Chapter 1.3

Strolling languidly down Fuller Street, I was without a care about my current issues I am dealing with school. Afterall, Emma and Sophia were a tad bit too predictable for me to worry about.

I turned down an alley to take a shortcut to First Street when I noticed something peculiar. At the far left wall near the alley entrance stood out something new, Freshly painted with a violet spray paint was a logo of a lion' s head roaring while framed by two wicked looking knives, a new gang tag that was covering the tags of ABB and The Empire 88. Clicking my tongue in distaste, I remembered hearing about rumors of a new gang in town that decided to move to Brockton Bay. The junior chapter of the Empire 88 in Winslow was apoplectic about the newcomers especially since there were whispers of them kicking Hookwolf and several gangbangers out of his turf.

PHO was in a Fritz about this and tensions of each faction were running high with The ABB sighted to be attacking an Empire owned Bar and some independent villain team called Underminer or something were poking around some Stash Houses of both ABB and the Empire 88. The whole PHO community was speculating an upcoming gang war between ABB, the Empire 88 and the new gang.

Narrowing my eyes, I saw a small inscription scrawled under the painting. I moved a bit closer to further inspect the painting.

Selvaggio Famiglia

I scoffed, not knowing why I was offended at the name of the group. Remembering the pictures of the remains of the dog fighting ring, I begrudgingly agreed with the gang's title. Savage Family indeed.

I was about to continue my way towards our hidden base when I felt something odd.

uNnaTurAL sUbsTanCE, bE CaReFUl.

Sensing my Hyper Intuition going overdrive about the odd properties of the paint used on the tag, I opened my backpack and pulled out my phone. I flipped it open and took a couple of picture for Greg to investigate later before I looked back towards the mouth of the alley.

[SPOILER="Artificer Solaris Candella series 2 Phone"/SPOILER]

Sensing no-one nearby, I flipped the phone close and press the small button located just beside the antenna. With my left hand securing the device, I used the thumb and ring finger of my right hand to pinch the antenna and twist it to the left before hearing the phone make a soft clicking sound. Pulling out the antenna, it revealed a small, unique looking glass cylinder with a rainbow-colored circuitry running around its clear surface. It a miniaturized Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer. It was one of the many other features Greg placed in my Tinkertech phone, It was a simple container made of tinkertech fiberglass that was treated using the unique properties of the Lightning flames to increase its durability and conductivity.

I pulled the top half of the cylinder before I began scraping out the violet gang tags with it. Satisfied at the sample I collected, I closed the GC Mass Spec Cylinder and put it back on the phone for it to begin analysis. I put the device right inside my backpack before heading towards the next corner.

WORMxKHR

Standing in front of an old two-story building, I stared balefully at the entrance of our secret base. I don't know what was I thinking when I agreed to let Greg set up our hideout, but in the end of a three out debate, I digress. The Villains, Protectorate and the PRT would not really look for an up and coming vigilante group slash mercenary out of a Toy Shop, let alone suspect if electronic devices and other materials are being shipped here. Glaring at the large and cartoonish sign that says "Fantasy Hobby Store", I trudge towards the small door decorated by Earth Aleph cartoon posters and standees. And no matter how Greg Ceder phrase it, it's a fucking Toy Shop.

"Oh hello dear, aren't you supposed to be at school?"

Hearing a familiar old voice, I quickly wiped out the look of consternation off my face and smiled genially at the person on the counter. "Hi Mrs. Veder, School's out early" I greeted as I faced Greg's Grandmother." I was visiting Greg to drop off a couple of notes and assignments he missed for today. " I fibbed with a straight face, my voice unwavering.

Mrs. Wilhelmina Veder looked young for her age. At the age of 65, she was wearing a modest dress with a stylish cloth apron tied around her waist. She was a bit short, plump in build and a long blonde hair that has only a small strands of grey showing and was styled in a simple bun. Mrs. Veder has a pretty face, with her perfectly shaped eyebrows accentuating her olive green eyes, full lips and a beauty mark on her right cheeks. She has this lively energy around her that made her looked like she was only in her early 40s.

Carrying a stack of large boxes marked as ship models, Mrs. Veder huffed as she placed the boxes on the small center display table before replying. "I know you skipped school young lady. I appreciate you looking out for my precious little Greg but..." she hesitantly pursed her lips before she continued.

"Don't let those people ruin something as important as a proper education." My breath hitched as I ponder on her words.

No-one really cared for my wellbeing since mom died, I was still astounded on how thoughtful Mrs. Veder was to me. Not even dad would have noticed my issues, not since...

I clenched my fist before removing those bitter thoughts out of my mind. Discarding the mask of geniality, I sheepishly smiled at Mrs. Veder." I'm fine Mrs. Veder, I just bailed school before Emma and her posse retaliate from their botched plot. " I replied truthfully this time.

"You know how it is. My dad would be called then Mr. Barnes would arrive and threats of lawsuits would fly..." I trailed off knowing that Mrs. Veder got the whole picture. Trying to switch the topic, I looked around the shop before I asked.

"Where's Greg, Mrs. Veder?"

" He's at the back and do call me Nonna, Taylor."

Thanking Mrs. Veder, I asked if I could help her with the shop but she politely declines. Moving towards the aisles of Earth Aleph imported Robot action figures, I stopped by Mrs. Veder's voice.

"Oh, and by the way, Taylor" she called out just as open the door marked with a Red Employees Only sign. " Do try to get Greg out of his little workshop, He does look a little pale from what I saw a bit earlier. " Mrs. Veder finished with a bit of concern in her voice. She must have seen Greg earlier after that call.

"Sure, Mrs. Ve-er I mean Nonna! I'll try to get him to go outside. " I chirped giving her a reassuring smile causing her shoulders to say in relief. Good thing she wasn't aware of my thoughts about 'helping' his grandson to go outside, she would have fainted if she did.

"Well run along now dear. Don't let this old little lady keep you from doing what you need to do.. " she said, her back is already turned as she continued to fix up the display of a pair of Dragontech drones in the new arrivals section of the shop while humming a catchy if somewhat familiar tune.

I stepped into the back room. It was large, stuffed with large shelves filled with several crates full of toys and DIY model aircraft. The room was a bit dark with a bit of dry and cool air that kept the merchandise safe. I walked in between shelves, my body accustomed to the structured chaos of the storage room. As I ventured further in, I stopped in front of an old metal door and knocked in a certain pattern. As I waited for Greg to acknowledge the signal, I let my eyes wander around before I noticed a glint of something shiny that is hidden in between two crates.

Curious, I took a step closer to check and see what is the shining object. I stared in between the Two crates full of Earth Aleph Imported Toy models only for a small lens of a hidden camera seemed to whir, it's glinting lens coming into focus. I sighed in exasperation before I turned back to staring at the old metal door.

Ten minutes seemed to pass as I felt my patience growing thin, my eyebrows were twitching in irritation. I tried to knock on the door again only for nothing to happen.

I let myangerignite myStorm Flamesin my hands, carefully managing its size to that of a small marble to prevent the Flame from burning the storeroom before I stared at the camera and shouted.

"Greg open the damn door already! "

The 'hidden' camera reacted, its lens released a soft whirring sound of gears and components shifting before it started to emit light. A small hard light screen appeared just shy distance in front of my head with a familiar figure staring nervously at me.

"Uh, Hey Taylor. " Greg greeted as I glared at the Hardlight projection in front of me. Looking at my associate, I noted how nervous he seemed. I impatiently gestured at the door, exhaling harshly out at his lack of awareness.

"I'mSorryaboutthewholeslipoftongueearlier!ISweartherewasnoonetheretolisteninand..." He squealed as his words keep on spewing out incoherently before I cut him off.

"The Door, Greg... Open the door first before I double your punishment" I huffed out angrily while hearing a distinct sound of "HIEEE!" from the other side of the door.

"Ok! Ok! Taylor jeez just calm down and turn of the flames" Greg quickly replied while I snuff out the Storm Flames in my hands. Watching as the small hidden security camera retract back into a small space between the crates while the sound of hissing announced the release of the pressure lock of the steel door. Grabbing the handle, I swung the door open and step inside the dark workshop.

The room was small, filled with several spare parts of toys and machinery. The workshop serves as the store's repair room with a small table full of tools resting at the right wall and a shelf on the adjacent side. The shelf was filled with antique models and several books ranging from repair manuals and fiction books that focuses more on science fiction than that of fantasy.

With a confident step, I walked in front of the shelf and pulled a small pocketbook name "Death in Florence " revealing it to be a disguised switch. Hearing the whirring sounds of gears turning, I turned back towards the workshop and sat on the stool, patiently waiting of the gears to stop before the trapdoor opened and darkness swallowed me whole.

AN: Sorry about the delay, I was re typing the whole thing on my Phone since my Laptop is still broken..