Leveling Up

Instantly, the Halo flared dramatically to life, releasing beams of intense, laser-like light that rapidly scanned every corner of the room. Ethan winced as the halo grew increasingly hot, discomfort swiftly giving way to pain as the transformation began.

"Level-up in progress: Archangel Program, Level 1," the Halo announced, its voice echoing crisply through the room.

"Scanning for Halo-compatible technology… Compatible technology detected. Initiating celestial energy acquisition… Technological Assimilation in progress. Three minutes and ten seconds until completion."

The Halo sprang vividly into action, spinning and shifting intricately, unlocking hidden mechanisms with each precise movement. Ethan found himself involuntarily rising off the ground, his eyes wide with shock and trepidation, the sensation alarmingly similar to his initial transformation.

"Preparing subject for assimilation…"

Ethan's body began radiating an ethereal glow, lighting the room in a spectral brilliance. Gabe watched in awe, heart pounding as the room itself seemed to respond to the Halo's call. Technology around them flickered violently, energy streams converging towards Ethan's suspended form, intensifying the room's luminosity.

Ethan cried out sharply as the streams penetrated his body, pain surging fiercely through him. "Sorting… Compiling… Restructuring…" the Halo calmly narrated. "Error encountered: recalibrating… Attempting secondary assimilation protocol."

Ethan screamed again, his body convulsing violently as the Halo rapidly adjusted, its mechanisms twisting and recalibrating, visibly striving to correct the failure.

"Assimilation recalibration failed. Initiating tertiary assimilation protocol."

Gabe's voice broke through, frantic with worry. "Hold on, Ethan! You've got this!" He reached forward instinctively but was hurled backward by a forceful surge of celestial energy.

The Halo continued resolutely, undeterred by repeated setbacks. 

"Attempting alternate energy synthesis… Error: insufficient celestial integration. Reattempting energy synthesis using environmental quantum particles…"

Ethan gasped desperately, each wave of assimilation tearing through him, agony etched starkly into his face. Gabe watched helplessly, fists clenched tightly in frustration and concern.

"Successful particle integration. Resuming primary assimilation… Sixty seconds remaining…" the Halo finally announced confidently.

Ethan's form radiated brilliantly, now glowing with a blinding intensity reminiscent of a rising sun. Gabe shielded his eyes from the overwhelming brightness.

"Ten seconds remaining…"

Ethan arched backward dramatically, the final phase of transformation seizing control, his entire form enveloped in radiant energy. "Assimilation Complete. Rebooting…"

Abruptly, the halo dimmed, and Ethan dropped heavily to the floor, limp and motionless. Gabe immediately surged forward, kneeling beside Ethan's still form and cradling his friend's head carefully. The halo was silent and dark around Ethan's neck, momentarily lifeless.

"Ethan!" Gabe shouted desperately, shaking Ethan gently. Panic rose sharply in his voice. "Wake up, Ethan! Talk to me!"

After an anxious pause, the halo flickered gently back to life, its glow steady and reassuring. A shimmering holographic figure materialized before them, solidifying gradually. "The assimilation encountered unexpected resistance but completed successfully through alternate protocols. You are now Archangel Level 1."

"Hello, Gabriel," the figure spoke calmly as its form solidified into a clear, translucent projection.

Gabe barely acknowledged the figure, desperately shaking Ethan's shoulder, his voice trembling with fear. "Ethan! Ethan, wake up!" He turned urgently to the holographic figure. "What did you do to him?"

"Scanning… Ethan Blade… Archangel Level 1. Status: Unconscious. Initiating consciousness restoration," the figure responded calmly.

Suddenly, Ethan's body arched violently as the halo emitted a sharp surge of energy. Gabe shielded his eyes from the intense brightness, heart racing with anxiety. Ethan gasped sharply, eyes snapping open wide, breathing heavily as he jolted upright.

"What the—?" Ethan sputtered, trembling as he pushed himself into a sitting position, chest heaving with labored breaths.

"Consciousness restored, you are fully functional," the Halo reported serenely. "Can I be of further assistance?"

"Yes!" Ethan exclaimed, shakily regaining his footing and staring at the shimmering hologram in fascination. "Who—or what—are you exactly?"

"I am an advanced symbiotic AI embedded within your celestial Halo," the figure explained, its form solidifying into greater clarity. "I can interface with most technological systems, enhance your natural and celestial abilities, and provide computational assistance. I can assimilate compatible technology, analyze your environment in real-time, offer defensive measures, and project holographic data directly from your thoughts." Halo paused briefly, then continued, "Would you like me to fully integrate into your NanoFab suit? Integration will significantly enhance your capabilities and defenses."

Ethan hesitated briefly, quickly weighing his options. "Yes," he finally confirmed, determination evident in his voice.

Immediately, the Halo pulsed, and Ethan felt a powerful yet comforting sensation as it seamlessly integrated with his NanoFab suit. He briefly shuddered, the sensation unusual but empowering.

"Integration complete," the Halo confirmed reassuringly. "Your NanoFab suit is now enhanced with adaptive camouflage, biometric monitoring, energy absorption, and augmented defensive capabilities."

Ethan nodded appreciatively, quickly recalling their urgent task. Turning back to the hologram, he spoke firmly, "Can you help me access EarthCorp's military server?"

The hologram shimmered slightly, processing the request. "Initiating connection now," the Halo replied calmly. Moments passed tensely as Ethan watched screens flash with rapid-fire attempts. "Encountering unexpected resistance. Security protocols stronger than anticipated. Deploying advanced integration algorithms."

The Halo's glow intensified, the holographic figure flickering slightly as it exerted considerable computational effort. "Recalibrating encryption keys… bypassing secondary firewall… encountering advanced security measures," Halo reported, voice unwavering yet increasingly strained.

Ethan watched anxiously, fingers tapping nervously on the desk. "Can you handle it, Halo?"

"Adjusting approach," the Halo responded confidently. "Deploying quantum algorithms… initiating breach sequence… overcoming tertiary security barrier."

A tense silence filled the air as Ethan held his breath. After what felt like an eternity, Halo's form stabilized, the projection regaining clarity. "Access successfully granted. Security bypass complete."

Ethan exhaled deeply in relief, swiftly rearranging data, assigning new quarters, and reorganizing crucial military files. Gabe watched closely, visibly impressed.

"Nice work," Gabe praised softly, placing a reassuring hand on Ethan's shoulder. "We might just stand a chance now."

"We'll have one roommate, Gabe," Ethan informed him, relief evident in his voice. "Better than four, but they could still assign more people later." Exhausted, Ethan headed for the shower. Stepping into the hot stream, he leaned against the tile wall, eyes closed, enjoying the soothing sensation. Suddenly, he felt another presence and opened his eyes, startled to see Gabe standing inches away, completely naked, rinsing shampoo from his hair.

"Gabe?!" Ethan's voice cracked with surprise, eyes involuntarily roaming Gabe's athletic form.

Gabe opened one eye nonchalantly. "What? You take forever, and I'm not having a cold shower after the day I had. Relax, it's nothing I haven't seen before."

Ethan stammered, heart pounding furiously, eyes darting away. "I… uh… this is… really awkward."

Gabe chuckled softly, entirely unbothered. "Only if you make it awkward."

Ethan stood frozen, water dripping off both their bodies, cheeks burning bright red. He cleared his throat. "So… um… ready for tomorrow?"

Gabe casually stepped past him, grabbing a towel and smirking. "Absolutely. But maybe knock next time."

Left alone, Ethan rested his head against the cool tile, letting out a deep, embarrassed sigh. "Yeah… definitely awkward," he muttered to himself, replaying the scene repeatedly in his mind. For a moment, he stood there motionless, soap bar forgotten in his hand, eyes blankly fixed on the glistening white subway tiles as steam rose gently around him.

Eventually, Ethan shook himself from his thoughts, quickly finished his shower, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Still distracted, he exited the bathroom, rubbing his damp hair absently.

Gabe glanced up from his TapPad, giving Ethan a mildly amused look. "What's for dinner?" he asked casually, seemingly oblivious to Ethan's lingering embarrassment.

Ethan cleared his throat, finally regaining some composure. "I'd love a bacon cheeseburger with fries," he replied, managing a slight smile.

Gabe nodded approvingly, his eyes lighting up at the suggestion. "Order whatever you want," he said enthusiastically. "We'll be stuck with EarthCorp mess hall food soon enough."

Ethan quickly placed their order, adding extra toppings to his burger for good measure, while Gabe eagerly selected a large pepperoni pizza. Thirty minutes later, a delivery drone hovered gently onto the balcony, depositing their meals with a quiet hum. Ethan retrieved their food, savoring the tantalizing aromas wafting from the containers.

Settling comfortably onto the couch, Gabe immediately dove into his pizza, letting out a satisfied groan. Ethan chuckled softly at Gabe's enthusiasm, finally relaxing fully as he bit into his cheeseburger, savoring the comforting, familiar taste that eased away the day's tension.

They ate quietly, sharing casual conversation before eventually deciding to call it a night. Gabe lay on the sofa, quickly drifting into sleep. Ethan, however, lay awake for a long while, staring at the bunk above him as thoughts swirled restlessly through his mind. He felt an undeniable closeness to Gabe, an emotional connection growing deeper by the day, yet he remained uncertain about its meaning or direction.

Sighing softly, Ethan turned onto his side, gazing toward Gabe's sleeping form. Complex feelings tangled within him—questions he struggled to fully articulate. "Halo," Ethan whispered softly, careful not to disturb Gabe. "Show me my current stats."

Immediately, a gentle holographic projection appeared before him, softly illuminating the darkness:

User: Ethan Blade Current Status: Archangel Level 1 System Status: Advanced Integration Active Total XP Earned: 100 of 200

Current Abilities:

Advanced Technological Integration Limited Healing Capabilities Limited Use of Celestial Energy Increased Strength and Endurance

New Mission Available: Advance to Archangel Level 2 (Complete tasks totaling an additional 100 XP)

Eventually, exhaustion overtook his restless mind, and Ethan slipped into a restless sleep, dreams and doubts about EarthCorp training interwoven as the night wore on.