Progress

The sounds of metal clanging could be heard as Kiehra rummaged through the dimly lit warehouse, her fingers sifting methodically through the mountains of old parts and scrap metal as she searched for anything she could use to fix up the broken parts of her camper. The air was heavy with dust, illuminated by small beams of light that came in through the cracked windows. Shadows danced along the rusty walls, while the stench of oil and decay lingered in the stuffy atmosphere. Old Oasis was quiet for the first time in a while, giving her an odd sense of calm in the midst of her new, chaotic life. 

Her arms were full of random worn-out pieces of metal—mostly iron sheets and steel bars. Some feet away stood a small, but surprisingly steady steel bed frame, alongside a large slab of chromium that would serve as her new door. Knowing that she had enough power to tear this entire building apart, it felt surreal, scavenging through forgotten remnants of the city's past. 

What is this? Abyss?

Three had been surprisingly quiet during her search, with even his presence feeling more distant than the few days she'd had him. He would have made a few snide remarks about what exactly she was doing in that irritating tone of his by now.. 

"Who would've thought our bond would cause these kinds of problems?" Kiehra muttered in faux amusement as she bent down to pick up a gear. She stared at its misshapen form, another victim of her uncontainable strength. Her fingers twitched and the all-to-familiar surge of energy rushed into every muscle fiber in her body. It was constant, serving as a reminder that even her most cautious actions could result in untold destruction. 

"Eh, we were both kind of in a tight spot. Blame's mostly on me though," Three's voice broke the silence. His tone lacked its usual lightheartedness, carrying an undercurrent of warning. "In all seriousness, if you don't get my—our power under control, you'll be doing a lot more than breaking furniture."

Kiehra sighed, carefully dropping the parts into a pile on top of the old bed. "Like what?"

"Why do you think Gehenna is like this?" Three said, each word dripping with dry humor. "Entire civilizations collapsed with a sneeze…space-time bent out of whack because of a bad mood. It depends on the spirit though…but there's a reason why Spectral Interfaces came to be eventually."

Kiehra shuddered at the thought of herself causing an apocalyptic event. "Gee, thanks for the comforting words Three."

"You're welcome." Three let out a deep, rumbling chuckle, the sound bouncing around in her head. "Then let's stop with the chit-chat and actually practice. The way you're going it's only a matter of time till the rest of the Phantom Sentry finds out what you're capable of—and trust me they will find out sooner or later. Before that happens, I think its best you get every bit of training you can."

Kiehra paused, mulling over his words. He was right. She nearly killed a Lieutenant yesterday, and her power was only going to get harder to hide with each day. If someone as empty-headed as Payday could see it, then it was only a matter of time until the rest of the Phantom Sentry came knocking. 

"You want us…to start now?"

"Right now," Three confirmed. "We've got the rest of the day, tonight and as long as we need since your body will never fatigue as long as it's active. As for this warehouse? Perfect for a little destruction."

A reluctant smile tugged at her lips, nervousness and excitement creeping into her chest. "Alright. What do you propose we start with?"

Three's presence seemed to grow bigger and sharper, like he was preparing for something. His voice was louder and even more serious, a tone that called for her full attention. "The simplest—and most dangerous—aspect of your power: your strength. You could accidentally throw Gehenna out of orbit with it y'know?"

Kiehra stiffened at his words, but she nodded. She was already too familiar with the sheer destructive capabilities of her limitless strength. The wreckage of her camper was a pretty good reminder. "Okay. What…do I do?"

"Move your body. Let's see how much control over it you really have. No overthinking now Kiehra. Just trust your instincts."

Taking a deep breath, she moved to the center of the warehouse. She hesitated at first, her mind racing with the fear of everything that could go wrong. The untapped power within her body pulsed harder than ever, begging to be unleashed with lethal consequences. It was scary, but she knew she had to try. Slowly, she raised her arm, gaze landing on a metal beam lying across the floor. She focused on it, willing her strength to be gentle, to let her control it rather than letting it overwhelm her. 

For a fleeting moment, the beam hovered in the air, using only her fingers to guide its movements with ease. It felt as light as a feather. She hadn't noticed how weightless everything was to her until now. A burst of confidence filled her chest—until she clenched her hand too tightly. The beam snapped with a resounding crack, the metal tearing apart like it was made of paper.

"Crap," she cursed, dropping the ruined pieces onto the floor with a clatter. 

"Not too bad. You show more control than before," Three's voice hummed in her mind, sounding pleased with what he saw. "But you're still thinking too much. Try to feel the restless energy in your muscles. Don't let it flow against you. Let it flow freely in tandem with you."

Kiehra exhaled sharply, nodding to herself. He was right. She had been too focused on controlling the objects and the outcome she had on them, rather than controlling herself. Closing her eyes, she tried to sense the rhythm of the power coursing through her veins. It was strange, like standing in the center of a storm. She could feel the energy shifting with each movement, ready to burst forth with the slightest provocation. 

She moved again, faster than the blink of an eye, testing the limits of her control. Her body blurred as she darted across the room, practically teleporting from one side of the warehouse to the other. But the ground where she stepped was cracked, the concrete floors splintering under her weight.

"You're still holding back." Three's voice cut in. 

"I'm trying not to destroy the entire town!" Kiehra snapped back, frustration creeping into her tone. 

"You can't control it by holding back everything," he countered, his voice rising slightly. "Not yet anyway. You need to feel everything you're capable of at your current maximum output. Just let go and learn how to move within the confines of your limits."

Kiehra nodded, relaxing her entire body and letting the flow of energy regulate through her. She didn't fight it, and slowly but surely, her power settled into a steady stream rather than its usual pushing against the confines of her body. 

She was doing it. 

She took a step forward, marveling at how the ground didn't tremble underneath her. She flexed her fingers, and her muscles reacted normally rather than feeling like they were about to burst. A small smile made its way onto her face as she took another step forward.

"Look Three…I'm actually doing it—"

"Kiehra?!"

The sound of her name being called shattered her focus, panic surging through her like a tidal wave. Before she could stop herself, a scream tore from her throat—and not a normal one either. This carried with it the force of her uncontrolled power, bursting out of her like a cannon blast. The shockwaves rippled through the air violently, crashing into the walls of the warehouse. 

The ground shook, the walls groaned and the roof buckled under the pressure. Metal beams bent and twisted, and the floor began to crack and splinter. The tremors caused by her scream weren't confined to the warehouse either—they spread outward, shaking the very foundations of Old Oasis all the way to Vivaria. 

Kiehra's heart raced as she realized what was happening. An entire portion of Gehenna was threatening to collapse, and it was all her fault.

"Three!"" she screamed, her voice racked with fear. "Help me!"

"I'm on it," Three's voice cut in, firm but eerily calm in the chaos. "I'm sorry but, I'm taking over for a bit."

"Taking over!? What does that—"

Before she could finish her sentence, she felt it. An unsettling sensation, like she was being pushed underwater. Her vision blurred, and suddenly, her body was…no longer hers. Her arms moved gracefully through the air, forming symbols guided by an ancient power far greater than her own. Three had taken control of her limbs, his presence and power flowing through every crevice of her body like a flood. 

Her hands moved in precise, calculated patterns , the air around her shimmered with a strange, almost invisible distortion. Time itself…slowed down, the cracks in the floor retreating, the bent metal beams straightening, the chunks of debris rising into the air and reshaping before her very eyes. All the damage done to the warehouse was reversed, the destruction undone in a matter of moments. 

When it was over, the warehouse stood intact, as if nothing had ever happened. 

Kiehra gasped for breath, her body shaking as Three relinquished control. Sweat dripped down the side of her face, and her heart pounded in her chest. "I…I…we…what the fu—"

"We reversed time. Well, I did mostly." Three answered smugly. "I do apologize for hijacking you though."

Kiehra stared at her hands in disbelief. "I didn't know I could—"

"You couldn't," Three interrupted, his voice softer now. "I did it for you."

As the weight of his words sank in, Payday, who actually called out Kiehra, stood frozen at the entrance. She remained silent for a long time, before eventually stepping close to Kiehra, a nervous smile on her face. "Uh…that was….something. I'm guessing…this wasn't just regular janitorial work, huh?"

Kiehra stared up at her coworker, a look of utter bewilderment on her face. "What are you…why are you…?"

Payday let out a shaky laugh, nervously rubbing the back of her head. "I…kinda…live…here…" she said sheepishly. "I was quite surprised to come home and…see you here…."

Kiehra stayed silent. Payday lived in a dump like this?

Payday glanced around at the warehouse, her eyes wide as she took in the perfectly restored structure. "Looks like yesterday wasn't my eyes playing tricks on me. You really do have something going on with ya. I don't see an interface on ya, so I know it's a damn special case."

Kiehra just stared at the older woman, unsure what to do or say. Even Three's presence seemed to have gotten smaller, like he was also trying to shrink away from the current situation. If Payday knew, there was nothing stopping the Phantom Sentry from storming in and throwing her into a cell for violating one code or the other.

 "Well, whatever it is, I'd advise you to sign up for the Phantom Sentry. With skills like that, they'll take you in no time. You're oh-so-clearly struggling to control yourself. Their training regimens could help with that."

Payday suggested with a shrug. "That and it's better than them finding out you can do…whatever it is you're doing. I've been there long enough to know they'll mark you as a high threat rogue and then…" she made a cut throat motion, a gesture that made Kiehra's heart sink. 

Kiehra hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but Payday flashed her a reassuring smile.

"No worries, you'll be fiiiiine. Now, I think I have some scrap to pick up from Ol' Earl's place. See ya at work!" Payday waved and slipped out of the warehouse, leaving her alone with her thoughts. 

 As the door creaked shut, Three's voice echoed in her mind again, quieter this time. 

"That woman knows more than she lets on," he mused. "Something's…off about her, but that shall be dealt with later."

Kiehra leaned against the wall before sliding down till she was seated on the floor. If she were her old self she'd say she was exhausted, but this new body never tired out ever. The tiredness she felt was mostly mental. "Thanks Three…for like…not letting me destroy the city," she muttered, voice barely above a whisper. 

Three chuckled softly. "I suppose I can't just let you become a fugitive because I performed a pure soul bond with you."

Kiehra sighed. "Do you think Payday's right? Would joining the Phantom Sentry really help me?"

The spirit went quiet for a few moments, contemplating what to say next. "To an extent, yes. They would be better equipped at nurturing those newly bonded—Spectral Interface or no. At the same time, you have to be extremely careful. An incident like this at the wrong moment would lead to you immediately being marked as a threat."

Kiehra rested her head in her hands, the weight of it all threatening to crush her soul. On one hand, she was happy she was finally getting her chance to move up in the world and actually become someone. On the other hand, she was a titan walking on eggshells, and a mistake could lead to both she and Three's demise. 

"But," Three's voice interrupted her troubled thoughts. "I believe the pros outweigh the cons. If you can convince them you're a normal enough individual, it would greatly benefit us both. You get to not live in the trash, and your safety within the Sentry protects me too." Three spoke, sounding rather comfortable. "You should join." 

Kiehra perked up slightly, though she still didn't sound convinced. "Are you sure? I'd hate it if I accidentally got you exposed."

"I'm positive. Besides, there's something I just remembered—something that just might help with their exams."

Kiehra momentarily forgot her own troubles, a wide smile on her face. "Really? You just remembered?"

"Let's call it a…lapse in memory," Three said with dry amusement. "But it's a practice I remember the people of ancient times used. It's not too conventional, but it might help you restrain your strength, even if just a little bit. Lucky for you, it's rather easy. First off, let's look for some chains."

----

Later that night, Kiehra lay curled up on the floor of her cramped camper. She'd ended up leaving all the scraps she gathered back in the warehouse, figuring that they all probably belonged to Payday. She flicked on the small radio next to her, listening as the announcer's voice filled the quiet space. 

"...reports of violent tremors across Old Oasis, Vivaria, and areas as far as Abyss. Authorities are still investigating the cause, though some speculate…"

Kiehra turned the volume down, unable to stomach any more. "They know," she whispered. 

"Eh, I say let them wonder," Three replied, his tone firm yet comforting. "All that matters is you learned something. Tomorrow…tomorrow is gonna be alright."

As Kiehra's eyes grew heavy, she found herself strangely encouraged by his words. His presence, which usually felt as convoluted and unexplainable as his appearance, was strangely warm and wholesome. Put at ease by the spirit in her head, sleep came easily, and for the first time since merging with Three, Kiehra slept peacefully.