Myers didn't like his job, and after last night, it had become harder. He walked towards the interrogation tent, his nerves raw. They had told him more than a handful of dangerous people had been identified. Normally, an individual would unlock one lethal ability they had unlocked two or more. The random nature of the new unlocked was concerning for the federal government.
The scramble to secure the president turned out to be a failure. Now, the president had unlocked abilities. This was the worst-case scenario. Myers knew this could not be contained. The cuffs made by the control team stopped the activation of abilities but not passive effects. They had to quickly secure all with dangerous abilities before a major incident happened.
He shivered thinking of the last person he put through the intake process. She could manipulate bones with up to twenty pounds of force. If she wasn't in the control cuffs Myers would not have been able to stop her from turning him into a bloody pretzel. His most advanced abilities allowed him to analyze abilities. He had to remain near them for at least five minutes then he would have a mental image of the details. That was just her most deadly ability he hated waiting to find out what kind of monster he was sitting across.
The next individual was reported to have three lethal abilities. The problem he was facing was all those who unlocked from the smiling moon seemed to have a screw loose or worse just plain crazy. The girl seemed OK till he asked what she remembered from the night. The way she smiled drove to his core and made something in him quake from dread.
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Hector found himself standing in front of the old pinball section at his dream mall. The old arcade had many machines from his memory, but the one the well-dressed man was playing he hadn't seen before.
“You got in some trouble so I brought you in for a chat.” The man said still focused on his game.
“Cuffs yea I remember now. Why do cops always show up to stop a guy when he's making a move? I don't know that pinball machine it looks older than the ones I played.” Hector said to the man's back.
“It's a very old model from a different age but still the same game. You just need to learn the tricks of the table and what counts as a bonus.” He said as the machine began to play a piano tune.
“Cool, so why am I here again? I don't get it very cryptic and all I love the vibes, man, but will this happen often? You knocked me out to chat?” A tone of annoyance in Hector's voice.
The machine playing its old-time tune suddenly disappeared as the well-dressed man turned to face Hector. Looking at him Hector noticed he was slightly Different from the last time he saw him. His clothes are still very well made and cut, but obviously from somewhere in the 1940s.
“I wanted to offer my help. Of course, you are in a tricky situation back in the waking world. I have a vested interest in you staying alive and unfettered. A gentleman does not bow his head to false authority. No, no, this won't do for someone who is my anchor. You tether me to this world very nicely. I refuse to watch you rot in a cell. So why don't I pop out there and just free you from your bonds?” He said matter-of-factly.
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“O, your like that. Nice try, and what then? I never get my body back, and you go dancing in a fresh Hector suit. No thanks to many hooks for this fish.” Hector had been wondering what this guy's deal was.
“You have it all wrong. We don't have a deal or contract. We have a tether. If I wanted to, I could just do as I like and by the way I prefer my suits, thank you. Go ahead. Say no, but I'll be around. When you get wise, I'll be ready to help. A nice perk is if you ever are about to die I'll step in with or without your permission. We'll good talk, enjoy the dirty tent they have you in.” he tipped his old-style fedora as the dream faded
_________
Doing a quick review of the documents for the next subject Myers couldn't help but notice a strange note in the file. The subject passed out when the control cuffs were placed and activated. He had never heard of this before and could only assume it was connected to one of the subjects' abilities.
Stepping into the tent a glance showed the basic table and chairs set up for intake. The subject was sitting hands behind the chair looking around. Myers had another chill run down his spine as the man in the chair looked his way. A slow grinding sound could be heard as the man limply turned his head towards Myers. An empty look in his eyes didn't match the smile spread unnaturally across his face.
Taking a step back reflexively He collected himself before moving towards his chair. He could feel those empty eyes following him, a sense of something looking at him from a deep depth kept flashing across his mind.
“This should be a simple interview with nothing to be worried about. We need to ask you some questions before you can be considered for release.” Myers said, looking back to the man named Hector.
The man was slumped in the chair, eyes closed, head still cocked to the side like before.
“Hello, Mr. Daneiz, are you with me? Your input and cooperation will go a long way towards your release.” Myers often told this lie.
He watched as Hector twitched back awake, slowly opening his eyes and sitting up fully. Hector wasn't very tall but he had a broad build to his body that could be imposing. Myers noticed the change in facial expressions; it was like a different person. He noted this on his clipboard possible personality disorder.
“Are you with me sir? I need you to answer some questions along with what you remember from last night's incident.” Myers said.
He didn't need his target to answer him honestly. The interaction back and forth was necessary for his ability to work. Once he had exchanged words with a target, after some time, his ability would give him a load of information about the other's skill tree. These details could allow him to evaluate if the other was too much of a threat to walk free.
“Why do you talk like that? Sounds so cut and paste. Let's start with why I got cuffed and how I'm getting paid for y’all abusing me.” Hector replied, working a cramp out of his neck.
“Those control cuffs restrict one's abilities. You have only just unlocked your skill tree; these are the most dangerous times for you and others. After we evaluate your potential threat to the public, we can determine your status. Please start with what you understand about your unlocked skills or, as some say, abilities. “ Myers said from memory.
He was saying prepared statements he was dealing with so many subjects it was memorized. Hector had a mocking look on his face before laughter broke his silence.
“Man, you really can't talk. I don't know anything about anything. You need to tell me who you are or who you work for. What I do know is everything has gone nuts. I don't know what nightmare world we now live in, OK? The moon winked at me, and I got out of there. Now I'm supposed to do a Doctor Phil with a robo-talking fed.” Hector shot back.
Myers ignored most of the exchange but did write down the portion about the moon winking at Hector. None of the others had mentioned this. New data always got reported.
While Hector continued bad-mouthing him and making jokes about his clothes, Myers tuned most of it out. Focusing on the building information in his head about Hector's skill tree. The first ability was resolving into an understandable load of data as Myers wrote out what came through his mind. Myers was often told he was robotic or stiff by coworkers and others. He didn't care because this allowed him to process and handle vast amounts of information without frying his brain.
[Solid Air] tie 2 lethality
The subject can solidify the air within his sphere of influence. A range of ten feet increases with skill increase. The subject can manipulate solidified air constructs with up to ten pounds of force. Force increases with skill increase. Skill is limited by the subjects' imagination and understanding of the skill.