Chapter 2

"Argent, I would like to ask some questions about how will be my performance monitored and rewarded?"

"We have extensive coverage of the territory you will be in by cameras and microphones. All aspects of your life will be observed and evaluated. Then we will analyze your performance and will reward you as we see fit."

"It's a bit too subjective to me. If it were a human's job sooner or later he would become bored with it and could ignore my achievements or start to manipulate the system for his entertainment."

"Hmmm. You are right it's possible something like that could happen if only one person would watch over you. That's why we use groups to conduct experiments."

"Why don't we use an AI to judge the game? If we give it clear parameters to operate with, it shouldn't have any problems. And I don't think it's emotions would interfere with it's objectiveness."

"You are right, it's the perfect solution. But we will have to make the reward system more logical so there can't be any tampering with it."

"How about we use some kind of credits as a basis for everything."

"Could you elaborate?"

"In the beginning I start with X credits. I can buy bodily improvements, knowledge, skills and equipment with it. Then when I'm on the ground and I do something interesting I get rewarded with credits. Anytime I need something I can just buy it with my credits or wait till I earned enough. Rewards and prices should reflect how hard it is to do our get something for me. For example: I get more credits for hunting a deer with a spear than with a gun, a ladder can cost 100 credits when I'm in a hole with no way out and 0.01 credits if I have a ladder factory."

"Alright, I think it's a workable idea. We will have to determine how will this exactly work while we are in transit."

"Okay. And please inform me before you change the rules. I would like to have veto power."

"I will think about it."

In the end the scientists running the experiment decided to accept my idea. One day Argent gave me a PDA that had a small program I could use to keep track of my credits, and a chat option to exchange them. There I could discuss with the AI the specifics of what I want.

My initial allotment was 300,000 credits. But I found I can't have enough.

My shopping list included:

- knowledge of the flora and fauna of my new world, what's edible, what's poisonous, what's good as medicine, how to recognize and find them: 10,000 credits

- basic trail skills (how to move silently in the woods, build fire, dispose of trash, build shelters, etc.): 5,000 credits

- trapping skills (how to make traps, where to put them, how often to check them, how long till a territory is depleted): 5,000 credits

- cooking and food preparation in a stone age society 5,000 credits

- how to use up as much as possible of my kills (skinning and tanning the leather, how to use tendons, bones, etc. to make everyday items) 5,000 credits

- a compact set of tools 20,000 credits

- an alien material crossbow (light, easy to cock, deadly up to 400 yards, easy storage) 5,000 credits

- 1000 carbon fiber bolts + 100 hunting heads + 50 practice heads 1,000 credits

- skill set to effectively use the crossbow 4,000 credits

- 2 Glock 17s in shoulder holsters, 1500 9 mm ammo, 20 spare clips and skill set to use it effectively (and to know when to use it) 10,000 credits

- an alien material tricycle (manpowered) with storage space for all my possessions (no upkeep, light, silent, super brakes, enough gears for all terrain, terrific shock absorbers) 10,000 credits

- medical skills (as good as the best doctors), limited medical supplies 30,000 credits

- knowledge of local languages and customs 5,000 credits

- healthy body with average strength, high speed, high endurance, good dexterity, immunity to diseases, high poison resistance, good reflexes, ability to multitask, ambidexterity 150,000 credits

- high endurance and easy to clean clothing for all weather 10,000 credits

- a guitar, strings, training to play the guitar, singing training, knowledge of a lot of songs (Elvis, blues, some classics, etc.) 5,000 credits

- knowledge on how to weave baskets and other items 10,000 credits

- a little food reserve, trading goods, misc. stuff 10,000 credits

I think in the early weeks I will trap or gather all my food. If I come too close to a predator I will try to kill it with the crossbow, the Glocks are for only self protection. If I meet a group of locals my medical skills should be enough to earn a place in their camp. Later I plan to learn how to build a log cabin. This should be enough for a start.