Ch.96
When Ann and Ron entered his room, Ann was surprised when Ron manipulated his Neuro Linker and started a song. Then he turned to her and bowed before speaking. "Would the beautiful lady grant me the honor of this dance?"
Ann smiled at Ron before performing a curtsey. "My pleasure."
Ron led Ann in a slow, romantic dance that he ended by quite literally sweeping her of her feet. Ann laughed as Ron spun her around slowly before leaning in for a kiss. Ron didn't hesitate to help her narrow the distance and their lips met. For both, it was like energy was injected into their bodies, leaving them breathless by the time they parted.
"I love you, Ann." Ron whispered as he looked into her blue eyes.
Ann teared up at his words before kissing him again and replying. "And I love you, Ron."
Then Ron gently laid Ann on the bed before taking off her heels. Ann saw Ron's hands glow blue as he started giving her feet a massage. Ann couldn't help but moan at the relief she instantly felt. It was half an hour later when Ron felt satisfied he relieved Ann's pain.
"Thank you." Ann said.
Ron simply smiled before asking about her research to which Ann animatedly explained that she had recently discovered a section of the brain that when properly stimulated could help improve memory and overall health of the patient but she was still researching a way to consistently stimulate it though she was confident the Neuro Linker was the key.
Ron linked his Neuro Linker to Ann's and had a 3D display of a brain that was incredibly detailed shown. Then he asked her to show him where the brain should be stimulated. When she did Ron sunk into thought for a moment then finally spoke. "I can easily have the area stimulated but how long should it be stimulated? Does it have to follow a pattern? How long before the area requires rest?"
"My research indicates that stimulation for an hour or two a day should show the best results. The only thing we lack is a way to consistently stimulate the area." Ann explained.
"Alright then, come with me." Ron said standing and offering Ann his hand.
"Where are we going?" Ann asked.
"The lab, we are going to make those adjustments." Ron declared.
"That simple?" Ann asked.
"Not entirely but we'll need to test it so that you can publish your research before we make it a standard feature of the Neuro Linker." Ron said as he led the way. "We'll be adding the feature to my Neuro Linker and I'll give you access to all my readings so you can monitor progress. We'll also perform a few test before and after the stimulation so we have a baseline."
At his reminder, Ann had Ron take off his Neuro Linker and began the standard test she designed for the subject and was nearly frightened by Ron's results. His memory and overall health were at shockingly high levels. With the results down and saved in a secured folder, Ann had Ron install the program to stimulate his brain.
Ann began monitoring Ron vitals and brainwaves to see if any irregularities came up to instantly stop the experiment. Seeing that things were going to take a while Ann suggested he enter Conquest and see if the others had arrived at his destination.
Ron thought about it but decided to make something he had been researching before spending three years in what amounted to a coma.
"Bebe do we have..." Ron began listing materials that he needed to make the defensive treasures. Bebe soon confirmed that everything was ready and all that was necessary was crafting, inscribing and imbuing with Ki.
Seeing everything was ready, Ron got to work the old fashioned way. You might think he went to a forge and started heating the materials but Ron went to the center of the room and sat down. Then after some preparations he summoned a spirit flame conjured from his Ki and started the process. On the first one Ron was careful since he hadn't done this before. He removed all impurities from each material and when he was satisfied with the result he began crafting a necklace. Ron wasn't a craftsman by any means but the process he was using allowed him to literally mold the necklace to his desire without worry of damaging or making it too frail. The result was an exquisite red rose with a water drop on a petal that was a precious gem and could store and gather Ki, the protective treasures' power source. That done Ron began inscribing which was like programming a computer. By the time he finished the rose and chain looked incredibly lifelike as the runes simulated the flower's various details. With that step done Ron could already feel the gem absorbing Ki and decided to speed up the process by the depositing enough so that it could hold a barrier for half an hour by his estimate.
"Ron, it's beautiful!" Ann was mesmerized by Ron's creation. It was a beautiful yet delicate looking necklace that she couldn't help but picture around her own neck. The rose was small compared to a real one but it's vivid details almost made her think it was real.
Ron stood and went over to Ann. He explained the purpose of the necklace before asking. "Would my lady do me the grand honor of wearing this simple trinket?"
"It would be my honor." Ann said as she turned around and lifted her hair. Ron gently place the necklace in place and couldn't help but smile. Though he crafted it with Ann in mind he wasn't sure it would suit her till he saw her wearing it. Ann could barely tell she was wearing the necklace which was extremely light and comfortable. "Thank you Ron!"
"You're welcome." Ron smiled and talked to Ann for a while before going to work on other pieces of jewelry.
Ron made each piece after a flower, for Tara a white camellia, for Bonnie a red lily, for Monique a bleeding heart, for Yori a Lotus and for Shego, her favorite a hydrangea. Then Ron, after thinking for a while decided to craft an Edelweiss for Amy. After that Ron made the twins, Wade, Felix, Zita and Kim bracelets. They were simple yet elegant designed after shuriken. Ron would have made more but he ran out of materials. Come morning he would hand them out and explain a few things.
~~~~~
Morning once again found everyone enjoying Ron's cooking.
With everyone seated and eating Ron brought out the jewelry and began explaining it's purpose though he doubted the ladies paid attention after looking at the flowers. Seeing their focused eyes Ron got up and placed a necklace on each of his ladies. With the necklaces distributed Ron handed out the bracelets.
The twins, Wade and Felix were stoked with the gift but Ron could tell Zita and Kim preferred a necklace. With things as they were Ron sent Wade a list of materials and asked if he could order a few sets.
"Ron, these are all extremely expensive, are you sure?" Wade asked.
Hearing this Zita and Kim looked guilty but Ron simply waved away their concern. "I'm sure Wade. Plus once they get one's to their liking the ones they have can go to a loved one."
"Thanks Ron." Zita said with a blush as his ladies went around giving him a few kisses.
Amy also snuck in to kiss Ron.
With that settled Ron spoke again. "Now for the second set of news. You know the techniques available in Conquest? Well, you can practice them in real life for the same results. Longevity, strength, and miraculous abilities, as long as you found an suitable cultivation technique. So with that said I suggest you all begin practicing."
To Ron's announcement there was only silence except for Yori and Shego who already knew.
"You're kidding..." Jim began.
"...right Ron?" Tim finished.
"Nope, complete fact. In fact millenia ago these techniques were wide spread." Ron said.
"Wow!" The twins said.
"This will change everything." Felix said.
"Yeah." Wade agreed.
"Ron when you say longevity, how much are we talking about?" Asked Ann.
"""Yeah!""" The ladies around the room echoed.
"Well, it all depends on your attainment during cultivation but reaching the liquid stage doubles the average human lifespan. With every successive breakthrough it doubles again so one can maintain youthful looks for quite a long time. Legends say that reaching the pinnacle allows one the same life as the stars." Ron explained.
"Ron why didn't you say this sooner!" Bonnie shouted.
"I was trying to find the right time to tell you guys and there's the fact that not everyone is guaranteed results so I wanted to ask you if you were willing to try!" Ron hurriedly explained.
Those words seemed to awake them as they realized they weren't necessarily going to see the results they wanted. Ann like some of the others looked worried as she absentmindedly began downloading Conquest. Ron saw this and went over to her.
"Ann, I can impart the most suitable technique to help, so no matter the results I'll be there!" Ron assured.
"Thanks Ron." Ann said smiling weakly.
"You're welcome." Ron said before turning his attention back to the group. "Now all of you can begin trying to cultivate. It will be just like in Conquest though likely more difficult. For those who don't have a suitable technique raise your hand and I'll test you for compatibility."
"What if we want to check whether we have our most compatible one?" Asked Wade.
"Then I'll test everyone first that way there is no doubt." Ron amended.
Thanks to Wade Ron tested everyone and gave them a more suitable technique. For most it was a stronger technique but for a few it was weaker. One such case voiced their concern.
"I don't understand why I have to switch to a weaker technique." Bonnie complained.
"It's because your body won't be able to handle it's power and it will damage your meridians in the end you'll be unable to cultivate. For cultivation a compatible technique is essential." Ron explained and to his relief Bonnie accepted.
"Oh!... sorry for being difficult." Bonnie says.
"It's okay, you didn't know." Ron soothes.
You might wonder how Ron got everyone to memorize the techniques and that was thanks to the knowledge left behind by Xu Ming Yue. He literally imprinted the technique into their memory so it was like they already knew it all along.
~~~~~
Once everyone had a technique they were eager to begin cultivating but Ron called Felix to the side.
"What's up Ron?" Felix asked.
"I wanted to see if my suggestions helped with the problems you were having in your project?" Ron asked.
"They did! All our tests show a hundred percent use of the prosthetic. They can manipulate it as if it were their old limbs." Felix said excitedly.
"Great to know I was able to help!" Ron said with a smile but he tensed not knowing what words to use for his next topic. "Felix, there's something I want to try but I'm not sure it's going to work and I don't want to get your hope up but I'm confident it should work..."
"Ron, Ron! Breathe and start from the beginning." Felix interrupted.
Ron took a deep breath and apologized. "Sorry, I've just been wanting to talk to you about this for a while."
"It's okay, now explain it to me." Felix said.
"I might be able to use my powers and fix your spine since you only lost use of it after the car accident." Ron jumped straight into it. "I think I can help you walk again."
Felix was stunned to say the least. To be able to walk again has been on his mind for the longest. In fact it's part of the reasons he's working on prosthetics. Now to hear Ron say he might be able to help him made his mind crash and reboot.
"How?" Felix finally asked.
"When I use my healing techinique, I can heal to such a degree it's closer to regeneration. If you were to perform a scan of my brain you would find it complete even after what happened three years ago. And this very healing technique can be used on others. Now if I'm right, since you only lost the ability to walk after the car accident I should be able to help your body regain it's ability to walk." Ron explained.
"Ron if you can help me walk again I'll..." Felix began to promise.
"Felix! We're bro's, why are you treating me like a stranger?" Ron interrupted and asked.
"Sorry." Felix apologized.
"Now remember if it works you'll need to exercise your legs from the ground up since they'll be too weak to hold you." Ron reminded.
"Don't worry I won't forget." Felix agrees.
"Good there's one machine that'll I'll need to build but once it's done we can begin." Ron said.
"And what machine is that?" Felix asks.
"Think of a more advance x-ray but no radiation and real time, layer by layer body images. It'll allow me to see your spine and compare it to a fully functional one. In fact it'll allow me to see any organ, bone, muscle and even veins." Ron explained.
"There you go again." Felix says. "Revolutionizing technology."