Chapter 7 - First Mission

Over the next few days, Dahlia spent her time exercising and learning some tidbits of technology that she would need to know for Polaris. Between it she learned that the rock in her head had many other functions that she was taught about. Firstly it allowed her to manipulate dreamweave, second it was unrecognisable by any form of technology. Finally in the case of an emergency, the rock can be activated to alert all other rocks. This is used to indicate an emergency across dimensions.

Once her lessons were done, she trained daily at the gym. Sometimes with the aid of Gregortz advising her on managing stamina and a few close quarters manoeuvres she can pull that would give her time to flee and get distance to use her dark gift.

On that, being in a place where Dahlia doesn't have to hide her power, she attempted to use her dark gift more. Despite her efforts though her progress didn't get far. She struggled to limit her tentacles and could only lash out at a target and always ended up physically and mentally exhausted after using it after six or seven times.

Consulting Alice about this she states the following;

"I can't seem to determine exactly what it is your additional appendages are made of or what they are capable of so I cannot offer any advice yet. But with some samples I am sure to get an idea eventually!"

When Dahlia hears of this news she is disappointed but is reaffirmed by Alice that with the mission and its environment, it could easily give her a safe place to test her abilities and its limits.

With this, a week has passed since Dahlia was first welcomed into the Deadbolt and in that time she has found herself being welcomed by the rest of the Hencacount. Rika would frequently come into the training hall during her sessions with Gregortz and chat with her on technology as well as Rika showing some technology that she will be finding in World 42. Samuel would always be there whenever she would be testing her power in order to aid her in case something goes wrong.

With Samuel, Dahlia felt comfortable enough to ask him a question one time when she was exercising her dark gift on a poor mannequin. 

"Excuse me Dr. Fawlks, but may I ask about what kind of… person you are?"

"You are asking what I am?", Samuel said bluntly

"Yes"

"I am a Shikar, a "ectothermic reptilian humanoid' as Alice would call me. Essentially what you would likely call a lizard man."

Dahlia felt assured now that her suspicions were correct. "Thank you, I am sorry if my asking was rude.

"No problem. I understand your situation as well. Being mostly surrounded by what I would call, 'ape people', I can get your perspective."

"Then does that mean your world doesn't have humans like myself?", Dahlia was curious to hear more about what a world without humanity would look like.

"Yes,", replied Samuel, "never seen anyone like you where I was from."

"What is your home like?" Dahlia was curious and excited.

"Well it was warmer than most other worlds and the majority of it is land with far less water than most other worlds. According to Alice, it is that increase in climate that made it difficult for warm-blooded life to become dominant and hence reptiles had reigned over the planet."

Dahlia was in awe at the idea of a world, not only without humans but barely any mammals at all. "I hope I can visit one day, Mr. Fawlks"

"Unfortunately, that's no longer an option."

"Oh,", Dahlia saw Samuel's face shift slightly. It was not disappointment or insult for her question but rather he felt ashamed over something.

"But thank you anyway. Maybe I can loan you some books I still have from there."

Samuel left Dahlia to herself as he said farewell. Dahlia could only think of Samuel's glum expression and theorise to herself what happened for him to see his world like that. 

- - -

Today was the day for Dahlia to go to World 42 and begin the operation. Dahlia was given a bag to carry that contains what she needs to blend in with the citizens and students of the Polaris Island where the academy was held. 

Simple toiletries, a few hair accessories and some clothes relevant to the world to make it easier to blend in. When she had some food at the bar she waited until everyone else arrived. First was Samuel who just came to bid her good luck on her mission as well as a warning.

"Make sure you don't push yourself like I said yesterday. When you use it, that black substance that emits from you can fill your sinuses and block airflow to your brain." he warned.

"Yes, I will try to limit myself as much as possible." Dahlia said intently.

Once Dahlia reaffirmed her caution, she could see Gregortz look down from the second floor of the atrium. As soon as she noticed him he stepped away and returned to the hall.

"Please Tsumi!", a voice rang out from the hangar, "I just need one test, just one live test.."

"I can't Rika, this is an undercover gig and I can't take a literal handcannon into a school." 

Tsumi and Rika entered through the hangar door. Tsumi was dressed in a slightly brighter attire but still wearing the same trench and suit pants. He was also drawing behind him a large suitcase on wheels that he is trying to defend from Rika who is attempting to add a large revolver type device into an already full load.

"But just in case then! Just in case you are forced to defend.. your.. self!" Rika struggles to fit the cannon into Tsumi's suitcase. The man then stopped in place and gently guided the girl's hand away from the case and zipped it up, ignoring her protests.

"Fine! See if I care if you feel naked when something big and scary comes to hurt you." Rika picks up the revolver and is about to storm off. "Bye Tsumi. Bye Dahlia!" her tone was noticeably different for each person as she returns to the hangar.

Tsumi walks up towards Dahlia and Samuel. 

"Are you sure you won't need it?" Samuel says.

"You know how I am. Pack light, keep up in the fight."

Tsumi then turned to Dahlia as he set his case next to the bar. "So are you ready for your first outing?"

"Yes Mr. Hato, I have memorised my story, the family name-"

"Which is?"

"Novitin. Dahlia Novitin. You are Tsumi Novitin and Lemon Novitin is your wife. Our family is an upper class one whose main business is investing." she recited. "Tsumi Novitin is a new investor in Polaris looking to support an event called the Polaratus, meanwhile Lemon Novitin is unemployed. I am entering the academy due to my excellent grades. We also come from a country called-"

"No need for more kid, seems you did your homework and got full marks for it. Now we need to wait for the sleeping beauty to wake herself from her long rest."

Tsumi walked behind the bar and looked at his options on the back bar before deciding just to have some water. Samuel sat in front of the bar and looked at Tsumi.

"Are you sure you can handle yourself without me?" Samuel questioned.

"'Course Samuel. I scouted a place to go should things look bad for us. We can also just call all of you to back us up if things get really bad." he casually replied, whilst making himself a glass of what Dahlia assumes to be whiskey.

"Hmph. Well if you say you're fine then I have no reason to doubt you." 

Dahlia took a seat gingerly next to Samuel, a burning question on the tip of her tongue. She struggles to ask it and almost doesn't but Tsumi notices it and gives her a look like he's expecting her to answer.

"Mr. Hato, Dr. Fawks, do I ever come across as off-putting to any of you?"

Tsumi's eyes widened slightly, as if the question was a surprise but Samuel didn't seem perturbed at all.

Tsumi sets down his drink to answer, "What do you mean Dahlia? Not at-"

"Slightly. Whatever energy you have there has me on edge." Samuel doesn't deny.

Tsumi looked to the old man, an expression mixed with confusion and wariness. Dahlia turned her head down, the question confirming one of her fears. "I knew it."

Tsumi was about to shout at Samuel but the old man didn't give him a chance by immediately replying to her. "It's nothing to do with your personality or appearance. My theory is it's got to do with your power. It radiates an energy that makes me want to subconsciously distance myself from you."

Dahlia stared up at Samuel. The old man shifted in his seat slightly, "Yeah like there then. I feel uneasy when you look at me. Did this happen often in your world?"

Dahlia nodded, "I didn't have any friends. Whenever I tried to, people would always decline or walk away or just ignore me." 

"Dahlia…" Tsumi uttered. "But I don't feel any of that."

"My theory is that only those attuned well to magic or other anomalous powers can sense it. Dahlia, your world has magic doesn't it?" Samuel asks.

"Um, yes, it does. Nearly everyone in the academy can use magic." Dahlia answered.

"In that case, odds are you'll be fine in Polaris, at least somewhat. The superpowers don't draw from anomalous energies like magic does."

Dahlia's face lit up slightly at that news.

Does this mean that it never was fully me? No. I can't get my hopes up.

Samuel looked over towards the stairs and walking down was Alice and Lemon, the latter of which was currently being dragged downstairs by the former.

Tsumi looked over, "I see you got Lemon out of bed Alice."

"What do you take me for?" Lemon says with slight offence, "I was on my way down when Alice met me halfway." She stands up straight and saunters over to the bar as well.

Tsumi looked over to Alice who was carrying a large wooden box, "...is she telling-"

"Of course I am!" Lemon huffed as she folded her arms and crossed her legs, "The nerve some people have."

Alice dropped the box in front of the bar and turned to Dahlia, "So are you prepared?"

"Yes Ms. Karnac." Dahlia replied.

"Wonderful! Now I do have some news about the mission. The faceless seems to already be on the island and have been so since the start of their school year, so it will be even harder to notice them." she explained.

"Do we have any ideas on where they are?" Lemon said.

"Well, I do know that due to their traces of Orange Earth psionic signatures, they are in and out of the Academy at times that coincide with either a teacher or a student."

"Nothing more specific?" Tsumi asks.

"No, it seems they are being careful which implies they either have a bad fake identity or are being wary of us." Alice surmised.

As Alice finishes that sentence Dahlia wonders about how much the Orange Earth knows about Hencacount.

"Does Orange Earth know we will be coming?"

Alice turned to Dahlia, "Not quite. They are aware that someone is consistently destroying their faceless invaders, just not who."

"We always destroy them before they get the chance to report back to the hivemind." Samuel answers.

"I see.." Dahlia seems satisfied with that response but knows that means that she can't expose herself recklessly. If the Orange Earth understands what the Hencacount is it could make them able to counteract their tactics.

Alice stood in front of the box and put her hands on her hips, "So are we ready to get a move on!"

Everyone agreed and all got close to Alice as she started to channel in her mind the place they are going and with a final goodbye to Samuel, Alice whispered in her mind and all four of them along with their bags and the box, vanished in a shake.

Salirelonge

And all of them vanished like that, leaving Samuel behind.