New chapter.
CHAPTER NINE:
New Model
"I'm still waiting for an ans--" Cloak began before the Inspector interrupted.
"Deploy Seekers -- Model Beta, Series 84713."
"Shoulda known that that was too easy," Cloak muttered, as more Seekers emerged, exactly the same design of the previous model. Only predominantly yellow, with black accents and highlights.
Immediately, Cloak knew that these Seekers differed from their predecessors in one very subtle way. There was no metal in them. The hard parts were some polymer with a name Cloak could never remember, while the soft bits and the moving parts were a strong mesh thing. But there was no metal for him to manipulate at all.
"Beta models are made of a sub-Synthoid polymer from its chassis skeleton to it exoskeletal exterior," the Inspector said, devoid of emotion. "No metal to manipulate. Subject is helpless to stop them."
Cloak was annoyed that the Weapon Master of Techadon felt the compulsion to spell it out for him. Especially when he had already figured it out before he spoke.
"You honestly think that I'm some one-trick pony, don't you?" Cloak asked, rhetorically and acerbic. "Dear Inspector, you
disappoint"
"Repeat: there is no metal to manipulate. The polymer is strong as metal, but it is not." the Inspector said, confident that he had the upperhand."
"Repeat," Cloak said, mocking him, "you
disappoint me."
Cloak followed the same motions as before, and six tendrils of golden-scarlet energy leaked from his eyes, almost like tears, and his eyes, in turn, were like golden-scarlet suns.
"Assessment: an exercise in futility," the Inspector said.
"You may be powerful, with your technology," Cloak said, voice accidentally ethereal again. "But you place too much stock on seeing things based solely on face value. Such a lamentable pity that you cannot imagine a world outside your specific perimeters."
"Assessment: Subject is attempting to use meaningless rhetoric to disguise own ineptitudes."
"Fine," Cloak said, "be that way."
Then Cloak took a deep breath and blasted fire at the Seekers. It was hot enough to melt them into useless plastic slag. But not hot enough to ignite the atmosphere, he had enough lucidity to be very conscious of this.
All of them gone, Cloak took a deep breath, and extinguished the energy tendrils as he shut his eyes. When he opened them again, they were back to the normal amber.
"Do you require another demonstration," Cloak asked, "or will you kindly fork over the other RAFians?"
"Reassessing threat level," came the Inspector's reply.
Cloak felt a bit of pride bubbling up, as he believed the Weapon Master of Techadon finally would recognize his power. He could be real prideful, at times.
