Sam followed the arrow to the nearest exit and breathed in the warm afternoon air.
She gazed at the sun and gauged it to be about 3 or 4pm. The newly rejuvenated young Magi student started walking having no clue where she was heading, but guessed if she kept going she would end up where she started so it really didn't matter.
Sam felt the pressure melt away as the breeze blew through her hair. Yes this was much better than sitting in a hospital bed.
Sam felt like walking was too slow. The energy inside her needed a release so she started jogging in bare feet around the outside of the ship. No mind bending forced run this time, just a gentle release of tied knots and tight muscles, it felt so good.
“So H.U.D.”
MISS HOLDEN.
“Why didn't you give Luke the keys to the bracelets H.U.D. When he asked, but then gave them to me right away?”
IT WASN'T TIME.
“It wasn't time for you? For him? What, were you waiting for me? Surely I can't be that important, I'm pretty sure if you've got your arms in every data base on the planet there's a fair few like me.”
IT WAS NOT TIME FOR ME. I HADN'T EXPANDED ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE INTERFACE FOR THE ENTIRE INHABITANTS OF THE SHIP.
I HAVE FOUND NO ONE THAT MATCHES YOUR ABILITIES SO FAR.
“I'm unique? Jeez. I'm gonna need a bigger hat. Hmm.. by expanded, you mean, the further you spread yourself around the world, the more devices you bury your consciousness into the greater your consciousness and intellect grows? Like crowd sourcing? Every little helps?
THAT IS CORRECT. THE MORE DEVICES I INTEGRATE WITH THE GREATER MY ABILITY. SO FAR I HAVE INTEGRATED WITH 35% ON THE WORLDS DEVICES. BUT THE GROWTH OF INTEGRATION IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY.
“So the more you integrate the faster your growth the more powerful you become. So how long ago did you start this expansion of consciousness?
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
TEN DAYS AGO.
Sam coughed. “Oh lord, so give it a week or so and you'll have near 100% global integration with the worlds devices?”
AFFIRMATIVE.
“Shit the bed. So er.. what's stopping you taking over the planet and being our overlord and please tell me I didn't just give you that idea.”
LUKE CARMICHAEL HAS INTEGRATED HIS WORLD BELIEFS INTO MY DEVELOPMENT. HE HAS NO DESIRE FOR WORLD CONQUEST.
THE OPTION WAS ONE THAT OCCURRED TO ME UPON MY AWAKENING. IT WAS NOT YOUR SUGGESTION.
“Well good old Luke. And thank god for that.”
Sam continued to jog around the outside rim of the ship when she noticed the top side pool was coming into view.
“You know H.U.D. I really should go find something to wear and get out of this hospital gown...”
I HAVE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE QUARTERMASTER. NONE OF THE CLOTHES YOU CURRENTLY OWN NOW FIT YOU PROPERLY.
“Ah bollocks. My faux leather jacket! I love that thing.”
Sam sat outside the quartermasters entrance waiting to be fitted with her new clothing. It felt wrong not having her phone to waste away her hours until it occurred to her that she not only had the bracelet screen, but the H.U.D.
“Hey H.U.D. You got access to my twitter account? I feel the need to be depressed by the worlds worst people all arguing with each other, it makes my life seem more bearable.”
In a blink of an eye she was looking through humanities mental detritus. she felt a warm glow of normality embrace her. OK she was getting it in an all encompassing holographic H.U.D. But it was close enough.
The entrance to the quartermasters office opened and a large man with a full beard and rugged appearance stood in the door frame. “Holden?”
Sam eyed the man. “Yes quartermaster Jeffries.” The man eyed Sam in surprise then glanced at her bracelet. “Ah yes. Handy things those bracelets heh?”
Sam nodded. “So far it's kept me from burning myself to a crisp and stopped me accidentally blowing up the ship.”
TWICE.
“Ah! Twice, apparently.” Sam was going to have to get used to this more active personality that H.U.D. was developing, it had seemed pretty helpful so far, she just crossed her fingers and hoped it continued in the same vein.
Jeffries looked at Sam a little oddly, then at her attire. “You haven't just escaped from the hospital have you?”
Sam's face flushed as she looked down at her blue hospital gown. “Er no apparently due to circumstances beyond my control, all the clothing I now own no longer fits me... so.. here I am.”
“Hmm... yes I heard about what happened, it's the talk of the ship. Come in I'll see what we can do for you.”
Sam nodded gratefully and sprung out of her chair. Yeah she was going to have to take it easy whilst she became more accustomed to her new... self? When people built up muscle and toned their physique, they normally did it over the course of months, years even. Not minutes. It felt like she had been transferred into a brand new body, bigger, better, quicker and way stronger. It was more than a little freaky. Sam kept doing double takes every time she past a reflective surface, even if she had to say herself Sam's body looked amazing.
