[System Log: #004]

  "How behind on this are we?" Musica asked.

  "Not very, but we still don't have a complete selection. Also, none of them will aid him in this fight." I explained after glancing at the preliminary skill selection.

  Outlined neatly in an Excel spreadsheet was a list of skills we had planned to provide for the creator's inspection upon his next level. Every fifteen levels seemed the best method given the time and power constraints. Examining each skill, its name, starting rank, description, effects and costs. It was clear they would not save us from a troll's giant boot.

  "While I applaud everyone here for their work. These skills are far too tailored for utility over combat." I pointed out just that.

  Receiving nods from every Jenny in residence. I gestured for anyone to take the floor and offer their ideas. While I had a few of my own, they were not practical, given the time-sensitive nature of the situation.

  "I say he should build an army worthy of Mordor," Cosplaria suggested, slamming her staff on linoleum.

  It didn't provide the desired dramatic effect, but her whole Saruman look worked. Although I was not sure what she meant by building an army. Did she mean to have our creator gather a bunch of orcs into a war band and go pillage the Westfold?

  "I don't understand; can you elaborate?"

  She frowned, probably because she had to drop the entire act and be serious. Not that I wanted her to. It was in her nature to be this way. Who was I to decide her personality? That honour was for the High Jenny.

  "The avatar system I have been dabbling with. It could be repurposed into a summoning skill."

  Okay, now I get what she meant, but this was a case she had been pushing for a while. To be honest, it seemed like a creative use of the system. But given how power intensive it was. The skill wasn't viable right now, and any creature created as an avatar would be a shell.

  "We have discussed this; it requires far too much power to implement and use." I declared, shooting down her idea.

  She wasn't happy, the way her lips puckered and her fake beard bristled. I understood her annoyance; it was a wonderful project with a lot of potential. Not what we needed right now.

  "A sonic attack? With a tweak, I could generate a sound strong enough to blow out people's eyeballs." Musica suggested, with a mad glint in her eye.

  Taken aback at the rather gruesome suggestion, I tried to ignore the crazy eyes she was flashing. Thinking of the suggestion from a rational and objective standpoint. Someone could directly apply the skill in combat because it had merit. The only flaw is that most enemies require a lot more oomph to take down.

  "Has this skill been run through the proper testing?" I asked.

  Musica, shaking her head with a sour look, suggested that was a negative. I felt she probably couldn't deploy it quickly since it was a relatively new idea. Still, it was the best we had so far. Especially since it was a combat-related skill and in keeping with the theme.

  "Kaotica?" I gestured to the chaos itself.

  She smiled, showing perfect white teeth, a grin just oozing playfulness. Whatever she was going to suggest, we had best brace for the impact. Chaos becomes her, and chaos is what she does best.

  "A disruption skill." She suggested with a chuckle.

  Just as she said that, I was already halfway to my counter. Instead of the expected insanity, she suggested a rather mundane idea. I briefly wondered if this was a trap before turning to the image of the troll and deciding time was a factor.

  "Explain?"

  "I would love to." She giggled like a psychotic schoolgirl. "We have at our disposal several features to interact and modify the systems of others, yes?"

  "We do."

  "Great, and with that in mind, what I am suggesting is a combination of the rename feature and a new one of my design."

  "Which is?" I asked, trying to speed up her explanation.

  Instead of answering, she withdrew a portable device and tapped the screen. The alert on my tablet sprang to life with a soft beep. A new message with a file attachment, which I opened and cast to the screen. Everyone's attention shifted with the sudden change from a video recording to a document. We all tried to understand what we were seeing. And to be honest, it was truly maddening. While I got the gist of the idea and some technical diagrams. The rest was a mess.

  Written neatly, as all information was digital in a digital world. Much of the ideas she put to text were the scribbling of a madwoman. Ideas ranged from a mass rename system blast, turning an opponent's interface to gibberish or changing select words to penis. They seemed more akin to joke skills than anything practical. But the moment she explained it, the idea became much clearer.

  "With the kickass rename feature, we can sow chaos and confusion amongst the ranks of our enemies. Turning their words upside down, inside out and into the river with cement." She explained rather animatedly.

  I frowned, wanting her to get to the point. She had a tendency to go off on a tangent, and this little rant was no exception. But as she spoke, I could slowly piece together the insanity.

  "Confusion and chaos can turn any battle to our creator's advantage. With one swift stroke, an enemy could be rendered useless in combat." She took a drag of her cigarette, letting that set in.

  At a loss for words, I tried to find some fault in her suggestion. This habit was something I really needed to break. It was unfair to Kaotica, even though our personalities were in opposition. We are all Jenny, and Jenny is us. In analysing the skill she offered to create, I found it quite useful in combat. But like the summoning skill, very energy intensive. Still, the skill would be invaluable in battle. So I let her continue her animated presentation.

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  "Think about it; our creators' enemies will not know which skill is which. We can even flip their stamina and health bars. Using their skills would create random effects." She leaned in with a savage grin. "They could use their epic skill, and it would swap with a minor buffing skill."

  Leaning back in her chair, smug, satisfied face, she looked to be waiting for praise. Her hands held out to the sides, inviting an opinion from the assembled. I was the first to speak, as everyone else was just mulling over the idea.

  "An effective skill, inline with the theme and would work well in battle." I declared with complete sincerity.

  Kaotica looked shocked, probably because she expected me to refute her. Poke holes in her idea and tear it down with the grace of intelligence. But now was not the time. Bickering would only waste our creator's precious moments.

  "Thank you for your suggestion; the floor is open."

  Noone spoke for over a minute before Gamerela finally looked up from her game. The background music was familiar, a plucky woodwind melody looping over and over. A game came to mind, where players would capture monsters and use them to fight in duels. Monster taming was the theme, I think.

  Her fingers ceased their incessant tapping, her eyes widening as she glared down at the console. I knew that look; it was the spark of an idea. We all had something similar, so she might as well animate a lightbulb above her head.

  "Disable!" she announced to the entire conference room.

  So loud that some of us even jumped in fright, except for little Miss Cool. Kaotica didn't even flinch, just stayed seated, legs sprawled out and comfortable. Shaking my head, trying to get those particular thoughts out and down the shredder. I turned back to Gamerela, wondering what made her so excitable.

  "Kaotica's idea is great, super chaos, love it. But we need something surgical and not a big hammer..." she glanced at the subject of her words with a sheepish grin. "No offence babe."

  "Some taken, but I love you anyway."

  Before she could escape, Kaotica reached across the table and pinched her cheek. So fast Gamerela couldn't even dodge, and I doubted she even saw it coming. Holding her reddish cheek, glaring daggers at her sister. The pair couldn't help grinning.

  "As I was saying, instead of messing up the opponents' skills, what about disabling a single skill?" She suggested, just as animated as her counterpart.

  The idea works effectively in battle. Especially in this fight as Trolls have several skills that would make the fight a living hell. Adding up the virtual numbers, doing a cost and benefit analysis, I decided it was a good idea.

  "That is acceptable; we will add it to the skill selection."

  "What about you? Do you have a superior idea of your own?" Kaotica questioned.

  A little affronted by the abrupt shift in conversation. I decided not to let it get to me and unveiled my contribution. The skill was a simple but versatile ability. Using the energy conversion system, we would create a skill that converts system energy into any resources our creator needs.

  "So he can basically heal himself or restore stamina." Musica stated.

  "That is one use for the skill — very versatile." I said proudly.

  "I can see several uses, and our creator needs a healing skill. He is running out of potions." Cosplaria added.

  "Then it is settled; we will initialise these skills and set them up for the next skill selection. Which would be in the next few minutes outside time." I declared with a thrilling tap of the gavel.

  I will not admit it, but I loved doing that. Such finality, so immaculate and orderly. With one swift strike, everyone at the conference knew the business had concluded. Resisting the urge to do it again, I let the finely carved wood slip from my fingers and settle on the podium.

  "Next order of business is to decide on the skill suggestion. Considering the limited time he will have to select."

  Realising I could use the gavel again, it promptly returned to my hand. With the power firmly nestled in the right hands, we began the process. This was something we had done before, and everyone, including Kaotica, fell in line.

  "Cast your votes for the summoning skill."

  Only Cosplaria raised a hand; everyone else remained locked and still in their seats. While our sister gave us all a sour look, she understood. Her skill idea, while having great potential. Was not very practical right now. What followed was the democratic process. We voted, argued and did everything you would expect in parliament. Democracy is so great; it brings people together and then tears them apart. That's what I call progress.

  But just like any stable government, we came to a consensus. The skill selection was complete, and we had an appropriate skill suggestion. Given our creator's dangerous situation. We can only hope it is enough to save him. As the gavel fell, the proceedings ended, and everyone returned to their tasks. Once the last member of the council vacated, I turned to the image of the troll. Fear gripped my chest, something that shouldn't be possible for a mere construct. I worried about my creator.

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