Dec 5, 2023 20:45:11 GMT -5
Post by ABAS on Dec 5, 2023 20:45:11 GMT -5
Deep within a shaded northern wood, ABAS was meditating within his room at the Crane Dojo. He had gotten into the habit after his meeting with Callion had opened his eyes to just how much he was neglecting the spiritual in favor of his physical training. Training his body and ki was all well and good, but without the proper mind to guide them, to shape his thoughts and actions, he might as well be a battle android. Contemplating of himself, the logic of his behaviors, and how he might move forward both in a spiritual and literal sense was essential in this phase of his existence. As well as every one after.
As he subsumed himself into the ethereal currents of existence, ABAS called up a series of memories in his mind, watching them play like reels of some great movie. His meeting with Liek and Opherla. Callion's dire warning and thoughtful instruction. Liari and Pran's revelations about his place in the world. All of it swirled around him in little eddies of thought and intention as the bio-android pondered his actions.
Ever since Liari had forced him to confront the truth of his existence, he had felt despair and dread coursing through his veins like a poison. No matter how strong he grew or how hard he worked, he would always be a tool if he stayed with the Blacksite. They might trust him more, they might even give him a measure of authority. But no matter what, he would only be a shovel, if with slight gilding.
Perhaps that was why he had come down so illogically hard on Liek. He didn't regret his actions-the boy sorely needed a wakeup call to prepare him for the wider world-but the strength of his response had surprised him. ABAS had never felt that level of...irritation before. Even when he had been confronted by the greed of Brian Twomey, or the self-serving chaos of Liari, he had always been able to maintain a stable center. But not with Liek. Why?
ABAS calmed his mind, allowing it to fade back into the cold, precise clockwork he was used to. If he viewed the situation objectively, his main source of irritation WAS that fact he was feeling irritated. With ever scrap of power he gained, he was beginning to feel....more. More anger, more suprise, more joy. If he had to guess, it was likely due to the weakening of his mental programming. It would be just like the Blacksite to suppress his emotions as well as his freedom.
But then, what will happen to me when I am free? Will I become someone else? Will the current me.....end?
"ABAS!!! GET YOUR SORRY ASS OUT HERE YOU NINCOMPOOP!"
ABAS slowly rose to his feet, sliding open the door to his room and closing it quietly behind him. Shen glared up at him, steam practically pouring out of his ears as he glared at the bio-android over his pointy nose.
"I TOLD YOU TO MEET ME 10 MINUTES AGO! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Master Shen shouted, making to Dodon Ray him in the chest. ABAS dodged it almost absently. Shen had trained him far too well to fall for such an obvious attack.
"Apologies Master Shen. I was meditating deeply and lost track of time. Please, how may I help you?" He said, his tone perfectly respectful. Shen grumbled and cursed, but eventually walked away towards the dojo's training room. ABAS thought for a moment, then followed curiously. The relationship between master and student had been icy for several days following ABAS's minor rebellion, and Shen had taken ample...opportunity to remind ABAS of his place. The old man not objecting to his dodge, AND not taking the opportunity to shock him was...odd to say the least.
A short time later, the pair were sitting across from each other on the dojo.
"ABAS, you may be a horrible idiot, disrespectful and an all around waste of life, but you do have a talent for marital arts. Even I cannot deny that. That is why I have decided to give you an...opportunity of sorts. A chance to prove yourself and attain the secrets of the Crane you so desperately crave." Shen said, pausing pointedly.
"Please Master Shen, tell me what I must do." ABAS said.
"The final test to become a true disciple of the Crane is to carry out a mission for me. I have recently been...tasked with a mission to eliminate a alien crime boss residing in North City. It seems he has made quite a few enemies during his tenure there, and they are willing to pay quite a bit to have him...removed. You will do this, holding back your strength to your current level, and leaving no witnesses. If you can do that, you are worthy of my legacy."
"It will be done master."
ABAS ghosted across the rooftops of North City, barely making a sound as he flitted from rooftop to rooftop. If he had full command of his power, this would be a simple task. With his current level of strength, he could probably be in and out of the city faster than anyone could ever hope to receive, and bring Shen the target's body before it even grew cold. However, with the limitations of the moment, it paid to be cautious.
Eventually, ABAS landed on one particular rooftop, across from a glittering skyscraper. As pretty as the building was, it was absolutely covered with sensors and bodyguards alike. He simply watched the patrols for a few moments, his dark eyes picking out target after target while his HUD marked them in a glowing red.
Then, ABAS began slowly picking them off. Thin talons of yellow light lanced across the gap, picking off guards as they went off for a smoke, or while their comrade left to get water. Unlike the sheer destructive force of the Kamehameha, the Dodon Ray was specialized for this kind of task, and ABAS barely felt his energy reserves dip as he fired off several of the near-invisible beams.
Eventually, however, the guards began to notice something was wrong. They ran for help, shouted and looked into the misty night. All that caused, however, was for ABAS's firing rate to increase. It was only when the balcony was covered with crumped bodies that ABAS deigned to rise to his feet, and flit over onto the skyscraper's ledge.
ABAS walked among the corpses, making his way towards the interior of the penthouse. He made sure to destroy any visible cameras or recording devices on his way, though he didn't let it bother him too much. Nobody outside the Blacksite would be able to identify him, and he was technically acting under the Blacksite's orders here. These aliens were not part of any official delegation or respectable enterprise. While wholesale slaughter of them would be frowned upon, a few deaths to gain him strength were...acceptable.
ABAS stopped in front of a massive oaken door, drew back a fist, and punched in in. The crime boss yelped and ducked under his desk as splinters of room peppered the room. "Enterpri, do your job!"
ABAS turned, noting the presence of a massive, hulking warrior in the corner of the room. The alien was fairly strong, probably around ABAS' level when he first fought Liari. In his current state, he would be....annoying to fight. A waste of time.
"SOLAR FLARE!"
A flash of light shone throughout the apartment, causing the alien to squeal and rub its tearing eye. When it's vision finally cleared, ABAS was gone, and the crime boss was too....
WC: 1282
Solar Flare Week 2/2
As he subsumed himself into the ethereal currents of existence, ABAS called up a series of memories in his mind, watching them play like reels of some great movie. His meeting with Liek and Opherla. Callion's dire warning and thoughtful instruction. Liari and Pran's revelations about his place in the world. All of it swirled around him in little eddies of thought and intention as the bio-android pondered his actions.
Ever since Liari had forced him to confront the truth of his existence, he had felt despair and dread coursing through his veins like a poison. No matter how strong he grew or how hard he worked, he would always be a tool if he stayed with the Blacksite. They might trust him more, they might even give him a measure of authority. But no matter what, he would only be a shovel, if with slight gilding.
Perhaps that was why he had come down so illogically hard on Liek. He didn't regret his actions-the boy sorely needed a wakeup call to prepare him for the wider world-but the strength of his response had surprised him. ABAS had never felt that level of...irritation before. Even when he had been confronted by the greed of Brian Twomey, or the self-serving chaos of Liari, he had always been able to maintain a stable center. But not with Liek. Why?
ABAS calmed his mind, allowing it to fade back into the cold, precise clockwork he was used to. If he viewed the situation objectively, his main source of irritation WAS that fact he was feeling irritated. With ever scrap of power he gained, he was beginning to feel....more. More anger, more suprise, more joy. If he had to guess, it was likely due to the weakening of his mental programming. It would be just like the Blacksite to suppress his emotions as well as his freedom.
But then, what will happen to me when I am free? Will I become someone else? Will the current me.....end?
"ABAS!!! GET YOUR SORRY ASS OUT HERE YOU NINCOMPOOP!"
ABAS slowly rose to his feet, sliding open the door to his room and closing it quietly behind him. Shen glared up at him, steam practically pouring out of his ears as he glared at the bio-android over his pointy nose.
"I TOLD YOU TO MEET ME 10 MINUTES AGO! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Master Shen shouted, making to Dodon Ray him in the chest. ABAS dodged it almost absently. Shen had trained him far too well to fall for such an obvious attack.
"Apologies Master Shen. I was meditating deeply and lost track of time. Please, how may I help you?" He said, his tone perfectly respectful. Shen grumbled and cursed, but eventually walked away towards the dojo's training room. ABAS thought for a moment, then followed curiously. The relationship between master and student had been icy for several days following ABAS's minor rebellion, and Shen had taken ample...opportunity to remind ABAS of his place. The old man not objecting to his dodge, AND not taking the opportunity to shock him was...odd to say the least.
A short time later, the pair were sitting across from each other on the dojo.
"ABAS, you may be a horrible idiot, disrespectful and an all around waste of life, but you do have a talent for marital arts. Even I cannot deny that. That is why I have decided to give you an...opportunity of sorts. A chance to prove yourself and attain the secrets of the Crane you so desperately crave." Shen said, pausing pointedly.
"Please Master Shen, tell me what I must do." ABAS said.
"The final test to become a true disciple of the Crane is to carry out a mission for me. I have recently been...tasked with a mission to eliminate a alien crime boss residing in North City. It seems he has made quite a few enemies during his tenure there, and they are willing to pay quite a bit to have him...removed. You will do this, holding back your strength to your current level, and leaving no witnesses. If you can do that, you are worthy of my legacy."
"It will be done master."
ABAS ghosted across the rooftops of North City, barely making a sound as he flitted from rooftop to rooftop. If he had full command of his power, this would be a simple task. With his current level of strength, he could probably be in and out of the city faster than anyone could ever hope to receive, and bring Shen the target's body before it even grew cold. However, with the limitations of the moment, it paid to be cautious.
Eventually, ABAS landed on one particular rooftop, across from a glittering skyscraper. As pretty as the building was, it was absolutely covered with sensors and bodyguards alike. He simply watched the patrols for a few moments, his dark eyes picking out target after target while his HUD marked them in a glowing red.
Then, ABAS began slowly picking them off. Thin talons of yellow light lanced across the gap, picking off guards as they went off for a smoke, or while their comrade left to get water. Unlike the sheer destructive force of the Kamehameha, the Dodon Ray was specialized for this kind of task, and ABAS barely felt his energy reserves dip as he fired off several of the near-invisible beams.
Eventually, however, the guards began to notice something was wrong. They ran for help, shouted and looked into the misty night. All that caused, however, was for ABAS's firing rate to increase. It was only when the balcony was covered with crumped bodies that ABAS deigned to rise to his feet, and flit over onto the skyscraper's ledge.
ABAS walked among the corpses, making his way towards the interior of the penthouse. He made sure to destroy any visible cameras or recording devices on his way, though he didn't let it bother him too much. Nobody outside the Blacksite would be able to identify him, and he was technically acting under the Blacksite's orders here. These aliens were not part of any official delegation or respectable enterprise. While wholesale slaughter of them would be frowned upon, a few deaths to gain him strength were...acceptable.
ABAS stopped in front of a massive oaken door, drew back a fist, and punched in in. The crime boss yelped and ducked under his desk as splinters of room peppered the room. "Enterpri, do your job!"
ABAS turned, noting the presence of a massive, hulking warrior in the corner of the room. The alien was fairly strong, probably around ABAS' level when he first fought Liari. In his current state, he would be....annoying to fight. A waste of time.
"SOLAR FLARE!"
A flash of light shone throughout the apartment, causing the alien to squeal and rub its tearing eye. When it's vision finally cleared, ABAS was gone, and the crime boss was too....
WC: 1282
Solar Flare Week 2/2
