Star Wars: The Earthling Gamer

Chapter 3 - The Echo

Three days later, in Tennessee...

I've spent the last few days running away and training my powers, sneaking away from agents on my tail while I was on the way across the country. If there's one place to get lost in, it was probably California, rather than DC, which, for obvious reasons, I decided going there wouldn't end well. Thank gods I found out about the inventory function early in the trip. (What? I can have weird, supernatural abilities and still be polytheistic.)

I finally collapsed on a log, and decided to check the notifications I've gained since I left, since I didn't have time to check.

New Power Unlocked!
Affect Mind: When you trigger this power, you roll a Willpower check on the target, if successful, it convinces them of what you said, to any extent. The more believable and less demanding, the more likely it is to work.
No FP Cost.

New Power Unlocked!
Shock: When you trigger this power, a small electric shock is drawn from your hands, enough to short-circuit the average device, or, with enough time and effort, it certainly cooks food well!
FP Cost: 20 FP

New Ability Unlocked!
Crafting, Level 4: With enough practice, you've developed a knack for making your own tools, to keep yourself alive and safe. With enough focus and FP, who knows what you can make?

For enduring constant strain over the past two days, you've gained +4 Con!

For your well-crafted tools for survival, you have gained +1 Int!

I also noticed I can level up twice, given how much I've been working the past few days. This is how my stats came out after leveling up:

Str: 12
Con: 16
Dex: 14
Int: 16
Wis: 16
Cha: 14

Computer Use: 2
Demolitions: 4
Stealth: 4
Awareness: 4
Persuade: 4
Repair: 2
Security: 4
Treat Injury: 2

What sucks is that the skill points, after the first few levels, have to remain even with your current level, and if they're not class skills, they take the level by half. Fortunately, though, I chose Scoundrel and Consular, which makes everything a class skill, though I still lack the skill points to get everything to level 4.

I feel someone tap me on the shoulder, and out of paranoia, I grab my recently crafted wooden vibroblade from my inventory and turn around to face a girl my age, maybe around 16 or 17.

She yelped and jumped back in surprise, then I faltered, realizing she meant no harm. I quickly placed the blade back into my inventory, and sized her up. She's tan, with hazel eyes, and long brown hair. Unnaturally thin, almost like she's been starved. "Ding!" I inwardly sigh, ignoring the intelligence increase.

"Apologies for the rude greeting. I was startled." I say, a stoic look upon my face. "How did you do that? Who are you?" She asked critically. "I'm Cyrus, and I'm afraid I can't answer that first question. Now, might I ask who you are?" I responded hesitantly.

"I just go by Kara. Pleasure." She greets me calmly, extending a hand. I take her hand, and quickly and firmly shake it. "The pleasure's all mine. What are you doing out here in the woods?" I ask carefully, knowing if I say something wrong, a nerve could be struck. I didn't really feel like offending someone unnecessarily today.

"Ding!" "Ding!" I silently wonder what that could be about, but resolve to check later. "I could ask you the same. I'm just taking a breath of fresh air. Family troubles, you know?" She cautiously replies.

I detected no lies, aside from a missing detail that was abundantly clear. She had run away. We were in the middle of the woods, and the nearest bit of civilization was miles away.

"If I tell you why I'm out here, promise not to freak out?" I ask. She stares at me, almost as if trying to detect any deception, and after a minute, she nods slightly.

"I'm on the run from the government. I'm from Virginia, and I was headed to California. Two days ago, I woke up with powers akin to the Force from Star Wars, and I was almost immediately in the center of a kidnapping attempt from a government agent. I can prove it." I explain, lifting the log I was resting on with the powers, before I grunt and drop it from exertion.

"Damn heavy log. Exhausts my powers too quickly. I need to train more." I curse quietly. Kara is practically frozen in place, eyes widened in shock. "There's no way. I'm dreaming. This can't be real." She denies, pinching herself.

I frown slightly, thinking of ways to prove it's real. I just decide to let her take it in for a minute, and I center myself, criss-crossing my legs, closing my eyes as I feel myself calm, and strengthen. After a few minutes, I feel my FP surging back to me, and I release a sigh, examining the notification I got earlier.

New Title Unlocked!
The Echo: With this title, you gain a permanent +5 to Cha. When you speak with people who are destined to be important allies, you can gain or lose influence with them. They will remain allies no matter what, but their actions and goals won't always match yours if your influence with them is decreased. Be careful what you say, smartass. With time, the maximum influence you can gain will increase, as well as your control over them. Choose carefully what you ask of your trusted allies.

Influence Gained: Kara! 15/100

I shudder slightly at what the title implies, afraid of the power just handed to me. True power is for the foolish. Nobody truly can handle power. It corrupts, it kills, and always has consequences. "Ding!" Yeah, yeah, +1 to Wis, I get it.

As I feel the last of my energy return, I hear one more "Ding!" to signify my rest fully restoring my HP and FP. "I figured I'd give you a minute or two to process. You all good now, Kara?" I ask.

"I think I'm okay now? I mean, it's a lot to take in. A supposedly fictional universal life force exists, and the government wants to test stuff on you, a random boy I found in the woods. Cool." She says coolly, trying to shrug it off. Her calm demeanor didn't reach her panicked eyes, however.

"Alright. So you know, you aren't in danger unless you tell people you saw me. However, I can tell by looking at you that you're not treated well at home. You may not be completely safe, but I'd always welcome a travel buddy." I try, careful to avoid the fact that I could tell she already ran away.

Her eyes widen even further, and she hesitates. "Ding!" I resolved to look at that later. "Give me a moment. I need to think about this." She replies, conflict clear in her eyes.

While I wait, I decide to look at the notification anyways.

Influence Gained: Kara! 30/100

I inwardly frown, knowing that this is going to likely alter her mind if she continues traveling with me. Yet, the influence meter only works with major allies, so, by that reasoning, I already know her decision.

A quick "Ding!" sounds off to signify another level in Intelligence.

"I have my choice." I hear her say, snapping me out of my thoughts. I nod, and she takes a breath. "I want to come with you. I was already running away from home, anyway. It wouldn't hurt to have a companion." She reasons. "Well then, Kara. Welcome aboard! This is probably gonna be a long and wild ride." I say, smiling softly.

A/N: Woohoo, Chapter 3 out so soon after Chapter 2! And with it comes a bit of an iffy chapter, with the introduction of a surely controversial ability, being the Echo title. I wanted to make it similar to the game in terms of its function, but take some creative license. So if you don't like my takes on some of this, or don't like how I used the Echo concept, you don't have to be here. I thought it would be interesting, and may help make sense of some things later in the story, too. So if you don't like how I'm writing this, I'm sorry, but that's also your loss entirely, not mine.