My grip loosened and I let go of the handholds, causing the taut rope to go lax and whip back to the walls on either side of me. Relief replaced the burning in my shoulders and I sighed while starting to roll them, "I am not doing that again." I glared at the duo of Super Geniuses, "If you make me, I'll walk out of this place without dignity but with my shoulders intact,"
"Don't worry, you won't." I heaved a sigh of relief when The Doctor said that.
For the past 40 minutes, the sadistic bastard threw me to the wolves and made me repeat the physical tests over and over again. And it would've been fine even if I had to do a high-pressure exercise for 5 minutes straight but doing 3 of them consecutively for 40 minutes without taking a break? It's basically torture! I don't care what The Doctor and his ex says about me doing things that are vital for their research, if he didn't subtly tell me that this is my payment for him taking me here while paying for everything under a barely hinted threat, I wouldn't have done any of this!
"Good job," He says like the latest physical test they threw me in didn't try to snap my shoulders off clean. I started rolling my shoulders again at the thought of what I just went through, pulling on those handholds had been a pain and nothing I did helped with the part where the walls pulled the rope back into themselves and since the device is meant to be slightly stronger than the user no matter what they did, it was effectively pulling me on both sides and trying to pull me apart.
I shot the two ropes around me a glare and stepped out of the box. "You're both assholes, you know that?"
"We try our best," The Duskkin replied dryly.
"And what's my results?" I decided to ignore the Duskkin's reply in favor of throwing out a rude comment of my own. The two's eyebrows shot up simultaneously and their expression shifted into something that asked if I was stupid or not, "I know I'm Wave 8 and everything but what about my Physicals? I'm really curious just how much Theikos boosted my body passively." knowing what I can dish out without boosts is after all, a good idea if I'm not some form of Strongman.
"Your Body is Wave 4. Expected and not that strange. While your Nerves are Wave 6." The Duskkin put down her tablet and stood up, "So, color me surprised, you are pretty strong."
"As if it had any other outcome." I rarely agree with Doc's words but yeah, he's right.
"You sound exactly like him." Says the Duskkin as she made her way to the room's printer, the robot manning the counter it's on looked bored as it eyed her.
"I'm only saying the truth." The Doctor replied confidently.
"You know what? I actually agree with him." The Duskkin rolled her eyes when I defended The Doctor's words. I grinned at Doc as I wiped threw my shirt and jacket on, "It is sort of the truth isn't it?" I pulled on the collar of my shirt and smelled it, 'Yep, definitely taking a shower later.' I've put it out for two days now and I think it's about time I did what's long overdue.
"I've always wondered, did I get a few bio mods back then?" I asked as subtly as I possibly could.
"She knows." I nodded at The Doctor's reply, "And to answer your question-"
"Yes." The Duskkin said for him, "A few, actually, nothing major though."
"I don't really care if I don't get the mods that turn regular humans into brickhouses or whatever," I said, "But what are the mods?"
"The ability to not require as much sleep, for once." I winced, that explains a lot actually. "As well as a few utilities like improved muscle growth and maintenance, better digestion, and stronger senses."
"Nothing more than that?" I pondered if I should ask something related to the way I manipulate Theikos because what if the modifications for my better senses is the reason why I can sense and see it?
"No." I frowned, guess they either didn't or they don't want to tell.
No one spoke for a few minutes and the only sound in the room is the smooth whirs of the robot by the printer but I eventually just decided to pry about it, "So what? Do I just have my father's natural ability to manipulate Theikos? Nothing changed?"
"Obviously." They both said at the same time, their tones condescending. "If you don't then what's the point?" Doc added and the Duskkin agreed with a nod.
Then what about the changes that I have then- Should I ask that? I have a feeling that I should. 'Are they gonna answer me though?' Definitely not, there's no way that they just would. At least not willingly.
An intrusive thought about punching both of them to give me answers flashed in my head before I shook it and stared at the robot The Duskkin is standing on. Ignoring the fact that I'm on The Modern Pantheon's place of influence, the robot in the room is probably enough to kick my ass, boosted or not. Why else would they put it there?
I stared at the walls, 'Not to mention whatever defenses that's been set up.'
3 more seconds passed before my results finished printing and when they were, the Duskkin come back with a stack of paper in her hands, which she held out to me, "Here you go."
Mutant Registration Results for- TYLER. A. KYLE
Name: Tyler. A. Kyle.
Power (Wave 7): Physical Boosts (full assessment next page.)
- Supporting powers
*Theikos Absorption
*Theikos Vision
*Theikos Manipulation
*Enhanced Body (Wave 4)
*Enhanced Nervous System (Wave 6)
Power Category: Magician
Type: Body/Enhancer
List: C- // B+
This assessment for Tyler A. Kyle has been done under the authority of Alissa Oaken and supervised by Jericho. The assessment has been done on the Fall 48, Months of Dawn 13 under the registration building...
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
I stopped reading and skipped to the last page and when I saw that it's nothing but more words, I closed the entire thing in its entirety and handed it back to Alissa- who I realized is back to the desk with the printer, which now has an extra device plugged to its right, "Who am I gonna give this to?" I turned to Jericho, who's name is definitely faked, "Do I just throw this?"
"Do it if you want." Replies Jericho with a dismissive tone, "we already have a copy on the cloud, so that piece of paper is nothing but a formality given to the parents of children that want to brag about the power of their kids,"
I rolled the paper and shoved it down one of my pant's many pockets, "No." I replied simply.
"Okay. Fine." Jericho looked away and focused back on the computer which... walking closer, I saw has the footage of my physical tests on its screen. "Do you understand any of this?" he asked, raising his hands and gesturing to the screen but otherwise not looking away, "About what this can all mean?"
I stared at the footage of me on the treadmill, "No?" I squinted my eyes, "And what the fuck is up with all that grain? Did you record this on a phone as old as you or something?"
"That is Theikos." He explains, "the energy blurs most cameras, causing it to become grainy but it's fine right as long as it can be seen."
"Most cameras?" If there's cameras that can capture it, then why the hell are they using one that can't capture it then?
"Yes. Most. The only cameras that we have found to be able to capture Theikos is Hardlight tech."
"Okay? It's not like Hardlight tech is rare right?" They shouldn't be, I'm pretty sure the guy left a bunch of his stuff when he died. And that's not to mention all the schematics and patents he has raked up over the years. "There's probably a camera or two like that lying around somewhere."
"Yes. There is." Jericho gritted his teeth, "But the dumbasses at the top think that you aren't worth it to be assessed in a facility with higher quality tech."
"Sure?" I replied quizzically.
Also, why does he sound like he's the one who's been personally insulted by that decision? 'Well, it's not like I'd care,' I shrugged, I got what I wanted at the end of the day and now that I'm registered, I can go out and actually work as a merc. 'To pay the rent and buy food.' - Or something like that, I don't know what I'd do if I get money than I can spend, probably move out of the slums and pick a nice place in the lower parts of the city or something.
I smiled, 'that sounds like an idea.'
But I probably shouldn't set my expectations too high yet because discounting the part where I can't potentially find a job with good pay, there's also the statistic where mercenaries die by the dozens each month. Most of them are inexperienced sure, but I'm a part of that group for the time being.
Footsteps sounded behind us before they quickly turned to Alissa's voice, "Alright, here's your ID. Congratulations for registering to the System and getting recorded as a Mutant, you can now use your powers the way you see fit and right as long as they don't break the rules of conduct that's been set within the city, you can do whatever you want." She sounded like she read that off a script which, to be fair, she most likely did.
"Thanks." I took the card and looked at it; a beautiful Silver colored thing with edges of gold, to the left is a picture of me without the costume, one that I didn't remember taking but it's there regardless. It's also not a problem because flicking the card covered it up with a silver screen, printed on it are the words 'Registered Mutant.' alongside the Aristrocat logo of a monocle tied around a tophat. And written to the right is where I am on the spectrum as well as the name of my power.
"It looks pretty cool," I said, spinning the thing around. "What if I lost it?"
"You can always go back here since you're already recorded." Alissa replied, "But why would you want to lose your ID? It has all of your information in it, including your contacts."
"Wait what?" I faced Jericho to which he nodded.
"It's a good thing to have," He says.
"Why?" I asked.
"Usually, people forget that their IDs don't just have to sit inside their pockets whenever they're not showing it off to let others know they're mutants." Answers Alissa.
I slowly nodded, "I guess that makes sense? But I'm not really gonna use it for anything else other than that though..."
"You'll thank us later for doing that, trust me." Jericho replied, "Also, you should probably contact the girl from the train, I think she's not that bad." He added with a careless shrug.
"Not bad for what?"
"For being your first client? Contact? I don't know- it's really up to you. But without me knowing Alissa here-" the Duskkin nodded as he gestured to her, "We would still be out there, waiting." He took out his phone and shoved it to my face. I scanned the QR code under his stern gaze and when I was done, he nodded and the screen flicked to him and her talking, "Here, I think it's a good first impression,"
Girl: Hello!
Crazy Smart: I will pass your contacts on to Tyler soon. Wait for it and otherwise don't talk to me.
Girl: Okay! I'm gonna change your name, is that okay?
Crazy Smart3: I do not particularly care.
I snickered at The Doctor's nickname just as the conversation came to a lull, it wasn't until 10 minutes later that they started talking again so with that gap, I chose to look away from the phone for the time being, "Crazy Smart?"
"I don't care what other people call me, Tyler." Jericho's answer got an eye roll from both me and Alissa.
"Ok, Ga-"
"Except that." He shot the grinning Duskkin a glare before turning to me, "Keep reading and make actual progress."
With a sigh of faked resignation, I pressed my thumb on the screen and kept reading-
Crazy Smart: Tyler has bought his phone. I will convince him to scan your contacts and make connections with you.
Girl: Oh! Uhm. Sorry for the late reply! I was busy with a few things right? But thanks! I'll keep that in mind! \ (* ^ *) /
Crazy Smart: It is fine. You're welcome.
"Dear God." Alissa's horror filled voice made me flinch, turning my head slightly, I met the eyes of the Duskkin, who was standing directly behind me, reading the texts.
"What?" I asked, wondering if the Duskkin is joking because of the sudden change in attitude. "Is something wrong?"
Her nose scrunched up, "What do you mean is something wrong?" She asked in abject horror, "The way Jericho texts' is outright horrendous!"
The man in question rolled his eyes, "Stop acting like a teenage girl and be professional." I looked at him, was he playing along?
In response, the Duskkin crossed her arms, "And what? End up texting like you?"
"Ignore her, Tyler." Says Jericho.
"What's wrong with his texts?" I asked.
"What?" She asked back.
"What's wrong with-"
"Yeah, I heard you the first time." Shaking her head, Alissa sat back down at her overeer's desk and just started messing with the computer there.
"Was she joking?" I asked Jericho and he shrugged.
"You can never know with her." After he said that, I heard a feminine huff behind me.
I kept reading,
Crazy Smart: Sorry but Tyler won't be getting your contacts anytime soon, we are still about to register him. I am sorry.
Girl: Jeez, you scared me there for a second! And I don't mind!
Girl: Also, you don't have to say sorry, but yeah. Thanks again?
Girl: Hello! I know it's probably gonna take a while but I'm also here to say that I would also like to keep in contact with you? You know, for stuff?
Crazy Smart: What stuff?
Girl: Uhmm... You sell things right? You know, like Techie Tech?
Crazy Smart: I am not a Techie.
Girl: Okay? Cool. But do you sell stuff?
Crazy Smart: No.
Girl: Do... you know people that do?
Crazy Smart: Yes.
"See that right there? That's a pause if I've seen one and I can just hear the poor girl sigh in frustration." Alissa came back to stand right next to me so that she can complain about the way Jericho text's again. Which is something that I personally didn't get.
"What's wrong with the way he texts?" I asked as I went back to reading, nothing much happened for a while and it was just the two of them talking back and forth about who the girl should go to if she wanted to buy high-tech stuff- Something that I don't doubt she can do.
Girl: Right! Right! Thanks. I didn't actually know there are so many shops in the market that offer that sort of thing. Hehe.
Crazy Smart: You are welcome. But I suggest you ask Tyler to help you buy those things instead of going there yourself. It is dangerous to do so.
Girl: Okay! But what if I just... I don't know, ask him to escort me or somesuch? That is also a good idea, right?
Crazy Smart: Yes it is. And you can arrange it with him once you get his contacts.
Girl: I will! And again, thanks!
Crazy Smart: You are welcome.
I turned the phone off and handed it back to Jericho, "So what now? Is she gonna be my first client?" I held up my own phone and stared at the girl's saved contacts, no message yet. "Did I mention that I think it's pretty weird that I'll keep in touch with her?"
"There are a lot of things out there that are "weirder" than that Tyler. You should suck it up and tolerate people for once." Was Jericho's reply.
"Okay?.." I drawled, "So I should probably get going right?" I pointed behind me with my thumb, "can I just do that?"
"You can, yeah," Alissa replied politely.
"Guess I'll go then," I turned around only to quickly do a 180, "Before I do..." I didn't need to say anything more cause Jericho handed me more than enough Digits to go back and forth the slums and middle Gloria.
"Thanks! Hope to never see you again!" I waved behind me as I left the registration room with a grin.