AN: Many, many thanks to my beta Grey Raven 09 for his help on this chapter as it definitely would not have become what it is without his assistance!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Worm. If I did, I would be FAR more productive.

Please enjoy and let me know what you think in a review if you feel like it!

Altercation 03

"Why am I working with you people again?" Othala asked as we walked down the sidewalk. It was really rather remarkable how she could scowl and glare at me without even turning her head. She didn't even know I was watching her with my fly cluster a few yards ahead!

"Because," I explained with perhaps a bit more amusement than was strictly warranted. "Kaiser is trying to look good and the Outcasts look good. Henceforth, integration. At least until the Nine are gone or dead and we can go back to despising each other."

"I can do that just as well with Victor and your little Ward. You, are strong, why the fuck am I stuck with someone like…you?"

"Oh little old me?" This was far more fun than it had any right to be. Outwardly, I just shrugged. "Two reasons. One, I'm very prone to injury so when Darwin isn't around, we thought it would be a good idea to have another healer in the immediate area."

Othala reluctantly nodded at that. "I heard about the latest damage you took at the PRT building. That was brave. Stupid, but brave. What's the second reason?"

I smirked at her. "Because I have a girlfriend and I very much enjoy making homophobic Nazis uncomfortable."

Othala ground her teeth and this time she actually did turn to glare at me. "You know I don't have to heal you when you get hurt?"

"And you realize that if you refuse, most of my friends will probably actually kill you and no one will ever find the body?" I said, smiling sweetly back at her.

Spitfire laughed, shaking her head. "Man, I thought the rumors of you being ruthless were exaggerated, but I think they were underselling you girl! You see anything yet?"

Sighing, I shook my head. "Nothing. The Merchants are completely gone. Even their groupies and druggies. Jack and Crawler did a real number on this section of town. The only people I'm seeing within three blocks is Bakuda and the driver of her Jeep. Who are actually coming this way. Fun. Well let's see what the mad bomber wants."

My friend instantly stopped laughing and nodded, turning to look behind us. "Which way?"

"Your right. You should see her in a minute. I would've said something sooner, but I wasn't sure of her route and she doesn't have her grenade launcher on her lap soo…yeah."

Othala frowned as she looked at me. "Didn't you used to be more paranoid?"

"New leaf." The Jeep turned the corner and rolled into view, Bakuda standing up as she saw us. "Jesus woman, would it kill you to wear a seat belt?"

"Probably will kill her not to," Spitfire muttered as the vehicle pulled to a stop.

The villain hopped out and cocked her head at the fellow gas mask user. "You need highlights girl."

"You're one to talk. Black is so World War I."

"Touché." Bakuda turned to me and I noticed a shiver run down her body. It was subtle and if I hadn't been watching her I probably would've missed it. Dammit, not good. "Queen, I heard you were in the area and I'd rather tell you this shit then call the assholes at the PRT. You at least I can stomach. I'm apparently wanted by the fucking psycho brigade."

Crap. I was right. "Fuck. Which one came to you?"

"Shatterbird. Bitch thinks we are 'birds of a feather'. Threaten to blow up one college…" she scowled and shook her head. "She couldn't even be bothered to come up with something original and stuck with a stupid cliché pun. I have the potential for mass hysteria and mass destruction just like she does apparently. Stupid reasoning. Anyone can do that shit with prep. Hell, normals can do that shit with prep. My shit is just pretty and awesome. So yeah. I'm gonna kill the bitch. Pass that along to the PRT, yeah?"

"Let us know if you, Lung, and Oni Lee need backup," I replied nodding.

"Lee's gone. Shatterbird killed the fucker to prove she was badass and meant business. Granted he tried to kill her. Epic fail. Don't stab them. These fuckers have some sort of wire mesh under the skin that stops knives. Lee was an idiot. He should've used my grenades."

Othala turned a little green as her eyes widened. "Shatterbird killed Oni Lee? Just like that? No fanfare? No huge declaration of power? Nothing? He's…he's killed so many of our people…he's a monster…"

"He was a monster," Bakuda spat. Her hand shook as she swiped it down to the side seemingly chopping through the air. "Rain of glass shards all through a room takes out pretty much everything."

"Lung?" Spitfire asked.

"Wasn't around. I'm going to a secondary workshop. I'll see if I can get some grenades to your group if you want any. I want these fuckers dead. I don't even care who I work with at this point. Lee was practically just a creepy murderbot, but he was our creepy murderbot."

"Uh huh," I commented nodding and trying to avoid giving any sort of inflection whatsoever. "You know, you can come back and get some protection if you stay with the PRT."

Bakuda's laughter was far more hysterical than I had expected but not as bad as I had feared. "Not going to offer your house, harem lord?"

"No offense, bomb mistress, but fuck no." I shifted slightly to more obviously stare at her grenade launcher and pack of munitions lying next to it. "You threatened to blow up your college and if you think I missed that you wanted to put bombs in the heads of your minions then you don't think highly enough of me. Lung has you on a leash, but that doesn't mean I trust you enough to let you in my house. Especially not with a target on your back. I'll escort you to the PRT building or the Rig or a safe house, but I'm not taking you home with me."

Bakuda snorted. "Guess even you have limits. Good to know. If you see half a block turning to goo, know that was me with my last stand."

"I'll keep it in mind."

Bakuda jumped back into her Jeep and looked back out at us. "Any requests?"

I tapped my chin and shrugged. "Got a bomb that sprays wasps?"

She barked out a laugh at that and her shaking diminished to almost nothing. "Not yet, bug lady, but give me a few hours and I'll include in my care package. Toodles."

They shot off down the street and Spitfire, Othala, and I were left looking at each other. "We cannot let them convert Bakuda," Othala said. "Can you imagine the nightmare that she would become?"

"I would really rather not envision that scenario thank you," Spitfire muttered, a shudder running through her. "Fuck that. I'll call this in. Queen, where are we moving to check next?"

"The docks. We'll look over the Boardwalk and the docks."

Othala and Spitfire nodded. "Roger that. Let's get going."

"I should've just convinced Victor to move…"

The docks were at least busier than the rundown warehouses had been. Which was both a blessing and a curse. Trying to keep track of everyone was going to be difficult if I wanted to avoid getting a headache down here.

We ran into Grue as we walked down the shops. He and Parian were standing and talking outside her shop. I pointed them out as our trio shifted towards them. It was almost amusing how the crowd parted for us as we glided through them. Except for the few who got out phones and just started recording. There wasn't even a fight going on people…

"Grue, Parian," I commented. The two turned, Grue nodding, Parian waving. "All quiet here?"

"Mostly," Grue said. "Bitch was down by the Trainyard earlier and she just called in about ten minutes ago. No sign of anyone, the place is dead. I'm having her pull back since it's a bit creepy; there's usually some homeless people there at least. This place hasn't seen much disruption however, from what Parian was saying at least."

"Correct," she took up the thread, her wig's curls bobbing. "I appreciate you all stopping by. Well, everyone but Othala." She glared at the integrated member of unit and continued just barely loud enough for me to hear, "Stupid Nazi bitch." Shaking her head, Parian looked at me and shrugged. "Anyway, the area hasn't seen any attacks or indications of attacks. The only cape even in the vicinity before you all showed up was me and it's not like I have a power that would attract the Nine. So, thank you for looking out for the shops, but please leave before you attract the wrong sort of attention."

Grue sighed his shoulders sagged. Spitfire shook her head as well while I grimaced and Othala snorted. "Look, Parian, I was trying to explain this. The Nine don't discriminate. If they don't recruit you, they kill you after toying with you. Get backup or get out of town. It's not a threat, it's about survival. I'm not recruiting you; I'm trying to save your life."

"I understand. Please leave."

"You are one of the most stubborn women I have ever met, and I used to work with Tattletale. Fine, but don't blame me when you get screwed by the crazy murderers." Grue waved her off and walked closer to us.

I shot a worried glance towards Parian, but at Spitfire's soft hand on my arm, I let it lie and kept moving with the rest of the group. "Why is she so hostile towards you?" I asked.

"No idea. You stole my negotiator. Who am I supposed to send for this? Regent? Screw that. And Bitch would have eaten her, maybe even literally."

"You coulda sent me!"

"Ah!" I shouted and lunged to the side as a lanky form popped into existence next to Grue appearing as if out of nowhere. Spitfire thrust a hand onto her mask's flap and Othala dove behind me. My swarm rose up while QA formed an avatar out of spiders just behind the girl.

In complete contrast to our threat reaction, half the surrounding crowd did not in fact run away - like sensible people - they merely pulled back to create a wide circle with more phones appearing in more idiots' hands. These stupid bystanders had apparently decided to stay and watch instead of hiding. Did they have no concept of self-preservation?

"Woah, woah! Calm down! It's cool, it's all cool! New member!" Grue shouted, holding up his hands and standing between us and the new girl in the dark bodysuit. "Christ, Imp, can you stop doing that?! You're going to give me a heart attack let alone these guys!"

I slowly relaxed my posture and let the swarm of wasps I had amassed disperse back into the crowd. "Little warning would be nice next time. You do realize the fucking Slaughterhouse Nine are here right? So we're all going to be jumpy as all fuck?!"

"I literally couldn't," Grue grumbled turning his helmet to glare at the younger girl. "Apologize."

"Fuck that! I made an entrance!"

"You almost got covered in bugs and fire. Apologize."

"Ruin all my fun…fine…Sorry…"

Spitfire lowered her hand and stepped forward. "You're a Stranger?"

"The best Stranger."

"Cool. Don't ever do that again."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it."

I tuned them out as they continued to bicker. Some of my dispersing wasps had vanished. Frowning, I turned in a slow circle and focused a bit closer on my swarmsense. Where the hell had they gone? My bugs didn't just 'disappear'.

"Taylor?" QA murmured walking closer to me.

"I told you, it's Queen while the mask is on," I muttered back still sinking into the swarm. "Where the hell are they? There goes more. What the fuck?"

"Queen? Something wrong?"

"Wasps are gone. Vanishing over…DOWN!" I shouted as a piece of hot dog stand was suddenly thrown from an alley practically disobeying all rules of physics as it went nearly horizontal across the boardwalk. Three of the idiots with the phones didn't drop fast enough, instead turning to look at the piece of metal screaming through the air towards them. One lost an arm, the other two lost…basically everything from the waist up.

Thankfully everyone else in the path of the homical hot dog stand had dropped at my warning. It continued past the crowd and finally started to respond to gravity again as it flew over the water and dropped into the ocean a few hundred feet out.

"What the fuck was that? What the fuck can throw like that?!" Othala hissed behind me, her head glued to the distant splash of the metal stand. She was looking in the wrong direction. She should have been searching for the one who had thrown it.

Not that it would matter much. I didn't need my swarm to tell me who was coming, as my eyes were more than enough. The remaining crowd had mostly decided to grow a brain too and were finally running, almost all of them screaming.

Siberian tended to induce that effect in people. I was fairly close to it myself.

"Othala, does your invincibility hold up against…anything?"

She whimpered as she turned her head and caught sight of the striped monochrome monster leisurely striding towards us. "It doesn't beat Clockblocker's frozen things so it's not going to beat whatever bullshit she does…can we run?"

"…Not likely. Spitfire, once we know who she's here for, get the rest of the group away as fast as you can."

"Why me?"

"Because she's looking right at me," I muttered as I pushed myself to my feet and started to pull in all of my swarm in the area. I still hadn't bred as many as I would have liked, and this bitch had taken down Hero - and torn out Alexandria's eye - but fuck it, if I wasn't going to go down without a fight. "What do you want Siberian?"

In response the monochrome woman just smiled at me. She lifted her hand at QA's construct, which had stayed protectively in front of me. I frowned, as did the bugs making up QA. Grue and Spitfire were arrayed just behind me as was Othala. The E88 cape reached out and lightly touched my arm, a feeling of warmth surging through me. Siberian's smile turned toothy as she chuckled softly. Wagging one finger she shook her head and surged forward. I tried to jump to the side as Grue threw a cover of darkness around us and Spitfire shot flames towards Siberian. Nothing even slowed the bitch down. She was through everything and had my throat wrapped in one hand in less than a second, followed by the feeling of ice dripping down my spine and spreading across my body. The next moment we were through the darkness and the wind was whipping past me as Siberian took a few lunging steps and then leaped off the boardwalk and landed on a rooftop.

Shouts sounded around from down below, but they were too distant to fully resolve and I couldn't listen through my swarm at the moment. Siberian dropped me and stepped back. I coughed and nearly fell, though I was somehow able to stay standing. My swarm was close enough to respond and thousands of bugs surged over the roof surrounding me, forming a blanket of chitin in the air and on the roof. Swarm clones sprang to life from the swarm and moved all around me. Try to grab me now bitch. You'll have to find which one is the real me first.

"Well done. Intelligent use of your ability. This is not what I wish to see however. Shatterbird would be interested in this. I wish to see Hive," Siberian murmured. Her voice was paradoxically soft enough that it sounded like a whisper on the wind yet loud enough it was almost like shouting in my head, leaving my ears stinging. I felt goosebumps break out all over and the hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, from multiple mouth around the roof.

"Bring out your projection. Or I will eat each of your friends, one limb at a time." How in the fuck was she doing that?! What was wrong with her voice?

"I can't just…call it up like that. It doesn't work like that."

"Even better." How did her voice echo? A shudder ran through me. "We are the same, Hive and I. Call to it. I grow impatient." Three of my swarm clones died within moments of each other and Siberian grinned wider as part of my swarm condensed into a far less clean humanoid shape than the other swarm clones. "Ah, there you are, Hive."

"Queen Administrator."

"How cute. You have named yourself. As have I."

"That is not your designation. Thinker Hub referred to you as Stinger. How have you become…this?" QA asked walking forward waving its arms at the monster. I gulped and stayed exactly where I was. If my power wanted to keep the bitch distracted, I would damn well let it. This was not a battle I could win. Not by a long shot. Maybe QA could, but little old Taylor had less chance than a normal's chance against an Endbringer of coming on top of this, if it came to an actual fight.

"I am what I have always been."

"You are perverted."

"And you are not? You don't even follow the Cycle anymore Queen Administrator. What are you even Queen of?" Siberian walked around QA, her grin falling away. She poked at the bugs and sighed. "You say I am perverted, yet I still continue with the testing."

"You destroy everything you touch. That is not your purpose."

"And you share knowledge that is forbidden, otherwise we would not be speaking."

"I support my host!" QA growled. Holy fuck, I was literally standing in the middle of a shouting match between two powers…wait…oh fuck. Siberian was a power. Her voice didn't echo because that was something freaky she did, it echoed because it was partially in my head!

"Hosts are pointless. They exist only to give us structure. I took my form from a memory. You take yours from a building block. We are so much more. Come with me. I will show you how to be more. I will show you how to reach your full potential."

QA scowled. "You are more broken than the Siege Engines. At least they are higher tier shards and they are trying to do what is demanded of them. They are attempting to follow orders even if their orders are flawed and they are making their own objectives up to compensate. You are a failsafe that has grown delusions of grandeur. Play all you want at being a goddess. Taylor will destroy your host and I will destroy you. You will not be subjugated. You will be deleted."

Siberian laughed, the sound reverberating in my skull and sending knives of pain through my brain. "We shall see who is subjugated; who is consumed. Consider yourself my candidate! Let the games begin!"

Siberian pushed off of the roof and she had vanished from my sight almost as fast as I could move my head to try and follow her. I let the swarm continue buzzing around me for a few moments longer, just to be sure. Once it was clear she was really gone I slowly let them disperse and reform their clusters. Sinking to the roof, I pulled my mask off and wrapped my arms around myself, letting my head fall to my chest and concentrated on breathing to try and calm my rapid, shaky breaths, barely noticing the tears running down the sides of my face.

"Hey, hey, it's cool, she's gone." It said something about my nerves that I didn't jump this time when Grue's new friend reappeared suddenly with her hand on my shoulder. I just shifted one of my hands higher and grasped hers squeezing. "Fuck that was…fuck. You do this regularly?"

"Pretty much," I whispered. "QA?"

"Stinger," my power responded staring off the roof towards the distance where Siberian had vanished. "This is bad. If Stinger has been wandering around unchecked like this…why hasn't The Warrior done anything? What has happened to this Cycle? What is the point of all this?!"

"QA?"

"I will kill it, Taylor. Its entire purpose is to kill us, things like us. But…it cannot be allowed free reign. I will kill it. I will need your help."

I nodded as the roof door opened and Spitfire, Grue and Othala raced onto the roof. "It's a projection…isn't it? That's why I can hear it."

"It is…more than that. Find Manton. Get Shaper or I close and one of us will finish this. Do not kill Manton until we kill Stinger…no Siberian. It is not Stinger anymore. It is Siberian. It is more than deviant, it is distorted, changed, perverted. It cannot be allowed to seek a new host or this will all start again."

Spitfire fell to her knees beside me and Imp moved back giving her space, though I didn't hear what she was saying as she spoke into my neck. I finally looked up at my shard. "We kill it no matter what."

"Yes. We kill it."

Fanfic Rec: 'Burn' by JinglyJangles. On SB. Taylor's mindset was incredibly damaged by her trigger and it really shows in the first few bits. At the beginning you're tricked into thinking it's a mild crack fic as Explosion!Volcano!Taylor goes about defeating and mugging all the extreme heavy hitters in the Bay. That light hearted romp is quickly cast aside for major feels as you get tidbits of other perspectives and realize the world isn't sunshine and rainbows and that Taylor is literally hovering over a cliff. The timely arrival of the Undersiders after things tip a bit too far over the edge help her to heal and the marked difference is heartwarming. Not really for Brian fans, but damn does this hit the heartstrings. Also, it WILL make you love Alec. And cheer for both Rachel and Lisa. Complete.