After that last job, I put my head to the grindstone. Spent some time researching magic: Barriers, wards, that kind of thing. Found some interesting applications that I've taken the time to integrate in the exoskeleton prototype - I took it to Edith and she gave it a try. It didn't blow up! It even stopped the shuriken I threw at her. So that's been a success, and I will immediately begin the replication process to help protect me on my next job. Eventually maybe sell it. But I need to work on myself as well - I'm starting a new exercise regimen and working on my aim - I'm sure I'll be needing it soon. Next steps for the Energized Exo-Skeleton is likely to add some sort of true fighting aid to it, to be honest. The current set-up will aid in defense, yes, but I'll need a form of offense as well. Once I've spent some time in the range, I'll add some sort of projectile launcher to it. Energy based, maybe?
We'll see.
To defend myself, I've taken inspiration from Edith's shotgun. I've crafted a kind of glove which I can attach to my energizer exo-skeleton and will allow me to create small discs of plasma, allowing me to toss these at my foes using the same technique I'd been practicing with my Shuriken. I had to make some concessions in their raw power, as they fall apart quickly, but they're so hot they destroy any protections that my target has. I've got some ideas on how to make them sharper and hotter, but that will have to wait - for now, I've got a field test set up hunting a mammoth with Edith and a strange demon summoner named Liv - We've struck a trade agreement. I will give Liv an Energizer Exo-Skeleton, and in return a demon will be summoned and bound to mine, to work as a last line of defense in case I get in over my head somewhere along the line.
I swear I had the idea for the name before Musk's announcement. If you look at my documents you'll see it was named a full three days before his announcement went live. Hell, maybe he stole the plans from me somehow...
But, I digress.
The Neural Link prototype is going incredibly well. I've gotten a working neural implant in my brain that helps me with processing incoming information and reacting quickly to stimulus. I haven't done any field tests yet but it has performed admirably in lab conditions. The Neural Link interface that I'm making for the Energizer Exo-Skeletons is also performing well - the only thing left is to make it able to connect directly to someone's brain instead of through the neural implant, making it work for those that aren't me. I've decided I won't be taking it out to field test until I'm fully certain of my neural implant's ability to function in stressful situations. After all, I need to ensure any problems with the Neural Link are related to itself, and not to the implant. Soon I'll bring Edith on board for testing that aspect, as well.
Well, thanks to Edith's connections we got together with a "Todd Lazcowicz" and a "Vel". The latter is the healer we were chasing down, and the former is a friend of Edith's. We've made a deal to help each other out, over a game of Catan. To my surprise, I lost. Vel showed that what they lack in raw intelligence they make up for in many many other ways. I'm excited to work with them - integrating their caduceus symbol into my energizer exo-skeleton's wiring should be easy enough, and once they're able they can give it the powers from their rod. Todd even had some sort of nanite-based body repair solution to fix wounds. His lab is not functioning currently, but we should be able to integrate that as well once I've helped him fix it. Oh, right. I need to reach out to see about helping him pay for that...
It had been so long since I'd gone out and done a job, I... I'd almost forgotten the rush. How when I go back to whatever problem I was tackling beforehand it starts to solve itself in my head. I'd been working on holographic projection and on arcane perception filters, tackling both separately to see which would yield a solution that would allow me to wear the suit most of the time without fearing someone thinking I'm in a special operations team...
I returned from that last job and it all started clicking. The tiny holographic projectors, working the same way a rainbow does - just small reflections in the air adding up to the image I need. And the way they're wired, creating small sigils out of silicone, fiberglass, and metals. It's beautiful how it all fits together. Now I have both of the solutions I was working on - the hologram to cover most people and cameras, the perception filter for anyone that tries to look a little too close. Perfection.