Chapter 648: The Spoked Offensive (2/2)
”Your mind is the master of your body. Your body is a meat machine crafted by evolution to be the apex predator on your planet of origin. A self-repairing meat machine piloted by the nastiest set of cognitive instructions your planet could create,” he said. He flexed the plate and watched it. ”Hmm, high tensile strength but low sheer strength,” he flexed it again and it began to crack. ”Low flex tolerance, not good for modern armor.”
Natraya nodded slowly, visualizing the scrape on her cheek filled in by clotting fluids, visualizing the cells at the bottom of the scrape being recovered, the cells on either side of the cut dividing and joining. The cut burned coldly for a moment then began to feel warm.
”Command your marrow organs to produce more red blood cells, order your body to produce more plasma, push your blood pressure up a tiny notch in order to pack more clotting cells, more nutrient and gas exchange cells into your veins, push more plasma,” the lemur said, twisting his hands.
The chest plate shattered.
”Warsteel threads,” he mused, lifting up a few tangled black threads. ”Hm, not Mark-One, looks more like half-refined warsteel,” he made a humming noise. ”It's grown, not forged. Means its not as tough as Mark One.”
Natraya ignored his babbling to focus on the deep bruise on her thigh.
”Where did you learn this, human Carter?” On'trak asked. ”It is strange and seemingly impossible yet my injuries are less painful and less restrictive now that I have followed your instructions.”
”Combined Military Authority Man Amplification Training,” the lemur said, picking up one of the rifles and examining. ”Six point five two millimeter crystal shard. Longer than the Mantid ones but smaller diameter. No boring, no stabilization, looks like phasic projection. Huh, I can use that to my advantage.”
”But... where?” On'trak asked.
”Various training facilities. A soldier able to heal himself with natural abilities he's unlocked is more battlefield capable than one who cannot,” the lemur said. He lifted the rifle, pressed the stud to charge it, concentrated, and slapped the side of the rifle.
Sparks flew out and the rifle went dead as phasic energy erupted from the crystal power pack in a flashing cone.
”See, it's not only killing the enemy in a quick five second fight. You have to have battlefield endurance,” the lemur was saying as he examined another rifle, pulling out the crystal ammunition and touching it to his tongue. ”You have to be able to conserve your resources, including your body's onboard resources, replenish them rapidly, and have the endurance to keep on fighting.”
The lemur grinned as slapped the rifle right in front of the trigger assembly and the whole thing fell apart in his hand.
”If you can reach the perfect state of unagi you can rawful-stomp anyone in your path,” the lemur smiled. ”Give me the chance to do a windup for my punch and I can punch a dent you could put your head in in six inches of warsteel,” he smiled wider. ”If I get one point one seconds and am in the unagi zone, I can strike the armor and blow apart the internal organs of the wearer.”
On'trak shook his head. ”That seems... improbable, yet I have seen you do it.”
The lemur smiled. ”I want you to repeat something to yourself. It's like what I was taught, but for your people. It'll increase your survival chances.”
On'trak perked up. ”I wish to repeat this thing.”
The lemur leaned forward. ”There's no such thing as 'only Tukna'rn'.”
On'trak frowned. ”I do not understand.”
”Think of every time you were told you were only Tukna'rn, put down that way, mocked for weakness or whatever. How many times you were told 'only Tukna'rn.'”
On'trak nodded.
”Let that infuse you,” the lemur said.
On'trak nodded.
”Now, repeat to yourself: There's no such thing as 'only Tukna'rn.'”
On'trak nodded. ”I do not understand, but I will.”
”Trust me, you'll understand when you need to,” the lemur moved over to Natraya. ”How's it going, sister?”
”My leg no longer hurts as bad as it did. I am healing rapidly because there is no such thing as only Puntimat,” Natraya said.
The lemur nodded.
”Very good. You give me two weeks and I'll turn your two into high performance killing machines,” the lemur smiled.
Shandaar turned to the Ancient One, who had revealed himself as Kandi'kayn.
**we cannot give him two weeks** she said.
**agreed** Kandi'kayn answered. **your plan may work**
**of course it will work** Shandaar said. **it uses primal instincts**
**WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY WON'T GO IN THERE! USE NEURAL WHIPS! PUSH THEM! ORDER THEM! I WANT THOSE THREE DEAD**
**it will undoubtably work better than the Chief Defense Officer's plans** Kandi'kayn mused.