Chapter 24.3
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Knolden, the ever help. To Major who deserved to take a break, enjoy the scene.
Taylor looked at the screen as it showed a password protected site, the computer chair creaking slightly as she turned to Jess's beaming face.
The protruding cat ears on either side of the girls head twitched.
"Have you tried 'Password'?" Taylor suggested and Jess thought about it and then looked at Gilgamesh.
"Is that how her power works?" she asked and Taylor blinked as Gilgamesh tried on some of Tattletale's sunglasses.
The room looked like a bomb had gone off in a paper factory and everyone crowding inside it made it felt tiny and cramped. The place seemed mostly like an office rather than someone's living space, any personal touch was so buried under facts, sticky notes and murder boards that Taylor had trouble seeing anything.
Taylor saw Grue standing at the door, furthest away from Taylor, his helmet hiding any expression, he had his arms crossed and was being curt but polite to her. She remembered that he was the other person that wanted to come back for her on the night of the Lung fight.
Regent laid on the unmade bed and seemed to be asleep, his royal mask and golden staff clashing badly with the rooms muted colors.
Mog sat on the highest bookcase, reading one of Lisa's few paperbacks.
Bitch was sitting on the floor in the corner watching Mog, almost unblinking. Her dogs were downstairs. Without them, she seemed more restless, her hands didn't seem to settle in any particular place.
Gilgamesh turned around wearing a pair of tacky leopard print glasses.
"Uh no. When I said she could unlock things, I meant with her Key, not her mind." he said, rubbing the back of his head as he grinned. Jess turned back to Taylor and stared.
"This sounds stupidly obvious in hindsight but your frigging Keyblade can unlock things? I mean it's a giant key but come on!" she said, a hand on her hip.
Taylor nodded as she stood. Ultros popped out of Jess's shoulder and Grue stood up straight.
Taylor eyed him in case he freaked but he shook his head and then took a step closer.
"That's just a little freaky." he commented and Ultros cackled. Regent sat up and peered at the tiny octopus.
"Hey, it's the molester from before. Watch out Grue, it might want your body next." he said cheerfully and Grue took a step back.
"Uh, I rather not be felt up by a talking pimple…" he trailed off as Ultros bulged with anger.
"You two muscle heads are not my type, yuck! Hey, babe? When did you turn into a Miqo'te?" he asked, sounding bewildered at Jess's furry ears.
Then with a shimmer of golden sparks Ultros's head grew two tiny fins on either side of head. Ultros eyes went sideways and then the tiny fins wiggled.
"Those are new." he said, appearing strangely unbothered by them. Rachel stood and walked over.
"Why are you inside her?" she asked motioning to Jess's face, which indicated the clowns amusement with the turn of events.
Ultros grinned toothily at her.
"You get straight to the point, heh. Me and the babe have a special relationship. I get free room and board and she gets to have me watching her back." he said and all his tentacles flowed out of Jess's back and floated in the air.
Each one grew a little barbed hook on the end after a few seconds. Bitch narrowed her eyes at them and went back to hovering around Mog.
Ultros blinked at them and then turned to look at Taylor.
"Sweetcheeks? Control yourself, I know it's hard..." he said with with a cackle.
Taylor stared with her mouth open and then at the Keyblade leaning against the desk.
She picked it up and shook it, the keychain jingling.
"Stop that!" she ordered frantically, the weapon didn't respond. Taylor narrowed her eye and pointed it at Grue, who did freak this time.
"I don't want to be a cat!" he said, putting his hands up. Taylor shook her head.
"Close the door, I'll show you what Gilgamesh means." she explained and Grue hastily stood near Regent.
Taylor walked over and nudged it close. Then standing back, she held the Keyblade in both hands.
The new design threw her attention of for a second, the odd guard and blades catching a few beams of light from the sun.
Taylor wondered why the Keyblade didn't feel wrong in her hands.
Everything about it was different and it just seemed more rough than her Melody.
Yet…
It felt like it didn't hide anything since she had gotten it. The blade hummed with a weak power but it glowed brightly as if daring her to try and extinguish it.
Taylor...liked that. It had attitude.
Shaking her head, she focused on the door which already had an alarming amount of locks on it but she pushed that away and the tip of the Keyblade began to glow brighter.
"Uh...Grue? I think she's firing her laser at the door. Just letting you know that Lisa might be pissed about that." Regent offered and Grue shook his head.
To Taylor's surprise there was a little hum of magic like a growing crescendo of voices, as if she was casting Cura repeatedly, then the golden beam fired from the tip of the Keyblade.
The whole door glowed, illuminating the room in a bright light.
Then a decisive click sounded out and the light died down.
"Holy shit, she's got choir sound effects!" Regent called as he peeked around Grue's tall form at the door.
Jess was rubbing her eyes.
"Jesus frigging Christ, my eyes." she moaned and Taylor gingerly lowered the Keyblade.
"I...haven't done that in awhile, guess I got better at it." she tried to laugh it off and Gilgamesh marched over to the door and yanked.
The door held and Gilgamesh put both feet on the doorframe and pulled so hard that her father's arms bulged with effort.
Had his arms...gotten that much bigger? What was Gilgamesh doing to her Dad?
The door silently refused the man and Gilgamesh turned to give Taylor a thumbs up.
"That door is so locked that it's going to need at least three fetch quests to get it open." he said and Taylor shrugged.
Having Gilgamesh so near was just...painful. Jess put a hand on her shoulder.
"You can...lock and unlock anything?" she hissed so quietly that Taylor almost didn't hear her.
"I...think so?" she offered and Mog floated down.
"Anything." he confirmed and Jess whipped her head towards him, mouth hanging open.
"That's...but she already...magic and demons...that's just utter frigging bullshit!" she finally declared and Gilgamesh nodded.
"Keyblades are very much so. I once saw one made of ice cream that cut down a Behemoth." he said and Taylor stared at him, as did the rest of the native earthlings.
"A Behemoth?!" Grue said, sounding a little hoarse and Gilgamesh nodded.
"Yes tricky foes. They are the worst losers I have ever met." he scoffed and Mog shook his head.
"Gilgamesh, kupo. You're being disrespectful, they think you're referring to the monster that resides here on Earth. Behemoths on other worlds aren't the same, kupo." he chided and Gilgamesh tilted his head. Regent nudged Grue.
"Did you know they were aliens? I did not know this. I think I should have known this." he said brightly and Grue shook his head.
"I...just...focus on Lisa. Just focus on her. They're insane, at least I hope they are." He muttered and Regent shook his head amused.
Gilgamesh frowned.
"I assumed they meant the same creature, is this a rare breed? A mutation? Worth a good fight?" he asked, pretending to jab at something and Mog shook his head, then looked down at Taylor before speaking.
"No, it's a terrible creature that has caused endless pain for this world for many years, kupo. It and two others are called the Endbringers. It's...a dark topic here, much like the Exiled are for us." Mog said and Gilgamesh's face turned blank.
He turned to Grue, Regent, Bitch, Jess and then finally Taylor, bowing each time.
"Forgive me. My mouth runs without thought sometimes." he said and Jess softly pulled Mog down to eye level, then spoke to both Espers as Ultros appeared on her hand to look at Jess directly.
"Okkkkaaay. First, it's fine. We grew up around that shit. You...learn to deal with it or ignore it. Second, Exiled? That sounds like a tragic backstory just waiting to be fucking told." she asked and Ultros sighed.
"Babe? Not a good question." he murmured and Mog looked away, the book in his paws gripped tightly.
"I'd prefer not to talk about it, kupo. I won't lie this time, not like the seed, I promise, but I do not like talking about it." he said to Taylor and Gilgamesh looked out the window.
"A real mood killer. Bah forget them, they deserve nothing less. I want to know how I can get my minion back." Gilgamesh said, putting his hands behind his back. Grue looked at Taylor.
"Do they make references to things and then don't explain them often?" he asked lightly and Taylor smiled.
"It's a habit for them. You just sort of learn to let it go." she said and Regent sighed dramatically, flopping back onto the bed.
"Well, now that we're stuck here forever. What now?" he asked, waving to the locked door and everyone looked at Taylor.
She didn't fidget but she very slowly looked away. Gilgamesh yawned.
"She needs to hurry up and beam us a password. I prefer to punch things and move on, this waiting around is getting on my nerves." he grumbled and Taylor stared at him.
"I can't beam a login screen." she scoffed and when Gilgamesh just looked at her, Taylor blinked.
"Can I?" she asked slowly and Gilgamesh shook his head.
"You kids and your Keyblades, I mean really? Where is your master? They should have explained all this." he said, sounding exasperated.
Taylor looked at Mog who shook his head.
"Keynote is a chosen, not an inheritor. We think anyway, kupo." Mog said and Jess stuck her hand up, her smile a bit fixed.
"Okay, so the rest of us clueless frigging mortals are confused as hell. Why should Keynote have a master and why doesn't she have one?" she asked and Regent nodded.
"Gotta agree. I'm feeling a little out of the loop here." he said and Gilgamesh turned to them and clapped his hand together.
"Keynote is the latest in an order of magical space warriors who use key shaped weapons to defeat literal creatures of darkness and make reality their plaything, basically. Each one has a master, or so they're suppose to. Leaving kids alone with Keyblades...that is just asking for a crazy adventure to happen." he said and Grue gave a little sigh that sounded like a restrained scream.
"There's nothing basic about that, at all." he ground out and Gilgamesh slapped him on the back laughing.
Grue stumbled forward a few steps as Gilgamesh rubbed his nose.
"Ah kid, you ain't seen nothing yet." he promised and Taylor glared at him.
"Stop making me sound weird." she said and Jess opened her mouth but suddenly her teeth elongated into two sharp fangs.
Jess ran a tongue over them, Bitch stared at her and blinked.
"You're turning into a cat." she stated, not looking and Jess grinned.
"Cuul" she garbled and Mog examined her closely.
"Kupo, this is getting interesting. I wonder what she'll grow next?" he asked as his small cloth stump grew out into a long lion's tail.
Mog looked at it and spun in the air rapidly trying to catch it.
Taylor breathed very slowly.
"Why is that happening?" she asked, forcing her voice to remain very calm. Mog stopped rotating and tilted his head.
"Your new Keyblade's magic most likely, kupo. You received it from Rachel, right? So it would follow logically that it would take after her in some way, kupo." he turned to Bitch who was peering closely at Jess's ears. At the sound of her real name Bitch looked up, her eyes narrowed but they lost the edge when Mog floated down.
"You power up dogs, right?" he asked and Bitch nodded, she grabbed him and turned him around as if Mog was very interesting to her.
Ultros cackled as Mog carried on without a fuss.
"So you're powering people up, kupo. Considering it's me, Jess and Ultros only...kupo, must be for those you think of as friends." he offered and Taylor pointed at Ultros.
"I don't really know him." she said bluntly and Mog pointed at Jess, who was still being manhandled by Bitch's other hand.
"Bleed over effect, kupo. He lives in her power...somehow, kupo." he explained and Taylor sighed.
"But why? Why did I get a Keyblade from her?" Taylor questioned and Mog mostly shrugged.
"Things of the heart are complicated, kupo. Rachel might have been so fundamentally honestto you that there was a true connection or perhaps you earned her respect or, kupo, it might have just been a odd stroke of luck that let you two bond over those dogs you rescued that I can smell around her." Mog offered and Taylor wasn't sure how she felt about...any of those ideas.
She closed her eyes as she tried to focus.
"Maybe I should buddy up to her. I think I would be a sexy cat, like on halloween, what do you think?" Regent asked and Grue's voice sounded amused as he answered.
"I'm sure all the boys will love you." he said dryly.
Taylor tried not to smile. Grue had a nice sense of humor.
Like before she focused on the Melody. It's shape, it's feel, it's comforting weight…
"Grue, she's doing weird shit again." Regent said and Taylor opened her eyes to find her Keyblade back to normal.
Her Melody returned.
Taylor grinned as Jess's features reverted back to normal, as did Mog's.
Taking a small breath, she looked at Jess, then at the file name that was still locked on the screen.
"Before I do this, who is Thomas Calvert? Why do you want this info? If you want to rob him, I swear to God-" she began before Jess shook her head.
"Alright, alright. I'm 99% sure that it's Coil." Jess said and Taylor's mind went blank. That was the last thing she expected.
"Coil? As the guy who sent you to steal from me? The guy who wanted Dinah Alcott for her powers? The guy who most likely hired the Travellers?" Taylor's voice rose with each question and Jess put up both hands, trying to calm Taylor.
"Yeah, him. He's also the one who kidnapped Tattletale, he was frigging bankrolling these guys but none of them knew it." Jess sighed, running a hand through her hair.
Taylor looked at the Undersiders, one at a time.
"You got paid by this guy and you had no idea?" she asked incredulously and Grue crossed his arms.
His posture changed in an instant into something hard and immovable.
"I asked Tattletale and she never told us, it felt off but I needed that money. I didn't ask questions and no one else did either. Not everyone is lucky enough to be the next Eidolon in the making, some of us have to do things that we aren't happy about." Grue snapped and Taylor turned on him, her mouth thin.
"What could you need money for badly enough that you're willing to risk working with a psychopath who kidnaps young girls and who knows what else?" Taylor asked and Grue shook his head, his voice getting angry.
"I never knew that, I didn't even know who he was until today. It was a bad choice and we're pretty fucked if he wants to ruin the rest of us but Li-...Tattletale doesn't deserve what he's doing to her either." he said firmly and Regent sighed dramatically.
"Grue boy here is right. We're fucked pretty badly, well...Grue and Bitch are." he corrected and Grue looked at him and Regent shrugged.
Taylor eyed them as Gilgamesh leaned against the wall.
"They're not bad kids, Keyblade Wielder. They're messed up and definitely need a good kick in the kiester but...they're not evil." he trailed off and Taylor crossed her arms, trying not to scowl at Gilgamesh's professional tone.
Of all the times for him to act serious.
Half of her wanted to just leave. Forget this whole thing and go home or back to Sabah. It would be easy and it would be the best way to avoid a repeat of yesterday. Annoyingly enough, the other half wanted to know more, almost wanted to know why.
Why did Grue need the money? Why was Regent such an ass?
Why was Gilgamesh hanging out with them?
Jess rubbed a thumb over Ultros' head which made the octopus shiver happily, his grin stretching even wider, which considering it already took up most of his face was frankly disturbing. Jess looked thoughtful.
"Huh, that might be the problem. Key here only knows you as the spooky frigging Undies. Actually, this whole costume thing is a bit weird since I don't have one." she said and Taylor shot her a look.
Her makeup had been smeared off and her bare face was shown.
"So?" Taylor said slowly and Grue made a noise, Taylor guessed he must have caught on faster than the others.
"Uh I don't think that's a good idea." he said quickly and Regent tilted his head.
"Bitch doesn't have a mask on either." he said and Grue shook his head.
"Everyone knows who she is, she doesn't need it." the darkness generating cape stressed and Taylor's mind finally caught up.
"No." she told Jess firmly. Jess began to smile. Taylor didn't like the look of it at all.
"Key, hun, you're fine. You have the upper hand here. What I'm suggesting is that they offer you an olive branch, give you...what's the word?" she asked herself and Mog snorted.
"Blackmail." he stated and Jess smiled.
"That's the one. Listen, Coil is bad news, if you leave him alone, he'll come back fucking worse than before. These guys need to find him before he decides to go viral with their identities. Loose ends and all that crap. Did you know that Coil's old base went boom last night?" she asked the room in general and Grue shook his head.
"I didn't even know he had one. The only thing that got wrecked was the bank and that construction site downtown." he said slowly and Jess nodded.
"That's the one. Coil is cleaning house and you guys are on his list somewhere. It's how frigging creeps like him work." she said and sat on the computer desk as she talked.
Grue looked at Regent then at Bitch.
"But we don't know anything about him, not sure how we could be a threat to Coil." he told Jess who gestured to the room around them.
"You knew Lisa. That alone makes you dangerous to him. What if she left a code or a delayed message about him." she said and Grue looked at the blonde.
"That and he sounds like a vindictive prick." Ultros piped up.
"True that" Regent said with a nod.
"She would do that, she liked messing with people sometimes." Bitch offered as Mog sat in her lap and continued to read his book.
Mog seemed to like the girl a lot.
But Lisa? Taylor blinked at this, at the casual name drop. If Bitch was Rachel then Lisa had to be...
"Coil wasn't wrong or you wouldn't be here." he pointed out, his shoulders tensing at Lisa's name and Jess smiled darkly as Ultros opened drawers, pulling out staplers, pens and paper clips and stored them inside Jess.
"Coil fucked with me and Lisa at the same time. He's a fucking idiot and a dead man." Jess almost spat and Taylor looked at her.
"You won't...kill him if I help you, right?" she asked slowly and Jess sighed.
"No, just...make him go away. Anyway, you guys need this info before Coil comes for you or worse and Key here needs a reason to even consider trusting you. So what's it gonna to be folks?" she asked cheerfully.
Grue looked down at the ground, his skull helmet giving nothing away.
"We could run, change our names. What makes you think this is such a huge deal for us?" he said calmly and Jess snorted.
"Lying to a liar, nice. Money. If someone needs money badly enough for this gig, then there's a reason to stay in Brockton Bay. Lisa wanted to run but she couldn't. So, you're based here in the good ole Bay and I'm going to go with a person, someone you need that money for." Jess said, her voice casually guessing and Grue went very still.
Regent sounded amused when he spoke.
"Lisa 2.0, nice. Oh do me next." he said in a tone that made Taylor feel a little dirty.
Jess eyed him as Ultros sniggered.
"You seem give way too few shits about anything. I think this gig is something you fucking fell into and went along with for the cash, it's convenient and you like it. The fact you're still here at all is fucking amazing but it doesn't matter, you think Coil might have something on you that you'd rather not be let loose on the web, something about you, about your past that you don't want going viral to every big name in the country?" Jess asked with a smirk and Regent thought about it for all of five seconds before pulling his mask off.
Taylor stared in shock at the pretty face before her, the black curls that hung softly over his forehead.
Regent smiled at her and Taylor saw his face was defined and smooth. Gilgamesh chuckled deeply at him.
"Alec, at your service." he mock bowed and Grue looked at him.
"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded and Alec looked at him,
"I like being here, not in this tiny place mind you, I like waking up at 2pm, I like buying new clothes everyday, I love my video games and I love being able to do what I want. Coil can ruin that pretty easily, so I want Coil gone. Easy as that." he said and Taylor stared at him.
Coil could make his day more stressful so that was reason enough?
Bitch stood up, holding Mog.
"I need food for the dogs. If I don't get money I can't look after them. Lisa can help me. She was good at thinking about that shit." she said and nodded at Taylor.
"Rachel...I prefer Bitch." she said and Gilgamesh rubbed his hands together as if the scene before him was pleasing him greatly.
Jess nodded approvingly as Ultros eyed Gilgamesh. When the warrior looked over at Ultros, the octopus quickly dived under.
Grue looked between them and sounded like he wanted to hit something as he cursed under his breath.
He turned to Taylor.
"You going to turn us in?" he asked and Taylor blinked.
"For attacking me at the bank?" she asked and Grue shook his head.
"For being a villain in general." he demanded and Taylor opened her mouth then closed it.
She reached forward and pulled Jess to standing position.
"This is Jess. She's my friend." she said slowly and Grue just stared at her.
Taylor was about to elaborate when Jess's arms began to crush her neck.
"Oh Key, you're such a sweetheart." Jess gushed as Taylor slapped at her, pushing her away, trying not to grimace as a blush crept up her neck
"What I'm trying to say is that I don't judge people because they're not...a hero. If you say you have a reason for being a villain and you don't hurt people for shits and giggles...we can talk. I've met people who made me question things, about being a villain and being a hero." she said and then she looked at Grue and when she spoke, she put weight into it.
"Tell me, do you hurt people for fun?" she asked quietly and Grue didn't answer for a few seconds as Regent rubbed at his neck.
"Yesh...scary lady." he muttered and Grue shook his head, his voice was steady.
"No, I'm not a psycho if that's what you're asking. I've only robbed, from gangs mostly, and the bank job was...well it was a mess. I owe Lisa and she's my friend. If you can help us and you give us your word not to betray us, give us a chance like Circus...I...suppose I don't have a choice." Grue muttered the last part and took of his stylised skull helmet to reveal a dark face with a serious expression.
Taylor swallowed hard, unlike Alec, when Grue took of his helmet, there was a feeling of finality. As if the handsome boy's life was in her hands.
He looked at her and a small humourless smile tugged at his lips.
"Brian." he said and looked down, his features going blank.
Jess turned to Taylor, hands on hips.
"I mean, come on. I don't think there is anything else they could do to convince you at this point." she prodded and Taylor sighed.
Gilgamesh walked forward, placing one hand on Brian's shoulder.
"Keynote is true to her word, you need only look at those around her." he said and Brian shrugged off his hand.
"We're screwed either way. Unless we learn who this guy is and fast, we're going to be outed publicly as villains. If Bitch is any indication, that's not the life I want. So Keynote is my only hope." he said and Alec smirked as he looked at Taylor.
"Help us Obi-Wan Keynobi, you're our only hope." he said and Taylor ignored him.
"What would you do, after you get Coil? Still be villains?" she asked and Brian shrugged, his eyes meeting hers.
"We're not exactly subtle with our powers. We're already wanted for crimes, so it's not like we can just flip sides. Maybe just mess with other gangs, steal their money. Lisa might have ideas but until we get her back, I can't say." Brian shrugged.
Taylor looked at him. Even without the helmet, he made for an impressive figure.
"Is Jess right? About why you want the money?" she asked softly and Brian looked at her dead on, there was no hesitation or conflict.
"My sister, I need it for my sister. That's all you need to know." he said a little coldly and Taylor nodded.
Bitch for her dogs, Brian for his sister, Alec for his..uh...videogames.
Jess and Gilgamesh had a point.
None of them were of Hookwolf's mentality, none of them had Lung's bloodthirst and none of them seemed to share in Coil's special brand of madness.
Taylor sighed and Jess smiled widely.
"Grue plays the family card, it's super effective!" she said as if commenting on a match. Ultros cackled.
"The girl with the Keyblade has a soft heart, how sweet." he teased and Taylor lightly touched one of his wavering tentacles, letting a small jolt of lightning jump through him to Jess.
They both yelped at the same time.
Gilgamesh coughed as he tried to hid his smile. His sandals smacked lightly on the carpet moving forward.
"Everyone in here has a common enemy. Coil even tried to kidnap this body, assuming to leverage control over the man's relatives or coworkers, foolish snake. I do believe it's time for karma to swing the blade of damocles towards his neck." Gilgamesh said, his eyes burning red behind the sunglasses.
Taylor gave him a look.
"Don't kill him unless you have no choice. You don't get to use...that body like that." she reminded him and Gilgamesh slapped her on the shoulder and Taylor's knees buckled.
"Fear not, I swear not to use this body to take his life." he promised and Alec looked at Gilgamesh.
"This isn't your body? You...hijacking it from somewhere?" he asked and smirked. Gilgamesh shook his head.
"Safeguarding it!" he proclaimed loudly and Taylor wanted to say 'freeloading' but he wasn't exactly wrong.
"So you're a master? You jump people's bodies?" Brian asked, trying his best to not appear bothered and Mog sighed.
"Gil isn't a cape, he's an Esper like me...sort of, kupo." Mog said and Gil shot him an irritated look.
"I am an Esper, despite what that overbearing arrogant glory hound of an Esper likes to claim." Gilgamesh said, sounding annoyed.
Mog looked at him.
"Your words, not mine, kupo. You told us all that you didn't want to be part of a group that let an, and I quote, 'asshat' like Odin be in charge, kupo." Mog said and Gilgamesh shrugged.
"I was pissed, but besides, I got one over him recently." Gilgamesh chucked and Ultros looked at him.
"Uh...hey, Gil? About that…" Ultros stuttered and looked generally uncomfortable. Gilgamesh just shot him a look.
"What?" he said a little sharply and Ultros vanished back into Jess, reappearing on her shoulder.
"I know that we aren't best buds or anything, hehe, I mean, really. But Odin sent a message and he kinda, well, he really wants you to-" Ultros said, waving his tentacles nervously. Gilgamesh turned away from him.
"Go back to your lord and tell him to stuff it into a black hole. He wants the bell, he can come get it himself. But wait...he doesn't get off his ass for mere low immortals like us. Never mind." Gilgamesh said, his voice filled with sarcasm. Jess and Taylor looked at each other.
"Hey, listen. Its great that you're looking after these guys and all but you may want to not be a dick to my frigging friend here?" Jess snapped and Gilgamesh looked at her.
"Friend eh? Feh, if that's what you believe." Gilgamesh smirked, looking out the window. Ultros shivered and sank away as Jess looked at him.
Taylor looked at Jess then back to Ultros.
"The hell was that?" she asked, mostly to Mog.
"Ultros is a servant of Odin, Odin is someone Gilgamesh doesn't like for various reasons, kupo." Mog said and landed on Taylor's shoulder.
"Why?" Bitch asked, frowning and Gilgamesh sighed, pulling Bitch into a headlock as he spoke.
"He's a massive bastard, he lords over everyone and he's my brother." Gilgamesh said, ruffling Bitch's head.
The girl yanked herself free and glared up at him. Taylor shook her head.
"Mog, you have got to make a family tree of the Espers, I can barely keep track of you all. Odin, Alexander, Shiva, who's next? The Easter bunny?" Taylor grumbled. Mog looked a little abashed, a paw rubbing against his head.
"Carbuncle does moonlight occasionally…"
Taylor facepalmed, deciding not to ask anymore and with a flick, she pointed the Keyblade at the screen.
"You sure I can do this?" she asked Gilgamesh and the man snorted.
"Do bombs self destruct?" he asked and Taylor shook her head.
"I don't want to know." she mumbled and Gilgamesh grinned.
"You can do this, unless it's been connected to an AI mainframe, you'll have no trouble." he said and Taylor liked the odds of that.
"So if the computer starts singing or saying 'I'm afraid I can't let you do that', then we're fucked?" Alec asked and Taylor squinted at him.
"Why would it do any of those things?" she asked and Alec shook his head.
"Dear lord, you don't know the classics. We're going to die." he moaned and Brian shoved him back onto the bed.
"Leave her alone." he told Alec off and then looked back her, nodding seriously.
"Good luck." he said and Taylor gave him a small smile.
"Thanks." she said quietly and turned her full attention to the screen.
"Point and beam." she whispered and the Melody vibrated under her touch.
With great purpose, she pointed it at the screen.
The chorus noise returned and Jess put her hands together, as if pretending she was singing along.
She also had her eyes clamped firmly shut this time.
The screen began to shine brightly and the energy between Taylor and the machine made everything so bright that Taylor herself saw stars.
"Jesus christ." Alec moaned as he rubbed his eyes. Brian was also rapidly blinking.
Taylor saw Jess grin as she slowly opened her eyes.
Without pausing she bounded over to the computer.
"Access...granted." she stated with a cheer and Taylor smiled, feeling the warmth of success roll over her.
Bitch looked at the screen then at Taylor.
"I dunno what you did but I think it's good." she said seriously and Brian walked over.
"This is just the easy part but...she's right, we couldn't have done it without you. Thanks." he said, smiling as he looked at her.
Taylor put her hands behind her back.
"It's no problem. It was easy." she tried to play it off. Brian looked a lot better when he smiled, something about his face just lit up. Sabah was the same…
"I want to add something to our deal!" Alec said, pointing at Taylor.
Taylor blinked and waited as Alec's finger shook a little.
"You need to go downstairs…" he said a little rushed and his eyes looked wild.
Taylor wondered what was going through his mind, why Alec suddenly looked very excited.
"Alec…" Brian warned and Alec waved him off.
"I need you to unlock all of my games DLC, for the love of God. Think of the money I could save." he said, his eyes glued to the Keyblade.
"You must have thousands saved away, buy your own damn video games. Leave her alone" Brian sighed
Taylor quickly hid the blade behind her back.
"That's stealing!" she accused and Alec smiled to himself.
"That's winning." he corrected.
"Stick it back in your pants, boyo." Jess called out, her fingers scrolling through the huge profile. Ultros' giggle sounded out from her body.
"Not much luck with the girlies eh pretty boy? Uweeheheee" Ultros cackled pointing at Alec who responded very maturely by sticking his tongue out at him.
Taylor walked backwards, keeping her eye on Alec as she moved.
"What you got Jess?" she asked and Jess hummed.
"Address, history, job title, training and more. Oh boy. Apparently, dear Coil was in Ellisburg for a mission. Jeez, you unlocked everything here, Key. I'm getting stuff you could only frigging dream of." Jess said happily and Brian looked over her shoulder.
"Coil went up against Nilbog?" he asked surprised and Jess clicked her tongue.
"Nah, Thomas Calvert. The PRT obviously don't know who he is, not even a 'watch this guy in case of being a fucking psycho' on his profile. He could have gotten his powers then, I mean, Nilbog is fucking good enough reason for powers." Jess muttered and Mog poked Taylor.
"Who's Nilbog, kupo?" he asked and Taylor scratched her head.
"A guy who took over a city. Not sure on the details but he could make monsters and he made plenty. So, the entire city is sealed off." she explained and Gilgamesh shivered.
"Another mad bioscientist, eh? That's just nasty." he commented and Mog nodded.
"Alright, good news, kids. I got his office number." Jess cheered and Taylor smiled.
"Should I help or…?" she said, not sure what else to say.
Jess shook her head.
"Key, hun, you're amazing but you stick out like a sore thumb. Giant Key, fire demon, lightning bolt, flowery healing and I mean, you just get weirder as you go on." Jess said, putting her hand on Taylor's.
Taylor nodded and tried not to grumble.
"I'm not...I really don't...I'm not weird." she said finally and Jess hugged her.
"You are the best weirdo. Trust me, I've met a lot. Just leave the rest to me. I'll have the frigging blonde bombshell back here before you know it and we can all have a sexy slumber party!" Jess said and Alec perked up.
"I heard sexy slumber party." he commented and Jess put an arm around Taylor. Ultros also appeared with a toothy smile.
"Uhwehehehe!" he cackled and Jess pinched his face.
"You peak, you die." Jess said cheerfully and Taylor smiled, her Keyblade crackling with electricity.
Gilgamesh crossed his arms and peered down at Brian and Alec.
"Do not fret, my young men. We shall have a manly barbeque! We shall take off our shirts, rub lotion on each other and eat meat!" Gilgamesh said and Brian's mouth went thin.
"Yay." he said flatly and Alec looked thoughtful.
"Free food." he decided and Taylor shook her head.
Her Dad...saying those words...to two young men. Taylor had to suppress a shiver.
"This is getting weird, I'm done, I'm out.. Jess...if you don't need me...keep in contact. I want to know everything and in as real time as possible." she stressed and Jess smirkled
"Yes mother." she replied and Taylor flicked her nose.
"I don't even know why I put up with you." she said with a disgusted noise and Jess beamed.
"I'm cute? I'm good lookin? I rock slut shoes? I have a giant octopus living inside me?" She offered and Taylor talked towards the door.
"Because I can't get rid of you?" she called over her shoulder as Mog followed her.
Jess thought about it.
"Nah!" she waved off the idea. Taylor touched the door and felt the energy keeping it closed, still at her touch, then it faded as she pulled at it. Brian shook his head at Jess and followed Taylor down the stairs.
"You have the weirdest friends." he said and Taylor smiled.
"Yeah… yeah I do don't I?" she said with a smile and Mog flew into her arms.
"Don't forget it, kupo!" he said and Taylor hugged him.
Brian opened the door for her and looked a bit awkward.
"Don't be a stranger?" he offered and there was a beat of silence before Taylor snorted with laughter.
"That's was really lame." she said through a smile and Brian looked a little abashed.
"I panicked." he said and Taylor shook her head.
"See ya around." she said and walked out into the light, Mog close to her heart.
"I would say have a safe trip but I feel sorry for any mugger dumb enough to come after you." Brian said to her back.
Taylor didn't say anything but the sun felt really good.
"That girl has no concept of days off." Sabah said as Amy was picked up by her sister. Taylor looked out through the window at the two girls. Amy looked up and then gave a little wave before her sister flew off, taking off into the blue skies.
"That can't be comfortable." Taylor commented and Sabah shivered.
"Doesn't Glory Girl wear a skirt…" she trailed off and shook her head.
"Paige? We'll get the paperwork for your official work placement sent in tomorrow." Sabah said kindly and Paige sipped her coffee.
"That's fine. I think today was mostly just dropping in unannounced and being a pain." Paige smiled and Sabah shook her head.
"Trust me, you aren't the pain." she said as Mouse Protector ran into the room with Ingrid drifting in behind her.
"Huzzah, I have explored Mog's lab and found it to be awesome! He let me send something through a microwave to his friends!" Mouse said and Taylor looked at her warily.
"Let you? Or did you accidentally use it?" she asked and Mouse just grinned.
"Diablos was most grateful for his new Mouse hat, kupo" Mog said tiredly as he floated in. Boco chirping behind him.
"Well...I might be stretching that a bit, kupo." Mog admitted.
"Huzzah, this Diablos sounds most edgy! Perhaps I shall show him the light of Mouse Protector!" she said, slamming a fist into her open hand.
Sabah stared at Mouse Protector and drank something out of a glass that Taylor was sure wasn't ginger ale.
Paige giggled.
"Mouse has that effect on people. Carol...was pretty set on sending her here, the director signed the order alarmingly fast as well, now that I think on it." Paige said, finger on her chin.
Sabah looked at her empty glass and sighed.
"Ingrid, can you take Paige downstairs? Show the basics, if you're not too busy?" Sabah asked and Ingrid nodded, putting a hand on both Mouse and Paige's shoulders.
"Paige, let me show you the till. Mouse. I think you will love the wrapping section." Ingrid said smoothly and Mouse let out a little squeal.
"You have a whole section dedicated to wrapping? Mouse's voice asked before they went downstairs.
Ifrit crawled out from under the couch Paige was sitting on.
He yawned and climbed up next to Sabah.
"Good afternoon." Sabah said and Ifrit grumbled.
Taylor sat down on his other side as Mog and Boco took up the spare couch.
"What were you doing under there." Taylor asked and Ifrit yawned again.
"Maintenance. I did a rush job on that sword and I was just making sure it wasn't going to consume the mouse's soul by accident or anything." he explained and Taylor looked at him.
"But you didn't even look at it." she said and Ifrit smirked.
"I am that good. I shouldn't have doubted myself really, the thing is a masterpiece. Funny little thing too." He said mostly to himself and looked at Taylor.
"You look like you had fun. Did I miss anything?" he asked and Taylor shrugged.
"Sexy slumber parties and burning revenge schemes.." she said evenly and Ifrit blinked.
"Huh, well look at you. Having fun without me for a change." Ifrit said and curled up.
"Take care that you don't go on too many adventures without me." He warned and Mog cleared his throat.
"Ifrit, I found out what Ultros is here for, sort of, kupo." Mog said and Ifrit's face turned up at this.
"Ohh, spill the dirty gossip." Ifrit said with a grin and Mog shrugged.
"I don't know the details, kupo but Gilgamesh stole something from Odin."
Ifrit snorted.
"That's nothing new, they fight over that damn sword every time I look away." he said, sounding dismissive and Mog shook his head, pom wobbling.
"Ultros said it was a bell." he offered and Ifrit sat right up.
"Abell?!" Ifrit hissed and Taylor stared at the sudden alertness. Mog just nodded.
"That's all I heard, since Odin is your Lord, kupo, I was wondering if you knew more." Mog wondered and Ifrit groaned.
"Three bells jump to mind. The bell of the Phoenix, the bell of the Knights and the bell of the Judge. One is broken, the second is a sword fest you won't believe and the third…" Ifrit trailed off and he sighed.
"Gilgamesh took the damn bell of the Judge, just to spite Odin. Typical brat brothers." he scoffed and Boco said something.
Something about Shiva.
Ifrit smiled.
"Perhaps, but I stand firm. The issues those two have is a pit so deep that you could throw in Titan and he'd be stuck down there." Ifrit said. Taylor picked him up.
"Explain. Something,anything." she said, shaking him slightly. Ifrit yawned.
"The Judge bell. A little bell that summons the Judge. To hold the bell is to have a lot of savvy smugness in the Esper court, a sort of 'my weapon is bigger than yours' kind of thing." Ifrit said calmly and Taylor squinted.
"And who is the judge?" she pressed and Ifrit grinned darkly.
"A creature between light and dark, he who judges both. If Gilgamesh rings that bell, just run. It's not a nice person. It can make us Espers think twice." Ifrit said very seriously and Taylor put him down a little shakily.
Sabah curled up on the couch, muttering to herself.
"Why can't you just tell me its nothing and the bell just summons sunshine and rainbows for once?" she asked and Ifrit grinned.
"I would never lie to you." he said sweetly and then hopped off the couch.
"Besides, if I said something like 'it's nothing you need concern yourself with' or 'you're better off not knowing', there's a cosmic chance you will run head first into the Judge purely by accident, just to spite me. I ain't falling for that." Ifrit grumbled and walked out of the room, clearly interested in the chaos Mouse Protector was causing. The cape in question could be heard laughing triumphantly followed by large ripping noises even from the second floor.
There was a sudden muffled boom and a smoke alarm went off.
"Chaotic sword of fiery doom and she uses it for cutting wrapping paper." Taylor commented and Sabah managed a smile.
"I have to give her credit. She's exceptionally good at being annoying." Sabah said rubbing her temples.
Taylor checked her phone again as she and Sabah walked down the path that curved along the beach.
She shut it with a sigh as there was still no news from Jess.
The silence and the fact she was out of costume with Sabah made her somehow feel less powerful as it usually did.
The beach trip had been a spur of the moment thing as Sabah had finished her paperwork and Taylor was going stir crazy from the waiting.
Taylor didn't even know why she had suggested it, she hadn't been to the beach like this in years.
Not since her Mom passed away.
"This is nice." Sabah said casually, slowing eating her ice cream cone. Taylor put her phone away into her schoolbag with a small smile.
"Sorry, I'm just waiting on...anything." she replied and Sabah nodded.
"I keep expecting to see a building explode or a car chase to fly past with Jess cackling at the wheel. I mean…" she paused and looked around to check their surroundings for any nearby people.
As nice as the day was, the beach at this side of the bay wasn't popular. The closer to the boardwalk you got, the more populated it grew.
"Kidnapping a super villain isn't something you do if you have common sense." she said quietly even though they were mostly alone.
Taylor made a disagreeing noise.
"Yeah but when said super villain won't stop messing with you, you have to do something and I don't think we can send him a fruit basket asking to be friends at this point. He's tried to screw us over way too much, even knew where you lived and tried to kidnap my Dad from the hospital. If Jess wants to play the scary ass clown and make him stop. I think we should at least see how that turns out." Taylor said solidly and Sabah pursed her lips as she twirled her cone.
"I don't like getting involved in the cape scene but...he dragged us into it, but I won't agree to kill him. Jess is...getting better but we still don't know anything about her really. I mean, we don't even know her real name. What if she goes too far and we get roped into a murder by association?" Sabah pointed out as a large wave crashed into the sand, the gulls crying loudly.
Taylor shook her head.
"I want to believe her, she said she won't and I have to think she'll do her best. She saved me when i was fighting Lung, saved Dinah from Coil and now she is trying to help Tattletale. I don't think someone who can so easily murder would do any of those things. If she left a bloody trail wherever she went, I think we, or at least the Espers, would be able to tell she was...dark. I think she's damaged, I think she's really damaged but I don't think she's broken." Taylor argued and Sabah blew out some air and licked her ice cream cone in thought.
"I guess, I just don't see how Gilgamesh or Jess can get rid of Coil without badly hurting or killing him. He put a lot of effort into his plans and something tells me he won't just give up after a few slaps. Would Jess make the Undersiders do it?" Sabah asked in curiosity and Taylor thought about it.
Brian might be capable of killing someone if they were an immediate threat to his sister but she didn't think a long term potential threat would make him do it.
Bitch, thinking about the hard girl, Taylor was sure she would hunt him down and hurt him or even kill him if she thought it would make everything calm down but Taylor was pretty sure she would follow Brian's example for now.
Alec...that one she honestly could not say. He just seemed emotionally flat somehow. Yet there was a subtle touch of loyalty to Bitch and Brian, the act of drawing the most attention, of unmasking first, of pushing her buttons and making her dislike him.
Taylor couldn't put a finger on it but without their backer, Alec had no reason to be an Undersider...yet he still was.
He still chose to be around them and Taylor was sure that meant something. So he probably would kill Coil if he felt it was necessary, but Taylor was pretty sure he would only do so if he could manage it without Brian knowing.
"I don't think so. Jess doesn't push her crap on to other people, she moves into their life and even messes with people but I've never seen her dump stuff on us that she didn't want us seeing. Plus, they won't do anything until Coil tells them where Tattletale is." Taylor reminded her.
Sabah finished the last of her cone and Taylor slowed before she stopped.
Sabah looked back at her and followed Taylor's gaze out to the water.
"What's up?" she asked and Taylor shook her head, trying to smile.
"This is...a special spot to me. I guess it's why we're here." she tried to sound casual. Sabah looked and blinked.
"Taylor, I honestly can't see anything different about this part of the path than any other." she said apologetically and Taylor smiled a little. She stepped over the small stone wall that separated the path and a soft sloping stone cobbled hill that lead down to the dirty brown sand.
Sitting on the wall, she patted the grey stone for Sabah to join her.
"My Mom brought me here on the weekend when I was younger. Every week or two. I loved it and Dad sometimes came along. Mom would bring her books and we would sit here in the summer or spring and just read whatever we had at the time right here on this wall." Taylor said softly as Sabah joined her.
"She sounds like an amazing woman." Sabah replied and Taylor nodded.
"She had trouble with sitting in a silent house when Dad was away, even with me there. I know she didn't like the days when she and Dad fought over work or money and he would storm out of the house but when that happened, she brought me here and I was really happy because it was our spot." Taylor explained, running a hand over the stone covered hill.
It hadn't changed much, she thought.
Sabah smiled at her words and Taylor unzipped her bag and brought out a tub of sandwiches.
Sabah's soft eyes lit up and she grinned.
"Turkey and ham?" she asked a hopeful tone in her voice and Taylor smiled.
"With pickles, olives and no crusts, you weirdo." Taylor rolled her eyes and handed her one of the wrapped sandwiches. Taylor would stick to her PJ and crusts.
"So what made you want to come here today?" Sabah asked and Taylor pulled out a bottle of water.
Taylor frowned at how warm the water was and after quickly looking around she applied the tiniest touch of magic.
The inside of the bottle instantly misted and the water developed tiny ice crystals at the top.
Smiling she took a swig of the shockingly cold drink and passed it to Sabah before she answered.
"Nostalgia I guess. I thought it might be nice to not...be involved in trouble today." Taylor offered and Sabah held the bottle high as if toasting.
"I'll drink to that." she said seriously and Taylor made a face at her.
"I don't look for trouble, you know?" she said a little sourly and Sabah's smile was bright.
"I know but you find it anyway." she said and Taylor couldn't deny it.
Sliding off the wall, she crouched on the cobble hill, examined the wall and grinned.
"Look, my Mom showed this to me." Taylor pointed out and Sabah leaned forward.
"Are those...words?" she asked confused and Taylor brushed off the years of wind blasted sand to reveal the heavily damaged marked stone.
"Yup, Mom told me she met a special person here and it changed her life. Not Dad, as far as I know but Mom told me that she messed this up after they got into a fight and regretted it ever since. So she told me if I ever met someone special...I should bring them here. I guess that's why I thought of the place." Taylor mused and Sabah crouched next to Taylor, sandwich in hand.
"Do you know what it says?" she asked sounding curious and Taylor traced the words gently and somewhat...sadly.
"No. Just the first part really, you can almost see it for yourself. 'There is...stars' and the rest Mom just never said. I think it made her really sad to think about it and I just...couldn't make her tell me so I stopped asking." Taylor said quietly and Sabah put a hand on her shoulder.
"I think whatever starts with those words, is something beautiful. Just the fact that your Mom had someone that she felt this strongly about is something good. I know she got angry and did this to their spot but I don't think you can manage that kind of anger unless you really cared about them. Taylor?" Sabah asked and Taylor looked at her with steady eyes, a small soft smile.
"Thanks for bringing me here. Do you want to come back...soon?" Sabah asked and Taylor nodded, trailing her hands over the words one more time. Sabah's hands joined it and they sat there for a while, enjoying the warmth of the sunset and the touch of each other's hands.
"I'd like that." Taylor finally said as the sun's rays cast orange light across the bay. A chill wind swept across them but with another tug of magic, Taylor's free hand held the spark of fire which cast a wave of heat over them despite it's tiny size.
They stayed there until the sun dipped down behind the waves and the stars shined down on them.
Each one seeming to be just a little brighter than before.
Sabah suddenly gasped with delight as one of the stars shot across the sky over them.
"Make a wish." she told Taylor, who grinned and closed her eye.
"Well, what did you wish for?" Sabah asked and Taylor leaned back and got comfy on the cobbled hill.
"I can't say or it won't come true." she teased as Sabah laid down next to her, Sabah puffed up her cheeks slightly.
"You're no fun." she grumbled but leaned in a little closer to Taylor as the ocean of stars above glowed in harmony.
Thomas Calvert sat in his office.
It was a small room in the PRT building and he found himself longing for his office in his old base. Large and spacious, his domain.
His teeth nearly gritted as he thought about the wasted years and work.
Now his place of power was a prison for a damn monster. Thomas knew the damn beast was most likely still alive.
Noelle the beast.
Even Thomas, after the nightmares of Ellisburg, found Noelle to be grotesque even when compared to Nilbog's pets. Still, occasions such as these were the reason backup plans existed.
He had money, he had a few loyal guns, and...he had Lisa.
Not exactly the greatest asset but almost any Thinker power combined with his own could double their efficiency.
A question that could only be asked once a day could be asked twice and Thomas saw opportunities in every choice.
Dinah Alcott would have been the key to a much more successful reign, her powers of percentage and accuracy would have meant he would maximize each day to its fullest potential.
A day where his life had a high chance of ending?
Hide away.
A chance that he could find a resource to add to his collection?
Send forces out.
Asking and getting double answers in both of his worlds made him salivate at the potential. Then the image shattered as her protection and constant supervision was being personally handled by Armsmaster and Piggot.
Security measures that only an insider would know were now being taken to guard her.
If he still had his Coil persona, he might have risked a few attempts and see how quickly they traced it back to Thomas Calvert.
But these days his unshakeable control over a choice in the path of life was now…
Unreliable. He was unreliable.
The only person Thomas ever trusted and now, he couldn't even do that anymore.
A success his other self grasped was ripped from his hands by a series of events that didn't plague his other self.
Keynote, Circus, Tattletale…
Each battle he won in his dream world against them was a lie in the reality forced upon him.
Thomas saved his work as he shut down the desktop after doing the last reports of the day.
For once, the day had mostly been a calm affair, no new capes emerging and Keynote not in the process of blowing the delicate balance of heroes and villains to pieces.
That girl had been a problem since she showed up but he knew better than to cry over spilled milk.
Thomas would start anew, he had no idea if he would ever strike back at Keynote or Circus for his fall from power with any success. Revenge was a bad motive for a long term plan but if it could be done on the way...he wouldn't say no.
Thomas had bowed and left the stage, he had accepted his defeat. Keynote was an element he was far too ill equipped to deal with.
Still, Endbringer fights cost many new capes their lives. He wondered if she would grow to rival the beasts or fall to them as so many others had.
Thomas leaned back in his chair. Keynote was not a bad power to lose against. Coil was a sad loss but Thomas appreciated getting cut off before he was in too deep. Some choices only lead to the same outcome.
Brockton Bay was still a work in progress but perhaps it was time to focus on letting Keynote do his job for him. Kaiser had gone quiet lately and that was never a good sign.
Lung was getting transferred in three days, the mindless beast. Still, he was sure many others around him, could see the dots and actions leading to the coming days.
The prisoner transfer to the birdcage.
He opened a drawer and pulled a whisky and tumbler from it. A small treat until he could afford more on his official salary.
Splitting his timelines, he left the bottle alone in one timeline and drank it in another.
Lung, Hookwolf, Cricket and Stormtiger. All getting transported, three different vehicles, a three way split on the PRT forces.
Kaiser would be a fool if he didn't capitalise on this somehow, his spies spread out through the organisation would have let him know well in advance.
Lung was...well, he wasn't a threat either way.
But he had to wonder how far Kaiser would go before Keynote destroyed his fanciful empire.
Or could the king himself be the one to end Keynote? Logically he would have to say Kaiser had the advantage but history was beginning to tell him that this really meant nothing to Keynote.
A few months and he would have a workable force, sizeable funding and some new ideas as how to spread out his influence again.
His mind half blurred with alcohol bleeding over from his second timeline.
Then it suddenly ended.
The alcohol pulled from his brain's synapses faster than he could blink as his timelines fell apart, snapping together like metal in his head. The bottle of whiskey stood untouched on the desk. Standing he stood and backed up to the window.
That only happened when his power was in conflict, only when Keynote was near. His eyes raked the dark office for the white hooded figure, he couldn't see her.
His heart raced in his ears and he was about to reach for the gun in his bottom desk drawer when he heard it.
Click...click...click
Thomas froze, the sound of something sharp on glass.
Clickclickclickclickclick.
Thomas Calvert turned to see the outside of his window completely black, a fog of shadow blocking his view of the outside world, except for one thing.
Circus was pushing her white face up against his office window and in her hand was a knife that she tapped rapidly on the surface.
When he saw the knife, his head burned. He tried to split timelines as he did anytime a threat appeared but they barely split before they were slammed together again.
Circus drew back as if she was floating and then from above, leaning in from the darkness was a huge horrible maw of gleaming wiggling teeth and crimson eyes. It loomed over Circus like a giant demon and peered at him.
Thomas turned to flee and the window exploded behind him, the darkness flooding the room.
Something wrapped around his leg and yanked him back and over the broken glass.
His skin was cut and he yelled for help but the darkness made everything quiet. Grue.
The amount of times he had seen the boy work his powers on his foes.
He was yanked out into the darkness and into Circus's embrace, where she stuck that knife to his throat.
Her words a harsh whisper in his ear.
"Coil, Coil, oh Coil. You dumb mother fucker." she crooned and the darkness was gone as Thomas saw that two giant tentacles were stuck to either side of his window, one around Circus's waist another holding Grue.
"I have-" he quickly began but to his horror, the giant demon octopus opened its maw and threw Thomas in, he landed on its wet disgusting tongue and its teeth snapped shut like iron bars. Thomas rebelled and tried to buck about but the flesh surrounding him was firm.
For a second, he was reminded of Noelle and...her meals.
He screamed and he screamed and he screamed.
He could do nothing else, his fingers digging deep into the flesh around him but it was like rubber and oil, flexible and tough.
"Yesh, cry baby much?" the voice shook all around him, his prison was mocking at him.
"Babe, this one of the nastiest things I've ever swallowed…Drain." The beast grumbled and Thomas felt his body suddenly go limp, his mind going dark as he suddenly felt...so tired.
He split the timeline and for a mere second he felt his other self scream in terror and decided that maybe he should just stay in this timeline...just for once.
Thomas Calvert went to sleep and when security rushed into his office five minutes later, they would find a black scrap of cloth with a white snake pinned to his desk, a copy of Thomas's multiple bank accounts and the whiskey bottle also gone.
Director Emily Piggot decided that she was going kill someone when she saw the outdoor footage of a shadowy octopus kidnapping, or possibly eating, Thomas Calvert from under their very noses.
She settled for ripping apart Calvert's personal life and information bit by bit, invading his home and going over every file and report he had ever touched.
By the morning, they knew they had missed something very big with the PRT employee Thomas Calvert.
Deciding to cut to the chase, she phoned and asked for Dinah Alcott. The girl was under no obligation to help or to answer any of Emily's questions.
But when the situation was explained to her, she said the chance of Thomas Calvert of Brockton Bay being Coil was 100%. Also something about two of one and how she saw the numbers bounce off the question twice.
Emily gritted her teeth and thanked the young girl before she hung up her phone and went very white.
Heads would roll and she would damn well make sure it wasn't hers.
Then the report came from Mouse saying that the creature Mog of the Dollhouse was a tinker. attached were pictures of the Mouse and the creature posing heroically in front of a swirling portal coming out of a microwave behind them and stabled to that was the Dollhouse lawyers serving protection papers on all tech produced by the company.
Piggot growled in rage on the inside as her phone rang non-stop and curled a lip on the outside as she answered
-