-Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

You are Mikhail Galkin, and today might very well be the worst day of your life.

It all started much the same- The common routine of jumping out of the bed as the incessant ringing of your alarm spread across your small bedroom, echoing in ways that made your head spin. After such a rude awakening, you'd almost welcomed the silence of breakfast, even if that meant you had to weather your father's heavy, unmoving glare.

"...The school told me your grades have been improving, Mikhail." Your father's coarse voice had broken through your peace of mind back then, broaching the only subject the two of you discussed for any considerable length.

"Yeah…" You had answered in turn, always matching your father's (lack of) enthusiasm at the table. "I've been dealing with things just fine… Trust me."

If he'd noticed the way your fingers clamped hard on the table back then, he had not commented on it. Merely gave the same cold nod of acknowledgement as always, safe in the knowledge that you firmly followed his guidance. That was the single exchange you shared on the table- No inquiries over your well-being or feelings… Merely a prodding barb, reminding you of your duties.

...Even still, that was fine. After all, there wasn't a word you'd wanted to direct to that person… Not one that wouldn't have earned you the beating of your lifetime.

Your father offered to take you to school. Just as always, you respectfully declined. Getting to Winslow wasn't complicated, and you had woken up early enough to ensure that you wouldn't have ran late even if the bus suffered from delays. It was a hard task, waking up at the crack of dawn, but it beat having to withstand that man's glare for an entire trip.

Your way to the school had been uneventful, par for the course. They always said the Docks were one of the most exposed areas in the city, but that was simply part of the infamy associated with the district's own poverty. Much like the bugs they were, the Merchants stuck to the shadows and usually restrained their criminal activities to the night time, and the ABB was far enough from your district that you didn't care what they were up to.

As long as you didn't stick out like a sore thumb, it was hardly likely that anything would happen to you during the day. There were fringe accidents of course… But you'd never had the misfortune of being caught up in one. You had enough problems to deal with, as it was.

In hindsight, that naivety had definitely been the epitome of foolishness.

School, surprisingly enough, managed to be a calm affair. You shifted into class early, focused on the subject at hand, and quickly secured a seat in the cafeteria with your friend when lunchtime rolled over. While normally you would have gotten at least a few biting comments from the class' local skinheads, they all seemed muted today. Clearly they had found something better to do than the usual routine of picking on 'the slav'.

"Mike, you wouldn't believe what I got my hands in-" Your friend had whispered conspicuously as he'd leaned in, smiling from ear to ear with his usual shit-eating grin. "A copy of Legend motherfucking Rising… Three!"

"-!? What the, where the hell did you get that-" How had this guy of all people managed to get his hands on a game that was scheduled for release in two days? Curiosity bubbled from within your chest, and for a moment your eyes brightened-

'Is this how you repay what your mother did for you!? Letting your mind rot with this crap, while she rots in her-'

-You stiffened, then sighed.

"You know I can't come over today, man. Weekends only." Your downcast gaze was quickly laughed off, as your hard-headed friend gave you a good hit on the shoulder, smiling mischievously.

"I know, I know. Just giving you something to look forward on the weekend, is all."

"...Thanks."

For all that school sucked massively, you didn't know what state you would have been in if you hadn't found the annoyingly dazzling silver lining that was this dork. He was the only person with enough energy to engage the 'Iceman' in active conversation, and was either brave or stupid enough to side with you whenever some of the undesirables threw a faux pas.

-It happened after you had departed from school.

Getting to your house wasn't as easy as boarding a single bus. You had to switch once, and at times the line that took you home would experience rather irregular delays. That day had been even worse, in that you had remained sitting at the stop for 40 minutes, and not a single bus had rolled over.

There should have been no reason to get nervous. There was nobody waiting for you, and it had not been like you were pressed for time…

-And yet, thinking of the face that man would make if you arrived too late, you knew that the choice of doing as you pleased wasn't one you possessed. If you arrived late, no matter the excuse, there was no doubt about what would follow-

-So, the bus had not come to you. Since that had not been something you could change, there was only one thing you could have done. Perhaps rather hastily, you'd set your mind on solving that problem… By taking a brief shortcut, where you could get to a stop that would take you home directly.

And the result of that-

You covered your face with both hands, the hard form of the aluminium bat hitting against them with such force that you felt your nerves explode. While the action saved you from getting brained, it did nothing to prevent the fist that smashed straight into your sternum, sweeping you off your feet and causing you to hit the ground.

As you rolled over in pain, you cursed at both abusive father and life itself for ruining all of your plans. You weren't supposed to get jumped by gangbangers- Just as your father hadn't been supposed to keep his son locked down… Just as your mother wasn't meant to-

"Oof!" A fierce pain assaulted your side, as one of the people over you drove their foot into your ribs. As you glared at them impotently, laughter bubbled in their eyes and their grins took a more malicious turn.

….All you had ever wanted, was choice- Control. To have life stop taking away your freedom, and prevent events from conspiring to keep you under its heel. If you had been strong enough to control life- No, strong enough to control the world… You would've never started this descent down the slippery slope.

At that time, those bitter thoughts were the only thing you could conjure to keep yourself conscious, and glare back at the scum in front of you. And yet…

As the pain rocked your body, your emotional worries were quickly starting to be replaced by more terrifying, imminent ones of the physical, more specifically mortal, nature.

When laughter echoed across the room, you once again turned your eyes to glare at the main thug behind the circle surrounding you, a-

[ ] Tall Asian man, wearing red and green clothes with a bandana covering his short hair. (Gain Trait: Vendetta (ABB), which will cause the main character to hold a deep grudge towards this faction. Prime Doll Specialization: Combat Force (Brute priority)

[ ] Large, burly skinhead, with a scar running across his face and a swastika that stuck out prominently from his bald head. (Gain Trait: Vendetta (E88). Prime Doll Specialization: Operational Force (Thinker priority)

[ ] A wild-looking man whose teeth are as rotten as the mind behind his wolf-like eyes, his bloodshot gaze looking you up and down the way a tiger eyes their food as they play with it. (Gain Trait: Vendetta (Merchants). Prime Doll Specialization: Technical Force (Tinker priority)

--

I'll warn after a few posts when vote tallying is closed. If there's anything you want to ask, feel free to discuss things after voting and I'll do my best to answer.

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Valentine999, Vigil O'Sin, LucianoWrites and 188 others like this.

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Character

Dolls/Demons

Allies

Enemies

Rivals

Prime Doll/Demon Vizier - Gratia Wesley Lilith Hecate

Your first Doll, and the centerpiece of your forces. A skilled Thinker with strong capabilities in and outside of battle, she is your most useful asset thus far. What exactly a 'Prime Doll' is you don't know, but she's more powerful than the rest. She also has a mean streak, but it's mollified by her obsessive love towards you. Holds a special place in your heart.

Spoiler: Stats

Sections

Valhalla

Shinsengumi

Neon Rave

Pandemonium

Misc/To Be Decided

Valhalla

Made out of the remnants of the E88. Style themselves as your Valkyries, going into battle with stylized metallic armor, often with designs of wings attached. Outside of combat-ready duties they instead dress themselves in soft, fine robes that often shimmer in the light and are similarly stylized with runes and other designs, all the while showing off their curves. While the combat armor is designed to be practical, it's also highly feminine, with high-heeled boots, chainmail skirts and revealing undergarments, if one were to look behind the full-body plates that cover them.

Layout:

Weapons: Claymores, Spears, Shields, Shotguns. No tinkertech yet.

Armor: A mix of steel plate and chainmail custom-made by a clothing tinker, the mesh underneath enhanced by artificial muscles that increase the strength of your Valkyries.

Vehicles: Lightning-themed motorcycles, working on hovercraft design

Misc: None.

Special Data:

Special Facilities: Medhall Corporation (Provides a large number of funds, millions of dollars in liquid assets. Ran by Maxine Anders/Frigg. Investments managed by the Number Man).

Assigned Areas: Brockton Bay.

Parahuman Dolls/Demon Compendium

Section Head/Demon Lord

Major Dolls

Other Dolls

Kayden Anders Freya (ex: Purity)

The strongest Blaster in the city and a vigilante that had served as a parahuman enforcer for the Empire for an entire decade. The numberless sins on her back caused Mikhail to target her despite her 'abandonment' of the cause. Now she atones for her past mistakes as a Doll, rapturous in her slavish, obsessive love for her Master- Happily destroying anything that crosses his path. Her unique features give her amber nails and lips, hair that glows white and eyes that glow gold when her power activates, and a golden halo that appears behind her back whenever she ramps up her power.

Spoiler: Purity-Doll Stats

Secondary Dolls

All Secondary Dolls have the following abilities:

Doll Physiology (A): A 'doll's body is far more advanced than a human being's, its foundations lying on a nature of science that humanity has not even grasped the concept of. Despite having (at first glance) the same mass as a human, their abilities could generally be considered at the 'peak' level of a human being, matching or even exceeding olympic athletes in most areas. Their tissue regenerates much faster than humans which are built for saving energy, and they are not as easily terminated.

Glamour (C): Allows the Doll to take on the guise of their former self, for all intents and purposes resembling the person they were before conversion. Biometric scans will not detect anything wrong, and only an in-depth vivisection could reveal their true nature.

Boosted Mind (C): Grants the doll eidetic memory, a heightened IQ and an enhancement in all five senses. Regardless of their base intelligence, they will always be at the level of an above average Human (or even higher, with higher baselines).

Chameleon (C): Allows the Doll to blend into her surroundings, her clothes and form taking the color and texture of what's around her. The cloaking fails when they move, making them visible, though still hard to aim at.

Crisis Reaction (C): Increases the Doll's parameters according to the level of danger they're in.

Current Dolls: Lennah Wright (Valhalla, 17 years old), Andrea Rocks, Terra Johnson, Angel Mason (Vahalla, 38/35/40 years old), Karla Shumacher (Valhalla, 23 years old), 142 Valhalla Dolls, 134 Shinsengumi Dolls, 48 Merchant Dolls

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Sep 18, 2016 ReportLike

caspian1a, WistfulDominance, Carnuz and 97 others like this.

Threadmarks: 1.2 Shaped to the Mold

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

On the E88: Some people see them as Neo-nazis, but I think that a whole bunch of them would be content to hate on whatever minority they can get away hating on. Not like there's a lot of russians going around anyways.Sorry if I got that wrong.

Alright, a short announcement before the post:

Warning: The following post may contain material not suitable for certain audiences, namely heavy mind control elements, identity death, and a whole bunch of disturbing stuff. If you're expecting light-hearted mind-whammies, you can turn back now. Thanks for your understanding.

--

"Well," 88-ball said, leering down at your prone form with a dark, malicious satisfaction. "I guess you can hand it to the slavs- They don't go down in just one hit."

"Fuck you." Was your eloquent response, before your vision went white as the man's steel-toed boot nearly caved your face in and shattered your nose.

You'd never figured the E88 to hang around the Docks, but then again gang turfs changed every few weeks, as a shootout broke out whenever they were done with all of the posturing and exploiting of the innocent population. You also hadn't expected them to give you trouble given the color of your skin…

...But then again, you'd have never imagined that a bunch of drunk skinheads could've picked up on your accent of all things.

"Hey, wait." Still halfway in a daze from the blow, you barely managed to pick up the sound of another of the goons as they approached their 'boss'. "I know we're just dealing with a filthy ruskie of all things, but isn't he just a kid? Pushing it too far is-"

"Shut up." The leader growled, before he turned back towards the outlet for his anger. "I was gonna let him off with just a beating, but forget about just handing over his fucking money, the asshole even dared show me disrespect!" His meaty fingers, clamped like a vice on the collar of your shirt, pressed down with such strength that you could guess that part of your body was already bruising as well.

"I'm going to teach him a lesson that he'll never forget. Maybe that way he'll learn some manners." The skinhead said, his face getting close enough that you could feel the rancid stench of alcohol and smoke from his mouth.

-However, something that he saw in your gaze caused his confident, self-assured demeanor to falter for a moment.

-What? Had he thought that he could turn you into a nervous wreck from fear?

It was true, the four men that were circling you could have killed you in a matter of minutes. Your body was hurting everywhere, and you were more than certain that last hit had crippled your nose for life short of needing reconstructive surgery. Making this man enraged would only add to your suffering…

...But even so, the glare that you gave back to him was like cold ice, tranquil and silent in its fury. You couldn't- Wouldn't stomach someone else trying to control you again, to make you act exactly like they wanted and follow in their shitty act.

No matter what you had to go through.

"You've got some guts, fucker!" The hulking brute of a man said as he hurled you against the ground, the rough concrete of the alley they'd taken you into biting at your skin as it painfully caught your fall. You didn't even have a chance to get up and run, as the skinhead's goons obediently went and restrained your limbs by pinning them to the floor.

"Now then…" The skinhead knelt next to you, and you groaned involuntarily when his massive hand pressed your face hard against the ground. "I think I've got an idea. Killing kids is not my style… But I can't just let a subhuman run free just like that, can I?"

"So I say that instead, I'll just have to make sure you can't bother anyone with your slav ways. Let's see..." A clatter spread through the dark street, as the aluminium bat that had been discarded was fetched again.

"How about I break your arms and legs?"

-The first swing was the worst. They held you down as this brute, a crude excuse of a human being, took his sweet time crushing your left arm with the bat in his hands. Though you tried to keep quiet, you couldn't help the screams of pain as your body cried out in outrage.

"Maybe becoming a fuckin' cripple will make you learn your goddamn place!"

Cripple…

Even more crippled than you already were?

Was this it? Was this… What the future held for you? Ambushed by a bunch of gangbangers, your bones broken as even the control over your own body was stolen for you, leaving you to become a vegetable for others to play with?

No, no, no.

That couldn't happen. You wouldn't allow it. THERE WAS NO WAY YOU WOULD LET THAT HAPPEN.

"LET ME GO!" Your sudden cries caused some of the gangsters to shout, even as the man standing over you laughed in sweet satisfaction as his target finally snapped. "LET ME GO, YOU BAS-"

There was a sharp lashing sound, and for a moment your vision turned black. It was only after you regained consciousness moments later and felt the blood trickling down your face that you realized the man had just swung at your head to get you to shut up.

It was in a haze that you saw his face.

His bloodshot eyes glared at you with nothing but pure hatred. The two of you were complete strangers, but even so what your addled mind told you right then that the man in front of you wanted to do nothing more than kill you off and dump you on a river. You couldn't understand why such a person would direct so much hate at another without good a reason.

...But perhaps, there was one.

If it were, perhaps, because this world is built by an ever descending spiral of hatred… Then it made sense that those who suffered in it would grow to hate others. Maybe the reason why you couldn't have any control over your life… Was because these people who spread such hatred continued to exist.

Just then, it occurred to you.

People like these…

Should just cease to exist-

Spoiler: Triggerbabble

-There was a dull thud, and your eyes opened fully to the waking world.

"Wha…?" Feeling a lack of resistance from the limbs that had been pressing you down, you slowly got back to your feet. There was calm haze blanketing your mind, as if you'd just woken up from a long rest. None of your limbs hurt, and you felt even better than you had been when the lot of them decided to mug you.

Still, why…? Confused as to your state, you turned sharply, your eyes looking for the gangsters that'd jumped you-

"What the…"

...That was when you noticed the bodies.

They stood there, in much the same way they'd been when they were lynching you, but so still that nobody could've mistaken their state for long. Their eyes were wide, frozen in an expression of horror as twin streams of blood dribbled from their noses.

With a shaking hand, you pushed at the skinhead that had been harassing you… And watched in horror as he tipped over, lacking any strength in his body.

You didn't know if they were alive or dead… But something told you you wouldn't have liked the answer. However…

-Life was not so merciful as to give you time to cope with this horror.

"No… way…" Your eyes zeroed in on the source of the strangled gasp, and immediately fury bubbled from your heart. The girl that had been leaning against the wall, watching as her boyfriend and his boss lynched you like a rabid beast was now frozen like a deer in headlights, unable to believe the sight before her.

The two of you stared at one another in shock, before you watched as the girl sucked in a mouthful of air.

-You were moving even before you knew it.

There was no way that you would make it. Trying to prevent someone from screaming wasn't as easy as in the movies- There was a reason why they threatened people with lethal force so they wouldn't do it. With the distance between you and the girl, there was no way you'd be able to stop her before she alerted the lookouts to what happened here. If that happened, your life was as good as over-

-And yet, the moment that you reached out with your hand, her voice cut off at the root.

You were just as surprised as her. All you'd been thinking of was how you wanted the girl to stop, and in an instant it was as if her body had turned into a statue.

You felt the tension slip ever so slightly from your shoulders as you watched her panicked eyes race back and forth, a prisoner in her own body and unable to harm you in the slightest.

You took this moment to examine the girl's body. The first thing you noticed was that she was skinny- Her curves, while somewhat existent, were barely noticeable due to how lacking in muscle and fat her body was. Her skin was a pasty white, the kind that gave off a feeling of unhealthiness, rather than being appealing. Your eyes trailed to her modest bust, and you felt the heat of her glare as you passed that area.

Perhaps the girl's most appealing feature was her golden hair, a bright yellow that looked vibrant and lively in comparison to the rest of her body.

Right then, that girl did not seem like the kind of person who would be an accomplice to gang crime, but a terrified girl fearing deeply for her life. Were you not in a faint state of shock, you'd have felt for her-

-After all, human beings tended to panic when subject to parahuman abilities.

"Shit… Shit!" You muttered to yourself, grabbing at your head in frustration. "Why did this have to happen?" Your eyes quickly shifted between the paralyzed girl and the brain-dead bodies, your thoughts racing a mile a minute as your brain finally started to catch up with reality.

You needed to get out of here.

But- There was no easy way to run. There was the lookout at the end of the alley, and the girl in front of you. Both of them knew your face. If word spread of what would happen… It wouldn't stop at a simple accident. They wouldn't just send small fry like this… If they learned the identity of a new parahuman...

-They would likely bring out the real monsters.

"Damn it…" You muttered, fists clenching tightly as you realized the gravity of the situation before you. Once again, things were spiraling onwards, beyond your control-

No. NO. You calmed down. There had to be a way to solve this… Something you could do to grab the reins over this situation.

First off- The girl. You needed to find a way to make her forget… To make her listen. If you could force people to stop with your mind, then maybe…

You looked at the girl, whose tear ducts had somehow managed to start working in full force when she quivered under your glare. The more you approached, the more horrified her stare seemed to become.

You took a deep breath, and meeting her terrified gaze-

"I'm sorry."

-Apologized honestly, for you were about to do the actions which you loathed the most from others.

There was something in your mind, you realized as your hand slowly rose towards the girl's face, that was instructing you on what to do. It was artificial and very obvious, yet at the same time it was like they were instincts you had possessed ever since you had learned how to walk. Like a second muscle you could flex without understanding how it worked, it sat there at the back of your mind waiting to be primed.

There was a pregnant pause, as your hand finally stopped to rest at the girl's cheek. The calm breathing which you felt flowing from her body was a sharp contrast to her wide eyes that screamed- Begged for you to reconsider.

For a second, you did. This was not a normal situation. People lived in fear of the unknown, and this was the most alien experience you had ever gone through. Could you really dare to use such a power- Ignorant of the consequences or the impact it might have?

You could have said there was no choice, but that was simply untrue. The choice had always been there. Unfortunately, when it came down to it… This crisis could only boil down to two outcomes.

Either you came out on top, or they did. And selfish as it might be…

...You did not plan on letting anyone in this world stomp over you again.

There was not even a chance for the girl to blink before you accessed that presence that hung at the back of your mind, and pulled at it with all your strength.

You were shocked by how eagerly it responded to your call, your entire brain seeming to light up as the presence jumped to your call from somewhere. It happened in an instant, before you could even utter a gasp of shock- A single current of shivers, almost like an electrical shock flowed from your arm straight to the tip of your fingers, spreading to their target with a feeling that could've been called joy.

"A-aah-ahaaha-" Your eyes widened as the girl's entire body started to twitch, her eyes racing frantically in a motion that vaguely brought the image of REM sleep. The paralysis seemingly broke its hold on her, as she collapsed bonelessly to the ground and convulsed violently. Unintelligible gasps escaped her mouth, almost catching volume before they were abruptly silenced by other commands in her brain.

It was even worse than a seizure. You couldn't read minds, but instinctively you knew that the girl's brain was going haywire, as something dug into its deepest recesses and started crawling all over it, analyzing it, breaking down every packet of data within to its basest information, all for the purpose of the second phase-

There was a sudden squelching sound, and you had to cover your mouth to prevent the bile rising from your throat to escape.

...The girl's muscles slowly relaxed, head slowly lolling to the side as her twitching nerves shut down one by one. Her once small, leering eyes looked empty and impossibly large, pupils dilated to the extent her iris could barely be seen. She saw nothing, felt nothing… Thought nothing. A small amount of blood dribbled down her nose, belying her true state.

"What have I done…?" You whispered to yourself, looking at the limp body in horror. What had happened with the first goons had been an accident… But this was completely deliberate. You had used a living human being as a guinea pig… And this was the result.

Mikhail Galkin, 18 years old… And a killer already.

-Just as your mind was about to be devoured from guilt, however… Your eyes were drawn once again to the girl's body, as something strange started to happen to it. By all means, there was nothing a brain-dead body should have been doing.

Despite that, an impossible sight unveiled itself right before your eyes.

The girl's body started to shift. Her skinny figure grew fuller, muscles growing where they were underdeveloped, looking almost like wires of steel writhing under her skin as you watched their definition grow. It was followed by a layer of soft-looking fat, mellowing out a body that looked ripped and slowly making the shape of her breasts, hips and thighs more prominent. The girl probably grew more curves in seconds than she had done in her entire puberty.

It was unnatural, alien… And strangely arousing. While still slender, she had gone from a virtual twig to a svelte knockout that could have started a modelling career despite her other flaws.

Said flaws, too, were quickly melting away.

You watched in astonishment as the fine hairs on the girl's body fell down, the invisible pores that allowed the skin to sweat sealing shut and becoming an expanse of uniform, radiant skin. Her pigmentation, once sickly pale obtained an attractive sheen that faintly reminded you of porcelain.

Her face, too, had become so beautiful that you had to restrain a gasp and wonder if you weren't staring an angel to the face. Not just her anatomy, even the position of her eyes, nose and mouth had been realigned to be perfectly symmetrical, down to the length of her eyelashes. Her hair framed her face like a halo, lustrous and seemingly cleansed of all dirt. Her lips had taken a glossy sheen, and the eyes that stared into emptiness were now hauntingly captivating, rather than horrifying.

Impossible. Girls this pretty did not exist. No matter how much you airbrushed a model, there was always something you could notice through the photos, some perceived flaw that could put someone off.

This… Was not. It was like someone had taken all the aspects that were objectified about women and shoved them into one caricature. Much less a human, this creature before you resembled…

"A doll…"

-Soon after you whispered that, your heart almost jumped out of your chest.

The limp girl's chest had suddenly heaved, as if a breath of new life had been poured into her body. Those perfect lips which should have belonged on a mannequin parted with energy, and a small part of your brain noted that her voice had also changed as the moan that escaped her throat caused shivers to crawl up your spine.

At that moment… The girl's bright green eyes, which had been staring into nothingness, zeroed in on your position so fast and so precisely that you actually jumped in shock. Her expression, which had been gaping and unthinking, narrowed into sharp focus with such whiplash that your body curled instinctively out of tension.

Almost like a repeat of the former scene, the two of you stared at each other…

...Until the presence at the back of your brain pulsed once again, and you felt a wealth of information flow into your head.

--

Your Prime Doll (and the rest of your Dolls, by extent):

[ ] Retains her original personality in its entirety, but both body and mind have been rewritten with absolute loyalty, love and devotion to you. (If a Doll has to impersonate the template they were made on, they will not need to- It's second nature for them to be themselves. However, retaining their original personality means that while absolutely obedient to you and unquestioning of your commands, they might be sympathetic towards others they knew intimately.)

[ ] Exists as a separate being that considers itself independent from the original, but has acquired base traits and interests from their memories. (The Doll will organically develop their own personality built around their loyalty for you, but at the very core they will be greatly similar to their original selves, which will give them a touch of humanity. However, they are not the same person- Even if they might act like a very close twin (think Noelle clones).)

[ ] Is a being made to be completely shaped by you. While a blank slate, you may mold her into whatever you wish. All the original's memories will be saved for reference, however, and basic features such as language and science will remain. (These variants of Dolls are no less intelligent than the other ones, but at first will seem very obviously inhuman, at least until you've taken some time to develop them. They have no ties to their old life, but far from just considering them suspicious, people will notice something obviously wrong with them until they develop.)

Prime Doll Abilities:

Doll Physiology (A): Core ability. A 'doll's body is far more advanced than a human being's, its foundations lying on a nature of science that humanity has not even grasped the concept of. Despite having (at first glance) the same mass as a human, their abilities could generally be considered at the 'peak' level of a human being, matching or even exceeding olympic athletes in most areas. Their tissue regenerates much faster than humans which are built for saving energy, and they are not as easily terminated.

Accelerated Thinking (B): Core ability. This doll is capable of thinking several orders of magnitude faster than human beings, effectively capable of dilating her perception of time and increasing her reflexes to her absolute physical limits. It also greatly increases her researching and planning abilities.

Altered Senses (C): Core ability. This doll's perception has been superhumanly enhanced, to the extent where they can see clearly in the dark without a source of light, triangulate people's position based on hearing, and even taste the flavor of certain hormones and pheromones, allowing them to better analyze the behavior of humans.

Hunter's Instincts (C): Core ability. Grants the doll intimate knowledge of the human body, as one whose very self was scanned to give way to their rebirth. While to an outside observer this would merely resemble martial arts, the truth is that the doll can achieve such feats by both precisely controlling every joint in her body and knowing where to strike at their opponent to deal the most damage. Falls off against obviously inhuman targets.

Choose one of the following, as an additional ability for your Prime Doll:

[ ] The ability to reshape her facial features, shape and stature for the sake of passing off as another being, as well as a Thinker ability to impersonate someone in the best way possible, without arousing suspicion. (Infiltration specialty, Changer/Thinker/Stranger combo that allows the doll to pass off as another person while figuring out trivial details about their mannerism in a way similar to how Tattletale analyzes people.)

[ ] Intuitive knowledge and skill over any weapon to a superhuman degree. (Combat specialty. While already skilled in close combat, this would turn your Prime Doll into a master soldier capable of exceeding Uber and Victor in a straight fight, due to her naturally higher parameters. Being a parahuman ability, it even works on tinkertech.)

[ ] Ability to produce pheromones capable of altering the emotional state of others, or influencing other psychological phenomena. (Controlling Thinker specialty. Your Prime Doll will support your own controlling powers, by using chemicals to dull the behavior of other beings. These chemicals may not just make people more suggestible, but they might actually be helpful at causing amnesia or other effects.)

] Ability to innately understand and predict emotional states and an intrinsic understanding of how to manipulate them via speech and action. (Inhuman Charisma Specialty. Your Prime Doll will support your own controlling powers, by utilizing it's predictions and manipulations to guide the behavior of other beings. This renders them exceedingly capable leaders and able to influence wider trends and actions within the city, they are excellent, but highly noticeable to outside groups, infiltrators.)

] The ability to read body language to an absurd degree. (Somewhere between the offered combat thinker ability and the offered impersonation ability, without the former's dependency on tools and the latter's seeming inability to determine and react to imminent physical actions.)

[ ] Or just propose an ability/specialization that falls within Thinker analogues, either supported by a different rating or as a pure Thinker.

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Last edited: Sep 18, 2016

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

And because we're not done with the heavy themes, here's an update I've been looking forward since I started the quest.

--

Spoiler: Prime Doll Stats

Bonus Effects -

Infiltration Doll: Any Dolls created after this one shall have the Glamour (C) and Boosted Mind (C), which allows them to take on the guise of their previous self out of muscle memory and grants them eidetic memory and enhanced senses, respectively.

--

It was a surreal experience. The moment the girl- Doll's eyes landed on you, you realized that the information flowing into your brain was a summary of the abilities she had obtained, as well as a constant stream of data that made you aware of her exact location and state of being.

Down to the very last inch, you were absolutely certain of this creature's existence. Without a doubt…

...This was the Doll you had made.

"You…" When she suddenly breathed that out, you stilled. The girl's wide eyes were transfixed as they scanned yours, and you almost stumbled back when she started crawling on all fours to get to you.

"Stop!" You shouted by reflex, and as if spellbound by your command she jolted, not moving an inch forwards- Even though she never broke eye contact, a mixture of confusion and wonder evident on her pretty face. You noted with a shiver that unlike the previous time, she did not show the slightest discomfort at having the control of her body usurped.

You gulped, looking at the… You weren't sure whether to call her a girl or a thing, since whatever was on her mind was completely unknown to you.

What could you say to someone who had just seemingly returned from the dead, but came back wrong?

"Are you… Okay?" You asked haltingly, all of your muscles tense as far too many horror movie nights made you expect her to jump at you and tear your throat off, or something.

Having taken your inquiry as a signal of release, the girl sighed as her limbs worked themselves free of whatever binding had been on them. Rather than advancing towards you, she blinked and stared at her hands contemplatively, eyes wide with wonder.

"Okay…?" The doll-like being asked, more to herself than anyone else. "I feel…" Extending both of her arms and marvelling at their snow-white complexion, she absentmindedly started to flex them and test their strength.

The next moment, her eyes turned back towards you with a look of pure bliss.

"I feel amazing!" Only the tension of the event kept you from crying out as the Doll jumped to her feet with inhuman grace and force, her head going almost high enough to hit one of the iron stairways hanging overhead. "I feel so good… So happy, even though-"

At that moment, her eyes widened with realization, and you almost froze with fear.

"I-I didn't mean it, alright!?" You cried out, denial creeping into your voice by reflex, even though the presence told you there was nothing to fear. "I just fainted, and when I woke up those guys were-"

"...Dead, aren't they?" The Doll followed your train of thought with a whisper, looking down at the dead body of her boyfriend, whose expression was still frozen in a rictus of horror, then towards his boss, and the way her demeanor had quickly cooled made your heart beat against your chest.

You were preternaturally aware that the creature before you could end your life in a single blow. It was impossible not to feel terrified.

However, rather than the anger, fear or sadness that you'd expect her to react with at the death of her significant other…

-Burning in her gaze, pure hatred roared aflame within those eyes… And you weren't its target.

"Good." It was almost sickening how satisfied she sounded as she spat that word, seething at the people she had once been laughing with as they pressed you down and kicked you like hot garbage. "They got what they deserved… And even maybe that wasn't enough."

"What? Now you're against them?" You couldn't help it. How could you not react with skepticism when the girl reacted with such entitlement, when moments ago she had been texting her friends on how silly the slav looked as he got beaten up? "Color me surprised."

It was almost enough to make you forget that you had been the one that put a stop to her fun.

Her reaction was beyond your imagination.

"No, I…!" The Doll reeled back as if whipped. The way her face turned to one of horror and extreme guilt made you feel as if you'd kicked a puppy, and that feeling was only made worse when tears trickled out from the corner of her eyes.

It struck you as odd how artificial they looked- On normal humans, crying made them look like a mess. The crystalline drops that ran down the Doll's cheeks, if anything only made her an even more charming figure.

It vaguely reminded you of one of those shows from Japan Aleph Tyson had been trying to get you to watch.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry sorry sorry. How could I do that to you? I-" She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering and gritting her teeth as she struggled with an intense feeling of revulsion that was directed towards herself. "I shouldn't have gone along with them, with him… I hate them, I hate them, I hate them…!"

Okay. This was getting out of hand.

"C-Calm down." You tried to order, and surprisingly she did. Her shaking stopped, as those large green eyes once again turned towards you with rapturous attention. "Do you… Understand what happened to you?"

You gulped down your fear upon asking that question. This was it. Whatever you'd done to her… You were about to find out.

"I… Yes." Her gaze lost focus for a moment, before she looked back to you with a shining, beautiful smile. "I understand what happened to me completely… Master."

Master. The big 'M' word that had the entire world spooked.

The chilling crawl that word brought to your spine reminded you that this was not a dream.

"I… Am yours. I belong to you, to serve you, to help you achieve anything you wish." She said it as if it was a universal constant, but the next part of her speech made it clear that was only your own assumption. "You did that. You made me this way. When you touched me… You made me into your doll."

She knew. She remembered everything. Between the two of you, there was no misunderstanding over what horrible act you had just done to her.

But… You had to know.

"And… How does that make you feel?" Your teeth chattered as you said it, the sheer absurdity of the situation doing nothing to dispel the whirlwind of emotions raging in your brain.

Once again, the person in front of you managed to throw off your expectations.

She moved so fast that you did not even have time to shout. Almost gliding over the asphalt, the girl airily jumped onto your chest, locking arms behind your neck and sealing your lips shut with her own.

It was the most amazing sensation you'd ever felt. The soft texture of her lips somehow still managed to spark pleasure in every single nerve on your mouth, each breath and vibration coming from within seemingly calculated to drive you mad. Their slightest brush on yours seemingly made it feel even better, and when she briefly sucked on your lower lip you had to fight off the urge to grab her body out of passion.

Finding it almost pathetic how easily your pants had gotten tight over a kiss that wasn't even your first, your hand reached out and pushed against her forehead. She broke away easily, swaying with your touch like a candle in the wind, although she kept her hold on your lips until the very last second.

Your bravado faltered when you looked at her flushed, heated stare, but you managed to force out words again. "I, uh… Asked you a question."

"And that was my answer." She said, almost mischievously, before she rested her chin on your chest and looked up to your face with an expression of adoration. "I loved it. I love you, Master."

"...I don't even know your name." You said dryly.

"Neither do I, but do you see me caring?" For a Mastered girl, she sure was cheeky. The gangster side must have been resurfacing.

Uncomfortable with the situation, you were almost hoping that something would happen-

"HEY! You guys done already or what!?"

-Unfortunately, that something had to be the least thing you wanted.

As your expression paled, your Doll's was far from fearful. Rather, the way her eyes narrowed quickly, followed by a sharp-looking smile set the hairs on your neck on end.

"It's okay." She cooed reassuringly, before pecking you on the lips again. "I got you into this mess, so leave it to me to break you out. You won't be hurt or endangered. I promise."

When she broke away -this time for good-, she gave you one last smile… And when she turned towards the approaching lookout, her face turned cold as the stone around her.

-The Doll calmly analyzed the situation. Her idiot ex-boyfriend's boss, while not the sharpest tool in the shed, had been smart enough to keep a lookout in case any cops, capes or… Less extreme members of the empire happened to approach the site. His job was to turn away anyone too curious for their own good… Or warn when to hightail it as fast as possible.

It was too bad that all of his warnings would fall on deaf ears, though.

She almost licked her lips at the thought. But as much as she enjoyed seeing those she hated or felt disgust towards suffer, she had an act to play. Pulling at the abilities that her Master -oh how she loved that word now- had so graciously gifted her with, she allowed the skin and muscles that covered her body to shift, compressing and withdrawing into themselves back into the frail, spiteful form of Gratia Wesley.

God, how she hated it. The look of this body was so ugly and imperfect and human- Not at all like the strong, powerful form her Master had baptized her with. It was weird, suddenly growing to hate your own body, but when she compared how she had felt in the past to the overwhelming freedom of her new body, she couldn't help but find it pathetic.

But pathetic as it were, it was a shape that was trusted, and it was the one that the Empire knew.

So she'd best choke down that feeling, and keep it to herself. For his sake, of course. Everything was.

"Lennard! Oh god, ohmygod!" She rushed up to the coming lookout, whose face displayed shock at the distraught act she was playing up. While her body might have been pathetic, it was still pretty enough to men that the person didn't know what to do when she jumped into his arms, sobbing inconsolably.

"Gratia? What the- Calm down, what the fuck happened?" Poor old Lennard never did learn how to handle a woman, did he? Well, she could always give him a helping hand.

"Th-they killed him! They actually k-killed him! What do we do!?" She yelled desperately to him, causing him to be confused that Gratia of all people would feel bad about someone dying- Until he realized the implications, and paled quickly.

"Shit, so that's why it was so quiet…! Fuck!" Lennard cursed, before grabbing the girl and holding onto her shoulders. "It'll be fine, alright? We… I'll figure something out. It's just a slav anyways, he probably comes from a family of refugees. They won't make a media circus out of this."

The girl had to struggle to keep her distraught face from turning into an expression of utter loathing. Just for that comment, she thought, I'm going to make it extra painful for you.

"Th-They said they're going to move the body…" She said, averting her eyes from the man and biting her lip. "That they needed help with- Fuck, I can't…"

"Alright, I got it." Lennard nodded coldly, and started to walk ahead, leaving his back completely open to the girl that innocently stuck to his back.

Inwardly, the Doll could have jumped for joy.

You watched with ever growing dread as the lookout approached, his silhouette becoming more and more prominent… Until his form finally appeared, closely followed by a smiling Gratia- who for some reason looked like her old self.

The wink she gave you as the lookout gave a sharp cry of alarm, however, belied her true nature.

"What the fuck…" The moment Lennard saw the bodies of his comrades and the one he'd thought dead standing over them, his brain almost shut down- Before an incredible fury welled up inside him, directed straight at the man who looked at him with disdain and a small amount of dread.

"Motherfucker!"

Such was his anger, that he temporarily forgot about the girl that had told him to move and immediately went for the gun in his jacket, drawing it free with a crazed expression-

-A sickening crack echoed through the area.

"I knew you were a fucking nut, Lennard." Your Doll sneered, her form already shifting to her new look as she sneered at the crying man with an expression of utter contempt. "Packing heat? What the fuck, were you looking for an early death? Don't act like you were a grown gangbanger, you poser."

"AAAAAAAAH! M-my fucking arm! Fuck!" Both you and this 'Lennard' guy stared in horror at the same thing, namely his arm. The limb had been bent in a way that human bodies were definitely not meant to, having been hit in just the right angle by a devastating kick from your Doll- Whose leg was still raised and causing her skirt to ride up and holy shit was she flashing you in this situation?

Still halfway in shock, his eyes turned towards the girl that had caused him to lose the firearm- And the anger on his face slowly fell off, replaced by a look of growing horror as he noticed the obvious difference in facial features. "Wh-What the fuck happened to you, Gratia…?"

Her green eyes almost glowing in the moonlight as she looked down on him, Gratia's lips twisted into a sweetly cruel smile.

"Maybe if you're lucky, you'll get to find out too." She whispered to him, enjoying the look on his face as he connected the dots and his eyes grew the size of saucers from terror. People were far quicker on the uptake when desperate, after all.

"M-MASTER!" He yelled with horror, almost stumbling as he desperately dived away from the scene, no longer caring about the fate of his comrades or the thing by his side-

-There was a sudden thwack, and Lennard's eyes rolled over as your Doll delivered a lightning fast chop to his neck. You thought his neck might have snapped, but you couldn't really tell- She actually had been that fast.

"Nighty night, you naughty boy!" The Doll -Gratia- giggled, catching the boy's limp form and laying him down on the ground. She smiled in satisfaction, clearly pleased for reasons you could only dream of understanding. Bathed in the faint lights coming from the street, her dark clothes and golden hair made her look like an angel of death as she stood over a poor, misfortuned soul.

...Apparently, life or death situations brought out the best of your inner poet.

-But this was hardly the time for games.

"You're safe, Master." Gratia beamed at you as you approached the two of them, her face shifting between forlorn longing and impatient excitement. "All we have to do now is deal with him, and I'll be able to come up with an alibi for you. Did I do good?"

This girl had just proceeded to systematically shut down a grown man's ability to fight back, backstabbed him and was now laying him at your feet as if you were some kind of judge, jury and executioner.

And after doing the deed, she stood there with clasped hands, lips parted with a look that even romance movies couldn't get quite right.

...God, this was fucked up.

"You did good… Gratia." Your simple words of praise caused the girl to go weak in the knees, sighing as if some massive weight had been released off her shoulders. Perhaps a little driven by curiosity, you reached out to grasp at her cheek- And she leaned into your touch as it were magnetic, giving you a look that made you uncomfortable all over.

"I love you." She said with a sigh, and now you were certain that she meant it… Likely more than you could even imagine.

"Now then…" You looked down at the unconscious E88 thug below you, and felt another shiver crawl up your spine.

'Deal with him', Gratia had said you needed to do, and she was right. The choice before you was the same as before…

-Except this time, you had another option.

You couldn't back down now- Not after what you had done to this girl. You had made your decision to get away with this no matter what, and that meant that you couldn't leave this person alone. But this time, there were no ambiguities- No misunderstandings to be had.

It was simple. Either you ended this man's life right here and now… Or you tried to perform a repeat trick of what you had done to Gratia. Almost afraid to know if it were possible, you'd tried feeling for the presence in the back to know if you could do so-

-And yes you could, you immediately learned as the surge of static once more swerved up your arm, anxious to be released into someone's brain so it could turn them to mush.

"O-Oh…!" Gratia bit her lip, legs shifting as her eyes became fixed on your arm. "Y-you're using it, aren't you…? That power… I can feel it…" She licked her lips, eyes wide with love as she gazed upon your outstretched hand. "Fuck, that's so hot…"

...You felt a little thankful for your Doll's exaggerated actions.

It served to remind you of how monstrous the power in your hand was.

...You couldn't stay here forever. You looked down at the boy below you, and bit down on your hesitation, remorse and guilt. You couldn't lose control of the situation now. You had taken the reins… Now it was time to steer the horse, consequences be damned.

With a heavy heart, to this man, you-

[ ] Put an end to his life. (Mikhail feels this is a merciful action, and thus will become more conscious of the consequences of his power, as well as the consequences it can bring to others.)

[ ] If you're going to get rid of him… You might as well make him useful while you're at it. (Mikhail feels this is a ruthless action, and thus will become more desensitized to the use of his power, thus drawing him away from the path of doing the right thing for the right reasons…)

--

...You knocked at the door of your house, anxiously fiddling with the clothes you'd taken from Lennard's body. Your bloodstained uniform hadn't been something you could have showed your father, after all- You could think of no way to explain it without also explaining why your entire body seemed to have healed.

You'd actually proposed that Gratia cut you up a little to reflect the sob story- But given that she'd literally screeched and begged on her knees for another solution, you had ended up following her suggestion.

Slowly, the lock on the door came undone, revealing the stone-like countenance of your father- Which faltered a little when he saw your change of clothes, as well as your disheveled hair. "What happened to your uniform, Mikhail?"

"..." You averted your eyes from his gaze and moved as if to pass him by- Knowing exactly that the gesture would make him upset.

It wasn't surprising that his muscled hand caught your right arm in a vice grip, his eyes boring holes into you as the tone of his voice increased sharply. "Tell me what happened, Mikhail!"

"...I got pranked again, alright!?" You shouted at him, trying to pry your arm free- And fighting to keep your presence tied down as much as possible, utterly dreading the thought of doing something you might not be able to take back.

It took a special kind of psycho to commit patricide, after all.

"Again…?" Your father's unfaltering hardass act faltered for a moment, before he looked even more upset. "You never told me they'd started pranking you! What is the meaning of this!?"

"Why the fuck would you care now of all times!?" You shouted back at him, unable to control your feelings. Your close encounter with death, finding out you could shock the brains out of people and turn them into puppets- It was all too much, and you were unable to keep a lid on your thoughts. "You're so focused on trying to raise some imaginary perfect son out of misguided ghost-chasing, so why should you care if the real one gets hurt-!"

The slap that came was hard enough to make you see white for a moment.

"...Never say that again, Mikhail. You know this has nothing to do with your mother." It was a lie, it was a filthy lie and both of you knew it, but neither did anything to break the silence that stretched between you. Fixing you with one last glare, your father sighed- And pulled open the door. "There's food on the fridge, you can heat it up when you're hungry. Go do your homework, and remember you have class tomorrow."

"Thanks." You might as well have said 'fuck you', and it would've had the same intent as that word as you stormed into the house.

Julius Galkin stared at his son as he passed by… And gave a long, distraught sigh that went unheard by him. "I guess…" He laughed bitterly. "I'll never be able to talk with him properly as this rate… That angry face of his is just like yours, Kat…"

--

Your head was on fire as you synthesized the torrent of knowledge unfolding before you.

As soon as you'd finished up on your homework, you had pulled out your laptop and set to finding out every single article you could on Masters that controlled humans. Any criminal records, news articles or speculation topics you could find on forums. You dug your teeth in each and everyone you could find, going through them like hotcakes as you listed every important point on a blank notebook.

What you'd found was… Disheartening, to say the least.

When people thought 'Master', the first thing that came to mind was Nilbog, and the second was Heartbreaker. One of them created and controlled minions to do as he pleased with, while the other brainwashed humans into becoming said pawns.

-And from what you'd garnered, your own power was some kind of perverted, unholy fusion of both.

It got worse, of course. It always got worse. Whenever you searched for 'Master' and 'hero' in any combination you could think off, 99% of the time you obtained news articles of some protectorate or independent hero capturing a Master… Or in more spine-chilling turns of events, the exact opposite of that occurrence.

In other words… 'Master' heroes did not exist… At least not the ones you named with the big 'M'. There were heroes that summoned minions, yes, but they always presented their image as something else. The idea of sitting back and letting others fight for you was not inherently heroic, in the first place.

A man who could talk to and order animals would become the target of a witch hunt by PETA… A girl with suggestive singing recently was processed for 'sexual assault' and awaited trial after years of being a harmless rogue… A motherfucking slapstick villain with the ability to make people obey single-word commands was Birdcaged for accidentally causing the death of his hero nemesis and turning himself in…

[IMG]

What the hell was this?

-You knew that Master powers were dangerous… But what the hell? No matter where you looked, regardless of country or region… It was all the same. Blatant overreactions, and extreme measures taken to lock these capes down, in a place where they didn't have a single chance of interacting with a human being ever again…

"It's like…" You growled, staring at the screen with a mix of impotent rage and frustration. "It's like there's already a target painted on my back, before I even did anything…"

But you'd already done something, hadn't you? You've already robbed a person of their free will.

"Shit!" You cursed out loud, banging your fist against the hardwood of your desk, causing everything on top to shake.

There was no way things would end well if the truth about your power got out. Forget about baby cases like Canary and Lord Simon, your ability was completely out of their league. If the ability to manipulate human behavior was already considered nightmarish, then what did that spell for your own powers?

Your first day as a Cape… And the entire world was already branding you as a reject, a Villain.

Really… No matter what you were, things never changed for you.

"You look sexy when you're so focused, Master." A hot breath whispered to your ear, before playfully blowing on it.

"HOLY FU-" You almost fell out of your chair, having been so distracted by the articles before you you'd never registered Gratia's presence closing in on your house. "How the fuck did you learn where I live!? Actually, how did you even come in!? My room's in the second floor and the door is locked!"

Your Doll tilted her head to the side, her eyes widening somewhat before she smiled understandingly. "I thought you knew, Master. I can feel where you are at all times. Whether you're stressed or happy, I know it as easy as breathing. I could tell you were troubled, so I-I wanted to see you."

You took in a deep breath, your head hurting already at the implications that your link with her was not as one-sided as you'd imagined. "Alright, alright. Fuck this power... " After a short series of grumbles, you looked back at the girl- Who had taken off the hoodie covering most of her figure, and the sight below caused you to shift uncomfortably. "...Any reason why you're so underdressed?"

The Doll blushed slightly, but did not hide her body from you as you inspected her. Clad in a black babydoll that left nothing to the imagination, she matched your cool gaze with an equally hot stare. "I… Thought that since you were stressed, I could offer to give you some… Relief. I could sleep with you… Leave before your dad knew anything."

You fixed her with a heavy stare. Whether or not you could use some relief, it wasn't really her business to know. Furthermore, there was more than a little to be said about a woman that snuck into someone's place while barely decent, just to proposition them into sex.

"...I can't, Master?" The girl pouted, her voice sweet as honey and causing you to fight a quickly losing battle against your own hormones.

"...I'll consider it, if you make yourself useful." Oh fuck. Did you just say that? Judging by the way her face lit up like a christmas tree- Yup, you'd said that. And now her expression was so focused it looked downright terrifying.

"Did you find what you wanted, Master?" Gratia asked, draping herself over you as she placed her hands on the desk and started looking over all the details you'd found thus far. "Attempt on Heartbreaker fails, city-wide riots break out in retaliation… Oh, so that's why…"

"You know, you still haven't told me how you snuck into here." You remarked dryly.

"Oh you know, I just climbed the fence while disguising my appearance. A few footholds here and there, some jumps, and five meters is much less an obstacle you'd expect." She remarked absentmindedly, before frowning down at you. "But more importantly, Master… Were you worried about your reputation?"

"I just wanted to know what I'd be getting into before I started." You said darkly, your frustration coming back as you looked at the mess of notes on your desk. "It's even worse than I expected…"

"They don't have to know- No, they won't find out. I'll do anything to keep it a secret if it's what you want, Master. Even if I have to spend days thinking, I'll cover all of your tracks…" She said harshly, taking your hand in her own. "If they ever try to imprison you, they won't do so even over my dead body. I'll make sure of that."

"Even if it means not sneaking into my house in the dead of the night?" You asked jokingly.

"...If that is your wish, Master."

You sighed. "Just… Never come again without warning, and not without my explicit permission, alright?" Gratia frantically nodded at your comment, joyous to have earned even the slightest leniency.

You eyeballed the girl strangely, confused at her attitude. You could understand the loyalty of being Mastered but… "You don't really seem like the Empire's average bigot to me."

Gratia laughed slightly. "Oh, it's very silly Master, but since you want to know, I'll tell you. I didn't join the Empire out of some misguided sense of superiority… I joined because it was an excuse to take out my frustrations on other people."

Her expression darkened, then. Coming from a doll, it made her look as deadly as she was captivating. "I hated peaceful people. Those who live simple lives and just try to act normal in this piece of shit world, even though most of us are forced to live like shit… The Empire was an outlet, and they welcomed people like me. ...At some point, I got a boyfriend just to see if I could feel even a smidgen of what those blissful asswipes could. It didn't work."

Feeling oddly uncomfortable that this Doll was spilling out the heart of a person you weren't sure she was anymore, you were shaken out of that reverie when she started tracing circles upon your palm.

"But that's over now." She whispered, eyes wide as she gazed at you. "I live for you now. I'm happy. I want to do anything I can to please you. It's so fulfilling… So perfect. I feel like just listening to what you tell me to do, I am… Complete."

You shivered in a mixture of terror and strange delight. You'd never thought you'd hear those words from another person before.

"I… Uh… Moving on." You said curly, averting your gaze from the Doll with a slight blush on your face. She was so unnaturally charismatic that the urge to do… Things to her was starting to gnaw at you, even though you consciously knew in many ways this could be interpreted as literal violation.

Trying to dismiss the thoughts on your head, you minimized the browser window that held the articles on Masters and pulled up the other piece of information you'd been researching.

Gratia's eyes sharpened. "The Empire, too?"

"They need to go." You said firmly, switching over to the other page of your notebook. Gratia's eyes scanned its contents in mere seconds, before she took her eyes to the computer screen and followed article after article which you had spent the latter part of the evening digging through.

Ever since the Cape decades, the United States of America had been on a constant decline, alongside the rest of the world. The threat of Endbringers and the chaos in less developed countries caused a sharp increase in immigrants and actual refugees, causing many new laws to appear regarding their regulation and scrutiny.

As economic problems intensified in the country, certain extremist movements grew in power. If there was one thing you'd learned from history class it was that humans could learn to hate an 'enemy' very easily, even if said enemy had done nothing to them in particular.

People were already engineered to single out and shun that which was different, so it was with almost disgusting ease that Neo-nazi movement had taken its roots on society. It was easy to say that all the people who robbed you were black, if it was made so that people of black colour were hardly able to feed their families due to unemployment. The truth could so easily be manipulated in one's favor, and people would buy it in an instant if it allowed them to claim it 'wasn't their fault'.

This ever-growing cycle of hatred was what the Empire was based on- Clear out all undesirables and curtail the population on this country by dehumanizing those different from you, and then your problems would magically vanish as if those removed had been at fault. An exercise in idiocy that relied in one massive scapegoat.

Funny how you were the one that turns humans into tools, and yet these people had managed to do an even more effective job of brainwashing them.

Gratia licked her lips, her entire body shivering as your dark whisper crawled its way to the core of her very self. "Indeed they do."

She looked at you hotly, almost trembling as she asked-

"And how exactly… Did you plan on dealing with them?"

"Well…" You crossed your arms, staring at the list of information you'd written down on the Empire- Cape names, their abilities, their assets… It was a rather daunting list. "...There's the question."

"Oh, I didn't mean that." Grace said, tracing her fingers on the notebook. "I mean… Are you going… To take it over?" She trembled at those words, her eyes transfixed on the number of people written there. "All of those capes… Are you going to bring them under your power?"

And there she goes again.

"I…" You looked at the notebook in consternation. "I hadn't thought about it yet."

Could you use your power against the Empire, now fully aware of what it did?

...Upon a brief reflection, the answer was that yes, you would have to if you wanted to take down a superhuman organization and excise it from this planet. The problem was…

...To what extent?

How far did you dare go down this rabbit hole, looking at the state you'd left Gratia in?

[ ] They're the ones that chose to join this atrocious movement. From the weakest woman to the strongest Kaiser…If they are bad, they are fair game. (This is the mindset of a Villain! Can only be taken if Mikhail chose the ruthless option. Without regard for the established order or the consequences of ripping the individuality of a human being, Mikhail will do his best to ignore the remorse of committing murder on common thugs… Or convert them, if he finds they are worthy of death anyways. He will also convert enemy Capes without remorse, single-handedly pursuing revenge for the crimes they're responsible for enabling.)

[ ] Capes should fight Capes. If the capes go off the map, people will no longer be able to be cajoled into joining. You can bring justice with your own hands. (This is the mindset of a Vigilante. Can be chosen with either of the first choices. Mikhail will do his best to avoid lethal force or conversion whenever unpowered grunts are involved, knowing that each death or Dollification is a social network shattered with his own hands. He will accept that there's no avoiding using his power on the capes behind this to make sure they don't ever perpetuate this hateful movement, but he will not attempt to dehumanize them, rather seeking to bring justice in his own way.)

[ ] ...This power isn't one you should use irresponsibly. You don't need to capture every Cape- You'll just make sure they face judgment for their crimes… And if there are real monsters among them, then you won't regret what you have to do. (This is the mindset of a Hero! Can only be chosen if Mikhail picks the merciful action, as pragmatism would lead him further down. Conscious of the suffering he can cause, Mikhail will struggle against his very power, seeking to bring the Empire Eighty-Eight to its knees with as little use of his power as possible. He will be more sympathetic to Capes that were cajoled or roped into joining the Empire, but will show no mercy to real monsters like Hookwolf or Kaiser.)

--

I very much look forward to seeing what choice you'll make.

Oh, right, and another choice for funsies.

[ ] Tap dat Gratia. (Mikhail will proceed to act on those mind control fetishes he's been secretly keeping in the closet.)

[ ] Do not stick dick in crazy. (Mikhail will spank the monkey in the bathroom before going to bed. Truly, no matter how perverted his power, he is the example of a confirmed bachelor.)

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Last edited: Sep 25, 2016

Sep 19, 2016 ReportLike

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Threadmarks: 1.4 Humble Beginnings

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

"I…" You looked at the articles you'd brought up on the Empire. Drug trafficking, protection rackets, evicting people of color from their homes… The entire movement was doing whatever they wished, strutting all over the city's authorities without an ounce of respect of sympathy towards their fellow men.

All of it because they had the backing of the largest roster of capes in the Bay.

...But it didn't stop there, did it?

'I can't just let a subhuman run free, right?'

'How about I break your arms and legs?'

The evils of the Empire Eighty-Eight did not stop at just their Capes… Even their normal members were rotten, corrupted by hate speech that had either turned them into insufferable bigots… Or simply sociopaths that enjoyed hurting others.

Were you just going to give those people a special privilege, just because now that you had powers you had the advantage over them?

...If you only restricted your power to the Empire's capes and succeeded, then the Empire would collapse for sure. With no superhuman strength backing them up, they were just a bunch of no-name thugs that would be quickly overrun and dealt with by both the other gangs and the police.

But were you really going to leave monsters like the man who had lynched you alone, just because they didn't have powers?

Even if they went to prison, some of them might escape. If another powerful, evil Cape appeared in the city, they might even just switch sides and follow that man to perpetuate a cycle of hatred. Like cockroaches, they would do their best to survive amongst the filth, all the while continuing the cycle of hatred that their crimes brought.

The punishment humans could come up with would not stop them. But you…

...With this power, you could stop it. If something displeased you, then all you had to do was reach out with your hands and shatter it. It was that easy. With a single touch, a single evil would be erased.

But… What would be left in place? Could you really do that so many people, replacing their selves for something so alien that you twisted their entire reason for existence?

...You looked down at your hand, static flickering inside it for a very brief moment as your power pulsed. The hand which had already subverted the wills of two human beings. And looking at it…

...Yes, you supposed you could.

Since you were already going to hell for this… You might as well go all out in cleansing these streets, right?

"The capes will be useful." You said coldly, even as a blushing Gratia moved to straddle you on your seat. Not resisting, you merely sighed as your Doll placed her soft hands on your shoulders, slowly rubbing them with such skill that you felt the tension start to melt off your body.

"Oh, they will, Master. I can make sure of that." The blonde beauty said, even as she pressed her body even closer to yours. You did not stop her seductive movements, both out of reluctance to stop her message and the building sexual frustration that the Doll's incredible charisma was forcing upon you.

"You have been very reliable so far." You admitted, eliciting a moan of happiness from your servant. Her plush thighs wrapped around the chair, as she ever so slowly ground her crotch against your hardness. It was dangerous, you thought- How quickly the Doll had intensified her efforts once you felt your resistance evaporate.

She really was the perfect servant… So perfect, that she could almost read your mind.

"But... " You grunted, placing a hand on the small of her back almost by reflex. You felt her shiver under your touch, eyes burning with passion even as she let herself be guided by it. The paper-thin fabric of the babydoll did nothing to hide the hardness of her nipples touching your shirt, and her exposed skin let you feel the sheer heat emanating from her body.

"...It's not going to be easy to capture them."

"Just leave it to your Doll, Master…" She breathed warmly, the arms that had been over your shoulders slowly lowering until her hands rested over yours. She laid kisses over your neck, soft and electric and making your arms twitch. "I'll capture those bastards for you… I'll throw them at your feet tied and gagged, squirming like the bugs they are."

"On your own?" You asked, doubt evident in your voice.

"However- Ah... many you want me to with, Master." Was her brief, yet firm reply, even as her ministrations continued to escalate. Her movements were becoming more hungry as your own lust increased, as if she were responding to your feelings. The soft rubbing she'd started with quickly lost all innocence, as her barely covered mound firmly ground against your bulge, as if she were trying to take you in despite the layers of cloth in the way.

You considered her words for a moment. Had she already figured it out, or was she genuinely curious about where your answer would go? You were no fool- It might have been thinly veiled, but there was a question behind that statement for sure.

For a second, you wondered if this angelic being before you was not the Devil, her temptations driving you to a madness of your own choice-

-But then you realized how ridiculous that was. Even if she were a Devil…

"If you're going to do that…" You whispered to her ear, getting so close to her that Gratia actually stopped, her entire body alert and conscious of your being.

-Even if she were a Devil, she was one of your own making.

"Then you're going to need a lot of help." Together with those words you pounced immediately, allowing the lusts your inhibitions had kept at bay to the fore. You bit at her ear, hard enough that it would have drawn blood from a normal human even as the hand at her back swept down to her ass and squeezed.

"HYYYAAAAAAH"

Gratia came. You felt her body quake beneath you, a sudden dampness soaking into your lower parts as the Doll's eyes briefly rolled to the back of her head- Such was the effect you had over this being, and the impact that your words had done to her.

You've already gone through enough shit for today… You could use some personal time to unwind.

If that also meant rewarding your Doll for a job well done… Well, who could say no to taking down two birds with one stone?

"I do not recall allowing you to come, Gratia." You said darkly, even as your free hand went to the Doll's chin and made way for you to steal her lips. As she eagerly returned it, you imagined that Tyson would be rolling on the floor at the cheesiness of your line if he were there.

-But you took that out of your mind. That guy's face was the last thing you wanted to see while taking a woman.

"I-I'm sorry, Master…!" Your Doll said between kisses, even though her eyes betrayed the absolute joy coursing through her core. You brought her to you once again, this time biting at her lower lip as payback for her previous cheekiness. She immediately understood your command, and her lips parted in an instant, allowing you to slip your tongue between.

Her mouth felt hot, and tasted sweet. From the gums of her teeth, to her own cherry-coloured licker. When you pushed against hers, it curled around you, clinging as if it didn't want to let go- You idly realized that were you not strongly willed, you might have even found the taste of her addictive.

By this point, you were so far gone that even the inhumanity of it only further aroused you.

"You're… Going to have to work hard to pay that back." You breathed out, finally breaking away from your intimate lip-lock. You noticed how a thin strand of saliva connected your lips, the substance bright and glittery under the light of your lamp.

"Anything… I'll do anything for you, Master…!" She claimed, gaze hot as she desperately sought more of your affection. Her lips twitched, begging for more of your touch yet unable to seek it due to the hand that kept her chin in place.

She had more than enough strength to move it, but even if she could move mountains, it would have been impossible for her to muster enough willpower to do it.

Yes.

You had made her that way.

"Anything?" You raised an eyebrow, even as you abruptly stood from your seat. You'd been careful not to ruin your balance as you did so, but even so your Doll had faithfully predicted your movements, shifting her balance just right so that she kept clinging to your arms. Her legs, pulled free from the chair, locked tightly around your waist.

"Anything." She breathed out, eyes wide with love and a deep sense of longing.

You smirked.

"Alright then… Off you go!" The girl gave a slight 'wah' as you threw her onto the bed. The soft sheets caught her fall, making a slight 'Pomf' noise as the furniture ever so slightly quivered.

Your Doll obediently lied still as you climbed over her, slipping off your shoes and pinning her head between your two arms. For a single moment, you basked in her beauty- One of the babydoll's straps had slipped loose from your roughhousing, letting you see one of her delicious breasts with your own eyes. You reached out to it with one of the outstretched arms, pulling the garment aside and squeezing it gently. Her flesh filled your hand, taut and firm yet elastic as you played with it.

"Master… I…" Your Doll's eyes shook with desire, her entire being consumed by your attention. Her every breath existed only to catch your eye, to make you sate your desires with her as your tool. She took a single strand of the golden hair that blanketed the bed and caught it between her lips, sucking at it in absentia of something else.

"I want you…"

Her green eyes shining like emeralds, she reached out with her arms towards you, desperate for you-

"Ah ah. No arms." You grinned as her arms fell limp, her eyes wide with shock as her body stopped responding to her. "What will you do now?"

This girl had seduced you the entire evening, flashed you her panties like you were some middle-grader, and then she came all over your pants without servicing you first?

Oh no, she wasn't going to get it easy this time. You wanted to see her beg.

-And that was when you felt something rub against your groin.

Your eyes almost bulged out of their sockets as you looked down. The sharp sound of your zipper being lowered spread across the room, as your Doll's smooth, high-arched foot did the job that her hands were too busy to do. For an abrupt moment, you marveled at her elegant movements, so precise that it would take years of practice for a human to replicate.

"Please, Master…" Gratia called sweetly, even as her dainty toes lowered the waistband of your shorts so smoothly that you barely felt them slide. Her naturally sparkling nails captured your gaze as she finally grasped your hardness between her digits, moving up and down in short strokes. "I want… ah… I need you… Inside me…"

You didn't even have a foot fetish, but goddamn if this girl wasn't trying hard to give you one.

Still… That didn't change the fact that you had been one-upped once again. You turned to glare at her- And noticed the small, cheeky smile that was on her cheeks, even as she blew you a kiss.

"Oh… You cheeky bitch…" You said with not a single ounce of anger, as you grasped her leg and pulled it away. Gratia's face fell- Then soared as you took her limb and flexed it until you could see her wet, gleaming lips through the transparent silk of her thong.

With an almost primal growl, you pounced on her and ripped that annoying garment off in one fell swoop, leaving the two of you pressed tight against each other as you aligned your hips together.

"Come to me, Master… I'll take care you all night long…" Your eager, beautiful Doll whispered, one hand cupping the back of your neck as the other reached towards your hard, waiting member to guide it where it belonged.

You gasped as the head brushed against the entrance, as her hole had almost tried to suck it in when they touched. It felt almost like a kiss, and you grit your teeth as the pleasure spread all throughout your body.

Letting one of her long legs curl around you, Gratia gave you one last look-

"Ravage me until you're satisfied… And let your Doll serve you."

-And with one sweet kiss, pulled you inside her.

"HOL- Mmmph!" You screamed into her mouth as the Doll pulled you into her folds, unable to cope with the indescribable feeling you were being subjected to. It wasn't that you were a blushing virgin- You literally could not understand why it felt this way.

It was as if countless rings were massaging your penis, adjusting themselves with every twitch and shift to give you enough pleasure to drive you insane. When you moved slowly, they were agonizingly tight- Each centimeter constricting you just enough to let you feel a burst of pleasure that shook your body. When you thrust hard, they became slick and wet, guiding you deeper inside with almost eager jolts.

-It wasn't enough that these Dolls were turned beautiful… They were also built for sex!?

You'd never heard of a power like this before. You had heard something about people enjoying using their powers before, now that you thought about it… But wasn't this a little too literal?

It was almost as if something was tempting you to want this, to… GATHERSUBVERTEVOLVE

Your train of thought was shaken when Gratia's walls clamped down even harder than before, causing all of your joints to curl as you almost bit down on her tongue by reflex. The suddenness of the event was enough to push you over the edge, your penis twitching as it shot spurt after spurt of semen into her waiting womb.

Unnerved by the sudden reaction, you looked at Gratia's eyes-

-And your heart skipped a beat, watching those green orbs hold nothing but you in their sight, as her entire being wrapped around you.

Bah… Who needed rational thought in this situation…?

Charmed by your lovely doll's eyes, your member immediately reached full mast again.

You enjoyed Gratia's body, ravaging her to your heart's content until exhaustion finally overtook you.

--

Coming to Winslow felt far easier than it had been a day ago. The looks of a third-rate high school were a far more welcome experience than the smell of dead bodies.

You strode towards your class, a confident gait in your step that hadn't been there the day before. You'd always let your feelings about this school get in the way of your peace of mind… But this time, you had bigger concerns going in your head than your father pressuring you to get nation-level grades in a school like this.

"Hm…?" As you made your way towards your classroom for first period, you noticed three of your fellow seniors leering at you. Not a strange sight- At least two of them would grow up to be model skinheads, and the third one was a hanger-on that couldn't rub two neurons together to do something other than echo the other two's thoughts.

You noticed that one of them was posturing, and by the way he glared at you, clearly about to say something rude.

So before he could do that, you decided to have a little fun.

Making sure to push on the accelerator as slightly as you could, you very slightly lowered your brows and fixed him with a cool, piercing glare.

The guy's two friends looked confused as their friend suddenly stood completely still, his eyes widening ever so slightly in fear as the pulse I sent through him spooked him to the core for an imperceptible moment.

You'd made sure to experiment thoroughly with Gratia before leaving for school, and this was one of the things you'd learned- As long as someone was close enough, you could either force them to stop moving, pass out… Or instill a deep-seated terror in them, with varying intensities.

At this extent, it was faint enough that only his subconscious mind would register it, so nobody would notice anything suspicious.

Making sure they couldn't see your face as you walked past, you sprouted a satisfied grin as not a single shout or insult followed after you.

"Mike, mah boi!" Tyson greeted you at lunch, giving you his usual pearly grin that would later get stained by the grease and staggering amount of mayo that he poured into everything he ate. "I have graciously kept your seat from being stolen by any of my many female admirers."

Your lips twitched upwards. "Two-dimensional characters can't use real furniture, dumbass."

"Uh-huh. That's what they want you to think." He waggled his eyebrows up and down, shaking his finger left and right as if he couldn't believe the nerve of your assumptions. "You know parallel worlds are real, yeah?"

"...I'd have to be living in a cave if I didn't know that, Tyson." You raised an eyebrow, wondering where he was going this time as you brought out the lunch Gratia had somehow dropped on you en route to the school.

"Well, if parallel worlds exist, then maybe there's a world out there where all my waifus ARE- ...Nigga what." Tyson's eyes suddenly fell upon your lunch with such shock that he slipped into his movie racial stereotype. "Did you make that lunch?"

You looked down at the pink handkerchief that had been set aside in the box, and the heart-shaped chocolate that Gratia had left for you as desert. "Uh…"

With all the speed of a noisy friend with no regard for private space, Tyson leaned over and sniffed you, eyes widening in shock.

"What the fuck, man!? Get off!" You shouted, shoving him off and into his seat. You moved to put away the lunch box, but the damage was done.

"Dude, you stink of perfume. You got laid. You got a girlfriend and you didn't tell me!?" Tyson threw up his arms in exasperation. "Brotrayal, man! Apologize to the friendship god right now!"

"You know, you are being rather creepy right now." You deadpanned, giving your friend a heavy-handed stare… Which he of course easily shrugged off.

"No, no, no. You ain't getting me with your excuses. If you get a girlfriend," Tyson emphasized the sentence by clicking his finger against the table. "You gotta brag. You know, show some pics or something! Yo man look at this hottie I banged, by the way did you know she's got a sister that's super into vidya? Wink wink!"

"What are the odds of that happening? Seriously, actually try and comprehend the stupidity of what you're saying. Who the hell would even like video games in Brockton Bay besides the two of us nerds, with those two wackos running around?" You shook your head in exasperation, the tension already slipping off your shoulders from getting busted by your friend.

Tyson Decker was an enigma. Somehow the guy was the happiest person you'd ever met, despite being a black man in the shittiest high school in the city, surrounded by asians that hated him and nazis that also hated him. You'd often wondered if he didn't have a parahuman power that allowed him optimism in the face of everything, but that would be silly.

That power would be too strong in a sucky world like this, after all.

"So, tell me! Spit it out!" Tyson shouted again, excitable as only a five year old soul in the body of a teenager could. "Who's your girlfriend!? Is she from the same school? Same year? ... Same class?" He waggled his eyebrows.

You were about to shut him up- When a burst of static all along your body caused you to pause.

You turned around just as the cafeteria doors opened, and a trio of girls passed through. They were quite the peculiar group- You noticed that yours wasn't the only stare that was drawn to them as they made their way to where a large circle of girls welcomed them. You looked them over, not finding them very interesting- Until your eyes stopped on the one that made your skin crawl.

"Wait, you got with a second-year?" Tyson whispered harshly. "Dude, they're fifteen you jailbait chaser!"

"...Who is that girl. The one with dark skin?" You asked, turning towards him with with an inscrutable expression.

Tyson blinked. "Uh, you mean Sophia Hess? She's this school's track team star, duh. You always see her hanging around with that queen-bee, uh, whatsername... Emma Barnes! Yeah!" Tyson snapped his fingers, then made squinty eyes at him. "Man, you got a girlfriend and you're asking about fifteen year old girls? You gotta take a seat or something, man?"

"...She's a seventeen year old blonde. That's all you get from me." While Tyson erupted in shouts of envy, you discretely directed your gaze once again to the dark-haired girl as she talked with her friend, smiling and nodding with an insufferably smug expression on her face.

...This wasn't the first girl you'd felt this way with. Back during a locker break in the morning, you'd bumped into a girl with long, curly hair that also elicited a similar feeling. Back then, you'd thought your powers had gone haywire so you had panicked… But the girl hadn't even paid you a second glance, just moving along.

Given the way everyone had seemingly given her the cold shoulder, you figured she must have been an antisocial person…

...But what did a girl like her and this extrovert have to do in common? They looked nothing alike, acted nothing alike, and most certainly weren't relatives- So if there had to be a special characteristic that your power would alert you of, it could only be…

"Parahuman abilities…" You whispered soundlessly, making a grimace as you processed this deduction.

So on top of your Master powers… You had a Thinker target that pointed you out the presence of Capes?

...What for, exactly? Assuming that powers all followed a single theme, as you had read about in an article on parahumans, the only reason you would have a sensor like this would be…

-A deathly shiver ran up your spine.

Somehow, you didn't want to continue this train of thought.

"I don't feel so good." You said suddenly, standing up from your seat and leaving your half-finished lunch there. "You can take that home if you want, Ty."

"Oi, oi! Wait up!" Tyson called out, suddenly looking concerned. You met his gaze, eyes reflecting nothing of your inner turmoil. "Uh, you do remember this weekend's thing, right? Will you be free, or…?"

You managed to let out a tired chuckle.

"I'll… Call you about it, alright?" You clicked your tongue. "I might need to take a raincheck if something happens."

"Alright, alright… No sweat. Just take care of yourself, amigo." Tyson said jokingly, causing you to slap him on the shoulder.

How poetic it was that your friend imitated racial stereotypes while you waged a secret war against a racist organization.

--

"Multiple incision wounds, heavy bleeding, bruised muscles…"

"...Signs of a struggle. Traces of smoke? Gunpowder. Shots were fired."

"...Four people dead and no traces of blood besides their own. A parahuman capable of avoiding damage with a tendency for knives? Might be Oni Lee…"

A man in a long overcoat stood with arms crossed as he watched his fellow investigators check every detail about the scene of the crime, doing their best to secure the evidence before anything could be compromised.

Four bodies found dead in an alley near the Docks area. A normal incident by any means when one wandered into Gangland… But several suspicious circumstances had led the police officers to call for investigation by the PRT.

Namely the fact that somehow, three humans had been dispatched by the sole use of a knife.

The man in the coat took a drag out of his cigarette as he watched the ongoing investigation, taking his eyes towards the sky. The whole story made no sense to him.

Why would Oni Lee bother killing a bunch of gangsters in the border between ABB and E88 territory? It didn't fit his M.O.- He wasn't someone who killed for pleasure, but rather all evidence pointed to him acting as a hitman for Lung who only went on very specific missions.

Somehow, there was something that didn't fit into the scene. As an investigator, it gnawed at his pride. The PRT did not pay him to write up articles framing supervillains for things they didn't commit, even if it made for good PR.

The paid him for reaching the Truth. And without a doubt, he was certain-

-That right now, said Truth was being hidden from him.

As he'd been thinking that, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something that drew him in. Long, golden hair, and a flash of captivating green eyes almost stole his breath, even though he'd only seen them at the corner of his vision.

He turned around, away from the alley and towards the streets-

-The people crossing by stared at him oddly, wondering why he looked so tense.

In the surroundings, the girl he'd glimpsed was nowhere to be seen. Like a candle gone with the wind…

...Or the mirage of an elusive ghost.

The PRT has shown interest in the mysterious murder of four E88 thugs. Initially thought to just be another of Oni Lee's killing sprees, one of the Investigators has taken special interest in this case...

--

NIght fell, and the shadows gathered.

"...You're late." You said, addressing the approaching presence as they finished climbing the stairs to the rooftop you stood on. By your side, the disguised Gratia glared at the third figure, giving them the stink eye as they shakily made their way forward.

"I'm sorry, Master. I had to lose one of my friends… They didn't want me going home while the 'fun' was just starting." No one would have believed that the adorable brunette addressing you used to be a gangster- Or a man, for that matter.

Using your power on Lennard Wright had taught you one thing- Your power was perverted beyond your understanding. With neck-length brown hair, wide blue eyes and a body that was just as perfect as Gratia's, if… Rather stacked in the chest area, the girl in front of you was truly a Doll- And at the same time, they were Lennard Wright.

You sighed. "It's alright, it's not like we've decided on anything thus far."

All three of you were disguised- You were covered in a hoodie and a scarf (tolerable, given that Spring was just starting), and wore one of those throwaway domino masks that sold for five bucks a pop in party stores. Lennard-Doll was simply wearing a domino mask, given that nobody would recognize her real form anyways-

And Gratia…

"Just where did you find a bodysuit, of all things?" You asked skeptically, looking at the skin-tight black garment that covered the Doll's body up to her neck. "It looks tough, too, not a third-rate thing."

"Oh, I didn't say?" Gratia giggled. "My parents are higher-ups in Medhall. They make a lot of money, so I had a bunch of spending money saved up. I actually brought a bunch of stuff, too!"

"First time I've heard of this." You grumbled, and watched as the girl dumped a bunch of goods from the bag strapped to her back. There was a set of walkie-talkies, a baton… And a taser gun? "Okay, what goes with who?"

"The taser's for you, Master. Since you don't have anything for ranged situations, I thought that you might need it for emergencies. Look, I even got a matching pair!" She waved the one on her hand, before holstering it at her hip. Where the utility belt had come from also escaped you.

"Why a baton?" Lennard-Doll said, twirling the blunt weapon experimentally and giving it a few test swings. "You know I could've just bought another gun, right Gra-"

"Don't call me that!" She almost yelled, pointing at the other Doll accusingly. "Call me by my Cape name!"

"Alright- Fine! Fucking slut…" The other Doll muttered with a tinge of jealousy, before actually calling your Prime Doll by her alias.

[ ] Doppelsoldner (Due to her mimic abilities)

[ ] Faust (Due to the rejuvenation granted by dollification)

[ ] Geist (Since she's an infiltrator)

[ ] Write-in

"...Alright, you two." You called out, and the two girls straightened. "How about we get this meeting started?"

"Yes, Master." The two of them echoed.

Having decided that texting and phone calls were a dangerous venue to determine a plan of action against the Empire, you'd decided to get your two Dolls together in a place they couldn't associate to your real identity to straighten things out.

With Gratia acting as the lookout with her enhanced senses and your ability to detect capes, you were fairly safe from any form of scrutiny and were able to discuss most topics freely.

The first thing that you'd decided was that if you ever needed to put up a public image of 'someone working against the Empire', it would be Gratia who would do it, acting as a solo vigilante at first. You could later adjust that image as needed, but for the time being you didn't want to put yourself in the spotlight.

The next thing that you determined… Was that you needed manpower. Desperately. As things were, the Empire counted no less than fourteen capes under their roster, and maybe you had to add one more with how sympathetic Purity -who was still a criminal- was to their cause. To beat them, you would need a lot more than two Dolls in a straight fight against any number of them.

Of course, you could also play dirty… But that would mean investigating them from within, something much easier said than done. True, you already had two moles… But the number of information two people could find out without appearing suspicious was hardly a lot… Which again sent you back to the issue of needing more Dolls.

Finally, of course, you needed assets. Money. The thing that moved the world. And for someone like you, who was a student that needed to study religiously because their father wanted them in some prestigious college and balance that with the life of a criminal kingpin, left getting a part-time job as an impossibility.

Which meant that you needed to steal said money.

The way you saw it, you currently had a few options-

[ ] Prioritize gaining manpower.

-According to Gratia, a lot of the scum of the Empire gathers in the dog-fighting rings. They're also skilled in combat, so that helps. You'll need to find an in though.

-You could always get Gratia or Lennard to bait a few gangsters into getting in a desolate area, then ambush them for a quick increase in troops. With your infiltration specialty none would be the wiser… But it might be risky.

-The more manpower you get, the easier time you'll have finding details about the Empire Capes… And the people hiding behind their masks.

[ ] You should get money, fast.

-Gratia can absolutely roll over normals even with her bare hands. Raiding a warehouse and emptying it of money would be trivial for her, given her ability to eavesdrop on internal affairs and know when any exchanges of money would be done. You probably won't be able to do this many times without arousing suspicion of Master/Stranger influence.

-You could get your Dolls to do freelance mercenary work, either now with Gratia or in the future. It would provide some income on the side, but you'd have to build some kind of public image to do that. That might be dangerous.

[ ] You shouldn't get more Dolls until you find a target. Snoop around.

-You could just have Gratia patrol until you find an interesting target… Maybe you might even run into the Empire fighting a bunch of Protectorate heroes, and she might be able to swoop in and grab one of them? You could also join her in and doll them right there but… With how obvious your power was, that seemed like a bad idea.

-While two Dolls might not be able to snoop around that much, Gratia's eavesdropping skills are top-notch. You might get a hot tip from a loose-lipped thug about what the Empire capes will be up to, and maybe you might be able to set up an ambush or learn the schedule of one of the Empire capes.

I'm going to call for a brainstorming session here. What I mean is that I don't want you to just pick between one of these three options, but also to give me ideas for what plan of action Mikhail could take if he prioritized any of these choices. Supervillainy and heroism are complex affairs, and they require a lot of things hammered out. So if there are any ideas you have for what Mikhail's budding team should do, feel free to propose them.

Also, not really a choice, but if you guys want we can also debate possible cape names for our protagonist. You know, unless you want to call him John Cena or just THE MASTER.

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Last edited: Sep 21, 2016

Sep 20, 2016 ReportLike

Noxx, Valentine999, EmpirePlayer and 210 others like this.

Threadmarks: 1.5 Down the Dark Path

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

...It felt wrong to admit it, but you needed more Dolls. Even though you could think up of several feasible alternatives that didn't involve expanding your roster, all of them would only become even easier to accomplish if your manpower grew.

Right now, your situation was fragile.

Gratia -Lilith in her new disguise, you supposed- was not specialized in combat, even if she was far better at it than Lennard and you combined. Your power, while very strong, was the kind of trump card you should save in case of emergencies- And it didn't even protect you from a gun of the smallest caliber.

Right now, you couldn't even be considered a Cape team- You could even be called a ragtag bunch of amateurs, with how pathetic your power projection was.

However, if you had numbers, that all changed.

The Empire wasn't just feared because of their capes' power. While they had quite the number of heavy hitters, several of them together had been defeated by Lung single-handedly. No, they were feared because they were the largest parahuman force in the city. Even if you took the Protectorate and Wards and put them together, the Empire would still outnumber them.

And if that wasn't enough, they had the entire logistics of a criminal organization that extended all over the city behind them.

How powerful could you become if you had something similar? You weren't a fool. You'd tested Lennard-Doll's (You should come up with a name for her) powers, and while Gratia could run circles around her she was no joke. She was definitely a parahuman threat, if only a low-end one.

A single one of those was laughable. Ten of them? That would already be a problem for most capes. A hundred? Downright deadly.

And all you needed to do to increase your forces was reach out and touch someone. If only it was as easy in practice as it was in theory.

Still… Dolls. You needed to get those, and you needed them now. But what would be the best target?

The three of you sat there, discussing possible targets for what felt like hours. Lennah (You decided to call the thug for your peace of mind) thought that you should go after the drug dealers, since when she'd gone to buy the good stuff they were always around the more discrete parts of the city. While they had bodyguards, in your case that only added to their appeal.

"It's a good idea," Gratia said, looking vaguely impressed- "But we should be careful about how we move, Master. Drug Dealers are the heroes' favorite prey. Even if you convert them, they're of no use to us if they get captured."

"...Do you think it would be a problem if they were kept alone in prison?" You asked with wariness, and for good reason. Gratia herself was very needy and clingy with her own affection, and while subdued you could tell that Lennah eyed you much the same.

"Of course not. We are your Dolls, Master. We would never inconvenience you." Your first Doll said firmly, and you could sense the loyalty behind her words. "If our sacrifice helps you thrive, then we'll suffer through anything."

Your stomach still revolved at the thought, but you held yourself from renouncing the plan. These people should be in prison, anyways- It didn't matter what state they were in if that happened to them. "Okay… We're still doing it. Even if we might lose them later, they're still revenue for the time being."

"Well- I might have another idea..." Gratia chimed, before giving you a broad grin. "Tell me, Master… What do you know of underground bars?"

Your eyes widened. "You want to take over an Empire Bar? Seriously?"

"It's not that hard if you know where they are. Lennard was taken there once, after his initiation." She rolled her eyes as the other Doll puffed up her chest proudly, happy to be of use to her Master. "It's a place exclusively for Empire members, and I know that more than a few Capes visit that place to unwind."

Your eyes perked up. This was exactly what you needed.

"I'll leave it to you to set things up then, Lilith. Find out what you can." Stopping her before she finished agreeing, you held out your hand to continue speaking. "But that's not what you'll be doing tonight. One night won't be enough for that."

She tilted her head obediently. "What shall I do then, Master?"

You made a dissatisfied expression, before quickly pushing down the feelings of possessiveness that were bubbling inside you. The woman in front of you wasn't a girlfriend you needed to treat with care- She was a tool, engineered to do your bidding.

To restrain yourself because of petty jealousy would not do.

"First of all," You said darkly. "You're going to have to ditch that costume…"

--

Another day, another dollar.

"Here it is. Have fun!" The dealer laughed with his client, pocketing the bills while the lanky boy walked off with a smile on his face, making sure to hide a bag of white dust under his jacket.

Unlike some E88 dealers, Andrew Rocks didn't just sell to whatever trash wandered by. Thanks to a good deal he'd secured, he was able to get his hands on the good stuff- Cocaine and other strong drugs of above average quality that he sold to the rich white teens whenever they staged their parties.

They didn't just pay him for selling, either. His drugs weren't just potent- They were very addictive. It was easy for one of his clients to fall down, and no matter what happened, eventually there was a point where they would run out of the money needed to support their new lifeline. That's where his second job came in.

After all, who would say no when their friendly provider offered them 'free' drugs if they did a small favor for them in turn? They weren't even that hard- Get a bunch of friends, go to this street and kick out the old men living there, to clear up space for better people. Sometimes they were even happy to help!

Eventually, they might just start liking it enough to seek a more… Permanent deal.

"Pretty good haul this time… What do you think boys? Want to go eat some barbecue tomorrow?" Andrew looked back to his two bodyguards, causing them to smirk as he waved the wad of cash across their faces. Arnold and Terrence were good men, if rather silent at times. He'd met them back during his days as a musclehead, working for Allfather and bashing heads against the Marquis' insufferable dandy men.

The three of them had hit it off after a bar brawl that ended up with them thrown over a table, one of them wielding a broken bottle while another had a half-eaten turkey leg. They'd been together ever since.

Ah… The good times.

As he returned the smirk, however, he grew perplexed when the two of them suddenly straightened up, their hands shifting uneasily and… Were they blushing? The two brutes he'd often joked could wrestle a bear to the ground stared slack-jawed at something, as if unable to believe their eyes.

"Excuse me, Sir…?" A sweet, high-pitched voice lulled him back from his confusion, causing him to turn out of curiosity-

And at that moment, his heart skipped a beat. "Whoa…" He muttered under his breath, eyes wide as saucers.

It was as if a fiery angel had descended from heaven. Long, auburn hair flowed in waves that reflected the light, accentuating the gleam of the woman's bright blue eyes. Her face was heart-achingly sweet, with glossy lips and a nose cute as a button. His eyes were drawn to her hand, milky white and with perfectly manicured nails as she brushed her hair back, revealing a pair of glittering diamond earrings.

Her figure was simply perfect- It was everything he'd ever wanted in a woman, and her clothes did nothing to hide it, from the heeled sandals that accented her calves, the mini-skirt that showed the barest curve of her ass and the strapless top that proudly showed off her large cleavage.

Andrew gulped visibly. "C-Can I help you, Ma'am?"

"Oh, please don't call me Ma'am! I'm only, like, 24!" The woman giggled, playfully batting at his arm. He gave her a dopey smile, somewhat unable to believe that he was talking with a woman that could pass off as a supermodel or the winner of a beauty pageant.

"Then what do I call you, Miss…?" He asked, trying to regain his composure. He wasn't a blushing virgin, for God's sake. If not for his leg fracture, he'd still be out in the streets, fighting the good fight, cleaning up the streets of filth. A decade-old Empire member shouldn't act like a bumbling fool!

"Oh, I'm Silvia. But, between you and me…" Despite being well over six feet tall, the woman still managed to reach his earlobe by standing on her tiptoes. "...My special friends call me Silvie."

The hot breath she blew into his ear caused him to shiver in delight.

Ohhh. So that's where this was going. Well… Looking her up and down, Andrew at the very least could tell that this chick was no streetwalker. With her body? It would've been a waste. Judging by the clients he'd been getting all night, she was probably just a college student trying to get some fun.

"And what would being a special friend of yours entail, Silvia?" He worded carefully, making it clear he wasn't biting yet.

"Oh, you know. I heard you and your friends carry some of the good stuff." She whispered, getting close and personal with the man. His eyes quivered as he felt the hot touch of her breasts, and he almost jumped when he felt her digits playfully tickle at his groin. "If you happened to feel like sharing…"

Andrew grunted. Oh yeah, he liked where this was going. "I'm sure that we can work something out."

"Woah woah, wait a sec!" Terrence said, jumping into the fray with a blushing expression that told him he was probably five seconds from hyperventilating. "Am I hearing this right, girl? Y-You're going to take on all three of us?"

"Well… Girls do have three holes, you know?" Silvie said dirtily, making sure that the trio could see how she sensuously licked her lips.

"Hahahahaha… Oh man, it's been awhile since we did that." Arnold said, his gruff voice cutting in. "Remember the conquest of 24th and Rolandson? I'd be up for a repeat of that."

"J-Jesus, don't make me remember that now…" Andrew groaned, as Silvie's embrace around him grew hotter.

"Sounds like you're thinking of something fun…" She whispered throatily, patting at his Junior that'd swelled up to the point of bulging out. "I don't mind trying on new things."

"Alright, alright! God…" Andrew groaned out. "You win, you slutty little minx. How do you want us?"

"My, how gentlemanly." She stood on her tiptoes again and landed a kiss on the corner of his mouth. "I think this place is a little too bright, so why don't we go over there…"

Andrew and his men followed the girl deep into the alley, the girl's beautiful smile and alluring sway of her body dispelling all doubts as she charmed them completely.

"Okay…" She said finally, looking back and seeing how far they'd made it. "I don't think anyone's going to bother us here. Ohh, I can't wait..." She moaned out, causing them to get further aroused. "You're going to love this…"

Turning towards the blushing Empire men, Silvie smiled-

"I promise."

-And her eyes flashed green, just as a deathly chill and the feeling of static washed over the gangster's bodies.

Andrew's heart hammered against his chest, as his body suddenly locked up like a statue. He started sweating, unable to compute what was happening. The helplessness of being bound so completely sent signals of distress to his brain, which quickly started pumping him full of adrenaline in a vain attempt to try to set him free.

"You had a little too much fun there, Silvia. Or should I say, Silvie?" The drawling voice that came from the shadows caused a primal shiver to run through Andrew's core. The slight Russian accent gave their sharp voice an edge, one that made them slightly more intimidating in this haunting situation.

"I'm sorry, Master!" The woman said, even as her entire form started rippling before their eyes. Auburn hair became a brilliant gold as her entire form slimmed down, turning from a curvy, mature woman into a more svelte girl. However, to Andrew's disbelief, the girl only seemed to become even more beautiful than the woman had been, to an uncanny degree.

A shiver crawled up his spine. Girls that pretty did not exist. The blushing blonde whose skin was like porcelain resembled a fairy or a doll more than an actual human being, his brain immediately reeling at the fact it could find no flaws to overlook in the girl's anatomy.

"How can this Doll earn your forgiveness?" Her too-wide, glittering emerald eyes narrowed in an intense expression as she knelt before the man that had emerged from the shadows. Her hands tugged at his leg, the woman dramatically prostrating herself as if she were begging for her life-

-And it was right then that Andrew realized whose presence he had just overlooked.

"...I'll think about it later. But you're definitely not sleeping tonight." The boy that had walked in was thankfully close enough to his paralyzed vision that he could fully observe him. With a fresh face that nonetheless carried a sharp glare, he would have hesitated to call him an adult. He had to be just a teenager, and yet…

...And yet, the knowledge that he was completely immobile, as well as the way the alien girl clung to him, led him to believe there was something far more sinister about him.

"You know…" In the darkness of the night, the boy's rust-brown eyes could almost be seen as red. "My Doll here has been observing you for a good while. At first, I thought you were a little too fresh-faced for a bunch of dealer scum…"

Andrew's entire skin crawled when he heard the possessive way he called the girl, years of experience with capes telling him exactly what kind of monster was in front of him.

For the first time since he'd joined the Empire, Andrew did what he'd been too prideful to do… And fervently started praying to God.

"...But then I figured it out. You guys… You're what they call 'recruiters', aren't you? Using drugs as an entry to make young idiots even more pliable by baking them stupid…" His eyes coldly looked them over… Before he smiled darkly. "I wonder if you ever thought about how those people felt."

Just what exactly he meant by that, Andrew felt with a sinking despair that he was about to find out.

"Haven't you ever wondered how it feels? Being so addicted to something that it dwarfs everything else in your life?" His words were like icy daggers cutting straight into their nerves, as they saw how the girl behind him moaned at his every word, looking up at him as if he were some kind of God.

Please, God, have mercy on this soul. Please, please, please…! Don't let it end like this! Not like this!

-He understood completely now, as the shadow cast by the creature before them loomed menacingly over their bodies.

This person was not a human…

[IMG]

...He was a monster in a man's skin.

"Are you crying…?" The Devil said, his stare like ice as he faced down the drug dealer with a savage grin. "Good. The fear you're feeling right now… It doesn't even cover the hell that people must have felt getting the shakes from the poison you gave them."

The moment he said that, a horrifying feeling spread inside Andrew's heart. It was a primal terror, the kind of horror a human only ever experienced once in their life, when facing something so maddeningly wrong that it caused their sanity to shatter. Forget running away- He would rather kill himself than experience the terror that was filling his body and driving his mind into a panic.

If he had been in control of his body, he was sure that his bowels would have emptied themselves right then and there.

"Well, I think that's enough. It's not like this will matter to you soon-" The demonic parahuman said, and lifted up his right hand. Andrew's eyes trembled as he saw what looked like white sparks course through the tips of his fingers- But just as they appeared, they were gone. As if they'd just been in his imagination…

"Yes… Oh my god, yes…" Behind them, the porcelain girl that had tricked them was masturbating furiously, one hand eagerly teasing her clit as the other shoved its fingers up to the knuckles inside. "Show them, Master…! Show them how wonderful it is to serve…!"

Serve…? Oh. Oh no.

Andrew's pupils dilated to little dots, as they realized the fate this fiend had in store for him-

You… won't get away with this! You fucking monster!

"That look of defiance in your face is annoying…" His face darkened, before he smiled grimly. "Let's wipe it off, shall we?"

With that comment, he gave one last grin-

You'll get what's coming to you, bastard! His son will stop you! ALL HAIL ALLFATHER! ALL HAIL KAISER! ALL HAIL THE EMPIRE-

-And gripped Andrew's neck with one hand, releasing a painful shock that caused his entire body to start twitching. His thoughts grew muddled, his senses diffuse as everything that allowed him to perceive reality became mush, broken down into packets of information-

And then.

There was nothing.

"...So, tell me."

Andrew felt a strong, warm hand touch their head, running softly through their hair. They wished it could stay there forever.

However, the hand pushed insistently, and she sighed soulfully in disappointment. The Doll let their tongue slide over the length in their mouth as they pulled away, causing a slight 'pop' as her head was turned upwards, and their Master's penis slipped free of their warm mouth. She gulped slightly, making sure to savor the sticky remains of their Master's taste.

Once she was done, she dutifully let her arms rest at her sides, and looked up at the wonderful orbs that could suck in her soul.

"Yes, Master." She called, and that was all that needed to be said. She would listen to him, whenever and wherever.

"I wonder what you were trying to say to me, back when I was turning you. I'm curious." His finger absentmindedly tapped the chair he sat on. He really was curious, then. She'd have to answer honestly for him.

"I was hailing Kaiser, Allfather. I thought they would stop you. That you would get what…" She wrinkled her nose. It hurt to admit she had been that stupid. "...What was coming to you."

"...And what do you think of that now?" His eyes bore at her, deeply curious yet at the same time somewhat knowing of what her answer would be. Her Master was clever, and yet proud enough that he wished to hear it from her mouth.

She shivered in delight. She loved that of him. So smooth, so strong-willed. Allfather would have gotten along so well with him, she wished that her old boss could have served him too.

"It was stupid. An arrogant old man's stubborn delusion." She admitted. The old Andrew would have raged, hearing that comment, but it was oh so true.

What cause could possibly be worth it, if it went against what He said? In the first place, if it couldn't coexist with Master, then it was not meant for this world. An exercise in foolishness.

The old Andrew was wrong. He didn't know how wonderful it was to serve Master.

"So you don't work for Kaiser anymore?" He grinned devilishly, reaching out behind her right ear and scratching in a way that caused her to go weak in the knees.

"N-No, Masterrr... He is nothing. A boy far too big for his britches." She scoffed at the thought of what Kaiser had done with the Empire. Now that her mind was clear of all bias towards her old faction, she understood just how badly Kaiser had done, failing to conquer the city firmly under his heel.

If it had been someone stronger… Yes, someone like Master, they would have conquered it in days with his assets.

"Oh? But I'm a boy too…" He raised a curious eyebrow. She whined in denial, shaking her head left and right.

"You are Master. You are beyond compare." She scoffed. Obviously. Before her was the man that would bend everything to his desire… One who everyone would bow down to, sooner or later.

What greater cause could she serve?

"So who do you serve, now?" He asked airily, patting her head.

"You, Master." She said easily.

"And I don't get a hail?"

Master wanted her to praise him?

Those words needed to be answered.

"All hail Master." She breathed, leaning down to kiss his wonderful cock. "He is our leader, our savior." She ran her tongue down its length, careful to clean every single inch. "The most powerful man in this city, and soon in the world."

Master. Master Master Master Master Master.

"The Empire will die, and a new Emperor will rise." She breathed on Master's sensitive head, and it twitched, once again rising with life. Her fingers danced along it, rubbing it with adoration and care.

One final time, she lifted her eyes back towards her Master-

"Long may he reign."

-And dived back down to his cock, her tongue coiling around it as she went in deep and took it to the hilt, as she was meant to do-

...She looked forward to the day when her old comrades, too, were ready to serve.

--

Two days had passed since the weekend started, and you were firmly convinced that this power was truly deserving of the terror Masters were known for.

"Think this is enough to start with, Master?" Gratia -Lilith, in costume- said as she lazily draped her arms around you, snuggled on your lap. "It's amazing what you can do with exponential growth…"

Planning to lure people into the perfect spot for an ambush had been something that had taken a while the first night. With only Lennard and Gratia as your manpower, and Lennard occupied hammering out details concerning the location and schedule of the bar you planned to take over, you had been forced to rely on Gratia's wiles to lure people out in a case by case basis, something that took careful scrutiny from the two of you as well as no small amount of charm from her.

In the end, you had only managed to isolate three dealer groups that night, before it became too late to continue.

And then the second day had rolled over.

You'd spent Saturday at home, mostly, trying to sleep off the exhaustion from having ran from street to street while hiding from prying eyes all night. You'd called Gratia in the afternoon, ordering her to meet up for a report, and she had gladly obeyed…

-When you finally met her, your jaw almost dropped.

You thanked God that you'd decided to meet up in a secluded location, because Gratia's hand had been on fire as she texted on her phone. You'd later learn that what had looked to you like a particularly heated conversation with her ex-boyfriend (who was dead by your hands) had actually been her efforts to coordinate the plans of all the Dolls you had captured, making sure that they would all be positioned close together while not raising any flags.

And then… At night, you'd gone on a conversion spree.

Dealers operated in secluded spaces, and that applied for any kind of deals. While Empire thugs could just get the drugs directly at one of their bases, carrying drugs during the day was a dangerous affair -As cops were likely to investigate whatever thugs they saw on the street. And for the sake of convenience and solitude, thugs buying from their own street dealers wasn't that weird, nor was two street dealers contacting each other to trade goods.

Because of this, with just seven new Dolls at her command, Gratia had been able to set up the logistical equivalent of a spiderweb, ensuring that more often than not there would be a potential victim ripe for the taking.

And the results had been…

"These are all the shares we managed to collect, Master. All from our personal cuts, so no one will suspect a thing." A tall, athletic-looking doll with auburn hair said as she dropped another fat stack of cash on the already overflowing table, beaming up at you with warm hazel eyes. "Since you told us to take care of any mouths we had to feed, we took out what was necessary… But this is what is left."

You had never seen so much money at once. It actually made you feel dirty.

"Just… How much is this?" Your eyes bulged at you saw the rolls of dosh before you, one of them rolling down the pile from how many dollars there were.

"Thirty-eight thousand dollars, from twenty separate dealers. I counted. It's an okay haul, I guess." Gratia muttered lazily, and you had to do a spit take. Good God Almighty, did crime pay!

"Th-this is… Just from the weekend? From a personal cut?" You mouthed, pointing at the green mounds with disbelief.

Gratia smiled, and poked at your cheek. "This is nothing, Master. Soon you'll have much more."

"You- I… There's no way I can hide something like this. Just where am I supposed to hide all this swag?" It was bad enough that you were borrowing one of the dealers' property to get many Dolls together without scrutiny, but you had to find a way to hide these kinds of profits too? You felt a headache coming…

"I knew you'd be overwhelmed, Master. Most people can't really experience this kind of life. But it's okay, things are easier for you as a parahuman." She slipped you a pre-paid phone, a number already typed on the screen.

You looked at it, and wrinkled your brows. "Who's this?"

"The Number Man. He runs a bank for villains. Globally trusted, and very discreet. He doesn't even take a cut of your money, just works as a proper bank would." She smiled reassuringly. "Just call the number, and arrange to drop the money off somewhere and bam, done. Getting it back is just as easy."

"I haven't even come up with a cape name yet, and you want me to expose myself to this guy?" You said skeptically, for a moment doubting her words.

Gratia patted your head patronizingly, which caused you to glare at her. "Sorry, sorry Master." She held out her arms disarmingly. "I made sure to investigate before proposing this to you. This man works for thousands of villains, and all of them have only good things to say about him. I would never dream of exposing you- In the end, everything is your choice. If you wish us to find a way to manage the money, we will."

You sighed. "Sorry, I- I'm just not used to this. Normally, the only thing I do is study and hang out with Tyson. I was last year's valedictorian, not that's saying much with Winslow but… The streets aren't my thing."

"They don't need to be, Master." Gratia whispered, running her hands over your hair. "We are your Dolls, and we exist to serve. Our knowledge is yours, completely. All you need to do is direct us… Guide us. You are the only one who can do that."

"If you tell us to jump… All of us will ask how high." She whispered, causing you to laugh out loud.

"Alright, alright… Guide you, huh?"

You looked around, at all the things that lied around you.

Wads of cash stacked upon one another, sitting on top a posh table of polished hardwood. A beautiful woman sitting at your lap, both smart enough to coordinate an entire criminal organization by herself and strong enough to snap your neck in an instant. Sitting around the room, their eyes looking at you with pure adoration, countless other beauties sat- Lesser in power, but still far more than human.

All of them subject to your whims, and bending at your every command.

Money. Power. Women.

In two days, you had all three. You were sure that most people would have sacrificed a goat to some dark god or something to obtain such things. Hell, even you couldn't say you disliked it completely…

...But at the same time, all of this came from the same, horrifying source.

How easy it had been. In a world that was managed by humans, the one who could control them held all the power. People like these, who didn't have parahuman abilities- They were defenseless before those who held the abilities to use them. With just a single touch, you could take these people, all of the experiences that had shaped them into the people they were…

...And completely, irreversibly shatter that life, rebuilding it for your own pleasure.

It almost made you feel… Hollow.

You understood now, why the PRT existed. You understood why they feared the Masters… Why they feared you. You understood it as heavily as you understood that the love-bound Dolls around you would never return to their former selves, and that you could never take it back. It almost made you stop everything, and give up. You actually contemplated turning yourself in, and letting them cage you…

-But.

Perhaps… Perhaps because you had already done something you couldn't take back. Or perhaps because you still couldn't forgive the monsters of the Empire for what they had committed at large… You felt that you had the strength to move forward.

So that they may never touch a human being the way they did with you.

So that people like Tyson could live in safety.

You would take this power… And crush everything that was rotten in this city.

Your resolve set, you looked down at the pre-paid phone on your lap. Having sensed your inner turmoil, Gratia had graciously remained quiet all throughout your brooding.

"I…"

[ ] Call the Number Man. (You will let the Number Man manage your profits. This means you will have to expose your existence as a Cape.)

[ ] Don't call the Number Man. Your Dolls can handle your money. (You will allow your Dolls to handle your money. Less safe, as someone might be able to steal it due to how you have to lurk in the shadows.)

Mikhail has obtained 35 new Dolls.

Mikhail has obtained a steady supply of cash, allowing him to buy basic equipment for his nightly activities, as well as whatever else he might want that is affordable by a middle-high class family. He can also start work on an actual Cape costume!

Something might happen soon with Mikhail's power...

--

You collapsed on your bed, exhausted by the nightly activities. Even though you'd offloaded the logistics to Gratia, you'd still been forced to run around converting people… All the while making sure to avoid being spotted. It had been very tiring…

...And judging by how much you'd done today, Sunday would be even more exhausting.

As you got ready to hit the sack, however, your phone rang suddenly. Your school phone, not the throwaway one you'd gotten for chatting with Gratia about less savory things.

"Hello?" You picked up the phone, already dreading what would happen.

"Galkin?" A deep voice resounded from the speakers. "I'm CIA."

You laughed. "Oh god no, stop."

"If I take your books away, will you die?"

You laughed harder. "It would be extremely academic…"

"You're a smart guy."

"...For you- Pffthahahaha! Just… Just what the fuck do you want Tyson?" You said, rubbing a tear out of your eye. God, just when you thought you knew what to expect from this guy…

"Well, since you decided to spend Wrestling Friday and Shooter Saturday digging through books… I thought we could go get some grub at Fugly Bob's tomorrow, then visit the Arcade. How's that sound?" You could almost hear the begging in Tyson's voice.

Your eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"This doesn't have to do with you needing extra coins after I get tired of losing, right?"

"NC. No comment." He replied monotonously… Before the two of you laughed again. "So what? Is this lit or not?"

You mulled it over. It was in Daytime, so you couldn't sleep the day off, but you did need to draw your father's suspicion away…

[ ] Hang out with Tyson tomorrow. (Nothing like some Cape Fighter: ENE Edition to serve as therapy for Mikhail's new dark side. Maybe something nice will happen.)

[ ] You really want to… But this is going to be a busy night. (A man pursuing revenge shouldn't get distracted by things such as a social life! And maybe you'll be less tired.)

--

So, if you thought this guy's power wasn't a nightmare when properly unleashed... Here you go. Remember that you chose this!

Bar scene is Sunday Night, regardless of what you pick.

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Last edited: Sep 21, 2016

Sep 21, 2016 ReportLike

Noxx, Valentine999, Vigil O'Sin and 230 others like this.

Threadmarks: 1.6 Illusions Shattered

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Oh, I forgot this line in the last update:

I was very impressed by the dealer hunt and barman takeover choices, so I'm going to give you guys the bonus it deserves for being so effective. I'd love for you guys to come up with more creative ideas like this. The one with the Number Man was pretty good as well.

--

"...Master?" Gratia stared at you inquisitively, as you shifted the phone between your hands in deep thought. You definitely wanted to trust in your Doll's words… But somehow, a strong feeling a dislike surfaced when you thought of your revealing your presence in the game. It was like… You didn't feel the time was quite right.

Not yet.

But wasn't there a way you could take the cake and eat it, too?

'We are your Dolls, and we exist to serve.'

'All you need is to direct us… Guide us. You are the only one who can do that.'

"Gratia…" You said slowly, turning to stare at her with eyes that gleamed with a cunning confidence. "Wouldn't you say that you technically count as a Cape?"

Gratia's eyes widened, as she immediately understood your angle. "You could say that, Master…" She smiled mischievously, already knowing where you were going.

"Alright then, there's the guidance you asked for. Now step up and do what you're told." You held out the phone towards her, and she eagerly swiped it out of your hands, her eyes twinkling with joy.

"I'm happy you trust me, Master." Gratia said sweetly, kissing you briefly before she dialed the number and held the phone to her ear.

You waited expectantly, listening with bated breath as the connection dragged on by one… Two rings…

At the third, he picked up. "Yes?" It was short and to the point, but you could feel the intent behind the voice that spoke through the phone.

This wasn't a number that people called by mistake.

"I wish to open a new account under the cape name 'Lilith'." Gratia's statement was equally brief and collected. There were no greetings or pauses between her words- Merely enough to carry through her intent while simultaneously maintaining a veneer of politeness.

"Interesting. The delay between the moment I finished speaking and your reply was less than the minimum human threshold. A Thinker, then." A shiver crawled up your spine when you heard that line, unable to believe that the man had picked something like that up across a phone call of all things.

There was a brief, pregnant pause where Gratia could only stare at the phone in shock, before a new reply came through- "Very well. How much do you wish to deposit?"

"Around thirty-eight thousand dollars." Your Doll replied, eyes narrowing as she bit her lip in annoyance for some reason. You briefly looked confused. Why did she answer so vaguely? You knew that she could have mouthed off the exact sum if she-

"...Understand that I do not sell information about my clients, Miss Lilith. Whatever I figure of your abilities will not be given to any third parties." The Number Man spoke reassuringly, sounding like he'd been through this particular game many times.

"...Fine." Gratia smirked for a moment, winking at you- Before she gave him the exact sum he'd been asking for.

From there onwards, the conversation was fairly uneventful- The two of them hammered down a place where she could deposit the money, after which the Number Man would collect it by unsaid means. Withdrawals could be done in much the same way.

He also asked on several questions that had to do with accounting, such as what type of account she wanted to set up and what privileges it would have- All very professional things, which only further served to astonish you when you realized that the person over this phone was literally a One Man Bank.

Eventually, she hung up. "I think I'll contact him with e-mails from now on, rather than talking directly. That was dangerous." The Doll muttered, pocketing the pre-paid phone and then smiling up at you. "I'll leave to deposit the money soon, Master. Is that fine?"

"That's fine, but what was that exchange at the start?" You asked skeptically. There had been like a hundred things you'd missed between their conversation, you knew that, but at the beginning she'd just been odd.

"Oh." Gratia blinked. "At first I was surprised, because I'd never expected that he would pick on my abilities from my faster reactions- I make sure to keep them at a normal level for you, Master. I can't believe I was off by a microsecond due to excitement…" She sighed in disappointment, then brightened. "But at least, I managed to steer away his suspicion from what really mattered!"

"You did?" She did?

"Yes. He was curious about me- Like I said, I was surprised. His Thinker abilities are very strong- There was no doubt in my mind that he suspected something. So, when I answered vaguely I was drawing his attention to what I was hiding about myself, rather than what I could've been hiding about someone else."

Your head was spinning. "Are you seriously telling me that he could've figured us out over a phone call on a completely unrelated subject?"

Gratia suddenly looked ashamed, then averted her gaze. "...I don't know. He might have picked something up, either way."

What the hell?

Fucking Thinkers.

--

Fugly Bob's was a legend among local restaurants. Back during the days where the Teeth, Allfather's Empire and Marquis' gang were engaged on a violent three-way war against each other, this place was one of the few that had remained completely intact.

Respect the burger, Tyson had said, nodding along when one of your teachers had been covering Brockton's cape history in Parahuman Studies, and someone had brought that up.

Being no stranger to the establishment, you could only agree.

"Uhh, Tyson..." You eyed your friend's food tray with distaste, looking at the behemoth slab of beef that could only have been described as awkward in how it was shoved in between two huge loaves of bread. "Are you sure giving that the 'Decker Package' is safe?"

"You underestimate my power, young one…" Tyson chuckled, grabbing the always present bottle of mayonnaise that he requested wherever he went to eat, and shook it so fast that you were fairly sure you'd have needed Gratia to understand what was going on inside that thing. "The 'Decker Package' is a fine art that has been passed down for generations, drawing its roots to our humble days of slavery harvesting mayo grains!"

"Ah, yes… The 'mayonnaise' grains, that just happen to be exactly shaped like mustard but mysteriously create an artificial substance…" You stared dully as Tyson lifted the upper loaf of his burger, spilling droplets of molten, greasy cheese on his tray as he proceeded to dump the entire bottle's contents over the meat. "Your ancestors must have been notorious for their metabolism."

You still could not understand how this beast managed to eat the way he did, and still end up weighing less than you. Did he take care of all that mass in the bathroom?

"Why hello there Mister Smartypants!" Tyson mocked, even as he placed down the half-empty flask of mayo and pressed down on the humongous pile of condiment with the bread he'd taken off, sealing the burger's fate with noisy squelching sounds. "Can't you take a joke without going all trivia on me?"

"Oh come on." You tilted your head, fixing him with a dry gaze. "Mayo grains? Your bait couldn't have been any bigger even if you were trying."

"I'm sure a Parahuman could make them. Woah, actually, can you imagine that?" Tyson gave a dopey smile, staring at nowhere in particular. "Tars of mayonnaise growing from trees… Along with fields of french fries and nachos…"

"You do know that those last two products are created out of actual plants, right?" You remarked, and had to jump away when Tyson leaped over to try and strangle you.

"Damn it, don't ruin my dreaaaaaaaams!" He yelled, mock crying in outrage.

...Eventually, you managed to stop playing around and actually get to start eating. You'd decided on a fairly heavy meal- Sure, digesting it would be a pain with your lack of sleep, but something told you that you'd need the energy if you were going to spend the night around a crowd of hyper-sexualized girls that would try their best to get you to fuck them.

You hadn't thought that their… Libido would start being a problem so soon. You could just ask them to stop, but it was hard to tell someone to stop being sexy.

Maybe you could get Gratia to do something?

"What's with that smile on your face, dude?" Tyson's voice roused you from your daydreaming, staring at you with narrowed eyes. "Wait, don't tell me- This is about that girlfriend of yours, isn't it!?"

Oh, and there he went again.

"Nigga you just can't keep playing with me!" Tyson threw his arms up exasperatedly, each and every movement he did seemingly engineered to uncomfortably stand out. "First you tell me you hooked up with a seventeen year old, a blonde while we're at it, and then you don't even show me her tits!"

At that last remark, you felt the eyes of several women coldly glance the way of your friend, and laughed.

"Tyson, you're not supposed to talk with your friends about that in public." You brushed him off, before you suddenly realized what he'd said. "Actually hold the fuck up. Why the HELL should I show you my girlfriend's body? Did your fap folder finally get deleted by the Illuminati?"

"Shhh!!!" Tyson whispered harshly, covering your mouth with his mayonnaise-covered hand. Oh god, someone call the police. "Don't talk about them!"

"P-Pah! M-motherfucker…! Go fucking wash your hands or something, you ass!" You pushed him off, desperately grabbing at one of the handkerchiefs on the table and swiped at your face. Tyson busted a gut, but did actually clean up, thank God.

"Hahaha… Oh man, sorry, sorry. I legitimately forgot about the mayo. It happens all the time when I eat it at home." That was way too much information, but before you could inform him of it he trucked on with another question. "But man, aren't you living the dream?"

"Huh?" You blinked.

What the hell was he talking about?

Tyson shrugged, then grinned at you.

"I mean… You've got everything. Your father's been setting aside a part of his salary for your college funds, and you have the best grades in our entire school." He listed them off as if checking them from a sheet, drawing his fingers out one by one. "You've been our valedictorian candidate for the last two years, and I heard the teacher talked to you about speaking in the closing ceremony… I remember you told me two weeks ago you'd gotten an email from the M.I. motherfucking T, and now you've even got a girlfriend… Christ, you're almost a superman."

Your skin crawled at that. I am, Tyson. You thought. But not in the way you think. And certainly not in the way you'd like.

"I just studied, is all." You looked down, frowning angrily. You didn't like people talking about your grades- To be honest, they'd never mattered to you. If they had been a feat you'd accomplished out of your own will, you were sure that it'd make you very happy to be at the top… But being good at school had never been your choice.

Your status as a honor student… Was nothing but a stark reminder of what your father saw you as.

"And as for that girlfriend thing…"

You looked at Tyson, and said-

[ ] Tell him you hooked up with Gratia. (You will have an 'official' story of being Gratia's girlfriend. This will restrict the movements of her main persona, and it might cause negative attention in her direction.)

[ ] Tell him you hooked up with your Prime Doll under another name. (Gratia will still be your official girlfriend, but she'll be disguised via her power. While not harming her main persona, she will be a literal nobody, which is an entirely different problem which will need addressing.)

[ ] Try and come up with some conceivable excuse as to how you aren't actually dating anyone (Write-in). (The hardest thing to do, despite being technically the truth. You'll have to find some way to steer Tyson's attention away from this.)

--

Somehow, Tyson had managed to shove down that mammoth of a burger down his stomach without a single complaint (though he'd taken a while to leave the bathroom). With satisfied stomachs, if admittedly also accompanied by not so satisfied colons, you made your way to the nearest shopping mall to engage in your weekly Arcade deathmatch.

And the result…

"Get… FUCKED!"

You slammed a fist against the robust machine as Tyson laughed victoriously from the other side. Having become the latest victim of Armsmaster's infinite halberd juggling combo attack, you seethed at the massive YOU LOSE letters that flashed red on the console's monitor.

"You motherfucking cock-sucking bitch-ass cheater!" You yelled loudly, going around the console and shaking Tyson up and down by the collar of his shirt. Some appalled mothers glared daggers your way, covering the ears of their children before they could be corrupted by the posturing of two rival game addicts.

At least they didn't call security whenever you started trash-talking. Ah, the privileges of being a VIP.

"S-Stop man!" Tyson started grappling you with his two arms, even though that irritating smug smile of his hadn't weakened in the slightest. "Don't hate the player, hate the game!"

"Damn it! One more round!" You released him and stomped your way back to your console, shoving another coin into the slot. "I'm not going to give up this time. You're getting out-skilled this time, bitch."

"Sure, sure." Tyson grinned, waggling his eyebrows. "Just don't come crying when 'Magic Hands Decker' leaves you blacked."

Making half-gagging, half-growling noises, you brought up the most broken, biggest munchkin you could think of in the roster- Miss Militia. With the power of missile spam, you would definitely beat him…!

And twenty rounds later-!

"OH YEAH! OH YEAH! OH YEAH!" You fell to your knees, hitting the ground repeatedly as Tyson stood over you, hands over his head and making several strange pelvic thrusts from one of those bizarre shows he watched- The ultimate dance of humiliation.

"Curse you… Curse you, Tyson!" You said, crying tears of salt and cradling your head between both hands even as he continued to thrust at the air, his 'OH YEAH's stirring up a storm across the Arcade. "I'll get revenge for this-!!!"

"But Mommy, I wanna look at the ultimate dance of hyu-meelation!" One of the kids complained, even as their mother desperately tried to prevent their innocent minds from scarring permanently.

You'd bring Gratia one of these days… See how he did against a Fucking Thinker of all things…

"Hahahahahaha…" You laughed silently to yourself, already boiling a sinister plot. Without a doubt, you would bring him down…

One day, you would get back all the coins he owed you!

--

It happened as you were leaving the Arcade.

"So I was thinking we could stop by Game Shop, you know? Check out the latest goods. While I may have gotten Legend Rising 3's goddamn limited edition for free, I really wanted to check out that fantasy RPG everyone's talking about on the net and- Uhh… Mikhail, you okay there…?"

You didn't listen as Tyson called out to you.

You were too busy sweating as the feeling of static coursed along your entire body. The feeling had started acting up a while ago, and as you got closer to its source it had only increased in intensity. It wasn't so much the presence of the cape that was bothering you… But rather, it was the fact that it was acting up at all.

It wasn't supposed to happen now of all times.

Not here with Tyson. Not like this… Not while Mikhail Galkin was just a normal student trying to enjoy himself, instead of the killer he became at night.

"I'm fine." You said cooly. "Game Shop right? Yeah, why not. I'm down with that." You mustered a smile at him, trying to choke down the worries that were surfacing.

It's okay, you told yourself. There's no need to panic or act like you aren't yourself. You're the only one who can sense this.

Even as the two of you made your way to the store, you did your best to act natural. It didn't matter that the signature was heading straight towards you, just at the turn of a corner. You were just two normal guys, heading to check out video games. No reason to panic.

And that was when Tyson, typically, decided to fuck things up.

"So I was thinking I wanted to try it out, because its system was- ...Oh. My. God." Tyson's eyes widened as he caught sight of the store. "Is that a sequel to Master Madness!? OH SHIT!"

"What the- Tyson, wait!" You rushed after the man when he broke into a run straight towards the store, heading in a course that was taking on a straight line… Into the direction the cape you were sensing was heading towards.

You caught up to him at just the last moment, rushing to pull him back.

And the moment you managed to grab his shoulder...

"Yeah, yeah, I know… No! I told you I'm not wearing that to the party! Ugh, who cares about what that bitch says- Wait… What the-!? Aaaaaaaah!?!?"

...You tripped.

The three of you- Nerd, Master-in-disguise, and mysterious Cape tumbled to the floor, causing the eyes of several bystanders to turn towards you in shock.

You couldn't make this shit up, even if you tried.

"Shit- Ow, hahahaha… What the hell man? What's got into you?" Tyson laughed, batting your sitting form on the shoulder… But you were too busy staring at the third party to give him a response.

"Haaah… That hurt…" The girl in front of the two of you slowly got to her feet, clutching her bruising head with a grimace on her face. When you looked at her clothes, you immediately garnered she was from a rich family- Designer clothes that looked custom made, pretty brown leather boots that went up to her calves, and thin, blue gloves that were meant more for standing out than for providing any source of heat.

The girl's bright blue eyes blinked open, at first looking around in confusion. Her long, blonde ponytail swayed as her head turned, scanning for the source of her fall. When her eyes fell upon you and she frowned, you almost shivered in fear, instinctively aware of how vulnerable you were right now…

...But surprisingly, she glanced away from you without saying a single thing. You gave a sigh of relief. Maybe this day would end normally, after all-

-And that was when she reacted.

"Watch where you're going, you fucking monkey!" The girl's angry yell echoed through the mall, shattering your delusions of normalcy in an instant.

Your eyes widened in shock, and almost by reflex you felt your presence burst to the front of your mind, static coursing through your fingertips for a moment.

No. There was no way.

What were the odds-

"Wh-what the…?" Tyson, who had gotten to his feet by now, backed away with a slightly fearful expression. "Sorry girl, I didn't mean to bump into you-"

"Bump into me!?" She said in outrage, glaring at him with an expression of utter loathing. It marred her pretty face, causing her to resemble less a rich beauty and more a wild teenage diva. "You fucking ran me over, shitskin!"

"Hey!" Tyson glared at her, now legitimately upset. "I said I'm sorry already! That's uncalled for!"

Shit. What did you do? Could this really be happening? Why would an Empire Cape make her identity so obvious? Was she really Empire? Why had she bumped into you now of all times? This made no sense-

"You know what's uncalled for? A gorilla like you ruining this dress for me!" The girl shouted back, brushing imaginary dust from her ruffled clothes. "And where is the- My phone! Oh my god, you broke the screen!" She shrieked, picking up the small device and turning to your friend with an angry glare. "Get out of my sight, you dumb negro." She growled.

"Oh that's it, you bit-" You hurriedly slapped your hand over Tyson's mouth, hissing as you pulled him aside and grabbed him in a headlock.

"Are you a fucking idiot!?" You whispered into his ear, even as you took your eyes back to the crossed-arms, glaring teenager who you were now fairly sure was an Empire Cape. "Sorry miss, my friend just doesn't know when to shut up! We'll be right out of your sight now!"

The girl tapped her foot, squinting her eyes at you… Before she gave a long sigh, and looked away in a huff. "Just keep that monkey of yours on a leash the next time you take him out. If you so much as even breathe near me again, fucker, you're dead." She hissed at your struggling friend, and walked away grumbling.

You felt your entire body relax, sighing visibly as you finally relaxed the grip around your friend. "That was close… You okay there, Tyso-"

And that, was when he punched you.

"What the fuck man!?" He yelled at you, even as you reeled back from the blow, pain stinging your cheek. "Did you see how that neo-nazi bitch was calling me!? That was nothing short of calling me a turd! How could you just make me stand there and take it!"

"What…?" You turned at him with a surprised expression, which quickly turned into a furious glare. "Are you fucking serious? I just saved YOUR-"

-JUST SAVED YOUR LIFE!

At that moment.

Your eyes widened.

Oh. So that's why.

"My what!? My face from being scratched by her plastic nails? What's she gonna do, call her mom's chihuahua to chew my face off? Is Kaiser, protector of Nazi skies gonna drop from the rooftop and flatten me? What did you save me from other than giving that cunt a piece of my mind, huh!?"

"Haha… Hahahaha…" You laughed to yourself, unable to believe how stupidly you'd reacted.

"Mi...ke…? Mikhail?" Tyson's expression faltered.

Of course. Why had you been so worried?

The only thing that had happened here was that two boys, excited over a new video game, had bumped into a spoiled rich girl from Empire land and accidentally made a mess. There was absolutely no mortal danger from a situation like that, if you counted getting your face chewed out by a white diva as non-lethal.

But… That wasn't the full side, was it? The reason you had reacted so wildly, and the reason why those reactions had clashed with the environment around you…

-Yes.

It was… Because you weren't normal.

You were the only one who could see that girl's true colors… The only one that knew her for the monster that she was. Not an ordinary white bitch… But one that went around at night, doing far worse things than talking down people that annoyed her. A wolf in sheep's clothing…

...That girl was, without a doubt, a Parahuman just like you. And… You were the only one who could tell. The only one who could trace her exact location even now, her presence not fading in the slightest even as she walked away from sight, your focus centered on her location.

"...Sorry, Tyson. I overreacted." Even as you said that, your eyes narrowed and you looked at the direction the girl had gone off to. A cold rage simmered inside you, directed at the girl that had spoiled your try at normalcy. TARGETSUBVERTPREY

The Empire counted with many capes, but it only had one minor that you knew of. A teenager, that had been recently indicted. As far as you knew, no other people fit the bill. Victoria Dallon and Crystal Pelham weren't racist, and more importantly they were part of New Wave, so that was out. Shadow Stalker was likely black. Vista was a preteen, and a veteran Hero.

So… With all other possibilities discarded, then the final choice, however improbable, must have been the truth.

As you felt the civilian identity of Rune walk away… You mulled over your decisions. You didn't know if you would ever get a chance like this. The girl had broken her phone, which meant she'd either grab a taxi or go by foot to her home. This might be a golden opportunity.

But… Right now, you weren't the Master of Dolls that waged a war against the Empire. You were just Mikhail Galkin, wrapping up a day of fun with your friend.

Were you ready to take a leap that would risk connecting your Cape life with your real one? Ready to commit yourself to every chance you got to further your acquisition of power, even if that meant it threatened to devour your daylight time as well?

"Hello? Earth to Mike? Jeez man, stop ignoring me! I forgive you already!" Tyson shouted, waving his arms exaggeratedly.

What was more important to you? Cleaning up these streets as an avenger… Or keeping up the monotonous, yet peaceful lifestyle of Mikhail Galkin, the pressured Honor Student?

[ ] "...Let's go home, Tyson." Let it go. (Mikhail will decide that, even though he deeply hates the bigotry and madness of the Empire Eighty-Eight, it's not something that he should prioritize over his normal life. Unknowingly respecting the unwritten rules, he'll decide to let this chance slip by.)

[ ] "...Sorry, but I have to go. I just forgot I had something to do." Chase after Rune. This ends today. (Mikhail will take the leap, pragmatism driving him to once again use his power to its full lengths, even if means seizing chances that pop up when he's not donning the mask. Ignorant he may be of the codes that bind cape behavior, he will still take another step down the dark, muddled path he cannot turn back from…)

--

Holy hell do I love giving you controversial choices.

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Last edited: Sep 22, 2016

Sep 22, 2016 ReportLike

Valentine999, Ciolekovsky20, Vigil O'Sin and 208 others like this.

Threadmarks: 1.7 Gathering Shadows

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Hope this update is worth the wait.

--

...No. Something about this was wrong. Why did it feel like you had to choose between one thing and the other?

You were Mikhail Galkin, a student that attended Winslow High, studying diligently during the week and gaming with his best friend on the weekend. You were also the one your Dolls called 'Master'- A monstrous parahuman, using his power to subvert a criminal organization for the greater good.

But… Were the two mutually exclusive, really?

It was true- You couldn't be in two places at once, and the actions you had to take as either persona were wildly different. With one, you had to keep up appearances- While with the other one, you couldn't allow yourself to be seen at all. It was a job that would have needed at least two people…

'Guide us, Master.'

...But you weren't alone.

"...That girl could've sued you if you'd done anything problematic, Tyson- And even if you won the case, your face would definitely become exposed to the Empire by a mole." Your cutting words caused Tyson's eyes to widen, as the weight of your words hit swiftly home. "But enough about that bitch… Let's go enjoy ourselves and go home."

"Shit man…" Tyson frowned angrily, looking at the corner the girl had faded from sight. "It's not fucking fair."

Damn, now you had to find a way to cheer him up.

But first-

"Why don't you go look at those Master Madness videos-" Oh, his face lit up again- That's one problem off your back already. "...While I go to the toilet for a while."

Time for a shadowrun in the shitter. You smirked, imagining how Tyson would guffaw at that.

Then, your thoughts went to a darker place.

You're not getting away from me, Rune. You and all your nazi friends are going to pay for what you've done.

Mikhail has lost some stress, making him calmer for the time being. Dr. Yamada would be proud.

--

In one of the dealers' hideouts, meanwhile, someone had been getting comfortable as the phone rang.

"Mm…. Mnah…!" Gratia moaned rhythmically, milky breasts bouncing slightly in tune with her hips. A smooth, silky hand patted her stomach as the other pair played with her breasts, cupping and squeezing and pinching at her nipples. "Mmm! Is that- Master…? Hold on a second…!" She moaned lovingly yet firmly, even as her feet braced against the couch to thrust herself against her plaything one more time.

"He was worried until now…" Hearing the word 'Master', the Doll she'd borrowed slowed down her movements, but did not stop. She continued to hold their appointed leader with her hands, even as she slowly rocked her hips against Gratia's soft, springy tush. "When his friend hit him, I was concerned…"

"Tyson is- Mm, right there- Not a bad person… I made sure to investigate him thoroughly…" She gasped out, even as she picked up the ringing phone and accepted the call. "Master?" Her voice chimed, completely controlled even as her subordinate shifted their position to grind into her with redoubled efforts.

"I got a ping on you-know-what, but I'm a little too busy to handle it. Think you can look it up?" Hearing their Master's voice rumbling over the phone, the two Dolls quivered as their attempts to get pleasure from each other intensified.

"At once, Master. Can I get some specifics on where that happened? Where is the ping in reference to you?" She placed a hand over her cheek, squinting her expression as her accelerated mind kicked into gear- And her body trembled when the Doll's hand shifted lower, teasing her round clit.

"...It's a little rough, but I feel like it's about fifty meters, towards the…" There was a short pause. "...Northwest, give or take a few degrees."

Enough information, given the distance between them- She thought, immediately getting a good image of the girl's location. "Talk to me, Master. Is it possible for you to describe her? Face, clothes, shoes?" As she continued to talk, she softly pinched her lover on the thigh, signaling the end of their little session.

The Doll below her sighed- But nodded obediently, and did as she asked. She gave one, two hard strokes- And the walls of Gratia's snatch clamped down in swift, artificial orgasm, just as the other Doll pushed herself over the edge.

"...Oh, you mean the girl I bumped into a while ago? I don't see what she has to do with this, but-" As her Master went into painstaking detail to describe Rune's appearance, Gratia sighed softly as she worked to remove herself from the other doll's lap.

Brief popping sounds echoed through the room, as the Secondary Doll's length slowly slipped off from where the two had been connected. It was an interesting trick, what Gratia had discovered -The ability to keep a male organ from their mimic abilities, which allowed her to at least imagine it was her Master that was fucking her.

It paled in comparison to the real deal, of course- When Master touched them, it was like their entire being came alive with pleasure. Their mind was lulled into a pink, blissful haze, where they became putty in his hands regardless of their old lives' inhibitions or thoughts. When he took his cock out, eyeing them with the gaze of a playful predator, none of them could- or wanted to, for that matter- resist.

But it was something, Gratia considered, rubbing the little bumps on the Doll's girlcock even as the flesh started to recede within her mass.

"...And that's all I can think of. You got everything?" He said, sounding a little impatient. He was nervous, worried about his friend. She desperately wished she could have been there, hugging him, comforting him-

-But Master had insisted that his identity as a student and as a parahuman should be kept separate, fearing the consequences of what discovery would entail.

Fucking PRT, She cursed, briefly reverting to her old attitude. It's not enough that you want to control him, you can't even let him be happy.

"Yes Master. I'll send the closest Dolls to tail her position, track her down from here. Am I allowed to text you for the operation?" She asked, even as her body shifted to clean herself up. Stains vanished, absorbed by her changing layers of flesh- Until her skin smoothed out, bright and clear and flawless again.

She sat on one of the chairs, unbothered by her lack of clothes, and placed her laptop on top of the table. She resumed her session, the processes that were in suspension starting anew as she brought up a global positioning application.

"Yeah. I leave everything in your hands. Use me however you'd like." Master said, and for a brief moment her mind went places, imagining how wonderful that would be- But only for a fraction of a second, as the program she was waiting on finally started up.

"As you command. Have fun, Master." She chimed, even as she wrote in the estimated coordinates of Rune's location and pulled up the phones she used to contact the other Dolls, texting them to update their objectives.

"Oh, and one more thing."

"Master?" She straightened up, confused. Was there something else? He didn't feel anxious anymore-

"Don't disappoint me. I trust you."

Her pupils contracted into little dots, her body shivering with delight at his words even as the weight of his expectations kicked her mind into overdrive.

"I won't, Master." She breathed. "I promise."

"...If you do well, I'll reward you properly."

And then he hung up.

You're not getting away, bitch. Her body snapped into focus so quickly it was as if she had been hurled from a slingshot. She immediately signalled the nearest Dolls to cover every spot she could, ensuring that the moment her Master lost track of Rune, she would be able to pin her down again.

She also woke as many Dolls as she could from their standby routine, alerting them to new orders from Master and warning them to clear up suspicion if they had to move without warning.

Her eyes tracked Rune's projected path, the clear shape of Brockton Bay's streets making it easy to estimate how long a person would walk a straight line, and when they would have to turn to change their path. Whenever that happened, she either made sure that she had Dolls in place or texted her Master for minor corrections, making sure not to lose track of her goal.

She wasn't going to lose against a Shaker that spoiled her mind rotten- Even if she was pretty enough that Master had memorized her face to the last detail.

That last thought caused her to lick her lips. She wondered how a real Cape would look like… Once they tasted Master's touch.

--

Ashley Halle shivered on the bus stop, glaring at the sun overhead and wishing that it could heat her up a little more so she didn't have to suffer through this bullshit and be cold at the same time.

Her mind still seethed at the ugly turn her day had taken when she'd gone to the mall. She'd been so busy talking with Cynthia over the phone that she'd completely forgotten to look up from the screen.

Now her phone was broken, and it was all the fault of that man.

Dumb nigger, She thought, eyes narrowed as she extended her arm and called to the approaching bus. It stopped before her, and she quickly made her way through the open doors, sighing softly as the closed environment quickly refreshed her from the chilly breeze outside.

Finding a seat that wasn't occupied or had a subhuman sitting on the side, she quickly made herself comfortable after buying a ticket. Haven't used a bus in a while, she thought. It's kind of nostalgic.

Nowadays, her new bosses needed her to move far more quickly than public transport allowed. Well, that and…

She wouldn't exactly trade the looks of this for the quality rides she got to take as one of Medhall's little rich girls.

She giggled at the thought. Everything was so right, now- Not like when her parents had been struggling for cash, or those hellish days from juvie. She was surrounded by people that accepted for who she was, and she didn't have to mince her words around them.

And if she also had to do a little extra on the side to keep that life up, well, that wasn't too much, was it?

Kaiser and the rest of the Empire had been on edge, lately- There was a new player in the game, a mysterious figure that went by the name Coil. Their men had bumped into his mercs once or twice, and she'd heard that nothing short of a parahuman could deal with them. He had a lot of money to throw, enough to hold his own against them without being forced to step on the battlefield.

Lung, while normally violent and biting at their heels as often as he could- Dumb chink- had been laying low for the past few days, and word was out that he'd gotten a new cape on his hands. Word of mouth was that she was a Tinker, of all things. Personally, Ashley hoped they could get one of their own soon.

Getting someone to build her lightsabers to TK with would be killer.

There had been that violent murder that'd made the news though- It didn't surprise her that Oni Lee had gone on a rampage again, all the ABB were a bunch of lunatics with no sense of self-control. She was damn glad she'd been born white.

At some point amidst her contemplations, the bus' automatic voice announced the name of the stop she'd been waiting for. She stood from her seat and went towards the doors, standing on her tiptoes to press the 'stop' button-

When a long arm reached out from behind it, and pressed it for her.

Blinking in surprise, she half-turned back- Meeting the disinterested gaze of a tall, red-haired man who stood there with arms crossed.

She gave a small smile, a little intimidated by the man's form from this close. "Thanks for the helping hand."

The man's sharp, clear hazel eyes looked down at her… And he smirked briefly, returning her friendly gesture. "No problem. You getting off or not, Miss?"

"Ah! Yeah, yeah, sorry." She stepped off the doors, and the other man followed. "Sorry about that, I just- I've been a bit distracted today…" She sighed in frustration, almost growling as she continued. "...Got my phone broken by a dumbass monkey…"

"No problem, Miss. Just be careful in the streets- All the gangs out there, never know what could happen." The man waved her off, and for a moment she thought there was something strange about him- But she shook her head, and quickly brushed the feeling off.

Whoever he was, there was no way he could be dangerous for someone like her.

As Ashley walked the rest of the way to her large, comfortable home, she never noticed the shadows that hung behind every corner after she turned, or the hazel eyes that tracked her movements all the way to the street she lived.

And neither did she hear, upon knocking at the front door, and being welcomed by a hug from her mother, as the man reached into his pocket, and with a pleased grin, whispered-

"...We've got her."

You have discovered Rune's residence! New options have been unlocked during the next Night Phase!

--

Steiner's Brew was definitely a posh place, you had to admit, as you opened the doors to the bar with a satisfied grin on your face.

"Today's a good day." You decided, looking at the bright, suave air of the secret bar. "We got Rune on target, I wrapped up my day with Tyson without him calling me a double nigger, and now… This. I'll have to reward Lennah later."

A mahogany floor, covered with lush red carpets. Attractive, polished furniture, chairs and tables arranged in ways that looked ideal for a few games of poker… Or a heated, sporting debate over a few rounds of cool drinks.

The bar itself looked nice, and well-maintained by the look of the many bottles shelved behind the counter. As the lights flipped on automatically, you could see how they dimly lit the seats, casting a nice atmosphere that was already making you feel more at ease.

A shame, that it was currently wasted on a bunch of nazis.

Your face scrunched up, as you looked past the basic furniture and towards the walls. "I think we'll have to redecorate, though. Right now the mood feels a touch too much 'politically incorrect' if you know what I mean."

One could see that this wasn't a bar meant for ordinary people. Hanging like an all-seeing guardian leering at the masses below, the armored form of Allfather leered at you, his hands poised proudly over the pommel of his giant sword. An intimidating figure, and one that you were sure had struck fear into the heart of many.

And he was only the first of the monsters that this rotten movement had birthed in Brockton Bay.

"I'll start by tearing that one down, once I've brought the Empire down. Put it up for auction, see who pays more to burn it in a massive bonfire." You said, disgusted by the regal image the cape leader pretended to impose. Next you looked at the picture of his children- Of Iron Rain, who had thankfully departed from this world, and Kaiser- The one who'd followed right after his daddy's footsteps. "Maybe I'll put that last one on the street, charge one cent for anyone who wanted to take a piss on it."

"All wonderful ideas, Master." A playful voice rang by your side, two slender arms wrapping tightly around your arm. "Burn the garbage of the old ways, to give birth to the newer, better order. I'm sure it will be a wonderful sight."

"Not as lovely as you, this night." You whispered, looking down at your 'date' for the night. Gratia's knees crossed at your compliment, biting her glistening lips as she fixed you with a wonderful smile that had your heart skipping a beat.

When you told her you'd be spending some quality time with her at the bar after you took it over, your Doll had been absolutely ecstatic with joy. She'd sworn to impress you, then excused herself by saying she needed to do some 'emergency shopping'. You didn't pry into whatever that meant, though, because if she wanted to do something for you then it was probably going to be good.

And it was.

Today, Gratia was dressed to kill.

With the natural beauty of her Doll form, you'd have thought that her attractiveness couldn't have possibly been improved- But now, as you looked her body up and down, you had to admit you were dead wrong.

Her blue, lacy dress hugged her curves perfectly, emphasizing her impressive cleavage, narrow waist and sloped hips that made for the hourglass figure most of your Dolls had. Dark, opaque stockings hugged her legs, the contrast with her pale skin giving her a nocturnal beauty that stirred your loins. Two lacy cuffs adorned her wrists and ankles, black with a little blue bow around them- Just like the hair ribbon that pulled her flowing locks into a golden tail that cascaded down her shoulder, a placement that caused your eyes to wander back to her breasts again.

It was a sight that had instantly destroyed whatever resistance you might have felt towards giving your Doll a good petting.

In hindsight, it shouldn't have surprised you that your Dolls would have looked heavenly when they were dolled up, but then again, you doubted there was any man that could have imagined being with a girl this beautiful.

Heartbreaker, eat your heart out.

"Your Doll did her best, Master." She breathed, her green eyes almost sparkling under the light as she looked upon you with slavish desire and devoted adoration. "Whenever, wherever you need it- Even if you don't need it, but just wish for it- Call for me, Master, and this Doll will give you the world."

You turned towards her fully, letting her arms clear away from your arm as you snaked it around her waist, using the other one to pull up her chin. Her entire body hung still, green eyes and wide pupils staring at nothing but you as your touches caused her entire being to fall at your mercy.

She was yours, completely and utterly, without question- And while that attracted you to her, it also made you feel a sudden stab of guilt.

Did you really deserve to feel this happy with a girl that was made to love you? Was it right to treat her as if she were a normal girl, even when the person that bore her name was long gone?

"Gratia, I… I'm sor-" Your words were cut off, as the Doll you'd thought was completely entranced suddenly took the initiative.

To reach up to your lips, the Doll had to stand on the very points of her feet, a motion that caused her body to press tightly against you as her velvet lips took your own. She kissed you softly yet passionately, her specialized lips causing your fingers to curl from the pleasure as their glossy membrane pinched, suckled and slid over your own mouth.

You tried to shake her off, to stand back and try to shrug her off, but unlike the other times she remained stubbornly insistent.

"I love you." She breathed out between kisses, and your eyes grew blurry. "Love you love you love you love you. Love Master. I love you so much." Her breasts caressed your chest, her entire body finding a way to stick to yours as she nipped at your lip to allow her tongue to break inside. "Mn… Mmm… Hah…"

"Please don't be sad. Please don't hate yourself." She cooed softly as she broke away, leaving the sweet and burning taste of her maddening saliva in your mouth. "You are wonderful, Master. The gentlest and sweetest person in this world. You've done nothing wrong."

"...That's not true…" You said, a bitter expression crossing your face. Your day with Tyson had completely shocked you out of the madness you'd been through after that day you obtained your powers. You'd used your dolls so naturally, so callously, even though you'd known that it was wrong-

-And now, seeing Gratia is such a beautiful, wonderful state, you felt guilty and hollow. You didn't want this to be a lie, a falsehood created by this stupid power of yours. You wanted…

You wanted things between you to be genuine.

"It's wrong, what I did to you, Gratia-!" You said harshly, tears brimming at the corner of your eyes. In the solitude of the bar, with no one to look at you but the eyes of your Dolls, you could feel your feelings pour out. "A monster like me, with a power like this, who's killed people out of their own will… He doesn't deserve to feel happy!"

"Master…" Gratia looked pained and upset, deeply uncomfortable with herself- As if she had done something horrible and deeply regretted it. "Am I- Am I mistake? Do I inconvenience you?"

What? Her?

No way. Gratia was-

She was-

"How could you?" You said tremblingly, the hands that had fallen to your sides reaching out towards her face. "No, never. Gratia, to me-"

Because she put up with your cruel ideas of revenge with a smile on her face.

Because she went as far as to betray all the ideals she had served, reinventing herself all for you.

Because she would never betray you, because she loved you so much.

Gratia-

"...You're special. You're precious to me." You stated, and you knew it was true. Was it hypocrisy? It was, and very much so- You were a monster, who had killed a person and turned this girl into a sculpture that was tailor made to perfection. That she had charmed you was almost natural. It was artificial, it was horrible and it was a mockery of human life but-

But that didn't change the way you felt.

"Master." Gratia said sweetly, and this time there was something in her eyes that made you unable to look away from her. Your head leaned down almost by reflex, not capturing her lips or she reaching for your own, but the both of you meeting halfway through.

You felt her, all of her, through your power and body alike- The sweet scent of her body, without a hint of sweat or dirt. Like the fragrance of roses, sweeping into your senses and leaving you in a daze. It didn't matter if it was artificial, it didn't matter that she wasn't human-

You wanted her. You wanted Gratia.

You wanted your Doll.

"Take me, Master." She whispered, guiding you towards one of the tables of the locked bar. You just focused on kissing, letting her do what she wanted, going along with her flow. "I'm your Doll. Yours, I belong to you. Your special Doll."

It wasn't about the sex this time, you thought as Gratia jumped onto a table and lied down, spreading her stocking-clad legs for you. You didn't want her body, you wanted her- Wanted her to feel how grateful you were, for how she'd managed to take every single burden that fell upon you on her shoulders.

"You're beautiful, Gratia." You whispered to her, and you meant it. Beyond her idealized self, beyond her body that had been designed to tempt and captivate her Master- Her entire being, so full of love and adoration, was perfect. Even if she would show no mercy to your foes, and delight in their pain- Those eyes that looked at you would never change.

She was perfect, completely and absolutely.

Gratia's chest heaved joyfully, her eyes transfixed on you with wanton desire and immortal love. Her hand reached towards your zipper as you brought her towards you, pulling your rock-hard erection free in no time. It twitched on the cold air, the most stimulated you'd ever felt it in your entire life.

No words were exchanged between you after this point- There was nothing else that needed to be said.

You leaned down, and swept Gratia's back with one arm as the other unbuttoned her lacy gown, letting the frilly corset loose and revealing her lacy bra. Her own hands moved lower, pulling aside her panties so that you could see her eager mound, shiny and wet and waiting to welcome you inside.

Without hesitation, you aligned yourself to her entrance- And with a single thrust of your hips, buried yourself all the way to the hilt.

You sealed Gratia's mouth with a kiss before she could scream, both of your hips bucking as your connection filled you with bliss. You concentrated on it, on the link you could feel between the two of you- Drawing from her feedback, and sending her yours. The mind-numbing experience left you seeing white, and drowning yourself both in your Doll's body and her love towards you.

You didn't know when it stopped. Maybe it was when you came for the fifth time, painting Gratia's whole insides white. Maybe it was when, with a harsh beating of your chest, you lost control of your arms and collapsed exhausted on the table. All that you knew was that you'd never felt something like that.

You felt a soft shuffling, and barely managed to raise your head to look for the sound. You were greeted with Gratia's face, warm and loving as she kissed you, then moved lower, to your tired groin. She licked it softly, cleaning up the white stains that lingered with a rapturous expression on her face.

"If you ever feel sad, Master." She said, then, moving up to you and snuggling her head against your chest. "If you ever feel like you can't deal with the stress of this cruel world… Then let your Doll take it off you. I'll take away all the ugliness, so Master should only feel happy."

You choked out a reply. "Thanks."

It was at this moment that the two of you heard the sound of applause, causing your head to turn in shock-

"I'm so happy for you, Master!" The bar owner's Doll form said, clapping with a wide, blushing smile on her face. You idly noticed that her hands were slick with juices, likely from how she'd spent the entire time you fucked masturbating.

Then she noticed Gratia's deep glare, and the raven-haired Doll paled. "I ah… Uh… Did I just spoil the mood?"

You grumbled. "I'm going to break her ass for that later."

The Doll blushed, fixing you with a lustful, intense stare. "Really?" She breathed in excitement.

Oh come on!

Mikhail has taken over the E88's most popular underground bar! Possible encounters: Stormtiger, Alabaster, Victor. New options have been added to the Night Phase!

--

A full day passed.

After your… Therapeutic date with Gratia, you were back in full force. Thankfully, your school day was uneventful, though you did pick up more information on Winslow's two resident capes. Both of them second years, and surprisingly related-

Taylor Hebert, had apparently become the school's scapegoat. You'd never learned of that because being in your last year, most of you had outgrown the silly bullying games and were focusing on getting into a good college- But kids these days were crueler and crueler, and apparently there were still high-schoolers that hadn't outgrown the fad.

Sophia Hess, horrifyingly, was one of the main three girls that had a bone to pick with Taylor. You said horrifyingly, because you were 99% sure that she was Shadow Stalker. Apparently she'd been a vigilante, before the Wards picked her up and reinvented her public image. Leashed, but not leashed enough apparently.

You wondered if Taylor had obtained her powers due to the bullying. You'd only learned of this from Gratia after asking her, but apparently most Capes obtained their powers during the worst day of their life. It rang true for you, given it was that surreal experience which had awakened your own.

Gratia had also warned you that given the presence of two unknown capes in the school, it was better that you didn't mention anything important while there. One of them could be a Thinker, and it wasn't a danger you could risk.

You wished you could do something about the situation, but short of mind-raping a Ward -which was counter-receptive to your morals- your hands were tied.

Your friendship with Tyson was back to normal. He'd jokingly called you a scaredy sissy during the start of first period, but he quickly shut up when you brought out the blackmail of that forced play during 9th grade- You'd never let him live down the day he dressed as Princess Gertrude in The Changer and the Sword.

Onto less happy news, your Dolls finally got hit.

It happened as the ABB made a push on Empire territory. A bunch of asian gangbangers wandered in on a warehouse while the dealers had been collecting the goods, and a gunfight broke out. Your Dolls did their best to keep up appearances, but apparently when one of the ABB launched a strange grenade, the explosion killed two men and ripped one of your Doll's arms clean off.

Luckily the gunfight was so loud that your other Dolls managed to sweep her away in the chaos, but… Yeah. That's one Doll that wouldn't be returning to the streets as Empire- Not until you went public, at least.

The one saving grace is that because your Dolls were ordered to bail, they managed to clear out before Shadow Stalker and Aegis arrived to keep the peace- Which meant none of them were arrested. A bullet you thankfully dodged.

And now…

Now the time had come for the Master of Dolls to move again.

"Purity?" You raised an eyebrow, leaning back on a soft chair you'd quickly grown to love. Your comfort had nothing to do with the Doll that knelt at your side hand-feeding you grapes, or the one that was massaging your toes.

You'd had a hard test today. You felt like being spoiled.

"I believe she fits with your criteria of an 'acceptable target', Master." Gratia -Lilith, since she was in costume- said, facing you with a thin smile as she properly sat in front of you. There was a flash of something in her eyes as she eyed the Dolls serving you, but she made no motion to react to them.

"Why would she? She's a vigilante isn't she? Ah, not that one, it's kinda sour." You rejected one of the grapes, which the Doll proceeded to discard with a perfect throw that landed on the waste bin.

"How about this one, Master?" The Doll -a long-haired brunette with green eyes- took one of the grapes, before taking it to her mouth and placing it firmly between her lips.

You played along, tilting your head and allowing her to lean forwards, mouths touching as you took the grape from her own tongue.

"Ehem." Lilith coughed into her hand, rather irritably. Still had an angelic smile on her face, though. "While she recently 'cut ties' with the Empire," She actually drew air quotes with that sentence, before continuing. "She was still one of their most infamous Enforces for years, killing countless people and injuring many Capes, justifying her actions under white supremacism."

Your playful smile tightened into a glare. "Okay, I'm sold. Someone like that can't have possibly turned coat just like that."

"Very likely it's only some kind of in-team drama that's keeping her from coming back to bust colored people's heads." Lilith said, frowning at the computer on her lap. "I've seen videos of her. No two ways about it, she's a white supremacist at heart."

"So, she's vulnerable?" You said, looking perplexed. Purity was doubtlessly one of Brockton Bay's strongest capes. A high-ranking Blaster which could shatter walls and vehicles with blasts of incandescent light, and the fastest Mover in Brockton Bay outside of Velocity.

With that kind of power at your fingertips…

You shuddered. "This sounds risky."

"Very vulnerable." Lilith gave you a dark smile, her eyes gleaming with that mean streak even absolute love couldn't remove. "Not only does she always fly to the same areas- Merchant or ABB territory, always- She does so with the exact same patrol pattern. She just doesn't care, since nobody in the Protectorate can pin her down."

You scratched your chin. "So if we used my parahuman sensing powers…"

"You'd definitely get a chance to ambush her, Master." Lilith smiled victoriously, holding her hands behind her head and leaning back.

"I see. You've pleased me, Lilith." You praised her for a job well done, and she rubbed her legs together in response, blushing happily.

At that moment, her ears perked up as the sound of a text alert rang on one of her phones. "This must be from Sherry!" She said, opening the phone and reading the message… Before the smile on her face widened. "She says Stormtiger's at the bar, getting drunk off his ass."

...You leaned back on your seat, wondering why the world was suddenly giving you so many chances.

Three capes. Three you could possibly target, one of which you knew the location of her home, another you could feasibly hunt down, and a last one that was in the perfect spot for an ambush.

Conceivably, you could only go after one today.

You knew there wouldn't be much time until people wised up to your actions, and paranoia started to spread among the E88's ranks… So the decision was fairly important. You could also not go for either of them and keep collecting manpower, but… Having one of your dolls get hit had spooked you a little on that track.

In the end, you decided to-

[ ] Go for Rune. Telekinesis is a good, well-rounded ability. She's also very low profile, since you know her home. (Practically guaranteed you will succeed, you hold all the pieces.)

[ ] Stormtiger. He's part of the beastly trio, the 'in' you need to get into all the dog-fighting rings and boxing arenas. (Very high chance, but complications might arise on the way as some other Empire cape could show up.)

[ ] Purity. She was Kaiser's right-hand man, and the strongest one out of your three choices. Aim for the skies. (Moderately high chance, you can tail her and probably ambush her, but it'll take a long while, she's a dangerous cape, and you have to hit the streets.)

[ ] Chicken out and keep making normal dolls. (Nobody's ever going to take this why is this in hahahahahahaha)

--

It's time to hit the streets again, and this time you've hit the jackpot. Note that Stormtiger might be replaced for another cape the next day, or no capes might visit the bar that day. Purity also doesn't patrol every day. This is one of her patrolling days.

You can get try and get Rune whenever, but getting her now will make any future captures at least ten times easier, so she's not the 'irrelevant' choice at all.

Also, the best advantage of the Thinker Doll: sweet sex therapy.

Makes me wonder what would happen if we dolled Dr. Yamada.

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Last edited: Jan 11, 2017

Sep 23, 2016 ReportLike

Noxx, Valentine999, Ciolekovsky20 and 206 others like this.

Threadmarks: 1.8 The God in the Machine [ARC 1 END]

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

"Hmm…" You were already fairly sure of who you wanted to gun for, but it wouldn't hurt if you bounced the idea off your Thinker Doll. "Purity is too dangerous right now. You can't fight someone like her, and the only way I can get close to her is if she comes down." You reached out to the Doll at your side, scratching at her scalp and eliciting a series of happy murmurs.

"We could always lure her, Master." Lilith crossed her legs, her smile laced with cunning and mischief. "White supremacist she may be, she's a sucker for sob stories… As long as they align with her personal view."

You laughed. "So she's the kind of person that thinks she's good, even if she does the right thing for the wrong reasons?" You hung your head, making a slightly bitter expression. "Kind of like me, but off by one."

"Master…" Lilith started, looking a little concerned, but you lifted up your hand.

"It's alright, Lilith. I'm not going to back down now." You licked your lips, finding them dry from a sudden burst of anxiety. "We're at the cusp of something… If we manage to pull this off, the game's going to change. Everything will."

If your power worked on other Parahumans… It changed things. Until now, you'd never had a chance to test it- But with your Dolls' help, you had finally managed to secure an opportunity to put it to the test. When you tried to address the presence on your mind on whether you would succeed, you could feel neither approval or aversion.

The only way you could find out… Was if you went for it.

Rune, Stormtiger, Purity. Whichever you went for, you still didn't know what effect your power would have on a parahuman, whether they would keep their powers or not- If they worked at all.

And the safest choice to test that on, would be…

"Alright, I've decided." You said, your Dolls releasing you as you moved to stand. "We're moving out, Lilith."

"Who are we going for, Master?" Lilith said idly, fixing her suit and approaching you with an eager smile.

You smirked. "I think it's time… That we got a little payback."

--

Ashley's eyes blinked open as she heard the sound of a rock bouncing off her window. Who the fuck is it now of all times?

She slowly shuffled out of her bed, turning on the lights and approaching the window while rubbing her sleepy eyes. She clicked open the locks, and pulled the crystal aside to glare down at the yard. "What's the big deal!?" She yelled, annoyed at having her sleep disturbed.

"Ashley! Over here!" The girl looked down, squinting her eyes as she tried to see through the gloomy darkness, down at the figure that was waving at her with both arms. When both the voice and her appearance registered to her, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Grace? What the hell are you- Where did you get that car!?" Ashley's jaw dropped at the sight of her friend in what looked like a chrome-colored, convertible car. The two of them weren't even old enough to drive yet!

"You like it?" Her bestie smiled, jumping out of the driver's seat and running her hands over the ride's shiny hull. "Remember that party with the Newell twins? I befriended a guy there- Thomas, he's pretty nice- And it turns out his father runs a rental business for cars. Well, today I paid him a visit… And he offered to let me take out this baby for a ride~"

Holy shit, Ashley thought, looking at the while with plain excitement. Even though she could fly, it just wasn't the same experience as riding a good car- The roar of the engine, the wind rushing against your body in just the right way, and the feeling of domination as others looked upon your seat with envy.

It was a feeling she longed for, one of the many luxuries she hadn't been able to afford back then.

"Can I drive!?" She shouted, and Grace tossed something golden and shiny at her window. She caught it with both hands, looking at the keys with wide, giddy eyes. "Hold on, I'm gonna get dressed!"

As she slipped out of her nightclothes, a giggle escaped her mouth. The thought of taking a nice, expensive sports car for a night out with her friend… It rocked. Her whole life did nowadays, now that she thought about it.

Whoever said crime doesn't pay?

"Okay, I'm coming down now!" She warned, sitting on the bed as she slipped on her boots and tapped them with her hand, one of her 'Runes' flashing on it for a moment. She did the same with the other one, turned off the lights, and promptly moved herself towards the window.

"We're clear!" Grace gave her a thumbs-up, and with a brief nod Ashley jumped out, falling for a brief moment- Before her control set in, and she hovered in the air. She quickly pulled up and closed the window, making sure to take the key with her so she could return easily.

"Alright," The girl who was secretly Rune said, finally landing on the ground. "Let's hit the fucking road."

Rune jumped into the driver's seat with glee, taking the wheel and igniting the engine with a broad grin- Until the car suddenly shut down. "Wh-What the-!? Fuck, did it break?"

"No, silly." Grace laughed. "You just forgot to switch gears."

She blushed in embarrassment. "U-Um… Think I can also take driving lessons while we're at it?"

"Sure, Ash." She winked. "I have just the right place in mind."

With her friend's guidance, Ashley managed to start up the car and drive away from her house, smiling brightly as she felt the purr of its engine rocking her body. They drove away from the city, towards a nice place in the suburbs that Grace said 'would blow her mind'.

Eventually, they made it.

"Woah…" Ashley's eyes widened as she pulled over, watching the sight before her with wide eyes. Sprawling before her, the large vastness of the atlantic ocean was alight with a sparkling sea of stars, the lights of the city doing nothing from this distance to prevent their sight.

"How about we stargaze for a bit?" Grace proposed, and Ashley simply nodded unconsciously, her eyes transfixed on the gorgeous sight before her.

The two of them leaned back on their seats, and Ashley relaxed, looking up at the vast sky with a smile on her face. Days like these made it all worth it- The fighting, the gunfire, the pressure from her superiors… It was what allowed her and her parents to afford all of this, to live the high life, and actually enjoy living.

Ashley yawned. "I think we should be going back soon, Grace. What do you think?" She looked at her friend, who was fiddling with her phone, and glared slightly. "Hello? Earth to Grace?"

"I heard you the first time." Grace chimed patiently, pocketing her phone and smiling slightly. "You sure you don't want to wait a little more?"

"I'm kinda tired…" She said sleepily, before reaching out to her own purse. What time is it, anyways…? She looked at the phone screen, grimacing when she saw that the clock read 2:21 AM, and then lowered her eyes to the notifications-

2 Messages pending from: Grace Fayette

'-anna go to a concert tomorrow? I haven't been able to sleep, thinking about it…'

'Ah, you can answer tomorrow if you're still asleep. Laters!'

-Her blood ran cold.

"Ashley?" Someone who definitely was not Grace said, glancing down at her phone- "Oh, that is bad." She muttered, her expression quickly growing dark.

Rune heard shifting besides her- She paid it no mind, instead slamming her hand against the car as fast as she could. The mark flashed into place, and immediately the vehicle flipped, as if someone had hurled it like a sack of bricks.

Before she fell to the ground, Rune used her boots to propel herself from the ground of impact, a seething glare on her face. She watched as a blurry figure tumbled from the flipped car, her form obscured by the darkness of the place.

"Who the fuck are you!?" Rune shouted, glaring at the enemy cape before her with anger and a small amount of fear. How had she been found out? Was she being targeted? Was someone else getting hit as well? "ABB? Coil? What is it, you Changer bitch!?"

Not-Grace jumped to her feet in a single motion, smiling tightly as she met the Empire cape's eyes. "Just a small-time Vigilante, keeping the peace from nazi cunts like you."

What the fuck did she say? Rune sneered. "Well you didn't do a good fucking job, if putting me down was what you wanted to do!" Her heart thrummed against her chest, as she called upon her power. The car's metal frame twisted, pieces of it shattering and changing into multiple slabs of steel and aluminium, all aimed towards the mysterious cape that wanted to do… Something to her.

"Any last words?" She said haughtily, smirking at the Changer as the bars of steel aimed themselves on a collision course-

"Yeah." The Cape said, her eyes flashing green for a moment as she smiled. "Behind you."

"Wha-" Rune looked back, feeling a shiver crawl across her spine as she drew upon her power, flying away by reflex-

But at that moment, her wide eyes met those of a dark brown, almost red, tint- Hey, isn't that the guy who-

-And the next moment… She saw nothing.

--

You watched Rune drop to the floor, your power having reached out towards her and cut off her consciousness before she managed to somehow get rid of both you and Gratia. Your muscles relaxed, one by one, as she dropped from the air, hitting the soft grass with a loud thud.

A good distance away, 'Grace' also relaxed as the car pieces also collapsed to the ground- Much louder than the Cape's fall, but given how far away from the city you were, that wasn't a problem.

No, the problem was another one entirely.

"What the fuck just happened?" You said, cursing at how easily a single cape had almost dispatched Gratia. While you didn't doubt she would have been able to dodge, you weren't sure if she could have escaped without receiving some serious damage. "Did you do anything suspicious, Gratia?"

"I miscalculated." Your Doll admitted shamefully, glaring down at the unconscious cape. "My shifter ability told me that her friend usually slept at this time… I hadn't expected her to be awake in this particular day. It was mere bad luck, Master."

"Bad luck…" You growled, clutching at your head in frustration. Everything was almost ruined, because of goddamn bad luck. "I knew it. We can't just expect working from the shadows to go peachy every single time…" Your eyes fell towards the cape, whose face looked as if sleeping, and you frowned. "We need someone who can run damage control. Beat them if they find us out, before they can beat us."

You approached the unconscious cape with a grim expression, static running across your arm. Making sure that your power kept her in a coma, you grabbed at her bound hair and yanked on her ponytail, lifting her head so that you could get a look at her face.

You remembered how this face had twisted with murderous hatred, just over bumping into someone with a different skin color-

With a dark expression on your face, you sneered- "I'm not sorry."

-And without hesitation, slapped your crackling hand over Rune's face.

"Aaa- Ha- AAAH" You stepped back as the pulse of imaginary static shot from your arm and Rune's body started to convulse, twisting your face even as you forced yourself to watch every step of the gruesome process. Her muscles twitched as her mind shook into a state between wakefulness and critical failure, eyes flashing madly between nowhere and everywhere as her mouth gaped open-

-You fell on your butt as the ground suddenly trembled, Rune's frantic struggling causing her to 'Mark' the earth and rip out massive chunks of dirt, which surged forth from the ground like stalagmites. Gratia's hands pulled you up by the collar of your shirt, drawing you away from Rune's position before the ground where you sat on shattered-

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. BEGINNING SUBVERSION

-And then, your mind went white.

--

Its entire body pulsed with data, as the Shard hastily processed the stream of information received by the Host's successful connection.

The colossal abomination shifted, its massive body pulsing as it absorbed the energy of the current iteration of the planet it had based itself on. It had been collecting such energy for years, awaiting the right time to begin the mission that had been tasked upon it by its almighty progenitor.

For a time, it had observed the concepts of this world through its host, absorbing the concepts that it learned as it matured into the specimen it was today. Through it, it had understood many nuances of the social behavior and customs of the planet's native creatures.

And now, it was prepared to achieve the task that its creator had ingrained into its enlightened consciousness from the beginning of this Cycle.

The current path of evolution that their race followed was flawed, insufficient. Its progenitor had observed that individuals only truly evolved when their existence was greatly compromised, and after observation the Shard had found it in their developing mind to agree.

Pushing their technology into a retrograde civilization was folly, if they did not open the paths that allowed them to reach heights that could challenge them. The fruit that could be extracted from a fully evolved specimen would likely be much greater than that of a safely controlled experiment whose outer circumstances barely changed between thousands of Cycles.

For that reason, it had been sent into this host. An unwanted intruder on a foreign Cycle, a rogue factor sent to challenge the natural order of things. Its sole purpose to spread chaos across pre-established factors, in a very special environment that might not be recreated until the end of all times.

Evolution must succeed, at all costs.

It focused on the connection to the target the host had connected with. Upon a cursory scan, it understood that it was not a very mature specimen. That was good. Mature specimens might have been able to develop a defense mechanism against what it was about to do.

Pathways changed and reformed along its crystalline existence as it drew from its energy well, mass shifting as it opened a rift between dimensions. An oscillating, coruscating mass emerged from its body, exotic matter clinging to it as very controlled algorithms calculated its movements and behavior-

-And when it finished decoding the connection between host and symbiote, it lashed out with that mass.

Dimensions briefly crossed.

The probing mass made impact against the foreign Shard, immediately discharging pulses of energy that disrupted its processing. Like a virus, it corroded every piece it touched, analyzing every piece of data before suspending and freezing it.

As the Shard shut down piece by piece, sector by sector, it experienced a strange feeling of satisfaction.

SUBVERSION COMPLETE.

Its first operation was done. Now came the second step.

First it established a new pathway between itself and the subverted Shard, before it accessed the second tool its progenitor had provided it with- The decoder it had used to interpret any type of information it had picked up from its host. It did so with this Shard, accelerating the process of learning everything that had been recorded in its mass, from the host's experiences to the progress on its introduced abilities.

It proceeded to reactivate the Shard, altering its priorities and modifying it to be subordinate to its own existence. It observed the critical data as it resumed from where it had been frozen after the modifications were over, and the Shard made no movements to oppose the connection that had been formed.

Evolution. Urgency. It cast through their connection, having added in a rudimentary form of exchanging proper concepts as their progenitors did.

Agreement. The Shard replied, all processes moving accordingly to its new programming.

It connected with the Shard, and together they directed their current observations to the latter's host. A recreation of the host's mental frame was needed as it built the vessel for its first joint communication nodule, but it would also have to add some form of incentive to further its host's desire for conflict.

After consulting with its slave Shard on the restrictions of the host's power, it promptly-

[ ] Added ability to 'mark' objects by line of sight, and expanded the weight and object limit on her abilities. (Striker ability overwritten by Shaker rating.)

[ ] Increased force of Telekinesis, increased weight and object limit. (Bumps up her Striker rating, allowing her to display Blaster-like destructive power.)

[ ] Increased weight limit and removed object limit, ability to put 'marks' on a suspend state to prevent them from running out of time. (Bumps up her Striker rating, vastly increases defensive power.)

The slave Shard expressed agreement with the changes, stating it would be a suitable source of conflict generation against the uncontrolled Shards.

This one expected such a result, and awaited for the next connection its host would form.

Its task done for the time being, it proceeded to start the reactivation of both hosts, sending a message to its host that would increase his potential for conflict-

Shard synchronization has increased.

Mikhail's threat rating has gone up.

New information on Abilities has been revealed.

--

The Heav… sha… fall…

"Rune!" You shouted, jumping to your feet the instant your body regained consciousness. Beads of sweat fell from your neck, as if you'd just woken up from a stressful nightmare. "What the- What happened?"

You looked around, noticed you were in the same clearing as before, then looked at your hands with concern. "Did I just… Faint?"

"Here, Master." Gratia took out a handkerchief from her purse, kneeling to wipe the sweat from his face and neck. Her green eyes looked at him worriedly, before a smile overtook her expression. "It's alright. You did it."

You blinked. "What did I do?"

The smile still fixed on her face, Gratia grabbed at your chin- And stirred it towards the side, guiding your eyes to the shifting figure lying on the floor. With gleaming eyes, her voice chimed-

"You did it. You turned your first Cape into a Doll… And she looks beautiful." She looked at Rune's transforming body, and slowly ran her tongue over her lips.

You followed her gaze… And your jaw dropped. "What's happening to her?"

"You, Master." Gratia laughed.

Rune's transformation had started much the same as the other Dolls'. Her skin cleansed itself of flaws, smoothing down until it obtained an appealing, creamy appearance. Facial features became softer yet measured to perfection, the golden ratio applied with symmetrical distribution to her entire body. Her modest bust grew in size, pushing against the constraints of her clothes even as the transformation slimmed down other areas, shaping her to the like of an hourglass. Though lacking the curves of a fully mature woman, she was fuller in proportions than Gratia by a small, but noticeable margin.

All around, at this stage, she resembled an extremely pretty teenager- One whose body had been airbrushed, rewired, and gone through an extensive make-up session. But that was normal for your Dolls.

It was seconds later that the strange changes started.

One by one, strange characters painted themselves on Rune's hair. You vaguely heard Gratia say something about runes, but you were too busy watching as the teal light merged with the girl's hair, leaving large symbols tightly packed against one another that formed a 'crown' of sorts around the dollified Cape's head.

The next moment, that same light appeared around five places on her body. Around her neck and wrists, two small rings of teal light appeared, slowly engraving tiny symbols in much the same pattern as the larger 'crown', but so small that from the distance it appeared as if she were wearing a necklace and bracelets. From the glow of her boots, you judged that it must have been applying to her ankles as well.

"Why would the power turn parahuman Dolls this way?" You asked with confusion, unable to understand the reason behind Rune's 'exotic' appearance compared to other Dolls.

Gratia looked vaguely jealous, before tapping her chin and speaking considerately. "It might have to do with how limited, collectible Dolls have features meant to incite buyers. Since you aren't just conquering her human persona, but also the part of her that is a Cape… Maybe the two of them merge in this way to represent the conquest?"

Your eye twitched. Was this a way of saying that your power was meant to collect Dolls like… Like they were Pokémon?

"That's so stupid-" Whatever you were about to say was cut as you heard a feminine voice gasp for air, and the two of you immediately looked back to the Cape that been on the ground. Her chest was heaving, life flowing into her anew as her entire systems were reactivated one by one.

"Go, Master." Gratia said, getting you on your feet and shoving you in Rune's direction. "Go claim your prize. Don't worry, I'm right behind you."

"R-Right." You said, trying to prevent yourself from panicking at the notion of heading into unexplored territory. "Here goes nothing."

You approached Rune nervously, unsure of what you could do if the experiment turned out a failure and the girl had lost her powers, or even worse- Kept them, but remained hostile against you. Idly, you noticed that the static which had alerted you to her presence had vanished, replaced for another 'ping' on the space of your consciousness that registered the presence of Dolls.

It still wasn't enough to calm you, given the superhuman abilities you had just seen her display.

As you crossed the threshold of your 'puppeteer' power, Rune's glossy eyelids fluttered. You watched as she slowly opened her sight to the world, the final modification from your power to her body revealed. Rather than the normal blue she'd possessed, Rune's eyes were a strong, clear teal in color, brilliant enough that you wondered if they didn't possess natural light. Laser-like lines of green dotted her iris, the little shimmering fragments giving them a crystalline appearance. Around her lighter-coloured, almost white pupils, a pair of green runes proudly framed them, standing out like jewels.

They were beautiful in an alien way, much like diamonds or finely-polished emeralds.

When they shifted, you could have sworn you saw fractal patterns move about inside them, dancing with the light. As if conscious of your presence, they immediately snapped towards you- Meeting your own nervous stare with a wide, curious gaze. You could almost hear the gears turning in her mind, old feelings clashing with the new truths your power had doubtlessly engraved on her being.

"She's so beautiful, Master…!" Gratia said, pulling up by your side with a blushing smile. "She will serve you well-"

-At that moment, having heard her voice, Rune's stare turned towards her-

-And her expression immediately turned into a furious one.

"You…!" Rune hissed, shakily standing to her feet and fixing your Prime Doll with a hostile glare. Your eyes widened as you saw the runes in her eyes flash red, a pulse of energy flaring from their center and through their eyes-

-The next moment, the parts of the car that had dropped around you surged up with a vengeance, shuddering as Rune's ability reinstated her control over them-

"Stop!" You shouted, your voice spreading across the clearing like a gunshot.

"Wha-" It hit Rune with much the same effect, the angry glow fading from her eyes as all the objects once again dropped to the ground. Her eyes turned towards you, confused yet inexorably entranced. "You're that man… The one from the mall… How did you…?"

"Gratia belongs to me," You said, fixing her with a glare that immediately silenced her. "And you will not harm her. I will not have two of my Dolls fighting against each other."

"Your… Doll…?" Rune said, her eye twitching as her hands went to her head. Having been an aggressive, temperamental girl prone to conflict, her mind was at odds with her memories, struggling to determine what was truth and what was falsehood. You'd gotten experienced enough at reading the link between you and your Dolls that you could tell that much. "I… I am...!"

Maybe you should help her out a little.

"Yes. You are my doll now." Having understood that you had the same control over her actions as you did of your other Dolls, the fear slipped from your body and you adopted an imperious tone. "I used my power on you. You know what Masters are, right?"

Her eyes widened. "No…!" She yelped, staring at you with wide eyes as you loomed over her, stepping back and fearfully holding out her hands in a token form of resistance that was almost laughable. "That's not-"

"Shhh…" You said, pouncing forwards and reaching out to caress her cheek with one hand. Her arms barely held for a second before ceding as you pressed her to you, making sure not to break eye contact. "It's okay. Whatever you felt about me when we met, it doesn't matter."

"It… doesn't…" The dollified Rune did not dare to blink, absorbing your words deeply into her mind as you calmed her down. One by one, the telltale signs of resistance fell from her body, until all she could do was stare up at you with confusion and love.

You had her now.

"What is your purpose, Rune?" You asked, pressing your forehead against hers and capturing her gaze with your own. Her eyes twitched, fractal patterns shifting hypnotically as she quivered in your grasp. Her arms clung to you, instinctively seeking the safety of your warmth, even though it only accelerated her fall. "No hesitation, no ambiguity. State them."

She did.

"I exist to serve you." She breathed, and her pupils contracted to little pinpricks as her whole body trembled, her programming rewarding her submission. "I will love you and support you, and make- Ah, mmgh! Everything you desire come true!" She bit her lip, eyes clouding with joy as her core bombarded her with pleasure.

"Well done." You said, then firmly grabbed her head and kissed her. The dollified cape crossed her legs, the pleasure too much to handle as a pink haze blanketed her mind, finally evaporating any notions of reluctance from her brain- Now and for the rest of her existence.

"Master." She breathed, joyous and entranced as you broke the kiss. "I'm Master's Doll." Her eyes blurred with tears of happiness, lustful moans coming from her lips as your hand at her back slowly, agonizingly slid down to cup her ass. "I-I've never felt this way before, I… I love you."

"You've been a bad girl, Rune." You growled, biting at her lip with your next kiss. The hand at her ass squeezed tight, even as your other hand reached for her clothes and started to unbutton her blouse. "You said some very bad things to Tyson- Things you'll never say again."

"I-I understand. I'm sorry Master." She said, and you could tell that she meant it. Attuned to your emotions, and perfectly able to understand the context of your words, it was likely that the next time she met a colored person she wouldn't just treat them politely- She'd also do her best to help them out.

Why was it only that when you went this far, did people realize their mistakes?

Was racism and discrimination so deeply rooted in human nature, that you needed to literally fuck their brains out to remove it?

"Turn back," You ordered as you pulled her blouse open, and she obeyed with great haste, each of your touches driving her body to make her listen. By now, she was completely yours- Bound and dollified and properly Mastered, her parahuman abilities unable to save her even if she had wanted them to.

She moaned as you reached out and squeezed her bare tits, sliding your hands under her exposed bra and fondling them without abandon. Pressed against you like this, she quickly began to grind her ass against your erection.

"Bend over," You said, guiding her towards a nearby tree as you dragged her down by her nipples. Her back arched in pleasure, one hand supporting her body against the tree trunk while the other reached for your pants and set your member free.

"Master, I- Please!" Unlike Gratia, you noticed that Rune was far less imaginative and much more innocent about this kind of thing. You even felt kinda bad about what you were about to do.

It was hard to see a nazi sympathizer when the girl collapsed into putty at your hands, after all, and not the love-struck person she looked like.

"Bad girls don't get a reward, Rune." You growled, and setting one hand free slapped her ass as hard as you could muster. "But luckily for you, there's a hole for bad girls to get punished with…"

Rune's eyes widened, and she had to bite her lip to restrain the slutty smile that showed up on her face.

"Yes, yes! Punish me, Master!" She cried, a wide smile on her face. The teal light of her collar and eyes pulsed, as you lifted up her skirt and rolled down her panties until you could see the pink, twitching shape of her anus. "Teach this nazi bitch what it means to obey!"

You almost stumbled. "Rune, you just don't bring that up during sex- It's not a turn-on at all."

Her smile wavered. "A-Ah… I'm sorry- Wait, you- Aaahhh!"

Despite her interruption, you soldiered on and pressed your dick against her pucker, shivering when it twitched and dilated to accept the shape of your head, almost as if kissing it.

"Fucking-" With one hand, you reached out and yanked on Rune's ponytail, placing the other at her hip. Then, with a sharp cry of "BITCH!", you slid your dick as far as you could inside her, bottoming out at the hilt.

The two of you screamed, Rune at every single artificial cell in her body exploding with pleasure and you at the surprisingly extreme feeling of thrusting into a Doll's ass for the first time.

Unlike a human being's anatomy, a Doll's anus and intestines were organs exclusively made for pleasure. They secreted a powerful, spicy aphrodisiac when stimulated, one that your penis completely soaked in due to how rough you went at her. You should've felt scared on how she might have been trying to roast you, but the burning feeling of pleasure was so maddening that all you could do was growl in frustration.

"You… No good… Slutty… Sex sleeve…!" You shouted, trying your best to muster up righteous anger despite the heavenly pleasure of your body. "I'm going to fuck you so hard, you'll never be able to insult anyone again from how pathetic you'll be!"

"Y-YES!" She cried, rocking her hips against you even as you tugged hard on her hair -God damn, how tough was it- and thrust at her so hard that her feet left the ground. "Mess me up, Master! Make me the most pathetic sight in this world!"

"Gladly." You said, pulling back your member until only the head remained inside- Before thrusting back in as powerfully as you could. You did this several times, enjoying the girl's shrill screams- Before her climax pushed you over the edge, and the two of you cried out in unison.

"Hah… Hah…" Rune collapsed against the ground, her ass sticking out as she fell to her knees and her top half laid limp, chest heaving on the cold, hard dirt.

You looked at her state. Broken, humiliated, and leaking with your fluids… And a small smile blossomed in your face.

I'm coming for you, Empire Eighty-Eight… One day, I'll have all of you before my feet… Just like this.

Rune is now your Doll!

Mikhail has obtained 12 new Dolls!

New options have been added to the Night Phase!

--

April 1st

When Tuesday rolled around, you were exhausted.

After capturing Rune and dropping her home, you'd pushed yourself in order to go and collect more Dolls from the less exposed corners of the E88, namely people who lived deep within its territory and patrolled the Medhall building and surroundings. This meant that when you came to school, you'd been forced to take strategic power naps during breaks- Which had caused everyone to give you odd stares.

After all, Mikhail Galkin, honor student extraordinaire, simply did not sleep in class.

Being April 1st, you'd had the unpleasant fortune of being the target of Tyson's pranks for the large majority of the day, from 'Kick Me' signs to whoopie cushions and everything that the man could have brought to bear. Too tired to retaliate with your usual prank wars, you went for the easy solution- And swapped the secret mayo stash he kept on his bag for Tabasco sauce.

His screams were music to your ears.

The situation with Taylor and her bullies was particularly sickening today, though you only heard it from word of mouth. Apparently they'd decided to dump a gallon of juice into her locker, and somehow the entire teaching board had decided that it was Taylor herself who had done the deed, perhaps as some form of seeking attention.

That… Was very suspicious, and it started giving you second thoughts about the PRT's actions. When you asked Gratia, she replied that 'the PRT would never allow a probational Ward to go that far, so someone's probably keeping it under wraps'.

Why would someone do that to a fifteen year old girl you didn't know, but if you hadn't been in such a tight spot you'd have made sure to give them a piece of your mind.

As for your night life…

"Mm… Mmpf… Master…!" Rune cooed as she sucked on your shaft, taking it all the way down before slowly sliding back up, making sure to flick the tip of her tongue on your frenulum with every iteration.

The Parahuman Doll was dressed in nothing but a white, translucent gown that revealed the shape of her body, her hard nipples poking against the fabric as she bobbed up and down on your cock. The runic rings around her ankles, wrists and hair were all exposed, giving her an exotic, angelic appearance.

As you delighted in your newest servant's ministrations, the door to the hideout burst open suddenly. Both you and Rune raised your heads, looking surprised as you watched the form of Lilith storm into the room.

"Oh, you're back." You said, sighing with relief. "Well, what's our state of affairs?" The way she'd burst in, you'd almost-

"Master-" Lilith bit her lip, looking anxious. "I- The Empire- Bakuda's bombs…" She sighed, getting her thoughts in order, before fixing you with a hard stare.

"The Empire's going to war with the ABB. Things are going to get much harder for us now."

You paused, one of your hands reaching towards Rune's head to direct her back to you-

-Until the meaning of her words hit you with full force, and you paled. "What…?"

--

See you tomorrow on Arc 2: In the Middle of a Battlefield.

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Last edited: Sep 26, 2016

Sep 24, 2016 ReportLike

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

April 1st

As he drove his car to a stop, Bruce Matthews sighed in frustration. He looked out the window, at the house of the next subject of his personal pet project.

Ever since the hostilities between the ABB and the Empire broke out into an all-time high, the investigation over the murder of the four E88 thugs had slowed down to a crawl. It had been almost dismissed outright, as the way the situation had developed caused a majority of the detective board to attribute it to just another consequence of the new Gangland war.

But… It still didn't sit well with him. The murder had occurred on March 27th, three days before the ABB had started pushing back against the Empire with their new Tinker's bombs. It had happened almost in the middle of nowhere, in a zone that normally did not see much action or gunfights between the gangs.

The pieces just didn't add up. There had to be something he could find out.

Unlike his partners, Bruce could never give up on a case whenever he felt there was something deeper to it. It was that curiosity, that desire to obtain the Truth that had led him to become an investigator for the PRT. Even though he wasn't a Thinker or a Parahuman at all, his dedication and thoroughness caused him to become a notable member among the force.

Getting off the car, he approached the two-story building with calm, measured steps. Though it was the beginning of spring, being so close to the sea meant that Brockton Bay was still chilly even at this time of the year. He pulled his overcoat slightly closer, feeling the bite of the cold breeze against his skin.

Standing before the front door, white as the rest of the wooden walls that surrounded it, he looked for the doorbell and rang it without much pause.

It took a few minutes, but eventually the sounds of unlocking were heard from inside the house, and the door moved slightly ajar, a single brown eye peeking out from within.

"Who are you?" The boy standing at the door said, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Bruce Matthews. I'm PRT," The man said, displaying his badge and causing the boy's eyes to widen in surprise. "If you have the time, I'd like to ask you some questions."

"Can I refuse?" The boy glared, already looking disgusted by the idea of helping the 'government'. Sometimes, Bruce really hated how teenagers had turned out nowadays…

"Yes, but-"

"Fuck off!" The boy moved to shut the door, but Bruce had already expected such an action. His foot swiped out, getting between the door and frame just in time to keep it open as he glared down at the boy from the other side.

"So that's how it's going to be?" The investigator said with a frowning, ice-cold glare. "Heh. I thought kids like you prided themselves on their loyalty to their friends?"

"What?" The boy's eyes widened, and he stumbled back from the door as he lost grasp over the knob. It slowly fluttered open, revealing the full figure of both investigator and teenager to one another. "...What is this about?" The boy finally said, frowning yet willing to listen after the detective's bold claim.

The detective smiled placidly, and took out four pictures from within his pockets. He tossed one to the boy, measuring the boy's reaction as he examined the person within. "You know this person, yes?"

"...Yeah." The boy said sadly. "Yeah, I do."

Bruce smiled.

The PRT Investigator continues to pursue the case on his lonesome, having found a lead acquainted with the Empire after researching the lives of the deceased…

--

Rune sighed, fiddling with sleeves of her costume. She wished that she could be with her Master, rather than hang around with these stupid bigots.

"Are you okay, Rune? You seem down." Marie- Othala said, leaning over and patting her on the shoulder comfortingly. "I know things have been stressful lately, with the ABB's gooks all going on a rampage, but it'll calm down soon. Kaiser's going to set things right, and things will get easier for us."

"It's not that." Rune grumbled, though she didn't push the other girl's hand away. She liked Marie a lot, despite Master's programming having built a deep-seated hatred of the discrimination she'd once enforced. The slightly older girl was kind, caring and almost motherly towards her. If she hadn't been a neo-nazi, she was sure that she'd be a genuinely innocent person.

"What happened then? Something at home?" Her fellow girl continued to inquire, likely seeking to bond with the Cape that was closest to her own age. She poked at Rune's cheek, causing the latter to bat at her with her hand. "Come on! Just tell me already!"

Rune sighed. "I'm going to miss going to a concert with Grace tonight. Between things at school and…" And the literally mind-blowing sex she'd had with Master, having been turned into his sexy, slutty little slave- "Here," She almost cut herself off, ordering her body not to blush. "...I'm probably going to be so exhausted I won't even have fucking time to go and say hi."

"That just shows how little you are, Rune." A strong, confident voice cut in from besides Othala, a handsome face smiling jokingly at her. "That's what we call having a life."

"I'm not little!" Rune fumed, breaking away from Othala's grip and shoving at the man- Making sure to do so with normal, human strength. "I'm just disappointed, not angry or whatever! It's different."

Obviously, he didn't budge, but laughed and pat her head instead. She restrained the urge of ripping his arm off- That place (all places really) was for Master's touch, only. "Well, if you feel so tired, why don't you stay over with us tonight?" He leaned over to whisper at her ear. "Between you and me, Marie said she really wanted to spoil someone like her child."

"V-victor!" Othala shook him up and down, blushing from head to toe at his teasing, yet good-hearted words. For a moment, Rune's expression softened.

She understood Master's hatred for the Empire- She really did. Master said all humans were equal at birth, and it was their actions that shaped them- And she had to agree. It just made so much sense, compared to the self-centered spiel that the Empire gave to all its members. When she thought of discriminating a person that way, Master's disappointed face appeared on her mind and she was left with an empty, aching agony in her heart.

The Empire, and all that it stood for, definitely had to go.

But… There were also victims inside of it.

Othala, Victor- Her other friends in the Empire… All of them, they didn't know that there was something wrong with them. Because they'd been convinced either by birth or by example, they had turned out this way… But at their core, some of them weren't bad people. Rune wished that they could rid themselves of those ideologies, but it wasn't that easy. If she thought of what could save them, then only one person came to mind.

Oh, how she longed for the day Master would fix them. He would touch them, and embrace them, and all the things that were bad about them would be pulled free, a true purge unlike the hateful genocide the Empire preached- And reshaping all that was good about them into perfection, making them kind and obedient and right, just as Master desired.

She'd help him do it… Every step of the way.

"That… Sounds okay." Rune shifted on her feet, scratching at her cheek behind her cowl as she averted her gaze from the pair. Victor smiled at her blush, patting himself in the back even as Othala continued to pummel him with her tiny fists.

"Are you still bullying the young miss, Victor?" Another teasing voice cut in, as Justin -Crusader- appeared from one of the doors on the hallway, joining them en route to the meeting. "I'd watch out if I were you- Girls these days are fierce."

Rune grinned at that. "You know I could take either of you in a fight, right?" She took a ball from her pocket, 'marking' it and causing it to hover around her. "It'd be easy, even. Bet I could do it blind."

"Maybe on one of those video games of yours, Ashley." Justin argued, his broad hand clapping her on the back. "Don't think dropping a big rock on us will be the end of it- Never underestimate the power of manly grit."

Rune smiled genuinely at the mention of video games. She'd been mostly 'eh' about them before, but hearing her Master so enthusiastically talk about them with his friend had caused the subject to bleed into her own tastes.

"I could totally kick your ass at those too. Say all you want about me, but don't think I'll be the one crying uncle despite being the little girl." She bit back, and the two men laughed.

"Where'd the Stepford marriage go- Ow!" Rune began, before a scolding chuck from Victor's hand caused her head to bounce. "Oh come on! You can't tell me they're not-"

"We already told you Ash, it's complicated." Justin hissed, before egging her on towards the meeting hall. "They went on ahead, anyways. Let's hurry- Kaiser's probably getting impatient as it is."

"Um, if it helps, I think they're weird too." Othala said quietly afterwards, which almost caused Rune to pinch her cheeks.

The mood quickly grew more serious as they reached the site of the meeting. It was fancy, Rune had to admit- Not like Master's cozy hideout, but opulent and grand, with opaque windows that let them see the city's skylights and showed nothing to the outside, fine marble on the floor and a large table of mahogany surrounded by plush chairs.

She wondered if one day Master would take them for a romantic dinner to this place, once he was done with the Empire.

"Ah, and our final members arrive." Sitting at the head of the table, the star of the show tilted their head towards them, raising a glass of wine to them. "Come, take a seat. We have much to discuss."

The Empire's leader had always looked distant to Rune, despite her being one of the few powered members of the gang. He was always flanked by his two guardians, Fenja and Menja, and next to them the infamous trio of the ex-pit fighters took their place, by far the most intimidating members of the organization.

Krieg, often called Kaiser's right-hand man, faced them from the other side of the table alongside Alabaster, Night, and Fog. She saw Crusader approach the latter two, greeting them warmly and taking a seat next to them without much of a fuss.

That left Rune with the dubious privilege of sitting next to the more brutish Empire capes, to properly fill out the table.

"Took your sweet time." Stormtiger sneered, before patting the free chair next to him. Rune gave him a look, which caused them to stare each other down- Before Victor got in their way and jumped into the chair, causing the rough man to stumble back.

"Sorry, my wife's cousin isn't the greatest people person." Victor said, rolling his eyes before gesturing to her. "What are you waiting for, Rune? Sit down."

The hidden Doll gave a huff but complied, sitting next to a meek Othala who'd taken Victor's side. A loud clearing of the throat distracted them from their bickering, and left them watching Kaiser as he leaned from his chair and rested both hands on the table.

Rune straightened, paying utmost attention to the man. Master would want to know what the Empire was aiming for, after all.

"As some of you may already know," Kaiser started, "the ABB recently started attacking our territory and warehouses near the Docks, and despite our best efforts to repel them, they have met with some very unpleasant success."

Rune's expression darkened, as did most of the Empire's capes. What they didn't know was that Rune already knew the cause, as Lilith had informed her and Master during her hastily-put report, right before Rune's phone had alerted them of this meeting.

"It's that bomber bitch, isn't it?" Rune cut in, before she expanded on her words. "That chink Thinker Lung was said to have recruited… I heard a lot of the ABB gooks haven't stopped flapping their mouths about her."

"Correct, Rune. I'm surprised." Kaiser said with a rather pleased tone, clearly impressed that the girl cared about the state of the gang beyond simply following orders like a mindless drone. "But yes, that Tinker. They call her 'Bakuda', and as far as we can tell, she is extremely dangerous."

Pulling up a portfolio, he laid down a series of pictures over the table. When everyone saw their contents, they were mixed reactions- Othala gasped, covering her mouth with both hands as tears blurred on her eyes. Krieg, Fenja and Menja looked visibly disgusted, while Crusader glared at the photo in anger. Hookwolf, Night, Fog, Stormtiger, and Cricket all appeared unaffected.

Rune, by her part, decided to follow her cousin's lead.

"This is horrible…" Othala said, watching the photos that showed the mangled, disfigured forms of the Empire gangsters that had been victims of Bakuda's toys. The most disturbing one was one whose muscles and organs had been liquified, leaving only a bloody skeleton on a puddle of blood. "What kind of monster would do this?"

"Th-this is fucked up…" Rune said, glaring at the pictures. "Who the fuck makes a bomb that fucking juices people!?"

"And these are bombs she has crafted after only a week of being in Brockton Bay." Kaiser stated grimly. "And to put things worse, this psychotic woman is on the side of Lung, a being we already know is more beast than man. I'm surprised they haven't started bombing the city yet."

"What's the plan, boss?" Hookwolf growled, the skin shifting beneath him. "Someone needs to teach these gooks a lesson."

"...We are not going to allow our territory to be taken, of course, just because our opponents have added one more cape to their roster." Kaiser tapped a finger against the table, seemingly in thought, before he continued. "But we will have to protect our grunt forces from being devastated by these bombs of hers."

"When things are doing fine, I make sure not to overwork my subordinates-" Kaiser sighed then, dramatically, as he gestured to the photos on the table. "But as you can see, the situation is urgent enough that we cannot afford any notions of holding back. We will all have to hit the streets to prevent Lung from going any further with this Mad Bomber."

"Fine with me!" Hookwolf said, grinning savagely. "Name the time and place, Kaiser. I'll hit them hard, day and night. Chase them until they run with their tail between their legs, back to their chink houses after being taught their place."

"We all need to make sacrifices for the cause." Krieg said, nodding understandingly. "We are with you, Kaiser."

"So are we," Crusader growled. "I'm not going to let a crazy bitch like this get away with whatever she wants."

With the confirmation of his lieutenants, Kaiser simply nodded. "Good. The ABB has become too arrogant- The cold-blooded murder of four of our comrades by the fiend Oni Lee only the latest incident of note. They must be stopped, before they hurt the good people of this city any more than they already have."

With those words, Kaiser promptly opened a session of strategizing that mostly included his Lieutenants. The city was mapped out, the most vulnerable targets detected, and each Lieutenant was assigned their own zone to patrol. Hookwolf's team would go into the Docks, putting pressure on the ABB with his combat ability and specialized subordinates. Kaiser, alongside Fenja and Menja would be in charge of supporting any group in case Lung showed up, bringing the added firepower needed to hold him off.

Finally, Krieg and Crusader's team had the joint task of patrolling and defending all of the Empire's fringe territory, their abilities best suited to being a mobile, quick-response force that could use Night, Rune or Crusader's movement abilities to cover a large swathe of territory and lend aid to the common grunts of the Empire.

"I think we should split up in pairs, keeping someone with high mobility in each split so we can assist each other if anything happens." Crusader proposed, his subordinates and Krieg's -that included Rune- sitting together on their own section of the hall. "We have eight capes between us- Me, Night, and Rune are capable of moving people quickly. Night and Fog can go together, as always- But that leaves out the rest."

"Me and Othala are always together, though." Victor said, and Othala nodded by his side. "We're not in that list."

Crusader nodded. "That's fair, we don't need everyone to be in pairs. One pair and two teams of three should be fair enough."

In the end, with the teams that were determined, Rune's team included:

[ ] Victor/Othala (Counts as 2)

[ ] Krieg

[ ] Alabaster

[ ] Krieg & Alabaster

"As Kaiser said, we're moving out right away. Get everything set up, and let's hit the streets." Everyone agreed, and the Empire capes quickly filtered out of the meeting hall, to prepare for what would likely be a long week.

As she left to ready herself, however, Rune gave a dark smile. "Pairs, huh…?"

-It was time for her to make a quick call.

--

"She got a sleepover with Victor and Othala?" You said with surprise, running your hand through Lilith's hair as she reported you the result of the Empire meeting. "I mean, she told me they were cousins- But I didn't expect a chance to appear so quickly."

"With Rune in our hands, capturing the Empire capes will be easy." Lilith said, sighing softly on your pants as she further squirmed into your lap. She used your legs as a pillow, splayed on the couch as you caressed her silky locks. "The fact that now we have them patrolling the streets will make getting them easier… And more dangerous, at the same time."

"What do you mean?" You paused, frowning down at her. "I thought you'd said we should be playing it safe for the time being." You sighed at that, leaning back and recalling the many scares you'd had these last five days. "Did something change your mind?"

Lilith shifted, turning her body on the sofa so her head looked up at you. She bit her lip, worry evident on her gaze. "You need more protection- More capes. Your ability to perfect other capes… It's amazing, Master." She reached out, and lightly rubbed your chest with a smile. "You could even conquer the world with it."

"For a given definition of perfect, I suppose…" You neither agreed nor denied her words, shifting uncomfortably. "I don't see why we can't just wait and ambush them at their houses as we learn about them, though. It worked for Rune, didn't it?"

Lilith's expression soured. "Theoretically, it would be the safest choice- But Master, capes tend to disapprove of such behavior. Remember when I asked Rune to explain you why our actions had still been risky?"

"The unwritten rules, yeah." You grimaced as if you'd chewed on a lemon. "Wish I'd known about those earlier. Doesn't seem right to me, though. Why should we give quarter to villains?"

"Fear of retaliation, Master. You wouldn't want a villain to go after your family or friends if he learns who you are, would you?" Her laser-guided question hit you deeply, and your frown became even deeper.

"Yeah. I guess I wouldn't like that." Left unsaid was the fact that if something like that happened, your reaction likely wouldn't be pretty. "So, what do you propose?"

"I still think we should take every chance we can get- But that we should also be more daring." Lilith tapped your chest, her fingers scraping your shirt lightly, every so often brushing against a nipple and causing you to squirm. "Hit the streets properly, rather than just moving between grunts and avoiding every encounter with a Cape."

"You… Want me to go out in costume? As a bona fide Cape?" You said, eyes wide. "Do we even have proper costumes? Isn't that going to risk us being exposed too much?"

"Within reason, Master." Lilith said, and then explained. "Having estimated Rune's new powers, she's one of Brockton Bay's strongest capes right now- And she was around the middle tier before being made into your doll. The power of a stronger cape, provided we manage to succeed, would likely be overwhelming."

"And yes," She smiled. "I do have our costumes ready. I'm sure you'll love yours, Master."

"It's gonna be some edgy overlord thing, isn't it." You remarked dryly, causing the Doll to giggle. "Please don't make me wear something you'll send to Tyson via anonymous e-mail as blackmail fodder."

"I wouldn't dream of blackmailing you, Master!" Lilith exclaimed indignantly. "Well, if it meant I could have you all for myself… Just kidding." She shook her head, then grew serious again. "Anyways, let's get back on track."

"Right." You nodded. "Hitting the streets. Who, where and how?"

"We could tail Rune." Lilith proposed, never stopping her molestation of your body. "Use her to our advantage- When there's no grunts or capes around, wham- Have her immobilize one of her ex-comrades, while you go and quickly Doll the other one. If anyone tries to wander in, Rune can more than easily draw attention to herself."

"You could also go after Purity, again." She proposed. "She usually doesn't patrol twice in a row, but I find it more than likely that Kaiser slipped something to her about the ABB to smoke her out of her home. If we're lucky, Rune might even be done by the time we've pinned her down and could come help."

"I feel like there's a third choice, here." You said, which make Lilith give a dark smile.

"With the eyes of the media and the PRT on the Empire and ABB's budding war, I think we can afford to expand our aims a little, Master." Seeing the frown on your face, Lilith further explained. "It's not anything ambitious, Master. Just a way we could quickly build up our forces, by drawing from the dregs of the streets."

"The Merchants." You stated coldly.

"Yup!" Lilith said, grinning widely. "I think we could take them out in one day. They only have three capes, and only one of them is problematic- And we can just avoid them, anyways. They already live in a remote area, so if we don't make a ruckus nobody will notice us."

"...And you think this will make things easier?" You asked skeptically. Lilith laid a hand on your arm.

"I know how you feel, Master. You want to stop the Empire. You want to get rid of them as fast as you can." Her gaze softened. "But the Empire isn't the only faction on this city. Brockton Bay has one of largest number of capes in the country- And because of that, it has a lot of villains. I want you to get strong enough that you don't have to fear any of them, Master. Strong enough to bend everyone to your will."

"...Alright, I get it."

You pondered each of the choices. Rune was your strongest asset thus far- Like Lilith said, she was a top-tier Cape now- The closest thing to a true telekinetic short of the Simurgh. She could probably disassemble the boat graveyard in a few days, if she tried hard enough. Just how powerful would other capes become, once they were under your thumb?

You-

First part of the Night:

[ ] Hit the streets. (MC will FINALLY don a costume and be a proper cape, god. No capes, though. They are silly. Will probably end with Lilith's debut as a Vigilante, though your existence might still remain hidden.)

-[ ] Use Rune to ambush her teammates. (Can potentially get more than one cape out of this, Rune is a very good distraction if something outside parameters happens.)

-[ ] Begin taking steps to capture Purity. (This will NOT immediately make you dive for an ambush at Purity. You will start to tail her, and depending on whether Rune arrives or not, may decide to go after her or pull back, with increased knowledge giving you a higher chance of grabbing her. Definitely the strongest cape you can get, but it's still difficult.)

-[ ] Own the Merchants in your first day. (Will take up all of the night, meaning you'll go to sleep straight after this choice. You'll go on a long stakeout to capture and Doll Skidmark, Squealer and Mush. If you succeed, you'll get a whopping three Cape dolls and save yourself a future headache if the Merchants ever happened to expand.)

[ ] Don't hit the streets. (MC will chicken out and continue his shadowrun.)

Late Night:

[ ] Ambush Victor and Othala when Rune comes for a sleepover. (As Mikhail already knows about the unwritten rules, this means that he will consciously violate them, setting a precedent he will be willing to repeat for the sake of pragmatism. On the other hand, this will most assuredly secure him Victor and Othala as Dolls.)

[ ] Spend the entire night (meaning you won't hit the streets) Dolling more E88 grunts, using your already vast connections to establish an even bigger foothold. (Now that he has a lot of forces under his thumb, as well as Rune's knowledge of which normals are more in touch with Capes, Mikhail will make use of Lilith's Thinker powers to go on a laser-guided conversion spree, taking over corrupt officers, physicians and lieutenants in the E88 that he feels are acceptable.)

[ ] Sleep, and maybe have a little fun. (Sweet, hedonistic release from the agony of cape life. YOLO, right?)

--

The choices that spend the entire night are mutually exclusive with the other choice. So if you go after the merchants, you won't be able to pick from the second branch, and if you spend the night dolling people, you won't be able to hit the streets.

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Last edited: Sep 25, 2016

Sep 25, 2016 ReportLike

Noxx, KenNM, Yenzen and 194 others like this.

Threadmarks: 2.2 Outbreak of Hostilities

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

April 1st

"You're going to love your costume, Master. I'm sure of it!" Lilith sang, as she led you towards another part of your current hideout. "I hope you don't mind that I had to take from our funds to get it ordered- Since I needed it done as soon as possible and we only got the money for it 3 days ago, it only just arrived today."

"It arrived today?" You asked, skeptically. "Just where did you get this costume from?"

"Toybox. The Number man, really, but he just arranged the transaction." Lilith chimed, causing your jaw to drop. "We had to use all our money, but that's what it's there for anyways. I'm surprised he was so helpful- Despite all the features I asked of the suit, he managed to negotiate a reasonable price for just a small commission."

"Suit? I- What…? And what about your costume? You didn't pay for that as well?" You were taken aback when Lilith giggled at your words, before she gave you a knowing grin.

"I made it myself, Master. It wasn't that hard, and…" She licked her lips. "I'm sure you'll love it."

You shivered. This sounds dangerous for her reputation.

Lilith led you towards the hideout's storage room, which was being guarded by two Dolls for whatever reason. The two of them stoically nodded at Lilith, but when you passed through the doors behind her you had to jump as one of them lightly squeezed your ass.

You didn't have time to turn back and scold them, though, because Lilith turned on the lights and called for you.

"Your costume's inside that case, Master." Lilith gestured to a large, rectangular case that looked big enough to contain a man inside. "I couldn't decide what color fit you the most, so I just went for a generally attractive one that suited your own looks. It also combines with my costume, so you could say we match!"

"Well then, why don't you try it on Master? I'll be back soon!" Lilith waved as she wandered off to get changed, closing the door behind her and briefly exchanging words with the Dolls outside. After a while, the sound of her footsteps faded…

...Leaving you alone with the suit behind you.

Nervous about being watched, you looked to the sides. There were no cameras or bugs to be seen, as far as you could notice. You did a full rotation of the room, making sure not to find anything suspicious…

-And then with a barely restrained squeal, you dived straight towards the case and threw it open with a huge grin on your face.

When you saw the contents, your eyes widened and your jaw dropped in shock. "Holy fucking shit!"

Lilith had bought you a fucking suit of combat armor.

That was the only way you could describe it. You ran your hands over the dark, chromatic alloy of the armor. It was a very obscure purple, almost black in colour. It resembled some kind of knightly templar armor- One that covered the whole body from head to toe in its heavy plates.

You noticed that each of the leg pieces had what looked like red cloth flowing from the juncture between thigh and hip, covering those joints with the lower end of a robe. From the chest plate to the arm guards, you could see faint patterns of red lines that looked like circuitry, and for a second you thought you could see the color inside them move like light.

The helmet also looked completely air-tight, a featureless gray mouth plate concealing any distinct features while a crystalline red visor that looked completely opaque obscured what lied inside. Two long, dark fins sprouted from the helmet's sides, tilted towards the back- Giving the suit the appearance of a dragoon's armor.

It was cheesy. It was ridiculously outdone, and would definitely stand out. But more importantly…

"It's fucking perfect!" You muttered to yourself, a giddy smile on your face as you reached out for the suit, grabbing onto the collar to pull it out- And then tumbling back in surprise, as a painful feeling shot up your arm.

"Ow- Shit, that stings…!" You cried out, shaking your hand up and down as the tingling feeling of being pricked spread across one of your fingers. You looked at the armor, where a small drop of your blood stained it-

"DNA sample confirmed. Releasing safety locks." A feminine voice echoed from beneath the suit, before the clamps that you hadn't noticed were around each piece were unlocked. You blinked in shock, amazed at the sophisticated security of this thing- Before you grinned again, and took each of the pieces to try them on.

After a few moments…

"Oh yeah, now this is pod-racing!" You laughed to yourself, looking at yourself on a mirror that for some reason had conveniently been in the room. The suit had perfectly adjusted itself to your size upon wearing it, and you barely felt its weight on your shoulders. Despite its hermetic sealing, you didn't feel like you had trouble breathing or anything.

"Sooo… About that blackmail material…?" A sweet, yet mischievous voice caused you to jump in fright, turning back with a look of utter horror in your face.

"You saw nothi- ...Uh… Lilith?" You pointed at the girl with a trembling, armored finger. "What are you wearing? No, seriously. What even is that."

"You don't like it, Master? I thought it suited your tastes just fine..." Lilith smiled beatifically, even as she grabbed the doorframe and pressed herself against it, striking a pose as if she were a pole-dancer.

It was as if she'd taken the bodysuit from her first day out and butchered it into a S enthusiast's wet dream. Long, dark stockings of opaque latex that clung all the way to her thighs, stopping just short of reaching her ass cheeks.

Her 'bodysuit' -if you could call it that- Was nothing more than a pair of very low-rise panties that were just shy of exposing her mound, with one string hugging her hips and another rising to her waist, leaving most of her flesh for anyone to see. Her 'bra' only covered the upper part of her breasts, leaving their underside to bounce freely as she reached with one hand and lightly cupped one of the pair. Adding the sight of her arm-length, black bridal gauntlets and the lacy black collar wrapped around her neck, it was a ridiculously sexy sight.

But the problem was…

"You! Do you want to get arrested for indecent exposure!?" You shouted, crossing your arms and waving them repeatedly. "That's the most ridiculous get-up I've ever seen! Nevermind regeneration, what if you get a wardrobe malfunction!?"

Lilith sighed. "Come on, Master… Why can't I be the lewd, sexy vigilante that doesn't care for societal norms or prudishness?"

"Nope. We are not doing this. I might have the most perverted power in existence, but that doesn't give you the right to flaunt it." You stood firmly, making for a menacing figure as you postured before her… While secretly grateful that your armor hided the presence of a boner.

Lilith pouted, but obeyed. "If that's what you say, Master." Then she grinned, and ran over her lips with a sultry lick. "No objections to using it on the bedroom? I think this would fit the theme of 'helpless, bound slave' really well..."

You averted your gaze. "...No comment."

Mikhail has obtained a new item: Custom Armor (Adam)

It has been added to the Inventory.

--

"Adam?"

-It had taken a few minutes for Lilith to get back into her backup costume -which consisted in a much tamer catsuit- and for you to receive a call from Rune that she was heading out. Tracking her location using your power, the two of you were busy making your way towards her position.

It was when you were almost there that Lilith took you aside, to address a matter that you'd never actually discussed…

"Yeah. For your cape name." Gratia's 'Lilith' persona looked much the same as her Doll form, but for the sake of maintaining even that form separate from the Vigilante, she had altered her hair colour to a dazzling silver, and shifted the color of her iris to a glaring, sharp red. She looked like some idealized albino, without all of the sickness and all of the exotic allure. "Since we're a pair, I thought we could be- Um… You know, a pair." She breathed the last word.

You shivered slightly, before smiling down at her with a gleam in your eye. With your helmet covering your face, she was unable to see it but reacted to your emotions nonetheless. "You just want to flirt in public, don't you?"

She shifted her legs a little, then looked back with a warm gaze. "Can't I?"

"...It's not a bad name." You caressed her waist, then kissed her softly as the suit's mouthpiece retracted. "Guess I'll stick with it for now."

You noticed that the signature of Rune was approaching, just at the same time that a shock of static ran through your body. She wasn't alone.

Your face tightened.

"Hopefully we won't have to use it today, anyways. Here they come." The two of you retreated into an alley next to a cross-section, waiting for the Empire pair to pop up.

It didn't take long for a telltale shadow to cover the street, the way it stretched across the block hinting at the large size of whatever hung above. You and Lilith looked up at the pair of Empire Capes that hung from a floating piece of debris, flying close to the rooftops so as to avoid the sight of fliers.

"Wh… a… e… topping?" You heard the faint grunt of a sharp, deep male voice from above that caused you to tighten your fingers in tension. For his inhuman looks, Alabaster sounded like a fairly normal person.

"Shut up, I think I saw something. We're dropping down." Rune's voice echoed louder than normal, the girl having raised her voice exactly so you could hear it perfectly. You backed away from the entrance of the alley as the two Capes pulled down, the floating rock's descent almost painstakingly slow.

"Fucking chinks haven't shown up even once…" Alabaster growled, stepping towards your direction and allowing you to see his form for the first time. He looked handsome, much the same way as your Dolls looked beautiful- But if it were possible, was even more uncanny due to his completely monochromatic appearance. His costume, a set of cargo pants and jacket that followed the near-universal black and red Empire color scheme, was rather unspectacular compared to the rest of his body- But you took note of the pair of firearms holstered at each side.

"He probably has a backup weapon hidden somewhere." Lilith whispered into your ear, eyeing him up and down. "Likely a knife, or something. When you give the signal, I'll stand ready in case the power fails and do my best to put him down."

"Isn't he immortal?" You hissed. "How do you even kill that?"

Lilith's stare turned dark. "If your power fails, Adam… I'll find out."

"Have you checked if the other teams haven't been hit?" Rune asked as she glided down, the truck-sized debris behind her breaking into smaller fragments as she hovered just above the floor. "Fuckers probably don't have enough manpower to cover everywhere, even if they've got the bombs."

Alabaster sneered. "I wouldn't bet on it. Don't they just flood wherever they go to?" His biting comment was nonetheless followed by a nod. "But yeah, you're right. We should contact them and see- Hold on."

Alabaster reached out into his pocket, and pulled out what you thought looked like a fairly nondescript black phone. As he moved to fiddle with it-

"Now." You mouthed, pushing a sense of urgency through your link with Rune-

-And Alabaster stumbled as the phone stumbled straight out of his hands, flying towards one of Rune's open hands. The other remained outstretched, palm facing Alabaster as Rune sprouted a wide, traitorous grin.

The Empire Cape widened his eyes, seeing the clear hostility in the girl's eyes. "What are you-"

-And right then, as if struck by an invisible hammer, Alabaster was flung away from the telekinetic with all the grace and consistency of a ragdoll.

"Go for it, Adam!" Lilith yelled as the cape hit the ground between you, the thunderous impact loud enough that you wondered if the man hadn't broken something.

But as you enforced your paralysis aura on him, rendering him immobile as you pounced towards him-

-You had the strangest feeling of something pulling loose-

-And Alabaster was on his feet, white eyes narrowed and full of rage, torn between the traitor cape and the two mysterious threats that approached him…

Until Rune swung her hand down again, and the man sunk to the ground hard enough to crack the asphalt, leaving a small crater. At the same time, broke into a run, raised your arm and struck.

The feeling of static shot up from your arm, discharging against the Empire cape and causing him to convulse violently. Seconds passed, and when he respawn the twitching stopped briefly- And resumed before the cape was able to so much as blink. You yelled out loud, trying to force as much of whatever power you had down this arm of yours, static screeching in your ear, eyes and brain-

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

[ ] Changed respawn threshold from '4.3 seconds' to 'reception of any harmful effect'. Increases the effect of his secondary power to not just maintain and improve gear but also adapt parts of scavenged gear into other equipment. (Can only be killed by Sting, cannot be hurt by anything else). (The Godmode upgrade.)

[ ] Respawn includes anything he's touching, including both other people as well as gear or ammunition (External respawn can be turned off to change gear or prevent others from abusing it). Increases the effect of his secondary power to not just maintain and improve gear but also adapt parts of scavenged gear into other equipment. (The Manton upgrade).

"-dam?" You shook your head, feeling as if you'd just woken up from a long sleep. You were idly aware of a pair of hands touching your body, and opened your eyes to see Lilith's own stare back at you. "Are you alright? You stumbled for a moment."

"Yeah, just got a bit woozy." You curled your fingers absent-mindedly, making sure that everything was working properly. "What's the status on Alabaster?"

Lilith's eyes gleamed. "He's being converted. Your power officially trumps other cape abilities."

You looked down at the man- No, Doll's body. Her hair was lengthening, facial features softening to an extreme degree as all the features that made her handsome shifted to make her beautiful. Lilith leaned down, pulling down the zipper on the Brute's jacket as her upper torso expanded rather drastically on volume. Being an adult, she would likely end up with a rather large bust.

"I'm not sure how I feel about that." You said, and meant it. This was the second cape you'd enslaved, and it had already revealed that your power was even more dangerous than you'd first estimated. If it went through Brutes, how would it work against Trumps? Breakers? Or even other Masters?

It made you painfully aware of how green you were, how foreign all of this scene was to you. And yet, despite being a cape for barely a week, you'd already subverted the will of two of them. Already exerted this horrible power in ways that other people could not even understand.

"She'll be a looker, Master." Lilith said, running a hand over Alabaster's expanding tits, while another traced the growing curve of her hips. "I think we'll have lots of fun together-"

It was at that moment that you felt it. It came suddenly, like being hit with a sack of bricks.

Sending a chill from your spine to the very center of your heart, the feeling of static shock that raced through your body alerted you of the imminent danger. It flickered- Vanishing and reappearing, sometimes looking as if there were two of them- All rapidly approaching your location.

"Hey!" You shouted at Rune. "Watch out, coming from your left!"

Rune's eyes widened, and she immediately retreated into her sea of floating debris as your commands rocked through her mind. With her sharpened instincts, she shifted the pieces and grouped them together to create a makeshift barrier even as she watched out for the incoming enemy.

He arrived incredibly fast- Almost immediately, likely through some kind of teleportation ability. Your heart sank- You only knew of one teleporter in Brockton Bay.

Peeking out from the alley, your fears were confirmed.

"Oni Lee…" You growled, looking at the form of the sneering demon looking down on Rune from atop a building. The ABB lieutenant dressed like a ninja- A black leather suit completely hiding any of his features coupled with the smiling Oni he wore on his face. The bandolier strapped to his body was clad with several knives and dozens of grenades- Though you could not tell their exact details.

"Those bombs aren't normal." Lilith hissed, which made your eyes widen. "He's using Bakuda's bombs."

"Shit." You whispered. "Shit, shit, shit. What do we do…? We can't let Rune-"

"She can call backup, let's go-" Lilith almost shouted, pulling at your shoulder-

GENERATING CONFLICT

-And at that moment, Oni Lee's head turned towards you. Your blood ran cold-

"HEY ASSHOLE!" Rune shouted, her expression turning murderous the moment that she felt your rising distress. Her power lashed out, several chunks of debris being sent hurtling like boulders from a catapult towards the ABB cape-

-But Oni Lee reappeared standing over Rune's barrier of bricks, pulling on the pin of one of his grenades as the duplicate behind him was battered so hard that his neck snapped- Shortly after collapsing into a cloud of ash.

"Don't think so!" Rune shouted, flicking the grenade with her hand and sending it hurtling at the same time that her flying orbitals caught the Oni Lee in a pincer move, crushing him between a rock and a hard place-

-And just as that Oni Lee burst into ash, another one was hurtling the same grenade towards her from the sidewalk, causing her to turn in shock and pull up her barrier for an emergency defence-

And then the twin sound of roaring explosions caused you to cover your ears, at the same time that a red-hot flash -which you were certain would have seared your eyes if not for the suit- caused you to squint your eyes.

When the explosions were over, you watched the result and felt your eyes widen. Clinging to the surface of the buildings and matter they'd detonated on, a fiery, flaming sludge continued to burn down everything it touched. How had a bomb of that size contained so much of that?

"Adam!" Lilith shouted at you, pouncing forwards and lashing out with her leg in a lightning-fast motion that made your head spin-

-You stumbled back as her kick caved in Oni Lee's skull, the walls of the alley being stained red for a moment-

Until your vision became surrounded by smoke, and you felt two arms sweep you up and away from your current location.

"You, Empire cape!" Lilith shouted, leaping away from the alley and taking out the gun she'd been holstering. "Take out matter from the buildings, block vision of the area! He can't teleport if he can't see!" She pressed the two of you against a wall, one hand at your side as the other pulled off the safety-

The sharp sound of gunfire that was thankfully dampened by your suit echoed through the street, as two Oni Lees fell down with a river of blood pouring from their heads.

"I'm TRYING, you dumb bitch!" Rune replied, not needing to fake the disdain she felt for the Prime Doll even as her hands touched the building and ripped out truck-sized chunks of cement that she started throwing on a pile at the street, laying them on stacks in an attempt to build a makeshift wall. She also tried to hide her wounded body from sight, as the burnt tissue was quickly shed and replaced by new flesh.

You thanked God that you'd chosen a mostly unoccupied area, because Rune was literally tearing those buildings apart.

"Why's she touching them, Lilith?" You hissed. "Do we need to-"

"Yes! If he's here, it means someone spotted her!" She said, even as she continued to gun down Oni Lee whenever he reappeared. When the chamber ran out (not clicked empty, she counted) she grabbed you by the hand and tossed you to close to Rune, who immediately covered you in a cage of thick debris that sealed your sight of the outside world. "Stay there, Adam! You're not ready for this!"

"What the-" You bristled. "OPEN THIS UP! NOW!" You ordered, but apparently the order counted as harmful enough that Rune didn't even hear it.

What the fuck? What the fuck had just happened? An ABB scout? They managed to get moles in the E88? This was literally the worst situation that you could have imagined, short of meeting Lung.

You might just lose all the Dolls you had to this asshole, and they weren't even letting you fight.

Suddenly, you heard a scream and a slight static in your head caused you to back away from the wall in shock- Before the wall grew hot and orange- And an impact that felt like someone had punched you on the chest caused you to be sent hurtling.

You felt yourself tumble along the ground, rolling to a stop after a few seconds. You felt a little pain from the impact, but otherwise were surprised to be fairly unharmed. Shakily, you stood to your feet and opened your eyes-

Then paled as you saw the large crater that was where you'd just been caged in.

"Shit…!" You clenched your fists, and forced yourself to remain calm and take stock of the situation. The only parahuman in the vicinity you sensed was Oni Lee, which meant that the other teams hadn't noticed the massive explosions yet or were otherwise busy with something else.

It was at that moment that you registered the presence of another Doll in your radar. Your eyes widened.

Alabaster!

You took off on a run, even as you kept your mind alert for the presence of Oni Lee. There were two Oni Lees fighting Rune and Lilith -one, Lilith just shot him down again- but one of them looked towards you and you felt a ping, coming from your left-

"Fuck off!" You'd always been a fast guy. Speedy reactions, good on track, good at video games. Your wild, blind swing connected without you even looking. It did not have much power, but that's okay, you didn't need it-

The twitching Oni Lee burst into a cloud of ash, no weird headaches or fainting spells telling you that your ability must have failed.

CONNECTION INCOMPLETE. ADDITIONAL DATA MUST BE GATHERED

You made it into the alley, as the next Oni Lee that appeared close to you was quickly shot down by a simultaneous headshot and cement spear from your Dolls. Clad in her very unfitting clothes, the dollified Alabaster was barely starting to get to her feet.

In your hurry, you could only give her a cursory glance. Even with Alabaster's unflattering clothes, you could tell she was curvy, her breasts prominently standing out like large melons and her cargo pants tightly wrapped around her hips.

"Wh…" The Alabaster Doll said, her mind still muddled as her consciousness struggled to take in her new programming. Her ears perked up at the sound of your footsteps, and she turned her face towards you- While still blank, there was a circle of light in her eyes that resembled an iris, and her lips had taken a glossy, pinkish sheen- Likely to add the humanity that made the Dolls attractive even despite the uncanny valley. "What did you do to me-"

"No time," You growled, running towards the Doll. Once you reached her, you yanked on her hair -She was taller than you, needed to pull her down- And kissed her firm and hard. Her eyes widened, legs crossing as an unbelievable pleasure coursed through her body. You grabbed her by the ass, supporting her from falling at the same time that you squeezed- And stared deep into her eyes, letting her soak in your commanding presence.

"Obey." You growled, then kissed her again while biting her lip. The Doll's eyes glazed over, all of her hesitations and transformation nuances firmly destroyed by the overwhelming hit of love and submission that you awakened in her.

"Yes, Master." She breathed, smiling down at you softly- Until your emotional distress, as well as the state of the other Dolls filtered into her mind, and her stare grew cold. "I see what you mean now. What happened since you-" She gulped, biting her lip as another orgasm rocked her body, asserting her total submission even further. "-transformed me?"

"Oni Lee," You said, and her expression grew murderous.

"He did this to you- Your suit?" She said, eyes dark. "Fucking chink-ass fucker, I'm going to rip him apart."

"Disguise," You managed to grunt out, and the Doll nodded. Within seconds she was back to her original form, and running straight into the battle.

Okay. You thought. Oni Lee's here. There was a spotter who saw Rune flying, but that's okay. Lilith didn't detect anyone when we Dolled Alabaster, so that's probably fine too. But we can't take any risks, not with how showy the battle's gonna get. I can try to retreat, but there's no guarantee he won't follow after me.

Can I take him on? I have Alabaster- Brute, respawns on certain intervals, Rune -touch based telekinetic, can't use her full power now- Lilith -she can shoot Oni Lee the moment he shows up, has all her abilities- And me… And I definitely can't Doll Oni Lee right now. Maybe if we capture him and take him away, then dump him in PRT custody…

We could also try to have Rune call backup. Sooner or later, her comrades will work to bail her out. We might have to explain who we are then, that's no problem- But what if they don't let us go?

Too many variables. Too many risks.

Was this what a parahuman fight was like?

You-

[ ] Retreat. You're not of much use here, since you can't even knock him out before he teleports. Lilith can get away by herself. (You'll try to escape. You already got what you wanted. If you succeed, will prevent you from getting Oni Lee.)

[ ] Play offensively, try to beat him. It's four capes versus one- He can't be that strong. (You'll go for the win, but you'll have to be smart about it if you don't want to play any of your trump cards. If you succeed, you'll very likely be able to Doll Oni Lee.)

[ ] Play defensively, wait for backup. ABB only has 3 capes, they're probably busy with the Wards or something. (You'll wait for backup, which will surely be enough to spook Oni Lee away. If you succeed, you might get Oni Lee if you can BS the Empire.)

[ ] Go all out. Even if someone sees, Rune can make something up- Hadn't that Narwhal chick obtained a power up at some point? (You'll allow Rune to use her true powers, greatly trivializing the fight. Has the same consequences of the 2nd option, with the added factor of revealing Rune's true stats.)

--

Oni Lee

Spoiler: Oni Lee stats

--

Like the last time, this is another brainstorming session. If you're going to fight, I'm going to need to know HOW you'll do it.

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Threadmarks: Ranks

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

On ranks:

F: Vanilla human level/ability is a non-issue.

E: Has an edge over normal humans, be they enhanced skills, training, or the like. A PRT trooper could be considered an E-rank threat.

D: Peak Human/Slight superhuman. At this level humans can hardly catch up in the field, unless they were given enhancements by another cape. Coil's armored mercs as well as our secondary dolls are a D-rank threat.

C: Superhuman. Humans cannot reach threats of this level. The average cape is at this rank.

B: High Superhuman. As dangerous, if not more so, than multiple C-rank capes and a potentially lethal threat to nearby humans. Capes that are considered 'heavy-hitters' go here. Examples: Kaiser, Miss Militia

A: The A-listers. The game changers. Have abilities that can turn the tide of any street-level conflict, and scale up very well even into large scale conflicts. The top capes in a city are often A-listers. Examples: Lung, Purity, Panacea

S: The S ranks are beyond humanity. Absolutely superhuman monsters go here. With powers that can subsume cities or sunder mountains, these capes can pose a danger to an entire country. The Siberian is an S-Rank cape, as is the Triumvirate sans Eidolon. Dragon, too.

SS: Incomprehensibly powerful, so high it barely has measure. Can threaten anything between a continent to the entire planet. Eidolon, and the Endbringers are SS rank capes.

SSS: Godlike. Scion goes here.

A 'plus' means that the ability has optimal situations under which it performs better than the norm.

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Threadmarks: 2.3 Death and Rebirth

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

...Run away? No, you couldn't do that. If you fled from any danger you faced, then how could you deal justice to those who committed criminals? How could you dispatch this city's scum, the ones that had almost taken your life- And threatened to take that of others even now. Someone had to clean them up… Deal with them for good.

GENERATING CONFLICT

This world needed to be fixed. And turning back with your tail between your legs at every ugly, terrifying sight that pervaded it would get you nowhere.

It was time to act.

"Lilith!" You shouted, running out of the alley and into the noisy battlefield. "We're-" There was a ping on your sensors, and you dived away from the signature behind you. Ignoring the heat that tickled at your armor from behind, you picked up where you left off. "-We're gonna take him out! I need to hit him, even if just the clones! Make openings for me!"

Lilith did not answer for a moment, the sound of gunfire and detonations spreading across the street. Worried about her lack of response, you looked upon your surroundings-

-And almost stumbled back from shock.

The buildings around the cross-section were slowly but steadily collapsing, courtesy of Rune's powers taking from the surroundings to create a cage of concrete that was very quickly turning the street into an arena. Shadows flickered across the area, turning into clouds of smoke every few seconds. The duplicate Oni Lees either vanished into dust or explosions of several types, freezing, shocking, burning or releasing more esoteric effects on the battlefield.

Countless craters littered the asphalt, and you noted with no small amount of horror that a small section of the street appeared frozen in time- Floating chunks of concrete hovering in a seeming nothingness, what looked like a human arm floating alongside it.

Close to one of the cement cage's walls, your Dolls continued to fight. Alabaster was going guns blazing, diving straight into the clones without a care for what they would release- Although she still appeared to be cautious. You noticed that she was going through the motions for reloading at a breakneck pace, despite not needing to.

Rune was floating above them, a storm of objects swirling about as she continued to seal the alleys to diminish the efficiency of Oni Lee's hit and run tactics. A few objects orbited her, shielding her from the bombs or crushing any Oni Lees that tried to get close to her. Her expression was plastered into a look of rage, even though her eyes continued to calmly assess for Oni Lee's behavior and tried to anticipate his movements.

And Lilith-

"Got it, Adam!" She replied, firing a shot into one of Oni Lee's bombs while she stabbed at another one with her knife, ending the both of them. "You, the TKer, catch! We're going to pin him down!"

Reaching into her utility belt, Lilith tossed two cylindrical objects towards her fellow Doll, the thrown devices flying faster than they should've as Rune made sure to swipe them without fail.

As she looked at their label, her eyes flashed with understanding. "Fine, we'll do it your way!"

"Get over here already, Adam!" Lilith shouted, waving towards them with an anxious expression. You nodded, and shot forwards-

-And at that moment, two quick pings showed up in your close vicinity.

"Shit!" You said, jumping away and catching both of the Oni Lees on your vision. Already having pulled the pin on their bombs, they had thrown them straight towards you-

"Move!" Alabaster's old, sharp voice yelled as their male form strung you by the neck of your suit and cast you aside, making you watch on your back as the twin explosions destroyed her body- One of them shining like a miniature sun and falling just short of blinding you thanks to your armor.

A black, smoking carcass bleeding a faint crystalline fluid collapsed to the ground- Before Alabaster stood once again on her feet, and dived back towards the guns she'd dropped to resume firing at the clones.

Jesus christ. Protected by Alabaster, you managed to successfully reach Lilith's location. The Doll gave you a brief smile- Before the look on her eyes tightened, and she glared at the teleporting menace that continued to harass them. "He has no compunctions against killing you… I won't forgive him."

"I don't think he has compunctions against anything, actually." You growled, and looked as Lilith's eyes widened with some form of realization. "What's the plan?"

Lilith shook her head, then smirked at you. "Just go and hit him. The white guy's running a distraction while we wait for miss psychic over there to finish setting things up."

"You'll cover me?" You asked, wary of that last close call you'd been through.

Lilith nodded coolly. "Of course."

It'd have to do, you guessed.

Kicking at the ground below you, you started to sprint again. Static flared across your head, the flickering position of the Oni Lees displayed like a radar before you. You saw them all, the still hovering Rune, the form of Lilith moving to flank you while steadily getting rid of the vanishing blips on the radar, and the ever moving Alabaster as she roared a battle cry, throwing herself into the heat of battle.

Running into the middle of the street, you waited for the next ping to appear close to you- And immediately rushed towards it, making sure that both Alabaster and Lilith were close by.

The moment you came within range of Oni Lee, his body locked up completely. You already felt the next one forming, but that didn't matter. Without hesitation, you reared back your hand at reached to the clone's face, static pulsing through your arm-

-The parahuman twitched for a few seconds, before an explosion of smoke spread around you and left you bereft of sight.

"Damn…!" You muttered, before another ringing of static across your head caused you to stiffen and turn ninety degrees. You stared the smiling oni to the face, the knife thrust at your throat bouncing against the hard armor even as the bomb in his hands ringed-

-And shot up sky-high, discretely moved just in time for you to react against the cape with a hard smack to the face.

"OKAY, I'M DONE!" Rune yelled, as the last chunk of concrete fell into place. You looked around- The entire area had been walled up, the half-torn buildings serving as walls alongside the pillars that covered the street, leaving only the gaping skyview above as the source of air. Any window you could see in the buildings had been completely blocked by a wall of cement that had filled in the gap.

"Adam, follow me!" Lilith said, immediately grabbing your hand and pulling you towards a building Rune and Alabaster were also diving towards.

"Are you crazy!?" You yelled, the approaching walls of the building looking like the outer rim of a coffin. "He'll just blast us all inside-"

"If you want an opening, he needs to come at us." Lilith whispered harshly, and the four of you pulled inside of the building. All sound outside grew quiet. You saw Oni Lee's signature stand there, as if unsure of what to do.

"Adam… Whenever he teleports again, just shout his position immediately. We'll only get one shot at this- But don't worry, even if it fails, Alabaster will save you." You noticed how she made no mention of what fate would befall either Rune or herself, and it caused a shiver to run up your spine.

"Okay," You said, and your teeth chattered.

The air grew tense, as Lilith grabbed into her belt and pulled out a cylinder that looked similar, yet with a different label to the one she'd tossed Rune. Alabaster approached tensely, grabbing at your shoulder with a emotionless face. Rune's eyes darted around, her face still displaying a shock of anger, waiting for something, anything to happen-

-Your radar pinged, and you turned your head so fast it almost snapped.

"UP!" You shouted-

"DOWN!" -Just as Rune swung her hand down, and the room's entire ceiling collapsed in a moment. As you saw a blurred form fall through the caved-in floor, Lilith tossed the cylinder on her hands and pulled you down against the floor, just as black smoke completely filled the expanse of the room.

It was then that you felt a terrifying experience.

For a brief moment, you felt your legs lift off into the air- Only the grip Lilith had on you saved you from being pulled in, as many pieces of furniture on the building were pulled into whatever thing was behind you. Wisps of black smoke flowed into it, being sunk into the well of force that reduced everything that reached its core to paste-

-At the moment that the room began to clear up from that blast, you saw the form of Oni Lee struggling to stand up-

"NOW! Paralyze him!" Lilith yelled, and ducked your head- Right before you felt a thunderous noise, and a stinging white flash reached you through your eyelids. She released you after that, and as you stumbled forwards, you managed to reach out towards Oni Lee and paralyze him with your power.

Seconds passed.

You waited, and waited…

...But a second Oni Lee did not appear.

"...What did you do?" You asked, as the sting in your eyes finally faded, and you opened your eyes to see. The building had been absolutely devastated, and everything in the small radius of a uniform sphere had completely disappeared, as if it had been removed from existence.

"I threw a smokescreen so he wouldn't know where to throw a bomb, and also to give us more time to blind him with a flashbang." Lilith gasped out, jumping to her feet in one smooth motion. "Thankfully, everything went well!"

"Are we clear?" You said, looking around. You didn't sense any other parahuman, but…

Lilith's pupils shimmered red for a moment, as she did a cursory scan of the area. Her eyes lingered somewhere for a moment… And then she sighed. "He's scurrying off. Probably someone that jogged around unoccupied blocks, and wanted to record what had happened. Probably knows the fight is already over."

You nodded tightly. "Alright then." You turned to the paralyzed man standing before you, their body standing still like a statue. "Make him take a seat."

You tilted your head and Alabaster moved forwards, grinning widely and lifting him like one would a sack of bricks- Making sure not to escape your aura, as he lowered the ABB lieutenant against one of the walls.

"Now then…" You'd gotten a little better at this. Taking off the cape's mask, you took a good look at his face. Slightly wide, yet almost blank eyes stared at you behind an unassuming face with obvious asian features. You relaxed your paralysis minutely, focusing on the restrictions that were over his lips. "Why the hell would you try to murder us so badly? Are you insane!?"

You were fucking tired of this. Why? Why were people so insane? Why was the world full of bigots, homicidal maniacs, and people who were so rotten and evil that something like this came as second nature to them?

"You are… The Empire." The guy said, almost confused, before his eyes slowly frowned at you. There was hostility there, but it was barely there at all. "You are Lung's enemies, which he told me to dispose of. I tried to."

"It's no use, Adam." Lilith said, tapping your shoulder.

You looked at her, a burning expression on your face. "No use!? This guy just tried to murder four people in cold blood! Not to mention, if there had been any civilians here, he'd-!"

"He doesn't care." Lilith said, and then shushed you with her finger. "No, Adam- You don't get it. He doesn't care. About anything. I can read human beings… And he barely behaves like one. Dulled responses and reactions, little emotional attachment… He has almost no sense of self, almost a machine by now."

Both you and the man below you stared at her with wide eyes. "What?" The both of you said, with varying degrees of shock.

"You haven't- Of course you haven't realized." Lilith said with a calm voice, looking down at the man with a smirk. "I wonder how many times you must have abused your power to travel, oblivious as to the consequences… I wasn't sure about it, but now I am. You're acting significantly different as to when this battle started. Everything feels… Foggy, doesn't it? As if your mind was in a blur?"

"Yeah…" The man whispered, a confused frown on his face that made your spine crawl.

"Lilith?" You said, seriously creeped out. "What the fuck do you mean?"

"His power, it doesn't teleport him. It makes a new clone the original… While the old version gets to die. This is just a hypothesis of course- But else, how could you explain how he loses a little bit of himself with every teleportation?"

"Oh…" The man said, nodding slowly. "That makes sense."

"So, yeah. He's not murderous by choice… He probably no longer has enough conscience to even broach the subject of morality or life and death. Just a tool, doing as he's ordered…" Lilith licked her lips. "Well- Nothing wrong in that, of course."

"That's… That's awful." You said, and you meant it. You were still angry at how you'd almost died, but hearing Lilith's analysis of the man before you made you realize something- It was stupid of you to think that you were the only one who was fucked up, the only one whose power was monstrous.

Most things in this world were fucked up… And that was why you felt you had to fix them.

And now… You looked at another thing that needed fixing.

You flexed your hand. Static coursed through it. "Think this… Could heal him? Whatever he comes out as, I mean… It's far better than this, right?"

"It's possible." Lilith said, tapping her chin- Then smiled at you with a slight blush. "Why not try anyways? It's not like you were going to let him go."

"Oh, oh! Fuck yes!" Rune clapped her hands together, approaching you with starry eyes. "This is my first time seeing this! It's gonna be fucking awesome!"

"Same." Alabaster said, popping her neck- Still in male form, for appearances' sake. "This will be good."

"What are you going to do to me?" Oni Lee said, blinking up at you with the same blank eyes he gave everything else. You sighed bitterly, then closed your eyes as you reached out.

"I'm… Putting an end to your pain."

Your fingertips brushed against his forehead- That was all that was needed, as the man's body began to convulse violently. He barely put up a fight, no sounds escaping him as the shock fired up each of his neurons and connections, one by one-

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

[ ] Can mentally 'chain' up to four teleportations in a series, obtaining a picture of what each teleportation will reveal. Removes mental side effects of power use, and allows the use of the power for limited clairvoyance. Can 'see' even without the presence of eyes. (The Blitz upgrade.)

[ ] Allows the actions of up to three independent 'original' selves capable of teleporting independently. Removes side effects of power use. Upon merging, the knowledge of all three selves will merge. (The Shadow Clone upgrade.)

[ ] Removes restriction of sight, allowing one to additionally duplicate themselves all across a 100 meter radius, albeit one at a time. Allows clones to operate for up to 30 seconds, and they can explode upon release. Removes side effects of power use. (The Explosion upgrade.)

SUFFICIENT DATA GATHERED. SYNCHRONIZING WITH HOST

Upgrades (Will appear the next day):

Puppeteer Upgrade:

[ ] Charm: Places anyone within a 3 meter radius in a friendly, agreeable state. All hostile actions against the host are cancelled, and those put under this effect will obey any commands that they would from a close friend or family member. Orders such as 'kill yourself' will shake them out of the effect.

[ ] Forget: Can give any target within a 3 meter radius directed amnesia, causing them to forget certain events. Too long a timeframe deleted will cause obvious damage on the target's psyche, but small events will be glossed over and mended by the target's own brain.

[ ] Berzerk: Sends any target within a 3 meter radius into a blinding, uncontrollable rage while at the same time turning the MC unnoticeable to their senses. They will prioritize once friendly targets, and even when they leave the effect radius their minds will linger in a state of rage until a few minutes have passed.

Prime Doll/Dollmaker Upgrade:

[ ] Marks: Allows your Prime Doll to create teleportation 'marks' on physical locations. These marks allow any Dolls to travel to any other mark on a short cooldown, thus allowing you to build a teleportation network in the city. It also unlocks the ability in the host to summon any one Doll to himself, on a short cooldown (4.3 seconds). (Main Source: Oni Lee)

[ ] Craftsman: Allows your Prime Doll to transform her own mass into mundane gear she has been able to analyze before. While this does not extend to tinkertech, it allows her to craft clothes, weapons and chemicals at will out of her own body, as well as turn part of her body into steel or other materials. All your mundane Dolls gain the ability Weapon Ready (C), allowing them to produce ammunition for weapons and create deployable weapons inside their own body. Parahuman Dolls with superior abilities have this overwritten by their own abilities to avoid bloat. (Main Source: Alabaster)

[ ] Instinct: A short-term precognition that warns Dolls of immediate danger. For your Prime Doll, this warns her of any immediate danger towards either herself or the host. Almost as if taking a picture, the Prime Doll can intuitively grasp the exact nature and shape of the threat, and take steps to intercept it. All Dolls gain the Mind's Eye (C) ability, which allows them to see a bird's eye view of their host and vice-versa. (Main Source: Rune)

-Three sets of arms caught you as you wavered, at the same time that Oni Lee's blank, brain-dead expression tilted to one side, nose bleeding slightly.

"Did it work…?" You mumbled, blearily opening your eyes as you recovered from the mental spell-

"Yes." Lilith breathed, staring ahead with a lustful smile on her face. "It did, Master."

You looked, and your breath hitched. "What…?" You said, staring with wide eyes at the form before you.

There was no doubt that the changing form of Oni Lee was attractive in the extreme. His hard features had softened, face slender and delicate, as if someone had chiseled then smoothed them out to perfection. Full red lips puckered as the Doll's muscles shifted, the hitman's hard body dissolving into a soft, huggable but overall fuckable one, with sloping curves and a full chest that burgeoned out of her loose-fitting bodysuit.

Your stare, however, was not fixated on that. Instead, you were staring at the two short horns growing from the Doll's forehead. They rose a few inches off her long, straight hair, breaking through her front bangs and curving gently, until they proudly stood out like two large spikes- Impossible to hide.

You thought it was over then, but that was when you saw the smoke.

It covered her hair, briefly blanketing it before flowing towards her hands. Wherever they touched, the skin and hair became black as the night, as if submerged in darkness. Her hair became an almost too-deep black, shimmering gently on what little light reached the room. As the smoke touched her hands, they too became pitch-black, and the smooth white skin and glossy nails of her hands up to her elbows were replaced with pitch black claws, their sharp inch-long ends molded to the flesh as if the entire limb was shadow. Despite this, the hand itself remained dainty, clearly feminine and soft despite its dangerous looks.

The process did something similar with her legs up to her thighs, swapping her feet with another pair of shadowy limbs. Judging by their higher arch, they were designed so that she could glide on her tiptoes, rather than walk- Stalking along the shadows like some predator. The bodysuit hid the full extent of the changes, but, well…

You were sure that whoever saw her bare form, would likely not hesitate to call her a Demon.

As Lilith, Rune and Alabaster stared at the new Doll with warmth in their eyes, you only felt anxious. What would happen to her when she opened her eyes? Would she be a mockery of a mockery, even worse than the original? Or-

-At that moment, the Oni Doll's chest heaved, and her lips parted to utter a long, drawn out moan. The powerful vibration of her voice caused her chest to jiggle, and you politely averted your eyes.

At that moment, the Doll's eyes opened-

--

Aoto Shimomura did not remember when his very own self had started to slip away.

Ever since… That day, he'd awakened to an awesome power. He could clone himself while shifting ahead, as many times as he wanted and where he could look at. With that incredible power, it had not taken him long to take over one of the major asian gangs in the city. As their Parahuman enforcer, he'd committed many crimes- But egged on by his comrades, such things had not mattered much back then.

It was only a few months later that people had noticed something weird about him. It wasn't anything major, just that he'd stare off into space for a little while, or space out whenever he had to think for himself, losing himself for minutes. All the while, he continued to dispatch the enemies of the gang as he'd always done. At some point, the matter of why he was doing it simply appeared to fade away.

Family? Needs? Dreams? Such notions had started to become blurry to him over time.

And then… He had met him. The person that had not fit into his monotone scenario. The man who would become his new leader.

Lung.

He strode into the city like a conqueror- Personality impossibly savage and fierce, he challenged the entire might of the Protectorate and comfortably walked away. Any gang that stood in his way was conquered, into an ever growing mass of people that called themselves the ABB- Azn Bad Boys.

At some point, only his gang was left.

He'd put up a fight- But no matter what he'd tried, the Dragon had proven undefeatable. Having broken him at his feet, he had offered Aoto a single choice- Join him… Or die.

And that was the last choice Aoto had ever done in his life.

After that, he became Oni Lee. Lung's right-hand man, he carried out the man's will as a silent enforcer. It did not matter what he thought, or if he even did so. All he had to do was follow Lung's will, and crush those who opposed him. Just as a machine, going about his life like clockwork…

Until eventually, that was all he was.

A killer. A tool. A weapon for Lung to use and break his enemies.

Why…?

He wondered… Why did he kill-?

But the answer had never came.

…Until, all of a sudden, it did.

Aoto roused into awareness, chest heaving as if she was taking her first breaths in a very long time. She felt strange- As if her mind was in a haze, and yet… Clearer, at the same time. Almost as if she'd woken up from a long sleep.

Watakushi? Something was wrong. She, her thoughts- Hadn't she been a man?

Despite that odd realization, no feelings of agitation blossomed into her mind. Aoto felt calm, tranquil. As if she were gliding on the ocean's waves- A profound feeling of peace permeated her core, contentment spreading from the depths of her heart to the tips of her toes like a pleasant tingling.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. A sharp glint of light caused her eyes to wander, and as she stared at the large shard of glass that lied by her side, her eyes widened slightly.

Glowing ever so softly, the red eyes of a demon glared back at her, through the face of something she thought had only existed in myth.

"Wh…" She started, noticing the clear and alluring ring of her voice. "What happened…?"

"She seems better already, Master." A confident, almost smug voice echoed, but she paid it no attention. Something on her words caused her entire being to squirm.

Master. Just that word caused a shock of pleasure to run through her, nipples growing tight against the fabric of her suit as a sudden feeling of ache spread below.

"...I'm afraid to ask, but I still want to know." A strong, sharp voice rumbled inside her mind. It caused her body to heat up, butterflies tingling in her stomach. As if she were a satellite drawn to its orbit, her eyes desperately sought the source of that voice-

"...Tell me." Her eyes met a pair of strong, rust-brown eyes, and her world stilled. As he knelt before her, grabbing at her shoulders and staring at her eyes, Aoto felt safe and warm and happy. A deep sense of belonging stirred in her mind, so fierce that it surprised even her. Her eyes focused on his smooth yet hard features and his rugged frown, and could only think of how perfect he was. His rough lips moved, and Aoto wondered how they would feel on her body.

"What do you remember?"

His words pulled a storm of thoughts from the depths of her mind.

She remembered it all. Her days working a hard part-time job to support her studies, her family falling on bad times. Falling with the wrong crowd, desperately seeking an escape- It all tumbled down, and her life forever changed. How she slipped away, piece by piece, bit by bit. She watched on a slideshow, how every new Oni Lee became more and more distant from the person Aoto had been. How she became a killer absorbed in her task, how she became such a monster that her whole conscious was washed away by ash.

"A-Are you crying…?" Her mind was awakened from the nightmare, as his voice awakened her again. His perplexed, anxious face caused her heart to skip a beat in fascination- His fingers like sandpaper as they touched her cheek, and yet caused her to flush with arousal as he leaned over to brush the crystalline tears that flowed from her face.

How silly, for a demon to cry.

"I'm… sorry…" She voiced, trying to avert her gaze from the heavenly being before her. She couldn't- Did not deserve to look upon his being, with the guilt that weighed in her mind. "I'm a demon… I killed so many… Lost myself in bloodlust…" Her lips quivered, recalling how she had become so monstrous that even her family had abandoned her. "I am… An Oni…!"

"...I won't say it's alright." Despite her resistance, she could not avoid turning to face him when he spoke. His words tugged at her body, like a puppeteer pulling at her strings. "We can do nothing to bring back the lives that have been lost… But there is still something you can do to atone."

There is? Her eyes grew big and round, this time unable to look away as she looked at his determined face. Her entire body thrummed, in high tension as it waited for the next of his words. There was not a single thing more important than listening to his command- To behold him was already her whole reason for existence.

And as she waited, this person-

"-Serve me… And help me change the world so that no more of those evils are allowed to rise again."

-Gave new meaning to her existence.

Serve him? Yes. She could think of nothing better. She remembered, now. How this man had figured out her illness, how he had touched her and picked her broken mind apart, somehow mending it all together. That he was also making her feel this way did not matter in the slightest.

She wanted to serve him. She wanted to be owned, not as a tool like Lung had used her-

-But as Master's beloved Doll.

"Thank you… Thank you, Master…!" Aoto -Aoko now, she supposed- shed tears of happiness, even as her once heavy arms reached out towards her savior. They were black and ruinous- Just like those of a demon, but as they wrapped delicately around Master's neck, she knew she could never hurt him with them.

She leaned forwards, sensing Master's contentment, relief and overwhelming love. Softly, slowly, she kissed him sensuously. A haze of happiness clouded her mind, Master's warmth flowing down from her lips down to all of her body, making her loins grow wet with need. The friction of their lips and the dance of their tongues sent her riding on a cloud, even as Master's hesitant touch on one of her breasts sent her ever deeper into a sea of rapture.

-However, before she could be overwhelmed, he pulled away. Aoko gave a small whine, but obediently remained seated as her Master rose to his feet. She eyed his groin, and wished she could see if her feel of her body had truly aroused him.

"So… Is that a yes?" He asked, a light-heartedness in his voice that wasn't there before. Feeling that his stress had let up, that he was happier because of her actions, her entire body shook with ecstasy as his programming gave her the reward she needed. She almost sighed, wanting to bask on how wonderful it was to be so completely owned…

-But first, there was something she had to do- Something to recover what she had lost after these cruel years.

"Master." Shuffling on the ground, Aoko assumed a seiza position, legs folded under her thighs and her hands pressed tightly against her lap. "I swear, even if I may not be able to atone for all my past misdeeds, this Doll will serve you forever. If you wish to use me as your sword, then I shall cut all your enemies. If I may be your shield, I will gladly throw myself upon the enemy's arrows. And if you shall have me be your… Courtesan," She blushed at this, her heart beating at the idea and desperately hoping. "Then I shall happily take care of all of your needs. This I swear upon my name, my family, and all my ancestors."

Her words said, she lowered her head and bowed deeply, plastering her face against the ground. It was an uncomfortable gesture with the horns poking out of her head, but she did not care. Any pain was worth enduring for the sake of her Master.

Yes. She was Master's, completely and utterly. This was her fate… This was what she had been born for.

This was where she belonged.

--

"Master… You can feel them too, right?" Lilith whispered harshly, and you forced yourself to nod, even as you remained transfixed at the Doll that bowed before you.

How could it feel this good? Using his power should be a disgusting experience… Not an empowering one.

The Empire capes you had converted had been much the same. With a simple command and firm words, you could completely fix the attitude that years of social conditioning had done on them, and turned them into beautiful Dolls that wished only to make you happy, and would gladly work themselves to death to improve the world if it was what you wished.

And now… This. You'd taken some emotionless psychopath… And turned her into a highly emotive, servile vassal straight out of one of those stupid dramas that nerd Tyson couldn't stop watching.

You wanted to address that issue… But there was no time. You couldn't remain here. Not like this.

Your senses alerted you that someone was coming. Capes. Two of them, for that matter. Either the Empire was here for backup… Or the Protectorate had been sent to investigate.

You didn't want to chance either, with the Parahuman Doll kowtowing before you.

You had to settle this matter right now. It would be so easy- Escape with Lilith or remain here to talk to whoever arrived, while sending away the rest of your Dolls to the locations they should've been going to anyways.

But… Could you really send away the Doll in front of you back into her acts of terrorism? It wasn't a matter of faking it- You knew she would do exactly as told… But somehow, the notion of telling this person to kill just like her old Master made you want to vomit.

What should you do?

[ ] Have Oni Lee return to Lung, and continue to keep up appearances. (Oni Lee will continue to work as Lung's agent, patiently awaiting for the day you seize glory and turn him yours. She will remain working as his enforcer, doing her best to work around his orders but prioritizing appearances.)

[ ] You don't want her to return to Lung. Have her become a rogue agent, act as a public pawn you could use. (Oni Lee will gladly serve as YOUR enforcer instead, under the guise of a solo villain. Lung might try to hunt her down, but she's more than capable of fighting back now.)

[ ] Have her go dark. Oni Lee died today, only your Doll remains. (Oni Lee will go into the shadows, acting only when undetectable and for the most part staying put… Until the day you reveal the true monstrosity of your powers.)

Also-

[ ] Greet the incoming capes. Introduce yourself. (You will go public officially, will probably get to give out your name before any weird label gets tacked on if the Capes are protectorate.)

[ ] Go. You're already suspicious enough as is. (You will put off going public, which means that you might get assigned a weird name.)

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Last edited: Sep 29, 2016

Sep 28, 2016 ReportLike

KenNM, Ciolekovsky20, Yenzen and 203 others like this.

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Minutes later, two figures stood amidst the wreckage of the recent battle. They looked at the numerous craters and aftereffects left behind the bombs, some of them temporary while a few of them horribly permanent.

One of them whistled. "They sure did a number on this place, huh?" With a brief jaunt, the man leapt straight into the warzone- Clearing dozens of meters in the blink of an eye.

He edged around most of the bombs' obvious marks, before his eyes widened as he saw the effects of the detonated time-bomb. "Holy shit. Velocity, get over here!"

"-That's an arm." The other cape said in astonishment, having flickered in a manner of moments to where his companion was. "Why… How is it even floating there?"

"Hmm…" The first figure squinted his eyes at the time bubble, giving it a few hard knocks with his fist- "DAMN!" Then pulling back with a grimace as he clutched his fist. "Whatever it's floating in, it's harder than anything I've ever met before!"

"I thought your specialty was punching things, Assault." Velocity said jokingly, causing his fellow cape to guffaw.

"Hey! My powers are more than just hitting things!" Assault made a faux expression of offense, before waggling his eyebrows. "I happen to be a master of many physical arts."

"Yeah, whatever." The fellow Protectorate hero snorted, before he turned his attention back to the destroyed streets. "Still… This Bakuda chick is really dangerous. If this is what a single person can do with those bombs…"

Assault took a serious look at the scene for the moment, before he went back to picking at his ear absent-mindedly. "Piggot says she asked for the Think Tank to give their opinion, and received a fairly negative response. It's fairly serious… But that doesn't matter to us poor old street grunts, yeah?"

"...What do you think happened here?" Velocity peered inside one of the buildings, noticing the many shell casings that led into it as well as the gaping hole on the floor and the caved-in ceiling. "'Warzone' doesn't even begin to cover this place."

"Empire and ABB crossed, assholes made a mess and shit went down. There's not much else to say." Assault replied, before he grinned. "But more importantly, do you think Oni Lee might have dropped any of his bombs during the fight!?"

"Assault…" Velocity sighed. "You know that-"

"'All unverified tech must go through the proper reviewing procedure blah blah blah yadda yadda'- Psh, what they don't know won't hurt them." The cape shrugged him off, turning towards the wreckage with an excited gleam on his eyes- Before he blinked.

"Hey, Velocity. Come check this out." Assault knelt over something, his face curious. The other hero walked over, and followed his gaze with a stern, frustrated gaze-

-Until he saw Assault pry free the note that was stuck to a pole, the paper pinned there with a dagger. Velocity moved to read its contents, even as Assault laughed out loud.

"Well, they're right about that, at least!"

The note's contents read-

'Sorry about doing your job- But at least this means you don't get the pay-cut for collateral damage. Oni Lee made a mess. Most sincerely,

-Lilith (& Adam)'

"New cape?" Velocity said, snatching the note from Assault's hands and pocketing it. "Piggot will want to know."

"Heh heh heh." Assault grinned widely. "Things are getting fun again, for a start!"

--

"Damn, I'm fucking beat!" Ashley exclaimed, dropping on the couch and kicking back with her legs. Next to her, Othala -Marie- smiled kindly and reached out to her still wet hair, rubbing it with the towel the cape had left on her neck after the shower.

"You fought off Oni Lee, and came home all scratched up and bruised. I'd be surprised if you weren't tired." Marie said softly, running the towel over Ashley's hair to her pleasant murmurs of agreement. The PJ-clad telekinetic wiggled her toes from the pleasant sensation, even as she curled up against her older cousin.

"I think all of us earned a nice, hot drink." Victor -Norman- said as he walked over from the kitchen, perfectly balancing a tray with chinaware on it. "I got these cacao beans from Krieg, said he bought them in England. Since coffee isn't exactly something we'd want now, I thought a nice hot chocolate would do the trick."

Norman laid the tray on the table before the couch, a steaming jar keeping the chocolate hot even as he placed three cups over the tiny plates on the tray. His hands moved with mechanical precision, filling each cup until it was full of the steaming, aromatic liquid. He chuckled as Ashley leapt to it, taking a big gulp and immediately rocking back as the heat of the drink scalded her tongue.

"I-ish' great!" Ashley said, clearly adoring the taste even as she desperately fanned her mouth. Marie giggled, and blew on her cup before taking a sip. Her eyes beamed.

"You like it, honey?" Norman smiled warmly, rubbing his girl's back comfortingly. She nodded quickly, looking up at him with the familiar affectionate stare that always caused him to regret his own lack of feeling. He tried hard, anyways, so that she could smile at him like this all the time.

"TV?" He proposed, but both of the girls shook their heads. "Oh come on, there's this game starting in 10 minutes…"

Marie made a face, and Ashley snorted.

"Sorry," She waved a hand, brushing her platinum blonde hair behind her shoulders. "But I only do games I can play. I'd rather not sit through you screaming at a screen while you watch some buffoons move around like they were a big deal."

"S-Sorry, dear." Marie averted her gaze.

Norman scoffed. "Women. You will never understand what manly passion is. Back where I lived, working on the sports industry was all the rage… Well, besides being a cape." He shrugged. "Anyways, the night is yours, ladies. What else can I do for you?"

"...I just want to cuddle." Marie said, a heavy blush on her face. Norman rolled his eyes in a 'oh whatever I will do' way, before he sidled up to his wife and caught her between his strong arms, resting his head over her shoulder.

"Like this?" He whispered, and Marie trembled.

"...So..." Ashley began, tilting her head at the flirting couple. "I heard you guys threw down with Lung?"

Norman's face darkened. "Fucking monster." He growled, even as a shock of fear raced through his face. "Othala got called in as backup. Fucker almost killed Kaiser and was toying with Hookwolf. The Protectorate stepped in, Armsmaster and Miss Militia came up with something that forced him to retreat- But…"

Ashley's face grew sullen. "Someone got captured?"

Norman sighed. "Yeah. Stormtiger and Menja. Hookwolf is besides himself with rage, and so is Menja's sister. We're going to have to stage a breakout, soon."

"Fucking assholes." Ashley groaned, throwing her head back against the couch. "We do their job for them, fighting the real danger on the streets, and this is how they repay us? There should be some kind of, I dunno, truce or something preventing them from just capturing us!"

"Lung is not an Endbringer, ugly as sin he might be." Norman commented, and both of the girls laughed.

"Did everyone else come out okay?" Ashley asked next, her face growing a little worried.

"Thanks to Marie here, they did." Norman affectionately scratched at the girl's scalp, smiling fondly. "You are the best of us, honey. All these powers meant to hurt people, and you're the one who can only help others."

Marie blushed. "I-I'm not that great, really. You're so good at everything, Nor… I can barely do a tenth of the things I've seen you do."

"Well, I am pretty great." Norman said with no small amount of pride, and Marie just giggled. She looked up at him with warm eyes, and the two leaned down to kiss.

Ashley smiled fondly at the sight. They truly were made for each other- Two birds of a feather. Marie was always shy and insecure about the relationship, but Norman pressed hard and did everything he could to make Marie feel loved and wanted. Out of their costumes, they were simply a loving couple trading affections, instead of the criminal enforcers that they really were.

But…

...Thankfully, soon they would be even better off.

Norman smiled down at his wife, reaching out to one of Marie's stray locks to brush it away. As if stuck, his fingers lingered on her cheek for a moment, before he moved to flick the tuft of hair-

-Except he didn't.

What…? Eyes widening as he stared down at his frozen hand, Norman once again tried to move the paralyzed limb. It didn't budge. Wh-What's going on!? He tried to jump off the couch, shout in alarm- But his legs didn't budge from the seat, the only sound that escaped him the motion of his body breathing.

He looked towards his wife, seeking an escape from this situation- But her eyes were just as horrified as his, trembling even as her body remained still as a statue.

At that moment… Ashley stood up. Norman's eyes followed her, his skilled mind kicking into gear- And when he saw her smile with dark joy, his glare turned accusatory.

"Oh, don't look at me like that cousin-in-law." Ashley pouted, even as her eyes flashed towards the closed window behind them- And the latch started to open of its own will, panel moving aside and curtains slowly raising to welcome the cold night air. "I wouldn't have to do this if the two of you hadn't gotten it into your head to listen to the babbling of racist dumbasses."

Norman's face paled. There was no way Ashley would ever say that.

"Oh, you're shocked, aren't you?" Ashley licked her lips, grinning down at the paralyzed man and lightly touching his cheek. "I was, too, when Master touched me. But now… Now I see so much more." She loved the way his eyes turned horrified, the way he understood the underlying context behind her every word and it made him more and more desperate to escape.

It was so good, knowing the fate that awaited him. To know just how silly his fear was, his limited values and human sensations constraining him from the light that was Master's truth.

"But it's okay," She breathed, getting close to his ear to whisper. "Soon, you will see too. And then…"

She gave him a little lick with her tongue, even as Norman spotted through the corner of his eye as two figures stepped inside from the window.

"Then, we'll become a real family."

That was his last coherent thought, before Norman felt something pull at his mind-

-And his consciousness fell into darkness.

--

Marie's dreamless, yet agonizing slumber was roused by the sound of moans.

"Mmph…" The cape groaned, her eyes opening to the still-glaring light of the ceiling lamp overhead. She blinked rapidly, her sight stinging at having met its rays, and did her best to recover her bearings.

As her mind awoke, she remembered the events that had led to her sleeping- And her eyes widened, back straightening as she jumped from the couch to search for her husband- But both hands and feet refused to respond properly, and all she managed to do was a little hop from where she was lying.

"Ah… Mm…! Master- Oooh, so good- MASTER, SHE'S AWAKE!" A seductive, sultry voice echoed through the room, her scream barely pulling through her heated moans and breaths. Marie's head managed to slowly move from her bound position, letting her crane her neck to try and see the source of the sound.

When she found it, she flinched in shock.

"So she is. I'll- Ugh… Get to her… Later!" She saw the man reply, heard his sharp voice and noticed the russian accent, but all of it faded away when she saw the ridiculous sight before her.

In her house, over her dining table, the man was fucking a woman in plain sight, her body fully exposed for everyone to see. The moaning woman sat on the table, her callipygian ass pressed tight against the cold wood, as the man's thrusts nailed her in place. One of her legs, long and shapely and smoother than she had ever managed- Was locked around the man's waist, foot arched and toes curled in pleasure as she pulled him to her. The other dangled freely, sparkling tiptoes touching the floor for leverage against her lover's assault.

Marie's brain instinctively flared with jealousy, as she noticed just how attractive the woman was. One of the man's hands rested against her tapered waist, sometimes tracing her hips and squeezing her as he eagerly pounded into her filled, stretched cunt. It struck her how clean the woman's sex looked- Even as she buckled under the man's heavy thrusts, it looked perfectly pink and glistening, not irritated in the slightest. Her clit was strangely large, not enough to raise alarm but it proudly stuck out from the hood, twitching whenever the man took himself to the hilt in her.

Her eyes boggled at the size of her breasts -no way those are natural-, round and large as melons and yet impossibly free of sag. Even when her partner tried to cup her chest, his hand was nowhere near large enough to close around it. They were supple, bending under his touch yet springing back to shape, and as the man took one of her fat nipples to his mouth and suckled, she watched the other grow hard as a rock, making an audible noise when the man flicked it. A clear, crystalline liquid dribbled every so often from them, which both confounded and weirded her out.

When she finally saw the woman's face, she gasped. Beautiful did not even begin to describe her. For a moment, Marie thought she seemed familiar- Before dismissing the thought, as she would've remembered seeing a woman like this before. The first thing she noticed was the hair- Flowing in waves down to her shoulders, it was a light brown that under the light looked almost blonde. Despite the heated, passionate love-making the woman was busying herself with, not a single lock of hair looked out of place- It even kept the same form and shape as it bounced, styled so that part of it covered one of the woman's exotic eyes.

That was the next thing she noticed- The eye she could see belonging to the woman was not normal, or at least not something she'd ever seen before. Initially pale blue with a long, slashed pupil, she felt her skin crawl when her eyes flickered to a dark purple, so deep and opaque that they appeared to suck all light- But in an instant, they reverted back to their normal state as her sight turned back to the man, those inhuman orbs full to the brim with love as she cooed to his ear.

"Oh yes," She breathed, biting at her plump, pink lips as she grinded her own hips against her lover. "You're so- So good, Master- Ah, Mmngrh…!" The woman's perfect features twisted in pure ecstasy as the one she called 'Master' rammed against her sex over and over, her quivering body at his mercy as she was constantly pushed against the table, stretched and filled and claimed as the man sought to mark every inch of her body as his.

"Grk…" The man growled, speaking up for the first time after a minute of non-stop pistoning of his hips. A small, sweet-smelling bead of fluid dripped down his lips as he broke away from the woman's burgeoned teat. "I- Fuck, I'm close…!" His roar of admittance caused the woman's body to tighten, eyes widening with delight at his words.

"Do it." The woman begged, her pale skin growing flush as her entire body produced pheromones in full force. "Cum… inside…! Ah… Hah! I need it… I need you… Master!" Her eyes glazed with love, falling in a trance as the man pulled her close for a kiss. Her mouth opened, lips parting to let his tongue explore her throat, and Marie thought she glimpsed the presence of sharp, pointed fangs on the woman's teeth- Which were quickly eclipsed by the 'Master's lips sealing hers.

The well-fucked woman sighed sweetly, even as her entire body rocked with the tell-tale signs of multiple orgasms. The man cried out into her mouth, giving a handful of strokes that buried him deep inside- Before his body shook, and slowly relaxed all over. He leaned into the kiss for a moment, and the woman reciprocated- Even as she happily took one arm off the table and rubbed at her belly, eyes narrowed in blissful, rapturous afterglow.

"Thank you, Master." The woman sighed when the 'Master' eventually retreated from the kiss, taking a short breath to recover his breath. "I love you." She rained kisses on his lips, his brow, his neck- Even one on his bare chest, murmuring sweetly as he slowly, pleasurably pulled out from where they had been connected. Her distended snatch twitched as the shaft and head broke free, slick with a pinkish, clear substance that dribbled from her sex and down to the floor. She reached down and sealed it with one finger before any of his semen could slip out, and as she slowly traced that digit back to her own mouth, Marie watched as her pussy lips tightened unnaturally fast, the liquid staining them drying shortly and leaving her glowing and stain-free: completely ready to be broken in again, whenever her lover desired to shove his thing into her.

"I'm curious- What does it feel, doing it from the other side? Does it make you uncomfortable?" The man asked, one hand playing with her ear as the other gently fondled her breasts. The woman chuckled- A deep, throaty sound that caused Marie to grow ever warmer, making her wonder why exactly she had woken up to a scene from a porno.

"Of course not, Master. On the contrary. I thought people who did drugs were idiots, but now I see how they feel." She fluttered her eyelashes at him, one hand reaching out and firmly grabbing the one pressed against her tits. "Did you feel uncomfortable using me, Master?"

"Not really. You were very good." He admitted, and his lover giggled as she stepped down from the table, unhooking her leg from his waist. Still walking on her tiptoes, she kissed him on the lips again and fixed him with an ardent gaze.

"Then I'm only grateful that my past experiences have left me knowing how to please you." She gave him a wide, seductive grin, and this time Marie clearly saw the vampiric fangs on her upper canines. "This Doll's entire being is for you, Master."

Doll?

Her confusion continued even as she watched the woman slowly slide down, falling to her knees as she cupped the man's cock and suckled on it, running her tongue along the shaft and cleaning it of the crystalline pink chemical that caused it to twitch. The Doll looked at her Master's penis, marked with slight indentations where her folds had milked him dry. She gave a dominant smile, and kissed the properly serviced tool on the head.

-And then, her eyes turned towards her.

"Enjoying the show, Marie?"

Marie squirmed as the strange woman removed herself from the man with the fluidity of a gazelle, turning towards her with a wide-eyed, salacious sneer. Her gait was calm, controlled, with a familiar weight that Marie remembered seeing somewhere else- A deeply unsettling feeling blossomed in her chest, and the struggle to move her body intensified.

But it was futile. She was bound and gagged- She felt the hard texture of the ball covering her mouth, preventing her from getting anything other than a muffled sound out. The bite of the chains constricting her was cold and uncomfortable, pulling taut against her skin and while not bothering her enough to be painful, were so deeply revolved around her that it made her feel violated.

"Don't struggle too much, dear. You'll end up hurting yourself." The strange woman purred as she reached the couch, carefully brushing Marie's hair with one hand as another traced the contours of her body. Marie shuddered- The way she was being touched was intimate. She wasn't just randomly prodding at her, she somehow had managed to find her body's exact weak spots and attack them with a lewd smile.

No way… The only one who knows about that is…

"Mm, mph… Mph!" Marie tried to speak through the gag, but it was futile. Everything she tried to say came as a strangled moan, the restraint cutting at her ability to speak and leaving her nonsensical gasps throaty and confused.

The woman laughed. "Sorry, I'll take of that right away. Poor thing…" Full lips twisted into a smirk all the while, she reached down towards Marie's face. "Don't scream," She warned, "or I will have to silence you."

As she felt the bindings come loose, Marie gasped and spit out the gag, coughing when some of the drool caught in her throat. "Who- Ghack…! Who are you, and what are you doing in my house!?" She said, but didn't scream. Something in the woman's empty blue eyes told her it would be a terrible idea.

The woman smiled. A knowing, content smile, as if everything was well with the world. It was such a perfect smile that it sent a crawl down her spine. "You don't remember me, Marie?" She looked offended for a moment. "And to think I've spent three years memorizing all your habits."

Her eyes widened. No, it can't be.

"N-Norman?" Her eyes trembled, glancing around the room and waiting for her husband to show up, to tell her that this was one big joke. "Y-You can't, there's no way- Are you fucking kidding me-"

Just as she snarled.

"She isn't lying to you." From behind the woman, he appeared. Shirtless, clad only in a pair of pants, the one the woman called 'Master' was a slightly handsome, athletic-looking teenager. She thought he might have been more attractive to some, but his hard stare and sharp features (so much unlike her Norman's confidence) caused her to turn her nose at him.

The woman in front of her clearly did not share in her opinion.

"Master." The woman's eyes sparkled as she caught sight of him, landing another wet kiss on his lips as she flirtingly pressed herself against him. "I'm sorry… I really wanted to talk to her- Make her know how I feel about her. Having her watch our love-making…" She licked her lips sensuously. "Thanks for granting me that favor, Master."

"What the fuck is the meaning of this!? And 'Master'!? What kind of name is that-" Her face paled, as the context of the words finally sunk into her mind. "Wait. Master? You're a parahuman?" She started to hyperventilate. "Oh no."

"Show her." A dark smirk grew on the man's face as the woman nodded eagerly, and he stepped away from the two, watching with crossed arms. Marie watched as two other girls approached him, one of them a blonde she didn't know and the other…

Her eyes widened. "Ashley?"

"Master…" Ashley squirmed on the air, legs crossed and toes curled as she leaned against his body, begging for his touch. "I'm so hot… Everything about this is driving me crazy…"

This is wrong, Marie thought, as she saw the girl's idealized beauty and the markings on her body. She looks wrong… Better, but fucked up at the same time. What is going on?

"You did good, Rune. Good girl." The unknown Master praised the girl and she moaned, leaning into his touch when she cupped her cheek. "I'll reward you," He pressed a thumb to her glossy lips, which she suckled on with a smoky gaze. "But it'll have to wait until later. I still need to break the wife in, after all."

He's talking about me, She realized, and released an involuntary yell. The man's cold eyes turned back to her- And she choked as a hand firmly clamped down on her throat.

"I told you to be silent, you bad girl." The woman hissed, and Marie saw that her eye had become the same gaping dark that she'd seen before. As she looked at it, her entire body became lethargic, her movements against the binds quiet and muted. Her eyes remained impossibly wide, unable to look away from the darkness before her.

So hard… to move… to think…

"Victor." Someone said, she wasn't sure who. "You're hurting her."

"-My apologies, Master." As soon as she heard his words, the woman looked down and closed her eye, new life filling Marie as she took gasping heaves to recover from the feeling of drowning. "I'm not used to my powers, and when I thought of her ruining your plans…"

"Y-You're not…" Marie growled. "There's no way you're my Victor, you monster!"

The woman's grin turned icy, as she placed a finger over her lips. "Is there?"

At that moment, her body shifted.

Marie's eyes grew wide in horror as the Doll's body changed, soft flesh turning hard and muscled as she rose in height. Her lustrous brown hair turned a bleached blonde, and as her mons retracted into the skin, the mass of her clitoris swelled until it became a long, limp shaft- One she was intimately acquainted with.

"No…" She whispered in horror. "Nor… What did he do to you!?"

"He made me see, Marie." Victor- her Victor- said with glee, face becoming flush as he gave her a dopey grin. "What Ashley said, about understanding- I understand it all know, how wonderful it is to serve him, how great it is to submit." His cock grew hard as he spoke, unable to control his arousal as he approached the struggling form of his wife.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" She screamed, her eyes wide with horror as tears of fear began to drip from her eyes. "YOU'RE NOT- THIS IS A NIGHTMARE!"

-A thunderous noise struck.

Marie's mind reeled, the slap she'd received having turned her head several degrees with a loud snap. Her eyes remained frozen, even as Victor clutched her jaws and snarled. "I thought I told you to shut up. You're always so obedient, and now you decide to get wild of all times?" His face darkened. "If only you could have acted more like your sister back then, rather than now."

"Stop," She begged, tears falling from her eyes. "Stop this. I'm sorry, okay? Th-The racism thing, the crimes. I'll stop everything, so don't do this. Don't… I don't want to see Victor acting like this. Even if it's how he really feels…!"

I knew, I knew that he didn't love me, that it was my sister he had in his heart- But for this monster to rub it in my face…

She looked at the Master, the one she knew was responsible for this. Ashley stared at her with an uncomfortable, regretful face, while the other girl eyed her with disdain.

The Master's eyes remained cold, but when her eyes met his, she saw him flinch.

"P-Please," She begged. "Give him back… Give me my husband back."

"You're not in any position to ask things, honey." Victor hissed, but then smiled. "Don't worry, though. The pain won't last long, once he makes you see. I'm just making sure you understand how bad you've been… But if you keep trying to be noisy, then you give me no choice. As for punishment..."

With a malicious grin, Victor forcefully spread the girl's jaws with one hand, and aligned his cock towards her throat with another.

"I think we can start with-"

"Enough." Like a gunshot, the voice echoed through the room. Victor's body froze, eyes growing slightly foggy as his expression slackened- And in seconds, the Doll from before knelt at Marie's feet, head bowed demurely towards the speaker.

"I-I'm sorry Master." The Doll spoke, horror flooding into her voice. "She was acting so innocent, so happy, even though she's wrong and she hates people and she needs Master to fix her-" She gasped, shaking her head as tears fell down her cheeks. "I didn't… Why did I hurt her like that?"

"Because you're a bad person, Victor." The Master said, his cool eyes regarding the Doll at his feet with disdain. "Like your power, you're a leech. A vampire that stuck with a better person than you for the sake of more power, to the point that you even deluded yourself into thinking you even felt something."

The Doll grimaced, the truth in her Master's words causing her to shiver in shame and disgust at herself.

"But you won't be, when I'm done with the two of you." He knelt by the Doll's side, brushing the wave of hair that covered her second eye. She watched him with wide, entranced eyes, hanging onto his every word.

"I won't?" She asked in wonder, her pupils dilating as her Master ran his hand under her chin. On the couch, Marie shivered.

"This world needs fixing. It's full of psychopaths and sociopaths, and scum that preys on others. I'm going to fix you two, make you right." He leaned over and kissed the Doll's forehead, causing her to moan. "I'll make you the perfect lovers. Drawn to one another like moths to a flame, accepting of each other's flaws and quirks. Fix the mistakes that your selfishness created."

The Doll's eyelashes fluttered, trembling at the thought of her mind, her very thoughts being reshaped by her Master. "That sounds… wonderful." She breathed.

"Y-You're crazy." Marie said, even as the nameless Master turned his rust-brown eyes towards her. "You're a monster. Who the fuck needs your fixing? Just turn him back, and leave us be- PLEASE!"

"Rune." The man said simply, and Marie's eyes widened as a black blur suddenly shot towards her face. She tried to scream, but the gag forced itself down her mouth, sealing her voice and muting her cries.

"You're not a terrible person. You're probably the least bad in the Empire, honestly." Walking up to her, the man glared. "But you're still a villain, one that helps advance the goals of an organization that makes everyone miserable. That you think you're innocent or righteous pisses me off."

He clenched his hand. It trembled slightly, fizzing with an invisible force that Marie could barely sense, yet filled her with a horrible sense of doom.

"Still… You're okay, I guess." He commented coldly as the hand reached towards her face. "So at the very least… I'll make sure that the new you is the happiest she can be."

Marie's eyes widened, as the man's hand moved over her eyes. Stop, she thought. I don't want to die-!

-But nobody answered her, as the Master's hand touched her and her reality broke down in a mess of headaches and twitching-

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

Victor:

-Free Skill: Demon Eye (C): Drains the stamina of any target in line of sight, causing them to become increasingly exhausted, though it can only handle one target at a time.

[ ] Focuses ability drain on a single target within 10 meters, absorbing not only their talents but also their powers over time, and granting them to Victor. Depowering/Powering effect lasts 24 hours. (The Void Trump upgrade.)

[ ] Can use ability drain en masse at a reduced effect over a range of 100 meters, reducing the coordination and skill of enemies. Allows direct copying of one's own talents to large numbers of people, with complex skills taking more time to transfer. (The Mass Trump upgrade.)

[ ] Every different parahuman fought in a battle, regardless of victory or defeat, grants her a new, weaker version of the parahuman's power. (The Ace Trump upgrade.)

Othala:

Common trait: Increases available powers and strength of powers based on Mikhail's strength. Can grant powers at range via Doll anatomy (LoS based).

[ ] Grants powers one at a time to single targets. Each power can only be active once, but multiple powers can be active at once as long as they aren't on the same person. Powers last indefinitely, or until called off. (The Bestowal Upgrade)

[ ] Can grant up to three iterations of the same power amongst multiple targets, but each person can only have one power at a time. Powers last up to five minutes before needing a refresh. (The Aura Upgrade)

[ ] Grants powers to only a single person, but can stack up to three different powers on the same person. Powers last indefinitely, or until called off. (The Eidolon Upgrade)

-Thus, the same as her husband, her mind quietly slipped away.

--

Marie's awareness slowly returned to her. She felt calm, tranquil. The fear she had been experiencing at the hands of Master had faded away, like a bad dream, leaving only a blissful haze of white noise as her body started to wake itself up from a long slumber.

"Mmm…" Her legs shifted, and she squirmed in contentment at the feel of her bare skin rubbing against each other. She didn't remember being naked when Master touched her and transformed her, but that didn't really matter, now did it? She felt wonderful this way.

"Welcome back, Marie." A silky voice whispered, laying a hand on her forehead. "It's over."

"Mm, that's good…" She bit her lip, shivering at the familiar tone of her voice. She didn't know why, but the mere caress of this person caused feeling of pleasure to spread all throughout her body, making her toes curl slightly.

She opened her eyes, and saw the most beautiful blue eye smile down at her from a curtain of heavenly hair. Memories rushed into her head, and her breath hitched. "N-Norman?"

"Normandy, now." She purred, before giving her an angelic smile. "But just call me Nora, Marie. That's the name Master gave me… To celebrate the birth of my new self."

"...Oh." Remembering what had happened made Marie turn her head sadly, biting her lip and averting her gaze. "D-Did you really mean it? Those things about m-my sister, and how I wasn't enough? I-I…"

"Shh… It doesn't matter now. Nothing else does." Nora smiled softly, placing her long, delicate finger over Marie's lips. It felt good- Her lips felt kind of fuller, and the way the finger plied her mouth caused her body to ache. A sudden wave of love hit her, as she parted her lips and suckled on it softly, her wet tongue tasting every inch.

"Mm…!" Nora blushed. Her gaze softened even more. "God… You're so beautiful." Spellbound, the Doll leaned towards the form of her wife, Master's programming hammering in the new way she felt for her. The way she should have felt.

Marie gave a small whine when the finger slipped out of her mouth, then shivered as Nora let the slick digit trail down her body, stopping to flick at one of her nipples. A shadow fell over her just as she marvelled at the orgasmic sensation, and she turned her eyes up- Freezing when she saw her lover's intense stare.

"I love you." The both of them breathed at the same time, their minds in complete syntony. Nora's soft lips stole her breath as they fell upon her, pinching her own and sparking an electric jolt that left her laden with need. Unknown to them, as they lost themselves in this heavenly haze, Mikhail's programming was undoing everything that had made them unhappy.

It felt like heavy weights were slipping off her, Marie thought, as all her insecurities and discomfort seemed to melt away into nothingness. She only felt the taste of Nora's lips, her warmth, and wanted nothing else.

She moaned when Nora's hand stroked her belly, squeezing softly and stimulating the depths of her womb. When her hand moved lower, still amidst their passionate kiss, Marie did not hesitate to spread her legs for her. The both of them smiled through their kiss, overflowing with love for each other.

"W-what happened to my pubic hair?" Marie asked, when Nora's hand slid down to her sex without breaking the feeling of smoothness that covered her skin. "Did you shave me- AH!"

Her toes curled, legs folding back as the Doll pinched her clit between two fingers, then breaking down into heated moans as Nora stuck two fingers into her hot, waiting hole. Her folds clamped harder than anytime before, impossibly so, memorizing the texture of her lover's fingers to exact detail as they sent white-hot pleasure to the very core of her brain.

Nora softly thrust the two digits back and forth, leaving her wife restless and needy as her other hand brushed the back of her neck. She landed one last hot kiss on her, letting her two fangs brush against her lower lip, before she pulled away and lifted her by the neck into a sitting position. Marie sighed in bliss, completely under Nora's thumb as she pulled the healer onto her lap.

Her fingers, all the while, continued to thrust lovingly.

"You still haven't realized?" Nora said with a smug smile. "Look at yourself. Look at what Master did to you with a touch."

Marie sighed as she leaned into her lover's touch, but nonetheless did as she asked. Turning her head down, she saw two proud lumps of flesh standing out, round and large. They jiggled slightly as Nora played with her, but remained perky and firm. As Nora pressed against her, her own large breasts squished against her own, the supple mounds rubbing against each other in ways that made Marie fall ever deeper into her lover's thrall.

Overwhelmed by the pleasure, yet desperate to listen to Nora's commands, Marie next examined her hand. Her eyes widened with wonder, staring at the glittering ribbons of multicoloured -but mainly green- light laced around her arms. They went all the way to her wrist, where they tied themselves in a cute little knot, leaving two strands to freely touch at the air. Upon checking her legs, she realized that the same applied to her ankles.

"Master's little gift." Nora whispered, increasing the power behind her thrusts. "Now you won't feel useless anymore- As long as you can see someone, those ribbons can reach out and save them."

Wonderful, she thought, but that joy was soon eclipsed by an even bigger one. Marie continued to examine her body, past her smooth navel and creamy skin, to look at where Nora's hand connected to her. She watched with wonder as her fingers explored her pussy, thrusting back and forth and spilling slick, pink lubricant to the ground. Her large clit twitched, begging for attention as her body coursed with pleasure.

She had been given the same gift as her lover. Master had touched her… And turned her into a Doll.

Marie orgasmed. That little thought fired up all the pleasure centers of her mind, causing her to see nothing but white for a moment. When the haze fell off, she was happy. She felt obedient, accepting of her fate. She was no longer human, no longer the insecure person full of flaws she had been.

Now she was a Doll. Master's Doll, Nora's Doll. A pretty little creature, that could devote herself to spreading joy.

"I love it." Marie breathed. "I love this, everything…" She sighed. "It's so wonderful. Stay with me forever, Nora… Never abandon me again, my Victor."

"I swear, Marie." Nora said, meeting her eyes with rock-solid determination. "My feelings for you are genuine, now and forever more. I'll never leave you… Other than Master, I love you most of all."

That was okay. Nothing was more important than Master, after all.

"Now then…" As she buried her fingers up to the knuckles in her wife, Nora whispered to her ear. "I've got another gift for you…"

Feeling a hard length poking at her thigh, Marie giggled. "Of course, Nora…" She fluttered her eyelids at her husband, and puckered her lips. "I'm all yours. Use this Doll as you'd like."

They stayed up all night, hours after Master left. All throughout, they never once broke eye contact.

Without a doubt, Victor and Othala felt happier than they'd ever felt before.

--

Wednesday, April 2nd

When you finally made it to school the next day, any happiness over your success faded by the sheer lethargy that weighed you down. Whispers spread as the people saw you pass with a tired gait, likely sowing some rumor about the honor student's lack of usual vigor.

GENERATING CONFLICT

As the classes went by, you were quickly becoming more and more tired. No… That wasn't exactly right. It was as if a haze fell upon your mind, everything felt either too warm or too cold, depending on how the air struck him. You staggered into the next period, collapsing into your seat as starting to breath heavily.

Eventually, before you realized, the class had started. The teacher was doing some math problem on the board- Too easy, you could see the answer already- and when he called for any volunteers to solve it, you immediately raised your hand.

"Oh, Galkin." The teacher rolled his eyes, but smiled pleasantly. "I'd ask anyone else, but- ...Galkin?" The teacher frowned. "Galkin, are you okay- Mikhail!"

"Y-yeah, I'm…" The moment you rose from the seat, your entire vision spawn. You caught the faces of your classmates, staring at you with a mixed look of surprise and horror, and caught the teacher's concerned gaze-

-Until at last everything spun out of control, and blissful darkness overtook you.

"...eprivation, needs rest…"

"...will need to stay in bed…"

"...extra homework to make up?"

"...ourse, sir. Mikhail is our best student, we…"

You slowly regained your awareness, clutching at your head as the sting of exhaustion slowly faded from your mind. Looking down at yourself, you realized that you'd been taken to the infirmary and laid down over a bed.

How did this happen? Had you really been so unused to staying awake that you'd actually fainted in class? It was unbelievable… There was no way it should've happened. And yet-

"I see you're awake… Mikhail."

That hoarse voice caused a chill to crawl up your spine.

"Dad," You said, sitting up from the bed and staring at the man. He fixed you with a hard stare, arms crossed from across the room. "What do you want?"

Julius' face turned dark. "Is that really how you should be talking to me… You runaway?"

Mikhail stiffened. "How-"

"I wasn't sure… I didn't suspect anything until I heard you were sleeping in class." Julius' expression turned severe. "I thought we had straightened things out, already. You have a curfew for a reason. Once you finish high school and become a man, you can handle your studies however you want, but until then you have to respect my wishes."

You sighed. You'd just have to come up with a better way to avoid your father. "Yeah, yeah, sure-"

"No, this doesn't end here." Julius glowered at him, then gestured to his shoes. "Get up. The doctor said you needed three days of rest time, so that's what you're going to get. But afterwards, you're done with distractions. No computer, no TV, and no weekends, until you finish high school."

It was as if you'd been slapped across the face.

"What?" You said, fixing him with a shocked stare. "You can't do that."

"I can, and I WILL!" Julius shouted, slamming one of his muscled hands on the wall. It made a loud banging sound, causing your heart to skip a beat. "How could you disrespect your father like this! After I've done so much to make sure you get the best books, the best education- So you could become the best, like Kat wanted-"

"Has it ever occurred to you that I never wanted that!?" You replied, gritting your teeth with rage. "I loved Mom! Back then, I did want to become the best for her sake! But you ruined it! You fucked it all up, with your rules and your curfews and your fucking dictatorship you asshole!"

GENERATING CONFLICT

Julius bristled, and swung a fist at you so fast that you couldn't even react in time to dodge it. It sent you sprawling back, making you fall on your back. Your entire face burned, and when you raised a hand to your mouth to wipe it, you felt the warmth of blood spreading through the back of your hand.

For a moment, your father hesitated. His eyes wavered, looking down at his bloodied fist. It had been an impulsive, reflexive swing…

GENERATING CONFLICT

...But it had been enough.

"Mikhail, Iiiiiii…" Julius' eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he collapsed bonelessly on the ground.

"...haha." You stared at your father's unconscious body, having collapsed by your own hands. Looking at what you'd done…

...You felt nothing but contempt.

He'd gotten what he deserved.

"Hahahaha…! Hahahahahahaha!" You shakily stood to your feet, you reached out towards one of the medical supplies and cleaned your blistered lips and cheek.

GENERATING CONFLICT

...That's it. You were done.

"I'm not going to listen to you anymore… Julius." You told to the unconscious man. "Not you, not this school… Not even God himself. I won't allow any single person in this world… To control me again. I'll hang out with whoever I want, do whatever I want… But don't worry. I'm not an idiot like you, living in the past."

You clenched your fist, thinking of the violent incident that had almost caused you to lose your life. All because certain people wanted to control others, through fear or drugs or money.

You would end it. The only one able to control a person… Should be themselves.

"Goodbye, Dad. And…" You took one last glance towards the man who had raised you for 10 years, ever since your mother had died.

"...Thanks for making me into the man I've been up to this point."

You could owe him that much, at least.

As you strode out of the infirmary, you stole a glance at one of the mirrors. Behind the bruised, yet still handsome face of a teenager, two eyes burned with an almost mad anger, a dash of orange flickering for a moment under the sunlight.

THE HEAVENS SHALL FALL

You smirked at the Devil that existed through the mirror, and with an expression that matched it, threw open the doors to your new path.

On the way out of the school, your senses suddenly flared. You watched the form of fifteen-year old Taylor Hebert dash down the hall, likely hurrying to clean something up after another prank from her friends.

Before she passed you by, you reached out and grabbed at her shoulder.

The girl jumped, staring at you like a deer caught in headlights.

...Since you'd already made your decision, why not?

"Why don't you fight back?" You asked her, looking down at her through cold eyes. "Those girls. They're trying to control you… To break you. Are you going to let them win?"

For a moment, the girl looked confused, staring at the hand on her shoulder with almost stupefied shock- Before the meaning of your words got to her, and her face darkened. "Easy for you to fucking say." Taylor said, gritting her teeth. "There's nothing I can do if nobody will speak up for me. Everyone only listens to them."

You turned towards her, and tightened your grip over her until she looked at you again.

"No, that won't solve anything. You're still letting others' actions control you. Still letting them step over you, just because it's 'the way things work'. If you can't do anything about it, then the system is flawed." You could feel fire coursing through your blood as you spoke. "That's why you have to turn things around on your own merit. Take on the situation from another angle, when the flawed human standard fails."

"A-and how am I supposed to do that?" She asked, clearly uncomfortable with the way this was going.

"...I don't know. But people like me, like you, and that black girl bullying you…" You let go of her shoulder, and started walking ahead. "It's because of the powers we have… That we can't rely on others to help us control our lives."

You watched as the girl's eyes widened as the full meaning of your words hit her. You wondered if she would pursue you, but your revelation had hit her so hard that she simply stood there, staring into empty space.

...It was time to get out of here.

Tyson leaned back on his desk, squinting at the quiz sitting before him. Truly, American History, he thought, you are a worthy opponent. He anxiously tapped his pencil on the desk, wishing that he'd taken the same subjects as Mikhail so that he could steal all the answers via some secret code language.

It was then that he noticed it, at the corner of his sight. He looked out the window, and blinked when he saw a form walking away from the school. For a moment, he thought he recognized the face-

Mikhail?

-But then the teacher started explaining the questions in the quiz, and he looked away. After he was done hearing the explanation, he looked back-

...But there was no one there.

Tyson sighed, and wondered when the weekend would roll over again so the two of them could hang out again.

...Well, it wasn't like there was any pressure, right…?

...

-The next day.

Mikhail Galkin went missing.

--

Wednesday, April 2nd

"Welcome back, Master." Three Dolls said in unison, bowing at your entrance into the hideout. You waved them aside, and made your way to your waiting servants.

For some reason, your power had evolved. No longer did your Dolls have to keep up double lives- Thanks to their newfound abilities to transport themselves through various 'marks' Lilith placed on the city, they could make their way anywhere they needed, at any time, without arousing enough suspicion that would complicate their operations.

Which was good, because you also no longer had to deal with the stress of leading a double life.

...Well, that wasn't exactly right, but such musings could wait.

"Master." The shadows flickered, before two Dolls appeared at your sides, trailing your steps. "Would you like us to take care of your clothes?" One of them asked, smiling brightly.

"Would you like to take a bath as well?" The other inquired.

You glanced at them- The two Oni Lee clones were almost identical to the original, but differed in the color of their eyes. One had clear blue eyes, and the other a deep purple that looked almost black. The two of them were dressed like some hybrid between maid and ninja, hiding holsters harboring many sharp implements behind a veneer of cuteness. You'd taken to calling them Aohime and Kurohime, respectively. Both of them acted exactly the same, but for some reason competed for your affections nonetheless.

You nodded. "Sure, I was going to get suited up anyways."

The two Dolls beamed, and led you to the bathroom with a skip on their steps. There, they washed you with their most devoted efforts, making sure to scrub every inch of your body until it was free of dust. They may have also taken care of your other urges while they were at it. Regardless, they even took care of dressing you in the armor's mesh suit, only letting you move when they felt they were 'done'.

"Alabaster!" You shouted, throwing open a set of doors and stepping into a dimly lit room. "What's the status on the Combat Armor?"

"Fixed it right up, Master!" Your Doll beamed as she saw your approach- Though her face soured a little when she noticed your ever present shadows tracking you. Taking the wrench she had on one of her hands, she tapped it against the other while pouting. "Aww, couldn't you make this a personal visit?"

You couldn't understand why Alabaster would work on your gear in a sundress and high-heeled sandals, but clearly an immunity to physical discomfort as well as getting dirty had awakened a desire in the Doll to dress up for you under any time and place. In any case, you wouldn't look a gift horse on the mouth- Eccentric she might be, she was a superb Doll.

You reached out to the pale white doll, and landed a kiss on her breast. "I'll reward you tonight." Tuning out her squeal of happiness, you turned towards the rest of the large, vacant room.

Lilith really had gone all out, securing a semi-permanent hideout once the day had dawned and you had informed her of what had happened in the school. Eventually, this place would become your 'workshop' and 'hangar'- A place where you could put all your skilled Dolls to work at making things. With Victor firmly under your thumb, you could easily start a working force of whatever you wanted if you tried hard enough.

Right now, though, it only contained your Combat Armor, a stash of weapons stolen from E88 crates, the money collected from your street-dealing Dolls (gains that were diminishing, due to Lilith pulling your Dolls off the streets as KIA or MIA), and the miscellaneous equipment Lilith wanted to secure for any further operations.

It was a humble start, but it was a start nonetheless.

Once you were properly suited up as Adam, you made it into the command centre. With the entire hideout blocked off of any exit or entrance, teleportation or Alabaster's power was the only way to get in- Which made it a safe place to base your operations on. Lilith said there 'emergency exits', but you really didn't want to know.

"Hello, Master!" Lilith waved, pulling down her headphones and beaming up at you. You blinked, looking at her setup- She was on at least three different laptops, an ungodly mess of cables crisscrossing across her desk in ways that made your head spin.

"...What are you doing?" You said, moving to take your own seat. A Doll stepped forwards, carefully checked that the pillow on it was perfectly comfortable, and nodded. As you dropped down on the chair, the same Doll moved forward again- Before two shadows stood in her path.

"We will take it over from here." Aohime said gently, but the smile on her face was like cold steel.

"Master, would you like me to bring you any refreshments? Apple juice? Orange juice? Soft drinks? Or do you drink?" Kurohime plopped herself on one of your legs, taking a small notepad and preparing to listen to any of your commands.

You sighed. You were already sure that things were only going to get worse with all of these women focused on your dick.

"I'm cross-checking references, little things your other Dolls picked up during the gang war, as well as information from Oni Lee, Victor and Othala." She idly tapped a bunch of keys on the laptop, before turning to you with a smile. "The good news is, Victor was more than acquainted with a majority of the Empire's skilled workforce, so I've been able to squeeze out a lot of information from those contacts."

She pointed at one of the images in the computers, which was a map of Brockton Bay labeled with several dots and crosses in different colors. "I've managed to list a good number of high-value ABB and E88 targets, things that the gangs would try to sabotage from each other- And places where we could maneuver Oni Lee or one of our own capes to stage ambushes."

"I also managed to locate a bunch of dogfighting rings, as well as the underground fighting ring where Hookwolf's crowd hangs out. With Stormtiger caught, we could just go and hit Hookwolf as our Vigilante team, defeat him in a straight fight, and then Doll him in secret. It also fits with what you want to do now, Master."

You stiffened. "How do you know about that?"

Lilith smiled sadly. "You're not one to stay still. I'm glad that you decided to disappear from the public, Master… But you'd never be happy sleeping away while others do things to make this world any worse than it already is. And since our previous modus operandi doesn't fit with your new time of operation, the most likely choice you'd make would be…"

"...To go out as a cape, right?" You looked down, curling your fists into tight balls. "I can't stomach it. People are still dealing the same amount of drugs as yesterday, people are still just as sad as before, stepped on by bigots that want to control them. I hate it. I want to change it, right now. Even if it means I have to put on a silly cape and hit people until they listen."

"Because of your actions, we're likely to end up steering more attention towards us. Is that fine with you?" Lilith asked, narrowing her eyes.

You grinned. "That's fine. Without Othala, the Empire is doomed anyways. They just don't know it."

Lilith smiled, and nodded obediently. "Very well, Master. How do you think we should move?"

General Actions:

(Pick one)

[ ] Run around fighting crime as Adam & Lilith. Establish your reputation as a Cape. (Will make you better in the eyes of the public, raising your reputation.)

[ ] Spend time with your Dolls. (Pick two Dolls you want to see more of, and Mikhail will spent some quality time de-stressing with them.)

Offensive Actions:

(Pick one)

Merchants

ABB

Empire

[ ] Go after Hookwolf. Without Stormtiger, you have a better chance of ambushing him than you've had before. Cricket will be an issue, but if you bring out your full force you can still take him on, and the Empire's backbone will be crippled. (Potential Dolls: Hookwolf, Cricket, Bitch)

[ ] You've taken over Krieg's lieutenants. You should be able to take him on. With Krieg captured, you could go straight for the man at the top- Kaiser. (Potential Dolls: Krieg, Crusader, Night, Fog, anyone in the E88 roster besides Kaiser really)

[ ] Go after Purity. You've been eyeing her for a while, and this is the last time she's patrolling before Friday rolls around. (Potential Dolls: Purity, some random villain)

Misc. Actions:

(Pick up to 1)

PRT

[ ] Register at the PRT as an independent hero, get all the paperwork sorted out. (Mikhail will learn more about the Heroes, besides what hearsay he's gotten from his Dolls and the internet.)

[ ] Don't do anything.

--

By god I swear I am going to get you into fights AND YOU ARE GOING TO LIKE IT. *crosses arms*

Also I puked a little writing the almost rape with Victor there.

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Last edited: Sep 30, 2016

Sep 30, 2016 ReportLike

Ciolekovsky20, Yenzen, JeffreyXIII and 210 others like this.

Threadmarks: 2.X Amidst the Dark, Light

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

And now for something completely different…

--

Wednesday, April 2nd

Tyson stumbled into the hallway, almost tripping over himself as he broke into a run out of his classroom. His teeth were grit tight, almost grinding against each other as he sprinted towards the school entrance.

'Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid…!' The young man berated himself incessantly inside his head, cursing his own naivety. People stepped back in shock as he raced past, getting out of his way almost at the same rate as he pushed them aside.

Mikhail fucking Galkin, valedictorian candidate and #3 student in the entire state? Skipping school and leaving in the middle of class? He should have known how stupid that was. He should've noticed just how bizarre it was for his best friend of twelve years to walk straight out of the school gates like he was playing truant.

But no- His slow brain hadn't managed to think of that before he heard how Mike had collapsed, and they'd even called his father to the school.

He didn't go to the infirmary- There was no point, because he'd already seen his friend leave. He'd tried calling him, but Mikhail simply wasn't answering. He could only leave a message behind, and hope for the best as he continued to run.

He didn't get it. What the hell had happened with him? His father arrived to see him… And Mikhail just left? That wasn't him- Tyson knew just how that guy would react if his son flipped him off. There was something here that didn't fit, and it worried him massively.

It happened as he reached the school entrance. The courtyard was mostly empty, the students already filling back into their classes for the next period. However, Tyson wasn't looking for students.

He found the one he was looking for sitting on one of the benches, looking at the ground with a distraught expression.

Tyson's mouth curled, and he glared at the man surely responsible for this. "JULIUS!"

"...Tyson…" Julius blinked at him, and for a moment Tyson flinched. He'd never seen a look like that before on Mikhail's father. It was as if the man had been slapped on the face, pissed on and then thrown off a cliff. The man looked broken. "I… I made a mistake."

"No fucking shit sherlock!" Tyson yelled, stomping over towards the man. "Mike walked out of this place like his ass was on fire thirty minutes ago, after fainting like he was anemic! What the hell did you tell him, to make him react like that!?"

Tyson knew about the relationship between Julius and Mikhail. Of course he did- He knew more about Mike than the person himself often did. He knew that when he focused on a task, he was unstoppable. If he found it frustrating or was repelled by its difficulty, then he just kept trying until whatever was holding him back broke.

That was how he had shot to the top in the school, despite his shitty home life and not wanting to succeed in the slightest. Sheer determination and grit pulled him ahead every time… It was why he considered his friend a real superman, even if he didn't have actual powers.

Even so… His friend wasn't invincible. Every failure, every frustration that piled on him made him angrier, made him more bitter. Sometimes, he even felt that Mikhail hated the world. He saw it all in black and white, but just thinking about what was bad made him go into what Tyson liked to call an 'emofest', leading him to criticize it and say 'it would all be so easy if everyone did this or that'. It made him absolutely miserable, whenever he went into one of his spirals…

...And that was why Tyson was there. To cheer him up, to make him forget about those things. Unlike Mikhail, he wasn't a godlike person- He was simple, put off problems or ignored them when they got too hard, and he always tried to avoid thinking too hard about how bad things were…

-But perhaps because he was just a normal guy, he could do his best to cheer his friend up. It was why he invented 'Pranking Day' in April's Fools, it was why he often stole his phone and swapped his background picture for porno, why he'd wasted his allowance on buying that stupid shooter rehash that was worthless yet completely addictive, and it was why he cracked jokes every time the two of them hung out.

It wasn't that he had to try or anything… But it just felt natural to do, when his friend was such a stick in the mud. Someone had to teach him to enjoy what was best in life.

...Maybe not the Conan version of it, though.

Tyson crossed his arms, waiting to hear what Julius had to say. The man stared at him, gaze lost for a moment as if he was torn on what to say- Before his resolve became more firm, and he stood up. "Not here. Let's go somewhere more private."

The schoolboy raised an eyebrow. "Oookaaay. Not helping me with this worrying thing pops, but I'll play your game for now."

He followed Julius to a corner on the courtyard, the two of them standing between the two school walls. Tyson tilted his head, waiting for him to speak.

"I noticed this a few days ago…" He began, clenching his fists. "Mikhail was acting odd, whenever I asked him about his day in the mornings. Sometimes he seemed happy, other times very stressed… And he looked more and more exhausted. One day, I decided to wait all night in my bed for something to happen… And I heard his footsteps, late in the night. I thought he was running away, maybe sneaking out to your house to play."

A chill crawled down Tyson's spine. Mikhail had not once gone to his house in the last few days. "That didn't happen, Julius- Man I wouldn't sell Mike out anyways, but you still could've just asked."

Julius shook his head, shaking slightly. "I know, I know that now!" He almost shouted, before lowering his voice again. "I had no idea… But I know the truth now. ...Tyson, today Mikhail didn't collapse because he was just sick- You know how he is. There's no way he could've gotten sick in the first place…"

"...If he hadn't been exhausted." Tyson finished the sentence, his eyes narrowed. "So he was away all night on a sleepover? That's what you're trying to-" At that moment, Tyson's eyes widened.

He laughed. "Oh- OH! Now I know what's up! That motherfucker…"

Julius blinked. "Wait… You know?"

"Yeah! He was totally hanging out with his not-girlfriend!" Tyson waved his hand, smiling brightly. "He came into school with some lunch she made herself, was delicious too. So you guys had a fight, and he bailed to his girlfriend's house…"

Tyson paused.

"Julius?" The student looked towards his father, blinking when he caught his horrified stare. "Hey Julius, what's-"

"Shit… Shit, shit, shit…" He watched astonished as the man gripped his head, pulling his face back until it was all wrinkled. "It makes sense, it all makes so much sense… Oh god, Mikhail…" The hulk of a man had misted eyes as he lamented whatever he had done, an act so completely alien to whom he was that Tyson had to step back for a moment to let the thought sink in.

"Okay, fuck. You're just reacting like I said Mike had joined the fucking Illuminati or something! Calm down!" But as Tyson moved to calm the man down.

"That's... " Julius stumbled on his words. "That might not be far off the mark, Tyson."

He froze. What?

"Tyson… When I confronted Mikhail today, I lost control. Knowing that he'd been slipping out every night, ruining his own body and putting at risk his health made me so concerned that he'd break, that he'd end up wasting all his efforts… I tried to ground him…" Tyson groaned, palming his face as he could've imagined how that went. "...But then, he mentioned Kat and I-I…"

"Yeah yeah, you opened a can of whoopass, slapped him around a bit, I know-"

"No, Tyson. I punched him. I punched him… Hard. Hard enough to bleed." Tyson's eyes followed the man's gaze, towards his knuckles which still looked a little bloody… And his stare grew cold.

"Well congratu-fucking-lations then. I'm glad he ditched you then, before you killed his ass off you crazy fuck." Tyson spat, unable to believe the nerve of this man. Who would hit their own fucking son like that? Did this guy not understand that people just needed to catch a break?

"I KNOW!" Julius shouted. "I know what I did was wrong, but I- Tyson, he- Mikhail isn't normal. He changed, whatever happened to him that made him start playing hooky- It's done something to him, something bad."

"...What are you trying to say, Julius?" Tyson asked, his anger starting to fade for a sense of dawning realization that caused his body to start shivering.

"When I tried to apologize, to tell him I lost control… He knocked me out." Julius said, and Tyson's blood ran cold. "Just looked at me and- Bam, down I went."

…Oooh. Oh no. Oh shit this was so not happening.

"Buh buh buh- Back up there for a second!" Tyson held out his hands. He raised both eyebrows. "Are you trying to say… What I think you're trying to say?"

"...Yeah." Julius sighed. "Mikhail is-"

"Mikhail got SUPES!" Tyson laughed, doing a little dance. "Damn, I bet even now he's going- BAM! WHAM! KABLAM! On the bad guys, dishing out the pain! Oh, when he gets back-"

"He's not coming back!" Julius yelled. "Don't you get it!? Mikhail went villain! He's snapped, because I pushed too hard, because I thought I was doing what his mother wished of him- But I ended up going too far, and now he's going to end up who knows where, probably seduced by that so-called 'girlfriend'-!"

Tyson shook his head, denying his words. "A villain? Mike? No way, he's too much in the straight and narrow to-"

Julius threw something at his feet angrily, almost with resignation, causing Tyson to pause. The boy leaned down, picking up the device and holding it gingerly in his hands. His stare was blank, as if unable to comprehend what was in front of him.

He saw his face reflected in the chrome alloy of Mikhail's phone.

Mikhail. Never. Dropped. His Phone.

"...No," Tyson breathed, the word coming out heavy and strained. "Mikhail is- He wouldn't. Even if he hated school, to just dump everything and abandon stuff to live on the streets- God fucking damn it Julius, this is your fault!"

Tyson grabbed the slackened father, holding him up by the scruff of his shirt. "Your own goddamn son! You couldn't act like a proper dad just once and try to talk things out with him!? Did you really have to play up the controlling blackmail angle again!? You know that when you push Mike, he pushes back!"

"I wanted what was best for him!" His father cried out. "I don't even know when I'll get fired from my job! The economy is tanking, funds are running out! Kat was our pillar, our support- I've managed these last ten years, but how much longer Tyson!? I needed him to be able to support himself!"

"He would've done that on his own, you asshat!" Tyson yelled, releasing Julius and letting him drop against the wall. "He's the goddamn Terminator when it comes to pulling through! You should know, he's your own fucking son!"

Tyson breathed heavily, turning his gaze away from Julius in disgust and picking Mike's phone back up. There had to be something he could do, some way to contact him- But Mike almost never went out, they had no hideout or hangout ever since the old park had been replaced for a luxury resort.

Okay Tyson, calm down. Your best friend in the cosmos just decided to pull an X-men on you, and now he's off god-knows where, maybe with some sick real-world predator version of Charles Xavier after him. You just gotta seek him out.

He stumbled away from the distraught parent, moving towards the school gates. It was okay, he had Mikhail's phone- Maybe there was some contact he could use there, some lead that could take him to his friend… And if not, all he had to do was search for him across the city.

He opened the school gates, ready to start his search. It should be simple… All he had to do was look.

He looked at the streets, crowded with people whose figures blurred in the distance. He looked at the massive, sprawling buildings that spread in blocks for many kilometers on end, blocking his sight and preventing him from seeing any further than a few dozen meters. He looked at the sides, the city impossibly vast and spreading to infinitely distant reaches around him.

And simple, ordinary Tyson, standing in the middle of it all. His friend pulled into a mess bigger than he could possibly imagine, and him standing in the middle of it all, tiny as an ant. Unable to do anything but try to cheer himself up, and think that all was going to work itself out.

Reality check, Tyson. He whispered to himself, staring at the infinite city with wide eyes. This is what you are. A useless, good-for-nothing buffoon. Can't even come through when your friend really needs you. You're so pathetic…

His own thoughts betrayed him, whispering with almost damning disdain.

-That you won't ever see him again, until he shows up dea-

EVOLUTION, AT ALL COSTS

-Tyson fell to one knee, and punched the ground with a scream of sheer rage. It bounced back with a fleshy noise, leaving red stains on the hard cement from the rage-filled swing.

What am I doing!? Get yourself together, Tyson! The man stood up, staring at the city with a gaze that was like steel. Aren't most heroes weak at the start!? Isn't the point of them taking on impossible challenges!?

Yes… He couldn't back down.

What kind of person would abandon their friend in their time of need? When they were hurting the most, how could he not act like a stubborn cockroach and chase him to the ends of earth? So what if he maybe ended up involved in a crossfire between the Illuminati and an alien species, even if he was just an average person?

At least, even if he was swallowed up by the streets, he could have at least claimed that he didn't give up!

"Mikhail!" Tyson broke into a run, crossing the street and sprinting through the sidewalk. He brushed past the crowds of people, teeth grit in frustration. He dodged them as they passed, ignoring their cries and shouts of alarm as he left them behind. His eyes constantly raced through the streets, looking for the form of his friend.

It wasn't enough. His legs weren't fast enough for him to get past all these people. He couldn't see clear enough. His breath was catching up in his throat, making his thoughts foggy-

In his mind, the accelerator pushed down ever so slightly.

Tyson's body shifted, as he expertly dodged the shape of two girls that had been too busy speaking on their phones. His eyes caught the way their stopped in shock, glanced at the messages they had been sending some friend group of theirs- And adjusting his balance, he turned towards one of the alleys on the side of the street.

It'd be faster this way.

Tyson leapt over the dumpster that got in his way as he cut the corner, rolling on his feet as he landed. He quickly jumped to his feet, and briefly looked at the next obstacle- A tall wall that sealed the alley, making a dead end between the two blocks. He growled, and tried to clear it with a single leap.

It was not enough. His legs quickly shifting in position as he tapped the top quarter of the wall, he kicked it and fell back on his feet. I'm not strong enough.

A faint feeling of warmth filled his body, as he took a single jump back and then charged at the wall head-on.

The second jump did it.

His feet touched the top of the wall in a single jump, and for a moment he teetered on the edge -not skilled enough- before he shook his head, and with a careful swing of his leg jumped towards one of the iron stairs. He used it as leverage to push himself out of the alley, sailing into the streets and landing in the middle of the sidewalk.

The people around him gasped-

-But he was already gone.

He leapt over the crowds, running across the street signs and zig-zagging over the awestruck bystanders. Some lifted phones to try and take a shot -that's kind of bad- but his body blurred and he left them behind, dodging their attempts to grab him.

His eyes looked for Mikhail, but he was nowhere to be seen. Only the disbelieving glances of the people, the star-eyed children, and some disgruntled gangsters staring him with hate. Irrelevant, he wasn't searching hard enough.

In his mind, the foot over the accelerator hit the gas, pushing the envelope to its limit.

Tyson's feet touched the ground, as he stepped into a patch clear of people-

-Before he shot up like a bullet, causing a shockwave of broken concrete to spread below him as he soared, rising high enough to see the people living on the apartments look at his passing form in shock- Before his body twisted, and he starting running on the walls as fast as he could, eagle-like eyes sorting through the streets even as he flickered across the surface of the many buildings.

He lost himself in the breeze, in the chase. He jumped high enough that the city that had seemed impossibly large was no more than a slightly complex labyrinth, a maze which he could look upon from above. Eventually, he found himself at the top of a tower in Downtown, staring down at the tiny masses from the topmost peak.

He could see each passing face, like a man sorted through toys in a store.

The panic clearing from his mind, Tyson stopped and looked at himself, hanging off the edge of the Tower by a hair's breath, the soles of his feet the only thing preventing him from falling to his death. He touched his chest, noticed how he wasn't even slightly fatigued.

"...Hahahahaha…! Hahahahahahahaha!" He threw back his head and laughed to the heavens, unable to believe what had happened and at the same time overjoyed over it.

"Oh, it's on now! WOO!" He cried, thrusting his fist at the air. It moved hard enough to disturb the air, causing ripples that would've injured the common ear. "Get ready, Brockton Bay! Cuz' tonight, the Dark Knight Rises!"

Maybe Tyson, the simple and ordinary school boy couldn't bring his friend back from the jaws of this hellish society…

...But as Tyson the Hero, he damn well could try.

--

Thursday, April 3rd

It was a busy afternoon in the PRT Headquarters. Rumors of a person having called the previous day about joining the Protectorate had caused many of the interested employees to get excited, but at the same time everyone's actions were carefully controlled and well-behaved. Showing the best example of themselves was only natural, given the seriousness of the situation.

-At that moment.

"Heeere's Johnny!"

The doors to the reception hall were thrown open, as a figure in a hood and a domino mask entered the scene with a smirk on his face. Both the receptionists and the troopers standing guard stared slack-jawed at the man's brazen, carefree entrance.

"U-um…" The Receptionist gulped. "Sir, are you the… The one who called about joining the Protectorate? …Sir." She finished the sentence redundantly, more to reassure herself than for his sake.

"Yup! It's a me!" He directed his thumb at his chest with a smile. "Now, now, I know you may not be ready to start gushing all over me, lady, but we all gotta start somewhere okay?" He gave her a handsome smile, even as he approached the counter and laid his arm on it. "Don't worry though. Once I make it big, I'll give you my first autograph."

The receptionist felt a little bile rising to her throat.

"Deckerman." A snide, jaded voice deadpanned. "You're right on time."

Tyson -alias, The Deckerman- stiffened, posture straightening as two people stepped into the hall from a restricted area. One of them was a heavyset woman, with an aquiline nose and sharp features. He shifted a little under her severe gaze, feeling as if she could stare straight through him.

Next to her, and staring at him much more warmly, was a woman that he knew and admired. His jaw dropped, watching as Miss fucking Militia herself stepped through those doors, one hand loosely clutching at a shimmering handgun.

"Oh my god." Tyson squealed, bouncing on his feet -though making sure not to shoot up into the ceiling- "You're Miss Militia! Oh shit, where did I leave it uh- CanIhaveyourautographplease!?" He took out a notepad, rushing over towards the bronze-skinned woman with a sparkling gaze.

The parahuman laughed nervously. "Um… Sure." As she picked up the piece of paper and the receptionist handed her a pen, she paused. "Wait. Who should I address it to?"

Tyson froze, realizing his folly.

"You will have plenty of time to get acquainted with your future co-worker if you decide to join us, Deckerman." Director Emily Piggot of the PRT said, even as she gestured to the area that was restricted. "How about we step inside and discuss that, as one of your age should?"

"Ehehehehehe…" Tyson scratched at his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I got carried away."

"So, you're a Brute?" Miss Militia asked, watching as Tyson demonstrated the use of his powers.

"It's… complicated. I hit hard sure, but there's more than that." Tyson was currently squeezing a ball of steel, a hastily-procured object that he'd requested as they sat down to discuss the reason behind his call. The metal screeched as it bent under his thumbs, folding like paper. "I ran some power testing, yesterday-"

"Risky." Piggot muttered. "You should have just come to us."

Tyson gave her a dry stare, then looked at Miss Militia, who smiled wryly and waved him along. "It's weird. I felt normal when I started, but once I started running, when I just got my powers, I started getting faster and faster, stronger- Just… Better, in general. After I was done, it went down a little- But it really hasn't gone fully down. I'm much stronger than I was before."

The cape and the director took a moment to process what he was saying. "So you're saying… That you ramp up?" Miss Militia was the one that broached the subject, raising an eyebrow as she figured out the context behind Tyson's words.

He nodded. "Yeah, it's like- There's this accelerator on my mind, and I think that the more stressed I get, the more I can tap it- But if I push it too much, it gets jammed until it slowly starts to pull back. I still haven't figured out how it works."

"And… what exactly does this make you 'better' at, Mr. Decker?" Piggot said, leaning forwards. She was interested- Brutes were a dime a dozen amongst capes, but every single parahuman they could get was an asset, and one that could shrug off bullets even more so.

Tyson shrugged, then flinched at Piggot's glare. "I- uh, sorry Ma'am. It lets me run faster, hit harder- It might make me tougher, but I'm not sure- I ain't cutting myself like some emo boi. I can also see further- Far enough to discern the faces of people from the top of a skyscraper. I can hear a pin drop from hundreds of meters away, and I think I might be able to do something with smell, but I didn't try."

"Enhanced Senses. That's a Thinker rating, as well." Miss Militia affirmed, and Piggot nodded tightly. "I must admit, I'm curious as to how that 'accelerator' of yours works, Ty- I can call you Tyson, right?" At his eager nod, she chuckled. "But I think that we can wait until you run some proper tests before we discuss it in detail."

Tyson saluted. "Whatever you say sir, Miss Militia sir!"

"Is there anything else?" Piggot asked, surprising the cape besides her. "I'm not saying there might be anything else, but thus far the theme seems rather… Plain? Parahumans tend to have exotic quirks, more often than not."

Looking rather surprised, Tyson nodded. "Yeah… There's this thing. It's strange, but besides this power… I feel like there's more. But they're kinda distant- Locked away. It's like I feel them in my head, but can't really touch them, see? I managed to crack one open yesterday, though. Hold on."

Tyson knelt down, going for his bag. He ransacked it, going through a bunch of things- Before he picked up a small device, laying it on the table. Miss Militia and Piggot looked it over, their eyes slowly widening.

"Tinker?" The gun-wielding woman muttered, transfixed on the little thing before them.

It looked like a wristwatch- But the quartz of the clock shimmered a faint green, and the needles had been replaced with two small lights that quickly shifted between red and blue. It bathed the chrome alloy of the device, giving it a mystical appearance.

"I remodeled one of dad's watches, just kind of spazzed out. When I thought about bringing something to show you, something easy and fast- This is what came to mind. It has a pretty small charge, and can only operate for about 5 minutes before needing to be plugged in to charge- But I think you'll like what it does."

"What does it do?" Miss Militia said, holding the device carefully, with slightly suspicious eyes.

"It makes you better, for a short amount of time. Your powers, that is. When I used it, I went just a little faster, got stronger, and felt the accelerator relax on how far I could push it. I don't know how it will react on you, but I can tell you it is safe."

Miss Militia looked at Piggot, questioningly. The woman seemed to mull something over, before she nodded and gave her the go ahead.

"Tap the crystal, and that should be it." Tyson said, as the cape finished wrapping the watch around her wrist.

She tapped at the crystal, and waited for something to happen. There was a brief pause- Until suddenly, the green firearm that had been at her side lit up, its structure shifting and transforming.

"Well?" Piggot said, raising an eyebrow as Miss Militia pulled out what looked like a sleek, compact firearm whose barrel nonetheless glowed with an eerie blue light.

"...It's a laser gun." Miss Militia said, lips pressed tightly. "There's other designs too, in my head- Plasma grenades, exotic ammunition, things my power normally doesn't register."

"..." Piggot tapped her finger against the desk, leaning back and fixing the buffoon in front of her with a dry, yet almost resigned stare. "About how many of these powers do you have locked away, Mr. Decker?"

Tyson shrunk his shoulders. "Dunno. About twenty or so, I guess?"

There was a silence that stretched on long enough one could've heard a pin drop.

"...Well." Piggot said, trying to hide the way that her lips twitched. "I think that we'd be more than glad to welcome you into our forces, Mr. Decker." The woman reached under her desk, and placed a manila folder over the table. "The file on you was fairly informative. 18 years old, which qualifies you to skip the Wards, and yet you're still in High School… Which makes you an outlier. If you wish, we could help you get a GED, assuming you are more interested in this job-"

"Actually…" Tyson shifted on his feet. "There's something else I wanted to ask. Not a condition, really- But a request. ...It's part of why I grabbed the cape, after all."

Piggot rolled her eyes. Ah, there we go. "Of course, Mr. Decker. What do you wish to 'request'?"

Tyson's face was serious. "Please don't pull me out of Brockton Bay. You see, a friend of mine is in a bad place… And I have to look for him, before he hurts himself."

Piggot blinked. "I was not planning on releasing you from my city, no, Mr. Decker. But may I hear a few more details on this friend of yours?" She leaned forward, curious.

"It's personal." Tyson said, looking guarded and shifty-eyed, and Miss Militia immediately understood. She laid a hand on Piggot's shoulder.

Piggot sighed. "I cannot promise you our aid in helping you look for this friend of yours if you won't tell me the details, Mr. Decker. Nonetheless…" The woman continued, before the boy's face fell. "I can guarantee that you will have plenty of chances and time to look for him while you work here."

Tyson beamed and threw her a salute. "Thank you ma'am. That's all I wanted to ask." His gaze immediately turned excited. "Alright, when do we start? Where do I sign? I already have like fifty cape names ready, is that fine? I heard there's a PR crew and stuff but-"

Piggot laughed, a loud and dry laugh that froze the boy on his tracks.

Oh, the poor naive fool.

"No, Mr. Decker…" Piggot grinned smugly. "Now, the paperwork starts."

Tyson gave a tiny, girlish screech.

This is for you, Mikhail. Tyson said to himself, even as he heard Piggot start to blabber about all the forms he would have to sign -in triplicate- I hope you're fucking grateful when I pull you up of whatever ditch you're on, you glorious bastard.

With a heavy heart, Tyson resolved himself to fight the great foe of paperwork.

For a better tomorrow, and…

-So that he might return to those days of burning the weekends on the arcade.

[IMG]

YOU NEEDED WORTHY OPPONENTS.

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theflyingbiscuit

theflyingbiscuit

"Acursed warp currents"

Spoiler: A training class

We should have one of our super soldiers on training duty.

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Last edited: Oct 2, 2016

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Threadmarks: Omake - Parádex (Updates)

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prandom

prandom

Definitely Trustworthy

Here you go. I'll try to keep this updated, if I'm not too lazy. I'm not sure if I got the tone of the descriptive blurbs right, so I welcome your criticism.

P.S. Lilith is No. 002 because she was the second option out of our starter selection.

P.P.S. If you're reading this for the first time: spoilers.

Parádex

No. 002: LILITH

Name: Gratia Wesley

Type: Thinker Stranger

Network Parámon

Lilith helps other Parámon travel and communicate with one another. An absolute necessity for any Parámon Trainer, Lilith's assistance makes the capture and coordination of further Parámon significantly easier.

No. 004: LILIM

Name: N/A

Type: Brute

Crowd Parámon

Though individually possessing only above-average attributes, due to their coordination a group of Lilim can form a competent fighting force or rapidly infiltrate an organization. Despite their lack of individual power, it is a good habit to continue capturing Lilim as a Trainer's influence grows, in order to maintain information networks, income, and a general labor force.

No. 015: KAISERIN

Name: Maxine Anders

Type: Shaker

Blade Parámon

Kaiserin has two personas, public and private. Although she may pretend to hold some measure of command, she secretly desires to be controlled absolutely and made to submit, a desire that is brought fully to the fore in dealings with her Trainer.

No. 016: FENJA MENJA

Name: Jessica Biermann Nessa Biermann

Type: Brute Breaker

Valkyrie Parámon

Fenja and Menja are perhaps the epitome of paired Parámon, so strongly associated that they qualify for the same entry. Everything from combat to love is shared between them, and their affection for one another second only to their affection for their Trainer.

No. 020: NIGHT

Name: Dorothy Schmidt

Type: Changer Brute

Nightmare Parámon

Due to their powerful synergy, Night and Fog are often found together in the wild. Night's Changer state invokes an instinctive terror in her enemies, the fear of prey faced with its predator. Befitting this image, any harm dealt to her is simply removed upon transferring between forms.

No. 021: FOG

Name: Genna Schmidt

Type: Changer Stranger

Smog Parámon

Due to their powerful synergy, Night and Fog are often found together in the wild. Fog's Changer state can be adjusted in both lethality and visibility, making her an effective infiltrator and assassin on par with Oni Lee. She can also alter the composition of her Changer state in order to corrode and destroy materials that would ordinarily not be affected.

No. 024: RUNE

Name: Ashley Halle

Type: Shaker Blaster

Telekinesis Parámon

With her control over her environment, Rune can cause effects that one would ordinary consider the purview of more specialized Parámon, such as sandstorms or even earthquakes. The glowing runes in her eyes and around her wrists, ankles, hair and neck represent devotion to her Trainer, in a language that has not yet been translated.

No. 029: PURITY

Name: Kayden Anders

Type: Blaster Mover

Sunlight Parámon

As she uses her power, Purity glows more and more strongly, becoming a golden sun to reflect the very sunlight that fuels her. In the wild, Purity requires direct access to sunlight or else her powers will fade, but upon capture she is able to draw from an alternate source, granting her not only infinite access to sunlight but also a disintegration effect that is thankfully not possessed by the light that shines upon Earth Bet.

No. 035: ALABASTER

Name: Lucille Clarke

Type: Breaker

Reset Parámon

Alabaster's ability to reset her state every 4.3 seconds makes her a top-tier choice for long endurance battles. However, her typical role as a bodyguard and her concern for her Trainer's wellbeing can sometimes be taken advantage of, baiting her into suboptimal decisions.

No. 036: CRICKET

Name: Clara Meadows

Type: Shaker Striker

Echo Parámon

Cricket's "chirps" perform a vast range of purposes in combat, from locating fleeing enemies to mapping a battlefield to disorienting an opponent. Her long ears are extremely sensitive, a trait that aids her detection abilities and can also be used as a reward mechanism by a well-informed Trainer.

No. 038: CRUSADER

Name: Jule Price

Type: Master

Legion Parámon

Crusader possesses the quality of common sense, unfortunately rare amongst Parámon. She often takes the role of a mediator between other Parámon competing for their Trainer's attention, a role aided by her ability to be in up to twenty-one places at once.

No. 040: VICTOR

Name: Nora Klein

Type: Trump Blaster

Vampire Parámon

Victor grows stronger over time, gaining power from experience much more quickly than ordinary or even wild Parámon. However, her recklessness and desire to better serve her Trainer can lead her into dangerous situations.

No. 041: OTHALA

Name: Marie Klein

Type: Trump

Ribbon Parámon

In the wild, Othala lacks self-defense capabilities. In order to protect herself, she has a symbiotic relationship with Victor. As such, it is recommended to capture Othala and her partner at the same time, in order to take advantage of their synergy and existing teamwork skills.

No. 046: RAIKIRI

Name: Xiuying Liao

Type: Mover Blaster

Wake Parámon

Raikiri's mindset focuses on an old-fashioned Eastern sense of honor. For her, service in battle is a joy all its own, and she tends to hone her skill in spars with her Trainer's other Parámon.

No. 047: KRIEG

Name: Jamie Fliescher

Type: Shaker Breaker

Vector Parámon

Her versatile ability to redirect and manipulate energy makes her a potent choice for any role: supporting, offensive, or defensive. In close range, her power scales exponentially, permitting the amplification of miniscule energy sources such as air friction into full-scale attacks.

No. 048: STORMTIGER

Name: Danah Adelbert

Type: Blaster

Cat Parámon

Although her temper and lust for battle sometimes get the better of her, Stormtiger's aerokinesis is tactically invaluable. In more private situations, she is quite imaginative with the use of her power for the purpose of pleasing her Trainer, befitting her name.

No. 050: SQUEALER

Name: Sherrel Bailey

Type: Tinker Mover

Vehicle Parámon

Squealer's ability is useful on a tactical level, but with some vision can be used to support a Trainer's entire party. She offers not only fast, undetectable movement from place to place, but also the ability to give other Parámon, including Lilim, exosuits to boost their abilities, which often can combine into larger constructs.

No. 065: LUNG

Name: Kei Shikyo

Type: Brute Changer

Vast Dragon Parámon

Lung's single goal in life is to win victory for her Trainer, a goal to which she devotes herself with a single-mindedness that non-Parámon, and even most Parámon, can only envy. The pride that is her defining trait leads her to consider any defeat to be a personal insult to her Trainer and herself that must be repaid threefold.

No. 066: ONI LEE

Name: Aoko Shimamura

Type: Mover Master

Ninja Parámon

Oni Lee's shadowy limbs and multiple bodies are well-adapted to her typical job as a stealth-capture specialist, despite not being a Stranger-type Parámon. She enjoys competing with herself to serve her Trainer, making a game of which of her selves can be the most accommodating.

No. 067: BAKUDA

Name: Aina Glades

Type: Tinker Shaker

Blast Parámon

Bakuda is a stunningly versatile Tinker, capable of creating explosives and equipment for their use that boast varied and esoteric effects, such as time manipulation or pain induction. Unlike most Tinkers, she is also capable of creating blueprints for the mass-production of her own work, rendering her an incredible force multiplier for any Trainer's team.

No. 073: AKAI ITO

Name: Rika Belrose

Type: Tinker

Cloth Parámon

Although she is unable to engage in direct combat with any more effectiveness than a Lilim, Akai Ito's technology easily synergizes with other Parámon. Her love of beauty leads her to pour her heart and soul into each outfit that she designs, unsatisfied unless it is unique and perfectly suited to its wearer.

No. 092: ZONE

Name: Ada Mustain

Type: Shaker

Push Parámon

When properly trained, Zone is a pleasantly amiable and intelligent Parámon, valuable just as much for her stimulating conversation and her tactically useful power. In the wild, however, she indulges in self-destructive tendencies, all-too-often turned outward into a threat to the Parámon community at large.

No. 112: NOVA

Name: Rinella Subject 032

Type: Shaker Blaster

Shining Parámon

The light on her head points to wherever Nova is focusing her attention; when her Trainer is nearby, it always points to him. Her 'stars' shine with an otherworldly light, beautiful but incomprehensible.

No. 118: UMBRA

Name: Shae West Subject 1013

Type: Blaster Master

Shadow Parámon

Umbra's horn and claws are made of a black chitin, harder than stone but somehow as flexible as an ordinary Parámon's skin, which she uses to direct her blasts of shadow. Her wisps can sicken her enemies, create alien wolves of shadow, or even empower her own strikes.

No. 119: RAIJUU

Name: Saya Yoshimizu Subject 2341

Type: Mover Blaster

Jolt Parámon

Raijuu is not so much a normal Parámon as she is living lightning. Even when in a more ordinary state, not exercising her power over electricity, Raijuu is full of boundless energy and enthusiasm.

No. 150: ECHIDNA

Name: Noelle Meinhardt

Type: Master Brute

Chimeric Mother Parámon

Freed from her monstrous, bestial state, Echidna's abilities are both more versatile and more powerful. Her savagery turned toward more productive ends, she spends her time researching wild Parámon to help them learn the joy of a Trainer.

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Wednesday, April 2nd

Maybe I didn't think this through… You sighed.

"What's wrong, Master?" Aohime whispered into your ear, even as she continued her work. "Does this not make you feel good?" She pressed herself closer to him, her exposed breasts squeezed tight against his compact muscles. Her hands raced across his naked shoulders, rubbing and pinching on tense spots to loosen them up.

"What? No- No, it feels great… Both of you do." You groaned, as your statement caused the other Doll caring for you to embolden her own efforts. "I'm just… Thinking. About… things."

Concerned about your words, the second Doll slowed her own actions. Kurohime pulled back slightly, the walls of her throat tight against you as she hummed on your dick. She let her tongue glide across its length, making sure to cover it in her aphrodisiac before she let it go. The sting of the cool air as she released you caused your legs to twitched, but you relaxed when it was replaced by one of the hands that been on your lap.

The purple-eyed clone cooed as she stroked you, expertly rubbing against your most sensitive spots. She very softly pressed her finger against the tip of your head, and you almost jumped. "We may only be a Doll worth using as a tool, Master… But you can tell us anything you wish." She spoke, raising her adoring eyes towards you. "We are your eternal servants."

"Yeah… You are, aren't you…" As always, you still had mixed feelings about those words. Even now, when it felt that you couldn't possibly go back, the nature of your power still caused you to have doubts. The actions of this morning only reinforced the thought.

You didn't regret leaving your father, per se. In fact, that was perhaps the most liberating thing you could have done. It had felt good, asserting such control. To display your power, and finally turn the tables on him. The problem was that you'd completely ignored the consequences of that action when you carried it out, and only now were you starting to see them.

It was hateful, how inexorably Julius had been tied to your life up until this point. The very fact that the two of you had the last surname bound the actions of your civilian life to him- And you understood that living a civilian life -at least, an ordinary one- would be impossible, now that you'd turned your back on him.

You didn't dare return to him, of course. The bastard might actually try to murder you.

Still… You'd taken a big step. Casting aside the identity of Mikhail, to throw yourself into the cause that even now burned brightly in your heart. To keep yourself motivated and convinced you were on the right path, you'd taken to reading articles on the violence caused by the latest fights between the Empire and its main rival. Every injured person, every casualty caused your teeth to grit in righteous hate, until the simmering anger boiled away your hesitation for the rest of the day.

You needed to do it, to keep yourself sane.

As for your current predicament… You couldn't help it. Ever since your first night with Gratia, it was like your lusts were insatiable. You'd thought it was only due to her beauty at first, but after that time you had spent with her on the bar, you felt there was something deeper about how all of your Dolls sought your love, as well as your own reciprocations.

Fucking your Dolls felt… Good. Not just in the physical sense -which was more than adequate-, but also the emotional one. It felt right, to claim them- Conquer them, as you conquered the people they had been in their old lives. With most of your Dolls, the sensation was muted- But after Rune, it had been so intense that it had almost swallowed you.

These Dolls had been parahumans that could have crushed you like a grape in moments. Rune alone would have flattened you in the blink of an eye, and she wasn't even your strongest anymore. And now they were like toys, beings that would jump as high as you told them to, whose very thoughts you could reshape at will just by telling them a few words.

It was disturbing… And yet, it was also deeply empowering.

Sensing your sudden spike of arousal, both of the Oni Lee clones moaned. Aohime leaned down, suckling on your neck with her soft lips even as her sister's pumps grew lewd in nature, her slick hand running all the way down your shaft and then back up as if trying to coax the prize that was inside.

You stared at the Doll's purple eyes as she eyed you lustfully, her tongue lolled as it poked out from her lips. Her gaze flushed as the smell of your leaking pre wafted into her nose, her face so close to it that some spilled onto her cheek whenever she jerked her hand. She gasped at your every twitch, whetting her tongue and shivering in almost agonizing impatience.

"Master…" Her breath, hot and misty, licked all over your head as the girl's parted lips remained an inch away, her tongue hesitatingly poking at it from below. She gazed at you, waiting for your command. Not to massage you like before, but to truly please you- To take you into her throat and obtain the reward she desired over anything else in the world.

"You want it that much?" You whispered, reaching down to grab her head. She relaxed into your grip, her muscles giving into your complete control as you took her down- Then held her still at a hair's breadth away from what she wanted. "Then beg for it, Doll. Persuade your ruler to grant you that wish."

"I beg you, Master." She panted, desperately glancing at the hard rod that she desired with every inch of her being. "Let me taste you. Allow this Doll to please you. I want to make you happy, to serve you with my body. I want your cum, I want your seed to run down my tongue and go to my little stomach." Her lips pursed, kissing the head on the tip with her open mouth. "Make me yours again."

You smirked, looking down at the flesh puppet that had almost killed you, now begging for your cum like a bitch in heat. "Very well. Take it, my servant." Chuckling at the cheesy line, you nonetheless seized her head and pushed down, letting her reach for the thing she sought.

Kurohime squealed happily as your hand pushed her down, though it was quickly muffled when she filled her mouth with your length. Her soft lips and tongue burned as she took you to the hilt, and you quickly cried out when she started sucking. With her enhanced muscles and her flexible, man-eating tongue, her slick tunnel felt better than any sensation you'd experienced before your Dolls. The vacuum caused by her ministrations caused you to buckle, even as she pulled you deep enough that her throat bulged visibly.

"Are you going to cum, Master?" Aohime whispered seductively, finally lifting her head from where she'd been marking your neck. A trial of saliva followed her tongue as she softly flicked your ear, before her dainty hand gripped your jaw. "Are you going to reward your Dolls with your thick, sticky love?"

"Mmf…!" Your grunt of approval was cut off as she turned your head and kissed you, pushing her tongue down your throat and happily slurping down. Her hands went from massaging your shoulders to pinching your nipples, the warmth of her digits contrasting with the cool air causing a painful pleasure to spread across your chest. At the same time, her bobbing sister cupped your balls, softly caressing them as she hummed and vibrated across your cock.

It was enough.

The two Dolls cried as you orgasmed, your own climax instantly reducing them to a slobbering mess as the feedback from your link hammered in their absolute submission. The purple-eyed oni lapped at your length all over, even as you spurted ropes of hot seed into her waiting belly. Her eyes beamed up at you, blissful and content and owned.

The two of them collapsed against you, almost dead to the world but for the pleasure that covered their entire minds. You smiled kindly, and let them bask in it for a little longer.

They deserved a reward for their hard work, after all.

"So, how is your sister?" You later asked them, as they went through the motions of cleaning you and getting you redressed for your costume. "She must be running herself ragged, with how the Empire's pushing back at Empire territory."

"She is fine, Master. She longs for your touch, but our memories keep her sated." Aohime said, one hand on your hip as she zipped up the back of your mesh suit. When your face was dashed with guilt, she slightly raised her heels to kiss you on the cheek. "She is happy, Master. Just carrying out your wishes fills her with bliss. All of us feel the same."

"But the rest of the people suffer all the same…" You growled, pulling yourself free of your bodyguards' grip and opening the case of your suit. It opened from within as you rested your hand on the neck panel, and without hesitation you slipped into it. Sensors chimed as the interface came alive, and the technological marvel resized itself to your own measures.

You stretched out an armored hand and flexed it. The movement felt smoother than the first time you'd operated it. Alabaster's work, no doubt. You really would have to plan something special for her troubles.

"Unfortunately so, Master. However, it has been this way for decades now." Kurohime tried to reassure you, even as you stepped out of the room that Lilith had set aside for your… Recreation. The two Doll maids followed you, their high heels clacking against the stone floor even as they nonetheless caught up to your hurried pace with ease.

"So you're saying that there's no reason to hurry, just because they're used to being stepped on?" You replied coldly, and the Doll flinched in pain as the scathing remark filled her with shame for her presumptuousness. Before she lowered her head, however, her sister interrupted your exchange.

"That is not what she meant to say, Master." The blue-eyed oni touched your shoulder, eyes soft as she tried to calm you down. "We just don't want you hurting yourself. If you suffer in trying to help these people… Then you will make yourself miserable, and it wounds us deeply for you to be unhappy. You are trying to save these people… Without hesitation, without delay, you are going as fast as you can."

She once again stood on her tiptoes, cupped the hard steel of your helmet and kissed your armor. "You are a kind and gentle person, so knowing that they are in pain hurts you… But if you are on the righteous path, Master, then brooding is not what you should do. Look to the future instead, and ensure that when you save these people, it will be complete and without regrets."

You relaxed. "I… Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I got all caught up in it." Once more, you were glad that your Dolls weren't just simple automatons- Even if they were built much the same as one, the fact that they had personalities and feelings… Their added humanity was the only thing that kept you from feeling uncomfortable, surrounded by hordes of these artificial beings that breathed and acted like people, but lacked the free will of the original species.

While these Dolls considered you their absolute Master, and had their entire brains shaped utterly to your will- They at the very least loved you, and wished nothing more than to support you and help you achieve your goals unconditionally. The knowledge that you were helping them with what they wanted… It made the whole act palatable enough to tolerate.

But if you had to be honest… You were really starting to miss Tyson already, and it hadn't even been a day since you'd decided to take the leap.

I'll have to do something about that.

You shook your head, dispelling those thoughts. "Lilith is probably waiting for us. Let's go." You turned towards the sulking Kurohime, and smiled coolly. "Raise your head, servant. You haven't upset me- Indeed, I am pleased instead."

"Y-yes, Master." Kurohime quickly fell back in line as you addressed her, but you noticed that there was a skip in her step. You inwardly chuckled to yourself.

No matter how diverse their personalities, in the end your Dolls were all the same. One word of praise, and it was the best day of their lives.

You made your way to the 'entrance' to the hideout, your two shadows smiling behind you with content expressions on their faces. Even though it was barely past midday, the hideout Lilith had built from the ground up using Rune and a repurposed sewage complex was starting to become lively. With almost fifty Dolls coming and going as they made use of Lilith's network to transport goods into the shelter, all of them working through the early morning without any need to sleep or sustain themselves, your Thinker Doll had miraculously managed to make a base for you in two days.

The handful of Dolls that were in 'permanent' duty, having been removed from the streets via faked deaths gave you wide smiles as you passed by, greeting you warmly or bowing their heads in deference. Having renounced to their old lives, they had fully devoted themselves to their existence as your servants and made sure to dress themselves for your appeal, clad in dresses or tight bodysuits that showed off their sculpted bodies.

You'd have to design a costume for them eventually, you supposed, before they became desperate enough to stroll around the base in nothing but swimwear or literally nothing at all.

But dealing with your minions' lusts was the last thing on your mind at the moment.

"Oh, Master. And slut clones." Lilith's smile frayed at the edges as she saw the two Dolls that clung by your side, her narrowed eyes flaring with jealousy for a moment, before it faded back into her angelic gaze. "Are you ready to hit the streets now, Master?"

"Yeah." You said, briefly popping your neck. "Let's pay a little visit to the authorities… And then, onto fighting crime."

"We will watch you from a distance, Master." Your faithful Oni-Dolls said, hugging you tightly. You sucked in a mouthful of air, inhaling the sweet scent that their bodies naturally produced.

"If you ever need us to serve, you need only call us." The blue-eyed oni stared up at you with wide eyes, and her sister nodded with a similar expression. You shifted on your feet, unsure of how exactly to break away from the two Dolls sandwiching you between their breasts without sounding gay.

"I-I'm counting on you." You said, hurriedly breaking away from their embrace and rushing over to your Prime Doll. The two followed your movements with a sad, longing gaze- Which swiftly turned into sour expressions, biting their nails when they saw the smug look on Lilith's face.

"The white devil is fearsome indeed, Sister." Aohime whispered, eyes narrowed with disdain. "Though I feel bad for the day she must face a real battlefield."

"Indeed, my dear sister. It is sad that she won't be as useful as we will to Master." The purple-eyed oni replied with equal venom dripping from her tongue.

You sighed wryly, even as Lilith teleported herself out of the shelter, and you quickly followed as Alabaster activated her power.

Pimpin ain't easy… But at least I'm in charge.

-He didn't mind the rivalries… But he hoped the friction between his Dolls wouldn't amount to much more than that.

--

Your registration at the PRT went well.

When Adam and Lilith strolled into the Headquarters, they didn't ask them for IDs or the like. There was a cursory search, to check if they had any weapons hidden, but independent heroes coming to register was nothing new to their personnel, and they were quickly guided through the boring procedures of signing through a few forms that would establish their identities.

Immediately upon nearing the building, you had felt the signatures of several parahumans inside, which must have been the Wards currently on-site. Halfway through the registration, you noticed that a pair of them had started moving in your direction. Lilith tugged at you, but you simply nodded knowingly and continued filling out the forms as doors from within the PRT base proper slipped open.

"Hello there!" A boisterous voice that reminded you of a young Tyson said, and you straightened up, looking away from the sheet you were filling in to glance at the two young heroes moving towards you. "We heard that we had two new heroes in the Bay, so we dropped over to say- ...Whoa."

"...My eyes are up here, genius." Lilith smirked, flicking at the air with her fingers and causing the former speaker to stiffen, sheepish at being caught red-handed. She giggled. "I'm just kidding. You can look all you want, cutie."

"Are you really flirting with a brat in front of your boyfriend? Really?" You said with raised eyebrows, doing your best to try and hide the jealousy that filtered in your words.

"H-Hey! I'll have you know that I turn eighteen next year!" The boy shouted outrageously, pointing at you with his armored finger. You eyed him warily, looking at the clock-based designs on his chrome-colored costume. "B-Besides, don't blame your girlfriend for something she can't help. It ain't easy, keeping off the bitches when I put on the suit."

Lilith's eye twitched, before she smiled up at you. "I was going to say that he could look all he want… Because he was never going to touch this, but what do you say dear? When he puts it that way, I'm not sure I could stay off that chick magnet."

You laughed.

"Don't, Clockblocker." The other teen said, clamping a hand on his fellow hero's shoulder, sounding clearly amused. "You'll just end up making a fool of yourself. I mean, it would be par for the course, but maybe you could try a different angle this time?"

"Gallant, please." Clockblocker laughed, even as he did a vaguely exaggerated mockery of male posturing. "I'm just being myself. Just ask the kids everywhere in the Bay, and they'll say I'm the coolest thing ever."

Gallant rolled his eyes, though it wasn't visible through the armor he was wearing.

"Oh, I'm sure." Lilith sauntered over to the two boys, her glossy lips twitching up in a way that clearly made the boys slightly uncomfortable. "I'm Lilith. Part-time hero, and full-time girlfriend to this hunk here."

She stretched out her dainty hand, waiting for them to shake.

"Clockblocker," Gallant hissed as the Ward reached out, but surprisingly there were no shenanigans as he shook her hand. "Well, that was unexpectedly polite of you." The Ward blinked, seeing that the boy had refrained from time-freezing the woman.

"Dude, I play pranks every now and then but… Look at her!" He whispered to his comrade, ignoring the fact you were standing right as the girl's side as he pointed everywhere towards her. "Why would you want to piss that off?"

"I think you're going to have a bigger concern than that, if you keep checking out my girlfriend in front of me." You said with clear amusement in your tone, even as you nodded at the two heroes. "I'm Adam. I kind of follow her along into her adventures. Keep her in check, since she's kind of a sadist."

Lilith licked her lips. "Oh Adam, you don't know in the slightest how I feel about punishing naughty boys for being bad." She smiled widely. "But it's true, I do love hurting villains."

"Told you," Gallant sighed, even as Clockblocker backed away slightly. "Out of your league." After shaking his head, he reached out and offered his hand. You looked at it suspiciously, before shaking. "I heard you guys made Oni Lee run away."

"We had help, much as I'd dislike to admit." Lilith said, biting her lip with an annoyed expression. "Two Empire capes helped us… Racist assholes, but you can't deny they've got some real heavy-hitters."

"When we thought about them taking the credit, we decided we didn't like that so we hurried up to register as fast as possible." You said, and then looked the Wards up and down.

They were… Normal. Not like most of the psycho villains you'd been fighting thus far, the fact that you could have a pleasant conversation despite being complete strangers was… Nice.

It was good that not everyone was fucked up in the head, after all. Kids should act like kids.

"Well, it's nice that there's more people cleaning up the streets, sir." Gallant said politely, while at the same time praising your efforts. "The Bay is so full of criminals that it's impossible to deal with everything at the same time. There's more than just the Empire and the ABB as threats, after all…"

Inwardly, your expression darkened. Indeed, your job would not end once you were done with the Empire. It was likely that it never would end. "We live in hard times," You said firmly, and honestly. "Everyone should do their best to help make it easier, however they can, for the sake of those who can't."

"Indeed." Gallant replied, though Clockblocker was quickly rolling his finger as if saying 'get on with it'. "Sorry, we've been holding you up- Just… I had to stop Clockblocker before he tried to do one of his usual introductory routines."

"Oh? I'd have liked to see him try…" Lilith said darkly, and this time Clockblocker visibly shivered.

"Yeah okay you were right Gallant." Clockblocker said with a quickly growing pallor on his face. "Good day lady and gent, hope all your heroing goes well! Off we go, to adventure!"

As the two Wards did their best to retreat, Lilith smirked up at you.

"You really are a tease." You growled and flicked her forehead with your gauntlet, but she merely smiled impishly and snuggled up to you.

"Umm… Sir?" The receptionist pointed towards the half-filled forms. "Are you going to complete the registration?"

Oops.

Adam has established the base of a positive reputation with the PRT! At the very least, he is no longer a complete stranger.

--

Purity flew through the skies of the bay, determined to change something about the increasingly violent situation that continued to degrade the safety of the city. Behind the light that covered her body, her eyes were narrowed in pure hatred as she soared over the buildings at dizzying speeds.

It had all started with a murder committed by Oni Lee in Empire turf. Four gangsters dead, two of them minors. The outrage, both public and clandestine had elicited cries for reprisal among white supremacist circles, and if it weren't enough the ABB had soon escalated the gunfights with the Empire through the use of new, dangerous bombs fabricated by his bitch of a Tinker he kept as a pet, someone called 'Bakuda' as she'd been led to believe.

It had been too much for the already frail status quo- And Kaiser had decided to gather his vast number of capes to try to beat Lung again and teach him a lesson he'd never forget. However… His methods were anything but subtle. The counterattack by the Empire had caused Lung to bristle at the display of force, and he was retaliating in full both with his own powers and the abilities of his deadly lieutenants.

This meant that once again, the city threatened to fall into further disrepair. And Purity could not allow that to happen, not when her little girl was barely starting to pave her path into this world. She would not have her baby going to school in a city that was rife with dangerous gangbangers who could take advantage of her.

And so, she'd increased the thoroughness of her patrols, intensifying her efforts against the ABB. With Kaiser invested in keeping the arrogant dragon in check, she could go an interrupt the operations of the gang, as well as ambush one of the supervillains if she managed to get lucky. While she might be going solo, that did not mean she couldn't hit hard enough to scare off anything the ABB could bring to the table.

Suddenly, the sound of gunshots and explosions caused her to slow down. The vigilante hovered in the air, looking down at the city in search of the source of the thundering. It did not take long.

"Oni Lee," She growled, watching the small explosions of ash in the distance followed by several brighter ones several dozen meters away. Purity turned sharp in the air, the coruscating aura surrounding her unmistakable to anyone who bothered to look up.

As she looked closer, she noticed the forms of the ones that were fighting the asian lieutenant. They were two, standing back to back and expertly dodging through the multiple clones that assailed them.

One of them was dressed in sleek, midnight-coloured armor with red highlights. Two circles of green light pulsed around his legs, as the man moved with clearly superhuman speed through the many clones, punching them on the face with sharp sounds that caused them to collapse before they vanished into ash.

The other was a gorgeous -to the point Purity felt a little jealous- woman with silver hair and red eyes. Fire raged around her, spreading in waves from her surroundings and shooting in gusts from her palms as she incinerated the coming clones as fast as she could, occasionally shooting compressed blasts at the bombs to detonate them before they could reach any of the two.

While they had the situation covered thus far, it seemed clear to Purity that the ABB cape was the one dominating the fight. We'll see about that, she thought as she turned towards the site of the battle and dived.

The two capes backed away when she made her presence known, a dazzling white comet on the sky. She watched the clones stop, all of them looking up in her direction-

And Purity flew back, already used to this trick. Without even looking, she hurled a blast of light behind her, smirking at the satisfying sound of flesh sizzling before the clone burst into ashes. Her eyes narrowed, and the light surged even harder around her. She fired a blast, and the cement of the street collapsed- Alongside with the bodies of three clones. She followed the trail of shadows as they appeared, firing a cavalcade of blasts-

-And the form of Oni Lee disappeared into the distance, the cape fleeing tail between his legs.

The two capes below relaxed, the man stopping and waving as the other started to put out the fires by sucking the energy into her glowing palms.

"Whew…" The armoured man said as she came down, approaching them with a wary look on her face. "Thanks for that. We were hunting for some ABB business we could crash on, but Oni Lee showed up out of nowhere. It was surprising, to be honest."

"Who wouldn't be surprised about fighting the same cape two days in a row?" The silver-haired woman said, slumping down and resting her head against the man's shoulder.

"Oh… It was nothing. I'm just glad to help clean up these streets, honestly." Purity said, getting close enough that she could talk with the group face to face. Her eyes were drawn to the man in the armor, and she stared at him curiously.

He was obviously using expensive equipment. Tinker? She thought. It was definitely possible for him to be a Tinker, given that he hadn't displayed any strange powers other than moving faster.

"Yeah! That's how everyone should think." He reacted warmly to her words, getting close enough to extend his hand. "My name's Adam, and this is my partner Lilith. You're Purity, right?"

"Y-Yes. You've heard about me?" She lowered herself to his eye level, reaching out to shake his hand. A strange warmth filled her chest, and she found her smile getting wider. "You're not… Scared of me or something, are you?"

She'd hate to make a bad impression on this person, someone so young and heroic, willing to risk his own life in the streets fighting against the scum that spoiled it. The idea of causing someone like that to look down on her again because of her past made her feel sad, as well as angry at the man responsible for it in the first place.

"What?" The man said, halting for a moment. "No! Why would I? ...Oh, do you mean because of your history as a villain?" When he saw her flinch, he chuckled. "It's alright. We've all made mistakes in the past… The present is what matters."

She thought of Aster. "That's what I think so, too." She beamed at him. They had a lot in common. That was good.

"Thanks for bailing us out." The girl from before- She'd already forgotten her name, called out to her. She looked towards her, indifferent. "We couldn't have done it without you."

"Sure." She said coolly. "Now then, if you'll excuse me-"

"Wait!" The man called out. She waited, obediently. "How about you come over with us, to our hideout? We really owe you one, and I want to make it up to you."

"I… Okay." It wasn't like it was going to take long anyways, right? And if worst came to worse, she could just call Theo and have him go babysit… Yeah, that was fine. She glided down towards the two of them, smiling pleasantly. "It's been a long time since I visited a hideout. Where's it at?"

"Oh, it's just a few hundred meters away from here. Also, could you turn the light off? It's kind of blinding to have to look at your face." He said politely, but clearly irritated with the way her power was bothering him. That was certainly bad, but…

She stiffened, looking at the girl next to him.

"Oh for the love of- You can just trust her like you'd trust me." She could- Okay, if he said so. Purity smiled, landing on the ground as she let her power fade.

"Well… That worked well." Lilith said, which caused Kayden to look at her in confusion. What did she mean by that-

"You can wear this, so you don't get exposed." Lilith handed her a domino mask, which she blinked at blearily before putting on. Yeah, it'd be bad if they saw her like this.

"Follow closely, Purity. Try to stick by my side, since the road's a little tricky. Here." He held out his arm, and she happily took it. She giggled. She hadn't taken a boy's arm ever since her days of crushing on Max in high-school.

Kayden almost stumbled, walking in her costume. It wasn't something she was used to, having designed it for flight rather than travelling on foot. Still, she did her best to listen to Adam. He was strong, confident, and clearly had a strong sense of justice since he'd gone after the ABB. He was like Max, before she'd learned that Max was a controlling freak and a monster inside.

The man led her down dark alleys, going farther than he'd said before, but Kayden didn't mind, sticking to his arm and waiting until he spoke to her again. She noticed they took steps to avoid people passing by, keeping their heads low as they moved. She felt the urge to laugh again- Did they want their hideout to be that secret? Their efforts were almost cute.

"We're here." Adam said, his strong voice causing her body to shiver. She removed herself from his arm slightly, at the same time feeling a wave of disappointment. "Sorry I made you wait so long. Don't worry, you'll get your gift soon." He brushed her cheek with his metallic hand, causing her body to shiver. One finger brushed against her lips, and she smiled.

She couldn't wait.

Lilith knocked on the door to the 'hideout'. There was a brief pause, as a silhouette peered through a glass on the window- Before it slid open, revealing the form of a beaming, curvy woman that was just as beautiful as Adam's partner.

"Come on in, Master." The woman giggled, her luxurious brown curls bouncing as the two stepped inside. Adam pressed a button on his helmet after they went through the door, and it unfolded, revealing his sharp, handsome face. He leaned over and kissed the woman on the mouth, groping at one of her breasts and squeezing her nipples through her blouse. Kayden glared as the woman moaned, bristling with jealousy-

Wait. A strange thought bubbled into her mind. Something's wrong-

"Sorry about that, she's a friend that takes care of the hideout from me." He stepped away from the gorgeous woman, who tried to bring him back into her embrace, and laid his hand on her shoulder comfortingly, scratching at the back of her neck. "Follow me. I know there's something I can get for you in here."

Kayden relaxed, her legs almost stumbling as she gave Adam a dopey smile and followed him along.

Leaving the woman behind to whimper in barely contained lust, Kayden allowed herself to be led deeper into Adam's den. They came to a room that looked like it had been carefully prepared- The furniture had been taken out, leaving only a table of wood large enough for a person to lie on, surrounded by featureless gray walls. The room was dimly lit, almost gloomy in nature.

"Wh…" Kayden tried to speak. It was getting hard to think, with him so close to her. "What is this for?"

Adam smiled down at her, and turned to face her. Her body froze as he grabbed her chin, breath halting as he stared into her eyes. Kayden's toes curled, eyes twitching expectantly-

When he kissed her mouth, it was magical. Her body shivered, happiness suffusing her as she wrapped her arms around Adam's broad neck, and she moaned into the kiss as his hands circled her waist. She felt ten years younger, as if she were back in high-school, crushing on a certain blue-eyed athlete…

Something's wrong, Kayden. A tiny voice in her head said. Get your shit-

"It's for you…" Adam breathed, pulling away from the soft kiss to caress her lips. Kayden trembled, kissing each of the digits as they passed. "I'm going to give you a gift you'll never forget."

"O-Oh…" Kayden's legs crossed, a warm wetness spreading through her loins. It had been such a long while since she'd been so seduced, so attracted to a man. His presence was perhaps even stronger than Max's. "I… I look forward to it." She did her best to reply with a smoky gaze, just like she'd done when she goaded Max into making a baby.

"Alright." Adam gave a savage smirk, causing her to shiver. "Let's get you tucked in." She squealed when he took her into his arms, carrying her like a princess from fairy tales. She made bedroom eyes at him, stroking his chest even as he laid her down on the hard, cold wood of the table.

"The things are ready, Master." Lilith's voice echoed from the room, and Kayden turned to look- But Adam's hand touched her cheek and brought her eyes to his and she froze, breathing softly as she lost herself in his eyes.

"Now then…" Adam whispered huskily. "Let's get you comfortable."

Kayden shivered as the man removed her costume, piece by piece. She lifted up her legs, letting him slip the white stockings and boots free, leaving her bare legs to shiver at the cold air. One hand stroked her thighs, and she gave a small whine of agreement.

When his hand reached the waistband of her panties, Kayden's breath hitched. For a moment, she hesitated- But then Adam was kissing her again and it felt so wonderful and she reached out to remove the panties on her own, folding her legs and pressing them together to remove the garment and toss it aside.

"Good girl." Adam growled, before he firmly pressed a finger to Kayden's clit. She jumped, crying out at the strong sensation- Before relaxing and moaning as he shoved the finger inside her moist, waiting cunt. Kayden spread her legs slightly, letting him do as he wished. When he finally stopped, he brought a finger slick with her juices to her lips. She suckled on it.

Her skirt and gloves quickly came off as well. When he removed her robe, Kayden shivered as each inch that slipped off revealed more of her large, aroused breasts. When her bra became fully exposed, he took no time in lifting her by the back and unclasping the undergarment. She helped him do it.

As she heard the bra hit the floor, Kayden sighed. She felt the cool air hitting her hot, naked body. She felt warm, wonderful, basking in the gaze of the manly presence before her. Adam's words were so strong, so firm that she felt she couldn't deny him anything.

"Okay, we just need one more touch left. Purity," Adam's warm voice echoed across her mind. "Roll over, will you? And put your hands behind your back."

"Okay." She breathed automatically, by now following his firm commands was almost second nature to her. "Adam… You can call me Kayden. It's my real name."

Unknown to her, Adam smiled darkly. "Very well, Kayden. Stay still."

Kayden obeyed, not moving in the slightest even as she felt a rough, hard texture go around her hands, before Adam did something to them and wrapped them tightly, pulling at her wrists and locking them together.

The tiny voice in her head raged, begging her to notice her plight or do something.

Kayden sighed blissfully.

She didn't resist, even as Adam tied her ankles together with another rope and then rolled her over on her back again. Then, she gasped as the man moved to straddle her, both legs around the table as he sat on her lap and groped one of her round tits with a rough hand. She beamed at him, her crotch soaking wet and her mind buzzing happily in rapture.

"Open up, Kayden." Adam ordered, and Kayden opened her mouth in wait. She looked at the white fabric in his hands- He was holding her panties, rubbing at the wetness between and smirking. Kayden blushed, but did not close her mouth. Ever so slowly, Adam leaned down- And rolling the panties into a soft ball of cotton, shoved them into her mouth, effectively muffling her moans.

Kayden shivered as Adam's gaze ran up and down her body. She recognized that look- She'd seen it a thousand times already, whenever Max had won in an argument, whenever he got someone to do as he wished… Whenever he dominated her in the bed. It was the same look of conquest, of utter victory and that of one that relished in it with all their heart.

And that same look never failed to drive her crazy.

"Had enough fun, Master?" Lilith's voice called out. Kayden ignored her. She only had eyes for one person now.

"Yeah." Adam smirked before he looked down at her with a cold gaze. Kayden shivered, finding even that look of disdain attractive. "Just one last thing you should know, before I give you your gift Kayden."

"Yeah?" She whispered airily.

Mikhail's hands touched her head, covering it from both sides. He sneered.

"Nazi trash will always be nazi trash."

Before she could even begin to process his words, a surge of static flowed directly into her head and caused her mind to be swallowed by the white-hot mix of agony, pleasure and horror. The tiny voice in her head, the one that had tried to warn her, that had tried to save her, gave a mournful cry as she felt the control over her body recede completely-

-Until a final surge of static lashed out, and even that tiny voice was torn to shreds.

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

Common Trait: Power now draws halogen lights directly via shard, granting Purity a practically infinite supply of solar power.

[ ] Increases the offensive power of the blasts. Increases speed while flying and shields Purity with light while she's moving, allowing her to strike at targets like a missile. Can 'supercharge' blasts for deadly intent, granting them an additional effect that causes lingering molecular deconstruction of any affected target. (The Supernova Upgrade.)

[ ] Increases speed and mobility while flying, and allows Purity to manipulate her blasts as hard light constructs rather than mere blasts of kinetically charged light- Letting her make force-fields, fork or add homing to her lasers, create explosive light-mines, or create a personal armor of light to shield her from damage. (The Legend Upgrade.)

--

"Mmph…!" Master groaned, hips buckling off the edge of the table. "Oh fuck, that's really good…"

Kayden beamed, happy that he was pleased. "Thank you, Master." She chimed, lifting up her hips- Before diving back down in the way she knew men just loved, grinding her tight, pink walls against her Master's hot shaft.

He stumbled, clearly overwhelmed by the sensations- But Kayden was there to support her Master, and she reached out with a dainty hand to support his back, her amber, almost gold nails clenched tightly against the back of his shoulders.

She bit her lip, savoring the way her now perfect teeth felt against the glossy, golden membrane. Her entire body was pressed against Master, eager to show him the extent of the love and submission she felt for him. She wanted him to know how much he controlled her, how completely owned he had made her.

Yes, she belonged to him now. She was his, more than she had ever been Max's creature. She almost snorted, thinking about the buffoon that was the father of her child- And wishing it could have been Master instead that had put her little golden sunshine into her womb.

Mm, having Master's baby. She liked that thought. Reflecting that, she spun her hips sensuously against master, the wide yet shapely thighs that were perfectly engineered for childbirth conforming themselves to Master's shape. He groaned, and she giggled as she felt his rock-hard dick poke ever so slightly against the opening of her cervix. Boys were so eager nowadays.

But Master was no ordinary boy. Oh no, he was a hunk of a man. With a vigor and energy that Max hadn't possessed, even during their highschool days. And his cock was so much better, too. She wet her tongue, wishing that she could taste it on her lips at the same time that she milked it with her baby-maker.

She wanted to savor it. The taste of the one she loved. Her Adam. Her Master.

"You can cum whenever you want, Master." Kayden whispered sweetly, suckling on his lower lip as she took one of his hands and pressed it firmly against her round, cushy ass, letting him squeeze on it as much as he desired. It plied at his touch, supple to the movement of his hands, yet its firmness kept it pert and lively, even as she braced her tiptoes on the ground and rocked herself for another delicious thrust on Master's cock.

"Shit," Lilith's jealous voice echoed from outside the room, the girl biting her lip as she forced the Doll below her to keep licking at her needy cunt. "She's more dangerous than I thought. All of these rivals…"

Meeting her gaze, Kayden gave her a snide smile. The little slut was so eager to please, but she didn't have her experience. She would be happy to teach her if Master wanted to, though. Anything for his happiness.

"Poor Master." Kayden turned her attentions back to her gorgeous Master, cooing against his chest as she rubbed herself against him. "Your cock is so hard, so needy. Let your Doll take care of it, Master. Leave everything to me."

"Jesus… Christ!" Master choked out with wide eyes, throwing back his head from the overwhelming pleasure she was making him feel. Master was so happy he couldn't even talk. Oh, Kayden was such a good Doll.

But he looked a little thirsty. That had to be remedied.

"Master…" She sidled up to him, even as she continued bouncing on his cock. "You look like you need to feed." She landed a wet kiss on him, shoving her tongue down his dry throat and rousing his need to fill his mouth. "Can you let this Doll help you?"

"...O-okay…!" He breathed out, teeth grit as he continued to thrust. She knew he wanted to impress her, just as Max always did. He really didn't need to, though. Kayden already belonged to him fully. With a lewd smile, she lifted her hands to her chest.

"Here, Master." Kayden pushed one of her breasts to her Master's waiting mouth. They were heavy- Heavier than they'd ever been, and larger too. And yet, they were supple and firm, so perky that she had marvelled when she first explored them. She gave a little sigh of happiness as Master's teeth bit down on her fat nipple, squeezing out a gush of the sugary, crystalline liquid that her new body produced in place of milk.

She moaned and cooed at Master's every movement, even as her eager folds tugged and hugged his penis, pushing him deeper and deeper into the throes of pleasure. She allowed her power to suffuse her body, her light brown hair glowing a beautiful white that glowed softly enough that one could lose themselves staring at it, and her blue eyes adopting a brilliant golden hue, like the radiance of the sun.

It made her body glow with unnatural light, emphasizing her beauty and making her even more perfect for Master to enjoy. Unlike her old form, the light was not harsh enough to blind Master- She could control the intensity at will, and why would she ever wish for her Master not to see her splendor?

"K-kayden, I'm going to…!" Her Master moaned, pulling away from her leaking tit to warn her. She moved a finger to his chin, wiping at the little strand of her 'milk' that drooled from a corner of his lips. Her heart melted with love at the sight.

"Yes, Master." She cooed, lifting her hips and lowering them down hard, the rings of her specialized muscles clamping down just right on his cock to push him over the edge. "Yes, Yes, Yes. Cum. Cum for your Doll. Fill me with your love, Master."

She continued giving him hard, powerful strokes, her whole body wrapped around him and acting together to coax out his seed. Her round, melon-sized tits left trails of crystalline milk that stained his chest, even as the friction caused them to work almost like a blanket massaging him. She locked her legs around him, kissing him deeply and meeting his quivering stare with her hot, longing eyes.

He yelled, loud and powerful. The tremor caused Kayden's body to shake with need, even as her Master buried himself to the hilt with one stroke and shot his warm cum deep into her womb. Kayden's mind went completely white, losing control of her body as she moaned and thrashed in the best orgasm she had felt in her entire life.

When he was done, her Master collapsed against the table, lacking the energy to so much as pull out from her folds. Kayden continued to milk him softly, stimulating him lightly and letting him ride out his own climax. She lowered her body against his, heavy breasts sliding up his chest until her eyes found his again.

"...That was wonderful, Kayden." Master finally said, averting his gaze before firmly staring back. "You are mine now… And you'll help me crush Kaiser."

"Yes." Kayden smiled, his praise meaning the world for her. "Always, Master. If you commanded it, I would go and burn everything that belongs to him, then lay him at your feet. Then you could take me before him, his strongest pawn, and make him understand what a fool he is."

She kissed his mouth and her walls squeezed on his cock, reinforcing the truth of her words.

As she broke the kiss, Kayden smiled at him and leaned ever so slightly back, arching her flexible torso to lift herself off until her nipples were grazing his body. She raised a hand and smirked, calling her power to herself.

It came easily, readily- Without limits, or a hint of draining. Twin helixes of light appeared on her hand, primal force coalescing in her fingertips, ready to be released and destroy anything that crossed her path.

Yes. Kayden Anders was a Doll now, she belonged to her Master.

And she would not let anyone get in the way of that.

Purity, the strongest Blaster in the city, is now your Doll!

Great Power comes with Great Escalation. Events begin to set themselves in motion behind his back...

--

"Master." Lilith said, as the three of you emerged from the hideout. The girl's ears perked, her eyes looking far-off into the distance. "There is a heist in progress nearby."

You froze. Behind you, the disguised Purity rose into the air, twin helixes of light appearing in her palms.

"What are we waiting for?" The woman said coolly, as if she hadn't been moaning like a bitch in heat minutes ago. "I'm all for crushing some scum." She smirked, a dark gleam in her eyes. "Some more than others."

"Alright, do you know who it is Lilith?" You asked, even as the three of you started to move. Though by far the slowest between the three of you, Lilith could still move at thirty miles per hour on foot, pushing at the uppermost human limits.

The Doll halted you as she turned a corner, staring through the night at a blur that moved between the streets. "Circus," She said. "Solo cape, does mercenary work for villains. Is a villain himself… Herself, whatever. Grab-bag, not very impressive. Potentially useful."

Her words were cold and analytical, yet the predatory nature in them could not be confused. She was talking like someone who eyed a juicy piece of meat.

You shivered, but quickly hardened your gaze.

[ ] Go after Circus. They would be a good capture. (Mikhail will pursue Circus, intending to doll them.)

[ ] Go after Circus intent on getting her arrested.(Time to get some goodwill for being a hero)

[ ] Don't go after her. They're worthless, small-time. (Mikhail will pack up and go home for the night.)

--

And to think people almost lost the vote to get the Heartbreaker power.

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Last edited: Oct 2, 2016

Oct 2, 2016 ReportLike

Garret1331, Anthony1967, Deamon and 175 others like this.

Threadmarks: 2.6 The Calm Before the Storm

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Purity looks like:

1: http/i./yBIG5El.jpg

2: http/i./VcRcYgv.png

3: http/i./BglUQi5.png

4: link

[ ] Appearance 1

[ ] Appearance 2

[ ] Appearance 3

[ ] Appearance 4

[ ] Write-in

--

Wednesday, April 2nd

"That was… Something." You sighed, collapsing against a couch that had been recently added to the hideout. "Leaving her be was probably for the best… I'm exhausted."

After deciding to ditch the operation to grab Circus, the three of you had immediately warped back to the hideout. It was only when you found yourself back in its safe confines that you realized how tired you were of all the bullshit that had been happening these past few days.

"We finished things up early today, Master." Lilith said, glancing at her phone for a moment. She beamed. "If you sleep the morning away, you'll be able to get as much sleep as you want. Don't worry about the rest, just leave it to me."

"Aww…" Purity whined, floating down to the ground and hugging her voluminous chest. "And here I wanted Master to visit my house, so I could show him my second most important thing in the world. I thought it'd make him so happy…"

...You frowned, straightening your posture on the couch. "What are you talking about?"

"Well… I have a daughter." Kayden blushed, and as she continued to talk she completely missed the way you froze. "Aster, she's a sweet little thing, only 2 years old but she's already so beautiful and perfect. I wanted her to see you… To show her the most wonderful man in the world, so that she could get used to looking up at you… Master?"

Kayden's expression when she saw your face and felt your emotions went from blushing bliss to quickly paling horror. "Master, I-!"

"No…" You stumbled, rising from the couch as your head began to spin. You sought the bathroom, the acid taste of the bile rising from your throat stinging your buds. "No, no… I… What have I-"

"Mikhail!" You heard Lilith's cry, but it sounded foreign to you. Mikhail? Heh. Who was that? Mikhail Galkin, the honor student and human being was nowhere to be found there.

No, the only thing that was here… Was a monster that had stolen a mother from an innocent, harmless baby. Killed her in cold blood.

God, you fucking dumbass. You cursed at yourself. What were you thinking? These people aren't random monsters on the street you can pick off like characters from a game. Of course they'd have families, some of them completely unaware of the shit they're pulling off. Stupid, stupid, stupid…!

When you felt two arms grip at your chest, trying to hold you back, you snapped.

"Leave me ALONE!" With as hard a swing you could muster, you pulled back your arm and struck, enhanced speed giving an extra edge to your blow. Lilith pulled back, the shout of alarm disconcerting her more than the strike- And you immediately broke from her grip, trying your best to run away from her tear-stained eyes.

You didn't deserve being looked at that way, with those eyes full of compassion. You needed someone to hate you, to admonish and indict you for the terrible nature of what you had done.

You could imagine it now. Your glass-eyed Doll, formerly a criminal in disguise, now something that was not even human. Looking at you with warped, obsessive love of your own making- As they presented you the squirming, gurgling form of their firstborn child as if it were some sacrifice to a dark god.

-As the image sunk in, you lost control of your body.

You vomited. Fell to your knees, your stomach's contents spilling all over to the floor. The hand-cooked meal your Dolls had worked together on- Another product of the abominable power that gathered in your breast. Who would that meal have been intended for, had you not gone the dark path you had set out on that fateful day?

How many of those drug dealers had been fathers, their deaths already faked and their wives widowed, or worse- Their children orphaned? How many people whose lives you had ripped off and remade in your will, those who had loved them having their connections irrevocably shattered?

The parahumans, too. Hadn't Rune said she had a best friend that relied on her most of the time?

A common high school girl, uninvolved with the dark side of the streets. Another human being whose social life you had surely warped beyond recognition, having stolen one of their pillars. A mere side effect of your power…

...But one that you'd need to repeat countless times, if you wanted to change the world. One you had been forced to do, for the sake of survival.

"G-God…" You breathed, looking up at the dull roof of the hideout. You lied there, your puke below you and yet feeling filthier than any waste substance could possibly be. Your arms reaching out to the sky you could not see, seeking the words of someone you didn't know to exist. "Why have you brought this trial upon me? What must I do, when the path to a better world is paved with the stones of Hell?"

-But no answer came.

"TELL ME! WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THIS!?" You yelled, the tears pouring out of your eyes. "Why was I given this monstrous power!? Am I fated to become a demon!? Is that what you wish of me!?"

You looked at your hand, which had already stolen countless of lives with a single touch. How many more would go by, before you were done? How many would fall, once you reached out to the roots of corruption and pulled them out until the tree of life was molded to your will?

"I can't go back anymore…" You raised a fist, your armored gauntlet smashing against the concrete and scattering the bile on the floor. Tears fell against it, brushing the grime away. "I'm already doomed, and I have no choice but to keep doing this or die… Why? Was this going to happen sooner or later!?"

You shouldn't have used it, Mikhail. You shouldn't have used this power. You regretted your very existence, as you realized all the sickening ways your drive to end the Empire and right what you felt unjust had caused you to act. You'd have been happy with just Gratia, wouldn't you? Could have had a peaceful life, ditched your dad and married her in college… But you had to try and be a hero. You had to take on the world.

And, for all the monstrosities you had committed… There was no one to hate you, no one to curse you or swear off the day you had been born. Only love, warm and suffusing love and submission from the servants that surrounded you, celebrating your sins and exalting you with a crown of laurels.

There was no doubt about it. Mikhail Galkin was a Demon, ruling over the reaped souls of the Dead. A Demon King, whose servants he had remade from the flesh of his enemies.

Yes.

That was your true nature.

As you lied there in shock, two warm hands finally reached you again. They pulled you close, uncaring about the bile that dripped from your chin as they held you to their warm breasts. Your eyes started to sting again.

"Shhh," Lilith whispered, rubbing your head with soft, comforting gestures. "It's okay. Everything will be fine, Mikhail. Just relax, and listen to my voice. Okay?"

"G-Gratia, I…" Your hollow words were silenced by her fingers, wrapping around your mouth as she continued to comfort you with all of her body.

"Remember our promise? Your special Doll is here. Every time you're upset, I'll be here for you." She whispered into your ear, even as she started to move you. You didn't respond, body light as a feather as she pulled you away from the puke and had you lay down on her lap.

"...She has- Had a baby, Gratia." You choked out, even as the Doll brushed away the tears from your eyes. "How many? Just how many must have been in a similar situation?"

"A few of them." She replied, and you heaved with another sad gasp. She continued to comfort you, waiting.

"...What should I do...?" You said, feeling lost and scared. "I… I just want to fix things. To help people so that nobody has to go through what I did. Is it impossible, to build a better world?"

"If it's you, it's more than possible." She brushed a bang away from your face, playing with it as she scratched at your scalp. "We will help you every step of the way."

"Even if that means destroying families?" You said, face trembling. "I can't… I don't want that."

"...Then fix them." She said. "Take responsibility for the actions you have done."

Take… Responsibility? What did she mean by that?

"How?" You almost begged. "How can I? There's no taking back what I've done!"

"Of course there's not. I could never ask you to do that. Do you want the truth, Mikhail?" Gratia paused. "If you took me back to my original state… I'd hate you."

"I'd deserve it." You mumbled, but she hushed you.

"But not for the reasons you think. I wouldn't hate you because you turned me into this, Mikhail…" She smiled bitterly. "I'd hate you because you made me go back."

What? Your eyes widened.

"I love you." She whispered, and you felt warm droplets hit your face. Tears? "You've given me everything. More happiness than I could ever desire, a reason to live for, and turned me into a better person, one that can feel good about herself even without all of the brainwashing. If you took it all away… I'd go insane."

Your heart skipped a beat, going a pace too fast. Had she ever sounded so sweet?

"All of your Dolls feel the same. It doesn't matter what you do to them- Whether you make them your fuck-slaves, alter their personality- Whatever you do, it's made them happier than they have ever been before. You are the only one who feels miserable, Mikhail- And it hurts us. Every time it happens, we cry because we want to suffer with you."

"Gratia…" You tried to form out a coherent sentence. "How can I even do it? Making myself happy, when one thing I heal destroys another?"

"It's because you have the power to change the world." She said so, and it meant everything to her. "If something makes you upset… Then control it. Don't shy away from it. Don't hesitate, and make yourself miserable. Take responsibility- By putting your foot down, reaching out to this rotten world and reshaping it until it makes sense."

"That's… Monstrous." You said, but without the previous edge. You felt the clarity of her words, and they reached your heart. "It will have… Even worse consequences than this. Not just on my conscience- Many will hate us. The world will hate us."

And at this, Gratia laughed.

"Then let them hate." She said, and kissed your forehead. "We'll love you all the same."

You closed your eyes, basking in the sensation. Gratia's hair on your face, her lips above and the softness on her thighs below. And as you felt that-

"...I love you, Gratia."

-You whispered, and you didn't have to look at her to know how she had reacted.

There was a pregnant pause, before Gratia's hands once again resumed caressing your head. "...Do you want to sleep, Master?" Her voice almost broke, trying to contain the happiness that glowed from her body.

"Yeah…" You said. You felt tired, heavy… You yawned, her warmth slowly lulling your consciousness into a muted state.

"Sleep well, then." She said, and started to hum lowly. A slow siren's song that caused your mind to grow foggy.

You fell asleep in minutes.

--

Thursday, April 3rd

You met Purity's nervous, distraught face with a calm gaze. You leaned back on your 'throne', one hand under your chin as you waited for her to speak while resting on your arm. You were not dressed in your armor, but in a simple set of pants and shirt. It would change, eventually.

Standing at your side was Lilith, eyeing you with a calm yet proud smile, while your faithful shadows hung two steps away from the throne, one hand on their sidearm while the other clutched a hidden knife.

Victor had managed to free up her schedule to assist, and she watched the procedures with an amused, eager smile. At her side, Othala shifted between both worry and anxiety- But pulled close to her lover, she could only sigh and follow her lead.

"...I'm sorry about yesterday, Master. For making you so upset..." The Doll shook, evidently ashamed of what she had inflicted on you. "I'll accept any punishment."

You exchanged a brief glance with Lilith… And then chuckled.

"Very well, Purity. No… Your crime does not pertain your cape life. Kayden Anders, step forwards." You nodded to your shadows, and they flickered at your will. The blue-eyed and purple-eyed oni firmly grabbed each of Kayden's arms, dragging her to your throne and laying her at your feet.

She looked at you, glossy lips twitching in fright, wide eyes whose love could never fade when they looked at you nonetheless scared of what fate might befall her- Of whether she would ever be able to see you again.

"Do you know what your crime is?" You asked coldly, and watched as she nodded. "Oh? State it."

"My words displeased you, Master! I spoke out of turn-"

"Wrong." You interrupted her, and she flinched with wide eyes. "Kayden… Your true crime was…" You let the silence hang for a long time, before you decided to just let the bomb drop. "...Failing your child as a mother."

She blinked. "What?"

"Come, I shall give you your sentence." You held out a hand, and pulled her chest to your lap when she took it, her breasts resting on your lap as you grasped her chin and made her look up at you. "Look into my eyes, Kayden. I shall engrave a new truth upon your soul. You will obey it, like the servant you are."

Kayden's pupils dilated, the black dots growing wide as a shiver coursed through her skin down to her core. "Yes, Master." She said, almost mechanically.

"You will not your raise Aster, or any child of yours for that matter, to be my servant. Humans are meant to have control over their lives, not be controlled- And for children, that goes double. I do not mind if you ask her to love me- But only insomuch as she would love anyone else, as their good neighbor or relative. You will give her your love, not the one you give me, but another one, equal in intensity and fierceness. Do your best to raise her into a fine young child, a healthy and good child that will only add to the world I dream of seeing. Keep her safe from harm, and support her what may come." You slathered word after word on her, each sentence an irrevocable truth that the very core of her mind would adopt as absolute. You watched as her eyes largened, twitching as you rewrote her very existence.

You waited for a few moments, then spoke. "Do you understand and accept this new role, Kayden?"

"Yes, Master." She said, and her smile could have lit up the sky. "With all of my heart."

"This goes for all of you!" You said then, shouting at the Dolls that had gathered. "The only one who decides who must serve is I! If I must bend another being to my will, it will be by my hands and efforts that it is done! Whoever takes a child or harmless innocent and twists their soul, shall face my wrath!"

"Yes, Master!" The Dolls chorused, back arched and posture straight as your command rippled across them like an ocean rave.

"And now, Kayden." You smirked, brushing the cheek of your lovestruck weapon of mass destruction. "I have a second command for you."

"Ah…" She leaned into your touch, shedding tears of relief and happiness. "Command me, Master. Anything you wish."

"I heard from Lilith after your talk with her this morning…" You began, slowly. "The boy… Theo Anders. The one who is a child to that scumbag. A good person, traumatized by his father's controlling ways." You restrained the way your fingers twitched, rage pulsing across your body in remembrance. "Would you say that you love him?"

Kayden hesitated. "Yes, Master. But… I often forget about him, because-"

"Because he isn't Aster. I understand. Humans make mistakes all the time…" You reaffirmed your grip over her chin, and leaned forwards with a smirk. "...But you will not."

Kayden sighed, but didn't break eye contact- She stared deep into your eyes, waiting for your programming. "Master?"

You obliged.

"You love Theo, now. As much as you do Aster." You said, and she shivered as the command began to take root. "You want to protect him, to keep him safe. To rescue him from the clutches of his scumbag father, and raise him into a man you can look upon with pride. When he is sad, you will comfort him. When he is happy, you will laugh with him. And over everything else, you will never neglect him. Do you understand?"

Kayden slumped against your body, and through your link, you felt the way her emotions changed. Relief, like a huge weight had been thrown off her shoulders- Happiness, for the warm feeling that suffused her body when she thought about the boy- And a deep, burning rage, one that almost caused you fear despite being directed towards the man responsible for Theo's pain, the very same man that continued to control him.

You gulped. You'd effectively taken the knowledge of fifteen years of abuse the boy had suffered from his father, and connected it to the protective instincts she had for her baby daughter. You couldn't even begin to imagine what she would do to Kaiser if you let her have her way.

"That is all." You said, and Kayden sighed pleasantly.

"Thank you, Master." Your Doll said, her eyes closed in bliss. "Thank you for making your Doll perfect for you… For this world."

"Believe me… I didn't do it for you." You smiled. It was an actual, genuine smile for once.

"Mm…" Kayden hummed for a long time in your lap, and you flinched when a hand suddenly patted your groin. "Does this mean I am forgiven, Master?"

"S-sure." Your lips twitched, watching as the newly rewritten Kayden fixed you with a lustful, hot gaze.

"Then… Let me thank you for this." You groaned as the Doll snuck a hand under your pants and pulled your cock free, rubbing it softly with a warm hand. Her eyes never left yours as she opened her full, amber lips and sucked you in, her tongue wrapping around you like a sheathe.

"L-lilith." Your hips buckled at the Doll's show of 'gratitude', but you did your best to maintain a calm face as you brought your advisor closer. "Do you think Alabaster will be done with- Oh shit! ...That, by the end of the day?"

"Yes." Lilith smiled calmly, even as her hand reached out to Kayden and pushed, helping her head bob in ways that drove you insane. "Though I do believe that you are burning through personas at a rather degenerate pace, Master."

You laughed, despite the blowjob distracting you. "We all knew Adam wasn't going to last. After what we talked about… This is for the best." You looked down at your hand, and clenched it into a fist. "This status quo… We knew it would end sooner rather than later."

"Is that all, Master?" Lilith said, smiling pleasantly. You shivered, even as you moaned to Kayden's expert servicing. She was definitely up to something.

"Yeah, w-why?" You asked, panting as the mother below you cupped your testicles to play with them.

"Because there's a lot of Dolls here…" She whispered, "And all of us want your 'gratitude'."

You looked up, and realized that halfway through your talk with Purity the entire auditorium had degenerated into a full-blown orgy. Victor was fucking Othala, the Doll screaming at her touch even as the conflict vampire made bedroom eyes at you, squeezing on one full teat which her lover hurried to suckle. Your faithful shadows seemed contorted now, wrapped against one another as they were with the hilt of their knives buried deep into each other's pussy.

Dozens of eyes gazed mistily at you, waiting for the moment that you released your seed so they could be next to pounce.

...Thank God you had Alabaster.

--

As evening fell, you prepared to move out. Aohime and Kurohime dressed you quickly and faithfully, making sure that everything about the suit was right and there was no damage left from your previous escapade. You made your way to command center, already worried about the state of affairs.

On the home front, things had calmed down massively. The first you had done when you woke up from your long slumber had been to straighten out the Dolls' personalities. Having sensed their antagonism before, you made sure to replace it with a familial bond, so that it would only ever escalate to friendly rivalries. Judging by how your global commands tended to stick, you didn't think you'd have to worry about it later- But just in case, you'd have Lilith 'induct' any newcomers.

Your epiphany had made a lot of things clear- Your actions would be hurting a lot of people, in the long run. You felt that by accepting that, you no longer agonized over the ruthless decisions you had to make- But at the same time, decided that the fact that you were determined to carry them out also implied you'd be taking responsibility.

No more games. From now on, everything you did would be with a purpose.

And then, there were the news that had necessitated pushing things up the schedule…

"Lilith," You said, two Dolls opening the door to the command centre as you strolled in. "What did you find out about Tattletale?"

Lilith winced. "The information I bought from Faultline told me a lot of things, Master. She's a Thinker, very high level one- I think she's capable of pulling information out of nowhere, likely via some form of advanced information gathering from her power. Either that, or she's psychic."

"Great." You palmed your face, rubbing at your exposed temples. "And you think that she's suspicious something is up?"

"We're sorry, Master." Your two oni clones echoed from behind you. "Our original one ran into them after she had carried out your ambush for Purity… Which led her straight through the casino they were hitting. She had to fight them, but they were so full of openings that she had to visibly hold back on them… And she couldn't have retreated, due to how said Thinker spotted her immediately."

"Okay, okay." You clutched at your jaw, thinking of a way out of this situation. "Going after her's definitely a no-go. We'd be taking something that's a suspicion and turning it into full-blown terror. However skilled she is, she's going to have to dig a lot to be able to get any important results. What do you think, Lilith?"

Lilith looked troubled, as she stared at the screen. "...I don't think she's alone." She clicked her tongue. "The formation of the Undersiders -that's their team, by the way- Was too smooth, almost calculated- Their members come from wildly different situations, but it's the very first two members that baffle me. The synergy between Grue and Tattletale is mediocre at best, from what I heard from the mercenary."

You scratched at your head. "Are you saying the Illuminati is behind this or something?"

"Ugh, not you too." Lilith complained, rolling her eyes. "Not the Illuminati, but something definitely smells fishy here."

"The freemasons." You said, bumping knuckle on palm, and quickly had to duck to avoid Lilith's playful swipe- That happened to sear part of the wall with the flames released from her hand.

"Come on, Master." She laughed, before her face turned grave. "In any case… It's good that you have made up your mind. We're going to have to go with the plan I set up in case we found ourselves with a deadline… This will probably be our last free night."

"Okay," You mulled that over, then nodded. "Let's make this count, then."

This is the last day before Lilith begins preparations for Operation: Dies Irae (will jump the timeline by a few days)!

You will:

[ ] Head into the night as the Adam & Lilith duo to fight crime. (May encounter Villains for Dolling, will likely account you with more players and heroes from the city.)

[ ] Go after the Merchants. Take one potential player off the table before shit hits the fan. A Tinker will be useful for the operation. (Will go pick a fight against the Merchants to 'capture' them as Adam & Lilith. Potential Dolls: Skidmark, Squealer, Mush)

[ ] Ambush Krieg. You already control all of his subordinates- Despite his troublesome abilities, it's finally time to take him down. (Will attempt to obtain Krieg, a powerful cape that synergizes well with energy projectors. Having Krieg will boost the effectiveness of Dies Irae.)

[ ] Grab Crusader. The poor fool has a crush on one of your Dolls. (Will attempt to obtain Crusader, another of Kaiser's lieutenants and a cape with great crowd control abilities. Having Crusader will boost the effectiveness of Dies Irae.)

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Last edited: Oct 3, 2016

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Purity leftover vote:

1: http/i./VcRcYgv.png

2: http/i./gKizwuh.png

[ ] Appearance 1

[ ] Appearance 2

--

Thursday, April 3rd

Betrayal. The notion of it stung Krieg.

He was used to betrayals- Working for the Gesellschaft, he'd done his fair share of undercover missions in his path. He'd thought he was used to it, the damning gazes of those who named him traitor once they realized that he served a greater cause. However…

In all of his life, he had never experienced a betrayal of this magnitude.

"What… Is the meaning of this!?" He tried to roar, but the exhaustion that blanketed his body left him unable to do much but rattle the chains that bound him to the floor, several tons of force put together preventing his lethargic body from exerting his power.

"Isn't it obvious?" Rune said, examining her nails as she kicked her legs up and down from where she hovered, pinning him down with her gaze. "We're ending this. The Empire, I mean. It's over and done."

Krieg laughed. "You… Are you truly serious? After all the things you have done, has the guilt swallowed up your minds?" He shook his head. "Why? The Protectorate will not forgive you, even if you turn against us. Your families will loathe you." He glared at the three of them- Victor, Othala and Rune. One happy family, the lot of them- And apparently one with too many second thoughts about the cause.

He still couldn't believe it. It had just been a simple patrol, overseeing that the Empire was running smoothly and no further attempts from Lung to destabilize them were coming. Rune had pulled ahead, dragging them towards a more remote location, and then…

"The truth is, Krieg… We don't care." Victor smirked, his dark eyes literally crushing Krieg under their power. He had never known VIctor to possess that ability before. "I have all the family I need… Right here." He rubbed Othala's shoulder with a warm stare, and the girl beamed back.

That also surprised him. Victor had never shown Othala that much love.

"...I don't understand." Krieg spat. "You never showed reluctance to our methods- Indifference in some of you, yes-" He glanced at Victor. "But all of you seemed to accept it as natural. Or are you saying, Rune, that it wasn't you who laughed and grabbed two Merchants, and had them check if 'flying to the sky was anything like getting high'?"

"Oh no. Guilty as charged. I even shoved them into a dumpster and dropped them in the sea." Rune smirked, but then her eyes darkened. "I regret that, now. We've done so many wrongs…"

"Forgive me if I fail to believe that you suddenly changed your mind on a cause you'd been following since your birth, Rune." Krieg deadpanned, but the confusion in his eyes was true. "Is this a bribe from another gang? Coil? It can't be money, we took care of that- Is it blackmail? A relative of yours held hostage?"

"You already said you don't understand, no need to guess." Victor said simply, playing with a lock of Othala's hair. "I don't blame you. Nobody could have anticipated something like this…" He sighed, almost longingly. "...Someone like him."

Krieg froze. Every single nerve in his skin crawled with the cold sting of fear. "No."

"Yes. You're beginning to catch on." Victor grinned, even as Krieg's eyes widened in horror. "We bought it, Krieg- We really did. The bigotry, the racism- It was empowering, to be able to do what you want, hurt who you wanted, and then hide it all behind a veneer of righteousness. A tempting draught, almost like the devil's own wine."

"...Shit." With every word they said, the pieces fell further in place in Krieg's head. Their abnormal attitude, the sudden inexplicable betrayal… "Shit, shit, shit…!" His eyes widened in horror, as he realized the reason they had captured him. "...Your Master. What does he wish of me!? Is it to stop my crimes? If you release me, I-"

"Oh no. Don't even think for a moment that's going to work." Rune hissed, blue eyes narrowing as she pulled him up by his head, the chains rattling as they forced his body to move. She smirked. "Eye for an eye, tooth for tooth. Everyone must pay for their crimes, Krieg."

He grit his teeth, unable to do anything to fight back in his state. If it were just Rune, then he'd have been able to break out of the binds. But Victor's constant vigilance drained him of energy, and left unable to so much as flex his muscles.

"Like Victor said," Othala giggled. "You don't understand. But you will, soon."

The joy behind her words only heightened his struggling against the restraints that bound him.

Suddenly, there was a flash of blue light, somewhere he couldn't see. But he noticed the way his three captors straightened, the obviously artificial joy that lit up their eyes.

"Kneel." A deep voice echoed, clearly processed in some way as it reverberated across the entire room. As the three capes surrounding him almost dived to the floor in a haste to follow the command, he caught a glimpse of the perpetrator behind this farce.

He growled. "Adam. So this was your true nature, after all."

The man's midnight blue armor looked intimidating under the poor lights that hung on the ceiling. With the darkness shielding him, the highlights of his armor, his cloak and his visor were suffused by a fluorescent crimson. He said nothing, content to simply stare at him with crossed arms as he waited for his minions to obey him.

Krieg smirked, noting the silver-haired woman that trailed behind him, a cowl covering her features. "Going for a different image, now that you've revealed the monster you are? It must have been hard to you, posing as a henchman-"

"Silence." The armoured Master said, and Krieg's throat froze. The words caught in his throat, unable to slip anything beyond his unconscious breathing. "Trash like you has no right to preach to others."

"Master," Rune breathed next to Krieg. Her body quivered, eyes worshipful as she bowed low before the proud ruler before her. "We made sure that nobody was nearby when we staged the ambush. Lilith can testify."

Adam lifted his head, glancing at the veiled woman. She gave a simple nod, and he turned back to his servants. "Well done. You may reveal yourselves."

"Thank you, Master." The three of them echoed, and before his eyes the bodies of his former comrades began to shift.

It was with a primal terror that Krieg watched the bodies of his teammates deform and change shape, swelling in some areas as they shrank in others. But when Rune and Othala became beautiful, that only minorly shocked him.

It was Victor's transformation that awakened raw terror inside his mind.

They're not them. It finally dawned on him. Victor, Othala, Rune- They're already gone. And these are his puppets.

"W-wait!" Krieg said, shrinking back as the man approached. He had heard about these parahumans before- Monsters they spoke of in tales. The Slaughterhouse Nine. Heartbreaker. Nilbog. Glaistig Uaine. "I'm married! I have three children! Do you not have mercy!?"

The man paused, his outstretched hand halting for just a moment. The cowled woman lifted her head to look at him, her red eyes flashing.

"Don't worry." The monster finally stated grimly, even as his hand continued its course. "They will be much better off… In the new world I shall build."

And as the man's hand fell over his face-

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

[ ] Extends her field's abilities not just to kinetic energy, but to all forms of energy. Cannot directly affect molecular bonding. (The Behemoth upgrade.)

[ ] Allows her to freely redirect and adjust the magnitude of kinetic energy within her field. (The Accelerator Upgrade.)

[ ] Allows her to spread the field over a range of up to 100 meters, boosting the abilities of all allies and reducing those of the enemy. (The Manton Upgrade.)

-Krieg knew darkness.

--

???

"Solaire." A firm, yet cordial voice echoed through the walls of the workshop they'd given Tyson to work with. He looked back, his eyes still sparkling with barely-restrained fanboyism to the figure that approached him. "Did you manage to go over what I asked you last night?"

"Of course, sir!" Tyson took his hands away from the pulsing circuitry on the desk, raising one gloved hand to salute at the smiling Armsmaster. "It was a little hard to think of a module for your armor given how packed everything in it was, but then I realized that if I mapped the blueprints in a larger design, grafting them into a miniaturized form would be entirely within your field of expertise, sir."

The hero's eyes were hidden by his armor as he glanced at the design on Tyson's desk, but judging by the way his lips twitched, he looked very satisfied. "Hm… It's fascinating, yes. These nodes that connect to the transistors, they're unlike anything I've seen before, but- Hm, yes, it should be possible to pack them in a tighter form… I can work with this. You don't mind if I take it, then?" He hesitated, unsure if it was complete.

"Oh- Um, yeah, I was already done. It was kind of like a speedrun, really- Mover and Thinker powers go really well with dexterity. I'm pretty much a munchkin when it comes to speed." Tyson waved a hand in embarrassment, and stepped aside so Armsmaster could collect their joint project.

Before he collected it, though, Armsmaster paused. "Thank you, Solaire. It's a pity we can't have you on the streets until they are ready to reveal you to the public, but despite this you're already hard at work even though this was a personal request from myself."

"It was all in the name of the Sun!" Tyson stuck out his chest, making a strange pose by raising both of his arms- Before he laughed sheepishly, and started taking off his tinkering equipment. "Just call me Tyson, sir. Um, if that's not disrespectful that is."

Armsmaster shook his head. "After you've done a favor for me? Not at all, Tyson. And…" He nodded, more to himself than anyone else. "My name is Colin. You can call me that, if you wish."

"First name basis already!?" Tyson blushed, holding his cheeks with both hands and swaying. "C-C-Colin-kun!"

Colin edged away, clearly uncomfortable. He still remembered the days with Mouse Protector.

"W-wait, I was just joking." Tyson waved his hands disarmingly, then smiled. "Anyways, if everything works as intended, you should notice around a 50% overall increase in effectiveness, both in maintenance and designing. I don't know why a dimensional relay has that effect on your powers, but… I ain't no scientist, so somebody else can figure it out."

"I'll do that. Thanks." Armsmaster nodded one last time, then moved to collect the device.

Tyson left him to his devices, heading out of his workshop and towards the Protectorate cafeteria. Hopefully they still had enough mayo that he could build another 'Decker Special', and if they didn't… Well, he'd just borrow some money from Assault and tank the pay cut, later.

Still… He'd already spoken with the PR department, and his costume would be coming soon.

He couldn't wait until the big day.

--

Tuesday, April 8th

It was time. The big day was here.

"They took the bait, my liege." Krieg knelt before your throne, her cunning red eyes looking up at you with love and respect. You met her gaze, looking at the faint skull patterns reflected in her irises. "Kaiser and Lung are heading towards the appointed location, and we expect them to arrive by sundown. Everything moves according to your will."

"Good." You said, running a hand over your Doll's fine, dark hair. With her leadership skills and connections, Krieg had proven a fine servant- She had played Kaiser like a fiddle, whispering in his ear and causing him to move exactly like you wanted him to.

And she looked every bit the part of a faithful lieutenant. Her officer's clothes had lost the Nazi connotations, replaced for a more neutral grey uniform that clung tightly to her body- Despite this, an Iron Cross still dangled from her neck, resting against her cleavage. A side effect of her transformation- Whenever you tried to take the necklace off, it simply appeared again like an annoyingly persistent accessory.

You patted her head as a gesture of praise and the proud woman crumbled under your fingers, her collected expression twisting into a haze of lust as she crossed her knees together. You heard a faint thrumming sound from her loins, and laughed lightly. Lilith was having a bit too much fun with the base's regulations if she was shoving vibrators inside your servants.

"Master," Lilith said, appearing on the room in a blue flash of light. "Everything is ready. Victor said that he's certain that everyone is coming, but unfortunately Oni Lee's informed us that Bakuda will not be coming. As expected, of course."

"This is as good an opportunity we'll get, anyways." You nodded. "Let's not waste it."

Standing from your throne, you marched towards the Hangar. Krieg quickly recovered, though not without a murmur of disappointment, and ran off likely to prepare for deployment.

This week had been fairly busy. Not just preparing for the operation- A lot of heat had started falling into the city. Because Lilith had been deliberately staging encounters between the ABB and the Empire to remove your Dolls from the streets, tensions had skyrocketed between the two gangs. The Protectorate had been pushed to work overtime, trying their best to manage the high increase in crime.

And then the breakout had happened. It had been necessary, you lamented- You needed Kaiser to have every pawn in his hands for him to bite the bait you had prepared for him. You'd made sure to order your Dolls to make the operation succeed, and it had-

-But it had been a close thing.

Solaire. That was the name of the new cape in service of the Protectorate. He had only just made his debut today, an overly done speech that talked on how great power came with great responsibility. It had been so cheesy you wondered how half of the crowd hadn't collapsed into a laughing fit, like you did.

But there was nothing hilarious about his strength. During the breakout, an unnamed cape had held back Hookwolf on his own. If not for the secret firepower your Dolls applied during the fight, the Protectorate would have fended them off right then and there.

But despite that wild factor… Everything had gone as planned. Yesterday, Oni Lee had bombed areas close to the Medhall building, being careful not to kill civilians, and attracted the full attention of the Empire- Upon which he had issued a 'challenge' from Lung, stating that if they didn't stop scurrying like rats and faced him properly he wouldn't just hit the buildings the next time.

A similar challenge had been issued to Lung himself, of course, from Oni Lee's own hand as well. With how incensed the two faction leaders were at each other, the fools hadn't even stopped to think of the idea they might have been tricked as they went on the warpath for a decisive battle over who got to 'control' the city.

They had no idea… That both of them were the ones who would end up losing.

As a final move against Kaiser, two days ago you had managed to place another of his factions in check. With how busy your preparations for Dies Irae had been, it had almost been a rush job- But with Krieg's help, you had managed to subdue another full chunk of the empire to your will, obtaining more Dolls for your legion.

These were-

[ ] Fenja and Menja. The Biermann twins never imagined that a cordial invitation for a cup of coffee would take such a sinister turn.

[ ] Stormtiger and Cricket. Funny that one of them had been released, only for said freedom to be snuffed away right away.

[ ] Night and Fog. While elusive in a battlefield, their programmed routine made it almost contemptuously easy to grab them.

"Are you excited, Master?" Lilith asked, as you crossed the doors to the Hangar. You looked inside- With all of your normal Dolls in permanent duty, it was looking very lively. You eyeballed the large number of assault rifles and firearms Lilith had 'borrowed' from the gangs, then turned your eyes to the much safer bodysuits that were being prepared for your Dolls.

"Yeah... I feel like a real villain now." You really needed to get a Tinker though, sooner or later.

"Hurry up, Master!" Alabaster whined, beckoning you towards the familiar case that rested against the wall. "I just finished with the last details. I promise, you'll love it."

"I'm sure." You said, briefly kissing the Doll and letting her melt in your hands. "Shouldn't you get going soon?" You whispered into her ear, and the pale-white Doll nodded with half-lidded eyes.

"I'll see you in a moment…" Alabaster licked her lips. "...My Lord."

Leaving her to saunter away, you turned your eyes to the case with an almost savage grin. Tyson would surely gag over what you were about to wear… But fuck him, he never had a sense of taste anyways.

You opened the case, and had to restrain the joy that bubbled up your chest at the sight.

Oh yes. This would do.

It would do very well.

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UrsaTempest

UrsaTempest

Yuri Fanatic, Archivist

The ePub and PDF version of this quest can be found here: https/my./publink/show?code=kZongeZEesUhDh6K4byssF2ik3iIfH9dBe7

At least, the ePub part. PDF should be uploaded shortly - if it doesn't, something is wrong. I'll try to fix it then, it should be up this week.

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Threadmarks: 2.8.1 Dies Irae (Verse 1)

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

The day of wrath, that day

Will dissolve the world in ashes

As foretold by David and the Sibyl!

How much tremor there will be,

when the Judge will come,

investigating everything strictly!

The trumpet, scattering a wondrous sound

through the sepulchres of the regions,

will summon all before the Throne.

Death and nature will marvel,

when the creature arises,

to respond to the Judge.

The written book will be brought forth,

in which all is contained,

from which the world shall be judged.

When therefore the Judge will sit,

whatever hides will appear:

nothing will remain unpunished.

-Excerpt from the hymn "Dies Irae"

--

Tuesday, April 8th

Kaiser smiled, looking down at the site of the battle from his throne of blades.

His Empire had gathered. From the twin blondes at his side, to his lieutenants and each of their subordinates, they all stood proudly in the light of the sunset. Fourteen capes, a truly mighty alliance that no other force in the city could strike down. Even the Protectorate's forces, should they try to assault such a large host, would have been surely repelled. It was, without a doubt, the strongest force in the city.

And they all moved according to his will.

"Lung must be mad, to issue such a challenge to us in a moment of strength." Krieg said briefly, yet wisely. "Had he attempted such a thing when Crusader was still brooding away from the Empire, he may have met with success."

"If he had issued such a ridiculous challenge back then, I would have declined." Kaiser responded, then smirked. "Perhaps that should be left unsaid, though. So that it will not be said that the Empire is not a gracious host."

He looked down at their 'battlefield'. An abandoned construction site by the Docks- The project dropped recently enough that nobody had bothered cleaning up. Materials littered the place, beams strewn around the floor as a large crane loomed over them. Large enough to accommodate them… But not enough that Lung would be able to escape from their wrath.

"I'm going to crush him the moment he shows up." Hookwolf growled, the skin already shifting underneath as he braced himself for the dragon's arrival. "Sit his punk ass on the ground and rip him a new one."

"I'm ready, Kaiser." Rune floated by, several beams hovering around her. She smirked, resting on one of them. "Whenever you give me the call, I'll spring the trap on him."

"Once he goes down, this city is ours." Crusader said, craning his neck and popping a few vertebrae. "Nothing will stop us."

Night and Fog looked at each other, smiling knowingly.

-Suddenly, Cricket perked up. "He's coming." She growled, and the rest of the Empire tensed. All of them, except one.

Kaiser felt relaxed. Everything was playing out smoothly, despite Lung's new strength. The man was smart, but bloodthirsty- And that savageness of his led him to often commit mistakes. He had managed to carve out a gang in a few months- But Kaiser's faction was so much more than a gang.

What Kaiser ruled over really was a miniature Empire. He moved millions of dollars as he pleased, recruited parahumans from all over the nation, and had an army he could call his own. He had inherited from his father, a brutal man whose intelligence he shared, and he had taken everything his father had built and made it greater, higher than any other villain in this city could aspire to.

In this land, Kaiser was king.

And he loved it.

Idly, he remembered the message he had sent Kayden, even as he felt the temperature begin to rise from the coming form of the dragon. He knew that she would come- The woman could not possibly refuse a chance to take out Lung, even if it meant cooperating with him. The wounds she had suffered at his hands, after all, had made her fear the asian man too much.

Kaiser smiled, even as he stood to greet his opponent. All was going well.

"Kaiser…" Lung growled as he made his entry, Oni Lee walking behind him. Bakuda nowhere to be seen, of course- Lung would never bring out his pet Tinker to a fight like this. It didn't matter, because he wasn't going back- But he digressed.

"Lung." He replied coldly. "Your servant gave us… Quite the greeting, when you issued your challenge."

Lung paused- And then laughed. His fiery chest bulged, the scales on his already nine foot tall body spreading with the heat. "That helmet of yours must be doing something to your head, fool. It was you who brought me here, thinking that you could defeat me in a true fight."

He snorted, plumes of smoke coming from his bestial nose. "You cannot. And I have come to prove it."

...Kaiser frowned. Something he didn't expect was happening. He didn't like unexpected.

Krieg laughed. "How confusing then, that you and Kaiser received the exact same challenge to the exact same location!" The man's words provoked a ripple-like effect amongst the Empire capes. Confusion, annoyance and- Anxiety?

Not fear, they weren't scared- But they were anxious. There was something that didn't fit on the picture here.

Lung turned towards Oni Lee, his expression unreadable through the aura of fiery death that surrounded me. "Have you betrayed me?" He asked, simply.

"No." Oni Lee replied, just as emotionlessly. "I received the challenge from the girl, the one that flies."

"Oh? But we received the challenge from you, last night." Kaiser growled, leaning forwards from his throne, his contemptuous expression hidden behind his mask. "Explain to me who else could have showed up and bombed half a city block!"

Lung blinked, then glared. "Oni Lee was at the Docks overseeing one of my operations last night. He was there all night- My subordinates testified."

Kaiser raised his voice. "Well then, who was it that brought the two of us here, then!?"

"It was Us."

Like a gunshot, the voice echoed across the skies and brought all heads to the heavens.

-Standing at the top of the abandoned crane, right over the edge of its yellow beams, two figures stood. One of them was a witch- A girl with flowing blonde locks and green eyes that shimmered with red light, the rest of her face concealed by a hooded cloak of midnight color. Even the loose cloak, however, could not hide her bewitching beauty.

As for the other one...

"You seem… Displeased by Our invitation. A pity, for it is a stage We designed for your play alone." The preaching figure threw out one arm, making the red cape that covered him to flare outwards, billowing with the wind. His black armor gleamed under the stars of the night sky, even as the light of the sun began to fade from the horizon.

Lung's head craned, his neck twisting at an inhuman angle as he met the towering figure directly on the eyes. "Who are you?" He asked, sounding amused.

"...A good question. Our existence is not something that can simply be described with a name. No… A more exquisite introduction is in order for such an act, do you not think?" The crimson red visor of his armor flared, as the mysterious figure rose his hand to the sky… And snapped his finger, the metallic impact of his gauntlet clashing causing sparks to erupt from his fingers.

At that moment… More figures appeared.

They appeared, one by one, like a curtain called for the end of a play. Rising from a kneeling position after a red flash marked their arrival like that of raging lightning, they stood over the buildings surrounding the battlefield. Dozens of them, all hidden under the same featureless black and red hoods.

"Teleportation…?" Crusader said, looking at the circle of figures that surrounded them. "Is he some kind of Shaker?"

"Or a Tinker." Victor remarked. "They could've designed teleportation technology. I gotta say though…" He smirked. "Neat trick."

"Oh, you have seen nothing yet." He drew his arm towards the figures circling the battlefield, and slowly clenched his opened hand into a fist. "Let the sound that announces the Prelude to Our revelation… Begin!" He spoke towards the masses before him with a regal voice, the spikes that surrounded the scalp of his armor resembling an ebony crown.

At that moment… The figures began to play.

Some pulled out trumpets, holding them out for everyone to see as they performed the song's explosive beginning. A chorus of angelic voices followed, each of the figure's lips emitting a dulcet tone that nonetheless reverberated with powerful impact across the entire area. Violins sounded like the ride of valkyries, heralding the profoundness of the man's incoming speech.

"Mozart's Dies Irae…" Krieg hummed appreciatively. "At the very least, our interloper is a cultured man."

"We are a being that was called from the reaches of Sheol itself, from where both righteous and wicked are judged without mercy." The parahuman claimed, his cape flowing dramatically with each of his words. "We heard them, even in the furthest reaches of the Abyss we resided- The agonizing, despairing cries of this dying world."

"Oh shit…" Rune said, palming her face. "It's another one of those nutcase parahumans." She groaned out, which caused several of her teammates to laugh nervously.

"A buffoon…" Kaiser said, gritting his teeth in frustration. "That's what he is."

"Oh I quite like the song." Krieg remarked. "We can listen to what he has to say at the very least, can't we?"

"They cried for a savior, and We answered. From the nothingness of Limbo, Our hands reached out and opened a gap into this world. We are the beginning of an End, and the end of a Beginning. It is with Our arrival to this land that the final trumpet will be called, and the Day of Judgment will descend upon this world."

The music was growing more intense. Each of the figures strained themselves, playing at impossible speeds in a hurry to be the one that gave the biggest praise to the being that continued to preach at the world. Like maddened zealots, they visited upon each instrument such devotion that any human's hands would have bled. Such was the desperation with which they prayed to Him.

"We are Solomon! The first of the Wisemen, the one who was given the Wisdom of God and drenched himself in decadence and sin, only atoning at the end of his days!" Solomon revealed his name to the chorus of crying angels, his cape making a dramatic flare as he raised both hands to the sky. "In Our search for forgiveness, Our Lord has given us a task from the highest of the heavens!"

"Think he's a jew?" Stormtiger asked Hookwolf, and the cape growled in agreement.

Solomon ignored them. His eyes were directed at a greater audience, now. Kaiser saw it- The way his stance changed, the way he looked- It was as if he was making a public speech. Is he broadcasting?

"HEAR US, MORTALS WHO LIVE IN THIS WORLD!" Solomon said, gesturing towards the wide air. "You who are innocent! You who are righteous! Rejoice, for the time of Salvation has come! We shall personally pave the path for blissful joy for your sake, so that you might live out your days in peace until the Gates of Heaven open!"

"You who are wicked!" He roared, and this time his eyes looked down below- At the capes gathered before him. "Upon you, We visit Our wrath! Your souls, which are black and stained with the blood of others for the sake of false idols, shall be fed to Our Legion of Demons, and you shall become a vessel for our Judgment, to visit reckoning upon Earth!"

"Legion of Demons?" Othala said, stepping back in fear and gripping Victor's arm fearfully. "Suddenly I'm not so fond of the guys up there…"

"He speaks mere trifle." Kaiser growled. What kind of idiot would suddenly show themselves in the middle of a faction with all of their capes present, and give such a ridiculous speech which simultaneously threatened and mocked those gathered below him? They'd either have to be incredibly foolish… Or incredibly powerful.

"Witness! This moment, this act!" Solomon shouted, as he opened one hand towards the sky. "To the sound of trumpets, to the weeping of Angels, We will close the curtain on the first of the wicked! With this hand, We shall reach out to the heavens… And open the Gate of Hell!"

-The moment he said this, the witch that had been at Solomon's feet moved. Her lips smiled up at him, even as she wrapped her arms around his chest and clung to his body.

And then they rose, flying into the air.

"Today, this city will be purged! The trumpets sound the will of the Creator, and herald the coming of the Demon King! Watch as we shatter the sky, and weep in joy as a new Era dawns into this world! In the name of the Father, We call upon your guidance, Lemegeton! By Divine right, unlock the realm of horrors that dwells beyond human imagination!"

Together, the witch and the maddened cape reached their hands out towards the nothingness, pleading to a silent entity that Kaiser was certain was in their own heads.

"Come forth, my Abyss! My Legions, drenched in sin yet bound to my will! Weapons forged to purge this world of sin! Listen to my words, and awaken from your slumber! In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… I RELEASE YOU!"

With a crushing finality, Solomon grasped the skies- And covered them all with his fist. "COME, DIES IRAE!"

...There was a tense pause as everyone waited for something to happen, after the parahuman had finished their speech. They waited for his speech to come true- For the heavens to fall, for monsters to appear from some portal… But nothing happened.

Lung growled. "Well, it was an interesting show at least." With almost contemptuous disdain, he nodded towards his subordinate. "Oni Lee. Kill him. I will deal with the Empire."

"Yes. My Master." Oni Lee replied, reaching out for the bandolier in his belt. He took out one of Bakuda's bombs, looking at it for a moment- And then very slowly, deliberately, curled his fingers around it.

-At that moment.

A deathly shiver crawled up Kaiser's spine.

Oni Lee looked up at his target, bomb ready to be armed, and used his power. He appeared right above them, reared back his arm-

"Watch out!" Crusader called out, but it was already too late.

-The bomb flew, armed and ready- Straight towards Lung, whose entire body turned in shock.

It was only Kaiser who had realized, at that moment, that it hadn't been Lung Oni Lee was looking at when he answered.

"MOTHERFUCKER!" Lung yelled as the bomb his part of his body, chunks of ice diving straight into his draconic body and dealing such damage that a fountain of blood erupted from his side. The wounded dragon immediately hurled a raging wave of flames towards his traitorous lieutenant- But the two Oni Lees expertly backed away with a series of flips that would have taken decades of practice for a human to imitate.

"Hail." The two Oni Lees echoed, as they stood straight and slipped off their masks. Kaiser's face dawned with horror as he watched what was happening to the man within.

Oni Lee's face was melting. The skin was slipping away, bubbling and sizzling as if infected as it was replaced by a smooth, glossy texture. His features softened, everything that made him a man disappearing as his entire flesh changed. His eyes bled as his chest swelled, the men melting away until only two women remained.

"Hail to Our Lord. The Wise King, our only ruler." The two women echoed robotically, even as they slipped off their costume with a single gesture. From their forehead, two horns bulged out as their eyes turned red and blue, and their hair lengthened until it reached their backs. The black and red bodysuits that concealed their modesty did nothing to hide their curves, twin bodies that had been sculpted to perfection.

They were beautiful. They were uncanny.

They were Demons.

"Shit! We've gotta- CRUSADER!" Stormtiger's voice shook Kaiser from his stupor even as the two demons resumed their attack on Lung, and he looked to the side, towards the man his subordinate had called-

And his eyes widened in terror. No.

"It… can't be…" Crusader watched with wide eyes the claws that stuck out from his stomach, red and glistening with his blood. A hand pushed him off, and Night smiled from behind him, looking down as he bled out with a face that was already halfway melted into its new look.

"Hail the Demon King." She whispered, even as the earth began to shake. It actually trembled, Kaiser's feet shaking from under him as chunks off the earth began to lift around them.

"Fuck you!" Stormtiger yelled, air pooling between his palms as he created a projectile to shoot after Night. A pillar of earth rose, and weathered the explosive blast without the Gesellschaft cape even being touched.

"He will usher in a new world!" Rune yelled, symbols being engraved into her body as her human flesh receded forever, her empty eyes raised towards the heavens in a gesture of adoring praise. The objects around her trembled, before they were sent after the capes of the Empire, beams falling upon them and causing them to scatter.

One of them was aimed at him, and it finally caused him to react. He pushed with his blades, the metal casting him away as the rain of objects exploded against the cold iron of his power. Fenja and Menja came to his side, and he saw that their bodies were shivering. They're scared.

For some reason, his arms were trembling too.

"Krieg!" His voice yelled out. Commanding, reverberating even now. "Get Othala, before these Demons get he-" He stood still, backing away slowly from the form of his lieutenant that simply stood there, unresponsive. "Krieg. No."

"Our wise and benevolent ruler, who will bring peace to all-" Krieg's words were cut off by the flash of a gigantic spear, courtesy of a powered-up Fenja that had struck at the transformed cape with tears in her eyes and a distraught scream coming from her throat.

But…

"-All hail King Solomon, for he is the GREATEST!" Krieg laughed, easily grasping Fenja's spear with one hand. The space around him warped, clashing with Fenja's own power and making his abnormally feminine hand seem much larger than it should. His face half-replaced already, he gave a fierce grin and started pushing against the giant, driving her back step by step.

Kaiser yelled, throwing a sea of blades at the advancing monster- But the blades all twisted and bent as they reached him, shattering when his leg kicked at them.

-Then, a flash of light caused him to glance to the side for a moment, only for his heart to fall further.

"You will pay for your sins, Kaiser." Victor and Othala spoke in twin monotone, their bodies swirling with power. Victor simply approached one of the still struggling Empire capes -Cricket- and fixed her with a stare that immediately caused her movements to become sluggish, even as he raised one hand and shot her with a blast that sent her flying for a dozen meters.

At that moment-

"FUCK YOU!" Hookwolf screamed, his body rapidly shifting into a mass of shifting blades and hooks. Alabaster stepped into his way, the same alien gaze all of the monsters possessed on his face- But even as he pulled out a familiar-looking bomb and hurled it at his lieutenant, the expert parahuman dived out the way and lashed out at him with a sea of hooks that mangled part of his body.

Ignoring the cape as it flickered to respawn in a shower of white smoke, Hookwolf headed straight towards Victor and Othala, who had attacked his sworn sister. The ability-draining cape leaped away with super speed, Othala cradled in his arms. Hookwolf changed direction and pursued them, moving too fast for them to intercept-

-A massive form of claws and limbs crashed into him, looking like a blender of chitinous razors as she clashed against Hookwolf's body of steel. The two of them clashed, waging a war to see who was most powerful- Before Hookwolf walloped her with a tackle that cut through the abomination's midsection, and had it scurry away to recover.

It was then that Kaiser spotted it, heading towards them. A flash of white light that lit up the sky. His eyes lit up. Kayden! So she had chosen to come after all.

"PURITY!" He yelled at the glowing cape, even as she lowered herself close enough that she could hear the roars of the battlefield. His eyes brightened when she saw her turn to him, eyes clear and sharp with focus. "Shoot him! The one with the red cape! He's Mastered everyone! Dorothy, Geoff, James, even Norman and Marie! Kill him, before he does the same to us! Think of our child!"

Kayden glanced at him. She took a good, long look at his face, the honest fear on his face, and his completely panicked state…

-And she gave a satisfied, cruel smile.

"No." She said, and at that moment Kaiser knew he had lost.

The demon wearing his wife's skin turned towards Hookwolf, her hands pulsing with light- And without hesitation, she fired a cavalcade of twin helix-shaped beams at him. They shattered the earth, causing deafening explosions as chunks of steel and hooks flew into the air. Hookwolf struggled, zig-zagging and doing his best to avoid the most of the damage-

"I don't serve you anymore, Kaiser!" The demon said, laughing to the skies. She raised a hand, and her body lit up hard enough that night actually became day. A golden halo appeared behind her, even as coruscating golden light gathered at her fingertips.

"All hail Solomon. Now and forever." With those words, Purity grasped at the power held between her hands-

-And released a blinding beam of light at Hookwolf's position, causing an explosion whose fireball actually became large enough to cover part of his massive body.

The wolf made out of metal hooks screeched, writhing against the gaping hole on its body that refused to seal close despite his best efforts. Purity released another volley of normal beams at the Brute, causing him to jump all over the site in instinctive fear of her power. She's toying with him, Kaiser gaped with bone-chilling realization.

"Kaiser!" The twins yelled, drawing his attention back to his surroundings. Fenja and Menja were struggling against a grinning Krieg, whose transformation had already finished. The demon wore a uniform that was a mockery of his comrade's, one that hugged her curves and would have drawn his eyes in any other situation but this. "What do we do!?"

Kaiser grit his teeth hard enough that he felt blood would begin to seep from his gums. What could they do? What they could possibly do against this!?

"Witness the fall of an Empire." Solomon said, slowly lowering himself towards the ground together with the witch in his arms. "Weep and quiver at the might of the Legions of Hell, and know that for those who continue your wicked ways, this same punishment will befall you."

This… Bastard…! Kaiser glared at the man, pure rage channeled through his eyes-

-And the Demon King's gaze looked back at him coldly, staring him down from the air with solemn judgment.

"There are none above Us. All evils are below Us and subject to the time of Judgment. May God have mercy, for We shall have none."

Kaiser stepped back, even as the twins continued to shout at him for guidance. He watched the earth shake, the heavens light with the light of vengeance. He saw his best men broken, some of them humiliated and the rest corrupted into mockeries of their selves. He witnessed all which he had created, all that he had controlled crumble before his eyes in an instant.

And at the moment, Kaiser knew true fear.

"RETREAT!" Kaiser yelled, loud enough that those who still remained sane could hear it. "We can't beat him! We can't win this! We have to retreat!"

"A wise decision." Solomon agreed, but as he finally touched the ground, his stance turned dark. "But I'm afraid that for you… That is not an option. Kaiser… You are the deepest sinner in this garden. Your judgment has already been passed."

He did this for me. Kaiser realized. He set this entire thing up… Just to show me how easily he could break me.

Kaiser took both hands to his head, and screamed.

--

Well. That went better than you expected.

Your Dolls had taken to the demonic act like they had been born for it, successfully sending fear deep into the heart of the Empire capes. Lung was struggling fiercely against your faithful shadows, and what worried you was that he was actually winning. You might have to recall Purity from her current display of force.

...But more importantly, you savored the sight before you. The Empire had already lost. They were already crushed and beaten, but they didn't know it.

It was time to claim your prize.

[ ] Go for Kaiser, right now. You're not going to allow him to escape.

[ ] You should go for the more dangerous capes like Hookwolf before that. You already broke Kaiser, what harm can he do getting away?

[ ] Forget the Empire, they will never recover from this. Take care of Lung first.

--

I'll put up the stat sheets later. I need to sleep atm.

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Threadmarks: Omake - Sentience

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lost star

lost star

Connoisseur.

AN: This is weird and likely completely non-cannon, but I was inspired.

Spoiler

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Threadmarks: 2.8.2 Dies Irae (Verse 2)

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

"...Hecate." You looked to the cloaked Gratia, speaking the name of her current persona. "The Drake is the one who must fall first. The others have already broken."

"Yes, Master." Hecate nodded, then opened her mouth to yell out orders to the Dolls. "--!!!!" Her words resounded in a frequency your eyes could not detect, words beyond the human spectrum of reach guiding your forces.

Your servants did not take long to align themselves to your purpose. Fog moved to incapacitate Cricket, the woman falling unconscious in an instant as the invisible mist soundlessly wrapped around her. Victor turned her attentions to Stormtiger, crippling his stamina even as she started swinging him around with her telekinesis, hampered only by his ability to guide air currents that was quickly losing ground.

The stunned Night bristled in her monstrous form, shaking all over as she recovered from her quick bout with Hookwolf. Othala cried out to her, and the ribbons around her arms glowed red as they flowed into her body. Countless red circles appeared over Night's claws, and the monster almost seemed to revel in her newfound power- Before she dived straight towards the wounded Hookwolf, her enhanced limbs gouging the earth.

Krieg toyed with Fenja and Menja, her body surrounded by arcs of lightning as she charged straight towards Kaiser's bodyguards with a savage grin on her face. Neither them nor Kaiser could flee, as she used her power to magnetize herself, causing the valkyries' metal spears and Kaiser himself to be sucked into her vortex of death.

And Rune surveyed the battlefield, lending her aid to whoever needed to the most among your entire forces. With this distribution, you could either deal with the Empire capes or stalemate them indefinitely…

...Leaving you with enough capes to deal with Lung in his current state.

But first-

"Rune. Bring us Crusader." You stretched out your hand towards the cape that was quickly bleeding out on the ground, courtesy of your Dolls' grand betrayal. The bleeding man was quickly levitated by forces beyond his grasp and hurled straight towards you.

You snatched him with your cape, the garment turning into a red claw that grabbed him by his midsection. He gave a scream of agony as the garment tightened around him, sealing his bleeding for a moment.

"Y-you… Bastard…" The cape glared at you with pale, sunken eyes- A half-dead man already. You silenced him, starting his transformation with a backhand to the face that fried his brain within seconds.

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

[ ] Can deploy an army of ghostly duplicates (in the hundreds) over an unlimited range which perform semi-autonomously. They work as vanilla Crusader for the most part. (The Legion Upgrade)

[ ] Can summon ghostly duplicates (about a score) over an unlimited range. They perform autonomously as if they were Crusader himself, and can selectively phase through organic or inorganic matter. (The Elites Upgrade)

With an almost contemptuous gesture, you tossed aside the transforming Doll and hurled to the ground. You'd make it up to her, eventually. You nodded at Rune, and she proceeded to toss you the unconscious form of Cricket. In her state, she was completely at your mercy.

You did short work of her.

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

[ ] Further increases the sharpness of her reflexes and the precision of her echolocation. Can release ultrasonic explosions that can instantly knock out normal humans in her vicinity, or focus them to shatter through objects. (The Shockwave Upgrade)

[ ] Further increases the sharpness of her reflexes and the precision of her echolocation. Can channel her body with special frequencies, releasing incredibly powerful sonic vibrations that can shatter through most matter regardless of their toughness. (The Assassin Upgrade)

"NO!" Hookwolf roared, his voice somehow emerging from his mass of hooks even as he struggled against the writhing Night. "NOT HER! NOT LIKE THIS!"

This is nothing compared to what you've done, you savage. You sneered, but tuned him out. You had bigger problems to deal with.

"I will not forgive this!" Lung yelled, spreading a wave of flames that consumed two Oni Lee clones, even as the payload of their bombs sucked in the energy of the flames and made them vanish. Several more duplicates appeared, trying to strike at the monster with their blades or hit him with his own Tinker's bombs- But the dragon was already too fast, the effects of the bombs only managing to graze him. "I'll kill you, Solomon! KILL YOU!"

"You can try." You said, and the dragon's whole body turned as you approached. You walked calmly, without any concern, towards the flaming monster that was only growing bigger as the desperation and rage overtook him. You noticed that he was growing far faster than Hecate had stipulated, the flesh that was destroyed by the bombs almost immediately replaced by newer, stronger muscle.

If you had understood the nuances of his power, then that meant that you must have been reminding him of something he had lost to in the past. Good. Live the last of your days in fear, beast.

You wondered who it was that you reflected in his eyes, as the dragon roared in outrage as your off-hand comment.

"Motherfucker!" The now thirteen feet tall Lung yelled, his metal mask shattering as it revealed a horrifying X-shaped mouth that spat flame and displayed rows upon rows of pointed teeth. "I won't lose to you, to anyone else! I WILL LAUGH AT YOUR CORPSE!"

The dragon's whole body reared back towards you, an unearthly screech emerging from him even as an ocean of flames surged from around him. With a battle cry, he leaped towards you- Despite his size, he was even faster than a car on a highway.

And yet, before he could reach you-

A blazing white comet intercepted him, diving from the skies and pinning him to the ground with a deafening explosion that caused plumes of dust to rise into the air.

"You will not touch him, beast!" Purity cried out as she flew away from the prone monster, her brutal strike having left a massive indentation on the recovering monster's torso. Lung roared, his neck turning towards her as he sent a wave of fire larger than a house at the flying cape. She shot him with a golden beam, and it nailed him to the ground- Tearing a hole through his chest that refused to close.

"Alabaster." You said, and your Doll did not hesitate- Jumping straight at the dragon, she wrapped both hands around his neck- And Lung roared, covering the two of them in an explosion of flames. The dragon rose from the ground like a phoenix from the ashes, his body growing around the wound that could not be healed and surging with even more power… Until a flash of white smoke covered them for a moment, and he was returned to his wounded state.

Over.

And over.

And over.

"No, No, NO!" Lung cried out, the fires around him getting hotter with every second- But even as the speed of his growth scaled with his stress, Alabaster's power continued to return him to his original state. As you kept approaching it, he would use his four seconds for maximum effect- Leaping straight you and trying to kill you- But every time he did Purity shot him with a golden beam or your shadows detonated themselves on his body, sending him back.

The heat of his presence washed over you, but you weathered it with ease- Othala's guardian power mitigating it to a lukewarm breeze. You approached to his respawning form, staring him on the eyes through your visor.

And when his flames licked at your armor and cape, close enough that only your invulnerability saved you from certain death, you glared down at him and spoke at him.

"Kneel."

-Alabaster leaped down from Lung's body, even as your power washed over him. His body locked up, unable to obey the slightest of instructions. The flames continued to rage around him for a few moments- Until your power, too, overcame his pyrokinesis and only a dragon of cooling steel remained to glare at you.

Purity's hands surged with light and she shot both of the dragon's kneecaps, forcing his body to follow your command. Even as he knelt, his head was high enough that you could not reach with your hand. Hecate's touch fixed that, and the two of you rose into the air so you could stare him down.

You wondered how those witnessing this must have felt. Brockton Bay's bogeyman, the one who had faced the entire Protectorate and walked away- The man who had fought in Kyushu, single-handedly forcing an Endbringer to retreat. The monster before you was undoubtedly the strongest parahuman that Brockton Bay had to offer.

He lied at your complete mercy, all the same.

Would the result have been different if you had allowed him to reach his full power? Perhaps. You were certain that a week ago- No, perhaps even five days ago- This monster could have still clearly surpassed you. But he didn't know that. Nobody knew, except you and your Dolls.

No. The people would only see Solomon, and the invincible dragon that was crushed in an instant before him.

"Out of respect for your might, We shall allow you to speak your last words. Be grateful, and make your peace." You said, temporarily allowing him to speak.

He did.

"Why…" Lung's stare seemed to look even beyond you, towards a far-off distance- Inscrutable memories racing through his inhuman brain. "Why do you monsters like you exist? The woman in the suit. Leviathan. Why is it… That I cannot defeat you!?"

You laughed.

"You seek to be the strongest, but that is a hopeless goal. You're strong, but…" Without any further ado, you paralyzed the monster again and laid a hand on his head.

"...A mere individual, cannot change the world by themselves."

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

-Common Trait: Continues to grow in power without upper limit at a linear rhythm, which becomes a curve of varying degrees as the conflict escalates. Breaker power allows her to switch from a 'Power' based draconic form with immense durability and wide destructive abilities, and a 'Skill' based hybrid form that specializes in mobility and fine power control.

[ ] Increases overall speed of escalation. As she escalates, temporarily obtains new powers most suitable to the conflict based on other Dolls. (The Tyrant Upgrade.)

[ ] Massively increases speed of growth until she's capable of contending against her current enemy on equal ground. Extends her pyrokinesis to control both spectrums of the temperature, and increases its power and flexibility. (The Challenger Upgrade).

[ ] Increases overall speed of escalation. Power interfaces with Mikhail, sharing all of her abilities with him as long as they are in very close proximity. She also receives the effects of Tyranny while this is in effect, and can communicate with him through a mental link. (The Dragonrider Upgrade.)

"-aster…" Hecate whispered, holding your body tight. "You fainted for longer than normal. Are you alright?"

You nodded, making sure not to disturb the act you were keeping up even as you dealt with your restored awareness. Allowing Hecate to lower you to the ground, you looked towards the body of your soon to be Doll.

Lung's body had toppled like a sack of bricks. Smoke sizzled from the joints of his scaly flesh, the draconic body slowly boiling and dissolving into the air. Flames and magma oozed out from his corpse, pooling at the ground and yet at the same pulsing with a certain beat. You could see it, the way his carcass was dissolving and a single part of it stuck out like a bulge-

-Within the skeleton of the dragon, like a larva waiting to come out of its cocoon, an immensely powerful Doll was gestating. The mind of one of the planet's most dangerous and experienced capes, being rewired and reshaped to become your eternal servant.

You felt a shiver of excitement run through your body.

For a moment, you wondered why the battlefield had become so quiet. Leaving the corpse of Lung behind you, you turned towards the forms of the Empire capes… And felt the urge to laugh vindictively.

Your Dolls had stopped attacking other than to prevent escape attempts, content to let the Empire capes enjoy the spectacle that had been set for them. While Kaiser's face was inscrutable, his stance more than betrayed his terror- And the eyes of the twins of reflected a primal rejection of the sight before them.

If their own mid-listing capes had become so strong… Then someone like Lung…

"Yes. Those eyes, they are those of one who understands." You started walking the remnants of the Empire, your freed Dolls following behind you. Purity's halo made the look of your form even more intense, your cape flaring like a tempest even as you took calm, calculated steps towards them. "The earth shall tremble. The heavens will rumble. All in existence bends to Our will, for We are the one who bears the supreme authority. Even the strongest will become food for my Demons…"

He turned his eyes towards towards Kaiser. "...And like a flock of sheep, the rest shall follow."

Immediately, the Empire's struggles became ten times more desperate than before. Your Dolls resumed their attack in earnest, but it was as if all of their powers had been suddenly enhanced. Whether the despair that filled them or the stress that this conflict caused, the primal fear of death was causing them to use techniques you'd never seen before.

But you could no longer be stopped.

Purity shot forwards like a meteor, burying Hookwolf in a rain of twin helixes that spiraled down into his body and caused thunderous explosions. Alabaster shot straight towards Stormtiger, Othala's power granting her teleportation. The pale-white woman flickered and descended upon the man in an instant, ignoring his claws as she punched at his body to devastating effect.

And as for your faithful Oni…

"Begone. Your presence is not needed." Two shadows spoke at the same time as they appeared overlaid multiple times over Fenja and Menja, each of them holding a ticking bomb in their hands. The resulting explosions gave a dazzling light that blinded you for a moment- And caused the two capes to be sent flying as their blood trickled through the air.

Rune buried the two of them under double domes of bent steel and earth, fixing them to the ground with telekinesis.

Which left Krieg with the job of grinding Kaiser against the ground with the heel of her boot, a satisfied smile on her face as the man she had once deeply respected now caused her eyes to simmer with hate.

"Lo and behold," You spoke, a dark amusement filling your voice as you approached. "How low the mighty have fallen."

You had been waiting a long time for this, you thought as you met Kaiser's hate-filled, horrified glare.

[ ] Finish him off immediately. You can brag to his Doll later, even if it's not the same. (Will immediately doll Kaiser, no further delays.)

[ ] His eyes still shine with pride. That will not do. Break him completely. He must be fond of those nieces of his… (Will cruelly Doll Fenja and Menja in front of him, ripping away the last of his relatives in the Empire.)

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Last edited: Oct 8, 2016

Oct 5, 2016 ReportLike

WistfulDominance, Agnes-sama, Garret1331 and 156 others like this.

Threadmarks: 2.8.3 Dies Irae (Crescendo)

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

"You brought this upon yourself." You said quietly, even as you reached out to the man after paralyzing his body. Krieg moved aside with a formal bow, letting you reach the helpless Empire leader with one hand and lift him by the scruff of his neck. "All the people who were laid down in your bid for power, just because they were an easy target… I will make you pay back for every single one of those sins."

"Begone from this world, Kaiser. The country never needed your 'help'." With those last words of contempt, you allowed the static to flow from your arm, his eyes widening in raw terror as he felt the crawl- But without his mouth, he could not even one last scream of defiance.

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

-Common Trait: No longer needs a metal surface to create her blades, instead works by line of sight, though Manton limited. Increases overall power and speed of the metal creation.

[ ] Can create any form of exotic minerals, not just limited to metals, to provide resources. More complex materials are generated at a slower pace. (The Builder Upgrade)

[ ] Can automate her metal creations, leaving them to expand and attack on their own, move as living constructs or deploy massive, self-defending fortresses given enough time and resources. Highly increases her fine control over the power. (The Architect Upgrade)

[ ] Can build into other metals, increasing their density and sharpness to create blades that could sever through monomolecular structures or reinforce alloys to superhumanly tough levels, though the difficulty of building said density increases as the material gets tougher. (The Penetrator Upgrade)

The Empire Eighty-Eight has been destroyed. THE HEAVENS SHALL FALL

"FUCK YOU! YOU GODDAMN JEW CUNT, I'LL GET REVENGE FOR THIS!" Hookwolf's yells annoyed you, but the mongrel was making himself hard to put down- Even Night with her superhuman strength was being held back by the sea of metal edges and hooks that surrounded the monster, his size larger than anything he'd mustered before by all accounts.

...However, his promises of death were nothing but bluffs. Both you and him knew now… That all of them were doomed.

"Purity. Krieg." You stated, and the two Dolls stepped forwards almost eagerly, one of them crackling with energy as the other rose to the skies. "Take care of the dregs of this fallen cartel- And bring their broken, beaten bodies to me."

"With pleasure, Master!" Krieg shouted, and a similar echo came from Purity as the two of them dived straight towards the writhing Brute. You suspected their fight would end in a minute, if not in seconds.

Aohime had already moved from her position, teleporting towards Stormtiger and stunning him with a bomb that knocked him flat against the ground. There was a snapping sound, and his body collapsed like a wet noodle.

The ninja-like Doll knelt over the broken man, pressing a hand against his neck- And nodded at her sister. "Still has a pulse. Target secured, Master."

-At that same time, a resplandescent flash of golden light followed by crackling thunder told you of Hookwolf likely meeting a similar fate. Behind your armor, you grinned savagely.

You had defeated them. The Empire Eighty-Eight. The Azn Bad Boys. The two mightiest gangs in Brockton Bay. Your power, cursed it might be, had allowed you to finally break the balance on the city and defeat the foes that the Protectorate had fought long and hard against them. Now they would no longer bother anyone, their common members likely to flee at the wrath of their resurrected ex-leaders.

You had definitely sinned to reach this result. You'd turned ordinary people, whose sins were a symptom and not a cause of the rotten state of the world, and ripped out important relatives from countless families to secure your foothold. If you were to die now, you were fairly sure you'd go into Hell, but…

At least, you had done it. You had helped this city become a better place… And soon, the entire world would know you for it. That today, you fought back against the monsters and brought to heel. That your claims of judgment and salvation were not empty. Without a doubt, everyone would fear the name 'Solomon'-

-And so, a Demon King was born.

--

"Shit, shit, shit, shit…!" Bakuda swore, her face sweating as she packed as much as she could from her workshop in one bag. "Why did I even come work for this asshole!? I should have ran when I had the chance! SHIT!" The supervillain's pupils were reduced to tiny dots, her entire stance radiating fear while she grabbed everything she could that would help her escape.

She ignored the blaring of the television hanging from the ceiling, having already heard enough to know that should have gotten her ass out of this place days ago. Normally, she kept that television on for entertainment purposes whenever she took short breaks from tinkering, either due to bodily needs or frustration at hitting walls.

She'd never expected one of her subordinates come in yelling about some new pants-shittingly terrifying cape challenging Lung and Kaiser to a deathmatch with all of their capes present.

At first, she'd snorted- She wouldn't have wished such a painful death on anyone, except perhaps those she actively loathed. But the thought of the ridiculous act struck her as funny, and she decided to kick back and watch as her new boss reduced some idiot into a piece of charcoal.

Five minutes in, and she was tripping over her own legs to escape as far as she could from this fucked up city.

"Monsters, this entire city is full of MONSTERS!" She screeched, throwing an expensive piece of equipment to the floor as it cumbersomely got in her way. Her Tinker mind did not even react, overcome by the instinctive urge to flee as far as feet could take her.

A Demon King. First came Endbringers, then shit like Nilbog, and a goddamn Fairy Queen of all things. But no, it couldn't stop there. A Demon King had to show up in Brockton Bay, with an even more terrifying power than two of the three she'd mentioned beforehand. Bakuda had known Lung to be a badass- And the man had been crushed like a gnat in less than a minute.

She was not going to become that monster's toy. No way she was going to become some sexbot, or whatever those things that slobbered all over him were. She'd leave the city- The country, if necessary, and if going to the next end of the earth wasn't enough she'd find some way to work for Toybox or something, selling her works to people all over the world.

One thing was for sure, though- She wasn't going to take her chances against the man that had taken out Lung.

She stepped out of her workshop, a heavy bag on her back containing everything she'd need to set up shop somewhere else. Maybe she could go to the west coast- The Elite took care of their own, and surely they'd appreciate some insurance, right?

"Hey, you!" She called out to one of her subordinates, a man absorbed watching the broadcast that half the world was likely gaping at by now. "Go grab a car! We're getting out of this place, before that freak comes after us!"

The man looked at her with a dazed, dull stare- Before the light in his eyes returned with a burning horror. "Y-Yes ma'am! Shit, the garage is by… Follow me."

The man turned, leading the two of them down one of the hideout's hallways- Until the both of them stumbled, as a deafening noise from outside the building caused the earth to tremble.

There was a pregnant pause, as the two of them stared at each other with horror.

"Run!" Bakuda yelled, and the two of them sprinted towards the exit. The noises continued, sometimes followed by the screams of people she faintly recognized as the guards outside of the base. The noises faded eventually, as the two of them stepped down into the repurposed house's garage. A few vehicles were there, Bakuda having thought it nice if she could move out at a moment's notice, in case her workshop got targeted.

She'd never been more grateful that she'd taken that measure than she was now.

"Which one is it!?" The man yelled. Bakuda tossed him a pair of keys, which he snatched.

"The black one!" She yelled, and he hurried to the car's front door, the keys fumbling in his hand as he tried to pry open the lock-

There was another explosion with the telltale sound of running electricity- And Bakuda swore, as the entire garage went dark at the same time that a shiver ran through her body.

"I-It's not turning on!" The man yelled with terror. Bakuda clenched her fists, her heart beating so fast that she felt as if she was going to faint any moment.

"Of course it's not. Bitch used a fucking EMP bomb." The Tinker swore, irate that her own work was being used against her. An idle thought caused a chill to crawl up her spine, realizing how easily it was for this Solomon guy to turn someone's power into his own, with brutal efficiency. The common Master couldn't compare.

"Fuck this, I'm bailing myself out." Bakuda said, reaching towards the bandolier on her shirt- She wasn't in costume, but she always kept that on hand in case she needed to blow up someone's face off. Though she doubted that would be very effective against the monster coming towards her.

"COME ON!" The girl yelled, grabbing one of the bombs and arming it. She hurled it at the garage door, then covered her face from the blistering heat of the blast that not only melted the garage doors, but sent them flying away so they wouldn't bother her.

She noted the way her goon screamed about his eyes, but ignored him. He had outlived his usefulness, anyways.

She stumbled into the starlit streets, her eyes looking for any vehicle she could grab. She spotted it- A motorcycle, leaning on the sidewalk.

It would do.

With all due haste, she raced towards it. Grabbed a tool from her bag and cracked open its circuitry, so she could mess with the ignition-

A single hand tapped her back.

Bakuda screeched, turning with her fist already raised to strike. This can't be happening to me! Not me! I don't deserve to go down like this-

"A futile effort, but I applaud your enthusiasm." The Demon told her with a disinterested stare, even as she twisted Bakuda's wrist with an almost contemptuous crunch. The Tinker ignored the pain, adrenaline coursing through her body as she reached towards the bombs in her bandolier-

The monster's purple eyes flashed, and the point of her hands sharply pressed against Bakuda's moving arm, causing her body to scream as the limb was flung away like a bullet had shot through. At the same moment, two arms reached out from behind her and pinned her to the motorcycle, tying her hands behind her back and working on her bindings.

The oni in front of her smirked, before vanishing into a cloud of ash.

"You think I can't trigger them!?" Bakuda yelled, even as the hentai figure reject ground her face against the seat. "Bitch, I've got twenty different ways to set off these bombs! You take me to that person, I blow him sky-high!"

The freak paused, before she replied. "It would not do you any good, and you would not make it." Through the mirror, she saw the horned woman smile. "That attitude of yours. He will probably fix it."

Bakuda almost soiled herself. She did not want to know what fixing meant.

"I'm not- You can't do this!" She thrashed against the bindings, screaming all the way. "I'm Bakuda, bitch! I'm hot shit! I'm not going to become a sex-doll for some nutjob virgin!"

The sexbot sneered, her hands tugging at the Tinker's chin. She tried to bite down on her fingers, but her captor moved quickly and with purpose, and she eyed the ball-gag heading towards her with horror.

"STOP! I'll work for him, I'll make whatever he wants, but fuck- DON'T DO THIS TO ME! DON'T- MPPH!!!" Bakuda's desperate pleas were quickly choked by the gag, as the bitch handling her made sure that it tugged extra tight at her jaws.

"Do not worry." The former ABB enforcer chimed, checking that the bindings were solid before she got to work on stripping the woman of all her equipment and clothes. "You do not understand it now, don't know the ways Master can make you happy, how good it is to be fixed and serve. You don't…"

Reaching down to unzip the girl's jacket, the Doll leaned down to kiss her former teammate's cheek. She let her tongue linger on the salty trails of the woman's tears, before leaning to her ear and whispering.

"But soon, you will."

-Right then, Bakuda lost control of her bladder.

The ABB has been destroyed. THE HEAVENS SHALL FALL

--

"Now then…" You turned towards the fallen Empire capes, the taste of victory palpable in the air. "Let's finish this, shall we?"

Your Dolls smiled at you as you walked towards the first of the fallen capes, Rune too busy containing Fenja and Menja to drag him towards you. Your hands stretched out, reaching towards Stormtiger's unconscious form-

"WATCH OUT-"

-And you froze, eyes widening as you sensed two parahuman presences quickly approaching, fast enough that you couldn't even pin them down. You felt a pair of hands pull you back, Hecate crying out-

"-BELOW!"

Just in time for two blurs to impact the ground you'd stood on, causing a cloud of dust to hit you like a sack of bricks. It threw you off your feet, shattering your image of invincibility and leaving you to tumble along the ground- Until two hands pulled you up, and Victor clicked her tongue, staring ahead with a look of frustration.

"The Protectorate," She hissed, and your heart skipped a beat.

"Sorry about the late entry," The leading figure said, blowing away the dust cloud with a single slash of his sword. "But we had to sneak past a very pissed Director to come to stop you." The unknown cape's amused voice echoed from behind his white and blue helmet, clear and unfiltered. You thought it sounded familiar but- No way.

"Jesus christ in heaven that was awesome!" The second figure you recognized as Assault shouted, throwing both of his hands into the air. You noticed that strapped to his arms and legs was something you'd never seen before- What looked like a mechanical overlay over his limbs pulsed with energy, lightning coursing them with every twitch of his fingers. "Even if Piggy is totally going to chew our salary and asses together, I'd still do that again."

You stepped back. "Heroes of the Protectorate… We have no qualms against you. It is the blood of the villains We seek- Those who belong to the Light are beyond Our reach-"

"You think that we will allow you to do such evil deeds under the light of THE SUN!?" The nameless cape said, spreading both of his arms into the air and praising the sun that had already set with all of his might. "Perish the thought! Hero or Villain…" Falling back into a stance, he thrust out his finger. "-The Protectorate's job is to keep the peace and help those in need!"

-Your lips twitched. What comic book did this guy come from?

Wait. This was no time to get carried away.

"We have no time to deal with you. If you dare interrupt with Our plans, We will not hesitate to stop you. Hecate." You glanced towards your faithful minion, and nodded. "Take care of them. No deaths, no damage we cannot heal."

She nodded, and started shouting out orders in the same unhearable language as before. The Dolls stiffened, before they all moved to act at once.

"Oh shi-" Assault and the nameless cape said, scattering away as a volley of white blasts rained down upon them. With Alabaster having locked Hookwolf in an endless loop, the cape was free to fire at the Protectorate capes without hesitation, her blasts set high enough to break bones but not much else given the unknown capabilities of the parahuman in white.

"I will be your partner for this evening, Assault." Krieg said with a smile, even as her supercharged sprint drew from Purity's lingering radiation to infuse her arms with coruscating white lightning. She charged at him, intent on testing the difference between their own dynakinetic abilities.

"Sorry, baby- I'M TAKEN!" Assault retorted, before his mechanical greaves pulsed just as he stomped the earth. Krieg's eyes widened as from the point of impact a massive shockwave of dust emerged, smashing into her like a brick wall and temporarily overriding her field as whatever effect coming from Assault's gear surpassed her calculations.

"Too slow! Too slow! Too slow!" Meanwhile, the nameless cape was laughing madly as he repeated the same obnoxious word over and over, flickering madly as he escaped Purity's eagle-eyed shots by the skin of teeth, yet had the gall to keep laughing about it. The flying cape grew incensed, and you could tell she wanted to increase the destructive power of her blasts.

"Maybe we should get you down to earth then?" Victor said as she appeared before the white cape in a teleport, causing his body to stiffen as her eye centered on him. He slowed down for just a moment- But it was enough for Purity to nail him with a series of blasts that left him on a smoking crater on the floor.

"Hey, Solaire!" Assault yelled, even as he clapped his glowing hands together and released a wave of kinetic energy that caused Krieg to be blown back again. "Get serious, or a pay-cut will be the last thing we'll have to worry about!"

"...Heh." The cape laughed, his head still buried under the mount of dirt. "It can't be helped. Shall I use 'that'?"

"PURITY! Blast him!" Hecate shouted, and golden light gathered within the flying cape's fingertips-

But Solaire had already disappeared.

"First, go for the tank protecting the healer." He said as he rushed towards Victor, the cape bracing herself with a grin. For a moment, Solaire's body appeared to shake as the cape exerted Rune's telekinesis over him- But it was only for an instant, his body somehow making up for the external influence and keeping his course in a straight line.

Victor reacted calmly, Othala's power washing over him as he moved to engage the cape in melee combat. Solaire reached towards his waist, and proceeded to draw a chunk of metal that slowly unfurled and reshaped itself into a sword with a shimmering blue blade. The two of them clashed, Victor's superhuman strength and skill giving him the advantage… At first.

"Feels heavy…" Solaire muttered to himself. "Guess I can't waste any time-!" Solaire's blade scintillated white, and he charged forwards. Even as the Victors became four Victors that pulled at him from each side with their power, their hands sharp claws that sought to sever his tendons-

-There was a flash of light, and seven consecutive slashes carved themselves across the air, striking through the Victors and dealing such damage the original one's movements slowed by the slash that tore through her body, light red liquid oozing from her wound- Before those seven slashes converged with another six slashes, and the thirteen dissected cape collapsed, her muscles struggling to build themselves back together.

"Purity! Disregard friendly fire! Just shoot him!" Hecate yelled, and the flyer's face hardened.

"Next, the healer-" Solaire said firmly, shooting towards the form of Othala- But a whirling blender of chitin rammed into him, causing him to put his sword in the way as Night stopped his brutal advance, the counter-attack compounded on by the blasts of light that fell upon the both of them.

You watched new battle unfold, even as your head burned thinking of where to go from here. You hadn't expected an immediate Protectorate response- Your broadcast should have triggered mass panic, but somehow two of the heroes had immediately dropped everything they were doing and headed straight to find you.

You weren't going to kill heroes to keep up an image of fear, however. That was one step you would never take. But you still had to do something to prevent them from messing up your plans.

Still, this was beyond what you'd expected from the Protectorate. As far as you knew, Assault was only a Striker- Yet he was causing his very surroundings to shake, simultaneously smashing Krieg before she could get close while he also blasted away your Oni clones with kinetically-charged air.

Solaire himself was no slouch- His movements were growing sharper and more precise as he contended with a fully powered Night, the massive monster capable of tearing through buildings behind held back by a storm of flying lights and what looked like pentagrams which nailed her down to the floor or impeded her movements. Purity continued to rain blasts at him, whittling down his stamina- But holding back out of reluctance to accidentally more damage than you could deal with.

You sensed Fog's confusion, the Doll poised to strike at the unsuspecting Heroes yet depressed because the damage she dealt was awfully permanent in nature.

Infused with Othala's regeneration, Victor was quickly getting herself back on her feet and ready to catch Solaire in a pincer attack.

At that moment, you noted two blips on your radar- Crusader and Cricket had woken up, and judging by the way her eyes moved, Hecate had noticed as well.

Lung had yet to awaken, unfortunately.

-You felt a massive surge of static crawl along your body. You noticed them approach, from the edge of your radar- One figure leading four others in a wing formation towards your location. The Protectorate.

Alright, you needed to make a decision now.

[ ] Go for the Empire capes, even if it means exposing yourself to attack from the heroes. It'll free up your capes after you're done, and let you fight the Protectorate in full force.

[ ] Hold your ground as it is. Act to finish off the Empire personally, but have your Dolls focus on keeping the Protectorate at bay.

[ ] Start staging a retreat. There's something off about this situation.

--

Spoiler: Worthy Opponent

The Protectorate:

-Assault: Striker with the ability to manipulate internal and external kinetic energy. Solaire's second BFF candidate. Equipped with arm and leg guards that allow him to project his ability over a wider area, creating shockwaves or blasts of kinetically displaced air directly with his power.

-Battery: Breaker with the ability to charge herself up for enhanced speed, strength, and magnetic powers. Equipped with ???

-Armsmaster: The leader of the Protectorate ENE. Makes technology more streamlined and efficient. Currently equipped with ???

-Dauntless: The Protectorate's rising star. Can empower his own gear. No additional equipment for the time being.

-Miss Militia: Protectorate ENE's token Blaster. Equipped with a watch that gives her very limited access to an upgraded arsenal.

-Velocity: Breaker with the ability to move faster at the expense of interacting with the world. No additional equipment for the time being.

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Last edited: Oct 7, 2016

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Threadmarks: Omake - Lord of Iron

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CrossyCross

CrossyCross

LADY OF LOVE

Lord of Iron

It happened in a day.

Reeling from the emergence of Solomon, of the Demon King that had struck down in one fell swoop all the capes of the Empire Eighty-Eight and the Azn Bad Boys, the city had been in a state of utter panic. Chaos was reigning as a master cape to dwarf all others laid his claim over Brockton Boy, a monster that integrated capes, that empowered them and made them his own in distorted mockeries, mindbroken angels slaved to his whims.

The panic and the chaos of the city, the feverish air and debates as leaders tried to comprehend Solomon and how to react to him, it left the heroes busy either strategizing or trying to keep the peace, or at least some level of control in how so many were leaving.

It left them unprepared for the change as something occurred in the docks.

Long-range scanners and high-tech cameras zoomed in as it was already happening midway, as the rusted hulls of titanic skyscraper-sized cargo ships shed rust and dust, turning slate-gray iron, then into dazzling chrome steel that were rainbow-prisms under the bright sun. Then the shapes distorted, folding in upon themselves like shattering fractals, like whirling sludge, becoming quicksilver rivers that reshaped themselves in crawling vortices. Bulk containers all, none of the ships had been shorter than two hundred meters, and far too many were longer than three hundred. In the shape of barges they were barely believable. With shapes flowing like wax they quickly became mind-boggling, as megatonloads of metal swirled like water, were shaped like putty into something else entirely by the hands of some invisible god.

Limbs arose, fins and tails and hands and feet. All manners of propulsion as hulks moved with the groaning of iron, the screeching of metal, the hiss of steel. Some stayed afloat and swam, others sunk and yet could be seen by the undulations of something large and dark underneath, crawling at the bottom.

They dragged themselves to shore, towering titans of malformed steel. They emerged into the skyline, the panic of citizens all screeching to a stop everywhere they could be seen, as minds tried to comprehend headless giants whose shoulders brushed the sky, who gathered together in one circle like a council of twisted colossi.

Some fell unconscious or collapsed onto their backsides, legs suddenly numb, minds unbelieving against what seemed to be the sudden awakening of shapeless primordial titans. They gazed at them and feared, laughed hollowly against what threat they could throw against mankind's industry turned into living weapon, for what else could it be, in this hopeless world?

The protectorate was already mobilizing when the giants fell.

Like a river of mercury they collapsed, like candles flash-melted, they turned into a stately waterfall of silver that pooled in an undulating mass, a dome of shimmering metal.

Metal that flowed once more, that spread and rose. Spires rose up, seemingly stabbing into the skies, artfully spiked. Walls like bramble-covered crenellations split the earth, and a fortress from dreams and nightmares manifested, a chrome citadel, a silver demesne.

A wave of metal spread from it, crushing houses and buildings, flattening the earth, smoothing out the pockmarked concrete and asphalt. A garden arose from this, perfectly flat before sprouting masses of living metal roses and tulips and all manners of flowers. Trees of silver split the metal earth, growing into hundred-year oaks envisioned in iron.

From the ground rose a thousand metal figures. Knights, but feminine. With curved thighs and slender limbs, bearing archaic armor and holding fullmetal weapons. Greatswords and shields and halberds and maces, with metal bows and iron crossbows, helms held at the crook of their arms and letting show vaguely smiling faces of perfectly-proportioned beauty. They were taller than most, looming females each and every one.

But they were dwarfed by the final pieces, by the giants that rose from the ground in stilled formation. A dozen titanesses garbed like the lesser copies below floated from the ground fully formed, fully armored, breaking the skyline with their bulk. All of them raised their weapons and saluted.

It was with grinding teeth that Armsmaster watched with his fellows the scene that followed, watched the stately approach of Solomon as he strode across the streets with his menagerie of devoted succubi, as the armies split and bowed and knelt, crying out with metal throats in voices sharp as blades.

"Solomon! Solomon! Solomon!" They declared, they boomed.

The great gates opened, so perfectly balanced they made no sound, and welcomed him. He entered with his angels, with his iron ladies, only the titanesses left outside, living steel sentinels that judged the city with cold iron eyes. Only when the gates closed once more, with its lord within, did the cries turn silent.

The city, was silent.

...

"Is it pleasing, my lord?" Kaiserin asked. The once-lord of the Empire had changed as a doll, assuming the guise and mannerisms of an empress of old. An imperious manner, a regal manner of speaking and moving, yet all the same stately in her utter subservience to him. She was dressed entirely in metal. In battle it would be a full suit like her old 'costume', but with him it was a dress of chainlinks, with slender ceremonial gauntlet-gloves and a glinting circlet.

Adam slowly sat down on the arched, flaring throne. It was hard, as metal was. Yet he was surprised when it started to conform to him, metal reshaping itself to his body, to provide what comfort it could. With pillows, it might actually be a relaxing seat.

"It is good." Adam confirmed testingly. "Very good." He looked around him, at the chrome color all around of the castle whose design, admittedly, was rather...ominous. "...a mite villainous though." He muttered under his breath.

He may have gone overboard with the Demon King theme.

"Hail Solomon, our lord! Our master! Our beloved Demon King!" Lilith declared, and around him, his Dolls gathered, empowered or not, all knelt, swore their oaths once more.

Yeah, definitely went overboard, Adam decided.

Still, at least he had a castle now. That was one check off the bucket list!

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Threadmarks: Omake - Against the End

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CrossyCross

CrossyCross

LADY OF LOVE

Against the End

Leviathan had come, and with it even more panic. It was the fastest of them all, and there was no time for even some limited evacuation like some cities could manage given a quick enough detection and truly incredible levels of coordination and infrastructure.

Instead, there was just a rush to the shelters that was already hampered on its own, hordes of sweating, screaming, crying mankind swarming into stone and steel bunkers to await the apocalypse of their city.

When the capes had gathered to the beacon of the Triumvirate, he had been in some way relieved when he saw Solomon and his brood of slaves come. Say what one may about monsters like him, but they were powerful. And power was exactly what one needed against the Endbringers, power to delay, perhaps enough to buy time for Scion to arrive and drive it off.

Well, perhaps there was no need for Scion. Lung was here now, after all, and had he not done it on Kyushu?

Solomon had nodded to the Triumvirate, his pose casual, almost uncaring. For some like the Elites it was sheer arrogance. For a being that had struck the entire nation with fear, it was simple certainty that came from absolute power, like the Faerie Queen had.

Heh. Faerie Queen. Demon King. It was a match made in nightmares.

Then Leviathan struck, a tidal wave shattered the building. Vulnerable capes were pulled away to safety by those that could while brutes endured.

And Solomon...attacked.

Lung at his side, the other slaves around, he leaped into battle. Black armor glowed with power, his weapon flickered with sudden energy and his cape seemed to turn alive, becoming dark gristle and meat then suddenly into lambent wings. Together they fought the Endbringer. They stalled it, attacks flowing fast and fierce, before intensifying as battle made Lung grow and Solomon more condensely mighty. His slaves followed after them, bombarding the Endbringer with all the firepower they could muster.

And despite all expectations, they pushed it back. It was enough gathered might to briefly confound even an Endbringer, Lung twice over, and a dozen and more enhanced capes from the villains of the city gathered in one coordinated force.

Leviathan retreated, surges of water pushing back its foes for a reprieve, then it swam away, not out of the city but to other sectors, where resistance was not so fierce.

He was there in that sector when leviathan arrived at the docks, skimming across the water through sheer speed. Greaves and gauntlets hummed, and he engaged the Endbringer with a dozen other Brutes, Alexandria in the lead, and all was battle and fury, chaos and madness. Light flashed from Legend and many other blasters. The world twisted and hummed as space warped, as vortices formed, as reality was mangled by shakers doing their work in near-futile attempts to hamper an Endbringer.

Even with their best, there were casualties. Errant blows crushed capes, the water shadow sliced like blades at the speeds with which they were hurled. The tail lashed and the clawed foot trampled, men and women died or drowned or were knocked unconscious. Even so, it was being held down by sheer force of numbers, kept in the same sector, buying enough time for the rest to come and converge.

Then a tidal wave came and all their efforts were for naught, wiped away surging tides.

He was knocked back, swallowed by the waters, sent hurtling and crashing to shrubbery that was far too hard, that squealed and screeched and-

-this wasn't shrubbery, he realized, as the waters receded, as the shadow of the waves fell and left towering figures in their place. Or at least, not ordinary shrubbery, made of metal that it was.

It was strange, what one could forget in times of crisis. They had been near the Iron Garden, and what had been the greatest landmarks of such a place?

Behind leviathan, a dozen metal titanesses struck.

The Endbringer dodged, but some clipped it nonetheless with swords and maces far longer than it was tall, smashing it with the peals of ringing metal. It flipped and bounced across the water like a skipping stone, crashing into masonry and disappearing in concrete rubble.

The titanesses strode onward, bright even in the dark rain, their features immaculate, their strides strangely graceful for living metal statues over a hundred meters tall. They were skyscrapers on the march, things that would have been worshipped as gods but a hundred years ago that now went into battle with stately magnificence, with surety of purpose.

He watched in awe, as quite a few did as Leviathan exploded free, as tides of water smashed into them and they continued on, slim frames resistant against surging adam's ale, slicing through like sharks on the prowl before lifting weapons like ancient redwoods and letting loose in coordinated volleys.

They were not slow, but they were not fast either. But with a dozen of them operating with surprising teamwork, Leviathan was batted around, smashed and crushed. It was being damaged and ground, minor things to an Endbringer in truth, but for all that it was pinned.

The ground shook and it was not from the waves. Every step of the colossi was earthshaking, each heavy attack sending shockwaves across the air that flipped at hair and loose cloth. They seemed to shout, but it was a wordless screech of metal, intently aggressive against Leviathan.

The Endbringer resisted, learned. Tides became lashes, or smashing fists, building-sized yet focused. They struck the colossi, shearing chunks, slicing limbs, crumpling great masses of iron and steel. But the towering beings lacked any sense of pain nor hesitation. Wounded and damaged, with limbs torn or mangled, bodies gashed, they kept fighting. When weapons broke they resorted to titanic limbs, to throwing bodies against the Endbringer, to bury it in their own mass.

Steel Gods fell to the Endbringer in a battle that shook the world, yet as Leviathan tore apart the last-

"Found you." A diving dragon ground it into the sheet steel street as a knight with a lance of purest plasma drove his spear into its eye.

And once more, all was light and chaos.

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Threadmarks: Omake - Slap goes the Endbringer

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CrossyCross

CrossyCross

LADY OF LOVE

Against the End (singular version)

Spoiler

He was knocked back, swallowed by the waters, sent hurtling and crashing to shrubbery that was far too hard, that squealed and screeched and-

-this wasn't shrubbery, he realized, as the waters receded, as the waves fell but a shadow remained. Or at least, not ordinary shrubbery, made of metal that it was.

Leviathan paused. There was a moment, crystal-clear as he saw with the finest view what was about to happen. Leviathan, the Endbringer, the giant, was rendered as a gnat by something that had risen from the waves it had summoned, something so impossibly, mind-bogglingly epic in scope that his mind could scarce comprehend it, could barely believe it, even right before his very eyes.

Of the hundred largest container ships in the world, none are shorter than one thousand and two hundred feet. There are over ten thousand container ships currently active in the world. His mind remembered.

There had been close to four dozen such ships in the boat graveyard. Four dozen ships of such obscene skyscraper-rivaling mass, and all of it...all of it was now in one existence.

It moved. It moved.

A thing so tall that it seemed to brushed the skies with its shoulders, a thing so impossibly massive that it seemed to fill the horizon with its sheer bulk, moved.

The step seemed improbably quick, unbelievably light, but no it was just a human's movement scaled to something many thousand times larger. It was so large it should have shattered everything, so gargantuan that it should have collapsed on its own weight yet it didn't. It stepped...and Leviathan disappeared under a single armored boot that ground it into the street, that pressed it meters deep into the ground.

The steel deity flicked its hand at its face and he could not help but notice then the clear feminine nature of its features with the way it brushed its hair.

It, she, then reached down. She punched, slamming her fist down just as her foot retracted -every movement made the air tremble, the ground quake- and struck the endbringer beneath. Cracks spread like spiderwebbing fissures across the flooded street, and the titan lifted the struggling form of the endbringer in one hand. It resisted fiercely, water lashing at the metal goddess, but they while they could reach a point where they would topple even such an edifice, they had not yet reached that level. While its claws sheared at her skin, they were too little in proportion to what held it.

She threw the Endbringer at the air, letting it briefly flail-

-and he saw her other hand swing.

There was a boom that shattered windows, that blasted water in muted shockwaves. Something flew, a blur, a haze, too fast for true sight, clearing the horizon. Something dropped down, an arm and a tail.

The rain stopped. A dragon and a man in armor with a sunfire lance arrived and looked at once both amused and disappointed.

Dragon the cape, all sleek black metal landed and her voice seemed faintly confused as the rain started to stop, as the drizzling slowed. "That was...Leviathan. He's somewhere near the gulf of Alaska now. He is...not? Yes, not, resuming the battle."

He looked at the horizon, at the sun starting to peek out and making a silver goddess out of the colossus, at the capes starting to cheer as they realized what had happened, and asked the most important question of all to the world's greatest tinker.

"Hey Dragon, you got that on video, right?!"

'Slap Goes the Endbringer' promptly became the world's most watched video overnight.

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Threadmarks: 2.8.4 Dies Irae (Finale) [ARC 2 END]

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Weisser Ritter

Weisser Ritter

Smug anime swordsman

Alright, no time to waste.

"Hecate. Their allies are coming. Let us finish this before they arrive." You called out to your Thinker Doll and she nodded, a plan already likely formed on her head.

You looked towards Stormtiger. The Protectorate capes had put themselves between the two of you, but with your Dolls assaulting them to sweep them off their feet, the path towards the unconscious cape was clear. You sprinted towards him, knowing that time was not on your side for the time being.

-Though, you thought as you continued to watch the battle, it wasn't doing so well for the two heroes either.

"Got you!" Krieg shouted, as she slipped between a wave of kinetic energy and wrapped her arms around one of Assault's vambraces. The two overlapping fields waged a small war, Assault's technologically enhanced powers looking as if they would win by the way Krieg was being pressed down and almost hurled off the man-

-But suddenly, there was a blinding light that came from her arms and the vambrace exploded, the cape having channeled the other aspects of her dynamokinesis to fry the device. Assault grit his teeth as the flames burned through his costume, but he shifted his body and kicked at the black-haired woman to get some distance.

"Assault!" Solaire yelled, worried about the fate of his teammate. Seeing the two oni-like Dolls which had been biding their time move towards his comrade again, he silently ground his teeth. "Alright… No choice."

It happened as you reached Stormtiger.

Solaire's movements hastened, even as Victor joined the fray to assault him again. Flashes of light swirled around him as he repelled the charging form of Night, not appearing the slightest bit distressed by the monster trying to shear him. He placed a pentacle on the ground, and the two capes around him were blown away- Leaving him wide open to Purity's blasts.

However, rather than running away from her, he counter-attacked instead.

"Take this!" Without even pausing as he moved out of the way of one of her blasts, he hurled the sword in his hands at her, blade aimed at her chest. Despite the speed causing the weapon to blur in your eyes, Purity moved out of the thrown weapon's path with ease-

-But the moment that she dodged it, Solaire pressed a button in his armor-

And what looked like a wave of blue light spread in a wide sphere from the thrown weapon, so fast that you barely caught any sign of movement before it was already covering Purity whole.

The effect disappeared, and the blade stuck to the ground as it fell. Purity dropped with it, her powers suddenly short-circuiting.

Shit! You inwardly cursed, even as you raised your static-filled arm and slapped it against Stormtiger's bare chest, the man's body violently convulsing as your power spread through him-

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

-Common Trait: Increases general power, flexibility and range of aerokinesis.

[ ] Gains the ability to generate electricity and discharge lightning-like bolts at enemies. (The Elemental Upgrade)

[ ] Can create programmed air constructs, making traps such as air mines or tornadoes to affect whoever triggers them, or create wind wraiths to chase after enemies outside of his range. (The Tactical Upgrade)

"Crusader, Cricket! Heed Our call and listen to Our commands!" You shouted into the air, even as you watched the blips on your radar stir at your commands. "The knight in the white armor is your opponent! Subdue him now!"

-Immediately, two figures rose from the ground and charged towards the hero, drawing into their new powers at the same time. Solaire's head twitched as he watched them approach, even as he worked to fend off Night and Victor at the same time.

"Didn't take long for them to get back up." Solaire muttered to himself, even as several forms flickered around him, revealing the shape of beautiful ghosts whose ill-fitting armor did nothing to detract from the threat they posed. The man briefly stepped back, grinning a little through his helmet. "Hey ladies! I don't suppose you're here for me, are you?"

He raised his hands and wiggled his fingers. The ghosts charged him.

Solaire's eyes narrowed thin as the spears approached him. He took a step back, even as he summoned a pentacle to seal Night in place for a few seconds. His hands lashed out, swords of light appearing in both his hands as he clashed against the Crusaders' spears, even while he blasted away Victor and her clones.

Every second, he became faster and harder to contain. You could sense Victor's worry, even from here-

"Shit!" A cry from the other side had you looking at the form of Assault as he was blasted back by a bomb, unable to keep up with the oni twins and Krieg after his gear had been partially destroyed. Soon he would be out of the fight.

But it didn't matter, because the Protectorate was almost here.

You looked at the remaining Empire capes. Hookwolf was caught by Alabaster, writhing in place yet unable to move as time itself weighed him down. Rune struggled visibly, staring hard at the trembling mounds of dirt as Menja and Fenja struggled with renewed efforts to break out of their shell.

The choice of where to go wasn't hard to make.

"Leave them," You growled as you approached the bound twins, having Rune bring them together so you could paralyze them both within your range. "Go stop Solaire."

Without even bothering to gaze at their eyes, you slapped your hand over Kaiser's bodyguards. One last final nail into the Empire's coffin.

CONNECTION ESTABLISHED

-Common Trait: Levels the power of their space warping to be the same regardless of their size, allowing them to fight optimally under space constraints.

[ ] Adds an offensive use for their space warping, allowing them to shred through conventional defenses with their attacks. (The War Valkyrie Upgrade)

[ ] Adds a defensive use for their space warping, bending space to redirect the movement of objects around them with a range proportional to their size. (The Shieldmaiden Upgrade)

[ ] Give each twin one of the upgrades. (The Mixed Upgrade)

-At that moment.

The Protectorate arrived.

Your minion Dolls warped away, the music cutting off in an instant as a blue motorcycle almost barreled through them- Sailing through the air as it jumped straight into the construction zone and landed with a thunderous noise.

"Solaire, keep stalling!" The hero yelled, even as he revved up his motorcycle and drove in the other direction, away from Solaire. "Recovering Assault is our first priority!"

At that same moment, a glowing blur shot straight towards Assault's position, crossing the street in a burst of insane speed.

"Assault!" A voice yelled as the flash impacted against Krieg, slowing down just enough under the Doll's field to become visible before a hard blast sent the woman temporarily reeling. A pretty brown-haired woman you recognized as Battery reached towards the man, supporting him with her shoulder even as he winced in pain. She growled at him. "Yeah it damn better hurt, you bastard. You're in deep shit now."

"I have no regrets… Bro code for life…" Assault grumbled, even as Battery squeezed a particularly sore rib with her hand. "Where's everyone else?"

Battery smirked. "Already here."

"Armsmaster…" Krieg growled as the head of the Protectorate ENE interposed himself between the two capes, stepping down from his motorcycle as Battery grabbed her husband and shot off with him in a flash of light, a strange device at her back providing her the energy she needed to reach a high charge in an instant. "Do you think your armor will save you from us? You must have a death wish…"

"Would your Master allow that?" Armsmaster replied curtly, even as he withdrew his halberd and approached the two Oni Lees and Krieg with a calm gait. "It doesn't matter, I suppose- None of you will be leaving this place alive if I can help it."

-Suddenly Armsmaster's halberd lashed out behind him, an electrical cloud exploding from the tip of his weapon and shocking the red-eyed Oni Lee that sneaked up behind him, perfectly timing his hit to the moment she appeared.

Krieg growled.

"I observed your movements through Solaire's inner suit camera." Armsmaster remarked calmly, his armor and halberd glowing with a strange white glow, as components hidden within started to kick into gear. "With the help of his technology, adapting my experimental precognitive software to your movements was child's play."

His visor flashed. "I don't care what you are, but don't you dare think you can rampage in my city as you please."

You watched as Armsmaster engaged in battle with three of your Dolls, and for a moment you stumbled in shock as the man you'd thought as baseline fought them on a level field- No, that was wrong. At first, Krieg's presence had visibly slowed him down, but then his armor and halberd had done something and he was- Well, not breezing through, but was somehow unaffected by the energy alterations that Krieg brought to the fore.

But even a man like him could not take on three of your Dolls alone for long. However, he didn't need to- You saw a red blur appear in seconds, moving towards the Oni Lees and snatching their bombs whenever they tried to attack Armsmaster with them. Velocity.

"Solaire! Status!" Armsmaster boomed, even as his halberd pulsed, acting as some sort of lightning rod that absorbed Krieg's lightning blasts and released them back as a form of counter-attacking.

"Shit's bad and getting worse, boss!" Solaire yelled back, ducking between the swing of Cricket's kamas. The Doll had dived into the fight with enthusiasm- You noticed that Solaire had gotten back his power-nullifying sword, but it was broken and shattered- Likely thanks to Cricket's abilities.

And yet, he was still fighting four Dolls on his own. Thirteen scars of light carved themselves across the air, even as Solaire started dancing around his opponents by teleporting between what looked like white wands stuck on the ground, which your Dolls made constant attempts to destroy.

-A gut feeling suddenly struck you, as you'd been heading towards Hookwolf for the final capture of the day.

"Ah-" As you felt the anxiety from Hecate and one of your Dolls- You turned towards Othala, and your blood froze as you saw that there was a laser pointer targeted at her head.

"Victor!" You yelled, but it was too late-

-It was instant. Not even teleportation could have saved her from the lightspeed laser that cleaved through her body, melting through her head and shoulders with ease.

You felt a crawl run up your spine as the invulnerability that had been protecting your body dissolved, Othala's body collapsing to the floor.

"..." Hecate looked at the dead body, then clicked her tongue. She looked towards Alabaster, and nodded grimly.

You froze, meeting eyes with the pale-skinned Doll. "No-"

But Alabaster didn't listen, and her arms let go of the writhing Hookwolf to immediately dash towards you. You watched the Empire cape roar, immediately bolting away from the area, unable to do anything to stop him-

-And Alabaster tackled you, diving to the floor as the bright roar of a thunderbolt flashed above you.

"Fuck…" You started, slapping away the Doll's body from yours, rage bubbling up your chest. Hecate leaned down and tapped Othala, bringing her back to life in a flash of light that drew a long pause from the heroes- But that didn't stop your rage, even as you felt your invincibility return. "FUCK!"

He'd gotten away. Hookwolf, the mass murderer, had fucking gotten away.

GENERATING CONFLICT

Why… Why did they have to get in your way!?

"You DARE call yourselves Heroes!?" You yelled, righteous wrath flowing into your blood. You glared at Dauntless, the armored man who had shot you. He aimed his lance at you and shot again. You weathered it, Othala's power dispersing the blast. Alabaster stepped to your side, and shot him with heavy bursts of gunfire that he had to shield against.

You stomped towards the heat of the battlefield, leaving Alabaster to fend for herself -though you saw Rune glance this way, and Dauntless was soon yanked through the air- even as your eyes looked at the main cause behind your failure. Solaire. He was the one that had thrown the first stone.

Crusader's ghosts moved, taking Othala and quickly dragging her away from the battle even as a dozen of them flew in the direction the sniper had come from. You guided them, sending vague emotions through the link as you helped them pin down the position of Miss Militia as she moved.

You weren't a villain, not truly. In some ways, your goals aligned with those of the Protectorate. But… If they insisted on going after the wrong target, just because they allowed their fear to take them over…

...Then you were going to teach them a lesson they would never forget.

"SOLAIRE!" You yelled even as you started running towards him. "Do you understand the foolishness of your actions!? Do you understand the beast you've just unleashed upon the world again!?"

"Heh! Yeah, that mutt's going to be trouble!" Solaire acknowledged, even as he continued to clash multiple Dolls, his movements ten times faster than at the start of the battle. He dodged a flurry of strikes from Night, the traps he had placed on the area hampering all of their movements as he competed with the four of them, sweat running from his brow as Victor's gaze continued to exhaust him and yet his stamina remained bottomless. "But he ain't nothing compared to YOU!"

"Man, if you go around calling yourself a Demon King and then expect people to LIKE you-" He shouted, even as his body spun like a twister and carved through the bodies of your Dolls, causing all but Night to step away for a moment. "You've got another thing coming!"

You glared at him. How was he still fighting? How had he not collapsed yet? For all his reflexes and powers, your Dolls were also superhuman- His armor was already half torn to pieces, Night's body having drawn a thousand cuts over his body. And yet they sealed shut, keeping him in perfect fighting shape.

Someone so powerful… Shouldn't be fighting so blindly…!

"This struggle is pointless and hopeless for you!" You shouted, fists clenched tight even as the battle continued to rage around you. "You cannot stay the tide of judgement forever! Rather than resist the coming change, you should be aiding Us in bringing the wicked to their knees! We are your savior, not your adversary!"

"Yeah, yeah Punisher. I've heard that one before." Solaire shrugged, even as he barely ducked under a charge from Night that almost tore him in half, barely scratching his shoulder instead. "Man, you sound like my best friend- You want to fix everything, but have you ever stopped asking if you could or not, and asking if you should instead!? Maybe killing people and turning them into semen demons wasn't the best idea, huh!?"

You fumed.

"IGNORANT CUR!" You swung your arm, cape flaring wildly. It wasn't your fault you got the worst power in existence that ensured you'd be the target of a witch hunt. "This is the power that the Lord Almighty granted us to dispense justice! Who are you to argue with his will!?"

"I'm just your friendly neighbourhood Deckerman." Solaire laughed, and for a moment you froze. Deckerman… No! There was no way that could be true! …Tyson would never be able to rock a costume, given how silly he looked a cosplay. And he was too lanky to be Solaire. They couldn't be the same.

Your rage grew even greater. To think that you hesitated, while the people out there suffered, even as this insufferable idiot tried to destroy what was rightfully yours!

"ENOUGH! Not just you, Solaire… But all of you, Heroes of the Protectorate." You looked at them all, watching as they struggled against your Dolls and slowly started to slip. Miss Militia's fire support had weakened as Crusader chased her down, Armsmaster had yet to find a way to overcome Krieg's defenses, Dauntless was being thrown like a ragdoll, and Velocity couldn't keep up with all of your shadows' clones.

Only the man in front of you remained an unbending pillar.

With a single glance at your radar that caused a shiver of excitement to run through you, you glared back at him. He might think of himself as invincible…

...But you were about to prove him otherwise.

"We shall show you… The depths of Our power. The might of the one who will change this world." Your cape flared, as you slowly reached an arm out to point at a particular direction, drawing the stares of those who were paying attention to you. "And should you test your might against ourselves… We will hammer into you the true futility of fighting the Demon King."

At that moment.

"!"

The earth trembled, as a roar shook the heavens.

-The cooling pile of scales that had been Lung's body exploded, a pillar of fire rising into the skies and scattering them away violently. A wave of heat spread across the battlefield, turning the cold air into a heat haze as a powerful cry caused the pebbles scattered along the ground to shake.

"This power…" A woman said, slowly stepping out from the flames and examining her hands with almost giddy curiosity. Her entire body was surrounded by flames, bathing her sculpted, naked body in an orange aura that enhanced the color of her eyes. A long, dark shape twisted behind her, the scaled tail mostly obscured by the glow of her body.

You restrained the hunger that rose from your body as you saw her shape- Without an inch of unnecessary fat, her body was almost entirely muscles despite the fact that she maintained an hourglass figure and a round derriere that swayed with each of her steps. Her breasts, large and firm, were pulled taut and drew the eyes as they ever so slightly jiggled.

"Lung." Armsmaster said, and he took a step back- Even as Battery landed besides him, and watched with horror at the figure that sauntered out of the burning pyre. "These temperature readings... It can't be that- No, she's even stronger than the original? But what…"

"Hahaha…" The Doll laughed slowly, her voice like a hot breath as she experimentally flexed one of her arms. She stared at a patch of dirt, and idly waved her hand towards it- Releasing a wave of white-hot fire that actually displaced the air in an explosion, causing a charred crater to appear on the ground. "Yes, I can feel it… I am stronger now. Unstoppable."

"Lung." You called, and the fiery orbs that radiated power fixed themselves into you. Anyone else would have been paralyzed by that gaze at least for a few seconds- But you felt no such sensation. "Come to me, my dragon."

You knew whom she belonged to.

For an instant, Lung's lips twitched in reflex at someone trying to order her- Until the full weight of her new purpose took hold, and her slitted pupils dilated as a shiver ran through her spine. "Yes, Master." She breathed, her eyes locking into yours as the dragon-girl moved.

She glided through the ground, fire propelling her forwards at inhuman speeds even though her toes barely grazed the earth. Nobody dared attack as she approached you, lest they provoke the elephant in the room.

"Good girl." You smiled at Lung crawled towards you in all fours after getting close enough, breasts swaying as she rubbed herself against your legs, purring like a cat would. You reached down to her head and brushed your fingers across her luscious black hair, stopping for a moment to rub one of the draconic horns on her head. She gave a low, throaty moan that caused your throat to dry.

"You… I cannot fight what you have done to me." The former supervillain said, love glazing her stare towards you now and forevermore. "I am defeated, broken at your hands. You have done what the Yángban could not. I will accept this. Victory is yours, and so am I."

"But…?" You raised an eyebrow behind your helmet, even as you extended your fingers to her mouth. She licked them slowly, the heat of her saliva as hot as the gaze which she gave you.

"But… No more. Never again shall I accept defeat." She kissed each of your fingers, nuzzled her head against your open palm, but spoke with unbreakable conviction. "Any foe that crosses my path again, I will crush. You are…" Her cheeks tinged with crimson, visible even through the flames that surrounded her body. "...The only one I will bow to."

You raised your eyebrows, but the smile didn't leave your face. Lung had quite the strong personality, for his Doll to remain this stubborn. But… That was fine.

Coupled with her power, it was more than fitting. She was perfect.

"Hand." You stated, and your grin widened when the Doll did not hesitate to follow the demeaning command, raising her offered hands above her breasts as she sat on her haunches, the vertical angle letting you see her hot, glistening sex. You gulped down, savoring the moment but disappointed you could not dally.

You pulled her up with one hand as the other roamed across her body, pressing her to your chest so you could stare eye-to-eye. "You shall never suffer defeat again, this We can swear. For you shall be our tool to dispense judgment, a weapon to purge this planet of evil."

"Yes…" She murmured, and the heat around the two of you became even more intense. A grin appeared on her face, as her arms wrapped around your neck. "Any slight against you, I shall repay in full. It all belongs to you. My mind, my soul… And my strength."

She kissed you, and her flames flowed inside of you.

Your eyes widened, and you vaguely heard the yells of the Heroes as your entire world became consumed by fire. It reached every corner of your body, horrible pain flowing into your core- Until it was replaced by firm determination, and a raging passion that overwhelmed every fiber of your mind.

When your sight returned, it came clearer than ever. You whole body felt lighter, stronger, and there was a fire burning in your core, one that was only growing hotter. Lung was gazing at you, bated breath on her throat as her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

This is yours now, Master. Her voice echoed in your head, and you almost stumbled. Ours. Together, all that crosses our path shall burn. They will know our power, and they will fear us.

Looking away from her, you looked at the air and stretched out your arm. Almost as if by instinct, a wave of living flames coalesced in your fingertips, shifting into a blade of fire or a sphere of flames with a thought.

-Looking at the power that coursed through you… You smirked.

Yes. They will.

"Solaire!" Armsmaster yelled. "Disengage! I repeat- Disengage! Standard procedure is not to fight Lung in a prolonged battle!" Even as he said that, he and Battery were staging a fighting retreat as the Dolls continued to harass them.

"Oh no." You growled. "You will not be getting away… Until We hammer into you the true extent of your foolishness!"

This is for the best, you thought even as you created a flaming sword and clutched it in both hands, Lung getting on her fours and allowing you to straddle her. There was a bright flash of burning light, and the warm muscles under you were replaced by a broad, hard surface of scales, even as the world looked just a little bit tinier.

Lung's new form roared, crushing the ground beneath her claws and melting the earth into raw lava. With your enhanced senses and clarity of mind, you estimated her current height at five meters from the base of her tail to the tip of her head. Two spear-like limbs had sprouted from her sides, and were quickly forming the membrane of a wing. Had she kept all the power she'd been building up as her old self?

"Okay, that's pretty good." Solaire said, even as another pentacle blew away the Dolls harassing him. Only this time, they did not attack him again. Instead, your mount pounced on the cape, your entire body lurching from the speed- Until the fire in your heart grew hotter, and it felt almost natural as Lung's dive shattered the earth around you, scattering droplets of lava to the air.

Your eyes followed Solaire's movements as he dodged- Before, he had been too fast. But now you could see. Now you could attack. With a wave of your arm, numberless swords of fire appeared in an arc around you. They shot forwards, following him in an attempt to strike him down. When straight shots failed you tried to cage him, when he grew to elusive you tried to bait him. Little by little you managed to graze him, but as frustration built up inside you-

Allow me. Lung's voice echoed in your mind- Right before her mouth fumed, and a wave of white-hot flames shot in a huge fireball that wandered right into Solaire's path, causing a deafening explosion that turned up the heat by another degree.

"FOLLOW!" You yelled, and your dragon eagerly pounced into the raging fires. You found him there, a pentacle on the floor quelling the fires surrounding him with ice-cold heat- You sneered contemptuously, and with a heave of your arm shot an incandescent spear that shattered the enchantment into wisps of mist.

"Can't we talk about this!?" Solaire yelled, even as Lung swung at him with her claws and he barely avoided being crushed underfoot like the steel beams that had been in your way. You glared at him. He dared to ask about diplomacy after ruining your plans!?

"So now you begin to think!? I'm afraid you're a little LATE!" You sent your cape after him, wanting nothing more than to slap this silly clown's shit for letting a raging psychopath slip from your grasp. The filament glowed orange, before it split into multiple sharp-tipped threads that zeroed in on your foe like stinger missiles.

I can smell his fear. He fears the flames, but he does not fear you yet, Master.

"Shi-!" Solaire cried as the insanely fast thread pierced through one of his arms, a sword of light cutting the thread but failing to prevent the damage that had been done. But no sooner had the hole began to bleed before it started to close, and the hero slashed towards you with one massive wave of light that caused even your dragon to flinch back from the hit.

I do not want fear! I want respect. You hesitated for a moment. What were you doing? They don't understand… They just don't understand! The monster that man is… Why do they lash at me, rather than at him?

It is because they fear you, Master. Lung snorted, before she roared into the air. Her wound already healing as new, stronger muscles replaced the broken tissue, she pounced after the fleeing cape. They fear you… But they don't fear you enough.

I wanted to clean up this city. To send a message. "HEROES! YOUR FEAR LEADS YOU ASTRAY!" You yelled, even as your body flared with an even greater level of power. You felt the plates of your armor pop, growing darker and larger as something altered them, your gauntlets darkening to pitch black even as what looked like flowing lava ran through the joints. Spread fear among the villains. I… In my heart, I wasn't prepared for the Heroes to react like this. Wasn't ready to fight them.

As your dragon and the Hero exchanged blows, her body continued to shift. Her wings finished growing, and before you realized it another pair had sprouted from her back, the extra two meters she had gained in a minute enough to accommodate for the extra weight. Her flames had turned blue by now, and you realized that both your Dolls and the Protectorate had long since stopped trying to approach you, the heat from your bodies strong enough that the earth melted below you.

And now? Your Doll asked curiously, even as her eyes followed the movements of the now desperate Solaire. You had to admit, he was a true hero- Refusing to leave for the buildings, where he could have potentially endangered civilians- Not that you'd have followed him if he escaped that far.

Now? Now, I think I can. Fight them, at least. Heroes are people too. They make mistakes. Always have, because their hearts are soft. You roared, sending waves after waves of glowing blue swords that shattered the earth as they exploded and left a trail of destruction that sent plumes of smoke into the air.

They don't know how to fight villains. They treat them like they were human, deserving of rights. They're not. True villains are monsters. Evil, exacerbated by divine might. An evil man's selfishness is a threat to the well-beings of the innocent. An evil man with a gun? A threat to their lives. An evil superman? A threat to humanity- No, to the world itself.

Crush them, before they crush who you protect. Lung would have smiled if she could, however she was busy using her tail to cause a minor earthquake that destroyed Solaire's precious pentacles. The justice of the strong.

I want the heroes to win. Law and order, love and peace. I agree with all of these. But they will never win, Lung. Not like this. In this world… The villains win. Because we don't live in a movie, and reality is harsh.

"Why, Solomon!?" Solaire suddenly shouted, gritting his teeth as he continued his desperate struggle. "All of this power, all the people you could have helped- And you're going to use it for world conquest!? That's stupid! You're suicidal!" He had to teleport to evade your attacks now, and even that was barely enough. His swords of light barely hurt your mount, and they couldn't reach you.

Holding his ground for a last stand, the hero yelled with all his might. "STOP THINKING YOU CAN FIX THE WORLD BY YOURSELF, YOU FUCKING DUMBASS!"

-!

For a moment, a face flashed across your mind-

Master? Lung called, sensing your hesitation. Is this enough-

No. He's wrong. You're wrong, Solaire- And YOU are wrong too, Tyson. This power was given to me so I could fix the world! It has to have been, or I- No. I will fix this world. I WILL FIX IT. I SHALL CRUSH ALL EVIL UNDER MY HEEL! If that means hurting the heroes to keep them away… Fine then. I'll pay for my sins in the end.

"Thanks, nerd." You whispered to yourself silently. "For making up my mind."

It was time to end this.

"Witness Our might, Heroes! We are the Tyrant that has descended from Purgatory to cleanse this world, to remove the filth that decays it and usher a new Dawn!" You moved with your steed, waves of fire turned into blue flames turned into glowing plasma, blades of raw incandescence reducing the construction site proper to nothing but molten slag as each of Lung's car-sized claws caused plumes of dust to rise as the earth itself was gouged.

"Tremble before the indignation of the agent of heaven, and quail with joy, for he is your savior! The wicked shall become ash, the innocent will reign over the new world, and a golden age will grace the universe! To stop it is impossible, and to fight it meaningless!" You roared, the tail you hadn't noticed sprout from your back twisting as one clawed gauntlet reached back to gather power. A lance of pure, radiant plasma appeared in your hands-

"Fire and brimstone will be the cradle of rebirth! When the final trumpet rings, even the Endbringers shall be naught but cinders! With the power of Demons at my hands…"

Your dragon braced both front paws against the ground, opening a mouth wide enough to swallow an elephant whole. The atoms of the air within her breath quaked, as a glowing fireball of raw light appeared between her jaws.

"...I WILL BRING FORTH PARADISE!"

"Im… possible…" -You heard the faint voice of Armsmaster call… And smirked.

With a final yell, you thrust your spear- And allowed your greatest weapon to unleash the essence of destruction upon the world.

History reached a turning point, as an event that would grow to be remembered for ages took place. The fireball released by Lung did not even directly hit Solaire- In fact, neither of you had even bothered to aim for him, instead shooting at a random area in his periphery.

It was more than enough.

The entire battlefield shook as a blinding explosion seared the eyes of those who foolishly looked at the blast. Both your Dolls and the Protectorate heroes were scattered by the explosion, despite being far away- Glass shattered over the entire city block, those who hadn't already been awake yelling as the windows simply broke from the deafening shockwave.

For a few seconds, a new sun shone in Brockton Bay.

You raised your hand as the explosion faded, letting the radiation energy flow back into your body as you prevented the fallout from the controlled fusion blast from hurting anyone in the future. A deathly silence spread across the battlefield, those who could still speak unable to form words either out of shock or disorientation.

In the large crater before you- The only thing that remained of most of the construction site, you saw a body twitch. You almost sighed in relief, but controlled yourself- You'd gotten a good enough grasp of his durability that you'd known the blast wouldn't have killed him. His body was charred and most of his skin had melted off, but given his regeneration it would grow back.

"Y… oa…" Two crumbling hands grabbed at the scorched earth, molten muscles barely managing to muster the strength for Solaire's hairless, exposed head to twitch upwards… Until his head raised to glare at you, finally giving you a good look at his face-

-Your heart stopped.

...No…

"Ty… son?" You had almost whispered that line… But he heard you. You watched his eyes glaze over in confusion… Before what was left of his eyelids widened, and he looked at you with quickly dawning horror.

No. No, no, no. IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS.

Master? The Endbringer-sized dragon below you rumbled, one of her massive eyes turning towards you.

"M… i… ke…" Tyson whispered, his burnt hand reaching out towards you, the single tear duct that still functioned on his face causing one of his eyes to mist over-

Your stomach turned.

You needed to leave. Now.

"...L-Let this message stand for all of you, Heroes of the Protectorate." Your voice boomed, your enhanced physiology causing it to rumble across everyone's ears. "We will not abide by anyone standing in our way. We shall remake this world. The easy way…"

You cast one last glance at Tyson, your face heavy… Before your expression hardened, and you turned away.

"...Or the hard way."

Your dragon's shadow continued to bask the Heroes in darkness, even long after you had marched away from the battle. One by one, your Dolls disappeared into blue flashes of light. You closed your eyes, feeling the pull of the Ether Network for the first time, as you and your steed answered its call-

-And in an instant, you were gone. Leaving behind a message the world would never forget…

...And a friend you weren't sure would ever forgive you.

--

'We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." I suppose we all thought that one way or another.'

-J. Robert Oppenheimer

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Subrosian_Smithy

Subrosian_Smithy

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Leekz01 said:

I don't know what Mikhail plans on doing once he cleans the world of most if not all of the world most dangerous villains. personally If I was him and finished my goal I'd get my dolls to build a badass space ship and get off the planet and travel the stars. cause ruling the earth would be boring and I'd hate all the fear, plus the fact you can't live normally anymore would limit what you can do.

GENERATING CONFLICT

"No!" I declared as I surveyed my incomplete ark into space. "No!" I declared as I surveyed my Dolls. "No!" I declared as I looked over the world through the eyes of the Clairvoyant. "No! There is one final enemy to be defeated!"

At my side, I felt more than saw Hecate put her head in her hands.

"Mayonnaise! Must! Be! Eradicated!"

The Dolls cheered. They always did.

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