8 Credits and Food

I've won 600 credits so far, and the only person left at the table is the man who paid for my buy-in. He isn't very happy looking, and my stack of winning's is bigger than his. I've noticed that NPC's have to same inventory function as the rest of the players, which is cool, in my opinion. Every time I take this guy's remaining money, he pulls out more from his inventory and rebuys-in.

This is his last hand by the pissed-off look on his face. I've committed a robbery in this game. My race traits make everything so much easier. The math, the strategy, my memory, and my IQ. I was smart before, but now. It's like a whole new world that only geniuses can see has opened up to me. "I'd have never called you over if I knew you were such a damn good card player..." He mumbles under his breath.

I give a slight smile, not one of mocking. One that I acknowledge his attempt to lighten the hit to his pride. The dealer gives us our cards, and I have a pair of 10s. Not the best hand. The decision is easy here, though. I watch him put down three cards as well. He has a pair like I do. I put down three cards, and the dealer gives us our cards.

I was able to get another pair. Now I have two pair: 10s and 6s. I watch the look on his face as he picks up his cards, and I don't get any hint as to what he's got. "I'm going all in." He puts his hands on his credits and slides them into the center of the table. He has been playing really aggressively this whole game. The only question is do I have to be worried now.

I can assume he has the same card strength as I do. He started with a pair and now has something good. The possibilities are full house, four of a kind, three of a kind, and two pair. The odds of him getting a full house or a four of a kind are extremely low. Less than two percent, him getting three of a kind is pretty good odds, though.

Especially throwing away three cards to get it. "I call your bet." I slide 80 credits in to match his bet. I have no reason to raise. He smiles and lays down his cards. He's got two pair, 8s and 7s. I lay down my cards, and I watch his smile fade. I reach out and slide the 160 credit pot my way, totaling 760 credits in this session of gambling. He stands up, but he doesn't look mad. He reaches out with his hand for a handshake.

I stand and give the same courtesy. "You play a mean game, Scott Autumn. I don't often lose. Spend those credits wisely." He walks off, and I open my inventory and place the 760 credits in it. As I do this, I get a message from the system.

I open it, and it's a text box explaining something I have discovered. How Aeternus Universe works isn't something we come in knowing. As players, we have to discover things and tell others, either by word of mouth or via forums. I look at the text, and the title reads 'The Basics of Credits.'

[Discovery for player Scott Autumn!]

[The Basics of Credits.]

[Explanation: Credits are the lifeblood of the trans-galactic network. Everything you don't use exp on, you use credits. How these are used is up to you to find out.]

I notice there is a new tab on my player interface.

[Scott Autumn (Lone Wolf)]

[Race: Primordium]

[Exp: 0]

[Credits: 760]

[Traits]

[Hyperthymesia] [Eidetic Memory] [Tech Speak] [Unquantifiable IQ] [Indimidating Genius] [Unparalled Problem-Solving]

So there is a possibility of new things getting added to the player interface as a player progresses. I look around my environment and see that many of the games have ended. There is a place I want to check out first. I need to know where to look. Asking a local seems like the thing to do. I look around, and there are plenty of different species to ask.

I prefer to ask someone who speaks English if that's what they call it here. I see a human, and I calmly walk up to the person. I tap their shoulder, and he turns around to look at me. I watch his eyes start at my chest area and look a little surprised. I'm much tall than him. His eyes reach mine, and he backs up just a bit. "Do you know where I can go to look at some ships?" He looks at me up and down.

He scoffs a little and sighs. My outfit is currently still the clothes every player starts with. "There is a space-port 2 miles down that road from here." He points to the road at my right. "If you have a hard time figuring that out, follow the ships coming and going that way." He turns around and leaves. I could've figured it out myself, but it would have taken a little hit longer.

With these traits, it would have been fun to try out. I turn towards the road he pointed down, and I start walking. I look up towards the sky and notice that ships are coming and going this way. Next time I won't ask locals. I'll figure it out myself. That sounds way more fun.

As I walk, I ponder on some questions I have. The first being how do I get missions? I have one thanks to my race. However, I still have no idea how any of that works. I think about all the possibilities, and I come up with some theories. The first being anything worth a numerical value will be turned into a mission.

That doesn't really fit, though, so I can work on that theory some more. The second theory is anything that holds personal value will be turned into a mission. I'll have to test this theory out, but I don't have too high hopes for it.

My last theory is that the system determines a mission or not, which makes sense the most. If it does work this way, I'll need to find out how to get the system to trigger my missions.

I have so many theories and ideas the more I think. I close my eyes and clear my mind. I've noticed that sometimes once I start thinking, it's had to stop, but I'm getting used to these traits. There are many players around. While some logged off due to disorientation, some stayed on too. As I'm walking down this street, I notice more and more stores.

All of them are in variation. I can smell food stores. I want to figure something out. I walk into one of the stores that lots of NPC's dining at. I walk up to a machine, and it has a bunch of meals you can pay for. There are no cooks. Everything is automated. I look at the selection, and there is a mix of classic earth foods and alien dishes. I see a delicious-looking hamburger and fries.

I select it, and it asks me to confirm my purchase. I confirm it, and I get a tiny HUD message saying two credits have been removed from my inventory. Even that is automated. The machine proceeds to use some lasers to create the food. As I stare at it, I can see it disassemble in my mind. I see all the parts and how everything works. This must be my Tech Speak trait.

The information and design are now permanently engraved in my memory. I can access the information at a simple thought as if my mind were a computer. Actually better, there is no loss of time. Since I have Hyperthymesia and Eidetic Memory, it's so easy to remember... Well, absolutely everything. Even things from my time as a baby and things I learned in school I forgot as I got older.

I notice the food is done, and I pick up the tray and take a seat at an empty table. I start to eat, and it tastes so good. As I'm eating, I get a message from the system. I open it and begin to read.

[Discovery for Player Scott Autumn!]

[How to keep yourself alive.]

[Explanation: Food and water are essential to all life, in The Aeternus Universe, you must keep this in mind. Don't forget to feed yourself. There is no way for you to tell how hungry or thirsty you are with the player interface. How you feel determines your needs.]

The more I play this, the more addicted I get. I'm not getting off for at least a day. The ZSR-10k will warn me if I've been in too long without a meal. I finish the food, and I actually feel full. I stand up and place my tray where everything else is.

This starting world is just the beginning of the grand adventure ahead. I leave the store and continue walking down the road to the space-port. After a 20 minute walk, I see a massive structure in the distance that goes past the clouds. Ships are entering and leaving. I'm going to love this game.