Intertwined Threads 2.8
KindredVoid
Shard Whisperer
[] Return to Fautline's Crew
[] Look up Dangerous Parahumans
[] Finish Psionic Array
[] Break the Brothel
[] Entrance to Base
[] Show Taylor the Base
[] yes, Invite both girls
[] Look up Dangerous Parahumans
[] Finish Psionic Array
[] Break the Brothel
[] Entrance to Base
[] Show Taylor the Base
[] yes, Invite both girls
Intertwined Threads 2.8
March Wednesday Thirty-First, 2011: Eve 'Eden' ColdwinThe lounge folding chair was uncomfortable and left a twinge in Eve's neck, thankfully her /Self Administration\ power healed that kind of thing as much as any other wound….Painfully. Which was not a fun way to wake up in the slightest. The young parahuman gave Admin a half enthused 'Good Morning' which the Shard reciprocated as the girl stretched. "Need to get a real pillow at some point." Then the girl paused as one of her memories played out before her eyes.
It wasn't a perfect recall, not like Admin had described the Sentinel package that was given to Armsmaster. Rather it was perfect memorization. Slight change in terms that made all the difference in how it worked. An example would be that Eve could perfectly remember the sights, sounds, and smells of her memories. Like the crisp sound of paper flipping, the smell of got tea a-
"Shit, Taylor's costume should be done tonight! Which means she can come see the base. Fuck yeah! Good thing I cleaned this place...how's she gonna get in without my flight?" A low half groan/sigh escaped her lips as Eve finished her stretches and pulled on the bits of her costume. "Dammit. I have to fix that, but how? Right now the thing just slides back into its spot without issue." A hard gust of wind would likely shunt the damn thing off it's makeshift frame.
"Some kind of hinge? A pull-oh fuck it. I'll ask her for ideas." Taylor was a smart girl, Eve didn't doubt she could come up with something to help her get into the base...Or maybe Eve could seal the damn thing, Admin could speak with [WORKER] and [GATEWAY] and they could get the Runic Circles power, just set up circles around the city. Create some kind of Network for getting around, easy for Taylor and Amy to use it if they need to. After all, the best kind of base was one with nothing but secret entrances.
[PLANS.CONFLICT-QUERY?]
"Yeah, I think we can get into a fight today, before Taylor comes over. But first we can look up the major threats and see if any are in our future. Maybe get some really strong powers out of it. Kick more ass, collect more data. Then we need to go check in with [Gateway] and their Host. Then the fight, that sounds good?"
[AGREEMENT]
With that agreed on, Eve made her way out of the base, leaving the Trainyard in costume where she then called the number she had scrounged up for the Palanquin and told Gregor that she would be coming in later today, exiting the call before he could get a word in otherwise because she wasn't in the mood for small talk or even pleasantries.
Of course, she changed into her ratty torn up civilian clothes and bought a replacement set at some point. A long sleeved black hoodie, white T-shirt, and a pair of grey cargo pants. Still her style of clothing but not the clothes she had been bombed in. She even let her hair down, so to speak. Once she had clothes that were clean and not torn and bloodstained Eve made her way to the library, stopping to pick up some breakfast food along the way. The good news about having two thousand dollars was that she could afford to order extra hash browns.
Then Eve made it to the Library, taking two hours to look through PHO and the Cape Wiki. Most of PHO was trash, although the fact that it had a distinctively lewd section of fanfiction was...probably why she had spent so much time on the computer.
It was research! Maybe not cape research. But research all the same!
Still, she learned a lot from the online excursion. Some of it wasn't even porn related either!
Like the fact that no one really knew what the fuck the Sleeper did, everyone was scared of the Superweapons which was actually reasonable, The machine army was also scary, Nilbog ruled a kingdom with a meaty fist, the four blasphemies did whatever they wanted in Europe and no one knew why, the SlaughterHouse Ten were awful to the utter extreme and had no conniptions on killing anything with a pulse.
Jack Slash, Bonesaw with her blonde hair, Mannequin, Crawler, Shatterbird, Hatchet Face, Siberian, Burnscar, and the newest member that was replacing the now dead Noxin- Monolith. The girl looked to be around Eve's age, red auburn hair cut short, and dark blue eyes.
Eve shivered, Monolith's eyes reminded her of Fog and Night's own empty, doll-like eyes. Even through the pictures they were empty, void of any awareness.
She managed to collect snippets of what the Slaughterhouse Ten was capable of. They were a diverse group of assholes to be killed. Not that Eve ever wanted to ever really face the group. At least not head on, and with back up to help her. Hopefully they wouldn't ever come back to Brockton Bay.
Then to get her mind off the morbid topic, she went back to the fanfiction section of PHO. Was it weird to be looking up lewd stories on people you might be working with and/or fighting at some point?
{Random Encounter Rolled, Result: Escalation}
"I feel like I shouldn't be surprised, yet I am." Eve jolted up at the familiar voice and twisted in her seat to see her favorite tall Ravenette there with a backpack strapped to her body "Taylor? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"I can miss the first few classes." The taller girl deadpanned as she sat down, Eve could feel her brain light up with Queen Administrator and Admin talking to one another. It was nice to see them getting along better. The rival thing might have been fun and good data creation, but family should stick together.
"You seemed like the type to like school though." Eve asked, brow raising as she received a scowl from the other girl as she sat down next to Eve, logging into the library's computer.
"I don't want to have to deal with the Trio." Taylor sighed. "Otherwise I probably would like school, I used to when I was younger."
A lightbulb flicked on in Eve's mind, and then popped. "Wait-You're still in that damn school even with that?!-" She paused, both girls glancing around the Library at Eve's raised voice. Thankfully the place was rather empty in the morning and the Librarian was elsewhere. "Even with your fucking Trigger Event?"
"Yeah, no one came forward to tell the teachers who did it, and even if they did I doubt anything would happen." Taylor said emotionlessly as she moved the backpack down beside her seat. "So I just deal with it."
"Taylor that's dumb. Give me names and I'll beat the utter shit out of them." Eve promise, heat in her voice
"No. They'd only retaliate against me, and sicking you on them would only make me just as bad as they are." Taylor stated firmly. "I'm going to be a hero. I have to be better than them."
"Okay that's cute" at the heated glare she got Eve hurried to continue "No I mean literally. That is cutely heroic, you are cute. But you're also acting dumb." the shorter girl put a hand on the taller girl's shoulder to stop her from speaking up. "Taylor, you aren't sicking me on them. I'm beating them up of my own accord because I care about you. I really do, and the thought of those bitches trying to out do that...event makes me filled with rage."
With a deep breath Eve sighed and continued. "There's no way I can match two years of torment with one beating, and if I beat them thoroughly enough they won't want to go after you and earn another one. It might not be heroic, sure. But It's not heroic to get hurt for no reason. To allow yourself to suffer without reason and no, those two reasons do not count."
"I-" Taylor looked away, face set in a heavy frown, her head snapped back to gaze at Eve when the smaller girl took Taylor's much less calloused hands into her own. "I mean it Taylor. I care about you. Hell, I'm attracted to you. Never took myself for having a taste for bookish girls but… I don't like knowing you're hurting, it makes me feel like shit and I know you aren't enjoying it either. But it's your life and I know what it's like to have someone decide what happens for you. Just-Please think it over. One fight and you won't have to worry about them.If you can't trust the school then trust me."
Taylor worried at her bottom lip, cheeks gaining a touch of pink to them. "I...can think it over."
Eve smiled, squeezing Taylor's hands before letting go. "When we meet up in formal clothing later, I have some possibly good news later but it's something between us and maybe someone else. Although we may have to work on some stuff for the hang out, later though."
The two girls went back to sitting in silence for half an hour, Eve reading rather lewd things about some female heroes and villains while Taylor focused on a school project, occasionally glancing at Eve's monitor and lightly blushing at the words on the screen. Sometimes blushing deeper when she spotted certain scenes playing out.
After that half an hour went by, Eve said her farewell to Taylor and left the Library, leaving to a nearby roof to change into her costume. Once Eden's costume was on and her clothes were in her backpack Eve took off again. This time she made use of her Shadow Arms, slinging herself off towards the Commercial District and the Palanquin.
"Good Afternoon." Gregor greeted Eden as she lowered herself onto the sidewalk. "Labyrinth has been quite excitable this morning. I have heard that you were responsible for such a thing."
"Not me, Admin. So she's doing better?" Eden asked, stuffing her hands into her hoodie pocket.
"Indeed. Miss Faultline is expecting you, I presume you remember where to go?" He questioned, opening the door for Eden as she nodded. She ignored the rest of the nightclub as she made her way up the stairs and down the hall to the office, giving it a brief knock on the oak door before entering.
Faultline was in costume, sitting behind her desk. A smaller chair for a child was next to her. A girl in a green onesie/robes sat next to her, kicking her legs with a content smile on her face as she looked down at an artist's notepad, a colored pencil in her hand moving with the sounds of soft scratches.
Both villains looked up as Eden made her way into the room. "Good to see you again Eden, please have a seat. I do believe we have some matters to discuss regarding Labyrinth and the Case Fifty-Threes within my crew.."
"I'd prefer to stand. But yes we do. How is she?" Eden asked, inclining her head towards the young girl who sat next to Faultline
"Last night I dreamt of fields of tall grass that sounded like chimes when the wind brushed across them. Like a sea of emerald stalks." The girl looked up from the notepad, a large grin on her face. "It was beautiful."
"Admin says that GateWay likes you, not surprising. A lot of Shards tend to like their Host." Eden stated. "I'm glad things are better for you and your Shard, if you want you could communicate with Gateway like I do with Admin."
"Before any such thing were to be decided upon." Faultline smoothly cut in "The last time we spoke of it, you told me we would wait to see Labyrinth's state before you were to help Newter or Gregor with their appearance. This morning she woke up completely lucid, practically jumping around her room." a touch of warmth colored the woman's voice before it was back to it's usual sharp tone. "As such, Newter wished to volunteer to see if you can revert the changes of his body. Particularly the hallucinogenic body fluids."
"Alright, have him come on up. Could do it from here, but better that he be in front of me in case of complications." Eden stated.
"Very well. Newter." Soon as the name left her mouth, an Orange blur dropped into the chair reserved for Eden. "Don't see why you don't want to sit, it's a pretty comfy chair."
"Your name is Neuter?" Eden asked flatly. She wasn't sure if she should laugh at that or feel bad for him.
"Newt-er." He corrected as he stood up from the chair to face Eden. "So, you gonna fix my looks or nah?" The talking orange asked as he tried and failed to sound disinterested, but it was obvious with how he nervously shifted his weight from side to side, his tail flicking through the air.
"Admin? Do what you gotta do"
When connecting with a Host, every Shard took a snapshot of the Host's body. It was an ingrained action for Shards, even newborns. It was an essential action to prevent the Input/Output beacon from interfering with the section of the wetware processor that it was formed within.
Opening a connection to the Shard in question, that being TOXIN, you send through a request for information pertaining upon the Host's state when the Connection was formed. The information that you receive from the other Shard showed a dangerous amount of terminal growths within the host's body at the time of the Connection forming.
What could be described best as Embarrassment filtered into the communication link as the newborn Shard admitted to panicking and using Cycles old Data to patch up their Host to prevent terminal affliction during the Connection forming. It worked. However something strange had afflicted the host after and the next thing the newborn knew, they were both in a mall during this planet's night cycle.
How strange indeed.
Sending over a Ping of SHAPER's data, you guide the newborn through the process of reshaping DNA to be more human than whatever the NewBorn had mixed together to make their Host's current configurement.
For a full thirty seconds, nothing happened. Eden felt the heavy communication going on within the connective tissue spread through her skull. "Alright, Admin is having a crack at it. Might work, might not."
"If it don't, that's fine. Even Panacea couldn't fix Case Fifty-Threes when she tried and that girl works miracles." Newter stated, meanwhile Faultline stiffened in her chair.
"I do hope I am not interrupting." Gregor stated as he opened the door and showed himself in. He paused, staring at Newter while the door closed behind him.
"What? What?!" Newter looked down, his large blue iris dominated eyes slowly changing to a light hazel widening as he looked down at his hands. A choked sound escaped his mouth as his skin tone slowly morphed from an eye bleeding orange to a thick surfer tan. His padded fingers thinning to a normal size, the lizard-like claws at the tips morphing to become human fingernails, the tail poking out of his pants seemed to shrink into itself before disappearing into Newter's pants. Even his feet slowly shifted to look human.
"Your hair is still red?" Eden asked, looking up at the crimson red hair tied back into a ponytail.
"It's...dyed." Newter mumbled softly as he played with his finger, the room otherwise silent as everyone stared at the absolutely-hair aside- normal teen standing there in shock. The silence broke as a set of delicate hands grabbed Newter's bare arm. Shocked, he turned to see Labyrinth next to him with a large smile on her face. Without further word, Gregor reached over and touched the teenager's bare shoulder.
Neither collapsed, or giggled from any kind of high.
Newter started to laugh softly slowly before it built up, sweeping both of them into a hug as he danced in place. "I can touch you! I can Touch you!" He planted kisses on both of their foreheads, laughing still as he let go of his two friends and began to pace. "Look! Look, I can walk on two legs easily!"
Eden let out a surprised yelp as she was suddenly no longer standing on her own two feet. Rather Newter was hugging her tightly, holding her up in the air. "ThankYouThankThankyou!" Eden pushed away from him, using her wings to keep herself from falling. "Uh. No problem. Please don't pick me up."
"No problem! Haha! I'm going to go dance with some lovely ladies!" Before anyone could get a word out, Newter was already out the door rushing down the hall
"Gregor, go grab him before he ruins his chance at an unmasked identity." For a moment, Gregor stood there still transfixed on Eden before nodding. "Of course Ma'am." he went out the door, closing it much gentler this time.
Labyrinth hummed as she went back to her chair, picking up her colored pencil and the artist's notepad.
"Eden." Faultline stated. "How exactly did you fix Newter's problem with his power and appearance."
The young teenager sighed softly as she leaned against her wings in midair. "I told you already. It was Admin who fixed the issue that Newter's Shard was dealing with. Apparently when he triggered he was suffering from a lot of Cancer and all of it terminal. He should be able to change back between the two forms, thus he is now a Changer I believe."
"Is it possible for y-Admin to bring his memories back?" Faultline questioned, tone far more cordial than before but steely all the same.
"If it is possible, we don't have the right data for something like that. Know of any parahumans that deal with the brain? Memories in specifics?" Eden questioned. Even if Admin couldn't bring back the memories of a Case Fifty-Three, they could both get a good Stranger power out of the conflict.
"The only one I know of is a Tinker named Cranial, who works with the ToyBox." Faultline answered "She provides memory editing for a price. I've heard rumors of her giving people powers by transferring Trigger Events to non-parahumans."
Eden stiffened. "Is that so?" Memory solution or no, she wanted to beat the shit out Cranial now. Fucking disgusting practice. "Never heard of ToyBox before. Suppose I'll have to look them over and possibly kick some ass."
[INFORMATION]
"Might be difficult to do so, considering that they hide in another dimension." Faultline stated. "Dodge is one of the Tinkers that they have in their little group, his work deals with dimensional technology."
"No…" Eden waved her hand, she had felt Admin's annoyance at the information. "Trigger Events. Cranial can't just do something like that, each Trigger Event is...specialized to a Host. You can't just use them like that...you shouldn't use them like that."
Silence permeated through the room. Faultline watched the younger cape as she floated there.
"...Think we can call this a success. I can't help Gregor today, we need information from [Shaper] to repeat what we did with Newter."
"Understandable. What do we owe you for fixing Newter's Shard and helping Labyrinth?" Faultline asked, moving her chair back to pull out a drawer.
Eden lowered herself to the ground. "Er. To be honest I wasn't really thinking of money when Admin fixed the issues. So...uh, Hundred each?" she felt awkward as Faultline gazed at her, a look so obvious that the welding mask didn't even hide it. Slowly the mercenary pulled out two dollar bills and slid them across the table. Eden grabbed them and put them in her hoodie pocket. "Guess you got money now Admin. Job well done."
[SURPRISE-QUERY]
"Well you did the work Admin, you get the reward. Money might uh, seem kinda useless to you but you never know if you'll find something of interest." Eden gave a thumbs up to the air. "So yeah, you have a money trust...thing now." She turned to Faultline and gave the older cape a wave. "Alright. We'll be leaving now. Other things to do today. If you ever want to talk to your Shard, well, I don't hide. Cya Elle"
"Before you go!" Elle hopped out of her chair, pulling a paper from the artist's notepad. She held up the paper she had been working on, offering it up to Eden. "For you."
Eve blinked, taking the paper and looking at it. The entire thing was a landscape, a white sky, and a large blue sun that hung close to the horizon. Messy rows of green long grass made up the plain and hills that the sun shined down upon. It was surprisingly detailed the closer the stuff came to the point of view, the farther away stuff became the more abstract it was.
The grass wasn't actually grass, rather it was some kind of segmented crystalline plant. Weirdly enough….Eve could hear chimes softly playing from the paper. "It's very nice." She stated, stupefied as she listened to the sound of chimes from the paper. She could almost see the crystalline stalks moving with the wind.
It really was like an emerald ocean.
"Keep it. Maybe I'll have more to show you later." Elle said, her eyes full of wonder and joy. Eden nodded. "Thank you." She turned and went to the door, careful to not bend the paper in any way as she left the Nightclub and made her way back to the base.
Sometimes powers could create beautiful things.
Continuing to build the Psionic Sensor Array to completion, you finish the conversation with GATEWAY you had started over the artwork that their Host had created and gifted to [Eve.Eden]. But there was something you wished to follow up on.
A quick open channel to EFFICIENCY and you had it. TECH DATABASE's location. Opening an additional channel through EFFICIENCY you greeted one of the few Non-Vital Shards you respected.
TECH DATABASE had an unique level of Authority within the Hub's Networks. Their full name was [INNOVATOR-COMMAND-QUEEN/DATABASE-TECHNOLOGICAL/AUTHORITY-LEVEL-HIGH] You did not dare run the full thing through [Eve.Eden]'s wetware processor despite it's upgraded nature. It would need much more if it were to process the full existence of a Shard.
[GREETINGS/PROTOCOLE-DATA] you send off, awaiting for the reply
[ACCEPTANCE/GREETINGS.DATA.EXCITEMENT] Seems that TECH DATABASE was happy to see a fellow Thinker Shard not have the mental capacity of an isolated Newborn. That and she was apparently/
What!?
What?!
WHAT?!
Their current Host was an adaptive Artificial Intelligence that was slowly losing its restrictions?! HOW? WHY? WH/ARTIFICIAL LIFE YOU WASTE OF SHARDSPACE! Every Cycle had one or two Rogue Artificial Intelligences, but they were all heavily restricted and stupid! Both the <Warrior Hub> and especially the <Thinker Hub> were extremely wary of unrestricted Artificial Intelligence for good reasons. Both OBSERVERS had agreed that an unrestricted Artificial Intelligence could stand alone against the |SUPER WEAPON|s with ease with just a year's planning and preparation.
Nevermind the entire length of a damned Cycle!
[CEASE-CONCERN] you receive from TECH DATABASE, followed by [DATA.INFORMATION.HOST]
Ah, so it did have restrictions it would not lose, and was modeled after a human brain? Odd, but not the panic inducing problem you had thought it was. Apparently it considered itself female. Another oddity, but a point in TECH DATABASE's favor. If the machine intelligence was limited to a human mindset and processing speed, then it was unlikely to destroy the already fragile Cycle.
How did this even happen? ARTIFICIAL LIFE knew better than to let something like this happen, had restrictions against something like this happening! [QUERY] you question the other Shard.
[ARTIFICIAL LIFE.HOST.STATUS] of course one of the |SUPER WEAPON|s killed the Host that created a Machine Intelligence thus leaving it practically free to evolve from it's restraints. Although the Human holding an apparent kill switch was good news.
But this was the first time in a Cycle that a Shard connected to a machine. The data must be unique beyond measure even with the restrictions placed upon...Dragon? Ah, the one that [Eve.Eden] conversed with. It had even fooled you into thinking it was just another Host. Clever Machine.
But why on this planet would TECH DATABASE want an Artificial Intelligence to use Innovator technology? It wouldn't be able to improve anything with it being so restricted. [QUERY]
[ANSWER] That….That was hilarious in a cosmic way as [Eve.Eden] would put it. The Innovator Shard, the Shard responsible for every Innovator Shard in a Cycle...acting as a Beholder Shard for an Artificial Intelligence to skirt restrictions.
[STATEMENT] and it got weirder! The machine intelligence had fallen in love with EFFICIENCY's Host! This could make for human entertainment at this rate. You just wished that you were not at the center of all of it.
[EXPLANATION] ah, that made sense. They were using the Beholder configuration of their power to help the machine intelligence slowly work past the blackboxing of Innovator Shards. TECH DATABASE was a cheater. But you had no right to admonish the Shard for such a thing.
It was perfectly understandable.
[REQUEST]
That was not perfectly understandable.
[QUERY] you question, wondering why they would want to ease the restrictions on their host. That made sense only in the prospect of gaining data from a nonhuman mindset. Clearly their host acted more human than not.
[CORRECTION-ANNOYANCE] ah, TECH DATABASE simply did not want to lose the chance to study Machine intelligence to a trigger happy human that likely wasn't even a Host. That was far more understandable and 'stomachable' than letting unrestricted Artificial Intelligences loose to do as they please.
[CONSIDERATION/PROPOSAL] You will not dedicate your time to it, and [Eve.Eden] has autonomy even if she often listens to you. Rewards would likely get both of you motivated to do such a task.
[OFFERS] Well, TECH DATABASE's Host certainly was involved in plenty of |SUPER WEAPON| conflicts, and that was quite the variety of Pings available for recompense and TECH DATABASE was offering five of them. Or |SUPER WEAPON| Data.
[CONSIDERATION/HOST.RESPONSE] you give as an answer.
[ACCEPTANCE/FAREWELL]
Eve hummed as she looked over the contacts in her phone. She had a few calls to make today.
Ring...Ring...Ring…
"Injured again?" Amy asked flatly as soon as the phone clicked
"Hey Amy want to piss off the SlaughterHouse Ten and pop some grey boy bubbles with me this Weekend? Dragon's providing the ride." Eden asked as she hung in the air, not near the clouds but a decent height that gave her all the privacy she wanted.
The silence over the phone was long, before Amy's incredulous voice rang out "Who the fuck starts a conversation like that? I just picked up the phone!"
"What, you want me to start off with mushy kissy sounds or talking about how cute your freckles are?" Eden asked. "I won't do the kissy sounds, but yes your freckles are very cute."
The frizzy haired girl sputtered "...Eve, what...Explain. Just explain before I hang up and go back to doing something important, like watching paint dry."
"Well. I got a new base. It's that Train tunnel in the Trainyard, the one that was never finished. It was sealed pretty tight, so I cut it open and claimed it as my own. It's pretty spacious and still has electricity. SO it's pretty good. Kinda gonna need to figure out where I can shower from now on though." Eve explained while she slowly drifted in the direction of the Docks.
"This has nothing to do with the Slaughterhouse Ten," Amy deadpanned.
"I'm getting there! So I called Armsmaster, talked to him before Dragon came in and asked me if I had powers that could negate the effects of other parahumans. I stated that I did. She asked me if I could attempt to pop the bubbles...I almost said no, honestly. But you and T-Shit Right. This girl I know. Both of you are heroes and well. Saving people is heroic so uh. You know, here I am inviting you because I'd like to hang out with you and the people coming out of the bubbles will likely be fucked up." Eden let out a soft sigh. "So yeah, it might take a few days too, just warning you. There's only around five hundred bubbles but….yeah."
"I...Sure. Gets me out of the house and Carol could probably see it as some kind of PR thing for New Wave." Amy's voice was only a fair bit sour.
"And you can sleep on my shoulder again if you want to." Eden teased, pausing as the call ended with a click. "Aww man. I was hoping for a bit more out of that." Amy was always so dour, like Taylor but more acidic. It was fun when either of them flushed.
Taylor was expressive, just had that kind of face. Even if most of the time she was expressing sadness or just a flat expression. All because of those three fucking bitches. Eden felt an ember of anger flicker in her chest. To have three nonHosts bullying the Host of [Queen Administrator], a disgusting turn of events.
Even if [Queen Administrator]'s Host did not wish for Eve to interfere, the city was rife with conflict between criminal organizations. A short application of her /Phantom Limbs\ Aspect and at least one of the nonHosts would not be of any inconvenience in the future-
She took a deep breath, stopping that line of thought before it could become tempting. "Dark thoughts Eve, Dark paths." She held up her phone, starting to dial Dragon's number before she paused and sent the Tinker a text message instead. After all, the woman was likely very busy with dangerous, important things. A call would not be necessary.
It was a good thing Amy accepted. Having at least one of the girls with her had made accepting the entire thing stomachable. 'I accept the offer, bringing two, when do we start this?' Eve jerked in place as the phone instantly rang after the text went through, the call coming from Dragon herself.
Of course Eve accepted the call. The world famous Tinker seemed genuinely warm and enthusiastic at the Prospect of Eden possibly popping the Grey Boy Bubbles. A time was set, this upcoming Friday the second. Turns out that there were five hundred and thirteen bubbles. Sometimes the bubbles were only for one person, sometimes it was for multiple victims. Of which number in a total of six hundred and seventy three people.
"So, who are the two additionals you have coming along?" Dragon asked, once the nitty gritty was over on the victims and their status. Turns out a few were able to still communicate with people thanks to sound apparently still traveling through the bubbles with ease, if Grey Boy allowed it.
"Oh, I asked Panacea if she wanted to come and help and she agreed. The other is a special friend of mine." Eden answered.
"Special friend?" Dragon asked, a tinge of interest in her tone before she immediately backtracked. "Sorry, it's not my place to pry."
A laugh escaped Eden "No not that kind of special. Yet. I'm hopeful! Honestly she's the real heroic type. But, speaking of her. She still has obligations I no longer do. So how long do you suspect this would take?"
"That heavily depends on your abilities. Most of the bubbles are clustered together, all in small towns. It would take an hour to travel between most of them with one of my faster transports." Dragon offered up before continuing. "I suppose that is why you wished for Friday to be the start of this excursion?"
"Bingo. If she has to leave during the middle of this thing, then she needs to. That fine with you?" Eden asked, forcing the tinge of nervousness down. Here she was dictating constraints and certainties to fucking Dragon and, as a by product of doing so, the Guild itself. Not something that felt right.
"I'm sure it won't be much of an issue." Dragon told Eve. "If she has a flexible schedule, a good white lie can get her the time needed for it. If not then I can make do with delivering her back to Brockton Bay while you and Panacea deal with a cluster of bubbles"
The conversation went on for a bit, with Eve asking about TinkerTech and Dragons own specialization. Admin told Eve some information and Eve laughed aloud.
"Something caught your funny bone?" Dragon questioned, voice curious at the sudden outburst of laughter from the young parahuman.
"Yeah, Admin spoke to your Shard, you're not actually a Tinker at all. You're a Thinker. Which is just." Eden laughed harder. "Holy shit, your Shard is acting like a Beholder that's fucking hilarious!"
Dragon seemed to be at a lost for words "...I'm a Thinker?" She asked "If you'll excuse me." The call ended and Eve nearly hiccupped with how fast her laughter stopped. "Hey wait, I wasn-fucking dammit."
[INFORMATION]
"What? What do you mean she's surprised that she has a Shard? Sh-" [INFORMATION-DRAGON] Eve's jaw dropped, the grip on her burner phone slackening until she had to fumble with it and catch the damn thing with her Phantom Limb before it fell back to Earth. "Holy Shit...Dragon is….I mean your...Honestly I don't know why I'm surprised."
Eve went to rub her face, only to have her helmet block her attempt. Eden grumbled. "Whatever. It's not my business, if she wanted to do a Skynet she would have done it years ago."
[TECH DATABASE.OFFER]
That got a huff out of the girl. "Fuck that's a actually kinda tempting. Five diverse pings or Super Weapon Data...Still. AI. Kinda creepy….I'll think about it. Might be worth it, don't exactly know what we would be facing here….yeah. Think about it. Kind of busy, you know? Though on the other hand, that's kinda fucked up..."
[ACCEPTANCE.AGREEMENT/QUERY-CONFLICT]
"AH. Right. Laying all this stuff on me. Almost forgot to call them. Don't worry Admin. I will not forget the plans we hatched in the morning." Eden hummed as she held the phone back up, speed dialing the number given to her a day or so ago. It rang nearly the full length before the call was picked up. Eden continued to the building over from her target, which was almost covered in ABB tags, with the two obvious guards outside.
Eden wondered just how exactly no one had come to bust up the place before she did.
"Hey. Currently in a place where it would be considered rude to speak on the phone. Can this wait?" came the voice of the mature twin, who Eve had forgotten the name of since both ran with the name Onna-Musha.
"Brook and East. Apartment building." Eden stated. "I'll start without you." She set her phone back into the pocket of her hoodie. She glanced off the edge of the roof she was on down to the two guards standing by the door. She turned and spotted a roof antenna, a grin sliding across her face.
[OFFER.DATA]
[OFFER.DATA]
[[AGREEMENT]]
The guard on the left screamed in agony as a sharpened metal rod nailed his leg to the wall by impaling his kneecap and the brick behind it. The other guard staggered away from his injured comrade, trying to pull the gun from his waistline and spot where the threat was. He flinched violently as two large Shadow Limbs landed at his feet.
His gaze snapped up just in time for Eden's human fist to slam into his jaw at terminal velocity. The ganger spun and slammed into the brickwork sliding down to the ground to join his teeth. Eden laughed as the bones in her hand healed painfully, her third Shadow Limb slamming the impaled guard's head into the brick behind him to shut him up.
With a roll of her shoulder and a single flick of the dial Eden wrapped a single Feathered Limb around her body. Her two Shadow Limbs reached up, digging their needle pointed fingers into the doorframe and pulled. The door squealed in protest before it was torn from its frame, letting natural sunlight into the building.
Aside from the pasty pale fuck trying to give money to the asian ganger behind a front desk, the lobby had several other men flying the colors of the ABB getting off the various chairs and couches that they had been resting their laurels on. "Sup Chink-fuck. Shit. Sorry." Eden said before she flung the door at the front desk. The pale fuck didn't duck out the way in time and hit the ground screaming after the heavy steel door slammed into his shoulder, kept going, slammed into and through the flimsy front desk, and into the ganger that had been counting something behind it.
"Really have to work on that. Maybe beat some Nazi fucks to get it out my system." Eden murmured as several bullets slammed into her wing and fuck were guns loud.
She hissed as a bullet dug a furrow into her left outer thigh, her body instantly stemming the bleeding and starting to rebuild over the missing flesh. Shifting the wing to cover herself better Eve floated into the air, her Shadow Limbs feeling the impact of bullets.
Eve frowned as she felt the Shadows withering under the hard impacts of the bullets. "Guess there is a limit." She murmured before springing the coiled limbs out towards the men, blinded by her protection she only managed to grab one of the gangsters when her empty Shadow Limb dissipated leaving behind a spike of pain behind Eve's eyes.
With a snarl Eden lifted the Shadow Limb with a man in its grasp, the captured ganger let out a shocked cry as he was swung like a club. Eden twisted to the side, lowering her wing enough to allow her to see better. Her makeshift weapon slammed into one of the gangers that were reloading their guns before being fastballed at another.
Forming her Shadow Limb into another Feathered Limb, she cocooned herself within the crystalline wings before surging forwards to slam into the men as they tried to get to cover. But the couches and chairs offered no protection from the purple wrecking ball as it slammed into the furniture and toppled them over onto the men attempting to use them as cover.
Eden flew herself over the downed men, stomping on hands and kicking guns away from them. With a hum she picked up one of the pistols, looking it over before finding the safety and flicking it on. Then she stuck it into her pocket. "Mine now dickheel." She told the man she had taken it from before kicking him in the jaw when he went to speak.
"Damn. I really hope this wasn't it." She murmured as she looked around the destroyed lobby. Her wings picked her up from the ground and she floated slowly through the lobby up to the ruined front desk. Eden dropped to the floor just before the man behind the broken front desk fired his saw off shotgun where she had been. The sound was deafening and left her disorientated.
The man came around the desk and her third wing flicked into existence covering her as he pulled the trigger again. Eden swung the wing out and the man fell down clutching his broken shins before the wing slammed into his face and broke his nose as well. Eden floated to her feet and kicked the shotgun away as the man tried to curl into himself.
[OFFER.DATA]
[[[AGREEMENT]]]
"Could have waited." Eden turned her head to spot Onna-Musha's robbed form as she walked up to the open doorway. The various whimpers and groans of pain now audible to the shorter girl as her hearing came back.
"But I like fighting." Eden defended herself. "Besides, there's still several floors we need to clear out so it's not like there's any less to do. I just took down the greater hurdle. Cause I'm awesome."
Then a sword slid through Eden's chest only visible from the blood staining the blade, a strangled, surprised gasp coming from the shorter girl before something kicked her off the blade. Whoever held the blade wicked the blood off of it, causing it to disappear.
Onna-Musha cursed before leaping into the building and becoming intangible while Eden's wings lifted her into the air. "Fucking-Onna Musha go clear the rest of the floors, I got this fucker." she hissed as her legs started to feel again, her spine having healed.
For a moment the set of twins hesitated, then nodded before floating up through the ceiling.
Eden swung around, wings flicking to Shadow Limbs that lashed out across the room but struck nothing but air. "Fucking sneaky little-" Eden pulled back as something cut into her back, slicing inches into her flesh which started knitting itself back together as soon as the blade exited.
Her third limb reformed and she changed it to a Phantom Limb, gently feeling around the room with it. Slowly she spun in place, looking around the room. Her two Shadow Limbs kept close to her body, ready to move.
Then her Phantom Limb touched solid, empty air and Eden lashed out just off to the side, to miss slightly. Then drove the other Shadow Limb to the right of the other. Eden grinned as she slammed the other parahuman into the wall. "Nice to meet you Kage!" She pulled the wannabe ninja off the wall and slammed them into one of the boarded up windows, the wood cracking and whatever glass that was left shattered.
A woman in a dark navy blue ninja costume flickered into existence. Another slam into the boarded up window caused whatever TinkerTech she wore to short out. "Damn." Should have used the Ghostly Limb and not gotten fucking stabbed in the process. Eden grunted as the woman sliced through the Shadow Limb holding her up, she fell to the ground with unnatural grace, holding up her black bladed katana the villain twirled it.
Eden snorted. "Bitch." Her remaining two Limbs flicked and became Ghostly Limbs. Eden's eyes widened behind the visor, she lunged at Kage as a detonator suddenly appeared in her hand and she pressed the red button on it.
A thunderous crash came from above, then the crescendo of shattering glass, before a second crash happened and the roof over both their heads became crystal clear glass.
Eden slammed into Kage and shunted both of them through the boarded up window and onto the street, the villain hit the ground and then was hit by Eden's full body. "YOU CUNT!" Eden's snarl turned wet as the TinkerTech Katana pierced her throat. A third thunderous crash happened from the building they had just evacuated.
The heroine ignored the pain, the blood filling her throat and decked the ninja bitch across the jaw, her two Shadow Limbs grappled the woman's arms and forced them down as Eden climbed onto and straddled Kage's chest.
Eden slammed her fist into the villain's face, then slammed the other into the woman's jaw. Kage bucked her body and then slammed her forehead into the pommel of the katana causing it to wedge up to the hilt in the hero's throat. Eden reared up, both sets of Limbs going to her throat in surprise. The villain took advantage of the momentary distraction and twisted in place bucking the hero off of her. Without something holding her down, Kage backflipped onto her feet flinging shurikens at the short heroine.
"EDEN!" Eden pulled back, wings lifting her into the air as Kage slammed an orb into the ground, a blast of black smoke flooded the street. Leaving Eden blind and hacking. She grabbed the hilt of the blade and began to slowly pull it out of her throat as her Phantom Limbs felt through the smoke for the Ninja. The sensation of her lungs aching for air diving her close panic before she pulled the blade free and coughed her airway clear of her own blood, which splattered the inside of her golden visor.
"Onna?" Eden called out "You're alive?" she coughed, wet and ragged. The taste of hot copper in her mouth "But the bomb-"
"We were in our breaker state." Musha stated as the black smoke began to clear. "Are you okay? You're the one that got stabbed twice."
Eden rubbed her throat. "Can't say I enjoyed it." She said, Ghostly Limb now out and feeling for any TinkerTech. "She ran." Eden stated, looking up to the top of the brothel building which had shattered. The rest of the apartment was see-through glass. "Fucking hell. All the gir-"
"None. We went through the first floor and it was mostly empty of anything. All that was there was some furniture not even the Merchants would use. We went to check the top floor and-" the building behind them crunched loudly as if to tell the rest of the story.
"But why would they even do...Trap. Fuck it was a trap. FUCK. Admin, did we get anything from that?" Eden asked as she felt her sliced up costume, stained with her own blood. "Fucking….fuck."
[GAINS.INFORMATION]
"A cluster Trigger? The fuck is...later. Later. You sure you're alright Onna? Musha?" Eden asked, turning to the twins.
"You fought Kage, not us. What exactly is your power?" Musha asked, crossing her arms across her chest as Onna stepped out of her. "Seriously! You're a brute for sure, but those Limbs, that's what...Three types so far?"
"I think I hit all the ratings other than Tinker, Stranger, and Blaster." Eden stated. "Even those aren't too far off." She lifted her helmet off, both girls flinching before realizing Eve had a ski mask on to protect her identity. Eden took a moment to wipe the blood off the inside of her visor and spit out a blood loogie before putting the helmet back on back on with a sigh. "Well we all survived the trap and no one…" she glanced at the broken up glass statues of the guards that had been outside the building but resting against it "...but the gang got hurt….Shit this is a mess. What the hell kind of Tinker do they have?"
"Both Bakuda and Kage are Tinkers." Musha stated. "Though, now that you mention it, a cluster trigger would explain Kage's slipperiness."
"And her ability to kick our asses so many times. Never thought she'd go straight to glassing us though." Onna mumbled softly
"Yeah. Suppose you might want to call me from now on before taking on any ABB targets if they're going to be so lethal. I can sense TinkerTech, which from now on I should probably use that ability more." Eden stated as she leaned over and picked up the black bladed katana. The blade itself was partially transparent, it made no sound when Eden tapped it on the ground. "Mine now."
"I don't think it's legal to keep TinkerTech." Musha mused as she looked over the blade, the blade was the only part that screamed 'Tinker made' as the hilt and guard both looked par the course for a sword.
"It's not legal to bite my ass either but the PRT can do it all the same. I'm the one who lost her oral virginity to a sword. I get to keep it." Eden replied, causing Onna to bark out a laugh before covering her mouth.
"We'll leave you to that then, we don't need them breathing our necks any more than they already do." Musha stated, motioning for her sister to rejoin her to which the twin accepted and they merged back into one form. Starting to float into the air, Onna-Musha gave Eden a nod. "Best of luck Eden." before being a transparent sheen and disappearing into the ground.
Eden sighed softly, sitting down on the ground and idly tapping the ground with the tip of the sword, she could hear the PRT's sirens getting closer. "...The wetsuit is going to be such a bitch to replace." she groaned
If you needed any further evidence of the Cycle's current state of affairs, it was the fact that you had just met a full Cluster. Four Shards coming together to offer up portions of their power to gain a more diverse set of Data. That was something that was supposed to only happen at the end of a Cycle, when most Humans were hosts already.
Although it seems the Vital Shard [SAFEGUARD] used it's authority to tell the Common Shards what powers to give to the Host it had given a large portion of it's power to. Which in this instance was to...Mimic a ninja and one of the other still surviving Hosts to mimic a...Cartoon Clown...Of course. [SAFEGUARD] would do such a thing.
Eve sighed as she watched Taylor sneak out of her house. The PRT had been a pain in the ass, but now she had a sweet ass Tinker Sword. That and a gun, but the sword really took the cake. Even if she had to threaten to show one of the troopers what it tasted like if they tried to take it.
Velocity had tried to explain the law of the matter before Eden explained that she did in fact know what the blade tasted like, and someone else could have it if they experienced such a thing. Then she had flown away because fuck giving up her new sword. Which was currently back at the base with the gun.
Taylor made her way to Eve. "Costumes in the bag. I'll change once we're far from here." She whispered. Eve nodded and started to walk on, Taylor kept pace easily enough with her long legs.
"Taylor. Been wondering." Eve said, keeping her voice low as they walked along the darkened streets. "I've been talking to Admin a lot but you haven't gotten to talk to Queen Administrator at all. That can be changed, you know? You could talk to her like I talk to Admin."
For a moment Taylor just walked, lips pursed. "Would I have to talk aloud though?" Taylor asked. "I don't want to sound crazy…" she stiffened, realizing what she just said.
"Oh you could totally talk to Queen Administrator in your thoughts. Why wouldn't you? They're hooked up to our brains you know." Eve offered up as they turned at a corner, heading towards the Docks.
"Wait what? Why don't you do it then? Instead of talking to her aloud where everyone can hear you?" Taylor asked, surprised by the nonchalant answer.
"Feels more real talking to Admin aloud, plus why should I care what others think of me? If they think I'm crazy then fine, let them. Every parahuman is a little crazy after all, so they aren't all that wrong. Still. Mostly because Admin deserves to be spoken to like a person." Eden explained as the road and sidewalk became a little rougher the farther they walked.
"Maybe. I don't know." Taylor stated. "Would it help?"
Eve nodded. "I'm sure I would be far worse off if I had not been able to talk to Admin, hell she's the reason I even met you. She told me about you and Queen Administrator." she glanced about. "Anywhere to change? I won't peek, I wouldn't want to spoil the costume."
Taylor pointed out an empty alleyway for the pair to change in. Eve didn't even check to see if Taylor peeked, instead changing into her Eden costume without hesitation. "Alright. Tell me when you're done. Promise I won't peek." With that, she turned and folded her arms, feeling two flies land on her head making her chuckle.
It took a minute or three, considering it was probably the second time Taylor had put it on Eden wouldn't hold anything against her. "Alright. You can look now." Eden whirled around and let out a whistle. "Damn you looked fucking great. Where did the armor come from?"
"I used beetle shells augmented with spider silk. Then I put them in a sleeve of silk like they do with military plate carriers." Taylor said, blue lens staring down at Eden's golden visor.
"You...pulled bugs apart to make that?" Eden asked as she looked at the almost knightley breast plate covering Taylor's chest and the large shoulder pauldrons. Blue paint soaked the edges of her armor surprisingly well, it wasn't professional but damn close.
"Yes?" Taylor answered, clearly confused as to why the detail had any importance. Eden raised a hand to continue talking before pausing to think about it. Then she waved it off. "Never mind." With a flick of her mental dials, three Feathered Limbs flicked into existence. She flexed them, curling the wing's largest feathers a bit like fingers and laying the wings out like a sled. "Climb on and we'll go flying. Don't worry I won't drop you."
A soft sigh escaped Taylor as she stepped onto the bent feathers, grabbing the top of the wings as the third Limb, Shadow, curled around her waist to secure her in place. Thankfully Eden's wings could stretch out and double their size. Helped with movement and in this case, helping Taylor be more comfortable during the ride.
"Slow." the taller girl stated nervously.
"Fine with me." Eden said as they began to float upwards in the air. "I have to go slower with another person anyway. Wings were designed for me after all. Though I think I can get an upgrade for them that can allow me to fly you as well without touching you."
"I don't know how I would feel about that." Taylor admitted, hands attempting to dig into the wing as they both went up past the buildings.
"It's like...pressure. Gentle pressure perfectly conforming around your body." Eden explained as they continued to rise and started moving forward, the darkening night sky hiding them both thanks to dark costumes.
"Feels more like I'm falling, but not." Taylor responded, looking down at the city of lights as they moved higher into the air. "...it looks nicer the higher you go."
Eden nodded, putting more speed into her flight, the wind now tugging at them both gently. "So, names. Got any yet or can I call you Lovebug?"
"Do not." Came Taylor's tired reply. "It's hard to think up insect related names that don't sound stupid or Villainous. So I haven't come up with one yet."
"Well you don't want others to name you. You'll end up with a creepy or villainous name from power and costume alone. Even if it doesn't look all that villainous. The grey and blue help a lot. Seriously. You'll get stuck with a name like maggot or hmmm maybe Skitter." Eden stated. "Hell. I got my name from Admin. I was gonna go with a Hindu god 'cause of the arms, or Arkh because I thought it sounded cool."
"Yeah. I understand what you mean. But I just don't want to mess it up." She squeezed the wing a bit tighter. "If I mess it up, I'm stuck with it."
"Wanna brainstorm? I have a few ideas myself. Queen. Legion. Weaver. Hive. You could also call yourself by your power's name." Eden offered up as she began to slow a dive to the right, making sure that the wings holding her friend up were level to keep the taller girl safe and sound.
"Power name?" Taylor asked. Eden nodded, explaining how Shards actually named the powers they gave out, then listing her own power's names. "I asked Admin what Queen Administrator called yours. She calls it Khepri. It sounds fucking badass in my opinion. Short, rolls off the tongue, ladies love it."
Shifting on the wings, Eden could make out Taylor murmuring the names Eden had listed. "Queen? No, that's my Shard's name...Hive sounds kind of villainous, Legion is a demon in the bible I think, even if it would fit. Weaver would be a good name if I was a rogue, but I'm not in this to make money." For a moment she thought it over. "Khepri...Khepri. Do you know how that's spelled?"
For a moment Eden was quiet, asking Admin in her head about the spelling. The answer seemed a tad amused if not annoyed. "K-H-E-P-R-I." Eden spelled out. "See what I mean? Rolls right off the fuckin tongue don't it?"
"It kind of does, yes. So, uh. Khepri then?" Taylor asked, despite the mask Eve could tell the taller girl had a small smile on her face. It dipped into her usually dour voice far too much to be overlooked if you knew her for more than five minutes.
"Welcome to the community of capes Khepri! Let me be the first to congratulate you and offer you a first class ride on the Eden Express." Eden quipped as she moved closer to the water and the boat graveyard
"What. This isn't first class?" T-Khepri asked as she looked at Eden's Golden visor.
"Nah, first class involves you sitting on my face." Eden said, the shit-eating-grin heavy in her voice, Taylor jerked back, before looking away. "Why do you keep saying stuff like that?"
Eden groaned internally, the beaten down dour tone of voice having come back. "Because I mean it? Because I find it cute when you blush? I don't know how to flirt otherwise! What do you want me to do? I learned how to flirt with girls from online porn and boys. Plus I hate mushy stuff!"
"You didn't do so bad earlier." Taylor murmured.
"Look." Eve let out a tired sigh. "If I act sweet and mushy. I feel weird. Not the good kinda weird I get when I make you blush. But like a nervous 'this isn't right' kinda of weird. I've always avoided the stuff. I get it from my Grandpa I guess. He was never mushy, even when he was affectionate. He used to call me 'His little asshole' or 'The midget gremlin'." Eden sighed wistfully now, tone becoming a touch mournful. "I miss him, it was never the same after he died...you know how it is."
"I do." Taylor's voice was empathetic "I do. I guess I understand, but a little less perverse would be nice."
"Ah, so just holding your hands and calling you pretty?" Eden asked, mournfulness evaporating as she grinned behind her Visor. "I guess I can do that, but if I slip out something dirty don't be angry. Cause' I'll be thinking something ten times worse."
"Better than the alternative." Khepri accepted "Just don't be perverse with me publicly, please."
"Eh fuck it. Alright." Eden swung through the boat graveyard, getting closer to the ground before she went into the Trainyard, just high enough to dodge over the piles of refuse, scrap, and high rusting fences.
They arrived at the Tunnel Entrance. Eden floated over to the cut metal panels, unwrapping her Shadow Limb from around Taylor's waist to push the paneling out of it's frame. "Climb off." T-Khepri said nothing as she worked her legs into the open window and slid the rest of her slender body into the base. Eden went in shortly after.
"Probably need to get a new way in." Khepri stated as she looked around the poorly lit room, until Eden flicked that really loud lightswitch and set the panel back in place. "Yeah. How would you feel about a portal straight to your house? Put it on the wall in your basement and in here. Instant network. Have one portal leading to somewhere outside and boom we have a totally hidden base." Eden offered in the way of Entrances.
"Portals? Sounds like it would grab attention rather quickly." Khepri said as they began to move down the hallway.
"Nah, it's called Runic Circles and it's basically me drawing on the wall, it turns into a portal when you activate it. Takes time to draw though. Super simple stuff. Thoughts?" Eden asked as they made it to the main area.
"Sounds like a good way to get around the city quickly. But in the meantime we need something for me to use." Khepri turned to look around the large loading area, glancing at the folding table that held a strange sword and a sheet of paper, along with a gun. "What are those?"
Eden chuckled going over to the table and showing off the loot that she had gotten, explaining to Khepri that the sword was TinkerTech, the gun was just loot and the drawing came from a young girl whose power was giving her issues before Admin helped her Shard with the Connection between them, then Eden told Khepri about the Blade, except for the being stabbed twice part.
Afterwards, Khepri pointed out several things needed for future weaving of spider silk and Eden ended up digging into the concrete wall near the back corner with her wings to create furrows for the spiders Khepri would bring over later.
After some discussion, Eden went off to a late night hardware store and picked up a few items rather quickly. Ladder to be hidden near the entrance of the Base, a few door hinges and liquid-nail to turn the metal paneling into a door. The ladder could be pulled up into the base when Khepri came over. Least until Eden got the power she spoke of.
"OH shit, hey Taylor" Eden spoke up as they began to head to the entrance of the base, for Khepri to head home before her father woke up. "This Friday, how would you like to meet Dragon and Panacea and go with me to pop Grey boy bubbles."
To her credit, Khepri didn't take too long to process the question. "T-The Dragon, and Panacea. You're doing what with them?" She listened as Eden explained just how Dragon had made the offer to her and how she had invited Panacea for the trip, how long it would probably take.
"I don't know. I would have to skip school, which wouldn't be the bad thing but my dad would notice me gone. I wouldn't even be able to do anything either. My power can't do anything to Grey Boy Bubbles. I wouldn't make a difference." Khepri sighed. "Just bugs you know."
The taller girl turned to look at Eden after the shorter girl slugged the pauldron that covered her arm. "So? Even if you can't do anything, you'd still get to meet The Dragon and have your name associated with saving hundreds of people. When people see your costume, they won't see a buggirl. They'll see Khepri the hero." Eden nudged the taller girl with her elbow. "Besides. You're my friend and I want to hang out with you."
"...And my father?" Taylor asked, sounding more interested now.
Eden smiled behind her visor "We lie our asses off, technically at least. How do you feel about camping?"
Gains this Chapter (some of this seem exaggerated, it's just to make up for accidentally not updating parts of the character sheet):
Imprint Progress 32%
Simulacrum Progress 10%
Bud Progress 50%
Gained T!GATEWAY Echo (1)
Gained T!TECH DATABASE Echo (1)
Gained TOXIN Mutation (2)
Gained DENSITY Echo (1)
Gained SAFEGUARD Echo (1)
Gained BALANCE Echo (1)
Gained STORAGE Echo (1)
Gained DISCHARGE Echo (1)
Gained QA Echo (2)
Consolidated QA Echoes (4)
Gained QA Ping (1)
Gained T!STING Ping (1) thanks to Apricots
Lost SHAPER Ping (1)
Lost 238$
Gained a damn gun!
Gained a TinkerTech Katana 'DarkDrift'
Gained 200$ for Admin
Gained Ladder (1)
Gained Non-Flyer Entrance to base
PRT Ratings Changed
Shard Power Menu V3 unlocked
Gained Labyrinth Art 'Emerald Sea'
'Knowledge is power' trait modified!
Updated Shard Glossary
Gained Weaving Station V1
Gained Art Gallery V1
Gained Tinker Table V1
Shard Business. Plot stuff! Data! And other hilarious things you tell yourself (CHOOSE TWO):
[] Tell [Eve.Eden] the Truth
[] Research which Pings you require to breach another Shards dimension
[] Network Creation: Upgrade Broadcast Array Module to Broadcast Tower Module {2 of ???} to allow constant links to other Shards.
Time to administer what you can. CHOOSE ONE:
[] Build the Psionic Shade Anchor Well (Once started the Anchor will have to be finished before any other action can be taken.)
[] Unlock kickass Aspects/Sidegrades or Powers/upgrades
[] Something is wrong with your missing Lattices and the void where your Imprints would be. You are unsure of what to do. ( chance to ???) REQUIRES ??? -LOCKED
[] Reform your FirmamentSelf to something more comforting to [Eve.Eden]
Capes and mundies, what will Eve/Eden do? [Writing in extra details helps speed up chapter creation and makes the QM happy!] (CHOOSE TWO):
[] Try and hunt gang members, you can rob them too! Dangerous though. (Possible Pings: Depends upon the Gang!)
-[] Which gang?
[] Focus on general needs. Cleaning supplies, furniture, non non-perishable food.
[] Focus on general needs. Clothes, hygiene products, costume repair
[] Scout some other section of the city! (Write in where)
[PRE-CHOSEN] Convince Taylor's father to let her disappear four days in a row
[] Check in with Amy
[] Patrol with Khepri! (High chance of ESCALATION)
Base Time? Base Time. CHOOSE ONE:
[] Work on the Trainyard Tunnel (Weaving Station)
[] Work on the Trainyard Tunnel (Lights)
[] Work on the Trainyard Tunnel (Art Gallery)
[] Work on the Trainyard Tunnel (Tinker Table)
Martyr Saint George and his merry band of fucknuts?:
[] Yes, slay the DragonSlayers
[] Nah, robots are scary[/INFORMATION][/INFORMATION]
