Sidekick by Carl Stubblefield (10 best novels of all time .txt) 📗

There was a loud gong noise that caused Gus to flinch. An opaque blue message window filled his display.

Congratulations! You now have the option to choose a Guiding Principle.

Guiding principles offer many benefits as long as you hold them in solemn regard and do not break them, offering stat boosts and enhancements as long as you remain true to the tenets of the principle.

You have the option to choose: Compassion.

You receive a +5 increase in all basic stats and a 30% increase to XP gain while the status is maintained. Be true to yourself, and you will continue to grow and develop!

You have chosen to preserve life in the pursuit of your growth. XP awarded upon creatively subduing opponents who attack you, party members, or contested territory.

Know this! Penalties are incurred upon breaking this principle. Severe XP and level penalties variable on situation and frequency. If you show yourself unfit to live this Guiding Principle, it will be stripped from you.

When you are working in a team aligned with your values and views, they also will have access to the same bonuses applied for the duration of the party. Access to a unique team ability based on team dynamics available.

Conditions: Know this! All members of the team must adhere to this tenet as you move forward or the entire group will suffer penalties.

Accept? (Y/N)

“Hold up there before you go smashing that Y,” Nick warned.

“Are you kidding? That’s a huge boost to stats—and XP too!”

“I know you think this is a noble course of action, but I must recommend against it.”

“What? Why?”

“This is a very difficult guiding principle to maintain. Most supers drop it eventually and suffer horrible penalties as a result.”

“Yeah, it mentioned that. What kind of penalties are we talking about?”

“Generally, you lose all XP progression to the next level, as well as losing an entire level for the first offense. It only goes up from there. If you lose ten levels, you are forever locked out of this guiding principle, as well as related ones in the future.”

“What happens if I just wait and accept it later, when things settle down?”

“Unique conditions are usually what leads to the opportunity to accept a guiding principle. Most likely the restraint and choosing not to kill these guys. If you want a probability, there is a 98% chance you will not have this option again in the future, even if you recreate the same conditions.”

“Well, that sucks.”

“This penalty would apply to all of the other supers who join you in a party. In fact, they would suffer a proportionally more severe penalty due to the larger XP gaps between you and their higher levels. Even with the XP bonuses, they would not compensate for accidental deaths. You struggled just recently with no real threats on the line. Many supers find that when the stakes get too high, often principles that seem noble in the bright of day cost too much to maintain.”

“You said the Nth seeded our culture with ideas so that we would more readily accept them, correct?”

“Yep, that is true.”

“So when we have things in the comics where there are definite ‘good guys’ and the sacrifices they make, isn’t that showing a preferred ideal? Or was that wishful thinking from the human side? That we as a species are capable of making that kind of sacrifice?”

“Gus, have you always been a ‘good guy,’ as you mention it? I for one think it’s vastly overrated, but how do I put this? Just remember some of the antics you did when you were a henchman. So. Many. Antics! Mike would be proud, though—I know I am.”

“Who’s Mike?”

“Never mind, all I’m saying is that if you want to be inherently good, maybe start with putting the shopping carts back in the rack first and work your way up. It’s a big jump from chaotic neutral to lawful good.”

Gus remembered some of the destructive things he had done during his time as a henchman. A smile crept across his face, which turned into a grimace. While fun, they probably weren’t as noble as he was trying to be now.

“People can change. I can change. I at least have to try; my brother made it two years. I’m not going to compromise after only two weeks of being a super. Can you evaluate how likely I am to succeed if I do accept this guiding principle?” Gus asked.

“I… am not allowed to discuss it. I have already said too much. This decision is yours, and must rest with you alone. I simply want you to know what happens with the majority of humans who attempt this guiding principle. I am not saying you are wrong, but I doubt you have weighed the cost—”

“No. I’m doing it. Thank you for telling me about the risks.”

“You should still think about—”

Gus clicked Y.

Chapter Six

I Can’t Fix You

“You know no one else is going to play by your rules, especially other supers, right? You think that was the best choice right now?”

“I think it’s exactly what I need. I don’t ever want to let myself get to that place, and if it takes a guiding principle and even punishment, it might be enough to help me be true to myself.”

“Still—”

“I can do it. I just have to be smarter. Not take the easy way out like I always do. If I can’t keep promises to myself then how can I keep them to anyone else? You don’t know how much I would daydream about what I would do. I can’t throw all of that away, especially with how things are out there.”

“Yeah, yeah. Be the hero the world needs, not the one it deserves. So what are you going to do with these creeps on the beach?”

Gus blew out a big sigh and put his hands on his hips. “I don’t know. I’m concerned that they could reveal the coordinates of the island and things might get a lot busier here than I’m ready for.”

“A