Aberrant: Stargate Universe - How to dance a razor's edge.

[Adrian Moss]

"Captains, take a step back," the Major said stepping forward the the power of a raw god. Is aura was unmistakably quantum enhanced.

"Omar, this is not a drill field and you can not treat veterans of the SGC like raw recruits."

"Wright, Omar is your instructor. Keep the ego at the door - now."

He let his eyes roam outward to the crowd.

"Everyone else, give us two minutes. Wander around but don't get lost."

Vinny needed to stay, so Damien physically sided with him without saying as much. Everyone needed to stay and learn what Omar's decades, if not centuries, of experience offered. As senior ranking officer it fell to him to make this difficult feat happen.

[Courier]

Steve had backed away when it looked like Mr. Cannon might square off with Mr. Invulnerably. With the order to wander he decided to follow Olivia and asked quietly, "Learning much?"

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan as Omar's commanding officer moved up to his side. He said nothing, but was prepared as well to restrain his subordinate if the need arose. Much as he hoped Caine would do for Vinny.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia wasn't wandering far. Her expression was pensive, perhaps even worried as she watched Caine and Vinny face Omar and Ryan, or that was how it looked to her. She remained near - just far enough to satisfy Caine's order but close enough that she could... stand by helplessly.

Angrily, she punched the palm of her hand with her other fist, her expression becoming frustrated. Why didn't she have anything useful to offer? She had good hearing, which meant she could hear things going wrong really well. She had a good brain, which meant that she could analyze things falling apart really well.

"Um, yeah," she said to Steve, distracted. "I'm learning buckets."

[Omar]

Omar knew he had overstepped his authority and wanted to help diffuse the situation.

"My apologies Sir. " Omar said to Damian. "I behaved unprofessionally. It won't happen again."

He turned to Major Hawke. "With your permission sir, I would like to continue the lession."

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan looks to Omar and nods. He looks back to Caine and Vinny, specifically at the other Captain. "I trust we can drop this matter now, right Captain Wright?" He stressed the rank, looking to Caine hoping he'd back him on this.

[Forge]

Vinny's eye twitched once inside his deep scowl before he abruptly turned around and walked back a few steps, pulling a cigar out of his pocket and stuffing it in his mouth.

When he turned back around, he was less livid, but still had the posture of defiance.

He spread his hands wide in an impatient gesture of expectation and let them drop to his sides. "Well? Let's get this shit over with."

[Courier]

Originally Posted By: Olivia Jenings-Izumi

"Um, yeah," she said to Steve, distracted. "I'm learning buckets."

Steve also watched the situation and added, "Ever watched a hockey game? Third man in is the one who starts the bench brawl."

*We're better off over here and they're better off that we're over here.*

[Adrian Moss]

Caine gave Vinny one last look that making sure he wasn't going to lose it before turning back to Omar.

"Captain, I suggest we let everyone have their two minutes and pick up then."

He moved away now, looking for his only team mate here, Olivia. He walked over to her and stood close by, oberving how people moved, or didnt' move, about.

[Omar]

"Is there anyone else who wishes to try to powermax? Any questions?" Omar looked around at the unsure faces watching him. "If not, we can move on to the next technique."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia shrugged. "I'm not sure what you want us to do, Captain," she said. "Some of us can't do what everyone else is doing." The frustration from her unequal standing with her peers was clear in her voice. "So in short, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to gain here."

[Courier]

*Olivia's problem sounds 'exactly' like what I was going through a moment ago. The shadow is either there or it isn't.*

Steve said to Omar more than Olivia, "Some powers don't 'max?"

[Adrian Moss]

Damien looks over to Olivia,

"I feel the same way. I'm not stronger, faster, or do any cool crap. I've noticed I'm smarter, but that's about it."

"Hey Omar, anyway we can boost our mental capabilities, even for a short while?"

Otherwise I think I've almost wasted an entire morning. I could have read Olivia's report and gotten more out of it.

He hid his disappointment well. No sense on making Omar feel bad ... or show how much he apparently didn't know.

[Ryan Hawke]

"I'm in much the same boat. I think the only ability I have that requires me to expend effort is my regenerative abilities, and that is such a small amount."

Knowledge was never a waste of time he thought to himself. If nothing else he'd been shown how to do it, and saw the effects. he also knew of at least three specialists who could do it.

[Omar]

Quote:

Some of us can't do what everyone else is doing." The frustration from her unequal standing with her peers was clear in her voice. "So in short, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to gain here."

Omar thought about their questions and he remembered a trick to powermax that might help those without powers.

"There is a way that you can powermax and get a benefit without having a power." he finally said. "While I have never needed to do it myself, I have heard that it is possible to use your own quantum to briefly shield yourself from attack. The effect is most likely brief, but if your life depends on it, you could do it."

Quote:

"Some powers don't 'max?"

"All powers should be able to be maxed, you just have to figure out what kind of stunts you can pull off with it. It takes practice to discover what things you can do. For example, I could make myself faster, possibly breaking the sound barrier, or I could make my armored skin even tougher. Vinny could increase the range of his mortars, split them into multiple shots or increase their destructive force. There are probably other things he could do, but it would take experimentation to find out what they are."

Quote:

"Hey Omar, anyway we can boost our mental capabilities, even for a short while?"

Quote:

"I'm in much the same boat. I think the only ability I have that requires me to expend effort is my regenerative abilities, and that is such a small amount."

"I'm not sure." Omar scratched his chin. "I also have the ability to regenerate, but I have never been able to use a powermax to change it. If you are able, more power to you."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"Alright, that's what I'm talking about!" Olivia said, grinning. She closed her eyes and did as Omar had told her, gathering, holding and releasing that power. It burned like a sweet fire, and she understood why Vinny had looked so excited.

Her eyes were sparkling like jewels as she glanced at the assembled men and said, "Quick, someone hit me, before it fades!"

Click to reveal..

Powermaxing: 1 sux, converted to soak

1d10=5, 1d10=9, 1d10=2

Livy's bashing soak is now 4.

[Forge]

Vinny, seeing the excitement in her eyes and not one to disappoint on such a request, walked over and slugged her in the shoulder.

Click to reveal..

Strike

(09:07:36) ChatBot: (Forge) rolls 6d10 and gets 10,2,7,10,4,5.[3] +2 Damage

Damage +2 Strike +2 Carry Over

(09:13:13) ChatBot: (Forge) rolls 8d10 and gets 10,4,3,3,2,6,7,7.[3] Doesn't really want to hurt her anyway

[Courier]

Never a man of violence if he had any say in the matter, Steve responded to Olivia's invitation with, "I'll pass."

[Adrian Moss]

For some reason, Caine hesitated long enough to let Vinny get the blow in. It really should have been someone on the team. Oh well, such was life.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Olivia was both surprised and unsurprised when Vinny took up the offer, once again grinning like a boy on the schoolyard. Socking a girl in the arm is a tried and true courtship method for the immature, so he probably thinks he's being romantic, Olivia mused as his fist hit her.

She swayed back, then caught her balance. "Ow," she muttered, rubbing her shoulder. She was going to bruise. She was clearly deflated as she said, "That didn't work as advertised, Omar."

Click to reveal..

I pulled the last four dice off Vinny's damage for her soak.

Damage +2 Strike +2 Carry Over

(09:13:13) ChatBot: (Forge) rolls 8d10 and gets 10,4,3,3,2,6,7,7.[3 1]

[Omar]

,,

Quote:

"That didn't work as advertised, Omar."

I didn't say it would protect you from all damage. It just allows you to use your quantum as an aid in defense. It will probably grow as you get more powerful." Omar was frustrated that these people wanted miracles. "Look, What you just did, is an emergency type of stunt. What I said was that it could mean the difference between life and death. Vinny's punch could have broken your arm. Be happy that all you received was a bruise- as a nova your bruise should heal in a few hours..a day at most."

"Once all of you have attempted a powermax, we will move on."

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"No you didn't say all damage, but you did imply that," Olivia said, her voice calm while her eyes snapped with angry fire. "You said, 'I have heard that it is possible to use your own quantum to briefly shield yourself from attack. The effect is most likely brief, but if your life depends on it, you could do it.'" Her voice are her own, but she copied his tone and inflection perfectly. "The word 'shield' implies blocking attacks, not dulling them. If they were just going to dull attacks, you should have said that."

[Adrian Moss]

Caine stood back and tried concentrating on a sensation that was still rather new to him. He tried ... and tried again ... and tried again. Finally he shook his head and looked around. Certainly it worked for most of the specials, but maybe he was somehow different. Maybe the thing that made him taint-free also made power-maxxes impossible, or just useless. He would have to examine these aspects later.

Taint-free; he would like that. He had enough problems worrying about other people's taint to also have to worry about his own.

Looking to Omar,

"What's next?"

[Courier]

Steve said to Olivia apologetically, "I have heard doesn't exactly imply expertise."

*Her mistake was assuming he's all knowing, his was assuming we know what everyone knows.*

*Why does this feel like trying to disarm a bomb by reading instructions from a manual?*

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"He's all we have," Olivia snapped - or said firmly. She couldn't exactly snap at the handsome man, but her shoulder hurt and she couldn't get mad at Vinny for it. "I know that he said he wasn't an expert, but he can be more precise with his words to avoid misunderstandings. Like the one that got me a bruised arm."

[Forge]

Fuck me, that's the shit I get for believing the dumb-ass crack-dealin' alien.

Vinny looked apologetic as he backed away from Olivia and gave her space. He was already on thin ice, this would just likely add fuel to the fire melting it, whether it was his fault or not.

Are we fuckin' done yet?

[Omar]

Quote:

No you didn't say all damage, but you did imply that," Olivia said, her voice calm while her eyes snapped with angry fire. "You said, 'I have heard that it is possible to use your own quantum to briefly shield yourself from attack. The effect is most likely brief, but if your life depends on it, you could do it.'" Her voice are her own, but she copied his tone and inflection perfectly. "The word 'shield' implies blocking attacks, not dulling them. If they were just going to dull attacks, you should have said that."

Quote:

"He's all we have," Olivia snapped - or said firmly. She couldn't exactly snap at the handsome man, but her shoulder hurt and she couldn't get mad at Vinny for it. "I know that he said he wasn't an expert, but he can be more precise with his words to avoid misunderstandings. Like the one that got me a bruised arm."

Omar could see that this was causing strife amongst the others, but the lessons needed to be taught.

"My apologies to you Olivia. I simply had no way of knowing what it would do for you. I have never done it, and to my knowledge, neither has Kyria."

[Adrian Moss]

"Okay, let's make that clear - things you know work and things you have good reason to believe it will work. That will help us decide on how much we want to experience."

His voice was calm and conditioned. There was no blame attached to his statement. A warning label needed to be applied to all of this field of study anyway. Why not get it out in the open.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

Apologies actually worked on Olivia; some of the tension left her body and the anger leeched away from her face. "Ok, Omar, I'm sorry for getting snappy," she said. "It's not easy being the last kid picked in the super-powers pool." She grinned at her joke to show him that she wasn't upset anymore.

"So what's next?"

[Ryan Hawke]

Ryan nodded. "Would you say the use of your powers here in this world is the same as it was on the one you came from?"

[Omar]

,,

Quote:

"So what's next?"

"There are several more techniques I can teach you. One of those, is a way to recover your energy more rapidly, and the other is...rather unpleasant..and painful, but very important if you find yourself without energy and you need to get some quickly."

,,

Quote:

"Would you say the use of your powers here in this world is the same as it was on the one you came from?"

"Yes." Omar said. "I have noticed no difference in how I draw from and use my quantum."

[Rorx]

Gwyn decided it was time to finally chip in with a question, "Before we get on to anything more unpleasant, you've mentioned several times that Taint will inevitably build up as we get more powerful. Is it inevitable that we do so, and are doing these 'powermaxes' part of getting better at our powers or can we do so without accruing Taint? After all, I'd love to be able to fly faster, but I'm not willing to build up Taint to do so."

He grins at the harrassed Captain, "And since I've already asked so many questions, here is one more. I heard you had said the other day about a way of turning off all our powers for a time to help reduce or slow the build up of Taint, are you or Kyria able to teach us how to do that?"

[Courier]

Steve paid close attention and nodded, these were good questions.

[Omar]

,,

Quote:

"Before we get on to anything more unpleasant, you've mentioned several times that Taint will inevitably build up as we get more powerful. Is it inevitable that we do so, and are doing these 'powermaxes' part of getting better at our powers or can we do so without accruing Taint? After all, I'd love to be able to fly faster, but I'm not willing to build up Taint to do so."

Omar really wished that Andrew was there. He was far more intelligent and could explain these things better.

"Yes..and no." Omar searched for the words to use. "A powermax is a fast way to increase your powers, but it carries the risk of taint buildup. Your ability to fly however, is not going to give you taint, and with practice, you will be able to increase your speed without worrying about taint." Omar paused as if thinking about something Andrew had said. "There are...were...some researchers and groups who believed that the more you powermaxxed, the faster you could increase a power's strength."

,,

Quote:

"And since I've already asked so many questions, here is one more. I heard you had said the other day about a way of turning off all our powers for a time to help reduce or slow the build up of Taint, are you or Kyria able to teach us how to do that?"

"I do not have the ability to 'dorm down' as it is called, so I would not be much help. You would have to ask Kyria, but my guess is that as a 2nd generation Nova, she would have no normal human form to return to. All I know, is that some are able to shut off the quantum energy to the node...er farahcytes. My guess is that it would be like turning off a faucete or kinking a hose. You would have to find that out for yourself."

[Rorx]

Gwyn nods absently to Omar's answers, "So we can safely improve the powers we already have through practise. I guess that means that when ou talk about us getting more powerful you mean something other than simply getting better at our current powers then? That implies that there may be a way to get other powers, if so is there any particular limits upon what they could be?"

[Courier]

Without changing expression Steve thought, *... I was right the first time. Omar isn't an 'expert' in this, he's just from a society that understood it better. He knows what 'everyone' knows, but he didn't do the research himself.*

*That means he knows what he knows, but he doesn't know why, and he might even misunderstand something because he hasn't thought a lot about it. It's like me trying to explain some scientific principle to a guy from 400 years ago.*

Steve thought about this and decided he didn't like some of the implications, but his expression still didn't change.

[Omar]

Quote:

That implies that there may be a way to get other powers, if so is there any particular limits upon what they could be?

"No. There is no limit to our powers. One day, we might be able to create our own universes accoring to our whims." Omar's face was set and serious. *The Watchers are proof of that.

[z-Olivia Jenings-Izumi]

"So do we become pseudo-gods or go mad of Taint first?" Olivia asked, her voice sardonic. Her arms slipped into the crossed position and her expression was as dry as her voice. "You're telling us we're either on the path to spanking the Gou'ald like whiny children or to complete madness? It just seems so crazy - be a god or go mad. Is there any middle ground?"

[Rorx]

Gwyn is slightly surprised, "So what powers you have don't have to be related at all? I could go from having Flight to Teleporting like Nightcrawler to throwing Ice balls around like Iceman? By the way those are comic book characters if you don't get the reference."

[Adrian Moss]

While Caine sees the whole picture, he sees the darker side of it all, and it isn't just taint.

Will mankind allow us to progress that far? And which ones of us will stand at humanity's side stopping the rest until we can no longer be trusted either.

Maybe all of the Specialist should learn this dorming technique. For now, he would have to settle for his report on what happened to day and the far-reaching implications of what that knowledge and experience may mean.