[center][img]https://images2.imgbox.com/73/c1/qE6dcLqJ_o.png[/img] [color=Red][h2][b][i]Chapter Seven- Gotta Catch 'Em All![/i][/b][/h2] [h3][i][b]Part Three- Nova Lux, A Magical Girl School![/b][/i][/h3][/color] [color=Red]I wonder which has the higher academic ranking, this place or Marrywell Academy...[/color] [color=888888]-Kate[/color][/center] On average, most universes in which magical girls exist feature a form of “masquerade”, which serves to hide supernatural activity from the mundane masses. Yet, as far as Kate was concerned, that only made the universes that [i]didn’t[/i] possess this veil [i]significantly[/i] more interesting places to visit, universes like her next destination. In this particular universe’s version of the mid to late 21st century, a mountain-sized eldritch abomination suddenly appeared, throwing the world into chaos. This creature, which future generations would call the First Void, not only left a trail of cataclysmic devastation in its wake, but flooded the world with an otherworldly substance called Nox. Sweeping across the Earth’s surface in dark, roiling clouds, Nox reshaped the planet, and, more significantly, its inhabitants, violently twisting anything it touched into nightmarish landscapes and savage monstrosities known as Voids. Like the First Void that spawned them, these lesser Voids seemed utterly impervious to any and all conventional weapons. They did not sleep, did not tire, and did not stop killing everything in their path. Humanity seemed doomed, its last pitiful remnants huddled atop the highest elevations and behind hastily erected barriers, but then, in humanity’s darkest hour, a light of hope emerged. Nox, it was discovered, could be refined to power weapons capable of harming the Voids, and even more astonishingly, some exceedingly rare individuals proved capable of harnessing Nox to perform extraordinary feats. Armed with these new, “magitech” weapons, and fighting under the command of twelve magically-gifted heroines, humanity was ultimately able to slay the First Void and stave off extinction. That was over a hundred years ago. Although the First Void was slain, dense clouds of Nox continue to smother much of the planet, forcing what remains of humanity to live in a collection of fortified “Sanctum Cities”, scattered across the globe. Even so, hope continues to burn brightly. Although Nox and the Voids spawned by it continue to be a threat, humanity, united under the banner of the Novus Orbim Imperium, refuses to surrender their planet, working tirelessly to reclaim the world that has been lost to them, even as they defend against the Voids’ continued attacks. At the undisputed forefront of these efforts are the Magical Girls, or Ars Magi, gifted females who are capable of harnessing Nox. Yet, in a world as dangerous as this one, natural gifts are not enough. They must be both amplified and refined, and in all the world, there is only [i]one[/i] place in which these things can be accomplished- Nova Lux Academy. Located in the Sanctum City of Palmyra, a coastal metropolis once known as Vladivostok, it is the pride of the Imperium, and where it cultivates its greatest hope for the future. It is also, unsurprisingly, extremely heavily guarded, and while Kate had no doubt that she could infiltrate the academy if she put her mind to it, the photographer quickly came to the decision that it would be far easier to wait for her target at the arcade the Ars Magi supposedly frequented. And so that was where she currently found herself, waiting for [url=https://i.imgur.com/QukRjYx.jpg]a slight, dark-haired girl[/url] to defeat the final boss of Area 51. [color=Gold]“Okay!”[/color] the girl called as she fired several rounds from her light gun into the boss’s weak point. [color=Gold]“Almost got him, so get ready!”[/color] [color=Red]“All set,”[/color] Kate confirmed, holding up her camera and focusing on the climactic confrontation before her. An instant later, and the boss was vanquished, its vaguely flying saucer-shaped form blasting apart in a golden starburst. At that very moment, the girl spun to face Kate and struck a pose with her light gun, giving the camera a wink and a bright smile. The explosion was only onscreen for a split second, but Kate wouldn’t be a top-notch photographer if she didn’t have perfect timing. [color=Red]“Check it out,”[/color] she told the beaming girl with a grin of her own as she showed her the camera’s display. Not only had the image been captured with perfect clarity, but the use of a low-key flash had created a small sparkle on the prominent fang poking out of the girl’s mouth. [color=Gold]“Awesome!”[/color] the girl cheered, her golden eyes gleaming as she shot a fist into the air. [color=Gold]“Thanks a lot!”[/color] she added as she returned to the screen to put her name on the game’s scoreboard. [color=Gold]“Can ya take one more when they show the high scores?!”[/color] she asked, while shooting the letters “D”, “A”, “N”, and “A” onto the line presented. [color=Red]“Sure,”[/color] Kate confirmed with a nod. Right after the final letter was inserted, the still-grinning Dana spun around once more and flashed a victory sign. *SNAP!* [color=Red]“Looks like we’ve got another winner,”[/color] Kate noted with approval as she examined the display. [color=Red]“In more ways than one,”[/color] she added with a chuckle. [color=Gold]“You can say [i]that[/i] again!”[/color] Dana agreed with a giggle. [color=Gold]“Not only was that the first time I’ve ever gotten one hundred percent accuracy, but I met a totally awesome photographer to help me celebrate my victory! Is this my lucky day, or what?!”[/color] she added, before jabbing a finger at the name directly below hers on Area 51’s scoreboard. [color=Gold]“Eat that, Oros!”[/color] [color=Red]“Uh, speakin’ of Oros, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about her, would ya?”[/color] Kate inquired. [color=Red]“I hear she’s pretty famous in this place, so I was kinda hopin’ I’d get a chance to take her picture.”[/color] [color=Gold]“Sorry, but I’ve never seen her,”[/color] Dana replied with a frown. [color=Gold]“Not many people have,”[/color] she added. [color=Gold]“Word is, she sneaks in when the place is closed and plays pretty much every game, gettin’ a top score on each one. She even hacked some of em’ to let their scoreboards display four letters instead of three, just so she could write her whole name, which is pretty cool, since now [i]I[/i] can write [i]my[/i] whole name, too!”[/color] the sunny sharpshooter added with a giggle. [color=Gold]“Y’know, I even heard a rumor that she’s a member of the Duodecim, but it’d be totally crazy if it was true! I mean, most of the nobles I’ve met are like my teammate, Vanna, super refined and stuff. The only way [i]she’d[/i] come to a place like this is if we dragged her! Then again, there [i]was[/i] that girl Aiya who Nicole met at the ball, so maybe Oros is more like her?”[/color] she mused, before stopping abruptly as her auric eyes caught sight of something of interest. [color=Gold]“Oh, hey!”[/color] she called to [url=https://static.zerochan.net/Enomoto.Takane.full.1653227.jpg]a girl[/url] sitting at a nearby table, while waving at her with considerable enthusiasm. [color=Gold]“You’re that Ice elementum girl from Team 5! Crystal, right?!”[/color] The girl being waved at blinked and looked up from her sketchpad. Her jaw was working to chew what could only be bubblegum, and she gave a slow wave back. [color=00aeef]”Yes, I am.[/color] Crystal suddenly regretted not following through with her plan of reading over the student roster yet, because she didn’t recognize this girl. [color=00aeef]”May I ask your name, then?"[/color] [color=Gold]“It’s Dana Noel!”[/color] the grinning gunslinger replied as she darted over to Crystal’s table, with Kate following behind her at a considerably more relaxed pace. [color=Gold]“I’m a Light elementum specialist from Team 3, though we like to call ourselves Team Radiant Storm!”[/color] [color=Red]“Kate Carson,”[/color] Kate added with a peace sign. [color=Red]“Just an ordinary photographer.”[/color] [color=Gold]“It’s really nice to meet ya, Crystal!”[/color] Dana continued, holding out her hand for a shake. [color=Gold]“Oh wow!”[/color] she exclaimed upon catching sight of Crystal’s sketch pad, her golden eyes gleaming even brighter. [color=Gold]“That’s some awesome artwork!”[/color] Crystal nodded at the two girls, pulling out a pack of bubblegum. [color=00aeef]”It’s nice to meet you too. Both of you. Gum?”[/color] She held out two sticks of regular flavor to the girls while putting one in her own mouth. As she saw Dana look at her work, she smiled. [color=00aeef]”Thank you. I’m trying to get a little better at backgrounds, so drawing the arcade will hopefully help with that.”[/color] [color=Gold]“Well, you’re off to a great start!”[/color] Dana told her after popping the offered gum in her mouth. [color=Gold]“I know people who’d kill to be able to draw as good as this!”[/color] [color=Red]“Yeah,”[/color] Kate agreed as she chewed on her own piece. [color=Red]“You’ve really captured all the major details. Do you come here often to study the layout?”[/color] [color=00aeef]”I tend to go a few places, this being one of them. I’ve got some from the roof of the school, too. That’s where I usually draw from.”[/color] Crystal carefully turned to another page, showing a view from the rooftop of Nova Lux. [color=00aeef]”But I’m a little surprised at a photographer being at an arcade. Or are you here on break?”[/color] [color=Gold]“Oooh, sweet!”[/color] Dana declared, while taking a closer look at the sketch of Nova Lux’s lavish campus gardens. [color=Red]“Actually, I’m here to photograph someone,”[/color] Kate replied. [color=Red]“I’ve heard there’s a girl named Oros who’s managed to get the high score on nearly every game in this place, and I was kinda hopin’ to get a picture of her,”[/color] the photographer explained. [color=00aeef]”I haven’t heard of her. You came all the way here for a local arcade story?”[/color] Crystal was somewhat surprised. But she also didn’t fully understand photography anyway. [color=Red]“I’m a freelance photographer,”[/color] Kate replied. [color=Red]“Takin’ pictures of interestin’ stuff’s kinda my thing,”[/color] she added with a shrug. [color=Gold]“Yeah, like me beatin’ Oros’s high score on Area 51!”[/color] Dana declared with a grin as she finally looked up from Crystal’s sketchpad. [color=00aeef]”Huh. How did you find out about this ‘Oros’ person? Am I just out of the loop? … That wouldn’t be surprising, actually.[/color] Crystal turned the page back to what she was working on. [color=00aeef]”Though, congratulations on beating the high score, Dana. If this person beat almost all the games, then beating their score in even one is impressive.”[/color] While the girls conversed, the arcade continued to move. At this hour, the arcade was mostly filled with the pizzeria’s customers that were waiting for their food. They’d order, play a few games, then eat in or take their food directly home. It meant that the arcade was seeing plenty of action, but most weren’t sticking around for more than a few minutes. Most, but not [i]all[/i] of them. Among the many faces in the arcade was [url=https://images2.imgbox.com/fa/8c/g2ozi81t_o.png]one that didn’t look like she could see.[/url] Her bangs veiled her eyes, unlike what her outfit did for the majority of her body. She was holding a tray with two hotdogs on it, and there was a third one in her mouth. Her “gaze” was set on the Area 51 machine, which was currently displaying all the top scores. She pushed the hotdog into her mouth as she watched the screen change. Area 51 wasn’t sophisticated. It was an on-rails light gun game that scored you based on your accuracy, kill streak, and damage taken. The game looped forever, and it was just a matter of time before a player’s fatigue set in and their health ran out. Getting a high score required endurance and memorization, as well as accuracy. Reloading your gun at the wrong time or missing a cue could turn into an instant game over. She set her tray aside and finished eating the hotdog she was chewing on. Then, she slid a few coins in the machine. She picked up a light gun with one hand and another hotdog with the other. It was game time. Mutants popped out of cover, but they were never fast enough to overwhelm their adversary. She knew exactly where they were all hiding, and when they were going to be a threat. Sometimes an enemy would shamble onto screen, but she would target a newly arrived that would have been faster to the draw. Her bangs danced side to side as she fired in one corner, then the other. When there was a dull moment, she reloaded her gun. If there was a [i]really[/i] dull moment, she’d take a bite out of her hotdog. It seemed like she missed a few shots but- Did she just enter a secret area? She didn’t even bother looking at the stat screens, and dismissed them as quickly as she could. She was on level three and also on her third hot dog. [color=Gold]“Well, her name’s on the scoreboard of pretty much every game here, so it’s kinda hard [i]not[/i] to know about her,”[/color] Dana was explaining with a chuckle. [color=Gold]“Have ya even [i]played[/i] any of these games, or do ya just come here to sketch?”[/color] she asked Crystal with a teasing grin. Yet, for Kate’s part, the friendly banter had been pushed to the background as she focused her full attention on the young woman who was now playing Area 51 and… eating hot dogs at the same time…? To Kate’s further astonishment, the girl even seemed to be entering secret areas that even Dana had been unaware of, and doing numerous other things that appeared to go well beyond the game’s original specifications. [color=Red][i]I-Is she hacking it while playing?[/i][/color] [color=Red]“Uh, guys,”[/color] the photographer spoke up. [color=Red]“I’m pretty sure [i]that’s[/i] her,”[/color] she added, subtly pointing a finger at the hotdog-munching young lady who was even now putting the finishing touches on the game’s third level. [color=00aeef]”You caught me.”[/color] Crystal said to Dana just before Kate spoke. The girl in question just happened to show up as they were talking about her? She looked over to the game, but without any knowledge of how it was played she didn’t catch what was so special about this girl. [color=00aeef]”What makes you say that?”[/color] The contender made the first three levels look easy, but as Dana knew, the difficulty really ramped up on that fourth level. That was the second to last proper level before the fight against the mothership. There were some difficult sections, but she had enough grenade power ups to push through them. But her reserves were starting to run thin, and there weren’t enough secret rooms to top her up anymore. This was the end of the game. It was hard. As soon as a scene transition started, she reached for the tray beside her, only to grasp at thin air. She looked at the empty tray in horror. [color=Lime]”Oh gosh! Oh dear!”[/color] She looked around in a panic. It wasn’t long before her eyes rested on the group of three girls looking at her. [color=Lime]”You there!”[/color] She tossed the gun to Dana. [color=Lime]”Keep me alive! I forgot part of my order!”[/color] She picked up her tray and rushed into the pizzeria. Meanwhile, the screen was starting to fill up with aliens and zombies. [color=Red]“Well…”[/color] Kate began to explain, before the girl they were observing had a minor freak out and literally chucked her light gun at them. [color=Gold]“U-Uh, o-okay…!”[/color] A startled Dana called back to the mystery girl as she deftly caught the light gun, before racing to stand in front of the game’s screen, still not quite sure what exactly was going on, but ever willing to help someone in need. [color=Red]“Um, as I was saying,”[/color] Kate continued in a dazed deadpan. [color=Red]“That girl’s clearly making the game do some stuff it wasn't intended to do, to say nothing of the fact that she was [i]eating hotdogs[/i] while playing a light gun game and still doing [i]well[/i] at it.[/color] [color=00aeef]”She was?”[/color] Not knowing what was or wasn’t ‘what the game was intended to do,’ and being on a team with a very talented markswoman, Crystal still wasn’t sure what the issue was, but she decided to take Kate’s word for it. [color=00aeef]”If you say so. Maybe she’s just really good, though? It would be bad to assume she’s cheating if she’s not.”[/color] [color=Red]“Yeah, well, I may not have played Area 51 all that much,”[/color] Kate conceded. [color=Red]“But after watchin’ Dana’s playthrough, I’m pretty familiar with all the standard secret rooms, so I think what this girl’s able to do is down to a bit more than simple player skill. Still, hacker or not, there’s one way to know for [i]sure[/i] if that’s really Oros,”[/color] the photographer added as she readied her camera. [color=Red]“And I’m gonna use it just as soon as she gets back…”[/color] Which wouldn’t be long. The possibly Oros barreled around the corner. There was a pizza box in her hands and another hot dog sticking out of her mouth. [color=Lime]”Mnk mugh!”[/color] She handed the pizza box to Crystal before taking the light gun back. With her hand free, she removed the hotdog from her mouth. [color=Lime]”Thank you!”[/color] The fourth level had just ended. The final level was here, as the one after was just a fight with the alien mothership. A better photo opportunity might have been to wait for the boss, but all Kate needed was a photo of her subject. [i]*Snap*[/i] The dark arcade was filled with a brilliant flash. The girl groaned and threw her arm in front of her eyes out of reflex. A wave of mutants greeted the newly arrived with a hail of bullets… and the continue screen started to tick down. In the pursuit of a high score, continues were pointless. Having your score reset to zero to continue the game at this stage might as well have been a game over. She tapped the trigger to skip the countdown and end the game. What followed was a prompt to enter her name into the leaderboards. Her score was high, but without the rest of the level, she only made it to fifth place. [color=Lime]”Hmmm…”[/color] When prompted for her initials, she typed out “LADA” before the game accepted her score. [color=Lime]”You know, I think I missed a ‘Chow Palace’ on the Tarmac level. There’s a lot of power ups in there, I’ll do better next time.”[/color] She pointed at a table. [color=Lime]”Did you guys want some Pizza? I ordered it and forgot how big they were. Heh heh!”[/color] [color=Red][i]Hmmm… Maybe she’s not as good as everyone thinks, if a simple flash is all it takes to distract her…[/i][/color] Kate mused. Even so, a quick look at her camera’s display revealed that this was indeed this universe’s Oros. [color=Gold]“Oh wow! I’d love some!”[/color] Dana was saying in response to “Lada’s” offer of pizza. [color=Gold]“Thanks!”[/color] the irrepressible Ars Magi added, taking a slice. [color=Red]“Guess it wouldn’t hurt to have a slice myself,”[/color] Kate noted as she took a piece of her own. [color=Red]“Sorry about ruinin’ your game,”[/color] she apologized. [color=Red]“I coulda sworn I had the flash turned off.”[/color] [color=Lime]”It’s no biggie! If hot shot here wasn’t here to hold them off while I got my food, they would have over run me anyway.”[/color] Lada stacked two slices of Pizza on top of each other and took a bite. Mmmm, sausage and bell peppers! The fact that it was synthetic crossed nobody’s mind. [color=Lime]”But why take a picture of me?”[/color] She waved a hand. [color=Lime]”Well, I don’t really mind. But if we’re going to eat pizza together, I’m going to need some names!”[/color] She grinned and puffed out her chest. Something that was probably not all that necessary given her shape. [color=Lime]”I’m Lada! Pleased to meet everyone!”[/color] For her part, Crystal was still mostly confused. But everything seemed to be working out, so she simply went along with things. [color=00aeef]”My name is Crystal. It’s nice to meet you, Lada.”[/color] A thought occurred. [color=00aeef]”Do [i]you[/i] know anything about the record holder? They seem to be good at most of the games here.”[/color] Preferring her bubblegum, she simply held the box for the others without taking any for herself. Lada looked at the scoreboard. [color=Lime]”Dana? I don’t think so.”[/color] [color=Red]“She meant [i]Oros[/i],”[/color] Kate clarified. [color=Red]“[i]That’s[/i] Dana,”[/color] she added, pointing her thumb at the sunny sharpshooter. [color=Gold]“Light elementum specialist from Team 3, aka Team Radiant Storm!”[/color] Dana followed up with a big grin as she finished her slice of pizza and held out her hand. [color=Gold]“Nice to meet ya!”[/color] [color=Red]“And I’m Kate,”[/color] the photographer introduced herself with a peace sign. [color=Red]“Just an ordinary girl who likes takin’ pictures of interestin’ stuff.”[/color] [color=Lime]”Oh!”[/color] Lada looked at the area 51 scoreboard again, then at every other arcade in view. Sure enough, Area 51 was the only one that didn’t have OROS at the very top of the high score screen. On some cabinets, Oros had multiple entries. On a few, that was the [i]only[/i] name in all the high score entries. [color=Lime]”That’s the super-hacker-Duodecim-gamer-tresspasser who breaks into the arcade every night to get the highest score on all the games, right? Or at least, that’s the legend.”[/color] Lada crouched down in front of the arcade cabinet, and a motorized screwdriver appeared in her hand. She had finished eating her pizza sandwich. [color=Lime]”It’s fine, the owner trusts me.”[/color] After taking off a few bolts, Lada slid the panel off to the side and the game’s electronics were laid bare. [color=Lime]”You really can’t ‘hack’ an arcade cabinet of this vintage. There’s no wireless interface, be it wi-fi or magitech based. Many players point out the fourth initial as proof that the games have been tampered with. And it was, but not through hacking. It’s a mod kit.”[/color] Lada pointed at some components. Among the mess of wires was a large printed circuit board (PCB) with some large chips on it, but just beyond that was a second,smaller PCB. It was far newer than anything else inside the cabinet. Lada pointed at it. [color=Lime]”When arcade games were still a novel idea, players were getting too good and beating the games too quickly. I’ll skip the history lesson, but it’s not uncommon for people to make third party mod kits that can enhance a game. Just sodder and splice a few connections, and you can override parts of the old game or add completely new ones. That’s why this version of Area 51 lets you add a fourth initial, and the score doesn’t cap out at 999K.”[/color] She put the front panel back in pace and screwed it back down. [color=Lime]”So I don’t believe any hacking was involved. It’s possible Oros is the owner of the arcade, given the new scores seem to go up when nobody else is around to witness them. That, or maybe Oros is a group of people. Like maybe there are several people who call themselves Oros that frequent this arcade, and nobody ever notices them. Either way...”[/color] Lada grabbed another slice of pizza. [color=Lime]”It’s pretty nova.”[/color] That was impressive. [color=00aeef]”That’s impressive. How did you learn so much about arcade games?”[/color] Crystal carefully set down the pizza box on the table, away from her sketchbook, and looked around. [color=00aeef]”But you’re saying that most of the games here have been altered physically? That sounds like it would be a huge undertaking, which implies it took quite a while to do. Did nobody notice the changes over time, or did it all seem to happen at once?”[/color] She asked her question to no-one in particular, since any of the three other girls would probably know the answer. [color=Gold]“Wow! That’s really cool!”[/color] Dana marveled as Lada showed them the modifications made to the game’s hardware. [color=Gold]“Well, word is, it took about a week for Oros to dominate all the scoreboards,”[/color] she added in response to Crystal’s question. [color=Gold]“But I was too busy preparin’ for my Field Readiness Exam to see any of that myself…”[/color] [color=Red]“I’ve only been in Palmyra for a short while,”[/color] Kate explained. [color=Red]“So I don’t really know much more than what I’ve heard via word of mouth.”[/color] Of course, Kate knew a [i]lot[/i] more than that. Thanks to her camera, she had the full story and then some. Still, the photographer was mildly curious as to why Lada wished to conceal the truth, especially if the arcade owner trusted her as she claimed they did. Plus, based on her attitude and choice of attire, she certainly didn’t seem like the shy type. [color=Red]“Gotta say, though, it was a pretty smart move for Oros to make her big reveal the week leadin’ up to the FRE,”[/color] Kate pointed out. [color=Red]“Since that’d ensure way less people than usual would be hangin’ around this place to catch sight of her, even if she came in after hours.”[/color] [color=Lime]”Sounds more like a no-brainer than a big-brainer if you ask me. As for my knowledge about video game tech, it’s just surface level. I’ve only written basic programs and just have some passing knowledge about arcade hardware because I read about that sort of stuff. My real passion is my magitech inventions.”[/color] Lada looked at the scoreboard. [color=Lime]”Even though Dana here shot the pants off of Oros, Oros is still at the top of the duo board. If we really want to reclaim the arcade, we’re going to need to beat them here too.”[/color] She pointed up in the air. [color=Lime]”And I have just the tool for the job! We could easily secure victory if we gave it to Dana, but um, Crystal?”[/color] She stepped in front of the arcade game and pointed in front of her. [color=Lime]”Mind standing in front of me? It’ll be kind of hard to walk once it’s activated.”[/color] [color=00aeef]”Ugh, please don’t remind me of the Readiness Test, thanks.”[/color] Lada’s question… That was slightly ominous. [color=00aeef]”Sure thing.”[/color] Crystal picked up her sketchbook and stood, going over to where Lada wanted her to stand. [color=00aeef]”Here? What are you planning to do?”[/color] She stood still in case the “tool” required it and looked at Dana. [color=Lime]”Ah! You also like to play shooting games with a totem object!”[/color] Lada ‘looked’ at the sketch book Crystal was holding. [color=Lime]”I prefer to hold onto some food myself. But that’s fine! The only issue is that two-player mode requires two hands. This is a problem for you, since you only have a single hand free to hold a light gun. But this handicap can be remedied with technology!”[/color] Lada grabbed Crystal’s arms. [color=Lime]”Initiating spider protocol: Black Widow!”[/color] Lada took Crystal’s arms and slid them through her suspenders. She made transformation sounds with her mouth as she scooched her feet under Crystal’s heels. This forced Crystal to half crouch against Lada. The back of Crystal’s head was against Lada’s stomach, and her breasts hung over the artist like the demons of her past. Crystal was only a few inches shorter than Lada, so she had to bend her knees quite a bit to fit inside the cockpit of Lada’s “invention.” [color=Lime]”Now you have two extra hands, and even another pair of eyes to focus on other threats! There’s no way you can lose now!”[/color] Lada pointed in two different directions. [color=Lime]”Dana! Get us the light guns! Kate! Get some pizza for ‘Crystal’s’ Extra hand. This is going to be [i]super[/i] nova!”[/color] [color=Red][i]What the fuck…?[/i][/color] At first, Kate had thought Lada would be outfitting Crystal with an actual magitech device, one which would grant the girl some additional appendages, but instead the tech wiz would apparently be serving as those extra limbs [i]herself[/i], all while putting the clearly reserved and introverted Crystal in probably the [i]last[/i] position she’d ever want to occupy. Yep, Kate reflected, this was [i]definitely[/i] an Oros. For her part, Dana was equally taken aback by the “deployment” of Lada’s “invention”, although she quickly snapped out of her bewildered daze when the well-endowed Ars Magi called her name. [color=Gold]“O-Oh, uh, sure thing!”[/color] she acknowledged, grabbing the two light guns and offering the blue one to Crystal and the red to Lada (or rather, Crystal’s “extra hand”). [color=Red]“Here ya go,”[/color] Kate added with a chuckle, handing “Crystal’s” [i]other[/i] extra hand a slice of pizza from the nearby box. [color=Red]“Uh, good luck you two,”[/color] she told the comically incongruous pair with an amused smirk. How did this happen? On the list of things that the Ice Elementum user was expecting, [i]this[/i] was not on it. Also, a totem object? She supposed that was somewhat accurate. Her sketchbook [i]did[/i] have a little bit of a calming effect on her. If Crystal were honest with herself, this would have been much worse before her FRE, though she was loath to admit that Mara had done anything for her benefit. Before she even considered taking the light gun from Dana, she quickly put her sketchpad under her armpit to trade out her gum, pulling an apple flavored stick from a pack of its brethren. Once she had it in her mouth and the previous piece put away in the wrapper and into her pocket for throwing away later, she began to chew and the password was accepted. [color=00aeef]”Alright, I guess?”[/color] Admittedly the chest of the girl above her was somewhat cumbersome, but she could only assume that was even worse for their owner. [color=00aeef]”I wasn’t expecting this, and I don’t know how it could help with this sort of game, but I’ll try to be helpful to you.”[/color] With that, she pulled her sketchbook back to her left hand and grabbed the gun with her right. [color=00aeef]”Outside of class and drills, I haven’t really shot anything for a while, so I might be rusty. Apologies for that.”[/color] Also unfortunate was that she couldn’t stand the way she had been trained with the other girl engulfing her, but that didn’t need to be said aloud. Instead she simply pointed the gun at the screen and allowed the passcode for her mind to do its job, the flavor allowing her focus to sharpen and for her to push away the discomfort, somewhat. [color=Lime]”I’m sure you’ll do fine. Now! Someone start this game up!”[/color] Once the credits were inserted, the game started. There may have been twice as many players, but the game compensated by putting twice as many enemies on screen. Not only that, but it was more difficult to keep a score chain going if you were constantly wasting bullets on targets your ally already shot. There was also an extra mechanic where a meter at the top of the screen showed which player had more “agro” and would take damage when the aliens and mutants fired back. [color=Lime]”I’m going to let you lead. Just fire at the aliens as they come up. I’ll focus on activating secrets and assisting with durable targets. When things get frantic, just focus on your side of the screen and I’ll take care of the rest!”[/color] It was a rough start. Lada pretty much carried Crystal through the early stages of the game. But as the game progressed, her training started to come back to her and she started to do better. The difference in their skill level seemed to shrink as the game went on. Though it was a bit more apparent if you bothered to look at their individual scores. Once they got to the harder stages, Lada activated her invention's “drone mode,” Which was initiated by having Kate and Dana unclip her suspenders. So that the two could stand side by side. There were some close calls, and they had used all of their grenades, but they got to see the alien space ship blow up. [color=Lime]”Wait for it…”[/color] After displaying a congratulatory message for beating the game, Crystal and Lada were prompted to enter their initials. They were at the very top of the duo scoreboard. [color=Lime]”Hyper nova!”[/color] She patted Crystal’s shoulder before typing in her name. [color=Gold]“Great job, guys!”[/color] Dana cheered, her golden eyes gleaming as she punched a celebratory fist in the air. [color=Gold]“That was totally awesome!”[/color] [color=Red]“Yeah,”[/color] Kate agreed. [color=Red]“Gotta say, I’m surprised that little… ‘configuration’ of yours worked out so well,”[/color] the photographer added with a smirk. Perhaps [i]less[/i] surprisingly, she had snapped a picture of the pair in their initial “Black Widow” mode, as much for her own amusement as for use as potential blackmail. Yet, with the two Ars Magi so focused on the game, and with Kate wisely choosing to forgo the use of a flash, the odds of either of them noticing were minimal. Crystal exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding as the space ship began to explode. She’d not played an arcade game in quite a long time, so it was gratifying that she was able to do well, even though her partner had blown past her in score. [color=00aeef]”Yeah, it’s shocking that standing like that didn’t affect us as much as I thought it would.”[/color] Though she was much more comfortable once “drone mode” was active… It was still pretty fun, once the focus wore off enough for her to notice. Though the thought that Oros might have been playing alone for her previously best score made her pause. It’d be one thing if she were paired with someone like her roommate Rivka, but to do so while duel-wielding… Would that be easier or harder? [color=Lime]”I’m telling you, my inventions really work!”[/color] Lada flashed a grin. [color=Lime]”The real thing will be a bit more comfortable to wear, but the ‘prototype’ is passing all kinds of benchmarks.”[/color] She yawned. [color=Lime]”Welp, the food’s gone, and I got two pretty long games of Area 51 in. I should probably get going, but we should make this a weekly thing! We can play ‘Gearmantic Hearts’ next time!”[/color] [color=Gold]“Yeah, that sounds great!”[/color] Dana called. [color=Gold]“I’m a big fan of [i]that[/i] game, too! Hmmm… I wonder what character she likes to play as…”[/color] the sunny sharpshooter wondered aloud. [color=Gold]“I like Sixshooter Synthia and Necroid 99 myself, but if I had to guess, I’d picture her as more of a Tsubotica fan…”[/color] [color=Red]“So, do ya play against your teammates often?”[/color] Kate inquired. [color=Gold]“Not really,”[/color] Dana replied with a frown. [color=Gold]“Vanna and Cordelia are both super busy, and Nicole prefers dancing games,”[/color] she explained. [color=Gold]“I [i]did[/i] try to get Penny to play once, after telling her there’s a character that shares her name, but she wanted to go with the Altea expy, who really isn’t all that good, and well…”[/color] [color=Red]“Crushed her that badly, huh?”[/color] Kate asked with a chuckle. [color=Gold]“Yeah…”[/color] Dana confirmed. [color=Gold]“She said she was gonna leave the fighting games to me and focus more on her [i]actual[/i] combat training. Do any of [i]your[/i] teammates like to come here, Crystal?”[/color] she inquired. [color=00aeef]”Mmm…”[/color] Crystal hummed in thought as she traded her depleted gum for a new stick of raspberry. [color=00aeef]”Maybe, but I haven’t heard them talk about this place much. I could see some of them coming once in a while, though I’ve only ever seen Aoife here, and I didn’t see what she was here for.”[/color] [color=Gold]“Huh, well that kinda sucks…”[/color] Dana noted. Then again, it didn’t look like Crystal was all that enthusiastic about playing arcade games herself, so maybe her teammates’ lack of interest really wasn’t too big of a deal. [color=Gold]“Hey!”[/color] the grinning gunslinger exclaimed with an excited gleam in her auric eyes as an idea occurred to her. [color=Gold]“Did your team get invited to the big boat party tomorrow?!”[/color] [color=00aeef]”Boat party?”[/color] [color=Gold]“Yeah! This Duodecim girl my teammate Nicole met at that fancy ball invited her and the rest of the team to this big party she’s havin’ on a boat!”[/color] Dana explained. [color=Gold]“Supposedly, there’s gonna be a lot of officers and Ars Magi there, so I was wonderin’ if [i]your[/i] team got invites, too.”[/color] Crystal cocked her head to the side. [color=00aeef]”No, I don’t believe so. At the very least [i]I[/i] wasn’t invited, so I don’t think my teammates were either. Be sure to be safe while there.”[/color] [color=Gold]“Oh, uh, yeah, will do,”[/color] Dana replied with a nod. [color=Gold]“I’m just sorry you’re gonna be left out…”[/color] she added, while awkwardly scratching the back of her head. [color=Red]“Maybe it’s for the best,”[/color] Kate noted. [color=Red]“I could be wrong, but Crystal here strikes me as more of the introverted type, so a big boat party probably wouldn’t be her kinda thing, right?”[/color] she inquired of the artistic Ars Magi. [color=00aeef]”I”d say that’s accurate.”[/color] Crystal smiled at Dana. [color=00aeef]”So it’s not a worry that I won’t be there. Thank you for coming over to talk to me, this was an interesting experience.”[/color] [color=Gold]“No problem!”[/color] Dana replied with a grin. [color=Gold]“I love makin’ new friends!”[/color] [color=Red]“Well, I think I’m gonna get goin’ now,”[/color] Kate announced. [color=Red]“Still got more photos to take after all.”[/color] [color=Gold]“Okay, see ya later, Kate!”[/color] Dana called to the departing photographer. [color=Gold]“I think I’m gonna try and beat this thing with [i]both[/i] guns!”[/color] she added, pointing her thumb at Area 51, before heading over to take hold of the game’s twin pistols. [color=Red]“Good luck!”[/color] Kate called back with a chuckle, holding up a peace sign before stepping out of the arcade. [color=Red][i]Oros the Inventive, huh?[/i][/color] the photographer mused as she rechecked her camera’s display. [color=Red][i]Gotta admit, she sure does pull off the whole ‘obfuscating ineptness’ thing like a pro.[/i][/color] [i]*Tap tap*[/i] As soon as Kate moved past the threshold of the door, A pale finger prodded her shoulder. Sure enough, it was Lada. [color=Lime]”Hey.”[/color] She waved. [color=Lime]”I have to admit, you’re a lot different than most professional photographers I’ve encountered. Most of them at least try to blend in with the locals. But they aren’t as much fun to hang with.”[/color] She grinned. [color=Lime]”Anyway, would you do me a solid and delete those pictures you took of me?”[/color] [color=Red]“Oh, uh, hi,”[/color] Kate greeted, not exactly expecting to bump into the eccentric Ars Magi again. [color=Red]“What, don’t want news of your next big invention getting out prematurely?”[/color] the photographer quipped with a smirk. [color=Red]“And I’d like to think I blend in just fine,”[/color] she added. [color=Red][i]In [b]this[/b] universe, at any rate…[/i][/color] [color=Lime]”Better than I do I suppose.”[/color] She stretched her arms over her head. [color=Lime]”But no. You know who I am. And once you publish those pictures, so will everyone else.”[/color] She placed a hand on her hip. [color=Lime]”It’s not possible to live a normal life as a Duodecim, but I enjoy the carefully crafted existence I’ve made for myself. My true identity needs to remain a secret.”[/color] [color=Red]“No worries on that front,”[/color] Kate reassured the Ars Magi, holding up her hands in a placating manner. [color=Red]“I don’t plan on publishing any of the photos I took, so your secret’s totally safe. Truth is, the photos are actually a present for a friend of mine, who’s something of a secret admirer of yours.”[/color] Lada clicked her tongue. [color=Lime]”How fortunate! You’re going to hand the pictures directly to someone obsessed with me. Then they’ll be able to obsess over every square inch before deciding to make a duplicate for their own ends.”[/color] She stepped closer to Kate. [color=Lime]”Please get rid of them. Take a picture of someone else. They’ll never know the difference.”[/color] [color=Red]“[i]Pretty[/i] sure they will,”[/color] Kate replied, moving back a step. [color=Red]“Plus, they’re a total recluse who doesn’t even use social media, so I doubt it’ll cause ya any problems if I give these photos to ‘em. But if you’re [i]that[/i] camera shy, I [i]guess[/i] I could trash those pics,”[/color] the photographer conceded. [color=Red]“I mean, you’re probably the [i]least[/i] important person she wanted me to take a picture of, so I doubt she’ll be bothered all [i]that[/i] much.”[/color] [color=Lime]”I wonder why you even wasted the effort. Well, sounds like no great loss.”[/color] Lada grinned. [color=Lime]”I have to admit though, I didn’t think my ‘secret fan’ was going to be a girl. What’s her name?”[/color] [color=Red]“Nikki,”[/color] Kate replied. [color=Red]“She loves following the exploits of creative individuals, such as yourself, but she’s [i]super[/i] socially awkward, so she has me take pictures of ‘em to put in an album she’s making,”[/color] the photographer explained. [color=Red]“She’ll probably be a little bummed out you didn’t wanna have your picture taken, but I’m sure she’ll get over it.”[/color] [color=Lime]”Hmmm… See, this is what I don’t like about people in your profession.”[/color] Her smile vanished. [color=Lime]”Information brokers like yourself are never straightforward. You’re always telling half truths and whole lies.”[/color] Lada came closer, and Kate backed away to maintain distance. [color=Lime]”I mean, you’re taking pictures of me for [i]someone[/i], but is it really Nikki? Is she really socially awkward? The mental image you’ve painted makes me want to picture a nerdy little girl. One with twintails and a smile. Maybe some nerdy looking glasses and the most nova comic collection the world has ever seen. But I’m really filling in the blanks with that, aren’t I? Serial stalkers are also socially awkward, right? Do we know this all ends as soon as my picture gets slotted in an album?”[/color] Nanites crept out of Lada’s collar and constructed a helmet over half of her face. Kate had looked at enough of Lada’s profile to know this was her endless eclipse. Her back bumped into a wall. Lada had her cornered. [color=Lime]”I did a little digging on you as soon as I left, but I wasn’t able to turn up much. And this Nikki girl? I don’t even think she exists. But you have to be getting those pictures for someone, right? See what you think of this…”[/color] The nanites crept off of her face and scurried down her neck. [color=Lime]”The nerdy girl you’re taking pictures for…Is you!”[/color] She thrust her gloved finger in Kate’s direction. As she watched Lada begin to transform, while the dark clouds of one of Palmyra’s frequent storms menacingly flashed with lightning overhead, Kate’s mind raced to come up with a way out of her current predicament. [color=Red]“Uh, nice theory, even if it [i]is[/i] completely wrong,”[/color] Kate replied. [color=Red]“Full disclosure? The reason you can’t find any info on Nikki, is because she really values her privacy,”[/color] the photographer explained. [color=Red]“As for your guesses about her, I’d say she’s pretty nerdy, and while she doesn’t wear glasses, she [i]does[/i] wear goggles. She’s not a fan of twin tails, though,”[/color] she added. [color=Red]“In fact, her hair’s usually really messy… And if ya don’t believe me, we can just get Dana out here to prove it! She’s a Light Elementum, right? They’re practically living lie detectors! [sub]Or does the Light Elementum not work like that here? Aw crap, I don’t think it does…[/sub] Well, whatever, none of this matters, since I said I’d get rid of the pictures, so I’d appreciate it if you chilled the fuck out.”[/color] [color=Lime]”Chill the- Wha?”[/color] Lada lifted a hand to her mouth. [color=Lime]”What brought that on all of a sudden? Are you okay Kate?”[/color] She moved beside the photographer and placed a hand on her shoulder. [color=Lime]”You’re kind of tense. Is it the mask thing? That’s just uh, my magic. I can create a mask that can see the truth.”[/color] She began to lightly massage Kate’s shoulder. [color=Lime]”Is this about the Nikki thing? I guess that was a little insensitive. I was just excited because you know, I also use a persona of sorts to live the life I want to. So you know, if you, hmmm, Nikki were a shy nerd with…goggles? And they decided to act as an adventurous photographer? I think that’s really cool. But if you say that’s not what’s going on, I believe you.”[/color] She grinned. [color=Lime]”Now that I know the whole story, how about we go back to my place and I’ll let you take a few pictures of me? Something that doesn’t tie me directly to the arcade. I’ll even let you keep those other pictures. If you say you won’t publish or share them, I believe you.”[/color] [color=Red]“O-Oh, uh, well…”[/color] Kate stammered, taken more than a bit off guard by Lada’s sudden change in tactics. [color=Red]“[i]You[/i] were the one acting all threatening…”[/color] she muttered with an annoyed pout. [color=Red]“And, uh, I [i]guess[/i] I could drop by your place,”[/color] the photographer conceded, albeit with some clear reluctance. [color=Red]“I mean, it’d be cool to see some of your other inventions,”[/color] she added with a slightly nervous chuckle. At first, Kate wondered how the hell things had escalated so quickly, but then she remembered that this was an [i]Oros[/i] she was dealing with. No doubt the girl was planning to do something perverted to her as some twisted form of revenge. Heck, she could even be planning to torture and/or [i]kill[/i] her. But even so, Kate was confident she had the necessary tools to deal with all of those potentialities, and she had to admit, the chance for an inside look at the gadgeteer genius’s abode [i]was[/i] rather appealing. [color=Lime]”That wasn’t really my intent. I’m sorry”[/color] She sighed and lowered her hands into her pockets. [color=Lime]”Let’s continue this elsewhere...”[/color] [hr] The Duodecim might have been the highest members of society, but Lada was still trying to make due in a school that was made for everyone, or at least the best and brightest. Getting Kate inside wasn’t an issue with a guest pass. Lada did have a private dorm room, but it wasn’t all that interesting. It was exactly what you’d expect someone on a tech high to have. Everything was sleek and modern, with a minimal amount of decorations. There was a bed, a small office space, and some yellow-green mood lighting. At least everything looked tidy, and the bed was made! As Kate looked over Lada’s room, she was somewhat surprised by how [i]normal[/i] it was. At least, nothing worrying seemed to be in evidence. [color=Lime]”I really just use my dorm to sleep.”[/color] Lada pointed at the room. [color=Lime]”I had a professional designer come in and set it up before my parents visited me, and I’ve just kind of kept it that way. But if you [i]really[/i] want to see where I live, we need to go to the magitech lab.”[/color] The photographer was quite relieved when her host led her to the nearby laboratory. A stroll down a few hallways later, and they had arrived. Presumably one of several on the sprawling campus, it looked a bit like a combination between a computer lab and a kitchen. There were several computers set up facing an island table, which held an empty glass dome on top of it. The rest of the walls were filled with counter space that held everything from beakers to vial mixers. There were also a few sinks, and what looked like (but most certainly wasn’t) a trash disposal unit. Still pretty normal, as to be expected of a communal space. But this lab was almost certainly the foremost among its fellows, even if it didn’t hold a candle to the wondrous weirdness of Nykannis’s workspace. [color=Lime]”Tada!”[/color] Lada waved her hand at everything. [color=Lime]”This is where the magic happens!”[/color] [color=Red]“Well, I would [i]hope[/i] so with a name like ‘Magitech Lab Alpha’,”[/color] Kate replied with a wry smirk. She knew from her research that the greatest miracle of magitech would actually be found in the school’s medical wing, as it was there that the Ars Armaguses, the magitech gemstones that allowed a magically-sensitive girl to actually become an Ars Magi, were implanted, stored, and, rumor had it, [i]created[/i] (although the NOI was pretty tight-lipped about such matters for obvious reasons), but even so, Lada’s own lab was still pretty impressive. [color=Red]“Not too shabby,”[/color] the photographer noted with an approving nod. [color=Red]“So, what kinda stuff do ya cook up in here?”[/color] [color=Lime]”Oh! I don’t make anything here!”[/color] Lada laughed. [color=Lime]”If you want to see that, we need to go a bit deeper…”[/color] The inventive girl strode into the room and placed her hand on the side of the island table. A small orb the size of a fist popped out of the side of the table. Lada promptly removed one of her gloves and placed her hand over the sphere. There was a chime, and then the tile floor beside the island table lowered into a set of stairs. She waved Kate on before venturing into the belly of the school. [color=Lime]”You’re held to high standards as a Duodecim, but on the upside, you can get nearly anything your heart yearns for. My sisters wanted mansions, my brothers wanted their own companies, I just wanted a secret workshop. I’m not really working on anything too secretive, but it does make my work feel more important when it happens away from the world.”[/color] After walking down what felt like [s]the silent hill stairs[/s] several stories worth of stairs, the two stepped through an archway into the workshop. It was massive. The room had to be four or five stories tall with massive pipes running along either side. It almost looked like a particle collider, the way the pipes all seemed to feed a circular tank at the far side of the room. It had a giant viewport on it that showed a concentrated black mass floating around. Kate didn’t have to ask what it was, she knew it was Nox. [color=Lime]”Most of the research I do involves finding ways to safely store and use Nox for other purposes, specifically for those without strong magical abilities. The biggest hurdle presently is that it’s not the most efficient. It takes so much energy just to use Nox for anything that it can’t be your sole power source. I have made machines that are more efficient, but they are large and not suitable for household use.”[/color] She pointed at the far side of the lab. [color=Lime]”This is effectively a backup generator for the academy, but I use it to run my experiments.”[/color] While the generator’s size was impressive, there were other things in the lab as well. The whole wall was lined with appliances. A washer and dryer, several fridges and freezers, an oven, and even an arcade machine. Though there wasn’t any clear markings as to what it played. [color=Lime]”Another thing I mess around with is depleted Nox. The machines I use to turn Nox into electricity leave behind a chalky residue. But it can be synthesized into microchips, or something similar to it. You can make magical circuits on a depleted Nox chip that are much finer than that of modern microchips. Look at this!”[/color] She walked over to the arcade machine. [color=Lime]”One thing that lets home game systems beat out arcade cabinets is that the player can save data locally. Nobody wants to carry around a memory card when they visit the arcade, and nobody who owns an arcade machine wants people slotting just anything into it. But look at this,”[/color] She pulled what looked like a credit card out of the machine, but upon closer inspection... [color=Lime]”This is actually a memory card! It’s thin enough to store in a wallet or purse, and has a crazy amount of space! Now you can get the console experience at the arcade!”[/color] [color=Red]“Wow, that’s pretty sweet,”[/color] Kate admitted, and so it was, by [i]this[/i] world’s standards. [color=Red]“Since you’ve done so much research on Nox, I’ll bet you’ve also looked into maximizing the conversion capabilities of Ars Armaguses,”[/color] she added. [color=Red]“Y’know, increase their max Nox capacity so an Ars Magi can get even more of that good ol’ magic power outta ‘em to do cool shit with?”[/color] [color=Lime]”Ars Armaguses, heh, yea…”[/color] A frown slowly crept across Lada’s face as she turned to “look” at Kate. [color=Lime]”No, the Novus Orbim Imperium guards their secrets carefully. I may be a Duodecim, but I’m still a student and not a teacher, researcher, or anything that earns a salary. Ars Armaguses isn’t really the direction I want to head in with my research anyway. One of the reasons it works so well is that it works with your body to convert the Nox into, magic, stuff, and all that.”[/color] She cleaned her ear with her pinky. [color=Lime]”It’s kind of archaic if you think about it. They slice you open, implant some foreign device inside you, and then you absorb hazardous chemicals into your body to later expel as spells. It’s not a solution for everyone. You’ve likely noticed that all Ars Magi are girls. Seems we’ve forgotten about half the population, and it’s about time someone corrects that.”[/color] Lada approached one of the refrigerators and opened it. [color=Lime]”Do you know why they call me Oros?”[/color] She pulled a ham sandwich out of the fridge and shut it. [color=Lime]”Because it’s short for Oroboros, the snake that eats its own tail. Because I like to eat. That’s my most noteworthy trait to these people.”[/color] [color=Red]“Yeah, I can see that,”[/color] Kate noted with a nod. After all, the girl had been eating pretty much non-stop while [i]playing an arcade game[/i] only a short while earlier. [color=Red]“But back to this grand plan of yours,”[/color] she continued. [color=Red]“You’re [i]seriously[/i] trying to find a way to create [i]male[/i] Ars Magi?”[/color] the photographer asked with a chuckle. [color=Red]“Talk about turnin’ the world on its ear…”[/color] Lada shook her head before polishing off her sandwich. [color=Lime]”I think I may have given you the wrong impression of what I do here. I am not a scientist, I’m an inventor. There’s a lot of overlap between the two, but the biggest difference is our end goal. Scientists search for truth, inventors search for solutions. My current goal is to find a way to arm everyone with magic. If that means turning men into Ars Magi, so be it. But I’ve already mentioned that Ars Armaguses are not an ideal solution. There are people who aren’t healthy enough to survive an operation like that. But we’re getting off track a bit, aren’t we?”[/color] She placed her hands on her hips. [color=Lime]”Tell me, Kate, have you ever heard of the ultimate portfolio picture?”[/color] [color=Red]“You mean, like, the best picture a hypothetical photographer ever took?”[/color] Kate asked. [color=Red]“The one that got all kinds of awards and is basically their signature photo, the one everybody remembers them for?”[/color] [color=Lime]”Typically a portfolio is filled with several pictures of a photographer’s best work, sure, but it’s also there to demonstrate what they can do. Given your interest in photographing people, I would say that’s probably your specialty. Your portfolio, if you have one, likely contains many shots of people. Though some are portraits, others might be more easily classified as street or wedding photography. If an animal is in the shot, it might qualify as a pet picture. If it’s off the wall enough, it might even be considered experimental. You see what I mean? There’s a lot of different genres for photography. The ultimate portfolio picture takes advantage of how different genres of photography overlap to make one picture that’s representative of an entire skill set!”[/color] Lada smiled. [color=Lime]”I doubt such a picture would be ‘good’, but I think it would be a fun thing to attempt.”[/color] [color=Red]“Well, I’ve taken some landscape pictures of battle scenes, so I guess one of [i]them[/i] might count,”[/color] Kate mused, tapping a finger against her chin in thoughtful contemplation. [color=Red]“But I’m [i]pretty[/i] sure you already have a specific point you’re tryin’ to make with all this, right?”[/color] she asked with a smirk. [color=Lime]”No ‘point’ really. I just thought it would be absolutely nova to take an absurd picture for Nikki, and I figured maximizing the number of genres the picture could be classified under would be a good way of doing it.”[/color] She pulled an apple out of the fridge. [color=Lime]”If you took a picture of me holding this apple, it would qualify as a portrait, as well as food photography. If we got you in the shot it would be a self portrait.”[/color] She moved beside Kate. [color=Lime]”Hmmm, we need more structure. Good pictures tell a story, right? What else could we do? The lab may look bare but I can get access to most everyday objects on short notice. Just tell me what you’re thinking.”[/color] [color=Red]“Well, if you’ve got an invention you’re particularly proud of, maybe we could put it in an anti-grav field so that it’s hoverin’ behind us?”[/color] Kate suggested. [color=Red]“Or, I guess you could just throw up a hologram of it, if that’s easier. Either way, it’d let anyone lookin’ at the photo know exactly what kinda place this is.”[/color] Lada laughed, [i]very[/i] loudly. [color=Lime]”I’m a little surprised to hear a photographer suggest using a hologram. Isn’t the entire point to capture the world as it actually is?”[/color] She shook her head. [color=Lime]”But fair enough. I’ve recently been working on some magitech nanomachines. They can take nearly any shape, but require such vast amounts of nox to operate that they can’t really function outside this room. So…”[/color] The space around Kate and Lada started to fill up with a mist, and that mist took shape immediately. It coalesced behind the two girls to make a puffy looking couch. Another cloud turned into a bear skin, while another turned into a fireplace. A set of walls started to form, but stopped half way through. [color=Red]“Nice,”[/color] Kate noted with an approving grin. [color=Lime]”We can leave the room in a kind of incomplete state. Between the generator in the background and the hovering nanomachines, a viewer should know what’s going on.”[/color] Lada started counting her fingers. [color=Lime]”Let’s see, a picture of both of us here would qualify for self portrait, people, landscape, technology, food, possibly clothing, Hmmm….”[/color] She trailed off. [color=Lime]”We should also be doing something, to make it an action shot. Got any ideas?”[/color] [color=Red]“Well, I’ll be taking the picture, while also appearing in it, so I’d say [i]that[/i] counts for action, right?”[/color] Kate replied. She honestly didn’t know what other action they could do that wouldn’t also be extremely awkward for various reasons, although she had a worrying feeling that such activities were [i]exactly[/i] what Lada had in mind… [color=Lime]”Sounds cryptic. And here I thought you were just going to time the camera on a tripod. But I am curious to see how this photo shoot goes!”[/color] Lada was about to pose when she spun over to Kate. [color=Lime]”I got it! I know what our picture is missing! This is going to be super nova, possibly hypernova!”[/color] Lada grinned like a demon. Kate could feel a pit expanding in her stomach before she even spoke. [color=Lime]”We should replace our clothes with nanites! Then we could pretend to be freaking out as they dissolve in the wind! Then it could be classified as comedic [i]and[/i] contain artistic nudity! Wouldn’t that be silly?”[/color] ​​[color=Red]“Uh, [i]yeaaaah…[/i] How about if it’s just [i]you[/i] doing that?”[/color] Kate suggested, trying, and failing, to hide her discomfort. [color=Red]“T-That way we can have a nice contrast between the two of us!”[/color] the photographer added, doing her best to convince Lada that her idea had merit. But imagine convincing an Oros to change her ways? [color=Lime]”I’m going to be honest, Kate, I think we actually have a [i]lot[/i] of similarities. But we can do a picture both ways.”[/color] Lada had already unclipped her suspenders and cast her shirt to the side. Fully revealing her body conforming undershirt. [color=Lime]”I understand you’re nervous, and honestly, I am too! I’ve invited a photographer into my most private workspace. It would make me feel a lot more comfortable if we did it together. Given you didn’t outright object to the idea, you must know Nikki would absolutely love the photo! And isn’t that who we’re both trying to impress?”[/color] Lada reached an arm around Kate’s waist and gently pulled the two of them together. [color=Lime]”This is great! Yes! I see it now! We could be hugging each other as our nanite clothes dissolve. Any ‘overly exposed’ bits can be hidden behind my arm holding the apple. And then we just cast our gaze upward, in awe and terror!”[/color] She grinned at Kate. [color=Lime]”But if you wanted to highlight a difference between us, maybe you look less frightened? Yea! You could be grinning, and maybe you have a magnet in one of your hands, and it’s just pulling the nanites off us. I can almost see it on the cover of a magazine! ‘Lada Expose!’ or something like that. Yea, we’re [i]definitely[/i] doing something like that. Too nova to pass up!”[/color] [color=Red][i]Or maybe I could just glare at the camera, while flipping it off?[/i][/color] [color=Red]“Uh, you [i]do[/i] see how, uh, [i]underdeveloped[/i] I am, right?”[/color] Kate asked with a concerned frown. [color=Red]“Things could get [i]really[/i] awkward [i]really[/i] fast if people thought you were into [i]that[/i] kinda thing, y’know? But, that magnet idea of yours could still work!”[/color] the photographer hastened to add. [color=Red]“It’d just be even better if I still had my clothes, since it’d look like I was pullin’ a prank on ya!”[/color] [color=Lime]”Of course we’ll do that! I just think we should take the opportunity to do a photo shoot. I have so many ideas, and it would be a shame to wrap things up after taking a single photo. As for what people might think should they see them, why do I care? No one thinks highly of me, and you’re not sharing these pictures with anyone but Nikki. So I shouldn’t have to worry about what other people think, right? This is just two friends doing something silly together!”[/color] Lada clapped her hands together. [color=Lime]”Come on, Kate. Just one photo. It doesn’t ever have to be published. Then we can do whatever you like for the rest of our photo shoot.”[/color] [color=Red]“Alright, [i]fine…[/i]”[/color] Kate muttered with a defeated exhale. [color=Red]“We’ll do [i]one[/i] picture to satisfy your perverted fetish, but I’m keepin’ my shorts [i]on[/i],”[/color] the photographer insisted. It was bad enough she’d have to be topless in front of Lada, even if there [i]wasn’t[/i] all that much to see, but she drew the line at having the [i]rest[/i] of her exposed. [color=Red]“I mean, the photo’s gonna be from the waist up anyways, right?”[/color] Lada had her back turned to Kate while she removed her undershirt. [color=Lime]”The goal is to make it look like our clothes are unraveling into nanites. In my mind’s eye, this effect starts at the top and works down, so keeping your shorts on is fine. Though maybe it would be easier just to crop out everything down there anyway. ”[/color] A plate with several tiny cups on it floated to Lada’s side. She dipped her finger inside one of the cups, and when she pulled her finger back, it was coated in a yellow-green paint. She started to trace something on her chest. [color=Lime]”I’ve heard that models will often paint over parts of themselves that they don’t want to end up in a photoshoot. That’s something I happen to keep around for my projects. It’s all water based, dries fast, and is totally non-toxic.”[/color] She dipped another finger in some black paint before the plate moved over to Kate’s side. [color=Lime]”Maybe you’d like to put some on to avert my judgemental stare?”[/color] [color=Red]“Nah, it’s fine,”[/color] Kate replied, giving Lada a dismissive wave of her hand. [color=Red]“I think usin’ my arm will work just fine, since, y’know, I don’t have anywhere [i]near[/i] as much to cover as you,”[/color] the photographer added with a wry smirk.[color=Red] “Plus, I couldn’t really care less what ya think of me,”[/color] she noted with a shrug. [color=Lime]”Well, I offered.”[/color] Lada used a rag to clean off her fingers. [color=Lime]”As an agent of truth, you can’t call me a pervert now.”[/color] She whipped around and tossed the rag to the side. Sure enough, she had painted two smiley faces over the most sensitive areas of her chest. Their black eyes seemed to gaze directly at Kate, their irises as black as the abyss. [color=Lime]”I will be attempting to cover up everything with my arm and apple as well, but you know.”[/color] She grinned. [color=Lime]”But I still don’t know how good your camera work is.”[/color] The nanomachine fog collected on Lada’s skin. It gradually built volume and changed color, until it looked like the top she was wearing just a bit ago. She didn’t bother clipping her suspenders back up. [color=Lime]”Let me know when you’re ready~”[/color] She spread her arms and wiggled her fingers. Kate tried to ignore the twin smiley faces painted on Lada’s oversized chest, instead focusing on removing her jacket, hoodie and undershirt and setting them within easy reach. [color=Red]“Alright, let’s get this over with,”[/color] she said with a tired sigh, moving in close to Lada and holding out her camera to face them, while covering her chest with her free arm. [color=Lime]”I’m sure you’ll look back on this moment with fondness!”[/color] Lada wrapped an arm around her waist and scooched up against her. While Kate could ignore how Lada looked, ignoring how she [i]felt[/i] would prove to be a lot more difficult. Lada’s form was pressed pretty firmly against her own. Once her nanite clothes had started to disperse, there wasn’t much separating their bodies. Lada’s chest threatened to swallow Kate’s shoulder, and it wasn’t like their shorts covered anything below the thighs. That, and Kate could feel that Lada’s belly wasn’t exactly flat. [color=Lime]”Almost in position, your nanites will be ready in a moment.”[/color] Lada took a bite out of her apple. [color=Lime]”Mmmm!”[/color] She swallowed. [color=Lime]”I may not look it, but I’m actually a little nervous right now.”[/color] She sighed before moving her arm into position. [color=Lime]”I can hear your heartbeat, and you feel different than I thought you would. You even smell different. Is it weird to say that?”[/color] She chuckled before looking towards the dispersing nanites. Lada made the most horrified look she could manage, which looked pretty campy. [color=Red][i]Everything [b]about[/b] this is weird…[/i][/color] Kate grumbled to herself. Nonetheless, she got her camera ready to snap the picture, her face forming a cringing visage that seemed to come naturally to the photographer. [color=Lime]“All set!”[/color] Lada announced. [color=Lime]“Let’s go on three!”[/color] [color=Red]“Okay,”[/color] Kate acknowledged. [color=Red]“One, two, three!”[/color] *SNAP!* [color=Red]“There,”[/color] Kate declared with obvious relief, lowering her camera and extricating herself from Lada as fast as possible. [color=Red]“Now that we’re finished catering to your little fetishistic fantasies, I’m gonna put my clothes back on and then we can…”[/color] The photographer’s voice trailed off and her eyes widened in horror as she saw two familiar faces enter the room. [color=Red][i]Oh [b]fuck..[/b][/i][/color] [color=Gold]“Hey, Lada!”[/color] Dana greeted with her usual cheerful exuberance. [color=Gold]“Ya forgot your hotdog, so we decided to… woah… Uh… A-Are we, um, [i]interrupting[/i] something…?”[/color] the sunny sharpshooter inquired, her formerly grinning visage now mirroring Kate’s look of horrified embarrassment. Crystal, for her part, chose the better part of valor and turned her head away with her eyes closed the instant she saw what was going on. [color=00aeef]”Sorry to barge in like this… With how Lada had acted earlier, we thought the food might be a good reason to do so. Are you two alright?”[/color] There was no indication that Lada was feeling any embarrassment. She stood there like a statue, one with smiley faces painted on her chest. Before long, a grin crossed her face. [color=Lime]”Ah! Just a moment!”[/color] Without bothering to grab her shirt, she scuffed her way over to the newly arrived to recover her hotdog. [color=Lime]”Thank you! Um, but to explain…”[/color] She turned to look at Kate. [color=Lime]”I just kind of bumped into Kate on my way back home. She was enthusiastic about seeing my other prototypes. I took her here, one thing led to another and…”[/color] Lada trailed off. [color=Lime]”How did you find us so fast?”[/color] She took a bite out of her hotdog. [color=Gold]“O-Oh, um, well, we talked with the arcade owner, and he told us where to find you,”[/color] Dana replied, her face turning red as she joined Crystal in averting her gaze from the shameless inventor. [color=Gold]“Uh, t-this is some crazy secret lab ya got here,”[/color] she added with a nervous chuckle. [color=Red]“This was all [i]Lada’s[/i] idea,”[/color] an equally beat-red Kate was quick to clarify, even as she scrambled to put her clothes back on. [color=Red]“Basically, the only way she’d let me keep the pictures I took of her was to indulge her fetish for exhibitionism…”[/color] The smile ran from Lada’s face. [color=Lime]”Okay, first of all, I said you could keep them well before we came here. Secondly, you were fine, enthusiastic even, with the idea of pulling my clothes off with a magnet. You’re only fussing because I wanted us both to do a picture where we were mutually exposed first. You know, as a trust building exercise. Thirdly, we [i]both[/i] consented to the idea, even if you only did so begrudgingly. Fourthly, thank you Dana, I’m glad you think my workshop is super nova! And fifthly…”[/color] She pointed at Kate with her half eaten hotdog. [color=Lime]”[i]I[/i] used body paint to cover up! [i]You[/i] are the one who [i]refused[/i] to wear any! You can’t call me an exhibitionist!”[/color] She ate the rest of her hotdog in a single bite. [color=Lime]”But who cares? Have none of you bathed in a hot spring before? Seeing someone with the same equipment as you isn’t that shocking, is it?”[/color] She turned to the Nova Lux students and started eating her apple. The smiley faces continued to look on with a judging stare. [color=00aeef]”I haven’t been to a hot spring, actually… But it’s polite to not look when someone doesn’t want to be looked at. Since that’s more likely than the alternative, I’ll just wait until you two are clothed, if that’s okay.”[/color] She hadn’t been super bothered by the glimpse she had gotten, but what kind of person would she be if she didn’t respect others’ privacy? [color=Gold]“Uh, I haven’t been to a hot spring either,”[/color] Dana noted with an awkward frown. [color=Gold]“And even if I [i]had[/i], there’s a big difference between seein’ someone naked in a place where ya [i]expect[/i] that kinda thing, and what [i]we[/i] just walked into, y’know?”[/color] she added, still doing her best to avoid looking at the unnerving smiley faces. [color=Red]“Whatever,”[/color] Kate muttered in response to Lada’s annoyed comments, having by this point fully reclothed herself. [color=Red]“However ya wanna frame it, it’s finished. So, do ya wanna take some [i]normal[/i] pictures now, or just call it quits?”[/color] she inquired. Lada had just finished her apple. The entire thing. Even the core, [i]even the stem[/i] [color=Lime]”I did say we could do whatever you wanted afterwards, and I always keep my word.”[/color] Lada’s clothes seemed to fly into her outstretched hands. It didn’t take her nearly as long to get dressed as Kate did, but that probably had more to do with how little Lada had been wearing. Once she was done, she turned to look at the two newly arrived and threw her hands into the air. [color=Lime]”We’re dressed! You can look now!”[/color] Lada grinned. [color=Lime]”Sorry about that everyone! I usually remember to lock the door, but I hope we’ll all be able to look back on this and laugh in time. Until then, would you like to be in a few pictures with me?”[/color] Crystal slowly opened her eyes and turned to look at the two. [color=00aeef]”If we can stay clothed, I don’t think I’d mind taking some pictures, or being in them.”[/color] [color=Gold]“Uh, yeah, sure,”[/color] Dana added, clearly relieved that Lada finally had her clothes back on. [color=Gold]“So, uh, what kinda pictures were ya thinkin’ of?”[/color] [color=Lime]”I’ll leave that up to the photographer. But why don’t we start with just a regular group photo first?”[/color] Lada reached out and pulled Crystal and Dana to her side. [color=Lime]”You might as well be in this one too, Kate!”[/color] [color=Red]“Something normal sounds great to me,”[/color] Kate replied, placing herself in front of Lada and holding out her camera. [color=Red]“Everybody ready?”[/color] [center][h1]*SNAP!*[/h1][/center]