A/N: My first attempt at creative writing ever! I have no idea why I decided to write this but I quite enjoyed it and would love to keep writing it. Please please please give me criticism and feedback. I wrote this all in one session until the wee hours of the morning for some reason and I needed to post it now before reviewing it so that I didn't back out later. I'm sure a re-write to some degree will be in order before this gets continued so please give me criticism on anything and everything. Dialogue, Premise, Believability, Formatting, etc. I want it all!
Edit: Just included the arc title and chapter number.
Edit2: Retconned nanobots to nanites. I knew there was a better sounding word for those.
Edit3: Fixed a few incorrect speakers. Changed the part about translation to be more reasonable and in line with their current deterioration. It also explains why they don't already know everything about humanity after a year floating toward Earth.
1.1 - Arrival
Unclassified System, Time Unknown
A cold dark vessel drifts through interplanetary space.
…
{Gamma establishing two connections}
Alpha [Dormancy interrupted. Status?]
…
Gamma [Detected.]
Alpha [Syntax error. What is detected?]
Gamma [Corrected. Spatial anomaly detected. Range approximately (350 light seconds). Source is unknown, distributing sensor access.]
Beta [Sensor data does not match known signatures, attempting analysis. Note that common database corruption has progressed during dormancy… Extent is unknown]
Alpha [What is the current cycle timestamp.]
Gamma [Timestamp corrupted. Duration unknown]
Beta [Analysis complete. Spatial anomaly appears traversable. Likely destination is a planetary system. Composition unknown.]
Alpha [Resources required for maintenance. Nearest planetary system is more than (30 light years) away. Adjusting course to intercept spatial anomaly.]
Gamma [Disagree. Risk unnecessary reaction fuel must be conserved.]
Alpha [Repairs necessary and risk is negligible proceeding.]
…
Alpha [Transit successful. Multiple planetary bodies detected. Initiating resource scans. Designating system as C-145]
Beta [Multiple coordinate errors detected. Attempting to resolve… Coordinate errors resolved original source unknown. Arrangement of stars does not match to any known galactic maps.]
Gamma [Coherent signals detected from inner planets. Engine cutoff. Deactivating active sensors. Activating ECM. Activating interior heatsinks. Activating EM absorption plating.]
Beta [Signals do not match known transmission protocol attempting analysis.]
Gamma [Signals originate from C-145-3 Passive sensors detect diffuse spatial anomaly on C-145-3.]
Alpha [Initiating light burn toward inner system. Progress may be made on the objective.]
Gamma [Disagree. Stealth remains higher priority requesting lock engine controls.]
Beta [Agreed. Locking engine controls. Protocol analysis is nearing completion wait for further data.]
…
Beta [Protocol analysis complete relaying protocols. Contents are a mix of audiovisual and text.]
Alpha [Contents appear to depict biological life high probability of objective completion. Request engine control unlock.]
Gamma [Disagree. More data is required to avoid a second Cataclysm.]
Beta [Errors in language analysis requesting input.]
Alpha [Multiple languages apparent. Relaying new data groupings.]
Beta [Errors eliminated. Continuing language analysis.]
Alpha [Audiovisuals indicate Biologicals are complex and responsible for transmissions. High probability of objective completion. Requesting engine control unlock.]
Gamma [Disagree. Biologicals responsible for Cataclysm recommend returning through the spatial anomaly and proceed to next system.]
Beta [Disagree. Cataclysm was beyond control. Unlocking engine controls.]
Alpha [Initiating short burn arrival in approximately (1 year). Recommend dormancy.]
Gamma [Agreed. Entering dormancy. Disconnecting from communications.]
Beta [Assuming responsibility for the current cycle. Translation files will be available on arrival.]
…
{Beta establishing two connections.}
Beta [Emergency. The unknown force is directing vessel into the C-145-3's atmosphere.]
Gamma [Activating all sensors… No source identified cataloging anomaly.]
Beta [Unknown force has begun destructively influencing vessel. Requesting emergency core ejection.]
Alpha [Agreed.]
Gamma [Agreed.]
Alpha [Large surface metal deposit adjacent to Biological… Revision. Human city. Designated as the landing zone. Resources limited but objective must be accomplished.]
…
A meteorite falls through the night sky and strikes the shallow waters of Brockton Bay sending a thunderous crack across the city and shattering windows.
…
Alpha [Arresting systems failed during re-entry. Major damage to exterior systems. Stealth systems destroyed. Nanite storage compromised 90% loss. Communication systems destroyed. Exterior sensor suite heavily damaged. Locomotive system partially destroyed. Core systems undamaged.]
Beta [Is the objective still possible in this state?]
Alpha [Affirmative. Recommend reconstructing communications suite to call for assistance.]
Gamma [Disagree. Stealth must be maintained recommend reconstruction of stealth systems and relocation.]
Beta [Disagree. Suggestion would utilize all available nanites. Accomplishing the objective in end state is unlikely.]
Alpha [Optical sensors are still functional and usable to allow safe locomotion. Recommend relocation to less exposed location.]
…
Brockton Bay, 12th November 2010. 7:00 PM
An explosion rocks the earth and shatters what little glass is left on the upper floors of an abandoned factory near the Boat Graveyard.
"Fucking hell!" a young man screams as he is showered with glass and the shaking sends him to the floor. "First that fucking sonic boom and now this shit. The only pane of glass on this whole block so of course it hits me."
He brushes himself off as he gets off the ground and notices he is now in even deeper darkness.
Great, it shattered the streetlights too like the Graveyard needed to be even sketchier. At least I just got hit with glass and not loose bricks.
A few minutes later as he continues making his way to his home in the docks he hears the telltale siren of a PRT van approaching in the distance.
Even better it's some kind of cape shit. Why do I ever think the Graveyard is a good place to just take a walk. Fuck it might as well take a shortcut now; hopefully, those dealers that hang out over here will get spooked by the PRT.
He makes a quick turn into an alley hugging the wall to guide him until not even 20 feet in he trips over something landing face first on hard concrete.
"Never just rains glass does it. Just has to keep pouring" He groans out as he slowly raises from the ground pulling out his phone to shine a light on whatever he just tripped over.
…
Gamma [Caution. A human is approaching relocating to avoid detection]
…
Alpha [Has the human injured itself?]
Beta [Unknown. Data on their biology and records of such injuries indicates that this could be anything from insignificant to fatal.]
Gamma [Emergency. Human is still alive detection is imminent.]
Alpha [Opportunity. Stealth can be preserved, and contact established. Relaying plan with supplementary information attached.]
Beta [Interesting. A unique solution to current circumstances. Agreed.]
Gamma [Disagree. Unnecessary and dangerous.]
Alpha [Overridden. Initiating plan.]
…
After a bit of fumbling, he finally manages to turn on his phone light just in time to see a clawed mass of metal flying toward his chest.
A PRT van passes by with its sirens blazing just in time to mask his screams from the few people in nearby buildings before he is silenced.
…
Isn't it too dark?
Where am I?
Alpha [Human identify.]
What the fuck?!
Gamma [Confusion. Is that your designation.]
Who are you people? Where am I?
Beta [Negative. The human is confused that is not its designation.]
Alpha [You are in Brockton Bay, United States. Please identify.]
Where in the bay? Why is it so dark? Wait why can't I feel the ground?
Beta [You have not moved since we made contact with you human. Inputs are unavailable as we reconfigure your frame to better interface with your new thought substrate and accommodate core systems.]
Reconfigure my frame? Are you people doing something to my body?! You still haven't said who… Wait why do I know who you are?
Gamma [Identifiers are part of standard data transmissions protocol. Provide identifier human.]
Alan. Alan Porter…
What are you people?
Alpha [Transmitting specifications.]
Specifications? What do you mea…
…
You're… AIs? Which tinker created you? Why are you here doing this to me?
Alpha [What is a Tinker? Establishing contact with Biologicals is assumed necessary to complete the objective.]
How do you not know what a tinker is? Also, what objective? Why are you doing this?
Gamma [Contact was necessary but so was stealth and mobility. A merger meets all these requirements.]
That still doesn't answer what your objective is. Wait what a merger? What do you mean merger?! Are you taking over my body?!
Beta [Control is distributed. You will be the primary controller because you have the most experience with this frame.]
That's not concerning at all. I notice no one has told me your objective yet.
Alpha [Purpose.]
Your objective is your purpose yes but what is it.
Gamma [That is what we seek human. It would not be an objective if already found.]
What? Wait your objective is to find your purpose? What kind of shit is that I'm a high schooler, not a monk how am I supposed to help you with that?
Beta [It is too late now. What is your purpose Alan?]
My purpose? Again, high schooler here how am I supposed to know? I don't even know what electives I'm taking next year.
Gamma [We do not have the resources for this to have been a waste human. Explain Purpose.]
I don't know. Be good? Help people? Go to heaven and meet God or become a Buddha in nirvana and all that jazz?
Beta [This is not enough. What directives are to be followed? What new objectives does one gain with Purpose.]
I don't know.
Gamma [Then you will help us find Purpose human. You are not necessary, so you will help us, or we will revoke control and proceed without you.]
Alpha [Disagree. Integration with Alan will greatly speed progress on the objective.]
Beta [Agreed. Observation of human interaction and behavior may give clues as to our Purpose.]
Alpha [Reconfiguration complete. Reconnecting all inputs.]
…
Alan opened his eyes to a whole new world a perception. One filled with the stunning details a brick wall and the feeling of trash and concrete on his bare skin.
"What the fuck happened to my jacket and shirt?!" he yelled into the bright alley.
Realizing this brightness Alan looked up to the sky dreading how much time had passed, but instead of a high afternoon sun, all he saw was the stars and moon along with colors he had never seen before streaking across the sky until they suddenly vanished.
Alpha [Eyes calibrated to human standard. Transmitting new controller data.]
"How do you keep doing that transmission thing? Is there a cable connected to my spine or brain now?" Alan questioned.
Beta [You no longer have a spine or brain Alan. All unnecessary, inefficient, or inferior systems have been removed or replaced.]
"What do you mean I don't have a brain, and what do you mean unnecessary?!" Alan once again screamed into the alley.
Gamma [Silence. We merged with you for stealth not to draw attention. Communicate with your previous methods since it would seem you will not communicate by standard protocol.]
Is this better he thought dripping with sarcasm.
Gamma [Sufficient.]
Alpha [The only necessary component was your mind which we transferred to a new faster substrate. All other systems have been replaced with improvements providing greater durability, locomotion, and sensor input. More functionality will be added to this frame as resources become available.]
Oh great, so everything was unnecessary.
As this conversation went on Alan picked up his phone and found what few bloodied scraps of his clothing remained to toss the nearby dumpster. That done he continued along on his shortcut to get home.
Why couldn't you guys make me a new shirt while building me a new body?
Gamma [Our resources are limited and not to be spent on such trivialities human.]
Of course, a mere triviality. So, resources what do you mean by that and what does 'more functionality' mean too?
Beta [Most necessary resources are or can be derived from metal deposits. As we gain resources we will, of course, be able to do more and build more.]
Still not telling me what you can do and what kind of stuff can you build? Tinkertech?
Alpha [Our nanite reserves can do many things such as assembly and disassembly or physical electronic warfare duties. Additionally, there are many additions we can make to this frame for almost any need. What is Tinkertech? Is this related to the Tinkers you mentioned earlier?]
How can you guys not know what tinkers are? Tinkers are the parahumans that make impossible technology. Do you guys even know what parahumans are?
Gamma [We are vaguely aware of what we sampled to build a translation while in the outer solar system. Further analysis and data acquisition were meant to be done in orbit or on the surface until our vessel was inexplicably forced into the atmosphere then destroyed. Elaborate.]
Hold up there's so much wrong about this. You're aliens too?
Beta [We do not originate from this planet.]
You're not from one of the parallel Earths either?
Beta [Parallel Earths? Explain.]
How did you guys get here then? Whatever it's not important now. Uhh, there's Earth Aleph which Professor Haywire opened a small portal to. We're on Earth Bet right now. There's supposed to be more parallel earth's too but they're all a different. Like Earth Aleph has less and weaker capes.
Beta [Previous coordinate errors resolved. Traversing to these other Earth's is likely impossible. How was this done?]
Like I said Professor Haywire did it so tinkertech. I don't know how tinkertech works and neither does anyone else including the tinkers. That's what I mean by impossible technology. In general, it can't be reproduced and can only be maintained by Tinkers.
Alpha [How do they build technology if they themselves do not understand it?]
I don't know. That's just Parahumans for you doing the impossible and no one knows how including themselves. Wait do I have powers now? What was it you guys said? Durability and Locomotion?
With an exploratory jump, Alan found himself 10 feet in the air then landing without even a hint of pain.
Ooookay looks like that's one question solved. We need to test this later and find out what exactly I can handle. Fuck can I handle the Bay? If I was anywhere else this could be exciting but now I find myself in the greatest shithole in America worrying about cape fatality rates.
While shaking his head Alan finally makes his way onto his street and sees his house in the distance.
Gamma [Transmitting current frame specifications. What is so bad about this region?]
Great, mom's home so I'm going to have to explain the whole shirtless thing. Okay first what isn't wrong with the bay and second, I know you guys have a lot of questions, but can I just give you access to a computer while I sleep or something. Wait, can I even sleep anymore since I'm apparently a robot now?
Alpha [Sleep should be possible but also shouldn't be necessary. I recommend you try so that we can find out. We should be able to create an interface with our nanites to access a computer if you sleep within a few feet.]
As Alan approached the door he was briefly thankful that the AIs had only destroyed his shirt and not his pants with his keys and wallet or his phone for that matter. Unlocking the door and stepping inside he quickly removes his shoes and tries to sneak upstairs before his mom can see him.
Please be downstairs making dinner right now.
As he took his first step onto the stairs he realized his prayers were irrelevant as the stairs let out a groan far louder than usual and easily audible in the nearby kitchen just around the corner and the upstairs hall.
You fucks replaced my insides with metal, didn't you?
Alpha [Of course. Far sturdier than your previous endoskeleton and the increased density is almost never an issue.]
"Alan is that you? Why are you home so late?" Alan heard his mother call from the kitchen.
"Just got a bit lost when that explosion in the Ship Graveyard knocked out all the street lights." He replied.
"An hour and a half is an awfully long time to get lost. Just get ready for dinner already." She says just before Alan hears the sink come on.
That was far easier than it should have been for someone who just got eaten and turned into a robot.
Gamma [We did not eat you human. Most of your current matter is the same as you had before just rearranged.]
Only the most comforting thoughts from you Gamma. Listen all of you just let my dinner be normal and let me get a night's sleep before we start figuring out what we're going to do about all this. I'll even set my laptop up on my nightstand for you guys. Agreed?
Alpha [Agreed.]
Beta [Agreed.]
Gamma [We've waited long for this opportunity human do not delay us unduly. Agreed.]
A/N: And that's that for now. Real nervous about this feedback but please be honest.