A few minutes later, Rick slowly regained control over his muscles. He stepped out of the capsule and sat on the floor, then sternly said:
"Alright, I'm fine now. Start talking. What is this? Who are you? Why are you in my head? And most importantly, who am I?"
The voice answered:
"Let's take things slowly. Your name is Rick. You were adopted by one of the smartest scientists in the universe when you were ten years old. He took care of you, and you grew up with him as a traveler through the universe, becoming like a son to him.
When you turned eighteen, the scientist grew old and weak, unable to do much anymore. So he came up with a plan to ensure your survival alone in the universe after his death. He bought this spaceship and registered it under your name. He built the capsule you were in to develop your body and make it stronger, with diamond skin. He implanted all combat skills and knowledge about weapons in the universe into your mind.
This would have been impossible unless your memory was wiped entirely and reprogrammed from scratch. It took years due to the complexity of your human body and brain. That's why the capsule was built, and you were inside it for 25 years in Earth time. However, your body did not age and remains biologically eighteen. Your growth rate was modified so you can live many times longer than normal humans.
The capsule was deactivated and wiped clean of any operational data the moment your mind woke up, to prevent it from ever being used again."
Rick asked in surprise:
"So you're saying I'm some sort of superhuman with diamond skin?"
The voice replied:
"Yes, as I said, the doctor did this because he was in his final moments and didn't want to leave you alone in this universe as a normal human who would eventually die alone."
Rick said:
"Alright, are there any clothes around? I'm naked right now."
The voice replied:
"Yes, they're in your room, the second room down the corridor."
Rick headed there, opened the door, and found a simple yet beautiful room with a bed, a desk with a computer, a wardrobe, and a huge window overlooking the stunning space outside. Rick said:
"Nice, I like it."
He then walked to the wardrobe, picked out some clothes, and dressed. He sat on the bed and asked:
"So what am I? Some kind of superhuman? Also, are you really inside my head?"
The voice answered:
"Yes, sir. You can communicate with me telepathically without anyone else hearing you."
Rick said:
"That's strange, but awesome. What else can you do?"
The voice answered:
"I can control the ship and take it anywhere you want, even if you're in one galaxy and the ship is in another. I'm connected to the cosmic internet, so I can search for any information you need and give you the answer."
Rick said:
"Alright, I understand. Now tell me, where are we, anyway?"
The voice replied:
"We're in the Noralis Galaxy, which contains 78 planets, 15 of which are habitable and populated."
Rick asked:
"And what about me? Which planet am I from?"
The voice answered:
"You're a human from Earth, sir."
Rick asked:
"And how far is that from here?"
The voice replied:
"A few days away - exactly 4 days, 12 hours, and 15 minutes."
Rick said:
"Damn, and if I wanted to go to a nearby galaxy?"
The voice answered:
"Just a few minutes."
Rick said:
"Damn, we are really far from Earth."
The voice replied:
"800,000 light-years away."
Rick said:
"Damn, I don't even know how much that is, but it sounds like a lot. Okay, returning to Earth doesn't sound like a good idea. What about money? Do I have any left?"
The voice replied:
"Yes, all your documents are on your desk. There's a bank card with 2000 galactic credits and your universal ID card."
Rick walked over to the desk, grabbed both cards, and asked:
"How much is 2000 galactic credits? Is it a lot?"
The voice answered:
"Not too much, but it's a decent amount."
Rick said:
"Well, we need a job then. Search for a job suitable for the skills you mentioned - something freelance and highly profitable."
After a moment, the voice replied:
"The best job in the universe for freelancers with great income is bounty hunting, although it's often illegal."
Rick said:
"Alright, I'm a bounty hunter from now on. Take me to a nearby human-inhabited planet."
The voice replied:
"There is a planet, but it's under royal authority, so we'll need permission to enter."
Rick said:
"Can you get us permission?"
The voice answered:
"We can head there and speak to them via the ship's radio."
Rick said:
"Alright, let's go. I'll talk to them. On the way, check if they have any unsolved problems - we'll start building connections."
"Alright, I'm fine now. Start talking. What is this? Who are you? Why are you in my head? And most importantly, who am I?"
The voice answered:
"Let's take things slowly. Your name is Rick. You were adopted by one of the smartest scientists in the universe when you were ten years old. He took care of you, and you grew up with him as a traveler through the universe, becoming like a son to him.
When you turned eighteen, the scientist grew old and weak, unable to do much anymore. So he came up with a plan to ensure your survival alone in the universe after his death. He bought this spaceship and registered it under your name. He built the capsule you were in to develop your body and make it stronger, with diamond skin. He implanted all combat skills and knowledge about weapons in the universe into your mind.
This would have been impossible unless your memory was wiped entirely and reprogrammed from scratch. It took years due to the complexity of your human body and brain. That's why the capsule was built, and you were inside it for 25 years in Earth time. However, your body did not age and remains biologically eighteen. Your growth rate was modified so you can live many times longer than normal humans.
The capsule was deactivated and wiped clean of any operational data the moment your mind woke up, to prevent it from ever being used again."
Rick asked in surprise:
"So you're saying I'm some sort of superhuman with diamond skin?"
The voice replied:
"Yes, as I said, the doctor did this because he was in his final moments and didn't want to leave you alone in this universe as a normal human who would eventually die alone."
Rick said:
"Alright, are there any clothes around? I'm naked right now."
The voice replied:
"Yes, they're in your room, the second room down the corridor."
Rick headed there, opened the door, and found a simple yet beautiful room with a bed, a desk with a computer, a wardrobe, and a huge window overlooking the stunning space outside. Rick said:
"Nice, I like it."
He then walked to the wardrobe, picked out some clothes, and dressed. He sat on the bed and asked:
"So what am I? Some kind of superhuman? Also, are you really inside my head?"
The voice answered:
"Yes, sir. You can communicate with me telepathically without anyone else hearing you."
Rick said:
"That's strange, but awesome. What else can you do?"
The voice answered:
"I can control the ship and take it anywhere you want, even if you're in one galaxy and the ship is in another. I'm connected to the cosmic internet, so I can search for any information you need and give you the answer."
Rick said:
"Alright, I understand. Now tell me, where are we, anyway?"
The voice replied:
"We're in the Noralis Galaxy, which contains 78 planets, 15 of which are habitable and populated."
Rick asked:
"And what about me? Which planet am I from?"
The voice answered:
"You're a human from Earth, sir."
Rick asked:
"And how far is that from here?"
The voice replied:
"A few days away - exactly 4 days, 12 hours, and 15 minutes."
Rick said:
"Damn, and if I wanted to go to a nearby galaxy?"
The voice answered:
"Just a few minutes."
Rick said:
"Damn, we are really far from Earth."
The voice replied:
"800,000 light-years away."
Rick said:
"Damn, I don't even know how much that is, but it sounds like a lot. Okay, returning to Earth doesn't sound like a good idea. What about money? Do I have any left?"
The voice replied:
"Yes, all your documents are on your desk. There's a bank card with 2000 galactic credits and your universal ID card."
Rick walked over to the desk, grabbed both cards, and asked:
"How much is 2000 galactic credits? Is it a lot?"
The voice answered:
"Not too much, but it's a decent amount."
Rick said:
"Well, we need a job then. Search for a job suitable for the skills you mentioned - something freelance and highly profitable."
After a moment, the voice replied:
"The best job in the universe for freelancers with great income is bounty hunting, although it's often illegal."
Rick said:
"Alright, I'm a bounty hunter from now on. Take me to a nearby human-inhabited planet."
The voice replied:
"There is a planet, but it's under royal authority, so we'll need permission to enter."
Rick said:
"Can you get us permission?"
The voice answered:
"We can head there and speak to them via the ship's radio."
Rick said:
"Alright, let's go. I'll talk to them. On the way, check if they have any unsolved problems - we'll start building connections."
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