Alto's eyes sprung open, he tried to catch his breath but his throat was dry and his chest unusually heavy. His room was bathed in darkness and he was currently lying on the ground.
He could remember how he had gotten there clearly, the strange device that had morphed into his wrist comm had started to let out huge pulses of energy that sapped the power from everywhere in his room, leaving it in total darkness. What Alto did not know was that the pulse of energy had covered the entire Mech Union Division and drained all the power from it.
The jolts of electricity that converted on the device pulsed through his body and caused him to go into a state of shock.
Alto managed to push himself to sit up with his back to his bed, without power the doors would be inactive for the time being. It was the first time he was experiencing a power outage, and the only light he got was from his wrist comm device as it started to display the soft blue light above it's interface.
Words started to display on it shortly after.
[The Mech Designer Protocol has being initiated]
"What the hell is this thing?" Alto asked in a soft voice.
[Welcome to the mech designer protocol, the ultimate mech designing guide]
[Full body scan complete, user detected. Alto]
[All information has been updated, please check your status]
[To display status page, relay the command "Status"]
Alto's eyebrows widened unusually as he spoke. "Status, what's that?"
[Status:
Name: Alto
Level: Beginner Mech Designer
Specialization: None
Creation Points: 0
Attributes—
Strength: 1.0
Dexterity: 1.2
Concentration: 1.4
Intelligence: 2.1
Endurance: 1.4
Creativity: 0.7
Genote Aptitude: F
Mutant Gene: 1.0
Skills—
Assembly: Beginner
Mechanics: Beginner
Metallurgy: Apprentice
Robotics: Unqualified
Computer Science: Beginner
Physics: Beginner
Biomechanics: Unqualified
Circuitry: Unqualified
Total Assessment: Trash]
Alto sat there in the reflected light of the wrist comm in silence still amazed by what he was witnessing. It seemed impossible for him to believe that this device has managed to sum up all his worth.
But how did it know a lot of his information and that he was training to be a mech designer. Why was his intelligence a 2.1, was it ranked over hundred. Were his personal attributes ranked with normal standards or by the standard of the strange device.
And how did it know the things he had studied for the past three years. Up till that moment Alto did not know there was anything such as robotics, biomechanics or circuitry. He was still struggling with the basics.
Another troubling thought came into mind. His total assessment by this strange device was trash, why was it so. Did that mean that all his years he had used to study had been wasted? If it's assessment was true then the professor would have not offered to teach him personally. Or perhaps she wanted him to see his current level and quit, perhaps that would prove the point that it was impossible for one to become a mech designer.
But what was this device doing then in her secret room. Alto was beginning to get more curious, he wondered if this device was how she had become a professor at such a young age. If that was so, was that why she kept it hidden. And how would she react to it being missing?
A single question bore more questions and even more questions, Alto was not so inclined as to address them when he had no answer to any. He wanted to know what this strange device was and if it could be of help to him in any way.
"Um hello, what are you?"
[The user Alto's aptitude is mediocre at best, your pursuit of the path of mech designing seems comedic than actual. The mech designer protocol is the master tool to design and optimise any mech in the vast galaxy, a trash such as yourself has been blessed with this great honour. The user will be able to use all of the system's tools in their path of mech designing as long as the conditions are met]
Alto was breath taking. "For a wrist comm you sure are talkative."
[The mech designer protocol is insulted by the user's claim. The mech designer protocol is the most advanced device in the vast galaxy, do well to remember that]
Alto almost laughed. "This is a joke, what use could you be to me."
[For each task met, creation points will be awarded to help user increase his skills. Current and recent mech design blueprints can be acquired, advanced training such as Coding, AI and system optimisation can be acquired. The uses of the system are infinite and limited to the users growth]
Alto's jaw dropped as he looked at the wrist comm with profound respect. "Are you saying I can do all that with just a device?" It sounded impossible even to him.
[If you continue to act like a lesser mind species I suggest you refrain from asking irrelevant questions]
Alto bit his lower lip, had he just been scolded by his wrist comm device. If what it said was true by the slightest perhaps he could get better at being a mech designer. But wouldn't that be cheating, but then again how was a small insignificant device supposed to help him build a mech?
[User you are employed to open the system menu]
Alto felt weird being referred to as user, it felt like being referred to a "sir" but only a bit more imposing since it was a title only he deserves.
"Well, please do." What was the worst that could happen anyway.
[Mech Designer Protocol System Menu]
Status
Workshop
Shop
Skill Pathway
Inventory
Package
[User, as a beginner mech designer your use of the system is greatly limited. You have a period of 365 earth days to advance to a novice mech designer or lose forfeiting the system]
"Great I just got threatened after being pulled into a forced relationship with my own wrist comm." Alto said with a sigh. "I'm not sure I can do that, it took me three years to even reach pro beginner level." And even he thought that was a feat.
The designer system just continued on without paying attention to his words.
[You have received a welcome package as a new user, would you like to open it now?]
"A package, like a gift?" Alto felt a bit touched that he would be recieving his first gift from a proud futuristic device. "What's this welcome package?"
Author's Note: If you have been enjoying my work so far, pls leave a comment and a review.