5 Chapter 5: Weird Dog, Weird System

As Jayson was searching the darkness for any signs of escape, he came across an odd shape standing silently in the darkness. With a subtle motion he drew everyone's attention, "Alright then, whats that?" Faith and the others looked out into the distance, staring at the odd shape that formlessly appeared. As they were staring, the shape begun to move toward them slowly.

The shape contorting as it moved along like silly putty being pulled constantly from different angles, it made no sounds as it crept closer. Jayson was the closest to the shape shifting mass coming toward them and as such was the first to rise, ready to take the lead should the shape turn out to be hostile. Annie hefted her wooden sword as she too stood up taking a stand next to Jayson, meeting each others gaze momentarily they faced it.

Kenny chuckled nervously, "Well this is great, winding up in a strange place, with a strange group, with a strange object that might kill us. May as well go down swinging, eh Faith?" Standing as he spoke, eyes focused on the moving shape still slowly moving toward them.Shuffling in line next to Jayson, the three of them bore a look of determination and resolve. Without a shred of fear they were prepared for a mighty battle with no hope for victory, watching them Faith was moved.

Her friend and two people she just met were preparing themselves for a fight with an unknown enemy, with a small tear forming at the corners of her eyes. Faith leaped to the forefront of the group, a rarely seen smile etched on her face, "You guys are dumb, but I guess this is better than nothing." The smile vanished slowly as she spoke, the cold indifferent look of hers returning. The odd shape coming to a stop before Faith, now able to see it clearly she took a step back subconsciously.

Before her was the odd shape, it didn't have a solid form resembling that of a living liquid. Although the area was dark Faith could see it had no definite shape, but a multitude of constantly changing shapes compressed into one being. The odd shape in front of her vibrated slight before swelling in size coming to a stop at her head, taking the form of a giant cube before shifting to a sphere. Inside the sphere Faith could see a reflection of herself, however the reflection of herself was smiling brightly. The full beauty of her face magnified in that smile, as light shone in the reflections eyes it blinded Faith for a moment.

The odd sphere vibrated once more, "Ding, user recognized." A voice that was both deep as thunder and soft as silk sounded throughout the area, the odd shape transforming into a large triangle, moving on toward Kenny leaving a confused Faith behind it. Arriving before a slightly petrified Kenny, he too stared at his reflection in the odd triangle. A solemn version of him was seemingly waiting, eyes closed with a subtle hint of overwhelming power radiating in this reflection, "Ding, user recognized." once again sounded.

Watching as the ever transforming shape make its way toward Annie and Jayson,twice more did the same phrase sound before the shape took up a position in the middle of the four, "Team recognized, booting systems, configuring skills, generating familiar, imparting general knowledge." The voice began to chatter on, leaving Faith and the others even more confused than when the woke up.

The odd shape began to emit faint rays of light that covered them, within the light their bodies begun to glow.

The odd shape transforming rapidly split itself into five separate pieces, four of the pieces flew directly at them. Startled by the oncoming projectiles the group scattered, however the pieces followed faster than Faith and the others could perceive. Faith not looking back as she ran away, felt the projectile chasing her touch the back of her neck. The moment it did so she felt a strange sensation that wasn't unpleasant , causing her to slow to a stop as the formless projectile was absorbed through her skin.

A warmth flowed through her body the gradually grew hotter, however it was not painful but a delightful feeling that Faith enjoyed immensely, "These things aren't dangerous, just wait and see!" She shouted, her voice echoing across the dark space. Hearing what she had to say Kenny was the first to stop, the projectile phasing into his body. Looking to her with a face of understanding, he enjoyed the feeling in his body. The heat covering him from head to toe growing until steam rose from his body, Kenny felt as though he was going through a change.

Annie and Jayson looked at each other before stopping, their respective projectiles coming into contact with them as well, soon enough all four of them were enjoying a relatively good experience. Gathering before the fifth piece of the odd shape with excited stares, wondering what will become of this stray piece. As they were staring, "System interface successfully downloaded to all users." The odd shapes voice sounded lightly in their heads simultaneously, startling them stiff, Annie looked to the others slight agitation in her eyes, "What the heck is this voice?!"

Kenny shrugged, " No idea but. . ."

He was cut off as the voice sounded again " I'm the system designated by your collective subconsciousness.The Team System if you must give me a name, would be the most suitable."

Annie having her question answered nodded her head in understanding, settling herself on the ground. Fiddling with her wooden sword for a moment she asked curiously, "Where are we?"

Not knowing if the voice of this so called Team System would respond again, to her delight it did, "Users are currently in their collective subconscious, pending arrival of their predetermined destination."

Faith tilted her head the side pondering, "Predetermined destination? Where is that?"

As though the system read her thoughts it sounded, "Releasing users at nearest point of origin, pending gestation of users collective familiar." Even though her initial question was semi answered, it brought up more questions, "Collective familiar? What is that?" The confusion on her face slowly turning to anger however to her dismay, there was nothing to vent upon save for Kenny and the others. As Faith was fuming, Jayson was eyeing the fifth piece of the odd shape remnant.

Poking at it slightly with the toe his shoe, it jiggled for a moment before glowing with a radiant light, "Don't poke me with your weird appendages!" A snappy and agitated voice sounded through the area, drawing the gazes of everyone else, fascination spread over his face as he extending his index finger to poke at random places on the remnant shape. However the remnant jiggled angrily, "Keep your fingers off me, can't you see that I'm busy shaping myself!"

Jayson ceased his poking for a moment, taken aback by the outburst of the talking odd shape remnant, "Shaping yourself into what? An even odder form than this?"

Sarcasm filled his voice as the poking resumed, Faith watched on for a moment. Feeling as though she was watching a kid torment a slightly weaker kid, the odd shape remnant continued to jiggle angrily, "No, a version of you that doesn't have bad hair styles!" The retort came quickly as Annie and Kenny burst into laughter.

Jayson turning red from anger walked away from the odd shape remnant, muttering to himself, "This is a style that took days to perfect, I wouldn't expect you all to understand beauty" isolating himself a few meters behind Faith, he sat on the ground a dark cloud seeming to hang over him. As he settled himself, the odd remnant shape started to pulsate. As a harsh light surged from within it, rapidly spreading outward, so great was the intensity that even though he was faced away from the source, Jayson still had to cover his eyes to prevent himself from going blind.

Faith, Kenny, and Annie shielded theirs eyes as the light shone for an instant, fading as quickly as it came. Faith uncovered her eyes, looking towards the spot where the light was produced. No longer seeing the odd remnant piece, but a short yet long body covered with dark brown fur. A long pink tongue hanging out of its mouth, with a black nose that resembled a piece of a cars tire. A slightly wagging tail protruded. In every aspect they could only see a golden retriever where the odd remnant shape was, padding forward the newly formed dog sat before the group, "Hello, my name is Alan, a supreme tier familiar, consider yourselves lucky to have me."