Jack made his way to Delt and asked the quartermaster where to find Maxine. "Why didn't you ask Letia where she is?" he replied

  "... I can't deal with that girl."

  Delt let out hearty laugh, "Go to the research level just across the way, Maxine's lab is on the far side. All the way in the back you can't miss it."

  "Thank you Delt"

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  Jack stared in wonder at some of the odd things he was seeing in the research facility as he made his way towards Maxine's lab. When he knocked on the door Jack was promptly greeted by Maxine and allowed in. "You said that if I ever came back to get equipment I should ask for you first."

  Maxine smirked, "I did, what are you looking for?"

  "I need a new knife for carving... maybe one for combat as well."

  Maxine took a moment to dig through a chest behind her desk while Jack peered around the lab. "This is a pretty standard carving blade, it should suit you well. If you want a blade for combat I recommend paying Dine a visit. You can find him on the forging level and he's always willing to help new mercs out."

  -You have received a Craftsman's Knife!

  Jack smiled and thanked Maxine before stopping at the door. "I forgot to ask, a friend told me that since I put so many points into intelligence and chose lithe armor I'm not well suited to squad combat. Could you recommend a sniper rifle for me?"

  Maxine gave him a skeptical look. "Why intelligence?"

  "To level up my cooking and cooking related skills faster."

  "More than 25 intelligence?" she asked

  Jack was beginning to show interest in Maxine's questions, she obviously has a goal. "Yes"

  "Have you learned tech mastery?"

  "I have why?"

  Maxine walked over to a long table and picked up a steel gun that had a few odd coiled cylinders with a pointed muzzle. "What do you think of this? I created it with squad based combat in mind."

  -You have received a Prototype Reconstructor!

  "This sounds very useful... it counts as a weapon?"

  "Yes, you won't be able to use a sniper rifle but I'd say this is just as useful. To be honest with you it's the first of its kind. We've been having mercs complain that there isn't a "healer" around so my teams have been working on various prototypes. Would you field test it for me?"

  *ding*

  Whoa... "Of course, would you mind explaining what all of the weapon information means though?"

  "Ok here's what you need to know, repair rate should be obvious. Without any modifying factors a repair rate of 5 will refill your target's armor by 5 per second. Think of a full charge as a magazine but you can't reload, that's what the conversion rate is. Also think of Energy reserve as ammo capacity. A conversion rate of 2 means that your charge will refill by 2 per second." she explained proudly

  "I think I get the gist of it." Jack pulled out his submachine gun. *bra-tatatatata*

  -Damage received, -83 armor

  Maxine gaped in shock as Jack equipped the reconstructor then fired it at his foot. *bzzzzz*

  -Repairing, +5 armor

  *ding*

  -You have made a wise decision!

  -Intelligence has been augmented.

  -Repairing, +9 armor

  -Repairing, +9 armor

  After he was at full armor again and Maxine regained her senses Jack spoke up. "It works."

  She gave him a flat look, "I can see that."

  *ding*

  "Thank you for all of the help Maxine." After putting his five points into intelligence Jack was about to leave a very, very please person.

  "Wait a moment, you just unlocked a new path for mercenaries to follow. Don't you want to be a medic?"

  Jack looked a bit perplexed. "I want to be a chef."

  Maxine gave him a sly smile. "There is no chef profession... want to become a class that can cook as well as a craftsman but heal as well as a medic?"

  *ding*

  Without hesitating Jack said “Yes” at that moment he was shocked numb and fell limp.

  Jack wiped off his drool while attempting to regain control of his body. "Ish paragwon da higjest lv?"

  Maxine ignored his slurred speech, "Skills begin at initiate level then rise to journeyman, artisan and paragon, in that order,"

  "Thash kewl... mush apprishiated Mashine." Jack attempted to keep his pride intact while hobbling out the door. *Bam!* Jack laid on the floor of her doorway facedown cursing whoever thought it would be a good idea to do this to people when they change classes. As Maxine began to snicker he gave in and fled like a silkworm... causing more laughter.

  *ding*

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  Jack rested for another minute in order to regain his senses and swallow his pride. Once that was over with he decided to take Maxine's advice and head to the forging area. Jack was stopped by a few people on his way and asked questions about the prototype and his various thoughts. When Jack began to explain that he really hadn't used it much yet they quickly lost interest in him. Sighing with relief Jack made for his destination once again.

  Upon his arrival Jack removed the lithe armor again... it was hot here, really hot. This merc enjoyed the sight of people working tirelessly to produce equipment. Forges blazed, molds were filled with molten steel and templates were battered in repetition. After spending a good amount of time to admire the work being done Jack asked the nearest and least busy person he could find. "Excuse me, who is Dine?"

  The grizzled, four-armed man answered "Three stalls in that direction, the big guy. Ugly as a bull you can't miss him!"

  "I heard that!" a disembodied voice replied

  Jack turned and made his way to the stall to find a large and horned man, after admiring his various features Jack introduced himself. "Hello I'm Jack, I'm a new mercenary and Maxine said that if I wanted a combat blade forged you're the one to see."

  The bull-like man gave him an appraising gaze, "What do you want to use the blade for?"

  "Well, to be honest it's mostly for ammo conservation but the combat knife I used for a while did come in handy for self-defense. I suppose I want one now just to protect myself from things like those crabs that my smg bullets barely scratch."

  *ding*

  Dine laughed at Jack a bit, "You don't need a blade lad, you want a blade."

  Jack turned that over then nodded in understanding. "What do I need?"

  "A blunt weapon, a mace or a hammer.... let me see your stats boy." As Jack showed Dine his status screen the craftsman's appearance became increasingly intrigued. "You're a bit unique, aren't you?"

  Jack looked slightly embarrassed, "I suppose I am."

  "Judging from your armor rating I assume you don't intend to be a frontline fighter?"

  "No sir, I'm likely more suited to support." he spoke honestly

  "What's your prefered outfit?"

  "Lithe armor, no gloves, no helmet." Dine raised an eyebrow "Submachine gun main... scratch that. Repair tool main, submachine gun sub."

  "Why not wear a full set of armor?"

  Jack spoke self-admonishingly, "It isn't very comfortable and it seems to allow me full range of movement from what the system message said when I first wore it that way."

  *ding*

  "Oh, full movement eh? Certainly not a bad choice... I've seen a few massive armored soldiers get overtaken by hordes because they couldn't keep up with their retreating allies. At least that won't be you." Dine looked a bit contrite "Repair tool main?"

  "Well I figure I'll focus on working as a member of a squad and in a squad it's likely that I'll be most useful using a repair tool. You saw the bonuses from my class right?" Jack explained

  Dite nodded in approval. "Hmmm it's a hard decision to make lad, you could use a hammer to bash anything that get's near you but I'm not sure if you'll be able to keep up with the strength requirements in the long run... and a blade just isn't going to cut it against armored shells... how about a halberd?"

  Jack's expression turned skeptical, "I didn't even know there were polearms in this game..."

  "Nobody uses em, at least none I've seen so far."

  "Why not?"

  "Well blades or hammers are better suited to most peoples needs and almost none of em' would take the time to talk to a crafter about what they should use. The biggest reason is probably because polearms take a wide grip at times and large range of mobility to properly use."

  Jack grinned, "That doesn't sound half bad, why did you recommend one for me?"

  "Well lad, you seem to be in need of something along the lines of utility. A halberd can be given a blunt rather than an axe and with the pointed ends you can discourage any nearing bugs from taking a bite out of you, not to mention defending yourself or squadmates with its shaft. The strength requirement won't be as intense as with a hammer and the dexterity requirement won't be any worse than a blade. Also, keep in mind that mercs rarely use their melee weapons. As you said before it's mostly to conserve ammunition but in some special cases, like yours, one becomes necessary. You picked a repair tool instead of a weapon capable of piercing thick shells. No matter how you upgrade or augment a submachine gun there will always be things out there that you just can't hurt with one."

  This npc seems to know his stuff... "I will defer to your better judgement in this matter."

  *ding*

  -You have made a wise decision.

  "I've got just the thing for ya, hold on a minute while I fetch it." A few moments later Dine returned with a large polehammer.

  Jack gave him a skeptical look, "Isn't that a bit large?"

  "Put a hand on the shaft lad." Jack placed his hand on the polearm shaft. "Size Augmentation" Dine called out as the halberd shrunk to perfectly fit Jack's height.

  "That was new..." Jack looked at the weapon wide-eyed.

  "First time seeing a power? You'll get used to it." he claimed while handing the halberd to Jack

  -You have received a Crushing Rhodium Polehammer!

  "Great..." Jack's mood darkened

  Dine looked perplexed, "That's not exactly the reaction I was hoping for lad."

  "I'm sorry Dine it's a great weapon and I'll put it to good use but the material brings back memories that's all."

  Dine gave Jack an inquisitive look.

  "My wedding ring was a rhodium-plated white gold ring."

  Dine gave him a pitiful look, "Not much we can do about that lad, cheer up and think of it as abusing the rhodium equipment every time you smack something with the thing."

  *pfft-Ahahahahahaa* Jack looked up thankfully at Dine with tears in his eyes, "I'll definitely get a lot of use out of it Dine, therapeutic treatment never sounded so fun."

  *ding*

  "Anytime you need an upgrade head on down here, I'll give you a discount. First times the only time my services are free lad. I expect great things from you, nonspecialist sounds special after all."

  Jack grinned, "I like how it says nonspecialist then boosts my intelligence and gives me a repair tool buff."

  This time Dine was the one laughing, "I wouldn't complain lad."

  *ding*

  Jack began to make his way out of the craftsmen's clan, then he did a little ~exercise~ for a certain pushy receptionist.

  *ding*

  -Fitness has leveled up!

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