Tag Archives: Colette

Arc 14.9.0: Engine

Engine: Part 5

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The dog observed the hand and sniffed it, but didn’t lick it. Tiger was smart enough to know he didn’t want to taste the metal-and-ceramic gauntlet.

Within a few moments, everyone had arrived: the old Heroes’ League, the new, Prentkos, and both Jody’s and Colette’s unconscious bodies. Talk about not being able to save everyone. Being turned into Rook’s mind-controlled cyborg was still in this Jody’s future. Though I didn’t need to, I made a check, changing that future had the same problems as saving Travis. I checked on Colette, too, but hers wasn’t any different.

I could do it, but it wouldn’t be worth the price. Continue reading Engine: Part 5 →

Arc 14.8.5: Magnus

Magnus: Part 4

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I didn’t know how much Magnus knew about electricity, but he had to know about rivers. Flooding caused massive problems in the ancient world. It wasn’t great for dams in the modern world either.

Overloading electrical components wasn’t the same, but loose parallels existed. Anyway, if he pulled in too much power at once, he’d be the component that burned out or the newly shattered dam. 

On the other hand, if he could handle it, I was screwed. Continue reading Magnus: Part 4 →

Arc 14.8.5: Magnus

Magnus: Part 2

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With a wide smile, Magnus continued, “You might think you can avoid submitting to me, but are you willing to allow your friends and family to die for your freedom? If I were to strike the first Rocket with my power, you’d cease to exist.”

Then he began to laugh. “So what is it hero? Give me the ability to trust you or risk your very existence? Not to mention making me kill your grandfather.”

He smiled again. “Or you grandmother. It truly doesn’t matter which. What’s important is the end result.”

He frowned, glancing outward. Continue reading Magnus: Part 2 →

Arc 14.8.0: Singularity

Singularity: Part 20

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On a completely theoretical level, you could imagine that with me pulling power from the device to cut and Magnus pulling power from the device to protect himself we’d be equal. 

Anyone who’s ever designed anything knows that’s utter garbage, though.

The amount of power you can get out of something depends on where in the system you’re pulling it from, how you’re using that power, what you’re using it on, and too many details to list. With more complicated devices, your access level to the control systems and your level of skill matter, too. Continue reading Singularity: Part 20 →

Arc 14.8.0: Singularity

Singularity: Part 15

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Red Lightning grinned, “I’ll be ready. We can’t lose. We’ve got two of you.”

Grandpa laughed. “Glad you think so. I’m feeling behind the times, myself.”

It felt good to see a whisper of the friendship I knew they had. They might have had a conversation, but that’s when the Cabal soldiers all jumped in our direction—not directly at us but close enough that they’d figure it out soon enough.

And that meant that the time to start was before they figured it out. Grandpa had come to the same conclusion. Continue reading Singularity: Part 15 →

Arc 14.8.0: Singularity

Singularity: Part 14

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Magnus leaned forward and as he did, I could feel energy moving around him, and remembered being told that despite losing the ability to influence with his voice, he could still do it somehow.

He could. As he spoke, everyone within the shimmery glow responded. Some turned to watch, but other reactions were more subtle—a pause before the next step, a blink, an indrawn breath.

As he did though, I saw energy move from the spheres above into the throne and to him. In the same instant I realized something else—the throne wasn’t real. Continue reading Singularity: Part 14 →

Arc 14.8.0: Singularity

Singularity: Part 13

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Power Burst looked him up and down. “How do I know you’re not lying to me about whose side you’re on?”

Knowing Izzy’s powers, Power Burst’s physique didn’t make a difference. He could have been a couch potato that spent all of every day eating junk food, watching television, and playing video games with a body that reflected that inactivity, and still been capable of ending Ray with a slap.

Instead, he fit the superhero stereotype—tall, defined muscles all over his body, and a grim expression. Combined with the military themed costume, most people would find him intimidating.

If Ray did, he didn’t show it. “Me? I’m sure you could see right through me if I were lying to you.“ Continue reading Singularity: Part 13 →

Arc 14.7.5: The Core

The Core: Part 10

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“You can’t tell me unless you’re in my presence? Why? Because he told you not to tell?”

The picture of Prentkos in my mind frowned. “I,” he said and paused. “I can’t say… It’s difficult. I know the Nine has me. His assistant—the blond woman who’s with him—she talked to me, and I can’t repeat anything she said.”

“His assistant,” I said. “Do you mean Colette? She’s good with a crossbow?”

He nodded. Continue reading The Core: Part 10 →

Arc 14.4.5: Regression

Regression: Part 5

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I asked, “Can you remove the suggestion?”

The scene froze, and Daniel frowned, “Well, it’s not easy. Sometimes. Dominator commands have a shelf life. If they’re close to expiring, telepaths have found that you can modify the victim’s memory of the event, and the command disappears. If the victim’s been in regular contact with a Dominator, the Dominator typically reinforces the command. Then, well, you know how the brain stores memories in multiple places? The best thing you can do to memorize something is to associate it with other things—other memories, colors, sounds…

“In that situation, we might remove the main version of the memory, but bits of it will remain connected to other things. Sometimes the connections will even reform. Then the victim will start following the command again or a mangled version, which can be worse.” Continue reading Regression: Part 5 →