A/N Cold by Casey Lee Williams
Alt title: The attack on the boat pt. 2
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Sadness and depression warning.
If you want to avoid any feels. Skip any Kitsu POV's.
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Redburndragon: Most don't know Kitsu's full capabilities, like the fact she's basically immune to all attacks. And even then. The shards actively push others into conflict.
SonicTundra: Takes all kinds.
DancingLeaf: Fun Fact! Fullmetal Alchemist is the first anime I ever watched! My step dad introduced me to anime. And I mean the original, not Brotherhood, though Brotherhood is leagues better.
First time writing a lemon. Mostly positive reviews. Unlikely to do another. Just, keep it suggestive and humorous.
Poor, poor little fox. She's gonna have to get used to the smell and sounds.
Kaykaykaykayan: A wheelhouse is another name for the Helm, Brig, etc. It's where the wheel of the ship is. Scarecrow just likes using dated terms to sound more educated.
Grimnosh: Looking through comics and media, you realize one major thing. Carnage is terrifying because he's the perfect ambush predator. He sucks at open combat and only gets by due to his symbiote giving him a sort of spider sense (Something he doesn't have here) and the near endless supply of mass the symbiote seems capable of giving him to shapeshift and regenerate (Again, something he doesn't have here). So, to the average joe or anyone with weaker powers? He's a monster. And in one on one's he's deadly. But that's it. He fights like an animal. All instinct and little strategy. And subpar when faced with multiple opponents.
As for the bang? You're right. Just not in the way you might be thinking.
StormySpartan: I REGRET NOTHING AND EVERYTHING AT THE SAME TIME!
T4ndoris: Theo, or Theodore Anders. Is a canon character in Worm. He's the son of Max Anders, Kaiser, the leader of E88.
RadChaos897: Rad, Rad, Rad. When will you learn that I love misdirection?
And I did know that about lobsters! Did you also know that lobster can't die of old age due to how they regenerate the telomeres on their dna? They only die when the process of molting and growing bigger takes too much energy and they just stop.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Worm or any other characters in this work, other than my OC. All other characters belong to their respective properties.
-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
[Shard]
(Text)
*Sounds/Actions*
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-Thursday, July 1st, 3:32pm, Brocton Bay, Mid Bay, Ferry-
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Cletus "Carnage" Kassidy POV
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'Second time I've been thrown for a dunk in the water! What am I a joke?' I think as I use my power to force sea water out of my lungs and crawl up the side of the hull.
Not a fun feeling by the way.
What I'm learning is that one on one I have no issue. The moment someone else pops in I have difficulty. I mean, if you think about it, cape fights are a numbers and strategy game. With rankings given by the PRT and how certain powers have hard counters. Shadow Stalker and electricity. Static Shock and water.
I've never had to worry about being outclassed before. Never needed to be crafty. I could always just lay in wait and catch someone off guard. Head on fights are way out of my comfort zone.
And I love it!
I haven't felt this rush since my mother tried to kill me for killing the dog! Oh that was glorious! The day I discovered how beautiful blood is. And the day blood became my friend.
I can't keep the grin from my face as I continue my climb. Finding another portcullis to bust my way through into a hallway.
"Alright!" I say as I bust through and reform my cover. "ThIrD TiMes tHe ChARm!"
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Amy "Panacea" Dallon POV
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Damn, I've been running for nearly ten minutes and I'm not even winded. Maybe it's the adrenaline?
No. Adrenaline doesn't last this long without an immediate cause to constantly push it. Maybe I'm just naturally fit?
*Shhrrrreeeee*
I hear the ear piecing sound of ripping metal behind me. I don't even look back as I keep running. No need to be that idiot.
"ThIrD TiMes tHe ChARm!" I hear from behind me.
'Nope nuh-uh nada nein!' I scream in my head as I run faster. 'Sooooo many levels of no!'
"AwWw, CoME BaCk!" I hear the warbled voice call as it starts running. "I jUsT WaNNa Talk!"
"Liar!" I call back.
After a bit, I no longer hear it chasing me. And I the lifeboats are just up this level.
*Crash*
And the red and black creature of hatred and gore is in front of me! He just tore through the wall in front of the stairs!
"AwW, COmE On." It says as it stalks closer to me.
'God damn it Crystal!' I curse in my head. 'I'm gonna die because you just had to sneak off and suck dick right before a villain attack!'
"Well, I can imagine worse ways to die." I say as I unconsciously back up.
Faster, stronger, and my only route out is blocked by said murder machine.
"ThAt'S ThE SPiriT." It hisses as the contours of its face crease up in a mimicking motion of a smile.
I'd say it was a good life. But that'd be a lie. It was a shit life. A mother who never wanted me. A father who was never really there. A job I abhorred. And a love unrequited.
Even still. As the creature charges I can't help but flinch under its fingered bladed arm as it swipes at me. And, in a desperate attempt at preserving my life. I throw a foot to its crotch. Man or woman. It'll hurt.
Only, it doesn't.
"NiCe TrY" The creatures warbled voice mocks as my foot comes down. It grabs my collar with one hand and raises his other to form a long spike. "HeLl, I aDmIRe tHe AttEmpt."
As I grab his arm in reflex. My power sends me a veritable horde of information. It's blood. His suit is made of his own blood! And he's running low.
Unfortunately. My power is also informing me that his control over his blood matches what mine would be.
Fuck it. Worth a shot.
He jabs his hand forward. Only to stop as his arm shakes a mere inch from my face.
"WhaT?" He questions.
Great! I bought myself a minute or two. Only, I can't do anything else. His control over blood is countering mine. So keeping him from moving while I'm touching him is the best I can do. And it's not much. He's moved his hand and is now reaching to choke me!
"You'Re NoT a HeaLeR." He says. "YoU'Re a BiOkiNeTIC!"
'Fuck me.' I groan internally.
"SeEMs wE'rE aT An ImPAsSe." He says. "Let'S SeE Wh-"
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!"
Suddenly, a spear of light is impaled through the man's shoulder. Spraying blood all over me and filling the air with the smell of burnt flesh.
In my momentary surprise. I lose focus on my power, and he drops me.
"FUCK!" He shouts. "AGAIN!? SERIOUSLY?! DO NONE OF YOU VALUE A ONE ON ONE?!"
Looking up I see Carol with two spears of light in her hands. And face beet red and twisted in anger.
'Holy shit.' I think to myself. 'I've haven't seen her this pissed since Vicky snuck out while grounded.'
The man turns to her as his shoulder fills over itself and he charges at her.
Acting on reflex. I reach out and grab his ankle. Tripping him and using my power to lock him in place with his own blood. Of which he barely has enough to maintain his suit.
"FuckInG WhOreS!" He cries as he struggles to move.
Meanwhile Carol walks up to him and stabs both spears into his shoulders.
"AAAAH!" He screams. And I can see his body mending himself back together. At the coat of his supply of blood.
"Keep stabbing him!" I yell. "He's a regenerator and a breaker who relies on his blood!"
Without another thought. Carol starts repeatedly stabbing him in the back. The smell of burnt flesh filling the hall. As well as his screams. His suit of blood receding with every hit.
"PLEASE! PLEASE! I SURRENDER!" He cries. His voice no longer warped and distorted.
His brain activity shows he's lying. Hell, he doesn't even mind being stabbed. He finds it amusing if anything.
"He's lying!" I call out.
And there's a spike of adrenaline. So he is aware of his situation. Though that could just be the physical trauma.
In a few more stabs. His suit is fully gone as the blood prioritizes keeping him alive and breaks fro my control.
"Stop!" I tell Carol. "He's out! Any more and he'll die!"
She doesn't. And brings another spear down at his head.
"Mom stop!" I cry. "You'll kill him!"
Only for the spear to land next to his head. And for her to lean down and whisper something into his ear. Something that causes a surge of fear and amusement to course through him.
'I, I could take a page out of Kitsu's book.' I find myself thinking. 'Shut off his motor neurons. Keep him from attacking us again in an hour or two when his blood regenerates.'
I'm this close to doing it. To giving into the temptation. Before I stop myself.
'No, he's down.' I tell myself. 'This is enough. He's out and the PRT will be here in full before he can regenerate anything substantial.'
As I'm thinking this. I'm grabbed and hoisted up to my feet. And am now face to chest with Carol as she holds my head.
"Oh, hoooooooh god are you okay?" She asks in a soothing voice.
"Mrrmph." I try and speak.
"Wait." She says and pushes back while holding my shoulders to face me. "What the hell are you doing here? Why aren't you on a lifeboat?!"
"Cryst-"
"You know what, doesn't matter." Carol says. "Almost everyone is accounted for. Come on."
"What about-"
"Now." Carol says with a glare.
"Yes ma'am." I say and head past her to the lifeboats.
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Carol "Brandish" Dallon POV
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I watch as Amy runs up the stairs toward the lifeboats.
And stare down to the dazed and significantly paler man.
'That was the first time she ever called me mom.' I think to myself.
I give the man a kick to the head before running back upstairs.
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Steve "The Mechanic" Pappagallo POV
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Damn, nothing to sober you up like a police chase.
Though, they're not normally done on the water.
I skirt to the side to avoid slamming into the ferry. Again. Took a bit of practice. But I'm just treating this like drifting. Same can't be said for the others who already got caught.
Not everyone can drive my cars. So I have to keep them basic for others.
I start heading for the shore to drift around the boat and head for the mist. My windshield wipers on the highest setting the whole time. Didn't really think about the water spray. Can barely see.
*Thunk*
My car jostles and I start fishtailing.
"Fuck, off, jackwads!" I shout, wishing I installed a radio system to shout at them.
Checking my rearview. I don't see anything. Which means that fish kid is under me.
*Thunk*
And I see my back driver side rudder fly out behind me. Attached by a thick steel cable.
I go ahead and hit a button on my dash. And watch as the rudder slings back and slams back into place with a thunk as it reattaches itself.
"Ha!"
*Thunk*
"Fuck!
Another attack and I nearly shit myself as the long toothed, pale faced abomination that is the kid's breaker form. White scaled and with a little, light bulb, dangly doo that the one thing from Finding Nemo had on its forehead, and beady green eyes.
He's latched onto my driver side door. And is staring right at me.
*Tink* *Tink* *Tink*
He's tapping on the window.
I roll it down a bit.
"Wanna pull over?" I hear his deep, scratchy voice say.
"Nah really." I say.
He tears the door off and it flies away as he holds onto the railing on top of the car. The steel cord whipping out to keep it attached.
"Ya don wanna do thiff kid." I tell him as I press the button on my dash to real in the door.
Damn, drunker than I thought. I pressed the wrong button.
"I could say the ssaaaaaaaaAAAAGGH!" He says before he's electrocuted buy the wiring under mesh I installed to deter car jockeys.
He eventually falls off and is lost to the waves.
Careening my head to look back at the ragdolling fish man. I shrug and turn back to my dash.
"Eh, if it works it works." I say as I hit the right button on the dash and wait as my door reattaches itself.
Looking ahead. I see I don't have any choice but to cut through the fleeing lifeboats. That or turn around and head for the back. Only to get targeted by the PRT.
Lifeboats it is! The capes here will be too preoccupied with the civilians to stop me anyway.
My goal here is to get to Maureen and get her out of here. Cletus can die in a fire for all I care and Joey's crafty enough to get out of here himself.
Hell, I don't even care if I get out of here. I'm just focused on getting to Maureen. She doesn't deserve this. She's still young. She has time to turn her life around. Maybe I should look into getting her in contact with a therapist.
Unlike me, it's not too late for her.
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Hana "Miss Militia" POV
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"Ben is down!" I call into my radio.
"He'll be fine." I hear Static Shock say over the radio. "His tech's got a failsafe in case he gets hurt. Swaps him to a form to help him survive whatever woulda hurt'em."
"How valid is that?" I ask.
"Saw a gangbanger shoot him. Only for him to turn into an armadillo creature and pull the bullet outta his scales." Vergil says.
'Well that's comforting at least.' I think with relief, before noticing Mechanic's trajectory. 'Shit!'
He's heading to cut through the chain of lifeboats!
"Heads up! Mechanic is barreling towards the lifeboats!" I shout into my radio. "Unable to assist."
My smaller firearms do nothing against his vehicles. And with how close he is to the lifeboats, I can't risk any large caliber munitions or explosives.
"New Wave is on it, can't get near in a boat without risking the others!" I hear Assault call through the radio. "Static Shock, any updates for us?"
"The ice fog's still growin." He says. "Though it's slowin down."
As they relay between each other. Panacea runs around the corner, covered in blood and dress almost completely ruined. Followed by Brandish in a similar state of disarray.
"Don't worry." She says as she gets in a lifeboats. "It's not my blood."
"Same." Brandish says as she passes and hops into the lifeboat with Panacea. "There's an unconscious Carnage on the floor below us. His suit is blood. He's the redhead."
"Alright, we can worry about that later." I say. "Where's the rest? We're still missing Lady Photon, Flashbang, Manpower, Shielder, Pinky, the Anders brothers, and the ships captain."
"Mark is on his way and the rest have gone silent." Brandish says.
"Shouldn't we look for them?" Panacea asks with wide eyes.
"We have more pressing matters." Brandish says. "Last I spoke to Mark he said the fog is starting to roll over the deck. Luckily it seems the larger the cloud gets the slower it moves. Unluckily, there are bursts of freezing air shooting out from it."
"Hold up!" I hear from the other side of the life deck. "Don't leave yet!"
Turning around I see the Anders brothers. Theodore and Alphonse, running down the walkway, carrying the third and oldest brother Edward. Who is missing an arm.
"Is he alright?!" I ask as they run up. "Panacea, can you-"
"Already did." She says before I can finish. "One of the reasons I was so late."
"Then hop in." I say. "This is the last boat. We're waiting on the other heroes and the captain."
"Coming!" I hear from the other, other side. The side Panacea and Brandish showed up from.
Turning I see Flashbang sprinting down the walkway.
"Alright, hop in." I say.
They all do so. Anders brothers first as Theodore steps in and holds Edwards upper half, with Alphonse holding his lower. Followed by Flashbang entering after.
"Hey, Miss Militia. You said you're just waiting on the heroes and the captain." Theodore says. "Does that mean our father already made it out?"
"Yes, he was one of the first to evacuate." I inform him. "So you don't have to worry about him."
"Figures he wouldn't even wait for us." Theodore says.
Oh, I may have misjudged the question.
"How are you still clean?" Brandish asks Flashbang. "My dress is ruined and here you are looking like you just got out of the fitting room."
"To say nothing of mine." Panacea mutters. "This is a rental."
"Just lucky I guess." He says with a smirk.
A few seconds later. Lady Photon comes running down the side where the Anders brothers came from.
"Sarah!" Brandish shouts. "What happened? You and Neil went dark!"
Lady Photon comes to the edge of the lifeboat before regarding Brandish.
"I don't know!" She says in a slight panic. "I was on the phone with Neil when our call got intercepted and my phone fried itself! Eric and Pinky are captured, and Neil is MIA. I tried looking in the area he was checking, but I couldn't find him."
"Damn it!" Brandish says. "Miss Militia, how long can we wait?"
"You said the mist is moving slower the bigger it gets?" I ask for clarification.
"Yeah, when it first rolled up it was covering ground quick." Flashbang says. "Then it started slowing down, once it reached the boat it was at a crawl."
"The moment we start seeing our breath. We're out of here." I say.
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Crystal "Laserdream" Pelham POV
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Recap of the day!
Woke up. Got a shower, got dressed. Fire came over for his tux. I got to ride a dragon for the first time today. Got another shower where I got to have a little dragon fruit flavored snack. Got redressed andcame to the opening event. Event happened, talked to Vicky, Jenny, Gully, that Ben kid. Maiden voyage of The New Wave, thought I'd start it out with bang! Riding a dragon as the rest of the guests rode a boat.
Clearly my ride was better.
Anyway, just when I was about to have a nice snack. There was an, oopsies. Amy had to come and heal Fire after I bit him and now that's one person who knows about my, proclivities. And I guess I can cross CBT off the list. He did not seem to enjoy that at all.
Anyway, had to borrow Fire's underwear because in my excitement and haze after the shower, I forgot to wear that. So I'm flying around in a dress and sky blue boxers.
Could be worse.
I will say, Fire is a natural at escort and rescue. One kid fell into the water and not two seconds later Fire was already soaked and handing him back to his mother.
Just, heard a shout and he dove! Not to mention the fire he's been outputting to combat the spurts of icy wind.
So far, I'd say today is a decent day. Could've gone better. Could still get worse. But not bad. At least not for me.
"Merchant!" I hear a cacophonous roar of voices yell, soon followed by the sounds of splashing water.
Turning just in time to get a view of the van on water. With a modified under part that looks like it was stolen from a regular boat.
I fire a weaker beam to test car. Not wanting to risk any shrapnel or the possibility of reflective coating.
It makes a small dent on the hood, and that gives me the go ahead to full blast this bitch.
"Fuck off!" I shout as I toss a concentrated beam.
I might be venting my frustrations over earlier.
Just as the beam hits the hood and pushes the front of the car under the water. The wheels of the front inflate and push it back up.
The car continues its path. And the driver side window rolls down to reveal a hand flipping me off.
"Oh hell no." I say and rocket after it as it passes me.
I'm on the outer edges. With me being the fastest aside from fire. I'm guarding the lifeboats that are the most spread out. Fire is guarding the ones near the icy mist. And Jenny and Vicky are covering the middle. Clockblocker is, mostly just here. And Vista is on the roof of the ship. Warping boats to shore.
She's got half of them over.
I catch up to the Merchant boat quickly enough. It's only going like, twenty, maybe twenty five? Fast for a boat. Slow for a mover.
I grab onto the rails of the cars roof. Intent on steering it away.
*Krct*
What was that?
That was all I could process before the car starts spinning! Not donut spinning. Top spinning.
"OooooOoOoh GoOOoooD!" I cry before I'm flung off the car and into the bay.
*Sploosh*
I'm disoriented and dizzy as fuck. And can't tell left from right. Luckily, I remember a trick from one of Uncle Marks spy movies.
I let a little bit of air out and watch where the bubbles go. And fly in that direction.
I'm above water. And not long after.
"Heuuurgh!" I puke my guts out into the bay.
I hate motion sickness.
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Taylor Hebert POV
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"Merchant!" The guy next to me shouts.
Looking over to the side. Just in time to see a van on the water zip past us and fling our lifeboat over. Throwing us all into the bay.
I'm twisting and turning. Trying to find which way is up. But the flailing of everyone is just filling my vision with bubbles. Though I can hear several large splashes. In a few seconds the bubbles recede, and I can see better. Only to watch in horror as the water's surface above me ices over. And the water gets colder.
'No! No no no no no please!' I scream in my head as I panic. Swimming up and hitting the ice. Hoping to break it.
My lungs are burning. And my fists are bruising against the ice I'm punching. The only sound I can hear is the dull movement of my arm through the water. Followed by the thudding of ice.
I'm getting a ring of blackness around my vision. And, I, I, I'm so cold.
There's a light. And, is this the end? It feels warms. So warm. Guess, guess this it. Sorry dad. I'll tell mom you still love and miss her. Just, try not to meet us anytime soon.
As I think that and let go. Everything returns to me.
"Puuuuhh!" I take my first, agonizingly good breath of air as I'm hauled out of the water by strong, warm arms.
"Ha, ha, oh god." I cry out as I cling to my guardian angel in orange.
"Sorry about that!" He says as he carries me across the water to shore. "Was getting everyone else and, well, sorry."
"You saved my life!" Is all I can say to my guardian angel.
"Just doing what heroes do!" He says with a winning smile as he touches down.
I kiss him.
"Taylor!" I hear Dad yell as I'm yanked from the warm arms of man who saved me and pulled into my fathers, not as warm, but still comforting arms. And out my kiss. "Oh my gosh, oh god. Are you okay Owl?"
"I'm, I'm okay." I say shakily, the adrenaline still not wearing off. "Just, cold."
"I'll, uh. Just go now." The orange scaled angle says.
He takes off and I'm left to reflect as my dad takes me away from the waterside.
'Oh god. That was my first kiss!' I think in a mix of excitement and horror. 'Well, aside from my pillow and that one sleepover with Madison and Emma. Those don't count! We all agreed those were just practice!'
"Let's get you home." Dad says. "We can order out tonight."
"Th, th, that s, s, sounds, s, nice." I stutter through the cold.
I need to find out that guy's name.
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Firebreather POV
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I, don't know how to process this. Another girl just kissed me.
Do I tell Crystal? Do I not? I mean, she was clearly out of it, so I don't think it was a serious kiss. Just a thank you kiss. Is that a thing?
Would Crystal be mad? Does it mean anything?
I'm so confused!
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Neil "Manpower" Pelham POV
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*Bang*
I feel a minor prick on my back. And turn around to face the source. The copycat. Standing in the doorway, out of costume and in a standard gas mask.
I charge at him. Only for him to throw a right cross.
*Crack*
"Argh!" I cry as I hold my nose. "Fuck!"
"Damn, still tough." The raspy voice says. "But not anything unexpected."
I look up to see him shaking his hand.
"What the fuck?!" I ask as I feel blood start to pool out of my nose.
"You didn't think I'd face a brute with a forcefield with just a GUN, did you?" He mocks. "No, unlike you, I think ahead."
"What did you do!?" I demand from him.
"I thought ahead." He says as though it's the obvious answer. "You see. Your forcefield and strength rely on electromagnetism. And it's finite. That's why you run out of strength. I figured that bit out when I got the details of you and Carnage's fight from him."
"Oh god you're not going to monologue me are you?" I ask.
In response he points the gun at me and fires it.
*Bang*
And I see it this time. I thin, wispy grey mist that quickly disperses. And I feel my forcefield short out further now that I'm paying attention to it.
"Electromagnetic waves generated by your body." The copycat says. "Thing is, you know what's great, at absorbing electromagnetic waves? Graphene. Of which that little hollow point bullet has in its cavity. Hyper condensed and mixed with an aerosol component. Not that I could tell you how it's made. Tinker stuff, I'm sure you understand."
He made a neutralizing gas specific to me?!
"Effectively no more harmful than a regular bullet as far as anyone else is concerned." The copycat continues as he brings the gun up to inspect. "I thought about just making a gas grenade. But why waste the chance to get up close and personal?"
"I'll give you that." I say and square up to box him. Seeing no other way out of this. "You're just as dramatic as the original Scarecrow."
"Flattery will get you nowhere." He says. "But I do appreciate the compliment if nothing else."
"Wasn't a compliment." I say and throw a right cross.
Only for him to sidestep and bring a fist down onto my forearm.
*Crack*
"Fuck!"
"And again, had you let me finish I would've explained that I came fully prepared to take you down." He says. "And enjoy it. Everyone knows you never let the tinker set the terms."
I think I might be fucked.
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Kitsu POV
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God it's so cold!
'Okay, think.' I tell myself as I run through the freezing mist. 'What can I do to help me here? What do animals do?'
[Data]
'Oh, right.' I think to myself. 'I'm an idiot.'
[Iteration; You Said It Yourself]
'Yeah, yeah.'
I focus in with my biokinesis and let my fur grow. I just hope no one sees me like this. I really don't like having my fur active. Especially on my face or anywhere I have clothes. It's itchy where the clothes are, and it makes me feel like I have a beard.
Just for extra warmth retention. I make an Eevee neck floof. At least this should be cute.
I keep running and sliding around in the mist. My energy stores going down at a steady pace. But a bit slower now with the tightly pack fur spread out. Ironically, and scarily, enough. I'm using the cold and the rate of energy depletion as a sort of Maureen radar.
After a certain point the cold stops feeling colder when it's, well, getting even colder. There's a limit to what the body can feel. And I reached that.
I don't like this. My energy is depleting fast due to keeping me warm. I'm at a fourth of what I had when I first entered. And it's only getting worse the closer I get to finding Maureen.
The closer I get to her, the closer I get to freezing.
"C-c-come on." I say to no one in particular. "W-where ar-re you?"
After another few minutes, I think, of aimless wandering. I hear crying.
'Finally!'
I make a mad dash for the sound. And I find it. The source of the blizzard in July. And just being here already has me down to about three fifths of the energy I started with. Almost two thirds and dropping fast.
But there it is. What looks like an icy crater jutting up from the surroundings. Barely visible in the roaring mist.
I use a platform to jump off of. Rather than jumping on the regular ice and risk slipping. Going up, I crest over the jagged ice spires that make up the ring Maureen has made.
Coming down against the biting cold. I see her. Curled in a ball, looking even more withered than the last time I saw her.
Her hair is stringy, her skin somehow paler on the parts I can see. With her hands being deathly thin with the veins visible.
"M-M-Maureen?" I say softly through the cold.
Her head shoots up and I see her.
Sunken eyes. Sunken cheeks. Pale, veiny skin. What once might've been the face of a beautiful young girl has since been lost to whatever has ravaged her body.
"Oh, you're, you're a hero, right?" She says with a small smile, a sad and almost unnatural sight with her current condition.
"Th-th-that's right." I say with a nod. "I'm here to help you."
I can tell that works. My energy is dropping slower. So she's reigning in some of her ice.
"Oh, that's, that's perfect." She says with a bit of joy. "Please, kill me."
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Neil "Manpower" Pelham POV
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*Crack*
"Fuck!" I cry as the shorter man grabs my fist and crunches it in my hand.
Though, seeing as I'm seven foot. Saying he's shorter isn't really saying much.
Not the point!
"You're boosting your strength somehow." I grit out.
"Oh? How'd you figure that out?" He asks.
"I'm a seven foot tall construction worker. You're barely six foot and look like the heaviest thing you've lifted is a suitcase." I tell him. "And you just crushed my hand."
"Who's to say you're not weakened more than you thought?" He asks in sickly sweet tone.
"You'd have bragged about it by now." I point out.
Right forearm, broken. Left hand, broken. Damn, I'd kill for lasers at this point.
"Fair point. I'll give you that." He concedes. "Aerosolized steroids. Inspired by the fly amanita concoction the Vikings would make. All the strength, none of the crazed adrenaline running rampant through my system."
"Coulda just said you were juicing." I snark. "Though, it shouldn't surprise me that the leader of the Merchants is high on his own supply."
"That would imply I distribute what I make for combat." He says before stopping. "Wait a second! Why haven't I thought of doing that?"
'Fuck.'I think morosely. 'I just gave an enemy tinker ideas.'
This is way you don't banter with tinkers or thinkers! Fuck! Why am I so stupid! I learned that years ago!
"So many possibilities!" The copycat starts as he gets distracted. "There are the strength enhancers, but without my suit they wouldn't be able to keep it to a safe level. Then there's accounting for genetic differences and the switch between slow twitch and fast twitch."
He just starts going. Clearly in a tinker fugue as he loses touch with his surroundings.
I take this chance and run up to him. Headbutting his mask while he's distracted.
*Crack*
The eye piece of his gas mask breaks. Revealing a Caucasian man underneath with brown eyes.
"Argh!" He shouts as he falls back. "Fuck! I lost my train of thought you piece of shit! I was on to something!"
I bring a foot up and side stomp his knee.
*Snap*
"Fuck!" He shouts, though it sounds as though it's more in surprise than pain. "You dislocated my knee! Do you know how annoying it is to set joints back into place?!"
I do actually.
He brings his gun up and fires it into my chest. My forcefield going down to a fourth of what it was. And not recharging.
He's blocking the only exit, and I still don't know where Eric and Pinky are!
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Pinky POV
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"Mrm."
'What?' I think as I groggily wake up. 'Where, huh?'
I open my eyes to see Eric right across from me. Gagged and bound while pressed against me. Eyes closed.
"Mrmm!" I shout, suddenly awake and in a panic.
I try and move. Wiggling around. Only to find I'm bound and gagged as well.
I struggle and wiggle around. My hands are bound behind me and my legs are tied.
"Mrmm!" I try and shout.
I need to calm down. If I try and produce acid while in a panic. Well, it can go bad. From acid too strong. To acid forming where I don't want it to. And with Eric pressed up right in front of me. I could easily hurt him by accident.
"Mrm!" I shout, hoping to wake Eric up.
Nothing. So, plan B!
*Smack*
"Rmm!" I headbutted him. And it hurt!
"Rmm!?" His eyes open in a mad panic, darting around everywhere.
"Rrm!" I shout to get his attention.
He looks at me. He seems to calm down as his breathing slows.
Okay. Good.
I start forming a weak acid around my lips. And in a minute the binding melts.
"Blegh!"
Never tastes good.
"Ugh, like bleach mixed with soap." I groan.
"Hrm?" Eric questions with a raised brow.
"Not important." I say. "Can you get out of your bindings?"
He wiggles around. Shuffling his shoulders as he grunts and groans.
'In any other circumstance this might be enjoyable.' I think as we're pressed against each other.
He stops moving and shakes his head.
"Okay, give me a second." I say.
I start producing a slow, weak acid from my wrists. Any stronger and it'll melt too fast. Which will burn a hole in my dress's backside. Exposing me to the world.
Not something I want.
Once it melts enough. I start wiggling and pulling my hands. Trying to tug apart the rope holding my hands together.
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Eric "Shielder" Pelham POV
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Holy shit she's pressed right up against me! I can smell her perfume and feel just about everything pressing into me.
'Don't look down, don't look down.' I tell myself. 'If you look down you'll see her boobs smooshed against you. Right now you can just pretend they're pillows.'
I look down. Seeing her cleavage through her black V-neck dress.
'Holy tits.' I think to myself as I become starkly aware of how close she's pressed against me.
'Don't pop a boner.' I remind myself.
And now she's shuffling against me.
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Pinky POV
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As I'm focusing on the acid I'm making. I feel something warm slowly moving against my thigh.
"Oh my god what is that!?" I freak slightly at the feeling.
I look to Eric. Who just looks away with a massive blush. Oh.
'Oh god. Seriously? Right now?' I think to myself. 'No, no. Don't, just. Getting out first.'
I ignore the, pressing issue against my thigh. And continue melting my bindings.
After that's done. I free my hands and bring them around to reach up and untie Eric's gag. Which, only makes the situation worse as my chest is pressed harder into his. And squeezing us closer together.
'Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't thi- it twitched! They can do that?!'
I untie his gag and reach down to his wrists. Melting enough for him to snap the rope himself.
'Who uses rope? What is this, the eighteen hundreds? We have duct tape and zip ties for crying out loud!' I vent internally as I try and not focus on the other issue.
"So um." Eric starts awkwardly. "You, well."
"Let's get out of here first." I say with a glare as my face burns. "Then, ignore this and pretend it never happened."
"Deal." He nods.
Now we just have to untie our feet. And get out the closet we're in.
Fuck.
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Neil "Manpower" Pelham POV
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Fuck. He's kicking my ass! And my field is almost gone! Another bullet might go through me!
*Bang*
"ARGH!" I scream as the bullet tears through my knee.
And low and behold! I was right.
Collapsing to the ground as I hold the bleeding spot. Hissing at the pain as the hollow point is now broken and imbedded in my knee.
"And with that." He says as he takes a knee to kneel in front of me and meet my eye. "I win."
"Just, do it already." I grit out. "You won, good job. I'm powerless, bloody, bruised, beaten, and quite frankly if I have to listen to another monologue from you. I might just end myself for you."
'Sorry Eric, Crystal, Sarah.' I think sadly. 'I tried.'
"Oh, I'm not going to kill you." He says. "That'd make you martyr. No, what I want, is your suffering. I'll save you the monologue and leave you with this."
He raises the gun and fires it behind me.
*Bang* *Splat*
He just killed the captain. There's nothing else that could've been.
He then removes his gas mask.
Brown eyes. Dark brown hair. A youthful, gentlemanly face with a well trimmed stubble.
"Jonathan?" I ask. "I, I thought you killed yourself. What about your deal with the PRT?"
Jonathan made a deal to retire after Marquis was arrested. In exchange for his notes on trigger events. Scarecrow was allowed to fade into obscurity as the PRT and the Brockton Bay Brigade would stop going after him.
Not that it worked out like that.
"Joseph." He says in that same, scholarly voice I remember. "Joseph, Crane. Dr. Jonathan Crane was my father. You and your movement got him killed."
"He killed himself." I point out.
"BECAUSE HIS LIFE WAS UPROOTED AND DESTROYED BY SHORTSIGHTED FOOLS LIKE YOU!" He roars as his face burns red with rage.
He closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths.
"But that's in the past." He says with a glare and a tilt of his head. "Nothing we can do about that. Is there? No, I just want you to know who turned your life upside down."
He pulls out what looks like an alarm clock mixed with a remote. Black and rectangular with two buttons on top, one red, one blue. And a digital screen with a countdown that reads two minutes.
"And this is how." He says. His face never losing that glare. "Pay attention. This is wirelessly connected to two separate gas bombs. One is in a supply closet your kid and the Case 53 girl are stashed in. The other? Is on top of a random building in Brockton Bay. The one in the closet will induce a permanent state of fear in those who inhale it. With that fear gradually increasing over time until their heart gives out."
'Oh god, Eric.' I think in panic and worry.
"The other, well, a while ago I managed to intercept a delivery." He says with a smile. "And in it? Powers in a bottle. I finally managed to crack the code on them. Turned them into a gas. The problem? Well, two in five who inhale it gain powers. One in five die. The other two, nothing happens. Blue sets off the bomb in the closet. Red sets off the bomb in the city. If you take too long and the countdown reaches zero. Then they both go off."
"Why?" I ask, my mind racing too fast for me to formulate anything else.
"Oh, because it's simple." He says with a grin. "I'm after the Brocton Bay Brigade. I want them all to suffer. And as the former leader. You're first."
He sets the device next to me and puts his mask back on.
"Oh, and before you think of ratting my identity to the PRT." He says after he stands up. "Go for it. Joseph Crane legally died in a trailer fire three years ago. And if I'm found, well, just means I don't have to bother with a civilian cover. Go villain full time." He finishes with a shrug as he puts his hands in his pockets. "See ya 'round, Manpower."
He walks off down the hall. Not a care in the world as I'm left to stare at the timer.
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Kitsu POV
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(Sadness incoming)
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"Huh?" I ask in surprise as the temp lowers further.
"Please, kill me." She says again.
"Wha, why, no!" I say. "Why? Why would, I don't, there's."
I, don't know how to deal with this. I've never had some ask me to kill them before!
"I want to die." She says, still smiling as a few tears fall from her eyes. Only to freeze and fall away.
"Well, surely you're, just upset right now?" I suggest. "Look, just, reign in the cold and we can talk about this."
She shakes her head softly.
"If I do that. The voices will come back." She says. "They're so quiet right now. I can actually think for myself."
'She's like Burnscar.' I realize. 'Just, ice instead of fire.'
"Then, then you should-" I start.
"I shouldn't have." She continues. "Now I see. I see it all. I shouldn't, I can't."
"Maureen." I say softly as I get closer. "You're not making sense, what can't you do?"
I'm running out of time here! I have maybe five or tenminutes before I freeze. And that's assuming I don't get into a fight. My fur is reducing my energy consumption. But it's only doing so much.
Not much that can be done in winds that flash freeze!
"I can't keep going." She says. "I just can't! The medicine helps, but only for a little bit. And I need more, and more! It stops working! And the voices get louder, and louder! And everyone just wants to use me! They're nice until I say no. Then they're mean!"
My energy is lowering faster. She's freaking out. I need to do something before she slips into an episode.
I enhance my perception and grab her hand. Looking in I, oh.
Oh.
Oh no.
I, I can't help her. Her brain is wired so differently. More than Lyra's even. And I can't fix Lyra's. Not without irreparable consequences.
Frontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus. All are wired in a way unlike a regular person. And her amygdala and prefrontal cortex are shot and damaged in random areas. And I see it.
The chemical traces in her receptors. Her central nervous system's damage. The recovering veins.
Heroin abuse. And it's chronic.
I, I can't fix this. I can heal her veins, revert the receptors, revive the damaged parts of her brain. But the rewired parts?
No. I can't. Not without killing her in every way that matters. I'd have to rearrange the neurons. And I don't know how to do that without removing what makes her, her. And that's not even mentioning how her Corona Gemma is actively making things worse.
Fixing her, would kill her. I'd be rewriting her brain. Rewriting Maureen. And I don't even know how. If I copy paste from someone else's brain. I'd be supplanting them into Maureen.
There's nothing I can do. This isn't something as simple as depression caused by a childhood head injury. Or hypoxic cells that just need to be revived. In those cases, I was just fixing damaged furniture. Here, the furniture was made wrong. It's not broken. It just, isn't put together properly.
And I don't have the know how to fix it. And I don't have the time to figure out how.
I come back. Return my perception to normal and look at her.
"Please." She says as she starts crying, her tears freezing as they fall. "Mama."
She's too far gone. Only Amy could have any hope of helping her. But, well, that's not happening.
So, I hug her.
"Please, I just wanna go home to Mama." She says as she hugs me back. Her voice cracking as she cries.
With dwindling energy as the winds roar. I use my biokinesis once more.
"You deserved better, than what this world gave you."
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Bonus
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Future good ending shenanigans, to bring us back from, that.
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Missy "Vista" Dallon POV
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Got me a nice purple and blue baby doll lingerie from Amazon. Got the scentless candles set. The red heart blanket.
Perfect!
It's Kitsu's birthday today. And she always gets into a mood when her birthday rolls around. So, I thought I'd set a little surprise for her.
The across from our bed is set to forged in fire. One of her favorites. Mr. Star the third through seventh all on the bed. Sushi, chicken, brisk fruit drink, cheesy mashed potatoes, a shrimp ring, and a medium rare Chicago style steak for her all in an air tight cooler to keep her from smelling anything.
Setting up surprises for her is hard. But, itis very rewarding.
I even got some massage oil just in case she wants a massage. Or to give me one.
Kitsu loves reciprocation and feels bad when the pampering is one way. In her words.
"I can't be happy unless you're happy with me."
I got sooooo lucky with her. I love her so much. Every day I wake up with this ring on my finger, I feel as though I fall just a little more in love with her.
That's good! I'm so using that! Kitsu absolutely falls apart at sappy lines like that.
*Rrrm*
Oh! That's my phone!
(Hey, just got home) -K
Oh yeah, she's in a mood.
I wait a bit until I hear her open and close the front door.
"Kitsu sweetie! Can you help me real quick?!" I shout and sit on the edge of the bed. Leaning back on my arms as I eagerly await my snuggle bug.
I know she can hear me even if I don't shout. I just think this is funny.
In a few moments, I hear footsteps running up the stairs. Wait. Those are too heavy to be Kitsu.
The door opens to reveal Mark!
"Hey Kitsu's busyeeeeeaaagh!" He squeals.
*Slam* He immediately slams the door closed.
"Aaaaaah!" I scream as I scoot back on the bed and try to cover myself with the blanket. "Wrong Dallon!"
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A/N
If only Kitsu had innate knowledge on how the brain works. Like an actual Bio-Tinker.
She could fix most of the physical damage from the heroin. She could crush her Corona Gemma and destroy the conflict drive that's pushing her towards self destruction. But she can't fix a genetic brain defect.
Damn. I made myself cry writing that last line.
On a lighter note. Did you know that there is not a SINGLE case of someone with congenital blindness having schizophrenia? We're still not sure why. Statistically speaking there should be at least 600 cases by pure ratio alone. But no. People who are born blind, are immune to developing schizophrenia.
On another note. I actually have an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. And it's one of my biggest fears to one day lose my mind.
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And remember, in the good ending. Kitsu kills Maureen.
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QUESTIONS!
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FOR NEWB!
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FOR [Conduit]!
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FOR KITSU!
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Only time!
MARK DALLON!
Grimnosh: So what was the most crazy bit of raising Kitsu that you can remember? Learning that she uses pet shampoo for her tail? That she likes going Mad Scientist on Mother Nature? That she wants to give you boobs?
Mark Dallon: Okay, so there's actually quite a bit. The pet soap was definitely surprising. Especially because Kitsu gets touchy over being referred to as a pet. The mad scientist was kind of expected. The boobs was just a joke.
The really surprising bit. Was learning how enamored she gets over the idea of romance. Anytime me a Carol are having a moment. Just out the corner of my eye, I can spot her peeking around the corner. She even spends some of her free time reading romance books that she hides under her bed.
Kitsu: You know about those!?
Mark: I'm married to the woman who got them for you.
Kitsu: She promised to never talk about it!
Mark: She didn't, but we have shared assets and I do check the credit record. Carol doesn't like romance books and neither Amy or Vicky read books. So.
Kitsu: I demand you stop talking!
Mark: I could tell them about the time I caught you posing in the mirror?
Kitsu: AAAAAAAHHHHHH!
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NEXT TIME!
OOOH!
CAROL DALLON!
Carol: Ask me something unsavory and I'll find a way to make you regret it.
Kitsu: Beware the wrath of a lawyer!
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As always, leave a comment and tell me what you think! It makes my day when you guys leave reviews and it pushes me to write faster.