“That he’s one with the ship,” Lana said in wonder. “I think that’s why the ship is listed as level five. They are connected.”

The three stood around the Technomancer’s chair, staring at him in awe.

***

Nathan felt his fears melting away as he floated serenely, one with Unity.

His senses expanded, and he could feel every part of the ship, pulsing as if it was an extension of his body. He could feel her purpose. A simple freighter that had awakened as something … more. There was still something there, deeper still, that was beyond his sight. He sensed that he could reach it if he really wanted to, but that meant going deeper, allowing the Tec to have an even greater hold on him. He could not risk that.

Instead, he pulled back his thoughts. He had yet to view the changes he’d undergone, and his memory of the last day was hazy.

Status, he thought.

Nathan, Human-scion, level 5 (20 Tec)

Path: Technomancer→Bonded (score 19)

Attributes:

●       Strength 1 Ⓢ

●       Agility 2 Ⓟ

●       Intelligence 5 Ⓟ

●       Control 5 Ⓟ

●       Awareness 4 Ⓟ

●       Appeal 2 Ⓢ

Conditions:

●       Tec Infusion Boost +5%

●       Score boost +10%

●       Bond

The data he saw was about what he expected. He had invested the attribute points from the recent level into Control, one of his four primary attributes, along with Agility, Intelligence, and Awareness. He furrowed his brow as he saw the new ‘Bond’ condition. There were no extra details, but as he pondered over it, a new message flashed across his view:

Bond: Forms short-range mental connection with a bonded subject (distance determined by level). +20% to Path powers inside of range, -20% outside.

That’s not too bad. He smiled to himself. The exact distance per level wasn’t specific, but he felt certain that he could leave Unity docked at Alzigo’s station and still maintain contact with her from every part of it. He heard a knock on his pod and willed the visor to become transparent. Nori, Lana, and Bulco stared down at him.

“So ... “Lana said hesitantly. “Are you sure you’re alright, Nathan?”

He nodded, smiling reassuringly at her.

“Can you tell us what’s happening to the ship?”

He thought about it for a moment, then gave her an apologetic look.

“I see. Do you at least know why Unity changed her shape?”

He could sense the change had to do something with the excavator that the ship absorbed into herself. He felt there was more to it than just a simple physical alteration, but the exact details were hidden from him, submerged deep within the connection he dare not form.

He shrugged again.

“What about this?” Nori said, pointing at the main viewscreen that was still displaying the ship’s status. “Can you tell us about the upgrades part?”

Yes. That he could do.

A small mental nudge was all it took. The upgrade section unlocked for all, then expanded.

Defense

1. Basic plating (level 1): Balatium, 18 Ton
2. Medium plating (level 5): Lasteel, 6 Ton

Mobility