Upgrades!
Once Penny and Poppi had returned to Tora's house in Gormott after receiving their one day trial diplomas from Bluesky University, The time for true upgrades for Poppi had begun.
Penny still felt sad that Tora didn't dare to try upgrade her without knowing how to disengage her Core without deactivating it. Fortunately, Tora had also promised that once he made the gateway to Remnant, Tora would come to Atlas and present his ideas to Penny's father. Tora was nearly squished when Penny hugged him for that.
But Penny also felt a little jealous of Poppi. Artificial Blade she may be, but Poppi seemed to have her own family what with having an older sister and all. Penny couldn't help but wonder what that was like.
"Lila, stop!" Came the voice of Tatazo who was grabbed by the back of his jacket and being carried by Lila. Unlike Poppi who was a clear mechanical child, Lila looked like a young woman in a maid outfit. Although her hands and shoulders are clearly mechanical. And her artificial circular core Crystal is orange. Just like Poppi's. "Tatazo not garbage!" The older Nopon cried out and Lila put him down.
"Apologies. Masterpon typically falls under the category of household waste when inside the house." Lila said as she adjusted the garbage bags in her other hand.
"Mehmehemehh!" Tatazo complained.
Penny tilted her head before looking to Kos-Mos. "Kos-Mos do you understand why Lila keeps mistaking Tatazo for household waste?"
Kos-Mos was silent for a moment, indicating for Penny that the question was difficult. "Logically speaking there is no reason for this mistake to be repeated unless there is a glitch in Lila's system. That being said, a more likely explanation is that Lila is insulting her creator."
Penny frowned at the explanation. "But isn't that rude? Treating her own creator like that?"
"...Speaking with pure logic, Lila should feel grateful and respectful towards her creator. But in my experience thus far, I believe Lila is too lenient in how she treats Tatazo." Kos-Mos explained in her usual monotone, yet to Penny, it seemed like her Blade had developed something of contempt for Tora and Tatazo.
Penny decided not to pursue the issue, since she still can't quite comprehend Kos-Mos' reasoning. Instead, Penny glanced at the workshop that now had its curtain down where Tora was working on Poppi. The artificial Driver then looked down at her own outfit. It had started to wear down a little after all that traveling, but she saw no point in replacing it. That is until she heard that while she and Poppi were at school, Lila was busy making a new outfit for Poppi. The younger Artificial Blade seemed excited at the prospect. Once again, Penny felt a pang of jealousy at Poppi for having such a loving sister.
"Are you alright, master?" Kos-Mos then asked, catching where Penny was looking.
"I'm combat ready." Penny said, trying to gain her usual cheer.
"If you are worried about your upgrades, I'm sure that once we reach your father he will upgrade you with Tora's assistance." Kos-Mos surmised Penny's worries.
"That isn't it, Kos-Mos." Penny said, looking to the curtain, wondering what Tora was doing to Poppi. "I... Is it strange that I feel like the odd one out?" Penny then asked, turning to face the android Blade.
"I don't understand the question, master," Kos-Mos said, tilting her head.
"With friend Ruby having an older sister, and friend Poppi also having an older sister. I find myself... wanting one." Penny said, "Is that weird?"
Kos-Mos contemplated on the problem before giving out her answer, "A textbook definition of 'older sister' in family context is a female born before one referring to her as such. For master to have an older sister, there must exist an artificial girl that was built by your father before you. But as far as I know, master is one of a kind. Therefore master's wish is impossible." Penny looked sad at hearing that while Tatazo waddled behind the curtain to the workshop. "Though if you were to ask your father, I suppose he could build you a younger sister." Kos-Mos then added.
That visibly cheered up Penny. "Really?! Sensational!"
"If that is what master believes." Kos-Mos said, despite not computing why Penny was happy.
"Titan's foot!" Came from inside the workshop moments before Tora waddled out with a frustrated look. Poppi also followed with a downed expression.
"What's wrong friend Tora, friend Poppi?" Penny asked, now worried, "Were you unable to complete the upgrades?"
"No, no. Tora complete the prepwork, just need to charge device." Tora said pointing to the workshop with a device that had some kind of large metal box with meters and a glowing bar that most likely indicates the charge contained. The bar was nearly at the bottom.
"Oh? How long is that going to take?" Penny asked.
"One week. Tora dying of anticipation." Tora complained a little.
"One week seems like a long time." Kos-Mos commented.
"It only natural." Said Tatazo who also came out of the workshop, "Upgrading Poppi require immense amount of power."
"Is there no way to expedite the process?" Penny then asked.
"Unless friend Penny knows about a great power source, then no." Poppi said, looking depressed.
Penny then began wracking her processor to find any information that could possibly help. And then she blinked, "Would friend Electra supplying steady stream of power help?"
Tora, Tatazo and Poppi visibly perked up. "That great idea! With Electra the charging not take hour!" Tora then bounced in place.
"Nora and others in Mor Ardain according to last exchange." Poppi then said, "We need to get them."
"There's no need for that." Penny said with a smile." I can call friend Ruby and then-" At that moment, a low ringing sound came out of Penny. "Hold on. Salutations!" Penny said cheerfully. "Oh, friend Ruby how are you!?... My functions are optimal. Hey, is friend Nora with you?... Sensational! Can you give the Scroll to her?"
Tora, Tatazo and Poppi tilted their heads as Penny was talking to herself. Or rather into her built in Scroll. Even though they all knew about it, seeing Penny seemingly talking to thin air looked weird. At least when the Remnantians used their Scrolls they understood what was happening.
"Maybe Tora need to install communications function for Poppi." Tora muttered.
"Thank you friend Ruby." Penny then said as the conversation seemed to go near the end. "I look forward to your visit again. See you tomorrow!" With that, Penny cut the call and looked at everyone happily. "Friend Nora will come tomorrow with friend Ruby."
"Excellent!" Tatazo let out. "Tomorrow we can finally begin upgrade Poppi into new form."
"Poppi can't wait!" Poppi said happily, waving her arms as she did.
The next day, a ship from Mor Ardain brought, Ruby, Nora, Ren, Blake and their Blades to Gormott. Of course, the first thing Ruby did was look over Penny to check if anything weird was done to her. But she and the others were surprised when Penny showed them her one day trial diploma from Bluesky University. Poppi also showed her own.
Ruby, Nora and Elektra of course congratulated the two, while Blake and Ren had no idea if they should say something. On one hand it was wholesome to see the Artifical Blade and Driver so happy. But on the other hand, a trial day diploma isn't something to shout about in their minds. As for their Blades, well Otohime at least said she was happy for the two.
But now, the gang was in Tora's house and Elektra was holding two cables that led into the charging device.
"So, I just keep powering this up until that glowing bar is full?" Elektra asked, bouncing in place.
"Yes, but extra-special steadily." Tora said with a serious look, "If charge too strong, the device blow up."
"Blow up?" Blake let out, instinctively taking a step back while Nox got in front of her. No doubt ready to deploy the barrier. Roze did the same with Ruby.
"Okay, so I need to be careful. Got it!" Electra said, saluting while still holding the cables.
"Good." Tora said while waddling away from Elektra and behind Poppi who had her shield up. Tatazo also moved behind Lila who had her Mech Arms out and in guarding stance. That did not inspire confidence. "Now friend Elektra! Charge!" Tora shouted out before cowering behind Poppi who took a firm stance with the shield.
"Okay! Zippizippi zappiii!" Elektra chanted as electricity began crackling in her halo of orbs and they began spinning. Then Elektra's hands began sparking with electricity she was channeling into the cables.
"Steady." Otohime said calmly as she noted how the bar was filling visibly.
"You can do it Elektra." Nora cheered, having complete faith in her Blade.
Elektra didn't seem to hear them. She had her eyes on the bar that was filling up faster and faster.
"That too fast." Tatazo said, peeking from behind Lila. "If bar fill too quickly, device overcharge and blow up!"
"Elektra, slow down." Ren then said, not wanting an explosion to happen. Again, Elektra didn't seem to hear them.
"Elektra?" Ruby let out in slight fear, as the bar seemed to go full in mere seconds. Worse yet, Elektra's orbs were now sparking more and more. At this rate, it looked like she would shoot lightning out of herself. With that thought, Nox, Roze, and Otohime deployed their barriers. Kos-Mos too deployed her barrier to protect Penny.
"Nora, get behind the barrier!" Ren called out to Nora who was outside of the barriers.
"Why?" Nora asked like she couldn't understand the situation.
"It will blow!" Tora cried out, bracing for the blast that would come now that the bar was practically shooting up.
Ruby and Blake hid behind their Blades while Ren now practically cried for Nora to get to cover. But then Elektra dropped the cables and started taking deep breaths. With every slow exhale, the electricity coursing in her halo of orbs seemed to settle down. Elektra repeated the process a few times even after she stopped sparking. "Charged up!" Elektra said cheerfully.
Tora, Tatazo, Blake, and Ruby slowly and carefully peeked from behind their respective Blades to see the results. Sure enough, the bar on the charging device was now full.
"You did it!" Nora cheered and picked Elektra up in a hug. With the little girl laughing while hugging back, wrapping her legs around Nora for good measure.
"Thank you, friend Elektra." Penny said happily, she seemed to be the only one not afraid of Elektra making an explosion aside from Nora.
"Well..." Tatazo said, waddling to the machine and did quick checks alongside Tora. "Mehmeh! Hot hot!" Tatazo wailed and blew some air on his wings.
"Elektra charge up too fast." Tora said, thankfully keeping his own wings away now. "Now need to wait machine to cool off."
That stopped Elektra and Nora from celebrating. "...I'm sorry." Elektra said, now looking down.
"Is the device still operational?" Penny asked.
"Tora just said machine need to cool off." Tora said, looking impatient.
"Maybe Otohime could use her water to cool it off?" Elektra suggested as Nora put her down.
Otohime let out an amused sound at Elektra's suggestion. Which earned a curious look from the sparky girl. "Oh, I thought it was a jest." Otohime said with a look that said, "What am I going to do with you?".
"Elektra, you don't cool off electric devices by splashing water on them," Ruby said.
"You don't?" Nora of all people asked, earning a series of shocked looks. And then Nora laughed, "Got'cha!" And then she turned to Elektra, "If you douse something that uses electricity then it won't work anymore."
"Oh, okay." Elektra said, nodding at the seemingly new information.
Then Nora looked at everyone still staring at her, "What? Everyone knows that."
Otohime stared at Nora a moment longer before switching her attention to Tora, "So Tora, once the machine has cooled off, we can expect Poppi to become an adult?"
"Of course!" Tora said, now eager once again.
No one had noticed that Roze had moved next to Poppi. Except Poppi then registered something touching the back of her head. "What is it, Roze?" Poppi asked, turning her attention to the reaper Blade who then winced and clutched his head. "Is friend okay?" Poppi then asked.
"It's nothing," Roze said as he rubbed his head and moved off. Ruby looked worried about her Blade but didn't go after him.
"What is the matter, Ruby?" Penny asked, looking worried about her friend.
"...Roze's been acting weird sometimes," Ruby admitted.
"Really? How so?" Penny asked.
"...I don't know...he feels...more distant," Ruby said, unable to put her finger on it. "And when I ask him about it, he just looks at me like I'm being weird."
"Really?" Was all Penny could ask since she herself wasn't sure.
"Ruby, Roze has always been weird." Blake then said, surprising Ruby a little. "Maybe you're thinking too much."
"...I guess." Ruby said, though she didn't sound convinced, "It's just... I thought he acted weird since Morytha, but now... It's almost like he's hiding something. And I can't figure out what."
"What would he be hiding?" Blake asked, now looking worried.
"I don't know." Ruby repeated, "I just wished he'd talk."
At the back entrance of Tora's house, Roze looked at the back of his left hand which had five glowing blue stones on each of his knuckles and a larger one at the very back of the hand. Roze then looked to the Tiger! Tiger! game at the wall next to the makeshift hallway. "What kind of method did Tora's family have for that madness?" Roze found himself asking again. Just getting that high-score in the game gave him an hour-long headache. And then there's Poppi, he couldn't make heads or tails of the programming on her. Maybe he could actually alter the programming if he studied it hard enough... Roze let out a sigh at the thought. That job needed more effort than he was willing to put out right now. But what about Penny? Could he do something to her if he tried? Judging by what happened to Atlas in Battle for Beacon and how Kos-Mos was able to just steal Penny's blueprints, Roze wasn't exactly confident in Atlas' standards on data security. That train of thought was suddenly cut when an image of Ruby finding out about him hacking the game invaded it. "Ruby will hate me for that," Roze said, once again choosing not to reveal this ability. Then another sudden thought hit him, and he returned inside.
"Hey, I was wondering, maybe I could try and fan the machine for it to cool fast-" Roze cut himself off when he noticed Tora and Tatazo huddling together while Poppi and Lila stood over them protectively against Kos-Mos who had her cannon pointed at them. "...Okay, what's going on now?" Roze asked, knowing he will regret it.
"You don't need to know." Blake said quickly, her cheeks being flushed.
"Uh-huh." Ruby added in, hiding her whole head in her hood.
Taking a look at others, Roze noticed Ren and Otohime were covering their eyes with their hands while Nora was covering Elektra's ears.
"Otohime?" Roze asked.
"I would rather not say," Otohime said with a tone of finality.
Roze looked to Elektra who just looked like she had no idea what was going on. Then to Nox who looked like nothing was happening. "As I was saying, I was wondering if I could maybe use wind to cool the device?"
That question made the dadapon and sonnypon look to Roze. "If friend Roze can make a small breeze then that help." Tatazo was able to say.
"Okay then." Roze walked closer to the machine as Kos-Mos lowered her cannon again. Once Roze was practically in front of the machine, he started making waving motions towards it, calling on the power of wind as he did. Soon Roze was able to create a weak breeze that would accelerate the machine's cooling at least a little.
After Roze cooled off the machine, Tora and Tatazo did some final checks before placing Poppi into sleep mode. The Artificial Blade was very excited to become an adult. However, it wasn't just Poppi who was getting something done. Penny was also getting something done to her, which Roze learned was the reason Kos-Mos had pulled her weapon on the Nopon engineers. Which of course meant that whatever would be done to Penny is much more...conservative. Though unlike Poppi, Penny had some sort of helmet-like contraption on her head which practically covered everything except her face.
"I'm sorry for asking, but what does that thing do?" Ruby asked.
"Tora already explain." Tora complained, "When charging machine hooked up to Poppi then-" "Ruby meant Penny's helmet." Blake interrupted, earning a scowl from Tora. The younger Nopon huffed and didn't answer. He just checked over Poppi one more time.
"...I believe it is safe to say that whatever that horrible thing does is something that Kos-Mos approves of at bare minimum." Otohime supplied with a faint smile.
"Horrible!" Tatazo cried out. "That helmet result of years of work! Otohime spit on-" Tatazo's tantrum was interrupted by a cold stare from the Imperial Mother. Tatazo seemed to be sweating before turning to Lila. "Uhh.. Lila keep eye on the meter doodah."
"Roger that Masterpon." Lila said and did just that.
While this was happening, Ren looked a little worried, "Otohime?"
"I do not appreciate tantrums. Least of all ones directed at me." Otohime said firmly.
Nora shook her head and leaned to whisper something in Electra's ear. The little girl giggled at whatever Nora said. The next thing Nora knew was water splashing on her face.
"Nor do I appreciate being talked behind my back." Otohime added in before crossing her arms under her sleeves. Honestly, if she wasn't trying to hold onto what little peace she had managed to gain from Nora, Otohime would have put Nora over her knee many times over.
"Hohoo! Preparations are prepared!" Tora's cheer stopped anymore antics that might have happened.
"Lila, hit switch!" Tatazo also said while Blake's cat ears were twitching.
"Hmm?" Blake then looked up to the ceiling.
"Something wrong, milady?" Nox showed on his scroll.
"...I think I hear rain." Blake said as her ears switched position as if looking for sounds.
At that moment, Ruby and Roze cupped one hand on their ears and listened too, despite the machine now crackling with energy.
"Yeah... It does sound like rain is hitting the roof." Ruby said, managing to faintly hear something pittering against the ceiling.
"Okay, Poppi. Wakey wakey." Tora then said before flipping a large switch, and at that moment all the lights went out.
"Hey! Who turned off the lights!" Electra complained.
"Did something go wrong?" Ruby asked, sounding concerned.
Then at that moment, everyone heard a loud bang which was accompanied by a bright flash from outside.
"I didn't do it!" Electra screamed.
"We know, Electra!" Nora cried out back. Blake also was able to make out that Nora was hugging the little girl. The feline faunus wouldn't be surprised if Electra was on the verge of tears too.
"This does not look good." Was the glowing text on Nox's scroll.
"Is everyone okay?" Otohime's voice then sounded out loudly.
"I'm okay." Ruby said.
"We're okay." Nora said for herself and Electra.
"I'm okay." Ren also said, more for others than Otohime.
"I'm fine." Roze also said.
"I have no issues." Kos-Mos' voice rang.
"A-okay." Penny finished.
"Nox and I are okay." Blake also said, seeing as Nox wasn't making a fuss or anything.
Any further worries anyone might have were interrupted when the lights in the house began flickering back on.
And with that, everyone's eyes immediately turned to Poppi. And the reactions varied. Nora, Elektra and Ruby had their jaws open in open wonder. Blake's and Ren's eyes widened significantly. Penny let out a dramatic gasp at the sight of her Artificial friend. The others didn't show any outright reaction to Poppi's new form.
"Success! Look! The glorious birth of Poppi QTπ!" Tora cheered.
"Cutie pie?" Blake let out with a weirded-out look. Good thing Yang and Dragunov aren't here.
Poppi did some stretches in her new form like someone who just woke up from a good night's sleep. If Poppi's α form was a child and her QT form was a teenager, then QTπ is definitely an adult. She was now a tall woman with breasts comparable to Yang's. Her outfit now was a black leotard with glowing orange accents, black armored thigh-high boots with high heels, and arm-length black gloves with some armor on them. She also wears a long red scarf with gold embroidery around her neck. Perhaps the most stunning feature of Poppi was her hair. Whereas in her α and QT forms, they were plates of metal shaped to resemble hair, Poppi QTπ had flowing thigh-length purple hair. Honestly, Poppi almost looks human, except for the small lines that indicate linear gaps in what looks like skin.
"Good morning, everybody," Poppi said, even sounding like an adult.
"Good morning, friend Poppi!" Penny replied back in kind.
Then everyone else also expressed good morning in their own ways.
Ruby let out a high pitched squee before moving around Poppi, inspecting every inch of her. Roze actually laughed at Ruby going nuts over the new Poppi. Although the reaper Blade would be lying if he said Poppi wasn't impressive. Moreso if he claimed that he wasn't eager to see how powerful the Artificial Blade has become.
"And Poppi is really stronger now?" Nora asked eagerly while Electra was bouncing in place, still in Nora's arms.
"Mehhehhee." Tora laughed smugly, "Poppi give us demonstration of new power!"
"Roger roger, Masterpon." Poppi said with a fond smile. Then she walked up to Tora and picked him up then shifted him to be carried like a baby.
"Wh-whoa! Poppi! Masterpon has own legs!" Tora complained while struggling.
"Masterpon have very short legs." Poppi said like she was stating a fact, "Much more efficient like this when Masterpon travel with Poppi."
"This very silly! And big disrespect to your Masterpon!" Tora complained and redoubled his efforts, but it was like Poppi didn't even notice.
"Aww, doesn't Tora look like a wittle teddy bear like that?" Nora cooed at what she thought was a cute sigh.
"Or a baby." Electra suggested.
"Mehmeeh! Tora is not a little teddy bear! Or babypon! Put Tora down Poppi! Right now!" Tora commanded in distress, and Blake was convinced that the Nopon was blushing under his fur. Even though you couldn't tell.
"Come now, most men would envy being carried like this," Otohime said with an amused smile.
"What kind of men have you met?" Roze asked with a disgusted look.
"Tora does not like!" Tora complained again, still struggling. Then Poppi started carrying Tora off somewhere. "Tora is grown-up big adult! Poppi, come on! Poppi!" Tora's cries started to become more distant as Poppi carried her Masterpon to who knows where.
"Where is Poppi taking Tora?" Ruby asked, now looking a little concerned.
Blake's cheeks turned red as she began to brainstorm what Poppi wanted to do to Tora.
"This is not one of those pieces of filth that you dare call literature," Otohime said coldly, but she was still smiling.
Now Blake's face lost color. "I don't know what you're-" "Save it." Otohime interrupted in a scolding tone, "Your reading material is no secret to anyone."
"Who are you to judge my lady and her preference in literature?" Nox showed on his scroll with his pupil in a cross.
For some reason, Nox's defense only made Blake feel worse.
"I think we can all agree that we don't need to go deeper into this topic." Roze got between Nox and Otohime. "Right, everyone?" Roze looked at Ruby and Nora.
Ruby and Nora nodded rapidly. Any other day it would be fun to tease their friends, but not about this. Especially with Electra around.
"Oh! Penny can remove the helmet now." Tatazo then said, earning all the attention.
"Really?" Penny asked, looking excited.
"Yes, job should be done by now." Lila said, "Although friend Penny's upgrade is only cosmetic." Lila had barely finished that sentence before Penny took off the helmet. Which allowed Penny's hair to fall out.
"...How?" Roze asked at the sight of Penny's hair. Or rather, how it had seemingly grown. Penny's hair was now back-length as opposed to neck-length and just as thick.
"It feels so real," Ruby commented, having moved to Penny's side and running her hand through it.
"Really?" Roze said before moving in and tried himself, running his own hand from the lush lock on Penny's back, all the way to the Artificial Driver's scalp. His empty eyes narrowed a little.
"Roze?" And Ruby noticed it.
"I need to go outside for a moment," Roze said and practically ran outside.
"Roze, wait!" Ruby called after him and followed.
"What's with him?" Nora asked, "He looked... angry."
"...Maybe he's having a bad day?" Ren supplied.
While Blake was glad that she lost all attention, she was also starting to wonder if Ruby was right to worry about Roze. Did something about Penny's hair make him upset? No that would make more sense with Yang.
Outside Tora's house, Roze managed to lose Ruby before she could get on his tail and found a narrow alley. There he was banging his head against the wall to get rid of the anger that came from checking Penny's programming when his hand reached her head. It was only for an instant, but Atlas' cyber security standards were just... Actually, it would be more accurate to call it lack of standards. "All Atlas software engineers are incompetent morons." Roze seethed as quietly as he could. It was almost like Atlas had no concept of cyber wars. Anyone with the most rudimentary hacking skills could break through the meager firewalls Penny had, let alone Roze who had more talent in the tip of his pinky finger than all Atlesians combined. And that's not even a quarter of what he could do. "Atlas, the strongest kingdom of Remnant. What a joke." Roze grumbled, having ceased banging his head against the wall, finally calming down somewhat. "Do they think themselves the actual Atlas? The real one's fate was punishment, not some grand mission he took.". And then Roze turned his back against the wall and slid down. "I'm surrounded by-" The reaper Blade shook his head. Finishing that phrase would include Ruby and the others, and that was crossing a line. Where did it even come from in the first place? "...How did I even gain this power? It feels like something a field skill would include, but I only have Keen Eye and Wind Mastery," Roze muttered, once again curious about this hacking ability he gained. But that curiosity ended almost as fast as it began. And then he realized that during his rant, rain had soaked him.
AN: Not much fanfare here, but Poppi has gained her ultimate form! And Penny has new longer hair.
But worst of all, Roze has a new hacking ability which he used to cheat in Tiger! Tiger!. Although the fact that he referred to Penny's security measures as "meager" is probably more worrisome. And as some of you might remember, this wasn't the first time he used this power.