7 Steam Core (1/2)
There were only three new students in the invention elective. Ed, Dexter, and Flair were walking together towards the class. Dexter was a tall and scrawny black teenager that wore glasses. He had short hair and looked very ordinary. He had chosen to use his real name for his hunter name, which was unusual. Flair's real name was Kiania.She had chosen Flair as her hunter name and insisted that others call her it. She had long blond hair, tan skin, and hazel eyes.
Dexter took the lead in starting a conversation. ”So, it looks like we're the only three invention espers. We're a lot rarer than combat espers and support espers. The government highly values our types since we can use our products to improve combat strength for other espers and ordinary humans. The companies also value us since our products can make them a fortune. We should end up pretty well off.”
”Haha.” Flair chuckled, ”I'm going to become rich. Then I'll lock myself up in a garage all day while I make things. I don't want to fight mutants. What weirdos would want to do that?”
Ed shook his head, ”We'll probably be forced to fight anyways. At least while we're still in training. Maybe we'll get more say when we become stronger.”
”True.” Dexter nodded. ”I'm not sure why, but the government encourages all espers to engage in combat.”
”That's obvious!” Flair replied. ”Espers get stronger more quickly if they fight often. Who knows why though? Maybe the stress helps or something?”
”Anyways…” Dexter interrupted. ”Since the three of us will be in class together, how about we introduce our powers? We may be able to work together. I've named my power AI. It stands for Artificial Intelligence. I can provide simple instructions to machines. For example, I could take a mech suit and make it run on its own without anyone controlling it.”
”Eh?” Ed spoke, ”That's kind of weird isn't it? Those things aren't designed to move on their own.”
”Haha!” Flair laughed, ”Do you really think any of our powers make sense? If they did, then nobody would be researching them.” She skipped a few steps ahead of the boys. Then she turned around and smiled, ”As for my power… I can cover anything I want with a bright light. Then I immediately understand information about it. If I covered a mech suit, then I would know exactly how it worked, its weak points, and its current status. If I cover a human, then I can learn their height, lineage, weakness, etc. I can even use it to learn other esper's powers, but it only partially works on those stronger than me. I call my power perception!”
”Hmm.” Ed rubbed his chin. ”Your power sounds more like a support type. Is it because your powers allow you to understand technology easily that you were put in the invention elective?”
”That's part of it.” She nodded. ”The other reason is that I'm a genius! I was already making things before I awakened as an esper. I went to the number one college in Reef city after all.”
”College?” Dexter questioned. ”Shouldn't we all be around the same age?”
”Un!” Flair nodded. ”I'm actually a bit younger than most of our class. I'd still be in middle school if I was an ordinary person. I skipped a bunch of grades and went to engineering college early.”
”Woah! Lucky!” Dexter replied. ”I wish I could have skipped grades. School was always so boring.” He turned to look at Ed. ”You're next. What's your power?”
”I can freely reform and weld together any solid, non-living things.” Ed smiled. ”I call my power Weld and chose it as my hunter name as well.”
”Mm.” Dexter nodded. ”Seems like the three of us mesh well together. Flair is a genius engineer. Ed can shape and weld most things as we need. I can provide instructions to the machines. Haha! I bet we're going to kick ass in this class!”
The trio reached their elective class. It was in a huge warehouse several minutes away from the main school building. The warehouse was divided into various garages and a common area in the center for students and teachers to meet. The three entered and sat down in the center of the building.
”Welcome, students!” A voice rang out. The three turned to look and they spoke in unison, ”Mr. Ardy?”
”Right.” Mr. Ardy nodded. ”I'm also the teacher for the invention elective. I've spent my whole life researching espers and mutants. I've worked to use my research and engineering experience to combine technology and mana. I'll give you a tour before we get started. Let's go.”
Mr. Ardy led them into one of the garages. ”Each of you will receive your own garage identical to this one.” He pointed towards a workbench and some crates. ”You'll have a full assortment of tools and supplies available for your use. You may also fill out requests for additional supplies. All materials used must be documented. Every big project requires a proposal and budget. A presentation and learning report must be presented when it's finished. Smaller projects can be worked on whenever you want, and you're only required to report the materials used when finished.”
Mr. Ardy led them out of the garage and walked towards the back of the warehouse. He opened a door and the group walked outside. They were in a scrap yard surrounded by metal and wood scraps. Broken steam wagons, rusty mech suits, and other miscellaneous items were scattered everywhere. ”This is the junkyard. You're free to take anything from here without reporting it. It's all scrapped junk from older projects.”
He then led them back into the warehouse, walking towards a corner of it where a garage labeled #1 was located. They entered the garage.
”Is that?!” Dexter exclaimed excitedly ”A mech suit? It looks nothing like the ones I've seen before!”
”That's correct.” Mr. Ardy smiled. ”This is my baby. I've been working on her for the past ten years and she's almost finished.” His eyes gleamed with excitement. ”It won't be possible to mass produce them, but I'm hoping to form a team that can custom build them for elite soldiers to operate. Truly worthy soldiers that deserve to pilot these, despite not being espers.”
Ed stared at the mech. It made the one his father piloted look like a kid's toy. The mech in front of him stood three stories tall. Its steel shone brightly in the light. It's arms and legs seemed flexible, just like a human's limbs. A giant spear was wielded in its right arm. One thing that seemed odd was that the entire mech, including the spear, was covered with holes.
Mr. Ardy rose his chest proudly, ”I'll explain a bit of how it works. This mech is a result of my research into engineering, mana, and steam technology. The body is a feat of engineering. I recruited quite a few espers to help get everything just right. The biggest challenge was the issue of power. A steam engine wasn't enough to operate it alone. Even if it was, then the water supply would never last beyond a minute.”