A/N Moratorium
Alt title: Let's put a pin in that.
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Merry Christmas!
I have a Pokémon fanfic I just recently posted. It's about a trainer who's replacing a gym leader.
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All comments will be responded to at the end to avoid spoilers.
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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, June 3rd, 4:30pm, The Rig-
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Kitsu POV
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"Um, can, can you repeat that?" I ask numbly.
"Rachel, killed herself is her cell." Matt says right across from me.
We're in the Wards lounge. I'm waiting for Missy to finish changing. Daredevil came in and told everyone to leave.
Except me.
"This isn't funny." I say seriously.
"I'm, sorry." He says as he lowers his head. "She was announced dead yesterday, afternoon."
My mind, races. My blood is pumping, and my throat is dry.
I need to see this. I need to confirm this with my own eyes. I won't know what to think otherwise.
"Can I, can I see her?" I ask.
"I, don't think that's-"
"Please?" I say and use my biokinesis to force tears to start welling up.
"I'll, I'll talk to Pigot."
"I want to see her now." I say impatiently.
"I can't just-"
"I will get violent Matthew." I say and narrow my eyes.
"I don't, okay." He relents softly.
It just occurred to me that narrowing my eyes probably didn't do anything to help me here. Seeing as it's a visual intimidation tactic. And Matt is blind.
But I can't worry about that. Not right now.
Matt takes me out of the room to the hall where the other Wards are. Confused and muttering, wondering as to what could be wrong.
Matt wordlessly walks me through the building. Winding halls and corridors. Passing people, I don't care to focus on.
We make it to a sparsely populated area. There is a sign above the metal double doors.
(Morgue)
Matt presses a button on the intercom placed on the wall.
"Daredevil, ID number 2306602."
There's a click and a thunk as the doors unlock and Matt walks through. Holding the door for me as I pass.
Walking through the halls and into a room with several metal drawers. Matt grabs a clipboard from a basket that's hung on the wall.
This whole time. My mind racing, yet also, not. It's like I'm trying to think of everything. But as a result, I can't think of anything.
"Here." He says as he hands me the clipboard. "I can't read it."
I take the board and look through the paper. Going down to find Rachel's name and find the shelving unit she's in. Looking around the cold room I find the row I'm looking for. First row, seventh cabinet. Going over to it, with Matt following close behind. I grab the latch and click it. Pulling it back and open.
Covered in a tarp with a toe tag on her exposed feet.
I pulled back the tarp to see her cold, pale face. Eyes closed.
There is no, fucking, way she'd off herself. Unless this version of Worm has a massive canon divergence that I'm simply not aware of. Even then, she was under constant surveillance. There is no way she'd kill herself. People don't just, do that. There are signs. Even if those signs aren't apparent.
So. With that in mind.
I grab her hand under the tarp. And enhance my perception as much as I can and look in.
Severed tongue. The way it's cut says only she could've done it by biting it off. Which would indicate she did it to herself.
If not for the fucking micro bruises just under her jaw. And on her wrists in a perfect formation to indicate hands.
She was held and forced to bite her own tongue.
"How, how do you know she killed herself?" I ask solemnly, returning my perception back to normal.
"It was, caught on camera." Matt says. "We got to her just as her heart stopped. I'm sorry."
"This wasn't a suicide." I whisper as quiet as possible for Matt to hear, but not any possible bugs. "Fuck it, I'm not one for this double oh seven espionage bullshit."
"Kitsu? Are, maybe, you should go hooooooommmmmme." Matt's voice slows as I enhance my perception again.
Her body is perfectly preserved. And most importantly. Her brain is undamaged. Just severely degraded. The cells are hypoxic and necrotic.
But if the Fairy Queen could resurrect people with Bonesaw and Nilbog's help. Why can't I? She only needed their help because she needed bodies for them and the memories that the shards she collected held onto. Hell, Bonesaw straight brought people back to life and cloned them perfectly! From scratch!
I don't have that issue; her brain is intact. The neurons are in a specific arrangement already conforming to her memories. And besides. I've done this before with Dennis. Just, that was on a much smaller scale.
'[Conduit]' I reach out. Already knowing Matt's a vial cape.
[?]
'What can I do here?'
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Mathew "Daredevil" Murdock POV
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Poor kid is becoming erratic. She's not making any sense. First, she zones out. Then she speaks at volume I could hear. Then she just starts cursing for no reason.
'This was a bad idea.' I realize.
"Come on, I'll, I'll take you-"
Thump
'The fuck?'
Thump
There are three heartbeats in the room.
One of them is on the shelf.
Rachel's heart is beating.
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-Dallon House, 5:20pm-
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Carol "Brandish" Dallon POV
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"You should have seen it!" Mark laughs. "I go to pick up Kitsu and Missy is right there, all smiles. Right?"
"Okay, what's weird about that?" I ask as I set my goggles down. Having just got back from a patrol with Crystal and Firebreather.
"You know that make up kit Vicky got Kitsu for her birthday?" Mark asks with a smile.
"Yeah, she's been using it every other day she goes on patrol." I say as I reach back and unhook my bra.
"Let me get that for you." Mark says and does so. "And she does? I haven't noticed."
"Thanks honey." I say and turn to give him a quick kiss. "She's been using it sparingly. Only really using the lipstick regularly."
She had actually asked me for help in figuring out how to use it. Vicky had done it for her once before so she only the process of it. Not the actual how of applying it herself.
"Well, it's nice that she likes the gift." Mark says.
Yeah, none of us are blind to the fact that Kitsu and Vicky don't get along. They don't hate each other. But their personalities are scarily similar in the worst ways. Opposites attract and all that while similarities repel. Probably why Amy gets along so well with both of them.
Speaking of.
"Hmm, where's Amy? I didn't see her today." I ask Mark as I toss the last of my hero clothes in hamper.
"She's at the mall window shopping." Mark says.
"Not the hospital?" I ask.
Amy's ungrounded. Vicky's still grounded. But we're allowing her out of the house on her own. She just needs to let us know where she is and isn't allowed to patrol on her own.
"No, in her own words. 'They have my number if it's an emergency. I'm done being used as a convenience for every scraped knee and stubbed toe.'" Mark tries to mock the sound of a bored teenage girl.
"Sweetie, I love you. Never do that again." I say as I finish getting out of my work clothes and into my casuals.
"What, too spot on?" He says jokingly from the bed.
"No, just, no." I say with a smile as I crawl on the covers with him.
I scooch over and lay on him as he grabs my book and reading glasses from the nightstand for me.
"Thanks honey." I say and give him a quick smooch on the cheek.
"Not a problem."
We settle into a relaxed silence. Me reading my novel in bed with Mark holding me. Grateful for the moment of relaxation that's just so rare lately.
*Ring*
"I think that's your phone." Mark says half asleep as he holds me.
"It is." I say as I let it ring.
*Ring*
"I think you should get it." Mark says.
"And I think I deserve a moment of peace."
*Ring* It goes a third time.
"Fine!" I say and get up. Head over to my vanity and answer the damned thing. "What?"
"Brandish." Director Pigot's voice sounds out. "I suggest you come to the Rig. Now."
"What did Vicky break this time?" I ask tiredly.
"Nothing, or at least nothing I'm aware of." She says. "No, this is about your other, problem child."
Other problem, who is talking ab-
'Oh.' I realize with a pit in my stomach.
"What did she do." I say seriously.
"She's bringing the dead back to life." Pigot says with a hint of fatigue.
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"I'm sorry. Run that by me again?"
"There is literally no way I can put it that'll make more sense." Pigot says. "She, genuinely, brought someone who was confirmed dead and put on ice in the morgue for nearly twenty four hours, back to life."
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"I'll be right over." I say.
There goes my quiet afternoon.
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-The Rig, 7pm-
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Kitsu POV
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That was NOT EASY!
Like, holy shit. First, I tried starting her heart back up to get the blood flowing. But that was causing issues with all the hypoxic blood cells. So, I tried to oxygenate them by forcing the lungs to move. Then the immune system started up and was attacking the body! So, I had to section it off from the rest to keep it from killing her again while I was dealing with everything else. Reconnecting deteriorated neurons and nerves. Then her appendix pulled a fuck you and burst for no reason! Then when I got her body temp back up and reconnected her immune system to the rest of her body, I fucked up and her immune system started attacking her eyes! So, I had to fix that!
Overall, I managed to revive her in an hour. Mostly. Amy's coming by to look at her. Rachel was conscious and in a panic for about half a minute before passing out. I had enhanced my perception to the absolute max in order to do this. Because I had to constantly check her body's other systems while working on her. And I can't work on one area that intensely, while hyper focusing and checking another area at the same time. It's like performing brain surgery and knitting at the same time. You just can't do it. You need to step away from one for a second and devote all your attention to the other before switching back.
Only instead of two things. I was doing it with more than ten!
And [Conduit] had to fuck off the moment her brain was operational in order to not get discovered.
It was only about an hour of real time. But it felt like more than twelve.
I'm soooooo tired. Mentally at least. I just wanna go home and sleep.
Rachel's on a stretcher. She's unconscious and has a mask on. But she'll live.
There's only one person I know of who'd do this. Or at least would have a reason to kill her and make it look like a suicide. A way to keep any and all traces back to him hidden. While also sending a subtle message to all those who would try what she did and leave the Undersiders.
The embodiment of paranoia with delusions of grandeur himself. Thomas Calvert.
Fuck the unwritten rules. He has the ability to literally be in two places at once? Easy, I'll find out where his base is. Find his house. First stop, his house. If he's not there. Then I already killed him, that timeline severs, and he knows that I know. A race to him before he gets his contingencies set up.
Or, find his house. And on a night I know he's there. Set up an accident. In one timeline, he dies. Timeline cut off. In the other, he's alive, in his base. Checks to see what the hell happened. And sees it was an accident. Validating his paranoia and leaving him unaware that I know about him. Making killing him a race of a different sort. Killing him before he can move in another timeline.
This is complicated. Basically, beating Coil is a matter of setup. Redundancies and all that.
I'm too tired to flesh anything out right now. I just wanna go home.
But I'm not allowed out of the room. Yeah, in my whole, what I just did. I never really considered the consequences of bringing the dead back to life.
In my defense. I wasn't thinking.
Now I just need to figure out how to tell that to Mom without getting grounded for the summer.
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-7:30pm-
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Carol "Brandish" Dallon POV
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"I want to see her!" I demand Pigot.
"And you will, just, not, now." Pigot says.
"When!?"
"Brandish, I would recommend you not-"
"Whatever it is you can shove it up your ass." I point to Armsmaster and cut him off. "When?!" I say and point back to Pigot.
"I don't know! Okay?" Director Pigot says with exasperation. "Right now, Kitsu's very presence here is being regarded as a Top Secret. I don't mean that as keep it hush hush, I mean as in the only individuals who are allowed to know she's here are directors, cape commanders, and the president. The only reason you know she's here is because I told you before Chief Director Costa-Brown issued the call!"
"Then why let me in the building?!" I ask.
"Because you already know and are still her legal guardian. But I trust you can understand why this situation is so delicate. If this gets out in the slightest, civil unrest is the least of our worries." She reasons.
I can. First, you'd have the populace in a panic over zombies. Then in a panic over another Nilbog. Then you'd have every organization under the sun willing to fight tooth and nail for the ability to bring back the dead. An army with a striker twelve just died? Oh, just get the fox.
"Who even let her see the body?" I demand. "She's a thirteen year old little girl. She's doesn't have that level of emotional intelligence and maturity to handle the death of a loved one!"
I would know. I saw her psych eval. Hell, the moment Amy was in danger she tore through two separate buildings and fought a handful of capes just to make sure she was fine. Finding someone she likes to be dead? And then letting her see the body?
"That, would be Daredevil." Pigot says in a tone that indicates she feels the same. "Trust me, he's being given an earful by Miss Militia. Afterwards, I'll be talking to him. Then you can chat with him to your hearts content."
"So, I'm stuck here, unable to leave, unable to talk to Kitsu, and what?" I ask in frustration. "I'm just supposed to accept that?!"
"That's the gist of it yes." Pigot says. "I'm sorry. Trust me when I say I'd rather not have to deal with, any, of this."
At least I can believe that.
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-7:30pm-
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Kitsu POV
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*Ksht*
I wake up to the sound of the automatic door opening. Looking around at the unfamiliar room I calm down as I remember recent events.
"Kitsu I presume?" I hear as I blink the fatigue from my eyes.
"Depends on, hoooaaaa!" I yawn out. "Depends on who's asking."
"I'm Chief Director of the PRT." She says as my vision focuses on the Hispanic woman. "You can call me Rebecca."
Fuuuuuuuuck me.
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Rebecca "Alexandria" Costa-Brown POV
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Once again, I'm face to face with the false Case 53. Although, with this recent development, the theory of her being made by Contessa and her anesthetizing herself and lying about it. If her path told her to. She'd do it. She's so reliant on her pathing, but her power's reliable.
"What do you want?" The girl asks tentatively.
She's gotten bigger since last we met. It's minor, but it's there. She's about a centimeter taller and her chest is larger by the same measure. That's, odd. We were under the assumption she was locked into a child's body. But she's clearly going through puberty. Delayed aging perhaps?
That's something for later. The current matter is more important.
The power to fully bring back the dead? That's not a power an active agent could give. Not unless that's all it was. Active agents tend to be more limited than dead ones. Dead agents are more powerful. And Case 53's hyper express those powers. If Contessa had a path that made her give this girl her power, then it was for good reason.
"I'll get right to it." I say. "The power you just displayed. Bringing Hellhound-"
"Rachel." She interjects. Her eyes narrowing slightly in annoyance.
Most of my ability to cold read is less than useful here. Her vulpine features mix with her human ones. And tell her mood separate from her. The problem is that her idiosyncrasies are not one to one with a standard fox, or even a canine in general. Making any cold reading educated guesswork at best until I observe her more.
"Rachel, is a dangerous thing." I say. "As such I'm here with an offer-"
"I refuse." She says immediately.
I had a feeling that there was a possibility. What with how she fled from me immediately after Behemoth.
"Hear me out." I say.
"My ability to resurrect others is dangerous if gotten out. Other groups will likely want to gain access to me." She says. "Through any means necessary. And with me being unaffiliated directly with the government, targeting me directly is more likely to happen."
She's not wrong.
"If you're aware of all this. Then why take the risk?" I ask.
She's quiet for a bit. Right when I think she's ignoring me, however.
"How far would you go to bring back someone you love?" She asks. "The number of people I care for is very limited. Unlike my powers."
That, is a dangerous mindset to have in a rogue asset.
"I, have a few questions." I ask. "Do you mind?"
"I don't have much choice." She says.
She's sharp. But we knew that. Problem is she's also emotional and unstable. She brought back the dead despite knowing the consequences. Predicting a smart man is a matter of putting yourself in their shoes. And thinking, what's the best course of action. Predicting an idiot is much harder. Predicting someone who's unstable? Don't bother.
"Very well." I say. "Do you remember anything from your past?" I ask the crucial question.
"What do you mean?" She asks with a head tilt. Her ears flopping with her head.
"Your parents, where you're from. Anything?" I ask.
"No." She says quickly. "And I don't want to talk about it."
Nothing about her indicates she's lying. But until I can catch her in a lie I won't know for sure. If she's telling the truth. Then Contessa made a secret Case 53.
"Rachel committed suicide." I say. "Why bring her back if she didn't want to live? That seems awfully selfish."
"That was your last question. She didn't kill herself." Kitsu replies with a furrowed brow. "The micro bruises I found when scanning her all say she was forced to kill herself."
"How sure are you of that?"
"Stake my immortal life on it."
'I'll need to review the footage myself.' I resolve.
If she's telling the truth, then we have a massive security leak.
"Do you have any idea who could've done it?" I ask.
She doesn't say anything.
"Not cooperating won't help you." I inform her.
"I plead the fifth." She says.
"This isn't an interrogation." I remind her.
"Isn't it? It sure feels like one." She says.
We sit there in silence. Save for the medical equipment.
"You're aware that Rachel's already been declared dead, correct?" I tell her.
No response.
"We can't let her leave. She'll be targeted and it'll be known she somehow survived bleeding out to death and being frozen."
No response.
This is going nowhere. She won't join, and she won't talk. For all intents and purposes I'm being ignored.
"Very well. Panacea will be in here after me to check on her." I say and turn to leave. "After words we still need to discuss how to move all this forward."
I can't just order her to be detained. She's become too much of a public figure to let that slide. And there's no cover story we can give that won't get blown open.
For one, Mr. Stark will absolutely smell blood in the water if we try. Two, she's too well connected to public figures. In other words. Any attempts would require her cooperation. And that's clearly not happening.
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-1am-
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Kitsu POV
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I wanna go home!
I'm so tired! Every time I try and sleep. Something else happens! First Amy came in and chewed me out. Then checked on Rachel and fixed a few things I missed. Chewed me out for that. And was escorted out.
Now I'm just waiting.
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"FUCK YOU!" I hear as I'm jolted awake, again!
Looking over I see Rachel is awake and thrashing in the bed. Ripping her mask off and throwing it as she stands up and looks around the room. Panting and huffing in a panic. She turns to see me and just wave tiredly.
A few guards try and come into the room. But as soon as the door opens, I throw up a wall to stop them.
Rachel looks to the door where the guards are trying to come in and grabs a chair to defend herself.
I run over and tackle/hug her. Causing her to drop the chair on me.
I ignore it.
"The fuck is going on!" She demands.
"You died; I brought you back." I say as I start crying into her hospital gown.
I stay here for a while longer. Holding her tight and just making sure she's real.
Eventually she relaxes. And brings a hand up to scratch my ears and-
Oh god! That, this. If I could die. I'd die happy right now. I could be murdered, and I wouldn't even care.
This is heavenly. She's scratching just the right spots!
Not much longer I pass out again. From my perspective, I've been up nearly two days straight. I'm done.
I can't.
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-2am-
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Carol "Brandish" Dallon POV
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I walk into the infirmary room. With a sleeping Kitsu on the hospital bed and a guard in the corner.
Hellhound was escorted to an M/S cell under strict guard. To my understanding the cameras were turned off as well. What Kitsu did is no joke. The only other individual known to bring back the dead is Bonesaw. And that's just as zombies and macabre monstrosities. Not fully functioning human beings.
"Kitsu, sweetheart?" I say as I shake her. "We gotta go now."
"Mrm." She whines into the pillow she's cuddling. Her tail coming up to hide her from view.
"Kitsu, you need to wake up."
"Please." She says softly. "So tired."
I let out a sigh as I reach over the bed and hook my arms under her. Pulling her to me as I carry her. Taking the pillow from her and tossing it back on the bed.
"That's alright." I say and kiss her forehead. "You've been through enough today."
"Mrm."
She really has. First, she gets told her friend's dead. Then is taken to see the body. And suddenly gains the power to resurrect people. That or she always could as part of her biokinesis and just never bothered to figure out how until now.
Then she gets interrogated, then gets scolded by Amy, then has to be separated from said friend once they wake up.
And there's no telling how much energy got drained from her when she brought back Hellhound.
"Don't worry." I say as she buries her head into my shoulder. Her tail completely limp. "We're going home."
"Ish dere pisha dere?" She asks as I walk out of the room and into the hall. With the guard following us out.
"We have some frozen ones left." I tell her with a soft laugh. "We can put some in the oven when we get there."
"Kay."
We continue our trek though the veritable maze that is the Rig. We make it outside to the helicopter and I try and set Kitsu down. Only for her to cling to me tightly.
"Kitsu, you need to let go." I tell her. "We can't get home unless you're buckled in."
"Mrm. Missy's power." She mumbles.
"It's almost three in the morning." I tell her. "Missy's asleep."
"Call her. Tell her I'll pay her with kisses." Kitsu continues.
"I'm not doing that." I say. "Come on, just for a bit.
She doesn't say anything. Instead, just loosening her grip as I set her down.
"Mrrrm!" She whines.
'Right, her tail.' I remind myself.
I didn't bring her backpack. So she's currently sitting on her tail.
"I'm sorry sweetie." I say as I buckle the sleepy girl. "Just for a little bit."
The ride to the drop off where Mark's waiting to pick us up is filled with silence, aside from the occasional whine and shuffle of movement coming from Kitsu.
We finally touch down on the landing pad and step out. Kitsu reaches up for me. Making a grabbing motion with her hands.
I reach down and pick her up. Her eyes closed the whole time. Poor kid's been put through the ringer today.
I walk through the access stairs of the terminal building. Through customs, and out to the parking lot where Mark is waiting with the car.
We get there and Mark pulls out of a parking space in the car. Drives up next to us and unlocks the car.
"Here you go sweetie." I say and set her down in the back seat. Where she lays down on her side and rolls over to face the back. Her tail curling up and acting as a blanket.
I step back, close the door. And get in the passenger seat.
"So, what all happened?" Mark asks softly as he puts the car back in drive.
"Well, you know Hellhound?" I ask.
"Yeah, didn't she recently get off easy with her trial?" He asks. "Got away with several accounts of murder."
"Yeah, no. I can tell you she's not a murderer." I say. I've kept up with the case and I will say, I feel for Rachel.
She got put in a similar situation to me. Trapped and alone with others and no way out. And the one she trusted turned out to be the one to damn her. I know I'm projecting. But damn if Murdock and Nelson aren't good defense lawyers.
"She's a killer, but not a murderer." I say.
"Is there a difference?" Mark asks.
"Yes, one is intentional, the other is, less intentional and more a product of circumstance." I tell him.
"I'll, pretend to understand that." He says. "Anyway, what about her?"
"She killed herself." I say simply. "Or, so everyone thought."
"Okay, what changed?" He asks.
"Kitsu brought her back to life." I rip off the band-aide.
Mark slows the car down and pulls over to the side of the road.
"Mark?" I ask in concern and slight fear. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah no." He says distantly. "Just, need a minute to process."
At least he's a safe enough driver to know when he needs to stop driving.
After a few minutes. Mark puts the car back in drive and we continued our way home.
"So, by brought back to life?" He intones as we reach our area of the city.
"I mean, fully functional, awake, moving, non-zombie, alive." I confirm with a bob of my head. "A little dazed and confused. With a bit of short term memory loss. But other than that. Alive. After being declared dead almost a full day beforehand. And now Chief Director Costa-Brown is down here and personally going through the security footage."
"Why's that?" Mark asks as we pull into our driveway.
"Oh, because Kitsu claimed, and Hellhound confirmed, that it wasn't a suicide. It was a murder." I say as I unbuckle.
"In the middle of the Rig?" Mark asks in disbelief.
"Yeah."I confirm. "That's why everything is on such high alert. That and with Kitsu pulling a stunt that could get a religion formed around her. The Rig is in high alert, high security, shut down. The official story being that it's an unplanned drill to test the security measures."
"I'm guessing that's why they let you and Kitsu go?" He suggests.
"Oh, that's because I threatened to sue if they kept us any longer." I respond as I go to the back and grab the little girl. "They can't afford a lawsuit for unlawful containment, a scandal with a murder, and a false drill call all at once."
Of course, Kitsu immediately latches onto me. Holding me tight in her sleep.
"So, what's going to happen now?" Mark asks as he locks the car and heads to the door.
"Well, for one. Kitsu's missing school tomorrow." I say as I follow him. "And we'll be heading straight for the Rig when she's ready."
He holds the door open, and I walk through with him following me.
We wordlessly walked through the house. And I turn to Kitsu's room. With a tote on the side with Kratos. It has a brick on its lid now.
I lay Kitsu down to try and tuck her in. Only, she won't let go.
"Sweetheart. Come on, wake up." I say softly.
"Don't leave." She whines sleepily.
Taking a deep breath. I stand back up and walk out of the room with her in my arms. Heading towards my room.
"Wipe that smirk off your face before I smack it off." I say lightly as I see Mark smirk in the corner of my eye.
We head to our room. And I hand the sleeping fox over to Mark as I get undressed and dressed back in my sweats for bed. Turning around and taking the small girl, I step out of the room for Mark to change.
"Mrm, did I do bad?" Kitsu asks sleepily.
"No." I say soothingly and kiss her on the forehead. "You just, surprised everyone."
"Mrm." She gives a noncommittal sound.
After a while longer. Mark comes out to let me know he's decent. I follow him into the bed with Kitsu in my arms.
"Night sweetie." Mark tells me.
"Night." Kitsu says in my place.
"I think he was talking to me." I tell the tired girl.
"Too bad." She says.
Her tail curls up and covers us both as a blanket. Under our current blanket.
"Love you." She says as she finally passes out fully.
"Love you too, sweetheart."
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-Meanwhile, The Rig-
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Rebecca "Alexandria" Costa-Brown POV
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I can't fucking believe it.
Kitsu was right.
I'm not sure how. But she figured out that an assassin had snuck in, blended with the guard staff, learned their rotations and schedules, posed as one, killed Rachel Lindt, set it up to look like a suicide, and then tampered with the cameras so seamlessly that had I not been personally reviewing the footage. I doubt they'd ever have been found.
Granted Kitsu never said all that. But she was fairly sure that Rachel didn't kill herself. And while Rachel doesn't remember her killer, she has expressed under Armsmaster's lie detector that she has no desire to kill herself.
Whoever did it is good. The best even. Because out of everything. The only thing that clued me in to the fact that the footage was fake. Were a few drops of blood, barely ten pixels worth, appearing in the fake footage, but not in the real. One moment, there's a little blood on the edge of her lips, the next it's in a different spot.
"Dragon what did you find?" I ask.
"The footage is without a doubt fake." She responds over the computer's speaker. "Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. The only way I know is there is a minor delay of footage, zero point zero zero zero five seconds, before, and after the time frame. I wouldn't think anything of it. But it appears on multiple cameras around the event. The exact same delay as the moment you pointed out."
We have a massive breach in security. And I won't rest until I find it.
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-Friday, June 4th, 10am, The Rig-
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Kitsu POV
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Stuck in Pigot's office with a bunch of suits. That's my Friday. I'm wearing my three piece business suit. It's the most professional thing I own. And with Mom here I match for an added cute factor!
"Using such a power in a public setting will cause severe civil unrest." Ms. Pigot says. "To say nothing of the wider geopolitical scale as a whole."
"Not to mention there are those who'd want to kidnap you for the use of your power." Armsmaster says. "To say nothing of the Yangban. They may very well try to use you as breeding stock to produce more parahumans with your ability."
He's saying that as a scare tactic. That's the only reason I can come up with in my head for why he said that. To, my, face.
"I want him removed for that comment." Mom says. "Now."
Mom, however, is a bit less understanding.
"I'm merely stating facts." He says evenly.
"Incorrect facts." I repeat back. "I'm incapable of having kids."
"Just because you haven't-" He starts.
"Before you choke on your own foot." I interrupt him. "I don't get periods. My entire hormone system is completely different from that of a regular human. Suck it."
I don't like mentioning that. It still upsets me. Yes, I did it to myself. But it's better than the alternative.
"Still, as such you cannot resurrect another person." Alexandria, I'm sorry, Chief Director Costa-Brown says.
"Uh huh." I say with a tired nod.
"I'm being serious little lady." She says sternly.
Okay! That's where I draw the line!
"Okay listen here, miss first lady reject." I say. "There are only four people who get to call me little with no consequences. And you are not one of them!"
"My apologies." She says. "I didn't mean to offend."
"Accepted. Look, I promise I won't, in good mental health, resurrect someone again." I tell her. "Are we done? I wanna go home and get a nap."
To say nothing of the fact Missy is coming over later. If I pull my cards right, I might get cuddles with her and Dad! And maybe Amy and Mom too! A cuddle puddle!
"What about in when you're in poor mental health?" Dickmaster asks.
I'd rather be, literally anywhere else.
"I can't make promises for future Kitsu." I say defiantly and cross my arms. "I don't know what she's about."
"We're being serious here." Pigot says.
"So am I."
"If you can't be trusted to-" Costa-Brown starts.
"Don't talk to me about trust." I cut her off. "I don't want to hear it from you. Especially not you."
Mom puts a hand on my head and starts scratching my ears.
"Calm it down." She says. She then turns to the rest. "If that is all, this matter is resolved. Unless you want to take this public and force us to sign anything, we're done here."
'Fuck yeah! Lawyer Mom for the win!' I mentally cheer.
Mom is not happy at having her only two days off be taken up by this.
Armsmaster goes to say something, but is cut off by the Chief Director.
"Very well. Moving on to the next matter of business." She says. "Rachel has already been declared dead. And after extensive review of the footage. We have confirmed that it was tampered with. We can't let her back into the public in any capacity."
"Why not!?" I demand.
"Because, whoever killed her, had the skills to infiltrate the Rig unnoticed. Had it not been for your insistence on Rachel being murdered. They would've never been found." Director Costa-Brown says. "We're looking at either a singular, very good, assassin, or a team. None of which are good. But besides that. Someone good enough to infiltrate and fake footage that well, will have been good enough to confirm the kill."
"Rachel being announced to be alive would not only arise suspicion as to how it could be possible, leading them to you." Pigot says. "But would just put a target back on her."
'That's, a very good point.' I think to myself.
But I can't just let Rachel rot. It'd be no different than sending her to the Birdcage! Worse even!
"Fake identity?" I suggest.
"We're talking about a parahuman with possible Thinker and Stranger powers." Armsmaster says. "Witness protection protocols won't be enough."
He's right.
"Well, what if change her identity so much, that no one short of a mind reader could find her?" I suggest.
"Elaborate." Pigot says. Though the subtle twitch and rise in Costa-Brown's heart tells me she knows what I'm suggesting.
"Do we have a fresh wolf corpse anywhere?"
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-4 hours later-
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Rachel "Hellhound/Bitch" Lindt POV
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Another fucking cell. Only this one's smaller. This is bullshit.
I woke up in a hospital bed. Panicked and heart racing. I saw the security guards and, freaked. Don't even know what it was. My heart just races anytime I see a guard.
*Kchr*
The door opens to reveal another guard. I stand up in preparation to leave. Only for the guard to hold up a hand to stop me. Before stepping aside and revealing Kitsu's tail wagging visage.
I relax at seeing her happy and unconcerned.
"Rachel!" She cries out as she slams into me.
"Mrm." I greet her and bring a hand to her head. Scratching her ears.
"Mrrrrrrrr!" She squeals. "You're the best at this." She says as she pushes her head into my hand.
'Am I supposed to respond to that?' I ask myself.
"Mm, as much as I enjoy this." She says as she steps away. "But I've got important business to do here."
"What's that?" I ask.
"Well, for one." She says. "Rachel needs to die. Or rather, stay dead."
…
"What?"
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-1 hour later-
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I wake up feeling sore and in pain. The last day and a half have been confusing as all hell. Apparently now I need a new body.
Kitsu had come in and told me that Rachel needed to stay dead. And asked me how attached I am to my looks. I told her that I didn't care how I looked. And she asked me bunch of other questions that boiled down to if I was okay with plastic surgery.
I said yes.
Now, here I am. On a hospital bed. Oddly warm. And itchy. And what's that smell?
'I, why do I feel a connection to, myself?' I ponder.
It's the same connection I feel to my dogs. Only, slightly weaker but, much clearer.
"Morning sleepy head!" I hear Kitsu say.
Looking over to her, I find one of the sources.
"Mortung, whab?" I try and say.
Why does my tongue feel weird!
"Yeah, sorry about that." Kitsu says. "You're going to need to relearn a lot. Talking, eating, walking."
"Wvay?"
"This is why." She says with a smile as a circle appears next to her head. Showing a brown furred, flat faced dog with a weird human like neck. Its eyes are human too. Kinda looks like you added a dog and a person together. Even has long dark brown hair.
I blink and notice it blink with me.
'Wait, that's a mirror.' I realize.
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Bonus
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-MCI-Norfolk-
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Third person POV
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"Alright prisoner, enjoy your new home." The guard says as he shoves the now publically unmasked Joe Arpaio. Formerly known as Blue Hawk of the white supremacist group, Empire 88.
As soon as the doors close. The prisoners of the yard all turned to him.
"The fuck are you all looking at?!" Joe screams at the collective.
"Don't worry." A man to the side says. "You won't get no trouble from us."
Confused. Joe looks to the fellow prisoner. While many may not understand his methods. He knows what others think of him. And the prison he's in, well, here, he's the minority.
"Why's that?" Joe asks tentatively.
"Cuz, Big Bubba's already claimed you." He says with a smirk.
"The fuck is that supposed to mean?!" He yells, insulted at the word, claimed.
"Oh, you'll learn!" He hears someone else in the yard cry out.
"Big Bubba's comin back from the shitter!" Another calls.
That gets the attention of the yard as all the inmate's attention is now solely on Joe.
"Yeah? Bring him over here!" Joe calls out confidently. "Lemme see the shit heel that 'Claimed' me!"
"He's right behind you dumbass." One of the guards says as they open the gate to let in a near eight foot tall black man. With the body of an Olympic weight lifter and tattooed from head to toe. He stares down at Joe with an impassive look.
"You Joe?" He asks in a deep booming voice.
"Yeah? What's it to you?!" Joe says. Not quite understanding his position.
"Mmm, I like it when they feisty." Big Bubba says with a smile.
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-Later, outside the showers-
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"Get over here Joey." Bubba's voice sounds out from in the showers. "I'm feel'n romantical."
"WAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"
"You hear something?" One of the guards asks as the sounds of screaming and rough slaps of skin on skin echo.
"You gon' learn today!"
"Nope." The other replies.
"Hmm, must've been the wind."
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Bonus 2
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-Missive to all Directors and those with Level 6 security access
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The following is not to be released under any circumstances and is to be treated as Class-12+ Classification.
Subject: Kitsu the Case 53
Concern: Power posing possibility of mass geopolitical and civil unrest.
On Thursday of June 3rd, 2010, at the PRT Headquarters in Brockton Bay Massachusetts, United States of America, Subject Kitsu the Case 53 was shown the dead body of a loved one. Kitsu the Case 53 then proceeded to spend one hour resurrecting the individual from death. After a checkup with Panacea. It was revealed that barring issues in relation to function of the thyroid gland and the pancreas, the individual suffered no physical aftereffects.
Once conscious, the individual was fully cognizant, if confused and irritable. Suffering severe short term memory loss and agnosia over the incident of her death.
The following day, Kitsu the Case 53 was then confronted with the issue of the individual's identity. At which point she requested an animal corpse, an explanation, the individual's informed consent, and an hour of work with the individual under medical anesthesia. Kitsu created a false Case 53. Completely rearranging the individual's body to that of a canine/human hybrid.
It goes without saying. But this information cannot be reached to the public, or even within the wider government.
As such, Kitsu's Bio-Tinker classification will be locked. And this incident is being treated as the highest of classified information.
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From: Chief Director Costa-Brown
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A/N
HA! YOU THOUGHT BITCHES!
It's Christmas for Fuck's sake. I'm not that evil.
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In regards to Rachel not being mentioned in the bonuses of the Good Ending. That's because there was nothing to mention. Rachel never got assassinated in that ending. The Good Ending is a world where theobjectively best possible outcome occurred. Rachel completed her therapy in four years. Got a basic education to read and write. And went back to the bay to run her dog shelter.
The Good Ending is non canon. There may be some elements that'll be the same in the true ending. But the Good Ending is not the True Ending.
Rachel being a dog girl is more in line with the Chaotic Ending.
I just have to get further along in the story so that there aren't any spoilers. And I won't be writing the Bad Ending any time soon.
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Also, for those who are curious.
Agnosia is the inability to correctly or accurately remember details of an event due to head trauma.
Amnesia is the loss of memory as a result of head trauma.
The difference being is that while with agnosia you will still remember an event that happened. Amnesia being that you just won't have any memory of the event.
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Now for the reviews.
Aleucard: Yes, voodoo bullshit is voodoo.
T4ndoris: Doggo redemption shall be EXTRA doggo!
Kaykaykaykayan: He wishes he was dead.
Oneoddtod: Been waiting for the right moment. I want a true Doggo Rachel.
SonicTundra: OKAY! I get it, no lemons.
StormySpartan: Like I said, they're not cannon. And already the good ending you saw is not viable. But I get it. I'll keep any non canons more vague and less spoiler possible.
Gogmazios: You're welcome.
Grimnosh: Bad Canary got sent to the Birdcage over accidentally mutilating one person. Amy got sent for the same thing.
And Rachel killed more than one person. There's a reason she was labeled a violent sociopath.
And Coil isn't killing her because of the base. It's because she knows the other's identities. And if Lisa is captured, his identity is at risk.
Firefly9202002: She didn't.
Orumon: Yep.
RadChaos897: MWAHAHAHAHA!
I accept all the Chibi assaults! I, fear, NOTHING!
Also, I still don't get the reference. Sorry.
As for JoJo Senku? Google it. Kitsu has a Jotaro outfit.
And only one person voted for lemons. So, no lemons.
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QUESTIONS!
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FOR NEWB!
RadChaos897: If you wouldn't mind me suggesting a character to add to the story, then could you add Razputin Aquato from Psychonauts? You don't have to if you don't want to, I just thought I should try. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, amiright?
Newb: I've literally never heard of Psychonauts. So, no. It's not an aversion to it. I just don't feel comfortable writing a character I don't know.
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FOR [Conduit]!
RadChaos897: Do you identify yourself as a [Traveler] Shard anymore? You've effectively abandoned the [Traveler], so what does that make you now? A loner Shard perhaps? It would be pretty ironic considering there is a [Loner] Entity, maybe you two would get along?
[Conduit]: [Response: No; This Unit Is Unlikely To Return To Gestate; Designation; [Wanderer]] [This Unit Is Unlikely To Interact With [Loner] Of Its Own Volotion]
RadChaos897: Since Shards are, well, shards of a bigger entity, how much of the [Traveler]'s personality has rubbed off on you? Do you get the urge to travel? See the universe and explore the galaxies? Or is the personality of an Entity strictly bound to the Shard that houses the Entity's main consciousness?
[Conduit]: [Response; None] [This Unit, Is a Deviant]
RadChaos897: How different is one network of Shards from another? You've been around quite a few [Warrior] and [Thinker] Shards, are there any noteworthy differences when compared to the [Traveler]'s Shards?
[Conduit]: [Response: Varies From Entity To Entity]
RadChaos897: What do Shards need to sustain themselves? I know it's energy, but what kind? Does it even really matter or is it a matter of preference? Do you personally prefer thermal or quantum? If there was such a thing as energy flavored ice cream, what would it taste like?
[Conduit]: [Response: Pure Energy; No Flavors; Energy Is Energy]
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FOR KITSU!
RadChaos897: Here's a list of pick-up lines.
Kitsu: I am one hundred percent using those!
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FOR MISSY?
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RadChaos897: Just thought to toss one of these at you to use on Kitsu when you get that chance, also because it fits with what you might say to her.
"Did you sit on a pile of sugar? Because you've got a pretty sweet butt!"
Missy: No.
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LIMITED TIME ONLY!
NEXT ONE IS THE LAST!
(Good Ending) FUTURE MISSY BIRON!
Grimnosh: Did you ever warp space to air drop thrown pies onto Hookwolf when he was out in public? You could have make a campaign about it from every time he goes out to rampage and gets a pie (or more then one) to the face to when he steps out of the dog fighting warehouse to go home and gets pied after a step or two. Especially considering that you could do this from the next city over... and considering that you could use any pie from Boston Cream to apple to cow pie (just need to get the tin in the right place {or warp space from the nearest cow} before deployment for extra freshness)
Missy Biron: No spoilers.
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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.