Finn's eyes hurt because he hadn't slept. How long was it since he'd last rested? Two days? Three? Time felt mixed up in this new world where he was always working and planning. But at least he wasn't cooking burgers anymore, right?
He rubbed his eyes to see the busy camp around him. His creations worked well, at building, gathering, or whatever was necessary to keep their small society going. It was almost like watching the most efficient ant colony that didn't wear clothes.
Watching them work, Finn had a realization. The reason his creations seemed to know so much wasn't magic – it was all him. Everything he learned in his eighteen years of life was right there in their minds, ready to be used like looking through a favorite book.
"Well, shit," Finn muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Guess those countless hours of Discovery Channel weren't a total waste after all."
He quickly pushed away thoughts of. certain other memories his creations might have access to. Some things were better left unexamined, especially when you're trying to build a civilization from scratch.
In the past few days, Finn had sent a few hundred of his creations north. Their task was to create a boundary around what could be their new home. He asked them to keep him informed with regular updates, like a strange group newsletter.
Meanwhile, Finn worked on collecting tools and important items. Staying alive was the goal now, and he was set on doing it right. Or at least not getting eliminated in the first try.
To his surprise, his creations had found hammerstones—basic tools he vaguely remembered from his old world. Were they on Earth after all? Finn shook off the thought. It didn't matter right now. What mattered was that these simple stones could change everything.
He made tools and weapons by using hammerstones to shape other rocks. It was not very complicated – just hitting the hammerstones against bigger rocks to break off sharp pieces. But those sharp edges allowed them to cut wood, hunt better, and start building stronger structures.
The buildings still looked like they were made by a kid. But remember Rome wasn't built in a day, right?
Looking out over the bustle of Camp, Finn's eyes settled on five of his creations kneeling in front of him. These would be the ones to form his selected council; these would help him take care of this budding community. Well, because even with his sharp mind copied over into all those bodies, a little order wouldn't hurt.
"Alright, listen up," Finn said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "I need a council. You'll be my go-betweens, handling reports from the others and only bringing the big stuff to me. Got it?"
He turned to the first guy, a tall dude with shoulders like a linebacker and eyes that seemed to be constantly assessing everything around him. "You're Drew now. Congrats, you're my new chief strategist and combat specialist."
Drew nodded. His short dark hair and sharp blue eyes made him seem in charge, which Finn had to say was quite scary. That was exactly what he wanted when he made him.
Next up was a leaner guy with a calmer vibe. "You're Caden. You'll be my high steward. That means you're in charge of figuring out where our stuff goes, how we develop, and making sure I don't starve to death. You'll also oversee resource management for building and crafting."
Caden had softer features and gentle brown eyes that looked different from his strong body. Finn thought that a friendlier face might be better for dealing with everyday tasks.
Finn's eyes moved to a girl with long dark hair tied back practically. "You'll be our head researcher and explorer. Lead teams to figure out where the hell we are and how to make better stuff. Work with Caden on that last bit. We need to level up fast if we're gonna survive. Your name's Lyra."
He turned to another guy with a serious expression. "You're gonna be our record keeper. I want you to remember everything – how much land we've got, what we do each day, make maps if you can figure out how without proper tools. Everything gets recorded, got it? You're Isolde."
Isolde, tall and lanky with sandy blonde hair falling over his forehead, nodded eagerly. "My lord, thank you. I can remember everything perfectly, as can all your creations. But this is still a great honor."
Finn raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what? You all have perfect memory?"
A chorus of nods answered him.
"Huh. Well, that's. convenient," Finn mused. He'd keep Isolde on record-keeping duty anyway. No harm in having a dedicated guy for that stuff.
Finally, Finn addressed the last girl, who had a kind face and an air of calm competence. "You're our new Chief Medicus. Study how these bodies work, experiment, and figure out how to keep me healthy. Daily checkups, the works. Your name's Eileen."
With his council named and assigned, Finn felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Maybe he could actually pull this off without everything going to hell in a handbasket.
"Alright, go do your thing. Let me know how many people you need for your work," he instructed.
The council members conferred with one another, murmuring and deciding their needs quickly. Drew was first to speak up. "I'll need about 500 for defense and scouting, my lord. Gotta keep our borders secure and be ready for anything."
Caden spoke up next. "I'm thinking 700 for resource gathering, construction, and developing our infrastructure. We need to establish a steady supply chain for your needs, my lord, and improve our shelter and defenses."
Lyra added her request. "300 for exploration and tool development should do it."
Isolde spoke up. "200 should be enough to help me gather and organize all our information. They'll work with the other teams and report back to me."
Finally, Eileen outlined her needs. "100 for medical research and health maintenance should suffice. I promise you, my lord, we won't let you fall ill."
Finn nodded and listened intently. With a concentrated thought, he summoned 3,000 more creations.
As the newly expanded teams dispersed to their tasks, Finn couldn't help but chuckle to himself. "Man, I sound so cool giving orders," he muttered. For all his newfound responsibilities, he was still just an 18-year-old kid playing at being a leader. If his old high school classmates could see him now, they'd probably laugh their asses off.
But as Finn watched the camp come alive around him, he realized he needed somebody to help him keep it all under control. His eyes landed on a girl who looked intent on her work. "Hey, you," he called. "Come here."
The girl walked over without hesitation, a curious expression in her eyes.
"You're gonna be my personal assistant," Finn declared. "The council will report to you, and you'll keep me in the loop. Let's call you. Gloria."
Gloria smiled brightly, her short auburn hair framing a face that radiated warmth. "I'm honored, my lord. I won't let you down."
The sun was beginning to set. For the first time since he'd landed in this strange world, Finn felt a sense of. what? Purpose? Responsibility?
It was weird, he had to admit. At first, he was just messing around and not taking things seriously. But now, after a few days of fighting, he was beginning to realize where he stood. This was his life now, even though it was uncomfortable. He wanted comfort, naturally, but there was something else urging him on. Something he couldn't quite pinpoint.
Gloria stood quietly next to him, and her kind smile was always there. Finn liked how calm she made him feel, even though he didn't really know what to do with a personal assistant yet. Maybe he would ask her to get him coconuts. Did they have coconuts here?
Just as Finn was starting to relax, basking in the warm light of the setting sun and the satisfaction of a productive day, he saw Drew approach. The strategist's face was set in a grim expression that immediately put Finn on edge. It was the kind of look that said, "Hey boss, remember that nice, peaceful day we were having? Yeah, that's over now."
My lord," Drew said, his voice low and urgent. "We've spotted humans beyond the river."
Finn's heart skipped a beat. "Humans? You mean, not my creations?"
Drew nodded solemnly. "That's right. They're not close enough to be an immediate threat, but. there are a lot of them."
Other humans? Here? What did that mean for him and his creations? Were they friendly? Hostile? Did they have pizza?
As the implications of Drew's news sunk in, Finn could only think of one thing to say.
"Oh, fuck."