Augmented Aspects: Chapter 401 The People We Meet (Patreon)

Chapter 401

The People We Meet

Home.

It wasn’t the fact that I was back on Biprism that I felt like I was at home. Nor was it the fact that I felt my level of power and ability surge at the now abundance of energy resonating around me. Instead, it was something far more simple that let me know I was home.

“CASS!”

“Momma!”

It was the calls of my loved ones that cried out in excitement at my arrival that let me know I had made it home safely.

Hearing their voices and cries of enjoyment I knew I had made it. Then as if realizing that I was still missing something, a tiny piece of my whole heart, the last piece emerged.

Poof. That’s when Penelope riding on the back of a now massive Umbra appeared, and ran over to me. Seeing her violent reaction, Raygunnr, whom I was still inside quivered for a second before forcefully opening the escape hatch door and allowed Penelope direct access to me. If she was a serial killer, then Penelope would have a direct line of attack to me. Which given the way she was frantically flailing her arms about violently trying to move faster, the sentiment wasn’t that inaccurate. Reading my emotions and surface thoughts, Raygunnr just replied, “what can I say she’s scarier than you.”

At that moment, I couldn’t refute him.

“OOF!” I got tackled violently, as a nearly twitching Penelope latched onto me. At first I wanted to struggle, but then I felt her warmth and realized I needed this too. That’s when I hugged back, and for a moment the world felt safe, the only way it can, when you are in the embrace of someone you truly love. That’s when I knew it, I had felt it before. I had even wanted this to be the case for Penelope to be the one. But this moment right here, where I was surrounded by a growing pool of my friends and family, as Gwen, Mallory, Jhonny, Miranda, Melkin, Vickar, and so many others all began to gather around and celebrate Raygunnr’s and my return. I was happy to see all of them, and glad that I could feel their love for me flowing off in waves, but it was only now that I was holding and being held by Penelope that I knew.

Breathing in, I took in her scent that smelled of flowers and delicate floral fragrances that smelled sweet, but not sickeningly so. To put it simply, she was powerful, strong enough to be felt, but not overpoweringly so. In other words, she was perfect, at least for me, she was perfect. And I felt myself melt and relax into her embrace for a moment.

We stayed like that, for what felt like hours. Hours that our minds can only interpret as a state of near perfection. I was tired, exhausted, and rightfully so. I had just gone through an emotional rollercoaster on the moon, where I fixed a lot of issues, but realized I still had more remaining.

Yet, I didn’t feel as encumbered as I normally do by my doubts and fears. Instead, I felt that I had finally shed some of that weight, some of that guilt. I still had a lot to prove, a lot to fix. Not just fix what I had done, but to correct the world, this Biprism, a world where everyone stayed to spend their last moments together.

It was beautiful and harmonious, but above all, I finally felt like I was accomplishing something. Even though it felt like I was running on sand, where each step forward, caused me to slide back ever so slightly, I had finally begun to pedal fast enough to begin to move forward. We were all moving forward, all going towards one goal, one final direction and it was clear that there was nothing that could stop us. Which only caused my senses to tingle, things were going too easily, for the first time in forever it looked like we just might succeed. Then, Penelope whispered those seven magic words into my ear. Seven magic words that spoke of hope, wonder, and above all sparked my curiosity.

“There’s something I want to show you,” Penelope whispered, her lips so close that they caused my still pointed ears to tickle and twitch slightly at her words. An act that caused her to smile warmly, the way one does when they realize a cherished one is ticklish at an unexpected spot.

“What is it?” I ask, moving my ears back so I can look Penelope in the eyes. Not that it does anything for me, other than get my aforementioned now sensitive Nympho ears away from her teasing breath.

At my comment, Penelope turns back and looks at everyone, “actually, this is what we have all been planning for.”

“It’s time?” Mallory asks.

“It is!” Penelope declares excitedly.

“Finally,” Gwen replies as she seems to know about this sudden surprise.

“What? What finally?” I reply, confused and realizing that I really hate surprises.

“It’s a surprise!” Gwen replies a knowing smile on her lips as it is clear she, like the others are apparently in on this not telling the newly transitioned Nympho any secrets.

“But, I don’t like surprises,” I reply honestly.

“We know, which makes this such a great moment. The fact that we all know, and that we are all waiting for you.” Mallory hits back, and I want to complain, but I feel that there is a divine sense of karma being sent my way from everyone. As if I have been sending surprises their way for so long, that they are now seeming to take delight in the fact that I am now the but of one epic surprise.

“If this is a new vacuum to clean up your messes better, I will be highly disappointed,” I reply turning to Gwen and reminding her of the last time she and the other kids all chipped in to get me a great Mother’s Day surprise. Sad part was that it was a great vacuum, well until Gwen had to go and ruin it not even a month later.

“One time, that was one time mom!” Gwen replied, only to be drowned out by the sea of voices.

“Come on, you can’t keep us all from the surprise,” Jhony replied. While he was hidden in the crowd, I couldn’t help but see that he was holding Miranda’s hand tightly. Seeing the two, I couldn’t help but smile, and wish them luck. They had a lot in common, but a relationship is never easy, it takes time and effort. I want to express all of this to them, but realize that this is not the time nor place, particularly as Penelope is quickly taking the helm of operations.

“Rune!” Penelope calls out, then everyone looks up to see Rune-Ulacrum just floating there above us all. Once we all look up to see her, Penelope continues, “if you would be so kind as to do the honors.”

With that Rune-Ulacrum bows deeply and waves her hand, creating an Arane Geomancy Teleportation Tunnel. A tunnel that is large enough for two to step through side by side, but not me inside Raygunnr. Seeing the tunnel I pause as I know where the other side leads out to, but I am confused for a moment as it is just to the Prankenstein.

“What is there?” I ask, trying to figure out why exactly we are going to the Prankenstein at this time. Also, it is clear from the direction and angle of the Tunnel that I am meant to not know where, nor why I am going to the Praknenstein, just that I am going there. Again, part of the surprise, which I am finding I am not as much of a fan of as I originally thought.

“Only one way to find out,” Penelope demands as she tugs me and all but wrestles me free from Raygunnr’s cockpit. Immediately upon leaving him, I feel a shift, as Rune-Ulacrum quickly Teleported into the open position, making it so our coordination timer didn’t lapse. A minor thing, but major to me now for some reason.

Realizing that even my argument about the timer was gone, I felt compelled to follow Penelope who was smiling excitedly, while tugging and pulling me along.

“Come on,” Penelope demanded while pulling me through the portal. Then just as I exit, I realize I am being turned, pulled, and twisted around to immediately go up a flight of stairs leading to the exterior of hull of Prankenstein.

Being up here, I felt an odd openness, as if we were suddenly in space. Then looking over to Penelope who was quickly putting on her own helmet and sealing her protective seals shut, I realized we were in as close to space as possible.

For a moment, I thought we were alone, only to realize that more and more people were coming out of the tunnel below. Nearly everyone who had been at ground zero to greet me was now coming through the connected portal and all clamoring out to get on the deck with the two of us.

“AWWWWEE!”

“Ohhh!”

Everyone that came to the top had the same exact reaction.

“That view, it is magical,” Mallory cried out looking out into the distance at a sight that I could only imagine what it looked like. Unfortunately, my blindness kept me from seeing and experiencing everything that the others were now experiencing below.

“What is it?” I ask.

“It’s the world, Biprism,” Penelope explains.

“But it’s alive, well mostly,” Maranda calls out, and then points off to the distance, “there are still some sections that haven’t been converted. Wow, it is impressive to see the world like this.”

“Converted?” I ask, though I think I already know.

“Yes, from here, we can see the work that you and the other Sims have done, how much you all have changed the world and made it better,” Penelope calls out. “I wanted to be here with you, to share this moment.”

“But, I can’t see any of it?” I protested, wondering if I had somehow missed something important.

“It doesn’t matter, we realized this was likely the case when we heard back from Trober that Ship and Pirate didn’t even seem to care once they reached the top.”

“The top?” I ask, suddenly looking around, wondering where Ship and Pirate were.

“Yep, this is the top of the thousandth floor! The one spot that is above all the clouds and allows you to actually see the world fully, in its entirety.” Penelope declared.

“Wait, I got to the thousandth floor, and I didn’t get a quest completion?” I protest.

At that, Penelope just crosses her arms and stares at me, “you likely would, if you rested once in a month or so.”

“Wait, if the Prankenstein is here, then where are Ship and Pirate?” I ask.

Penelope just smiles and gives me a look that says this surprise is far from over, “glad you asked.”

At that, Penelope reached into her pocket and pulled out a simple but effective communications crystal, one that she quickly activated with Spirit energy and began speaking.

“The Prime has come to roost, I repeat the Prime has come to roost,” Penelope spoke into the crystal. At which point a second Tunnel opened up, this time going from the hull, to a spot where I could see Ship-Ulacrum, and a few other beings all wondering around. For a moment, I even swore I saw a baby dragon running by.

“Wait was that a dragon?” I asked.

“Maybe?” Penelope replied conspiratorially, before guiding me to the new tunnel.

“Wait, what about the others?” I ask.

“We’re fine, go on and explore,” Mallory waved me off.

Then like that, I found myself staring at one of the largest spirit dragons I had ever seen. Well, staring at was kind of a misnomer as I was unable to not see the creature this colossal since Tortoron The Great, and that’s when I remember why and how I gained Zero as a familiar. A familiar that I was terrible with keeping.

Only now do I see that Zero is here, having advanced his size a lot and is speaking to his mother. While I missed the moment they first met, I can’t help but notice that they have their tails entertained while the mother, one who was supposed to be bound, but I don’t see any restraints on her. Had they been removed?

I also see Dragon-Ulacrum right there, within an arm’s reach of Zero, staring up at him and seeming to admire him in an almost yandere style of love. A love that I wish I could express, to show how much Zero means to me, but I can’t. I build up walls to protect myself against things that could get too close and hurt me. Just like Robert, just like Rob Junior, and most people that I love, but end up leaving me for some reason or another. The less I let people in, the less it hurts when they leave.

“Come on,” Penelope declares, grabbing me by the arm and directing me closer to Zero, his mother, and to Dragon-Ulacrum. As if drawn by my presence alone, I feel the weight and gaze of all three home in on me, as I get closer. Seeing the colossal dragon, I realize she does in fact sport the colossal tag as well, being easily four times larger than any other dragon I have seen before her.

Getting closer, I bow. While I am far smaller than the dragon before me, I don’t see her as any real threat. That might be due to the fact that I am massively over leveled for this area, or that the mother who I still don’t know the name of, doesn’t seem to consider me a threat.

Instead, she seems to register me, and then nod as if gesturing for me to come forward.

“Come, and see this final step needed for all advanced dragon hatchings,” the dragon matriarch calls out.

As she does, I know we are going to see something important. I even see the moment Penelope realizes the gravity of this moment and pulls out a second crystal that she uses to send out a beaconing signal that seems to cut through space and different realms. Truly impressive, as the frequency needed to traverse out of the Spirit realm that Arcanarus Tower is in, to the real world is an impressive feat in and of itself.

“Wow,” I comment, and then reach my hand out as if to touch the device. Only once I have my hand out do I realize how intrusive this gesture might actually be. “I mean, can I see it?”

Penelope looks down at her beacon and seems to look confused at my sudden attention, “this thing? Sure.”

At that, she hands it over to me, while I feel the surge and call of more and more Simulacrums and other members of my crew coming. Even Rune-Ulacrum comes, still riding inside of Raygunnr, but she keeps her elongated tunnel open behind her, apparently as an escape path if needed.

Meanwhile, I am still investigating the simplicity of the construct that Penelope made, it is simple, but powerful, and practical, making it the trifecta of craftsmanship, “this is very impressive.”

“It is?” Penelope asks, suddenly blushing at the compliment. Seeing her blush, I suddenly wonder if I am too sparing with my compliments. Which is why I make sure to express, just how impressed I am with this simple invention.

“It is, you did an amazing job with amplifying energy types and distances. I know it takes a powerful receiver to hear the transmission, but that only makes it better as it will be harder to intercept. This is brilliant.” I reply and mean it.

“Thank you,” Penelope declares and nervously tries to rustle her hair over her ear, only to realize that she is wearing a space suit that is also of her design.

“You better wrap her up before someone takes her,” Gwen whispers loud enough for everyone to hear. Now I am blushing, but I can see the other Simulacrums all nodding in agreement. That’s when I realize, Gwen is right. I am about to open my mouth and say something, but that is when Zero’s mother cuts in with her lesson.

“Now, for most lesser dragons, simple fires or imprinting with unhatched eggs will be enough. But for the truly powerful of our kind to be hatched, we will need help. That is why I want to share this method with you all, to let you see how a true dragon is born.” The mother began, as she lunged forward, and put one egg inside her mouth.

“Fist- you take the egg like so,” the mother began, first trying to speak around the egg in her mouth, before switching to a mental transmission of thoughts. “Then you take the egg and swallow it half way, like so.”

We all watched in shock and wild horror as the mother dragon swallowed the egg and had it stop halfway down her throat. “Now you take the egg, letting it get coated with your own natural enzymes for your magical affinity.”

The mother continued, holding up one paw to point out her scales which I assume showed that she had a deep resonating affinity for Spirit magic, Death Magic, and Shadow Magic, the exact three affinities that I started with.

“Now the placement is key, as too far down and you will just swallow it, too far up and you won’t produce the gag reflex needed.”

“Gag reflex?” Almost everyone gathered asked in near unison. Then we all watched in horror as the mother dragon pushed the egg an inch further back in her mouth and began choking on the lodged egg. Like a cat trying to cough up a giant hairball we all watched in sympathetic pain. From a magical standpoint it was impressive, as I could see the wave and current of all three primary magical affinities rise up, circulate around the egg and then melt the egg shell, all while the neck muscles constricted around the egg further cracking the egg, allowing the mother to cough up the now broken egg and reveal a slime coated baby dragon.

“Ewww,” everyone cried out in unison. While I and my Simulacrums all managed to hold ourselves together, there were quite a few sympathetic coughs and dry heaves that came from this display.

“And there you have it, a newborn healthy true dragon,” the matriarch cried out, before collapsing in exhaustion.

At her sudden collapse all of us ran to her, well all the Simulacrums and Zero.

“She’s just exhausted,” Zero called out, but I also found myself confirming this diagnosis at the same time that Dragon-Ulacrum and the others also confirmed. While we had just met the mother, it was clear that we all had a bond with her, if only due to how we were connected to her son.

That’s when Raygunnr did the most Raygunnr thing possible, he distracted us all away from the collapsing mother dragon who just gave birth, and directed our attention elsewhere.

“That’s all there is to it, just a little hawk-tuah powa’, and boom new baby! A method that has been proven throughout the annals of time.” Raygunnr’s comment through his broney-tail, his comment elicited several moans from everyone around, but it also got a response that I was not expecting at all…