Opening File: Hurricane Sisters
Among the many Hunter teams that walk our world the Hurricane Sisters are among the most famous in America. They attended Nevernest Academy in GrimmFall and graduated but unlike the usual teams consisting of four the two sisters passed the tests by only partnering with each other. Despite this unusual circumstance both became professional Huntresses and earned fearsome reputations. The source of their skills came from relying heavily on their teamwork but more importantly on their different skills and Semblances.
Nancy Monroe is a demolition expert, specializing in long range attacks but more than capable of holding her own in hand to hand combat. Though she doesn't seem to have awakened her Semblance she is an expert in creating and wielding explosive weaponry. Her twin sister, Ashley Monroe on the other hand has awakened her Semblance: Storm Fury that manifests as a literal storm cloud around her, depending on her emotional state and Aura control but can also be enhanced through the use of Dust. When combined with her sister's explosive skills both sisters are a force to be reckoned with, having accomplished nearly every mission assigned to them.
Currently the two sisters have relocated to Nowhere, either on a mission or a personal matter but later events suggested that fate played a hand in them being there at the right time.
Close File
Xxx
"You ever read about famous people in the newspaper on the internet all the time, highlighting their accomplishments and blowing any reputation damaging rumours out of proportion. You ever wonder what you think you would do if you met any of the celebrities you read about? Ask them for an autograph, go completely fan crazy and try to take a million pictures in a few seconds? That's the danger of being famous in whatever career choice you make: being the target of crazy fan obsession." TOM said, closing the file."If you get rich be sure to hire lots of bodyguards and lots of body doubles to take the attention off your back because it's sure to drive you completely crazy."
Xxx
"Come in, come in."
Joseph Matthews could not help but feel a little awkward as he entered the nice looking farmhouse and being greeted by the farmer's wife who didn't even blink an eye at his abnormal appearance. After all he was basically a hulking robot with enough weaponry to take over a small country.
Okay, he was exaggerating a bit but considering the amount of firepower he had it was justifiable.
"We ran into the kid just a few miles away from town. He was being chased by Grimm." Eustace said, holding up a bag of supplies. "How's the girl?"
"I managed to clean her up and get her into some fresh clothes. She's resting comfortably now." Muriel accepted the bag before looking at Joseph. "And you, young man. What were you doing out there all alone? Nowhere may not be as populated as places like GrimmFall but it still has its share of Grimm."
"I came to Nowhere on a mission…." Dracon trailed off,
"Young man, I was a Huntress before I retired so that old 'on a mission' excuse does not work on me." Muriel said, frowning sternly at the living machine. "Now try again and speak truthfully."
Joseph sighed or at least let out a sigh from his audio speakers. "All right. My name is Joseph Matthews, better known as Dracon because of my appearance. I came here following a lead speaking of illegal and dangerous activity being conducted in the Horn Mountain."
"The Horn Mountain?" Eustace spoke up as he sat in his chair.
"You know of it?" Joseph asked.
"My good for nothing brother found a special healing spa originally owned by a tribe of goat Mobians and commercialized the spring, made it into a resort. He brought in all of his buddies that kicked the tribe out of their home and used the spa for themselves and any fat cats willing to pay through the nose. The tribe fought back and attracted the Grimm there." Eustace scowled at the memory of how...non-chalant his brother had been about that incident up until it led to Grimm on the elder brother's doorstep...quite literally. "The tribe disappeared but my brother was counted among the people who were killed by the Grimm."
"Oh..." Joseph felt very awkward now. "Sorry."
"Don't be. My brother was a greedy idiot who got himself killed over trying to get rich. I'm just glad he kicked the bucket without taking all of Nowhere down with him." Eustace waved off the apology. "I know the best way there, so I'll show you."
"You don't have to-"
"Boy, once a Huntsman always a Huntsman. I don't like people causing trouble on my land and besides, this could be a chance to clean up my brother's last stinkin' mess." Eustace cut Joseph off. "And you need to fix yourself. You got a dozen dents all over you, boy."
Joseph glanced down at himself, finding no argument against the Bagge patriarch's observation. To make a long story short: he led a very interesting and eventful life which led to him understanding how the phrase 'may you live in interesting times' was meant to be taken as a curse.
"Alright, you got me there." He conceded. "When can we head out?"
"Hold on a second." Eustace turned around and held one hand up to his lips before letting loose an ear piercing whistle. "Courage!"
Joseph heard a scampering of something small from the second floor. The small purple furred dog...walking on two feet came hurrying down the steps. The dog gave Joseph a short greeting as he hurried past him to stand before Eustace.
"I'm going to be gone for a bit with Mr. Matthews here," Eustace said, motioning to Joseph with one hand. "You know what that means?"
Courage nodded. "Uh-huh! Uh-huh!"
"Good!" Eustace let his stern expression fall and patted Courage on the head before stepping around him. "You keep Muriel out of trouble."
"Me? Trouble?" Muriel crossed her arms and fixed her husband with stare before smiling and planting a kiss on him as he reached her. "You keep my husband out of trouble, Joseph."
"Uh-right, Mrs Bagge." Joseph nodded. "No problem."
Xxx
The town of Nowhere had a small population and was not very large but was large enough to have its own park. The townsfolk were mostly civilian but they were used to the concept of hard work given the nature of their location and had to deal with occasional Grimm troubles. That being said though no one expected a mechanical ghost to appear, carrying varying weapons and fired several warning shots that damaged a few buildings.
"This town is now mine! If you want to live you'll give me all your valuables!" Skulker said loudly to the shocked and surprised townsfolk. "I want any and all forms of metal and electric equipment. Give it to me and you all shall be allowed to live. Fail and you will hang on my trophy wall."
"Not so fast, freak!"
"We don't take kindly to people waltzing into our town and threatening to shoot up the place."
It should have been easy to take over the small town so he could get materials to repair his mechanical suit after he had made his escape but Skulker, the so-called Hunter of the Ghost Zone was finding that to be harder than he initially thought. Two female humans were standing in his way, none of them looking afraid of him. One Was a dark-skinned woman with orange hair, a Greek-esque toga, black and gold boots, blue eyes, and green lipstick. The other appeared to be the woman's twin, except her hair was black, her skin a lighter shade, wearing a green sweater over a yellow long sleeved shirt, a purple neckerchief around her neck, a lime green skirt over pink leggings and yellow boots like her sister.
"What is this?" Skulker snorted in disdain at the two humans facing him down, in front of a crowd. "You humans have no idea what you are up against."
"Do we care?" The black haired woman asked.
"The answer would be..." The red haired woman spoke.
"NO!" Both finished.
Skulker summoned his still functional wrist blaster and aimed at the two women, firing blue ecto-beams. The two girls somersaulted back, dodging the blasts and split up, both of them coming at him from opposite sides. Skulker grunted, aiming at the toga-wearing woman as she moved towards him but to his surprise she nimbly dodged all his blasts while the other woman pulled out what appeared to be a rocket launcher and fired a single rocket at him. Skulker turned intangible and the rocket passed through him and he aimed at the rocket wielding woman, deeming her the greater threat.
That turned out to be his first mistake.
The toga-wearing woman launched herself at him just as he fired, kicking his arm away and throwing his aim off. The rocket woman fired another blast just as her twin kicked Skulker in the chest and jumped, dodging the rocket and allowing it to hit Skulker in the chest. The explosion caused by the rocket colliding with his chest knocked the ghost hunter back and damaging his suit even more.
Skulker grunted, seeing his suit was in danger of falling apart. "That is it! No more Mr. Nice Hunter!"
"You are a Hunter?" The rocket girl asked as Skulker unsheathed a glowing ecto-blade from both wrists. "You sure don't act like one!"
Skulker roared and changed forward, his mechanical legs allowing him to run faster than a normal human and he was quickly upon the woman who had just seemingly insulted his skills as a hunter. The rocket woman held up her rocket that seemingly transformed into a large club which she used to block Skulker's blades.
"Wha-?!" Skulker was surprised by the weapon's sudden transformation and left himself opened.
The woman parried his blades and swung her club at his face, breaking a few metal teeth in the process. Skulker roared and tried to stab her but the toga woman jumped over her twin and kicked his arm blades away. Rocket girl then swung her club again, shattering the arm blades while Skulker was disorientated. Both woman followed up with a kick to the chest, knocking Skulker back again.
Skulker was now livid.
First he woke up in a lab, fought some human freak followed by a giant monster and then a robot and now two humans were making fools out of him.
Enough was enough!
Skulker lunged at the rocket girl, abandoning weapons for hand-to-hand combat fueled by his rage. The rocket girl hastily blocked his first few punches with her club but Skulker eventually overpowered her and punched in the stomach, sending her flying back and skidding across the ground. He turned to the toga woman next as she quickly tried to kick him back. Though her kicks were stronger than they should have been Skulker still smacked her away.
"You think you can hurt me?! Do you know who I am?! I am Skulker, the Greatest Hunter in the Ghost Zone! No Human, Ghost-boy or not can defeat me!" Skulker shouted, approaching the toga girl and raised his foot to crush her head. "Not even a pair of females with a death wish! The only consolation I give you is that your heads will adorn my trophy wall."
The woman narrowed her eyes as she glared up at him. Skulker noticed her eyes flashing, momentarily halting his foot. "What is this?"
Suddenly a huge shadow spread over him and the woman and he looked up, seeing a dark cloud that grew in size and from came great winds that were so powerful it pushed him away from the woman. The cloud expanded and formed into what appeared to be a hurricane that sucked the surprised Skulker into it before he could even comprehend what was happening. He was spun around in the cloud for a moment before he finally turned intangible and broke free of the cloud.
He fell out of the cloud, becoming tangible as he slammed into the ground with a loud thud and he felt his body slowly coming apart. He looked up and saw the toga wearing woman glaring down at him with the storm cloud circling above her, wondering if he was simply hallucinating. However the glare she was giving him was enough to make him know he was not hallucinating.
No hallucination was enough to make him feel afraid.
"You want my head, creature. Let's see your hunting skills match the power of a storm!" The toga girl exclaimed, raising her hands above her head.
The cloud started to circle around her arms she brought them down, surrounding her fists with wind and lightning. She punched both hands forward, unleashing bolts of lightning that hit Skulker head on, electrocuting his mechanical suit and short circuiting it from the inside out. She then gathered wind around her arm, spinning at very high velocity before mimicking a sword slash as she swung her arm at Skulker, releasing a concentrated blast of wind in the form of a crescent shaped blade that cut through Skulker's right mechanical arm.
Skulker screamed as he staggered back, staring at the discarded limb and back at the girl. "What are you?!"
"I am Ashley Monroe, Huntress and one of the Hurricane Sisters." The woman answered, taking a step forward. "You have come here, hoping to bully the people of this town but we stand united against the Grimm and against you."
Skulker stepped back, realizing he could not hope to win this fight and he needed to retreat.
Too bad he had forgotten about his other opponent.
"Special delivery!" The rocket girl said as she landed on Skulker's shoulders and shoved something into his mouth.
She jumped off as Skulker hastily tried to get whatever she had shoved down his throat out. Five seconds later however he was too late and his mechanical body exploded from the inside out.
"Nancy!" Ashley called out as her sister landed in front of her and quickly hugged her. "Are you all right?"
"I'm okay. Thanks to you for distracting that creep." Her twin answered and looked back at the remains.
Skulker's head fell to the ground a second later and opened up, revealing a small green glowing creature that fell out of the head.
"What in the Glob?" Both girls stared at the creatures,
"Curse you humans!" It shouted in a squeaky voice, shaking its fist up at them. "How dare you do this to me?! I am Skulker, the greatest hunter in the Ghost Zone!"
"You were some small freak inside a robot?" Nancy could only stare in disbelief. "Okay, on a list of weird things I have seen this was not one of them."
"You will pay for this! I will-AAH!" Skulker was cut off as Ashley summoned a bolt of lightning from her storm cloud and zapped him, knocking the little ghost out.
"So what should we do with him?" Nancy asked, grabbing the little spirit and picking him up.
"I am not sure but we can't let him roam around after the trouble he's caused. But we're too far from any special jail for freaks like him." Ashley tabbed her chin. "He's obviously a spirit but I've never heard of this Ghost Zone before. Obviously normal jails like the one this town has won't hold him. We may have to make a call and see if someone from GrimmFall can send a special team."
"Or we can just keep him as a pet." Nancy chuckled, tabbing their unconscious prisoner on the head. "He's kind of cute when he's not trying to kill us."
Ashley sighed. "How about 'no', sis? We are not keeping a little psycho spirit that will try to kill us or say he's going to kill us when he wakes up."
"Aw." Nancy pouted. "You really can be a killjoy at times, Ash."
"Someone has to keep you grounded. Now let's go put in a call to GrimmFall." Ashley said, leading her sister away as the townsfolk moved to clean up the mess left by the battle.
All the while not noticing a tiny beetle Grimm that watched the entire spectacle from its perch on power line while high above a drone in the form of an insect recorded the battle.
Xxx
"The last subject has been captured." Van Kleiss announced, having watched the battle through his spy drone. "The others have disappeared, either at the hands of Sammael's goons or by some other method."
He looked across the lab, seeing it was almost fully repaired with Breach still chained to his portal machine while his EVO underlings continued to clean up,
"When we came here we had less than nothing before I entered into this...arrangement with Sammael. He provides me the resources I need and I find suitable warriors for his and my use." Van Kleiss ran around down the ring shaped gate that served as his portal. "The first attempt was a near success, despite the damage to the lab caused by the escaped subjects. Now I am left to ponder how much time I have left before one of us betrays the other first."
He stepped away from the machine. "A laboratory with the resources I need to peer into the multiverse and gather an army but against a creature like Sammael and his ilk we will need something more. That is why I have an insurance policy."
He walked over to the large supercomputer and looked over the screen, seeing the endless calculations being run.
"Sammael may have his Grimm and other pawns but I have this. A working nano-virus." Van Kleiss grinned as he glanced at Biowulf and Skalamander. "Imagine it, gentlemen. The ability to convert an entire world into EVOs...Or perhaps more than just an entire world. Entire dimensions and their populations converted and under my control. Not even Sammael could stand against the newly formed Pack with an army from entire dimensions."
He would return to his home dimension triumphant and not even Rex Salazar could stop him this time. He would have tested the virus on the captured subjects earlier but whatever had followed them through had stopped that attempt, leaving him a damaged lab that took days to repair and an even deeper wounded pride at the hands of Sammael. However he was patient and he never forgot anyone who humiliated him.
Sammael would pay along with Rex and all his enemies.
Even if he had to burn the entire multiverse.
Xxx
"The last of Van Kleiss' subjects has been captured." Moloch stated, his eyes glowing and showing a recording of the battle between Skulker and the two Huntresses. "The Hurricane Sisters are in Nowhere. That makes three enemy warriors located close to Van Kleiss."
Sammael remained still on his throne for a moment. "It seems our captured friend will not be of any use to us now in his current state."
"Perhaps we should move to silence him permanently." Moloch suggested.
"There would be little point of it, especially if Joseph Matthews is following the leads that James has laid out to lead back to Van Kleiss. I sent those Destroyer Beetle Grimm to test the last subject and found him wanting. With that matter settled we can move on to decide on whether to allow Van Kleiss to continue his work or ensure he does not summon too powerful for any of us to stop." Sammael replied before the doors opened and in walked Kriegar. "Ah, Dr. Krieger. Did you learn anything about our new specimen?"
"A great deal." Kriegar answered, looking very happy. "A silicon based life form with an infinite energy matrix capable of projecting a solid form to even mimic organic matter fused with a life form that is both organic and energy. An extremely rare find, even in this day and age."
"I agree you with on that, Doctor. For now I want to ensure this creature is not in any way unstable. The emotions I sensed from the fusion were incredibly negative in nature to the point every Grimm in the sea would be moving to attack it. I'd hate to waste its potential." Sammael waved his hand, projecting an image of Malachite Plasmius. "Not when this creature could be a threat to the entire world."
"As far as I can tell its emotional state is in complete disarray and no form of known mental conditioning could tame it. It's too volatile and destructive that I cannot make an accurate assumption of what its reaction would be if it were to awake." Kriegar replied.
"Leave that to me. Continue studying the samples and see to it that no one discovers them." Sammael remarked, emphasizing on the need for secrecy.
"Of course. No one will know." Kriegar nodded.
"Good. On another note, you might soon have access to more samples of other off-world forms like our friend." Sammael dismissed the image of Malachite. "Two of them are in China right now and will soon be moving out into the open. Perhaps you or another...You can gain the chance to get a laboratory sample."
"Oh?" Kriegar raised an eyebrow in interest.
"But it would have to be done quickly given that they might not be here much longer. With that in mind I am curious about your work regarding the other project I assigned to you." Sammael leaned forward. "The first two subjects in the Cyborg-Hunter Killer project."
"Well, the first subject, codenamed: Ganeesh is in need of sword training especially given the nature of his arms. The second subject chosen by the spoiled brat, codenamed: Scaramouche is possibly ready for a beta-test. He has shown to have adapted to his new body well and has retained his Aura and Semblance." Kriegar answered. "The X-Series, originally designed by DexLabs have already been shipped out to countries such as Russia but they are of an inferior model, clearly meant for show and to fight battles in large numbers. Typical idiots, choosing quantity over quality."
"And what of the Ultra-Assassins?"
"Progress is slow, I hate to admit. The weapons are being forged and the bodies have been assembled. The challenge is that it takes days to analyze the fighting technique of over a hundred Huntsmen, taking into account their weapon, fighting skills and Semblance. There is also the matter of improving Extor's work and perfecting it." Kriegar admitted. "They will unfortunately fall behind my other projects but in the meantime my work into integrating cybernetics with organic flesh will soon have a viable candidate. A cripple in Empire City shows the right physical needs to endure the operation but he would need an injection of a special formula every twenty four hours or the organic half would reject the machine violently and he would die."
"Good. If Scaramouche is ready this will be the perfect chance to test him. In the meantime I will send Sir James to train Ganeesh in the art of swordsmanship." Sammael sat back, a satisfied grin appearing on his face. "You have done very well, Doctor. I am looking forward to seeing what they are capable off."
"As am I, sir." Kriegar offered a quick bow and turned to leave.
"Oh and Doctor?" Sammael said, making Kriegar stop. "Keep an eye on the X-models. I want to know if any of them has been tampered with."
"Tampered with?" Kriegar looked back in confusion. "I do not understand."
"Given the performance of the X-models it would not surprise me if someone took a chance to upgrade them on their own." Sammael said simply. "If any of them show an improved performance I wish to be informed. Is that understood?"
"Yes sir." Kriegar quickly nodded and left the room, not turning around to see the smug smirk Sammael was sporting.
Xxx
"So what do you think we should do?"
Connor Kent could only shrug in answer of friend and teammate's question. "It seems pretty clear."
"But what about that girl and Danielle? Do we just leave them here without trying to get them back to their home?" Artemis looked out the window of the simple room she and Connor shared. "They are out there alone in a crazy world populated by hordes of monsters."
"And what can we do? We're pretty much halfway across the world from where we were when we ended up here." Connor lied down on the futon and looked up at the ceiling. "And we'll end up hunted too by these Fallen people if we try to stay."
Artemis wanted to argue but she knew Connor was right. They had a world they had to get back with friends and family waiting for them. Could they afford to stay in this dimension and try to help just because they were heroes?
"I'd like to stick around and help find Danielle as well but maybe she'll be alright." Connor continued. "We do have until tomorrow to make our decision."
Artemis sighed, sitting down. "Always so complicated, isn't it?"
"Pretty much."
Xxx
After Joseph and Eustace left Muriel took the time to make herself some tea with Courage being close by, keeping watch on her like Eustace asked. As Muriel poured some tea into her cub upstairs in the spare bedroom a pair of amethyst eyes slowly opened.
Xxx
Name: Nancy Monroe
Aura: Fiery Yellow
Weapon: Rocket Launcher/Club
Description: A rocket launcher that can transform into a club, used for both long range and close range combat.
Semblance: N/A
Name: Ashley Monroe
Aura: Dark Purple
Weapon: N/A
Semblance: Storm Fury
Description: Creates a storm cloud that can grow in size as well unleash lightning and dangerous wind on opponents. This cloud can also be enhanced through the use of Dust.