FIEB 48 PRT (Patreon)

Dylan POV

I stood over the workbench, staring down at the finished suit.

It wasn't traditional power armor; I wasn't entirely sure it could enhance a baseline human's strength beyond a marginal degree. To me, that aspect of the armor wasn't really necessary. I could already enhance my body with the Force, making myself stronger, faster, tougher. What I needed was something that could keep up with me... and something I could actively control with Mechu-deru while wearing it.

And that was what I had created.

The suit was designed as an extension of myself. While wearing it, I could reach out with Mechu-deru and directly interface with its systems. It was an idea based on certain sci-fi worlds from my past; I would no longer need buttons or voice commands, just intent. If I wanted the filtration to kick in harder, I simply willed it. If I needed the temperature regulation to drop because I was about to be burnt alive, the suit would respond.

It could also adapt on the fly. If a section of armor took heavy damage, I could focus and have the suit shift internal plating slightly to cover the weak point.

Picking up the helmet, I admired its matte finish. The helmet and bracers were the real stars. The semi-VI running through them was deeply integrated with my Force senses. It fed me information directly — threat analysis, structural weaknesses, even air composition through a better-designed HUD. It wasn't anything close to what I could do if I advanced in this particular Force discipline, but the sharper my control over the suit, the more effective it would be.

I was quite proud of what I had made. This would allow me a certain level of protection, even against hazards like airborne chemicals, with the inbuilt filtration systems. It was sealed to the outside atmosphere and even had a small amount of breathable air that could help me in case I needed to seal the suit for a couple of minutes.

This was the first step I needed to take to stop being reactive. Something like the Hebert kidnapping would not happen again. I glanced over at the three blocky devices sitting on the side table. Those heavy, reinforced metal boxes would be the heart of the whole system.

I was calling them EPD Hubs - short for Early Peril Detection Hubs.

Each one would act as a central processing unit, a "brain" that collected and analyzed data from multiple smaller scanners I planned to build and place across different parts of the city. Once everything was set up, these three hubs would be installed in the Docks, right alongside the security system that was currently running thanks to me.

Macky had agreed to be responsible for it when I visited him yesterday and healed his already mending injuries. I was glad he had agreed to do so despite the VI I had integrated into the PED HUBS; I would still need someone to operate it to its fullest extent.

It wasn't a perfect system yet; I still needed to build and hide the actual scanners around the city. But once it was running, it would give me eyes in places where I sorely needed them.

The Empire and the ABB were silent... especially the ABB... and that silence had been rubbing me the wrong way.

Looking at the clock, it was the time he had told Taylor to meet him. I had met up with her for the last two days as well, with the intent of helping her train her powers. It was illuminating. She could make bugs of various kinds in truly massive amounts, had astonishing degree control over her powers, and could see through her constructs as well. It was incredible as it was weird. I could tell there was a sliver of the Force in her constructs—something of a weird mix of Force alchemy. She wasn't truly Force-sensitive, but she was close. Force-adjacent, maybe. There was also a faint, fledgling bond between us; it wasn't something significant, but perhaps it was because she had triggered in my vicinity.

It was worrying why and how her powers from her shard were behaving like this, but I had decided not to focus on things I couldn't control, just to keep a watch on Taylor.

And today was the day he had agreed to meet up with the Protectorate with whatever agenda they had. That was fine because I had mine too. I stood up and reached out with the Force. The suit rose from the workbench and floated toward me, pieces separating and locking into place around my body with smooth, mechanical precision. I guided it with my mind, using Mechu-deru to help the systems settle and sync with me. Within seconds, the armor was on.

I still did not have a replacement for my sword, but I had an idea—something I had remembered while watching Taylor.

Force Alchemy.

If I could learn it from the holocron, I might be able to strengthen the titanium alloy in my armor and give it more mystical properties. I also had a feeling that once I reached a certain level of proficiency in a Force discipline, I would finally be able to meet the Guardians of the holocron. Whether I needed their permission or their help to go further was something I would have to wait and see. Regardless, I strapped on the few throwing knives I had left and climbed out the window after ensuring no one was around.

Using the Force, I dropped silently to the ground below. The suit felt good; there was a certain weight to it now. I could already feel the connection between it and me through Mechu-deru, like an extension of my own body. After ensuring all systems were working as intended, I headed toward the Docks.

I made my way to the large industrial crane where I had told her to meet me. The metal groaned softly under my new weight. Once I reached the top, I stood on the narrow beam and checked the time on my HUD.

She should have been here already...

I really should have made Taylor a basic communication device. The girl had flat-out refused to get a damn phone.

A moment later, I felt her approach.

A figure in a long dark coat and a black bodysuit dropped from the sky, standing atop a dense, buzzing cloud of insects she had created. She wore a half-dark mask and a pair of goggles I had made for her. She hovered above me dramatically, and I snorted. Even after I had thrown her around like a ragdoll during training the past two days, she was still posturing. Without warning, I jumped off the crane in a clean arc and landed on her cloud of bugs.

To her credit, she didn't flinch. The swarm adjusted under my weight, steadying itself. I stood up to my full height and looked down at her, clearly knowing that she could pick up my amusement.

"Right on time, Vespera," I said. "Shall we go?"

"...Sure," and with that, she moved her construct as we flew through the sky toward the rig at a respectable pace. She wasn't as fast as some of the flyers in the bay, but she was now one of them. I smiled as I felt her happiness, being able to fly through the sky under her own power.

We made good time crossing the rust-covered wrecks and open water toward the Rig. The massive structure loomed ahead, its forcefield shimmering faintly in the afternoon light. I pointed toward the lower docking platforms where Victoria had first brought me.

Vespera nodded, and we began to descend until we were skimming just above the waves.

"Slow down a little," I said, my suit's external speakers amplifying my voice over the wind. "I'm not sure if the shields will let us in without warning."

She glanced at me. Even with the mask and goggles covering most of her face, I could tell she was questioning my decision.

"...They don't know we're coming?"

"Not necessarily," I replied. "Armsmaster knows we're coming, and Brandish already informed them as our lawyer. I'm just not sure they've lowered the shields yet. I'd rather not get splattered like a bug on a windshield."

Her head turned towards me, her gaze meeting mine. Despite the lower mask and goggles, I could feel her glare. She was right to question me; it would be bad if the Protectorate's defense systems flagged us. But I did have a reason for attempting this.

I did not want to contact them for transport...

I chuckled at the still glaring girl. These past few days, I had learned it was surprisingly amusing to rile her up as we slowly got closer. To my mild surprise, the shields parted without issue, allowing us through the protective dome. We landed on one of the lower platforms without incident.

A pair of PRT troopers were already waiting for us. They led us up through the Rig without much conversation. I could feel Vespera growing tense beside me, and the troopers weren't exactly relaxed either. After all, she was a cape no one had heard about, and they only had my word—well, Brandish's word, since I hadn't contacted them.

We were eventually shown into a well-furnished meeting room on one of the upper levels. A long table sat in the center, with several officials already seated on one side. Carol—dressed in a sharp pencil skirt and business suit—was already there. She looked up as we entered and gave us a small nod, gesturing for us to sit.

The officials stood up with polite smiles as we took our seats. I stared at them, caught off guard by the warm reception. Even Vespera seemed thrown off. The last time I had been here, things had been... very different.

"Ah, Mr. Vigil, it's good you could stop by. We from the Protectorate and the PRT are extremely sorry for what you had to go through, and of course, we were just discussing the legal points with your lawyer. And this must be your new associate," the smiling man looked at Vespera, who was also out of it. To be honest, I had told her not-so-good things about the PRT/Protectorate, and Vespera did not have good views on them to begin with, but now...

"We are with you and will help to clear up this misunderstanding," the other female official said. Darcy, I could read from her name tag.

...it was a complete 180 in their attitude...

And where the hell were the Protectorate members and Piggot? What is going on here? Not wanting to be led around, I asked the

panel, "Where is the Director?"

"Madam Piggot is currently indisposed..." One of them said awkwardly, then continued, looking at my head turning to him, "...but if you require, we can arrange a meeting."

The hell does that mean?

I looked at Carol, who was sitting next to me, and all I could sense from her was confusion and vague understanding as she observed the unfolding situation. When I met her gaze, she shook her head, indicating for me not to push the issue.

The meeting continued in the same overly polite tone. Carol handled most of the negotiation while Vespera's hero name and basic power classification were recorded. We declined power testing, and I casually mentioned my intention to form an independent hero team. Carol gave me a pointed look at this, and at that point, I could more or less guess why they were being so nice.

We were then asked if we would like to stay or leave, as only the legal matters regarding my lawsuit, which Carol was handling, remained. It was just a code word for the settlement agreement, and Carol asked if I wanted to stay for it. Feeling completely thrown off by the situation, I opted to leave with Vesper, leaving Carol to handle the settlement.

Leaving the room, we were escorted out by the same pair of troopers who had guided us into the rig. As Vespera came

closer to me, she whispered, "..I thought you said the PRT was going to be insufferable..."

"Yeah, so did I," I told her as we reached a helipad. As the wind picked up, Vespera created another bug construct from the material of the pad as we stepped onto it.

"So, what next...?" she asked, a little uncertain.

I could understand her uncertainty; everything had been smooth. The PRT was absolutely pleasant and downright bent over backward for us. I had expected at least a polite confrontation, but there was nothing. Oh well, I wasn't going to look a gift horse in

the mouth. I answered, "...Well, we continue doing our thing... and start dismantling the ABB." I declared, nodding to myself.

The bug construct beneath us wobbled slightly as I felt a sharp spike of shock from the girl beside me.

"What...!?"

I glanced at her, a small, amused smirk forming beneath my helmet.

Welcome to the dark side, Taylor, I thought. You wanted this.