21 Ch 21

Memories that weren't mine ran through my head. Combat simulations, briefings and debriefings. The data was being forced into our cybernetic body, and was most likely from the memory of a dead special operations soldiers. The main danger was not from the physical damage from the deluge of information. No, it was because of the sinister nature of this operation. According to known records, there was a 90 percent chance of the subject losing their mind to the data, and allowing the data to take control as the new personality. I could feel it already as a foreign force tugged at my mind. It was trying to make me lower my guard, and allow it to take root in my cybernetics.

"NO,"

I screamed in my mind. Base stat of Will was 10. I couldn't even think further. The pain was too much. I resorted to the only plan I knew. The way people trained will was going through pain and suffering but making it through. I shot what little Elms I had into my soul. It was the equivalent of repeated stabbing myself with a knife.

"It hurts,".

It hurt like hell. There were ascetic fighters in the Galaxy who were very respected. Some were tortured for years and still gave no information. One had once taught me a technique for handling pain. He said to focus on something that I held dearly. For him it was his dead wife. For me.

"I... I.... I want the memories of my past family back!,".

Even if it was a dumb thought to present me, at that moment something about my soul had changed. Keeping the foreign soul at bay was slightly easier. I had finally gained the initiative and could pressure the hostile soul back. Eventually I had worn the enemy soul down enough that I could absorb it. I regenerated strength, Jason doesn't.

Jason the Special Operations guy, died because he took a bullet aimed for his squad leader. Crap this is the handiwork of the Death Witch. As I woke up I had the stunning realization that the Death Witch was the only one capable to do this at the current period. Period 1.0 of the Pirates. Nearly impossible to form a domain for players. Corporations were created instead. Domains were independent pockets of space owned by players, but corporations were companies inside of a country that took resources in the name of that country. Pirates huh, I could profit a lot, if only I could get out of this dumb back water planet.