章節 46: Mental Maths...

"Why not?" Ben questions furiously trying to hang on to the hope that I might be able to return him to his human form but I'm sad to know that it may actually be impossible. "It's because of the way my device works, you see my device doesn't actually negate anyone's powers and all that's Susan been able to see is that I've created a way for no one to be able to get precise scans of my invention without some serious preparation or brute force and what she's missed is a small tiny component of the bracelet that-" At this point I'm interrupted by Reed who I've just noticed has set his tech pad down and is looking through my work. "Your device rids people of their memories of their powers therefore making them forget that they have powers and how to use them creating the illusion of negating powers when in actuality you've just made them forget about their powers, am I correct Nicholas?" Reed questions to which I smile as I figured that someone of Reed's intelligence would be able to understand my device though I'm quite happy that he hasn't gotten it actually correct.

I'm about to answer him when Susan makes her own observation. "Oh I see it now, there is a tiny part of the schematic that is in actuality a technological component that seems to interfere with the wearers mind but how did you know what it did Reed as I can't seem to tell from just looking at these blueprints?" She question to which Reed replies with a smile. "Well you see Susan looking through the schematic I couldn't see anything that would work to actually negate someone's powers and seeing from the demonstration on Johnny that this is exactly what this device does I could only come to the logical conclusion that it was through the cerebral tech in the device that removed his powers and thinking about how I would have done it I came to my own conclusion." Hearing Reed's conclusion Johnny is shocked at the fact that his mind may have been messed with while Ben is inevitably saddened and distraught. "So it just removes the memories of having and using people's powers, so it wouldn't actually do anything for me?" He questions and I can't stop the bit of pity and guilt I have for him because I accidentally raised his hopes.

"Sorry Ben, while Reed is correct that my device alters the mind to negate powers I'm afraid that it doesn't quite do it in the way he said as that goes against my morals a bit, my device doesn't remove people's memories or anything but instead it forces on the wearer a specific belief or 'truth' if you will and that truth is the fact that they can no longer use their power and that they only have the strength of a normal human and so it doesn't actually make any changes to their memories." I say and while Ben looks a little confused at my words Johnny looks relieved at the fact that my device hasn't actually messed with his mind though Reed voices his opinion on my device. "But why would you do that? If whoever wears this bracelet remembers that they have powers then they'd come to the obvious conclusion that the bracelet is at fault for their loss of power and they would do anything to get rid of it, if you would just do it my way then the wearer wouldn't remember the fact that they have powers and would therefore not try to remove it making this a perfect device for powered criminals." He says assured of the fact that his way is better but I'm glad I get this opportunity to pop that little bubble and show him that although he might be the cleverest man in the room he might not always have the best idea.

I let out an audible sigh that seems to shock Reed before I begin to explain to him the reason for my sigh. "Reed you're not looking at the big picture, while yes your method would be more efficient at the beginning at the end it would turn out to be more trouble than it's worth and would result in a lot of backlash as your method would break human rights as memories make the man and to remove those memories even if just temporarily would be a great injustice as it would literally change someone into a completely different person even if that person is a vile criminal who are we to decide what memories they can and can't have plus when eventually one of those powered criminals gets out if the bracelet (it's inevitable and it will eventually happen) they will be very angry at the violation of their rights and will become all the more dangerous and when asked why they suddenly became more volatile you can guess who they are gonna point the finger at, all in all in the long run your method would result in a lot more issues." I say and I actually believe what I'm saying as this would be too much in the public eye and I wouldn't feel safe putting my name on it while knowing that there will be definite backlash.

Reed sighs in defeat (at least I believe it's in defeat as that would mean I've bested him). "I guess you're right Nicholas, but won't people get angry at your version as well since it also messes with the wearers mind?" He questions trying to get a small victory for himself (or maybe he's just genuinely trying to be constructive) but I answer his question easily. "My method doesn't actually mess with their mind as it just forces them to believe that they are unable to use their powers and I think that the public at large will believe that it is a necessary precaution that they can live with as it doesn't actually violate anyones human rights (much) plus I've taken measures to make it so that without some serious preparation people will just believe it negates powers and so they shouldn't have a reason to suspect it interacts with their minds (unless a telepath realises it) and even if the prisoner wearing it does realise it it still shouldn't matter, Johnny try to use your flames now that you know that you can still use your powers and it's just the bracelet making you believe you can't." I say to which Johnny nods and with a scream of 'FLAME ON' he tries to use his powers but is upset when nothing happens and he just looks like an idiot.

"See." I say. "Even if he knows that he can still use his powers and it's just the bracelet making him believe he can't he still can't activate his powers." I say with a little bit of smug but Reed still tries to debunk my work with Susan looking at him reproachfully for trying to ruin the device I've worked so hard on though he doesn't seem to notices. "Even so isn't your device a little convoluted when there are already some methods to negate powers out their that don't mess with cerebral technology?" He questions but I already though about this before making my device otherwise why would I have made it. "I have no doubt that there are already some device out there that can suppress and negate powers but I bet each of them have to be made specifically for different individuals with different power sets such as a specific suppressor for someone with the X-gene but even they would need to be calibrated for mutants with different powers, my device is a one shoe fits all as it will work on nearly everyone and there would be less resources spent coming up with ways to negate certain power sets, my device is simply more convenient and more assured to work than others." I finish but Susan seems to pick up one one part of what I've said.

"What do you mean 'nearly everyone'?" She questions to which I answer quite clearly. "Well you see what my device does is make everyone believe that they can't use their powers no matter the source of where their powers but I believe that it will only work somewhat on a few individuals, for instance I believe a powerful telepath would realise that their minds are being affected and would work to neutralise the effect on their mind but since the effect is constant their abilities would be limited as they would constantly need to neutralise the bracelets affect, I also don't believe that this device would work on the hulk as his power doesn't care about about Bruce Banners belief as it would just activate whenever he's angry and so my device wouldn't work on him and finally although my device would work on people such as Ben making them believe they only had human level strength they would still be a lot stronger than a normal human due to the changes in them physically and as such it would at the very least limit their strength." Susan nods to my explanation seeming to accept it while Ben ask his own question.

"What do you mean 'at the very least'?" Are people just gonna keep finding slip ups in my words, what the fuck...

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