"Let's take a crack at the Breaker power." The researcher looks at me excitedly. Well then, that is a 180o spin in personality. I guess he's already seen so many Blaster and Brute abilities similar to mine. "Now then," he continues on, "you claim that your strength, durability, regeneration, and you explosive shot can roughly double?"
I nod in agreement. "Well then, lets test strength."
Another dummy is rolled out in front of me. "Now activate the breaker state once, Vermillion."
Boost!
Immediately, I feel the difference in power. I clench my fist and punch the straw dummy cracked a bit. "About 1950 lbs of force, Impressive." he whistles, "That is roughly double, albeit a tad more. And I presume that this breaker state is the same for the rest?"
Reset!
Boost!
I once again nod as I boost my durability. "Ok. Now, let's test your durability once more. Stand next to the force tester."
After a moment, "Yep, about 3300 lbs of force. In addition, lets test blunt force trauma."
I then get hit by a BAT, fuck that hurts. "Hmm, can you use "boost" to double your internal durability or can you try to imagine durability all over your body, inside and out?"
I try to visualise the query. Huh, it worked.
Reset!
Boost!
The bat gets swung once again and no pain arise this time.
"Now let's test more." Noooo, please stop.
-0-
I collapse in the Ward couch. Apparently, I can only boost 5 times before experiencing a headache that feels like my brain is taking a jackhammer. When I punched a dummy with the 5x boost, I pretty much ripped through the human analog. You know, the my brute power isn't as impressive as I thought it was.
"Hey Red" Dennis sits down next to my exhausted body, "You finished with testing?"
"Yes." I simply answer the tests were quite extensive after the initial power testing.
"Yeah." He winces as he seems to recall his own. "When the docs found out that the timer on my power is unreliable, they were determined to try and find an average for it. I think that I was freezing the same rock for 5 hours before they were able to agree upon an average."
Ms. Militia walks into the Wards room. "Let's go take you to Glenn Chambers." she blandly states as she holds the door open for me.
Dennis winces, "Ouch. You're going to have to go see the Head of PR."
"What's so bad?" I ask in confusion, as both capes look at each other in silent agreement.
"The PR Department as a whole can be a bit…. Overbearing." they simultaneously moan.
"Even Ms. Militia was able to fully escape its grasp." Dennis continues as Ms. Militia solemnly nods. When she was a Ward, so many subtle modifications were made to her costume that her costume seems to be completely different.
"Oh." I simply say, not knowing how to answer to their disparaging tone.
"Well." Dennis claps his palm over my shoulder, "Good luck!" He winks and pushes me out of the door.
"Follow me." Ms. Militia motions as I fall in line behind her. "Let's just go meet that bastard."
Why are they so biased against him? Even Ms. Militia, who is usually mild-mannered, seem to have some form of hurt nursed towards the PR Department.
"Oh." Ms. Militia interrupts my thoughts, "I also wanted to apologize for my atrocious behavior regarding Shadow Stalker. She seemed to be acting uncharacteristically aggressive so we had to call a M/S Protocol on her."
"Don't worry. I don't like her that much…." I state, wondering why she is talking to me about it.
"No, no. It's just that I apologize for my behavior, as it may impede on your desire to join the Wards."
Oh, so that's why she is talking about it. "It's no skin off my nose."
"Good. Good." She simply responds as we arrive at a door simply labeled, PRT DEPARTMENT OF IMAGE. For some inexplicable reason, whenever I look at the sign, I feel intense trepidation at what is inside it.
"Now then." Ms. Militia nervously(?) states, "I'll leave you to the mercies of Glenn Chambers." She turns about and is about to walk about before also saying, "He's probably going to dress you like a doll."
I nod in worry at that before stepping through the door.
Looking around the office, it appears to be a standard office. There is a calendar and a desk. At the desk, there is an obese man, wearing unkempt clothing and a disconnected hairstyle. How does one create a mohawk that doesn't look like one?
"So, you are the new hero, Vermillion." he drawls as he is looking at a pile of papers, most likely about my powers. I nod wordlessly at the remark.
"Goodie. Now, we are here to discuss your image. I take it that you are going for a knight theme, seeing as you apparently have a sword with a slight master effect?" He questions, referring to Ascalon.
"Yes. Although I believe that the sword cannot be dulled, I can always take classes in striking with the dull side of the blade. With a blade, I can hold a more knight-like costume. In fact, I was thinking of having one when I had a budget during my short-lived independence. In addition, I need something to contrast the draconic appearance of my gauntlet. Therefore, I would like a primarily silver and red costume."
"You thought of your image a lot." he states after a moment of deliberation. "That is a good idea. We can use the silver and bright red theme. In order to prevent labelling as part of ABB, we need to use a different red. We can use vermillion in order to match the color tone of the gauntlet. Similar to Gallant, but not. Not enough curves to showcase a more dress-like costume, but bright metal should be good enough. Hmm, the female knight archetype is an interesting one to play with. You know, it shows rebellion as well as righteousness. Yep, that'll do." He mutters as he starts to sketch in his notepad.
I stand there while he continues to sketch out ideas on the paper. He constantly mutters, scratching out certain details while also using a measuring tape on me. After a while, he looks up to see me still standing there in wait.
"Oh yeah. Is a female knight costume good enough for you?" He asks, realizing that I am still there. "Good? Good. Well then, you can go."
I say my thanks and get out. It wasn't that bad. But then again, I did give him an open-ended question on what is already a positive image. So I guess that he doesn't have to work so hard on the image.
I walk back to the Wards lounge and go down the elevator.
Dennis, who is now accompanied by Missy, looks up at me. "So, how did your trip with the Chamber of Imagery go?" he teasingly asks.
"Good." I simply state.
"...Good?" Missy squints at me, "But how, he is usually so driving with his requests. In fact, I had to argue with him for hours on the cut of my skirt before he says that my skirt can go only here." She points at her skirt. "If it were up to him, my skirt would have been at the floor."
Dennis chimes in, "I remember when I was almost forced to wear bright gold while having one of those old-fashioned pocket watches on my side. I mean, I would've been a shining beacon with all that gold. Not to mention, the nonfunctionality of the watch as even a weapon, as the glass screen will shatter easily."
"Ermmmm." I pause, why did he not drive any points onto me? "I just said that I want a female knight costume with silver and red in order to match and juxtapose my gauntlet."
"Why is everything so shocking about you?" Missy half-whines, "You have an ability that lets you theoretically multiply your power faster than Lung, you can indefinitely hold metal, a healer, and you are a weak Alexandria package along with all that. Now, you're telling me that the Glenn Chambers agrees with your image?!"
"Yes." I shrink, remembering about the hostile glare of Emma. Missy stops her rant at noticing my gesture.
"Sorry. Sorry." She reassures, "It's just that even if I have a cool power, I cannot use it a lot because I cannot stay in the 'frontlines'."
Oh yeah. I remember how people wonder why Vista never actually fights in the PHO. According to most, Vista usually stays in the back being a general nuisance to the villains, mostly just disorientating them.
"It's okay." I comfort the ranting girl.
"Sigh. It's just that the Protectorate doesn't want me to fight. Seeing as my image is more like a 'pretty little princess'." Oh god, its superhero angst.
"Have you asked the Director about this?"
"Oh, the Director doesn't really like the Wards fighting, even if she really wants to." Dennis cryptically states.
"What do you mean by that?" I ask.
"Can't say." He gruffly answers before turning on the T.V.
I guess that all I can do is wait.
-0-
Sorry. I cannot continue this fanfic. I just realize how terribly I'm writing, pretty much OOC'ing left and right. Anyway, I may revisit it, but I doubt it, since I have other stories to deal with. So for now, I am imposing an almost infinite hiatus on this. Enjoy your life.
Tata!
