Jas reread his personal statistics. They reminded him of the Dungeons and Dragons ga hed played back in high school. But none of the rest made any sense.
Definitely Catholic, murmured Serenity. All this miracle and benediction shit? Man am I relieved to have been born into the right religion. Sucks to be you, rest of the world.
You got none next to everything?
Except for my rank and Aeviternum Points, whatever that is, said Serenity distractedly. Ooh. Focus on your unspent points, and it shows you where you can spend them.
Jas did so, exhaustion and blood loss and the booze making him feel like he was floating. The first half of the sheet disappeared, leaving only the Strength and other stuff.
Whats Arete? he asked.
That I dont know. Why dont we have Beauty as a stat? Or Wealth? Give so Power sounds good. And so Agility. And oh, I always wanted to be strong.
Jas dismissed his own sheet to watch Serenity. Shed gone still, sat up straighter, was frowning as she stared down at herself.
Shed changed.
It was subtle, but it was there. Her face had filled out a little, losing so of that rawboned gauntness, and she just looked healthier. Jas had seen every kind of addiction during his past life, and then even more so once going holess. Hed learned to spot desperation, febrile need, the monster that once awakened never went back to sleep.
Serenity still had her edge, but now now it looked as if the clock had been rewound on her by a few years. As if shed not made quite as many mistakes, spent quite as many nights losing sight of her dreams.
Damn, she whispered huskily, and then gave a startled laugh. This I an, this is better than what the fuck?
Jas felt a shiver of excitent. It actually works?
Try it for yourself. Yeah it works.
He summoned his statistics, considered them carefully. They were all self-explanatory but for Arete. Five points. He could give one to each of his physical stats, an even spread. Or focus on one elent. What would give him an edge against another Gremlin?
Speed? Strength? Stamina?
For long, aching minutes he considered. Speed was probably just how fast he could go in a run. But there was no outrunning the little shit. Agility then would be hand to eye coordination, reflexes, maybe. Since he was planning on getting a gun, that would be his best stat. If he shot the fucker before it got close he wouldnt need to be strong or resilient.
Jas hesitated.
His gaze dropped to Arete.
What was that? Why was it listed?
Can I borrow your phone? he asked Serenity.
She hesitated good and long before unlocking and handing it to him, but he didnt judge her for it. A mont later he Googled Arete.
The first result had a weird accent over it and ant a sharp mountain ridge.
He scrolled down.
Wikipedia saved the day. It was an Ancient Greek term that referred to excellence of any kind, especially a person or things full realization of potential of inherent function.
Jas looked off into the middle distance, considering. Excellence of any kind, the full realization of potential.
That sounded pretty good.
Moreover, it felt right. He understood so little of what was going on. Half his statistics sheet was filled with terms that ant nothing to him. Spending points on Agility had an imdiate appeal, but he intuited that there were far greater depths of developnt available to him in this new system, and that if he only had control over where he spent these five points, he should sink them into what might be the key to unlocking the rest.
He activated the Unspent Points, then simply willed them all into Arete.
Arete 13
He dismissed the nu. Serenity was watching him with avid fascination. Well?
I dont know. He still felt loopy. Maybe he should have dropped so points into Stamina to give himself a boost. But there was a new edge to the world. He felt more alert? No. More in control of himself. He raised his hand. It trembled slightly. So not control exactly, but more prepared? Focused?
What did you raise, already?
Arete.
Thats it?
Thats it.
So what are you at now?
Thirteen.
No way! So what does that an?
I dont know. That Ive just raised my potential? Im not sure.
He reviewed his statistics and saw a new change:
Aura: Lead
Aura Strength: 1
What? demanded Serenity.
More mysteries. Looks like raising my Arete gave an aura. Lead, strength of one.
Serenity stared at him, mystified. Do you feel anything different?
Jas raised his hand, turned it about, looked down at himself. Just feel like shit.
Serenity laughed and pressed her glass to her brow. We all do, honey. Its almost dawn. Ti for regrets.
The volu on the TV cut them off as Herman raised it. On the screen two news anchors were gazing seriously at them.
were getting reports that ergency departnts across New York City are seeing nearly a hundred tis as many victims of injuries from dog bites as compared to this ti last year, prompting concerns that stay-at-ho orders and other pandemic lifestyle changes may be to bla.
The other news anchor, a perfectly coiffured man, turned to the first. Is that right, gan? A hundred tis greater?
Thats what were hearing, Mike. The numbers are startling, and seem to be the case across the nation. Were seeing reports from other major tropolitan areas coming in, and it is, to be frank, unprecedented.
Well, the numbers speak for themselves, said Mike, looking at his papers. There are over 77 million pet dogs in the US, all of whom have been living under restrictions these past few years. Its clear that our canine buddies are - like the rest of us - reaching their limit with the current situation.
Herman frowned, changed the channel to another news station.
Such bullshit, muttered Serenity, White Russian held to her lips.
The next channel featured a man reporting live from outside a police station, the blue Chiron emblazoned across the bottom of the screen displaying the words: Hundreds slain by rabid dogs.
an atrocious night, of the likes that we have never seen before, the reporter was saying with heavy tones into his microphone. 911 lines are facing delays of up to ten minutes, and Ive received word that off-duty officers have been called to help reinforce what is clearly an overwheld NYPD. The victims range across all of the city, with no borough exempted. We are being told that all pet owners absolutely must isolate their animals, and that no pet is to be considered safe at this ti
What the fucks going on? asked Herman, his tone blank with wonder.
The news station cut back to the anchor, who stared grimly out over his desk, his features chiseled, his suit crisp. An absolutely horrifying turn of affairs. Word is coming in that this is not an isolated phenonon; were seeing reports of other deaths from across the globe coming in, with all reporting the sa mysterious exponential leap in animal attacks and what can only be described as an outburst of panic and mania.
Herman shook his head and stepped back. Dog attacks? He looked over to Jas and Serenity. That what happened to you?
Jas downed his whiskey, then summoned the countdown.
88 Hours till Nesis 2 Released
He knew how systems worked. How delicately balanced the different services were, how little it took to knock shit askew. Hell, the entire dical system had nearly collapsed when the pandemic hit, and was still struggling. The whole of the Mount Sinai Health System, with eight of the biggest hospitals in the city, had about 400,000 visits a year, which ca out to about a hundred, a hundred and fifty ER visits a day per hospital. If hundreds were dying, and who knew how many more were being injured, then all those ERs would have to deal with the wounded on top of the pandemic infected and regular folk who needed help.
And the text had said this was just the first wave.
What would happen when the second hit?
What would happen if it was larger?
Jas already knew. It would an ambulances would take longer and longer to reach the wounded. It ant that triage would beco more brutal in its assessnts. Doctors and nurses already working at their limit would be pushed over it. Ergency rooms would overflow, and doctors would have to be called in to help from other departnts.
This could last for a few days, a few weeks at best, but only if numbers didnt continue to increase.
The US dical system simply couldnt take another beating.
Which ant, what?
That people in the United States would finally see what happened when dical systems collapsed.
Jas shuddered.
Eighty-eight hours till Nesis 2. Was that the second wave? Or would their be more waves of Nesis 1?
When were you attacked? he asked Serenity.
What? When? Tonight. Wait. As in exactly? She gave a hollow laugh. Youre asking the wrong lady.
Jas bit his lower lip, considered. First Wave.
He had to warn people. Watched the screen as a police officer spoke to reporters, giving advice on how to handle rabid pets.
They had to start telling the truth. Had to start telling people to get guns, knives, hamrs, whatever.
To be ready for demon attacks.
Jas gave a silent, despairing laugh. Whod listen to him? At any given mont there were a dozen holess guys yelling about demon attacks in NYC. Hed just blend right in.
Except this ti he was right.
Theres got to be sothing we can do, he whispered.
Hmm? Serenity had pulled out her phone. Do? Oh shit, you on Instie?
Jas just frowned at her.
Instie? Instagram? No? Its blowing up. Oh wow.
She set her phone on the bar and hit play on a video. It was shaky, the lighting terrible, a woman sobbing into the cara.
Oh my gawd, oh my gawd, I just I just Im fucking bleeding
Get to a hospital, dumb ass, whispered Serenity impatiently.
Im bleeding, because a fucking I dont even know what it was, a - a - demon? A shit chimpanzee? It broke into my house and I killed it, and oh gawd -
Serenity swiped to another video. A burly dude with broken glasses was holding up a black blood-sared axe. You need to listen to . You need to pay very, very close attention. They can be killed. Do not be afraid. The governnt has finally unleashed their weapon. When it cos for you, be ready. Get an axe, get a gun, nowhere is safe. Be prepared to fight for your life.
Swipe.
What the fuck? Oh - oh - oh shit, what can you see it? Right here, can you see it? Why is nobody fucking reacting -
The blood-drenched young man aid his cara at the dead gremlin on the ground. Around him others stared in horrid fascination at him, not seeing the corpse.
Herman! Serenity waved him over. You see this? Can you see whats on the floor?
Herman leaned in close then recoiled. Argh! What the hell, Serenity? Dont show that kind of stuff. I curate my headspace carefully -
So you see it?
He stared at her wonderingly. Of course I see that. Was it a prank? Wait, was that real?
Jas pulled out his phone. It was almost useless. No carrier ant he could only use it where there was Wi-Fi, and hed lost his charger in his backpack. Still, he had 20% battery left. He scanned the wall, saw the Wi-Fi info, logged in.
Hesitated. Where should he go?
He had to get the word out.
But where could he post it?
How could he establish his credibility?
Serenity, he said. Where will a video get the most views?
These days? She considered. TikTok.
Fine. It took him a couple of minutes to make an account, then he handed the phone to Serenity and stood. Record .
What even is this? she asked, turning his phone around.
Serenity!
Fine, fine. Ready? Go.
Jas drew himself up and stared into the little cara. My na is Jas Kelly. I was an Ergency dical Technician for seven years in New York City. Tonight I was attacked by sothing called Nesis 1, just like thousands of others around the world.
He paused, took a breath, forced himself to go on.
Nobody knows what is happening, but what we do know is this: Nesis 1 can be killed, so arm yourself. They attack with bites and claws, so get protective clothing and gear if you can. These attacks have only been part of a first wave, so there will be more. They can be seen when recorded, but otherwise only by those theyve co for. Please. This isnt a joke. These arent dog attacks. Fuck, keep your dogs close, they can help. But if this hasnt happened to you yet, get ready, because it might, and thousands are dying right now because theyre not ready.
Another deep breath.
This will only get worse till the news and the police and hospital staff start telling the truth: were under attack. Humanity is under attack, and the only way were going to survive is if we get ready and fight back.
Jas hesitated, then nodded to Serenity, who lowered her phone.
A little too serious for , she said. A bit too much of the crazy earnest vibe, you know? But fuck, lets tag the shit out of it and post it. You never know.
Yeah, breathed Jas, suddenly exhausted. Yeah. Good.
They sat on their bar stools again.
Herman was staring at him. You really believe all that?
Jas held his stare. I do.
Herman nodded, reached under the bar, and pulled out a shotgun. Well all right.
Serenity looked sidelong at Jas. You were an EMT? For real?
Dont want to talk about it.
All right, all right, dont get your panties twisted. But the videos uploaded. Ready to beco famous?
Famous?
Sure. This is all just breaking. Maybe youll be the first to go viral.
Whatever. Just post it.
And done. The truth is out there.
Jas sagged and looked up at the TV where a reporter was earnestly interviewing an older man with an image of a raccoon inserted in the upper right.
Fuck , he whispered. Herman?
Yeah?
Another whiskey.
The bartender gave him a curt nod. You got it.
And for the first ti in far too long, Jas saw an old emotion in another persons eyes: respect.
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