Chronos, Chapter 24 (Patreon)

Chapter 24 – Test Run

“So, what did you want to show us, Remy?”

It was Thursday night, and the library had just closed for the day. The library ladies had been all too happy to agree to go out with me, since they’d all enjoyed the last night out. And Tracy and Bethany had spread a good bit of gossip about me the next morning. When I mentioned I had a surprise to show them, they were even more eager to come.

I grinned at Susan as we turned the corner from where we parked, and said, “Well, as you no doubt have heard, I am pretty well off, financially. Since things are starting to calm down after the Pulse, I figured now was a great time to start up a new business venture.”

I timed it perfectly, of course. Just as I said that, the girls got a glance at the sign over the door behind me, advertising Anachronism, my new retro dance club. That, naturally, got quite the reaction.

“Oh wow!” Tracy cried. “I’ve heard of this place! Somehow, it just popped up in the last couple weeks, and was going to have its grand opening tonight! How have you done all this, especially while you’ve been so busy?”

“The ‘how’ is simple, my dear. I have money. I hired some people to do the work, and hired a manager to recruit staff and so on. I own the place, but I’m not running it. That is not my skill set.”

“Good! I thought we were going to lose you from the library. It is boring with just women around, after all. And none of us would know the first thing about what to do with those magic books you have down in that basement level!”

Janice nodded in agreement. “Yes! A student from the University came through the other day, and said that the collection was supposed to be the largest publicly-available collection of arcane lore in the country! And none of us would be able to do anything with the wards you put up down there!”

“No, no,” I laughed. “I’m not going anywhere. But I did want to get you girls in to check out the club, before we do the grand opening tomorrow. So, you want to see?”

“Of course!”

I grinned, and unlocked the front door, letting them into the club, before locking it behind them, so we wouldn’t be disturbed. When I looked back, all four ladies were standing there, amazed. Not that I blamed them.

Anachronism lived up to its name. It was like someone had plucked a copy of Studio 54 from its heyday in the 70s and placed it in the modern world. Spotlights in the ceiling, mirrored walls, and more, all of it was present.

Not just on one level, either! The second story sported a clear ‘glass’ floor that allowing those above and below to observe each other, even as they danced and enjoyed themselves. The second floor looked as though it was floating, since the glass stopped well shy of the walls, and mild glamour disguised the structural supports. The third-floor balcony also had a ‘glass’ floor, and looked down on the second floor from what would be the VIP lounge. A glass elevator and stairs connected all three levels

Of course, the club was empty at the moment. No staff on hand, and no music playing. No light shows going on. No people dancing. But just looking at the place, one could see the potential for fun it had. And no one noticed that only about three fourths of the space was being used, with the rest being dedicated to staff areas.

“Wow, Remy! How did you get all this built?”

“Oh, that’s simple, Susan. A bit of money, and a bit of magic. There are construction companies that specialize in magical building, if you know where to look for them. The one I used is called Mystic Kingdom, and they’ve been doing specialty work like this for almost five hundred years, now.”

“Wait. Five hundred years? But, Remy, the country isn’t even half that old! And mages weren’t discovered until two hundred years ago!”

I chuckled. “Mages have existed in the world since at least the dawn of civilization, Susan. A lot of what the nonmagical population calls myths and legends were, in fact, the works of magic users. The magical community didn’t spring up two hundred years ago, they let themselves be discovered, and came out into the open, since humanity was already dealing with the superhumans becoming known.”

“Woah,” Bethany said. “Then, if the myths and legends from ancient times were mages, does that mean that monsters like mermaids and vampires and werewolves are real, too?”

“Oh, yes. But they keep to themselves, for the most part. They interact with the magical community, and the ones who can hide in the mundane world keep their nature hidden, outside of the community. They are all too aware of how the monster stories picture them, and generally agree that it is best that they remain out of sight, since mundanes outnumber them by a large margin, and, even without counting superhumans, enough mundanes have access to weapons and armor that would make any victory against them in a war of extermination Pyrrhic, at best.”

“I never knew that! Are there any in Liberty City?”

“Sure. Anywhere you have people, you’re going to have some of them. But ‘outing’ them is considered bad form, since no one likes risking being chased with pitchforks and torches, much less overzealous religious nutjobs looking to ‘cleanse their evil’ with automatic weapons.”

“Oh, I guess that makes sense.”

I smiled as I moved over to the bar, and picked up a little device that had been preset on the bar. “Yes, now, there is one more thing I wanted to show you, while we are here. A test of something we’ll be doing every so often once we open.”

“Ooh, really?” Bethany was obviously interested. “What is it? Some kind of special menu you wanted us to try?”

I chuckled, and shook my head. “Not quite.” I pressed the button on the little device, and suddenly the spotlights flashed, bouncing off the mirrored walls in a hypnotic pattern lasting a few seconds.

As the light burnt out, the girls staggered, and then looked at me, eyes wide. Bethany was the first to speak. “M-master, what was that? There was a flash, and then I felt everything change.”

Tracy nodded. “Same. And now I want to call you master, as well. And worship you. Is this supposed to be happening?”

“Mmh,” Susan moaned. “I feel so hot with you looking at me Master. I mean Remy. I mean…” She shook her head. “What’s happening to us?”

I sighed, and said, half to myself, “Well, it seems that the sudden sensory barrage is causing a little cognitive dissonance. As a first test, that wasn’t bad, but I’ll have my priestess fix it later. Perhaps more of a ritual matter than the device?”

Looking back to the group, I decided to test my theories. Placing one hand on Janice’s shoulder, I guided her to her knees in front of me. She did not resist, did not question. She simply did as I directed her. And when she took my cock in her mouth, she acted as though it was just as natural as saying hello.

The rest of the girls did not scream, or do anything else other than watch as Janice began blowing me. I nodded, and said, “Well, that answers one question. The device was successful, after the dissonance passed. How do you feel, my pets?”

Bethany bowed her head, and said, “Master, I feel like I know so much more, now. I would be glad to serve you however you wish. Would you like to fuck me now?”

“Of course. I’m going to fuck all of you, now.”

(Later)

“So, was the test successful, my Lord?”

I looked up from examining the markings of the ritual circle surrounding the dark altar in the temple built into the basement of Anachronism. I smiled at Yahlonda as my Priestess emerged from the concealed staircase, hidden behind a glamour that made it invisible to all senses. “Yes, my pet, and no. Your first attempt at creating a permanently enchanted device worked. However, the power surge burned out the lights, and the quick onset left the test subjects confused. They didn’t know they’d been changed, but the suddenness led to some momentary dissonance before their programming set in.”

Looking her in the eye, I said, “This method of converting the masses was your idea. So, tell me how you will fix it, and keep these issues from happening in the future.”

Yahlonda nodded slowly. “I understand, my lord. Then, perhaps a slightly longer lead-in sequence? Increasing the time the sequence needs would put less stress on the lights. We can reduce the load even more if an audio component is added, as well, layering it under the music playing over the speakers. It would also mean that the problem you mentioned of the sudden change being noticeable would be less likely to happen.”

“Yes,” I nodded. “That was what I thought, as well. Making it require a second trigger as well will reduce the overall power requirements, as will making it a purely illusory effect, rather than something that could affect machine intelligences.”

“I understand, my Lord. The changes will be ready before the opening tomorrow night.”

I dismissed Yahlonda, and let her get back to work. With a wave of my hand, I brought up a System box, showing the projected cost of my club, and the enhancements it had. This was not something that just anyone had access to, of course. It was something that only a property owner could see, and only when they paid for a that property with points from the System.

Name

Anachronism (Concealed Temple)

Total EP Spent:

20

Shared EP from others:

0

Combat & Saves (2 EP)

Toughness

+10

Size

Medium

Features

Name

Description

Cover Facility

Main part of warehouse dedicated to the dance club Timestop,   making it harder for others to gather information about the ritual site   within.

Fire Prevention System

System works to smother any open flame. Nullify 5 for Fire.   Computer control can keep a white-list of approved flames.

Gym

Weight-training and other equipment available, with the normal   amenities.

Personnel

Staff takes care of maintaining the facilities.

Power System

A magic-to-electric converter allows the mansion to be powered by   the Earth’s ambient magical field. Solar panels on the roof and battery   backups cover for any shortfalls, up to 12 hours runtime without magical   input.

Self-Repairing 2

If damaged, the building will repair itself over time. Even if it   is completely destroyed, it will rebuild itself within 1 week. If it cannot   rebuild on its former site, it goes to the nearest available location.

Concealed 1

A glamour surrounds the mansion’s grounds. All Search, Knowledge,   and other such checks to find the mansion have the DC raised by +10.

Communications

Can transmit and receive wide range of signals. Access depends on   clearance.

Computer

State-of-the-art computers control systems, and allow use of   Computers skill.

Living Space

Living space for up to 12 residents, including bedrooms,   kitchens, facilities, etc.

Security System

Locks and alarms protecting the building. DC 30 Disable Device   check to bypass them.

Garage

Area for housing vehicles, and repairing them.

Powers (3 EP)

Name

Description

Concealed Sanctum

Concealment 10 – All Senses

Feat: Close   Range

Descriptors:   Magic

Cost: 11 PP

Anachronism has   a basement reached by a concealed staircase. The glamour hides it from all   senses.

Party Favors

Emotion Control   1

Feats: Slow   Fade 5 (5 hours), Subtle 2 (Unnoticed)

Extras:   Insidious, No Saving Throw, Total Fade

Flaws: Action   (Full), Fades, Limited (Must Consume Favor), Limited to Emotion (Lust)

Descriptors:   Magic

Cost: 11 PP

Anachronism has   a supply of ‘party favors’ to be used at Chronos’s discretion, or to be sold   to discerning customers. Consuming a party favor causes the individual to   become madly in lust with the person who gave it to them for five hours,   before the effect fades. The effect is undetectable while in effect, either   by the victim or others, and, when it fades, the victim believes everything   was their own idea.

Cultist Initiation Array

Mental   Transform 12

Feats: Innate,   Subtle 2 (Unnoticeable)

Extras: Area   (Perception, Duration (Continuous), Insidious, Selective Attack

Flaws: Action   (Full), Check Required (Arcana), Crew Required, Distracting, Phantasm, Sense-Dependent   (Hearing), Sense-Dependent (Vision)

Drawbacks:   Action (20 Min)

Descriptors:   Magic

Cost: 11 PP

The lights and   sounds in Anachronism can be arranged so that they can induce subliminal,   hypnotic fields. Chosen individuals within the fields that are able to both   see and hear the display during the full twenty-minute routine must make a   Will save or have their minds permanently altered to become cultists of   Chronos. This pattern is undetectable, and the effects are invisible, even to   the victim.

The glamour and the induction array were only two of the things that I had to make my life more interesting here. I also had the ‘party favors’, which came in several varieties, but was most commonly added as an extra kicker in a drink. The emotion control effect would help entice people into the more hedonistic lifestyle choices that I wanted to encourage. Combined with the induction array, that would allow me to either corrupt individuals, or entice them into the hidden temple where they could be used for any number of rituals. Or even as sacrifices.

I would need sacrifices to open up a path to my old house, after all.