Heroic

by H D Forth

  The next he managed to duck, letting it pass over his shoulder. Then he latched on to my arm, turning as he did. I felt his hip connect with mine before he ripped me from my feet and slammed me onto ground hard enough to shake it. I felt and heard multiple strains of metal as he did. Pain flared along my spine, though I could still move.

  I saw his foot rise, up before it descended in a metal crunching stomp on my shoulder joint. He grunted when as he lifted his foot, “You’re made of sturdy stuff ain’t you?” He smiled a vicious smile at me, before lifting his foot again, this time cracking down even harder. I heard myself let out an involuntary scream of pain.

  “Damn,” He mumbled, wrenching my arm back and forth. He pulled hard a few times. “Who ever made you knew their stuff, this is some excellent Metal Craft.” I didn’t even notice his foot this time, just the pain. I felt more than I heard as he wrenched my arm out of its socket.

  I saw him bend down and pat me on my cheek, “There we go,” He said, before straightening. Then my own shoulder crunched down onto my ribcage, sending metallic parts every which way and breaking at least one of my ribs. I was only able to let out vague hoarse cries of pain.

  Danger! Danger! Pain threshold reached, deactivating.

  The world around me dulled, but the pain finally let go. I could see the blue light of the Power Core that he exposed with his single blow, from my own arm. I started shivering and shaking. He nodded to himself as if expecting this. Then he knelt down on top of me and started giving me slow and deliberate punches. It seemed like had had a goal.

  I noticed every punch, but felt no pain, but never did I receive any other parts start to malfunction. Never did I get a notice of broken material other than my frame.

  This wasn’t a murder, nor was it an execution. It was a show, both to his gang and to his enemies. He was telling them that if they left him alone, he wouldn't hurt them. But also telling the heroes that he would do if they opposed him.

  I could see it in his eyes. He was mad, but he wasn't stupid. He wouldn't kill a hero, not even an unacknowledged one, but he could send a message. And he did with my body, the message was one of pain. He was picking parts that could be relatively easily interchanged and replaced, but it was be painful nonetheless.

  I don't know when it ended, I just suddenly heard a new voice, telling him to stop.

  “That’s enough, anymore and you will damage the soul within, thereby ruining the purpose of the exercise.” It was a foul voice. It was raw and rough, it sounded like some had swallowed a box full of nails. And it was rich with power, I could feel it thrumming against me.

  “Yes milady.” Leric said.

  “See that?” The voice said. I saw Leric reaching into me, he had mostly left my head alone so my eyes still worked nearly perfectly. Whenever I could focus enough on them to get a response.

  He held up a little part of. IT was little more than a circuit board, with a green blinking button. “Activate it and clear out.”

  He pressed something, surprisingly delicately and the light changed from red to green. I tried to reach out, detect what it was, but I was simply in too much pain to extend my senses that far.

  Chapter One Hundred Seventeen

  I didn't hear the scuff of boots as he and the other Tenners cleared out. I didn't hear it when a car arrived at the scene, followed by a high pitched shriek and someone’s worried cursing.

  I didn't feel it when Val and Kani hauled me into the car and took me away to headquarters. I did feel my broken and battered body, I could feel where my arm wasn't. I sense the broken ribs that put pressure against the hard metal of the Nerve Module’s box. I could my thrice bend leg as it shivered slightly in reaction.

  I could feel how badly I had lost.

  ***

  I returned to awareness in darkness. Fear grabbed me so intensely that I could hardly do anything until I suddenly felt the Nerve Module come online. It was nearly instinctive when I reached out and connected with it. Immediately, the sight of one of my eyes returned.

  I braced myself for the pain, but it didn't come. I was pain-free. I started trying to move my head when someone appeared in my peripheral vision. Val stood over me, shushing me.

  "Hey, hey, hey." She said soothingly like you would to a scared child. "It's alright, Everything is going to be fine." I took a deep breath. "That's good," Val said. "Try and relax okay?"

  I tried to enter my Foundation again. I brought up the image of the bunker around me. I did my best to remember it in exact detail, tried to remember the sound of my feet as I paced the room. I imagined the feel of frames as I caressed their corners. I thought of the fresh scent that somehow permeated the bunker.

  All that came to me was the remnants of what might once have been a ruin. The ceiling was missing in its entirety, emptiness hovering just beyond, the walls were cracked rubble and pieces of what I had once created, little more than gaping holes to see the emptiness behind them. The floor was pitted, broken, and the air was thick with dust.

  All my fear and panic, flooded from me and into my Foundation. I took all my nervous energy and fed it to the Foundation. I took my anger and frustration and fed it to the Foundation.

  As I tried to siphon off my fear and panic, I was surprised to actually feel a change. I felt the emotions stir and start to move into… no, through the walls out into the emptiness. This only caused my panic to ratchet and stopped, fearing what might happen, instead I shut down the Foundation, moving away from it as best I could.

  “That’s bad…” Val muttered, looking me in the eye. “What happened to your Foundation? How long has it been like that?”

  "Happened to his what?" Someone else asked. The sound of her voice, caused something in me to break, lacking something to hold onto, I just strengthened my Connection with the Nerve Module as much as I could. Instantly, I felt more than fear, more than panic. I felt anger, rage, and fury. I felt Hate. I knew immediately that something was wrong, but Hate burned in me, coerced me to act, to move, to struggle!

  For a second, all the emotions ran over me, I could feel the rage twisting my face. My skin boiled with hate, I needed to get at Kani. Then something changed. It was like something popped open in me, and all my emotion just drained out of me, leaving the world a bleak shade of what it was before.

  I lay still until Kani Masterson finished her work on me. "There," She said, clapping my sternum. "All good to go, back in your old body."

  You’re done?” Valeria Valencia asked. She sounded strained, must be exerting herself too much.

  “Yep.” Kani Masterson replied, she sounded confused.

  “Then please.” Valeria replied, “Could you go upstairs for a few minutes, I need some time alone with Vanys.”

  I was unable to see Kani Masterson’s reaction, but I could hear her hesitant footsteps as she left the room and went upstairs.

  Once she was gone the drain disappeared, and emotions returned. Uncertainty, fear, rejection… Then heat filled my limbs, rage boiled on my tongue and fury coated body. Hate.

  I let out a guttural snarl of anger, as I jumped off the table, landing lightly on my feet. I looked around the room. “Where is she?” I said, coldly.

  “You know where she is,” Val replied, she didn't sound strained now. I turned to her, I wasn't angry with her. “Upstairs?” I asked.

  “You can’t see her. Val said. “You’re not thinking clearly. Your soul is exposed, your Foundation is not giving you the protection and control it once was.”

  I let out a loud rumbling snarl, I had heard a dog let out once. “Are you going to stop me?” I asked. “I will have the bitches head.”

  "Why?" Val asked she sounded like she felt sorry for me, I would show her sorry. I stepped closer to her threateningly. That got her attention. One moment she was sitting on a stool at to the table, the next, she was standing in front of me, her green eyes alight with violet energy.

  "Are you going to take it out on me?" She sounded amused, angry and arrogant. "Ar
e you going to try? You don't know when to quit, do you? You. Are. Weak. Vanys. But look at you, in the throes of your magic, like some petty five-year-old. How long have you been practicing your Foundation? You are truly a child with no grasp on handling emotions."

  I stepped closer, snarling my rage at her. How dare she, what kind of scum was she. She should be mucking about in the filth with the rest of the inferiors. I felt the thrumming in my body, as the Power Core spun, ready to supply me with all the power I needed.

  “Back off.” Her words, while not loud, held such power as I’d never felt before. My response was instinctual. I scurried away, the anger left me in a moment, replaced by fear for my life, the fear of death. This was the hound prowling after its prey, only to find a Wild Beast at the end of the trail.

  I could feel the pain of tears in my eyes, even though no tears would fall. I stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind me. I ran home as fast I could, not giving a shit if anyone saw. It didn't matter. I needed to be alone.

  Once I entered my apartment, I turned all electronics except for myself off, with a single forceful push of emotion.

  I waited for my emotions to calm down, but they didn't. No matter how long I waited. Reluctantly, feeling indignation and anger rise up in me that I had to do it. I brought up my Foundation again. I siphoned the emotions away, ready to gain mastery of my feelings back.

  Chapter One Hundred Eighteen

  I didn't hear the scuff of boots as he and the other Tenners cleared out. I didn't hear it when a car arrived at the scene, followed by a high pitched shriek and someone’s worried cursing.

  I didn't feel it when Val and Kani hauled me into the car and took me away to head quarters. I did feel my broken and battered body, I could feel where my arm wasn't. I sense the broken ribs that put pressure against the hard metal of the Nerve Module’s box. I could my thrice bend leg as it shivered slightly in reaction.

  I could feel how badly I had lost

  ***

  I returned to awareness in darkness. Fear grabbed me so intensely that I could hardly do anything, until I suddenly felt the Nerve Module come online. It was nearly instinctive when I reached out and connected with it. Immediately, the sight of one of my eyes returned.

  I braced myself for the pain, but it didn't come. I was pain free. I started trying to move my head, when someone appeared in my peripheral vision. Val stood over me, shushing me.

  “Hey, hey, hey.” She said soothingly, like you would to a scared child. “It’s alright, Everything is going to be fine.”

  I took a deep breath. “That’s good,” she said. “Try and relax okay?”

  I didn't no, just kept my one eye closed. I tried to enter my Foundation again. I brought up the image of the bunker around me. I did my best to remember it in exact detail, tried to remember the sound of my feet as I paced the room. I imagined the feel of frames as I caressed their corners. I thought of the fresh scent that somehow permeated the bunker.

  All that came to me was a the remnants of what might once have been a ruin. The ceiling was missing in its entirety, emptiness hovering just beyond, the walls were cracked rubble and remnants of what I had once created, little more than gaping holes to see the emptiness behind them. The floor was pitted, cracked, and the air was thick with dust.

  All my fear and panic, flooded from me and into my Foundation. I took all my nervous energy and fed it to the Foundation. I took my anger and frustration and fed it to the Foundation.

  As I tried to siphon off my fear and panic, I was surprised to actually feel a change. I felt the emotions stir and start to move into… no, through the walls out into the emptiness. This only caused my panic to ratchet and stopped, fearing what might happen, instead I shut down the Foundation, moving away from it as best I could.

  “That’s bad…” Val muttered, looking me in the eye. “What happened to your Foundation? How long has it been like that?”

  “Happened to his what?” Someone else asked. The sound of her voice, caused something in me to break, lacking something to hold onto, I just strengthened my Connection with the Nerve Module as much as I could. Instantly, I felt more than fear, more than panic. I felt anger, rage and fury. I felt Hate. I knew immediately that something was wrong, but Hate burned in me, coerced me to act, to move, to struggle!

  For a second, all the emotions ran over me, I could feel the rage twisting my face. My skin boiled with hate, I needed to get at her. Then something changed. It was like something popped open in me, and all my emotion just drained out of me, leaving the world a bleak canvas.

  I lay still until Kani Masterson finished her work on me. “There “ She said, clapping my sternum. “All good to go, back in your old body.”

  You’re done?” Valeria Valencia asked. She sounded strained, must be exerting herself too much.

  “Yep.” Kani Masterson replied, she sounded confused.

  “Then please.” Valeria replied, “Could you go upstairs for a few minutes, I need some time alone with Vanys.”

  I was unable to see Kani Masterson’s reaction, but I could hear her hesitant footsteps as she left the room and went upstairs.

  Once she was gone the drain disappeared and emotions returned. Uncertainty, fear, rejection… Then heat, filled my limbs, rage boiled on my tongue and fury coated body. Hate.

  I let out a guttural snarl of anger, as I jumped off the table, landing lightly on my feet. I looked around the room. “Where is she?” I said, coldly.

  “You know where she is,” Val replied, she didn't sound strained now. I turned to her, I wasn't angry with her. “Upstairs?” I asked.

  “You can’t see her. Val said. “You’re not thinking clearly. Your soul is exposed, your Foundation is not giving you the protection and control it once was.”

  I let out a loud rumbling snarl, I had heard a dog let out once. “Are you going to stop me?” I asked. “I will have the bitches head.”

  “Why?” Val asked, she sounded like she felt sorry for me, I would show her sorry. I stepped closer to her threateningly. That got her attention. One moment she was sitting on a stool next to the table, next she was standing in front of me, her green eyes alight with violet energy.

  “Are you going to take it out on me?” She sounded amused, angry and arrogant. “Are you going to try? You don’t know when to quit do you? You. Are. Weak. Vanys. But look at you, in the throes of your magic, like some petty five-year-old. How long have you been practicing your Foundation? You are truly a child with no grasp on handling emotions.”

  I stepped closer, snarling my rage at her. How dare she, what kind of scum was she. She should be mucking about in the filth with the rest of the inferiors. I felt the thrumming in my body, as the Power Core spun, ready to supply me with all the power I needed.

  “Back off.” Her words held such power as I’d never felt before. My response was instinctual. I scurried away, the anger left me in a moment, replaced by fear for my life, the fear of death. This was the hound prowling after its prey, only to find a Wild Beast at the end of the trail.

  I could feel the pain of tears in my eyes, even though no tears would fall. I stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind me. I ran home as fast I could, not giving a shit if anyone saw. It didn't matter. I needed to be alone.

  Once I entered my apartment, I turned all electronics except for myself off, with a singly forceful push of emotion.

  I waited for my emotions to calm down, but they didn’t. No matter how long I waited. Reluctantly, feeling indignation and anger rise up in me that I had to do it. I brought up my Foundation again. I siphoned the emotions away, ready to gain mastery of my emotions again.

  Chapter One Hundred Nineteen

  I woke up. Booted up to the world.

  I was still sitting on the couch, where I had sat down when I’d gotten home.

  I'd sat down on the couch, and kept sitting there. I had been feeling little at all or anger. I was faintly surprised when I checked the clock and realized it had be
en two days since I had sat down.

  I looked around the apartment. It had never been this clean before. Not when I'd first moved in, not when both Emmet Mireaux and I had a cleaning frenzy.

  It was spotless, exquisite and dull.

  I watched my empty, dull and spotless apartment. I could sense the microquake engines working the floors in the other rooms. I couldn't detect the dust that they lifted from the floor or objects, but I could sense the vents that gently blew a breeze through the apartment, picking up the dust motes and pulling them out of the apartment.

  Something had brought me out, something had changed.

  I checked my phone. It was still off, so was the AI. Everything was. Then I finally did a quick check of myself. I was at full power, the Power Core had finally returned to total efficiency after the sudden and unprepared transfer to his current body.