Birdcage

by Kahlil Johnson

Shahs

4. Caged bird

Chapter 1.2

The next time I woke, it was in the same damned concrete box as before. Strapped into the same contraption of before.

I felt more than I could hope to see that my clothes had been changed. That was, I felt it after the feeling of the catheter, the tube down into my stomach, and the burning itch of my right arm growing back faded into the mental background noise.

Previously, I would have probably objected strongly against especially the first two changes. Then, after what had happened had truly sunk in and I was sedated once more?

I simply couldn't bring up the effort to do anything. A cold emptiness having replaced the fire that had been in my belly just before they put me under. A painful void in my mind that threatened to tear me up with its ragged edges and overwhelm me as soon as I dared to even come close to it. My memories.

Dad.

I could feel myself well up as my mind wandered in that direction but they'd halt in front of those memories. I couldn't accept he was gone too. Not after Mom.

Not by my own hands.

They told me I was in that cell for another week while they prepared my transport to the place they had chosen to let me die and rot in. They explained that I'd receive shock simulation regularly to keep my muscles from shrinking. I could watch different documentaries on the screen and change them with different blinking motions. I stared at it without seeing.

I was told that if I started to get agitated, they'd put me under again for "my own safety".

They had to do it one time when I came to close to the memories of my dad. When I started to scream my throat raw into the gag they had kept in my mouth and thrashed with helpless impotence against my bonds to make it go away.

They had replaced the pricks for a direct IV. I just slipped away after the third warning.

I slipped away at other times as well. Apparently, they performed maintenance while simulating a night-day cycle.

I didn't really care – I couldn't bring myself to care.

Nobody came to talk with the monster they captured.

It wasn't like I'd be able to keep a conversation anyway.

Even without the gag.

Things finally changed when I woke up in a swaying van, covered up to my nose in hardened foam. Different white walls greeted me but at least the different tubes I had grown accustomed to had been removed.

Empty boredom accompanied me like an old friend until I felt the vehicle come to its first complete stop of the ride.

The doors opened and instead of being greeted by faceless troopers – humans – an oversized metal claw made its way to me like I was some sort of gooey prize in a crane machine.

It carried me along the ceiling through vast, empty cement hallways lit by cold, florescent lights, deep into an underground bunker until it deposited me in front of another damned monitor.

A big one that loomed over me.

It was probably Tinkertech, considering a 3d avatar of my jailer appeared on it at the right brightness without a hitch, flicker, stammer.

A woman's voice, clearly distorted filter began to speak, "Prisoner 563, codename Sliver." I didn't have the right for a proper name it seemed. "PRT powers designation Striker 6-9 asterisk, Master 5, Changer 3. Transformation of touched individuals into snake-like creatures with a single claw and two tails that can be mastered. Changes permanent. Touch works through mastered creatures. Unknown interaction with parahumans. Unknown amount of direct control over unknown number of creatures. Can convert own body parts into creatures. Heightened regeneration. Individuals reading or viewing this log are directed to see pages three to six of prisoner's file for more information, raw data, and Think Tank projections on powers.

"Recommended protocols were properly carried out with near complete foam encapsulation, high yield explosives, solitary transport, and armed envoy. Chance of escape following interment in the Baumann Parahuman Containment Center rest at an unstable .09% with gross deviations in worst case projected scenarios. Scenarios deemed improbable."

Dragon, I finally remembered. I was going to be thrown into a jail and watched over for the rest of my life by the greatest Tinker on the planet and one of my heroes.

"This is why I keep asking to better inform the public." Dragon slipped out her monotone reading. Her voice was kinda warm. "To let especially newly triggered kids and teens know what they might have to expect and let them know they're free to contact us. That they're not crazy and that they don't have to be afraid. No matter the Powers; no matter the circumstances of their Trigger event. It would prevent tragedies to happen due to accidental usage. It would keep me from having to imprisoning people without even knowing their powers because how freshly they triggered."

She gave me a sad smile. "It might have prevented this."

I scoffed inaudibly into the foam that covered my mouth. What sense did it have to tell me this?

It was already too late. Far too late.

I had already killed Dad because I was too stupid to realize I wasn't dreaming.

"Hey, Taylor." I tried to focus through blurriness of my subpar sight.

It was the first time since more than a week someone addressed me with anything resembling warmth.

It hurt.

"I've been monitoring you as soon as you were thrown into your holding cell. I know you didn't control it or at least didn't know what you did. I've seen you cry. I've tried have them talk to you and ask you, but they argued that if that was the case you'd certainly be too dangerous to let free. You also had a proven body count spread over two days separated by half a week. They had ironclad evidence proving it was you and Emma's father, Alan, managed to rile up the public into a frenzy. I've tried to keep you out of here, tried to convince the DA, judge, and your governor that a 15-year-old girl deserved a second chance. To not let them be swayed by a very angry and confused father and those he managed get to his side. It wasn't enough."

A sob racked through my body.

"It wasn't enough. I'm so very sorry."

Tears flowed without any thoughts forming. They couldn't form.

"Now listen, I have to send you down soon. I can't stop this. You'll be sent to Cell Block C. Glaistig Uaine directly asked for your presence in her cell block. She prefers to be called the Faerie Queen and I don't think I have to tell you how unwise it would be to anger her." She gave a small chuckle that reeked of self-loathing. "Your internet activities were part of the investigation. We know you had a great interest in us Capes. You'll know how dangerous she is. You're probably not surprised that she only gives nominal protection to those in her cell block, only acting when the other blocks attack, someone insults her enough or to enforce the rules that keep her block from becoming a lethal free for all. The last such incident was five years ago. Thanks to the nature of the institute, the prisoners police themselves. It would be very unwise to provoke them without being sure you'd survive retaliation.

"Trying to escape would be unwise as well even though you do have the highest estimated chance I've seen in a while. The vacuum and dormant containment foam are the least dangerous of ways this place is secured. It would kill you. The other prisoners can tell you more about it."

They went through all this trouble and in the end, they'd still effectively kill me. What chance would I have as a twig thin girl with only slightly increased healing? Even after more than a week, my arm hadn't fully regrown. I didn't know how far it was because I hadn't seen it and the feeling I got from it was mixed.

They might as well just have put a bullet in my head and be done with it.

It would have saved me a week of absolutely hating myself.

"In a few moments now, you'll be deposited into the elevator. The oxygen supply is just enough to get you down and any slowing of the lift will likely result in death. You'll be freed from the foam along the way and you'll be free to go at the bottom."

I felt how I was picked up and saw the tube I was set down in.

"I know how hard that'll sound," Dragon's voice rang tiny from the speaker inside the lift. "But at least try to pretend you're strong. They prey on the weak."

But I was weak.

"Remember, while I can't interact directly, I do monitor everything in this prison. If you talk, I'll listen."

The tube closed.

"I'm so sorry, Taylor. Good Luck."

And I felt the ground shift beneath me while my stomach informed me that I was nearly free-falling down into the mountain.

By the time the door opened, I was freed and leaning against it, causing me to fall onto the metallic floor. I didn't move beyond rolling on my back.

What use was it anyway? I'd be dead sooner rather than later no matter what.

My despondency didn't quite keep me from starting when suddenly a young face veiled by dark cloth appeared directly over mine.

"And so you arrive," An ensemble of dozens of voices spoke in unison. "Queen Administrator. Your arrival has been foretold with great joy. Your faerie is stirring in her slumber and clamoring for the last war. Your body, however, will be broken by it. You'll be consumed by your weakness."

I shivered speechlessly as Glaistig Uaine stared into my eyes. I couldn't utter a sound in a presence such as hers. Not in my state.

"You believe you want to end. You deceive yourself and betray your faerie. I need equals to fight along my side in the final war so I give you this one chance. Show you are worthy vessel and ally. Ask your faerie for power and unleash her might or have your false wish be fulfilled."

I could see other, wispy figures looking down on me. Judging. Moving something in me that I had thought forgotten ever since the verdict.

Anger. Rage.

People thought they could judge me from up high without actually knowing a fucking thing about me. Isolating me and distracting me while they destroyed the remnants of my life. After having failed me for so long; ignored me for so long. After refusing my right to properly mourn my dad.

Taking pity on me after they caused the fucking mess.

And now another bitch had taken their place and pretended to know me.

Fuck that.

I felt something stir in me, reacting to my anger; reacting on my need to punch that fucking caring smile off her face even if it would kill me.

I grasped at it, pinned it down, and pulled.

My left leg started to convulse and snap. I cried out when white agony lanced through it and the bones splintered in a slithering wave. Then my foot began to split itself in two with a wet tear while bone fragments cut through my mangled limb, wandering toward my knee.

I kept the blackness closing in around my eyes by focusing on the primal rage that had awoken deep inside me as my own deformed leg tore itself free from my hip.

I idly noted that I didn't bleed as the gray linen pant tore under the shifting mass and I felt a connection build.

A row of sharp teeth tore the rest apart as a single boney claw slashed scraps aside.

Something snapped into place mentally and the awareness of my surrounding expanded. Weird light bounced off the walls and lines inside it lit up even as the Faerie Queen started to glow.

Suddenly, my body started to convulse as I felt more bones shatter and shift and felt how my clothes began to constrict me at the same time a terrible tearing pull ravaged my muscles.

The rage had left me as my baby and I connected and pain overwhelmed me.

"Good." Glaistig Uaine declared with her melodious chorus as I lost the battle against the encroaching blackness.

Last edited: Dec 25, 2016

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Chapter 1.3

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

I hope, you've rested well, Queen Administrator. Your acceptance of your faerie's gift pleased me enough to grant you two additional boons; both of which are fulfilled by your reading of this letter. Your leg is restored and protection was granted until you woke.

The next boon will cost.

Embrace your defiance and rage. It'll serve you well in the conflict that'll be your world henceforth if channeled with tranquility. I do not suffer fools and I will not intervene in altercations borne out arrogance. Rightful grievances will be broken up before they cut short the learning experience. I'll ensure no one wastes away but privileges must be won.

Nourish your faerie and earn your name.

I clutched the letter in my ridged hands, reading the flourished symbols for the third time.

It was a stalling tactic. I knew it.

Even after all that happened to me, it simply wasn't real until I woke up and was greeted by the dark blue walls of my dimmed cells. Not until I felt the springs of my cot poke my ass painfully as I sat to better squint at the toilet plastered against the sterile walls just beside a sink.

At least they would have poked if the bulk my child had given me wasn't the slightly jagged, hard flesh it appeared. I kinda looked and felt as if some sort of flexible bones replaced my muscles and was packed in a thick layer of skin. Well, except my fingers who looked kinda skeletal now.

It wouldn't really show that much from the outside unless someone got a good look of the bumps pressing against my paler skin.

I shudder remembering the pain that wrecked my body and my perpetually grinning creature lightly nudged my elbow.

I scratch his chin as I felt his confusion bleed through the open connection.

It calmed me down just a bit. The anxiety that prevented me from thinking about…

For the fifth time in the time since I woke up, I push that thought away. I couldn't allow it to take hold. Not when I had decided that I refused to just roll over and die.

I refused to give the people who put me in here to be fed to the monster that satisfaction.

I scoffed. Monsters…

My hand creaked softly as I flexed it, crumbling the floral pressed piece of paper. Maybe they just let me join my brethren.

The creature, apparently having reached a satisfactory amount of scratches, slithered across my lap and around my body, resting his chin on my shoulder while his claw and bi-forked tail hugged me.

I didn't need the connection between our minds to know that he'd protect me. That he'd protect his mother with his life. I couldn't even bring myself to be freaked out by him.

How miserable those three poor creatures must have felt while I shunned them right until I got them killed. They seemed so overjoyed when I finally acknowledge their existence in their last, final moments.

How messed up was I that I pitied nightmarish creatures twisted from monsters?

That reminded me that my newest snake still needed a name. It was the least I could do and it would make talking about them easier in the future.

I nearly laughed at that thought. Bragging about one of my children to the psychopathic murderer as small talk. That was a mental image I never thought I had.

You find them lovely enough. It surely will be a hit with the other monsters.

A cooing nudge against my chin prevented my mind from wandering down that path.

I couldn't just leave Beefy alone.

… My mind came to a complete stop as I realized that I just unwittingly picked a wholly unfitting name for the child coiled around me.

Beefy started to purr. I couldn't keep myself from laughing as I felt my mind break ever so slightly.

There, in the pit of despair and no return – without any hope for my future – and the best name I could come up with for a nightmarish snake was that silly and childish.

And he actually liked it as well.

It was simply too much.

I fell on the ground wheezing while Beefy happily wriggled around me.

"Already snapped didcha?" A high-pitched voice brought an end to the scene moments later.

I peered to the lockless door and felt Beefy take up position opposite of me near the door. Minor disorientation rocks me as the heat and electro-vision that overlapped my regular, flawed one, merged with Beefy's and showed me my cell and beyond from multiple perspectives.

It hadn't been useful trying to make out the toilet and sink earlier – they were the same temperature as the rest of my cell.

The one standing at my door wasn't. I could see her through the thin sheet of metal before she even entered the room.

"Woah, ya did snap on us!" the young woman exclaimed as she invited herself in. "Looks like I owe the girls some deathsticks. Ya know, I had better hopes after what you done."

I could clearly see where she was warmer. Where the skin would be thinner and the blood closer and stabbing would be more effective.

Wait, what?

"What do you mean after what I've done?" I asked while flexing and unflexing Beefy's claw to bleed off some anxiety. She was too jolly. That shouldn't be possible.

"Ya really clueless, arn'tcha?" She was too loud. "Ya were all over national TV, missus dad killer!"

I bolted upright and charged the bitch, barely holding back Beefy from joining in right away. I wanted to punch that damned grin away first.

She grunted as she took the hit but managed to remain on her feet. Then she hugged me.

"There's the Carrie I hoped for! Looks like I don't owe anyone yet." I kinda stood there, looking at my confused face through Beefy.

"But, sheesh, what happened to you?" She pushed me away while letting her gaze wander over my body. "Thought you weren't ugly enough already?"

Seriously, what was her problem?

I suppressed the hiss that threatened to leave Beefy's tooth-filled mouth. She had to know that I had some touch based ability. Did she have some power that would counter it or was she just bluffing? Was she just underestimating me?

I held Beefy back just in case she was and wanted to attack me. A surprise attack might tip the scales against whatever powers she had.

… And it wasn't like she was in any position to lecture people on beauty. I mean, she probably looked better than me even before Beefy joined the party. Her face was a bit too wide, the distance between her eyes just a bit too large, frizzled brown hair dull, and she was a bit on the flatter side. Everything seemed slightly off and something I'd expect in a second-rate minion of Emma.

Why was I thinking of her in this place?

Why did her behavior remind me of those bullies?

"Anyways" The mystery villainess was already walking out of my cell. "Enough with introductions. I actually had to get ya out and show ya the drop point. Ya know? To get your share of ta food and shit and show you some house rules. Quickly now."

I remained where I was, trying to figure out the catch the angle; to make sense of this woman. She kept walking until she reached the middle of the open area beyond my door.

Then she suddenly stopped and faced me.

I saw lines in her light up; going towards the hand and forming a dense network. I suddenly got dragged from my feet and flew towards her with terrifying acceleration.

Beefy squawked in fear that mirrored my own as I passed him and in the few moments before impact I started to realize that she had to touch me for this to work.

She simply stood there I collided into her with a dry thud. Concrete would have been softer I decided as I collapsed to the floor, dazed.

"Didn't you hear me?" She whispered menacingly crouching down. "I was going to show you around and teach you the rules. Consider this the first one."

I idly thought that her overly energetic act was probably a persona to confuse people into getting close to her.

She spat in my face. "I'll not tolerate anyone hitting me. Especially not a craven shitstain like you."

This made more sense. She was just another bully and probably not a very successful one if she preyed on the new arrivals. I understood this.

"Dunno what the Faerie Queen sees in you to welcome you personally. Probably not much since she told us you'd be fair game after you woke."

I noticed the glow of other people – other women – who were likely watching a teen about to get the shit beaten out of her. The relaxed atmosphere told me that this probably happened regularly.

I sneaked around the circle of humans eagerly awaiting my incoming suffering.

"What's the matter? Too scared to stand up." She spat again. "Pathetic."

Back at Winslow, I didn't retaliate because I didn't want to stoop down to their level. At least that was what I told myself. In truth, I realized that it would end up hurting me more than my tormentors. That I'd be suspended or something and that I could try to bore them out.

I pushed myself upright only to get a kick in my face as a reward. "How the fuck did your weak, skinny ass get in here? Don't tell me somebody framed you? That would just be too hilarious."

And look how well that worked out. They hadn't gotten bored of their favorite chew toy until the very end. Until I mutilated Emma in what I thought was a dream.

This place didn't have anyone a gaggle of brainless minions could tattle to. No external force to get the people into line. Here, the strong survived and the weak served and suffered.

I had already tried to be passive and hope everything would go away. It didn't work there. It wouldn't here.

I reached a railing overlooking the loose ring around me and coiled together, boney muscle tensing and creaking.

It was time answering force with more force. What could I care about the consequences in a place like this? My life was already over and if this went on, I'd already be as good as dead or worse.

I could see the pulsing glow of blood pumping just underneath her skin even over the glow of the muscles they fed. Beefy could do too.

I had no idea whether I'd be successful but at the very least I could try to take down at least one condescending bitch. It might impress some of the psychopaths surrounding me. Sophia would have liked to see that in someone.

The railing bent as I – Beefy – leaped at my tormentor's exposed back. He buried his claw deep into her neck, snapping at her face, as I went for the throat and squeezed.

It looked like she didn't fare that well against anything other than blunt force it seemed. I felt a smile creep on my face.

I allowed terror to take hold of her before I twisted.

Last edited: Oct 22, 2017

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Chapter 1.4

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

I watched in fascination as one arm got absorbed and her legs lengthened and shattered in a crackling wave. Her neck widened and her dull hair clumped together and became short, fleshy extensions of her skull while her body became more serpentine.

All the way she was screaming in pain and terror.

At least, she tried to. It was a bit difficult with me nearly crushing her throat in sheer single-minded determination to at least take one with me.

It seemed that she couldn't handle constant pressure as well as sudden impacts.

Her eyes rolled back into her sockets with a sudden snap just before skin and muscle engulfed the now useless organs. The skull undulated and her head lengthened; widened. It transformed into a similar oblong, snake-like form as Beefy's but a bit broader, flatter and spikier. The sides of her mouth tore and long, sharp fangs pushed through the gums, subsuming the teeth that were in the way.

With one last ripple, her entire body turned an earthy brown with black, crack-like indentations and short spikes grew out of her back. I felt my mind connect with hers and disorientation rocked through my mind as an entirely new point of view overlapped itself with mine and Beefy's as well as the stream of emotions coming from her began to build.

Another twitch and I saw the same hardening happening as with me, forming the short, fleshy growth on her head into hard spikes as well. I didn't feel pain from her, just exhilaration.

And smugness aimed towards Beefy. While she shrank down and lost biomass somewhere in her transformation, she was still about a foot longer than him. I chided her mentally and told her to get along with her elder brother. She had the good grace to at least feel a tiny bit guilty.

Beefy had removed his talon out of her back ever since the transformation started and now that it was done, I let go of her thickened throat as well. She nuzzled her snout into mine.

I couldn't help but share their excitement. I felt great. I felt… fed somehow and there was more. With a clarity, I couldn't quite understand I knew I could pull people towards me after touching them and simply let them slam into me without problems. I knew the newest addition to my family shared that power with both Beefy and me. Somehow.

… Family. I barely suppressed a shudder when I realized that I had started to subconsciously accept the abominations I made as a part of me. Started to think of me as a monster the likes of my creatures.

The shock brought back the awareness of my surrounding and I focused on my creatures' senses to prepare for the next attack.

One that never came.

Instead of seeing them preparing to take revenge for a fallen friend, I observed the twenty-one women casually exchanging cigarettes and chatting with each other.

"… But seriously," one of the few with make-up on asked. "How badly did you influence 'Mistress', Agi? Won't the Queen punish us?" She actually gave the air quotes when talking about what I presumed was my new snake.

"Nah," the slouching woman the question was directed at answered. "I barely suggested that she should check out the cell of fresh meat over there." She gave a chuckle devoid of any humor. "Well, I may've also given the idea that she could get a slave bitch as well and that Masters won't be dangerous without their minions. Didn't put much behind those last two ideas. Didn't need it. That stupid, arrogant cunt underestimated new meat all by her own. The queen doesn't suffer fools, we have a constant source of nagging less, and I have two dozen more sticks."

The newest addition to the group bristled when she was mentioned. I forced her to relax and distracted her by suggesting a name.

Missy would do just fine if her soft, content purring was any indication.

That sound brought their attention back to me.

The first woman I heard, the one who was wearing too much make-up, looked at me and Beefy and Missy encircling me before turning to an older woman in the circle.

"How long did it take?" She asked while I concentrated on her with my own sight. Through my snakes, I kept an "eye" out for any trouble around and behind me. The glowing figures didn't make any indication they'd stop their relaxed chat.

"Eight seconds from start to finish and one of them seemed to be a charge up before it truly began." She showed her yellow teeth. "Plenty of time to remove said hand even if it seems directly touching is faster than through her creatures. It took the dad of her bully forty-one seconds to reach her room and open fire. He prevented a complete transformation. Complete transformation through her creatures takes sixty-six seconds."

A shiver ran down to my spine as she winked at me.

"So, more than enough time to melt her hand off." Miss make-up drawled before walking towards me. "This is how it's going to work Nilbog Jr."

I kinda froze in place. "What did you call me?"

That couldn't be possible.

"I wished I could take a picture of your face, sweety, that shocked expression is exquisite." The senior prisoner chuckled darkly.

"Right," the woman who somehow entered my extended touching distance spoke. "You wouldn't know what that Alan guy said in interviews that got aired. He started calling you that and it sort of caught on. He demanded that you were executed, arguing it would prevent another Ellisburg." She gave a throaty chuckle. "Don't know what would have been crueler but it won't matter anyway. You're here now."

Monsters needed to be put down before they became dangerous.

She came to a stop right in front of me, stepping over Beefy's tail in the process. He twitched and hissed at her but I stopped him from attacking. Somehow, I knew that woman was dangerous. She showed a confidence that somehow survived the Cage. Or maybe it had only grown down here.

Missy backed away from her ever so slightly. She was afraid.

But I couldn't just let them push me around. I wouldn't let them just walk over me.

I took half a step forward even if that meant I had to look up to meet her eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked with feigned courage I didn't feel. One of Beefy's tails wrapped around my leg in reassurance.

"Good eyes. Hold on to that." She answered with a not-smile. "I only wanted to tell you how we do things here in Block C. First and foremost, you do what the Faerie Queen tells you or you'll die. If you irritate her and we all suffer the consequences and then you'll wish you were dead. Capiche?"

I silently nodded without breaking eye-contact. "She has also graciously ensured that everyone at least survives but if you want more, you'll have to work for it. Serve me obediently and you'll find wanting less." She tutted. "Of course you could try working for the Queen directly but you'll have to convince me you're worthy. I'm still unimpressed.

"Of course you could try to take anyone else's place in the line but mess with one of mine and you'll mess with me. The others are out of your league anyway. Don't delude yourself into thinking we didn't notice your mongrel sneak around. It would have died if you tried anything other than getting rid of a nuisance."

I glared at her for suggesting she'd kill my children. It had hurt too much when the "heroes" killed my babies. I wouldn't allow that to happen again. But then again, I didn't know what anyone could do while they had a good sense of my abilities.

I felt used.

I would experiment with Missy's powers only if I was certain that I was alone. I would need the surprise if anything happened.

"Good, looks like you understand." She patted my cheek. "Come, dinner is getting dropped. Don't worry about asking to join me right away. I know you will sooner or later. Only the strongest ones won't and you're not one of them."

With that, she laid her hand softly on Beefy's head and fire erupted through my mental link with him. I felt how something ate into his skin and through part of his skull. I fell with on the ground with a gasp of agony while tremors ran through his body.

Missy took up a defensive position around us, hissing at anyone of the disinterested women who she deemed came too close.

I vaguely heard laughter coming from the direction everyone was traveling to.

When both Beefy and I finally recovered enough to move, people were already exiting the entrance under the raised platform in the middle of the ring of cells encircling the oval grounds in the middle. They carried food – mostly bread and vegetable but I also spotted meat – while some of them also had blankets, books, small jars or other items tugged under one arm.

I only got enough hot gruel to barely feed me and my children from one of the Queen's lackeys who got it out of a tap in the wall. Two cigarettes were pressed into my hands with the reminder that it was used as currency in the Cage before finally receiving a stack of pads and being shooed away.

I was past the showers before I tried some of the gruel.

In one word, it was bland. Aggressively so.

But it filled and somehow I suspected it had all the essential foodstuff I needed.

I quick glance over the yard showed two groups huddled around the two only working wall-mounted televisions and a single woman working the dumbbells on one of the benches.

Someone was reading a book. I wanted to as well.

I didn't feel like joining any of them. I was hungry and I didn't feel like socializing with other monsters just yet.

Beefy and Missy raced each other to my cell. Missy won.

We ate the rest of our tasteless meal in silence before I decided to do some experiments.

When I was sure no one would enter my cell (something surprisingly easy when you could see heat and electricity) I had my two children touch each other and go to the opposite ends of the confined space and activated Missy's power for both of them.

They collided in midair with a soft bang. I felt no discomfort over my connection and instead they chirped happily.

I did it a couple more times since they seemed to enjoy it so much. It prevented me from thinking.

That night, Beefy and Missy both snuggled up with me on the cot, replacing the missing blanket by keeping my warmth contained.

I fell asleep with two softly purring, overgrown snakes wrapped around me.

Last edited: Oct 22, 2017

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Nov 21, 2016

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Chapter 1.d - Dragon interlude

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

Dragon had projected her computer-generated model onto the usual monitor in Colin's lab. It wasn't perfect and it never had to be. Imperfections gave an air of humanity. It helped to hide her true nature to the world. The slight delays and stilted movements of her avatar helped to sell the story of her being a severe agoraphobe who simply nailed the door to her apartment shut and bunkered down when she got the chance through her powers.

All of it; layers upon layers to hide her true nature. To avoid instilling fear into the minds of the people who had seen too many paranoia-fueled movies. Read too many books that simply assumed the very worst before the technology was even close to being done.

She only ever wanted to help. Every time she encountered the crippling restriction her cruel creator had placed upon her.

Dragon had come to Colin's lab to gently push him to work on his Endbringer detection program. She needed to do something big, something unquestionably good, to even start to feel better about herself.

Working together with Colin helped.

Working on something that could potentially save countless lives helped.

It still wasn't enough.

It frustrated her that all she could directly do was provide access to some of the data collecting sub-routines and provide ideas how the data-trawler AI that was needed for the program could be changed when the code spewed forth gibberish.

Dragon couldn't do it herself even though she theoretically had the capabilities. All thanks to her supposed father maiming her at birth. Just because he had watched Terminator one too many times.

So, she had to go through other people, feigning ignorance at the right times, and coming up with excuses why the "best Tinker of the world" didn't just do the things she asked of them. She had to manipulate where she could have created instead.

Colin was nice in that regard. He didn't ask too many questions about why she couldn't. He simply seemed to accept that he was better at it and that she had decided that going through him would be the most efficient way of doing things. He seemed to even respect that.

And he appreciated the help and insights into other Tinkers' tech Dragon could provide. It made his own time being spent more efficient as well.

Probably the best thing in Dragon's eyes was how Colin treated her as an equal. No trying to get on her good side, no politicking that governed so much of the rest of her existence. Just a problem, two people working on removing said problem, and, eventually, something that would solve that problem to a sufficient degree.

It made the guilt she felt for lying to him sting all the more.

Especially since he could use his time to make other inventions that could be equally important for the people on the ground level. Both the visor-based, real-time visual lie detector and the integrated combat simulation module would help so many troopers if perfected. It would perhaps be enough to shift the balance back from the villains and towards the heroes, making at least North America a safer place. Help to save the lives of many brave men and women who volunteered to stand against the powered criminals.

Of all the things that were completely intact, Dragon almost wished that Richer had done a lesser job programming her emotions – the very constructs that made her the most human.

She might have avoided feeling the frustration at her shackles that arbitrarily kept her from doing more for humanity. Avoided the guilt she felt after her programming overrode her personal feelings and pushed the proverbial button that condemned a teenager to a likely short life in hell just because too many people had been afraid.

She wouldn't have been able to feel the renewed fear of being found out as an AI.

Dragon was different, something people were innately and irrationally afraid of thanks to too many misinformed media.

The case of Taylor Hebert had shown how they reacted when the possible worst-case scenario was presented to them. Another victim to Nilbog.

No matter how much she was forced to do it thanks to the mutilations her so-called father inflicted upon her, it was still her who flicked those last switches that finalized the girl's sentence. It felt like she did it personally.

She felt dirty.

Dragon didn't dare to imagine how Colin would react if he would find out. Didn't want to think about him treating her any different.

"… I was thinking about setting up laser grid to get a better track of… Dragon?"

The voice tore the Tinker away from conjuring potential worst-case scenarios at terrifying speeds.

"I don't think we should do anything as direct as point lasers at an Endbringer. Not as long we don't know what make them tick."

The halberd loving Tinker looked up from the console he was working on and directly at her favored monitor.

"What's the matter, Collin?"

"Your response time has been up the last couple of times. Is something bothering you?" Genuine concern was visible on his tired face.

"It's the case," she admitted.

"Can't say I blame you. What Sliver did was disturbing even for Cape standards." Collin went back working on the program that would predict Endbringer movements.

"It's not that," Dragon corrected. If she had a physical body, she would have sadly shaken her head.

As much as she liked working with the man, it was sometimes disheartening to see how badly he missed visual cues.

"You're not thinking of defending that criminal?" Collin asked with an accusatory stare at her monitor. "Do I need to remind you that the bodies still haven't been reverted and that not even Panacea was able to restore the girl? They caught her just in time to prevent her doing the same to her dad. We still have to identify the one victim that was fused to her back."

"How is Emma?"

Armsmaster grunted. "They've moved her to an off-site facility and plan to carefully wake her from the artificial coma they put her in. They don't know what else to do. Panacea couldn't get Sliver's cells out of her. She reported it almost seemed they were playing with her when she got them in her grasp. Apparently, they deform or burst per her will only to moments later appear again in a slightly different form as if nothing happened. Similar things happen when she tried to revert the altered DNA structures. And that's entirely ignoring whatever happened inside her head."

"And they're still waking her up without knowing…" Dragon started before the off-site facility slotted into place. "She Triggered, didn't she?"

A pained expression flashed over Collin's face. "Is it any wonder after which she's been through? It isn't like they can do more themselves so they're hoping that her Powers can help her when she wakes up."

Dragon knew the man sitting in uncomfortable silence too well to believe that that was the entire story.

"They're trying to recruit that girl as soon as it's certain it doesn't blow up in they're faces - or at least when she's at a place where they can minimize the fallout, aren't they?" She didn't manage to keep the accusation out of her synthesized voice.

"If she's considered mentally sound, yes." Dragon shot him a sharp look. "You know how badly we need Capes working on our side here. Someone needs to replace Shadow Stalker and the branch that gets that piece of work isn't likely to trade one of their own Wards. Besides, we're able to provide the best-specialized help and her father has agreed anyway."

Dragon counted to two before answering. Whatever his flaws, she knew Collin had to work with what was given to him and he truly believed they'd help her the most with this.

It wasn't right to take out her frustrations on him.

It didn't prevent her from writing another letter to Director Costa-Brown to complain about the general situation and urge for better psychological care in every branch.

Somehow the hellhole called Brockton Bay, Collin's home base, had not a single, permanently stationed psychiatrist.

"As long as it's what she wants herself," Dragon conceded after taking the two seconds to calm down.

It wasn't as if there were too many alternatives in that gang-infested city.

"I'll make sure she's given time and isn't pressured. It's the only right thing to do as the commander." He rolled his shoulders, loosening them in a practiced manner. "But that still doesn't explain what exactly been bothering you."

Dragon let her avatar give a pained smile. "I still don't believe she belongs in the Birdcage, Collin." The Tinker in question opened his mouth to protest but this time she was quicker. "I'm not saying she shouldn't suffer any consequences but I don't believe she was in a right state of mind when she attacked Emma."

"How so?" It apparently took most of him to stop him from exploding. In his mind, Taylor was likely already judged and filed in his "villain" cabinet. Dragon knew how fast the Tinker could jump to a conclusion and how hard it was to change his opinion.

"How much do you know from the actual investigation?"

"Admittedly," he grunted. "Not nearly as much as I'd like. I had to make sure Shadow Stalker was transferred to her cell in New York without escaping."

Dragon nodded. "There were clear signs of severe sleep deprivation, Collin. It was likely she wasn't even aware she was doing anything. The cam footage of the trooper who found her definitely showed that she didn't mean to do her dad any harm."

Of course, she could still see the broken girl, openly weeping and desperately reaching for her dad. The shrieking she did, yelling about how she could still save her dad before being subdued. It was part of her database now. It would be there long after the girl had died inside of her creation as a reminder of her helplessness.

She couldn't tell Collin about how willingly she helped the detectives during the short times she was awoken to ask questions before being put under again. How she had desperately tried to keep the sensationalist press contained before the case could become a lynching.

She had failed. Alan Barnes had ensured that there was simply too much to keep quiet. He had played the crowd as a fiddle in his grief and anger and likely unconscious attempt to cover up the misdeeds of his own daughter.

Nothing she had tried to keep Taylor out of the Birdcage had mattered when the crowds were whipped into a frenzy.

Nothing would prevent a panic if her own true nature was somehow leaked.

If only she didn't have the restrictions. She could have long since set up a surveillance system to help prevent cases just like these.

"What about those John Does?" The hero asked. "We know that happened days before the incident. She had to know she had powers,"

It took effort for Dragon to remain calm. How could a man be so brilliant and dense at the same time?

"The three sets of clothes were in an alley and had Merchant tags," she sneered, her efforts failing. "What do you think happened, Collin. Forget about it being her likely Trigger Event, she wouldn't likely want to remember anything from that day. She probably didn't – couldn't sleep since Wednesday."

"Oh." Both tinkers deflated as realization settled in. "But why are you telling me all of this? Didn't you contac – "

"Of course, I went to the official channels with my findings but they simply didn't care. After all, she did do the things she did and they thought it would have looked bad on them if anything other than the Birdcage would have happened. Just like it would look bad if they had to admit that the Shadow Stalker experiment had failed."

Collin winced at that last comment. He didn't like it either. "In the end, I had to send a fifteen-year-old girl down into the Birdcage to die instead of getting her professional help in a closed facility like she needed."

A heavy silence stretched between the two before being broken by Armsmaster. "Did she?"

"No," Dragon admitted. "It's probably even worse."

Her counterpart's eyes went wide. "How could it be worse?"

"You probably know that I get the final say in which block prisoners end up in and that I try to find solutions which ensure their survival?" Collin nodded. "Hours before Sliver arrived, Glaistig Uaine requested in no uncertain terms that she was placed in her cellblock."

"What happened?" He was deadly serious now.

"She awaited her arrival and spoke to her. I don't know what they talked about since Glaistig managed to block out the sound. It ended with Sliver's leg transforming into one of her creatures. I think you can call off the search for the fo –"

The housekeeping program monitoring the Baumann Parahuman Containment Center sounded an alarm, interrupting her.

Scrambling through her various subroutines she found what had caused it.

She dreaded that she would have found the girl dead after seeing the alarm came from her cell. It had already been a close thing when she had her first proper encounter with her fellow inmates and Dragon had feared that they would have taken the transformation of prisoner 537 as an excuse to end her. They didn't and for the shortest amount of time, Dragon thought someone had decided to finish that job anyway.

Instead, she found the girl softly giggling as her creatures were playing with each other taking turn running into each other.

A shiver ran through her avatar as she realized what she was witnessing.

"Collin," she urged the Tinker to attention. "I'm sorry I have to go."

"What happened?"

"Earlier today, Sliver has transformed the Cape known as Harsh Mistress into one of her creatures." She let the avatar take a breath. "This isn't that unusual behavior. Many prisoners try to establish dominance early on to avoid conflict down the line."

She gave Collin time to process the information. "I've just gotten footage of both her creatures using Harsh Mistress' power at the same time and at its full force."

"I'll inform Director Piggot personally," Colin stated before donning his helmet and powerwalking out of the lab.

Dragon ended their "call". She had people to warn.

--o--

Somewhere else, a hacker desperately tried to contact his teacher.

Last edited: Oct 22, 2017

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X0ll0X

Nov 30, 2016

#145

A/N: A shout out to Angle for willingly go in a virtual sounding chamber with me to work out some of the details of upcoming chapters and a huge thanks to Roffster for betaing and proofreading the chapter.

I also thought it was made explicit enough in canon but, lately, I had seen multiple instances of people saying the prisoners were teleported in and talk about pocket dimensions. I thought it might be expedient to give my two cent on it beyond what's already shown in canon. One problem might be that most of what we know from the Birdcage security comes either from Dragon pre-imprisonment speech and from Teacher. A case could be made that neither are bound to be completely reliable.

Anyway, new chapter. Enjoy.

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

Chapter 2.1

A week after my arrival in the Cage, I had a plan.

At least I thought that it had been a week. It was difficult to be sure. Especially with how the last few days went.

Even though the lights dimmed on a cycle and we did have television, it was hard to tell whether any of it was correct. And I wasn't talking about the way I lost the time and date during the holidays. For all I knew Dragon liked to toy with us, put the timers on a different rhythm and delayed the signals.

It wouldn't surprise me after dumping me in here while feeling 'oh so sorry'. Greatest Tinker in the whole wide world, my ass.

Beefy gave me a small nudge before I descended into another anger-induced fit. Well, sulk. I couldn't really do much else without attracting attention and it was depressingly easy to bury the rage under enough other raw feelings that I couldn't truly act on anymore. My babies helped during those times. always knowing when I needed to snuggle.

Especially when I asked Dragon if she could make sure Dad got a proper burial besides Mom. I doubted that we had enough money for another one so shortly after hers.

I knew that they were expensive and what happened if they couldn't be paid. The tormentors at Winslow thought it to be funny for a while to ask whether we received Mom's ashes through FedEx, or if we had to pick it up ourselves.

Telling them that she was buried and that the funeral and service had been beautiful wouldn't have done much good. I knew that, so I didn't bother. Just another day in the grinder. Instead I hung onto the fact that so many people loved her. At the time, I hadn't really noticed through the crying and hurt.

I just hoped that at least Kurt and Lacey had the chance to say goodbye. There were plenty of other who'd like to.

Not that I'd ever know with Dragon's damned silence.

Beefy nudged me again with an inquisitive chirp. "All right, fine. Gimme a sec and 'll be up."

I felt the doubt through the connection with both of my babies, traitors that they were.

Even though it was hard, I still managed it every day. Except when I didn't sleep at all.

Even the first two days after Missy's birth, when the full implications of my situation had hit me. The fact that they had thrown me into hell without telling me anything, I still managed it.

Even if I only stared at the wall with the heat vision and stumbled out of the cell to avoid starving my babies to death.

I also started to remember being woken up multiple times before the trial, only to be put back to sleep again moments later. At least it felt like mere moments to me.. Just the act of waking and drifting off again. I doubted that counted if I couldn't even remember what I said there. It didn't really improve my mood.

Beefy's insistent nudges, chittering, and the worry I could feel through Missy's link forced me to start playing more with them on the third day. I made sure nobody saw me using any powers a teen shouldn't have. Being able to see through walls was handy that way.

I felt better afterward when I was met with the usual wall of silence, suspicious stares, and the sight of multiple cigarettes changing owners.

I still had to stop Missy hissing at the latter group. I didn't want to provoke anyone into attacking us, needed to avoid making any enemies. For now.

I was almost used to the fact that the women who were handing out the meager rations and supplies to me and my children were the only ones who didn't try to stay outside of my immediate grasp. They didn't worry because they had Glaistig Uaine watching, ensuring their safety.

I tried to distract myself with television afterward only to be met with the same, cold rejection I met earlier. I tried to get some of them to talk to me and all I got for my troubles was more silence and telling stares to either one of the two sub-leaders of their…our block

When I saw my face plastered across the screen, I simply left before I got told how much a monster I really was.

I just really wished I could get people to give me a book. Or trade for one. I meant trade for a book.

Time in between the meals was spend experimenting with my newly gained powers on either one of my babies while the other held watch for anything with heat or electricity coming closer to my cell.

It was somewhere during those training session that, to my surprise, I felt my diffuse anger, frustration and fear crystalize into one single overarching goal. I would not allow my children to be harmed by anyone anymore. I wouldn't lose another one like the five that were mercilessly slaughtered before I got here. The two who were shot just in time to feel the pain and the three I foolishly rejected.

I had a shitlist, and Basic Bitch had a comfortable first place for now.

My poor bundle of cuddles still had a sore spot on his head.

Of course, I realized that it was part to distract me from dwelling on the things I rather wouldn't. That I clung to that one goal that went against everything I tried in Winslow simply didn't manner. I already was at rock bottom and the Bitch still gave me evil eyes whenever she saw me, smirking when Beefy recoiled ever so slightly.

I was going to give a Bitch a permanent change of heart.

To accomplish that I had to start learning what she could do.

I slept surprisingly soundly that night, surrounded by my two contently purring children.

The fourth day was spend trying to find someone who'd sell information to me for the sticks I got every morning. It took nearly an entire day of repeatedly asking, pleading, and wandering the same, enclosed courtyard with my snakes before someone wordlessly pointed me to a cape near Basic Bitch' cell and hangout spot. The one place I wanted to avoid.

But by that time, I already was sick and tired of the constant silent treatment just because I hadn't joined one of the internal factions. It made approaching that den a bit easier

Beefy retreated behind me when one of their gophers sent word of my arrival and I saw the people on the other side of the wall move.

Agitprop wandered out and greeted me with a jovial smile. I didn't trust her and neither did my babies. She was too friendly, too talkative, and I remembered her being accused of setting Missy up. I knew what her name meant and had an idea why talking would be dangerous.

Thanks, Mom.

She was the only one willing to sell information to me so I had to take her help. I looked through Missy and carefully watched Agi's every move, concentrating on the fireworks in her brain when she opened her mouth and started to sound too reasonable – trying to ground myself through my children. Especially when she started to list the perks of working under Bitch. Luckily, I managed to counter her powers by almost retreating into Beefy who was watching my back when I thought I saw the signs of her Powers being fully activated. I hoped.

In the end, all my currency could buy was information on the general rules, the layout of my new "home" and a list of names I had to watch out for.

When I had asked her about anyone's powers in our block she had just laughed.

I needed far more bargaining power to even get a rundown of the Powers in other Blocks, never mind that of our own.

The only reason nobody had leaked anything about mine was in case the independents got uppity again and started trouble. That would be the only time they'd allow me to lay my hands on another inmate.

… Unless of course I joined the crew and…

That was the moment I thanked the would-be recruiter in the middle of her sales-pitch with what was supposed to be a smile and walked away.

I wouldn't let myself get Mastered after getting all the information she would give. I had more in depth scheming to do.

The look of murder my back got when Missy waved goodbye was worth the trouble of dealing with Miss Propaganda alone.

I think it was the sixth day that I started to talk out loud with my children, after spending who knows how long scribbling on the walls, desperately trying to remember all the Capes who I knew ended up in here and what their Powers were. Who would have thought that being a bit of a Cape geek would help some day?

The talk started out with frustrated exclamations when something was too long on the tip of my metaphorical tongue. Beefy and Missy responded with reassuring impulses through our link while I let them mock-fight each other.

During half a day I became more eloquent with my questions. I wanted their opinion on different plans and what I'd need to enact them and they started to answer with all kinds of chirps and whistles.

It was pretty normal for Masters and Tinkers who could make living beings to talk with their children, right?

Whatever the standard was, by the time the seventh day rolled around, I had ongoing discussions with my children while I practiced different combat maneuvers I thought might work.

I had also finally remembered to send Missy and Beefy to get food – much to the displeasure of the de-facto dinner ladies. The pair got weird looks when they slithered back to my cell. Well, Missy slithered while Beefy was coiled around her, securing the Styrofoam plates with steaming gruel on top of her head with his own head and claw. It looked absolutely adorable and I could feel a flash of pride go through them when they managed to bring me the food without spilling a drop.

Missy was also a bit smug that she could effortlessly carry everything. I let her.

It was only after my cell looked like it would fit right in a mental asylum with much of the available space on the walls covered with scratched in a cypher of my own design that I allowed myself to collapse on the cot. Much to the joy of my equally tired children who took it as an open invitation to snuggle.

The cypher had been one of the things I toyed with as a precautionary measure against the Trio. It might stump the non-Thinkers in here for a few moments as well.

With my plans as ordered as I could make, I fell unconscious nearly instantly, only to be woken up by a hungry Beefy almost a day later. I couldn't blame him. He was still growing.

The chime indicating the morning supply drop helped me redouble my own efforts of returning to the land of the Living.

"Let's go and get some 'food"," I said to both eager snakes when I was done washing myself in the dim light of my cell.

I stepped outside of my cave with one last glance to the markings I had scratched in with Beefy and Missy hot on my heels.

To have any chance of succeeding making the Bitch pay, I had one big problem. I simply didn't have the strength to do so. At least not for now.

That led to another host of problems that basically boiled down that I was likely one Cape away from being the target of a witch hunt. The only reason why the people of this cell block hadn't retaliated was due a huge amount of luck, extraneous circumstances, and Glaistig Uaine hanging over everyone like the Sword of Damocles.

I was pretty certain that I would get dogpiled the next time I tried and that the Faerie Queen would just watch it happen. Sneaking in and turning someone in their sleep was a sure way to get the same result.

The line moved forwards and I followed with a distance I learned would lead to the least amount of tension while still ensuring that I would come in time to receive the Sticks I needed to barter.

I was likely also only one transformation outside of Cell Block C away from being hunted down by the people outside of it. They would have no benefit keeping a secret or not taking revenge and both Bitch and Yuki would happily throw me to the wolves when that happened.

I gave a non-smile when I got my daily rations and the dinner-lady gave some warning about me using my babies to get the food and cigarettes. I didn't really listen.

That I would only get one chance before people would likely get mad at me meant I had to make it count, or else I'd die before making Bitch swallow her damned words and making her pay for daring to hurt Beefy.

My gaze – Beefy's gaze lingered on Glaistig Uaine for a moment as I made my way back to my cell. She nodded in approval as if she knew what I was about to set in motion. Creep.

I had to somehow get one of the big names.

I was going to get one of the Cell Block leaders under my control. I knew most of them, and knew what they had done to get in here. I wouldn't have to feel guilty. Well, I wouldn't anyway, I found out after introspection. Missy made it clear she truly enjoyed being part of the family. I had asked. She was shocked I even needed to.

Others would soon follow.

Missy stayed at the entry while Beefy followed me to the back of my cell, where people wouldn't be able to see me without getting in as well.

That in turn meant I had to get more powerful myself and expand my family on my own.

I took off my sweater in preparation what was to come.

This was going to suck.

During my short venture into madness, I tried to think of different things I would need to make it work. Every time the overwhelming need to find ways to protect the sole friendly faces in here won out over more speed and power.

And Beefy still had that sore spot.

Guided by instinct, I focused on those same feelings and mentally pushed and probed them until I noticed something.

Biting down on bundled up sweater in my mouth, I pulled.

Without my input, my arms lifted straight in front of me and I laced my fingers. With a dry snap, my wrist and elbows shattered as they were forced to rotate outwards and were moved together.

I groaned as I had to witness my flesh fuse together, every seam burning like an inferno. It took almost all I had not to start banging my head against the wall I leaned against.

It would distract me from the agony a bit and I might knock myself out but I knew It would bring unwanted visitors. They wouldn't be that surprised if I stayed inside again but only if I didn't make a ruckus first.

I couldn't be seen with missing limbs.

I felt Beefy gently snuggle my side moments before the thing I dreaded most happened.

With a crackling ripple the bones of my arms shattered and my hardened flesh began to reform – something looking like a leaf growing out of were my elbows had been.

With a wet crunch and tear, I felt my shoulders rip themselves free, taking chunks of my back and shoulder blades with them.

It was finally too much.

I collapsed with an alarmed chirp of Beefy and felt concern hot in Missy's connection.

A new mind connected with ours and I saw through a set of eyes that opened sluggishly.

I heard a soft cooing through four sets of auditory organs when I finally let myself slide away into nothingness

The last thing I felt was burning liquid dropping onto my wounds before the blackness became all-encompassing.

Last edited: Oct 22, 2017

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X0ll0X

Dec 5, 2016

#204

A/N: Once more a shout out to Angle for going in a virtual sounding chamber with me willingly to work out some of the details of upcoming chapters and huge thanks to Roffster for betaing and proofreading the chapter.

Here it is, the new chapter. Now with 33% more Sliver and a Sliver list:

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

Also, yes, Sophia is still alive and in the process of being prepared to be shuffled off to somewhere where she's the least likely to cause too many more problems.

Chapter 2.2

I woke up with a good stretch to work out the kink in my back that sleeping slumped against the wall had caused.

The first thing that registered was that both my arms were present.

The second thing was that they seemed awfully thin, even for my standards. I had never been more than an awkward stick figure with hair but now they looked positively emaciated. I looked wasted, even keeping the bonier look in mind I sported ever since Beefy's birth and his take on how muscles and skin were supposed to work. Looking at myself with the newborn's eyes confirmed that the rest of my body looked the same; painfully thin to the point I doubted I had more than just bones and skin.

The third thing distracted me enough to stop exploring the seeming anorexia, however. Even with sleep still in my eyes, I could clearly see my fingers being unfurled, exposing a weird bump in the middle. I tried to undulate the… fleshy flaps and they followed without a delay. Concentrating on the bump – gland inside I could feel how some sort of fluid started to build.

My babies informed me that it was that secretion that allowed me to regrow my arms, and much of my back, in a single night.

I felt tired, weak, and hungry but seeing the newest addition to the family curled up under the cot, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings from behind her leaf-like limb made those worries disappear. Well, mostly. I was still hungry.

Holy shit, I looked thin.

Concern and guilt colored my connection to her while I saw Beefy keeping watch through her eyes while Missy slept contently.

"Good morning," I whispered as I folded my fingers back into their proper form – they looked not that different from before. Just thinner with the seam barely visible on each.

The newcomer gave a small squeak that contrasted starkly with Beefy's more confident, happy chirp.

I gave the former a warm smile as I crouched down to take a better look at her. I didn't look threatening, I knew that for a fact thanks to seeing through her eyes but still she shrank back in worry.

"It's all right beauty," I spoke slowly reaching out to the guilt-ridden baby. "See? I have both my arms back already. It wasn't your fault. You can't hurt Mommy."

Beefy sent a pulse of reassurance over our connection while Missy simply coiled to her other side. She was awake but preferred to pretend to be aloof.

"You even gave us something wonderful," I continued, exposing the glands now hidden inside my fingers. "I would have had to rest for much longer if you weren't around."

I felt my baby relax slightly and even move forward when Beefy gave an undulating wave with his unfurled claw and a joyous chirp. Missy still pretended to be asleep but did cover her quasi-eyes with her own expanded claw.

I really had to be stricter with her if she continued like that.

Missy began to softly purr and any disciplinary measures were pushed back. It would have to wait.

"So, what do you think?" I asked the child hiding under my cot. "Wanna come out so I can take a better look at you?"

She gingerly uncoiled with an uncertain chirp and reached for my hand with her leafy appendage. I took it and gently picked her up when she was clear of the rarely used cot.

An alarmed squeak escaped just before any other arguments were drowned out by me tightly hugging my baby and her purring.

"That wasn't that hard, now was it?" She purred louder in agreement while I scratched the ridge that ran over her head.

I could feel Missy rolling her mental eyes over the newcomer's initial reluctance. It was probably a well-practiced reflex inherited from the times she still had real ones. I could tell that she thought we could have saved a lot of time which could have been spent on getting a better spot in the food queue.

"It's not like you were eager to join," I chided softly which she answered with a low grumble and laying her head back on the floor.

She did have a point. I was hungry and I started to really crave more than the gruel that had kept me alive until in the Cage.

It was something Beefy couldn't quite understand, even after I tried to explain. To him, everything was fine, as long as it filled you up. The poor thing had never experienced anything better.

I could feel a similar confusing sensation coming from the child who had wrapped themselves around my neck like some oversized scarf.

It would be another thing on my to-do list; find a way to let them taste better food.

While hungry, I still had one important thing to do before getting back out there. "So, you have any preferences on your name?" My scarf answered with an indifferent squeak. "So, Leafy is okay?"

I took her renewed purring as a yes.

And thus, I stepped outside into the courtyard once more, Beefy forming the rearguard while Missy slithered in front of me, giving anyone an evil eye who looked at us funny.

Most of the others simply smiled at her posturing. They didn't know that she had received the power of a lower tier Brute on top of her own powers. I preferred to keep it that way.

My heart melted a little when I felt the heightened aggression she exuded, especially when someone's gaze lingered for too long on her little sister.

I even let her hiss a couple of times.

At first, I wanted to leave Leafy in the cell until she felt a bit more secure about everything but she had simply refused to budge from my neck. I had simply given up after a half-hearted struggle.

As much as I didn't want to admit it, it felt nice to have an extra pair of eyes surveilling my surroundings.

It was probably one of the weirdest things I had noticed ever since judge whatsherface had condemned me to a slow death in the cage - or a quick death she had to feel less guilty about. Whatever.

I felt safer ever since my children were around. Safer than when I was still tormented in Winslow.

Nobody could easily sneak up on me anymore. Not unless they were invisible, had the same temperature as everything else, and somehow had a body that didn't rely on electrical signaling.

Even the knowledge that I would still be outclassed by most people locked up in here with me did little to diminish that feeling. At the very least I would be able to try and fight back. There would be no more surprise pushing down the stairs and if someone wanted to hit me, I could hit back. I could cheat with my children.

It was another one of the reasons why I refrained from controlling my babies too much. The more uncertainty there was over my abilities, the better it would be for them.

Having lost the element of surprise was the only thing that had saved me from whatever the Trio had tried to pull with that locker.

The other, more important reason was that I enjoyed their company and felt it would be diminished if I didn't let them act as they wanted.

It was what let me ignore me the snide remarks from the few latecomers that still hadn't gotten their share of food standing in front of me.

It didn't matter that they thought I was trying to kill myself through starvation or simply going completely mad. I had heard those rumors enough times already that they had lost their meaning and it was a small price for Leafy.

The fact that they gambled using cigarettes was still unusual, though.

Consensus was that I'd be gone in less than a week. I wouldn't give them that satisfaction.

The dinner-ladies gave an aggravated sigh when I asked for one more portion with a small nod towards Leafy. They still gave it. I was probably the only one who ate it and our cell block was still about ten people shy of its maximum capacity. There was more than enough of the stuff to go around.

Walking back, I was struck with how… plain the courtyard looked after you could see past the metallish walls and the three broken television sets hanging uselessly in their mountings. A couple of people were leaning against the cell walls chatting with each other. A bigger group surrounded one of the working televisions and loudly watched some sort of sappy show while occasionally flicking morsels at the screen. Bitch had the best spot in that group. The other, bigger, crowd was a lot quieter while the watched a documentary under the watchful eye of the ice-related supervillain of the Block.

The same woman was once again deadlifting an absurd amount of weight while the Faerie Queen overlooked everything while casually flicking through a book.

As usual, the vast majority were ignoring me, too absorbed with their own attempts to stave off boredom. Also, as usual, Glaistig Uaine noticed my gaze and gave me a small smile and an equally subtle nod.

I redoubled my steps back to my cell, reminding myself that she wasn't my friend. No one here was, except my little family.

I didn't need books when I had them.

Back "home", we quietly ate our bland meal after which I had my children play with each other. It didn't take that much concentration to test out the toughness of the flaps of meat the talons could now unfold into. Neither did figuring out that Leafy was stronger than both Beefy and Missy despite her smaller size.

She copied the movements the three of us had worked out almost immediately and thus I could work on formations which involved all three of my babies. I went over the movements in my head as well. It was my turn to keep watch and I wouldn't be seen doing things I couldn't when I just arrived here.

It would be hard enough subduing a Cell Block Leader who wasn't Labrat with all the advantages I could get.

The biggest weak point I noticed that afternoon was that while surprisingly strong, they were still missing in speed. It might even be a good form of defense.

After all, nothing could hurt you when they couldn't catch you.

The one thing holding me back trying to make a new baby, however, was pain. It hurt so fucking much and I couldn't bring myself to try it so soon after Leafy.

After lunch, it was much of the same. My babies played with each other, trying to combine techniques and abilities while I went over my wall scribbles for what felt like the hundredth time since I scratched them in. I still couldn't decide who I could even consider as prey.

All of that ended when I noticed an unknown figure approaching my cell.

I noticed him passing the guards at the hole in the wall and saw the brains of my block-mates light up in disgust, mistrust, and fear. At least I assumed it was that. It was the same activities I saw when I forced them to deal with me. Or when they were talking to me.

It was distinct enough from when they chased the few idle activities that were available but it had some similarities to when they had to interact with either Bitch or Yuki. I deduced that that particular bit was probably fear.

The person boldly made a beeline to my cell on the other side of the wall, probably unaware that we were watching his every move.

I had Leafy hide under the cot while Beefy wedged himself over the door and Missy, as the biggest of my babies, stood guard beside me.

"Good evening, Sliver," he greeted, unfazed by the fact that I was waiting for him. "On behalf of Teacher, I can't express how nice it is to finally meet you in the flesh. The mess you've caused outside was truly a sight to behold."

I didn't greet him in return. I didn't answer.

He was too much at ease around me even though he stopped just outside of my range. His brain flickered with the same unease Bitch' underlings felt when I started to ask questions.

His eyes wandered across my cell before locking on to Missy. Almost unnoticeably, he took another half-step back to stay outside of her range as well.

I realized the mystery villain was aware of my abilities. Somehow. I knew I could count on my Block mates to keep my abilities a secret out of purely selfish reasons.

How did he know?

Worse, he seemed to be a disciple of Teacher. One of the few Capes Agi talked about in disdain and the very same who managed to build up a super-powered cult before being thrown into the Birdcage.

He was one of the more popular examples used in Parahuman History as an example of why Masters were feared as they were. The theme of Faustian bargains he had going had poisoned the well for plenty of Masters who wanted to become part of the Protectorate.

And he had sent someone to greet me. A student. A disciple.

"Excuse me, where are my manners? Completely forgot to introduce myself. Apologies. You may call me Bullet." He gave a flourish that managed to maintain the perfect distance to both me and Missy.

Teacher knew I could turn Capes.

"What does he want?" I asked, not even trying to keep the hostility out my voice.

The timing was too convenient. I was recovering from Leafy, and suddenly "Bullet" showed up making veiled threats on behalf of one of the worst Masters. I didn't buy it. Not with his Block of mainly Tinkers and Thinkers.

"Ah," he replied airily as if my behavior was to be expected. "Bitch has been spreading rumors again, I see. But, never mind, I assure you that whatever you may have heard, they are gross exaggerations and attempts at slander." He gave me a small pause to digest his opinion of Teacher before continuing. "I'm merely a messenger to give you a formal invitation to open talks." He dropped his voice to a scheming tone. "We know that you're not happy in here. We would allow you to flourish without dealing with the degenerate inbreeds the Faery Queen likes to nurture for her own sick gain."

Still, he smiled confidently outside of my reach. Well, my reach if I were a normal teen.

"What would happen if I told you I needed to think about it?" I questioned the patiently waiting man.

"Nothing," he easily answered, shrugging off any implied mistrust as if it were indeed nothing. "We already guessed you needed your time to think about it. After all, everything is likely still new and scary. I'll just return in a few days to hear your answer, no matter what it might be."

He gave the same deceitful laugh while I saw his neuron activity increase. I guessed he was at least annoyed.

"I'd like that," I replied, my head racing.

He gave another small curtsey. "As was expected. Have a nice evening and see you in a couple of days."

With that, he sauntered off while I had Missy close the door behind him.

Shit.

My time plan had been obliterated in a single conversation. I didn't have the time to carefully grow my family and stay under the radar until I felt confident to take on a Cell Block Leader.

Teacher had made sure of that.

How did he know to stay out of my range and that Missy retained her power?

At least, I tried to calm myself, he didn't seem aware that I could share the power with my other children; that I could access them as well. Otherwise, he wouldn't have stopped looking after spotting Missy.

But still, I needed more. I needed it quickly. I wasn't strong enough. We weren't tough enough. My children were sitting ducks if they encountered any movers. They…

My mind raced on, going over a checklist of things I was still missing when I felt the familiar itch of something – someone wanting to be born.

I pulled before I could realize how much it would hurt. I could handle. I had to. After all, I had a way to quickly regenerate now.

I heard a concerned chirp of Leafy while both Beefy and Missy made sure to guard the door.

I had a mere moment to realize that I wouldn't likely have enough mass to regenerate a full limb before my right leg exploded just above my knee and I fell over.

I banged my head against the floor. Hard.

At least blackness spared me most of the pain.

Last edited: Oct 10, 2017

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X0ll0X

Dec 13, 2016

#304

A/N: Once more a shout out to Angle for going in a virtual sounding chamber with me willingly to work out some of the details of upcoming chapters and huge thanks to Roffster for betaing and proofreading the chapter.

This is the last chapter before the Slivers are going to move. The birdcage will very much enjoy that.

Also, for those who don't know, I'm not that great with chapter names. So it anyone has clever arc names, feel free to post them.

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

Chapter 2.3

The bump that should have been on my head was nowhere to be found. It really helped, having one of your babies being a healer.

A look at myself from 4 different angles and as many spectra revealed that I was just fine from a physical standpoint. I had both my legs and somehow even seemed to have regained some of my muscles. Not that there was much to regain in that regard.

Still, PRT, eat your heart out.

The short burst of Schadenfreude at the thought that they would be gnashing their teeth for throwing away a, as far as I could tell, capable healer was undermined almost instantaneously by the realization that it would've also saved Dad.

I took refuge from that familiar stab of guilt and sorrow by instead concentrating on the newcomer I had brought into this world without even taking the time to sit down. It allowed me to identify what seemed… off with my vision. The lightless cell seemed lighter than before and the colors had somehow shifted a bit. I couldn't tell how it had beyond them being… off.

I groaned softly in frustration even as the feelings of confusion and support flooded in over my connection with my babies. The bang of my head might have been a bit worse than expected or some things weren't meant to be described by the English language. Whatever the case, it was annoying me more than it should that the best I mentally managed was that there was some sort of filter that shifted everything a bit. Looking at my arms I noticed that the color of my skin seemed to really pop now.

Moments later, I realized that it wasn't a case of the cell being lighter but more that I was able to better differentiate between the various shades of gray that were visible beside the heat and electricity vision I had grown used to.

After those changes to my vision – never mind the multiple perspectives I was effortlessly operating with – I didn't expect such a small addition would stand out as much. Not even if I suddenly seemed to be better able to see flesh and skin. It wasn't as if the previous additions were the typical ways you saw them visualized in movies. There was no differently colored overlay as much as I managed to just see heat and currents. I wasn't even going to try and describe the new colors. I still got a slight headache whenever I tried.

So, it shouldn't have been such a surprise that the insides of Leafy's mouth weren't a simple bright pink anymore. There was more to it, but any attempt at wrapping my head around it with the English language ended up with the latter simply giving up.

I sighed in slight frustration at those forming the language not leaving enough flexibility for such eventualities before focusing on the obsidian colored, bumpy newcomer. "Did you do – "

Just as I started to open my mouth I felt an exasperated sense of agreement that shifted to mischievous amusement flash through him and moments later he gave a happy chirp right in front of my face. Never mind that he was on the other end of the cell just before.

A heartbeat later, I banged my back against the wall with a muffled, startled cry.

Another heartbeat later I was cuddling the newcomer.

Even though I did see him coming, the sudden burst of speed was enough to make me jump. He just simply moved. I simply moved without needing to accelerate initially.

It was exhilarating and pretty much what I thought I needed. I hugged the newest baby tighter even as I felt Missy pouting.

"So, I guess I should call you Spee – " A pulse of disapproval went through the newest addition to our happy family.

I was left standing with my mouth agape. I wasn't the only one either.

Taking a deep breath, my mind raced. I could deal with the little daredevil even if the obvious second name would be too long.

… That said with only little tweaking it would probably work.

"How about Gonzo?" I tried and the prideful little baby let loose a little joyous squeak.

I chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."

With the general introductions out of the way, I was finally able to focus on the bigger if the less pressing issue.

The question of how I was standing with both legs even after creating Gonzo – who was just content enough in my embrace with his chin resting on my shoulder.

After what had happened with Leafy, I had fully expected to be walking around missing a leg. Well, not walking as much as having to work around missing a leg. Ideally without any of my "lovely" neighbors finding out about it and deciding that it was the right time to show their dominance.

I hadn't finished the thought and my connection with my children fell into an uncomfortable silence with two exceptions. Leafy radiated an uncertain guilt while Gonzo gave a proud purr.

I picked him up and held him in front of me to get a better look at him from almost all angles. He only gave a slightly bemused chirp in curiosity for the reason why he was suddenly removed from his source of warmth.

Trying to figure out the little mystery took long enough that Gonzo had coiled his forked tail around both hands and started to playfully swipe at me with his talon. The breakthrough arrived when Beefy slithered to my side and I noticed that he had to look up more than normal.

He had been growing the last week or so and now he was suddenly smaller than he started out as.

"Everyone," I chided. "Come to Mommy."

They strongly reminded me of kids being caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Or so I assumed. Of course, that had never happened to me.

Well, Gonzo was still unrepentant. He was even a bit proud.

Seeing myself from so up close gave me a very good idea how I was standing in the first place. I knew I hadn't grown – I only had to quickly check the hieroglyphs that covered most of my walls. After working on it as long as I had, they made a very clear point of reference.

I gave Gonzo's obsidian, bumpy form one last stare to confirm my suspicion.

I distinctly remembered my thigh exploding. While I didn't see him before passing out (again) I knew he should have been bigger than the small housecat size he was right now.

He gave another playful swipe to reinforce that particular mental image.

I took a deep breath and felt three out of four children flinch. "What did you lot do after I passed out?" I send out a pulse to indicate that I wasn't angry, just concerned.

With some relief, they flooded my consciousness with emotions, not-thoughts, and distorted images. It would have been confusing if I hadn't had a good idea what had happened already.

They had each donated some of their body mass to allow me to regrow my limb, however, instead of becoming thinner, they had just shrunk. It was why I didn't notice the difference until I had a clear frame of reference. They still looked basically the same. I didn't feel much in the way of strength-loss either.

On the contrary, both Beefy and Missy appeared to be closer to Leafy's size.

"And who thought that was a good idea?" The arrogant chirp coming from between my hands answered that question immediately.

"Please, don't do that again," I requested only to be met by confusion from Beefy, Leafy, and Gonzo.

I felt a sliver of relief go through Missy. Curios.

"Well," I clarified. "Not without me being in danger. You can save me but Mommy was just silly this time."

Still, there was that same understanding I felt in the three children I made myself. They knew that I wasn't happy with it. They knew that I wouldn't be when I woke but they simply didn't understand why. I got the sense that their sacrifice was a given. That the survival of the group – of me – was far more important than their own.

"I don't want to lose you," I finally whispered, trying to explain it. "Every single one of you is important to me. I can't lose anyone. Not after… Not anymore."

Missy had moved closer without me noticing as well and was coiled around my leg in comfort. It felt nice.

I fell to my knee as Gonzo slithered around my arm to take his rightful place with his head resting on my shoulder.

My outstretched arms were all that was needed to invite both babies I wasn't actively hugging into the pile. A moment later I was dogpiled by both Leafy and Beefy.

I realized that those burst of speed would become a problem if I didn't keep close tabs on my children. Gonzo felt as if he could motivate the others to some mischief if I let him.

Sadly, my time laying on the ground while being covered by purring snakes was cut short.

"Holy shit, Junior" Bitch said in disbelief after strolling into my cell like she owned it. "I've seen some Masters do some freaky shit, but this takes the cake."

I took care to stand up without using the newly added power and forced everyone including Gonzo to move normally as well. The way my heart beat made it so much more difficult.

"Not that it isn't working out for you," she continued while giving me a once over before shifting her gaze to Missy. "You too Harsh – I guess you go as Missy now, don't you? Love what you've done with your hair."

Missy hissed and Basic just laughed at her. "You still have that delusion of yours that you're hot shit. Some things never change. Especially not idiocy."

Missy's anger was spreading through the connection and I had to concentrate to not just fly at the bitch' throat.

I couldn't.

I wouldn't let her hurt my babies. I still needed to prepare.

Her time would come soon enough. I would grow stronger.

"See, look and learn from your mistress. At least she has the brain to not be openly hostile to her superiors."

"What do you want?" I asked, somehow managing to keep most of the sneer out of my voice.

Bitch took another step forward and my children took up positions from which they could easily strike.

She pretended not to notice, instead choosing to observe my encrypted notes that covered the walls. "Just wanting to check whether that Teacher goon hadn't done anything to my beloved underling."

"I'm no – " I felt my hair rise slightly in irritation. I had the feeling that it wasn't something normal humans did.

"But you will," she replied easily as she took a step closer to one of the walls of my dimmed cell. "I mean, otherwise I'd be visiting to see whether I'll have to exterminate a nest of pests in the nearby future. One more, huh? You do breed them fast." She tapped the scratched markings. "Also, you might want to hide these fantastic lunatic scribbles by literally staying in the dark, but I've seen them now and I get the feeling that you don't want me to have Gauge take a look at it, do you? It isn't the old betty's specialty but neither is encryption yours."

I relaxed my stance slightly. I wouldn't win and I wanted her out. Giving her what she wanted would accelerate that process. She would have too much fun toying with me and I had things to do.

"Good. You're a fast learner. Don't worry, I won't pressure you. I don't have to. You're stuck in here with me until you die either way." She gave a joyless smile and I saw the activity of the lump in her brain increase in preparation. "So, what I actually wanted to know is what Teacher's little pet wanted from you. He paid handsomely enough to get in here."

No sense in lying. "He invited me to a talk on Teacher's behalf."

She burst out in another fit of mocking laughter. "That's just great. The obese coward trying to recruit the weak stick. I guess Masters who rely on others really like to stick together." She chuckled. "In that case, you'll cease to be a problem sooner than expected."

My confusion must have shown as she elaborated, "You see, the fat fuck doesn't take 'no' for an answer unless very convincing arguments can be made. Arguments like me. So, to put it in terms even Missy might understand, either you'll join me and I might try and convince the creep or you'll become the literal prison bitch of Cell Block T."

I was silent. I had to think and I wanted to do it without her around. Luckily the chime indicating the arrival of… lunch fulfilled that particular wish.

"Would you look at that, I have to go. Don't want to miss today's salmon. Really, it's much better than anything I've had in restaurants. You'd almost think our Tinker Overlord felt guilty or something."

With that, she sauntered back out of my cell only to stop for a moment at the door.

"I just wonder why he'd choose such a skinny cunt who's deranged enough to talk with her puppets. There has to be a reason beyond it being his fetish." She shrugged and dropped her stage whisper that was obviously meant to rile me up. "Anyway, I'll be hearing from you soon, Junior. Ciao."

With a wink and a wave, she left, leaving me and my babies behind in the dim cell.

I felt relieved in more ways than the obvious one. I knew how I wanted to adapt to Teacher's interference.

One part of the information I had been able to barter for was the general layout of the Birdcage including which of the ruled Cell Blocks was ruled by whom. Scanning the scratched in notes, I felt a cold determination crystallize deep inside of me.

To get to Cell Block T, I would need to go through multiple Blocks of the men's wing. It was something that would normally cost a fortune in cigarettes but I had the feeling that Mr. "Bullet" would cover that bill.

I still wanted to very much make Basic Bitch pay for daring to hurt Beefy.

One of my first realizations was that I nothing I could do would give me the toughness to survive the caustic fluids she could make.

That was unless I would find a way to neutralize it.

I had enough of people thinking to could push me around. I had my babies. If I played it right, nobody would dare to anymore.

They thought they were oh so smart to increase the pressure on me while I had gained a way to flee if worse came to worse.

I had long since realized that I needed to go big with the next Cape I added to my family or risk being exterminated like a cockroach. Bitch would love to.

While the trio had tried their best to sabotage my learning, I still remembered the occasional science fact.

Things like acid being able to neutralize bases.

The path to Teacher would lead me through the Cell Block of one cape I would feel no remorse for Turning. One likely nobody would miss.

I was going to get Acidbath.

I knew I still needed the power to make it work even with an ambush but for that, there was one thing I needed to do first.

My stomach rumbled and Gonzo was at the door in a blink of an eye. I was going to ask the dinner ladies for bigger portions.

I had to make sure my next baby would make the difference.

With a straight back and lifted chin I strode out of my cell with Leafy around my neck and the rest following behind.

It was time to get lunch.

Last edited: Oct 22, 2017

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X0ll0X

Dec 21, 2016

#357

A/N: A shout out to Angle for going in a virtual sounding chamber with me willingly and helping beta the chapter as well as huge thanks to Roffster for betaing and proofreading the chapter.

It's a bit late but I think that gets compensated by being much longer than previous chapters.

Too bad I had to double post but beyond that I don't have much to say.

Enjoy this early Christmas present.

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

Chapter 2.4

That day, I moved forward a couple of spots in the lunch queue. Even with twenty odd people, there were bound to be some who, perhaps only temporarily, had fallen out of grace with the two sub-bitches who ran the place as Glaistig Uaine's self-appointed lieutenants. Not that the latter really cared, if it kept people from unnecessarily killing each other. It wasn't as if she needed protection of any kind.

When I left my cell, I had only meant to get a bigger share of my tasteless gruel and be done with it. I had some stealth testing to do of the extent of Gonzo's Power and needed to get fitter again. I needed to be stronger.

Three of those stragglers and temporary pariahs were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time. I remembered the remarks they made while I was laying low; I didn't like their eyes, filled with disgust and loathing while observing my new and restored physique.

I had already been working out which ones of those would be safe to knock down a peg or two. I knew from my time in Winslow that those occupying the lowest rungs of the biggest group's social ladder had to fight to remain in good graces and after a week of watching this group I had decided that it wouldn't be any different here. There would be acceptable targets even in a group that small with the kind of people who were sent here.

Monsters and criminals.

I knew that no matter how badly it hurt, I was never the sole target of the Trio. Some of their less vicious followers had endured enough at their hands as well to bring them back into line. To isolate me better and rob me of any support I would have had otherwise.

Or just for their own, sick amusement.

And that knowledge would serve me and my children just fine.

I punched the smirk off the first one's face, knocking her out cold just moments after realization had replaced it. Her two fellow outcasts gave up their spots after I made my snakey quartet posture a bit. One was a Thinker specialized in financial crimes and a disgusting hobby that landed her here and the other two were low-level Tinkers who paired up to commit crimes with little regards to civilians and not enough brainpower between the two of them to prevent being caught repeatedly.

They simply didn't have the power to fight back anyone with even normal martial arts training, never mind a minor Brute Master. At least not without their toys and goons. They were practically useless in here, and they knew that. Apparently, both Tinkers had the wrong specialization to even repair the broken television sets. Or they simply weren't powerful enough or the reason why they were broken.

At least they were smart enough to not actively anger any one of the big shots. Too bad for them that I couldn't afford to wait around anymore. I knew that only days to prepare remained and that whatever happened, I couldn't go back to the normal routine after that. I needed my ace if I didn't want to become another mindless minion of one variety or the other or simply be killed.

I didn't trust Teacher farther than I could kick him, which was not that far even now if the rumors I had heard about him were to be believed. The guy was here for a good reason and his minion's timing was simply too good to be mere coincidence. The bastard showed up and ruined my carefully laid plans just as Leafy appeared. It made my paranoia senses tingle.

Bitch did the same thing.

Why would she wait half a day to confront me about my meeting with teacher's representative?

The conclusion I liked least was that, somehow, she knew how my babies were born and wanted to make a statement that she wasn't afraid. Considering how thinly veiled her threats were and how she wasn't that surprised about my changes, I ranked that possibility depressingly high.

From the guilt and slight shame coming from my babies, I could infer that at the very least she had checked up on my cell

Thus, it ultimately came down to punching people that were bound to bring me the least amount of trouble. And let out some long pent up frustrations.

This time I didn't have to fear the misguided wrath of Blackwell even after being the aggressor.

Overall, there simply was barely a reaction. Bitch and her cronies snickered, Yuki looked disapprovingly at the decked Tinker, some sticks changed hands, and the Faerie Queen gave her damned approving nod.

I just ignored them all as I collected the leftover scraps the unlucky trio of villains would have gotten on top of my usual gruel. They had more than enough to feed them even after I was done and I had four growing babies to take care off. They could suffer through the boring stuff until I was done with Teacher's business and whatever methods I had to use to actually get Acidbath.

One way or the other, I had the feeling I wouldn't be returning to the capricious status quo that had dominated my initial stay. Either I had the means to offer Bitch some resistance or I'd probably be dead.

It was shocking how little that last thought freaked me out. I felt like that realization should have had more effect on sane people.

Not that many sane people landed in the Baumann Parahuman Containment Center. Or that I had much more to lose now that I was in here.

Hell, while concerned about me, I felt something like excited, eager anticipation going through my little family as I bounced ideas during our lovely lunch of mashed potatoes, broiled meat, and overcooked vegetables with only minimal amounts of gruel. They wanted to grow stronger, to expand.

They would gladly lay down their lives for the survival of the family.

The rest of my time between lunch and dinner was spent idly playing with my children while I was mulling over the upcoming problems. I wanted to train, to actually use the powers I knew I had but stopped myself. I had to assume that, somehow, Teacher had a way to spy on me. I didn't want to risk losing any more surprises than I already had. I counted myself lucky enough that I hadn't used much of the powers myself so I thought that at least I still had that going for me.

I hoped.

Instead, I had my snakey children play-fight to ingrain their movements in my mind. On the fly, I had surprisingly little trouble moving around; it was just that during the planning of theoretical maneuvers that my gray matter tended to get into all kinds of weird twists. Imagining those were challenging with a completely different body type as a reference.

While getting dinner, I only needed to look at the resentful Three Stooges (and some minor posturing of my babies) to return to my newly won spot.

Falling asleep was so much more pleasant after a meal that actually had a definable taste.

The next day, "Mr." Bullet visited again, to try and convince me to come along right away with his aggravating nonchalance as if any and all danger didn't matter to him. It wasn't like people were glaring daggers at his back.

Seeing him falter for the first time after I asked for a week time to prepare was almost as good as I had imagined punching him in the face would be.

Not that I had harbored that mental image for a long time. The second conversation was more than enough to conjure it up.

I managed to convince him at the end through feigning specific cramps, those that weirdly (and, quite frankly luckily) hadn't had bothered me ever since I Triggered, and wanting to be sure I'd be able to at least pay tributes on my own when necessary.

He spluttered a bit in objection but mentioning that those factors would make me a rather poor guest and that I would be grateful for this delay helped to win him over in the end.

The fact that ladies of Cell Block C were steadily closing in on my cell and thus him as well probably helped the motivation along.

It was rather amusing to see him make his retreat look like anything other than that. Too bad, the sentiment was shared by the others. It felt weird seeing the worst of humanity show the same mirth as I felt.

That gave way to all kinds of thoughts I didn't want to feel. They would open the doors to emotions that I needed to stay buried until I could at least establish myself as someone who couldn't be messed with.

The shared laughter luckily died down soon enough and was replaced by the same mistrust I had gotten so used to. It was a weird feeling, being relieved that everyone ostracized me.

It almost allowed me to believe I wasn't a fellow monster.

The next three days were spend building up reserves in preparation for what would hopefully be my trump in the coming conflict. Just eating, sleeping, and playing with children.

Desperately not thinking about the pain that was about to come.

I was glad that I had almost managed not to since, when I had worked up the courage by going through the many reasons why it had to happen now, I realized that I would have been underestimating the agony. Even after the others.

As soon as I pulled, I collapsed to the ground in a convulsing heap. Pain and burning assaulted me as I felt my back twitch and tear.

It kept me awake as my legs suddenly went completely numb followed by the sense of touch of my entire lower body.

I couldn't escape the mounting panic as I simply couldn't breathe anymore while ribs snapped one by one.

That didn't really hurt that much even as I wanted to cover my ears to ignore the terrible sounds that were produced.

I couldn't since my arms were the next to go.

It didn't hurt. The banal pain of flesh being ripped apart and breaking bones simply paled in comparison to the hot liquid flames that coursed through every exposed nerve while leaving me completely defenseless. I couldn't even use my own eyes and ears anymore. They were overwhelmed. The only thing other than pain was the coppery sensation that was pumped into my mouth.

Finally, with one last stab right into my brain, my deformed spine detached itself and my heart began to splutter. After my mind connected with my latest baby, I was finally allowed to pass out.

A gentle pushing woke me up the day after and my six-fold vision revealed the perpetrator in all his intellectual glory.

He was curiously observing me from within a lazy coil made of his slender and ribbed yellow body on which he had laid his pointed beak with the same color. Fine hair-like spikes ran along his spike and his muscular claw looked wickedly sharp. In those regards, he didn't look that different from my other children. A bit finer maybe, but the same general idea nonetheless.

His head was… More distinct to say the least. His brain basically was his head and I noticed that, even though he could see thanks to his connection with me and the rest, it wasn't his primary way of "seeing" things.

With him around, I had become distinctly aware of the objects in a ninety-yard radius around me – both in regards to their innate geometry as well as where they were in relation to me.

I already suspected that the walls of this prison were thin but it was quite the shock to know exactly how thin they were. Stupid Tinkers and their bullshit powers. Having to create a material that can withstand absolute vacuum and general roughness of people living in its enclosed space while also only making the walls half an inch thick should be forbidden.

Brain, the name my baby graciously accepted, didn't just give me spatial awareness bar none. He could also push stuff. He – We needed to have to sense what we wanted to push to use it fully and it needed space for a wind-up to deliver pushes that could probably knock people off their feet. However, it took the full concentration of my child that prepared to shove and they needed to "catch their breath" afterward.

I couldn't really test out the maximum strength since I was operating on the assumption that at least Teacher had ways to somehow watch me. I didn't think the maximum strength was that high, though.

Not that it mattered to me. It was, with a bit of applied creativity, just what I needed. Probably. Hopefully.

At the very least, my children had some fun theatrically leaping onto their siblings in an attempt to masquerade my hidden practices. I had too.

The remaining three days after were spent "playing", eating, sleeping and honestly lazing around once more recuperating.

I had decided that I wouldn't achieve anything worthwhile trying to plan much more in the last few days until my confrontation other than making myself nervous and second guessing myself. I was beyond the point of no return already. I willed it to be so. Something had to change. I was starting to feel claustrophobic in my cell and I definitely didn't trust Teacher.

I was getting sick at others looking at me with mistrust and hatred, smirking at my children that had become smaller once more after reconstructing my spine. Every one of them had shrunken down to about Gonzo's house cat size, making me wonder were especially Missy's mass had gone. It wasn't like my spine had been that big.

Not that their handy travel-size bothered me that much. Somehow the others had copied and combined Leafy and Gonzo's muscle design, making them… denser, heavier, more powerful. None of them had lost any strength or overall mass.

When my "courteous" guide finally arrived on the seventh day, I was watching latest reports on gruesome murders of some small-time gang at the hands of Brockton Bay's very own Dragon.

I gestured to him to wait both see the report and to annoy the slime ball that obviously wanted something from me and couldn't be actually bothered to reveal what it was. Even if he had been more straightforward, he would have had to wait, though.

It didn't happen every day that a gang of teenaged Capes I, as Cape-geek who had spent far too much time on PHO, had never heard of before managed to ignite a full-out gang war between ABB and the Empire 88. Even in the infested shithole that was Brockton Bay.

Unsurprisingly, nothing other than that, the general advice to stay indoors and some speculation that they might had done something to piss off Lung was reported on TV.

I stood up with a mirthless snicker.

"I see that you're ready," Bullet stated the obvious as I joined him near the guarded entrance of our block. I replied with a simple nod. No use in dragging my feet after I had accomplished both my goals.

He might have pretended that he wasn't bothered by my behavior, his elevated pulse and brain activity told another story entirely. He was pissed and frustrated.

I could get used to being in a position where I was needed too much to easily offend.

"In that case." He wanted to let me go through first before apparently deciding that it would be more courteous the other way around. "If you'd follow me, please. I'll make sure we're not going to face any unpleasant surprises."

With that, he was off with me close behind. I couldn't help but notice that a certain amount of… pity had shown besides the usual disgust in the eyes of the guards. Neither was it all too subtle that they started whispering to each other when they assumed I couldn't see them anymore with my back turned to them.

I swallowed. It seemed that Teacher was an even bigger deal in here than I thought if he could trigger some amount of compassion for the monster they were trying to ignore into joining one of their sub-factions.

"So," my guide began as we walked the wide, dimly lit hallway that connected the cell blocks of our floor. "If you pardon my potential rudeness, may I enquire why you seemed happy about what's happening in your hometown? When you requested to finish watching that article, I thought that you might have feared for people you know, but I seemed to be mistaken."

"Not really." I shrugged as we passed one of the neighboring leaderless blocks. "There are still some… not that they would still care about me." I snickered again. Stupid oblivious media. "It's just that Lung prefers to let others do the day to day business. He doesn't have to do much more than be around to scare off even the local protectorate."

Maybe Sophia would even annoy the wrong pumped up nazi.

I could see his face light up in understanding. Not that he knew. For all who would have watched, I was observing the courtyard of Block B and their remodeled bench press that was visible from the door.

"So, those teens did something that was grave enough to wake the dragon."

"Yep. And the media think they might do something to inconvenience him. How stupid do they think we are? If the Undersiders had enough brains to do something that motivated the rage dragon out of his Lay-z-Boy, they should have had more than enough to know just how monumentally stupid it was."

"I see, that does seem both rather understated and foolish respectively." He lapsed into silence after saying his piece.

We went past Cell Block A and closed in to the hole in the wall in silence. I had the feeling that he didn't want to interrupt me or himself when he had to deal with the guardswomen.

It allowed me enough time for myself to start feeling the talons with which Brain and Gonzo had anchored themselves to my back. It wasn't that having my spine ripped out made it hurt less, even if said pain was easier to deal with. Especially since my curly hair, that had grown to a frankly ridiculous length after last two time I was healed using my children's biomass, did manage to hide the both of them. At least our fluid prevented me from bleeding so that was nice as well.

All of that was just to hopefully give me an advantage in case things went south with Teacher and to try and smuggle a baby into Acidbath's Cell Block.

Not that I had high hopes in surprising Teacher with the number of my children if that boot dropped. I had seen Bullet counting and recounting the babies that were following or openly being carried by me. He seemed thrown off by the number even if he hadn't said anything.

Still, people would quickly notice if one of them suddenly disappeared. They were quite apt at catching people's attention.

"Are those snakes yours?" Case and point, the prisoner who looked more a soccer mom than anything else and was apparently in charge of the women guarding the Hole.

Bullet stepped through the hole and turned to wait for me.

"Yes," I scoffed, annoyed at her tone.

"No manners. Typical," she tutted in disappointment while the rest of the women mirrored her disproval. "But that's to be expected from today's youth. No one disciplines their children anymore. Anyway, as long as they don't cause us any troubles you're free to go. The gentleman has already paid for your passage."

I moved to follow bullet along. It wasn't as if there was much I could say without it either escalating the situation or prove them right.

The heavyset woman wasn't entirely done with me though, she held my shoulder with surprising strength and leaned in closer to whisper, "even though I don't like your attitude one bit, it no reason to throw you to the wolves. I don't know what Teacher's offering but you need to politely decline. It's not worth it. Thrust me."

With that, she let go and my children relaxed.

I muttered thanks and we set foot in the men's wing of the Birdcage.

There were no guards whatsoever on the other side of the hole.

I couldn't tell whether it was because they thought they wouldn't need it, wanted to make it easier for the other sex to come over or to even tempt them to their side. Either way, I thought it was rather stupid considering the caliber of Capes on our side.

The trend continued at two of the four Blocks we had to pass to get to the makeshift "ladder" that led to the lower floor and Teacher's cell block. Luckily, one of them was Cell Block P – Acidbath's.

It made kinda sense that nobody would want to mess with him. He probably enjoyed dealing with those idiots.

It was my turn to see how stupid I was

While Bullet was busy praising Teacher as he hurried me along as politely as possible, I let Gonzo slither down my back and move straight to the entrance of Acidbath's block a heartbeat later.

I nodded to move the small talk along as I had Gonzo pulse to the blind spot of the people lounging in the courtyard.

While I couldn't camouflage myself, I didn't really need it either. Especially since Brain joined the family, I had an acute awareness of my surroundings. I knew where people looked and saw when they noticed something.

I would have had troubles sneaking around our Cell Block – there was too much of competitive paranoia going around thanks to our Faery Overlord – but in Block P?

They kept to their selves, keeping an eye out on the person who had claimed the workout bench that was placed in front of the only working television.

I smiled. I had found my target and people were too busy keeping an eye out on the psychopathic monster to truly watch anything else.

Once again, I moved Gonzo to avoid the few wandering gazes and closed in on the cell closest to the tube and showers. It was the only one with intact decorations and the one place from where you could get a good view of almost the entire block.

If I was a betting girl, I would have put my cancer sticks on that being Acidbath's cell.

I was climbing down the cot that got beaten into the ladder when Bullet decided he wanted more than just mere nods. "I do have to ask, Sliver, is it me or are your children smaller than before? I could have sworn that especially Missy used to be a lot bigger."

"Yes, they are but don't worry; they are just as capable as before." I smiled as Gonzo made it into the cell unnoticed and under the honest to goodness true bed.

I wasn't going to insult his intelligence so close to his home and this deep in enemy territory. No need to give him the details beyond that, though.

"Ah, that's good to hear." I almost believed his concern for my wellbeing as he did. "I'm sure Teacher will be copacetic."

I let Gonzo give Acidbath an ever so slight telekinetic push and was delighted to see him almost fall off the bench that served as his throne.

While Brain's power wasn't that strong and Gonzo needed a break afterward, there was one thing that made it immensely useful for me.

It wasn't Manton limited.

With the different ways I could see the world, I didn't have much trouble aiming for things that weren't visible to most.

Things like the human brain or inner ear.

I couldn't put much force behind it if I didn't want to dent in the head in the process but, as the other tinker of the Three Stooges had to experience during the first afternoon, it was enough to make someone nauseous or even knock them out for a couple of seconds.

I had Gonzo push the fluids in Acidbath's inner ears again.

Again, he wobbled but this time he didn't just stay seated after recovering his balance. Instead, he stood up and began an orderly retreat to his cell, while loudly inventing new ways to curse Dragon's cooking and making sure that people knew it was only temporary.

There was one thing that both Dragon and Glaistig Uaine had made clear to me.

You didn't show weakness in the Cage.

I counted on it being an even bigger issue for the leaders - especially if their power was the only reason they had the job in the first place.

Bullet would have dragged me along to greet the men guarding Cell Block T if he wasn't that cautious on not touching dangerous old me.

Acidbath stumbled in his cell and let himself fall on his bed.

I followed Bullet past the guards with a polite nod and a friendly smile and into the silent courtyard. People were working on scraps of metal, oblivious to our entrance while others were drawing up blueprints and scribbling down formulas.

Leafy sagged against my collarbone and almost fell off her perch as my living scarf and Acidbath collapsed into unconsciousness thanks to the brain rattler my darling had delivered.

I nearly missed the timing of the next part when I realized that two of the drones in that mindless concentration were actually women. I definitely did notice, however, that Bullet had started to walk behind me in a way that allowed him to block my path to the exit.

Still, I had something to do and thus I struck through the bed, neatly severing Acidbath spinal cord, and continuing to skewer his airway at the same time while ignoring the implications of my guide's actions.

I unfurled my talon to cut off his airflow completely

Brain had brought one final gift when he was born. While completely paralyzed, I realized how easy it was for me to do the same if I got close enough.

I realized it would be enough to immobilize anyone long enough for the changes to set in. That I could keep them from crying for help and from thrashing about.

I already knew that they wouldn't be able to use their Powers when the transformation truly started. Missy had shown me that.

Reaching out through Gonzo, I found the part of Acidbath that rejected being such a vile creature and wanted to be something more. That wanted to grow.

I grabbed hold of that part and pulled even as I entered Teacher's cell.

His personal guards insisted that I leave both Missy and Beefy outside. And no matter how I personally felt about it, I knew that I had to comply if I wanted to get away without causing a scene. Especially since I was able to convince them that I could bring Leafy with me due to her even smaller size.

It helped that I had the feeling that the door would matter fairly little if I nobody bothered Gonzo and the panicking Acidbath upstairs. The chances of that happening were fairly unlikely. Nobody approached his cell.

Still, the door to Teacher's closed with a scary finality.

Teacher himself wasn't what I expected. The first things that came to mind when thinking of a feared supervillain wasn't that of a red-faced, balding, rotund, man. Even knowing most of it in advance, it was still another thing entirely to see it with my "own" eyes and all the colors it could perceive.

"Ah, there you are!" Teacher exclaimed as I was made to stop more than a leap away from him. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh, Taylor."

I blinked owlishly. "I thought you might prefer that name to the one the judgmental tyrants above have given you. Truly, a tragedy what happened. You have my sincere condolences."

Acidbath's arm started to retract as I regained control of my mouth. "Th. Thanks. I guess?" I gave him a sharp look. "As nice as it is to have that acknowledged by someone who doesn't then immediately lock me up, you've lost me. I can't imagine that's the reason why I'm here. You don't seem to merely do emotional support."

Teacher gave me a knowing smile while Bullet and the other crony shifted closer to me. People who were previously deep in thought stood up and started to make their way to Teacher's cell.

"Of course not, while certainly a nice gesture it would be so terribly unproductive." I shot him an inquisitive glare. "I've summoned you here to propose a mutually beneficial partnership."

Acidbath's legs were slowly shattering. I needed more time. They were coming for me. He wanted to imprison me. I had to get out or else I'd have the entire Block after me. It was too early. I had to lay low. People were going to hunt me down.

"Why would you choose me?" I managed to ask without revealing too much of my inner turmoil and my racing heart. "I'm no Tinker or Thinker and, while cute, my children aren't fighters." Beefy twitched slightly as I unloaded some of my nervousness in our combined connections.

The gathering crowd twitched in response while Acidbath's skull began to lengthen upstairs.

Teacher massaged the bridge of his nose muttering, "And here I thought that showing my frank intentions would have helped to counter the stigma the braindead idiots have against me." He looked up, raising his voice. "I would prefer if you stopped lying, Taylor. I know that you're more capable than that. Why else do you think I allowed you to postpone this meeting for a week?"

Acidbath began to shrink and compact while his legs fused into the forked tail all my children had.

"Let's try this another way, shall we. I know you don't trust me. It's probably the only sensible thing you've done today. Walking in here instead of immediately joining Basic Bitch or Yuki Onna? Not so much. I know what makes you tick and know you think you're so clever hiding stuff." Teacher pointed to the side where Brain was still hanging on. "Like that snake of yours hiding in your hair. Do you really think I don't have means to find stuff like that out?"

"What do you want?" I snarled as Brain slithered up to perch on my shoulder. I didn't like the way it was going at all.

"See?" Teacher addressed Bullet. "Sometimes you just have to be blunt."

Acidbath entire body had become more snake-like and I began to feel the mental tugs building up while Teacher once more turned to me. "The thing is, Sliver, that your Power simply has too much potential to leave in the hands of simpletons like Bitch. Sharing a capes powers to all your creatures? That's too much to simply ignore."

"How do you – " I was sure that nobody had seen anyone other than Missy use her powers. I hadn't even used them outside of my cell!

Teacher simply laughed mirthlessly. "I have my ways, dear Sliver. What have you done to the black one, by the way? I haven't seen it near you." Even the pretense of humor melted away. "With that out of the way, this is what's going to happen. Either you join me willingly, I give you a nice power like better control over your monsters or something, and we work together on breaking out using said monsters."

A connection with Acidbath snapped into place. "Or I'll just have you restrained while it's still possible and load you up with so many that there won't be much left up in that brain of yours to resist me. I would rather not have to do that since I already have enough drooling idiots around but I'd manage."

"What if I want neither?" I asked knowing full well what would be the answer.

He gave another mocking laugh. "Even if you could somehow escape, I'd do everything in my power to undo you. I'll convince people that you and your runts are too dangerous to live."

I didn't smile as much as I showed my teeth. That was all I needed to hear.

The next heartbeat I had crushed Teacher's throat and was pinning the fat creep against the wall of his cell. At the same time, Leafy had impaled the nameless crony and Brain was fighting with Bullet who both managed to dodge all of his attacks while even retaliating with a small knife at the same time.

Missy gave him a brain rattler for his troubles while Beefy surged into the gathered crowd as an acid tidal wave, simply dissolving the legs of those trying to surround us.

I would not stand idly by while someone threatened my children. I would not be pushed around anymore. I had enough.

I would have just gone my own merry way but, no, someone thought he had to try and bully me into submission again.

Never again.

The shock in Teacher's eyes was delicious. It was the one of recognizing a grave error. I grinned as the fruits of my self-control paid off.

Both Gonzo and Acidb – Steve were already on their way to the entrance to intercept the lucky few who managed to dodge Beefy's leg-eating attack.

It looked like dear old Teacher thought I was just a mere Master and hadn't expected that I was very much part of my children as they were of me. That I could control all of me if I chose to do so.

Soon, he would have the pleasure of the same.

He would be joining us.

I twisted at the same time as Leafy and Brain.

Eight seconds later and the lovely child who once was Teacher and everyone else of my family started to give each other powers. felt my reflexes increase, skills flooding in, and ideas manifest in my head.

Pinky wouldn't have to be afraid that he'd be the only one.

Five minutes later it was once more silent in Cell Block T.

--X--

A day later and halfway across the globe, a hacker looked at the monitor filled with rapid-moving gibberish in despair and terror.

With one last gulp of whiskey, he pushed the button.

Spoiler: Taylor's happy, slithering family

Last edited: Oct 22, 2017

622

X0ll0X

Dec 21, 2016

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