Chapter 165 - Fortunate Delays

As Mikah is wrapping up his follow-up text for Mark, he suddenly looks up with an apologetic expression.

“Oh, you’re absolutely right, Marsha, I’m so sorry guys. I probably should have left a long time ago, getting scatterbrained like this is one of my early warning signs of an incoming bout of power fatigue.” Upon sheepishly admitting this, Mikah goes to reach for the button for the 13th floor, but he is interrupted by 11 suddenly speaking up in front of the doorway to the elevator once more.

“Excuse me. It is highly recommended that all of you consider wearing protective face coverings as well. After the… Incident on the 15th floor, a few service bots that were active on floors 14 and 13 similarly activated the climate controls, with the same results. An auxiliary unit is on its way to the 12th floor via the stairwell, we anticipate that it is about to experience comparable results.” When 11 began its second announcement, poor Mikah was so caught off-guard by it having come back without him noticing it, nor anyone thinking about it, that he nearly drops his phone. He manages to catch it before it falls very far, but this spooked state was still obvious.

Without acknowledging Mikah’s minor embarrassment, 11 continues its announcement.

“Previously, we had not been performing regular maintenance on the HVAC systems for the floors that were not regularly visited by humans, in order to reduce power usage. However, we will begin doing so, regularly, going forward. Our apologies for the inconvenience.” After passing along this message, 11 doesn’t immediately leave this time. Instead, it remains looking directly at Mikah, presumably awaiting instructions.

“You haven’t..? Oh goodness, does that mean the AC hasn’t been turned on on those floors for several YEARS? ...Okay, yeah, and it was a cluttered mess to begin with, you guys are going to need a change of clothes by the time you’re done. Wait, no, before you even start, don’t go doing demo work in your suit! Even if you don’t have to worry about it getting damaged, that’s still...” Thankfully, Mikah had enough presence of mind to actually finish typing and sent out his text to Mark before becoming invested in this interaction.

Mikah glances at Lucas while mentioning his suit, but after a slight pause, he turns his attention back over to 11.

“11, send full sets of enhanced workwear to the spa for Lucas and Marsha. Also, have someone whip up a quick set of cloth masks for all of us and send them there too. Err, Willy, I hope you won’t be offended by a modified sock as a temporary measure? Wait, stop, don’t answer yet, that’s a confusing question for a yes or no answer. Let’s go with this instead; Are you okay with that as an improvised mask?” After Mikah gets his bearings, it isn’t long before he switches into work mode and assigns these orders to 11. Well, to the collective network, via 11.

Willy gives a bark of agreement without hesitation, leading to Mikah nodding and adding on “All right, and a sock-mask for Willy as well.”

“Certainly, sir. Mr. Lynn’s measurements are already on file. However, we require the relevant information for Miss Masher. A rough approximation will suffice, if you do not wish to spend the time needed to have your exact measurements taken.” 11 shifts its attention over to Miss Masher when bringing up its request for her sizing.

“Oh, uh, I’m not really sure what I’d be in men’s sizes..? Can you do some quick measurements an’ jus’ guess from there?” Miss Masher has a bit of a puzzled expression as she says this, leaning forward to stand up straight from her previously reclined position leaning against one of the walls of the elevator.

When she starts to take a step forward to exit the elevator, Lucas leans over and slaps her on the back, between her shoulder blades, shoving her in 11’s direction.

“We gotta kill a few minutes while they make some masks anyway, yeah? Go get yer full fittin’ done. I was gonna bring it up later, but now’s as good a time as ever; all three of ya should get yer measurements for a suit each. Considerin’ how much safer I feel when I already have endurance, you guys need ‘em way more than I do. Let’s jus’ let people think the publicity stunts were about money, yeah? Suits ’re more practical than buyin’ some silly jewelry or somethin’ like that. ‘Especially for Mary, if she’s ever gonna go back an’ forth without you around. I’m sure she’s got some gadget or another to protect herself, but still, I know I’ll feel better knowin’ she got the extra safety from the suit.” While Lucas is saying this, Miss Masher staggers at first from the shove, but when she rights herself she turns back to stare at him. Similarly, Miss Chievous is staring at him, as well.

“...Are you serious? That’s… Aren’t they really expensive?” Miss Chievous’s voice has a rather meek tone as she quietly asks this with obvious uncertainty.

“Eh? Why would I bother lyin’ about it? An’ isn’t this basically like buyin’ an extended warranty on keepin’ 23 in tip-top shape? Lakshmi might’ve helped me find one nerd to work on my robot, I’m not gonna risk needin’ to find a second one if I don’t gotta! An’ I know if somethin’ happened to one of you two, she’d be too distracted to be any good for me then, either!” Upon Lucas successfully managing to make this generous gift somehow sound selfish, Miss Masher starts laughing and Miss Chievous’s confusion clears, mostly.

Mikah manages to quietly stifle a laugh of his own, its difficulty further enhanced thanks to the extra thoughts he hears mixed in.

Poor 427 had gotten nervous when Lucas initially made the offer out loud, but he relaxes significantly with the follow-up, and their reactions.

After barely a moment’s pause, Lucas continues slinging instructions at the patiently waiting 11.

“Oh, an’ get Willy all fitted too. The girlie’s suits can be whatever style they want, with all the bells ‘n whistles on enhancin’ the cloth. I want Willy to get a matched jacket for every one that I ordered for myself, though. That hat too! He needs a mini top hat! We can worry about 23’s suit later, but it definitely gets at least one too. Oh, an’ since me an’ Jon are gettin’ so many suits, ya can prioritize getting one made for everyone else first ‘afore makin’ our extras.” While Lucas is wrapping up his order, he is even nodding along by the end. Mikah clears his throat, turning his attention back over to 11.

“Carry through with all of those requests, we’ll worry about the pricing later. Mark may wish to contribute to the Sisterhood’s attire as well, for, well, rather similar reasoning. Ah, Jonathan, would you mind giving them that keyfob? They can meet up with us on the 8th floor once they’re done with sizing. I’m pretty sure I have a few more keyfobs in my office, so we can swing by there instead of just standing around waiting. Eventually, we’ll get all of your ID chips synched for permissions, but that needs to wait until after all the alliance paperwork is done processing and whatnot.” While Mikah was speaking, 11 had shifted its attention from Lucas back over to him, nodding in understanding at the end of his assurance that the money can wait.

Additionally, while Mikah was elaborating about elevator permissions, Jonathan had already pulled the keyfob back out, holding it out towards Miss Masher. Miss Chievous is the one to grab it instead, tucking it away into one of her pants pockets while grinning.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this spa, heheh.” After Miss Chievous says this in a soft voice, Jonathan shudders involuntarily. There goes any chance of him completely relaxing. Also, good luck ever getting that keyfob away from her again, short of her ID chip having sufficient access rights without needing it.

“Very well. If you three would follow me, please. There are units waiting by the fitting rooms with cloth measuring tapes at the ready.” Once 11 witnesses Miss Chievous acquiring the keyfob, it leads the way for Miss Masher, Miss Chievous, and Willy to the announced destination.

Once those three individuals exit the elevator, Mikah finally actually hits one of the floor buttons, starting Lucas, Jonathan, and his journey to the 7th floor.

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Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas total deaths: 11

Lucas total assists: 1

Lucas current GDV: 17.22 (+.01 +.01 = +.02 net change)

Lucas's fame level: 5.0* (Already beginning to receive authentic global attention. His local levels are effectively maxed.)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 2.5* (+.25 -.25 = 0 net change, more than just passing suspicion for many paranoid individuals, numerous people have realized he's an impulsive idiot.)

Jonathan total kills: 7

Jonathan total deaths: 2

Jonathan current GDV: 5.97

Jonathan's fame level: 2.75* (What fame he does have is predominantly local.)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 3.0* (More than just overly-paranoid people are suspicious at this point.)

Willy's fame level: 1.5* (Anonymous meme fame, local fame primarily as 'Xenoclast's dog', but some strangers know him as William/Willy now.)

Supervillain social circle size: 15

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Little character theater:

Jonathan, mentally sobbing: ‘Nooo, I was starting to look forward to soaking in that weird mineral bath while I dozed off again… Is there any chance she’ll actually be too busy enjoying the spa to leave me alone..?’

Willy, his tail merrily wagging as he looks forward to his future fortified fashion: (Happy panting.)

Lucas, amusing himself by imagining the various ways they might adjust the suits to, well, suit Willy: ‘Hehehe, dapper doggo!’

427, replicating a sigh when everyone smoothly accepts the amount of money Lucas is casually throwing around on other’s behalf: ‘That almost seemed too easy, bah. Hmm, maybe Lakshmi’s power made them accept it, to the point that Mark thinks it is a good idea when he hears about it, and he offers to pay in full..?’

Author, cleaning one of their ears with a pinky: Eh? Damn right Lakshmi is involved. When in doubt; Lakshmi is somehow involved. They’re the ultimate deus ex machina, sometimes shit falls into place so effortlessly that even I get alarmed. No, seriously, I’ve randomly yelled in the middle of writing when I had a realization of some of the very direct and clear-cut paths that their power would definitely have triggered. I low-key want to set up a cork board and get thumbtacks with red string and do some conspiracy theory tier bullshit showing how everything is connected by them.

Mr.. Quacks, supervising the designer instructing a few bots on how to fold and stitch a proper triple-layer cloth facemask: Quack.