As soon as Steele opened her eyes, she knew she was in trouble. She sat up, closed her eyes, and tried to access the power within her Jewels. But when the Ranger reached the Mists' depths where her power should have resided, she found a wall of alien energy, preventing her from accessing it. Knots of apprehension filled her gut as Steele rose through the Mists. 

"I need to calm down," Steele said, breathing deeply and pulling a shaky hand through her hair. After three deep breaths, her sense of calm finally return. 

Now that she felt better able to focus on the task at hand, she sat up and looked at her surroundings. "Where have they put me?" she wondered as she swung her legs to the side of the bed and stood up. 

Steele stood and walked around her simple lodgings. The room was twice the size of a standard jail cell but only contained a bed, one chair, and a cheap plastic desk, making the room seem hollow. 

On that desk, she found her Marshal's uniform. It appeared to have been pressed and laundered before someone placed it in her cell. A slow blush crept across her face as she realized, for the first time, her current state of undress. She quickly dressed and silently admitted she felt a little better.

A Marshal's standard field uniform was a blue one-piece jumper adorned with, in her case, a gold Special Agent's badge located above her left breast pocket. Located on a patch affixed to the uniform's right shoulder was the crest of the Marshal Service. A stitched representation of a silver globe with a gold eagle superimposed over it. Each of the eagle's claws grasped a large silver bladed broadsword.

She looked around and found her boots placed neatly at the foot of the bed. There was no such thing as a standard boot, so most Marshals settled for comfort over utility. For Steele, she preferred a sturdy pair of black metal-tipped combat boots.

Now correctly, if not comfortably attired, Steele started a meticulous visual examination of her cell. When that failed to add any illumination on her situation, she decided to get more hands-on. She walked to the cell's walls and lightly brushed them with the tips of her fingers. Straining what few senses she still had access to, she used her training to check for any mechanisms, runes, or spells that could block her Talent." I can't feel anything that could be blocking my Talent." She murmured, her frustration mounting when her inspection came up empty.

What technology is this? Steele wondered as she went back to her cot and sat down to think. This experience was far afield from anything she'd ever experienced before, and thus no idea how to approach a possible solution. Neither Caste nor her training qualified her to make any pertinent determinations concerning what hidden mechanisms were used to block her ability to access her Jewels. After several minutes of fruitless contemplation, she shrugged her shoulders and gave up. Worrying about an issue she couldn't solve was pointless, and not her style, she decided to focus on a more pressing matter.

Steele lay back on her cot's thin pillow, her hands folded behind her head and stared at the ceiling." I wonder how long Lady Powers plans on keeping me here?" She asked the empty room and her hidden observers. Because in her mind, there had to be someone with some authority watching her every move. Only an idiot would imprison a Grey-Jeweled Marshal then leave them to their own devices unobserved. No, every piece of information Steele gained during her research said that anyone employed by House Powers would never do something so foolish.

She rolled over and sighed dejectedly into her pillow. Save for completing her secret successfully; nothing about the remainder of the day had gone as it should. Fear was the farthest emotion from her mind. But she found it hard to swallow when she thought of how disappointed her mysterious master would be when she learned of her current circumstances. Why did I attack that boy and his sister? What was it about Theodore Powers that made me instinctively attack him in front of his mother?

Why do you continue to ask questions when you already have the answers? And while we're at it, why do you continue to lie to yourself about an issue you damn well know the answer to already?

Lisey groaned into her flimsy pillow. There it was again, a voice that always spoke truth regardless of the pain it caused her. This voice whispered tidings in the night that haunted her thoughts even when she couldn't remember the exact words. 

You know precisely why you attacked that boy. Though why you thought you could get away with killing him in front of his mother, well, who knows. 

"Shut up!" She hissed fiercely at the internal voice." Leave me alone!"

The cot she lay on was attached to the wall farthest from the cell's entrance. Six fists sized bolts attached to the metal frame that held the bed to the wall, four to brackets, and the two remaining welded directly to the cot's frame.

Steele pulled on one of these chains in frustration." Just…leave...me alone," she whispered, her voice broken. At some point, tears suddenly began leaking from her eyes.

---

Theo watched his mother do yet another lap around the notification window she found offensive and sighed. Her attitude makes absolutely no sense. 

At some point, Theo made the unsettling mental shift to finally view the woman, pacing a trench in front of him, like his mother. Unfortunately, this acknowledgment didn't materialize with an instant understanding of what made her tick.

*This surprises you; why?* 

Sia sounded amused by her host's frustration, delighted with her perceived cleverness, and thankful the poor male before her had finally reached the conclusion her tone implied he should have come too long ago. 

How Sia managed to fit all those different emotions into one tone, Theo would never understand.

*Whether you want to admit it or not,* she continued in the same self-satisfied voice. *That snarky woman over there is your mother.*

*I realize that.*

*And besides that she's a proud woman who I'm sure isn't used to being overshadowed by anyone, let alone her son.*

Theo blew out a long breath then scratched behind his ear. He stole a quick look at Lisey before he replied. *I get it. I don't have to like it, but I get it.* He turned away from his mother and continued. *Did you have anything worthwhile to contribute to the situation besides stating the obvious?*

If Sia heard the warning in his words, she paid it no mind. *Actually, yes I do. And, I'll expect a lengthy, eloquent apology from you after you hear what I have to say.*

* We'll see.* Theo replied blandly. His tone said plainly he wasn't making any promises.

 *Fine. How would you like to know one of the primary reasons your mother is so willing to help you?*

*I might be interested in learning that.* A tense moment of silence. *Fine. Sorry. Now, what did you find out?*

* That's better. Anyway, while you've been keeping the old lady busy, I managed to access the personal calendar assigned to you.*

Theo's cheek twitched faintly. *How did you manage to pull that off? I didn't know you could do that.*

*I didn't know I could either. I got bored listening to the two of you going in circles, so I started looking around. Imagine my surprise when I noticed an interface node hidden behind a false wall.*

*Please get to the point,* he requested in an exacerbated tone. *I promise I'll take my time and praise your supreme intellect later, but for now, please speed this up.*

* I'll hold you to that,* Sia replied in a slightly disappointed tone. *I wasn't strong enough to find much once I got into the house's network, but I did the family calendar. When I looked under your name, I saw an entry for next week titled' House Succession Tournament.'*

It took everything in him not to throw his head back in laughter. Suddenly, he felt much better.

"Don't look at me like that. I wouldn't expect you to understand the pains martial artists go through to learn what you've achieved with the press of a virtual button." Lisey snapped, feeling her son's eyes on her.

"And this is the point in the conversation where you tell how the hell this is my fault?" He inquired, resentment humming through every word." You say you want me to get stronger, but you sure as hell don't sound like it."

His mother glared at him for several moments. The silence that stretched out between them became a living breathing thing that turned the atmosphere into a charged medium ripe for an emotional onslaught. That's when it finally hit him. She doesn't want a partner, but she doesn't know how any attempt she makes to manipulate my mind will affect my powers. 

Theo let these thoughts run through his mind while waiting for his mother's response but received none. She disregarded his complaints as one would dismiss the complaint of an errant fly. The arrogance of the nobility was a real and visceral thing.

As if sensing the judgment in her son's appraisal, Lisey broke eye contact first and went back to glaring at the floating window. 

As the silence between them lengthened, Theo felt his temper rise. Soon he felt a familiar presence hovering just outside his outer-barriers. A slow smile crept across his face as he opened a crack in his outer-barriers just large enough to allow entry. 

This should be interesting. Theo thought with anticipation. Now is as good a time as any for Thor to come out and play. Considering how frustrated he was with his mother's attitude, the thought of what would happen when his mother's psychology ran screaming into his darker self's indifference brought a cathartic smile to his face. Besides, now that Theo had a better understanding of his first martial art, now would be an excellent opportunity to test how his darker half would interact with it. And deep down, Theo had to admit he was just curious to see how the situation would play out.

The transition from one personality to another was seamless." What the hell is ya damn problem, old woman?" Theo asked as he closed his hazel eyes and took a deep breath." I mean, really, ya say ya want me ta become more powerful," he continued in a biting tone." Though I do find it somewhat unusual that ya haven't told me why." Then he sniffed dismissively and shrugged his shoulders." But that's neither here nor there. What concerns me is ya shitty-ass attitude and what ya gonna do about it." Thor opened his eyes and gazed at his mother with pupils as black as night." Or maybe what I'm gonna do about it. I admit I'm not sure yet."

The room instantly went cold, and the scent of ozone suddenly flooded the dojo." So it's come to this." Lisey stated in a quiet voice. She instantly recognized what was happening. "So, I assume you are my son's dark alter, Thor?"

"Nice to meet you," Thor replied, a wicked light flashing in his eyes. 

They studied each other for several heartbeats before Thor's mouth curled into a lazy smile." Oh, mother, don't look at me like that. I'm the same young man you were belittling. Ya know your precious firstborn son. Though the way you're treating me, I'm beginning to doubt that designation." He paused for effect. "I meant I doubted the precious part, not that I'm your firstborn. I'm certain ya wouldn't get something as important as birth order wrong." 

Lightning crackled around Lisey's tightly clenched fists. Her eyes narrowed as she took a menacing step in her son's direction." Have you forgotten with whom you are speaking?" Her every word carried an implicit threat.

"I know exactly who I'm talking to. Just like ya know who you're talking to." Thor rolled his shoulders and cracked the knuckles in his hands. Black lightning sheathed both his arms. "The question is, what are ya going to do about it?" 

Lisey saw the changed look in her son's eyes then turned her back to him. She made yet another circle around the System notification that set her off.

"You sure ya want ta turn ya back on me," Thor asked aggressively. 

"What are Intents?" he asked finally. Who knew how long he'd have to wait for answers if he relied on his mother's temperament?" And what is it about them that suddenly set you off?"

Lisey stared at him for several long moments before her shoulders drooped, and she sighed. She called in two folding chairs and motioned for him to have a seat. "Fine, we'll talk, but I'll only speak to my son, not his alter." 

"That's fine with me," the alter replied dismissively. "I hate these boring ass conversations anyway."

The lightning dispersed, and every muscle in Thor's body relaxed. He closed his eyes and took a long deep breath. Several moments later, Theo opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "Glad we could finally come to an understanding." He said, taking the offered seat.

"Intents are potent states of mind that give the wielder…" Her voice trailed off, a look of frustration evident on her face.

"You know what? How about this." He jumped into the air and performed an agile backflip before landing gracefully several yards away from his starting point. When he landed, he placed his hands behind his back and gave his mother a crooked smile." Let's fight. Use your fists to tell me what I need to know. Isn't that how this is supposed to work?"

The half-smile turned into a full-on grin when Theo discovered how agile he'd become. He couldn't help but feel good. This was what all real gamers loved most about grinding levels. Spending the spoils and reaping the benefits. The more he increased his stats, the more powerful he would become. 

Talent flowed through him, and he finally felt what it truly meant to be Awakened. But what honestly surprised him was his instinctual level understanding of how best to use his Talent combined with his martial arts. 

Lisey observed all of this with unflinching eyes. She stood and took a step. That step bridged the distance that separated her from her Theo instantaneously. As a powerful Storm Elementalist with ready access to lightning attributes, exhibiting that level of speed was a simple thing. 

Theo whistled in appreciation. I wonder if I can do that? He thought, a sense of excitement surging through him. 

*I don't see why not. *Sia said from her perch inside his thoughts. *At this point, why not just try everything that comes to mind and let the System tell you if it isn't possible?*

* That's actually a good idea.* Theo replied as he suddenly shifted to the balls of his feet. I bet I could move that fast if I use the speed built into my martial arts. 

Theo opened his mind and made a fast descent into the depths of the Mists. When he reached the level of his Ebony-Jewels, he drank in its power before ascending back towards reality. He tensed his muscles as a mantle of black lightning descended onto his body.

*Ding!*

*Ding!*

*Ding!*

Nice. Theo thought as he quickly equipped the greaves. A faint light appeared around his lower legs briefly before it disappeared. Energy surged through his legs, and he had to suppress the sudden urge to bounce off the walls.

Lisey took one look at the latest windows and just shook her head." Intents come in two forms, personal and external. Killing and Battle Intents fall into the first category and usually only appear after years of intense training." Without warning, she lunged at her son, directing two punches at his face and one towards his midsection." But as usual, you've managed to stumble into power beyond your years as if by accident." Every word she spoke, every move she made exuded frustration.

He easily dodged the attacks then lept backward about twenty yards to gain some distance. Dark lightning coalesced around him again as he moved." Which means my Lightning Intent must fall under the external label." He said, ignoring his mother's last statement.

Theo focused on his new skill, Lightning Mantle. Just like the description stated, his movement speed did increase. It felt as if every action he undertook occurred almost at the velocity of thought. I wonder if this ability has any effects on my defense? He thought as he dodged the concussive force generated when his mother's ax kick smashed the ground.

"What the hell?!" he screamed in surprise. "I thought you were going to take it easy on me?"

"I never said that," she replied, an evil grin on her face. "Lesson number one, always verify first, never assume anything."

Sneaky bitch. Theo thought with grudging admiration. He shouldn't have been surprised by his mother's temperament. By repeatedly invalidating his mother's preconceptions, he'd assured himself a world of hurt. Or that would have been the case if the angry woman charging towards him could actually land a strike.

But just because an enemy couldn't hit Theo didn't mean he didn't feel an extreme sense of peril from their attacks. This experience proved that an opponent didn't need to lay a finger on you to cause devastating damage. 

Lisey continued to attack relentlessly. When she noticed that she couldn't land a direct blow, she changed tactics. The Storm Elementalist thrust a finger in Theo's direction and yelled, "Thunder Finger!" The ground shook slightly as a concentrated beam of almost invisible force exploded from her extended finger.

Even though Theo was bearly able to see, the attack instinct forced his body to move. He repeatedly skipped backward, retreating in a zig-zag pattern, and thus barely avoided direct contact with his mother's attack. But the technique was so powerful that his eardrums felt like they would explode when it narrowly passed by his head. The attack was so close to hitting him that he saw several strands of his hair evaporate as the blast flew by.

Theo licked his lips nervously. If I hadn’t already equipped Dark Lightning Mantle, there was zero chance I would have been able to evade that strike. 

But just when Theo thought he was out of danger, the concussive force from Lady Power’s Thunder Finger rebounded and hit him square in the back, causing him to spit out a mouth full of blood. He only vaguely realized that the strength of the impact had propelled him, at speed, directly towards his attacker.

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Next Chapter: The Bonds that Tie