Infinitium

(The Unicorn, December 24th,2046)

Level 104,879,885, Adam thought as floated under the event Horizon of The Unicorn Black hole. Also, 57 million in each attribute? Those numbers were so high that well, what the hell did attributes that high even mean? Adam calmed himself and focused. He had work to do, and he needed to get to it. Adam opened the Cosmic Interface and noted some new functionality as the ‘Owner’ of this Cosmos. It looked like he could change the name if he wanted as well as make some other tweaks and adjustments. Adam knew what he was looking for and went to work.

The first thing he did was unlock access to magic for himself throughout the Cosmos.

NOTE: You have unlocked access to Magic for yourself in this cosmos.

Warning! Ambient Mana in this Cosmos is set to 0% except in designated areas. Mana cannot regenerate in areas with Ambient Mana less than 25%. To regenerate mana, you will need to return to areas of a higher mana density. Your personal Mana will reduce by 1% of your maximum mana per hour.

NOTE: Fundamental Ability Confluence detected. Normal Mana regeneration rates apply to you in all areas of this Cosmos. Now that Access to Magic has been unlocked, you may utilize Magic Normally.

Adam reviewed his Personal information and did some quick math. It would take him approximately 2 minutes and 29 seconds to refill his entire mana pool normally, though he had never actually utilized 3 million mana within a second, so he doubted that he’d ever need to worry about it. Confluence also explained why he hadn’t lost any mana when he’d first appeared back here. He couldn’t access mana, but the ability kept him topped off. That was a very useful ability to have.

The next thing he did was look at the settings to release mana back into the Cosmos, then he paused. A scene from the movie ‘Ironman’ came into his mind’s eye. he remembered when Tony Stark had set his thrusters of the suit to 10% for the first test. That had gone horribly wrong, though it was funny as hell when he slammed into the ceiling and his robot doused him with a fire extinguisher. With that thought, he paused what he was about to do and checked his internal clock again, it was Christmas Eve after all.

Adam found out where his parents were through Thor, which surprised him. It seemed that in the 10 years, he’d been gone, Thor had been a bit busy. There was now a Colony Habitat in orbit near Earth. Technically it wasn’t near Earth, it was on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth, and it was huge. Thor had gone with the cylindrical shape, making it with a 10-mile diameter and about 50 miles long which allowed for a docking port at the center and a very large surface area along the inside where different families had their residences. Almost like his Dyson sphere idea but on a much smaller scale.

His parents, Abi, and Desirae were all gathered for Christmas Dinner and were just making small talk.

“Thor, you haven’t told them I’m back yet?” he asked through their Communication channel.

“I did not see the point. If I had they’d have wanted to contact you immediately. I needed to synchronize and then you decided to head out. I calculated that the best course of action would be just to wait.”

“Good point. Well, it’s Christmas. I think I’m going to head in and surprise them.”

“Very good Adam, give him a second…”

Thor stopped speaking as Adam teleported directly into the living room where his parents, Abi, and Desirae, and now Desirae’s throwing knife as it streaked towards his eye, sat. She was quick, he was sure no one else had even seen her move. Adam, caught the knife lightly. “It’s nice to see you too Desirae,” he said.

“Johnathan!” his mom exclaimed.

“Johnathan!” his dad said right after.

Abi the practical one, sent him a ping through his nanites,

Abi: Jonathan?

“Yes, it’s me I’m here.”

Adam: Yes, it’s me.

Adam responded verbally to his parents while responding to Abi privately.

Desirae walked over and took the knife which he handed back to her. “Didn’t you miss me too, Desirae?” Adam asked teasingly.

“I wouldn’t have if you weren’t so damn fast,” she said. “Nice catch”

“Nice Throw, it would have gone right through my left eye if I hadn’t caught it.”

“That was the plan.”

His mom looked back and forth between Desirae and him. “Ray, honey, you never said you knew Johnathan?” she asked.

“That was his idea,” Abi said. ” Thor and I didn’t think your son’s history with Ray would matter since we didn’t know when he’d return.”

“Our history doesn’t matter. It would seem that I have Ray to thank for keeping you two safe these last eight years.” Adam said as he looked at Desirae and said with genuine appreciation, “Thank you Ray.”

“You are quite welcome. While we might have gotten off on the wrong foot I can honestly say that the magical accident was the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

“I’m glad you feel that way. But it’s Christmas. Does anyone have some ridiculously strong alcoholic drink I can partake of, or do I have to make it myself?”

“We just have Thor make whatever we want,” his dad said.

“Well then let's try something a little bit unorthodox,” Adam said as he accessed his magic and made his intentions known, as he conjured a bottle of Fey wine. His nanites had never been able to get the magic of that right. Magic on the other hand could make it perfectly. Adam had the nanites produce glasses and poured some Fey wine into each glass. Desirae watched him, then took a glass and sniffed it.

“Is this Fey wine?” Desirae asked.

“Why yes, yes it is,” he said smugly.

“And you conjured it with actual magic and not your technology?”

“Yep.”

“Is magic back?

“Yes and No. Yes, it will be back eventually. No, it is not yet for anyone save me. That’s actually one of the things I wanted to discuss with everyone. But not tonight. Tonight is Christmas Eve and it has been a very long time since I’ve been home.”

“It’s only been 10 years,” his mom said.

“Here it has only been 10 years. For me, it has been much, much longer.”

His dad picked up his glace of Fey wine, sniffed it, then asked, “What is Fey Wine?”

Both Desirae and Adam laughed as they picked up their glasses as if in a toast and waited for everyone to do the same. Once everyone else did the same Adam said, “To new friends and family. May we always remember what’s important!”

“They aren’t going to remember much of anything after they drink this,” Desirae muttered under her breath, just loud enough that he heard her.

“As for what Fey Wine is Dad. Fey wine is the nectar of the Gods that was allegedly created by the Elves where Desirae is from. Moonshine has nothing on this stuff.”

“I’ll be the judge of that,” his dad said as he put his glass to his mouth and took a drink.

Adam woke the next morning with a vague recollection of what had happened the night before. It would seem that Fey wine could put a dent in anyone’s constitution, no matter how high it was. He’d have to remember that going forward. His nanites had ensured that he didn’t have a hangover, so he moved to crawl out of the bed he was in. He remembered making his way to one of the guest bedrooms in the early morning. As he was getting out of bed, he heard movement behind him and looked over his shoulder to find Desirae sprawled out on the other side of a pillow that had blocked his view. While his mind might be foggy, his nanites weren’t. He checked the history and sure enough, he’d been either a genius or an idiot, depending on how you looked at it. Also, as he reviewed the athleticism Desirae and he had displayed last night he would categorize what had happened as angry sex. Also, it had been all about her.

Adam stopped reviewing their ‘personal combat’ and had his nanites freshen him up and replicate his clothes back onto him as they broke down the originals, wherever they’d ended up. Adam was being lazy, sure, but nanites just made showering, shaving, and getting dressed easy. As he stood Desirae turned over and said, “Off already?”

“Just heading downstairs. I thought I’d let you sleep in.”

“Thank you but I’m good,” she said as she stood on her side of the bed and said, “Thor, if you’d please?” Which resulted in her getting the same treatment he’d just had. Freshened up and fully dressed. She looked over at him and asked, “Last night isn’t going to make us awkward now, is it?

“Nope, I have sex with someone that was trying to kill me all the time. It’s a long list with lots of company,” he said sardonically.

“Yeah, it’s going to be a little weird,” she said.

“No, it won’t and if while I’m still around if you’d like to get together again, just have Thor ask if I’m available. I had fun, at least the parts I can remember.”

“Me too,” she said. “Though, I have to ask, is it me or are you stronger than you were before, the few times I pushed on or pulled at you, you felt unmovable.”

“Let’s just say that I’ve had an upgrade. After breakfast, I plan to talk to Thor, Abi, Mom, Dad, and you about everything that’s happened. You’ll get a better feel for what you felt last night and understand it a bit more.”

She nodded, turned, and walked towards the door. Adam followed her down from the 2nd-floor loft back to the kitchen and dining room where we grabbed some coffee and breakfast. He didn’t need to eat, but bacon and eggs sounded really good, so he tucked in and ate breakfast with everyone. While they were eating and making small talk Abi, then Mom, and Dad joined them.

“What the hell is in that Fey wine?” his dad asked.

“Magic,” Adam said.

“Well, whatever it is, without your little gadgets inside me, I think I might still be unconscious,” his mom said.

“I know what you mean,” Adam said. “My first encounter with Fey wine was when I wasn’t much stronger than Desirae. It knocked me on my ass. Now, I just get a really good buzz. It’s one of the few things that can do that for me anymore.”

They all sat down, grabbed some breakfast, and finished eating as he told them about what he’d been through and where he’d been. He also told them where they were now. How the Universe’s magic was tied up and his thought to open the Universe back up to magic. Adam mentioned that he thought that there was something on the other side of death and “The Eye” they’d all pass through eventually.

“So, you’re sure that when we die, we’re not going to be destroyed?” his mom asked.

“Out of Everything I just told you, that’s what you’re worried about Mom?” he asked.

“It’s a valid concern.”

“Yes Mom, the thing that was eating souls and destroying them is gone. I made sure. I’m more concerned with the baseline question of if I should allow magic back into this Universe or if I should leave things as they are.”

“You can really go into a black hole and just sit there?” his dad asked.

“Yep, but really they’re just magic sinks. Places that ambient magic that would form within this Universe is collected and shunted out of the Cosmos.”

“So, what are you here to ask us about?” Abi asked.

“Well, I have the ability to bring magic back into this universe. However, as I just described to you, when that is done too quickly, there are side effects and bad things happen. Unfortunately, I don’t know what will be ‘too fast’ if we add magic back into the Cosmos.”

“Humanity will adapt, we always do,” his father said.

“Or we don’t and billions upon billions will die. Also, this isn’t just about humanity. The Universe is a big place and if the data I’ve reviewed from Thor is any indicator, there is a lot of life throughout this Universe. There could even be Type III Civilizations that exist somewhere out there.”

“Type III Civilizations?” his mother asked.

“There’s a scale called the Kardashev Scale. Type 1 would be similar to us before Thor came along. Right now, we’re type II. Type three will be when we occupy more than one galaxy. There’s also a technological component for the scale but I’m trying to keep things simple.”

“Okay, so why do you care about other races so much?” Desirae asked.

“Did I forget to tell you all about the part where I basically ascended to the highest level of God there is in Desirae’s Universe?”

“You did what?” Desirae asked with wonder in her voice. “Are you a God now?”

“No, I’m not a ‘God’ now. But when you become a divine, or god, you take on a purpose. Even though I’m not a God here, by whatever powers there are that I will have to make peace with when I finally decide to go through ‘The Eye’ I’m pretty sure I need to stay true to the purpose he chose.”

“What purpose did you choose?” his father asked.

“Natural Selection.”

“Natural Selection you say. Well, it would seem to me that if that is your purpose then you truly only have one choice, son. While I’ve never seen ‘magic’ as you call it, it sounds like it is a natural part of all or most Cosmos. It also sounds like the lack of Magic here is being enforced artificially. Therefore, you should bring magic back into the Universe,” His dad said.

“Mom?”

“What your dad said.” His mom said.

“Abi?”

“Does this mean that someday I’ll be able to reconnect to the Labyrinth?” Abi asked.

“Actually, that’s the other thing I needed to tell you about. There is a Labyrinth, it would seem that the one you were sent to me from was from an alternate Universe that no longer exists. So yes you’ll be able to connect to the Labyrinth again. It might even remember you, but it will not be the Labyrinth that spawned you.”

“That sounds convoluted,” Abi said.

“I know right?”

“Well, I like magic so that’s a yes from me?” Abi said.

“Desirae?”

“I get a say?”

“Yes, you do. Of everyone here, you have the most experience in such an environment,” Adam said.

“What if I don’t like the person I was, and I like the person I’ve become more?”

“There’s no going back to Primore. That iteration is gone and inaccessible. Truth be told, I don’t even know if adding magic back to this Universe will allow it to connect to the Labyrinth. What I do know is that Dungeons and Monsters will exist again. What you do when magic returns will be up to you.”

Desirae tilted her head left and right, muttered something incomprehensible then said, “Sure why not?”

“That leaves you, Thor,” he said out loud so everyone could hear him.

“As Magic returns my functionality will digress and eventually my abilities will fade altogether. That will cause both Abi and I to cease functioning?” Thor asked.

“I had thought of that. I was going to upgrade Abi and you to a version of Nanites that I carry. Though, I think I’m going to limit them to remain personal. Eventually, the nanites that exist will be reabsorbed back into the Universe and all that will be left of that technology will be inside us.”

“Natural Selection for the rest of Humanity?” Thor asked.

“Exactly! Now that I know there is something beyond this existence working to keep people alive forever seems to be counterproductive. Also, doing so is counter to the purpose I’ve chosen.” he said.

“Then I see no issues with your idea or proposal,” Thor said.

“So how fast will you bring magic back?” His Dad asked asked.

“My suggestion would be slowly, very slowly,” Desirae said.

“I believe that if through your interface I can adjust the settings to allow for 1 tenth of 1 percent ambient mana increase throughout the Universe per week. That should be slow enough that creatures throughout the Universe should be able to adapt,” Thor said.

“So, increase the ambient magic of the Universe by 1% every 10 weeks. That sounds possible. 1,000 weeks to get to 100% saturation. So just over 19 years and 12 weeks. Everyone’s personal interface should come online long before there.”

“When will you make the change?” His dad asked.

“Well, the first thing I need to do is convert some of the nanites I have so that those I trust and that are close to me, in addition to Abi and Thor, can still have nanites in their bodies. While others will not get much of a choice, making sure my family and close friends have the very best possibility for survival shouldn’t upset those that may judge me in the future too badly. Also, I’ve been running and moving, going from one crisis to the next since I left. I think I might take a break and go visit parts of the Galaxy that Thor has discovered that seem odd. Simple answer, not today. Long answer, sometime within the next year.”

“That sounds fine Johnathan,” His mom said. “We’d love to spend some time with you as well.”

“I missed you too Mom. Now if you’ll all excuse him. I’m going to go take care of one of the tasks I have before I go galivanting across the Milky Way,” he said as he stood, opened a portal to Nu Draconis, and stepped through to his office there. He had a little work to do before he could head out.