Feeling Like a Hero

I took a deep breath before I even thought about touching the remaining three outfits. Yrh'danyr's words resounded in my head. It really made me think. How had I even begun to take on such responsibility without ever really feeling like I was capable of what they asked of me? I wasn't actually expecting an answer. I knew the others in my head would have a field day with the thought of responding. I wasn't ready for their answers. Not yet. I steeled myself. If I was going to be a hero for the multiverse, then I was going to dress like one. I want everyone who saw me to know what kind of person they were looking at.

I picked up the remaining dress. It was long and flowing, coming down to my ankles. It was predominately white and fell in layers. There was gold ornamentation that covered the front of the outfit. It had long sleeves that met at the shoulders like straps, covered by a wrap-around shoulder that was connected to the front of the dress. The neckline was high with a short collar. The edges of each part of the dress were gold and black, around the neck, wrists, and bell of the dress. A black belt fell loose around my waist, complimented by accents of gold and white. It came with a black cloth crown, which was held together by golden toggles tipped in white meant to be worn at the back of my head. I honestly thought I looked like a queen. I smiled. This would definitely do for a nice outing. I'm sure that there would be some of those in my future.

I picked up a bracelet made of gold. It matched the dress I was wearing. When I put it on, there was a slight hum. I could hear clicking and beeping.

"Measuring host's anatomy. Pause all movements for roughly two point three seconds."

I froze.

Immediately, an infrared beam scanned my body. The noises stopped. What happened next caught me off guard.

"Commencing rollout."

Without warning, I found myself covered in mythium armor that resembled an insectoid's exoskeleton. Each plate was intricately put together for maximum protection and movement. My face was covered in a mask with the eyes covered by yellow glass which also provided a heads-up display. It showed my body temperature and all the status effects I normally could hear in my head. My face was protected by my mythium plates also. My body felt light and easy to move. The plates on my body reminded me of a wasp, hugging close to my form but providing the strongest armor. Each time I brought my arm before me, an energy shield emitted from my bracers. I could only imagine what this could hold up to in combat.

"I wonder what kind of functions this armor has besides the shield." I asked myself aloud.

"Mythium composite armor contains infrared scanning, night vision, enemy status display, enhancement of physical strength, enhancement of physical mobility, enhancement of physical agility, and flight suit capabilities." As it spoke, it listed all the features on the lenses of the mask.

How do I remove the armor when I want to wear something else?

No sooner had I thought that the armor retracted back into the bracelet. It was much more silent returning than it had been when it was covering my body. I had a feeling that the silent nature of the armor was more like what it would be when I wanted to wear it again.

I took off the dress, which somehow managed not to be crumpled by the armor taking over my body. The armor seemed to have other properties it didn't list, too. I wanted to try on the next outfit. There were two sets of pants and tops left.

The next outfit reminded me of home. A snug-fitting pair of pants made from something very similar to jeans and leather. A cotton top that was thin but not sheer. Lastly, a leather jacket over the ensemble, which lit up along the arms and sides at the press of a button. The gold bracelet that held the armor even looked good with it. I definitely thought I looked ready for the road. I decided to leave the all-latex outfit for last. I didn't think it would be my thing. This felt right to me.

At that moment, Yrh'danyr knocked on the door again. This time I let her in. "Wow, Mara, you look really good." She smiled. "I heard some talking before."

"Yea," I showed her the bracelet, "this armor bracelet."

"A Mushigan armor piece. Interesting. I didn't leave that there for you. Someone must have slipped that in. What did you think of it?"

"I liked it a lot actually." I said confidently. "Who are the Mushigan?"

"A wasp humanoid species of Mushika that serve the hive. Their armor was crafted over several eons to contest the bee humanoids, the Anthogans. Their wars lasted more than two thousand years." Yrh'danyr suddenly stopped and peered closer to the mirror. "Mara, I didn't realize you were so cavalier. You've been putting on a show."

I reached out my hand towards the mirror. As I did, the armor wrapped itself around me once more. As my hand passed through the mirror, I didn't feel anything. The glass went spraying like water all over the room. Yrh'danyr protected herself with her hands. I grabbed the bat humanoid on the other side. He was on the smallish side. His fur was blackish gray and his nose was completely uncovered by fur. It was long but squashed at the end. He wore a red pinstripe suit.

How dare he watch upon my body. He deserves punishment. 

As I reached back to slug him, Yrh'danyr stopped me.

Hit him! Don't let her stop us.

"Akbat!" She seethed. Then, she turned to me. "Looks like all your clothes will be free, Mara. And, anything else you would like to take." Her smile was extremely sinister. "As for you," her attention returned to Akbat, "you will pay for your crime." She spit a stream of acid at his computer, melting it. "You hog-nosed piece of shit, you serve as a bad example of Craseonycterians." I could tell she was holding back.

I dragged Akbat through the mirror.

Hit him. Take revenge.

"Let me just wallop him just once." The rage seethed through me. I could feel A'grappa's influence once more. I took a deep breath. "Excuse me. I am much better than that." I dropped him. "Repent."

He deserves worse than that. He deserves suffering and pain.

He began to grovel. "I'm sorry. We've been having issues with theft. I wasn't trying to peep for perversion's sake." He prostrated himself before us with his head pressed against the floor.

Do you really think he's telling the truth? He's trying to save his hide. He deserves punishment. Punish him. Make him remember that you can't be trifled with. Exact your revenge.

I could see his steady heartbeat. It was a little elevated, probably because he was scared. My heads up display showed me his vitals. His breathing was normal. His heartbeat in range. He wasn't lying.

"You're not lying, so I can forgive you. However, this is not the way to go about this. There are so many better ways to go about protecting your stock." I responded to his plea. "Now, I understand why all the attendants here were acting so strangely. Everyone is on camera."

You going to let him off with something so easy?

"Was." He responded. "You destroyed my link."

"I'll be taking the armor I am wearing, these clothes underneath, and that large dress." I switched the subject and tone. "Then I am leaving and not returning here. Unless of course, I find out you are doing something you shouldn't be." I turned and walked out. Yrh'danyr followed behind me.

Nothing would prepare me for what I was going to face in the future. The chaos that would come from having come here. No one could have foreseen it. Not I and not Yrh'danyr. Maybe Talanys perhaps.

When we were out of an earshot, another creature stepped through the mirror. A wasplike person wearing the same armor I now had. He touched the side of his face and spoke to someone. "She's taken the bait. Now, perhaps our chance can finally come to root out the barricade to our efforts for complete hivemind of the entire planet." Their attention turned to Akbat. "You played your part very well. I am ecstatic to have orchestrated those thefts to make you take such measures. You will be thoroughly compensated, Akbat. Thoroughly." Then, more to themselves than anyone else, they commented. "If I hadn't seen her fight that dragonkin, I wouldn't have suggested her to the queen. But, the queen really had some good intel. To spread us throughout all the warrior races of the galaxy. To have found someone so promising. My time to be promoted shall come very soon." And then, they were gone.