It's a numbers game
Michael carefully picked up the tablet and swiped the message open.
[Welcome to the Physics System
To read the coded message, enter the numerical value of gravitational constant:____]
Even if Michael Best had not seen Sir Newton's untidy calculations, he did remember the numbers of the gravitational constant. His fingers immediately pressed 6.67 in the space and the message opened.
[Physics System
System Issue: Energy Asymmetry from Supermassive Black Hole
System Engineer – in charge: Mikael De Besches/Michael Best, Level II Systems Engineer
Target World: Earth, Year 2021
Overall Goal: Restore Universal Gravitational Field
Objective 2: Search for Antimatter Universe
Skills attributed: Speech, Teleportation, Strength, Luck
Speech: 20%
Teleportation: 1/4
Strength: 40%
Luck: 20%
Wealth: 50 USD, Earth
Equipment: LSI Table U89MDB; USV Portation Band]
Suddenly, Michael felt a heaviness in his right jeans pocket and his hand fished out a wallet.
"The clothes are fitted with the system hardware. If you receive upgrades through your mission, they will be immediately granted to you." Master Ishu informed.
Michael had many more questions; the engineer side of him was curious. But the human side of wanted this wild trip to end and for him to wake up from this nightmare. He rubbed his eyes and pinch himself once, when Ishu was not looking. Failing, he sighed deeply.
"What are all the measures displayed here?"
Master Ishu gave a slow nod of the head, taking his time to response. "I knew you would ask me that, eventually. Walk with me. I will explain those numbers on the way."
The two men left Ishu's workspace and jumped into the elevator.
"The numbers display your attributes that have been granted to you to complete the mission."
Michael narrowed his eyes as he looked at Ishu in confusion. A sneer was hovering on his lips. "So, is that the big secret? That I am an AI, a robot now?"
Ishu broke into a hearty laughter. "One day, Michael, one day, all our Systems Engineers will be AI. But that time is not here, yet. No, you are given those skills as part of the system. Every time you interact with the many worlds as the systems engineer, you do that as an agent of this system. So, the system allows you some powers to help you accomplish the objective."
Although he had seen some of the external workstations and halls of USV, this was the first time Michael was exploring its interior, the bowels of building. The passage opened into a circular balcony overlooking a large hall, which was equipped with big workstations for the employees and giant screens on the walls. The id cards that were dangling from the pockets of the employees there reminded Michael to ask one for himself, since he was there for long haul. The two men walked straight across to another set of elevators penetrating the center of the building.
Master Ishu continued. "As a level-II systems engineer, you will receive 4 daily teleportations. Every time we teleport an agent, the energy we consume will light up an entire town in earth, where you are from. So, you can understand why we are trying to conserve as much energy as we can. And no, it does not accumulate."
"What if I get stuck somewhere I don't want to be? Can you create a portal channel for me?"
"Unfortunately, the rules about this are very strict." Master Ishu remarked as he watched the floor number going lower.
"What if I get stuck among dinosaurs? You don't really expect me to spend an entire day among them, do you?"
Ishu turned and looked curiously at Michael. "What are dinosaurs?"