Mass Craft 3

Chapter edited by : AssemblerManiac, Pids
Beta reader :  Impish Oni, StandAside, BigTofu, j0nsta

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Mass Craft

Chapter 3

July 4th 2007

I finished late at night, I made my first drones and bribed Nova with them, then I made more Starcraft appliances for the house for Miranda. We couldn’t use our current stock of Element Zero to do anything expensive until we found a way to mine it in the system. Then… I spoiled myself by fabbing a Tactical Stealth Suit and a ghost visor. I didn’t take much for add-ons, I borrowed Nova’s Ionic Force Field and some flashbang grenades that I promised her to replace later.

It was different from wearing a N7 armor, it was lighter and I felt more mobile. I had it painted in Black with the N7 colors. I told Miranda and Nova that I would be testing my powers outside the bounds of the city and gave them a way to monitor me. Because those two were stalkers and would be able to keep tabs on me and not nag me for a way to keep an eye on me later. Being a telepath gave me a strange sense of familiarity with the two women, the same they had with me.

I exited the building cloaked and simply power walked at super speed and stopped at the town’s exit while passing the different place I wanted to visit such as the Market, the docks, Taylor’s house and Captain’s Hill the place I will build my future home and where I will place the Protoss Nexus. Stopping before the sign telling me welcome to Brockton Bay, I saw some cars leaving and entering the city. But there were more of them leaving though. They were laden with a lot of things such as suitcases and furniture.

I wasn’t surprised this city was tough on people. Too bad they left, I was about to make it great again. I put myself in a crouch position with my front knee over and both hands on the asphalt, and before the car behind me hit me I ran. Suddenly everything slowed down around me but I could still appreciate the landscape, already I was out of Massachusetts and well into New York right now and only ten seconds passed. In another ten I was already through Pennsylvania and Ohio and well in the middle of Indiana.

*That’s fast!* The freedom was also exhilarating.

Three minutes later, I was in Canada, in Saskatchewan, a Canadian province that borders the United States. The place was covered in grassland and mountains. I liked it, but it might be too frigid for my companions. So, no holiday house there.

I continued until I reached Fairbanks, Alaska. I stopped in the middle of the city and uncloaked and activated my Omni-tool, pirated the local internet of the Starbucks I was the nearest of. There were 29 000 people living here and there was not much in this city. It reminded me of one of those little cities where everyone knew each other and where gossip was as fast as the internet.

People looked at and pointed at me, fortunately, I wasn’t doing anything illegal. Just standing there, I waved at them and then disappeared by running at super speed until I reached the city limits.

“Okay, I tested my speed and it's ranked at: Was that the flash? Now it’s time to try my max speed in flight.” I already knew how to fly, but I didn’t push it. The knowledge was downloaded into my mind after all, I didn’t experience it yet.

Looking into the blue sky I crouched and gathered my strength, and with all my might jumped into the sky. In an arc I reached the troposphere in two seconds. At least that’s what the HUD of my Ghost Visor was telling me. In no time, I broke the sound barrier and flew over the Bering sea and was about to enter Russian airspace.

Laughing I decided to fly even faster. Under me, the land looked so small. I could see France already, with the Eiffel tower being a good landmark. The world has suddenly gotten smaller to me now that I had the perspective of a flyer. I was flying over the North Atlantic Ocean when I saw a disturbing sight, there was someone waiting for me.

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...Rebecca Costa-Brown...

NORAD had detected an object that had flown from Alaska, Fairbanks and went from transonic to hypersonic in a matter of seconds. Rebecca had been contacted by the Airforce in her other persona, Alexandria, to put a visual on the device or person moving at this speed. From the starting city, a parahuman in a black costume was seen waving at everyone before disappearing. It had taken no time for Rebecca to reach the Atlantic Ocean, as she used Doormaker to intercept the target.

Rebecca was certain that it was a parahuman flyer who was testing her or his mover abilities. Rebecca felt something or someone coming toward her but it was so fast that she didn't see what. She flew after it and for over thirty seconds, did her best to catch up. She eventually did at least see that it was a black costumed figure. They turned without stopping toward her, he or she waved at her and then the person flew higher and higher until they reached the Stratosphere and it became difficult for Rebecca to breath as the flyer didn’t seem to be perturbed by the rarefaction of oxygen and they became faraway points into the sky.

This was the first time that this had happened to her, someone had outflied her, they were so fast and seemed to have more efficient power than her. Her sense of confidence was simply battered and crushed. She was mad, that affront couldn’t be borne. This person was new and had surpassed her speed while still in their physical body, not a breaker form. She could accept that Eidolon or Legend could outfly her, but not this random person. If they could fly at such speed, they also had a brute rating, they might be more durable and stronger than Rebecca.

*We need to look for this person, induct them either into the Protectorate or Cauldron.* She had no hope to catch up to the Mover, she realized this, but she had other resources to find them.

Instead of dooring there, she flew toward New York, she used the GPS system integrated into her helmet. It took her ten minutes but she quickly reached the Protectorate HQ of New York. She reported directly to the local WEDGDG department about who had tripped the NORAD satellites, ground-based radar, and airborne radar.

Two hours later, after the Thinkers reported back to NORAD about the new fast flier Parahuman who was now dubbed Astro-Ghost. Rebecca tiredly walked out of the interrogation room where she had been held and questioned by a series of social thinkers and precogs. She walked to the office of Legend for a bit of rest, until she had to go back to her job as the Chief Director.

Legend’s office was decorated with all the awards and trophies that had been okayed by the PRT for him to have. Everything was a mix of metal and wood. On a wall, there was a picture of Legend, Alexandria, Eidolon and Hero. Alexandria became a bit wistful at seeing it. Then there were pictures of the first wards, an op that didn’t go as well as they had planned. She moved toward the sitting room part of the office.

When she laid on Legend’s green sofa, Rebecca took off her helmet. She still had a domino mask on her face to protect her identity. The man, Legend, quickly came to meet her, sat on the other sofa facing hers and asked her what was going on.

“I met the fastest Parahuman flyer after you, today.” Rebecca told him with a tired voice.

Legend chuckled. “Really? How fast?” He was getting interested by this story, it certainly would be better than the drudgery of paperwork.

There was a long moment of silence before Rebecca revealed in a little voice, “They... outflew me and…”

“And…?” Legend took off his own mask to let his friend see his expectant expression.

“They broke through the atmosphere, they can fly in space.” Rebecca said as if Legend was pulling teeth out of her mouth.

The man’s eyebrows rose to his hairline. “I think I didn’t hear you well, could you repeat that?”

“They can get to space and outfly me. We need that person in the Protectorate, they can’t be let free, can you imagine what they are capable of?” already in her mind, Rebecca thought about smuggling or if about high yield Explosives being delivered to random cities.

Legend, the ever hopeful man, shook his head, not agreeing with her. “Maybe this is a new trigger testing their capabilities. We shouldn’t force anyone to join us, you know this.”

Rebecca sat up on the sofa and glared at her friend. “I don’t agree.”

"We might alienate this person, this isn't a good idea. Maybe they will come to us of their own free will. Be patient." The hero said with a reasonable tone.

Rebecca thought about that, some people truly acted like this, they tested themselves first and then thanks to the propaganda about how independent parahumans lasted, they joined the protectorate or an established independent team.

The woman of steel lowered her face and took on a thoughtful expression and said, "You may be right, Keith." She finally agreed.

But they couldn’t take the risk of this person turning villain and not under the control of their organizations. The Elite, the Fallen or the Ambassadors were clearly the leading criminal organizations that she didn’t want to gain any force multiplier such as that new Parahuman.

"But?" Legend was aware that there was a but there, he knew how controlling his friend was.

Rebecca looked up and gazed in his eyes, "I like being proactive." The woman stood up from the sofa and relished the view of Manhattan.

Legend chuckled. "That you do, Becca."

Without turning to look at him she asked him, "Now, can you please give me something to drink?"

“Sure.” From the mini fridge at the corner of his office, Legend brought her something non-alcoholic, it was a soft apple cider that was given to her in a glass. “Here.” The protectorate leader passed the drink to her.

Rebecca spent another hour with her friend, discussing family and what’s been happening with the villains in town. She finally left the Protectorate HQ and flew West. It was when she was in the sky well away from New york, that she said, “Door to Cauldron.”

Cauldron, the last bastion of an organization whose ultimate goal was to kill Scion, an alien entity that invaded their planet and nearby dimensions with its mate to kill humanity. Rebecca was here to see Contessa, the strongest precog who was in a position of leadership within Cauldron. Without her, nothing would get done to save humanity.

Rebecca followed the usual path she took in the complex to the meeting room the leadership used for important events. Somehow there was always someone there. When she arrived, as expected someone was there and it was the person she needed. Contessa is a pale-skinned woman with wavy black hair worn a little longer than shoulder length. She wears a tailored black suit with a white dress shirt and a black tie and a fedora. It was this attire that made her known as the ‘the woman in the suit.’

Contessa's power allows her to see the adaptable steps she needs to take to succeed at nearly any given task and execute them perfectly. Its applications include combat, communication, social situations, Cauldron's long-term plans, and how to set conditions for trigger events. Through a series of questions she is able to use it to the utmost. Though almost unparalleled in power even it has limits or restrictions.

“Good Morning Rebecca.” Contessa said after taking a swig of her steaming mug. The woman had a coffee addiction that was legendary in the organization.

“Good Morning, Fortuna.” Rebecca smiled at her friend and sat at her side.

Fortuna was her real name, something that she only let her friend’s use to call her. Contessa took two sugar and put them in her mug and poured herself another serving of coffee. “Aren’t you supposed to be working now?”

Taking off her helmet, and putting it before her on the table as she said, “Something has come up. Fortuna, can you find the newly revealed parahuman called Astro-Ghost?"

The ravenette put her mug on the table and nodded. "I can certainly try."

The thinker focused her blue eyes on empty space and said, “Path to find Astro-Ghost.”

Contessa scowled, then showed a shocked expression. Rebecca looked at Contessa a bit worried as she asked, “So?”

The thinker turned her head to Rebecca and said with shock etched on her face, “I cannot open a path at all. Rebecca, I think we found a new blindspot.”

Rebecca slapped her hand on the table, making it tremble. “What?!”

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...Nova Terra...

Back to Brockton Bay
11:00 in the morning

Nova waited in the living room for Jane to be back. She hated staying idle like that, and would have preferred to be of assistance to their leader. Nova was cleaning her canister rifle after taking it apart; she was expecting the gear that Jane had given her from the Warehouse. It was clearly identical from her own dimension, but there was new stuff available like the Monomolecular Blade or the different Visors.

The blonde Ghost had gone through the Terran database in the workshop and had scoured it for all the neat Ghost and Infantry weapons. Nova was already planning how to ask Jane to build a stealth assault dropship after she was done with the rover vehicle that was taking up the queue in the industrial fabricator.

Feeling a strong breeze coming on her face, Nova jumped a bit when she saw Jane arrive before her and smiling like a loon. "I'm back!"

Nova put the body of the partially assembled rifle on the low table and glared at Jane. "Finally! Damn it Shepard, you were bouncing all over the world. The satellites couldn't follow you."

Jane put her hands on her hips and gave Nova a smug grin. "I know right?"

That childish expression was… cute. Nova had a hard time not thinking of her leader’s ass and boobs, then her cute expression when she worked. But it was the leadership and commanding voice that she possessed that made Jane attractive. Jane didn’t treat Nova as if she was a weapon like her previous ‘handler’ did, she treated like she was part of her squad and a friend, despite them knowing each other only for three days.

Rolling her eyes, Nova invited Jane to sit at her side by patting the sofa seat. “Remember, I don’t have the same abilities as you, so spill, give me all the details.”

Jane moved in an obvious display of super speed and was at Nova’s side in a second. She breathed in and out, took off her Ghost Visor, her verdant eyes gazing upon Nova’s sapphire blue. “Okay, it went like this...”

Nova listened to Jane as she recounted what had happened to her the last ten or so minutes while she was gone. She was excited at first but her mood shifted to actual horror.“So let me get this straight… you went around the US by running, then you stopped at a town in Alaska, where you finally took flight around the planet. But you were seen by one of our enemies, that Alexandria bitch?”

Jane seemed to be receptive to Nova’s mood and squirmed under the blonde’s scowl. “Well… yes.” She answered.

If she didn’t know that she would break her first on Jane’s face, Nova would punch the woman in the face. Just in case she asked, “Can I hit you?”

Jane slowly edged away from the Ghost who suddenly stood up and raised her hands in frustration. “Goddamnit Jane!! What happened to OPERATIONAL FUCKING SECURITY?”

Nova was mad, this was the basics of the basics, OPSEC was all about being careful about what is said and done in front of others in order to protect you, your family and your service members from those that can do harm. And Jane was seen by the enemy. She was worried, those people in Cauldron had fucking people who could pull information from thin air. Thinkers were that bullshit. If they didn’t have all those defense perks she would take Jane and Miranda and would turtle up into the extradimensional Warehouse.

Different scenarios were already going through Nova's head. How to remove the heads of Cauldron, reveal their machinations and conspiracies. Jane stood up and held onto the blonde Ghost’s right arm.

“Okay, that’s fair I deserve this, I’ve been an idiot. Can I make it up to you?” Jane looked sincere, and she didn’t look that worried.

Nova wrenched her arm from Jane’s hand and glared at her with a haughty expression. “I don’t know, what can you offer me to not slap you for your idiocy?”

Jane looked away from Nova’s eyes for a moment, folded her arms under her ample bust and said, “Have you ever been to a Spa?”

Nova’s eyes shone with interest. “They have those here?”

Nova remembered the best Spa in the Koprulu sector located on Haven, a temperate planet that the Terran Dominion was willing to use as a R&R stop. The Ghost remembered what the old woman who had given her the best massage ever had told her, ‘A luxury spa experience should do more than just pamper your body, girl! It should indulge all of your senses and restore your well-being. A luxury spa experience is an escape from the stresses of a busy lifestyle and provides the opportunity of self-renewal.’ Nova missed that time.

“Okay, it better be the best ‘me’ day ever.” Nova couldn’t wait, she just had to see Jane in the buff.

A voice interrupted the moment. “Did I hear the word Spa?”

Jane and Nova turned to see Miranda appear from the corridor leading to the bedrooms. The Ghost crossed her arms and looked judgmentally at the ravenette. “Well, well, well. Our hermit is finally exiting her cave.”

Miranda was wearing a simple black T-shirt and boy shorts, she sashayed into the living room as if she owned it. The young woman looked completely tired, as if she hadn’t slept for a while. She sighed and answered Nova with, “Nova, would you kindly shut up?”

The Ghost simply smirked. “Oh, Miss prim and proper has fangs.”

With an annoyed grunt, Miranda’s left arm covered in a purple aura as she threatened, “And Biotic powers.”

Jane quickly interposed herself between the two women. “Wow, stop there! We are not fighting between ourselves, girls.”

Nova was about to make Miranda fly with a well placed TK shove, but Jane must have read her intention as she looked at the two women and began to exude psionic pressure surpassing both of Miranda and Nova’s. “Or should I make you stop?”

There was power in her words, so much that it stopped Nova in her tracks and made her say, “Fine, but you owe me, Shepard.”

Miranda glared at Nova and grumbled, “I apologize.” Then she let go of the biotic shroud and stood there with a hand on her hip, she still looked as pretty as ever.

Nova noticed the lust and love filled emotions coming from Jane as she looked at Miranda. There was a story there. Jane sat back on the sofa and said, “Don’t worry, Nova. A Spa day only for you and me.”

“What about me?” Miranda looked put out with Jane. The woman however had folded her arms under her breasts, putting emphasis on them… making Jane gulp in lust.

Nova didn't understand what the woman wanted; what was Miranda’s angle? She frowned at the woman as she thought,  *Princess here must be aware that Jane found her attractive.* Was it about controlling Jane to be able to influence her?

Miranda’s own budding telepathy must at least tell her that Jane was in love with her. But to Nova’s more experienced abilities, she knew that Jane was in love with a version of Miranda, someone more jaded and battle tested. Jane gave in right away and said to Miranda, “I will have another one with you, then...”

The ravenette laughed, shaking her head. “No, that’s your date with Nova.”

“Date?!” Jane shouted in panic as if she wasn’t aware that that was what this is all about.

*What the hell? Wasn’t she aware that I was asking her on a date?* thought Nova who couldn’t believe the woman was that dense. It was really cute, that panicked expression; Miranda laughed, having the same thought as I.

Then the woman looked at Nova for a moment then harrumphed. “I don’t want the same activities. I want a different date activity.”

“Huh?” Jane’s brain didn’t reboot yet at her full faculty.

It was like being stuck in one of those romcom holovids where the protagonist was being pursued by two women. Miranda glared at Jane, “You heard me.”

The redhead raised her hands in placation. “Okay, okay…”

Miranda clapped, showed a smile with perfect teeth and then mimed to look at the time on her omni-tool and said, “Great, oh it’s time for lunch, stay here everyone, I'll bring food for you.”

Nova and Jane looked at the woman departing back as she rolled her hips toward the kitchen. The Ghost pinched Jane’s cheek and said, “She got you there, Shepard. That gal is a real manipulator and she’s after your booty.”

Jane then turned her eyes on Nova who was still standing, she made a sly smile and said flirtatiously. “Mine isn’t as good as yours.”

Nova’s expression slowly shifted into a cocky one. “Oh, should I be more careful around you, Commander?”

Jane’s cheek reddened, then she averted her eyes. “No comment.”

“You’re no fun.” Nova complained.

It was twenty minutes later when Miranda came back, loaded with a tray of food. Mainly Fish and chips, Lasagna, Boston creampie and a healthy helping of wine and beer. The food replicator was showing how efficient it was yet again. Everyone migrated from the sitting area to the dining room, Jane and Miranda began to place the cutlery on the rich mahogany table.

They ate in silence while looking at things on their Omni-tools and when they were done, none of them could move as they were overly full. Nova had unbuttoned her jeans and sat in a rather unladylike way. There were still leftovers that Jane decided would be put in the fridge. Nova stayed at the table, while Jane and Miranda started cleaning.

The Ghost, not wanting to be left hanging, used her astral projection to see what the two of them were about to do. Jane was placing the cutlery in the dishwasher as the redhead said with honesty and a bit of contentment, “Thanks for the meal, Miss Lawson.”

“Please, call me Miranda.” Miranda answered so sweetly that it made Nova’s gum ache.

Jane hesitated. “Very well, Miranda…”

The ravenette made a victorious smile. “Can I call you Jane?”

“You have my permission.” Jane nodded.

Nova was seeing what was happening here, Miranda sought to be on top of the relationship here, but she didn't mind. Nova wanted an equal relationship, not subordinating herself. Jane turned her face toward her and cocked her head. The blonde Ghost quickly returned to her body. When she reopened her eyes she thought, *This is surprising, Shepard could see me? How high is her Psi Index?*

The Ghost was curious, she was going to do some snooping later. The three of them gathered back into the living room, Jane had taken off her tactical suit and visor, she was now in a black sport bra and leggings. Jane looked at each of the women near her and said, “So… we need to talk.”

Nova didn’t like those words. Fortunately, it seemed that it was a really important conversation. Not one of those romantic bullshit.

“We need to discuss what we’re going to do to save that world.” Jane informed them.

Miranda leaned forward on the sofa. “I thought that you had it all figured out.”

Jane shook her head. “Actually no… I need your input Miranda. And I don’t want to participate in this game of cop and robbers the idiots have going on here.”

To be honest Nova didn’t like the idea of capes, the fake superheroes. Those people were all being mind controlled to fuck shit up and disturb order and then you had Cauldron who took on the role of EDEN in all this.

“I want to break the fucking board.” Jane said decisively.

Miranda and Nova looked at me strangely when the redhead said that. They smiled at her, but Miranda was the one to say, “You have an idea in mind.”

Jane conjured a hologram on the low table’s projector. “I want to take over this city.”

Nova stood up and put her hand on Jane’s forehead with a worried expression. “Oh no, did you catch the supervillain bug?”

Jane took the young woman’s hand off her head. “Be serious, Nova.”

The Ghost laughed and sat at Jane’s side. Miranda frowned at that and glared at the blonde who ignored her. Jane continued to explain herself. “I want to take over this city economically, make it become our home turf and then we slowly spread out our influence.”

“Interesting.” Miranda leaned back into her seat and started sending ‘fuck me’ eyes at Jane.

It seemed that talking business was a turn on for her. Jane ignored the obvious ‘come on’ and said, “Then from there, we take it to the authorities to fight against the alien menace…”

Nova could get behind that, they weren’t about going to do all the work by themselves!

“And we will slowly retake the world?” Miranda asked as she looked at Jane.

“You have something to say Miranda?”

Miranda then used her Omni-tool, connected to the projector and showed a hologram of the planet. “Yes, this planet is fucked. Mexico, Central and South America are lost to warlords. Africa the same, but the ecosystem is almost as good as gone because of the Ash Beast, then you have Europe plagued by Nazi, the Three Blasphemy and Sleeper in Russia.” Each time she spoke, an area on the hologram was highlighted into a red color. Then she transmitted data packets to Jane and Nova full of her notes and compiled information. “Then China turned into a band of Imperialist arseholes.”

Jane and Nova were impressed by the level of detail that Miranda had taken, she had taken a look at the global economy that has been shrinking year after year. The world was slowly ending and those people on Earth Bet had buried their collective heads in the sand. Everything had an effect, the loss of Africa and Japan, Switzerland gutted everything. The only thing letting everything run as if nothing was happening was the Number Man and think tank called Watchdog.

Miranda then began showing how little on time they had because the Endbringers were slowly killing human civilization. “The Endbringers, do you have a plan for them, Jane?”

Jane showed a holographic picture of Eidolon. The man wore a blue-green skintight suit, with a heavy hood and cape built in and sleeves that draped over his hands. “Yes, I will just kill the Master projecting them.”

There was silence at that.

“Eidolon?” Nova asked for more information.

The hologram morphed into a window, showing a location, Texas, and the city, Houston. Where the ‘heroic’ aligned parahuman lived as the Protectorate leader of the place. “This is going to be Nova’s job. We kill the bastard, and then the Endbringers are gone, but if they stay, we send them inside a black hole or something.”

Nova grinned. “Finally a job! I was getting bored.”

“The operation starts in one month, it’s time for me to enter Hardware mode.” Jane said as cut out the projectors.