(Next update. Hope you all enjoy it.)
Noble Six: Thanks.
Death Fury: Thanks.
Chapter 31: Fighters and Healers
(Resistance's Temporary Base, the next day)
Connell held his rib cage, wincing underneath his shroud.
The fight with Cassius had him on the ropes more than once. The mutant was much stronger, holding his weight with one hand easily and taking several hits before any bruises were seen.
Mainard's spirit stirred.
'You did well yesterday, but you're still in considerable pain.'
Adalbern's spirit emerged.
'As much as I hate to admit it, broken bones slow a warrior down. And the pain can make even the most hardened scream.'
'I nearly did…I don't know how I managed not to.'
'You'd broken bones during our training. You did scream more than once, luckily through the healing some of the others imparted you were able to heal. But it took more time for the pain to go away.'
'It did…and I knew that broken bones were to come…I just don't want that for the others.'
Mainard nodded at this.
'You're a good lad.'
'Aye.'
The berserker nodded.
'Still, be strong, boy. You need to be.'
Many of those gathered in the base watched him slowly walk towards the meeting room. He opened the door, finding those that had become leaders and his closest allies sitting or standing in the room.
The two large, dark dogs that they'd found stood up, tails wagging. Nadja and Garin he'd named them, as they seemed to be mainly King Shepherd or German Shepherd mixed with another large dog, perhaps Malamute or Akita. He scratched both dog's heads as he passed them.
"What news?"
"You should be resting."
Connell turned to Absolute Zero.
"We heard Cassius break some of your ribs. You're not in any condition to fight right now."
"He's right. You can listen, but you need to take it easy."
Over Watch hadn't activated her device, she simply stood there.
"Fatale gave me something, it's been helping."
"I only gave you a small bit, you'll heal soon enough. But you were beaten very badly."
"What did you give me? I haven't ever tasted something like that."
"It's a secret healing elixir."
"Tasted…only one thing I could think of maybe…but I'm not sure exactly…there was so much blood in my mouth I couldn't tell what it was."
Fatale nodded.
"Don't worry about it."
Connell nodded.
The spirit of Mary Read emerged.
'Don't argue with her, lad. She helped you.'
'I'm not…far from it.'
"Well thank you, again."
Fatale nodded.
'You're liable to get your arse kicked. I aint saying it's skilamalink or not…but she's helping you.'
'She is.'
Connell sat in an empty chair.
"I'm not here to cause a fuss. Just here for any updates."
Over Watch nodded.
She touched her device a few times and a holographic screen appeared. It showed images of the Legion Sentinels.
"There's reports of a new Sentinel factory being produced outside New York. President Gyrich is planning on having squadrons of them patrolling the city alongside the police when they have their new armor. I've heard that some of the shipments will be disguised as supply trucks for supermarkets."
"That could make targeting them controversial."
Over Watch turned to Eren.
"If we attack them, it may seem like we're stealing from the people. That would give S.H.I.E.L.D. a lie to tell to the public to further support them."
Absolute Zero nodded at this.
"We have to make them reveal themselves."
Over Watch smirked.
"I have a few ideas."
"Please share."
Over Watch nodded to Connell.
"We could have our contacts set up diversions or set up bait for the men inside the trucks to arrest them."
Eren shook his head.
"Too risky. It would give away their faces."
"Only if the authorities think they're helping us."
Absolute Zero nodded at this.
"It could work. And we'd need more guys to help carry the armor away."
"Or you could go with my other plan."
"What is that?"
"I have to work in the labs they've set up. Come in and steal the armor, they're are also reports they've got a few prisoners there."
"Not bad, but they'd later ask how we knew the location of the lab to take the armor and free the prisoners."
Over Watch nodded.
"There may be a solution to that."
The dogs, Fatale, and Connell turn their heads to the door.
The pyromancer stood with another young woman, both smiling.
Fatale grinned.
Connell nodded at this.
"Ok, I'm out for this one. You all will need to decide who's running the group in the meantime."
"I'll lay the plan out. Someone else can be the field commander."
Connell nodded to Over Watch.
Fatale smiled.
"Let's see where the mission takes us. But we'll need a few more people going with us. And have a group waiting for extraction."
"AZ, you pick them out since you've been helping train them."
Absolute Zero nodded.
Over Watch smiled.
"Let's begin."
(Unknown location, a few hours later)
Gigi and several other scientists and technicians stood next to tables, using lasers and other tools on suits of body armor.
"We should be done soon."
Gigi nodded to the man. She looked around, several men in S.W.A.T. gear stood around the room.
"A few more adjustments, can't be too careful."
"Hurry up and get it done."
An older man stood in the room, dressed in an officer's uniform.
"We're doing what we can commissioner."
"Do it faster. The freaks and criminals are starting to run rampant. My officers and trainees need that armor to stand a chance. Soon as we get it and the Sentinels are ready, we'll get every one of those monsters."
There was a scream. Those working on the armor flinched and gasped, eyes wide. The commissioner chuckled.
"Thinks he's a healer but can't heal himself."
Gigi gulped at this. She could hear the young man's screams from his cell floors below. Her fingers twitched and ached as she shaped the metal and fabric.
Suddenly there was a roar.
All those gathered jumped, eyes wide. The armed men pulled out their guns as the commissioner shrieked.
"What the hell was that?!"
The sounds of gunfire and cries of agony rang out.
The commissioner frowned.
"Flank the doors! Get the scientists out of here! Take the armor n-"
The doors to the room and part of the wall flew off.
B-Hulk bellowed as he charged through and spread his wings, gunfire peppering him. He growled as he held his hands in front of his face.
"Get him!"
The commissioner ran forward, firing.
Fatale dived under one of her friend's wings then leapt at the commissioner. The haymaker slammed into the man's face, sending him to the ground.
"Now!"
Ice shot into the room, covering the gun barrels as Absolute Zero charged in.
Some of the scientists raced to grab the body armor, but fire raced through the room. A young woman in a dark coat and mask threw fireballs at the tables. Gigi's eyes widened as one flew by her.
She screamed and ran.
One of the officers ran forward, pulling out a baton. He slung it at Absolute Zero, but a hand was in its way. Absolute Zero formed an ice blade and cut through the metal and then slammed the pommel against the man's head.
B-Hulk knocked men out with gentle chops to their heads.
A few people in masks, hoodies, and street clothes charged in. Their baseball bats, chains, wrenches, and other makeshift weapons clashed against the batons of the officers.
Fatale held the commissioner up by his throat, he looked to the side. The fire blazed and roared, covering the body armor and watched them slowly burn and melt.
"No."
Fatale grinned as she backhanded him. The man hit the floor, eyes closed but still breathing.
B-Hulk spread his wings, roaring. The officers still standing grabbed the commissioner and their fallen friends, pulling them out.
(Floors below, present)
Convict held up one man in the air with each hand before slamming them against the wall; Jackson grunted as he charged through the men, his horned head driving through the line of men. As they made an opening, more masked allies with makeshift weapons ran in. They battered and crossed metal with the officers, bashing their guns away first.
"Help!"
A group of people were held in a large box. A man in the room held a blowtorch, lighting it.
"This is what's coming for you freaks."
Some of the armed allies rushed forward, but were blocked by more officers. Convict glowered at the sight.
She rushed forward, battering aside a large officer with a simple backhand. Jackson ran beside her, barreling through another line of men as they tried to mob them.
Convict screamed as she ripped the metal door off its hinges.
The man in the room lunged, the blowtorch's fire burning her. Convict growled through gritted teeth as the fire burned her.
Jackson growled as he charged at the man, but a few officers tackled him. He grunted and shouted as he fell to the ground, wrestling the men.
Convict grunted as she backhanded the blowtorch out of the man's hands and slung him against the wall. The man screamed as he hit the wall with a loud crack.
She turned to the prisoners, breaking their restraints. A young man grunted as he hit the floor. Convict held him up.
"We've got to get you out of here."
"Wait."
The man pressed his hands to his body, a yellow glow emerged from them. The burn marks on his body began to heal.
Convict's eyes widened.
"You're a healer."
"R-Right. Here."
He gently pressed his hand to where she'd been burned. It was only a small scorch mark, her natural resistance being much stronger than a human's. But the fire still left a mark until the healing hands freed her flesh from it.
Convict smiled at him.
"Thanks."
The young man nodded before he passed out. She held him over his shoulder.
"We're moving!"
Jackson growled as he tossed away the men that tackled him then turned around, barreling through more men. Convict ran behind him with more of their masked friends.
(Nearby alley, several minutes later)
Both groups gathered around. The young woman from earlier held her hands up, covered in a blue mist. A few armed masked individuals stand around her.
They heard grunting and several footfalls and quickly turn, weapons up.
Fatale and the others rush towards them, each of them carrying the vests of armor except for Convict who still carried the young man.
"We've got them all. Come, we need to go."
The young woman smiled and the mists from her hands disappeared.
(Inside building, present)
Where the vests were now are melted pieces of random metal and cloth, revealed through the mist to have been disguised as the vest of armor.
(Resistance's Temporary Base, several minutes later)
The group hurried into the room.
Connell and the others waited for them. Their leader still held his side as he nodded to them.
"Well done."
Fatale smiled, nodding.
The prisoners gasped at the sight of Gigi.
"W-Wait, she's-"
"On our side."
Connell stepped forward.
"Y-You're-"
"I am."
"So the news was true?"
"I was seriously injured in our last fight against a mutant traitor, Cassius. I couldn't help in this fight but I'm healing. You have these brave people to thank for your rescue and for the armor that will be replicated and gifted to many of those here."
One of the prisoners looked around, eyes wide.
"I-I don't want to fight. I was just running from-"
Connell held out a hand to them.
"We're not asking you to fight. Saving you was the right thing to do. You are welcome to stay with us. You'll be given food, shelter, medication, and protection. We have a healer, she'll get you all seen to."
Connell turned to walk away.
"If I may say, sir."
Connell turned, seeing the young man Convict had been carrying standing.
"I can help. My mutant power is biokinesis, I can heal people…I was healing people under suspicion of helping those on the run from the registration…they found me while I was healing a man they'd beaten, a human. They beat me, thought it was funny I couldn't heal myself when they had me chained up."
Connell didn't say anything, just listened.
"I'm not much of a fighter…but I want to fight back…and heal as well."
Connell stepped forward, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"We need fighters and healers here."
The young man smiled as did Connell.
"See to those that came with you, heal any who need it. Our war has barely begun."
To be continued…
(Hope you all enjoyed the update.)