- - -Still-Defiant- - -
"Dragon. We need to talk." I sit down on one of the stools in the workshop, pulling up Dragon's video feed in my helmet. This isn't a conversation I've been looking forward to, but I've delayed long enough.
"...What about?"
"You're aware that I was heavily augmented with cybernetic enhancements in the future. Much of my technology was either tightly integrated with, or dependent on those augmentations."
"You want to modify yourself again." Her voice is small.
"I do. I can't afford to give anything but my all in regards to this project, and I believe that failing to utilise such a powerful tool is neither right nor reasonable."
"I… understand what you're trying to say, but…" she trails off. "I think there are things you haven't taken into consideration. If I were to help you with this, what do you intend to do?"
"At a bare minimum, I'd just have a full suite of cranial enhancements. More optimistically, abdominal organ and spinal replacements would be next, and then total limb replacement."
"Christ, Colin - you'd be more machine than man at that point." Her mouth hangs open, an expression of shock on her face. "You'd... Were your enhancements that extensive in the future?"
I nod. "Essentially."
"I know I said it before, but I'm sorry you had to go through that." Her voice cracks. "Everything you just told me, though, has only strengthened my belief. I truly think that you shouldn't go through with this."
I deflate. I can't say that I understand - I don't. But, I do trust Dragon. If she's this certain that I shouldn't, then there must be merit in the idea. "Please. Help me understand why." The words fall from my mouth unbidden. The weight of my armour hangs heavily on my shoulders.
"The way you were talking earlier… I don't know whether you've realised it, but it's self-sacrifice. You're giving up parts of yourself for this cause. That…" She pauses for a moment. "It isn't healthy. It doesn't speak well of your headspace. We need you in a sound state of mind for this, and I don't think that going through with this will leave you well."
She stops, letting me consider her words. Self-sacrifice? I don't see it - maybe if you took my words uncharitably. But, Dragon isn't one for that - she obviously sees something I don't. Are our points of view on this topic truly so far apart?
"Let me try to put it differently. This isn't a question of power. I've no doubt that if we were to equip you with the best enhancements we can produce, you'd be far more effective in the field, and productive in the office. That isn't what I'm disputing - I'm saying that voluntarily amputating your limbs and replacing your organs will affect your state of mind negatively. That it will irrevocably affect your decision making - your value judgements. Your ability to interact with other people. I'm saying that all of those things are far more important than being able to get more hours out of the day."
I think I understand what she's trying to say - at least some of it, anyway. The implications, if what she's saying is true… I don't like them. Whether I like them or not doesn't matter, though. There is something else I need to know, though. "And if I lose a limb in battle - like last time, with Leviathan? Or if an injury damages one of my organs - what then?"
Her eyes snap up, fixing me with a gaze. "Don't. Colin. Throwing your body away in battle is no better than amputating it yourself."
I shake my head. "I know - that wasn't what I wanted to know."
She slumps. "Oh - sorry. That's a different story. In that case, I'd say it's far closer to rolling with the punches, as opposed to self-mutilation in the name of a higher purpose."
Hearing her put it so directly strikes me. 'Self-mutilation in the name of a higher purpose'? I roll the words around in my head. From a certain point of view, the words apply to the situation. Self-mutilation.
Mannequin's obsession.
My stomach drops, a sickly pit of disgust appearing in its place. I try to push it aside - it's ridiculous - I'm nothing like Mannequin. The notion refuses to leave me, though.
No - absolutely not. Mannequin is a monster who takes pleasure in seeing others inflict pain on themselves. That freak was once a Hero, but now, he's nothing more than a depraved sadist who must be put down for the sake of others. When the chips were down, he stumbled and fell - and now he's lost.
I'm a soldier. Someone fighting for the future of humanity - someone who puts down the rabid animals like Mannequin. I've made mistakes, but even through all of that, I've never stopped working for a better future.
But, Mannequin had also been the one to leave me in need of augmentations - deliberately and purposefully so. I'd lost my arm before that, but I hadn't any intention to replace it.
I'm nothing like Mannequin, but maybe that doesn't matter. Maybe going through with this will put me one step closer to him - is that something I want to even risk?
No - I don't think so.
"...I understand what you're saying, now. You've changed my mind. I won't bring this up again." My voice is unsteady - my train of thought had brought some unpleasant memories to mind. Those days under house arrest with the PRT had been some of my darkest - they aren't something I have revisited often.
"I'm relieved. Now - that's enough of such heavy talk. I think we're in need of a break. Would you like to watch a movie with me?"
I shake myself from my thoughts. A break to take my mind off of things wouldn't be amiss. "I'd like that."
- - -Ephemerally-Lisa- - -
I collapse onto my new couch, my second coffee since the meeting in hand. The things Armsmaster and Dragon told me… weigh on me heavily.
The end of the world. The apocalypse - perpetrated by one we thought was the greatest Hero of all.
I don't want to think about this anymore. It's only going to get me down, and I don't want to feel like that. I need a distraction.
Ice cream.
That'll do. I push myself back onto my feet, walking over to my kitchenette. It's a good thing it had come fully-stocked, I suppose. I grab the tub and a spoon, abandoning my drink on the counter.
Sitting back on my couch, I pop open the lid and deliver a spoonful of the cheap frozen dairy into my mouth. A second soon follows the first, and before I know it, I've finished half of the tub.
...That's enough, I think. I do have something else I need to do today, and sending myself into a dairy-induced coma wouldn't do. I return the tub to the freezer, finishing off my now-cold coffee while I'm at it.
Alright. Time to decide on a new name. I settle into my workspace, opening up the laptop I'd been issued. What do I want out of my name - my new Cape persona?
I don't think it should be anything like my old one. Tattletale had been immature - I'd intended it as such, to provoke people into engaging with me. But, that doesn't fit anymore - the stakes are high, and I need a persona that is appropriately serious.
It may not be fit for purpose anymore, but Tattletale was a good name - what made it good?
It fit with the persona I projected, as well as being vaguely in line with what I actually did without giving away any details. What am I going to be doing now? Analysing things?
How about Analyst, then?
No - absolutely not. It's too literal. Generic, even - makes me think of some paper-pusher running a nine-to-five with the PRT.
It's a terrible name, but it's also a starting point. I open up an internet dictionary, entering it in and clicking through words with related definitions. Nothing jumps out at me - it's all just… pedestrian.
I close down the dictionary. I hadn't found anything good that way the last time either.
I need a name that practically shouts 'Hero'. It needs to be just a little bit flashy - the sort of thing that people will take seriously. It can't be too lofty - I don't want people to go likening the name to Legend or Hero.
By my impression of things, my analysis will be informing the decisions made by Armsmaster and Dragon. A guiding voice for the project, if you wanted to put it poetically.
How about Luminary? It fits, but I don't like it. It's pretentious - a bit of pretension can be good, but I think it's too much.
I lean back, staring up at the ceiling. What else?
Lodestar?
I roll the name around in my head. It's not bad - I quite like it actually. It meshes with my actual role fairly well without being obvious, and it brings with it the sort of expectation that I'm looking for.
I write the name down in one of the notepads on my desk. It's too early to settle on anything, but I think the name is strong in all the right ways. If I don't come up with anything else, I'll go with that.
A knock at my door pulls me from my thoughts. I stand, checking the time - this will be Armsmaster, I think.
I walk across the room, answering my door. I'm proven right - Armsmaster with a sealed document pouch in hand greets me. "Lisa. Here is your briefing and information packet." He hands me the pouch.
"Thanks - I'll have this read soon."
He nods. "Good. Any progress on the name?"
Beyond my initial surge of inspiration, not much. "Some. I only have one possibility so far."
"Is that so? A single possibility is all you need - what have you come up with?"
"Lodestar."
He considers it for a moment. "I like it - Dragon does too. I think you should go with it."
Dragon is listening in? I push the thought aside for later. "I'll take that under consideration."
"That's all, then. Goodnight." He bids me farewell, turning and leaving. I close my door, settling down on my couch to get a start on reading through all of this.
Brief: Recruitment Candidate Analysis
Below is a small list of potential recruits. Please assess each against the general criteria described overleaf in addition to any specific requests attached to each individual. Capes with italicised names have a detailed profile present within the information packet bundled with this delivery that will give important context to your analysis.
Bakuda - Tinker, Villain
The Cornell Bomber, possibly criminally insane. Tinker speciality may be useful to the project, however. Almost certainly unfit for release - assess potential alternatives.
Blasto - Tinker, Villain
Tinker specialty is not especially useful. But if it is not possible to recruit him, we may be required to neutralize in him some other way - refer to packet for details.
Flechette - Striker/Thinker, Hero
Potential field agent. Notable for having a power abnormally capable of damaging Endbringers. Her power is also a potential avenue for research. Position within the Wards may prove inconvenient.
Kid Win - Tinker, Hero
Tinker speciality may prove useful to project. Position within the Wards may prove inconvenient. Recruitment also complicated by political considerations.
Leet - Tinker, Villain
Notable for being an abnormally versatile Tinker - speciality may prove useful to project. Likely a package deal with Über. Assess whether proclivities would impede work with The Guild.
Legend - Blaster/Mover/Breaker, Hero
Unlikely to prove feasible currently, but notable nonetheless. Refer to information packet for potential approaches to recruitment.
Masamune - Tinker, Hero
Highest priority for recruitment – Tinker specialty allows mass-production of Tinkertech. Located somewhere in Japan's ruins. Formerly associated with the Sentai Elite.
Mouse Protector - Mover, Hero
Potential field agent. If not amenable to recruitment, share information present within detailed profile with her.
Über - Thinker, Villain
Notable only for connection to Leet. Power not useful to project. Preferable to instead recruit for Protectorate.
Addendum:
Research on further recruitment candidates is necessary. Specifically, Tinkers whose specialty lends to collaborative work, as well as Tinkers capable of producing technology with esoteric effects with the potential to assist in achieving our goals.