Pick Your Poison
Enzyme 3.3
[Thursday, November 11, 2010]
The Surge Concentrate was working like a charm. It took only two days for the PRT to find the water softener dispensing the culture to the school, but by then the 'damage' had already been done.
Students, faculty, and even the onsite PRT were getting a free treatment to being as healthy as they could feasibly be. Taylor got an especially big kick out of Hess being the one out of the Trio to get hit the worst. Her being an athlete, she drank more water on average and also more frequently made use of the locker room showers. Being so heavily dosed with a stronger version of Surge, she was visibly panting with libidinous frustration and growing out of her clothes by yesterday, and had to be 'sent home' asap.
That, along with everyone else starting to grow taller, more muscular, and rapidly developing forced Winslow to declare it an 'attack' on the school and close for the 'safety' of all who attend the premises until everything was taken care of. Oddly enough, it wasn't Blackwell, but some other school official who made the announcement.
This meant that today, and until we were informed otherwise, we had no school to worry about. Sure, the PRT had us spend the rest of yesterday in a quarantine for screening to make sure my Surge wasn't communicable, but everyone was cleared with assurance from Panacea who dropped by as the 'expert' on it that it was only effective through ingestion and direct absorption via the skin, which was something the athletes reacting even more strongly taught me. She also refused to mess with it since it wasn't doing any actual harm. So no further observation by the officials meant we had all the time to do whatever we wanted.
Which, right now, was in a bit of a standby. I wanted to tinker, but Taylor insisted I take a break, saying something about tinkers getting unhealthy from their tinker fugues if left unchecked. Pantera was also in favor of me taking a break since I'd mostly been spending the time after school experimenting on a sickly dog that Mush had brought home to the Fishery. The tests so far have proven that indeed Stim works on at least most mammals, and that Surge works just as well on them as on humans. Mush named his new oversized black Doberman Pinscher Rebel, because she was oddly keen on doing the opposite of what she was told.
Probably why she was abandoned like some mutt, she hadn't even had her ears cropped or her tail docked yet, so maybe she'd escaped.
That all said was Tuesday and yesterday, today was November 11, Veterans Day. A large portion of the city was out and about because oddly enough both here, and across the world where in other countries the day is known as Armistice Day, is considered a Truce day. Taylor told me she read up on it more in depth while Mr. Gladly had mostly glossed over it. Something about villains and heroes casually deciding to not fight on certain days. Like today out of respect or something, or Christmas or Thanksgiving for similar reasons. Anyone who raised hell on these days tended to be everyone's enemy, so nobody rocked the boat.
So. I find myself being dragged down the Boardwalk by Pantera with a disguised Taylor eagerly part of our group. Everyone was openly gawking at us and taking pictures, because today was also a day cape enthusiasts could indulge on spreading rumors and whatnot without fear of danger. It also might have had something to do with the fact that we were all 7 feet tall.
I and Taylor abused the situation at Winslow to speed up our development. I capped out at 7 feet tall with all my fat finally gone and as muscular as I felt was reasonable, and my mother stated with melancholy that I looked just like my father. Beardless as well. I suppose I am cursed to be clean-faced unlike my grandfathers. Taylor had also stopped at around 7 feet, if just nearly an inch over. She was quite slim unlike Pantera, only having a DD cup bosom and fairly petite hips and buttocks, which she was beyond ecstatic over because she described herself as lithe and fit.
Also it was our costumes. I was in my full garb, save my mask hanging on my belt so everyone saw my invisible head, a decision made when Tattletale mentioned the PRT was already wary of invisible operatives from our invasion of the PHQ when we were just asking her for any remaining ABB targets. Pantera was wearing a quite poorly fitting tank top that barely covered her chest and skin-tight yoga shorts that were both a plain black to make her look naked from afar to her own admission. As for Taylor, she was wearing a full rainbow bodysuit to hide her identity with her usual hoodie on since it still barely fit, and jogger pants since it was all she had that fit.
We were here because Pantera took liberty with appropriating a few hundred dollars for a day out and wanted to go shopping with her friends. Aka; Taylor and I. I have read up on this; I'm going to end up as their pack mule, and I do not object if it makes them happy. "Tell me again, Pan, why we're at the Boardwalk? We could have gone to the mall or the Lord Street Market and received less gawking and leering security detail."
"Because Deal! We've gotta make a show! Smile~!" Pantera gushed as she hugged my shoulders and made a cheesy 'peace' gesture with her free hand towards a bunch of tourists. "Stop giving me moose antlers!" Pantera snapped at Taylor behind us, who laughed as her multicolored hands lowered from above Pantera's head.
"What? Just making a show." Taylor chuckled and Pantera chuffed. Ever since Monday, Taylor has been much happier, and clearly got along with Pantera if in an odd way. Also, the fact that the Canadian Tinker, Dragon, has hired the Dockworkers Union as well as several other labor groups in the city for work on removing the Ship Graveyard and restoring the city has her in good spirits. "But besides that, you also said we were here to have a friendly chat with Parian."
"Right, we really haven't had time to apologize for Halloween have we?" I asked for confirmation, which Pantera answered with a sigh and a shrug. "Then indeed today is a good opportunity to extend an olive branch."
"One that's rather overdue." At hearing a young woman's voice, I turned around, and had to look down. Very far down. To see a diminutive figure dressed in a victorian era style of dress synonymous with collectable dolls wearing a simple porcelain mask that was also reminiscent of such a novelty. She barely came up to my ribs, she must barely break 5 feet in height. "I did not appreciate the Merchants making such a violent display in front of my place of business. Commissions dropped like a rock for days."
"I am incapable of feeling emotion, so I will not say that I am sorry. But I am in agreement that the stage could have been placed at least one or two buildings over. Hurting your business when you have no hand in the city's ills is anathema to our goals." I knelt down, having read that towering over someone was considered rude when trying to talk seriously or otherwise engage in meaningful conversation. Talking to Taylor monday was different because she was already a friend, Parian, not as such. Now nearly eye level with the cloth telekinetic, I could see her dark eyes through the eyelets of her mask, dark, and filled with trepidation if I was reading them right. "So I, on behalf of the Merchants, apologize for wronging you Parian."
"Geez, stand up. You're embarrassing me." Parian hissed with visible fluster, likely from all the cameras recording my official apology. "Consider any animosity forgiven. Just please, don't make a display in front of my store again. Or crash any of my venues."
"We will do our best to fulfill that request. If we do otherwise, we will extend further overtures." I declared, standing back up. "That having been said, we would like to commission some clothes. As you can see, due to my creations; we have become quite large, and it is hard to find properly fitting clothes."
"Yeah! I'm about to bust this top just breathing!" Pantera declared, pulling on her top a bit to try and vent her cleavage as she let her tongue hang out. "I could also use some cooler outfits, both literally and in style since I don't sweat like a human. Tube tops and daisy dukes are nice and all, but I don't want to just wear the same things all the time."
"W-who are you anyhow?" Parian asked Pantera with a notable hitch in her voice and her tone going a bit higher in register.
"I'm Pantera! Dealer's personal assistant. I test all his products before they go into full production." Pantera stated proudly as she flicked her mane and displayed her long tail. "I didn't get this fabulous from shampoo and conditioner alone. Oh, also Deal, I kinda need a ton of those since normal soap doesn't cut it anymore."
"She's full of herself, don't let it get to you." Taylor interjected, getting Pantera to growl playfully at her friend.
"Well, it's always interesting to meet a new cape-." At Parian's words, Pantera began barking in laughter, Taylor snickering as she patted Pantera on the back. "W-what's so funny?" Parian demanded, fairly put out, so I decided to involve myself in the conversation again.
"She's just enjoying the fact she was correct in that people would initially assume she's a parahuman. She isn't. Like she said, she is a product of an accumulation of my projects." This got a notable silence to fall over the area, which I ignored to forge ahead. "Pantera has taken a full regimen of what the PRT has identified as Surge, which basically develops a living body to it's full genetic potential, while also emphasizing muscular development if the user exercises during its duration."
"So pump iron! Or tinkertech vans like I did while on it, and BOOM~!" Pantera flexed her whole body in a pose typical of bodybuilders, but the straps of her tank top snapped and she yelped as she clutched her chest to avoid a more violent wardrobe malfunction. "Ah! Um...I guess tanks are just out of the question these days…."
"Or, don't exercise like my lazy butt, and get lean." Taylor patted her left bicep which had a very small but quite obvious bulge as she flexed.
"Then there was the Stim, my healing product. I won't go into detail, I'll just say it keeps the subject healthy. Then, finally; is Primal." At my statement of my mutagen, Pantera craned her head into the air and let out a loud, viceral alpha feline snarl, which got several people to scream and jump away. "Which unlocks the most prominent animal DNA in a person, and blends them into a living half-animal hybrid."
"So that's how I became a bombshell sexy cat-girl! Thank you~, thank you~!" Pantera hammed as she kept an arm around her bosom to keep her top covered. "But all the showcasing aside, can I please be fitted for a vest or something? And bras. Dear god, I need bras. I don't care if they'll never sag, I need support when I'm being active."
"Obviously." Parian said with a breathy tone I couldn't fully get the context for. "Well, you clearly need some size references at the least. I'll take your measurements so you can order from other services as well. But I'll also be willing to provide you a simple top for modesty for free. Any more than that I charge premium for persons of your impressive stature."
"That's great, I need some jeans. I'm not going to be going around town in a bodysuit all the time, and I'd prefer if I had more options than sweats or bike shorts and skirts." Taylor shuddered. Likely over the fact that yesterday at school, she had no other clothes by then that fit and was stuck wearing her hoodie with said skirt and shorts combo. She was clearly embarrassed by all the stunned looks she received from our peers and some admonishment from the teachers about how revealing her choice in clothes was.
"Splendid. Come inside and we'll get things underway." Parian suddenly stated with excitement. Clearly her work was her passion.
[Pick Your Poison]
By the time we finally left the Dollhouse a couple of hours later, I was bogged down with several large bags of clothes for both of the main females in my life. My left side completely covered in bags for Pantera, and the right in bags for Taylor. The only reason Taylor even got as many clothes was because of Pantera urging her new friend to try out new things as well as what she was comfortable with.
Due to this, we left with Pantera wearing special purple sunglasses Parian made that actually hooked up over her cat ears, a white 'display' vest that merely framed the sides of her breasts with a purple sports bra that conservatively covered her H-cups that she said finally made her feel more stable. She also wore a purple skirt over her yoga shorts but under her tail. As for Taylor, she was still in the bodysuit, but was now wearing perfectly sized jeans, a plain white blouse, and was even wearing a white fedora for some reason.
"I like Parian, she's so nice once you get her talking." Taylor commented as we headed back down the Boardwalk, attracting even more onlookers who likely came at word-of-mouth that we were here on a shopping trip.
"Yeah, but she's gotta get a girlfriend. I could literally smell her arousal when she was measuring us. Thought she was gonna jump me when she was measuring my boobs." Pantera chuckled and Taylor staggered, clearly not noticing what Pantera had. "Oh, she liked you too Tee. She was especially appreciative of your long dancer legs."
"Oh god, stop talking…." Taylor whined, fiddling her hands with embarrassment. "I don't even swing that way."
"Girl, you gotta open up your possibilities. This world's too bleak and life is too terrible to only stick to one side of the fence!" Pantera cackled, getting Taylor to groan.
"Well, it's nice to see you not terrorizing people for once." We paused and looked over to see Gallant and Clockblocker approaching, casual as could be considering the unwritten Truce for today. "I didn't take you to be one for female company."
"Ouch. Wow Gallant, you aren't usually that caustic." Clockblocker commented with an amicable tone. "Sorry about that, don't know what's up with him. Guess he's just jealous you have a hot cat-girl and a rainbow ballerina in company."
"I doubt that. Gallant is rather personable and likely merely holds a grudge for my breaking his leg when we first met. I do not have a way to express the notion, but I wish to extend to you my honest opinion that I have nothing against heroes personally. Just that your organization is too political to get anything done." My words made Clockblocker make odd noises that were a mix of confirmation? I didn't understand anything coming from him.
"Alright, I can understand that. But that's not what I'm here for on my day off. Can we talk for a minute? Alone?" Gallant requested with a look at my companions, who both looked as if they were adverse to the idea, but I quickly put down the bags and gestured for him to lead on. Shortly, I and Gallant were behind one of the buildings with nobody immediately around. "I need to come clean about something. I know who you are."
"Who am I then?" I immediately asked, needing confirmation before I could hint at anything else.
"Andrew Ruebs. Freshman at Winslow High, age 14, your birthday is next week." Gallant stated factually, and I nodded, no point in trying to lie if he has such accurate info.
"Who else knows?" I might have to quit school and prepare to be a villain full time now if it was well known.
"Nobody. Outing someone is directly spitting on the Unwritten Rules. I figured out who you were when I saw you at the assembly on Monday. There's not many people who are just...empty. I also paid close attention to you. You're clearly a leader among the group you were separated into. You have visible difficulty displaying emotion on top of what my powers told me. So, because I figured out your identity, I'm going to do the right thing." Gallant pressed a switch at the base of his skull, and I watched as the Ward pulled up his helmet, revealing a well-structured face with blond hair and blue eyes, before putting it back on. "Dean Stansfield."
"Of the Captain's Hill Stansfields. One of the richest and oldest families in the city. You're quite the gentleman for putting yourself on even ground with me." I complimented him, which he responded to with a shrug.
"It's the right thing to do. Besides, I'd feel terrible knowing I knew who you were without you knowing I knew. All sorts of conscience and guilt." Gallant shrugged, and I nodded.
"Very well. Just know however, that with this I am willing to open communication with you about certain things. As a heads-up however, I refuse to associate with an organization that let's a monster like Hess be a hero." At my own admittance of sensitive knowledge, Gallant crossed his arms.
"You know she's…." Gallant led.
"Yes. Be at ease that I will not Out her, I've had all the time and opportunity to do so and I have not. Also know however that while I will not purposefully harm innocent people, I will not ever be a hero. I don't want to be anyway. I just want to do better. This world has enough heroes. It needs people willing to do what's right in spite of social or legal propriety." I declared, to forestall any possible arguments he had to try and convince me otherwise.
"So you actually want to be a vigilante?" Gallant asked curiously, to which I turned away and waved back at him.
"Or a villain. Already am one." I left the alley to find Clockblocker and the girls laughing up a storm. "Gallant and I have finished our business. I thank you for keeping my friends company."
"No thanks needed! These girls are awesome! Really wish you weren't villains, being a hero would be so much more fun with you guys on our side." Clockblocker wistfully stated.
"Remember what Skidmark said. So long as you stayed out of our way, we would be on the same side. Your leaders picked their poison." I reminded the young hero, who sighed theatrically as he went into the alley, and I picked up the bags again. "Let's get back. I'd like to get to work on testing my altered Primal on some samples."
"Ugh, the guy has two hot babes and he's more concerned about work." Pantera joked, and Taylor sputtered.
"I-I'm not that attractive…." Taylor quickly replied.
"Stop lying to yourself Tee." Pantera grinned.
I ignored my friends bantering as I approached the alley that Rahj was parked in. I opened the invisible rear doors to hear the sound of heavy metal blasting from the radio, and got in with my two bickering companions. Before we closed the doors, I looked out the back when I heard barking to see a rather masculine young woman wearing a hooded leather jacket walking a trio of dogs; a rottweiler, a terrier of some breed, and a large mutt I couldn't identify.
She stared at Pantera specifically, then looked at me. Rahj turned off the radio and I gestured for my companions to wait. She clearly wanted something. "Yes?" It wasn't until she lifted up a metal Alexandria lunch box that I noticed she was holding it. She opened it with her dogs calming down, revealing several large rolls of money.
"Turn me into a dog."
