Dang finals. Anyway, here is Chapter 2 of Trigunner's origin story.
Chapter 2: Activation
The next morning, Connor wakes up from his uneasy couch-bed.
"Never had a good morning with this thing." he thought, but to his surprise, as soon as he lifted his back off the bed, the aching just... left.
He felt a bit relieved, until a familiar, robotic voice greeted him with a,"Good morning, master."
Connor was a bit freaked out at first, but then recognizes the voice to be .D.C.O.'s and says, or 'thinks', to it,"If I may, you will from now on address me as 'sir'. I'd rather not be looked up to too much."
"Understood, sir." says N.A.D.C.O.
Connor looks at his chest, the Spirit Pacemaker was still there, dug into his chest so that only 1 centimeter of it was sticking out of his body.
Connor, a bit concerned with his health, asks,"What exactly is this?"
N.A.D.C.O. simply answered, "You may already know, Tony Stark has a reactor similar to this, except this one is directly linked to your heart and your other body systems. But more importantly, It's built to be a conduit between your body and soul."
"Whoa, sounds dangerous." Connor thought.
"Connor. Time to go to school!" Connor's mom said.
"Uh… right." Connor replied.
Connor went to Palisades Charter High School (which could be described if you look up the school). Over there, he has a few friends, but no best friends. Right now he is wearing a olive-drab jacket, a blue t-shirt, a pair of pants the same color as his jacket, and a woodland camo bandana around his neck.
Connor sat beneath a tree and asked N.A.D.C.O., "What exactly can you do?"
N.A.D.C.O. then explains,"Well, that varies. I'm looking inside the thought and creativity centers of your brain, and there seems to be a file on this hero you seem to have created called 'Trigunner'. I can assist you according to the abilities you've applied to his schematics."
"So you're able to look into my mind and asses my thoughts, including certain situations and problems?" asked Connor.
"Positive, sir." N.A.D.C.O. said,"As to how you activate these functions, mmm…, let's just say it gets implanted into your instincts and your current abilities. In other words, just 'use your imagination'."
"How about you know when I want to talk to you?" Connor said.
"Affirmative. Because of my access to your thoughts, I'll certainly know, sir." said N.A.D.C.O.
"Hey, Connor!"
Connor looked up to meet the eyes of a girl who had similar skin color, and is just one year younger himself. She was wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket, and a black t-shirt. It took Connor a split second to realize who it was.
"Vesela! Um… what a surprise." Connor said.
Assuming he was blushing slightly, Connor asks N.A.D.C.O.,"Is there any way you can make it so that I can't blush?"
In a more humorous tone, N.A.D.C.O. replies,"Now, where's the fun in that, sir? In case you're wondering, sir, I'm developing a personality based off your experiences."
"What are you doing here by yourself? Everyone else is kind of worried about you." Vesela said.
"I'm fine, Vesela." Connor said,"I'm actually feeling a bit better now that you're here."
"Oh! Um, okay." says Vesela, rather sheepishly,"Huh? What's that light on your chest?"
Connor looks down. His Pacemaker was glowing. This time, green?
"N.A.D.C.O.! Please explain!" Connor tells N.A.D.C.O.
"Yes sir. I'll go on speaker." N.A.D.C.O. says. Before Connor could even react, a voice that sounds both robotic and enthusiastic comes out of Connor's pacemaker saying,"Hello! You must be Vesela."
Vesela was dumbfounded to hear an unfamiliar voice address her immediately.
She asks Connor,"C-Connor, who was that talking right now?"
Connor was just as confused as she was and could only say,"Uh… that would be the voice from within this light in my chest, named N.A.D.C.O."
"I'll explain,sir." N.A.D.C.O. blurted,"I am the Neural Adviser and Definite Core Optimiser, or N.A.D.C.O. for short. I am the AI who serves the user of the Spirit Pacemaker. The light on my master's chest is coming from the Spirit Pacemaker which is linked directly to his entire body. Through it, he can alter his own physical and mental status, using his every soul. Of course, there is an extent as to how much he can get buffed in any way. Things like: gaining levitation, or gaining metal skin, or forcing himself to move at lightspeed, or solving problems with a 'snap', or being straight out invulnerable. How strong he can make himself depends on how his spirit is feeling, which can be indicated by the color emitting from his chest:
Light blue means calm, focused, determined, nervous, etc. This state is considered his 'standard form'. in this state, Connor has enhanced senses, can lift 2 ton, can run up to about 30 mph, can withstand 10 tons of force, becomes as agile as a gold medal acrobat, and his IQ goes up by a few more points: which is an equivalent to Captain America.
Green means joy, happiness, or anything that goes along those lines. The right kind of joy can make his capabilities increase. However this change is slight, it can make all the difference.
Red means anger, hatred, rage, that 'I'm going to get you' kind of feeling. If the source of the red came from feeling pertaining to rage, this state can make Connor a greater match against the Hulk, although his intelligence and senses are a few ranks below normal. Please don't try to anger him to that extent.
Yellow means shock or confusion. In here, his movement, agility and mental processes exceed his strength and durability. Top speed: 75 mph. Reaction time: .001 seconds. IQ: +20.
Deep blue means sadness, hurt, or heartbreak, Connor's worst state. If his spirit feels broken, his body becomes more vulnerable. If he's in a fight, the slightest hint of doubt can make him weaker, nonetheless.
There is something in here for a White Light. I'm not sure what it can actually do.
Another thing, sir. Regardless of your mood, you don't have to be superpowered all the time. You pretty much have "absolute control" over your augmentations.
As to his special powers, that will be a surprise, Ms. Woods. Thank you both for listening."
Both Connor and Vesela were amazed as to how clearly N.A.D.C.O. explained how the Spirit can help Connor.
Both of them looked at each other, until a voice came onto the intercom saying,"Attention all students! Multiple shooters inbound! Repeat! Shooters inbound. We're going into full scale lockdown. Enter the nearest facility and wait for official instructions."
Panic roused among the students. Everyone began to just run for the nearest room, realizing that this can't be a drill. Connor and Vesela went to the school's library room, where a few of their friends were
also hiding. Although they wanted to feel relieved, the fear of getting shot at was even greater. Ducked behind a bookshelf, Connor held Vesela close and covered her ears from the sounds of gunshots outside. With every round fired, fear grew in everyone a the school. Even Connor's pacemaker was glowing a sad blue.
"Oh, God. When will it stop?" Vesela whispered to Connor.
"I really don't know, Vesela." Connor replied.
N.A.D.C.O. then spoke to Connor,mentally ,"Sir, do you think I should activate the Trigunner program now?"
"What good would that do now?" Connor asked N.A.D.C.O.
"He's your superhero." N.A.D.C.O. said. "Only you would know. Besides, from what I've read, isn't he designed as yourself with powers? As the hero you always wanted to be?"
It then hit Connor. Trigunner was a reimagination of himself with powers. After reading about all of those heroes, Captain America, Spider Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, all he wanted was to be like them. To be the hero he always knew he could be. Connor then felt something inside him make him feel strong. It wasn't coming from the pacemaker, it was coming from his… soul. Strength coursed through his spirit. Power flowed from his chest and into the rest of his body. Bright blue light emitted from his chest. His body powered up. He began to feel good again, and realized what he had to do. Vesela looked at him in disbelief, wondering how Connor is maintaining his sanity amidst the chaos that's only a few yards away.
"Connor, what are you doing?" she asks.
"Vesela…" Connor whispers to her, "Remember that little chat we had before the end of the fall semester?"
"You mean the one where it seems like I rejected you?" Vesela asks.
"Yeah, that one." Connor answers,"I didn't believe a single word you said."
Vesela's face went from one of fear to one of surprise. After everything she said to him, saying that she knows he likes her and her admitting she doesn't like him back, he's still not giving up on her?
Connor releases his hands from her ears and holds her face saying,"I don't want to lose you, Vesela. This device in my chest could kill me without a source of happiness. To me, Vesela, you are my source of happiness."
Befor Vesela could even respond, Connor pulled her face closer to his, and his pacemaker had a hint of green amidst the light blue.. Knowing what's about to happen next, Vesela wrapped his arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Their faces connected, then their lips, and the two kissed passionately for about 5 seconds before hearing more gunshots that broke the moment. Everyone else was flabbergasted, at a loss for words, not that they were allowed to.
Connor looks into Vesela's eyes and said,"Vesela, you are the reason why I'm still alive."
The emotion that moved her made her eyes slowly go into tears. Comforting her for another 10 seconds, Connor then said something that made Vesela break into tears even more.
He said,"I've got to go."
Connor stood up and walked to the door as though he felt he won't get shot at. Everyone else signaled urgently to get back down, but Connor kept going to the door. Before turning the doorknob, Connor looks at Vesela with a smile that, in movies, told her,"This is for you." She couldn't stop sobbing. A few of their friends snuck over to her to comfort her. Connor checks his senses, to tell if anyone would be waiting for them. No one.
As he opens up the door, Connor tells N.A.D.C.O.,"N.A.D.C.O., activate the Trigunner program."