Framework

Jump-chan here! Sorry, but I will be the one giving the description for this story. So, James was accidentally thrown into a Chain. As recompense, since we both have to follow the rules, when he made one build, I allowed him a bit more leeway and another Capstone Perk from a different CYOA.

And, another one of these. This time, there is a bit on narrative leeway (Is that what it would be called? Something like that) around a couple of rules and limits. Nothing too bad, but noticeable. They are very much an OC, having different reasons for making the same choices I did on for the Chain, being a different person with a different mind than me. That said, let's get on with it.

Chapter 1

I woke up to Fog. I could see through it, but I could sense that there was Fog all around me. It didn't leak out of the warehouse, and I know that my will alone is holding it in. If I wanted, that Fog could cover a city in minutes. Well, it looks like that dream-conversation with "Jump-chan" wasn't a dream after all. Okay, okay, everything will be fine. I'm just in Worm, that's all.

Okay, I'm calmer now. At least, calm enough to think about things mostly rationally. The first thing to do, get protection. Simple enough, my power has all this Fog to use. All of the Fog in the warehouse was then funneled into a suit of bioarmor, taking inspiration from the Vojnik skin of the Frost Warframe. I spent the next hour working on it, recreating the Frame faithfully, knowing that my power creates stronger creatures the more time I spend making them. I won't make it as slow, though.

By the end of that hour, I had finally finished making the armor. As a suit of armor, it isn't bad, but it isn't particularly good either. It is in the supernatural powers that it really shows its worth. It has a permanent forcefield that qualifies for a mid-tier Brute power, but in a different way than most. The forcefield attempts to mitigate damage from any attacks, until the attack is completely nullified.

There is also a high/mid-tier Shaker power, one that allows for creation and control over cold, frost, and ice. This power can act as in offensive, defensive, and support roles as required, while also being less instantly lethal as fire. And then there's the third power, which allows the suit to grow along with me, even when the effects of Lessons of Adversity activate.

For now, any creature I create can have three or four powers at most. Either two major powers, three mid-tier powers, or four minor powers. Those values can be mixed somewhat, such as one major and one mid-tier, or one major and two minor powers. Any number of powers less than that is viable as well.

Now, the next thing to do is to create a body for the Richter A.I. I bought as a companion. I seem to have started a theme of making bioarmor with my power, so why not continue? I don't remember very many Warframes, and besides that, I don't want to create more than the basics of a body for them without their input.

Making what turned out to be basically the silhouette of a genderless body took about ten minutes, mostly just so I could create the minor power of channeling the A.I. and not mess up. With that done, I took out the data bank from my warehouse and allowed them to connect to the suit.

Waiting a moment for them to get their bearings, I then started to speak. "Hello, my name is James Greenwood, or Framework in this suit. Do you know what's going on?"

The frame gave the impression of looking at me for a moment, before answering in a soft, feminine voice, "Yes, master. Jump-chan explained the basics to me while you were making your suit, and later mine. You are from another version of Earth, one without superpowers, where the multiverse is just a theory. You were accidentally sent on a multiversal journey, each stop lasting ten years, unless some choice changes that."

I ignored the master bit for the sake of my sanity. "Good! Now for a more important question, what is your name? Cape or civilian, whichever you prefer, if you don't mind."

Even without a face, or much in the way of body language, they gave of the impression of amusement. "More important? What odd priorities you have."

I gave a sort of embarrassed shrug, "I have ten years to explain everything to you, and I have no intention of hiding much from you. However, I would like to know how I should refer to you, seeing as we are going to be working together for at least the next ten years. You also know more of this world than I do, or can at least find out more, and faster. The setting of the next world isn't very important here and now."

Still amused, but understanding now, she answered me, "I would like to be called Ouroboros, as a Cape name, the snake to Dragons, well, dragon."

"Ouroboros hasn't been taken yet? Surprising, but I guess there is also the chance that someone who used to use the name died recently," I muttered to myself. A couple designs flitted through my mind, before I choose a particular Warframe to alter. "Okay then, I have an idea on what your suit should look like. If you don't like it, we can always redesign it once I'm done. And then for the powers built into it.

"Hmm, as a basic explanation, after I spend sufficient time creating the body, you can have four 'slots' for power. Minor powers count for one slot each, major powers as two, and the mid-tier powers are a bit weird, something like 1.2 for a slot.

"If those slots are arranged in a square with a box around them, it would be a bit like three mid-tier powers would almost push the empty 'slot' out of the box. A sufficiently small minor power could push back without being pushed out, but a mid-tier power in that slot would not fit.

"There are exceptions, and the values don't always work like that, but that's a good rule of thumb. Does that make sense?"

"I understand," was her answer.

"Okay, the ability for the suit to hold your consciousness and move as you want it to is one minor power. And then I have three mid-tier power ideas.

"The first is control over friction around your, even reversing the effect, so long as your body can handle it. The second is to heal from all damage dealt to the body, by pulling an Orochimaru and shedding your skin. That power can only be used once every twelve hours, however, in order to keep with the slot. The last is a power that allows the body to grow stronger, even its powers, through combat and training."

"And that takes you all of an hour to create a creature, suit or not, with powers stronger than 70% of the Parahumans in the world. Ones that can grow even stronger over time," she deadpanned. "That is not something you want getting out to the rest of the world."

"I know. It's kind of the point of the Jumpchain, but it can be very dangerous starting out. Anyway, let's start on actually finishing your body." Saying so, I let go of my thoughts and worries, focusing solely on designing and crafting the body of my companion.

XXXXX

Over the next hour, I worked on her biosuit. In the end, what I made was based off Ember Prime, and then altered to fit her tastes. The major differences being the gold ridges over her face were smoothed down and back over her head, and the exposed mechanical bits from Ember were changed to patches of gold and black snake scales.

"There we go, this good enough for you, your highness?" I teased her. She was a bit demanding over the pattern of the scales during creation, after all. Understandable, though, it is her main body for the foreseeable future.

She made a show of looking herself over, giving a sniff, and speaking primly, "It will have to do." Neither of us could keep a straight face for more than five seconds, and we fell down laughing.

Once we had both recovered, I made a connection in my head, and fell down laughing again. Looking over to Ouroboros, I asked her, in a voice filled with mirth, "What do you think about Lilith for your civilian name?"

She gave me the impression of narrowed eyes – really, how does she do that without having eyes to narrow? – and asked her own question, "This is about what made you laugh. What are you thinking about?"

Regaining control over myself, I pushed myself off the floor and spoke. "In my world, there was an anime series. It boiled down to a lighthearted, action/comedy, hentai/harem thing. It took place at around this time period, in a version of Earth where every mythology exists, superpowers are hidden, and where there are no Endbringers, somewhere in Japan. One of the two strongest existences in that world was called Ophis, the Infinity Dragon, and the Ouroboros Dragon. Lilith was a sort-of clone that was also its own person. You and your... sister? Make up two halves of that last title, and I made the connection. While you don't act like her, you showing your emotions, I thought it fit rather well."

She seemed to give it a moment's thought, likely for my benefit since she can think faster than I can, before answering. "Sure!" She chirped, "I'll take it. My civilian name is now Lilith Richter. Thank you, master."

I tried to emulate her, give off the impression of a smile without a face to use. I don't know if I managed it, but she understood anyway. "Let's go to my Lair. Much more comfortable than this old warehouse." she nodded, and we were off.

XXXXX

Entering the room first, I turned around and swept my arms to the sides. "Here we are, home sweet home. Or at least, it can be. Not much here yet, but there are rooms, and we have a workshop if you want to use it. Look around, make yourself at home. This is your home as much as it is mine."

While she was looking around, I pulled out a bed from one of the rooms into what appeared to be the living room. I want to her a body for her civilian identity as well. No need for her to be stuck in the combat suit all the time. I may be a Case 53, and thus not look normal, but she should be able to enjoy having a civilian life.

When Lilith had stopped exploring and had rejoined me in the living room, I called her over to help. This is going to be her body, one that she will be living in, at least until she wants it replaced, if that ever happens.

"We're going to be making you a civilian body, if you want one." I looked over to her, waiting for her response.

She gave another one of her felt-but-not-seen smiles, "Yes, thank you, master."

I looked back to the bed, pooling some Fog over it. "In my world, in that anime, Ophis was shown as one of two female forms. Both were slightly elfin in appearance, but while one looked like a young girl, the other was an adult woman. We can either base it off one of them, find a different template, or start from scratch. It is your body, so it is up to you to decide." After the excess Fog had disappeared, all that was left was two shells in the shape of people. Despite my embarrassment over it, I had created both exactly as they were shown.

Feeling my companion giving me a Look, I was quick to look away and speak up for myself. "D-don't blame me! That's what they wore on the show!" Indeed, I had recreated them perfectly... all the way down to the black tape in the shape of X's. I added more Fog, closing up the front of their clothes.

I tuned back, watching Lilith walk around, poke, and prod the two Ophis. She decided on the adult version, telling me she didn't want to be seen as a child. After that, we started to go through styles for her hair and eyes. I had gotten out of my suit while crafting her body, to better use my Fog. Her hair was kept black, but shortened to neck length. The eyes were changed to a brilliant shade of emerald green, while their shape was made bit softer.

Her ears kept their slight points, and her clothes were changed to something like a black sundress. It might be a bit chilly until she gets used to the weather around here, but there are people running around in spandex all the time. It never really gets too cold.

On the powers side of things, there isn't much to say. There is the power allowing her to connect to the body, another that allows her to control certain bodily processes and round out her ears in order to hide them, if she wants to. The last is passive, a sort of calming field centered around her, to make it so people are less likely to try and take advantage of her. She is a beautiful woman, and I don't want people trying to mug her or worse.

Lilith took control over her new body, sitting up and then standing. She then started testing out her limbs, moving one, then another, then multiple at once. After that she was testing her balance, because this body is quite different from her combat suit. After she finished, she turned towards me, her face stoic but her eyes telling me everything.

Her voice was quiet, but filled with emotion. "Thank you, master."

'Don't ask, don't ask, don't ask' "Why do you call me master?" I asked. 'Damn it.'

She looked at me, her body language telling of the sincerity and seriousness that her face didn't know how to express. "You used your CP to by the A.I. companion option. Those same points that you could have used elsewhere to increase your chances of survival. And you spent it to buy me. You even chose a Drawback, sacrificing your chance to have an identity, in order to buy me, when you could have chosen the Cape option instead."

I looked at the floor, embarrassed. "It wasn't that big of a sacrifice." I told her

She saw through me, and continued on. "You know that isn't true. You know that Case 53s are called Monster Capes. You know the problems not having an identity will bring. And you choose ME anyway. Jump-chan explained a lot more to me than you think. You read through the options. You wanted someone you Knew would be compatible with you, not just a follower or yes-man, someone who would stand beside you, rather than in your shadow. And your choice created me. I owe you everything, and THAT is why I call you master."

I gave her a gentle smile, walking over and gave her a hug. I whispered in her ear, "You owe me nothing. You are my companion, and my friend. I will work by your side as long as you will have me, and if you will, we will be working to save the lives of others, and we will save each other. You don't need to call me master if you don't want to, but if that is what you want than I shall not argue."

I fell silent, giving comfort to the woman that knows she was created today, yet had memories saying otherwise. One that I know read that tablet, knows of the atrocities that could have happened to her world, that might still happen.

The suits, whom I made to be protective rather than predatorial when not being used as bioarmor, personalities closer to dogs than wolves, also joined in on the hug. And that was the way we ended the day, sitting on a bed, giving comfort to one of our own.

XXXXX

And that's the end of this chapter. A rather nice spot to end it, don't you agree? I left a few hints for something I plan to make happen some way down the line, I wonder if any of you will notice. This is very much a set up chapter, with a bit more set up that happened off screen.

So, we see James' power. Yeah, it is a bit overpowered, but then again, many of the powers on the Jump doc are. Most of the limits to his power is his own imagination, but there are a couple of hard limits present, as is shown above. Another limit that hasn't been stated is the amount of Fog he can create in a day, which is roughly enough to fill the entire city twice over. His range before the Fog starts to disappear out of his control is a little less, but still massive. Also, after an hour of work on any one creature, that is where the point of diminishing returns starts to accelerate.

Now onto Lilith. She has a power of her own, technically given to her by Jump-chan, who will not be mentioned much past this chapter, but she did go through enough trauma to Trigger as a Parahuman naturally, due to existential crisis, as can be seen referred to above. Her power is the Reverse Engineer Tinker from the Jump doc. That power was the most versatile of the Tinker powers, and certainly the strongest. Perhaps not right out of the gate, but the more technology she looks at, the stronger she gets.

The biosuits are exactly what they sound like, and the only reason why the power allowing them to grow isn't a major slot power is because it is based off a Perk of his, and is quite slow. Lilith's body is a bit different, being fully functional as a human body in every way I can think of. Unlike the biosuits, it needs food and water, instead of living off Fog, produces waste, etc.

Okay, that's about all I can think to say, see you next chapter. Maybe.