Spring Changes
Spring Changes
Space Seasons book 6
Dawn Chapman
Spring Changes
Copyright © 2021 by Dawn Chapman
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written consent from the author, except in the instance of quotes for reviews. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the internet without the permission of the author and is a violation of the International copyright law, which subjects the violator to severe fines and imprisonment.
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, incidents, and place are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real except where noted, and authorised. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events are entirely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or names featured are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used.
The author and editor have taken great effort in presenting a manuscript free of errors. However, editing errors are ultimately the responsibility of the author.
Dedication
To my husband, Paul, and the many discord friends who kept me going through once again one heck of a year.
x X x
Acknowledgments
I’m sending special thanks and shout outs to my writing buddy. Michael Chatfield. And my closest friends K. T. Hannah and Luke Chmilenko. Thank you for being you and being there for me as always, and of course just being plain awesome (guys and gals, these authors books are mint, check them out)
Of course, huge thanks also goes to my editing team! Without all of you amazing people this would not be as polished.
Finally to all who chat to me daily, and whom I adore, and to the extra special people in the office you all know who you are, and working along side such professional people, is the best. I couldn’t ask for more.
There’s also of course, an extra shout out to my publisher for the main arc in this series. MDP, who has been a joy to work with.
To the guys and gals who I knew and now know even better.
Love you all!
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
About Dawn
Space Seasons
About Mountaindale
Other Recommended books
1
Tap. Tap. Tap. The tapping on the door was so insistent, I glared at it, then answered. “I’ll be out in a little while. Let me dress properly.”
But I didn’t want to go out there. I had so much I needed to do, to understand. I needed a bit of space to digest things.
Don’t worry Kyle, I can fill you in, Hiroto said.
Did the M-Wolves respawn?
That’s complicated as well, I’m afraid.
They’re alive though? I asked.
Yes, they are alive. But they aren’t in M-Wolf bodies. We were very lucky they are as strong as they are. At the moment, they’re in denti bodies. The conscious denti haven’t made it out this far yet. We’re still working through some of the stored bodies in obscure parts of the universe, and probably will be for quite some time.
That must be a hell of a shock for them? I need to speak to them. All of them. Now.
My heart thumped in my chest; I felt it almost missing beats. 155 beats per minute.
Calm down, Hiroto said.
I pushed myself back and took a steadying breath, feeling my heart rate slow. Okay, we can deal with this.
I spoke with Jai. They’re doing okay, I promise. We’ve all got a lot to deal with, a lot to talk through. Hiroto’s tone was firm, but kind. First, let’s sort out your character sheet. You’ve a lot you need to come to terms with here, and you need to place points we need right now.
I pushed myself up.
Hit me with it, I said. And waited while the sheet appeared in my view.
I started to read. These are just the changes?
Hiroto nodded inside my mind, one of the oddest things I had missed from him.
It was hard to read over, but everything had changed, once again. My body, my main stats, and there were penalties.
I read the notifications I’d pushed away as usual.
CONGRATULATIONS - YOU HAVE GAINED A LEVEL
5 STAT POINTS REWARDED
CONGRATULATIONS - YOU HAVE GAINED A LEVEL
5 STAT POINTS REWARDED
YOU HAVE FAILED YOUR TEAM
PENALTIES NOTED
ALL STATS TO BE HALVED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
That was the worst—everything had been cut in half again. No wonder my head pounded and everything hurt. This had only happened once before. It sucked. I also couldn’t place or use any points; they were locked out. There was no making me feel better in anything. It more than sucked.
I breathed in deep though, because I had . . . I had saved everyone.
Thank the gods.
I sucked in another breath and read to see if anything else had changed, not that math was my skill set—it was Hiroto’s.
YOU PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS AS USUAL, KYLE
REWARDS TO FOLLOW
QUICK POINTS - REWARDED TO YOUR TEAM x 1
QUICK POINTS - REWARDED TO YOU x 1
YOU SAVED THE LIFE OF HIROTO
KUDOS TO YOU - QUICK POINTS REWARDED x 1
Kyle Ranz - Contains -
Name - Hiroto Toshiaki
Human Consciousness
Name - Xe
Species - Trion
Name - Kyle Ranz
Species - Denti
Year of Death - 2629
Class = Fighter/Sorcerer
Age 18 + 2
Level = 33
Respawns = 7
Mech Command
Memories = 86%
Health = 32%
Kenosi = Rank 62.5
Kenosi Merge - Rank Master
Nanites/Trion x 182,911
Body Type = Denti
Structural Integrity = Silver
Internal AI Chip = AX 717 - Drudel X Class
Skin Strength = 48
Blood Capacity = 41.5
Healing Speed = 46
Overall Personal Level = 454.5
Strength = 63
Dexterity = 56
Constitution = 182
Intelligence = 134
Wisdom = 83
Charisma = 20
Luck = 31
Quick Points = 1
Mech Warrior Operational Level = 125.5
Mech Command - Rank 19
Battle Mage - Rank 40
Mech Pilot - Rank 36
Nanite Engineer - Rank 40
Nanite Factory - 47
Human/Machine Interface - Rank 42.5
Mech Merge - Rank 38
Mech Remote Control - Rank 7.5
Remote Control - All - Rank 11
Mega Merge - Rank 2.5
Molecular Insight - Rank 36.5
Molecular Manipulation - Rank 28
Acceleration/Deceleration - Rank 25
Combustion - Rank 6.5
Reversion - Rank 6
Soul Split - Rank 5
Vrolsh Coding Learned
CAD Tech - Rank 10.5
Kiain Language - Rank 3
Emaxyol Language - Rank 0.5
Drop Ship Pilot - Rank 7.5
Shuttle Operator - Rank 8.5
Freighter Operator - Rank 6.5
Computer Science - Rank 6
Electronics and Communication - Rank 8.5
Electrical Engineering - Rank 9
Mechanical Engineering - Rank 10.5
Information Technology - Rank 12
Hacker - Rank 19.5
Foot Soldier - Rank 20
Merc - Rank 16.5
Sniper - Rank 9.5
Gun Smith - Rank 9.5
Shadow Awareness - Maxed Out
Future Insight - Rank 7.5
Reconstruction Expertise - Rank 15
Null Gravity Management - Rank 11.5
Sword Play - Rank 32.5
Emergency Medicine - Rank 9
Psychology - None Human - Rank 10.5
Psychology - Human/Denti - Rank 21.5
Muscle Healing - Rank 12.5
Poison Resistance - Rank 12
Viral Fighting - Rank 7.5
Night Sight - Rank 12.5
Deception - Rank 17
Negotiator - Rank 27.5
Detective - Rank 7.5
Space Politics - Rank 12 r />
Animal Handling - Rank 7.5
Intelligence = You are smart already. + 20
Intelligence, + 20 Wisdom, + 20 Charisma, + 20 Luck
Special Traits Awarded x 2 – Any extras here do not show on your Stat Sheet Totals.
Shade Brain – 1 in a million, you managed to not only keep your memories, but you can also hide them. Your character sheet is elusive to even the strongest of will. UPGRADED - No one can penetrate your Shade now!
Spells - Active - Intensive Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 50
These new spells increase not only the strength and speed of your healing, but the distance at which you can use it.
Spells - Passive - Slow Fire Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 120
Spells - Passive - Medium Fire Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 150
Spells - Passive - Rapid Fire Healing = Requires Kenosi of Rank 200
Spell - Active - Lightning Fury – Requires Kenosi of Rank 20 – Damage increased by 50%
Spell - Fortified Tattoo - You have been gifted the crest of a God - When active, this increases your kenosi x 20, and all stats x 20. You may only use this once per day. Lasts as long as your kenosi does, kenosi strength dependent.
Particle Projectile Cannon
Uses energy direct from kenosi reserves.
Can store within battery compartments to aid when needed.
Special attributes – when inside a mech it will enlarge to the size needed by its soul bonded owner.
Familiar - Separated - Penalties induced
Debt to Darkness - Owed - He will not forget
Yun
Sitha Male
Level 82
Health = 98%
Strength = 169
Constitution = 95
Dexterity = 65
Intelligence = 67
Wisdom = 39
Charisma = 27
Luck = 25
Kenosi = Rank 100 – draws from his bonded partner and the denti master.
Special Attributes
Made within the shadows, born of noble blood, all Sitha are sacred creatures to never be harmed. They are loyal to the core, respected by all species. Hurt or maim one, and your life energies will suffer until you can do something to redeem yourself. Chances are, you never will.
Abilities = Skilled Keix = Level 60 = Skilled swordsman. Once kenosi is harnessed, this Sitha is a killer. Nothing can withstand the sharpness of his blade or the strength with which he will wield it in your defence.
My heart sank to see that debt to darkness glaring at me. After every time he’d tried to do something, I’d thwarted him so far. Each time he’d come for me though, the stakes were higher. I agonised over the debt he held over me—the longer it ran, the worse it became. I couldn’t give him what he wanted, not at the costs he kept asking.
You doing okay? Hiroto asked.
It’s amazing to see how much you’ve grown, let alone with Yun and even myself. But that halving really sucked.
We can deal with it—we did it before.
I’m just glad I have shade brain to hide anything from those who start to get nosey, you know.
I do, he replied. We’ll cope with this. We’ll get back that half and more.
I slid off the bed in the body I now occupied, feeling slightly different and off-balance.
You took some real hits, Kyle, Xe said. This is no ordinary respawn.
How did they even get you off the planet, all the other nites?
Drone, silly. We’re pretty good at migrating where we needed to, to get off. Jai and the others made sure they never left without making sure we could get off-planet.
Thank God.
It wasn’t easy to get dressed. Everything was just wrong. I couldn’t think to do it. I stopped. Leaning over on the bed, I settled my racing heart and my breathing.
What’s wrong? Hiroto asked, the concern spreading through me.
I’m just exhausted. I’ll be okay.
It’s just not a normal exhausted, Hiroto added. We should get the doc to keep a close eye on us for a while.
I agreed. Whiz her a message for us, please.
Done.
I finally slipped my boots on and fastened them, then stepped towards the door, at least getting used to the length of my legs. I knew Artemis inside and out, and Dylan and Shion were both outside waiting for me.
Xirob had gone.
“Did he . . . ?” I asked them.
“He went to see my sister,” Shion said. “I . . . I don’t know what she’ll say.”
“It’s not easy for all of us, but we can work on it. We need to work on it.”
Shion didn’t know where to look, but she came to my side. “I don’t know if I can trust him,” she said honestly.
I reached for her, pulling her closer. “There are deep reasons for what and why. I’m going to let him tell everyone in his own time. If he ever will.”
“That’s a lot to accept,” Dylan said.
I could only nod. Nausea washed over me. I wobbled in Shion’s arms.
“You don’t look so well . . .”
“I’ll be okay, I promise. Help me to the war room. I want to talk through this. To tell those who will listen what I’m going to do.”
“You already have a plan?” Dylan asked.
“We had a plan. We’re going to stick to it . . . but I’ll explain in a minute.”
It didn’t take us long to get to the war room, and though I wasn’t ready to see everyone there, the usual faces greeted me as we stepped inside.
Jai, Tyto, Miquel, Denn, with a few who usually weren’t there. I couldn’t smile at them though. These were more than my friends; they were family.
I couldn’t take hugs or anything else they wanted to give me, even if I needed it. Emotionally, I was shot. I sat down and shook hands with them instead, even though there were raised eyebrows and concerned frowns.
“Ignore the way I look,” I said. “Get me some of Latife’s chocolate pudding, and I’ll try to eat some. Get some strength back.”
“I’ll go,” Shion said. “I know I’m not supposed to be in here. I’m not your counsel.”
“You will be more than that one day.” I smiled, and she leaned down and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. So glad to be able to see her again, and those in the room.
“Hiroto?” Jai asked.
“I’m here. Present,” he said over comms. “Though I’m finding my way around Artemis a little blocked?”
Jai laughed. “We had a few extra bits of security installed. It’s nothing against you, and I’ll pass you the codes.”
“Thanks.” He chuckled. “No need, it just took me some extra time to get through.”
“You broke the new security system already?” Denn asked, her jaw almost on the table.
I rolled my eyes, but on the inside, Hiroto really laughed. “Sorry, not sorry?”