"Yes!"
Assimilation complete. Free nanobots gained: 2,441. Total available: 25,112
In a quick scan for routes of possible escape, he noted a lone figure that stood on the rooftops in the distance. He was looking his way. Adrian's gaze paused slightly before dashing over the gap of the building and running off across the roof. The three ferals came after him, snarling and scratching at the roofs as they came. He didn't look back, his goal was only a short distance away if you factor in his current speed.
The tops of these buildings weren't the best choice of battle ground for fighting a horde of ferals, so his goal was to make it to the industrial district and find a bottle neck. As he went he could see more and more ferals climbing the walls in an attempt to catch him. He looked over at the "smart" feral and it was just staring at him, only turning enough to follow his path. Adrian ignored him and dug deeper, increasing his speed again as the number of free nanobots rose, so did his capabilities.
He got over a few alley gaps before he ran into the next feral. Still at a dead run Adrian dropped his shoulder, not wanting to stop with more and more ferals bearing down on him from behind. The strike landed solid and sent the feral flying, bouncing off the walls as it fell into the space between the buildings with a clatter. He needed to keep running. It was too late to make a stand as there were too many for him to take all at once. In this scenario his survival wasn't guaranteed. Not to mention he didn't know exactly what the other kind could do.
As he approached the street ahead, he sorted through thoughts and data still streaming into his brain as he moved. At the current speed, he thought he could make it, which would leave the group of ferals far behind for the moment. As he approached the edge one of them reached the top and peeked over the top just in time for Adrian to step on to its face and leap with all his strength and speed. The extra foot or so he gained from jumping off the feral instead of the roof gave him just enough of an advantage that he landed on the other side and rolled to a sliding stop, kneeling and looking back.
The noise of the crowd of ferals had been deafening, but now they stopped, like they were trying to figure out how he did it and if they should follow. After one last gaze at the "smart feral", locking eyes with it for a microsecond, Adrian turned and took off again, seemingly without pursuit. This was confusing, it not only showed intelligence but planning and strategy. He quickly asked his nanocore if they knew what that was.
Query: Subject Zero is wondering about the difference between the ferals he has seen.
Answer: As the ferals completed the initial transformations, the nanobots start replicating, albeit slowly. Some may also turn on other ferals and collect more nanobots that way. Their evolution is much slower than yours but given enough time may become very powerful, intelligent, or even mutate in strange ways. With no direct instructions, the basic nanobots will turn to base capabilities: Improve host and replicate based on materials available.
This information was unsettling, his lack of knowledge and drive to evolve almost got him killed. The situation was much more dangerous than he imagined, this problem with ferals was only going to get worse, not better anytime soon. As he came to the edge of the industrial district he stopped. The pursuing ferals now far behind him, probably went back to hunting in that area.
He scanned his surroundings. He was not immediately seeing a good target to build from. So he jumped off the building landing hard enough on the sidewalk that spidering cracks radiated out from the impact. He headed off at a walk toward the south; judging the time by the sun he would say it was about two o'clock, which meant he had about five hours of light before the ferals would start coming out en masse. So he had to find something quickly.
While walking he couldn't help but feel like he was being followed, observed. He would look back every once in a while but he hadn't seen anything. He figured it was probably the other person he saw that was like him. After turning a corner, Adrian once again sprinted at full speed. He was aiming to create some cushion in the distance between them and also a sense of urgency in the person following him. After getting a few blocks down the road, even before the pursuer realized he had done it, he ducked into a hole in the wall that looked like a giant rodent had scratched an opening through.
Adrian held his breath, then he heard it. The steady foot falls of someone moving quickly but unsure at the same time. He watched as a masked person jogged by his hiding spot, pause, then keep their pace down the road. Adrian, quietly stepped out and glanced in the direction they went, glad to see no trace of them. With that he took off again remembering there was a foundry somewhere in the area that would likely have materials to supply him for a long time.
Trying to recall exactly where it was and how to get there. He used his advanced intelligence and pulled an address from the one time he had used an online map program to check it out. Doing a quick check of the street signs, he changed directions and kept going, always looking over his shoulder now for any sign of the other one.
Luckily the area was nearly as abandoned as Adrian had thought it would be and he only ran into a couple of ferals. The fights ending quickly, the ferals being weaker versions. Biological food was their only way to replicate at the moment and their luck caused them to either turn feral while they were in this area, or they had accidentally wandered in and got lost.
Free nanobots available: 28,754
Warning: make upgrades or risk destabilizing the nanobot core
"That's not good." he said to himself, staring at the prompt hovering in front of him. Now that he was out of harm's way, it was a good time to upgrade something but what should he choose this time.
Nanobot Core – Unstable
Free Nanobots: 28,754 (Nearing Core Destabilization)
Available Upgrades:
Core Upgrade Lvl: 2 Locked [Description: Enhances nanobot core functionality, enabling increased direct querying and increased system stability. Cost: 100,000 nanobots.]
Strength Lvl: 2 Available [Next Lvl: Increases muscle density and power output by 20%. Cost: 15,000 nanobots.]
Speed Lvl: 2 Available [Next Lvl: Enhances reaction time and movement speed by 20%. Cost: 15,000 nanobots.]
Intelligence Lvl: 2 Available [Next Lvl: Improves cognitive processing and pattern recognition by 25%. Cost: 15,000 nanobots.]
Healing Lvl: 2 Available [Next Lvl: Accelerates tissue regeneration by 30%. Cost: 15,000 nanobots.]
Senses Lvl: 2 Available [Next Lvl: Heightens sensory perception by 20%, including low-light vision and auditory range. Cost: 15,000 nanobots.]
Replication Lvl: 2 Locked [Description: Generates 10,000 free nanobots per day with sufficient organic and metallic materials. Warning: Uncontrolled replication may lead to system instability. Cost: 50,000 Nanobots]
After a sigh he figured healing has been the main reason he's still alive at this point. Increasing that capability would make Adrian harder to kill. Now he needed to find a place to do the upgrade. He hadn't located an adequate base yet, so he was just looking for something for now. Walking up to a door to a nearby building he kicked it open, stepped in and waited to see if any ferals would come. After confirming it was empty, he found an office, walked in and locked the door.
Taking a seat he confirmed the healing upgrade. A moment went by and he thought maybe the Nanocore hadn't heard him. Then, white hot heat flooded his whole body, causing Adrian's form to flex, his face caught in a silent scream. His vision went red, then blinding white before it suddenly stopped. He couldn't immediately feel anything different and with the light fading fast he didn't have time to test it.
Free nanobots available: 13,754
His nanocore was stable for now.
Back out on the streets he was starting to get close to the building that he was sure was the foundry, as he approached it a figure stepped directly into his path. Adrian stopped abruptly, sliding slightly from his high speed of movement. Locking eyes with the other, he stared, waiting for them to make a move. The figure removed their mask. Were they trying to initiate some kind of trust?
"Pretty brave back there, didn't think you'd make it out." they said almost nonchalantly. Adrian narrowed his eyes and said back, "Ya, it wouldn't have been an issue if I didn't run into whatever that Alpha Feral was." The other asked, "What's your Designation, I'm Subject 583." Adrian, slightly confused, said back, "Subject 0." not knowing the significance. Their eyes widened, "That means you aren't in the system, you're the wild card."
Subject 583 put their hands up and said, "I mean no harm, I've been looking for others like me to possibly team up with, to attempt to increase the odds of survival, but most, to say it nicely, didn't play well with others." Adrian, walked slowly towards them, saying, "Why should I believe you might be an exception?" They smiled widely while saying, "Because I'm likely no threat to your capabilities already." He stopped, looking at them confused. Seeing this, Subject 583 says, "You don't know do you? You're headed to the foundry, ya? Let's go, it's getting dark, even here they get active at night."
Adrian followed cautiously. Considering how things are, trust is a commodity that can't be taken lightly. When they got to the foundry it was surrounded by tall stone and concrete walls, likely well reinforced. There was barbed wire running along the top of the 8ft wall, giving it a sense of being a fortress originally. The huge metal doors were rusted and thick, heavy enough to be hard to move without mechanical assistance. Adrian stepped up and pushed them open just enough for them both to enter. Stepping in he turned and latched the doors shut feeling at least slightly secure for the night.
Adrian turned to Subject 583 and said, "You got a name?" The man offered his hand and said, "Cedric, it's a pleasure. You know, I didn't think you really existed." He warily took Cedric's hand, "Good to meet you. Now…tell me what you know of me, and don't try anything funny, I've killed one like you already." Cedric said, "Not here, let's get further inside, can't risk being heard."
Inside the foundry itself it still smelled of coke residue and hot metal. The floor was covered in a colorful sand like material. The high ceiling was laced with tracks for the pouring and lifting equipment. In the back they found a cafeteria to sit at a table to talk. Adrian dumped some of the food he was carrying and offered to share with Cedric. "Thanks." he said, taking a bag of nuts, "So, you really don't know you're different. They say your capabilities could be off the charts." Adrian thought about it and said, "I wasn't told anything about what I am or how I even got it. I've just been utilizing it to stay alive. Why haven't you changed, I assumed it was a nanobot core like mine."
Cedric Smiled and said. "Brother, you have no idea what you've got. Pretty much everyone who didn't turn, they got nothing. They might have nanobots in them but they had a bug like a virus, so they couldn't do what was originally designated for them to do. People like us, the nanobots instead strengthened us as well as protected us from the change. The ferals, as you call them, were the correct working nanobots. The design was to make people compliant and docile, but instead it caused them to lose their conscious mind, reverting to animal instinct alone with augmented abilities like in my situation. But you…your nanobots have somehow gained a small amount of sentience, which gives you the ability to control them on a whole new level. That's why you're a wild card."
Adrian's mouth hung open as he listened and processed the information, contemplating his next questions very carefully.