Here we go. After a brief hiatus due to my absence, I am back with another chapter of Pushover or Payback. I've decided to just stick with the original plan of leaving the FanFic as one self-contained story with 20 chapters, as opposed to create a 2nd FF that counts as a part 2. As such, here we are with what can be considered the beginning of the 2nd half of the tale, and a turning point for the narrative. We have dealt with Lincoln's personal struggle and emotional journey as he comes to realise his family are his allies, and these new friends of his are just crazy, violent basket-cases. Now we're going to be diving into the part of the story where Lincoln must escape his current state of imprisonment, while Viribus and his disciples plan to take over society, one step at a time… but how will they go about starting that rather ambitious plan?
Lincoln may have had a psychological breakthrough in the last 24 hours, but for all his mental growth and realisation, he was still a prisoner of Viribus. He had no means of escape. He was in a dark and desolate room by himself, with a locked door, and a window high up that he had no means of reaching, since there were no objects in the room he could stand on. Even if he could somehow unlock or break the door, he would then have to find his way out of the hideout without being detected by his captors. Things still appeared very grim for the young Loud boy at that time.
While Lincoln was reflecting on things in his confinement, his new 'allies' were plotting and planning. Viribus had a plan to take control of the local populace, step by step; one that he had been working on for quite some time. He believed all he needed to achieve the first steps of this plan were himself and his crew, albeit with suitable weaponry. He decided to announce the beginning of his plan initiation to his followers…
Viribus: "Gather, my disciples. Today is the day we strike the first blow against the outside world!"
Eddie, Sid, Hilary and Wayne all gathered around their master and listened to his command…
Viribus: "Punire. Potens. Nocere. Defendere. My children. We have all been victims of the ruthless and cold society around us. We have been traumatised, tortured, abandoned, and rejected by the rest of the human race! But I say… it's time to take a stand! To say NO! They will look at us and think we're the bad guys, because we're not. We are the heroes of this story. We are going to make the world a better place, one area at a time. I promise you, life will change for the better!"
The disciples in unison: "Yeah!"
Viribus: "Now we shall strike against the first target in my grand plan. We shall target Royal Woods Elementary School."
Disciples: "Yeah… wait, what?"
Viribus: "Where else should we start than where it all started to go wrong for us? Our childhood years were ones of bullying and torment. In school was where we all first learned the harshness of reality. So why not make the local school, where our newest recruit Lincoln goes to, no less, our first target for change?"
Eddie: "I get it. We start with changing all those little boys and girls, and then we work our way up!"
Viribus: "Exactly! Now you kids get in the car, we're going shopping! For ammunition! I'm just going to have a little word with our newest member."
Sid: "May I ask… where is Lincoln, master? I haven't seen him since about two days ago?"
Viribus: "I kept him in our confinement room since our little misunderstanding. He was showing signs of hesitation. Like he had second thoughts about being aligned with us. But don't worry. I'm sure he's come to his senses. And if not, he's not essential in any way. He can be disposed of quite easily if need be."
Viribus then made his way to the room where Lincoln was kept. He wanted to see if the boy had 'come to his senses' over the course of the night. Unfortunately for the mad man, Lincoln had come to realise the opposite of what he wanted… the real truth of the situation.
Viribus: "Well, Lincoln. Have you had enough time to realise your mistake?"
Lincoln: "What I realise is that you are completely out of your mind! I know one thing for certain, and that is I never want to be anything like you!"
Viribus then couldn't help but show his disappointment…
Viribus: "A pity. I thought you were smarter than this. Surely you see the reality of the situation. The fact that we need to take what is ours in this world and make sure nobody steps in our way… or on top of us!"
Lincoln: "Just let me go! I want to return home, to my family! I miss them!"
Viribus then let out an arrogant smirk…
Viribus: "Huh? Strange, because a couple of days ago you didn't think that way. You wanted nothing to do with them."
Lincoln: "Yeah, well I wasn't thinking straight. And you… you took advantage of that, didn't you?!" he furiously accused.
Viribus: "I just saw a boy, just like myself…"
Lincoln: "I'm nothing like you!" he shouted as he cut him off.
Viribus: "More than you think, kid. I saw a mirror image of myself as a child. I wanted to help him. Make sure he didn't go through all the same sour experiences I went through at that age. I wanted to give you a chance to live a better life!"
Lincoln: "What?! By hurting innocent people and crushing everyone who dares to even speak back to you?!"
Viribus: "Innocent? That word has no place in this world, kid. Nobody is innocent. Face facts, boy. There are no innocents in a world full of selfish, hostile humans. The sooner you accept that, the better."
Lincoln: "You're a monster!"
Viribus: "No, I'm a saviour. In fact, my plan to save everyone is about to commence."
Lincoln: "And just what is this plan of yours?!"
Viribus: "You'll see, soon enough. For now, I'll leave you to have more time to think. I have to go out to get myself some ammunition. It will be needed for today's activities. See the light soon, Lincoln Loud."
Viribus then left as he prepared to collect some weaponry, leaving Lincoln to hang his head down in defeat as he was still trapped inside the room, with seemingly no way out. It was at that point, he knew he would have to formulate a plan to break out…
But as he sat there thinking, Viribus went out to an abandoned shack in the middle of a field, located right in the middle of nowhere, far away from Royal Woods or the city…
Hilary: "Master, where are we? I thought we were going to buy some ammo for our invasion of the school."
Viribus: "Did you really think they would hand over any kind of weapon to a group of mere children at a local store?"
Eddie: "Then where are we going to get some, Master Viribus?"
Sid: "And more to the point, where are we going now?"
Viribus then responded with certainty as he saw the destination dead ahead.
Viribus: "Do not question me, children. I will answer both queries very shortly. In fact, here we are. This little shack, and inside are a bunch of old weapons I got from some dealers a while back. I was saving them for just this occasion." He said as he and his disciples arrived, exited the vehicle and approached the structure.
Wayne: "But the door is locked, my master."
Viribus then kicked down the door, muting Wayne's point.
Viribus: "Not anymore."
The group then entered the 'unlocked' shack…
Viribus: "It was locked because I didn't want some random intruder wandering across this place and breaking in to steal these goods. But we're not just random intruders…"
Viribus then picked up a series of laser blasters. Highly advanced technology even by modern standards…
Eddie: "Cool gear!"
Sid: "Where did you get these, master?"
Viribus: "I got them from some very polite dealers some time ago. They told me some genius scientist from Royal Woods made them. A very young mind, no less."
Eddie: "Call me impressed."
Hilary: "What about that stuff?" she asked as she pointed to some metallic objects stashed in the corner.
Viribus then picked them up and revealed them as body armour suits…
Viribus: "Body armour. Suits that are light yet highly durable and protective, and should keep mobility restrictions to a minimum. They should be useful for what we're about to do."
Wayne: "So, what now?"
Viribus: "Now, it's time to go to school!" he declared as he smiled, with a very sinister grin on his face.
The time had come, the gang were ready to make their mark on Royal Woods, and then, the world. And their first stop was none other than the local elementary school, where Lincoln happened to be a student. Or at least, he was, before Viribus abducted him and kept him away from school as well as his own home…
And sure enough, as Viribus approached the school in his van alongside his disciples, the principal happened to be talking about Lincoln's absence…
Principal Huggins: "Mrs Johnson, how many days has it been now since Lincoln's been absent from school?"
Mrs Johnson: "It's been over a week. His parents rang and said he was feeling bad and needed a day off. That was a whole week ago now! I don't know where he is."
Principal Huggins: "Well, this is getting ridiculous! If he doesn't show up soon, I'm going to have to march down there and find out why he is still not at school myself!"
But as they discussed this matter in his office, outside it was recess. The kids were playing freely. Until a large vehicle pulled up on the side of the school playground. Out of the van came 4 youths. Each wearing body armour and carrying a high-tech weapon.
Of course, the school kids thought they were just new students or visitors who happened to be carrying really cool looking toys…
Chandler: "Hey, cool toys. Do they actually shoot anything?"
Eddie: "Oh yeah!" he said in delight as he relished in the opportunity of being able to intimidate someone with his laser.
The kids began shooting upwards into the air, and then at a few inanimate objects scattered throughout the playground, showing that the guns were legitimate weapons. This caused the kids to run around the playground in panic, running for their lives. Before they could escape the school grounds, however, Viribus exited the vehicle and then raised his voice, with the aid of a voice amplifying device…
Viribus: "SILENCE!" he shouted before blasting his own laser into the ground, gaining the attention of the excited and terrified students.
Viribus: "ALL STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO THE SCHOOL INTERIOR IMMEDIATELY! YOU ARE OUR PRISONERS AND HOSTAGES! ENTER THE PREMISES NOW!"
Out of fear and threat, the kids began entering the building, not wishing to oppose the commands of the man leading the group of armed thugs. Among the crowd of kids were some of the younger Loud siblings, from Lucy to Lisa specifically…
Lucy: "We would have been better off staying at home today like Lori!"
Lola: "Gee, you THINK?!" she angrily and sarcastically responded.
Lana: "Well, Mom and Dad let her have the day off since she was getting a special visit from her boyfriend."
Lisa: "I must interrupt this small talk. We need to get inside, NOW!"
As the Loud sisters went inside the building along with the other kids, Lana looked over at the aggressors with the guns…
Lana: "Hey, those guys like familiar. I think that's those people from the other day who were with…"
Lola: "Get inside!" and then Lana was cut her off by her sister dragging her away.
All the noise outside and commotion caught the attention of the principal from inside his office…
Principal Huggins: "What in the world?! Recess isn't over yet! Why are all the kids coming inside?"
Mrs Johnson: "Maybe it's raining outside." She suggested.
The principal then looked outside his window, and it was a sunny day. Not a cloud in the sky.
Principal Huggins: "Guess again."
At that moment, 5 more people entered the room. These being Viribus and his disciples. They wanted to make their position of dominance known to the highest authority figure present in the building, and that just happened to be Huggins.
Huggins: "And who on earth are you people?! And what makes you think you can just barge in here like a bunch of kings!?"
Viribus: "Well, for all intensive purposes, that's exactly what we are."
Huggins: "And who are these kids you got with you? Shouldn't they be in school?! I've never seen them here before!"
Viribus: "Oh please, Principal Huggins. Your school, like all other facilities in society, has failed these children. That's why I took it upon myself to give them a better life. Now, they are, in fact, kings above all the rest. Alongside yours truly."
Johnson: "Look, I don't know who you think you are, but…" she was then cut off as Viribus grabbed her by the lips and forced her mouth shut.
Viribus: "Be quiet, lady. The big boys are having a conversation right now!" he said condescendingly.
Huggins: "Look, just get out of my office and leave my school immediately!" he shouted as he pointed towards the door.
Viribus: "Oh, a demand, eh? You and what army?! Bypassing your security was easy, because a primitive and poor elementary school in a backwater area, like this one, doesn't even have any. That, and the fact that all the students are aged 4 to 11, made this place an easy first target for us. Breaking into the place, rounding everybody up like cattle and seizing control was no challenge at all. In fact, I wish I had an 'easy' button right now. Oh well."
Huggins: "Look, just take your twisted mind and little freaks of yours and get out of here, NOW!" he shouted.
The group them raised their laser guns and pointed them at Huggins. He was taken aback by this, and his aggressive and confident manner quickly dissipated. He retreated against the wall, and it was clear at this point who was dominating the confrontation.
Viribus: "Let me make sure you get the message, Principal. You are now in my domain. Welcome to Royal Woods Elementary School, soon to be renamed 'The Academy of Enhancement.' The first creation within MY new society."
Huggins: "You're completely mad." He muttered in disbelief over what was going on.
Viribus: "Not mad. Visionary. I have a vision for a perfect world, and I'm going to make it a reality. And this school is just the beginning!"
Sid: "Master, here is the microphone. Shall we begin our speech to the school?"
Viribus: "Yes. I think it's about time we let everyone know what's going on here."
And with that, Viribus grabbed the microphone and began delivering a message that was heard by everyone across the entire school, thanks to the speakers planted in all the different rooms…
Viribus: "Welcome students, teachers, various stakeholders of this school, to the birth of a new and improved facility. Welcome to The Academy of Enhancement! The capital of my new kingdom."
The disciples then laughed as Viribus smirked in satisfaction. So far, his plan was working perfectly, and this was only just the start of what he intended to do…
You can probably tell what I meant by now when I said I was thinking of making chapters 11 to 20 a separate story, or a distinguished part 2. This is a significant turning point in terms of narrative focus and direction, and what the story is actually about. This tale has now extended far beyond just being about Lincoln and his struggle with his family. Lincoln has come across some truly warped people, and he and his family may be the only ones capable of stopping them. But how is he going to get out of his imprisonment? Read the next chapter to find out.