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Thorne
Thorne's foot drummed rapidly against the floor as he scowled at the computer monitor in front of him. It wasn't even the latest model! You'd think that the governing power of the entire world would have some more top-notch equipment. Aces, what a let-down.
The Emperor was standing beside the computer, holding a small chip up to the light. "We don't know for sure that this chip is for communication as those two runaways believed, since it's true purpose has been very expertly disguised. We've sent it to be examined by all the technopaths and cyberpaths in our branch without success. They all swear that it's merely an empty data-storage device. So, the Council and I have decided to proceed with our earlier plan and attempt to use this chip to lay a trap for the Lunars."
"And why do we need to be here for this?" Jacin cut in.
"You and the rest of your team have had the most confrontations with the Lunars. We thought that you might have some useful ideas."
"We've had one battle."
"And got our butts kicked." Iko grumbled.
Crown Jewel glared at them with annoyance. "Even so, it's more experience than any of our other teams. Some of you have even stopped to have conversations with them." Her sharp glare turned to Cinder, who scowled in response.
"Am I the only one who's wondering why we're using some old computer to talk to a group of psycho prodigies?" Thorne asked, gesturing to the device in question.
Cinder and Jacin face-palmed simultaneously. Spades, didn't these people have any faith in him?
"This chip could very well be designed to hack into devices and steal information." The Emperor said, "After all, our staff are positive that its purpose is storage. Though this computer isn't up to our usual standards, it also has absolutely nothing on it, making it perfectly suited for our tests."
Thorne raised an eyebrow at him. "I didn't understand a single word you just said."
Cinder rolled her eyes. "What a surprise."
"What? Not all of us understand technology Cinder!"
"I'm honestly surprised you understand anything." Jacin deadpanned.
Thorne huffed.
"Are you finished?" President Star said impatiently, "We've got to score an actual hit against the Lunars!"
Kai shot him a look. "With a chip that you don't even know will work?"
"Hold your tongue Diplomat!"
The Emperor sighed. "Look, can we just get this done?"
A collection of nods followed his statement.
Now with a shaky truce established between the two parties, the Emperor inserted the chip into the slot in the computer. Thorne expected flashing lights, sparks flying out of the computer's ancient monitor, a loud noise. Instead, some small words flashed in the top left corner of the screen: ESTABLISHING CONNECTION TO 1-0…
The group of superheros huddled around the computer exchanged confused glances. Which made Thorne feel a little better. At least he wasn't the only one going in blind this time.
A hand suddenly clapped down on his shoulder and Thorne yelped in pain. Spades, doesn't the Emperor know his own strength by now?
"Captain, I wish to have a word with you regarding your recent transition into the Rampions."
Thorne smirked at the use of the alias. "Eh, I've got nothing better to do right now."
The Emperor led him away from the group, drawing several suspicious glances from Thorne's team. Jacin in particular looked dubious of the Emperor's excuse.
Thorne rolled his eyes. Lighten up Guard-boy!
Once they were safely away from the others, the Emperor opened his mouth to speak. Thorne beat him to it. "I haven't found that Wolf-guy yet. So sorry to ruin your expectations. After all, it's so easy to find someone who doesn't want to be found, isn't it?"
The Emperor shot him an annoyed look for his flippancy but nodded in understanding. "It is natural that you'll face difficulties with your assignment, and there doesn't seem to be any immediate danger, since there have been no other incidents like at the trials. It might have just been a result of being in a heated battle situation. Nevertheless, we cannot allow Wolf to remain free. Not only is he a danger to everyone around him, he is also Lunar. It is of utmost importance that we apprehend him as soon as possible."
"Do you ever speak like a normal human being?" Thorne drawled.
The Emperor's mouth twitched into a half-smile. "I'm not a normal human being."
Having made his point clear, the leader of the Council went back to the others.
Thorne groaned and ran a frustrated hand through his perfectly styled hair. It wasn't that he wasn't trying to find Wolf (after all, it would line his pockets very well), it's just that it was really, really hard. He'd followed up on Kai's suggestion and zipped around the criminal area of town and got nothing. Figuring he was probably hiding in a less obvious place, Thorne started wandering around relatively empty neighbourhoods and searching abandoned buildings in city centre or apartments that just never got finished and were now closed off with tape. All he found was nothing, nothing and more nothing. You'd think a wolf-human hybrid thing would be easier to find.
Suddenly, a hissing, sparking noise came from the old computer. Curious, Thorne zipped over to it, standing in his original place in front of it in half a second. And good thing too, because there was a lot going on.
What had previously been a mostly blank screen was now glitching and blurring, flashing images of colours and switching to static. The chip planted into the device was sparking and glowing white-hot.
The Emperor was the first to react, snatching the chip away from the computer, hissing as the burning plastic touched his bare fingertips.
While the computer monitor switched back to black, the chip continued to burn, glowing brighter and brighter as its temperature increased…
Finally, it exploded, sending tiny pieces of metal and plastic flying into the legs and knees of its wary onlookers. Normally, this would've prompted Thorne to look at the new scorch marks on his pants with distaste, but he was too distracted by what else the chip left behind.
It looked like… lighting. Pure, crackling, sparking lighting, condensed to just a small nugget of energy. As Thorne watched, the nugget grew and expanded, becoming a writhing mass of electricity.
Everyone took an uneasy step back as they watched, eyes wide with fear and uncertainty as the lightning grew. It had only just reached Thorne's collar bone before it finally stopped.
Thorne frowned at it warily, half-expecting it to explode just like the chip that housed it.
Something thin and golden flicked out of it. He blinked with surprise. Was that… hair?
Another strand flicked out, followed by another, and another, forming locks and fistfuls of golden-blonde hair. The lightning slowly began to condense into a new shape, stretching out arms and legs. The crackling tendrils wove together, forming patches of pale skin. On the part that Thorne assumed was its face, a mouth started to form, along with a nose and one blue eye.
Eventually, there was nothing left of the original shapeless mass of electricity. In its place was a small girl, no more than five feet tall, wearing a body suit with strange blue markings that glowed dimly against the shimmering black fabric.
The girl smiled shyly at the Rampions surrounding her. Nobody smiled back. They were all too shocked. They'd just seen a chip explode releasing what looked like a bunch of lightning that turned into the girl standing nervously in front of them! What else were they supposed to feel?
Finally, Thorne was the one to break the silence. "Aces… is that all hair?"
The girl squeaked and dropped to the ground, curling into a little ball and wrapping her blonde locks around her.
Cinder shot Thorne a glare. "Seriously?"
"Come on, look at it! It's practically a blanket!"
Winter stepped toward the girl, light-footed and graceful as always, and stooped down to her level. "Don't be afraid. We will not hurt you. And you have such beautiful hair."
The girl's terrified eyes peeked out at Winter from behind the protective barrier of hair, but she said nothing.
Scarlet clapped her hands. "Maybe some introductions are in order. My name is Scarlet, also known as the Red Comet. The idiot is named Carswell and insists on being called "Captain". Feel free to ignore him."
"C-Carswell?"
Thorne smirked and saluted her. "Yep, that's my name! Most folks just call me Thorne though, or Captain. And you are?"
The girl's eyes stretched wide with wonder. "I-I'm Cress."
A/N: FINALLY, CRESS JOINS UP WITH THE REST OF THE GANG! AND I'VE GIVEN YOU ALL A CLUE TO WHAT HER POWER IS! Her actual power will be explained in detail in the next chapter, but feel free to put your guesses in the reviews!
Cress has finally escaped the Lunars, but how will they react when they realise that their top hacker is missing? Will the Rampions trust her enough to let her into their ranks? When will there be Cresswell in this story (because I'm sure you all are seriously deprived by now)?
Please review!