Training has been relentless for the past couple of weeks and I have to take whatever breaks I can. Every day, I practice from the time I wake up to the point where I’m too tired to continue. As it is I’m not taking a proper break now either. Technically I’m still training as I sit meditating and feeling the world around me. Inevitably my thoughts drift and I find myself beginning to reflect on my life in the recent past. I occasionally come close to losing my concentration, but my efforts are starting to pay off, little by little.
No matter what I try, I still can’t stop thinking about Michelle. I think I spend more time thinking about the fact that I couldn’t work myself up to asking her out properly than I do falling off a building now. At least I got her number… Hopefully I didn’t friendzone myself… right? I totally friendzoned myself didn’t I? GAAAHH, why?! My tail coils around my waist, as has become my custom recently when I’m feeling insecure about something. I really need to stop thinking about it! Nothing I can do until I have time to get in touch anyways. Think about something else!
Instead I focus on the results of my training. The first few days had gone much like the first, only less exciting. Every day I hoped for some groundbreaking new skill, or sudden mastery to occur. It didn’t. Regrettably it was terribly normal, well, you know, from a learning sense. Less so from the hurling cars with your mind perspective. Just a little better every day. On balance, looking back I’ve made heaps of progress, but I can’t say it hasn’t felt like a bit of a slog despite how novel it all is.
At this point I have a lot more control. It’s still difficult to hold any more than 10 things. I can do it, but it requires a ton of focus. My record now is 18. More importantly though, as I’ve practiced my ability doesn’t tire me quite as much. It’s really hard to gauge while I use it though, so exhaustion still creeps up on me out of nowhere.
As for throwing things? That’s the bit of training that did get fun once I started to get it. After a lot of experimentation, I figured out that no matter what, if I just let go of something it just stops. As though it never actually gained momentum when I moved it. As someone fairly educated in the area of physics this was exceedingly baffling. What I eventually figured out was that if I held the object in place, I could sort of push on it. When I let go of it while holding that force it would rocket off.
The first time I was successful at throwing something was a steel ball about the size of a large marble. In all honesty I’d just been really frustrated at the time and more or less did it without thinking. It just took off with a brilliant flash of light and a peel of thunder. We have no idea how fast I launched it, but we think it may have been fast enough that it essentially disintegrated in the air. It had left a path of wreckage in its wake. Larger objects I can’t throw nearly so fast, but still terrifyingly quick just the same. They’d begun trying to measure what sort of energy I can generate throwing things, but as a general rule I’ve destroyed most apparatus they put together to attempt the feat.
Even with that success, it still took me days to figure out exactly what I did, how to aim it, adjust power, and all the other little details to make it a useful skill. All said and done, you could say I’m eager to do literally anything other than spend more time in this damn warehouse repeating the same day over and over.
“Maya! Maya! Where the hell did she go…?” Opening an eye and looking “above” myself I saw Matt looking around for me. I stood up, or is it down? I’m not really sure about the nomenclature for standing inverted on a ceiling. Doesn’t matter! Time for a little payback for all the times recently when he’s thrown stuff at me!
Adjusting my focus I begin to float free of the ceiling and maneuver myself right behind Matt as close as I can get.
“Behind you,” I whisper. As he turns his head to and fro I stay out of his field of view before zipping around in front of him and glomping on for a big hug. He jumps in surprise before hugging back.
“Gotchu, you're dead.”
“Wow, you are getting really good at flying. I guess you really are ready…”
“Maybe, I don’t know. Still freaks meowt though…” I’d become OK with the idea of being a spokesperson, maybe doing a few tricks. Undeniably I have powers that could do the whole hero thing, but still. That didn’t make the concept less terrifying.
“Well, looks like you’ve got a meeting on the topic..” They told me to have you head over.”
“Uhh OK, is there a car out front, orrrr?” I ask, promoting Matt to break into a smile.
“They said, you might as well fly. You’re wearing your Tinker Tailor super suit prototype right?”
“Uhh, yeah, I guess that will work… Off I go then. Talk to you later,” I give him another quick hug and head out of the building.
It turns out that Tinker Tailor is well beyond a genius. They’d delivered a trove of clothes for me in varying styles. The clothes were all top notch and I’d gotten practically a whole wardrobe of them. Needless to say, I’d been having a blast trying everything on and playing about with various combinations. On top of that they’d even talked Tinker Tailor into letting me be one of the early adopters of a transforming super suit. I can’t imagine how much that had cost DRF.
In it’s transformed state my super suit is a mostly black spandex catsuit with a lot of gold accents along with some blue and white. The gold is all in complex patterns on the outsides of my legs, the backs of my arms, and across by chest. The blue and white form a triangle one inside the other beneath my breasts. The suit does leave my face uncovered, as apparently DRF has some other solution in store. When it’s not in hero mode it shrinks down to become a cami. This does mean it transforms underneath most of my normal clothes, so I still need to deal with them, but I am ready at a moments notice.
“Hero mode activate,” I mutter quietly cheeks burning red. Those are the words to trigger my clothes to transform into hero configuration. This whole being a hero thing is so crazy, and I can’t help but be a little sheepish about announcing my status like that. With my super suit now deployed I take off everything else and I don’t really have anywhere to put them. I guess I’ll need to think about this a little more. With my clothes folded in my arms I’m ready to go.
I’m not about to lie. This is more than a little exciting. I still don’t really know how fast or how high I can fly yet. Looks like it’s time to learn. I don’t do anything as cliche as striking a pose or launching myself. Like in my practice, I just float away. It’s not long before I float way higher than I have been so far. I’ve had some time figuring this out inside, but it’s still a little terrifying to be this high off the ground with nothing between me and the ground. Last time I was this high up it didn’t end well.
Pushing through my reservations I allow myself to float ever higher until I’m well over most buildings. I don’t really know how much higher I can go, but I’m not going to find out today. My stomach is already roiling a little at the view. With that I get moving and start to accelerate towards the main DRF office. Despite my misgivings about adopting some sort of superhero pose aerodynamics has something to say about it and it’s not long before I’m flying like basically every other superhero.
During the flight I tried to gauge my speed but it turns out that’s really difficult when you have no frame of reference. I don’t actually even know how high I’m flying. Looks like I have more testing to do. I don’t seem to be anywhere near any sort of limit, but given how quickly I get tired I don’t want to push it too far my first go.
Regrettably the flight doesn’t actually last all that long as it’s not all that far as the cat flies, and before I know it I’m hovering over DRF. The next question is do I land and go in the front door? Nope. I’m flying, it’s the helipad for me. If they don’t like it, they’ll just have to deal with it. Too bad open windows high up on building aren’t a thing. That would be the way to go.
Realizing I shouldn’t be delaying I set myself down gently on the helipad and head for the door. It’s locked… I guess maybe I should have expected that, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going through that door. I don’t really know why… I’ve never been through it maybe? Doesn’t matter, I need to.
With a little concentration I move the pins in the lock, setting them to the shear line and opening the lock with ease. It turns out that telekinesis is the ultimate lock pick if you know what’s going on in there. Neat.
That accomplished I stroll through the door and only a moment later run into a security guard. Needless to say he’s more than a little shocked to see me.
“Uhhhh, how did you… wait, what?” He stammers. In the age of heroes and villains we find ourselves in it’s a little surprising that he’s so confused. Clearly not the sharpest crayon in the box.
“If I wasn’t supposed to be here I wouldn’t have come from the helipad. Don’t worry about it.” I say in my best officious tone before sweeping by him like I have every right to be there. He’s clearly still confused but doesn’t want to question me. Before I head down to the meeting I have a quick look around where the royalty rules the poor peons from. It’s definitely nicer than everywhere else and I can tell some of the offices are absolutely enormous. All and all there’s nothing too special going on. No gateway to hell or anything like that.
Moments later I wander into the meeting room still in my super suit. As soon as I walk in the atmosphere of your typical corporate meeting washes over me. Maybe being a hero won’t be so bad. At least I don’t have to sit through too many of these anymore. As usual it goes on way too long because there’s always one person who just doesn’t get it. Or anything really. Naturally they need to ask a million questions about something that all said and done could have been an email. Hell, even a text!
It all boils down to the fact that I’ll have some publicity shoots soon and they think I’m ready to make my heroic entrance. Apparently they’ll be looking for a low risk opportunity for me, and letting me know via my company provided cell phone. Turns out that yes, there is an app for that. Isn’t there always?
The most important bit is a headband they give me. Evidently it alters the look of my face subtly and applies a facefull of makeup in an ancient egyptian style. Or at least the typical stuff we think of when we think ancient egyptian anyways. That was really pretty cool. This was the one bit that I actually did have a few questions about. It turns out the be based on some of the more well understood emergence tech and DRF thinks they can replicate it. I can only imagine how much cosmetics companies would go through to get their hands on this. They’ll probably pay whatever DRF asks when the time comes. For now though I have the only working prototype they are letting out of the building.
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I also get some weapons which consist mostly of things to throw at villains. They range from steel ball bearings to something like a futuristic bolo. There’s also a range of less lethal options like little rubber balls that apparently have something like a taser embedded. Even that seems like a pretty brutal thing to launch at a human being.
With that out of the way I have the rest of the afternoon to myself. Time has been a precious commodity lately so it doesn’t hurt my feelings that I’ll be able to spend some time relaxing in my apartment. Or maybe a trip to the mall… My plushie collection could use expanding on. What to do…? A conundrum for all time.
Evening is falling and I’m back at my apartment. Having unloaded my haul of a few plushies, some accessories, and yes, more clothes. I’m getting ready to relax when I hear a sound I don’t recognize from my phone.
Checking it I see a map with a pin in it and a description. Apparently some villain is attacking a DRF convoy and they want me to stop them. I feel a little conflicted that the first thing I’m supposed to save is a company asset. What am I, some corporate guard dog? Er, guard cat? I guess it doesn’t matter all that much though.
Moments later I’m hovering over the convoy. Making a quick circuit I note the guards are all unconscious. One of the van’s back doors are open so I hover over to it and see a big fluffy orange tail sticking out the back. No way! Is it Vulptrix? I mean, there probably aren’t that many villainous foxes around right?
She must have sensed my presence, because she turns around and looks up at me, her eyes momentarily going wide.
“Damn, that’s a cool outfit you got there, what’s your name?” asks Vulptrix, a small smile playing across her lips.
“Huh, wait, me? Uhh, I’m M- errr, Bastet. Oh my god, you’re really Vulptrix! Oh wow. I can’t believe it. Can I get your autograph!? Umm, but wait, could you… ummm, maybe not rob these vans? Please?” I stammer. This can’t be real. Why does this have to be my first job as a hero? She’s infamous, and so adorable!
“You know, you’re only the second hero to be polite and just ask me to stop,” she laughs, “I’m dating the first one.”
“Damn, too bad I didn’t get into this game a little earlier… OHMYGOD I SAID THAT OUT LOUD!” I can’t believe I said that, no this isn’t real. That didn’t happen. Let’s pretend it didn’t happen. “Sooo, ummm, you’ll stop then?”
“Wow, I’m flattered. Maybe in another time,” she giggles, before shaking her head, “And nope, sorry, I’m not going to stop. This time I’m actually trying to do good, believe it or not,” she says, glancing awkwardly at the unconscious bodies littering the street.
At this point I don’t know what I look like because of the headband, but I know my face is bright red. I can’t even remotely focus on the whole stop the villain thing. To say I’m mortified might be the biggest understatement of the year. If she’d let it go without comment that would have been one thing, but no. Okay, focus. You have a job to do. What does she mean about doing good. Ahhh, don’t overthink it. She’s probably just messing with you.
“Uh, oh, shoot. Haha. I guess that means I have to stop you?” What do I even do now? Just start throwing stuff at her, that seems pretty awful. I want to stop her not hurt her. I’ll just wait and see what her next move is, and go from there.
“Then I guess I have to not get stopped,” she winked, then disappeared in a puff of crackling energy.
Oh no… I guess that was a mistake. I should have known better! In a panic I start to look around, and I don’t see her anywhere. I hope she’s not gone to far. To broaden my search I fly a little higher up and keep looking around. No matter how frantic I looks there are no cute fox girls to be found.
With the search yielding nothing I fear that I’ve already failed. She must be gone already. In defeat I descend towards the ground, tail wrapping around my waist. Landing next to one of the other vans, I realize it’s moving a little. Maybe she’s not gone yet after all. This could be a really lucky break and I want to make sure I don’t squander it
As sneaky as I can, I walk around behind the van readying the bolo thing to see if I can catch her before she gets away again. Although, she might just teleport out of the bolo, or take it with her. Really what am I supposed to do, all that training and I’ve got nothing.
I guess I could try hitting her with one of the little tazer ball things, but I played around with them in my apartment earlier and managed to shock myself with one. I ended up a writhing drooling mess on the floor for at least twenty minutes. I mean, I know she pretty much did exactly that to all the guards of this convoy, but having been zapped by one of those things it’s hard to convince myself that it would be ok to do to another human being.
Nope, the bolo it is. I’m sure I’ll fight people in the future that I’d be more OK with hurting. Vulptrix just isn’t on that list. To be honest I’d followed some of her exploits online and for the most part didn’t personally have a problem with a lot of what she’s done. She did say she was trying to do good right now… Maybe Matt was right… Maybe DRF is doing something wrong, well more than the typical lack of ethics and such… No, stop, just catch her. That’s your job.
Ready as I’m going to get I swing the doors at the back of the van open. Nothing could have prepared me for what I would see inside. The vision seared into my mind. The sight would return in my dreams for weeks to come. I couldn’t help the involuntary gasp which escaped my lips. This couldn’t be real!
There was Vulptrix, half undressed with her back to me. She looked over her shoulder biting her lip, before saying only, “Oh my!”
Not so long ago, I thought there was no possible way my face could get any redder. Turns out I was wrong. Very wrong. As if she was cute enough, and there she was, and that lip bite! OH MY GOD.
Before I could even collect myself Vulptrix burst into a multitude of scantily clad fox girls. Each taking off out of the van in different directions, leaving me there stock still with my mind in a melted puddle.
Shaking myself out of my shock, yes, shock. That’s it, certainly I wasn’t mesmerized by what I’d just seen! I really need to start making an attempt to capture the naughty fox, or foxes. There is an actual crowd here! How am I going to find the real one with so many. Maybe if I could see them all I could spot a difference or something? Right! I can fly, maybe a birds eye view will help.
Launching myself straight up I gain enough altitude so that I can see all of them. Spotting one that looks a little different from the rest, I send the bolo down after her and it zips right through. There’s no way I’m going to catch the real one at this rate. Maybe I’ll try as many as I can as fast as I can and maybe get lucky?
Swinging the bolo around with my TK through as many of them as I can, it seems hopeless. They are just all illusions. She’s probably standing somewhere just out of sight laughing at me or something. That gives me an idea. Maybe I can sense her if I concentrate.
Closing my eyes I focus on the world around me in more detail. Like when I was first starting to learn to fly. Sure enough, none of the Vulptrixes. Vulptrixi? Vulptrixtopetes? Add that to the list of things I don’t know, the plural of Vulptrix. Anyway, none of the exhibitionist fox girls below were the real deal.
With a little more focus I expand my search further and sure enough, there’s someone watching from seventy yards or so away. It takes all my willpower not to snap open my eyes and look right at her. I bet she’d be shocked but I need to maintain what little element of surprise I can get. I guess it’s time to figure out exactly how fast I can fly. I need to try and get to her before she knows I’m not distracted by the illusions anymore.
My hope is that she can’t see me all that well against the twilight sky. If I fly straight at her as fast as I can maybe I can get to her quick enough. First I need to get the bolo behind her if this has any chance of working. While still watching the illusions I whip the bolo in a wide arc out behind Vulptrix. Once it’s already part way there I make my move.
With as much speed as I can muster I charge straight at her arriving at the same time the bolo wraps around her pinning her arms to her waist. I don’t know who’s more shocked when I land, me or her. Before I lose my chance I grab hold of the bolo. My hope is that maybe if I’m holding onto it she might take me with her if she teleports. Or maybe she won’t be able to? I don’t know how this teleporting shenaniganry works. I honestly didn’t think I had a chance at capturing her, but I might have just done it.
“So, find yourself in this situation often?” I ask, feeling a little a little pumped that maybe I didn’t screw everything up. I mean, I might have just caught Vulptrix! How many heroes has she made fools of? Maybe I can do this after all!
“Oh, far more than you might think actually,” she laughed.
“Ah… Oh. OH” I stammered thinking of some of the footage I’d seen on the internet not that long ago.
“So, I’m wondering, just how far does the cat thing go eh?” she asks, a sly smirk spreading over her face.
“W-What do you mean?” I ask. She seems really confident despite the situation, which gets me instantly nervous again. She can’t escape right now, right? She already would have if she could, right? Oh no… what’s she going to do?!
Just then something drifts down in front of me tickling my nose as it falls past. It smelled like mint, but different. I couldn’t really put my finger on it. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever smelt, whatever it was. I need to know what that was, so I quickly snatch it out of the air with my TK, bringing it back up to my face to get a look. I couldn’t help taking a deep breath. It was intoxicating, and I couldn’t get enough.
Suddenly the world is spinning a little and my mind is filled with a euphoria that I can’t explain. I feel… AMAZING! I have no idea what’s in that little bag, and yet it seems it’s the answer to any and all problems in life. Suddenly I realize that quite possibly the greatest thing in the world would be curling up in bed with this little bag in a pile of all my plushies.
OH WAIT! Wasn’t there a cute fox girl here? Maybe she’ll give me a hug. That would be awesome. What was I doing anyways. I couldn’t help the goofy giggles from escaping my lips. Where even am I?
Hearing some laughter I attempt to focus on the source but it’s difficult. Not only is it actually difficult to physically focus my eyes, but does it matter?
Somewhere in my mind, I feel my ears report someone speaking, “Wow, isn’t that just flippin’ adorable.”
Not long after Vulptrix left, my precious little bag had disappeared. I’d been heartbroken at first, looking around for the treasure which had abandoned me. As time wore on I started to regain my wits. I still have no idea what it was she’d drugged me with though. I’m not sure if I even want to know. Really, I wasn’t even aware something like that existed. How are people just not high on whatever that was all the time?
While I was still coming down from the high some of DRF’s security showed up to secure everything and read me the riot act. I couldn’t stay serious at the time though so I don’t think whatever-his-name-was is going to be generous in his report. It took an absurd amount of time for me to collect my thoughts and stop giggling for long enough to actually tell them what happened.
I’m probably in for a really unpleasant meeting tomorrow. Ugh. Now that the high is gone reality is starting to sink back in… Yup, I blew it.
Normally I’m not one to drown my sorrows, but I could definitely go for a drink tonight. I’d heard of a place with only emerged clientele. It was across town though, so I figured I start with something closer, and see where the night takes me.
A couple moments later I walk into a bar and at this point I’m getting used to all the glances. Some of it because I’m a girl now, the rest is because of the ears and tail. Fortunately people are wary enough of my expression and emerged status to leave me alone, at first.
It’s not long before some guy thinks I need company though. Apparently because I just want to drink in peace that makes me a “fucking dumb slut.” I knew this was a thing, but at the same time, what the actual fuck? Shortly after that I got a few comments from some shitheads about my tail. That place for emerged is sounding better and better by the minute.
To hell with it. I can fly, what’s it matter if it’s across town. In moments I’m zipping along over traffic. I didn’t really have a chance to pay any attention to how fast I could fly in the heat of the fight, and I’m not going anything like that fast now, but at this height it’s easier to get a feel for how fast I can fly. Turns out I’m fast, really fast. Watching the cars getting dusted in my wake is more than a little fun even after my trainwreck attempt at being a ‘hero’.
Lost in my thoughts I look up just as I’m about to smash into a red light. Hooooooly SHIT! I make a quick correction to dip beneath it and but I overreacted and nearly run into a truck. Without a moment to spare I manage another emergency maneuver to dodge the truck as well. No new world to explore today truck-kun. Thank you very much.
Well, let this be a lesson to you kids. Do not fly while drunk. It turns out that’s a bad call. In my newfound wisdom, rather than landing I decide to just fly higher. Less stuff to hit up here. Should be fine. Fortunately the rest of the trip is uneventful, no more rogue stop lights attempting to murder me.
I’d been told that the entrance was hidden behind an electric panel, and even knowing that it was a surprise when it swung open revealing stairs. I couldn’t help a giggle at a proper speakeasy in 2019. This is actually pretty awesome. It took a moment to realize I was just standing at the bottom of the stairs geeking out. I shake myself out of it and decide to head into the bar properly.
Reaching the top of the stairs there’s a mish mash of furniture, lights hanging from the ceiling. Oh my god, this just keeps getting better! Behind the counter is a woman in her fifties. She’s not even quite as tall as I am, but has a formidable aura about her. Not someone you want to cross.
Not wanting to waste anymore time I head to a corner of the bar and plunk down on a stool. After she finished with a couple other customers the bartender heads to my corner of the bar.
“You’re a new face here. Looks like you’ve had a rough day. The name’s Barb. What can I get you?” She asks.
“Yes and no.” I say before breaking into a giggle fit thinking about all the Vulptrixeses bursting out of the van. “I’m more worried about how much tomorrow is going to suck though to be honest.”
“Hah, aren’t we all.”
With that I order a line of shots to reclaim what little drunkenness I’d lost in the flight over. They hit fast!
The rest of the night begins to pass in a blur. During one of my more lucid moments I find myself playing a drinking game with a hot wolf girl, much to the amusement of a few other patrons. She seemed like an absolute blast, and she was witty as all hell. It’s a shame I didn’t catch her name.
That reminds me though. I really gotta call Michelle. I mean really. I know I totally botched my attempt being a hero, but calling Michelle can’t be scarier than that! Maybe I should do it. No, that’s a terrible idea as drunk as I am right now...