Chapter 3- Attack Of The Killer Plants:
Third Person:
"Out of all the places," Spidey muttered, "Why the park?"
"Well," Kato hissed, "It is outside and if they were planning something like this- I'd rather it be the park than a building, wouldn't you?"
"Touche."
"When Coulson said that there was a forest growing in Central Park, I didn't think he meant this," Nova whined.
All around them were plants- just not the garden variety. Large vines were wrapped around every inch of the park. Grass was as tall as the people. Unknown plants were everywhere. It reminded them of the jungle, but somehow something about the plants seemed different- they seemed potentially dangerous.
As they made their way through the temporary jungle, Kato was on edge. Something about the situation seemed familiar to her, it seemed almost... safe. Perhaps it was because the plants reminded her of her departed friend- especially since the plants were roses.
"Spiderman," a voice called, "Help!"
"No way," Nova whispered, "Is that..."
"Yeah," Spiderman nodded, "That's Norman Osborn..."
The man in question was dangling several feet off the ground. Large thick vines with thorns were wrapped around his body, tightening like a boa constrictor. A large thorn was just inches from his Adam's apple in a seemingly threatening way. He struggled to get out of the vines, but it was to no avail.
"I'll get him," Kato growled as she jumped up to where the man was hanging.
With a few slashes of her claws, the surprisingly thick and stable vines, finally split in two, freeing Norman. Kato jumped down gracefully as Norman landed with a thud. He quickly stood up and straightened his tie.
"Did you see what happened," Spiderman asked, "Who's causing all this?"
"I'm not sure... A woman, I think. I just heard her voice briefly. She's controlling all the plants."
Spiderman nodded. Going unnoticed by each of them, vines slithered to them and then wrapped themselves around the heroes. Norman looked shocked before he ran off.
"Ungrateful little stulta," Kato muttered, watching the man retreat.
"I love the way you call people stupid because they're not gonna know what the hell you're saying," Animal told Kato.
Kato smirked.
"You know Esperanto?"
Both twins nodded at that.
"We know every language there is to know. Just a small part of the force that fed info given to us when we were made."
Kato, knowing full well that wasn't a subject neither of the twins felt comfortable talking about, let it drop. Unfortunately, some heroes were a bit thicker than others.
"Oh," Nova said, "Do you mean when you two were underground being taught by one of those-"
"-Yes," the twins snapped at the same time.
They all weren't really used to Axel being cold with them like that, but it was almost a daily basis with Alex. They were dodging and slashing as much as they could, but the vines were like a hydra- cut off one head and more took its place.
"WOAH!" Spider-Man exclaimed as a mutant venus fly trap almost ate him whole. The rest of the team just laughed.
"It makes sense," Power Man said as he took down the killer plant.
"Don't remind me," Spidey grumbled back. Then things got even more tense when the twins stopped running and started sniffing.
"We can smell her," they said at the same time, "She's this way."
As they led the rest of the team through the thick brush, Kato could start to smell the mystery girl too, but almost slapped herself in the face for not realizing it sooner. Before they could go any further, however, giant walls of grass engulfed their side visions.
The twins let out growls as they moved closer together. Everyone, minus Kato, were on edge. Kato looked on the verge of crying or laughing.
"She's leading us to her, I think," Axel stated. Alex nodded in agreement.
"The weird thing is though," she started, "Is that I don't have a bad feeling about who's causing this. Usually I get that feeling even with other heroes, like the New Warriors, which, by the way, none of you join them. They're a bunch of dumb asses that only go for the ratings, but with her, it seems almost...Safe. Not knowing who's doing this but feeling safe about it is most disturbing."
Axel nodded in agreement. It was just their way of thinking. Their brains weren't hardwired for love and cuddles. They were wired for fighting and instincts, and eight times out of ten, they trusted their instincts over anything.
Kato trusted her instincts as well, which was why she started to lead them around the walls gracefully. She could smell her- she could smell that familiar scent of vanilla and lavender. It can't be... It just can't be... She can't be here, can she? Can she be here... If this is a dream, I don't think I want to wake up...
Still, the walls seemed to disappear as if they were no longer needed, and they weren't. Kato knew were she was going and she knew that she would be safe. Vicious plants backed away from her, sensing that she was of no threat and that she was a friend. The plants neared the team, but still made no move.
"Don't hurt the plants and you'll be fien," KKato said calmly as she smiled slightly.
"Kato," Power Man asked, "You seem strangely calm..."
"That's because she knows who I am," a strange female voice said.
The team turned and were surprised to see a girl they're age, maybe a bit younger by a year. She had tanned skin with odd tattoos of vines with roses on her thighs, shoulders, and arms. Kato was the only one that knew that the girl would have the tattoos on her stomach as well. The girl's long dirty blonde hair was pulled back into a dragon tail. She wore a dark green kimono with a lighter green wrap around the middle, but she wore no shoes. The oddest thing about the girl was the large angel-like white wings on her back that were stretched out.
"Moriko," Kato whispered.
