When my eyes open, I see more intricacies of aether than ever before, more so in fact as each of the strands of aether have a tint, a taste or smell, and a frequency they vibrate at. I know I’m not using my normal senses for taste and sound, but my aetheric receptors (?) have integrated the signals into senses I have already developed precision with. Well, if that isn’t proof that integration happened, I don’t know what is.
Unlatching the straps proved to be slightly more troublesome than expected as my fingers and hands have been made slighter and nimbler in appearance and the changes haven’t registered completely in my brain.
“Hey Tessa? Help a girl out here?” My statement was issued with a harsh grating tone on top of my normal voice.
“Could you not use that tone? It’s abrasive and slightly violating.”
“What in Andromeda’s sweaty bits does that mean?” No abrasive quality this time.
“It’s your Primus Command made physical. That is supremely unnerving. Definitely have to work on that. How are you feeling otherwise?”
“Energized and really freaking good. Like I need to magic and tinker immediately.” Now that I think about it, I really am humming with a need to do those things, so I blip around my Penthouse and immediately feel better.
“Hmm, what if your hunger and thirst, or other bodily triggers have other meanings now?” Tessa begins tapping her chin in thought, which is a mannerism she picked up recently.
“That sounds terrible, but it would track. My aether sight now has smell and sound associated with it. Though I could spend a week trying to suss out what integrated and what changed, I should finish with my advancement. How long has it been?”
“Nearly six now. You should have time to look at everything at least.”
/Your Identity receptacle is not pure magic, tech, or biologic. /Your experience with Multitasking lends to a starting proficiency of Intermediate 5/
Every single one of those sounds like a backhanded compliment, though I definitely understand the second one. Do I want to embody cleverness or courage? Both Destroyer and Calamity are nouns that break things. Can classes be inherently bad? Nah, Andromeda wouldn’t do that to me. Calamity sounds more fun, and more like my actions of late, so let’s to it.
‘of the Void’, ‘Progenitor’, ‘Tyrant’, ‘Empress of Humanity’, ‘Fae Queen’, ‘Annihilator’, ‘Aether Forged’, ‘of the Matrix’> /unlike classes, titles may be changed every Mark (~8 years). /Only one title may be active at a time. Alright, you fucking sass-pants. Hint taken. Also unlike classes, I am comfortable with more than one of these. Like Andromeda said, I need to read the tooltips and see how they benefit or, Andromeda forbid, curse me. Tessa, do you think I need to pick a title before checking my modules? Good question, but no. After skimming the tooltips for classes and titles, selecting a class eliminates the other choices, even if you are later offered another, those two you didn’t chose are gone. Titles don’t go away unless you somehow stop being eligible for them. Ipso facto, any module made available by a title will be available while you are eligible for said title. Thanks Tessa, you read much more quickly than I. Probably smarter than me too. “Probably?” I smile and put my hand on her knee as I sit next to her. You have 16 module points to use. Please choose from the following: A Primer for Living through Void Experimentation Void attuned aether is dangerous 2 mod Folding Space for Fun and Profit Turning the space you have into the space you need 4 mod Tricks of the Tongue How to lie without lying 1 mod Concentrating Aether And other fun ways to die 4 mod Sex, Money, and Complete Control A dictator’s guide to oppression 2 mod Traveling with Astral Projection An Expert meditation techniques 3 mod Master Engraver’s Codex The tools and guidance to finish your first Great Work 5 mod Unlocking Time Advanced theories and practices for Space Manipulation 3 mod Good gravy, those are some pricey choices. “You had a wide variety of other choices that did not make the top 8. The Matrix doesn’t allow for more than eight choices for modules.” “Bah, I don’t even have the points for what I want, let alone more choices. And I can’t even cheat by using imbalance since all of these seem to be aether mods.” I flip my arms up in frustration, noticing a creepy crawl in my back and a pinch of my skin when I do. I sigh. “Andromeda, what now?” “Hmm? Oh, since engraving is largely a ‘Tech’ aspect of your Track, you can likely spend the remainder of your three imbalance on it if it helps you. Uh, Penny? Is there something wrong with your arms?” “No, my back feels weird when I do this.” “Then don’t do that?” I snort at the simple suggestion and stop flailing about for now. “Fiiine, good idea on the Engraving. By the feel of the module, I don’t think I can progress to master without it. Or more accurately, it feels like it would take me decades to figure out without it.” I try to flag my tech imbalance while purchasing the Master Engraving Codex. Processing, please wait, processing . . . SUCCESS! Oh yeah! Cue me up for Fun and Profit, Void Primer, Unlocking Time, and Concentrating Aether. “Obviously, don’t melt my brain.” “The fact that you no longer have a meat-based processing unit makes preventing overload much easier.” “Nothing you could have said to make you sound more robotic than ‘meat-based’, true as it may be.” I check the time to see if I can squeeze in a title choice and find that I can barely squeeze in breakfast. I try calling Betty and texting the team at the same time and turns out I can do it, though it feels weird. But now that I can, and Tessa can basically read my mind, I guess I should give her fewer secretarial tasks. I do have Naomi after all. “Asking a combat-rated utility vessel to sort your messages is a little menial for my capabilities.” “Tax for reading my mind all of the time, goon.” I stick my tongue out at her. Hashtag adulting. “Alright, time for clothes and a mirror, went out without looking after my last transformation, not going to be confused about it this time.” I find the mirror next to my wardrobe and stare dumbly at myself. Instead of a blue-tinted ethereal predator with resting murder face, I appear to be a sprite from a video game, but taller and thinner. I have a characteristic Pixie cut and adorable up-turned nose of those tiny fae. My skin tone is slightly blush all over, my galaxy eyes haven’t changed, but my teeth are pointy and my face is heart-shaped? “Am I a fucking Pixie for real now?!” Name: Penelope Astoria Race: Pixie (Primus) Subrace: Faerie Queen Andromeda Code: T-S> Class: Insightful Calamity Title: [not chosen] Track: Artificing (T-3, lvl. 50) This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Imbalance: none Mind [Intelligence: A, Clever: A, Awareness: B] Social [Beauty: A, Charm: D, Presence: A] Physical [Strength: C, Agility: B, Fitness: B] Aether [Capacity: S, Refinement: B, Power: S] Skills Aether engraving: Expert, step 10; Aether insight: Expert, step 1; Enchanting: Advanced, step 3; Knowledge absorption: Intermediate, step 6 (tech assist); Pain Suppression: Intermediate, step 6; Aether manipulation: Expert, step 3; Magitech Integration: Advanced, step 1 Space manipulation: Expert , step 1 Aether forging: Intermediate, step 1 Transmutation: Advanced, step2 Basic constructs: Intermediate, step 2 Gem cutting and shaping: Advanced, step 2 Gun Fu: Beginner, step 2 Empire Administration: Intermediate, step 6 Elemental Manifestation: Beginner, step 3 Sheilding: Advanced, step 6; Brawling: Novice, step 9 Swordsmanship: Beginner step 5 Bureaucracy Intermediate step 4 Field Dressing: Beginner step 1 Performance: Oratory; Beginner, step 7 Void Manipulation: Intermediate, step 3 Multi-core Processing (Magitech): Intermediate, step 5 “I’m not Human anymore.” The stare coming back at me and the more uncomfortable I get, the more the stars in my eyes spin. I look over my reflection’s head to see Tessa looking at me nervously. “Tessa, did my body get remade entirely?” “I, I think so. After your brain and vortex got removed and your body slumped, my entire being went into safe-mode. When my symbiote hive sensed being immersed in flesh again, I woke slowly. When I finally got my visual sensors back, you were near-completely reformed. Spectral hands were setting your face to retain a Penny-like appearance with your new form. More like the original human Penny, I think.” “I came over to get dressed, think any of my wardrobe will fit?” “The tailor you went to for the vest dress with capris makes enchanted-to-fit clothing.” Tessa comes over and starts poking and pinching me. “Tessa, I swear, if you get frisky with me, I will cover you in Napalm.” She backs up with a smirk on her face. “Scientific poking. Promise.” “Pfft, I have definitely used that line before. Which of the five outfits should I wear?” “Hmm, I’m thinking Astoria-themed dress, or vest and slacks.” “Vest and slacks it is, then. More meeting appropriate.” I put them on and where my ethereal predator look would have made this look officious and cold, the new image looks scrappy and spunky. New look, new me hey? I order a pageboy cap and roll up my sleeves for a new day. /Speth, Solari, you still with me?/ /Morning Admiral, how’d the tier up go?/ Solari asks. /All’s quiet up here, Ma’am/ my polite over watch reports. /I’m coming down the lift, we’re headed for breakfast. Speth, park the shuttle and grab a bike./ /Admiral, if it’s alright, I’m scheduled to head back to Alaris, and my relief will meet you at the Consul Hall?/ /Works for me./ I walk out of the Lift, of which there are now two—nice work Tessa—and straight past Solari. I chuckle at that and when I’m several paces distant, I turn and say “You coming Corporal?” “What? Shit!” She jogs up to my side and locks my step, saluting as we go, “all do respect, Admiral, with a glamor like that, you can’t expect us to recognize you right away.” “Not a glamor,” I say with a big smile. She side steps immediately, “But I did not expect you to get it right away. It’s why I notified you when I got on the lift.” “So this just happened on your tier mutation? Is this a crazy symbiote thing?” “The answer to both are kinda yeah. Remember, the system takes intent seriously, aether doubly so. The tier up mutations are basically a chance for big magic to happen that you wouldn’t be able to do yourself.” “I hope you like clothes shopping.” She laughs at me. “Ugh, I know. As soon as I realized I lost like 4 inches, I knew I needed to go shopping again.” She looks at me and the outfit I’m wearing. “I paid big money for a few outfits to adjust with my mutations.” Solari nods absently with that, staring down the hall thinking intently about something. Naomi meets us outside and briefs me that we have some afternoon events and a meeting with some more foreign interested parties. I’m going to have to duck out of the Forum for those, we have another day full of meetings anyway. She’s already alerted the Consuls of my afternoon absence. I’d arranged to have our patio spot reserved for us and Camacho’s already waiting for us. I go in to tell Betty that our table is here. “Empress?! Eeee! You’re so cuuute!” She full on picks me up and squeezes me half to death. “Betty, please let me go. I am very uncomfortable.” “Oh! Sorry. It’s just, I want to pinch your cheeks and feed you until you’re chubby.” “That is some serious Grandma energy there, and please don’t. I’d hate to launch my favorite breakfast spot into space.” I push against her arms and she reluctantly lets me go. “Don’t you have like a grip of kids to cuddle?” “None of them are this cute and pinchable.” “I can hear you mom!” a girl grumbles from the back. Betty turns to say something but I don’t stick around. I bolt out of the door and stop at our table to look behind me. When betty doesn’t come out chasing me, I settle down and take a seat. “You in trouble kid?” Camacho says from across the table. “Thugs or Family?” “Does an overly affectionate restaurateur count as a thug? And since when are you nice to people.” “Ah, Empress. I apologize for the kindness, won’t happen again.” I’d laugh if she was joking, but I can’t be sure. “This new look is already more trouble than I thought. Only thing that’s consistent is the creepy smile.” I show Camacho. Bitch smiles. “Shark teeth? Nice. Very old-school pixie. Adorable piranhas. That mean you’re not Human anymore?” “I am, in fact a Pixie now. Asked for my mutation to consolidate my partial upgrades and I got a full overhaul.” “Glowing skull stuff?” She asks further. “Haven’t tried it. Magic feels more natural now, so that’s nice.” Camacho scoffs, “Hey, I’ve only been in this thing for an hour, Sergeant Sass-pants.” “Don’t you think it’s funny that some folks are getting fur, animal features and whatnot, but you can’t decide on what kind of Fairy to be?” “I’d be funnier to see you mutate into your true self: a grumpy old toad.” Solari gives me a snort for that, Naomi merely smiles and shakes her head. Camacho grumbles and grumps. I croak in her direction and chuckle like I have a screw loose in my brain case. “Uhm, Hi.” A young woman I’ve seen before, but never heard comes up to us. “Are you ready to order?” I’ve been here three times and she’s never talked to us. My mouth agape I just stare at her hands and the notepad. “Is she okay?” the girl asks. Camacho chimes in with smug overtones. “Traumatized by your mother, it seems. She’ll take the rancher omelet with sausage and pancakes. And can we get a pot of coffee too?” “Oh, you’re the one with pinchable cheeks? I swear she wants a dozen more children to smother.” I blush and turn away at being identified by my cheeks. “I’ll be right back with your drinks.” Camacho and Solari start laughing at me, Naomi has a vaulted eyebrow at the weirdness that occurred, and I’m annoyed that I’m embarrassed. “I have never heard her talk before.” “Your previous form was intimidating to some. This one is definitely not, Admiral.” Camacho helpfully replies. “Now would be the time to talk to a PR consultant. Do I fight back against the adorable and irresponsible look? Or do I lean hard into the ‘Kid Sister’ Empress look?” All three of the women I’m sitting with open their mouths, “Rhetorical question, ladies, rhetorical.” “Do you think this will affect Forum proceedings?” Naomi asks as she’s jotting something down in her HUD. “Folks will likely do a double take, but I think only Kenner and Consul Mercer with care overmuch. Whomever Kenner is working with will likely try to subvert my authority with the appearance and experience flavor of slander. Mercer, because I look like his daughter used to. The rest will just want to trudge through their day and not have to sit through a Senate-style session for another year.” “Is this where you start whining about how hard it is to be the Empress? Tell me when to start listening again.” Immediately triggered, I snarl my displeasure. Something about my face makes them jump, but if I ask, it’ll defeat the excellent opportunity to make a point. I take a deep breath and hiss it out slowly. “Camacho, we’ve had this discission before. Take the rest of the week off.” I feel a sizzling grumble start below my vocal cords and I back off a little before giving the order. I don’t need to be using a compulsion or this. She clenches her fists and purses her features in frustration. Instead of making matters worse, she stands up sharply, issues a crisp salute and about face, and marches down Lake Street. “Do you think she’ll be back?” Naomi asks. “If she’s smart, she won’t. I don’t think she can divorce her job from her hatred of the idea of Empire and Oppression being inexorably linked. That being said, she’s not a quitter, so we’ll see?” “With all due respect, Admiral,” Solari begins. I raise my hand and interrupt, “Stop, please. If this is important to you and you remember it tomorrow, by all means bring it up again. Right now, however, I will take it poorly and I can’t bear throwing away another potential teammate.” Solari’s eyes go wide, probably with misconstrued notions. “Speaking of teammates, how’s the husband going Naomi? Do I need to tell him to take breaks for together time?” She giggles into her fingertips and shakes her head. “He is enjoying your project very much, but do not worry, the kitchen in the guest house has re-kindled his love for cooking. He dances wile waving a spoon, it’s very cute.” Aww, the nervous nerd dancing in his comfy space. That is cute and the happiness that I see brings a much needed grin to my face. Suddenly remembering my teeth I cover my mouth and chuckle. Maisey introduces herself after dropping off our food and actually chats for a bit. I introduce myself as penny of course, no need to terrify the poor lamb, not when I’m feeling better about my morning. Betty trots out to give me another hug before we leave, telling me to come by more often. “The people I’ve met in the Capitol are so freaking great, but so many assholes try to run things.” I lean my head back and groan at the sky. “Naomi, tell me we have something interesting this afternoon?” “There’s a marksmanship competition on what looks to be a fun course, a martial arts exhibition, and a junior rocketry project that parents have petitioned for your attendance.” “Ooo! I’m game for irresponsible use of fire. That one. And the marksmanship thing. What are the prizes like?” “Lackluster. Small monetary prizes for each. I assume you’re going to change that?” “I mean, yeah, I want people to both have fun and to draw the experts with a prize worth something. Say, personal aeronautics lessons for the juniors, and any T-1 item from Merc. Inc.’s inventory? Wait, no. Anything under 3k credits from the Merc. inventory or 1k credits cash.” “How much does your fancy pulse pistol cost?” Solari asks. “Depends on the bells and whistles. The battery tech makes it more expensive. A non-auto version of them costs between 3 and 5k.” “Oof. That is more than I make in a year.” “Domestic purchases are much cheaper, Citizen discounts and all that, but I block them for re-sale. We can talk later if you’re really interested in pulse pistols. Until then, back to the POD. You said I have a meeting with some visitors?” “Ah, yes, an Ambassador from Herrat and their two attendants. Herratians are a feline species with fur and features likening to an Earthen Mountain Lion with the posture of an Ape.” “On-demand quadrupedal, nice. We talking paws or hands? Never mind, I have HUD, most of my questions can be answered in the Glossary.” “Do not, under any circumstances, pet them. It is a grave offense.” “Fear not, aide of mine, I’m a dog person, If this delegation looked like a bunch of furry good bois, I’d be in trouble.” Oh man, I haven’t pet a dog in most of a decade. Suddenly my life means less now. My mood fluctuates wildly as we hop on the bikes and ride back to the Consul Conclave. Someone has seen fit to fix the door, but I still park my shuttle next to the door for the shield. “Alright, Admiral. Word on the net is that some new folks are coming to fill the gaps and I’m going to sleep in your shuttle for backup.” “Sounds good Corporal, and thank you.” Before the meeting starts, Privates Robbins and Grant report with demeanors as crisp as their salutes. I ensure they’ve been briefed on expectations and they confirm. When the Consuls and Governors are present, I call a continuation of this year’s Forum session and that I want draft documents for each State by tomorrow afternoon. I hear some grumbling, but that should have been the plan from the beginning, so I ignore the protests. Then, to my surprise, they get to work discussing amongst the Governors and asking Consuls their take on certain matters. I imagine I might be asked to clarify some points from time to time, but now, I think, it is time to dig into some titles.