Chapter 10

  "Changing your looks have never been easier! For the low low price of 200,000 credits you could have a new face in no-time. Just come on over and step in to the booth to change your life forever" – Ad for The YOU of tomorrow! A Sunset Biosolutions company.

  -2055

  I let a sigh escape as I left the building. "Fen.. Did I go too far back there? With the bodyguard I mean?" I asked turning towards the main building. As I got closer to it I noticed for the first time that the windows had metal shutters covering them. 'Quite sure those weren't there when we headed out' I thought to myself

  You mean with the shaker? I would say that you did quite well, I can't tell you much about other vanguard as we aren't allowed to reveal anything without said vanguards permission. I can however tell you things that are public knowledge without naming names of course. But quite a few Vanguards would have done a lot worse damage then slamming him to ground.. twelve.. thirteen.. fourteen times. Oh and yes it is still active. They can last a lot longer on lower settings.

  I snort. “In other words I'm basically beating him up without even being there. That is actually fun to know. I should perhaps carry some of these around me at all times then for that very purpose.” I half joked. Opening the doors and stepping inside the main building I was met with a hallway leading to a set of stairs at the back and two doors, one on each side followed by an intersecting hallway right before the stairs. White painted walls and a simple stone floor all lit by fully working lights. “You had me get that Moonstalkers technologies catalog. What is it and why did you recommend it?” I asked heading towards the door on the right.

  If you want weapons and gears that beat people up for you, then oh do I have options for you! As for the Moonstalkers Technologies, it is a collection of gear and equipment made by the Moonstalker people. And before you ask No that's not the actual name they call themselves it's just the closest translation possible. It is both a basic catalog any of your other ones, having gear and equipment on its own that can be adapted for human use. At the same time to get full access to everything in it you will need other catalogs like the light based weaponry.

  I nodded as I pushed the door open to the infirmary. The room was clean again with white walls and floor and currently empty of people. There were folding room dividers on wheels against the far wall. Some cabinets and a closed door towards the front of the building. And a line of beds along the wall right in front of the door to the hallway, and along the wall by the hallway door a line of chairs. I looked around before walking to an open area right in front of the collected room dividers.

  As for why I did suggest it. Well this is embarrassing but I did go through your reading and gaming history during the initialization to get to know how to aid you better of course. And one of the things you have in common with the Moonstalker is a like for ghost-stories. When they were still a young people having just evolved from night hunting predator to something closer to early humans, and started developing a proper language they followed what they called the great spirit of the moon. Believing that ghosts and spirits aided them in their hunts and guided their people in spiritual matters. Of course with time they did grow out of that but the love for ghosts and spirits even if they aren't real is still a great thing among them.

  I stopped and frowned a bit. “That Is a bit embarrassing. Some of those books were quite silly after all. And those games even if old are really fun you should try them.” I said before shaking my head. “So what do I need to do now? I take it we will be unlocking a few catalogs and such?”

  Yes but before that take some of those dividers and make room for something a bit larger then a bed. I do think that it is the best idea. Once that Is done then you need to get the Class I Moonlight touched recovery and auto-surgery bed for 175 points. Then the Class 1 Bio Sculpting for 50 points and the Class I Bio engineering for 75 points. I would normally have suggested one of the dream learning catalogs here. However this bed won't allow such tech to work because of how it will protect your brain during its work. So instead I will recommend Class I Information download and learning tool kit for 100 points, this catalog is similar to quite a few others. But for your current needs it is the best one. It will download and set the information in to your brain as if you always knew it. It is quite limited compared to other catalogs of its kind.

  I started moving the dividers in to a rough cube shape a bit bigger then two beds taking up most of the open space at the end of the room as I did listen to Fenris. “That is quite a lot go a head and unlock them and get the bed. And you said I needed more points earlier for some reason?” I asked

  Yes for other things I would have recommended. Muscle enhancements and skeletal ones and a few other things. We will have time to go through that when it is time. But all hope is not lost. You will be able to get some light enhancement with the bio engineering. It won't be as good but it will be better then your average human. Oh and you might want to move a chair in here too. And!

  Unlocking catalogs!

  Class 1 Bio Sculpting -50 points

  Class I Bio engineering -75

  Class I Information download and learning tool kit -100 points

  New purchase:

  1 x Class I Moonlight touched recovery and auto-surgery bed -175 points

  New total: 404 points

  I was just about to turn as what looked like a large white box appeared, It has a rectangular shape a bit wider and longer then a large bed there was a small screen in its side alongside a protruding box with glowing lights and empty vials. With a small hiss the top of the box opened up a bit like a coffins lid. Under the lid were an other screen and what looked like hatches and old school CD readers. “Oh right a chair why would I want that?” I said as I went and got one returning and placing it next to the box

  Well you will have to undress and tossing your stuff on the floor seems like it would be in bad taste. But that reminds me you might need to get some new clothes once this is over so unlocking the Simple earth garments would be advised. Its just 15 points. Those clothes will look like normal clothes but the quality will be unmatched by any human made ones. Excluding those produced by Vanguards with production tech. But for now do undress and lay down.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  I sighed before sliding the grenadier's bag to place it beside the chair. The rifle leaning against the back, as I take off my trench-coat and getting a good look at it after the battles. There was a hole under the left shoulder-pad and the left shoulder-pad is completely shattered. The coat itself is covered in grime blood and antithesis bits. Shaking my head I fold it and toss it in under the chair. Then quickly get out of the rest of my clothes. Being careful to put the mask on top of the pile. Carefully climbing in to the box and laying down as the lid closes and the screen lights up.

  Right I will be the one guiding this in your change so that nothing goes wrong. Remember the question I asked earlier about Nanites or Bionites? I do need that answer now. You will also need to get some other things but lets talk actual upgrades. We can't do to much unless you unlock more catalogs. But we can use what you have to get somethings balance aid and some sensory things. I could recommend an ear-upgrade along with new eyes combining bio engineering and Moonstalker technologies this means that your augs will need to be replaced though as they will still work but not anywhere near as well now let me show you how that would look and lets start designing your new self.

  The screen above me lit up showing an image of myself in a pair of swimming trunks , it spun around slowly before changing in to someone quite similar it was still me with softer facial features shoulder length hair. Narrower shoulders and torso, along with a modest bust. A slimmed down waist and wider hips wearing a one-piece bathing suit. On top of her head were two long ears with long brown tufts on top of them, and a long tail peeking out from behind her back.

  This would be how it were to look if we just changed you and added the balancing and auditory bio sensory additions. Now before you complain about the ears and tail. We both know you like to watch the documentaries on the big cats. And it just happens to be that the Moonstalkers did evolve from something similar to earths old lynxes and bobcats.

  I looked at the image on the screen before shaking my head a bit. “That does not bother me.. They are a bit on the cute side with the tufts of hair or is it fur on the end? And Nanites” Raising my left eyebrow a bit. “But.. I think that it might be best to move away from looking like my old self all together. Can I change things on this some how?” I asked

  Yes you can there are two options. One is touch the screen and manipulate the values and the second easier option is that you allow me to connect your augs to the bed. I can also come with suggestions and change things for you. Something like this perhaps.

  The image shifted seemed to grow taller taking on a full hourglass figure with a true wasp-like waist. Her hair grew down to the middle of her back as it shifted colour to jet black with white and cyan highlights flowing through the hair, it now lay in with layered bangs that framed her face on the right side and crossed over the brow and edge of her eye on the left. The ears and tail both took on the same jet black colour with the tail tip keeping that soft cyan colour that Fen seemed to like. The tufts on the ears had gone a pure white.

  And then the changes to the face itself. The jawline had moved back and up a bit making it look both sharp and soft at the same time as it went in to a rather gentle looking chin, the lips just above were full and had what one could say a perfect cupid's bow shape to them. The cheeks soft with cheekbones that was a bit higher and separated a bit to create a heart shape. Then the eyes they gone a bit softer as they rounded out a bit with long eyelashes framing them. Above that were the soft curve of her eyebrows. Eyebrows that were a bit on the thin side.

  I looked at the image thinking for a bit. “I think.. That might actually be a bit.. to.. Not sure how to put it in to words really.” I said then moved to touch the screen but stopped. “Fen could you make her.. Me. Shorter a bit shorter then I am now perhaps? And the eyes could you give them an.. Whats the name for it. Upturned look?” I asked

  I can do that just one moment.

  The image changed before Fen had even finished the sentence. Now she stood at what looked closer to 5'2" (157cm) her eyes turned up a tiny bit and I nodded slowly. “That works a bit better but..” I said as I reached up and started moving some of the numbers around changing things slowly. “Fen change the hair to white and the tufts on the ears to that soft cyan too? Oh and do I still need my human ears for this?”

  Oh I see were you are going with that! And no. You wouldn't be needing them but I figured that you would want to keep them as humans can be.. Touchy about such things and all. But I can remove them if you wish.

  I nod a bit as I keep working. Once done what was on the screen in front of me was a short woman with white hair that went down to the middle of her back with soft cyan highlights along the edges, the bang that went across her face and ending at her shoulder was now a soft cyan with white highlights unlike the rest of her hair, on top of her head were a pair of soft slighly fluffy white lynx ears with soft cyan tufts. Her eyes having changed from those soft round ones to slightly sharper ones that were turned up in to slight points towards the outside. And the irises were now glowing a soft cyan. Her shoulders were now as narrow as the first change along with her torso. The wasp-like waist was partially still there but not as extreme as before flaring out in to what was for her height quite wide hips, and from behind her a long white tail with a soft cyan tip peeked out the tip's fur looked to grow a bit thicker. “I think.. That I like this. Just needs something I can't put my finger on it.” I said

  I think that I might have a suggestion again let me.

  The skin having been the same suntanned as my own now changed. It was not just pale but it was out right white a few shades away from being the same as her hair. Giving her an almost unnatural look. Tilting my head thinking for a bit before grinning. “I think this will do. Just hope that I won't give someone a heart-attack when moving in dark hallways or alleyways.. Oh and get the clothing catalog too.”

  Alright then lets start this

  New purchase

  1 x Basic tail movement and body movement teaching kit adapted for Auto-surgery bed, learning software – 25 points

  1 x Hybrid-body rebuild kit (human/Moonstalker hybrid adaptation) for Auto-surgery bed -100 points

  1 x Moon-Lynx Auditory biosystems -60 points

  1 x Moon-Lynx Tail and balancing biology. -75 points

  1 x Moon-shades Biological eye enhancement -50 points

  Unlocking catalog

  Simple earth garments -15

  New total: 79 points.

  And I will start things shortly. But you need a new name for yourself. Did you have something in mind?

  I nodded. “I do. My reasoning around it is poor or outright horrible. But I will go with Rafaela.” I said nodding once. “If my family ever finds out about this they will be so pissed.” I said with a small laugh. “But then again they would likely try to force me to work for them or something because.. Samurai tech is quite valuable” I said.

  As If I would let them do something like that. If they tried force it I'd recommend a micro-nova bomb in their living room. But see you when you wake Rafaela.”

  Then with my eyes grew heavy as I fell a sleep in that coffin like machine.

  Hal's PoV

  One hour later.

  I sat with my legs resting upon my desk leaned back in the chair my hat pulled down over my eyes half a sleep as someone banged on the door. Opening one eye I called out “Its open” Then Louis walked in closing the door behind him. “I have managed to get the.. Guests from above to settle down.” He said as I sat back up like a normal human being. “I heard that there was some trouble with that. How did you solve it?” I asked

  Louis frowned a bit. “I was going to just shoot the man in the knee. But Evan he tossed something beside him and then he was slammed in to the floor repeatedly or at least every time he tried to get up. I must say it was amusing to watch. It also caused the others to be more cooperative.” He said.

  “And it will cause quite a few eyes to turn our way from up there again.” I responded then reached down and pulled a drawer open to bring out some quite fine whiskey and two glasses. Pouring one each before sliding it over to Louis. “I think you need this as much as I do. So where is Evan now?” I asked just as I took a sip feeling the nice burn.

  “Ah that is the second reason why I came by. He.. Or what ever it will be is in the infirmary.. In some kind of box.. For what he called upgrades. “ He said before taking a sip from his own glass. “Asked to have someone there for when it was done as he.. Or.. Well. Might look different and didn't want to cause a panic” Shaking his head before going on. “He didn't say more then that” Then he downed the glass of whiskey. “I currently have Jack in there. And I will head out on the wall. We have had more of the weeds come around. Those turrets are something else.” He said as he stood up and walked to the door. “I did see those too. I hope that he..” sighing a bit before I go on. “Sticks around. We are all outcasts here after all” I said as Louis left. Looking down in to the glass I spoke to myself. “This will become a mess right quickly if not handled well.”