Learning to be a Holon full time was… interesting. The whole sleeping in a void, felt odd. Not needing to eat and charge a battery instead, was weird, and not being able to interact with the world except as an avatar- not that weird but still took some getting used to outside the ether or mixing to meet his family.
In the meantime Leon worked with the others helping them up their game the same way he'd done in his strider. Now though he could correct Cammie or Kazu personally rather than asking Chase or Yasamin to do it for him. Kazu was still really bad at dealing with collateral damage and Cammie had a lot to learn since she wasn't a career fighter like the rest of them. They could hold their own but there was always room for improvement. He still routinely trounces Chase in hand to hand combat; something he'd done long before the battle of New York. Though he could not beat Yasamin or Val/entina. Yaz was faster and Val just danced around him.
"I think you're as ready as you're going to get. There is one thing." Chase said one day as they kneeled down so their Holons could be stowed. They were heading to the Anvil later that day. Command had wanted Gen:Lock to do a joint mission, and Leon had mixed feelings about being included with Gen:Lock despite his condition. He was still a vanguard soldier through- for the most part.
"You're hiding something." Chase crossed his arms, stopping their mixed forms halfway up the ramp.
"Excuse me?" Leon asked; crossing his arms defensively. Then winced as he noticed circuit patterns climbing his arms. It happened on occasion, when he could feel the whisper machines in his mind, though it had slowly stopped happening as he got older and ignored was like going through super power puberty, with them acting up strangely ever since his upload.
Chase squinted at the change and then started to laugh "Dude you're- were, are like I was- I mean am!"
"Excuse me?" Leon blinked at him trying to shake off the pattern. It worked... most of the time. Not so much this time, but usually.
"Ok so before New York did you know what I could press?" Chase asked holding out a hand palm up.
"What does that have to do with...? oh. "Leon stopped eyes widening.
Chase's inner overlay shifted a hexagonal pattern appearing over his body as he curled his fingers into a fist. Leon who could almost feel the strength coming off him. One he didn't have before. Make that three people other than him with abilities.
"I used to be able to bench press a strider. It doesn't help so much now. But I know. It's so nice to know I'm not the only one who's got an ability." Chase wrapped his arm around Leon's shoulders.
"Mine isn't as uh useful." Leon warned and Chase just smiled at him. "It's cool man, even if all you could do is turn green it's fine. It's nice not to be alone y'know?"
Leon couldn't completely understand, since he was young he'd known others like him. "I should introduce you to my sisters then." Leon snorted, they'd get a kick out of a man with super strength who was four stories tall.
"Wait your sisters have abilities?" Chase asked pulling away "Dri never did."
"We're not blood related, but yeah. Bailey can lift little things with her mind and Hailey is… explosive. That's the only way to explain it. But from what Bailey was trying to learn it's not inherited; just random." Leon explained.
"Right your twins, C'mon maybe we'll see at least one of them at Anvil." Chase gestured and Leon shook his head "Things changed in the last four years. Bailey's in Chicago last I heard and Hailey's MIA. Though Bailey still hears from her often enough." he explained
"That's shit man, maybe next time you see them then mention me. I'd love to talk more about it with others like us." Chase offered putting a hand on Leon's shoulder.
Leon nodded "I'll pass the message along. Right next to the one where I'm not dead."Both men snorted at the thought and continued into the ship.
Now if only they would answer his messages.