After breakfast, Ryan returned to his room, his mind buzzing with the possibilities ahead. His skills, granted by God, were incredible—some restricted, some not. But the Great Sage skill stood out above all. The sentient AI, tied to him like an invisible thread, was the key to unlocking much of his potential. The possibilities with this skill were limitless.
He walked to his desk, where a small computer sat, and sat down in front of it. As he stared at the screen, his fingers hovered above the keys for a moment. What should I ask her to do first?
With a focused breath, he activated the skill, letting the familiar voice of Great Sage fill his mind.
"Master, how may I assist you today?" The voice was smooth and calm, emanating a sense of infinite intelligence.
Ryan's thoughts spun for a moment. She's incredible, he thought. She can do almost anything. Then, without hesitation, he spoke aloud. "Great Sage, I want you to hack into black sites—deep, hidden networks—and gather a vast amount of knowledge about science and technology. I want to learn everything about the latest advancements—artificial intelligence, quantum mechanics, biotechnology, anything cutting-edge this world has to offer."
The response came almost immediately, as if she had already anticipated the order. "Understood, Master. I will proceed."
Ryan felt a gentle shift in his mind, a subtle but steady pull, like something vast and unseen was being accessed. The weight of her capabilities was mind-boggling. She's accessing secure sites that would normally be impossible to breach, Ryan thought, his curiosity piqued. How much knowledge could she gather?
The minutes turned to hours, but Ryan's body suddenly felt heavy. It was as though an invisible weight had settled on his eyelids. What's happening? he thought briefly, but the exhaustion was overwhelming. He tried to stay awake, but sleep overtook him in an instant.
When Ryan awoke, the sunlight filtering through the blinds was soft, indicating it was the early evening. He blinked, sitting up and stretching. A slight headache lingered in his mind, but the sleep felt… oddly restful. As his senses sharpened, he realized something strange—his mind was buzzing with information, far more than it should have been.
"Great Sage," he muttered aloud, still a bit groggy. "Why did I fall asleep?"
The response came almost instantly, as calm as ever. "Master, the influx of data was immense. It is common for the first time such a large amount of knowledge is integrated to cause sleep, to allow your mind to adjust. I ensured your safety and stability during the process."
Ryan rubbed his temples, trying to make sense of what had just happened. "So, what's the result?" He felt different, more aware somehow, as though his mind had been expanded.
"The previous order has been completed," Great Sage replied. "I have successfully gathered knowledge on advanced technology, cutting-edge science, and other areas you requested. The information has been compiled and integrated into your brain, Master. You now have access to an immense pool of technical knowledge."
Ryan sat up straight, absorbing the information. I have all that knowledge now... His mind buzzed as the pieces of advanced technology, scientific theories, and engineering principles flowed through him. It was as if a library of knowledge had been unlocked—concepts he couldn't even begin to process at first now felt familiar.
He tested his newfound understanding by thinking about various technologies, equations, and designs. The images and concepts clicked into place in his mind. I can understand quantum mechanics now… I have the technical know-how to build AI from scratch…
For a moment, Ryan just sat there in awe, feeling the weight of it all. This was the power of Great Sage. Not only did it provide him with strategies and insights, but it also granted him the ability to learn and process anything, at a speed no human could match.
The skill was undoubtedly an incredible gift, but now that he had it, he wanted to test its limits. He turned his thoughts to something more practical.
"Great Sage," Ryan said aloud, "Can you create a blueprint design for a handgun? Specifically, the Glock 45. And once you have that, I want you to improve its design—optimize it for efficiency and performance."
The AI's voice responded with calm certainty. "I will begin immediately, Master. The design will be completed tomorrow morning upon your awakening."
Ryan leaned back in his chair, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity. She's going to improve the Glock 45… It was an interesting thought, considering he could have asked her to design anything—a piece of technology, a weapon, or even a vehicle. The fact that he was thinking about guns, though, seemed like a natural fit in the world he now lived in. He didn't know yet how much of a role firearms would play in his future, but with the Fast and Furious world just around the corner, it was better to be prepared.
He glanced out the window, and noticed that it was already starting to get dark. I must've been asleep for quite a while. A moment of guilt passed over him. I shouldn't be wasting time.
But before he could dive into another train of thought, his stomach growled loudly, reminding him of something more immediate. He was hungry.
Sighing, Ryan stood up and stretched, then made his way downstairs. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he noticed his mother, Martha, sitting on the couch, watching TV. The living room was warm and cozy, the soft glow from the television casting a peaceful light. She had a can of soda on the coffee table beside her, and her expression was relaxed, though she seemed lost in thought.
Ryan smiled as he walked into the room, his thoughts momentarily drifting away from his plans and skills. "Hey, Mom," he said casually. "What's for dinner?"
Martha glanced up, her face breaking into a soft, affectionate smile. "Hey there, kiddo. I was thinking of making something simple tonight—maybe some spaghetti and meatballs. Sound good to you?"
Ryan grinned, his mouth watering at the thought. "Sounds perfect."
She nodded and stood up, stretching her arms above her head. "Alright, I'll get to work in the kitchen. You just relax for a bit, alright?"
As she headed toward the kitchen, Ryan sat down on the couch and picked up the remote control. His mother was always there for him, taking care of him in small, meaningful ways. It was moments like these that made him feel grounded in this new life. Despite the looming knowledge of the future, the world of Fast and Furious, and all the challenges ahead, Martha's love and stability were the constants he needed to anchor him.
Ryan turned his attention to the TV as Martha worked in the kitchen, and before long, they were chatting casually, discussing their day. She shared a funny story about a customer who had tried to haggle for a gun at the shop earlier in the day. Ryan couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it.
"Some people just don't get it," Martha said with a small chuckle, her back turned to him as she stirred the pot on the stove. "You can't just walk in and expect to get a discount on something that's legally regulated. It doesn't work like that."
Ryan laughed again. "Sounds like they learned the hard way."
She smiled to herself, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics, like the upcoming school year. "You know, I think you're going to make a lot of friends this year. Palisades Middle School isn't too bad. It's a good school, and you'll get to know some cool kids. I'm sure of it."
Ryan nodded thoughtfully. "I hope so, Mom. Thanks for enrolling me."
Martha looked over at him with warmth in her eyes. "Of course. I just want you to have the best life you can. I know it's been tough without your dad, but I'll always be here for you. We're in this together, alright?"
Ryan smiled softly, his heart swelling with affection for his mother. "Yeah, we are."
Dinner was ready soon after, and the two of them sat at the table, eating and chatting like they always did. They talked about small things—what Ryan was looking forward to in school, what his plans were for the next few days. But underneath it all, Ryan felt the comfort of having someone who cared for him unconditionally. It was a feeling he hadn't realized how much he needed until now.
As the night wore on, they watched some TV together, and eventually, Martha yawned, stretching. "I'm going to hit the sack soon, Ryan. You should get some rest too. Big day tomorrow."
Ryan nodded. "I will, Mom. I'll just finish up here."
When the evening wound down and Martha headed upstairs, Ryan sat alone in the quiet living room, his mind still racing with everything he needed to do. But for tonight, he could take a breather. Tomorrow, the Glock blueprints would be ready, and he'd be back on track with his plans.
With a deep breath, Ryan turned off the TV and headed upstairs, feeling a warmth in his chest from the evening he'd spent with his mother. He may have been thrust into an unfamiliar world, but with her by his side, he felt more prepared than ever.
He lay down in bed, closing his eyes, knowing that tomorrow would be another step toward building his future.