It was all in all a bad night to be an Undersider, Brian had to admit to himself from where he stood, darkness flowing off his body.
Lisa had guided them in a running retreat after getting an odd look on her face. That smile she sported worried him on multiple levels. After all, he had gotten a reasonable feel for her personality from working with her up to this point.
She liked her secrets, liked solving mysteries... worse, she loved her detective dénouement moments when she could reveal everything and explain it.
And she was currently abuzz with excitement despite being trapped in the cul de sac with everyone else as those bastards from Empire Eighty Eight approached with their handguns, led by Hookwolf.
He could only look at Lisa, his feeling of despair unseen by Lisa but she likely could deduce it from his voice. "Tattletale, you sure about this?"
"Trust me," she smirked and gestured around the cul de sac. "Or you could look around and listen."
He paused. The way she said it, the implications. He listened and looked. "We're not alone, are we?"
It certainly explained that odd buzzing he had been hearing for the last little bit. Still, Regent shook his head and smiled as he gestured at the approaching enemy. "It's rather clear we're not alone... after all, we have them to keep us company."
"Feel free to join us," Tattletale's voice rang out.
There was a moment of silence before her request was responded to.
The buzzing grew, amplified by the cul de sac, echoing before from the squirming and skittering darkness in the sky she descended.
Translucent wasp wings buzzed on her back. Green leaf armor protecting the limbs and body, while a crimson rose formed a helmet. The quality of the costume spoke volumes, this was a cape who had the time and money to spend on a professional costume. That or the cape was stupidly skilled at costume making.
"I suppose I would have to come out sooner or later." There was a buzzing echo to the voice, as she turned to look at Hookwolf. "I don't suppose you would see reason and such?"
Despite the buzzing in her voice, he believed that the slender figure before him was female. An insect based cape. He frowned as he looked her over. Clearly a Master of some decent level, but the way those wings twitched and had supported her... Mover as well, possibly Changer. That she had a sword sheathed from behind, that indicated that she might also be a brute or a striker of some kind.
There was a snort from Hookwolf before flesh changed to metal, spreading from his hands up to his body. Flickering burnish metal blades snickering and gleaming as they moved independently transforming the man into a massive wolf of metal blades and hooks.
"I thought not," the sword was drawn in a single smooth motion that spoke of practice, spinning in her hand before she let it swing freely behind her.
Another moment of silence as the two took the measure of each other, before, against all common sense, the new cape charged Hookwolf. From the scattering of dust, the rippling from where she had launched herself forwards, it was clear to those who observed her that she deserved the Mover classification.
Certainly, the older cape didn't expect that as it took him a moment to charge her in response.
If he hadn't been keeping a close eye on what was happening before him, Brian would have missed what exactly happened. Hookwolf leaped at the insect cape, who... darted forwards faster than should be normal, her blade swinging up and through him. Bisecting him in half.
Metal blades and hooks exploded outwards in two halves before joining together once more before snapping together and turned into flesh as a nude Hookwolf collapsed to the ground behind the new cape... who sauntered back to slam the blade into his head.
Regent's low whistle certainly seemed to convey his appreciation of the quick take down.
Turning to look at the gathered members of the Empire Eighty Eight, the voice of the new cape rang out once more. "Well... I certainly hope you'll be more reasonable than your boss."
"Now, I'm sure you're thinking that perhaps you have number on your side, that your guns will help you here, and it's possible that you might be right." There was a certain joy in her voice as if she was building up to something. The snort from Lisa indicated that she saw what the new cape was up to. "But consider this, look up."
The swirling mass of darkness that she had descended from had moved directly over the Empire Eighty Eight followers of Hookwolf. More, the shifting and squirming dark mass was a good indication of just what made up that dark cloud; wasps, bees. flies.
"Look down," And here, he had to swallowed at the shifting mass that covered the road between the new cape and surrounded the feet of the poor bastards. It was clear that it wasn't just cockroaches, centipedes and spiders also surrounded them.
"Look around you," She gestured once more as if to indicate the entire environment, and now the buzzing and skittering sound of insects filled the air, the silence devoured. "We are everywhere..."
"Basically," she gestured to their back, and the mass of insects cleared behind them. "Run."
And they did.
"Well... that was fun," There was a smile on her face as she turned to look at the Undersiders. "So... erm... anyone got a cellphone? We should call in the police or at least the PRT for him."
There was a look at Hookwolf, Brian had to look at her with a raised eyebrow. "No blood. So, he's just stunned?"
"Yeap." There was a cheerful nod.
Tattletale's voice certainly seemed interested as she spoke up while pulling out a disposable cellphone. "I've got this one."
"This is my first time out," Now, he had to freeze as he gave a careful look at the new cape as she spoke up. She wasn't just new. She was new new, and with that kind of a powerset. Well, he would have to see about hiring her after running it by Lisa and the mystery sponsor first. "Is this normal?"
"Well... some times," Alec replied with a smirk. "Other times, not so much."
Brian sighed and spoke up before Regent could continue. "Introductions. That's Tattletale. I'm Grue. The girl with the dogs, we call her Bitch, her preference, but in the interests of being P.G., the good guys and media decided to call her Hellhound instead. Last and certainly least, we have Regent."
It was here that the new cape seemed to take in the enhanced dogs.
"Fuck you, Grue," Regent's voice held a chuckle and amusement in it.
"We probably should leave," Tattletale spoke up. "The PRT will be here soon."
Brian nodded. They did response fast to the news of a gang fight or a supervillain being taken out of commission. "Hey want a ride?"
The offer was more of a courtesy thing than anything, given that the new cape could fly.
There was a tilt of head before she replied. "Sure, it would be nice to relax a bit."
And with that, the wings just dried out before falling off. "You can sit with Tattletale. Don't suppose you got a name?"
"I don't... I haven't picked one yet." Ah, she really was new. There was a nod now from Grue as he took in the smile from Tattletale as the two of them settled upon Brutus.
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Goblin Queen | Things that fight
Worm / Exalted
