As much as I wanted to push this body even more, it required rest.That is when I found out that whatever my connection did, it affected the body positively on this matter: PHO called such power a 'Noctis' ability. Meaning that I did not sleep, I still needed to lay down and let torn muscles heal, but I would keep my awareness. Similarly, I could not spend too much time analysing the files I had downloaded. I was limited by a normal human reading speed - I'd risk my vision if I pushed past those limits.Still, perfect memory required meant I only needed to see the words once, though it needed to be in full focus. Peripheral vision was too blurry for me to clearly decipher the words, even using some guesswork and prediction algorithms.In any case, the brief pause did me some good. While the body was still I analyzed and categorised what I had found so far.There was not much more to know about Scion, so my initial research had focused on the parahuman dwelling in Brockton Bay.Among them, the civilian identity of two of them became clear: one knew Andrea Blackwell personally, the other I found through matching descriptions down to the smallest details.Sophia Hess, Shadow Stalker, and Taylor Hebert, Skitter.Both of their powers were of particular interest to me. The first for its esoteric function, the latter for its interaction with another animal species.It sounded… wrong to use Andrea Blackwell's corpse to impersonate her and become closer to the two, but I would do it if necessary. Though it would likely be an obstacle when it came to Skitter.I would need leverage, and unfortunately this world was as barbaric as mine: only power and influence gave you leeway to negotiate.The following morning, exactly 7 hours after I left the hospital, I began the preparations for my plan.
■
Downtown was almost totally submerged, but thankfully my destination was still standing.Jumping from roof to roof, already I could spot other groups having a similar idea to mine: windows were being broken by looters pilfering any and all that was valuable. The Endbringer Truce did not extend to normal people, it seemed.I myself found my target. Opting for a quick operation, I smashed apart the glass of the fire exit with a rock, entering the shopping mall.The ground floor was fully under water, but thankfully my intermediate stop was on the second floor. A store with sports gear. I stashed away the laptop and gun in a safe location, changed into a thermal wetsuit and dove in.I had chosen this place especially for the electronic store present on the ground floor, now submerged. I did not need much from here, only the tools to make tools. From the simple screwdrivers to the more complex soldering tools - that even if mostly ruined could be partially reused or even fixed.It took many dives to gather what was needed. Clearly, someone had taken notice:"Gimme what you got!"A barrel pointed at my head when I last surfaced. The man was scrawny, large bags under his eyes. There was a skittishness to him, like he could not fully stand still.I did not trust his trigger discipline."Okay."Slowly, I climbed out of the water, placing the last of my loot to the side. My bare feet stepped on the broken flooring, I raised my hands and moved back to the side.The man kept the gun trained on me, though it was unsteady and trembling. Looking at my supplies he laughed and began talking:"This' pretty good stuff. Say, are you looking for a gang to join? Won't last long as a solo criminal."I more precisely analysed his aim, the trajectory of the gun and possible points of failures. If he wasn't alone I couldn't risk a gunfight even if I incapacitated him right now. A bullet from a blind spot would be enough to kill me.So, I bid my time.After gathering all the components in a bag, he began to leave:"See ya loser!"That's when I struck. My body was slow, yes, but I could move with pinpoint precision and regulate my strength perfectly.I stepped into his guard and began my attack: my left hand went to his weapon, safety activated by a simple flick of my finger.The other, open palm, struck him in the neck.His scream was choked out as he staggered backwards, giving me time to easily twist around the man. Taking his own gun, I pointed it at his temple from the back.Finger on the trigger, I hesitated."P-please don't kill me… I… I didn't mean to…" He began to plead.The second directive stopped me from shooting.No.The directive could not stop me here. I could easily justify my actions for the good of the wider human civilization.I simply didn't want to kill someone that was merely a criminal. A human, if a flawed and selfish one."Go. Now. Silently."My voice was quiet, but I'm sure he heard me.I was finished here, so I picked up and left.
■
Code returned positive checks on all systems. By now, the laptop had been opened and connected every which way to the improvised electrical terminals.Drained batteries lay strewn all around me. They had done their job.In my hand, still connected through many wires to the laptop, was a small spherical gyroscope. The steel plates covering it had small lines that allowed slight shifts.This was the most important advancement in bio-implants of the twentieth century: a kinetic plastic-adaptor.A wondrous piece of technology that could only work on Earth. More precisely, it could only work on a highly polluted planet.The shifting plates would allow microplastics and the tiniest radiation particles to gather inside, and would trap them there. Then, through incredibly complex algorithms, the material was compressed and recycled to create an extremely small reaction that would provide energy.Overall, this was sloppy work for my standards. Sure, it would easily power most household appliances, but its power capacity was too low for most military uses. If that wasn't enough, it also made pollution worse in the long run, creating more waste than it consumed.The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.The microplastics and radiation it absorbed were benign, and through the reaction were made into the harmful variety.I was always surprised by how short-sighted humans can be, even in their brilliance. Still, I had little choice. It would make do.The Kinetic Engine was fully primed and tested. It would be able to operate at peak efficiency for a few days.There was still work to do.
■
My peaceful reverie was interrupted by the rising sun and distant screeching of tires.The latter was especially surprising, given that the streets were still fully flooded.A parahuman, then. Squealer was the only option, unless Armsmaster had decided to forgo rescue operations.The Merchants were the lowliest of what Brockton Bay had to offer in terms of parahumans - addled by drugs and kept back by fear, none of them could fully make use of their powers.Their modus operandi was also easy to decipher: Squealer would roll out with her newest creation, Skidmark would ride with her until they reached their target. Then by using his vector fields combined with Squealer's weird technology they would quickly get what they came for then get out. Mush would run backup if needed, and would secure the escape route.I doubted that there was any worthy target around here - except me, that is. Picking up my newly created weapon, it didn't take much time to prepare what little I had created.A bright white jacket with a bulky collar. The leather was covered in stitch lines under which I had placed some quick protections. Enough to maybe turn a deadly wound into a broken bone. I had left behind the long skirt of Andrea Blackwell, and now wore synthetic pants with some reinforcements around the knees. Similarly, my boots were now thick and made to wade through the flooded streets.After putting the two guns in an under-arm holster, I looked into a dirty pool of water near where I was sitting.There I saw reflected my face - Andrea's face. The bowl-cut blonde hair brushed against my eyes every now and then, but not enough to hinder vision.Parahumans had rules. They covered their faces, because to do so was announcing that this was a 'game'. Having a mask was simply a way to recognize the rules of the game.I did not care for their game.
■
"The shitstain told me it was around here," Squealer announced, loud enough for me to hear from my hiding spot. She was driving, with Skidmark by her side.The leader of the merchants was looking at the Tinker with disgusting emotion in his eyes. Not love, not even lust. No, Skidmark was looking at Squealer like one would look at their painting. Pride, selfish narcissism.Squealer's vehicle was almost floating over the water, the tinkertech within allowing it to slide across the surface without falling. The mechanics of it eluded me.Speaking into a small communication device, Skidmark began barking orders: "Begin searching for the rat. If you get them, I'll add a kilo to the reward!"Squealer grinned to his side, clicking a button over the steering wheel. A screen popped up from the side, orange dots spread all around.A map.A larger dot was behind them, following from a couple blocks back. Mush. I would need to be fast.Skidmark began using his powers to accelerate their vehicle.The moment one of the Merchants stepped close enough, I jumped out and struck him square in the jaw. He was out before he hit the ground. I picked up his walkie talkie and coughed a bit to mask my voice. Then turned it on."Boss. I found her."Immediately the car in the middle of the street made a u-turn, grazing the wall of a house and leaving a long scratch along it."What's your name man? Gotta admire your skills!" Skidmark voice came out of the device.I did not answer.A gunshot rang out.Squealer screamed.The car began spinning wildly, and was thrown upwards by a sudden explosion in one of the lower engines. Only Skidmark's power slowed them enough to save them from becoming paste. Violet light flickered under the car.They hit the roof of one of the houses, front down. Windows shattered. Squealer was hit by a shard of glass and began bleeding.Skidmark became red in the face, rage filling every part of him. Blue light hovered in front of his palm as the door to the side shot out, letting him get out of the wrecked car."Fucking get him!" I heard another Merchant scream. It seemed that they had conflicting intel. Or did not care about my genderLooking in that direction, I saw two Merchants raise their guns toward me.I wore no mask.Yet immediately they understood I was no normal human.After all, how could one dance around bullets?Within two heartbeat I was upon the attackers, too close to be hit by bullets. I reached behind, to my belt. The weapon I unsheathed wasn't sharp, it was almost a single block of metal with lines running through it. The grip was protected by a rigid loop of metal. Blue light shone from the guard.Something shifted.Lightning crackled.The blunt sword barely brushed against the two criminals, and instantly they were knocked out.I looked towards Skidmark.His face became pale, seeing something in my gaze. Maybe he understood my inhumanity. Maybe the drugs in his system were making his paranoia worse."STAY THE FUCK AWAY!" He shrieked.The weapon turned on again, arcs of lightning jotting out and hitting the house beneath us.Numerous fields of pushing energy appeared all around, encircling me. Skidmark was going all out, most parahumans would have died under the twisting and pulling forces that surrounded me.But I saw the rhythm to it.My leg followed the vector push coming from a point where only one of the fields was, not overlapping with any others. My hand reached for another, further strengthening my acceleration.I shot forward, breaching through the storms of fields Skidmark kept creating. Each only sped up my dash as I angled my body just right to redirect the force in order to push me forward.Skidmark could only scream as my shock baton struck him square in the ribs.