It doesn't take long before I start picking up on landmarks. Yesterday had been hectic (to say the least), but I've gotten better at recognizing things from above. Navigating by skyline.
A necessary Cape skill, I guess?
One that proves a little less than vital, when my Mark starts to prickle, a few blocks out.
"Hold on." I stop, carefully freeing my arm, to reach out. To focus on that sensation, try and feel it out-
I hiss, and jerk my hand back. Because what it felt like was the sound of tortured wood, pulsing up my arm and into my jaw. A smell like the decomposing corpse I'd stumbled across not so long ago. A full-body cringe hits me a moment later, along with a sharp pain behind my eyes.
[iMpuDEncE]
That feeling is familiar, too. It's like pushing through those mirrors. Something blocking my power...rebounding it. Something.
"What's going on?" Manpower. He's wary, already scanning the rooftop for problems.
I just shake my head, wait a few more seconds for the others to arrive. Let everyone know at once.
"He's got some kind of defense up." And now that I'm actually paying attention to it, I'm not actually feeling the Rune from before. Just...an empty echo of it. Insubstantial. I grit my teeth, turn to catch Victoria's eye. "He must have figured out how I've been finding him."
"It's been less than a day. It's unlikely he'll have had a chance to clear everything out." Lady Photon hadn't even bothered to touch down, but as she speaks she lifts even further into the air. Looking ahead like the extra few feet will let her see the place from here. "If he's putting up defenses, then he still has a reason to protect his workshop."
Brandish smiles, beside me, but there's nothing particularly happy about it. "He's more likely to still be there." Her eyes dart to me, just for a moment. "Along with his men."
The ones with guns. That shot her daughter. I didn't actually miss the implication.
"Is there anything preventing you from taking us closer?" Manpower again, and I have to look away from the concern in his expression.
It's appreciated. I guess. But I just want this to be over with. And honestly...the pain doesn't really frighten me anymore. "No way to tell until we get closer."
Brandish nods, reaching for my arm again. "Then let's get moving."
"Agreed." Lady Photon waves the fliers on, and offers me a nod before taking off herself. Glory Girl gives me an encouraging smile, in passing, and I try my best to return it.
Realize I'm actually wearing a mask. Which, of course, makes me glad for that, because it means nobody can prove anything.
Distractions aren't helping. I look ahead, make sure everyone is making contact, and move on.
xxxxxxxxxx
Around the corner, a block from the mouth of this alley, is a red-painted door. Probably locked. Most likely guarded.
"Can you see anyone from here?"
I don't have a chance to answer before Glory Girl cuts in. "We're too far out, mom. She'd have to go ahead."
Brandish pulls a face, sweeps wet hair from her eyes, but doesn't actually respond. Lady Photon just nods, absently. Most of her focus seems to be on the street. Watching sparse, late-morning traffic as it hisses by. "Crow, you'll be delivering Manpower to the entrance. Then fall back with Shielder and Flashbang. Brandish, rearguard."
It seems like there are a few members of the team left out of that. Something that doesn't go unnoticed, if Glory Girl's indignant frown is anything to go by.
"Laserdream, Glory Girl, you'll be above. If anyone tries to escape, you'll be there to stop them. And in a good position to support Panacea."
Who doesn't seem very surprised at being left behind. For a second, I can't help wondering about that. But then, it doesn't seem like an appropriate thing to comment on. Not right now, anyway. Maybe not at all.
"If everyone's ready?"
A chorus of positive responses. Everyone seems so confident. And I can't help but think that everyone was confident last time we did this. I know I'd felt like we'd actually get this guy. But then, every time we've actually met it seems like he's come out on top.
The streak has to end some time, right?
"Crow?"
"I'm good." I lift my crossbow, pat the holsters with my batons, and hold out my free hand for Manpower. "Whenever you're ready."
He nods, and wraps his hand around mine. There's a moment of tension, glances and nods and a couple of muttered 'good luck's. And then Lady Photon sweeps into the air, off toward the workshop.
I focus on the red door, give Manpower's arm a sharp tug-
-and step aside so that he has a clear path. There's no hesitation; the moment I'm clear, he slams forward, fast enough to sweep the hem of my coat after him. The door slams open, whatever locks that had been holding it shut torn right through the frame. For a second, I can only stare.
But then Lady Photon flies in after him. Shielder and Flashbang fall in beside me, the flash of orange light behind us signalling Brandish's arrival.
No time to wonder.
Enhanced vision. Three bodies. The ground floor, doesn't look like anyone is upstairs today. They are carrying things. Boxes maybe. And already reacting to the noise of the door, despite being further in.
I slip inside with the others. Not far down the hall, Manpower is padding forward with his arms up, almost blocking the view ahead entirely. Lady Photon hovers just over his shoulder with a handful of glowing power. Now that we're in, they don't seem to be in too great a hurry to push forward.
Ahead, one of the men is gesturing sharply to the others, and it looks like they're...gathering things? Throwing them? They don't seem frantic, but it's still putting me on edge. We should be moving more quickly.
"Up ahead, around the corner. First door. Three men inside."
Lady Photon glances back, looks ahead, and grips Manpower's shoulder. They pick up the pace, and so do we. Around the corner.
Through the door.
Manpower rushes the first man he sees. Lady Photon sweeps right, a glowing field springing up in front of her as a beam fires toward the second.
Brandish moves right. Shielder squares himself, beside me. I lift my crossbow, turning it on number three-
Bones rattle.
Suddenly, Manpower's target is in front of me, and I swing the crossbow on instinct. Catch it with both hands, the shock of the impact running up my arms as the stock catches his swing.
Lumps, growths, under the skin of his face. Swollen jaw. He smiles, and there are far too many teeth, jutting out of irritated gums.
Around his neck, a blood-smeared charm.
I let go of the crossbow, fall into Shielder-
-and reposition us on the opposite side of the room.
"Fuck."
Manpower's target is...shivering. Difficult to look at, as he weaves around another blow. Something that looks like a knife flashes out, only for a flash of light from Lady Photon to send him scurrying back. In the meantime, toothy is already trying to follow us.
My eyes land on the Charm again, and I stall. Only manage to move again once Brandish hits the guy from behind with her glowing sword.
"Pen him in." I point at Manpower's opponent, and Shielder obliges. Toothy recovers, shivers hits a shield, and I-
-shove the first-
-into the second. Duck back under Manpower's arm as he wades in.
A moment to breathe, as the first blow lands-
"Ghh!"
Lady Photon. Slamming herself into the ceiling...no. Trying to catch the third man between herself and the ceiling. He's clinging to her back, an arm around her neck. Brandish shouts, wordless, angry. She moves to assist, but-
-I'm already there, scrabbling to find purchase before I drop again. My fingers catch an edge, fabric. It pulls and stretches as I fall, and when my feet touch the floor I pull. There's a muffled curse, struggling, and then impact driving me off balance as Lady Photon rolls out of the loosened grip.
When I feel resistance, finally realize that I've pulled the collar of this guy's sweater up over his head, I pull harder, and let myself fall. We hit the ground-
-but I'm on my feet again in the blink of an eye, and stomping on his exposed ribs a moment later. Bone cracks, and he lets out a breathless, muffled scream.
I kick him in the stomach, just for good measure, then drop to my knees to claw the Charm from where it'd gotten trapped. Bone. Still bleeding. Looks like more ribs, but there's a smaller piece, just as fresh, carved with the Outsider's mark...it's glowing? Starting to glow-
There's a spark, and I drop the Charm, shaking my hand out. What the hell…?
"Crow!"
I look up, just in time to-
-barely avoid a fist to the face. Toothy, using some distraction or another to slip between the others. Manpower is already darting after him...and Shivers makes a break for a door, opposite the one we'd come in. I almost move to follow, but then a ball of light hits the floor in front of him...I barely have the time to think 'Flashbang' before the explosion of light blinds us both.
Dammit.
I'm outside, in the hall. I think. Blinking stars (and tears) from my eyes, trying to pay attention to the noise in the next room. Can't just stay here, don't know how long I'll take to recover...my sight.
Rats. Control.
Rodent-vision isn't exactly up to human standards, but it's better than nothing. A couple of my rats scurry up my coat to cling to my shoulders giving me a rough idea of my surroundings as I storm back into the room. The rest of them swarm around my feet, before scurrying ahead to find something to hurt.
Toothy is my unfortunate target, mostly because Shivers seems to have gone down to Lady Photon and Shielder in the last few seconds. He seems to be holding his own against Manpower, maneuvering to keep the brute between him and Brandish. Good timing, maybe. Or just skill. Doesn't really matter, when half a dozen rats spring out of nowhere and start clawing their way under your clothes.
It throws him off. Manpower lands a solid hit. And he crumples.
The stillness falls as suddenly as the fighting started. Not really quiet, because henches are groaning, and we're all breathing heavily.
"They had powers." Shielder, hovering over Shivers. "He gave them powers?"
Apparently. Which I don't get. He went through so much trouble trying to make these things work. He killed people trying to find the right 'materials', he attacked me for my blood...I take a deep breath, scatter my rats to search the area before stalking over to Toothy.
"Turn him over for me?"
Manpower gives me a wary nod, but does just that, turning the man on his back. I don't try to take the Charm, this time, crouching down to try and get a better look instead. It takes some squinting, past what's still a disorienting blur in my vision, but it does seem like the other. Too fresh...too rough, altogether. A rush job? And that bit linking the two 'prongs' together, that's new.
"Does this look familiar?" I pull one of my batons, don't bother extending it just to point out the part that's bothering me.
Manpower leans down. Pensive, I think. "...fingerbone." A pause. "Check his right hand."
I do that, grabbing his arm...forcing myself not to tense when he shifts, and Manpower wraps a hand around his head to prush him down.
No struggle. I put my discomfort aside, tug at the suddenly-uncooperative hand…
A missing finger, the remaining stub crusted over with...more bone. Knotted, warped...like his teeth. Or his skull.
"He was hitting hard. Definitely a Brute. But he was favoring his right."
Because he was missing a finger.
"Because the tinker used his finger to make that." I jump, look up to see Lady Photon hovering (metaphorically) over me. "Shielder, Flashbang, check the others."
"Probably the same." I mutter, turning back to the hand. "He figured it out, somehow…" Worked out what was missing? Blood, bone, some kind of connection? I could use the others he'd made, but nobody else could without my blood. And when I picked up one of these, things he'd made using pieces from the people using them…
"This one's missing a finger."
"This one, too."
I scowl. Reach down to rip the Charm from around Toothy's neck and toss it away. "So he can give his guys powers."
"Left him more willing to let them clear his workshop on their own, it seems like." Brandish scowls, stalking to the single table standing against the wall. Almost bare, a few tools scattered across it's surface. I take another look around, actually looking...for all the space here, it's too empty. The table, there, a couple of collapsing chairs. A crate, shoved haphazardly into the corner, a hand-truck tipped over beside it...they were moving things when we got here.
The last of it, maybe.
I try not to let the frustration get to me, as I move in to take a closer look. Try not to think about how long we spent just making our way here. Let alone what I did with the rest of my morning. While I was having breakfast, this guy was getting away again…
I frown, worm my fingers up under my mask to wipe at my eyes. My vision has definitely recovered, so I'm not seeing things, here…
My rats finally vanish, as I lean over the edge to poke around the tool boxes and carved, wood panels. This is a big crate, for how little is in it.
"There must be more. Somewhere else." Upstairs? I don't actually know they're the only ones in this building, but...I can probably assume. "Maybe upstairs."
"Alright." Lady Photon looks up from her examination of Toothy. "Brandish, go with her. Shielder, call the others, tell them to watch out for potential reinforcements. Let them know they might have powers."
He's already pulling out his phone. And Brandish is moving for the door that...Shivers tried to run for. Right. It's either another way out, or more workshop. Maybe with something useful in it.
Or it could be another hallway.
"Staircase?" I nod to the right, and the narrow stairway further down that way.
Brandish considers it, for a second, before shaking her head. "We'll check the ground floor first." That said, she heads left, toward the nearest door. A sword forms in her hand as she settles in beside it, her free hand on the knob. I move to the other side, extend my baton with a flick…
She shoves the door open, turns into the room, and I follow a step after.
Nearly lose my balance, trying to avoid running into Brandish's back-
Blood. What can only be described as offal.
Brandish stumbles back, a hand pressed over her mouth as she gags, but I just...can't.
Six bodies, spread around the room. They're still...recognizably human, but that's about the best that can be said for them. The floor is a mess, just blood and...and things I don't want to examine too closely. There's so much it's forming puddles on the carpet, rather than just being...absorbed…
And the centerpiece of it all? A Shrine of heavy hardwood and heavy, metal wire that digs into the skin of the corpse that's crucified there.
'Corpse' because that's the only thing she can be, at this point. With her chest carved open, ribs splayed wide…
I don't realize I've moved until I'm close enough to just...reach out and touch her. Until I can look up into her face, half-hidden behind her long hair...what's left of her face, once someone had gotten to her eyes and mouth with something sharp.
My stomach churns, and everything in me protests, but I reach up anyway...to touch the plastic watch-face stapled into the surface of her heart.
"Why?"
"Because it was a challenge."
I freeze.
"Because he'd finally found his solution, and was flush with victory, and willing to fulfill a request."
I take a jerky, halting step back. Look up at her again. Beside me, the Outsider does the same.
"Because, Taylor...he finally could."
I take a deep breath, swallow thickly...look behind me to see Brandish, leaning halfway out of the room. Calling to the others, maybe.
[And the sparking thing behind her, shifting in agitation, uncertainty…]
"His work has been so...derivative. I'm not surprised to see this." The Outsider waves a hand and just...takes her heart. Holding it in the air above his hands, turning it in place and watching like it's some kind of...snow globe, or paperweight. Not a ruined piece of a person, cut and stapled and...and jammed full of metal.
"But then, even unfinished, even abandoned in haste...an imperfect replica can be interesting in its own right. Don't you think?"
"That was part of a person."
I feel numb, as he looks up at me.
And then he turns away, and vanishes, only to reappear behind the girl. Precariously balanced on the back of the shrine, one hand clinging to a spar while the other holds the heart up to the light. "Do you know her name, Taylor?"
The numbness disappears beneath a flare of anger. "Do you?"
"Sarah...Livsey." Whatever faint amusement had been in his tone drops away, replaced by...indifference. My anger is smothered under that feeling of smallness from the rooftop not so long ago. "Or Lisa Wilbourn. Though, I believe you might know her better as 'Tattletale'."
"Tat-"
No.
No, she was… "She was in PRT custody-" And she'd been attacked, there.
'Suffered a psychotic break'.
And now she's dead. Here. Now.
This…
"Where is he?" Silence. A yawning emptiness, below me. I grit my teeth against the feeling, steel myself.
[Brace aGainst my fragiLe suRrounding.]
"Where. Is. He?"
A timeless moment passes, before the Outsider shifts again. Standing in front of me, smiling down at me, despite the fact that I know, I know that he isn't that tall, his eyes aren't that dark...
"I have no inclination to guide you to him." His attention shifts, past me. "But, perhaps…"
["...with the right tools…"]
The heart drops, to rest directly in his hand. And then it...pulses. Just once.
[And in that moment, there's a flicker of form. A spark, and something much greater, behind.]
"Perhaps what?"
He tilts his hand. Another pulse. And then another.
[The spark, and the thing with eyes are more clear each time. Behind me, something reaches-]
A spike of pain drives itself into my skull, and whatever I'd been about to say is just...lost. I gasp. I whine, dropping my baton to clutch at my head.
[RemNanT oF hOst. LiNk intAcT?]
"Perhaps you will see this through."
[ReEstaBliShinG coNneCtiOn. aDapTinG to NeW iNTerfAce.]
"F-fuck." It hurts, to look at it. The heart. The Heart, beating, lit from within, it's-
[-being stitched into something. A...a spirit? A ghost? Or Is iT a SoU-]
I slump. Gasping for breath. Sticky red soaking into the arms of my coat, the legs of my pants, because I'm kneeling in blood. I'm kneeling in blood, and I can hear footsteps, and there's cold sweat bringing back the chill from my time outside-
"You may want to hurry home." His voice echoes from somewhere just over my shoulder. "The storm is getting worse."
Worse…?
"Crow!"
I startle, struggle to my feet. Weave, only to catch myself on...on the Shrine. Fuck.
Lady Photon is staring at me, worry and caution warring on her face. "Are you with us?"
Us?
Oh. Brandish, at the door. Manpower, just outside. "I'm…" Maybe. My head...isn't about to split apart. Good enough. Probably. "I am. I'm-"
A heartbeat, heavy in my ears. I stiffen, and push away from the Shrine. The Heart is there, a dull glow fading from somewhere inside...and then it beats again, the glow returning, only to start fading again.
Slow. Steady.
I...I reach up to take it. It comes loose with a wet pop.
"Jesus."
I don't know who said it. Maybe it was me. I'm too focused on this...thing to wonder. Because this...this is…
"Crow?" I don't respond. Can't. Until a hand comes to rest on my shoulder, and I jolt. "Taylor. I need you to put that thing down. Can you do that for me?"
Oh God, I'm holding someone's heart. I'm holding Tattletale's heart. And it's beating-
"I have to get home." Isn't what I'd meant to say, but it's what comes out of my mouth. Hurry home, he said. Because of a storm? 'The storm was getting worse'? What does that have to do with...with this horror show?
'A storm. Metaphor? Maybe. Tensions are high in the Bay. The ABB ruined, the E88 snapping up their territory, Coil making his moves…'
"...what?"
'With the Protectorate fighting to recover lost ground and the PRT adding to the pressure, the whole city is basically one giant powder...keg…'
I...I recognize that voice? And it's coming from...from the Heart. "Tattletale?"
'What's today's date?'
I want to question it. God, I want to question it. But there's urgency, in her tone. And I have to think because what is today's date…?
"Taylor listen to me." Lady Photon's grip is tightening. "I need you to put that down, and we need to leave."
It'd been...it's Sunday, Tuesday had been...the 10th, I think? "It's the 15th."
'May 15th. A little over three months, a city on the edge...and it's been raining. All morning? Of course.'
"Taylor!"
'I'm sorry, Taylor. Wish I could give you better news. But…'
"Manpower, bring her with us."
"What about-"
"I'm not going to try to take it from her right now. We need to get her out of here, try to snap her out of it before it hits…"
"What are you talking about?"
I don't know who it's directed at. The Cape whose voice I'm hearing from her disembodied heart, the people in front of me who seem...afraid?
I don't know what sort of answer I was expecting. But as everyone falls silent again, I finally pick up on the muffled sound that I'd missed up until now. A steady wail, easily recognizable to anyone who hadn't been living under a rock for the past decade.
Three months. Rain. Endbringer sirens.
Oh.
"Leviathan."