Time moves on

The answer to my question had been more surprising than I'd expected. The reward was a case of liquefied M'Kraan Crystal injectors, apparently just one of them could awaken a persons mutation potential, granting them some form of power, ability or enhanced capability that would be of great use to them. Using one of these one someone that had ALREADY awakened their mutant power? Would apparently improve and strengthen that ability further and further. Needless to say I would be LOCKING this up in my inventory where NONE could get to it. Already I was picturing the sheer chaos of someone like Joker or Luthor getting hold of such an item. That. Could. NOT. HAPPEN.

Looking through the rest of the rewards I found a few other items of a similar nature, things that would grant strange unheard of abilities or increase them further. Things like "Icon of Falteen Flame" or "Mark of the Power Cosmic" so really it was more things to lock away... Following that I pulled something from my inventory, a new weapon blueprint for something that could be used with my summons, something that would help me out considerably in the long run...

Reality Fragment: Collect enough fragments in order to complete the item. Upon completion gain a new power!
Well that description was quite interesting... Looking over it a bit further I saw that I could get fragments more easily by going into Survival again, they could be found in Assaults or given as boss drops in Defense runs as well, though Survival had the best chance of dropping these fragments... I could just WISH for the fragments needed as well though right? A pop up appeared the moment I had that thought, explaining that wishing for the fragments was HIGHLY dangerous, almost guaranteed to harm if not outright DESTROY me.

"Ok... So we are NOT wishing for those... Survival's the best bet huh? I'll have to figure out a better way to monitor time in there, can't risk being stuck in there for such a long time again..." With that I set about checking and making sure I had everything set up as best I could, preparing for work and everything else I could. I went ahead and dropped off the new weapon blueprint in the lab, it would require MORE materials to make the BEST version of it but at least it would be kept safe and hidden there. I got a call from my business, asking me to come in, a response that I'd be there soon as I could and I was about to head out...

Then the League of Assassin's guards were at my front door, apparently my vanishing act had concerned them and the higher ups about if something had happened too me. I received a message about someone being sent to keep a closer watch over my activities, to try and insure there wouldn't BE another vanishing act taking place... Well fuck...

Arriving at the building I was met first with a general, a general instantly asking questions about what we were working on and if we could make a weapon to bring down Superman, he even offered to allow our company to study the body FIRST once Superman was dealt with... "General Eiling, I'm afraid I can't help you there. What we are currently working on isn't going to be useful in the way your looking for. While I understand your concerns on whether or not Superman IS a threat to the world, I am however MORE concerned with the one's he's been putting behind bars." I went on to explain about some of my other concerns, but it was clear that my refusal was the ONLY thing he'd heard before he sighed and walked out. I let out a sigh before checking on the rest of the business, making sure everything was going well.

After checking up on the business I headed back home, to find none other than Jade and Shiva inside. "Oh welcome back! Sorry for the vanishing act, it wasn't intentional and I'm taking measure to make certain it won't happen again." Shiva nodded her head a moment, but it was Jade that looked nervous. "What's wrong?" I asked moments before Jade sighed and slowly brought out the box that had once held the wind blade I'd... "Um... Jade? WHY is the prototype in SHATTERED pieces?" I asked probably sounding far too calm at the sight. Shiva's head bowing low a moment before she spoke. "On behalf of The League I am here to apologize for the damage to the weapon you made, one of the others had attempted to use it on a mission and we believe used it TOO much. They are currently being... Disciplined for breaking such a unique blade."

I nodded my head at that before walking over to take a look at the FORMER weapon. "I'm sorry to say it'll take some time to make another, good news is that you brought the broken parts back. I can repurpose them and check combat data from the device inside, which will help me better understand HOW it got broken and how to make improvements to AVOID it breaking again." As I spoke I was looking over the pieces, pulling out a few parts that would be needed to access the combat data. "...Are there any trackers in that weapon?" I was asked. "Huh? No, I hadn't considered that honestly, it was already quite difficult to get it as compact as it is with what's inside. Did you WANT some sort of tracking device Jade?" I asked, getting a nod in response before bringing them both back down into the lab. I started by getting the pieces set aside to be repurposed later, the combat data gained wasn't nearly as extensive as I'd hoped unfortunately. "So I can either set up another combat data gathering device in the next one or I could set up a long range device that would feed the data back here so I can get more information without you needing to make trips back." I asked which would be preferable, as without the combat data it was unlikely to REACH a finished state.

Explanations and further info about what the weapon should EVENTUALLY be able to do were discussed and shared, then I let something slip I probably SHOULDN'T have... "So what else are you working on beside this Wind Blade?" Jade asked, Shiva looking curious as well. "Honestly? Quite a few things, some of the most interesting are things that could, for example GRANT magical abilities or other POWERFUL abilities that could be VERY useful. Unfortunately those are FAR OFF projects that are nowhere near completion, even when they ARE finished only those trusted will likely be able to get access to them... I mean just IMAGINE if someone like the Joker got hold of something like that! Talk about nightmare fuel..." As I finished I finally turned my head and saw shocked looks on both of their faces, Jade's jaw was dropped and Shiva was staring at me with a look of DEEP concern, maybe even fear. "Yes... That would be a truly terrible event..." I heard from Shiva, Jade asking how it was I'd vanished for so long. "Ah that, would you believe me if I said I had been training?" Jade giggled at me in response. "You were training? Really? And WHERE did you go for this training?" She asked, Shiva nodding her head curiously as well.

"If I showed you where, I would need to be CERTAIN that information about this wouldn't spread from you or your League. It's a secret I can't allow to simply escape out into the world, there's no telling just how many people would come hunting me down for more information or to use it for themselves..." I got a response from Shiva, giving her word that she would insure such information didn't spread. With that I showed them through the hidden door in the lab, out into the training room and the circular portal looking device. "This device allows one to transport themselves or others into another place, one where they can train multiple things as they desire. Multiple different modes, I wouldn't take a risk of allowing yourself to be injured though as so far there is no indication it would be any LESS lethal than actual combat... I can demonstrate if you'd like, though that will have to wait until certain measures are taken." With that I continued on, showing them around the training room, the weapon wall where the weapons that had been made but WEREN'T brought with me currently sat. Shiva looked over them curiously, Jade appreciating some of them as well. "These are well made, VERY well made. What kind of material is this?" Shiva asked, Jade looking over curiously in between looking over a pair of Sai's. "A unique combination of materials FAR more durable and dangerous than the prototype Wind Blade was, I have a limited quantity so I have to be careful with what I make and how much after all. Besides if there's a different kind of weapon you'd prefer Jade then I can make that instead, just let me know. It probably won't be anymore durable than the last prototype, for the time being at least." I explained, Shiva taking hold of a Claymore sword that had been made in the batch of weapons. She asked to try it out and I brought up some practice dummies, 3 of them, one wood, one steel and one that was currently considered one of the strongest most durable metals to the world.

Shiva took a stance and cleaved through the wood dummy with EASE, far more than she'd expected in fact, to the point she stumbled a moment. "This is... MUCH stronger than I expected, much lighter too..." She stepped up for the next dummy and swung with the same amount of power but more carefully. She didn't stumble but she did cleave the dummy in a perfect cut once again. "Go ahead and hit it with the flat would you?" I asked causing both her and Jade to spin around in surprise. "Trust me." I said before Shiva turned and swung at the bottom half of the steel dummy, the remains of it's body CRUMPLING inwards like a piece of school paper. "T-thats! HOW?!" Shiva asked staring as the Claymore had NO damage on it, straightening back to true with ease. She looked about ready to put it back for a moment before heading to the last dummy. "I'd say give it a HEAVY swing, but you won't need to put ALL your strength into it, least I don't think so." Jade turned to me for a moment and shook her head. "Starting to make me wish I had popcorn for this show..." I barely heard her say before Shiva stepped up... She steadied herself and delivered a high swing, splitting the last dummy in half from skull to groin, the stand holding it up SHATTERING apart, the sword DENTING the metal floor as the tip smacked into it harshly. Both of them watching as the metal flooring began to PULL ITSELF FLAT once more...

"T-that was dented... How... It's..." Shiva was struggling to speak, but Jade was simply stun locked at this point. "The floor is a special material that can repair itself. ONE of the materials the weapons are made out of, the completed ones at least." I explained before turning my focus to the system, checking a few things and using a screen to set my lab up to possibly make more of the weapon varieties available. When I turned back I saw Shiva place the sword back on the weapon wall, before she walked up to me. Jade looking on in shock as Shiva lowered herself into a bow. "Would you be willing to make a weapon for me as well? Of this quality?" I couldn't help but stare for a moment at her. "I would be willing, but as I have said, the materials are limited... I'm also making the weapon for Jade as thanks for her help. Tell me, would you be willing to help me in gathering the materials needed?" Shiva looked like she wanted to agree instantly, but she seemed to stop herself. "Unfortunately I can not promise I will be available to assist with such a thing often, I believe I can get the League to send some assistants with gathering it if needed." I shook my head at that before leading her and Jade back to the portal, a moment later and the portal appeared, a swirling circle of silvery white colors. "Miners or crafters aren't what I need, the materials are THROUGH the portal. What I need are combatants, people that can fight, ****, sabotage or search for target materials. I can start by showing you how I see the world if your interested, as for the materials that can wait until your time is more available."

When they asked what I meant I warned them both that I wouldn't move, but they would both see something surprising in a moment. Sending out party invites to both of them caused them to nearly jump, Shiva's reaction was more controlled but they both hit accept. From there they saw things as I did, the options to manipulate multiple consoles around me, the pop up screens, the selections for the portal, they saw so much, including a similar HUD system in their vision for each of them. "Wait you see this stuff ALL the time? Is this why you looked like you were tapping and swiping the AIR last time I was here?" Jade asked looking at me with surprise before her lips curled into a playful smile. I chuckled and nodded my head before explaining that I hadn't tried going into the portal with anyone else before, that I was able to thankfully get most of the resources needed from it and that it was mostly easy. From there came questions and by the time all of them were answered that I was willing too answer at the time, it was time for dinner and we were heading back up to order out dinner. Jade agreed to stay for Dinner, Shiva as well once I offered it too her. I uh... I ordered a LOT... The hunger hadn't REALLY hit me until now but turns out needing food as bad as I did meant ordering a LOT, I may have also promised a full $100 tip if the order was correct and everything arrived without trouble... Needless to say there was a lot of eating I did that night, much to their surprise, well until I explained I basically hadn't eaten for 3 days... Explaining that there wasn't a real timer being shown while in the portal helped with that explanation.

The next few days were interesting, apparently Jade would spend most time off missions guarding me, whereas Shiva would be coming back once there was a time frame she could join in for helping with a run. By the end of those days I had Jade's prototype remade and she was ready to gather combat data again. That first week was mostly making plans and setting things up, with Jade and Shiva both coming and going seemingly whenever they had time. Over the rest of the month and some time after I spent my time working on numerous things, weapons, ammo, but mainly the business and to my surprise meetings with several different influential or powerful people. I also kept a closer eye on what was happening with hero's and villains, trying to keep track of as much information as possible, even got several different systems that searched everywhere for every bit of info that could be found regarding their abilities. When the time finally came though for Jade and Shiva to join in for my next training session, they arrived fully stocked for even a weeks worth of training, bringing weapons and other necessities. I didn't think they were expecting most of it to be covered already but the three of us headed in, I was planning on using my elementals as little as possible since I didn't want to get too reliant on them, brought my guns and a couple melee weapons though. With that invites were sent out and our first training session was underway!