AWACS - An American With A Chinese System

CHAPTER ONE

I LOOKED AT the doctor again, "Everything still hurts, and movement is a pain, but I've got a handicap suite at the Hyatt, and room service, so I'm getting by."

"Well your records show you received one hell of a beating, I am concerned with the spots in your vision, I don't see anything," she said after examining my eyes with a very bright light.

"It's not exactly spots, and it's tinted blue, and it sits right in the middle of my vision. I can see thru it, but it's more annoying than my tinnitus."

She handed me a piece of paper and a pen, "You said it doesn't change? Can you sketch it for me?"

I sketched it out, "It kind of looks like a guy in a hat standing next to trees, there was a flash of light just after the plane landed in Beijing, and it's been there ever since."

系统

"Both eyes? I wonder if it's retinal burning, looks Chinese, maybe a sign exploded and the light damaged your retina? I'm going to write an order for a specialist, you said that was a week ago, it should have healed by now."

"8 days ago, I think," I counted the days in my head, I'd been in the hotel five days, and had been in the hospital here for three days after getting off the plane.

"Otherwise the bruising is looking good, ribs are mending, eight weeks on those leg casts, and maybe six on the arm cast. Labs from the hospital look good, I'd like to see you again in a week, but come early or call an ambulance if something doesn't feel right, you've had a blow to the head, and all those plane fights while injured leave me concerned, but less as time goes by.

"If it feels like an emergency don't try to come in, just dial 911," she concluded.

"Understood doc, thanks, I appreciate you willing to see me on a Sunday."

“For my sins, I get the weekends this month. It works, not like you have to travel far.”

The nurse brought in my paperwork a bit later then wheeled me out. The doctor's office was in a wing of the hospital, the Hyatt was just next door. Still I called the concierge who sent a bellboy to fetch me back to my room on the fourth floor.

"Thanks Mike," I told him, as we navigated the sidewalk so he could push me across the parking lot, for a much smoother ride.

"No problem Mr Roberts, you're a guest in the presidential suite, we are happy to care for you "

"Please, just Koby," I said, and glanced at my watch, "almost lunch time, but I'm not feeling hungry. I'll probably wait on room service till later."

"No problem Koby, it's open till midnight," he reminded me.

He opened my hotel door for me and pushed me in, then helped me move from the wheelchair to the medical recliner. Not sure what it's called but it could move in nearly any direction, and was the only comfortable place I had to rest. And I was tired. I was using less pain killers, but even the trip to the doc had worn me out.

I startled awake at the knock, and the head that peered thru the door calling my name.

"Hi Koby, napping again?" she teased.

"Hi Gloria, can't seem to stay awake, are you here to wash away my dignity again?"

"Dignity, is that what guys call it these days?"

She chuckled as she moved to start setting things up. Gloria was my home health nurse, she came every day to make sure I was eating, and to help me clean myself.

It was grueling 45 minutes later that I was back in my chair, which was also freshly cleaned, and my stomach was growling.

"Stay for lunch?" I asked her.

"I'm more than twice your age," she teased, but I knew she was likely much older than even that. Her stories of working as a combat medic never let me quite figure out what war she was in, but it was clearly a long time ago.

"You said your husband wouldn't mind last time," I told her, hoping for more stories.

"Sorry Koby, got another hot date across town. Can't stay today."

She left after smoothly packing up her stuff, and some of mine, as well. I found the papers from the morning doctor visit, and started to put them away when I saw my drawing. I pulled out my phone and did a search for translation apps. Of course I picked the one from Google. It took a minute to download and I started poking around, I found where to translate from a picture and pointed it at my drawing.

Google translated the drawing from Chinese as 'system'. I looked at other possible translations and saw that the character could mean lots of different things. I hit the pronunciation button and it sounded like ‘She Tom' or maybe 'She Tong'.

I concentrated on the symbol and said, "She Tom/Tong" several times trying to copy the lady from the app, suddenly everything went crazy.

Trumpets blasted in my ears, tons of Chinese text went scrolling across my vision, from bottom to top, finally everything went clear and my vision returned.

A wheel spun like on Wheel of Fortune, more trumpets blared, there was an intense dizziness, and everything went dark.

I woke only a couple minutes later with only a tiny character in my bottom left vision. Just one symbol, the stupid pine tree man.

I tried the word again, and when I got it right it expanded, filling my vision. I found my vision filled with a blue screen, and multiple Chinese characters. I couldn't see anything else so I wasn't going to be able to write any of this down.

I don't do well with other languages. I once had a boss who was from India. He ran the cash register at the local Quicky Mart, and I came in to stock shelves a couple hours a week after school. The girl who worked the counter at the attached Subway called him Uncle Gee, but I don't think they were related, anyway I asked her how to say hello to him in his native language, I managed to learn a greeting, "Sock city a call gee." When I tried it out he was shocked and replied "teacup" and something else that sounded like "key halla".

I later asked her and she said that meant good, and that he was asking how I was, and that I should reply with "teacup".

That became our routine every day when I started at work, and I became his favorite employee even though there was another guy who worked there from India who could talk his language no problem. The point is I don't do foreign languages. I can do English words that sound like stuff, but that's my limit.

I just examined the blue screen, if it didn't go away I was possibly looking at my own personal blue screen of death. The top had numbers that I recognized, lots of zeros and ones, some in a yellow box, some in a red box

The bottom had a couple symbols at the bottom but they were grayed out. I tried to look away, and it faded from sight.

This might take some work, I googled the term ‘System Chinese’ and Google gave me a translation again. I tried ‘Chinese system’ and got articles about politics. I tried ‘I have a system in my head’ and got tik tok videos and anxiety articles, I tried ‘system blue screen’ and got articles on fixing bios and Windows 10.

I was hungry, and frustrated, I did the smartest thing ever, and I ordered Chinese take out. It took about 30 minutes, was hot and smelled wonderful, but even better the guy who delivered knew what was going on.

"So do you know anything about people seeing a system and a blue screen in Chinese."

"Oh man, I love system web novels, I'm reading a great wuxia harem illustrated novel right now, hardly anything censored."

I didn't understand what he was talking about but I recognized web novels, they were popular with some of the guys at my old job. I thanked him for his help and tipped him well.

My search took me to royal road, then webscription, and I suddenly had an idea of what I might be dealing with. I checked my memories, pretty sure I haven't been reincarnated, this is my same body, everyone I know is the same, it’s the right date, my memories are good, except maybe when I got jumped by those guys who put me in the hospital. I definitely remember the beginning though.

I read and ate, wondering why I was experiencing something that was clearly fiction.

I wasn't enjoying the story but I got the gist. I started to put together something to try.

"Whoa boo doo john when."

That didn't do much, so I pressed the read button on the translate app again as I stared into the blue system screen. The fourth try it responded.

English appeared next to the Chinese symbols.

At the top were:

0/1 (0) 档次 Level

999/1000 福报 positive points {in a red box}

1,000/1000 业障 negative points {in a yellow box}

Grayed out at the bottom were:

全新因果 New Skills

升级因果 Upgrade Skills

免费打转 Free Spin

Not grayed out at the bottom:

共业因果 Your Skills

I concentrated on moving the negative points into the level line, it jumped up to 1/1, then ticked over back to 0/100 (1), my points sat at 999/1000 positive points and 999/1000 negative points.

Some Chinese text scrolled by, and New Skills and Upgrade Skills lit up. I focused on Upgrade Skills, there was only one listing it said: '

香消玉损 sweet smells diminish jade breaks (1/0)

I had no idea what that meant, I focused on it, and a dialog box popped up 'Upgrade Skill'

I focused on 'yes', the status changed,

香消玉损 sweet smells diminish jade breaks (2/0)

The system flickered for a bit, then returned me to the main interface which flashed red then returned to an almost fully transparent blue, everything on bottom was gray again except this time it was just english.

Your Skills

"You know, you really should provide a help section, or at least a FAQ," I told the system.

To my surprise 'Your Skills' blinked rapidly in response. I selected it, and started to read:

香消玉损 sweet smells diminish jade breaks (2/0)

- you have died from an act of heroism

- system start

- system bind complete

- congratulations you have been resurrected with the karmic point system

- as you progress you can trade points for new levels, you begin with zero points, you begin at level zero, even levels will award you one active skill, odd levels will award you one passive skill, you begin with no skills, you will be given a not so random choice of five options to pick from when reaching a new level, each level is more expensive than the previous

- instead of taking a new skill you can upgrade an existing skill, upgrades make skills more powerful or change them so they can do more, the most powerful skills often have more levels

- you can trade points to use active skills, active skills generally cost points to use, passive skills do not cost points but can modify points you generate or receive, as well as give you new abilities

- points are collected in banks until spent, bank size is limited, bank size grows as your levels increase, each bank size is 10 times the number of points required to reach the next level, each type of point has its own separate bank, unless otherwise specified you can use any kind of point when spending points

- every level ending with a zero you receive a bonus spin for a free gift, you are at zero, beginning free spin

- you win your lifetime of accrued points, all the points you earned before dying are credited to your account, banks over filled

- extra points lost

- time to level up and earn some points, enjoy and learn to make the most of your new system

- you have told the system that you are illiterate, audio alternative interface not available, translating interface into - English

- Translating incomplete, the system has upgraded this skill and created an automated Scribe to provide directions in English, cost 1 point per day, Scribe will take points automatically from your largest bank amount, if you have no points a debt will be incurred, Scribe must be paid before any points can be banked or spent

- you have upgraded your Scribe, Scribe now points things out in the interface, and fully translates system interface and Skills, cost 50 points per day, Scribe will take points automatically from your largest bank, stacks with above

- system prohibits further unapproved upgrades of this skill

CHAPTER TWO

SO I DIED, not really surprising considering what I went thru. Massive injuries before plane fights aren't really recommended. The system interface was transparent enough so I could see well enough to copy the four characters by hand.

Translating didn't help much so I googled it, and soon discovered something I wish I hadn't known. According to one website it was 'Roughly equivalent to: Those whom the Gods love die young.'

So instead of heaven I got a Chinese system. I wonder if it was because of where I died.

I turned to the system, I still had points to spend. I filled the level bar with positive karmic points and it changed:

0/150 (2) Level

899/1500 positive points

949/1500 negative points

1 Active Skill

0/1 Passive Skills

At the bottom New Skills lit up, but upgrade Skills stayed gray, I selected the only available option and five items appeared:

Passive Skills Available:

~蚊子再小也是肉 mosquito no matter how tiny is also meat (0/4)

~脚踏实地 feet on solid ground (0/4)

~天作之合 heaven considers perfect fit (0/3)

~含沙射影 spit sand at someone's shadow (0/4)

~瑕不掩瑜 a flaw in jade does not conceal luster (0/4)

I tried seeing if it would give me more information, but it only wanted to know if I selected that Skill.

“Which one of these gives me a super power?” I asked out loud.

Feet on solid ground blinked. Huh, that's nifty. Must be the expensive Scribe helping me out. I tried something else.

“Which one of these will help me feel better?”

Heaven considers perfect fit blinked.

“Which one helps me be safe?”

Spit sand in someone's shadow blinked.

“Which one is best for me to pick?”

Mosquito no matter how tiny is also meat blinked rapidly. It was a 4. Did that mean there were three additional upgrades? My first skill didn’t look like it was supposed to upgrade, it had been marked as two out of zero.

I picked mosquito, and confirmed, it’s full details appeared:

蚊子再小也是肉 mosquito no matter how tiny is also meat (1/4)

- good buzz, karmic points are generated by everything you do, not just big actions, gain a constant yet small flow of karmic points every hour

My positive karmic balance immediately ticked up five points, a light red‘+5’ drifted up my vision. Well that’s got to be helpful when I can’t go anywhere.

I looked at my points again:

0/150 (2) Level

904/1,500 positive points

949/1,500 negative points

1 Active Skill

1 Passive Skill

I dumped 149 negative points into the level, just to see what would happen:

149/150 (2) Level

904/1,500 positive points

800/1,500 negative points

1 Active Skill

1 Passive Skill

I added a positive point, and it ticked over, and provided a notice that I could upgrade a skill or pick a new Active Skill, the interface change was interesting. That told me two things, one negative and positive can both be used to level up, and secondly that the upgrade option is not exclusive to either active or passive skills, as I got access to an active skill, but got the option to upgrade a passive, as it was the only upgradable skill I currently had.

0/200 (3) Level

903/2,000 positive points

800/2,000 negative points

1/2 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

I kept dumping points into it:

0/250 (4) Level

903/2,500 positive points

600/2,500 negative points

1/2 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

0/300 (5) Level

903/3,000 positive points

350/3,000 negative points

1/3 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

I now had 2 active skills I could pick, or pick one and upgrade it. It also looked like my bank was ten times the threshold for the next level. It was also becoming clear that the level marker was showing me how many points into level 5 I was. I was currently at level 5, but with zero points. Once I got a full level, I would get another passive skill opportunity, because odd levels give you passive skills.

I checked my new skill options, it asked which I wanted to add, which meant I could add out of order, I picked Active Skills to see what kind of offerings I would get. I had enough points to jump forward another 4 levels, if they kept going up by 50 each time. I also knew that Active levels used points, so I didn’t want a skill I needed to use, but no points to spend. I learned that lesson when I was a kid when I used all my money to buy a nice new wallet. It was a nice wallet, but what did I need it for, as I now had nothing to put in it.

Pick a New Active Skill:

~半斤八两 half a jīn, eight liǎngs (0/4)

~东张西望 looking in all directions (0/4)

~闻鸡起舞 hear chicken get up to dance (0/2)

~热锅上的蚂蚁 on hot pan is an ant (0/3)

~请君入瓮 please sir go into the pot (0/1)

I ran thru the usual questions with the Scribe, he thought looking in all directions was by far the better choice, please sir would protect me, and hear chicken would make me more comfortable, and half a jin would benefit me second most, but I couldn’t figure out from my questions what it would actually do.

I had a second pick, so I picked what the Scribe suggested.

He was so right:

东张西望 looking in all directions (1/4)

- when distracted by pain, injury, or sickness spend points to rapidly heal, cost variable 1-50000 points plus 1-50000 minutes, each point spent reduces healing time by one minute, total will equal 50000, must face east or west while you recover, facing a different direction will pause rapid recovery, can add more points at anytime to shorten healing process, not stackable with other actives

Quick math told me that I could spend 1 point and be fully healed in 34 days. I immediately added 1 positive point, and felt better. Instead of six months to get to mostly good, I was going to be all good in one sixth of the time. It was fortunate that the TV was on the west wall, and I was already facing it.

“System you are awesome!” I cried aloud.

The whole system flashed at me, so I added, “Scribe, you give the best advice I’ve ever had.”

There was no response.

“Ok Scribe, how do I heal faster?”

I followed the flashing prompts, to get a new active skill, the list was almost identical:

Pick a New Active Skill:

~半斤八两 Half a jīn, eight liǎngs (0/4)

~学无止境 learning has no end (0/1)

~闻鸡起舞 hear chicken get up to dance (0/2)

~热锅上的蚂蚁 on hot pan is an ant (0/3)

~请君入瓮 please sir go into the pot (0/1)

I selected wildly flashing Half a jin, eight liangs. It didn't make any sense, but I trusted Scribe, at least I hope I do, he seems so sure:

半斤八两 Half a jīn, eight liǎngs (1/4)

- convert negative or positive karmic points into neutral karmic points, cost 5% of the amount converted, neutral points may be used where either negative or positive points are required, may not be mixed with positive or negative points

I hope he hadn’t made a mistake, I had already added a positive point to my healing. I followed his direction as instead of picking a passive as I expected we headed to the upgrades, and upgraded looking in all directions. Scribe was good, he couldn’t tell me what I was picking but he could make really good suggestions:

东张西望 looking in all directions (2/4)

- when distracted by pain, injury, or sickness spend points to rapidly heal, cost variable 1-50000 points plus 1-50000 minutes, each point spent reduces healing time by one minute, total will equal 50000, must face east or west while you recover, facing a different direction will pause rapid recovery, can add more points at anytime to shorten healing process, not stackable with other actives

- cost variable 1-12500 neutral points plus 1-50000 minutes, each neutral point spent reduces healing time by four minutes, can add more points of any kind at anytime to shorten healing process, stacks with above

I went back to the main screen to start throwing points at my recovery, and found between the red positive point bank and the yellow negative point bank was a green neutral point bank. I noticed the other addition just as a green +6 floated thru my vision, I guess it had been another hour.

0/300 (5) Level

903/3,000 positive points

6/3,000 neutral points

350/3,000 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

Healing: 49,986 minutes

I tossed the six neutral points at my healing, and it dropped to 49,961. Scribe flashed at me to go up a level, so I threw 300 negative points at it.

0/350 (6) Level

903/3,500 positive points

0/3,500 neutral points

50/3,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

Healing: 49,960 minutes

He flashed at me to level up again, so I did.

0/400 (7) Level

553/4,000 positive points

0/4,000 neutral points

50/4,000 negative points

3/4 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

Healing: 49,958 minutes

I did it again as Scribe directed.

0/450 (8) Level

153/4,500 positive points

0/4,500 neutral points

50/4,500 negative points

3/4 Active Skills

1/3 Passive Skill

Healing: 49,956 minutes

Scribe directed me to the upgrade function. I had three possible upgrades now, I wonder what the plan was.

He directed me to upgrade: mosquito no matter how tiny is also meat, it was at level one. The first upgrade wasn't very impressive, but the final two were incredible when I did the math:

蚊子再小也是肉 mosquito no matter how tiny is also meat (4/4)

- good buzz, karmic points are generated by everything you do, not just big actions, gain a constant yet small flow of karmic points every hour

- great buzz, other people that generate points in your behalf also provide a constant yet small flow, stacks with above

- killer buzz, small flows increased by double, stacks with above

- DDT, flow of karmic points comes at a faster trickle, receive same amount except every minute instead

Immediately a red +12 floated past my vision. I did the math again, if 5 was average, and it was doubled, and I got that every minute, then that would be 600 points an hour, 14,000 points a day, I could be fully healed in 24 hours!

A green +9 floated by as I was thinking. That was annoying.

“Scribe can you turn off the floating point notification for the points from the mosquito skill?” I asked.

I waited a minute, and the bank level went up but no notification floated past my vision. I didn’t think I could sleep as I could see it even when my eyes were shut.

0/450 (8) Level

165/4,500 positive points

9/4,500 neutral points

61/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

Healing: 49,949 minutes

I converted everything to neutral points and shoved them at my healing, a wave of relief went thru me as I moved closer to fully healed. By the time I’d finished another trickle of points rolled in.

0/450 (8) Level

0/4,500 positive points

0/4,500 neutral points

12/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

Healing: 49,052 minutes

Nearly 15 hours closer to healed, and all I’d done was have lunch. “Thank you Scribe, thank you System!”

I was just nodding off to sleep when the phone rang, I didn’t recognize the number, so I answered it.

“Hi Mr Roberts, this is John Marcham, I’m the attorney for the overseas workers union, and I’d like to stop by tomorrow to hear about what you went thru.”

“You are in Portland?”

“I am now, I flew in from Texas just a few hours ago. I’m getting a lot of really interesting phone calls about what happened in Saudi Arabia. The company is very worried that you will sue them, and we think you pretty much should. That's part of what I want to talk to you about.”

“I’m pretty tired, do you think we can meet tomorrow?”

“That was my plan, are you free around 10 am, I’ll come by your hotel room at that time.”

“Sure, I'm staying at the Hyatt next to the Hospital.”

“Me too, but I'll let you rest, and I need it, to be honest. I’ll see you tomorrow at 10 am.”

“Ok, thanks.”

“No problem, have a good night.”

The phone call ended, and a red +201 floated up. Wow, if that’s karmic points for a phone call, then mosquito really is a trickle, I thought to myself as I considered the dinner menu. Chinese is good, but you get hungry again too fast.

0/450 (8) Level

201/4,500 positive points

14/4,500 neutral points

12/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

Healing: 49,044 minutes

CHAPTER THREE

I WOKE UP sometime during the night hurting, I grabbed all my points, converted them and shoved them into my healing and went right back to blissful pain free sleep. If you ever have the opportunity, definitely try magical healing, it's awesome.

I woke up the next time to uncontrollable sunshine piercing my brain at around 8 am. I immediately checked my stats.

0/450 (8) Level

2,091/4,500 positive points

2,076/4,500 neutral points

2,025/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

Healing: 37,013 minutes

I cringed before I realized that even without my midnight healing my karmic point banks would not have reached full. I’d have to be careful as I didn’t want to convert to neutral points and lose points to overfilling my bank. I was still a little ticked that I had lost my first life’s karmic points, I know that I probably had scored really big just before my death.

I spent the neutral, then converted the others one at a time, spending them as soon as they arrived in the bank.

0/450 (8) Level

0/4,500 positive points

0/4,500 neutral points

9/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

Healing: 13,073 minutes

Even if I didn’t spend another point, I was 9 days from completely healed. Man, I felt good. I ordered room service and took a leisurely bathroom visit, dressing for my 10 am appointment. I was just finished when there was knock at the door.

“Come in, it’s open,” I hollered.

A bald head on a relatively young guy poked thru the door, “Koby? It’s John Marcham, are you available?”

“Not going anywhere today, come on in and find a seat.”

He entered the rest of the way, barely five feet tall, but dressed immaculately. I don’t know fashion, but he obviously did, and was ironed and pressed and starched like he should creak when he walked.

He took the seat across from me, setting his briefcase down and giving a sigh. Almost theatrical in nature. Probably was theatrical since everything about him screamed lawyer.

“First of all, thank you. Second of all, I’m so sorry about what you’ve been thru.”

“I’m not going to say it was nothing. It could of killed me easy enough. By the time I got off the plane here there was an ambulance waiting for me.”

“Right, and my sympathy is complete, and wholly mine. The company and the union have their own sympathies, but they are completely self-serving in nature.”

“That seems oddly truthful, from somebody who screams lawyer.”

“Well, they put me in charge of making it right, because it’s going to be a difference between a huge windfall or a significant loss depending on the situation and the choices you make next.”

“Is it wise to start by telling me I have the power in this negotiation?”

“Not so much power, but you have the goods that other parties desperately want to acquire. You’ve got the ability to squander it or make the most of it as you please, I’m hoping that you’ll see the benefit of making the most of it.

“Alright, so what do I need to know?”

“First, how about you tell me what happened.”

“Sounds good, can I order us drinks while we talk? It’s going to take a bit.”

“That sounds very nice.”

As I ordered coffee and tea service from room service, he pulled out a notepad and a recorder from his briefcase. Room service only took a couple minutes, bringing up a selection of pastries as well.

As I took a pastry and a sip of coffee, he did the same with a small smile.

He clicked on his recorder, “Do I have your permission Mr Roberts to record our meeting?”

“Is it for legal or personal reasons?”

“Not legal per say, but just to have documentation. I’ve pretty much got your story from other sources, I’m most interested in what happened from your perspective.”

“We’ll see. It might be pretty different from whatever Mike has told you.”

“Mike is no longer an employee of the company or a member of the union, who I ostensibly work for.”

“In that case, Yes, you may record this conversation.”

He nodded, took the recorder and spoke into it, “This John Marcham, Today is January 9th, it is 10:34 am, and I’m alone with Mr Koby Roberts in his hotel room in Portland Oregon.

“Mr Roberts, please tell me the story of how you ended up here.”

“I’ve been an employee of TransNat Construction since graduating college. My specialty is workflow management and streamlining the movement of materials and workers into large construction sites. For the past 3 years I’d been working in Abu Dhabi, three months ago, I got transferred to head up a team that was falling behind on a project in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“I got right to work, getting things straightened out. The project had gone on hold multiple times during the pandemic, and never quite ever started back where it left off each time work resumed. It was a mess. I didn’t leave the job site, or the compound for those three months, overtime practically everyday, and way too many hot days out of the air conditioned office trying to get actual information on what had actually been accomplished compared to what work was being attempted.

“I finally got things squared away enough that I put in for a week break. HR didn’t even blink, and immediately OK’d the leave. I sent the message that I was out, updated my voicemail, and set my phone to only bother me in an emergency.

“I’d heard that there was an actual bar that had actual alcohol, and if I showed my passport I could get in, so I headed there for the first beer I’d had in three months. I had just gotten out of the cab when I heard a woman shout koydo nay heem. I don’t know what language that is, but I recognized what it meant from a job I had in high school working for this guy from India.

“The woman was about five foot two inches, dressed as women do in Saudi, but was clearly a foreigner with her darker complexion. She was being fondled by a tall guy and pressed in by another two guys, one on each side. I’ve heard of things like this, and I know most single foreign women take precautions against casual assault like this. I was going to just ignore it, as the bar was right there, when two things clicked, the guy was very drunk, and she was married.

“That's when I stepped in. I walked up and told the guy to leave her alone. He got angry, and said some stuff, but it wasn't in english. The guy to one side asked if I knew who his father was, I replied that I didn’t know his dad, or what pussy he fell out of, but I knew which one he was acting like right now.”

Marcham was trying hard not to laugh during the recording, and I smirked at him, knowing it was going to get harder.

“The guy I responded to said a couple things, again not in English, and Mr Handsy asked me if I knew who his father was. I don’t know why anyone thinks that's a reasonable question when you’ve got your hand in the cookie jar, but I replied, I don’t know your daddy, maybe if you were wearing your ‘Daddy’s little princess’ shirt I’d be more forgiving, now get your hands off that woman.

“He looked at me for a moment, then went very red, and started to swell up like he was going to shout, then he relaxed and smiled just over my shoulder. I knew I was in trouble, so I tried to slide right as he was looking over my left shoulder. I don’t know what hit me, but it was a glancing blow. Straight on the hit might of killed me, as it was moving fast.

“Mr Handsy stepped back, away from the woman who started running, as the guy behind me took me to the ground, and the other two started kicking. That’s about all I remember of that, next thing I remember is being in a hospital, and things are blurry for a couple days. I’m not sure how long I was there.

“Just as things start getting clear Mike Sanchez comes barging into my room accusing me of being drunk and starting fights, and telling me I’m fired and on the next plane back to the US. I try to tell him what happened, but he wasn’t listening, and I was probably still on too many painkillers to make any sense.

“That evening I finally got a run down from the doctor on how badly I was hurt, and how he was advising that I not leave the hospital. I told him I wasn’t planning on leaving, but he told me that the paperwork had already been processed and that I was getting shipped out first thing in the morning to catch a flight.

“I tried to insist that I wanted to stay, but he simply said it was out of both of our hands.”

I took a sip of coffee, and nibbled a bit on my pastry as I thought about the anger I still felt over the situation. I took a breath, and then continued.

“The next morning I had a visit from some guy, a local I think who said he was an investigator. I told him the story I’m telling you now. About fifteen minutes after he left, Mike's little flunky Gary Newham showed up at my hospital room to check me out, and drive me in the company van to the airport.

“I tried to tell Gary that I shouldn’t be going, that I was too injured to fly but he told me to shut up before I caused more trouble, then suggested to the hospital nurse that I get a little medicine to help with the pain of travel. Next thing I know I’m being pushed up the boarding ramp and moved into a much too small seat.

“The plane I’m on is a direct flight to Beijing. My ticket shows I’m flying from Jeddah to Raleigh North Carolina with airplane changes in further Seoul South Korea, Tokyo Japan, Portland Oregon, Denver Colorado, and Kansas City Missouri.

“When we land in Beijing there is a flight delay, but my flight is onward to Seoul, so I sit on the plane for three hours as they don’t want me to get off, especially since they would have to bring a wheelchair on. A doctor does come on board to check me out, and bring me pain medication when he realizes I’ve been sent off without anything. I was in agony at that point, the flight had been very bumpy, and whatever I had been shot up with had long worn off.

“I think I passed out at that point, I remember a blinding light, rapidly growing darkness, and then waking up when we were coming down into Seoul. I had the meds, and some nice helpful flight attendants with some muscles to get in the wheelchair and off the plane.

“It was a short flight, and in Tokyo the airline had more people available to get me on the flight to Portland. I asked the flight attendant to get me medical assistance once we were on our way, she got in a tizzy and started asking me if we needed to divert our flight. I wasn't interested in ending up in Alaska, so I told her I would be fine until we landed in Portland.

“I was about out of pain meds when landing in Portland, but the EMT was there to take me off the plane first, and they sent me straight to the hospital. I was there for a week before they felt I was stable enough to go home, which is how I ended up here.”

“Where is home?” Marcham asked

“San Diego, California. My company records clearly shows that my home of record is San Diego. I know the policy is to send fired people home. I blame that bastard Mike.”

“I understand, now can you give me a rundown on how you are doing?”

“I’m great,” I said as sarcastically as I could. The Yellow +501 that passed thru my vision surprised me, as the constant stream of numbers as I bared my soul had all been red. I converted all my Positive Points to Neutral Points as it was about to fill up the bank.

I held up my arm, “Broken arm, two broken legs, concussion, cracked ribs, extensive bruising, damaged knee that they won’t know how bad until I can try to walk, constant tinnitus in my left ear, and until a massive sneeze yesterday afternoon, spots in my vision. Constant pain even with the painkillers they gave me.”

“Oh, and an old ugly nurse who comes everyday and gives me a bath.”

The lies gave me a flood of Yellow points. Gloria might be old, but she was pretty good looking.

CHAPTER FOUR

0/450 (8) Level

2,245/4,500 positive points

4,407/4,500 neutral points

1,276/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

Healing: 13,002 minutes

I took a moment to send my nearly 4500 neutral points into healing, it took less than I had. As my healing completed, the countdown disappeared.

0/450 (8) Level

2,245/4,500 positive points

1,202/4,500 neutral points

1,276/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

My big breath caught short as he picked up his recorder, "This is John Marcham, it is 1145 and I'm now ending the recording of Mr Koby Roberts.

He looked at me and gave me a big smile, "Gurjit Singh and her husband Avinder Singh ask that I pass along that they and their entire family is praying for your speedy recovery."

"What?" I asked at the seeming non sequitur.

"The woman who was being assaulted, and her husband. Her husband by the way knew who you were, as he works as an electrician for one of the subcontractors on your old project."

"Ok," I said, drawing out the sound.

"His Majesty the Prince also wishes for your speedy recovery."

"Which Prince?"

"Let's leave that for now, Mr Handsy, as you called him, is one of the Prince's grandsons, via a couple of not important concubines.

"His father, who serves in the government of Saudi Arabia, quite reliably I understand, was slightly disheartened when his wayward minor son, one of many by the way, and his three buddies died in the desert after becoming stranded without water when their new vehicle ran out of gas."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. His drunken public molesting of a married woman was the boy's last mistake, of many as I've come to understand. And that's why this conversation is so important.

"If TransNat should be neglectful in its good treatment of you, they will suffer severe difficulties regarding all future work in the region. Thus I'm here to see that TransNat takes very good care of you. TransNat of course can't just come and take care of everything personally, so your union, as represented fully and solely by me, has been asked to facilitate your good future care and well-being."

"Ok, well I don't know what to say to that," I told him honestly.

"I'm hoping that it will be a simple thank you, when we are all done."

"What about Mike?"

"Criminal intent is pretty easy to prove, especially with that plane flight. Your Mr Investigator had actually ordered that you be moved to a better hospital for care, and was quite upset when he discovered you were no longer in the country. Mike managed to get a boat ride out to Egypt just before being arrested, and is solely responsible for his own welfare.

"Should he return to Saudi, there is a company plane ticket for him to go home, and police officers who are quite eager and ready to arrest him. TransNat doesn't know his current location and really doesn't care, they have done their required duty."

I laughed, I couldn't help it.

John smiled, and nodded in acknowledgment, "His toady Greg didn't make the boat, as no one bothered to tell him there was a problem. He's sitting in a jail, and has a ticket waiting, as an ex employee, for his return home when he is released in a year or two. It'll likely be that long before he goes before a judge, who typically would expel him from the country."

"Ok, I can laugh over their misery at my leisure, what do I need to do now?"

He looked at his watch, "I believe we might do lunch."

"An excellent suggestion, I'm thinking steak, how about you?"

"Anything you like, it'll be a company expense, so lets get something we will enjoy."

So we ordered and I learned that all my bills so far were now being taken care of, and I would surely be getting a refund on everything I'd spent on the hotel and room service. I also wouldn't be getting any medical bills.

"The company of course has rescinded your termination, and you are on indefinite paid leave. You can ask for an employment termination settlement, should you desire it, and I guarantee you will get a glowing recommendation should any future employer ask."

"I'm not interested in going back to the middle east, I've had my fill of heat, sand and snooty robe wearers."

"Your exemplary work in Jeddah was noticed, you got things under control months earlier than expected. Your excessive overtime was also noted, and factored into your paid leave at the same rate."

That made me blink, I had been earning a lot while in Jeddah, multiple foreign work and hardship bonuses, plus overtime. I hadn't been spending anything either, eating and sleeping exclusively at the company provided facilities.

"There has been talk about a position at one of the European headquarters, but that's at least a year away, for now."

"Just how much is my paid leave?"

"I believe it was calculated at around $8500," he paused at my frown, "per week." he finished quickly.

"That's about what I was getting before."

"Yes, and the company will continue to pay for all your food and lodging until you are fully recovered as well."

"And if I want to change hotels?"

“Not a problem, the Hyatt presidential suite is quite expensive, without the medical necessity discount it is going to run $340 a night plus room service, I figure no complaints as long as your room and board is less than $500 a day.”

I blinked and then grinned, "What if I wanted to retire from the company?"

"Add that all up for a year, and multiply it by three."

"Five," I countered.

"Five," he agreed, much to my shock.

I tried to do the math in my head, and couldn't, so I used the calculator on my phone. A bit over 3.1 million.

He just grinned at me as he finished a very good and big steak. That seemed like a good idea, So I went back to work on mine.

"No rush, enjoy your paid time off, take a year to get better, and then pull the plug if you want. Alternatively, in a year, the Brussels office will still be there, I hear it's very nice."

He was right, no need to jump off the gravy train right away, plenty of time to mend, relax, and explore the system.

John excused himself after lunch, and left me to my thoughts, Gloria showed up, and put me thru my paces, my mind was so blank I didn't even notice when all my karmic point banks were full.

Scribe was flashing the system symbol which still sat in the bottom corner of my vision.

I called up the system, blessedly in English, and reviewed:

0/450 (8) Level

4,500/4,500 positive points

4,500/4,500 neutral points

4,500/4,500 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

I threw 150 points from each bank, and it ticked over to level 9, I added 200 positive and negative and a hundred neutral, and it ticked over to level 10.

0/1,000 (10) Level

4,150/10,000 positive points

4,250/10,000 neutral points

4,159/10,000 negative points

3/4 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

1 Free Spin

I smiled, that was nice, level upgrade doubled from level 9's 500, but the banks doubled too. I now had plenty of room.

I hit the free spin, and got a multicolored wheel, it stopped and the reward dropped:

Free Spin: bonus points, 50000 neutral points

I started to curse, then saw it was ok:

0/1,000 (10) Level

4,162/10,000 positive points

4,250/10,000 neutral points

4,159/10,000 negative points

3/4 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

50,000 Bonus Points

I was tempted, but then considered I didn't really know what stuff cost. I knew healing, no matter how awesome, was really expensive. Mosquito was supposed to be a small trickle, so I wondered what kind of big score I could get from giving to charity. My 50,000 bonus points were good for 4 complete heals if I needed them, so I was very happy they hadn’t been shoved into my too small bank.

I threw 1000 neutral points at level 10 to see what would happen.

0/1,100 (11) Level

4,162/11,000 positive points

3,260/11,000 neutral points

4,174/11,000 negative points

3/5 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

50,000 Bonus Points

I decided to upgrade my neutral points, I found the upgrade section and dropped my three upgrade points into the skill.

半斤八两 half a jīn, eight liǎngs (4/4)

- convert negative or positive karmic points into neutral karmic points, cost 5% of the amount converted, neutral points may be used where either negative or positive points are required, may not be mixed with positive or negative points

- there is no limit to your neutral point balance

- convert for free if you convert equal amounts of negative and positive points at the same time

- get a 25% discount when paying with neutral points

Ok, that's pretty awesome, I looked at my screen to see what it showed:

0/1,100 (11) Level

4,162/11,000 positive points

3,269 neutral points

4,174/11,000 negative points

3 Active Skills

1 Passive Skill

50,000 Bonus Neutral Points

I was back at the nice wallet, but nothing to buy, so I started upgrading levels, I used neutral points, but my 25% discount apparently didn't apply to levels.

0/1,200 (12) Level

4,162/12,000 positive points

3,275 neutral points

4,174/12,000 negative points

3 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

50,000 Bonus Neutral Points

I used negative points for the next level up:

0/1,300 (13) Level

4,162/13,000 positive points

3,275 neutral points

2,974/13,000 negative points

3/4 Active Skills

1/2 Passive Skill

50,000 Bonus Neutral Points

I checked what passive skills I could pick:

Pick a New Passive Skill:

~眼中之钉 nail in the eye (0/4)

~一狐之腋 one foxes armpit (0/5)

~天作之合 heaven considers perfect fit (0/3)

~缘木求鱼 climbing trees to catch fish (0/3)

~瑕不掩瑜 a flaw in jade does not conceal luster (0/4)

I admit that a five level skill got me excited. There were two level 3 skills, and two level 4 skills. I'd previously seen skills that had only a 1 or 2 levels, so there were variations. I realized that Scribe had been pretty quiet.

"Scribe do you have a suggestion for what to pick?"

All of them blinked. I wondered if he was being petulant for not asking him about my last upgrade, so I tried a different question, "What will earn me points?"

Nail in the eye blinked, so Scribe was working. I noticed that the top one had consistently been a skill that generated points. I wondered if the five not so random choices were because there were five categories of skills? I tried to figure out if I could make that a question.

"Are Skills divided into categories?"

The five skills blinked twice.

"Does nail in the eye generate points?"

Nail in the eye blinked twice. So twice for yes, probably once for no.

"How many categories are there?"

All the skills blinked five times. Getting somewhere!

"Are any of these from the same category?"

They all blinked once.

"Do any of these give me super powers?"

They all blinked one at a time, I got the point, these skills are all super powers.

"Which skill can help me make money?"

One foxes armpit blinked.

I selected it immediately, a level 5 skill that makes money had to be awesome.

一狐之腋 one foxes armpit (1/5)

- white fox, items that are extremely valuable but not noticed by others are noticed by you, lost or discarded items will noticeably flash in your vision if they are worth more than 500 yuan

A quick search told me that 500 yuan was 69 dollars. Another reminder that this was a Chinese system. At least it would let me spot a dropped hundred dollar bill. I wrote down the four characters of the Skill and googled them.

I found some interesting information on a Chinese website, the four character skills are called chengyu, and are a kind of idiom used in China. They sometimes have strange historical origins. The translation next to one foxes armpit is literally what it translates to, the Chinese website Baidu said: A fox's armpit refers to the fur under the armpit of a fox, which being white, is a metaphor for rare and precious things.

If rare and precious starts out at 69 bucks, I wonder how rare and precious upgrade number 5 is.

CHAPTER FIVE

I HAD AN interesting dilemma in my new active skills. I was being offered another level 5 skill, but that had problems. I already had a level 5 skill and having two would take up 8 levels of upgrading to get the skill to full power. I was considering using it to upgrade a skill instead. These were my choices:

Pick a New Active Skill:

~破釜沉舟 break pots, sink boats (0/4)

~废寝忘食 waste sleep forget food (0/5)

~闻鸡起舞 hear chicken get up to dance (0/2)

~讨价还价 ask price, make counter offer (0/3)

~理所当然 logic resides where it should be (0/1)

The top one I had seen before, I had a feeling it kept popping up because there weren't many active skills that could generate points. Another interesting one was the hear chicken get up to dance, that was interesting because I just wanted to see what it was. Were dancing chickens a Chinese thing?

I didn't have any 1 level skills, did that make them super powered from the start? I asked Scribe, "Do any of these affect people other than me?"

Ask price and logic resides both blinked. "Which one affects more people?"

Both blinked once. So equal maybe. "Which one lasts longer?"

Ask price, make counter offer blinked. "Do you suggest upgrading or getting a new skill?"

Ask price, make counter offer and hear chicken all blinked twice. I wasn't sure if that meant yes or choose and upgrade once.

"Which one costs points to use?" Seemed like a brilliant if belated question.

They all blinked. "Which is cheapest to use?"

Hear chicken blinked, "which one is most useful to me right now."

Hear chicken get up to dance blinked, so I picked it.

闻鸡起舞 hear chicken get up to dance (1/2)

- set an alarm to wake up choose the time you wish to wake, sleep soundly until the time arrives, cost 5000 points, must pick time before beginning sleep, must be a minimum of 5 hours, must not exceed 12 hours, will fall asleep immediately, other alarms will still wake you

I was slightly disappointed, maybe the upgrade made it significantly better? Even sleeping for 12 hours, my banks were large enough that they wouldn't top off.

I checked my stats to see what changed.

0/1,300 (13) Level

4,189/13,000 positive points

3,291 neutral points

2,983/13,000 negative points

4 Active Skills

2 Passive Skills

50,000 Bonus Neutral Points

I had enough banked points to upgrade to level 19, my bonus points were a nice safety net in case I needed healing or some other emergency, I didn't plan on using them.

I used all my positive points to level up, it gave me two more levels, and nearly a third. 12 more positive points rolled in from mosquito, so I finished it off.

1600 negative points took me to level 17, the rest plus 317 neutral points took me to 18. Moving to level 19 left me with nearly 1200 points, and 1900 points to level 20.

0/1,900 (19) Level

1/19,000 positive points

1,174 neutral points

0/19,000 negative points

4/7 Active Skills

2/5 Passive Skills

50,000 Bonus Neutral Points

I now had to decide, upgrades or new skills. I tried the passive skills. It seemed like I should have more of those:

Pick a New Passive Skill:

~感恩图报 be grateful to plan recompense (0/1)

~世外桃源 life outside peach blossoms (0/4)

~穿新鞋,走老路 to wear new shoe, but go old path (0/1)

~高山流水 Alpine mountains, flowing water (0/4)

~箭在弦上,不得不发 arrow in the middle of the bow must be used (0/4)

These were all new options, I hadn't seen any of them before. Scribe recommended Alpine mountains as the most fun, to wear a new shoe as most utilitarian, arrow in the middle as being the only one that affected other people, and be grateful as the only one that generated points.

"Which one will I like the most?" Life outside peach blossoms blinked rapidly. Further questions couldn't narrow it down, and I had three picks so I picked it.

世外桃源 life outside peach blossoms (1/4)

- where's the princess, there is a hidden space accessible only by you that contains one ever fruiting peach tree, you may enter and exit this space any time you wish, returning to the exact spot you left

Scribe was right, I really liked that. A lot. I used it immediately.

I found myself sitting on soft grass, in front of a medium sized peach tree. It was covered in blossoms and fruit, and the smell was intoxicatingly sweet. I stood up and looked around, there was no sun visible in the blue sky above, but light was coming straight down over the tree, as it was surrounded by inviting shade.

I looked around, and the distance seemed indistinct and blurry. I moved away from the tree, walking without pain, but awkwardly on my toes as I was still wearing my casts. I reached a solid barrier about 20 feet from the tree. It curved in both directions, and I followed around, finding that it enclosed the space and the tree.

I couldn't resist the smell and moved to the tree. The flowers seemed to be only in the upper branches, the lower branches were loaded with perfectly ripe peaches.

I picked one, and bit in. My moans as juice dribbled down my chin broke the still silence of the space.

I gathered five more, all I could hold, and returned right back to the seated position I had been in before.

I set the five peaches down, and finished the one I was eating.

I looked at the description, and chuckled at the joke. Princess Peach. I realized that there was another difference between Passive Skills and Active Skills, Passive Skills had a little comment before the description while Actives were more utilitarian in description.

I checked to see what other Passives I might get, and found the list different again:

Pick a New Passive Skill:

~心若死灰 heart reduced to ashes (0/2)

~刻舟求劍 to cut boat to seek sword (0/4)

~一无所有 one nothing possess (0/3)

~莫名其妙 unable speak inner subtleties (0/4)

~宾至如归 guest arrive as if to return (0/4)

With many questions asked, I learned from Scribe that cut boat was most useful, guest arrive affected others, heart reduced boosted points, one nothing was good for emergencies, and unable to speak was about me. I still hadn't figured that category out.

The top choice gave points. The second choice seemed to be some sort of ability, the third was kind of like an ability, but less so. Hear a chicken get up to dance was an alarm clock, of all things

The fourth and fifth choice I didn't have any yet, but those options seemed to affect other people. I questioned Scribe about them, but didn't learn much of anything except that only guest arrived affected others this time.

A quick translation check of the Chinese characters making up 'unable to speak inner subtleties' gave a translation simply as inexplicable. That decided it for me, I picked it.

莫名其妙 unable speak inner subtleties (1/3)

- I get it, you understand whatever someone is trying to say to you, no matter how garbled, confused, or inarticulate they are, must be using a language you know

That's somewhat helpful if I'm dealing with a crazy person or a stroke victim I guess. Maybe someone screaming during an emergency? I wasn't super impressed, and wasn't sure how to even test it.

Maybe upgrading it would make it more powerful, but it was only a three level skill, I still wasn't sure if that meant it got powerful with fewer upgrades, or if five level skills got insanely powered.

I checked the list of new Passives again, and it was mostly the same:

Pick a New Passive Skill:

~心若死灰 heart reduced to ashes (0/2)

~刻舟求劍 to cut boat to seek sword (0/4)

~一无所有 one nothing possess (0/3)

~缘木求鱼 climbing trees to catch fish (0/4)