Chapter Text
Chapter 01
Arrival in the new world
Chernobog, After the Riots, Abandoned Apartment
My name is Keith Valentine, I am but a simple STEM Student with a creative mind. I do not know how or why my Personal Digital Assistant teleported me from my bed into this abandoned apartment in this unfamiliar place but I had a inkling of a suspicion it had to do with my PDA.
Getting up I realized I was still clothed in my brown blazer and blue clothing underneath. But what was with the Originium, Orundum and Originite Prime currencies showing up on my PDA as 'Funds'? Currently I have ten thousand of these Originium in the pot. Must have converted whatever was junk was here into something useable. Apart from the mattress I was on.
Still I needed to approach my new situation with caution. I got up and looked through the shops for anything of use I could use to survive and defend myself with. After looking for a couple of minutes I came up with a basic list of items I needed.
X1 SR-1PM 9x21mm Gyruza Pistol
X4 SR-1PM 9x21mm Magazines
X100 9x21mm Gyruza ammunition
X1 Backpack
X1 Originium Filtering Mask
X4 Spare anti-active Originium Filters
X1 SR-1PM Holster
X1 Magazine Pouch
The total was nine thousand Originium. But when I hit order on the PDA, There was a slight faint glow in front of me and the items appeared to materialize afterwards. Still if this was Terra From Arknights then that meant I was thrown into the shithole situation that was Chrenobog at the time.
I had to be cautious, Going to Rhodes Island as a combat Operator was off the table as it would be hard to keep such a powerful item under wraps. Maybe I could either Get into Rhodes Island as a non-combat staff member or maybe I could go somewhere else like penguin logistics?
“This is going to be hard to conceal..” I muttered to myself, my tactical brain kicking in as this was a life or death situation. At least for now, I should just focus on surviving. There is a question going on in my head.
What will happen to me if someone like Zaaro realizes such an item with such power exists? How did I get here? Why was I brought here? Should I even keep my power a Secret?
These questions made me feel smaller than my American born ass was. I was fairly tall for my age of nineteen years old, but at the same time I wanted to just survive and go home. Grimace started to take hold on my face and fear of being unable to go home to my mother and siblings. But I had to not panic or give into death. For me mother and my families sake, they must be worried sick of me suddenly disappearing like that.
But at the same time knowing how appalling things that happen on Terra are, I doubt anyone would bat an eye here if I were to die. If or when I contracted oripathy I'll have to resort to quarantining myself here, to protect my home world from Originium.
Could a Terran get pregnant from an earthling? Better not fool around and find out. As I donned the equipment, I took the ammo boxes and magazines over to a nearby table or more precisely a workbench. One by one the nine by twenty one milometer rounds were loaded into each magazine one at a time. I had to be swift lest I get caught in the catastrophe. Shaking my head, my scientific brain was saying not really but my other brain was saying maybe. Hypergryph never revealed whether or not interdimensional cross-breeding and interdimensional relationships were possible within Terra.
After loading one Magazine a frown formed on my face, in this world I might be forced to kill people to survive. I'd try my best not to go for vitals and killshots as much as possible as my main objective now is to get out of this mobile city, loading the loaded magazine into my pistol I holstered it and begun loading the others until I only had twenty eight loose rounds of ammunition left after the loading of the magazines. Placing them inside of my pouch I moved towards the backpack after closing the ammunition box with the remaining ammunition up.
I couldn't help but shed a tear, I knew there wasn't much I could do for people like Ace, but I needed to get out of here and hopefully get to Lungmen.
“Well, then here we go.” I said to myself after calming down a little. Briskly packing the remaining spare filters and remaining ammunition box with ammo into the backpack. Slinging it over my back I said one thing while saluting the abandoned apartment.
“See you, my acquaintance.” I spoke with a quiet and serene tone while smiling underneath that mask. As I went for the door, I noticed in the mirror something.
The Mask I was using was similar to the ones used by Rhodes Island.
With a shake of my head at the mirror, I went out of the apartment. Crouching below the hall windows as to not get spotted too early. I walked like that for a good ten meters until I started hearing voices on the other side of the windows followed by footsteps. I could hear the nearest voices clearly, peeking out a little I saw two people with white,black and orange uniforms walking along the apartment complexes outer wall. I could hear their words clearly through the broken glass window.
“You heard? That Ursus Kid Misha needs to be brought before Talulah alive.” the one nearest to me said, talking to the other one a little further away from the outer wall.
“Really? Well to be fair her family is important.” The other replied, I decided to follow them a little to see whet they would do next.
With my PDA in a inner blazer pocket opposite of the handgun holster on my hip. I slowly and methodically stalked my prey, My black hair not sticking out in the shadows of the window's ledge. As my azure eyes scanned the area around for anyone else, there were no signs of anyone else apart from these two goons.
'Looks like I'll have to get creative and take them out in quick succession as to not raise alarm.' I thought to myself. As I went outside the door they just passed. Carefully I walked quietly, as to not get them to turn around yet. drawing my Pistol and racking the slide, the sound of the slide racking was enough to get them to stop and turn around with machete's in hand.
Well crap, looks like I am going to have to them out loudly and then make myself scarce from the area. As anyone else in the area will probably hear these gunshots. I took aim with my finger on the trigger at the head of the nearest one. They both let out a laugh at me.
“Look, he's got a peashooter!” One on the left said twirling their machete arrogantly.
“Doubt it will fire properly, do you even know how to use arts or can you even use arts?” That question from the one on the right made me roll my eyes.
“Look, I don't really want to fight you but I'd rather just be allowed to leave this city before the catastrophe hits.” I said before adding “Though it's your choice we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
“Buddy, you are outnumbered two to one your better off coming with us.” The one on the left said to me in reply.
“Yeah, Patriot and Frostnova could guarantee your safety. Though I do not know for how long.” The one on the right said.
These words caught me off guard, even if I was armed they were treating me like a civilian. These two were surprisingly disciplined for Reunion members. Could they be telling the truth?
“Swear that no harm will come to me if I go with you.” I said in a polite yet firm tone. Before taking my finger off the trigger.
The two nodded in affirmation, that was enough for me to trust them for now. Lowering my gun for the time being. The two beckoned me to follow them down the street to Patriot's and by extension Reunion's camp.
I didn't want to kill, not again and certainly not like it was back in my time in Africa as a child soldier. The doctors said they doubted I would lead a fairly normal life after being rescued by team Rainbow. But fortunately for me I had living relatives that left Africa long before the conflicts started up.
Some of the stuff I saw back when I was six to twelve years old would be too sickening to mention. I'd rather not even want to talk about my time with Levi Klitchko, that bastard was willing to sacrifice my friends for his own ends.
But there are questions that plague me to this day. Questions I don't have the answer to yet. Better not reveal where I'm actually form or my actual race for now. Heck I even came to the conclusion that no one other than me should have access to that PDA. After all true war as I knew it screwed with peoples heads.
As we walked I caught a glimpse of the damage that Reunion rioters did, it wasn't enough to make me vomit. But I did feel a welling disgust in the perpetrators actions because it reminded me of who I worked for in the past. That warlord was not a nice person, but at the same time they gave me shelter when I had nowhere else to go. Even if the commander at the time was a bit stiff in his orders.
That all changed when Levi came into the picture, things worsened. I remember the human experimentation he did at the time, not on us but on hostages. Pumping Arknights into my ears as I played the game on my the PDA he gifted me. He did not disclose where he got it from, only that there was strange black lightning falling around it. Out of either a mistake or instinct I spoke again In Afrikaans.
“'Die kind wat nie deur die dorp omhels word nie, sal dit afbrand om sy warmte te voel.”( The child not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel it's warmth.)
“Uh,what?” The one on my left asked before the one on my right shrugged.
“Possibly something Sargonian, best not to pry further.” The one on the right said.
Some time later we arrived at the Reunion Refugee camp. The two guarding me noticing my strange stance being akin to a soldier more than a civilian. It seemed as long as I stayed near these two I could be vouched for in the encampment. At least until someone of higher stature came to vouch for me.
“Wait here, we'll see if Patriot or Frostnova is available to talk to you.” Both of my guards said as one went to search for at least one of their leaders.
I patiently waited as I looked around at those who were injured being treated with what limited supplies they had here, should I use my power here? No that would be suicide. A nervous cold sweat formed down my cheek, unsure of what to say or do right now. It was now a towering figure came before me.
I imagined Patriot being large, but not this large. I may be tall for my age, But he was older,wiser,stronger and towered over me in comparison. Made me feel like little insecure about my own strength.
But upon seeing the man himself in person, the Wendigo Sarkaz that was the commander of the shield guards. The Sight and scent of him mad stand to attention, my old soldier instincts kicking in. It was at that moment when I was about to salute Patriot that he spoke for the first time to me.
“At ease.” Patriot said before he took a pause to ask politely “ Now, explain to me how one such as yourself came to be in chernobog?”.
That I can't tell the fully story of, wait.
If they thought I was from Sargon, what if someone I knew was from there and didn't tell me? What if he was a Terran? He never really said much about his prior to being on earth other than he worked as a bodyguard for someone important somewhere. But he didn't disclose where, but why does it feel whenever I look at a Sarkaz it reminds me of him? I know the woman who doted on me and my siblings for three years also reminded me of her when I looked at a Sarkaz.
I needed answers even if I had to tell half-truths to get them. Maybe I could play up assumptions for now?
“I don't know how but last I remember is that I was sleeping in my room.” I said it was the truth, but I withheld the fact of where my room was for now unless asked.
“You spoke some kind of Old Sargonian earlier, but your accent makes me suspect you lived in Columbia for quite some time.” Patriot said with a inspecting gaze, I before him may not look like someone who had seen war, but he could see it in my eyes. Which led into the next question “You've seen horrifying things, as a child, didn't you?”.
How did he deduce that from looking me in eye? I don't know how but it caused me to flinch at his question.
I told him in a blunt tone “I'd rather not talk about that time between six and twelve, I have seen too much horror and brutality.”
Patriot was taken a little of guard from what I said, “I see, I won't pry further.” He took a long pause before asking me “what is your request?”.
I said back to that question plainly “To be frank, I don't want to be in this city if or when a catastrophe hits it, is there a way for me to get out of the city intact so I could go to Lungmen?”.
Patriot just stood there for a while, looking me over “Not without provisions first, I'll have some of my men escort you out of the city, to provide you, with enough food and water to survive, until you get there.”
I nodded and didn't say much more. Because I simply smiled a little bit, here in Arknights meta knowledge can be a burden even if it was just the basics. Which means I could be killed if the PDA or said knowledge ever gets out not to mention my combat training and prior combat experience.
As I feared how destabilizing using those barbaric yet efficient skills would be.
The PDA is enough to might cause a world war. I just hope whenever I use it no one sees it in action nor me. I have to think where could I go from there once I enter Lungmen? Penguin Logistics might not be a bad place to start, if I could get in good with emperor and his crew that opens up possibilities for a relatively stable life. Even if they do get into scuffles from time to time.
After all I am considering the fact that this world can be more violent than earth at times. As far as I know they have crossbows and melee weapons that already deal tons of harm.
I saw patriot nod to me in reply and turned to get help with my problem. At least I hope that was the case, otherwise I am in trouble.
Seeing around at the people going about the day, I couldn't help but question why did Reunion get violent after a certain persons death. Because what I was seeing was something reminiscent of more peaceful times in said organisation. Though that made me wonder, what went through the Ursus Government's minds to let this take over happen?
As I was lost in thought I felt someone breath into my ear from behind me, it made me jump and turn around at the source of the breathing. I was greeted by a cute yet jester behaving Sarkaz that reminded me of something back home. Though in my mind this was the last woman I wanted to run into.
It was 'W', arguably one the people that wasn't on my list to meet.
“Yo, Blazer kid what you're doing here?” She asked in a jester like manner. A smirk forming on her face as got up close to me, causing me to blush a little out of embarrassment. I am not accustomed to being around strangers let alone those of the opposite gender. Talking to people I don't know outside of my family I had trouble with. But she maybe cute her personality is not exactly my type.
“What Feline got your tongue?” W said to me teasingly. Almost as if she was trying to get a raise out of me. Causing me to clam up from the teasing a little.
“W-Well, It's just I am not accustomed to strangers as well as I'd like.” I said in an embarrassed tone. The blush on my face getting redder from the fact that W was so close to me.
The Sarkaz in front of me couldn't help but get a chuckle and a bigger grin from my reaction. W was clearly getting something out of this interaction. Maybe she took an interest in me even if in Passing?
“Well then, I can see you are not accustomed to having girls around ya.” W said to me, how did she quickly deduce such a thing. “Though you have to be careful who you get embarrassed around, wouldn't want ya to get in with the wrong crowds right?” She said in a candid yet teasing manner.
I felt the tension in the back of my neck. Something about all of this felt off to me, as I looked her in the eye and spoke my words carefully but shyly “W-Well, yeah you've got a point there.”
W noticed patriot coming back with a group of civilians “Well, it seems like our time is up.” She said to me in a jester manner. “Try not to die too quickly, as I'd like to eventually meet again soon enough.” W she said as she waved herself off in the distance. Little did I know that this would not be the last time I see W.
I saw Patriot looking at me and beckoning me over to a group of survivors that wanted to leave the city. It looked like my time to go with these civilians to Lungmen had come.
Then W had come back, “Yo looks like I'll be babysitting you lot today, that includes you Blazer boy.” W said as she sauntered on over playfully. Causing me to blush a little at her gait slightly.
“Oh? Feeling some-thing-for-me?~” W said to me with a smirk and glint in her eye as she got closer to the group I was with. Causing me to clam up a little bit as those questions even if it was just teasing. Which got her to laugh again, before I could speak she shushed me.
“Listen Blazer boy, I am not a mind reader but something tells me you are unaccustomed around girls.” W said to me. How did she figure that out? Who knows at this time. My train of thought is disrupted by W adding a question “By the way Blazer boy, you got a name?”.
“Keith Valentine” I said rubbing the back of my head, before adding “It's true I am not as accustomed being around the opposite gender.” Before I knew it that jester mask slipped for a second as she looked at me incredulously. As if trying to size me up. I was unsure of how or what to make of this situation.
“A Valentine huh?~” W said pondering her next words, “I knew someone who was named Marcus 'Bloody Valentine' Valentine, know him by chance?”
“yeah, he's my dad why?” I said and queried. Patriot stood there as if processing the words I just said, “What, did he become famous or something?”.
“Marcus, Was Known, For his unusual Tactics” Patriot spoke, “He was, An Elite Operator, In Babel.”
My eyes widened at that “That-that's past tense, are you implying that he's?” I said nervously now concerned on one thing, what if the rest of my family was here? They could be in danger, if that was the case.
I swear if the goofy bastards dead, I will fight harder to survive. Unknown to me I said that aloud. Causing W's mouth to gape at what I just said. “Oh, did I just say that aloud?” I asked, only getting a nod from both W and Patriot.
Well Shit, fuck my life.
It took a while but W regained her composure “Well, Well it seems your the son of a minor kazdelian celebrity~” she gave a light hearted giggle “Looks like you big shoes to fill.”
“Y-yeah” I said in a nervous tone, unsure of what to make of this “So when are we starting the trek to Lungmen?”.
I rubbed the back of my head when I said that, causing W to pout a little. Causing me to nervously smile. W and the group I was with begun to be escorted towards the general direction of lungmen through the winding streets of a ruined Chernobog. Eventually leading out towards the barren expanse that is Terra's outside world.
I wonder if Emperor would even take me on board at all. Then again he took on board Texas, so who knows. I might have a shot, then again I don't know if I'll get along well enough with the girls in Penguin Logistics to justify staying there, here's to hoping I stay in Lungmen without Incident.
Little did I know how wrong I was. That I would also witness a lot of twists and turns from the Arknights Timeline I know of.
Lungmen Outskirts, 3 weeks later
I had been wondering the barren land around this place for weeks, fortunately W's mercenaries helped make sure I didn't get lost. But when the group I was with got to the outskirts, we were told to go our separate ways.
But not without giving me directions to Lungmen's entrance gate. Which was something I was appreciative of, though I doubt they'd let me into the city through there. It would take me nothing short of a Miracle to get in through the front door legitimately.
I had my fill of violence, now was a good time to start anew and fresh. I will destroy almost anything within reason, that threatens me or those I care about. But I had to keep focused if I am stuck here for the long run?
Well I got that PDA to help me out with munitions and equipment for now, here's to making sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
As such a begun my lonely Trek towards Lungmen's entrance gate. No matter what greet the world with open arms right?
Theresa?