[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/AhdXtg6.png[/img]

[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200312/bd228c426d0da7459764cb788d45b1cd.png[/img]

[color=Red]So, now that we've got a banner, do you think Plat will actually remember who I am?[/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]I wouldn't bet on it.[/color]

[color=888888]-Kate and Nykannis[/color][/center]


The Over City was a vast, strange, and at times inhospitable place. Especially if you went looking for such places. And this was just such a location, a vast sprawling sandy wasteland occasionally broken up by pools and rivers of runoff muck.

The soft crunch of sand under foot was the only sound for miles and the source of those footsteps was one of the only bits of life that was present. Not that Penny particularly cared for this location. She knew that it was a dumping ground for the more populated parts of the Over City. She was here because it was empty, and because it was empty there was no one here.

A good place for the meeting that was now due. A quick check in with Snoopy, who was happily floating about the robot girl's head, and she sent off the coordinates to this little bit of nowhere.

There was a crackling of yellow-green energy as the dimensional fabric was rent asunder. Two rather diminutive figures stepped through the resulting tear, which swiftly closed once their passage was complete. [color=DarkMagenta]“Nice place,”[/color] Nykannis remarked as she took a quick look at their desolate surroundings. [color=DarkMagenta]“I trust it’ll ensure we won’t be disturbed by any uninvited guests?”[/color]

Meanwhile, Kate greeted Penny with a peace sign and an easy-going grin. [color=Red]“Hey, Penny. Thanks for letting me tag along.”[/color]

Penny would nod her own greeting to Kate in return, appreciating the relaxed girl's atmosphere. [color=9e0039][u][b]“It’s also so I don’t have to worry about collateral.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say to Nykannis [color=9e0039][u][b]“Either on touchdown or if I feel like demonstrating any of the weapon systems. As the Earth Bastion is rather massive.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Feel free to set up some sensors before I call it if you want.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would go on to say. Their deal for the Mirror fell through so Penny was willing to be a bit more forthcoming at the moment.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Oh, I was planning on it,”[/color] Nykannis replied with a smirk. A moment later, several swarms of nanites shot forth from the mad scientist’s open palm to take up position at regularly spaced intervals around the perimeter of the area. Once in place, they coalesced into a series of bizarre, glowing, multi-eyed sensor clusters, each crowned with a wild profusion of trans and sub etheric detection antennas, spy ray projector dishes, miniature crystalline pyramids of unfathomable function, and several frenetically spinning and fluctuating protrusions of technomystic gadgetry that defied easy description. [color=DarkMagenta]“There,”[/color] Nykannis declared with a satisfied grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“Now, shall we begin? I gotta say, I’m really interested to see if this little toy of yours is as amazing as I’ve heard it is.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Well let me know if it lives up to the hype”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say with clear amusement. She was always vastly curious as to what the rumors about her said, since no one wanted to tell her themselves. Still she would turn her gaze skyward as she reached inward to the undeniable connection she had with her ship.
[color=9e0039][u][b]“Coordinates locked and uploaded.”[/b][/u][/color] She would intone softly as a sudden and massive thunderstorm materialized above them from nowhere. Without further warning a gargantuan bolt of lightning would strike down behind Penny and somewhere between the flash of light and the crack of thunder the towering form of the Earth Bastion would manifest, the ground rumbling from the impact.

The Tank ship easily dwarfed everyone here, as it stood hundreds of feet tall. Easily casting its shadow over all of them if not for the sun being directly overhead. Without any obvious action on Penny part the front loading ramp would drop open, the lip of it missing Penny by scant millimeters. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“So.”[/b][/u][/color] She would say smugly. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Ready for the tour?”[/b][/u][/color]

Kate whistled in approval and Nykannis grinned broadly as the Earth Bastion made its dramatic appearance. [color=DarkMagenta]“You better believe it,”[/color] the mad scientist replied when asked if she was ready to take the tour. [color=DarkMagenta]“I gotta admit, that was a pretty impressive entrance, Penny. I’ll bet this thing could make even a [i]Bolo[/i] jealous. Come on, Kate,”[/color] she instructed. [color=DarkMagenta]“Let’s take a look at what’s [i]inside…[/i]”[/color]

[color=Red]“Right behind ya,”[/color] Kate acknowledged after snapping a quick picture. [color=Red]“Nice landship, Penny,”[/color] she told the robotic girl. [color=Red]“So, uh, was this a gift from your patron, or were you lucky enough to just find it somewhere?”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Neither”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would answer as she followed her way up the ramp, her feet partially melding into the ship with each step leaving her gait oddly soundless. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I stole it. Or inherited it. Depends on how you look at it.”[/b][/u][/color] She would go on to explain.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“It originally belonged to a Magical girl by the name of Amber back in Penrose. I only met her a time or two, and our first meeting was when her ship, the Sky Bastion, was taken out by the Ebon mint. Which was a problem because there had been plans to use the Sky Bastion to assault the base of a crazed Dark magical girl to stop their ritual to eliminate Love in the name of their Horror Patron. The gathering of Magicals who were opposed to the crazy all pitched in to help rebuild the Sky Bastion however. With more than a few Patrons pitching in as well. That is how we got the Earth Bastion.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would gesture to the ship around them at that, as the Earth Bastion’s engines roared to life in response.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Amber and her Patron, A gold dragon, still owned the ship at that point though. It wasn’t until during the assault that I obtained ownership. It was during a fight with one of the castle’s guards. I was assimilating the ship to get more material to work with at the same time that Amber was killed. She didn’t enter the cycle though, she got out either by her own means or her Patron abandoning her I don’t know exactly. But the timing of it means I took over the connection to the Ship at the same time her’s snapped.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’ve a few theories as to why the connection stayed solid even after things settled down, but magically I’m not sure the mecanicas behind how it happened.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would shrug a bit as she looked around at the ship in appreciation. The loading ramp they had used led into a large cargo hold. Which Penny knew was the largest of three located within the Earth Bastion. Originally this cargo bay was empty, but now it housed a small contingent of additional vehicles. None as impressive as the Earth Bastion itself, but still useful. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Where are you most interested in poking around?”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would ask as the loading ramp closed behind them. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Earth Bastion is military in design so most of the rooms are going to be rather samey. And I mean besides the Engine room, because that’s obvious.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=Red]“Wow, Penny, that’s pretty ballsy,”[/color] Kate observed with an amused chuckle. [color=Red]“Aren’t you afraid that Amber’s patron might, uh, try to take it back?”[/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Of [i]course[/i] she isn’t,”[/color] Nykannis answered before Penny could give a reply. [color=DarkMagenta]“She’s [i]Penny Asimov,[/i] the most powerful being in Penrose, and quite possibly this entire reality plenum, considering she’s got the favor of the Grand Magistrate himself. You’d have to be totally nuts, or incredibly suicidal, to even [i]think[/i] about doing something like that.”[/color] Looking around the cargo hold, the mad scientist nodded in approval. [color=DarkMagenta]“I think the bridge, or wherever it is you interface with the ship from, is the most important stop,”[/color] she replied when Penny asked the mad scientist what she’d like to see first. [color=DarkMagenta]“After all, that’s where I’ll need to go when it comes time to give this thing the upgrade I promised. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the Engine room. I want to see exactly where this baby gets all its power from…”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’m actually surprised that they never accosted me about it if I’m honest.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would correct as she started to lead them deeper into the Earth Bastion. [color=9e0039][u][b]“But last I heard the dragon left Penrose. So I’m not sure I’ll hear from them again.”[/b][/u][/color] She would give a shrug, not entirely surprised that Sue left, but still surprised that she hadn’t gotten more flack over her taking of the Earth Bastion.

The engine room was nestled deep within the ship. Lower down and near the aft, It took a sizable chunk of space altogether. It was however a magitech marvel. The power source was a massive crystalian object that seemed to be constructed out of condensed mana. Magic was siphoned off of it and converted into electricity that was both stored in massive capacitors that lined the room, and directed to the generators that ringed the Crystal.

The Crystal didn’t seem to be depleting at all from the siphoning either, it was regenerating itself at the same rate it was being depleted. Effectively making it a perpetual motion machine at this base output.

[color=DarkMagenta]“A self-sustaining, sempiternal metaphysical aetheric numiosphere accelerator matrix, huh? [i]Very[/i] nice,”[/color] Nykannis commended. [color=DarkMagenta]“But then, I expected nothing less. Question- At what point will the rate of energy consumption outpace the rate of replenishment? If I’m going to add in all the improvements I have in mind, I need to know if this thing will be up to the task of meeting the energy requirements. Otherwise, I’ll just have to upgrade [i]it[/i], too,”[/color] she added with a grin. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“It’ll keep pace up to all systems running eighty percent max output. Propulsion, Weapons, Scanners, Life support, Shields & Communications. Even then it is capable of sustained output at that level for half a day. Maxing out all systems will degrade that time down to about six hours. Combat configuration depends on the firepower of the opposition, but in theory equal force could deplete it in three. Assuming that things aren’t optimized on the go.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would explain. She knew that the Earth Bastion was a frighteningly potent ace, but it was that same potency that made it so difficult for her to fully make use of. It was too big, and too specialized for day to day use in Penrose, and situations that allowed for its usage were few and far between.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“If you do need to upgrade it, I’ll need you to either walk me through the upgrades or hand over a manual so I can maintain it. I understand how it works now, not sure that would be the same after you got done.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Sounds like I’ll need to upgrade the engine, too,”[/color] Nykannis observed. [color=DarkMagenta]“And don’t worry,”[/color] she added with a chuckle. [color=DarkMagenta]“You can fully interface with the Earth Bastion now, right? Well, you’ll still be able to do so after I’ve finished making my improvements. Once you do that, you’ll have full knowledge of its new capabilities, although maintaining it won’t be a problem. Once I’m through, it’ll be fully capable of maintaining itself indefinitely. But if it makes you feel better, you’ll still be able to do it yourself, should you want to take a more ‘hands on’ approach.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Mainly just worried about not being able to understand it”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would admit without a problem.[color=9e0039][u][b] “I’ve seen what kind of math you can take advantage of after all.”[/b][/u][/color] The data cube she had gotten from Nykannis on Christmas still made her head spin. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Still let me know if I can help. As you guessed correctly, I can interface with the ship.”[/b][/u][/color] And was partially interfaced with it right now as a matter of fact.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Well, I’ll try to use small words and provide plenty of visual aids,”[/color] Nykannis replied with a smirk. [color=DarkMagenta]“As for how you can help, once we reach the bridge, I’d like you to give me full access to the Earth Bastion’s systems. See, [i]I[/i] like to take a hands on approach, myself,”[/color] she explained. [color=DarkMagenta]“It won’t take more than half a second, but I’ll need have complete control over the process in order to ensure the upgrades are integrated properly.”[/color]

Penny would hesitate at that. Not because there was anything particularly valuable hidden within the Earth Bastion's systems. It wasn’t even a matter of trust. It was because the Earth Bastion was Penny’s, one of the few things that was truly hers. And handing it over like that, even if it wasn’t truly handing it over at all, wasn’t something she wanted to do. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Alright.”[/b][/u][/color] She’d say after her moment of pause. The upgrades to the ship were necessary after all. And she’d be able to sweep the Earth Bastion herself afterwards to double and triple check everything was on the up and up.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“What can you tell me about the upgrades right now?”[/b][/u][/color] She’d move on, [color=9e0039][u][b]“Engine upgrades are easily understandable, but I’ve not had a chance to poke around a S.E.P. generator before.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Oh, I’m planning on adding a [i]LOT[/i] more than just the S.E.P field generator,”[/color] Nykannis replied with a maniacal grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“There’s the transdimensional teleportation system, of course, and the full suite of stealth systems: holographic masking, phasing cloak, perception filter, and so forth, but I was also thinking of improving the Earth Bastion’s offensive and defensive capabilities as well. Y’know, crank ‘em up to 11[sup]23[/sup] out of a possible 5. And while I’m at it, I think I’ll increase this thing’s mobility as well,”[/color] she added thoughtfully. [color=DarkMagenta]“I’ll give it full counter-grav capability, along with the fastest STL and FTL engines you’ve ever seen. By the time I’m done, you’ll have to call this the [i]Star[/i] Bastion!”[/color]


That. Was a lot more than Penny was expecting. And honestly she was a little worried about all of that being added to the Earth Bastion. And really she had only two things to say to that. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I’ve still got the remnants of the Sky engine that used to make the ship fly when it was the Sky Bastion.”[/b][/u][/color] Was the first thing that came from her. Rather nonchalantly as well. [color=9e0039][u][b]"Might be helpful for you."[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Yeah, that’ll definitely come in handy,”[/color] Nykannis agreed. [color=DarkMagenta]“It’s always nice to have a starting point.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“And why all the upgrades?”[/b][/u][/color] Was the next, much more curious. And wary, though that was hidden, it seemed like a vast, [i]vast[/i] over payment from what they originally hashed out. That made Penny worried.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Why not?”[/color] Nykannis replied with a smirk. [color=DarkMagenta]“You should know by now that I don’t [i]do[/i] half measures. When I take on a project, I take it [i]all the way.[/i]”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Queen of the Mad Sciences”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would remind herself softly after a moment of mulling over the response given to her. It made sense, Nykannis was the type to go all out simply because she could from what Penny had experienced. Plus, it probably helped that Nykannis was likely trying to get in Penny’s good books as well, the Mechanical girl hadn’t forgotten what it was Nykannis wanted from her originally after all.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Fair enough”[/b][/u][/color] She would acknowledge with a nod. Penny would still recheck everything, but she’d take the gift as well. [color=9e0039][u][b]“And I’d be willing to rechristen it if you want. Your upgrades might make it more a new ship than anything else after all.”[/b][/u][/color] She’d offer up [color=9e0039][u][b]“Because from the sounds of it the only issue I’ll have to deal with when you are done is limited space.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Limited space?”[/color] Nykannis echoed, seeming somewhat perplexed. [color=DarkMagenta]“Why would [i]that[/i] be an issue? When I’m done, this thing’ll be a [i]lot[/i] bigger, plus it’ll have access to multiple pocket dimensions for additional storage. You’ll be able to fit ten copies of your little homeless shelter inside and still have room to spare!”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I should have known”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would reply with a sigh, though she was smiling as well. She had confirmation now that, even if Nykannis hadn’t thought of the space thing before she had now. Which was useful. A tad bit worrying, as it was a lot of space to suddenly have access to. She’d be able to monitor everything well enough, but it did seem like the Sanctuary was growing a lot faster than she had been planning for.

She guessed that she’d just have to keep up as best she could.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Anything else you want to take a look at before we head to the command deck?”[/b][/u][/color] She’d pose to her guests. She was getting a lot from this, so best to pay back what she could now.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Nah,”[/color] Nykannis replied with a dismissive wave. [color=DarkMagenta]“Once I interface with the Earth Bastion, I’ll know everything I want to know about it and [i]then some,”[/i][/color] She added. [color=DarkMagenta]“I don’t suppose you have internal teleporters installed yet, so lead the way.”[/color]

[color=Red]“So, uh, you mentioned that a few Patrons actually helped out with upgrading this thing in the past,”[/color] Kate spoke up as they made their way to the bridge. [color=Red]“Anybody I might know?”[/color] she asked with a grin. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Hard to say”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would answer Kate as she led the way to the command deck. [color=9e0039][u][b]“The original Dragon helped out, as well as two gods. Neither god is well documented either, so unless you’ve been hiding out in Penrose long not sure if you’ve heard of them before.”[/b][/u][/color] She’d explain. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Most of the work was done by magical girls however, so if you consider that as an avenue of help everyone from Mint to Beacon had a hand in helping out with it.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“The Dragon’s name was Boteg, one of the gods is called The Cleansing Sun”[/b][/u][/color] She’d shrug, They still have magicals out there so might be able to learn more about them if you go looking.

[color=Red]“Huh, can’t say I’ve heard of that particular deity,”[/color] Kate admitted. [color=Red]“But if memory serves, Boteg used to own the Golden Trove hotel, right?”[/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Yeah,”[/color] Nykannis confirmed. [color=DarkMagenta]“Before he had the good sense to get the fuck out of Penrose. Still, this thing sure has one hell of a pedigree, though I suppose it’s not too surprising for something belonging to the Queen of Penrose and the Grand Magistrate’s personal favorite.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Pretty sure he left due to learning that there were other gold dragons out there somewhere. Word has it Boteg was originally operating under the assumption that he was the last one left.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would add.

[color=Red]“What [i]I’d[/i] love to know is how the heck you managed to get all those various groups to work together in the first place,”[/color] Kate observed. [color=Red]“I mean, I’ve manipulated a few high profile individuals before, but that’s [i]way[/i] more impressive than anything I’ve ever done.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“And you are giving me far too much credit.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would rub the back of her neck as they walked. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I had nothing to do with getting everyone together. It was a mix of circumstances as far as I can tell. Mint operations and Horror plots crashed into each other with a majority of Penrose natives right in the middle of it.”[/b][/u][/color] It was a fluke from Penny’s perspective, a stroke of luck that probably saved Penrose at the end, but still only luck.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“If anyone should get credit, it would be Lily Lightning. She was actively trying to get people together to take on one of the Horror plots. Without her I doubt as many people would have been there when the Sky Bastion was taken out.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny wasn’t even in the driver seat back then. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I was just in the right place at the right time to profit from it all”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=Red]“So, basically, you just got lucky?”[/color] Kate observed. [color=Red]“Man, I wish [i]I[/i] had that kinda good fortune,”[/color] she added with a chuckle.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Hey, you know [i]me[/i],”[/color] Nykannis shot back. [color=DarkMagenta]“Thanks to that, you have the most powerful camera in the omniverse, and the opportunity to take pictures of incredibly amazing stuff, like the Earth Bastion, here. What [i]more[/i] do you want?”[/color]

[color=Red]“Relax, I was only messin’ around,”[/color] Kate told her, clearly enjoying the sight of the mad scientist getting riled up. [color=Red]“I [i]still[/i] think you’re the most interesting person in the omniverse,”[/color] she added as she put her arm around Nykannis’s shoulder. [color=Red]“But Penny’s [i]definitely[/i] a close second.”[/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“You’d have to be a complete moron to [i]not[/i] think that,”[/color] Nykannis replied with a snort. [color=DarkMagenta]“She’s [i]clearly[/i] the most amazing individual in this entire reality plenum, outside of yours truly, of course. And Kate [i]does[/i] have a point,”[/color] she added, addressing the Mechanical Monarch. [color=DarkMagenta]“It’s precisely [i]because[/i] you have that kind of luck, that I find you so incredibly fascinating. So don’t for a [i]moment[/i] think that getting all those different factions to contribute, willingly or not, was just ‘something that happened’. It happened the way it did because [i]you[/i] were the one it happened to. You’re special, Penny, far more than you realize. Then again,”[/color] she added with a sigh. [color=DarkMagenta]“Perhaps it’s best if you don’t dwell too deeply on that. Lesser minds have a hard time coming to terms with the full implications of what that path leads them too. I don’t currently know if your mind is strong enough to handle such knowledge or not, but, well, just look at [i]Oros.[/i] Do you seriously want to risk winding up like [i]her?[/i]”[/color]


Penny would give a visible shudder. [color=9e0039][u][b]“No thank you. Talking to Find and Replace was more than enough.”[/b][/u][/color] Oros was plenty of warning enough about the dangers of knowing too much. [color=9e0039][u][b]“That said, I am aware, to a degree, of my unique situation. Though how deep it goes is more than I’m aware of. If what you are implying is true. But it’s impossible for me to miss, even if it wasn’t for my ability to sense the metaphorical weight of something.There is a long string of impressive coincidences in my recent history.”[/b][/u][/color] She would restrain from adding a gesture to the Earth Bastion and adding ‘Like here and now’ because this did seem like another one to her. Though it wasn’t quite the same degree as the others.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’m grateful for the windfalls, but viewing it as simply luck means I’m less likely to assume that it will keep happening for when it stops.”[/b][/u][/color] She’d expand. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Plus I truly don’t know why some of the things happened, so luck is easier to tell people.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“That’s fair, I suppose,”[/color] Nykannis conceded. [color=DarkMagenta]“I mean, who knows? Maybe the only reason you’re getting placed upon such a lofty pinnacle is so that it will hurt all the more when something comes along and knocks you off it. Not that I think something like that is gonna happen, mind you,”[/color]  she added. [color=DarkMagenta]“Just that it’s a possibility. Trust me, I know from painful experience…”[/color] 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’m not surprised to hear that.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say, somewhat subdued by the implication that everything that had happened to her was just a prelude to a personal fall. It was unsettling, because she couldn’t fully discount it.

Regardless, before the conversation could continue they would arrive at the Command deck. It was one of the highest points on the Earth Bastion and was a large seemingly empty room with floor to ceiling windows spanning every wall of the room. In a traditional location the panoramic view would give a rather breathtaking view of everything around, but seeing as they were in a wasteland it was rather unimpressive.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Welcome to the Command Deck”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say as they stepped into the room, and with a gesture dozens upon dozens of monitors and control interfaces would meld out of the floor as the glass walls shrank and were replaced with smaller less structurally weak ones to make room for some of the computers that rose up.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“These stations monitor the various different sectors of the Earth Bastion, with the more important ones being located closer to the center.”[/b][/u][/color] She’d explain [color=9e0039][u][b]“That one is the central command and is connected to everything”[/b][/u][/color] A gesture towards a notably larger bank not far in front of the group. 

[color=DarkMagenta]“Nice,”[/color] Nykannis noted with a grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“So, with your permission, I’ll just plug in and get to work,”[/color] she added as she made her way over to the central command console and rested a hand upon it.

Penny sent a long look at the central console, and to a normal outside observer that was all she was doing. But in truth, she was withdrawing from the internal systems of the Earth Bastion. It was a slow process, relatively speaking, as she was making sure to scrub as much of her own traces from the computers. She knew that she’d not be able to remove everything, some part of her was too intrinsically tied to the ship, but that didn’t mean she had to make it easy for the mad scientist.

Penny was also taking her time as she still didn’t feel comfortable letting go of the Earth Bastion in such a way. But for the Sanctuary, she was willing to risk it.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“System is open”[/b][/u][/color] She would say at last, though it was the work of a minute at most. [color=9e0039][u][b]“You are free to get on with the Daft Punk”[/b][/u][/color]

Nykannis grinned maniacally, her smile stretching from ear to ear as her eyes seemed to shimmer with a crazed gleam. [color=DarkMagenta]“Harder, better, faster, stronger like you wouldn’t believe!”[/color] the Monarch of Mad Science confirmed. [color=DarkMagenta]“I’m gonna plus ultra the SHIT outta this thing! Nyahahaha!”[/color] she cackled with insane glee as she assumed her monstrous combat form. However, instead of weapons, her myriad appendages were now tipped with a dizzying array of bizarre technomantic tools, which glowed with barely-contained power. A second later, and every cybernetic servo arm and tentacular mechadendrite had plugged itself into the Earth Bastion, in some cases phasing into and fusing with the very walls, ceiling, and floor. Nykannis’s grin only broadened once she’d fully interfaced with the massive vessel, her multiple eyes glowing with deranged delight. [color=DarkMagenta]“You weren’t kidding, Penny!”[/color] the Mad Scientist Supreme exclaimed excitedly. [color=DarkMagenta]“Some pretty high-level Patrons really [i]did[/i] have quite a hand in designing this thing! Nyahahaha! This is even [i]better[/i] than I expected!”[/color] she continued to gush. [color=DarkMagenta]“I always prefer to work with the highest quality materials available, but [i]this[/i] might just be the fucking jackpot! All right!”[/color] she announced as the build up of starkly astounding and exceptionally esoteric energies reached a world-shattering crescendo. [color=DarkMagenta]“It’s time to begin, so just sit back and enjoy the show!”[/color]

With an utterly inconceivable expulsion of hyperomnienchantech power, Nykannis began working her super-scientific sorcery. Every system of the mighty vessel was upgraded to the Nth degree, while a myriad of [i]new[/i] systems were added, augmenting the landship’s abilities to previously unimagined levels. Its very form shifted and grew to stupendous size, and that was only what could be visually perceived. To those with higher levels of awareness, it would become abundantly clear that the Earth Bastion, or rather, the [i]Star[/i] Bastion, wasn’t just expanding in height, width, and length, but into several hyper, mega, and ultra dimensions as well. It was now a true omninaught, capable of traveling anywhere and any[i]when[/i], throughout the vast infinity of infinities, and of doing any[i]thing[/i] once it arrived. True to her word, Nykannis was never one for half measures, and the Monarch of Mad Science was pouring every ounce of her incomparable technomantic powers into her newest creation. Indeed, for the briefest of moments, Nykannis [i]was[/i] the Star Bastion…

But only for the briefest of moments.

An instant later, the work was complete, and Nykannis fully withdrew herself from the Star Bastion and returned to her diminutive mundane form. [color=DarkMagenta]“Mmmm…”[/color] she sighed wistfully as she closed her eyes and ran her fingers over the central command console. [color=DarkMagenta]“This brings me back,”[/color] she added with more than hint of nostalgia. [color=DarkMagenta]“If you ever felt like leaving this dump and traveling the omniverse, this would be a suitable vessel for such a voyage…”[/color] After taking a moment to savor her accomplishment, Nykannis opened her eyes and spread her arms to encompass the mighty vessel around them. [color=DarkMagenta]“Well, there you have it, Penny!”[/color] the Monarch of Mad Science announced. [color=DarkMagenta]“The Star Bastion! A warship even more powerful than the mightiest of my hypernaughts! Heck, you could probably kill a [i]deity[/i] with this thing,”[/color] she added with a sly smirk. [color=DarkMagenta]“If you were so inclined.”[/color]

It was a dizzying sensation for Penny to witness; The emergence of the Star Bastion was unlike anything she had ever seen before. Because despite not being equipped for it, not being interfaced with it, she could still feel it growing and expanding. In all directions.

A look of wonder was on Penny’s face as she traced her eyes across the room. Softly she stepped forward and also rested her hand on top of the central command station. Taking a moment to brace herself Penny once again connected to the ship.

And instantly had her breath taken away again.

Because while it was only at the height of her powers that Nykannis was one with the Star Bastion. But it was easier than breathing for Penny to reach in and close that gap herself, and it would last much longer than a single instant. And if she could cry she was certain that tears would be streaming down her face.

 As for the first time since Jason had left. Since the first time she had become independent, Penny felt like she was home. The Sanctuary was Jason’s dream, one that Penny supported and adopted, just like how the warehouse was Jason’s home long before it became Penny’s.

But this here, was Penny’s. A place she retreated to when she was tired of watching her human host self destruct again. Somewhere that used to be more dream than reality. A bastion she had stolen for herself. Freedom, protection, and home all wrapped up in one. A figment she had thought lost, but had now regained.

Suddenly she was struck with the near violent urge to run away. The multiverse was vast, and she now had everywhere and anywhere at the tips of her fingers. Anywhen and everywhen as well from the sounds of it. All she had to do was pick a place and they would be gone. 

Gone and free to find who she was without Jason’s ghost or Penrose’s insanity hanging over her.

She could even just find a dead point and spend years learning everything about what her ship could now do. Because even as connected to it as she was, it was still a bit out of her league to simply understand all of it. But that would come with time.

Thus she was so very tempted to simply accept Nykannis’ offer to go exploring. But she didn’t. Because she wanted her word to mean something, and she had already given it out to people in Penrose. That did little to blunt the want however. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I’ve got your number.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say quietly. [color=9e0039][u][b]“You will be one of the first to know when that road trip happens.”[/b][/u][/color] She would promise. Because unlike many of the other magical’s, Penny already knew just how long eternity could stretch on for. The patience of Metal, and the mind of a machine. Time did not hide from her perspective. Earth could only be her home for so long. This was something that Penny was well aware of.

She had a feeling that Nykannis knew that about eternity too.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“For now I’ve still got to stay in Penrose.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say, carefully packing away at the thoughts and wants that had come to the fore with the new reforging of her ship. Along with those thoughts, the ship itself was also shifting. Chameleon circuits were activating, along with dimensional shifters and good old physical rearrangements.

A moment later it was impossible to tell much of anything had ever happened to the Earth Bastion. As everything looked just like it had, save for a new set of consoles displaying the stealth systems. Deeper within the ship one would also find the engine upgrades and wormhole generators also still inplace, even if the majority of their capabilities were hidden. One would also find that the inside of the ship contained a fair bit more space than it should, but not so extensively as to draw extreme suspicions.

Everything else was simply hidden away, out of sync with the rest of the ship. Both dimensionally and otherwise. Penny could still sense the rest of it however, no matter how well she had hidden it she would always know her ship, but that was because it was hers more than anything else. She wasn’t ready for the star’s just yet, but she would be one day.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’ll pass on the god slaying as well.”[/b][/u][/color] She’d add with a shake of her head. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I’m a bit too young to deal with the fallout of that I think.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny wasn’t sure if the ship was capable of that, but didn’t really want to find out one or the other right now. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Don’t want him dead anyway.”[/b][/u][/color] It wasn’t hard to guess the implication, at least if what Penny thought Nykannis was implying was correct anyway.

[color=DarkMagenta]“That’s fine,”[/color] Nykannis replied, seemingly unbothered by Penny’s commitment to her obligations in Penrose. [color=DarkMagenta]“I was just noting the possibility. And I’m glad you like it,”[/color] she added with a pleased grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“I always take great pride in my work, and I think I really outdid myself this time.”[/color]

[color=Red]“You can say [i]that[/i] again…”[/color] Kate agreed. [color=Red]“This thing makes my camera look like a piece of old junk.”[/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“I wouldn’t go [i]that[/i] far,”[/color] Nykannis corrected. [color=DarkMagenta]“I’d say it’s definitely one of my top five greatest inventions. Still, for now at least, [i]this[/i] has got to be number one…”[/color]

That comparison would draw Penny’s attention to the innocuous looking camera Kate held. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Now I have to ask.”[/b][/u][/color] As Penny could sorta understand why the Star Bastion was ranked how it was. It was a work of art and a technological and magical marvel all in one after all. [color=9e0039][u][b]“What does your camera do?”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Go on, tell her,”[/color] Nykannis instructed. [color=DarkMagenta]“We have no secrets here, and there’s no harm in sharing.”[/color]

[color=Red]“Well, it does a [i]lot[/i] of things,”[/color] Kate replied. [color=Red]“But mainly, it’s like the Snapshots Perk. On steroids,”[/color] she added with a chuckle. [color=Red]“It’s got a ton more features, but they’re only accessible when I transform, and I try to avoid doing that if I can help it.”[/color]

Penny pulled her attention up from the camera to give Kate a slightly bewildered look. [color=9e0039][u][b]"You came out here untransformed?"[/b][/u][/color] That was either crazy or the photographer had great respect for Nykannis' ability to protect her. Or both.

[color=9e0039][u][b]"Gods that must be nice as well"[/b][/u][/color] Penny would add after a moment. It was a rare moment when she could feel safe enough to power down. Life outside of Penrose must be so slow paced.

[color=9e0039][u][b]"Still that only raises more questions about the camera."[/b][/u][/color] Penny would shake off the momentary ponderings of a life outside Penrose again. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I already figured that it was good for information gathering, but what else can it be used for? You can stick to broad strokes if you don’t want to tell me details.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=Red]“Nah, it’s fine,”[/color] Kate reassured her. [color=Red]“So, the main feature is that I can make ‘negative copies’ of anything I take a picture of. Once I do that, though, it removes the image from the camera’s memory, so I only use it when I’m in a jam, mostly as a distraction while I make a quick getaway. And yeah,”[/color] she added with a chuckle. [color=Red]“I go [i]most[/i] places untransformed. I prefer not to attract too much attention, y’know, just blend in with the crowd. I’m more of a passive observer, as opposed to a fighter,”[/color] the photographer explained. [color=Red]“I basically just gather information for various clients. If I get in a situation where I’m forced to transform, then that means I’m having a [i]really[/i] bad day. As for other features, I can speed up or slow down a target, disorient them, and even freeze ‘em in place. But that last one requires them to be perfectly still,”[/color] she clarified. [color=Red]“So as you can probably imagine, I don’t really make much use of it.”[/color]


[color=9e0039][u][b]“Blue magic, extensive information gathering, and limited Time spec. And functional both inside and outside of a full transformation”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would summarize giving the camera an appreciative look. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I’d guess it’s got its own mana capacity apart from yours and is protected from theft and tampering as well based on what I know of her”[/b][/u][/color] She would add, gesturing to Nykannis.

[color=Red]“Oh you better believe it,”[/color] Kate confirmed with grin. [color=Red]“Anyone messes with this baby, and they’re on a one way ride to agony city,”[/color] she added, tapping the camera in question. [color=Red]“Although I think you might have misunderstood how many of its abilities I can use when I’m untransformed. Right now, all I have access to are its information gathering capabilities,”[/color] she explained. [color=Red]“If I wanna do any of that other stuff, well… ‘Impractical outfit’ doesn’t even [i]begin[/i] to describe it…”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“That camera sounds awesome.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would claim with a chuckle. It was hard not to enjoy spending time with these two. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Just try not to use my or the Bastion’s copies in Penrose. And if a copy of me ever mentions anything about starting a phase five. Run.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=Red]“Uh, okay… I’ll be sure to keep that in mind…”[/color] Kate replied. That was [i]definitely[/i] something to look into later… [color=Red]“But, uh, like I said before, I’m not really one for combat, so I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about.”[/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“And if you’re [i]smart,[/i] you won’t take a job anywhere [i]near[/i] Penrose to begin with,”[/color] Nykannis added. [color=DarkMagenta]“No offense, Penny, but your city [i]really[/i] isn’t the best place for one’s health.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]"Preaching to the choir, Nykannis"[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say with a sigh. [color=9e0039][u][b]"I've been hit with Killing Blow twice in Penrose related madness, kidnapped to the Over City and beyond, and I've met more lesser Horrors than anyone would like."[/b][/u][/color] Penny knew her home was a very dangerous place. [color=9e0039][u][b]"It's one of the reasons I'm sticking around, not everyone else is built to thrive in those conditions, much less survive. The ones stranded there need somewhere to be safe."[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]"There are some unique perks to Penrose though."[/b][/u][/color] She'd add before turning back to Kate. [color=9e0039][u][b]"For example, there is a shop that sells Artifacts for Coins, and one line of artifacts are uniform modifiers. Everything from accessories to full outfit changes. If you'd be willing to pay for the Uniform and a bit extra for delivery I could do the shopping for you."[/b][/u][/color]

[color=Red]“Thanks, but, uh, it’s not exactly that simple,”[/color] Kate replied with an apologetic frown. [color=Red]“My transformed appearance is indelibly linked to the camera,”[/color] she explained. [color=Red]“Only Nykannis can change it…”[/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Yeah, and [i]that’s[/i] not gonna happen any time soon,”[/color] the mad scientist agreed. [color=DarkMagenta]“I mean, I’ve gotta get my amusement [i]somehow,[/i]”[/color] she added with a grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“And she fully deserves it, after what she did to me that one time on Melloanth….”[/color]

Penny would shrug at that [color=9e0039][u][b]“It’s Penrose. You want to bet that they won’t be able to do the unexpected?”[/b][/u][/color] She would challenge, but otherwise wouldn’t press the topic. There was something else that was more immediately interesting.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“That aside, it almost sounds like you’re her Patron, Nykannis.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say turning a raised eyebrow back to the mad queen. [color=9e0039][u][b]“With how her abilities are tied to a gift of yours that only you can change.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“Heh, I guess you could say that,”[/color] Nykannis conceded with a chuckle. [color=DarkMagenta]“But I don’t control her actions or anything like that. She’s free to do whatever she likes.”[/color]

[color=Red]“Yeah, Nykannis only made the camera,”[/color] Kate confirmed. [color=Red]“I’m still very much a free agent, though I’m more than happy to do work for her, as long as I’m compensated for my trouble,”[/color] she added with a grin.

That didn’t dissipate the similarities in Penny’s opinion. If anything it just cemented them even further, as that was how things felt both now under Beacon and before when she was under her old patron. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Fair enough”[/b][/u][/color] She’d conceded anyway, no need to argue the point when she could hear the truth from them regardless.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I suppose that concludes our business for today then?”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would ask, turning back to gaze at the command deck again. A moment later the consoles would sink back into the floor allowing the windows to once again dominate the walls.

[color=DarkMagenta]“It would certainly appear so,”[/color] Nykannis confirmed.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Will you two be disembarking here or do you want to see the maiden voyage of the warp gate?”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=DarkMagenta]“As enjoyable as that sounds, I’d rather like to avoid going anywhere [i]near[/i] Penrose and its assorted stupidity, if I can help it,”[/color] the mad scientist replied. [color=DarkMagenta]“Besides, I have some [i]other[/i] matters that require my attention… Anyway, enjoy your new toy, Penny, and be careful out there. Complacency kills, although [i]you[/i] of all people should be painfully aware of that by now.”[/color]

[color=Red]“And thanks for letting me tag along,”[/color] Kate added with an appreciative smile. [color=Red]“This was a lot of fun.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“No problem Kate”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say with a nod [color=9e0039][u][b]“And yeah I get that Nykannis. Keep your eyes out as well. Disconnected as you are, the city has a way of dragging people into it. And someone is gunning for Penrose but it sounds like they will be starting outside the city first.”[/b][/u][/color] She would warn.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Well, if they try anything stupid in Silverburg, they’re gonna regret it [i]real[/i] quick,”[/color] Nykannis replied with a malicious grin. [color=DarkMagenta]“But hopefully they’re smarter than that, for [i]their[/i] sake…”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“They are gunning for Penrose. I think that says everything about their intelligence it needs to”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would respond dryly.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Good point,”[/color] Nykannis conceded with a chuckle.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“You want me to walk you outside or are you just jumping from here?”[/b][/u][/color] She’d go on to ask.

[color=DarkMagenta]“Oh, no need to trouble yourself,”[/color] the mad scientist replied with a dismissive wave. [color=DarkMagenta]“Right here works just fine.”[/color] As if to prove it, a crackling dimensional doorway opened next to the diminutive doctor, who promptly stepped through it, followed by Kate. [color=DarkMagenta]“See you around, Penny,”[/color] Nykannis said with a wave, the ultratechnomantic landscape of her lab glowing, blinking, and bubbling behind her. [color=DarkMagenta]“And don’t worry about your favorite mad scientist,” she added with a grin. “It’ll take a LOT more than some Wonderland reject to stop [i]my[/i] plans…”[/color] 

[color=Red]“Later!”[/color] Kate added, while throwing up a peace sign. 

An instant later, the portal winked out of existence with a loud vorp!, leaving the Mechanical Monarch alone once more.

Penny stood there for a few moment’s simply watching the space in which Nykannis left from. Eventually she would nod to herself as she turned back to face the open horizon. Slowly, her color would drain away. Leaving her with only matte grays, the only parts that were different were her hair and eyes. Her hair was stark white, and her eyes were electric blue.

Silently she melded into the Star Bastion. Becoming indistinguishable from it. For a few minutes nothing externally happened. As Penny brought the full weight of her machine self to the fore and scoured every single line of code and system within the Bastion. She might not understand what everything did, nor the science behind all of it. But she did know everything that her ship would do by the end of her examinations.

After that, she re-encrypted everything using a different base code. She didn’t find any back doors, and if she did she closed them, but that didn’t mean she trusted the one who gave her the ship to not have a way of looking in. Penny doubted it would really stop Nykannis, but it might stall her.

After that Penny pulsed her Titan’s Reignment through the ship. Stripping any magical ownership of anyone who wasn’t Penny herself. She’d been burned by that before after all.

Finally she would strengthen the ties of importance between herself and the Bastion. She had no real idea what that would do, but it made her feel better to have touched the reborn ship with all of her magics.

After that it was time to leave. But Penny wasn’t heading to Penrose first.

As she started up the wormhole generator Penny afixed her destination in mind as best she could. She didn’t have the coordinates, wasn’t sure if where she was aiming to go actually had coordinates if she was honest. That didn’t mean she didn’t know where she was aiming for however.

With a sound like a crashing tsunami the gateway tore into existence underneath the fearsome battleship, and a moment later it was gone. The gate snapping closed the instant the ship had cleared it.

[hr]

The Earth Bastion landed with a surprisingly soft thump. Or perhaps not surprising when one looked around. This new place was vast in a way that defied description. The very atmosphere itself made the full might of the dreadnaught seem insignificant in comparison.

There wasn’t truly a ground, even as the massive ship rested upon something, what it tread upon didn’t stop one from seeing in all directions. And everywhere one would look they would see an endless vista of stars and nebulae. It was the entirety of space packed together as far as the eye could see. Gaps were rare, and there were no truly empty portions anywhere.

But what really commanded Penny’s attention was a figure in the distance.

They were humanoid in shape, male if physique was to be trusted, and even though they were impossibly far off, they towered over the Earthbastion. The figure was little more than a silhouette against the glow of a nearby star undergoing a supernova. But within that silhouette was yet more stars and swirls of color.

Silently the figure turned to regard the Earth Bastion, its gaze unerringly focusing on Penny, regardless of her sublimated nature at the moment. Penny matched the figure’s gaze with one of her own.

They stayed watching each other for some time. Silent. As there was nothing that could, or should be said at this time. Yet that did not mean the simple acknowledgement was any less important.

Eventually the Earth Bastion would vanish from sight, enshrouded in every stealth system it had at its capacity. Not that it deterred the watching figure. With a sound like cracking ice another portal would rip open below where the ship was hidden from view, and a moment later it would snap shut.

The figure would wait a moment longer before giving a single deceive nod. Then they would return to their work.
Planes away, tucked away as best it could be in the harbor of Penrose, still under several layers of stealth shielding, sat the Earth Bastion. Penny would emerge from her ship once again full of her normal coloration. [color=9e0039][u][b]“It was good seeing you again.”[/b][/u][/color] She would speak, breaking the silence. Knowing that they would hear her.

Shaking her head, Penny would plot a course for as near to the Sanctuary as she could manage. It was time for everyone to move to a better home. One that could keep them all safe. As things were starting to pick up in Penrose, as they always did.