43 SoTtE Arc - 1

It was an interesting time. World War I was technically a few years away. The zealots were marching demanding war. Khan thought about his own experience with war. In Skyrim, he was someone who had taken advantage of it and now, since he has nearly limitless resources. He considers himself the type of person to instigate it for his own benefit.

The mission was more or less as expected, he had to deal with Tanya, only if he kills or breaks her his reward will be random, and since his plan is to recruit, it matters very little. Since she is currently in the recruitment office, it will be at least a year before her graduation assignment and subsequent combat mission.

Khan stood there for a moment thinking about his next move. While he does indeed have money, he doesn't actually look like someone who belongs there. He could kill someone, with Soul Devour it be easy to takeover someone else's life, but it might make more difficult to convince Tanya to join him.

Khan checked his store to see if it had any solutions. Khan was awestruck by how much he had accumulated since his last visit. He resolved himself to use it once his time here was done. Going through the options, only one thing caught his eye.

[Spirit Mode - (Active) Return to your roots, become a incorporeal and be seen and heard only by those with sufficient spiritual awareness or a certain level of magic]

It was a interesting idea Khan could use to approach Tanya without any real interference. Assuming she could in fact see him, herself. He purchased, then activated it and then another concern entered Khan's mind as he began to actually think on how he was going to make the pitch.

He has never recruited someone who wasn't in a truly desperate situation or selflessly doing it for someone else's sake. The closest thing he had to a real equal partnership was with V, and even then he had used her to takeover Night City, enslave her friends and associates, and all right under her nose. To be fair to her though, she was distracted by the whole being replaced by Johnny Silverhand thing.

After remembering his past exploits, Khan had an idea. He wasn't sure how it would work, since technically Tanya was a bit of a sociopath. Khan shrugged to himself as he began using his Hollow abilities to head towards his destination. After all, its been a while since he just traveled and enjoyed the scenery.

...

Tanya was being escorted to the academy where she would undergo basic training. As she was a special case of being both a female and a minor. She was being given her own room.

She doubted it would anything fancy, but it would suit her just fine. As they were passing through a hallway, Tanya noticed a man just leaning against the wall. The reason he stood out to her was because he wasn't really dressed like he belonged there.

However, no one else paid any attention to him, so, she ignored him as well. She could feel his gaze, like he was silently judging her. She continued to ignore him, even as they walked passed. Then she heard him say, "Disappointing." Then walked away.

When she was certain he was out of earshot she asked her escort, "Who was that man back there? The one leaning against the wall." Her escort got confused and said, "We didn't pass anyone leaning against the wall. Are you sure you saw something?"

Tanya said she was mistaken and quickly changed the subject. Once inside her room, Tanya tried to figure out why she was the only one who could see him.

She quickly wrote it off as a trick from Being X, and decided to focus on her training. Despite her efforts, she would spot him at random times. She was never in a position to confront him without making herself look crazy. However, despite the distraction the mystery man caused, she still managed to preform at the top of her game.

Then came the day of her graduation assignment. As she began her patrol, she spotted him following her. After adjusting so she didn't broadcast what was about to happen. She pointed her gun at him and said, "Who are you and why are you following me?" The man stood there for a moment and then he smiled and said, "So you can see me, I was starting to get worried there for a moment. I gladly answer your questions, but you will have a slightly more pressing issue to worry about."

As if on que, Tanya heard her radio flare to life and say, "Attention! Attention! We have reports of border violations. Cease current patrol, you are being given a field promotion, and your new designation is Fairy 08. Please proceed to observation position."

Unsure what to make of it, Tanya responded in acknowledgment, and proceeded with her new assignment. She turned only to find the mysterious stranger was already gone. As she proceeded to her assignment she thought, 'If that was Being X, I will kill him. Of course if he simply works for that self proclaimed god, I'll torture him till I feel better. Then I'll kill him.'

...

Tanya was resting in the medical ward. The brass just left after concluding the reward ceremony. So, she was all alone. When seemingly out of nowhere, the mystery man showed up.

The first thing Tanya said was, "Who are you?" While technically a question, it was stated as a command. The answered, "Currently, I'm called Khan. And to in anticipation of your next question, I don't have any connection to the one you refer to as Being X."

Tanya with an annoyed tone asked, "Then how do you know about me?" Khan responded, "It is a sad truth that one person's misery is another's entertainment. Your life story has been cataloged, edited, and put on display. Of course the same could be said for me. Even now I'm sure there is something observing me, and choosing what to share and what to out."

Khan continued, "As for the only real question that matters. Why am I here? The simple answer is, I have an offer for you." Tanya while still looking annoyed asked, "Well, what is it?" Khan sighed and then said, "Sadly, you aren't quite where I need you to be in terms of skills. So, I give you some understanding. When I make the offer, you can have an informed decision."

Tanya sighed, and said, "Might as well, I'm currently bedridden and since no one seems to be able to see or hear you, I can't stop you."

Khan said, "I'll try not to bore you. In truth, I barely remember my life before all this started. The only thing I can recall from that time was thinking most people were idiots, who were more obsessed with what was currently popular and complained if they haf to put forth any effort. I couldn't tell you how I died."

"All I know is that one day I found my consciousness just existing in a dark void. I couldn't feel, couldn't hear, see, or anything really. All I could do was think. In that vast emptiness all was remember stories I read."

"I honestly have no idea how long I was there, maybe a few hours or a maybe a full eon. All I know is seemingly out of nowhere everything went white, and a panel with a message and a choice appeared in front of me."

Khan paused for a moment and then said, "Actually, I recently acquired a new skill that will allow me to show you." Before Tanya could question it, a floating blue panel appeared before her.

[Congratulations, you've been selected to under go a trial by system. Hence forth known as the Trial System. The objective of each trial is to complete the goal by any means necessary. Please note, during the trials any attempt to extend your lifespan via science or magic will not work. Now please choose one of the following.]

Tanya then noticed two more panels appear below it.

[Total Viral Immunity] or [The Mercer Augmentation]

Tanya looked at both of them. Total Viral Immunity seemed straight forward enough, but the other one, The Mercer Augmentation was something of a wild card. Mostly because she didn't have any knowledge of a Mercer with any significant merit.

Khan spoke, "Honestly, when having to choose my first thought was to pick Total Viral Immunity, but I quickly realized that it wouldn't be as useful at first glance would have you believe. So I took a chance and went with the second option."

"With hindsight, I've realized, I was choosing my starting origin story." Khan paused for a moment and turned his head, as if he was reacting to something. Then he said, "Sadly this is where we will have to stop for now. You seem to have more visitors. I'll come back at your next milestone."

Whith that, he was gone. A few minutes later, several nurses came in to change her bandages and clean her up. Tanya thought about everything Khan said. She thought, 'If nothing else he might prove to be an amusing distraction.'