Title: Captive Audience
Summary: The meat Jaime Reyes was not a cause of concern, or danger, that much could be assured. However, he did supply much...annoyance.
Characters: Mainly Jaime and the Scarab, minor Wonderbeetle, and some of the team and Runaways.
The meat Jaime Reyes was not a cause of concern, or danger, that much could be assured. With his weak will and stubbornness towards doing right, he posed little threat to the Reach and their desired outcome.
However, the meat did supply much…annoyance.
Much like the Reach's scarab had once done to him, Jaime Reyes spoke to the Scarab in ways that only the Scarab could hear.
The meats insistent complaints came at all times. When the Scarab was interacting with his host's family, the meat would try and push through the Reach's control and warn his family. When he was around the team, Jaime tried to let the team know of his predicament, all while his captor laughed.
The meats will was especially strong when faced with Tye Longshadow and the group of misfits he was with. The Scarab could tell then that his façade would not fool this pawn – this Tye – long, and so hoped to rush the four into a trap. But when the perfect opportunity to get the Reach's message out their came across, how could he resist? And if the four weak 'heroes' made their escape? Well, it supplied Jaime with much more relief than the small amounts of anger the Scarab felt.
The meat reached his tipping point – the strongest he had fought back – when they were in the War World.
Honestly, he could not have asked for a better way to crush the meats spirit than when the Wonder Girl kissed Arsenal.
Feeling Jaime Reyes' disappointment, he laughed.
Ah, yes. Biochemical changes, the Scarab smirked as he spoke out loud. "Looks like everyone is here."
The meats slow brain realized the situation far too late, only managing to scream a silent no after the Impulse was unconscious. The Scarab reveled in the fact that the meat had to watch all of his friends and teammates be taken down one by one.
When the Scarab reached Wonder Girl, who was prohibited from helping her teammates by the sheer weight of Mongol, he paused.
Jaime Reyes, he told the meat in the split second hesitation, all of these people, who you think of as your friends, believe this to be you. Even her, he finished, as he stapled the Wonder Girl to the ground.
The meat was silent as the Scarab completed the rest of the mission, with only the hitch of the Arsenal momentarily halting his plans.
In the few minutes before the League reached the room where Jaime now stood alone, the Scarab could not help but mock the meat.
You think that you are superior to the Reach? You had hopes to stop us with your silly little friend, Impulse? Look at this room, Jaime Reyes, and think of the people you have just sent to their enemy. Are they not beneath you? These meat will never trust you again, and yet you seem saddened by this fact. They are but worthless pawns gifted with the Metagene.
Amidst his host's protests, the scarab laughed.
Do not try to struggle, Jaime Reyes. Soon, your body will be nothing more than a shell, and I will no longer have to listen to your annoyances.