Chapter 111: Improved Limit
- Location
- france
- Pronouns
- He
[X] Enlarge my Invisibility Cloak
[X] Psychology
[X] Power
Power Roll: (270 points)
Roll D125=83
200 Improved Distance, 200 Improved Limit,0 Know Location (Already Gained)
Sub vote result: Improved Limit
Banked 70 Points
[X] Psychology
[X] Power
Power Roll: (270 points)
Roll D125=83
200 Improved Distance, 200 Improved Limit,
Sub vote result: Improved Limit
Banked 70 Points
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In the end, I settled on finishing my Invisibility Cloak, my new virtual engineering diploma didn't really help with that but finishing that project was important. It was a Stranger power that didn't rely on Bruce or Shadow and that I could lend to other people.
Speaking of Miss J, when we reached the end of lessons and when I gained the memory of the Mind that attend those lessons, I relived the whole time spent studying with her. Trying to analyze those memories was weird. I learned plenty during those three days of lessons, it was engaging and fun like nothing I ever experienced in school. But while I learned a lot it was far from enough to be considered an Engineer. However, when I tried to think of an engineering problem, like building an electrical engine, designing a water pump, drawing a schematic for a radio, or whatever. I could do it, the solution came to me easily, despite the fact that Miss J never even mentioned some of those concepts.
It was like the knowledge and the skill I learned were partially divorced from the content of the lessons. There was no real way to resolve that conundrum and trying would just mean wasting time. Still, it was concrete proof that Miss J's power wasn't just super teaching and was more along the lines of uploading information to the student's brain.
On the subject of Miss J, I also needed to decide what subject to study next. After some internal reflection, I settled on something completely different, Psychology. I'm sure that it would be invaluable in numerous situations from dealing with perps to helping my colleague or even myself. I would start my lessons tonight.
I got to work enlarging my invisibility cloak. It wasn't especially difficult now that I had two more days of materials, just a little tricky when it came to assembling everything with the bit I already made.
After finishing I spent some time experimenting with various materials at my disposition but got tired of it pretty quickly. So I decided that I need to relax some, I couldn't work all the time. Thankfully I grabbed some books from home last time I visited. I settled comfortably on my bed and spent some time enjoying the first volume of the Foundation series.
As I was reading the Menagerie gifted me with a giant snail, well giant for a snail. An Achatina was roughly the size of a dog. So I guessed that with Size Augmentation it could be used as a living barricade. The materials it provided were interesting, however, mainly the polymer but the chitin might be useful too.
When I finished the book I let out a satisfied sigh. It was exactly what I needed, a glimpse of the far future where humanity conquered the stars and flourished despite all the setbacks. Maybe one day I could contribute to such a thing with the help of the Celestial Menagerie, while I doubt it contains any skills linked to space exploration. Maybe some creatures possess such knowledge. Or maybe even a living spaceship, it wouldn't even surprise me anymore. It was a nice dream.
I caught a few hours of real sleep and woke up refreshed the next morning. Once I finished my breakfast, which I prepared myself for once, a good occasion to stretch my Chef skills, I did the paperwork that I neglected the day before, mainly my daily power report. Notably mentioning the time immunity granted by my Eldritch theme and the tests that I did with Clockblocker's help.
As noon came around I found myself riding Pegase, wearing bardings armor that appeared to be made from silver and gold, and patrolling the boardwalk. I was accompanying Armsmaster on his bike and Battery in a sidecar. Nothing happened so far, the calm from last night continued.
Colin gave Battery and me the latest news through our earbuds. We learned that Velocity was declared apt for action by the doctor. I voiced my doubt on the subject, while physically I was sure that he was fine, mentally it was another story if I believed what Miss Militia said yesterday.
"The Director approved and while I voice my own doubt, we need the manpower too much for me to oppose it."
His response didn't satisfy me and Battery also protested but we couldn't do anything about it.
Changing the subject he also said that Purity and her daughter left early this morning for New York in an unmarked car. She would be safe under Legend's protection. Her final destination was still undecided. The west coast was mentioned but nothing concrete yet.
During the conversation, I felt the Menagerie activating again and I left my Mind to analyze the new power while I listened to the words of my boss.
Feeling the excitement coming from them, when the discussion ended I turned my attention inward.
So?/It's Improved Limit again!/We can now have up to forty partners out at the same time!
I couldn't help but smile. That was indeed game-changing.
Just for info, that's the final limit. The Menagerie is clear on that point we can't gain it again./Yep, the only loophole would be gaining partners that function like Solar, which doesn't count against the limit./Shadow count if we ritually summon him, but that has its own drawback of course./And it opens so many options, we can have a lot of our smallest critters with us all the time, just for the boost to Strength of Many./And don't forget Relay and Anchored. We could leave Healer permanently at Brockton general under the effect of Anchored and Maintained. That could save so many lives!/It will need to wait for official approval and maybe consult Panacea, we don't want to steal her job. But I agree it's a good idea.
It was indeed an excellent idea. Healer wouldn't be able to heal everything, but for emergencies, it would be a godsend. For the moment I didn't change anything but when we finished this patrol I would update my loadout to reflect my new limit.
While I was still thinking about that development my earbud crackled to life.
"Console to Patrol. Arcadia's silent alarm was just triggered. We cannot reach anyone there. You are to investigate immediately. Over."
Those words send a jolt of adrenaline into my body. Would the Empire dare attack a school? Or was it something else?
"Armsmaster to Console, we're on our way. Over. Compendium you're the fastest, I want you to scout the situation but do not intervene unless you have my say so. We're right behind you."
Pegase respond to my intention the instant I formulate the thought and we rocketed away. However, before we could move more than a hundred meters. Our earbuds activate again, and I stopped, the voice on the other end sounds now much more frazzled. "Patrol we have a second alert. Brockton General, Empire's members were seen blocking the entrance. We're send…"
He was interrupted by bursts of gunfire coming from multiple places simultaneously.
"Console, what was that?"
Colin's voice was grim.
"I don't know, let me check, wait I have something. Just received an alert from the Police Station and Town Hall. They're under attack. We need to…BOOM!!!"
An explosion resonated through our earbud cutting him off. Turning my head I saw a column of smoke rising a few streets over in the direction of the HQ.
"Console! Console respond!" No response came. Panic was starting to build up in me but also all around. Civilians were running to hide in the nearest building they could find. Sporadic bursts of gunfire continue to resonate from multiple points in town.
Battery voiced what we were all thinking. "HQ is under attack too."
"Obviously!" Collin's curt response sounds angry. "The Empire is attacking on multiple fronts at the same time. Change of plan we need to split up. Compendium you're going to…"
[] Arcadia
[] Brockton General
[] Police Station
[] Town Hall
[] PRT HQ
Wordcount: 1334
Excess word: 560
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That's it we reached the climax, don't know how many chapters it will take but this is the end of the Empire arc.
Important note: The next story post will be an interlude, not a normal chapter. I'm not a fan of interludes but I feel that this one is justified.
For the roll, 190 points.
[] Creature
[] Power
Voting will be closed Monday at 3 PM GMT
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