Meditations (13)

The stratosphere was quiet, a vast expanse of nothingness wrapped in the pale blue light of the morning sky. Far below, the Earth stretched endlessly, its oceans shimmering in the sunlight. Above me, stars blinked faintly, as if observing my solitude.

I floated there, suspended between, my body still but my mind alive with thought.

'It's getting harder to remember what my old life was like'

The thought felt distant, like a faint echo from a dream. The faces, the names, the little details of who I used to be. They were all becoming hazy, slipping further away with every passing moment.

'I wonder if that's a bad thing'

My body and mind were both utterly transformed, untraceable to who I was before.

'This is my reality now'

I inhaled deeply, letting the thin, cold air fill my lungs.

The proposition wasn't as frightening as it once seemed.

'I shouldn't hold myself back from embracing this world'

My aura thrummed around me as that thought resonated in my mind.

Clear white energy clung to my form while a crimson red glow blazed powerfully on the outskirts, vigorously and silently humming.

'I think it's around times thirty now'

A habit I had solidified through my training was maintaining Kaioken while I was in my Base Form.

I didn't have a Power Scouter to check my gains but I was certain my strength had increased because of the power I felt lingering inside me.

'It doesn't even feel like the same technique'

Through time and training, the force of my will increased and as the strength of my will increased, my grasp on God Ki and my ability to control my Ki also became more pronounced.

The simplest way for me to explain it was that it was like I had introduced a smaller unit of currency into the economy of my body, the scale of transactions and movements and movements I could make with me Ki much smaller than before.

It was like the difference between moving your arm and moving your finger, my level of control far more precise.

The consequence of this was that even subconsciously I could maintain Kaioken much more effectively than I could before, although my Ki was moving extremely quickly, it followed the same path it would have if the technique was deactivated.

The positive feedback loop was completed as my healing factor was stimulated by the increased stress on my body, working diligently to maintain my equilibrium. 

'It's faint'

Even now I could feel the slight exertion of my cells, repairing and strengthening with each passing moment. 

'I don't even need my other forms'

A smile tugged at my lips as I resisted the urge to push Kaioken even further, my mind struggling to compute threats that could cope with all my skills.

'My other forms can just be for psychological damage'

I broke my seated posture, stretching my back and my limbs out as I disabled Kaioken, shifting my focus inward.

'Super'

The strength of my will had grown to the extent where a single thought carried enough weight to mobilize extensive change throughout my body.

Dense shards of green lightning rumbled across my spiky black locks, the two bangs hanging at the side of my faces wavering gently as a dark green tinge ran through them. In the same moment they lengthened, the radiance of my Ki making them glisten.

I held both my arms out, heat pouring off of them as the glow of my Ki, now turning green, fully encapsulated them. Although totally organic, the visual was almost mechanical, my body producing extra muscle mass, the size of limbs expanding, becoming blocky pillars of power.

I exhaled gently as my aura died down, my long green bangs softening.

'It feels like there's an infinite amount of transformation engineering I can do'

Transformations were surprisingly flexible when a specific level of Ki Control was reached. At my level of proficiency, I could effectively mix and match whatever I wanted to.

'But I feel like this is a good mid-form'

My Super Form was an evolution of the Legendary Super Saiyan transformation, continual training with it enabling me to reach higher grades of mastery.

This grade took inspiration from the Grade 3 Super Saiyan transformation, except since my body was made of Goo, I could freely manipulate my frame and adjust my bone to muscle ratio so that my speed wasn't seriously hindered.

Trying to put an exact number of my strength, at this level, felt a little pointless, giving me some confidence that I had transgressed into the Dragon Ball Super range of power, even at this low level.

'It feels really good'

My confidence and self-esteem suddenly rose, all the anxieties and introspection about my place in this world melting away.

'I know the transformation is messing with me but it doesn't matter'

To conquer, overwhelm and overpower, that was my purpose.

To force every lofty fighter or skilled magician into subjection through sheer dominating force, that kind that couldn't be handled or contended with.

Through power I would down bring all opposition against me.

It seemed so obvious.

'I should visit Launch after this'

As her well-endowed feminine form lingered in my mind, a different kind of heat built up in my body, a sharp head shake required to break out of my trance.

'This form is honestly just a back-up'

The weight of my thoughts triggered another transformation that washed over me, propelling me into my "Ultra Form".

My soft green hair turned purple, my bangs wavering intensely as the flavor of my Ki changed, tremendous pressure emitted through my body as my Ki adopted the properties of Hakai Energy.

Simultaneously, my Preservation Sense activated, a detailed heatmap of the Ki in my environment, a sense that was arguably more powerful than sight, roared in the back of my mind.

'This is just overkill'

I smiled wryly as I realized I had developed my Ultra Form for fun. 

Maybe some of the Angels were able to withstand it but since they were so stoic and passive, there was no chance I'd be able to use it against them in any serious way.

'Its still good to have'

I de-activated the transformation, descending down to my Base Form.

WWFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!!!

With a thought, I accelerated down to the ground, shockwaves blowing powerfully in the sky overhead.

'I wonder if she's awake yet'

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(Hyperbolic Time Chamber - 6 Months of Research)

The Hyperbolic Time Chamber, once a vast white void of isolation, hummed with activity. Multiple high-tech labs had sprouted, like a mechanical oasis, each workstation a blend of advanced design and brute efficiency. Researchers, a mix of former Red Ribbon scientists and independent contractors, moved about the facility.

They spoke in hushed tones, their gazes darting toward the endless horizon with awe, wondering how the Head Scientists had managed to discover such a location.

There were an abundance of precariously placed materials scattered around the chamber, fleets of worker robots navigating around glimmering pillars of metal and plastic.

"This is really bizarre," a researcher commented.

"Hey, as long as I get fully paid for the project, I don't care what we have to do," another responded.

Inside the central headquarters established in the chamber, Dr. Wheelo stood, near a large console, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the progress on the central display.

Suspended in front of him in the form a virtual reality projection were the theoretical schematics of a Drone that he had previously designed. 

It was obvious to him that the exaggerated form of the Red Ribbon Army's Pirate Robots weren't an efficient use of resources but Commander Red personally insisted on the design.

Now that he was liberated to pursue his own agenda, he could finally create what he always had in mind.

Yet despite that, he was silent, his expression heavy, the display reflecting off his thick glasses.

Nearby, Dr. Gero was hunched over at separate console, his fingers dancing over the keys with mechanical precision. His younger, android-preserved face was devoid of warmth, his sharp eyes fixated on the models of a theoretical Android, applied in the contexts: 16, 17, and 18.

"This place," Wheelo began, his voice low and strained, "it's... unnatural. We've built cities in deserts, laboratories underwater, but this… this is something else"

"It's efficient," Gero said curtly, not looking up from his work. "No interruptions. No delays. Just results"

Dr Wheelo turned to him, his voice tightening. "No sun. No stars. Just emptiness. Tell me, Gero, how long can anyone work like this without losing themselves?"

Gero frowned, pausing his typing. "Do you always whine this much? Or is it just old age catching up to you?"

Wheelo chuckled dryly, but it lacked humor. "Easy for you to say. You've already discarded your humanity for a metal shell. You don't feel the weight of time anymore"

"Humanity is overrated," Gero said flatly, leaning back in his chair. "I preserved my mind, my intellect. That's all that matters. And you would do well to follow my example, Wheelo. Your body is failing. Your hands tremble more every day. How long do you think you have?"

Wheelo glanced at his hands, flexing them slowly.

"Long enough," he said with a sigh. "Perhaps you're right, but even with this aging body, I can still feel," he said dryly. "I still know what it means to be alive. Can you say the same, Gero?"

"I don't need to," Gero responded coldly. "Feelings are a distraction. Purpose is what drives progress."

Wheelo's expression softened, but his tone grew sharper. "Purpose, you say? And what is our purpose here, exactly? To bend the knee to that man? To create weapons for an alien who can reshape reality with a flick of his wrist?"

Gero's lips pressed into a thin line. "Kaza is an mystery, I'll give you that. But look at what we've accomplished under his guidance. My Android models—16, 17, and 18—are nearly complete. They were nothing more than wounded remnants of the Red Ribbon's failures. Now, they'll be something greater, something perfect. None of this would have been possible without Kaza."

"And my Drone," Wheelo admitted reluctantly, glancing back at the schematic.

"Absorbing Ki from the environment, channeling it into precise energy blasts... it's beyond anything I could have dreamed of before. But at what cost? Do we even know his endgame?"

"Does it matter?" Gero asked, his tone sharper now. "Kaza's goals are irrelevant. What matters is that we are advancing our work, achieving things no one else could even imagine. Rebellion? It's not only foolish but suicidal."

Wheelo rubbed his temples, frustration etched across his face. "It's not rebellion I want, Gero. It's clarity. Understanding. What happens when Kaza decides we're no longer useful? Do you think your Android body will save you then?"

Gero's gaze hardened. "Then we ensure we stay useful. Simple as that."

Wheelo fell silent for a moment, his gaze drifting to window where distant researchers bustled around the chamber. They seemed oblivious to the existential weight of the conversation, focused entirely on their tasks.

"And what about them?" Wheelo asked quietly. "They don't even realize the storm they're standing under. They're just happy to be working."

Gero's expression didn't change. "That's all any of us can do. Work. Build. Survive."

Wheelo sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping. "Maybe you're right. Maybe survival is all we have left."

Gero returned to his console, his voice steady and cold. "You'll see. In time, you'll come to understand that Kaza isn't an obstacle—he's a tool. One we can use to push science beyond its limits. For now, stop questioning and focus on the task at hand"

Wheelo gave a slow nod, though his doubt lingered in his eyes. "For now."

The conversation ended there, but the tension between the two lingered, unspoken and heavy.

The lab continued to hum, the scientists moving like cogs in a machine that none of them fully understood. The Hyperbolic Time Chamber stretched infinitely around them, a silent witness to their fragile alliance and the uncertain future they were building.

"I guess it's not so bad," Dr Wheelo confessed.