Sell you a Bridge chapter 353

July 5th 2016 Mysterious Tower, 6:00 PM EDT

"Ok."  I said through gritted teeth. "I was all for going through some  hardcore training to get stronger, but HOW exactly is this training?" I  had just emerged from what I could only describe as a fucking tear in  reality, which I'd gone into WITHOUT my armor, and was currently  bleeding openly from about fifty terrible injuries inflicted by rabid  void turbulence.

Master Yen Sid sat calmly on the other  side of the room, watching me with his creepy too wide eyes as he sipped  tea. "You've studied the void in your book. Having seen it's mysteries I  doubt a more thorough academic understanding of void magic would even  be possible, but academia can only bring you so far in magic. To truly  know the void one must traverse it, must experience it. The void has  imprinted itself on your body and spirit, do you deny these effects?"

I  grumbled, but didn't contradict him because I couldn't. He was right.  Equations and memorizable spell structures were fine and dandy, but  seeing the inside of the void. Feeling it tear into me...it was  incredibly helpful in understanding WHY those structures and equations  worked. Didn't mean it didn't fucking suck though. "Ok, well say I buy  that." I said at last. "Is there a fucking reason you KEEP MAKING ME DO  IT? Like, my Outer Body Trance would let me easily run that scenario a  hundred times in the hours we've been doing this."

That  got a nod. "Perhaps. But the void is formless and ever changing. To  repeat the same experience ad infinitum would be to create habits and  patterns that may not hold true in the void itself. You would be giving  yourself an incomplete frame of reference. Tell me, in the six times you  have traversed the void turbulence, have the phenomena repeated  themselves even once?"

Right again, I could only sigh.  Granted I planned to use those several experiences as Outer Body  training anyway, I had enough of them that finding common elements among  the sample size should still be helpful, but I acknowledged that he had  a point at least. I sat down on the tile cross legged, letting my  damaged body knit itself together. Being a ghost devil, not to mention a  literal god meant my recovery was fantastically fast, combined with the  fact that I was indulging my obsession, and handling the void damage  was no real problem.

The last eight hours had ALSO taught  me quite a bit about my new strength, how it worked, and how to adapt it  to the abilities and forms I already knew. The void was a good place to  go ape shit, because there was nothing there to damage, even in the  turbulence (strange space storms in the void where shards of reality  ripped through you like a fucking spatial blender) there wasn't much I  could damage, and going all out let me understand my limits. Outer Body  would do that too of course, but in order for it to work I needed data,  which the void helped me gather.

Luckily, I had another  method of processing and gathering data now. My eyes and mind were  pretty fucking impressive with my memory and all the upgrades, but my  ability to analyze every aspect of the things I remembered wasn't up to  scratch, hence the implant. The Archimedes-Rubal bio implant had  upgraded that aspect of my brain to a frankly terrifying level.

My  memory had been flawless before, but the actual memories themselves  were shallow, barely scratching the surface. The implant added depth,  allowing me to use my memory to the fullest. Like the difference between  a regular file and a zip.

Combining my aura sight with  the suite of scanning and analysis tools allowed me to map the void in  ways that would have been otherwise impossible and to compare that with  my void magic knowledge and draw inferences in a way that totally  justified the acquisition of the implant.

After healing up  and putting my thoughts in order, I stood up and stretched. "Anyway,  this training is done for now. I have data to compare and I need to do  more research on the grimoir, but before that, I want to check in on my  team and make sure they're doing ok." Master Yen Sid nodded solemnly,  then stood up and swept dramatically out of the room.

When  I finally came out, I headed for where I could feel Drea, Zee, and  Rana. My girls would definitely be with everyone else. I'd wanted to go  with them, but the training seemed like an important way to become  acclimated to my new strength and I didn't want to put it off.

The  first thing that happened when I got into the room was the sensation of  a body slamming into mine. I figured it was Rana again, but looking  down I was shocked to see a head of blonde hair. Stepping back with a  sniff, Atermis tried to punch me in the dick, though with my reflexes  she had no chance of actually pulling it off. She glared up at me. "You  absolute bastard. I let you leave for a while and you almost kill  yourself?"

I  grinned at her. "Missed you too. You should be careful about trying to  hit people like that though. If you'd landed that blow you would have  broken Zee and Drea's heart."

Ignoring  the groan of disgust from our daughter, Zee shook her head. "We took a  vote, we decided that we'll allow it if it cures your stupidity." I shot  her an offended look and she just winked and blew me a kiss. "Only  joking love. Don't be so serious all the time."

I  reached down and ruffled Artemis's hair. "Glad to know you missed me at  least. I take it the training his been going well?" I shot a glance at  Wally. "She been pushing you extra hard?"

He groaned in despair. "You have no idea. I'm honestly surprised my legs still work."

Zee  nodded sagely. "I have that thought every night as I fall asleep,  though usually for much different reasons." She paused before looking at  Artemis. "I changed my mind about attacking him there actually. We  really enjoy that."

"Gross, gross, gross." Rana moaned, covering her ears. "Grandma make them stop please." She begged Sindella beseechingly.

Sindella  just smiled warmly. "Don't be so sensitive dear. Just because they're  your parents doesn't mean they can't have a healthy sex life." Zee  looked smug at that, but her face blanched as Sindella continued.  "Besides, it's not like her interest in well endowed partners isn't  something she comes by honestly. I had to talk Suzie into upsizing our  toys a few times."

The  tall blonde bounty hunter dissolved into cackling laughter at the  horrified expression on my girlfriend's face, and Zee scowled at the  three of them. "I don't enjoy being ganged up on."

Sindella nodded wisely. "Well, I guess we don't have ALL the same preferences."

Taylor  choked on his tea at that and Suzie fell out of her chair laughing as  my girlfriend looked to be contemplating some kind of memory wiping  spell. At my own rolling laugh though, everyone just looked at me in  confusion. I just grinned, shrugging at them. "Sorry. It's just nice to  be back."

Zee  just sneered at me. "You're only saying because your mom isn't here.  But trust me, having seen Marie, there's no way Gojo isn't demolishing  that ass on the regular." At my wince she grinned. "NOW we can change  the subject, enjoy never forgetting that mental image mr. perfect  memory."

"You're  an evil woman." I said with a grimace, forcing my brain to change  gears. I walked over to the large table they were sitting around and  flopped into a chair. "So, how has the training been going?And where's  Tommy and John?" I didn't see two of our three trenchcoat wearers  around. I'd figured they'd be greeting everyone.

Sindella  snickered. "John is showing that pretty redhead around and helping her  and her friends find rooms, though anyone with eyes can tell she's head  over heels for the brown haired one. I don't think he's serious about  flirting with her, just thinks she's pretty to look at. Tommy started a  discussion with the blonde. He's thinking about taking her on as a  student. Says she has a natural gift for being existential, whatever  that means."

I  hadn't noticed that the other wielders weren't here, but that made  sense. It would be a bit before we left probably so rooms would be  needed. Based on her aura when she saw Sora, he was out of luck with  Kairi. Not that she wasn't a cutie (though Namine was more to my own  taste) so I got him wanting at least talk to her a bit. I remembered him  being interested when he saw her picture back on Destiny Islands too.

Taylor  cut in. "As for training...not too bad. We've learned quite a bit while  you were gone. Sindy has been drilling us all on our magic. I was never  a big spell caster, so it's been an adjustment, but I've definitely  learned quite a bit. Assuming we don't all die in the attempt, I suspect  I'll be heading back to the Nightside I'll have plenty of new tricks to  show off when the moment arises."

Sindella  looked at Zee hesitantly. "And...I'll be going back with them." At my  sorceress's stricken expression, she flinched a bit, but gathered  herself and pushed on. "We already talked about some of this, askim but  I just don't see how your father and I could possibly be on the same  page. I tried reaching out with a sending spell, but he's retreated so  far into the helmet of fate. Even if he hadn't though...knowing what he  put you through. All of it in my own name? He isn't the same man. He  can't be."

My  girlfriend's eyes were shimmering, but she didn't let herself cry.  Sindella was right. They HAD talked about this. Zee had been half  expecting something like this. That didn't make it hurt less. "But what  about me?" She said hoarsely. I wanted you to come live with us on the  island. We were going to spend time together."

Sindella  stepped forward and wrapped her daughter in a tight hug. "Oh, love. We  still will. Johnny has agreed to put in a word with the Doormouse. I'll  be getting a door made for each of us. You need your space, you have  your own life, but you're still my little girl and I want to spend as  much time with you as I can without overstaying my welcome. I promise,  you'll be sick of me within a year."

With  a watery laugh, Zee squeezed her back. She didn't argue the point. As  much as it sucked to admit it, Zee didn't need a mother anymore, and  they both knew it. They loved each other, and they would have plenty of  time to get to know each other again, but having someone who was  essentially a stranger come in and try to take over your life would make  anyone chafe, and neither wanted their relationship strained like that.

Suzie  stepped up next to them, looking SUPREMELY uncomfortable. "You can  always swing by ours as well." She looked like she was briefly  considering attempting a huge, but quickly reconsidered and punched Zee  in the shoulder lightly. Taylor snickered slightly at her embarrassment  and she glared at him until he shut up and looked away.

That got a smile from Zee. "Sounds like fun." She smirked at Suzie. "Guess she's not as much of a princess as you thought huh?"

Suzie's  answering grin was lazy and wicked. "I wouldn't say that. She certainly  spends enough time on top of a tower." Zee grimaced again and everyone  burst out laughing. Poor Zee, she had no chance of ever getting one over  on Suzie. But despite the cringing, I could see in her aura that she  was happy for her mother. Part of her would always want her parents back  together, but she also knew who her dad was, and deep down she thought  her mom deserved better. I agreed, Sindella was a sweet lady.

Looking  around at everyone here I was filled with pride and gratitude. That I'd  been able to meet and befriend people like this, that they cared enough  to risk their lives for me. I never would have imagine anything like  this back when I first got my powers. I guess sometimes true stories can  be just as wild as the lies. I could only hope this one had a happy  ending, because soon enough, it would be time for the final chapter, and  it would be a doozy.