And I am back with a new chapter. It's another fairly slow one but I hope you all enjoy it none the less. Before that, I have a review to reply to.

sabrinel . darrianne:(Edit: Stupid site made me put spaces in your name.) No Sirin won't be popping up in Taylor's head. That felt like treading old ground and more of a thing particular to Kiana so I didn't add it.

With that out of the way, on to the chapter.

Chapter 8: Back on the Road

Monday, January 17th, 2011

Taylor smiled as she finished the last of the little touches on the computer. She had started working on it immediately after her morning exercises, having not been able to finish it the day before. She got the hardware side of things done and a good chunk of the software done before lunch. After lunch, she returned to finish up on the rest of the software side of things. She breathed out a tired sigh.

"Finally done." She noted. "Used up more material than I expected, but I can now at least build a decent costume to go out and get stuff. Though, I still need to send a few more things though the converter before I can get started."

"Ai-chan is ready to assist you when you're ready captain!" A mysterious high-pitch chimed in.

Taylor froze. She looked around to try and find the source of the voice. As she did this she became even more confused as a feeling of utter shock was radiating from Kiana.

"Who's there?" She asked.

"Ai-chan is right here captain." The voice spoke again.

Taylor slowly turned her head back to the computer screen and her eyes went wide in shock as she openly gawked at the screen. On the screen was a cute young girl waving at her with a bright smile. She had bright yellow-green hair done up in two large buns that reminded her of cabbages. She wore long orange detached sleeves with black and white gloves over top of them. She had on a white crop top and white short shorts. Over top of this, was a black fading to white semi-see-through dress with yellow-green lining and black outlines around the skirt. The outline around the side of the chest area was orange. On the chest was an orange wifi signal. The collar of the dress was white and black with some green outlining. Attached to it over the girl's chest as a yellow-green and white bow with a long orange tassel. Around the girl's neck was what appeared to be a tattooed on orange bar code.

'AI-CHAN!' Kiana exclaimed in her head.

You know her?!

'She was the AI that helped run the Hyperion back in my world. How did you make her?'

That's what I want to know. I know I have no idea how I make the stuff I do, but I always know what I'm making and what it does.

"Uhmmmm… captain… are you alright?" Ai-chan asked with a hint of worry.

Realizing she was openly gawking at the girl, she shook herself out of her shock.

"I-I-I-I'm fine. Just… surprised I made you. Normally I know what my powers have me make." She explained.

"Ahh… Ai-chan understands. Unfortunately Ai-chan cannot explain more until later captain." The AI reported with a hint of disappointment.

"What do you mean you can't explain to me? Didn't I make you?" Taylor questioned.

"Ai-chan cannot answer at this time. All Ai-chan can say is that she is part of the gift you were given." Ai-chan answered sadly.

"The gift… … you mean my powers?" Taylor inquired.

Ai-chan nodded.

"I see…" Taylor muttered.

Did you know about this?

'Not a clue. I don't think that was in the information I lost but I can't recall being made aware of any of this. I'm just as surprised as you are.'

Thought so, but it was worth a shot.

"Welcome aboard then I guess." Taylor expressed.

"Happy to be here, captain. Ai-chan will be ready to assist you in any way she can." Ai-chan declared.

Taylor chuckled at the AI girl's enthusiasm. She then heard the door upstairs open.

"Taylor! I'm home!" Her father called out.

She blinked in surprise before taking note of the time and grimaced.

"Must have lost track of time again." She muttered. "Hey Dad! I'm down in the basement!"

"Working on your computer?!" He called back.

"I actually just got it done!" She shouted back. "Though something unexpected happened!"

She heard her father come down the steps and saw him come into view.

"Unexpected how?" He asked.

"Hello captain's father." Ai-chan greeted the man with a cheery wave.

Danny merely stared at the computer screen.

"You made an AI?" He questioned.

"Ah… Yeah." Taylor answered.

"How?" He questioned.

"I don't know." Taylor answered.

"And Ai-chan can't explain at this time." Ai-chan added.

"Okay… ah… I'm confused." Danny spoke.

"You and me both." Taylor added.

"Ai-chan is sorry she can't explain. But don't you worry captain and captain's father, a time will come when Ai-chan can reveal all." Ai-chan chimed in.

Taylor looked at Ai-chan for a bit, as though contemplating something.

"How can you see what's going on out here if you're in the computer?" Taylor questioned.

"You made a camera captain." Ai-chan explained.

Taylor took note of the obvious camera she had built on the one desktop monitor.

"So I did…" Taylor noted. "When did I do that?"

"Probably when you didn't realize you made a whole AI." Danny noted.

"Probably." Taylor muttered.

There was a brief moment of silence.

"So… ah… you got everything done with tinkering then?" Danny asked.

"For now, I'll need to go out and get more stuff to build the refiners as well as more converters and fabricators." She answered.

"Well good, because you'll need to start catching up on your studies if you want to be ready for Arcadia." Danny added. "The list of things you'll need to be ready for just came in."

Taylor winced.

"This is gonna suck." She muttered.

"Well at least you can take tinkering out of your schedule for a while." Danny noted.

"Yeah, until we can get more material that'll be on hold." She pointed out.

'That reminds me, you've gone on about going out scavenging for parts and stuff. Couldn't you just buy what you need. You'll have money coming in soon.'

I'd actually been thinking about this, the main problem with that is I've never been interested in stuff like this before. Me suddenly needing to buy a bunch of stuff could raise some red flags. By going out and scavenging I can get what I need without having something easily traced back to my civilian identity. If anyone notices me, they'll just know it's my cape identity. Sure it's not foolproof and I'll need to know how to fight in case things go south. However, it'll be harder to trace back to me if I'm careful. Taylor felt Kiana's unamused stare on her despite it being entirely in her mind.

'You just don't want to spend money on this, don't you.'

I have no idea what you're talking about. None whatsoever.

'Suuuuuuure you don't.'

"What are you and Kiana talking about?" Danny asked.

"Oh ah… nothing important." Taylor replied.

'I disagree.'

"Anyways, I should head up and do my workouts." Taylor quickly added.

"Don't forget to put in a new spool of thread captain." Ai-chan mentioned.

"After that." Taylor added as she went to do so.

"That actually reminds me, you've mentioned going out to collect parts before. Now I think…" Danny went out, but Taylor tuned him out.

She had a feeling she knew where he was going with this topic.

Later…

Taylor pouted as she sat in her room. During her workouts, dinner, and some time after dinner, she had a conversation with her father in which she tried to convince him that going out scavenging for supplies was clearly safer than just having him buy it. She failed, but would still have to wait to get supplies as her father wanted to wait till the money from the settlement started flowing. She then tried to get him to buy some stuff early like with the computer but that had been shot down on account of not being in a position to do it again because he bought the computer. Thus she was now in her room pouting while Kiana radiated pure amusement at Taylor's actions. They remained like this for several minutes.

Are you going to stop being amused at my situation?

'Are you going to stop pouting?'

She pouted even harder. Kiana chuckled at Taylor's reaction causing Taylor to pout even harder.

'Thought so. Well buck up girl, I've still got something that'll require you going out.'

Taylor perked up at that. Really?

'Yep, slipped my mind when I first laid things out, you need to know how to move around the city easily.'

I already know all the good bus routes.

'Okay, that one was on me. What I meant is as a hero, going from rooftop to rooftop and stuff like that.'

Oooohhh… yeah that makes sense. So you want me to go out and practice that?

'Later, I want you to know the basics of how to fight before then, just in case you run into trouble while out.'

Taylor pouted. So I still need to wait.

'Yep, now quit whining and get on with your honkai training.'

I was not whining. Taylor mentally whined as she held out her arms.

'Before you start I want to change things up.'

Oh… how so?

'You've done a good job of just doing your arms, now I want you to do that with your whole body.'

Taylor gulped as she grew nervous. A-a-a-are you sure I think…

'Now, now we can't procrastinate too much. That leads to all kinds of trouble. I know from personal experience. Now I want you to sit in a meditative position.'

B-b-b-but… SLAP. Did you just hit me with a mental fish?!

'Yes.'

She saw a mental image of Kiana smiling with a fish in her hand.

'Specifically a Tuna.'

WHY?!

'It just felt right.'

B-b-b-but… She saw the mental image of Kiana holding up the fish. I-I-I'll get started.

'Good girl, now get into the position I'll show you.'

Kiana broadcast a basic sitting position for meditation and Taylor assumed it.

'Now… do as you were doing with your arms but now your whole body.'

Taylor nodded. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Then she let the energy flow. She felt it fill her body, radiating throughout it, thrumming with power. All this, she felt in but a second before she had to cut the flow. She leaned forward, heaving large breaths of air. Sweat was pouring down her face.

"That was… intense. I barely lasted a second." She breathed out.

'Yep, you made good progress with just your arms, but your whole body is a different story.'

"Yeah… no kidding…" She added between breaths.

'Don't forget to talk in your head.'

Right, so… what was the point of that?

'It's related to the next step in your honkai energy training. You need to get to a point in which letting it flow through you is as easy and natural as breathing.'

That's insane, how did you do this?

'I actually didn't have to.'

Taylor became still at that.

'It's just something you…'

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T HAVE TOO!

Kiana actually flinched at that.

'At least you kept it in your head.'

Taylor glared forwards, imagining Kiana was right in front of her as she did.

'Now, now, no need for that.'

I think there's plenty of need for this, you got this the easy way!

'Do I need to repeat my life story?'

You know what I meant! Kiana rolled her eyes.

'As I was saying, it's just something you have to do.'

Taylor glared forwards again.

'Don't give me that look! All power comes with a price. Mine was overcoming an emotionally damaged and genocidal part of myself. Yours is the time and effort it'll take to learn how to use it.'

Taylor's glare subsided.

'Now, you have two options before you. You can take it slowly and incrementally increase how much of your body you're pumping energy through, or you can go faster and do it throughout your body like you just did. It's up to you. Just know, you won't be able to do much of anything with honkai energy until you've reached the point I outlined.'

Taylor pondered upon this. The exhaustion she felt all too recently was not something she looked forward to experiencing again. However, she was tired of having to delay herself recently. Tired of always having to push her plans back. With that thought in mind, she reoriented her meditation position. Once she was happy with it, she let the honkai energy flow throughout her body. Like before, she barely lasted a second before she had to stop. She felt a hint of pride come off of Kiana as she rested. Taylor let out a light laugh. What, proud you're turning me into some training nut?

'Hahahaha… nah… just proud my kouhai's working hard towards her goal. Just remember not to push yourself too hard.'

I won't, I've learned from before. Taylor continued to rest. She took deep breaths and let the exhaustion fade from her. As she did this, a thought came to mind. So, is there a reason why this is so hard? I mean other than it being the price I have to pay for power that is. It seems kind of arbitrary.

'From what I understand, it's an adaptability thing. Your body needs to get used to your new power and the exhaustion is essentially the growing pains. Sort of like training a muscle for the first time but throughout your whole body. Now, as for why it had to be like this, I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure it's related to the information I'm missing.'

Taylor sighed. So another one in the mysterious missing information box. Feeling she was rested enough, she once more pumped energy throughout her body. She lasted for an even shorter period of time than before. She breathed heavy as exhaustion once more fully took hold of her. Okay… need to wait longer to do that again.

Two days later…

It was a Wednesday afternoon and Taylor did some basic stretches while feeling a bit excited. The day before had been fairly uneventful. She had gone about her daily routine, with the only real deviation being a trip to the library to borrow the books she needed. Today would be a bit different, and that difference was the reason for her excitement. After two weeks of building her strength, Kiana felt as though she was ready for the next step in her training, the art of combat.

Her stretches were interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. She grumbled a bit and went to pick it up.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hey Taylor, it's Rosemary." Her friend answered back.

Taylor was taken back a bit.

"Rose… ah… hi… how have you been?" She replied.

"I've been good, just… same old same old." Rose returned.

There was an awkward moment of silence.

"Soooo… is there any reason you called?" Taylor inquired.

"Oh Ahh… yeah… so… I know it's a bit sudden, but is it cool if I come to your place to hangout?" Rose requested nervously.

Taylor was once again taken aback. Rose?! HERE?! A friend?! HERE?! I know we talked about hanging out again, but it's too soon to be going over to each other's house!

'Ahhhhhhhhhhh… I don't think it is.'

TO ME IT IS!

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh… why?" Taylor questioned.

"Weeeeeeell… I kind of forgot my Dad was having poker night at our place. He and his work friends get together every other Wednesday to hangout, play cards, and drink beer. It changes houses every time and this time it's our turn. My mom normally goes out with my brothers and sister while I normally go to a friend's house. And since you're my only friend right now…" Rose explained.

"I… see…" Taylor replied. "I don't…"

She heard Kiana clear her throat and got the mental image of her holding up the tuna.

"I'll… have to call my dad and check with him. But it should be fine." She squeaked out.

"Ah… Taylor? Are you okay?" Rose asked with a hint of worry.

"Stubbed my toe. Need to call me dad. Call you back. Bye." She quickly stated.

She didn't give Rose time to respond before she hung up. She quickly dialed her dad's work number. It wasn't long before her father picked up.

"Hello, Danny Hebert speaking, that's…" Her father began.

"Dad, it's me. Rose called and said she wanted to come over. Is that okay?" She asked.

Please say no, Please say no, PLEASE SAY NO!

"That sounds fine." He replied.

DAMMIT! She felt Kiana grow smug. DON'T YOU START!

"Any particular reason, seems kind of sudden." He noted.

"Her dad is having a poker night at his place and she wanted to hangout instead of staying there." Taylor explained.

"I see… that poker night thing actually sounds like fun." Danny noted.

"Course it does…" Taylor muttered.

"I'm pretty sure some of the guys here still do it every now and again. Should maybe see about joining back in." He continued.

"Can we get back on topic?" Taylor pleaded.

"Right, it should be fine. I'll pick you guys up some pizza on the way home for dinner." Danny stated.

"Alright, that sounds good, assuming she wants that." Taylor replied.

"Hey, who doesn't like pizza?" Danny questioned.

"Pretty sure Emma wasn't that big of a fan." Taylor pointed out.

"And we don't associate with her anymore do we?" Danny countered.

"Last I checked, that had nothing to do with pizza." She noted.

"Anyways, I have to go, I look forward to finally meeting this friend of yours." He stated. "I'll see you then."

"Right see ya dad." She replied before hanging up.

She dialed Rosemary's number again and it was immediately picked up.

"So?" Her friend asked.

"Yeah, it's cool for you to come. My dad's picking up pizza by the way." Taylor answered.

"Perfect! Now I don't have to worry about getting dinner then." Rose cheered. "Tell me your address, I'll be over there around five."

"Right… it's…" She began.

She told Rose her address before mentioning the step to avoid. After hanging up, she sighed. Think we have time for that combat training.

'We have enough time to start, but you won't be able to train as long as we planned.'

Taylor sighed again. Better than nothing I guess. So, let's start.

'In the next chapter.'

WHAT?!

And that's a wrap, hope you all enjoyed this. Till next time. If you want me to be able to produce more content, please consider supporting me on subscribe star. (search zmanxv and the link is on my deviantart page).