Luckily for Calvin, Dox only looked like an evil genius scientist, specifically the evil part.
At most, she was only 'kinda’ evil.
What’s an undeniable fact is that she’s a genius who’s much much smarter than him. Case-in-point: their experiments. With her boundless wisdom, the little girl had elected for him to utilize a particular facet of [Gourmand’s Insight] to analyze the toxins.
“Orange, sugar, cinnamon, and organophosphates…” Calvin listed out the ingredients that popped into his head. “I have no idea what that is.”
After double-checking using his power, he nodded before taking out his finger from the glass of juice mixed with the poison. He wiped it off with a prepared towel before taking off the noise-canceling headphones, vision-impairing blindfolds, and scent-obscuring nose plug.
“Holy sh—”, he jolted backwards after seeing Dox’s face with her crazed grin hovering just inches away from his face, “can you get off of me?”
She ignored his words, continuing to stare for a moment before finally jumping off and making laps around the chair. On her head was the eye-mounted scanner, the same scanner whose design she’d been trying to mimic, using it to observe the changes in his power while mumbling and making excitable noises with every orbit around him.
“Aha! So that’s how it works? It’s amazing! The difference is incredibly minute— I almost missed it myself, but it’s definitely quantifiable… I need to make changes to the scanner’s plans,” she started talking louder as she got back in front of Calvin.
“What did you find out?” Calvin asked, curious.
“That this is more amazing than I thought!” She exclaimed, eyes locking back towards his own. “It’s almost like a self-referential entity not too different from a quantum object rapidly fluctuating through predictable superpositions with weighted intervals! Each probabilistic state appears only briefly between the folds of the fluctuations, but they differ in length based on the reinforced plausibility caused by minor external stimuli—”
“I know some of those words,” he mumbled.
He eventually stopped listening to her science-y explanation, feeling a migraine coming like he just overused his power. Instead, he laid his tired head back on the comfortable sofa chair, staring upwards and summoning the super windows to see the difference.
Super Help
Gourmand's Insight - Path of the Chemist
200/200 unique toxicants analyzed
Super Help
Gourmand's Insight - Path of Senses
815/500 dishes analyzed with taste
196/300 dishes analyzed with sight
313/300 dishes analyzed with smell
21/200 dishes analyzed with touch
1/100 dishes analyzed with sound
Super Help
Gourmand's Insight The Super is able to know the ingredients of any food item via any sense, as well as instinctively sense any additional ingredient in the vicinity that would enhance said food item. Super Evolution (4/7)
Super Help
Gourmand's Insight The Super is able to know the ingredients of any food item via any sense, as well as instinctively sense any additional ingredient in the vicinity that would enhance said food item. Super Evolution (4/7)
'There it is. Any sense. How could I forget about that part? Am I really just that…’ “Haah…”, he sighed, feeling like he’d get nothing done if he never asked for any help from everyone around him. 'I wonder… should I put some points in Super Mind? Would that help?’
“Are you unwell, friend?” The adorable face of a teddy bear suddenly appeared in his vision.
Sebastien, Dox’s AI assistant, approached Calvin from behind, embodying a new form that was less 'weird robot chicken’ and more 'six-foot-tall malnourished teddy bear’. It was, as far as he could recall, the default body he used whenever Dox and him were doing actual work.
It was also the least terrifying.
“Yeah… I’m fine, just feeling stupid, I guess,” he chuckled deprecatingly, “I thought I literally had to poison myself two hundred times to unlock it.”
“Calvin, there’s no need to fret over your obviously lacking mental capabilities—”
“Hey now—”
“—as it’s simply a difference of perspective and habit. I am sure you would have realized it sooner were you to experiment by yourself.”
His brows furrowed, “Perspective and habit?”
“Indeed,” the teddy bear nodded. “Can you remind me what your superpower does?”
“The one we’re testing?”
“Yes. In the simplest terms you can.”
“It lets me know what ingredients a dish has, I think. Drinks included.”
“And how did you normally do that before your superpowers?”
“I… tasted them like a normal human being? I don’t get where you’re going.”
“How can you differentiate it with your sense of touch now?”
He thought for a moment, recalling the feeling, “It was like I was feeling the texture of each ingredient even though it’s all liquid. It’s weird.”
“It’s not weird, it’s habit. Despite your power obviously having a passive prefix, it is constantly being limited due to your habit.”
“It has a passive prefix?”
“You needn’t use it consciously to activate it. Such is that prefix.”
“But then why doesn’t it normally activate with the other senses?”
“I told you. Habit. Your subconscious tendency to be a 'normal human being’,” He reiterated.
“It’s not a subconscious tendency to be human. I literally am human, Seb.”
“No,” Teddy Sebastien shook its head lightly, “you’re superhuman, Calvin. Changing your habits, your perception, in context of your superpowers should be one of the first things you learn to do.”
“What… like change how I taste food?”
“No, how you analyze food. Taste is the subjective tendency to analyze it primarily by taste.”
“Well, that’s going to be tough,” he chuckled, an idea coming to his head, “so if I change my subconscious to see other stuff as food…”
“I wouldn’t say it wouldn’t affect your power, but such a drastic change, if it is even possible, would likely affect your life negatively,” Seb cruelly shattered his daydream, “but, then again, you’ve already pioneered more groundbreaking discoveries than most people alive, who’s to say there won’t be another one?”
“Thanks for that,” he chuckled.
“You’re welcome. I, personally, look forward to the day you start subsisting through the consumption of rocks and metal.”
Calvin’s lips flattened, “…yeah, maybe not.”
“A wise choice. Still, I’d find it unlikely to change that particular aspect of your power without evolution. Gimmicks are known to have fairly strict rulesets, which stems from the lack of understanding of that particular branch of superpowers. Although it might change in the near future now that you’ve made a deal with my creator,” the teddy’s paw patted his thigh affectionately, “my condolences for that, dear friend.”
“It’s not that bad… right?” He glanced towards Dox.
The little girl was currently surrounded by multiple screens, typing furiously on multiple keyboards with multiple arms attached to her shoulders. The image of a child Vishnu using their mechanical arms to type furiously on eight holographic keyboards was something Calvin wished he could take a picture of.
“It can’t be that bad. Dox is nice.”
“You truly are a beacon of positivity,” Sebastien nodded, “in any case, now that it has come to this, I will try and figure out a way for you to travel safely to and from the lab, hopefully before your next visit. I already have two ideas in mind.”
“I can’t bring a vending machine to my dorm room.”
“I have one idea in mind.”
“No space for extra fridges too.”
“I will have a new idea in time,” Sebastien gave a firm statement. “I’ll make sure to make it inconspicuous.”
“I’d appreciate that,” he chuckled, standing up to stretch his stiff body. He looked towards Dox, who was now looking like she was having a brain blast. A thought popped up again, reminding him of why he actually came here in the first place, “Speaking of the 'deal’, there’s something I need.”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Anything,” the teddy nodded.
“Remember what I asked earlier? The essence-source thingy? I need it for another path— or, er, evolution.”
“I think we’ll have trouble procuring that particular requirement.”
“What? Why?” His brows raised at his words. “What is it anyway?”
“Firstly, a question, what powers your superpowers?”
“A pop quiz? Really? Can’t you just tell me what it is?”
“I can, but it would be good for you to learn this way.”
Calvin sighed, “I thought about this before… and experienced it I guess. Physics, or at least their powers, use stamina— like physical stamina. Mystics use mental stamina, or whatever makes my head ache when I use [Colour Control]. Finally, Gimmicks use… spirit stamina? I don’t know how to explain it. Something deeper inside gets tired, makes me feel weak without making my body weak… now that I’m talking about it, it sounds dumb.
“No, no, it’s not. It’s surprisingly informative, there’s no recorded information of a person with multiple powers talking about a topic like this. It looks like you’ve pioneered another potential breakthrough in science, Calvin.”
“Hooray,” he raised his arms sarcastically.
“Three different types of stamina… interesting. But don’t tell me you think it makes sense, friend. Your power that permanently changes an object’s colour, [Colour Control] as you call it, uses 'mental stamina’ to create such an effect… do you think the cost and result balance out?”
“I’m going to guess no.”
“You’d be guessing right,” Sebastien nodded, “That’s what essence is believed to be, the energy that supplements the deficiency in cost. A self-replicating, self-regenerating, and invisible power source. That you just proved existed with your consumption of the sleeping aid.”
“[Dreamless Drops]… tinker tech probably has it too,” he scratched his chin, a small part of his explanation bothering him. “Self-replicating?”
“That’s the dubious part of the theory, since no one knows where it’s coming from and no one has the technology to know, everyone just accepts that part as a fact— which you, again, disproved by asking for that particular requirement.”
“So you don’t know what an essence-source is? Or how to get it?”
“Unfortunately. 'Essence-source’, as you call it—”
“Essence-source!” Dox suddenly shouted, instantly appearing in front of Calvin and grabbing his shoulders with all eight arms. “Yes! That’s right, you’re a genius, Cal!”
“I am?”
“The pieces of the puzzle! Your explanation, the data we gathered so far, and finally essence-source! It makes sense! The evolution of metahuman abilities is simply the harmonization of quantum oscillatory wave functions of the ability! Instead of states collapsing through modulation of probabilistic entropy utilizing an external observer, the state’s immediate coherence comes when enough essence is generated through actions that cement existential potential— which means it generates essence within itself! The entire ecosystem is powered by itself, and then some! An overunity toy!”
“Can you dumb it down for the dumb people in the crowd?”
“Our working theory boils down to evolution having two requirements,” she got down from him and held up two fingers in front of his face, “the determination of all plausible quantum oscillation frequency and adequate quantum energy to collapse all the states!”
“Dumber,” Calvin requested. “I swear you’re just putting the word 'quantum’ in front of everything.”
“A die must know how many sides it has and must have enough power to throw itself,” Sebastien dumbed it down even more. “In your case, having to discover all possible evolutions and fulfilling enough 'requirements’.”
“That—” he glanced to the side.
Super Help
Jumper The super can gather strength and propel themselves off of any surface. Super Evolution (2/???)
“—is what I thought too. I only found out how to evolve one power when all options unlocked.”
“There’s more we can discover, more experiments to perform, more theories to theorize!” Dox laughed wildly, going back to her multiple screens. “Essence-source, it needs a better name!”
“What does that have to do with what an essence-source is and not being able to get it?” Calvin’s head was swimming from the overload of scientific terms and discoveries.
“Her current hypothesis posits that the generation of essence, from what you call an 'essence-source’, exists alongside the ability. Which means…”
“It’s inside people with superpowers,” Calvin frowned. “I mean, in hindsight, it’s obvious.”
“What’s not obvious is finding it. And, much more, procuring one. And, even further, creating a dish you can analyze.”
“Yeah… I can’t just kill another super and eat them. Guess I’m giving up on that path too…” Calvin muttered, disappointed, but not surprised.
“No!” Dox suddenly shouted, turning around with desperate eyes. “You can’t give up! We need the data! I’ll make sure to find a way, so don’t give up on any of the paths!”
Calvin’s eyes narrowed, “One of them is having to eat only perfected dishes for three hundred days straight, and another might involve cannibalism.”
“It’s only three hundred days!” She pleaded. “And I’ll find a way to get an essence-source!”
“I don’t know, it feels too long to wait for something this big.”
“Most people take years if not decades before their abilities go through evolution,” Sebastien weighed in his opinion. “You’ve only had that superpower for half a year.”
“Yeah! Plus! We need to consider the possibility that unlocking the spectrum of all possible evolutions yields a significantly amplified result, irrespective of the choice you make!”
It took a moment to process her words, but it had an effect once he did, “You think if I unlock everything before evolving the power… it’ll make it much stronger?”
“I didn’t just make it up on the spot! I promise!”
His eyes narrowed at the girl looking aggrieved. On one hand, [Gourmand’s Insight] was a power he never really used outside of cooking. He could probably work as a taste-tester for a king with the newly-gained 'perspective’ and knowledge from their experiment, but he didn’t know any kings.
He knew of a Quinn, but none else.
“I really didn’t!” She reiterated.
“Fine… we did make a deal,” Calvin nodded. “I’ll need to test what a perfect food is first.”
“That’s fine! I was going to ask you not to unlock any of the other evolutions anyway.”
“What? Why?” Calvin frowned.
“I need to finish the scanner and make something better to observe fluctuations in your abilities,” she said excitedly, “and I need to make it so I can use it remotely!”
“So I don’t have to keep going back here?”
“You are a student, Calvin,” Sebastien reminded him.
“Speaking of, I need to go back now—”
“Wait! There’s something else!” She turned to Sebastien. “Get one of the boxes of guns! The latest prototypes!”
“Understood,” the teddy nodded before going limp.
“Guns?” Calvin asked, not sure if he misheard.
“Yes! I need to protect my precious test subject, so I’m giving you guns!”
“But why plural?”
Suddenly, a box appeared on the floor beneath them, popping up from underneath the tiles, covered with wrappers with a bow on top.
“I was going to give you some when you become a hero, but I guess I’ll have to find another thing in the meantime!” She grinned, shoving the box into his arms. “Instructions are inside, so you’ll be fine. I’ll contact you when I finish the prototype,” her eyes widened as if she just remembered what she’d been doing earlier, “the prototype! Sebastien, turn the lab into Tunnel-vision mode!”
“Understood.”
She shouted to the teddy bear and ran back to her screens, ignoring everything else that wasn’t in front of her.
“Uh… okay?” Calvin couldn’t handle anymore of the whirlwind of a little genius that was Dox. He suddenly felt a grabber wrap around his waist. “Huh?”
“Apologies, dear friend,” Sebastien’s voice rang in his ear, “there’s no time.”
“Wait a minute—”
He could only scream as he got dragged into the darkness of the lab.
----------------------------------------
“Haah… home at last,” Calvin arrived back in his dorm, immediately using [Jumper] to fling himself towards the bed. “Fuck… I forgot to ask about the other powers. Haah… maybe for next time, I’ll experiment on my own.”
As he mulled over the tiring interaction with the mad scientist, a timely message alerted its presence with a vibration on his watch.
> p4rad0x: I apologize for your prompt exit, the lab is currently in lockdown and will not be accessible until I finish my current task. I doubt you wanted to be locked in with me for an indeterminable amount of time.
>
> p4rad0x: Regarding the box, I advise you not to open it until you’ve made sure there are no prying eyes on you. I suggest heading back to your dorm room first. There are instructions inside to assist in the usage.
>
> p4rad0x: Until your next visit, dear friend.
“Oh yeah, there was that,” he sighed, sitting back up and summoning the box from his pocket. “A box of guns— how many guns can fit in this?”
He tore open the wrapping, revealing a nondescript metal case with a single big red button on top. He picked it up and shook it, hearing a bunch of loose hollow thuds from inside like it was filled with something light like marshmallows.
“Don’t tell me the guns are 'Dox size’,” he muttered, staring suspiciously at the book-sized box.
No label, no instructions, not even seams to indicate where the lid was, just a plain box with a button. The entire thing seemed quite ominous, especially considering he got it from a literal mad scientist, so anyone would be hesitant to press the button.
But still, it was a big red button.
“Boop.”
The box’s top split in the middle and slid to the side, revealing the contents with a dramatic cloud of cold smoke— a bundle of severed fingers.
“What the fuck?!” Calvin almost jumped back, retching as he looked away. “Wait— it’s Dox, it’s probably not real fingers.”
He breathed deep and looked again, his stomach trembling at the sight of ultra-realistic fingers neatly stacked on the box like they were cigars. There was a holographic panel on top of the box, likely appearing after he opened it, showing instructions on what the object was and how to use them.
p4rad0x’s Single-use Finger Guns How to use:
1. Remove the Finger Gun sleeve from the foam.
2. Wear the Finger Gun on your dominant hand’s forefinger.
3. Make a fist.
4. Point towards the enemy with the Single-use Finger Gun.
5. Extend your thumb perpendicularly.
6. When you’re ready to shoot, bring down the thumb towards the Single-use Finger Gun.
Bang!
7. Clean up the mess.
P.S. This product is intended for those who do not use the finger gun hand gestures in their daily lives
P.P.S. p4rad0x is not liable for any damages caused by your negligence
p4rad0x’s Single-use Finger Guns How to use:
1. Remove the Finger Gun sleeve from the foam.
2. Wear the Finger Gun on your dominant hand’s forefinger.
3. Make a fist.
4. Point towards the enemy with the Single-use Finger Gun.
5. Extend your thumb perpendicularly.
6. When you’re ready to shoot, bring down the thumb towards the Single-use Finger Gun.
Bang!
7. Clean up the mess.
P.S. This product is intended for those who do not use the finger gun hand gestures in their daily lives
P.P.S. p4rad0x is not liable for any damages caused by your negligence
“Hooh… not fingers,” he sighed in relief after reading the instructions. He gingerly picked up one of the Finger Guns, humming in surprise at how light it was. “Step one… Finger Gun sleeve— oh, that’s neat,” he brought the 'sleeve’ up close, “it’s like snake shedding… but grosser. I can equip it fast— wait a minute.”
He let go of the Finger Gun and picked it up again, eyes widening in surprise as nothing popped up.
“No Super Equip… so it’s not tinker tech? How does this work, then? It’s thinner than paper…”, he waved it around, feeling gross as the realistic skin flapped around. “Should I test it out? I should, right?”
Calvin sleeved the Finger Gun on his right forefinger, humming in fascination as he felt like there was nothing on it. It looked like there was nothing on his finger, just that he had a weird tan since the skin colour wasn’t exactly the same. But that was an easy fix for him.
“I should work on [Colour Control], more. It’s so useful,” he chuckled. “Where should I…”, he looked around his room, the memory of him testing the unknown superpower coming back to him. “Yeah… maybe not now.”
He re-sleeved the finger on the piece of foam and put it back in the box, pocketing the case before laying back on the bed.
“She didn’t say anything about unlocking paths in other powers,” he muttered, opening his particular favorite.
Super Help
Colour Control Manipulate and alter the colour of any object at will. Super Evolution (0/???)
“I can’t even think of any path to unlock in this one. Manipulate and alter pretty much encompasses the entire thing, I don’t understand how it can evolve,” he swiped away the window. “What about [Jumper]?”
Super Help
Jumper The super can gather strength and propel themselves off of any surface. Super Evolution (2/???)
“The gather strength part might be a lead. Also, propel… maybe I can repel something instead? Or I can go with testing the surface part?” He listed off possibilities in a notepad, feeling excited. He breathed deeply to cool his beating heart, “Calm down, it’s only the first step. There’s no need to hurry. Just list stuff for now… like what Seb said. Habit and perspective, what habits can I break from those, and perspectives I can take.”
With those thoughts, he pinned the note on his holowatch and laid his head onto a pillow, taking out the bottle [Dreamless Drops] to get some sleep.