(denied)

“It is a prototype, one and only based on the material Noah had in hand. Unless Noah has other means to gather material other than the Advocates channel, this is the only emanator.” EDVIN explained, “It makes sense for Noah to entrust you with it. Your ability can ensure the software aspect of the device running properly.”

EDVIN noded when Dominic gave him the approval code. “Accept. Connection established. Synchronising.” EDVIN closed his eyes, stood still for a minute as the device in Dominic’s hand turned on with a small screen brightened up. A minute later, suddenly, the holoprojector was switched off, the projection of the avatar disappeared absurdly as the device turned dark.

There was no response from the A.I. for a brief ten seconds.

“…Dominic.” Suddenly, a voice appeared behind Dominic. EDVIN’s voice. An exact replica of EDVIN’s holographic avatar stood behind him but without the occasional flickers of blue light. He looked real. “This is…different.” EDVIN lifted a hand and looked at it, his gaze seemed to be sharper and more focused than usual. “I did not perceive the world like organics. I calculate the way my avatar looks by the angle of my user’s position and made reactions according to it. But ultimately, I see the world in the eyes of the camera on the walls or ceilings.” He turned his hand slowly, moved his fingers one by one before clenched them into a fist. “So this is how organic looks with…eyes.”

EDVIN shifted his gaze and looked at Dominic, his lips slowly widened into a smile, brighter than usual. He walked forth, stood closed to the man, slowly reached out to touch the man’s face. There was physical contact, but not solid, more like a brush of sands. Still, EDVIN received feedbacks from the nano-particles, the closest he has experienced to a ‘touch’. 

“…Hi.”

He grinned.

everything sounded good, optimal, positive on positive, check after check. dom felt more than heard any progress bars, knowing when edvin was translating and transporting himself into the device. but it still didn’t stop his heart from skipping a beat when edvin disappeared. the silence was weighted; dom’s expression didn’t betray his fear, with years of training as well as more compartmentalized mental processes.

but he spun around so fucking fast, when edvin’s voice came from behind him.

edvin’s smile only widened his own, full lips curving on high. “--look at you,” he said, proudly; his eyes running a slow path up and down the ai’s more solid-ish form. “you’re tall.” and he tried to hide his grin as he said it, keeping things lighter, for now. if edvin wanted to see the deep wellspring of his pride, his joy, he could tap into the more digital side of dom’s mind, which was open like a book and humming with positive energy.

he gasped a bit at the touch, and he reached up, cupping that barely-there hand to press it more firmly into his skin.

“it’s nice to see you, edvin.” his own hand went to the ai’s side, curving over the imagined fabric of a shirt, where someone’s ribs would be. “how’s it feel?”

“Positive. Once the nano-practices are active, my avatar will have to stay with the parameter. Therefore, you will have to keep the device with you if you wish to take me outside the Advocates Hall.” EDVIN replied, “However, this is not a body. Physical, yes. But the projection is achieved by the said nano-practices and is not solid enough to conduct activities like a full-body can do.”

EDVIN took merely a few seconds to respond to the next question. “I am always looking for ways to improve my functionality, Dominic.” He replied, “This device will allow me to assist you when you are not in the building and can be valuable in critical situations. For example, an abduction. So to reply to your question, it is logical for me to increase my range of performance with this device. Still, despite my analysis, your approval is still required for the process.”

“you sure you want this just on me?” it’s an easy question. edvin might have someone else he wanted to tail -- and dom would’ve understood. he’s low-action, rarely outside the base, due to risk. or habit, whatever.

there’s a thought. next time he gets nabbed, edvin’s there by his side. “that’s good--” he’s driven. hopefully, as much for himself, as he was for others. “you know the offer’s still there for you to piggy-back on me -- honestly, this just feels like a formality.” dom reached down, took the hardware again, and held it out to the hologram. “tacit approval. dominic notfus, codename: crunch, approval code 2̷̣̜̈d̴̡͌́̑h̸͓̀̃͜8̸̟̮͒̓͝h̵̯͓̣̎1̶̡̲̉̅d̸̮̞̓̌͠3̵̣̜̌͆̈́3̶̭̇͋d̴͈̝͌̾ͅf̷̺͕͋̾͘8̶̼̘̀ͅ5̷̬̩̎͠w̵̝͂̽͘”

“edvin-- how’s everyone looking?”

it’s a generic quesiton, sure -- but by online traffic standards, the base was not doing to well. way too much porn. way too many cat videos. at least the streaming shows weren’t bad, dom catching up on way too many plotlines at once. he could almost just lay back and close his eyes, get ten times the television he’d ever need.

EDVIN’s avatar gazed down at the device, he didn’t move for a few seconds. “Scanning. Shield capacity, not found. Accessing the database.”

The avatar did not move, not even blink, as if he was frozen in time. It took another ten seconds before EDVIN lifted his gaze up to look at Dominic again. “…Synchronisation invitation and signal received. Dominic,” He paused, assessed the situation with the new options and possibilities. “With this device, I can be portable. The nano-particle will also allow more channels for me to receive feedback and signals.”

Another pause, EDVIN finally spoke once more. “I will need your approval to synchronise myself with the device, Dominic.”

edvin’s freeze was enough for dom to start worrying -- and he let out a held breath when the ai started moving again. “portable, new feedback and signals...” he licked his lips, watching for edvin’s reactions. “you need me to carry this thing, or does it do some kinda self-propulsion? is it gonna be contained in your new and improved body?”

“Dominic,” EDVIN appeared as the holographic device quickly activated. “I have lost connection with you. Are you alright?” He asked, a rare frown was showed on his face. EDVIN has been observing the emotional display of organic beings, still, he usually wears a friendly smile. EDVIN glanced at the man and stayed still for a second. Finally, he offered a nod. “Scanning completed. Heart rate, blood pressure and body condition: normal.”

EDVIN turned his attention toward the device in Dominic’s hand, he nodded once more. “Noah Kinsworth’s experimental project based on Nano-technology. According to the data and research notes he has uploaded, it is designed to generate a photon-energy based shield for temporary protection.”

Noah has obviously been smart about it. The red-haired engineer kept his real notes on paper while uploading the false reports to the database. Ain’t he a clever one?

“you know I hate making you worry.” dom was all smiles, even as edvin scanned over him completely. the frown was the last thing he wanted, but he knew (or hoped) what was coming would make up for it. “you scan because you care.”

Lucas blinked as he was being pushed into the room. Confusions were written all over his face. However, the moment Dominic pulled out the device, his eyes widened a little, quickly reconginsed it. “Isn’t that Noah’s experiment-” He muttered, quickly connected the dots after the older man mentioned the A.I. “Oh,” He nodded, “I see. I was helping him with his project, I just didn’t know this is what it was for.” He offered a friendly smile, intrigued by how much effort Dominic has put into surprising EDVIN.

“I don’t know, Noah asked me to do it slowly just in case it explodes…Uh, nothing to worry about, right?” He placed his hand on top of the device, his palm began to glow, warm light slowly concentrated, swirled in circles before they met at the center and turned into a beam, transferred straight into the device. The enamator seemed to acknowledge the action, a bar appeared at the side display window with the percentage next to it. Lucas carefully poured in more energy into it, until it was almost fully charged where he slowed down a little just in case.

“There,” Lucas nodded, noted the device was finally fully charged. “Let me know if you need me again, Dominic. I will always be happy to help you.” He smiled at the man and offered a wave, exiting the room as he pondered where Samson might be.

the power was curious to witness. a beam, controlled and formed from lucas’ focus, concentrated into the device. “so you already know what’s up. that’s good.” he watched as the meter gradually filled, almost biting his lip when the process slowed down near full. before lucas left, dom clapped him solid on the shoulder. “I owe you. don’t be afraid to collect.” grinning, he pointed to make sure lucas got the point, then tucked the goods under his shirt and made his way through the data center.

back in his suite, he pulled the device out. ran his hand over it, feeling for any form of entry or network point, but couldn’t discover anything. so, instead, he just...flicked it on. “edvin?” dom called, setting the device down on his bed. “you feel this thing? I know you’re smart enough to know what it does.”

[helio] Of course, Dom. [helio] I am on my way.

Puzzled with the request, Lucas pondered what Dominic might ask from him. He was in no way familiar with the field Dominic was expert on. He could hardly think of anything he could do for that man that he couldn’t already.

Still, he didn’t waste much time. He headed straight toward the server room, knocked politely at the door, curious.

having waited around the corner, dom came around behind lucas once he’d gotten to the door. with a hand to lucas’ shoulder, he guided the protege away from the doors, hopefully before the AI could tell what was happening. not likely, but still.

using his chest to block the view from the server room, dom handed lucas the hardware. “I need as much light as you can push, into this battery.” his voice was low, but sincere. “it’s a surprise for edvin. but I don’t know how much longer I can keep him out. how quick do you think you can fill it?”

[crunchtime]: kid, you busy? [crunchtime]: need a favor.

“Is exploring the field of a potential new era of nanotechnology not a fruitful reward of its own? Especially when it is funded by the Advocates than my own pocket. Besides, this will look amazing on my list of accomplishments.” Noah shrugged, “Not to mention the XP point I earned while doing so. Besides, who said I am doing this for EDWIN?”

He wasn’t lying. If anything, he did it for Dominic. He might not remember much from his ‘first run’, but he knew when he owed someone something.

“Besides, how am I using him? The power is in your hand now.” He pointed at the enamator. “He still primarily exist with his own body, but he has already attuned himself to the device. Anyway, gotta run. I have a raid to attend to. Have fun!”

“hey. if your motives are noble, then more power to you.” dom had dealt with a number of power-nerd types, both the good- and the selfish-aligned. “we both know edvin’s hot. I just wanted to make sure you respected him.”

unless dom admitting that edvin’s chosen appearance was attractive was, instead, making him out to be the pervert. dom paused, concerned.

“thanks, though. I’ll make sure you’re credited -- and any more advancements on battery life, you let me know. if we can give him a physical presence, that might enhance his experience and learning in working with us.” noah got a firm, warm pat to the shoulder. “if I was a mentor, you’d be my pick.” then a swat to his back as he goes. “now get outta here,” he added, grinning.

Dom starts talking about his kitchen, but August misses the first few words – he’s too busy being alarmed at the casual oh yeah I get kidnapped like once a month, ugh, what a bore, like it’s no big deal, like Dom’s just kinda mad it interrupts his weekly viewing of Shark Week reruns or something. Are kidnappings a frequent thing around here? Because August is sure he’d make a terrible kidnap victim. Or is it just people with highly valuable abilities, a group to which August most certainly not does belong?

Eventually, he manages to get back to the matter at hand: kitchens. And Dom’s apparently heinous treatment of his own.

“That’s very cyberpunk of you,” he informs Dom solemnly, a twitch at the corner of his lips giving away his amusement. “Do you also have the LEDs rigged up to flash cyan and hot pink? Because that’s the only way you’ll truly achieve the proper aesthetic in your horrid little kitchen-that’s-not-a-kitchen.”

He props his chin on his hand, putting on a show of contemplating his chances. “I’ve faced worse things than a few electronics while trying to cook. Unless you’ve somehow trained them all to gang up on interlopers, though I think I’d be more impressed than scared.”

most of the danger to crunch’s person came from what was trapped between his ears. pockets of encrypted data, locked with the presence and passwords of two individuals: tariq, his partner in technology; and torque, the leader of the advocates. only by those two’s word, can he access those locked-down parts of his mind. 

not that the villains who take him for his secrets, know that.

“hey. I don’t choose the LED colors, that’s the manufacturer’s fault.” dom’s world was software, not hardware. for physical tech, he was just an expert in the field. if they added to his aesthetic, then it was simply meant to be. “no idea why they never went with other colors. is it some kinda accessibility thing? better or worse for colorblindness?”

but the thought of this man working in his kitchen, moving around his personal space, it warmed dom, a little. “don’t let me talk you down. you wanna come home with me, I won’t stop you.” his expression softens, looking over the rest of august’s body under the clothing. “just fold in when we walk through the data center? no idea how loud these new kids might scream if they gotta switch to data.”

@getcrvnched​

“Look, I know you are the master of the Advocates’ network and software. But still, be very, very careful with this hardware.” Noah offered a stick-like device to the older man, “Please tell me you have watched Blade Runner 2049. I took inspiration from it. So let’s just call it an enamator like the movie.”

Noah muttered, still, the pride in his expression was obvious.

“Nanotechnology, these nanoparticles have to be both electromagnetically and photon energetically charged. They’re powered and controlled through this black enamator stick using some directed EMF antennas, aka smart dust. These particles are colored and can create the hologram, as well as to vibrate in order to produce sound. The particles combined create multiple sensors, light, and sound. But again, you do need someone like Lucas or Devrim to charge it up for you. Once fully charged you have about three hours.” He licked his lips, “Just…Be careful with it, please? It took me hours to make this prototype.”

“master’s a loaded word.” not that dominic wasn’t amused by the prospect. he appreciated the respect, at least. “I’ll be as gentle as needed. especially if this is what I think it is.”

with the explanation, it’s clear that it was. “alright. three hours is a start. and I can’t tell you how much this means to me, and how much it might mean to EDVIN. but I gotta ask.” holding the piece delicately between two fingers, he prodded noah with his other hand. “what’s your investment here? if you made a deal with EDVIN, that’s between you two. but I wanna make sure you’re not using him, here. to me, he’s a teammate. an advocate just like the rest of us.”

“if there’s something fucked on the network, I’ll find it. your computer’s fine, kid.”

Ciaran took a moment to consider further, before nodding his head. Sure, it seemed like a deal that was a little too good to be true, but somebody to just talk about all the crazy people were looking to get resolved seemed like a fun idea. “Well I hope you’re ready for some wild ride. You do not need to know how many people I’ve seen doing things no person should ever see.”

“Gotcha. Anything too private’s definitely going on there, for my client’s sake’s if nothing else.” Anything other than that was definitely going to be shared. And maybe a few funny pictures. Just maybe. “How many cat memes do you have to deal with daily?”

now that was a response dom wasn’t expecting. “oh-- oh baby, no,” he volleyed back, chuckling softly. “federal forensic analyst, once upon a time. if I don’t got you beat, then we tie, and then I’m gonna ask when your last therapist appointment was.” the amount of emotional burnout from his prior work was....impossible to track.

“your client’s sake?” dom’s brows lifted. “you workin somewhere else while you’re with us? not that it’s against the rules, but now I’m curious.” but then, the cat memes. dom’s dread was palpable.