Super Science
Ch 69: Family Feud
"Hump! These guards get weaker every time we smash 'em!", Blob stated as he threw away the last of the guards.
"More like we're getting better every day.", Pyro agreed with a jeer.
"Well, now that's out of the way. Looks like a straight shot to the lab.", Quicksilver stated as he got into a runner's pose, pointed straight at the building that had been swarmed by several dozen heavily armed people.
"Yous remember what Mystique said, yeah?", Toad jokingly poked fun at Quicksilver.
Quicksilver pushes him off with an eye roll as he groans back, "Of course Toad, my head isn't full of pond scum, like you."
Everyone laughed at the toad man as he angrily inflated his throat. Only for the still-positioned Quicksilver to be suddenly frozen solid by a beam of ice out of nowhere! All the villains stop and turn their heads to where the shot came from and see Hatsume standing several yards away with a strange ray gun that is emitting cold energy.
"But it is full of ice, like you.", Hatsume joked back while laughing at the frozen man.
He then took another shot and half-froze Blob! As the other villains scampered away, trying to avoid being frozen, Toad exclaimed in shock and confusion at seeing two of his teammates taken out at once, "What the!?"
"I made a freeze ray!", Hatsume shouted to him as if thinking he was asking about his device.
Seeing it was nothing but a single man, the villains got confident and began to surround him.
"So the scientists come out to play.", Avalanche vexed him while tightening his fists.
Hatsume nods happily before putting on his goggles and saying, "We sure did! Now say freeze!"
Hatsume shot off another round of cold but this time the villains expertly dodged the attack. Pyro shot off a blast of intense fire as Hatsume met him halfway with an equally powerful cold. Blob broke free of his ice prison and began to charge at the man, only to be stopped by a fast figure hitting him square in the gut with a powerful punch!
Due to his quirk, the Blob absorbed the brutal hit and stood tall! Only getting a slight tickle from after-effects. However, even with his quirk, the blow was hard enough to send him back a few inches. He smiled sinisterly at the low figure that tried to gut-punch him and began to gloat.
"Ha! What was that!? Were you trying to tickle me? Don't you know who I am? I'm the Blob!", he exclaimed only to be shut up quickly as the man rose past his height with blank eyes and muscles that were bigger than his obese head.
The person looming over him was none other than Rappa, and Blob knew who this person was from his days as an underground quirk fighter. He stood frozen with fear as Rappa raised his fist above his head, then with all his strength, brought it down on his own! What many people didn't know about Blob was that the top of his head was one of his most vulnerable weak points.
So when Rappa hit him in that very spot, Blob's quirk didn't absorb any of it and he took the full brunt of the attack through his whole body! His skull, teeth, ribs, and legs broke under the massive pressure making the fat man pass out!
"And now you're on the floor.", Rappa attempted to joke, laughing at himself before turning to Hatsume and asking like an excited child, "Hey Hatsume, did I do it right!?"
"Yeah, sure, a little help please!", Hatsume said back with urgency as his Ice Blaster was starting to overheat.
Just as Rappa began to run towards Pyro, who had his full attention and a half-full gas canister on Hatsume, the man was stopped in his tracks as the ground under him started to shake violently, he tried to keep his balance but couldn't! He looked around fast and saw Avalanche using his quirk to shake the ground under his feet. The shaking grew so intense that the asphalt under him began to crack open! No matter what he tried, Rappa couldn't move away!
That is until something small and rough was thrown at him. It exploded and then expanded like a bath bomb, covering a part of the large Russian man. Very quickly, many more of them were thrown, exploded, and spread all around the man until he was covered from neck to foot leaving only his head uncovered. Again Avalanche tried to use his quirk to break free, but instead of that happening, he felt his quirk being sent right back at him!
Avalanche was shaken so violently by his quirk in the violet cocoon that he passed out in mere seconds. Honey Lemon jumped out from her hiding spot and snapping her fingers in delight, exclaimed, "Ha! Super-expanding shock redirect gel! My newest creation!"
Then a long colored, flesh-wet thing wrapped around the woman's neck and lifted her into the air. Toad, who was also biding his time, jumped out and proclaimed, "My tongue, my second greatest body part. Right after my second head."
With his body back in control and Honey Lemon in the most immediate danger, he ran after and tried to smash the frog man! Only for Toad to dodge every attack with ease, even as Rappa the broken pieces of asphalt at him! Toad teased and mocked the huge man with every miss he made while also continuing to strangle the woman with his tongue.
Rappa growled and yelled in frustration, "Hey! Stop bouncing around you jumping bean!"
As Toad continues to jeer the man, something fast rushes by and slices Toad's tongue in half, making him scream in pain as Honey Lemon is finally freed from his grasp, allowing her to breathe again. As Toad gingerly held his bleeding tongue he looked around to see what attacked him, only to see Anima with a new creature standing beside him.
It looked like a dragon, but medium-sized and without wings. It has four legs with the ones in front being larger and longer and a body plan like a modern-day reptile. Two horns curved back to its back with a ridge of spiral spines that appeared to be able to raise up and down. Huge claws and serrated teeth, with foldable gill fins along its neck that, when open, create electricity. It's piercing yellow eyes, stared viciously and murderously at Toad!
"Behold my newest creature, the Lightning Beast!", Anima exclaimed as the beast roared.
Seeing his luck run out, Toad tried to run away, only for the Lighting Beast to open its naw and shoot out a beam of Lightning right at the man! Toad didn't even have a chance to hop out of the way as the lightning beam hit him dead on and tried him alive until he was splayed out on the ground and crispy.
"Shocking!", Rappa tried to joke.
"Very funny, Rappa.", Anima said sarcastically.
"Guys! A bit of help would be nice!", Hatsume called out as he had to duck and roll when his Ice Blaster overheated.
Even though his weapon was out of commission, Pyro wasn't out of fuel and prepared an even bigger blast of fire to torch the man to ash. But he never got the chance as something was shot at his body and restrained him. It was some kind of body cage that closed around him and grew tightened the more he struggled. Until it sent off a shock of electricity and made him spaz out! This gave Rappa the chance to run up and knock him out.
Once down Hatsume looked over to the side and saw Cho standing by with a device that appeared to have the attachment to shoot off the body cages. After loading up another, Hatsume took off his goggles and gave a thumbs up to the woman as he stated, "Thanks for the help, Cho, and you too Rappa."
"Don't we make a great team?", Rappa asked as he cuddled up to Cho, who shoved him away.
But before they could celebrate their victory, Quicksilver had vibrated his body enough to throw himself free where he began to chatter from the cold after feeling.
"Burrr! That was cold! Who shot me with that?!", He demanded as he looked around for his attacker. Only to instantly get caught in a body cage and shocked unmoving, then the Electric Beast came up and blasted the man with a Lightning shock, knocking him out.
"And that's the last one.", Anima shrugged, feeling nonchalant about the attack.
"Not so fast, I think there's still one inside.", Cho exclaimed as she loaded up her body cage launcher.
"Then let's get 'em!", Rappa exclaimed excitedly, punching his fist, as he ran towards the building with the other scientists following behind.
Meanwhile, back inside the building, the two scientists and ex-criminals had stood and watched the security camera footage of the scientist taking down the villains. All of them in a mix of awe and shock!
Izuku blinked a few times before starting nonchalantly and uncertainly, "Looks like my staff took down your old friends."
"Oh thank heavens.", Rouge said in relief while leaning and sliding down a wall.
"Now that only leaves Mystique. A shapeshifter in a sparsely populated area.", Egon stated as he looked around the empty building hallway they were in.
Just before the three of them could begin any plan of action, a little set of footsteps ran down the hallway and yelled, "Professor!"
Turning around they all saw Eri running towards them with flushed cheeks, wild hair, and teary eyes. Once she got to them, Egin kneeled and asked, "Eri! Are you okay?"
Eri sniffles back and asks while looking around, "I'm scared. What's going on?"
Egon freed up a hand and petted her while assuring, "Don't worry, we're taking care of it right now. Everything will be okay in a bit. Let's get you to the safe room for now."
Eri rubbed her eyes and sniffed back her emotions while looking up to Whom with a bright smile as she said back, "Okay, Professor Crystallo."
Upon hearing this statement from Eri, Egon's face went placid. Like he had heard the most awful news ever! Without warning or hesitation, he stood up quickly and kicked Eri square in the face, sending her flying down the hallway!
Everyone else just stood there in shock at what the man just did and Izuku was the first to chew him out as he pushed him back, yelling at him, "Egon! What the hell!"
Before either of them could chew him out, he quickly stated, "That's not Eri."
The two of them paused, looked behind them, and saw Eri get up from the floor with half her face blue with red hair!
"Mystique!?", they both exclaimed in shock.
Mystique chuckled darkly as she gingerly touched her face, taking her normal form as she inquired, "So what gave it away?"
"Eri has been calling me by my first name, and only that, for weeks. If you had referred to my given name after the first time, I wouldn't have suspected anything.", Egon explained to her with pride.
Standing back to her feet, now fully reverted to her natural state, she said to herself with a half-hearted huff, "Guess I should've chosen a different form."
"What do you even want?", Izuku demanded.
"I came here to kill two birds with one stone.", Mystique smiles at the question then tells him while pointing, "First I wanted to retrieve my child, and second I wanted to take your research and kill you two!"
"That's three.", Egon corrected her. Mystique didn't take lightly to that comment and pulled a gun out from her hip holster and pointed it at the two scientists as Egon acted in a sarcastic tone, "Oh wow, a gun, how terrifying."
Mystique shot a blast from the gun at the same time Izuku shot a web with the Splinter in hand, unfortunately, the outcome they expected didn't come to pass. Instead of catching what seemed to be a bullet, the two scientists and the web attacks were suddenly trapped within a bubble!
Egon tapped on the yellow sphere that had trapped them and said, "Okay, didn't expect that."
Mystique approached Rogue with a malicious smile and the woman stood in her defense while ordering, "Stay back!"
Smiling more as she slowly approached without hesitation, "Come now Anna, you know you want to come back. I'm all you have left in the world after your father kicked you out. We're justified in our revolution and you know it. New York will never learn unless we fight back! You know I love you and always have."
During this exchange, Rogue backed further and further away until she backed herself into a wall. Seeing her squeak with fright, Mystique knew she had her. However, as the villain had her full attention on the woman, Izuku had managed to force the tip of the Splint out through the rubbery bubble and shit a thread that hit a wall.
He then retraced the web until he managed to pull himself out of what felt like tapioca pudding mixed with caramel. Once free he eats no time in grabbing the emergency crowbar and running behind Mystique before whacking her on the head, dropping her to the floor!
"Get crowbarred bitch!", Izuku yelled before dropping the weapon, covering his mouth, and saying in a self-shocked tone, "Oh my God, I said a curse word!", he looked over to Egon and accused, "I blame you!"
Egon just shrugged nonchalantly at the allegation.
Meanwhile Rouge was looking between her foster mother and the young teen who bravely stood up to her. After a bit, she finally came to the realization and said in disbelief, "You…save me."
Izuku offered his hand while smiling at the woman and said, "Of course Anna. I said I'd help you and I meant it."
Before their tender moment could continue, Mystique, who hadn't been knocked completely out, swung her legs, kicking Izuku's out from under him and making him fall! She then took her gun and shot it at Rouge, causing her to become trapped in the same bubble as Egon! Before Izuku could get up, Mystique slammed her foot against his neck and began to apply pressure, making the teen choke for air as he grabbed at her leg, attempting to push it away!
Seeing this, Rouge beat on the bubble and begged, "Stop it, mama! Stop it! Don't hurt him! I'll come back, I promise!"
Mystique laughs callously before promising, "Oh don't worry sweetie, I'm not gonna hurt him. I'm going to kill him!", all before putting more pressure on his throat.
"Mystique if you go through with this, the only way you're getting out of here is in a body bag!", Egon screamed threateningly at the woman with murder in his eyes as he was managing to pull himself free from the bubble with the help of Otto, who was awake again.
Only for her to smile and apply more pressure, causing the boy to suddenly stop his struggle and begin to black out. Making Egon cry out, "Izuku!"
Rouge had tears running down her face as, what could only be called her first true friend, began to die under the heel of her mother's foot. Finally finding her resolve she screamed, "NO!"
Using her strength, speed, and power of flight, she rocketed straight out of the bubble like it was paper! Mystique didn't even have a chance to block as Rouge rammed into her at top speed and flew down the hallway! After catching her breath, Mystique knew what Rouge was going to do and quickly took a form that could withstand pain!
After being flown through several metal walls she was eventually thrown into an empty testing chamber and thrown hard against the floor! Even with her more durable form, Mystique felt massive pain run throughout her body as she gasped for air! But Rouge wasn't done as she was once again upon Mystique and plumbing her with punch after punch! Mystique took a stronger firm and met back each punch! Even still she could feel her knuckles nearly breaking under every blow!
So she changed tactics and took a different form, this time it had a sonic scream quirk and Rouge was thrown off Mystique. She then changed into Quicksilver and began to run around the woman while hitting her with cheap shots. But Rogue knew how to beat her teammates, and hit the ground hard enough for it to shake and cause Mystique to fall off her speed. Just before Rouge could counterattack, Mystique took the form of something that could fly and flew around her with ease.
Rouge chased after, but once she caught her leg, Mystique turned around with her gun at the ready and hit her with a powerful energy shot that was strong enough to take her down! Rouge fell from the sky and lay on the floor in a seemingly unconscious heap. Mystique landed as well while morphing back to her original form and looking over the unconscious form of her foster daughter. Thinking she had won, she relaxed, which was the worst thing she could do.
Rouge shot her head up, glaring daggers at the woman as she fumbled to get the gun ready in her surprise! But Rogue was far quicker and in one fell swoop ripped off one glove with her teeth while grabbing and crushing the gun in the other. Using the exposed hand she grabbed Mystique's face and the two began to scream over the absorption.
It was only five seconds, but Mystique finally fell to the floor fully unconscious this time while Rouge fell to her butt. A few moments later Izuku ran into the chamber and called out, "Anna, are you okay?"
Rouge rubbed her head and answered, "I'm fine. Absorbing someone always has a drawback if I'm not prepared."
"Is everything-oh wow!", Izuku said in surprise as he saw the unconscious Mystique lying on the ground.
A few moments later, Egon poked his head through the hole and looked up at the aftermath of the battle. He blinked a few times and then stated, "I guess everything is taken care of here."
Drawn to all the attention and noises, the testing chamber was quickly filled with worried employees who all looked around at the sight inside. Many questions were thrown around but one stuck out in the rest.
"Who's she?", Melissa asked as she pointed to Rouge.
Izuku cleared his voice as he helped the woman to her feet and stated, "Everyone, meet Rouge. NIP's newest bodyguard."
Later
Once the villains were detained and info was taken during the attack, the entirety of NIP was seated around a large table in the last meeting room they had left. The one who looked most worried at this meeting was the two owners Izuku and Egon.
Izuku was the one to start as he took a deep breath before saying, "Okay people. You all know we got very very lucky the first two times we were attacked. But our luck has finally run out."
Cluck scoffs at the statement, rolling her eyes as she proclaims, "What are you talking about? That attack was pathetic. Even easier than the Yakuza. All of them were arrested and no one got away. How did our luck run out?"
"Mystique was in here for far longer than we expected. She was able to download and send off several megabytes of data from our research systems alongside over a dozen empty Splinters.", Egon informs her.
"Oh.", was all she could reply, feeling silly.
"Wait! She didn't get-!", Melissa began to panic.
Izuku waved her down and assured her, "No no. She didn't get her hands on any of the Singularity Souls. I don't even think she found them."
A sigh of relief went around the room at that news, except for Rouge who asked, "Singularity who now?"
"I'll explain later.", Izuku told her.
"As of right now, we have no way of gaining back our stolen possession. We're stretched thin as is and the new facility is only about 90% complete.", Egon continues to tell them, making everyone tense up at some of their possessions being unable to retrieve.
"So what now?", Chopper inquired.
Izuku takes a steady sigh before rubbing his eyes and telling them, "No doubt we are going to start seeing machines and experiments like ours circulating. Our best chance at this time is to aid in attempting to mitigate the damage or stop them.", he looks around the room at the many men and women before telling them in a serious tone, "I hope you're ready, cause a storm is approaching."
Hey so just a bit of context for the Brotherhood of Mutants, Mutants don't exist, there just people with quirks. In my version, America still has a few rouge states that are still fully anti-quirk/quirk genocide, New York being one. Just wanted to put this here without having to write it in depth in the story. Anyway please Review and have a Plus Ultra day.