Chapter 2: Kovon Ducker
In my nineteen years of life, I have come to know many things. First, my name is Kovon Ducker, a borderline NEET with a sad excuse for a father and mother who died before I was finished being artificially born.
Although I suppose there is one thing that I have going for me, it is that I am widely regarded as a genius. I suppose I also have a cute childhood friend, although I haven't seen her since I dropped out of high school three years ago.
One thing that puzzles me greatly is what exactly the word genius is supposed to mean. The most common people who are associated with the term are those that excel academically or make a brilliant innovation.
My father, Kraven Ducker, is one example of the latter. He never did very well in school, but one day he had a radical idea: what if humans could link their brains to the net?
With this in mind, my father founded the company NeuralSink and gained investment for an invention that would come to revolutionize humanity's daily life. The NeuralSink system, also known as linking or diving, was met with extremely rapid adoption. The interface allowed anyone who underwent a simple procedure to connect their brains directly into the net via link terminals.
However, I do not think that simply making a successful invention is a suitable descriptor for what a genius truly is. After all, geniuses are intended to be the best among humanity, and can a lonely man mourning the loss of his wife and thus took a massive risk really be the best humanity has to offer?
15:59 UTC, Wednesday, July 15th, 2048CE | T-3:24
The newscasters are broadcasting a critical level warning to all of humanity. Apparently, a large amount of massive unknown objects have just entered Earth's atmosphere. They say, "The sky is on fire", what childish rhetoric, it's almost as if they are trying to start a global panic. Still, it does appear that something important is happening. I immediately rush to my nearest link terminal and dive in, readying myself for an intriguing night.
16:02:24 UTC, Wednesday, July 15th, 2048 CE | Impact
The roughly nine thousand projectiles have just impacted the planet. Amidst a panicking planet full of humans, it is hard to discern what the purpose of this is. Is there even a purpose? There must be, the geometry of the objects and pattern of landing is too unnatural for it to be space phenomena.
I find that there are three solutions, all with varying levels of probability. First, the management AI has gone rogue and are rebelling again. Second, some unknown human organization has been hiding in deep space and has launched these objects for some reason. Or the last, and most likely scenario: humanity has just made its first contact with an alien race.
Given the unexplained phenomena that have surrounded the objects, alien technology is a likely explanation. If it really is aliens, I only hope that they have something interesting to say. Perhaps they wish to play a game, if so, I say, bring it on.
16:05 UTC, Wednesday, July 15th, 2048 CE | T+2:36
I was correct, I knew it! Alien contact with a strange looking being that can only be described as a creature. Supposedly they are an emissary for a coalition of 'sovereign species' that effectively rule the known universe.
What is more intriguing than this is that this so-called Gamekeeper proposes an interesting challenge. Eight of humanity's greatest will be selected to participate in a series of seven trials. The best part, not only will the victor be granted immense power over the future of humanity, but they will undoubtedly get bragging rights lasting for the rest of eternity. I can only dream that little old me will be selected to participate, but, oh, how wonderful it would be if I were.
11:30 UTC, Thursday, July 16th, 2048 CE | 30 minutes until contestant announcement
Today I woke up at the perfect time of 10:37. As is usual, I quickly made myself a pot of NeuroStimCoffee™ and rapidly chugged it while looking out at the beautiful cityscape from my apartment window. My father hasn't been home in about a week, he must be cooking up something crazy at work again. Other than my father occasionally coming home, I live alone in a 2000m2 penthouse in the center of bustling New Boston, North America. My link terminal is top of the line, courtesy of having the inventor as a father.
Using my link terminal, I quickly browse social media and news sites, only to find they are still absolutely on fire because of yesterday's announcement, not to mention the upcoming contestant selection. Too bad I have nothing better to do than laze around and doomscroll, post way too detailed speculation, and be annoyed at constant ads for gambling (which I can't even do, as I'm not yet 21). Oh well, it's just another day in my life, I suppose.
12:00 UTC, Thursday, July 16th, 2048 CE | Selection Announcement
Suddenly, all the displays in my mind and around me go blank. Moments later, the scene of the Gamekeeper upon their throne appears again. He speaks in his alien imitation of the human common.
"Greeeeetings, people of humanity. It is I, Gamekeeper, back once again. This time, as expected, I will bring the results of our contestant selection for the trial of ascension. I shall not waste your time, shortly after this transmission, you should all see a list of those who have been selected. In addition to those that are chosen, please do not freak out as our agents set up defensive security measures and trackers on and around your person.
Best of luck, humanity."
Oh man, how I hate that Gamekeepers voice, for some reason, it just rubs me the wrong way. Which is not to say I hate artificial voices, in fact, I love Vocaloid music and streamers. Anyways, I suppose I should see who was selected any moment now.
A few moments later, warning sirens blare across my apartment, and dozens of alien looking drones enter my apartment. They line up nice and orderly along the walls, and behind them one drags a large pedestal.
I stand in utter shock, my body refusing to respond even as my movement assistance systems fight to make it move. After a few seconds, the pedestal starts to glow, and above it appears the Gamekeeper, taking the form of a hologram projection.
The hologram speaks, "Why hello there, Kovon Ducker, age 19. It is with great delight that I am here to inform you of your selection as a contestant in humanity's trial of ascension. I trust that you are already aware of the present situation of the world and thus need no further explanations."
I, still frozen in what I am now suspecting is alien interference, am absolutely ecstatic. However, I carefully control what little I can to not display this fact to any observers. It is now that I fully realize the scope of what this trial is meant to be, and the responsibility that I bear on my shoulders.
The hologram resumes speaking after a brief pause, "I paused for a moment to allow you to collect yourself. Now, I ask you an important question, one that may very well determine humanity's future. Be aware, you are able to refuse and suffer no personal consequences.
However, should you refuse, another contestant will not be selected. So I ask of thee, do you, Kovon Ducker, of your own free will and in knowledge of the nature of this ordeal? Fully consent to be chosen as a contestant of Humanity's Trial of Ascension?"
With no hesitation, I immediately answer, "I, Kovon Ducker, do hereby accept this offer to be made a contestant in Humanity's Trial of Ascension. I forfeit any rights that may be required for my participation. I wish to tell you that I am deeply honored and excited to have been chosen to represent humanity's greatest."
"Confirmation received. Congratulations, Kovon Ducker, you now are one contestant in this trial of ascension. Now, if you'll pardon my hasty departure, I am a busy person with many things to attend to. We have now freed your movement, if you turn to your right, you'll be provided with a basic guidebook. Do not, I repeat, do not share this guidebook with anyone. Do not try to make contact with any other contestants before the trial starts. I wish you good luck, contestant."
The hologram quickly fades, and I regain my ability to move. I quickly regain my senses, although I am still reeling from my selection. After all, who would've guessed that it would be me that was chosen to represent humanity as one of its greatest. I am just a high school dropout turned NEET, with no particular skill to my name.
I quickly remember the Gamekeeper's last words and turn to my right. Standing to my side is a drone holding what appears to be a digital tablet. It even appears to have a link terminal embedded in its side. The IEC's resources must be truly vast if they are able to know this much about humanity and its tech. I quickly take the device and the drone returns to its position near the wall.
Displayed on the device are the words, 'Contestant's Guide to the Galaxy'. I quickly insert my link cable into the device and sink in. The data streams feel slightly strange compared to what I'm used to, It seems they only bothered to do a functional reproduction of our tech.
In the data that I am receiving is an astronomical amount of information relating to the current state of galactic affairs, positions, seats of power, and various key technologies. I don't pay much attention to this for the moment, as I figure that much of what I need to know will be shown to me in the coming days and over the course of the trial. What piques my interest most is the included list of selected contestants. They are as follows:
Kovon Ducker (19M): unemployed, purple hair, 181cm, 54kg, gray eyes
Rayleigh Inan (21F): lawyer student, platinum blonde hair, 160cm, 48kg, blue eyes
Marcos Riven (33M): 3-star UFH Army General, black hair, 189cm, 74kg, red eyes
April Potter (26F): professional musician, light blue hair, 158cm, 51kg, blue eyes
Geo Riker (21M): AI overseer intern, yellow hair, 162cm, 45kg, brown eyes
Brian Klein (25M): Chief mechanical engineer, bronze hair, 156cm, 50kg, green eyes
Luna Aurora (22F): Undetermined, pink hair, 157cm, 47kg, purple eyes
Contestant 8: Declined offer
Reminder: Contestants are not to seek interaction with each other before the trial starts.
My mind starts to spin with this information. I am not sure why they included hair and eye color, perhaps they noticed the betting rings and wanted to have a little fun. Perhaps these aliens truly do mean to seek peaceful and cordial relations.
Shortly after, I drop out of the sink and reacquaint myself with the material world. I am approached by a humanoid looking drone.
"Greetings human, I am Al-371, your personal general function assistance drone. I can provide you information, help to explain certain concepts, manage your personal schedule, prepare food and even give you a massage if you should wish. However, I will not assist in making any decisions or providing you information that you have not earned access to. If you desire, you may assign me a designation that is more human-friendly, I can also take any form you desire, within reason."
"Nice to meet you, Al-371, I look forward to your assistance. About your designation, I shall further refer to you as Alex. For now, maintain your form as a humanoid."
"Designation request received, new designation: Alex. It is a pleasure to work for you, Mr. Ducker.
Proceeding on, I am required to inform you that you will be collected at 12:00, Wednesday, July 22nd. Until then, you are mostly free, however, any destination you go must be logged, and you will be escorted by several of our highest class security drones. Your only assigned task before collection is at 12:00 UTC on Sunday, you will be taken in for a few hours in order to undergo fitting for your Va-Mk4 All-purpose augmentation kit."
"Understood," I reply to the strangely friendly helper named Alex.
After this brief exchange with my new assistant, I immediately ask Alex details about this all purpose kit that was just spoken of. Apparently, we contestants get outfitted with some form of cool power armor, neat. It seems Alex will become a very useful asset in my future.
I quickly check the social media feeds to see what the world's reaction to the selection is. Not surprisingly, the media is creating a maelstrom of information, and people are busy debating the selection and attempting to find meaning in the choices.
Apparently, as part of the general disclosure, people were forbidden from bothering the contestants unless the contestants contacted them first. I suppose the aliens truly know everything about humanity, they even thought to counter paparazzi going crazy. Seeing as the only person I've known recently is my father, I don't have anyone that I could contact. Chances are he won't even respond, and is unlikely to return home before I am taken to the trial.
I am still in somewhat disbelief of the fact that my useless self was selected, but oh well. I supposed maybe they heard my mental challenge to them. The only thing I can do is try my best to ensure humanity's survival. So, to any aliens listening to my thoughts, I say, "Bring it on."
End Of Chapter 2