Ripley's notes on Warp Material: Shriekstone

According to Starlight, Shriekstone uses a warped version of what she knows as the Piezoelectric effect. Or what I know as Mazhyr's twenty-third law of electricity. Effectively, it's the relationship between a crystalline lattice's structure and the electric charge within it. You apply force to the crystal, the shape of the lattice changes and it produces a voltage. You apply electricity to it, and it produces force. It's actually a way to produce ultrasound, which was pretty instrumental in early medical diagnoses before Biomonitors existed.

Shriekstone, however, really amps this effect up. Using my Gold, I've allowed it to give myself what Starlight calls 'a double-jump'. Thankfully, Maiden's done a lot of research into Shriekstone and its method of manufacture. It uses Lead titanite and Gallium phosphate. If I buy those powders, I could feasibly try making it myself… but Warp Material fabrication is never easy.

Diana's product is proof of that.

October 18th

1:42 AM

RipleyI couldn't believe what Diana wanted her Warp Material to be named…

Dianium. Had she not given it any thought at all? This was revolutionary! I poked the beaker of her blended… cellular suspension, watching as the nanites within slowly converted the pink mixture to produce a shiny substrate at the bottom. It was slow work. I wanted the Warp Material itself and not more nanites, so they weren't producing more of themselves to speed it up.

Instead, I bought a few blood bags for that. My discovery showed that sampling non-mutated organisms yielded more of the Nanites' component material. A unique form of a carbon allotrope known as Midas Steel. Mutagenic biomass, however, would result in entirely new Warp Materials consisting of the biological makeup.

Early investigations into Diana's cellular makeup revealed an extensive amount of inorganic material involved in her body's mutagenic processes. I wouldn't be surprised if, at some point, she had more metal in her body than I did. From electrolytes like sodium and potassium to iron, calcium, silicon, copper, nickel and other trace Warp-Materials unique to her body, she had several hundred times what a normal person should have.

She was less a carbon-based lifeform and more a self-sustaining bioelectric alloy. Her body was an energy-harvesting, metamorphic superorganism: evolved to regenerate, reshape, and weaponize the physical world around her.

If I was allowed to study her organs... I was sure I could design some really fancy stuff. Who knows what her brain was like?

But, back to Goliath, I also discovered that the nanites were much more effective in a liquid suspension at their current amount, so that heart I had taken from the Black Dragon assassin was now blended up too.

Maiden eyed me with an odd look, as I watched numerous bags of blended organs slowly disintegrate. "You have more than a few screws loose, you know that?"

"I do." I clapped my hands. Waiting wasn't going to make shit happen. For the conversion to be effective, I needed to occasionally charge them with Warp Energy. If I supplied enough, I could make it so that they doubled every minute or so, but the cost to me would grow exponentially the more they converted biomass.

"Transmutated biomass." Starlight whispered. "It's already using the term Midas, which comes from a tale of a man turning whatever he touched into Gold, and is often linked to a precursor of modern chemistry called alchemy."

"Uh huh," I whispered. "Fine, my transmuting nanites."

Seeing they were all sufficiently charged with Gold, I put them all back into a fridge and wore my goggles. Skin shifted, hair bleached, and a low chuckle radiated from my throat as I turned to the Dreamframed children.

The Ripper

Ah, Dreamframes, what a remarkable piece of technology! Bit by bit, I slipped the wires out, unraveling them from the even more complex folding of lobes and cortices. I translated their many wires along the path of gray and white matter, tracing their complex nodes and tracts, which formed a second brain atop your born one.

I would make one soon. Elsa had been most kind to let my claws prod into her skull. Although… it was only Ripley who was allowed.

She did not like my... enthusiasm.

A single Dreamframe required hours of removal, which burned a question into me. Who had installed them, then? Was there really someone among Steel Tygers capable of inserting such precise handiwork? I doubted it. Someone from Metal Heavens must have been there? And had escaped before Diana or Diamante could apprehend them.

When I finally gathered the bundled cords into my hands, I dissected them, eager to divulge their many secrets. Starlight was a quick learner too, inquisitive as we traded bouts of information about the electrochemical processes she gathered, having synched up to my mind and flowing through my thoughts accordingly.

Each removal grew slightly quicker, whereas my earliest attempt had seen me take nearly five hours for a single one, my most recent took me only two.

Shardweave V.1.10 has updated to V.1.11

Effect: Increased understanding of central neural-integration of Shardware.

I felt the last droplets of free Warpcode disappear with that update, how detestable that my efforts would not bear more fruit until Ripley found a way to scrounge more Implants to feast from.

As I catalogued my findings into the Scrapyard, Maiden finished up with her own work, having successfully installed several rehabilitation Frames over their napes. "Brat, I got a question for you."

"Delight me." I didn't turn to her, my findings needed to be logged.

"The goggle thing. It's supposed to be some sort of separate identity you take as Dreadwire's operator, right? Well, you ever thought that maybe your facial features would leave your actual identity threatened. Just because you have a new hair-do doesn't mean some Analyze Adapters won't put your noses as one and the same."

"Of course." I lifted my gaze up to her. "And that is why I can do this."

With a thought, the color from my artificial facial skin receded. The color drained away into an abyss resembling the black cloth stitched over some of Skeleton's henchmen; my lips were fused to the fabric under the material, so it looked like I was wearing a mask.

"Well, fuck me in the greaser," she rasped. "You cosplayin' Skeleton's grunts now? Tch, it'll be a nice insult to him. Thought you couldn't get any creepier. Still, you gotta work on your limbs too. People'll notice the similarities."

"Ah, I'm afraid that is also one of my projects." I stared at my limbs, while they could change shape slightly between Ripley and Dreadwire's settings, I would need my own as The Ripper.

"In fact, I believe it's time I finally get to work on my own Shardware, Dreadwire has a job coming up." I slid off my chair, and approached a framework of wires and steels laid upon a table. "Your Unique Feature… Reconstruction, works on a premise of both Shardware and Warpcode. Do you mind if I test something with Starlight?"

She gave me a distrustful gaze before hooking up her arm into the console. "That synchronization ability of hers, right? I was thinking of checking it out myself."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Correct. Ripley had believed that Starlight was only capable of synchronizing to one person… but I believe her true ability is to synchronize multiple sub-systems into a single focus. You and I would likely both benefit."

"Yeah, what'll I get from you?"

"Shardweave." I chuckled. "A Unique Feature specializing in the manipulation of Warp Materials and their integration into Shardware. Most useful for the abundant surplus of Shriekstone you've harvested from Dogwhistler's thralls."

Her eyebrow curled. "Is that so? Very well, you have a deal."

Starlight, would you be a dear?

"Got it, The Ripper!" Her presence remained within me, but like a basin of water spouting through reservoirs, she flowed into the mainframe of the shelter's systems to connect to Maiden.

Synchronising with Adapter…

My head instantly felt assaulted, thoughts that weren't mine flooding my skull.

What the hell did you come across, Emizren… you know better than I that Alberich didn't want this. But you continued… what the hell are you thinking?

"Ah, I think I'm getting a handle of this," Starlight said, her voice lightly in a panic. "I just need to make a few filters so I'm not being pulled apart by your guys' thoughts! You're kinda using me like a tightrope!"

The flow of conscious thoughts ceased, while the subconscious understanding and knowledge of Maiden's long history as a Shardware Operator flowed through me. And a thought snapped into place. Procedure Repetition… it was a Feature Link installed into my claw by my grandfather. He was a former associate of Maiden's.

It was created based on her Reconstruction Unique Feature. Now I could see that. However, it was a poor imitation. I attempted to mimic the Feature, being able to read fractions of its many shapes… but the material was fundamentally different from my own. It was not a Tendency, but from where it was sourced.

Specifically, what Source-Shard its Fragment originated from. Diana and I were the only ones in possession of Change, whereas the others… I had my theories.

My breath grew shallow, epiphany drawing into ideation. With a wash of Warp Energy, I converted Gold into Bronze through my liver, and further processed it into Warpcode for my liking…

A new Feature-Link formed in my right arm, stealing from the understanding of Reconstruction synchronized with me.

Right Ripclaw Feature-Link: Procedure Repetition [Technician] has been modified into Rebuild [Reconstruction].

"It's already paying dividends," I said lowly to Maiden, not intending to reveal to her what I'd just done. "I hope you make the most of this opportunity, because I certainly will, dearest Maiden."

"Is that a challenge?" Maiden rubbed her forehead, a light brightening in her eyes. "Diamante's gonna have to pay premium for what I'll cook up today."

My claw blurred, eagerly accepting the challenge. I wouldn't merely rebuild Dreadwire, I'd upgrade him.

———

Retrofit, what an odd little Protocol. To take from many and combine into one, or to take one and divide it into multiple forms. I could see it.

Yttrium Steel, Livewire, and Shriekstone as the main components. My original Arachnodyne, the decrypted contents of Yuzhou-brand Shardware, which specialized in electromagnetics, and my familiarity with SynTec Shardware would serve as a framework. Blades, guns, Shard Operating tools…

They could all forge into one, first ripped apart, then put back together.

Droneforge Module Selected: [3S] Technician/Analyze/Network

Numerous little hand-sized drones lifted into the air from within a canvas bag. My dominant ego had practiced creating many autonomous machines for the care of our mother, but now I would take it and forge a hivemind with me as its king. The spiderlings were fascinating tools, originally developed to be long-range Shardware supporting tools but instead forced into reconnaissance.

I would return their original purpose to them. They ordered up, neat and ready for my claws.

Metals bent, joints twisted, and limbs were grafted. The first drone was buzzing in the air, complete with the capabilities of a Bronze-Grade Shard Operating Claw… then I commanded it to work on a second while I worked on a third. I was quicker, of course, but my mind split on both tasks simultaneously.

Now, two drones worked on one. Then three drones finally matched my speed… until I had six of them buzzing around me.

"Can I try?" Starlight echoed in my ear. "I think I could help."

Are you not already burdened with maintaining the Synchronicity?

"A little bit. But I still have some brainpower that could be used to help you."

Very well, join me in this endeavor, Starlight.

A pink light sparked in each of the drones, as yet another link was added to the chain of me and Maiden. Satisfied, my apprentice and I got to work on the Arachnodyne's base form… once that was done, my productivity would be catalyzed forevermore.

———

October 18th

9:45 AM

Ripley

Straight out of one pan, into the other. Harold Anderson was barking orders at me. Recalibrate this; fine-tune that; put your drones away — they're distracting.

They were effective: is what they were. These specific Shard Operating drones of mine were coined 'Scraplings' and buzzed around me, picking up tools and Shardware components so my lazy ass didn't need to get up. Much of the Shardware Operating at the gym was now routine muscle memory for me, not as difficult as it had once been. So I let Starlight test herself against it.

Was she as good as me? No, not quite… we were different in a sense.

From what I understood of her now, she was talented and used my knowledge to supplement herself. She just didn't have experience or practice. Starlight had to mimic my skills rather than her innately possessing them. I watched as one drone carefully soldered joints together, and I took my time explaining why she'd made a mistake in the Neurowiring placement.

"It'll pinch up. Might be fine in the beginning, but over time it'll wear down and cause responsiveness issues." I pat the drone on the head.

"Ah, that makes sense." The drone scratched itself with one limb. "But I didn't read that from your Database."

"Somethings aren't… consciously learned, they're just things you realize over time that make sense — like muscle memory in a way," I replied. "Like… I never learned exactly how to do all those backflips and aerial twists; my body just reacts to the world around me. I learned no acrobatics of the sort."

"Well, I did!"

"You copied moves from a game." I laughed. "Not that they weren't useful, just a bit… showboaty."

"Well, Dreadwire has a lot to show this city. Why not let him be a little dramatic?" She teased, and… you know what? Why not?

———

October 19th

2:30 AM

The Ripper

The Arachnodyne's framework was now complete, far from functional but mobile. As our mother said, patience was the key to excellence — one step at a time.

My skills at piloting the drones had grown over the last day. Six busy bees chewed wires and sewed musculature into place. All the while, I repaired my left arm and legs… alongside some new plating I'd ordered.

———

October 20th

2:18 PM

Ripley

Looking at my bank accounts, I wanted to cry. What the fuck was The Ripper spending all this money on? In just three days… I'd spent half a million Shardyne.

It was a far cry from the original cost of my Arachnodyne, but all these components were… half were vanity? A special paint used on high-end cars to change colors, borderline novelty pieces that served no purpose other than being rare, extremely high density Ytrrium Steel.

Okay, the last one was fine… but the point stood that The Ripper's 'creativity' came at the expense of hoarding parts I was sure I would never use.

———

October 21st

12:48 AM

The Ripper

No part would go unused. Everything had its place once I tore function out of vanity. Rare components were rare for a reason. They were niche and specialized… and I was very special at what I did. Only the best would suffice, and if they weren't the best, then I'd turn whatever I touched into Gold. Like Midas before me, as Starlight had said.

I ripped apart the head of a collector's doll of Nolan Trask, Founder of Synchronous Technologies; those speakers within were absolutely exquisite. All would hear Dreadwire's voice under his web of dread.

The song with that name was a great inspiration. It did wonders on the Abyssnet charts, and the music video garnered much interest.

———

12:21 PM

Ripley

My arm certainly felt different today. While its Capacity hadn't changed, there was a certain fluidity in the way Energy flowed through it. Must have been the new Neurowiring bought by The Ripper. Too bad, my eyes ached to stay open from how long The Ripper stayed up working on my equipment and scrapping apart new orders.

I had to tell Starlight to freeze my bank accounts at this rate; I just went under one million Shardyne for the first time since the raid.

———

October 22nd

11:40 AM

The Ripper

A Bronze AdStim sent tingles of vitality through me; shame on Ripley for not sleeping more. Now I would have to work twice as long to make progress…

At the very least, the Arachnodyne now had Shard Operating capabilities once more. And was a shiny new color fit for bloodstains to show my worth. White.

But of course, for Dreadwire, it could change into black. That was courtesy of the paint I'd bought.

———

October 22nd

7:38 PM

Ripley

I forgot how much I missed having an Arachne. Even if its current state wasn't as good as the previous iteration, it had a much better foundation for future improvements. I had to work overtime now to make up the losses 'The Ripper' was giving me, maybe I could nap on the railway.

11:09 PM

Organizing my tools, I checked in on my growing nanites. Half of Diana's organic matter was now a silvery… liquid. Fuck, was it like mercury? How was I going to use that? I swore to the Founders it was a powder before!

Maybe my lack of sleep was making me see things. At the very least, the bags of blood and blended heart were now a dark-black color, my nanites now in great enough quantity that they changed the appearance of the suspensions. Feeding them some more Energy, I slid my goggles on.

Today, new combat faculties would be added to my Shardware.

All of them.

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