Pick Your Poison
Enzyme 3.7
[Saturday, November 20, 2010]
Things have certainly taken a turn for the unusual since my recovery, which barely took a couple nights of deep sleep and sustained bedrest. Sure I had suffered extreme blood-loss, but thanks to some crew members having type O Rh D negative blood donating to the clinic at the fishery in case of such an emergency, I was fine. Especially thanks to Stim apparently making the assimilation of new blood into my body easier. Was the Stim in our systems getting stronger over time? I seem to be recovering even faster than usual. Not to mention blood samples I've analyzed of Pantera this morning compared to more recently treated subjects barely shows any differentiation in her immune system between her T cells and the Stim cells while the newer subjects are still divided. The blood wasn't even degrading outside her body anymore. However that could be, it was fascinating.
The potential ramifications of my Stim aside, thanks to Howard and Rahj, or now known as Bebop and Rocksteady, the rest of the crew has become more open to the idea of Primal. Since thanks to it, those two were able to mutate and mobilize in my defense within minutes of leaving the fishery. Mostly though they seem along the lines of requesting me to turn them into the closest approximation to a fictional character as possible. I may be a miracle worker, but for even half of these requests, I would have to get specimens from multiple zoos and wildlife preserves across the world. Unfortunately, several of them were willing to offer to do so.
I'm not looking forward to trying to keep a menagerie hidden within city limits. So I asked that anyone willing to take the random risks come forth, since I could use people like my assistants as a basis as well. On that front however, there has been little success, since often the animal I deduce they'd turn into isn't one they'd prefer, or they aren't willing to leave it up to random chance. Tie-Dye wasn't one of them. He called them all cowards, and said to give it to him.
He's a Chameleon-man now. His eyes were unusual however, instead of staying pure human or chameleon, they were human with the ability to shift more fully in their sockets. Also, once he'd transformed, he asked if using Balcoat on his scales would ruin his new ability to change colors. Considering that Balcoat is nearly clear when dry, I assumed no. The following escapade of fishing him out of a vat of Kevlar-based Balcoat and attempting to dry him out without freezing him into a short-lived statue was rather harrowing according to those aiding me. Especially since he at least had the intelligence to jump in nude and the women were gaping in intrigue according to Squealer. I suppose it was odd to them he had no external genitals anymore.
I offered him room on my immediate staff due to his eagerness and how much he's aided me, but he declined, preferring to stay as head of the Jeepers, which were hundreds strong by now. That was all shortly after I went to my lab after my bedrest was over this morning, but then I was literally dragged into a van with Pantera, Taylor, and Sherrel. Sherrel drove us through the Docks to Uber and Leet's hideout, and now I'm lying supine inside a complex medical machine. "Explain again, why I am being given a comprehensive scan?"
"Because your mom demanded it, and we're worried kid." Sherrel said from her spot standing by my friends to the side, while Uber and Leet worked the console of the fairly impressive scanner. "She said once you were out of bed, you were getting properly checked out."
"Just be glad my scanner here is my latest prototype, so it'll work until I need to upgrade it to the next version." Leet declared with a cheerful tone. Ever since Sherrel and Trainwreck had helped him figure out his Specialty, he'd been working constantly. "I can't believe my power specializes in Prototype Technology."
"Get over it dude, you've been gushing about it for weeks now." Uber snarked as he worked the console. "This thing's pretty fast and impressive, it'll get a full scan of Deal's whole body in several modes in just a few minutes. Also he didn't have to get undressed either." Uber then chuckled. "Sorry you didn't get a show girls."
"W-what?! Th-that's not why we're here!" Taylor declared and I could guess from her voice that she was flustered.
"Speak for yourself, I was hoping for another strip show." Pantera whined, and she hissed as I heard a meaty thud. "Watch the tits!"
"Girls, stop arguing over your bae and calm down. I swear, if you two get any more frisky I'm forcing you to stay in a room alone with each other to work it out." Sherrel sternly declared, getting more sputtering out of Taylor and an interested mewl out of Pantera. "How you doing in there kid?"
"The machine's slab is starting to make me ache. Leet, next time, at least install padding." I would live, but I am sure anyone with less fortitude would find this extremely uncomfortable. Also the scanning lights were fairly bright and unpleasant to get directly in the eye.
"Oh yeah, right, cushions. I was wondering what was nagging at me." Leet scratched his head, and shortly a chime rang, the machine then pulling me out of the scanning chamber on the arm of the slab, which I promptly got off of and cracked my back, starting on a full range of stretches. "Okay! Let's see what your insides look...fuck…." Leet's shocked and worried tone got the ladies rushing over to him and Uber cringed.
"Shit...that'd do it." Uber declared, and pointed out something to the girls, who all gasped when the men whispered about it to them. I don't appreciate being left out of the loop regarding this since it involves my health, so I jogged over and looked at the incredibly lifelike and further detailed scan, specifically they were looking at a cross-section of my brain.
"What is it?" At my query, Uber pointed at a fairly large oddly shaped object in the center of my brain, which was coiled through it and then nearly touched another object in the top center of my brain. "What are those, tumors?" I believe if I was not emotionally dead, I would be having an existential crisis about now.
"Yes, but not really. Those are your Corona Pollentia, and your Gemma. Considering how Powers work, I'm guessing this one is your Gemma." Leet pointed at the coiled one at the center of my brain. "It's firmly lodged right into the center of your brain from top to bottom."
"English please?" Pantera demanded, and the others nodded in agreement to her statement.
"Your Corona is likely this one up here, on the edge of the Limbic system. Then the Gemma, when it appeared, likely burrowed right through it and seems to be in contact with every part of it from the curve to it. Said system is responsible for all basic emotion response as well as basic urges and drives such as procreation and reproduction. Eating." Leet stressed the last one, and everyone all looked guilty as they looked at me.
"What? I consume nutrition daily." Sure, I only tangentially experienced hunger or the urge to seek out food due to feeling tired or weak, but I still consumed enough to get through the day.
"But only after someone reminds you! God, you're lucky you haven't died! Fuck!" Sherrel declared as she growled at herself, and I had to think back. She was right. Outside of eating at established times it was expected of me, such as breakfast when I wake up or lunch at school, I never felt the need to go out of my way and eat.
"I don't get it. If it's directly interfering with his emotions and this isn't a normal placement for a parahuman, where does the Corona and Gemma usually end up?" Taylor questioned with intrigue, to which Uber gladly pointed at the back of the image of my brain.
"It's often in the back of the brain, rarely it's in the front. Most Master and Thinker capes have the Gemma in the frontal lobes, but generally it's in the back with the Corona. Seeing both in the smack dab center like this is...just...scary." Uber grimaced. "We've hacked the PRT and seen files of parahuman brains enough to see a pattern, and this is unusual."
"So my powers have direct control of my emotions and other urges. I had already deduced this. Are we done here? I still have work to be doing before school imposes itself on me come Monday." I really do have much work to do. The lab rats have taken to their rigged-up audio books well, and I still had to see if any actual gains had been made to their comprehension skills. Not to mention I have to see if I may have accidentally made the Merchants into unaging-.
My thought process was hijacked by Sherrel grabbing my head and forcing me to look her in the eyes. "Dealer. We are going to try and get you help. There's not much that can mess with brains, but we're going to ask around. I think it's time we contacted New Wave about the debt they owe us, at least get Panacea to have a look at you even if she doesn't do brains."
"That is not necessary, but she was supposed to provide a resource so manufacturing Stim was a less morally questionable practice. That would be a good idea if we at least pursue that angle." Sherrel nodded and let me go, before she pulled out her personal cell phone and hit the speed dial.
"Skids. I need you to-what is it?" Sherrel changed her tune instantly and looked frustrated. "Skids, baby, calm down, and tell me what's got you all panicky." Sherrel demanded with a soothing coo to her voice.
"I swear, Squeal's got Skidmark by the balls." Pantera chuffed in amusement, and whatever Skidmark told her, Sherrel had to take a deep breath.
"Okay...well then, uh...let her know we're good for this evening, and that we may also have more heroic company. Stress it's not the Protectorate, and assure them that it was already planned…. Yes babe, we're finally calling in New Wave's favor. I'll tell you the details later." Sherrel then smiled beautifically and hummed. "Sounds like fun baby. I look forward to it. Love you." Sherrel husked and kissed the receiver before hanging up. "Buckle up kids, we got work to do!"
Sherrel practically skipped towards the van she'd taken us here in, and Pantera purred as she grabbed me and a blushing Taylor by the shoulders and guided us towards the van as well. "See you guys later, and Squealer, don't forget we're still on for that party tomorrow night!" Uber called out to us as we climbed into the van. Wait, what party?
[Pick Your Poison]
Somer's Rock was a filthy place, more so than the places the Merchants operate out of these days. We were a bit early, but considering we're the main group tonight, it was expected that we be the first ones here. Although…. "Why am I in charge of this?" I asked my companions as we carefully watched the road in the early evening, the sun was still in the process of transitioning into twilight and then into sunset, but for now everything was still well lit, and it would be rude for a bunch of villains to enter the establishment and be seen on a long street of small businesses. Also the giant cat, boar, and rhino were big standouts. At least Taylor went home.
"Squeals said it's because you can handle it, and I know you can." Rocksteady reaffirmed from his custom place up front that took up a third of the driver's cabin, the passenger seat removed and moved behind him, where Bebop sat, eagerly munching on a bag of potato chips.
"Also she's getting railed right now and doesn't wanna bother." Bebop gruffly commented, before Rocksteady reached behind him to swat him on the head. "What?" He was now wearing jeans and a black leather biker vest, Rocksteady up front wore the same.
"Dude, it's one thing if a girl says it, it's another if a guy says it." Pantera rolled her eyes and huffed as she crossed her arms under her bust, which stretched her reinforced shiny black rubber catsuit even tighter over her bosom. Where did Parian get the material for that? Leet, right. She was incredibly skilled to have made that within a few days, it even had a covering for Pantera's tail and had a leather hood with a built in mask and holes for her ears. "Don't worry Deal, we've got your back. We're three brutes with brains. Well, at least brains for two of us."
"The fuck you say?!" Bebop snorted and got a boop on his boar snout from Pantera, which immediately enthralled him and he started poking himself on the snout once she removed her finger.
"Case closed." Pantera huffed, and Rocksteady groaned as he rubbed his face. Bebop really wasn't the same since the brain injury.
"Alright, enough fooling around. Coast Is clear." I exited the back doors of the van, my mask now on since this was business. My three lieutenants dutifully and quickly followed, closing the doors as I walked the short several paces from the alley next to Somer's Rock and entered the dilapidated establishment. I looked over the filthy pub, eyeing the long table in the center that was obviously for meetings such as ours, even if it was draped in green felt. A girl about my age approached from the bar manned by identical twin brothers, and held out a notepad.
"I am deaf, please write your order." Hm, an establishment filled with deaf people. I suppose that was a rather clever arrangement. I wrote down that some cola would suffice for me, and moved to the long table as my companions, having been similarly approached by the girl, also wrote orders. I sat at the end of the table away from the entrance and facing it. Pantera scooched a chair next to me and practically draped herself on me.
"Pantera, this is inappropriate behavior in public." I stated before Rocksteady managed to stop Bebop from just plopping his porcine rear into a chair, and berated him as he helped lower the muscular boar-man into the chair, which creaked. Thankfully these old chairs were made of strong wood and good craftsmanship, likely from the pub's founding.
"Babe, you're about to have a meeting with several beautiful girls. I have to make it clear that you're off limits." Pantera has clearly been spending more time with Sherrel if she was picking up some of her speech patterns. Her lecherous behavior being more refined was also proof.
"One of them I humiliated in public, the other I have heard rumors is gay, and the other is an older woman with children. A married woman at that." I reminded, and Pantera whined as she removed her arms and bosom from my shoulders to more properly sit in her chair. Shortly after that affair and Rocksteady had taken his seat opposite Bebop, the deaf waitress delivered our drinks. "Is it really a good idea to drink strong liquor before a meeting?" I questioned my male lieutenants, who chuckled as they sipped their dark drinks. "At least Pantera has had the sense to order something non-alcoholic." Pantera purred as she tongued up her glass of heavy cream.
"Mrrrow~...that is good Irish cream." Pantera cooed as she sniffed the strong-flavored dairy product and then her ears perked. "Heads up boys, company's here." Pantera declared, and the two bruisers put their half-empty glasses down to look at the door. Shortly, Panacea, now wearing her new fashion of living wood armor accented with mossy growths and random flowers entered, followed by…. "Me-yow~! Somebody's been hitting the Surge!"
"You like, little kitty?" Victoria Dallon asked winningly as she posed in her place floating a couple inches off the floor. She'd easily attained 7 feet in height, and was just as shapely as Pantera and nearly as muscular, but she was practically naked with how she was obviously wearing one of her old leotards and it barely covered her chest, and all she had saving her modesty since it took the lion's share of the white material was an obviously make-do miniskirt/yoga shorts combo, but that did nothing to hide her six-pack abs and her waist. "I have to say Dealer. Me becoming a knockout thanks to you makes up for you knocking me out in the street."
"I am pleased to see heroes making use of my work. If it means you are more able to do your good deeds than before in any way, it was all worth the effort. Where is either Brandish or Lady Photon? I had assumed that at least one adult member of New Wave would be in attendance." Had I known that they would be coming without further backup, I wouldn't have brought Bebop. He's a doer, not a thinker these days.
"Technically Dealer, we are, Physically, adults. That Surge of yours is basically a fast-track to adulthood without actual aging, it also practically de-ages adults who take it. Mom's faint crow's feet are gone thanks to you." Amelia Dallon said as the deaf waitress approached, and she wrote orders for both her and her sister, before intending to sit at the opposite end from me, but I held up my hand.
"You'd best come sit closer. We'll be having more company soon. It so happens that as we were planning to call you here this evening, someone else called us here this evening. I hope you don't mind acting as extra assurance they behave." I gestured them closer, and the sisters looked at each other, suspicion clear on Glory Girl's exposed face, and they hesitantly moved closer. "Now then, let's attend to business so you don't have to risk being seen with us for too long."
"I'd usually agree with that, but fuck what people think, you're the good guys now." Glory Girl declared with a huff, and her sister smacked the back of her head, whipping the girl's shining golden mane of hair a bit.
"Language Vicky! But yeah, I'm of the same mind. You guys have been working hard to get the city back on its feet. Nobody's tried that in a long time, not since the Brockton Bay Brigade decided to be idiots and became New Wave." The bite in Panacea's voice made Glory Girl wince, but clearly this was a topic that the family of heroes had been going over lately since they left it at that. "Now then, we, I especially, owe you a debt. Name your price, but nothing illegal."
"Alright, would you be willing to analyze Bebop and I's brains? I understand that you do not tamper with them, but getting an outside opinion from an expert would be appreciated." I gestured to my boar of a lieutenant, who simply blinked in surprise.
"That's it? I don't think this counts, but sure." Panacea peeled a finger of her right gauntlet back and touched Bebop. "Whoa. His brain is all out of balance, nearly a sixth of it seems way younger than the rest. Also, what's the stuff constantly running through his body? It's amazing."
"That would be Stim, something I would also like to talk to you about, since I could use your help making more of it. That's later however." I stated as I took out a pen and notepad to write down her comments on Bebop's brain.
With a curious hum at my response, she got up and approached me, so I took off my mask and peeled back my bodysuit to expose my chin, which she touched. "Holy shit...that's just...fuck."
"I get that a lot recently. Any suggestions?" I have to consider that when the world's greatest healer is shocked about your condition, it just might be incredibly serious.
"Have a nanny on hand at all times? How are you even functioning without the basic needs and drives of a living being? I really wish I could do something about this, but if I do; you could end up not being the same person you are now." Panacea let go of my chin and sighed as I covered back up and put my mask back on.
"Well, Pantera is practically my nanny, so at least I have that covered. Let's move on to-." Pantera suddenly yanked me to the floor, and a deafening cacophony of thunder and crashing ripped through the establishment from the front. I struggled under Pantera who adamantly held me down, even as she yowled in agony from the impacts of several bullets. After several seconds, the hailstorm ended, and a vehicle burned rubber as it sped off.
I tossed an unconscious and bleeding Pantera off of me, her suit held, but the blood seeping up out of her collar was indicator enough that she was possibly in danger. I got to my feet to see the waitress was torn to shreds, the other members behind the bar similarly viciously turned into mincemeat. Turning back towards the table, I saw a shuddering Bebop being partially held up, and alive by a shaking Panacea. "Oh god. Oh god. No. No." I followed her gaze to the others.
"No…." Rocksteady was bleeding out on the floor, Glory Girl was unconscious and her cheeks were torn open, and I was filled with a maddening and blinding rage at seeing an E88 armband was tossed at the former pub's doorway. "So the Truce meant nothing? Fine. Panacea, save your sister and my friends, then get out of here. It's time the Empire went the way of the Third Reich." I picked up Pantera, and held her out to Panacea, who shakily reached out to her.