Heroic

by H D Forth

  Tentatively, Kani lifted it and shook it a few times. What she put down again didn't look like the steel frame hand, covered in a network of metal. It looked like a real hand. She started poking at it, then poking her own hand. She seemed relatively happy with the result, so she turned back to her computer.

  The skin on the hand jerked as she did something on her computer. Slowly, the skin started pulling tauter and paling, into white. Within a five seconds the entire hand was covered in white skin like substance. It was slightly glossy and reflective, but otherwise it was just an incredibly pale and thin human hand.

  Kani ran a finger along the hand. It took me a moment, but I finally noticed as her finger reached the ‘meat’ of the palm, that the finger was depressing the skin like before.

  She then picked up a screwdriver and tapped it against the hand. She stuck her head out in a way that suggested that she was listening and tapped it few more times. Then she stabbed into the hand. Not incredibly hard, but I judged it hard enough that it would damage a human one. I could see the mark it left, but it didn't pierce the odd skin.

  Kani threw her arms up, throwing the screwdriver wide as she danced a little jig around her workstation. I could clearly see the bags under her eyes, but the dance was only slightly subdued by tiredness, but her smile and her eyes weren’t as they shone with pride and joy.

  Soon she sat down next to her item, and pulled something in from out of my line of sight. It was a medium sized white box, the top was decorated with bow. She detached the skin armor attachment and put it into the box, then she closed the lid.

  Then she pulled out a paper and started writing. Soon, her head rested one hand as she wrote. She blinked heavily before finally putting the pen away and sliding the card over to the box.

  I could see her mumble something, before lowering her head into her arms.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Six

  I waited another minute or two, just looking at the obviously sleeping Kani, before entering the building.

  I quietly slid the door open and closed it very slowly, trying my best to avoid making any noise. I could hear Kani’s faint snoring as I closed the door.

  I couldn't help but smile slightly. I had been afraid that I would still feel the crippling anxiety and fear when I would see Kani again, but it would seem that some time apart to self reflect had done wonders for me. It was still there, but it wasn't the only thing in me anymore.

  I walked as quietly as I could over to her. Unfortunately, this wasn't as quiet as I wanted it to be, the wooden floor of which Val was so proud was creaking slightly no matter where or how I stepped.

  Kani didn't wake up though, so I guess I did alright, either that or she's exhausted. As I stood slightly behind her, I could see the bolt cutters.

  They were placed securely on the rack. They were a heavy duty thing with long handles and a heavy… cutter? Beak? I like that. Long handles and a large beak.

  I frowned slightly there were a few tools not sitting in their racks. A hammer that was lying on the table, the screwdriver Kani had thrown to the floor behind her, but there was a last empty spot. It took me a moment to realize it was for the wrench in my holster.

  I looked over the table. Immediately the package stuck out to me, along with the note she’d written.

  My heart did a little skip when I saw who it was addressed to. I mean I had already sort of guessed who it was for. There wasn't a lot of people that could make use of such an attachment, but still… it was nice to have confirmation.

  Dear Vanys.

  Thank you for letting me into this endeavor into hero work. This has been one of the most exciting, terrifying, rejuvenating, draining and absolutely wonderful experiences of my life.

  You didn’t have to when you let me in, you could’ve just as easily shut me out because of my illness, but you didn't.

  I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings. Val told me a little about your background. I knew that you were an orphan, but I hadn't ever really put it together, not like that, I didn't realize that could’ve been how you felt.

  I hope that we can move on, and improve our lives as we improve the lives of all the people in OUR TOWER.

  Kani Masterson.

  She had drawn a little heart on it. Kani shifted under me, murmured something and moved her head slightly. My eyes stung, though I knew no tears could fall from them.

  “I am so sorry that I hurt you,” I barely choked out, my voice more hoarse with emotion than the Nerve Module had any right to make it. I carefully placed my hand on her shoulder, but she barely reacted.

  "Let's get you to bed," I said, this time a little clearer. I wasn't particularly loud, not because I didn't want Kani to hear me, but because I didn't want to disturb her out of her sleep too severely.

  She murmured something incomprehensible in reply. I knelt down next to her, turning her in her chair to face me. I put her arms over the corresponding shoulder, grabbed her by the waist and lifted her until I could get an arm under her thighs to support her.

  Once her weight was resting on my arm, her forehead naturally settled on the nape of my neck, and she wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

  She smelled of burnt metal, grease and sweat stronger than ever before. Strangely, I found it comforting and pleasant. Before I had known Kani, I hadn’t particularly cared for those smells, but now they were related to her, and that made them better.

  As gently as I could, I carried her upstairs and into the bedroom. Carefully placing her on the bed and pulled the sheet over her. I stroked her hair as she lay on the bed sleeping.

  "Sleep well," I whispered, leaning down a kissing her forehead. Then quietly back down the stairs again.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Seven

  I waited another minute or two, just looking at the obviously sleeping Kani, before entering the building.

  I quietly slid the door open, but didn't closed it very slowly, trying my best to avoid making any noise. I could hear Kani’s faint snoring as I closed the door.

  I couldn't help but smile slightly. I had been afraid that I would still feel the crippling anxiety and a fear when I would see her again, but it would seem that sometime apart to self reflect had done wonders for me. It was still there, but it wasn’t the only thing in my anymore.

  I walked as quietly as I could over to her. Unfortunately this wasn't as quiet as I wanted it to be, the wooden floor of which Val was so proud was creaking slightly no matter where or how I stepped.

  Kani didn't wake up though, so I guess I did alright, either that or she’s really tired. As I stood slightly behind her, I could see the bolt cutters. They were placed securely on the rack. They were a heavy duty thing with long handles and a heavy… cutter? Beak? I like that. Long handles and a heavy beak.

  I frowned slightly there were a few tool not sitting in their racks. A hammer that was lying on the table, the screwdriver she had thrown to the floor behind her, but there was a last empty spot. It took me a moment to realize it was for the wrench in my holster.

  I looked over the table. Immediately the package stuck out to me, along with the note she’d written.

  My heart did a little skip when I saw who it was addressed to. I mean I had already sort of guessed who it was for. There wasn't a lot of people that could make use of such an attachment, but still… it was nice to have confirmation.

  Dear Vanys.

  Thank you for letting me into you endeavor into hero work. This has been one of the most exciting, terrifying, rejuvenating, draining and absolutely wonderful experience of my life.

  You didn’t have to when you let me in, you could’ve just as easily shut me out because of my illness, but you didn't.

  I’m sorry that I hurt your feelings. Val told me a little about your background. I knew that you were an orphan, but I hadn't ever really put it together, not like that, I didn't realize that could’ve been how you felt.

  I hope that we can move on, and improve our lives as we improve the lives of all the
people in OUR TOWER.

  Kani Masterson.

  She had drawn a little heart on it. Kani shifted under me, murmured something and moved her head slightly. I could feel my eyes sting, though no tears could fall from them.

  “I am so sorry that I hurt you,” I barely choked out, my voice more hoarse with emotion than the Nerve Module had any right to make it. I carefully placed my hand on her shoulder, but she barely reacted.

  “Let’s get you to bed,” I said, this time a little clearer. I wasn't being particularly loud, not because I didn't want her to hear me, but because I didn't want to disturb her out of her sleep too badly.

  She murmured something incomprehensible in reply. I knelt down next to her, turning her in her chair to face me. I put her arms over the corresponding shoulder, grabbed her by the waist and lifted her, until I could get an arm under her thighs to support her.

  Once her weight was resting on my arm, her forehead naturally settled on the nape of my neck, and she wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

  She smelled of burnt metal, grease and sweat stronger than ever before. Strangely, I found it comforting and pleasant. Before I had known Kani, I hadn’t particularly cared for those smells, but now they were related to her, and that made them better.

  As gently as I could, I carried her upstairs and into the bedroom. Carefully placing her on the bed and pulled the sheet over her. I stroked her hair as she lay on the bed sleeping.

  “Sleep well.” I said, leaning down a kissing her forehead. Then quietly back down the stairs again.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Eight

  I pulled the bolt cutter down from its spot and examined it. There was a bit more to it than a single screw that held the entire thing together but figured that I could take it apart in a way that I could put it back together too. It couldn't possibly be that hard.

  I finagled with the cutter for another hour before I got them separated. The problem had of course not been how extremely unhandy I was, it was how difficult it had been to do without waking Kani up. Yup, the only issue had been that.

  I initially slipped the two parts of the bolt cutter into my belt, but since their weight was mostly at the head, I almost immediately dropped one on the floor cringing that the loud noise it made. Luckily, Kani didn't wake from it. Instead, I determined to just carry them in my hands.

  I stopped looking at the package wondering if I should take the attachment. It could help, but just grabbing it without talking to Kani first?

  I picked up the note, reread it, then turning it around and wrote a note of my own on the back side.

  Thank you, Kani.

  You have shown me more loyalty and respect and love than I honestly deserve. I couldn't have done half the things we have accomplished without your help. I'm not half the hero people think I am, not without you.

  Thank you for always having my back.

  Vanys.

  I had never been particularly brilliant with words, I have never been able to express my self, sufficiently with words and now I cursed myself for that lack of ability. Instead, I simply took the attachment.

  With a little finagling, I managed to get my current skin cover off the frame, without it trying to grow back. It did mean that I had to peel off the thick substance since I had to completely disconnect it from the system.

  I winced at the gross feel of the skin as I peeled it off. It came off in one sticky layer. Due to how thin and wiry my frame was the substance over my wrist was noticeably thicker than the stuff over my hands. That also made the hand ‘skin’ mush easier to peel once I’d reached them.

  I attached the new network of metal onto my hand, it reached slightly beyond my hand and onto my wrist and forearm. Now I just had to figure out how to connect it.

  Kani had used this. I held up the little module that she had connected the wire to. I could see any interface on it, but when I reached for it mentally, I noticed that it was already connected to the computer.

  I cut their connection, but the moment I stopped, it reestablished it. Further examination revealed some sort of touch function. I touched the module to the exposed metal of my arm.

  It stuck, but it didn't connect. Maybe the nerve system, I thought. That’s how everything else connects right? I moved the module further up until it touched my arm, and… something happened. A notification appeared on my UI.

  New Module Detected.

  I installed it immediately. Presently, another notification saying that skin grafting was ongoing. Foam started spreading through the small holes in the mesh lines until it connected with my old skin.

  Ten seconds later, my entire hand was bubbling, until I received a notification to remove the foam.

  I had seen Kani flick the foam off, but I decided to wash it off. I wasn't just some savage who would shake it off and leave the residue all over, for someone else to clean.

  There it was a new hand. Technically just new skin, but still. Another force of will and the surface compressed into a slightly glossy white.

  It was definitely harder than normal skin. I could feel that just moving my hand, but it wasn't so much stronger, that it would stop a bullet, maybe a knife if I were lucky.

  "Thank you, Kani," I said softly, with a smile.

  Then I pulled my glove back on. Pulled my mask on and took the bolt cutters in one hand.

  I had a bad guy to put down.

  Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Nine

  I pulled the bolt cutter down from its spot and examined it. There was a bit more to it than a single screw that held the entire thing together, but figured that I could take it apart in a way that I could put it back together too. It couldn't possibly be that hard.

  I finagled with the cutter for another hour before I got them separated. The problem had of course not been how extremely unhandy I was, it was how difficult it had been to do without waking Kani up. Yup, the only issue had been that.

  I originally slipped the two parts of the bolt cutter in to my belt, but since their weight was mostly at the head, I almost immediately dropped one on the floor cringing that the loud noise it made. Luckily, Kani didn't wake from it. Instead I determined to just carry them in my hands.

  I stopped looking at the package wondering if I should take the attachment. It could help, but just taking it without talking with Kani first?

  I picked up the note, read it again, before turning it around and wrote a note of my own on the back side.

  Thank you Kani.

  You have shown me more loyalty and respect and love than I honestly deserve.

  I couldn't have done half the things we have accomplished without your help.

  I'm not half the hero people think I am, not without you.

  Thank you for alway having my back.

  Vanys.

  I had never been particularly brilliant with words, I have never been able to express my self, sufficiently with words and now I cursed myself for that lack of ability. Instead I simply took the attachment.

  With a little finagling I managed to get my current skin cover off the frame, without it trying to grow back. It did mean that I had to peel off the thick substance, since I had to completely disconnect it from the system.

  I winced at the gross feel of the skin as I peeled it off. It came off in one sticky layer. Due to how thin and wiry my frame was the substance over my wrist was noticeably thicker than the stuff over my hands. That also made the hand ‘skin’ mush easier to peel once I’d reached them.

  I attached the new network of metal onto my hand, it reached slightly beyond my hand and onto my wrist and forearm. Now I just had to figure out how to connect it.

  Kani had used this. I held up the little module that she had connected the wire to. I could see any interface on it, but when I reached for it mentally I noticed that it was already connected to the computer. I cut their connection, but the moment I stopped, it reestablished it. Further examination revealed some sort of touch function. I touched the module to exposed metal of my arm.
r />   It stuck, but it didn't connected. Maybe the nerve system, I thought. That’s how everything else connects right? I moved the module further up, until it touched my arm, and… something happened. A notification appeared on my UI.

  New Module Detected.

  I installed it immediately. Presently, another notification saying that skin grafting was ongoing. Foam started spreading through the small holes in the mesh lines, until it connected with my old skin. Ten seconds later, my entire hand was bubbling, until I received a notification to remove the foam.

  I had seen Kani flick the foam off, but I decided to washed it off. I wasn't just some savage who would shake it off and leave the residue all over, for someone else to clean.