Chapter 4
Thursday 24th November 2010
I wake up excited for the day ahead. Who needs more than five hours sleep anyway? Not me!
The strange forge dreams returned strongly last night, and a relatively large chunk of one of the continents lit up.
My power tells me I can now alter the timescale in my personal reality while I am outside of it. In any uninhabited areas anyway. This could be useful in future allowing me to set between 1/10th and x10 scale.
After the events of yesterday I didn't really have a chance to digest the step forward I made.
I finally have what feels like real, genuine, tinker gear. The gear I was using previously was high quality and looked great! But it was all style without substance. And the weaponry was just standard protection gear with an electric charge attached.
This equipment will be significantly more useful. But I need to test it first, I have a battery of tests both inside and outside to perform later.
However, for now, I perform my now standard morning routine, and put aside a loadout of consumables for my first patrol later.
Stimpaks, Med-X, Few different types of food wraps from the cookpot. Couple of the offensive syringes. I consider making restraints, but the omni-tool can fabricate these in place, so I decide to use that instead. I also feed the omni-tool some of the food I gathered so it can use the organics to make more medi-gel.
I considered putting some work in to Alchemy today in place of testing and patrolling, you can't be over-prepared. However, I am wary of falling into the trap of all development, no personal advancement.
It's as important to develop my own skills and my reputation as a hero, as it is to develop more equipment for now. Especially my skills in using my equipment. You can build the greatest and most advanced gear in the world, but if you never actually use it and learn how to use it, what's the point?
I quickly pop my head into the Alchemy Lab, it's empty as expected at this hour. I check the strongbox and Hypatia has left me vials of potions and a note.
"This is your weekly supply, only a few for now, but more to come as you grow. Red ones are wound healing, Green are restore energy, Purple are minor cure disease."
There seem to be five of each. I'm going to move them to the warehouse for now, I will test these later in controlled conditions.
I head back to the warehouse to get testing started.
Before testing begins, I check with EFA on the progress of her ongoing missions.
"Good morning EFA, how are you today?"
"I'm great boss, just reading up about you online,"
"All good I hope."
"Neutral up to now, you rescuing those girls in the docks has been acknowledged, but people are intrigued about your powers. Your cape thread on PHO is certainly picking up pace."
I consider PHO for a second. I have decided for the time being to keep myself away from Bet social media, if only for the good of my own mental health. This is one area I am extremely glad to have EFA covering.
"Well keep me up to date on it as needed thanks! I was wondering if there was anything notable in the current outstanding tasks?"
"Currently nothing major of note, Mouse Protector is working in much the same areas of the state of Illinois, although there were a few sightings of her in Bloomington she definitely prioritises this area for her patrols. The Slaughterhouse 9 have not been seen other than ghost sightings and rumours in northern Texas."
I might need to put some serious thought into some sort of active surveillance network to track the Nine. Killing Jack Slash is the priority one mission as things stand. Killing is something I want to avoid but I'm no batman. If I have the opportunity, then Jack dies. No ifs. No buts.
Scion will eventually go crazy regardless, but killing Jack Slash gains us an immeasurable amount more time to grow and plan. Gaining time is a net positive for us. Scion isn't getting any more powerful than he already is, while I can only continue to grow. More time also means more time to plan for the collapse of the shard network. Or plans on how to mitigate it.
EFA continues her report.
"My skill in Hacking is taking a backseat to Software Development currently as I can leverage this skill to help you create much better omni-tool blueprints as well as secure funds. However, I would likely be able to break in to most residential and a good few commercial systems at this point if need be."
"Ok, thanks EFA, please add the following names to the watchlist. Amy Dallon, Taylor Hebert, Theo Anders, Kayden Anders, Dinah Alcott."
Keeping watch on these key players from the local area shouldn't stretch EFAs rapidly growing capabilities, and many of my future plans for issues to resolve before they happen revolve around these people.
"Additionally, please open tracking files for a travelling parahuman group called 'The Travellers.' Keep me appraised of their location as much as you are able."
This one goes without saying. I need to know when they are in the area. I know they haven't arrived yet, it's too early in the timeline. I do not want to be blindsided, however. Countermeasures for Noelle will need to be a very large part of my future plans. Either a cure or an excision. Preferably the first but I won't shy from the latter if necessary.
"Noted boss, I should be able to work on these now no problem. The extra processing from the Omni-Tool is a godsend."
Ok, enough chat, time to test.
The first set of testing is testing of the various surfaces of the armour and everything seems to be aligned quickly when I'm not wearing it. I quickly step into the armour and marvel at how much my physical presence is amplified.
I step in and out of the armour multiple times to familiarise myself with the timings and to test the mechanisms.
Everything works great. When I eventually work on upgrades, I will definitely need to work on some sort of quick eject, but for now I can push a 5 second escape time if I really push it.
The forge interrupts and grabs my attention.
200CP available, Making attempt…
Failed x3!
CP Banked!
Failed roll, but I don't mind so much with everything I already have to work on.
Next I test and practice my power cell reload. The way the suit uses power does not drain all cells equally, and this is intentional. Primary power draw is on the two cells at my hip, then secondary power draw is on the cells at my thighs. If the hip cells empty, then primary power draw will fail over to my thigh batteries. This way, I never need to reload all four cells at the same time. It's always a two and two reload.
The lack of complex electronics in the suit means again, this is a fully mechanical reloading process. I spend 30 minutes practicing the lever and movement combinations required to access the cells while I am inside the armour, along with the portal movements required to swap them.
It isn't quick, certainly not something I would do mid combat. But if I find a safe moment to breathe, I can swap out the hip cells in about 15-20 seconds. We won't talk about the leg cells. Over thirty seconds while in the armour though less than ten if I am out of it. Probably makes more sense to evacuate the armour before reloading these.
Not that the standard maintenance tests are done. It's time to find out what it can really do!
I engage the armour and the weapons in order to get used to the full loadout and go for a jog around my warehouse.
80x80m isn't enough. I'm at least 3 times faster and stronger in the armour, and that's without pushing past a moderate power draw. The interlink system I've created allows for an incredible magnification of force, and the armour takes too much of the work off me that it barely feels like I am doing anything.
I could definitely exert myself if needed, though.
I decide to drop out of the forge and got for a light jog in the commercial district. I'm going to head for the outskirts, grab some doors on the way, and then use the space without people around to get some real testing underway.
I quickly text Assault from my own number via EFA while on my way. Loving the mental connection to my own omni-tool phone.
"Just a quick heads up, I'm moving through the commercial district in my new armour just in case you get any calls about a strange parahuman around in blue and silver armour."
It doesn't take long for him to reply.
"Noted, thanks for the heads-up Archon."
I start to Jog southwards, then I up the tempo to a run, and then a sprint.
"EFA, how fast am I moving right now."
"Based on the movement of the surrounding terrain, roughly around 25mph."
Not bad! I'm probably pushing about 75% as hard as I can.
I pass a few people out and about for work and get a few excited points from them. I even throw out a cheeky wave when I jokingly stop for a red light.
Before I know it, I'm on the outskirts. I grab a nearby utility door at a power substation and move out into the nearby wasteland.
The area is thankfully abandoned.
Time for a strength test
I move to a nearby junked car frame and grab it by the chassis, I heave up and manage to lift the chassis frame up into the air with some difficulty. With an almighty heave, I manage to all but suplex the car.
It takes a good amount of effort, but the strength of the armour speaks for itself.
Now to test my buff food.
The mover wrap is almost a bust. It's trying to make me move faster, but the increased movement isn't fully translating over to the armour. It's probably closer to a 10% buff instead of the flat 300% buff when I am in unpowered armour. And given the armour is already giving me effectively a 300% buff that doesn't affect only speed. The armour clearly wins.
I'll probably still keep making a few of the mover meals on the pot. There's no reason not to after all. 10% is still 10%.
The Brute wrap works better, probably a temporary 15% increase in strength in armour which seems low, but it also decreases the amount I need to push the armour myself to achieve the strength, so it's an effectively bigger buff overall as it makes my stamina consumption much lower.
Med-X is a bust. I suspect it will show its value if the suit is ever compromised though so I will be keeping it around for emergencies. The hysteric strength it gives me doesn't translate well to the armour only really granting a 5% buff.
Effectively, the armour has much reduced my reliance on buff consumables. Which can only be a good thing.
I spend the next hour putting the suit through every stress test I can conceive, including trying to forcibly bypass the safeties that keep my limbs safe. They hold with no issue and the armour has no issue with.
The suit power cells are holding steady at 25%. Given I started at 60% and including the sprint out here have done about 3 hours of heavy to moderate usage, that's quite a good power rate.
Time to go on my first "official" patrol. I swap out the cells with new 60% cells from the warehouse via portal and put a call in to PRT despatch.
"PRT Despatch, this is independent hero Archon. I'm currently headed for patrol in the south-side docks area, and available for support in docks and downtown as needed."
"Acknowledged Archon, thanks for the heads up."
They don't have to call me for help, and I don't have to call them to let them know as I'm a registered independent.
But at least for now I want relations as cordial as possible. While I no longer need them as much as I did previously, as I have a reliable income stream now via the alchemy shop, it will help me a lot to keep them on side as much as possible.
Plus, they seem a lot less antagonistic and pressuring that I expected. Could be my fanon corrupted brain or maybe they always were a caricature, but they currently come across as distant but helpful.
Until bitten I'm going to act as if they are a competent outfit.
Anyway, I've digressed, I'm going to step through to my door near the north end of the boardwalk and patrol up to the Market and boat graveyard. I'm going to poke around the graveyard for a bit and see if my omni-scanner can pick up any useful materials up there. Then I'm going to patrol back to the northern boardwalk at the northern ferry station. From there I am going to patrol south along the parallel roads to the boardwalk until I hit downtown. I'm going to patrol through downtown, towards the Forsberg gallery. Finally, I will swing north through the Docks South area, until I hit Winslow.
I should be able to get my final door coverage for the bay completed this way.
The forge grabs my attention as I attempt to leave,
300CP available, Making attempt…
Protection – Success!
Inertia of Self II – 200CP – Essential Body Modification Supplement.
100CP remain, Making attempt…
Protection – Failed!
Database Magical – Success!
Shadow Clones – 100CP – Generic Naruto Fanfiction.
0CP Remain
My back arches against my armour, and my limbs lock up as my mouth opens in a silent scream.
Lava mixed with acid doped with every stinging insect and plant you care to name carve into my body, pathways traced around my existence, carved into my very soul. The world comes alive in a way it wasn't before, before dimming slightly. Not as dim as it was before, and the world somehow seems smaller.
I come back to myself panting and sweating inside my armour, bent over backwards in a rictus of pain.
The seed of Chakra, the lifeblood of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki has entered the world with me as it's only vessel.
Well then. Let's look at what we got.
Inertia of Self is one of those *inherent* powers that the forge can grant. In the same type as Blank II that makes you immune to Thinkers/Precogs or Mental Resistance III that makes you immune to Mind Control.
Inertia of Self makes you immune to annihilation effects and includes hefty protections against time manipulation too.
Any effect that would turn back time, alter reality, or attempt to alter my memories will cause me to gain both sets of memories and instinctively know which is which. It doesn't tell me who initiated the effect though, just that it happened.
It also prevents any "direct annihilation effects from working on me. Think of it like an instant death immunity from an RPG, I cannot be obliterated or wiped/taken out of existence, and those types of attacks will fail on me. It works on conceptual, temporal and even reality warping effects. I can't be grey boy bubbled as an example, and people cannot travel to the past and kill my past self to make me disappear from the now. It effectively fiat backs the totality of my existence. I can still be killed, by injury or standard parahuman effect. Being shot in the head would still insta kill me. This just protects me against effects that are specifically designed to annihilate.
The best part is it functions against Coils power. It shouldn't, because the canon is that Coils doesn't create timelines, he simulates the future twice and his shard picks the best one, but the forge will allow me to keep my memories from both possibilities because they exist under observation. Likely due to Coils immunity to Blank II.
This isn't as much of a complete gamechanger as you would think, there aren't actually that many specifically annihilating capes in worm. Damsel of Distress and March wouldn't be able to use their destructive powers on me, I'm immune to a good chunk of Bakuda's bombs and Grey Boy should I fuck up completely and allow Slaughterhouse 9000 to happen. Clockblocker also won't be able to affect me, and I think I might possibly be immune to Sleeper. The best part of the perk for me is the immunity to memory modification. It takes a string out of Cauldrons bow for one.
The second perk is one of my absolute favourites I could get. Although the feeling of receiving, it was certainly not one I would care to repeat.
Shadow Clone Jutsu. From Naruto. Along with the chakra coils and enough theoretical knowledge of chakra to be able to learn it. The shadow clone instructions come in scroll form and are written in a way that even an idiot could learn the technique.
It allows me to use the iteration of Shadow Clones and Multiple Shadow Clones from the show along with some crazy advancements from Fanfiction which I won't be able to explore until my chakra grows.
This is real magic. Ok it's not called "magic" but a mix of physical and spiritual energy used to create techniques that in any other setting would be called spells. Come on. It can also be used for some amazing manipulation of nature and elements plus physical enhancement, but I don't have access to anything but the barest scratchings, nothing above E-Rank barring the shadow clone. I need to gain one more perk from the setting, or one more perk directly referencing chakra in order for me to be able to freely develop it.
But I don't care.
Because I can make shadow clones.
I quickly put a temporary hold on my patrol, jump out of my armour and run to the warehouse to grab the scroll. While I am reading it I have EFA scanning it for future reference.
The perk is right, this is easy. It's nerfed a bit because of my extremely low chakra capacity, but I learn it in no time.
I put my fingers in the famous cross sign and have to stop myself from giggling. The instructions tell me I don't need to shout, I can just speak the name of the technique without the "Jutsu" part. But come on. Wouldn't you?
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke appears in front of me, my anticipation builds as the smoke clears. It slowly dissipates as a look upon my clone.
That is pale and dead on the floor.
Ok let's try again.
I make the sign as the scroll shows.
I reach for the warmth behind my stomach, my hara, and pull it into the rest of my system, I cycle it through my hands and incant.
"Shadow Clone!"
The smoke bursts again and clears much quicker this time.
"Hello me."
I am looking upon myself. Do I really look like that now?
Damn I am built now, I was ridiculously unhealthy and sickly looking for so long. Seeing myself like this is strange.
"So, what would you like me to do? Without any techniques that use chakra I can stick around for about four hours at this level of the technique. I have copies of any forge backed gear you have like the manipulator and the omni-tool, but not things that you made like the armour or weapons."
"I'll use the technique with instructions in mind in future per the technique, but please concentrate on research and development, making blueprints and concepting designs. Also spend some time on alchemy. I get all of your memories and experience when you dispel so anything that advances knowledge is good."
Seeing myself salute myself is unusual.
"Aye aye bossman, I'll get right on it."
A built-in lab assistant that can do the research while I go out into the action.
This is incredible for my future progress. But I have a booked patrol to complete and no time to contemplate this further. I re-enter my armour and leave the workshop.
I step out on the northern boardwalk. I believe they call this a "Showing face" patrol. I'm not actually here looking for trouble, just acting as a deterrent.
I'm prepared for trouble if it comes my way, however.
I walk most of my route at a brisk pace. No need to sprint or jog and incite a panic. My current job is to be a calming influence on the area.
Making my way towards the Market after veering into the eastern docks near the ferry station, and up towards the northern dockside I pass the DWA office! This little building with its gated compound is probably one of the most utilised buildings in the community! Seeing it with my own eyes is an experience!
I have no excuse to enter and bother the Union for now, so I continue on, up and passed the market grabbing some doors on the way. I get a few more picture takers which will never stop being old.
The ship graveyard is another one of those fanfic landmarks that you read about and make assumptions based on what you read.
My assumptions were wrong. When I read about the ship graveyard, I always imagined a bunch of derelict ships in the water, in various stages of decay and floating conditions, all close together in a maze of interconnected places to loot.
However, half of the graveyard is out of the water, massive tankers and yachts strewn about the dry-docks area, clearly stripped of any useful materials at all. The part in the water is murky and nasty, with no safe way to move ship to ship. And this armour is not waterproof.
I give a quick scant of the area, and there's a decent chunk of common and rare resources in the deep-water derelicts, but nothing close to easy pickings.
I will need to come back with specialised, or more advanced environmentally sealed armour.
I call it a wash for rare materials. I break down a few of the ship carcasses with my matter manipulator to refresh my steel, iron and rubber reserves, grab two nearby maintenance doors for my key, and then make my way back up towards the ferry station and the boardwalk.
Once I finally arrive there, I start to make my way back up towards downtown. It's a long walk ahead of me so I take a faster jog in the emptier areas. I will never get bored with effortlessly jogging at close to 20mph.
…
If you ever told me, I would be bored in power armour before today I would laugh in your face.
Patrolling however, Is boring.
I have almost arrived at downtown. Three hours straight of patrolling, covering a huge portion of the docks, bordering some of the roughest territory in town. Not a peep of trouble.
In my first week in the town, I witnessed four separate stabbings!
This is the part never written about in fics and for good reason. Walk. Scan. Walk. Scan.
"EFA, can you take over scanner monitoring please, concentrate on trying to find situations I can assist in. If you can hack or in some other way intercept BBPD despatch, then feel free. I need some direction. Random patrolling isn't for me there's literally nothing going on!."
"On it boss, just concentrate on the road ahead, and I'll take over despatch and observation.
You should never ever challenge murphy.
Not 4 minutes later, and I am smacked in the face with a slight aura of fear and a stoic looking blonde girl has intercepted me.
Is this Glory Girl?
She looks me up and down.
"Hi, I'm Glory Girl, are you on patrol?" she asks. She's looking at me dubiously.
"Hi Glory Girl, I'm Archon. Yes I'm currently in the last leg of a circuit of the dockside and boardwalk.
The Aura lets off a little. And she seems to relax.
"I usually ask 'Hero or Villain?' when I see an obvious parahuman out in public areas. But from the look of your armour, I think I can guess your alignment!"
What, no "Rogue" in there?
"Heroic Rogue, Glory Girl. I am registered with the PRT," I wink at her.
"Heroic Rogue?" she smirks.
I return a smile, and her aura modulates from fear, to 'notice me'. Damn that's quite a subtle effect. Must be hard for her when she loses control, there no way she can ever be fully ignored with that up.
"Yeah, well you left it out, you should ask 'Hero, Villain or Rogue' it's not all 'me good, you bad, me punch you'," I wink to let her know I am teasing. "Hell, what if I had answered 'Cosplayer, please don't kill me'?"
She laughs back at me,
"Ok, fair enough I'll keep it in mind, so what are you doing at the downtown boardwalk?"
"Currently? Patrolling and being very bored."
She grimaces.
"Yeah, I know that feeling. Random patrolling to show face is one of the more mind-numbing parts of the job. Try being a flyer! It's interesting at first but then it's all 'Generic skyscraper, dodge antenna, dodge suicidal pigeon.'"
I laugh back and reiterate my earlier point.
"If you asked me a few years ago if I would ever be bored in power armour, I would never have thought I could answer 'Yes'."
As she is about to reply I get a call.
It's Assault, unusual, wonder why he is ringing.
I answer the phone.
"Archon, the transport taking Skidmark to his arraignment has been intercepted on the junction at Forsberg Gallery. Mush, Whirlygig and Squealer are all on site. Militia, Triumph and Armsmaster are caught up in an E88 rally security patrol and Hookwolf was seen in the area so they can't leave. Me and Battery are dealing with an ABB incursion and the wards can't deploy if Squealer is in the area. I trust Velocity and Dauntless to hold the line when they get there, but are you in position to assist?"
I look at Glory Girl.
"Assault I'm currently catching up with Glory Girl on a crossover in our patrol routes, I'm going to ask if she can give me a lift, if not I'll make my way there on foot. Tell Dauntless or Velocity to contact me with tactical if needed."
"Thanks Archon,"
I quickly hang up the phone.
"Merchants trying to break out Skidmark after he got arrested while trying to drug slave me. Forsberg gallery junction. Think you can give me a lift?"
She looks me up and down.
"How strong is your armour?"
I smirk and engage combat mode. The helmet seals over my whole head and my voice comes out sounding more mechanically filtered.
"Strong enough."
She smirks back and grabs my outstretched arm.
And we literally rocket towards downtown.
Notes:
Perks gained this chapter.
Inertia of Self II - Essential Body Modification Supplement – 200CP – Protection
You are protected against effects that would affect your mind and existence.
I: You are immune to any effect that would affect your memories. If someone turns back time, alters reality, or attempts to directly alter your memories, you retain both the 'original' and 'new' memories, instinctively knowing which set is which. Other than your two sets of memories, this perk does nothing to tell you who changed things or even what they specifically changed if it isn't otherwise obvious.
II: You are immune to any effect that would alter or outright destroy your body or existence. This protection extends to conceptual, temporal, and reality warping effects that work either directly or indirectly to destroy or alter you. This would prevent a time traveler from killing you as a baby or causing an accident that would leave present-you paralyzed. It would not protect you from a fireball created through temporal manipulation or having a time traveler frame you for a crime that lands you in prison.
Shadow Clones - Generic Naruto Fanfiction – 100CP - Database Magical
Ah, shadow clone no jutsu. The signature jutsu of the Naruto franchise. And now you can join in on the fun. You have a copy of a technique scroll for the shadow clone jutsu, of such quality that an idiot could teach himself from this thing in virtually no time at all. It even has safeguards built-in that eliminate any possibility of killing yourself by putting too much chakra into it, or getting a headache from too many clones dispelling at once or anything like that. The worst that can possibly happen is that it fails to work. You still can only make as many shadow clones as your chakra can support but outside of that you can feel free to abuse this handy jutsu for training, decoys, diversions, paperwork, chores, or whatever else you can imagine. In the event that this technique is supposed to have some additional features in the particular fanfiction you go to, or even a better version, this scroll will contain both versions.
* Some of the best shadow clone fanfic features include shadow clone self charka regeneration, temporal split clones instead of normal clones, mind merging without dispel, constant hivemind like connection etc
50 PR CP gained but no roll this chapter due to active situation.