Chapter 23

  The Cost of Momentum

  The morning light was a cold distant gray, just beginning to touch the highest rocks of the crag.

  Ken’s stomach growled him awake.

  Body stiff, sore, shivering.

  Perfect.

  Munching on dark shriveled berries made a meager breakfast, but it was something.

  Meat.

  Choking the last of the dried berries down, the next task was abundantly clear.

  Water.

  He slipped down out of the crags, navigating the difficult terrain with focused speed.

  Constant Vigilance.

  He reached the life saving creek, dropped to his knees and drank deeply.

  Filing his gut until the desperate need was quenched, he sat and listened.

  I don't think I'm being watched.

  Thought every guy ever being watched unnoticed.

  With that perturbing thought, he returned to the safety of the rocky crag.

  He needed to quantify the power he had spent the last twenty-four hours building.

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  Mentally isolating a single droplet of power from the dense thrumming ball, he began to play.

  Drawing it into his right arm, channeling it into his fist.

  Test of manipulation.

  He focused on the wisp of power.

  A miniscule amount of chi obeyed instantly, cycling from shoulder to wrist, and back again.

  It seems innately more powerful, efficient, and easier to control.

  It flowed into his chest, then down into his legs.

  He skipped around the room.

  I can enhance the speed and power of my movements.

  Variable output.

  Cost is exponential…

  Is what it is.

  Finally he moved on to the functionality test.

  He channeled a minimal amount of energy into his fist.

  Arm flashed at a stone boulder.

  A flake fell to the ground.

  “Actualy didn't really hurt. Huh.”

  It's being protected by the chi alright.

  He flexed his scuffed hand.

  No breaks, no bleeding, just the shimmer.

  After a few more tests, he sat down, slightly breathless.

  “So everything is up across the board…”

  “It's a good thing.”

  Heh.

  “I have about ten full Momentum Strikes in me now. All of that only cost me like two charges.”

  Not too bad.

  Even after the expenditure, the ball felt powerfully tense, a constant steady hum.

  Finally getting a handle on all this.

  I got the data.

  Now I just need more chi.

  And food.

  And a water bottle.

  And even more information.

  Okay, I need a lot of shit.