Dark Matter Ascension-Chapter 73B2 - : Partying with the party
Dee let her feet dangle in the sand that sprayed out behind the sled. This one was made of a firm series of bones that flew over the desert landscape of the Big Dry. Priam was chatting with the few deities that were making the trip, and Greg was listening intently. It was those same deities that were powering their insanely fast travel.
Quinn’s voice came over the comms, and all three sat up a bit straighter. “Change of plans. That party that the gods of Fernaid want to throw: we’re doing it at our place. I’m also inviting Star Council people; basically, anyone you want, we can invite. Xera is going to be constantly monitoring the event, so you don’t have to worry about anyone coming to harm. Anyone you want to invite?”
Dee thought for a moment as Priam and Greg listed off some people they had met or interacted with. “Nope,” she said when Quinn asked her. “I don’t have anyone but my sister and you all, now.” She looked at her Wayfinder, Miku, who was flapping above her. “And you of course.”
“W-w-we are g-g-going t-to p-play p-p-poker,” Miku replied.
“Neat. Don’t gamble away my Stardust! Oh, speaking of, I want to level up! Everything into Demolisher’s Devastation! And let’s use those two Boons, first.”
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[Using Boon: x2 Artifact (Equipment).]
[Manifesting.]
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A glowing, starry-blue aura covered Dee’s wrists and then a moment later she had two bracelets; one on each chitinous wrist plate. “T-the f-first is c-called Desert God Guard. The s-secon-nd is c-called Artillerist’s Ingram. I-I’ll d-d-do a d-d-display.”
Dee read through what both did, rapidly scrolling past the information. The Desert God Guard would constantly reinforce her chitinous shell, making it more resistant to harm. In addition, it had the once-per-day Skill called Desert’s Shield, which would make her impervious for one minute: but would also prevent offensive action until dismissed.
The other was called the Artillerist’s Ingram and was…odd. It did not seem like it came from a magic world. It would enable her to use her offensive Skills through a vehicle’s weapon: increasing the range based upon the weapon’s base range, before applying her Artillerist Skills. Plus, it had a once-per-day Skill called Spinal Laser, which only worked with vehicle weapons, but would effectively maximize the possible damage it could inflict, removing falloff from distance entirely and accelerating the type of projectile to the speed of light.
She was about to question why she received a technology-world item, but Xera’s voice came out of Miku’s mouth before she could ask. “Hi there.”
“Hi…can I help you?” Dee asked.
“Just informing you that I dabbled a bit in your Boon distribution. I foresee the group needing to use vehicles in the Astral Verge at some point: a vessel, just like what my species used to leave this universe. Consider this meddling some future proofing.”
Dee nodded and leaned back on her hands, looking up at the gorgeous, blue desert sky. “All good with me. Now, how about those levels?”
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Name: Deasyl 'Dee' Luna (Aspirant, Tier 6)
Power [Class Level]: Nebula [Blaster <Artillerist> 100] / Flux [Demolisher 12]
Skills: Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Demolisher's Devastation (Rank 14) [Blast][Beam][Cone][Eruption][Cloud][Trap][Broadside], Artillerist's Acumen (Rank 6), Artillerist's Discipline (Rank 5), Spinal Laser (1/day), Desert's Shield (1/day)
Stardust: 880
Equipment: Desert God Guard, Artillerist's Ingram
Boons: None
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Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 7) - As any lesser Rank, but increase the damage inflicted.
Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 8) - Unlocks the 'Eruption' Skill Evolution
Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 9) - As any lesser Rank, but increase the damage inflicted.
Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 10) - Unlocks the 'Cloud' Skill Evolution
Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 11) - As any lesser Rank, but increase the damage inflicted.
Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 12) - Unlocks the 'Trap' Skill Evolution
Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 13) - As any lesser Rank, but increase the damage inflicted.
Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 14) - Unlocks the 'Broadside' Skill Evolution
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[Evolution Name: Eruption.]
[Effect: Causes damage to emanate from below the target, rather than require travel from the user. Increases in size with Energy invested.]
[Evolution Name: Cloud.]
[Effect: Causes damage in a cloud that fills an area; reducing overall damage but causing the damage to persist in a damage-over-time effect. Increases in size with Energy invested.]
[Evolution Name: Trap.]
[Effect: Damage is stored on a specific surface with a set trigger condition (or manual detonation). Increases in size with Energy invested.]
[Evolution Name: Broadside.]
[Effect: Causes damage to apply to several, singular targets. Increase in target count with Energy invested.]
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Dee looked through the changes and smiled. Makes me a lot deadlier. She glanced back at her allies who seemed stuck in their own System screens as they kept doing their level ups and Boon redemptions. Well, nothing to do I suppose but just keep napping. Laying back, she let her eye-cores float behind the carapace into the torso area of her goopy mass, blocking out the sunlight as she tried to fall asleep.
Greg finished scrolling through a catalogue that Darrin had brought up. “Okay. I want to use the Boons on that belt of strength thing, and then get some new armor.”
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[Using Boon: x2 Artifact (Equipment).]
[Manifesting.]
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Greg’s body shimmered for a few moments before his heavy full plate was replaced with heavier and even more imposing armor that was made from what appeared to be solid slabs of sandstone given articulation. Around his waist, a heavy leather belt with embroidered Oslia, engaged in various feats of strength, appeared.
Darrin began to explain, “(Heavy) Wurmslayer Armor. It’s very defensive, and enables you to tunnel through any earth or rock substrate, leaving a hole behind you or not. If you don’t leave a hole behind, then you can only travel as long as you can hold your breath. It has the once-per-day Skill Embrace of the Wurm, which lets you banish a single target you can touch to an extradimensional space for up to a minute.”
Greg nodded, “And the belt?”
“Belt of Godly Might. Constantly improves your strength regardless of muscle mass to the peak of your physique’s capabilities. Also, once per day, you can use Divine Strength, which multiplies that strength by x10 for up to ten seconds.”
“Excellent,” Greg replied. “Now for leveling up. I want to get something new to do with Weaponmaster. What do we have available?”
“Might I recommend a melee focus Skill? Since that is what you mostly fight in is up close and personal. Each Rank is a 25% increase in damage output.”
On magic worlds, yeah, but I like shooting stuff when possible. “Let’s split the difference. 8 levels, let’s do 4 in melee focus and 4 in ranged focus.”
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Name: Greg Bhastal (Aspirant, Tier 6)
Power [Class Level]: Planet [Protector <Resolute Guardian> 100] / Supermassive [Weaponmaster 12]
Skills: Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Protector's Vow (Rank 3) [Guardian's Vow], Planetary Defenses (Rank 3), Planetary Retribution (Rank 3), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Protector's Panacea (Rank 8), Planetary Palisade (Rank 10), Planetary Growth (Rank 6), Rock Blast (Rank 15), Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10), Defensive Upgrade (Rank 10), Sphere of Protection (Rank 5), Call to Guard (Rank 5), Guardian's Defenses (Rank 14), Weaponmaster's Familiarity (Rank 3), Melee Focus (Rank 4), Ranged Focus (Rank 4), Embrace of the Wurm (1/day), Divine Strength (1/day)
Stardust: 880
Equipment: (Heavy) Wurmslayer Armor, Pheracorp deflection matrix, Sandstalker Bowblade, Belt of Godly Might, (Heavy) Venture Pack, survival meals (x35), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit, 20,000 creds, Bunker-Buster Mk. 3, Enduralife Guardian AR, General Logistics 9mm Pistol, x2 EMP grenade, x3 flashbang, Killer Whale
Boons: None
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Melee Focus (Rank 4): Increases damage inflicted with melee weapons by 100%.
Ranged Focus (Rank 4): Increases damage inflicted with ranged weapons by 100%.
-----
Greg looked over at Dee, who appeared to be napping, and then over at Priam who was still…talking to the mass of shapes that was his Wayfinder. He turned to the deities who were relaxed in various states of meditation. According to their earlier conversation, they were listening to the prayers of their devoted.
Must be annoying, having people talking in your head constantly.
I’ve got an Epic (Augmentation), two Artifact (Equipment) to use, and then eight levels. Lots of choices here. I should spread out my Skills between Exarch’s Ward, Seraphic Soothe, Exarch’s Blessing, and Heavenly Smite…so 2 Ranks for each? Keep them balanced? Yeah, that works.
Priam put his finger to his chin and tapped a few times, “What about the Equipment?” he muttered.
Bloopa rotated through various shapes in front of him. How about some rings? One for an energy reservoir, the other for storing Skills to set trigger condition?
“Smart,” Priam replied. “Let’s do that.”
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[Using Boon: x2 Artifact (Equipment).]
[Manifesting.]
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On his right hand two rings appeared. Both were slim bands, but one was gold and the other was platinum. The platinum one is called Argent Reservoir and will allow you to store energy up to your natural maximum. Additionally, it has a once-per-day Skill called Energy Drain, which lets you target a creature and suck energy from them to fill up the ring.
“And the gold one?”
Resplendent Reservoir, which can store up to one Skill at a time for later use. It costs energy to store the Skill, but then it can be expended at-will. Also, it has a once-per-day Skill called Rapturous Release, which causes the Skill expended to be amplified as if you had spent all of your energy using it: if applicable to that Skill.
“Neat! Let’s also use that Augmentation on my Argent Reservoir.”
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This chapter is updat𝓮d by freēnovelkiss.com.
[Using Boon: Epic (Augmentation).]
[Target Equipment: Argent Reservoir.]
[Augmenting.]
[Result: (Overcharged) Argent Reservoir.]
[Description: The Overcharged (Augmentation) allows up to x2 the user’s maximum energy to be stored.]
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Handy, Priam thought. I’m going to be a healing machine! I should start pushing energy into this right now! He began channeling a stream of the power coursing through his body into the ring, and saw it glow a bright, gleaming silver as it continued to absorb it. Oh, but I have to level up also. “Bloopa, level up! Let’s get 2 Ranks per Exarch Skill like I had planned.”
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Name: Priam Westerfold (Aspirant, Tier 6)
Power [Class Level]: Pulsar [Priest <Seraph> 100] / Gigastar [Exarch 12]
Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Exarch's Ward (Rank 6) [Multi-Target], Exarch's Seraphic Soothe (Rank 3) [Contingent][Regeneration][Stored], Exarch's Blessing (Rank 3) [Enduring], Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10), Wrath of the Gods (Rank 5), Heavenly Smite (Rank 3) [Marking], Fount of Energy (Rank 5), Ishtar's Embrace (1/day), Energy Drain (1/day), Rapturous Release (1/day)
Stardust: 880
Equipment: (Light) Archpriest Vestments, (Conservation) Soul Warden Writ, (Insightful) Dad's Hat, (Light) Venture Pack, (Overcharged) Argent Reservoir, Resplendent Reservoir, survival meals (x35), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit
Boons: Common (Information) -----
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Exarch’s Ward (Rank 6): As Rank 5, but the amount of damage that can be absorbed increases.
Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe (Rank 2): Unlocks the 'Regeneration' Skill Evolution
Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe (Rank 3): Unlocks the 'Stored' Skill Evolution
Exarch’s Blessing (Rank 2): The Skill additionally imparts faster movement speed upon the target.
Exarch’s Blessing (Rank 3): The Skill additionally imparts faster natural wound healing rate upon the target.
Heavenly Smite (Rank 3): As Rank 1, but increase flight time to 30 seconds.
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Priam smiled as he looked at his two allies. Greg was staring off into the distance, deep in some thoughts, and Dee was laying down on the back of the sled, seemingly dormant. Priam looked at the deities around him, including the Oslia who was sprinting as they pulled the sled behind them. A god of speed who had volunteered to take the group across the Big Dry.
At this rate, we’ll be home in no time!
Shhiv exited her sleeping cube of water, stretching and yawning. So much to do! I have to make sure that we get everything all set up for the party.
Jace emerged from the cube behind her: instantly drying thanks to the panel in the floor, and he kissed her on the back of the neck sending shivers down her spine. “You invited your friends?”
Shhiv nodded, “Coworkers from back when I worked doing data entry in the System. Bhev, of course…and honestly that is about it. How about you?”
Jace walked into the restroom and exited a few moments later, “Well…anyone I’ve interacted with, really. Lots of doctors,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But no one else I can think of.”
“What about some of the Nethal? Turn it into a big affair?” Shivv walked over to Jace’s pile of gear and began throwing the various objects to him. “Also this needs to go in your apartment.”
He caught the various items with ease, rapidly pivoting as each object came his way. “You know, we could just merge the apartments at this point.”
Shhiv stood up and turned on him, “That’s been an option?!”
“Missy and Greg have it downstairs.”
“How?”
Jace pointed to the panel on the wall next to the door, “Should be an option on there. But Xera did say we had-” he stopped and grimaced. “I should not have said that.”
“I met her,” Shhiv said as she grabbed up the last of Jace’s gear and handed it to him, giving him her approximation of a kiss on the cheek. “Sera, Xera, X: all the same person. She told me. But, at the party and around mixed company like Missy and Ree: it’s just Sera.”
Jace’s face immediately showed the relief that his sigh indicated, “Good.”
Shhiv slapped him on the rump, “Come on, let’s get off this floor so we can merge the apartments!”
Jace led the way to the elevator, and he keyed a panel from inside, navigating to an option to merge the apartments. “You sure you want thi-”
She slammed the key to initialize it and began changing the floor plan. “My weight room, the dining and game room, a nice room with a couch and cosmoscreen for movie night, the bedroom of course, a bathroom with an actual bath tub-” She was rapidly firing off customization options.
Jace grabbed her hand: gently, and turned her to look at him. She saw the slightest bit of moisture at the edges of his gorgeous, purple, draconic eyes. “This makes me really happy.”
She shook his wrist off and smiled back, “Yes, me too. Now let me design the place!” she returned to her task while Jace got dressed in the elevator. Before their eyes, the hallway in front of them warped and shifted. After five minutes, Shhiv walked into the new apartment and explored each room. “Perfect!” she shouted. “Just perfect!”
Jace finished getting his gear equipped and waved her over to the elevator, “Come on, get dressed! We have guests waiting!”
Oh, that’s right! I’m not wearing clothes! She rushed over to her cabinet. “Wait, why are you wearing your gear! Come on, put on those party clothes I got you!”
Jace had never been one for parties because there wasn’t much to celebrate in the life of a Street Kid. When the elevator hit the first floor for the Entry Hall, and the doors opened, he did not expect what he walked into.
There were hundreds of people in the massive space that must have been altered through some type of machination of Xera’s doing. The area was split into several ‘cubes’ of sorts: he could see walkways in between each ‘cube’ and a transparent barrier that enabled people to enter or leave. Each enormous cube looked to be a different type of atmosphere.
Shhiv squealed with delight and dragged him over to one of the cubes, pushing her way in. Jace felt the film almost cling to his skin as they walked through, and his ears were instantly assaulted by the loud dance music. “Ollie! Turn down my hearing!” Jace shouted.
Ollie: who was floating above him: flew down and booped him on the head. His amplified hearing receded so that he could actually enjoy the music, and Ollie flew back up to the top of the room where there were dozens of Wayfinders engaged in games of chance. It was like a miniature casino with spectral slot machines, poker tables, roulette wheels: and Ollie was wearing a cute, little cap as he ran one of the poker tables.
Xera’s voice came over the comms, “Don’t worry about anyone using their Wayfinder to find info on you. Or your Cosmic Power symbol. Look down.” Jace did so, and saw that his hand was back to normal. “I’ve suppressed everyone’s faction alignment from their finger coloration and their power symbols. If you see someone you recognize and want out: just tell me, and I’ll remove them. But unless they know who you are, they will have no clue that Flicker is Jace. Just in case, use your code name: I told the rest of the group to do so.”
“Thanks, X,” he replied. “You joining us?”
“I’m already here. In the lounge area in my Sera persona.”
Jace returned his attention to Shhiv as she dragged him to the center of the dance floor. Some techno-beat like what Jace had heard outside some buildings back on Earth was pulsating through the air; the vibrations of the bass shaking the space. The lights in this cube-section were dazzling, multi-colored displays that set a definitely dance atmosphere.
But Jace had never danced. He looked at what other people were doing around him, and Ollie flew down from above, tapping him on the head. “Want me to come in and pilot things?”
“No thanks,” Jace replied as he tried his best to just let his body move to the music. He was sure he looked like a fool, but as Ollie flew away, he heard Shhiv’s laughter and that brought a warmth to his chest. He didn’t care what other people thought. He was going to dance with his girlfriend.
And they did; for what must have been an hour as various EDM songs came on. Shhiv was huffing with exertion as she led Jace out of the dance-cube and the relative silence of the walkways between let him really hear how out of breath she was. “That…was fun…but I want…a drink…”
Jace looked over to a cube that appeared to have a bar contained within. Keeping a hold on Shhiv’s hand, he led the way over, pressing through into the space. There was a large, square bar that was manned by a few Wayfinders that looked like enormous, floating blobs. Quinn was sitting in a booth with two older individuals that Jace had met before: her parents: and she gave him a wave.
Waving back, Jace went over to the bar and ordered some drinks for him and Shhiv before heading to Quinn’s table. The light, piano music and lounge singer in the background provided for the perfect environment to talk in. “Flicker, you remember my parents.”
Jace nodded and shook their hands, “Yes, I do.”
“Lovely dress, dear,” Quinn’s mother said to Shhiv.
Shhiv giggled and twirled as her cocktail dress with a slit up the side showing off her massive legs sent shivers down Jace’s spine. “Isn’t it? It was a bit pricy, but, well, the business is going very well!”
“So we heard,” Quinn’s father said.
Jace and Shhiv sat down and chatted for a bit, with Jace getting up to acquire more drinks from the open bar. He did not feel inebriation hit him thanks to his increased metabolism and the nanites in his body, but the Wayfinder barkeeps seemed to know this and provided him with flavored drinks without the alcohol after the first round. Shhiv, however, began to show signs of being quite tipsy.
Dragging him back to the dance floor, they both let their inhibitions go once more and just enjoyed the night. Getting closer to each other and feeling their bodies sliding over one another’s. It filled Jace with a different sense of longing that he did not know he had in him.
As Shhiv grew exhausted once more, Jace led her out of the crowd and they made their way to the lounge where Sera was seated. But Jace was stopped on the way by a massive figure dressed in a professional business suit.
His skin was a pure, shimmering gold. His eyes were dark pools, with a shimmering sparkle of the stars. He had short, silver hair and a beard that was waxed and shaped to be immaculate. “Ah, I recognize you,” he said as he looked over at Shhiv.
She cocked her head sideways slightly, “Do I know you?”
“I know you, Shhiv-zal. Partner of the Aspirant known as Flicker.” He looked over at Jace, “Which makes you, him. Good to put a face to the name.”
Xera’s voice popped over his earpiece, “That’s Star Father. Most of the big players know what Flicker looks like now. You’re good to chat with him. If you want him out, just hike your thumb over your shoulder and I’ll warp him out.”
Jace held out his hand to shake, “Flicker. Happy to have helped you out on Earth.”
The man cracked a grin, “My name precedes me. That is good. And yes, thank you for your help on Earth.” The man gestured to the bar cube space, “Would you join me for a drink and a chat?”
Jace shrugged, “Sure. Do you mind if I escort my lady friend to another friend first? I’ll meet you there?”
“But of course. I’ll be waiting.” Star Father walked away, and Jace escorted Shhiv to Xera who looked…rather different.
Her skin was no longer inky black, but instead it was a vivid, light blue. The eyes were different as well; a deep yellow color. “Going to chat with an enemy faction leader?”
“Might as well get a measure of the man,” Jace replied as he set guided Shhiv to the bench next to Xera, gave Shhiv a kiss, and then waved. “Keep an eye on her, would you.”
“I have been,” Xera replied as she pointed up to the Wayfinders. “They ultimately serve the System, so they serve me.”
Jace nodded and returned to the bar-cube, joining Star Father at a booth. Quinn was still in her booth, chatting with a weird spider-centaur lady, that Mizarion fellow, and the red-skilled shopkeeper from the Star Market. “What are your plans for Earth?” Jace asked.
Star Father leaned back and lifted a cup of deep, brown liquor to his lips, taking a sip before swirling the enormous ice cube around in the liquid. “The usual. The World Faction Assignment vote went through rapidly: as expected once all of the megacorps collapsed. Next we take stock of what exists; infrastructure, social programs, and the like. Then we can begin to make fixes.” He set the cup down and leaned forward, his bulk dominating the table as he towered over Jace by a good head of height. “Then, gradually, we’ll technologically uplift Earth since they are on that track already.”
“Well, thanks for answering my question.”
“Now I get one.” Jace gestured for him to continue. “I want to know…why did you reject my Quests?”
“What?” Jace was genuinely caught off guard.
Star Father closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them a screen appeared, floating in the air in between the two. It was the video of Jace fighting the Vyrknadine back on Velenar Prime: when he lost his leg. The video he told Ollie to upload but blur his face and use ‘Flicker’ as the identity.
Star Father gestured, “This video caught everyone’s attention. Every faction leader who was paying attention: or their lackey: sent you Quests to try and get you to side with us…but they were all blocked by X.”
She…blocked away Quests that could have helped me? I was on the verge of death! Down a foot and a hand in a place with tons of predators…I could have had a bunch of easy Quests…He felt a deep sense of betrayal. Anger was there, too. But the feeling that someone he trusted intrinsically at this point had risked his life like that.
The man across from him must have noticed the turmoil going on, as his voice took on a sincere, caring tone. “You didn’t know, did you? That Quests were being blocked.”
“No,” Jace whispered as he stared at the table.
“Well…now you know. The truth is always the best path to take; lies do not befit society that seeks to reach utopia.” Star Father leaned back and took another sip of his drink. “But sometimes the truth can hurt. On the plus side, this X seems to have graced you with plenty of Boons. I heard that an Astral Incursion happened, and just like that-” he snapped his fingers, “-the Astral Demon that tore through was defeated. A mighty feat of strength. You should be proud.”
Jace looked up at the soft, dark eyes and warm, open expression of the man across from him. “I…yes, X has treated me well,” he whispered. Standing up, he dipped his head in respect, “I hope we can keep working together and making worlds better. If you’ll excuse me.”
“By all means,” the man replied as he stayed seated, glancing over at Quinn as a dour expression crossed his face.
Jace marched right back to Xera, who was chatting with Shhiv, Priam, and Dee. Jace saw that Priam’s hand was on top of Dee’s chitinous shell-hand. But, he refocused his attention on Xera. “We need to talk.”
She stood up, nodded, and walked a short distance from the table. Jace followed her, and the world shifted around him as he was in her penthouse once more. She turned to face him, “I know you are ups-”
“Upset?! You could have gotten me killed! How many Quests did you block? Huh? Easy ones like ‘stand up’ that could have saved my life?!”
Xera stood tall, but he saw a flash of remorse across her face. “I…I am sorry. I should not have done that to you. But I had to take a gamble. I knew that an Aspirant who made it through the Trial with no help would be able to take on the challenges that supporting the Cosmic System would require.”
“How many,” Jace said. “How many other people did you block Quests for? People you had your eye on as Signers? How many possible Aspirants from Earth did you end up killing because you blocked easy Quests.”
She adjusted her glasses, “Nine-hundred and forty-three.”
Jace felt sick to his stomach, but pushed aside the revulsion. I’ve killed more people on Earth, he thought. I’m no different.
Then, Xera did something unexpected. She walked up and hugged him tightly, and she began crying. “I’m so sorry, Jace. But I had to know.” She spoke between sobs, “I…had to…I had to find out if you were worthy. Dark Matter…it is potent. Only the strongest of wills could control it. And Void requires even more determination and resolve. Do you know…how hard it was to wrangle nothingness into the confines of my System?”
Jace held her and felt regret for making her feel so bad. “It’s okay.” He whispered. “I forgive you. Your…challenge, I guess, let me get this amazing power and become way stronger than someone at my Tier has any right to be.”
Xera pulled herself back and wiped her few tears away with her jacket sleeve. “I…I am sorry, Jace.”
“Apology accepted,” Jace replied with a sigh. “Now…fuck…warp us back. I just want to dance with Shhiv and forget what Star Father told me.”
Xera snapped her fingers and the two were once again in the cube. She walked over to the table, and Jace grabbed Shhiv’s hand, whispering to her that he wanted to dance more. She stood up with a broad, wide smile, and Jace led her away.
Xera looked after Jace as she immediately reasserted her control over her emotions. A necessary play, she thought. He views me as a maternal figure. Who doesn’t want to hug their crying mother? She smiled softly, but felt a slight discomfort at lying via expression control to manipulate her Signer. Well, that is one thing I disagree with Star Father about: sometimes lying is better than telling the truth. Especially when a whole universe is on the line.
Dee tapped her on the wrist, and Xera looked at the woman. Both her and Priam looked concerned. “Is Flicker okay?” Priam asked.
“He is fine,” Xera replied. She looked down at her wristpad and using Jace’s connection to The Cosmic System, turned down his metabolism response for the nanites. Now, he can get drunk, enjoy the night, and just forget.
Shhiv insisted on getting more drinks before dancing, and when Jace took a sip of the beverage he felt the buzz of alcohol kicking in. Huh. Weird.
Xera’s voice popped into his earpiece that he had honestly forgotten was there because it was so comfortable, “I turned down the nanites’ metabolism so you can enjoy inebriation and dancing: a fun combo. Enjoy.”
“Thanks, X,” Jace replied as he drained his whole drink in one go. Waving over the Wayfinder, he asked for a whole bottle of the green absinthe. He offered it to Shhiv who took a few chugs, and he took a few right after her.
The effect took a few minutes to kick in, but by the time they were on the dance floor he was truly in the throes of ‘happy drunk’, dancing as seductively as he could manage with his lovely lady friend. He lost track of time as he just focused on living in the moment and enjoying life.
As the night grew later and the feeling of sexual tension continued to grow, Shhiv pulled Jace off the dance floor, to the elevator, and up to their apartment. Staggering back as she took the lead, they ripped each other’s clothes off and tumbled into the water-square that was Shhiv’s preferred style of bed; but it floated in the replication of the Starlit Sea, as was Jace’s preference for the environment.
Jace lost himself in the passion and embrace of his girlfriend’s warmth and the raw feelings of animalistic lust as the two engaged in a tumultuous, pleasurable night’s activities.
