Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Marvel, or any of their characters. I'm just playing mash-up, and sharing the results.
:}
The farmers market was in shambles after the giant rat man, along with his following of rats and wild dogs, showed up to "Forage." They chased people off, ate what they wanted of the produce, and in general were a pain for the unfortunate police officers who tried to stop them. The dogs were the worst, needing meat. But the rat man seemed not to worry about what he was eating, and was soon threatening a baby in a carriage.
"Fresh meat." He said. "It's always the way. The strong survive, and the weak perish. My brothers will feast tonight."
"How do you know that kid's gonna grow up to be weak?" Power Princess asked. Jade had been at the farmers market to catch the free music. The bands were free, usually fairly talented, but always live, and how could she resist live music. It was also a way to kill time after school until Tori finished today's writing session with Andre. "And if the child has someone to protect it, is the child weak?"
"Get her, my minions!" The rat man called out. The wild dogs moved towards her, while a small sea of gray fur advanced from all around her.
"You know, rats, in large numbers, are a threat to most people." Jade commented. "But I have enough power to deal with the likes of you."
She reached back behind her to pick up a display table and tossed it towards the oncoming mass of fur. The table was sturdy, meant to hold hundreds of pounds worth of merchandise, but backed by the Asgardian's strength easily shattered as it crushed the first ranks of the advancing army of rats.
But the carpet of death continued to move forward. Jade was forced to take to the air, so as not to be buried under the growing mass of the rat swarm. But as she rose, she saw something that made everything make more sense. 'He's not summoning the rats, he's making them.'
Rats seemed to pour out of his legs, gray shadows that quickly formed into the vermin. There were real rats too, joining into the growing mass. Those rats, drawn by a form of rodent group think, were coming out of the sewers and buildings to join in, augmenting the vast army of shadow rats. Jade suspected that the majority of the rats were created, and that mass was what let him control the rest. 'Stop him, and most of the rats go away.'
Decided on her course of action, Jade charged his position. The divot she left in the ground was noticeable, even as the ground shook from the impact. "Typical. Didn't expect me to be able to get out of the way, did you?" The rat man taunted.
Almost too quickly the sea of rats shifted to flow back over her. For several seconds Power Princess disappeared under the swirling mass of gray fur. An echo of her screams was the only reminder that a hero had risen to challenge this freak. Then the mass rose, still swirling, but now rats were dripping off of it as she took to the air. Next Jade started to spin, fast, and the rats started to lose hold on the mass. Soon there were rats hurling in all directions. As the now dizzy hero slowed to a stop, not a single rat had held on. Instead, they had splatted against the buildings that lined the street, or whatever else they'd impacted. The centrifugal force had launched them at a deadly velocity.
"Okay, you're quicker then I gave you credit for, but I have news for you. My skin is like armor, and your rats couldn't bite through it." Jade announced, doing the best to hide how dizzy she was.
"Given time, they can chew through even cement." The rat man said. "You got lucky, but your mission suit didn't. I see holes."
"Perve." Jade said as she flew down. Once again, he dodged, but she didn't try and land a blow, just closed until she was within hand to hand range. Once there, Jade superior skills and combat training allowed her to guess where he was gonna go. She faked one direction to make him dodge the other, then grappled him. Then she held on with all her immense power.
He was strong. Far stronger then a normal man. Unfortunately for him, Jade was far far stronger then he was. She held on to his attempts to break free, allowed his claws to leave angry red trails along her flesh, and started to squeeze the rat man in a bear hug. Seconds passed and his struggles grew less and less forceful, until he stopped moving all together.
Jade wanted to just drop him. Unfortunately, she'd been gaining altitude during the struggle, to avoid letting any of his rat friends get to close. Now she was a good sixty feet off the ground, and dropping him could do even more damage. Instead, she slowly lowered herself to the ground.
The rats were fading, except for the surviving real ones, who grabbed a belly full and ran off. The dogs, to the last one, faded from view. Jade checked and found a pulse, so she decided to call this one in. Activating the radio in her helmet, she said "Okay, I have a freaky Rat Man at the farmers market at Hollywood and Oaks."
"Okay, before you engage, make sure he's alone." Robbie replied, letting her know that their control was on line..
"I, um, already engaged. Fights over. I just need someone to come do cleanup." Jade admitted.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'S on the way." Robbie said. "I'm getting the satellite image now, and... holy chiz. Jade, please try to show more restraint in the future. That place looks trashed."
"In my defense, not all of that was me." Power Princess said. "Eta on backup?"
"Five minutes." Robbie said.
Jade dumped the unconscious rat man off on the first S.H.I.R.L.D. agent on the scene, and took off. They would have to get her statement later. Luckily for them, the news and just about everyone interested in the fight, there were about a dozen phone camera videos of the coflict, including the "rain of rats", where Jade's rat shower turned the small rodents into deadly flying weapons. No one was hurt, since most of them had taken cover, but there were a lot of broken windows and other damage cause by that maneuver. Evidence of how dangerous it could be to be so close to a battle between powered individuals.
Later, when Jade had gone to the base to report, she was confronted by Sikowitz. "Jade, I'm going to try and teach you how to use your life force to to somehow repel rodents or similar things. We got lucky no one was seriously hurt. At lest not by you. But next time, we might not be so lucky. We don't need the press reporting we were careless, and people got hurt by the rat shrapnel." He paused for a second. "Ratpnal?"
"Really?" Agent Malcolm Anderson asked. "We're really going to stop in the middle of reprimanding her for being careless to try and come up with a name for the flying rats?"
"Flying rats makes it sound too much like they were doing it." Sikowitz said. "No, Ratpnal sounds a little silly, but it's a better description of what happened."
"Thats not the point." Mal almost screamed. The normally calm and disciplined S.H.I.E.L.D agent was having trouble controlling his emotions now. "The point is, this isn't a game. Stop treating it like a fucking game."
"Language please." Sikowitz said. "And Mal, you need to calm down about this. Jade was just trying something original, figuring out what was the best way to deal with a situation. Something none of us, S.H.I.E.L.D. included, had thought of. So yes, it was dangerous, and we got lucky. I'm just going to make sure that there is no next time. And Jade, how in the name of Gandhi did you manage not to wind up dizzy as hell after that move?"
"I didn't." Jade replied. "When I closed, I was also recovering. Took extra long so I'd be able to function. Still, I got him, and was squeezing before I could totally see straight again."
"Then why did you engage?' Mal asked.
"So the rats wouldn't eat any babies." Jade replied, keeping her voice sweet and a smile on her face.
"Okay, I get it." Mal said. "But that brings me to the reason we're needing this meeting."
"It's just us." Jade said. "You, me, and Sikowitz."
"The others couldn't make it." Mal said, sighing. "But the point is, and you all need to learn this, we need to be more professional. Think before we act."
"Not bring a date to a potential fight?" Jade cut in. "I think we get that. It's just, with the exception of Andre, who's not here, none of us were trained to think like you. We're volunteer, working together, learning. We're gonna make mistakes. I mean, sure, Griffin's a bad boy, even if he's into Pee Wee Babies, but he has some bad boy cred. But taking him to a battle, even if it's only to observe, not smart."
"Exactly." Mal agreed. "And I think, maybe, Sikowitz here could use help training you."
"No." The teacher said flatly. "Before you say anything, lets point out the flaw in your plan. These are kids. Talented kids who are used to being creative. The military approach won't be appreciated by most of them. And it won't work. These kids have to be handled very carefully. Their learning to make the most of their powers, their abilities, and each other. I agree they need to be able to trust one another, back each other up in the field. But at the same time, they need to be seen as powerful individuals. Each one unique and special. I'll deal with the training, cause they know and trust me. They'll respond without having to be broken down and rebuilt. I know you meant well, but this is how it has to be."
"But S.H.I.E.L.D. has some of the best..." Mal started.
"Do they?" The teacher asked. "How many super humans have they trained? Maybe four, if we count Captain America? How many with the kinds of powers we have here? How many who have the complications we have here? No, I'm getting my advice from the Inhumans, cause this is their kind of deal. And I'm handling the training myself."
"But the mistakes..." Mal tried.
"No one is blaming you." Sikowitz interrupted him again. "And again, we're putting children on the line, fighting unpredictable foes. And they've done extremely well, given how prepared we were. Also, let me ask you, could we really wait until they were fully trained to field them? Would those police officers from a couple of days ago have just ran around and not hurt anyone? How about the rat man, who we know nothing about? Do you think he'd have been willing to come back later? Or maybe, just maybe, we use the resources we have, and do what we can."
"I still don't like Griffin, even if he did kinda pass your background check." Jade said.
"He didn't exactly pass." Mal replied, echoing what Andre had told them a couple of days ago. "It's just, his crimes were all seen as youthful indiscretions. No real arrests. Never served in juvie. His record is mostly clean. We just don't see a guy who collects Pee Wee Babies as a security risk. But we wouldn't consider him a safe person to have working with the team, or in any sensitive area, either. He's just too raw to know which side he might wind up falling on. But he's clean enough, and we don't think we have the right to interfere in Trina's love life. As Mister Sikowitz pointed out, you're not S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. You're kids, and director Coulson wants you to have as normal a life as possible."
After they finished their meeting, Jade called her ex. "Beck, listen, I still don't trust Griffin. I think S.H.I.E.L.D. hid something."
"I know you have trouble trusting large organizations." Beck replied. "But S.H.I.E.L.D. is on the up and up. They help people. We help people."
"This isn't about you, or S.H.I.E.L.D." Jade said. "Just because someone doesn't have a criminal record doesn't mean their not capable of becoming criminals. Right circumstances, right temptation, and anyone could snap. The only reason I never tried any of the chiz my dad did, trying to take over or something like that, is because my mother worked hard to make sure I wouldn't let my power go to my head. My mother, my brother, and a whole squad of others, just to make sure the power didn't go to my head. You, the others, you got kinda lucky. We need to be sure that Griffin isn't playing everyone. Good looking boys who know how to charm people often get lighter sentences. That boy could be a budding menace."
"Finished?' Beck asked.
"Yea." Jade confirmed.
"Then lets talk about the budding menace." The Canadian said. "A school bully, had a difficult relationship with her father. Lots of chances to make the wrong choices, and as violent as they come. Yet we gave her a chance."
"I wasn't that violent." Jade pointed out. "I used intimidation so I wouldn't have to fight. Remember, I was trained, from an early age. It's fighting to not hurt the other person, thats what I'm working on now. That, and how not to fling rats in all directions."
"Your point?' Beck asked.
"I'm totally different then Griffin." The goth replied.
"But your not." Beck said. "Cause we don't know if he's bad or not, and it's not fair to assume he is just because of a few mistakes he made in the past.."
Jade growled, but accepted Beck's point.
Across town, Griffin was getting home, having just finished his latest date with Trina. "Nice to be home." He announced to no one.
He stopped at his display room, to admire his Pee Wee Baby collection. "Hi everyone, I have a new member for you guys." He said to the dolls. "This is the ultra rare pink billed Mr. Huggins. He gets a place of honor right here." Griffin placed the toy on a shelf, and smiled at the new purchase. It was a reward for his last report. "Now I gotta go call in. Talk to you all later."
Griffin pulled out his burner phone, and called the number he always called to report in. "Nothing new." He said.
"Trina seems smitten." Rex replied. "Thats good. Did you get our gift?"
"Yea, I did." The boy said.
"Good." Rex continued. "Getting her to bring you to a fight, that was epic. Remember, don't be afraid to back off. We're not after information, but influence. We need Trina willing to walk into our trap, if and when we decide to act. So you can try and learn new chiz, but don't worry if they cut you off. And your like a deep cover operative. You may, and will, be asked to do whatever to prove your on their side. It's all about getting the girl to trust you."
"Sex?" Griffin asked.
"Nothing against that." Rex replied. "As long as she trusts you until we need you to lead her into whatever."
"Cool." The boy said.
"Now, don't expect another bonus like that. Not unless circumstances allow you a chance to impress us. And don't take unnecessary risks. Soon, maybe not soon enough, you'll have everything you wanted." Rex said.
"Not to contradict," Griffin said, "But to be the bad boy with a heart of gold she'll be into, I'm gonna need to keep pushing the envelope. Let her know I'm dangerous. I'll probably not be at most of their fights, but I'm gonna do some risky things. Have too. And I'm gonna start testing her. Make her prove she's into me."
"And if she fails?" Rex asked, his voice suddenly dangerous.
"That what makes this hard." The handsome boy said. "I have to make the tests hard enough for her to think their real, but at the same time, make sure she passes. Then I can tell her how hard it is for me to trust, that what makes me bad makes it hard for me to get close to people. And that each time she passes, most girls wouldn't. Let her know how special I think she is."
"My god, you are the asshole for the job." Rex said, his voice tinged with admeration. "But Trina has…. Who am I kidding. For a good looking boy like you, she'll bend over backwards. Yea, do what you have to. Just make sure she stays with you until I need her. And remember, things are gonna get dangerous, soon. I can't lose my infiltrator to some dumb stunt."
"No problem." The boy said. "Trina won't let anything happen to me."
"And Jade?" Rex asked. "Trina's sister's girlfriend. How's she reacting to you?'
"I'm having a bit of trouble winning her to my side." Griffin said. "I think she's just a..."
"This has nothing to do with her sexuality." Rex cut him off. Even Rex was surprised by that reaction. He had no love for humans, and considered their foibles to be fodder for his amusement. But he'd just defended Jade's choice to date Tori.
"I wasn't gonna say anything about that." Griffin said, sounding hurt. "I'm not that insensitive. It's just, the girls a grunch. I'll win her, maybe even take her away from her girlfriend, since she's into guys too. But it won't be easy."
"Jade would burn your Pee Wee Baby collection if she thought you were thinking of hitting on her." Rex warned. "Think about that. But you've done well. I expect you to settle in until I need you."
"You're the boss." Griffin said.
Jade was at the Vega home, relaxing. "And Mal was so pissed. I mean, I didn't expect the rats to fly off that fast." Jade said, venting.
"My poor baby." Tori cooed.
Trina walked into the living room. "It's late. Don't you have a cemetery to haunt?" She asked Jade.
"I'm spending the night." Jade said. "Your dad approved and everything."
"Well….." Trina said, not sure if that was a good idea.
"I'm staying the night cause my family is going to Frisco for the week, and they agreed it would be better then leaving me here alone." Jade clarified.
"And why are they going there?" Trina asked.
"Really?" Tori asked her sister. "You really need to know that?"
"I'm protecting your virtue." Trina replied. "Jade, why are they going to San Francisco?"
"My step dad is considering taking a job up there, and their checking the place out." The goth replied.
"And your only telling me this now?" Tori asked, clearly miffed.
"If they move, because of my commitments to the team, I'd be staying with family." Jade told her girlfriend.
"Who?" Tori asked, her voice cold.
"No one, really." Jade said. "But we didn't think it proper to tell them I'd be living at a secret base located under a junk yard. So we decided that we'd make up some family for me to stay with, and I'd live wherever."
"Okay." Trina said, backing down. "As long as it's not one of your elaborate schemes, we're cool."
"What kind of scheme?" Tori asked.
"I don't know?" Trina said. "Ask Wednesday."
"Ignore her." Tori said. "You were telling me about the rats."
"Yea, I still don't get how they all flew off like that. I was spinning fast, but..." Jade stopped to think. "They should have flown off sooner, as soon as I started spinning. Waiting for the centrifugal forces to get that strong..."
"Except you accelerated fast." Trina cut in. "That why they had so much velocity. No, what you should be asking is how they held on before you spun. From how many rats were flung, most of them were hanging onto other rats. The weight should have pulled them off."
"The guy was creating the rats." Jade said. "Maybe he made them extra clingy?"
"Or maybe he had another ability we didn't realize, some kind of clinging, and included the rats." Trina speculated.
"Isn't that covered by extra clingy?" Tori asked.
"No." Trina said. "There's more to this guy then meets the eye. And Jade, I know Mal's wazzed that I brought Griffin. Won't happen again."
Jade just nodded. "Anyways, you'd think the damage was all my fault. I'll admit to a lot of it, but I was trying to save lives. Babies."
Trina just headed up to bed. "That rat guy was probably a coincidence, but I still need to look into it. Where did he come from, and what are his powers?"
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Okay, not my best. But I think the action does give us something to focus on. Also, will Trina be able to tear herself away from Griffin long enough to figure out where this new meta-human came from. Guessing we'll have to wait and see.
Reviews are welcome. Lets see what you thought of this chapter.