(Next update. Hope you all enjoy it.)
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Chapter 34: Internal and External Struggle
(Resistance's Temporary Base, a few hours ago)
Convict and Eren stood around the table, Over Watch preparing something on her device.
"AZ and the others should be there in a couple of hours."
The two nodded.
"Best of luck to them…as with us."
Over Watch nodded to Eren. Convict sighed.
"Why did he pick us to lead this? Why not tell us?"
"Because this is a truck carrying mutants and their human families. And someone you know is helping to protect the convoy."
Convict's eyes widened and her hands clenched.
"Cassius."
Over Watch nodded.
"But he's not alone."
Gigi pressed something on her device.
A holographic image of a young woman was revealed, placed next to Cassius.
"Chayse, a hunter of mutants and inhumans. Her ability is power mimicry, copying any mutant, inhuman, or mutate…she enjoys using the same abilities of superhumans against them. She has more than a few kills on her belt. Like Cassius, she's a trained killer."
Convict's eyes narrowed on her.
"She's gonna regret her life choices."
Eren patted her on the back.
"We've got some friends for her to meet. Kenna and the others ready?"
The pyromancer had been picked ahead of time for the mission. Her fire magic was fierce and deadly, using it like an extension of her body as she fought. The sorceress who had helped teleport the armored vests away also had joined up.
"Give them a few minutes to prepare. Who else?"
"Jackson."
Eren nodded at Convict's choice, the inhuman was a clear brawler and Convict was glad to have had him beside her in the earlier fight.
"What of the new guy? The healer?"
Eren shook his head.
"He's still in training, but only to defend himself. He doesn't want to fight, he's been mostly helping those who go out on missions. Boon was a good name for him. Fits him. I told him though he may not get a choice if a fight comes to him though, so he said he'd be prepared."
Convict nodded.
"These bastards will pay for what they've done."
Eren's breath shuddered.
"There's more? Isn't there?"
Over Watch nodded.
"The guards with them are killers as well…they've gone on hunts with Chayse to kill super powered beings…they enjoy it…and if this truck is full of prisoners…they're itching to kill someone."
Eren's face twitched, cheeks burning as he nodded. He turned to Over Watch.
"Can you go get them ready? I've got to prepare."
Over Watch nodded and left.
Convict looked to Eren, who walked to a corner of the room. He placed his hands on either wall.
"Mom…Dad…I'm so sorry I wasn't there…wasn't strong enough…but I will avenge you both…I promise."
Convict's eyes widened. What Eren had said had been a whisper…but in his grief, he spoke louder than intended. Tears ran under Convict's mask. Eren turned back to her, eyes a little wide.
"You lost someone to the registration too?"
"I-I-"
Over Watch walked back in. A group stood outside, including those they named.
"They're ready. I'll stay in contact during the mission. Good luck."
Eren nodded as did Convict. Both walked up to the group, the former shifting into his namesake.
"Who's ready to fight S.H.I.E.L.D.?"
The group cheered.
B-Hulk patted Eren on her shoulder, nodding.
(Another part of Manhattan, a few hours later)
Convict hid behind a small alley, B-Hulk and the sorceresses on a roof, and their allies spread around in a 30 yard wide area. They hid behind stairs, behind trash cans, whatever and wherever they could find a place to hide.
Convict put a finger to her comm.
"Anyone? Visual?"
"Not yet, but they'll be here soon."
(Unknown location)
Over Watch looked over a wide screen, a bird's eye view of the area. Like before, S.H.I.E.L.D. had chosen a path with no civilians in the area. And the space of the road was wider than before.
"You've got this guys."
(Back on location)
Convict sighed.
"Thanks."
"Hold on."
One of Convict's hands clenched the wall beside her, eyes narrowed.
"Where are they?"
"They just turned the corner."
B-Hulk grumbled.
"Closer you bastard…closer."
The two cars and semi between them approached.
"Hold on guys, there's a helicopter approaching"
Over Watch's warning came just a few minutes before the machine appeared in the distance.
Convict frowned.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s?"
(Over Watch's location)
Her screen zoomed in on the helicopter, revealing men with vests that have the organization's name and the men in the back armed with sniper rifles.
(Ambush location)
"Oh yeah, they have snipers in there."
Convict grumbled.
"Egress! Get me into that copter!"
The new sorceress motioned her hands, blue mist surrounded them. A portal appeared before Convict and she leapt in.
The snipers looked over the area. One got a glimpse of B-Hulk and those on the roofs. He aimed his gun on Egress. But a portal appeared before him. Convict leapt out with a shout, throwing her fist and breaking the gun into two before tackling the men inside. They screamed and shouted, throwing punches and kicks at her. Convict all the while grabbed each of them and knocked them out with a swift punch, unfazed by the attacks.
The cars and truck stopped, the men exiting the vehicles. Cassius and Chayse looked up at the sight. Cassius frowned.
"It's them."
"Now!"
Kenna shouted as she shot out a fireball from each hand, then twisted her hands in the air. From where each fireball landed, the flames encircled the area and imprisoned the group.
"Attack!"
B-Hulk bellowed, leaping down and batting aside a few agents. Jackson grunted as he leapt over the flames, slamming his horned head into one of the agents. He growled as he charged another, battering him aside.
The mutant with a dark stone body charged through knocking aside an agent then another. He bellowed as he slammed his fist onto the road, concrete blocks jutted out and knocked out a few more men.
Some of the agents took aim at B-Hulk and Jackson, but Egress formed several portals. Their allies charged through them, hacking at the guns with their new weapons.
Chayse glowered.
"Stay in formation! We'll cut out this cancer!"
Chayse gazed at B-Hulk then leapt forward, throwing her fists forward. B-Hulk raised his hand, blue energy surrounding it. A turquoise shield blocked her punch. Chayse's eyes winded.
"You monster!"
B-Hulk frowned as he threw his other hand forward, a blast of turquoise energy hit her midway and sent her flying back.
"The only monsters here are you!"
He pointed at her condemningly. Chayse raised her, turquoise energy flying from it only to be blocked by another energy shield.
Convict grunted as she pushed past the knocked out forms of the men and grabbed the man flying, knocking him out with a backhand.
"This thing's about to crash!"
"Egress! Get her out of there!"
Over Watch's command spurned Egress to turn and throw out a portal. Convict leapt through and landed on a rooftop. She turned quickly and caught the helicopter as it fell down then lowered it onto the building.
Egress looked at Convict, eyes wide.
"How much can you lift?!"
"Best guess…15 tons?"
Egress chuckled and Convict smiled. The former made a portal, nodding to the fight. Convict nodded and charged through. She leapt out of another portal, flying at an agent and slamming him into one of the cars and sending it skidding to the side.
She turned, seeing her friends. One grunted as they slung a mace at one of the agents, the weapon being blocked by the agent's gun. Another shouted as they smashed a shield into a man's chest and sent him falling to the ground.
Convict gasped and panted, looking around. She turned, seeing B-Hulk throwing out an energy shield blocking the strikes of Chayse and Cassius.
"No."
Convict bellowed as she charged forward, Chayse to the ground. Cassius turned, eyes on Convict. He frowned.
"You."
Convict growled, throwing Chayse towards Cassius. But he caught her and held her steady. Both glowered at her and B-Hulk, who skidded to her side.
"This the freak you told me about?"
"Yes."
"She'll make a fine trophy."
Convict spat at their feet.
"You betrayed your own people, both of you!"
B-Hulk cracked his knuckles.
"Where I come from, you don't turn your back on your own. Betraying your own people? That's low. Really damn low."
Chayse spit at his feet.
"Humanity is the only true people. I've watched mutants and inhumans proclaim they're better than humanity, but they're only just freaks."
"Enough talk!"
Convict screamed, rushing forward and slamming into Chayse. She screamed as she charged into the car, denting it. B-Hulk growled as he rushed Cassius, who pulled out guns that fired blasts of energy. B-Hulk raised his hand, an energy shield blocking it.
"Damn you!"
Cassius frowned, rushing forward. He slid under the shield, chopping at B-Hulk's ankle. B-Hulk grumbled at the hit, twisting around and slinging one fist forward. The mutant agent sidestepped the attack and leapt up, punching at his foe's face.
"Mutant bitch!"
Chayse slammed her elbow into Convict's back, knocking her to the ground. Chayse gazed into her eyes, frowning. She grabbed her and threw her against the door, punching her in the face again and again.
"I've watched freaks like us kill humans by the dozen, if only you could imagine how good it feels for me to kill monsters."
Convict frowned, eyes narrowed. She slammed her arms down on the arm holding her against the car. Chayse grunted as her arm flew down and watched as Convict slung a haymaker. The mutant killer skidded across the ground.
As she picked herself up, Convict pushed herself off the car.
Chayse grunted as she pulled out a gun, firing energy blasts at her target. A turquoise shield formed in front of Convict. B-Hulk held out one hand in the direction of his ally. Convict nodded to him.
Chayse picked herself up and rushed forward. Convict and her collided into one another, wrestling and throwing punches. The mutant hunter grunted as she blocked a haymaker and struck out with a jab. Convict grunted and gasped as Chayse landed more blows, brushing hers aside. She was then kicked back into the car.
Convict grunted and gasped, blood in her mouth.
"Over Watch…any suggestions?"
"She's using your strength against you…you beat Cassius because you were stronger and overwhelmed him. You've gotta outsmart her. Go for her weaknesses."
"Right."
Convict grunted as she grabbed the car and slung it at Chayse. The mutant hunter glowered as she batted it aside. Convict rushed forward. Chayse grinned, running at her. Both collided, grabbing each other's punches. Convict frowned.
"Of course you're too afraid to fight without your powers. You can't beat those you hate without stooping to our level."
Chayse frowned.
"Fight fire with fire, freak."
Convict kicked at her, knocking her back.
"You know you can't beat us without using your powers! I've met people with superiority complexes like you! Thinking themselves better than others and boasting that they're stronger, smarter, or whatever…but you're just weaker."
Chayse's eyes widened, rushing forward.
B-Hulk grunted as he slammed his fist down, missing Cassius as the mutant hunter dodged to the side. Several jabs landed along his long blue arm. B-Hulk grunted as he brushed him aside. Firing an energy blast at him, but with Cassius ducking under it.
"How many brothers and sisters have you and your friend murdered?! How many lives have been ruined and lost because of your insanity?!"
Cassius scoffed, firing off blasts from his gun only for B-Hulk to shield himself.
"Those who remain a threat to humanity have to be stopped! It doesn't matter who they are!"
"You've likely destroyed families!"
B-Hulk roared, flying forward and slashing his hand at Cassius. But the mutant hunter slid under the strike, firing off more blasts. Each hit B-Hulk in the back, receiving grunts of agitation.
"If they had families or were a part of families, their bloodlines were corrupt! They had to be cleansed!"
B-Hulk's eyes widened.
"...Y-You're…You're mad…do you have any idea what you've done?!"
He growled, firing more energy blasts from his hands. Cassius grunted as he fled and dodged the attacks. He fired back with his blaster, only for the energy shields to absorb the blasts. B-Hulk frowned, racing forward. Cassius leapt at him, but was knocked down by one of the wings.
B-Hulk knocked the blaster aside with another wing. He growled down at Cassius.
"You'll suffer for this!"
Convict dodged Chayse's strikes, anticipating where each blow would go. She slid a hand under her foe's haymaker. She dodged around, pulling Chayse's arm behind her. The mutant hunter grunted in pain.
"I know how low you feel. You're ashamed of your gift and you wish to murder your own people because of this hateful organization you love to claim allegiance to. You think mutants are the only ones who kill with satisfaction? How many of our people have been murdered by humans?!"
Chayse threw her head back, but Convict tilted her head to the side and kneed her enemy in her back. Chayse grunted as she fell to her knees.
"You're a disgrace."
Chayse turned at Convict's snarl, only to be met by another punch. She hit the ground, unconscious and bleeding from her mouth.
Convict spit at her side.
B-Hulk grunted as he grabbed Cassius by his leg and slung him high in the air. He flew up, snatching him and then plunged towards the ground.
"I've seen too much death at the hands of men like you! I promise you that your internalized bigotry will not save you or your masters!"
Cassius slammed his head into B-Hulk's. But he cried out in pain, his forehead bloodied and scarred. B-Hulk bellowed as he slammed him into the ground.
Cassius gasped, breathing slowly.
B-Hulk stood over him, frowning and wings spread. He snarled before hurrying off.
Egress formed more portals to which Kenna shot fireballs through them. The flames shot out other portals, knocking into agents and sending them flying.
B-Hulk and Convict looked around, seeing their allies knock out and rout. Both gasped and grunted, chests heaving.
The resistance fighters ran to the back of the truck, opening the doors. A few agents rushed them, but were grabbed by the extending arms of the rocky mutant.
The families gasped, eyes wide, holding each other.
"It's alright, we're not here to hurt you. We've got to get you out of here."
"B-But they'll find us…they nearly killed some of us last time some of us tried to run."
"We'll get you somewhere safe."
The families grunted as they made their way out.
B-Hulk looked back up to the roof.
"Egress, get us out of here."
The sorceress nodded, forming several portals which all made their ways through.
(Resistance's Temporary Base, a few hours later)
Eren and Convict sat in the base, sighing. A couple of the dogs sitting with them.
The new healer, Boon, walked towards them.
"You should really have me help you with that."
"I-I'm fine."
Convict winced, clutching her chest.
Eren frowned and spoke softly.
"Let him heal you…I know you're trying to be strong…but you can't let yourself stay in pain."
Convict sighed, nodding.
Boon placed his hands on her, the yellow glow emerging. Convict gasped and sighed, feeling herself heal faster than ever. She leaned back in her chair.
"T-Thanks."
Boon smiled and nodded.
Everyone turned as they heard footsteps.
The armed initiates got their weapons ready, forming into blasters, blades, and other weapons. Jackson snorted, striking a cloven hoof against the floor. The dogs barked, tails wagging.
In walked Connell and the others.
The group relaxed.
Connell looked to the group, seeing the families.
"Good job, guys."
Convict and Eren nodded.
"How was your mission?"
He turned, revealing the people his team freed.
Eren smiled, nodding.
"Glad y'all are back."
"Thanks. What happened?"
"We got families that need out of the city. Your guys can get them out right? Use the safehouses for short housing."
Lona nodded.
Connell walked over to her and Richard.
"Time to show them."
Those there looked at Lona and her friends, confused.
Lona nodded to Connell. She and the others shifted into their bestial forms. Those there gasped, seeing the forms of animals like lions, tigers, bears, jaguars, leopards, panthers, mountain lions, wild dogs, foxes, boars, and others before them.
Connell turned to his friends.
"Turns out we had more magic on our side than we thought."
Fatale chuckled.
Those gathered watched as the shifters turned back into their human forms.
Connell looked to his friends.
"You all ok?"
Convict grunted.
"We have more hunters to deal with…more traitors and sadists…one of them is a power mimic…she's dangerous."
Connell nodded.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. likely has more…and they're another threat we will have to face…but we can do it."
The resistance nodded.
"Let's get everyone patched up, there's more work to be done."
To be continued…
(Hope you all enjoyed the update.)