Game Start

POV: MC

One moment I'm going through space and in a blink of an eye I'm looking through some type of clear murky liquid.

I can't really make out any details except some blobs and some blinking lights. Looking down I see a mask covering my lower face and that's all. Soon I feel the liquid start draining and I feel my feet touch the bottom of the pod. 

Once the liquid drains, the door opens up and I fall out on all four. Reaching up I tear the mask from my face and try to take in a large breath only to start coughing up large amounts of the murky liquid. After a few moments I can finally breathe. 

Looking around everything comes into focus. The blobs have turned into a gurney, a locker and a desk where the blinking light comes from. The room is a mixture of gun metal gray and white. Before I can move I hear something. 

"Initializing systems. Running full diagnostics. Diagnostics green. Booting up Athena version 5.3. Boot up successful. Running full cyberware suite. Connection to cybernetics detected. Permission to integrate into existing cybernetics?" "Yes?" "Permission granted. Integrating into current cybernetics. Cybernetics functioning at 100%. Detecting outside source. Do you wish to connect?" "No." "Permission withheld. Awaiting further commands."

"ALERT. Imprints detected. Main directive, Initialize imprints on host. Hosts permission waiver. Initializing Imprints. Standby."

All of the sudden, knowledge I didn't know before assaults my brain. Battle tactics of large and small calibers, mixed martial arts, weapon training of all types, knowledge of current important figures and events, in-depth knowledge on cutting edge technology, deep understanding of economical and political power, and for some reason all the best tips to help in cooking.

'Damn, Henry doesn't fuck around. I can't imagine what he must've spent on me.' "Answer, $9,856,473,201 credits." 'Wow, I hope he left some cash for me.' "Answer, unknown, connection to Externet needed. Recommended course of action, connect to outside source."

'So that's what that was. Wait, how can I hear you and how are you reading my thoughts!' "Answer, cybernetically enhanced ears which allow for a wide range of uses, such as a communication device, the ability to pick up different sound and radio frequencies in vicinity, as well as enhanced hearing." 'And my thoughts?' "Answer, my A.I. housing unit is surgically interwoven with part of your own brain. A vast majority is concentrated on the cerebrum. This allows thought transfer to occur." 'Nani!!!' 

'Athena… what is my organic and synthetic ratio?' "Answer, 80% organic and 20% synthetic." 20% is a lot more than I thought it would be.

'Athena, give me the details on my current augmentations.' I ask as I stand up. 

(AN: This is an info dump on his current augmentations so jump ahead if you want.)

"Reporting, current augmentation include:

2 Prototype HCD-4s:

HCD-4 are built-in comm relays that allow subjects to have advanced hearing while also being able to "tune in" to different sound and radio frequencies.

Built-in omni-tool:

An advanced form of Omni-Tool that sits right above the wrist under the subjects skin.

Carbide Ceramic Ossification:

Advanced material grafting onto skeletal structures to make bones virtually unbreakable.

Muscular Enhancement Injections:

Protein complex is injected intramuscularly to increase tissue density and decrease lactase recovery time.

Catalytic Thyroid Implant:

Platinum pellet containing human growth hormone, catalyst is implanted in the thyroid to boost growth of skeletal and muscle tissues.

Occipital Capillary Reversal:

Submergence and boosted blood vessel flow beneath the rods and cones of the subject's retina. Produces a marked visual perception increase.

Superconducting Fibrification of Neural Dendrites:

Alteration of bioelectrical nerve transduction to shielded electronic transduction. 300% increase in subject reflexes. Anecdotal evidence of marked increase in intelligence, memory, and creativity.

Muscular Enhancement Lining: Compound applied to the exterior surface of all muscles, allowing them to work harder without tearing the subject's skeleton apart.

Pulmonary Polymer Lining:

Greatly increases oxygen intake and retention, helps process toxins from the air and allows the subject to breathe certain non-oxygen atmospheres for up to an hour.

Cardiac Implants:

Strengthens cardio-vascular tissue and increases maximum heart rate to safely allow massive adrenaline flow without the risk of stroke or heart attack. These implants are able to allow the subject to run at a maximum speed of almost 40 miles (64 km) per hour.

Artificial Pancreas Implant:

Allows the subject's body to extract the maximum amount of nutrients and carbohydrates from food with minimal waste.

Artificial Platelet Injections:

Enhances the body's ability to slow bleeding and clot wounds.

Artificial Intelligence Housing Unit:

Allows the A.I. to fully integrate with the subject's brain and body. Boosts memory retention, reflexes, helps with imprinting, and allows the subject to hack nearly any system."

That's a lot more than I bargained for. Damn, all I need to do now is get used to all my new knowledge and train my body. It'll take some time but thankfully that's what I have in spades at the moment. 

Stumbling over to the locker I pull on the handle and accidentally rip it off. I'm a lot stronger than I used to be which is gonna suck for the meanwhile. Pulling the door open I see a change of clothes that consists of grey sweat pants, a pair of white socks, some briefs, a pair of slip-on shoes, and a white T-shirt. Getting dressed takes a moment cause I have to be careful not to rip the fabrics.

After battling with my new clothes I stumble my way over to the desk. Pulling out the chair I sit down. Upon doing so an ominous creaking fills the room. Apparently I'm a lot heavier too.

Looking around I try to find a mouse for the monitor, then I remember what time period I'm in. 'Athena connect to outside source.' "Permission granted, connecting to outside source. Previous query on current funds updated. Current funds are $597,882,450,827." 

I feel my heart race at the numbers told to me. For a moment I just sit in silence, then I start giggling which turns into a full on laughing fit which turns into me asking for reconfirmation which then turns into me hysterical laughing. "I'm Rick motherfuckers!" My own voice startles me out of my craze. Speaking out loud a few more times I can't help but fall in love with the sound of my voice.

It kinda sounds like Patrick Warburton, but a little lower for a deeper sounding voice. After messing around with my voice a little more I turn my attention back towards the monitor. It's showing a paused video of Henry. Mentally clicking play with Athena, the video starts.

"Hello son, if you are seeing this message it means that I am most likely dead. You are my greatest creation and the heir to my vast empire, for no other than my finest creation can do it justice. If I had to hazard a guess as to who killed me I would bet it to be the Shadow Broker. Getting my hands on Athena was just to tempting not to steal it from him, and so would you kindly find and kill the cowardly fuck."

"Direct Order, Find and Kill Shadow Broker. Order Confirmed." 'What the hell Athena? You can't just accept orders on other behalf. Not cool.' "Conflict in orders, Subject Delta refusing order. Order compliance initiated. Order compliance not responding. Disregarding previous order." … What. The. Fuck.

"Now that that's settled I also want you to be on the lookout for your 2 sisters, Miranda and Oriana. And don't say your father never gave you anything, would you kindly activate offline Biotic implants." 

"Direct Order, Activating slumbering Biotic implants. Implants online. Running full diagnostics. Diagnostics green. Athena Version 5.3 fully online. Biotic implants charging. Warning, Biotic implants initiated before Imprints. Solution: Powering down Biotic implants, initializing Biotic Imprints, stand by."

Another wave of information hits me. This time only about Biotics and how to use them in any given scenario. More and more information runs through my head until Athena speaks up again. "Imprint successful. Powering up Biotic implants. Biotic Implants fully powered. Warning. Detecting inadequacies in Biotic implants. Running Diagnostics. Enhancing inadequacies. Enhancement completed. Biotic Implants now at 27.444% higher capacity."

You know, I never thought I'd get tired of saying fuck, but today has made me change that outlook. 'Athena, can you explain to me what you just did?' "Answer, Enhancement of Biotic implants." I swear I can hear some sort of smug undertone from it. 'I mean what did you "Enhance"?' "Answer, physical form of host can sustain a higher usage of Biotic manipulation before sustaining any form of damage. Damage includes Liquefaction of the brain, muscle tears, and implosion of implants amongst multiple other results. Enhancements include: Larger Biotic capacity. More efficient draw on Biotics. Larger range of operation. Increase in size of use." 

'Aren't those last two the same?' "Answer, clarification. Larger range of operation, Biotics may now be used further from the host. Increase in size of use, Biotics will now be 27.444% larger than previous. Example: Biotic Shockwave is a skill that sends a powerful shockwave that when used goes for 9.144m in one direction with a radius of 2.743m. Enhanced allows for a length of 11.612m and a radius of 3.495m."

'So all the skills shown in the Imprint are now 27% more powerful?' "Answer, yes." 'WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU LEAD WITH POWER INSTEAD OF SIZE' "Answer, I am limited by the vocabulary knowledge of the author who is too lazy to go back and change a single word because it takes too much effort."

(Shit, why am I taking shots at myself. I blame my brain.)

"Answer, because you think it's funny."

(Damnit Athena, not now.)

'Ahem, back to me and MY story please.' (Right away Sir.)

'So does that mean for the range of operation I can place, say, a singularity further away from me?' "Answer, Correct." 'What's my current operating range, and please just round the number.' "Answer, 53m." 

(Or for my fellow U.S. citizens that's 173ft. God our systems so stupid. Decimals on one hand and fractions on the other. Decimal please.) 

'That's a pretty good distance for a newbie. (*Cough* "Mary Sue" *Cough*) 'STOP INTERRUPTING BASTARD. BESIDES YOU'RE THE ONE WRITING ME.' (...)

'Alright Athena, resume video.' "Good luck my son. I give you the name Jason as you shall be lead by Athena to leave your name in history." The video cuts off and the screen goes black. I honestly have no idea where to go from here. I have the time to do what I want and need, plus a shit-ton of money. For now though I'm going to focus on getting my body under control and see if there are any more surprises awaiting me. Henry might have been the scum of the galaxy but the man knew how to make money like no other. 'Goodbye Henry, may your next life be that of a green hat man.'

(A.N. in case you don't understand. In Ancient China the relatives of prostitutes were made to wear green hats which then became a symbol of infadality or cheating because the words were very similar to Cuckold. AKA you get none while someone gets some. The more you know.)

After giving my heartfelt prayer I walk over to the gurney and lay down. This day has been utterly exhausting and all I want to do is get some sleep. Maybe I'll wake up to this being a dream. God I hope not, that would suck. Goodnight galaxy, brace yourself for I'm about to turn your shit inside out Mwahahahaha.

POV: Narrative

10 Years pass by and Jason has had his time to get acclimated to the new universe he finds himself in. Making friends, playing, fighting, learning, building, and killing. The road ahead is perilous and fraught with dangers and he wouldn't have it any other way. Find out what comes next in The Paragons Pursuit.