Identity Theft
Marcus took a deep breath after he finished bandaging his wounds with some supplies he found.
His eyes darted around the room. Endless rows of books, holotapes, and gadgets blinked under the fluorescent lights.
This place was a goldmine.
He needed to assume The Librarian's identity fully and make this space his new base of operations.
But first, he had to sift through the mountain of information before him.
Marcus returned his attention to the main computer. It hummed softly, its holo screen displaying various emails and data files.
He scrolled through recent entries.
One email caught his eye. It was regarding Mr. Black.
And speaking of the man Marcus's wrist-holo buzzed and he looked down at a new message.
*Subject: Status of The Librarian*
"I need confirmation. Is he dead?"
The text while static seemed to convey an undertone of anxiousness, curiosity pricked at Marcus's thoughts. He decided to stall Mr. Black.
Quickly, he typed a reply.
*"Working on it. Will confirm soon."*
Marcus hit send and exhaled, he turned his focus back to the emails.
One thread dug deeper into why Mr. Black wanted The Librarian dead.
Apparently, The Librarian had crucial information on the weak points of Mr. Black's casino empire. Nearly all the major Casinos on Centari-IV were owned by Mr.Black and he was the leader of Gamblo LLC, a somewhat legal corporation on the planet, however it seemed Mr.Black operated it like a gang.
Law enforcement and other rival gang's didn't like that. The information the Librarian collected contained blue prints of the casino's, there defense systems and also records of illegal operations.
Marcus smirked.
This info was worth more than 20,000 credits, but it had to be used at the right time, just to be safe he sent the information to his wrist-holo as well.
---
Next, he started examining the library's contents.
Books on engineering, materials, and programming filled the shelves.
He picked up a holotape titled "Robotics for Dummies"
Sliding it into the console, he began to watch.
Lines of code and schematics filled the screen. This was intricate, something new, Marcus also found that he was able to concentrate quite well, better than before, he suspected it was due to his new increase in intelligence.
Marcus played the video at 1.25x speed and was able to keep up, absorbing the concepts with his eyes glued to the screen.
[New Knowledge Bonus Acquired: Robotics I]
Marcus moved to another section.
He found book after book, holo-tape after holo-tape and he watched the introductory information on most of them.
[New Knowledge Bonus Acquired: Materials I]
[New Knowledge Bonus Acquired: Programming I]
[New Knowledge Bonus Acquired: Robotics I]
[New Knowledge Bonus Acquired: Weapon Systems I]
The system prompt made him smile. Each bit of knowledge was a step closer to his grand plans.
---
After some time Marcus's paused on his quest for knowledge and turned his attention to the web, he was curious about something and typed in some queries related to ancient Rome. He was surprised to see how it fell, broken from the inside and split up.
He paused, then typed in his own name, nothing matching came up and a blank look came across his face. The enemy general had been telling the truth, the Emperor had berried his name.
Fury welled up inside Marcus but he was distracted by a new link "The Current State of the Galaxy as we Know it!". He clicked it.
The Syndicate and The Union held most of the central galaxy.
Smaller powers like the Exploration Guild, the Nomads, and large corporations controlled the outer reaches.
Centari-IV, where he was now, was under The Syndicate's domain.
But further out, the Exploration Guild held sway.
Knowledge of these power dynamics was crucial. It calmed Marcus, reminded him of his goal. Of how they would all bow down to him.
Marcus's wrist-holo beeped. A new email message.
It was from Mr. Black again.
*Subject: Status Update*
"Confirm NOW, or face consequences."
Marcus had to think fast.
He needed more time to uncover the secrets in the library.
He replied.
*"Mission in progress."*
He grimaced, knowing Mr. Black's patience was running thin.
---
He continued exploring, noting devices and tools.
One workbench held a half-finished drone, components spread around.
"System, show me available skills & knowledge to learn," Marcus ordered.
[Affirmative.]
[Available AP: 250]
[Available Skills: Quick Draw II (100 AP), Disguise I (100 AP), Rifle Mastery I (150 AP), Pistol Mastery I (100 AP), Silent Walking I (200 AP), Wound Treatment I (100 AP)]
[Available Knowledge: Programming I (50 AP), Robotics I (50 AP), Materials I (50 AP), Weapon Systems I (100 AP), Ballistic Weapons I (150 AP)]
Marcus nodded, he needed to unlock the automation design system so the first few were easy to choose.
[Programming I, Robotics I and Materials I knowledge acquired. 100 AP remaining]
Marcus pondered the reaming list and while he thought about purchasing disguise he decided to purchase Quick Draw due to the unique combination with the automation design system, he was certain he could perfect this skill to a deadly degree.
[Quick Draw II acquired. 0 AP remaining.]
Marcus nodded, it was time.
"Activate automation design."
And just like before a virtual world filled his vision, full of grids and holo screens. On one screen Marcus saw the title "Blueprints" and saw the available mining robot blueprint, he pressed it and the blueprint appeared before him.
It was all the pieces of the robot but they could move to his will, with a gesture of his hands the parts spread apart so Marcus could investigate the inner workings and relations. This allowed Marcus to quickly understand the function, capabilities and how to build the mining robot.
It was a stout thing, like a Roomba but equipped with a drill and small arm to pick up ore, completely autonomous and running off geo-thermal heat.
Glancing up Marcus saw the text '80/100 Design Points Used'.
"What are design point's?" he asked.
[Design Points are a measure of how many parts and programs you can put into one automation, it is directly proportional to your intelligence. The more intelligent you are, the more complex robots you can build.]
"Is that so?" Marcus said as he pulled up a holo-screen called "Components" there he could see the ability to add new parts on top of the existing functions, for example adding another drill would cost 30 design points.
Marcus tried adding it and the simulation crumbled in front of him, the automation imploding, with his current knowledge Marcus could see there was no way for the system to work.
He removed the extra drill, and put a finger to his chin.
He still had 20 points to use and he didn't want to waste it. He was scrolling though 'Programs' when he found one that made him stop and think.
It was a program called 'Voice Command Recognition.'
Happily tinkering Marcus added a small secret compartment and the voice command recognition with one command. Luckily it would only work with his voice.
With that Marcus exited the design system and felt a pounding in his head, it was throbbing. He checked his watch, two minutes had passed here but many hours had passed in the system.
He looked down at the mostly assembled robot and reached out with his hands to complete it, he could see the blueprint of the system laid out over the creation, it was easy to follow. The Librarian was a prepared man and a hoarder, all the necessary equipment and tools were scattered about the Library.
---
A few hours later the prototype was finished.
A small Roomba like bot with a drill and small hand and the new functionality Marcus had added. Grinning Marcus took a step back and gave the command.
"Abracadabra."
And just like that a secondary compartment on the Roombas side which was well hidden into the seams opened up, it was a small compartment but it was big enough to hold something.
Marcus pulled out the cheap revolver he had and put it into the Robot's secret compartment, it slid in and closed. It didn't add much functionality to the bot but if Marcus ever ended up in those mines he would have a weapon at least.
To replace the revolvers loss Marcus picked up the holster from the dead Librarians body, a laz-pistol sat inside and Marcus attached it to his hip, well hidden under the trench coat he now wore. He also donned the metallic mask with only eye slits that the Librarian wore, underneath was an unassuming man, a dead one.
"An upgrade." he said smiling, he also painted the letters 001 on the prototype giving it somewhat of a name.
His first automation was completed, all he had to do now was get the prototype to the Black Hoods, collect their money and build up wealth as the Librarian.
But just like that Marcus's wrist-holo buzzed again, another message from Mr. Black.
'I am assuming your mission failed, contract cancelled. If you're still alive don't show up again, I'm having someone else take out the Librarian.'
Marcus gulped, if he was now the Librarian, didn't that mean Mr. Black was sending someone to kill him?
And just like that, the intercom buzzed.