Chapter Four (Patreon)

“So,” Ali’ya said, nearly bouncing in her seat. Her book had reached eight thousand sales online. It wasn’t much, but it was growing rapidly. Word of mouth was spreading, and so far most of the reviews had been favorable. She’d sent a copy to the Coruscanti Star, a holonews network that reviewed things. Soon she’d get some publicity, and then it’d be off! “What do we do next?”

Her father smiled at her, but Ali’ya was wise to his tricks. She ducked the ruffling of her fur. “Fine, fine. Spoil my fun. Next, we add the motor. Do you know why we haven’t added it yet?”

“Because it’s dangerous to be working on a powered droid.”

“Exactly!” her father smiled. “Never, never work on a droid whose power source is in.”

“Especially not if it’s on.”

“Especially--” A knock on the door interrupted her father. He frowned. “Stay here.”

“Dad?”

“Just--stay here.” Her father moved back into the apartment, closing the door to their secret workshop behind him. Ali’ya had a bad feeling. She tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. He’d moved the bookcase in front of it again.

What’s going on? Ali’ya thought. Closing her eyes, Ali’ya opened herself to the Force. She focused it, viewing not the Whole but the fractions of it, tracing her path through the particles to the door, where she opened her ear.

“What is this?” that was her father.

“You know what you’ve done.”

“I’ve done nothing.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”  Ali’ya frowned. He was lying. What had--

“Ebor sends his regards.” Ebor? Ebor. Fuck, nononononono

Thud. Smash. Twin flashes of lasers, but her father was a Togorian. There was a reason the race cost five creation points. Slash, light, light, thud.

“Kark. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Damned cats. Always tougher than they look.”

“We should get back. Jim won’t live long--”

“Kark Jim. Bastard’s always looking at my girl and we have orders.”

“I really don’t want to.”

“Listen, you’re new here so I’ll cut you some slack. But what Ebor wants, Ebor gets. Now throw the explosive, and--”

Explosive? Ali’ya dove for the far corner of the room. She called on the Force, willing it into a shield.

Boom.

The apartment did more than shake. It exploded, shockwaves tearing through the walls. The ceiling above them collapsed, Ali’ya’s Force Shield the only thing keeping her alive. She groaned as the weight of three stories collapsed onto it.

“Now we can go.” It was the voice, the same as before. She could hear it now, with the--

Fuck! She thought, her mind crying out in pain as she struggled to balance the weight on her. I need to solve this. I need to get this off of me. She shifted, letting the weight slide away. It settled slowly, dust kept out by her shield. She heard coughing.

“Fuck that,” another  voice said. “You can loot it if you want, I’m not gonna risk my lungs.”

“Fine. We’re going now, I guess.”

Ali’ya stayed still. She stayed still until the footsteps and their echoes had worn off. Until the deafening ringing in her ears was gone.

Tutorial Completed! Gain 2,000 Experience Points!

You have survived the death of your family, and are now able to use your vital statistics and skill points!

“What?” Ali’ya’s tone was low. Had she been any older, it would have sounded menacing. “This was a tutorial?”

Tutorial--

“These people were going to die anyway?” Ali’ya cried. “They--they were people! They were my family! And you just killed them!”

Losing your family is a key part of the plot.

“How fucking dare--”

This system exists for our entertainment. You have leveled up.

“What--”

Level Two achieved.

Age Range: Young Child

Assign Vital Statistics before continuing.

“The--”

Vital Statistics: Vital Statistics are measurements of your baseline abilities. They do not determine how well you do at a single thing, but rather allow for certain limits to be placed, bypassed, or succeeded. Vital Statistics work hand-in-hand with Skill Points to determines specific tasks. Vital Statistics exist on a non-linear scale, where an increase of ten points is equal to a three-fold increase. Thus, a player with a Strength score of 20 is thrice as strong as a person with a Strength score of 10, and nine times weaker than a person with a strength score of 40.

Strength (STR): Strength is a physical ability. Much as it implies, Strength is how hard you hit. It is also how well you hit, how much you can lift, carry, push, or move, how many pull-ups you can do and how far and fast you can climb, as well as much more. Average human strength is 20, while a greater krayt dragon has a strength of 80.

Agility (AGI): Agility is a physical ability. It is your ability to dodge, to move fast, to be nimble and quick. It is also how well you can aim, how accurate your targeted attacks can be, how well you can dance, and a number of other things. Average human dexterity is 20, while a Rishi dancer may have a dexterity of 50.

Vitality (VIT): Vitality is a physical ability. It is your ability to withstand blows, to ignore toxins, in essence to survive. Average human vitality is 20, while the infamous nebray mantis, who can withstand solar radiation and the vacuum of space, has a vitality of 70.

Intellect (INT): Intellect is a mental ability. It is your ability to absorb and use practical and academic knowledge. Learning to read, making a droid, and charting a hyperspace jump are all parts of Intellect.

Will (WILL): Will is a mental ability. It is your ability to resist the pull of others, and to remain your own person. Resisting propaganda, not breaking under torture, and remaining yourself while communing with the Force are all parts of Will.

Charisma (CHA): Charisma is a mental ability. It is your presence, your ineffable charm and force of personality. Convincing others, controlling animals, and giving a speech are all parts of Charisma.

Luck (LUCK): Luck is a metaphysical ability. It is applied whenever the System or those watching feel like it.

“FUCK?”

Please allot your Vital Statistics points. You have 92 Vital Statistics points to place. Your total Physical Abilities score (before bonuses) is capped at 45 due to age. In parentheses are bonuses from your species and traits.

Strength: (+5 Togorian)

Agility: (+5 Togorian)

Vitality: (+5 Togorian +2 Underdweller)

Intellect: (+10 Learning Prodigy +2 Improved Memory +1 Technology Adept)

Will: (+10 Force Prodigy)

Charisma: (+1 Noble Lineage)

Luck: (+5 Lucky)

“Do I have to do this now?”

Yes.

“Fine,” Ali’ya growled. Much as she might want to kill whoever was in charge of this, she knew she didn’t stand a chance. Even Revan and Vitiate working together couldn’t have shaped entire multiverses. Will is clearly important if I want anything to do with the Force. And Intellect is the same--there’s so much technology around here, and I need to be able to understand it all or I’ll go crazy it’s so different. . . But Strength’s pretty important too, especially if I want to escape Ebor’s wrath. Same with Agility and Vitality. What the fuck? Why can’t there be a useful dump stat. Oh right, cause this is my FUCKING LIFE!

Strength: 10 (+5 Togorian) = 15

Agility: 15 (+5 Togorian) = 20

Vitality: 15 (+5 Togorian +2 Underdweller) = 22

Intellect: 15 (+10 Learning Prodigy +2 Improved Memory +1 Technology Adept) = 28

Will: 20 (+10 Force Prodigy) = 30

Charisma: 15 (+1 Noble Lineage) = 16

Lucky: 7 (+5 Lucky) = 12

Congratulations! You have selected your Vital Statistics. Allot Skill Points. You have (Intellect+4)4 + (4+Intellect)2 = 192 Skill Points.

“So many things,” Ali’ya murmured, her mind momentarily distracted by the list. “Finances, combat (fists), combat (claws), combat (martial arts--Cathar), handwriting, editing (novels), webpage design, holonet navigation, library navigation, mechanics (droids), mechanics (hover transport), mechanics (datapads), slicing, deception, persuasion, listen, spot, search, stealth, history (Coruscant), history (galactic republic), force (telekinesis), force (blast), force (shield), force (heal) . . . so many many more. Okay. What do I need. Climbing, obviously. Cathar martial arts will have to do for combat for now, and while handwriting is nice, it’s not necessary. Same for webpage design, and I can always level up holonet and library navigation . . .”

Skill Points allotted. Accommodating body now.

“What--”