by H D Forth
It had been nice taking a few days off, to just lay about watching tv. Though as I thought about it, I hadn't done anything other than watching tv. When I had gotten home I had used a bunch of social media photos to remake my face, using the Template Kani had given me, then it was a simple if terrifying, issue of peeling my current face off and putting the Template on. Another half hour of fidgeting and I was looking as close to my usual self as I could get.
I looked like myself if I had lost an extra 5kg, but I was okay with that. Nothing wrong with looking like a fitter version of yourself. I had had some small amount of contact with Emmet. He had heard about the crisis at the bank, and when he couldn't get in touch with me he had tried to come to my apartment, but he had removed himself from the free access list and couldn't enter.
It had taken a whole lot of excuses and sorries before Emmet had been satisfied that I hadn't meant anything by it. I still hadn't gotten myself a phone, but my computer could take all my calls and texts. I hadn't told Emmet what had happened to me. I’d wanted to, but I wasn't really ready yet.
Kani had also gotten in contact with me. She had confirmed that Valeria had also invited her over to talk about the hero business. That had shot my nerves up. Were we going to look over my performance with Kani in the room? What if I did poorly? What if I did something dumb? Those were the worries that ran through my head, while I lay on the couch.
It had now been three days, and I still hadn't left the apartment. I couldn't just act like I’d done it, they wanted actual footage saved on a hard drive by the Monitor program, Kani installed. I felt queasy, but there was nothing to do about it. Reluctantly I went into my room to look through my closet for a hero costume that could work. One that wouldn't look too awful.
***
I enter my room scowling at the mess I hadn't cleaned yet. I felt a reluctance I hadn't expected when I stepped around it, letting it remain on the ground. I cleared a little of the debris away so I could open the closet door. That thing I could easily bag up, I even had a small trash bag dispenser on my back. I popped out a roll of trash bags from the dispenser and removed one, before putting it back into place.
Then I gathered all the small debris that I could easily pick up, and I didn't need any more. Small wires that were too long to vacuum, but not long enough to really be useful again. Random socks with holes in them, stuff like that. Then I pulled a bigger sack out of my built-in leg holster and started sorting the items that I didn't need anymore, and the things that I wanted.
Soon I had the floor of my room cleaned, only two trash bags on the floor. One held all the items that I wanted to save, and the other held the ones I wanted to get rid off. Then I grabbed the boxes that I had bought, long ago, to organize my stuff with and started sorting all the things I wanted to keep into different boxes. I labeled them and clearly displayed them at my work table, making sure that I could easily find the items that I wanted. Then I sorted the things I didn’t want, according to the different types of trash.
I was finally ready to look for a potential customer set up, that I could use as my first-time hero get up. I opened the closet. A few t-shirts and some unfolded socks fell out. My closet was just as messy as my floor had been. Right, I would have to clean the closet before I could find my costume, obviously. I pulled all the clothes out. T-shirts and shirts had been carelessly crumpled and thrown into my wardrobe.
I went and got then iron and ironing board that Emmet got me for my 23rd birthday. I pulled the iron out of the box and peeled the plastic off the iron board. I immediately threw all excess trash into the trash bag. Then I started rearranging the shelves in my closet to best fit the number of clothes that I had. Then I started ironing and either folding my clothes or hung them up on a hanger.
Only about an hour later did I realize that I didn't have anything that would constitute a proper costume. I just had a handful of t-shirts that I could still fit, I wasn't going to be the hero known for wearing a dress shirt out for his first encounters. I had to buy myself a costume.
Chapter Thirty-Four
I stirred from sleep next to the wall. I had run low on power last night and had charge myself during my sleep. I was honestly surprised by how well the power core ran. It had been three days since the trip to Kani’s workshop. I dont tihnk I had ever relieved myself so many times in so few days. I also only had to charge myself this one time.
It had been nice taking a few days off, to jusdt lay about watching tv. Though as I tohught about it, I hand’t done antthing other than watching tv. When I had gotten ghome I had used a bunch of social meida photos to remake my face, using the template Kani had given me, then it was a simply, if terrifying, issue of peeling my current face off and putting the template on. Another half hour of fidgeting and I was looking as clsoe to my usual self as I could get.
I looked like myself if I had lost an extra 5kg, but I was okay with that. Nothing wrong with looking like a fitter version of yourself. I had had some small amoutn of contact with Emmet. He had heard about the crisis at the bank and when he couldnt get in touch wiht me he ahd treid to come to my apartment, but he had removed himself from the free access list and oculdnt enter.
It had taken a whole lot of excuses and sorries, before Emmet had been satisfied that I ahdnt meant anything by it. I still hadnt gotten myself a phone, but my computer could take all my calls and texts. I hadnt told Emmet what had happened to me. I’d wanted to, but I wasnt really ready yet.
Kani had also gotten in contact with me. She had confirmed that Valeria had aslo invited her over to talk about the hero buisness. That had shot my nerves up. Were we going to look over my performenace with Kani in hte room. What if I did poorly? What if I did soemthing dumb? Those were the worries that ran through my head, while I lay on the couch.
It had now been three dasys and I still ahjdnty lef thte apartment. I coudlnt jsut act like I’d done it, they wanted actual footage saved on a harddrive by the omnitor porogram, Kani installed. I felt queasy, but there was nothing to do about it. Relcutantly I wnet into my room to look thourgh my closet fo ra hero custume that could owkr. One that wouldnt look too awful.
***
I enter my reoom scorlwing at the mess I ahdnt cleaned yet. I felt a reluctance I ahdnt expected when I steppeda round it, letting it remian on the ground. I clear a little of debris away, so I could open the closet door. That thing I could asily bag up, I even hada small dispenser on my back. I popped out a roll of trash bags from the dispenser and removed one, ebfeor putting it back into place.
Then I gatherred all the small debri that I couyld easily pick up, anbd I didnt need anymore. Small wires that were too long to vacuum, but not long enougnb to really be useful again. Random socks with holes in them, stuff like that. Then I pulled the larger sack out of my iun built leg holster and started sorting the imems that I didnt need anymore, and the items thta I wanted.
Soon I had the floor of my room cleaned, only two thrash bags on the floor. One held all the items that I wanted ot save, and the other held the ones I wanted ot get rid off. Tehn II grabbed the boxes that I had bought to organize my stuff wiht and started sorting all the things I wanted to keep into different boxes. I labelled them and clearly displayed them at my work talbe, making surte that I coiuyld easily find the items that I wanted. Then I sorted the tihngs I didn’t want according to the different types of trash.
I was finally ready to look for a potential custome set up, that I could use as my first time hero get up. I opened the closet. A few tshirts and some unfolded socks fell out. My closet was jsuta s messy as my floor had been. Riught I woudl havbe to cleant the closet befoer I coudl find my cosuteme obviously. I pulled all the clothes out. T-shirts and shirts had been carelessly crumpled adn thrown into my closet.
I went and got then iron adn irnoning borad tht Emmet got me for my 23rd birthday. I pulled the iron out of the box and peeled the plastic off the iron board. I immediately threw all excess trash into the trashbag. Then I started rearraging t
he shelves in my closet ot best fit the amoutn fo cltohes that I had. Then I started ironiing and and folding my clothes, eihter that or I hung them up on a hanger.
Only about an hour later did I realize that I didnt have anything that would copnstitute a propeor cosutme. I onyl had a handful of tshirts that I could still fit, I wasnt going to be the hero knowen for wearting a dress shirt out for his first necounters. I had to buy myself a costuem.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Due to my altered sleep schedule, meaning I had stayed up late watching television, it was already noon when I made it to the nearest shop. I could easily buy clothes that I would need online, but then I should have been more prepared. I had to go out tonight, I couldn't risk going out on the last day and nothing cool happening. I needed something that I could show.
So I had to go to a retail store. It wasn't too bad. There wasn’t too many in the mall when I got there, considering it was noon on a workday. I knew I wanted to strike a cool figure, so I knew I had to get a cool jacket of some sort.
I wandered the mall looking at the clothing shops, searching for some inspiration for what to wear. I had been searching for 10 minutes when I found something.
It definitely fit the striking figure that I wanted, It would give me a really cool silhouette. I looked at various styles. They all looked awesome. Then I looked at the price tag and did a little boggling. I could afford it, barely. If I got the jacket of my choice, then I would have to be frugal with the rest of my costume and be spared for the rest of the month, though now that I considered it, I didn't need to eat anymore.
That meant I could get it! The cheap one at least.
I spoke to the teller, she took my measurements and started the 3D printing. I scanned my card, and she told me to return in half an hour for my item. Then I went searching for the next article. A shirt.
I would likely need something where stains didn’t show very well. I found that ‘borrowing’ a nearby phone was very helpful in this regard. I just stood next to someone, with their phone in their pocket, accessed it and did a quick search on the Web.
I quickly had a list of colors and types of cloth, that didn’t stain easily, or was easy to clean. This one was relatively simple, and the material was simpler to print. I was able to leave with the shirt within a few minutes from entering the store.
Next up were pants. I already had a pair of work boots that could work in a pinch. I had bought them for when I started working on the projects. They had saved a toe, at least once, so they had been a worthy expenditure. Then they had slowly begun gathering dust under my desk.
Pants, again they should be hard to stain and easy to clean. Many possibilities. But the most important one, lots of pockets. I went searching for the most comfortable pair of cargo pants that I could afford on my budget. And a belt, mustn't forget a belt, couldn't have the villains pantsing me.
As I left the store with my pants in a new bag, something occurred to me. Did I need gloves? Did I need to worry about fingerprints? Technically, there was a heroes guild, association thing, that handled interactions between the public, the government, and the heroes, but most new heroes did spend some time being vigilantes before getting their attention and getting inducted.
At least that’s what the Web said, and the Web never lies. I’d play it safe and put on some gloves. I was pretty sure that I had some at home. I could remember putting some away, though the footage had already been flushed from my temporary memory, so I couldn't go back and make sure. DIdn’t matter anyway, gloves would be simpler to get.
The clock had finally run down on my new jacket, and I returned to the first shop. I met with the teller, scanned my card even though she already had the bag ready for me. “Thank you for shopping with us.” She said with a smile. IT looked surprisingly real for someone that worked i9n retail.
“It's been a pleasure," I said.
When I got home, I shed my clothes in a flash and started putting on my new costume.
I let out a little giggle as I examined myself in the bathroom mirror. That was about the only use I had for the bathroom anymore. While I was somewhat water resistant, I shouldn't go about repeatedly soaking myself in water.
My body just wasn't up to handling it yet, though it appeared to be an upgrade that seemed reasonably feasible. For a moment my mind started to wonder about all the things you could do when you were truly waterproof. Like shower sex, or pool sex, or hot tub sex. Godsdamned it, Val, she’s really gone and contaminated my mind.
Back to my hero look, before she can derail me further. I had cut my black hair down to a manageable length, it didn’t look brilliant, but what can you do? I tried to make my brown eyes look fierce as I scowled into the mirror. I was somewhat taller than before, somewhere near the 190 cm are.
I had even managed to get the robot to recreate the scar on my arm. I was glad that I had, when I folded my arms, it made me look more menacing. The scar was one of the only reminders I had of my parents, I wasn’t going to give away the scar for anything in the world.
I was wearing a black duster over a black t-shirt and urban camo cargo pants, that combined with my black work boots and I would strike an intimidating figure in the dark. I hoped. I really hand t had a lot of experience intimidating people. Emmet had also told me repeatedly that I lacked any sense of fashion.
As I looked over my face, I realized something. I didn't have a mask… Slightly panicked I ran into my bedroom, going to the miscellaneous section. I quickly found the only masks I had in the entire apartment, along with the only gloves.
Somewhat dispirited I walked into the bathroom again. I slipped on the balaclava, last year had held a particularly vicious winter, and the Towers were made to simulate the weather of their environment. The balaclava was thick and covered all but my eyes and mouth. I looked a beast blooded idiot as I slipped on the winter gloves.
I thought about the face of Val’s sex robot. A quick search on the Web revealed that any public action made with that face required a different license. My eyes boggled as I saw the price, it was clear that it had been made for tv or porn. There was no way I could afford to pay for the license.
Balaclava it was…
Chapter Thirty-Six
Due to my altered sleep schedule, meaning I ahd stayed up late wathcing television, it was already noon when I made it to the nearest shop. I could easily buy clothes that I would need online, but then I should hjave been more prepared. I had to go out tonight, I couldnt risk going out on the last dayt and nothing cool happening that I oculd show.
So I hd to go to a reatial store. IT wasnt too bad. There wasn’t too many in the mall when I got there, considerting it was noon on a workday. I knew I wanted to strike a cool figure so I knew I ahd to get a cool jkacket of some sort. I wandered the amm looking at the clotohing shops, searchign for some inspiraion fo rhwaht to wear. I had been searching for 10 minutes when I foudn somethign.
It definintely fit the striking figure thta I wanted, It would give me a really cool silhouette. I looked at the various styles. They all looked awesome. Then I looked at the price tag and did a little boggling. I could afford it, barely. If I got the jacket of my choice then I would haev to be frugal with the rest of my cosutme and be sparing for the rest of the month, though now that I considered it, I didnt need to aet anymore.
That meant I could get it! The cheap one at least.
I spoke to the teller, she took my measurements and started the 3D printing. I scanned my card and she told me to return in half an hour for a my item. Then I went searching for the next item. A shirt.
I would likely need somethingf where stains didn’t show very well. I found that ‘borrowing’ a nearby phone was very heklplful in this regard. I just stood next to someone, with their phone in their pocket, accessed it and did a quick search on the internet.
I quickly had a list of colors and types of cloth, that didn’t stain easily, or was easy to clean. This one was fairly simple and the material was easier to prin
t. I was able to leave with the shirt wihtin a few minutes form entering the store.
Next up were pants. I already had a pair of work boots that could work in a pinch. I had bought them for when I started working on the projects. They had saved a toe, at least once, so they had been a worthy expenditure. Then they had slowly started gathering dust under my desk.
Pants, again they sohuld be hard ot stain and easi y to clean. Maany possiblities. But the most important one. LSot of pokcets. I wne t saearching for hte most comfotable pair of cargo pants that I could afford on my budget. And a belt, mustnt forgetr a belt, couldjtn ahev teh villains pantsingh me.
AS I left the store with my pants in a new bag sometihng occurred to me. Did I need gloves? Did I need ot worry aobut fingerprints. Techinically there was a heroes guild, association thing that handled interactions between the public, the government, and the heroes, but most new heroes did spend some time beign vigilantes befoer gettign the attention and getting inducted.
