Star Wars: The Earthling Gamer

Chapter 2 - The Dangers of Power

Later, on the same day...

I was getting lunch when I heard the now familiar "Ding!" next.

Apple
Restores 10 HP
Restores 10 FP

"Ding!"

New Ability Unlocked!
Observe Level Max: When activated, you will be able to see data concerning the target.

I grin as I realize I probably have other abilities, too. But I set that on the back burner as I continue to munch on the apple. As I finish, I decide to do something involving my potential Force Powers. I breathe in deeply, a small tug in my gut forming as I imagine a living power flowing through me, lifting the apple core out of my hand, and levitating it around my head. I grin softly as I recall that my powers have limits, and set it back in my hand. I hear a "Ding!" but I set that to the side as I checked my FP, surprised in finding it at 150/160, instead of something lower. With that being revealed, I check the notification I got from the system.

New Power Unlocked!
Force Levitation, Level 1: When you trigger this ability, you will be able to move around the targeted object with your mind, the heavier the object or being, the higher the cost.
FP cost: 5 x weight in pounds per minute.

"That's a little much." I say, frowning a bit. I shrug, and eat another apple. "Definitely would be worth training for decreased costs, though there are loopholes to that system." I muse, losing myself in the possibilities.

Minutes later, I feel a prickling from the hairs on the back of my neck, and I duck, hearing a "Ding!", as a small dart flies over my head, through my window. I growl, and dash to my cutting board, where a sharp knife had been laying from the previous night's dinner, failing to grab it before another dart flew at me.

I roll to the side as it flies at me, really wishing I actually paid more attention when I took classes for self defense. My mind was racing, trying to figure out what to do to live this encounter. I had little experience in fighting close up, and they had a ranged weapon, clearly, which I lacked myself. I finally settled on possibly the stupidest reach of my life. Forcefully developing a Force power so incredibly powerful, that it could probably get me tossed in jail for murder, if it worked.

It was stupid, a split second decision, but it was the only power in that moment I could think of to neutralize that threat. This time, in my panic, I reached my hand out, sensing the person attacking me, and I grip down tightly with my hand by instinct. As I do that, the man is lifted in the air, into my sight, and curls up in the air, screaming as loud "cracks!" are heard through the house, then he drops to the floor, light gone from his eyes, as I used possibly the most powerful Force power, being the Dark Side power adequately dubbed as Force Crush.

My eyes widen, and I start breathing heavily. "I just killed someone." I mutter, frantically trying to keep myself calm as another two "Dings!" ring in my ears. I look up, having trouble fully registering what I did, starting to read the notifications.

New Ability Unlocked!
Detect Bloodlust, Level 1: You can now detect when someone nearby has malicious intent for you!

New Power Unlocked!
Force Crush Level 1: When you trigger this power, the target is lifted in the air, severe pressure getting applied to their organs, muscles, and bones, crushing them. Highly lethal.
FP cost: 90 FP
Warning! Provided how early you developed this power, you will only be able to use it in a dire situation until you're a higher level!

Alignment Change!
Dark Side Points Gained!

I sob, trying hard to remember if there was a way to revive someone. "I didn't think it would work as well as it did." I mutter, silently begging that this power would work. I knew it specified only allies in the game, but this is life, surely it can stretch logic a little. I reach out my hand, instinct taking over as I feel a flow of power in that hand, a blue wisp exiting it and flowing into the corpse of the dead man, who, under closer examination, seemed to be some kind of agent. I hear two loud "Dings!" ring through the air, alongside several "Pops!" as the man seemed to regain color, things shifted into place.

I sigh in relief and grab some rope, tying him to a chair. I disarm him, and after a few minutes, he shakes as he awakens. The man groans, his eyes cracking open. He takes one glance at me and shrieks, clearly afraid, starting to thrash in his bonds. "Stay away from me, you mutated freak!" He stammers.

"Look, sir. With all due respect, you did try to hurt me. I could've left you for dead, but that'd be against my morals. I couldn't let anyone die, much less some random guy who clearly knows as little as I do. I kept you alive. Be lucky I had that mercy, because had I been in a poorer mood, you'd be sprawled across my kitchen floor, mangled and dead for my family to find when they come back from their vacation." He gulps, but I continue.

"I'll let you go, but under these terms. First, you tell whoever sent you that you didn't find me. Second, you leave me alone. Third, you leave the group pursuing me or try to sabotage them. And trust me, when I say this. You don't want to know what I'll do if you don't listen to those terms. Alternatively, I can leave you here for your team to find, memory wiped of everything that just transpired, for you to just feel death gripping you again when you inevitably locate me again." I explain, bloodlust creeping into my voice, lying like a dog as another two "Dings!" bleed into my ears.

The poor agent nods, fear clear in his expression. "I-I understand, kid. I'll listen to your terms. Just know this. They know your powers. They want to use you and your powers. As long as you don't hurt me or my family, you have my word I'll do nothing against you." He says, clear understanding that I'm just a kid, afraid of himself and what's going on. "Thank you. Now, I'll return your weapons to you. I advise you get some rest when you get the chance, because all of this must've drained you. Goodbye, sir. Stay safe out there." I say, reluctance in my voice to let him go as I untie him, returning his weapons to him as I glance at him with a silent Observe.

Dillon Truman, Human.
Level 15
43 years old

As he exits through the door, I assemble some food, reading off the notifications as I start to chow down, restoring my FP.

New Power Unlocked!
Revitalize: When you trigger this power, you can raise a recently deceased person from the dead, healing their wounds to a point where they're stable.
HP and FP cost: 10 HP, 10 FP

Alignment Change!
Light Side Points Gained!

New Ability Unlocked!
Lying, Level Max: Hurrah, you learned how to lie well! Success Rate depends on believability of the fib.

New Ability Unlocked!
Bloodlust, Level 1: When you trigger this ability, your Caillou level rage is sent to the target, showing your hostility and your ability to intimidate, as well as broadcasting the fact you have ill intent for them.

Something was bothering me, though. "How do they know about my powers?" I found myself thinking. For now, though, I shove it to the side for more important matters.

I sigh. "Cyrus, this is looking really bad for you..." I mutter to myself, as I start to feel rejuvenated from the food. "Ding!"

Journal Entry Added!

"Journal?" I call out, curiosity in my voice.

Journal Entry: Life or Death!
As you start to realize the reality of your situation even more after the first attempt against your life, you know you need to fight back. The question is how?

I release a shaky breath, waving away the notification. I stare at my hands for a minute, evaluating what happened, the agent's screams ringing through my head. "A mutated freak... Do they know what's wrong with me? Or are they just aware I have power and scared of the monster within?" I ponder. "Ding!"

Journal Entry Added!

I groan at yet another Journal Entry, but call out to view my Journal once again.

Journal Entry: Government Intel!
Since the encounter, you kept coming back to the same thought. How does the government know of your location, and even more, of your powers? You know you need to figure it out, but you don't know where to start.

I slam my fist on the table and growl, my predicament seeming less possible to escape by the moment. "I just need to train, then. I don't want this to happen again. I need to know, and I can't be caught off guard again." I mutter, fury lacing my voice.