Brockton's Celestial Forge

by Lord Roustabout

The Celestial Forge is the greatest combination of crafting powers in Jumpchain, meaning it is the greatest combination of crafting abilities in all of fiction. In Brockton Bay a forgotten side character's trigger event ends with him linked to the Celestial Forge rather than his intended shard. His expanding collection of tinker abilities drag him into the city's cape conflicts.

125. 89 Divine Mechanics

89 Divine Mechanics

Returning to my Workshop after my therapy session didn't feel as heavy as the last few times, despite everything that had unfolded during the session. I suppose not needing to run off to fight Bakuda or deal with sudden access to passenger space made the event a considerably more sedate affair.

It was also a fairly simple one. Multiple teleportation methods and access anywhere a valid door could be found meant it only took a couple of steps to be back home, rather than leaving me with a run through the city where I could ruminate on things, only pausing to note a missed connection to the Knowledge Constellation.

I probably could have used some time to ruminate. There was a lot to go over. I was still riding the high from my Star Wars power, made even more significant by the fact that I could be a Jedi. Of course, that was because of my Synchronicity Event and everything that happened with Alma.

That was not something I would have wanted to put Dr. Campbell through, but probably better for it to happen in a contained environment than during some critical moment in the field. My powers could get intrusive, but generally they didn't result in the manifestation of psionic entities. I mean, hopefully they didn't. Weaker powers were getting harder to come by, making the major abilities more common. And those were abilities that had baggage attached to them.

There was a lot of baggage attached to Alma. My power had just dragged in someone from another universe. That or duplicated her, or manifested her wholesale. Regardless, she was here. Well, not here-here. She existed in this reality, which was something that was down to me. Where she was exactly was a bit hard to define. It was kind of a nebulous 'out-there', at least in psionic terms.

I was even less versed in psionics than I was in magic. Magic had at least been building for some time. Psionics came piecemeal in isolated packets, usually paired with other powers in heavily specialized formats. My Entanglement Psych pin, my knowledge of the creation of psionic operatives, my ability to feel out the composition of objects. All significant in their own way, but not the united, comprehensive set of abilities that had grown up around a concept like magic.

There was another layer to Synchronicity Event that I hadn't gotten into with Dr. Campbell. Mostly because even touching on the topic of granting super powers was the kind of thing that could eat an entire session. But this wasn't like awakening someone's Aura or teaching them Alchemy or even performing Psi Operative treatments. The Synchronicity Event, the thing that Alma did that cracked open my psionic potential and vastly improved the range and strength of my abilities?

I could do that as well.

Not to the level that Alma had. I wasn't anywhere close to as powerful as she was, at least in terms of psionic abilities. The fact that I had only encountered a shadow of her true strength, what had been left after her body had died, was legitimately terrifying. Alma had basically been her universe's version of an S-Class threat. Only she was an S-Class threat that had been contained and exploited, until it couldn't be anymore.

Trying to sort through the mess of images and memories I'd been bombarded with wasn't easy. Probably something better left to the duplicates or taken on with the assistance of the Spiritron Core's mental interface. Without the resilience of Mental Fortress, I doubt I would have walked that kind of thing off. Without my knowledge of the nature of memories and mental processes I probably wouldn't have been able to sort the actual events from the nightmares and distorted images.

If I was going to help Alma I needed to know what had happened to her. More importantly, the first step in helping her was making sure she didn't hurt anyone. I could feel the kind of anger and resentment that filled her, but it was directed anger. Anger in its most basic state, as a response to being horribly wronged. It was a rage that wanted to be directed towards the right target, but it was directed by a mindset that was far less discriminatory and pretty much unconcerned about collateral damage.

With Alma in a new world, separated from everyone and everything that had wronged her, I didn't know how she would handle things. I didn't know if she even understood what had happened. Psionics were truly unheard of on Earth Bet, and all examples of them stemmed from my workshop.

And it wasn't like any psionic source would do. I was the only one connected to Alma's telesthetic frequency. Survey was a source of psionic energy, but as far as Alma would be concerned she was part of the landscape, not a location that could be visited.

It was an important detail. It meant I could go forward with Aisha's Psi Operative training without putting her at risk. Well, not serious risk. Basically, I would be taking her chance of encountering Alma from zero to near zero. It was something I'd need to brief her on, which meant explaining the whole 'psychic ghost girl' situation.

I mean, the second psychic ghost girl situation. There was also the Tau wave to consider. My connection to the Tau wave was stronger than ever. The light touch that previously characterized my Whispered abilities was now exceedingly heavy handed. I could link to my duplicates without even needing an omni-sphere and the higher-level applications of that ability were suddenly possible without excessive strain or disastrous side effects.

Including potentially reaching the intelligence trapped within the Tau wave. It wasn't something that was going to be easy. Synchronicity Event vastly improved the strength of my psionic abilities as well as my control of them, but more importantly it vastly accelerated their development. Previous abilities from that universe had allowed my psionic powers to improve with practice and training, but Synchronicity Event took that from a token growth rate to something that was actually relevant on the timescales I was working on.

I needed to improve my psionic abilities before I could have a hope of contacting either Alma or the girl trapped in the Tau wave. That would take time and effort, and there were a lot of psionic abilities that needed attention. Fortunately, there was a certain level of consolidation between the different types.

It was similar to my experience with different types of magic. Magic from my wand was different from the magic I learned from Spekkio, which was different from my magecraft which was different from what powered my striker, but there were common threads that ran through all of them.

It was something most noticeable when you looked at the effect of outside powers. Getting an element boosted any power related to that element. Talent for a type of magic applied across multiple fields and systems. But training on a particular type of magic also helped with similar applications in another system. It wasn't a perfect crossover, but proficiency in one area could help in others that shared the same mechanics.

It was like that in psionics. In fact, it probably applied to an even greater degree. For instance, telekinesis. I could potentially produce telekinetic effects through manipulation of the Force, through my status as a Kappa level psyker, or through the telekinesis I had learned about from Alma. The thing was, psionic telekinesis was psionic telekinesis. I didn't need to practice force telekinesis, psyker telekinesis, and psionic telekinesis separately. The simple fact was I was mildly telekinetic, and practicing with it would develop all of the fields of psionics that contributed to it, including some aspects of ADVENT psionic conditioning.

The same applied across the board. Practicing Newtype spatial awareness overlapped with Jedi force sensitivity and Psyker divination. Telepathy from Whispered overlapped with psyker powers and Alma's own flavor of psionics, as well as Newtype abilities again.

Psionics weren't like magic, where you were forming energy into specific patterns to create specific results. It was a force exerted on reality, altering the world to make what you were trying bring about come into existence. Every factor that contributed to that change came into play. It was possible to exclude certain factors, but by default when I tried to use telekinesis, I would draw on every source of power I had.

It was the kind of thing that would both vastly accelerate training of different sources of psionic powers, and turn the entire endeavor into a complicated mess. Different types of psionics had different power sources and different side effects to worry about. Different types of mental or physical strain, different mindsets that were needed. A style that needed calm focus was at odds with something that drew power from raw emotion. The powers might happily pool together when applied, but the sources and trigger conditions were less friendly bedfellows.

I was going to have to leave the scheduling of psionic training to my duplicates. I had no doubt they would happily engage in practice during their 20% time, particularly since the strengthening of our mental links meant it was even easier to transfer skills and experiences. Hell, it was even theoretically possible to expand the simple mental connection to a full psionic gestalt, pooling mental energy and sharing the benefits of training on a fundamental level. That might be a little ambitious for the moment, but if we kept pushing our telepathic connections it was more of an inevitability than something we'd need to specifically work towards.

Through that connection I was getting hints of projects that had already been attempted. Pyrokinesis was exceedingly easy, both thanks to my divine insight into fire and my recently improved Unnatural Skill. It was probably going to be the stand-out of our psionic abilities for some time. Telekinesis had also been experimented with. It would take some time to build up strength, but the improvements in control meant precision work was now possible.

They'd also confirmed that items assembled telekinetically counted as 'handmade' for the purposes of my abilities, including Master Craftsman. Not that relevant when you were basically bending paper clips into new shapes, but something that held massive potential considering the upper bounds of what telekinesis was capable of.

There was another aspect of Synchronicity Event that my duplicates had happily been exploring to the fullest. My Feel It Out power had been expanded to the point where I could rapidly break down the function of any item I touched and begin to see methods of improvement and refinement, but that process still took time. It was the second aspect of the power that my duplicates had been focusing on, the ability to attune objects to channel and act as a focus for psionic abilities.

Considering we were the only source of psionic abilities my duplicates had decided that it made sense for every item we owned to be attuned into a psionic focus. That may have been the long-term goal, but for the moment they were concentrating on the key items that actually contributed to upcoming projects. Attunement wasn't an easy process, but it went hand in hand with my ability to analyze and understand objects. Items I'd already been working with extensively could easily be attuned, allowing better channeling of my new psionic abilities.

So far the major targets had been completed, including the Skyforge, the Crucible of Eight Trigrams, and the Glove of the East. The Skyforge had been a significant project, requiring both duplicates to finish the attunement. Still, it proved that it was possible to apply the effect to larger structures. As such the logistics of attuning the Alchemist's Laboratory, Volcanic Forge, Magitech Workshop, Mobile Suit Hanger, Launderer System, Titan Hangar, and Spiritron Computer were all being worked out.

My personal equipment, including the Micromanipulators, Diagnostic Tools, Alchemy Machine, Wand, Chain of Heaven and Earth, and Lantern Shield had been left for me to address, though my duplicates offered to get to the Bright Spear and Insect Glaive. Those were assigned a priority level roughly along the same lines as the other non-critical pieces of equipment.

Fleet was also weighing in on the potential of attuned vehicles. Really, it would depend on the advantages of the process. If I was a psionic juggernaut then being able to channel and focus my power through my equipment would be a major asset. As it stood, I had middling to weak powers to work with. The major advantage was vastly improved analysis speed from Feel It Out, and the potential to enhance the somewhat standardized Psi Operative training program.

It was something Survey was rather keen on. I could attune any of Fleet, Survey, or the Matrix's physical forms without requiring any substantial modifications. That was of limited use for Fleet or the Matrix, but Survey was optimized for application of ADVENT psionics. She had gradually been refining her use of the abilities, though it was difficult for her to benefit from training the way a purely organic being could. Most of her improvements had come from direct upgrades, active modification of her living metal body, or Heretical Adaptations. Attunement represented a substantial boost in power as well as the potential for new applications of her mostly-static abilities.

Using this ability directly on members of the team was something I wasn't entirely sure of. I understood the benefits, but this kind of psionic modification was a fairly intrusive process. It also served as a reminder that several members of the team counted as both people and objects. It was a dichotomy I understood, but couldn't entirely dismiss.

Regardless, this was an enhancement that would be applied to Tetra's Kamui conversion. If we were going to work together there was no reason to leave that kind of synergy on the table. Similarly, it was possible to attune Garment's gloves. In addition to being a powerful focus and conduit when we were working together, it had the potential to expand the strength, range and even versatility of Garment's telekinesis. Garment's power wasn't precisely psionic, but it was unquestionably telekinetic, and this kind of enhancement would definitely empower it.

Then there was the Avid Glove. That was another matter entirely, and not just because of the consequences of what a psionically attuned rogue hand could achieve when we weren't looking. No, the problem was the connection that I had to the Avid Glove. It was mine, my fingers, eye, hand and everything else. It was an extension of my body, meaning that things that affected me also affected it.

That meant that the Avid Glove had Cyborg Hindu Godbody cybernetics. The Avid Glove was capable of Beast Change zoanthrope transformations. The Avid Glove could use the advantages of my Master's Body power to train with infinite logarithmic growth. And the Avid Glove had been affected by my Monstrous Strength power.

The Avid Glove didn't strictly need to be attuned because the Avid Glove was part of someone who had already gone through a Synchronicity Event. The Avid Glove was now also both expanded into an even more monstrous form and benefiting from the Mist's concealment. The persistent illusionary effect was something that would need to be tested and experimented with, but with it the Avid Glove could create the impression of being a perfectly conventional item of clothing, despite being sized for and sharing properties with a nine-foot-tall cybernetic half-dragon.

The Resources and Durability constellation passed by as I felt out the extent of the change that had been inflicted on me. Physically, it wasn't that drastic. Without Mental Fortress I probably would have needed more of an adjustment period, but it also helped that this was coming after I had already dealt with Cyborg Hindu Godbody. Surging mantra as I cast aside the concealment of the Mist, my 'true' form revealed itself.

On its own a Gigantes form would have been an oversized combination of human and dragon, jarringly shifting from one to the other at the waist. Seen in combination with my Godbody cybernetics, the change wasn't that severe. I was already a sculpted construct of clay-textured flesh supplemented with portions of bronze and gold.

The metal gauntlets that extended half way up my forearms matched the augmentation that had happened to my lower body. Large scales of bronze and gold, more like plates of armor than anything truly reptilian, covered my legs. There was an obviously inhuman shape to my feet where they extended into draconic talons, but it was all composed of the same mantra-infused metal that could be seen across the rest of my body. The sculpted channels and designs remained, blending the new features into a cohesive whole.

Weirdly, I didn't even need the Mist. The same effect that concealed my theotech cybernetics applied to their modified form, inclusive of the changes from Monstrous Strength. I basically had two layers of concealment allowing me to pass for normal, until I dropped the façade. In theory I might be able to drop one without the other, appearing in Gigantes form without active cybernetic, but that would be an arbitrary and frankly unnecessary midpoint. The cybernetics would still be there, and I couldn't see any cause for keeping them concealed if I was dropping the appearance of mundane humanity.

Fully flexing my unnatural form, I could feel the power of Monstrous Strength flowing through me. It was monstrous in its most ancient and literal sense. Obviously unnatural forms strengthened that connection. Or perhaps it would be more honest to say it strengthened the separation. Monsters were things that existed outside the natural order. They were 'evil' because they weren't bound by the laws of man or god, but they were powerful for exactly the same reason.

Until now I hadn't realized exactly how literal the term 'Unnatural Skill' actually was. At its base level it took things beyond what could be conventionally achieved. In its enhanced state it cast aside the semblance of restrictions, unleashing its full potential. Smithing, Alchemy, Enchanting, Transmutation, Runes, Music, and Firecraft. All capable of elevating abilities to the point of legend before being enhanced. And all taken to an entirely new level.

Every art, every craft, every practice had rules. Limits and guidelines. Paths that must be followed to produce optimal results, and barriers that prevent further progression. Unnatural Skill had allowed me to navigate those paths. To understand where shortcuts might be taken and which barriers could be overcome. Enhanced further the paths became guidelines. The barriers became benchmarks. The limits became suggestions.

I reached into a primal well of power within me, drawing forth my Zoanthrope form. Divine cybernetics shifted, taking on bestial shapes as my power manifested. I grew further, seeing the same proportional increase in height as when I used the power in my human form. That meant I grew from nine feet tall to close to twelve. As a final measure, I channeled my familiar, feeling the poofing sensation as the ear tufts and tail fluff manifested the same way it would have had I used it in my human form.

I was a twelve-foot-tall primordial werewolf dragon cyborg with familiar parts fully manifested. It was as 'obviously unnatural' as my form could get. Monstrous Strength was at its peak. It wasn't just strength. All of my physical abilities were boosted. Speed, endurance, even toughness, as meaningless as that was thanks to Armsthrift's invincibility. And beneath the surface level, a fundamental enhancement of all of my Unnatural Skills.

The best work I was capable of could only be produced in my most inhuman form. Separated from society, from nature, from limits, I could push my powers even further. Craft wonders. Brew potions of incredible power. Weave enchantments and transmute forms. Comprehend the language of runes and hear the music of creation. And fire, oh the things I could do with fire.

I took a breath, then shifted back from zoanthrope form. I dismissed my familiar, allowing the ear tufts and tail to vanish. Then I shifted again, back to a human form. In truth, I didn't even need the concealment effects of the Mist or my divine cybernetics. I had unnatural skill in Transmutation, and what monster couldn't conceal themselves in a human shape?

Well, plenty of them couldn't, but it was a common trope for a reason. With an ease that I would have never been able to imagine without the enhancements to my abilities, I shifted my outer form, shrinking down to my original height and proportions, masking my unnatural features beneath enchantments and transformations.

And I was human again. At least I was outwardly human, but without the constant buzz of potential promised by Monstrous Strength it was easier thinking of myself as such. Really, I was so many things from so many places that I wasn't entirely sure what I counted as. Stepping away from the benefits of Monstrous Strength had meant a temporary loss of power, but it made thinking about things in human terms much easier. I wasn't a monster, but I could be. When I wanted to.

'Yeah, it's kind of a rush.' My first duplicate transferred through our now-strengthened telepathic link. Like with all mental contact, it extended beyond mere words, carrying thoughts, intentions, and even memories of his own experiments with the power.

Huh. I hadn't even considered adding more cybernetics. That drew from our Technical Training in the Adeptus Mechanicus. Cybernetics were sacred to that organization and high-level members were augmented to the point of basically resembling mechanical squids. My duplicate hadn't gone quite that far, but even the addition of some mechadendrites and an integrated servo-harness had been enough to provide an additional boost.

'It's easy to see how 'monsters' become monstrous.' I sent back, along with my own reflections on the matter.

'Without Mental Fortress it would probably be the kind of thing we'd need to keep an eye on.' my second duplicate chimed in. 'As it stands, it's a good reserve power and handy for big projects, but not something we need to keep up twenty-four/seven.'

I nodded, and responded with the same. I had a very comprehensive set of Unnatural Skills, but even they weren't needed at their peak level for everything. I could go full beast mode when I wanted the boost, then take things down again when I wanted to enjoy the benefits of a normal life. Like being able to fit through doorways.

Seriously, I had enough trouble avoiding hitting my head on things as it was. I didn't need the trouble of that much extra height.

Linking to the workshop systems, I checked in with the members of the Forge. Aisha was still at dinner with her family. Survey had made it back after an extensive presentation from Parian, the details of which Garment was still picking over. Fleet had acted as her driver, meaning he had recently returned alongside her. Tybalt was still overseeing things at the Regency Center, having firmly established his credentials to the other security staff. Tetra was in Garment's workshop, going over last-minute details for the upcoming procedure, and the Matrix was distributed through numerous places, as expected, including the storage rooms of the Regency Center where their catering had been completed, significantly impressing the volunteers who chose to work late.

There was a definite sense of pride associated with that, even though we'd needed to come up with an electronic history for a catering start-up to justify the kind of packed meals they had wanted to create. The website we'd put up was already getting traffic, and it was mildly amusing to think that the Matrix might end up picking up a side gig out of this, purely from the satisfaction of the quality of their work.

All of that was of secondary importance to Survey's return. She messaged me from her warded scrying room in the back of Garment's studio. The upgrades to the divine scrying tools had been everything we'd hoped for. Survey had found the Slaughterhouse Nine.

Joining her in the concealed room, I noted that things had been shifted slightly. An optimization of space, one of my earlier skills, coupled with aspects of feng shui. Not exactly an area of expertise, but something that I could manage to the point of tangible results. And for something like this, every advantage counted.

I looked down into the basin that Survey was using as a scrying pool. The reflected image flickered slightly with the movements of the water, but in it I could see the faces of the most notorious capes in the country. Well, most of them.

"I have been able to confirm the location as an unused warehouse west of Syracuse, New York." Survey explained. She ran a hand along the edge of the basin and the image rotated, showing a wider view of the space. A large truck had been brought inside and was open to reveal what I was assuming were Bonesaw's active projects. The work had spilled out into the body of the warehouse in a display that would have turned my stomach if I hadn't spent over a year picking through every report available on the Nine.

I felt a sudden shift as the Personal Reality constellation approached. I paid a passive amount of attention to it, staying mostly focused on the Nine. That was, until I felt the size of the mote that my power had secured.

It was one of the largest I had secured from the Personal Reality constellation. In fact, it was tied for the largest, matched only by the mote that had granted me my Dyson Sphere. I braced as I waited to see what kind of power could match something like that.

"Fuck." I said as the nature of the power hit me.

Survey paused as she reviewed the updates my duplicates provided through her data link. "I understand your discomfort with the associations presented by this modification to the Workshop, but the mechanical benefits seem highly advantageous, particularly given the nature of the tasks that lie ahead of us."

"Yeah, until the spirits of the dead start showing up." I muttered.

"That would require a rapid expansion of Mantra generation activities. While I am not opposed to utilizing that avenue of technology and ability, it is unlikely to occur at a rate that would be relevant to our coming timetable." She explained.

That was true enough. The power that had thrown me off so sharply was called Hallowed Earth. It turned every part of my Workshop into a sanctified realm. The problem was the source of that sanctification. Apparently, it was me.

My relationship with my various divine and mythological powers was a bit contentious, but I was fairly certain I didn't count as a proper god. Or at least not the kind of god who could pull off something like this. The sanctification effect wasn't some arbitrary designation. It extended a blessing, or I suppose that would be 'my blessing', to everyone in my Workshop and everyone who passed through.

It was a minor thing, making everyone a little luckier and healthier. The kind of thing that could help people avoid a near disaster or take the quality of their work a little bit further than they'd normally be able to. The thing was, it was persistent. It applied to anyone who set foot in my Workshop and lasted for up to a day after they left. It applied to Garment, Survey, Fleet, and the Matrix. It applied to Aisha, Tetra, and Tybalt. It applied to the Titans, to the Wishes, and to the skulls of the Laboratorium. Everyone was doing that little bit better because of my blessing.

But not me. I didn't get to benefit from my own blessing, for obvious reasons. The source, not the recipient of whatever this was. If that was as far as things went I probably would have been able to dismiss it as another outlandish power with some unique description that I could happily ignore. But that wasn't where it stopped.

Anyone who worshiped me as divine could show up in my Workshop after they died.

I probably knew more about the dynamics of souls than anyone else on Earth Bet, even capes who specialized in resurrections or manipulations of shades. I knew that, beyond the connection to passenger space, souls went somewhere when they passed on. I didn't know where, but I knew I could not access it. Capes had passenger space and everyone else had something. Only now they had something else.

If someone seriously worshiped me they could show up in my Workshop as a soul. I had just been saddled with the duty of running an afterlife for anyone who decided I was a religious figure. I didn't even know what to do with the souls that Hell kept sending me. How was I supposed to act as a guardian of the dead?

Also, for anyone who decided to worship me, there was even the possibility they could have a religious vision of my Workshop. Specifically of me, in my Workshop. Fortunately, there would be a layer of symbolism and metaphor over everything they saw. At least I didn't have to worry about people spontaneously getting a peek at me during private moments, but no matter how it was spun, the effect was clear.

Hallowed Earth was the kind of thing meant to facilitate religion with a capital R. My personal workshop was now filling in as an afterlife for anyone stupid, desperate, or deluded enough to worship me. Normally I wouldn't assume too many people would fall into that category, but there were a lot of diverse mindsets out there and I had kind of made an impact recently. The topic of cape cults was something I had avoided since before I even knew about Mantra, but they were very much real. The best I could say was, according to Survey's research, there at least weren't any organized efforts being made on my behalf.

Of course, if it came out that religious visions were a thing I could expect that to ramp up considerably. Along with concerns about my stranger power. Also, I couldn't see coming clean as helping to dissuade people. "Please don't worship me because if you die I'll have to look after you in the afterlife." Yeah, that probably wasn't the kind of thing that would do me any favors.

Fuck, I was just starting to get the Workshop the way I liked it, and then this happened.

I mentally reached out to my duplicates. 'Yeah, it's kind of fucked up.' The first agreed.

'Any idea how we're going to manage this?' I asked.

'Nothing to manage at the moment.' The second answered. 'Sensors covering every part of the workshop, so we'll know if anyone shows up. Have enough space, at least for the moment. More if we expand underground.'

Underground. The three of us shared an image of an artificially constructed hell, coupled with some kind of judgment system for the dead. Really, it only served to reinforce how much we collectively did not want to deal with this.

My first duplicate chimed in. 'We'll take it as it goes. Hope nobody shows up, but…' it was followed by what we had read about cape and even celebrity cults. Yeah, this was going to be a problem eventually. I also noted that the requirement was 'worship as divine', not 'believe in', or even 'like'. That kind of standard had the potential to introduce a lot of complicated situations.

'At least the other part is working like a charm.' My second duplicate added. 'Fleet, Tetra, Garment, and even the Matrix are all noticing it. For the Matrix it looks like they only need some tier one nanites in the Workshop and they can extend the benefit out to wherever they are. Even to the passenger space carrier.'

Well, that was good. I looked back at the scrying pool, where the collection of murderers were loafing around and picking at the remains of what looked like a collection of Chinese takeout.

Thankfully, Survey confirmed no reported crimes at local Chinese restaurants.

'I've got to deal with this.' I relayed the situation I was looking at to my duplicates. 'Let me know if anything changes.'

'You'll know the instant we do.' And thanks to our new abilities, it was true. 'And good luck.'

Luck. That was exactly what we needed when it came to dealing with the Slaughterhouse Nine. For most people that was an abstract quality, but in my case it was far more literal. I had a limited reserve of fortune energy and there was only so far I could push that luck, but there was also the idea of making your own luck. Of addressing a situation before it could develop beyond what you could control and influencing what would otherwise be random variables.

"It looks like most of the team." I said, reviewing the image. Honestly, seeing the Nine like this was kind of weird. I mean, obviously they couldn't be murdering and planning murder every hour of every day, but the scene looked more like a university common room than a villain hideout.

They were lounging around, reading, or otherwise occupying themselves. Burnscar had a comic book. Shatterbird was doing her nails. Jack at least looked suitably menacing as he checked over a collection of knives spread out on a cloth. Mannequin would have been easy to overlook, sitting completely frozen in position as he waited by the back wheel of the truck. Bonesaw sat at a small table, eating from a container of noodles while heedless of the blood and other stains on her hands. A new figure sat across from her. I broadly recognized her from the photos that existed, but she had clearly changed a lot since joining the Nine.

Cherie Vasil, Alec's older sister. Well, Jean-Paul's older sister, but using current names made more sense. She was the primary reason I was dancing around the Nine. The reason I couldn't monitor them through sensor portals or send anything with an emotional signature within miles of their location.

Evaluating her, I could see some recently added tattoos. That would likely be the result of Mannequin's membership test. Despite their intentionally repulsive design, the girl didn't look that dangerous, but the string of suicides in her wake spoke differently.

Authorities didn't have exact data on her age, but I was guessing she was barely much younger than me. Around twenty, which also would have put her as one of Heartbreaker's first children, and a testament to just how long he'd been a blight on the world. It also meant she had about five of six more years in that environment than Alec. It was probably telling that Alec ran off to join a low-risk gang while minimizing the use of his powers while Cherish had ended up in the Slaughterhouse Nine with everything their membership trials included.

I shifted my attention away from Alec's sister. There were two notable absences, the Siberian and Crawler. Exactly the two that you didn't want unaccounted for. Survey must have read my expression as she dipped a finger into a side bowl, then allowed a single drop to fall in the middle of the basin. As the ripples spread the image shifted to show a multi-limbed creature appropriately crawling through what looked to be a storm drain.

"Crawler has been exploring an older series of drainage tunnels for some time. A search of the area shows no individuals who are likely to encounter him on his current path." Her expression shifted. "Attempts to locate the Siberian have been unsuccessful. I do not believe this is due to an error in my technique or a fault in the equipment. More likely there is some aspect of the Siberian that prevents her from being identified as a discrete individual."

I nodded. It was a theory we had encountered when researching the Nine. Actually, we had encountered a lot of theories when researching the Nine. Too many to be worth listing, and most of them without any practical basis. And of course, there was the fact that whenever analysis reached the level of a parahuman thinker the entire thing fell apart. Jack's power in action, sheltering his team from even obvious discoveries.

I considered how the scrying pool worked, the way numerous divine features had been augmented by the Arcane Craft and subjected to quality enhancements to the point where it could find a specific individual just by identifying them. It was an exceedingly powerful effect, crafted with the weight of three mythologies behind it. Not the kind of thing you could fool with a mask or a fake name.

"The idea that the Siberian is the empowered state of a person with another identity is out. It wouldn't be enough to conceal her. If she was a spontaneously manifested entity who vanished between attacks it might explain this, but it's more likely that she just doesn't exist." I explained.

Survey nodded as the Size constellation missed a connection. "The identity of the Siberian could be a term attached to a distinct effect, with no true personhood behind it. Given the weight of evidence, it is likely we can dismiss theories that the Siberian's existence is the product of mass hallucinations or run-away stranger effects concealing or compelling the actions of other capes. It is far more likely that 'she' exists as a power expression or projection of another parahuman."

"But the membership of the nine has rotated nearly completely since she joined." I said. "Jack is the only constant, and something like the Siberian is too far removed from his powerset to be explained by even a second trigger."

"Additionally, the Siberian's appearances prior to her membership in the Nine do not correlate with Jack's predicted location at that time. Barring an effectively unlimited range, it is likely there is an unaccounted parahuman responsible for the Siberian's presence." Survey concluded.

It was still guesswork, but my passenger seemed to agree with the line of reasoning. It also meant that it was a good thing we didn't jump in at the first hint that the Nine were coming. If the Siberian was a projection it's likely that a lot of her supposed limitations weren't actually that limiting. We needed to be ready for that, but our first priority would be finding the master responsible for her.

"Assuming conventional range, there should be someone either trailing the Nine or maintaining a nearby position." Of course, I had no idea what level of 'nearby' we were looking at. It could be the city, the state, or even half the country.

Okay, passenger suggested it wasn't that excessive.

"I have begun documentation and tracking of nearby individuals, including access to traffic and surveillance cameras and monitoring of social media." She turned back to the array of precisely arranged scrying devices. "Additionally, sufficient remote observation attempts cross referenced with local records should be sufficient to identify any outliers in the behavior of individuals in the area surrounding the Nine."

She lifted a precisely cut gemstone the size of my fist. Well, my fist before Monstrous Strength anyway. Tilting it slightly there was a shimmer as each facet reflected a person's face. Each showing one of the people in the area around the Nine's hideout. She rotated the gem slowly, noting each face before shifting the effect and repeating the process, cycling through the entire population of the area.

As she worked I checked over her assessments, which included an estimate of the Nine's route to their current location and predictions of the directions of travel they were likely to take on their way to Brockton Bay. They had been moving slower than we had estimated, though Survey had theories as to the reasons. They ranged from traffic analysis, road works, resupply stops, or the possibility that they were preparing something.

There weren't any disappearances reported in the local area, but when the Nine wanted to be stealthy they could be. Sometimes they were stealthy because there was no one left alive to raise the alarm, but the end result was the same. There had been disappearances among the population of independent parahumans, and the results of that were visible in Bonesaw's patients. Slower movement might give us more time to prepare, but would allow them to do more damage as they attempted to assemble whatever force they believed stood a chance against us.

I couldn't do anything about the people they had hurt so far. There was a window between when I had identified their intention and when I located them where the damage they had caused could have been prevented. But going forward, with the resources I had, with the information we were able to gain, that was no longer acceptable. This was the point where I put my foot down.

"From this point on, no more deaths."

Survey looked up at me. "You wish to intercede on behalf of potential victims?"

There was a tone of approval in her voice. She had been with me when we walked through every crime the Slaughterhouse Nine had to their name. The sheer volume of it had created a conviction in Survey that I hadn't seen before. I wasn't sure if that was because of genuine compassion or because of the impact the information had on me, but either way she was determined to see this through.

"Ideally, we arrange things so that there are no victims." I said. I drew up Survey's predicted routes, including risk levels based on the local population. "Everything that we can influence without tipping them off, we put into place. Listen to their plans and work around them. Nudge them towards isolated areas. Ensure they have stopover points that can be found without needing to kill anyone. Influence roadwork, traffic, even the weather if we have too, but keep them from killing anyone else."

Survey nodded but raised a key point. "Given the relatively short timeframe we are looking at, the Slaughterhouse Nine may be willing to accept a run of two or three days of exceptionally good fortune. That said, several days without any encounters with potential victims will be sure to raise suspicion. It is likely they will abandon current plans or heavily deviate from them if that occurs."

"If they try to split off, we hit them." I said. "We have enough information to still play it as a retaliatory act for the purposes of thinkers, but the closer they are to the city the easier it will be to manage the aftermath." The question of their victims was an unpleasant one. Regardless of how quiet they were being, they would at least expect the opportunity to target civilians. I could take steps to keep people out of their path and keep them away from people, but it wasn't like I could just throw people at them to keep their suspicion down.

Fuck, of course I could! Well, not people-people. Technically I could make clones or homunculi, but those were too close to actual people for my taste. The thing was, I had another option. An option I had just gotten.

"Human replica droids." I said with confidence. In Star Wars they were droids designed to emulate humans. Well, humans or some other lifeform. Even though they were droids, they were so lifelike they could even pass medical scans, though usually with anomalous results. The thing was, I was better than that. With just the knowledge of Mechanical Genius, I was far, far better than that.

I could create androids that were indistinguishable from organics. Not androids that could pass most medical scans or androids that were difficult to identify, androids that were fully indistinguishable from organics. A fiat backed effect of my skills, something so absolute that even my own sensors wouldn't be able to overcome it.

Normally the idea of sending an artificial lifeform against Bonesaw and expecting it to pass muster would be laughable, but this was different. Bonesaw could take one of my droids and render it down to its component molecules and there would be no hint that it was anything but a normal human.

Survey was aware of the depths of this particular field of technology. Most of my Star Wars technical knowledge had been uploaded to the central computer and was available to the entirety of the workshop. It had caused a fair amount of excitement, even compared to the other tech.

Simply put, hypermatter reactors were bullshit.

They were a very special kind of bullshit, and that was coming from someone who had been working with extradimensional pair annihilation reactions since relatively early in my career. At the moment I was focused on my expanded understanding of droids and the borderline impossible feats that could be accomplished with them, but I wasn't just limited to droids, I was also an expert on starships, and starships in the Star Wars galaxy reached ridiculous proportions.

I mean, looking at something like the Death Star you'd kind of expect that, except for any other advanced civilization you'd expect some kind of advanced science cheat that allowed that kind of thing to exist. Obviously the planet destroying weapon would use higher level physics or dimensional contortion or some other impossibility, because the idea of just throwing enough energy at a planet to more than overcome its gravitational binding energy in a single shot was ridiculous. I mean, I could destroy a planet with the force of my Dyson Sphere, but to actually reduce it to rubble I'd actually have to point the plasma output at the planet for a little while, not just open up with a single shot.

But the Death Star did. I didn't know exactly how a superlaser of that scale worked, though I was at least familiar enough with the underlying principles to work out a decent guess. The point was, the Death Star actually had the energy needed to pull off something like that. It would have necessitated basically building the entire station around a giant hypermatter reactor, but based on what I remembered from Return of the Jedi, that's pretty much what they had done.

It took an insane amount of energy to launch a capital ship into hyperspace. Even fighter craft required amounts of power that would be seen as insane by any conventional metric. Going by my own experience, the peak output of a Venator-class Star Destroyer from the Clone Wars was 3.6 × 10^24 Watts, the equivalent of roughly forty thousand tons of matter being converted to energy each second.

In comparison, my Dyson Sphere has an output equal to about four million tons of matter converted to energy each second. The difference is my Dyson Sphere is working with physical matter undergoing fusion within the heart of an actual star, not abstract projections of mass localized in hyperspace. Still, at the end of the day the practical energy output is the same. A single Clone Wars Star Destroyer is equivalent to one percent of a Dyson Sphere.

Looking at the way people live in Star Wars you'd never think 'Yeah, that's a high Type II Kardashev civilization'. Though access to that kind of energy does explain how something like Coruscant can exist. If a Type II civilization wants a city planet it's hardly the most outlandish project they could attempt.

Fleet really, really liked Star Wars technology. Steps were already being taken for re-creation of technology from later eras, compared to when my power was centered. Like with the Death Star, I didn't know the exact specifications of an X-Wing or Corellian light freighter, but with what was shown in the movies it was easy enough to fill in the gaps.

Fleet was also looking into the possibility of using my miniaturization powers to integrate a capital ship-grade hypermatter reactor into the engine of a motorcycle. When asked about the justification for his request he just replayed the end of our fight against Lung.

The point was, despite the gritty feel of the entire series, Star Wars technology was actually really impressive in both scale and power. If there was something that was going to let me make a mockery of the Slaughterhouse Nine, it was an excellent place to start.

"Given the advances of Human Replica Droids specific to your design process, I believe it will be capable of deceiving the Slaughterhouse Nine." Survey said, checking in with the Workshop network. "Primary concerns would be control systems, behavior modeling, and the generation of a believable emotional signature for the purposes of Cherish's powers." She continued.

I nodded as my power failed to connect to a large mote from the Quality constellation. If I wanted to fool the Nine, I couldn't just throw bodies at them. The androids would need to be at least convincingly human. That was a much more difficult prospect.

It was the kind of thing that would get into a gray area if you didn't understand the mechanics behind their operation. I could build a droid that was indistinguishable from a human, except it wouldn't be human. It wouldn't have a soul or even the capacity for independent thought. It was a machine, running a script. As opposed to a clone or homunculus that would have a spiritual presence. Viewed from the outside, it could come across as problematic. The whole thing did mean I was basically skating very close to the edge of what counted as human or sentient or alive.

If I built advanced droid brains into the androids and allowed them to develop like my A.I.s then sending them to get destroyed would be monstrous. Fortunately, that wasn't even being considered. Fleet had latched onto the idea as soon as the prospect of using Star Wars technology was seriously broached. Fleet could remotely direct androids through divine authority alone. He could also network them or create specific subsets of his program to operate them.

It would mean sending reduced copies of Fleet on a mission where they would basically be destroyed, but that wasn't as much of an issue as you would think. He had basically done the same thing for the various smart missiles currently installed on the passenger space carrier and its sub-craft. As such it was safe to say the idea of sending part of his code on a fire and forget mission wasn't exactly unheard of.

Once the seed of the idea started, things took off between my three A.I. with no additional prompting needed for me. Survey was generating profiles that would match demographics in the various locations the Nine were likely to pass through on their way to Brockton Bay. Fleet was considering control mechanisms for the androids and ideal methods of emulating emotions and providing convincing character work. The Matrix was planning out both the construction of a range of androids with the recommended control systems and various ancillary items based on Survey's demographic information.

If the Nine encountered anyone on their way to Brockton Bay they would look real, act real, and even have a complete collection of personal effects to match their backstory. They would also be completely fabricated. All part of a long draw line leading them exactly where we wanted them.

Ideally none of the androids would need to 'die', but steps would be taken to ensure that if any member of the Nine had the inclination to seek out a victim all they would find was one of Fleet's puppets, showing them exactly what they wanted to see.

Another dark thought entered my mind. Really, when it came to fucking with the Nine, could any thought be considered dark? Questionable, but a question for another day. "The projections have them two to three days from Brockton Bay." I said. "So, we construct all the androids in the Workshop, in areas subject to repair effects."

"In that case, any that were destroyed by a member of the Nine would fully restore themselves within forty-eight hours." Survey said. "Such an event is unlikely to be noticed in the case of most victims. However, should Bonesaw capture any for use as experiments or supplemental materials for other projects, their repair would be a highly disruptive event."

"Yes, it would." I said with a smile. "Perhaps even a disturbing event, for all involved."

Even if we needed to deploy an android immediately, the restoration wouldn't trigger until Thursday night. By that time, they would either be at Brockton Bay or close enough that we could justify a strike, and an event like that would be the perfect thing to signal the launch of an attack.

I wonder, would it be overly tacky to confront the Nine alongside zombie version of everyone they'd 'killed' on the way to Brockton Bay? I mean, I was trying to make a statement here.

This was going to be a big project. There would need to be dozens if not hundreds of droids. They would need to be seeded well in advance of the Nine to ensure they were out of Cherish's range when they arrived. Multiple routes would need to be covered, including more unlikely ones to cover for all contingencies. Each would need a distinct physical appearances, behavior pattern, and set of personal possessions. They would need plausible explanations for their presence and personal history in the area.

It was a massive work of unbelievable complexity. It was also the kind of thing my A.I.s had been specifically designed to handle. Survey was providing mountains of data, the Matrix was ensuring every detail was represented, and Fleet was distilling things down to precise personality profiles and behavior methods, driving a humanoid body with the same care and precision he extended to any of his vehicles.

It was funny. I'd run tests on stealth drones. I'd considered numerous ways to spy on villains up to and including the Slaughterhouse Nine. It hadn't occurred to me that the best way to get a drone overlooked would be to make it look like a normal person. Capes didn't regard civilians with the degree of seriousness they warranted. The more powerful the cape the stronger that principle played out. I could build a droid that perfectly passed for an elderly homeless man and it would attract less notice than the most advanced concealment technology I could produce.

The deployment of the drones was only half of the problem. We also needed to take steps to ensure the Nine didn't wander off the path set for them. To contain their actions to areas we could control and prevent anyone from falling prey to them. As we watched the Nine's current hideout the Siberian slunk into the room, taking a protective position near Bonesaw. Jack looked up from his spread of cutting implements. The surface of the water trembled slightly, conveying the sound as Jack began to speak.

"No luck with the hunt?" He asked. The Siberian shrugged and flicked her unbloodied hand.

"For the best." Cherish said. "Area's too busy, especially towards the east."

"My dear, I trust you will let us know the second any suspicion might be aroused." He said with an obnoxious smile. "It's what you're so good at."

She shifted slightly, then glanced away. Meanwhile Bonesaw reached down to stroke the Siberian's hair in a manner disturbingly like petting a dog. "Don't worry. You'll have better luck tomorrow night. We'll find a nice quiet place where nobody will see you coming, right Jack?" She turned and looked towards the man eagerly.

"Perhaps." He said, lifting one of his knives and flicking it in his hand. Cherish tracked its movements closely. "Our next stop is yet to be determined. I suppose much will depend on how your preparations are progressing."

"Really, really well." She said. "I just need to sort out a few of the distribution vectors and test a few of the new combinations." She looked towards the bloody moaning mass of projects with a disturbing smile.

"Then we'll see, come morning. Which will give time for some of our additional preparations, of course." He grinned and the rest of the Nine responded with various levels of enthusiasm.

With that the Siberian was accounted for, but not her true source. Thankfully, she apparently hadn't caused any deaths that night, and it seemed we hadn't overlooked anything else. No more deaths, not this night. Or any coming night, even if we had to bend reality to accomplish it.

That meant close monitoring of every element of the Nine and their surroundings. Survey could handle that. It also meant precise analysis of transport routes and traffic patterns, in addition to ways those elements could be manipulated without arousing suspicion. Survey could also handle that. It meant monitoring of every level of activity in the target areas, from public events to work and commute patterns. Again, Survey could handle that. And it meant leveraging the types of abilities I had kept in reserve to shift things in our favor. That part would be down to me.

Maintaining this deception would limit what I could do, but not to the point where I was willing to let someone die over it. I knew what the Nine could sense. I knew where they were and what they were talking about. Our information on their capabilities would only increase as time went on. It just came down to a question of where we applied the pressure.

We could shift weather patterns. We could alter roadways, cause detours or open up new routes. We could place 'safe' hiding spots in their path and divert people away. And we could get even more aggressive. Charms affecting space or perception. Divine constructs that create navigation issues or divert them in the direction of our choosing. Even manipulation of luck, fortune, and fate itself.

Funny, I had just been granted a divine realm, under much protest. Now I was playing the role of an angry Greek deity, toying with mortals subject to my whims to ultimately lead them to an ignoble demise. All I can say is thank God we don't have any Greek playwrights running around anymore. The Nine don't deserve a tragedy devoted to them. Just the tragedy itself.

Survey looked up at me, mentally calling up some of the proposed android designs. "While this equipment represents a marked improvement in functionality, many of the devices require oversight to ensure the Nine can be properly monitored. Particularly with respect to preparations that have been made by either Mannequin or Bonesaw." She glanced down to where the Nine were still finishing their takeout and other random chores. "Regrettably, I require the direct attention of my physical body in order to properly operate the devices. This conflicts with the obligations of my civilian identity, particularly with respect to the upcoming event and auction."

"You want a replica droid to fill in for you." I said.

It was possible. I doubt the appearance of Survey's cape identity could be recreated with anything but my direct attention and a considerable expenditure of resources, but her civilian identity was much more manageable. Working with the Matrix, I could handle remote assembly of a near perfect copy. It wouldn't have any of her powers, but it should allow her to be in two places at once. Or more, if the need somehow arose for additional copies.

"It would be of assistance for obligations that do not require my expanded abilities." She explained. "My recent meeting with Parian exceeded our scheduled time considerably due to the comprehensive review of her planned contribution to the event, as well as additional social obligations specific to visitors."

It sounded like Parian was a good host, at the very least. Of course, Survey's civilian identity had developed something of a reputation, so it might have just been business related.

"You can handle the second remote body alright?" I asked. For Fleet it wouldn't have been an issue, but after the difficulty Survey had transferring a copy to passenger space I didn't want to make any assumptions.

"Fleet has shared a variety of insights in the operation of remote copies. Additionally, I will not require a fully autonomous copy of my program, depending on the control method used." She explained as the Resources and Durability constellation passed by again.

There were a number of options, several of which Fleet had already evaluated for use in the interception androids. While I could technically build an organic miniature Quantum Entanglement Communicator, that was the kind of thing that Bonesaw would probably notice, despite my skills with replica droids. Still, it would probably do the trick for Survey, since she was unlikely to be subjected to too many tinker tech brain scans, at least without us noticing well in advance.

Fleet also had a novel idea to use expanded psionic capabilities as a means of remote command. Psionically attuned transmitters connected to psionically attuned replica androids would provide a control mechanism that was completely undetectable to both parahuman powers and technology.

Unfortunately, the idea of remotely controlled psychic soldiers directed by psionic commanders was setting off every Alma related waning bell in my head. Given the overlap with the muddled memories Alma had transmitted during the Synchronicity Event, it was safe to say that messing with that kind of thing was a bad idea as long as Alma was unaccounted for.

Really, the best option we had would probably be isolated versions of Fleet's code combined with direction by his divine authority over machines. Replica androids could be modified into focuses for his abilities using the Arcane Craft and scrying devices could be used for remote monitoring and to assist with command. It was probably going to require a dedicated location to coordinate everything, and possibly a spare replica droid for Fleet to free up his main body, but it was definitely something we could accomplish.

The road I was on seemed to lead to replica droids for everybody. It seemed I had reached the 'evil robotic duplicate' stage of my descent into villainy. I wondered if I should start offering them more broadly. They were a great way to get out of awkward family events. Or fake your own death, depending on which way the mood takes you.

"That shouldn't be a problem. I can have it ready for you in time for you to close out the event preparations." I said.

"I would appreciate that." She raised a hand and examined it. "Additionally, I am eager to learn the benefits that can be gained from psionic attunement, though I understand there are more pressing priorities for that procedure."

"Not more pressing, but I want to see how it affects a living metal body before we try it on you. It will only be a slight delay and should let us refine the process and identify any potential quirks before you try it." I explained.

"I understand. Though, as such issues are not anticipated to affect Garment, perhaps you should proceed to assist her with attunement. She has been quite eager to meet with you since your return." Survey explained in a manner that suggested there was more to the story.

I found out how much just more and how focused Garment was when I visited her in her workshop. I worked to attune her gloves, feeling out the psionic resonance of their structure and aligning it into a focus for mental abilities, all while she frantically gestured at me.

"No Garment, I didn't think to bring it up." I said as I tried to focus on her gloves even as they continued to move in an accusatory questioning gesture. "Because I was a little distracted at the time. The world was on fire and turning inside out. It didn't exactly invite open conversation."

Garment accepted my reasoning but was still insistent in her question. "A red long-sleeved smock dress. Not fitted, and badly stained." She gestured again. "No shoes. Bare feet, and fairly bloody.

Garment's response of horror almost caused me to lose focus on the attunement process. She quickly gestured again.

"Well, yes. That would be nice, but I don't see how we could get it to her." She gestured some more, specifically in the direction of the Skyforge. "That was different. This would be an offering, not a libation. Dionysus isn't the god of burnt offerings." She made another inquiring gesture. "That would be… Hestia."

And with that I had another task on my to-do list.

After finishing the psionic attunement of Garment's gloves and offering both Dionysus and Hestia enough libations to drown a career alcoholic I had pushed my blessing of Hearthfire to the absolute limit. Which was good, because for this task I needed it.

"Okay, I get the shoes, but was the tiara really necessary?" I asked Garment. She insisted that it was. On the altar of my shrine to Hestia sat a child sized pink princess dress of embroidered silk, a pair of white slippers, a small teddy bear, and a princess tiara. All of it was on fire.

The items being offered up were my direct work, which meant they were exceptionally durable, nearly to the point of excess. Normally they would have laughed off any attempt at burning, but hearthfire was different. The flames of Hestia were the flames of the hearth, where burnt offerings were offered up. They were flames of consumption and transformation.

On a personal level, Hearthfire was a force of warmth, comfort, and the security of home, but it was also a force of destruction that couldn't be underestimated. There was no level of durability that could completely hold off the flames of Hestia. I doubted anything less than my fiat-based invincibility could endure them unscathed. Unfortunately, just because they could burn anything didn't mean they could burn anything easily.

Essentially, I was fighting the durability of my own creations. There was definitely a sense that the whole 'make a rock so heavy even he can't pick it up' thing was playing out here. The assembled items, divine constructs of enhanced quality, WERE burning, but incredibly slowly. If we didn't want to be here all night I was going to have to turn up the gas.

Reaching out with my pyrokinesis, I stoked the flames, bringing the red fire to a point of incredible heat. I felt the draw of my Unnatural Skill. The limits of firecraft being usurped and cast aside. Drawing further, I cast off my human transformation, rising to my full height as my cybernetics manifested. The altar flared, smoke and flame bearing the offerings beyond the mortal world. With a roar of effort, I called forth my final transformation, red light spilling from my eyes and mouth as I shifted into my zoanthrope form and called forth primal divine fire to carry the gift crafted by Garment and myself to Alma, wherever she might be and in whatever form she might exist.

I watched the smoke from the offerings rise and vanish into the air. Actually vanish, carried off to some other place. The transformative nature of fire, moving an object between metaphysical states, from the material to the spiritual world. I focused my skill with Firecraft. My impossible skill, able to operate beyond the bounds that restricted normal people. I felt the essence of the smoke, carrying the spirit of my creations to another realm, to another person.

There was a sense. Just a hint of a feeling, but it was something. A sense of confusion, then surprise, but not anger. If anything, there was an echoing, empty feeling, like a sudden change in psychic pressure as one emotion suddenly shifted to another.

And then it was gone. Whatever impossible link I'd been able to form by circumventing the rules of what my skills were supposed to be able to accomplish had faded. My own psionic strength wasn't nearly enough to reach Alma, though all things considered that was probably for the best. This had been an.. interesting opening move, but even if it had been accepted in good faith, it didn't change the magnitude of the task in front of me.

And I suddenly realized I was standing in front of Garment in the full extent of my unnatural form. I allowed my zoanthrope transformation to subside, dropping back to my base cybernetic state. I was about to transform back to human, but Garment frantically waved me off with one hand while gesturing towards her workshop with the other. There was a rustle of clothes as items hundreds of yards away were affected by Garment's telekinesis.

The attunement of her gloves to act as a focus for channeling her telekinesis had resulted in dramatically increased range and precision. Enough that she could draw forth items of clothing from her workshop.

Or, as I saw the outfit that was flying towards me, from the Resplendent Wardrobe that happened to be stored inside her workshop. Leave it to Garment to take one look at my new form and instantly pull a specific outfit tailored for theotech cybernetics, but somehow taking into account the size increase and draconic legs.

"Wow Garment, that's very…" The word that jumped to mind was 'brief'. The society that produced this clothing seemed to have a rather liberal view as to appropriate attire. It wasn't like there were no outfits that covered the chest. I had seen them myself, but Garment always seemed to manage to find the ones that were specifically designed to show off abdominal muscles. "Very nice." I finished.

She nodded and caused the outfit to lift toward me. "Uh, maybe later." I said. "I still have to call Tattletale and get ready for Tetra's work."

And have a talk with her beforehand. I wasn't trying to change her mind on this, not with everything that had been addressed from a technical standpoint, but it would still be good to have a talk. To actually discuss what had happened that night, with Lung. How she was dealing with that, and if there was anything I could do to help. Really help, not just put measures in place to make sure it couldn't happen again.

There was also the finalization of the plans for Tetra's Kamui form. Just like I had anticipated, every power I got had necessitated revisions and alterations. New additions or techniques or materials. As it stood I would be doing the work as far into my transformed form as I could. None of my unnatural skills were specific to clothing production, but the range of powers was still massively helpful.

Thanks to Exotic Compatibility allowing me to treat any material as iron, Smithing was still relevant, and alchemy helped with both material applications and some of the enhancements possible through things like Belmont Alchemy. Enchanting and Music made Elven Enchantment much less trying at the higher levels while transmutation helped with preparation and formation of materials. Some runes could technically be added later, but elements of the planned mystic code that was being assembled would benefit from my extended understanding of rune systems.

There was also one point that needed to be addressed. The Volcanic Forge could add a single property of any material to Tetra's life fibers. Normally it would be a single property of any metal or mineral, but Exotic Compatibility opened a lot of doors. I had access to a significant number of exotic materials with a wide range of properties. Tetra could pick one. Out of everything I could produce, she got a single choice. A choice that could perfectly integrate and seamlessly enhance her abilities, but choosing one thing meant a dozen others would be inaccessible.

Survey had been pushing for cybertonium, though her insistence had probably hurt her case more than it had helped. It wasn't a bad choice, particularly with things like the material's transwarp resonance, but it was competing with things like fold quartz, stygian iron, lathe metal, exotic varieties of dust, impossibly high grade ragnite, and many others.

What's more, the choice she made would inform other aspects of her design. What she would be focused towards and specialized in. It was a point that she had been stuck on for some time, and I promised I'd help her decide.

Garment reluctantly lowered the exotic outfit. Honestly, it probably would have fit my current form better that the jeans and t-shirt combination that had resized automatically thanks to a combination of the Flock's Fleece and the Armor-Shift Manufacture device.

"I promise, I will try out some new styles later." I said to Garment. With the changes I had gone through, it was practically a necessity. "For now, I'm going to…"

I paused as I felt my power shift again. Specifically, I felt the Capstone constellation begin to approach. Last time a minor power from that constellation had thrown everything into chaos. Now my power was connecting to another mote, and not a minor one. I could feel the weight of it, just a hair shy of my major powers. But I could also recognize its source.

Some powers were incredibly disruptive, but not all of them. The powers I had received from this source had been relatively tame. Actually, they had been clustered in another constellation with one of the most manageable of my major powers. I leaned back and waited to see what the companion mote to Daedalus' Student would be like.

"Fuck."

I sat on top of my volcano, feeling out the less obvious aspects of my new power. There was a connection to the world around me, something I wouldn't have expected from a power like this. It served to ground me in the face of everything that seemed to be happening very fast.

I saw a figure in purple armor emerge from the entrance to the Skyforge. Aisha. She took to the air, flying deftly with almost no assistance from Fleet. She made a wide turn then began to ascend, climbing until she had reached the peak of the volcano. Then climbing some more until she was level with my face.

The helmet of her armor peeled back as she looked at me. "Jesus Christ. I saw the news about the giant thing, but I didn't figure it went this far."

"It didn't." I said, my voice booming over the landscape. "This is the latest surprise from my power."

"Yeah, I heard. Titan's Blood?" I nodded. "Well, your power doesn't fuck around when it comes to truth in advertising."

I smiled at that and raised a hand. My arm was actually moving incredibly fast but at this scale it looked and felt like I was pulling it through deep water. I had to make an effort to slow my arm and cancel its now vastly expanded momentum. By the time it reached Aisha it was gently rising to meet her.

She looked down at my raised hand, then cut her jets and landed, balanced on one of my fingers.

"So how tall are you, anyway?" She asked, looking up at my face.

"Currently over twenty-five meters. About eighty-three feet." I explained.

"Holy shit." She said.

"Yeah." I nodded slowly. Not out of contemplation or anything like that. At this scale everything seemed to be moving more slowly, despite actually being terrifyingly fast. "Titan's Blood can add fifteen meters to my height, but the effect of Monstrous Strength is multiplicative, and it applies after Titan's Blood."

"I get it, order of operations." Aisha said. "But you're not stuck like this, right?"

"No." Once again, slow shake of my head. "Height is actually variable. Can even go for partial growth, pick any size up to this one. Or go further."

"Your Beast Change thing?" She asked. I raised an eyebrow. "Saw your duplicates out in the open area. They were going all out."

I shrugged, but made sure to keep my hand steady. "Beast Change is another multiplier. About thirty percent more. Gets me to about thirty-four meters. Over a hundred and ten feet." Or more, if the duplicates in question happened to have their familiars channeled to manifest gigantic ear tufts on their heads.

Aisha just shook her head. "You know I figured you could probably take on the Endbringers. I didn't realize you'd basically be beating up Behemoth for his lunch money.

That got a laugh out of me, but I could see the gust of air from my breath cause Aisha to reset her footing. I quickly steadied myself and let her regain her balance.

"Your powers are all about making stuff, right? So, there's more to this than just being huge?" She asked. "I got the sense from the reports, and the other guys are working on stuff, but I'm not clear on exactly what the deal is."

"It's a boosting power." I explained. "Tied to Daedalus' Student." I closed my eyes and felt out the connection. "That power, it's about function as an element of creation, separate from material structure. Applying order beyond physical limits." Aisha nodded, but I had the sense she didn't really follow. "Titan's Blood enhanced that, but it does so by extending the chain of operation backwards."

"Backwards?" She asked.

"It's a primal power. An old power. Literal connection to the titans, as in full blood relation. Daedalus' Student lets me see progression of function past a current design. Titan's blood lets me see the chain of that function's development back to its point of origin. The very first point where that principle was put into use, that intention was laid down extending in a chain from primal origin to current application." I explained, gesturing with my free hand.

"If you shift the chain, introduce an aspect or innovation or improvement at a primal stage, then that propagates, extends through all subsequent functions. Builds on itself exponentially with every improvement. When it reaches the point of your current creation you might physically have a sword or shield or piece of equipment, but the accumulated power would be overwhelming. You'd have the strength of an army in the palm of your hand." Of course, the palm of my hand was quite a generous unit of measure at the moment, so maybe that wasn't the best analogy.

"God. Like you weren't going over the top already." Aisha said. "The next tea is going to be the bomb, isn't it?"

I smiled. "Most assuredly." I said. "But there's more."

"What else?" She asked.

"That primal connection? It extends to more than function. Like with the Norse Dwarves, but from a different angle. A connection to a period of time when creation hadn't settled. The division between forces wasn't there. Matter and energy, it was the same." I paused. "It is the same, but this lets me bridge it."

I glanced down at the volcano. "Like this." I reached into the crater and scooped up a handful of lava. "Molten rock, heat plus stone. Normally the energy would be fluid. It would follow the principles of entropy and dissipate, leaving me with volcanic rock." I squeezed my hand and began molding the lava. "But that's not how it works for me. The energy is just as solid and tangible as the rock. It's something I could separate out, or something I could integrate."

I finished shaping the lava and opened my hand. There was a glowing ball of molten rock in my palm. It twitched slightly, then a wing of burning lava spread from the center mass. Then another one. Then a beaked head. The wings fluttered and the lava lost its fluid shape, condensing into glowing feathers and talons of stone. With a slight flick of my hand, I sent the lava bird into the sky and watched as it soared through the air, trailing embers as it flew.

"Shit. You just made that? One handed?" I shrugged. "What is it? I mean, what does it do?"

"It looks after the volcano. Flies around, manages the lava flows, and nests in the crater." I explained. "It's sort of like a golem, but also sort of alive. Too many powers to break them all down."

"I get that." She said. "Figured that's why you needed a minute after this thing showed up."

I shook my head. "Not for that." Aisha gave me a confused look. "There's another aspect to this power. Connection to the Earth, and the ability to sense its secrets, and anything that threatens the balance of nature."

"See, with the whole god realm thing, which feels awesome by the way, I figured you'd be getting spiritual any day now. Just didn't expect it this fast." She joked, then saw my face. "Unless you learned something from it? Something bad?"

I nodded. "There's a threat. A big threat. I'm not sure how far off it is. It's something I've had a vague idea about for a while, but now I know." I explained. "It's the powers. The passengers. The whole system. There's an element of it that's a threat to the very existence of the planet."

"Fuck." Aisha said. "Um, so, what do we do?"

"We keep looking." I said. "Passenger space is a good start, and so is investigation into powers and passengers. We still have to deal with everything in the city, but after that, this is going to have to take priority."

"Got it." She said, "So, you meditated enough for the moment? Seems like there's a bunch of stuff that just got added to the job board."

"Yeah, and there is." I gently lifted my hand and Aisha jumped into the air, engaging her jets to hover in place.

I rose from my seat at the top of the volcano and pushed away my primal connection. I felt the world grow around me as I shrank back to a normal height. Well, a normal height for a draconic cyborg. I engaged the ether lines from my Teigu and took to the air alongside Aisha.

"Okay, even shrunk down you are way too fucking tall." She said, looking at my nine-foot frame.

I smiled at that. "Come on, we've got work to do. Can't keep Tetra waiting."

Jumpchain abilities this chapter:

Hallowed Earth (Personal Reality) 400:

Every inch of your Personal Reality is sanctified. By who? Well… you, I guess. All those within (besides you obviously) are subject to a constant minor blessing that persists for up to a day after leaving that makes them a little luckier and healthier. In D&D terms, a general +1 Morale bonus. Those who worship you as divine may show up here when they die or see visions of you in this, your place of power… though these visions may be merely metaphors for what lies within if they lack the mental or cultural framework to understand. With Linked Portals you may appear anywhere inside your Personal Reality without having to walk there and with Eye Spy you are aware of everything that happens in this Reality. With Central Control, you are constantly aware of the contents of the PR.

Titan's Blood (God of War) 500:

What a curious thing you are, to have become such a thing. One of your ancestors was a Titan, a primordial being of great power and ability that was responsible with shaping the world as it is. You are not full-blooded, but the effects have been prevalent on you nonetheless; your size may be increased up to fifteen meters in height, with your strength as such that you could throw pieces of buildings one-handed at your enemies. You may also choose one Titan you are a descendent from, gaining aesthetic appearance changes similar to them. But more importantly, you may relax yourself and 'commune' with the world and nature around you; by opening your mind to the world you can learn about it and its secrets quite quickly, along with finding what is the largest threat to the balance of nature. You are of the planet, child. It is your birthright to know these things.

'Titan's Blood' only gives physical boons and an impressive aesthetic relating to your Titan ancestor. You do not get minor powers from your parent, such as Cronos and his time powers.

Titan's Blood also grants access to the following boosts for capstones you've purchased:

'Daedalus' Student': Your crafting has undergone a dramatic improvement, to the point where you can make incredible works with the strength of an army within them. You have also gleamed into a new type of crafting, and you can forge energy constructs such as Zeus' Lightning to be used in your wishes.