Later.
Ronnie Anne woke up stretching her body to work out the kinks. However, much to her annoyance, Lincoln wasn't in bed.
Ronnie Anne sighs. "Lincoln,"
Getting out of bed, Ronnie Anne didn't bother putting anything on as she walked naked through the house. Going into the garage, Ronnie Anne walked past her and Lincoln's car, originally Lori's old car, Eliza, before she sold it to them. The garage was a little messy as Ronnie Anne made her way to the upper right corner where the house's thermostat was. Grabbing the dial, she turned it to 90°, 30°, and 60° before pressing down on the dial. The thermostat opened up into a retinal scanner, which scanned her eyes.
Recognize Ronnie Anne Santiago-Loud
The thermostat returned to its standard setting, and as it did, a section of the garage floor silently slid open, revealing a staircase leading down into the depths beneath the house. With determined steps, Ronnie Anne descended into a spacious, square room that lay hidden beneath the familiar surroundings of her home.
Directly across from where Ronnie Anne stood, an impressive and extensive computer system hummed with activity. It was the same equipment Lisa had once owned and generously given to Lincoln. She had reprogrammed it for Lincoln's detective work, turning it into a powerful tool for his investigations.
To the left of the room, a sleek display case housed Lincoln's Reaper costume. Its dark fabric and intricate design testified to his alter ego's formidable presence. A door adjacent to the display case led to another room, shrouded in mystery and potential clues waiting to be uncovered.
On the right side of the room, a compact but well-equipped mini-workshop beckoned with an L-shaped workbench seamlessly integrated into the wall. The workbench was sprinkled with various assorted parts and gadgets, a testament to Lincoln's ingenuity and resourcefulness. Resting on the workbench was Lincoln's belt, a tangible reminder of his readiness for action, with the empty slot for his self-heating branding iron silently waiting for its subsequent use and the branding iron itself lying next to it, a symbol of justice and determination.
This place was more than just a hidden room; it was Lincoln's secret headquarters. After Lincoln and Ronnie Anne purchased the house, Lincoln and Lisa worked tirelessly to construct this clandestine sanctuary beneath it. It served as Lincoln's base of operations for his investigations and a refuge for quick repairs and upgrades. Lisa took charge of the significant maintenance and continuous upgrades, ensuring Lincoln had the tools and technology he needed to pursue his mission.
As Ronnie Anne observed, Lincoln was deeply engrossed in reviewing the data collected by Yoon, oblivious to her stealthy approach from behind. Ronnie Anne spun Lincoln around, straddling him as she hugged his face between her breasts.
"I figured you were down here in your Ace Savvy Cave when I didn't see you in bed,"
"Please don't call this place that; it's bad enough that Lucy won't stop accusing my costume of ripping off that guy from that book series she likes to read,"
"It's pretty rude leaving your Fiancé alone in bed after fucking her,"
"Sorry, Lisa called; she wanted to talk about upgrades for my suit, my cape particularly,"
"Really?"
"She sent a design she wanted me to look over,"
"Really? Let me see,"
Spinning the chair around, Ronnie Anne got off of Lincoln and began looking over the potential upgrade Lisa sent. Lincoln was stuck sitting behind Ronnie Anne, where the only thing he was looking at was her ass. Ronnie Anne deliberately did this to tease Lincoln; however, she quickly became interested.
"Memory cloth?"
"She says she might be able to make a cape that can help me glide,"
"Sounds interesting,"
"It is,"
"I hope that's not the only thing you find interesting in front of you," Ronnie Anne teased while shaking her ass.
Lincoln smiled before scooping her up. "Let's go back to bed,"
The Next Day.
Ronnie Anne headed to work first, taking the car since it was a 3-hour trip; Lincoln walked to work since it was only 30 minutes for him. Lincoln worked at Clyde's bakery, a few blocks from Lynn's Table. Clyde opened his shop right after college with help from his Dads and his grandmother Gayle. Although he did struggle at first, not because of his baking, he was so busy managing the business side that he barely had time to bake; luckily, Lincoln stepped in and helped and allowed Clyde to focus on baking. Clyde then asked Lincoln to be his manager and delivery driver, which Lincoln agreed to. Clyde was among the few people who knew about Lincoln being the Reaper. Although the Reaper himself wasn't well known, which was due to the Enforcers. Both suppressed the Reaper's existence, the Enforcers because they didn't want copycats, often publicity taking credit for his actions, although hiding The Reaper's calling card was becoming increasingly difficult.
Clyde was outside the shop opening it when Lincoln arrived. The years were also nice to Clyde; despite opening a bake shop, he stayed in shape and switched to contact lenses, although he still carried his glasses.
"Hey buddy," Lincoln called.
"Hey, Linc, when did you get back?"
"Yesterday; sorry I didn't call you sooner, buddy,"
"It's cool, so did you save them?"
"I did, but if I'm being honest, I don't think I got the big fish,"
"Big fish?"
"I'll tell you what we're getting everything ready,"
Lincoln and Clyde headed inside the shop and set up for the day.
"So tell me, what happened?"
"Well, you already know that the Enforcers and I were working on the same case regarding missing women,"
"Yeah, you've been working on that for at least a few weeks now,"
"Well, we both track them to San Lorenzo, but Ronnie Anne found exactly where they were hiding first, but thanks to that idiot lieutenant Commander, she was forced to go in by herself and got captured,"
"Woah, is she alright?" Clyde asked with concern in his voice.
"She's fine, luckily she had Yoon with her, so I was able to track her,"
"That's good to hear,"
"It took me a little while to track her, but I found her, and I took out the guys holding everyone hostage,"
"Why did it take you a while?"
"I was on my way there when I noticed a truck with The Serpent's Wheel's symbol on it, so I took it out, but the drivers were just some local movers that were hired to pick up cargo and transport it to some location in the jungle and leave it.
"What happened next?"
"Long story short, I got to the temple, took out the guards, and rescued Ronnie Anne and the hostages, however."
"However?"
"When I rushed to where the truck was supposed to be dropped off, no one was there; they must have figured something was wrong and run before I got there. I should've been faster,"
"Don't worry about it, buddy; you'll figure it out. But don't forget, while you're going after the big ones, the little ones matter too,"
Lincoln and Clyde meticulously organized the store and began fulfilling the day's delivery orders. Thanks to Clyde's exceptional baking skills and Lisa's efficient oven, they cut their usual prep time in half by 6:00 a.m. With the daily orders completed, it was time for Lincoln to deliver them. Clyde helped load the delivery truck with the orders, and Lincoln distributed the baked goods. However, Clyde told him to do Lynn's Table last as they had a joint delivery to Great Lake City.
The demand for Clyde's delicious creations extended beyond Royal Woods, reaching Great Lake City. Lincoln embarked on his delivery route, stopping at various stores and offices throughout both cities. His first stop was at The Royal Woods Gazette, where he dropped off two dozen of Clyde's famous creampuffs. After a quick hello to his mother, Rita, Lincoln continued his deliveries, eventually arriving at Lynn's Table. Here, he was warmly greeted by his younger sisters, except for Lucy, who was busy working her summer job at the funeral home.
Before leaving, Lincoln discreetly passed on his reaper suit to Lisa, knowing she wanted to upgrade it before loading the truck with some of his father's various meals. As he returned to the shop, Lynn Sr. asked him to swing by the house, mentioning that he had some exciting news to share. Agreeing to visit later, Lincoln returned to the bakery to pick up Clyde's half of the order, four dozen of Clyde's Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter cookies. Lincoln couldn't help but roll his eyes, realizing that the address meant dealing with someone he'd prefer to avoid.
Enforcer HQ.
Ronnie Anne was quickly typing her report; luckily, Lincoln helped her get an early start, and she was just about ready to turn it in.
"Done and send," Ronnie Anne said, sending her report to her commander. "I thought becoming a field agent would mean less paperwork, not more,"
Lieutenant Commander Ramos approached Ronnie Anne's desk with an air of authority that never failed to irk her. Ever since she first joined the Enforcers, Ronnie Anne had harbored a strong distaste for the Lieutenant Commander. His blatant sexism, evident in his belief that women should be confined to office work while men took charge in the field, had not gone unnoticed by her. Adding insult to injury, he persistently displayed an inappropriate infatuation with Ronnie Anne despite her marital status. He often engaged in flirtatious behavior while simultaneously belittling her. Despite his unpopularity among his colleagues, his position remained secure due to two key factors: his proficiency at his job and the influential status of his father, a high-ranking politician.
"Let's go, rookie, the commander wants us in the briefing room,"
"Coming,"
Much to her disgust, Ramos began checking Ronnie Anne out as they walked the briefing room.
"¿¡Cómo es que esa perra de pelo blanco consiguió un culo tan caliente como el de ella!?" he thought.
Ramos harbored a deep dislike for Lincoln, convinced that he did not deserve Ronnie Anne and that she deserved a partner who was more assertive and decisive than just a delivery boy. Upon entering the room, Ramos made a grand gesture of pulling out a chair for Ronnie Anne to sit beside him, but she deliberately chose to sit apart.
"Good; now that you both are here, we can begin,"
"Where is everybody else?" Ronnie Anne asked.
"As far as everyone else knows, the case is closed, but I need you two for the next part,"
"Next part?"
"We collected intel from the men we captured; apparently, the hostages were supposed to be shipped off to an island at the center of the Bermuda Triangle called McGillicuddy Island, owned by a Mr. Vic McGillicuddy, "
"Oh…no, not Tricky Vicky,"
"You know that man?"
"Let's just say he has a long history with my Fiancé's family; last I heard about him, he won a lot of money and left Royal Woods,"
"Well, apparently, he invested that money well because he built a resort so exclusive only millionaires and billionaires know about it; we also learned he rents out his island to anyone rich enough to pay,"
"You think The Serpent's Wheel rented the island for their auction?" Ramos asked.
"Yes, but I have reason to believe that more than just people will be auctioned there, and I think I know when,"
The commander activated her projector, which displayed information for the Ophiuchus Gala event, which would be held a week from Sunday.
"Ophiuchus? As in the thirteenth zodiac?" Ramos asked
"The snake charmer?" Ronnie Anne added.
"Exactly,"
"So, do we get a warrant?"
"No, if we go that route, chances are it might leak to them and give them the time to remove any evidence, which is why this needs to be taken care of under the table. That is why I'm sending you two undercover as workers,"
"What!?"
"Like I just said, I need you and Ramos to go undercover as staff and find any sign of illegal activity; once you do, I can mobilize the task force to raid the island without a warrant,"
"Why me and him? Can't I just bring my Fiancé!"
"I understand your feelings, Ronnie Anne, but you're still too reckless for me to let you handle this case alone, and Lincoln is a civilian; he cannot be involved in this case; it is for his safety,"
"I doubt he'd be able to handle himself in a fight," Ramos mocked
"Why don't you go fuc-"
Ronnie Anne's tirade was cut short by a knock at the door; another enforcer informed them that a food delivery was downstairs.
"Oh, right. I ordered from Lynn's table and Clyde's Bakery,"
"I'll get it," Ramos said, leaving the office.
"Commander, you cannot be serious with that creep!" Ronnie Anne said. "He's probably down there right now trying to antagonize Lincoln,"
"Look, I understand, I do, but this island could be filled with influential figures all over the underworld; I'd feel better if you had an agent used to this work instead of worrying for your Fiancé's safety,"
"If you only knew,"
"Besides, working with an agent you don't get along with is part of being a field agent; you must put aside personal feelings for the mission,"
"Understood, but I still wish this place had an HR I could report him to."
"Well right now, I need to find a position that won't rouse any suspicion more than we need an HR,"
Downstairs.
Lincoln was waiting in the lobby with the order, loading it onto a cart provided. He wants to leave quickly. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Ronnie Anne; he just didn't want to deal with someone here.
"Well…well, if it isn't Señor repartidor," Ramos said, getting off the elevator.
"I warned you about calling me that,"
"Whatever, I'll take the food, Señor repartidor,"
"It must suck for you knowing I have something your entitled ass can't have,"
"For now, oh, and don't worry about your Fiancé. I'll take good care of her during our next mission; she'll probably sleep better knowing a real man is protecting her,"
"You're the one who's going to need protection from her if you try anything funny, Señor perra chico,"
Lincoln left, not wanting to entertain Ramos any further. Lincoln hated Ramos because he always braggingly said Ronnie Anne would be better off with him and that he was a better man. Lincoln remembered that Ramos mentioned his and Ronnie Anne's next mission; he figured he would ask her later.
After Work.
As promised, he stopped by his parents' house to hear his dad's news. His dad had been hired to cater an event at a resort next week.
"Isn't it great, son? This could really boost Lynn's Table's reputation around the world,"
"I thought you didn't want to risk the restaurant becoming a soulless food franchise like Burpin' Burger or Burger Blast?"
"It won't, but this could be an excellent way to bring more tourists to Royal Wood, other than this is where the famous Loud sisters used to live."
Lincoln's older sisters made names for themselves in their fields, making them well known.
"Dad, I know you're excited, but this is Vic we're talking about,"
"I know, son, but the guy is a billionaire now; why waste time and money on some petty scam?" Lynn Sr. explained. "He even invited your sisters, but they all said no,"
"I don't blame them because, again, it's Vic," Lincoln cautioned. "Dad, maybe you shouldn't take this job,"
"Sorry, son, but I already signed a contract,"
Dad!" Lincoln said, annoyed.
"Wait before you get upset. I had Lisa look it over and make sure there weren't any hidden agendas since the family's lawyers now,"
Lisa got her law degree three years ago as a side job. Usually, it takes seven years, but Lisa got it in three years. When asked why, she said it was important to know what laws she was at risk of breaking and what loopholes were available.
"She said everything looks okay, plus there is a clause that allows me to bring staff members of my choice."
"Don't worry, honey, I'll be there too," Rita said. "Jessie heard about the trip and wants me to write a review on the resort,"
"So it's a work vacation?"
"Pretty much,"
"When are you guys leaving?"
"Well, we're leaving Thursday night; the resort's private jet will pick us up. I have to start prepping when I get there,"
"Private Jet? How much money is that placemaking to afford that?" Lincoln thought. "Okay, I better get home; it's my turn to make dinner,"
"Lincoln, wait," Lisa called from upstairs.
Lisa came running downstairs with a backpack that Lincoln gave her this morning. The years were kind to Lisa despite the numerous radioactive elements she exposed herself to. Lisa no longer needed a wig or dentures since she managed to grow her teeth and hair back. While Lisa was still the genius she'd always been, she now had a social life. Thanks to her bestie Darcy, this kept her from being too caught up with her work. Lisa joined Lincoln's team as his tech girl after realizing she couldn't reverse what they had done to him. Lisa was the one who convinced Lincoln to wear a disguise after being inspired by a superhero movie Darcy dragged her to. With help from Leni, who designed the costume, Lisa made Lincoln's Reaper costume and taught him how to do minor repairs but promised to handle major repairs.
"Lincoln, I finished the upgrades to the cape; I believe you'll love it. I also uploaded an instruction manual to Yoon so you can practice."
"Thanks, Lise. Are you sure I'll be able to glide? The best I can do right now is parachute with my cape,"
"With this new cape, you won't need to do that unless you want to. Thanks to the memory cloth and those tailoring lessons from Leni, I cut it to the perfect shape for maximum efficiency," Lisa explained. "Plus, it will make you more terrifying to criminals,"
"I like the sound of that," Lincoln said.
"Sweetie, are you sure the university won't start questioning your activities?" Rita asks.
"Unfortunately, what goes on in the lab is their business, but my bunker is mine," Lisa explained. "By the way, male sibling, when you practice, I suggest using Royal Woods first to get a feel for the mechanics and then using Great Lake City to master maneuvering."
"Right, thanks, Lisa," Lincoln said while hugging his sister before leaving.
Later.
As Ronnie Anne made her way home, she couldn't shake off the sour mood that had settled over her. It was genuinely disheartening for her to have to put on a facade of being in a relationship with Ramos. Throughout the entire day, Ramos had paraded around as though he had just swooped in and taken her away from Lincoln, adding to her frustration."Can't believe I have to deal with that asshole!"
Ronnie Anne suddenly stopped, smelling something delicious in the air.
"Hey Ronnie Anne, dinner is almost ready," Lincoln called. "I made Mac 'n' cheese bites and Lynn-Sagna,"
Ronnie Anne's face lit up with a warm smile as the words reached her ears. The thought of a satisfying, delicious meal filled her with anticipation, and she felt grateful that Lincoln possessed culinary skills almost on par with his father's.
Moments Later.
After getting changed, Ronnie Anne and Lincoln enjoyed dinner while discussing the day and Ronnie Anne's next mission.
"So that's the story; the problem now is the commander doesn't know how to get us on the island without people being suspicious,"
"I think I have a solution to how we can get into this event,"
"You do? Wait, what do you mean we?"
"My dad is working there for the same event; according to his contract, he can bring staff members of his own choice, so we can use that to get in."
"Lincoln, are you sure this is okay? Your parent could be in danger,"
"Unfortunately, my dad can't back out unless there is a valid reason like someone needs to be in the hospital,"
"Damn."
"But if this does work, we all get a way onto the island, and I get to keep that creep away from you,"
"What about Clyde?"
"We can see if he can come too; we can close shop for a few days,"
"Guess I can speak to the commander,"
"Good. I'll talk to Clyde tomorrow,"
The Next Day.
Ronnie Anne went to work and explained the plan. The commander was reluctant, and Ramos openly objected.
"Are you kidding me? We don't have time to babysit Señor Repartidor and his parents!"
"You know what? Insult my Fiancé one more time, I dare you," Ronnie Anne threatened while she cracked her knuckles.
"Psst, whatever," Ramos replied, brushing off Ronnie Anne's threat, but he was really hiding the yellow streak down his back.
"Ramos, keep your mouth shut, now!" the commander demanded. "Ronnie Anne, I'm not going to lie; your plan does sound good. And it is very convenient for what we need right now. But this investigation needs 100% focus, and you worrying about your Fiancé and his parents might compromise that,"
"Ma'am, you don't have to worry about Lincoln or his family. Despite our families' crazy antics, they can handle themselves in stressful situations, especially Lincoln, and I'm not just talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. Besides, if we need to escape, his mother knows how to fly a plane, which she taught Lincoln,"
"His mother can fly a plane?" the commander asked, surprised.
"Yes, look, they can handle themselves; plus, do you have any other ideas on how to get us on the island? They've got a plane taking them Thursday, and you're running out of time."
"Fine, but whatever happens is on your head,"
"Understood, I'll let Lincoln know,"
"Wait, what about me? I'm not a member of his family," Ramos asked.
"You can pose as a member of my family on my dad's side, a distant cousin," Ronnie Anne brushed off.
Ramos was pissed; his chance to prove to Ronnie Anne that he was the better man was slipping away, but then a thought popped into his head on how he could prove it to her and Lincoln.
"Fine by me," he said.
Ronnie Anne instantly became suspicious about his sudden change, but she needed to prepare. Lincoln had an easier time convincing Clyde and his parents, gaining extra eyes to find anything suspicious on the island. Later that night, Lincoln finally decided to test out his new cape. Suited up, Lincoln chose to use the bridge to test his gliding; Lisa and Ronnie Anne monitored through Yoon from their perspective computers. Luckily, no one noticed him because of the hours and how dark it was.
"Okay, Lincoln. Your cape is stored in a compartment I installed along the back of your shoulders. To access it, you have to crack your index finger's knuckle with your thumb on your left hand,"
"Got it,"
Following Lisa's instructions, Lincoln cracked his knuckles and released his cape from its hidden compartment. He didn't see a difference, which confused him.
"Uh, Lise, it doesn't look that different from before,"
"That's because you haven't activated it; oh, side note: if you want to retract your cape, crack your middle finger. To activate your cape, crack your right index finger, which will activate the electric charge installed in your suit,"
"Electric charge?" Ronnie Anne said.
"Memory cloth stiffens when an electric current goes through and goes loose when there is no electric charge to activate it; crack your right index finger to deactivate crack your right middle finger,"
Following Lisa's instructions again, Lincoln cracked his right index, causing his cape to open like an umbrella in the shape of a pair of batwings.
"Woah," Ronnie Anne said.
Eager to start practicing his newfound flying abilities, Lincoln couldn't wait to test them. With confidence, he leaped off the bridge, his heart pounding with excitement. Lisa and Ronnie Anne watched nervously, holding their breath as he descended. Suddenly, the wind caught him, lifting him and carrying him through the air. As he soared, he deftly used his cape to adjust his direction, feeling the rush of wind against his face as he flew.
"This is awesome!"
Lincoln cheered as he flew through the air. Quickly getting the hang of it, he began performing aerial moves as glide but realized he was losing altitude.
"Dang it, I'm going down,"
"It's a Shame the bridge doesn't have enough altitude to help you maintain flight. We'll have to find a way to keep you airborne later. Can you make it back to the bridge?" Lisa asked.
"Not to the top, but if I use my grapple system in the back of my hand to get me there,"
"Just be careful using the grapple boost system,"
"Don't worry, my cybernetics will help me withstand the force,"
When Lisa created the design for Lincoln's suit, she put a lot of thought into incorporating a cutting-edge grapple system. This system was equipped with the ability to deploy custom detachable or retractable lines from the back of Lincoln's hands, giving him the unprecedented ability to scale buildings and move between rooftops with ease. However, Lisa discovered two critical flaws with the grapple system's boost function during the testing phase. Firstly, the sudden acceleration from the boost could cause the user's shoulder dislocation. Fortunately, Lincoln's cybernetic enhancements protected his shoulders from dislocation, mitigating the risk of injury. The second flaw was that the boost function tended not to shut off in time, causing Lincoln to be propelled into the air unexpectedly.
"This could work," he thought.
After meticulously securing a sturdy line to the peak of the bridge, Lincoln took a moment to gather his thoughts. He deactivated his cape, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline surge through him. With a swift flick of his wrist, he activated the boost function, launching himself like a missile toward the top of the bridge.
From their computer screens, Ronnie Anne, and Lisa watched Lincoln reach the end of his line in awe. With a mighty snap, he was catapulted several feet into the air, his excitement palpable even through the screens. As he soared, Lincoln swiftly reactivated his cape back into its glider form, feeling the fabric come alive as it unfurled behind him.
Gliding at a significantly elevated altitude and increasing speed, he felt a newfound sense of freedom. Experimenting with the mechanics of his cape, he discovered a clever way to extend his flight, enabling him to stay airborne longer. With Great Lake City in sight, Lincoln skillfully adjusted his trajectory. The wind rushed past him, invigorating him as he made his descent.
"Time to see what I can really do!"
Lincoln glided into Great Lake City, using it as his personal obstacle course. He flew around, making tight turns around buildings. Whenever he felt he was too low, he used his grapple system to slingshot himself back in the air.
"This would make a great video game." He said to himself, going from building to building.
"Help!" cried a female voice.
Lincoln spotted a woman running as he was gliding, with two men hot on her tail. Acting on instinct and fearing the worst, he adjusted his cape so he could descend down faster, using the grappling line to improve his aim and control his speed. In seconds, he landed behind the woman and in front of the two men.
"What the hell?" One of them shouted as he abruptly came to a stop.
"Look, it's some nerd in a knock-off Batman costume thinking he can be a hero too!" The other one mocked. Lincoln was reminded of Hank and Hawk right now, though these two looked more… dangerous by comparison, which was the best way he could describe them.
"Why don't you go somewhere and cosplay with the rest of the nerd and leave this babe to us,"
Lincoln said nothing but motioned the woman behind him, annoying the two men further.
"So you wanna be a hero? We'll show you where that gets you," one man said as he and the other pulled out guns.
"Okay assholes," Lincoln said, pulling out two folded sickles. "Let's dance!" Lincoln said as the sickles unfolded.
The men exchanged mocking glances, their laughter ringing out in the dim light of the evening. They scoffed at Lincoln, convinced he was foolish to assume that his humble sickles could possibly pose a threat to them. One man, reckless and desperate to prove his point, fired his weapon at Lincoln with a sneer on his face. In an astonishing display of skill, Lincoln maneuvered one of his sickles with precision, slicing the bullet in half mid-air. The man's eyes widened in shock as the two halves of the bullet fell harmlessly to the ground.
Not willing to back down, another man took aim and squeezed the trigger. But as before, Lincoln was ready; he swung his sickles with fluid grace, catching the bullet effortlessly. The men exchanged frantic glances, now fueled by a mix of fear and disbelief. They began firing their weapons in rapid succession, each hoping to overwhelm him with the sheer volume of gunfire.
Yet, Lincoln remained calm amid the chaos. He twirled his sickles around him, creating a barrier of blades that danced through the onslaught of bullets. With each precise movement, he deflected every shot, the sound of metal clashing against lead echoing through the air. As the last clip emptied and silence filled the space, the men stood in stunned silence, their bravado shattered as they realized the extent of Lincoln's extraordinary ability.
"Impossible!" One of them exclaimed, still pulling the trigger, hoping there was at least one bullet left.
"My turn!"
As he expertly combined his two sickles at the hilt, a transformative change took place—what once were simple farming tools became a formidable dual-headed glaive, glinting wickedly in the dim light. The sudden sight shocked the men, who scrambled in panic, desperately trying to reload their weapons.
With a surge of adrenaline, Lincoln leaped into the air, the glaive slicing through the space before him like a dark comet. He swung the weapon with precision and strength, sending two of his attackers crashing to the ground, their cries echoing in the air.
As the remaining men aimed their guns at him, a palpable sense of dread washed over their faces. In an instant, Lincoln's majestic arc of the glaive cleaved through their weapons, severing the top halves with a clean stroke and rendering them utterly defenseless, their bravado replaced by sheer terror.
Turning to the woman who had been caught in the chaos, Lincoln spoke firmly yet calmly, urging her to leave and call the police. With fear still etched in her features, she nodded and fled the scene, her safety now his singular focus.
With her out of harm's way, Lincoln redirected his attention to her attackers, who stood trembling, their faces pale and eyes wide with fear. He was no longer just a man defending himself; he was a force to be reckoned with, ready to confront the remnants of their ill-fated bravado.
"You know? I spent way too much time going after big fish. I forgot you little fish need to be put in your place," Lincoln said, putting his weapons back.
"What-what are you going to do to us?"
Lincoln pulled out the branding iron from his belt, activating it and making it hot in seconds.
"I'm sending a message to every scumbag in this city, and since this is your first strike, you clowns are gonna be my messengers," Lincoln said, grabbing one man by the neck and lifting him.
"What's the message?" asked the man, too scared to realize he asked a dumb question.
"Sooner or later, you'll all dance with The Reaper!"
The sound of screaming was all that could be heard as it echoed as far as it could go.
End of Ch. 2
Looks good.
I was thinking should lincoln cut their hands off and tell the woman to leave but take the men leaving them at the hospital so they can be reattached with a note that says next time i'm keeping them.
Slightly gruesome, but then again he is literally called The Reaper. How family friendly would you expect him to be? Isn't that like expecting the Punisher to send criminals to their rooms and sit in the corner?
Lincoln in some case losing a body part is the extent of the reaper's mercy, plus the next time he will keep their hands or he can just slice their knives and brand them, maybe save the gruesome stuff for the big bads
Hmm… so it's a question of three strikes vs I only give mercy once.
Maybe the branding and beating is strike one, losing a limb is 2 and 3 well pray no one is dumb enough to strike out
Quick question out of all his sisters who do you think would have a problem with Lincoln being the reaper i was thinking Lori,
Lori likely thinks he's being childish, and Leni likely thinks he's just being mean. Luan and Lynn might be supportive though.
Leni would think he's mean but supportive, but she help lisa design lincoln's suit
Lori would be his jameson, for taking the law into his hands he is like a criminal and even limits how much time he can spend with his niece and nephew,
Hmm.. if she's really like Jameson, then that means on some level Lori is jealous of Lincoln and wishes she could do as much good as he can.
When you get to the root Lori feel guilty for what happened to lincoln, because Lincoln was kidnapped on her watch, blames herself for him becoming the reaper, but instead of letting coming to terms with it she turns her self hate onto the reaper.
Seeing him as a manifestation of her failing as a big sister.
I like this take, it shows layers of character for her.
Maybe in a later chapter, Loreline (2 yrs) and Hector(1 yr) get kidnapped and Lincoln and Ronnie Anne go after them.
That should be a good arc
Should i explore lori's dislike for the reaper in this chapter or wait till then next ch, cause i was thinking of ending this one with the men screaming as the branded.
Yeah end it there, save Lori for next chapter, it wouldn't fit the rest of the chapter here.
okay
(I could see Ronnie Anne talking to her boss about how the Louds can get to the island legally, and that can work for their cover, though it will mean putting civilians in danger they were already going to be in. And Ramos not taking this well but waiting for later to do something about it. And of course, someone has to point out that on the island Lincoln needs an alibi for where he was when the Reaper appears, since him being unaccounted for will raise some red flags to the Enforcers.)
"For the most part Lincoln is going stealth at night
Also Vic is going to reveal that he had planned to capture the loud sister and sell them but they didn't come, he did the because he sunk all his money into his resort which isn't doing as well as you think so he borrowed money from scary people who aim to collect, plus even with the TSW renting the island isn't enough, so selling Lincoln's sister would be. Hiring Lynn Sr. was a ploy to get them on the island legally
Should i rewrite it and have his sisters there or keep it as is
I'd say keep it as is. It will be a nice way to mess with Vic and could show how he'd react to his last resort going wrong.
Vic: Lynn Loud, this is a deluxe island that has catered to the 1% for years. Did you really think you were hired because your food is good?
I just realized a twist maybe some mob bosses do enjoy Lynn's cooking and turn on Vic
Mob Boss: Sorry Vic, but Mama always told me never to kill someone who can cook good. They're always more useful to you alive.
Maybe the mob boss befriends Lynn and promises to visit, like he's a crminal but his family has a code of conduct
Vic: And what about you Reaper? What's your so-called code of conduct?
Lincoln: trafficker get branded
Gotta go
I was thinking the sicles could be lincoln's primary weapons
What do you think of the updates i made now Yoon sits in a compartment in the suit's chest when not used
It feels like watching Batman or Spider-Man when they're just starting out, so it reads well though I suspect readers will be expecting a villain to appear at the end.
I'm thinking maybe Vic and pretty much assassins
Like in origins
Perfect, I'm a fan of simple starts and then things escalate.