Hello! As another hundred issues have passed, time for the much-dreaded Author requests!

This is an easy one.

If you're read it this long, hopefully you think the story is worth a 5-star Rating by now. It hasn't even broken the top 100 stories on the site, so I'm still hoping to get up there. Can't do it without you!... Remember that 5-star doesn't mean perfect, it means well-written AND you enjoy the story personally!

Also... people have left Reviews here. The story doesn't have many, but leaving Reviews does take time, and you know, RR actually lets you REWARD people for up and downvoting them, it goes on their rep score.

So, hey, if you've got a few minutes, pop over to the reviews, and reward the people for posting them with a thumbs-up. It's a nice way to show you appreciate the time of your fellow readers.

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On to the story!

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“Director Cassandra was ecstatic to have two mutant telepath Psions of the caliber of Jean and I, and with such similar powers... except I, of course, am considerably further along the path, and far more dangerous martially.

“I do a lot of mindblade instruction at the university, in addition to training tactical telepathic usage. Instructor Kwannon’s classes always fill up first for some reason...” Dupe Quar trailed off with a knowing smile.

“Can’t imagine why.” The young men were probably stumbling over themselves to learn from her/see her in action, ahem, ahem. “The HGT still ongoing?” Main reason I’d Duped her off, after all.

“It wasn’t interrupted, and actually is easier to advance, as I didn’t bring over the default Totem boost,” she informed me with a nod. “Five months and I should be done. I generally use my Telekinesis to offset my weight on objects as needed, so double training, as it were.”

“Well, I suppose this all saves Psylocke from an awkward bodyswap,” I murmured. That whole lead-in situation to the event, with an aggravated Coyote ready to restart the world, wasn’t going to happen now, either. Coyote had a ton of Shamans and admirers among the Tribes, and was fat and thievishly happy with the world. “How did you advance?”

She lowered her Astral Ward so I could examine her.

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Kwannon Quar

Female Powered Human/5 (Mutant), Base Spider Totem Template

Arcane Fist/4, Ur-Priest/2, Learned Sorceress/1, Archmage/2, Hierophant/2, Mystic Theurge/1, Warshaper/3; Melee/10, Scout/4; Psion/3, Divine Mind/7, Cerebramancer/5

Strength: 15->34 (44)* Height: 5’8

Dexterity: 17>34 Weight: 140 lbs.

Constitution: 17->35 Hair: Lilac

Intelligence: 20->39 (43 Cold) Eyes: Purple

Wisdom: (12) 18 ->30 Age: 22

Charisma: (12) 18 ->32

Core: 205->280, + 297 (Class + Intellect bonus + 20 Mastery/5, -28 NOG Wis/Cha)

Theurgic Caster Levels: Ur-Priest at 10 (38); Sorceress/9; Psion/15.

Notable Talents/Traits: Mutant Psion (Telepathy, Telekinesis); Born Mindblade, Naturally Focused, Dauntless; Heavy Gravity Training/4*; Merged Duplicate; Ninja Slayer, Tong Slayer, Werewolf Slayer; Sealed Identity; Master of Four Dragons (Sun, Moon, Shadow, Ocean); Master of Night Rose

Templated Powers: Enhanced Might (--); Enhanced Reflexes (--); Increased Fortitude and Stamina (--); Poison Resistance and Acquired Immunity; Radiation Immunity; Perfect Balance; Enhanced Speed and Jumping; Impact Resistance

----Mutant Psion Template: Manifest Psychic Knife; Manifest Telepathy; Manifest Telekinesis

Acquired Powers: Immune to Fire and Cold extremes, affinity for Fire and Cold Magic; Spellcaster (Weaver Magic*)

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Mmm. She’d suspended the physical Stat benefits of the Template for now, actually exceeding the base they granted, and naturally she didn’t have the Pact-dependent stuff, as only one of us could hold the Pact, and that was me. That was fine, it was all Energized off her Matrix and Icefire Ritual stuff now instead.

“Keeping busy, I see,” I sighed despite myself.

“Ah, yes, the non-monstrous Slayer traits,” she murmured back. “I didn’t like having to do it, but they all earned it, by the gods.”

And they had no clue at all what they’d crashed into.

“My turn!” Her eyes glittered expectantly, and I flickered down my Astral Ward for her.

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Dynamo, Warlock of the Widow in the Web

Neutral Good Female Augmented Human/5, Base Spider Totem Template

Vizard/3, Ur-Priest/2, Alchemist/3, Archmage/3, Hierophant/2, Craft Theurge/3 (Alc/Wiz); Wizard/1, Learned Sorceress/1, Mystic Theurge/8 (Ur/Sorc), Arcane Theurge/7 (Sorc/Wiz); Arcane Fist/4, Minstrel/1, Lyric Theurge/8 (Arcane split/Minstrel), Theurge of the Arts (Alch/Min)/3

Strength: (14) 18->26 [55]* Height: 5’9

Dexterity: 18->31 [45]* Weight: 140 lbs.

Constitution: (16) 18->25 [45]* Hair: Black (Auburn)

Intelligence: 20->46 (50 Cold) Eyes: Green

Wisdom: (12) 18->30 Age: 20

Charisma: (12) 18->32

Health: 114

Soak: 492

Movement: 150’

Arcane Pool/Ki: 45 (3+ ki (19) + Song (21))

Warlock Rank: 9

Theurgic Caster Levels: Ur-Priest/10 (50); Sorceress/20; Wizard/20; Minstrel/11, Alchemist/9

Notable Talents/Traits: Naturally Focused, Dauntless; Favored by Fate, Spell Affinity, Magical Tradition, Undead Slayer, Weird Scientist, Valiant Reputation; Soul of le Fey; Sealed Identity; Master of Three Dragons (Sun, Moon, Shadow); Master of Night Rose

Templated Powers: Enhanced Might; Enhanced Reflexes; Increased Fortitude and Stamina; Poison Resistance and Acquired Immunity; Radiation Immunity; Danger Sense; Perfect Balance; Bio-Electric Generation*; Enhanced Speed and Jumping; Impact Resistance; Covalent Bonding/Repulsion; Healing Factor; Enhanced Climbing

Warlock Powers: Strength Increase*; Dexterity Increase*; Constitution Increase*; Speed Increase; Reaction Speed Increase; Damage Reduction Increase; Increased Healing Factor

Acquired Powers: Immune to Fire and Cold extremes, affinity for Fire and Cold Magic; Spellcaster (Weaver Magic); Sunstone Attunement (Crystal Bones); Rune-Carved Bones (+5 to Physical Stats**, Unbreakable)

Spells per day: ...

=======

Okay, my Intellect was quite a bit higher than I had told Ebersol, but I didn’t want him feeling totally bad. Hells, I didn’t tell anyone how smart I was, because being as smart as I was tended to terrify people who weren’t. Even Richards and Stark would gawk at me in disbelief if they knew.

It was probably why Sama and Briggs didn’t announce their Intellects to the world...

I didn’t invest anything in my physicals because I didn’t have to, the Totem Pact did it for me. Rank 9 Warlock Wrath gave me 10 + 5 x Wrath Strength, and 5 x Wrath Con and Dexterity, overwriting the basic boost from the Template.

Quar kind of stared at me and that Assay. “I know you’re the active one, but what the Heavens?” she murmured quietly.

“Remember Dealer adds to my Karma total, and I’ve brought Sunstone back in once,” I reminded her. It had been two years since Quar had been Duped off, after all.

“Ah, right,” she nodded, shaking her head. “So if I go back in, all my added Karma stacks on yours, and when you Dupe me back out, I’m at that new total.”

“Yep. The fast way to gain Levels.”

“That would really spook Cassandra,” she murmured thoughtfully. “Probably finally put some color on your skin, too,” she smiled.

I eyed her golden complexion, and just shook my head, “I’ve always needed a light tan.” I paused a moment. “I notice you took a Mark from someone else.”

“Yes. I’m in Sama’s Allegiance, under Cassandra.” I gave her a look at her tone. “We are close.” I arched an eyebrow. “She loves our being Naturally Focused, it’s almost addictive to her. She’s very used to having minds around her as a telepath, but having a non-intrusive one right there next to her, overwhelming all the others... she says it reminds her of her mother, except I don’t pressure her. Which is about right, just on raw potential.” She made a show of looking up. “All the Stats at 40+. Her Charisma is at least 50. Briggs has the whole Source Leadership thing backing him up with basically an Imperial Aura, but yeah, in this Markspace, Sama is sitting squarely at the top.”

“Wow.” A 50+ Charisma at the top of the Markspace. Holy Heavens, that would be impressive. Small wonder she and Briggs were sitting at the top of the world. I couldn’t even imagine loyalty problems with a starting +20 Stat modifier. “They’re Eternal, I hope?”

“Yes. 23 to 25, it’s hard to tell, given how much experience we have at measuring that stuff.” Like, some liches we’d run into, and Soulborn and other nasty shit that generally had to die REALLY fast, and they all tended to be Divination-deflectors. Or maybe they just popped your eyeballs if you tried to Div them. “Deep. Very dangerous. Certainly stronger than ours... but they are also a good century older.”

“If they are following this triple-tranche system, they wouldn’t be as Deep, but if they can take all three tranches to Legendary, well...” I just shrugged fatalistically. “Are you enjoying your time at Cynosure? I notice you have no Titles...”

“If the yakuza and the Hand actually knew who had done what I did, that might be different. But they know Kwannon was turned into a vegetable, that mysterious Tribal person helping her has vanished, and Yukio made a ton of money off the chaos. Yukio obviously wasn’t responsible for a golden-bladed mindsword ripping through their ranks, especially since Kwannon’s natural one was reddish-blue...”

There was a snap as the katana-esque Blade solidified in her grip, gleaming harder and colder than any gold could possibly be. There was a lot of power in that Blade.

I made a show of looking around her. “No Sword Focus?” I asked, not believing it.

“Shhh. Inside my arm.” She tapped her left wrist. “Bloodphase. Drops into my hand as needed.”

“Name?” I inquired politely.

“Form.” She flashed a smile again as the gleaming perfect curve of her mindblade vanished.

“Follows Function, or perfect?” I asked archly.

“Both!” she smiled further.

“Dragons?” I inquired.

“Your Sun and Moon, and I added Shadow, and, well, I should have gone Fire, but I just couldn’t get into the mindset, and went Ocean. I think I can add Storm, and if not, I’ll try Fire again.”

“Don’t think I didn’t notice the Night Rose,” I admonished her. “The lads couldn’t keep their eyes off you.”

There was only the slightest physical shift, but the Aura of Mystique around her deepened instantly, if only for a moment. Heads began to turn towards her from all directions, but she let it go before she caused an accident.

“My classes are VERY well-attended,” she agreed smoothly. “But, no, I haven’t been looking for fame or infamy while I complete the Heavy Gravity Training.” She adjusted the leather Belt hanging stylishly around her hips. “I will be very glad when I remove this fashion accessory from my daily wear.”

“I noticed you shoving craploads of Valences into our Underweb Capacitor. Nothing to spend it on?” I asked archly. She had naturally inherited all of my rep counts at the time of her Duping.

“I’ve been doing Psi rep counts,” she told me, and I smacked my head. DUH! “I didn’t inherit any, so I had to start from square one. Thankfully, having such a massive Dual Core helps immensely in such things. By the time I made it to Cynosure, I at least had several of the minor Metapsi Feats made Efficient, and a couple of the basic powers, so I actually looked somewhat professional in my psi usage. Thankfully, I did manage to inherit the, ah, Power Stunts, I think we can call them? From my Core. And with Cassandra’s help, building a fairly idealized Psion Core wasn’t difficult at all.

“My day is usually spent teaching, exercising in Heavy Gravity, and practicing Power Stunts and getting Rep Counts in on everything. Oh, and taking care of my little girl. She’s still getting used to having her mother around and the change of scenery, but the genescan says she inherited my mutant powers, she simply hasn’t Awakened yet, and I’m not going to push her.”

“That’s fine.” Probably a better mother than someone blue-red, too, but who knew. The original Kwannon was basically assassin as much as bodyguard, a horrible occupation for a telepath who would feel their victims die. You either destroyed your own empathy or went insane. “Anything else I should know before we get started on setting up the battle-net?”

She very slowly and very emphatically pointed over her shoulder at her back. “I sent you that text for two reasons.”

I glanced at her sharply, at her back, what was usually found there for us spellcasters, and hissed. “Mother of Mercy. You caught the rat bastards?” I spat at her.

“They are missing their arms and legs, but yes.” Her purple eyes lit up for a moment, and her chin jerked away. “They are going deep, deep Down if they ever get away, Dyna. There’s at least a thousand innocent souls on their hands.”

My lip curled up as my knuckles popped. “Powered speedster serial killers...” I muttered to nobody. I should have done Aural scans at the Colosseum and popped the bitch there...

“I didn’t go any deeper, as both of them are going raving mad, and the Curses and Feeblemind and all the other shit I heaped on them is not helping.” Her eyes narrowed to deadly slits. “They are just Sixes, amped up on their speed. They can be Bound because they are basically half-Asgardian... their father is from Alfheim. Dealer adapted the Godmerge magic and Bound them clean. Between them, they basically equal one Asgardian.”

“And now you’ve got superspeed?” I asked, blinking hard. Wow, that was quite...

“No,” she shook her head quickly, lilac hair fluttering as if alive, going back perfectly into place with auto-TK, the same effect I used with Vier. “I already have a Core, I can’t tap into theirs without disrupting my own. I’m not Rogue or some kind of Power-mimic or Eater. I try that, I’d be asking to explode.”

“You’re holding them for me.”

“I’m holding them for you.” She glanced towards my back. “Is that bitch of a Tat on your back usable as a Binding Circle for rat bastards?”

“It basically ate le Fey, if you recall.” She nodded once. “I’m guessing yes, but it will eat them over time.”

“Couldn’t happen to a nicer pair of psychopaths.”

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Author Comments:

A bit involved, so this is included in the main chapter.

In the Main Marvel Universe, Northstar was affiliated with a Quebecois terrorist movement in his youth, the one which advocated independence for Quebec from the rest of Canada, and he’s always been distant and arrogant in personality.

Aurora has literally suffered multiple personalities since she was a child when her powers first manifested. Push one of those personalities too far, and THEN associate her and her brother with a Great Beast (Sasquatch), and, well, you can see where this is going. I imagine she slaughtered the nuns responsible for her mental problems some time ago.

Dyna’s default Caster Level of 50 includes all Spell Power boosts from Archmage, Hierophant, and Arcane Theurge, but not from Coldcasting or the Sublime Chord, or various other Feats. Naturally she had to do a Psychic Reformation to fit it all in.

Dyna’s Theurgic Classes are not from Power of Ten, but from d20. They are ten-Level Classes that dual advance the Casting of two other Classes at the same time. Her Ur-Priest Class is also a Ten Level Advanced Class, which gains level IX Valences in that time. Its Caster Level = Ur-Priest Caster Level + ½ the Level of all other Classes. With Theurgic Classes, this number can get quite impressive, as you can see.

Note that effective Class Level cannot exceed 20 before Character Level Twenty-One, i.e., Eternal. Nor can any such Advanced Class exceed 10 Levels.

Note that Dealer, her Clone, is actually a better Caster than Dyna is, since Dealer uses Psychic Reformation to train away the Warlock Masteries she can’t employ (only Dyna has the Pact) and pick up more Caster Masteries instead.

**Her Bones need to be turned on, are considered Equipment, stack with her Totem Buffs, and are not included in her Stats right now since they are not active. None of her other physical Stats stack Stat-wise with her Totem Buffs, only in ‘real effect’, and so don’t even add up to a +1 at the top end. Example: a 26 Strength is like 1200 lbs/500 kilos of weight/Might. A 55 Strength is like 25 tons. 25.5 tons doesn’t move her effective Strength at all. The corresponding effect applies to the other Stats, too.

(14) 18->26 [55] means her original Stat was 14, and it has been Nogged to 18 (as a magical investment, it doesn’t need to affect her physique). Dyna used her Minstrel Slots for that, as her Sorcery Slots render them otherwise useless. 26 is what it has been improved to over time by her other advances. [55] means the effective Stat her Totem has set her to, and overrides her Natural Stat.

Her Asgardian Buffs are also not active and so are not included. Since they come from Function, they aren’t listed as intrinsic, either. Her lift would improve by +40 tons, to about 65 tons, which is a 62 Might, and half that in Power, or 58, exceeding her Totem Buffs.