Alive I am, happy with this work I am not. But progress is progress, even if I got plans for the next chapter which will start starting thinks off.

Awakening 1.05

The sound of shrieking metal filling the air as it was ripped and torn was like catharsis for my soul at the moment as I recalled the paper I had already used back to me, watching as it perforated that which had sought to contain it. Even more paper began to flake off me to join the remnants, floating to over my shoulder as it molded itself together, coalescing itself into a javelin. With a snarl, I launched it, watching as it punched through the rusted hull like it was paper itself.

The last two days had been a cruel mix of increasing trepidation and mounting frustration. The first being my decision to launch a simultaneous assault on multiple targets that I had identified in the Docks. While this would reveal an ability that I had wanted to keep closer to my chest, something that Konan would have done, the issue was that the Jiraiya 'incident' had rattled me.

No, if I were to be honest, it had resurrected an issue that had been niggling at the back of my mind since my encounter with Armsmaster. There were now two different aberrations in the designed behavior of my clones. The first time I had ignored it because clones were a facsimile of their creator with some brevity to make their own choices within a preset paradigm. Giving a bit of sass was possible within what I had done, but it didn't fit the situation.

The overarching issue is that they were making the wrong choices that were completely counterintuitive and created increased risk factors. Something Konan loathed and I feared, especially at this juncture, where one mistake could have far-reaching consequences.

That was why I had made the hard decision and had found that my fears were not only well-founded. They were a reality.

While they weren't as dramatic, or as noticeable as the two previous incidents, the data provided from the operation had been conclusive. For some reason, my paper clones were showing aberrant behavior that did not fit either Konan or my own personality. Something that should not be possible as far as Konan knew, which was damning since she had created the jutsu.

Then again, Konan hadn't been burdened with the memories and personality of another. Suffice to say, I was in uncharted territory and I did not like it one bit.

Releasing a sigh, I recalled the paper again, letting it mold itself again into a javelin, before launching it at a much higher velocity than before, the report of steel giving was a balm for my simmering anger.

Because it wasn't just my clones that were creating a problem, oh no, that would be too easy. No, now my father was suddenly showing an interest in my well-being. Once upon a time I would have been overjoyed by this, but now it was merely an annoyance that was more inconvenience than heart-warming. I needed my freedom if I was going to be successful as a hero and to solve this glaring weakness.

It was….vexing.

Releasing another sigh, knowing that if I tarried much longer here I'd attract undue attention that I frankly did not care to deal with at this moment, I recalled the paper once more. Breaking more paper off from myself, I could feel the drain as it combined to form a paper clone. Allowing myself to slump a little bit, as the drain from what I just did and what I had been doing caught up with me. Then again, what I had just done was much more than simply creating a paper clone.

With a nod, the clone turned and walked towards the bay as I caught my breath. I still wasn't strong enough, I thought bitterly. But I was getting better. Where a week ago I would have been gasping for breath, now it was just a mild winding.

It still wasn't enough though, while careful planning and well-prepared contingencies were great force multipliers, strength and skill, with a modicum of luck, were the ultimate determinants on the success of any operation. If I didn't have the ability to fulfill my objectives then I might as well not try at all.

I had to become stronger, there was no other way around it all. Might controls everything was an adage that was true both in this world and Konan's, and without the necessary strength I could not impose the changes I wanted upon the world.

That meant I had to push the envelope, surpass it, and keep on going. It was probably the one definable strength I had that no one else did, at least upon my cursory research. I had the ability to both quantitatively and qualitatively strengthen my skills with training, almost no other cape had that ability, not even the Triumvirate.

My head perked up at the sound of a motorcycle approaching in the distance.

It seemed my time was up, I thought as I spread my wings and took to the sky, taking the time to blend my profile in with the night sky before I head off towards home. Armsmaster never noticing my exit.

AND

Slamming my locker door closed, I took the time to review my morning before I would be drawn inexorably into the mundane again. Not that the mundane wasn't nice, but when time was finite, it started to become an issue when it impacted what I was trying to do. Frankly, I had half a mind to just drop out of school, but I knew it honestly wouldn't be worth the hassle that would develop from it.

Maybe it would be a more wise decision to use paper clones for schooling. Relatively speaking, it would be no different than what I was already currently doing for the book store. Well, to an extent, considering that the book store had a lower probability of me being discovered compared to a school that not only had New Wave in it, but likely had a large proportion if not all of the Wards here.

It all came down to cost-benefit, I mused bitterly, hefting my textbook for the trip to AP US History. Was it worth the cost in increasing the possibility of discovery in order to increase my abilities? Part of me said yes, but the other part of me…

I sighed, shaking my head as I stepped into classroom and set for my seat, casting only a cursory glance at Panacea who currently had her head down in her arms, obviously using the time before class to rest. Again, I was struck by a familiarity I could not put my finger on, something from Konan's past, something important..

"Alright class," Mr. Fitzgerald began, and I only paid him half attention as I watched Panacea out of the corner of my eye, trying to figure out exactly what it was that was causing alarms to go off in my head.

"Miss Hebert," I brought my focus back solely upon Mr. Fitzgerald, "you'll be teamed up with Miss Dallon."

What, I thought, reviewing exactly what it was he had said leading up to assigning us whatever it was, even as I noted Amy was casting me a sidelong glance to size me up. Probably judging if I was going to be of any use for whatever it was that Mr. Fitzgerald had assigned us.

I resisted frowning at the project, a paper exploring the impact upon law enforcement since the advent of parahumans and the creation of the Protectorate.

Glancing at Amy even as Mr. Fitzgerald continued handing out assignments, I could only think that something, somewhere, must truly hate me.