C32 In, and Out
In, and Out.
“ Anthony. The shuttle is approaching, and Ludwig is on board too. He would like to meet you down in the Haunt Hangar. “ Hope spoke up, while Anthony was working to remove the final limiter on Hope’s programming.
“ Ah damn. So close. “ He groans, feeling irritated being interrupted mid step.
“ How long until they land ? “ He would ask with a sigh, admitting that the development of his ability is just as important.
“ In about 7 minutes. “ Hope responded.
“ Oh well. Then I best get on my way. “ He admitted.
And he was glad that the connection to the Hangar was one of the easiest to reestablish for Hope, going in with an EVA suit would be, annoying right now. She simply would close the hangar, and pressurize it again, which made the temporary airlock the Siren’s placed a mere security measure now, in case the hangar failed.
“ How many of the Androids are ready now ? “ He asked before moving.
“ I have the minimum of 20 industrials ready. “ She responded.
“ Good, let them know I am on my way. “ He noted, and then made his way down to deck D4 where the access to the hangar was.
“ Will do. “ She responded before he left the room.
Soon, Anthony would watch how a red shuttle carefully landed in the bay, a model he had not seen before as the Siren’s usually used a model painted in a white and green scheme, with a sleeker design, and this one was quite bulky. Bulky was good though, if that translated in plenty of interior space, as he would need a lot to transport resources up from the surface of Lyria.
When the Hangar was pressurized, Anthony could enter, and approach the shuttle to have a better look at it, seeing that the exterior was indeed showing obvious wear and tear, but that was something he could fix. The chance to have an alternate transportation method to the NH vessel was a godsend right now.
And soon as the Ramp lowered on the back of the shuttle, Anthony could hear a bunch of giggling and female voices chattering with audible amusement. Which soon was followed by a loud, “ Lad ! “ As a man stepped from the ramp.
Anthony actually had to look for a second time, as it was Ludwig, but it wasn’t that corpulent short guy anymore. No, Ludwig had lost weight, impossibly much weight, and looked more like a bulky athlete now.
“ What happened to you ? “ Anthony asked with open surprise that left even his eyes wide with the question about his change, and his mind reeling with assumptions, one of which was aimed at the high likelihood that it may perhaps be part of his ability ? He was a Psyker, although he did recall Ludwig mentioning his ability to be about earth and minerals.
“ Those. “ Ludwig said with a smile, pointing at a bunch of Siren’s that where just leaving the Shuttle, some of which quickly started to show off tail when they took notice of Anthony looking at them, which caused him an inward groan at the reminder that some, if not most, had likely come for a very specific reason.
“ Them gals can do medical wonders. Absorb all da bad stuff, rebuild what be broken. “ Ludwig explained, reminding Anthony of how little he cared for Ludwig’s dialect. It was at times quite hard to understand, and this time, he did not have Thomas along to translate for him.
“ I see, that is quite, the extreme change. “ Anthony admitted, watching how the Siren’s passed them, giggling and chatting amongst one another with seemingly random glances thrown towards him and Ludwig.
“ Yeah, some thing’s bridge even across different species. “ Anthony mused, finding that they held equal behaviors to human women in such instances.
“ Yah know, they can get ya better equipment, make ya last. “ Ludwig said with a grin, which only grew wider as Anthony rose his eyebrow in initial confusion, before those eyes went wider with the realization of what Ludwig was getting at.
“ I think, that is more then I need to know right now. “ Anthony said, planting his right palm against his forehead as he wondered if Ludwig was being serious right now.
“ Well, go ahead lad, let’s see if ya can take control of dat junker. Might be useful, watching yer magics at work again. “ Ludwig pressured then, as impatient as ever when it was about Anthony’s ability. But he was glad in this case, with Ludwig’s help, he would know if it worked, without having to actually move the shuttle.
“ Well, let’s see. “ Anthony mutters, looking at the shuttle, pondering briefly how to do this, before simply attempting to insist for it to be his.
“ Well, whadaya waitn for ? “ Ludwig asked, which was probably a good indication that Anthony’s attempt failed there.
“ I just tried. Let me try something else, tell me if there is any reaction ? “ Anthony spoke watching how Ludwig responded with a nod, and then waving him to get on with it already.
Anthony tried a few more times, commanding it, demanding it, and even to try and reach out to it, though since he did not feel his psychic energy in any way, he did still see no reaction from Ludwig signaling success, and it was a little frustrating that Ludwig just watched, and not even offer a suggestion.
“ Well, maybe through contact ? “ He wondered, approaching the shuttle to place his hand on it’s hull, and then close his eyes, and insist for it to become his property. Then he actually felt as though something, withdrew from him, leaving him with a brief sensation of being pulled towards the shuttle.
“ Ah, now we be playin. “ Ludwig spoke up, causing Anthony some relieve.
“ So, it worked ? “ He asked though, just to make sure.
“ It be reactin ta ya. But ya be slappin it hard with yer psychic, not very efficient. “ Ludwig responded.
“ Well, first time I am doing this, consciously anyway. “ Anthony defended himself.
“ Ya gona need ta learn sensing ya flow. Like breathin. “ Ludwig suggested.
“ And how would I go about that ?” Anthony asked, lightly irritated with how Ludwig seemed to assume that it should be obvious how to do it.
“ Yah, I be forgettin. It be bad dat ya didn’t experience the growth. “ Ludwig agreed, seeming to realize that this particular step failed to develop for Anthony.
“ Hum, dat may be a problem. Ta mask yer flow, ya gotta sense it, pull it in. But if ya can’t, well. “ He mused, rubbing his chin as he seemed to seriously consider it.
“ Like breathin. “ He mused then, looking around within the hangar, figuring that, if he can not sense the power flow for a small item, then he has to force a larger flow. To go from brute force, to delicate.
“ Yah. Me be thinkin, I could probably make a stay of a few days extra. Yah gotta learn it, or ya be like a fish on land if another psyker be after yer hide. “ Ludwig then decided.
“ So, what can I do to sense it then ? “ Anthony asked, wondering what Ludwig had in mind.
“ Yah gotta be fingerin yer precious junker, and ya best be keepin ya gals around ya too.” Ludwig claimed, leaving Anthony to stay there with a questioning look.
“ Ugh, learn some culture lad ! “ Ludwig groaned, planting his hands against his hips in protest.
“ Well, Ya be reachin out ta ya ship, Hope aint it ? Reach out, pull back, like in da fuckin em ladys. And do dat over and over. It be wasting lots of yer juice, but if ya can’t feel the lil one, ya gotta go big. “ Ludwig tried explaining.
Anthony understood now what he was getting at. To reach his psychic energy out towards the Hope, and retract it again, repeatedly. Though the way he worded it sounded like some awkward form of sexual innuendo.
“ Ok, so extend energy, retract again, rinse and repeat till I can sense it. “ Anthony spoke, just to make absolutely sure.
“ Yah, now ya be gettin it. “ Ludwig agreed.
“ Now, how about ya try it ? “ Ludwig insisted.
Anthony sighed inwardly as he simply closed his eyes, to reach out to the hope, to encase the entire ship with his energy. And he felt it then, how there was that pull again, and even a light sensation of nausea.
“ Dat be it, and now back out. “ Ludwig instructed, sensing that Anthony was expending massive amounts of psychic energy. Though compared to what he could store, those where probably droplets, unlike what Thomas had expected it to be.
Anthony would do as told, and on Ludwig’s instructions, keep repeating this task for a few times, before Ludwig would stop him.
“ Dat be it, now stop, and breathe. “ Ludwig instructed.
“It be feeling like breathing, in and out, or, like flowing water, or something like dat. Once you can sense dat, you be on dat right track. If ya feel like year getting the flimsies, ya take a break. And best get some good times with one of yer gals. If it be control as ya be thinkin, it be best to, exert control, ya know. “ Ludwig then explained.
“ Flimsies ? “ Anthony asked as he wasn’t familiar with that term.
“ Yeh, like the world be spinning. Like ye be gettin weak on ya legs. “ Ludwig clarified.
“ Ok. “ Anthony mused, wondering how long he would be having to do this, but Ludwig was seemingly not intending to let him rest for long.
“ Now, ya best be going to ya lady. Keep doing dat, and when ya get the flimsies, get yer lady, and have a good time. And then repeat, till ya fallin over. “ Ludwig instructed.
“ I do have to-, “ Anthony wanted to interject.
“ Get to it Lad ! I only got a few days. Got business to attend to as well, and ya best be feelin da flow before then, or we can’t be doing da next step. “ Ludwig insisted.
“ Feel da flow, then we getcha to pull back da juice inside yah. And when ya got dat going, ya should be about able ta go inside ya plane on ya own. And once ya got dat, ya be able to learn understandin it, and use it da right ways. “ Ludwig explained to give Anthony the bigger picture.
“ Ok, so, train, fuck, sleep, eh ? “ Anthony rewords it with a sense of defeat.
“ Yer gettin it. Now, get ta ya lady. Ya be able to play with ya new toy soon enough. And if ya want ta speed it up, grab one of em fresh gals. Might just help ya. “ Ludwig said with a grin.
“ I think I am well set for now. “ Anthony insisted.
“ Well, get ta it then. Tomorrow, when ya feel it, proper, we get to use dat other ship of ya, if it ain’t working, keep it with the Hope, rinse and repeat, until ya get dat sensation with this junker there. “ Ludwig noted, pointing at the shuttle.
“ Very well. “ Anthony noted, shaking his head.
It would not be long then until Anthony reached his quarters where Tilly was pleasantly surprised to find his early arrival, having expected him to be working on his AI still for a few hours. And it was a very pleasant surprise for her, as Anthony begrudgingly followed Ludwig’s advice, to exact control on Tilly, and Kira later too.
Under the pressure that Ludwig’s time on the Hope was limited, Anthony would actually dedicate himself to this training regime. Spending time just working on controlling his psychic energy, until he actually did sense something akin to a flow, probably.
It felt more like, a breeze, that came from within the entirety of his body, flowing out into the surrounding, and then back into him. The initial pull he was sensing was, as Ludwig would later point out, the lacking control he exerted over it. Actually brute forcing the effect, and wasting to much energy for a job that would probably need at most half as much, if likely even less.
The training nearly filled out the entirety of the next 6 days, where, when his sense of the flow grew a little more accurate, they would move on to the New Horizon, and, only during the last two days, to the shuttle itself.
In that Time, Ludwig would make conversation when the chance seemed opportune, asking about the time when the Hope was being build, and the Horizon shipyard, where it’s construction happened. About Mars, and Earth, gathering information under the guise of curiosity, and how the world left behind, had developed in their supposed absence.
Valuable information that that would soon support his claim about Anthony and his ship, being a product of a time before what was considered as the great collapse.
And on the 6th day, Anthony was at the point where, under Ludwig’s supervision, he managed to draw his psychic energy in , barely.
“ There ya go. Now ya gotta do da in and out again, till ya got a good feelin on it. “ Ludwig near praised Anthony at that point.
“ Ugh, but, I can use the shuttle now, yes ? “ Anthony groaned with a hint of frustration, realizing how much time he spend training.
Honestly, he was glad he was getting this chance, it was feeling like valuable progress, as the promise to gain access to his Plane was more then alluring. But leaving the Hope in the dust, when he could have automated the repair process partially, felt quite irritating.
“ Ya, ride’s commin in an hour. So be free ta get back at it. But keep up with da workout. Pull it in, let it out, till ya get a better feelin for it. When ya got dat, ya got two things ta keep lookin for. “ Ludwig explained, raising his hand up to visually underline what he’d say next.
“ One “ he begun, raising his thumb.
“ Try and make yer energy, like it be feelin solid, at about an arms length. If another Psyker be mad at ya, ya want yer energy to block direct effects. Be taking some time to learn properly, but ya can’t ignore the chance that it may happen, low as it be. “ He instructed, and then rose his index-finger.
“ And two, Feel where ya plane is. Ya gotta feel the solid in yer head, dats where it usually hangs out. And be prickin it with a needle like.
It wont be feeling like one, but ya gotta lock yer plane down with yer juice, and then push into it. And once ya did dat, yer golden ta understand what ya been missing. “ He instructed.
“ Got it. Make a wall around myself, and learn to feel the solid energy in my head, grab and penetrate. “ Anthony responded, having gotten at least the gist of it.
“ Yep, yer gettin it. Yer not far off now, so keep at it. “ Ludwig assured him.
Anthony simply nodded in response, counting the minutes that Ludwig finally left.
Grateful as he was for his help, he was inwardly celebrating not constantly having him around, to get back to his intended work, and just, not feel like there was someone constantly looking over his shoulder.
It was irritating him so much, he was feeling the desire to just punch Ludwig in the face, hard, irritated as he was. And somewhere it surprised Anthony. In the past he usually had few people around himself, and most that were, were work related, which hardly bothered him.
Now, he was constantly surrounded by at least two Siren’s, and had no problem with it. But having the constant attention of Ludwig was outright annoying to him.