Human Tendencies: Memories and Shenanigans

World to World

As Jack fiddles around with his new Azure Striker Septima, he stares at his ring and the endless dart gun that he bought from that store.

"I never thought it would come to this but I may as well be the next Gunvolt." Jack chuckles as he spins the gun around. He accidentally discharges the gun as he's spinning it and a dart hits Lumen in the arm.

"Hey! Friendly fire!" Lumen says as she pulls the dart out with no ill effect. "Well, there's not really much to do now is there? You've got some lightning powers but they're not strong enough for me to teach more and I have yet to see any of my powers come to fruition." She adds, looking at her ring.

"Well, I am interested in the world you come from. It sounds like a very futuristic world." Jack replies.

"It is a very futuristic world indeed but it's a harsh one." Lumen replies, getting serious.

"How harsh is it?" Jack asks, loosing his cheerful tone.

"Humans are still there for a start." Lumen replies. "But then there are those who hold septimal power. These are adepts, people who are able to harness the elements. You'd think that people like these would be revered for their powers."

"But I'm assuming they get persecuted?" Jack asks.

"You hit the nail right on the head. There's been a lot of racism against adepts, and then came Sumeragi." Lumen replies. "I mentioned it the first time we met."

"You said it was a literally power hungry company no?" Jack asks. "That's all I heard or at least remembered."

"Sumeragi wanted to take advantage of the adept powers, more specifically the Azure Striker. It's so highly revered, because like you and GV can, they harness the power of electricity. In a world where electronics dominate the world you could essentially become a living, walking power generator." Lumen explains. "And that's exactly what Sumeragi tried to do. I remember the scientists forcibly implanting the Azure Striker septima into test subjects, most of them with horrifying results. Do you want me to go into detail on what happened?"

"I know GV is an Azure Striker for a start so he must have come out fine. Tell me what happened to the others." Jack replies, nodding. "I'm ready for what's about to come out of your mouth."

"The only reason Gunvolt has his name is because that's what the project was called, Project Gunvolt. The first test subject I remember seeing was this young female adept. I'm not sure what kind of septima she had but they had restrained her to a chair and had this strange device over her head. I heard that it was supposed to be some sort of septima altering device." Lumen begins. "I could hear the screaming noises like it happened yesterday, and when it was all over her brain had been completely fried by the septima."

"My god..." Jack says, astonished and disgusted. "I assume they trashed that device pretty quickly."

"They did, in favor for a "more humane" method." Lumen replies. "They thought that adepts held the septima in their blood, but tests proved ineffective so they tried something else. That's when I came into play. I've told you before, my singing can enhance adept powers, so they broadcasted my songs and captured adepts. Then they wiped their memories and attempted to fit the Azure Striker septima in. Their first result had the subject go on a mad rampage and destroy part of the facility I was in before they were killed, their second try had the subject vaporize themselves with the lightning, and the third try just did... Nothing. That's when they brought human experimentation onto the table."

"And I assume that's how Gunvolt came to be huh?" Jack asks.

"He was one of two test subjects that survived the process and could wield the Azure Striker. The other person I'm not sure of who they were but they freed him and well, the rest of the story goes from there." Lumen explains.

"So he's an artificial adept." Jack mumbles.

"As am I." Lumen replies. "I'm not sure what's of the company as of now but all I know, is that GV and I have had pretty broken pasts."

"Well, at least you're still here." Jack says. "And that's all that matters."

"Thanks." Lumen replies, a smile on her face.

"I do my best to try and cheer people up." Jack says.