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Just As Planned (Catalog SI, Worm Start) by Throwaway1971

Books » Private Rated: M, English, Parody & Romance, Words: 154k+, Favs: 136, Follows: 153, Published: Aug 6, 2024 Updated: Dec 3, 2024

3Chapter 8: Worm 8

I took deep breaths, stretching my back against the wall as I came down from the workout. Damn, I'm sweaty. Wish – a towel floated gently over to me and I smiled, reaching out for it.

It unfurled itself and gently began to scour my body of sweat as I stood there, slightly dumbfounded. Really, I should have expected this. I'm not sure why she keeps surprising me. I shrugged mentally, leaning my head back and going over things in my head again.

I'd done some mock combat in one of the exercise rooms – it gave me an opportunity to practice actually using my Shroud, as well as getting me used to what my upgraded body was capable of. I'd have to re-adjust again, of course, after Riley upgraded me – but even so, this step had seemed important to me. Doubly so, since she was still distracted working with Saena's samples and my list of potential upgrades.

Since I had a bit of down time between plans, I'd delved a bit deeper into my Company purchases, and managed to get a sense for how exactly the Shroud bindings worked. The Catalog description was quite simplified – the 'manual' that had been downloaded into my head went into a bit more detail.

In short, it required a target be 'subdued' and subsequently 'infected' by the Shroud, connecting my will to theirs and giving me a backdoor connection of sorts. What constituted a 'subdued' target...varied wildly, but I apparently would have a sixth sense for that sort of thing. It could be anything from someone submitting to me willingly (or under social coercion), someone defeated in combat, someone simply held defenseless and 'defeated' by the Shroud (the default option involving tentacles).

This meant that it was possible to use it on targets that might be too enormous, oddly shaped, or lacking the orifices to Bind the 'standard' way. Eden, for example, could be Bound immediately if I found one of her core shards (or her crippled avatar) simply by infecting her with the Shroud.

It also meant that I could Bind people without physically raping them, which was helpful for what remained of my conscience. Mind breaking them, it seemed, was more palatable to me...who knew? The towel slithered out of my hands gently now that I was finished with it, and I smiled at Saena as she watched me from the corner of the room. "Thanks."

{Acknowledgement.}

I stretched just as the console beeped. Saena glanced at it and the call was answered, Riley's face popping up on the screen.

"Maje - Michael, I have something...for you." She trailed off, looking at me. There's no way she's so sheltered that seeing me shirtless is a problem for her. I considered that thought for a second or two. Or...the Stamp is supposed to induce attraction; has she never experienced that before? "Um. I'll...have it ready for you whenever!" The call ended before I had a chance to say a word, her blushing face disappearing almost immediately.

{Amusement.}

"Hush. You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

{Affirmative . . . Amusement.}

I rolled my eyes and headed for her lab.

Well, she's able to look me in the eyes, so I suppose she wasn't too embarrassed. "So? What do you have for me, Riley?"

She smiled, passing me a list. "This is everything I have the ingredients for that I thought would fit you. Now, remember, I can't install all of them at once!" She leaned forward and wagged her finger at me, eyes flicking up and down me. Her face reddened slightly, although she was clearly trying not to draw attention to it. "There's only so much room in a body, so I won't be able to just put everything in!"

"Of course," I said as I scanned the list. A lot of it was the kind of stuff I'd been expecting from her; bone-reinforcement lattice, subdermal plating, a hidden blade in the radius, an acid launcher inside the ulna of my off-hand...

"Did anything interesting turn up when you were studying Saena's samples?" I traced my finger idly over an odd symbol that appeared a few times on the list.

"Yes yes yes! It's so contradictory. Organic and non-organic at the same time, strong but flexible, varying density...there are all sorts of things I can do with a supply of this! I made some notes on your list for things I think could be made out of this...but it's untested, so I can't promise it will work the way it's supposed to!" She pressed up next to me, pointing out the symbol I'd noticed. Looks like it's most useful for armor purposes – as expected. Saena? Will these be effective?

{Analysis: Effectiveness varies. Specific inquiries?}

We'll go over the list later on. "It looks like you've been busy. Thank you for getting this together so quickly, Riley – it shouldn't take me long to take a look at these. It looks like you nailed most of what I was hoping for already. Will implanting them be a problem?"

She pouted, puffing her chest up slightly. "Of course not! Who are you talking to? I said I couldn't promise they'd work the way they're supposed to, not that I'd have any trouble with them! If you're on my table, I guarantee everything will go in exactly like it's meant to!"

I chuckled, reaching up to ruffle her hair before I could catch myself. She stared up at me wide-eyed from under my hand. "You're right. I apologize; I wasn't doubting you, just curious."

"It's - it's fine."

"Are you hungry? I was going to cook something after a quick shower."

She blinked. "You cook?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, it's me or Saena."

She glanced at the Endbringer over my shoulder, then blinked as that thought sunk in. "...I'd like to eat, I think. Can I...help cook?"

"Of course. Let me take that shower."

"Okay!"

I tapped my pen against the list, thoughtful. The bone lattice and subdermal armor are obvious choices. I don't need any of the anti-Master features, since Company bullshit will handle that...hmm. I scribbled in a few notes. Hidden weapons seem superfluous, considering the Shroud's abilities...although.

I tapped my pen beside one specific selection, thoughtful. Then the pen slipped out of my hand on its own, drew a check mark next to the option, and returned to my hand. I blinked, glancing at where Saena lay next to me.

{Benefits / drawbacks analyzed. Non-optional.}

I pursed my lips in thought. "I suppose I can see how that might happen. Then the plan?"

{Likelihood of success: High. Errors manageable. Worst case scenario: Unit 'Saena' will assist.}

I frowned. "That somewhat defeats the purpose of the exercise."

{Purpose of exercise: Determine readiness for future endeavors. Success or failure does not impede data acquisition.}

I opened my mouth –

{Operation necessity: low. Master necessity: MAXIMUM. Priorities set.}

– and closed it again, emotions swirling in my chest. "...Fair enough." I slid closer to her, and a moment later she tugged me into her arms again.

Chapter 38 - 8