Mikah looks from Miss Calculated over to the approaching service bot, then back to Miss Calculated again, holding back laughter the whole time.

“Well, I guess we’re about to find out if there’s at least a decent chance of it working, hmm?” While Mikah is teasingly asking this, Miss Calculated is busy twisting a few rings around the vitzlite end of her utility knife, telescoping the handle into itself by a small amount.

Once she finishes aligning the safety locks, a small rocker switch that was previously recessed in the handle pops out, located such that it is directly under her thumb when she holds the Viblade in a ready-to-use position.

“Mm, exactly. I have no idea what vitzlite’s upper threshold is for negating enhanced endurance, but I speculate it should at least be capable of cutting into a rank 3 supe. The question then is; how well? I’m fairly certain it will delay regeneration to some degree too, but I haven’t had the heart to ask Natalie to let me test it on her. Ah, sorry, you might not be familiar with who she is. To keep it simple; she’s the only regen supe I am acquainted with.” While Miss Calculated is explaining, the service bot has brought the box of scrappy offerings over, stopping a short distance in front of Mark.

“Here you are sir, as requested. This is everything that was available without delay. Additional cloth is being gathered for a second delivery which should be here within… fourteen minutes.” While the service bot is explaining, Mark has pulled himself into a fully upright position. He holds one hand up to wave a dismissal, then points at Miss Calculated.

“Give it to Mary, that’s who it’s all for, anyway. Send the second batch to my office, that’s where she’ll be working by then, most likely.” Once Mark shoos it away, the service bot brings the box over to Miss Calculated, holding it out for her to claim.

Needless to say, she does so, with gusto.

“Thank you. Which is the most durable..?” Miss Calculated immediately sets the box on her lap, beginning to rummage through it with her left hand, still holding the Viblade with her right.

“The black semi-gloss and the triangular piece of deep blue satin are fully enhanced. Yes, those two. The three glossy finish pieces are fire and waterproof, the remaining pieces are slash and bullet resistant. If there are no other requests at this time, I shall go expedite the collection of additional materials.” While the service bot is dictating the enhanced properties of the presented offering, Miss Calculated is practically grinning from ear to ear.

She nods at the bot in acknowledgment, and Mark makes a shooing gesture at it. Understanding that its work here is done, it turns and returns to the elevators, tapping the upward call button once it is near them.

Miss Calculated stacks up the two fully-enhanced samples, lining up one of the edges such that she can cut both pieces at the same time.

“Well, here goes nothing. Should this incision work at all, lower grade tests will be unnecessary until a needle is prepared. Initiating the preliminary test; using minimal force with the thinnest blade available against the highest durability fabric.” While Miss Calculated manages a bit of showboating as she pulls the fabric taught with her left hand, pinning one end of the aligned side between her index and middle fingers, pinching the other end between her thumb and ring finger.

Both Mark and Mikah are completely silent. They’re openly staring at her hands as they impatiently await the results.

Considering how much attention Miss Calculated has brought to it, Jonathan no longer feels self-conscious about wanting to watch. He pauses the still-ongoing round of the jewel-busting, falling tile, color match game, which is already pinned with a max score. He scoots forward a bit more, looking intently at the Viblade in Miss Calculated’s hands.

Even Miss Chievous can’t resist her curiosity at this point, pausing her game as well.

Willy, however, is sound asleep.

Once Miss Calculated toggles the power switch on, her hand trembles briefly as the Viblade hums to life.

After a few seconds, Miss Calculated is holding her hand completely steady, and then slowly slices the blade into the cloth; it cuts through as smoothly as a well-honed razor gliding through rice paper. She actually has to pull the blade back a bit, as she had expected at least some degree of resistance. After making the effortless incision, she powers the Viblade off right away.

Mark is frozen in place, whereas Mikah has gasped loudly.

“OH SHIT! AND THAT’S FROM JUST A SMALL BATTERY-POWERED KNIFE!?” Mikah is hardly shy about expressing his shocked disbelief, clutching the arm of the couch he was previously leaning against with both hands. To say his hungry gaze at the Viblade is covetous would be an understatement.

Meanwhile, Mark seems to have facial paralysis, and is still completely and utterly silent.

Miss Chievous simply makes an amused chuckle, casually going back to her game.

Jonathan had been staring intently at the Viblade the entire time it was powered on, squinting a bit, then gaining a pensive look once it is shut off. He quickly glances at Mikah, who is obviously far too distracted to care about what he was thinking about, and then he sinks back into the armchair, resuming his game as well.

Miss Calculated’s entirely justified smug smile doesn’t waver at all as she sets the cloth back inside the box, her smirk still unfaltering as she systematically reengages the safety locks for her high-powered utility knife.

After a brief chuckle, she speaks up.

“Well. That answers that. I can’t help but think that perhaps the nanogel treatment will be unnecessary. We’ll see though. Ah, but I’m not sure how the friction from extended use will affect it, the nanogel might be necessary to help offset the heat generated…” Partway through Miss Calculated saying this, her voice gradually lowers in volume. She is moreso musing to herself than actually talking to anyone else present, and she’s really only audible since the only other notable sounds are from the gaming chair.

After trailing off for a bit, Miss Calculated suddenly speaks up at a normal, conversational volume, “Regardless, I believe I can safely say that was a resounding success.”

Mikah blinks a few times, then takes a deep, calming breath. However, before he has a chance to say anything, a voice from the edge of the hallway beats him to it.

“Sheesh, I know you guys said it could cut through endurance, but those things really are somethin’ else, yeah? Tch, good thing I didn’t take Maria up on her bet, I’da lost a finger, or two.” Almost immediately after Lucas finishes saying this, Miss Masher roughly elbows his side.

“Yeah, right. With how fancy ya were bein’, you’da been fine. Scaredy cat.” Once Miss Masher finishes playfully chiding him, Lucas mimes going to slap her in response, which only makes her laugh.

Poor Miss Calculated had been so caught off-guard from Lucas suddenly speaking up, she had made a startled yelp. Not only that, but she also accidentally dropped her knife in the box of scraps. Between her external and internal surprise, Mikah couldn’t resist snorting with laughter.

“By the way, they’re back, ahah!” Mikah’s friendly alert is just a wee bit delayed.

-----

Lucas’s total kills: 7

Lucas’s total deaths: 11

Lucas’s total assists: 1

Lucas’s current GDV: 17.34 (-.01 net change, poor Miss Calculated practically had a heart attack.)

Lucas’s fame level: 6.0* (The Brotherhood of the Silver Spoon’s website has gone live!)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 2.0* (-.25 Those present are perfectly aware of the fact he intentionally tried to spook everyone (apart from Mikah, obviously) and his troublesome grin further reinforces that fact. Some hero he is. Miss Masher’s similar expression exposes her intentional cooperation with him, too.)

Jonathan’s total kills: 7

Jonathan’s total deaths: 2

Jonathan’s current GDV: 6.05

Jonathan's fame level: 4.0* (The Brotherhood of the Silver Spoon’s website has gone live!)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 2.5* (Being high-profile with the website has made many people decide that it’s unlikely for him to be so brazenly attention-seeking as a hero in this day and age. Of course, there are a few that see it as the publicity stunt it is; therefore feeling unswayed, or even further convinced of his hero status.)

Willy's fame level: 4.5* (The famous meme dog’s portion of the new image gallery has led to a new wave of memes, and now more people involved know who he is, rather than just a niche portion that saw the original streams.)

Mr. Quacks’s fame level: 5.0* (The world has been taken by storm. The massive Mr. Quacks gallery has spawned even more memes than Willy now has in his honor.)

Supervillain social circle size: 15

-----

Little character theater:

Jonathan had admittedly been spooked as well, but the only sign on his part was jumping slightly. When Miss Chievous snickers quietly, he glares at her: D-don’t laugh!

Willy is pup-pup-puppin’ it up. Did you know that greyhounds sleep 18 hours a day? Whelp, he certainly hadn’t been able to manage that while living on the streets, he has some napping to catch up on.

Lucas and Miss Masher are in identical denim overalls over a thin black long-sleeve shirt. Unfortunately for Lucas, being in the same style outfit only manages to further display the muscular disparity between the two of them, and he’s more self-conscious about it than he’d ever admit: I refuse to believe she has never used steroids! Hmph!

427, wishing he could, somehow, facepalm: [Enhanced strength genuinely has a synergistic effect with working out, there’s nothing odd about what she’s done, it just… took a lot of time and effort.]

Author, still hiding from Lucas: One more scene, and he’ll probably forget about being made to come to work even though he didn’t have to do anything last chapter…

Mr. Quacks, attempting to comfort Miss Calculated, who is still in her post-hecked state: Quack.