(Here's the next chapter guys.)
Noble Six: You could say that.
Chapter 8: The Catalyst
(New York University, moments later)
The armed agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. leveled their weapons at Humphrey, who stared in fear and shock.
"Wh-What? W-Why?" Humphrey gasped, eyes wide with fear.
"Don't play with us! We are of everything." One of the agents grunted.
'No! I-It can't be! I've been so careful! Howw?!' Humphrey whimpered in his mind.
Some of the agents carefully moved from either side of Humphrey, walking closer to his left and right sides. Humphrey is frozen, trying not to move to set these men off. Connell's eyes are wide with surprise as he watches this, the sudden scene overwhelming him with shock.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Connell shouted.
Everyone turned in surprise to the young man, having not noticed him in the heat of the moment.
"This is none of your concern! Don't meddle in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s and the government's business. Return to your usual business." One of the agents stated.
"Your pointing guns at my friend here, so it is my business." Connell grunted, eyes narrowed focusing his irritation.
He walked to the side of his friend, eyes not leaving the agents. He crossed his arms, the look on his face not losing any of its anger.
"Move! Now!" One of the agents growled.
"No! Tell me why you have guns at my friend! What possible reason could you have to do that to someone hasn't hurt anyone!" Connell snarled, fists clenching.
The agents suddenly burst out in laughter. Connell's face lost some of its color, fearing he realized why the agents are here.
"Why are you here?" Connell stammered, hoping he wouldn't get the answer he thought he was going to get.
"Humphrey Salem is in violation of the Superhuman Registration Act." One of the agents replied smugly.
Connell felt like his heart stopped, everything in his mind and body went numb.
"Didn't know he's a superhuman did you? Well, the freaks need to be kept in check." An agent chuckled.
"By bigots like you?" Connell scoffed, his face now contorting with anger.
The agent's smile instantly vanished, a scowl replacing it.
"He still has to register, so move!" The agent growled, all humor having left his voice.
"If you're the ones 'in command' it seems like you just want to control them!" Connell countered.
The agent grinned smugly, laughing at the young man.
"You don't even have the decency to even try to deny it." Connell hissed, his voice filled with disgust.
"You don't know anything kid. These freaks are dangerous, better to have them under our control than let them be free." The man chuckled.
"You're an asshole." Connell growled.
"As much as I'd love to show this one who's boss…protocol is protocol…we have to take him in and have him sign with the act. Than he comes back and everything's fine." The agent said.
Connell's teeth grinded against one another, a growl rumbling in his throat. His fists clenched, his knuckles crackling.
"It doesn't matter what species he is! Putting a control collar on him is wrong!" Connell shouted.
"I don't care if we treat him like an animal." The agent scoffed.
"No species should be treated so terribly." Connell scoffed.
"Sir?" One of the agents stated.
"You're right, this conversation is pointless. Knock this idiot out, take the mutie. He knows what will happen if he refuses to sign." The agent stated.
"You bastard. You bigoted bastard." Connell hissed, tears slowly dripping from his eyes.
Connell couldn't believe it everything that was happening. He was shocked to find out Humphrey is a mutant, but that was understandable while his friend kept that secret from him. But what concerned him is how S.H.I.E.L.D. and the government discovered Humphrey's secret, he had always been so reserved and secretive, even with Connell, who was the same with his own secret. But then he heard chuckling a bit of a distance away. He recognized the owners of the voices as he saw their faces in the crowd massing to witness this scene.
"You…sadistic…" Connell growled, fists clenching tighter and shaking angrily.
The three young men laughed, the crowd around them unsure what to think or how to respond.
"Do you know what you've done?!" Connell growled.
"The muties are at their best when under control. Society can't have dangerous, unregistered freaks running around where normal people can get hurt." One of the trio stated.
Connell's eyes twitched angrily. Humphrey lifted his hand to his head, rubbing his forehead. He mumbled in pain. Connell turned to his friend, his anger switching with concern.
"Humphrey? What's wrong?" Connell asked.
"Water…I need to rejuvenate myself." Humphrey gasped.
Humphrey raise his hand, leveling it towards the water fountain.
"ON THE GROUND, MUTIE! ON THE GROUND NOW!" One of the agents bellowed, raising his weapon at the young man.
"I need the water…please." Humphrey gasped.
The water slowly made its way out of the fountain, the liquid making its way to his hand.
"TAKE HIM DOWN!" The agent shouted.
"NNNOOO!" Connell cried out.
The men fired, the blasts from their guns surged forward. Connell tried to run to his friend, but the weapons' energy blast hit their marks. Humphrey hit the floor with a thud. Connell's eyes were wide with shock and terror. He ran to his friend's side and dropped to his knees with an arm around the back of his friend's neck. Connell stared in horror at the burnt hole on his friend's chest, blood boiled and around his chest.
"Humphrey no! No! No, no, no, no, no, no!" Connell whimpered, tears starting to roll down his face.
"C-Connell…it was just…for rejuvenation…I need water…to keep my body healthy…or…I…" Humphrey gasped, his voice thick with pain.
"Did you assholes hear that?! HE NEEDED IT TO SURVIVE! NOT ATTACK YOU!" Connell roared, despair and rage in his voice.
"Please! It's just a trick! He'd attack us…holy shit." One of the agents gasped.
Humphrey's skin started to shrivel as if he was a sponge losing moisture.
"I'm sorry…Connell…you were…right…this…can't be answered…with words…you have to…fight back…goodbye…my friend…" Humphrey stammered, a tear slithering down his face as his life ebbed away.
Connell cried, tears flooding down his face as he held his friend.
'I'm sorry, boy. I wish you didn't have to learn like this.' One of the voices said.
"Well…that's one less possible threat to deal with. We just have to take the body to-" One of the agents grunted.
"You're not touching him." Connell hissed.
He looked up at the group, his face no longer awash with sadness but now burning with anger. The agents scoffed as they approached, reaching to take the body. Connell grabbed his arm and forcefully pushed him back. The agent stared in bewilderment at the action. Connell grunted as he stood up, vicious eyes glaring at the man.
"Please kid. You don't want to do this." One of the agents said.
"You murdered my friend!" Connell bellowed.
"Murder? Murder is a matter of perspective. He broke the law; he was criminal to be put down." One of the agents said.
"Murder is a matter of perspective, you're right on that part. You just killed a civilian whom was just trying to keep himself alive, not attempting to harm anyone…you did murder him from my perspective." Connell snarled, teeth clenched.
"Leave. Now." The agent growled.
"You killed my friend, you asshole." Connell snarled.
The agent raised his weapon. Connell grabbed the blaster's barrel and pushed it away.
"You little shit. Grah-" The man growled, throwing a punch with his left fist.
'Right arm up.' One of the voices said.
Connell instinctively responded to the command, resulting in his arm blocking the man's attack. The agent stared in shock, but then pulled back his hand.
'Kick below the chest.' The same voice stated.
Connell kicked out with his right foot, the attack sending the man tumbling to the ground. Another of the agents rushed forward, about to aim his gun at the young man.
'Charge him! Hit him with your shoulder!' Another of the voices commanded.
Connell rushed forward, leaning into the charge and braced himself. He slammed into the man with his left shoulder, sending the agent staggering back.
'What the-? Who?' Connell gasped in his mind.
'Stay focused boy! The battle isn't over yet!' Another voice bellowed.
"That's it! If you want to be a criminal, then you'll be treated like a criminal! Fire!" One of the agents snarled.
The crowd behind them gasped as they fired their blasters. The energy blasts raced forward.
'Dodge boy!' One of the voices cried out.
Connell leapt away, but the blasts hit the ceiling above him. The ceiling fell to pieces and caved in where Connell was standing.
"Sir! Did we just-" One of the agents gasped.
"That side of the building had been evacuated before we confronted the mutie. No civilian casualties, just some collateral damage." The leader of the group scoffed.
The crowd murmured, unsure of what to make of the scene.
"Alright back to your dorms! Damage Control will take care of this mess. We're done here." The leader of the group ordered, sending the crowd away then left with his squad.
(Several hours later, Adirondack Park)
A hooded figure walks through the woods, a backpack on their shoulder and a long stick in their hand. They come into a bit of an opening in the woods, trees surrounding it with a river not to far away. They take off their hood, Connell's face is revealed.
'This will do.' One of the voices stated.
To be continued…