He trimmed the sensations. Ignored implants and radios. Blocked out tablets and dozens of unfamiliar devices. Eliminated sensors and everything else until he was down to three types of electronic purpose.
Overhead lights. Cameras. Autopilot systems.
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Time was running out. Annie was already slowing into the bend, his reach now grasping for everything around the corner as well.
He gritted his teeth and lashed out at the remaining devices with every remaining bit of willpower.
Now or never. Help us disappear.
Without meaning to, he released the power with a command that shaped intent.
“BLACKOUT.”
Machines obeyed.
Overhead lights flickered and died. Cameras went dark. Autopilot systems seized, hazard lights blinking as every vehicle slowed to a stop.
Annie shouted something, but he couldn’t hear over the ringing in his ears. She pulled them into the lane and braked just as his blackout rippled down the tunnel.
Emergency lights flickered on.
Annie scrambled from the driver’s side, rushed to the other door, and hauled Alexander from the passenger seat. She slung him over her shoulder in a fireman’s carry. Metal rippled down her body, plating her legs up past the knees.
Despite the urgency of the situation, she didn’t forget what was important: her katana.
“Alex, where’s the rest of your brilliant plan?” she demanded, spinning to scan both directions. Red lights revealed chaos in either direction: vehicles stopped for hundreds of meters.
“Door,” Alexander croaked. “Maintenance tunnels. They link to the hyperloop station above.”
Annie was already running. She thought about kicking the door down, then realized that would defeat the purpose of the chaos Alex had unleashed. Instead, she slid to a stop and pressed a hand to the lock. Metal seeped into the mechanism, shifting pins until it clicked open.
She carried him inside and relocked it the same way.
The next twenty minutes blurred for Alexander, broken only by the ache of Annie’s shoulder digging into his ribs as she cornered or climbed stairs.
By the time they reached the hyperloop platform, and she had helped wipe the blood from his face, he was steady enough to walk again.
As they waited for the train, Alexander turned to Annie with an important question. Her clean cowboy hat was perched on her head, katana strapped to her back. But something was missing.
“What happened to the go bags you were buying?”
She froze.
“Annie?” Alexander prompted.
“Uh…” She scratched her cheek. “I might have left them in the trunk of the car.”
He couldn’t even blame her. He hadn’t thought about them either until now.
“So, that was pretty cool… what you did back there,” she said quickly, changing the subject. “One moment you’re slumped with blood all over your face, then your eyes snap open, sparking electricity, and you’re like—”
Dropping her voice in a poor impression of him: “Blackout.”
He considered it. “Yeah. No idea where that came from. It just slipped out. But… I think naming it helped. Almost like it made it more real.”
“Ooh! Check your implant. I bet it gave you cool points.”
Alexander frowned, not remembering any notifications. He pulled up the interface.
[ Veritus Praxis Neuroadaptive Noetic Implant: Series 1 - Ascensus ]
Welcome back, Alexander.
Notifications have been withheld to avoid distraction during open hostilities.
Would you like to receive status update notifications now?
> Yes.
Confirmed. Increases have been combined where applicable.
Agility + 2%
Willpower + 1%
Technopathy — Efficiency + 1%, Control + 3%, Output + 5%, Adaptation + 2%
Electrokinesis — Efficiency + 1%, Control + 1%, Adaptation + 3%
Congratulations, Alexander. Continue your Dream.
You have created your first named technique, merging aspects of Technopathy and Electrokinesis.
Named techniques may be declared aloud to amplify their effect, extending beyond base capabilities. Such declarations require Intent to Declare. Without intent, the technique will function at its standard level.
Blackout
Reach into all Machines of your choice within range. Deactivate all or selected functions. Because of the nature of your Technopathy, you bypass all mundane defenses. Electrokinesis allows the deactivation to pulse outward, potentially reaching targets beyond your initial range.
Ineffective against Ensouled Machines unless your Will overcomes that of the owner.
They traded notifications silently, not needing to say a word.
According to Annie, most of her gains came from the single hit she landed on Iron Nadya, with a smaller increase in MetaMetal’s control from picking the lock.
Processing Speed + 1%