《Paragons》Chapter 167 - Dumb Bio Brain
Advertisement
The flight to pick up the bus proved to be uncomfortable. Mike had no problem carrying two people, but without a vasted mind he couldn't keep up a telekinetic windshield and heating. By virtue of being in an enclosed vehicle, the return trip went better. Mike enjoyed the comfortable driver's seat on the flight while Jimmy explored the interior, occasionally yelling at him about turbulence or not receiving a complimentary snack from the non-existent stewardess. Mike landed the bus in the parking lot they had unofficially commandeered for their use and then flew the two of them back to the convention center.
Once inside, Mike began to evaluate the impact of losing his mental vasting on his kinetic talent. He ran through a battery of simple tests to establish his new baseline.
Number of separate items he could hold? Three. He could circumvent that limit by lifting multiple things as one, but the test was about fine control, not power level, which hadn't been affected.
Ability to navigate using tactile feedback from his corona? Virtually nonexistent. Once he closed his eyes, he could somewhat make out the walls around him if he walked slow and concentrated. Chairs, tables, and personal gear left out on the floor all challenged him. Anything with a low mass or small cross-section proved to be a navigational hazard.
Temperature control? Mike could keep his extremities warm without overheating, but it required his full attention. Which meant he could no longer multi-task.
Personal flight? Seemed good so long as he kept to sane speeds.
Catching items? No longer viable.
Forming a solid barrier? Easy peasy.
Corona wrestling? Mike needed another kinetic to test this one. He grabbed Greg Smith for that purpose.
Smith's enthusiasm level could best be described as nonexistent. While he reluctantly participated, he made close to zero effort. Every half-assed exchange ended with Smith muttering that he couldn't do anything against someone so much stronger than him. Eventually, Mike dismissed Smith and sought out Spencer instead.
Advertisement
They engaged in corona wrestling for less than half an hour before Spencer called it quits. "Ski, I can't help you with this. Even when you do literally nothing, I can't displace your corona."
"We've trained together before," Mike said.
"That was with you going easy on me. When you use your corona at full power like this, it is unbeatable."
Mike let Spencer get back to her free time while he considered his training options. Smith and Spencer were being difficult and complaining about the strength disparity. Joe had left the EDA, so he wasn't an option. Tracy . . . would be an awkward training partner at best, given their indiscretion had been so recent. In a few days he could try to get a quick training session with Cassandane. While he would prefer some space after being shot down, Mike knew he needed to adapt to fighting without vasting. He had essentially been downgraded from paragon level combat capabilities to those of a brute. A massively powered-up brute who would never lose his talents.
Suddenly, it occured to Mike why people with the kinetic and teleotic talent were called brutes. It wasn't simply that they were flying bricks. It had a lot to do with the fact that their lack of vasting rendered them incapable of the effortlessly brilliant multi-tasking that sirens and aeronauts demonstrated. They seemed uncoordinated buffoons in comparison. Just like him.
Mike followed up his kinetic baseline testing with the same thing using the teleotic talent. The results came back much faster this time. He could replicate none of his combat techniques. Even hardening his skin left so many gaps that he would be ripped into shreds by shrapnel.
Grabbing pen and paper, Mike began to write down a training circuit for the talents. If he couldn't vast his mind anymore, then he would have to use repetition to hammer the skills into his brain. While being effortlessly brilliant was obviously the better option, Mike had decades of experience drilling skills. He would treat the talents the same way he treated mixed martial arts. Maybe he would never be able to reach the height he had fallen from, capable of taking down an entire army of hostile terrorists, but he would get good enough to handle two or three simultaneous opponents.
Advertisement
While writing out his training program, Mike lifted a spare chair and began to orbit it about himself, making a deliberate effort to not track its progress with his eyes. The chair fell twice, smacked into him thrice, and wobbled about like it was drunk, but he grit his teeth in determination. He wasn't going to let this setback define him. He would be ready for the next batch of terrorists who came at the EDA.
Advertisement
- In Serial31 Chapters
The New Pantheon - A Superhero Fiction
God has become tired of watching over our world. He has become tired of our meaningless conflicts and our penchant for self-destruction. We are a cursed race, destined for annihilation by our own hands. However, he cannot leave us without a designated successor and no other celestial being wishes to take his place. So, he is left with little option but to create his own successor. Enter Anna Miller. Stay at home geek, occasional cosplayer, and comic enthusiast. She, out of everyone else in the world, is selected by God to take his place as the new shepherd of humanity. She is given two rules. 1. Don't let the humans die. 2. Don't take over the world. That's it. That's all. God then fucks off to have a vacation and she's left with the world to do with as she pleases. So, what does a stay at home geek, occasional cosplayer, and comic enthusiast do with her newly bestowed godlike powers? "Well Superpowers, of course!" God, please come back and help us all.
8 227 - In Serial6 Chapters
Contact First
2039 - Earth A narrow beam energy signal appeared aimed squarely at earth from the TRAPPIST system. The communication consisted of a layered set of repeating data over several thousand wavelengths. Over the next few months scientists discovered that the lower wavelengths carried an encoded numerical language which could then be used to interpret the more complicated messages carried on the higher wavelengths. After half a year of painstaking work the signal was fully decoded. It described a small satellite launched along a precise trajectory towards the fourth planet of our solar system. Included was a package of advanced research that humanity would need to have ready in order to receive the satellite and decelerate it safely. The alien data provided the kick that humanity needed to turn from petty squabbling and unite to explore the final frontier. Major government and corporate leaders worked together to create the framework for the United Federation of Sol. UFS spaceports went from scaffolding to daily launches in every major city around the globe. Ships floated like dandelion seeds, spreading on solar wind to grow into colonies. 2397 - Mars orbit, Egeria Station The command center was a hive of activity as checks were conducted and systems initialized. Scientists flitted by like mayflies as communicators beeped and holoscreens spat out green tinted readouts. Nervous energy was thick in the air as everyone anticipated the culmination of over three hundred years of work. Massive fusion reactors under the planet's surface thrummed with barely restrained power as energy fed into a gleaming metallic maze criss crossing the planet. Metal fingers reached up, overshadowing the mighty olympus mons and trying to grab the stars. All over the solar system, people quickly turned to look as gigantic energy lances shot from the dusty fourth planet. Two years later. The same people that clapped loudly at the successful activation of project Hermes now wait with baited breath. A silver capsule trailing bright photonic sails is captured by a net of grav beams and guided with care bordering on reverence into the station. Holoscreens across the headquarters project an image of the sleek craft settling in the bay. Data connections are established and the holoscreens blink to white. Slowly an image forms on the screen. Across the headquarters people stare in wonder as a wholly alien face stares back. "Contact established. Welcome to the universe."
8 158 - In Serial13 Chapters
Fayre
Melissa Crawford thinks she's just a regular teenage girl. She goes to school. She has friends, boy problems, homework...you know, the typical teenage angst. But she couldn't be more wrong, for Melissa Crawford is not a mortal.Her adoptive mortal mother refused to give her up and hired a witch to erase the enchanting Faery child's memory, not realizing that things aren't that simple.You see, when she was a little girl, Melissa promised herself forever to her Leannan Sidhe (mate), a Fae Prince, and a promise to Fae is sacred. When the Fae Prince comes back to claim what's his, nothing will get in his way."Mortals are so arrogant. So utterly narcissistic to think that they are the only intelligence in this world, to believe their realm is the only realm, their way is the only way. "Many of you believe us fairies only exist in little kids' fairy tales. We are so much more than that. We exist, living in the Realm just a blink away from yours. A few wrong turns in the park or the forest and you're there. We sometimes walk among you, and you're not even aware of it. Believe me, we exist. Across the globe, your kind calls us and our realm by different names...but as William Shakespeare once said- a rose by any other name..."
8 111 - In Serial46 Chapters
Edge of Glory | Supergirl 1
Katherine-Katie- Schott, twin sister to Winslow-Winn Schott, is the best friend of Kara Danvers, AKA Supergirl. Katherine becomes ensnared with Kara's life, helping and being there for her. The young girl soon begins to work alongside Kara and becomes endangered by the aliens who were sent there for Kara. Leah Grant, who is actually Kara's cousin from Krypton, known by her and Clark as Ka-El. She appears when she hears the news about Supergirl, knowing well that it was her cousin. As she becomes part of her life, she becomes part of Katherine and Winn's lives.
8 86 - In Serial13 Chapters
protected - dnf
"I don't care about anything like I care about you. Not even this kingdom. My place is withyou."--Dream is the Crown Prince and the future king. His sworn duty is to protect his kingdomfrom outside threats, especially from the scourge of magic.George is his best friend and, technically, his servant. And he has a secret.
8 73 - In Serial10 Chapters
My favorite Wandanat Oneshots
8 99
Prev Chap
Next Chap
Chap List
Boy
Girl
