Welcome to CH 10. Enjoy.
Jaune let out an explosive sigh, staring angrily at the book he was reading.
When two day after White Fang attack Gepetto had walked into his room and announced that it was time for his lessons, the blond boy wasn't sure what to expect.
But when the old doctor pulled out textbooks for basic math, history, and other such subjects, Jaune could only stare in shock.
"I was informed that, understatedly, you didn't continue your education in the five years following your accident. If you are to become a successful member of society, we have a lot of catching up to do."
The first thing Gepetto did was give him a placement test, to figure out at what level Jaune was. The blond boy was fairly certain he aced it, and Gepetto's expression when he was checking it out all but confirmed it. But instead of grading it, the old doctor just put it aside, handed Jaune another, similar sheet, and smiled.
"Try again. This time without Penny's help."
The second test never happened, and that was version Jaune was sticking with.
The end result was that he was now stuck in his room, reading a history textbook, and bored out of his mind. Seriously, what was the harm in having Penny put all this knowledge directly into his brain? She could do it, and without much of a problem. But no, Gepetto clearly stated that he needed to learn it the old fashioned way.
His reasoning was that Jaune couldn't depend on Penny for everything. And studying from books, besides learning history, would let him practice his reading skills - something that he didn't get a chance to develop thanks to his condition.
'Two birds with one stone,' Gepetto had said.
'Waste of time', Jaune countered.
The blond boy sighed again, finally closing the damned book. He wasn't going to learn anything more today. And besides, it was almost time for his test. Surprisingly, the suspension of the ARES project didn't leave him with more free time - quite the opposite. Beside studying, he was going through multiple examinations and tests every day. Gepetto said it was to gather more data, but never said for what.
Jaune allowed himself to hope that it was for something related to ARES. Afterall, his father didn't ground him for life, which was very promising. Now, the only thing left to do was to not do anything stupid, and maybe he would be able to go back to doing cool stuff soon.
P:A v2.5 logs, entry nbr. 1
Following White Fang attack, I decided to suspend practical tests of Project Ares until the commotion quites down. For the time being I'll focus on further investigating the Semblance of patient J. A., from now on referred to as Operator, as well as his connection with subject 'Simple Soul'.
Data obtained during the recent attack seems to deny several assumptions I made regarding ARES' functionality, and its interaction with Operator. Most worrying is the overheating of the Operator's body when the suit performs at a higher capacity. However, the rate at which it overheats seems to be inconsistent. During tests it was a gradual process and it took between twenty to twenty-two minutes before the heat level started approaching dangerous levels. During the White Fang incident, the suit's temperature remained mostly stable for most of its duration, even when Operator engaged in direct combat, only reaching dangerous levels in the final moments of the confrontation against Jackal. All methods of regulating heat used so far have not been very effective.
Theory - overheating is caused not by suit functions, but by the continuous drain of Operator's Aura. Might be tied to the implant that Operator received. Needs further testing.
Gepetto took a sip from his mug, staring at the screen of his computer. After a few moments, he began typing again.
Development of project 'Simple Soul' is progressing at a much faster rate than expected. Subject shows much more self-awareness and personality than was anticipated, almost certainly thanks to the influence of the Operator. The synchronization allows subject SS to safely obtain data that otherwise would be only gained by direct exposure. Operator willingness, and even eagerness, to assist is very promising.
At the current rate, Simple Soul probably can be moved to stage two within a few weeks.
Possible risk - connection with Operator might influence Simple Soul too strongly. While data obtained is transferred to subject SS directly, it is still tainted by the Operator 's own perception.
Furthermore, both Simple Soul and Operator show great dependance on each other, which only grows the stronger their connection becomes. While this improves their teamwork significantly, it is possible they could achieve better results if they worked more independently.
But for now, it would be best to let them do as they wish, and focus on other, more pressing matters.
Jaune winced when hot liquid splattered on his hand. It wasn't enough to seriously burn him, but it still wasn't a pleasant feeling.
"Hot." he said loudly.
Another portion of steaming, blue-ish liquid washed over his hand. This one was just slightly cooler. He sighed. Being repeatedly almost-burned wasn't a pleasant exercise, but a necessary one.
Not for him, but for Penny.
When two days after White Fang attacked, Gepetto called him to his office, and announced Penny was ready to move to the next stage of development, Jaune needed a few moments to realize what the old doctor meant. But when he did, he couldn't contain his excitement.
Penny was going to get her own body.
This was huge. It meant she would no longer be confined to this single room. It meant she would no longer be so defenseless. It meant she will be able to experience things on her own, not only by borrowing Jaunes senses.
Speaking of which - after White Fang incident they reached 95% synchronization. To Jaune's disappointment, nothing big happened. He still couldn't touch Penny in The Room, and he still needed to speak aloud to talk with her. The most notable change was that Penny looked less like a vaguely humanoid blob of light, and more like a silhouette of a human.
But there was one big change. Penny could now really feel things. Up until now, she could experience different sensations only by scanning Jaune's brain and 'guessing' what he felt. She knew the difference between 'cold' and 'warm' or 'hot' - she just didn't understand it.
As was the case with many, many other things.
Penny knew a lot. One could even say she knew everything - what with her ability to find just about any information on Remnant almost instantly.
She just didn't understand a lot of things, especially things that required a physical body to experience. So, good friend that he was, Jaune took it upon himself to help the virtual girl with it. Since yesterday, he was constantly 'teaching' Penny what different things felt like by letting her read his brain waves. Unfortunately, to do so meant he had to experience it himself.
He never knew how many different types of pain one could experience - and that was definitely knowledge he could have lived without.
Jaune let out a surprised yelp when something sharp hit his arm. The nurse who just stabbed him with a small needle sent him an apologetic look. The blond just sighed, massaging his arm, and yet again reassured Penny he was fine. When the nurse brought out another, much bigger needle, his resolve wavered a little, but he still extended his hand.
Anything for a friend, right?
P:A v2.5 logs, entry 5.
Operator's continued interaction with subject Simple Soul continues to bring positive results. She's developing quickly, her understanding of information is essential for future development of projects greatly increased. I estimate that, thanks to Operator's efforts we are easily four, five months ahead in this department. Construction of hardware for Simple Soul to operate is going well. Data obtained from P.A. was most helpful, and allowed me to remove several flaws in the initial design.
Speaking of which, the more I analyze data obtained from the White Fang incident, the more questions I have. Several assumptions I made appear to be wrong, but more tests are needed before any conclusions can be made. For now, I've put more sensors in the ARES suit, when we restart the practical tests it should give me more accurate data.
The most important factor is Aura consumption. My initial assumption was that operating the suit meant a continuous, steady drain on the user's Aura, with possibility of it increasing depending on the amount of strength used, but it seems that is not the case. During the whole incident, there were only a few spikes in the Aura drain. Furthermore, it seems that they were not related to how intensely the suit was used.
That's why I decided to postpone moving project Simple Soul to the next phase. I can't afford to take any risks here.
If I mess something up, I'm afraid I won't get a second chance.
"Sir, it's time."
Gepetto looked up at the young man in the uniform of the Council guard, standing at attention in front of him. The old doctor nodded and got up, quickly fixing his suit, before following the soldier through the halls of the Atlas Senate building. The walk from the waiting room to the room where the hearing would take place was unnecessarily long, and not for the first time Gepetto wondered if it was done on purpose. Calling a person almost an hour before it started, then a long walk through grey, cold halls, accompanied by a guard who spoke as little as possible.
It probably was to unnerve people.
A few years back, it might have worked on him, but not anymore.
Atlas - and the Council - needed him more than he needed them. He knew it, they knew it, most of Atlas citizens knew it too. Of course this didn't mean he could do as he pleased. If he acted on his own too much, the Council could, and would, take action.
He couldn't afford to antagonize them. Not now - when two of the most important projects of his life were so close to bearing fruit. If he wanted to develop them further, he needed the council on his side - or at least most of it.
Thankfully, there was a single man among them with whom Gepetto was on good terms. And he trusted him enough to let him on his little secret. As long as he could be convinced that keeping the rest of the council away from project ARES, and by extension, Penny, would benefit Atlas the most in the long run, General Ironwood was an ally the old doctor knew he could count on.
Allright. Let's get this show on the road.
"Doctor." One of the Council members greeted him as soon as Gepetto sat in the chair prepared for him.
"Councilors." He greeted with a nod.
"We thank you for your timely arrival, doctor." Said an older woman, fixing her glasses. "I propose we skip pointless formalites and get right to the main topic of this hearing." She looked around, and seeing no complaints focused back on Gepetto.
"First of all, just to confirm, this mysterious individual, who intervened in the White Fang attack on your clinic last week was not some unknown Huntsman, but one of your creations, correct?"
Gepetto nodded.
"Yes."
"I don't believe we heard you were working on a new model of Atlesian Knight. Unless General Ironwood forgot to inform us about this little detail?" Another council member spoke, a thin man with slicked back, short hair, and thin mustache.
"No, General Ironwood, nor anyone besides me and few associates knew about this project. Mostly because it is in a very early stage of development. In fact, the unit that we are talking about is the first prototype I built. I didn't even finished all the basic tests before the attack happened."
"Regardless, its performance was formidable. Disabling multiple armed opponents, and even holding its own against trained Hunter is a feat far above anything that our current Knight could achieve. Please, tell me Doctor, when can we expect this model to be ready for mass production?"
Gepetto sighed, not even bothering to look at the one who spoke.
"Like I said, it's too early to say anything. At this stage of development, this unit is not capable of replacing the current iteration of Atlesian Knights."
"But…"
"It's a completely new technology. "Gepetto continued, completely ignoring the man who just spoke." And I mean it. Everything, from materials used, to software operating it, all of it is completely new technology. There are still a lot of issues that need to be resolved before we can even think about mass producing this model. If it will ever be mass produced. The most glaring issue is production cost. For the price of one new unit we could have over a hundred regular Knights, or two Paladins. Not to mention that the production process would take much longer, considering the materials used are something that I developed only recently. Then there is the issue of upkeep. During the White Fang incident, this unit operated for less than twenty minutes, and it almost ran out of power."
"So, you are saying that you wasted time and taxpayers money on some worthless toy?"
Gepetto sighed.
"I used time, my time and my money to make progress. To make something new, that can potentially help the whole of humanity. And achieving this, achieving anything requires time, effort and a lot of hard work." he turned to an annoying man and smirked. "Not that I'd expect you to know anything about it, councilor."
The other man rose, his face red.
"How dare you! I'm…"
"Someone who got his seat by marrying into the right family, and generous support of several influential individuals." Gepetto said with a smile. The other man looked like he was on the verge of hyperventilating.
"You…! I..! How dare you?!" he roared, slamming his fist on the table. "I'll…"
"Enough."
One word, spoken calmly, was enough to stop any further discussion.
"Doctor, please remember you are in the presence of the Atlesian Council. I expect you to show at least minimal respect to every member, regardless of how much you think they might deserve it." James Ironwood spoke in a calm, measured tone.
Gepetto just nodded.
"And you." The General spoke again, turning to his fellow council members. "Could stand to act with more dignity. And refrain from speaking about topics you have no idea about."
"That would mean he would have to never speak again…" someone muttered, but was instantly silenced by Ironwood's stern glare.
"Now, back onto the main topic. I would like to know, what purpose did you have in mind when developing this new unit? Because I'm sure you wouldn't go with something so extravagant if you wanted to make a new model of Atlesian Knight?"
Gepetto hummed, considering his answer. He intended to get Ironwood on board, but how much could he reveal here?
"My initial thought was to develop a unit for emergency services. Something that could replace the human element when rescuing victims of natural disasters. Atlesian Knights, even after heavy modifications, are ill suited for such tasks. Which is understandable, since they were designed as easy to replace, cost effective units. For the tasks that I had in mind, a unit with much higher specs was needed."
Ironwood nodded.
"So, how is the development of this new unit going? When can we expect the first functional model?"
"It's hard to tell. Like I mentioned, everything I'm working with is new technology. I constantly find new properties, and possible improvements that need to be tested. It could be months, even years before a fully functional unit is made." Gepetto paused, looking over the Council. They were chatting among themselves, no doubt each considering how they could use what they learned for their own benefit.
The old scientist winced.
Bunch of greedy scavengers. Unfortnatelly, they weren't stupid. At least some of them. They probably realized that Gepetto wasn't telling them everything. And now that they'd gotten wind of it, they'd start sniffing.
Gepetto wouldn't let that happen. And that meant it was time to throw in some bait.
"However, I was able to implement parts of this technology into other fields. Currently I'm testing new models of prosthesis, and the results are extremely promising. I have already begun developing specialized implants, that should allow even completely paralized people to return to normal lives. Not only that, the White Fang incident proved that the materials I used are even more resilient than I anticipated. With some modifications, it should be possible to create body armor for our soldiers that would offer much better protection than anything we currently have. I have a few early designs ready, and if possible I would like to discuss them in private, General."
Ironwood raised an eyebrow. It was rare for Gepetto to suggest a private meeting.
"Very well, we can meet in my office after the hearing. For now, does anyone have any questions for the Doctor?"
They had questions. A lot of them. The hearing continued for nearly two hours, before Gepetto finally was released.
"So, what is the deal with this new robot of yours?" Asked Ironwood, when he and Gepetto finally sat together in his office. The General barely looked over files the old scientist uploaded from his scroll.
"Just so we're clear - those armor designs are the real thing. You should really check them out, they are pretty impressive, if I do say so myself. Extremely resilient to stabbing and blunt force. Less so against cutting, but this can be easily resolved. I called it High Impact Dist…"
"Gepetto."
"Yes?"
"Robot. Details. Now."
A few seconds passed in silence.
"But seriously, check those out? I put a lot of work into this."
Ironwood sighed, and opened the first file, taking a sip of coffee. However, as time passed, his annoyance diminished, replaced by curiosity. It looked like these designs were indeed real. There were even some recordings of live tests. And if the specifications proved real, they indeed were leagues above anything Atlas had at the moment.
Interesting.
This meant only one thing. Gepetto wanted something legitimate for the Council to focus on. Which in turn meant that there was something else that old scientists wanted to keep the Council away from. General Ironwood had a pretty good idea what that might be. He was one of very few people who knew the true identity of Gepetto's 'special' patient.
Is it time for her to move out of her room? I thought it was still months away.
"It's indeed very interesting. But as I look over them, you could start explaining what is the deal with this robot of yours."
A few seconds passed in silence.
"Do I have your word that nothing we speak of now will leave this room?"
James paused, looking at his companion. Gepetto started at him intently, his face so tense it might have been carved from stone.
It was rare for the old scientist to be so serious about something. Even rarer for him to ask Ironwood to keep secrets. In fact, it had happened only once before.
After a moment of hesitation, Ironwood slowly nodded.
"As long as keeping it secret will not put people of Remnant at risk, then yes."
Gepetto held his gaze for a second longer, then relaxed.
"It's ARES." he said simply.
Ironwood froze.
ARES. He remembered it so well. Geppetto's first big project - and biggest failure. Something he himself admitted was probably impossible to do. Yet now he claimed he made it work?
"How?"
Doctor Polendina scratched his cheek.
"The thing is, I'm not entirely sure. Believe it or not, its activation was an accident. I'm still trying to figure out the specifics. And this attack? It provided some interesting data - that suggests I was almost completely wrong about how it actually works."
"Wait, you said you yourself don't know how this thing works?"
"Yes."
"But you made it! From scratch."
"And your point is…?"
Both men stared at each other for a few moments. Finally, Ironwood sighed with annoyance, and shook his head.
"Never mind. Just tell me, is it somehow related to your daughter?"
Gepetto considered it for a few moments.
"It is now. I didn't intend it at first, but due to certain events, she is now developing much faster than I anticipated. I also intend to use the same technology in creating her body."
Ironwood nodded, leaned back in his chair.
"So, I assume you want my help with keeping the rest of the Council away from it?"
"Yes. At least for a few months, until it's closer to completion."
"I'll see what I can do. One more thing. How many people know?"
"With you? Five in total."
Ironwood raised an eyebrow at that. Only five people? Excluding himself,and obviously Gepetto that left only three potential pilots.
"So, who are the pilots? Anyone I know?"
"I use the term Operator. And yes, you know him. Kind of. I don't think you two have ever met, but you work with his father."
That didn't really narrowed it down much. Ironwood worked with a lot of men. Also, Operator, as in singular?
"Wait, you have only one pilot? Why not look for more?"
Gepetto let out an annoyed sigh.
"Because there are no other people who could do it. Like I said, my decision to restart ARES was the result of an accident. The current Operator was able to activate and operate a piece of equipment that we used in the original project, and I'm still not one hundred percent sure of how he managed it. Besides, now that Penny is involved, I want to keep as few people involved as I can."
"Allright, I get it. I think. Anyway, we could make it a military project, at least officially. You would have to follow certain procedures, but you would still have full control of the project. It would make keeping the rest of the Council away from it easier too."
Gepetto shook his head.
"I don't think that will be possible. As much as I trust you, I'd prefer not to get the government involved in any way, not until I'm ready. If we make it an official military project, every council member will want someone loyal to them on it."
"If we make it a military project I could block such attempts. Or at the very least put someone trustworthy as an observer."
"Maybe. But the biggest problem is with Operator. Making him part of the military might cause some… legal issues."
"What kind of legal issues?"
"Well, for one, he is not a citizen of Atlas."
Ironwood hummed. That was not a problem. Anyone could apply for a job in the Atlesian military. While becoming an officer in most cases required Atlas citizenship, there were many career opportunities for foreigners.
And Gepetto knew this.
"And?"
"He may be a little underaged."
Ironwood eyes narrowed. That didn't sound good.
"How much is 'a little'? Weeks? Months?"
Gepetto sighed.
"Years."
Ironwood groaned. Great, just great.
"Please, tell me that his parents know about it."
"Well, his father does. We came to certain… agreement on the subject. He knows all about ARES, so don't worry. I didn't kidnap anyone."
Ironwood breathed a sigh of relief. That was good. Well, better.
"Very well. With those files you gave me, I should be able to buy you a few months of peace. But what then? Do you intend to keep ARES a secret forever?"
"Not really. When I figure out how exactly it's working, I'll try to make a model that anyone can use. Even if this fails, I should be able to obtain a lot of valuable data that could be implemented elsewhere. I already have a few ideas on how to upgrade our automated targeting systems. But most importantly - I don't want the Council sniffing around ARES until Penny has her body. I'm close, but I need to figure a few things out before I can proceed."
"I see. Well, as much as I would love to talk more, I'm afraid I have work to do. See you later, doctor." Ironwood stood extending his hand. His guest did the same, and both men shared a short, firm handshake. "Gepetto?" The old man turned back to General. "Say hello to your daughter from me. And good luck."
Gepetto smiled, nodded and left, leaving Ironwood alone with his thoughts - and work.
P:A v2.5 logs, entry 6.
As expected, with time interest died down. The media still covers the attack, but they rarely speak about the ARES test unit. The Project's Overseer agreed to resume practical tests. Both Operator and Subject Simple Soul are very excited. We begin next Monday.
I'll still need to make some modifications to the test unit. After some consideration, I decided against creating a new unit. I'll probably need to make a new one, if any of my theories are true, but before that I can use the current model to gather some more data.
Meanwhile, I continued the examination of Operator's Semblance. It's indeed a very interesting case. Initially, I thought it was capable of transferring only emotional states between two or more individuals, however, this seems to be not the case. It also allows for shared physical sensations - and, presumably, other senses too. This aspect was immensely helpful in advancing the development of Simple Soul.
I was also able to confirm that there are two distinct 'stages' to his Semblance. The lowest stage allows him to 'scan' for people, by detecting their emotions. The range seems to be around twenty meters, and he doesn't have to see a person to detect them. However, he gets only a very vague idea of what the emotional state of said person is. He can't tell the difference between someone who is furious, or just mildly annoyed. He can vaguely guess the direction said person is, but not the distance, and the more people he is surrounded by, the harder it is for him to focus on a single one.
What's interesting, is that people who he is 'scanning' are not aware of the fact.
The Second stage is the actual link. It allows for much greater precision in both locating people, and identifying their emotional state. He can tell how intense emotion is, but not the source of said emotion. The quality of the link seems to diminish with every linked person, but not distance. Most volunteers were left unaware of the link until they mentioned exactly what happened, some reported feeling uncomfortable, or nervous during the experiment, but they assumed it was just stress. After being informed of the true nature of a test, most of them said that being linked to felt as if they were being watched. Curiously, the Operator could not hold an active link with more than three people, even though previously he was able to do so with his whole family. He was also unable to share his senses, as he did with his mother on our first meeting, nor physical sensations as he does with Subject Simple Soul.
More tests are needed to determine the cause.
"Father, what is Transference?"
Gepetto stared at a message that popped up on his private terminal for a few seconds, before sighing and massaging his temples.
"Where did you learn about it?"
"I found mentions about it in files related to Project ARES, as well as some of your early works about Aura Resonance."
"And why were you browsing those files?"
"Since I serve as Jaune's assistant, I thought it important to know as much about Project as possible."
So, Penny was doing self study? Gepetto smiled. He never instructed Penny to look for any information regarding ARES on her own. That she did so was yet another proof that she had a mind, and will, on her own.
That she was more than just a program.
Not that he needed any proof, but there might come a time when he will have to convince others that Penny is indeed a real person.
"It's just a theory, something an acquaintance from university pointed out. He was studying different legends and stories from ancient civilizations, looking for connections. When he learned about my research on Auar Resonance, he pointed out that almost every civilization that ever existed on Remnant has legends about inanimate objects gaining sentience. Usually it referred to weapons that supposedly held the souls of their owners, but sometimes they were simple items of everyday use, that became alive after being used for a long time. He suggested that those stories might have a grain of truth in them - that through Aura Resonance, it is possible to transfer a person 's soul into an inanimate object."
"So, is it possible?"
"It's hard to tell. Back then I didn't give it much thought. Even if it would be possible, I had no idea how we could test it. Even assuming we would find volunteers to attempt such a process, I'm not sure how we could confirm if it was successful or not. Not to mention the fact that it's hard to predict what such a process would do to them. Best case scenario, it would be the same as exhausting one's Aura through combat or continuous use of Semblance. Worst case scenario, said person very soul would leave their body, and be stuck in whatever object was used for the test. And that, most probably, would mean death."
"Is that the reason why you put a limit on Aura transfer in ARES suits?"
Gepetto hummed.
"Yes, that was one reason. Even if such a process would be possible, I believe that the worst that could happen would be complete Aura exhaustion. But better safe than sorry. We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to Jaune, right?"
"Of course not! Is this also the reason why you stopped Jaune's fight against Jackal? The readings from after I removed the limiters are very… unusual."
"Partially. The main reason was because you two were fighting against a very dangerous, and experienced warrior, using equipment that was not designed for it."
"Last question, Father. Shouldn't we inform Jaune of this possibility?"
"No, there is no need for that. Like I said, it's very unlikely that Transference can happen. Let's not worry Jaune for no reason."
"Understood, Father. I'll leave you to your work."
Gepetto smiled and stretched. Talking with Penny was a nice distraction, but she is right. He had a lot of work to do. All this data wouldn't analyze itself.
P:A v2.5 logs, entry 9.
After numerous tests, I was still unable to determine the exact reason why the Link with subject Simple Soul is more efficient than with other people.
I did learn a few things however. Operator does not need to see a person to form the link, even if they are in separate rooms. No material that I could think of was capable of blocking the Link - it seems like the only way for it to break is for the linked person to move more than twenty meters away from Operator, or for enough time to pass. How long Operator can hold a Link differs from person to person, and I'm still unable to determine the cause.
When linked, Operator can tell in which direction the person he is linked to is with much greater accuracy than when scanning, he can also vaguely tell distance. He is however, unable to tell if a person is on the same elevation as him.
Another strange thing is Aura consumption. Unlinke Scanning, that slowly consumes his Aura when he actively focuses on it, Link seems to drain a large portion of Aura upon activation. What's even more interesting, is that part of his Aura seems to be returned when the Link is broken. I have no idea why this might be happening.
Anyway, tomorrow we restart the practical test of project ARES. I'll continue analyzing Operator's Semblance. I'm certain that understanding it is key to figuring out how to optimize ARES suits.
P:A v2.5 logs, entry 10.
Unlike I initially assumed, operating ARES suits does not cause constant drain of Operator's Aura. Instead, it appears that the suit absorbs part of the users Aura at the moment of activation, and continues to operate on it until more is needed. Follow up drains happen regularly, but the data I gathered suggest frequency depends more on number and complexity of actions performed, rather than their intensity. Ten minutes of testing reflexes and precision of the suit's movements proved more taxing than an hour of running. It would suggest that intense focus, or making multiple tiny movements, require more Aura. I'll continue the test, but installing more precise scanners might be necessary.
No progress was made regarding the Operator's Semblance. It seems I'll just have to accept that this is how it works, and there is no special reason behind it.
Gepetto walked through the halls of his clinic, eyes distant. He barely noticed the patients and personnel he was passing by, not even answering when addressed directly. It wasn't that he was ignoring them - his mind was simply occupied, trying to figure out the answer to, quite possibly, the hardest problem he'd ever been posed with. It was the third day, and he still wasn't any closer to finding an answer than he was at the beginning.
And it all started with a simple question, asked by his daughter on Monday.
"Father, what should I look like?"
And wasn't that a million lien question? In hindsight, he probably should have thought about it earlier, but in his defense, he was doing his best to keep her hidden from ignorant people who wanted her dead just because she might pose a threat.
Gepetto walked into his office and dropped onto his chair. What should he do? He thought he prepared himself for any questions Penny might have for him, but this caught him completely off guard.
In his defense, he doubted any parent ever had to design their children's looks from the beginning. And now that he thought about it, he also needed to decide how… anatomically accurate Penny body would be.
Gepetto let out a long, tired sigh. Why was parenting so hard?
But back to the task at hand. It was the first time Penny asked for something, and with such determination.
That's why it pained him that he couldn't help. He simply had no idea what Penny should look like. His eyes trailed to his private computer. There was a solution to this problem, right there, but he refused to use it. He couldn't cheat like that when it came to his daughter.
Gepetto stretched, a satisfied smile on his lips. He loved those moments, when after agonizing over some hard problem, he finally reached a solution. And all it took was to change the way he approached the problem.
As tempting as it was to help Penny with every little problem she encountered, it was not the correct way. He needed to let her make her own decisions, give her a chance to express herself. Sure, he would keep watch over her, and offer advice, or assistance when needed, but at the same time he would let her make her own choices. And, as a responsible and supportive parent that he was, he would accept them, as long as they will be made after careful consideration.
That's why, instead of designing Penny's look himself, he provided his daughter with several programs that would allow her to do it herself.
It had nothing to do with the fact that it was already Friday evening, and he was no closer to finishing said task than he was at the beginning of the week.
Definitely.
On another note, he was finally making some progress on analyzing Jaune's Semblance. Nothing concentrate yet, but at least he had some leads.
Gepetto hummed, stepping into the elevator leading to his secret lab. He still had some modifications to make on the ARES suit before the next test. By now, it was basically one moving scanner, whose main purpose was to detect any, even the weakest, change in flow of Jaune's Aura. The said effect for all those modifications was that the suit was now really ugly. Jaune complained about it a bit - and the fact it was less responsive - but calmed down when Gepetto explained it was just a temporary arrangement. As soon as enough data was collected, he would begin construction of ARES mk 3.
And that time was coming closer and closer. Only one, maybe two tests, just to, hopefully, confirm the latest theory.
He stepped into his workshop. It was a small room, most of it filled with tables covered in various tools and electronic devices. In the center was a small platform, atop which stood partially dismantled ARES suit. He smiled fondly, patting the sleeping machine.
You did well. Just a bit longer, and you will be able to rest.
Gepeto turned towards one of the desks, and picked a small, circular object. Just a few finishing touches, and the suit would be ready for tomorrow's tests.
P:A v2.5 logs, entry 11.
It was surprising, but I guess it worked out, so it's all good. My theory about Aura drain being tied to the mental state of Operator proved to be wrong. Not entirely, but the impact is very low, in most cases not noticeable.
I, however, was able to finally figure out how it works. Upon activation, Operator forms an Aura connection with suit, very similar in nature to the one formed by his Semblance. When formed, it drains part of Operator's Aura, and acts as a sort of buffer, used to manipulate suit. When any activity is performed, more 'links' are formed with the parts of the suit that are used the most - usually limbs. The more precise the task Operator is performing, the more links are formed, presumably to increase control. Since most of the drain happens at the moment of forming a link, tasks that require Operator to often shift his 'focus', like combat, drain Aura at an exponentially high rate. Some of this can be mitigated by simple experience and finer control, but I have few solutions in mind that should help with this issue.
While I'm happy that I finally found the reason behind this issue, I'm also worried. If Operator can manipulate the suit only thanks to his Semblance, it might prove impossible to create a model that can be operated by anyone. However, even though the process of Linking bears very close resemblance, it might be something different. After contacting the Operator's family, they provided some more insight about their experience when 'Linking'. What caught my attention was that neither of them could directly share physical sensations, like Operator and Simple Soul can. This led me to believe that this might be the result of their… unique connection, rather than Operator's Semblance. Since he can 'feel' suit in a similar way, it might be the result of Aura fibers used in its construction being very similar to the one used in the implant Operator received. More tests are needed.
"What?! B-but we are so close!" Jaune screamed, eyes wide.
Gepetto sighed. He kinda expected a reaction like that.
"I know." he said loudly. "But have you ever considered what will happen when you and Penny synchronized completely?"
"Of course I did! We will…"
"Did you also consider what could go wrong?"
Jaune clicked his mouth shut. He never really considered it. In fact, he never considered that something could go wrong. When he said it out loud, the old doctor just sighed.
"Jaune, you are playing with an unknown technology. The kind of connection you and Penny have… it's my first time. There is no, and there never was, a case like you and Penny. Right now you, quite literally, have two souls in you. There are a lot of things that can go wrong. The most obvious one is that once synchronization will be complete, then there will be no more distinction between your souls. They merge and one, or both, of you will cease to exist."
Jaune just sat there, mouth agape. He'd never considered such a possibility.
Why had he never considered such a possibility!?
It was so logical, he should have thought about it earlier!
"And that's not all. You and Penny are connected in a way that no other two beings ever have been. For a few months now you've shared every thought, and, if what you said is true, every sensation. That means that everything she experienced is tainted by your own perception - whatever you like it or not."
"It is true that every person is being influenced by those around them. The closer we are, the stronger influence we have on other people. We tend to like things our friends and family like, and dislike things they dislike. Your connection with Penny is closest any two human beings ever had, so it's safe to assume your influence on her is the strongest too. She literally feels things exactly as you do."
Jaune deflated. Was he… was he hurting Penny without even knowing it?
A hand landed on his shoulder, and Jaune looked up to see Gepetto standing above him, with a gentle smile.
"I'm not saying you are hurting Penny. You know I would never let that happen, and I know you would never do it knowingly. I'm just making you aware of the possibility that things might not go how we want them. Life has ways to screw us over in the most unexpected ways."
Jaune chuckled.
"Yeah. I kinda figured that out."
Gepetto sighed. Yes, he had. Being paralized for five years seemed like a good way to learn that life is not always fair.
"Anyway, there are other reasons I want you to sever your Link with Penny. I have reason to suspect that keeping it on all the time actually hurts both of your potential."
Jaune perked up.
"Really? How? I mean, thanks to the Link we can do so many things! I can pilot ARES effectively only because she's helping me! And yes, we tested it, near the beginning - if Penny stops assisting me, even though I'm not sure what she is doing, it's hard to pilot that thing. I feel like I'm going on a trip at any moment."
Gepetto raised an eyebrow.
"Really? And why didn't you mention it?"
Jaune paused. That… was a very good question. Too bad he didn't have an answer.
"I… never thought about it? Since Penny and I do everything together, I just assumed… that… oh."
Gepetto rolled his eyes. Jaune scratched back of his head, letting out an embarrassed chuckle. It looked like there might be some merit to Gepetto's words.
"So.. in what way is our Link limiting us?" he asked out loud.
"For one, it limits Penny's calculation, and, let's call it perception, capabilities. The best example would be your encounter with Jackal. He was able to sneak up on you because Penny was too busy with other things to keep an eye on all the cameras. She only kept track of his scroll - and he left it in the security room. As long as you are connected, as long as you share every thought, Penny cannot unleash her full potential, simply because your brain, implant, or both, wouldn't be able to handle so much data flowing through them. That's why she has to limit herself to what you can handle. But she herself has no squishy, delicate brian that can be damaged if overloaded. For you, well, I'm not entirely sure yet, but I have reason to believe it limits what you can do with your Semblance. If my theory is right, there is a limit to how much information can be shared through the Link at any given time. You having such a strong connection with Penny leaves very little to be used elsewhere."
Jaune sighed. It wasn't that he didn't consider limiting the time they were Linked. And it wasn't like they were always connected - connection always broke when he the clinic to hang out with his father.
But the fact remained that they always reconnected as soon as Jaune was close enough to form a Link.
Then again, could anyone really blame him? The excitement he felt from her everytime they interacted, her poor attempts at hiding her disappointment every time he went out with his father, and overwhelming joy when they finally reconnected. And above all else - awareness of just how terribly lonely Penny was before they met.
Jaune knew how it felt. To be stuck in a single room, unable to leave, unable to move, unable to interact with anyone. He at least had his family visiting him regularly, and later his Link.
Penny had only Gepetto, and he had to limit their interactions in fear she would be discovered, and killed.
Knowing all of that, how could he possibly deny his friend the simple pleasure of company? Especially when he yearned for it too. Afterall, it wasn't like Penny was only one in need of a friend. It was her that helped him with his rehabilitation. It was her who cheered him up when he was feeling down. It was her that kept helping him, only asking for that one thing in return - for him to be her friend. To not leave her alone.
How could he possibly deny her that?
He couldn't.
But then again, if Gepetto was right, if their continuous connection hurt both of their progress. If it really put Penny's very existence at risk… Then there was only one choice to be made.
"Penny? Is it possible? That you will disappear if we continue being Linked all the time?"
Gepetto watched the blond boy's face with interest. He couldn't hear his daughter answered, but judging by the way Jaune tensed, his eyes clenched shut, he assumed Penny confirmed that this is indeed a possibility. So when the blond boy opened his eyes, now filled with determination, and a fair bit of fear, Gepetto knew what he would say. Afterall, he wasn't sure if he even cared about Penny more than Jaune Arc.
"I-I understand, doctor. I'll break the Link. But can we wait with it until tomorrow? Penny wanted to show me something tonight, apparently something special."
Gepetto nodded.
"Of course. One, or two days more will not change anything. But don't delay too much. And just so we're clear - I'm not saying you two shouldn't connect ever again, just to cut down on it."
Jaune nodded, looking slightly less distressed, slightly.
Gepetto sighed.
"Look at it that way. If you two are connected all the time, you experience the same things. Sure, it's fun to do things with your friend, but doing two different things, and then sharing your experiences? That can be fun too. Isn't it like that everytime you go out with your father, and then can share things you saw or did with Penny?"
Jaune perked up. Gepetto was right. He would miss Penny's presence, there was no doubt about it, but maybe this idea had some merit to it.
"Thanks doctor." he said getting up. "I'll see you later."
Gepetto just nodded, watching Jaune walk out of his office. His steps were still uncertain, and sometimes he stumbled a little, but it was a far cry from what it used to be.
Just a few months, and he already recovered that much? It's far better than I expected.
Sure, he still was getting tired very fast, had problems with his left arm, and couldn't really run, but considering his state when he was brought to the clinic - it was a miracle he'd reached this level.
Jaune opened his eyes, looking around The Room. Surprisingly, it was the actual room this time. He sat in a wooden chair at a wooden table. The walls, what little he could see between paintings and furs of some wild animals, appeared to be made out of wooden logs.
Jaune looked around, humming. Something felt different than usual. The scene looked more detailed. If he looked close enough, he could see the individual hairs of the wolf pelts that hung nearby. He got up and walked over to one of the paintings. It depicted some hunting scenes, as did most of the others that hung around the room. Jaune hummed and looked around the room again, walking to one of the two windows he could see. It was dark outside, but he could make out the dark shapes of trees, covered in snow. The moon was full, and gave enough light to make out a few details. Wooden cabins sat in the middle of a small clearing. He could see one more building not far away, probably some barn. Everything was covered in a thick layer of snow, and more was falling from the sky.
Jaune smiled. It looked nice, but he probably would not be taking a walk outside. Two plush chairs near the fireplace looked much more inviting, as did two cups of some streaming, dark liquid that sat on the table. No doubt meant to be shared by him and Penny - but his friend was nowhere to be seen.
I wonder what the surprise she mentioned is about.
Penny had been very excited the whole day. It was tempered after a conversation with Gepetto, but she still insisted they will visit The Room one more time before they severed the Link. Apparently, she wanted to show him something special.
This cabin looked nice, sure, but it wasn't much better than the things Penny had already done. Jaune hummed, placing his hand against the window. He could feel the smooth, cold surface.
And then it struck him.
He could feel it. The cold. The texture of glass. The heat coming from the fireplace. It was all so natural, so livid, unlike anything he had ever experienced in The Room.
"So, how is it? I'm almost certain I got everything right, but…"
Jaune smiled and turned to Penny.
"It's perfect."
She brightened - literally. By now he knew this was the equivalent of her smiling.
"Sensational!"
"Is this what you wanted to show me?"
Penny took two steps towards him.
"Partially, Friend Jaune." She looked uncertain for a moment, but then gathered her resolve and looked him in the eye - or at least he assumed that was what she did. For some reason she looked more… blurry now."Do you know what day is today, Friend Jaune?"
The blond boy rubbed the back of his head. Penny sounded serious, very much so. Whatever this was about it had to be something important. He tried to think of any event that could make Penny so serious, but come up empty.
"Today passes six month since we first made contact. Six month, since, for the first time in my life, I was able to feel something. To interact with other people." She smiled at him, and took another step forward. "Since someone, beside my father, called me a person." She took a few more steps and paused, just outside of Jaune's reach.
"I don't think I ever properly thanked you. You did so much for me, I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you."
Jaune made to speak, to say she did as much, if not more, for him, but she just raised her hand, silencing him.
"I know it's not how friendship works. That friends support each other just because they want to. That's why I prepared something special for today. Something that we've both wanted for some time."
Jaune again made to speak, but yet again Penny stopped him. She covered the remaining distance in slow, measured steps, pausing just a moment to smile at him.
And then she hugged him.
Jaune froze, for a few seconds unable to think. He could feel her. Really feel.
It wasn't the same sensation as when he hugged his family. Penny felt incredibly soft, fragile even, but at the same time there was a certain firmness to her. It brought to mind hugging an extremely soft pillow, but she also radiated warmth, unlike anything Jaune ever felt.
Slowly, carefully, he wrapped his arms around her. Unlike all other times when they tried to make physical contact, this time his hand did not pass through her.
Jaune let out a quiet chuckle. It felt… nice. Comforting.
He had no idea how long they just stood there, enjoying each other's company. Jaune wouldn't mind if it lasted forever. But eventually Penny pulled back, the blond letting out a startled gasp when he looked at her. She was nearly transparent, he could barely see her. But before he could ask anything, she squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"Don't worry, Friend Jaune. I'm not disappearing, I'm merely… updating my model."
Jaune blinked.
"What?"
Penny chuckled.
"I initially wanted to save this one for your birthday, but with what Father said, we might not get another chance for some time, so…" She shrugged. "Give me ten minutes, and go upstairs. I'll be waiting there."
With that, Penny faded away. Jaune focused on their connection, and breathed a sigh of relief when he realized he could still feel her. Left with nothing to do, he sat in one of the chairs near the fireplace, staring at the flames and thinking. Now that she mentioned it, Jaune realized it really had been half a year since he and Penny first met. His birthday is coming up in two months, which meant it was almost six years since his accident. Six years since his dreams of being a Hero died.
And slightly more than half a year since he stepped on a path towards recovery. He traveled all the way to Atlas, received his implants, made friends with Penny, and joined project ARES.
The blond boy smiled.
A lot has happened.
His pondering was interrupted by a wave of excitement from Penny.
I guess she is ready.
Jaune got up and walked up the stairs. There was a short corridor there, and a single door. Without hesitation, the blond boy entered the room - and yet again froze.
There, in the middle of the room, on the sizable bed, sat Penny. She was looking in the large mirror, but got up and turned to him fully as soon as he entered.
Reason why he froze was because she was no longer a silhouette made of greenish light.
She looked like a normal person. Green eyes looked straight into his. Oval, cute face, with few freckles. Orange, shoulder-length hair, curled at the ends. She was shorter than him from what he could say, and was currently looking at him with a shy smile.
She was also very, very naked.
"Welcome, Friend Jaune! As you can see, I began working on a design for my physical body. But I still need to iron out some details, and was hoping you could help me out."
Jaune just nodded dumbly.
Penny smiled brightly
"Sensational! Now, first things first." Her hands went up to her chest.
"How big do you think they should be?"
Poor Jaune, being forced to make such important decisions. Anyway, that wraps it up. Not much action in this chapter, just some insight on how Jaune's Semblance works, and Gepetto dealing with politics.
Also - there is new cover art, made by mysterywhiteflame. Go check out their profile on Deviant Art.