෴Raz෴
෴Hex෴
෴෴෴ ෴෴෴ ෴෴෴
[No, that ability has an energy to offense ratio that is so low it does not merit consideration.]
[If you plan to pursue a directed energy ability path, energy efficiency and energy efficacy are key elements of your choice.]
Ok, so let me make sure I get you. Metalopathy and Ferrokinesis are part of the same tree, and are eventually good but take a long time to master, and require some grok, er, enhanced cognition, to use very effectively. Straight up telekinesis is super inefficient and no good as a combat ability.
[More or less correct.]
[Directly manipulating remote matter is generally both energy inefficient and requires either high levels of enhanced cognition or years of practice to master.]
[You asked about the abilities that focus on manipulating metals.]
[There are notes that imply it eventually becomes extremely energy efficient, but it does not start that way.]
Then couldn’t that telekinesis be the same?
[Yes, that it is entirely possible.]
[It is also an unknown, and you might need to fill the tree or even multiple trees before we know if it was worth it.]
Multiple trees? Do some trees affect others?
[Why are you asking stupid questsion?]
[You already possess an ability that affects things outside its tree.]
Synergistic Interfacing? Do other trees have similar abilities that affect other things?
[We know there is at least one such ability. It stands to reason that there could be others.]
Rather than going down that rabbit hole, let's talk about something more basic. Are directed energy type abilities even the way to go? Maybe I should be getting super strength and durability. That would solve the vulnerability problem, and they’re classics as far as abilities go.
[Provisional agreement.]
[For maximal combat effectiveness, both a close and long range ability are best.]
[It would be advisable to also pursue the 'standards'.]
[Enhanced strength, agility, speed, and durability.]
[Caution, many notes imply that too much focus in those 'standards' areas leads to insufficient flexibility to deal with unusual enemy ability types or mixed combat.]
So you’re saying I can’t just hulk up and hope for the best? Oh well, I wasn’t thinking about that for real, just don’t want my life cut short by a stray bulle—
A sudden sensation passed over the edge of his awareness. He willed the scan on.
[Scanning.]
[Enhanced Consciousness detected!]
[Possible counter scan or detection.]
Can we be more sneaky?
[Falling back to passive scans.]
That means an active scan could be detected right?
[Exactly.]
He heard the front door open and close.
Raz finished getting dressed and headed to the kitchen. As he passed the living room, he heard low muffled voices from outside the front door. Sia’s tone sounded urgent, the lower-pitched replies also sounded urgent, and annoyingly familiar.
So that asshole’s back. There’s a mixed bag of shit I guess. Maybe I can get some answers now. So he has enhanced cognition. I guess that makes sense the way he uses his armor.
[Enhanced cognition would absolutely be a requirement for the uses he puts his control of metal to.]
Why do I have this feeling you’re going to be trying to get me to go into that tree once we get untethered from this Somat—the healing tree.
[Somatic Restoration, and enhanced cognition would be a powerful synergy with all current and future abilities.]
I believe you, I even accept the truth of what you’re saying. I really do.
Raz looked down at himself.
But if I can't take a hit, and I can't deliver a hit, the first guy like Hutch or that Russian guy, or even the speedster with the nice ass, that comes along is going to turn me into a smear on the sidewalk, no matter how well I see it coming or how smart I am.
[Fidel is the one you mentally dubbed ‘the Russian guy’.]
[Lisa is the one with enhanced speed among other abilities, and according to you, a nice ass.]
Good, if I’m lucky I’ll never see them again. But if I do, I’ll need to have some real teeth.
[The notes stress in many ways, across multiple languages, the importance of a solid foundation.]
Ugh. What does that even mean?
[Collecting the requisite abilities to support future ability builds]
Outstanding, you’ve confirmed that I’ve been spending a lot of catalyst for not much in return.
[Foundation is an investment in the future.]
Well, I get that, but that assumes I survive until that future.
[Your foundation is doing well.]
I hope that’s your sign off on the idea, because as soon as I can, I’m going after some kind of actual combat ability.
[Continued survival is of course also a high priority.]
I’m so glad you agree that staying alive also matters. Raz thought sarcastically.
But seriously, it’s great that you’re thinking big picture, and you clearly have access to some nice full build strategies or something. But we’re only alive right now, because she over-geared me, and then still had to put her own life at risk to extract me when the shit hit the fan.
[Also, a reminder, enhanced cognition does not truly increase your intelligence, it only—]
Raz willed the message away. Yeah yeah, I get it. Mostly for working with abilities. Abilities of which I somehow have managed to have a lot of, and effectively none, at the same time! Blah blah foundation, etc. Some people get one treatment and come out bulletproof, or shooting fire. All I got was an imaginary friend! That’s the bullshit I need to fix!
Raz sat down in the living room to listen to the conversation occurring out in the stairwell. He turned on the tv, leaving it muted as he dialed up his hearing and listened to their conversation. The sounds slowly resolved into a sort of low-res, lossy, three-dimensional representation of them in the stairwell.
“—I left it down in the parking garage.” Midnight said.
“It’s just sitting there? What about all the opsec you’re always getting on me about?” she replied.
Raz could almost hear the other man shrug. “I left it shaped like a stack of parking bumpers against a wall in a parking garage. It’ll be fine, no one will look at them twice. It weighs over 4000 pounds, it’s not going anywhere. That’s not the point though. Things are going off the rails right now. Do you have anything to report? And what are you wearing?”
Stolen novel; please report.
Sia showed her agitating with biting sarcasm. “It’s a dress, Maybe you’ve heard of them. And yeah. You could say I’ve got things to report. Number one, that damn data fob of yours got me brain fucked by Wilson’s truth ability. I dodged a bullet there, but they’ll be coming back around to that topic at some point. Number two, on a related note, stiffing WD40 on the bill has Wilson looking to blow a gasket over every little thing. If I read him right, he’s on the edge of making some very bad decisions.”
“What do you mean stiff—” Midnight started to reply before she talked over him.
Much as I hate to admit it, I need to talk to him. But after they get done arguing.
Raz heard her pace past the door. “I don’t know what the holdup on your end is, but you need to understand that to Wilson, this isn’t a delayed payment. He isn’t filing you under customers to bill at the end of the month. In his eyes, he’s got a bunch of dead friends from an unexpectedly lethal job, and you’re skipping out on the bill.”
“Yeah, that’s a tough situation, and I’m going to handle it, but I think you know I was asking about him. Anything to report about him?”
“I knew what you meant. I’m just not doing it.”
From her tone and the sounds of her movements, Raz could imagine her stepping right up to Midnight and poking her finger into his chest.
“You’re up to your neck in shit and instead of dealing with it, you want to put me into some kind of prisoner’s dilemma bullshit?”
Midnight sounded frustrated. “No, I just—”
Her tone rose. “Shut up! I’m not done! You wanted my report. Here’s what you need to, and should already, know.”
She paused, as though daring Midnight to interrupt her. “First thing, he doesn’t like you.”
She paused and from the small sounds, Raz suspected she’d cut Midnight off with a gesture before he said anything. “Right now,” she made an angry, frustrated sound.
“I don’t like you either,” she finished.
Raz didn’t hear any response from Midnight, but noticed the news was covering his alleged responsibility for a chemical weapons attack on a peace treaty and refugee camp in Kathmandu. A journalist’s shaky cam footage showed him appearing on the scene just as the missiles blew, then hovering in place, looking over the disaster scene for several seconds before flying off screen at a high speed back the way he’d come from.
Sia’s next comment caught his attention. “You need to watch yourself out there! Your actions have already turned him into a wanted man.”
“I’ll be careful.” Midnight replied without sounding very confident.
“Yeah, you’ll be careful, but he’ll be dead!” she retorted.
Raz watched the scene replayed across several stations. Each one either implied or simply stated that Midnight had attacked the refugee camps and schools there for reasons no one was really trying to articulate.
The argument outside the door continued unabated.
“—No! Not even close. His dislike and distrust of you are at the point that if you say left, he’s going to go right. You keep saying he’s important, that I’m important, but if that were true, you wouldn’t be treating us both like–like, afterthoughts!”
Midnight muttered something softly enough that Raz couldn’t quite make it out.
“Yeah, you are! Right now, you’re being shitty to both of us. I owe you a lot, and I appreciate you. But, I’ve also given you a lot. We’re not mushrooms, stop treating us like we are.”
Hah, you tell him.
Raz started to wonder if he should go out there and interrupt them with his own concerns.
A small sound told him Midnight had started to say something. She cut him off with a stomp. “Shut the fuck up! I’m still not done. What you need to know is that if Wilson even gets a whiff that he’s here with me, and I haven’t brought him in, you’ll have made a permanent enemy of WD40, and probably gotten Raz killed just to spite you. They’ll take me out too, if they can manage it.”
Raz felt rather than heard the thrumming feeling of an unfamiliar ability. He wondered which one of them it belonged to.
[Prior data suggests that this is an active enhanced cognition skill used by designated opponent Midnight.]
So you’re right about that. You’re loving that no doubt.
[Yes.]
Raz shifted in his seat, wondering if eavesdropping was just going to make things worse. Sia proved him wrong a moment later.
“No, I don’t care. I’m not going to quiet down. He has some kind of enhanced senses, so I’m sure he’s heard every word out here. I’m not keeping any more secrets from him. I probably shouldn't have even told you that much!”
It’s good to hear where she stands on this.
The ability Raz had sensed coming from Midnight cut off. “Damn it Hex, I don’t—we don’t have time for this! I’ve got months of work ahead, and weeks to do it if I’m lucky.”
“There you go again, being vague. What is this thing you've been so concerned about?”
Midnight muttered something Raz couldn't make out. He could hear them moving out in the stairwell.
“Oh my god, give me some breathing space! I didn’t want to say anything, but why do you smell so bad?” She asked.
Midnight sniffed loudly. “Oh, shit!” He exclaimed.
The sound of his movements and voice became agitated. “That smell might be chemical weapons residue! You need to get rid of those clothes and release that aspect right away!” The words were followed by the sound of rushing air and the sense of fast moment, followed by silence.
“You asshole! This is my best dress!” A few seconds after that there was the sound of more soft cursing from Sia and then the feeling of a Hex departure from the stairwell.
What the hell? So there’s some truth to the chemical weapons story? One more answer I need from him.
Raz got up and headed for the door. As he neared the door he felt one of Hex’s aspects arrive in the apartment.
“Raz? I’m going to have to wear a different dress, any thoughts?”
“How about that little black one with the cleavage cutout. I like that one.” he replied.
Another cool energy pulse announced the arrival of another aspect. “Yeah, about that. I’m going to need to replace that dress. Got a second favorite?”
“Is nothing an option? That’s my actual favorite outfit.”
“Well, enjoy it then, but this outfit makes it hard to go out and do things.” She came around the corner in his favorite ‘outfit’ and pulled him close. He pulled her in close and enjoyed her pressing against him. Her warm skin had the smooth, soft, feeling he associated with first thing in the morning on a lazy lie-in kind of weekend day. To him, her hair smelled faintly of ozone, hot metal, and her.
Raz inhaled deeply. “Interesting. Is that the stormy girl scent, the smell of a brand new aspect?”
She jerked back, pulled away from him with a self conscious embarrassed expression. “What scent? Do I smell bad?”
“What? No. I just wonde—”
She fled the room. “I’ll take a shower! We’re still going dancing!” she called out over her shoulder on the way to her bedroom.
“I was just wondering!” he called out after her. She either didn't hear, or ignored him and hopped into the shower.
“Well, there went an hour, minimum.” Raz muttered to himself as he sat down on the couch. He resigned himself to passing the time playing with his interface and queuing questions into Bee for further research.
That must be her “hot off the press” scent. It’s not natural, and this is probably weird, but I could get to like it. The real challenge is to convince her of that. I wonder how long till he comes back to finish their conversation.
*** *** ***
When she came out a few minutes later he stopped what he was doing and let out a low whistle.
“Wow.” he said it without thinking.
Sia started to turn away as though unsure what to make of his response. Her body language was clear as day to Raz. Somehow he could tell that despite looking fantastic, and the way he showed her, frequently, how attractive she was to him, that she was insecure about her appearance in the moment. Her overall affect told him exactly what she needed right then.
“No, stay. I want to look at you.” His tone was calm but firm.
She stood there, spots of color appearing on her cheeks. He took in the sight of her. Her hair teased up into a complicated style that left her bare shoulders exposed, dressed to the nines in a tight shimmering deep blue dress that accentuated her pale blue eyes. The dress had several strategic cut outs that drew his eyes to smooth sun kissed tanned skin. Forcing his gaze back to the dress, he noticed that it showed a surprising length of her legs in some kind of sheer stockings. Sparkling silver open-toed sandals with heels completed the outfit.
“You look amazing. I’m honestly not sure I’ve ever seen you looking so good.” He looked her up and down again. She saw his gaze and looked both eager and nervous. She stood there looking away and biting her lower lip.
“You really like it?” She asked him, looking somewhere off to the side. “It’s not too—girly?”
Raz let out an involuntary bark of laughter. “Babe, it is exactly the right amount of girly.”
She smiled and then looked at him for real. He saw her taking in his cargo pants, work boots, and tshirt, and then saw her try to hide her disappointment.
“Uh—we are still going to that store first right?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh… oh shit. You’re right. I got carried away after…” she looked past him toward the front door “That whole thing.”
He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, that whole thing. Do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head emphatically. “I’ll answer your questions if you have any, but to be totally honest, no, I really don’t.”
He shrugged. “Ok, I might have some questions later, but for now, how about you just bring out another aspect and you can stay all dressed up fo—”
He felt a rapid series of Hex arrivals behind him.
She laughed across multiple bodies. “Uh, yeah. About that. Like I said, I got carried away.”
He turned to see the rest of her aspects all dressed in various outfits more suited to hitting a nightclub than going, well, anywhere else. Each one had their hair styled differently, with very different makeup. After a moment of looking, he realized this is how she must go places with more than one aspect. With his knowledge, he could tell they were all her, but dressed and made up as they were, they could easily pass for sisters or just similar looking women instead of the same person.
“I see. I hadn’t realized it would be a group event.”
They all shrugged in unison. “Are you saying you wouldn’t like to walk into the club with six women around you, who only have eyes for you?”
He couldn’t prevent the grin at the thought. “Uh, I’m not saying that at all. In fact, I think you’ve just created a new fantasy I didn’t have before.”
Nona pointed at her short wavy hair and spoke up. “I didn’t have to do much with this hair, so I guess I’m elected.” She vanished.
Raz turned to the rest of them, “So, we’ll head over to… Wherever this place is, and then be back in time for fun this evening?”
Nona popped back in, still wearing more makeup than usual, but now clad in what he thought of as her ‘Hex gear’ bdus, a plate carrier, and military-style boots. “Pretty much. Let’s get going. The sooner we go, the sooner we’re back. Get that case and let’s go.”
Oh no, was he actually leaving for real? I still need to talk to him!