Tales of The Multiverse
Chapter 13
The Old Ones, The Numan, and the Blue Blur.
A fair bit of time had passed since the operation, as brief as it was, was performed on Neifirst. As such it was nothing overly serious, but the nature of it did require a bit of attention to actually heal the damage. Regardless though, the process was quick, and her recovery expedient. She had already just finished slipping on her new one piece, it was identical to her other one, just now minus the hole in the back of it. After that she placed one boot beside the bed before she then put the other upon the edge of the bed, gingerly sliding her leg into it before pulling at the boot to snug it up. After that she then proceeded to do the same for her other leg.
As she was finishing up, Haman entered the room.
"Mother!" she exclaimed before running up to her, prompting Neifirst to turn around. "Shouldn't you be resting!?"
"Oh, Haman darling..." Neifirst said as she put her arms around her, gently stroking the back of her head as she held her tenderly, Haman gently putting her arms around her as well. "I'm terribly sorry I worried you so...but I'm alright now."
"She wasn't the only one, you had me worried sick!" Volcana said as she entered the room. She then walked over and entered basically a group hug. "Don't you scare me like that again."
"And you don't scare easily anymore," Neifirst chuckled.
"Please don't jest, at least not now," Volcana said.
"*sigh*...you poor dears, I'm terribly sorry. I got too over confident I didn't even hear Lila coming," Neifirst said.
"Lila?" Volcana asked.
"The gate keeper?" Haman asked.
"We'll discus business later. Haman, I see your new uniform fits more modestly," Neifirst remarked. "However your hair..." she gently held out it's several long strands, very apparent she had it all loose.
"I was trying to figure how I should stylize it but sadly, nothing has really come to mind, but I know it should look important," Haman said.
"Important, regal, refined, distinct," Neifirst rattled off as she turned Haman around and started walking her off.
"Intimidating?" Volcana whispered with a coy raised brow.
"Mayhap when and how she matures," Neifirst whispered back.
"What was that mother?" Haman asked.
"Oh just silly sister banter, don't mind us," Volcana replied. After a few minutes they entered a simple bedroom and Neifirst went and pulled up two chairs, lining them up as she then hat Haman sit in the front one. Mercy walked by, still in her chauffeur attire, minus the hat, but she was surprised to see Neifirst walking over to a dresser.
"Mistress! Are...are you well enough to be about?" she asked, a bit stunned.
"Well enough for simple tasks. Besides, this is something I've put off long enough," Neifirst replied as she took out a comb, brush, and scissors, which she snipped a few times.
"Put off what mother?" Haman asked.
"Proper bonding time," Neifirst replied as she then sat behind Haman, taking a long portion of her hair and began stroking it with the brush. "You're entering a specific age of maturity, my dear child, and come what may, perhaps you'll have to mature faster."
"You mean...I might have to take charge?" Haman asked.
"I'd much rather you didn't but...as much as I've vowed to not repeat past mistakes, I made a new one," Neifirst replied before sighing a little. "I showed you many things Haman, even helped you experience new wonders and teach you many valuable lessons and studies. Regrettably this included the finer arts of war. And perhaps you'll have to put those skills to the ultimate test. I'd rather it not to be so...but that has to be an eventuality we must be prepared for."
"I...understand mother. Just...please don't go," Haman said.
"Don't worry Haman. I won't be leaving anytime soon. Nor do I intend to depart any other way except my own," Neifirst said, struggling to find a way to say she wasn't going to die yet. She had no intention of getting herself killed and had no intentions of dying but knew full well the possibility was there. But regardless after a bit of sitting in silence, Neifirst snipped off a large portion of Haman's hair, to where it was not quite shoulder length but was close to it, if it was resting where it'd simply hang. But Neifirst didn't leave it like that, taking the comb and brush she began to elegantly fluff up Haman's hair, especially at the ends, working it into a style where it basically flared out at the ends, and a bit of a point at the sides. All the while maintaining a smooth look to it, and it curved out in the back, bringing out Haman's beauty in an intense potency, giving her a more mature look but not taking away what she still had of her sweet gentle side.
Her sweet youthful face, somehow had a unique blend of cuteness but a powerful sense of maturity all rolled into one. "I think you'll like this style. Depending upon how you mature, you'll define the look."
-Back with our heroes-
After a bit of time, the group had gone out into the countryside, and Annet was standing atop of a hill on the far outskirts of town, with Lila, Carrie Fernandez, Deedlit and Lucia by her side.
"So this is the first time you've ever gone out into the world?" Carrie asked.
"Yes, it is. There are a lot of things and customs I'm afraid I don't entirely understand yet," Lucia replied.
"Ho boy, we got ourselves a real naive one here. Although who am I to talk? Despite having been out in the human world as long as I have been, I'm not really familiar with this...modern time," Deedlit remarked.
"Hm. I was in a bit of a similar situation as well once. I was only fifteen when I first fully came to the states and well, wasn't that accustomed to things but, I'm a fast learner," Annet said, and she then sighed a little.
"What's wrong?" Carrie asked.
"It's nothing. Just that I didn't really expect this to be apart of the job of being a priestess really," Annet replied.
"You're a priestess? Well you're certainly not like any I've ever met," Deedlit remarked with a mild chuckle.
"Aren't priestesses typically more...quiet and reserved?" Carrie asked with a raised brow. "In other words sorta more like a nun I suppose?"
"I think we've learned I'm anything but normal," Annet quipped. "I must admit though never in my wildest dreams have I ever thought I'd come across so many unique traveling companions."
"Neither have I. It's, honestly rather refreshing to not have to go it alone like I've sorta had to in past instances," Lila said. "Despite being apart of a squad we never quite stayed together. Granted it's hard to when forced apart due to circumstances."
"Not to be rude, but where do you propose we go to from here?" Lucia asked.
"That is a good question. To be frank I typically had a strong sense to go and thus end up where I'm needed or fate provides. However frankly I'm a bit lost at the moment," Annet replied. "I know we need to find this Chaos Emeralds and locate the missing companion, however I haven't the foggiest of where to actually head next."
"Hmmm...I wonder..." Carrie paused as she began to deeply ponder something.
"Wonder what?" Deedlit asked.
"Well, I am technically a gypsy and have legitimate magical powers," Carrie replied as she turned away from the group slightly, holding a hand out as she took a few steps. "Perhaps if I had a proper divination device I could perhaps...ah!" she ended up gasping after her gaze looked forward and saw a pair of tall men in trench coats with big hats and large dark shades approaching.
"Huh? Who are..." Lila tried to ask as they all looked over, but Deedlit quickly checked another direction.
"Uh oh!" she yelped upon seeing two more approaching.
-Nearby-
Jack was presently sitting in his cadillac, while Helen was sorta leaning on it, her hands upon the top of the door as she peered inside. Spider-Man was perched on the back, and Gwen having her back against the side slightly with one leg crossed behind the other, and her hands in her pockets. Link was resting against a tree, while the Biker Mice, Charley and the Batmobile were also parked nearby.
"So you're technically an environmentalist?" Helen asked.
"Yeah, I suppose you can say that," Jack replied.
"And yet you're driving the least environmentally friendly car," Helen remarked.
"Maybe if it was using the original parts. I basically built this car from the ground up. And use a special fuel formula. And this is the best car in my entire fleet, not a single bad thing about this baby," Jack replied.
"Hmm, sounds like he's a man after your own heart, eh Charley?" Vinnie asked coyly.
"Oh don't start!" Charley bemoaned as she put her hands to her head.
"We do have some more serious matters here that need our attention. Right now we need a plan of attack," Throttle said.
"Working on it," Batgirl said from the Batmobile, presently typing away at a mini computer. "Right now I'm trying to search global databanks and news reports of any unusual events or circumstances going on, as well as checking criminal activity as it were, to see where we should look next. Although to be honest we shouldn't need to look too far, if the Joker and Eggman are nearby."
"Nearby..." Helen paused as she took a quick look around the area, noticing something amiss. "Jennifer?"
"Is something the matter ma'am?" Modo asked as he approached.
"Maybe I...Jennifer wandered off," Helen replied.
"She'll be fine. There's a few of us patrolling around the area," Link said.
"I know but...I am responsible for her now, and last time I lost sight of her in woods it...almost ended in disaster," Helen said.
"Well don't you worry, I'll make sure nothing bad happens, I can promise you that," Modo said as he gave Helen a mild pat on her shoulder. Helen was still taken aback by his gentle nature but, smiled as it was comforting.
"If it'll make you feel better we can take a quick scout around for her," Gwen said.
"I can cover a bit of ground in a few seconds," Spider-Man said.
"Thank you, but I suppose I'm just being a bit paranoid," Helen said.
"Maybe not," Batman replied.
"Huh?" Helen took a quick look around before gasping, seeing several trench coat figured around them, a mixture of men and women.
"Wha...how!?" Batgirl yelped as she stood up and took a quick survey to find they were surrounded.
"Ummm...ah...ehhh...looking for a spy convention?" Spider-Man asked as he raised a hand, which made Gwen's eyelids droop a bit.
"Seriously?"
"Well, not every day we encounter several people on coats like this and are as shady as can be," Spider-Man replied.
"Fair enough, and not like my next question will be any better," Gwen quipped.
"Dare I even ask what?" Jack asked.
"If we go along quietly will you take us to your leader?" Gwen asked as she raised a hand.
-Nearby-
Jennifer was presently walking along, being a good ways out in the fields as the wind softly blew, her mind a bit elsewhere.
"Well you're a bit of a wanderer," Regina spoke, prompting her to look to see her, Jill, Felicia and Carrie approach.
"It's a bit risky to go off by yourself. You're not even armed are you?" Jill asked.
"No...I'm sorry. I guess I just have a lot on my mind and I wanted to clear my head," Jennifer replied.
"It's fine. You're just lucky we have enough people here to keep an eye out for you. But still, we can't get too careless," Felicia said.
"What exactly seems to be the problem?" Carrie asked.
"I just have a lot on my mind is all. This is a lot to take in, and the dreams...dream..." Jennifer paused as she took a look around herself real quick as she sorta spun.
"Dream?" Carrie asked.
"Jennifer, are you alright?" Jill asked, noticing Jennifer was acting a bit strange as Jennifer gazed out across the open field, soon noticing a bit of a familiar looking tree nearby, and then looked at the sky, her breathing starting to get a bit erratic, the nightmare flooding back into her memory.
"Jennifer, talk to us!" Felicia called as Jennifer gripped her hair, looking a bit terrified before letting out a horrific shriek and started running.
"Jennifer come back!" Jill called as they sprinted after her, but Jennifer was running a heck of a lot faster due to her utterly terrified state.
"What the heck has gotten into her!?" Regina exclaimed. They ran only a few seconds before they spotted a ledge ahead and Jennifer didn't seem to be paying any attention at all.
"Jennifer stop! There's a ledge!" Carrie called out. Jennifer blinked as she came to from her mixed dream state and realized there was a drop right in front of her. Gasping sharply she stomped one foot forward, right at the edge as she quickly hunkered down and set her other foot down beside it, and tried to spring herself backwards from this position. However the ledge broke way as her legs plunged down and she semi fell back, but ended up bouncing on the ground and began to fall forward.
"NOOO!" Jill cried as she dove for her, and landed at the edge and tries to grab and wrap her arms around her but Jennifer fell out of reach and watched her fall forward into a belly flop position as she screamed while going down, soon grunting, but not from hitting the bottom. Jennifer realized she was in an awkward position of sorts as she was being held, looking up and soon gasping at the figure holding her.
"Who in the world..." Jill paused as she got on her hands and knees as she gazed at the trench coat figure that caught Jennifer. The others stopped at the ledge and peered down, but as Jill got up they all looked back to see similar figures coming from behind.
"Now where did these weirdos come from?" Regina asked.
"I, don't think we should antagonize," Felicia said as she slowly raised her hands over her head.
-Elsewhere-
Selina was wandering the woods, having her mask pulled back as she had on a brown cloak, hiding her costume, with only her head, hands and a bit of her legs showing. She had been wandering around for several minutes before clutching a hand to her chest a bit, leaning against a tree, a weird pain running through her.
"What is...wrong with me? Is it the wound?" she asked, but realized it was a different place and a different kind of pain, an unusual empty feeling. "Lonely...? No that can't be...but..." she put a hand to her face, shaking her head a bit, looking through her fingers for a bit. Despite the new welcome sense of belonging with her new allies, something felt like it was missing. Something in her life. Her eyes then tightly shut.
'It's...is this because I've let go of something so false I'm now realizing what I'm really missing? In truth I'm almost anything from normal at this point...but...what can I do...I got to...push this out of my mind, I need to focus...' she took a deep breath and stopped thinking, clearing her mind of all thought and just tried to let a sense of quietness and stillness calm her. However after a moment she heard a faint rustle, a creak of a branch, off in the distance. Her eyes opening she looked where she heard the noise, and saw a seemingly familiar sight in the treeline. It, looked like Neifirst's shape but the cape was shorter. There was a brief red glow from the eyes before the figure began sprinting off through the trees, having spotted her. "N...Neifirst?" she gasped in shock, but quickly her expression grew stern as she began to sprint off after the figure, soon leaping and upon gripping a branch, flipped around once before perching on it and then began to leap through the trees as fast as she could.
The figure was bounding through the trees for a moment before stopping for a moment, soon her ears twitched as she heard rustling and shaking branches, looking back to see Selina rapidly approaching, prompting her to quickly start sprinting off in alarm.
"You're not getting away from me, Neifirst!" Selina shouted.
"Stay back!" a young girl's voice spoke, making Selina freeze in alarm, recognizing the tone clearly was not that of Neifirst's, it was younger, gentler, sweeter. But she snapped to attention when there was a loud crack and the girl shrieked, soon followed by a metallic clink Selina recognized too well as a hunter's trap. "UWAAAAHHHHGGGG!" and the cry of pain afterwards only confirmed it. Selina soon carefully landed from the trees and saw her, sitting on her left knee while her right leg had landed squarely on a bear trap, the teeth having clamped on the sides of her shin. And despite seeing she had similar ears to Neifirst, this girl clearly was not Neifirst.
Her skin was of a normal light tone, her hair a lovely shade of violet. It was long and smooth, only mildly unkempt technically. Her frame while young, was slim and slender, already taking on some maturity. She had on a unique one piece style suit, where the front and back were a dark deep purple, the sides were a more vibrant pink. And technically coming from the groin around her hips were straps of the same pink color. On her legs were a pair of purple boots, and loose baggy white socks covering her knees, and on her forearms were unique silver gauntlets of sorts, while on her chest was a silver breastplate, with darker colored shoulder pads. On her back was a small sky blue cape, resting just a little above her hips or so in length. There was a design on the breast plate, a wide branch of sorts, with five points on it, two at the very end, a raised point before the ends, and a tip pointing downward at the center, with a little heart resting atop the center of the design. Presently her one boot wasn't damaged, but Selina could see the blood seeping through it as the girl was gripping the sides of the trap, trembling in both agony and trying to pry it apart, pushing her arms down on it as well to try and do so but wasn't getting anywhere at the moment.
Not saying a word Selina carefully came over and got beside her, soon gripping both sides of the trap and managed to slowly spread the maw of the trap open, the teeth no longer digging into the girl's leg, and once the gap was open wide enough she didn't waste any time and quickly raised her leg out of the trap, both releasing it and it snapped shut as the girl inched back a bit before clutching her shin, gasping and breathing heavily.
"There...now let's try and..." Selina tried to say.
"S...stay out of this affair..." the girl gasped a little as she stood up and took a few steps back.
"Wh...what?" Selina asked, a bit startled and confused.
"This isn't your problem, this is my problem and duty to deal with...no one else is to be involved," the girl replied before turning around and to Selina's shock was able to run perfectly and head for the nearby town.
"Hey! Stop!" Selina cried as she chased after her, starring in amazement to see her then leap up and grab a fire escape, and fling herself to the roof in a single leap. Selina knew she had to step up her game if she wanted to keep pace, she didn't want to lose track of this girl, not that it would be difficult due to the trail of blood she was leaving behind. "Get back here!" she quickly scaled up the fire escape rapidly by springing up the sides in as fast of motions as she could to keep up with this girl.
-Elsewhere-
Mega Man wandered by himself for a bit in silent contemplation, trying to figure out what was going on in his head. The forest seemed like the only place that was giving him any solace. The weird visions he was having, the voice from earlier. A visage of a ghostly white face flashed before his eyes momentarily, he could also recall the dark green hair but most of all the eyes, the blackness with red, mechanic pupils. It was haunting. Shaking his head he was left to wonder these things alone. He tried to focus his mind on the earlier visions he had, he could recall a breath taking city, a highly advanced level of technology. He tried to focus on the woman he saw with red hair, soon having a faint memory of clearly being a small child, reaching out to her as she'd happily pick him up and hold him up high before lovingly hugging him, all the while the face still being so obscured.
However he was snapped back to reality when he felt a presence nearby. Looking around as the sun was setting he saw a figure walking through the trees. Hurrying on over he came to a clearing and wound up starring, a figure was standing in the meadow while being mostly obscured by the rays of the setting sun. However there was something strangely enchanting about this, as he saw what he assumed to be a long black dress, and incredibly long flowing blond hair, moving about in the breeze. In between the shimmering rays of light, he could make out a red three pronged crown, but the most striking detail that drew his attention were the eyes. They were soft, gentle, a brown color however, the eyes seemed to be reflecting the stars in the sky. It was impossible but still true regardless, and the gaze seemed to have a pained and saddened expression as they softly trembled. He couldn't gaze anywhere else but he knew this was a woman standing before him.
~Forgive me...please forgive me...protect my children...from me...~
About when he was to try and open his mouth to finally speak back, he heard steps approaching from both sides, making him glance to see coated figures approaching, then prompting him to look back where he saw the figure, but she was gone, not a trace that she was even there to begin with. A glance to his left again revealed a man with long white hair, and a glance to his white revealed a woman with long black hair. They looked young but that was about all he could tell due to the long coats, large shades and big hats.
"I'm not under arrest by the government am I?" Mega Man asked.
"Our boss merely wishes and audience with you," the woman replied.
"As well as your friends. If you'd kindly come along, we mean no harm," the man added.
"Alright. But any funny business and I won't be responsible for what happens afterwards," Mega Man said. "Lead the way." but they simply walked up beside him and began walking him in front. Not forcibly but still. It was only a few minutes before he intersected with everyone else as they got huddled together.
"Jennifer, are you alright?" Helen asked as she was able to approach her and put her arms on her.
"Scared to death but I'm fine," Jennifer replied a bit shakily.
"So who do these people belong to?" Jill asked. "That is if you don't mind me sort speculating?" she then spoke to the general large group walking them through the forest.
"Well they aren't from any organization or whatever that I know of," Regina said.
"I think we'll get our answers soon enough," Batman said.
"You two alright?" Lila whispered to Annet and Fernandez.
"Nearly frightened out of my wits but, I'm trying not to show it much," Annet replied.
"I hate to say it but without a drive for revenge basically clouding my mind I've considerably lost my nerve," Fernandez stated. Things stayed pretty silent albeit rather tense as they were ushered through the woods. A good few minutes of this passed before they came to a rather old rickety looking large house out in the deep portion of the woods, which only made the sense of foreboding even worse.
"Well this isn't doing me any mental favors," Jill muttered.
"You're telling me," Jennifer gulped a bit.
"Likewise, just try not to panic," Lila retorted. They were soon ushered inside once the doors were opened, were motioned to an upstairs room. Despite the old look of the place it seemed to be kept up enough to be not totally dilapidated as it appeared. Soon enough though, upon opening a pair of double doors they found themselves in a room with a large desk on the opposite side, and large windows to the left. The setting sun was casting rays into the room, and was obscuring the individual at the desk.
"I apologize for the inconvenience and the troubling nature of having you get rounded up, but there is an important matter which we need to address urgently," a woman's voice spoke, sound very mature and, having yet a certain unique gentle air to it. They saw her rise from the chair and start to walk around the desk, she was very tall and rather slender in build.
"While we weren't brought here forcibly, this whole situation is still rather suspicious," Batman said.
"Believe me when I tell you, I wouldn't have done it if the matter wasn't so urgent," the woman said as she finally stepped more into focus, causing everyone to be a bit surprised, the woman was exceptionally tall and slim, but not super skinny. She was presently garbed in a smooth black sweater, and a snug pair of black pants, while wearing brown boots. She also had on a brown leather gun holster over her shoulders, but the most striking detail was her slim, narrow face. She both looked unusual and yet, so beautiful as her hair was a dark brown color, and was long and smooth, going a good ways down her back, and curled slightly into her face around her cheeks in an upward arc. However what really got Mega Man's attention was her brown eyes, while her gaze was firm and eyes narrow with elegance, they practically looked like they had stars glittering in them. "Allow me to introduce myself. I, am Selen." she had this other worldly air of beauty about her that was hard to look away from. However her gaze soon finally locked with Mega Man's in a curious manner when she caught him looking so intently and then approached her for a moment, a bit of a silent stare down went on for but a moment as everyone couldn't help but wonder what was up, before being taken aback when Mega Man began to kneel before her on one knee.
"Wha...ah...buh..." Regina was left a bit dumbfounded to see him acting this way, already she thought he was being a total chump around Lucia and now this random woman was really stretching things it seemed.
"Whatta ya doin!?" Link asked, a bit flabbergasted.
"What...what compelled you to do that?" Selen asked, really taken aback and stunned.
"Forgive me if this offends you but...you are a queen of the stars, are you not?" Mega Man asked, not lifting his head up.
"A...a queen of the...cosmos?" Annet asked as she look on in a bit of shock and awe.
"Wh...when did he become such an expert on this stuff?!" Gwen whispered in disbelief.
"Don't look at me, he's been acting weird when this escapade really kicked into high gear," Spider-Man replied.
"And...where prey tell did you hear that?" Selen asked Mega Man.
"I heard stories of how queens of the stars above, and that supposedly, they come down to Earth throughout the millennium, and were the most beautiful beings of the stars," Mega Man replied, still not lifting his head up. "And truth of the matter is, your beauty is other worldly and your eyes...they...glitter like a starlit filled night, even when the sun still shines." he then looked up at her. There was a brief silence until her gaze softened a bit.
"Admittedly...not very many people treat me like royalty. Mostly since I was branded a traitor and a usurper for so long, I'm more of a general," Selen said. "However I must admit. The fact you were able to pick up on my identity so quickly at a mere sight is rather remarkable."
"The guy's basically got a sixth sense for royalty at this point," Jack shrugged before everyone watch Annet step forward and soon was beside Mega Man.
"My queen," Annet said as she knelt down on one knee in a similar fashion. "I am Annet Myer, the priestess. And I humbly pledge my services to aid you in facing whatever danger threatens us." Selen looked about ready to protest but then thought better it, mentally reflecting for a moment before her shifting gaze fell upon Lucia, whom upon realizing she was being looked at quickly knelt down as well.
"BHMPHH!" Batgirl sputtered as she quickly covered her mouth at seeing this action.
"Queen Selen, I am..." Lucia tried to say.
"Lucia?" Selen asked as she approached quickly, prompting Lucia to look up in surprise as Selen gripped her arms and lifted her to her feet. "Th...the goddess Lucia? From the Blue Star?"
"You know her?" Deedlit asked as Selen's hands slowly eased off of Lucia and very slowly inched back.
"What's the matter?" Lucia asked.
"If...if Lucia's here than that...that means..." Selen stuttered before her legs gave out and fall, prompting Mega Man and Annet to swiftly catch her from crashing to the floor, although they were all admittedly a touch sprawled out. "...then that means the world is in far greater peril than I imagined...the destruction..."
"Yeah we're kinda ahead of ya on that information department," Spider-Man commented as Selen put a hand to her face momentarily.
"I've lived through the near destruction of one Earth. I'll not go through another, let alone the total annihilation of the cosmos and beyond," she said firmly.
-Back in the city-
The girl seemed to have lost Selina as she eased herself down into an alleyway, panting a bit before getting down on her left knee and put her hands to her right shin, grimacing in pain a bit.
"Resta!" she soon said, and after a quick glow from her hands and going into her leg, she let out a deep sigh of relief, slumping over slightly. However she quickly shot to her feet when she heard some type of fwoomp noise, only for a net to land on her. "AH! Geih!" she yelped as she tried to lift it off of her herself and run, only to stand on a portion and trip over herself with a loud thud, Selina then landing nearby.
"I'm sorry, but it was the only way I could get you to stop running," Selina said as she approached.
"Stay, back!" she girl shouted, Selina's eyes widening when suddenly claws popped out of the armlets and the girl spun around, slicing out of the net in seconds. "I don't want any trouble, or to get anyone else involved again or hurt them, Neifirst is my responsibility!"
"What...? Why? What stake do you have in this?" Selina asked.
"What do you have!?" the girl shouted before shutting her eyes, gnashing her teeth for a moment. "...I'm Neisecond...we're sisters..."
"You're...her sister?" Selina asked, rather stunned when the girl looked up at her, a bit less tense now, and although now she could see the resemblance, Neisecond looked younger, sweeter, kinder. And she soon developed a mild case of the shakes.
"We're not humans...we're artificial Numans...we weren't even really born...just created...I couldn't stop her the first time she sought revenge on everyone..." she said.
"Nei, please, calm, down," Selina said as she carefully came forward and took Nei's wrists and eased her arms down. "What, happened?"
"...eons ago...we escaped the lab where we were created because we were "defective", and so we were on the run, in hiding...we...got found eventually and were attacked, Neifirst was hurt badly and she killed our attacker in self defense but...that was the end...I tried to talk sense into her but she left me behind, going off to execute her plan...it took several months before I was finally able to catch up to her with the aid of new friends but..." Nei paused as she recalled Neifirst being a lot faster and stronger than she was, and then there was that final blow, that sense of things going slow as Nei fell back, her caller around her neck shattering. "We both died...due to my inferior link, my death wouldn't phase her her being the first...her death meant mine as well..."
"Died? But yet...you're both here and...eons?" Selina asked.
"Our spirits wandered and roamed the Multiverse for untold centuries, although admittedly, I laid dormant but when she revived, I awoke and somehow...I...returned to life as well..." Nei replied, unable to really explain further. It was about then Selina noticed Nei's purple caller, or choker rather around her neck, and it having a unique shape on it, a three pronged star of sorts, with seeming one small diamond shape resting between each prong.
"Nei, what's that mark?" she put her finger on it slightly.
"Wha...oh, it's, the symbol of Algo. The Algo System," Nei replied.
"Algo system? As in like another galaxy?" Selina asked.
"Yes but...I have to go," Nei said as she stood up and turned to leave.
"Oh no you don't!" Selina quipped as she grabbed onto Nei's cape.
"Please!" Nei protested as she whipped about, making Selina reel back in shock. "I have to face her alone!"
"But...you lost to her once already," Selina retorted.
"But I'm the only one who now still remotely stands a chance against her...I have to go alone I...I don't want to make anymore connections and hurt someone again!" Nei screamed.
"But...if you share a connection then...won't that mean if you kill her you'll die again?" Selina asked. "And what if you both come back again some years later?"
"If that's the cycle our unnatural lives have to take I'll gladly die a thousand times to keep the Multiverse safe," Nei said, composing herself a bit but was still a bit emotionally overwrought.
"...so that's why you're bent on fighting her alone, and not wanting anyone to know about it. You don't want to break anymore hearts," Selina said.
"So you understand then?" Nei asked before her eyes widened when Selina pulled her into a hug.
"What I understand is you've never had a mother's love," Selina replied. Nei was going to try and protest but upon reflection, simply put her arms tightly around Selina as she started sobbing, letting a lot of her emotions out.
"It's ok...I maybe a human but...I wound up being a lab experiment too once so, I can understand your pain a whole lot better...you're no freak to me," Selina said, reflecting her own past a bit, and a technical relationship.
-Back at the estate-
Everyone had moved to a much larger room to converse, with a fair few couches and single chairs.
"As such, the Earth is still recovering where I'm from. But be that as it may, my attention has been focused elsewhere. The Queen of La Maetel, Promethium," Selen said.
"Promethium?" Jack asked.
"My...twin sister. She was once a very kind, gentle, and compassionate, and loving soul. Utterly selfless even, to the point of great risk," Selen replied. She then held out a very unique pendent, it was a tear shaped smooth jewel, with a bit of red in the center of it. "This is symbol of our leadership, and standing. At least...it once was. We are virtually the last of our heritage. Save for Promethium's two daughters, only one is truly like her mother used to be, and the other...well, she became a bit of a rebel in quite a literal sense."
"What does, Queen Promethium look like?" Annet asked.
"In truth, she looked a lot like me once. A fair blond but a lot gentler, and kinder and softer than I do. I can't even fathom a guess as to what she looks like now. However, if you do want at least a good description of she looked like, then you needn't look any further than her...I hesitate to say it but, true heir," Selen replied. Her gaze then managed to soften a little as she looked fairly intense throughout. "In truth Emeraldas takes after me in a sense now that I think about it. Perhaps in more ways than one. But that's besides the point, Promethium is stalking you."
"S...stalking us?" Lila asked in shock.
"Like a predator?" Felicia asked.
"What else? And that sure brings back some unpleasant memories," Jill retorted, since she literally has hands on experience with the subject.
"You know...I...had been having this very lingering feeling of something unpleasant following us. Worse than the people who brought us here," Jennifer said.
"But why would she be after us for?" Deedlit asked.
"For one, she maybe under the impression you can bring her to her daughter, since she has been after her for awhile," Selen replied as she stood up and walked forward. "But most of all, due to the destruction of her bases of operation, she's lost a good chunk of her empire. And ultimately she's going to work to rebuild it, she's going to need a powerful commander." she then stood before them.
"A commander? What...sort of commander?" Batgirl asked a bit nervously.
"A machine commander. And perhaps the most powerful one that could lead her to victory," Batman replied.
"One that could very well bring her machine empire back from the brink. A truly unstoppable force as much as she is," Selen replied as she looked around at everyone before looking at Mega Man.
"Wait...she has eyes on our favorite boy blue here?" Spider-Man asked.
"Everyone seems to like him a lot lately," Regina quipped.
"This is no laughing matter," Selen snapped. "I can very well see the same potential in him as much as Promethium does."
"I'm not just some senseless drone or machine that can be turned merely on the flip of a switch," Mega Man said as he got to his feet.
"I know that. In fact you're far more human than most humans that had given themselves machine bodies for whatever reason. They loose all sense of humanity and...well, become as inhuman as inhuman can be. Meanwhile you yourself...are one of the first machines I've ever seen that has a heart. Although I strongly advise against it, you maybe the only one who's capable of stopping Promethium," Selen said. "It takes an exceptionally strong will to resist her corruption over machines. For her will is one of the strongest their is. It would take a strong one to resist, and an even stronger one of hatred to overpower her."
-Around then-
Jackie was presently just relaxing at what was now a safe house for everyone temporarily when the door opened and in strode Selina and Nei.
"Now who's this?" Jackie asked, a bit surprised.
"A bit of a lost stray. Her name's Nei," Selina replied as she had a hand on her shoulder.
"Hello," Nei replied, closing her eyes and putting on a sweet smile.
"Jackie, is no one back yet?" Selina asked when she realized the place was vacant.
"Yeah, truth is I was expecting at least some of them to be back by now," Jackie replied.
"How many people?" Nei asked.
"Several dozen," Selina replied, which quickly raised a few red flags. "Something's happened." prompting her to quickly toss aside her cloak and slip her mask on over her head before quickly heading back out with Nei and Jackie in tow. Things were exceptionally quiet and the sun was finally set over the horizon, making things a bit darker and harder to see. However they managed to see a shape moving and sputtering through the night sky, heading further into the city.
"What's that?" Nei asked.
"I think it's that Eggman we've heard about. Never actually saw him," Catwoman replied.
"We should follow him," Jackie said as he took point, quickly leading them up a fire escape and began to pursue him across the rooftops. After a few quick athletic leaps and bounds across the rooftops, they saw him fly into a factory just out of the outskirts of town.
"Hm. Strange we ended up in the town he's operating out of," Catwoman said.
"It could be just a meeting place," Jackie commented.
"That's true, it's a possibility. Although almost anything is at this point," Catwoman said.
"So what do we do?" Nei asked.
"Fairly simple, we sneak in, get a lay of what's going on, and then put a stop to it if possible," Catwoman asked. "Just don't do anything reckless. Or at least, too reckless." and after carefully deciding their options they made their way over. With it being nighttime they were able to get down and across the way with ease, more so since there was no activity in the area at all. Needless to say, Catwoman's thieving skills were in top performance as she swiftly leaped up to a high window and was able to hoist herself onto the narrow ledge, carefully using her claws to cut a perfect circle in the glass and pull it out, and then reached inside unlatching it. By the time she had it open Nei and Jackie got up onto the window and they all carefully stepped down onto the grated walkway, making sure not to make a sound.
"What do we do now?" Jackie whispered.
"You make sure Nei sticks close to you, I'll be leading a bit but make sure you two stay back just a little," Catwoman replied. They stayed hunkered down on the walkways, with Catwoman taking point and Jackie and Nei not too far behind her. They weaved about the large stacks of machinery and structural supports of the paths and upper levels and ceiling. They kept going for about two minutes as they peered around, not seeing much as the place was currently inactive and dimly lit, but they knew someone was around somewhere in there. After glancing to her left into a dark area, Nei let out a gasp as she staggered back a bit when suddenly big round eyes, and a rather freaky wide grin lit up. Jackie looked back at her and then at the light, hearing little metallic thumps as a short round red red, yellow and grey robot approached, with short stubby spindly limbs. Rather round but flat feet, and hands that were basically comprised of a thumb and two fingers. It actually charged at them, until claws came out of Nei's armlets again, four on each, and she then plunged a set straight into it's face, making it spark and sputter before clunking to the ground.
"What just..." Catwoman tried to ask as she turned around upon hearing the stab, and just witness the short little bot thud in a heap. But she quickly looked up upon hearing the same stepping sound above and saw one leap down at her, making her step aside as it landed, only for it to reach and grab her left thigh. "Hey! Hands off!" she protested as she gripped the spindly arm and gave it a firm twist with both hands, wrenching it off as she then let out a loud groan as she hoisted it and spun it around, the arm inadvertently ripping off and sending it zooming to the ground floor and smashing to pieces rather loudly.
"Well so much for the discrete approach," Jackie remarked as more of them were coming from the other walkways and rapidly closing in on them. He then quickly kicked one square in the face, managing to knock it backwards with a loud bong, however it was rather hard on the foot. "OUUHH!" he groaned as he gripped said foot and hopped around for a moment before one leaped up at him, causing him to catch it and fall backwards, but then firmly shoved it off with both legs and propelled it down to the ground floor.
"Peh, these guys are less fearsome than most bio monsters I've faced," Nei scoffed as she quickly went and stabbed another, before leaping up and did a somersault slash, slicing one into several pieces down the middle, before landing on her toes in a crouched position, and then stepped one leg out to the side, and then rose up on that leg in a twisting upwards slash, demolishing another, and then leaped off of that foot as she twirled around elegantly like a top into a large clump and just tore into them effortlessly.
"Well you're certainly well equipped for this situation," Catwoman commented as she threw a sharp shuriken she was given by Batgirl earlier, nailing one in the head but when she leaped to avoid getting dog piled by a large group, her foot landed funny on a ledge and she teetered right off backwards. "UWAAIH!" she screamed as she flailed helplessly for a moment as she plummeted downward before bouncing off of something on her back, sending her spinning backwards before she landed on her back semi curled up as she hit with a loud metallic thud and a grunt before laying semi sprawled out. She sat up and shook her head for a moment before the place suddenly spiraled to life, machines whirring and humming loudly, lights coming on all over. The ground under Catwoman shifted as she lurched side to side slightly, and realized she was on a segmented style conveyor belt of sorts. But right looking to her right she was a bit horrified as she saw some sort of station at the end of it, with a spinning spiked grinder, and metallic mechanical waving arms about, and sitting at the top of a closed off control box room was a rather unusual looking man.
He was somehow a mixture of being fat in the sense of having a short round bald head, and a very round body, but was unusually skinny as his limbs were somewhat spindly. He had on glasses, and a pair of goggles atop his head, a real, real large orange mustache, and a big honker of a snozz. He had on a red jacket of sorts and big white gloves.
"Well this is a surprise, I was expecting my rival, but I suppose a test subject will do so I can make sure this device will be ready for the main event!" he proclaimed as he clenched a fist into the air. Catwoman knew she shouldn't just sit there and began to rise, but as she did so she felt her right foot slip and become tightly pinched. Wincing slightly from this she looked in horror to see her foot went into one of the segments, and when she tried to lift it, her leg simply pulled taught and trembled as her foot hardly moved, her heel barely budging.
"Oh you gotta be kidding!" she protested in a hurried fearful voice as she carefully shifted into a kneeling position to make sure her other leg and foot didn't get stuck as she gripped her shin, and started to tug and yank as hard as she could to get her foot out, grunting and groaning loudly as her body would tense and quiver from the tension, her leg slightly shifting as she'd pull and ease up before trying again, but her foot remained firmly lodged into place. Nei, after dispatching another couple bots and then quickly sliced a nearby pipe to give it a sharp point and tossed it to Jackie, heard Catwoman's grunts, making her hurry to a nearby railing and peered over, horrified to see Catwoman struggling and not being able to get loose as she was approaching this large death machine.
"No!" Nei cried as she leaped from the railing towards the belt, but before she could even get close to ground level, she bounced off of a barrier that was a few feet from the conveyor belt's side, to allow room for the arms to move about. She flailed about before managing to grab onto a chain and spin around for a moment before stopping.
"Nice try my dear, but my barrier ensures that not only once I trap a victim, they not only can't escape, but also no interference!" Eggman proclaimed. "It's perfect!"
"Nearly except for one important detail," a new voice spoke.
"Huh?" Eggman looked up just in time to see a large hook on a large metal ball on a large chain careening towards him, and then plowed right into the station and sent the box tumbling backwards, wrecking the device and shut the conveyor belt down. Catwoman lowered an arm that she raised to shield herself to look at the wreckage in shock before then staring at a small blue humanoid figure landing in front of her. He was short, had skin colored arms, white gloves, and unique smooth red shoes with a white strap secured by a golden buckle, and large white socks at the ankles. The most striking thing about him was the six large quills on the back of his head, and the two smaller ones on his back, and his little tail.
"You forgot that there was a crane right above the conveyor belt that goes all the way to the other end of the belt, that you built your little death machine right in the middle of!" he stated before looking back at Catwoman, revealing his big green eyes, skin colored mouth, and cute little black nose. "So much for big brained baddies, am I right? Don't worry, I got this." he then zoomed off as Catwoman raised an arm to him.
"Wait I'm...still stuck..." she started somewhat frantic but then became deflated when she realized he was gone already. Just as she gripped her shin again she heard a fluttering noise and looked to see a yellow fox that was in a similar humanoid shape to the "thing" she just saw, having two large ears, a bigger tuft of fur on his head, and had a white large white tuft on his chest as he had on similar pointed shoes but they were only red in the back and white in the front. His eyes were blue as he landed beside her, and his two large fluffy white tipped tails stopped spinning.
"Don't worry, I'll help you out," he said as he got beside her and tried to help pull her foot out as they both pulled on her leg.
"Oh this is just one of those days," Eggman groaned as he climbed out of the rubble slightly, only for the blue figure to loom over him.
"You must be slipping Egghead. What's with bailing and giving your technology over to, well, lunatics?" he asked.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Sonic!" Eggman spat as he pounded his fists before slumping over. "Ohhhh but who am I kidding? I really did sink low if I thought that grinning madman could aid me in my endeavors and put an end to you."
"Says the man who makes robots with grinning faces," Nei said as she walked over, before seeing a creepy looking logo nearby that was basically Eggman's grinning face. "And makes creepy grinning logos of his own head!"
"...I'll ignore that," Eggman muttered. "Point is, our little game has gotten a bit of an upgrade shall we say, and if I want a chance to achieve my goals still, I have to change up a bit along with it. It's strategic ingenious!"
"A sound theory but you're hardly the brilliant mind to pull it off," Sonic quipped.
"Oh well, back the drawing board. Till we meet again! And I'll win next time!" Eggman said before suddenly dropping out of sight, much to their shock as the only briefly saw a trap door before it sealed shut.
"Ugh...will he ever learn? Who am I kidding, not likely ever," Sonic said before Nei turned around and ran back to the belt and arrived after the fox and Catwoman gave one final pull and her foot slipped free of the segment heel first and then the rest of her foot flexed out.
"Ah...that hurt a bit," Catwoman moaned as she rubbed her foot slightly and then carefully got off of the belt with the fox.
"Are you alright?" Nei asked as she approached.
"Yeah, I'm fine thankfully enough. You too?" Catwoman asked Jackie as he came down some stairs.
"Yes. That was, surprisingly simple," he replied before Nei let out a high pitch gasp, making everyone look to see she was looking wide eyed at the fox.
"Ummm, yes?" he asked before Nei firmly grasped him under his arms and hoisted him into a tight loving hug.
"OH MY GOSH YOU'RE SO CUTE!" Nei exclaimed.
"Aggghhhh easy easy!" the foxed protested but didn't struggle much.
"Well Tails, I think you found yourself a loving companion," Sonic chuckled. "By the way, name's Sonic The Hedgehog. So, what's your stories here?" he crossed his arms and tilted his head.
Chapter end.