000

Wisdom: 51/1000

Mental Resilience: 205/1000

Mental Clarity: 45%

Potential: 83%

“Woo-hoo! I did it! Now let’s have a peek at yours.”

“Yeah, sure. How has your Clarity gone up? I'm sure it was only like, 38 or something last time we looked.”

“Unlike you, Shaun, I occasionally visit my Mindscape and do a bit of work on it. A practice you should start adopting quickly. Now come on, let's go see how you’re doing,” she said, and we both scooted over to my Mindscape.

Name: Shaun Sutherland

Age: 29 GY

Transcendence Level: 99

Strength: 203/1000

Agility: 74/1000

Speed: 108/1000

Intelligence: 46/1000

Constitution: 200/1000

Wisdom: 7/1000

Mental Resilience: 60/1000

Mental Clarity: 20%

Potential: 99%

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. How’s that even possible?” she said, totally astonished.

“Hell, if I know. I did do quite a bit. Maybe it was the bare-knuckle beating I took, or maybe Havok helped me level.”

“I'm glad you’ve had a good jump, Shaun. It means we’re that little bit safer doesn't it?” she said, curling into my armpit. It seemed like she was about to go off to sleep when she suddenly jumped up like a mad-woman.

“What! What's wrong?” I shouted, panicking.

“My boot! I need to put it together, and hopefully it will self-repair, or I’m fucked. I’ll have to hop everywhere.”

I laughed, then rolled over. “Night, Ember.”

C2

Slow-Baked Potato

Torax met with my expectations. Because of Calegg’s fire-based abilities, I figured red and orange colors, and very rugged. Anywhere a race of fire-wielding, horned people came from was bound to look mildly hellscapey.

We watched the planet through the front screen of the landing craft. Ember stood next to me, leaning against my side. Arriving at new planet wasn’t likely to get old anytime soon for us two intergalactic noobs, and luckily Ember’s boot had repaired itself, so she was my friend for the approach.

We left the Uprising in orbit because we were unanimous in our agreement that being caught on the ground with her would be the pinnacle of stupidity, considering how many people we’d pissed off. We left Elyek near the space station, which contained a number of Galactic Empire soldiers. Their purpose was to act as a kind of police force, checking incoming and outgoing traffic. Generally, the Torax were not permitted to leave their planet. They could only leave under specific circumstances, although I wasn’t sure what all of those were.

Ships arriving at Torax were 99% trade vessels, here to purchase the precious Suldr: fire gems, as Calegg informed me. The Torax people mined, prepared and sold these Suldr. They were apparently an invaluable energy source on spaceships and Torax’s only export. It was for the Suldr that we claimed to be here to buy, and we were in fact going to buy some while we were here.

Elyek had explained that most of the ship's functions were powered by the same fuel the ship used to go places. But the energy from the fuel had to be converted, however Suldr could charge many of these functions far more efficiently, thus allowing our fuel to last exponentially longer. It seemed like a bloody good idea to me.

Elyek and Calegg had come up with the plan together, and it was a fucking brilliant feeling, to trust in them to make these plans and decisions. The responsibility was an unwelcome weight, and I was happy to delegate at any time. They had informed the Empire guard that we would be landing the shuttle down on the surface to negotiate the purchase of Suldr. Once complete and our order made ready, we would take the Uprising down to pick up the cargo, which would indeed consist of Suldr. But more hopefully, it would also include a strong group of Torax fighters, hidden of course.

To Calegg’s credit, he transported us down in the small craft like