Chapter ten: Infection

"They are adapting quite well my lord" A figure in a long white robe nodded as a woman with short black hair spoke. "One month, three days, fourteen hours. All infected have awoken and showed some semblance of their new gifts, there were no casualties" The figure nodded again, glad that all his specimen were alive and well, every one of them had the will to survive the infection, but how much more could they take.

"Siren" The figure spoke, a clear and almost noble and powerful voice came resonating from him.

"Yes my lord?"

"What do you think of them? Our subjects, Do you have any … Predictions, for phase two?" The figure slowly sat down on the cliffside he had been standing on, his long white hair being billowed to the side by the cold winds, though neither he nor the woman Siren seemed to care.

"Personally, I think many will end up dead, at least half of them, though that could just as easily come from phase three, are you saying you wish to start phase two already?" Siren asked, in the span of an instant she had gone from standing a few feet behind the white robed figure to sitting beside him.

"...No, not yet, all infected have survived and shown promise, but none have found themselves, they need more time, the more that do survive phase two the better … I saw two of them already came into combat, how are they faring?" The figure asked, overlooking the town of south park as it slept, the moonlight illuminating the town and himself, his silver eyes reflecting its magnificence.

"The one who started the confrontation, Wendy Testaburger, is doing fine she took a blast from Kyle Broflovski after attempting to harm Stan Marsh. Thankfully the attack finally triggered Stan's abilities into awakening"

"And what of the two who ran, the blonde boys?"

"Kenny McCormick is doing well from himself after escaping the hospital with Leopold Stotch, both have taken refuse in a cabin on the mountains. Leopold is slowly working his body back into a functioning condition with Kenny's help, the boys time spent completely immobile did not do well for his health"

"Nothing in that hospital did will for his health… What of the fat one?"

"Eric Cartman, he has taken to his own abilities rather well, his body alteration has even transformed his fat into muscle, though only while he is conscious"

"As to be expected, any more outliers?"

"The one called Trent Boyett is making his way to the town slowly but surely, it appears as if nothing will be able to stand in his way, as for what his goals are, I'm not sure, though I know he is quite familiar with the five boys we talked of.

"If I had to guess, he wants revenge, if they should meet it will be very … interesting"

"My lord, you haven't really told me what you're hoping to achieve from this"

"..." The figure slowly stood up again, looking down at the town, a small smile showing on his calm face before he took in a deep breath and looked up to the sky. "I am hoping to achieve …"

Kyle woke up panting and shaking, his head pounding and his body covered in sweat. Had he been dreaming? He tried to remember everything, a man in white and a woman who moved without moving, something about an infection and a plan, a plan for something, but what? Frustrated Kyle punched his wall, it might have all been a stupid dream but what if it had meant something?

With a sigh kyle looked over and saw it was six thirty in the morning, too early to do much of anything but too late to just go back to sleep besides he felt disgusting and slowly made his way out of the room. Stripping as he made his way to his bathroom, his mind trying to race over things, not that his mind racing was anything new now. With as well as he had taken to his, and he hated to say it, powers; it was still so strange. He had to admit it to himself, it was cool "I can move things with my mind!" He thought to himself when he finally figured it out.

Of course once he figured it out, he had to test it, and test it, and test it, until finally it was less about testing and it had just become practicing. Kyle had to think that to himself "I am PRACTICING with a goddamn superpower!" it was insane, even for south park, but it was still so cool; especially when he had gotten to show off for Stan even if it was only for a minute or two. He would never say it outloud but even lifting himself was a struggle on his head; of course thinking about Stan, Kyle couldn't help but think of what had happened the other night.

Was that … Thing, really Wendy? He pictured how Wendy had looked the last time he had properly seen her. Her hair was long and black but it wasn't that long, they had the same color eyes as well, of course none of that was also mentioning the complete exaggeration of her more, um, womanly parts. But still, Stan swore it had been her, he said he could tell when he looked into her eyes, Kyle found it difficult not to admit that it hurt his chest a little to hear Stan say that, but they had more important issues then teenage romance drama.

At least they had finally discovered Stan's … whatever it was. Kyle's first guess was like a second skin that formed over Stan's skin to protect him, but looking closer and thinking more on it. It looked more like Stan's skin itself changed to become the weird super hardened shell. By the time Kyle had left Stan's place they were still no closer in figuring out how to turn it off but they did notice Stan's body had stopped wigging out on him and he was happier about that then he was concerned over the hardened skin that saved his life.

Kyle sighed as he washed himself up in the shower, he still had so many more questions. What was his weird dream about? Why would Wendy attack them? What was that mind bomb thing? Who else was affected? What else could everyone do? What did it mean? Kyle was sure he was going to drive himself crazy if he did not figure it out or if he kept worrying.

Deciding to just turn his brain off as best he could as he finished up his shower Kyle stretched and shook his hair, feeling it floof up into it's normal jewfro style. Not that he had anything against it fluffing up too much but ever since reaching high school he had started straightening it every day until it finally reached the point his hair could easily fall straight, giving him rather curly fire red locks.

With a towel around his waist Kyle opened the bathroom door only to yelp and jump backwards a bit, slipping on the floor as he does so. Thankfully he is able to catch himself mid air and sigh, lowering himself back gently to the ground.

"Jesus Ike, a little warning next time please, don't just stand outside the door."

"You want to help Stan right? With his skin"

"...Y-ya… How did you"

"Take him to Craig"

"Craig? Why Craig, and how do you know any of that?" Kyle asked, standing up and holding the towel more firmly around him, he knew couldn't see, but he knew his brother could do something; Ike meanwhile just shrugged.

"Call it a feeling, anyway, if you wanna help, just take him to Craig" Kyle was so confused but Ike just gave him a smile and walked off, and it was times like these when Kyle desperately wanted to know what it was Ike had. Though if the young Canadian was right then it looked like him and Stan would be taking a trip to Craig's house. It wouldn't be all that hard both him and Tweak had gotten out of the hospital earlier than both of them and it's not like they were enemies.

Back in his room, and after getting dressed Kyle texted both Craig and Stan about the meetup, of course both Stan and Craig would still be asleep so Kyle went down stairs to make himself some breakfast. A simple bowl of cereal without even any milk and Kyle was set up on the couch watching the news and waiting.

Other then more information on Trent boyett and the rebuilding of Tweek coffee there was nothing interesting on. "Oh ya that's right, Tweak's family's shop exploded the same day we all got infected … did I just say infected?" Kyle thought to himself, he suppose there wasn't enough evidence to disprove it was a disease but it was still a strange train of thought.

After a while he was derailed as he got a reply from Craig as a series of emojis Kyle was able to loosely translate into 'fuck off im sleeping'. With a roll of his eyes he just texted back saying it was important and they would be there soon as possible, though Kyle still did not have a reply from Stan.

Another few more emoji encrypted messages and Kyle was able to finally get Craig to at least stay awake for when him and Stan would come over. Speaking of Stan he finally responded after Kyle had convinced Craig.

[Toolshed: Hey, why do we need to see Craig?]

[Human-kite: I don't actually know, Ike just said if we wanted to help your skin we should see him]

[Toolshed: That's all?]

[Human-kite: More or less]

[Toolshed: Welp, better than nothing I guess, so we're just gonna go now?]

[Human-kite: That's right, so get dressed and meet me at your door]

[Toolshed: Will do, see ya Ky]

Kyle sighed and stretched a little, putting his phone into his pocket and putting his bowl down on the table. It was pretty rare for him to have so much of a plan so early in the day but he enjoyed it. He couldn't stop himself from wondering "why Craig? What can he do?" He thought about it as he walked to Stan's house and was happy to see him waiting at the door, rubbing his side where Kyle knew the weird skin plate was.

"So then, off to … Craig's?" Stan said smiling but looking a bit confused, kyle smiled as well and nodded but showed he did no really see exactly why either,

"I'd rather go visit Craig on a feeling from Ike then just do nothing, we're not getting anywhere with this ourselves" Kyle said, putting his hands into his pockets and walking beside Stan as they made the short trip to Craig's house.

"So tell me, what are your theories, I know you have some"

"Really Stan?"

"Ya really, you're clearly the smartest one, what do you think they do and what do you think all this is?"

"If I had an answer for those I would have already told you."

"I don't want what you know for fact I just wanna know what you think it might be"

"...heh… I don't know, We don't really have a lot to go on, I've even been living with Ike and I couldn't even tell you what it is he does or how, and he's been living with himself and what he can do first hand and he couldn't even tell you, he just seems to … know things. I guess." Kyle looked down at the ground a bit, he really had been thinking on it, more then he wanted to admit. Though there wasn't much more time to think on it as they reached Craig's house and were greeted with a blank stare and a middle finger before being let inside.