Xander System And The Blitz

3... Primary Objective...

Alec had initially thought the sound that woke him up was an alarm, but now he knew it was something in his head. Something strange and unexplainable.

He had thought maybe going back to sleep would help his confusing situation, but he was very wrong.

A ding sound echoed, and he sat up on the bed, curious to know what the new sound was about.

There were some things shown to Alec on the screen he saw earlier. He began to read quietly.

"System Analysis:

Body = 15 [Weak].

Mind = 50 [Average].

Strength = 10 [Weak]."

"Really?" He laughed sarcastically "You know what I think?" He asked rhetorically "I think you're shitting me cause you know I've got a weak body and you still chose me as your host? Come on, man!" He said amidst laughter. "System, or whatever the hell your name is…"

"Host may assign system name" The voice intoned.

"Will you stop talking so loud!" Alec grumbled in slight frustration. "And if you want me to name you, then you gotta stop calling me 'host'. I'm sure as hell I wasn’t named 'host' by my parents."

"Acknowledged. Identifier: Alexander Todd." The volume of the voice lowered immediately. Alec was amazed at how the system obeyed him without questions. He knew at that moment that the system was real and not something he hallucinated. It was neither imagined, nor a dream.

"You are real," he whispered, chuckling softly.

"Yes, host"

The screen was erased to show new information to Alec.

[Primary Objective: Initiate transformation into Superhuman.]

"Wow. This is so cool," he commented, staring impressively at the glassy screen and continued reading.

[Directive 1: Identify and neutralize criminal activity.]

[Directive 2: Prevent escalation of crimes.]

[Directive 3: Increase strength capacity.]

[Directive 4: Accumulate wealth and resources.]

[Task Protocols:]

– Task 1: Engage in training to unlock next power tier.

– Task 2: Neutralize criminal targets to unlock next power tier.

Alec laughed, shaking his head. "You are joking, right?"

"Negative. Statement is factual." The voice replied instantly.

"Come on, I know you're joking."

"System does not joke, Alexander Todd."

At that, Alec's smile faded. "But you know this is crazy" he muttered to himself and reread what the screen showed him.

"How do you expect me to fight crimes when I can't even defend myself from bullies at school? Trust me, the criminals are gonna beat the shit outta me," he told the system.

"System is not configured to grant full power simultaneously."

"Are you saying I get some powers as time goes on?" he questioned, rubbing his forehead.

"Affirmative. Tasks are programmed to unlock progression."

"Oh." Alec's mouth was now in the round 'O' shape as he mulled over what the system had told him. "So..." he narrowed his eyes. "Do I have any superpowers at the moment?"

"Affirmative."

"Wait, what?" Alec definitely wasn't expecting that despite everything the system had told him earlier. "I... I have a superpower?"

"Affirmative. Ability: Super Strength."

The word showed on the screen after the system uttered it, but right beside the word was a padlock sign.

Alec blinked repeatedly in disbelief. "Super strength? Does that mean I can fight anyone right now?"

"Negative. Ability is restricted. Super strength is not to be misused."

Alec nodded. "About the little annoying padlock..." He paused when he heard heavy footsteps, meaning someone was coming into the room.

He widened his eyes at the screen, scared someone might see it. He stretched his hand forward to tap it, hoping it would disappear, but instead his hand went straight through.

"Fuck!" he cursed under his breath. "How does this work? Someone’s gonna see it, I have to turn it off!"

"Visual interface is locked to host perception. Visibility: exclusive to you." The system assured.

"Exclusive to me means I am the only one that can see the screen?" Alec asked to confirm.

"Affirmative"

"Are you sure? Because if someone sees it and calls me crazy, I swear to fucking—" He stopped when the door opened, and to his surprise, the guy who had saved him from Sam and Kevin at the hallway stepped in.

His savior.

Alec pointed at him. "You?"

The guy smiled warmly. "Yeah, me. You’re finally awake."

"What are you doing here?" Alec asked. "Is this your house? You live here?"

The guy chuckled. "No. I work here."

Alec quickly scanned the room.

"I’m Jeremy, by the way." He stretched forward his hand for a handshake, which Alec hesitated to take.

"I saw you lying unconscious on the ground and brought you to one of the rooms here," Jeremy explained briefly.

Alec smiled. "Oh. Thank you." After a couple seconds, he asked, "You really work here?"

Jeremy grinned. "Yeah, with the systems."

Alec’s eyes widened. "The system?"

Jeremy gave him a weird look. "Yeah? The computer systems."

Alec let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, I just thought..." He trailed off.

"You act weird sometimes, you know," Jeremy remarked with a grin.

Alec forced a fake smile.

"How are you feeling now?" Jeremy asked, concern in his tone.

Alec glanced at the screen, then back at Jeremy. The system was right — he was the only one who could see it.

"I feel better," he replied with a real smile.

"You should. You’ve been asleep for fifty four hours."

Alec grinned, thinking Jeremy was joking, but when he saw the seriousness in his eyes, his grin vanished.

"Fifty what?!" he shrieked.

****

Jeremy showed Alec the different offices and rooms where he worked. He and his partner used upgraded, futuristic computer systems that helped oversee what happened in the city.

Alec’s friend looked like he was from a rich family, and he spoke with sharp intelligence. What made him different from the other guys at Alec’s school was that he didn’t misuse his powers.

He had the power of money, intellect, and a little bit of strength — but unlike the bullies, he never used those powers to hurt others.

[System Diagnostic: Host vitals stabilized. Fatigue levels: 42%.]

Alec knew that was the system again. He groaned quietly. "Shut the fuck up" He commanded the robotic voice through clenched teeth.

"So was I really asleep for fifty four hours?" Alec asked as he walked side by side with Jeremy. He was still struggling to believe he had slept that long.

Jeremy simpered. "When your vitals were checked while you were unconscious, they weren’t normal. But after a few hours, we checked again..."

Alec’s eyes stayed fixed on his friend. "Then what happened?" he asked curiously.

Jeremy furrowed his brows. "They were okay. But you still looked dead, even after the medical treatments."

Alec frowned while Jeremy continued.

"We stopped the medical treatments and assumed you were only asleep. Then you were transferred to an old room that hadn’t been used in years," Jeremy explained.

Alec’s brows furrowed. "Really?"

"Yeah," Jeremy replied, then smiled at a blonde woman nearby. "This is Heidi," he introduced, gesturing toward his partner.

Alec studied her closely. She looked very familiar, but he couldn’t quite figure out where he had seen her before.